Wednesday 1st June

Welcome Sarah….I shall have to make the effort and head the Beast out in your direction…

What a lovely start to the day…I opened the curtains and there was a very red sun coming over the mountain.  I grabbed the camera and made my way outside and took a few shots and posted them on FB for those lazy ones that don’t manage ever to see the sunrise.  There were lots of ‘likes’ so at least it was appreciated.

Out for the bread van this morning and beat most of my ladies and was first in the queue.  I came back with bread and cheesy bread and the cheesy bread was my breakfast.  I sat out on the terrace with that and another coffee came in, washed the dishes from yesterday and it was still only nine o’clock.   I did go out with the intention of starting on the bottom of the garden but instead deleted loads of junk emails that had found their way to the ‘Inbox’ and it makes me wonder who sold what to whom to make my email visible.  So the time ticked on and it was twelve before I burst into anything like action which soon faded and it was back to my book.

I headed to the kitchen at three and peeled potatoes, carrots, sliced onions, collected broad beans from the garden and made a mixed vegetable salad.  I hard boiled some eggs, took some mince out of the freezer and made hamburgers.  I plated up two lots and trotted over the road with one for my Avatar at about five.  She commented that it was like a restaurant serving and later brought the plate round saying that it was very tasty.  Everything washed and tidied away and I’ve really enjoyed a day of doing very little.  More of the same tomorrow please….LN…The decision will be mine….LN

Thursday 2nd June

Comedy playhouse last night in my village.  I looked out of the front facing bedroom window and my Avatar is out there with her wheelbarrow and loading it up with the gravel put out by the council for spreading on the road.  Now this had all been renewed in April when bad weather was threatened so there was quite a pile so crept out with the camera and boy did she jump....and then we fell about laughing.  I called her the thief of the village and at that point my other neighbour arrived to help in the removal so I did take the photo.  My other neighbour slung the shovel over her shoulder and off they set but stopped about five yards on and I realised that it was hard work for my Avatar.  I commandeered the wheelbarrow after much deliberation and set off for her house.  I am now party to the theft....ah well the three of us in prison will have a great time.  

So this morning I was up at the crack of but there was a slow start to the day.  The sun didn't break through until about nine and it was pretty grim all day.  I printed out the photo and ran it through the laminator and delivered them both at copy at eight this morning and again we chuckled about the night time antics of the village ladies.  Out with the strimmer to tackle the outside of the front wall and up she came again with the barrow in the daylight to see what she missed.  Poor pickings so to speak.

That was about the height of my activity. It's been a depressing day weather-wise. We had sun,cloud, brisk winds that moved some of the things on the terrace, it went a little chill so I got the book out and then nodded off for a couple of hours until five this afternoon when I burst into action again.   Started the bonfire, strimmed the little garden, trimmed the hedge at the bottom of the garden, cleared a heap of metal from when a bucket collapsed and weeded the little bed in front of the old stacked tiles.  Looked at the clock and it was just after half seven so tools away, enough for today.

More of the same tomorrow I think although the weather is supposed to be more settled.  I've got tobacco to plant and move around, the fig tree really needs to go in and zinnias to put into the main terrace bed . How else do I attract the humming moth....   LN....I'm going to find some supper...LN

Friday 3rd June

So my early morning alarm call was a thunder strike that appeared to be outside on the road….I looked out and no damage recorded.  Coffee on the go and it was a pretty grim day out there.  It’d rained overnight which was good for the garden and my new shrubs…and it looked like it was set in for the day….so much for my prediction that it looked like it was settling down.  We are due to have this sort of weather for a week or so.

I intended to go out early and move some of the seedlings and put the tobacco out but with the weather forecast being what it is I thought it could wait for another day or so.  It was out with the book and I read until about eleven when I made a trip over to my Avatars and it wasn’t until I got to the door that I noticed all the little black rubber shoes and realised she’d got a houseful.  I’d only gone to deliver a bottle of salad cream that I would never use bought in for my guest so I dropped it on the table and continued in to the room where she was slaving over a hot wood burner while eight of the neighbours were watching her and making a few suggestions when it came to turn over the huge pancake that she was making.  I kept well out of it, greeted the ladies in my usual fashion and then said my fond farewells much to the annoyance of some of the ladies.  I wasn’t dressed for visiting so back home I went.  Out with the book again and at two thirty this afternoon my lunch arrived courtesy of Haciber and I took it upstairs to eat while I was checking my emails and FB.  Down to the sofa again, stuffed to the gills, back to the book and ….sleep.  I did managed to get out and move some plants around and clear the bed under my tree but I’ve left it to the weather today….it’s doing more good for the garden that me.

So I caught the end of Pointless and at last the jackpot has gone and over to Eggheads and watched Kevin get knocked out…but at least thanks to Dave the jackpot didn’t go.  No supper, I’ve just despatched about ten breadsticks and that will do until morning….the weather seems to have settled down but I lit the fire earlier….it’s cold.  LN…Time to throw a log on…and it’s June…LN

Saturday 4th June

Gentle sunrise at six this morning but the mist was covering up most of it and it took a long time to burn off.  Despite the sun it was a tad nippy out there so I came in again, got back into bed and finished the last ten percent of the book that I was reading...I couldn't manage it last night despite great efforts.  I eventually dug myself out again, got a load of washing in and made toast and jam for breakfast...I really must get in and do a major shop but I was waiting for a phone call from my student and if she'd managed to get an appointment with the dentist, we were going in to Kardjali but all was quiet on the western front so I got dressed for gardening.

I went over to Avatar's house to deliver the dishes from yesterday and there she was with a bucket of cement and she was mending her wall.  The rain last night had brought some of it down so she was repairing it before it got any worse.  I offered to help but she had one foreman on the job already so I said my font farewells and left her to it.  I hung out the washing and was preparing for an onslaught on the garden and managed to spend about an hour out there before it was in with the washing and down with the rain.  It's June for goodness sake.  The thunder rolled in along with it so I tidied up the mess I'd created and put the tools away.  

And that has been it for the afternoon.  I lay on the sofa and tried to go to sleep but I was cold but too lazy to get up and close the door and shut the windows and I guess you know what I mean.  In the end I did but I lit the fire around the same time and not it's OK.  I could put socks and a sweater on but it's not what we're used to.  I've even moved back downstairs to sleep and that's not normal....It's usually summer weight duvet and door to the terrace open but not this year.

At last the rain has stopped but it's still cold....I'm about to see what's on Filmon.....put on the water heater and have a long wallow and an early night.  LN.....We've got this for the next week or so.... ...LN

Sunday 5th June

Six start but nothing to see...move along please.  The mountains had gone and you couldn't see the bottom of the garden.  I fired up the PC and checked emails and FB and posted the photo where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face and the comments came back....I watched a little breakfast Filmon and then it was down to cook mine...well it is Sunday and I had a packet of bacon approaching it's best before and the bread might be off tomorrow...   I also watched the gardening and farming programmes but the bit that turned me was the inserting the ring in the bull's nose.  It fair made my eyes water.  I turned off Monty Don...he's posing a little too much.

So when the mist eventually l lifted I was out there in a shot.  I grabbed the wheelbarrow and loaded it with the hoe, garden fork and spade and dug a hole for one forsythia that was about to be repositioned.  There were two of them in the small bed under my special tree and it was beginning to look cramped with the lavetera and the potentilla.  I've just given them all a bit more space...so grow and expand and that's an order.  So after digging that in and removing lots of builder's rubble, I threw in a bag of compost and settled it in watering it really well.  I also put in a bush jasmine that might or might not make it.....it's a cutting taken from the one on the little house terrace.  I came in for a brief sojourn...it was hot out there ...but then it clouded over this afternoon and I think we had a few spots of rain and a rumble of thunder but it didn't stay long.  I hoed the flowerbed to get rid of the weeds and planted up the tobacco that I'd grown from seed and watered those in well too.  Sod's law...I bet it doesn't rain tonight...where is it when you need it.  I cleared out some more of the rubble from various corners of the bottom of the garden but I sort of ran out of steam....the collection will be on another day.  Tools away, I watched some of the athletics and the gymnastics and at eight my time....I'm beginning to think about supper.  I've got pork in the fridge so I need to think about being creative with it.  

Last night's bath didn't happen but tonight it definitely will....it was a hot old day when it eventually warmed up and I'm feeling 'salty'.  LN...Kitchen, eat, bath, bed and book...another Robert Crais to get my teeth into...LN

Monday 6th June

Last job of the night was to use the pork to make a curry that would be stored in the fridge overnight and I had it at six tonight so there’s no deliberation tonight as to what to have.  I did have the bath last night and I put the Kindle away as my eyelids started to go southwards.  One floating Kindle is enough.  It was twelve when I went to bed and slept well until six this morning.  

I opened the curtains and there was a hint of red and I caught the sunrise.  It didn’t stay long though….It hid itself behind the cloud base and that’s where it’s been for most of the day.  I made it down to the bread van for bread and a cheesy bun for breakfast and ate it while I was walking the estate checking up on the plants that I’d put in yesterday.  I dug up some others from the other gardens and planted them in what now has become the Walnut Garden …it’s got a nice ring to it.  I got the bonfire going and burnt the rubbish that I’d dug up yesterday and despite the fact that it had rained overnight and was wet.

I came in for a coffee and got my book out and my head down and nodded off for a while.  It was a fitful sleep….the temperature had dropped and I felt cold enough to grab a sweat shirt and swapped long trousers for the short cotton ones that I’d started the day with.  It had also started thundering so it was back to my book but eventually I bit the bullet, out with the strimmer, cleared the bottom of the garden and neatened things up using up both batteries.  

Well more rain this evening and I can only say that it’s good for the garden, it’s definitely not good for me.  Tomorrow I’m out to play with the Librarian for a little shopping spree.  LN…..A little Filmon and bed…LN

Tuesday 7th June

So at nine thirty last night I was in bed reading and looking forward to an undisturbed night…wrong.   I must have been in a really deep sleep and there was a distant drumming and I thought it was heavy rain clanging on the balcony surround making the din…wrong again.  As it got louder, the cogs started working and I realised that it was the alarm clock denoting that it was time to get up and get breakfast for those that are observing the morning call to prayer.  I don’t know which of my neighbours is responsible…I shall find out I’m sure but I feel like hanging a notice on my gate…’Do not disturb’…pass quietly or my wrath will descend on the perpetrators.

I read for quite a while and decided to check up on any messages and yes…one from Mrs D of S asking me if I had booked my morning alarm.  I think it’s best that my response isn’t repeated but I offered to send him round to their village if they didn’t have one of their own.  Her response was that she would manage without…

So the second awakening was at seven thirty and again it was a dull old morning.  I showered, shampooed and was ready for the Librarian by about eight thirty and my phone went and Gouldjan was asking if I was heading out towards Djebel and wanted a lift.  I explained that I was but was waiting for the Librarian but that if she didn’t manage to get a lift in courtesy of anyone going in that direction, to make her way up and she could wait.  The Librarian arrived at nine thirty and Gouldjan at nine forty five and we set sail at ten.  I dropped her off and we were in Kardjali in quicksticks and over to the new cheapy clothes shop and we both picked up a couple or three items, bangers to rid the garden of stray dogs, more mole tablets, pizza and yoghurt drink and a visit to a new beauty product shop.  Kaufland for a few ‘can’t live withouts’, Lidl and home.  Quick trip round the garden and off she went, I put the shopping away and have just watched Great Railway Journey on Filmon.  Supper will be liver and onions and then early bed….Sorry...no pickies today...it's been too dull... LN….I might even be waiting by the gate with a banger at silly o' clock..…LN

Wednesday 8th June

So the little man was out again with his drum but I was in a fairly light sleep so knew what he was up to.  I settled off quite quickly this time and opened the curtains at quarter to six to a bright red sky.  I was out with the camera and watched it start and come to fruition and then disappear the grey gathering and thought that that might be the last of it today but I was wrong.  Unfortunately there was no heat in it and it was a sweater and jeans the morning.

I’d got a bit of a list together and top of it was petrol for the lawnmower.  Second was to deliver the empty water bottles to the garage so that they can recycle them, I needed a top-up for my mobile and needed more fly spray to attack the flying ants.   In sat with my student’s mum in the shop and caught up on events and we ‘discussed’ the Bulgarian education system.  I moved on to the hardware shop for the fly spray and came across Mrs D of S making a purchase so we headed off for a coffee again to catch up,  I then paid a surprise visit to my other student for a coffee finishing off at the last supermarket in Djebel to top up the phone.  All items on the list ticked off.

I got home just after four, put the Beast away, got out the lawn mower and managed to complete half of the grass and hopefully if the weather stays like it’s been today…I shall be able to finish it off tomorrow.  I was at the desk when I noticed that there was a small group of I think starlings buzzing a larger bird.  At that distance I couldn't be sure what it was but it seemed to be on the hunt but there was safety in numbers.  I've tried to magnify the original but looked like a hawk or something similar.

Supper was more of the same very thin potatoes done in the frying pan and I’d got an open box of fish fingers from the freezer and didn't count them before I tipped them into the pan and on counting them, there were four and it was far too late to rescue them.  There was no need…I finished them…piggy that I am.  

So lovely night tonight, same again tomorrow please, I have a lawn to finish…LN…Summer might have arrived….LN

Thursday 9th June

Woke up at quarter to six and beat the sun.  The mist was hanging on the mountains and I watched the sun come up.  Strange effect on the pond…it looked like it was on fire so I had to take the photo.

I made a coffee and went back to bed and got settled into my book.  I moved from the bed to the computer and checked out emails and FB and I don’t know which site that I’d visited was responsible but there were forty three junk emails.  Into the kitchen and poached eggs on toast for breakfast…I felt like topping up before I went out to tackle the garden.  At least there’s a little more heat in the sun today but the clouds did gather for a while but then went their own way.  First job was to strim round the frog gardens and then tackle the bindweed and grass that was hiding everything else.  I double dug the little garden behind the frog to get rid of the bindweed and then planted it up with flowering tobacco.  I moved over to the garden under the big tree, strimmed the bank and cleared out the rubbish and have given the juniper horizontalis and the spirea some fresh air.  

I saw some stray sheep in the road and followed them down the road and stopped off for a bit of a break with my Avatar.  Another couple of neighbours came into the garden and the good news is that my other neighbour has come through the operation and is doing well.  Avatar gave me an old ten leva coin that she’d found in the garden and I’ll put it under the floor in the little house when I have it done.  Came home and at five thirty I decided to finish the rest of the lawn and after strimming round the surrounds I eventually came in at eight fifteen my time.    I’m going for a shower as soon as I’ve finished the update, I’m absolutely knacked and I’ve not a clue what’s on the menu for tonight but I’m sure I will be able to find something.  LN….Hard work today …LN

Gardens looks lovely in that bottom picture