Thursday 1st August

So where did last month go!!  I know I was busy but summer is disappearing fast and it will soon be time to get the winter wood organised.  

Showered, shampooed, washing drying in the breeze, garden watered and all the windows open to freshen up the house after it has been closed down for a week.  It's good to be back.

So the boarding cards are printed and I have the notary's letter that I may take my student out of the country.  His mother asked me if I wanted a copy of his birth certificate and I made the joke that I didn't want to sell him but if the price was right, would she agree!!  He's getting very excited and has worked hard to earn two hundred leva for his trip but I laid the law down that he must be careful what he buys because he has to carry it back somehow.  Now I'm thinking I might book a hold bag for coming back.  I left quite a lot in the UK this time so we'll split the weight between us.  On the way back this last time I asked the cabin steward if he could help me with putting my bag in the overhead since I didn't want to damage my wrist again.  His comment...it is rather heavy.  Maybe I should give that as feedback in the survey I've been asked to complete.  

Gouljan found me in the supermarket at around half past one this lunchtime and I asked if she had finished and did she want a lift.  It didn't take long to convince her that she could go AWOL for the afternoon.  Handed over the necklace I had got her from the UK as a little present and she liked it.  Tuna mayo for lunch and nothing required for this evening.  Still slogging through the same book that I took with me on the Kindle and I know not why....where is the excitement...the previous in the series were good.  Little nap around four...it's been well up in the thirties today but the wind was very refreshing.  Librarian over tomorrow and we're searching for a part for her Hilux.....

So almost nine my time....I shan't be late tonight but feeling very relaxed...it's been a good day.  LN...

Friday 2nd August

Librarian arrived at nine thirty and I was still wandering around in my night clothes so made the coffee and sat around until ten thirty chewing the fat and catching up on her guests and my time in the UK.  Made a quick decision that we would go out for the day and set off for Momchilgrad for a little shopping and lunch at one of the hotels and it turned into a very pleasant day.  Called in at the garage on the way through since my little Beauty seemed to be running hot.  I'd already checked the water but my thinking was that the fan wasn't kicking in but they opened the lid, got me to rev it and in it came so not a problem.  It was pretty hot today and was touching thirty seven.  Stopped off at the supermarket and I got the sudden urge to buy a bottle of gin and some tonic so that I could have a'different' night tonight.

Home for three thirty and settled down for a coffee on the lounge terrace in the shade and at four thirty she set sail for home.  I got my book out and at last there seems to be movement and a little bit of excitement but at seventy eight percent it's leaving it a little late.  Put some chicken wings in the oven, mixed the gin and tonic and watered the garden deciding to water the small wasp nests that have appeared under the eaves and then hoike them off with a stick.  It worked...two down and a couple more to go and I should be without.  I know it was pretty drastic but I decided to eat my supper outside and two of the little beauties decided to pester me and after a hot day like today...pestering I don't take to.

Sitting down with my drink in the lounge and Gouljan and her sister appeared so got out the water for her pregnant sister, juice for Gouljan and it would probably have been laced with alcohol but for her sister being there.  Ten o'clock my time...I have a cat's chorus going on in the garden by the bonfire pit.  I've been out there and lobbed a few bricks in the general direction but I'm thinking that I might need a few 'bombs' to help them on their way.  

So tomorrow I'm taking three people into Kardjali and one to Momchilgrad.  Pregnant sister wants a pushchair for the new baby and I need the bus tickets for Wednesday.  A couple of hours should do the trick so I'll take the Beast to make sure that we can all fit.  LN....I'm off to bed if the bloody cats don't keep me awake...

Saturday 3rd August

Bright and early this morning and the dogs sang away with the hodja in the jamir.....they love it.  Those cats were obviously scared away last night or I was just to tired to notice.

Sky was beautiful this morning at five thirty and it's been a hot one today.  I didn't have breakfast but should have done but got the biggie out since I was a taxi this morning.  I gave Tommy the bones from last night but tipped them over the fence...I' didn't want any more altercations with him and then sat down with my Avatar, her daughter and sister in law from Momchilgrad and worked out the plan to take them shopping.  Sister in law wanted dropping off at the bus station in Djebel advising me that it was very expensive for me to take her to Momchilgrad.....I told her that it was only a few kilometers and that it would be OK.  So down to pick up Gouljan and her sister by ten....back for the next pick point..loaded and off on the road at ten ten which is good for Bulgaria.  We heaved the sister in law in and she started to pray and I got a little concerned at this but it was pointed out to me that she always prays and is doing the fast for the next seven days.....good girl.

So went to the bus station and have my tickets for Sofia for Wednesday....Gouljan and sister went their own way and I meandered around the shops with Avatar's daughter until we both got so hot that we decided that home was best.  It's been a corker today.  Lay down to read my book after a bottle of German lager from Lidl and yes.....passed an hour really peacefully.  Made a pork curry and rice for tonight and it was hotted up with chilli and ginger...just missed the lime pickle and mango chutney.   Must look out for it next time I'm in Lidl.  Wore my hair down today which is not normal and got complimented by the lady in the shoe shop...she said that I looked like a 'mlada' which is indeed a compliment....   Must do it more often but not when it's so hot.

Grass tomorrow.  I want to get it done before I go away and the rest of the garden will have to take pot luck.  Avatar will water it but I think she is not so generous with it as I am....her pension is very little so she is extremely careful.  And talking about watering....I've got to go and do it tonight.  I've just seen my hare in the garden....he's so big that he looks like a mini kangaroo....shame that my camera won't do him or her justice.

LN....I have work to do....

Sunday 4th August

Five twenty start with the mosque and the dogs joining in the chorus.  One half of the grass mown and I've just summoned up the strength and the 'enthusiasm' to do the second half.  As Oates said...'this may take some time'...   It's a little warm out there....

Finished it, was perspiring like the proverbial and stashed the lawnmower away with great relish.  Had a shower to get rid of most of it, went outside to dry off dressed in a towel and suddenly noticed that my huge pot on the terrace had got rather a large wasp nest inside it so got the hose and put it inside the pot.  Now this maneuver was ok until I notice how many wasps were now circling and I though it best I got more than a towel round me so back in the house I went.  Filled up the pot and there were lots of disturbed angry wasps around so I sat down in the lounge and settled myself with a book.  No sooner than I'd got comfortable and Remsier's two grandchildren were at the door giggling so I invited them in and the one lives in Turkey so the big one was translating and I got the odd 'no' out of them both in response to my questions but the upshot was...they wanted to play games on the computer.  I told them twenty minutes, I went downstairs and back to my book and true to their word...twenty minutes it was and they put the computer to bed and said their farewells.

Decided that it was better to lie down and read so went up the the virginal couch had just nodded off when Remsier herself was knocking on the door explaining that her gas bottle had finished, she had guests, it was too hot for the woodburner and could I drive her into Djebel.  Ten minutes later we were on our way, gas bottle filled, she offered me money but I told her that I have a cherry tree that needs to come down and her husband can do that for me instead.  A little more free winter wood...

Not into food this evening...it has been so hot today so another beer might just reach the spot.  Nine fifteen my time, it has cooled down a little so after the busy day I've had I should be able to sleep the sleep of the just.  Just as hot tomorrow according to the predictors...the ground is really dry despite watering it twice a day and again it threatens a wind which is so drying that the plants don't really stand a chance.  Collected the hollyhock seeds today and shall be starting them off when I come back.....all go isn't it....LN...I'm off for that beer.....

Monday 5th August

I've got this vague feeling that it was my mother and dad's wedding anniversary today but many years ago.  Happy anniversary to both of you.

Early start, read for a while and played computers and found freeview television on the internet and watched a little bit of home.  Won't do too much though...it wasn't that good.

Watered the garden and took my Avatar's daughter into Djebel to get her return ticket for Turkey but there was some controversy and I think we have to go back tomorrow.  She's going to make a phone call first.  Delivered my tablet to my student and he thought it was a present...no...it's mine but you can borrow it to play games on the bus or at the airport.  How can you deprive a child of this decade from his technology....not easily done.  I left him playing with it so we'll see what new stuff it has on it on Wednesday morning.

Back home for one and sat with my Avatar while she was shelling her dried green beans.  We worked out how many kilos she has and how much water was needed for the quantity generated and I reckon that they are expensive beans.  I think they work out about the same cost per kilo as meat.  Mnogo skupo.

Librarian this afternoon with her son who has just arrived having said goodbye to Britain for the foreseeable future, had lunch and they left at about five thirty,  Made a wasp trap and sited it close to the old wasp nest in my giant pot but the wind blew it over so not much of a success.

Suitcase packed more or less...not much in it this time.  Two weeks away and the boy is very excited....and I'm looking forward to it too...LN...I need my beauty sleep ready for my four thirty start on Wednesday....LN

Wow, lot of traveling being done  Elsa. I'm not keen on the traveling but love it once I'm at the destination!

Just did a week down south with my kids so they could do the London tour. Weather was great but really too hot for sightseeing!

Tuesday 6th August

Yes Tabs....it does seem to be all go but this time I'm going to make a holiday of it.  I'll be following in your footsteps with the London tour.

So tomorrow I leave...why is it that there are so many jobs that seem to raise their ugly heads before you can jump in the car and go.  Emptied the fridge, defrosted it since it was looking like a glacier in there and threw away anything that was likely to be out of date by the time that I get back.  The remains of the curry from the other night was disposed of in the burning pit and I watched a cat tentatively tackle it but I reckon it thought that the burning pit had transferred to its abdomen.  There were several pieces of pork left and that's not like the local feline population to leave anything...I suppose in England it would very likely end up in one.

My student's travelling workbook is finished and I took it up to the shop today but his mother thinks that I should give it to him tomorrow.  He doesn't have to do much, after all it's a holiday but it's more to keep a record so that his parents can see where their hard earned cash is going.  She's packed his bag but said that she has to check it over tonight to see if he has secreted anything extra in there but apparently there are sufficient games on the tablet and most of his games are in Facebook anyway.

Watered my garden, cleaned the house, bed stripped and sheets washed but one of the quilt covers did a disappearing act in the wind.  Despite three pegs it went off over the garden but fortunately it was mostly dry so was rescued and repositioned using four pegs this time.  Avatar is on standby with the garden watering, fuel in the car for the morning and it too is having a holiday down at the garage.  It makes more sense to leave it in their yard so that I've got it for when I come back.  Sheep have wended their weary way home and they were standing at the fence looking longingly at my few patches of green.  There appears to be nothing for them on the hillside...it is just so dry.

Final packing.  I always seem to have difficulty deciding what to wear when travelling.  I think it's because easyJet only allow one bag on and I feel that I need somewhere to put purse, phones and Kindle and if you wear a body warmer you can secrete them in your pockets.  Might just go for the small bag this time that will hide away in the big one.  LN.....I've had a sleep this afternoon but ought to be up and about at four.  I'll report in when I get there...there should be quite a lot to write about...it's his first flight....eeekkksss...LN

Wednesday 7th August

Slept with the light on last night just so that I didn't miss the alarm this morning.  Didn't want to screw it up from the start.  At his house for five, his father took us to the bus station and in the airport for nine thirty.  We got quizzed by immigration on departure but had all the necessary forms to take him out of the country and again when we arrived.  I said that I had a copy of the document allowing me to take him out of Bulgaria but said that it was in Bulgarian and as he rightly said...it could say anything.  So I showed it to him anyway and also the boarding passes for our return journey and he seemed satisfied that I wasn't into trafficking.  

Train down to the station, supper tonight was a walk over the downs to get fish and chips.  J2O's have become a firm favourite and I'm sticking with my 16 something lager. Not quite Ariana but close.  So walked back from the town...tomorrow we are off to visit my son and family who are camping somewhere in the south east and then Friday has been nominated as a shopping day.....So far ...so good.

We're hitting the sack soon...it's been a long day .....LN

Thursday 8th August

And we're both firing on Bulgarian time.  My internal alarm went off at five fifteen which would have been good for BG but not so good for here and my student joined me at six thirty which would have been good for a  teenager out there.  Breakfast was almost two Snicker bars but I intercepted the second and suggested that we have toast and jam which we did.  I think the second was the pudding.

Ten o'clock kick off this morning....rock climbing gear has been donned and the plimsolls are at the ready....along with the camera....

Thursday continued

Brilliant day....two little and two big climbing up some pretty impressive rocks and one rather fit son organising it.  Age ranges...four and a half up to the two fourteen year olds and despite some encouragement.....there was no getting me in the harness and having me swinging in the air ...I had to remind my little grand-daughter that nanny was old so I took the steps, appeared like magic and told them I had gone up the other side....

I believe the boys had fun and we called a halt to it around two to get into a restaurant for lunch.  Eight of us provided a reasonable lunchtime income and we left with two very tired small ones who had given the slide a good going over as had the big ones but no photographs were allowed to be taken in case we embarrassed them on FB.

Over to my daughters and the boys played a silly shooting game logging up numerous kills as boys do and we caught the bus back to the village since the traffic at that time of day would have meant an hours journey for something that would normally take twenty minutes.  Walked back over the Downs...it's been a good day and brilliant to catch up with my grandchildren again.  So we are both so stuffed.....I'm thinking that breakfast is going to be the next meal that I can face....LN