Monday 8th May

So after I posted last night we had the most beautiful rainbows and I'd forgotten how to use the panoramic shot so we have three and you'll have to join them yourself mentally...   They were double, vibrant and again tonight there is one over the hillside but it only goes part of the way...the rest of the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds.  Strange weather...I stayed up last night and caught the Barbara Windor story...interesting and I think she only really came to my attention with the Carry on series...but a lot more to her than that.

So late to bed and early to rise...four thirty and I really don't know why.  I wonder if there are any sleep clinics in Bulgaria!!  I read for a while, tried to go off again but couldn't, raised myself from my virtuous couch and it was still only six thirty.....coffee, washing up and back to bed again with the Kindle for more of the exploits of Jamie and Claire.

So I had it in my head that I had the appointment with the dentist tomorrow so I phoned the Librarian to see if she wanted to go into Kardjali.  Her laptop had ground to a halt to off we set making the computer shop our first port of call.  We were directed to the repairs office, a very officious lady whose volume got louder the more we didn't understand....eventually we got there...paperwork complete,documents signed and phone details left.  As we were leaving my student telephoned me and said that they had received a call from the dentis asking me to go in at twelve instead of twelve thirty.  I didn't think much of it, thinking that I was due the next day and the amended time had been locked into my brain.  At ten minutes to twelve, my dentist was on the phone asking where I was and I realised that I must have got the wrong day so back to the car...shopping curtailed ...hell for leather back to Djebel and I made it for twelve twenty five.  My dentist wasn't impressed but partly my fault for getting the wrong day but partly his for changing the time at such short notice.  Anyway...I got severely butchered...he dug and gouged and my mouth is still twitching now and everything is just a little tender....that should teach me.   On the way back to the car, one of my sheep farmers asked if I had made my appointment...oneof the joys of living in a small town and village.

So over to the soup canteen for lunch, they don't do deserts so we stopped off at the supermarket and I bought a jar of fruit and some ice-cream and we took it home and shared out the booty.  I made coffee, she left around four, I lit the fire and promptly fell asleep catching upon the lost overnight zzz's.  Again we've had a day of sunshine and heavy showers and there is a partial rainbow that's been sitting on the hillside for the last half hour or so....though not so vivid as last nights.  And now my calendar is clear for tomorrow except that I'm out for supper at my student's house.  LN...Maybe I should just check...LN

Tuesday 9th May

Very unsettled night and I was awake at four this morning reading.  I tried to go off again but couldn't eventually getting out of bed by six thirty.  Dull start again but I went out there with the intention of clearing up the heaps of the weeds that I'd dug up yesterday but I didn't stay out there long.  I did managed to strim the top garden and the patch between the house and the front wall but that was the height of my achievements today.  I settled back into my book andplayed sleep catch-up.....I think the weather has a lot to do with it....it's been a cold old day today.

Had a visitor this afternoon and boy did the rain come down followed by hail and I feel sorry for all those that have planted the baby tobacco plants...they were quite large chunks of ice.  As it was we headed out this afternoon to Kardjali....and I managed to get the items that I didn't get yesterday due to my rushing back for the dentist.

Over to my students for supper tonight...we had fish with salad and home made cake....really quite stuffed.  There hadn't been any hail in Djebel...I think we got the remains of the lot that fell on Smolyan....After dinner game that I'd not played before where you had to made number sequences.....I played three games not knowing the rules...I made mine up as the game went along.

Now fingers crossed that I shall sleep straight through tonight....I need my beauty sleep.   LN.....Book at bedtime...LN

Wednesday 10th May

Straight through until six this morning...result.  Normal morning routine but decided to move out the glass jars that had accumulated in the kitchen ready to donate them to my ladies who hopefully will return them full of Bulgarian goodies. Got a load of washing in and wanted to get it out before we had the post lunch downpour which seems to be usual at the moment.  I looked at the time...it was still only half seven...I seemed to have been going for it for ages...

Bonfire and today's task was to get some of my seeds planted up so that they get a few days of love and attention before I leave for other shores and I'm pleased to say that results have been achieved.  There wasn't much damage from the hailstorm yesterday...there's still blossom on the medlar and miniature pears have already formed on the fruit tree at the bottom of the garden.  Some of the Cleomes have been planted up in one of the smaller beds and I spent time clearing under the long wall garden with the shrubs and planted up the Gardenia which has been lingering in a pot and doing nothing so let's see if likes a shady well drained spot.  Near to it I've planted up the Cosmos and we'll see how they fare.

So the washing was in at one thirty at the first hint of rain and I came in for lunch.  I was out again by three when it had eased off, strimmed around the little house flower beds...no chance of getting the lawn mower out...everywhere is too wet.  By five it was really throwing it down again so I put my toys away, locked up the workshops, banked up the fire that I'd lit earlier when I came in and now it looks like it's settled down again but somebody must be having rain...there's just a glimmer of a rainbow over the mountains.

The fighters were whizzing round most of the day and I missed the best shot of them as they flew over head...camera was in...I was out but I did manage to get one of the stork.  At least the stork does it quietly.  Nothing much on the agenda for tomorrow....it's a 'tidy day' inside and out.  LN...Bath and bed....LN

Thursday 11th May

So after a super bath last night and hair wash, I watched the later version of Eggheads, a little bit of the cookery programmes and headed off for an early night.  Six thirty start and had a really good start to the day.  Most of my suitcase is packed and I realise that I probably too much for my small suitcase so I reckon that I shall be phoning to add a bag to the booking.  It's not that I want to change my outfits on the cruise every day but a girl has to maintain standards....

Bed stripping time ready for my guest...I'd got a couple of loads out, it was a super day for drying...at last we had some sun and a brisk wind.  I'd settled down on the sofa with the book and was surprised at eleven thirty by a visit from the Librarian.  She needed to take her car back to the garage for a filter to be changed so we headed in after we'd had a coffee, walked the garden and she had raided my rhubarb.  I picked up one of my neighbours along the road...it was pension day so I popped in to see if there was any mail for me....and it was a no.  I also stopped off at the petrol station.....diesel for the Beast and petrol for the lawnmower...I was really running low.

So we met up at the garage, the said filter was changed and then they set about investigating a 'clonk', we went in to town for lunch while they were doing the investigation and when we returned, the clonk was given a name.  Unfortunately the parts couldn't be obtained until tomorrow so I suggested that the Librarian spent the night at mine.  We stopped off and did a little shopping, we'd had lunch so settled on the idea of sandwiches for later.  She settled down and had a little nap, I got another couple of loads of washing out, made up the beds and we were all set to go.  Unfortunately I received a phone call during supper that the parts wouldn't be delivered until Saturday so as per the original plan, the Beast will go in for a complete check over before I drive to Sofia, I'll take her home in the morning and she'll bus it up on Monday unless they manage to finish it on Saturday.  Super finished, I washed up, a little television and soon to be bedtime.  I'm upstairs, the moon is stunning tonight and much better than last night.  No clouds in the sky and the temperature is set to drop....maybe I should have got a few of the tender plants in....too late now.  LN...it's been nice having company...LN

    

Friday 12th May

My first wakening was at five thirty but I was out for the count again and emerged from my upper bedroom at seven fifteen.  The Librarian was already up and reading lounging on the sofa....and I'd crept around.  She already had her coffee, I made mine and we sat watching the morning appear.  Eight thirty and I cooking spicy sausage and fried eggs and we finished it off with  toast and blackcurrant jam.  We were both fortified for the day.  Washed dressed and I earmarked ten thirty to be in the car and ready to head to Djebel...I found out some containers and shared some of my seeds with her.  I dug up self set marigolds, beetroot that needed splitting, lily of the valley bulbs and seedlings of cosmos, zinnia and cleome...she has now another item to add to her to do list.  We were on time and off to the garage to get the house keys so that she could go home.

The new tyres were already on the car and we had confirmation that the parts would be delivered on Saturday morning.  Back into the car and I headed for her village and there were so many police stopping cars this morning that I actually dropped my speed as I headed for each of the villages on the main road but we got there without any stoppages.  I dropped her off and headed back to Djebel...my car was supposed to go in for a check-up and fortunately they managed to do it and the only hiccup was that one of the brake light wasn't as bright as the other so work was done, dry wire spray was applied and it was completed.  I was home for three...I read for a while and have spent an hour or so trying on the clothes that I'd put to one side to go in the suitcase.  The pile has now been whittled down and I'm more or less there.

Just cooked supper and had it watching TV.  Eggheads in on now so I'm about to post....final day tomorrow for getting stuff into the suitcase...LN......I want to put it to bed.....LN

Saturday 13th May

Well today brings back memories...if we'd have gone for the long haul we'd have managed forty five years today.  Sadly it wasn't to be but you can still look back fondly on the day.  

Six thirty start and my packing is more or less complete.  I booked the cabin baggage and have a bag within a bag so that there's always one there to fill in the UK should I need it.  Bit of a funny day really.  At eleven thirty I had a phone call from the garage to say that the Librarian's car was ready for collection so let her know.  To get from her village is almost impossible so I suggested that I got inmy chariot of fire and ran a mercy mission and everything seemed to be going OK.  Down to the garage, paid the man, back to the car park and we left both cars and went for lunch to our soup kitchen.  We callit that but there's lots more than that on the men.  Anyway...finished off and paid the man, back to the carpark and I noticed that there was a wet patch under the car where the radiator was.  She moved it back a bit for me while I looked again, nothing came out but as there was a light that remained on even though the'd done the work on it...I suggested that we went back to the garage to check out the dash light and the damp patch.  It's the radiator and at my suggestion we left the car there so that both things could be checked out properly and yes....I would take her home.  We sat in her garden enjoying the sun and it's a bit like sod's law...you solve one problem and another raises it's ugly head...We shall await the outcome.

So I was home for five thirty, got the last of my washing in and noticed that my Avatar is over from Germany so I went down for a catch-up.  I  think she's pleased to be back and tomorrow they are having a calf killed and will be very busy cooking and bottling it to take back to Germany.  I don't envy her even though she's doing it with her son and his wife...it will be hot again tomorrow.  Washing in, I've sat for an hour reading.  I looked at the grass and was tempted to get out the lawnmower but I really couldn't manage it tonight...tomorrow is another day.  Walked the garden and was amazed by the amount of shrubs bursting forth.  They've all done well this year, I think the wall has retained some of the moisture that used to leach on to the hillside.  Weeding my broad beans there was a sudden scuffle and very frightened lizard was trying desperately to climb up the polythene of the encloseure.  Poor thing...I got the shot and left him to it.

Eurovision tonight...I might have a look in at it for a while but I won't be a stalwart.  Since it's no longer about the song and the singer... it doesn't have the appeal.  Last night's Master-chef was finally over....I really couldn't have called it....so that's another series done and dusted.  Busy day tomorrow for me....I shall do the grass weather permitting,clean through, wash the floors and collapse in a heap......LN....A day to look forward to...not....LN

Sunday 14th May

Five thirty awakening and then head down again until seven....I had nothing to get up for but I didn't managed to stay in bed after my first coffee.  I put the computer on and downloaded the photos that my student had sent over of her parents and grandfathers and set to to make them the size to fit in the frame.  It's about fifty centimeters long and about thirty tall and there's room for six photos behind a stencilled mounting using the word FAMILY...and since they are really a very nice family...that's the reason I bought it.  I completed it this morning so that they have it before I go away. Down for breakfast and toasted the last of the bread, slathered it with butter and apricot jam abd sat on the stairs eating it.  It was altogether and very leisurely morning.  The last of the washing went in and it looked a good enough day to get it out and by ten I was heading in to my students with the photo frame.

My other sudent's parents were outside the shop and he was just on his way with a boot full of empty bottles to visit the nearest spring fortop-ups.  Apparently they only use spring water for drinking and cooking...standard outof the tap is only for bathing and washing up.  And it's free.

So the mother was in the garden, father was on his way out, my student had been busy making a cake and the elder sister was making lunch.  All go in their household.  I handed over the gift which was really appreciated....I think we do far more in the way of decorating our homes and it's already found it's place to be.  Tea and walnut cake for second breakfast, we toured the garden which is full of all things and lots of it and we sat in the sun putting the world to rights.  Mother ws off to a graduation party, father still hadn't returned so I gave my fond farewells....I really wanted to get the lawn done.

Out with the mower, brought it to life around one thirty and had finished the little house lawn when the wheel dropped off.  I think it really needs a locking nut and I hadn't got round to sorting it so out with the size 15 spanner and fixed it.  In the meantimeI strimmed the ridge down the middle of the garden, it's pretty precarious trying to do it with the mower and then set about the rest of the grass.  By this time there were some pretty big clouds heading my way and fortunately I didn't hear the rumble of thunder over the mower.  I managed to finish it, mower away into the workshop, strimmer and spanner away, washing in and then the heavens opened and it threw it down.  Really big peels of thunder but it seems to have gone over now and it's a sunny evening despite the clouds to the east.  I've only got seeds to put in tomorrow, get the plants near the outside tap to make it easier for my painter to water them.  I'm nearly there.....

Boiler on ready for a lingering soak....a job well done today.  The sheep are out on the hillside...they look like they've had the winter coats removed...summer must be here....and they're now heading home.  LN....Time to relax....LN

Monday 15th May

Lovely bath last night...that's what Sunday nights are for but...maybe I shouldn't have taken out the boiler pipes today giving them a spring clean before my guest arrives.  He has the habit of 'lobbing on another one' and I couldn't live with the risk.  So as well as doing the chimney thing I cleaned the house from top to bottom, washed the floors over and even got the rugs up and bashed them out on the line.  Breakfast was squashed in between jobs and all it consisted off was the end of the loaf and lashed with butter....I didn't even have time to get any jam on it.

My painter came round and we went through the  jobs that I want him to do while I'm away.  He even wrote down a little schedule for himself but basically all I need doing are the lawns and watering everything in pots on the terraces.  He did ask me if I wanted him to plant up tomatoes and cucumbers and that met with a big no.  We found out the padlock that I'd used the last time I went away and he looked after the place and he's under instructions to leave the padlock off for when I come back...I only have the one key....Bekir has the other.  So when he left I arranged the rest of the pots and seeds into larger water containers so that should make his life a little easier and I've asked him to make a note of the hours that he is here...I know that he won't want paying but I shall insist.  Swept everything off and it looks very tidy out there...I should go away more often....

More visitors this evening and we sat out until I could stand it no longer and we moved inside.  The temperature has really dropped tonight but now that everything is cleaned out....I've thrown them out before they clear me out of coffee.... and I've just put another sweater on....it is cold.  The last of the spicy sausage was fried off with onions and I certainly feel better for it....stuffed.

Last things to go into the suitcase tomorrow morning....I'm scheduled to leave around twelve thirty....but I'm told that the new motorway from Haskovo to Sofia cuts time off the journey....you just have to find the new road.  Dramatic clouds today and lovely moon last night although it' now on the way out.  LN....Time to relax....LN

Tuesday 16th May

Leisurely morning but there are always last minute things to think about when locking up the house for three weeks....Had my last bonfire, delivered Bekir's telephone number to my Avatar who is back for the summer and I want to give her something to do.  I know it's safe in her hands....she won't miss a trick.  I did phone Bekir to check  if it was  OK  but since he's had a set of my keys since last winter....I knew that it  would be.

It was last minute throwing things in the bag....I know I said it was  done but is it ever!!  Eventually I was there....the potatoes have been thrown on to the hillside with the last of the bread, the donkey enjoyed the red cabbage and for my daughter I will add....it was a whole one.  I'm remembering the Victoria Wood sketch.  

So into the Beast by twelve as planned....stopped off at the garage and handed over the Librarian's telephone number so that she can get the jeep sorted....headed into Kardjali and filled up  with  fuel, paid my MTel bill and put some money on my Bulgarian phone for when I get back so I suppose I set off at around one thirty and I made it to the hotel by five.  Weather was a bit iffy as I got nearer Sofia and despite the traffic signs being a little confusing...safe and sound.  Checked in, booked the Beast into its holiday home, and I've just done about twenty lengths of the pool and it's not a little one and I feel so  good.   Just about to have a shower  and  then  something to eat....a big fat hamburger with chippies...could fill the gap pretty nicely.

From the window there is snow on Vitosha and it's surrounded  by very black clouds.  I'm just  acclimatising myself for the North Sea and Scotland and may God bless all who sail in her.....LN...Shower and food....LN

Wednesday 17th May

I'd churned up the central heating in the hotel room and boy was I melting at five this morning...but I suffered in silence and didn't bother turning it was down.  I was enjoying the room service sauna.  I didn't bother with breakfast...I'd had a Aberdeen Angus cheeseburger last night...served on a slate, bugger to eat but with a basket of chippies, mayo and ketchup and it would have been rude to leave any of it...so I didn't.  Thank goodness I had my swim first...it could have been fatal.

Settled my bill and caught the nine o'clock shuttle bus to the airport and check in commenced not long after I got there.  I suppose with it being a very full flight that the sooner they could get people through the better.  I heaved my bag on to the conveyor belt and it registered twenty one kilos....I hadn't put the lock on just in case and I asked the girl in Bulgarian if it was OK, she looked at me, we smiled at each other and she said that it was....pheeew....my rucksack was full to bursting anyway.  Loaded OK...a bit of a noisy flight with several babies kicking off but it was soon over.  We arrived at Gatwick and the applause went up from the Bulgarians...I just think that he's doing his job at the controls but it's what they do.

On to the shuttle and picked up the train to Brighton.  I phoned by contact and he was there to meet me...home we went via Lidl...home from home getting to the house by three thirty.  My Princess arrived after work and we had big hugs, she stayed for a couple of hours and we played catch-up.  She's changed her hair and we had a bit of...let's look what you'd look like this colour.....however, we decided that it would probably look like candy floss....I'm too old to change it now...nature is as nature does.  Just spent the last half an hour setting up a new tablet...a Lenova Yoga that I'd forgotten I'd bought.  It's to take with me.  It's got a lovely 'plink' to the keyboard....I'm wondering why I lugged my laptop over with me.  So no pickies for today....I did have one of a man delivering balloons to the hotel this morning....I was waiting for him to try the revolving doors but he came in by the side door and walked up the stairs to one of the conference rooms with a very embarrassed face on him.  Anyway...my body clock says it's eleven nearly so I'm getting ready to rest my weary head....LN....Promise more tomorrow....LN