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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria    General Boards    My Diary by Elsa Peters  ›  MARCH 2012
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Elsa Peters
March 1, 2012, 5:39am Report to Moderator

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Thursday March 1st

Chestita Baba Marta.....the lady is here but as for the weather...I saw no naked shepherds frolicking in the morning dew....there was no morning dew just lots of snow and it was coming down strong at 5.30 this morning.  Yes cold overnight again and if this is welcoming to Baba Marta....it's getting a little thin at this neck of the woods.  Suns up amongst those scudding clouds somewhere but I have the feeling that they're going to keep scudding all day and coming from the north east.



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theroo
March 1, 2012, 7:19pm Report to Moderator

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Hey there

Happy Baba Marta. Thank you for the bands; we are both wearing them at the moment, though are unsure when we're likely to see any storks over here (other than the dodgy margarine variety)...

It looks like we really did bring the weather with us huh it was literally just starting to snow as we left.

dovej dane
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Elsa Peters
March 2, 2012, 4:48pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 2nd March

So I fell asleep reading last night and decided that when I awoke anything that I wrote would be incoherent so decided to abstain from the evening ritual...sorry folks...needs as needs must.

Slept badly and I was awake at three this morning and settled into my book until five thirty.  Head down for a couple of hours...no need for fires this morning as the sun was already up...not too warm but hinting at a beautiful day.  Ten thirty this morning my phone goes and I'm wondering who's calling.  Look at the display and it's my Bekir and he says that the local builder's yard has some of the supplies in that it has been waiting for and can they deliver today.  Bekir and Sally will hitch a lift with the wagon, come and unload so that it's all here for when they can start again, weather permitting.  The boys are back in town is the first thing that comes to mind and I have been singing it for the rest of the day.  He reckons they are going to be an hour.....I reckon it is going to be a Bulgarian hour and I am right.  Just before mid-day the wagon arrives, men jump out, gate is removed, hardboard stacked in the yard, wood dropped on the roadside, my roof bitumen is taken to the wreck.  Payment is demanded, I managed to get together six hundred leva advising them that they didn't give me much notice and promise payment with fourteen working days....   

Leave the men to moving the timber from the road to the yard and I've now got to go into Djebel to get fuel for Beauty to take them home, money to pay them for the last time they worked and enough for the remainder of the delivery that they can it take to the yard tomorrow.....I hate debt....all will be sorted tomorrow.

I have told them that I need them to work for a few days to make some doors so that my guest don't feel that they are living on a building site and the washbasin will be installed upstairs for their benefit.  There is also the small detail of curtain poles...I have the curtains...no poles.  Joy of joy.  My men are back.

So I get back from Djebel and they are waiting for me so take them home.  They comment about the amount of wood that I have left...not much is it and I am reminded that there is no wood in Fotinovo and that others have completely run out.  I do have a reserve supply at the back of the barn that will be brought into play for a dire emergency but so far so good.  Fires lit at four o'clock this afternoon and ticking along nicely....it's not so cold today but it's welcoming to see one burning in the grate.  Supper is gammon with baked beans in honey and tomato with a hint of chilli and it's bubbling and should be ready when I finish this update.

Must really go round the village with my red and white bands tomorrow...the weather has sort of put me off but round I must....collected my first one from my car shop this afternoon when I went in to get the money and explained that I had put the fuel into the Beast but still no ignition.  I think there is air in the fuel pipe and I need the man to sort it out...hopefully tomorrow....

Supper calls, wine calls, book calls and finally bed calls and hopefully it is before I rest my head on the arm of my settee and nod off waking to a ghost of a fire....LN....let's start the count down to bedtime....



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Elsa Peters
March 3, 2012, 6:07am Report to Moderator

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Saturday 3rd March

Frosty start, lovely morning, finished my book and now on to the third in the series....author.....Diana Gabaldon...Danuta you would love them.

So I hear breakfast calling from the kitchen...get some food inside me...as you feed a fire, so you feed the flesh...
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Elsa Peters
March 3, 2012, 4:20pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday continued

What a beautiful day and quite productive.  There has been some old lino lying around in the garden from the wreck and I forgot all about it until the snow disappeared....so....lit a bonfire this morning and unfortunately it was blowing towards the houses and not over the hillside but as the day wore on, the wind stilled and I was down to my Bulgarian vest and on the sun-lounger and it was really very hot.  Didn't take long though for the wind to change direction completely, get up to speed and remove most of the polythene roofing from the wreck but the upside was that the smoke was now off over the hillside to Greece.  Unfortunately it was blowing a gale as I said so I had to 'caretaker' it until I could safely say...it's all gone and burnt itself out.  Lino's just a bugger to burn and it was a little damp and oh so smelly.

Went up on the roof of the wreck and bashed some more nails in to stop most of the polythene wafting in the wind.  Precariously balanced over the hallway on an eight inch beam....thought about a flick-flack and an Olga Korbet dismount  but decided to use the ladder instead...

Came in for a coffee and started the third book in the series...realised that the breakfast that I'd promised myself hadn't materialised and I was now a little in need of sustenance so made a batch of p*ssing ham soup, as I like to call it, and it was delicious.  Had it with hot buttered toast and there's enough left for two portions for the freezer.  Just got the fire underway...there's been no need for it until now (6.00) and the wind has dropped and it's turned into a very calm evening.  I was toying with the idea of going down to Djebel and my restaurant but instead will do it in the morning and make it a 'coffee' morning instead.  It's been a while since I did that.

So not hungry yet after my soup...real rib sticking stuff....a little beer tonight will not go a miss to help it down and that book is really calling me....it's a ripping yarn.  Light's going on, curtains getting closed, beer getting poured, cushions getting plumped, computer getting switched off and I'm in for the night.....LN ...enjoy your evening.
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Hwlffordd
March 4, 2012, 9:12am Report to Moderator
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There I was wondering why it was so quiet and I just realised I was still living in February and everyone else is here in March!!

Well here I sit and I'm all excited (even more excited now than I was!) ! I have booked flights which will arrive on 24th March and I leave again on 31st March so I get to see some of BG at last for real!

Now do I actually need to worry too much about snow ?!?!?! Or will I be able to drive about without too much difficulty!
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Elsa Peters
March 4, 2012, 4:38pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 4th March

OK Bob...well done for booking your flight but in no way am I a Michael Fish......and as for Mystic Meg....s,no hope or Bob Hope....Andrew struck lucky with the weather....as it stands at the moment...cold nights and gorgeous days....cross those fingers and anything else that can be crossed.

As for me....by seven this morning I had coffeed, emailed, checked the blog and at eight was cooking my fried tomatoes to have them on toast.  They seemed to have been lurking for a while and there's only so many poached eggs that you can eat without wanting a change.  Got the right spice pots and managed black pepper first time....have been known to come out with ginger before now or cinnamon...different but doesn't go with the salt too well.

Finished one of the curtains for the second bedroom...it was a bit of a bugger since the lining material wasn't woven all that square so I had to make adjustments by a bit of hand sewing.  All good now and I have come up with a solutions for the fact that the beams on the ceiling of the bedroom are not all the same depth and I was trying to workout how I could use one run of metal but come down about two inches to make it OK to attach to one of the other beams...Easy....put a bend in it....I've now got to explain it to the men and it will probably take pencil and paper.

Sat out this afternoon on the lounge terrace for a couple of hours in the sun and got my first summer tinge on.  It was absolutely gorgeous out there.  Took my third book in the series and she has now gone back through the standing stones two hundred and twenty years and found her man.....all good so far and it's a job to put it down (that's the book).  Came in at three when the wind got up and sat in the hall still reading and at five decided that it was time to light the fire, I noticed the sun setting so out with the camera and caught Semile's cowman coming home.  He hardly speaks a word of Bulgarian but he watched me taking photos so in Turkish I said that it was a beautiful sight and he smiled.  I asked him if I could take his photo and he was so pleased.....I'll frame it for him.  He's only a young lad and lives on his own since his parents have died.  

So fire going...didn't bother to freeze the pea and ham soup....I'm going to have it tonight...it was so delicious.  Out of alcohol so I'll used my imagination on some grape juice and with a little bit of luck and a fair wind, I might have to be out in the car in the morning if the men decide that they can work so not a bad thing.  LN....that soup needs a warming and I need another grape juice.



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Elsa Peters
March 5, 2012, 7:30pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 5th March

Fristy frosty white over at 6.00 this morning and at seven thirty no call from the men so I stood down.

So today what to do?  I started about five jobs at the same time and I think only two of them have been completed through no fault of my own.  One ever so large bench removed from the kitchen and put on the kitchen terrace. logs sorted, log support bench removed to the kitchen but realised that it needs another two / three inches on it to become a kitchen bench so back to the drawing board, terrace swept and then it was time for half an hour with the book.

Peace and quiet dissolved when my phone went and it was the garage saying that the man who owned my Beauty was in the garage and I think that I may have mentioned that without the trip to the solicitors you might have it in your possession but legally, it's not yours.  So it was suggested that I get my a into gear and get to the garage double quick which I did.  I grabbed all of the documents that I have for my car and I set sail with the man to collect the remaining documents from his house.  Off we went in my Beauty to Kardjali, found a solicitor to be greeted with 'If you haven't got the annual tax documents, I can't do the transfer'.  Back we went to Djebel and I left him outside the tax office to pay the local tax and he is supposed to phone the garage and we have agreed to meet on Wednesday to go again to Kardjali to find the not so obliging woman so that ownership of the said vehicle will be ...mine all mine...

So back to the garage to confirm that the man is going to phone Lubo at the garage with the time of the next attempt and I mentioned that my little Beauty doesn't sound so good and on closer inspection she had a front wheel bearing gone and the 'tampons' (shock absorbers) were on the blink.  The bearing was fixed but the tampons will be sorted tomorrow.  Not a good word for them but obviously I didn't try the translation...too much like hard work and embarrassing for the native speakers.  He's also coming out to look at the Beast tomorrow....the winter has taken its toll of my transport...roll on spring.

Home at almost seven to a cold house...lit fire, poured myself a drink (having stopped off in Djebel to top-up the empty cabinets), settled for a rum and coke and at four pounds eighty for a litre bottle of the stuff thought it was reasonable value.

Now back to my book in front of the fire that at last is sending its warmth to the radiators around the place.  LN...I'm off to sample some of the rum with hot water....need fortification...it's cold tonight but maybe I feel it after the warmth of the day...LN...down the wooden hills I go....
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Elsa Peters
March 6, 2012, 4:36pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 6th March

Six of the clock...bright and early....read until 7.00...no breakfast this morning.  I was naughty last night and had the rest of the tuna mayo from lunch with three huge chunks of bread finishing off with a whole bar of hazel nut chocolate and didn't I suffer!!   

I dreamt of my grandmother's fish and chip shop, they were having it demolished and there were men hanging on to it precariously from ladders and the likes.  In my dream thay had no other place to go to and I wondered why it was coming down so at six I'd had enough trauma for one night and came to with a start.  So that's when I picked up my book and from one catastrophe to another....the nephew was just about to be hijacked and the treasure stolen so I decided enough was enough....out of bed, coffee, turned out the kitchen since breakfast was going to sit heavily on the tuna from last night, washed the floor, turned out the hall and headed up to emails, blog and making curtains.

Mid morning Sally and one of his friends arrived.  He is so obviously proud of the work that he and Bekir have achieved so a conducted tour was underway and the message is, from the horse's mouth, Bekir is to phone tomorrow and they are here for the rest of the week to do the doors and sort out the upstairs bathroom for my guests.    If there is time left they might just roof the wreck but I know they don't work that fast, but they are good.

Went in for my student and realised when I had got there that all the work I'd prepared was sitting in my lounge and I was in Djebel.  I thought I'd put it in my bag but no so I went onto the internet and we read the texts that I would have used and answered the questions on the screen. Prior to that I suggested that we used his school workbook and it was so boring that even I decided that it wasn't up to scratch...Who are these things written by and for whom?

My car was in this afternoon and tampons fixed.  I have to smile when I say it but a further problem is that one of the springs is shot so tomorrow...two new springs and thank goodness it's in Bulgaria not the UK.  Home after a visit to the leva shop bringing home a new little saucepan, a thermometer and some screwed rods from the hardware shop for my curtains...don't ask...all will be revealed.  Fire that I thought was going has given up the ghost while I am writing this so my next step is down to fix it.  Supper is nowhere near the cooker so I've got to use some inspiration with what's in the fridge and the red wine is uncorked ready....I suppose one out of three isn't bad.

LN.....I have jobs to do...have a good evening....
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Elsa Peters
March 7, 2012, 4:17pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 7th March

Six o'clock start, read my book for an hour, got dressed and awaited the phone call and ....zilch...I guess he had other fish to fry.  Decided not to waste the morning so started on my curtains and they are all ready to hang that's when I get the curtain rails up....There is a metal rod in the wreck that might do the big and small windows and if it fits, Cinderella, then tomorrow I get to paint it black.  The other small one for the door needs the dirt and rust from it since I only dug it up from out of the garden yesterday.  I knew where it had been buried and out with the spade and I have it.

So what else did I do?  Breakfast...poached eggs....onto the computer and did my emails and stuff...and then replaced the outside sink drain.  The frost had taken its toll and there were leak everywhere but now fixed.  Moved the plants from out of the second bedroom into the third and and cleared out the half tiles from the bathroom and tomorrow I am making a shelf for the wash basin to sit on.  Had a phone call from Bekir to say that they will be working tomorrow.  The list is assembled but firstly must get some measuring apparatus...they left the tape measures out in the winter when it came on us very suddenly and they don't come out and if they come out, they won't go back....this I know from experience....   Bekir will provide the plumbing expertise, Sally can start on the doors so that there is a little privacy for my guests.  I suppose I am so used to living on.

Lubyo came round to see to the Beast but still didn't get it going.  I tried to explain that you need to get the air out of the fuel pipe if it has run out of fuel but I couldn't fine it even after looking at the handbook.  He reckoned that there wasn't enough fuel in the tank to start it so off I went this afternoon and bought another eleven litres of the stuff and the 'beauty'....for want of a better word...still wouldn't start but he did recommend that I saved a couple of litres and he probably will be back on Friday to give it another go.

Supper tonight is cooking...local sausage with potatoes, mushrooms, honey, tomato paste and I've just put pasta on to cook so it shouldn't take too long.  I've had the fire ticking over most of the day.  It's been dull, damp and cold and I hear that there might be some more snow....let's hope not tomorrow...first day back and all that and even though they will be working inside some of the time...I know they will insist on making the doors outside because of the mess....

Kitchen calls.....LN.....I'm off to sort supper.....sorry no pics...promise there'll be some tomorrow....
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Elsa Peters
March 8, 2012, 7:57pm Report to Moderator

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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....





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Hwlffordd
March 8, 2012, 9:18pm Report to Moderator
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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
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Elsa Peters
March 9, 2012, 5:38pm Report to Moderator

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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...
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Elsa Peters
March 10, 2012, 5:58pm Report to Moderator

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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.....



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Elsa Peters
March 11, 2012, 5:46pm Report to Moderator

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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...
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Elsa Peters
March 12, 2012, 5:20pm Report to Moderator

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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.
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createdbyme4you
March 13, 2012, 8:14am Report to Moderator

Hi from London but longing to be in Bulgaria
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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
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Elsa Peters
March 13, 2012, 6:03pm Report to Moderator

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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.
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Joanna
March 14, 2012, 6:00pm Report to Moderator
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Cor my guests are lucky if I turn around with a duster, yours are getting new colour schemes. Hope they appreciate it  
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Elsa Peters
March 14, 2012, 6:21pm Report to Moderator

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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....



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MOS
March 14, 2012, 6:48pm Report to Moderator
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Hi Elsa
i think you get a ten out of ten for the doors ,looking good ,glad to know you have made a space in front of the fire toasted toes could be the order of the day me thinks ;
have you been sabotaging the CSH site again or do you think its Danny's ramblings clogging up the system  
MOS xx
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Elsa Peters
March 14, 2012, 6:55pm Report to Moderator

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Quoted from MOS
Hi Elsa
i think you get a ten out of ten for the doors ,looking good ,glad to know you have made a space in front of the fire toasted toes could be the order of the day me thinks ;
have you been sabotaging the CSH site again or do you think its Danny's ramblings clogging up the system  
MOS xx


What me my sweet...would I?   It's been a beautiful day here and the doors have been open all day....Spring might be here to welcome you....There is a smell of wood preservative lingering from the bookcase but it should be gone by Saturday ...otherwise gas masks will be available at the gate...I'm sure there are a few from the Communist era knocking around....Have a safe journey and one question...and email the answer...what size slippers do you take...my quarry tiles tend to be chill and I'm assuming that OH is about a 39/40....

My gift to you....LN
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Elsa Peters
March 15, 2012, 6:41pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 15th March

Six thirty start and looked out and there had been a hard frost and yet again.  Dawn was breaking but there was only a glimmer and you knew that it was trying its best but it just wasn't good enough.

I was sewing all morning and it occurred to me that I had only ten minutes to get my posterior into gear and get into Djebel for my student.  I arrived in time but his mother was working in the shop so we chatted for a while about the towing of the Beast since she was the one that told me that the owner of the vehicle thought that he had a Jeep but that the bodywork had been changed to camouflage the fact.  Apparently her husband had mentioned that he was looking for someone with a jeep to tow mine in and he had volunteered so over they came.  

All better now....the problem.....the four 'candles' (remember that sketch?) and I know it's not spark plugs in a diesel, had to be changed....it appears that the cold weather destroys them.  The ones in the garage owners jeep had to be changed as well.  So my pocket is a little lighter but they only charged me thirty leva for the tow and the work on the car.  Now I have two cars in Djebel so the Beast is taken back to the garage and after a little shopping, Beauty is back home.  I have another zebra blanket just in case and I'm not sure in case of what but it was snowing in the wind as I got back to my car.  Please no more....I've had enough and one day of sun is not going to do it for me...need more.....much more.

Supper, spicy sausage with chilli, onions, honey and tomato served on a bed of pretty coloured pasta....cosmetic but it makes a change.  I've ordered my pot of home made yogurt for the weekend from my Avatar so that I can knock up some simple puds perhaps with a touch of something alcoholic.  Just remembered my sheep farmer has not delivered the meat I ordered on Tuesday.  I shall be taking my own from the hillside if he's not careful.

On to the 9.00 bus tomorrow, picking up the Beast and then carrying on to Kardjali to do food shopping.  It's been a while since I filled up.  Need also to look for a couple of carpets, I've had a rejig and the landing no longer has one down.  I think I've exhausted Djebel's supply except for a green and red thing that I declined.  LN....my feet are getting chill..... I'm off to toast my tootsies.....and find something to warm the insides...
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Elsa Peters
March 16, 2012, 5:42pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 16th March

So for some reason woke up at silly o'clock again and decided to check on the weather and ...it was snowing full pelt.  Not much around apart from me and the snowflakes and after a few photos I went back to the nest and got my head down for about half an hour.  Brainwave struck.....in my bedroom I have a narrow shelf that was a table and I got to thinking that it would be just the thing for the sitting area in front of the wood burner.  It's tallish so you wont trip over it, narrow enough that you don't have to shout 'mind the gap' when negotiating it and not very solid if you bump into it. It also has a little shelf under it so that you can put those guides and phrase books so that you always know where they are...... Result.  It is now polished, sited and the old garden plastic chest has replaced it in the bedroom.  

Took the said piece of furniture outside to take off the cobwebs and polish it and saw the village bus making its way to the lower village....Now my original plan was to take said bus and go into Djebel and then take the car into Kardjali.  This would have left me lots to do tomorrow when my guests arrive and thought better of it.....but two seconds later realised that if the car was 'home' it would be one less thing to think about so quick change from work gear to reasonably presentable and at nine I was outside the bus stop.  This was only a small bus and I stood looking at it not knowing where the entrance door was until one of my neighbours inside opened it up for me.  It was packed but that's not difficult with only about twenty seats but as we approached the centre of the village, all eyes turned to the lane because one of the regulars hadn't appeared.  So the driver waited, tooted his horn and the general consensus was...he's not coming.  Got to Djebel and the lady taking the money was asking people where they alighted so I said Dushinkovo, before she could ask me and she rubbed my arm and smiled...I beginning to feel almost local.  Walked to the garage, got two plastic closures for the fly screens for free since mine have broken from the man I didn't get my double glazing from. Went back to town in the Beast, had coffee with my student's mum in the shop and headed home.

I've had a really good day....both bathrooms spic and span.....bathroom blind made...still to finish the curtains in the guest room...(or make new if they are still a pain)....house tidy and ready for the hoover through and a washing of the floor tiles.  Downhill from there.   Kardjali with my food shopping list, two carpets for the floors since I now have more rooms in use, and jobsaguddun.  Just need to clean the windows but not such a big job with my trusty silicon swiper....

Not interested in supper....had tuna mayo on toast at four thirty and that will suffice.  Red wine open....but driving early tomorrow so on the go slow......LN.....Back to my fire and my homely glow....Early to bed, early to rise, makes a woman knackered especially when it's white out at silly o'clock...LN...I'm off to find something to do.



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Elsa Peters
March 17, 2012, 9:25pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 17th March

Sorry, sorry......my guests have arrived and it seemed rude to leave them and say that I had to do my update but they are safely ensconced in the bedroom and I am here on the landing...short and sweet tonight.

As for the rest of the day.....went into Kardjali and to my material shop and came out with almost four meters of a fabulous striped material for fifteen leva that will look great on my outside furniture when I manage to get it outside again and today's weather has been what Spring should be about.  Also bought some more of the lining material for the new curtains for the second bedroom.....I'm not happy with the ones that I made and so down they will come at the end of the ten days.  My lovely lady in the fabric shop gave me two presents ...one hot-pot holder and a soap bag just because I am a good customer.  My guests don't drink so I really shouldn't have stocked up with the stuff that I have but if I take it slowly it might last out the week...

Spaghetti bolognaise tonight with garlic bread followed by black cherries with my Avatar's yogurt....went down really well and now I am off to settle infront of the fire...to finish my glass of the red stuff....LN...after a hard day's cleaning including the landing windows...reaching new heights with a few acrobatic leaps.  I should have taken the opportunity when Bekir had the planks up to put up the new light...ah well....there will be no next time...I can reach the bulb now....LN.....
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Elsa Peters
March 18, 2012, 8:51pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 18th March

Mother's Day and so to open my present from my lovely Princess.  It has sat on the table in the lounge since it was delivered and it was a beautiful wall hanging that is now suspended in my hall.

Played around this morning while my guests had a lie in.  They had had a long day yesterday so I moved quietly around the house, got bored of waiting so cleared out the bonfire pit, moved some of the wood that I had cut up last November to the door so that it would dry out undercover and it has been a super day weather wise today.  Very restful day for them today and tomorrow we will start the grand tour of the area.  They just want to get a feel for the place never having been here before.

Breakfast was poached eggs, lunch cold meat salad and supper chicken with Hasselback potatoes and sauteed red cabbage followed by my avatars yogurt with banana and honey.....the red wine is out along with a little drop of the hardstuff and we are having a very pleasant night....they are both fun to be around.

So tomorrow....Djebel market and then on to Kardjali to see some of the sites.  It's a late update and I apologise but it's trying to fit everything in.....I'll take my camera tomorrow just to see what I come up with, and tomorrow I shall try to be more organised and get this done earlier.... ...LN...Back to the warm and the wine....
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Elsa Peters
March 19, 2012, 8:41pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 19th March

Slept really well last night, opened the curtains to the lounge from my downstairs nest bedroom and watched the sun come up.  What a beautiful day we have had weather wise.  Took my guests round the market in Djebel and on to Kardjali for them to get a feel for the place...Lunch in the Chicken shed, coffee on Kardjali lake restaurant and then to Momchilgrad to pick up my fly screen closure fittings from my double glazing men and have arranged for them to come to measure up for the windows for the wreck in about a month's time.  The men should have finished the woodwork on the roof and got the bitumen down by then.

Now my lovely visitor understands 4x4's and diesel engines and I have the name of the stuff that should disperse the water in the fuel into such tiny droplets that it should allow it to burn through.  This should avoid taking off and replacing the fuel filter for the next ten years or so... .  Apart from that, to his expert ear, it sounds like everything is firing as it should be and as smooth as it can be for a car of it's age....the Beast looks set to come out of hiding again and start fulfilling it's role in life.

Went to Lidl on our way back from Kardjali and found some decent tea bags and I have threatened my guest that he has to get rid of a hundred before he can leave in a weeks time.  I have so may odd bits left that I want no more.

Supper tonight was cold sausages with bread....his lovely wife was going to bed early but stayed to talk and I didn't get up to cook so found what was available within arms length...bread, sausage and tomato sauce and we sat and picked and I have the red wine on the go.

Forgot to mention....my guest spotted the first stork today on the mosque in the middle of Kardjali.  Photos were taken but they are still inside my guest's camera but tomorrow they will be extracted and posted.  For those of you that received bands and thought that the only place that you would have seen the stork was in Asda or Tesco....I promise it will be posted tomorrow.....LN....I am cold and need to get down to that excuse for a fire in the hall......and then to bed....LN

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theroo
March 20, 2012, 6:33pm Report to Moderator

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I am really pleased to hear you spotted a stork.

On the way to work today Jamie spotted the first blossom of the year so our bands will shortly be consigned to the earth - we're going to put them underneath my Coxes Apple Tree in the hope it may bud

LN from both of us x
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March 20, 2012, 7:29pm Report to Moderator
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I'm still wearing mine.  Blossom not out here yet.  
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Elsa Peters
March 21, 2012, 8:13am Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 21st March

So last night I was so tired after doing my hostess with the mostest that I fell asleep trying to do my update.  At twelve fifteen I awoke sitting in front of the computer, my guests had gone to bed before I had started and so were purring gently when I came to.  Decided not to post the words of wisdom that I'd churned out and that tomorrow would be another day and so it came to pass.

Beautiful sunrise this morning...the order that I placed for good weather arrived on time so to speak.  I've sent them out armed with phrase book, maps but no packed lunch and told them to phone me if they have problems and I'll send their suitcases on and will provide food parcels if the prison food isn't adequate.

So for those of you who haven't seen the first stork....here goes with the photos if you are fed up of keeping your eyes out for one knowing that your probable likely spotting will be in Tesco's or Asda.  I managed to get this out of my guest's phone and where was my camera when I needed it?  Not where it should have been.

Today I am off to my bank to sort out my reinvestment and then on to Haskovo to get the paperwork done for my submission of my annual company tax return....simple process but I'm wondering if the system has changed this year....I'm off to find out.



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Elsa Peters
March 21, 2012, 8:38pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday continued

Lovely evening....went down to the restaurant of the man that is selling the house for a final price and a fish supper.  The carp had to be selected from the holding tank and it was down to me to decide which carp, since the others weren't up to it and couldn't deliver the death knell.  Fish, potatoes and crumbly cheese, local wild boar and pork sausage, beer and Fanta Orange.

Home nine fifteen, the last of the late livers, fire was just about going, we opened a bottle of wine and MOS shared it out between three glasses so for those of you who are of the opinion that the drinking was under duress...have another go at an excuse.  It's MOStly lies.

Between us we've demolished a box of extremely..... mushy jellies in chocolate....LN...I'm about to get my head down to get my strength up for tomorrow....
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Elsa Peters
March 22, 2012, 7:15pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 22nd March

My guests have now gone touring to the north east and my thoughts are with them.  I just love the south.

So this morning I woke up with my normal joie de vivre and one of my guests had a 'head and heartburn' so off to the market we went to  find the cure.  Also decided that the Beast was out of fuel since we reckoned that the fuel gauge had given up the ghost....so off to get a few more lites of the 'going stuff'.

Car going, I decided that my guests should be a-going before they accused me of monopolising their time... heading for pastures green.  So off they set at 11.30 out to the great beyond.  Remsier came round for a chat this afternoon and I very nearly had to throw her out so that I could set sail for Djebel.

I had my student this afternoon...stayed talking to my student's mum for a while and arranged that my Beast goes in tomorrow for attention.  Went to the hotel and booked in my next lot for the appropriate dates and confirmed dates.

Supper tonight was grilled pork with tomato and onion (absolutely delicious) with chippies and a little of the red stuff....I would add...who needs guests to have a drink.....
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KingDom
March 22, 2012, 9:03pm Report to Moderator

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Още гости, пристигащи тази неделя. Не мога да чакам. Надявам се всичко е добре.
Кралство.
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MikeyB
March 22, 2012, 9:25pm Report to Moderator

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Уау ви стават популярна туристическа атракция!


Сега се върнете тези момчета и получете кървави покрив на къщата ми!  
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Elsa Peters
March 23, 2012, 4:21am Report to Moderator

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Friday 23rd March

Now watch ......I basically understand the spoken word....a lot of the other stuff might get lost in translation and while I don't mind you trying to out do each other....don't expect me to play...   Ask in English if you are of that ilk and it may very well be given,,,,if I have to work for it, not a snowball in hells chance.

A popular tourist attraction I might be Mikey B and I have enough bedrooms to cope without forcing the men back into action. They are busy with lambing and tobacco in the fields. As for you King Dom....looking forward to you both being here,

So this morning I am up bright and early....the Beast is heading for the garage as I said, I am home on the bus for nine thereabouts and then over to Kardjali to get twenty litres of the good going stuff from Kardjali in a plastic container to confirm that there is no water there.  The fuel tank is being removed, the system cleansed, the deisel sensor cleaned, changed if necessary as with the fuel filter.  Drastic times...drastic measures.  To horse which it might very well be if the bloody thing refuses to jump to it.
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Hwlffordd
March 23, 2012, 12:11pm Report to Moderator
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OMG we fly tomorrow morning and will be in Sofia tomorrow evening!!
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Elsa Peters
March 23, 2012, 4:15pm Report to Moderator

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Friday continued

I decided to dig my garden today and put out two of the Passion flowers.  I devised the supports for it and was about to get my wood and nails together, changed my mind and headed for Beauty to go to Djebel to get the fuel for the Beast.   I'm getting a horse..... the little Beauty wouldn't start.  Battery as flat as the proverbial pancake and did I swear ever so slightly.  >

My knight in shining armour working away in the next field left his wife to do the digging and planting.  He went home and picked up a prewar charging box but I'm not sure which war it was from.  My other neighbour was going into Djebel so I hitched a lift down to the garage.....the Beast is fixed but yes, the fuel tank sensor is knacked as I'd said all along so I am scouring eBay for a replacement.  Why is is that people coming over ask you if there is anything you want bringing .....just when they're at the airport....there is something and no one's got the time to get it...sod's law.

So the Beast is fixed and go-able but I'm now having to keep a track of the miles so that I don't run out again, Beauty has been charged and starts.....let's see how long I can keep two on the road. Bought a set of jump leads  so that if there is a problem tomorrow I can start it off the biggie but I was told that 10 leva was 'mnogo scupo'.  I think at four pounds and the odd stuff they are well worth it.  I might even get him as set as a thank you for fixing it....not that they expect anything but it's a nice touch.

So supper tonight I haven't a clue about.  I was sitting down to a tuna mayo lunch just before I negotiated the lift into Djebel and can't say that I'm really fussed yet.  I feel a red wine moment coming on though and at six fifteen....it's OK...it's over the yardarm.  It has been such a beautiful day apart from the transport issues with tonight being very calm and still.  Tomorrow I'm back gardening....things need to be done.
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Elsa Peters
March 24, 2012, 5:13am Report to Moderator

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Saturday 24th March

My morning is beginning.....looks like being a cracker...   Hope you all have a good day....



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Elsa Peters
March 24, 2012, 4:52pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday continued

So I pottered this morning...long shower, washed my hair, had a pedicure and strimmed the legs ready for spring and thought I would take Beauty in for a battery check.  I put the key in and there was a whir-whir-whir and I thought that was just what I needed.  Now yesterday it was only on charge for a couple of hours or so but out of sheer panic I tried it again and it struggled to life.  Grabbed my things quickly and headed into Djebel, got to the shop, turned off the engine, shop closed so got back in the car and key in......nothing.  I had this vision of being stuck again in Djebel and the bus driver welcoming me as a regular but then it started.  I went quickly to the garage before it changed its mind again and the whole family were down there including the two year old who is just a little treasure.  So out with the equipment, battery checked and a replacement was fetched from the shop and now everything in the garden rosy except that they've only just started to bud....

So home...stripped the bed down from my guests (no hot bedding here), into the washing machine, dried and ironed and ready for the next.  Put up a set of hooks in the upstairs bathroom behind the door for the towels even though there's a radiator in there, dug over some of the flower bed and read some of my book stretched out in the sun on the sofa in the hall.  Can't quite get into this book....four couples and I've not got round yet to remembering their names...you know what I mean...that sort of book...four stories and so far...two not married and two married to the wrong people.  

Lunch was a chunk of Austrian Smoked cheese with hunks of bread with a little beer to wash it down.  It reminded me of my father but there was no onion to add to the flavour.

Clocks go forward tonight so I should wake up at seven if my internal body clock stays on form.  Tomorrow I'm going to get some seeds underway...there's an old length of guttering and if I make a support for it it should do the job nicely.  Time to shut up shop, I've had doors and windows open for most of the day.  LN....I'm going to see what's going off in the fridge that needs attention.
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Elsa Peters
March 25, 2012, 5:43pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 25th March

So I moved the clocks on this morning at five thirty and six thirty didn't seem so bad but this afternoon I was forced to get my head down for a couple of hours.  It wasn't that I'd done so much today but the waves of tiredness overtook me and I had no choice in the matter.

Got a line full of washing out using the overnight cheap rate electricity, spotted the trusty fork and dug over the rest of the flower bed and a little further down the wall from the passion flowers extended the bed.  The intention was to snake a stone wall down it but that will live for another day.  Poached eggs for breakfast and then up to the roof to remove the polythene and the black plastic stuff in preparation for my men coming back sometime soon.  I expected a phone call this afternoon but I think that they think that I have visitors and they like to stay out of the way when there are people here.  When I was up on the roof I noticed one of the sheep straying perilously close to what might be considered a gap in the fence towards the compost heap so I came down and went over to say hello to some of the obvious newby calves and there was this poor little one that had a bell round its neck.  It seemed younger than the rest and hadn't seemed to have got the hang of munching its way through several tons of the green stuff.  

The roof looks better without its winter protection and yes you've guessed it, the wind got up to gale force this afternoon and a few large spots descended so that there was a rush for the washing line before it got wet.  Came in and settled down with a Catherine Cookson that I hadn't read before on my trusty sofa looking out to the yard and it was after section two - chapter two that the eyes headed southwards.  It would also have been said that a full stomach requires rest.  I had made myself potato, tuna and egg mayo with onions and I think I should have left the onions out. I woke up with the most atrocious heartburn and could burp for Bulgaria and Britain.  Note to self....must get some antacids.....guest needed them and now I do....first time for everything.

No need for supper, full as a little tick, maybe a little beer, lit the comforting fire but hardly wanted to go with the wind blowing a gale.  If I'd have strung up herrings they would now have been kippers.  LN...back to my book and why is it that you keep subtracting the hour that you've just put on to justify how tired or untired you are...



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Elsa Peters
March 26, 2012, 7:14pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 26th March

Beautiful day in the sun....had a text from my visitors asking if they could come home again before they set off for the airport and we have just come back from the restaurant.  Supper was cheesy chips, liver in tomato sauce, chicken wings, pork with onions and a big plate of salad.  Rather nice tonight...I had a chauffeur and so I could have a drink.

Back home now so tea and coffee and a huge box of dark chocolate with cherries and while I am up here updating they are having the box all to themselves so this shouldn't take too long to do.

Started both cars today and .....both kicked off first time.  My water bill came and I paid the man just over four leva for three months water and almost fell through the floor when he told me how much.  Note to self...must be more economical...   Got a phone call from my builders...can they work tomorrow....yet please....I'm off to pick them up at eight from the cafe.

I'm getting withdrawal symptoms...the chocolates are calling me so I'll say LN....well I think it's the chocolates...it could be the beer....
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Elsa Peters
March 27, 2012, 7:30pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 27th March

Slept like I was waiting for an alarm to go off and I was but it wasn't mine.  Started moving with noise around six twenty to make sure that my leavers knew that it was time to jump into action.  Coffee delivered to the landing (I don't encroach on bedrooms), showers underway, toaster at the ready, chocolates hidden, and they were on the move.  Said goodbye at seven thirty and on my way at seven forty to pick up my men.  They eventually came out from the restaurant at eight ten and I told Bekir that his daily rate had gone down....joke...he had been buying new rubber shoes with grip tight soles knowing that his life hinged on same for purchase on my roof.  He lived to tell the tale...he is safely back in his own home.

Went to Djebel this afternoon with a shopping list for ....nails.....no not mine, theirs and the bag was so heavy that I moved my car to outside the door of the shop.  Did my student, chatted to his mum, commented on how she serves up fishing bait to customers......I couldn't and she keeps it in the fridge next to her.....home and no way did my men want to go home tonight.  I dug them out at six fifty and told them home or forget it and you're sleeping in the wreck.

Men home.....went round to see D of S and his lady love and came back with onions, parsnips and liver that they couldn't manage to cook, had a phone call from another visitor to the area and arrangements have been made for tomorrow.  My home phone is not working so a trip to Kardjali is on the cards.  Tomorrow I am off to the builders merchants with my men, picking Annie up on the way back and we are off for a girlie time in Kardjali with the intention of meeting new guests for lunch / saving it for supper,

Home...supper was sweet and sour barbecued pork chops with chippies....just had to be done.  Washing up can wait until tomorrow...well there is only me now....my next days are organised now that new visitors have arrived.

LN...it's been a lovely day.



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Elsa Peters
March 28, 2012, 8:01pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 28th March

What a day...sorry late again but just finished off at the restaurant...I have more guests.

Off to the builders' merchants this morning and Bekir threw his toys out of the pram because he felt that we weren't getting the attention that we deserved...   He considers that I am a good customer, pay my bills on time and that he should have attended to our needs a little quicker and get that coffee delivered in quicksticks.  Anyway all eventually sorted, delivery is promised for tomorrow and I ordered more wood for me for furniture making and it has the summer to dry out.  Five meter lengths of 14 cm x 7 cm for fifteen leva a length so I've had five of them and another couple of really biggies for a table at 25 leva each.  Result.  Picked up Annie on the way back and KingDom is really suffering with man flu and it is somehow much worse than women flu we have decided so we left him to get himself back to bed and self medicate.

So on to Kardjali to meet the next of my visitors and sort my telephone out.  My house phone had taken a turn for the worse when it told me that it was out of battery and I inadvertently plugged in my laptop power supply and I reckoned I'd knacked it.  Now I wasn't going to tell them that so I just mentioned in broken Bulgarian that it didn't work filling in with English words when I didn't know the Bulgarian much to the amusement of Annie.  The guy removed and replaced the battery, plugged the charger in and said in perfect English, it seems to be working OK.  With this I smacked him over the head with the instruction book but ever so gently and and then he handed it back to me.  I said but it's not working and he said that he had switched it off.  Now I had looked for the on/off switch and asked him to show me where it was and I opened up the manual and he showed me that it was button seven and said 'cried' which apparently means 'stop'.  I repeated 'cried' and said that yes I did when I couldn't get it to work or find the 'cried' button.  Now I know it's number seven.  He found it very funny too but his boss didn't get it at all.

So a little more shopping with Annie.  Picked up some man flu tablets in Djebel and home in time to make the men some coffee before we started for home dropping Annie off on the way.  Out to dinner tonight in my favourite restaurant and the meal was appreciated....into the Supermarket and got a bottle of brandy because the temperature has dropped tonight again but fortunately the fire was still going and the house warm....LN.....settled for red wine tonight, the brandy will keep and live to fight another day or night....almost time for bed....just one Daily Mail Sudoko to achieve before I get my head down....LN and fence repairs tomorrow....I have a cow problem in the making...
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Elsa Peters
March 29, 2012, 3:04pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 29th March

Posting early today since I am off out tonight for supper again and can't leave you in suspense for so long.  There was frost on the car this morning and minus one on the thermometer and I thought we had done with that stuff but no.  Picked up the men and unfortunately the promised delivery of the remains of the wood for the roof did not materialise.  We've worked out that we are going to knock off one percent off the bill per day or delay the payment by one month for every day that it is late.  We are still working on the final details

Visitors this morning and off to my student this afternoon.  Gouljan is back in town from Turkey and was telephoning for a lift back to the village from Djebel...she had missed the bus.  Men have almost finished the hardboard on the roof and seem to have gone as far as they can without that delivery arrives so I think another telephone call is called for.  Tried to phone to see how the English Patient was this afternoon but his phone is not working...might have to call in at some point.

Thanks Andrew...your parcel has just been delivered my my mayor and of course I had to open it in front of him...I think I explained that it is par for the course....I explained that it was books that I could read on the computer and he thought it was a 'novel' idea.

So men about to finish.....and me about to do my chauffeuring bit....just a few pickies.....the Baba Marta bands came off today since the storks are flying high and have been put onto some of the new bushes that haven't flowered this year.....LN....I'm rushing this bit now....I have men chaffing at it....



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Elsa Peters
March 30, 2012, 7:19pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 30th March

So the plan this morning was that Bekir would phone the yard this morning to confirm that the delivery was coming before I set off to pick them up.  If it wasn't coming then they could have the day off...no materials...not able to work.  I got my first phone call at 7.40 saying that the yard owner was not answering his phone so I said that it was OK and to keep trying before the decision was made.  Eight o'clock I got the call to say that they would not be working and I was imagining a day of sheer bliss and making my plans when my phone went again and the delivery of wood and the likes was arriving so off I set and got there for about nine to pick them up.  Mrs Bekir handed me twelve eggs from her chickens and Bekir gave me an acacia tree from the lady at the restaurant so it was a lovely morning.  I gave Mrs Bekir a hug, we got in the car and home James and don't spare the horses.

So we waited and we waited and we waited.  Lunch time came and we still waited so I went out and did some weeding and planted out my rosemary bush and split up my lavender making four plants in all.  Had a bonfire and generally played and we still waited.  Sally was getting twitchy and started clearing up the wreck so Bekir wanted to join in the fun and I have one very clean wreck and we still waited.  We designed the door to the upstairs balcony in the wreck and in the absence of a cigarette box we used graph paper and I am still none the wiser and we haven't decided on the height of the wall (yet) but the opening is two meters sixty and the balcony one meter thirty before we add on another meter or so over the kitchen window.  Changed a few of the upstairs beams around to give us more of an access to the door and it's looking good.

So eventually the lorry arrived at sixish and I think they have had their own problems.  My wood unloaded first, cement, lime mix (var), two pallets of building bricks and now we come to the serious stuff.  The wood gets tipped on to the grass verge and then hand-balled into the garden.  Sally on the outside, Bekir on the inside stacking and me in the middle until one of my neighbours decided that he could help so I was relieved in more than one way but it was short lived.....he had to go and sort his cows so we made the decision...no stacking....just get it into the yard and the rest could be done on Monday.

Dropped them off at silly o'clock like almost nine, went into KingDom's office but he must be ill...he hadn't made it to the pub.  Got them out of the bedroom where they had been watching Only Fools and Horses and am seeing them tomorrow after I visit the library, pick up the laptop that is running like a dog and deliver it to KingDom's medical centre.  

Home, fire going and I have been warned that there could be snow on the high ground but nobody said how high the ground had to be.....not hungry tonight but a little red on the go.  Shower and then to bed...tomorrow could be another busy day....lovely skies tonight front and back.....LN...my glass is empty...



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Elsa Peters
March 31, 2012, 5:06pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 31st March

So what can I plan for tomorrow, It's April's Fools Day'....

As for today...brilliant.  Seven am start, washed my hair in the shower and dried it...didn't bother with breakfast, last night's supper was still lingering.  So nice not to have anything to do...no places to go and no people to see...

I went to the library for half ten and sat around in the sun.  They have a lovely new puppy that I could really take to.  He was a 'road dog' that one of the librarians fell in love with and jobsaggudum.  He stays out because he has not yet to find out that inside is not the place to drop messages and deliver wee-wees but I'm sure he'll learn.  Came back with a crown of rhubarb and that can't be bad....Planting tomorrow.

Ate all of their cheese puffs, sausage rolls and ham and cheese thingies and then on to Kingdom's place clutching the librarian's pc for a health check.  PC was OK.  Not much to delete but it's just old and I  know the feeling well.

He messed around with the Librarian's PC and got it all working again.  Left KD's around four thirty after they declined a dinner invitation but hey there you go.  Got back around six thirty and decided that supper should be paramount.  I'd had lunch at the librarians but the hunger pains were calling so into the casserole dish went some onions that were fried off, part of a gammon steak, honey, chilli powder, curry powder and ginger...rice added and on to the woodburner and the rice was done to perfection.

The fire is belting out, wine had to be given the kiss of life since it was a new bottle and hadn't breathed for a while but the flavour was out or rather 'is' out.  Supper is over, the wine is flowing and it's an early night for me.  Only eight o'clock here but the next couple of hours will be in the company of the 'Parson's Daughter' courtesy of Catherine Cookson' and then beddie byes for me.  It's been a long and interesting day.

LN.....early to bed early to rise.....tomorrow has to be sorted..... but leisurely would be preferable....
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