Saturday 1st September

Early start after a night of walking the tiles to alleviate cramp in the lower calf...don't you just hate it when that happens...I took my coffee outside, finished the tidying of the garden and spotted three pairs of shoes that really needed love and attention so I polished them all.  There's so much dust around when you're having work done.  So I found the fly screen for the outer door and replaced it.  The men had removed it when they were doing the outside but it's just nice to have the outer door open looking into the yard.  I gave the garden a good watering today...I'd neglected it yesterday with the men being here and working on tidying the workshop.

I decided not to go into Kardjali today...the tiles can wait until Monday.  The  rubbish that I'd collected was going to be no more.  I started the fire off with the rubbish from the house, dragged the container down to the bottom of the garden, got the hose and watered around the burning pit.  I didn't want to set the hillside on fire and in between kept the hose on the beds at the bottom of the garden.  As for the rest of the day...it was too hot to be out working and I booted up the computer, did a couple of Sudoku, switched it off and settled myself on the sofa....the morning had taken its toll and I was off with the fairies for the next hour or so.  I managed to stay awake to watch the athletics but it was touch and go.  

So no pictures on the first of the month blog entry....I'll make tomorrow more exiting.  LN...Time for the Proms.....LN

Sunday 2nd September

Well it's been another hot one despite a pretty cool start....and I must remember...September is here.  General house maintenance first off and made it down to the bread van ...having looked at the Lidl loaf it was turning a lovely shade of green and the one from Friday would probably have broken the knife if I'd have attempted it.  I sat out with my coffee and watched the finches attacking the sunflowers.  They'd started on the zinnia at the bottom of the garden but that was too much of a stretch for the camera but fortunately they came up for a camera shoot.  One was hindered by the baby and soon flew off.

I used up the four eggs from the last lot by scrambling them and cooking them in the microwave...and that was breakfast sorted and after such a huge breakfast I was surprised how much I got through by one today.  Just a small load of washing done and I headed down to the bottom of the garden to look at the Japonica Kerria that I'd planted out a couple of days ago and joy oh joy...the first leaves have come out.  I dug another hole through the rocky terrain. loaded it it with compost and put in one of the small berberis plants that I'd planted after it broke off a biggie.  I made another hole by filling it with water, digging out the rocks with the garden fork, adding more water and repeating the process...it was deep enough to put in another of my babies...a wild philadelphus that had lingered in a pot for a while.  It stands more change in than out with the weather being so hot.  I did try another photo session with the humming moths but they were just too fast and difficult to get into focus....they really love the buddliea and the zinnias....Next time.

I've had an easy afternoon and a siesta and now settled in to watch the Burleigh highlights on the Beeb.  Too hot to think about food and tomorrow, early start for the men and then into Kardjali for the tiles.  I wasn't sure if they'd be open today or not so didn't bother.   So on to the new week....LN...Back to work....LN

Monday 3rd September

Six start and sat in bed with my coffee playing Soda Crush until seven thirty.....what a waste of time but I did manage to eat all the chocolates, I found the bears and popped the bottles and even ended up at the top of the leader board in one of the challenges.  Fair set me up for the day.  Quick flip round the bathroom, into jeans and t-shirt and out for the men at seven forty and arrived one minute late...and they were waiting for me.

So all my work in tidying up the garden for the weekend has all been undone by the men today...but I certainly can't complain about the amount of work that's been done.  Sally has finished the inside and outside plastering, Bekir has finished off most of the tiling outside....and just the window sills to do and the grouting.  I've lined up Sally's job for tomorrow...the guest room wall needs filling in where the ceiling wood has shrunk back,  It's not bad but the rest of the house has been done.  

I went into Kardjali first thing and got ten more of the floor tiles, tried one of the hardware shops to see if they kept balustrade bars for the top of the landing and was directed to a new firm that I'd not heard of before.  I've checked them out on the internet and they do metal stair runs and look very interesting.  I stopped off at Lidl and bought breakfast for me and the boys and a bench saw in case we end up doing the stairs ourselves...that's me and the boys.  I got back at ten thirty and I'd already laid out the coffee for the men but they'd obviously been too busy so I set too and delivered coffee and breakfast for them which was really appreciated.  I've yet to find my coffee cup...I made it, put it down and it's yet to be found.

I had visitors this afternoon and they stayed until it was time for the men to go home so I asked them if they would do the honours.  I'm just about to go out and tidy up the yard....it's not that I get paranoid about it but if the wind picks up...it could be anywhere.  LN...Another day another dollar....LN

Tuesday 4th September

So it was another morning of playing games after a good night's sleep.  Out of bed again late but jumped too and I was over to the pick up joint on time.  I was about to get out and buy breakfast for the boys from their equivalent of my bread van but Bekir had bought it already,  Back to the village, I made coffee and we settled down to breakfast but unfortunately mine was supposed to contain white cheese but I think the mouse on the production line had got rid of mine.  They settled in and got on with the work carried over from yesterday.  I had a bonfire, finished clearing the veg patch and by now it was time for more coffee  and Sally's work was more or less finished so I was soon on the campaign trail and found him the edgings on the upstairs beams in the guest room.  I think he huffed and puffed a little but stoically carried on and the punch line was that I wanted the walls doing over with var...the Bulgarian equivalent of whitewash.  

They finished for lunch and I took off for Djebel to buy the var, some cement, more silicon for the tiles on the window sills and I got a phone call when I was there to pick up a bag of terecol,, now that Bekir had been told that I wanted the rest of the window sills doing.  It's a job that has been missed but on my snagging list for the rest of the week.  On the way in I stopped at the local petrol station and asked them if they new the man that had the trailer wagon so that I could get Beauty out of the way.  I found him, he said 'a couple of hours' but at five thirty we were still waiting.  I set the battery charger into action so that I could get it out of the drive and by the wall making it easier for them, to fill in time I set about removing the bark from the tree trunks that were left over from last years delivery of winter wood,  Sally neatened up the mushroom that had been hidden by Beauty and helped me finish the logs and when the wagon didn't turn up, I got Bekir to write a note, I put the payment and the car key in the glove box and left the note under the windscreen wiper.  Driving back with the men, we met the wagon on the road, flagged him down, explained what we had done and told him where to leave the car if the garage was closed when they got there.  I meant to take a photo but the men were champing at the big so never go round to it.  

Men home, me home, egg and chippies for supper, washing in and put to air, my bed remade after it was stripped this morning, guest room is ready for more love and attention tomorrow and it's going to be an early night for the boys tomorrow...I have an appointment at the opticians at six fifteen in Kardjali.  Organised or what!!  LN...Off to polish my halo...LN

Wednesday 5th September

Early start, a few games and back to sleep for an hour or so and out of bed by six thirty.  The sun was stunning as it came up between the clouds, I toyed with the idea of watering the garden, left it for a while and there was a gentle pitter patter and I'd saved myself a few stotinki on the water bill.  Off to fetch the men and it was chucking it down but more or less clear when I got to their village.  I'd forgotten to get the men's coffee packets yesterday, tried their local shop but they didn't have the right variety but fortunately I met their bread van who was able to supply the coffee sachets and also marmalade filled buns for breakfast...result.

Coffee and buns for all of us and Bekir's job for today and there wasn't an option to accept or not accept. was to finish off the surrounds of the door frame in the corridor as they call it.  Into the Beast, Kardjali down the back lane and the first wood yard didn't have the width we needed but the second on did.  Two uprights and the cross piece, ready trimmed to size, twenty two leva.  I also ear marked wood for the corridor furniture but today was about door, identifying wood for the stairs and getting those two jobs sorted.  Mine can come later.  Beast loaded and we headed back to Djebel to buy bolts to attach the new wood to the old and Bekir has made a brilliant job of it.  We left Sally painting the upstairs guest room with var and he'd more or less finished that by two this afternoon so he was sourcing the tiles for the step from the bedroom to the balcony and we decided to use the same as the bedroom.

Guests arrived around three so it was kettle on and feet up for an hour or so.  He'd kindly brought over his ladder to do the inside windows but with so much dust around and likely to be around for a few days yet I had to refuse his offer...another day.  Fortunately they offered to stay for a while and take my men back so at five they left, I smartened up a little and headed into Kardjali to get my eyes tested.  I arrived and was told that I was too late and that my appointment was for five fifteen and unfortunately I didn't have my appointment card with me but I checked it at home and it definitely looks like eighteen so tomorrow when I pick up my glasses I'll give it to him.  Anyway the optician saw me, gave me all the tests for glaucoma and checked over the retinas and the outcome is that I need glasses for driving and my reading glasses have gone up a fraction so all is good since it's been over two years since they were checked last time.  I have a lovely purple pair for driving and I'm having the new lenses put into the old reading glasses....saving on new frames.

Home and it's a very still evening, there are clouds and only a glimmer of a sunset...it's a very funny light.  Nothing much on the agenda for tomorrow...men at the usual time and now it's my time.    LN...Relax....LN  

Thursday 6th September

Early start this morning and I was out and in the car by seven thirty and had decided to take the Beast.  There was wood to buy for the stairs and I wasn't sure if the men wanted more cement.  They were surprised when they saw the Beast so I told them the plan and off we went to the wood  yard.  The owner was running around like a headless chicken and couldn't see to out needs saying that he hadn't got the workforce...so much for customer service.  Any how the men sorted out what we wanted, cut it in to suitable lengths and we headed up to the next man in the chain that had a band saw and lathe and was able to clean it up for us so that it's fit for purpose.  The downside was that it wasn't going to be ready until tonight so we arranged to pick it up in the morning and also taking down five more lengths that I've had for a year or so so that can be planed too.  

The men got on well with the jobs allocated and after a little discussion we got there in the end.  Bekir has done one or two electrical jobs for me, Sally is finishing off the window sills that were part of year three's project and better late than never.  I loaded the five planks in the Beast securing them well and I'll have to head to Djebel to make sure that there's enough diesel in the tank and then it will be all hands to the pump while we try to get all of the wood in the Beast.  I think Sally will be sitting on the bonnet or the roof.

Over to the family for supper tonight after I dropped off the men and we've had a very lovely evening with lots of laughs and now safe and sound after my drive through the forest with only hedgehogs for other road users...so many of them about.  LN...Looking forward to lights out tonight....LN

Friday 7th September

Funny old night.  I actually got up at five and made my first coffee and I'm not really sure why I had such a disturbed night except that I seemed to stock up on food on my visit to my family friends.  So it was off to my new found friend this morning and deliver the wood.  Before that I had to go into Djebel to get fuel so that I could go and get back safely so I left at seven ten and was really early to pick up the men,  On the journey over the wood was secured in the boot area but I hadn't secured the bit that was sticking between the seat...it was swinging between the two so I took it very slowly round the bends.  Sally managed to find somewhere to park his bottom the the back of the Beast, round to the wood man and we managed to park near the door to the workshop.  We unloaded the new ones to be planed, loaded up the ones that he;d finished and I offered the money so far and he refused and said that he would finish the job first.  So back we came, the Beast was unloaded and the wood put in to the little house, I made coffee and we sat in the garden drinking it and then went to out allotted tasks.

Sally's job was to sort out the old wall of the house, the old plaster was removed, it's had new plaster put on it and all that needs to be done now is to replace the old light and the electrical socket, Bekir was applying the tiles to the upstairs's window sills, and I took the lounge apart and spent an hour or so washing everything I removed.  Beautiful day so everything was quick to dry and Bekir asked me if the tiles used were to my liking....and they weren't so I headed in to Kardjali to see if I could get ten of them but no luck...I couldn't get the right shade of brown like the ones that I used in the bathroom.  I also thought I'd pick up my glasses while I was in town and blow me down....he had gone on holiday and not back until the seventeenth of this month.  I stopped off for gas since the bleeper had gone off on the way in and the bill was twenty six leva for a full tank and so home James.  

The clouds rolled in around four thirty so I got the washing in before ir chucked it down but it went as quickly as it came.  We headed back to the wood man, I paid the bill for all the work and I was amazed how cheap it was so I gave him a little bit more, I found some lovely off cuts that will make super sunflowers, over to the men's village and delivered the men and some wood that Bekir had bought in Kardjali.  I'm absolutely knacked tonight, I unloaded the rest of the wood and stacked it in the little house,  it I only had cheese and biscuits for supper....it was too much effort to even think about what to do,  My weekend looks to be sorting out the lounge...I've got mattresses and cushions everywhere...I never learn that men working before guest arrive is not really recommended.  LN...Ten days and counting...LN

Saturday 8th September

Well I thought I would sleep the sleep of the just last night but I only slept just about five hours.  I was awake at five and there was no chance of getting off again.  My head was buzzing...I wanted to get lots done today but the 'in-box' exercise ability has slowed down somewhat...some decisions didn't come easily.  I achieved quite a lot before breakfast,  heard the van, two loaves and no fishes...the village could feed itself.  For me there was a packet of bacon looking decidedly lost in the fridge and it's no more.  A whole packet on four slices of bread with brown sauce has kept me going up until now.

The bench for the porch has been tarted up and is ready to go back inside except that with the men building the stairs next week it's probably better to leave the porch more or less empty.  The two Turkish mattresses have been taken off the sofas in the lounge and the original ones put back and both have new covers.  I suppose I've been a little lazy this year...two much rain at the beginning of the summer and too hot for the last few weeks and my fall left me with very little enthusiasm to do very much.  It still hurts when I do 'stuff' but I keep telling myself that the exercise is doing me good...it's my mantra.  The second guest bedroom is tidied, the first guest bedroom that Sally put the var on is still empty and tomorrow morning I'm going to give the beams another hit with the insect killer.  I can't hear any munching but I'm going to take the opportunity now that it's empty and that's my first job of the morning, the windows will be the next job, the bed sorted and then my guest will have the choice of upstairs or downstairs.  Her choice.

The little kitchen shelf that goes back to the wall had been emptied out and now I know what was stored there.  I've got too many dish washer sponges but at least now they're all in the same place and I think they'll do me for the next few years.  It's one of the things that you see in the cheapy shop and decide that you're probably short of...wrong.  

I've got a fascinating programme running on BBC2...the scanning of the pyramids of Egypt and the Sphinx....I marvel at technology when it's applied to the ancient objects.  And now...they are showing the old Roman towers and Saladin's fortress after the conquering of Egypt.  LN  Supper time can wait...LN

Sunday 9th September

Sunday...my day of rest...not.  Six start and played silly games for an hour or so, washed, dressed and had a bonfire to start the day off.  The problem is that when I take the garden fork down to the bottom of the garden I always end up digging around for an hour or so and today was no exception,  I cleared some of the weeds from the new shrub garden near the bonfire at the bottom of the long wall and it was still going this afternoon.  There was a lot of rubbish left over from the men's efforts and now that's all gone and I think I was actually delaying the proposed work in the guest room.  It was a beautiful morning and I sat with a coffee and noticed that there were loads of butterflies about so I had a David Bailey hour or so with the camera and published them on FB and they've been admired my loads of people.

I put the internet on and watched Monty Dons gardens of the world and caught the end of it, watched some of Gardener's World and the realisation that I was putting off the dastardly deed hit me so I switched it off, headed for the little house and got the debug stuff, a paint brush and by twelve it was done....ceiling beams, side tables, bed frame, chest and hand made chair.  The windows are all sealed, the door is closed and it can smell for all it's worth...It should be clear tomorrow, it's not as acrid as some of the other compounds so I could start by doing the floor over and then it will be all ready to get it furnished.  Jobs a guddun so to speak...

Back to the internet and watched the end of the Great North Run and Sir Moe finishing off the men's race in style...such a talent.  I fixed tuna mayo sandwiches for a late breakfast, early lunch and off it went again, five minutes on the bed with Soda Crush and I woke up at four after a very deep catch-up sleep and feel much better for it.  Bekir phoned to say that he's got visitors and won't be able to work tomorrow which suits me fine.  A little 'special to me' has a birthday tomorrow so I'm sure I can fit in a visit at some point...
I'll see how I feel in the morning.  An evening of admin answering some of the emails I haven't managed to get round to and time to create a plan for tomorrow.  I might even have a wood working day....the outside sink bench has had to be moved now that they've finished the outside rendering of the conservatory cum porch so to get the tap into the centre of the sink I have to take about three inches off the side away from the sink so that I can move the worktop along and put it back where it used to be.  Oh a woman's work is never done.

Chicken in the oven and it should be ready in an hour or so.  I forgot to put it in earlier but there's no rush....the tuna is still lingering.  It's been a good day but the trouble is, once I start on maintenance...I keep finding other jobs.  LN...Where did I put my dark glasses....LN

Monday 10th September

Five thirty start...I think I slept too much yesterday.  Too dark to do anything except play Soda Crush, six it was coffee time and seven it was a trip round the garden, watering and weeding.  The frog garden is looking like a garden again with the grass removed and it was so dry underneath that the hose was left on it for a while.  I want some rain that counts, not just to wet the top soil.  Gardening in PJ's, back in the house by eight thirty so washed and dressed and breakfasted on toast and my home made strawberry jam.  I started to make a list of the things that I wanted to achieve today and I think I've knocked a few of them off but not many.  I've been deviating and did some that weren't even on it so that's the end of lists for me.

I didn't manage to see the birthday girl today...I'll save it for tomorrow.  I've done two loads of washing, the guest room is ready, floors washed over and windows cleaned and bed made up.  My guest will have the choice of upstairs or down...she lives in a bungalow so might prefer the lower living.  So starting the windows meant that I moved into my room and did those as well inside and out.  I didn't move into the lounge...the men have yet to do the stairs so there could be 'shite' everywhere.  Having done the floor over in the guest room I moved down and gave the porch tiles their first clean but it needs to be a little more thorough.  Grouting takes some moving .   but again it will be when the men have waved fond goodbyes for the year.

No photos today...just been too busy.  One week and counting before my guest arrives,  men are working tomorrow and in my book the stairs are my priority....I'll  be comparing it to their list.  Good day today but knacked.   LN....I should sleep well....LN