Friday 1st January

Well and now we start on 2016 and I wonder what it's going to bring!!  Fortunately the tablets kicked in so I've got most of my health back and I'll just wait for January to play out....

Seven twenty start this morning despite the fact that I stayed up and watched the fireworks bringing in the start of the New Year and very impressive they were.  I felt it was quite poignant that some events in Europe had to be cancelled and with the typical English spirit we were not moved and put on a dazzling display.  One of the advantages of the tablets is that one of the side effects is insomnia so I was watching t.v. until one forty five and finished off with Mrs Brown's Boys....I really love that programme and it makes me feel as if I'm laughing with them not at them...

So washing done this morning and pegged out for a change and I remember my mum saying that the better the day, the better the deed.  The wind was fair howling but I put lots of pegs in every hopeful that it would stay there and not find itself whizzing over the Downs and it did until we came home.  Just before one we set off for Princesses home for lunch and the food came up to expectations...delicious with a cherry pudding with custard and again stuffed to buggery so to speak.  It was an afternoon in front of the television as all good afternoons should be and we all settled in to watch Calamity Jane and found out that Doris Day is now cracking on ninety one years of age and the film itself is just over the sixty year mark.....amazing to say that there were no screen effects...a joy to watch.  Home for just after seven and I rescued the duvet, sheets and pillow cases from the line and they were all there and now put to air...  

As for photos...none of today it was just too windy, dull and typical of what it has been ever since I arrived.  I did manage to get some of the fireworks last night and so thought you might like to see some of them.  Now down for a fruit juice...LN....my body is my temple and is still and alcohol free zone...LN

Saturday 2nd January

Stopped up and watched Les Mis last night and really enjoyed it.  I saw it at the theatre in London but hadn't managed to watch the film.  I think the adverts spoil it though....I was playing Sudoku in between and then to bed.  I was awake at five thirty and down for coffee and I put a couple of crumpets into the toaster so that I could take one of the tablets.  I started to watch the new and thought that maybe I could get some more sleep in and eventually came to at eight thirty this morning.  Quick toast for breakfast and then up to the loft and a little more sorting and this afternoon to the tip to get rid of.  There's also a lot put to one side though for the little man who is going to find a home for most of the things....I'll look forward to receiving any funds into my account.  As for the weather...utter rubbish again with rain and gale force winds.

Into the Village furniture shop this afternoon since M wanted to buy a new mattress and the assistant was almost adamant that I should be trying the mattress out and as I sat down at one of the tables and started reading the brochure I asked if they delivered....to Bulgaria and his response was only in the summer.....I joked and said that I'd place the order nearer the time.  

Supper was smoked haddock with mashed potatoes and roasted parsnips and this is my all time favourite vegetable....so flavoursome.  Church in the morning and then out to lunch with Princess and co. at the local hostelry at one o'clock.  Just after nine my time and almost ready for bed....British television is crubbish...so many repeats and I might even resort to my Kindle to finish the book that I'm currently on.  I'd give up on it but at seventy five percent....I'll stick to the end.  The story's good but he just goes in to several passages of 'detail' that does nothing for the story.  LN....I'm bed bound...LN

Sunday 3rd January

So it was an eight o'clock start...the days appear to start later.  My chauffeur had trouble getting out of bed this morning so church was off the cards and I contented myself with carrying on with storing 'treasures' and getting rid of clothes until we were ready to go out for lunch.  It was absolutely chucking it down again and the rain was lashing so it was a quick dash to the car and a quick dash from the car when we arrived on the car park.  My ex remarked that he'd left his coat in the boot and suggested that since I was wearing one that I could go see if the back door to the pub was open and  it was and found Princess and co already at the table.  They commented on where number two was and I explained that I thought he would eventually appear when he realised that I'd found my way into the restaurant.  The couple at the next table thought this was very funny and as I suspected...he eventually appeared.

No one was drinking so the bar bill was very low and the food was acceptable for the money.  It's a nice opportunity to have the things I don't normally have like scampi and sticky toffee pudding and we all settled for main and dessert.  We left at about three and Princess had let me borrow her DVD of Frozen and I said that I was going to watch it later and was told to pay attention and that she would be asking questions tomorrow.  She phoned as I'd just finished watching it so I sang to her that I wanted to build a snowman....and she replied that she'd only phoned to say thank you for the meal....and the questions would be in the form of a written paper tomorrow...I better watch it again.

War and Peace has just started so it looks like a fairly early night to me.  News from the home front...we have snow but I've not checked how much has fallen.  I hope it clears for travelling down from Sofia on Thursday.  So a few pickies of the sea showing how rough it is and how damp, dismal everything is.....LN....Bring on the snow...LN

Monday 4th January

Last night I caught Joanna Lumley's start of the Siberian railway journey and she seems to be finding things that aren't in any of the guide books.  Well worth watching.

Eight start and it's going to be a bit of an effort to get out for the early morning taxi on Thursday.....but I'll struggle on.  Didn't bother with any breakfast and set about turning out my mother's old jewellery box and mine that I had as a girl and both of the musical boxes still work.  There's exquisite marquetry on both of them...one from Italy and the other from Switzerland but I doubt they'd be worth anything now.  Two more items into 'treasure' until I decide what to do with them,  Princess arrived at nine thirty and we were in the car soon after that heading for Brighton.  We parked in the town centre, did the shopping mall as she had things to take back, went down to the Poundshop for a few items for silly gifts, meandered for a while but with the weather being so shite were weren't hanging around much.    Over to Matalan on one of the out of town shopping sites but I didn't managed to buy anything...fortunately.  I'm still holding out for hand luggage and nothing else.  Back for lunch time and we had coffee and she went through a box of items that I'd put on one side for her to see if they were of interest.  She took some, discarded others that are now relisted in the 'sell if you can and if not, charity shop'.

Opened a can of salmon for lunch that I had with mayo and then back into town so that my ex could pick up some parts for his car and then into Lidl.  The choice here is so much better than in BG.....I think I'll have to drop them a few emails on product range.  Gammon was on the menu for tonight so we were looking for some leeks and there were none to be found in either Lidl or Asda so we settled for cauliflower but as it came nearer to supper time....it was gammon, egg and chippies....much less hassle.

So just booked my taxi and the lady asked if I wanted to book a return and I said that I was going home and didn't need one.  We then went into 'back for Christmas' conversation and the topic of the weather was at the forefront.  Webbed feet are starting to sprout and it's lashing it down again now.  I'm not used to it.  So time now for a little t.v.and then to bed....LN...Getting my strength up for the journey home...LN

Tuesday 5th January

So it was a slow start this morning but all the children's sleeping bags that are ready for the charity shops are bagged, labelled and are due to be delivered in the morning.  Wrestled this morning with a letter from the company that manage my shares and it was a 'what to do with it' so I decided to do nothing and await a cheque.  That'll do me and it should pay for Christmas.

Horrendous weather again this morning and kept myself busy inside,  I've packed yet again but now I have to find space for a 500 hard drive that I need to have in BG.  It has my photos on it from previous years and I know there is an easier way but I haven't the time to find it.  I phoned my friend A this morning since I missed her call yesterday and she arranged to come down this afternoon and we went for a late lunch at the White Horse lingering until five over a glass of ginger beer each....hers because she was driving and mine since I'm still on my tablets and we both went for really calorific puddings after what appeared to be a normal lunch.  Ah well.....back to normal soon and I saw her off with a big hug and a 'come out soon' and if her home situation was a little different I know she would.  We've just got to find a solution.  

So tomorrow I finalise my packing and I might even put a box together to post to myself.  I probably should have started it earlier but Christmas and New Year followed by my trip to the doctors got in the way somewhat.  So down now for a little TV before I rest my weary head.....I'm on final count down.....LN....Time for a glass of water and my last pill of the day....LN

Wednesday 6th January

Seven twenty start and I really need to get to bed early tonight if I'm going to make the four thirty taxi.  I've just realised that I have to go out and find a cash machine or I'll have nothing to pay the man.

All the 'stuff' for the charity shop was loaded into the car by twelve this morning and deposited fifteen minutes later.  This particular charity supports the village with bonfire night fireworks and lots of play activities for the local children so I don't mind giving stuff to them...there is no CEO earning mega bucks out of it.  The remainder has all been labelled and you can at least get into the third bedroom comfortably....  Number one son phoned this afternoon and we said fond farewells and my daughter arrived after work and stayed for an hour or so.  We both held it together well...the hardest part about going back is leaving people behind and for some people it seems like a long way to come / go.  For me it's just something I do and the bus from Sofia to home is four hours of being able to go to sleep and be refreshed when I arrive.  Had one of the locals strike up a conversation on FB and I let him know that I would be home tomorrow.  He advised me that there was ten centimeters of snow so providing it stays at that...I should have no problems.

So packing completed yet again and there are a few things I don't have room for but it won't be as long away next time.  I've got a big birthday coming up and it falls at half term so I might be back sooner than I think.  I'm ff down to the village to get to the cash point....bath, hair wash and early to bed...LN....One more sleep...or half of one.....LN

Thursday 7th January

So by the time I'd finished FB and set three alarms on my mobiles for 3.45 and onwards in stages, I took ages to get to sleep.  Ther first alarm worked though and I was up and at it, coffeed by four ten and the taxi was there at 4.20.  It was raining again as I headed to the taxi and Gatwick by five ten more or less.  I was confused by the check in though. I didn't have to show my passport on the way out so I think the boarding pass must now be linked to the passport agency and displays a mug shot.  It was strip down to bare essentials at security but sailed through and the gate number came up at five thirty and boarding started fifteen minutes later.  Of course there was the usual late party and we took off late.  There was a heck of a head wind as we lifted off and we were bobbed around for the first half hour of the flight until we'd got above it.

I slept most of the way, the bacon butty did the trick, taxi to the bus station and caught the one o'clock down and again slept most of the way.  Kardjali just before five and the Djebel bus was waiting and I was in my student's parent shop to pick up the Beast keys by five twenty.  Got bread and chicken wings, headed home, everything was as I'd left it, Beast back home and in the drive gas on, fire lit and now comes the slow process of warming up the house.  The thermometer was reading ten and I've already pushed it up to sixteen so I'll just keep the fire in overnight and I should be back to normal soon.  It has been in the double minuses while I've been away so what can you expect...It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow so I'll rely on free central heating from that big globe in the sky.

Just finished beans on toast and a second cup of coffee.  I'm not staying long on the landing at my desk....no radiators here and the doors to the bedrooms are all closed so I'm back to the fire and the warmth.  I've unpacked already so not much to do tomorrow.  I do need to get my road tax for Beauty and the Beast and my new driving licence from the police in Kardjali but those jobs can wait until I've settled down again.  I've had a good time in the UK...got an awful lot sorted out and sent to charity shops ...and I shan't leave it as long next time.....after all...family is important...LN.....Time to stoke up again...I've just checked the outside thermometer and it's minus four...brrrr....LN

Friday 8th January

And the inside temperature was still creeping up but too slowly.  I put two sets of pyjamas on, moved my chair nearer to the fire and still felt chilled.  As I sat sipping my coffee I heard a 'fizz' from the kitchen and a smell of plastic burning.  Now before I went to the UK, the Kindle that I'd dropped in the bath was placed in the oven of the kitchen wood burner so that it wouldn't burn my house down if it shorted out and laugh you might....I'd forgotten to remove before I'd lit the kitchen wood burner and the fizz was it exploding.....so that's not going to work again.  I carefully removed it and dumped it outside...ooopppsss.

So the only thing that I should have worn last night to bed was a hat...the rest of me was warm enough but the top of my head and my nose were cold.  I kept the fire going all night and when I woke up at five this morning I stoked up again and lit the little one to warm up the house.  I looked out and there was that morning glow, the huge morning planet was still visible but with a crescent moon and eventually the sun lingered on the horizon and did show it's head once the mist had cleared.

The Librarian phoned this morning and she came over to bring my frozen meat that she's stored for me and I cooked lunch for just after one.  As we were preparing to sit down I looked out of the kitchen window and there was a cow down at the bottom of the garden.  It had obviously got in but there was nothing to identify where and when I challenged it with a stick it couldn't find it's way out.  We decided to come back in and as we sat to eat, two of her mates were legging it in as well so down the garden we shot and realised that they were able to climb up the bank to get in but had difficulty getting under the barbed wire to get out.  Eventually we managed it but the crafty bastard bovine lingered to wait for us to go in and then tried again but this time I was ready with bangers and they ran like crazy.  I've gone down and reinforced it but more drastic measures will be taken tomorrow.

I brought the Librarian a Kindle Fire from the UK and we tried to set it up this afternoon but she has a slight problem with passwords...she can't remember them so I'm going over tomorrow to get her set up.  

Fires going, house OK tonight but it looks like it's going to be another cold one.  I've put another quilt on the bed and the hat is hanging on the bedpost ready just in case.  No supper for me and still no alcohol and I've decided to turn it into a no fly zone for January.  Lovely starry night tonight, clear as you like and the forecast looks good for tomorrow.  LN......It's good to be back....everything seems so open here...including my final boundary fence...LN

Saturday 9th January

I woke at three thirty this morning and remembered one of the passwords for the accounts that I was setting up on the Librarian's Kindle Fire tomorrow and it took me ages to get back off again.  I did get up and throw a log on the fire...I need to get the building warm and keeping the home fires burning is the way to do it.

I eventually came to at eight thirty and as I opened the curtains I saw that it was white over with frost and minus four on the thermometer so I emptied the ash can, topped up the fire again, made a coffee and settled down with a triple paper Sudoku and gentle flowed into the morning.  Unfortunately my peace and quiet was put on the back burner when there was a shout and my Painter had come round to welcome me back, New Year wishes all round and he pointed out the sand that had been blown from the heap and had landed in front of my door.  No sooner the word than the blow and he was moving the bench and the door pallet and looking around for the brush to start clearing it out.  I did ask him to stop saying that I new it had to be done and I'd get round to it but no...it was underway so I found out the shovel and a big plastic bucket and we were doing it together again.  All clean and tidy, everything back where it should be, the pig door bell is back in place along with the thermometer.  Off he went, I got the wood in ready for the day and decided that my morning was over and it was time to get washed and dressed...I was off to the Librarians.  I stopped off at Mrs D of S's on the way over delivering the  goodies that she left here when we set off for Sofia and the social secretary...yours truly, has made arrangements for next week when we'll all get together for our Christmas Lunch that we didn't manage to fit in at the end of last year.

Kindle Fire set up after a few hurdles to begin with....still trying to find the password for FB but I'm sure it will come out of the woodwork.  Lovely lunch that will see me through until tomorrow morning and I'm home now and have settled in to watch the women's darts final.  Only one photo today so I'll save it until tomorrow.....LN....I'm going to settle in for the rest of the match...LN

Hi Elsa, Glad you got home ok. I didnt hear from G/ princess at all. So I hoped she had a good time in OZ. Sorry I didnt get to meet up. Anyway, nice pics. Take care we are all ok here. xx Linda/