Monday 1st July

Well not so much white rabbits this morning as grey bunnies since the volume of dirt and dust have purveyed the lungs and every other orifice.  So much for cleaning as an occupation....

Breakfast was tomatoes on toast and into Djebel by nine to stock up with food for the day, pick up another couple of padlocks and hasps, more black plastic sacks for the rubbish and off we set.  The architect that was due to arrive this morning never did.  I'd actually commented that I guess she knew that it was a Monday...but which one....so the day was down to mundane tasks not planning.

We achieved a lot.  The whole of the upstairs is completely cleared of abandoned school rubbish....certain pictures and other stuff has been put to one side but there was a lot of stuff ready for burning.  We did light a fire but the wind was so skittish that it wasn't safe to do so since there is no hose pipe or water to the property to date.  This will come when the new meter is provided and installed by the water company.

As you can see from the photos a lot of cleaning took place and at five we had had enough and decided to try another route home which was an adventure in itself.  The directions were that we followed the road until the second bridge which we did and having crossed the bridge we followed the road which would lead us to Djebel.  Now this was good but unfortunately the road from the second bridge hadn't been completed so it would have meant going over the river and taking a very serious hill on to the new road which we chickened out at.  So back the way we came and home for about six thirty...showered, shampooed and out to the restaurant by seven thirtyish.  Couple of beers, salad, cheesy chips, chicken and hamburger thingies and home for about nine thirty.  My guest leaves in the morning at seven so the alarms are set and the toast order has already been handed to the breakfast chef....that's if I wake up in time.

So LN.....I'm hoping that the photos post on this one or it will be in the next message...back to sense and sensibility tomorrow,,,LN

Tuesday 2nd July

Must just point out before I go any further...those weren't my feet yesterday....with those I could water ski.

Lovely morning...very gentle and that's what it's been all day.  Not really up to standard for this time of year but where in Europe is it!!!  Up at six fifteen and make enough noise going down the stairs to waken the dead and I did.  I heard movement and so I didn't have to venture back up the stairs with the life saving tea cup....he made his way down just as the kettle had reboiled.  Toaster on....just enough to line the stomach for a four hour drive with one cup only so that he didn't have to stop on the way...quick hug...safe journey...back into the house and stripped the bed and discarded suitcase banned to the third yet to be bedroom.  No trace of inhabitation and ready for the next....

Felt a little jaded today...we worked exceptionally hard on the school.  He didn't want to go but you have to follow the money these days and he has.  As for me...I just keep hoping for one of my two premium bonds to come up with the big one since the lottery is now unattainable for those living overseas....discrimination...that's what I say,

Over to my student for ten and sat with his mother until two-ish and solved the world's problems.  She's Prime Minister and I'm Head of Security and the Judiciary....NOT....but we'd make a good team.  Home for three and found out that the plans for tomorrow have changed and my Avatar no longer wants me to take her to Momchilgrad so I'm having a day on my own and might even manage to knock up a blind for the Librarian.  Nothing much to do in the garden except fix a handle on the newly delivered Dutch hoe and set about the garden with it and my does it need it.  All this rain promotes the weeds.

Avatar provided my chicken and rice supper this evening and gave me about five tomatoes.  I do ask myself why I grow them and even more so when I removed five cucumbers from the plants tonight....I think they know I don't like them and are on a publicity campaign.

So over to my book tonight ...garden watered...new tamarisk plants are potted up after developing thumping great roots indoors....might even push the lawnmower over it tomorrow to get rid of the seed heads.....it's a chill day for me...LN...might as well start now...first glass of red by my left hand....in my right...to the mouth...back to the desk....LN

Wednesday 3rd July

Thoroughly flat day today...had an email that sort of threw me.  Phoned up the Librarian and decided to go over there for lunch and generally chew over the fat and it seemed to work.

The weather has been a little cloudy one minute and clear blue skies the next....we both commented that this is not normal for July but the weather generally in Europe has been rubbish.  Got home at round about eight this evening and two lines of washing safely ensconced but some little birdie has been having a lovely time on my super white quilt cover.....I think I need to fit them all with nappies and it even got the pillow case as well.  Just finished off in the garden when Emaula whistled and he's the only one that whistles me as he walked past the house.  He called in on the way back and invited me to meat and rice on Saturday at his house.  It is the anniversary of the passing of one of his grandparents and out comes the food for the village.

Seemed to have sourced an architect for the school and let's see if this one turns up at the allotted out on the allotted day....It entails another trip over by the owner but I changed the sheets and it is all ready for the next visitor.  Quick glass of wine tonight....not into supper ...just too jumpy....LN

Thursday 4th July

To the visitors over the pond....Happy Independence day....and for me...every day is an independence day.  Still flat as the proverbial....but printed off the text for this morning for my student and his homework....well part of it was complete.  I get the feeling that his mother and himself had had words this morning.

Worked in the garden this morning trying out the new hoe and it's working a treat.  Did the side garden and got rid of the weeds and had to shower before I went off ..it was very hot out there first thing but the rest of the day has been sunny shade or day with high cloud.  Not usual for this time of year.

Sat with my student's mum for my Bulgarian lesson and decided to go and buy one of the collapsible chairs since I always seem to turf her out of hers in the shop and she manages on a small footstool.  Brought it back, opened it out, sat down and it is now back in its carrying bag and propped up next to their fridge.  Result,

Phoned Gouljan and got her home by three from Djebel...and jumped a mile when a small lizard shot across the table next to the outside tap.  It nestled into the bottom of a plant container and could only see it through the window and the photo is not that good.  By the time I'd moved outside it had gone.  Fresh bread with tuna mayo for a late lunch and that should do me until tomorrow morning.  Intending doing the lawn tonight once the temperature drops and providing I have enough petrol in the mower otherwise it's a job for tomorrow.  Planted up some tamarisk this morning which came on from cuttings and kept in water and I've more to go out of various plants that I've pulled from other people's garden....Down the stairs to clean up the kitchen from late lunch, water the garden and get set into my book again....I'm staying with it but it's not exciting me....I can put it down...LN...at least I've got staying power...

Friday 5th July

Yet another day when I felt very flat so I decided that action would take my mind off things.  I'd had very vivid dreams and I felt that I was being pinned down and was trying to desperately to bite someone to get free...I felt held in a vice and not the sort of vice that I like not that I see much of it on my little Muslim hillside.

So my task for today should I choose to accept it was to mow the excuse for a lawn provided that the petrol lasted or go as long as it did.  Unfortunately there was enough to do it all so I was absolutely knacked but the time I'd finished but it does look better.  Each time it is done it is getting better and by going over the brambles and the wild plum runners they will eventually give up.  The only bit that needs sorting now is what was the barrier between the two gardens.  I've dug up most of the small bushes but it needs raking over and reseeding to stop it looking like a bombsite.  Job for another day....

So had a haul of five tomatoes and four beetroot today and tonight's task again, should I choose to accept it is boil it and do the necessary with vinegar.  I offered it to my Avatar but once I told her that you had to boil it for an hour....I don't think she could afford the gas to do it.  My treat....let's see if she likes it done the English way!!

So I finished the rest of the tuna for lunch and now I don't feel like eating anything tonight.  Half past seven my time and not a drop has touched my lips so down I go and toss a coin if it's red or beer.  Hard life isn't it..LN

Saturday 6th July

Finished the beetroot this morning and delivered it to my Avatar's house.  I was greeted by a very sleepy grand-daughter and it was at that point that I remembered that I had an invite to go down to Emula's house where the Hoja was saying prayers for his grandmother that had passed away a couple of months ago.  Not sure what they'll make of it...it's not a veg that they use but I suggested that they have it with meat or potatoes and that in fact it will go with anything.  Straight from my own garden and this year I have loads...last year...one.

I should have been there at eleven but didn't make it until eleven twenty and he had already started but I needn't have worried...it went on until just after one o'clock and was my bum numb since it was a sit on the floor job.  The men were in one of the rooms with the two Hojas delivering the prayers and my goodness can they sing.  I think they have two so that if the one forgets his place the second one will remember.  There were about fifty women in the room and I really should remember to take a headscarf to these occasions.....I'm the only one without.

Drinks were handed on arrival and it's a very sweet strawberry juice tasting of cloves and that's when you get your serviette to wipe your mouth.  Lunch was rice and meat served on plastic plates that seem to wobble, another juice drink and a square of Turkish Delight.  When it broke up, I was offered even more to take home with me which I had to refuse.  Nice touch...we were given hard boiled sweets and a pair of socks as a present, rather like a goody bag to go home with.  I'm getting to know more of the faces now and again I sat by Remsier and walked my Avatar home carrying her rice bag for her grand-daughter.

Sat in the lounge this afternoon and started the next book in the series and hoping this is better than the last which only seemed to pick up towards the end.  Looked up and noticed a cat leaving the house and realised that the wind must have blown the fly screen open and the blasted thing had got in.  Searched the kitchen but there was nothing about, even the rubbish bag had been emptied last night so nothing for it.

Off to cook supper....I didn't realise what time it was...LN....and I want to see if I can get a translation of the prayers....LN

Sunday 7th July

Quick update tonight.  Lunch with my student in Djebel...as I've said before they are a super family and mother was so relaxed that she fell asleep this afternoon after lunch.  

Down to see my Librarian tonight.  We've had an afternoon of sewing and stuff.  She has a new blind in the upstairs landing and a curtain in the kitchen.  One of the neighbours saw me on the sewing machine and decided that he had a pair of trousers in need of love and attention.....I reckon the place for them would have been the bin...but he left them just in case either of us could drum up the enthusiasm to fix them.

Supper was a home made shepherd's pie with a drop of the local beer and we are now mellow with another on the go.  Hard life out here.....we'll both be taking to our virginal couches soon...she has a trip to Sofia on Tuesday to pick up her family over for a holiday.  So I'll say LN...student in the morning...I need my beauty sleep...LN

Monday 8th July

Slept until five thirty at the Librarians to be woken by a puppy crying in the yard.  It had found its way there the previous night and she had told me about it and believes that the mother left it there while she went scavenging in the village....and this is Bulgaria.  There is not the same regard for animals here and dogs get dumped at the local wells where people stop to collect spring water hopefully that they will find a home at least.  It can be heart wrenching but fortunately I haven't given in yet despite lots of encouragement from several friends who shall remain nameless.  

So up and about early and had finished breakfast by seven thirty.  I'd tried to phone my student to reschedule today for tomorrow so that I could give my Librarian a hand with the house since she is off to Sofia on the airport run tomorrow.  Had my phone in my pocket and inadvertently phoned another of my friends at what would be seven thirty for her and all she could hear was that I'd taken the shoes out of the washing machine.  I noticed that I'd made the call after the balance remaining on the phone was displayed and I immediately phoned her again, apologised for the alarm call but it was good to catch up all be it early.

So the rest of the day I was on the wrong end again of mops and brooms but we sat down at the end of a very long day and congratulated each other on a splendid achievement.  She walked with me to the car, had a hug and back to a beautiful evening despite the thunder rattling around earlier.  I watered the garden, repotted the Hibiscus since it seemed to have had a bashing in the wind that we've had lately and now about to find something to eat.  Tired but happy that we had such a good day...LN....that's what friends are for...LN

Tuesday 9th July

Up at the crack of this morning and out in the garden pegging out washing done overnight at cheap rate electricity.  Looked at the uneven ground between the two gardens so tackled it and most of it is now fairly level.  Got the mower going and got rid of the brambles and the small new wild prune suckers and carried on and did the rest of the grass.  By eight thirty this morning I was hoping that the mower would run out of fuel but no....I turned it off in the end but jobs-a guddun so to speak.

Came in at nine and showered, printed off a text for my student to be greeted by the boy brandishing a toy lightsaber belonging to his three year old brother and challenged as to why I didn't turn up yesterday.  He told me that he had tried out his new football boots yesterday and I told him that they needed a clean which he promptly did.  He answered all the questions that I asked him about the previous weeks text...such a bright boy.

Took the car down to the garage so they could investigate a noise from the back axle.  Done and dusted and new 'tampons' or rubber bungs fitted to the shocks and the cost for this work...twenty leva.  Back to the shop and spent time with my student's mother and then home James via the supermarket.  Sandwiches for a late lunch then I felt the need to get my head down so took to my bed to be awakened by a very insistent telephone.  Spent an hour on the phone in a very drowsy state....not about to shower to freshen up.  It was cloudy this morning...thundery this afternoon but now the sky has cleared and the air appears much fresher.  Time for a beer me thinks....but after the shower....then back to my book and chill for the evening.  I think the last couple of days took it out of me....nothing is planned for the next couple of days apart from getting my cars through the MOTs....LN....I can hear the shower and the beer calling....