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tcinbg
January 10, 2019, 4:48pm Report to Moderator

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That is something new for my recipe book.  

"I blended the soul and had it with toast"

I can just hear you saying it, what a smart arse!
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Elsa Peters
January 10, 2019, 6:47pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 10th January

That made me smile so much...I'm not going to edit it.  So I was cold last night, the house is at last warming up, it was snowing...how much excitement can a girl withstand?

As for the rest of the weather, not only was it snowing hard last night but there was a thunderstorm going on and we had the same thing tonight.  It was sheet lightening fortunately and was right over head and going well...so well in fact that it's taken up to now to get the internet back on for the update.  What a day...last night the weather got warmer and it started to rain but it didn't clear the snow and this morning the temperature was hovering around freezing, only got up to four degrees and nothing much to write home about.

I cooked breakfast and relished all of it...more or less a whole packet of bacon, one of Beyser's really yellow yolked eggs with a slice of fried bread.  Today has been about keeping fires going, clearing terraces and the yard and getting more wood in.  Having lit the little one in the kitchen I've decided to use up the old wood that's stored in the bedroom of the little house.  It's been there for a few years and it's been laziness on my part that it's still there but at least I've made a start on it.  

After working outside, I made another nest of the sofa and went back to Game of Thrones on the Kindle and strangely enough I'm more or less in parallel with the showings on the  TV when I was in UK at my daughter's house for Christmas so it's all pretty fresh.  As I said before, I rocketed through the books first time round and this time I'm taking it slower and really finding the bits that I missed.  I really shouldn't do it though...open a box of chocolates and put them by my side when I'm reading...the chicken that I got out for supper is now in the freezer and will be made into soup tomorrow.  Some of the soup is out for the birds with a few slices of stale bread but there weren't many takers, maybe the dogs or cats will find it overnight.

The thunder and lightening has started up again so I'm going to bring this to a close.  I better check it for typos though...but there again why...it does bring a smile to some people.  
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Elsa Peters
January 11, 2019, 3:49pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 11th January

Slept really well last night...woke up at five thirty, nestled down again and eventually came to around seven twenty...good enough for me.  I got the little fire going first, the big one needed more attention but by eight both were chugging away and the temperature was going up.  The house did maintain fifteen overnight so at least the house is warming up and it wasn't so cold as it has been overnight and looking at the weather, it should be around minus three tonight.

It's been a damp, miserable day, we had one hint of sun which lasted all of about an hour but there was little warmth in it.  This morning I realised that I needed to buy my road tax for the cars and tried it out on line.  What a simple process, both records printed and laminated and ready for the Beast and the Nipper....they are now legal.  The emails are filed so back ups at every turn....we are moving into the digital age in BG.

The only other activity today was to keep the home fires burning and the log basket in house and in the conservatory topped up.  I've stuck to my resolution...all the wood has come from the little house not from the woodstore...it's more fiddly but it's clearing the little house out.  Come spring there's work to be done.  The chicken that I took out of the freezer didn't get made into soup, it's in the oven with roasted potatoes and onions but unfortunately...no mayo.  I had written out a shopping list and intended going in 'somewhere' either Djebel or Kardjali but the plan never got off the ground...it was that sort of weather.  I did have one visit from my coffee neighbour delivering some fluffy pancakes in memory of a passing and she hinted about going into Djebel but I didn't take the bait.  If I decide to go in tomorrow I'll let her know.  The lack of photos is due to the fact that there was nothing much to photograph.  The birds haven't touched the food that I put out yesterday and the garden has been pretty flightless.....maybe try to get some fat-balls for them tomorrow if I go into town. LN...Supper, book, 'tele' and bed...LN
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Elsa Peters
January 12, 2019, 4:44pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 12th January

Again it was a five thirty start so I rolled over and went back off again.  I toyed with the idea of starting the fire but that would have meant getting out of bed and I was snuggled down, warm and cosy so why would I?  At seven thirty I attempted to start the fire and it seemed that there was a very dense log left from last night and it was a hell of a job to got it going.  I teased it with firelighters and kind ling and it was red but there was no oommmph to it so I put it down to the weather.  It was damp outside, very little wind and everything just seemed to be hanging and it must have taken about an hour to get the first hot water coursing through the radiators.  It was all poke and prod, more kindling, another firelighter and this was interspersed with the sofa and Game of Thrones.  Eventually success!!

Toast for breakfast after I lobbed the rest of the soup over the hillside with the remains of the bread from the bird dish.  A cat did have a nibble and it must have been really hungry but then it sauntered away to find better pickings.  I dressed for Kardjali, sat on the sofa in front of my now roaring fire and made my mind up not to go.  After all you only spend money.  At twelve my new found coffee friend that I'd discussed the possibility of going to Kardjali with arrived and asked if we were still going.  I hummed and harred, said it was cold and damp and then asked her if she really wanted to go and she replied that she did.  She lives there and only comes down to see her mother at the weekend and she had things to take to the apartment and things to bring back so I 'painted the Beast yellow' and became a taxi...

She arrived at twelve thirty ready for the off, I was still messing around removing the old road tax disk with hot soapy water and putting the newly acquired laminated receipt in the Beast.  While I was at it I also sorted out the Nipper and started it for the first time since I'd got back and sweet as...it purred.  Off we set and she has a habit of speaking Bulgarian with all the correct tenses and gabbling so I have trouble understanding her sometimes.  She said that she wanted to go to Billa but eventually I worked out that there was another one in a different part of town but she forgot to tell me the turning to take and then screeched that it was on the other road.  She doesn't drive so I carried on and turned in Lidl car park and off we set again explaining that I needed a little more notice f we were manoeuvring off the straight and narrow.  We found Billa and I parked up but it was more like a corner shop. and I bought a few things in there.  I'd sussed out that this was her neck of the woods and we ended up at her apartment where she left some stuff and picked up a couple of bags of things for her mother so back in the Beast, over to Kaufland and it was heaving so we didn't linger long, Lidl for a few things and she stayed in the Beast while I whizzed round for bacon and butter and then on to Djebel and we stopped for a coffee.  

Onwards and upwards and I dropped her off and her mother was pleased to see her.  She's such a sweet lady and one of my regular gang and the parting shot from the daughter was that I should go down for coffee tomorrow.  I said that I wouldn't....I had things to do...but we'll go out again but I don't want to do it every weekend...Saturday in town is not pleasant...too many people in the stores.  Fire was still going so I've banked it up.  The temperature has dropped dramatically and it's supposed to me many minuses tonight.  I've put more insoles into my slippers to keep my tootsies warm and at long last have put a new battery in the clock on the wall so that I get the right time now not an approximation as before.    I'm going downstairs now to settle in for the night...back to the next G of T book.  LN....I'm on stoking duty....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 13, 2019, 4:54pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 13th January

It was another cold night last night and a white and wintry start to the day.  Usual morning tasks, the fire being the main one even though I was going out for the day....I'm still warming the building up.  I'd phoned the Librarian last night to see if she wanted to come out to play today since it was her birthday.  She'd said yes and I was having to leave around eleven twenty so I had time to fill.  I'd invited Ms D or S along but the little one was fancying a pyjama day so we left it for a later decision.

I did a wash load and that's now dry having put it on the airer in the bathroom while I was out and it waiting to be put away.  I had enough logs in and didn't need to get more so I moved the Beast nearer the house so that I could get the Nipper out easily...the roads were clear so I didn't need the four by four facility.  I had my first shower since I've been back and washed my hair and rushed upstairs to the bathroom with the radiator, got dried off, dried my hair and put on clothes for style and warmth.  As I was leaving Remsier's grand-daughter arrived with a couple of fluffy pancakes in memory of someone's passing so I opened up the house and put them in the kitchen.  

I'd heard nothing from Ms D of S so carried on to the meeting point in the Librarian's village.  She was sitting in her car and soon legged it over to mine and off we set for the fish restaurant and guess what...it was closed for the day.  I tried to text Ms D of S to tell her that the venue had changed but the text didn't go through...the provider had scrapped my balance because I didn't make a top up in time.  This week I'm keeping the number and porting it to another provider on a contract.  They should have no right to delete balances.  So off to the new restaurant, we both settled for thick soup and cheesy chips so it was a very cheap lunch.  I settled the bill and we headed out to walk round the lake, well not all the way round and noticed how much ice there was on the lake and it was obvious that there'd been a wedding, there were white love hearts even floating on the lake.  Unfortunately my camera battery packed up otherwise we would have more.  

Back to the pick up point which now became the drop off point and off I set to visit D of S, Ms D of S and the little one.  I sat with a coffee, the little one is adorable but is none stop...I was tired watching her.  Home for five thirty, fire started and it didn't take long before the hot water was  belting round the system.  I caught the Masters Snooker and my hero is on the table tomorrow so that's my Monday sorted.  The temperature has dropped again and is destined for minus seven according to the internet, the house is up to eighteen degrees and that is good for there being no fire for the afternoon but the sun has been out...my secondary heating system.  No supper for me...I'll manage until breakfast.  LN....A very relaxing day with friends....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 14, 2019, 5:01pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 14th January

First awakening at three thirty so it was definitely a roll-over and managed to stay until six thirty...very reasonable.  It was a cold start and lots of wind belting around but the sky was blue so I thought it was a good day to get the wood burner pipes out and give them a clean.  I'd intended doing it before I went to the UK but time ran out as it sometimes does so now was as good time as any.

They were dismantled by six forty five, taken out into the conservatory and cleaned,  I spring cleaned the rest of the wood burner and it was all back together again by seven twenty and I stopped to have a coffee along the way.  It's a job that you think is going to take a long time and to me it's a bit like ironing.....not that I do any of it now.  The hardest part is getting the ironing board out and plugging in the iron.  I used to hate Sunday nights when the children were small and the uniforms had to be done plus ex's shirts.  So now that I'd made a start on housework there was no stopping me until twelve when I sat down to a late breakfast of bacon and egg.  Sweet and sour pork with onions and carrots in the new slow cooker,  I cleaned and swept the conservatory and shook out the mats, did the same with the kitchen and gave it a tidy, another load of washing into the machine but this time on the radiator even though there was no fire, so no heat.  Got rid of the burning waste and had a bonfire, walked the garden...it was such a lovely day apart from the wind which kept the temperature low despite the sun.

After breakfast I lay on the sofa with my Kindle and by one the eyes had gone southwards but I was awakened from slumber by two of my local ladies arriving with gifts.  I think I'm going to have to stop Christmas presents to them...they want to give something in return and I wish they didn't.  Of course I shouldn't deprive them of the pleasure of giving but I know how little their pensions are.  I had biscuits, dishes for the kitchen, chocolates, a drinking cup, fruit and a jar of coffee and it was Gold Blend.  I went into the lounge to get a box of chocolates and one of the ladies had not really been in the house before so followed me in and looked at everything.  From the lounge you can see my downstairs bedroom so she made a bee-line for that and when she looked at the quilt I told her that it was feathers from the duck and she was amazed...I don't think she'd seen or felt one before.  So off they were going and I explained that the new conservatory made the kitchen much warmer and she hadn't noticed the kitchen so she was back in the house to have a proper look and then into the bathroom and there were a lot of ooos and aarhhs.  I think she liked it.

Eventually she left and no sooner had I got back on the sofa with a book when I had another visitor wishing me a Happy New Year.  We had coffee, I mentioned that I had a problem with the bathroom light fitting so I was whisked in the car into Djebel to try to get a new one.  Nothing doing locally so we carried on to Kardjali, new one bought for twenty lev, straight back home, fitted and now I have lights in the upstairs bathroom again.  Big thanks.

Fire is going, supper is ready and I'm having pasta so nice and quick and it looks like there's going to be enough for tomorrow.  It does take time to get back into the routine.  LN...Same weather please tomorrow.....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 15, 2019, 5:06pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 15th January

Woke up this morning at one minute to seven....my internal clock appears to be a little fast but for one minute...I shan't complain about it.  Normal morning routine, ashes out, fire lit and I wasn't too sure if we were going to have a sunny day or not but I needed have worried about it.  I knew that I was about to hatch a severe cold..my lungs felt tight, my head was a little swimmy  so I got straight down to the hot lemon, honey, pine tree tip syrup and I've been bouncing off the walls ever since.  A huge sugar rush but the aspirin dulled it down enough for me to go to sleep for about three hours on the sofa.  More lemon on the awakening, temperature in the lounge was up to thirty two so that sun did me OK and the fact that the fire had expired during the same time that I had didn't present a huge problem.

So I'd just come back to the land of the living when Haciber arrived at the door bringing me a wafer bar and some chocolates from her daughter who'd arrived from Turkey.  I must give her the name of the chocolates that I really adore and maybe she can do me a favour obviously for cash...I wouldn't expect anything different.  Now Haciber related that her daughter had gone to Kardjali so sort out some central heating for her for her cottage.  The idea's great but I think she needs to get her a simple idiot's guide.  No electricity...no heating, UPS recommended two hours and then it's useless and if the electricity went off like it did a few years ago for twelve days...she'll need a back up.  There again...look what I've started....who'd have thought it.  The internet was down this afternoon and probably down to the howling wind.  A phone call to my provider and it was back within the hour. so hopefully will stay up.

Supper is still the same stuff from the slow cooker.  I turned it on at three this afternoon, added potatoes so I can dine as and when.  My appetite is not what it should be...colds just bung you up but I shall nestle down in front of the fire once I've finished the update.  It's not so bad tonight..only supposed to go down to minus six...positively tropical.     So nothing on for tomorrow....I'm self medicating and nursing.  LN....Supper and a book at bedtime....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 16, 2019, 4:23pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 16th January

It's hatched....my flu is raging and I'm content to walk around with a toilet roll in one hand and a black bag in the other.  The sneezes are earth shattering and my poor brain, for what it's worth is getting bashed about something chronic.

I went to bed last night at the normal time even though I'd slept most of the afternoon and true to form I was awake at three thirty and dozed with the light on until six when I greeted the world.  I went back to bed with more lemon and honey mixture dosing myself up with more aspirin and watched the sun come up from my bed and realised that there would be no need to light the fire, we were in for a good day.

I ran a that at eight thirty and lingered there with my Kindle until nine thirty dried off and then took up position on the sofa downstairs and I've been there most of the day sleeping on and off.  I'm not particularly susceptible to colds but according to Guljan who phoned me from Germany this afternoon...'it is a virus, everybody in Bulgaria has it' and I certainly don;t like to be exception to the rule.

So that's me, this is finished, I think I'll survive without resorting to antibiotics which is the way of a Bulgarian.  It just needs to run it's course but I'm hoping it's quick about it.  LN....The sofa calls.....LN
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Elsa Peters
January 17, 2019, 4:12pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 17th January

So I managed on the sofa until ten and off to bed, slept until one thirty and had the most amazing coughing fit, gasping for breath and all sorts.  Manage to get off again until three thirty and then dog-dozed with the light on again until six thirty.  The morning got me out of bed.  There were some superb colours in the sky that need to be captured.  I wasn't exactly leaping around the estate but limping and holding of for dear life.  I jest but could this be man-flu now that I'm living on my own....maybe I'm entitled to it.

I coaxed the fire into being and headed back to bed.  It promised to be a good day weather-wise and it didn't disappoint.  I only had one job to do and I was putting it off but eventually I succumbed.  Two log carriers filled up and delivered into the porch and I've kept the fire more or less ticking along all day.  I did managed to wash up from the last few days...emptied the remains of the slow cooker over the wall and the fat ginger one was on it in a flash and the pot is  now ready for my next concoction.  I've given up on the aspirin, I didn't eat until three this afternoon when I dug out some smoked cheese and some rice crisps.  I needed something with flavour.  

Hoping for a better night tonight....I haven't slept so much during the day but I'm tired of FB, email, Soda Crush and Sudoku.   LN....Please make me well again soon.....LN



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Elsa Peters
January 18, 2019, 4:38pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 18th January

So bed by ten thirty and woke up at one thirty and I think I was asleep, not sure, I was playing pac-man with the bad germs in my system and dreaming that I was eating them all up.  I didn't managed to get back to sleep again until four and was awake at seven...not the good night I was hoping for.  I did feel better today though, coughing better as my mother would say but didn't feel like anything to eat, settled for coffee and went back to the sofa after I'd finished my morning chores.  Wood into the house as I walked back from gathering a couple of screw drivers from the little house.

I have a leak from the water system in the downstairs toilet, not gushing but the mat was always damp when you went to the loo.  I'd identified that it was one of the seals so turned off the supply to the toilet, emptied the cistern, and noticed that the seal had not been put in correctly when Bekir had made the last repair to the plumbing.  So I unscrewed it, centred the seal, screwed it back up and ...it still leaks but ever so slightly so on Monday I'll get a couple from the hardware shop taking in the original so there's no mistaking the one that I want.  I have a new skill to add to my C.V.  I did put a dish under the leak so that it's contained...the mat and floor is dry.  I did have a visitor today bearing gifts....home made bread and a orange drink and apparently it was from her mother.  I excused the fact that I didn't ask her in by telling her that I had 'grip' so was infected and she soon ran away.  I went back to my desk,gave myself a manicure and painted my nails.  I am back..well most of me.

I made a couple of phone calls to the UK this afternoon to catch up with the news and settled in to watch the snooker.  I think my hero is playing on Saturday afternoon so that's my Saturday sorted then. The fire's going well even though I didn't light it until four thirty, it's been sunny but cloudy from lunchtime onwards but the house is ticking over at twenty four as we speak,  That's enough for me.  No photos...I was too busy being the maintenance person to the estate and I've been chewed off for saying man flu...the new phrase is 'person flu'.  I'll remember it for next time,  LN...Fire stoking..LN
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