Thursday 25th April

Last night was an experience in my special restaurant.  The Chief of Police and one of the traffic sergeants were drinking in the restaurant and because the daughter of the restaurant calls me Baba (grandmother) Elsa I am now known to the chief of police by the same name....   I'll remember that for when he has to give evidence against me.....They were drinking home made Rakia while I was on the fruit juice and water advising them that my car was outside....not sure if they were on Shanksie's pony but they should have been.  Home by about nine...the fire was still going and settled in with my book for about half an hour but absolutely shattered and my energy level has been low all day.  Picked up the men on time...we were down to the yard and I asked the owner if his phone was working since we had tried several times to ask where our stuff was but no joy.  Made adjustments to the order from the non delivered items from the previous order that were already paid for, adjusted the bill after referring to the last one and we agreed a sum.

Off to see my student but his parents were in Sofia hospital with respective parents so I cancelled the lesson, left him in charge of the shop and went down to the garage to get my summer tyres on, have and oil change and the good news is...the new seals on the pump in the Pajero seem to have solved the problem.  Much head scratching was heard but seems to be it was worth it.  Back home and took to the garden and Gouljan arrived just to see how I was.  I've agreed to meet her next Wednesday and we'll have a day out in Kardjali.

Little roof guttering was a lot of work for two guys but it's done and dusted and the tiles go on tomorrow along with the cement floor for the garage....the Beast will be introduced to it's new home and should be stabled as of Monday net...Emula is supposed to be working tomorrow as it's a cement day and has asked for more money.  I let it be known that Bekir fixes his rate for the day not me...if he's worth it we pay more...if he's not we don't.

So home now and what a beautiful moon tonight.  It was red when it came over the mountains but now it's a great big hanging yellow ball and I'd take a better picture if I had a better camera.... ,  LN...tomorrow I'm off to Kardjali with a long list of essentials for various shops.....let's see what else I come back with that is inessential....

Friday 26th April

Summer is here...it reached twenty six this afternoon in Kardjali and was it hot.  

Back to business...picked up the men and went down to get some fresh bread from the mobile shop and breakfast was that with peach jam and without butter but after my trip today to the big city...not to happen again for the foreseeable future....I like butter and there is no substitute in my book.  Librarian arrived in good time...left in her vehicle to get to Djebel and the garage and my Beast took us to Kardjali in style but the agreed meeting with my solicitor buddy didn't happen...he had work in Momchilgrad but had to catch the bus back to Haskovo....'drug put' as we say...another day.  Left the men with the kettle today so at least their coffee breaks would be on time.

The Beast behave beautifully....into the Leva shop and a present of decent wine glasses for my Librarian.  I have standards that she has to learn to maintain... ...my glasses are big,  Picked up a stainless steel sink for the new workshop for a fraction of the price that I have seen in Djebel...bargain offer of toilet rolls so I have guests and no (t)issues....

Billa for coffee and filet steak, Lidl for fishfingers, more coffee, butter with a good shelf life and triangle cheese.  We reckoned that our shopping lists that Librarian and me could shop for each other....but the grand finale was a super white choc ice and we sat in the car and satisfied the urge.  Went to try and find a black cartridge for my printer and the girl in the shop had such attitude that even if I am desperate and I am...she wouldn't get my business.

Back home...unpacked...garage floor complete..well almost....made the coffee for the three of them and into the garden for the while to fill in the time until they leave.  Tonight I'm tired.  Emaula is going to the Black Sea to work for ten days....I did ask him if ten days was too much for him...and we left it that.  Men home...beautiful sunset tonight and when I sat out watching the sun get down the Mosque started up and I sat and listened to the Hojja doing his stuff......different world... different life ...and I'm listening to Barbra S doing her stuff and from Yentle she's just come out with the quote...'Will someone wake me from this dream'....but please don't.

LN...I'm heading for the kitchen with great prospects but having demolished half a chicken with salad and chippies for lunch...not much room left.  LN..might just squeeze something in....

Saturday 27th April

Really early wake up but then back to sleep until eight thirty...my day of rest...no men...no students...no nothing.

Breakfast was a little late...two cups of coffee and sat outside in the sun and I knew that it was going to be a scorcher from the off today...and it certainly was.  I went out into the garden with the intention of not stopping until the side garden was cleared but the flesh was weak.  I came in and decided that breakfast was on the cards and another cup of coffee....and since it was now heading for the two hands at the top, a little siesta was called for but try as I might and even though I felt tired...didn't manage to nod off but back downstairs again by two, played with my DS for a while and knocked off a couple of Sudoku and back out there,  The side garden is cleared, dug over and ready for planting up.  Put a chicken in to cook while I was out in the garden and supper was chicken and chips and early for me...all washed up before eight.

Short and sweet tonight.....it's been a day of diggin' and doin'........so nipping out now to get that bonfire lit and the rubbish cleared.  LN....the end of an enjoyable day....suns just gone and moon not up yet....nice clouds tonight...LN

Sunday 28th April

Silly night again last night...perhaps chicken and chips with mayo early didn't do the trick....I was awake at two until four..reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.....but eventually went off again until six thirty and out watching the sun on the bench until I realised that there was a chillness in the air.

Shower and shampoo this morning and off to see my student for a session.  I set her homework last week but she said that she found the subject hard.  She was asked to imagine that if she could be invisible for one day what would she get up to...now her ten year old cousin thought this would be great and decided that she would resit her school tests and get top marks for everything...that's my girl.

Lunch with the family and father had done the cooking.  This was topped up when the other sister and mother returned from a birthing party and more food arrived.  I was stuffed and still it came....  Got home about three after a stop at the supermarket for potatoes, onions, beer and an....eclair with confectioner's custard....delicious with coffee.  Took in the washing, burnt the rubbish that I was intending to burn last night but the wind got rid of some more weeds.  Noticed that there were flowers out that I'd missed before so tonight's showing is flowers from my garden.  Cold chicken tonight and leaving aside the mayo....I think that is the part that's hard to digest.

Top garden must be sorted over the next couple of days....I've got seedlings that need to find a home and unless it's cleared it's not going to happen.  Men tomorrow...not sure what's on the agenda but it might be the outside wall or the other little terrace....I'll see what they feel like.  Emula is apparently going to work at the sea side for the next ten days or so....we'll see tomorrow.  LN....I'm down to pour another beer...just to keep up my fluid intake you understand in this hot weather....LN

Sunday update

My garden neighbour that lives along the road has just delivered fresh garlic, spring onions and a lettuce that I had to refuse.  I told them I didn't have a rabbit....probably not what they wanted to hear but it is green and I have an aversion to most things green.  As for the fresh garlic...it is so pungent that I'm thinking one clove would keep away evil spirits for ever....LN....I'm off to pour that beer....

Monday 29th April

Another day, another dollar was a phrase that one of my home help favourite phrases.  Appropriate this morning...Monday and the start of a new week for the men.  Not a good day for what they had to do.....they were cementing part of the yard so that I could get the cars into the garage without using a fork lift.  The little house was much higher so it had to be done.  Now when I left for my student...there was a huge tree root that I understood was being covered by the concrete....when I came back I saw no hint of a bulge and asked where it was and Bekir pointed to his side.  Wow I bet that took some shifting in this heat...PHEW.

Managed an hour and a half with the student and we ended up watching and discussing Willy Wonker and the Chocolate factory that I've just finished reading and watching sections of it on You Tube.  He is such a bright lad...I only have to tell him once and he remembers detail. His mother started to ask me about the different parts of speech that have no equivalent in Bulgarian....at this point I glazed over....but I really must read up on it.

Interesting find in the garden this afternoon.  I've managed to dig over my top garden and tomorrow will dispose of the weeds but as I was walking by the Sloe hedge I noticed what appeared to be a giant gossamer condom on it and couldn't understand what it was.  There were a couple of black caterpillars making their way across it so I asked Sally who told me they were very bad.  Apparently if they get on you they make you itch but to demonstrate, he took is lighter and there must be about two hundred of the things on the inside and they were starting to leap about a bit.  My first instinct was to drop it into a bucket and set fire to it....not much of a conservationist am I.

So gravel heap down to the last dregs and more needs to be ordered tomorrow.  I'm off to the Librarian's tonight since it's less of a journey for me tomorrow and we'll dine at the local Ritz.  Just about to get packed up...me thinks the men will want an early night...LN....they look knacked after mixing concrete in 28+ today... ...LN

You and your crew are making such progress! It must be very satisfying to see things come together as you planned them. Well done!  

Tuesday 30th April

Thanks Chris...not sure whether the word 'plan' comes into it but it sort of rolls along.  What I'll do when we've finished (that's if that day ever comes) not sure...it might be that English School that I'm itching to start.

Went down to the local restaurant in the Librarian's village and settled for chicken kebabs. cheesy chips, salad and it had to be the necessary two bottles of beer.  Driving off piste so they say when you leave the 'Vinetka' road or half pissed if you take the English way of looking at things.  We both drove to the house despite my initial intention to arrive and for both of us to WALK down to burn off the calories of the imbibing and over indulging settling for two plates of cheesy chips instead of one.  I think it's something to do with the beer.

I picked up the men...got told off by my Avatar for not telling her I was out for the evening but I'm sure she didn't spend her night wondering about my whereabouts.  Had a bit of a mixed day.  The men knew what they were doing fortunately we just had to work out the heights of the terraces, the wall and the steps on the the existing terrace and when that was done I could have the day to myself.  Did a load of washing, and got the bonfire going but not sure I got that in the right order but everything seemed to work out.  

Carried on with the top garden and got the lawn mower out and now know that it doesn't go without fuel no matter how hard you try to fire it up,,,   Ginormous bonfire to get rid of the old polythene and the bags from yesterday's cement and everything in the garden is lovely...so to speak.  Semile and myself are having a bet as to whether you can get two cars in the garage....we were even out measuring the width of the cars and we don't have much to play with but I think it's enough....How often will I really be putting two cars away...dream on.  Fresh home made bread delivered by my Avatar since I delivered her three bottles of shampoo that I had no need of and didn't like the flavour.  She asked me how much...I told her a silly price that she knows means she pays me nothing...but I have the bread in return.

Boys went home in the Beast tonight since there didn't appear to be enough petrol for a return trip and the outward in the morning.  The village were almost out there with banners....two locals have managed to get a bird with two cars and enough money to run them and pay them.....result.

Beautiful night tonight.  I was sitting outside with a glass of the red stuff in my hand when Hacibar descended asking me if I had TOK (electricity).  Since I could hear my computer humming away I said that I had no problem and put the outside light on as confirmation.  Now I thought she had blown up the TOK box and thus requiring a reset but suddenly there was a lot of shouting between my Avatar and Hacibar and I detected that she wanted a wall switch since hers was naff.....there was a lot of muttering but I poured another glass of the red stuff and my life is chilled.  All's not quiet in the village.

Tomorrow I am hitting Kardjali with my Gouljan and we are having lunch in town and trawling my favourite shops.....Ten thirty sharp at her bus stop where she will shed her little rubber shoes and put on her city strollers.  LN....supper so far is fresh bread...I must find something to go with it before the wine takes over.   I'm just about to raid the fridge...