Romania 1989

The drive from the border to Bucharest featured 100s KM of natural beauty.

My parents 25th Wedding Anniversary present that still sits near my bed.

Dumitru wanted no more than to send a letter to his mother.

Local Romanians enjoying the delights of a postcard featuring Sydney Harbour.

Roads across the Romanian countryside were quiet enough to become walkways.

There was rarely a tremenduos hurry to get the work done.

Every time you stopped to take a photo along the road - it as worth it.

The fruit and veg man (& son ?).

Ceausescu's palace in the background as a humble prole cleans the streets.

As stereotypical as can be in the Romanian countryside.

Too regularly the brutal poverty of Romania was in full view.

A typical village en route down to Bucharest from Transylvania.

Elena Ceausescu looks unimpressed - but can you spot the young photographer ?

My handiwork. Austrade 1989 stand complete with bar and kitchen.

Wedding cake fountains, complete with stolen stain glass from the churches.

Ceausescu's boulevard of broken dreams.

Village grandmother proud to show off her family to the camera.

Out in the Romanian countryside there remained, despite the brutal regime, a steely defiance.

Big Brother Ceausescu was always watching.

The choice of photo for the book cover- dignity even with tattered shoes.

Raising pigs & chickens - not just a hobby but a survival skills.

Husband, wife and a horse drawn cart - such a common theme.

After every football match - the obligatory team photo.

Nicolae Ceausescu about to confuse myself for a VIP.

A few kilometres through the border a reminder of who was in charge.

The road through transylvania.

One was always struck by the sheer number of people with little to do.

Grandad wanted his own space.

The poor of Bucharest were happy to invite you into their homes.

The back lanes of the villages in Romania - a rustic shanty town.

Wherever you go in the world - there is room for a kick-about.

Once the shotgun was lowered - dinner and wine were shared.

It's hard to express the simple joy of this hidden Romanian village.

The small village was awash with those who wanted to have their family photographed.

The 5-star sheep - handled like fine crystal.

Nowhere to go, nothing to do and not a care.

A number one photo - the local hooch and its fanatics.

The simplicity of a drive through the country.

On both sides of the van were scenes from a bygone era.

The beautiful innocence of two children shielded from the truth of the dictatorship.

Stop anywhere on the road - and there are those that have never seen a camera.

Anything for sale in Bucharest, old as it may be, attracts interest.

Behind the courtyard doors of Bucharest there was always something to see.

Cleared land - making room for Ceaucescu's boulevard.

Householf chores were always that little bit tougher in Romania.

Open a door - and find tranquility.

The dictatorship spent their time destroying beautiful architecture to be replaced by modern efices.

The omnipresent horse drawn cart (village en route to Bucharest).

The backstreets of Bucharest, slowly being cleared.

The moat around the Ceaucescu palace.

How many men could do the same ?

Romexpo was the biggest event in the Bucharest calendar - reflected in the numbers attending.

Tired of Ceausescu and his ways.

Innocent times meant so many children appeared to walk around on their own.

Hopefully just passing by the funeral directors.

One of the newer vehicles in Bucharest in 1989.

With so few vehicles, little need for petrol stations - which made buying it very complicated.

The bustle of downtown Bucharest in 1989.

Sometimes a photo just appears in the frame.

Another family shot from the unknown village - hopefully they lived many years more.

This tiny lady in full control of her modest herd.

What I'd give to find this young child now in their 40s.

If your palace doesn't have a river nearby - simply divert one from outside the city.

At the time of construction - the heaviest building on earth.