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APRIL 2019  This thread currently has 5,777 views. Print
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Elsa Peters
April 1, 2019, 5:39pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 1st April

So my body hasn't quite got used to the summer time and the clock change....I slept in until just before eight and I seem to have spent the day catching up with myself.  The sun was shining and it looked to be quite calm out there until I went down at around eleven to start the bonfire and the wind took off.  I had to but the lid on the container or it would have been over the hillside...and far away.

I was short of bread and today there is no van....it's market day and he assumes that everyone heads out on the first bus of the week to the market in Djebel.  I fancied bacon so decided to make myself an omelette that started out with bacon and ended up with bacon, potatoes and onion cut very thinly and fried off before I added the omelette mixture.  I took up my position by the table in the stairwell and enjoyed it with my second cup of coffee.  Kitchen cleared, I went up to the bathroom to put the washing away and there were some dogs barking very loudly in the gardens to the west.  I went into the spare bedroom bedroom with the camera and found the culprits and also the reason why they were making so much noise.  Some errant cows were straying towards one of the gardens and there appeared to be some fence breaking happening and I remember those days well.  The dogs were doing their job and they settled down to watch for the next advance.

As I walked through the conservatory I noticed that the bougainvillea's leaves had a few black spots on them so I decided to investigate and  found out that I'd over watered and that there were ants in the bottom of the pot.  Now I don't like these invaders at all so it's now been repotted, the area completely sprayed and we'll see how it goes from now on.  I did go out to get going on the garden but I really don't like wind and have spent the day in and out with no real effort outside,  I read for a while and it was what I would call a 'cudda' day.  'Cudda' done this or that but achieved little but feel rested so maybe my body is telling me something.  I walked the garden and noticed that the onions are up and so are the broad beans so I pulled out some bindweed that's sprung to life and generally tidied round them.  I've also got an unknown that's germinated....look a little like carrots and I'll confirm as they get bigger.

I decided on an early supper and boiled more potatoes and added peas, put them in a bowl with beetroot, chopped onion, a tin of tuna and added mayo and made a huge bowl of tuna salad.  It's all gone and I shall managed perfectly well until breakfast I;m sure.  Eight thirty my time and at last I've managed to reset the time on the indoor / outdoor thermometer.  I was almost tempted to bring in reinforcements or throw it on the hillside but I persevered and it's good.  LN....Time to post....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 1, 2019, 5:41pm Report to Moderator

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Elsa Peters
April 2, 2019, 4:58pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 2nd April

And another lie in this morning....by the end of the week I should be fine.  I knew I had to get dressed and go to the van for some bread but I really couldn't raise the energy  and it took me until nine thirty before I had suitable outside clothes on.  I was undecided whether to head into Kardjali or not.  I hadn't got a huge shopping list and I always spend more when I go so I was tossing it around before I made the decision,  I checked my phones and saw that my Princess had phoned Sunday night much later than she ought and yesterday morning on her way to work and I must have been in the garden.  I phoned her back to let her know that I was still alive and kicking and that she could put the policies away and she said that she'd already checked the blog and would have worried if I hadn't posted.  So no cards for mother's day received and maybe I should blame it on Brexit....every other person is blaming it for everything else.  I'm just rather sick of it...we should jump off the cliff so to speak and let's just get on with it.

So it was a strange morning.  I'd noticed that the seed pod on the oleander had split open and the seeds had ripened so I gathered them and put them to one side in the conservatory.  I'd also looked at the old lumps of stone that are in the little garden between the up and down steps and had decided that I wanted to open up the centre to plant one of my Greek shrubs.  So far, so good.  I moved the stones apart and put in my trusty English garden fork and hit something pretty solid.  I first thought it was a bicycle tyre so worried at it with the spade and the fork and eventually I removed a very large strong polythene sack and I couldn't understand why I hadn't come across before.  I manoeuvred the stones more or less into place and left the planting until tomorrow.  Next job was to fill a flowerpot with peat and plant up the oleander and label them this time.  I seem to have quite a bit appearing and not got a clue but I'll tell you when they flower.

Next I went into town and headed for my secondhand warehouse but couldn't find any furniture suitable.  The leather sofas that I'dd spotted last year were still available and the price had come down but I'm not really tempted....I like my existing style.  I found a couple of flowerpot holders and they came at a bargain price and I'd love to have spent more time looking at the carpets.  They all seem to be in one big heap and you need someone else to get digging with.  Back into town and on to Kaufland and picked up essentials from the list and the wayward items that just appear in the trolley.  I did manage to get forty litres of peat though so my journey was not in vain.  Finished off at Lidl and it's French stick tonight with something yet to be decided, filled up with gas and petrol and headed home for six.  Unpacked the shopping, everything put away and now back to the decision about supper and then relax.  The wind was still cold today despite the sun and hoping it will drop tomorrow so that I can get out and I'm considering doing the grass over again just to make sure that it's not going to be a problem later on if we get rain.  LN....A better day....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 3, 2019, 5:46pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 3rd April

Not much to report today...early night and three a.m. wake up and two hours on the Kindle.  Not sure why but woke up at seven thirty and my only objective was to get out to the bread van.  Unfortunately plans were scuppered.  The three big dogs that seem to have camped up in the field opposite were barking their heads off and standing at the other side of the fairly open fence were very intimidating.  I tried to phone the owner to get him to remove them but no go.  I think they've taken up residence because there are bitches on heat down the bottom end of the village...

I made up for it by using the rest of the French stick to made a bacon and egg roll and that has kept me going all day.  I pottered around in the garden but it was just too cold to stay out there for long.  I made sure that everything outside and inside were watered...the wind drains all of the moisture out of plants and I noticed that the sweet peas have at last germinated in the tyres on the workshop terrace.  It's pretty sheltered round there and I've also seen that the supports that I put in for the sweet peas have started to shoot...now there's a surprise.  The three remaining money plant shoots that were in water have rooted and are now planted up.  

The internet was down all day again and apparently it's because the electricity supply was disconnected.  We have a week on and a week off so I suggested that it might be because they hadn't paid the bill for the supply.  The lady on the other end of the phone laughed...I hope it's not true.  So the rest of the afternoon I spent catching up on the lack of sleep overnight and it seemed to have worked.  Almost nine my end...soon be time for bed.  LN...Hoping for a better night....LN
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Elsa Peters
April 4, 2019, 4:46pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 4th April

Five thirty start so I played on the Kindle and was up and at it by seven.  Washed and dressed ready for the garden and decided that I would leave breakfast out of the equation,  I'd still got indigestion from yesterday's breakfast and had a peculiar pain in the central chest area so it was going to he a day of fasting.  I went out to test the temperature, the sun was up, there wasn't any wind but I put a leather waistcoat over my sweater to protect the back area.  

I put in my green hoodie into the washing machine and sprayed it with spot cleaner first.  I'd washed it two days ago but the grease spots lingered so into the washing machine it went.  I checked for a washing temperature guide but there wasn't one....it had been made in America and the only instruction was to dry flat...so I pegged it out.  

So with my trusty garden fork I cleared the little beds under the terrace wall with the intention of edging it with wood but my attention moved to the bottom of the garden, the edging is still waiting on the lawn and I started to clear the edged beds.  There were lots of weeds but I'm pleased to say that the first bed is cleared and now planted up with things from other parts of the garden.  That's how I garden.  I took the strimmer down with me went round the beds and the areas that I'd missed when the grass was done and I'm pleased with the results.

The fasting went to the wall and I came in and opened a tin of tuna in brine, popped it into a bowl with beetroot and that was lunch with a glass of water.  I'm leaving the oil alone and the mayo and supper tonight is a jacket potato with baked beans....no butter or cheese.  I'm trying to be good.  The hoodie came in and looks much better and is now airing in the conservatory.  Tools in and locked away until tomorrow and if the weather is the same tomorrow...I should have the beds cleared.  The internet eventually came on at five thirty or thereabouts and about time to.  It's been off again today and it's wearing as little thin.  I'd started to do the photos for the blog and suddenly a pair of woodies appeared in the walnut so it was camera out again.

Eggheads has moved time again and I'm not sure why they mess around with it and put rubbish programmes on but at least I caught it today.  Flog it is playing in the background and I'm not really paying attention to it....I can smell the jacket potato so I'm heading down to the kitchen.  LN.....A really good gardening day.....LN  



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Elsa Peters
April 5, 2019, 5:01pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 5th April

Not a particularly night again and the first cup of coffee went with only the top taken from it.  I still had the pain each so decided to go see my lovely BG doctor in the polyclinic.  I didn't bother with breakfast, had my walk round the garden to check on how things had done overnight and maybe delaying the departure to the doctors.  I just don't like going...nothing against her.

I was in the Nipper by ten fifteen and headed down to the post office in Rogosche in response to a phone call from her yesterday.  She wasn't there so I carried on to Kardjali and managed to find a free parking place within a two minute's walk of the Polyclinic.  I went down to the corridor where the doctors have their consulting rooms...all nine of them...and sat down in the waiting area.  There was only one person waiting, the receptionist who works in the consulting room with the doctor came out, noticed me and returned to the office.  She came back out again and took to another room and I had an ECG without even saying a word.  Electrodes snapped on an I was given the print out to take into the surgery with me.  I handed it over, the doctor asked how I was and I smiled and ran through my issues.  She checked my blood pressure, had the stethoscope on my back and front, poked and prodded, gave me the run down on the ECG and prescribed the appropriate tables.  She mentioned that there are lots of stomach issues around this time of year as we change seasons and food intake so gave me an antibiotic.  I go back for the blood test next week without an appointment and as soon as I have the results I'm to go back and see her.  The drugs came to just under thirty lev...I do have to pay...but the service is so good.  Each Bulgarian is encouraged to have an MOT every year.

I stopped in town and paid my home phone and mobile bills and carried on to Lidl and bought a few items.  In Djebel I called in to see my student's mum to make sure that I understood the instructions written on each box of tablets.  Some were morning, some night, some morning and night, some before food and some on an empty stomach....I needed that written out in English.

Back home, unpacked the shopping and settled down on the sofa and promptly went to sleep but woke up cold.  The sun was out but in the shade there was a chill in the air.  My solution, I cleared out the ashcan and got the fire going and it's chugging along beautifully.  I've been four days without lighting it but tonight I needed it.  

Home day tomorrow...i missed out on my gardening today but pleased I did.  LN.....Now to find the right tablet/s.......LN



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Elsa Peters
April 5, 2019, 5:03pm Report to Moderator

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And the others



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tabs
April 6, 2019, 3:35pm Report to Moderator
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Just a quick question Elsa. Have you finished the renovation work on your property now ?
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Elsa Peters
April 6, 2019, 5:17pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 6th April

Well just to answer your question....my main house is finished, centrally heated and very comfortable to live in.  As for the second house in the garden, I've had it re-roofed and double glazed but I need to finish it inside.  The plan for this year is to get it started in the autumn...it's the best time of year for the men and the weather...normally second week in September is about right.  I need to replace one of the windows with a door and window on to the terrace, the window can be used in the front porch to the property into the yard.  It needs electrics and water fitting out and new solid floors....so not much to do then...    It just doesn't seem that important....I've got enough bedrooms when people visit in the main house.

Last night was horrendous and it was three before I got my head down and seven when I woke up and then I spend the next half an hour working out which tablets I had to take and when.  It doesn't help when you can't read the instruction.  I tried coffee but immediately my stomach rebelled against it so maybe that's a life time's habit broken.  First tablet down and then banana and muesli for breakfast sitting in the sun.  So as for today....I pottered in the garden this morning and put the Greek pretty plant in the front little bed and fingers crossed it's going to like it there.  I watered everything and then settled on the sofa and prompt went to sleep catching up on the lack of last night.  I was cold despite the sun so pulled a blanket over me for another hour in the land of nod.

I lit the fire at five thirty I put a chicken in the oven... this is my start of healthy eating.  It was recommended by the doctor and I'll see how long it lasts.  I quite like my vegetables roasted in the oven but it usually has oil added so they can brown up properly.  It's cooked now so I'm heading down to the kitchen so see what I can find to go with it.  I've had my 'before' tablet and the 'afters' are line on the worktop and tonight is the final of the Voice so I'm looking forward to that.  Gentle day tomorrow...I'll see if it's these tablets that have made me feel tired and chilled.  LN.....Time to throw a log on....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 7, 2019, 4:58pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 7th April

What a programme the Voice was last night...and the one that I wanted to win won....Molly and Ollie the coach.  She was very refreshing, nervous as hell and such a future before her.  So it was fairly late to bed and a very late start to the day.  I didn't wake up until eight thirty so I've been behind all day....well I would have been itf I'd have done anything but I haven't.

I did put the washing away, got washed and dressed to face whatever might come and nothing came.  It was spitting with rain so my outdoor activities were impeded so I settled in to cook breakfast of mushrooms in butter with toast.  I'd worked out my tablets...one before and two after breakfast so that was one achievement and suddenly my attention was drawn to the hoover that was sitting under my bed.  I'd only used it a couple of times before and couldn't understand that it didn't seem to be picking anything up so it was a maintenance jobbie.  The filter was blocked from last time and it's one thing taking it apart, it's putting it back together which is where the fun starts.  Success, house cleaned from top to bottom and window sills to boot.  

I watched the re-run of the voice again and appreciated even more.  Cold chicken for supper and the boiler has just one on for a leisurely bath tonight and I've just lit the fire although it's late to be doing it.  I feel cold and think the tablets are doing something to my system.   LN..Looking forward to wallowing...LN
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Elsa Peters
April 8, 2019, 5:21pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 8th April

Late start again and I'm definitely putting it down to the tablets.  I've never slept so well.  I got ready for the day....putting on yesterday's trousers and the same sweater...I didn't intend going anywhere so nothing to dress up for.  Another day without coffee and I'm not sure that it's doing any good but worth a try.  Breakfast was a mushroom omelette, the electricity had gone off so my time with the internet was disturbed and it's amazing that you still go into a room and turn on the light even though you know that it's not going to come on.  I cleared up the kitchen and started to think about new curtains between the winter lounge and the stairwell.  The material has the same colours as the painting on the stairs but it was put on to another day without electricity I needed the sewing machine for that.

I put the remains of the chicken into the slow cooker with onions, potatoes, carrots and parsnips and that was going to be supper.  I remembered that I'd had a phone call from the post office so got into the Nipper and headed for the next village.  She'd saved them up for me...two from the pensions department and I have to proved that I'm alive again so I;m off to the bank tomorrow so that my lovely lady can compete the form.  I had two from the bank and a very belated Mother's day card from my daughter....as for my son...perhaps it's got lost in the post.  The weather was cold and I put on a thick cardigan before I settled down on the sofa with the Kindle.  As expected I had my afternoon nap and the first hob was to light the fire that started off very reluctantly but is now doing what it does best.  

Supper was ready when I was, I made gravy, served up and there's plenty left in the pot for tomorrow.  The complete chicken is far better value that buying the wings and legs but I think I'll buy a smaller one next time....this could have fed the five thousand.  As for the weather today...it's been cold and miserable, not worth going anywhere but tomorrow I'm making the effort to go to the hospital for my blood test and to get the lifetime form filled out and in the post.  The threat is that they stop the pension if they don't receive it in time.  LN....Now to settle in to the evening......LN




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Elsa Peters
April 9, 2019, 5:10pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 9th April

What a dreadful evening.  I'd settled down to watch my favourite Monday programmes on BBC2, Just Connect and University challenge and twenty minutes into the first one and the internet went off.  I can't tell you what profanities emanated from my mouth, I'd probably have to ban myself.  It came on again when they'd both finished and I was left with Mary Berry so I switched off the computer and headed for bed.  It was time I went anyway.  

Six thirty and I was awake and ready to face my busy day.  I had my first tablet before food and grabbed a couple of bananas that substituted for breakfast...wrong.  I got told off when the doctor saw the blood test results and indicated that I should have turned up 'empty'.  I'll know for next time.  I arrived at the hospital at ten and found the correct department with the help of the receptionist and handed over my form from the doctor and the authorisation document that I'm entitled to treatment at Bulgarian rates.  I think it was the first one that they'd seen but I was called in.  The young lady prodded around with the needle and eventually managed to get three phials of blood out of me.  She plastered me up and told me to come back for the results after twelve.  I went for a coffee, on to one of the cheapy shops but not on its cheap day but bought a goose down continental quilt that looked brand new at a very reasonable price.  I made my way to the bank and asked my lovely lady if she would complete my life confirmation form for the Pensions in the UK which she did in five minutes and straight to the post office and sent it registered post.  The date on the letter was the tenth of February so it took ages to get here...I hope it's quicker going back.  Back to the hospital for twelve and results handed over and straight down to the doctor whose surgery is in the same building.  It was then when I got told off and warned that my cholesterol was a little high.  The next thing she suggested was an x-ray of my back and with the appropriate forms I headed for the main hospital, registered and had to pay one leva...forty pence roughly...and carried on to the next reception and was told to wait by cabinet four.  I was called in within five minutes, the x-ray taken and I was handed it fifteen minutes later to take back to my doctor.  She studied it and now I have tablets to take., a diet to follow which includes grating celeriac in yogurt.

I headed to my material shop and bought enough lining for the curtains that I played around with yesterday...and that was at a really good price.  It's two meters thirty wide, one hundred percent cotton and bought six meters for forty two lev....another bargain.  Back to Lidl, they didn't have celeriac but I managed to spend enough to make me blink.  Stopped off at my student's mum's shop to check out why my arm had swollen up where they'd taken the blood out.  I'll see how it is in the morning.   Unpacked the car and put the shopping away, lit the fire, mashed up the remaining vegetables from yesterday, placed the chicken in a pie dish and put the vegetables on top of it and into the oven with it.  It was very palatable.

Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow...I'm going to have a lazy day since there's no way that any gardening can be done.  It's thrown it down all day, flower pots will need to be emptied again if it rains overnight.  LN....Ah well, something to do.....LN
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Elsa Peters
April 10, 2019, 5:28pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 10th April

Early start again so lingered in my pit with a glass of water...still off the coffee and feel better for it.  I made a ham omelette for breakfast and decided to make a cup of drinking chocolate and it was...horrible.  It went down the sink and I went back to the water.  I'd decided to  have a shower and wash my hair and went upstairs to get the bath towel and suddenly thought that a bath would do me more good so I went down and locked the outside door again, grabbed the Kindle streaming ITV and headed up to the bathroom.  One hour later, my hair was washed, I felt very relaxed and squeaky clean.  I got dressed and had two phone calls to make...one to the bank asking them to send my renewal card to my home address and my next visitor will bring it over.  The second one was to the Pensions people to confirm that I'd returned the 'life certificate' and asked them to make a note on my record....it took eight weeks to get here and if it took the same time to go back to the UK...they'd be stopping my pension.  It has been noted that 'it's in the post'.

I messaged OH offering him a tourist guide of Istanbul since I thought he was off this weekend.  It's been delayed...the weather is just so rubbish at the moment.  An hour later he appeared on my doorstep, I made coffee and we sat chewing the fat and he asked me if I could shorten some curtains for them.  I said that he had to cut the material and pin up where he wanted the hem to be, he produced them from the car and a measure and all was needed was a pair of scissors.  Two curtains shortened and the bottoms that were cut off I hemmed to make table cloths.  Job was a 'goodun'.  He also managed to download the film that my daughter had recommended ...'The Zookeeper's Wife' and that filled in my afternoon.  I had two phone calls which I chose to ignore, paused it to light the fire and then went back to it.  The calls could come later and they did.....both from the same person and Gouljan who's currently living in Germany is thinking of coming back for a holiday.

Fire going well, I went out and had to get more logs in to see me through the evening.  I'm having yogurt for supper...my lunchtime tuna and beetroot did it's job and filled me up well.  Might have to go into Kardjali to pick up a yoga mat if I decide to go to Pilates tomorrow night.  It could be a giggle.      LN....Just to wet for pickies.....LN





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Elsa Peters
April 11, 2019, 6:28pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 11th April

Silly night.  I went to bed at eleven and was awake at two thirty and it was the kindle until five.  I did managed to sleep through until eight thirty though so a caught a few hours back.  I'm down to three tablets a day now and after the first one, before food, I managed a very crunchy portion of French stick with cheese spread on it.  Not exactly on the list of 'good to haves' but no one was looking.  I put a load of washing in knowing that I would have to dry it inside, there wasn't going to be a window of opportunity looking at the sky and listening to the rain throwing it down.  

I sent out a couple of messages to see if anyone had a yoga mat that I could borrow but none forthcoming so I headed into Kardjali around eleven this morning and to Kaufland to see if they had one.  Joy oh joy, only one remaining on the shelf so it was blue or nothing.  I poodled around the hardware section and bought a plastic thermal compost maker which I'd been looking at for a while and they'd come down in price...so winner, winner.   I added things to the trolley and some how my bill was a little higher than normal and I hate it when that happens.  You go in for one thing and that's it.  I filled up with gas on the way home and tomorrow I'm going to the garage to get my summer tyres on and have a little mini-service.  I'm taking the family to Assenovgrad...we are on the hunt for mother's clothes for the wedding...in September.  I think it's early...they don't.

I'd bought a brown loaf in Kaufland and my goodness is it solid.  I did managed to eat a couple of slices with ham but it was a struggle.  I'm going to sit and watch the birds with it tomorrow...and bet they struggle to take off again.  I had a sleep or rather cat napped.this afternoon while I was watching television on the computer and was in the Nipper by six twenty to get to Djebel for my first Pilates lesson.  I stopped on the drive in to take pickies of the rainbow and there was a man who was having to walk his bile up the hill and he asked me to take his picture so I did.  I'll print if off and keep it handy in case he calls for it.  He knows me more than likely but I don't know him. I met up with my student's mum outside the shop and we walked to the venue and I recognised the other girls from last year's trip to Cappadokia so I didn't feel like the new girl on the block.  We unrolled out mats, I joined in and the leader was so good, helping me out when I just didn't get it as the instructions were in Bulgarian.  I've stretched bits that haven't moved for ages, rolled up my bed and paid my dues although she didn't want to take any money from me since it was my first time.  I insisted so she relented and we walked back to the car.  She popped up to the apartment and gave me two pots of her home made vinegar with the culture inside...one of apple and the other of elderberry so I can make my own.  Home for just before nine, yogurt for supper and then more or less straight to bed. I should probably have a bath to soothe the muscles but 'tempus fugit'.  LN....I'll see what sort of a night I have....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 12, 2019, 6:07pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 12th April

Out of bed by six thirty and opened the curtains and saw the start of what could have been a brilliant sunrise...wrong.  It was a glimmer and no more.  I went out on to the balcony to take the last shot and I heard the first cuckoo of the year.  It wasn't my stammering cuckoo...I'll have to keep listening for it. The mist was hanging in the valley, clouds hanging over the mountains and storm clouds gathering 'John Snow'.  

Washed and dressed fairly early on, the bread that I'd bought yesterday had softened up since I put it into a plastic bag overnight so I toasted it and made two slices into a ham sandwich.  It wasn't enough but it held my tablets down.  It was chill in the house but decided not to light the fire for a while.  I collected the rubbish determined to have a bonfire but changed my mind and the pipes to the woodburner were coming out, getting cleaned and returned.  I started by cleaning out the woodburner, made my way outside to start the bonfire and got distracted by the drowning plants in the overnight downpour so I was moving plants from the containers on to the terraces to drain.  Eventually I made my way down to the burning bucket with the garden fork in hand and got it going in quicksticks.  It was spitting with rain when I got down there but it suddenly changed and I had to come in and resume my pipe cleaning exercise,  All out, all brushed, all replaced and no escaping smoke when I lit the fire.  So far so good for the day, got another load of logs in so that I was prepared for the night.

I made tuna,sweetcorn and beetroot salad for lunch followed by a few jelly chocolate biscuits and cut up the beef that I'd bought yesterday and got three portions out of it.  Two went in the freezer and the third I tossed in flour with salt, pepper, ginger and a chilli mixture that my student's mum had given me.  I browned the meat with the spices, added water, tomato paste and a small tin of tomatoes and into the oven with it.  As a gift to myself I played on the Kindle and in the warmth of the fire nodded off for an hour or so.  

It was a late sleep so I was in to the evening before I was ready for it but noticed that the gymnastics were being televised.  I served supper with a jacket potato and moved up to the top landing and the computer and then down for a bowl of yogurt.  I've had so much foot today.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow...the trip to Assenovgrad has been cancelled at my suggestion because of the weather.  Sunny one minute and not so much showers but downpours and I didn't want to be running from shop to shop and you can't try clothes on with a soggy bottom.   Washing up done and kitchen all cleared away for tomorrow, washing put away.  LN...A day of achievement....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 13, 2019, 5:57pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 13th April

Late to bed and yet again.  I woke up in front of the computer at one and goodness knows what I'd been watching.  The last think I remember was Monty Don pinching out his sweet peas and then it was off I went.  Straight to bed, off into the land of nod pretty sharpish and through until seven twenty this morning.  These tablets are doing there stuff,  I made coffee with milk which is not usually on the cards for me, took my remaining tablets before food and decided that food was imminent so made two toasted ham sandwiches using the brown bread.  I was still in PJ's whet the bread van tooted its horn so had to make do.  

I went upstairs to get washed and dressed and realised that I'd cranked up the thermostat on the boiler so decided to have a leisurely bath instead.  Made another coffee, ran the bath and lay there for around an hour and a half topping up as required and reading my book.  What a nice start to a Saturday morning.  Got dressed and put on a pair of my father's sock that I'd bought back from the UK last time I was there and they brought back fond memories of dear Harry.  Whether it was the energy from the socks or not I don't know but I looked at the grass in front of the terrace and the clover that was leaping ahead and decided to see if the lawn mower could cope with it.  It had rained many times over the last week but at this rate I was going to have sheep in if I didn't do anything about it...and it was worth a try.  

Wellie boots on, I fired the mower a few times, it coughed and spluttered and eventually sprung to life.  I didn't put the grass box on and opened up the back of it with a plank of wood so that the cuttings could stream out of the back....and they did.  I almost looked like I was dressed in camouflage gear after a few runs.  So in front of the terrace completed and I set about the side garden and round the vegetable patch ending up at the mulberry tree half way down the garden.  So far so good.  I moved it over to the grass in front of the little house and again, keeping the mulberry tree in sight cleared that and in front of the workshop.  The clouds were rolling over and it was looking a little dark over towards the west so I decided to come in for a drink and that could have been it except that I got another burst of energy and finished the little house grass completely expecting either the rain to start or the mower to run out of petrol but it didn't.  I decided to move on to the rest of the grass on the other side and after a couple of runs on the surrounds there was a flash of lightening and an almighty clap of thunder and then rain stopped play.  Mower away, no other tools out, I stripped off in the conservatory leaving dad's socks on the floor and headed upstairs to find more clothes and socks.  With the rain the temperature dropped and it wasn't long before I'd developed my own pond at the bottom of the garden and the sheep trails were running on the hillside.  All I needed was another thirty minutes but it wasn't happening today but I'd done well.

On to the sofa with a cup of coffee to warm me up a little and despite the thunder I put the television on and watched the European gymnastics.  Such skill and dedication...and seemingly impossible contortions and twisting.  I lit the fire and that warmed the house up and have just spent half an hour on a catch up call with the UK.  I've just noticed the time...almost nine my end and soon be time for bed.  I'm going to have to come to the end of these tablets soon and then I can go back to normal and just watch the grass grow but after today's downpour, I think it's started already....get back, get back.  LN...Kitchen bound to find supper.....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 14, 2019, 4:12pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 14th April

Six thirty start this morning but I was soon back to bed and cosied up.  Despite the fire last night there was a chill in the air and I was lighting the fire at eight and feeling warmer by sitting on the coffee table and just watching it.  Breakfast was a bowl of muesli with milk and yogurt and it appears to have set solid since I've had nothing wince that for the rest of the day.  I cleared the kitchen from last night.  I did find something to eat.  I added curry powder to the remains of the casserole from Friday night and made fresh rive and that was the sum total.  Because it was late I didn't do anything with the kitchen so that was my first task after breakfast and there's been no movement ever since.

So today I was intending finishing the grass but I went out there full of good intentions but soon came in again..it was very damp under foot and very cold.  I checked on the seeds on the workshop terrace and the sweet peas are making good progress and will soon be tall enough to pinch out the middle.  Seems such a waste of effort, they work their little roots to put on leaves and then you come along and undo all their hard work.  That's man or woman for you.  

I managed to go out and bring in some of the old wood and that kept the fire going all day.  I might have to invest in a couple of cubic if the weather stays like this.  I have old wood which I should really keep burning to get it out of the way...just laziness on my part.  I think I'll get my painter chappie in to stack it in the porch of the little house to  a) empty the bedroom so I can think about start again on the renovation and b) have some free wood.  I had my afternoon snooze, it would be rude not to and woke up and finished watching the European gymnastics and we managed two golds on the final day.  

Looking at the sunflowers they really need to go out and start to get established outside and I've a few more that need to go out.  I've got a strange one called 'Forking larkspur' and I suppose that's what you should if they don't do well in the garden.  I thought it was a mistake on the packet but having just studied my gardening book...they're for real.  As for the new seeds from Greece....I think it might still be a little too cold for them...I think I'll get them going in their own pots.

Not sure about supper.  The remains of the curry has been turned into a thick soup now I've added the rice but not sure about the taste buds.  I might go for something lighter and at the moment am not really hungry at all.  Market tomorrow and I think I shall be buying my tomatoes and cucumbers otherwise I'll never get them in and I have to pick up my driving glasses from the restaurant where the girls left them the other night.  I have more so it's not too big a deal.  Seven my time...fire still ticking along nicely and I've managed twenty four degrees inside and it's only ten out.  LN....Time to cosy up and find something to read or watch....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 15, 2019, 5:04pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 15th April

It started off sunny and I though I might be out gardening today.  I went outside to drop the rest of last night's curry over the wall for the dependants be they foul or feathered and realised that I wouldn't be spending long out there.  The wind was howling from the mountains and boy was it cold...not a day to be toying with the elements.  I settled for muesli for breakfast with milk and yogurt and settled in to watch morning television after I'd done my emails and FB.  I do have a task that I need to complete but my mind wasn't in the right place for it.  Tomorrow's list.  I remembered that Guldjan had told me that she'd left her toothbrush in Germany think that she had one here but wrong...perhaps her mother used it for something else...and that was on the list if I made it to Djebel.  I also had my glasses to pick up from the restaurant and decided to go for as many birds as I could with one stone so I opted to winter to summer tyres and a general check over of the Nipper.

Into the car for twelve thirty and I headed for the wrong restaurant and left them completely perplexed when I asked if any one had handed a pair of glasses to them for collection.  I moved on to the garage and they found out the tyres that they'd been storing and changed them over for me.  One bottle of anti-freeze was required for top up and two of screen wash and a little oil.  We viewed the winter tyres and one had a nail so it was repaired and two are good and the others need to be replaced....when it's winter tyres on at the end of this year.  Into the car shop and it was then that I was told the real place to go for my glasses and I hopped over there and success...I moved from there to the supermarket for the toothbrush and bread and headed home and carried on to Guldjan's home to deliver the toothbrush.  Her father was there but her mother had been busy delivering a calf so we decided to walk down to the paddock to see it...three hours old and really unsteady on her legs but beautiful.

My phone camera was playing up so Guldjan came back with me for her pickies and internet access for her so she could do a little updating.  I'd also been given some of their home made yogurt and eggs from their chickens so it was thank you's all round...we do a bit of tit for tat and I ran her home and I think I shall be taking her to visit one of her friends in a village that's difficult to get to some time this week...she's only here for two weeks.  I might also be taking her mother to the hospital when I keep my appointment on Thursday.

I drove her home and put the Nipper away and I thought about how wonderful new life is....up and walking around in three house even on wobbly legs.  I lit the fire, think it's going to be cheese and biscuits for supper or an omelette...nothing too strenuous and tomorrow I've got nothing on my 'must do' list.  LN....Time to check on the fire....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 16, 2019, 5:12pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 16th April

Really late start to the day....almost eight when I woke up and even later when I got dressed.  The sun was up and shining, it was a little cold out there but as the morning wore on the temperature increased.  I managed another bowl of concrete. muesli, milk and yogurt, and it took a while before I felt like digging and walking the lawnmower round the rest of the garden.  I didn't know how much petrol was left in and thought I wouldn't have enough to finish it and I needed to empty it so that I could clean underneath...onwards and upwards.

I started out by repotting the Greek seeds...they weren't looking very happy in the single pot and the fuchsia was rehoused as well.  It came in a small pot from Kaufland and was destined to failure from the start and fingers crossed for it's onward journey.  The lawnmower fired first time and it didn't take long to do the majority of the remainder and as suspected it ran out with about twenty square meters to go so I tipped it over and gave it a clean underneath and headed into Djebel to fill up the container.  I also stopped off at the hardware shop and bought more seeds for the vegetable garden but I have to dig it over first and it wasn't the day for it.  

So back home, lawnmower topped up and the remainder finished.  Next task was to get the strimmer out and complete a battery's worth on the front grass, around the surrounds of the grave garden and the long garden.  there were a few spots of rain but I worked through them.  I had a bonfire when the strimmer ran out and set about weeding some of the gardens at the bottom of the garden but broke the handle of the fork...handle away from the shaft so that's in the workshop awaiting hospital treatment.  

I managed a late lunch of tuna, sweetcorn and beetroot so shan't be having much tonight.  The boiler is on, I'm going in the bath.  No need for the fire tonight...it's not as cold as it was last night.  More gardening tomorrow....it's out with the electric strimmer tomorrow...I have real work to do. As a sideline, a starling is nesting in the hole in the cherry tree...I saw it going in and out today.   LN...Fingers crossed for good weather....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 17, 2019, 4:38pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 17th April

Lovely bath last night and in bed by eleven and straight to sleep.  Not a peep out of me until seven this morning and the sun beat me to it...not that I could see much of it...even the mountains had gone into hiding behind the veil.  I lingered in bed with my coffee and eventually got into action.  It was a really slow start but when I eventually got out there it was all systems go.  Washed and dressed and then breakfasted on toast spread with cheese triangles and wasted time on the Kindle until the sun broke through.

Eventually I was out in the garden by twelve, out with the seventy metres of cable, the strimmer and a coil of the nylon twine for refilling which I knew I would have to do.  I started off in front of the workshop and gradually worked down the long high wall but it was slow going.  Where the grass was long it was very wet and I had to keep stopping to clean the strimmer.  It's only a small one but boy is it effective.  I think I only paid about seven pounds for it from Kaufland and it's been a godsend.  So by three I'd had enough, my back was aching and I needed a rest and when I realised the time I opened a tin of salmon, added mayo and made toast to have with it.  I'd not bought that brand before and I don't think I shall be buying it again...not my favourite....tuna is a much better bet.

Out I went again and gave myself a target of the bottom wall.  Surprisingly enough I found a wild philadephus that I'd planted at the end of last year that I'd forgotten about.  It's now standing in its own space and has a chance to breathe.  By six I'd really had enough...it was just too wet down the bottom wall and the grass is long so that's a tomorrow job.  Not really thinking about food....the salmon is lodged somewhere in the middle gut so I think I'll give food a miss tonight.  I might indulge later....I'll see how the evening pans out.  LN....Another productive day.....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 18, 2019, 6:34pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 18th April

Lovely long sleep last night, seven forty when I woke up...that's almost eight hours without interruptions....it must have been the six hours of gardening and no daytime sleep.  So this morning I'd forgotten that the doctor had requested my presence to check out my blood pressure and confirm that all these tablets I'm taking are doing any good.  I had a shower and washed my hair to create a good impression and was in the Nipper by ten and heading for town.  I didn't bother with breakfast and went in 'empty' just in case she wanted to send me for another blood test, the last one was screwed up by having two bananas for breakfast but she didn't bother.  There are eight doors along the corridor and each one hides a doctor.  Imagine that in the UK.  She wasn't at home when I arrived and there was a medical representative making her way along the cubicles and sat down beside me but no way was she going to beat me to the draw.  The doctor arrive, we got up together and we were both invited in and I sat down on the bed while she put her brief case on what should have been my chair.  She was given short shift, handed over her leaflets and we got down to business.  The doctor checked my blood pressure and it's almost as it should be, I think we've identified the pain in the ribs/sternum as an attachment issue and she's prescribed tablets which appear to cover everything possible.   Let's hope so....they were expensive enough.

I went to Kaufland and picked up a few things, made my way to my second hand furniture warehouse and found a couple of Lloyd Loom chairs but unfortunately couldn't manage to get them in the Nipper...I shall require the Beast so another day.  I did manage to find some small pots that look like broken chicken eggs and they'll make superb Easter gifts with chocolate eggs for my ladies.  I also asked about a knitting machine and by golly they had one....but goodness knows whether it would work or not and at one hundred lev...not worth the risk.  I know that mine in the UK works and it wouldn't cost me that much to bring it over.  I stopped off at Lidl and bought myself an indoor jasmine and it smells divine in the lounge.  It was almost four when I got back so I lit the fire since it's been cold all day, made myself a coffee and a mixture of salad stuff for lunch and finished off with a couple of eclairs....my blood pressure is coming down so....

I got changed and set off for my Pilates class and met up with my student's mum outside the shop.  It was a very small class tonight, only three of us and the teacher but I really enjoyed it and participated more than last week.  Because of the degeneration of my spine I can't lie flat on my back and put my arms on the floor over my head...so I didn't and sat through that exercise modifying it slightly.  Home for eight thirty after a lovely drive through the forest with the full moon going in and out of the clouds, I poked the fire, opened it up bringing it back to life and am about to make myself a hot drink, post this and get myself an early night.  LN....Another full on day....LN  



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Elsa Peters
April 19, 2019, 4:17pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 19th April

Another good night's sleep...hope it becomes a habit.  It had rained overnight again and the terraces were showing the last damp patches, it was a cold wind again but warmed up towards mid morning.  Washed and dressed for gardening, I made poached eggs on toast for breakfast knowing that I was going to have a hard day in the garden.  I didn't rush out and waited for it to warm up and it did settle at sixteen degrees...it's warmer ion the UK.

I sorted out the new little cracked egg flowerpots for my ladies and have enough petunias to put in them.  Unfortunately I picked one of the plants up by the leaf and the roots aren't very big so that one went into one of my pots on the terrace.  First job was to mend the garden fork.  The handle had snapped off yesterday and it meant chiselling out the old post between the handle and the stale adn then finding a piece of wood that I cut cut to shape to joint them both parts together.  It appeared to work but came apart as soon as I put it to the test so now it's sitting in the workshop and I've applied wood glue to it....fingers crossed it's going to work.  The garden being attacked today was the onein front of the workshop terrace and is one of the bigger ones.  It's also a very damp garden and the weeds love it.  So it was slow and steady wins the race and it took me about five hours and ten thousand steps on the Fitbit.  It gave me quite a start when it started to vibrate on my wrist.  I've added marigolds from self sets from the bottom of the garden and some plants that one of the ladies gave me yesterday.  I was amazed how many snapdragons have gone through the winter and are looking very healthy.  

There's a chicken cooking in the oven with roasted potatoes and onions and it should be ready any time soon and I'm ready for it...I'm hungry.  I've got a bit of a back ache tonight so I'll take it easy tomorrow.  LN....Another successful day....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 20, 2019, 4:16pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 20th April

So this morning it was to identify the damage and put things back into their rightful places.  The storm developed very quickly and I was worried at one point that I would find the Nipper banged against the railings.  The trees were bending over and as for my lonesome pine...I was worried about losing it...and there's nothing you can do but watch.  It quietened down after half an hour but I left it until this morning to pick upthe pots on the little house terrace.

I was awake at seven and washed and dressed by eight, out into the garden to pick things up and put the pots the right way but it was a cold old wind and still blowing.  My plans for clearing the rest of the flower beds were put on hold...there was no way I was going to subject myself to cold, strong winds...tomorrow is another day.  I'd checked the UK weather and they were predicting temperatures of twenty and a few pluses...they've got my weather.   Toast for breakfast and I settled down on the sofa and the Kindle for a few games and my book but I realised it was getting pretty cold in the house and eventually I gave up and lit the fire.  No sooner had I lit it and the sun came out and the temperature in the house went up and it actually hit twenty five in the house and everything was good in my little world.  The wind struck up again and those flower pots took off again but they can wait for tomorrow.  This afternoon I settled in to make my Easter cards for my ladies, packed up the flower pots and chocolates and they are ready for delivery.  I've got another couple for others and I'll be delivering them tomorrow morning.  

This afternoon I settled in to watch Willy Wonker and the Chocolate Factory, the original, and I know it's spooky in places but I love it.  The snooker World Championship is also been televised so that should keep me out of mischief for the next couple of weeks.  Robbie my hero doesn't play until Monday and then has another rest until the end of the week.  Tomorrow I'm out to lunch at a Kardjali restaurant and it might entail a visit to the furniture warehouse shop.  Cold chicken for supper and I might even make chippies but don't tell the doctor.  LN...Kitchen bound.....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 21, 2019, 4:59pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 21st April

Happy Easter to all my BG and UK buddies but for some of you in BG you will not celebrate it until next week following somebody else's orthodox traditions.  Blow the conformity, I delivered my goodies in true Interflora style.

I digress.  Last night I had a phone call from Guldjan asking if her and her mother could come and visit despite the late hour.  Since she's over here without internet I asked her if that's what she wanted and she said she didn't but her mother wanted to phone the other sister in Turkey.  I don't have a problem with it, they are good to me in other ways.  They arrived, I'd done a quick flip round,banked the fire up, closed the curtains in the lounge to maintain the heat and boiled the kettle.  One coffee, one tea, connection to the internet and we bundled the mother into the lounge where she could have it on loudspeaker and let the children at the other end shout their little heads off as is the norm.  By ten the call was ended, her mother started complaining about her knee so I went upstairs and found a tube of rubbing gel that she could have and off they trundled most gratefully.  I insisted that Guldjan borrowed a coat from the porch, the temperature was dripping and she only had a thin fleece on and a short while after they left, she was on the phone to tell me that there was money in the jacket pocket and did I know.  I must have used it to go down to the bread van and it was the change.  So last night I missed the television that I'd lined up for myself, caught the end of the Jonathon Ross show and eventually got to bed at one.

Sod's law....I woke up really hot since the fire had been going at full stretch and by five I was ready to be up and at 'em.  I did managed to stay in bed until six, made a coffee, finished wrapping the impending deliveries and set off at nine thirty in the Nipper the first stop being at Guldjan's house in the next village.  She was very surprised to see me, I'd made a special parcel for her and the family, I picked up my coat with the money still in the pocket and headed up to the next drop off point.  I was offered sweets at every stop and coffee or tea and dutifully refused, flowers, pots and chocolates for Haciber, Beyser and my little lady, Zelinger is away on her travels to Turkey for a wedding so she'll have it when she gets back.

The Librarian was due to arrive at eleven so I had time to dead head the daffodils and narcissus, we walked the garden and in the Nipper by eleven thirty heading for Kardjali and Kaufland but stopped off at my student's family house to deliver their gift.  The little one immediately commandeered the chocolates and I threatened to take them back if she didn't share.  It's one of our little jokes. .  So in Kaufland we both picked up a few items including more plants and then headed to the restaurant north of Kardjali.  As per normal we ordered too much food and ended up absolutely stuffed but satisfied, carried on to the secondhand where I bought a yellow version of the eggshell pots that I'd got for the ladies and a rather super pale green clouded glass single flower vase for myself.  Well it is Easter.

Home James, I made coffee and we talked for a while and off she went while I watch a little of the snooker, got the fire underway and have just had a visit from Haciber with a saucepan full of home made yogurt which I had to transfer into my saucepan and it's now in the fridge.  I washed hers up, gave her a cream filled chocolate egg and it went inside the saucepan so that the rest of the neighbours don't see her carrying anything home...such is village life.  No supper for me, that wind had been cold today despite the sun and the temperature is now dropping but let's home it's not white over again in the morning.  LN....Gardening day tomorrow.....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 22, 2019, 5:38pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 22nd April

It's been a funny old day and a funnier old night.  I was up at three thirty, half asleep and half awake until five, back to sleep until seven and a pretty slow morning.  I took my tablets and had muesli and yogurt for breakfast which set solid and so much so that I went out to work in the garden an eleven and was back in the house by twelve.  I felt absolutely shattered so lay on the sofa and had myself more than forty winks..  I put some washing in the machine and eventually got myself out there again and carried on with the job that I'd started in the morning.

It was a slow old job, The top of the garden has decent shrubs in it but midway from the large berberis down to the walnut and beyond used to be the dump for the builder's rubbish and the wall has only been in for a couple of years or so.  Every year brings its own selection of weeds and unfortunately the self set poppies had mingled with this year's crop.  They have been the losers, and a lot of them have found their way over the wall for the animals along with the weeds,  At least I managed it.  I've found new patches of soil where the grass cuttings have disintegrated and lodged between the rubble and now sustaining life and hopefully the flowers will take the place of the weeds.  I've put some  clumps of established plants in there already and they seem to have taken so tomorrow I'm going to do some splitting of daisies and dig up some hypericom and put that down there.  It should do well as a ground cover.

I put my tools away and strimmed the dandelion stalks down, strimmed the grass in front of the main gate and tied up the roses that last week's storm had forced away from the wall.  Haciber came down for a little chat once she saw me taking to the lady who has the garden next to my house.  Love her but she doesn't want to miss anything that she feels might be going on.

No supper for me tonight, it's my quiz night on Beeb 2 tonight...it's getting near or might even be the finals....I haven't checked yet.  I think it might be a bath tonight afterwards...my back has been playing up a bit....I've worked it hard today.  LN...I want a better night...LN



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Elsa Peters
April 23, 2019, 5:18pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 23rd  April

I was awake by six, made a coffee and let it go cold, I sipped it and immediately had the burbs so left it where it was.  I was out of bed by seven thirty, washed and dressed more or less straight away mainly because it was a little chill.  On the list today was to get out to the bread van...I needed fresh bread for breakfast.

Another cold, miserable day, not rain, not dry just the odd few spots.  The plan to go out and finish the weeding of the long and bottom wall went out of the window.  I was feeling that miserable that I just had to make myself a bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast.  That went down well, I'd starting sorting out the jars that the ladies deliver and needed to empty those that were no longer worth keeping and wiping down the jars.  Even this was put on hold until three this afternoon, the bottles and jars washed and are now in the little house waiting for the ladies to start this years production.

I watched some of the snooker this morning but didn't want to watch Ronnie's failure to win against the amateur opponent.  I gave up and went back to my book on the Kindle.  I was tempted to light the fire, it was twenty degrees in the house but felt much less but instead of lighting it I put another sweater on and held out until four, got more wood in, cleared teh ash can and got it going.  

I've just checked out the weather for tomorrow.  It's going to rain overnight and go down to four degrees but according to the report, we should have hazy sunshine for the next couple of days.  Fingers crossed I can get more of the strimming done and plant out the sunflowers tomorrow.  LN...They're getting tall...LN
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April 24, 2019, 5:40pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 24th April

It's been a funny old day again.  I didn't feel up to much today....so didn't do much.  I get the feeling that these new tablets are knocking me back so it might mean another trip to the doctors.  I did manage to get dressed fairly early on, made dry toast for breakfast and that's been the sum total of the intake for today. I'm not going to bother with supper.  

When I eventually got going at half three I achieved quite a lot.  The topiary was done on the wild plums and now have regained their circular shapes more or less.  The lady from the next garden popped her head over the wall and said that they were so pretty and asked which trees they were....and didn't recognise that most are wild plums with a couple of sloe bushes.  They are interesting and cheap.  I've repotted the oleander that appeared to be struggling in one of the large brown pots and it was time for rehousing.  The roots were very matted so I forced them apart, took the tiles out that the roots had grown round and used new compost.....fingers crossed it settles in nicely.  I also noted that the nasturtiums had germinated, some where they'd been planted and others I've no idea where they've come from ,  They're now replanted round the orange that I've lost using the branches of the tree for support.  Another little task was to pinch out the lead shoots from the sweet peas.  According to Monty Don it's the thing to do so that they flower longer.  

Guljan came round this afternoon, she needed to print out her boarding card for her flight to Germany tomorrow morning.  She'd booked the flight through a travel agent and was waiting for an email with the attachment and had to text the office ...the email hadn't arrived and took ages to appear.  Eventually it arrived and was printed off...she can leave.  Her father is taking her to Sofia tonight at midnight...she looked absolutely shattered so will probably sleep all the way and I guess on the flight as well.  I think she was pleased to be going back.

Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow...more of the same with the garden...weeding  and moving stuff around filling in gaps.  LN....Hopefully I'll start earlier....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 25, 2019, 6:21pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 25th April

Another good night's sleep but by twelve I was knacked and got my head down again.  I had some of Haciber's home made yogurt with my strawberry jam for breakfast followed by a slice of dry toast to see if that would settle the stomach discomfort.  The doctor gave me tablets for pain but I'm not taking them...it's not pain as you know it...more of a feeling of discomfort in the middle of the chest and I'm thinking this extra half tablet that I'm taking morning and night is the culprit.  So I did managed to get some of the sunflowers planted up and moved some hypericom to the long wall where I'd cleared the weeds on Tuesday.  I also set about removing the weeds from by the mulberry tree and found a lavender I'd forgotten about that appears to be doing really well.  I looked at the strimmer when I went into the workshop and decided to leave it there.  I know what I'm like....I tend to push myself sometimes at the wrong time so caution came in to play.  I did spend time watching the vying for the nest under the little house eaves.  I thought one of the martins was going to get stuck midway but he eventually go it there.  I think it's put a few sparrow's beaks out of joint though...I think they fancied it as their own.

As I said aI got my head down but no sooner had I settled when Haciber arrived with some yeasty pancakes and I'm not really sure what they are for.  She tries to speak Bulgarian but her natural language is Turkish like most of the ladies in my village.  If I lived in Sofia or one of the larger towns I reckon I would be speaking Bulgarian much better but hey-ho...it is what it is after ten years.  Most people understand me so I don't worry about it and at least I can order in restaurants so I shan't go hungry or thirsty.  So after she left I again took up my position on the sofa and nodded off again.  I was awake by three and headed out with my trusty garden fork and carried on along the long wall and now most of it is done.  

I came in at six and got washed and changed...tonight was my Pilates night and I was in the Nipper by six forty and heading for Djebel.  My student's mum was waiting outside the shop and we walked together to the venue.There were hoots of laughter as we approached the building and I just hope they weren't taking bets as to whether I'd turn up or not but turn up I did.  I'm now getting to know the exercises and am trying more each week.  I can certainly feel the bones grinding into the new positions and the muscles stretching but there are some exercises that I'm not going to tackle yet.  I tend to adapt the movement to suit me but i do feel better for it.

So tomorrow I think I'm going to head into Kardjali.  I think I've made my mind up about the Lloyd Loom chairs and there's a mirror stand that I've quite taken a fancy to and with a little adaptation of the furniture in the downstairs bedroom, it could serve a purpose.  No supper...I really don't need it but I've just put the boiler on...a soak could be beneficial tonight.  LN.....When are the next Olympics?....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 26, 2019, 5:33pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 26th April

Lovely night's sleep again and woke up at six thirty.  FB, Hotmail and Soda Crush kept me occupied until seven thirty and it was a nice leisurely start to the morning.  I made a lemon,honey with salt hot drink but left it to get tepid since the doctor has told me not to have jot drinks. ...I'm getting used to it.  Yogurt and strawberry jam again for breakfast and a slice of dry toast and it seems to be working.  It had rained overnight so I was unsure what I was going to fill my day with.  I decided to put my trip to Kardjali on hold and since the weather appeared to be clearing up and the terraces drying so I put gardening on the top of the list.  

The sunflowers are out, the old burning bed has been weeded and two patches of zinnia seeds have been planted.  The larkspur seeds are in and for now in the conservatory until they germinate and the oleanders have been repotted into terracotta pots.  The sun was out now and the temperature in the lower twenties and I was waiting for it to dry up so that I could tackle the grass.  I headed in at one and had sweetcorn, tuna and beetroot for lunch and was on the sofa when the conservatory door opened and someone came in.  There was a shout asking if I was home and I said it depends who it is and it was the Librarian.  She arrived with a bag of fudge which I declined....and said she would get more use out of it than I would at the moment.  I made tea for her, we chewed over the fat for an hour or so and off she went.

So I this point I took up the challenge and I've managed most of the big house and the top of the little house grass and the worst is over.  The mower ran out of petrol so I was able to clean underneath where the damp grass had lodged.  I topped it up and carried on coming into the house at six thirty.  What a good day it's been but my back knows about it.  I stripped off the grass laden clothing , gave it a good shake and straight into the washing machine with it.  Showered, hair washed and now into my PJ's and relaxing building up strength for tomorrow, weather permitting.  

Today has also been a day for birds...I'm thinking that I shall have to be out with the paint scraper tomorrow, the martins have decided that my houses will make marvellous nest building sites....wrong.  I don't mind the one that I have but I don't want more.  LN...Tits, starlings, sparrows and martin...enough...LN



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Elsa Peters
April 27, 2019, 5:30pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 27th April

Awake at three and no reason for it except that the quilt felt heavy.  I've got two on the bed left over from my winter habits so I heaved one off, settled down again and straight through until six thirty.  At least there hadn't been rain overnight only a heavy dew so I anticipated that I could be finishing off the grass after lunch at a guess.  I didn't bother with breakfast...I was out by ten clearing the old pots of old soil and dumping it down the bottom of the garden where there's not very much.  I assembled a new composter from Kaufland....no instructions but it seems to have fitted together OK....everything clicked into place successfully.  I swept off the little house inner terrace and removed lots of old leaves from the non-flowering jasmine and I'm still wondering why it's growing there....no flowers, no aromatic smell, doesn't deter mosquitoes...might have a rethink on that but too big to put anywhere else now...ah well.    

I came in at one and had my customary nap and was half awake  watching the snooker and my non-favourite player go out of the Worlds.  I don't know what it is about him nut I delight in his defeat.  Eventually I got the enthusiasm going to get out there and finish the grass..I'd just got to the end of the little house grass when it ran out of fuel and this looked the perfect time to put it away for tomorrow and it was five thirty.  I sat down on the chair on the main house terrace with a glass of water...checked the Fitbit and iI'd done nine and a half thousand stems today and hadn't reached my target.  So back to it...cleaned the underside of the mower, filled it with fuel and of I went again and forty five minutes later it was done....and tools away.  I had a bonfire to get rid of some broken flower pots adn the burnable rubbish from the kitchen, watered a few plants in new places and came in feeling very satisfied with my day.  I took my wellies and socks off outside, most of the grass cuttings have found their way inside the boots and didn't want that treading in the house.  Everything in the washing machine, machine switched on and now awaiting the clothes airer.  A couple of hours with the strimmer tomorrow should complete the task, just the flower beds to weed....a woman's work, with a huge garden is never done...

Boiler on for a bath...the back is aching and tomorrow I ave a few things to do and going in to Kardjali might be one of them.  I'll see how I feel in the morning.  No pickies tonight...I'll walk the garden with the camera tomorrow....everything is springing to life.    LN...Tired but happy...LN
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Elsa Peters
April 28, 2019, 5:16pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 28th April

So my first night upstairs last night...awake at five thirty....I forgot to draw the curtains.  I was late to bed.  I enjoy the Jonathan Ross show and followed it with Victoria Wood...she was so clever and original...shame she's no longer with us.  So not long in bed but I slept OK so today I decided to strip the bed, put the zebra blankets away and set it up for summer.  It was such a lovely day that I stripped the downstairs bed, everything washed, dried, my bed is made up and the sheets are ready for putting together the downstairs bedroom for my guest's arrival in the middle of next month.  I also moved my clothes out of there so there's only the tarting left to do.

It's been a beautiful day and I spend some of it just sitting and watching the birds.  I caught sight of the hoopoe but didn't manage to get a snap of it, and I love the way the blue tit swoops from the log with the hole in it that it's made home over to the bottom of the valley and then zooms back straight into the hole.  I spent some time weeding the vegetable patch and I'm amazed how many parsnips and carrots have come up.  The ants seem to have left them alone.  I still have more to do on the weed front but I can't do everything...some things do take time.  The back has been agony and I translated the leaflet contained in the tablet box and the instruction was not to expect the pain killer to kick in immediately.  It had to work into the system...so I've suffered.

My neighbour from down the bottom of the village paid me a visit and she's one that looks at the things that are growing in the garden and always either wants to pull a shoot from the shrub and spends time looking 'babies'.  I did allow her to take a shoot from the wisteria and I potted it up for her.  I kept the promise...I went round the garden photographing the flowers and even I was surprised how many there are and how many are yet to come.  LN.....Back to the snooker....LN



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April 28, 2019, 5:20pm Report to Moderator

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And there's more



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Elsa Peters
April 29, 2019, 5:46pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 29th April

Silly early start, the moon was up and I noticed that the sky was displaying some beautiful colours.  I found the Canon and managed to get a couple of really good shots.  The nice thing about it is that it has a view finder where the Sony used to have but after I dropped it...it doesn't work.  I went down and got myself a glass of water and took my tablets and went back to bed.  I decided to rest myself for a while longer and I woke up at nine twenty...it's time to start blaming the tablets...I was awoken by a noise, looked out towards the pond and a digger was making it bigger so I watched it for a while.  When it was being dug out, the digger tipped over and it took another digger to get the first one out.  It looked precarious at times bit it went without a hitch.

It's been one of those days when you start one job and several drop out of the first task.  All my clothes are out of the downstairs bedroom.  I made up the guest bed, moved other things upstairs and the drinks that lived behind the bedroom door are now in the kitchen for anyone that wants them.  I decided to delve into the storage chest in the said room, took everything out, material for sewing was to go upstairs in the third bedroom, I washed a small feather quilt and got it out in the stiff breeze and then turned my attention to the porch.  I took out the mats and the beat the big one, swept the floor and washed it over.  I turned my attention to the packets of seeds and the Lavatera are planted and on the shelf in the porch....awaiting germination.  

My Fortinovo friend arrived at about one thirty and we sat on the terrace drinking coffee and putting the world to rights.  He said that he wanted his bath fitting  and I suggested Bekir if he hadn't got work so he asked me to telephone him.  Bekir is going round there tomorrow to speck out the work.  He didn't leave until three thirty so I finished off the clearing up, put the zebra nests away for the year.  Now that I'd cleared the downstairs chest, I managed to get all the zebra blanket in there and all the spare bedding for the guest bedroom.  Also in the chest were the clothes that my guest didn't take home so those are all on the coat hangers and I did a quick inventory in case he asks me what he left behind....and he has so my effort wasn't in vain.  I had the snooker playing in the background as I worked and spent time between the desk on the landing, running up and downstairs and rescuing the washing that had thrown pegs to the ground and was making its way across the lawn.

Tele-time tonight...it's the final of Only Connect.  Kardjali tomorrow and tomorrow night I'm off to my student's home for supper....it's all go here.  LN...Time to post.....LN



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Elsa Peters
April 30, 2019, 8:36pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 30th April

Late back from my student's family house so not much of an update.  Another late morning in bed after a silly five start.  I played on the Kindle and caught what there was of the sunrise...definitely not as spectacular as yesterday's.  Showered and shampooed, dried my hair and set off for Kardjali by ten in the Beast...I was on a mission which turned out to be different than expected.  I called in the cars shop and handed over a belated Easter pressie in the form of chocolate eggs in one of the egg shaped plant pot holders and carried on to  Kaufland and the bankomat so that I had enough money for my purchases.  When I got there, the chairs had been sold as had the mirror so I meandered round and eventually found an  oak footstool that is desperately in need of a new cover and that wont be difficult to do. a mirror that will do in the bathroom or the downstairs bedroom and a bedside cabinet again in oak that has yet to find a home.  And a thank you to Mr and Mrs D of S....your birthday present has been put to good use...   I loaded up went to the cheapy shop and bought the Nivea bath cream that was the only thing on my list for today apart from the chairs, a pair of jeggins from the cheapy clothes shop and back to Kaufland for a couple of potted roses, my Avatar returns from Germany tomorrow and it's a welcome home gift and finally to Lidl for a few items.  The journey home was uneventful and I came up the back road and it really does take time off the journey.  The surface is not bad...the Nipper will be able to manage it, there should be plenty of clearance.

Home and unpacked the Beast...as I said the new furniture has yet to find a home.  The clothing went straight into the washing machine,I watched a little of the snooker and then it was time to get ready to head off to my student's family home for supper.  She'd not had to work today and could have come with me today but lack of communication so didn't.  She'd cooked supper and I was under strict instructions to say that every thing was delicious which I did.  Her sister arrived home from work and came in laden with Easter painted eggs gifts from her work colleagues so after supper we played the smashing game where you bang eggs together so see whose is the strongest.  It reminded me very much of how we used to play with conkers.  My blue one was the champion and I got a biro and painted a face on it and wouldn't let anyone else bash it for a second attempt at it.  It's now called Eggward.

Early meeting tomorrow in Fotinovo...the Librarian is off to the dentist and I want to check out how much my work would cost before I make any commitment.  LN...Want a better night tonight....LN





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