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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria    General Boards    My Diary by Elsa Peters  ›  FEBRUARY 2020
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Elsa Peters
February 10, 2020, 5:05pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 10th February

Another cold morning and as the sun came up so did the mist over the mountains.  It took a long time to get the temperature up but rescuing the fire and it helped to raise i inside.  I got washed and dressed, beans on toast for breakfast and sat watching the results of the Oscars from last night.  I cleared the kitchen and there really wasn't much to do so I switched off all electrical devices except for the Kindle and finished my book about Agincourt and blood thirsty it was too.  

Not much to do today...I remembered to take my tablet and thought about going into Kardjali but put it to one side so instead I got out the snow scoop and tried to remove the remaining snow from the steps and the little terrace but there was no moving it.  I eventually got the metal spade out from the workshop and broke it up and dumped it on the little garden.  I think that might be there for a while though but at least the terrace and steps are clear making it easier to go feed the birds.  The bastard cat made its way up into the bird house despite the metal fencing that I'd put there so it's back to the drawing board Cecil.  I must say it's persistent.

Didn't feel so good this afternoon.  I'd taken a whole tablet since the doctor had said 'one or a half one' but tomorrow it's definitely back to a half.  They certainly work thought, the Fitbit let me know.  I suppose it;s one way of checking it.  Supper is going to be the remains of last night's rice in the curry sauce...that will do until breakfast.  LN....Specialist is on the cards for tomorrow....LN



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Elsa Peters
February 11, 2020, 4:39pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 11th February

So last night was my Monday night quiz night and yes....I missed Only Connect ...slept through it but managed to catch University Challenge and even answered a few questions.  Now while I was asleep the fire had gone down to nothing so I was determined to get it back to 'something' like a fire and eventually managed it around one this morning.  It was still going when I got up but since the sun was up I didn't bother doing anything with it, had a shower, washed my hair and got ready to face the day.  I made breakfast using up the half tin of baked beans and only stopping to chase the cat out of the garden as it was eyeing up the bread I'd put out for the birds.  Not many birds around today...the sun's melting the snow so they've got pickings in other areas and far away from my cat/cats....not exactly mine but it appears they've adopted me.

I headed in to Djebel and stopped off at the car shop to see if there was anything that she needed from town and my student was down from Sofia for a few days break with his family.  We chatted for a while and I suggested that he gave his brother a few English lessons while he was here so that I didn't have to.  Now sure if it will happen but it was worth a try.

I parked up near to the specialists block to see if there was anyone in the office but the cupboard was bare.  I checked with the next door and apparently he only does his surgery in the evenings and you have to phone for an appointment so I took down the number and have done nothing with it yet.  I drove to the cheapy shop and bought...nothing...there were just too many people in there, on to Kaufland and bumped into a friend that I hadn't seen in a year and we did a quick catch-up.  He'd lost lots of weight and I hardly recognised him.  I bought a few things including a new carry-on suitcase that was on offer, a few more items and they I carried on to Lidl, and picked up a few essentials.

I was home for two thirty, unpacked and put away the shopping, settled down with a coffee and new book and started my assault on the fire at four and it took until five thirty before I had anything that I felt would see me through the evening.  Sod's law....I think it's because the wind is in the wrong direction.  Tomorrow I'm going to sort out some of the old wood just to keep the home fires burning.  LN....Unless I go visiting....LN
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Elsa Peters
February 12, 2020, 6:57pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 12th February

It wasn't cold in the house this morning, around nineteen degrees but with a damp start outside it just felt cold.  I didn't bother lighting the fire, it didn't seem that it needed it and I put an extra sweater on.  I decided I didn't feel like going visiting today so I dressed for the house and cooked poached eggs for breakfast just to keep me going for the day and to add a little inner warmth.  I did the usual chores and washed up from yesterday and it was as well that I did, we lost water at about eleven and it was off for a couple of hours.  I think it might have something to do with the lengths of water pipe that have been sitting above the next village.  Perhaps the men decided to get on with it now that the snow has thawed and there's no frost.

I settled down with my book for a while and gave in on the fire front at around one thirty and yes, you've guessed it, the sun came out at around two thirty and the temperature shot up to twenty seven in the lounge.  I wasn't tempted to take my extra sweater off though.  I also played around with trying to work out how to cope with the new word processing package that came with the new computer....it's just the funny things like setting up style sheets for new documents...things don't react as they did in Word and all I want to do is put a different header on the second page.  All good fun though...

I bought a chunk of steak yesterday from Lidl and managed to cut four small steaks from it for tonight leaving enough for tomorrow.  I fried off an onion in butter, put the steaks into the frying pan, fried an egg and made a sandwich. Same again tomorrow please or I might put the rest into a casserole with lots of vegetable.  That would made my doctor much happier.  LN....Logs on fire and ...relax.....LN





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Elsa Peters
February 13, 2020, 6:02pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 13th February

Well I woke up this morning with a very sore throat and a thumping headache and realised that this might be the best that I felt all day.  I envisaged a downward spiral but things actually got better and I remembered to drop my son a message on FB...it's his birthday today.  The headache remained though...the screen on my Charge 3 Fitbit wouldn't light up, I tried the remedies suggested on their forum and they didn't work, I down loaded the new version of software and that appeared to be a mistake to.  The watch wouldn't Bluetooth to the computer and I was about to throw it in the bin, put it on my wrist with the Charge 2 and suddenly the screen has life in it but not as much as it should.   Arrrggghhh.  

I made scrambled for breakfast eating it while messing around with the Fitbit.  A load of washing went in the machine, it was such a beautiful day that I managed to hang it out and I brought it in at around three thirty and that sun had done it's work for the day.  I did put it on the clothes airer in the bathroom just to finish off when I lit the fire later.  I was surprised by a visit from my painter this afternoon.  I few years ago when I used to buy red wine by the three litres, I saved some of the glass bottles.  I'd forgotten about them but my painter had obviously seen them in the little house and had come round to see if they were still available.  We looked round together but I vaguely remember throwing them out when they'd hung around for a while and no takers so off he went disappointed.  I think they must have been bottling rakia.

I cancelled my student this afternoon and took to the sofa with my book.  I think I went to sleep but for only ten minutes or so and was woken up by the home telephone with some lady wittering on in Bulgarian so I explained that I was English and could she speak slower at which point she promptly put the phone down....thanks babe.  Sleep was now off the agenda so I went back to the Fitbit and surprise, surprise...the screen is visible, not as bright as it should be but I might do the workarounds on it again...but not today.

The headache has cleared but the cough as started so it's a honey drink for me tonight with aspirin before I lay my head on the pillow.  Nothing on for tomorrow so far apart from phoning the specialist to see when I can have an appointment.  Just need to check with the post office in the next village...they might be inundated with my cards...birthday not Valentine.  LN....Another steak supper....LN
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Elsa Peters
February 14, 2020, 5:22pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 14th February

Horrible night last night and I woke up sweating and coughing.  I hate colds.  The phone was very busy last night....My birthday boy phoned up to thank me for the messages on FB, he gave me an update for his half term plans where wife goes off sk-ing, children go to grandparents and he goes to work...sounds about right.  It's at times like this that I wish I were nearer...it would have been good to have them out here especially since my granddaughter is learning Russian at school.  She could have got some practice in.

Dawn was quite spectacular this morning.  It was the way that the sun lit up the clouds.  I didn't bother with the fire this morning, I emptied the ashes, loaded the log basket and set the fire for later.  It was around nineteen degrees inside and around six out so thought it would be OK and it was until around two this afternoon and I've worked out the fastest way to make the sun come out is to light the fire and sure enough.  Breakfast was steak and egg that I couldn't be bothered cooking last night....and I enjoyed it despite the snuffles.  I took up a position on the sofa and felt sorry for myself, the book was good but I still felt restless so thought sleep would put me out of my misery...and it worked for a while.  I then made my way upstairs and worked on the computer for a while still trying to work out the word processing program...and it's getting easier.  I managed to create a tissue bin out of a casual stool with a hand-grip in it....I just hate, plastic bags lying around that fall over and you end up spreading germs.

Fire loaded for the night, supper is still in the freezer, I think I'm heading for a Badedas bath tonight to see if it does any good and tomorrow is another nursing day,  LN....Supper might stay in the freezer....LN



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Elsa Peters
February 15, 2020, 7:57pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 15th February

Raining this morning and six degrees but again that wind was cold.  I made beans on toast for breakfast but was still in my pyjamas at twelve when Haciber turned up with a jar of preserved plums obviously that she'd had for a while...there was a layer of dust on the lid.  The contents were still airtight though and I'm sure they'll be delicious.  I did intend going through my shelves at some point to see what I could get rid of...old stock but it looks like I'm acquiring it from others.  I've got so many pots of strawberry and pine tip syrup...absolutely great with pancakes...must start making them.  The news is that Haciber's son and his new family have gone back to Stockholm.  His wife is a doctor at one of the local hospitals and maternity allowance being what it is, they've headed off until she has to go back to work.  I did mention that after thirty one days in Turkey, Haciber could go to Sweden for a break...and why not.

Off she went and I got a load of logs in and then locked the conservatory door.  I went up and ran a bath and lingered there for about two hours, leaving the boiler on and topping it up so that it stayed hot for quite some time.  I eventually go out and put a new set of pyjamas on so not really got dressed all day.  One highlight was catching a photo of the pink tinged cat that came into the garden on the hunt for food.  It came across a piece of stale bread that little bastard cat had managed to dislodge from the bird table but it's not going to be able to get into it now...I've reorganised the metal wire....it won't get in now.

Chicken wings and roasted vegetables for supper tonight and there's nothing left for the animals.  Washing up done and it won't be long before I'm in bed.  The sneezing has eased off and so has the headache but I've cancelled the up coming birthday to Greece.  It's just not fair spreading germs....and so delayed for one week weather permitting.  LN...Just a little Saturday night TV and then book at bedtime....LN




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Elsa Peters
February 16, 2020, 7:30pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 16th February

Seven thirty start and it was a beautiful morning.  The fire was still going but I ignored it, moved the cinders to the back of the boiler and used that to start the fire tonight.  I felt much better...conversation with my student on messenger and I think she intended coming over with my post but I told her that it would be better if she didn't,  I don't want to be responsible for anyone else getting the lurgy.  I only had toast for breakfast, was pretty slow off the mark and noticed something moving in the conservatory while I was sitting at the computer in the stairwell.  I made my way outside and noticed a beautiful butterfly and it must have hidden itself in here at the end of last year and the sun must have brought it out of its slumber.  It was bashing itself seriously against the window so I guided it outside...it should make a tasty snack for something if it doesn't find another hiding place.  I made lunch and put it into the slow cooker..chicken and vegetables, checked out the pot plants in the conservatory and the tiny flower that had formed on the fuscia had broken off because of the weight...such a shame so I removed it  and fingers crossed the plant will be OK.

My next niggle is my Charge 3 Fitbit so I had another go at fixing it, posted on the Fitbit help website and then decided to go for an online conversation to see if anyone could help.  I explained that I'd tried the solutions that were on offer to coax it into life but the problem with it is that there is no backlight.  I eventually got this through to the person on the other end and then I lost the assistant into the ether...so I had to start over but fortunately the new guy was able to bring up the conversation so we carried on where I left off with the other...Where do you live?  Bulgaria...where did you buy it...Argos UK and I was over the moon that it's still within warranty.  I now have to send it to the Netherlands and all seems to be going in my favour.

Supper was delicious, a bar of chocolate went as pudding and tomorrow I'm going into Djebel to get a cake for my neighbours, pop into my student's mum's shop for the post and maybe go into Kardjali to get my Fitbit in the post.  LN...Not a bad day....LN



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Elsa Peters
February 17, 2020, 6:26pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 17th February

Well I've chalked up another another year to add to the total.  I had a silly night last night so welcomed the 17th lying in bed with a three in one coffee and eventually put my head on the pillow around two this morning.  Don't ask me why...I couldn't really explain it.  Started at seven thirty this morning, the sun was up but it was cold when I went out on the balcony to take a photo of my white over grass but this time only with frost.  It was down to minus two overnight but with the sun up, it was already twenty three inside.

I didn't bother with breakfast, put phones and purse into handbag and wrote my list.  I was unsure how to put everything in order but first off drove and managed to park centrally, bought chocolate cake, delivered card to my birthday buddy mother's shop and had a few words with granny, the lady who used to run my favourite restaurant but has since retired.  I left cake for all of them, went back to the shop and bought another small cake for the ladies of the village realising that I wouldn't have enough.  I moved on to my student's mum's shop and was given lovely presents so I left cake and moved on to the post office knowing this was going to be a challenge and it was.

I posted a normal card and paid the fee, the Fitbit because it has an internal battery cannot be sent from Bulgaria but registered post or any post.  I went to pick up my other letter from the factory shop and also picked up a present from my special family and again....left cake and what a mess we got in sorting it out.  I decided to try the post office at Kardjali and was given the same information...I explained it was a smart watch and I couldn't remove the battery but there was no movement on their part.  I carried on to DHL, they could carry it to Netherlands for me but the price was extortionate....eighty five leva so I cancelled the transaction and have decided to go back to Fitbit to see if they have an agent in Bulgaria.  

I had a quick trip to Lidl and was home for three thirty, shopping away and settled down with cake and coffee and fell asleep on the sofa.  I woke up cold so got the fire underway, made another coffee and decided that it was too late to go round with cake, some of my ladies would be getting ready for bed so I'll do it in the morning,  My cards are up, I've had a very quiet easy day and still surprised at the love that comes to me from the local people.  LN....Barbecued ribs for supper....LN



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linda g
February 18, 2020, 2:09pm Report to Moderator
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hi Elsa, lovely pics off the snow. Might have to pinch one of the shots for a picture. LOL. Hope al is well. and hoped you had a nice B/day. Lots of luv us here in OZ.xx
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Elsa Peters
February 18, 2020, 4:28pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 18th February

Major hurdle over and now on to another year.  I had another silly night...I was awake at three again and no rhyme or reason about it.  Eventually I got off to sleep by telling myself t think nice thoughts and it was seven thirty before I opened my eyes.  My task for today was to get the cake distributed round the village which proved to be a task and a half.  No one was home and I eventually found them all at Zelinger's house and I was invited in for coffee with the rest of the ladies.  I appear to have drawn the short straw though.  The conversation came round to hospitals and it somehow swung round that Beyser has to have injections in her knee before she goes off to Turkey to visit family and I have been nominated from a short list on one to take her to the Polyclinic tomorrow at eight in the morning.  She's not my favourite local and has family that could probably take her but I didn't feel that I could get out of it,  Haciber sat there and didn't say anything but beneath that exterior She appeared to know that I'd been set up.  Ah well...she wants to pay me....I won't take anything but it's good that she thinks that she might have to hand over some of the hoard that people think that she has.  

I came back and made a bacon sandwich and used the first of the brown sauce as part of Lidl British week and sorted the cake and it's now sitting in boxes in the fridge.  I was going round to the next village to get rid of more but instead I lay on the sofa with my Kindle and was just getting into the second book about Alfred the Great when I had visitors.  We sat in the lounge with coffee and then they were wanting cigarettes and because it was a beautiful day and out of the wind we set up camp on the terrace.  Conversation flowed, I went into the house for top-ups and off they went clutching cake at around five.  I got the fire going since the temperature is dropping, closed up the windows that had been opened this morning to let some air through and now I'm settled in for the night.  I brought another load of logs in and it looks like I shall have enough to last out this winter but will get more in around June...well in advance for next year.

Lovely gentle sunset with very purple-blue clouds and one of my neighbours in the next village had a bonfire going and it made a good contrast.  It's going to be another cold one and with an eight start I need to get a good night's sleep in so no nonsense tonight.  Hamburgers for supper should I choose to cook them..I'm not really hungry, I've eater too much cake so I'll see how I feel later.  LN.....Yet more time at the Polyclinic....LN



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