Friday 19th April

Thanks Chris...things just seem to happen here and most of it is worth photographing.....

Silly five a.m. start today so read for a while but didn't manage to get my head down again but at least I was on time to pick the men up.  Bekir remembered his chain saw today so the cherry got a bit of a hammering but it's all to do with the view from the upstairs balcony of the little house.  No good having a view if you can't see it...now is there.....  Cleared the debris and had a good bonfire while Bekir got his trusty chainsaw and cut all the stuff up from the felling sessions and Sally split it and I've managed to acquire about three cubic which I'm assured will be ready in about a month.  Think I might save it for the autumn and it's stored in the new workshop.  No use putting it in the little house...what's in there will be transferred as work progresses.

Helped Sally with the wood stacking but unfortunately a speck of dust went in my eye and for the rest of the afternoon it's been weeping like fury and is exceptionally red and with the best will in the world, you know you shouldn't rub it and I've tried the water bath and it seemed to have moved it but it's come back again so it'll be the blind leading the blind as I drive the men home.  I was going to go to the  Librarians tonight and spend tomorrow with her but I'm niggled by the eye so I'll put it off for another week.  I don't think I'll be good company tonight.

Found some strange mushrooms at the base of the bonfire when I moved some of the longer grass out of the way so that I didn't set the hillside on fire...must look up what they are...really peculiar.

Six of the clock my time....them men have been coffeed out today.  Emula decided he would work then decided that it was a much better proposition to go into Djebel with one of his mates...said he just didn't feel like working so I just didn't feel like paying him.  I bought him a voucher for his mobile but gave it to Bekir to show him as an incentive...bit like the donkey and the carrot but it hasn't worked.  We've come to the conclusion that he just doesn't like work...the novelty wears off very quickly.  Men off home soon....I'm going to get the fire going before I take them so it's cosy to come back to.  Chicken wings going in too so that supper will be ready when I get back....I'm tired of eating late.  LN...my men call....

Friday night

The mushrooms have been identified as morels...and you can eat them apparently...if I do and you don't hear from me again..they were lying....

Saturday 20th April

Slept in until eight this morning and lazed about since there were no men to collect and no students to get ready for.  Breakfast went on the back burner as I did the usual on the pc and then as I was starting to get the toaster out there were a couple of phone calls from the UK and one from the Librarian so it was more early lunch than breakfast.  I'm pleased to say that the beam that was in my eye disappeared over night but it looks a little red and the lid is bruised whee it started to swell.  All better now.

Tuna mayo on toast for lunch and then out to the garden and I didn't come back in except for water and the odd coffee until seven fifteen and I was surprised how late it was.  I've managed to clear the big flower bed so that I've got somewhere to put the plants that I'm growing in pots.  I also need to clear out the other bed so that I can transfer the seedlings that are starting to germinate in the garden.  Lots of petunias starting, tobacco has got a few heads up and there is a very pretty white flower that seems to have dropped seeds everywhere but fortunately that's in the first bed that was dug over, the frog garden.

Another job was to sort out the bonfire pit.  The underneath was choker and some of the bricks had disintegrated but all sorted now,  Relit it and now there's nothing hanging around.  What a good day I've had....feeling really pleased with myself and at last I'm beginning to see patches of soil instead of clumps of clover.

Eight twenty my time....fire going but mainly for decorative purposes, supper is cold chicken left over from last night and maybe find a glass of the red stuff to help it down....Student in the morning....LN...I'm off down stairs and putting this thing to bed...and I shan't be long before I'm putting myself to bed...I'm knacked... ....LN

Sunday 21st April

So yesterday's gardening really worked and I slept like a baby last night and woke up refreshed.  Breakfast was toast and spread cheese since Lidl butter is no more and the trip to Kardjali is planned for Friday.....I need lots of goodies.

Out to my student just before ten and told them that no way was they to feed me.  I'd planned to go thet Librarians but they were most insistent that I got fed, they are so proud that everything that they have is provided from their own garden and I said down with the family.  Such a good lesson today and she is really keen to get practicing.  It's funny though...when we sit at the table having lunch, the questions keep coming from each direction and it's like playing tennis so that's our joke.

Stopped off at the supermarket and got goodies for tonight including a bottle of wine and one of beer....we've finished eating....I'm doing me quick update and I'll sleep here tonight and pickup the men in the morning from their village since it sits between the Librarians and my house.  Popped to my Avatar's house to tell her that I wouldn't be home tonight so that she didn't worry if she didn't see my car outside the house.

So I think the beer might be on for tonight....I've finished the washing up....just like a real guest ought to....need to set off by just before eight tomorrow...I have eleven and a half hours to fill...LN....what can I think to do?  Well there is that bottle...LN

Monday 22nd April

Sorry last night for the three posts of the same thing.   the connection is so dodgy at the Librarian's house that it wouldn't let me delete and at one point it wasn't even showing that Sunday's post wasn't there.....

Beautiful sunrise this morning ...one huge great red ball in the sky and the mist covered the ground.  Seeing sunrise from a different place and I packed up the car at seven thirty thereabouts this morning and really early for the men.  From her house to the men is only about six kilometers and I didn't take that into account but they were ready with little rubber shoes blacked and into the car for five to eight.  They're walking around the new build and scratching heads....I've yet to go out but I'm hoping that the god of materials delivers today...otherwise there will be hell to play tomorrow.

So my student this afternoon and for the rest of the morning I've decided that winter clothes get packed away and two bedroom and the upstairts bathroom gets sorted for visitors that might be arriving at the beginning of May and definitely booked for the 15th....so to horse....

Hi Elsa, Good reading and great pics. the little house looks like its coming on fine. Wanted know if and when u shopping next, could you see if u can find these sweets I saw on tv, they are rose flavour and they are supposed to make u smell like roses when u eat them. Made in Bulgaria....if u find them would u be able to send me 2 bags plz. Took pc into my Mum to show her pics etc, she said to say Hello and wished u all the best on the build. She loved the pics of the animals and your house. Take care Linda & Gang.x

Hi Elsa, Just thought of sweets name its DEO....Let me know if u can get some for me.. Ta.

Monday continued

So now I'm on a mission when I go shopping next time to try and find these sweets.  I've never heard of them but someone should've.....and they'll be in the post to you.  So pleased that your mum likes what I'm getting up to.....she would have thought nothing less of me!!....

Suddenly after checking my emails and such this morning...I find my Avatar on the wrong end of a machine they've made for getting the fine stuff out of the heap of gravel.  I'm wondering why Bekir isn't helping Sally so I thought I ought to check.  Now he is mending a scythe and I'm thinking that mine is OK, Emula is not here with his, and it suddenly dawns on me that Avatar is now, with spade in hand doing what Bekir should be doing and Bekir is mending her scythe.  I go to my purse and ask her what she thinks she's doing and how much does she want for a day's work...we agree on ten leva so I offer her two.....to go away.  No way do I want her working on my house but I suppose she felt guilty taking my man away from his work....why should she...he doesn't.   Had a bit of a brain wave today and remembered that my ex husband used to sell plastic drainage pipe and that I had seen some in Djebel.....began to explain it to Bekir and so I was on a mission to find twenty meters of the stuff.  It's to be laid outside the wall of the garage so that the water drains away...it used to be called Wavin pipe but I don't know what it goes by now...

Raked up the dross from my garden today and lobbed it over the fence for the animals.  Had a little fire and then realised that it was time to go student drilling in Djebel, went to my materials supplier and got my twenty meters and we debated whether it would go in the little car or have to be put on the roof and as it happened...I managed to get it into the car with the back seats flat and a rubber bungee holding the back door down.  Now this would have been fine but I met up with Remsie in Djebel as I left the car park to get to the material magazine so the grandson was in the back with the pipe and grandmother in the front with me and both deposited safely.  Arrived with the pipe and Emula showed real concern because the pipe had got holes in it....I told him that it was OK but he was adamant that I'd been sold a pig in a poke.  We then had to explain the why, when and how...and it all became clear...bless.....

Semile's brother was round this evening and I said that I had asked the Kmet (local mayor) for paint for my bus stop or to remove it...it just looks naff.  He said that there is a gathering of the local DPC party tomorrow in the Kmet's office and he's promised, a promise of my paint for tomorrow....so let's see how long it takes to be delivered and they might even get to meet the English lady of this village...so tomorrow I better give the house a spring clean if I'm to meet the local dignitaries....all this for four tins of pain!!

Men home....wine opened...fire going...what more could a girl ask for except for four tins of pain and that's on the burner for tomorrow.  Lovely life....moite jivot e po hubovo.....LN....or in the words of the electrical white goods and television manufacturer....Life's good....LG.....LN... ;)

Tuesday 23rd April

Six-thirty start but decided to linger until seven at at seven-twenty my phone went and ....no men working today...Sally has a little problem but I'm assured that they are on for tomorrow....let's see.

Two lots of washing done and dried, all my winter clothes are away and the summer ones are now back into one room and back in control.  I'd used the upstairs bathroom as a dressing room for the winter but now it's back to a bathroom ...well it will be when the bath gets installed.  It's got a toilet and washbasin so it does have the rudiments but with the wet room downstairs...not much of a rush with only me living here.

The sun bed did call as I was on my way back from the washing line and for the first time this year, I stretched out for about an hour.  It wasn't really hot today but enough just to lie there,  Two men from the water board called and they are progressing into the next century or catching up.  I was given a reference number and a little blue card and today's payment of just under five leva is the last.  I now have to pay it at the post office so like my electricity....I'm going to let the bank take care of it so that I don't have to think about it.  Just a text to say how much they intend taking and another to tell me that they have now got their sticky little mitts on it.

Avatar has had a good day today.  A man and his son came round with a rotavator last night and today she was tramping out the squares.  I saw her putting in her potatoes and took pity on her and cooked enough supper for two.  Potatoes, onions with chicken wings in the oven and as I walked over with the dish Tommy was jumping about, his tail was going hell for leather and he was licking his lips.  I almost had to fight him off but I did return with the bones after I'd eaten mine.

So my paint hasn't arrived and I've not even been informed of the promise to deliver.....supper over, fire going but there really isn't any need for it....the wine is still waiting to be given the kiss of life....I'm on my way down.  I've had a good day and feel that I've achieved something...LN...   

Wednesday 24th April

Good day today...lawnmower out and I've done all of the top half of my garden and my Avatar's.  But back to basics.....apparently Sally's problem was his father yesterday and they had to take him to Haskovo Hospital since they didn't have the equipment in Kardjali but fortunately he's back home now.  The materials wagon has still not arrived so I thought the men would be stuffed today but no...I have my little roof over the porch taking place as we speak.  The boards are on, well most of them.  We have had the most outrageous downpour and it stopped play but they're back at it now.  I knew I shouldn't have cleaned the windows in the second upstairs bedroom in anticipation of guests.

I have a guest in the garden....we have a man who likes his Rakia a little more than he should and by this time in the afternoon he's a little worse for wear.  I'm staying out of it but he reckons I'm a bad neighbour because I don't get the coffee out for him but he missed the men's slot and four so tough.  I've just had delivered spinach filo pastry stuff.  Now I'm not a lover of anything green so I thanked her for it and it's in the kitchen.....I'll try it later.

Men are still banging away but today I can see what they've been doing and it feels good.  There are other days when the work is so fiddly or I've asked to change something that it appears slow...but definitely not today.  Beginning to pack up now....I think I'm on my way to Djebel to get a few things like nails and coffee and I might stay in my favourite restaurant for supper tonight...it's been a while since I paid my respects.  So early night for my posting....my pain is supposed to be on its way....oh yeah....LN...getting changed to go to the big city....