Monday 1st September

So where do I start with the concert in Sofia?  We organised the taxi and got there at about six fifteen so plenty of time to get in the football stadium, find our seats, have a quick hot dog for supper and purchase a small bottle of wine each to have for the performance.  At seven ten we headed back to our allotted seats and that's where the fun started.  Someone was sitting in our seats and they had tickets with the same numbers on them as ours.  Now let me tell you a little of the history!!  We booked the tickets for this event in November more or less and it was supposed to be in May but they cancelled and changed the venue so tickets could be carried over or rebooked so we rebooked and apparently some little clerk somewhere made a mistake.  Unfortunately it wasn't only us and there was a lot of confusion.  As per normal in this situation management do not appear and when it was getting to ten minutes before the kick off it was suggested that we went and go a couple of chairs and stuck them where we wanted to....so we got a couple of beach chairs and stuck them behind the section in front of ours and it appeared we started a trend as were joined by the other unfortunates and we made up our own row.  The first half of the concert was disturbed by others arriving late saying that it had taken them an hour to get into the venue and to find their seats were taken when they got there so it was a fiasco.  Anyway we were settled and we'd peeled the numbers off the seats we had managed to acquire and settled down and by the time it had got to the second half it had all calmed down.  There were also discrepancies where people with much less value tickets were appearing with their own little seats and plonking them anywhere...there appeared to be no marshalling...

As to Andre...I was disappointed.  He didn't say that he was pleased to be in Sofia and didn't connect with his fans at all.  I didn't have an 'emotional' moment with his that I've experienced at other concerts I've been to....he seemed tired...sang well and hit the right notes at the right time but it didn't really do it for me.  He warmed up just before the end of the concert and was escorted out to do yet another closing song, and another, and another....and really not a word was spoken throughout the  performance.

So out into the night and taxis were like hen's teeth so we followed the crowd and found a restaurant bar and settled for coffee and brandy to finish the night and back out into the night and we picked up a taxi straight away and back to the hotel for a little snifter before we laid our weary heads on special soft pillows at the Holiday Inn.  

Ms KD had forgotten to turn her alarm off so we came to at seven so on with the coffee, books out and internet checked and set off for a nearby shopping precinct which had absolutely nothing to recommend it.  We managed to find a cafe for breakfast, back to the hotel and I decided that I would take the early bus back to Kardjali so that she could get her head down if she wanted since her flight wasn't until this evening.  Taxi to the bus depot and I was on the one forty.....slept most of the way down and into Beauty by five thirty, Lidl diddles and chicken and a few goodies and back to Djebel for just after six.  Saw one of my neighbours so he had a lift home ,

Chicken more or less ready, unpacked, lovely sunset and really pleased to be home.  I've ventured out into the big city but wouldn't swap my place for another pension.  Time to check the chicken and serve it with fresh crusty bread....I'm off to the kitchen...LN  and the photos have to go on the next post...can't put them on the first post of a new thread...LN

Tuesday 2nd September

Woke up early this morning because I went to bed early last night...I was absolutely whacked.  Read for a while and then head back down again and it was just before eight when the strength to go down and make coffee kicked in.

Went out and watered the garden this morning.....I didn't manage to get round to it last night and boy did they need it.  Unfortunately I tugged at the hose pipe a little too hard and ended up with water squirting out of the side of the connector but I managed to put it all back together again so it was alright for tonight.  Today has been a really lazy day...I think the weekend was too exciting for me...I'm not used to so much activity what with the pre-wedding bash, the wedding and up to Sofia on the bus and a concert...I'm getting too old for this.  

I was out on the bedroom terrace reading in the sun until it got too hot to be out there so back...Lunch was a chicken mayo sandwich from the chicken I cooked last night and a bottle of German beer.  A second beer followed it, it was head down this afternoon for a catch-up and then lay on the bed reading until about six, down to the kitchen and more of the cold chicken for supper.  Out watering the garden and I saw Remsie's donkey going past my gate at the rate of knots closely followed by Remsier and I heard my Avatar yelling something along the road.  I went out and my Avatar was waving her stick to try to stop the donkey and now it was stuck between the two of them and Remsier made a grab for the rope tied round its neck, it gave out a half-heated back kick but it was restrained.  She gave it a good thwack and then took it home.  The joys and excitement of country living...!!  

Decided to harvest a few of the seeds from the sunflowers that had broken off and was getting them into a pot and I heard the latch on the gate to and Gouldjan appeared clutching a carrier bag.  We sat on the lounge terrace and she took some rolls that her mother had made from one of the bags and also produced a packet of three shower caps that she'd found in Kardjali and had remembered that I'd searched high and low for them sometime before.  I opened the packet and gave her one of them for herself, we chewed over the fat of how she'd got on flat hunting in Kardjali and she hadn't had much success.  She did mention that there is a very nice picture of me on Facebook from the wedding and she's promised to send it to me tomorrow.....I might even post it if it's good enough...I really don't like photos being taken at all.

So off she went, another beer has found its way on to my desk, almost nine my time and so I'm back to my book.  It's a very grey night and tomorrow the temperature is supposed to be dropping with thunderstorms on the way.  So the watering job might be off the list...LN....I think a little more of that chicken before bedtime....LN

Wednesday 3rd September

What a day!!  It started well but I guessed there would be rain before bedtime and I wasn't wrong. Breakfast was on of the rolls that were delivered last night by Gouldjan filled with bacon and egg and brown sauce...so what could be nicer.

I went out into the garden and decided that today would be a good day for putting in some of the cuttings and managed to get a couple.  I sat out on the bedroom balcony to finish last night's book and just managed to get in before the rain came down bringing in the cushions with me but leaving out the chair.  And it poured.  The thunder came, rattled round a bit, the weather got better and the thunder went off to its next location and back it came again.  It's been like that all day.  Now I thought the garden needed it and was quite upbeat about the amount falling but then I looked out and my sunflowers had changed from vertical to horizontal so I I've jsut been out there getting damp in the process and secured them to the railings over the wall.  

Started a curry off with the remains of the chicken and decided to phone the Librarian but she had been to Kardjali today so it's booked for Friday.  I shall freeze it tomorrow and it will come out on Friday.  It was going to be a preserve day...I have lots of beetroot that need bottling and the rhubarb that needs making into something but there is no way we could get the petchka going outside in this weather.

So today has been a day of variances...rain, stop rain, rain, thunder and lightening, more rain and more thunder and lightening and it's only September for goodness sake.  This year has been like no other...please can we go back to normal....LN

Thursday 4th September

I slept with the door closed last night and put an extra quilt on...it was cold. Seven thirty start this morning and the weather was not much to write home about or even tell you about and I went back to bed with my book and a coffee and didn't get out until just before ten.  This morning was not exactly action packed and I don't think I got the activity bug until about two this afternoon and then it was all go until about half an hour ago.

Got a load of washing in since that yellow thing had decided to show it's face and was pegging it out about three.  I decided that the base of my special tree needed some work and firstly I cleared the bricks and concrete that I'd dug up when I first started on it.  So set to again with my English fork and cleared most of the base and planted up a cotoneaster horizontalis that I'd purloined from somewhere in Kardjali and was getting too big for the pot. It's companion that I don't know the name of but it is a good sheep and cow deterrent has also been planted up on the hedge line where I lost the cherry.  As I was digging there was a strange noise coming from under the bricks and I can only assume that it was a mole and probably going hell for leather in the opposite direction for safety.   On the first visit with the wheelbarrow to the bottom of the garden, I ran pretty close to the lawnmower trimmings and turned round and saw a couple of tortoises hiding in one of the heaps.  Lucky tortoises but I think the one had other things on his mind which became more apparent on my visits to the bottom with more bricks.  

Started the bonfire to get rid of the weeds and the kitchen and toilet  rubbish and sudden noticed the sunset but as I went out of the gate to take a photo Remsier's grandson made me jump...I hadn't seen him but he was talking to their cat that has obviously taken a liking to me and my fence.  We chatted for a while and for them it's school next week....I went back to the garden and was drawn to the beetroot parch in the veg garden and decided that it was time to harvest them,  Quite a little haul and so I know what I'm doing tomorrow afternoon when I get back from Kardjali.

Lovely still evening but some of the clouds look ominous....so I'll keep my fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow.  Kitchen bound...to find something to satisfy a sort of hunger.....and open a beer....LN.....boots blacked tomorrow for the big city...LN

Friday 5th September

Rubbish night...there was a mossie batting around at three this morning and the tummy rumbles kicked in about the same time.  There is a lot of bottom issues and sickness around Djebel at the present time and mine seems to have gone on longer than most but not so severe.  I'll just keep on at the alcohol and keep my fingers and legs crossed.

Managed to dry my hair and be completely assembled when the Librarian arrived prompt as you like and off we set with one of her locals in tow.  He was off the to the hospital and she'd jokingly said 'Kardjali' and he responded in the affirmative.  Sp dropped him off at the hospital...we parked up near to the M-Tel shop and I suggested that we went in and sorted out her outstanding bills and internet connection.  She now has a piece of paper stating that she owes them nothing and it was their fault and everything in the garden is rosy so to speak.

So into my favourite second or nearly new bedding shop and managed to get a couple of lilac coloured full length curtains for three leva and then to do the business that she had come to do.  We walked over to immigration and they were now demanding another document before she could have her registration card.  We didn't understand fully what this was all about so make our way to a woman I know who is a translator and now the  date for completion had been moved to the 5th October.   This is Bulgaria.

Over to one of my other shops and picked up and autumn jacket for seven leva and does it have style and panache...and for seven leva...dream on.  The Librarian came back to mine and we had coffee and I found out some recipes for beetroot that she can try out and I shall be trying out tomorrow....I have to use it up somehow and I shall be blasting g forth with the outside petchka if the weather holds.  Supper tonight was the chicken curry from yesterday with rice and with side plates of like pickle and mango chutney....almost like being back in the UK on a Friday night is curry night.    

So LN....a little beer on the go and now set for a chilled evening but I've set the Citronella going so that the bastard mossies won't stand a chance tonight.....three o'clock is not good for anyone...LN

Saturday 6th September

Six thirty start and it was raining.....and not a good start to the day.  Back to bed with a book and a coffee and eventually surfaced around eight.  Breakfast was fried egg and bacon sandwich with brown sauce, well it is the weekend  then the beetroot were staring at me so I realised that I had to do something with them.  Had a visit this morning from my Avatar's sister in law and they brought round my wedding invitation for the twelfth of September to be held in a hotel in Kardjali.  Another venue, another twenty leva to pin on the happy couple.....

Into Djebel to buy the necessaries for the chutney that I'd decided to make including kitchen scales.  Ity's one thing to guess but when I'm going from lbs and ounces to kilograms I need something as a reference point and at five leva I can run to that.  I did stamp my foot though and asked them to search for another colour.  The one in the shop was yellow and after much searching we came up with a blue one...not quite blending in with the rest of the kitchen but as for yellow...no way.  Stopped off and had talky time with my student's mum in the car shop and I was asked where I'd been by various shop keepers.  I suppose I do hibernate a little but all's back to normal now.  In tp the supermarket and bought oranges, apples, onions, garlic, grapefruit that I though were oranges at the onset, cabbage for another recipe and various spices.  I sat out in the garden and peeled the beetroot, onions and apples, grated the apples and the zest from the oranges and squeezed out the juice, put it all in a big saucepan and set to.  Now I thought that I would need lots of jars,,,wrong...the sum total of my endeavours was five jars....so must do better next time or get a bigger saucepan.  It was going well until half-way through I ran out of gas and had to resort to electric....so tomorrow I need to get my gas bottle filled at the gas station and I think I need a new bottle.  There was some mumblings last time about if leaking but it's done the year without mishaps.

Everything bottled and I was going outside to tidy up the debris and suddenly Gouldjan and the beau appeared.  I was surprised but iI think I was a stopping off point so that he could turn round and not have to take her home.  Her parents have not yet met him, they had tea and biscuits in the garden while I supped my beer and I ended up taking her home.  Kitchen tidied...the rest of the curry was heated up is not demolished, student tomorrow in Djebel and soon be head down for me.  Nine thirty my time so LN...I've achieved with the beetroot but such a low return for four hours work....I'll have to see if I can cut corners...LN

Sunday 7th September

Bit of a restless night and I was reading at three but back off again by about four so not so bad.  Six thirty start but I revelled in the fact that I had nothing to do and nowhere to go until about ten this morning so lay half asleep and half awake until just before eight.  It wasn't a good morning but by the general standards of world weather it wasn't too bad.  I went out at about eight thirty and circumvented the garden and viewed the estate and at nine there were Semile and Jaylan's boys at the door with two yeast pancakes in their hands.  I'd heard a car pull up and the latch of the gate to so I was expecting someone but not the lads.  They explained that the pancakes were in memory of the grandfather that had recently died, as is the tradition here and I looked and saw that they had come in the car.  Now these boys are only about twelve or thirteen so I asked who was driving and they said they both were and the four year just looked on and it went straight over his head.  I suggested that one was steering and the other doing the pedals and we had a little laugh about it  and then off they went  kangarooing down the road to the next pancake drop.  Really I'm quite concerned in that the taxis round here have time for no one and nothing and it wouldn't take much for a 'catastrophe' to happen but so long as it's not me involved...it's for the parents to come to terms with.   I just told them to be careful.....  

Off to my student at ten thirty and mother is working in the garden getting rid of the grass, cleaning out and trimming the geraniums ready for winter.  The first daughter was busy bottling something or other and it's a really busy time of the year for them.  They've got peppers coming out of their ears and they're making juice like crazy.....I think it's just inborn and inbred.  Chicken and potatoes for lunch with a melon from their garden and you can tell how much rain we've had...there was no richness of flavour in it.

So home for four thirty more or less and I've spent the rest of the day designing the embroidery for the lavender pillows and trying to work out how I could make transfers which seems to be eluding me at the moment...so back to the drawing board Cecil.  I suppose it if was on tracing paper I could stitch over it but there must be an easier way.  I did spot a Jay pulling at something in my garden in the new bit that I'd dug under the tree so managed to get a few shots of it.

No supper for me...stuffed to the gills after a very decent lunch....I'm about to settle in with a film so I'll say LN.....I'm in Kardjali tomorrow registering with the new doctor and trying to swap out the old gas bottle since the man at the gas station said that the bottle connection was not good the last time I filled it....wish me luck...LN

If you want to make transfers for the embroidery how's about this. Draw the design on paper. Use a largish needle to make perforations all along your lines. Place it on the fabric and use some cotton wool and talc to go over the lines and push the powder through the holes. - should be visible on the fabric, provided it is a dark enough colour. If you are working on white, perhaps you need gravy powder?! Anyway, you get the picture.

Monday 8th September

Thanks Jean...I'll give it a whirl and see what I can come up with.  The gravy browning looks favourite since most of it is on white.... and Bisto is in short supply over here....

Lovely night's sleep and woke up at six thirty with the mosque ....well it could have been earlier or later...or I was early and he was late but I doubt it.  Unfortunately no one is brave enough to ask him to turn it down now that they've spent all that money on a new system but I am beginning to join in the chorus which is going to be good with all the 'mevglits' or prayers for the departed which are due to start soon.  Pancakes then prayers.  There was a hint of sun later on and after a pretty poor start it turned into a fabulous day.

Picked up Gouldjan and her mother from the bus-stop at eight thirty and dropped them in Djebel and carried on to Kardjali.  Had a bit of a panic attack when some silly idiot in front of me decided to do a left turn without any signals and it make me realise that my brakes probably want looking at or his indicators.  I'll be taking it in tomorrow to make sure.  Went to the hospital first thing and found what is to be my new doctor.  She was rushing around like a mad woman, she recognised me and said that she was sorry but could I come back after lunch if I had other things to do in Kardjali.  Well I really had nothing to do but managed to fill my time quite adequately buying a new coffee peculator, the lady didn't have the UPS for the petchka in stock and promised Friday but she's done that before so time to find a new supplier, into Kaufland and bought nothing of significance and then back to the doctors.  Now as with most things, the forms for registration do not match the computer screens so did we get in a mess with it.  There were numbers all over the documentation so I believe at the moment I am sixty-seven percent registered which is a start anyway and I have yet one more form to post to the UK so we'll see what comes back this time round.  

Stopped off at the market and bought twenty kilos of potatoes for my Avatar and then on to Lidl where they had my beer on at a really serious reduction so I stocked up with twelve bottles and they were selling spring bulbs so guess what I'm doing tomorrow. Next stop was Djebel to get my gas bottle filled and I asked the man about the valve saying that the last time it was filled it was a little bit dodgy.  He sprayed some water on it, said it looked 'normal' and proceeded to put twenty levas worth in which should do me until next summer.   Supper tonight was chilli beef with roisti fried potatoes and I delivered a dish of the said substance to my Avatar so hopefully she will make the night.  I came back from there with some melon that they were slicing up...give and take in this village... ;)

So...no real sunset to talk of...there are a few clouds gathering and let's hope they clear overnight.  Tomorrow the garage to get the 'tampons' and I always laugh at that word for a damper and the brakes and then to try and persuade him to come over and get the biggie going so that I can head over to the wood yard and organised my winter wood delivery.  Early to bed with a book...it's been a fairly fulfilling day...LN

Monday continued

Sitting at my desk and caught the reflection of the moon in one of my stair well windows....so I thought I'd share it will you...LN

Tuesday 9th September

Funny night last night.  I was really tired at about nine thirty and dropped my Kindle so decided that I would get my head down despite the fact that I would probably be awake at three and reading again.  As it happened....just as I was about to go off with the fairies my phone went so thinking the worst as I always do...I got up and answered it and I should know by now.  So back into the world of the living , finished the call at about ten ten, back to bed and not an ounce of sleep in me so back with my book, Angry Birds for a spell and then down to sleep at about half midnight with that lovely moon making it almost appear like day light.

Got my first load of washing in and pegged out by nine thirty.  The lads were out causing mayhem again with the little red bomber so I waited for them to get back up the village before I got Beauty on to the road.  I completed the form that is heading for the UK for health insurance and off to the post office where I received a receipt for postage and a cheery hello from the postmaster.  He was a little stressed, his female companion was absent so he was having to do it all himself bless him.  Down to the garage and explained the problem and my student's father was up and at it straight away.  He said that there was much left on the first brake shoe that he checked so I was in charge of the garage while he went to pick up the bits from the shop.  The local vet arrived in his absence and I explained that he should be back in about five minutes but he decided that he could use the air supply to pump up his tyres but he couldn't get it to work so he had to wait.....he hadn't removed the safety catch.

So brakes completed, he checked the 'tampons' for me and emptied out two cans of WD40 on the undercarriage to stop it making so much noise when I have passengers in and we laughed about it.  Cost for the work and parts...forty lev....why not have it done!!   Stopped off at the garage shop and had a few words with my student's mum, bought some more fly spray since I'd only got one can left and it's always where you don't need it...either up or down and by the time you've got down the fly has managed to get upstairs.....Back home and ham and pickle sandwiches for lunch of freshly baked bread.  Stripped the bed and got another load of washing in and out and then sat in the sun with my feet in a bowl of water, gave them a good soak and a pedicure and not before time.  I dozed in the sun until may Avatar woke me up with the return if the dish from the food I took over last night and she said that her and her two relatives had set too and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's good when I can give them something that I would make.... chilli con carne with rosti potatoes....went down a treat.

Six thirty my time....it seems there's not much chance of a moon tonight....the clouds have come over and there was an horrendous wind about fifteen minutes ago so I was closing doors to stop everything whizzing off my desk.  Sorry no pickies today...I forgot to take my camera to the garage and the clouds are just clouds tonight and not even pretty ones.....LN....I'm expecting the garage owner tomorrow with his jeep to start the Beast and then I'll be heading off somewhere to charge up the battery fully....oh busy days...LN

Wednesday 10th September

Well the poor hodga got all his loudspeakers mixed up this morning and we had it in double stereo with a reverberating echo....well done...obviously needs a  lesson in technology...   Didn't bother going back to sleep....it was a misty start to the day but I did get up and take some pictures of this morning's moon that had not really shown it's face during the night.  As for the sun...that was pretty slow to break through but break through it did and we've had a super day for pottering.

Biscuits for breakfast with coffee and looked at Kingdom's cactus and realised that it's days would be numbered unless I provided it with a new home.  On with the reinforced gardening gloves and the spines still penetrated the bloody things and was I suffering.  I like to think of it as Spike getting his own back for being disturbed.  Jobs a guddun...rehoused but I have to sort out the gloves.  Out with the spider plant....that needed a good soaking along with the money plant so outside they went and were drenched.  The spider has had babies chopped off it and they're now lingering in the equivalent of a goldfish bowl until the roots develop and then they're off to my lady in Kardjali to see if she wants to pot them up and sell them.  Started on the garden under my special tree again and the paving slabs are in place and I'm getting rid of the old rubble slowly but surely down to the bottom of the garden.  I've planted lavender and a few petunias so that the seeds should come up next year but I need something to go down the bank to stop the weeds....I'll have to get the book out and see what's available here.

In for lunch...the rest of the ham with pickle on a sandwich but two day old bread is not the same as yesterday's....filled a hole but that was about it.  Sat in the sun reading for a while until I realised that I would be more comfortable reading upstairs and yes, two hours later after the eyelids headed south, I was raring to go again.  Eventually came in at eight after watering the garden and digging up some more weeds and dandelions....what a chilled day.  No supper...lunch is still working its way through....LN

Thursday 11th September

Well not much to report today.  After signing off last night I watched Sting's concert in Berlin and some of Robbie Williams in the same place and decided that I wanted to wallow in the luxury of a bath instead of a shower but I forgot....my boiler only comes on for a couple of hours each night on a timer so there wasn't much of the hot stuff to be had....bugger I thought and I'm still kicking myself for not getting in the bath in the showroom and finding out there that it's a little on the narrow side.  Having said that, if it was wider there would be even less depth to it so maybe it's a plus...

Man from the mosque burst forth at just after six and he seemed to get it right this time with not much back wash so to speak.  I got up and opened the balcony door to let some air into the place, down for coffee and was out parading around the terraces and enjoying the morning when I realised that I needed new bread this morning....why should I suffer with the old stuff at forty pence a loaf?  The rest went out onto the hillside for birds. sheep. cats. dogs or whatever else is hungry and passing.  Down to the bread wagon and had chit-chats with my babas and walked back home dropping my Avatar off on the way.  She's got her daughter-in-law coming back from Germany today for the family wedding that we're all off to on Sunday and the pre-wedding bash on Friday night.  I might end up being the chauffeur....we'll see or we could get a mutual taxi at two leva each.....and I can have a wee tipple.  Breakfast was some of the Schoolmaster's mother marmalade on the well buttered new bread....thanks Ruth...same again next year please...

Cleaned the house from top to bottom today, hoovered through,  washed the floors and dusted and that was interspersed with a bit more digging under the tree.  All go here you know.  Took some cuttings from the cotoneaster horizontalis and the other horizontalis that's growing in the little house bed and keeping my fingers crossed.  I need those to grow down the bank and I might even put a honeysuckle in to cover it looking at how the one on the lounge terrace is generally invading the concrete.  

Watched Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' DVD this afternoon and later, out with the sewing machine and played around using some of the fancy stitching to do some embroidery for my lavender bags.  It's all experimental at this stage but it makes me want to buy one of the really fancy ones that you can programme.   As it clouded over this afternoon I reckon that there wasn't much need to water the garden and I'll do it in the morning.  And as for supper...again not really in the mood ...I'll consider it a 'fast' day.  

Angry Birds and a book at bedtime.....had a phone call this afternoon and I've got visitors on Saturday...swimming tomorrow if the weather is reasonable...it doesn't have to be good....she's only there for practice.....LN.....fingers crossed for tomorrow... otherwise I'll imagine the  imaginary list and find a pin...LN

Friday 12th September

Six thirty start and not bad since I'd had an early night.  I messaged my swimming student, the weather looked promising and waited for a reply.   Watered and checked the garden and all my chickpeas have gone...so what eats chickpeas?.  She replied and yes it was on and I was to meet at her's at ten thirty and I was more or less there on time.  Messaged the Schoolmaster and said that I was in the vicinity and did he want to borrow curtains for his guest room and found the rings and hooks out with the firm instructions that I want them all back.....the curtains are for recovering the sofa and the armchair that's when he delivers the sofa at the end of his stay here.

So picked her up and off we headed for MG Hotel in Momchilgrad and despite the water being in the pool, September had hit Momchilgrad and the pool was closed and already dirty.  Undeterred we headed off to Makaza just outside of the town and it was open, I offered to pay and they said that since it was Friday and the end of the season it was free.  We got down to swimwear and business straight away and despite the cold water in we got and started the lesson straight away.  Bearing in mind that she speaks no English at all we did OK and she managed to do ten strokes on her own after a lot of cajoling.  The problem is she forgets her legs, arms and breathing all have to come into play but she's doing well saying that she's terrified of water.  We have a date for next Friday weather permitting.

Over to the Schoolmasters and soon found friends.  Bekir and Sally were working away and I soon put a stop to that.  The window men who made my windows for both houses were also there so we had a little chat...he said that there was a lot of work but I replied that there was also a lot of money and he smiled.  Back to drop off my student, stayed for coffee and a couple of biscuits and home.  I've settled in and made a lavender bag this afternoon and not sure about the pre-wedding bash tonight if I want to go or not.  There'll be a lot of people I don't know and do I really want to make the effort...we shall see, it's a bit too early yet for a decision.  

Clouds gathering but a very calm night and today's lavender bag was quite a little success.....more on the cards for tomorrow....it's the start of my preparing my 'C' word pressies for my four village ladies....LN.....a satisfying day...LN

Saturday 13th September

Seven start and slept through my morning singing alarm clock and was surprised that the sun was only just coming up.  Just had to take a picture and the sun seemed so red first thing.  Out to the terrace with a coffee and satwatching nothing and even the sheep were late this morning but I got a call from Semile my sheep farmer and he was so proud.  He was out with his new puppies which he referred to as his 'little bears' and I managed to get a photo and I'll have to copy it for him.  I think it was the first time that they had been out with the sheep.  Lots of butterflies out this morning and I watched them chase each other round....landing on the Zinnias and these only seem to have appeared in the last couple of days.  There was a Swallow Tail but not sure what the other one is...I better get my book out...

I took to the garden, pegged out a load of washing and got out the fork and started on clearing some more of the builder's debris from the patch under the tree.  I was working away when my guests arrived so it was down tools and coffee on.  We sat chewing over the fat and I made lunch for about one thirty and then we sat out in the sun until it got too warm and moved into the shade.  More coffee on the go and that's when I noticed a new surge of butterflies so out with the camera and managed to get a few goodies of butterflies, the humming moths that were around too and something that should never have managed to get off the ground.  

Guests left at six, washing in, folded and put away.  I'm about to go out and water the garden....I think the clouds rolled by last night without dropping their load so it's out with the hose.  Supper tonight is the remains of lunch.  I have my student tomorrow.....and more guests arriving tomorrow afternoon.....LN.....down to the kitchen and finding something liquid to help it down....LN

Gorgeous butterflies and moths - I envy you having that Swallowtail! I imagine that the chequerboard one is a variey of Fritillary, but which one is anybody's guess - my book doesn't cover European ones anyway, but at least your photo is clear enough that you might be able to find out with the right book.

Sunday 14th September

Full eight hours last night and woke up feeling really refreshed....Sat out with a coffee and watched the sun come up but this morning there wasn't as much red in it and as it came up the mist came rolling in and fell into all the pockets in the mountains.  Then on to the second cup, out into the world and messed around in the garden until it was time to go off to my students.

Lot of the family there today and it was open house and making Lutenitza in the summer kitchen.  I had the opportunity today to meet her very religious aunt who asked me if I wanted a book in English about her religion.  I said I would like to borrow one but we somehow got on to the subject of alcohol, pork and bikinis and since they're all not part of what she stands for I said I'd give it a miss this time round.  At one point we were talking about available men and she said that her father was a couple of years younger than me but after finding out what I couldn't have....his houses by the sea wouldn't have been compensation....

Home in time for my guests that didn't turn up and am now party clothed and heading for the wedding in Kardjali picking up Gouldjan's mother on the way so this is going to be a short update and no pickies but the camera is going to the wedding so I might post some later....LN...it's party time...LN

Sunday update

Back just before midnight and didn't loose a slipper on the way home and the car didn't turn into a pumpkin and not a white mouse was seen anywhere.....so no Prince Charming destined to appear.....

Picked up Gouldjan's mother as arranged and she looked very swish in black sparkly top and we got there just before the allotted hour.   She was actually supporting the groom while I was there for the bride but she joined our table with the rest of the village instead.  The hotel is swish and there must have been about four hundred people there...big do....but as I said we were with the rest of the village 'bussed' in but I failed to see my Avatar.  Again my problem is that I know the Babas but not the underlings so I maybe need to get a family tree or several going with photos so I know who to talk to about whom....it's not safe at the moment.  The glasses were broken, they had their first dance , salad was on the table to pick at at and then chicken with potato salad and cabbage vinaigrette.  Lots of soft drinks around for the women and mastica, beer and rakia for the men and the men got a little raucous and danced while some of us sat around and sipped our Fanta.  

It was pin the money on the scarf time and then round to toast the guests and collect the loot, the cake was cut and served, a little more dancing and it was home time for us.  The bus was loading and Ms Gouldjan and myself got mobile and I've just dropped her off.  Brilliant moon tonight though there's only half of one.  Stars are all out and the temperature's dropped so out of my glad rags and into a sweatshirt and bottoms.  LN again....ten minutes with the Kindle and away to the land of nod...LN

Monday 15th September

Six thirty start and was ready for the man in the mosque to do his stuff although it's relayed and not from my village.  I suppose if he was a man getting up to do it for me mine I could forgive him his volume but because it is a radio link out of Djebel I'm having problems with this...

Anyway the mood didn't last long so out into the garden and set about digging out the rest of the bank and managed to get another couple of wheelbarrows filled and dumped.  Underneath the nearest to the house lump of rubbish clearance I've decided to put in some lavender so that it will smell good even if it looks weed ridden...They will overcome.....

Phone call from the Librarian and we've arrange a Thursday/Friday meetup and my guests arrive with lunch in hand at about one.  I got the hot dogs and onions ready with salad and we pigged out at about one thirty and after lunch, me to the garden, him to the internet while his lovely wife enjoyed the view.  We sat and talked for a while.  I'd list my trusty trowel and after searching for it  everywhere found it where it ought to belong.  I'd done a tidy up...aaarrrggghhhh......Forgot to mention I have a cat...it was a present from Gouldjan's boyfriend who thought it would sit prettily in my house...big thank you's...  

Guests left at six more or less...Hacibar has reminded me of her 'mevglit' for her departed husband tomorrow and I shall try and make it.  I ahve my car to get into the garage so that they can sort the Beast out.  It might be alternator but I need it checked before winter.  I've arranged a visit to the window man tomorrow...my guests have a need for twenty odd windows for a house and they want a quote.  I think I'm going to put myself on commission...  

So washing in, my final visit of the resplendent mosque is belting his little hear out all be it buzzed to my door.  No supper tonight.  I made hot dogs, onions, baked beans and salad for lunch so I'm quite replete.  It's clouded over tonight and today has been a day of cloud and sun and it couldn't quite make up it's mind what it wanted to do.  

LN...No supper required....car over to the garage tomorrow, guest meet up at nine thirty in the garage and over to Momichilgrad for the window man....my life in a nutshell...LN

Tuesday 16th September

Seven start this morning but I did wake up at four with the light on and not much sleep in me so I read for a while and then back to the land of nod.  This morning's schedule was to start my car with the battery power pack which was terrifying me to death for no good reason, take the Beast to Djebel and wait for my guests to arrive and then over to Momchilgrad for a quote for windows for their place.  So I looked at this battery pack 'thingie' and couldn't remember how to do it so on to the You Tube videos and that was even more confusing.  They were giving me the full instructions and I only wanted the bit that I wasn't really sure about.  So taking my courage in both hand and the leads as far apart as possible, I had success and it's the kind of job that you wonder what the heck you were worried about.  

Over to the garage and the garage owner had just got his jeep ready to drive over to mine and was amazed to see me there.  I showed him the pack that I'd borrowed from the Schoolmaster and it was decided to use mine to get to Momchilgrad, over to the Schoolmasters but he was having an away morning and chatted to Bekir and Sally for a while and came to start the Beast and...big fat nothing.  Back to the garage and I left it in their capable hands.  Got my lift back from my guests and cooked them a breakfast of poached eggs on toast, hurried them out and I was over to Hacibar's for the prayers for her husband.  It was so crowded.  There must have been about fifty people there and two hodgas singing their little hearts out and I now know when to hold my hands out in the correct position, wipe my face and say 'Amin'.  I actually use the time to close my eyes....if you believe in a God, you can call him what you like but it's a quiet time with you and yours.  Rice and meat was served with home made Baclava. iran and their clove juice.  The women are getting used to me now so I'm not an oddity and I put the headscarf on out of respect for them and I've been invited to another on Saturday at eleven.  I am part of this village joining in their weddings and their funerals and I hope they all turn out for mine but hopefully not for a few years yet...   So the finale was a chocolate bar and the wrapping said on it 'Credo' which in Latin means 'I believe' and I bet they don't know that....

So home, looked at the lawn, the weather and the forecast for the next few days and realised that it was a window of opportunity to get the lawn done so I did.  I was on the last few ups and downs when the heavens opened and I realised that it was down tools and bottle open despite it was only five and boy did the rain come down.  It's till falling now but not as seriously and it's almost on for lighting a fire tonight and cosy down.

The rice is sitting heavy so not much supper for me...the exercise has done me good...one day I'll have to calculate how far I walk doing the lawn.  And the bad news with the car...the alternator has gone and needs either new or second hand...it's in their hands and I'll take the consequences...they're normally very good and spending my money.  LN....I'm going to commiserate my financial loss with another beer...LN

Wednesday 17th September

Well that rain that started at five thirty more or less last night was still pouring down this morning and it's been a cold horrible day.  One brief interlude around lunchtime when the sun broke through and I promptly nodded off in the armchair when I was supposed to be reading for relaxation and it worked.

Phone call this morning from Gouldjan reminding me that I was picking her up from the bus stop.  She'd trodden on a rusty nail last night, had phoned her doctor to see if she needed a tetanus jab but she was told to get some antibiotics and self treat.  We went to the emergency clinic just in case and she was given the same advice so over to the chemist and got them over the counter.  So into the hardware shop she went and came out with some 'stuff' so that her brother could do some work on her parent's house.  I went in and had a few words with my student's mother in the car shop and I could almost see the relief on her face.  The little one is back in nursery and the big one back at school...result.  

Tomorrow off to Kardjali with the Librarian but I'm picking up Gouldjan and delivering her to Djebel on the way and we might even have another one in tow if she can get the day off.  Girlie...well not quite...day out.  Lunch in town, over to the 'cheapie' shop to see if they have any more cheap duvet covers at knock down prices  as the quality is so good.  

I'm thinking of lighting a fire....it is so cold and has been drab as I said most of the day.  I even dug out a pair of my woollen socks and got one of my jumpers out.  My body's not used to this and it's September for goodness sake.  It's supposed to get better by the end of the week so fingers crossed.  Today's been a day for the birds.  A couple of different types of woodpecker this morning on my tree and the goldfinches have really been attacking the sunflowers by the front wall.  Unfortunately even with full zoom thy don't look very big but there again they're not.

Now down to the kitchen I'm off to get something really warming...and I expect that yellow thing to be up there in the morning doing it's stuff.  I don't want to walk round Kardjali in the rain....LN

Thursday 18th September

Four thirty start which was to be expected since I laid my head on that pillow at nine thirty.  I was ready for the man in the mosque in Djebel...I sang along with the chorus.....I'm local you know!!!

Read for a while, out to the garden to survey the estate and ended up eating mixed berries on toast in the garden at eight thirty waiting for the Librarian that duly arrived at nine on the dot.  Phoned Gouldjan and ended up taking her to her drop off point at the newly established 'Djebel Spirkata' that I'd never heard it called before but I had her brother that wanted to go into Kardjali and he got dropped off just before......my input into local meanderings...

Over to Mania to see what they were giving away since it was Friday and picked up a skirt and a sweater for easy money.  Over to the UPS shop and the lady there said that they would put one on the bus for me from Haskavo and it would be there after lunch so took her at her word...over to the other Mania and bought some gingham for my lavender bags and then to the cushion shop and got a couple of the biggie for the third bedroom and some of the smaller ones for the lounge.  The woman there wasn't really interested in the sale...wouldn't you love to smack someone at some times.... Over to the kebab shop for wraps for lunch and then back to the UPS shop to see if it had arrived ....and it hadn't but driving back to the main road I saw a shop that sells central heating bits, backed up and asked them if they had a UPS and they did.  It was a little more expensive than the other but it was here and it would have taken me that in fuel to go up there the next day...jobs a guddun and done.

Over to Lidl and got a few things that I needed and home for just before five picking up my Beast...with new alternator along the way.  Paid my dues...he only wanted to charge me twenty leva for fetching the part from Haskavo and fitting it but I insisted on paying more.  I reminded him that they are a business not a charity.  Now I know I took their son to England but I can't trade on that for ever...and wouldn't.  So the UPS is charging and I've arrange to pick Bekir up from his cafe tomorrow so that he can check out the installation.  It's not rocket science but I feel happier if he does it and he can look at my leaky toilet while he is here....

Supper tonight.....no need I'm still stuffed from lunch at the moment.....but there might be a requirement later...LN....I've had a very restful day...LN

Lovely pic's Elsa as usual. Wildlife there is so good. Thanks for B/day greeting. Hope all is ok. Mum sends her best. Linda & all.x

Friday 19th September

Thanks Linda and pleased that you had a good birthday.....lots of love to all of you.....

So this morning I was back to the restaurant run to get Bekir to sort out my UPS.  As I mentioned yesterday it was a five minute job but he could read the destructions and managed it in less than the allotted time.  Next job he fixed the dripping toilet and climbed on to the roof of the little house and replaced a couple of tiles that the wind had dislodged and they're earmarked for metal fastenings.  It was good to have him back, he was waving at the neighbours and we stopped off in Djebel to get the new part for the toilet so that I've got it here for when he has an opportunity to get over.  We went to the banichka shop and picked up breakfast for everyone at the Schoolmasters and headed over to the school where Bekir and Sally were working.  I stopped for a coffee but was on my way at eleven picking up a stray nursery school teacher who was legging it from one of the outlying villages.  It seemed a little warm for me to be out for a four kilometre hike and she was very grateful.

So home for eleven thirty....I played around on the computer for a while and decided to get the pipes out from the petchka and give it a good clean out ready for winter.  Back they all went without much fuss so I lit it to check out the pump to make sure that it was working OK before I come to depend on it....and it is.

Sitting at my desk I saw a tortoise moving swiftly across the lawn so out I shot with the camera.  He stopped when he registered the footsteps so I was able to get a reasonable shot and then when I stood still he moved into the shrubby bit of the garden and I lost him.  I looked up and there was an eagle circling but it was too far away to get a really good photo and I noticed the wild fruit down the bottom of the garden and the rosehips that I shall probably do nothing with.....lazy old me.  It also hit me how beautiful the flowers are this year will all the rain that we've had....as they say every cloud and the yellow bed from one packet have really been a show.

So fire going, Gouldjan was supposed to come round at five to look for special offers at a spa hotel and we were going away for a few days but she didn't make it until seven and all the offers appear to have been taken.  She left just before eight and will check it out on her computer...The house is beautifully warm after the last two days of freezing my little fingers and toes off and resorting to socks and sweaters.  No supper...I had a big fat Brie sandwich at about four which seems to have lodged in the digestive tract which might need a little beer to move it onwards.  Tomorrow is another prayer for the dead to move his soul on and lunch of rice and meat and Gouldjan's mother is heading this way and we'll go together.  

And now it's LN from me...down for a beer, out with a new book and a quick curl in front of the fire...LN

Saturday 20th September

Six thirty start and in with the washing machine started and out with the rubbish to burn.  Got it right this time...rubbish first and washing pegged out second.  Did all of that and back to bed with the book after I'd photographed the dawn as is the norm.

Breakfast was a can of baked beans all to myself, toast with lashings of butter, showered, shampooed and hair dried before Mrs Gouldjan appeared with her fresh yoghurt and off we went to the fifty day onwards for the dead celebration.  I sat on the floor with all my babas and there were a whole load of people there for the prayers and I love it.  I settled in with a bottle of water, a cup of the local clove juice and listened to the hodja spouting forth.  I'm getting so used to it now that I know some of the responses but I have to do word association to get it right....but I'm getting there. So listening to the hodja I went off into a world of my own and came back with the sort of jump you get when you are about to drop off in bed and I came back just in time for the rice to be served.  I must have had mine from a different vat. the lady who was served last commented on it...mine was really superior.  As I was leaving I joked with Jaylan's thirteen year old son that drives the car round the village that I wanted a chauffeur and, with a serious face, the response was that he hadn't got a car.  I told him that there wasn't a problem that I had two but at this point his uncle stepped in having got the joke and asked how much and I told him thirty leva a week.  They are now getting used to my jokes.

The Librarian phone and asked whether I was still going over and that she had to go to Zlatograd...I was there with the half hour and off we went and found that in the town there was a celebration of the English language and teaching of and we were approached by an American when he heard us talking.  Off we went to meet the group...we exchanged business cards and maybe they can help me set up some teaching in Djebel for the teachers...might be the vehicle I need.  

Over to the Librarians and managed to get her re-established on her computer and old passwords recovered and new ones entered.  Home for seven thirty and fire going by seven thirty five and a little drink on the go.  The beans and rice are still going through....mastica is helping it down and I felt so relaxed after my hodja induced hypnotic state that nothing can throw me now.....LN....I've had a good day....LN

Sunday 21st September

So this morning at six it was raining and looked as if it had been all night.  Not much for me to do....garden adequately watered and all the plants that I was going to put in today were still in their wrappers.

In fact it's been a very lazy day....as you gathered from last night there was no student so nothing as far as the day was concerned.  I did do the tour of the garden but nothing much was happening, I got some wood in in case I had to light the petchka later, but nothing much incited me to action.

Back to my book and finished the thirtieth of the said author and think it's about time I found someone else to read but it's comfortable until I hit the usual phrases and then I know it's time I moved on.  I suppose I get sucked in to the groove,

I downloaded ITtunes this afternoon to try and recover the music stored on my ipod.  I have the feeling though that to synchronise would mean that I would lose everything...so much for Apple.  Supper was yesterday's rice and some chilli beans and an extra dollop of sweet chilli sauce.  I sat and did some embroidery this afternoon and it will be Gouldjan's birthday present if I finish it.  I need to get the sewing machine up in the morning and get going...tomorrow's job...got nothing else on the agenda.

No photos today...dawn wasn't worth recording and despite the day picked up...there wasn't much activity...Michael Jackson is singing his little heart out and I think he was such an underrated performer...so talented and so sad at the end....LN....let's hope for a better day tomorrow......LN

Monday 22nd September

It looked like it had rained overnight so the watering schedule has all gone to pot...suits me.  As the sun rose somewhere behind those clouds it somehow produced enough heat to completely cover the hillsides and that's how it stayed until about ten this morning.  It eventually cleared and then the sun shone for a while and I sat and had my breakfast at about eleven this morning, late but worth waiting for and I'm not sure what I was doing to pass the time away.  

Sewing machine out onto my desk today and set to to make my lavender bags that I'd been meaning to do for a while.  Five and a half down...the half just needs stuffing with seeds but I realise that I've got to cull the rest of the plants tomorrow and get them dried too.  I'm running short of lavender.  I suppose I could always start on the rosemary...I've got about five of those beauties growing around the garden.

Sorted out my embroidery silks, found two pieces of work that I'd started at various points in my history and the older one is now earmarked for completion.  I do enjoy it and it's good exercise for my not so nimble fingers.  And over came the clouds and down came the rain just at the point that I'd decided to take the kitchen rubbish outside and set fire to it and I'd moved over to the patch under my tree where the dandelions had taken over.  So I worked until my t-shirt was suitable sodden and came in, opened the beer and took refuge with my sewing machine again.  I did start embroidering but I've done this before so I gave up before the alcohol made it look really good and in the cold light of day...it has to be unpicked.

So the man from the mosque has just given his seven thirty briefing.....I'm not lighting a fire tonight since the temperature is OK despite the damp feel in the air....I'm going to look for something for supper and tomorrow I'm meeting Ms Schoolmaster and we're off to Kardjali at the crack of to get some curtain material so the sewing machine is on it's travels....they have guests.....LN....I'm going hunting...LN

Yes I do love Zinnias! And where you say "Gladioli  family" - yes - we have some of those and himself is pretty sure it said Afghan Gladioli on the packet,

On further research, he is a bit east of the truth - Abyssinian Gladis - ah well - begins with 'A' ! Close cousins.

Tuesday 23rd September

Thank you Jean and Seth for your input....I'll check it out on my gardening encyclopaedia and get back to you...eventually...

Six start and again it had rained over night but there had been thunder in them there hills and I'd had this dream about my tree coming down but looked out and everything was as it should have been.  Down for coffee and back to bed.  There was no need for any activity until about seven thirty so I settled into my book and then with verve and panache got myself ready and into the car for eightish and over to the Schoolmasters to pick up Ms S.  She was ready so off we set and into the curtain shop by just after nine and my little lady was so surprised to see me so early.

Found the one that we wanted from the huge selection on offer. we worked out what we needed and at thirteen leva per meter at three meters wide it was good value.  Got the curtain header tape from her and she even managed to find me some cotton to match the material from her supplies in the back room.  Over to the leva shop for some extension leads and I bought some picture frames and then back to the school with my sewing machine in hand.  I set up my workshop in the hall and within a couple of hours they were done and ready to hang.  The material was great to work with since there was a woven horizontal design and it made working out the straight lines much easier.  

Back to mine after calling in the garage to ask when it was time for the winter tyres to go on.  We checked out mine from last year and they are still OK so will be fitted by October.  He did offer to fit them today but I was eager to get home.  Weather wise a day of variances.  It's almost like a mad April day with rain one minute and sun the next but the winds are howling and it looks fine but pretty rough out there.

I found a pork tenderloin in the freezer and into the oven with it and made a sweet and sour chilli sauce that was lashed over it towards the end of it's cooking time.  Potato rosti were put into the oven but had to finish them off in the frying pan to get the right crispness.  Out with the pork and in with a portion of apple strudel and tonight I was really going for it.  Unfortunately...and it's a big unfortunately it felt like there was a piece of bone lodged between the gum and my tooth.  Had a problem with this since it was a tenderloin of pork so no bones and realised that I'd shattered a crown and despite pulling it and resorting at one point to tweezers it wouldn't come out so off I go in the morning to see my trusty dentist if only to get it removed and work out a solution.

Six fifteen my time and I'm early tonight.  I've had quite a successful day despite the tooth...the curtains worked and they were easy to do and you get days like that.....LN.....I think the embroidery might come out tonight...LN  

Wednesday 24th September

I decided that last night I would take a bath and have the hot water sufficiently cranked up so that I could lie the for as long as I wanted.  I was there for two hours with a glass of mastica for company and my Kindle...bliss.  As I took to my pit I reckoned that I needed to close the curtains and the windows and chill out completely and it was eleven before I shut off the bedside light and got my head down.  It was six this morning when I woke up, opened the curtains and felt the cold from the windows...there had been a frost and there was a slight covering of the white stuff...it's September for goodness sake.

First job was to remove the tooth and after much pulling and pushing with the tongue...well you know what it's like...I resorted to toilet paper for a firm grip and tugged at it ....and it came out.  As for the dentist...tomorrow is another day.

Stripped the bed and got the winter quilt out...it was time to move seasons.  Sorted out my wardrobe and t-shirts are abandoned for long sleeve things and sweaters and the cotton trousers have gone to their winter resting ground and will be trotted out next year.    Lunch was fish fingers and chippies on white bread with tomato ketchup and a whole jar of peaches in syrup to follow but there has been nothing since and won't be.  I went up to lie on the bed after lunch and realised that my six start was beginning to tell on me and woke up at five thirty...went out to the garden and dug up loads of dandelions and thistles and eventually came in at seven fifteen.  Poured a drink well who wouldn't at that time and started to do my emails and stuff and Gouldjan appeared clutching eggs and yoghurt and obviously in need of a chat.

I've just taken her home now and realised that by driving Beauty in forward it's easy to get her into a decent spot in the yard.  Up to my desk with a pack of rice cakes and the damage has been done.  I bit into one and the remaining part of the tooth has been removed, is sitting on my desk and a trip to the dentist is now very necessary.  I have a gap where there should be a pearly white.

So tomorrow heading into Kardjali with Gouldjan at the allotted time of nine thirty at the bus-stop.  I'll stop off and make an appointment with my dentist on the way in and see what's available.  LN...rice cakes for me...they've done their damage but they're filling a gap...LN

Thursday 25th September

Woke at five which was the result of having a two hour eyelids facing South yesterday afternoon but read until it was time to wake up and welcomed the dawn.  I beat the man at the mosque this morning and I really must learn what he's talking about so I can sing along with full knowledge not just do it for the sake of.

Showered, shampooed and out today with Gouldjan in Kardjali.  I stopped off at my dentist on the way in and he explained the procedure with pictures...it was easier to explain it where words fail.  There is already a post in place but this needs to be renewed and then a crown fixed to the new post after it had been filled...three visits agreed and the first one is next Thursday.  He did ask if I was suffering and I'm not...I just don't smile as much but I think he might have fitted me in sooner if it wasn't for his 'piece de resistance' who is very sweet but very protective.

So back to pick up Gouldjan who had gone on walkabouts in Djebel and into Kardjali.  First Mania...I bought a brown cotton polo neck and a navy sweatshirt and Gouldjan found a tartan blouse and for the lot I paid under three leva and she was amazed.  We stopped off at the lottery shop...I chose my six numbers and if it wins she get's ten percent and if it's a really good win she get's fifteen and the draw is tonight....I told her that if she give up her job and I see a shiny new car outside her house then I think she is keeping something from me....

Over to the next Mania and I picked up some pillow cases and a continental quilt cover and at the third I go a giant feather pillow and the pillow cases from the other shop will fit it....it's like a jigsaw.  We had lunch in the soup kitchen and Gouldjan said she'd not been to it before and I like it when I beat her too it.  

Back home for five more or less..dropped her off and carried most of her goodies to her doorstop, car back into the drive and unpacked me,,,things that needed washing from the charity shops out on the line in quick sticks, out on to the line with them and fire lit to make sure that they have a chance of drying inside....

Supper finished...I scattered a tin of baked beans over the residue of the port tenderloin and it is delicious.  I've also pan fried a couple of roisti potatoes to go with it...that's what a girl does.

So writing this and putting it to bed...eight fifteen my time and I might be having a friend of my children's over for a visit who is the daughter of a very dear friend of mine...we'll wait and see but at least she speaks Russian which is close to Bulgarian...LN...I'm in to a little red with my supper tonight...well it was on offer at the local supermarket that I couldn't refuse...LN

Friday 26th September

Six start and my glass of red was still sitting in front of the computer and untouched...well that glass was.  Down for a coffee, read for a while and jumped to clearing the summer clothes out and the winter clothes in.  It started to rain about eight thirty and hasn't stopped since...so much for a balmy September.

Breakfast was two rostie potatoes left over from last night with a fried egg and it was delicious.  I sat at the table and did it properly...on to the computer and after a few messages, I was expecting guests at two this afternoon so I sought to tidy up a little and flicked the brush over the rugs, lit the fire, got some more wood in and I was ready.

They arrived just after two.  The schoolmaster and ms. and his guest from England.  Coffee and tea was served and we sat down to have conversations on books, social services, England and some of it got a little heated.  Not from my quarter....I live and let so to speak.  Gosti's girlie managed to get her head down despite the noise and apologised profusely when we woke her to go back to the school...I felt comfortable in that she felt comfortable to do it.

Continued the conducted tour of the estate and off they set at just after five thirty to get a chicken in Djebel for supper....I'm about to think about mine and that's probably all I'll do tonight...think about it.  I've been picking readily at a bun loaf in the kitchen most of the afternoon and there's no real need to stuff any more in....that glass of red wine lurking in the kitchen can come out now that the time is right and it might have a companion.  Fire going strongly...the house is beautifully warm and I think it might have stopped raining.  The problem is that everything grows at an alarming rate and the lawn looks as if it needs a trim but I want a few dry days for the mower to be effective.

Schoolmasters tomorrow afternoon if it dries out for a bonfire, jackets and fireworks....well maybe....or Sunday if it stays like it is.  Now for the Kindle and an evening of gentle music and relaxation...LN...and it's now started raining again with scudding clouds...LN

Saturday 27th September

So the rain kept me awake most of the night and there was a 'bleep, bleep' that I thought was the rain bouncing off the balustrades on the bedroom terrace....wrong...went to the loo and realised that I'd left the film drive in last night and it was that that I was hearing....Unplugged and back to bed.  I tried going to sleep but not a chance....so read for a while....put the Kindle down...picked the Kindle up and into the world by about seven.

It was cold this morning...last night's fire was out and the bathroom was warm because of the radiators but I suppose walking around in summer PJ's wasn't conducive to the drop in temperature.  First job...light the fire, get coffee established and breakfast of poached egg on toast and ease myself gently into the day.  There was an offer of a bonfire at the schoolmasters but no chance of lighting it with the rain still pouring down.

Lay on the sofa in front of the fire and read until I decided that sleep was the better option and it was just after two when I came to.  I had the most vivid dreams about my son and grand-daughter and was quite disturbed when I woke up.  Played on the PC for a while until I realised that I'd used up the last of the logs so out to the little house for a refill and used the stuff from two years ago which burns so well.  I do have about three square meters of wood left from the previous years but I'm aware that as yet I've not had my wood supply.  I've mentioned it to Bekir and it's ordered but as of yet, no delivery date and they had there special celebrations at the beginning of October so need to work round that.

So wood in, supper was Weiner Schnitzel that I found in the freezer cut into fingers and served with tomato sauce....and a little of the red stuff.  Back to my book and onto the final chapter and another one bites the dust.

Quick run-down on the weather for the day...rain, rain, a hint of sun and more rain.....don't you love September.... Eight my time....time for chilling except that I haven't really burst into action today at all.  The bonfire is on for tomorrow should the weather pick up...I might be avoiding it and cancelling my student...the brain is on a close down mode...preparing for winter...LN

Sunday 28th September

The bonfire didn't happen.  The cats, dogs and everything else in the village had taken it apart so one of my first jobs was to tidy it up for the torching ceremony but the wind got up again and despite all of my efforts it's now scattered far and wide again.  Pretty good though....I got some super strength pegs and the washing was dry in quicksticks...back in, hung up and finished.

Breakfast this morning was a bacon and egg sandwich and I listened out for the bread wagon and was out there at eight fifteen.  I asked for unsliced, he said that it had all gone so sliced it was.  Thirty five pence for a load of good bread...are you listening UK.  I went out and dug over part of my vegetable garden but the wind was so strong and my heart wasn't really in it.  I did cut my pumpkin though and it is destined to spend the drying off period in the hallway to see if it will ripen in time for Halloween.  I shall carve my own specimen since I have an aversion to eating the damn stuff...I hate the smell, I hate the taste and despite all efforts of my neighbours to bring it to my table...they've failed miserably.

So back into the warmth of the house and into the hallway sitting in the sun reading until the eyes headed southwards and I nodded for a short time.  I didn't want to take too long about it...it means that my night-time sleep seems to be cut short by the amount of time I take up in the day.  The wind has at last calmed down...various things in the garden have found new homes so tomorrow I shall be returning them to their designated places but for tonight...it's supposed to pick up again so I'm leaving them where they are.  

I didn't go to my students, nor to the schoolmaster's bonfire...there were no jacket potatoes or fireworks...not worth venturing out for.  I was invited to the fish restaurant on Kardjali lake but again, I thought it would be too windy.  Trouble is...my house is so lovely sometimes it's hard to break away.

Lovely evening...calm as you like...I've got nothing to do.  I've brought the 'chair' in now that it's dried out and I'm trying it out at the desk.  It looks 'big' but I shall see....I've got new cushions on it and testing out how comfortable it will be.  Now down to the kitchen....I suppose I should find something for supper but after a breakfast and 'picking' or rather 'grazing' this afternoon...I think I should call it a day.  LN....I think some music is called for...LN

Monday 29th September

Six thirty start this morning and beat the mosque and the sun and was waiting for it to pop its little head over the mountain.  There was lots of mist hanging in the valleys and the wind had dropped from yesterday but it still had a nip in it.  Up it came and there wasn't a lot of red in it this morning....I seem to remember it's something to do with the amount of pollution in the air and I really must look it up.  So any way....just after seven and it was there and I suppose the next thing will be for the clock to 'fall back' so to speak and then we're definitely on the way to the end of the year and it really doesn't care thinking about.  I'd like to ask where this year has gone but some bright spark will tell me that it's gone the way of all the others....it must be because I'm getting older that it appears to go so quickly.

Breakfast at just after seven thirty....two bacon sandwiches.  I read for a while but it was too good to be inside so out I went to try to get the bonfire going and I appear to have been trying all day but didn't resort to anything more than paper and the odd plastic bottle.  It really wasn't a determined attempt.  Dug up the rest of the beetroot and cleared the bed but noticed that there were a lot of small ones that really hadn't come to much being in the shade of the plum tree and the rhubarb so I'm giving them another chance to make a name for themselves in the bed where the tomatoes were planted and as I usually say they have two choices....either they'll come to something or they won't.

So having made a start on the vegetable garden I carried on and most of it is now clear.  The cucumbers have gone and the ones that were trying desperately to come to something are in the field for the wildlife and the mini-cucumber have gone the same way.  I think because we had so much rain that my little cucumbers were little for one day and after that they just rocketed and weren't much use for pickling.  Had another attempt at the fire which failed miserably but tomorrow is another day.  Put a tenderloin of pork in the oven at six and added sweet and sour chilli sauce to it at about half past and a pan with some potato wedges.  Lit the fire but only used a couple of logs and the pump has kicked it and sent it round the radiators.  Supper was served at eight and demolished by eight twenty and the washing up can stay until tomorrow.....I'm going to see what films are on the Schoolmaster'd drive and settle in for the night.  

I've had a lovely day.....I wished it didn't take so long to clear the weeds though....bindweed is prevalent and the more you pull, the more appears even though some of the roots are massive.  Had my headscarf on to protect the ears from the cold wind but at one point I could have almost taken my light sweatshirt off.....LN....I'm off hunting for a film...I'm off to the cinema....LN

Tuesday 30th September

Last night was weird.  On FB last night there was a posting about a black eyed girl that was apparently haunting the local woods and this young girl sort of lodged in my brain.  It disturbed me and having lived in the area for a good few years of my life had never heard of it before and neither had any of my remaining relatives still living there.  So I watch a film from the Schoolmaster's drive, not as in car' before someone tells me that my eyesight is good and it was the The Pianist.  At first I thought it was 'The Piano' but no, it was the player and it was really good.  All about the survival of a Jewish concert pianist during the German occupation of Poland and if you get the chance, watch it.  So when I was shutting down the PC, I checked out FB and there she was again and I went to bed last night thinking about her.

Anyway...I didn't have peculiar dreams, woke up at seven and watched the sun and listened to the my man at the mosque and was up and at it with poached eggs on toast and the energy of ten which sadly dissipated as the day wore on.  The wildlife in the garden was worth capturing, the bonfire was lit and roared for a while, dug over a couple of beds getting rid of the weeds before they take purchase in the winter and started to plant bulbs which still are not planted.  I was butterflying round the garden...bit of this and then a bit of that and I've probably achieved a lot but not all in one spot and need to get out there again and orchestrate it all.  I put some beans into the slow cooker and will do something with them later.

Bed called at about three and I was out for an hour or so.  The windows and doors were open and maybe it was the fresh air that knocked me out.  Spotted the jay and there were about three woodpeckers knocking seven bells out of various trees around my garden and managed to catch a couple on camera....the rest of last night's pork is in the chili bean mixture and in the oven and it smells good.  The rest of the bean mixture will get frozen and probably thrown out next June...or maybe I'll use it...who can say.

Supper is ready so I'm winding down.  I have a little glass of muscatel on the go...I felt like something with a little body tonight and it's the best I can do.  Photos are mainly of the wildlife today...enjoy...LN