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

Sunday 9th August

Six fifteen this morning and it was a joy to watch the sun come up as I drank my coffee.  I sat watching the martins and there was a flurry of activity and it was almost as if the rest of the gang were enthusing the babies to join them in flight...they'll be off soon.  

I was out watering my garden when one of my neighbour's daughter descended and unfortunately she thinks that I understand Bulgarian like a native and speaks very quickly.  I get most of it but not all so end up saying things like...a-ha...a-ha...but she doesn't seem to slow down.  I got the gist...she was passing and wanted to get out to get some of a bush that they call 'trun' which they used to intertwine against the hedge line to keep out the bastard bovine and sheep.  It's got huge spikes on it but she explained that she has to do it before the sheep are out because of Semile's sheep dogs that are dangerous and she said that she was really frightened by them.  She liked my fence and then set about collecting seeds from my petunias, tobacco and other ones she obviously doesn't have in her garden and asked for something to keep them in so off I went to get her an envelope.  She also commented on the honeysuckle so I sent her off with quite an advanced cutting.  She put everything in a polythene bag, hung it on the fence and went about her business saying that she'd pick it up on the way back.

So on to my list for today.  I replaced the pipes to the wood burner, washed the towels so that everything is fresh, started to wash the windows and realised I'd left it too late and it was drying them as soon as I'd put the water on.  It was an impossible task so it's been moved to tomorrow morning's list.  I went over to see my Avatar who was mending her fence with the new wire I'd brought from Djebel the other day.  She asked if there was anything I wanted from the garden...I think she's on countdown until she moves over to Germany to her son for the winter.  I'm not sure she's looking forward to it....I've told her I'll go over and see her if she gets bored...

Really hot this afternoon so I was in watching Filmon TV and the swimming championships from Russia.....It all seems to be a run-up for the Olympics.  Phone call from my expected guests to tell me that they've just crossed over the bridge from Romania to Bulgaria and are unsure whether to do what they have to do in the north or head down towards me stopping off in Sofia tonight....Everything is ready...their choice not mine.

So lovely sunset tonight and I believe my birds have flown and I missed it.  It's going to be quiet from now on.....no continuous chirping for food and aerial displays.  I shall be able to clear the poo pile from the little house terrace...and put it on the flower pots.....extra nutrients.  So I've just caught my Avatar checking out the work that she did on the fence this morning...she asked me what I was doing and I said that I was having a little beer and watching television and how difficult my life is and we had a laugh about it....

So no supper tonight...I had cold meat, chips and a fried egg for a late lunch so not up for much tonight.  Windows in morning and I'll try the extendable window brush tomorrow with the hose.  It could be fun and it will be early...pictures will follow.  LN....It's been a good day, items on the list have been ticked....LN

Monday 11th August

My birds have not flown the nest.....they were hanging on despite the encouragement from lots of the other martins.  It's almost like they're willing them to take flight...

Normal start to the day but went down to the breadvan and came back with a cheesy bun and sat in my Avatar's garden and we chewed over the fat.  She goes to Germany in October and I thought she would be going by car and I was most surprised that she is going buy air with her daughter in law.  I told her to remember her false teeth but she said that they clatter so much and she can't eat with them and I likened her to a stork and the noise they make.....I think she's frightened about the plane but I told her that if she needed me....I'd be there.

Final flip through with the hoover and mop and bucket and house work finished by twelve and still unsure at that point when my guests would arrive.  They had work to do in the North of Bulgaria and so I headed in to town for some last minute top-ups and got the call that they would be with me at nine thirty.  After town I lay on the hanging bench and nodded off for an hour or so in the sun so hence no photos tonight.  I think there are some on the camera but the camera is still outside with the Kindle...it's been that kind of day.

Got supper ready and we sat and munched our way through some cold stuff and a couple of bottles of beer.  They've bought me over the batteries for my camera and more strimmer blades so I could put them to work tomorrow....let's see how the day pans out.  They're in bed and I shan't be long into my nest.....Nice couple to have around....LN.....

Tuesday 11th August

I was up and about this morning at six which is pretty normal for me but I was aware that I have visitors so I crept around and concentrated my efforts outside.  I grabbed a coffee, watered the garden and the pots and sat enjoying the morning.  I was aware last night that I didn't post any pictures so there are a few of last night and yesterday and the flurry of activity was in the Martin camp where the world and all its friends were trying desperately to encourage the little ones to leave the nest.  It was almost a 'come on, we can't go without you' and at one point it seemed that there were several feeding the youngsters.  

By eight thirty I was getting hungry and there was a little activity from my guests so I got the frying pan out, sliced up some tomatoes, got the bacon going in another and recognised that they needed this to get activated.  They'd had a pretty hard slog down Europe to get here so no pressure when they arrive...it's all good to me.  They love it here and refer to it as a bubble of tranquility...what a nice thought.  So toast and jam and marmalade to finish off and then it was a morning of watching the birds and finding places in the garden to get out of the sun.  It's been a beautiful day without the threatened thunderstorm and their washing was in the machine, out on the line and back in in quicksticks.  Lunch was a cold affair and back out and I did a few repair jobs with the sewing needle, a couple of beers over lunch and we retired to respective corners of the garden and I for one fell asleep on the swinging bench.  Came to with coffee and I got out the strimmer and took the heads off the few wild things that were growing and into the kitchen to get supper underway which turned out to be very successful.  

They've wended their way to their room and I'm about to go to mine....I've still got a glass of wine to go so it might be a few Freecells before I hit the sack...LN...And tomorrow's agenda is a visit to Kardjali and up to the lake for lunch which will be a first for them....LN

Wednesday 12th August

Again I was out watering the garden at six thirty and everything was going swimmingly until I pulled at the hose and broke the connector to the outside tap...bummer.  Took the thing apart as best I could but it took two of the kitchen jar undoers to do the job properly.  What a fly passed this morning...the martins were still doing aerial aerobatics and I am still surprised how many we have lingering outside the house.

I was down the street for the breadvan this morning and we had cheesy bread and banichka for breakfast with coffee and so for me there was very little to do.  Into Kardjali this morning stopping off briefly at my student parents shop so that my guests could say hello and I went into the hardware shop to get the parts for the broken hose.

Kaufland, Billa and Lidl for finding the cheap booze to take back to the UK, back home and we sat inside since it was hot out and I got supper underway...barbecue sweet and sour pork with jacket potatoes and that meal really does itself.  Desert was ginger cake and two was all you could take of those.  My guest have just showered to go to bed refreshed and I'm thinking it might be a good thing to do....LN....I still think they are trying to get the two little ones to fly the nest...LN

Thursday 13th August

Normal start but the potentilla has been cleared of weeds and an Ariana bottle with two little holes in the top has been filled with manure and water and upended near the plant.  If it looks better in the morning I won't dig it up, put it back in the pot and put it into intensive care.  It topped thirty six today and there was a drying wind....fingers crossed it's going to be OK.

Trip into Lidl Kardjali this morning for the folding ruler that calculates angles and I bought myself a ten metre extension lead as a back up....and six bottles of Ariana as another back up...that's what having guests is all about.  Called in at the garage shop and made arrangements for Saturday night and they recommended a fish restaurant that I've only been to once before and it's good.  There should be about eight of us so enough to make a party but since I'm having to take the Beast...I shall be without alcohol.

Lovely supper of cheese, onion and potato pie with extra cheese on the top, topped off with gammon and pineapple.  It was a first for me but it worked very well....and served with brown sauce.  The meal was finished off with ginger cake biscuits....and now they are tucked up but not in...it's far too hot tonight....Just one photo taken by my guest as I sat and sewed buttons on my blouse....LN....just don't look for a review on Trip Advisor...I shall deny all knowledge...LN

Hi Elsa, Tips on keeping the dreaded Mozzie out.... spray before bed. Fan in ya room to blow them off course, Sandalwood soap when you shower, and if you are type O blood they love you more....lol Oh well you can only try. Good sleeping. xxxx

Friday 14th August

Thanks Linda....I'll see what I can manage to buy out here.....

Usual start but it was a little damp and cold this morning at six thirty and I ended up putting a t-shirt over the vest top that I'd slept in.  My guests were snoring their little heads off while I got on with my chores and sat on my swinger to do a paper Sudoku.  I got started on breakfast at eight thirty more or less and we were sitting down by nine and can someone please tell me where the rest of the day has gone.  As we finished breakfast the electricity went off and it stayed that way until eight this evening.  We sent off to Djebel to try to log on to a free internet at the spring fountain on the way but couldn't get connected so we assumed that the mast was down.  We carried on to town, I went to pick up the sheets that I'd ordered and she promised they would be ready in an hour and so off to the cafe but again they were having issues with the internet to back to the sewing shop and they still weren't ready.  Promised but not delivered....she might now be off my list.

Stopped off at the supermarket and grabbed a few things for lunch and out came the salad since there was no power.  We stayed in since it was a hot one, the clouds came over and we had...two minutes of rain that did absolutely nothing for the garden.  Off I went to my Avatars to confirm that they whole of the village was out and I noticed that there is a new bus stop at the bottom of the road near the square.....brilliant...they are resiting it and Emula was moving part of an old stone wall so that it could fit snugly against the rest of it.  It looks good but I'm so pleased that it's there not here.  

So supper was a chicken with caramalised onion cooked on top of the gas ring of the cooker and it was delicious.  We'd got ready made salads and just as we were about to serve up, the electricity came on so we didn't have to resort to wind-up lamps and candles.  So we've put the world to rights, discussed some controversial subjects, supped some beer and soon it will be time for bed.  I've just had notification that I can download Windows 10....to download or not to download...that's the question...  LN.....shower and bed....chilled day...LN

Windows 10, I and many others are not touching it for a while yet, let a few of the bugs get ironed out first.

Lots have said no problems with it, some have problems, so for me it is a wait and see game, maybe six months.

The free upgrade is valid for a year, so no rush.

Trev

Sunday 16th August

Well last night didn't happen...by the time that I came to post for some reason I was having real issues so I decided that it would be OK to skip a date.  I was trying to import pictures from other cameras and there was no getting them to the size that I wanted....I know what I know and be buggered if I can work out some of the other stuff....

So yesterday was a good day and we ended up at the fish restaurant in the mountains with my student's family from the garage and a new guy on the block who's made his way over from Greece and is buying here.  I was driving since the guest's car isn't too good on rough mountain roads and I was unsure of the road surface.  We stopped off on the way and picked up Mrs D of S and got to the venue a little after seven thirty and shown to a very private table to seat around twelve people and ordered the drinks...beer for the others and water and orange juice for me.

The family and guest arrived and the food had been pre-ordered so we didn't have to wait long before it started arriving on the table.  Mixed green salad came first closely followed but a local tomato, onion and cucumber with cheese on the top and then two huge plates of fried fish and potatoes cooked with peppers and oil.  Lots of toast, small green peppers were the next to arrive and the conversation ceased and let the eating begin.  What a lovely night and when the bill came we really couldn't believe it.....seventy six leva which is roughly the equivalent of just under five pounds each for eight biggies and the little one was free.  So home for about ten thirty and that's when the fun began with the internet so now you have it folks.

Up by six this morning and watched that huge red ball hit the mountain top and it had been a cold start to the morning and it was very welcome.  Lots of mist around this morning defining the individual mountains which seems to have been missing for a while....maybe we're heading into autumn.  I did a little gardening this morning and burnt the bathroom rubbish and stayed pretty quiet until my guests were mobile.  Tomatoes on toast for breakfast since my Avatar brought me another bucket of the things over yesterday so this morning I picked two from my garden and took two over to her.  She'd got builders that didn't get the joke but she did.  

Sleepy valley this afternoon here and we all retired.  Supper of chicken wings with roasted onions, potatoes and sweet potato is finishing off as we speak but I wanted to make sure that I posted earlier tonight.....so let's see what photos I can manage today...LN...I'm keeping fingers crossed.....LN

Monday 17th August

Lovely start to the morning and while my guests slept...I removed the grass from the flower beds and did a general tidy up.

Emula was lingering to ask if I was going into Djebel but I said that In would be making the decision later on.  Down to the bread van and back with bread and cheesy bread ,,,something to munch on until breakfast is ready.  Looked like the beginnings of a thunderstorm as I pegged my washing out and off we set to see what we could occupy ourselves with for the rest of the day.

Fund out way to the oldest mosque in Bulgaria and was shown round by a very kind gentleman.  The story goes that seven men went off to war and didn't come back so they built the mosque in their memory.    No nails were used in the process except for one that holds the shoe horn to get shoes on after a morning praying.  Lunch at another restaurant with swimming pool and fishing facilities.  As it was we did neither but enjoyed their offerings of other food. Home for five via Djebel where we stopped off for beer to go back to England with my guests....rude not to...the prices are so good.

Supper of sweet and sour pork chops with jacket potatoes and braised cabbage followed by home-made banana ice-cream and I thin we used every chopping device available to man and me to reduce the bananas to the required state.  The washing up is a task for tomorrow and now to say LN....and see what photos to post...LN      

Tuesday 18th August

So I said goodbye to my guests today and I sent them off with a packed lunch which will probably see them back to the UK....English hospitality...

Lovely morning and I watched the sun up but it's getting later.  Shame my guests missed it at six forty....but hey...they're on holiday.  Tomatoes and bacon on toast for breakfast....into the car by nine fifty and off.  I got the washing underway, on to the computer and caught up with the messages on messenger that I hadn't responded to and organised my next few days.  Thursday swimming with Mrs D of S and the Librarian.  The season is drawing to a close so you have to pull out all the stops.

Spent a lot of the time this morning on the telephone and asking why I have to prove my existence to my bank after being with them for over twenty years...doh...and again on to the SORN guys to find out why the renewal certificate had not been received for my Calibra.  Good news in that the SORN  on the car is automatically renewed but I still have to prove my existence to my bank.  I suppose I shall have to translate everything...my electricity bill here hardly looks the same with my name in Cyrillic...

Very lazy afternoon and watched Filmon tv and this evening it was Pointless, Eggheads and back to my normal routine.  I must admit I decided that I would have a bath at four this afternoon, promptly fell asleep and woke up just in time for the TV....my way of relaxing.  The beer was out by three this afternoon and it hasn't stopped since.  

Out tomorrow for supper at my students...not much thought of food tonight...I've eaten for Britain and Bulgaria for the last few days so a few days of abstention will do me fine....Catch up day today with all and sundry...LN...I'll soon be back to normal...LN

Wednesday 19th August

What a morning it was...not only was the mosque going hell for leather but the dogs, cats and anything that could burst forth were ...bursting forth.  Not much change of lying in for much after six thirty.  Normal great orange ball in the sky for starters ...I settled for coffee and out to the terrace to enjoy if and just enjoy the morning.  It's pretty quiet now it's back to being just one.  

Melon for breakfast and again I took that out on the terrace and set about watering.  My painter came round with a few pairs from his garden and offered to resume work but tomorrow I'm out if the weather holds which I doubt it will.  We have severe rain warnings for the whole of Bulgaria and a drop in the temperature by ten degrees which isn't as bad as it sounds.  It will probably be down to twenty six.

Shower and shampoo, on with the bikini and onto the terrace for a top up suntan until it got too hot to be out there so I moved onto the swinging bench.  I was reading for a while but then I thought it was time for a few zzz's and half dozed for an hour or so and a chunk of cheese and a bowl of ice cream later reckoned it was time to catch up on the internet.  The sky was clouding over and there appeared to be rain in Velikdenche which is the next village over and suddenly the heavens opened and so I was out to collect the cushions from the benches and stash them under the terraces.  I was still in my bikini and my goodness....that rain was cold.

Over to my student's house for six for supper and it was good to see the family again.  They have their Istanbul aunt over for a few days and I've been invited to stay with her and I might take her up on it.  The range of topics up for discussion is huge and this is then translated for the rest of the family into Turkish by my student and we really do have a fit of giggles along the way.  Not much success with the lottery cards purchased from her father who works for the post office but the two lev winnings were invested in another card and a big fat zilch....was the final outcome.

So into the car and home for ten fifteen but I tried the internet just to tell them that I'd arrived safely and not got eaten by a bear in the forest and it was down.  I reloaded and just as I'd managed to get on and leave a message...the phone went just to confirm that I was home.  Really caring people.

I think tomorrow's swimming is off but I'll literally take a rain check on it tomorrow.  If it's not good I'm sure the three compatriots in crime will find something to do with the day....LN....Sorry no photographs today...I was too busy taking the sun and me in a bikini...I don't show to the world......and now I'm off to bed...LN

Thursday 20th August

Silly night last night.  I ended up asleep in front of the television and woke up at two watching a film and it wasn't even a good one.  I did catch Anne Robinson's comparing lifestyles and found it very interesting.  Switched the film off without finishing it and it was still a six thirty start for me.

Promised thunderstorms for today which never came to pass.  We almost called off the swimming but decided that if the weather turned by three in the afternoon that we'd still have had a good day in the sun.  Over in the Beast to Mrs D of S for nine thirty, we had coffee and over to the hotel in Motel but we looked at the pool and it didn't look very clean so we piled into the Beast and headed off for the infinity pool restaurant that I ate at the other day with my guest.  We were there for just after ten so settled for soft drinks, checked out the weather and off we went to the pool, down to swimming gear and we were in the water for eleven and we were the only ones in there.  We swam for about half an hour, out into the sun and dried off and got another of the brown stuff on, another swim and then lunch.  I was impressed with the lunch the other day and we settled for more or less the same and it was only me that did the swimming after lunch.

Packed up as the clouds gathered but still so sign of rain by three in the afternoon.  Into Benkovski to pick up bread and basic provisions, ice creams all round and dropped the Librarian off by four.  Carried on to Mrs D of S' above and topped up with coffee to try to breathe some life into us.  It was too late to sleep but with the sun and the swimming...we were very relaxed and sleepy but the coffee got me home safely by about five fifteen.  The Beast is back in the garage and did it in one fell swoop....no toing and froing.  Shopping unpacked and as the wind got up I had to secure the canopy on the swinging bench....I had visions of it ending up in Greece.

Pointless, Eggheads, washing done and it will be dried inside.  There's not much chance of it staying on the line tonight.  Nine thirty my time...I'm not going to sleep tonight in front of the computer....and heading off in ten minutes or so with the Kindle.  I'm determined to finish the last fifteen percent of something that I should have put down long ago but I do stick with it.  

I'm picking the cranberries tomorrow and some are for me and the rest for my student's sister or all for her and she can make the juice for me.  That seems like the easier option.  Nothing else on the agenda so far for tomorrow.  My painter might be round to do the benches and chain saw some of the wood that got gathered as part of the wall building...it's all weather dependent.  LN.....and just a few photos tonight...LN

Friday 21st August

Very cloudy start to the day but I lingered in my pit and suddenly realised that my painter would be here soon so out and up and at it.  I was on the computer when I saw him in the garden looking for me so down I went and it was all action go from his time of arrival.  He has a lovely sense of humour....so we go for what we consider must be 'patented' and we both put up ideas.

The bench was taken apart and the struts of the bench are lined up like soldiers on a firing range and are now covered with 'lac' and they look a darned sight better than they did before and one more bench to go.  I think I got it wrong.  It should have been wood preservative not 'lac' but it will do for this year.  And the second bench gets done tomorrow.  Haciber came round with six pancakes that got put into the kitchen until I could do them justice.  I covered them with sugar and lemon...it was a reminder of pancake day in the UK...

Meanwhile I was busy digging up the plants that I'm watering that are not being productive.  The tomatoes have now been strung up on the cucumber.  It has been so dry and my garden has no substructure that I was watering but to no avail....The cucumbers have gone...the tomatoes have been rejigged and I'm happy with the outcome.  The aubergines have been ditched, the peppers are on their way out, the bean seeds have been collected ready for next year and my garden for this year is not exactly abandoned but it is due for mouth to mouth with lots of animal droppings.  I dug over the beds and tomorrow I'll barrow the cow droppings onto the beds.

So my painter disappeared after lunch so worked a half day and tomorrow he's assembling the bench that has been done today.  The second bench is done tomorrow and he's good value for money.  When he left I closed down the house, took my Daily Mail sudoku to bed and promptly fell asleep for the next three hours.  I think the tiredness at having guests is now coming out along with the high temperatures that take their toll.  Got up and watered the garden and some of the plants were really desperate....but there are less of them now that I've done the cull.

Very gentle evening...television...but the temperature has dropped today to a very comfortable mark on the scale.  Not much on the cards for tomorrow except for my painter who is insistent on reconstruction or destruction of the second bench.  My next guest arrives in ten days....not so much to do this time in readiness....LN....it's been it's own sort of day...LN

Saturday 22nd August

What a very chilled day…and I’m not only speaking about the weather.  I had a really good sleep yesterday afternoon and I was expecting the worst but I did manage to go through until four thirty which for me is good.  Unfortunately it was a bloody mozzie that aroused me from my slumbers so out with the spray and not sure if I annihilated the flying excuse for an existence.  Heard the gentle rain drops from heaven descending so went downstairs to move the bench cushions from the table to the bench under the kitchen balcony so that they didn’t get absolutely saturated.  

My painter arrived as promised but the second bench was just too damp to start on so we put the first one together, together and had an accolade from my Avatar.  My painter was not to happy at his daily rate and decided to reduce it…and I said that it was OK as long as he would allow me to throw in a bottle of beer to which he agreed.  Too wet to work for me so off he went to do some internal painting in the village but came by and asked if he could borrow one of my brushes….Agreement was reached and off he went on his bike.

As for the rest of the day….it’s been so cold that I lit the fire, put on some socks and a sweatshirt and watched the athletics from Beijing.  The highlight for me is following Jennifer Ennis-Hill and Mo Farrar who had an incredible victory over the Kenyans.  Their decision to work as a team didn’t work out….they had nothing in tank to beat him…What a performer.  As for now…the internet provider has decided top pull the plug on the antenna and so I have no connection to carry on with the viewing.  I’m writing this in word and will update later if I get the opportunity.

So bacon and eggs for breakfast, Turkish Pishmania for lunch which is like whipped sugar from the funfair and not sure what supper will be….I’m having to work up to it….LN….as I said …such a relaxed day with the central heating still pumping away…and it’s August…LN

Sunday 23rd August

Well woke up last night in front of the computer and I realised that I was watching Calendar Girls so realising that I knew the ending I switched off and went to bed.  The result was that I woke up at just after eight this morning so grabbed a cup of coffee and legged it out to the swinging bench and took in the morning sun.  Much warmer this morning after yesterday and the need to light the fire.  Checked out the garden and the terraces and I noticed that one of the benches that needs renovation was missing,  I'm hoping that my painter has removed it and has taken it home to renovate or.....it's gone to a new home.  I'll wait and see...all should be revealed tomorrow.

The sheep were making a real din this morning and I think it was because they are hungry and some of them had managed to get out of the field and into the lane where there was obviously food.  There is so little on the hillside because of the hot weather.  Out to the garden and it was a weeding exercise and a removal of the spreading honeysuckle from the new front wall.  It's spread all along the wall and is impeding some of the other shrubs planted there so now has been removed.  The escallonia is doing really well as is the choisya in a very difficult year...it's just been so dry.  The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the world athletics championships and I must admit that a tear fell when Jessica managed to secure the gold medal for Great Britain.  Such a brilliant athlete...beautiful on the outside and also it appears on the inside.  The men's' one hundred meters was billed as the high light of the day and I have issues with this.  I wanted Bolt to win...the American contenders were drug rehabilitates and that disturbed me.  If you are taking drugs to enhance your performance and you know that's wrong...the punishment ought to fit the crime and two years suspensions reduced to one year for assisting the authorities sucks to me.  

Back out to the garden and did a little more on sorting out the grave garden beds and then back in and now the rugby is calling me.  Beans on toast for lunch so there is no need to head to the kitchen yet.  I must admit that I've got the urge to get the chip pan out and the mayo....all will be revealed.  LN...I'm now on to the rugby....LN

Monday 24th August

Well it was a late start for me but no one was knocking on my door to start painting.  So the enigma of the missing bench was solved.  As I was looking at the house in the morning sunlight...I noticed that the bench was in the little house...it has not been stolen.  Now it has to be painted and displayed.

So today I was out in the garden at seven thirty and worked on the garden.  I cleared lots of weeks, found shrubs that were seriously short of water and got to work on them.  The weeds have seriously taken over this year so it's different than it's been before...Worked in the garden until ten...in for a coffee and the out again until twelve and then it got really warm so I was ready to settle in to the athletics from the world championships.  They are not fully watered and the weeds have been removed so that they don't take all the water that is available.

Phoned my daughter this afternoon for an update and got to grips with the UK...I think Christmas in the UM might be on the cards...'ve been away too long. Watched the athletics most of the afternoon and then out again to move the hose so that all the plants got a good watering.  It turned out to be very hot this afternoon after a couple of days of thunder an inclement weather....

So out again at six and the hoses were once more moved around the garden to top the plants up before nighttime.  Supper tonight was fishfinger sandwiches and it's gone down very well...

There is nothing on the cards for tomorrow except that I am out of butter so I might make my way into Kardjali for a bit of a shop....I might make a few phone calls to see if there is a playmate...LN

Tuesday 25th August

Late start this morning but I did make the sunrise with the garden hose in my hand.  I was round the garden with the hose extension making sure that I covered all the bases.  Yesterday was so dry again and by the look of the sky we were in for it again so I wanted to give the rest of the shrubs a chance.

Down to the bread van and there was an altercation that I didn’t understand.  Haciber was attacking one of the other neighbours and wrenching something out of her hand and I hadn’t a clue what it was all about….obviously in internal issue.  I walked back from the van with my loaf and a cheesy bread bun and I sat in my Avatar’s garden and she poured out her woes….I gave a few ums and arghs in the right place and I was home for nine fifteen.  I sat out watching the martins and for some reason there were two back in the nest on the little house and I was fair bombed.

I couldn’t get started this morning.  I’d done my watering….I’d brought the buckets of cuttings out with the intention of potting them up but they remain in the buckets.  It was hot today and as the temperature rose I moved inside and by two my time I was watching the World Athletics run up.  I got a telephone call from the UK and chatted for a while and then another from Ms D of S asking if they could come round for coffee.  Mr D or S is over for a holiday, white as you like and carrying a little more weight than he left with.  He is obviously having a more sedentary life than he had here.

So congratulations to Mr Rutherford for achieving the gold medal.  Unfortunately I think he will be spilling some beans when he gets back to the UK.  Such a shame but it’s a difficult time for athletics with all of the drug revelations.  

Lovely warm night again…sunset beat me again but it was good having friends round today and doing the tours once more and catching up on local gossip. Thursday could be a swimming day and Sunday could be a day of local traditions in one of the villages near here.  Roast chicken for supper and now back to the television…LN….a very relaxed day…LN

Wednesday 26th August

Again I was awake before the sun came up and as I looked out of the window I couldn’t fail to miss the one cloud on the horizon being lit up like a halo.  About a minute later there was another light making its way across the sky and I assumed it was a plane.  We don’t get many going in that direction at that time of the morning but I didn’t stay out on the balcony long…there was a distinct chill in the air.

I sat out with a coffee on the swinging bench and just took in the morning.  It was so calm and there was real heat in the sun when it got up there.  I watered the shrubs just to keep them topped up and at eight I saw my painter heading up the road on his bike so he obviously had work.  Decided that today wasn’t the day to do nothing so I took the second bench apart, put the screws and nuts and bolts into a jar with a little oil in it, it will get rid of the rust and make it easier to put them back in when it’s reassembled.  I was sitting out in the sun taking off the old lacquer with a shard of glass which is the way that I always used to do it.  At just after twelve thirty my painter arrived and he’s round tomorrow morning to carry on my good work.  He showed me a soup tureen that he’d bought from the lady he was working for and at five leva it was a bargain.  So off he went with another bottle of his beer from the back of the garage and at one I settled in for the athletics until I heard the gate go and Gouldjan arrived with her boyfriend and her nephew in tow so we sat out on the terrace with glasses of apricot juice and discussed some of the plans that they’d made.  A long way to go though before they tie the knot.

Cold chicken for supper and I attacked the ice-cream from the freezer left over from when my guests were here.  I’m finishing off the apricot juice with a little gin and topped up with tonic water….it makes a change from the beer.  Swimming tomorrow so once I set my painter to work…I’m off.  I might be picking Mrs D of S up on the way alternatively she might be on waitress duties keeping the workers supplied with coffee or it if’s really hot…beer.  Nine ten my time and it’s going to be an early night for me…LN….that weather looks good for tomorrow…LN

Thursday 27th August

So today it was a six forty start and I did not the sunrise but I had the sleep of the just….nine hours for me and it was a record.

Sat out with my coffee and my painter arrived at seven forty to start his day.  I told him that he was early and he said it was because he hadn’t got a watch so he is promised one for his Christmas present…So he set out stripping the wood planks from the bench and he reckoned that my way of stripping the lacquer with a sliver of glass was better was his….I said that his way was quicker than mine and since I was paying…he should do what he does best.  At nine twenty he said that he needed wood filler and so I set off for Djebel despite the timescales and delivered so he could continue while I set off for a day of lassitude.  I arrived back at nine forty with the requirements and set off for my day of sun, swimming and cheesy chips.

Over to the hotel and coffee, water, and there was a lovely student who remembered my Librarian…and we had very cheap swimming and a lovely lunch.  I stopped off at KD of S and had a drink with them.  Back to mine …. unpacked shopping and checked that my painter had been busy and straight into the world championships.  

I’ve had a lovely day …enjoyed my sun, pool and at the end of the season topping up my tan….it has to be done.  LN…tomorrow I’m into Kardjali and topping up the fridge…LN

Friday 28th August

Again I missed dawn....sleepy valley after yesterday's exercise but did I feel good.  Watered the garden this morning to give the shrubs a fighting chance since it was forecast to be a really warm day.  My painter arrived at eight with his shorts and Kardjali day out gear and I helped him to start the assembly of the bench then he sent me inside saying that he could manage...wrong.  The last central strut on the first bench was off centre so it was easy to work out whether the struts were the fight way up.  This bench was central strut was pretty central so it was easy to put them the wrong way up....I had a shower, went out, identified that six had been mistaken for nine and we started again and eventually all was good.  My painter wanted to put them both benches together to ensure that they looked like they were a pair...and they do.  

The Librarian arrived at nine thirty and by ten the bench was finished, all the paint pots were put away and the three of us set off for Kardjali.  I was unsure whether the painter wanted to go off on his own but he decided to tag along and what a lovely day we had.  Mania for starters and I only bought some placemats.....into the shoe shop and apparently there was a notice in Bulgarian that you should not try shoes on without socks and this was pointed out to me by the painter and I joked about speaking Bulgarian but not reading it but if I'd really tried I could have managed it but I chose to ignore it.  As it turned out...I didn't buy them anyway.....and on to the next.

Billa first and they had Zagorska on at special so we purchased a couple of six packs, over to Kaufland and they had Ariana on at special and so we topped up with that and then over to Lidl where they had both beers cheaper than we'd paid but not by much so there were no tears shed.  Back to Djebel and picked up bread for lunch, unpacked the shopping, frozen stuff in the freezer and chilled in the fridge, painter home on his bicycle and the Librarian and I sat down for lunch finishing off with ice cream from the freezer.  What a star the painter has been today....so helpful and good at humping beer.  Librarian home and taking been for delivery to Mrs D of S and I got in the washing and went down to see my Avatar who had mixed plaster and was replacing some that had fallen off from the outside of her house.  What a star.  

We sat out in the garden as she wanted a rest....we were joined by three other neighbours and we had a lovely chat and Hacibar was concerned about a cow that was down the bottom of the village and the cow man's son arrived and chased it back up the road hanging on to its tail.  Lovely sunset tonight and we're in for a full moon but it was far to light to actually catch it when it came up.  It's been a lovely day.....LN

Saturday 29th August

So out this morning with the hose pipe and gave the shrubs a good watering.  I was intending having a lovely lazy morning with nothing much to do until three this afternoon.  Poached eggs on toast for breakfast dropped on top of some slices of ham, sat out and demolished a couple of nectarines, a cup of coffee and decided it was computer time before I had a shower and washed my hair.  I managed to do today's and yesterday's Daily Mail sudoku in quickstick and after my shower I sat out on my bedroom terrace in my bath towel, dried off and just took in the sun.  Got into a pair of jeans, dried my hair and settled in to watch the world athletics relay races and managed to get a couple of coats of varnish on to my nails.  As I said it was a really hard morning....not.

The Librarian arrived at just after two catching me out still in jeans and underwear so I threw on a top and left for Kardjali getting there at about two thirty.  Into Kaufland for some more beer since it's on special and off to the fete worse than death that we'd been invited to.  Now the activity was supposed to start at five but there was little or no activity in the square and I think I'll put it down to a lack of Bulgarian language on the part of my English host.  Things eventually started to warm up by eight, there was live music and fireworks, it was in full swing by ten and we left at ten thirty to drive home.  I'd been nominated from the short list of one to be the chauffeur and it was as well.  We got all the way to Djebel and were flagged down and it was a little confusing for the policeman since it was a right hand drive vehicle and he was expecting a left hand and was looking over at the Librarian.  I asked him in Bulgarian what he wanted and I think he was taken aback.  He asked me where I was going and I told him home and that I lived in Dushinkovo and by this point I reckon that he couldn't be bothered to go through the rigmarole of documents so he said goodnight and waved me on my way.  

All is safely gathered in....the Librarian is tucked up in the downstairs bedroom and I shan't be long before I crawl off to mine.  LN...another enjoyable day and if they had a hotel in the village where the even was...we would have been booked in there not here...LN

Sunday 30th August

Well I woke up at six thirty but I didn't want to make too much noise so that I didn't wake the Librarian.  As it happens when I came down stairs at seven thirty she was in the lounge with a coffee already.  We sat chatting for a while and the I heard the breadvan arrive so I legged it down the village to top up on provisions.  She didn't stay for breakfast...she'd left the dogs out last night and wanted to get back to check that everything was alright and I've heard nothing so I presume everything was OK.

Stripped the downstairs bed after the Librarian left and it's now all washed and ready for my guest tomorrow. He likes the downstairs bedroom...it maintains it's temperature and is normally cool.  It's now made up ready.  Brunch was tuna mayo sandwiches on the fresh bread from the bread van and it was delicious.  

I watered the pot plants and on to the pc to check the overnight and for a late breakfast I had tuna mayo on fresh bread and it appears to have done me all day...I'm not into eating tonight.  The beer did come out at just after twelve....I settled in to the last day of the athletics with my glass of beer and watched the afternoon's entertainment.  

Not much activity this afternoon...much too hot to do anything.  I've just finished watering the garden tonight to give them a fighting chance overnight...it's going to be as hot tomorrow.  Nice sunset tonight and managed to capture it...but no moon to date...it's a little late tonight.  LN...Filmon TV and a little beer...what could be better...LN

Monday 31st August

Really lazy start this morning and I was awakened by my phone going off and it was my new guest advising me that he was sitting on the aeroplane...gee thanks.  It did spur me into action though so I made up the bed with the newly washed sheets, made up the guest room just in case he fancied moving out of the downstairs bedroom and off I went to Gouldjan's house to get some Bank forms completed for the UK.  She was baby sitting her sister's little ones and I ended up doing a jigsaw with a two year old and going though the animal pictures on the box and making the sounds.  He now knows what noise a pig makes but since they are Muslim...maybe I chose the wrong animal.  Don't you just love little ones especially when they fill their nappy and no way are they letting you take it off to put on the new one.....took me back a few years.

The water was off today and has only just come on this evening.  I went into Kardjali at four this afternoon and arrived in plenty of time for the bus down from Sofia..I had trouble parking in the bus station and ended up doing two circular tours before I dumped it in the middle of the carpark in full view of the attendant and indicting that I would only be a couple of minutes rescuing my guest from the bus.  All went well...he'd had a long day so into Djebel, picked up a few things from the local supermarket and we say out with a bottle Ariana while supper cooked.  Chicken wings with potatoes and onions done in oven and those that have stayed here know it's a firm favourite of mine....in it goes, out it comes with very little intervention.  Washing up has been put to one side for this evening...tomorrow is another day.  First day of settling in and the invitations have already started for the rest of the week....No photos tonight, although it's a lovely moon..I've been far too busy....LN....I have a guest to see to...LN