Super Moon today - The biggest it will be for another 19 years or so

http://sofiaecho.com/2011/03/15/1059455_super-moon-looming-over-bulgaria-on-march-19

Bet it is cloudy!

Dom

Saturday 19th March

And yes Dom was right.....it is very cloudy so we might not manage that moon tonight....let's keep our fingers crossed....I might not be around in 19 years...

Well last night I decided to take pity on my little (5ft 10) Cinderella and offer to take her into work since she has had to do six days this week to make up for her time in Turkey so we had breakfast together in Dzebel at 8.00.  I said that I thought she had to be in work by 8.00 and she replied that because she comes in from the village that she is allowed to be late and I replied that we were here on time....she smiled and said....'This is Bulgaria'.  Sorry I forget.....one who used to be in the office at 7.20 and the starting day was 8.30 and some days drove 110 miles to get there.....dohhhhh.  I was also complemented on my reporting skills.  Gouljan has decided that to keep up with local events she just needs to read my diary or at least look at the pictures if she only has a little time and read the captions...

Came home, had breakfast and decided to make cushions for my outside chairs, then decided that the Lilly of the Valley that I was given yesterday should go in first and then looked at the heap of half bricks and asbestos left over from the garage fire way before I bought the house, and decided to move it.  Having started that I decided that I could put in a bit of a garden so moved some Flags from the back of my wreck and it was all uphill from there.  I got stuck in and made a new garden, weeded my shrub nursery, moved some ground cover pretties into the new bed and spent the day moving the rubble or at least putting it into heaps and tomorrow am going to build a stone wall since I've got loads of the stuff hanging around.

Got both fires going tonight.  I got chilled in the garden and so need to warm up, moved my outside armchair inside and experimented with foam to see how best to make the cushions for comfort.  What I felt I needed was a footstool since the tiles are cold under foot so no sooner the idea than the completion.  I found two pieces of 4x2 timber that I cut to about 10 inch lengths and then nailed on four pieces of tongue and groove.  Hey presto a footstool and tomorrow I will make a foam cushion for it.  No tele so just have to keep busy...

LN...nothing in the slow cooker but I do have a couple of spicey sausages to tart up with chilli and the likes so I'm off to be creative...I'll get some pickies out tomorrow.

Sunday 20th March

Despite the good intentions I didn't manage to build the wall.  Winter has come back again and there was even a touch of snow in the air this afternoon.  Much too cold for outside games.  So I made the cushions for the outside chair that has now been reclassified as an inside chair complete with padded footstool and it has been in use all afternoon.  Both wood burners are going and I got stuck into a book and have been playing on my DS doing brain training....

Thought I had double vision this morning but no there definately were two of them. In front of my lounge window s the concrete base for what used to be the outside toilet for this house.  So the cats shot towards it and one disappeared down the hole while the other one sat on guard duty.  Haven't a clue what's down there but the one must have seen the flash as I took the pickie from my bedroom balcony and shot off, the other eventually put its head out and then made for the place where I burn my rubbish and tuna cans to get rid of the smell before I put them in the car and take them to the skip in Djebel....scarry cats...caught them just right.

Supper in the slow cooker, early night tonight, off to Kardjali in the morning and picking up Cinderella on the way...LN....but as promised a few pickies

Monday 21st March

Cinderella safely deposited in Djebel but on the way I managed to pick up a lady and her boy that were on their way to Kardjali so two extra passengers.  So when I got to the bank I was told that I was early...and ..said I, service my account.  Now my account here pays 7.5 percent at the last investment so I am considered to be a good customer.  So they gave me the options and I said that I considered them my financial advisers so 6 months, six percent but they pay the interest in advance so that you get interest on their money for six months...seems OK to me...better than UK.

So went into Lidl and realised that their special offers were rubbish according to local standards....but I bought their Martini at £1.70 there abouts...not to be grumbled at.  Got my extra strength paper, 120 gram and delivered it to Gouljan at the school and yards of elastice to make the masks for tomorrow, the first of Spring.

Now my Beauty had been making odd noises and I thought it was the drive shaft...no...one wheel bearing and now fixed...tyres are ordered for the Beast and tomorrow I go in and they are changed.  I have decided that I am living on bread and water for the next month with a little onion and salt....the standard joke when you are broke.

So back home..fires a mare to get going....at last I think I have managed it by robbing Peter to pay Paul several times...I think we are there...central heating and warmth in the kitchen.

So tomorrow...tyres at the garage....might as well pick up Cinderella and I can have breakfast in Djebel...saves her catching the bus at silly o'clock....Macy Grey playing at full volume tonight...supper from last night with the additions of a few fried mushrooms...sounds OK to me...LN...I have supper to demolish....

Tuesday 22nd March

So first official day of Spring and what's the weather like...nice in the sun but that wind's a killer.  I was at the garage at eight fifteen this morning and beat them all to it..tyres fixed and so much for peace of mind....I knew they were suspect and this morning I actually drove there with a piece of metal in one that was keeping the air in.  It was a little 'down' but got there safe and sound before the police hit the streets.

Now the other morning I gave a lift to a man with two walking sticks from Gouljan's village to my village and this morning he was standing in the same place when I went to pick up Gouljan.  So I assumed he wanted another lift and then he said that he wasn't going anywhere he was waiting for the bread man.  So I left it at that and waited for Cinderella but when she arrived I explained what had happened and said that I thought I had got the wrong man and were there two on two sticks.  Suddenly the man started speaking to Gouljan and asked if we were going to Djebel and could he have a lift.  So I helped him in since it is difficult to climb into the Beast and off we set.  When we got to Djebel, he said that he didn't have any money and could Gouljan give him some.  She handed over ten leva and I said to her that she should be giving him fifteen since it was five for the taxi...and I was only joking but goodness knows how he was getting back and probably no one knew where he had gone.  Oh dear.....   last seen getting into the English woman's big car....eeekkkkks.

I got it wrong yesterday....it was Quentin Crisp who stated the rules on dust and I beg Christopher Isherwood's pardon....he was the one that wrote 'I am a Camera' that turned into 'Caberet'....(keep up).  

Just moved the table that I had codged together from half a shelving unit from the kitchen to the upstairs landing. The printer was sitting on a big cardboard box and now it's on the table (renamed....shelving unit)...and the area looks a lot tidier.  My job today is to sort out my filing.  I went to the stationery shop this morning with the intention of getting some folders but did they have any...no....we went through all her stock since I didn't know the word for 'folder' but nishto.....nuffin....so now to filing....and I think it's a task for sitting in the sun but definately inside not out.

Wednesday 23rd March

Tried to lie in this morning but just couldn't manage it.  I looked out, white over so it's a good job that I covered up my cold frame last night and when I checked the thermometer, minus four.  Funny night last night though.  I was falling asleep at 8.00 yet wide awake when it was time to go to bed but I must get the kingsize duvet back upstairs, it's just too heavy now that it's warmed up a bit.  Back to one zebra at 7.5 tog and a single 13 tog feather.  I've just remembered that I opened my balcony door this morning so before I forget....I'm just going to close it.

Supper in the slow cooker at breakfast time and tonight I have chicken with mushrooms, onions with a stock cube, chilli sauce and red wine.  I think I might just throw some rice in with it and make it into a sort of risotto at about 6.00 and that will be soon in Bulgarian time.

So today I have been working on my little new garden and getting rid of the remains of the burnt asbestos garage but there is still some to go.  I've dumped it down the bottom of the garden for now but will have to dig a hole and bury it but that can come later.  I did find another small polythene mine but I managed to get it dug out and burnt.  I've started on the wall but I sort of ran out of steam at about 5.20, so got the logs in ready for the night but think I shall just keep the little one going.  The air has warmed up and that biting wind has stopped.

Tomorrow, Haskovo to sort out my tax documents and Mike, a friend who has been in the UK for the past year, returned today to start to renovate.  Unfortunately he had health problems and will have to be back and forwards for a while but at least if he can get builders underway, it's a start.  So tomorrow we shall meet up but no beers for me, I shall be driving.  

LN....the chicken needs attention, the fire needs attention so I better stand to attention.....LN

Thurday 24th March

Evening, evening and I realise that I'm late posting but it's been a very busy day.  I did mention that I was due to go to Haskovo today and I did.  I met up with Mike and Chris but didn't find my usual parking place so had to search a bit and then realised that I wasn't sure I would find the Beast again.  Yes I took it out for a spin, well not literally now that it has gone new tyres on, but I wanted to get rid of the old fuel and get some new in...Spring is in the air.

This morning it was cold so I thought' jumper' and that was a wrong move.  In Haskovo the sun was shining and it brought out the dolly birds and I was perspiring gently and trying to look 'cool'.  So I have my pechat (company stamp) back in my possession but what a problem sorting out the documents.  I had to make a visit to an accountant, four documents and 40 leva later and 'can you come back in one hour' for the other.  I now have all the documents necessary for the finance people and the 'statistic/business registration.  Apparently you now have to register 'business activity' and they charge you for not even having any 'activity'.  Looks like another 'jobs worth' to me so I might be contacting the European Union about it.  

Eventually left Mike and Chris in Haskovo late and then headed off to meet Garry in Nikolovo....and the lovely three husky puppies that he has acquired.  They are adorable. The intention is to breed them eventually but they are most beautiful, each one a different colour and strangely enough one has different coloured eyes and this apparently is quite normal.....I knew one or two 'huskies' in school then.

So into Lidl late to get some more butter and a couple of bottles of the red stuff that they have on offer, drove home and was tempted to drop into the restaurant for chicken wings and cheesy chips but then couldn't be bothered.  Straight home, bottle of the red stuff open....a chunk of bread and lashings of a blue vein cheese that has gone down very well.  LN.....my first job in the morning is to get out the flue pipes and clean them up.  I could smell the sooty-tar-y smell as soon as I got in tonight so tomorrow's work is to get them sorted.  I think it's down to the man selling me damp wood but it's my first winter here so next year, I buy enough and buy it early...the secret of a successful petchka.  

LN....my glass is empty, my plate is empty and I need more food and drink.....I'm on my starting blocks.  I will try to get pickies of the puppies on the site though....they are beautiful....

LN

Friday 25th March

Beautiful day.  My neighbours were all sitting on the pavement outside one of the houses down the road so I skipped down and took my place next to them.  One offered to give up her seat for me but I declared 'no' and managed to get down not knowing whether I would get up again but I did.  They admired my new leather coat that I sported with pride so I took it off and showed them the price ticket....5 leva and it was a real source of amusement, disbelief, shock and horror.  The English woman is buying clothes from a charity shop....I'm not sure if my image went up or down but hey....why should I worry....I'm careful.  So before I set off today my neighbour asked me if I would get her 5 kilograms of oranges from Kardjali but the price has just rocketed.  They were 85 last week and this week 1 leva 20 but I still charged her 5 leva.  I'll absorb the loss, she's the one that gives me eggs and stuff (I know not what) from a fork into my mouth and it's not worth the investigation....you wouldn't want to know.

My documents are in signed and sealed by a lovely lady in the finance office but what a performance.  You have to take a number, (it's a bit like the deli in Sainsbury) and then wait your turn.  Watching the various women behind the counter, yes no men, was quite an eye-opener.  When they pressed the button and the next number was displayed, if the person didn't turn up they just sat there for five, ten minutes and of course, more people were taking tickets and I got the feeling that I would never get out.  They were funny to watch...Some of them worked really diligently while several went to get a drink of water, others took toilet roll from cupboards behind them so I could guess where they were going and it was very laid back.  I think to cap it all at least five of them all went out for lunch at the same time and no one seemed to be supervising the line.  So my number came up eventually after about an hours wait and I had forms picked up yesterday from the accountant and she read through them, I handed over my Bulstat (company registration document) and my passport and then in Bulgarian she asked me a question....no words there that I understand apart for 'How much percent?'.  Now this company has never traded, was drawn up so that I could buy my house, and now we're asking something about percentages so she 'phoned a friend' and it was resolved.  I can now rest easy for another year and have avoided a 500 leva fine.  All seems a bit of a revenue generator to me but at least I didn't have to pay out once I got to the office.

So now to get those flaming, well close but not quite, petchka pipes down to see what they conceal.

Friday continued

What a performance.  I couldn't get the pipes apart so had to try to get enough of the old ones to go from the little woodburner to the hole in the wall to the chimney....so....after much swearing and banging of pipes I managed it and so far so good.  I have had to throw out the radiator that sits in the pipe line because I couldn't get it apart from the old pipes....so tomorrow I will go into Djebel and get a whole new lot for about 25 leva....grrrr.  It's lit, there seems to be no smoke apart from out of the chimney and it certainly smells better...the wood that I got delivered the last time was absolute rubbish...time to switch suppliers but next year...good stuff in early....I've learnt my lesson or I might just investigate if I can have a calor gas heating system....now we are talking...

Nothing cooking so I think it's egg and chips tonight....comfort food...the last two days have been tiring and documents are always a worry since you never know it you have everything...but next year I understand it will be online so that should make life more interesting .....oh forgot....it will be in Bulgarian....drat.  LN....I'm going to catch the last rays of the sun with a beer....

Saturday 26th March

Beautiful weather...silly o'clock when I woke up but perhaps I might sort myself out when the clocks 'spring' forward tonight.

Been in the garden all day....decided to move my potting bench from my the wreck to the new house and install my outside plastic sink and it was downhill from there.  I dug up two honeysuckle that I brought on from cuttings and they are in a huge pot ready for taking to my balcony....I also repotted the sweet peas in something like a pot instead of the yogurt cartons they have spent the winter in.  Moved all the old tyres into the same area and must do something with them. like grow potatoes in them....another day.

So what else did I do....I set to work on the little garden and found another polythene mine so got the 'reprocessing plant' going and my neighbours just love me.  There was so much smoke but at least I have got rid of it....the alternative is to get a wheelbarrow and wheel it up the road and dump it and I get it back when the wind is in my direction....noooooo.

I also dug over my three little gardens which reminded me of burial plots when they were done...and with the fire going next to them, fuelled by the polythene, I could also handle cremations which are not available in Kardjali as we speak....Now there's an opening.....

Sun gone done, spicey sausage in the slow cooker, leek and potato soup in the pan, martini in the glass...not such a bad life.....LN