Wednesday 1st October

Beautiful start to the morning but boy was it cold.  I shall have to think about bringing in the pot plants from the terrace into the little house if it carries on like this.  It was white over but only a light frost so far.  Last night's film....David Nash....I've missed out on quite a few of the releases being here....very enjoyable and thought worthy...

Washed up last night's dishes and bacon sandwich served up with brown sauce at approximately eight this morning.  The Librarian phoned and said that she had the 'sniffles' and if I wanted to call off my visit today she would quite understand.  Now most mornings I have the sniffles....I've felt like I was going or coming down with a cold but nothing develops so I thought I'd risk it.  Back on the PC and found an interesting site about birth charts and found that I have Sagittarius as my ascendant and Jupiter in Libra in my tenth house...and now I'm fully enthralled but thank goodness I have my Sun in Aquarius.  I tried to get to grips with this years ago and have a book that's supposed to give me the Empirical Tables...so much simpler now...I'll leave it until I have a few days to spare...ie winter time.

So in The Beast and giving it a run so to speak and it hasn't been out since it came back from the hospital (read garage).  Started like a dream, stopped off on the way to get spicy sausage and cheese bread for lunch and over there for about eleven.  We played on the computer and I did her a training run in posting pictures to FB and recording her CDs on to the PC.  Full training documentation completed and for those of you who know me....it was fully formatted...haha.  We had lunch, turned off the computer and sat out in the sun chewing over the fat and stuff and had a really pleasant afternoon.  She did have the sneezes though and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Hope for just before seven and Semile was walking his cows back home.  I asked him to wait and gave him the framed photos of his wife and sister in law, one for each of them, taken at the wedding in Kardjali.  Dentist in the morning at eleven but Beauty has to go in for winter tyre change tomorrow before that and I shall spend time with my student's mother in the garage...we haven't spent much time with each other lately.  No supper for me...I'm stuffed from lunch and I feel a sneeze coming on....NOOOO...LN

Pictures have to follow...you can't post pictures on the first posting of the month so here you go....

Thursday 2nd October

Six thirty start and everything dark and dreary.  There was a glimmer in the Eastern sky and that was about it.  Down for coffee, on to the PC for a while of nonsense and decided to go down and get more coffee and breakfast....and the electricity went off.  I was able to boil the kettle for the coffee using the gas ring on the cooker but toast was out of the question so it was a spread cheese sandwich which filled the gap.  Into the shower and hair washed...I had my dentist this morning and nothing like fresh hair to make it more comfortable for him and maybe he would be a little gentler....

I got there for eleven as per my instructions and there was a lot of coming and goings and I eventually got in there for about eleven twenty.  I'd taken my Kindle with me so there was no danger of getting bored and into the chair and it was...let battle commence.  He showed me a new piece of kit that he has and it appears to have cost lots of money.  I think it magnifies everything so that he can do detailed work, puts it up on his monitor in the surgery so that he can see what he's doing without looking into your mouth and videos it.  I did make the point that I don't want to see any of my treatment on FB....   and me squeezing his leg to lessen the pain....   Today's treatment was to get out the old post from the crown, replace it with new and he's cemented it in until Friday of next week.  They have holidays for the beginning of next and I appear to have the next available appointment and the final instalment is the following Monday when I shall have the new crown fitted.

Down to the garage...I have my winter tyres fitted and my brakes checked over.  Over to my student's parent's shop and my student was in there and proudly showed me his new kit for the local football team.  Unfortunately he is a tall boy so the bottoms were mid calf and I asked if they had a bigger size but bigger size means...big all over so not cool.

Back home for four more or less....bought a chicken in Djebel and supper was chicken with onions and potatoes and my neighbour has just delivered some pancakes so I might fry a couple off and have them with some fig jam that I was given today.  No photos tonight....it's been more a day of activity but I promise to get some of the surgery next time I'm there just to prove that it's not out of the ark.  Trouble is though, they used much different products than I'm used to including lemon juice as an antiseptic...and I can still taste one of them now...LN...it's film time....I need to relax...LN

Friday 3rd October

Five thirty start and as black as you like...no moon, no stars and me and a cup of coffee and the Kindle.  Gradually got lighter though and the sun this morning although slow to rise was magic when it did.  So much so that a dropped a couple of photos onto FB this morning.  I really can't get over how different the mornings are from each other....and it's just a matter of catching the sunrise if there is one...about right....And I still think about how the Egyptians must have thought about it all those years ago....lifeblood.

So out of bed and doing 'stuff' this morning and sat waiting for the Librarian to give me the heads up on when her documentation would be complete from the bank and we'd arranged to meet in Djebel.  I got there for about twelve and into Immigration and new cards for five years were issued, the girls were quite happy in there and I said in Bulgarian, 'see you in five years' but unfortunately I have to go back next October...the Bulgarian permit has to run concurrently with the British Passport and mine expires October of next year.  Into the phone shop and I got them to change the menu on the Librarian's phone to English so that she can have a reasonable chance of reading texts and into our cheapie shop we went.  I got a super Tradewind sailing jacket for six leva which will be a reserve for when I have visitors over and the weather changes quickly, another couple of  sweaters for me and two more large pillow cases for thirteen leva...and that's about six pounds in total.  The Librarian managed to pick up about five sweaters for about the same price....Friday is a good day.  Over to the Pizza shop and three slices of the said meal and a couple of bottles of water for five leva...just over two pounds and now you know why we are here....well one of the reasons.  We did Kaufland, Billa and Lidl and topped up with goodies.  My booze box is up to date and I'm raising a 'Rocket Fuel' for my ex mother in law tonight just because I feel like it.  I bought a whole fillet of steak and my neighbour has been the recipient of one of the slices of it and some mushrooms that she was really grateful for.  I've had five children round tonight for sweets since it's the start of their holiday and I joked with my Avatar saying that I wanted some sweets too and Haciber insisted on giving me some and a couple of Mekitzi....like pancakes but with yeast to add to my collection.  I've had eight today and they're freezer bound.

Cold chicken supper with mayo tonight since I was too lazy to cook....I lit the fire as soon as I got in this afternoon and the house is toasty and we've had a super day in Kardjali.  Everything we wanted to achieve we achieved and bargains to boot.  LN....into my book tonight and I won't be too late to bed.  The rest of the village children will be round tomorrow collecting sweets...it's their day....LN

Saturday 4th October

Funny weather today.  Started off pretty cloudy and then it appeared to be getting lighter so I got some washing underway and was ready to peg it out by just after nine.  There was something of a breeze but but by twelve it was looking like rain so I brought it in to go on the clothes airer in the bathroom and then the sun came out but I thought bugger it, I'd lit the fire so that it would dry if it had rained.  

Breakfast was toast with fruits of the forest jam and I looked in the fridge and thought it was about time I sorted it out and defrosted it.  Turned off the power and now out to the garden to get rid of the kitchen rubbish now that the washing was in, threw out several bits of cheese and didn't the cats have a field day this afternoon.  I didn't resort to the hairdryer this time...I left it for about and hour or so and dug up some more dandelions that seem to get big over night, checked on the replanted beetroot and about half of them have their leaves skywards and not dragging on the ground....they live to grow another day....So back to the fridge.  I took out my biggest carving knife, moved the small table into the kitchen so that I could sit on it and hack away and hack away I did.  If you judge it just right you can get some really big chunks off it but the only obstacle is the drip tray under the ice box.  In fact it's a rubbish fridge.  I might have to invest in a self thawing one...I really hate this job.  Eventually it was finished....the ice lumps I put into the outside sink and it's still there now, it's thoroughly cleaned out and there appears to be little left in it.  Maybe there was more these than I remembered and I'm down to some cheese triangles, smelly cheese but fresh from Lidl and some Cheddar slices for toasted sandwiches and it's a pity my sandwich maker dropped on the flour and is no longer serviceable.

Read in the sun for most of the afternoon and had a bit of a picky afternoon.  No children round today for their sweets but they better hurry up...I've had a bit of a go at them.  The temperature is dropping now but the fire is ticking along nicely.....the whole house is warm.  I'm about to go and be creative with the remains of the cold chicken....and maybe a little beer tonight..  Student tomorrow...I did suggest that I leave them to it since it's their holiday and they appear to have lots of guests but by popular decision that confirmed that they would like me as their guest tomorrow.....LN....I think the food will be exceptional tomorrow....LN

Sunday 5th October

Five thirty start and I know I shall be absolutely knacked by later on and I was but hopefully I'll catch up tonight.  Breakfast was toast...only a glimmer of dawn this morning and even less as the day wore on.  There has been a chill in the air all day and it was sweater, body warmer and boots day today.  Walked the garden, took a few photos back in for toast and jam, on to the PC for my daily sudoku and ready for the off to my students at about ten fifteen.  As I was leaving I noticed Haciber heading towards my Avatar's house and realised that they were all in their Sunday best...they were off to vote so I backed the car up and gave them a lift to the polling station.  I did have a hug with my Avatar, here grand-daughter has gone to live in Germany and now she's all on her lonesome for the winter....and she's sad.

Got out of the car and went into the polling station with them and had the Byram greeting from one of the local lads as respect for the older person.  I also got a hug from him too and he had on aftershave which I noticed.  I'd got the camera out to capture the polling station but didn't trespass and go in there...it's not what I do and the police were on guard against any transgressions.  So he said that he wanted to straighten out his hair before I took it.  I went over and said that he'd got one hair out of place and I put it right for him which was rather impossible since it was only about a quarter of an inch all over.....we jest.  A little banter with the others and then back in the car and into Djebel.

I greeted the grand-father with the Byram greeting for the aged...I'd found someone older than me....and they had cousins who visited that worked in Sweden arriving with the bag of meat since they obviously slaughtered an animal.  Lots of food for lunch and grand-father was in fine form but very sad that he returns to Turkey this evening.  We sat and chatted this afternoon, the rest of the family went off to vote in dribs and drabs leaving only my student who couldn't decide whether she wanted to or not and I'm hoping did manage to.

Home for four thirty, lit the fire, I've eaten far too much and I'm suffering for my enforced gluttony....I've just had visitors...and have been invited to another wedding ...it's roll out the English for any event...and I love it.  No supper for me....and I'm drinking only tonic minus the gin tonight....lunch is still lingering in the upper tracts and I'm trying to force it down...LN

Monday 6th October

Four o'clock start so the theory that without a nap yesterday I should be able to go through until seven at least...tosh!!  Read until six and played Angry Birds for a while....there wasn't an ounce of sleep in me.  The dawn was particularly stunning this morning...it didn't look like it was going to do much and suddenly I noticed the reflection in the hall windows as I sat at my desk and so out with both cameras.  

Washed up from last night, eating breakfast at eight...two poached eggs on toast and I've got the whole day ahead of me.  The intention was to tidy round a bit but instead I looked at the windows and all downstairs inside and out are now sparkling.  I sorted out the window ledges and took the bottle brush plant out of the plant pot and yes, there was another thing growing in the same pot and so that's been put under the wall to see if it does anything and the bottle brush is repotted.  Planted up the geraniums and started digging out more dandelions from the excuse for a lawn and waited for it to dry out a little so that I could get the lawn mower into action.  

What a performance to get it to start.  I ended up taking out the filter and banging it a bit and eventually it kicked in.  I'd done the top by the terraces and it started spitting with rain.....I carried on and managed to do the mound under the tree but it gave up on me so I'm thinking I need to get it serviced and to get the fire going I resorted to a fire lighter and some old wood...not my day....  

Barbara Streisand singing her little heart out tonight.....not feeling like much food....still not right from yesterday.  Eight my time....time to put this time filler to bed and take out my Kindle...my other time filler especially at silly o'clock in the morning.  Guests for lunch tomorrow ....better think about what I'm serving up and whether I need to get into Djebel at the crack of... LN...I'm into planning mode...LN

Tuesday 7th October

So reasonable start this morning and it's been a fun packed day.  I played around in the garden and potted up some of the honeysuckle that had rooted, moved the pinks from the pot into the garden for the winter and potted up three little evergreens that I bought from Kaufland and they're sitting by the front door.  I might have to put some shiny balls on them if they manage to grow some for that holiday that comes round about the 25th of some future month.

Didn't want to get the hoover going...you know what it's like but managed to do downstairs and starting on the top floor when it told me that the filter was blocked, the bag was full and there was nothing to do but empty it and wait.  I left it plugged in while I did the necessary and about an hour later the thing struck up....and I unplugged it...the mood had gone.

I realised that I had no milk so headed into Djebel...not that I take it but guests do.  I also bought cheese, olives and grapes and those didn't see the light of day.  Guests arrived at 1.15 and their original time of arrival had been documented at 2.00 so I was working my little socks off so to speak to get everything in the oven so I could sit with them.  Everything was in the oven and waiting for serving by two five so my timing was right...there's was wrong.  Sad news...the Schoolmaster's dog has gone missing and they've searched everywhere and nowhere to be found.  We're now thinking that a bird of prey has had it...it got fed so why should it wander off.

Lunch was exceptional for me...chicken wings, sweet and sour pork with pineapple, Hasselback potatoes and potatoes with onions and red cabbage and before some smart a** asks how much...free to a good home...We sat in the garden after lunch, the washing up is still waiting and it can wait.  Schoolmaster departed around four and the others left around six fifteen.  Lovely couple...Danish.

Fire lit....moon out....red on the go...supper is the remains of lunch....nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so I'm pottering in the garden if the weather is good.  LN....a super chilled day....LN

Wednesday 8th October

Just before seven start this morning and where has the rest of the day gone?  Quite a busy day.

Mushroom hunt this morning having found a most weird specimen growing in the top of the lawn nearest the house and it got me thinking about what else was in the garden.  Of course my best mushroom book is in the UK and it is too much like hard work to Google the rest since I'm not much into eating the beasties anyway,  Phone call this morning from Bekir saying that my wood was on its way.  He'd told them to bring the lorry in the drive so out with the cars and over to Djebel to get some money out of the cash point and await the delivery.  It eventually arrived at just after twelve and it was fully unloaded and they'd left by one.  I have my winter wood.

Played out in the garden and cleared the weeds from the terrace garden behind the workshop, swept up the leaves from the garage now that both cars are near to the house, cooked spicy sausage in tomatoes, chilli and the remainder of the pineapple and made a delivery to my Avatar,  She'll let me know tomorrow how she found it. Fell asleep in the chair after supper and just woken up now so that's why the blog's late so I'll leave you with pictures...I'm off to bed...LN

Thursday 9th October

Six thirty start and the man from the mosque was singing his little heart out but fortunately the windows and door to the balcony was closed so it was a gentle murmuring.  Down for coffee, back to bed, sunrise this morning was just after seven thirty and it was down hill from there.  

I dressed for gardening but had to change my sweater as the temperature notched up.  It was hot, hot, hot out there and I cleared some of the weeks from the frog garden ready to get the bulbs in but I think I have to be a little more determined about it.  I still see the tobacco and the zinnia flowering and just can't pull them up to make space for the bulbs....maybe I'll save them for another couple of weeks.

Tuna and mayo for lunch but I'd gone off the idea more or less as soon as I'd started it.....I had a really tired spell come over me at about four thirty and thought I might get my head down but I worked through it.  Got up and lit the fire and the house is now as toasty as can be.  I got a couple of good logs on it and the pump was going non-stop for about an hour or so and all the radiators were hot from top to bottom.  I think I'm ticking over at about twenty two which is not hot in some people's books but for me is OK.

Delivered olives that I'd bought for when my guests were here but they never got used, to my Avatar and some excess grapes.  I can only eat so many of them.  My visit was to ascertain what time I was taking her in in the morning but she's going in with my other neighbour on the nine o' clock bus and I'm pleased that she is.  It makes her more independent.  I've got the dentist tomorrow at eleven and I've warned her that I'll look out for two bewildered women looking at the cash point and banging it furiously...I'm not sure they know what they're doing but they'll learn.

Finished my detective series and I think there are no more since the guy has gone on to the great beyond.  I've managed to find some more of his books with another hero....I'll let you know.  It's pretty slow in the first but I reckon he's setting the scene.  No supper for me....tuna is sitting quite heavily...a little red to wash it down and at eight my time more or less I might be making my way to my virginal couch just to stretch out and relax.  LN....no wood chopped, no bulbs planted but no worries...LN

Thursday continued

Look what I just spotted....LN

Friday 10th October

Silly five o'clock start so read for a while and as is the norm now...no sleep in me.  Not much to do this morning until the dentist at eleven so played around on the PC and generally messed around until nine thirty and decided it was time to get into gear, have a shower but the hair wash could wait.  

Remembered to pick up my grand-daughter's birthday card to get it into the post, stopped off at the rubbish container in Djebel to drop of stuff that I couldn't burn and joined the queue in the post office.  The queue was going well and the main guy was dealing with it and his assistant was stocktaking so it seemed until he hit a snag.  There was an old man wanting to pay something, I think he confirmed the wrong name, they were trying to get his telephone number out of him and if he's anything like me...it's something that you don't automatically remember.  Anyway...main guy saw me waiting and I think that the challenge of accepting my letter was far less daunting that obtaining the old guys telephone number so he told me to move over to one of the other counters, he delegated the problem to his assistant and two leva and thirty later I was leaving the post office clutching my receipt of postage.  Down to the garage to drop of the beer bottles so that they can fill them with oil and recycle them....I was almost ashamed at how many their were but I've had guests and been saving them for a while...my story and I'm sticking to it.

Over to the dentist and I really wish that they would not say eleven when they know it's going to be eleven twenty.  Fortunately I'd taken my Kindle so I had something to do while I waited and I was called in, sat in the chair and it was all go.  He's such a good dentist but it amazes me  how much on their hands they need to get in to get the job done.  So what has been done?  A new post has been installed and the stump created to take the crown.  On Monday I go back for an impression to be taken and on Wednesday it's going to be fitted.  His attention to detail is superb, his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired and there's lots of scrambling for different tools but you can't fault the work.  I did take photographs of the work but too many of them showed good shots of the inside of my nasal passages so I decline from publishing.  Not a pretty sight.

Back home and sat in the stair well reading until the eyes decided to move south wards so I moved onto the activity centre so called because there's not much when I hit it and nodded off for an hour or so.  Four o'clock and Gouldjan arrived to pick up a blouse that I'd bought her and somehow I'd retain possession and another jumper that I thought would suit her.  

Off she went and I collected the last of the sweet peas from the garden leaving the pods to grow on....lovely night and I shall be looking out for that moon again later....it could be just as spectacular as last nights.  Kitchen bound and haven't a clue what I fancy so I'm on the hunt....LN...I'll photograph it for tomorrow if it's worth photographing...LN

Saturday 11th October

Silly three o'clock start so read until five and then got my head down again until seven.  I had this horrible dream where I was pulling this cart round a supermarket and only later did I realise that my handbag was in the cart and my purse was missing.  It left me a little paranoid today out shopping or is it a warning to take car of my money?

Breakfast was a bacon sandwich and then it was wash down and over to my student's home to pick her and her father up for a shopping trip to Kardjali.  Over to Mania my cheepie shop but there was nothing for them but I managed to pick up six meters of material to cover some of my furniture, other material for cushion covers and a sweater cardigan for six leva.  Now I've talked to my student about my bargains but she didn't really believe me I don't think but she saw it first hand today.  Father didn't find anything but maybe next time.  

We went to the shoe shops to try to get her some to see her through the winter...she is only a size 35 so we had great problems and found...nothing.  There was a pair of 36's that I liked but she said they were just too big.  Over to the restaurant in the square and we had beef wraps for lunch in pita.....I had mine with water the others with ayran...the local yogurt drink.  Went into Kaufland and bought some chicken that I thought were wings but not really sure what it is.  It's in the freezer and will be identified one day.  Conversations with various Facebook friends and arrangements set up for tomorrow....it's Dushinkovo day.  I've just phoned the Librarian and yes she is up for it along with the Schoolmaster and his Ms.....

Did the lawns today and I have stripes.  Only took a couple of hours but it's a couple of hours of hard slog.  The beer came out at the end and it hasn't gone away again yet....Chicken into the oven with a jacket and it smells like it's almost there....so tomorrow we have the Dushinkovo day and I have a houseful of guests plus whoever else turns up because it is our village day...LN...I need an early night..None many photos today but I'll make up for it tomorrow.....LN

Sunday 12th October

So three thirty start and my little brain was going ten to the dozen.  It's all to do with the wood and no men to cut it since they are busy with the roof and other things at the schoolmasters.  The original plan was that they would be finished and back to me by now...it's not happened...and I can't get my cars into the garage so it looks like UK is out of the question.

Having said that....we've had a super day today.  It was my village fete and day where they send out prayers at the mosque, feed everyone rice and meat and there are several stalls selling barbecued chicken, lamb and goat.  The librarian came round this morning along with the schoolmaster and his Ms and we set off for the village....did the few market stalls and found a table and were served beer until we were ready to order food.  A couple of beers later I ordered goat and chicken from Semile and Bekir was doing the business side and working out the best cuts for us and we paid over the fifty leva for a kilo of each.  So we ordered bread and sat down to pick at the whole leg of goat but we were all full as ticks so I went back and told Semile that we couldn't manage the lamb and a refund was immediately produced.  There were a few jokes going around but as he said...I am his neighbour and there are no quibbles between neighbours.

Went on to the wrestling ring after the food and the drinks and we watched the youngsters compete against each other for the shoulders down and it was over.  Apparently it is a recognised sport here in the south that I didn't know about but the piece de resistance was a couple of very muscular lads that worked very hard until one was the eventual winner.  It's one strike and you're out.... I think the best of three would have been more of a contest.

Home for five...the Librarian brought round the sofa that he had borrowed for the summer and it's now sitting in the lounge.  Tomorrow is the day for measuring up if I have enough material for it from the lot I got from my cheapie shop...I shall have to see.  Cold chicken and may for supper with a little mastica...almost eight my time and I shan't be late to bed tonight.  I have the dentist in the morning....an impression before I get the crown.....LN....I'm going to look for a film worth investing my time it...LN

Monday 13th October

Silly o'clock start again but eventually got back to sleep and was there until seven thirty more or less....  Don't know why...there's a few things rattling around but it will sort itself out eventually.  Dentist and impressions taken for my crown and I had to sit for five minutes while the stuff went off.  We selected the colour of the crown together...the dentist, his nurse and myself and settled on the one that was to be inserted.  Final appointment made and final bill calculated...230 lev for the whole works and that's four visits and the crown is 150 lev.  I'm very happy with that.

I remembered that I was to pick up Gouldjan after my visit to the dentist so the old brain is still kicking in when it matters so into the car by ten thirty after chatting to my Avatar for a telephone number for the man that cut my wood up last year.  As it happened, finished at the dentist, picked up Gouldjan, set off for Kardjali, realised that I hadn't made contact with my wood chopper and back we went to Djebel.  As it worked out the wife of the man worked at the school and as we approached the school she came out of the building so contact has been made.  

Off to Djebel and we met up with Gouldjan's boyfriend, had lunch in a cantina and I decided to have what he was having not realising that it was a stew made of aubergines and beef.  The beef was ok...the aubergines I've never been a fan of but hey...three of us had lunch for under four pounds.

They went off to visit estate agents...I went to my cheap shop and bought a pillowcase for my huge pillows and then drove round to the pillow shop and got two more biggies for the third bedroom and two smaller ones for the lounge.  There will be no more...I am complete...
Stopped off at Lidl and got some baked beans that were on offer, back to Djebel and into my student's mum's shop but she was busy but my student arrived home from school and proudly told me that he had got a six in his English...good boy...result.

Back home beautiful sunset.....not much on my agenda for tomorrow but I came across a word that I'd forgotten about and my stairwell is now called 'The Atrium' and tomorrow I shall create a sign somehow to rename the area until I remember its name....that comes of being old.  No supper...lunch is still sitting heavy and it maybe something to do with the chocolates I finished earlier.....the two gin and tonics that fell straight out of the bottle into my glass and the warmth of fire that is slowly burning....LN......I'm back to my book and maybe a search for supper.....LN

Tuesday 14th October

Seven start this morning and had a wonderful FB conversation with someone I used to work with a long time ago,,,I gave Feedback...she responded positively...age has it's advantages...

So today was a blank canvas.  I had the idea I should to and visit the Librarian and do her market but I put that aside and chilled.  Several minutes wasted on FB...but that is the beast and eventually settled down in my new Atruim...to read my Kindle...another waste of time.  The eyeballs went skywards and the lids downwards as you can expect and I eventually rallied round at two thirty.  My tummy was rumbling and I realised that nothing had gone through my intestinal tract since last night so I ate a packet of biscuits...yes...all of them.

The afternoon saw me moving my internal furniture outside, giving it a coat of anti-munchers and making it more amenable to guest.  I've always felt that the chairs in the salon were not long enough in the seat department making it difficult to get comfortable.  The chairs are now extended.  I took them out..dismantled a pallet, sawed the wood to the appropriate length, hammered the wood home and now all I have to do is make the cushions to match the newly formed seed pads.  It's only take me three years to get round to it but hey...tova e Bulgaria.

Everything back in place...furniture re-jigged to make it cool for the winter...tomorrow is a day of creativity to make the cushions to tie it all together...I've imagined it...it will happen.

No contact from my man with the chainsaw...maybe I have to try another tack/  About to go and tidy up outside....there are are nails and crud everywhere....LN....I'm almost ready for the winter...LN

Wednesday 15th October

Well what a funny day today.  The weather was beautiful until round about four thirty when the clouds started rolling in.

Didn't do much this morning.....I was still playing on the computer until about ten but managed to get a load of washing in and pegged out in quicksticks.  Washed up from last night....I'd cooked fish fingers, rosti potatoes and peas and hadn't bothered to tidy the kitchen but only me so no one to chew me off about it.  Not much into breakfast since it was about nine by the time I served up and went out to try to get the bonfire going but to no avail.  It really needs taking apart and the ash wheelbarrowed to the bottom of the garden but it's a job for another day.  Picked up the garden fork and started on the tomb gardens and removing the weeds from under the new long wall.  Boy what a job.  I did about three hours on it, on and off and eventually managed most of it but it was at that point that the weather changed so I came in after I'd taken the photos of the planes on their new flight path.  Not usual to come over but they must have been avoiding the storm

First clap of thunder has just struck so I won't belong with this update.  I'm off to say goodbye to the Schoolmaster and his ladylove tonight in one of his favourite restaurants...they are returning to the UK on Saturday and no I shan't be going with them.  My wood is still uncut in the yard, the cars are still out of the garage and I can't really leave for the UK for a couple of weeks unprepared for the winter.  So another time.

Another couple of bangs and flashes.....let's get the pictures posted and the machine to bed....LN...party time...LN

Thursday 16th October

Woke up this morning with my brain pretty addled...the 'Last Supper' was OK...somehow I got the worst meal of the table and paid the same as everybody else....and I was only drinking water and orange juice...the car was sitting outside and it's zero tolerance here.

As I said ...brain going ten to the dozen and has been for the last few days.  I know what's at the root of it but it's not for discussion here.  So I didn't bother with breakfast but I was in the car and over to my student's mum's shop for a chat and to put the world to rights and then to the cash point to take out the money for my crown.  I was early for the dentist and he's at last beginning to appreciate the British sense of humour.  I teased the dental nurse telling her that I no longer understood Bulgarian and that she had to communicate with me in English and that lasted for about thirty seconds.  She asked me if the renovations on my house was complete but I explained that I had two in one garden and that the one was more of less there but the other needed love and attention.  I've invited her over...I can't describe what I have.  

Now for my crown and it's my crowning glory.  He put it on for a test run and it was such a good fit that he couldn't get it off to apply the fixative.  He huffed and he puffed and eventually had to apply mechanical aids to remove it.  And so to the fixative...he said that it would hurt a little, he put it in place and I had to sit for five minutes while it went off so I got out my Kindle and read for a while.  Back he came, adjusted the bite and I have never had something feel so natural....he is so good.  Unfortunately the next one to it is an old crown as well so that's being done next.....just to finish the job.

So back to my student's mum's shop to show her my new tooth and we sat around for a while discussing all sorts of topics.  My phone went and I handed it to her since it was a Bulgarian conversation and it was my Policeman asking if he could come and cut my wood....and he did.  I rushed home and got there just before him...it's now down to manageable size, the burnable that could be stacked is stacked...the rest is in the workshop /some in the garage and yet more still in the yard covered with polythene in case it rains tonight but the job is done.

I'm absolutely knacked...I've moved about six cubits and just got the rest to finish off in the morning.  The Policeman's son might be down tomorrow to splice what's left so that that can be stacked to...we'll wait and see.  Started to fix up a light into the workshop but the evening got the better of me...and tomorrow is another day.  Nothing planned for tomorrow.....I can get up to lots of practical or lovely stuff...LN

Saturday 18th October

Sorry for last night....I made an outside light that when I plugged it into my kitchen to test it blew the house electrics so to speak.  I contacted my Bekir who was otherwise engaged and didn't turn up until five this evening smelling of a good day out with five other guys,  Not sure he should have been sorting out electrical cables but I was ready with the broom to sweep up the ashes...Remsir's husband chopped up my wood into stackable pieces after lunch and some of it was stacked this afternoon...  

So last night was spent with night lights and squinting at my Kindle and this morning I worked on the Kindle with Angry Birds until the sun came up.  I had blown the power supply and I'd checked the out side electricity supply in the fail safe mode but nothing.  So as I said....out with the candles so to speak and into bed at an extraordinarily early hour and back to two night lights and my Kindle in bed.

Morning broke and out with the night lights again and eventually the sun popped its little head up and I was able to see the kettle, and the coffee jar.  I realised after  waking up eventually that I'd washed up and put the clean tea spoons in the glass of wine that I'd put aside  earlier.  

Bekir phoned at eight this morning and I wasn't sure if he was making it to my house before or after he'd been to Kardjali and as the day wore on it was obvious... he arrived at five with five mates after spending time in Kardjali and the Dhebel fete.    So one with a screwdriver and five looking on, Bekir's valued impression was that the symptoms go away when you go to the dentist or doctor.  I'm taking that he could find noting wrong with the wiring...I only know that I had no power to the house at all.....and now I do...it's magic...haha ...

Served up coffee for the men and their friends...I asked them they wanted the bill...and they laughed.  I have and outside light courtesy of Belir...Sally was out in my garden smelling the Lavender so I had to present him with one of my lavender bags and said to give it to his wife...he said that he would keep it in his pocket....I guess he liked it so I had to give one to Mrs Bekir as well...fair's fair....

The Librarian came over today...we were supposed to be going into Kardjali but without my electrics installed I was loathed to go any where....we had a really lovely day talking nothing in  particular....result...

So power on and a light fixture to prove it...Supper was a fillet steak sandwich with onions that went down very well.  So pleased to be back on line...

Sunday 19th October

Happy Birthday to my departed dad today....see I remembered...xxx

Silly night's sleep and at four I was reading and at seven I was back off to sleep again until eight....and the moon was more or less only just up in the east.  I've had a lovely day with the family today...chicken for lunch and the father went off to a wedding at eleven thirty this morning and I'm off to one at five this afternoon.  Not sure if it's at the same place and I might be saying hello to him in passing.  Home for two thirty from the family and hairwashed and just about ready to set sail for the autobus to take us there.  It's a five o'clock departure and I'm going with the rest of the Babas.

This might be all the update there is for today...it depends if it's over in quicksticks or a dancing until midnight affair but us ladies only drink Fanta or water while the men imbibe....doesn't seem fair really but that's BG for you socially with the locals.  So just go my nails to do.  I'll remember to take my camera to record a few moments of the locals on a social occasion...

LN...just got my nails to do and ready to party.....tomorrow is earmarked for getting the rest of the wood in the barn...nice to have a plan...LN

Monday 20th October

What a late night it was....poor Haceber was champing at the bit and couldn't understand why the coach couldn't just go back to my village and leave the rest.  She went outside and I keep pretty near to the coach driver knowing that he was my best bet.  It was a good wedding.  Unfortunately none of the rest of the table wanted to dance the night away so I sat and watched the others.  My contact with the electricity board wanted to involve me in one of these chain dances that go round the room but you have to know the steps and while I can do it on my own and know the moves...when you are the only English person there you sort of stand out a little.  Quite a  good arrangement at this venue.  There was television coverage of the arrival of the bride, groom and entourage so you could see what was happening before they climbed the steps and joined the rest of us.  I sat by Remsier whose husband chopped my wood for me and she was updating me on who belonged to which Baba...As I've said before, it's knowing the family connections with the children and their wives but a lot was sorted out last night.

So home just before one in the morning.  We got to Djebel on the coach and there was a mini-bus to drop me off at the door.  A quick brandy and hot water with some sugar in it last night.  It was cold and the coach didn't put any heating on and everyone was complaining but not to the man in charge of the controls.  Ah well.  So I read for a while and eventually got my head down at about two and woke up this morning at eight.  There were a few clouds about but they soon burnt off and what a beautiful day it's been

I started off by stacking more of the cut wood and came in for breakfast at eleven and decided that a bacon sandwich or rather two bacon sandwiches would hit the spot.  I sat reading while I was eating them and worked up the enthusiasm to get out there again.  As it was I changed the playground.  I'd looked at the new workshop garden and knew that there was a polythene mine lying buried.   It is no more but it was hard work lifting it and goodness only knows why they buried it in the first place.  I also hit a concrete lintel and that's now edging the garden created under the wall and I've put in some lavender, a clematis that's sat in a bucket for three years and some honeysuckle.  We shall see what we shall see.  So back in for another read in the sun and nodded for an hour or so but then straight back to it.  Gathered up the polythene, cleaned out the bonfire, set fire to it and managed to get rid of the weeds that were clogging it up.  That's the beauty of living out here...no neighbours interfering.

Lovely sunset....I managed to get a few more barrow loads of logs stacked and covered up the remainder with polythene...and tomorrow should see the task finished.  My next job is to tackle the wood pile that's accumulated...it has to go and on that note...LN....I have a hunger that I'm not sure what I need to satisfy it...I'm off to the kitchen...LN

Tuesday 21st October

What a night...I was in bed by about nine and read for a while but I was awake at four thirty and read after that.  Not much sleep in me so on to the computer and sorted out emails and the like.  Breakfasted at eight, by nine I was zonked.  I read again but had to go back to bed and slept until twelve.  Now I know I've been stressed out for a couple of weeks, moved loads of wood but I've not felt so bad in ages but the sleep did the job.  Back to it this afternoon...all my wood away, the debris is sorted and the Beast is back in the garage.

Didn't come in until seven twenty this evening.  Cleared the drive after putting the wood away and had a bonfire with all the crap that that entails.  It can snow tomorrow...I'm ready.  The bonfire is still burning....

Tonight's supper was fillet steak with onions and a couple of fried eggs and I'm concentrating on the wine box and hoping that it lasts out the night.  It's doing a good job so far.  Jacques Lousier is belting out this evening whilst I sit typing this stuff... and as the wine takes over the mood becomes more chilled...LN...I have nothing to do, nowhere to go tomorrow....LN

Wednesday 22nd October

Six thirty start so getting better.  I tried to get my head down again but there was a disturbance with dogs so it was coffee time for me.  Something sets them off...it might be other stray dogs on their territory so it's not too much of a problem when they kick off but I do love it when they start and sing along with the mosque....I wonder if the hojja knows that he has such an appreciative audience at that time in the morning...

Grey start to the day and it didn't really clear until lunchtime.  I notice that the last time I lit the fire that there was some smoke in the wet room so I got the pipes out, cleaned out the entry point and lit the fire to see if I'd managed to fix the problem.  It's not so bad as it was but I think it needs a little more attention before the temperature really drops.  It's been about twenty degrees in the house today and with just a small fire ticking over, not a bad result.  Didn't do much else today apart from sweep through and clean the bathroom tiles where the smoke had settled on them and read my book.  It was a cold wind today and I had the intention of going out there and chopping some of the small wood for kindling but when a couple of fairly hefty polythene buckets skittered across the yard, I rethought the plan.  I phoned the garage this morning.  Apparently there is going to be a witch hunt for vehicles with their lights pointing in the wrong direction giving you fifty kilometres to find a garage and have them fixed so I asked them to order me some in so that I don't get fined.

Put the Kindle on the computer and deleted all the read books and printed out the listings for another three authors.  I do like to get into a series and do this to make sure that I read them in order....Essential if there is a continuing story line....and the new guy is Dexter.....  Just had a visit from my Avatar and Haciber.  I really should buy some chocolates to give them which is normal when anyone visits.  The trouble is I tend to eat what's in the house so don't buy them but it's on the list for tomorrow.  So what did they want?  I've been invited for lunch tomorrow at Haciber's house....and such a nice thought.  Looks like I'll be in to Kardjali early to make sure I get back for twelve thirty.  

Early supper for me.  I put in a jacket potato and found an apple lingering so stuck it in the over after coring it, adding some sultanas, sugar and honey and put that in the oven with the potato.  Comfort food at it's best.  So seven twenty my time and ready to cosy up with my new author....it's got much colder tonight and snow is threatened for the weekend.....I'll keep you informed...LN

Thursday 23rd October

Happy Birthday to my oldest cousin in Australia...hope you have a brilliant day with your loving family....

What a night, what a day.  Torrential rain most of the night that woke me up and things skittering everywhere.  I ventured out at eight this morning and rescued the sunbed that was edging its way along towards the new wall and the flowerbeds and moved it to the new workshop terrace where it was more sheltered.  It knocked over benches, I found the plastic buckets against the front wall and still it lashed down.  I did put a photo on Facebook of my view from the desk...closely followed by a pickie of my breakfast.  

I heard the bread van toot it's horn so I set off with a raincoat on and met Haciber on her way down there too.  When we got to the square there was no sign of the van but we reckoned that he was such a good chap that he'd taken his van down the lane to deliver to the ones that normally walk up but believe me....the weather was dire.  So we huddled in the doorway of the little mosque and waited and along he came so my order was bread and four fresh eggs to complete my breakfast.  Walked back up the road full into the wind, managed to get into the house and had to remove most of my clothing...I was drenched.  Dried out I headed for the kitchen and took out the filled steak that I hadn't fancied yesterday, fried it with onions and a couple of eggs and served it up on the fresh bread.  Result.....it was delicious.

More gale force and I was hoping that my tree wouldn't come down and it didn't.  The electricity had been up and down and I gave up trying to fill my time up on the internet.  So twelve o'clock came and I put on my down jacket which was a mistake and headed for Hacibaer's house for her lunch party and the rest of the women appeared in very wet drips and drabs.  We sat around and they all speak Turkish but they are trying to teach me that too.....I know a few phrases and more get added to the mix and fortunately the one who is taking care of my education is a super lady and is responsible for me getting to the weddings.  The food was typically Turkish and we all sat around on the floor and there were seven courses in total.  We all have a spoon and dip into each dish as it arrives and then it's whisked away and the next one appears.  

On my way out I'd noticed that the ditch that goes under my drive appeared to be blocked with leaves and was about to spill its bank so I went to the workshop and got out a tool and cleared out the rubbish and got it moving again.  I went into the workshop to get more wood for the fire and was greeted by a couple of inches of water on the floor.  The roof is fine but the field on the back wall is higher than my floor and I'm guessing that it's seeped through so out with the snow scoop and cleared the majority of it.  The job is on the list 'to do' when I get the men back but unfortunately they are absolutely whacked from the last endeavours that there's not much enthusiasm to start again.  I've even got the drainage extruded plastic but it's not doing much sitting where it is.

So into the house and no electricity again.  The fire is ticking over but suddenly the UPS makes a bigger warning note than I've heard before so out with the shovel and I removed most of the wood into a metal container.  Trouble is that if there is no electricity, the pump won't work and the potential is that you knacker the boiler so better safe than sorry.  Waited for a while after the juice came back on again and it's all back to being good now.  

No supper for me, stuffed to the gills and now it's turned into a beautiful evening after the perils of the day.  Story goes that we have this for the next few days with the overnight temperatures dropping.  Looks like winter draws on so to speak....LN  

Friday 24th October

Not a bad start to the day but it was out to establish how much damage had been done by yesterday's mini hurricane.  My flowers as I said yesterday have been decimated but I'm waiting to see if they do get upright again before I take them all up.  The ones under the terrace wall have gone so tomorrow if it holds I'll be digging them up and putting in the bulbs so as they say, every cloud has a silver lining but it didn't seem that way when it was in full flood yesterday.

The workshop has dried out since I left the door open last night.  I can only think that it came in via the outside wall to the next door garden and I must really phone the men to see if they've recovered enough to start work for me any time soon.  They've had a hard few months.

So in to Kardjali this morning.  I phoned the garage to see if my new lights had arrived and they're scheduled for Tuesday so I've booked the Beast in for its winter overhaul....anti-freeze etc. and having it's appropriate nipples greased if you'll pardon the expression.  Made my list this morning of all the things that I wanted from Kaufland that are on promotion and got the lot...plus a few items not on the list like an electric citrus squeezer...well it was on offer.  Got eight meters of material for the sofa and chairs in the hallway for eight leva a meter but it is two meters twenty wide so not a bad price.  It's not the colour I set out to get but I've admired it in the shop before and think it will do the job but when you think that the equivalent English price tag is about twenty eight pounds...not bad at all.  Over to Mania and picked up a sheet for my bed, two sweaters and a couple of pillow cases and a leather belt for the princely sum of ten leva....it just had to be done.  Into Lidl for a few items and back to Djebel and stopped off for a chat with my student's mum and confirmed my Tuesday appointment.  Home for five more or less and the temperature has dropped.  Got the fire going and it's ticking along nicely, supper was ham sandwiches and that's now over and done with and it will suffice for tonight.  It depends on the weather tomorrow if I become active or go for passive.....I go with the flow.  Haciber popped round to give me some Turkish Delight and a sealed cup of juice that was from the hojja at the Mosque....I'll say LN....no pickies today....I'm going to settle in with the Kindle...and I'll report on the new Dexter tomorrow...LN

Saturday 25th October

Rain, rain go away.  It woke me up this morning and then there was the steady drip of the water from the roof on the metal railings round my bedroom terrace.  My eventual solution...a pair of socks tied on to the railing.  It may remain there for the rest of the winter until the men fix some sort of guttering on the overhang.  

So as well as the rain we had the howling winds again but we are luckier than most.  Haskovo was under four feet of water where the river had burst it's banks and flooded the town.  I saw the video on the internet and my thoughts go out to the poor people.  I had the same thing happen in my home town when a flash flood swept down the valley and through the house and the rest of the street.  It took ages to clear out the smell of the water and the rubbish that it brought with it.

As for the rest of my day...I went out to view the damage and ended up taking the plants that might not survive a frost into the other house.  It seems very early to take them in but there has been snow in Sofia  and it was threatened here but to date nothing apart from very cold rain.  Brought one of the benches in and the big terracotta pots are now in the hallway and looking for a home for the winter,  Lit the fire mid morning and it's been chugging along ever since and supper went in a four and was ready for five thirty...nice and early for me.  Chicken wings with potatoes and onions with red cabbage and I'll shoot any one that asks how much..... ;) ;)  This was closely followed by another baked apple with cream....domesticity has struck....

And after a full stomach the body requires rest and I've just woken up now....the clocks go back tonight so I must remember so that I don't appear on anyone's doorstep before I should tomorrow.  Michael Jackson is playing at a reasonable volume....time for a little drink I think...LN...Back to my book and an extra hour in bed..so that should be a four o'clock start.... :-/...LN

Sunday 26th October

So I dutifully put the clocks back last night and stayed up until just after midnight so that there was a chance I could sleep in later.  Now as you've probably guessed I'm a pretty light sleeper but at just before the three in new time my home phone started ringing....it stopped...and then started again.  My only thought was that there was a problem in the UK so I went downstairs and answered it...and a man said something, I said in English that I didn't understand him and said that he probably had the wrong number.  He did apologise and I put the phone down.  So now it's three more or less, I'm awake so I think I'll read for a while and eventually back to the land of nod but I was awake at six and ready to face the day.

Coffee and breakfast of bacon sandwiches, got two lots of logs in, one from last years and one from the new supply and put them under the petchka to warm up since they aren't wet...just cold.  It's been horrible today.  It hasn't stopped raining at all and it's just a grey day and winter's come too soon.  I'd already cancelled my student for today....I wasn't in the mood to be sociable...it was a hibernation day and I've not really got around to doing anything.  I imagine doing stuff but didn't turn the image into reality.  It's almost like 'I cudda', wudda', but couldn't drum up the enthusiasm.  I kept looking at the armchair that I've got the material for but I want to change the design of it and that means getting some wood out of the little house and it's really too cold to go in there sawing up stuff.  Another day....

Lots of noise from part of Semile's herd today as they moseyed on down the street.  One was making so much noise that I went into the bedroom to look out at them and the one has blood coming from the horn.  Don't know if she made a move on another one or not....I'll have to ask Semile next time I see him.  The boys were out again in the red bomber...they're getting very confident and I'm hoping it doesn't end in tears.

So the fires still ticking along and I found out the curtain that hangs in front of the main door and have even drawn my huge curtain separating off the stairs...first time this year but I want to cosy down tonight.  The first night of the clock change always seems really long and body clock says one thing and the thing on the wall says another.  Just after six my time....I'm going down to enjoy the fire...LN...it could almost be a knitting night...LN

Monday 27th October

Not such a bad start this morning...six o'clock start which in old money relates to seven so I'm on to a winner.  Down for my newly established morning drink of lemon juice, salt, honey and hot water to get the metabolism going...I'm starting on my diet so that I can go back to the UK and get padded out again with fish and chips and mushy peas...    Made coffee at the same time but by the time I'd read a couple or ten chapters it was cold and so was I.  The fire had done well at keeping the house warm but that was the other side of my iron curtain and I was upstairs so I lit the fire while waiting for the kettle to boil again and fancied bacon sandwiches again but horror of horrors....the fridge was bare so I settled for its close cousin, a toasted ham and cheese sandwich and I got stuck in front of the fire with sandwich, coffee and book and didn't put my nose out until I'd finished it.

Now I really felt that I ought to do something despite the rain and yes...it's still raining...so I collected up the toilet stuff that needs burning ahd the kitchen waist and headed for the burning pit and first time ignited probably because the last fire was so good that nothing was choking it up.  Inspected the garden and the new plants I'd put into the workshop terrace garden and everything seems quite happy in there.  Over to the little house and moved last year's wood and got it into some semblance of order so that I can get it if it gets really cold....I'm burning the new stuff while it's not so critical with the odd old stuff to give it a boost if need be.  Started to sweep the old house out and there was a rustling of something so I left if to its own devices and concentrated on fixing up lighting for the winter.  The workshop is done but I need a small cabled extension lead and need to make a new light socket...I've got the bits...just got to find them...well you know what it's like....it's all there somewhere.

Down in front of the fire now, curtain drawn and cosied up with Barbra Streisand giving it all she's got and she's got a lot.  Not into food just now...I might even go through until tomorrow at this rate.  It's been an autumn day but a wet one and to date no snow but checking out the weather...the sun will come out...but not tomorrow....LN...I'll post sunrise if we ever get one again.....I'm in competition with my nephew and he's winning...LN

Tuesday 28th October

Call to action started at six thirty and down to make my new health drink using my new lemon squeezer but not too sure about the three years guarantee the way that you put pressure on the motor to make it work.  Anyway...back to bed clutching my drink and a coffee and settled down to read my next Dexter.  Now I didn't know that there has been a television series of the same name...I've been out of the country for too long but the general concept is that the series didn't follow the book too well so I'll plough through the books.

Lit the fire because it was cold, down to the bread van this morning and chatted to my neighbours.  They are determined that I'm going to conduct all my morning ramblings in Turkish and I found out that the pain in Byser's head from last week has now moved down to her knee and I suppose next week it will be gout and be on its way to working itself out of the system..   So lelaving the van I remembered that I'd used up the last of the eggs so with the change from the bread I handed it back to the driver and he calculated that I could have five eggs and I had change.  So a loaf of freshly baked crusty bread and five eggs for just under seventy pence.  Back home and into the freezer for a packet of bacon and it was fried with an egg, onto the fresh bread for breakfast and then the wait was on for the call from the garage to advise me that my new European headlights had arrived.  Ten thirty and I was on the way to dressing for the weather and to Djebel.

Posted a card to the UK, picked up the headlights and took them down to the garage with me, headlights fixed and winter checks carried out.  The oil doesn't have to be changed until March, the anti-freeze is to minus twenty five, brake fluid checked, water washes topped and all this done for ten leva and the lights cost me another one hundred and twenty but it will save a fine if I'm stopped.  The internet informs me that it's now part of standard stop policy and I like to keep a low profile.  Back to the shop for a chat with my student's mum and we both sat over the fan heater....the temperature has dropped dramatically.  

Home at four thirty and rescued the fire with the help of a firelighter and some kindling.  Cooked fish fingers for something quick and easy and had them on the crusty bread and am now suffering for my gluttony.  They might eventually get digested and the chicken I got out from the freezer to make the curry I was originally going to make will get done tomorrow and that's about as far as my plans go for tomorrow.  Temperature more or less on the one degree mark and I'm pleased that most of the plants are in.  The leaves in that garden are steadily falling from everything but I really need a day out there to plant up the rest of the bulbs...they need a winter home.  No pictures today...it's been active but no real photo shoots....sorry and all that....LN...time for bed said Zebedee....LN

Wednesday 29th October

Seven start and it's getting better each morning.  I didn't even hear the hojja this morning....result.  Lemon drink and back to bed with a coffee and straight-way on the computer this morning...no lingering in bed for me even though the weather was a repetition of yesterday and it's rained all day.  Trench foot might even be setting in!!

Looked at the chicken that I'd got out of the freezer last night and they appear to be small breasts without bone so I rolled them up and stuck tooth picks in them to secure them, got them into the frying pan and browned them off and the time was now....nine thirty and there's nothing like being prepared.  Out to the terrace and attacked the leeks and brought them down to size....took two of them in the house, washed and chopped and put them into a saucepan.  Peeled a couple of potatoes and an onion and added them to the leeks and got them under way with a little oil and butter and a dash of salt. Meanwhile put the chicken into a casserole dish and covered it with the softened vegetables and into the oven at eleven fifteen and it was ready for the final touches at twelve thirty.  Drained off the juice from the casserole dish into a saucepan and added some packet chicken soup to thicken it, poured it back over the chicken and into the oven and it was ready for about one fifteen.  

Now my neighbours are good to me especially Avatar and Haceber so I served up two portions of the chicken and veg and delivered it hot and steaming to their doors.  I was rewarded with a slice of cake from Haceber thinking that you can't receive without giving.  I skipped back down the road served up a portion for me and the last chicken bread went on to a plate with the remaining vegetables and it's in the freezer for the day I can't be bothered to do stuff.

So while all this was happening, I'd got in the logs, turned over the chair that I was given to look at the construction and started to un-construct. It was an exercise in how it had been covered so that I got the steps right to recover but my biggest concern was removing the millions of staples holding the original material in place.  I found the staple gun in the workshop, looked at it but feel that I need a practice run at it in an open environment having never used one before and tomorrow is another day.  I love the material....it was seven leva a meter and it's two meters twenty wide so I should be able to do most of the back without any need to join the fabric.

Put the tools away at six and I've got Jacques Loussier playing...nice and mellow....Don't want any supper...maybe a few peanuts later with a little drink.  Eight thirty my time.....a very productive day and once I master the staple gun it will be all systems go now that I've worked it all out....LN  

Thursday 30th October

So yet again the village had rain to wake up to but there was a little less than there had been for the last few days and the temperature had improved somewhat.  I caught the hojja this morning with his morning ritual but I was straight down for my lemon drink, back to the computer and down for coffee and breakfast by eight.  Didn't need bread this morning...I made do with the old stuff.

Decided to go into Kardjali today....I was undecided but I thought I might get trench foot or cabin fever if I didn't just go out for the hell of it so I did.  Picked up five bags of coal for the winter, a whole fillet that's now sliced, a kilo of chicken wings separated into three bags and all in the freezer and a chicken that just got roasted and served with a jacket potato for supper.  I did the charity shops but not much to write home about or purchase and got home for about four.

Played around with the pipes into the chimney inlet from the petchka. There wasn't a lot of smoke in the bathroom but I could smell it, did something about it and my minor adjustments seemed to have worked.  I'll so the real job in the morning when I can get the pipes out completely...

So supper over, another Dexter book underway and time to get into my new pj's and snuggle down....LN....not sure what tomorrow might bring...it might be the Librarian and Zlatograd....I need to take in my old UPS to see if the man can fix it so that I have a spare...LN

Friday 31st October

Damp start again and it didn't look like there was going to be anything to write home about today but eventually the sun came out but it was about three o'clock this afternoon before it did.  Lit the fire even though I had every intention of going out today so I phoned the Librarian at about eight thirty and she was up for a trip to Zlatograd so I post hasted, dressed and was in the car by about nine ten and over to the restaurant near her village for just on nine thirty.  She was muffled up to the nines with the hat, scarf and so I turned the heater down before she melted.

Round the market and looked at a pair of knitted sock that I liked but the price was inflated because I was English and as I walked away the price dropped by a couple of leva....don't these people learn.  As it was I bought nothing from her where I would have probably spent if I felt I wasn't been ripped off.  Nothing else worth having on the market and the trouble is that I'm used to the old fashioned English markets where things are cheaper.  In Bulgaria the things can me more expensive...you just have to watch it.  Over to the leva shop and found a couple of gifts for my student's mum.  I can't say too much about them but I think they'll be just fine.  Over to the supermarket and picked up bread, a couple of packs of cakes and a wine box and we set sail for the repair man but the cupboard was bare so to speak.  No sign of anyone ever working in the unit so I'll have to keep looking.  

Driving back to her village and we stopped off at a fish restaurant for lunch.  Unfortunately there were workmen there installing windows in the newly enlarged what was once the summer dining area and there was also a chimney going in.  The son apologised and said that tomorrow would have been a better day but the food was good and the bill very acceptable. I dropped the Librarian off, went straight into Djebel since I'd not notice the fuel gauge and I reckon I'd come back on fresh air.  Over to the hardware shop and bought some large headed tacks for the upholstery to hold the material in place before I got let lose with the electric stapler.  As it happened I chose to put up the inspection light in the garage for when I have to go into the workshop.  Unfortunately mine works and the one in the workshop that Bekir put in doesn't so that's another job for tomorrow.  

No hint of anyone celebrating Halloween here despite Lidl's attempt to sell anything associated with it.  I did hear someone ask what it was all about and all I heard was that it was an 'Americanski parsnik'.  I was going to carve my pumpkin but it seemed such a waste...I might do the little one tomorrow and have my own little party.  Not into food...lunch is still in the upper regions despite having climbed several ladders this afternoon to achieve luminance in the garage....I think that wine box is worth opening...well it is Halloween... ...LN