Thursday 8th March

Ladies' day...the eighth of March....holiday.  What a rotten night I had last night....at two of the clock I was reading my book, decided that I could do a few Freecell and not an ounce of sleep in me and goodness knows why.  I eventually  got my head down at about three o'clock and was awake at six thirty so not a lot of sleep was had.

Looked out to see a thin smattering of snow on the bench and the hillside vaguely covered and decided to ignore it and still pick my men up this morning.  I needed them, I had work to do...or rather they did...I would just pay the bill at the end of the day.

Eight o'clock I arrived and at eight five they emerged from their morning bolthole and wished me a happy ladies' day.  We arrived at the house, we made the list and Bekir and myself headed for Djebel to get in the required supplies for the doors and the other things that I need for my visitors.  I also ran out of gas last night for my cooker so we took the gas canister from its hidey hole  and  topped up with thirty levas worth of gas that will last me approximately eight months.  I call that very reasonable.  

Returned and the men got ensconced in A M's bedroom in the wreck, lit the petchka, and set up the workstation.  I did my preparation for my student, set off for my lesson and delivered Beauty for it's second stage of its regeneration.  My student presented me with homework and a little package of flowers for Ladies' day.  I was so grateful, it is the thought that counts.  We had a very good lesson, I worked him hard and we both enjoyed it.  His father worked his magic on Beauty, gave her a scrub behind the ears and delivered her back to me.  So I was paid for my lessons and that was subtracted for the bill for the work on my car....almost like bartering.

Home....one door assembled and completed, bathroom door three quarters complete and awaiting installing.  It looks like I will have the last of the doors made tomorrow and the shelf for the wash basin for the upstairs bathroom has been sketched out already and committed to memory.

Men home, me home, supper was the remains of last night's mishmash of local spicy sausage, honey, potatoes and pasta.  What a mixture but delicious.  Fire needs to be going well.  The rest of the day was cold and damp but I am assured that tomorrow the sun will shine....I don't hold out much hope but my local gurus are convinced.  LN...I am getting a little chilled writing this...I am off to warmer climbs....namely a downstairs woodburner....and I apologise for the lack of photos....the weather wasn't up to it....

I love bartering and trading what I can do for what someone else can do and we both benefit from it

The new door looks very swish

Friday 9th March

Finished the third book of the series this morning after I had picked up my men from their village.  It was snowing in the wind and not pleasant at all but stoically they lit their wood burner and got to work.  I have three doors and they even found the Suffolk latches in the third bedroom and after a little explaining, they now know how to fit them.  I think Bekir wanted to fit them upside down but when you've never seen one...how are you supposed to know.

I had visitors this afternoon and I could see that the men wanted further instructions as to what to do next and they asked how long my visitors were likely to stay.  We walked the estate, they love my houses but if I've got guests next week so I must get on.  I have a luncheon date with them on Monday...I invited them here but they have other plans and lots of houses to see so Monday seemed a safe bet.  We're going to my chicken restaurant in Kardjali.  I love it there...real chicken and chunky bread...what more could a girl wish for except for a bottle of wine to wash it down and a taxi to take her home.

So as well as my three doors I also have my shelf for the washbasin for the upstairs loo.  The wash basin gets installed tomorrow along with my hall light since the one that was originally fitted I can get nowhere near to change the bulb...so who wasn't thinking straight then...but my rise and fall goes in tomorrow.  I shall take pictures of Bekir pivoting between planks just for the record and I shall remind him that I don't have insurance and I hope he does...   There is also the new light fitting for the bathroom...a bulb on a flex isn't all that inviting and I must see if I can buy something for the bathroom floor.....the tiles can go down later.

Just realised how late I am tonight...the men are working tomorrow since they have lots of their own work to do.  Bekir has lots of baby lambs that he has to look after so I really appreciate that they are here and Sally is starting off his tobacco.  Busy time for the lads.

Supper is Spag. Bol and I've just put in the spaghetti so five minutes and I'll be serving.  Both fires going since that wind was shrill today and I'm hoping that I get my head down at a reasonable time tonight instead of reading until one in the morning.  A little beer. gentle book and to bed was the cry.  LN....my spaghetti should be ready by now...

Saturday 10th March

I am absolutely knacked.....I awoke an silly o'clock this morning, namely four thirty because I went to bed at ten and out like a light....hence this morning at fourish...I reached for my book not having an ounce of sleep left in me.

Picked up the men, back for a breakfast of poached on the toast, and then it was all hell let loose.  Bekir insisted on pirouetting  on the crossbeam to fix the light but because of the stretch I could tell that he was getting light headed and it was a four meter drop so I was getting a little concerned.  It was OK until I said that I didn't like it and then he suggested that if the balancing weight was turned one hundred and eighty degrees, to the left of the window and not the right, I would like it more....and to the right was right.  They both like it, the balancing weight must weigh about three kilograms which surprised the pair of them and they final analysis is that it will look like the moon at night. I like it now, and at least when the bulb goes I can fix it without calling for assistance.

My washbasin is installed, my curtain poles are up and painted by my own fair hands which are now with the black paint diluted by the pain remover, a shade of grey.  I was trying to clean them with cold water outside and the weather was quite nippy in the wind with the adage....well don't stand in the wind then.

The garage came out to fix my car and I think it is heading for surgery on Monday.  We have the opinion that it is not air in the pipes but something to do with the electronic fuel pumps so in for observation.  The garage also have a jeep which had decided to give up the ghost today and he also runs a Renault...so we both have little ones that go and big ones that don't so it can happen to the best of them and me.

Suffolk door latches installed but only five of them.  I could swear that I brought out ten of the beauties but only appear to have five....maybe it was a case of excess baggage so I  unpacked them before I was forced to pay for them.

Supper over, the remains of last night's spag.bol and quarter of a box of vanilla flavoured chocolates have already bitten the dust and it's only seven forty five.  Wine open....tonight I want to sleep the sleep of the just and the men have got so much done that it is all manageable from now on.

LN....out for lunch tomorrow and also on Monday in Kardjali...what a good life.....

Sunday 11th March

Early start this morning and looked at the two sad looking tomatoes in my bowl and realised that breakfast would be tomatoes on toast.  Having done and eaten those, discovered a chicken leg in the fridge that I intended for today but realised that I was out for lunch so by eight this morning I had prepared and cooked chicken with a couple of leeks, a few sad looking carrots, potatoes, onions and soup is ready for as and when.  I stripped the bones out of the chicken and now the soup is in the fridge for tomorrow.  Thought at one stage that I might meet myself coming back but it was OK...I was safe.

So upstairs, logged on, checked emails and the likes and realised that there are a few that I should be doing something about.  Apologies I got distracted and decided that the third bedroom needed a sweep and tidy now that I have no men for the foreseeable future now that they are frying their own fish again (not literally, too cold to fish). Got rid of a lot of empty boxes and now destined for the garden bonfire but too cold this morning to go out and freeze.  Bathroom swept and two piles of debris sitting on the landing. Attempted to put up one of the curtains in the second bedroom but the mood went away again as quickly as it had arrived, tomorrow is another day apart from the fact that I am in Kardjali for a day of shopping and lunch out with visitors.

Realised that it was now ten thirty and I was expected for lunch around twelve so had a shower and washed my hair.  Down to the builders merchants since it was just a little further on to stock up with coal. That sun refuses to show its little face and I'm not sure if the wood is eking the coal out or the coal vice versa.

Lamb for lunch with roasted vegetables, sorted out their computer and at four it started to snow.....so carried on with the laptop, coffee and cake and home with a food parcel...they are so good to me.  Home six thirty...fires hanging on my the skin of their teeth, got in an armful of logs and some rubbish wood and now the home fires are burning brightly.  Not into food...still full from lunch so a little of the red stuff will be in order tonight.

Had a beautiful restful day....all's well in my little world....LN...

Monday 12th March

Six fifty start which was really good but unfortunately it looked like a parrot had descended on the lounge and scattered food droppings.....ok...it was me.  You know what it's like when you've had that glass of wine too many, or eaten early and not bothered to top up but you get the munchies after a drink or three.  So the only thing available were sunflower seeds.  The packet was on my knee, I was spitting the empty husks into my other hand and all was going well until I decided to pick up my glass.  I only have two hands and managed to pick up the drink but hitting the bag of sunflower seeds so I grabbed with the other hand and empty shell mixed with the other shells in a heap on the floor.  By this time I had decided that I couldn't be arsed sifting the chaff from the grain so off to bed, leaving the debris to be sorted this morning.  Oh what a mess but the drink was saved which was the main thing.

Toast for breakfast and at eleven set sail for the big city realising that I hadn't removed the three bags of coal from Beauty last night and I still haven't....it's a job for the morning...it was too dark, too cold and had begum snowing again as I pulled in the drive.

Had a lovely day in Kardjali with friends from the web.  Lunched in the Chicken Coup as I call it, helped them get some paperwork done and jobsaguddun so to speak.  My lovely lady in my bank reminded me that I have to go in next week to sort out my account just to make sure that there is enough in the second account to pay the electricity bill so that I don't get cut off again.  I did give her a hard time though....I wanted to know why there was no present this year and no calendar...just not good enough....I threatened to take my overdraft elsewhere....

So bought some more small plates and replaced a couple of wine glasses that have somehow fell off the table at various times and not all down to me.  Bought some more curtain material and will be busy tomorrow.  Intended getting some woven woollen runners but the shop was closed so off to another market tomorrow morning to see what's on offer there...it's not one that I usually go to but it has furniture shops as well and worth a try.

Fires going just about....cold as you like or don't like tonight but at least the snow has stopped.  About to get my chicken soup on....comfort food....LN....I've got things to do and can't spend all night talking to you.

Elsa A BIG  thank you     Advice  taken with a  very great full  heart     
I shall be in touch when my brain has settled down !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                                Again THANK YOU  Jackie

Tuesday 13th March

Cold wind, blowing a gale and all I can hear is the rustle of polythene sheeting and the banging of the floor insulation that I nailed on the roof of the wreck.  Come on guys....it's March....and even the sheep have stayed in their pen and not sojourned onto the hillside.  

Forgot to mention that there was an attempt to get the Beast into the garage but unfortunately it was scuppered.  The jeep on its way to tow mine in broke down on the way and needs a new cylinder head.  I spoke to the garage owner's wife after my lesson with the boy today and said that I'm not pleased it broke down but I'm pleased that it broke down on its way here.  Just think how guilty I would feel if I thought that I was the cause of the problems.  I've asked if the garage can organise someone else to tow it in so that at least we can identify the problem and get parts ordered if necessary...sorry...so that they can identify the problem...used the royal 'we' there....big mistake.

So had a sewing day and as for those curtains I could willingly set fire to the bastards and start again.  I love the material but since it is so wide, it has stretched and the pattern that is supposed to be in straight lines isn't.  I thought it was the way that I had cut them but to those that understand, it appears to be on the bias so it looks a little pissisted.  They are up and I'll do a few minor adjustments tomorrow with hammer and nails...or matches most likely...

Bed in situ...I've moved mine into the second bedroom for my guests because it is warmer with the chimneys going up the wall, made some cushion covers, bottom sheet cut out and ready to 'go' tomorrow as is the duvet cover. I have others but I wanted to change the colour scheme and have.

Chicken soup is finally finished...had it tonight with buttered toast....a touch of brandy and water tonight should finish the day well.  I'll sign off now.....my glass is empty...LN...and I promise photos tomorrow...the weather just hasn't been up to it.

Cor my guests are lucky if I turn around with a duster, yours are getting new colour schemes. Hope they appreciate it  

Wednesday 14th March

So what did today hold.....by seven this morning I had breakfasted and decided that this was the day that most of the work was getting done...and it did.

I bought a new carpet in Djebel yesterday...well it was only twenty leva and I wasn't really sure about it but it went down in front of the woodburner and covered most of the floor to the entrance and lounge doors.  Now when I'm here by myself I park myself infront of the wood burner taking up all of the space.  Thinking about having guests, they need to see the fire as well so I have been shifting the sofa around and hoicking in the remaining outside chair.  If it's cold we need to be gathered round,  I'm not convinced that everything is in the right place but hey...it can be moved, it's not nailed down.

So this morning I was sweeping off my patio and a thought came into my head about getting the Beast into Djebel and if they had managed to persuade anyone to tow me in.  Two seconds later, I see a white car slow down and Lubo from the garage is passenger in what I consider a very small car to do the joy.  I look at Lubo and say, 'Malko" (small).....he looks at me and shrugs his shoulders.  I hand him the keys and that is the last I have seen of it.  I'm assuming that they got there but I hope it has not done any damage to the little car.  The guy that owns it is runs the saw mill in my village and notorious for not taking care of his vehicle and at this point I ask myself....is it my concern?

Curtains fixed, duvet cover made, book case sorted but needs minor adjustments tomorrow, bathroom blind three quarters of the way there so making headway.  Just need a couple of pillow cases and edge the bottom sheet and make a headboard.....

Visitors this afternoon bearing gifts which is always nice and bought a sweater from the travelling shop for five leva......good to keep in with the locals.  Not thought about supper yet...lunch was tuna mayo on toast and I think that will be supper as well looking at the time.  My 'To Do' list is getting smaller thank goodness....I might even find time to play to make that bookcase really worth sticking a light on to make it a feature....well I might.

LN....I'm going to get the toaster out and find that tuna....