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Elsa Peters
January 1, 2013, 7:30am Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 1st January

It's here.....we sat up last night and I tried desparately to send a text message to the folk back on on the stroke of midnight and at twelve thirty my time I was still struggling to find the backspace key and delete button on my new English phone.  In the end it got deposited on the table, out came my Bulgarian one and the messages were sent in quicksticks.  Thank you for the well wishes both on this site, facebook and texts and wishing you all good wishes for this new year.

Hint of sun this morning as you can see from the pickies and it should be with us until lunch time.  Poached eggs were the order of the day and since it's only half past nine the day is young and we are still....well I like to think so....in spirit at least.  Off for a walk this morning...not sure I would pass the blow in the bag if I was in charge of anything motorised but we should be alright on the back roads...not many police find there way off the main roads....

To horse....let's see what I can get up to or photograph....
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Elsa Peters
January 1, 2013, 7:33am Report to Moderator

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This mornings pickies  didn't want to get posted.....now to try again...



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Elsa Peters
January 1, 2013, 7:19pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday continued

What a lovely day it's been....up to twenty five degrees in the hall with the sun on the windows and five degrees outside.  Sun held on all day despite the warning that it would be gone by three this afternoon...fooled the forecasters once again.

Set off after lunch and went down to the lake at the bottom of my village and walked around it and generally explored the area which is something I've not done before.  There was a familiy over from Austria visiting inlaws and we stopped for a chat in a mixture of German, Bulgarian and Turkish and it's not what people say...it's the body language that comes over.

Got back at about half four, relit the biggie and poked the small one.  My guest decided that the eyelids were down on the cheekbones so took to her bed for a nap, I played on the computer for a while realising that if I did the same, there would be no chance of getting anything to eat tonight.  Supper was beef in red wine, honey, onion with mashed potato, peas and carrots.  Washing up done and she's reading and I'm back to the kindle when I've finished my update.  Beautiful sunset tonight and the temperature has dropped to about minus two so back to the fire.  LN and I have a potential guest checking out direct flights from Glasgow to Sofia and I'm hoping it's not an idle threat....LN   



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Joanna
January 1, 2013, 7:53pm Report to Moderator
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Happy New Year Elsa, finally got around to another catch up and I like what you had to say about the right action at the right time, very true!
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Elsa Peters
January 2, 2013, 7:11pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 2nd January

Well what an exiting day to say the least.  We decided to take in my Librarian's car, it hadn't had a run since Christmas and I grabbed the key from the outside of the door, closed it and you can probably guess the rest.  I'd forgotten to pick up my keys to the car, house, the lot but it didn't dawn on me until we were leaving the supermarket in Djebel.  I picked up some wool, more knitting needles and material from my favourite shop of the moment, delivered the fingerless gloves to my student's mum, whizzed round to get some eggs and bread and ding at the checkout....I realised.  I knew that if I could get a ladder that I could have gotten in from my bedroom terrace but where were the ladders...locked in the other house and where were the keys to the other house....in my first house and who felt the dingbat.  Suddenly remembered that Bekir had a complete set of keys so I telephoned him and where was he...Djebel...and where had we just come from...Djebel so back we went, picked up Bekir, drove to his house and then back to Djebel where he had been enjoying a day out with friends.  So into my house, leek soup in the slow cooker had leaked onto the worktop but was devine, played on the internet this afternoon trying to get another laptop sorted but to no avail.  My service provider was up and down like a bride's nighty so gave that up as a bad job.

Supper tonight was cold pickings but the finale was the Librarian sneaking away from the table to give the chicken bones to the dog and catching the edge of her dressing gown on a newly opened bottle of gin knocking it onto the unforgiving quarry tiles and washing the kitchen floor beautifully.  Everything sorted now....the kitchen rug washed and drying out and I'm coming out in sympathy.  

Down to the fire now...it was a beautiful day, white over this morning with a heavy frost but fine once the mist cleared.  The temperature has dropped now so we shall expect the same in the morning.  Tomorrow is going to be a bit of a craft day...I have new wool to try in the knitting machine to see if I can make something / anything with it.  So LN....I'll photo the outpourings of a creative brain....LN
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Joanna
January 3, 2013, 10:50am Report to Moderator
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That sounds like the day after the cat was sick on the sofa and the floor, narrowly missing a piece of embroidery I had been working on and off all year, when in the process of getting it thoroughly cleaned I spilt water on hubby's thankfully closed computer.   There are some days that you wish you hadn't bothered getting up I think
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Elsa Peters
January 3, 2013, 5:59pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 3rd January

Really good morning...computer sorted. Google removed and replaced with the English version so that we could understand the crap that's displayed when it couldn't go where we wanted it to.  Now I understand it sufficiently to speak to my neighbours...Google speak another kettle of fish so to speak I know what you mean Joanna but I view what happened as a message to me to put a key where I'll quickly find it and I'd already spoken to my Librarian about a resolutions if disaster struck and I had done nothing about it...and I have now.

Sat around this morning and chewed over the fat...took to the computer at about twelve thirty and sorted it out and I sent my Librarian a message that she got her ar*e into gear and left.  She had her wood to get in and her house to warm before tonight and the animals to sort out.  She's much more into it that I am...I see pets and animals as a bind inso much as I have to have them sorted before I can go to the big beyond without worrying about them but that's just me.

So the computer working well, she left at about two thirty after a scratch lunch of leftovers. I stripped the bed, the sofa where the dog had made his bed, washed up and had sorted everything by three more or less.  I found out my wool, unpicked what I had tried to do last year, found out a pattern and I'm now halfway up a sleeve and heading for the shoulder using a pattern that I used on the gloves for my student's mum and it seems to be working.  Got in the wood and as I was loading it one of the big ones fell from the container on to my big toe so Joanna, the best laid plans, it is now a lovely shade of blue and hurts when I walk....at this point in TIME i'm thinking that 2012 was better....

I fried off a tin of tuna mixed up with the cold potatoes from a couple of days ago for supper and it was delicious.  I've just showered and washed my hair as it was beginning to feel right to do so and now back to my knitting.  The temperature has dropped and there are several shotguns active tonight but Bekir said that he had lost three sheep to wolves so I think they are on the hunt tonight.  

LN....I' back to my knitting...tomorrow is going to be a chilled day...no visitors...shopping all in and ...well it's a please myself day...LN
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Elsa Peters
January 4, 2013, 5:49pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 4th January

I know I have this thing about sunrises and sunsets but today's have been exceptional.  So I shall be forced to bore you again.  They were so good that I posted them on FB this morning and friends who haven't as yet made it to this site have commented on them.  A different audience.

So what else today.  Cleared out the little woodburner and I had a visitation from my fourth muscateer of my village.  I had delivered the presents to the other three but she lives at the other end of the village and I hadn't made it down there.  I drive past it but I thought she had gone to Turkey for Christmas as she did last year but no...she said that she didn't have the money to go.  I was still in my PJs when she arrived so as soon as she left I made the transition into day clothes and then I had another visitor with a Christmas card and thank you A....I never expected one since we did our seasonal greetings and farewells when I was in the UK.  Going back to my first visitor, she wanted to see the house again to see the changes.  We talked through the amount of wood that I use for one day for the two woodburners and I think she was thinking that they probably use the same but only get a couple of rooms warmed up.

Lunch today was pea and ham soup that I knocked up from a tin of peas and some ham that I had knocking around.  I don't feel hungry tonight...I think I over ate as you normally do when you have people staying so a few days of 'lean' will do me fine.  Carried on with the sweater that I started last night using a pattern that I have to adapt so it might take a little doing and undoing but it shouldn't be too bad as long as I stay off the wine when I'm making calculations.

So fires stoked up and sufficient wood in.  Radio 2 going all day today...it's pretty quiet without anyone being here.  As I said before...sunset fantastic tonight....LN and thank you for your kind comments on FB...and now back to the fire....it's going to be a cold one tonight.



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Elsa Peters
January 5, 2013, 3:55pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 5th January

Beautiful morning when I eventually woke up.  I had a silly o'clock start and read until five this morning and so back down again and eventually realised that the sun was up and it was eight twenty.  Both fires going and with a little tender loving care they were buzzing in quickstick.  Tidied round, cleared out the log basket and sorted some of the smaller wood out, cleared out the bonfire pit and set fire to it.  There was a lot of rubbish that hadn't quite burnt through and the cats were having a field day taking stuff out that had no value or nutrition at all but it seemed like a good game...they had to check for themselves.

Settled down with my final Kay Scarpetta and I'm finding this one peculiar to read since she's writing it all in the present tense.  I'm up to 90% read so I'll keep at it and the next one lined up is supposedly like a Catherine Cookson so that should be mellow reading.

Avatar came round today and asked me if I had some Rakia apparently her granddaughter had a sore throat and the remedy is to heat some up, apply it to a scarf and put it round the neck.  I offered antibiotics if she wanted it but she declined but five minutes later she was back and her patient obviously thought it was a good idea.  She also gave me some news that shocked me.  Apparently my Crava Mush...the one who takes Santa Maria for a walk and said that he loved her very much, is no longer with us.  He sat down this morning by his well saying that he didn't feel too good and keeled over.  I only saw him yesterday walking back from the field so that's the third man from the village that's popped off around Christmas time.  I also heard that another man had commited suicide....not sure I've got the right one...it could have got lost in translation but I'll wait for that to be confirmed.  If it's the one that I believe it to be I saw him on Wednesday in Djebel.

Fish fingers and chippies today...didn't feel like being a gastronome and cow man has been popping in and out of my brain since I heard the news.  God speed his soul.  The fire is calling me....I think it's going to be a cold one tonight and there are supposed to be snow flurries tomorrow and Monday.  I've got my dental appointment on Monday morning at eight thirty so here's hoping they're light.  LN....have to finish the book...LN
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Elsa Peters
January 6, 2013, 6:33pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 6th January

Seven am this morning, fires given the kiss of life and have done their stuff all day.  Fried eggs on toast for breakfast and then set about preparing a chili tomato spaghetti sauce and into the slow cooker with it.  Kitchen washed up and ready to face the day. Christmas decorations down but seeing that there was a trememdous gale blowing and snowflakes falling I decided that it was not the day to set fire to the hillside.  Caught  sight of the sun early on...but disappeared until this afternoon when it was quite pleasant sitting in the sun.  

My cow man was laid to rest at twelve o'clock today and all of the men paraded back from the mosque at just before one and so a life laid to rest in fifty minutes.  Everyone made their way back to the house at the top of the village but I shall pay my respects later.  I saw my Avatar walk down and I was tempted to join her but decided against it.  There is a little mosque on the square by my cow man's house so my thoughts went out to the group of women sitting on the floor with their headscarves on and their shoes off.

So finished the book by Josephine Cox and had trouble turning the pages coming away from the kindle.  Just finished supper, washed up and have scrubbed out the old chip pan.  I decided last night that I would start a new chip pan, I hate old oil so that's in a poly bottle waiting for the wind to drop hopefully tomorrow so that I can cremate the tree and the rest of the Christmas paper rubbish.

Dentist in the morning at eight thirty...I'm going to try to ask him how long a temporary filling is supposed to last...I would have hoped that it would have been more than just the one day.  Let's hope the permanent ones are just that...LN....supposed to be more snow flurries tomorrow..hope they don't start until I get back from Djebel....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 7, 2013, 4:43pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 7th January

Up bright and early, showered, shampood and ready to defrost the batmobile to get to the dentist for my final session.  Looked up from the desk when doing my emails and the sky was just beautiful.  It was frosty, the hillside was white over and the red kept coming.  I know that I go on about it and liken it to the Egyptians heralding the new day and life but that's how it grabs me.

Anyway back to the badmobile.  Out and scraped part of the windows but realised that if I wanted to see what I was doing I had to stop off in the main square and scrape some more.  A couple of guys waiting for the milk collect wagon wondered what I was doing so I explained that to stick to the road it made more sense if I could see.  Set off again and my first pick up was in the next village at the bus stop and then the second was on the road just before the main road.  I only pull the car up and say 'Djebel' and they're in. The Dushinkovo unmarked taxi.  Found out that my cow man died of a heart attack.

Into the dentist at eight twenty five and was told to sit in the surgery and this time I took my kindle for his cigarette breaks and while he slotted in the odd patient.  Started to work on me at eight forty five...finished working on me at eleven twenty with a couple of ciggie breaks and a little bit of facebook and telephone calls.  Fantastic job....no high spots when I bite and he asked me if he knew his English dentist friend that he'd met at a dental conference in Istanbul.  He even brought up his details on FB and asked if I recognised him...said unfortuantely 'no' and he does live in Truro which is someway from my home in England.   Bill for the dental work...one hundred and sixty leva and tomorrow I go back for a scrape and polish....

Popped in the shop and start lessons with my student on Thursday...back home and the snow had started to make its mark...Fires going but not fantastic so gave them the kiss of life...tuna mayo on fresh roles from Djebel for lunch and sat down with the first of the Bourne trilogy.  Rest of the spaghetti bolognaise in the slow cooker for later...back to my book...it's going to be a cold one...LN



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Elsa Peters
January 8, 2013, 4:49pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 8th January

Fristy frosty morning minus eight when I went out there this morning with the ashcan.  Beautiful sunrise again but I can't bore you with too many photos of my day as it begins.  Dentist this morning for a scrape and polish and I'm hoping the road's OK since no sign of the snow plough but that's perhaps as well other wise I would be digging out my drive to get one of the vehicles out.  

Fried eggs on a role this morning for breakfast...the prisoner ate a hardy breakfast.  I thought that if I went off the road I could manage until someone dug me out.  I cleared off the terrace so that the sun would do its stuff, melt it and dry it off so that it wasn't a hazard to shipping, cleared the snow off Beauty, wrapped up warm, got my snow boots on and off I set.  No problem getting in.  Gouljan's father was spreading the salt and sand on the dangerous bits on the lane to the main road but the main road was left to its own devices.

So into the chair...off he went with his tools of the trade and wow did he get right down to it.  They look superb...the 'kamuk' roughly translated as 'stone' has been removed and I have been given instruction to use a specific toothpaste available on the internet with a soft toothbrush to massage the gums.  Now out here there aren't many people that have teeth at all so maybe it's a novelty for him to be asked to preserve teeth like root canal work or scrape and polish and he seems to enjoy it.  I'm not so sure I do....   The only thing to pass my lips since I got home is rum and coffee as a tranquiliser.   The drive back was fun.  I hit a rut and suddenly I had no control at all of the car.  Fortunately no one was following me or coming towards me and you remember the advice about steering into the skid...great advice now where is this skid going?  It did me a favour though ...I was now facing in the opposite direction and suddenly remembered that I wanted fuel anyway so went back to Djebel and filled up.  Every cloud has a silver lining...

Back home...got my head down for an hour.. filled up the log basket...cleared out the bonfire pit and got rid of the rubbish and the Christmas tree.  Beautiful sunset but it's going to be another cold one I guess...It's predicted at minus ten tonight so winter drawers on.  LN...I think it's soup and I might even take one of the pain killers that the dentist specified last time...I feel he dug down to the roots to check if any more wanted canals sorting...   LN...and no snowman by the way...wrong sort of snow...sorry... ;)



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Elsa Peters
January 9, 2013, 3:28pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 9th January

So today my gums are not so sore...it must have been the 'anesthetic' last night.  I got up about six thirty to empty the ashcan and it was a super crescent moon and the stars were very clear.  I need a new camera...it's just not good enough for some of the ones that I want to take.  Lovely, still, cold morning.  Checked the outside thermometer at nine this morning and it was minus eight so I reckon it must have been much lower in the night.  Once the sun came up though the house soon picked it up and it was twenty two degrees in the stair well so I put the cane chair out and sat in the sun and read.  The Bourne Identity is finished but he didn't get his man in the end so on to the next.

Had a visitor this afternoon.  Semile my sheep farmer has a new horse and he came round to show it to me.  He's very proud of her and told me that he had called it  the same name as my Avatar so not sure what that's all about and he might just be teasing.  Apparently she is three years old and a little skittish but should get better with age so he reckons.  That could apply to both of them.  The girth strap wasn't tight enough and as he tried to get on, so he fell off but fortunately his feet weren't in the stirrups otherwise I could have been either sorting out a horse or calling the doctor.  We discussed the passing of my cow man and one of my neighbours with problems whose only solution was with a gun under his chin...what a shame...obviously no one to talk to or go to for help.  Another comment was that if you discuss it with anyone you don't know who they are going to discuss it with...

Very lazy day...temperature dropping now and the clouds are gathering to the west.  I'm going to shut up shop shortly, ie draw the curtain to conserve the heat.  The nights are getting lighter already...almost five thirty and it's still light.  About to go and find a text for tomorrow...my lessons are starting again...LN....I have work to do....



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Elsa Peters
January 9, 2013, 3:35pm Report to Moderator

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Pickies that wouldn't post first time round



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Elsa Peters
January 10, 2013, 4:42pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 19th January

Quiet day...my student had to go to the dentist in Kardjali so I have moved it until tomorrow after a telephone call from his mom.  I sat in the day sun most of the day reading until the urge to get in the wood hit me and I ended up moving all that had not been cut and stored in the porch of the old house into the main body of the house where it's dry.  Took me about thirty minutes and my heart rate went up but good for the whatever, I'm told.

The book of Ludnam's book is no more...started and finished today and it was a fast moving piece of prose...literature it was not but does it really matter.  The soup that has been heated up a couple of times has how been finished with croutons.  The remainder with the emptyings of the fridge was delivered to Tommy to make what he could out of it...I hope he survives the night.  As I was making my delivery my two neighbours appeared from no where to see what I was doing.  They again mentioned my cow man and I'm thinking that it was a shock for everyone but probably more so for him if he's up there wondering what on earth happened...What with him and out shotgun friend...both of them have been popping into my thoughts more than they should have been....perhaps tonight I shall meditate and wish them luck and send them on their way...not healthy to linger when you have things to be getting on with...

So supper over...no photos today since they would be more or less the same as yesterday.  It has been a beautiful day here and wall to wall sunshine.  The temperature is dropping now so I'll say LN...tomorrow I have my student and Saturday I shall be off to Kardjali for a day shopping...LN
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Librarian
January 11, 2013, 9:10am Report to Moderator
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Hi elsa its its susan lovely photos i have been trying to phone you but your phone is off can i come to kardzali with you on           saturday
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Elsa Peters
January 11, 2013, 10:46am Report to Moderator

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Friday 11th January

Quoted from Librarian
Hi Elsa, lovely photos I have been trying to phone you but your phone is off can i come to Kardzali with you on Saturday?


Well done for getting on....I'll give you a ring later and as for that phone...bastard thing...I think it's the battery so as well as us there will be a trip to the provider and better bring some ear muffs.......only got the email to sort out now.  Make your way over whenever you want...that's providing the snow doesn't set in...

Lazy morning...fire didn't want to go, hair washed and showered and my student is going to happen at two this afternoon.  Bit of thaw on but it has promised snow for tomorrow and looking at the long term...it's threatening to snow on all Saturdays for the foreseeable future.  Give you the rest of the news later that's if there is any...
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Elsa Peters
January 11, 2013, 4:52pm Report to Moderator

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Friday continued

Lesson over, homework dished out, picked up Gouljan and she has a dilemma that I hope I helped her out with but I doubt it....gave her a lift home, phoned the Librarian and we are shopping tomorrow weather permitting.

Checked out my buckets of freasias and noticed three buds on the one in the stairwell...the second one has nothing to show for the care and attention...well maybe...I have shown them.  The money tree is growing but I rubbed the leaves today and hoping that it will do its stuff and send some my way.  The sky has been a mass of variables today.  It's been cold but not as cold as it has been but the wind is in the wrong direction and the fire is absolute rubbish and not drawing at all.  I've just had to take drastic measures this evening to get even a touch of the red stuff out of it.

So back to that sky.  Looked like we were in for a storm and the Greek mountains looked to be holding something back but the wind changed directions and we sent it back over to Greece.  The sunset was casting rosy glows over everything tonight...the mountains to the east looked stunning but it was knowing what to take first...so here's a few of them....

LN for now....my supper started out as chili spicy sausages with rice added and then it ended up as a curry....so it should be ready by the time I've posted this...I'm a tad hungry tonight...LN



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Elsa Peters
January 12, 2013, 4:41pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 12th January

Very pretty snow....very lethal snow....very white plaster covering very blue fingers.  Hospital very accommodating...in and out in about one and a half hours with a lovely wink and I'll see you Monday lunchtime from the guy that got me plastered in the nicest possible way.  Wrist dislocated and a bone not looking as it should so I had an injection to kill the pain and one holing the top of my arm and two pulling to straighten it out before the plastering started.

I was on my way to the cash point in Kardjali and money was my downfall.  They have beautiful marble type steps that I now know are not to be trusted.  I heard the scrunch as I fell on my wrist so knew it would entail a trip to a & E.. Throbbing like stink and pain killers for tonight.  I'm finding one handed typing hard going....That's all for now folks....LN



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50
January 12, 2013, 4:51pm Report to Moderator
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Oh Elsa, I am so sorry.  I do hope you are going to manage.  Hope the pain killers work and you get some sleep tonight,  Sending hugs to you, my dear.
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MikeyB
January 12, 2013, 8:19pm Report to Moderator

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Already left a sarky reply on FB so will now send over my sympathy  

Good job your beast is auto...as at least you can still get about! Hope the alcohol kicks in and you can sleep xx
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scarahfluff
January 12, 2013, 10:11pm Report to Moderator

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Oh Elsa,  hope are ok. It looks really painfull, hope you are feeling better soon.


Sarah  
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brightsprite
January 12, 2013, 10:33pm Report to Moderator
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Oh Elsa, do take care - flippin' weather. Hope you can cope with all the things you have to do. Hugs.
Just a thought - is this one of your talents that you keep hiding under the bushel ?   .....  
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Elsa Peters
January 13, 2013, 8:13am Report to Moderator

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Sunday 13th January

Quoted from brightsprite
Oh Elsa, do take care - flippin' weather. Hope you can cope with all the things you have to do. Hugs.
Just a thought - is this one of your talents that you keep hiding under the bushel ?   .....  


Thanks for your well wishes every one and yes Val...I've practiced long and hard with one arm tied behind my back to be a one armed typist...I can now put that talent to use...   Good night's sleep....i don't think that I moved and the pain killers out here really work without messing with the head.

This morning's first challenge...the ash can was too heavy to carry outside so I got my dustpan from 'dustpan and brush' and hioked it out into a bucket...Shimple.  Next one...striking the match to light the fire.  Solution...wedge box in corner of top of grate and go for it...unfortunately the matches in BG seem to be made of wood that 'bends' but on fourth attempt....success and fire going beautifully.  Daily Mail sudoku complete in record time and now I'll see what challenges are out there to be overcome.   My report to follow...
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Librarian
January 13, 2013, 9:12am Report to Moderator
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Hi   Elsa I hope you are coping  well  . Let me know if I can do any think
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createdbyme4you
January 13, 2013, 9:43am Report to Moderator

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My goodness Elsa thank (those upstairs) it could have been  much worse   sending healing thoughts and a SOS prayer  
Jackie
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Elsa Peters
January 13, 2013, 5:33pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday continued

Managed to prepare leeks and onions....potatoes provided the challenge.....so walked over the road and my Avatar's eyes opened wide when she saw the wrist but she willingly peeled the spuds and sliced them.  Soup made, a deputation of the local women followed and even my horse-riding sheep farmer came to inspect the damage.  Later this afternoon I delivered some soup to my Avatar as a thank you and it was well received.

Rest of the day spent quietly reading in the sun.....it has been a beautiful day with wall to wall sunshine but the temperature has dropped rapidly now the sun has gone. Several phone calls to check on the 'invalid'.  I managed to cook honey flavoured chicken on sticks so that I have a platform for the pain killer I'm just about to have.  Hospital at lunchtime so Librarian is doing the chauffeuring.  She didn't let on it was her birthday today so let's see what we can manage to get up to tomorrow...

LN...I'm off for my knock-out drops....  
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janet
January 14, 2013, 10:18am Report to Moderator
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Hi Elsa,

we are thinking of you and hope u r feeling better soon, a lot to be said for our heatwave.


J @ D
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Elsa Peters
January 14, 2013, 6:48pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 14th January

Seven thirty start to the day, used the same technique to get the ashes out, fire started and off to the hospital for twelve.  Picked up the daily document, off to the fourth floor to be greeted by 'Madame' by my doctor and I duly responded with a 'Monsieur' and was ushered into his surgery. four more doctors arrived to practice their English and he set about me with scissors removing the tightness around the thumb and the palm and applying a bandage over the whole thing.  Another document and off for two more x-rays....back to the fourth floor...x-rays retrieved from my doctor's computer, alignment confirmed to be excellent and I go back on Friday to have the permanent plaster applied.  All this in under an hour in a backward country....

Little bit of shopping which took longer since all details had to be revealed several times.  Home and perked up the fires....supper was the rest of the leek soup with the honeyed chicken kebabs followed with orange juice.  I checked out the painkillers on the internet and alcohol should be avoided so I'll try not to get in the way of a rum and hot water.....

I'm saying LN.  This is the second time I've typed this one two fingered.....the first was lost when my connection went AWOL....oh and thanks again for the well wishes....I shall pull through....LN
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Elsa Peters
January 15, 2013, 6:24pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 15th January

Very grim this morning Jim.  There was just a glimmer of sun and then it went away again.  I caught my Avatar on the way up yo see if there was anything that  I wanted her to do but I had no potatoes to peel and I had managed to put my hair out of the way with a springy clip and job was a guddun.  I really want to wash my hair and try for a shower.  Bed baths are OK but they leave the sheets damp or am I doing it wrong...

Wood in but there was really no need to stockpile.  The rain set in this afternoon and with it came higher temperatures.  The snow has all gone and the hillside back to normal,,,so I settled down this afternoon in front of the fire with a couple of cushions under my elbow so that the fluid would be drawn out by doing the suggested 'make a fist' exercises.  It seems to be better and I've been spreading Arnica on the exposed bits all day to bring the bruise out.

Eyelids got the better of me this afternoon for an hour or so but last night I was aware of sleeping with my arm up and again doing the clenched fist stuff.  Maybe this afternoon was just a catch up.

Supper was haricot beans with onions, tomatoes, chili with honey with chunks of snoked bacon thrown in.  Bit like a ptage and I'm certainly not going to fade away despite my disability.  LN...Ken Follett....'The man from St.Petersburg" is no more....back to the second of the Bourne trilogy..LN
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Elsa Peters
January 16, 2013, 6:07pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 16th January

I was woken up this morning at silly o'clock by a metal and a plastic bowl being whizzed around the terrace by a howling gale. I should have gone out and rescued them but it was raining so hard that I made a coffee and went back to bed with my Bourne Supremacy until my eyelids travelled southwards.

Seven thirty when I awoke the second time and I debated with myself whether to light the fire or not.  It wasn't cold outside but it looked so damp and miserable that I needed to cheer myself up....so out came the paper and the matches and I have sat curled up in front of it most of the day.

Remsie my fourth Muscateer came round this afternoon and she said that Emaula's grandmother fell down in Haskovo and she too is in plaster.  Must be the season for it.  Exercised it most of the day with my arm up and the swelling appears to be going down.  I've also been applying the Arnica to the bits that I can get to but it's been a wee bit painful today but to be expected.  Horrendous thunder storm this lunchtime and the electricity was flickering but fortunately we didn't lose power....and it's just done it again so I want to post quickly...one handed typing is no my speciality....LN...off to the kitchen and back to the fire.....the rain is being thrown against the windows....it's not nice out there....LN
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January 17, 2013, 4:24pm Report to Moderator
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hi elsa i hope you are still doing ok  just a short line to say hassan needs to go to the doctors in kardzhali      tomorrow so will come up with him i hope that you are ok with that had a few magazines from sonias gran   for  my birthday with a lovely letter well it has been more of a strugale today to get throught it would not let me on to   [color=blue][/color]my sieght so here i am
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Elsa Peters
January 17, 2013, 4:36pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 17th January

Just before seven start....fire completely burnt out this morning so had to start from scratch but it didn't take too long.  Ominous skies over Greece with a few scudding clouds this morning but they cleared to provide an interesting start to the day.

One of my neighbours came round this morning and brought round of her yogurt.....delicious and that was my breakfast.  I didn't was up yesterday deciding to wait until I had enough to make it worthwhile and the sweetie offered to do it for me.  I told her it was five minutes work and that I was able to do it and did five minutes after she'd left.

Got the wood in, walked the estate, at last the terraces and garden were drying out after the downpours.  Managed to strip down and get every thing into the washing machine and get it started but not in the kitchen may I add. I have sheep for neighbours you know.  It was so nice to get all clean clothes on and a brush all the way through my hair but I had to use lots of serum to help it through.  It's in a french pleat of sorts....not an easy job with one hand.  Lunch was ham, onion and cheese omelette but it was easier to cook it than eat it.  Needed to cut it with a knife, deer Henry a knife dear Henry, dear Henry a knife and I believe that can be put to music

Carlos the Jackal is no more.  He came to grief in Russia so don't know what the last in the trilogy will be about.  Fish fingers for supper, orange juice for a chaser, alcohol once more off the menu.  LN....my arm chair calls....



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Elsa Peters
January 17, 2013, 4:42pm Report to Moderator

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Quoted from Librarian

hi Elsa i hope you are still doing ok. Just a short line to say Hassan needs to go to the doctors in Kardzhali      tomorrow so will come up with him i hope that you are ok with that had a few magazines from Sonia's gran   for  my birthday with a lovely letter well it has been more of a struggle today to get through it would not let me on to my site so here I am


Absolutely fine....see you both when you get here.  I'll have the kettle on...
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createdbyme4you
January 18, 2013, 5:01pm Report to Moderator

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Hi Elsa good to know your doing ok with one hand   and being a very resourceful lady I know you'll be grand   I couldn't make that good an omelette with 2 hands never mind  one
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Elsa Peters
January 18, 2013, 5:48pm Report to Moderator

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Quoted from createdbyme4you
Hi Elsa good to know your doing ok with one hand   and being a very resourceful lady I know you'll be grand   I couldn't make that good an omelette with 2 hands never mind  one


I'm sure you could if you had to.

Seven twenty start...managed to wash my hair and out with the dryer and smart as you like to face the day.  Hospital for eleven and that's where the fun started.   Two emergency operations on grandmothers with fractured hip joints and I and to sit around until three this afternoon to be seen.  My lovely doctor bounded in fresh from the kill so to speak. but hopefully not, looked at my hand, wiggled my thumb and applied a new bandage.  And that was it......

My unveiling days is the 12th February and there has been a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightening so I'm off....catch you tomorrow...LN
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Librarian
January 19, 2013, 6:21am Report to Moderator
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hi elsa sun is out  sky now blue looks better than earlyer to day  i am going to do more on the computer today have more   playing around  hope you slept well   me
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Elsa Peters
January 19, 2013, 4:48pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 19th January

Well that flaming storm went on most of the night and then the temperature dropped and the cars were white over when I got up at five thirty.  Wasn't sure where to put me arm last night.  When the doctor made the caste tighter it appears to be pressing on the bone but maybe that's what it's supposed to do.  I was very tempted last night to move my bed close to the freezer and go for it...

Chilling morning with the mist hanging in the valley over the river and a blueness about it.  It changed as the morning moved on and ended up being a lovely warm sunny day and I sat outside enjoying the view and the peacefulness.  Spare ribs into the slow cooker and later into the oven with honey barbecue sauce and served up at about four with pasta.  There is enough for tomorrow and Tommy will delight in the bones.  I had a visit from mt Avatar and my neighbour this afternoon and there was a showing of the bruising which received the standard 'Anna, Anna' or 'mother, mother' and off they trotted thinking how brave I am.  Believe me I wasn't so cheerful about it in the middle of the night.

Supper over, kitchen clear, fire going, curtain drawn and new book by Ken Follett underway.  Time I got back to it so LN



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Elsa Peters
January 20, 2013, 6:49pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 20th January

Don't know.....two o' clock and wide awake so read until five thirty and head down until seven twenty.  You hear of people working split shifts but I wonder how many people experience this same nightly routine.  Fire sorted and was toying with the idea of catching the morning market day bus into Djebel to post birthday cards for the UK but decided to do my morning Daily Mail Sudoku and couldn't understand why it was loading up Sunday's and not Monday's........suddenly hit me....it was Sunday so I might do the market tomorrow.

Poached eggs for breakfast and only using the one hand I managed to break both yolks.....and spreading hard butter with left hand is not easy.  Took Tommy the remains of last night's supper and a jar of tomato paste for my Avatar to open for me......I just couldn't manage it.  Made up a huge pot of baked beans that will stand over night and get frozen tomorrow into smaller portions.  Pretty useful and at least I know what's in them.

The rest of the day has been mainly with Ken Follett.  Not really sure if I'm enjoying it....good story but very detailed.  I've got Radio 2 doing it's stuff today.  Love Elaine Pages programme and her choice of music but her giggle got through today and now it's Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady) belting out.  Anyway....time to go down and keep my fire company....
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January 21, 2013, 5:21pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 21st January

So  I made it through until six fifteen this morning and decided that it wasn’t cold enough to get the fire going so went back to bed and read until seven twenty or thereabouts.

Coffee, fire, beans on toast for breakfast came much later but there was a bit of a rumpus fairly early on.  I could hear the cows close to the fence and I looked out and realised that they had once more breached my neighbour’s garden and the cow man was rushing round trying to get them out.  Now Semile reckons it is nothing to do with bad cow husbandry….it’s bad fences but I’ll leave him to tell my neighbour that.

As for the rest of the day…wood in, curled up in front of the fire, the wing is howling and my tree is quivering.  Just a few rain splatterings but nothing to write home about.  My neighbour did come round today with food for the invalid and very tasty it was too.  She aslo gave me three eggs so the chickens must have started laying again....good.

Eighty eight percent of my book down so I’ll make it to the end now.  There was one point when I thought I wouldn’t bother…..LN



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January 22, 2013, 5:37pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 22nd January

Lovely surprise last night.....phone call from my son and we relived all the times he has been in plaster as opposed to plastered.  I suppose that at my age it is quite an achievement not to have had something encased in the white stuff and I don't mean snow....

None of that around today.  It has been a beautiful day and so much so that I didn't light a fire until four this afternoon and had windows and doors open to let some fresh air into the homestead.  Had a bonfire this morning and was surveying the countryside when I heard the gate latch go so I headed back to the terrace and there were four of my neighbours come to see how I was faring and it was a beautiful day for a walk from the bottom of the village.  They inspected the plaster and the bruise and were almost drawn to tears but I managed to get over that I was OK it was just he arm that was the problem.  I think here that if there is anything wrong...you are ill...not a lot of stoicism.  So they sat down on my bench and they all produced presents.  I was so overawed is a good word.....they have little but they give such a lot.  Emaula's mum brought two litres of milk from her cow but I had to refuse.  I just don't drink enough so the sweetie is bringing it back tomorrow as yogurt.  Having them all lined up I asked if they minded if I took a photo...so they all adjusted their headscarves and now I need to get printing and laminating......

Got my head down for an hour or so this afternoon and feel much better for it...Ken Follett is no more and now on to Bernard Cornwell who I love.  Lovely story teller.  Supper tonight.....haven't a clue but I've just had a very weak rum, hot water and a couple of aspirin.  I seem to have the beginnings of a cold and I want to stop it before it starts so I might be peeling an onion and sleeping with it next to my bed tonight....LN...things to read and do...



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January 23, 2013, 6:27pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 23rd January

Beautiful sunrise just after seven this morning and it was all systems go quite early on.  The Librarian asked if it was OK to come over and was I doing anything and my response signified that I was doing very little.  Remsia came round quite early, said that it was such a good day that her husband would be able to chop the rest of the logs into petchka sized chunks and no sooner the word than the blows and three hours later I have another pile of logs.  Emaula's mother arrived with the home made yogurt promised from yesterday.  The Librarian arrived at lunch time along with my Avatar and neighbour and I swear there were more people in my garden than in the rest of the village.

So sweet and sour pork with potato wedges for lunch followed by yogurt and the preserved strawberries.  Delicious.  Decided to sort her computer out since the Google icon had decided to play up but got in through the side door so to speak.  The arm is giving me gyp tonight and one handed typing is not doing any thing for my health and patience......so LN.....would just add that the sunset tonight was stunning and appears to be the forerunner of bad weather to come.....let's wait and see....
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January 24, 2013, 6:58pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 24th January

Very quick update tonight.  Torrential gales all day and thunderstorms on and off for most of the day.

Usual routine apart from cleaning out the fridge, getting my small woodburner outside so that I could give it a good clean out and remove the pipes.  I'm into Djebel in the morning on the bus and coming back with a new set from the hardware store and I'll clean out the others when I'm more able.

Gouljan dropped in this afternoon on her way back from school to check on progress and she is coming round on Saturday morning to help me clean the pipes for the big woodburner knowing that next week's weather is going to be very cold.  When it came time to leave the heavens opened so I insisted she borrowed my ski jacket, put up the hood and left down her umbrella since she could well have been over the Greek border by now.

So I'm saying LN....I think I heard a rumble in the jungle.....
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Friday 25th January

Six thirty start and finished my Lee Childs' Reacher book and then realised that I had about thirty minutes to get washed, dressed, measure the lengths of the new pipes that I wanted for my little woodburner in the kitchen and get that bus.  Gouljan's mother was on the bus so we sat next to each other and she tells me that she is coming to help me with the pipes for the big woodburner tomorrow morning but I said that if it is snowing to forget all about it now that the little one is operational.

Got my pipes, fifteen leva.....went to the leva shop and got a few things went to see my student's mum in the car-parts shop.  We sat and chatted until I got cold and decided that there was no way that I was going to wait for the one-thirty bus so I grabbed my pipes from the hardware and took a taxi home.  Well worth and had my fire going in quicksticks but there really wasn't any need because the sun was shining on my stair well and it was up in the twenties in the house.

Assembled most of the new pipes and had to ask my Avatar to push the last one in.  She arrived with ho cooked rice si I gave her a bowl of my spaghetti bolognaise that I had made when I got back from town so it was swapsies.  Little one back together and fire lit.  I managed to open a bottle of wine one handed with a few curses thrown in but job complete.  Supper over, kitchen tidied, two fires going .....glass of the red stuff and another Lee Childs Imabout to start.  

There's a halo round the moon and apparently you count the number of stars within the halo to tell you how soon the bad weather will arrive and since I see no stars.....tomorrow looks like it will be as predicted and the temperature is already below zero......LN.....time to batten down the hatches.....LN
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Saturday 26th January

Four am this morning I stuck my head out from under the duvet and noticed that the garden had a smattering of the winter white stuff and by five the terraces were full.  My little woodburner is at last behaving itself and providing that Gouljan could make it here the biggie was going to have the pipes cleaned.  It was precautionary.  Normally I would do them every month but since the wood is so good this year I'd let it run on but threatened with minus fifteens or so for the next couple of weeks....thought it was a good idea.

Didn't light the fire and at nine Gouljan phoned to say she would be here by ten.  Now I know that this is Bulgarian time so I decided I would see how much I could manage with one hand.  I got all of the pipes out and the air wasn't so blue, managed to clean half of them having forward planned a big plastic bucket and my flue brush into the hall but my stumbling block was not being able to remove a curve from a straight.  I cleaned out the fire, cleaned the glass, laid the fire ready for lift off and she arrived with mother at ten thirty which I thought was pretty good.  I immediately got told off for what I had done and explained that all that they had to do was to clean two straights and a bend and it was assembly time.  Ten minutes later....all in place, fire lit no smoke and warming up nicely not that it is cold in the house.  It's amazing what a difference good wood makes.

So we sat and had coffee....Gouljan's mother said that I should move in with them so that she could take care of me.....I said that I didn't need it but that if she wanted a rest from the cows she should move in with me.....They left at just after twelve.....I made a sandwich and started to read but my eyelids were going south so I went to bed for a couple of hours.  Snow looks like it's set in for the night.....I've got in enough wood so LN....back to my book and fire.....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 27, 2013, 5:00pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 27th January

So today is CJ's birthday so happy birthday my sweet.  As for me.....the first job was to fry a couple of eggs, bang them on toast and lash them with brown sauce.  It is Sunday after all.

I cleared the terraces and the path to the little house so that I could get some wood in.  I wasn't out but I wanted to stock up again. I got out my trusty snow shovel and single handed....well it had to be didn't it....I ended up half filling the scoop and pushing it in the general direction I wanted it to go.  It sort of worked but at least I can walk out safely to empty the ashes from the fire and get the logs in....Don't want any accidents do we now

I finished the latest Lee Childs and he has drawn me in somewhat as an author.  Good plots, easy style and still wondering at eighty percent on the Kindle.  He rolls out a story well.  Started the next one in front of the fire....but the call to wash my hair and get out a dustbin liner for my wrist and have a shower was spoiling the plot.......so into the kitchen for the plastic bag and jobs a guddun and I feel so much better.  All the castoffs are in the washing machine with the delay set so it operates at cheap rate.

Back to the fire and to the book.  Tony Blackburn is doing his stuff......and it might be a little beer tonight with a curry from the slow cooker....LN....it's relax time.....and let's hope we see a little sun tomorrow instead of the overcast grey of today...LN
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Elsa Peters
January 28, 2013, 7:04pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 28th January

Lazy start......the fire was reluctant to start and I should have taken it apart and started from scratch but you know what it's like...I can do this....go on...you know that you want to.  Scrambled eggs on toast today and managed to do it but I'll tackle the cooker later...
Eventually it got going and it has been successful all day.  Got my wood in and walked the estate.  The snow is gently thawing once the sun got behind the clouds and that's where it stayed most of the day.  There was a glimmer just before it went down but nothing to write home about.

KingDom and his lovely A came visiting today and it was good to catch up.  They are over for a couple of weeks and we'll take a trip out to Kardjali.  I think they are taking pity on me not being able to get out.  Got only fifteen percent of Reacher (Lee Childs) to read but I was told that one of the books is being made into a book but the lead role is being taken by Tom Cruise and that doesn't fit well with Reacher's book description.....ahh well....another image shattered.

Back to the last few percents and my warm fire...LN....



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Elsa Peters
January 29, 2013, 5:41pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 29th January

Really good night's sleep and felt good this morning except the better you feel the more you want to do but you can't do much...white stuff on my right wrist ...incapacitating...   

Having said that......poached eggs on toast for breakfast, wood in, fires going and settled on leek, onion and potato soup for lunch.  So what were my challenges...peeling onions, slicing leeks and...peeling potatoes.  So the last time I made it I asked my Avatar to do the potatoes for me but this time I managed to do two large ones myself with my big carving knife and it worked.....well sort of.  I think there was a lot of wasted spud....but the end result was fine.  When it was finished I took some in a jug to my Avatar and she complained that I had given her too much so I told her that it would do two days.  Two bowls for me followed by homemade yogurt with those lovely strawberries.

So up until lunchtime we had freezing fog which eventually cleared and the sun came out.  Only for a couple of hours and it didn't move much snow but it was nice to see.  Done a lot of reading today......I'm getting a little bored.....but not long now......two weeks and counting....LN...back to my book....thank goodness for the Kindle...LN



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Elsa Peters
January 30, 2013, 6:18pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 30th January

Well that's it then.  I heard today that two of my friends have gone base over apex and are multicoloured like I am.  The first was down because of her animals...taking a dog for a walk and the second one tripped over getting out of work.  That's three of us now so the rest of you will be fine.

Freezing fog again this morning but the hazy sun pushed the temperature up and there are patches of green showing through on the garden.  It hasn't all gone and it's getting colder and tonight will freeze what's thawed so it's watch how you go tomorrow.....not that I'm going far.  Did play around outside this lunchtime and was told off by my neighbour for doing stuff when she delivered her home made yogurt.  They are really looking after me.

So this afternoon I got tired of reading and found 'The King's Speech' on the PC and watched it.  Such a good film and I think I might be changing my opinion of what's his name Sprules.  Such a good portrayal of Churchill.  Fire ticked over all day but I've livened it up at about five....I could feel the temperature dropping.

On to my next Lee Childs until I get sick of him and move on to another author.....but again...such a good storyteller.  Down I go...supper might not happen ...I'll save the fish that I got out of the freezer for tomorrow.  No real appetite or enthusiasm tonight....LN...I have a fire that needs attending to...LN
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January 31, 2013, 5:12pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 31st January

Six thirty this morning wake-up and decided it was't worth lighting the fire.  I'd emptied the ash can earlier and listened to the mosque calling the believers to life and gone back to bed with a coffee and my kindle. I'd opened the curtains in the bedroom to watch the sun break through and spotted that it was worth a shot so legged it and got the camera.  And then I lit the fire..

As for breakfast I was tired of eggs so found a tin of tomatoes with a ring pull so put in two slices of toast, used half the can and reckoned that the other half would do for supper.  Eleven o'clock and did I want to go shopping to Kardjali with Kingdom and A and the answer was yes.  Lidl for basics and Djebel for essentials and home by about three thirty,  My freezer is full of meat and my fridge with butter and cheese.

Put the shopping away and prepared my supper. Managed to peel and slice one large potato, make a sweet and sour sauce to put on some fish and into the oven for one and a half hours at gas mark 180 degrees.  Perfect.....served it up...ate it up and a glass of wine....drunk it up.

Two new books from my visitors.....finishing the one I'm currently on first.....LN....finish this and back to my fire....



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