Sunday 13 May

Woke at three thirty this morning and settled into my book until five, thought I'd get my head down but no go so I'd finished my first shift in the garden at seven thirty.  Breakfast the inevitable poached eggs and made my way out again to tackle the rest of the bed.

I had six of my local ladies round this morning looking at the latest flowers that were growing and generally inspecting the improvements to the wreck.  Communication was mainly through my Avatar so the oohh and arhhs I understood, it's the same in any language.  I was invited to go with them they were on the look out for little daisies that apparently make very good tea.  I declined the offer.

Thinned out my beetroot that seemed to have gone crazy, need to thin out the leeks and red cabbage, honeydew melons are in, fuscias are under the wall, acacia strung up to the fence so that I can weed underneath and weeds have had a good going over especially the bindweed.

Remsier came round complaining about her back and she asked me what I was doing.  I told her that I was cutting down the grass because my new machine was finding it hard going.  Now this is the lady who owes me a day of work since I fetched her daughter from one of the far-away villages and we settled on no payment.  So today it was repaid.  I'd struggled with my scythe using it more like a machete but along came her husband, sharpened up his equipment and he managed three quarters of the rest of the garden before the rain came and yes, it was preceded by gigantic winds and the odd clap of thunder but that seems to have dissipated now.  The bonus is, they are going to take it away and use it for the animals so let's hope for some dry days so that it isn't hanging about for too long.

Fire going....windows closed up and shut in for the night.  I was thinking about going down to the restaurant tonight but I think I'll do Kardjali tomorrow....I need coffee from Billa and I'm sure there is something in Lidl that I can't do without....LN....about to attack the kitchen....I'm hungry.

Monday 14th May

Lazy day and decided not to go into Kardjali but into Djebel instead.  Had a shower and washed my hair and eventually set sail at about eleven thirty.  Walked the market, bought another orange plastic bowl for the kitchen and noticed that they had tomato and other plants. I bought a packet of seeds and there is millions (well close) and I only want about five plants which does me fine.  This notion of boiling them up and making juice and puree for the rest of the year or growing them and giving them away just doesn't float my boat.  So my bush tomato seeds have germinated, will go in as planned and the ten plants of beef tomatoes already in flower that I got for two leva are already looking at home in my little raised bed.  I also bought four cucumber plants for two leva.  Not that I like them but I can give them away and watch the faces of my neighbours when they are ready to offload theirs on to me....

Met up with the daughter from my restaurant lady today and offered to do some English practice with her.  She is going to college in Kardjali but apparently, the teacher is pretty useless and they only read and never seem to speak it.  I suggested that when I've finished with my student on a Tuesday and Thursday that I go round to her shop and we do an hour.  I want her to get comfortable with reading out loud to me so that she can get some confidence together.  The book that they had given her to read even I found difficult, not quite war and peace but pretty close.  She was over the moon with the idea so I'll make use of my reading sheets that I laminated for starters.

Remsier came round this afternoon to see if her man had been to finish the rest of the garden.....she'd been into Djebel and I think he had disappeared when she got back.  No further activity to report on the slaying of my grass and weeds but maybe tomorrow.  Funny tonight....I was sorting out the bonfire and getting rid of the rubbish when a skanky looking big white dog came in through the fence about to check out my bonfire for toasted goodies.  I shouted at it and it eventually left but I could see it skulking against the fence waiting for me to disappear so in I went and came back with one of the bangers.  So with matches in hand I stood on the terrace and lit it, dropped it, kicked it and my clog shot off and went sailing into the air, the banger landed about two meters from the terrace and went of with an almighty bang....hence the name.  The dog shot off over the hillside but if it's one of Semile's...it's time he fed it some more....it looked a sorry sight.

So just come in....potted up the rest of the petunias, rejigged the supports for the sweet peas and they've at last got the message that skywards is on.  Rain has stayed off today and no howling winds.  Chicken breast thawing so it's something with chicken tonight.....five litres of beer and two litres of wine for seven leva....three pounds fifty of anybody's money or thereabouts. Must make a start on it...LN....I've beer to consume and chicken to cook. Pickies of the veg plot tomorrow when they've had a chance to bed in.....LN

Tuesday 15th May

Three thirty I was reading, nine thirty I was dead to the world with a thunderstorm going and I heard my name being called at the front door.  Came too quickly and realised that my night attire could be mistaken for 'casual gear' so answered the door to my local mayor hand delivering my two bills from M-Tel.  I related the saga of waking at silly o'clock and he said that he had done the same thing but he obviously had come to earlier and was complete with aftershave that was somewhat overpowering.  When I learn the Bulgarian I really must tell him about it.

Student and spent time this morning preparing my lessons realising that I had not one but two this afternoon. Grabbed a cheese sandwich before I set sail and did the heavens open when I got to Djebel...did they ever.  Lessons over and went to the restaurant for a quick catch up with my lovely lady and home at about five thirty.  Fire going, cold as you like tonight and I have just seen the most spectacular double rainbow from my landing.  There appear to be several pyroclastic surges coming from the tops of mountains but this double rainbow seems to go on and on and the main one is complete.  Just beautiful and it appears to be ending in Gouljan's garden so I bet her father is out.  One day filling holes in the road and the next digging them in his garden for that illusive pot of gold.

About to head for the kitchen....I have another chicken breast and this time it will end up in a curry.  Last night's was pan fried with onions and mushrooms and served on toast with mayo...delicious but I think I ate too late hence the early morning start.  LN....the thunder has just started so computer must be put to bed early....and kitchen calls....

Wednesday 16th May

Seven thirty start, coffee, out into the garden, rescued some plants that had been really rained on overnight and drained them off, toast and more coffee and decided that it was a morning for getting the washing done and the house cleaned.  It was cold outside, no wind but it was damp and there were a lot of clouds hanging over Greece but what's new....

Finished my book, had a bonfire and just managed to catch the washing and bring it in the house before it started to rain but then it stopped again so out to the garden and my task for today was to start digging up the dandelion plants that have sequestered themselves in the what I am coming to call my lawn.  With trusty English fork in hand and Bulgarian spade I was easy the ground with the fork and bringing them out with the spade....long roots and some of them must have been there for a long while.  Put an edging plank down the side garden.  Nothing was defined and now it is and planted it up with Zinia, Marigolds and Nicotina and we'll see what lives.  

Came in at just after eight and I was surprised how late it was.  Had lunch so not in the mood for supper though I did get some mince out with good intentions.  I don't think I shall starve for one night.  Just had a phone call to say that a parcel has arrived via DHL and that was super quick.  I have to go to the bank to collect it though since her husband is in Kardjali tomorrow and did I mind?......no....it's a new bank card.

So LN....I'm sorting out the French beans tomorrow...they need sticks to go up and so do the tomatoes and cucumbers....that could be fun.  Students in the afternoon and then off for a long weekend...lovely life....LN

Thursday 17th May

Rain, rain go away and don't come back....we've had torrential stuff bucketing down.....and on top of that thunder and lightening but just at the moment there's a brief lull so I thought I'd give you the weather report from Bulgaria.....students this afternoon, so got some preparation to do...enjoy your day...I've put the draft together for the boat and the animals are lining up in an orderly fashion...

But into each life a little rain must fall....

It's been raining in buckets here too. Oh well a chance to go to the big town to get some seed and some office type work done. Got to be done sometime

Thursday continued

Went to pick up my card via DHL and my first job was to compliment the lady on her command of the English language.  My next question was how did you get my number and since I hadn't given it to the bank I've not a clue how it appeared on the DHL paperwork.

Well I did my first student to be told by his mother that he hadn't done his homework but by the time I had got upstairs it was all complete.  Good boy....On to my second, I am amazed at the lack of proofreading in the book that we are using.  Apparently it was issued for a three months course free of charge but the second section you have to pay for...thank goodness they didn't have to pay for the first.  There are so many glaring errors in the first. I would have been really sad to have had my name associated with it.

Spaghetti bolognaise for supper and after I left you this morning I went for the Bulgar wheet meatballs mix and I have twenty four of the little beauties awaiting frying off.  I followed on with black cherries and natural yogurt and am now stuffed to the gills.  A little more wine to wash it down I think and then off to my little nest to see what tonight brings... eight good hours is all I require...pretty please....LN...let's see

Friday 18th May

Kardjali this morning...will pad you out on the details later...thunder has just started with a vengeance and it has rained non stop all day......how's that for a quick update.

I'm cooking those meatballs but have turned the first lot into something else since they all dissolved in the pan.  The rest are in the oven and we'll see what happens.    Might catch you later with some pickies...but don't hold your breath...you could die.....

Saturday 19th May

Quick update on yesterday....my find in my 'change of ownership' clothes shop in Kardjali and brand spanking new linen jacket with the price tag of 154 Euro reduced to half price then found it's way to my shop for .....just under nine pounds.....quality and it's the sort of thing that is useful out here when the insects start to nibble at night.  Driving back and stopped off in Djebel to get some money out of the cash point and the blinking machine stole my card.  Fortunately the new one had arrived the previous day but shock horror on my face...thank goodness it had arrived or I would have been sleepless in Bulgaria.  So decided to check my statement and noticed a charge of twenty five pounds on my account that I knew nothing about so phoned the bank....apparently it was after my fiasco with the pensions people..... they stopped paying my pension in January and I'd not noticed until I was refused money at the cash point, came home, rectified the situation by shifting money around and the charge was for five days of going over the agreed overdraft facility.  Now I've never used it...it's been sitting there and I said that I thought it was excessive for five days after being with them for seventeen years or thereabouts.  So from the desk who could only agree to fifty percent refund to the supervisor who eventually....and by this time I'd probably spent the refund on the phone call...agreed to the refund.  In the old days I'd have threatened to take my overdraft somewhere else...but it's the first time that I've had dealings of this sort with them but after all, I'm a good customer.   Moan over....

Today's weather has been about as grim as the last five days but it did at least clear up a little for the fete in Djebel.  Not good enough for me to parade my new coat so decided that I would potter in the garden which I've done for most of the day.  Found lots more dandelions that have been removed, my tree has had the ground under it dug over and I'm thinking that a dollop of my tobacco seeds might pretty up the area and have almost uncovered my original stone heap so that I can start putting it at the bottom of the fence to stop the sheep sticking their little heads through and eating all my plants and do they like forsythia.... buggers.

Couldn't get the bonfire going for love nor money but I suppose everything is just so wet.  I was hammering in a metal spike to make holes for my bean and tomato poles when suddenly I realised I'd hit the water table...very wet underfoot and guess what...it's just started raining again....

Tested my meatballs out and they were horrible so Tommy has had his supper.  My Avatar did have a swift look at them and I think that she thinks I'm wasteful but if the dog has a meal from them...I don't think they've gone to waste at all.....so now my supper is in the dog....I've got to think of something else...so I'm kitchen bound....LN.....no fire lit yet but perhaps to bed early with a good book might be on the cards since it's eight o'clock here and it seems a waste of good wood for about a couple of hours...LN...must get on.