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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria    General Boards    My Diary by Elsa Peters  ›  JUNE 2009
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JUNE 2009  This thread currently has 7,747 views. Print
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Elsa Peters
May 31, 2009, 2:30pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 4th June.....

The beast is in BG.  We arrived at just after midnight and today was my first solo flight to the local supermarket and my first attack of the cheren put or dirt road down the mountain to the river.  Steve and myself celebrated the return with a sample of the local Gin and  Fanta Lemon....no tonic to be found and I couldn't be bothered to search.
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Elsa Peters
June 5, 2009, 3:05pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 5th June

Did the supermarket today and filled up with lots of goodies.  Coming back through Djebel we both armed ourselves with scythes to clear the hillside of thistles etc.  The going rate for this task is about 45BGN per day so we might be on to a winning streak if we start practicing and developing our technique.  The beast has been given the day off and is probably going for final tweaking early next week.

Off to a birthday party in the village tonight.  Just got to finish sewing on the sequins, getting the Sophia red uncorked and putting on my dancing shoes.  Got to remember that nodding the head means 'No' and shaking the head means 'Yes' so if anybody asks me if I want another drink I better get it right.
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Princess
June 9, 2009, 9:11pm Report to Moderator
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Hi Mummy, glad that the beast is safe and well back with you in BG. How exciting, a party in the village, glad that you got a chance to strut your funky stuff and throw some shapes on the dance floor, Bulgarian style!! Did you remember yes and no (and have a good night) or get them mixed up (and had a fantastic night)?!!
Keep doing what you are doing, I'm proud of you..... Love you to the moon and back again, big kisses, Princess xxxxxxxxxxx
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Elsa Peters
June 12, 2009, 2:32pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 11th June

I have decided that nature is exceedingly noisy.  There was a bird that I have yet to spot and identify that started up at about five this morning with a whooping cry that just seemed to go on for ever.  The others started twittering at about the same time and the bullfrogs were the last noise last night and one of the first this morning.  They go quiet, one starts and there is a crescendo that trails off as either they find a mate or give up.  And then they start again.  The lake is extremely beautiful at this time of the morning.  It is so still but rain is promised for later or so they say.  We can’t complain.  It went up to 32 degrees yesterday and in crop growing areas where families depend vegetables and income from what they manage to grow, it becomes necessary.  

Well the beast has gone in for final tweaking and is promised back tonight.  I can hardly wait.  There is a house to be done and it sits about ten kilometres from my caravan nest on the hillside and it’s not like you can jump on public transport.  Buses are sporadic at the best of times that’s why most families have a ‘run around’ that wouldn’t manage an MOT at home.  The system is good though.  If you go via the lanes or hill tracks and stay off the main roads you don’t have to have road tax and how good is that.  Road tax is cheap though at approximately £35 for the year and bought at any post office.  They sensibly run it from January to December and everyone renews in January or when they want to during the year.  They can even buy it for one month without any hassle.  And the country is supposed to learn from the EU??

Suzi’s friend comes from England tomorrow so I am already thinking about setting up siege in the caravan along with daily trips to the houses.  I have my gas burner, electricity into two sockets and wind up lamps.  We certainly know how to live out here.

Here are some pictures of the views from the house.  The houses will be on display as soon as the builders begin so that you will have ‘before and after’ shots of the progress.  The unfortunate thing is that at the moment my two builders are being forced to work in the fields along with their wives since it is tobacco growing season.  They are under strict ‘instructions’ and who am I to argue with the hands that rock the cradle, and plant, hoe and weed the tobacco.
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Elsa Peters
June 12, 2009, 2:36pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 12th June

Had more practice with the beast today and went to a town that I haven't been to before.  I follow the advice since the beast is right-hand drive....sit in the gutter.  I thought I had left it behind but not so.  I'm still waiting for Suzi's friend to arrive.  She was taking the scenic route in the MG and let's hope they haven't got pulled by the Fuzz again for speeding.  Speed limits out here take into account the fact that cows, sheep, horses and carts also take to the road and it is undecided who get's priority and I don't believe that the beast stands a change despite its bullbars!!!!  

I think I hear them....let's go and be polite....lecka nosht...
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Elsa Peters
June 16, 2009, 5:50am Report to Moderator

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Saturday 13th June
After the panic of yesterday realising that my insurance had run out on the beast, all was sorted and I am now the proud possessor of a little green sticker that confirms that I am legal and above board.  The form isn’t totally completed yet since I have to go to the KAT office and get the beast registered on Bulgarian plates.  That should be happening later this week but a lot seems to be happening ‘later this week’.  We had lunch at a fish restaurant that unfortunately didn’t have any fish but plenty of chicken.  It also had chalets to rent to ‘tourists’ or local fishermen.  It appears that fishing is in and local anglers appear at any stretch of water be it small or large.
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Elsa Peters
June 16, 2009, 5:56am Report to Moderator

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Sunday 14th June

Now this restaurant did have fish.  I went to the floating restaurant on the Kardjali Lake with Suzi, Tony, Svetlana, her husband and son to sample the delights at his cousin’s restaurant. And we certainly did.  I had grilled ‘Sharon’.  Plates were delivered including different salads, kebabs, chicken with mushrooms, several plates of cheesy and ordinary chips and garlic bread.  We were all stuffed but it was only when I got home to the caravan that I found that I had eaten barbequed or roasted carp and Sharon is a name I shall remember for next time but minus the cheesy chips.  

Finished off at the local swimming hotspot where you can hire a sun bed and relax round the pool for 5 BGN per day and I call that a bargain.  It might be well be a good place to hide when the building work really starts.



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Elsa Peters
June 16, 2009, 6:01am Report to Moderator

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Monday 15th June

So at 9.15 this morning we went to the water office and I delivered Victoria’s book that I had promised her.  She ordered me to ‘sit’ on my first visit and is the 10 year of daughter of the lady who works in the office. The book was a Richard Scarrey dictionary, just to let her know how bizarre the English can be.

I have a new electricity pole at the house but now I need to buy cable and a fuse board so that we can connect to the house.  Of course every one has a friend who is a master of something and a master has been offered who will wire the house for me.  I tried to ask how much but that seems to get lost in translation.  We now have to go back to the office when we have the cable and we are picking up the water ‘maestro’ at 3.00 who will tell us the best place to put the ‘water house’.  Apparently if you don’t, you get your water meter stolen as soon as the maestro leaves the building.  

The water in and out pipes have been discovered.  With billhook at the ready borrowed from a friendly neighbour (pictured with me on the left), eight foot high brambles were removed and after digging for about half an hour they were there along with a bathroom window frame.  We now have to phone the water maestro who will come and fit the water meter when we have built the water house.  I suppose they must have such things as stopcocks and how do you translate that!!!!  I must get my book out again.
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Elsa Peters
June 16, 2009, 6:04am Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 16th June

Well the best laid plans of mouse and men….my workman is now being used as a translator/ negotiator for a land deal taking place today.  If it goes smoothly I may have him later and if not…tomorrow, maybe.
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Elsa Peters
June 20, 2009, 6:53pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 17th June
Today was a complete day of frustration and documents as decreed by the state.  The objective was to put Bulgarian plates on my car and pay the appropriate taxes and it was all held up because a) I had not registered myself in Bulgaria and b) the company that issued my BULSTAT or registration document for my company had not provided me with my own company stamp.  Now this makes me feel official.  I have a stamp and I’m going to stamp everything in sight with my ‘Tree Tops’.  Now I feel better.  It has a purpose.

On Friday I must go back to Kardjali and get my final piece of paper and my Bulgarian licence plates for the car.  It is only 30 miles away and diesel seems to be evaporating by the minute.  

Yesterday there was an almighty thunderstorm and the lightening seemed to get stuck in the mountains.  Wonderful.
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