Saturday 1st August

So I had a late start and managed to catch the moon going down and the sun coming up but there wasn't a chance to get the reflection of the one and a photo of the other.  All due to the cloud base...

Bit of a funny day today.  I worked on the pallet to make my shelving unit and it was about one centimeter too wide so it was back to the drawing board Cecil....and tomorrow is another day.  I saw my Avatar walking around her plot and I thought she was searching for her eggs when her chickens go missing but I was wrong.  She was at her neighbours getting a supply of aran...the local yogurt drink so I was ordered to attend her house and I came back with a two litre bottle of the stuff which is now in the freezer.  We sat in the garden for a while and I'm amazed how well we communicate...I'm not sure she understands everything but she laughs and smiles and it might be at my pronunciation but at least I try.

No sleep for me today.  I started on the outside cushions and the chairs are finished and the sofa half finished.  I've run out of material so I'm having to bring other colours into the mix and it looks like it might be navy with the green and the brown stained chairs....mnogo chick.

Gouldjan arrived just after three and established herself in the downstairs bedroom ....she did emerge at various points but went back there to get her work done.  I think she was actually asleep but didn't want me to know. I watched the athletics this afternoon and this evening watched the London ladies cycle race.  Half way through Gouldjan asked me if I could drive her home because she had three bags...I told her she had no stamina which got lost in translation.  I dropped her off and back to the final laps of the cycle race....and now it's the proms.

First day of a new month doesn't allow me to post photos...I've put them on FB for those that want to see them...Tomorrow I'll make up for it...I promise.  Cinderella is back tomorrow about nine for a bedroom...I have to go now and create a bill for her....LN...my fingers will rip over the keys...LN

And the photos.....

Sunday 2nd August

Five o'clock start and I wondered why.  I didn't get down and make coffee immediately...I lingered in my pit until six thirty and played with the DS.  Out and watered the garden and it really does seem like a losing battle with Phoebe kicking out at upper thirties today.  I sat out for a while and watched the sun come up but it was hampered by clouds this morning.  It looked like it might be a dull day with quite a chill breeze blowing but it blew itself away and it turned into a scorching day.  First job was to have a bonfire to get rid of the toilet and kitchen rubbish but I was very careful to make sure that I'd soaked the area round it.  There are fires raging not far from here and I didn't want to start one.

I was down to the bread van which arrived at seven fifteen this morning so he was either of to Greece for the day or wanted an early finish.  On the way back I was herded into my Avatar's garden and forced to take five tomatoes from her hoard so breakfast was fresh bread with ham and tomatoes and it was delicious.  I have my own tomatoes but that means nothing to her.  Set to on the pallet and painted it with wood preservative and cleared the kitchen window sill of the stuff that I grab for every day and the pallet worked like a dream.  My kitchen window is clear and the bench under the kitchen window is clear as well.  I'm getting tidy.  

I found a brown sheet to finish off the sofa but I don't like it.  I'm going to have to work my way round the problem of not enough material to finish the job but I have to decide on a colour.  I have navy and I have orange...decisions, decisions. I watched the end of the cycle race in the UK today and tuned in for the men's road race this evening. Ay two this afternoon Emula delivered a barrow load of cow shite and I said that it was too hot for him to deliver the next five that I'd asked for and I two I went to be but at four there was a knocking on my door and he'd decided that it was cool enough to deliver the rest of the barrow loads I'd requested.  Six delivered and at five leva it's a bargain.  So now I have to go back to my gardening books...I think it's the wrong time to do it but my plants really need it so I might be spreading it in the next few days.

Visitors this afternoon...One of Semile's cousins came calling with his wife to see what I'd done with the houses.  He gave me the history and apparently one of the brothers that owned one of the two houses is still alive and living in Bursa.  So I was back to the television after they'd all left and watched the London cycle race and was waiting for Gouldjan who was supposed to be staying tonight but I've just had a phone call to say that she is not able to come up tonight.  She is under pressure from the family so will take the early bus to work tomorrow to deliver her documents and will catch the eight thirty bus home and then she's on holiday.

I'm into Kardjali tomorrow to prove to the pensions people that I'm not dead...I shall get my bank to sign the official documentation and get it in the post as soon as so that they don't stop my pension.  The lengths they go to.  So LN...no visitors this evening, which suits me fine and tomorrow I will try to get out of the village before the asphalt machine blocks the road... and it's a trip out with Ms D of S and the Librarian...a girls day out...LN

Monday 3rd August

Early start and watched the sun come up while watering the garden....I just love it here.  I checked with my watch and realised that the battery was on the go -slow so today's trip to Kardjali was laced with finding a watch maker or someone at least that could change a battery.  Washing pegged out and weeded the sweet peas that are really struggling in this heat so I lobbed some cow shite on them and tonight I soaked it with water and I'm hoping overnight some of the nutrients are going to leach into the soil.

The Librarian arrive at just before nine with Mrs D of S and off we set after a coffee.  Straight to our car park and yes we pay one leva an hour but it's very central and now that there are more cars coming into Kardjali you have to fight for a space in the fee ones...Into the bank and got my paperwork sorted out so that I can confirm to the pension people that I am not dead and that my pension should still be paid into my account and apparently this is to be done every year.  Into the shoe shop and picked up a pair of hot strappies for six leva and then over to my clothes shop and picked up a fabulous Kalico evening suit for five leva...and now I have to book that cruise.  We went to a restaurant for breakfast and we had half toasted bread with ham and cheese but it filled the gap.  We found the watchmaker and he changed the battery offering me one with three years guarantee or a pot luck one so I took the former and he mended the Librarian's watch and the total bill was seven leva....

Back to the square and we had icecreams, back to Kaufland for the use of their restrooms and cheap beer and then on to Lidl for even cheaper beer and bacon.  Delivering the trolley back to the bay I noticed a money bag on the floor which situated between the store and the money collection wagon and it had obviously come from the store.  I picked it up and signalled to the man that I had one of his and he opened the collection door and I said that I'd found it on the floor and presumed it should be in the van and not sitting on the pavement.  He looked suitably embarrassed and on the way back from dumping the trolley I said that if he didn't need the money bag I was quite willing to take it.  He thumped his hand to his chest in recognition of my honesty....he could have lost his job.  

Back to mine on the black road since the asphalt machine appears to be still busy on the road and the Librarian could chance the main road back to her home road since the bus had made it through.  I didn't have a sleep this afternoon....I sawed ten centimeters off the legs of the bench working on the principle that I could alway replace the legs if I'd taken off too much but it seems fine and is the same height of the chairs.  I finished the green cover for the sofa and tomorrow and added three pillows to the sofa since I don't have enough material to cover the back cushion.  I'll think of something....

Washing in, garden watered especially the sweat peas and we'll see what happens overnight.  Tomorrow I'm picking up Mrs D of S and we're meeting the Librarian at the pool and toasting ourselves until the bombers descend.  Watching a super programme on the history of tulips so I'm going to say LN....

Monday 3rd August

Early start and watched the sun come up while watering the garden....I just love it here.  I checked with my watch and realised that the battery was on the go -slow so today's trip to Kardjali was laced with finding a watch maker or someone at least that could change a battery.  Washing pegged out and weeded the sweet peas that are really struggling in this heat so I lobbed some cow shite on them and tonight I soaked it with water and I'm hoping overnight some of the nutrients are going to leach into the soil.

The Librarian arrive at just before nine with Mrs D of S and off we set after a coffee.  Straight to our car park and yes we pay one leva an hour but it's very central and now that there are more cars coming into Kardjali you have to fight for a space in the fee ones...Into the bank and got my paperwork sorted out so that I can confirm to the pension people that I am not dead and that my pension should still be paid into my account and apparently this is to be done every year.  Into the shoe shop and picked up a pair of hot strappies for six leva and then over to my clothes shop and picked up a fabulous Kalico evening suit for five leva...and now I have to book that cruise.  We went to a restaurant for breakfast and we had half toasted bread with ham and cheese but it filled the gap.  We found the watchmaker and he changed the battery offering me one with three years guarantee or a pot luck one so I took the former and he mended the Librarian's watch and the total bill was seven leva....

Back to the square and we had icecreams, back to Kaufland for the use of their restrooms and cheap beer and then on to Lidl for even cheaper beer and bacon.  Delivering the trolley back to the bay I noticed a money bag on the floor which situated between the store and the money collection wagon and it had obviously come from the store.  I picked it up and signalled to the man that I had one of his and he opened the collection door and I said that I'd found it on the floor and presumed it should be in the van and not sitting on the pavement.  He looked suitably embarrassed and on the way back from dumping the trolley I said that if he didn't need the money bag I was quite willing to take it.  He thumped his hand to his chest in recognition of my honesty....he could have lost his job.  

Back to mine on the black road since the asphalt machine appears to be still busy on the road and the Librarian could chance the main road back to her home road since the bus had made it through.  I didn't have a sleep this afternoon....I sawed ten centimeters off the legs of the bench working on the principle that I could alway replace the legs if I'd taken off too much but it seems fine and is the same height of the chairs.  I finished the green cover for the sofa and tomorrow and added three pillows to the sofa since I don't have enough material to cover the back cushion.  I'll think of something....

Washing in, garden watered especially the sweat peas and we'll see what happens overnight.  Tomorrow I'm picking up Mrs D of S and we're meeting the Librarian at the pool and toasting ourselves until the bombers descend.  Watching a super programme on the history of tulips so I'm going to say LN....

Tuesday 4th August

Swimming was off...I had a touch of Montezuma's revenge so cancelled the swimming date.  Usual morning routine of watering and outside for coffee and noticed a strange number on my phone but didn't call back but they tried again...Gouldjan was asking if I was heading into Djebel...she hadn't delivered her documents before she went on holiday so I arranged to pick her up at nine, into Djebel and the post office so that I could report to the Pension People...I am not dead...and still deserve my money....after all...I've paid in for years so don't make out you're giving me anything.

Went with her to her school, over to the post office so that I could post my letter and I get a receipt for doing it and Gouldjan could pay her internet bill and then to the phone shop so that I could pay my bill for my home phone.  She went to the Library...I went to the textile shop and picked up a couple of fitted cotton sheets for the third bedroom and a couple of pillow cases to finish off my lounge terrace furnishings.  Dropped her off, I went home and started reading Christopher Hitchens' and he's really drawing me in.  I carried out until the eyes were going so I headed in and got my head down for an hour.  I came to when I heard the phone and it was my daughter just checking me out.  I got the potted version of the news from the family and assured her I was fine...love her to bits.

Out to the yard and put up the swinging lounger that has been needing attention for the last five weeks.  I little problem with the bolts but it's up.  Over to the garden and trimmed the forsythia that had been bugging me for days and then set about clearing the frog garden.  It really hasn't been good this year and since everything is drying up because it's so hot...it's abysmal so tomorrow I really think I have to do some work on it.  Visitation from Gouldjan and her sister with a couple of little ones as they headed down to visit another neighbour.  One of the little ones didn't want to stop so she came back and ended up in my kitchen eating apple and an orange with a few cheese biscuits....pretty little three year old.  

Half seven when I came in from the garden....nice day with a few achievements along the way.  I love hearing from home...we know how we feel...she's my baby but it's still nice.  My painter came round and tomorrow he's doing my corridor, bedroom and bathroom so that I'm ready for my guests at the weekend.....LN....tomorrow looks like it might be busy....LN

Wednesday 5th August

Funny old morning.  I was late watering the garden and my painter was here for eight and his task for today was to get some white stuff on the entrance hall, the downstairs bedroom and the bathroom.  Now the downstairs bedroom was never replastered completely and only patched so I've had a little powdering  and bubbling and it is no more.  It's been chipped away and repaired, and painted and you can't see the join...good stuff.

My painter arrived on his bike with all the stuff including a couple of buckets for applying his trade.   We moved furniture between us and the whole lot was covered with polythene.  He didn't go home for lunch...he said that he'd had four pancakes that morning and when I looked surprised at four he did say that they were only little ones.

So this morning I'd decided that the padding on the seating on the swinging bench was not adequate so I opened up the seat and put another layer of foam into it .  The metal bar just dug into the legs and it was really uncomfortable.  Success and then into Djebel for more materials for my painter but since the asphalt machine was out in force towards the joining of my road with the main Djebel road, there was a delay of twenty minutes before I could make it into town.

Back home....sorted out mes D of S's cactus and I have babies.  I'm not sure what will survive but I'll give it a good go.  Cleared up some of the mess but there's still more to do tomorrow or Friday if we choose to go swimming tomorrow,  The weather's been really funny all day...scorching hot this morning but with high winds that got really blustery late afternoon with things flying everywhere,  The dark clouds rolled in and I was hoping for rain but it didn't happen,  All we had was thunder rattling around.  So painter home for just after five, I put the downstairs bedroom back together again and I'll tack the bathroom later...there's more to do there.  Funny old clouds in every direction but it's settled for fifty shades of grey just now.....LN...keeping fingers crossed for swim weather tomorrow...I need a day off...LN

Thursday 6th August

Not such a good morning and it looked like swimming was definitely off the agenda.  The sun came up and lit up the sky briefly but there was a very strong wind blowing originally from the west which moved round to north west...and it never seemed to stop all day.  Loved the way that sun lit up the houses this morning and I was out to the garden firstly to water and then continue with trimming the hedge.   Phoned the Librarian and cancelled swimming since it was cold and dropped a message to Ms D of S and broke the bad news to her.  A few more conversations on FB and then set to on the under terrace wall that appears to have been neglected this summer. The evening primrose flowered so well that nothing else managed to take off so today I've cleared it all and rescued a lupin and put in three tobacco that had been starved of water in other places.  It's late but we'll see what happens.

Came in at one and my painter appeared to look at the bathroom and he decided that it needed another layer and out came the brush and off he went.  My task should I choose to accept it was to clean the bathroom but it was very tempting to get my head down instead.  Willpower prevailed...guests are advised to wear sunglasses when entering the downstair ablutions....all back to normal.  Finished at five having cleaned the tiles in the corridor and the downstairs bedroom and I feel absolutely knacked today.  Just about to have five minutes and suddenly a squall set in.  The cushions for the outside furniture were heading for Greece if I didn't take steps to salvage them and they're now on the hall floor.  I looked back at the bench and there was a very bright green frog and never seen one like it before.  I dragged the swinging bench under the kitchen balcony to stop the rain soaking the cushion....and didn't it come down but short lived and some good thunderclaps and forked lightening but again...really short lived and the wind dropped and the sun came out again.

Early night for me....I'm about to have a shower and freshen up before bedtime.  I worked up a sweat in the garden this morning and again cleaning the bathroom so I need to take the salt off.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow....think I might settle in with Christopher Hitchens but having said that...I always seem to find work to do....LN....the shower is calling...LN

Friday 7th August

Cloudy start this morning and I managed to catch it twixt and between but then it burnt all the clouds away.  Unfortunately we have had that awful wind again all day and it has whipped all the flowers to buggery.  Despite last night's rain I still had to water but I think it's not really done any good...if you dig down a bit it's bone dry.

Down to the bread van this morning and it was fresh bread and butter and apricot jam for breakfast and the wind kept the flies away.  Four loads of washing done by nine thirty this morning but there seemed a fair change that it would be arriving in Greece again so had to keep an eye on it.  Good think was though that with the sun and wind it only needed to be out for about an hour and it was ready to be folded and stored.

Into Djebel for twelve and again the men are on the road and working on the finer points of road building.  I'd picked up one of my neighbours along the way and we commented on how long the road has taken to be repaired....I had an errant to run for my Avatar...she wanted me to visit her nephew so that he could buy some wire for mending the fence and I managed to get what she wanted.  I got the few things I wanted and home for one thirty after having to wait again for the men to move to a different place in the road....so that I could get through.  Too hot to be out today and too windy so settled in to watch the swimming World championships....fell asleep after Eggheads and have just woken up and it's really time I was in bed and I suppose I'm in for an early start now that I've had a couple of hours in front of the computer.  

Tomorrow off to the Librarians stopping off to make a delivery to Ms D of S....well it is neighbourly.  LN...let's see how long it is before I'm awake again...LN

Saturday 8th August

Six start second time round but at one thirty I was chasing a mozzie round the bedroom after the ttzzzz woke me up.  On with the light and for the next half hour I was spraying fly stuff and mozzie repellent on to my arms and neck and shrouding myself in the sheet going back to sleep with it clutched in my hands and over my head....Imagine the scene.  Anyway it never got back to me so perhaps I did the deed but I shan't be singing a requiem.  

I forgot about the garden this morning.  I made up the guest bedroom and decided that the windows needed spit and polish if they were to enjoy the views and then set about the blue room with the two single beds side by side if they fancied a little more room than the five footer in the guest room.  And it didn't stop there...I thought that if they were seeing the view I should too so my windows and door were cleaned and at this time I was concerned that it was clocking on a bit and I was due at the Librarian's sometime today with an express delivery at Ms D of S's with emergency supplies.  I made it into the car at just after twelve and was working to a rough schedule and met every deadline.  That's what I like about rough deadlines.....never miss one.  Half a coffee and then on to the Librarians and as I drove towards her village I was surprised by a gypsy encampment and when I arrived everything was locked.  Fortunately the dogs are a good early warning system and I was let into the fort and we sat out in the sun chewing over the fat and suddenly I was aware of a cooking smell coming from the house and the lady of the house had put a chicken into the oven with roast potatoes and onions....a roast and it was only Saturday.  I was tempted with a beer and the offer of a bed but I really have work to do before my guests arrive and it's for my benefit not theirs.  I've still got about thirty panes of glass to clean (that's inside and out) and I'll tick them off one by one.  I'd also like to make a couple of chairs or a perching bench for their terrace....something to sit on to have a coffee until you're ready to face the hostess...

Dinner was lovely and the chicken was served with roast potatoes and roast onions, carrots, beans and cabbage with gravy...followed by a local made cake that we reckoned would have been better with black cherries on the top and a little rum....but since I was driving home and I'd already made my decision despite an offer of a bed for the night...it was not to be.

I left just after seven thirty and the sun was going down on a more or less perfect day.  Brought Beauty into the fold, watered the garden, poured a drink and am now about to have and evening with Christopher Hitchens before my head hits the pillow.....Tomorrow is a steady day of working though another rough schedule and I bet I meet every target...LN