Tuesday 1st September

Six start this morning and I was on it already....so much so that by one I was feeling that the day would never end.  Washed and dressed, washing in the machine and pegged out by seven, bonfire and watered the garden down the bottom so that the hose would be on hand should the bonfire get out of hand.  The poor shrubs at the bottom of the garden have suffered....it's been in the mid thirties for the last ten days or so and despite my best efforts, they're struggling.  As I walked near to the long wall to check for tortoise, I noticed two of them tucked up together in the shade under the cranberry tree and I didn't stay around to see if they were one of each.  Yesterday I was given two large tomatoes by the lady that keeps the shop in Fotinovo so I used one of those to make my breakfast......tomato on toast and only one needed, they were huge.  Kitchen all washed up and tidied and I carried on with the watering and waited for my friends to visit, the outside container was still sitting in the Nipper where it had been put by the shop and he was bringing the muscle power.  

I cleared the site on the terrace where the pot was going to sit and had just finished sweeping away the debris and putting the honeysuckle cuttings over the wall when Avatar arrived bringing with her half of the tout manike, cheesy bread that she'd bought that morning from the van.  I was just showing her the new glazed pot when my guests arrived, she handed me the food, shot off like a scaled rabbit, he managed to get the pot out and carry it on his own so I was obsolete so put the kettle on and made myself useful.  It seits well on the terrace, I've got to decide how I want to dress it.  We sat out with coffee, they were heading into Momchilgrad and I suggested the back lane, I'd done it yesterday and it was dry as a bone obviously and a fairly smooth ride.  My painter popped round and offered me pears that he'd picked but they have so much damage on them that they weren't for me.  He had cucumbers for free but again, I leave them on the supermarket shelves.

By now the temperature had climbed to the mid thirties and I went in to cool off, it was much to hot to be outside.  I tried to settle to ancestry but it's got very complicated and the records are sporadic so I turned my attention to a few games that made me really sleepy so I settled on the sofa and went off to the land of nod.  At five I went out to water the garden and thought I'd get ahead of myself but instead I got carried away and ended up finding my tall window cleaning brush and did the tall terrace top level windows using the hose pipe to wash the soapy water off and it seems to have worked.  I found the small step ladder and cleaned the terrace level outside and now my biggest challenge is going to be the inside near the stairs and that's the job for tomorrow.  My house preparation for my guest is underway.  

Toys away and Avatar popped over to see the pot in all its glory and she thinks it lovely.  I didn't tell her how much...I don't discuss those sorts of purchases with her, pensions here are not worth talking about.  Looking at the weather maps I think tomorrow might be for Kardjali and swimming, there are more clouds about on Thursday so the windows will wait until then.  I had the cheesy bread for supper followed by two bottles of water...I need to keep my fluid intake up...a little t.v and bed.  I caught the moon coming up...I think it's almost full.  LN....I'm closing the curtains tonight.....LN

Wednesday 2nd September

Six start after a restful night's sleep....I threw out the old bread and realised that I had to go down to the van and get fresh bread if I wanted breakfast.  I watered the garden before I set off and at eight I was in Avatar's garden and we were waiting for the regulatory toot toot announcing his arrival.  We sat under the tree, she said that she was expecting the cement to finish the wall later that day and gave me a small shopping list if I was going in to town which I intended to do.  Most of the ladies were drawn to the bottom square but he kept us all waiting by going to the houses along the back lane but he was soon back and I bought the bread that I wanted.  I walked back with Avatar and she was trying desperately to cook breakfast for me but I'd made my mind up I was going to use up the last tomato and serve it up on toast.

So I made breakfast and tidied up the kitchen, walked the garden and ended up shoving the hoe around on the vegetable patch clearing most of the weeds.  Every thing is so dry and I've given up wasting water on the few peppers that I've got and tomatoes.  As for the butternut squash...it might make and ornament.  I ended up tidying teh little house porch and giving it a good sweep out and I'll work my way in...it really needs it.  The old lavender can go now that I've collected this years and I've still got the big one to gather in at some point.  I came over incredibly tired so drank lots of water and lay on the sofa and you've guessed it. I was out for the count for a couple of hours or so, this heat is so draining.  At two I decided to head in to Kardjali to see if I could get any advice on my residence permit which expires early October.  If I could only pick up the paperwork and set the wheels in motion I thought i could be ahead foo the game.....and how wrong can you be.  I drove in and parked up in my paid car-park and walked to the Immigration Office and was amazed when I turned the corner.  There were around twenty people standing on the pavement, those inside were coming out and calling people in and I realised I would do nothing today.  I recognised one of the ladies having a ciggie break so approached her and asked if I could have a word with her and she agreed.  I found out that there was no appointment system in place, to get seen you had to be outside the office at seven in the morning and get given a number which would be processed that day.  I came away feeling quite disgruntled with Bulgaria and it's systems.  It's mainly due to the Turkish people coming back ensuring that they have duel nationality and updating there residencies.  I've been here ten years now and this should be a paper exercise...they have all my details on file, photographs the lot and yet it's going to take the best part of the day.  Do I want to do it?...no I don't...will I be out of the house at six thirty in the morning?....probably.....just to get the ball rolling.

I made my way to Lidl and bought the things on Avatar's shopping list and a few items for me including butter that I hid under the luggage in the boot otherwise I have oil when I got home.  I was home for five thirty, parked up outside the gate and delivered the goodies over the road and we didn't talk money because Haciber was sitting with us.  I related the story of the immigration to Avatar and she was amazed and I suggested that she comes in with me in the morning....and that's not going to happen.  I came home, put the Nipper in the drive, put the rest of the shopping away and had five minutes before I went out and got ahead of myself by watering the garden.  I came in and fried off a hamburger that I'd taken out of the freezer this morning, slapped it between two slices of bread with mayo and that was supper.  The washing up can wait, the drawbridge is up and I#m in for the night.  The moon has come up but has gone behind the clouds....we might have a cooler night.  LN...Need something sweet to finish on.....LN

Wednesday 3rd September

So no trip to Kardjali today...I woke up at ten to seven so wouldn't have made it for the seven o'clock registration and numbering at the Immigration Office.  It's Friday tomorrow so I might very well try again guessing they might be all at the mosques but I have heard that they do work on Saturday so I might be taking too many trips to Kardjali this week.  It's till early, I have a month to go but I don't like leaving things.  I sat on the terrace with my coffee and saw a bird working its way up the electricy pole in the field.  At first i only saw a shadow moving up the trunk but I was able to take long distance pickies when it got to the top.  I calculated yesterday's bill for my Avatar. delivered it and payment received.  I sat in the garden with her and she handed me some of her grapes and I eat on and the eye froze, the skin was tough and she said they were sweet and we laughed about it.  Beyser arrived, she saw the grapes on the table and immediately dived in and we both said that they were very sweet and worth eating and despite the fact that they weren't she had three little bunches.  I said in Bulgarian to Avatar that it was like feeding strawberries to donkeys which is one of my mother's sayings and fortunately Beyser only speaks Turkish....evil aren't we.

I left them to it, came home and made two toasted cheese and ham sandwiches for breakfast.  It did me good for most of the day until a packet of chocolate Cookies found there way into my domain and ...they are no more.  I worked in the garden for most of the morning trimming back the cranberry tree, I hate it when I have to dip down to get underneath a tree so now I don't have to.  I noticed the Blue Boy was resting on the polythene on the old window that was lying on the terrace and I thought it was stuck so I moved it, cleared away some of the polythene and left only one and it was back and resting up.  I wondered if it was wanting the overnight damp so I sunk a dustbin lid under the cranberry and later on put one near the short wall, they have drinking stations and I bet they never use them.

Too hot to be out so I came in at around twelve thirty and played around with ancestry and practising my Italic writing.  I used to do it ages ago but it's something I've let go.  At four thirty I went out again and saw Rosie shuffling in the shrubbery, she headed for the grass and they set off down towards the bottom of the garden.  I swept the workshop terrace off and saw that Blue Boy was hiding yet again underneath the polythene but then set off down the long wall so maybe it's on a hot date with both of them heading down to the bottom wall.

No supper required....I am definitely going to try to get up earlier and go into Kardjali and set the ball rolling by seven and overturn the new Ottoman Empire.  LN...Wish me luck....LN

Friday 4th September

So my internal alarm went off at six this morning, I was out of bed by ten past, washed, dressed, into the Nipper and down the back lane and parked up on my pay car-park before the attendant was there and set off for the Immigration Office.  It was around quarter past seven and as I turned the corner, the pavement was rammed.  I joined the queue and with some social distancing going on but not much but most wearing masks, I waited my turn.  A very harassed policeman was dealing with the queue and I was the last.  I handed over my Identity Card and explained that I had to renew and he said 'one moment please' and disappeared inside the building.  I waited and five minutes later be appeared and said that I have an appointment on the ninth of September and he gave me a slip of paper with number one printed on it.  I asked him what time I had to attend and he replied that I had to be there at seven in the morning, I was number one for the day.  What a system.  It was now just after seven thirty so I headed back to Djebel and stopped off to buy cheesy bread from out local shop for me and Avatar and was back in the village for just after eight.  Djebel was just coming to life, the market was getting set up and the coffee bars were filling up,

I drove home and saw that Avatar was in her garden and dressed for town with her long brown coat on.  I handed over the cheesy bread and asked her why she was going in and offered to take her but she wanted to take the bus and explained that her daughter was coming over from Turkey and had asked her to make some Tarna.....a dried breakfast vegetable soup thing and so she was heading in to buy tomatoes and other veg to dry in time for when her daughter arrives.  What she does for her family.  I made coffee and took my cheesy bread out to the terrace.  The sun was hiding and it wasn't that warm but the clouds were breaking up but I decided to start on the windows and get that off the list of things to do.  The inside windows of the stairwell are very difficult to do.  I think I brought every tool that I have in my tool kit into play but I'll have to do them again, the sun came out and I noticed the smears.  Since I'm the only one looking at them, I can live with it for now.  I didn't stop there, the porch windows inside and out are done and also my bedroom and the rest of the long windows and I've only got the inside of the lounge to do.  I did feel that I was almost pirouetting at time balancing on the outside furniture and the little step ladder but i made sure I was safe...I can't afford accidents.

I took a phone call from my daughter, she's got a start date for her new job and is really looking forward to it....she'll do well and she can walk to work and back to school hours and holidays.  She said that she'd had a busy morning doing housework and shopping so that she's clear for next week and surprised me by saying that 'it's what you would do'....and she's right.  I went out with the rest of the cheesy bread and some grapes and enjoyed the sun but the wind was getting up and and later this afternoon it really got gale force.  I had to shut the door to the conservatory to stop the dust blowing in.....it was crazy out there.  That was the last I saw of it, I spent the afternoon in the land of Nod catching up on sleep deprivation and felt much better for it when I woke up at four thirty.

No supper require, cheesy bread is very filling.  The wind's dropped fortunately but so has the temperature and when i went out tonight to water the plants it really felt quite chilled.  I know the sun is going down earlier but it's only eight thirty and there's hardly a glimmer except for the mountains over Smolyan sporting the last of the blue and pink hues.  Nothing on the agenda and certainly no trip into Kardjali...what I haven't got I can do without.  LN....A lie in tomorrow......LN  

Saturday 5th September

Short and sweet tonight...I had an extremely good morning and got lots done in the garden and by nine this morning, I'd had a bonfire, trimmed back the dead flower heads from the bottom garden, watered the pots and the bigger trees and tidied up the area.  Breakfast called and I had sour cherry jam on toast and sat on the terrace eating it.  It was quite cool this morning and a welcome change but that didn't last for long,  That sun came out and it was a scorcher.

I moved inside and did a load of washing, put the wet run out that I'd spilt water on when I was negotiating the bowls in use for doing the windows.  I'd left it down on the floor but no way was it going to dry so I put it out hanging it down from the table so that the sun and breeze could get at it.  I got the hoover out and cleaned where the run had lain and under the stairs and window sills, shook the carpet from the conservatory outside and put that where the wet one was.  When the other one was dry, that went into the conservatory.  Washing out to dry, moved some boxes from the house to the little house and put them up onto the top floor out of the way.  It almost seemed like it was an autumn morning.....but then the sun came out.  I peeled potatoes, boiled them, chopped an onion, opened as can of tuna and that was lunch....potato salad with tuna and mayo.

I got the washing in and it was away but three...that's what I love about here and summer.  You can more or less guarantee on the weather and its drying ability and in the winter, it goes on the airer and dries overnight in the bathroom....it just doesn't have to lie around like in the UK.  The afternoon was spent watching the athletics, answering emails and playing games and I felt that I'd had a really good morning in the garden and house and with my guest arriving on Thursday and Wednesday being already earmarked for a documentation day...I've not many days left to get things done.  

I went out at eight thirty and watered the pots, I'd got involved watching Alice through the Looking Glass and didn't realise how late it was.  As for supper, the tuna mayo really did fill me up and it's now after nine so no need to visit the kitchen tonight.  LN....I'm sure I'll find things to do tomorrow.....LN

Sunday 6th September

Usual wake up time of six and lingered in a half sleep state until the need for coffee got me out of bed.  I made it and set off to check the water containers for the dependants and cleared them out...just lots of dead leaves around and that wind was up again in the night.  So much so that the door to the balcony was closed but it was definitely warmer last night than the night before.  The sheep were being driven to the far fields and it's good to see that they have a shepherd with them.  At least the owner is sticking to the letter of the law for a change with the sheep, the cows are still a nuisance to the rest of the village but they get told the same thing as I did years ago, get some decent fences.

I came back and sat on the terrace and thought of all the things that I could do today and consequently have done nothing.  I came in and replied to the messages on FB and arranged to meet up with the family tomorrow at ten thirty.  I haven't seen them for ages and it will be good to catch up and I really needed to do it before my guest arrives mainly because of the virus.  Better safe than sorry.  I suddenly felt hungry and made bacon and egg, checking the bread for green dots and it was clear.  It's the one thing that I can't stand, slightly mouldy bread and it was as well that it was OK, the van had been and gone.  I tidied the desk and check the documents that I needed for Immigration and realised that I'd taken the copies the other day and not originals so now everything is ready and sitting in a folder.  I'm very tempted to carry on to Kardjali tomorrow after seeing the family to collect the letter from the bank confirming that I have sufficient funds to be here and can maintain myself.  It's a bit silly really, the bank only declares what they need to declare for me to be self-sufficient not my bank holding...the attitude is 'why should we tell them' and I agree.

So this afternoon I was sofa bound with the Kindle, played games for a while and didn't manage to beat my record on Sudoku medium level.  The fastest I've managed is just over five minutes but I varied today between seven and fifteen.....so not a good showing.  The last one was even longer since I nodded off so we don't count that one.  I must have been out for the count for a couple of hours or so and again we are back to thirty degrees today and the air is very still.  I went out in the daylight for a change to water the garden but it was almost dark when I came in.  I did water the bigger shrubs and trees very well especially the specimen ones that I've brought on from babies.  No supper for me, it's too hot to eat again so I'll stick to water but slow down just before bedtime.  Very restful day, no sightings of the tortoise today, it was probably too hot for them to be out and about.  LN....Wouldn't want them baking in the shells....LN

Monday 7th September

Bit of a busy old day....and very enjoyable.  Woke up just before seven before the sun was up so I made coffee and went out on the terrace to enjoy the sunrise and listen my little part of the world coming into life.  There were loads of bea-eaters very high up in the sky chirping their little heads off, a couple jays were flitting around and not staying anywhere very long and the flycatchers were bobbing backwards and forwards to their stations.  The stork flew over obviously had the first meal of the day down at the lake and on to the next watering hole.

I went back inside to make more coffee, the pots were still damp from last night so not requiring attention, the tortoise bowls were full of water but not a tortoise in sight and my morning work was done.  The washing up from yesterday could wait so I went for a shower and washed my hair and went to get ready for the day.  I was off to visit the family this morning at ten thirty so in the Nipper by ten after stopping off at Avatar's house to see if she wanted anything from town.  The plan was to visit the family and then go to the bank to obtain a letter ready for Immigration on Wednesday but I didn't realise that the banks would be closed, it was a holiday yesterday and the bank was having it today.  So coffee with the girls and the married one is over from Denmark and it was such a surprise to see her.  We sat in the garden with baklava and we had lots to catch up on...I haven't seen them for about three months.  The little asked if I was planning on Kardjali and that's when I found out that the bank wasn't in residence today but we still went in to town.  She showed me a shop that I'd not found before and is apparently Polish and reminded me of Primark with cheapy clothes and everything else.  I bought some cheap glass vases to complete and idea that I'd seen yesterday and it will come to fruition when I get round to it.  We carried on to a shop that she wanted to go to and I bought a cheap ring for myself, Kaufland for Gold Blend that was on offer and home James.  

I dropped her off at the lane near her house, I popped in to the garage to check up on my student's family and they really enjoyed their time away while my student held the fort.  I popped into the hardware shop for more items for my project and the supermarket intending to get chicken wings for tonight but they's sold out so I have Turkish kebabs instead and I'll put a jacket in to have with them.  Garden already watered so I'm ahead of myself today and tomorrow I'm back to Kardjali for the letter from the bank...it's that in-box exercise.  Wednesday...seven at Immigration and Thursday...the airport in Sofia unless my guest decides that Bulgaria isn't for him this year...and he's just phoned and it's still on.  Jacket potatoes in and the kebabs will shortly follow.  I've just been out to check on the buddliea that's going to my student's sister tomorrow and spotted Blue Boy on the terrace heading for the steps to the garden.  I saved it the trauma and lifted it down the steps and its little legs were going like the clappers and once down off it set for the bottom of the garden.   LN....Busy week for me......LN

Tuesday 8th September

I slept in late this morning and didn't have anywhere to go which was just as well.  I went out and checked the watering holes and topped them up and Blue Boy was lingering near the one on the long wall.  I didn't water the garden but I probably should have done...they're looking a little crispy tonight so I better get going when I've finished the update.  Last night's washing up is still lingering, I made toast for breakfast and then set about preparing for my day.  I took one of the buddlieh from the pot with the four new plants growing and potted it up ready to deliver to my family.  I also sorted through the jewellery and found the green earrings and pendent to match and also found out the amethyst earrings and pendent and she could choose to wear them or not.  

I set off at eleven to deliver the goodies and then carried on to Kardjali.  My normal paid car-park was full and I thought I was lucky to find a space near the back of the bank.  I went to the bank and I had to fight the rush of people but fortunately I get good service knowing both of the security guards.  I was directed to the floor manager and she was obviously so stressed and told me that it was impossible to get a letter today and to come back later in the week.  I didn't quite plead with her but said that I had a seven a.m appointment with Immigration, she breather heavily and printed off a form for me to take to the second floor and the wheels were in motion.  I had to wait an hour or so so filled my time with a couple of cokes in different restaurants and was walking back to the bank when I noticed two policemen writing out tickets about three cars from where mine was parked.  I approached one of them and explained that I didn't speak their language very well but pointed to my car and asked if it was OK to leave it there....all he said was  'dave burso' and I know that roughly translated as 'get out of there quickly' so I moved to my paid car park and then went back to the bank to pick up my letter.  I carried on to Immigration and my favourite lady was outside again having a ciggie break and I asked her if I could pay any fees due with a card and she replied that as long as it was a Bulgarian card that they would take payment...result.

I filled the Nipper up with gas and carried on to Djebel stooping to buy chicken wings and went to the chemist and bought masks as backups for when my guest arrives.  Home for four thirty and sat down with a coffee....I'd had a good day, achieved a lot and feel very prepared for tomorrow.  The chicken wings are in the oven and I went over to tell my Avatar that supper would be served around eight and she was in Beyser's garden with the rest of the ladies.  It started off well but then they went into Turkish so I went to see her daughter in law watering her garden and I came home with a knotted blouse full of tomatoes straight from the plants.  Kitchen is calling, I have a six fifteen start tomorrow to get to Kardjali by quarter to seven so that I'm ready for my appointment.  Deliveroo is about to hit the village.  LN...Early night for me ....LN

Wednesday 9th September

What a day....I set both alarms last night so that I could be out of the house for six but woke up at four and was concerned that I'd go back to sleep again, miss both the alarms and be late for my early appointment with the Immigration department.  The pressure on those poor girls that work in that office and it suddenly hit me that all of the Turkish people renewing passports and identify cards are confirming that they have access to Europe especially since they are not too enamoured with Turkey at the moment.  I switched off the alarms and played games getting out of bed at five thirty and I was in the Nipper at six and heading for Kardjali.  As I parked up in the pay car park at six twenty five, the noise from across the square at the passport office reminded me of a bee-hive.  It was heaving.  I set off walking to the office and suddenly realised that I'd forgotten my mask so went back and got one from my stash and was at the office for six forty and there must have been around fifty waiting for registration and a chance to get inside.  I made myself know to a very rude policeman and was told to move to oneside and the saying about putting a beggar on horseback and watch him ride to the devil....and he's on his way.  I got talking quietly to an American who was married to a Bulgarian and wanting to renew his residency and we were told to be quiet...just like two naughty schoolkids.  I was eventually called in to the office and it was obvious that there was no trying in English, she fire her questions at me in Bulgarian and I only said that I wanted a ten year residency...it would probably do me to the end of my time but not a glimmer.  She scrutinised my documents. I paid my dues, I was handed a seven page document that had to be completed in Bulgarian and Latin script and I explained that I did not feel that I could complete so she told me to go and sit at the table and see what I could do but I remembered that there was an office nearby that had a representative at the sign in and I went out and asked her if there was anyone at the office that could complete it for me.  Obviously it was only twenty past seven in the morning and there was no one there yet.  Fortunately one of her friends took pity on me and we went back to the office and 'the table' and together we managed it.  It's the new post Brexit form and wants lots of detail including the dates of birth of my parent....fat chance.  So I went back to the 'holy of holies' and was ordered to make an appointment for Monday and only given the number thirty seven by the gestapo at the door with a 'wait' and there isn't a clue as to what time this appointment will come round so I look to be spending about two hours on Monday 'a lady in waiting'.

I drove home and stopped off in Djebel to buy cheesy bread, one for Avatar and one for me and I cooked a half packet of bacon and made a huge sandwich and sat out in the garden with a coffee reviewing the morning activity.  Bulgarians and administration don't sit well together.  So on to other things...I finished cleaning the kitchen, did my last line of washing, hoovered through, drove into Djebel and had a quick service on the Nipper ready for my journey to Sofia tomorrow, stopped and bought ice[cream and Coca-Cola from the supermarket, went home and sat on the sofa and indulged myself and then nodded off for an hour or so.  Washing in and put away and settled on the bed playing games on the Kindle and off I went again for another hour.....just catching up and I feel much better for it.

I'm about to reset the alarms and I shall be in bed by roughly ten tonight...again a six or so start for the airport in Sofia.  I decided not to subject my guest to a four hour bus journey with suspect passengers, much better that I bring him back here.  He doesn't have to isolate but we'll do a week with care together...and if he starts sneezing I#m off to an hotel.  Cold chicken wings for supper and maybe some more ice-cream.  LN.....Wish me luck for tomorrow......LN

Thursday 10th September

My guest is safely installed, it's been a long day but all back safe and sound.  I was awake again before the alarm, watered the posts to save them getting crusty while I was gallivanting around Bulgaria and into the Nipper and off at six forty.  I filled up with petrol in the village awaking Ismail from his slumbers  and he was obviously waiting for the day shift to come on.  I made Kardjali by ten after seven and Plovdiv airport by just after nine stopping only to top up the gas and empty the bladder.  Needs as needs must.  

I hit the outskirts of Sofia by around ten and headed for the airport, missing the entry to the car-park but I got in on the second circumnavigation and there was so much space....never seen it so empty.  The barrier ticket was marked up as ten twenty seven so I was well in time for the flight arrival. There was no entry to the terminal to wait for the passengers but my phone went and I told him where I was standing, close to the taxi rank and he was through by eleven thirty more or less.  We touched elbows, loaded up the car, the car-park was three leva and try that in Gatwick...you need a mortgage to park up there.  It was all going well until I missed the junction for Smolyan after I'd come off the main highway and somehow found myself heading for the centre of Plovdiv and at one point the gypsy quarter...not that there are many left, they've mainly moved to Germany where they get wardrobes to hang up clothes and good handouts for doing nothing.  Beats begging as they do in Kardjali on Kaufland car-park.  Despite the misdirection, I managed to find another way to get to Asenovgrad and we stopped off at my favourite back restaurant for a late lunch, hamburgers, cheesy chips and salad...he had received his initiation and the first supper early.  Well it does save cooking tonight....I've had a long day.

He's now snoring his little head off and I'm about to go out and water the pots...double treat for today.  I have nowhere to go tomorrow and I've suggested that if the weather is good we head for the swimming pool above Kardjali....it would make a lazy day for both of us.  LN....Tired but journey thankfully without hiccups....LN