Sunday 18th September

Well it was a lovely mellow start to the morning and I missed the sunrise.  I was out there watering  and it crept up on me but then went behind the hazy clouds.  Once it had burnt off it was really hot and remained so for the rest of the day.  I managed to cook poached eggs on toast for breakfast and avoided the toast and marmalade...just like I'm avoiding the bathroom scales.  Shower and hairwash...I was off to the baby party for twelve so I really didn't get stuck into much before I left.

Parked up and found the venue and it was where the Librarian and myself call the soup kitchen.  The same waiter was there and I asked for a chicken soup and he looked confused and said that he couldn't manage it.  I told him that I was there for the baby party and he broke into a smile realising that I was having him on.  I have been friends with the baby's grandmother and the rest of the family eversince I arrived in Bulgaria but it was a bit of a surprise when she told me that the rumour going round was that I'd had a baby....and she had totalliy refuted it.  I said that if that were the case I'd have to be changing my name to Mary and start believing.  They were mixing me up with another English person who in fact has just had a baby....so I explained the mix up.  I sat with the lady from the post office and two more friends and the guests arrived in dribs and drabs.  Eventually most had arrived and the waiter served me first with guess what.....chicken soup and it is delicious.  Close on its heels came chicken and salad and then the cake which I had to force down.  It was good...the baby wasn't paraded round, it was very low key and I had time to chat to people that I hadn't seen for a while especially those that have moved abroad to work and are back for the holiday.  

I stopped off at the hardware shop and got some small nails for my next project, got home and couldn't find my guest.  The house was open and was the workshop and the little house, he wasn't in the garden and it looked like he's be absconded by aliens.  As I was going upstairs to check to see if he was using my computer, I looked into the opening in to the lounge and he's fast asleep in the sofa.  Must have had a hard morning...or slacking since I wasn't around with the whip.

I settled on to the hall sofa and read for a while until I could read no more, I've watered the garden so my work for today is over...just something for supper to think about.  Tomorrow is a blank canvas so far...we'll see what the weather does and it could be a trip down to Greece for the day.  LN....Kitchen calls...LN

Monday 19th September

Much better night last night but I did have to get up and open the door on to the balcony...it was just so hot.  I should really remember to close the curtains though ...that moon is so very bright.

Seven twenty start and it was almost there but obliterated partially by the clouds and it's been like that most of the day.  I heard the woodpecker down in the next field and managed to work out where the tapping was coming from but unfortunately the camera had problems focusing.  By eight we were sitting out on the terrace and there was lots of heat in the sun with clouds lingering over the Greek mountains so we thought that despite the weather predictions...we were going to be lucky.  Unfortunately we were looking south east but when we looked south west...it was grey over and looked likely to stay that way.  Messed around most of the morning...cooked breakfast for my guest which I started and told him it was his mess to finish since it involved onions and an omelette and I settled for buttered bun loaf.  I repotted a few house plants, intended to put new bulbs in but that went by the way when we started on another workshop project.  I've had a spot of bother with 'something' getting into the little house and running along the under eaves woodwork and I believe making a nest up there.  They first came in in spring, left for the summer because it was so hot and I hoped for good but unfortunately came back as the weather got cooler.  It's not as big as a pine-martin, eats eggs and anything else it can get its paws on so I bought some chicken wire yesterday and today's project was to staple the wire to the woodwork stopping up all the entry points.  I'm just hoping it was out already or I'm going to have a very unhappy 'something'.  I'll let you know tomorrow.

I'd stripped the beds down this morning and washed the sheets and just managed to get them in and beds made up before the few spots of rain....again I was able to count them...fell.  I'm not going to water tonight...it's not been ravishingly hot today and the wind is quite cool this evening.  I'm just about to go round and close a few doors.

I got mincemeat out for tonight but I've just made the decision that we're off to Romantica.....I fancy a mixed grill and am feeling house bound so off down the back lane for a spin.  LN...Early update...I'm out to eat...LN

Tuesday 20th September

Lovely start to the morning but it didn't last for long.  Dramatic skies, the clouds were forming over the Greek mountains and the wind was blowing in this direction so by eight thirty the sun had gone but then it was in and out until about lunchtime.  It was really pleasant to work in.  Breakfast was fried tomatoes on toast and I abstained from the marmalade and toast.  I had Beauty to wash and spruce up...today was the day of the MOT.  Washed her in the drive, I went into Djebel in the Beast to get the insurance sorted out, down to the garage to see if they could fit in a quick check and back home.  I sat down with a coffee for five minutes and it stretched into twenty during which time I had a five minute nap.  Up and at 'em in Beauty, down to the garage again, they checked it over and gave it another wash.  I did suggest that they took care with the pressure hose...I think the mud is keeping her together.

Off to the MOT garage with the documentation and I sat at the computer with the mechanic and he started entering the details.  Just for the record, I bought this car from the garage in Djebel and the documentation gave the previous owners mother's details.  I've chased this man several times, got him to a solicitor twice and he was supposed to get his sisters to sign at the solicitors to say that the car could be sold as in the meantime the mother had died.  So I'm driving a car that belonged to a dead woman who probably never drove but the families used to register lots of cars to any invalid in the family so that they didn't have to pay local tax.  I'm aware of this, the usual guy at the MOT is aware of this but about three months ago, you have to show the invalid document when you go for the MOT so that the application can be processed.  So the computer came back with the fact that the tax hadn't been paid and I didn't have a certificate and so it couldn't be MOT.  Feathers and spitting comes to mind so I was back to the garage where I bought the car from so that I could contact the previous owner so I could lay into him.  Fortunately...I could cancel the insurance so I drove back home with no insurance, no MOT and for an ex-copper...it went against all the bones in my body.  Fingers crossed I can contact the guy or I might be ready to dump Beauty and get another...she's served me well but I'm still hoping that it can be sorted.

Shepherd's pie tonight followed by baked apples and I'm stuffed.  My wood is supposed to be coming tomorrow so I'll burn off a few calories shifting eight cubic meters and I'll need to contact my painter to see if he wants to come round with his chain saw.  Lovely sunset tonight...not much sun but dramatic clouds and I understand it's now RAINING and it saves me a job in the morning.  LN....I have a little Film on to watch..LN

Wednesday 21st September

Disturbed night again.  My fingers were itching like crazy so I was up putting on cream at around two and then I realised why..... there was the 'zizzing' of a mosquito in my ear so it was down to the lounge and upstairs with a can of deterrent.  What use are mozzies?  All answers on a postcard please....   I was reading and playing silly games until four or there abouts and went down for coffee to the gentle zizzing of a different kind...my guest was still bringing the sheep home as my father used to say relating to a gentle snore.  I went out with my coffee and soon came back in...I'd ventured on to the balcony to take photos of the morning but sitting out was a different matter.  My noise woke up the dead and we were out there and by this time the sun had warmed up a little.

I cooked breakfast of bacon and egg sandwiches and I was out to demolish the contraption I'd made last year to protect the broad beans from the snow.  The weather hadn't been kind to it so it was as well down and I believe my guest is making me a new one but out of old wood.  I went upstairs to open up emails and the likes and suddenly there was a whistle from the gate...the lorry with my wood had arrived and it was all systems go from then on.  I'd left the cars outside, they reversed the lorry in...very carefully...two men unloaded it while the lorry driver watched...procedure normal.  I paid him his dues and off they went tooting as they left.  The heap looked big and was big but now it's sorted it's manageable.  Small that will be done with a chop saw and can be stacked immediately, medium that will be cut into lengths and can be used as they are and the biggies that need desperate measures.  They will need to be chainsawed and chopped.  So most of my morning and afternoon was taken up with the task...I did stop for a cheese and onion roll to keep me going but it was a job well done and will make my painter's work much easier tomorrow.

It clouded over and the rain started around five but only lasted long enough for a little rainbow.  The light was magnificent....the dark clouds and the sun lighting up the trees on the hillside with just a hint of the rainbow but as for a sunset...forget it.  The temperature has dropped, the clouds have set in and there's not even a glimmer of my morning friend.

I've a chicken in the oven for supper so must go and attend to my hostess duties...I'm playing assistant to a man with a chainsaw and stacking tomorrow....I woman's work is varied if nothing else.  LN...Kitchen bound...LN

Thursday 22nd September

Straight through last night from ten fifteen to seven a.m......manual work does me good coupled with a huge plate of roast chicken and potato wedges to fill up on.  I was falling asleep watching Filmon so took to my bed and left my guest to shut up shop and find his own way downstairs.  Everything was closed up, the temperature had dropped so despite requests to light a fire...we managed without.  I think the sight of all that wood had made him think, well why not....but it was only chill not cold.

So dressed pretty early on and waiting for my painter to arrive with his chainsaw to get the show on the road.  I been down to the bread van and topped up with white and brown and a cheesy something different so cooked bacon and fried a couple of eggs to fill me up for the day.  It was as well...once we started it was half two before I took him home and four fifteen before I'd cleared the yard.  The yard is empty.  The big stuff is stacked for chopping, the back wall of the garage has wood that will fit in the wood burner and needs nothing more doing to it and the uncut stuff can be done with the electric saw which cuts down on the wastage.  The little stuff is not so good for the chainsaw so we called it a day.  It was good that I'd stacked the wood, it made it so much easier to cut with the chainsaw.  My painter was able to easily and securely cut through two or three in sequence and not stop to watch his footing or move small stuff out of the way.

Now I'm knacked.  Fortunately it's been dull and a little cold today so it was easier to work than in the heat.  We had a few spots of rain hence the need to get the wood in the garage and away.  I swept the yard but it was difficult to clear all the sawdust from the chainsaw...it had mixed in with the dust and gravel from the drive so I did the best I could and am relying on the wind to do the rest.  I filled four wheelbarrows and dumped the dust and sawdust on the vegetable garden.  That combined with the cow stuff that I applied earlier should do wonders for the quality of the soil and about time to.  

Water going on for a bath tonight...I need to soak away the aches.  Supper is the remains of last night's chicken with chippies which is going to take no time at all and tonight I believe it's the final of 'Make me an Egghead'...it's been exciting stuff.  So down to the kitchen...let's get this show on the road...LN...I should sleep well again tonight...LN

Friday 23rd September

I woke up to the mountains having been stolen and I couldn't even see the bottom of the garden.  The autumn mist had descended.  The sun eventually broke through and burnt it off but it was a while coming.  I checked out the weather for Greece and a decision was made that we were going down for the day so swimming gear was packed along with suntan oils that never came out and off we set.  First though we topped up on food knowing how expensive things are in Greece...poached eggs for breakfast followed by orange, lime and ginger marmalade on toast...delicious.

Down the back lane to the main road and it was downhill to Greece.  No hold up at the customs, the officer did check to see if there was anyone lying down on the back seat and we were through in about five minutes.  The journey down is magnificent and what a wonder of engineering with about four tunnels on the Greek side.  There was the normal spate of Bulgarian drivers that seem to overtake in the most dangerous places but that's to be expected.  We were heading for Fanari which is a fishing village and I'd never driven down there before and was trying to follow the signs...which was going well until they stopped and we ended up on the motorway to Thessaloniki and it wasn't until we came back that this was where we made the mistake but I'll know for next time.  We off roaded a bit and eventually found the right road and parked up.  Lunch was first on the agenda and I settled for calamaris and my guest for pork skewers with potato salad and cheesy chips and a walk on the beach to follow settled it down a little.  There weren't many people around which was good and we walked the harbour and sat down on the beach for a while just enjoying the view.  Suddenly the breeze off the sea turned chill so we uped sticks, into the car for five and home for six thirty managing to find our way through Komitini and identifying where we went wrong....one turning to soon on the way down.

Lovely feeling that you get after an afternoon on the beach...might manage to get another one in before he goes home.  No supper...still stuffed from lunch....and about to get myself a fizzy water to try to move everything down a little....LN...I'm kitchen bound...LN

Saturday 24th September

Lovely pre-dawn sky this morning...so much so that I was out on the balcony taking the photo.  The moon was bright but only half of it is there now.  How quickly it seems to go from full to none...the weeks just fly by. I'd put extra quilts on the beds last night and we were both pleased that I did.  I hadn't lit a fire last night but boy was it cold when I went out to take the pickies.  Coffee by seven thirty and down to the bread van for eight for some eggs and a cheesy bun.  The rest of the ladies seem to be fully stocked...there was only three of us down there this morning.  Breakfast was fried eggs on the cheesy bread followed by toast and marmalade...it'll be dieting for me when I'm flying solo again.

Out to the little house this morning and I decided to clear it out and generally have a bonfire and get rid of the rubbish.  I seem to accumulate empty cans, coffee tins and jars thinking that I'll do something with them or give them away and I never do.  The ones that I want are stored, the others are ready for the container the next time I go into Djebel.  I sorted out the little house porch ready to move the old wood into it to use it up first, the wood burners that I've no need for at present are in the designated kitchen and now there's room to put the outside furniture inside when the weather really changes.  This cold spell is only a hiccup I think...I've got a guest so it's usual.

I had a really big burn up and had to go down there with the hosepipe to make sure that I didn't set the hillside alight.  It is contained in the half oil drum so not much danger but I put a metal lid on to stop the sparks.  Garden watered by five, fire started by half past, potatoes peeled and hash made by six fifteen and supper over and done with by seven thirty.  How's that for organised tonight.  

It's been a beautiful day but we had to wait for it to warm up but once the sun went down the temperature dropped and according to the weather people it's a seasonal low.  Fingers crossed for tomorrow....not much planned only the same as today or a trip to Djebel for a few things.  LN....Filmon, shower to get the dust out of my hair, Kindle and bed.  I've got that tiredness you get when you've had a good day and can see the results of your labours.  LN...I'm down to the fire...LN

Sunday 25th September

Strictly last night and I do feel for Ed Balls.....why do they set themselves up for it.  Bed by ten thirty more or less and straight through until seven...the sleep of the just.  Bit of a mix up over breakfast...I ended up doing mine and left my guest to it.  Daily Mail Sudoku and then I was out sorting the workshop so that I could get a handle on where the new wood was to go.  I'd accumulated old wood from when the yard tree was pollarded and the cherry was blown down and I wanted to get into the corners, sweep it all out and by late this afternoon...it was done.  Lots of work but worth it.

I planted up a few things that had been hanging around for a while including a couple of very large sweet potatoes.  Not sure what will happen to them....they have greenery on the top but no roots so into the vegetable garden they went and they've had a good watering....we shall see what we shall see.  I sat out on the terrace for a while and noticed a very small lizard hoovering round the pots.  When I got up to get the camera it stood still and was still there when I emerged from the house.  Just keep eating the buglies....you can stay anytime...outside.  The bonfire has been going most of the day to take the really old wood, cardboard and general rubbish.  Coffee tins are sorted and stored in the little house along with a few glass jars but the rest are assembled ready for the container in Djebel.  

Supper is over early tonight...fish fingers, chippies and peas....not inspirational but fills a gap and the pork is out to defrost for tomorrow.  I'm picking the men up tomorrow to start the wall and finish off the old one and that will probably be it for this year.  I shall be fully cow and sheep proof.  Shower time....I have a fine dusting of....well dust....and I don't want to be taking that to bed with me.  LN....I'm off to spruce up...LN