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/

Sunday 10th January

Thanks Linda..yes I got home safely and have had a few days settling in again.  The house is now back up to temperature and the walls have heated up...it's amazing what happens to buildings after three weeks with temperatures of up to minus twenty...   As to my Princess...they knew how far it was but it's another thing experiencing it and I think she would have but she ran out of time only being there for about seven days.  Next time....and so pleased that you are all keeping well and may it continue throughout the year....

So this morning it was a pretty late start for me.  I rescued the fire and lit the little one.  It was a dull start to the day and the wind cold so I eventually got dressed at around ten, got the wood in, took a pack of mince out of the freezer leaving it to thaw on the worktop,  Walked the estate and there have been no bovine attacks since Friday so I think the work I did has proved successful.  

As I went out to the little house I noticed that there was water between the glass and the frame of the door to the porch.  I eventually ended up removing part of the putty and you'll probably remember that the door frame wasn't square so there was a lot of putty packing going on.  So I removed some of it, eased the glass back in and got some brown silicon and packed that between the frame and the glass and I need to buy some more tomorrow to do the other pane.  I'm just a little concerned that the putty isn't going off quickly enough so I'll be out with the silicon and the glue gun tomorrow.  The other option is to get the new door frame and door in and it really wouldn't take much to do but it would be better to leave it until after winter so today was a temporary measure on a temporary solution to a polythene covered porch...

Cleared up my mess and got a bonfire going to get rid of the kitchen waste and empty tubes and got the makings of a shepherd's pie going.  I cooked the meat on the little wood burner in the kitchen but unfortunately it wasn't hot enough to do the potatoes and the oven wasn't hot enough to brown the top so it was back to the main cooker.  Temperature has gone up and tomorrow is forecast for fifteen degrees but tonight we are back to the zero.  

Supper finished, served with a dollop of brown sauce and it was delicious and as a tribute to my son I prepared and served it in one of my Christmas presents.  I was just finishing off my supper when there was a knock on the door and it was Haciber with a loaf of home made bread and it was still hot...she spoils me.  Still taking the tablets so I'm now on mineral water...it's going to be a long month.  Darts final tonight...I was amazed how little the women get when they become the world champion....I think it was only twelve thousand pounds and the runner up five thousand....let's see what the men get.

So tomorrow I'm off to Kardjali with my painter and taking Gouldjan into school so that she doesn't have to go on the six thirty bus.   I'm in there to collect my new driving licence in time for my next big birthday.  Enough for this time....LN...Ski Sunday, Darts...who says I don't enjoy sport...LN

Monday 11th January

So it was a three am start and so it was chuck a log on the biggie, I read for a while and then back to sleep until a respectable seven thirty.  The best sunrise since I've come home and it was well worth capturing.  Fire, ash can, coffee and then to horse since I'm doing the taxi run at eight thirty from the bus stop in the next village...Gouldjan to school and my painter for some shopping in Kardjali.  Both were on time and Cinderella changed her shoes and left her little black rubber shoes for her mother to collect later...  she handed me a couple of letter that had arrived while I was away and I really should check with the post office to see if there are others.  Dropped off Gouldjan and opened my letter from Australia and it was from Linda...so a big thank you ...with some super photos and other items.

Firstly to KAT for my driving licence but I couldn't get through to the lady that she needed the paper counterpart to return to the DVLA.  I left it at that and I've since found out that the document is no longer required in the UK so perhaps she knew better than I did.  So now my new licence has five years on it unlike the UK equivalent issued at the big birthday...that only has three years on it.  Over to Kaufland and I discovered that my usual head of police has now retired and was doing his shopping.  He asked if I'd got my new one and I reckon that he would still be walking round after a couple of hours with nothing in his trolley.  He was such a popular chap.  Over to Lidl for more goodies and picked up a  cork remover and a Pyrex five litre casserole and two packs of beer although I'm still being good.  It's for when I fall off the wagon.

Home for one thirty and my painter inspected the work I'd done on the door yesterday and he approved.  We'd stopped off at Djebel on the way back and got some more silicon and my painter has decided that it's his work to finish the job properly....that's how he works.  Dropped him home and gave him the wine box that I'd opened before I'd left for the holiday....I told him to throw it away if it wasn't good.  Settled in with my book on the sofa in the sun but unfortunately the eyes headed southwards and I woke up a couple of hours later.  Fire checked and the little one lit in the kitchen to keep that area cosy and now settling in for Pointless and Eggheads.  

Nothing for supper tonight...I might make a sandwich later...I've been nibbling chocolate.  Now to settle in for the evening...LN...I have snooker to look forward to as I continue with the sport's theme...LN  

Tuesday 12th January

So last night I lingered in a really hot bath but this time I didn't take a Kindle and it was just as well...yes I fell asleep but it's the norm for me.  I was in to bed by twelve and with the sleep I'd had in the afternoon I was expecting a sleepless night but it was a wake up at three thirty and I threw a log on and then back until seven twenty....fantastic.  I lingered with a coffee and played on the pc and was just about to start my breakfast and still in pj's when I painter appeared to cow proof my fence with the branches that they use here.  Not sure of the name but the cows hate it...huge spikes and really not nice to handle.  I got the log handled loppers from the workshop and off he went trimming the hillside with enough for me and Haciber but he had to use her long handled tool for carrying it back....it's really lethal.

So I had my breakfast and went out to help him which is the norm and my contribution was to get the wire cutters and the wire and head down to the section that he'd already done and secure it to the barbed wire and the fence.  I then found some wood as supports for the lower section and hammered them home with the club hammer.  I told him that I was going to pay him for his work and he said that if I did he wouldn't work for me any more to which I replied that I wouldn't take him in to Kardjali again so we reached a truce...  

Off he went to Haciber's and I cleared up the garden, watched the cows make a quick assessment and off they went down the field...result.  I was head down for a while this afternoon....I think it must be the fresh air knocking me out....or lack of alcohol...I'll have to monitor the situation.

Supper of sweet and sour pork under way and the rice is just cooking.  The pork was on offer at Lidl yesterday for only two lev and I've just tried a piece and it's very tender but it might have something to do with the pineapple and juice that it's cooking in.  So winding up for tonight...both fires going and it's toasty in but the temperature has been up to fourteen outside today.  Raining now so perhaps it's getting ready for the deluge and low temperatures forecast for the week end.  As for me...LN...Pictures and supper...LN

Wednesday 13th January

Seven start and the fire was just in and needed rescuing....but that wasn't difficult too do.  I decided though to clear out the soot from the top of the boiler, put the soot in the ash and took it down to the bottom of the garden finding my way through the mist.  I washed up from last night, sat down with a coffee and enjoyed the fire and the images that the flames and the smoke forms.

Sorted the kitchen, prepared boiled eggs and toast for breakfast and then it was time for a shower but mainly to get my hair washed...I was feeling bedraggled and unkempt.  Got partly dressed but had a towel round my hair when the phone went and it was Gouldjan asking if I intended going in to Djebel since she'd missed her bus, no cars had passed the bus shelter and I was her last resort.  I explained that I was sitting at the computer with wet hair so asked her to give me ten minutes to dry it but I noticed that it was the Librarian's birthday so gave her a quick call, suddenly remembering that Gouldjan was still in the bus stop.  Quickly into clothes, on with a hat and down to her village, picked her up and dropped her off and decided that I'd take advantage of being in Djebel.  I got my road tax for Beauty and the Beast and this year you have to produce the car documents so that there's a record on computer of car that it's been allocated to.  Over to the hardware shop for the silicon and home to dry my hair.

It's been a lazy afternoon.  I've watched the snooker final and at four fifteen I hear the door open and Gouldjan had popped in on her way back  from work.  We ended up looking at flights to Germany and it looks like we might be making a trip in May to see her boyfriend who has gone over there to work.....  Heated up last night's supper and have just eaten it while watching Eggheads.....kitchen needs sorting again...a woman's work is never done.

Tomorrow is a girlie day out in Kardjali and if Gouldjan can manage it she needs a lift in to sign up at the German Language School....it's now becoming real for her....moving over there to work alongside her man.  Eight thirty my time, fire needs a log on...LN...I have work to do...LN

Thursday 14th January

So yesterday I didn't have a sleep in the day and at three this morning I was wide awake and into my Kindle....doesn't make sense.  Anyway eventually I got my head down again and came to at seven and lazed around drinking coffee and playing on the various bits of electronic gadgetry  including making a birthday card for the Librarian to fill in time until I got my act together ready to head for Djebel for ten.  It was a misty start hardly being able to see the end of the garden but there appeared to be a late frost and when I came to get into the car it took me a while to clear the screen.

Everyone waiting for me and the Librarian decided that she didn't mind driving in and Gouldjan was on time and we set sail for Kardjali.  Dropped Gouldjan off and she was making her own way home, did the charity shops and picked up a rather super top for three leva and it's waiting for a cruise...Shoe shops had nothing much on offer and we filled in the time before lunch in Kaufland.  Mrs D of S had a good shop, I picked up a few things including a couple bottles of wine and I did remember nail varnish remover which had been on various lists and forgotten for the last few visits.  We parked up and went for a pizza and cheesy chips lunch, stopped off at a little supermarket as we walked back to the car and the final stop was Lidl.  I succumbed and bought one of the triple position ladders at much cost to myself but I'm sure someone will get some use out of it.  

Home for four thirty and got in the wood, lit the fires, made a coffee and up to watch the snooker which had already finished before the allocated scheduled time and promptly fell asleep in front of the pc.  I was woken up by the pig door bell and one of my neighbours was there with her children and had a letter for me.  It was already open and from my bank but there was nothing much on it that anyone could take any  information from...just as well.

Nothing for supper...I'm still topped up from lunch.  It's almost nine my time and the temperature has dropped but loads of stars out and a beautiful crescent moon....they all stand out so much since there is little light pollution round here.  I'm going to whiz round the channels to see if there is anything worth watching ....LN...Probably not and I'm down to the bread van tomorrow to get a couple of loaves for the freezer in preparation for the forecast snow fall...LN

Friday 15th January

Very, very slow start today and there was nothing to really get going for.  I eventually got dressed and did the chores, washing done and on the clothes airer since I didn't see the point of putting it outside.  Toast and coffee at roughly ten, washed, dressed and then got it two lots of wood so that I'm fully stocked up ready for what could be lashings of rain tomorrow and snow on Sunday.  I've also put two baskets of logs ready in the little house so they're easy to get at if the yard gets snowed in and a metal bowl and bucket so that I can empty the ash cans in the little porch.  How's that for preparation!!

Read for a couple of hours lying on the sofa and the temperature in the house was up to twenty two so reasonably comfortable.  The fire has been going none stop since I got back but it's ticking along nicely this year....the wood is dry and mainly oak and really burns slowly but with some heat.

Over to my students and stopped off for diesel on the way over but when I got there I realised that I'd lost my hat out of the pocket of my jacket.  Had a really good evening with the family and it's surprising the topics we cover and with opposing views and it gets very lively at times.  Two twenty somethings, two fifty somethings and me and Turkish serials going on in the background and tonight kicked off because there was a programme about dinosaurs on.  Was it the 'Big Bang' or what or who's behind it all?  Worth every penny that one.  They did have a nice surprise for me though...letters and a parcel had been held for me at my student's house since they knew I was in the UK and thank you DS....a beautiful calendar to remember you by all year...and a couple of cards from girls I used to work with.  

Stopped off at the garage and they hadn't found my hat lingering on the forecourt...and so I drove home and it wasn't on the grass outside my house.  I reversed into the drive looked at the back of the car and there was my hat on the back fender...the gods were with me...I love that hat but goodness knows how it got there or how it stayed there on the drive back.

Fire still going when I got in...another log to keep it in and now to bed.  LN...to my virtuous couch...LN

Saturday 16th January

Six thirty start so into the kitchen and made my lemon, orange juice, salt and honey mixture along with a cup of coffee and after throwing a log on it was back to bed for me.  I read until I got bored with the book, checked emails and did stuff on the Kindle, a little brain training on the DS and eventually got up at eight twenty.  

It was a bit of a dull morning.  The mist was rising along the road to Greece in the valley but it soon closed in the mist really came down.  I headed for the kitchen for more coffee and decided that it was a couple of poached eggs on toast for breakfast and they were done to perfection.  I don't like any movement in the white and the yolks have to be runny yet warm.  Not much to clear up so I put everything into the sink and left it for later.  Out for another load of logs so that if it does snow tomorrow I've got enough to keep me going.  I've read that we are supposed to have eighty centimetres of snow tomorrow....thirty two inches for the unmetric.

I settled in this afternoon doing what I do best in the winter ...reading until the eyelids go southwards and generally rest for an hour or so...then it was time for more coffee since it's still an alcohol zone but the resolve almost when today when I read on the internet that it's good to relax over a glass of red...but I abstained.  This afternoon the rain really came down.  The temperature is around seven degrees at the moment and if it had been cold it would have been white all over but instead I have a lake at the bottom of the garden and the sheep trails are covered in water and it's still raining now.

So supper was another shepherd's pie....the last one was so good that I thought I'd make another one.  Orange juice is my chosen beverage for tonight and it's just after seven here, watching a very peculiar programme on BBC2 about alien behaviour in animals...Time to head downstairs now and enjoy the evening.  I can't wait to get to the end of this book to see the outcome but it's another long one...I need a snappier set.  LN...I'm hoping that I can show you some white over shot tomorrow...fingers crossed...LN

Sunday 17th January

Well when I woke up this morning I thought it was half three and I was really surprised when I found out it was quarter after six...result...Fires were both going so brought them both into life and then back to bed with my coffee.  I looked out expecting a wet vista thinking how much rain we'd had last night culminating in a massive thunderstorm which fortunately I didn't see or hear a lot of.

Out of bed by eight and I needed to go down to the bread van.  The snow this morning was only a covering but if it comes down tonight, I wanted to put bread in the freezer so not to run out.  Washed and dressed, boots, hat and coat at the ready waiting for the tout of the horn and off I went clutching my two leva note.  Lots of the women from the village down at the van and I hadn't really seen any of them since I'd returned and it was good to catchup again.  Walked back with Haciber and while I was out I decided to get the wood in, empty the ash cans and have a bonfire to get rid of kitchen and toilet rubbish and then I could get holed up for the day.  I had some of the fresh bread with butter for breakfast, on to the sofa  and out with the book.  

Settled in this morning with a cooking programme and this afternoon it's the snooker final so we're half way through it already.  Supper is some pork kebabs that I found in the freezer, I sprinkled them with Cajun spice and into the little cooker with them.  Sitting at my desk in the twilight and I saw my hare belting across the garden...I guess he'd probably been after my beetroot tops.  I did manage to get a ghostly shot of it but it was taken through the glass so it's not that good and the little camera just hadn't got the magnification...Agh well, he'll be back.

Down for supper now and then this evenings snooker session....It's started to snow again and the temperature is dropping rapidly and it's supposed to be minus ten tonight...LN...Stay safe everyone in the UK and I wonder what will stop tomorrow...my van made it through...LN  

Monday 18th January

What a brilliant outcome for Ronnie last night.  I stayed awake to watch it and was so pleased when he won.  He was so focussed last night at at times was very clinical...congrats...

Well it was seven forty this morning so it's getting better every morning.  Fires, coffee, breakfast of scrambled eggs this morning done on the kitchen petchka, washed, dressed and ash can, wood in and then it was what can I get up to now.  It was only half past nine.  There was a thin layer of snow and it was coming down very gently.  Checking the thermometer it was up to or down to...however you want to look at it...minus five this morning.  The overnight washing ended up on the airer in the bathroom and it's now ready to put away.

I read for a while and did the usual email and FB updates.  I've at last finished the book that I was reading my Donaldson and I'm so pleased I have.  It was a fair futuristic yarn but much too long for my attention span but I can't manage to put the book to one side and go on to the next...I have to persevere....The snow stopped at around eleven, the wind got up and blew the snow around but then it subsided and then the sun tried to break through.  It didn't really make it...there was little blue sky around..just a wintry glow.

I had a brief afternoon nap on the sofa, ended up with biscuits and cheese for lunch and Haciber came round with the local yoghurt drink and asked if I'd seen the new photographs on FB of my Avatar's grand-daughter.  I fired up the Kindle, got it on the internet and was able to show her the said photo of the engagement party including my Avatar in the front row.  She was so pleased...I think the village hears about these things but don't manage to see the photos especially since it's all happening in Germany.

Pointless, Eggheads but Filmon has tended to freeze frame quite a lot today.  It must be something to do with the weather.  The moon's up tonight but there were no sightings of Harold Hare this evening but a lot of the snow has gone from the hillside so it's leaving my beetroot alone.  The moon is up and it's a fairly clear sky and the forecast is a very big minus for tonight and on that note, I'm about to close all of the curtains to retain some of the heat that would otherwise disappear through the windows.  I've already drawn the curtain between the lounge and the stairs so that area stays really toasty.  LN...I'll be checking out the thermometer tomorrow morning....LN

Tuesday 19th January

Seven thirty start and it must be because I'm as snug as a bug in a rug.  Both fires were handing on this morning but there was no resuscitating the biggie it was too far gone so I stuck a fire lighter under and it was still reluctant.  Having said that, they have both gone like a dream today with little effort.  I was mentioning to a friend on the phone the other day...this year it might be down to the wood or that I'm more experienced in the art of wood burners.  

Toast for breakfast, the morning chores and had a bonfire.  The poor cats aren't doing very well at all...there's not a lot of waste and when I throw out the bread for the birds, the cats leave it alone so they can't be that hungry.  There was a glimmer of lightness about this morning but it was a mighty cold wind.  I started reading one of the new books that I'd put on the Kindle and after two chapters I was on seven percent...now that's much better and there are about eighteen books in the series...I'll keep you informed.  I phoned the Librarian to see if she had fixed her mobile after I told her to take the battery and sim card out and it did the trick...I could get through.  I am an engineer....

Haciber and Beyser came round so that she could see the pictures of my Avatar's grand-daughter's engagement on FB and I handed her her late Christmas present.  Haciber had had hers the day after I got back so she was a happy bunny but the other one wasn't since she'd not got hers.  I also took Zelinger's down round about lunchtime and had to stop for a slice of cake and a banana juice drink...I think they're trying to feed me up and I can do that on my own.  I was back for two and settled down with my new book again until I nodded off for my afternoon siesta....I came to at about four, put potatoes and onions to roast and a couple of chicken legs in the oven and then set about preparing a pudding.  I'd got lots of apples so I cored six of them, stuffed them with dried fruit, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and covered them with honey, and into the oven with them.  I took two served with a dollop of cream over to Haciber, two for me and two for tomorrow....delicious they were.  I did tell Haciber that the dish was hot, she didn't believe me but soon did when her little fingers started to get warm.

Supper over and stuffer, just after nine my time so I'm thinking of putting the boiler on to heat up the water for a bath and then to bed.  Don't know if anyone caught the programme on Egypt last night....I was tired but managed to stay awake to watch the end...brilliant stuff.

Temperature is going down tonight and is threatened at minus double figures but at the weekend it's supposed to be going down to minus twenty-one which is the coldest that I've ever known it here.  Wish me luck although the house holds up well with all the insulation I have.  So LN...I'm so rested yet it has been a good day with the neighbours....I'm really settling in again...LN

Wednesday 20th January

So I didn't get my bath last night...too comfy in my own coating.  Film on was playing up last night so after Eggheads it was back to the book and finished it this morning.  I woke up at silly o'clock so threw another log on and didn't have a wink of sleep in me so read for a while and eventually I managed to get another hour in before I started my day.  Usual chores but I appeared to have enough wood in so didn't do that until late this afternoon.  I reckon to have another weeks supply in the garage and then I clear the little house first before I head into the workshop and I must have about eight cubic meters left ...easy on.  Very cold morning and the sun just about broke through but then it clouded over and the temperature is rapidly dropping now.

Laminated the photo for Zelinger and decided to take it down to her house but I should know now to look at the pairs of little rubber shoes outside each house on my way down.  I did check on Beysers and thee were none but as I got to Zelinger's house, Remsie's husband was just leaving and said that there was no one home so back I went and took a punt that they were all in Haciber's house and I was right.  I asked her what she thought of the baked apples last night and she said that they were delicious but not to mention them in front of the others.  I was invited into the lounge and the ladies' group was all present and correct so I handed over the photo and immediately got the same one back from Haciber who wanted me to laminate hers.  I joked that there was a small hole in my sock at the toe and there were several pieces of thread hanging from it and Zelinger took it upon herself to darn it all back together for me without me even taking it off.  I kept waggling my toes and got told off...I love it when it's the simple things that make them laugh.

Back home and made some chicken soup for tonight from the remaining chicken leg and then down for my afternoon siesta.  Came to around four thirty, sorted the fires and then settled in to some interesting conversations on FB, a little Candy Crush which I had loaded for me but I really don't like it and some Sudoku.  I found a book that I've been searching for for a while and it wasn't where I expected it to be....I was guided to it...thanks.  I think I'm in for a sewing day tomorrow...I have so much lavender that I really should start making some bags probably in red and white so that Gouldjan can sell them for her school funds for Baba Marta...or March the 8th....Ladies' Day..Now's the time to get going on it ...there's nothing to do outside.

Curtain ceremony about to start...it's just an added protection against tonight's forecast of minus nine.....LN....Log and supper time...LN

Thursday 21st January

Well it was a four o'clock start again but this time I threw a couple of logs on. made sure the little one was going and headed straight back to bed.  No silly nonsense of having to read to get back off.  Six twenty was the second awakening and it was still dark out...not even a glimmer except from the wood burners but that was OK.  Absolutely toasty in and wouldn't have it any other way.  I do feel sorry for those that have not thought...central heating and concentrated on one room.  If you're burning wood...make it work for you.

Coffee and back to bed and reading until eight...well it is winter after all.  Shower, hair washed and I cut about three inches off it before I dried it.  I did forget to put conditioned on it and the frost today has made it so fly-away...so much static and it really didn't help that I put on an acrylic hat to get some of the chores done.  Washed up from last night and prepared a poached egg for breakfast and I did have visions of getting more eggs from the bread van but with wet hair I wasn't going out...it was still lots of minuses out there.  

Laminated Haciber's photo and when it came to do one of mine I realised that the rollers were not rolling and so despite it getting hot...nothing else was happening.  I delivered hers to her and there was the normal tea morning going on and I refused admission...I'd got my camera with me and wanted to take a few of the frost on the garden.  I walked by the frost on the fence wire on Beyser's house several times and not captured it so this time I was prepared.  Spent a while in the garden with the camera, went to get a couple of screwdrivers to take the laminator apart and Emula came into the garden to see if I was heading for Djebel and it was a no from me.  Fixed the laminator but it does smell a little warmer than normal so it might be knacked.  Wood in and then it was settle down for my siesta which seems to have become the norm.  

Out and about by four and watched the birds in the garden.  There is a pair of blackies that are very busy, a flock of starlings descended, grazed for a while and then flew off with a flurry.  Lovely calm evening with no wind at all....and fairly clear sky so down we go again and just managed to catch the last of the sunset.  LN....a very restful day...LN

Friday 22nd January

Three o'clock start and that's the last siesta I have from now on.  I read for a couple of hours and then managed to get off again until just before eight o'clock.  Fire patrol and both still going, coffee and out with the Kindle and checked emails and FB using the little one from the comfort of my bed.  Moved upstairs and fired up the PC and did the Daily Mail Sudoku, checked my horoscope and really didn't understand it at all and settled in to one of the emails I have with lots of videos attached.  Heard the gate go and looked out and my painter was in the yard.  I went down the stairs in my PJ's and went out to see if he wanted anything.  He was dressed for town and he said that he was going into Djebel but the bus had gone so I asked him how and he said he was going to walk.  I asked him to give me five minutes and that I needed to go in for potatoes, onions, mayo and eggs and he did suggest that we walked together.....and yes...that's going to happen then.  He came in to wait for me and it was ten minutes but we were in the car and heading for the grand metrolops.  I managed to park up in the main car-park despite the fact that it was Mosque day and we arranged to meet at half eleven and went out separate ways.  

I headed for my student's parents shop but she was a little busy so I sat there for a while and then headed for the market and managed to get the onions.  Back into the car, down to the little supermarket on the way home and picked up the items that I wanted and back home for half twelve.  I stopped off and gave my painter a litre and a half of wine that I'd got from the coffee shop  and no money changed hands...I dropped him off and I came back with beetroot and leeks from his garden.

I read for a while and had a coffee and a big fat cake from the shop and headed out to the garden and washed the beetroot and trimmed the leeks and then it was all go in the kitchen.  Beetroot on to boil, leeks, onions and potatoes for the soup and peeled and cored the old apples so that I could stew them.  What an afternoon in the kitchen and so for supper it was the said soup with smelly cheese and toast with apples to follow.  I'm full as a little tick and hopefully....I shall sleep like a log tonight.  

Nothing much on the cards tonight and unsure whether I want to go into Kardjali tomorrow or just enjoy the day.  I think I shall be freezing some of the soup tomorrow...you can only eat so much.  Almost full moon tonight and the wind has been cold all day so it could be a real humdinger tonight...LN...Fingers crossed for a solid night's sleep...LN

Saturday 23rd January

Success...straight through until six thirty this morning.  Coffee, fires and back to bed with the Kindle.  I love my early mornings.

On to the PC and searched for my painter's number but couldn't even find my phone so it was ring the English phone to find the Bulgarian one and it's another good reason for not putting both sims into the one phone.  If I lose one...not a snowball in hells chance of finding it.  As it happens it was next to my purse on top of the freezer in the kitchen...now where else would it be.  One of the places I thought the number  might be was in my brown notebook and that was last seen in the Beast so out I went making sure that I had keys to get back in the house.  At minus lots this morning the last thing I wanted was to lock myself out.  Found and studied the book...no joy so I decided not to go into Kardjali after all.   Poached egg on toast for breakfast and I road tested a poached egg bag and I shan't be using them again. To finish off I had another of those lovely fat elairs  

Messengered Mrs D of S to see how she was and the Librarian was going over this morning so I contacted the Librarian to ask if she could bring over the mince meat that she'd got me from Zlatograd.  All arranged.  Lovely drive over and I stopped to take photos of the icicles on the rocks on the way over there.   I took some leek and potato soup over for Mrs D of S, the mince meat was delivered and I gave a couple of bags of it to her, the Librarian had brought cakes over and it was like Christmas but without the wrapping paper.  I came back with a pack of butter since that was all I was heading into Kardjali for from Mrs D of S's stash....we were all happy bunnies.  The next date is Thursday...weather permitting.

Home for just after one and took more photos on the way back and the drive through the forest was very picturesque.  My fires were still in so just needed a top up and filled up the baskets with wood from the little house.  I watched the tennis from Melbourne this afternoon, read for a while, soup and stewed apples for a late lunch and now I've finished for tonight.

As for the temperature it's not got over minus three today and at five tonight it was down to minus five and I think it's going to drop by a lot more.  I'm about to shut up shop....there's the last dregs of the sun going down and a lovely frozen mist hanging over the mountains to the west....LN...Same again tomorrow please...LN

Sunday 24th January

Normal activities except that I went out to find out what the temperature really was this morning.  Fires still going but only just but easily rescued.  Very lazy day on the FB.  I'd posted several photos of my sister and myself and there were lots of comments and another conversation I got embroiled in was over the merits of heating systems in Bulgaria but it seems that we have an expert about to move here so he will be the answer to several maiden's prayers providing them with the technology for electric balanced flues...It ended up with me inviting a crowd up to his place for Christmas day and he was cooking the turkey....

Eventually I managed to get dressed...I sorted out the remains of the wood from the back of the garage and brought it into the house, got the sweeping broom and cleaned the area and it now looks much tidier.  Now I know it's only a garage but there you go.  Went into the little house and got some of the old wood that burns really well in the little wood burner in the kitchen and found the axe and chopped up more kindling from the old wood.  It's good for perking up some of the biggies if they fail to ignite immediately...not known for much time wasting if it can be done quicker.  Cooked up some hamburgers that I'd got out of the freezer and forgotten about.  Served up with fried onion and a fried egg they've kept me going all day though I did only managed two of them and the others will go in the soup for tomorrow lunch.

Gouldjan came round to help me with the internet order for the cartridges for my Lamy pen.  I'm not sure that she's seen cartridges before and it took us a while to find them.  All ordered, paid for, will be delivered in the next couple of days from Sofia and cheaper that on eBay.  What's not to like about it and emails confirming the actions that will be taken.  Remsier came round with her grandson this afternoon and I handed over my final Christmas goody bag to her.  I'd just not managed to get round to delivering it.  Gouldjan acted as translator as Remsier immediately moved into Turkish and off they trotted clutching the bag.  Gouldjan then went off for her afternoon nap, woke up about an hour later so I got the Beast out and took her home since the temperature had really dropped and she was only in her little jacket.  The just don't learn...youth of today.

Large shepherds pie in the oven and should be ready shortly,  Today is the first day that I was tempted to open a bottle of red but I said I'd go without until the end of January and I will.  I settled for water instead.  

Busy little place today.....but a happy place at that.  House toasty, LN...I've got some eating to do...LN

Monday 25th January

Six thirty start and I had to rescue both fires again and it was a little chill this morning.  I realised that the ash can was more or less full in both of them so out I went to empty them in the bucket and couldn't make out the thermometer but I know it was quite a few minuses.

I was still handing around in my PJ's at nine thirty and on the PC and reckoned that the big fat cake that I'd brought back from Saturday's get together would fill the gap and it did.  Unfortunately it didn't sit very well on an empty stomach but eventually it made it's way down so that it could get processed.  I did get dressed eventually, went through a box of papers that had sat under a table for a while and put the ones that I wanted to keep to one side and the rest were burnt along with the rest of the kitchen waste.  Wood in from the supply in the little house...the intention is to clear it.  I checked over the pot plants and they all seem to be surviving well and the bottle brush is again flowering along with the geraniums.

Read for most of the afternoon and the name of the author of this set is Sue Grafton.  She's very cleverly titled her books starting with A and working her way through and the next one for me is D for...and I forgot but at least I know which book is next in the series.

Supper was the remains of the shepherds pie with a portion getting frozen down for another day.  I couldn't manage it all and if I'd have put it in the fridge...it would have got thrown out. Only one photo today.  I missed the sunrise...I was much too busy and too much nestled down on the sofa this afternoon.  No siesta for me though it was close at one point and now at just before seven, the curtains are closed...it's going to be really cold tonight and tomorrow snow is forecast but we'll wait and see.  There's no moon tonight and there's a cloud base so they could well be right.  I did have a phone call this afternoon from the Pen Shop in Sofia...my ink cartridges will be delivered tomorrow...LN....What a speedy service...LN

Monday continued

All change...sky cleared and the moon came out...LN

Tuesday 26th January

Happy Birthday today to my nephew and I shan't divulge his age but I used to take him out in the pushchair when he was a baby and looked upon his as mine.....I think that some people thought that he was....None of the pain and all of the gain...and he is one that's made it out here and stayed be it only for a few days...an excellent guest.

Usual chores this morning and as predicted there was a slight snowfall but nothing to write home about.  I went out and cleared the terrace with a shovel in the absence of a snow shifter and messed around on the PC and read for a while and my phone went and it was the courier service asking me where my house was in Dushinkovo.  So in broken Bulgarian I told him it was on passed the old school and mine was the one with the long stone wall and he found it.  I was outside at the time, saw the van and went out to meet him.  I didn't have to sign for anything...my cartridges for my Lamy pen have arrived...and cheaper including the postage than eBay.

I realised that it was twelve o'clock and I'd missed the post office to get a birthday card off so started the next book in the series and headed out for Djebel at just after one.  By this time the roads were clear...the sun was out and it was a pleasant drive through the forest and I slowed down to take a few photos of the countryside.  In to the post office and letter sent, down to the garage so I could have the oil, water, brake fluid levels checked and my washes filled up with screen wash.  Total for the work including materials...fifteen lev...try that in the UK.  I'd remembered to take a bag that I'd brought from the UK as a present for my student and he came down to the garage so I handed it over.  It was one that I'd had from T Mobile as a promotion LG light rucksack and he was really pleased with it.  

Over to the garage shop and sat down with my student's mother and spent time with her in the shop.  Today was a particularly slow time so we had time to chat and covered loads of topics.  I also handed over the flip book that I'd brought to help the younger child learn a few English words and I suppose he'll be on my list soon for a few English sessions.

Home at just after five, rescued the fires, got some chicken wings out of the freezer and into the over with them.  I peeled a couple of potatoes and shredded a large onion and they went into the oven too....not much hassle with this meal.  Pointless and Eggheads but Filmon froze up quite a bit tonight and it was almost to the point that I switched it off...but I stuck with it.  

Cold out again tonight and the sky is clear and the moon is up.  The stars really do shine here, so visible since there is little light pollution.  I did bring a chart back with me from the UK showing the position of the stars and planets in the different months of the year...and just have to learn how to read it properly.

So nothing on for tomorrow so far....LN...Soon be bedtime for me and into my nest I'll crawl...LN

Wednesday 27th January

So today I have to say happy seventeenth birthday to my grandson CJ.....where did the years go?  I have some super photos of him taken on route but they're going to stay in my private collection....but I might dig a few out and embarrass him on FB later.  That's what Nannas and  FB are about.

Silly four am start so read for a while and eventually settled back and came to around seven.  Really hard frost last night and the grass was white over so I got the big wood burner ticking over.  I didn't bother with the little one...the sun was out early and despite the clouds drifting over, the frost was melting somewhat and at last it appears to be going from the little house roof,

Breakfast was a portion of a bun loaf that I bought from the supermarket and lashed it with butter.  I couldn't be bother to make anything special and settled in to read my book and that sums up the theme for today.  I didn't go out to get wood in until five thirty tonight since I appeared not to have used very much today at all except that I did want some of the small stuff for the little wood burner.  It was at that point that I noticed that the sun was going down so it was out with the camera and captured a few but am only posting a couple.  

Kardjali tomorrow with the girls and a search through some of my material samples for a project for Mrs D of S....If we don't find anything in my goody box we can always pick some up tomorrow.....Heard of a new restaurant that we haven't been to before in Kardjali so we might make a trip out if all are in favour....LN....I'm about to settle in for the night...LN.

Thursday 28th January

Two o'clock toilet break and then went off again until seven this morning...result....It was completely white over again and a heavy ground frost but it didn't seem as cold as it has been over the last few mornings.  I only sorted out the big wood burner, we were out to the grand metrolops today so the little one had a day off.

I sorted out soma material off cuts as requested and one of the things on the shopping list was to find some wadding for stuffing what was about to be constructed by Mrs D of S.  We worked out that my offerings are more basic but functional where where she likes to have a touch of flair about her arts and crafts.  Into the car and off to Kardjali picking up one of the locals on the way and it's a good job he didn't understand English, the conversation was definitely for women only and he wasn't blushing when we dropped him off so we were safe.  First stop was to see if I could get my glasses mended...I snapped the arm off when I was in England but there was no one home, down to the leva shop and we all came away with things to enrich our lives...well maybe and then on to the cheapy Thursday bargain charity shop and I managed to pick up a super black evening top, a summer casual top, a see through evening hoodie and an emerald green scarf ....all for the grand price of one leva and fifty stotinki....and that's about sixty five pence to you and me in old money.  

By this time it was twelve so we headed off for the new restaurant that had been recommended to me and were we impressed.  The portion sizes are huge and we really over ordered and managed most of it and the bill was very respectable.  I'd not taken my camera but the Librarian has some on her camera which I forgot to take off before she left.  Lidl, Post Office in Djebel and we stopped for a coffee.  Gouldjan was spotted walking along the street so I called to her to see if she wanted a lift home and we picked her up outside the school as agreed.  
She's off to visit her sister in Turkey next week and I might just be making the trip with her for a few days....rude not to .....  

Fire belting out ....both going since it's supposed to be minus five again tonight..Really clear sky and lots of starts out but still waiting for the moon to rise...LN....I'm down stairs and back to my next book...LN

Friday 29th January

Very lazy day doing very little...one of those 'could have'days.....

Normal routine starting at just before seven but had nowhere to go, no one to see and it was fine by me.  I did have one visitor ....Haciber came round and gave me four chocolates that her sister had brought over from Turkey and she was really pleased to tell me that she had 'gosti'.

Sorted the little house porch out and restacked the bags of coal.  I chopped some more starter wood so that it's ready for if it gets cold again but today its been in the middle tens and tonight, it's got colder but it's not down to the many minuses that we've had for the last few weeks.

I've still not made my mind up about going to Turkey.  The weather here looks really good for the next week or two and Turkey is predicting rain.  I think I'll leave it until later in the year...there'll be other times.

Lovely evening tonight with my family...we had some giggles about some really rubbish television and I've just emailed to say that I didn't meet any bears in the woods and that I've got back safely.  The fire was out so I've just given it a lift with a fire lighter and some of that lightweight wood that I mentioned earlier...I'm not used to it being out...LN...Going down to check up on it...sweet dreams...LN

Saturday 30th January

Well all the say through last night and what a good night's sleep I had.....I felt so refreshed this morning and as soon as the mist had lifted we had a really warm day.  I had about three jobs on the go this morning.  I did light the fire early on but as the sun came up I let it go out.  I boiled the kettle to put it down the shower pipes and added a dollop of bleach and decided to unscrew the glass from the oven and give it a real clean bearing in mind that I've never done it before,  I've only had it for five years.  I seemed to bring everything into play and ended up with a facial scrub to clean it off to perfection.  It gleams.....

Got the book out and sat on the sofa in the sun reading with the door open.  Today had the feel of a Sunday about it and it probably had something to do with the fact that I had no real work on the go.  I must admit though that I'd notice that there was a smoky smell yesterday and the fire was a little reluctant to go so I headed for the workshop, found the industrial hoover and the flue brush and I was ready for action.  It doesn't take long to do but I'm aware that once you disturb the pipes there is the potential that if you don't put them back properly...you get more smoke than you had before you did anything to them.  So there wasn't much soot up the pipes but it was an opportunity to give the wood burner a complete going over including putting the hoover pipe down the back of it.  It must be something to do with the sun being out..so much activity....

I must admit sitting out in the sun there was a big temptation to get a bottle of beer out but there again....January isn't finished and I didn't succumb....Lovely sunset again....and it's supposed to be another good day tomorrow.  I've decided not to go to Turkey....I just love my little life here and I don't know the family well enough....too much standing on ceremony.  So almost nine my time....LN...Let's see if there is anything on Filmon tonight...LN

Sunday 31st January

So that's one twelfth of the year gone already...soon be Christmas.  Looks like winter has gone with it until it comes back to bite us in the bum as it did last year.  Plus twelve in the sun but the wind did have a bit of a chill to it.  Poached eggs for breakfast bit didn't bother with the fire since the house had held at twenty degrees overnight and the sun was out so no need to take any other measures.  Washed dressed by nine thirty and got settled into the book until about eleven and then felt the call to action.

I decided to sort out the seeds that I'd collected last year and put some semblance of order into them.  I also got some into envelopes to send to Princess to give to the school...it might encourage a few of them to start growing things at home.  Sorted out the bonfire heap and lit the bonfire...it seems I still have visitors every night taking it apart looking for food.  I found the garden fork and spade and headed down to the garden by the lilac with the intention of turning it over.  Unfortunately there's lots of grass got established but as I turned over the ground I came up with several sets of bulbs that haven't hit the surface yet so I gave that up as a bad job...it should be easier when they break surface.  I did find my first snowdrop though and it could be my only snowdrop....not any evidence of any others to date.  As I came up towards the back door I noticed that there was a piece of amethyst quartz on the window sill.  The last time that I saw it it was at my painter's wall so I think he's gifted it to me.  So sweet and since it's my birthstone...it's going to be treasured.

Came in at four and got the fire going and it's so much better now that the pipes have been cleaned out.  Hamburgers and chippies for supper with mayo and tomato sauce and then came a catastrophe.  I'd seen a recipe on the internet where you use puff pasty and apples to create rose flowers so I thought I'd give it a go after supper.  I took the frozen pastry from the freezer, washed and slice the apples and did what I had to do with them, tried to roll the pasty and it didn't want to go anywhere.  I made the apricot jam wash to put on it, laid the apples out and as I tried to roll them, the apples shot out and landed on the worktop.  Not to be beaten I thought I have another go and this had the same result.  I'm blaming the pasty at this point so it's all in the bin and it took me less time to clear up the mess than to create it.....back to the drawing board Cecil.

Lovely sunset again this evening and it lights up my house as it's going down...a lovely afterglow.  I might head into Djebel tomorrow and get my hair cut properly...I tried to do it myself but it looks as if I need a professional round it.  Just after eight thirty my time and what could be my last day of abstinence without I decided to go for another month...LN....I might just do that....LN