Monday 27th March

Seven o'clock start and that hour has really made a difference.  My biological clock has failed to catch up and I seem to have been paying for it all day.  The weather didn't help...it wasn't raining but very close to it.  I looked out at the garden and pledged that I would finish the digging today but I went out and that wind was biting cold so I took back the pledge...there is no rush only what I self impose.  Better weather will come...just not today.  Having said that, the sun did come out this afternoon but the temperature didn't go up by much and the wind didn't drop....so I stayed in.

Breakfast of two poached with ham on toast and that's been it so far for the day.  I haven't used much energy...I've been reading most of the day...or trying to at least.  I'm reading Ian Banks and I'm still not sure why at the moment.  I can't seem to get into the characters and it may take some time.  This afternoon I watched 'Who do you think you are' which I find an intriguing programme.  It makes me more interested in chasing back especially on my father's side of the family...my mother's has already been done by my cousin's daughter in Australia...I think it's down to me investing in paying for internet access to the census material.

So it's gardening tomorrow if the weather picks up otherwise I think I might have a trip to Kardjali....there are a few things that I didn't get on the last shopping trip that require some leg work.  No fire ...the sun has raised the temperature in the house enough for comfort.  No pictures...it's been a lay on the sofa and recoup strength day.  LN...Now kitchen for inspiration....LN

Tuesday 28th March

So I learnt my lesson from last night...the fire is going already.  I was OK while I was watching Filmon upstairs but when I came to go to bed downstairs....it was chilly and thank goodness I haven't taken the nest apart,  one fleece under blanket and duvet cover.  Awake by six forty five and the mist was hanging in valley and there was a ground frost which surprised me.  I went out to take a few photos and didn't bother with shoes but I soon came in and got my clogs on and back out again I went.

I watched the sun come up over the mountains, rescued my baby plants from their frozen water containers and left them to drain, the rain from the day before had swamped them and I hadn't checked.  I've got to get out there tomorrow and clean the plastic trugs before the mosquitoes settle.  The poor lemon tree was looking a little crystallised but it thawed out in quick sitcks once the sun came up.

Breakfast was a banana first thing and then down to the bread van when I heard his horn.  I placed the usual order, one sliced one unsliced and he had cheesy bread so that was breakfast sorted and I demolished it walking round the garden.  Next step was to pick up the phone and call the Librarian to check that she was OK.  The phone went dead in my hand but she phoned back a minute later and at her request we met up in Kardjali for a meander, lunch and a general mooch.  Lunch at a local very popular watering hole and we managed to beat the rush, Kaufland, Lidl and I finished off at the garage in Djebel so that they could try and find a 'rattle'.  Over the pit, temporary repair sorted and it goes into 'hospital' tomorrow.....a little repair round the back axle.  Stopped off at the other garage leaving Djebel where the sister of the original owner of Beauty that's holed up in the garage.  Because the ownership was not transferred over to me, I've managed to track down the daughter of the registered owner and her husband is going to get the necessary paperwork organised when the other brother comes back from working in Germany.  That will be a relief...I shall officially own it...

Home for five thirty, shopping unpacked, everything in the right place, fish finger sandwiched for supper since we had a cooked lunch in Kardjali....fire belting it out and all's good in my little world.  LN....Fingers crossed for a reasonable bill tomorrow...LN

Wednesday 29th March

Really good night's sleep, seven start and a beautiful morning to wake up to.  Clear skies and a blank canvas in front of me except for getting the Beast into the garage for what appeared to be a minor repair which it would have been if the part had been available but more of that later.

Washed dressed, banana for breakfast, washing in the machine to work away without any input and into the Beast just before nine.  I stopped off at the post office in Rogosche to see if there were any mother's days cards that so far hadn't made it to me. The door said they should be open at eight thirty but a passerby said that they should be there in the next ten minutes or so....Tova e Bulgaria....

Dropped the car off at the garage and walked back to the garage shop to sit and chat to my student's mum.  She had the list of the required parts but there was one issue.  The Beast has an electronic switch that can change the suspension through soft, medium and hard and these weren't available from the normal suppliers and no one had any record of the part number in their systems.  Eventually I decided to leave the shop and for them to do further investigation, did a little shopping and took a taxi from the town centre.  I didn't know the taxi driver but when we stopped outside the house he asked me how much I normally pay so I said between eight and ten so he said ten and then asked me the same question.  I gave the same response and he offered me two lev back....and wanted to shake on it.  I told him not to bother, smiled sweetly and got out of the car.  I shall pay eight next timeI get the same man.

I spent a couple of hours on the internet trying to get the necessary part.  The garage had managed to locate from Japan...eight hundred lev each so we settled for the Bulgarian solution...fix standard ones...I never changed the pressure button anyway.  I'm still without and feel a little lost without it even though I don't need it.  Psychological no doubt.  Out to the garden and planted up thirty bulbs and another thirty to go.  I didn't do any digging, I wasn't in the mood.  Washing in and put away and the fire is already going.  Even though we've had a sunny day...it's been a sharp wind again.  Sp hopefully more of the same tomorrow and I shall finish moving that soil....I keep looking at it but that doesn't make it move at all.  Potatoes, onions and chicken for supper...well it will be when I get myself down to the kitchen.  LN....Beast should be fixed tomorrow...LN

Thursday 30th March

The sun was up before me this morning so I was into the kitchen, washed up from the last couple of days and took my coffee out to the terrace and sat in the sun in my PJ's.  Beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky and not much wind...that came later.  I cooked bacon, egg and fried bread for breakfast thinking that if I was going out to do the deed with the shovel, pick and walking stick that I needed something to sustain me but it took another hour before I was ready to set sail for the bottom of the garden.  I've got the technique now and was going along swimmingly until the wind turned to gale force and even though I'd got a leather waistcoat on it was going straight through the armholes so I only managed a couple of hours.  I came in and settled myself on the sofa and at two my phone went and it was the garage to say that my car was ready.  On automatic pilot I said I would be there for three forgetting that it was the car I was going to fetch and I had to organise transport.  I toyed with the idea of a taxi but then remembered that the school bus came at four fifteen and that would be soon enough to get the Beast.  The bus was late but I caught it outside the house and got in the front with the driver.  Since I was catching it on its outward journey I went down to the lower village that few get to see and we dropped of one school girl and one from the baby nursery with the grandma.  At this point there was only me left on the bus so we turned round and back to my village and on to Djebel.  He asked me where I was going and I told him that I had to pick up my car from the garage, he knew the owner and took me down there.  Luybo's comment was that I had 'big transport' and at a cost of two leva for the scenic tour...I did pretty well.  

All the work done on the Beast and the Bulgarian work round was completed at a very reasonable rate.  I drove back to the village, stopped off and got some more paint brushes and work gloves...there's a couple of fingers missing on my last pair and I know not why...I think they were Sally's from last year.  Lovely drive home and a very calm evening.  I've just taken the photos of the garden...I was going to take a picture of the storks in Djebel but they were obviously out topping up on frogs and the likes for the night.  Another few hours on the garden tomorrow should make another dent in it.  I forget that the plot that I'm digging over is the average size garden in the UK....and I expect to do it in quicksticks....Still...slow and steady and a little and often....it's a good motto.  Few clouds gathering now but according to the weather forecast it should be good tomorrow....LN..Kitchen calls...hunger bugs are biting...LN

And yest more

Chicken leg with potatoes and onions in the oven so supper is sorted.  Just a couple of the evening sky.....LN

Friday 31st March

Six o'clock start and dark as you like.  I could have gone back but instead chose coffee, I played a few games and got out on to the terrace for my second cup.  It had rained in the night...the terraces were in the process of drying off but it's good for the new shrubs and the seeds coming though.  Washed and dressed by eight and breakfast was Ryvita with smoked cheese and I think I was delaying going out.  That wind was brisk and cold and it took me until ten thirty before I was out there armed with fork, spade, rake and Bulgarian bashing tool.  I've cleared a lot more and planted three more shrubs down there that had been waiting for the right spot.  I also found a clump of seeds and I think that they are sunflowers so I've distributed them around the garden and only time will tell.  I came in for half an hour or so when I could stand the wind no longer but again back out at twelve and came in again at two.  I'd had enough.

I was tempted to go into the workshop and service the lawnmower so that I could runit over tomorrow if the weather stays dry but instead I lit the fire, got the book out and again attempted to settle in to the Ian Banks but just no joy.  Instead I'm going to read Diane Galbadon's Outlander series.  I've probably forgotten enough for me to enjoy it again.  As I looked out there was smoke rising from the hillside and I can only assume that it's down to my sheep farmer.  I don't know why or what it's about...I shall have to ask him when I see him.  Another local mystery....

So the end of another month...we're a quarter of the way through the year already....Soon be time to order the wood for winter...
LN......spicy sausage tonight with a hint of chilli....LN