Friday 1st July

Well another beautiful morning.  I went to bed at eleven last night and slept straight through to six and for me...that's a long sleep.  I noticed that the sun was just showing to the left of my balcony so quickly took a shot then went out on to the terrace to take in the morning.  One or two of the flowers were looking crispy so out with the hose and did all of the pots and set them up for the day and as for my water intake, it's been pretty high especially during my epic on the grass.  I set the hose going on the shrubs at the bottom of the garden while I strimmed round the flower beds before I took to the mower.  Only one trouble, if you water the flower the weeds benefit but it does make it easier to remove them.

I came in and made toast for breakfast and sat out on the terrace eating it.  I miss my little Chuwi computer for breakfast TV but it does save me some time, but it saves me from shouting at Good Moring Britain and the biased presenters.  Washing up done from last night, kitchen tidy and then my real task began.  I was taking regular breaks, that sun was really hot today and I was wearing a long sleeve shirt to stop the flies pestering and nibbling.  I managed down to the mulberry before my first break, drank a litre of water and then went out again and finished the main house grass by twelve.  More water, definitely too  hot to go out so I got my head down and it was three when I woke up.  It took me a while to come round but then I started on the other grass and managed to do half of it before it was down tools and another time out.  I toyed with the idea of giving up but the resilience kicked in and out I went again and finished it at more or less five and then settling in for the tennis.

I cooked a chicken fillet for supper and had it on bread with mayo and felt quite stuffed.  A little more tennis, a quick shower and I felt much fresher after I'd washed away the dust from my face and neck...the rest was caught by clothes and they're in the machine ready for me to kick that into action.  Just caught the tail end of the sunset and noticed that the crescent moon is hanging out to the west, not where I would expect it at all.  I might go into Kardjali tomorrow, I've decided to make a few purchases that were further down on 'things to do/get'....spoiling myself.  LN.....I do feel so much better when the grass is done....sixteen thousand six hundred steps today......LN

Saturday 2nd July

Another six start and went out on to the downstairs terrace to enjoy the morning.  Moved on to the little house terrace to take the photo of the sun-up and then back to my perch with my hot water drink.  The honey is missing with the ginger, I'm beginning to eliminate things from my daily intake to try to identify what's causing these bumps on my arms.  Caught the sheep coming over the hill while I was out and about with the hose pipe watering the pots and the beds and remembered that the maple really needed a good drink so I left it on trickle charge and it's looking healthier.  So back to the bench on the terrace until I was ready for breakfast and I settled for poached eggs again.

Thus time I went out armed with the strimmer and cleared the yard and round the beds that I hadn't managed to do yesterday.  I needed to get down and clear round the bonfire bucket but that sun was hot so I didn't stay out there long.  I went into the kitchen and heard a funny noise and realised that it was coming from the wood burner...a sparrow had found its way down the chimney and the exit plan went into action.  I close all the doors to the hallway, close the curtain across the bottom of the stairs, open the porch door and the fly screen, open the wood burner door and see what happens.  It made it to the conservatory OK, go a little confused by all the glass and eventually worked out that there was fresh air out there and made its escape.  Fly screen closed, wood burner door closed and situation normal again.

Had a surprise invite to a barbecue for this evening and I've just got back.  We were going to eat it outside but the flies got the better of us so we moved in to the dining room. we had bream, salad and chippies and for me fizzy water and stuffed to the gills so to speak.  Nothing on the road coming back so home safe and sound missing one hedgehog, two cats, a hare and not a cow to be seen.  LN......Thank you...really good evening.......LN

Sunday 3rd July

Seven start, hosed the garden down since it was promising to be another very hot day.  I sat out on the bench with my morning cuppa, there was quite a breeze blowing from the north so the umbrella had to come down.  Fortunately the balcony shades the terrace from the morning sun and the wind was keeping the flies at bay and lots of birds in the garden this morning.  The starlings were having breakfast at the mulberry cafe and joined by a couple of golden orioles with their distinctive call,  Only Green God was out this morning but just incase I filled up all the drinking points for them.  In fact they probably get better looked after here that in the wild. Quick breakfast of toast and jam and black cat was lying in the shade of the forsythia on the Frog garden looking longingly for something to eat but I had nothing.  I'm down to my last few slices of bread so couldn't even spare that.

After watering the plants I noticed that one of the Nicotina or flowering tobacco was covered in Colorado beetles so I made up one of the powders I'd bought the other day and sprayed the tobacco plants and it wasn't long before they were no more.  It took me back to the days in the UK when it was common to see posters for these wee beasties and I'm thinking that you had to report a certain department if you had them. Washing in the machine and  on the line and everything was pegged securely, that wind really did get up.  It wasn't out there long, dry in quicksticks and put straight away.  I gave the cushion for the sunbed a scrub down with washing up liquid and then hosed it down and that also went out on the line to dry.  

An afternoon of tennis and the Norrie match was a really good game despite winning in three straight sets.  As for the Watson match, least said the better.  Not a clue what to have for supper, I'll have to go on the hunt for something from a tin or just not bother.  It's too hot to think about food tonight and it will probably do me good to go without...I have six weeks before my daughter comes out and I really need to shift a few kilos.

Garden watered, lovely sunset and supposed to be a good day tomorrow.  LN.....I might even make it to the pool.  LN.....

Monday 4th July

Another six thirty start, I had a few things to burn so armed with the garden spade and the fork I headed down to the bottom of the garden intent on carrying out what I'd put off for so long.  I set up the garden hose to soak the ground before I burnt anything so off with the lid, garden fork to loosen the contents, the metal went into a separate bucket so that I can put it into the container, and the other went on the garden near the burning bucket.  Not only did I burn the house rubbish but I took a box of 'stuff' from the little house and that went really well.  I'm pleased that it's done, much less chance of anything falling out and causing a 'catastrop'.

Next job was to water the trees and shrubs down the bottom of the garden and then make my way round the flower beds and on to the pots on the terrace.  Job done and it was still only eightish so made scrambled eggs and this time sat in the kitchen at the table to eat them which reminded me that I must find out about the Chuwi that's in for repair.  Washed up and was now looking for things to do so I set about the porch, sorted out the gardening things, tools that had been dumped and returned them to the workshop,  The log carrier went back into the woodstore and the starter wood container went into the little house ready for winter preparation.  I also made a mental note that tomorrow I'll check out the wood in Djebel and if it's OK I'll get it ordered and delivered on Wednesday.  As for the rest of the day, the workshop is tidied and you can now see the bench, the starter wood is in the little house porch and most of the other wood is stored in the garage by the side of the Beast.  Still more to do and I might need a strong youth to move the solidified bags of cement into a wheel barrow and dump them somewhere at the bottom of the garden.  I've also uncovered a large wooden box that I'd made and forgotten about.....tomorrow's job might be fitting caster to it.

Watered everything again, it's been a very hot day but most of my work has been in the little house so not suffered greatly.  I eventually came in eight thirty and have had a really full on day but feel I've achieved loads....I like days like that.  LN......Nearly eleven thousand chalked up on the Fitbit today.....LN

Tuesday 5th July

Six start and gave the garden a good watering despite the fact that I'd saturated the ground last night;  I made a few changes to the schedule and my Tuesday student I moved to Thursday and intended to work on the little house again to continue my good work from yesterday.  I checked my messenger and realised that on Saturday night at the barbecue I'd offered to take the lady of the house swimming and a trip round the market beforehand so said I would be there at ten thirty to do the deed.  I opened up the little house, moved the bags of cement and plaster from where it had been stored, some of it is salvageable and the other will get dumped down the bottom of the garden.  I'd cleared a space and moved the tiles that are waiting to be laid on the balconies to the other side of the room freeing up the wooden chest and access to the wood behind it.  I managed to get the chest outside cleared it out and put the debris ready for the containers and hosed it down and by ow it was heading for nine thirty so needed to get a wiggle on.

My Avatar had asked me to get money for her from the cash point and knowing that she was without I took one hundred leva over to her so that she could settle any bills.  Because it was market day in Benkovski I wasn't sure if there would be any money in the machine and better she had some than none at all.  I was in the Nipper for twenty after ten, the roads were fairly clear and I made it to theirs for twenty to eleven.  Didn't stop for coffee there'd be plenty of time for that today so parked up at the market. usual stuff and no plants to be found so we carried on to a nearby swimming pool that I used to go to a few years back when the Librarian lived that way over.  We parked up, coffee order and a coke for me, got ourselves settled and I swam for quite a time, beautiful day and very clear views of the mountains.  Salad, cheesy chips and hamburger for lunch, final coffees and another swim and we left at five so a good long day in the sun and I felt so good.  We all need days like these.

Stopped off in one of their village shops and bought bread, potato crisps, cheese and mayo and set about the crisps as I was driving back.  I popped over to Avatar to give her the card and money and she was looking confused.  She wanted the two hundred from the cash point and was going to give me my hundred from this morning back again.  Knowing that she'd already got one hundred I'd only taken another hundred with me but she just couldn't see it.  Eventually the penny dropped and we had a little giggle about it.  It has been a hot day.  I came back and for supper I had crisp sandwiches which I've not had for ages and have just finished watching the Norrie match and pleased to say that he's through to the semi-finals.  LN....Shower required to go to bed fresh as a daisy......LN

Wednesday 6th July

Another early start...the day started well but I've been butterflying through the items on my list that need doing before I have visitors.  I started in the little house thinking that's where I'd put my efforts today but I've achieved a lot and the though came to mind that you can't make an omelette without cracking eggs.  Today I've been cracking eggs.

I did managed to water the garden giving it a good soak but it's been muggy today, clouds about, threatening rain but nothing happened.  I also got three loads of washing done and it's just occurred to me that it's still on the line and that's where it will stay, much too dark on my hillside to risk life and limb.  I did go out and lock up the little house, fortunately all the lights come on at the flick of one switch but unfortunately it's not attached to the wall so you have to find it first.  

Tennis took over interspersed with activity moving 'stuff' from one room to the next and I'm giving up my upstairs bedroom over to my daughter and SIL so I need some of my clothes downstairs and the winter coats all need to go upstairs.  The furniture is all in the right place just clothes to move now and the sewing table has to be moved along in the thirty bedroom to put a shelving unit to take storage boxes.  It will really help when I get the address of the place to deliver the clothes I don't want then everything will be much easier.

Not bothering with any supper.  I've just had a bowl of yoghurt and apricots so that will do me until morning.  Students tomorrow and the Beast is going in for an oil change and then get it MOT'd next week.  LN......Time to closed down for the night....this sorting fair knacks an old girl......LN

Thursday 7th July

So woke up at one thirty this morning watching TV with my eyes closed.  I headed for the bedroom, picked up my little Kindle and knocked off a Sudoku in record time making it my thirty fastest time for a difficult puzzle..now where did that come from???  Slept through until six thirty, boiled the kettle to made coffee but somehow I didn't get round to it until seven thirty but I filled my time well.  I moved my sewing table in the third bedroom and slotted in one of the shelving units against the window wall and that will take the boxes of sewing 'bits'. I swapped the beds round so that the tables part of the headboard meet in the middle creating a gap between the two single beds.  My grandchildren are sharing the room so gives them more personal space.  Both beds were stripped, sheets, under sheets and pillow cases washed and it was still only seven thirty and that's when the coffee was made.  I made toast and jam for breakfast and sat out on the terrace in the sun feeling quite pleased with myself and my morning achievements.

Net step was to water the plants and garden, the bed in the guest room was also stripped and everything washed.....I don't want to leave anything to the last minute, everything pegged out, washed and dressed and was preparing for my student at ten when I heard another bird in the little wood burner in the kitchen so action stations, windows open, fly screens open. main door shut, wood burner door open and out if shot into the porch.  It was a little confused by the windows but it soon gained its momentum and shot out of the door and out to freedom.  That's the third this week, they must be newbies.

Good lesson with my student, I suggested that we left it next Tuesday because of the Muslim holiday but she said that it was only for two days and she wanted to come.  I can't be doing such a bad job and today was all about role play...she has sentences to learn and no more greetings in Bulgarian or Turkish....only English spoken here!!  A little more tidying, my clothes moved down to my downstairs bedroom and since I've not moved upstairs so far this year, I shan't be doing it until September and in fact, this year I might not even manage it.  My other student in Djebel this afternoon and I've moved them both to Tuesday so that I have them all on one day making it easier for me....in the zone so to speak.

Sat with his mother in the shop after the lesson and I suddenly realised that it was almost seven so headed home, stopped at the bottom supermarket for a few items for the 'goodie' box but no tomatoes for my Avatar, they didn't look good so didn't bother buying them.  To hot to think about supper, there are a few clouds in the sky and hopefully I'll have another good day tomorrow.  LN....Tempus fugit.....LN

Friday 8th July

I'd just got my head down last night when I heard thunder and this morning it was obvious that it had rained very heavily...the upside...I didn't have to water the garden and the downside, the cushions from the furniture on the terraces needed hanging up to dry.  That done I had a bonfire, meandered around and eventually made my mind up to go into Kardjali to pay my home telephone bill, pick up my computer from the repair shop and by the items from the list that I'd made last night.  I made beans on toast for breakfast to set me up for the day and was in the Nipper by ten thirty facing a long line of traffic when I approached my destination.  

First stop Kaufland car park and I walked over to the repair shop.  I discussed the options, the repair to the mother board would be quite expensive and if they had to take Windows off and operate solely on Android they would really have to research how to do it.  I'd taken up a USB and my USB bank and the decision was taken to settle for a micro USB connector which unfortunately they didn't have.  We left it at that, I asked him how much and he said nothing to pay since they'd not had to repair anything and only tried to identify how it could be rectified.  I said that time still costs money and I was happy to pay for that time but he refused to take anything from me so I said a big thank you and left with my computer. walked to the 'shop for everything' and paid three leva for the cable and back to the car park.  Moved location into the other leva shop and bought coat hangers etc., drove to the hospital car park and walked to the shop to pay my bill which surprisingly was only for two months without any add ons.  Stopped off at Lidl and bought a few items including a solar operated mole scare and let's see if we can deter the blighters.

Stopped off at Djebel on the way back to use the cash machine and no working, out of money with it being a Muslim holiday, moved on to the next and that was out of money too so I'm down to twenty leva to last me the weekend.  Had a sleep when I got back, I felt really drained, the humidity was high and it was very hot and woke up in time to watch the tennis men's semi-final and unfortunately the last Brit standing only stood for four sets and was out.  Took some tomatoes over to Avatar that she'd asked me to get for her and just come back, we sat in the garden in the very light rain enjoying almost an hour together.  Home now, it feels like a Saturday to me and the lane will probably be more like a motorway tomorrow with the visitors over from Turkey rescuing what they can of their currency.  LN......Potter day tomorrow......LN

Saturday 9th July

More eggs got broken today but the omelette is coming along nicely.  I didn't have any children round for sweets for the start of the holiday, I think most of them are on to the next stage of wanting phones from their parents instead...sweets...pah.  I was up at five thirty and still felt uncomfortable because of my chicken that I bought in Kardjali.  The black cat enjoyed it though.  I went out to throw stale bread out, called the cat but nothing then I spotted it hiding in the bushes so I put the food on the grass on this side of the wall and it seen tucked in....and there was no squabbling with the others, I think it managed it all by itself.

My breakfast was the fluffy pancakes that Beyser, the lady from the next door garden delivered yesterday.  I popped them in the microwave, there were a few crispy patches but the majority was OK and it's been one of those day.  I had a pack of raisins and mixed nuts while I was watching the tennis and then settled into a packet of cheese and onion crisps but with a little willpower saved half of them and applied a peg from the peg bag. I was surprised this afternoon by a visit from my new student who appeared at the door clutching two plastic bags and told me in English that 'there is meat for our holiday and tomatoes' and such a nice surprise.  The meat is in the freezer and I have about eight tomatoes and a cucumber so the tortoise will benefit tomorrow.  I could give it to Avatar but she has lots on her plants already.  

I settled back down to the Ladies final and I picked who I wanted to win who promptly lost the first set but with due diligence and inspirational play she fought back, won the second and went on to win the third.  She looked really stunned and almost as if she couldn't believe she'd done it but gave a very animated interview saying that lastly she would like to thank her mother and father, because without them she wouldn't be here.  I think her mouth ran away with her in the excitement but at twenty three and only played at Wimbledon once before, she'd down well.  Still lots of clouds around, it rained heavily most of the morning so no garden watering for me this evening.  LN...I should sleep well tonight.....LN

Sunday 10th July

Another early start so I went back to bed with the Kindle to get myself in the mood and decide what I wanted to do.  First load of washing went in at seven and the third at nine.  It was a beautiful drying day, quite a stiff breeze blowing so everything had to be double pegged.  I'd found some bacon in the freezer last night and let it thaw over night but it wasn't to my liking so it's destined for the bonfire at the bottom of the garden.  It was reduce to clear when I bought it but obviously they should have reduced it earlier.  

I watched the morning gardening programmes and decided that I would make the top for the chest that I'd found so went up the ladder into top floor of the little house and maneuvered two long planks to the bottom level, came back down and realised about an hour later that my glasses had dropped out of my pocket so had to retrace my steps and retrieve them.  I also found another piece of wood that I'm going to use to repair one of the struts of the bench under the tree in the yard but that's still in the little house on the ground floor and the woodwork didn't get done.  I also started the Beast and brought it into the yard from the garage and sorted the paperwork out for the MOY.  I'm going to take it in to the garage in the morning to get the oil changed and shall have to do it on credit unless they've filled up the cash machines which I doubt very much.......and then tennis took over.

I enjoyed the match as was pleased that the Australian didn't win.  He's such a good player but his rantings and ravings spoil any effort he makes and the surprise is, that I usually like bad boys but not that one.  Food has been sporadic, nuts and raisins and the remains of the cheese and onion crisps from yesterday and I really must make an effort tonight.  It's been such a warm day and really muggy at times that I'm just about to have a well needed shower and wash my hair.  LN....Kitchen first and then shower......LN

Monday 11th July

Unsettled night last night.  I went to bed at about eleven and at two thirty I was awake  and not much chance of getting off again but eventually I did until five thirty this morning.  I walked the garden on a tortoise watch but nothing to be found until Blue appeared but the fly screen of the porch so I donned rubber gloves and returned it to the grass.  I put the gloves on because tortoise carry ticks on their legs, mine probably don't have them since I don't have sheep in the garden but in the wild they do...just a precaution.

I had a shower and washed my hair and sat out on the terrace wrapped in a towel to dry off.  I'd taken a lightweight dress out with me and put it on and then went up to my bedroom to dry my hair.  Jeans and a t-shirt went on and  I'd made the decision to go into Djebel and have the oil changed in the Beast and then to carry on to Kardjali and get the MOT out of the way.  Breakfast was on the cards before I left and I fried tomatoes that were delivered by my student and had them on toast.  I was half way through when Avatar arrived wanting her fire lighter filled up with gas even bringing her gas canister with her but I used mine instead since it was to hand in the porch.  She'd also bought me box of chocolates that she said that she didn't want...they were a good make so I thanked her.

I drove to the garage and there was no car being worked on and no one waiting...I was in luck.  I found the last sticker under the insulation on the bonnet with the mileage recorded but there was no date on it.....so we went with it anyway.  Lyubo smelt the oil and ran it over his fingers and thought that it was OK but with journeys coming up when the  kiddiwinkles come  over, it's a safety measure that I wanted to take.  I walked into town and joined the queue to the cashpoint and was about tenth in the queue which means nothing.  Invariably you find that some of the people have two or three cards belonging to other people and today didn't disappoint.  Eventually I got my money, was given a plant from my friend with the shop and went on to the car shop to see if the Beast was ready...and it was.  I paid my dues, walked down to the garage, it drives like a dream and on to Kardjali and to the usual garage that does the MOT,  Again I was in luck, they were just finishing one off and mine was next on the conveyor.  I was recognised by the owner, he introduced me to his grandson who greeted me in the tradition 'kiss hand and touch to forehead' as a mark of respect.  I thanked him and carried on to the office, handed over my documents and it was completed in no time at all, the Beast is good for another year.  I drove back to Djebel, stopped off at my local supermarket and drove home, parked up and walked over to Avatar's house and sat in the garden noticing that they are all taking Covid precautions with chairs far apart.  We have so many people over from Turkey and they do go house hopping that I think it's time to be wise.

Avatar gave me a bowl of meat for supper and I had it with bread and that was enough for me for tonight.  Watered the garden since the pots were looking a little sad and they'll have overnight to perk up.  Nine my time and time to relax before bed and hope that I have a better night than last night,  LN....Both students tomorrow, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon...and the rest of the week is mine......LN

Monday 11th July

Unsettled night last night.  I went to bed at about eleven and at two thirty I was awake  and not much chance of getting off again but eventually I did until five thirty this morning.  I walked the garden on a tortoise watch but nothing to be found until Blue appeared but the fly screen of the porch so I donned rubber gloves and returned it to the grass.  I put the gloves on because tortoise carry ticks on their legs, mine probably don't have them since I don't have sheep in the garden but in the wild they do...just a precaution.

I had a shower and washed my hair and sat out on the terrace wrapped in a towel to dry off.  I'd taken a lightweight dress out with me and put it on and then went up to my bedroom to dry my hair.  Jeans and a t-shirt went on and  I'd made the decision to go into Djebel and have the oil changed in the Beast and then to carry on to Kardjali and get the MOT out of the way.  Breakfast was on the cards before I left and I fried tomatoes that were delivered by my student and had them on toast.  I was half way through when Avatar arrived wanting her fire lighter filled up with gas even bringing her gas canister with her but I used mine instead since it was to hand in the porch.  She'd also bought me box of chocolates that she said that she didn't want...they were a good make so I thanked her.

I drove to the garage and there was no car being worked on and no one waiting...I was in luck.  I found the last sticker under the insulation on the bonnet with the mileage recorded but there was no date on it.....so we went with it anyway.  Lyubo smelt the oil and ran it over his fingers and thought that it was OK but with journeys coming up when the  kiddiwinkles come  over, it's a safety measure that I wanted to take.  I walked into town and joined the queue to the cashpoint and was about tenth in the queue which means nothing.  Invariably you find that some of the people have two or three cards belonging to other people and today didn't disappoint.  Eventually I got my money, was given a plant from my friend with the shop and went on to the car shop to see if the Beast was ready...and it was.  I paid my dues, walked down to the garage, it drives like a dream and on to Kardjali and to the usual garage that does the MOT,  Again I was in luck, they were just finishing one off and mine was next on the conveyor.  I was recognised by the owner, he introduced me to his grandson who greeted me in the tradition 'kiss hand and touch to forehead' as a mark of respect.  I thanked him and carried on to the office, handed over my documents and it was completed in no time at all, the Beast is good for another year.  I drove back to Djebel, stopped off at my local supermarket and drove home, parked up and walked over to Avatar's house and sat in the garden noticing that they are all taking Covid precautions with chairs far apart.  We have so many people over from Turkey and they do go house hopping that I think it's time to be wise.

Avatar gave me a bowl of meat for supper and I had it with bread and that was enough for me for tonight.  Watered the garden since the pots were looking a little sad and they'll have overnight to perk up.  Nine my time and time to relax before bed and hope that I have a better night than last night,  LN....Both students tomorrow, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon...and the rest of the week is mine......LN

Tuesday 12th July

Six thirty start again, coffee, washing up done from yesterday, bread out for the birds and fruit picked for the tortoise.  I went out and found none of them so dropped some melon by the wall and under the pear tree on the long wall where they were sure to find it.  I made breakfast of bacon and egg just before eight and turned on Transponder TV to catch the breaking news.  The story about Mo Farah surprised me.  How many more are out there?

My student arrived just after ten and she's worked really hard using You Tube but I must admit that I'm having problems finding the path through.  She is still using Turkish as her starter language so I decided to use my Learning Bulgarian book which starts off with the question in English, how to say the phrase in Bulgarian and the final column is written Bulgarian.  I tried to explain that she came to me to learn to speak English not to learn it to be able to write it and want her to hear 'What time is it?' and immediately look at her watch or phone, the phrase should trigger the action.  Her homework is to go through the phrase book and write down twenty questions, in English, she wants to ask me.  They don't have to be difficult and I will do the same, I want her to start thinking in English and questions should trigger automatic responses without the need to translation.  

Off she went and I moved to the garden and repaired the surround on one of the flowerbeds.  It had collapsed when I was mowing the grass and went back for a second run at it but now it's mended.  I measured the gap, found the wood, got the saw out, nails and the hammer and the job is done and dusted.  I finished it off with the last of my old engine oil and now I need more and have requested it from the garage already.  Drove to Djebel and the garage shop, sorted out the insurance on the Beast and I'm covered for the next year.  I carried on to the flat above the shop and my student was waiting and was so pleased to show me his homework which I'd left for him last week.  He had to draw me three houses from last weeks text and I got a Nomadic tent, a tree house and an underground house and he was able to tell me the advantages of each one.  He'd also written a couple of passages on the advantages of a new house over an old on and what was better, an apartment or a house.  Today's lesson went well, we did a tourist's view of Bangkok, the Grand Palace, the Sky Railway and this prompted us to find out the top speed of high speed railways and how they work using magnets without any drag from contact with the ground.  We all live and learn.

Home just before seven, cooked a spicy sausage with a sliced onion, added two fresh chopped tomatoes, chili flakes and done and dusted in thirty minutes.   Next job to water the garden, it's not been a scorcher of a day and the ground is still very dry underneath.  LN.....Tomorrow is a woodworking day...and then see what else I can get up to......LN

Wednesday 13th July

Five thirty start, opened the windows that I'd closed last night when the temperature dropped.  I opened the door to the terrace and the cat shot off the sofa and not to be seen again until four this afternoon. There were a couple of woodpeckers ground feeding and instead they decided to come on to my lonesome pine but didn't stay around long to get lots of pickies.   A bonfire was on the cards for this morning, I took the rubbish and the hose pipe down with me, better safe than sorry and found more rubbish in the little house that also got burnt.  I'd soaked the area well to put out anything before it began, connected the hose pipe to the pipe with the holes in for the shrubs near the wall and suddenly there was a loud bang which came from the burning drum and I'm still trying to work out what it was.  I'm thinking that one of the small batteries must have fallen in the rubbish bin when I was sorting out a replacement for the bathroom scales but it upset a few of the local dogs.  My turn to get them going.

I made breakfast of bacon and egg to use up the rest of the packet and sat watching morning TV on the little computer.  The main discussion was about the MP's that are putting themselves up for election for the PM's job and it would have been interesting if Boris had put himself forward again.  It really doesn't matter to me...there's no obvious leader amongst them and with the present state of affairs, they won't be lasting long either but looking at the opposition...not much there to write home about.

More of the same, two bedrooms finished and the rugs washed and dried to day...sunny and windy...just what you need.  At eleven I remembered that the hose was still running at the bottom of the garden so turned it off, moved inside and the idea of woodwork had gone out of the window....it was hot out there.  I settled on the sofa, put on Netflix and carried on watching 'Manifest', one that I'd fallen on the other night.  I managed to stay awake and suddenly noticed people in my yard so went out and realised I recognised the older Turkish woman but couldn't place her at first, she started talking about the Librarian that used to live here and it came to me, she was a lady from that village.  There was another Turkish couple with her and as she told me, her son, and they were looking for telephone numbers that I didn't have or contact details.  I have had no contact with the Librarian since she returned to the UK.  I took the telephone number of the couple and said that if I heard anything I would be in touch but not holding out much hope and off they went.

Little house all locked up and only watering the garden is left on the list and there's a very unhappy cow out there bellowing for her calf that seems to have gone AWOL.  Such is the excitement in a village.  LN.....More of the same tomorrow unless it's a very good day and it could well be a visit to a pool....and why not indeed.....LN

Thursday 14th July

Another early start. first load of washing went in at six, garden watered by eight, first load of washing pegged out and second load in.  It was all go this morning and eventually I stopped at nine thirty to make some toast for breakfast.  I think that not taking the tablets has given me more energy that last month with it's ups and downs and red lumps at bumps.  The carpet that I'd put in for washing on Monday was ready to collect yesterday so before he sold it on I thought it was time I collected it.  So first stop was the petrol station and I bough petrol for the mower since it was a little low in the can and knew I'd be needing some by the weekend then  Second stop at the car shop to remind them that I wanted more old engine oil and he said he would get it ready for me to collect so went to the cash point as as per usual, it was empty.  Down to th garage and the oil was ready for me, stopped off at the wood yard to check the quality and picked out the pile that I wanted, on to the second cash machine and took out enough to pay for three tons of wood.  Back to the leva shop and bought a few cleaning cloths and some rubber gloves, my nails need protecting, stopped at the supermarket and bought fresh crusty bread for lunch with a few more items, picked up the carpet and I was home for one.  What a busy but fulfilling morning.

Avatar was in her garden when I'd finished unloading the Nipper so went over and had a sit down with her, she offered me lunch but I'd got tuna may on crusty bread in my head so refused her offer.  I made a sandwich using a new butter that I'd never bought before from Kaufland and it will be offered to Avatar, I don't like the flavour so my sandwiches came with naked bread but the mayo worked.  If she doesn't want the two packs, it can go on the bonfire...I should stick to Lurpak.

I was expecting the wood this afternoon but it didn't arrive so looks like I'll have work to do tomorrow.  I put Netflix on, watched my latest, had a nap, it was hot, got the washing in and put it away and watered the garden.  No supper required, I really pigged out this afternoon so a gentle evening to get my strength up for tomorrow.  LN.....Something satisfying about doing jobs that are on your mind.....and now I'm waiting for tonight's super moon.......LN

Friday 15th July

Early start again which seems to be the norm.  Coffee for starters and washed and dressed for woodwork....expecting three tons to be delivered first thing and my day was laid out before me.  I'd moved the Beast and Nipper out to the grass outside of the house yesterday expecting an afternoon delivery yesterday but the best laid plans.  I had toast and jam for breakfast and decided to fill my time with other jobs so moved the plank from the little house to the yard and started measuring up how to make the lid for the chest to make the best use of the wood.  Avatar came over and asked if she could borrow my electric mower but it's not working so I offered her the petrol and said I would take it over.  She said her electric had suddenly stopped, I suggested that it was the cable but she was adamant it wasn't so I took the petrol one over. and thought I'd give hers a try so plugged it in, the little green light came on and we were ready for lift off.  I trundled mine back home, went inside for a drink of water, started another job in the kitchen sorting out the plastic bags that I have stuffed in various places and then I heard the car horn outside, everything else had come to a standstill, my work had arrived.

The man maneuvered the lorry into the drive and put it as near to the wood store as was possible and together we angled the lorry out again and both gate posts are still intact.  Off he went. O brought the Beast and the Nipper back into the yard, too many cows about and they have no respect for soft body panels.  I'd sorted the woodstore out already so it was just a matter of biting the bullet so to speak and getting on with the job....it's three tons but looks almost like a mountain to climb to shift it from the yard to the store so I filled up the first log carrier, I find it much easier that a wheel barrow and made a start.  It was now just before twelve so I worked non stopped until one, it was still very hot even though I was working in the shade so I went in the house, put Netflix on, had a packet of crisps, settled down and promptly fell asleep until three.  I checked on the yard to see if the fairies had taken control and moved it but no....the heap was still waiting for me.

So back to it and only water breaks managed to finish it by seven thirty. Avatar came over and told me to finish, she'd made chicken and potatoes for super for the both of us but I said I was determined to see the back of it today and I did.  She appeared with the chicken a little later and it was a welcomed gift.  So the wood is in for this winter, I have some left over from last year and it's another thing off my mind.  If you time it right, the wood is dry and if you put it into a dry place it stays that way, this wood is not green at all, completely dry and should burn like a dream.  I've had my chicken for supper, the boiler is on and I'm going to luxuriate for an hour or so to stave off any aches and pains.  I've managed to knock up sixteen and a half thousand steps today so good work all round.  LN....Bath and bedtime and maybe the swimming pool tomorrow.....LN

Saturday 16th July

So a lovely long bath last night and it was midnight before I emerged, dried off and went to bed.  I was awake at three thirty, it was a warm night but soon off to sleep again and seven when I faced the day.  I made coffee and sat out on the terrace enjoying the morning, listening to the birds and watching my little world come to life.  I did the circuit of the garden and no tortoise to be seen, it was maybe a little early for them, perhaps they'd had a disturbed night.  I went back to the house, made more coffee and returned to the terrace then realised I hadn't watered the garden so back on to my feet, hose on and made sure the plants and pots were OK for the day....it was going to be a scorcher.

I settled on toast for breakfast and remembered that I didn't have any butter so forgot about breakfast, put a load of washing in the machine, washed and dressed for Kardjali, pegged the washing out and was just about to leave when there were two men at my gate.  The younger one spoke in perfect English and said he was the grandson of one of my neighbours and was asking about the wood that I'd had delivered and how much it was.  I told them and I commented on his English and it turns out that he lives in England and had done for five years and I mentioned that I have a house near Brighton and he commented that he loves Brighton and was there a few weeks back.  The neighbour's son was over from Turkey and wanted to buy the winter wood for his mother before he went back..nice thought and off they went.  I set off and on the road to Djebel passed what I thought was my friend from Fotinovo so I pulled over and waited to see if the car turned round or not and it did.  I suggested coffee in Djebel so we set off in tandem, managed to park up at the central car-park and walked to the restaurant,  We ordered coke and since I'd missed breakfast I ordered toast with cheese and salami and all this for a final bill of just over six leva or three pounds to you and me.

Lots of traffic on the road, I parked up in the central car park in Kardjali and my app advised me that the car-park was free after one so that was a bonus.  I walked down to my charity shop and found a couple of blouses up the another one and bought a pair of long shorts or short trousers and then to Kaufland and only managed to buy a wooden bench that was on offer, over to Lidl for butter, coke and fizzy water and I was home for four.  I watched some of the world athletics on TV, promptly fell asleep, munched on crisps and silly stuff, got the washing in, watered the garden and it's just after nine my time...soon be time for bed.  LN.....I very restful day after yesterday's onslaught.....LN

Sunday 17th July

Disturbed night, I was awake at two thirty, felt wide awake so settled for Sudoku until I was ready to put out the light and try again. It worked but I was awake at seven thirty to a beautiful day so I made coffee and sat out on the terrace until the urge to water the garden kicked in.  I'd watered last night but everything still needed it again and today we've had hot and windy and the poor plants have suffered so it looks like I'll be out there again shortly.  Now I had butter I liked I made poached eggs on toast and sat in the table in the stair well watching the gardening programmes until I felt the urge to get washed and start my day.  

I moved to the sofa and watched the athletics and promptly nodded off catching up on the sleep that I'd missed.  Fortunately I felt refreshed and a new me kicked in.  The table from the stairwell is now outside on the terrace, the table cloth is washed and still on the line waiting to come in and be put away, the carpets from the stairwell and the porch are outside and they will be washed tomorrow.  I thought about taking them to my man at five leva a throw but I think they are beyond it and am quite prepared to do them myself.  The floor is hoovered and washed over, the spider plant has been trimmed and well watered, I found a new little table to fit under the stairs as a temporary measure and have drawn up a plan for something to fill the gap and do the job that I want it to do.  I watched more of the athletics and we have someone in the one hundred meter final defending her world record so fingers crossed she'll manage it around nine tonight.

Tools away, hoover cleaned out ready for tomorrow, mop is cleaned and put away but I do need to buy another bucket, it's got a split down the side so not much use to man nor me but at least the wringing bit still works.  Barbecued ribs went from the freezer to the oven and is no more.  Unfortunately a slither of bone wedged between two of my teeth and eventually I managed to dig it out without any damage being done.  And now to horse, garden needs watering, the washing needs  bringing in and things need battening down just in case the wind picks up again tonight.  LN.......And then shower and bed and hopefully a better night.....LN

Monday 18th July

Reasonable night but another early start.  Collected the rubbish together for a bonfire but unfortunately the wind got up so it's been delayed for another day.  Everywhere is so dry that you have to be really careful so better safe than sorry.  Toast for breakfast, watered the pots and then fed some of the flowers that seem to be going over to keep them at it.  The geraniums have done so well this year and all from last year's cuttings so I'll be creating more this autumn.  Lots of martins swamping the nest under the eaves again and not sure why.  There was a baby teetering on the edge and it's almost as if they're offering encouragement for it to take to the air, they didn't stay long and disappeared as quickly as they came.  I did a tortoise watch and only found CS this morning under the wild plum tree so filled up a watering can and topped up the three dustbin lids that I've put out for them and my only other sighting was of Blue under the cranberry near the top little garden.  

As for the rest of the morning, the athletics kept me entertained and my task was to find an insurance company that would cover a holiday I'd found.  I did some Google searches, phoned up a few companies, the main Bulgarian company didn't want to know due to the two million tariff required for the policy.  I thought I'd struck lucky using an expats company and was doing fine until I came to the mention of two million and they only cover one million so that was the end of that.  I gave up at five, sorted out a few more boxes so that the landing wasn't like an obstacle course and now that's all done.  Also started a load of washing and couldn't understand why it had stopped in the middle of the cycle and then noticed that the television was off so it must have been a short power cut so started the machine again and that washing is now drying on the airer.  Mush too late to put it outside.  

Tuna mayo with beetroot and silver skin onions and it was a nice change from chopped up normal onions.  Almost ten my time so I'm really late tonight with the posting, students tomorrow, morning and afternoon and I'm tempted to head into Kardjali tomorrow, the fridge looks like Mother Hubbard's cupboard and the goody box is teetering on empty as is the gas tank on the Nipper.  LN......I detect an early to bed, early to rise coming on.....LN

Tuesday 19th July

So this morning was another early start and I was watering the garden by six thirty and cleaning the two small carpets that I'd taken up from the stairwell and the porch.  I hung them on the washing line. used an all purpose cleaner with water and a scrubbing brush and then hosed them down thoroughly to remove the soap.  I've just got back and think it's time to turn them over to check that they are fully dry.  Another job off the list.

I popped over to see Avar, she'd mentioned that her eldest son will probably come to see her this week and would be having a barbecue to I took over a pack of mosquito smoke coils so that if they sit out or in the garage at least they'll have some protection.  At that she decided that we were having breakfast at her house and she was cooking pancakes with two sorts of local cheese and said that they would be ready in half an hour.  I went home and went back at the allotted hour and we decided to eat inside, she'd prepared two for each of us and a dish of fresh tomatoes and water to wash them down.  I stayed there for half an hour, went home, checked my messages and my student would not be able to make it this morning which was good for me, I had other fish to fry and fried them.  The third bedroom has a balcony door but no balcony and the door hadn't been opened for a while so I managed to get it open, the fly screen wasn't properly on the pegs so I removed it, oiled the pegs. cleaned off the dirt, cleaned the screen and managed to get the screen in the correct position and now it closed as it should do.  I've put a new curtain up as well so that room is finished.

I move to the computer and checked emails etc. and there were two more emails from Bulgarian insurance companies saying that they were unable to provide me with insurance for the cruise.  Today wasn't the day to start over again so I moved down to the sofa and had a nap pretending to watch the TV.  I woke up, got changed and was off to see my afternoon student and unfortunately found a text that wasn't what I thought it was going to be, was difficult to negotiate but we managed it.  It was supposed to be on Robin Hood but instead was discussing whether it was a trued story or concocted by troubadours using ballads and so much for the band of merry men.

The lesson went well, I offered him the chance to give them up for the summer but he was determined that they should continue so they will.  I caught up with his elder brother who was off to Sofia to deliver his final presentation at the end of his university degree and a proud mother gave him a hug as he left.  I left the shop and set off for home stopping off at the local supermarket to get eggs for Avatar.  A packet of crisps on the way home was supper, I delivered the eggs and turned on the Worlds to watch Laura gain GB's first bronze medal in the fifteen hundred meter track race.  I should be watering the garden but the light's gone so they'll have to wait until the morning and I've maid my mind up that I'm swimming tomorrow at my favourite pool.  LN.....So the rest of the week is mine without anything set in stone.......LN

Wednesday 20th July

Late night, I stayed up following the world championship until two this morning and another early start, woke up at six thirty.  Out watering the garden after drinking my coffee on the terrace but had a mare of a morning with the garden hose.  For some reason the sprinkler head kept popping off and I got absolutely soaked with really cold water so resorted to the watering can to finish it off.  I shall wait until everything is completely dry before I attempt another joining of the 'unjoinables'.  

Poached on toast for breakfast, I was thinking of having a bonfire but we've has so many warnings and the ground is exceptionally dry that I might even take it all down to the container at the bottom of the village.  I pay for it so I might as well use it.   I packed my bag for the pool, washed and dressed and was out of the house by ten fifteen to meet my student from his football training at ten fifty and thought I'd timed it just right.  As I drove towards Djebel my phone rang and I noticed that it was the garage and the boy's mother was on the phone but since I was only a couple of minutes from the shop I didn't stop to phone back.  I met up with her and training had finished early and he was waiting for me in Kardjali so I told her I would be with him in twenty minutes and I arrived at the venue at ten fifty precisely and saw him in the distance so I flashed my headlights and he started walking towards the Nipper but very slowly.  I thought he'd got injured while training but he said that his legs were tired after a difficult work out on the pitch.  He got in the Nipper and soon cheered up, we were at the pool by eleven fifteen and there were only a few people there so chose the sunbeds we wanted under a large umbrella with extra beds that we could pull onto the grass and I could read my book in the sun.  

We managed three sessions in the pool, had what we thought was a very expensive lunch for what we had as we compared prices against what we normally pay in Djebel, I did a little dog dozing, got pink in places especially my face but to use one of my favourite sayings...'it will be brown tomorrow'.  We left the pool at six, I stopped for gas for the Nipper and back to the shop by six thirty, relating the exploits of the 'pool people' and we all had a few giggles.  The boy has training again tomorrow and he suggested that we did the same again but I said no, we will do it again but just not yet....I have a grass day tomorrow that I really do have to get on with.  Crisps and coke for supper but we did have lunch of sorts so I shan't go hungry.  LN....I've had a very lovely relaxing day with my young companion......LN

Thursday 21 July

Another early start after a late night with the worlds. I was outside at seven when Avatar came over to pay for the eggs that I'd bought for her from Djebel and didn't want me to change the fifty leva note, she'd found forty in tens in her purse...better off than she thought.  I was mending that challenging hose when she arrived so went back to my task and as she was leaving she spotted the tomatoes that I'd grown from seeds taken from the fruit and after that I was determined to plant them properly...so I did later.  

I settled for toast for breakfast with spread cheese, had great plans to mow what's left of the grass and did nothing about it.  Instead I took down the curtains that separate the stairwell from the winter lounge, managed to get them in the washing machine and that's another job taken from the list.  It's such a wide curtain made up of two widths that in previous years I'd unpicked them and washed them up singly.  This time I risked it and put them in the machine, they fitted Cinderella. and no damage done to the machine.  It was pretty hot out there so I did a lap on tortoise watch and managed to spot Green God and Blue but the others were obviously having a sleep in or finding a cool place to longer.  I had the same thought so ended up on the sofa and felt really tired so decoded tp catch up on lost sleep and renew my energy bank after putting three tons of wood away and a very busy day swimming yesterday.  

The television has switched itself off, I turned it on again and came across four house of catch-up t.v of the overnight action from America from the worlds athletics and that's been the sum total of my activities apart from watering the plants tonight, getting the curtains in from the washing line and cooking hamburgers from scratch.  So supper was hamburgers with fried egg, the two bottles of tomato sauce have been relegated to the rubbish bin, they must be two years old.  They've now been added to the list of 'must buys' for when visitors are here.  Clouds are gathering tonight and hopefully it won't be so hot tomorrow and I'll eventually get the grass done.  LN.....I'm going thought the phase of 'one off the list' and one 'back on'........LN

Friday 22nd July

Another early start so at six thirty I was out watering the garden and getting soaked by the hose that insists on detaching itself from the spray nozzle.  I did the rest of the flower beds without it only bothering to reconnect it when I came to watering the pots.  Next job was to connect the hoses running down the garden and watering round the bonfire bucket before I had a bonfire and once it was going I put the lid on for safety, connected the hose to the one with holes in it so that the shrubs had a good soaking since they were looking a little sad. After fifteen minutes or so I removed the holy hose and force fed the rest of the shrubs on the bottom garden and the two buddleias look so much better for it Having finished one job it was time to sit and ponder what I should do next.  The wisteria growling over the wall with my garden neighbour was getting very leggy so that had a good cutting back and also the tree next to it. The bench against the long wall appeared to be peeping out of the shrubby so not it's all been cut back, cleared up and deposited over the wall,  I also attacked the new walnut that's put on a load of growth so that I could no longer see the hillside so three big branches removed, the cows have had a field day.

It didn't stop there.  The tomatoes that I grew from seed are doing OK and are looking so much better after only a day in the new bucket and I also weeded the pots where the grass appears to have taken over,  It's been a real problem this year with so much rain in May and June.  I went to the loo and realised that a bird had found its way down the chimney and usually I would close the curtain between the stairs and the winter lounge, close all the doors and it would find its way out through the porch.  Slight problem, there is no longer a curtain, it was the one that I washed yesterday and I'm not putting that one back until autumn ready for the winter so I'd put it away.  Fortunately it had come down the soot removal pipe so I removed the fly screen from the bathroom window, opened the door to the flue box, shut the door of the bathroom and it seems to have found its way outside.  There are no more flutterings so fly screen back and everything put back in place.  

I made local corned beef with baked beans, beetroot and silver skin onions into a sort of salad for a late lunch, settled down to watch the athletics catch-up and had forty winks waking up to catch the remainder of the events.  Started again at six and cleared the rest of the honeysuckle and jasmine that are covering the wall on the workshop terrace, popped over to see Avatar since I noticed her out in the garden and we chewed over the fat for half an hour or so.  I mentioned that I thought that Rosy one of my tortoises had been acting a little queer and I think she'd been eating the fermenting mulberries that had fallen from the tree and she seemed a little drunk,  I know that Avatar has plenty of  cucumbers growing in her garden so I asked if I could have one for the tortoise tomorrow and I found an exceptionally large on that Avatar had missed so they're in for a treat tomorrow.  

I came back and finished the back terrace, it's swept, tidy, the cut off branches are over the wall, tools away and it was nine my time when I came in.  Tomorrow I'm cleaning off the old varnish from the bench by the long wall and applying some wood stain and Mikey B's bench is going to have the same treatment.  LN.....Another good day.....LN

Saturday 23rd July

Five thirty start and I slept part of the night with the light on, I'd heard the 'zzzz; of a mosquito, not managed to find it and obviously gone off to sleep again.  I forgot to plug in the electric mozzie machine last night but I'll certainly remember it tonight.  It's just hot and humid.  I sat out this morning with a coffee on the lounge terrace and used the mosquito coil setting fire to it in a metal dish and the ones lingering under the umbrella shot off towards the hillside so it works.

I went over to see Avatar and to change the fifty leva note for her so that she can pay her dues around the village.  She offered me breakfast again but I declined, pancakes sit heavy when you have a full day planned which I did.  I made beans on toast for breakfast which is probably just as heavy as pancakes but it was self imposed, washed up, put my lightweight quilt in the washing machine so I was on track.  Went on a tortoise watch armed with a knife and a cucumber and a watering can to fill up the watering stations and only managed to find little purple and it wasn't interested in cucumber or water. I was standing in the yard and heard one of them heading along the front wall under the shrubbery and noticed that it was Rosy and not long after she was heading back.  For some reason I went and looked behind the Beast in the garage and noticed one of them flailing around on its back so I flipped it over and it was CS (cracked shell) and I've found out that I have two males not only Green God.  

Now back to business, I sanded down the woodwork on the first bench, tightened the nuts to secure everything,  I used the electric sander after starting off with broken glass but it was just too slow, found some walnut coloured wood stain and one down and one to go.  The other bench which is getting on in age and has had numerous bits replaced underwent the same treatment. wood stain applied and that's not back on the woodstore terrace looking very good indeed.  

Athletics this afternoon, hair wash and shower around six, garden watered and what a good day I've had.  Not really bothered about food at the moment so will head for the kitchen later and see what needs starting or finishing.  LN.....Maybe a book day tomorrow on the sunbed on my bedroom terrace......LN

Sunday 24th July

Very disturbed night, very humid and despite having a late shower it didn't do a lot to cool me down.  Because of that it's left me feeling jaded all day.  Toast for breakfast and went on a bit of a tortoise watch this morning, heard something moving in the honeysuckle on the workshop terrace and eventually there was something falling and it was Blue who landed against a concrete pipe at floor level at a very peculiar angle.  I always wear rubber gloves when I rescue them so I went to find them and by the time I got back it had made its own escape and was heading down the garden behind the shaded area and coming the other way was CS seeking out fallen fruit from the plum trees.  I didn't stop around for the fireworks, now that CS's make identity has been discovered there was likely to be a clattering of shells so I left them to it.  The long handled loppers came out and the mulberry branches hanging down have been cut and dropped over for the cows and the acacia has also had branches removed since they were hiding the views of the hillside.

I stripped out the lounge today and removed the carpet to the washing line to be dealt with later.  The summer curtain has gone up in the stairwell mainly to shield the sun from my eyes if I linger on the sofa to watch the television.  I washed the floor over, was having five minutes when I'd finished the job when I heard a bird flapping about in the little solid fuel cooker in the kitchen,  This isn't as simple as it sounds, everything has to be removed from the top of the cooker to help the thing out if it's frightened, the window and fly screen have to be opened  along with the porch door and fly screen and the entry door to the house has to be closed so that it doesn't double back on itself.  I opened the door to the burner box, the bird didn't shoot out as expected so I took the top cover off and there it was, I nudged it with a wooden spoon and it was out of the window, got its bearings and headed back to freedom.

Back to the sofa and Haciber was outside and calling my name.  She handed over a plastic bag with a container of meet and rice, two halva sweet cakes and a bottle of yogurt drink....apparently someone from Bursa in Turkey had paid for a 'mevlit' in memory of a departed relative and I was the recipient of the gift.  I shall never know whose life and death I was celebrating so I picked out the meat, had some of the rice and that was lunch.  As they way, a full tummy deserves rest so I caught up on sleep this afternoon and thank goodness for the breeze blowing through the house, it's been a scorcher.  The terrace umbrella had to come down though before it took to the hillside despite being weighed down and the washing had to come in before it did the same thing.  Washing away, tools away and everything locked away.  LN.....I didn't made it on to the sunbed with a book, maybe tomorrow.....LN

Monday 25th July

A rreally horrible night last night.  Despite spraying with mozzie spray there was one lone survivor who I eventually tracked down and put paid to its endeavours.  It was three before I settled and seven when I woke up to horrendous downpour and thunder.  At least I didn't have to water the garden but I did have to go round and empty the pots so that the mozzies aren't able to multiply.  Don't you just hate them.

I had coffee on the terrace and did my usual tortoise expedition once the rain had stopped and found Rosy down the bottom of the garden trying to get dried off in very lukewarm sunshine.  Blue was also down there so I walked back up the garden and picked up some red and yellow wild plums and delivered them to them both.  Rosy was interested and attacked with enthusiasm and Blue just CBA.....maybe it was taking longer for this one to enter the world on such a rotten morning.  I came inside and checked out the bread and it was tinged with green so the last two eggs were whisked up, the frying pan cleaned out, cheese slices unwrapped and an omelette was soon on its way to the kitchen table.  I caught up on the overnight results from the athletics and we have more medals, did emails, FB and decided that the bed between the steps needed sorting.  I haven't the usual array of zinnias this year, I put in plants that didn't have much going for them despite the instructions on the packets so I dug up what was there including the weeds and now I've planted the contents of one of the pots.  I should have put it in the garden from the onset but didn't, kept looking at it and now I've done it.  

It's been hot and humid all day and it's time I had a shower to freshen up.  The bench that I bought the other day from Kaufland has been a mare to put together and I'm still struggling with one of the bench seat fixings.  It's one of those where you put an insert into the hole and screw down from the other end and the two meet in the middle so to speak.  I think that the wood has warped or the hole wasn't drilled properly but to take it back is a pain so I'll have another go tomorrow.  Not in the mood for supper, it's too hot to eat so time to get the spray out and fix those beasties...better early that later.  LN....The shower calls......LN

Tuesday 26th July

A cooling bath last night worked wonders despite the heat of the day.  I slept well awoke at seven and had had a very leisurely day.  Tortoise watch found CS in the little garden by the bonfire bucket Blue was not far away in a very shaded spot.  I suppose with a shell on it soon warms up and it's essential that they find shady corners to hide in.  I suppose I should have done the same thing but I carried on trying to get the final screw fitting on the bench done and it's still eluded me.  I was working on it on the terrace in the sun and should have really moved it into the little house where it is cool to work but instead I left it where it was on the terrace and came inside.

I washed and dressed, no student this morning she has got herself a job and I wasn't too displeased about it.  I might have shown her the path to self improvement using the internet so my work is done.  Seven years of learning English at school and nothing and now it's down to her.  I opened the doors upstairs, found myself in my sewing room and decided to make one of the beds up which made me move into the guest room and check out the bed linen that's in there.  The quilts that I have are going to be too warm so I found out some sheets instead of relying on quilt covers and washed everything white, sheets, quilt covers and pillowcases.  Beautiful day for drying and I had nothing to do, or so I thought until three this afternoon.  A telephone call at one thirty from the garage put an end to my afternoon plans, my student had asked it he could go swimming with his pals instead of the lesson so I immediately agreed and haven't committed to the rest of the week....it's mine all mine.

Lunch called so it was tuna mayo with grated carrots, beetroot and chopped onion and that filled the gap and so much so that I'm certainly not feeling the need for food tonight.  Too hot to be doing anything outside this afternoon so I checked for concluding episodes of Blacklist on Netflix and watched them and fell on another detective series and watched tree episodes of that.  Washing all in and folded, it was heading for the ironing board, not my favourite occupation but I might just manage it.  Time to water the garden, it's been full on all day and they can top up overnight.  LN.....Kardjali in the morning.....LN

Wednesday 27th July

All go this morning at this end.  Seven start despite staying up last night to finish off a series of Netflix and heading for bed at two thirty this morning.  I'd had such a good sleep yesterday afternoon that I suppose I'd had enough.  Fitbit doesn't know where it is half the time.  Coffee made, washing in, watered the garden and pots, bonfire and another attempt at the bench final fixing but the thing will not go into the insert.  It appears to be attacking it from the side and pushing it over so I might just have to drill it out again or put some blue tack in the hole to lift the insert back in line.  I've tried by lining everything up with a nail, lifting the nail and replacing it with the screw and holding the insert in the correct position with a screw driver and it still twist it.  The screw is just not in line with the insert so back to the drawing board Cecil and it was too hot to play around outside.  Washing pegged out, another load in and watched the news while that cooked and then that went out.  Well done to the England Women's' Football team, battered the Swedish team with a four nil unexpected result and now on to the final.

I eventually got washed and dressed when I decided what to do with the rest of my day.  I wrote my list for Kardjali and I've added to and ignored other items but on the whole another good day.  First stop was the new Mall and I bought a few items and a new swimsuit for me but I think I was rather ambitions going for the medium.  I suppose I could always use it as an incentive to shrink into it.  I carried on to one of the other shops and found that the 'prices from' poster was OK but when you actually looked at the price tag they bore no resemblance so everything went back on the rail.  First stop Kaufland and  they were selling an electric mower at a reasonable offer so that was the first thing in the trolley, well under it.  I also found a tree lopper but with a saw attachment so I can at last attack the acacia that' s rubbing up the side of the house and that was reasonably priced too.  I carried on with my other shopping and the bill was really good and then over to T-Max to see if they'd reduced  the garden umbrellas which they hadn't.  I did find a mirror on offer though for fourteen leva and that's destined for the shower room and I might even go back for another for my upstairs bedroom to replace the one that's currently there.  Over to Lidl and first stop to check if my printer is back from repair and it was.  The dialogue insisted that it was operator error, I maintained it wasn't but it was too hot to stay for a discussion so it's in the car.  Lidl for a few items and I really am going off that store.  They've stopped some of the usual lines and filled the middle two aisles with an odd selection of items interspersed with  various alcohols.  Bring back potato salad in a huge pot that will last me a week.

Bread from my local supermarket and then home by six.  Unpacked by six fifteen and all put away, washing in and a welcome sit down with some fizzy water.  I shall have to review the list tomorrow or maybe try out the new little lawn mower and find a six inch nail to finish the bench.    LN.... Just joshing...I'm persistent if nothing else.....LN

Thursday 28th July

Early night, early start, action from the beginning and the end of the day.  Green God was the only one spotted down the bottom of the garden and no sightings for the rest of the day but I've just been...too busy.  Hoovered through, was going to wash the floors over but then realised that I still need to buy the mop bucket...it's on the list...but I forgot it yesterday.  Noticed this morning that the water heater light was glowing and it was time to move over from cheap to normal rate so it required investigation.  Unknown to me I must have had a power cut yesterday so I readjusted the clock, no one needs or likes to pay more.  Thank goodness I didn't have one this morning with washing and hoovering to get done.

Bacon and egg for breakfast to set me up for the day and it did until I had the urge to sit down at about one.  I'd just settled down to Netflix and the phone went so I paused the tv and stayed with the call.  It was a catch-up with a friend advising me that he hadn't booked yet and had been trying for a few days to upload his Covid vaccine details on to his phone and complaining that it was a very complicated process.  We discussed my progress with the bench or lack of but I was determined that it would be done today and it was.  I completely took it apart, turned the seat section around, started to attach the legs again to the seat section and managed to get the difficult one in but when I started to attach the other legs it wouldn't line up so I put the right way up on the floor and realised that the seat section was stopping it so I found a chisel and too a slice off the final baton towards the back, gave it a bang with the rubber hammer, the joint came together, the last screw went in, on with the back and it was finished.  Tools cleared away, another job done......and it's been a long one.

Another really hot day and noticed that I had a little mole hill starting so I've moved the mole deterrent to the middle of the garden so let's see if it does what it says on the instrument.  There are four positions, vibrate or sound and you can have them both going at the same time but this time I've set it for vibrate only.  The other just makes too   much noise.  I forgot to put supper in the oven so I've now got to go down and pan cook two pork steads with barbecue sauce already impregnated and a jacket done in the microwave should finish it off nicely.  LN.....The kitchen calls.....LN

Friday 29th July

Started off at five thirty this morning, coffee, bonfire, shrubs tidied up and old flower stalks from the lilies removed and burnt.  The shrubs at the bottom of the garden were watered and finally the pots.  Poached eggs on toast for breakfast, kitchen tidied and after that the rest of the day was mine all mine.  Avatar came over to deliver a wedding invitation for Wednesday of next week and when I asked whose it was I was told that she sells milk from the lower village and to date, none of the ladies are going so I don't suppose I shall either. It's the norm here to invite the village and provide a coach but when you don't know the parents or the bride or groom for that matter....it's a Turkish thing.

This afternoon I was doing OK until I realised that the Commonwealth Games had started and  I got sucked in to the Triathlon and watched as we won our first gold of the championship.  Shower, hair washed and dried, I'd remembered that I was out for supper tonight with the family of my student and I had to leave just before six.  Meanwhile it was the women's triathlon where we won a silver medal registering the same result as the Olympics.

Restful day, it's been a hot one though but tonight the sky is as clear as a bell with lots of stars shining down as I drove home from my supper date.  It was good to catch up with them all, home grown veg salad, meat and rice and watermelon on the menu and watched the parents sitting out on the terrace shelling haricot beans. Still need that mop bucket....the shop was closed as I drove through Djebel this evening.  LN....Looks like an early start tomorrow....LN

Saturday 30th July

Seven start this morning and remembered that my mission was to buy a mop bucket so I dressed for the occasion.  I popped over to Avatar's house but no one at home and one of her neighbours said that she was with another neighbour.  I was going to ask her if she wanted breakfast bringing back freshly cooked at the bakery.  I was in the Nipper for eight fifteen, and almost caught out the lady from the leva shop, the shop was open but I was in there for around five minutes before she appeared.  I knacked up a bill of thirty six leva and it was only when I went to pay that I remembered that the cash machine in Kardjali wasn't working so I was on the breadline.  Had enough to pay though so next stop cash machine to top up the reserves.  

Next stop banichka shop and bought two of them and a pizza, two yogurt drinks, noticed one of my good friends sitting outside her son's shop so we had a catch up, she invited me to a coffee but with hot breakfast about to burst the plastic bag, I apologised and promised the coffee for another day, back in the Nipper and home.  I put the car in the drive, left the shopping where it was and walked over the road with the bag of breakfast but this time the gate was locked, the house was unlocked and it was like the Marie Celeste...she was no where to be found so I retraced my steps, sat on the sofa with my bag of goodies with my yogurt drink and picked the best bits out of the banichka, abandoned the rest to the birds and ate the pizza.  I put the games on and watched some of the events and Avatar arrived.  She'd had a phone call from one of her relatives who lives a little further along the road asking her if she could water the tomatoes, collect any that were ripe and put them inside the house before they turned to mush on the plants.  I told her about the breakfast and she wanted it so I put it in a bag for her to take home.  I went back to my tv and promptly nodded off for an hour or so, it was really hot outside and too hot to work, so I left it until later but when i got going, I started to tick things off mu list.

I packed up at seven thirty, down tools and that mop bucket is still waiting to be used but tomorrow is another day.  Watered the garden just as the light was fading and there was a sudden down tools, hose switched off and into the house for mozzie spray, the wee beasties were having a field day around my ankles so gave them something to get there proboscises into and they would be soon whipping it out again.  LN.....A successful day even if it was disjointed.....LN

Sunday 31st July

Early start and I started by sweeping the floor in the little house and put the debris ready to take to the bottom of the garden.  I also emptied a bag of bark that had sat in the little house since last years wood delivery and that's on the bed at the bottom of the garden and that should break down over the winter.  It's great having guests, you go into areas that should never have appeared. I like things in 'homes' and know where to put things back....especially as I am getting older.  I carried on where I left off last night with sorting things ready for my guests to arrive.  Upstairs and the bedrooms are finished, top landing to do and then the downstairs is lived in so not a lot needs to happen to it.  

I stopped for breakfast and used up the rest of the bacon with an egg on bread and I do like to eat in the morning to set me up for the day.  I was surprised at around ten to hear a familiar voice so it was kettle on, coffee made and an hour on the terrace which I needed as a break for what I was getting up to.  He'd used the rough road from the Makaza road and suggested that I stick to the main road, not that it's a real main road when I head out to Djebel, we don't have policemen as deterrents, we have cows and sheep and the dogs that look after them. Back to it after he left, I watched more of the triathlon from the CW games and England won the gold medal for the relay race which I find really interesting.  Swimming, cycling and running, they need such stamina and the crowds were about ten deep watching the event.  Well done Birmingham!!  I went back to my task in hand and eventually I got to the point where the clock was ticking on, I wanted to watch the football later this evening so at six I had a shower and washed my hair to get the grime of the day out of me.  I put my toweling house coat on to dry off and suddenly realised that I hadn't watered the garden and the pots so I went out and did it and noticed that the clouds had gathered and it was making quite a picturesque sunset so back into the house and now that I've cleaned the windows in the guest room, I could take the photos unhindered by dust and grime.  I also spotted the cat sitting on the wall enjoying the evening breeze, it's been very humid all day and at one point we had a few spots of rain that came to nothing mores the pity, hence the garden watering.

So I watched the game, I think the ref. had put a bet on the Germans to win and was playing with a blindfold on where foul play was concerned.  Apparently she's from Ukraine and a word from Boris cancelling arms to the country might have swung it in our favour but anyway they scored the second goal in extra time and had five minutes of keeping the Germans near the corner spot beautifully wasting time. Fantastic celebration, Germans in floods of tears, apparently they've played eight finals and have never lost one...until today...and yes, England brought it home.

No need for supper, I seemed to have been picking at stuff all day.  Not good for the diet that I ought to be going on but I can burn it off when the weather gets cold keeping warm.  LN.......Time I went to bed and invested in some beauty sleep....LN