Wednesday 15th August

Oh KingDom....check out the head on the top, it was only taken seconds later....no time lapse photography in this house.  It was just that the pickie didn't post...or maybe I posted the wrong ones in my rush to get back to the bottle..

So the morning was disturbed by one hell of a kick off of dogs at five fifteen this morning.  It was eastwards and Tommy (Socks) was involved in some way or other but to date no update.  He came yelping back to the house, Avatar's house had all the lights on and the family were outside.  Her grandson was calming things down but I did see one of the white Kangols sloping off towards the farm.  I think it's all to do with boyfriends and girlfriends and maybe Tommy has stepped on somebody's toes and suffered for love.

After that there was no going back and I decided to pick up 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' so to speak and try to get into it.  I read it in my youth after the television series of the same name but I am having difficulty second time around.  Maybe I've read too much drivel recently and I've forgotten what literature is or was.  It does have a glossary in the back though to explain the phrases of the day that were used....think I might have to make use of it or put it down and pick it up again when I have nothing to read.

So nine thirty and a blank canvas presents itself.  I must admit though that I have just finished a half box of chocolates that was lingering on the desk from last night so that's breakfast over and I think I might have to work it off by creating a surround for the top garden from some old beams that are lying around.  My next great achievement will come by moving the stone from the walkway between the little barn and the wreck....ready stead...well one more coffee won't hurt....catch you later

Wednesday continued

Just back from the Library.  I had a phone call this morning asking if I wanted to go down with the family swimming and I declined but offered to cook a huge pot of spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread and deliver it for when they got home.  They'd made mention of the fact that they were missing not having it so there it was...delivered to their door hot piping hot.

Settled down and all enjoyed and now back home and sipping a little port before I take to my couch.  The Beast is safely ensconced outside the gate.  I really couldn't be bothered to open the gate, reverse it in only to take it out again tomorrow.  A very pleasant leisurely day....in very pleasant company.  LN

Thursday 16th August

Demob happy again..my student is no more until Tuesday of next week so I can slum out, drink as much as I want and generally take it easy until next Tuesday.  It's very silly really...I don't have to answer to anyone but it's purely a state of mind.

Woke up at seven this morning after a good night's sleep...the sleep of the just so they say and it was just about seven when I woke.  Coffee would wait, played a few games of Freecell and then went out to view the morning which was stunning.  So calm, a little bit on the cold side but lovely with it.  Watered my garden despite the fact that it had a little of a dew thing going on and there was mist on the mountains...every little helps so they say.

Didn't do much this morning.  Generally tidied round...put up the picture that was in the hall in the bedroom, laid the carpet in the first bedroom and generally prepared for working getting my bedroom being back to as it was.  I need my bedroom back!!  The bed must be purchased over the weekend and the frame sanded and planed to a silken finish.

Over to my student this afternoon....Can't say that he seemed very interested but the fact that the songbird got its head bitten off by the chicken did make him perk up a bit.  Thanks...Hans Christian...not the way that I expected it to go.  His homework is a little more complicated but he does have four days to do it in.  

Story with my Beauty...apparently the seepage from the battery is all due to water getting in the light consoles at the rear of the car....not sure I go along with the theory but I will bow to better judgement.  Tomorrow I am in on the nine o'clock bus and will deliver it home to await the final conclusion when it doesn't start when it gets back here....

Supper tonight was sweet and sour belly pork and my Avatar arrived as I was preparing it.  She came round to see if I would take her up to the spring to fill up her bottles with water...she has family with car but they seem to have their own agendas....I'll take her up willingly and I have a promise that we shall go to visit her daughter in Bursa next spring for ten days....now never thought that I would hear her say that...

So LN...the beer is empty...the port is about to be attacked and if there is any energy left the sherry might take a battering...it's all to do with the frame of mind.  LN...I have business to attend to.....

Friday 17th August

Boots blacked, showered, shampooed and didn't bother with the rest but I was off on the bus to the big city...not Sofia...Djebel.  Only two days a week do we get the nine o'clocker...Mondays and Fridays and today is the day.  So I signaled my intention to the driver that I wanted to be picked up when on his return journey and it was pretty full at this point with only about four seats left.  It is small, only about a twenty seater but we did well this morning.  Full to the brim with several standing and I acquired a four year old on my lap for the journey,  Chivalry is dead though.  There was a thirteen year old sitting down while a lady with a toddler had to stand and if it hadn't been for the four year old ensconced I my knee I would have made my statement.  His grandfather was with him and didn't encourage his to get off his backside and into the standing room only slot and if I'd had the words I would have said something but....he's one that I shall pass if he's waiting at a bus stop or I shall make him stand with his head through the sunroof all the way to Djebel.

So down to the garage...picked up the car and back to the shop to pay.....I get paid for the language lessons....he hands me the money...I pay half back for the car repairs so the money again finds its way round the system.  Picked up a couple of pairs of cotton trousers in my leva shop for just under five pounds, a little bit of shopping and then back to my Avatar's house so we can fill her water bottles from the well in the next village.  She had prepared breakfast so I sat on the floor and polished off my first couple of pancakes with all of the trimmings and off we set returned with about forty litres of spring water.  Saw Gouljan's mother on the way down looking after her ten cows and then back to Byser's house where I got given tomatoes, marshmallows and she told me that she is off to Davidkovo for ten days rest and recuperation because her knee is again giving her gyp.

Tried to get my head down this afternoon since it was so hot but I had yet another couple of pancakes delivered....it's that time of year and KingDom will know what I mean and this evening I had another visitation from the pancake fairy so that is ten in all today.  Now you tell them that one is enough but no...you have to have two....normal....normal.

Beautiful evening...garden watered....supper is non existent tonight....eaten far too many pancakes today.  Tomorrow is definitely the bed day.....LN....I'm expecting the children round tomorrow for the bonbon gathering.....I think the local dentist would like to put a stop to this practice but it's all in the cause of religion.....LN....must find out my sweeties for the kiddiwinkles for tomorrow.

Saturday 18th August

Beat the mosque to it this morning...I was waiting for the dawn chorus but I think the dogs were having a lie in.  No coffee for me this morning...I've decided I really must change the brand...the old heart starts a thumping so I'll leave it off for a couple of days.

Out and watered...it looks like being a thumper again today and check out the forecast for the rest of the week....hot...hot and bloody hot.

So my first visit from the 'Bombom Byram" was at ten thirty this morning when Semile's little ones came round for the goodies.  The really little one was obviously on his first trip out with the big boys (nine and ten) and they had given him a rucksack and when offered sweets he turned round so that I could put some in...bless.  This must account for the massive tooth decay but it's their religion isn't it.  Played on the pc for a while and decided that I would take to the lounge with a book since it was a tad warm out there even for me.  Next visitation was Byser with a couple of the fermented pancakes.  She came into the lounge, sat for a while, looked longingly at the village where she lived with her parents, told me that they were both dead and promptly burst into tears.  Now she speaks no Bulgarian and my Turkish is really limited so consoling her had to be by instinct.  I'm not sure I helped much when I said that that was life and she and I were on our way to join them so I sent her on her way and thanked her for the pancakes.

Went back to sitting in the lounge with my book and dropped it signifying since that there was no alcohol involved at this point, it must be tiredness.  Again I was interrupted by two more ladies from my village and I am now the proud owner of six giant pancakes.  It's a bit like 'War of the Worlds'......'and still they come'......Went back to my book and my body did that involuntary 'jump' where the muscles take on a life of their own so knew it was definitely time to went my way to the bedroom for the afternoon nap.  No sooner had I gone off than there was a yell of 'Bonbon Byram' from my yard and about ten children descended demanding sweets so up I got and satisfied their demands, chatted for a while with them and then back to see if I could get a few more zzzeds in and I did...six fifteen when I woke up.

Garden attended to...feel pretty refreshed and probably will have tuna mayo with toast for supper with maybe a pancake or two.....

Hi Elsa,

Thanks for validating my account. We are still reading through your previous entries but have to say that we are both hooked on your website and the progress of your home and plans. I will get the email to you shortly.

All the best,

Joanna & Aarron

We arrive Weds shall I bring my coat?

KingDom + Ginger

Quoted from KingDom

We arrive Weds shall I bring my coat?

KingDom + Ginger

I think you might just need your birthday suit though I doubt the easyJet hosties would be in agreement...The immigration might have a word to say about it as well...

Thank you for your kind words BGBound if you think this is exciting...maybe you should get out more...or get out here sooner....

I don't know whether I have done something rather foolish.  There was a super offer on the internet for a thirty six day cruise around Australia and New Zealand and I have only gone and booked it.  Well it was such a good offer at the time and having relations in Australia sort of swayed it for me....I was a bridesmaid at my cousin's wedding when I was a seven year old and it would be good to see her again and her family.  They're in Perth and the ship happens to be calling there for all of one day so it will be a quick visit but very worthwhile.  So still working out whether I have done the right thing.  I have spent the double glazing money on a cruise...sucks doesn't it....I shall just have to save up my pension.  List to myself...tell the men that I shall be away and that they can work up until I leave but that their wages until Christmas will be reduced because I wont be here.....leaves them free to do all the other jobs that are on offer.

So today....made contact with BGBound and as I explained, I have had so many silly people wanting to join the blog with hideous names and email address that I have been deleting for all I am worth.  What is it with these people and unfortunately he was one that I overlooked.  He is now a fully paid up member, that's when he pays his subscription (I jest).

Hot as you like today.  I went into the wreck and removed the sawdust that was left by my guest and deposited it on the garden and dug it into a few places.  I thought it might hold the soil together especially round the plants when I watered them.  I think at the moment it is just disappearing into the great unknown and on to the hillside.  

The afternoon has been receiving phone calls about my booking, on to easyJet and getting my flights to the UK sorted and generally panicking about the clothes that I have here.  I have lost about two stone in weight since I was in the UK so everything is going to be falling off me (hopefully) so I will have three days to buy and pack enough for thirty six days overseas.  Should just about be enough.

So drinking beer and deciding that this is the last I shall have before I head out for the UK but then I realised that I have guests over the week end and KingDom is darkening these fair shores so not a hope in hell's chance.  Mrs Gud is somewhat more refined up to a point but I have found more places to spend a penny with her than any other femail so I'm really not so sure.  

So the box of chocolates that was left out in the car in the sun yesterday fell this evening and I was digging it out with the fingernail to get to the bottom of the plastic tray.  Not terribly refined but adequate...needs as needs be so to speak.  I did look at the packaging and thought that one of the images could be of Che Guevara and pretty unsure about the rest but I'll let you make your minds up.

LN....supper is not on the cards.  Beer and chocolate reaches the spot especially when I am wondering if I have done the right thing in booking such a long holiday....ahhhh well.....tis done.  LN

Quoted from Elsa Peters

I don't know whether I have done something rather foolish.  There was a super offer on the internet for a thirty six day cruise around Australia and New Zealand and I have only gone and booked it.  

Do you need/require a house sitter? I'm sure in 36 days I could have you a super little Kangal puppy all trained and ready for "watch duties"!!!

Monday 20th August

In answer to that Bob...Kangol off.....I have enough neighbours around here that are twice as observant, much more subtle, bright as buttons, really fierce and can explain why they are using shotguns on the blighters that might be intending to darken my doorstep. I wouldn't like to go a round with either My Avatar or any of the others.

So what have I done today....silly o'clock this morning I was reading the Mayor Casterbridge and I really don't know why I'm bothering.  It's supposed to be a classic and I intend getting to the end but hey...what a slog.  Watered the garden, Avatar came round and left with some pears from the tree and I looked at the plum tree when she had gone and took her round a big bowl of freshly picked.  Had a couple of Byser's tomatoes on toast for breakfast and they were so sweet and I told her so in Turkish. Since she'd watched me carry the plums round to Avatar, I was back up the tree to make another delivery.  So now as a thank you, I have more tomatoes.  I suppose I better get back up there, Hacibar will be back from Djebel soon and she will be on the lookout for hers.

Twelve ten...think I'm going into Kardjali to order the bed  and see if my window man can come and measure up....   Catch you later.