Saturday 1st July

Six thirty start this morning, I can hardly believe that another month has gone by.  Unfortunately the weather still doesn't seemed to have settled down, it's difficult to arrange pool days with friends when you never quite know what to expect.  I was pretty slow off the mark this morning, I knew that the grass needed doing but I found myself doing jobs that I hadn't expected to do.  I went out to the gate to check up on Avatar and I saw that she had two lines of washing out already so I knew that she was probably more active than me.  I sat on the balcony in the sun eventually got round to getting washed and dressed, didn't bother with breakfast settling for another coffee.  For some reason I took the lid off the chest on the terrace where I keep the empty bowls and buckets and underneath there were about four active wasp nests.  As I removed the lid the screw fixings had given way and one of the four sections had come loose from the underneath structure.  I firstly dealt with the nests but instead of carrying on with this job I found the secateurs and dead headed the roses along the front wall.  They were looking very bedraggled after the torrential rain the other night.

So back to the chest lid, it had been made for me and my original plan was deviated from by my SIL so I decided to add longer screws from the underside which I did and we seemed to be cooking on gas until one of the other planks left its moorings.  By now I'd found out the old engine oil to give the lid a coat since the pain had deteriorated so it became very messy.  In the end, I found some nails that I could hammer home from the topside of the lid and hammer down the excess thus keeping everything in place.  It will do until I make a new lid, this one is far too heavy and the job is done.

Eventually I decided that it was time to start the grass, it was still pretty hot out there but not as hot as it had been earlier.  I decided that I would start with the main house grass but from halfway down but it really wasn't running smoothly.  When I got to the bottom of the grass I switched it off, went to get the tool that I use to clean underneath, found a bowl to collect the petrol as I emptied it.  I'd also realised why it wasn't running well, the rim from one of the front wheels had left the main structure and was dragging on the grass as I pushed it along.  I tried hammering it back in but no luck so with a set of tinsnips I cut it loose and it seems to have worked.  I also oiled the wheels and the blade spindle, turned it upright, put the fuel that I'd removed back in the machine, fired it up, lots of white smoke but at least it was running properly now.  I'm tempted to buy a new one but I keep thinking that I'll use this until it gives up the ghost.  Tools away, Anne with an E is no more, showered and shampooed and it's eight thirty my time.  I'll do the rest of the grass tomorrow, that's if the mood takes me, otherwise Monday.  I've felt extremely tired this afternoon and it won't belong before I get to bed at a reasonable time.  LN.....Time for ten minutes on the balcony looking at the moon.......LM

Sunday 2nd July

So I went to bed last night with my hair in two plaits and woke up looking like Pippi Longstockings. the Swedish children's story character.  Another early start so I played games and Sudoku and was still up and at 'em by seven thirty.  I washed and dressed, didn't bother combing my hair out and left it in pigtails all day.  The end of the fruit loaf  became my breakfast and I've found the elusive cherry but no green peel at all.  These extra large fruit buns used to have fruit but now they put the cost up and deliver less fruit....trading standards would have a field day but there's no such thing here.  The prices in the supermarkets are doubling and the price rises appear to be coming from Germany since we have Lidl and Kaufland as our main shopping stops for European food.  I prefer to shop locally in Djebel for most things but still need a fortnightly shop from the others.

I felt energised today but still watched a session of the Witcher which is my latest find, it's good because it's not dubbed, lips move in sync. I popped over to see Avatar and she was using up the remains of a bucket of lime wash on the inside stone wall of her garden and it was going everywhere.  I'd taken one of her dishes back, I made a move to go home and she insisted on putting her brush down and we sat in the garden chewing over the fat.  I stayed for about half an hour and noticed that there were potatoes near the front tyre of Beauty and I'm guessing that they are from the lady that has the garden next to my house.  She knows that I only do flowers so leaves me what she can spare on the vegetable front.  So I bit the bullet....Out with the grass mower and I'd done my first run when the petrol ran out so I topped it up and must remember to get more from Djebel on Tuesday when I'm there for my student.  It was pretty hot today but without the grass bucket on the back it was pretty swift going, I'd finished it all by three thirty and used the strimmer to take the heads off the clover and plantain in the yard and even did the grass outside the wall.  I did grab the camera when I saw my neighbour taking his turkeys for a walk....good shot of his back and shirt but not so good of the birds but having said that, the camera was at full stretch.

I decided on tuna salad with egg mayonnaise for supper tonight and obviously made enough for Avatar.  Just as the potatoes were finishing off my neighbour from the bottom of the village turned up and wanted some of the mulberry fruit from the tree in the garden, wanted cuttings of shrubs that she didn't have, saw how many petunias I have in the garden and said that she didn't have any.  She spotted a small flowerpot with some in and asked for one so I told her to take the lot so one bag for the mulberries and another for the flowerpot. On her way out she spotted the Linden tree and asked for some blossom.  Its fragrant yellow flowers and leaves are dried, crushed and steeped in hot water to make linden flower tea and I ended up getting the long handled lopper and taking off some branches for her.  I was hungry, my supper was almost ready and I couldn't be bothered picking just the flowers.  Off she went fully laden, I finished off supper, put half in a container and walked over the road with it and told her to give it to the cats if she didn't like it.  I've not made it for her before but she replied that she likes everything that I made and was soon into it as I was leaving.  I came back and had mine, noticed the pink moon so out with the camera, did the washing up and now I'm thinking about a shower, I got very hot today cutting the grass.

I've had a good day, I've also cleared the poppies from the old veg garden to give the shrubs more of a fighting chance.  They'd gone over and only the odd flower here and there.  Almost ten my time, where does the time go but I feel I've had a really good day and my energy levels have been high.  LN.....Long may it continue......LN

Monday 3rd July

Went to bed early last night and regretted it at one thirty....not got one ounce of sleep in me so was playing Sudoku and Angry Birds until four.  I went to sleep straight away not waking up until eight, coffee, out on the terrace and enjoyed the morning apart from the sheep farmers four dogs terrorising the Monday bus service to town and the Djebel shoppers.  Some thing really needs to be done about them, I've complained to the owner and get nothing but a smile out of him.  The police were harassed by them and called the owner and his son turned up and still nothing.....it's who you know I suppose and people just shrug their shoulders...tova e Bulgaria.

Once the dogs had cleared I popped over to see Avatar and saw that she was in Beyser's garden with the other ladies.  I joined them, sitting on the steps, and another lady from the next village was there handing out chocolates, well one at least.  I joked that it was breakfast and not to be out done, Beyser offered me a sweet from the dish so I thanked her and at this point the conversation carried on in Turkish so I took my leave.  Avatar did the same and handed me back the dish that I'd taken over last night with the tuna mayo salad in it and I carried on home.  I scrambled a couple of eggs and had them on toast, made more coffee and by now it was heading on for eleven so not the time to start gardening, the temperature was rising.  On went Netflix and the Witcher and I watched a couple of episodes, half awake, half asleep and eventually raised from my sofa at three.  At this point the action started.

I had a bonfire, unfurled the other long hose from the woodstore, set about watering the terrace pots and then the shrubs half-way and down to the bottom of the garden now that the other long hose was in play.  The buddleias are coming into flower and were looking dry so now OK, I also sorted out a weigela that needed love and attention and another nameless shrub that was overgrown by weeds.  The rest of the shrubs have all had a good soaking and I finished off at around six thirty, tools away and everything locked up.  I saw that Avatar was struggling with her grass so went over so that she would stop and tomorrow I'll go over there with the big machine and give her a hand , she has her eldest son coming and wants to make an impression.  Home at seven, two pork chops in the oven and chips ready to go into the air fryer....it's not fancy but adequate. LN.....Felt more energetic after four than before.....LN  

Tuesday 4th July

So an early morning start again but I was drawn to the blast of sunlight that came into my bedroom and lit up my wardrobe unit.  I just had to get out of bed and take a pickie of the morning sunrise.  Back to bed with a coffee and my Kindle, did the usual chores and settled for Sudoku and a few games.  I didn't bother with breakfast, washed and dressed by seven thirty, cleaned out my cooking tins that I'd left soaking overnight, threw out the old food for the animals, put in a load of washing and by eight fifteen I was sitting at my desk when the memories of an old hymn that I used to sing came drifting into my brain.  I struggled with the memory for a while then resorted to Google search and there it was in front of me.  Some of the words had changed in a  process called 'modernisation' but I scribbled it down and meditated on it for a few minutes.  The lines go 'If I can help somebody as I pass along......then my living has not been in vain'.  This seemed very pertinent as I trundled my mower over to Avatar's house at eight fifteen, her son is coming and I offered to give her a hand with the grass cutting even though she said that she didn't want help.

It took me an hour to finish the first part of the job.  The grass was still wet from overnight dew but the machine managed it without the grass box on but I went back to the house, gathered up a container to empty the fuel into, a chisel for removing the stuck on grass and the funnel for putting the petrol back in the machine.  It took me all of ten minutes to do, meanwhile Avatar had prepared breakfast and we sat in the sun enjoying the morning,  Breakfast finished, I started the machine up again and did around the house for her and at eleven I was heading home for a shower and to wash my hair to get the grass out of it.  I was hot and sticky and covered in the stuff.

A little relaxation, printed off the next chapter of the book for my lesson and headed into Djebel and got there by three.  I was a little late but the little chap was full of good news, he'd got full marks in his end of year exams and has qualified to go to the school in Kardjali that his brother attended.  He'd also come back from a holiday with the football team in recognition that they'd won the cup for the district and was telling me that they were allowed to stay out until ten some nights and I understand that his mother was having kittens.  He told me that they had to stay in their groups, they had to eat the food in the hotel even though it wasn't up to much but apparently they snacked on stuffed pancakes while they were out and about.  Lesson over I sat with his mother for an hour or so, the boys came back from the garage and I made my farewells, stopped off at the cash-point and drove home.  I cooked fish finger for supper and had them in a sandwich, I've not bought this brand before and won't be buying it again.  The rest will go to the cats.

Tomorrow is a pool day if the weather is good. a quick shop for basics after swimming and maybe a pizza for supper in Djebel.  LN.....I've had a good day......and completely chilled........LN

Wednesday 5th July

Early night last night, I was falling asleep on the sofa so decided to take myself off to be early.  I half anticipated a three o'clock awakening but it didn't happen and I was out for the count until six this morning.  I must have been really tired, two big days following each other.  I packed my bag ready for the pool today, made toast for breakfast and ate it while I was trying to take out the connector to the tablet that was given to me at Christmas but I think I need to visit my man in Kardjali to see if it's possible or nor to replace the charging connector.  I really haven't got a clue so need expert advice, it it's not possible probably need to buy a new tablet.

My pool buddy arrived at the allotted hour, I made coffee and we set off around ten thirty....destination the pool.  I parked up under the trees in the shade and the pool was already had quite a few young people there.  I noticed the helper putting up umbrellas so I indicated to him that we wanted the last of the row so we had room to spread, he signalled me back that he understood.  I got a lovely handshake from the owner and I paid over the dues and received an orange band for the day.  It didn't take long to get in the water, I really only go for the exercise.  I've now learnt how to set the Fitbit to start recording the exercise without having to wear it.  They're have been one or two bad write-ups that the Charge 5 isn't really a swim watch so I'm taking precautions.  I swam for about half an hour, the nice thing is that the pool is big enough and it never feels crowded, that's why I use it and even though it's a drive to get there, it you combine it with other things like a weekly shop it's not really out of the way.  We had lunch in the restaurant, two plates of cheesy chips and I had a cheese and ham toasted thingie and the cost was only eighteen leva so not bad.  I worked out how he managed to drop the price of the entry, he put it on the drinks instead so the secret is to take your own water.  One more swim, I dried off and we were ready to leave by six and when I came to start Beauty, the petrol light was on and the gauge was showing empty.  I think it was the way that I'd parked up on a slope so I knew that it would be Lidl and then the gas station.  I filled up both, the total cost was only sixty leva, around thirty pounds, and that should do me for a while.

I stopped off in Djebel to get a few things from my local supermarket and for some reason on the way down we'd discussed the difference between the council tax on a car and the road tax that has to be paid via the internet. One my friend was aware of but not the other so we found the website and sure enough, hers had expired so now she knows how to renew and will do it this evening.  Good job we checked it, it's one of the things that the police will give a fine for on a police stop check.  She's now going to be OK.  Delivered tomatoes to Avatar, her son comes tomorrow so she's well and truly prepared and now has tomatoes for her 'guest'.  LN.....Kardjali tomorrow, the Beast has it's MOT so fingers crossed all is OK.......LN

Thursday 6th July

What a full on day with success and frustrations. I was awake at six which was really good since I went to bed at ten thirty, started up the Beast to make sure that the battery was OK before I made the rest of the day's agenda.  It fired OK so I moved Beauty back towards the terrace so that I could have a clear run of it when I got the Beast out of the garage. Washed and dressed, cotton shirt and linen trousers, it was going to be a scorcher of a day....it was warm out already.  I didn't bother with breakfast, opened the gates and drove straight out, turned in the square in the village, handed Avatar the bill for the tomatoes that I'd delivered yesterday and as I came towards the house I realised that I'd driven out and not shut the gates behind me so stopped and rectified my error.  The sheep and cows would have had a field day.

First stop the garage, the Beast was going to Kardjali for its MOT and so the oil , water and tyres were checked, it was shampooed and shined and then I drove into Kardjali.  I take it to the same place each year so get a good welcome from the owner and the man who is responsible for the documentation.  The garage had three students learning the ropes as part of a college course and it was obviously getting on the owners nerves but he held it together well.  It passed with flying colours, next stop was the computer shop to see if the charging point on the tablet could be renewed as it just wouldn't charge and they said that they would call me later.  Moved parking places and went to the Polyclinic to get something checked out but my doctor is very thorough and decided that I would now undergo an MOT.  I had a cardiograph which she did and the results were immediately in her hands, blood pressure check which was fine, weighed me and that was well within range and then off for a blood test, urine sample and a dermatologist for my original reason for the visit.  Unfortunately the dermatologist was on holiday, there was another one in the main hospital but i decided to leave that for another day.....I've got thirty days and I'd had enough.  I paid my phone bill and moved on to Kaufland but they didn't have any offers on my coffee so bought a few items and drove home.  

I parked everything where it should be, put the shopping away and sat down to enjoy what I thought was a cheese puff pastry  and was disappointed to find that I'd picked up one with a sweet filling that I really didn't like at all so that went over to Avatar's house.....her supper had arrived early.  So now just got to get the Beast insurance sorted and that one thing off my mind...just got the same thing to do with Beauty but not until August.  It was nice being out and about in the Beast.  It's such a delight to drive, automatic, smooth and superior and I feel good in it.  If only diesel was cheaper I'd use it all the time but gas takes some beating on the cost analysis.  I didn't get my head down this afternoon but I did settle down and finish The Witcher and fell upon the film of the life of Freddie Mercury and Queen.  I've watched it before several times but still enjoy it.  No supper so far, time to raid the kitchen.  LN....A most successful day......LN

Friday 7th July

Early start and it was a dull old day that improved. thundered, rained, sun shine, more thunder and lots of rain.   Pretty varied day from start to finish.  It now looks like it's settled down for the evening but whose to say...we've been here before.  I had no plans for today, I made toast and sour cherry jam slathered all over it, washed up from yesterday and made the kitchen look reasonable.  I pooped over to see Avatar and to take back one of her dishes from yesterday and came back with a bag of white stuff that they put on the garden to help things grow, she said it was ten leva so I suggested that she took it off what she owed me for doing her grass!!..We laughed about it, nobody is paying anyone anything and because it was looking that a downpour was imminent, I sprinkled it sparingly on the pots on the terrace and in the yard and we'll see how it does.  I also collected a bag of seeds from the tall pretty Sweet William flowers that are growing everywhere and I intend getting babies gong and planting out for next year.  Apparently they don't mind the cold which was a surprise for me.

I did a hunt for the tortoise and only found Blue and Rosy and she was on the workshop terrace which I didn't really understand.  Eventually she made her way onto the grass and then wasn't seen again for the rest of the day.  As for the rest of my day....my Fitbit refused to update my phone with my historic data since the end of last month.  Some days it hasn't even recorded it so I decided it was time to bring the replacement into play.  I used to have the app on my Chuwi that's now in the UK and most times they want to load it on to a phone and not on to a desktop.  I might try to set it up on the tablet that has been repaired so I was told this morning in a phone fall, I might fetch it tomorrow, just wasn't in the mood today.  So despite my best efforts, the watch is set up, recording time and steps but I've been unable to change the clock face which is what I wanted to do.  I don't like the one that it comes with and from an Android machine all things seem possible but from my phone the message I receive is that 'oops, there is no internet connection' so I check settings and there it is for all to see.  I even removed the VPN set up but still wouldn't get through so I'll live with the clock-face for the time being.

Interspersed with the computer disasters I did manage to cook a chicken and some very tasty Hassleback potatoes for Avatar and myself and I went over the road with it around four this afternoon, helped her get the washing in before it pelted it down, came home and had a late lunch/early supper.  I went back to my problem with the Fitbit, a brief interlude washing up and clearing the kitchen for tomorrow, a phone call to the UK and now everything is getting switched off...I've had my fill of computers and Smart watches.  LN.......Bath, television and bed-time for me......LN

Saturday 8th July

Funny old start to the day....dull, rainy and then fine the next minute. I didn't bother with breakfast and decided to go into Kardjali and get my tablet back from the computer shop.  As I drove into Djebel the hand brake light stayed on and then started to flicker so my question was to my man in the garage if the handbrake was responsible for that light, nothing else could be doing it.  At first he said that I probably didn't push it down all the way but i know that I did so he lifted the bonnet.  He removed the cap from the brake fluid container and that was the problem....it needed topping up which he did, handed me the container, I handed him ten leva and the rest went in the boot.  Now I know what causes it, I have another string to my bow.  Parked up near the computer shop and after handing over fifty leva it was in my sticky little hands and I decided to return home....I would only spend money if I decided to stop and shop.  

I parked up in the main car-park and walked to the car shop and spent some time with my student's mum and then my student arrived to join in the conversation.  I made my leave around one, drove home, made two chicken and mayo sandwiches, put Netflix on and promptly fell asleep watching the The Last Kingdom.  After an hour or so in the land of nod I came to, smartened myself up a little and it was back in the Nipper and into Djebel to spend the evening with my ex-student and her family.  We had chicken supper with potatoes and salad, ice-cream for afters and lots of Black tea and lot of good light heated conversation with my ex-student playing translator when the conversation suddenly went into Turkish.  I left around ten twenty, only one car on the road home, backed into the drive and fortunately I'd left the porch light on so didn't have difficulty with keys and locks.  LN....Another relaxed evening with good friends......LN

Sunday 9th July

A bit of a sleepless night but it didn't take long to get back off to sleep again and woke up at seven.  I sat out on the terrace with a coffee and watched the morning unfold, the mist was hanging over the river in the valley and it wasn't a bad morning to wake up to.  The sun was hot, the flies hadn't gotten any speed up and didn't come up to the second level. I then had the urge to do something and the first thing to get attacked was the bed, stripped down and into the washing machine with the lot of it and it was over the clothes airer by eight thirty drying inside so that I didn't pick up the little bugglies and the duvet cover was over the stair well and was dry in no time.  I made beans on toast for breakfast and that's managed me through until now but unfortunately I heated them in the microwave, stupidly emptied them on to the toast and put cold water in the bean bowl and there was a sudden crack. I thought it was Pyrex and robust, still got one left though so I'll know for next time.  It's now waiting for me to pay a visit to the container along the road....it's a job for tomorrow.

I walked the garden and found two of the tortoise sunning themselves, the other three weren't to be found.  I had a bonfire, the rubbish in the porch waiting to be burnt was beginning to smell in the heat so it was dispatched into the heaven.  I don't like putting foodstuff in the containers, the dogs, cats and cows get in there, pull it out and leave a complete mess.  It does have a pull down lid but the old ladies, can't push it up or pull it down so once up, there it stays until someone like me comes along.  I decided to do nothing today, I did pop over to see Avatar this morning to retrieve my metal dish from the other night when I took over food but then I settled on the sofa and slept through an episode of 'The Last Kingdom' and needed to go back over it before watching any more.  At six I went out to water the pots on the terrace and noticed that my very pretty red oleander had been taken over by grass, it was up the corner of the little house terrace and I'd missed it.  It also needed its container changing, as I pulled it along to the main terrace part of it broke away so it was going to be a complete overhaul...and it's done.  New pot, new soil, weed free, old pot contents cleared away and burnt creating a horrible smell down the bottom of the garden but it's not near the house...try that in the UK.

Eight o'clock my time, grass cutting and hedge trimming tomorrow before the sun gets up to temperature, nothing else pressing only the insurance on the Beast to get done this week so probably Tuesday when I have the lesson with my student.  LN.....Time to find something to eat...no food deliveries necessary...Avatar's son has arrived from Germany......LN

Monday 10th July

Six start, coffee and games, half an hour on the balcony enjoying the morning.  Woody came visiting but didn't stay long.....needed somewhere with better pickings.  I dressed and went out to the garden and prepared for action...the mower came out along with the one hundred meter extension lead, the man-sized hedge trimmer, my little one wasn't up for the job.  I set about the little bushes that I've cut into spheres, they didn't need much just a trim was sufficient.  The next to be attacked was the wild plum near the bonfire bucket.  It had got quite tall so now it's a squared off hedge, blocking the view of the bucket but allowing me to see when the flames are leaping skywards and I need to rush down with the hosepipe.  It's not happened yet, but you never know Norman.   I managed to do some of the larger bushes near the low wall, it looks a lot tidier down there and in places you can actually see the wall.

I was in needed five minutes so carved up the gala melon and went over to see Avatar to check on how her son's visit went yesterday.  She was a little disappointed, he'd arrived with his son yesterday, only stopped for an hour or so and she'd gone to so much trouble.  I think discussing it with me, knowing that it goes no further in the village makes it better for her, she can pass comments that don't get passed on. I didn't stay long, I was surprised that it was only ten when I got back home so not to be thwarted, I cleared up some of the debris and over the wall it went and left the rest for the mower to cope with.  I managed half of the grass at the bottom of the garden but then had to come in, it was just too warm out there and I've metered myself all day.  I've interspersed it with 'The Last Kingdom' and didn't go out again seriously until four and that was to put tools away and water the garden.  The bottom of the garden is all cleared and looking good and tomorrow morning I can get on with the job of finishing the grass before my student tomorrow afternoon.

It's been one of those days where the yogurt is finished and so are the chocolate biscuits and the upside is that I don't have to cook tonight.  Not a healthy day food wise but the job got done.  Went for a nice cool bath at seven and feel much better for it.  Showers are fine but not really relaxing.  LN.......Just after eight my time...a successful day......LN