Saturday 1st February

White rabbits and if they're there I can't see them and if they've got any sense at all they're snuggled down in their burrows on such a cold winter morning.....yes...minus seven when I went out to empty the ash can this morning and to check that Caspar was OK.  The nail nose is missing and there's a hole straight through....perhaps too much cocaine...   I did intend making him a new body but that might come later today.  The snow is just too frozen to do anything with.

Looked at the picture that Danny mentioned and yes my old Sony with its Carl Zeiss lens does pick up detail well.  As for the Beast, Danny, it was registered as soon as I bought it over five years ago.  Maybe a trip to SpecSavers is on the cards...

Toast for breakfast, one cup of coffee regularly topped up to keep the core temperature up and maybe I should get dressed in more than my PJs....and listening on YouTube to someone who I've never heard of before. I was looking at Andre Bocelli and who wouldn't and he was singing It's Impossible with some female. So I checked out the original or so I though by Perry Como and one of the comments was that it was a good song when it originally came out twenty years previously so a bit of tracking and I found Armando Manzanero who I had never heard of before....and I love songs in Spanish....so going to saturate myself with them this morning....

Continued

Won't let me post pickies on the first post so here you go...and as promised my Feb calendar...

And continued again

Did the usual chores and had my bonfire and there was a ginger cat that was lingering to see if there were any goodies...there weren't.  Walked the estate and the clouds have been so full of snow but as I used to say to my daughter...it's much to cold for snow and it was and still is.  It's supposed to warm up tomorrow and give us light snow showers...well I'll wait and see how much I get but it's a house day for me...I have no student.  

Sunday lunch came early and it wasn't until I'd finished eating it that I remembered it was only Saturday.  A complete roast and I found a carton of Bisto in the cupboard that I can't remember where it came from but it finished the meal off really well.  Maybe I brought it back from the UK but it has a terrific sell-by-date so it's now stored in a jar and I'll remember where it is for the next time.

Watched a film while I was cooking supper or rather supper was cooking itself and it was called 'About Schmitt' with Jack Nicholson.  Don't know if it ever made the big time but I would have been surprised if it did...I had a copy that I was supposed to comment on but since it was given to me about five years ago I suppose no one is really interested in my comments now.

Down to the fire....I'm going to snuggle up in my onsie with a book and a bottle...well I would if I had one but it's a Kindle and a wine-box.  LN...a very restful day...

22C and sunny here     brrrr winter  

Sunday 2nd February

Quoted from KingDom

22C and sunny here     brrrr winter  

I have only one word to say...bastard but if you want me to help you out with the request...start speaking nicely...I do remember the words of wisdom on my first winter here.  If you feel cold go outside and find out what 'cold' is and you'll feel warm when you go back in...wise words my friend.

Really cold today and there is a very cold wind and no sun.  Interesting morning this morning with a website where I was trying to order something and their payment system was not working.  I phoned my bank and they said that there had been no requests at all against my bank account so I phone two of the numbers mention on their website...'we do not open until Monday morning'...so I contacted through Facebook and eventually I received a reply.  Everything in the garden lovely...task complete but I think I deserve a endurance voucher... and in the end ended up with a telephone order...I shall name them and shame them tomorrow when the item has been delivered.

I phoned Gouldjan and suggested that she didn't come round since it was so cold and that we would go over the proposal one of the days next week when I picked her up from school.  She said that they had been cleaning out the wood burner pipes...I could have thought of a better day to do it....it was too cold today to be without a fire.

Supper was a go between coq au vain and duck a l'orange and it was delicious.  I served it with mashed potatoes with lashings of butter and there is enough left for tomorrow..Listening to Tony Blackburn tonight on the radio....just played one by Karen Carpenter...she had a very soulful voice and you can't imagine what it hid.

So supper over, back down to the fire, just finished the second in the Jim Butcher Codex series and onwards and upwards to the next.  LN...all's good in my bit of the world but a little sun wouldn't go amiss tomorrow...LN

Monday 3rd February

So forty years today I was heading home from my mother's house and promising her that I would hang on to the impending bundle rumbling in my nether regions until the next day which was her birthday.  Didn't manage it....Princess popped out at eight forty that night and so I phoned my dad, I apologised and he forgave me as he normally did.  TJP had a little sister.

Now I can tell you...bloody Interflora...their payment system wasn't working yesterday when I was trying to get something over to Princess today and so I ended up contacting them via Facebook of all things.  Customer service telephones said they couldn't take my calls until Monday morning...so when they contacted me via FB with the correct number...I suggested that they sorted themselves out   She emailed ...she had received my gift this afternoon and sent me a picture of her desk...she is well liked ....and work had pulled out all the stops...

Visitor this lunchtime.  One of my neighbours arrived and unfortunately he was one of those that has rakia for breakfast and the first thing he asked me was where was my man.  His speech was a mixture of Bulgarian and Turkish that I managed to decipher. He sat down and then made his way to the wood burner as I made my way to the kitchen and fortunately I had been warned about him.  I noticed that there was some money on the side table so as I made my way to the kitchen I moved it to the kitchen.  On his way back he looked for the money again...no joy....but through his alcoholic haze he probably thought that his eyes had been deceiving him....

Late lunch was the remains of last night's supper with a mashed potato crust and so I decided to strip the remains of the chicken and prepare the rest of the meat and prepare it for the freezer and it is done.  The bones and skin are in the slow cooker for soup for tomorrow.

What a good day....so despite the cold I've survived another day...LN...I have a forty year old and a forty one year old...do I feel old?  Naaah...LN

Tuesday 4th February

Happy birthday Mum...no longer with me in body but always in spirit...and I'm raising a glass to you tonight.

The thaw continues but it's a gentle one....the snow is melting into the hillside and poor Caspar is resting on his laurels so to speak...there's not much life there and he's looking extremely ghostly.  Beans on toast for breakfast...seemed like a good idea at eight thirty this morning and I sat in front of the wood burner belting out a steady stream of heat having been rescued from a glimmer of one of last night's logs.  Looked at the remains of everything in the kitchen from the chicken soup in the slow cooker and the chicken in red wine that was waiting for an orange to finish it off before it was destined for the freezer.  Found some leeks that needed something doing with them, three carrots that had grown hairs, a potato that was softening up and a spicy sausage so decided that I would make a vegetable soup for no other reason than I could make a vegetable soup.  The plan was to go into Djebel a little later for the oranges and I noticed that the coffee jar was a little depleted.

Settled down to read my book until I worked up the energy to get the car out and there was a knock on the door.  Now I  normally put the key in the outside of the door and visitors help themselves but after the incident with yesterday's unexpected local I left the key on the inside this morning.  Opened the door, joy of joys, the Librarian had arrived wanting a day out and a cup of coffee.  We chewed the fat for a while, I made my shopping list and off we went to Djebel, topped up with various things she needed and my list grew somewhat, grabbed some fresh bread and back for about one thirty.  I thickened the soup with some chicken powder stuff and we sat down with a glass of wine, chunks of fresh bread and the soup.  The meal was finished off with one of the delicious éclairs that my supermarket should really refuse to sell based on calorific content and a girl's waistline.

We sat around until three when she headed home...the original plan was to go into Kardjali tomorrow but that was shelved as the weather appears to be a bit dodgy tomorrow and we really don't have a lot to go in for after today's shopping excursion.  Back to the kitchen...finished off the chicken by adding the orange peel and the juice and thickening it and tomorrow it's into the freezer.  Wood in and set for the night, the washing up is still waiting...I can do that tomorrow morning while the kettle boils for the first coffee of the day and now I'm back to my book and a beer.  LN....nice to spend a day with a friend...LN

Wednesday 5th February

Six thirty start, fire still going, ash can emptied, back to bed with a coffee and a book and there I stayed until eight....toasty in the nest.  Didn't have a lot of energy this morning until I spoke quite harshly to myself and then forced myself into action.  Put the chicken and orange thing in the freezer in a stainless steel dish lined with foil so that I can take it out when it's frozen and use the dish again.  Thickened the remains of the soup and that's for supper tonight when I get round to wanting it.  There was a very tempting fruit loaf sitting on the worktop and the butter was next to it so it would have been rude not to as my Princess would say.

Played a few Freecell and decided to tackle the third bedroom and get the wood down into the other house, burn some of the old boxes that were lying around and have a bit of a sort out.  Trouble is that I haven't any wardrobes so you can't hid 'stuff' so summer gear goes into holdalls and until the loft ladder is fitted I can't manage to get it up to the loft space.  The other biggie in the third room is the bath and the floor and wall tiles.  I think that when the snow gives up and the roads are OK again....Bekir and Sally can make a start on it.  It would be another job out of the way and the tiles would be down and out of the way.  Must get and finish designing it.  

So had a burn up with the boxes and the rest of the rubbish.....and as you will see from the pickies that round thing managed to come out at about two this afternoon and was it welcome.  It's still only about two degrees but the house just gets warmer and the fire doesn't seem to burn the logs so quickly or maybe I don't throw as many on.  Six thirty almost and it's time to shut up shop, draw my curtain and get settled downstairs.  I've achieved quite a lot today and another little bit of effort tomorrow and the tools will be in the other house.  I'm getting there and on that note...LN and I'm sending thoughts out for friends in England lashed by the gales...stay safe...LN  

Thursday 6th February

Six start...fire going...usual chores, back to bed until sevenish.  Got quite the routine going...

Breakfast was baked beans on toast me realising that there was a half tin sitting in the fridge and not like me to waste anything when it's go some life in it.  Toasted the not so crispy bread that I bought the other day and threw the remains of one out into the garden for whoever wanted it,  The grey cat stalked it, ignored it and went after vermin which is great for me....the ginger cat totally ignored it...obviously better fed and the bread remained on the hillside for the birds.  As it happened the magpies were more intent on the fire pit and there was me thinking that I had got rid of the kitchen debris and not left anything worth having.

This afternoon was another attack at the third bedroom and now I know that three into one does go.  I emptied out the holdall that contained the tools and 'stuff' which is now sorted into 'stuff' for the workshop, mine and up to the loft it goes and the contents are now into the big red one. It's looking much tidier and a little more effort, it will be a bedroom.  This took me to about four thirty and I had to have an interlude of  winter brew just to keep me going.  The sun came out and I forgot all about the fire but I had the emergency services out to rescue it at about five.  The temperature is dropping tonight and a clear sky last night with freezing fog this morning...I'm expecting the same tomorrow.

Supper tonight was a pork steak with chippies and a couple of fried eggs.  Not exactly healthy but served with tomato sauce and mayo it was more than a feast for the underfed.  Almost time to shut up shop for tonight.  The curtain is drawn to hold the heat in downstairs, I've done my FB and emails so there is nothing to keep me upstairs...LN....I'm on my fourth book of the Jim Butcher Codex....and now identify with the characters which is always a worry....when there are no more...it's sad....I'm off...LN..

Friday 7th February

I know we've had it cold and miserable but this morning it was colder and more miserable than usual.  I think it's supposed to be a thaw but it is so slow that the cold air seems to be just hanging around.  I didn't bother to light the fire at six thirty this morning anticipating that I was off to visit the Librarian but I'd had such a good day yesterday sorting out that I wanted to carry on with it.  I phoned her at nine thirty, there was no reply so on with the fire and thank goodness I did.  I was cold.  Cooked poached eggs this morning to get the circulation going and some warmth inside and went up to the pc to check out what had happened overnight, answer immediates and settle in to try and do the Daily Mail Sudoku and it alludes me.  I've had three attempts at it and it reaches the point where you have to make a guess and then you reach another point where you have to make another guess and I guess that I'm making the wrong guesses....I'll probably end up printing it out and then entering it very quickly and reducing my average time....what a cheat.

So number one son's birthday is next Thursday so off I went to get a card in the post so I don't appear to be a bad mother but as I handed it over to the man after lunch he looked at me and said that the stage had already left and it wouldn't go until Monday.  Now we all know what it's like in the UK you stick a stamp on, stick it in the box and you hope.  So off I went to Kardjali knowing that the stage is much later from there and she took it from me over the counter, stuck the stamps on, franked the stamps and stamped it with Airmail.  I then was handed a receipt for my letter and this is quite normal....obviously does away with franking machines.  Paid my internet account, did the market, picked up a 'new' sweater for three lev, Billa and the shop next to it and Emula asked if I could give him a lift back to Djebel.  Apparently he'd had some documentation to complete and was on his way back.  Jumped in the Beast, we stopped off at Lidl and he bought some chocolate and which Bulgarian doesn't, and then back to Djebel where I dropped him off and had a few words with my student and his mum before I came home.  Hadn't been in five minutes and was unpacking my goodies when Avatar arrived and she brought me a huge plate of Baklava that she made yesterday with my walnuts.  I shall have some tonight after my supper and watch my teeth rot.

Good day, lovely evening so far...just about to cook a chicken flattened thing from Lidl and slap it between two slices of bread with mayo....out with a little of the wine now me thinks...LN...enjoy your evenings...LN

Saturday 8th February

Silly five o'clock start and no reason for it or so it seemed at the time.  Lay for a while trying to go off again but there was no joy so coffee and fire, continued with Codex 4 and up to the PC to do the necessaries and that's when I noticed the planet shining forth.  So on to 'thems that knows' and it's Venus that shows brightly before dawn so a lot of you won't have seen it.  Very clear, this morning, very bright and begging to be photographed.  So I tried it with the zoom on the Canon but the flash kept kicking in so out I went on to the balcony from my upstairs bedroom and wasn't it cold.  Out there for a few minutes and realised that there wasn't going to be anything like a decent shot so I was better off indoors.  As the light got better it was still visible so the Sony came into play but as the sun came up it was back to the Canon to catch the sun on the clouds before it actually hit surface.....delightful and eventually back to the Sony as the intensity faded but the shots became more normal.

Toasted ham sandwich for breakfast and that was about the height of my activity until the creative urge overtook me and I was designing the Baba Marta cards and bookmarks for the school so that they can make some money for books and things.  Some of you may have had a problem with this before...when printing double sided which way up and which way in does the paper go to print the second side....what a game but eventually got it right.

Logs in late and took to the activity centre this afternoon with a glass of wine and the Kindle and yes, the book went down and I woke up at five thirty and couldn't work out why it was so light at that time of the morning and why I was still dressed.  Eventually came to, threw another log on, back to my book and devoured another couple of chapters.  I think I'm getting a little obsessive about Jim Butcher.  Lovely starry night, wind has dropped and the temperature is more or less hovering around the two degree mark but without clouds it could drop rapidly tonight,  Student tomorrow and Gouldjan is coming round tomorrow afternoon to discuss the requirements for the school.  I've had rather a nice day with nothing much to think about...LN....I love it when I have creative days...LN

Stunning photos yet again Elsa!  

Wow beautiful photos!  I am afraid all we have is wind and rain, the same as when you was in the uk it still has not gone yet. Take care. Xxx

Sunday 9th February

Thank you , thank you kind ladies...all I do is snap away and post...nature does the rest.

Stupid o'clock start and I ended up reading my book at four thirty knowing that there wasn't an ounce of sleep left in me.  I got a coffee, finished book four but made no attempt to start book five...it would have been too invasive.  Shower, shampoo, hair dried, no fire this morning but emptied the ash can anyway, cleaned the toilets up and down so that the visitors don't think I'm too much of a slouch even though they were OK before I started.  A couple of slices of fruit loaf for breakfast, into the Beast and over to my student's house grabbing Pippi Longstockiing book as I left.  We might get round to having a lesson and it's good to be prepared.

Lunch was Banichka with grated carrots, oil and vinegar, with a home made meat loaf....delicious but I did draw the line at some sort of concoction that I was unsure about...it was local cheese with yogurt dressed with melted butter and oil but it just wouldn't go down...so I apologised and left it...just not for me.  Lovely day with the family and we were all talking a mixture of everything and number one daughter had a stiff neck and was suffering...get well soon.

Home for just before three and Gouldjan arrived at three thirty as arranged.  I'd lit the fire, I'd picked up some éclairs form the local supermarket so we sat down and had coffee and éclairs, discussed the things that I had proposed to make for the school and off and she came bearing gifts.  Fresh hot bread from her mother, some eggs from their own chickens and a small bottle of Domashne or home made Rakia from her father with the promise of a bigger bottle if I like it.  Gouldjan toddled off just before five and refused an offer of a lift home.  

Just watched a video and hence the delay in making the post....Relaxed, no need for supper after a good lunch and an éclair, fire going well, nothing much to do apart from maybe start the fifth book in the series.....I'll see how the evening pans out...LN...

Monday 10th February

Four thirty start but then managed to go off again and missed the sunrise eventually surfacing at seven thirty.  Lovely morning, no need to light the fire so cleared out the wood burner getting rid of the soot that had gathered under the plate at the top, and laid it ready for later.

The neighbours were out in force in their gardens and fields wheeling barrow loads of 'cow mulch' to their vegetable patches and cow fields and distributing it.  Instead of joining them in activity I sat out in the sun with a book and worked out that it was a better day for getting the first coatings of summer sun than working up a sweat on the end of a spade.  It appears that spring has returned for this week and next but then we're down to minus figures again with snow showers so I grab it when I can.  I took advantage of the weather though by stripping down my bed and washing everything in sight.  It was all pegged out and dry by just after one and bed made up again by two so fresh bed for this evening.

I lit the fire at about three thirty, cooked a chicken that I'd forgotten about for supper with roast potatoes, carrots and onion and as they say, a full tummy requires rest hence the late update.  I cleared the kitchen, lay on the sofa with my book and the next I know it's nine thirty my time and I'm thinking about getting undressed and off to the wooden hills.  LN...It's been a very peaceful, lazy day.

Tuesday 11th February

Six thirty start for me and six fifty for the sun or thereabouts...What a wonderful morning and each one is so different.  As for me...all I have to do is decide which camera and nature does the rest...it really is very stunning.

I played around on the PC for a while this morning and my phone rang and the arrangement for tomorrow was brought forward...the Librarian had got the wrong day so change of plan and I was in her village for twelve of the clock.  She has acquired five adorable puppies dropped in a barn and then thrown out by the barn owner and she has such a kind heart...she brought them to hers and is feeding them and the mother.  I was tempted for all of one minute and then sense and sensibility kicked in...I don't think I'm the dogternal type.  Off we set and went into her nearest town and had lunch in the square and did the market since it was the market day, off to the next nearest town to get a quote on the mattresses for my third bedroom and into the new Greek owned supermarket to check out the prices.  Now this is a first...the prices are in duel currency which is something not experienced before and it's something to watch out for,  There were so many Greek cars in the car-park since it's about twenty minutes from Komatini to Kirkovo and they are indeed busy.

Back to mine...we checked out the garden and the bulbs coming up...got some wood in, lit the fire and have just finished chicken with carrots, peas and onions in red wine with mashed potatoes.  This is now on the list of favourites and I'm sure my Librarian will be providing her troops with it when they come over.  Easy, quick and delicious.  We're both so stuffed that the pudding will have to wait.  

Tomorrow off to Haskovo and the DIT shop...I want to check out the price of the mattresses in the big city instead of the small towns.  Very pleasant relaxing day...we're both into our Kindles and set for the evening....we'll see what time we set sail tomorrow...LN...I've got a beer getting warm...LN

Wednesday 12th February

So there was a patter of tiny feet and I heard the Librarian off to the loo at about seven.  I'd already crept upstairs and grabbed my camera to catch the dawn but she said that I didn't disturb her.  Now at home the dogs sleep on her bed and she said it was so peaceful not to have to worry about sticking her feet out at any angle that she wished and not having the little one waking her up to shed the excess in it's bladder at around six thirty.  Joy oh joy...how does she make allowances for so many in her life...it's not for me...

Toast for breakfast with Vegemite and thank you Linda...it's still going strong.  Did the cards for March 1st so that the Librarian can send some cards with Martinizas winging to the UK and I shall make mine tomorrow and get them in the post.  Set sail for Djebel at just after nine thirty and noticed yesterday that the Beast needed a little attention...he was coughing up more black smoke that he should be so over to the garage to the car doctor.  I opened the bonnet and noticed that there was a smidgen of water surrounding the neck of the radiator so after inspection, a clear plastic solution was applied, more anti-freeze was put into the radiator and the oil checked and topped up.  Good as new and with a swift 'Put it on my bill' we set off for Haskovo.

Stopped off at a stationer's Aladdin's cave and bought lots of goodies that we can't seem to get in Kardjali.  Found the market garden that I'd found on the internet and was informed that the plants that I was wanting wouldn't be ready until March or April and then back to the shop that we'd originally come to visit.  Walked round and checked out the prices of mattresses and decided that my man in Kardjali was probably similarly priced and after all I knew him so let's bring trade home.  Bought a few seeds and seed trays and deposited the items in the car and went back to get lunch at what used to be a good restaurant and got stitched up and they lifted twenty leva for nothing worth writing home about.....and OK...once bitten.


Back to Kardjali...went into my stationers and ordered Parker ink of various hues and they should be delivered next week.  Into my second hand shop and found a pair of curtains....they are three meters wide and two and a half meters long or thereabouts in very unusual striped pattern and after weighting them it came to thirty two leva..and who could say 'no' to that.  Went to my mattress shop and had lifted on to the top of the Beast of Burden two mattresses but had to go back to the cash point before I could pay for them.  The shops 'Patrons' enjoyed securing them to the Beast and said that there should be, not would be no problem getting them home so slowly and sedately we made it back, removed the said items from the roof and it wasn't until I'd lifted them off that I realised I should have manoeuvred them on to the top balcony and they would have been already upstairs.....shame but too late and they are now sitting in the lounge.  What a day...I was going to stay at the Librarian's tonight but I decided that home was best.  I'm enthused for making beds tomorrow for the third bedroom, sorting out curtains for the lounge or starting off my flower seeds....so many possibilities and on that note....fire going...wine going into the glass, supper not necessary since that abortion of a meal is still sitting pretty proud in my abdominal cavity.  LN....I'm off for my book and having spent a lot and enjoyed it thoroughly...LN

Thursday 13th February

Happy birthday to number one son....where have the years gone?

What a day....I decided to get the card stuff done for the school and some other letters that I wanted to get done and dusted and they are all done and ready for posting tomorrow.  I was going to take them to the post office today but by the time that they were ready ...it would have meant that I would have had to go back after lunch to finish them...there's no such thing as buying a stamp and sticking it on yourself here.  The other drawback today was that I though I'd come up with a master stroke of being able to use the laminator as a single sided entity but instead of that it stuck to the internal roller and so I became a mechanic and now it's fixed.  I did have to bring a Stanley knife into play and a pair of tweezers but when desperation strikes, all hands to the pumps.

So what else did I do?  I watched several woodpeckers going hell for leather on a couple of my trees and I was intrigued as to how they were feeding.  They appeared to take out and drop bugs to the ground and then drop to the ground and clear them up.  One or two other birds had got the hang of this and stayed under the tree...must have seemed like fast food takeaway to them but they soon got bombed and then off to the tree again.  I took lots of pickies but unfortunately they were behind glass and if I'd have gone out, the birds would have flown.  So bear with me...I did my best.  I also had a green woodpecker in the tree half way down the garden and it stayed there for ages.

Lit the fire on one of my sojourns to the kitchen, went down five minutes later and realised that the downstairs bathroom was full of smoke again....tomorrow....I have a job to do and thank goodness it's not cold tonight otherwise I would be swearing like a trouper and that's so unlike me.  Another little funny today.  From our honeymoon I brought back some coasters and the label said...'Hand made by Niarchos Hellas as you will see from the pickie.  The base of said coasters was covered with a layer of foam but considering these were purchased over forty years ago , the said foam had disintegrated and on my last trip to the UK I brought them back with me and today thought that I would set about renewing the foam.  I put them into some hot water with some soapy stuff and as I cleaned them off, one of the labels started to peel off and underneath I found 'H&R Johnson Ltd...MADE IN ENGLAND'.  I thought they would feel more at home nearer the Greek border....wrong..they were more at home in the UK.

Early night in my onsie with my book tonight  I think now I can't have the fire going.  What a bummer...LN...I might have to have a drink to lessen the blow...LN

Friday 14th February

Well I’d like to report that the postman or in my case postmistress was snowed under with the weight of my Valentine cards but sadly ‘No’.  I did have an early birthday card and an electricity bill so the post is working.

What a night…as you know I had issues with the wood burner and so much so that I didn't even light it last night and took to my virginal couch early.  Unfortunately I also went to sleep early so at two thirty this morning I was full of beans and ready to remove those ruddy pipes to try to sort out the problem.  I came to my senses, and left it until six this morning before I dismantled everything, cleaned everything, checked out everything and phoned Bekir at eight this morning.  His response was that he would be there later.  I asked if I needed to fetch him but he said that he could get a lift.  

So this morning I posted my letters and the head post office guy staggered under the weight.  Off to the petrol station and stuck in another fifty levs worth just to keep me going and straight back just in case Bekir decided to be early.  He eventually arrived at just before three thirty, his friend that I didn't know had an exceedingly loud voice which was painful to the ears.  Bekir went up to the roof armed with my neighbour's brush on a pole and managed to get it from the roof down to the offending soot removing point,  Not a lot came down but at least we have a proper job done now and there is no more  smoke pouring out.  Off they went and Bekir left me an orange on the gate while I returned the chimney sweep pole and brush to its rightful owner, until the next time.

Supper was fried flattened chicken breast with mayo between two slices of bread.  I'm replete, ready for sleep but determined to stay awake until I should be going to bed…don’t want another two thirty start.  Thunder and lightening storm this afternoon and I think I've just heard a rumble in the jungle so the machine is going off.  Caught the rainbow just right as Bekir was turning up at the gate…is he my pot of gold?  LN and on that note, definitely…LN

Saturday 15th February

Happy Birthday maternal grandmother...they seem to be coming thick and fast in this month.

Five start so it's getting better so in the next couple of days I should be back to a seven start if my luck holds.  So what have I done today?  Two loads of washing and processed outside.  Once the mist had dried off it has been a lovely day.  The wind was coming from the north so it's been OK but not true spring weather.  I didn't spend a lot of time outside...peg washing out...back to my book...bring washing in and put it to air...sum total.  I did manage to make some more curtain hooks thought to support the hall curtain.  They make them out of plastic here and it goes round the ring and into the curtain but the weight of my hall curtain breaks the little beauties so with a length of wire and my pliers....I made seven this morning, replaced the existing and put more rings on the pole...jobsaguddun....and it looks good and swishes on the pole better than it did,

Got stuck into my book again this afternoon until the mood overtook me to provide myself with sustenance and that came in the form of fish fingers and since I had run out of potatoes I found some potato wedges that did equally as well in the deep fat fryer so with peas...I had supper finished off with a dollop of mayo and tomato sauce.  Lovely day...I think I might have put the cat amongst the pigeons on a friends FB page with my thoughts about God....I'll wait for the fallout.

LN....no photos....very mottled sky tonight with a thin strata of red as the sun went down...student tomorrow and note to self...must buy some wing nuts to keep the new wheels on my old log carrier...LN.

Sunday 16th February

Six thirty start and over to my student's and pow...she was jumping around looking for a lighter and I hadn't a clue what she wanted it for.  In she brought a little cake with two candles...on it and she wanted to light them for me and they read....18...she didn't want to put the real number on so I reversed them and made it 81 and said that I would keep them safe.  What a lovely sentiment and then I had some perfume that is for use in the summer...so it has to go away.  We didn't have much of a lesson but it is good that we have conversational English and she translates it into Turkish and Bulgarian for the rest of the family so she is doing the exercises as we speak or rather as she speaks.  The parents were working in the garden and it was time to get in the garlic and the onions in and it was a super day to be out there.  It was my intention to get back home and dig over my little plot but one of the neighbours came round to meet the 'Anglechanka' and kept us talking until three thirty.  Stopped off at my favourite restaurant since I'd heard that my restaurant lady was in hospital and she had been but she was out and already working to keep the boat afloat so to speak.  Stayed there until about five...home, fire going, washing started, wine out, no need for supper since I was well fed at lunchtime, sunset tonight was stunning so had to skip out and take a few shots.

So it's been a good day....wall to wall sunshine all day....bit of a nip in the wind but you can't have everything in February....LN....down to the fire and the last of my Jim Butcher...LN

Happy Birthday Mummy, I hope you have had a lovely day.   Big birthday kisses, Princess xxx

Monday 17th February

Thank you my Princess...I've just got back from celebrating it with my seven year old birthday buddy and her family.....it's been a good day apart from the lack of post.  Thank you for your big birthday kisses...and as we always say...no tongues...

One of those silly nights when you're still reading at two thirty in the morning.  You've had your head down once and there just isn't an ounce of sleep to be had so you might as well have the light on and do something constructive until the mood hits again.  When it did though I was out until six thirty this morning and opened up the curtains to a similar morning to yesterday with mist hanging in the valley and a rising sun.  I was out to the car and pumping up Beauty's flat tyre in the hope that my garage buddy was coming down to get her started but no go this morning.  I know that Mondays are particularly busy in the garage so maybe tomorrow.  Lots of Birthday greetings on FB and thank you everyone that posted.  It's nice to know that I have so many old friends still....not old in years but in  the number of years that I have known them....good friendships always last.  

So some of my cards are still stuck in the system along with my present from Princess but I'll be off to the post office in the morning...it was closed when I went today.  If there is nothing there I shall wait until they find me something or at least threaten to..   Got stuck into a few conversations of FB today and eventually got out of the house at three thirty and my Avatar was heading my way when she saw the Beast out of the drive.  She was out of bread so I was to deliver later which I did...much later and Tommy was thinking I had some goodies for him...wrong.  But what did I get up to?  Called into see my original student's mum and delivered a 'write on rub off' numbers book for the little one that I found in Haskovo.  She was absolutely intrigued that you could write on the white board pages with a pen, rub it off with your finger and not a trace to be had of the ink.  I'm getting her one for herself next week...   Over to the shop and picked up the bread and some chicken wings that were intended for tonight but have made their way to the fridge.  On to my seven year old birthday buddy and I handed her over her card with some money in it which went down rather well, I received my present from them in form of a summer jumper and we sat down to cake but we had to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday about five times.  She'd had her birthday party at school which I think is a brilliant idea since everyone is invited...nobody get's left out.  The cake goes to school, the parents are invited in to take the video and how sensible is that.

So home at seven after a slice of the cake, delivered the bread and got the Beast into the drive but unfortunately the outside PIR has given up the ghost and so I made my way to the door and on the way tripped over a bucket and couldn't get the fly screen open because of the said obstacle.  Eventually managed to get the key in the lock, put on the porch light, pick up the item hidden under the bucket and then out to the car to unload the shopping.  Read the card and it said 'I wish you a long, happy and adventurous life in Dushinkovo' and since I'd almost tripped over the bucket...it might not have come to pass.  It was a present from Gouldjan and thank you so much.

Fire going, I'm full of cake, my present is some more perfume and some body cream and what a lucky girl I am....A little beer on the go tonight and I'm thanking those upstairs for another year and so on to the next.  LN....I'm blessed with family, friends and neighbours that care....what could be nicer...LN

Glad you only kicked 'a' bucket, and not kicked your bucket so to speak!  

Happy Birthday you Anglechenka! x

*does NOT make any jokes about kicking the bucket* xx

Wednesday 19th February

Boys, boys....I'm hoping that there are a few more years left in the old bird before I kick the proverbial bucket.  Let's leave it in the lap of the gods.  She lives than is more than could be said for the website hosting company but at least the issues must have been resolved.

So an update from yesterday...Beautiful sunrise but as you can see from the pickies not sure if there was very low cold cloud blocking the rising of the said being but it seemed to be almost like a moon coming up.  When I took the shot there didn't seem to the the intensity that the sun has...very strange.  As it came up though it warmed its little self up and we had a late spring day and some of the locals had spring sweaters on and didn't look so layered or cabbage looking as we call it here.  Phone call from the garage and my medic was on the way to give the kiss of life in the form of some battery leads to Beauty but this time I was doing the surgery under supervision.  Now it's very simple to say, plus to plus and minus to minus and to anyone who's done it regularly it isn't an issue.  Most of my company cars have gone on the first turn of the key or the AA or RAC or anyone else that knew their onions did the job for me and I've always been reticent of messing with live wires having seen one result of an accident that left me a little green.  Under supervision, all be it that the instructions were in Bulgarian...I did it and will now be able to do it confidently as required...it's as simple as that.  Drove on down to the garage to get the puncture fixed and was amazed at that process.  They introduce a rubber plug through the hole remaining after the offending article, and in my case it was a piece of wire, had been removed and blow it up again.  Another job done so while I was down there I asked them to clean it outside believing that the inside rubbish is my responsibility and for all the morning's work...ten lev.  Up to the shop and quoted that there was ten to be added to our contra-account and on the day of reckoning I'm still in credit by twenty lev...result.  

Took a trip to Kardjali to top up the battery and went to the new Kaufland supermarket that has opened and it was one trip too many as far as I was concerned.  It's such a higgledy-piggledy store and admittedly it was my first time but they crammed so much into it and the aisles seemed to be all over the place so there wasn't much flow to it.  I'm one of those shoppers though that know what I want and I don't deviate much from the list without it's a 'purchase' of considerable wealth and something I can't live without.  And nothing screamed....BUY ME...   I popped into Lidl and the store was empty...everybody in Kaufland and phoned Gouldjan on the way back to say that I would be coming back through Djebel and did she want a lift home.  She took advantage of the situation and I found her outside one of our supermarkets with three bags of goodies that she wouldn't have managed on the bus and I told her jokingly the taxi fare was ten lev.  We stopped off at the post office in Rogoche on the way back and my parcel had arrived from my darling Princess and some other cards were waiting for me and in the car I started carefully scrabbling at the outer layer of brown paper carefully embellished with flowers and creeping vines...that's my daughter for you.  Into the gift bag in the middle and there are numerous presents individually wrapped and out of the bran tub came a tube of hand cream and a bar of chocolate.  The rest remain intact....one present a day for the next few days....I love surprises.

Chicken wings and diced potatoes cooked in the oven for supper, chased the company responsible for the web hosting but to no avail but it's all up this morning so someone must have done something.   Jim Butcher is no more...the last of his books that I have to hand are devoured and I might even have to start looking to buy some of his more recent outpourings.  Bantered on FB until about two this morning, slept until six thirty this morning, coffee and checked up and hey bingo....hence the update.  Not sure what today holds....I might be over to the Librarians, she has a few car problems so might need a shopping day....Cold night, white over but if it turns into a lovely day, I can stand the cold night and I've plenty of wood left so bring it on.  I will say 'Good Morning' not 'Goodnight'...the day is ahead of me...

Still the 19th February

No sun until much later today...the mist hung and hung in there until eventually the wind blew most of it away.  Cold morning though and the intention of working in the garden fell foul of itself....the mind was willing but the flesh shrivelled at the thought to slogging away on the wrong end of a garden fork so I decided to take apart my bed with the intention of reassembling it.  When I put it together last year or so ago, I'd used timber and one was badly warped so today I inspected the said framework, the mattress is against the wall, everything is measured up and the sheets are washed and dried ready for the next time that I have a bed.  It shouldn't take long to do but I've got to make sure that the timber is dry so that the same thing doesn't happen again so on Friday, the plane comes out with the best timbers selected for the little house.

Started a new book this afternoon, spent a fair time on FB and was surprised to see the sheep heading over the hill.  They haven't done much meandering since there are so many little ones and it was fun to watch them this afternoon....it's their bleats that get me every time.  I'm sure some actually manage 'mama' and they come in all colours....

Chicken is cooking for supper with some Hassleback potatoes and it should be ready in about five minutes so not going to linger long...Off to see the Librarian tomorrow...she does have car problems and her neighbour needs a new shaver so we are on a mission to supply.  LN...I can smell the chicken from here....I have to attend to my supper...LN

Hi Elsa, Happy Birthday again, post on Fb. Your server was down, but as usual great pics and card on way / It will be late , so sorry about that......lol Glad to hear all ok. Lots of luv from me mum and us here in OZ...xxxx

Thursday 20th February

Thanks Linda...I'll warn the post office that there might be another one on the way....I think that there wouldn't be much to do without me in Djebel.  Not many people send and receive letters.

So, shampooed, showered and ready to leave this morning at just before nine and over to the Librarians for nine thirty.  I caught her out.  The outside gate was still padlocked and she was in around the house clothes so we didn't leave until just before ten and the objective was to buy the shaver for her neighbour.  She'd been given a budget of twenty lev and so we headed to the market in Kirkovo,  Prior to that though she had the dogs to feed.  If you remember she rescued five puppies and the mother from starving in the freezing snow giving up her barn for the little beauties but now they've found their way under her balcony by the back door and the mother comes in to feed them several times a day.  Apart from that she goes about her business in the village.  They've fitted in quite well with the other two dogs that are there but the intention is to get the females into the vets in Zlatograd for the operation along with the mother if at all possible and get the boy snipped.  It's not too expensive to get it done here and it would save five females falling prey to the local boyos.

Over to the market and bought the said purchase, we popped into a shop that I used to use in Kirkovo when I was staying that way and chatted to the owner, picked up some spicy sausage and bread rolls and we decided that home was best and that we didn't need to make use of the restaurant facilities in town.  We got back to hers by about twelve thirty and lunch was the sausages fried off with onions on a giant roll and topped off with a fried egg.  Huge and hugely enjoyable and washed down with a glass of water.  We sat out in the sun watching the dogs playing until they had worn themselves out and when the sun went in there was a chill in the air so we went inside and watched the television for a while.  

Five thirty and I was homeward bound, lit the fire as soon as I arrived and surprise to say the house is still holding the heat of the sun from today.  I did notice that the main door shield put up to keep the snow off the back door area was away from the underside of the upstairs balcony so I'm guessing that we had some serious winds today.  I was going to get a tool from the workshop to hammer it back into place but found a log outside and it did the trick.  I've come back with a few goodies from the Librarians namely book and from the market so it's unpack time to see what I've brought back.

Cold chicken for supper tonight although I must admit that lunch is still filling the gap.  Might get something later...LN.....my new read is New York: the novel and I'm about twenty percent into it.....so far it seems like a good read....I'll keep you posted...LN

Dem puppies sure are boofulls!...... Can you bring one over for me Mum....Pleeeeeeeaaaase!..... xxx

Friday 21st February

My Princess you can take one back with you but unfortunately even if they're chipped here it would cost loads of dosh to put them into quarantine....and there isn't one with a pink nose...just a white tip on the tail and on the end of her nose.  Good enough??

I managed to stay awake last night and went to bed at a sensible time and straight through until six.  Made coffee and came up to the computer and noticed a hint of pink and that about all there was until I went into the bedroom.  I've realised that the sun is moving round now and rising more to the east but having said that it didn't get violent this morning and then it disappeared behind the clouds and gave the impression that the mountains had slipped under the duvet for a little bit of a late start,

Fixed the garden/log carrier thing, shunted the cars round to make room in the drive to manoeuvre wheel barrows etc and decided to do some instant gardening.  I started to clear the garden at the base of the new wall and noticed that there was a Japonica Kerria that had sprung up from the parent so it was removed and it's now planted at the base of the wall.  I'd also put a honeysuckle by the old fence which now appeared to be sitting in limbo so that's been re-sited along with a lavender that the dogs seem intent on digging up and moved a clump of daffodils that again were on the perimeter.  Looking good but I still have to sort out levels around the well and between that and the wall....I might need to think about a couple of stepped areas along the length of the wall to add some definition.  Had a bonfire and got rid of the trimmings from the old shrubs, dug round a couple of flower beds now that I can see what's what and eventually came in at just after six.  It's not been a particularly good day weather-wise but it's been warm and I've got lots done.

Made a chicken soup this morning and I've just reheated it for tonight and the rest I'll freeze tomorrow.  It's got loads of vegetables in and would do well with a mashed potato topping at a later date.  Fire going but there's no real need tonight...it's something to look at...I opened the rest of the presents this morning from Princess.  Once I'd found the mini Kit-Kats it was down hill all the way this morning and last night the Ferrero Roche took a hammering.  As well as goodies there was a fridge magnet with a hug in it and a pair of slipper socks that I'm not sure if I'm to wear or hopefully kiss and see what happens,,,,LN...that might have to go to the vote...LN

Saturday 22nd February

Had a birthday phone call to make this morning and thank goodness that my DS reminded me.  I remembered last night and forgot this morning and now all is revealed...

Six am start but it was a cold dull morning and not even a hint of that beloved sun.  It was cold so lighting the fire required that I got more logs in so tested out my repaired log carrier and all was good. I tidied away from last night and thought I would go out and do something in the garden but five minutes out there made me more determined to light the fire instead.  I froze half of the soup and put the other in a dish ready for tonight, had beans on toast for breakfast and felt ready for the day, cleared the kitchen of the dross and decided that it was too cold outside so read my book until until lunchtime and that yellow object showed its little face and the mood struck.  

Out into the garden...I worked on the little frog garden and cleared the weeds and now you can actually see the daffodils that are raising their little heads.  The one snowdrop has departed but hopefully putting down bulbs.  I stayed out there for most of the afternoon, cleared the garden under the terrace and part of the vegetable patch, had a conversation with my sheep farmer who informed me that he had had sixty five twin births this year which was amazing and he has in total four hundred and thirty new lambs.  Fantastic and he was out there walking the hillside with them.  

Came in at just before six, put the soup in the bowl in the oven and two potatoes on to boil ready for mash.  Mashed them up with butter and put them back into the bowl over over the soup and waited patiently, read my book and sipped my drink.  Forty minutes later all was revealed and it was delicious but as with most things when you eat them piping hot...my mouth knows about it...I should have waited!!

So kitchen is ready for attention tomorrow...I would dearly love to be gardening tomorrow but I have my student so maybe tomorrow afternoon.  LN...I'm on my way downstairs and I've confirmation that the letters that I sent are arriving in the UK....roll on Baba Marta...LN

You are a wee gem.  Thank you so much.    You know what for!!!!    

Sunday 23th February

Danuta you are very welcome...enjoy the sentiment...

Fell asleep after that big meal last night and woke up at twelve in front of the fire and so to bed.  Not an ounce of sleep in me so read until one thirty, head down, brain going ten to the dozen realising that I hadn't drawn up the designs for my man for the furniture meeting this morning.  Back to my book, made a coffee and must have gone off at about three thirty.  Didn't feel that I'd slept well but it was just before eight when I came to so I must have slept at some point during the night.  So computer on, powerpoint drawings of the wardrobe unit done, photographs of the chest from the guest room put into the file and highlighted the types of joints and how I wanted th lid to be hinged and all this is because...the man doing the work is deaf and dumb.  Hence detail plans...

I'd arranged to meet the family this morning and we were going over as a job lot so decided to take the Beast.  They insisted that we had a coffee before we set off and we eventually got on the road by about ten.  Now the father is the postman at Mishevo which is up in the mountains above Djebel so we took the keys and he wanted to show me the post office, we moved on to the next village where the man works and we approached the house very cautiously.  We couldn't should to him since he lives alone and we were unsure if there was a dog or not but as it happened we found him in his workshop to the side of the property.  I was introduced, the plans were discussed, the price was agreed on and the time scales and then he insisted on giving us a tour of his property.  He must have about twenty decara of land which is you might say...very big and I was wishing that I had my camera but having said that ...it was raining and there was a lot of hill fog around.  He has a water reservoir so that he gets all his water for free, and this could almost be a swimming pool.  He took us into his leanto by the side of the house and he had an old gleaming motorbike in there beautifully maintained and when he took us to the garage, not only did he have another motorbike but two gleaming red sidecars.  The one was attached to the bike but the other was free standing but it looked like you could clip it on as required.  Gobsmacked and again...where's that camera when you want it.  Despite the fact that he couldn't put into words what he was trying to say...he spoke with his body and his eyes and he was a joy to meet.  So my work will be ready in four weeks and the second commission in the following two so next time I will ask if he will allow me to take photos.  

His house is up a single track road and he advised me to back up but I felt I could turn round further up the lane.....I managed it eventually since it was very wet and lots of stone underneath and he indicated that I handled the Beast like a man.  I shook his hand again and we gave each other huge smiles....and rumour has it that he isn't allowed to drive because of his disability but that he comes down to the outskirts of Djebel, leaves his bike hidden and walks into town.  You've just got to love the man.

Back to the family house and we had lunch prepared by the two daughters....Home by three after stopping off at the three cash points and none having money in them and spending thirty lev on fuel and the last six on a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread and an eclair.  I know how to live.  Fire going, damp and horrible outside and there was a man working on my neighbour's fence since she had Semile's cows trespassing yesterday which didn't go down well at all.  No supper for me tonight...I'm stuffed from lunch and I'm going to try hard to stay awake until a sensible time so that I can go to bed at an equally sensible time.  LN...I'm back to my fire...LN

Thursday 27th February

I'm back after what seems like a long absence but does that make the heart grow fonder????  Or is that absinthe....never sure.

Now the saga of how it came to pass.   I've been having issues with spammers that want to sign up to my website to sell things like Ugg boots and the likes.  As you know with the sign-up process and email was triggered and so my service provider quite rightly said that in my own way I was a spammer generating my own set of emails automatically through no fault of my own.  The compromise was that I would remove the sign up process and would be able to join if they contacted me any other way.  This was agreed on and so I contacted my super-hero in the States and the wheels were put in motion.  So the next thing I know is that my sites not working and I get an email from my service provider to say that they have taken steps themselves and moved me to another server that isn't able to generate the emails.  After numerous emails they decided that the problem lay with the diary software and that it was no further concern of theirs.  Last night my super-hero took a look and advised me that when the transfer took place it reset all of the permissions and basically screwed it up.  And this morning what do I get from my service provider, a satisfaction survey....this might take some answering.

Apart from that...with the website down I felt very low....when you are so dependent on others to do the job for you, you feel like your hands are tied but I did manage to get the bookmarks done for Gouldjan and I'm meeting her this morning at nine to take her into work and then on to Kardjali to my material shop to try and find the one that I want.  I've seen it at other places but unfortunately no one else seems to be stocking it so back to Aladdin's cave to see if she has it.  And now to get a move on...to be shampooed and showered before I hit the big city...have a good day...

Quoted from Elsa Peters

Thursday 27th February
so my service provider quite rightly said that in my own way I was a spammer generating my own set of emails automatically through no fault of my own.  

What a load of BS Elsa.

The majority of fora software does exactly the same, when people register it acknowledges the registration, just like yours did, how can that be spam. It is letting someone know that their request to register has been received.

And, to move your account to another server without telling you is also not good, especially after you had a conversation about this so called 'spam problem'.

Anyway, glad to see you back, I was getting withdrawal symptons.

I tend to agree with this as well, having experience of a few boards myself. But nice to see you back up Elsa!

Thursday 27th February

Thank you both of you for your support.  The satisfaction survey was fun to do and I even added another couple of emails to the person that had made the decision to move the site.  He said that the software was a threat to his system so he had to make the move but that he had checked out the forum software first.  If he had, he wouldn't have moved it.  I found the link saying that it was very possible that the permissions would be screwed and that you would have to go back to the drawing board.  I think I'm going to take it higher...for those that follow in my footsteps.

To picked up Gouldjan as arranged and had five minutes with her mother who's just come back from a month in Turkey visiting a new grandson.  Lovely picture of them both on FB so I left a comment in Turkish for them which was appreciated.  Went into the shop and repaid the fifty lev I'd borrowed from my student's mum when the three cash points were down on Monday and then off to Kardjali to try to get the material that I had set my heart on but to no avail.  Found another one and it will do the job superbly but I guess I'll find the original requirement now that I've found a replacement.  Went into my second hand new shop and bought two cardigans and a sweater and found a pair of suede trousers and the total at the checkout...two lev fify seven stotinki....and the carrier bag to put them in...fifty stotinki which was almost a fifth of the total cost.  I'll take my own bag next time.  Over to my stationery shop and two bottles of Parker ink in black and red and the green one is to follow...they hadn't got it in stock at the suppliers. Called in Lidl and again it was very empty now that Kaufland has arrived in town and back to Djebel and the car shop waiting for Gouldjan to finish work so that she could have a lift home instead of waiting for the bus.  Nice spend up today.

Two loads of washing done and dried including my new purchases, had a little head down this afternoon now the stress of the website is over for the time being, bonfire, wood in, fire going and supper was two fishcakes almost created as I was busy putting the washing away.  Might go to the school tomorrow since it is Baba Marta day but a day early because if falls on a Saturday this year.  It's such a nice atmosphere with the children and handing out the red and white bands.  Down to the fire, my book and I think there's a fiddler on my roof that needs exercising.  My Princess sent me a surprise gift when I said that I wanted to get the cd the last time I was in England.

Oh dear...a little niggle...it won't allow me to update with any pickies so you'll have to bear with me until Justin get's back from work...it's probably his lunchtime in America...LN

Friday 28th February

Well another month draws to a close and my birthday month is over for another year.  It's so busy for me in February.

Fell asleep last night in front of the fire and no change there then...staggered to bed at one thirty and read until three and then off until six thirty.  A huge sun crept over the mountain but it's moved from my desk now and all I get is it's reflection in the side windows.  Glad I saw it though...it deteriorated and now it's raining.  

Today's been a bitsa day.  I cleaned off the kitchen worktops thoroughly even taking the spice rack apart, cleaning the jars and putting them back.  I didn't stop there I reorganised the shelving unit on the landing, well partly, some of it's back and the rest is sitting on my desk and my workspace has now been invaded but it can wait for the morning.  I went off to see Gouldjan and delivered my martinitsa since there is no school tomorrow and I have another one to add to the stork and the octopus hanging on my stairs.  This one is a Baba Marta and so much work goes into them.

I didn't wait for Gouldjan to finish work...she had a late consultation and the bus was not long after.  I stopped off at the supermarket and got a chicken and a few other goodies and the chicken was in the oven as soon as I came home, lit the fire and I have enough wood in for today and tomorrow, peeled a couple of potatoes and chicken and chips has been served, eaten and all that remains is the washing up.  Six forty five my time....I'm saying swift goodnight tonight...I can't show you any photos but I'll save them for next month.  I don't suppose I shall see any naked shepherds rolling in the morning dew tomorrow but I can always keep my fingers crossed....LN.....I'll wish you what I have to wish you tomorrow..... LN