Out with the old…
And in with the new!!
June and Mirna Barjacoba
Mirna is from Rio Cuarto, Argentina, is 42 years old and has been in the work for about 20 years or more. Two years ago she very unexpectedly suffered a stroke, which at the time was terrible, and noone knew how she was going to end up. She has recovered pretty well, her speech wasn’t affected, but her whole right side was. She still hasn’t full use of her hand, and limps especially when she’s tired. Emotionally she doesn’t have the strength that she used to either, but little by little she’s getting better. She has a cousin in the work, Patricia Oberto, and an aunt, Sara Barjacoba, who works in Peru. Mirna worked 10 years in Colombia, but came back 5 years ago.
It was great to have Doug and Joan Beach here for a few days. They had come primarily to visit their ‘other son’ Rob Shultz, and spared a few days for me too! Here are a few photos of when they were here: We took them to the river delta, called Tigre. It’s an enormous area of islands where two rivers join. Lots of the islands are inhabited by permanent residents or holiday homes.
Joan with Florencia Olmos (17). Doug in the background
Puerto de Frutos (Fruit Port – named so because there used to be big fruit plantations on the islands, which supplied the city’s fruit. Due to flooding and disease they were eventually abandoned and is now a popular holiday area)
Florencia and Joan on the launch
A jetty going down from one of the houses
These are the islands – they are formed of silt and sediment brought down from the rivers. Obviously they need to have good retaining walls to stop erosion.
More of the islands along the way – the area in total is 17,000 square km! A lot of it is uninhabited though.
The Mighty Doug Beach!
There are some more photos of this trip somewhere, I’ll put them on later. But here’s how their stay ended… it couldn’t be any other way!!
The set-up. Calling Doug out to pose for a final photo…
The pouring of the water down the neck, while Joan still looks demurely at the camera.
Well once he was wet, why not stay for more??
But then the thirst for blood got too strong for him…
Revenge will be sweet…
Oops, now I’m in trouble – look at his face!!!
But we parted friends!!!
Florencia and I cooling off in their pool after taking the Beaches to the airport on a sweltering afternoon.
Meanwhile this is the photo that Joan sent on their arrival home!! Brrrr….
Great to get an update, and to see a photo of Mirna. You'll be right back into it all?! The water fight looked like a lot of fun. :)
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