1st April 2009

It came and went...no one to play a practical joke on and so it came to pass.  I had a day tidying the garden and builder's rubbish...I mentioned earlier that they have one dustbin and it is where it lands.  The bullfrogs were exceptionally noisy last night but the temperature went up to 18 over night and considering that it was snowing last week...what a vast improvement.  I sported the hint of summer redness which has now gone to my first coating of suntan and now I feel more myself..roll on summer that's what I say.  

I forgot to mention that little kitty gave birth to three stillborn kittens today.  We knew that she was expecting but it was still quite a shock.  I've never experienced a kittens delivery before and she was very tender how she licked the sacs but there was no life so she set about clearing up the evidence and eating the spoils of her womb.  How practical is nature....

2nd April, 2009

Today was market day in Kirkovo and I managed to pick up another couple of very heavy padlocks for the doors that I don't currently have...there's nothing like being prepared.  I also got a pair of stainless steel secateurs that I' sure would be cheaper in England but I happened to like the wooden handles....It went quite cold this afternoon so I ended up doing very little except sitting in front of the wood burner and enjoing the heat.  Kitty is back to normal after her brief interlude of motherhood.

Went to the dentist today for a checkup, clean and polish and Lily is a dream..The word 'ploy' (rinse) is about all of the conversation we have but what a splendid job she does.  Then came the time for payment 20BGN roughly equated to just under £10...and she took at least 25 mins finishing off with very fine sandpaper on the front few.  They have never been so clean.....

Day draws to a close and so to bed said Zebberdee.....I've finished the wine so I might as well.....  

Friday, 3rd April

Today started off sunny but with a cold wind but by early afternoon the wind had dropped and the temperature went up and up.  I am now a beautiful shade of pink which by tomorrow should be brown.  This is a well known phrase of mine but I could also be a whiter shade of pale.  I hear that the summer in UK is over and back to normal.  I promise to try to bring the sunshine over with me on Monday.  

I spent the afternoon stripping down an acquired possession.  A wooden trunk painted brown but found underneath layers of dark green, dark blue and light blue.  I joked with Suzi that when we eventually found bare wood the thing would probably drop apart since it appeared the paint was keeping it all together.  More or less there now and should complete the top tomorrow.  The rest of it can wait.  

Supper was hardly a Bulgarian speciality.....egg and chips.....but they were free range eggs...and sorry...but no photographs

  

Saturday 4th April

Well the box got polished today and it was a quick decision on my part not to strip it down completely.  The residue of blue, red, green and brown paint was more inkeeping with Suzi's requirements and believe me it was not sheer lazyness on my part.  It looks delightful now that it is polished and is very ethnic and at least it will not fall apart now.

We are off now to Fortinovo to the Women's Banquet and photo's to follow when I am home.  My bus leaves sometime tomorrow morning and up to Sofia for a night in the Holiday Inn (still using up my points), a swim and a hairdryer.  The way they eat up the 'not so strong electricity' means that hairdryers are banished from the hillside.  Most places only have not so strong tok (electricy) and the strong tok that is being installed all over is called in the native tongue 'Silly tok' or strong electricity.  Dai me silly...give me strength.

I am on the midday flight into Gatwick, answering mail and getting ready for Easter and the grandchildren.  Must really post a few pickies of the little ones and not so little one.  Right off to put on my dress with the sequins stitched on by hand during the two hour delay by Easy Jet.  Off for the high life.

Wednesday 8th April

First job of the day is to sort out my phone.  I was so annoyed....the back plate that holds in the battery wasn't connecting resulting in the battery falling out so checked with the insurance company and handed over full details of the 'accident that caused the failure' only to be told that there would be a £35 excess fee for a £10.00 piece of plastic.  Now who makes money out of that.  So, into Brighton and to the repair shop and unfortunately that £10.00 piece of plastic wasn't in stock but I could have a full housing for £25 which they would fit there and then.  I opted for the plate fitting and have stored the remainder ready for the next failure and they said that they would fit it for free.  Mobile phone shop in Preston Street, Brighton would have my recommendation every time and they threw in a rubber casing that they said made it look like a 'builder's phone' and my comments were that that was 'OK with me'.

The afternoon was spent in the local swimming baths with Callum John playing with floats.  It saved just going up and down and looking interested.  

Friday 10th April

First job...get into Brighton and buy Easter eggs.  The house is ready for visitors and I'm trying to remember how to cope with a three year old and a three month old at the same time.  It's only for a couple of nights but the air of panic still strikes and I'm searching out the stair gate as a precaution.  That's grandmas for you.....

Monday 13th April

Well the Easter adventure is over.  The toys put away and the kitchen exposed for what it was originally intended.  I am back to normal whatever normal is.  What a lovely time I had with the grandchildren.  They arrived on Good Friday and we packed mum and dad off on Saturday morning and the adventures began.  On Friday night I slept in the same room as my granddaughter leaving my own bed to the parents and Evie P was so excited that we started a conversation about 2.00 in the morning and I ended up telling her that we could not talk all night because I would run out of words for Saturday.  She eventually went off at about 4.00 and since Lucas John woke at 5.30 for his first bottle of the day, I started the morning shift so that the parents could get some sleep.  And so my day began.

The weather was rubbish so we were virually prisoners on Saturday but we found lots of things to do.  It was strange that you don't forget how to be a mother despite the years that have gone in between.

Easter Sunday

Well both children slept through until 6.40 from 7.00 the previous night so a good night's sleep was had by all.  The weather picked up so after breakfast and the second bottle of the day (that's Lucas not me) we headed out to the Downs and the beach.  On the way back we stopped and bought some eggs to fill two egg baskets we had made for Auntie Gems and mummy and daddy and had a surprise when we got to our local pond.  Obviously the natives had become restless and got rather busy!!

Monday 13th Morning

Time to get out my Easter eggs  

Tuesday 14th April

Bored now that they have all left.  Got the washing going at 7.00 this morning and now wondering what to get up to.  Might just have to look at flights.  I have been home a week already!!

Thursday 16th April

I collected Callum John and swimming was the order of the day.  We actually spent two hours in the pool and didn't my legs know about it.  Home and a little bit of carpentry, tree climbing and then a gentle close to the day.

Friday 17th April

This was a day for 'children what lunch'.  Off to see Angela, another grandmother with her two staying over.  We reckoned that the more the merrier so we could at least sit down while they entertained each other and it worked.  
Pickies of this are to follow.

Saturday 18th April

Now it was the turn of the grown ups.  Two of them yet to grow into their shoe size and another who shall remain nameless who insists on acting it instead of the real age.  Yes you've guessed!!  It's me.

The photograph of their arrival at Brighton Station didn't come out there again, working for a mobile phone company does not dictate the outcome.  The day was spent in and out of all of the boutiquey type shops in the North Lanes because it just had to be done.  Tracey managed to find and prebook an exceptional restaurant in an area of Brighton that I rarely visit and despite the hike it was worth it.   I'm not sure the waiter was up to the table humour and when we were told to help ourselves, I decided that I was running off with a rather nice table decoration of a pot with a pumpkin lid while Fiona was making off with the plants.  Food was of a high standard and the blue aircraft type lights to the loo were a bit of a novelty factor.  After lunch we did the expensive Lanes trying on a variety of shoes, dresses and jewellery.  Two out of three being satisfies with purchases isn't bad and I returned empty handed but there again I can go into Brighton any day of the week for free with my OAP bus pass.  We eventually got thrown out of Starbucks at 8.30 and on to the bus stop and the station to wend our weary ways home....

Thursday  23rd April

Well the last two days have been on the wrong end of a paint brush (that is if there is a right end) cleaning up the garden furniture and giving myself instant freckles with the dark brown wood preservative.  Does come off easily with water though and just as well.  It's a frustrating time.  I'm trying to sort out a 4 x 4 to get over to BG so that at least I have transport when I am over there.  Yes it is possible to buy one there but they somehow seem more authentic if you know the history and there's more chance of me finding out about it in English that in Bulgarian.  I've sent up my request to the Universe and I believe they are working on it so I'll leave it at that for the moment.  Now....back to the paint brush and to finish a job that I've started.  It's good practice.

Monday 27th April

Well I'm just getting over the marathon.  Did I run it.....NO...but we had to park so far away from the course to watch it that I think I walked it.  Going to enter next year and at least I'll get a medal for the sore feet

Unfortunately we did not see Uncle Jay but we did see lots more and I enjoyed standing at the railings and looking out for Wombles, Rhinos, Woody the Tree, apples and bananas and we even saw the Queen.  Watching it with a three year old Evie 'P' makes it magic.  The little one slept mostly through it until feed times when he sprung to life, we all sprang into action, feed, wind and then....sleep.  

Tuesday 28th April

Today has been very frustrating.  It is so difficult trying to buy a 4x4.  I've done ebay, Auto trader and the only criteria is that it is to be sound enough to get to BG.  New ones are so expensive and since it is going to be used as a workhorse, leather seats are out but on the other hand I don't want something that is going to fall apart on the first outing.   ARRRGGGGHHHHH.  I'll keep looking.  It must be out there somewhere