Friday continued

Bonfire done, wood in, terraces cleared and all the time it was snowing a tad but then the sun came out.  Went up to the roof of the wreck and decided that there was an awful lot of snow up there and it would be better if it was at ground level...so with my trusty snow scoop, up I went and spent a couple of hours up there more or less and got rid of most of it.  Really lovely up there and suddenly realised that I could hear a small pipe being played and eventually spotted the source.  A man on the opposite hillside taking his six cows for a walk and playing them a little tune.  Now I know not if his wife had sent him out.  Strange things happen on this hillside.

Polythene needs replacing, the wind has done its stuff but there is still no chance of getting out with safety.  I saw Avatar's son and asked him what the road to Djebel was like and he pointed to the surface of the village road and said that it was about the same.  Not worth risking it but at this point I might have to change my religion to tee total...I'm on the last dregs, that's dregs not legs, and I just hope that I pull through.

Got some beans in the slow cooker this morning and tonight's supper was those haricot beans with honey, sauteed onions, tomato paste and a dash of chili flakes with gammon chunks added.  I got some rolls out of the freezer, put them in the oven and when they came out...they were ditched.  They had that freezer smell about them so that's a few calories less and more for the birds tomorrow.  

Funny incident this afternoon.  My man that takes his cow for a walk arrived with a parcel from England and he usually stands around until I explain who it's from and when I said Martin, he kissed the envelope.  I found this a bit disconcerting and when I said that Martin was coming out in June I thought he was going to have an attack.  He then asked me about Bekir and I thought he wanted his telephone number so I wrote it down for him and then he said that he hadn't got a phone and could I ring him....I listened to the conversation but it was in Turkish so goodness knows what that was all about.

Anyway opened my parcel and  tried them out...cracking and if they're for my birthday, they're early but thank you.  All closed up for the night, curtains drawn, both fires going well, supper over and done with and about to see what I can salvage on the alcohol stakes....LN....I might have to go to bed early...

Friday continued, continued...

I forgot to post the photo of the contents of the parcel....here you go....

Saturday 11th February

Very good night's sleep despite the lack of alcohol but remarkable vivid dreams...roll on clear roads and access to shops or bring back the mobile van...either he's having a holiday or made his money and decided that it's not worth the risk.  Baked beans on toast for breakfast and they do put Mr Heinz to shame.  It was three o'clock before I felt in the least bit hungry and there was some blue cheese in the fridge that filled the hole with some cracker biscuits but I'm jumping ahead.

The foil parcel that I got out of the freezer yesterday when I went to get the bread rolls that ended up as the birds' breakfast turned out to be veal from my Avatar's little one.  After breakfast I fried off an onion, added the cubed and trimmed meat after rolling it in seasoned flour, added a stock cube and curry powder and it sat on the biggie all day and has ended up in the slow cooker.  The rice is cooking itself on the top of the biggie and should be ready when I am...no rush.

Moved out into the garden, cleared more of the terrace and moved on to digging out the trench that drains water that collects under the wreck if it's very wet or there's lots of snow.  Sally dug it out first time but with the wall coming down as part of the renovations, the trench got filled.  I'm within a foot of the drain hole so should be able to get my pipe through tomorrow...trouble is some of the stones from the wall are really heavy so I'm having to roll them out of the way...no way I can lift them.  Decided enough was enough....got my logs in but threw a huge on on the biggie this morning so that it ticked over nicely with little intervention.  

Came in and played a few Freecell, did my five star Sudoko, checked emails and read my other favourite site, listened to radio 2 and finished reading the third story in the Readers Digest book that I've borrowed.  Very restful afternoon...supper's ready when I am.

LN....I've got to close the curtains and batten down the hatches...the temperature has dropped tonight and it's still only six thirty.  Nice to know that England is coming out in sympathy and is experiencing really low temperatures in places.  I know just what you are going through and you now know what I've been going through for the last few weeks....enjoy and stop moaning about it....  LN...

Sunday 12th February

It's back again.....OK so it's only light but I looked out and decided that the nest was the warmest place once I had got the fire going.  Now this is serious stuff....all the library books are finished as is the alcohol, food I'm OK but this stretch has gone on far too long.  Yes I know....it's winter but there's been no lull for two weeks now and I'm thinking that I might even go to town on the bus tomorrow....do what the locals do...   No...not 'go to town on the bus'.....that's not what I meant at all.  I shall sit quietly like the rest of the passengers.

Still got three quarters of the logs left that I got in yesterday so I don't need to venture out for a while...I've worked out the secret...stick a biggie on the biggie and go and work outside....when you come back in the house is almost tropical and when you start getting cold again...have another trip round the garden...winter?   ....it's a breeze...

Sunday continued

Coming down the stairs and heard and saw the mobile shop. It was heading out of the village so I grabbed my keys knowing that it would stop about one hundred and fifty yards away at the next check point...got out to the road and saw it in the distance so decided that I could make it on foot probably quicker than getting the car out so off I set.  The driver was walking in the road keeping himself warm while his wife did the hard part in the shop so I waved at him so that he wouldn't sally forth into the great unknown.  It looked a little bit empty but managed to get four eggs...two loaves of bread and two spicy sausages and a small bottle of ouzo...so the only thing I'm short of now is a book to read but I don't think I'm ever going to get one of those from the mobile van...   Walked back and looked like a snow person....non-sexist here.

Decided to make the lounge curtains today so set up the machine and started and then yes, you've guessed it ....a power cut so went out and cleared the bedroom, lounge and kitchen terraces.  Got into the swing of it, cleared the drive and cars just in case there was an emergency and worked out that this is my daily workout.  With my trusty snow shovel it's good exercise for the tummy muscles.  Sat outside after I'd finished and my little man was out there with his pipe and playing the same tune but no cows out for a walk...too much snow around.  It was really peaceful...a dog was barking in the distance, a man chopping wood, my man with his pipe and the woodpecker knocking seven bells out of my special tree.  I knew there was no way I could photo it,  too nervous.  As I've said before ....I have the time to watch, listen and enjoy.

Finished the curtains and all I need now is a curtain pole and a man to fit it unless I get the bit between my teeth....not literally....and attempt it myself.  I think it might just keep the rest of the house warmer if there is an airlock between my lovely windows and the snow and freezing temperatures outside.

Warmed up the remains of last night's curry....a curry's always better on the second day.  Tonight's treat...ouzo and water....everything closed up, curtains drawn and I'm listening to BBC Radio 2.  LN....I'm going to go to battle with Arnold at DS Scrabble...it's normally a pretty even tournament....LN

Hi  Elsa
You put some of us to shame !!!!!! just thinking maybe a grape vine in spring , wine making in the summer , lot's of the red stuff all winter   more had work I know  
but just think you wont run out at the most  crucial  time

Monday 13th February

Quoted from createdbyme4you

Hi  Elsa
You put some of us to shame !!!!!! just thinking maybe a grape vine in spring , wine making in the summer , lot's of the red stuff all winter   more had work I know  .  but just think you wont run out at the most  crucial  time

It's like this....I have the grapevines but they are so much like hard work.  They have to be sprayed so many times a year and there is so much wild fruit around that it would be much easier to start brewing 'from the wild' so to speak. I'm collecting five litre jars in the winter. to start brewing in the summer. As for running out....just call it my idea of rehab. I know winter only lasts so long....

Now...a happy birthday to my son and I'm not going to share how many years ago it was.  I was completely shattered after a long time in labour and in true NH form I had lain on a trolley for about two hours after a safe delivery of a nine pounds seven bundle, waiting for my GP to arrive to do the necessary repairs.  He said he couldn't decide whether to do use blanket stitch or French knots and I remember saying that since we'd joined the Common Market may be he should go for French knots (that might give you a clue as to how long ago it was and even then I had to go for the funny).  Not that it was really funny.....but I had complete confidence in my regular GP's skills, he was also a pig breeder, I knew I was in safe hands.  Sorry if you feel that is too much information...just a little background.

As for the weather today...it was cold this morning with freezing fog blocking out the hillside... Now it can't decide what it wants to do.  It started to snow, then the thaw set in, it started raining, the fog lifted, it came back so I'm going to turn my desk round and face the wall.  (Not really.)  I've got this curtain bug so now after yesterday's success with the lounge curtains, I've cut out the ones for the second bedroom and brought in the wood for the top of my blind for the upstairs bathroom.  

All go here it is....to work...

Monday continued

Well I had a visit from another postman this afternoon.  You've gathered, whoever is coming this way or goes to the post office or is seen in the vicinity gets the job for the day...a bit like postman's knock....and today's lucky person ...was Semile the sheep farmer.  He's had a tough time of it with his animals this winter.  He started going on about how bad it is and if a local says it...it must be.  He has lost a hundred sheep because of the cold weather and five cows.  I did say was his freezer full but apparently the cows went to the dogs....no his sheep dogs...he has fifteen of them...you know the ones...the big white ones that terrorise the neighbours and chase any car on the road.  I asked him how the road was to Djebel.  He told me he'd gone in because it was market day but with the rain on the snow, he was all over the road.  I was trying to explain about rear wheel and front wheel drive remembering the time that my daughter was out for the first time in snow...she sailed through to Brighton in her little beauty....I made it to Brighton...just.... in my Calibra.  The flaming big tyres filled up and I ended up going down the hill with two of the tyres on the grass verge.  Scary.... Anyway forgot to say....I had parcel from Princess for my birthday...who's the lucky girl then?...Me....

My next callers were my Avatar and my neighbour.  Now I can always tell when my Avatar has been put in a compromised position, she is uncomfortable asking me for anything and since my neighbour speaks less Bulgarian than I do...Avatar is the translator.  We had little chit-chats but then I was asked if I was going into Djebel tomorrow.  I said no because of the state of the road but if she needed to go to the hospital I was prepared to give it a go.  It transpired...it was pension day and she wanted to collect and pay her electricity bill.  I declined blaming it on the state of the road.  Now there is a thaw on, and if it continues to thaw, I just might go in tomorrow but the temperature is already dropping, snow is forecast overnight so those roads are going to be a real nightmare if it comes to pass.

So another day without evening imbibing, sort of enforced rehab.  Roll on spring. Had toast and tuna mayo for a late lunch so not really into anything so far this evening but the night is young and there is Stilton in the fridge.  LN...Poor Arnold of  Scrabble fame was really thrashed last night and after five games, even I felt sorry for him...so off to toast my tootsies....LN

Well I hope your birthday goes well despite the weather and the enforced rehab  

Tuesday 14th February

Quoted from Joanna

Well I hope your birthday goes well despite the weather and the enforced rehab  

I think Spring is here Joanna...well there's a spring in my step now that I think I can get out into town....the sobriety is over.  As predicted last night the temperature dropped but Phoebus or Phoebe (whatever your thoughts on the subject) is at last shining down.

Seven thirty when I awoke this morning so this lack of alcohol might be an improvement.  I think I'll have to do a study....one week on and the next week off and perhaps write a theses about it.  I've dug out the little ditch so the snow melts the water off the road will be whooshed down the lane and not into my yard.  It's a long lane and doesn't end up in anyone's garden I don't think.  Got rid of another lot of snow and slush from the roof of the wreck with my trusty scoop and removed a few more rocks from the canal that I am digging but looking under the wreck, there's doesn't seem to be much water down there so perhaps I've done enough all ready for it to drain away.
  
I am now legal to go on the road with both vehicles.  I bought the road tax window stickers and it's a good system here.  Not only do you get a receipt when you purchase them from the post office but you also have to have it in your car if you're stopped on a police check.  The sticker is two part...there is the bit that you stick on the window but there is another part of it which carries the same barcode and you have to produce that as well.  Cuts down on road tax theft somewhat....Both run for a year, both run out at the end of January next year so all forgotten about till then.  No DVLA...just my little lady that didn't quite get my surname so put 'Elza" on the receipt.  Don't suppose you get many of those in and around Kardjali...

Anyway...not had any breakfast yet so off to see what I can find.  Caught the mobile van this morning but didn't have any eggs or beer...not much of a shop but she did explain that it freezes overnight so not worth keeping.  To horse...