Monday 1st June

Well I'll swap that cat for the man in the mosque whenever you're ready Mrs. D of S.....he kicked off at five thirty this morning...just before Dave/Alan....and again...no snooze button.  Having said that I went back to sleep and woke up at seven twenty and checking the watch to make sure...quick wash and coffee and out to pick up the men.

Stopped off at the magazine this morning and got breakfast and bread for me and the men were outside today with their friends at the restaurant and there seemed to be a lot of activity with a cardboard box but you don't ask...it can be too complicated.  Back to mine and coffee and breakfast, Emula came round for a chat and in doing so missed the bus into Djebel it being market day.  I offered to drive him to catch up the bus at the next stop but he declined and caught a lift in with another villager at about nine thirty.

The men carried on with the top to the wall but it was a little too hot to work today...the productivity wasn't that high.  Again we were promised Semile's help to straighten out the metal for the wall but it never materialised.  Sally was bang, banging with my big hammer and I think we have a few sections of wall complete.  I started stone shifting to the bottom of the garden and want to clear the wall so that I can start some landscaping, also worked on the lawnmower and now it goes like a dream.  I think there was an airlock in the oil chamber which I cleared when I checked it and instead of thumping like a goodun...it now runs.

Into Djebel today to go to the cashpoint to pay the men....filled up with fuel and now the men are not working for a week or so.  Bekir is off to his niece's wedding in Turkey and Sally has lots of his own work to do so they'll give me a call when they want to start again.  We do have to throw in a Muslim holiday into the mix...it's the start of the month's fasting which in this temperature...doesn't exactly go down a bomb.  Men home and paid...Emula decided to come along for the ride....Pointless and Eggheads and now time to go down to the kitchen to see what I might come up with...just a few photo to follow...LN

Tuesday 2nd June

Fell asleep in front of the computer last night and eventually staggered to bed.  Not sure of the time of departure but arrival came round pretty swiftly at seven this morning.  No men but I got up just the same.  I'd not got round to watering the garden last night so it was the first job on the list so by eight it was all done and dusted.

As I walked into the kitchen to get the coffee on I realised that there was a damp patch by the fridge.  And where is Bekir when you need him...getting ready to go to Turkey for a wedding and why didn't I notice it yesterday.  It's rather like the dropped toast that always lands jam side down.  So while I was mopping the floor as part of the investigation as to which bit is actually leaking, the rugs came up and into the washing machine with them and that's a reminder to self to go get them in from the line.  Out to the garden and cleared out some of the old flower pots and generally moved stuff around from the different beds.  I planted out the two spirea in the tomb garden as I call it and a trip to Haskovo is on the cards next week to get more for the long wall.  Tobacco, zinnia and marigolds have all found new homes in different parts of the garden and there is just one flower bed to weed now and that will get done tomorrow.

Spend another couple of hours tidying up from the men.  The wood that was scattered in the yard is all stacked, the one remaining bag of cement is up the corner and the garage has been swept out so that I could put the Beast back in and bring Beauty back into the drive.  Tomorrow's job should I choose to accept it is to collect up all the other wood that's lying around and get that stacked and get the reciprocating saw out and clear the workshop terrace of the storm and wall fallout wood and get it stacked.    

It's been a lovely day apart from a chill in the wind and and it's quite cold for June.  I've just finished watering the garden and it's time to put a sweater on...it should be an evening for sitting out with the magical full moon over head but no way...I'll view it from inside.  So another day clearing tomorrow...LN...early night for me to get my strength up...LN

Wednesday 3rd June

Drew the curtains last night to make sure I slept in and did...until six...so that worked then.  I expected to get wet feet as I walked through the kitchen to the kettle but no...I'd done something to the connecting pipes last night from the wall inlet to the tap and it seems to have cured it.  I am now looking for a job as a plumber..   Walked the garden with coffee in hand and watched and listened to the morning....it's so peaceful except for the birds that seemed to be going full throttle.  

Poached eggs on toast for breakfast and kitchen all tidied and wash up by nine and then it was downhill from there on.  The jobs were progressive...bathroom cleaned, kitchen floor washed over, downstairs bedroom, lounge and hallway all sorted and winter boots moved upstairs.  I think we all seem to be coming out of winter slowly this year.  The weather has really only just started to settle down and then we get a cold spell like yesterday and it's out with the fleecy PJ's again.  

Sorted out the old glass that was removed from the debris from the wall and it's now in the back of Beauty to be deposited in the skip when I go in next, changed the blade on the reciprocating saw with the intention of getting going on the wood pile but my heart wasn't in it so I came in and started on the third bedroom putting the new quilt covers and sheets on the beds....guests can turn up unannounced...I'm ready.

Nine my time....it's turned into a very gentle night...no moon so far as there is a cloud base and very undramatic sunset....all's quiet in my neck of the woods.  Early night but no real plans for tomorrow...I'm sure I'll find something to do... No photos sorry...my camera is being a pain and won't connect to the pc.....LN

Wednesday continued

Fiddled and fiddled and eventually got the pc to recognise the camera...phew....I was thinking I might have to buy a new one...and it just so happens....As for the moon...I was premature...it's up and big and beautiful but is now disappearing behind the clouds....that might just be the last I see of it...and now to bed...LN

Thursday 4th June

Beautiful start to the day but that only lasted until lunch time.  Woke up at five thirty and decided that I would do the washing at cheap rate so in it went and out on the line for seven which was just as well.  Breakfast was a bacon sandwich and I sat out on the terrace with that and a coffee and lowered myself gently into the morning.  I'd looked at the main terrace little zinnia bed and the weeds that had sprung up there but I hadn't managed to get at it because of the ramp that had been constructed to take the wheelbarrow down to the lower level.  Today I tackled it carefully.  There is lots growing there and I didn't want to disturb the things I wanted to keep but there was lots of grass.  Not to bad...only a few casualties and they were planted up immediately so should be alright.  Why is it I think that I should save all flowers and their little souls...I suppose it's because they put such a lot of effort into starting out that I need to protect them.  I shan't be so gentle with the yellow flowers that seem to have overrun everything...they will be culled in the autumn.

So by twelve today  I felt really tired after my five thirty start so I went to bed and woke up at two thirty...there was little air around and obviously the storm was gathering.  I managed to get the washing it just before the first huge raindrops fell and then came the hail.  Not a lot of it this time but suddenly the wild wind went through, empty flowerpots were flying everywhere and so I was closing doors and windows with a vengeance and battening down the hatches.  Thunder and lightening going hell for leather and there appears to be a few casualties...the rose on the front wall needs to be tied up by the looks of things and the grass seems to be growing before my eyes....so that job is crawling towards the top of the list as we speak.

Electricity up and down like a yoyo so I'm not going to spend long on this as the storm is still rattling around and when it's up, so to speak, take advantage of it.  LN....I'm going to put this thing to bed...LN

Friday 5th June

What a night...the storm raged and at one I was wide awake after an early to bed...and it was too early to rise.  I read until about two thirty and at last got back into what was a bit of a fit full sleep and at two the moon came from behind the clouds so I had to close the curtains...it was almost daylight out there.  Came to at about five thirty and the clouds were really hanging on to the mountains and in the valleys.  At one point it had hidden everything but by nine I'd breakfasted, didn't have to water the garden as nature had done it for me, cleared the kitchen and was ready to go back to bed by eleven this morning.  Tried to get my head down but at twelve the Librarian gave me a call for a catchup so it was out to the garden, survey the storm damage and tie up the roses that were flattened.  The white one in particular had been hit badly as you can see from the photo from yesterday.

Weeded the vegetable garden, tied up the tomatoes and meant to stake the cucumbers but it's now on tomorrow's list.  I have felt ridiculously tired all day with not a lot of energy.  I was full of good intentions, like taking in the car to get the tampons fixed, getting into Kardjali to pick up the hedge trimmer that is on offer at Kaufland and what did I end up doing...zilch...but there's always tomorrow.

So over to my student's family for supper and they are managing without a kitchen.  I did offer to take them all out for supper to one of the local restaurants but they wouldn't hear of it.  Their kitchen has been stripped out and is up for a refurb and I really love the tiles that they've chosen for the wall.  The units are being picked up tomorrow from Kardjali but my offer of using the Beast was not taken up...the father had already asked the neighbour.  I added my two pennyworth saying that the first job that needed doing was to redirect the water supply inlet to beneath the level of the worktops so that they can get a tap fitted over the sink which they haven't bought yet and then I decided to leave them to it.  Apparently a man is coming to fit it and he should know what he's doing...hopefully.  I eventually decided to leave when my student was being force fed honey with butter and some bee powder that smelled awful since she'd had a tummy upset the night before.  I maintain it was a bug, the rest reckon that she has a chill and they knew that they had the perfect solution despite her protestations.  I left...and wished her luck.  

Stopped off at the shop on the way through Djebel and the lady at the cash desk commented that I was late tonight.  I told her that I'd been out for supper at a friend's house and yes, it is late for me.  Drove back through the forest and the fireflies were really obvious tonight flashing away and hopefully they'll get lucky.  LN....I'm off to bed and he's to a complete night.  I have a little mastika on the go that just might do the trick....LN

Saturday 6th June

Well it wasn't raining this morning but it might as well have been.  The wind was, blowing a gale yet again and not much of a hint of summer.  It did clear up a bit though and I got the strimmer out and cleared the yard of the long grass where I normally park Beauty.  I'd dumped her in the lane last night because I got home late so I took advantage to chop it back.  While it was out I went round the outside of the veg patch and one or two areas where the lawnmower doesn't go very easily.  Then the mood took over.  The sky was looking really grey so I thought I'd get some of the lawn done before the rain started but it never did start.  I managed to do two thirds of it before the mood wore off and tomorrow is another day so to speak.

I started to read a book that was recommended and I'm struggling.  It's someone writing about Bulgaria but I don't like the style, the storyline seems very childish but I have to report back.  I sat for a while and realised that I was a little chilled so out with a firelighter, some kindling, a couple of logs and it's still going now.  And it's June.  I decided that it was now time to be creative in the kitchen so I dug out the mince that Bekir had given me and made a shepherd's pie and there was enough for today, one for tomorrow and I used the rest up putting the remains of a tin of beans with the mince.  I topped it with potatoes and that's going in the freezer.

So lunch over, every full tummy requires rest so it was head down for an hour or so and the thunderstorm that was supposed to happen never did.  It stayed grey though for the rest of the day but I did manage to catch the last few rays of the sun.  As for doing what I was going to do today...not a lot of it was achieved but I've had a restful day.  So many people are complaining about feeling tired...and blaming it on the weather.  Come on sun...we need to see a little more of you...LN

Sunday 7th June

Five thirty start this morning and was surprised when the sun came up.  It was a cloudy start and I think that the early morning start was all I've seen of it all day.  Straight behind the clouds and again there was a chill wind blowing.  I lit the house and garden rubbish at about seven thirty and stood guard over it making sure that I didn't light up the hillside.  In for breakfast of a couple of boiled eggs with toast and then played on the internet for a while until I was out and making a start on the garden.  I'd looked at the pink tipped willow and couldn't decided where to plant it and today I made a decision and put it at the back of the frog garden staking it to made sure that it didn't get broken first day out.  I decided to clear the bucket of forsythia trimmings and go for the experiment.  The last time I went to the market garden the owner had planted very large branches of forsythia laying them on their sides and banking up the soil around them and so I thought I'd give it a try.  I normally take only a small cutting with a little of the hardwood but this means that if it takes I get a much bigger plant to start with....and there are two experiments underway....one at the bottom of the garden and the second near to the outside toilet....watch this space...

Into the house for a bit of a rest and switched on the athletics from Birmingham and watched it for about an hour.  Then back to it.  Out with the reciprocating saw...sorted out the ones to be cut up and the others that are too big for the saw and need the likes of a man and a chain saw.  I also need some of these to use as supports for climbers on the wall.  I cleared the terrace, cleared out the burning pit and laid it ready to light it but no way...still too windy.  Put supper in while I finished off outside...and forgot about it but just about salvaged it.  Watched the last of the athletics while I ate my supper and then the first few drops of rain fell but I think I shall still have to be out there with the hose....not much fell.

So just put the boiler on...it's a night for lounging in the bath and clearing off the dust of the day.  A shower will not do it tonight.  No plans for tomorrow....I might just have another day in the garden weather permitting.....LN