Monday 17th April

The camera didn't come out today until I got home.....It was raining when I woke up, raining as I walked round Kardjali and still hissing it down while I was lying on the sofa reading my book....and it's still throwing it down...

I didn't bother with breakfast, had my coffee and got ready for my day in Kardjali.  I got the Beast out in to the drive and stopped off at Haciber's house to see if there was anything she wanted for the big city and there was only washing powder on her list...again.  The last time I bought it for her it was on promotion so a good deal....so I told her to wait and see.  If it wasn't I wouldn't get it.  I was down to the bus stop in my painter's village but I noticed his wife standing by the gate of their house so I stopped and she got in.  I carried on down to the bus stop and he was waiting there and off I set with both of them.  Their daughter in law live in Kardjali and it worked out that she was going to visit the grandchildren while he and I managed a few things in town.  The had to guide me to the apartment since I've never been there before but it was just out of central Kardjali.  Out she got bearing gifts, we parked in my usual spot and the man wasn't there demanding money but there were very few cars around.  We headed down to the cheapy shop but they hadn't got what he was looking for but he settled for a cotton shirt for twenty eight stotinki....around twelve pence to you and me.  I bought a top for the baby, a dark pink pashmena, an Angry Birds t-shirt and another work sweatshirt...total bill....one pound.  We walked back to the car and offloaded the clothes heading down to the gardening machine shop so that he could complain about the new strimmer machine that doesn't do things as well as it should....and he has to take it in so that the man can understand the issues with it...common sense really.  Over to the shop where I bought my gardening/builder's boots but they didn't have any more so I couldn't get them for the Librarian.  I did get some more bulbs for the garden and three red pottery basin...small, medium and large for six lev.....bargain.  Kaufland and a few more plants for the garden, Lild for a few more things and then back to pick his wife up from near the apartment and then home. Driving through Djebel my student's mother was outside the shop and flagging me down.  I turned the Beast and her father ahd made the new bolt for my lawnmower so I know what I'm doing tomorrow....only assembling it....it's going to be too wet to put it to use.

Supper is going to be the cold chicken with the cold roasted vegetables....they will fill the gap.  Nothing scheduled for tomorrow except to so the lawnmower....apparently this weather is in until Friday...and today's only Monday....Got the fire going eventually today...the wind must have been in the wrong direction and the chimney cold so before it dies a natural...I'm off to stoke up.  LN...A gentle day....LN

Tuesday 18th April

I've had a none day.  Normal early start but didn't put my nose out until I decided to walk the garden to see how the seeds and shrubs were doing.  I wasn't out there long though...it was too cold for me and time to put the vest back on again.  'Cast nere a clout' as they say and I had but it's back on tonight.

It was pickings for breakfast of the fluffy pancakes that I'd had delivered, generally tidied around a little just to make it feel like home and fluff up the cushions and then it was down on the sofa with the Kindle....it was a day for being in not out.  The clouds eventually lifted but there was very little heat in the sun and lots of chill in the wind so the fire was lit and I kept it going all day.  The internal thermometer did register twenty four but I really couldn't believe it....it probably was but when there's very little activity....it doesn't register in the brain.

At two this afternoon I took the rest of the chicken off the bone and put it back in the fridge, the roasted veg were put in a large saucepan, topped up with water and I have soup for tomorrow.  I didn't need anything for tonight...I was off to my students for supper.  Boots blacked and ready to leave by five forty and remembered that they were short of serviettes so I grabbed one of my standby packs and they'd also mentioned that they wanted to see photos of me when I was a child so I grabbed the shoe box of the ones that I'd brought over the last time I came to bore them with.  The sort of covered me from a toddler, through teens, my life in Gibraltar police, children, previous houses and later ones of me at various functions with my parents.  It gave them a flavour of my life to day and they know the rest of my time out here.  

So home for ten twenty and car back in the drive.  I've arranged to take the little one to Kardjali on Saturday for a bit of a day out as she needs to go to a shop that I know and she doesn't. My fire is not going but it's not that cold as it could be.  Tomorrow I have to bring all my outside plants inside...the temperature is going to drop again and in one of the villages close to where we are, there was snow this morning.  Some of the seedlings still need protection so they will go into the little house until the cold spell has finished.  And so to bed said sleepy head.  LN...In to the nest....LN

Wednesday 19th April

So don't ask me where the day has gone...I haven't a clue.  Six thirty start and the sunrise was at six forty and I managed to catch it.  We did't see much of it for the rest of the day...the rain started at eleven but by that time I'd managed to strim the two batteries full and play around with a few weeds in the garden that no longer are in residence,,,lobbed over the wall.

I didn't have breakfast before I set off and came in at twelve delving into the cold chicken and dipping it in the mayo.  The rest of it is about to be made into a curry for this evening...when I manage to get round to it.  The sensitive plants are all in the little house including the lemon tree.  I checked out the weather forecast for the end of the week and it's supposed to be well into the minus figures and I didn't want to lose anything.  

So today has been spent sorting out the travel insurance for my holiday.  The company I used to use is now being underwritten by another company and Bulgaria as a starting point is not listed in the drop down menus.  I phoned them and the explanation meant I was back to the drawing board.  I'd tried Bulgarian companies but they seem to want to stop at sixty years of age which is no good at all.....one Ameican website wanted a thousand pounds offering my relatives millions if I was not to make it back and the last one I tried didn't give me the option to cover the cruise option so it was on to the telephone to sort it.  I spoke to a very pleasant lady who quoted me eighty pounds more that the price on the web so after querying it...she checked it out and was offering me a supersonic version of the same thing.  Eventually we came to the same conclusion, done, dusted and on to the cruise line website and my details have already been entered.  I'm ready to go....and I can relax now that the insurance is sorted,

Pleasant enough night now....it's drying up but the wind still carried a chill.  I lit the fire about half an hour ago and it's crackling well and now as I said...kitchen duties...I'll let you know if there's steam coming out my ears...LN...Curry calls...LN

Thursday 20th April

Late start but I did spend a couple of hours in the dead of night reading...and I'm not sure why.  Never mind...I've had a very energetic day today which will culminate in a long luxurious bath so I should have a good night tonight...fingers crossed.

Not a good morning weatherwise. it was pouring down and there were several claps of thunder and lightening which lit up the house.  It didn't go on for long but I did unplug the internet connection.  I didn't fancy everything getting fried and I settled down with the Kindle and carried on reading Outlander.

By ten thirty it has started to clear up a little so I put an extra sweater on since the wind was cold, topped it off with a leather coat to keep out the wind and decided to try out my new work boots....success all the way.  I used up the two batteries of the strimmer and I've managed to get down to the bottom of the garden and it's all been done once...so it should be time to start the whole process again with all this rain.  Joy oh joy....   The bottom flower bed as you know is where the builders 'hid' the builder's rubble and I've been digging it out so the shrub roots gain purchase....and some fell on stony ground....and I tackled a new patch that hadn't been done before.  Back breaking but I now have space to get those extra shrubs in.  I want ground cover to cut down on the weeds...I live on the edge of a field...what can you expect.  By the time I was flagging the rain started and I came in, lit the fire, got the book out and had an hour to me.  Unfortunately the sun came out  again so I went out determined to finish off the bed...and I did.  I do love creative gardening and while I was having five minutes on the wall, I noticed that there are several seedlings starting so they will get transplanted when they get a bit bigger.  I think they're marigolds from last year....there was also tobacco and zinnia so I could have the full set.

I came in at seven and was surprised it was so late.  Playtime in the garden tomorrow...I want to cut back the forsythia now that it's flowered and I'll take some more cuttings.  I want to know the season by what's in flower...it was that way for me in the UK.  So what's next....the Philadelphus...both the wild and the formal, Spiraea and the Deutzia.  Now off to the kitchen to see what's available...last night's curry turned out very well but not a clue about tonight yet...thinking cap goes on...   LN...I won't starve...LN

Friday 21st April

Six thirty start, got washing underway, managed to catch the sunrise, grabbed a coffee and went back to bed with the Kindle.  My bath last night ensured a good night's sleep.  There was a ground frost last night and it was white over this morning.  I sat out and listened to the cuckoo who was in the walnut tree but came in ...I was cold.  The mist was hanging but as the sun came up, it was a complete white out...I couldn't even see the bottom of the garden.

I made it down to the bread van and apparently we have a Mevlit in out little mosque tomorrow...I've booked a day shopping with my student so I shan't be going.  I came back with a large crusty and breakfast was two slices with lashings of butter.  Not nutritionally great but very tasty.  I sat around reading for a while...it was really cold out there and got on with a few household.  I stripped the bed and got the nest in the washing machine and all pegged out and drying by the time the sun had broken through.  I strimmed one batteries' worth and then had the urge to put the lawn mower together now that I had the new bolt.  I wheeled it round to the workshop terrace, I had to take the other wheel off to make sure that I was putting it together properly, topped up the oil, cleaned the filter, filled it up with petrol and it fired up first time.  Since it was going I did the little house lawn and part of the main lawn even though it was really to damp to do it.  I eventually gave up the ghost...there wasn't enough air going through it....the grass long and it was wet.  So away it went for another day...but at least it goes.

I came in at two and settled down with the book again and suddenly realised that the weather was closing in and that the washing had to come in before it really started to rain.  There were only a few spots but the nest ended up over the stair rail and the rest went into the bathroom so I lit the fire to make sure that everything was aired.  

Checked with Filmon and watch part of the O'Sullivan match and it's now on 9-6 to Ronnie....Chicken wings with roasted veg in the oven for supper tonight....the bed is already made up....the duvet is fluffed up and I'm looking forward to getting in.  I'm hoping that the snooker session doesn't go on until silly o'clock.  LN...must attend to supper...LN

Saturday 22nd April

Well it was a six thirty start and I caught the sun...for at least five minutes and it's been hidden most of the day since then.  My plans to go to Kardjali shopping with my student were scuppered last night...she had other fish to fry so to speak so I was heading for a lazy morning with perhaps a visit to my mosque later.  I got washed and dressed, sorted out the washing up for the last couple of days, tidied the kitchen in general, put the washing away and settled down to read my book.  It was cold out and not a day to be out there gardening.  I hadn't bothered with the fire, the house had maintained its heat from yesterday but at eleven there was a knock on the door and Haciber was out there.  She mentioned the mosque and said that they needed ten lev towards the cost of providing for the guest which I willing coughed up and I a

Saturday 22nd April

Well it was a six thirty start and I caught the sun...for at least five minutes and it's been hidden most of the day since then.  My plans to go to Kardjali shopping with my student were scuppered last night...she had other fish to fry so to speak so I was heading for a lazy morning with perhaps a visit to my mosque later.  I got washed and dressed, sorted out the washing up for the last couple of days, tidied the kitchen in general, put the washing away and settled down to read my book.  It was cold out and not a day to be out there gardening.  I hadn't bothered with the fire, the house had maintained its heat from yesterday but at eleven there was a knock on the door and Haciber was out there.  She mentioned the mosque and said that they needed ten lev towards the cost of providing for the guest which I willing coughed up and I a

Saturday 22nd April

Well it was a six thirty start and I caught the sun...for at least five minutes and it's been hidden most of the day since then.  My plans to go to Kardjali shopping with my student were scuppered last night...she had other fish to fry so to speak so I was heading for a lazy morning with perhaps a visit to my mosque later.  I got washed and dressed, sorted out the washing up for the last couple of days, tidied the kitchen in general, put the washing away and settled down to read my book.  It was cold out and not a day to be out there gardening.  I realised that I needed internal warmth so opened a can of beans and toasted a couple of slices of bread and it definitely filled the gap.

I hadn't bothered with the fire, the house had maintained its heat from yesterday but at eleven there was a knock on the door and Haciber was out there.  She mentioned the mosque and said that they needed ten lev towards the cost of providing for the guest which I willing coughed up and I assumed that it was all happening today.  I got changed and found the ladies sitting on the bench and I'd got the day wrong...it's tomorrow.  I sat down with them, noticed that all the rugs and blankets from the floor of the mosque were hanging on the fence and then we all set to shaking them and getting them back inside.  

I'd not been inside the mosque before with the curtain open...as women we all sit on the other side.  One think I want to clear up...I haven't changed my religion, I respect theirs as they respect mine and I look on my time as time of closing down and having an hour with my spirituality....and of course there is the rice and meat afterwards with my villages and the other local villagers.  I'm the only non-Muslim in my locality and I'm accepted for what I am....and that's fine for me.  So we had a fun time replacing the mats and blankets and it had to be done in order.  We sit on a concrete floor so there was extra padding round the outsides and I made sure that mine was extra-extra padded...I know my place.  

As for the rest of the afternoon...again I couldn't envisage throwing the lawn mower around...it was a grim old day so I put Filmon on for a while and noted that my mate Ronnie had made it through to the next round but at this point I felt extreme tiredness come over me so it was off with the computer, I lit the fire and settled down with my book but wasn't reading for long but felt much better when I woke.

So seven my time...the rest of the afternoon was spent on the second book in the series...Dragonfly in Amber and it's interesting to read it again.  I normally find it second time through that I remember most but I suppose it's been five or so years from my first run through.  I was going to make chilli con carne for tonight but sitting in the mosque tomorrow ...not sure it's the thing to be making.  Maybe just a cheese sandwich tonigh...the beans are still lingering and I'll cook tomorrow.  LN....Mmmm...cheese and onion...LN

Sunday 23rd April

Seven thirty start since I stayed up late to watch the Young Dancer of the Year final.  I hadn't watched the rest of the heats and reckoned it was a shame that I'd missed it along the way.  I didn't pick the winner...I was taken with two of the others but the girl did good.  She was the only girl to make it to the final and she won....

So at seven thirty this morning it was grey all over and cold.  It did lighten a little, there was a hint of sun so I got a load of washing underway, bonfire lit, breakfast of toast, dressed. fried off the mince that I'd got out yesterday and made it into bolognaise sauce and got ready for my morning at the mosque.  I trundled the logs in before I went...I wanted nothing to do when I got back apart from getting the washing in and I ambled down to the bench for about ten thirty.  

The usual crowd had gathered, the rice had been finished at this point and was clothed in it's blanket jacket ready for the post service bean feast.  There was activity from the men...the hodja had his laptop with his but there was no electricity to the mosque....someone had not connected the cable apparently but eventually a connection  was made and things started to run smoothly.  There was a brief kerfuffle....one of the three has sung something out of turn, a little altercation and then we were back on track and one the laptop was fired,it all ran smoothly.  There were a few new faces for me and they look at me quite strangely.  I'm in my jeans and a couple of sweaters because I knew it would be cold inside and also sporting a body warmer where as they are all in their normal layers and my headscarf is worn out of respect.  Theirs is a permanent addition to everyday living.  I recognise a lot of the service now and could sing along and do the actions but I like to feel that I'm without religion here.  It's a place for me to feel secure in allowing myself to relax completely and make my own peace with the power that is.  

One hour later and lunch is served...five minutes of eating and then there is the final prayer and then people finish the plateful and head outside.  In fact there were more outside than in today...the mosque was cold and for some of the old bones, they were better off absorbing what heat there was from the sun.  I have the feeling that some of them will not be here long.

I got back to the house around two, washing in and on the clothes airer, fire lit and I settled down with my book on the sofa.  The fire has gone like a dream all afternoon, the pump has been going most of the time and the hypnotic effect meant that I slept really solidly for an hour or so and of course I was very relaxed from this morning.    

Nothing on my agenda for tomorrow....the lawn mowing was put on the back burner and it looks like staying there.  That dull sky has begun to drop its load and according to my locals, there was snow in Ankara yesterday and Istanbul which isn't a million miles away is due to get it today.  So much for april showers,  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow....I'll see what takes my fancy with that blank canvas ahead.  LN...What do with that sauce for supper....LN