Wednesday 1st April

So this year what was different?  No practical jokes in the newspapers or on the television.  I suppose that this virus couldn't be beaten...what a joke this is.  I woke at seven and struggled to get out at seven thirty.  For some reason I looked at the time on the weather station clock and it appears to have stuck on the old time so I spent around half an hour trying to reset it.  It's tied to the automatic clock in Germany and didn't want to go on the extra hour beyond and it eventually reset itself at lunchtime...I suppose it logged in to the Germany efficiency.  

So back to this morning...coffee, beans on toast since there were no eggs, I lit the fire, it was slow getting off the mark but once it got going it's been good all day.  When I noticed that the outside thermometer was registering only half a degree on the plus I thought that like the clock, it had gone wrong but checking on the internet, it was OK and then it started to ...snow.  One day out with the lawnmower and then two days later potentially to be out with the snow plough...it didn't come to that but it might overnight.  Half a can of tomatoes went into the slow cooker with the half can of beans from this morning and that was going to be the thick soup for tonight.  

A very impressive day in the garden.  I looked up from the desk and saw the largest buzzard in the garden.  I grabbed camera, it changed position in the garden and flew up to the tree and then stopped on the grass in front of the long wall and three magpies were trying to take food from it.  I took out the Canon and as I headed out to my bedroom balcony I obviously disturbed it and off it went on to the hillside.  I did managed to get a few shots of it and I was just surprised to see it.  I've also had blackbirds, thrushes and lots of sparrows around the garden today.  It must be that I'd cut the grass making it easier to get at the insects.

It's been a day for catching up on FB friends on Messenger...I suppose everyone just has more time.  I've finished the soup served with crusty bread and buttered toast, looked round for biscuits to finish on but they seem is short supply.  LN......I'll have to go shopping.....LN

Thursday 2nd April

I'd like to say that it was a deliberate mistake that I labelled yesterday up as 'Wednesday' but it wasn't.  Every day seems the same, I am tired of the coverage of the virus on the television and it's time they concentrated on the numbers released to convalesce at home.  Why the comparison with Germany and the number of test carried out when a spokesperson from Germany admitted that the numbers were only estimated.  

The snow wasn't a complete surprise this morning but the volume was.  I expected a light covering but it was about ten centimeters and it was still coming down, the terraces were covered and so was the main road so my lack of biscuits and goodies would have to wait for another day.  Coffee, biscuits, lit the fire, opened the curtains in the lounge and went back to bed with the Kindle.  I read for a while, did a few games on Soda Crush and after a while got washed and dressed and went down to the kitchen and made cheesy toast.  I also made a pork curry out of the meat taken from the freezer yesterday and that went into the big slow cooker and I emptied the contents from the little slow cooker out for the cats or birds....first come first served.   The magpies were very busy but not very rich pickings, I had no spare bread for the bird table and I'm out of bird seed...Is your journey really necessary?  Yes officer....

The rest of the day has been pretty lazy.  I posted a could of pictures on FB and watched the response.  I know the snow looks pretty but in April...I don't really expect it especially after I'd serviced the lawn mower and given half the grass its spring haircut.  I couldn't settle to read but checking up on the weather for tomorrow I decided to get another load of logs into the conservatory and clear off the terraces, the drive so that I can get the car out if necessary and the drive to the road.  The snow plough had been out and left its deposit between the road and my gate, there were a few footprints in the snow that were definitely not mine so I'm guessing that my painter popped round to check if all was well but I never saw him.  He obviously didn't knock hard enough.  The snow was very slushy so I don't think it's going to be around for long.  Supper time...pork curry and rice and time it was served.  LN....I'm hungry...long time from cheesy triangles and toast.....LN

Friday 3rd April

I had my late bath last night, washed and dried my hair and was in bed by ten thirty.  Bit of a mistake really, I was awake at six and raring to go...but no where to go.  Freezing fog covered the hillside and the terraces had a super sheen to them...no going out there in a hurry...it would have been lethal.  Back to bed with a coffee after rescuing the fire which took quite some time....it just didn't want to go.  Opened the curtains, not that there was a lot to see and read for about an hour.  Up to the bathroom and dressed ready to go to Djebel for a few items of shopping.  I came down to the kitchen and used up the last two slices of toast, buttered it and wrote my shopping list and thought I'd leave it until later to set off and then I decided that it was Friday, market day and for me...I changed my mind and I'll go in the morning when there are fewer people around.  

Having made the decision I settled on the sofa and carried on with my book and it has been another lazy old day.  My Fitbit wanted feeding so I walked the garden, it was a beautiful day but the air was cold so I didn't stay out for long.  I did log three hundred steps though.  I heard the phone go and there was a message from my land line phone company to remind me that I had an outstanding bill and so I used their direct line and tried to pay it over the phone.  What a mistake that was...I didn't seem to be able to get through to the payment line and I gave up in frustration...'and thank you for your call'...pahhhh.  I moved on to the computer and on to the website and for some reason the payment system wanted a special number from my invoice to confirm who I was and since I never receive an invoice and make my payments in the shop, my payment was not accepted.  Not to be put off...I went on to on-line help and my first question was to confirm that the person on the end of the keyboard was able to communicate in English and after that it went like a dream....outstanding bill paid and I gave positive feedback in the email I received.  I did get a phone call from my student's mother and she confirmed that I did the right thing by not going in to Djebel.  People were out and about, not distanced from other people, few with masks and the police ere circulating and reminding people of what they should be doing.  I have the feeling that BG is on a time bomb.

Afternoon, 'book at bedtime' and I had my siesta making up for my early start.  There's lots I could be doing but I'm feeling fairly lethargic.  A few games of Soda Crush and I was amazed to see that they have changed the settings to extra free time online which is great but makes it fairly addictive.  Fire had gone down and so needed shaking into life again...I had my supper and only washing up to do and I've made another decision...it's a job for tomorrow.  LN.....Soon be time for bed said Zebedee....LN

Saturday 4th April

Six start and in my book that was to early for a Saturday, not that you can really distinguish one day from the next with no real 'days out' so I went turned over and it was eight thirty at the second awakening.  Much better.  Coffee and I sat on the chair in the stairwell and watched the sparrows flitting around between the bushes in the garden, trying desperately to see if they could make a nest in the old martins nest under the eaves of the little house but I think there was too much effort involved.  It really wasn't the day for it.  There was lots of water around, it had rained all night, the stream was running well and the yard was a little waterlogged...the drain wanted sorting.

Washed, dressed and didn't bother with breakfast and by ten I was ready to go into Djebel along with my shopping list.  I'd been told that to go into Kardjali needed documentation in triplicate to get through the police road blocks and that wasn't going to happen...local was OK for me.  In fact some of the prices are cheaper...Gold Blend is less than in Kaufland...still expensive but well worth it.  So I moved the car outside onto the road, used my trusty scraper to remove the leaves from the drain and from the outside pipe that leads to the lane.  The ground is sodden so it's going to take a while to drain away.  There were no police on the road so my first stop was my student's mum's shop and it was only to pop my head in and say hello and all at a safe distance.  I'd put a roll neck sweater on so that I could cover my mouth and nose in the absence of a face mask so I went into the chemist next door to the shop and bought one...and was only allowed one.  I carried on to the supermarket with mask in place, picked up some of the things from the list and put them into the car.  It was very quiet in there and everyone was trying to keep their distance and in a small shop it's difficult but we all did out best.  I went back to my student's mum's shop remembering that I needed firelighters and bought four packets...I think the wood burner will be going for a little while yet.  I carried on to the supermarket at the bottom of the town, filled up with cheese biscuits and the like and a giant pack of chocolate caramels and joked that the diet comes later.

Back home and unpacked the shopping and it was still only eleven thirty.  I lit the fire, the temperature in the house only went up two degrees but it really does feel so much different.  I watched Great British Menu on the Chuwi but the blasted thing kept freezing and I got sick of reloading so I went back to playing games.  Another load of logs in and my Fitbit suggested that I take it for a walk and I resisted the urge to throw it in the garden and only swore at it....Made me feel better.  There's time for exercise when the sun shines and the grass wants mowing.

Supper is in, chicken wings and roasted veg and I haven't had that for a while.  I've also put an apple stuffed with sultanas, currents, brown sugar and butter in for desert...and why not.  I'm boosting my immune system with decent food.  Nothing good on the TV tonight....the virus has put an end to live audiences. but I did manage to catch the program of the celebrity pilgrims march through Bulgaria.  There were things in Bulgaria that I didn't know about and it will be worth going to visit next time I's in Sofia and in the Rila mountins.  I'm surprised they didn't visit the Rila Monastery, I think it's well worth a mention.  LN...Supper smells like it needs attention..LN

Sunday 5th April

Silly night, I woke up at four, couldn't get back off to sleep, put another log on the fire, decided to read and play games and then I went really sleepy but it was a false message from the brain. I moved on to the sofa and went back to my book but my heart wasn't really in it.  We've all been there, reading pages with the eyes but not muck being committed to memory so I put the book down.  I went for my second cup of coffee and at eight made scrambled eggs on toast  Coffee at six and I went really sleepy again but it was a false message.  As for the weather...it's been horrible all day, gale force winds, drenching rain, things blowing all over the garden and some very sad cows in Haciber's paddock. I heard a crash and a tinkling of glass and looked out of the lounge window to find a jam jar turned over with some oleander cuttings in it and the bird table is now horizontal and leaning against the little terrace lawn.  I haven't put it up again...it would only blow over..that wind is gusting.

At eleven I decided to put the remains of the chicken wings into the slow cooker with the contents of a tin of sweetcorn and make soup for tonight.  I turned the slow cooker on with water in it, added the rest and thought that that was me sorted for tonight.  Wrong...the electricity went off and it's been on and off all day.  I cleared the top of the little wood burner in the kitchen, emptied the ash tray and took one of the half burnt logs from the big wood burner and got the little one going.  It's a good standby....I wasn't sure how long the power would be off.  Fortunately the second log in the biggie hadn't really got started so I left it in the burner and concentrated on getting the other one going well....and then the power came on again.  I stirred the log in the big burner and got it going again and crossed my fingers.

It went off again twice but I managed to finish the soup and as I started my update it went off again.  The little burner is going well, the big one I'm letting go out...it the power goes off overnight, the UPS on the pump will only last for a couple of hours...not enough.  We appear to be back to winter troubles...roll on summer.  LN....Early night for me....LN

Monday 6th April

So seven thirty start this morning and again last night we still had the electricity on and off so the fire was very low, I was in bed quite early with the Kindle and hoping that the battery held up.  I did manage to watch the excavators of the Egyptian tombs...very interesting.  Lovely singing video from my 'adoptive's' little one...specially for 'Nigh-Nigh'...what a poppet.

The wind had rattled around all night, no real damage done and at least it wasn't raining.  It was very cold though and with the electricity still up and down like a bride's nightie, I wasn't even risking lighting the big wood burner so it was on with an extra padded shirt.  I lit the small wood burner since that doesn't rely on the electricity and it raised the temperature in the kitchen each time I dipped into the chocolate caramel sweet bag.  I did manage poached eggs on toast for a decent start to the day but I think out of boredom, a lot of people eating stuff that they wouldn't normally.  I shan't be alone on that diet.  

The sun tried desperately hard to break through and despite the fact that the temperature in the stairwell was nineteen, the air felt cold especially when I sat down to read my book.  I got up to get more wood in from the wood store and then turned to the old wood stored in the little house to get some of suitable size for the little wood burner.  I'd avoided this supply during the winter....I saw something run and hid under it once and I'm not very brave, however today I was.  If it's warm tomorrow, which it's supposed to be when the wind drops, I intend moving all of it from there into the little house porch so that it's easier to get to.  It's time it was used up so that the work can start on the little house later in the year. A window has to come out in the 'A.M.' room and a door and window will replace it so that you can get out on to the little house terrace and I'll make use of that window in the porch.  All in the planning stage and watch this space.

Eventually I succumbed and lit the main wood burner at five o'clock and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to start moving flaming logs into the little burner or outside.  Supper is likely to be anything I can work up the enthusiasm to prepare...the contents of the slow cooker is going out over the wall tomorrow.  LN...First of the finals in University Challenge....LN

Tuesday 7th April

Seven thirty start, sun shining but you've guessed it....nobody told the wind to drop even though the weather men forecast that it would cease....and it's been blowing a gale all day.  And it's still rattling around now.  I put on Transponder TV to see how Boris was and he looks to be holding his own so to say...fingers crossed that he pulls through.  I made a mushroom omelette for breakfast and added a cheese triangle and sat in the sun eating it and enjoying the morning, following FB and answering emails.  I'd not found it before but internet radio was recommended to me and it was a pleasure to put it on and it's been playing all day...it took me back quite a few years to travelling around the UK in the car before the radio was replaced by the CD stack player....another dimension.

I sort of drifted through the morning and suddenly realised that I'd reach three and done nothing except get in a load of the old logs from the little house and even though the fire wasn't necessary today, they're ready for when I start the little wood burner again.  The electricity seems to have settled down again, well I hope so, I've just lit the big wood burner, closed the doors and am settled in for the night.  I did have a spell of exercise this afternoon at around four....I got the lawn mower out, managed to strike life into it and despite the fact that there had been a lot of rain, I managed to do the rest of the main grass, the bank between the two gardens and around the cherry tree.  I put a hooded sweater on and my hat, left my glasses on and struggled....four thousand steps later on the Fitbit...I came in, switched the internet radio off and settled in to the evening.

Supper is in the oven.  I opened a tin of local corned 'type' beef last night and made sandwiches with brown sauce for supper with half of the can and the rest of it has gone into a pie dish, half a can of baked beans added and topped with sliced potatoes and covered with butter. I can smell it cooking so something is happening down in the kitchen.  I really should go and check and throw another log on the fire and get ready to spot what is supposed to be a super sized pink moon tonight.  Fingers crossed I manage to catch it.  LN...Rest of the grass tomorrow ...if the wind drops....LN

Wednesday 8th April

Lots of pictures of the moon last night on FB and mine was as good as any of them...and as for my supper....what a quick way to make a meal with very little intervention.  Corned beef in dish, baked beans in dish, two potatoes sliced in dish, a little butter over the top and into the oven with it.  One hour at one hindered and eighty degrees... worth remembering when I CBA in the kitchen....

Seven thirty start, the sun was out and it looked to be another sunny day...and it has been.  Unfortunately that wind kept me housebound for some of the day..the wind had an edge to it.  The rest of the beans on toast for breakfast, kitchen tidied and I had the urge to strip the bed down and get the sheets washed and of course it didn't stop there.  Three loads of washing done, the quilt cover and bottom sheet were draped over the stair banister to dry and because they're the winter fleece blanket ones, they were virtually dry already and were only finishing off in the sun.  They are so warm to get in to and create the perfect nest.  The rest of the washing went on the clothes airer in my upstairs bedroom and they're now ready to put away.

I ventured out and had a bonfire, trimmed back the ailing red oleander, dig up a very dead oleander from one of the pots and toyed with the idea of finishing off the rest of the grass.  The mood soon passed ...that wind was vicious and I reckoned the grass was still too wet to tackle it.  I'd walked on the patch that I did yesterday and it was squelchy under foot.  Walking up the garden I looked a very dead tree by the old toilet block in the garden and it was showing no signs of leaves at all, not even any buds so I grabbed it and gave it a tug and it moved.  So I got two hands to it, gave it an even bigger tug....and down it came, there were no roots on it and I'm surprised it hadn't come down in the wind.  Tomorrow's job will be to get the reciprocating saw out and cut it down to size for the wood burner....I don't know my own strength obviously.  

At one I came inside and grabbed a packet of cheesy biscuits, onto the sofa with a cup of coffee and the Kindle and yes, you've guessed it....I was out for a couple of hours.  I woke up a little cold despite the blanket I'd put over me so lit the fire using old wood and one great big chunk of new wood which is going very well now.  I made the bed up for tonight and found another pillow case upstairs that I'd forgotten about for the oversize feather pillow and am now thinking of supper.....

Still waiting for the moon to come up tonight....and hope it will be as good as last night.  Again nothing on the agenda for tomorrow...it appears for the news that we still have another three weeks of lock down so I shall have to go steady on the butter front or ask the local shop to get some in for me if they are shopping in Kardjali.   I was tempted to order another two tons of wood....the weather if it stays this way will dry it off enough to get it in and stacked and it will be ready for next winter...forward planning or just plain boredom.  LN.....Supper and fire attention time.....LN

Thursday 9th April

So after my catch-up sleep yesterday I was awake at five this morning and watched the sky go red, pink and then up it came.  There appeared to be no wind and I was keeping my fingers crossed for a productive day which started out well but then the inspiration was there but the petrol in the mower wasn't.  Now the question arises...is this a legitimate reason to go into Djebel or not?  I could merge it with a trip to the local supermarket...after all I'm out of chocolate caramels and that is an emergency.

The fire was still going at five but I didn't feed the brute...it looked as if it might be a very warm day and I left it.  I went back to bed and struck up the Kindle, checked emails and FB and then settled in to my book....King Alfred is having rather a bad time of it at the moment and taking on most of the tribes and Merlin is backing him...currently.  Washed and dressed and ready to face the day and I was making fried mushrooms on toast by eight o'clock and tidying the kitchen by eight thirty.  It was too early to be out so I took to the sofa again until the weather had warmed.  I headed out at ten and went to the wood store, filled up the log carrier and brought it into the conservatory and back to the wood store and out on to the terrace with the loppers and attacked the tree that I hand felled yesterday.  I took all of the side shoots from it and yes, there wasn't any life in it at all and I did the right thing in bringing it down.  I moved the trunk to the side of the grass intending to sort it later...and it's still waiting.

I struck up the lawn mower and started on the little house side of the grass and despite the fact that it was still damp underneath I was doing fairly well with it when I ran out of fuel.  I filled it up with what was left and didn't have enough to finish it all but by this time the wind had got up and it was cold.  I'd put on my hoodie and body warmer at the start of my gardening episode, shed the body warmer and realised my mistake so gave up, put my tools away and came inside.  The rest of the day has been reading, sleeping and watching TV and I'm hoping that it doesn't interfere with my sleep pattern.  I've just put the boiler on to have a bath tonight so that should help, not that I need to relax....there's nothing much to get heated up about and I've just lit the fire to raise the temperature in the house as it falls outside.  I shan't be going in to Djebel tomorrow, market day and the locals will be out and about and I don't want to run the gauntlet....I'll leave it until Saturday.  LN....Electric strimming tomorrow.....LN

Friday 10th April

Seven twenty start but I did have a late one last night.  I had my Badedas bath and thoroughly relaxed but not an ounce of sleep in me when it came to sleep.  It must have been one thirty when I got off.  So curtains open, coffee, back to bed, Soda Crush and Arthur (not Alfred as I stated yesterday), washed and dressed and ready to face the day.

I stood in the kitchen wondering what to do with the eggs and settled for scrambled done in the microwave and better than having a smelly poached egg saucepan to sort out.  It went down well, kitchen tidied and then it was time to think about what I wanted to do today.  The wind was very gentle so far, it got up around eleven, but then settled down again.  So what have I done?  The bird table is up and functioning and I've weighed it down with a couple of heavy rocks and that should hold it steady.  The shrub in front of the bird table wall has been trimmed, it was getting tall and I've repotted the lacy hydrangea.  I had a bonfire and got rid of the old broken pot from the newly potted shrub along with the plastic bag from the last of the potting compost.  It looks like I shall be using the soil that the moles leave in heaps for my next lot of seeds...not much chance of getting compost in Djebel.  I've also replaced the water barrel and hooked it up to the guttering and hoping that the snow has finished.

Had a lengthy chat with my painter...he was working delivering the food to the old ladies of the village and according to him...all are well and there are only six cases recorded in Kardjali.  I said that I'm gong to Djebel tomorrow and did he want anything....he suggested that we go in together and I said that that wasn't on...if he told me what he wanted I would deliver it to his door.  Two not from the same house if the police are there could result in a fine....no thank you.

I sat down the bottom of the garden on the wall and looked back at the house.....I do love my house and I'm still amazed at the transformation from wreck to very comfortable dwelling.  To top it off...I heard my first cuckoo of the year and I think it's my hickup-ing one...and if it is...it's been coming here for around six years.  I can't imagine there are many of them with that type of call.   I walked back up the garden and I've noticed that I've lost on of the handle catches from the lawn mower so I found another bolt and nut in the little house and did the repair.  I've searched the garden in case it came off as I was mowing but not managed to find it.  It should turn up eventually.  A few more seeds that I brought back from the last cruise are planted up and we'll see what appears, if anything, and the one that has germinated has put on its secondary pair of leaves and the first ones are shedding.  I don't know if this is normal...again...I'll wait and see.

I've lit the fire, haven't decided on what's on the menu for supper and I suppose I should give it some thought.  Not such a late night for me tonight but I didn't have an afternoon nap so I should be OK.  LN....A very gentle day in the garden and quite a lot done.....LN

Saturday 11th April

So that early night meant absolutely nothing.  I was in bed early enough, couldn't sleep, started another book about Arthur, got sucked into it and eventually put it down and switched the light off at three this morning.  It was still seven thirty when I woke up, turned over and it was eight thirty when I got ready to face the day.  I fried spicy sausage and made sandwiches for breakfast slathering them with tomato ketchup, it's a not normal breakfast for me but they really needed cooking.  I'd meant to put them in the slow cooker for last night's supper, didn't get round to it.  I didn't have any adverse reactions to them...they must have been OK.  

As for the rest of the day...I've read, played games. did a load of washing and pegged it out as it was a beautiful day.  It went up to twenty seven degrees in the house and eighteen degrees out of the wind but unfortunately, the garden isn't completely out of the wind.  I live on a hillside and the wind drops off the mountains.  I opened up the little house and moved the potted plants out into the sun and gave them all a good watering.  I dug out a couple of oleanders that had died over the winter, they'd been nibbled by something over the winter and I think they must have become diseased.  I'd cut the one oleander right back, was about to put it ready for burning and noticed two little leaves starting below the area of the damage so put it into a new pot and topped it up with new compost.  I carried on in the little house workshop and found lots that had been hanging around and had a really good bonfire and pared the lavender by the steps down to the garden right back and burnt that too.  There was little chance of that starting again.

It was six when I came in and somehow I'd meandered through the day.  I hadn't bothered going in to Djebel...I think I'll go in tomorrow for some Easter eggs....well it is Easter Sunday.  Have a happy Easter all of you and remember to stay safe.  Our latest restriction is that we must always wear a mask when we are away from home....some of my neighbours were out and about today without masks and they'd been delivering cakes to everyone for something or other.  It worries me in that I feel they think they are isolated in the village and so safe from the virus.  There have been cars running up and down and lots of pictures posted on FB where they are away from the village and others sitting in their gardens with family from outside the village.  I'll stick to my hillside.  LN......I'm used to solitary confinement......LN    

Sunday 12th April

Another lazy day, well it is Sunday....and a special one at that.  It's a little subdued here but unlike the rest of the religions that have closed down there central headquarters, ie, the mosques, I believe that most of the churches are open in BG and have celebrated mass, all drinking from the same cup and accepting wafers from the chappies in charge....I suppose they think that religion will save them but I doubt all of them.  This is why I think there is going to be an explosion here.

Seven thirty start and another glorious day and it would have been the perfect day for a full day's gardening but I never found the energy or enthusiasm.  I didn't bother with breakfast and got suitably dressed for the supermarket and the petrol station.  I was slow off the mark....I needed money from the cash point and have only used this card once and when it came to the number that needs to be entered...I hadn't got a clue.  I don't remember numbers on keypads...I only remember sequences and I'd forgotten the sequence.  I searched for the note that came with the card and only managed to find the one that came with the previous card...three years before but I did manage to find the note that I'd made on the sequence demonstrated on a diagram of a keypad and went to Djebel armed with...maybe it will, maybe it won't.

I found my mask out, ensured that the petrol can was in the Nipper and headed for town.  I stopped at the petrol station and noticed that only one driver in the queue was wearing a mask and the attendant wasn't.  I put my can near the pump and asked for fifteen levas worth of petrol and he filled it up.  I asked him about the mask and he said that it was damp and he'd washed it and was waiting for it to dry.  Back to the car, I stopped off and had a few words with my student's mum who was working in the shop just to check that they were all OK and then carried on to the cashpoint we laughed that if the sequence didn't work, I'd be back to borrow money for my shopping.  I got my money, went to the supermarket, bought what I needed and came home, unpacked my shopping, put it away and made an omelette for breakfast...a really late breakfast, it was just after one and I was surprised how late it was.

I moved the table that had been in the lounge for the winter, the spring in the conservatory out onto the terrace in front of the conservatory and will search tomorrow for a wood preservative to add a little colour to it and also waterproof and protect it.  I gave the run a good shake, swept the conservatory and tidied up the shelving that's become a dumping ground.  At three I came inside, that sun was OK but the breeze was cold and I settled on the sofa with the Kindle, sleep came easily and I woke up to catch the end of Willy Wonker and the Chocolate Factory and I love this version.   I went out and walked the garden, cleared the old wood from the base of my Greek pretty shrub and put it in the bonfire, stood and watched the black cat sunning itself on the wall and then patrolling the perimeter.  

It was good going out and I might even make an effort to go into Kardjali at some point this week,  I have official documentation to sort and I understand that all offices are open and business is normal.  Lovely still evening and now just one decision...supper time and not a clue.  LN....Gardening tomorrow with a new resolve....LN

Monday 13th April

What a night and what a day.  I was awake at three and read until six, head down and woke up at eight thirty so I'd managed to catch up on some sleep that was lost.  I made coffee but there was no going back to bed...tempus was fugiting...not that there was anything planned...only gardening.  I put transponder TV on and watch Piers Morgan until my patience ran out...we have so many experts and the postmortem is usually carried out by one knowledgeable chappie who is not exactly bothered either way.  I switched channels as predicted, the Beeb had managed to track down the parents of one of the nurses that attended Boris and where Boris only gave out the first names allowing them some anonymity...well done Beeb.

Off with the TV, sausage, egg and fried bread and back to the sofa with the book to let the food go down.  The weather was good and at twelve I made the decision to finish off the little house grass that I hadn't managed when the petrol ran out.  I'd filled it up with the old stuff and finished the little house lawn and for a second time it packed up.  It was what I wanted, I wanted to turn the machine over and clean underneath...the grass had been so damp that it had clung to the underside.  So I filled it up again and set about the side grass which hadn't had any attention this year and the rest of the afternoon was spent on the sofa watching quiz shows and pushing the mower.  The entire lawn is now looking cared for and I became very aware at one point that there was a hooded crow on the tree in the field next door and I reckon it was waiting for me to drop down behind the mower...so I kept my glasses on so that it wouldn't peck my eyes out if I did.

My final blast was to get the strimmer out and trim the grass in front of the main gate and round the window frame gardens in the side patch.  Tools away at six and the battery from the strimmer on charge ready for tomorrow and as for tomorrow....it's going to be a day of weeding, trimming back the damaged shrubs and strimming the really long grass at the bottom of the garden and near to the walls.

My night on the TV tonight....University Challenge second semi and then to bed.  I'm now going to see what I  can come up with for supper....I think it's going to be tuna salad, I've got carrots to grate and potatoes to boil.  LN...Better get a wiggle on.....LN

"I think there is going to be an explosion here." Same here. No masks, freely mixing with neighbours. One family involves a guy who has been working in the UK. On arrival back here from the UK he was instructed to go into isolation for 14 days. Police called at irregular times too make sure he was home and not out. From that experience you would think he would no better. Not at all. Out in the family plot next door, talking up close to the neighbours. Not one of them wearing a mask. He called Vania to the fence, I refused to let her approach, and to tell him why. Oh, thats OK, I was in isolation for 14 days so I don't have the virus, excepting that since then he has been around and about all the neighbours, who knows what they have.

Sorry, end of rant, almost, I get so annoyed with these idiots. If all stayed at home for the 14 days the virus would die, as it is it keps getting replenished everytime someone goes out and spreads it. We have been out shopping once in the past 3 weeks. Why can't other people do this?

Anyway, be careful, this virus is a very unpleasant way to die. I have a long term illness which is quite similiar.

Tuesday 14th April

Like you Trevor, I'm giving a wide berth to my neighbours.  I don't use the bread van, he goes to all of the villages, takes money, hands out money and it's not the way that I want to see my maker.  The padlock isn't on the gate yet, only the hasp across and that seems to be a sufficient deterrent....no guests...no bugs.  Stay safe, both of you.

I had my Badedas bath last night and managed to get out in time to wrap up in a couple of bath towel and watch the second semi-final of University Challenge and I'm now able to recognise the teams.  I love the second one in the line up of the team that won...he has the most fantastic recall of such obscure topics...and a deserved win by one hundred plus points.  Next Monday should be interesting.  As for supper, I did use a tin of tuna with grated carrot, pickled beetroot, chopped onion and boiled potatoes and mixed with mayonnaise.  It was a lot of food and forced it down but I did leave half of the potatoes for a breakfast omelette....so that was my start to the day.

As for the rest of the day...I think I wore myself out yesterday so the weeding and strimming will have to wait for another day.  Arthur is getting very interesting...the rumour is that he has been killed when Lancelot tried to take the throne after he has supposedly killed the current king...I'm abandoning the tv tonight, this is muck more exciting.  It's the second of three books so I have enough to keep me occupied.  Looks like the weather is changing.  I've just attached another bungee between the bench and the surrounding balcony rail.  There are too many big windows up there that need protecting.  Nothing for supper...I demolished a packed of biscuits with a hot coffee and I have the stains on the sweater when I miscalculated the distance involved.  LN....A restful day.....LN

Wednesday 15th April

So I was awake at five this morning, read until it was time to start to circulate and watched Piers Moran....and why are they still slagging off the government and bringing on all of these experts...and as for the outside reporter, I reckoned Susanna was tempted to pull the plug on her...she just wouldn't shut up.  I got fed up of it and turned over and decided that my book was far more interesting...I'm now on to the third book in the series...Excalibur.

It had rained all night and the water barrel was almost full already and that's two hundred litres....at least I'll be able to measure the water that hits the garden.  I looked out and the rain had turned to sleet and not long after, the front came in from the north and the grass turned white.  The temperature was only two degrees so I headed to the little house, opened up and took the geraniums that had gone out for the spring back into the little house.  I wasn't sure what the rest of the day would bring but I didn't want to lose them.

Coffee and breakfast, I had two more sausages that needed something doing with them before they completely dried out so sliced the one and had it for breakfast with fried bread and an egg and the second one went into the slow cooker.  I added a half can of beans, a small tin of tomatoes, onion and some chili flakes and it had all day to cook and was ready at six this evening.  I'd laid the fire a couple of days ago and decided to light it at around twelve and took to the sofa with the book and yes, got my head down for an hour of so, back to my book and interspersed with a FB and emails, I whiled the afternoon away watching the weather slowly improve.  

I served supper at six and put the cooking pot in to soak...after a day's cooking it needed it....and the food was delicious.  It's turned into a lovely evening, almost worth a walk outside but hey...too cosy inside.  Time to throw another log on and tidy the kitchen....I hear that Kardjali is closed for the weekend so I'll save my visit for early next week but firstly check in the internet if there are any stretched deadlines so I don't have to go at all.  LN....Minus two to plus five and rising.....LN

Thursday 16th April

It was a really late start this morning...I didn't wake up for the first time until seven thirty and I rolled over and it was eight thirty when I woke up for the second time...result.  Eventually I washed and dressed. beans on toast for breakfast and I settled in to my book to wait for my breakfast to go down.  The morning marched on and it was suddenly twelve and I really thought it was about time that I got on with something.  It was a beautiful day...yesterday snow and today, sun......what a funny old year it's been so far.  I must just congratulate the walking Captain and his fantastic achievement and at just over twelve million, he puts the other comic aid, live aid into the shadow.  He's one man that took on the challenge from his daughter who offered to donate one hundred pounds to start him off,,,he was saying his thank you to the NHS for the care he received.  What a star.

So I headed down the garden with the electric strimmer and set about removing weeds from the bonfire bucket and then had a bonfire to get rid of household rubbish.  It was hard work, this strimmer is heavier than my first electric and the battery operated one so I had a brainwave and brought the little electric mower to the bottom of the garden and it worked Cinderella.  I adjusted the height of the wheels so that it was on its highest setting and I was amazed.  The little machine even tackled some of the longer clover but it did cause the bucket to fill up quickly but I deposited it over the wall so no great hardship there.  

I came in for a coffee and a packet of biscuits and sat in the sun on the terrace only moving my spot to another bench when there was a very persistent wasp that was scraping wood to make its new home.  I toyed with the idea of fly spray but then just moved instead.  Back to it and as you know the grass gets done in stages but now it's all done, I've knocked up over ten thousand steps and my watch sent out its fireworks (not real ones) on my wrist to signify the achievement.  Supper was local corned beef fried with picked beetroot, served on toast with a fried egg on top and served with a glass of chateau voda.....water to you and me. More of the same tomorrow it the weather stays good, there are a lot more corners that the strimmer or the little mower can get in to.  LN...And now..relax......LN

Friday 17th April

So I got annoyed at Question Time again last night....what do they always find it necessary to knock the government especially the hostess without the mostess.  I somehow then carried on to watch Masterchef and I was fascinated by the deserts that were knocked up under the guidance of a master pastry chef. Unfortunately the one that I wanted to win was taken out last night and hasn't made the final.  Bed by midnight and I took to the Kindle, Soda Crush and my book and it was two before I switched the light off and got to sleep and it was a seven start this morning and I watched the sun come. up.  The morning mist was hanging in the valley and very high light clouds in the sky.  Coffee and back to bed with the Kindle and there was an email for a holiday that was exceptional value going out in February next year.  I gave it a fleeting thought but noted that it was for seventy plus days and I can't imagine being missing from here for that length of time in the winter.  

Washed, dressed, cheese omelette for breakfast....I'm economising on the butter.  I'm down to a last quarter of an inch in the packet and now Kardjali is out of bounds until Tuesday next week...no on in and no one out since it's Easter...the government hopes to restrict visiting family but I think they are clutching at straws.  I have the feeling that this is going just to take off here...the number of infected people has gone up and so have the deaths.  We're not allowed out thought without a face mask and yet Britain are still claiming that they really aren't effective.  So many experts.  My student's mum messaged me for a catch-up and I dropped out that if her husband has to go to Kardjali to work next week then he might be going up to Lidl with my shopping list....butter, tuna, baked beans and bacon.  I can't get those in Djebel.

Out to the garden with the strimmer and little lawn mower. I've had a really good day and again cracked the ten thousand steps and another couple of days should see the garden knocked into shape.  Just so many weeds this year.  Toys away and I came in at six, boiler is on, pork chops are in the oven and will be covered with a barbecue sauce and then back into the oven to finish off.  The potatoes are on to boil so I better get my a into gear.  Badedas bath tonight to ease away the aches.  LN...And it's only the start of the gardening season....LN

Saturday 18th April

And another beautiful day and filled it with lots of strimming and weed pulling but I really don't seem to have made a dent in the weeding.  There's always tomorrow.

I had my Badedas bath last night, went to bed at eleven and woke up at seven so that was particularly good for me....and with no stops and starts at all.  Coffee and back to bed with the Kindle and I stayed there until eight.  I'd bought a four pack of little local sausages the last time I went shopping, the bread was growing mold so that went out for the cats and birds so I used up two of my eggs and made and omelette and grated cheese into it.  I even opened up a pot of yogurt, put some cherry jam into it and that was breakfast over and done with.  I washed up, tidied everything away, on to the sofa with the Kindle and read another couple of chapters on my book working up the energy to head out to the little house, get tooled up and off to the garden.

I started on the long wall and strimmed behind the two gardens opening up the path to the bottom of the garden.  It's so good to see the garden springing into life considering that at the beginning of last week we had snow.  I had five minutes on the log at the bottom of the garden and joining the cuckoo was the hoopoe bird.  I doubt I shall spot it but it's good to hear that it's back.  I also noticed that the martins are back and they are rebuilding the old nest under the eaves of the little house.  I carried on to the bottom of the garden and moved a load of clover from yesterday's workload, did some more strimming and uncovered a tamarisk that I'd forgotten about so I cleared the ground round it and stuck a wooden surround round it so that I won't lose it again...until next year but it should be bigger then.  I came up the short wall, the cable had broken so I can now add to my repertoire....strimmer repairer.

Tools away at six and my sheep farmer was collecting his cows from Haciber's paddock and at a distance we had a conversation about the virus.  We both agreed that we didn't know if we had it, had had it or come into contact with it but we also agreed that there was likely to be a severe peak in about three weeks time when all those that headed out to see relatives over their Easter.  Not sure about supper...not hungry at the moment and I'll see how I feel a little later.  It's supposed to be twenty five degrees again tomorrow so same again....it's definitely my day for weeding.  LN....Looks like summer is round the corner....LN

Sunday 19th April

Silly night and I put it down to eating too much, too late and that Badedas bath obviously relaxed my gut so that it didn't sort out the food intake.  I did managed to finish my book and now to search for another series that I can get my teeth into, I'm on a very frustrating game of Soda Crush and waiting for the machine to give up...and so far it hasn't...aaarrrggg.  I got very tired at six thirty, slept until seven thirty and woke up with a start and ending a very realistic dream...not nice....so out of bed, coffee, I collected the washing together and put a load in the machine, didn't bother having breakfast and prepared myself for shopping.  

I wrote my list, hung out the washing and was in the Nipper by nine twenty and it was good to be out and heading down the highway...well...my lane.  There were several vehicles on the road but the cows were out ensuring that some at least kept their speed down.  I pulled up outside the supermarket and thought it was closed.  There was only one car parked outside but saw that the in door was open so locked up and headed towards the door.  An old man was coming out and was removing his mask and telling me in Bulgarian that he couldn't breathe with it on so I nodded and gave him a wide berth.  I followed my list, thought I'd dropped it in the basket but when I got to the checkout I noticed it had beaten me to it.  Obviously I'd dropped it, no one could understand it but thought it was important so left it for me.  It's a legal requirement to wear a mask.  I'd put mine on, was wearing it correctly but few people were, even those working in the supermarket.  I know they're damp and uncomfortable and to wear one all day must be horrible...but that's the law and it was only nine thirty.  Shopping complete and loaded in the car, I carried on up to my student's mum's shop and checked that they were all OK and left my Lidl shopping list for the next time that her husband goes shopping for car-parts in Kardjali.  Back home, unpacked the shopping, made toast for breakfast with a scraping from my remaining butter and cherry jam.

I looked at the garden, it was a beautiful day and I should really be taking advantage of it but the spirit and the body were weak.  I put the laptop on and did emails and caught up on FB, my eyes were going so I took to the sofa and it was three thirty when I regained consciousness.  Coffee brought be round even further, I fetched the washing from the garden, am about to put it away and that's my Sunday.   It's supposed to rain overnight and cloudy tomorrow so I guess I've lost a good 'action' day but I really couldn't have managed it...there will be more.  Looking at the weather for the rest of the week...looks like we're heading back to very low temperatures at night.

I will be light on the food tonight...I need a good night's sleep.  Stay safe people and for goodness sake, if you're Bulgarian, wear those masks properly.  LN....And now relax...LN

Monday 20th April

So I had another silly night and was awake at two thirty and filled the time between sleep and sleep by playing games and watching stupid programmes on the Kindle...and eventually I went off to sleep at six or thereabouts.  I did managed too sleep through until eight and dog-dozed until nine thirty and felt I caught something back from the abortive night.

I'd planned my day.  It hadn't rained as promised overnight and thee was a hint of sun out there and very high clouds even though it was blowing a gale out there.  My promise to myself was to get out the petrol mower and mow the whole garden at once.  By doing it with different mowers and strimmers at different days of the week, it wasn't looking uniform and maybe my self-inflicted OCD had come into play. Washed, dressed and ready for the day, no breakfast I wasn't hungry so it was wellies on and out to the garden by eleven.  The machine fired up first time and I started with the side garden and was on a roll...I moved on to the grass under the terrace and was determined to finish the big house grass before I stopped for a late breakfast...and I did it.  The weather was still holding, clouds were gathering but there was no respite...I still had work to do.

I sliced one of the little sausages and fried it off with a mushroom, whisked a couple of eggs and made an omelette, scattering cheese on top.  Delicious and steeled myself and went out there again too get the job finished.  I worked through the petrol in the tank so turned the machine on it's side and gave it a clean underneath before I filled up the tank, started and eventually finished forcing myself to keep at it and finished off the bank between the two areas with the battery strimmer.  I was pleased with myself but absolutely knacked.  I checked the Fitbit and I've managed to knock off just over fifteen thousand steps...my weekly total is looking up.

Toys away and I had the first spot of rain but it blew over and that must have been the only one.  I've lit the fire, put the boiler on for a bath and fingers crossed...I shall have a better night tonight.  LN....Hoping it all grows at the same rate....LN

Tuesday 21st April

The rain arrived and it's been here all day.  It wasn't here at two thirty this morning...yes I saw it again...I woke with gripping pains in my stomach and spent the next hour or so in the smallest room in the house and that's all the information I'm going to share with you.  It was back to bed but this time with water, eventually got back to sleep at five according to my Fitbit report and woke up again at nine thirty. I didn't bother with breakfast, there was nothing to do outside, plenty I could find to do inside but instead I sort of meandered through the morning.  I did take out my very expensive earrings and cleaned them with 'spiritus' and now they are sparkly again.  My ear lobe was getting sore so that was doused with spirit as well, it heals things very quickly.  I always screw the backs up quite tightly after the episode of loosing one of them in the snow a few years back and since I bought them after my mother died..they're very precious.

Eventually I made boiled eggs and used up the last of my butter, washed and tidied the kitchen and took to the sofa with a new book.  I lit the fire, it wasn't cold but just felt it and despite the fact that it seemed to take ages to 'lift off' eventually it got there.  That's the problem with a damp chimney and no wind.  I pulled a blanket over me and you can guess the rest....I didn't wake up until six and my alarm was the telephone.  I saw that it was the garage calling, my student's mum and she was in....LIDL....and was requesting my shopping list.  At this point she called me on Messenger and made sure that I had the bacon I wanted, the butter I wanted and the baked beans and it was four of each and I'll pick them up in the morning from the shop.  I can have a bacon sandwich again,

Easy on the stomach tonight...I shall leave supper in the fridge and I don't suppose and early night will do me any good at all but wish me luck...it would be good to go through the night without any interruptions.  LN....Back to my book....LN

Wednesday 22nd April

Yes...a much better night last night and I feel much better for it.  Seven start and I played games and managed to get out of bed by eight.  I looked at the winter lounge table cloths and decided that they could do with a freshen up and popped them in the washing machine and put them on the banister to dry.  The way that the wind was blowing they would have been in Greece if I'd have hung them out to dry.  Washed and dressed, I was going in to Djebel to pick up my Lidl goodies purchased for me yesterday.  I'd estimated the cost at forty leva so got the money ready.  I didn't bother with breakfast, I was looking forward to having bacon, egg and fried bread when I got back.  I played around with a new design for a mask that I'd seen on the internet and I made one that was much superior to the one that I'd bought from the chemist.  This one felt much more secure but the only problem was that my glasses steamed up when I was driving.  I could do with demisters fitting.

I was surprised that the wind was so cold when I went out to start the car so I grabbed a hat and body warmer to make sure that I stayed warm.  I drove to the car shop, complete with new mask, collected my goodies and picked up two packets of firelighters instead of change.  They had gone in to Plovdiv yesterday to collect car parts and she seemed rather stressed.  They'd come back with lots of stock and her job today was to price it up and put it away so I didn't stop to chat.  I got back in the Nipper and drove to the Djebel district office and was fleeced out of yet more money for my yearly tax.  I really should go to Kardjali and raise an objection since we seem to pay more that the other towns in the area....and goodness knows how some of the villagers manage.  I popped in to the supermarket to buy biscuits, bread and another jar of coffee and should be OK for the next few weeks when lock-down should be over....fingers crossed.

Home, shopping away, bacon on the stove and my neighbour's daughter was banging on the window so I took the bacon off, fitted my mask before I went out mainly because I noticed that she wasn't wearing one.  They just believe that they're safe...and I won't risk it.  Finished cooking breakfast and relished it, finishing off with a slice of toast...with butter and I've got enough for the next four weeks.  I watched internet TV for a while and I was switching channels and I'm tired of all the newsreaders slagging off the government.  I think we've had out fill with Brexit and now this and despite the slagging over Brexit, the Conservatives won with a giant majority...so why don't they back off.  Just so many experts that I switched over to Countdown...much gentler.

Biscuits and cheese triangles for supper, I haven't lit the fire and probably should have done....it's cold.  I think I'm getting ready for my nest and snuggle down with my Kindle....it's the warmest place in the house when there's no fire.  LN....Fingers crossed for another good night....LN

Thursday 23rd April

I seemed to sleep OK last night but it was pretty restless according to my Fitbit.  I was up an about by seven, back to bed with the Kindle and a coffee and Soda Crush was playing well...I knocked off a few games.  I went up to my upstairs balcony and watched the sheep come over the hill and noticed that one was really struggling as it walked and no way should it have been out and about.  The shepherd approached it but it was left to its own devices.  It was a beautiful morning but again we had that wind and I was put off going out to the garden.  I did put the hat on and make an attempt but soon came in.  Not only was it blowing but it was cold so no way 'Hose'.

I came in and consoled myself with a cooked breakfast and then came over extremely tired so took my book upstairs and sat on Mrs D of S's rocking chair and the rest is history.  I eventually came back downstairs when I'd realised that I was having to prop myself up against the rocking motion despite the fact that I'd taken up a small table to rest my feet on.  I took to the sofa instead, then rested up for a while and then burst into action.  I filled up the log basket, I was cold last night so intended lighting a fire tonight and have just set the plan into action.  The rest of my afternoon was spent on the computer trying to get two anti-virus programs that I've spent money on to work on my new system...not that it's really new now and I probably should have persisted with it earlier.  I'd tried once and realised that I probably need outside help and eventually emailed the company to try to get some help from them.  My other challenge was to to try to download some more books by Bernard Cornwell and I hadn't realised that there were another eight books to add to the first five that I've read in the Last Kingdom season.  That looked like being an expensive pleasure so I've shelved it for a while.

The white cat was round this afternoon and I notice that she has a swelling tummy so we can expect more round in a short while.  They really don't look after their animals in this village. Fire is going, supper is still in the fridge/freezer and I've yet to decide what I'm going to have.  LN...I'll think of something....LN

"This one felt much more secure but the only problem was that my glasses steamed up when I was driving." Simple solution to that problem. Take the mask off when driving.  

Friday 24th April

Thanks Trevor for the suggestion....I can take the glasses off...my eyes are still so good and the mask was steaming up while I was shopping too.  Back to the drawing board Cecil...

Seven start this morning and the fire that I lit last night was still burning the last log that I threw on when I went to bed.  It was down to two degrees outside and had maintained twenty two inside so I had no complaints at all. The usual routine, coffee, back to bed, Soda Crush, washed and dressed and was eating breakfast at nine.  I finished off the mushrooms and the first packet of bacon and fried off an egg.....I had work to do today...the wind had dropped so I'd earmarked weeding the garden.

I put it off by bringing in the log carrier and filling up the log basket, sweeping the log store and giving it a bit of a tidy but inevitably I had to make a start.  I eased myself in gently by finishing the under main terrace garden and uncovered some plants that I'd forgotten about.  They'd got covered by the weeds.  I moved on to the large side garden and made a start.  I felt I was running out of steam at around two so I came in and had a coffee and a small packet of biscuits lay on the sofa but forced myself out again...and carried on where I'd left off.....it was hard work but I stuck at it.  

Toys away at six, I've knocked off nearly sixteen thousand steps today on the Fitbit so I came in and put supper in the oven so that it would cook while I got on with something else.  Corned beef covered with baked beans and topped with sliced potatoes and lashed with butter....and I can smell that it's ready.  LN....Kitchen calls....LN

Saturday 25th April

Six thirty start but I did get my head down at ten thirty last night ...early for me but it worked out.  I made coffee and went back to bed and I was still up and about for seven and the day has seemed so long.  Breakfast of the remains of the tin of beans from last night and it's seem me through the day.  Last night's supper was superb and when I took the main out of the oven I put in a stuffed apple apple so by the time I'd eaten that lot...stuffed to the gills.

I didn't stick to plan today.  I'd set myself a target to finish weeding the big side garden but it didn't happen but I did clear a patch that I've looked at for a while and it all started when I decided to plant up some seeds ready for the bare earth.  I'd got containers on the terrace that have grown a few weeds so I took them out, cleared out the roots and renewed some of the compost.  I also found several sweet peas, a couple in the garden and some in a bucket so I took the weeds out of that and moved the ones from the garden to join the others.  I've never had much success with sweet peas so maybe this year.  I now have four containers with seeds in them and covered them with a poly-carbonate sheet, watered well and we'll see how they come along.  

The corner under the little house terrace has been a bit of an eyesore that I've looked at and ignored for some time.  So I found wood suitable for the supports and the edging and now it's done and painted with old engine oil.  I had to clear out the weeds and last years plants that had died which took some time.  Next step was to find the lump hammer to knock in the supports and ordinary hammer and nails to get the planks attached.  It's a bit Heath Robinson....but it's done.  

I took a break for a coffee on the sofa, nodded off for about thirty minutes but went out to start again.  I found the battery strimmer out and did the grass between the house and the front wall and finished the yard moving the car to do underneath.  I moved to the main garden and did round the new boards and continued with the other raised beds and finished when the battery ran out.  

Lovely day, lovely evening, achieved quite a lot and feeling good.  Eleven thousand steps according to Fitbit....I'm on for a record week.  Not bothered about supper so far..I'll see how I feel later.  LN....Now relax in a hot bath....LN

Sunday 26th April

Six thirty start, normal meanderings around for coffee, Kindle and back to bed.  I did grab the camera though...there was a bird in the tree that I didn't recognise and I still can't ..it flew off before I could get the full zoom on the Sony.  I sat out with my second cup on the bench outside of the lounge window and then went in to grab a cushion...I hadn't put on as much padding as I thought I had.  I stayed out for about half an hour and despite the sun it wasn't as warm as it was at first...the clouds were gathering.  They were pretty high up but they still took the heat out the offering.  

I came in and made poached eggs on toast for breakfast, washed up and was ready to face the garden.  Again I was delaying the weeding and decided to lift the lavender that I'd hacked back and take all of the dead branches away.  It looks pretty sad underneath but has put on brilliant growth on the top and I toyed with the idea of removing it completely and starting again but I just couldn't do it so I knocked in a metal post near the wall and forced it upright using a cord to keep it there.  This allowed me to clear the dead branches from underneath, dig it over to get rid of the grass roots and prepare it for planting.  I used old wood to continue the edging around the under wall garden and match it up with the rest of the border.  I came in, it was too hot out there and settled down with the book for a while and no...I didn't go to sleep but have felt fairly deflated most of the day.  I suppose I looked at the weeding that I have to do and I just couldn't get round to it today...tomorrow is another day so maybe I'll have a burst of energy...who knows.

Tools away at four...again it was a coffee and more biscuits and I've just taken supper from the freezer so I shall be eating later.  I picked up the Sudoku book and managed to do four of the 'extreme' and was getting into the swing again...I've not done any for a while. I turned on Transponder and watched my first Virus briefing...what a waste of time and I guess that not many people sat through it.  The same questions, the same answers and as for coming out of lock-down....how long is a piece of string...it depends how sensible the majority of us remain.  Good new though from Greece...the beaches might be soon open according to my news guru...and from the report they might be opening up aspects of the tourist trade...from selected countries...I wonder if UK will be on the list.

Well the clouds have come over and the wind has got up again and it almost looks like rain.  I do hope it blows over...it only encourages the grass to grow.  LN...Kitchen calls...LN

Monday 27th April

Just beat the sun this morning but I was out on the terrace to catch it with the camera.  It looked like it was going to be another good day and it was fine until two this afternoon.  I dressed for the garden, eventually, I made scrambled eggs on toast and because I'd forgotten to put the Kindle on charge last night I watched Good Morning until I got fed up of the 'let's knock the government again'.  The breakfast came with me and it was my first breakfast in bed...and self provided...what a lazy bones.  I didn't want to put the main computer on...it can be such a waste of time.

I washed up and tidied the kitchen and sat outside for a while just watching everything come to life.  The birds were singing their little hearts out and it always reminds me of 'Shrek' when the bluebirds cop it. Today has been another meander day...I started one job which moved on to the next and it all started with wanting to get the male lemon tree out to put on the terrace.  All of the pots are out from the little house, I've potted up the lavender and buddliea cuttings and settled them on the little house terrace along with the empty pots that want something in them or doing to them.  I had a bonfire, did a load of washing, potted up another stick into a newly sprayed water bottle, painted the inside/outside table with bug killer...and at this point the thunder rolled round and there were a few spots of rain.  I rushed to get the washing in but it really was only a few spots so no damage done.

I came in at five thirty, put the washing away and back to the kitchen and made bolognaise sauce and was intending to make a potato lasagne but looked at the mild and it had got a sell by of January....so destined for over the wall.  Supper is ready so I'm signing off.  LN....I've had a really good day.....LN

Tuesday 28th April

Very frustrating evening on the internet.  I wanted to arrange a delivery of flowers to a very good friend for her birthday.  The company I chose allowed me to register with only my name and email but didn't ask for any more details.  As I progressed with the order I got the message to go back to registration and enter my address but there didn't seem a field to enter the information I required so I tried again.  I selected the flowers, ordered a card and made the changes to it and even managed to download a code so that I didn't have to pay for it...and then again it wanted my address.  I entered the address I wanted the company to send the flowers too and it put my name address as the delivery address.  Eventually I worked it out...The address was entered by postcode and so I had to use my old UK postcode to add my address, when it came to telephone number I tried my Bulgarian number and was told it wasn't recognised so put my old UK number in.  The recipients details went in OK and so to checkout and this was negotiated fairly easily and my order was placed.  Fingers crossed they will be delivered tomorrow.

Normal morning start and settled for toast for breakfast, tidied the kitchen, I dressed for the garden only it was impossible to see the bottom of it, there was a heck of a mist which took ages to burn off.  Before I headed out to find something to do I decided to pay both telephone bills and that was another issue.  I signed in to the house phone account and wasn't able to view the reason my bill was high and decided to pay it anyway and then question it over the phone with an operator.  One payment method asked me to sign in to my account which I tried to do and I received a message to say that my email wasn't recognised and since they'd contacted me on it....and the reason they gave was that I didn't have an account and had paid without registering.  Doh....and then I attempted to pay the second on the phone but this entailed getting a one only pass code from my bank and that wiped out the detail on the phone so I went to the site on the internet and got a new code to authorise the transaction.  Nothing is simple.

And now to start what I wanted to do....I moved the pots from the conservatory to the terrace so they could get some fresh air, trimmed back the hypericom in the little bed between garden between the terraces and put some of it in water to take some cuttings, the village ladies are always asking for them.  By now it was really hot outside so my next task was to put another layer of wood preservative on the table and a good layer on the wooden bench that holds the outside sink so that it all looks refreshed out there.  I decided to take my Sudoku book out and settle on the bench but lazing in the sun, my eyes were heading southwards and the weather was closing in, the thunder was hovering around and there were a few spots of rain.   I settled on the sofa and had an hour's kip and woke up cold, I toyed with lighting the fire but it was twenty four degrees in the house so it was another sweater on instead. Not sure about supper, I've picked all day so not really hungry at the moment...maybe later.  LN...Early night for me....LN

Wednesday 29th April

What a day of lethargy....I could have done so many things and ended up doing very little.  Seven start and the sun beat me to it...it was up and shining and looked to be a good day.  I went back to bed with my coffee, played silly games and decided to give Piers Morgan a chance and that lasted all of two minutes before I closed down the Kindle.  I headed tor the kitchen and cooked bacon and fried egg for breakfast, sat in the stairwell in the sun, was tempted with toast to follow but I didn't succumb.  I washed up the dishes and that was me finished on kitchen duties.

Up to the bathroom and washed and dressed for the garden but that was a waste of time.  I did venture out there and watered the pot plants, moved a  few more from the conservatory to the terrace and sprinkled some special feeder crystals round them.  They were give to me by the market garden in Haskovo last year and seem to do the trick.  I sat out on the terrace and enjoyed the sun and watched the birds flitting around.  The martins have finished rebuilding the nest under the eaves and it shouldn't be long before they're working their little socks off feeding the little ones.

I didn't phone my friend that I'd sent the flowers until I knew they'd been accepted as I was tracking the delivery on the internet.  I'd sent a card with the delivery but I was only able to change the text on front to personalise it and didn't find the space to put a message inside and sign it.  The delivery was at four twenty and I phoned and wished her happy birthday and sang it to her.  She'd just opened the box and read the card and didn't have a clue where they'd come from until I asked her how the flowers were looking and at that point the penny dropped.  She told me that they'd only just arrived and I said that I knew since I'd been tracking them and she thought that was really clever.  She's not really up with technology even though I keep pushing her in that direction and she's promised me that she will...we'll see.  I think she has a younger relative to help her out.

Tomorrow I promise myself I'll be more productive....I think the Fitbit has been shedding tears today.  LN....Now to find some suppers....LN

Thursday 30th April

So the best laid plans of mouse, men and me today.  It looked promising this morning and the lawn mower was going to come into play once the overnight rain/dew had burnt off.  The plans were made and then nature intervened.

Usual morning with coffee and back to bed, bacon and egg for breakfast and didn't even bother to wash up the dishes I went out to assess the options.  I collected a few tools including the electric hedge trimmer and started on the topiary which my neighbours really laugh at...an English garden.  I like it and it adds form to the garden so I did the biggies and the row of small ones and got rid of some of the wild rose branches that sprout up in the middle of things that you're trying to control.  I cleared some of the weeds from the bed nearest the big walnut and as my topiary moved up the short wall I ended up at the mulberry and that's where I concentrated the effort.  It was such hard work, the weeds have really taken hold but I worked at it and threw the weeds over the wall for the animals which haven't appeared today.  I uncovered another small forsythia, removed the weeds from the base of the shrubs and as I continued I noticed that the clouds were coming over.  They were very black over towards Smolyan and that wind was getting up.  When the thunder started I put the toys away and moved anything that would be blown about to a place of safety and waited for it to throw it down...which it didn't.  It did rain but not really enough to soak everything through so I might be able to do the grass tomorrow.

I came in at two, settled down on the sofa and played a few games and caught up on emails, lit the fire for comfort and headed for the packet of chocolates...again for comfort...blame the virus and being tied to house and home.  I put a chicken leg in the oven for tonight's supper and at the moment nothing else with it...probably chippies, it's been a while since I cooked any.  Another month gone and what a strange one it's been.  I hear that Kardjali is now open for bus traffic from Sofia and of course the other way....I'm not sure if it's open for car traffic from the outlying districts...I need another Lidl trip for things I can't get in Djebel.  LN....Time to check on the chicken....LN