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

Tuesday 11th July

Disturbed night, ended up sleeping in the downstairs bedroom, I just couldn't settle upstairs and I really don't know the reason why.  Slept through until six thirty, decided I needed more and was out for the count until eight, hard boiled some eggs for egg mayo sandwiches for breakfast, dressed and was out mowing the grass at eleven.  I'd watched a couple of episodes of my Netflix series, had a conversation with my daughter and somehow the morning had just gone.  Rosy and Blue were out in the garden sunning themselves but the others were nowhere to be seen.  I guess they heard the mower so took cover.  I didn't have to print off my lesson for today for my student, I'd done it last week and left my folder in the shop so nothing much to do except concentrate on the grass.

I came in at one thirty and had a shower and shampooed my hair,  I've been using Badedas, shampoo and body wash but today it didn't work out.  My hair was obviously tangled from sweating while cutting the grass, the machine had thrown up lots of grit from the mole hills, I feel pebble dashed but clean but when I came to comb my hair out to dry it, no way was I getting though those tangles so I went back to the shower, slathered my hair in conditioner. rinsed it and it made life much easier.  I don't really like conditioner, after two days my hair feels as if it needs washing again and it's a vicious circle.  Anyway, I shall be swimming. god willing tomorrow in the sea so it will need doing again.  By the time that I'd dried my hair and dressed for my student, I had to get my derriere into gear and just made three o'clock.  I'd remembered to take my Beast documents with me so that I could get the insurance renewed, it doesn't run out until next week but it's done and dusted.  I also phoned my holiday lady to see if Bodrum was still on for September but she's still unsure.  Apparently the driver is not available for the dates she mentioned so I'll have to wait and see but at least I've registered my interest.

Student was interesting today.  We read the text and he asked if I had the book with me which I didn't.  I think he wanted to know what happens next.  So we Googled it and  put the name of the book, the author and 'free to read' and he managed to download the book.  We scanned through it and found what we had read and continued to read the next chapter from the computer.  Clever old stick and as well as the one book we now have access to all the author's work which are great for children.  I'm just so pleased that he is interested enough to want to do the next chapter and we've promised each other that we'll read it together next week.  Home for six thirty after chatting to the family in the shop, was having real problems synching my new Fitbit to my computer so restarted the watch and now it works perfectly.  Popped over to Avatar's house and she presented me with a very large dish of melon which I sat in the garden and enjoyed, I did produce a massive burb but I was excused.  Home for eight thirty, all tools away, I'd forgotten the little electric last night but you wouldn't do that in UK and now it's safely gathered in.  My packing is done for tomorrow, the folding chairs and umbrella and tool to get it to stand up are all in the boot.  money and passport are in my bag, I need to be at the venue for eightish.  LN......Sun, sand and the Mediterranean Sea and that's just for starters.......LN

Wednesday 12th July

Woke up at six so much too early to get ready for the beach but in retrospect we should have started earlier.  We set off for the border at eight and so did the world and all its friends and it took us about an hour to get through into Greece.  The roads after that were easy to negotiate, we stopped off at our favourite coffee and cake shop for breakfast, bought bread for my students mum and then carried on to our private beach in Fanari...not the side that the tourists go, there are more locals with little blue and white chalets in an estate.  We moved nearer the rocks and the pine trees and set up camp but unfortunately I'd forgotten the second pole for the sun umbrella so it was made for dwarfs and only one at that.  I was in the water immediately and it was really warm to get in to.  Not much swimming to be done where we were but to lie on the stones and let the wave wash over you was really good...pink up on the beach and wash it away in the water.  Bliss, sheer bliss.

We stayed there until around four thirty, put on fairly decent clothes and finished off at a fish restaurant and I settled for calamari with Greek salad and shared chippies, water to wash it all down with a very comfortable bill at the end of it.  Headed back to the border crossing and the Nipper just didn't feel right.  I looked at the engine temperature and it was right off the scale, I didn't panic and dropped my speed and fortunately there was no one waiting to enter Bulgaria which we just didn't expect.  I explained to the Bulgarian Border police guy while I was waiting for my passport that the engine had overheated and I'd be pulling over to wait for it to cool down.  We had a bottle of water in the car, left it for half an hour, opened the bonnet and eventually it was cool enough to remove the radiator cap.  I topped up the water bottle which obviously topped up the radiator, went back to the Border Police and filled up the bottle again.  His advice was to stop at the spring and fill the bottle up again but by now the temperature needle was in it's normal place so off we set and no more problems, I dropped off my friend and then carried on home and am parked up securely.  The swim gear can get sorted in the morning.....I'm knacked!!

Lovely being in Greece, I am turning a very nice shade of brown that only the Med can provide.  The food is different too and the service impeccable, most family run businesses with Granny holding the fort and the cash and overseeing everything.  But all this comes at a price and Bulgaria is my home and wouldn't change it for anything...Greece is just nice to drive over, enjoy and then return home.  LN......The gods were obviously with us when there was no one waiting to cross at the border this evening....many thanks......LN

Thursday 13th July

Funny old night.  I woke up at three this morning, played games until the sun came up and then went back to sleep until eight thirty.  There wasn't much to get up for except to deliver the bread that I'd bought in Greece yesterday to my student's mum and get the Nipper checked out.  It had behave itself very well after I'd topped it up with water at the border with Greece but I was more concerned about a small hole in one of the hoses and that would be sorted later.

I didn't bother with breakfast, had a shower and washed my hair yet again, the salt water from yesterday had made it impossible to get a brush or comb through it and now I'm back to conditioner, it was going to be another really hot day.  Yesterday evening in the restaurant it was still thirty four degrees at six thirty and this morning it was already up to twenty eight so it we were in for another hot one.  I drove to Djebel after I'd checked the water in the radiator and it was normal and the temperature gauge sat where it normally did.  I stopped firstly at the shop to deliver the bread then went down to the garage and I was seen straightaway.  Three other cars appeared after me but I was first in the queue. The Nipper was checked out, the oil was topped up, the water was OK and there was no sign of any leakage from the pipes.  He moved it over to the inspection pit, I went over to the cool spot to sit in the shade and left him to it until he delivered it to me saying that there was no problem at all, just to keep an eye on it and I jokingly said that I might pop down to Greece.  He smiled at me, there wasn't any charge and I went back to the shop.  I wouldn't accept any money for the bread and we had a bit of a stand off when she wouldn't accept any money for a thermal screen for the inside of the windscreen.....but we still left as friends.  I went next door to the chemist and picked up a small container of antibiotic powder for things that were difficult to heal in this hot sultry climate and was surprised that it was just over nine leva but if it works, it will save a trip to the dermatologist in Kardjali hospital.    I stopped off at the supermarket on the way back and topped up with one or two essentials, a frozen chicken for the freezer and spicy sausages that I intend for tonight but instead made a breakfast/lunch/supper of tuna mayo with hard boiled egg, grated carrot and onion.  After demolishing the contents of the bowl that was going to be put in the fridge for later, I settled on the sofa after a litre of water, and slept until six.  It turned into a very long siesta.  

Temperature is showing on my weather station at thirty five degrees at almost eight this evening and I definitely shan't be cooking tonight or in fact eating anything at all, stuffed from my late lunch.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far but might be tempted to take myself up to the pool above Kardjali for a day under an umbrella and the pool.  I certainly won't be getting anymore sun.  LN..... I think summer has finally arrived......LN

Friday 14th July

Six thirty start after a balmy night.  I had the good sense to take the quilt off and find a duvet cover to put on the bed and it was just the right weight.  Popped over to see Avatar before eight, I'd promised to take over spicy sausage and a pack of mayo that I'd bought yesterday, her daughter over from Turkey and one of Avatar's nieces were sitting in the garden waiting for the bus to go into Djebel.  It was Friday after all.  Haciber was sitting with them so I sat on the edge of the outside sink and they were all fighting to give me a chair but I was determined to stay where I was...they were the guests.  The two of them got on the bus on its journey up the village to its furthest point to make sure that they got a seat, and they don't charge you double for the scenic tour.  I stayed only for a few minutes after they'd left and went home to make my breakfast.

I had half of one of the spicy sausages with a fried egg in a sandwich and that's done me until now.  I stripped the downstairs bed to the mattress, and got the first load going and managed to find a second load.  I sat down at the desk in the stairwell and had a sudden though about my insurance for the Beast.  I'd renewed it on Tuesday but didn't remember what I'd done with it.  I thought I'd put it in the folder I use for my student stuff but it wasn't there, I searched the Nipper and then decided to check the Beast just in case I'd been super efficient and I had.  I'd put the new insurance into the document folder in the Beast so now I could relax.  After breakfast I started up the mower and immediately set to on the little house grass and it only took me forty five minutes to complete it since I wasn't using the grass box.  Tools away, washing pegged out and since it was now to hot to be doing anything outside I settled on the sofa for an episode of The Last Kingdom, which stretched into two but I'm sure I slept through it and when I woke up, the clouds had rolled over, thunder was rumbling and it was threatening rain which took the idea of washing my windows straight out of my brain....fortunately.

At four I had another burst of energy, washing in and folded but I've still to make the bed up, electric battery strimmer out and finished the yard, between the house and the front wall and round the flower bed surrounds.    While doing this I noticed CS walking across the grass so went in the house to find a tomato that was just going over and a knife but by the time I got out I lost CS.  I carried on round the garden and found Blue and Rosy so they had tomato but Rosy wasn't at all interested and walking back I again came across CS and this one really got stuck in.  To finish off my day I had a bonfire, remembering to connect the hose and dampen the grass round the bin since everything is tinder dry and then watered the garden.  It hasn't rained yet but still threatening it.....the cloud seems to be hanging over the village, stuck in the valley but at least the thunder has stopped.  LN....Now to find something for supper.....I've had a good day getting on with jobs.....maybe a pool day tomorrow if the weather settles......LN

Saturday 15th July

Six thirty start, I slept well though I didn't go to bed until one this morning.  It was very pleasant to get into a laundered bed with just a sheet over me and no need at all to pull up the covers....another balmy night.  It was another beautiful sunrise and it's been a temptation to stay in the house most of the day, the temperature rose to thirty four degrees with no breeze at all, it clouded over again at lunchtime and still cloudy now and very humid.  I had coffee and made toast and strawberry jam for breakfast and walked the garden eating it.  I went out to the Nipper and Green God was trying to climb the fence and I guess that this will be their last year in the garden.  I'm thinking that they need the 'Open road Toad'...to quote Kenneth Grahame from 'Wind in the Willows'.

Lost night my legs really started too itch and I found solace in a tube of cream that I bought to relieve mosquito itch last year and it worked.  Unfortunately it does contain cortisone and I was advised by my student's mum to use it very sparingly....I use the shop as my doctor's surgery with the chemist shop next door.  She's a great believer in natural remedies and normally comes up with something that does the trick.  She opened one of her pots, poured some into my hands since it had melted and the base was pig fat.  I was encouraged to plaster it on my legs and I remarked that I smelled just like a chippie, which she didn't really get and I had to explain it to her.  I did get another tube of the one that I have to take care with from Djebel this afternoon so it's there in reserve if I don't managed to get the flowers to make my own natural remedies.  I did buy the pig-fat and that's sitting in the fridge....I'll have to start looking closely at my garden to see what's available.

I arrived back to a very large van being parked over my drive stopping me from getting into my drive.  I indicated that I wanted them to move, the passengers were all sitting under my tree and obviously waiting for me. I parked up in the yard,  vaguely recognised the one woman and then it came to me, the man and woman had been here before with one of the neighbours from the Librarian's village.  She was an acquaintance who had moved back to the UK and wanted to know if I had any telephone numbers or contact details for her, which I didn't.  Again they were asking the same question, there was a house sale going through and signatures are required and I said that the same applied, I had no details of her whereabouts and suggested that they went back to see the notary.  They got back into the van, he told me that he was working in Holland and left.

It was an afternoon of getting my head down after I'd given the garden a good drenching.  It was probably not the best time to do it but the plants were beginning to look a little crispy and I'll give them another soaking when I've finished the update.  Again not very hungry, it's too hot to eat and I'll probably settle for a chunk of cheese later.  LN......Just checked the weather and it's going to be 35 degrees tomorrow with thirty eight percent humidity....so not a lot of action out of me again tomorrow.......LN

Sunday 16th July

So Utred was returned to his family seat after his final battle with the Saxons and the Scots.  It's taken him five series to do it and there are still three or four books that haven't been covered but I can always go back to reading the books.  I watched the last episode this morning over breakfast and then the tV went off and stayed that way.  Another six months and I'll be watching it again.

It's been another scorcher of a day.  I went out to water the plants and ended up removing the errant grass that insists on cropping up despite my best efforts. The sweet peas have been been harvested for next year and the debris despatched over the wall with the removed grass.  I also had an attempt to dig out one of the mole hills to expose the tunnels and a mole bomb was ignited, not sure it will do anything, there are just too many of them so I'll have to get systematic cleansing in place.  I took a tomato out for the tortoise and CS was on it straightaway.  Rosy ignored it and walked round it so I thought I'd tempt her with dandelion leaves that I took from the under terrace garden but she walked round those as well.  Whether she can smell me on them I don't know....so I gave them to CS that doesn't seem so picky.  I also picked up several very ripe wild plums from the ground and put those on the grass with the rest of the tomatoes...they're easy pickings for one of them.  I cleared out the grass from the far side of the under main terrace garden, noticed that the blue grass has survived but the bed looked very empty so I moved some baby marigolds and petunias and gave them a good watering.  By then it was much too hot to be out and doing.....I came in, had a coffee, played sudoku and then got my head down for an hour or so and felt much better for it.  The kitchen called, I fried off the spicy sausage that remained with onions and had them with mayo and bread and it's sorted me out for the rest of the day and I shan't need anything tonight.  I've just been over to see Avatar.  I went out to take a picture of the sunset and noticed that the deer that runs with the cows was over the road but I just couldn't get a clear shot of it at full stretch.  A yapping wild dog that hangs around the village didn't help matters making the deer skittish so I shouted at the dog and the response was not really reporting here.  She invited me into the garden, paid me for the food that I'd taken over the other day and gave me a tub of ice-cream, a present from her daughter that's now left.  I was still carrying my camera and noticed how many flowers are on her buddleia, she obviously looks after hers better than I look after my two.  

Time for a shower to refresh from the day, nothing much on the agenda for tomorrow but since I've got a friend staying I suppose I ought to get the hoover out and check the bathrooms over.  She's not due until late afternoon and then on Tuesday I'm taking her to the airport, better she stays here the night and then it's potentially a morning without any complications, straightforward, get up and leave.  LN......My shower and bed calls......LN

Monday 17th July

Another six thirty start but Fitbit has informed me that I had a pretty good night with lots of 'deep' sleep.  It must have done me good, the sheets were changed for my guest tonight, washed and put back on, quilts are all sorted, bathrooms cleaned, hoovered through and the floors all washed.  It's either spring cleaning late or early for next year...whatever, it's done and I feel much better for it.  Toast and jam for breakfast, the tortoise water bowls were filled up and only Green was out and about this morning, the others were conspicuous by their absence.  I toyed with the idea of clearing out the little bed between the two steps but that didn't happen, it was another corker of a day which should have been set aside for the pool but what I did manage to do was far more constructive and tomorrow I'm doing another mercy run to Plovdiv airport, my guest is on her way to the UK.

This afternoon was taken up with playing silly games and sudoku.  I'm still managing to get 'Hard' levels out in record time, the easy ones I have trouble with sometimes but perhaps I don't concentrate as much on those.  So a complete wash down at three, changed into long trousers and t-shirt, I was meeting my friend at a village near Momchilgrad.  She was dropping her car off so that it would be there for her return and is staying at mine for the night so that we can leave for the airport in good time without having to think of anything else.  I leave time for problems, no point in wanting everything to go like clockwise and then it doesn't and panic sets in.

I suggested we stopped off for pizza in Djebel so that I didn't have to cook and it was something else off my mind.  She's sleeping downstairs and has her own bathroom and toilet and I'm upstairs and she's got the use of the kitchen.  I have my kettle so I can make coffee as and when I want without interrupting her.  So I've just printed out some documents that she's emailed me, her car need to have insurance taken out while she's away so we're hoping that it can be done from photocopies and she can take it with her to the UK and the car will have the correct documents to be on the road. The advice from locals is to 'do it when you get back' but that would mean that she would be driving the car without insurance and we are more likely to be handed a fine that told to be on our way and get it done.  And now to keep her company downstairs and I've just remembered, I've got a garden to water and lots of plants in pots.  LN.....That hose needs to be put to good use......LN

Monday 17th July

Upstairs last night so that my guest could have the more even temperature in the downstairs bedroom but having said that, I do like waking up to the sunrise.  It didn't disappoint.  I made coffee and went out to the balcony to enjoy the morning, the sun was a really red ball shining through the trees on the boundary and I watched it clear the trees and start to make its journey across the sky.  The birds were very active.  Woody was out but hid in the branches of the lonesome pine so didn.t managed to get a shot of it and the Golden Orioles were out in force, the male and female have different calls but are almost impossible to spot, they're so quick and despite having yellow flashes, look almost like dead leaves or sunlight peeping through the branches.  I must have watched and listened for about thirty minutes, made a second cup and took that out too until the urge to get on and 'do' came over me.

I went downstairs and watered the pots and the connected the long hose and did the shrubs down the bottom of the garden that had started looking crispy.  I also gave round the bonfire bucket a good soaking, I needed to burn rubbish before I left for the airport.  I also noticed that the lavatera has lots of buds on it and should be out any day now and what I thought was a new lobe on my Mexican type cactus appears to be a flower head so that was rescued and place in a prominent position so that I could keep an eye on it.  I've had it a long time and was asked to look after it for a spell and that was ten years ago.....I think I can consider it mine.

My guest was up and about at seven so it was tools down, I washed and dressed, checked the water in the Nipper, filled up water and squash bottles for the journey and we set off at eight for Djebel, stopping off at the car-shop to see if she could managed to sort out insurance for my friends car.  Unfortunately we hit a snag with the software so couldn't achieve it this morning but help will be on hand tomorrow from the Insurance company.  We left at nine thirty, I filled up with gas in Kardjali and off we set taking the scenic route through the mountains to Plovdiv.  No trouble on the way up, we found an food stall just before the airport and had coffee and cheesy bread and I dropped her off in plenty of time for the flight.  The journey home was taken slowly, it was another hot day, the mountain road was hard going, the temperature gauge started climbing and my heart rate started to go up with it.  I tried the usual trick of putting the car heater on at full volume and it dropped and then went up again so I pulled over and really let it cool down.  Eventually I limped to Kardjali then Djebel and the garage and had it checked over again.  He could find nothing wrong with the fan, pump and thermostat, said I'd probably over filled it with water and explained the minimum -maximum markings on the filler bottle and now I know to leave it alone.  Just for safety we've ordered a new radiator cap that will arrive tomorrow.  

As I drove from the garage I noticed that my woodyard had new oak in already cut so I went to the shop in Djebel to check out the price for a ton.  I'll phone them tomorrow and order it, it's cheaper than last year which was a nice surprise for me so I'll probably have it delivered later this week.  Home for five, turkey stuffed with cheese on the worktop destined for the oven and it will be accompanied with chippies.....healthy food is is.....not.  LN....Down to sort supper......LN

Wednesday 19th July

Awake at four thirty this morning after going to bed at ten.....and I played catch-up at ten thirty and slept until twelve.  I had a really sleepless night and woke up sweating my little socks off, I could almost have rung out the t-shirt, it was a hot balmy night.  At seven I was out there with the large lopper and saw.  I thought it was the cows that had brought the branches down but talking to Avatar later, she said that a sudden wind came through and only lasted for five minutes or so and I suppose that did the initial damage and the cows just pulled on it.  I lopped off most of it, sawed through the bigger ones that I could reach and pulled at the one that was hanging, so to speak by a thread of bark, and tugged at it until it stripped off and came away in my hands.  The branches went over the field for the cows and they've stripped them bare, the electricity man was round reading the meters at seven this morning and we had a morning natter.  I was over at Avatars house once I'd put my tools away and we sat in the garden having cheesy bread and melon with Fanta orange.  It was heating up by now so I watered the pots and at ten I was on the sofa with Netflix, ten thirty asleep and then preparing for my student this afternoon.  I showered and washed my hair and drove into Djebel around two thirty.

I called into the wood yard and found the owner in his place of work, told him that I wanted new wood not old, one ton and he is delivering it to me on Friday morning......that should keep me out of mischief for the day.  I suppose for some neighbours it's early to order it and have it stored but it's worked for me for the last two years and once it's in I can relax.  Tomorrow I'm gong to shift money around at my bank, local banks are not paying any interest so instead of bringing money over from the UK where they do pay interest, I'll start using up some BG money.  Another stop tomorrow is the Dermatologist to check out something that bothered me but last time she wasn't working.  I've also got to get the results of my annual MOT to see what if anything has been uncovered.  My student was ready for his lesson and was so keep to show me new football boots that he has bought for himself with a little help from the Bank of MUM.  We settled down with the book and read two and a half chapters and I love that he puts expression into his reading for the different characters.  I sat with his mother until seven, came away with my new radiator cap that I'll fit tomorrow and a dozen eggs, Avatar called me over and I sorted out her WIFI on her phone.  They give her these things to do and I could do it quite easily in Bulgarian or English but the phone language is Turkish...but I managed it.  

Another hot night so I might move downstairs again for the next few days.  Nothing needed for supper tonight, I've got cheese and biscuits if I get the hunger pains later.  LN.....Countdown to winter has begun......LN

Thursday 20th July

Another balmy night and I woke at six thirty and headed out on to the balcony with coffee to cool off.  I love this time of the morning....I was intrigued by a cat and without glasses I wasn't sure what it was and from the photos that I took it's obviously a contortionist.  It was quite happy balancing on the wall and I was amazed that it managed.  I came in for more coffee and then settled on the bed to play a few games before I really started my day.  I planned to go into Kardjali, I wanted to move money around and get my doctors appointment done and dusted and what a waste of time that was.  The manager that I usually see in the bank was on holiday and I thought I wouldn't get served before lunch time, the bank was crowded so I gave up on that and moved to the hospital parking place and went to see reception.  The dermatologist was still on holiday and I was advised to go to the general hospital so I picked up my bag and walked, up to the second floor, I handed over my documents and lo and behold, this one was on holiday too.    I found a quick walking route back to the car and thought about Lidl and dismissed the idea, thought about going to my bank in Momchilgrad to get things sorted and then gave up on that idea too.  Back to the cash-point in Djebel, took out money so that I can pay for my wood tomorrow and the transport and headed home.

I thought about sorting out the woodstore and parked that thought too...it was twelve o'clock and felt that I'd achieved nothing by driving to Kardjali and I really wasn't in the mood for anything.  I made coffee and settled on the sofa and before I knew it I'd gone to the land of nod and didn't wake up until one thirty.  Around lunchtime it started to cloud over, the sky got very heavy and there was a distant rumble of thunder that got nearer and louder and then the rain started.  We had quite a storm and it really did put pay to my idea of the woodshed tidy up.  The mood had gone and now the electricity and wifi was up and down like a bride's nightie so no chance of watching anything so picked up my little Kindle and read for a while.  I started to cook supper around seven just as the electricity went off again but fortunately I have to gas rings on my cooker hob so all I had to do was to light a candle to see what I was frying and how brown it was getting.  So two turkey stuffed with cheese sandwiched between bread with mayo coating and that was my evening meal sorted.  

Half eight my time, it's still clouded over and the temperature is down so I should get a good night tonight.  The wood should be with me around nine so I've got plenty of time to move the Nipper out and I'll put the Beast out on to the grass outside the house.  I can always move them inside again once the lorry has dropped it's load.  I'll see how I go with it before I ask for reinforcements from the village, Avatar has asked to help but as with most things, I have my routine and find that others just get in the way.  LN.....All I need is a good night's sleep .......LN

Friday 21st July

Six thirty start this morning and I was off the mark at seven thirty after playing a few games and getting nowhere.  I've just got one elusive Bad Piggy left in the Angry Birds game and gave myself only until seven thirty before I began to call the shots.  Washed and dressed in work clothes finding out my old fisherman's smock.  It's big and lots of air space and it's cotton into the bargain and it and I go back lots of years...and I love it.  The Beast was removed from the garage and parked up ion the grass outside the wall thinking that the man would have more space to bring in his lorry and I would have more space to sort the wood as to how I wanted to stack it.  Lots of leaves had collected under the Beast so that was the first job along with cleaning the floor in the woodstore.  Wood carriers at the ready, mowers out in the garage and room to swing a cat so to speak.  The Nipper also went out, didn't want anymore dents in that one, it's got enough.

The man didn't arrive until half nine so to fill in my time I set about cutting back the winter flowering jasmine and the honeysuckle on the workshop terrace.  That also got swept and tidied and it was in one of my breaks from stacking wood that I noticed the tortoise all gathering around the area.  I'm still not sure what it's all about, the cranberry has got fruit but it's not ripe yet or whether they'd all got the urge to merge and only Little Purple was missing from the party.  At one point CS was eager to come from the little garden onto the grass, lost it's footing and landed on its back but I was there to turn it the right way up and later it had made its way into the woodstore and was lucky not to get stacked or trodden on so out it went.

It didn't look a huge pile of wood on the lorry but the man said that it was very heavy and it was.  He picked up a log, handed it to me and I dropped it but he'd made his point.  Because of this I've ordered another ton and that comes tomorrow and it's quite good splitting the load.  I didn't realise his lorry would take two tons or I would have ordered it together but it's worked out better this way.  There were some large logs that I've managed to split, the rest are a reasonable size and this year I have no rubbish.  The seem to listen to me now when I state what I want and get it.... don't mess with the Anglechanka.....Wood away and the base is down for the next load, everything tidy and I finished off by clearing the cuttings from the terrace shrubs and they're all over the wall. Everything was finished by twelve so now it was time for lots of water and ploughman's for lunch...cheese, biscuits and small Silverskin onions followed by ice-cream.  I had a call from the UK and we were on for an hour catching up...another dear friend has gone into a hospice....dropping like flies in he road where I used to live.

Time for a rest so I put on Netflix, it was too hot to be outside without a purpose.  I watched the rest of the Lincoln Lawyer based on the books by Brian Connolly, and then watched The Pianist that I'm sure I've seen before but a long time ago.  There was a nap between the two and at ten minutes to nine my time, it must have been a long one.  The cars are locked and are still outside on the grass by the wall....no point in bringing them in, I'll only have to move them out again tomorrow.  So hopefully a nine o'clock delivery to get it done before the sun gets any power into it.  LN......It's a nice feeling when one of the jobs for winter is out of the way, or half out of the way.....LN

Saturday 22nd July

Well I was up and prepared for my wood delivery, no sign of it at nine so I decided to do breakfast and at nine thirty I phoned to see what time I could expect the delivery.  The phone was answered, I asked the man what time it would arrive and he told me tomorrow stating that it was Djebel's 'praznic', or event day so I accepted it and tomorrow it will be.  I'd been over to borrow ten lev from Avatar so that I had the correct money for the man, she'd looked at the wood and said that it was very good for the money and some of my neighbours had paid more...so I was very pleased.

I was now left without an agenda, I bought the Beast back into the yard and parked it in the garage, the little one I left outside knowing that I was going out later this afternoon.  I didn't do much, I put the washing from the other day away and loaded another one into the machine, it get's dried inside these days to save the little bugglies attacking it and me at a later date.  I had a shower and washed my hair around lunch time, dried it and was in the Nipper for three to head into Djebel, I was out with my student's family later that day.  I was early but it didn't matter, I sat in the shop and talked to her but she was very tired I can tell.  The hot weather though really saps the life out of you, I'm lucky that my house has lots of air going through it with the windows and door open and fly screen protecting the inside.  They closed up the shop and we set off to see what was supposed to be a collection of old cars but when we got there there was nothing to see....not an old car insight so we bought drinks and headed back to the shop.  The other people that we were meeting up with arrived around four thirty.  I've known this couple for a few years but we don't get together very often and it was good to see them both.  I've actually picked his brain on how to get the music from my old Apple ipod and I'm sending him the item number and we'll take it from there.  We carried on to the café in the square near to where the music was going to take place, ordered drinks and everyone sat around until seven when the next event was supposed to take place and of course, it was in Bulgarian time.  We de-iced that it wasn't worth hanging around to see what happened next, the visitors on towards home, we meandered back to the shop and I persuaded the parents that we should go to the car parking and buy a chicken and bread and  make something out of what was turning out to be a rubbish day.  So we bought a chicken, got seated under a giant umbrella just before the cloudburst and the three of us tucked in quite nicely.  Supper over, we walked back to the shop, hugs all round, they wouldn't let me pay so I got in the Nipper and drove home.

I left the Nipper outside the gate, it would have to go outside anyway and was surprised to see and envelope tucked in the door handle behind the fly=screen.  I'd had a phone call from Bekir while in the restaurant but slippery chicken fingers meant that the phone stayed in my bag and I phoned him back when I got home.  It's an invitation to his son's wedding on Tuesday at seven at Makaza and since the invitation was written in Turkish I had to refer to my dictionary to confirm the month and time.  So looks like next week will be busy.  Wood in the morning, Nipper into the garage on Monday, MOT Monday afternoon and bank and now wedding on Tuesday.  LN......I so love my quiet life....LN

Sunday 23rd July

Another hot sultry night, I woke up at six after a night fight with the over sheet and decided to start my day.  I hung the wet cushion on the balcony to dry and settled down to a few games with a coffee before I started my day proper.  I was downstairs at seven thirty, made another coffee, moved the Beast on to the grass outside of the gate and opened up the woodstore.  I didn't bother with breakfast, that could come later and went round to the woodstore terrace where the tortoise were hanging around yesterday and CS and Blue seem to have taken up residence in the area unless they have a 'thing' going.  I noticed that CS was trying to get into the water dish that I've put near the terrace and she succeeded and must have been in there for five minutes.  Blue was hanging around and I remembered that the wild plums are falling from the tree on the other side of the garden so I legged it over there with a bucket and gathered quite a few for them.  Blue was the first to get them, sniffed the air and then dived in, CS n the other side of the terrace, wasn't interested at all and went to hide under the winter jasmine.

I noticed Avatar outside the gate so I went over to see what she was about.  She was covering the outside of her double gates with barbed wire, mainly to stop the cows and she asked if I had any more wire that she was using to attach it.  The neighbours all know that I have as much in my workshops as the hardware shops in Djebel so I went back and came back with a coil so that she could take what she needed.  I sat with her for a while, went back and five minutes later my wood had arrived.  The driver backed into the yard but had to have a couple of goes at it, maybe he had a better 'prasnik' in Djebel that we did last night.  So dropped the load, I paid the man and off he went and then I got to work.  I'd only been at it for a while and suddenly there was lots of screeching and raised voices so I put my head down and carried on with the wood.  I'd find out later but it was village politics and I didn't want to get involved.  Around eleven I strolled over the road and asked Avatar what it was all about.  Apparently Avatar cleans the garden chairs and one of the ladies got the knock thinking that she was cleaning them after they left.  Avatar was challenged and she said that she cleans them to get rid of leaves and bird droppings and I believe her.  Not satisfied with this explanation, this information was taken by the screecher to the next neighbour, again Avatar was challenged and said that it was all nonsense and it was one of them making trouble.  It stayed all calm on the western front for the rest of the day....but those decibels were high.

I finished the wood just after twelve, brought the cars in and tidied the yard and noticed that the top rail of the gate was rotten and so I attempted a minor repair on it which needed a lot of glue and sawdust and a really good bolt and nut.  This nut must have spent an hour trying to find one to fit and nothing doing and when I did, the bolt wouldn't go through the hole in the gate. It's a job for tomorrow when I've finished the rest, I'll get the bits in Djebel on my way to the garage.   I made a late breakfast-early lunch of tuna mayo and must have drunk a litre of water with it.  The temperature was hot, hot, hot and I was replacing fluid.  I found some music on my iPod that I'd forgotten about and played it at full volume until I got bored and tried Netflix and found a series that I hadn't seen before and rationed myself to two episodes.

Not bothered about supper, the tuna did the job and now I'm going to rest my weary bones in the bath to ease my shoulders.  I've moved two tons of wood in the last few days and that's one winter prep. job off the list.  Almost eight my time, my schedule is written for tomorrow so all I have to do is stick to it.....I'm on my countdown.  LN.....The clouds have gathered, looks like rain again, to water or not to water....that is the question.......LN

Monday 24th August

So this mornings wakeup call was the small dog that belongs to everybody and nobody wants it.  It get's fed of course and probably has a better life than those chained up and fed bread but it really does bark very long and loudly.  From six onwards I played a few games, drank coffee and waited to start my day.  I knew the outline plan and at eight thirty I was in the Nipper heading for Djebel after loading the large strimmer into it.  It's much too heavy for me to use so it's been deposited with the garage since theirs has given up the ghost.  My only clause in the contract is that if I need it back at any time that they have to send a man with it to do the job...and that's been agreed.  Nipper prepared for it's MOT....the handbrake was a bit dodgy and was almost out of the roof before it became effective so now I only have about ten centimetres play in it and what a difference.  It actually works and after a wash and brush up it was looking good.

I set off for Kardjali and changed plan and went into Momchilgrad instead to sort out money on my debit card.  The rest sits in a deposit account and the bank that I use won't make changes over the phone, I don't like internet banking so hence the struggle to communicate with people that only start speaking English towards the end of the transaction.  Anyway I got what I wanted so now I don't have to bring over funds from the UK.  That done I drove to the garage for the MOT and wife and grandson were helping out today.  I was offered coffee that I refused, decent toilets are as scarce as hen's teeth so best not to fill up the tank.  It sailed through, cost me sixty leva and then I made my way to the hospital to see the dermatologist and again, not working but I did spot my doctor having the usual cigarette.  I walked down to the surgery and the nurse from the practice was back.  She's been absent for about a year but she has a beautiful soul, I welcomed her back and we gave each other a hug.  My doctor is quite 'spikey' but the nurse evens it all out and does all the admin efficiently and without fuss.  I did get the results of my blood test, cholesterol is a little high and I was recommended to eat garlic and greens and that's definitely going to happen...not.  I stopped at Lidl and topped up on dairy products...another no-no and drove back to Djebel intending to get the insurance sorted but realised I needed to go to the cash-point first and couldn't be bothered.  

I was home for two, settled down with a bottle of water and Netflix and I slept through until four more or less.  It has been exceptionally hot today and Wednesday is supposed to be another corker or so my holiday lady advised me.  We have to meet up to discuss the holiday to Turkey.....it's working out more expensive than anticipated and I'm not sure she'll get a bus load together.  So tomorrow I'm taking Avatar to the supermarket and to the cash point, she mentioned money and food needed topping up and then meeting holiday lady at twelve to discuss plans.  I've just watered the garden and must turn the hose off on the old veg garden.  LN.....A woman's work is never done.......LN

Tuesday 25th July

Six start again but at least I felt like I'd had a good night's sleep.  My morning was going to be pretty full and timetabled but things change as you know...and it did.  The plan was to take Avatar shopping at nine thirty and she saw me as I was putting the new bolt in place in the gate and shouted to me so I went over.  By now she was inside the house so I knocked and went in and she was mithering about getting breakfast.  The usual van had not saved her any cheesy bread so she was making eggy bread for herself and I was invited to join her.  I refused said that I had breakfast ready at home and that I would see her as arranged at nine thirty.  Ten minutes later she was over, a neighbour had told her that someone from the council was coming round this morning advising them that they would be paid a winter allowance for coal and that she had to sign for the amount that was being paid to her so I suggested that we leave it until she was free and off she went.  Only twenty minuets later she was back, the woman had been, she'd signed the documents and the money would be paid into her bank.  She went home, I got the car out and off we set to the supermarket and just as I pulled into the car-park she reminded me that she needed money so I said I'd pay and she could give it me after we'd been to the cash-point.  She didn't want much, tomatoes and fruit and chicken legs, wings and a whole chicken for the freezer, she started adding chocolate biscuits to the trolley so I added a loaf of bread again for the freezer and when we got to the checkout, i Paid, put the change in her handbag and she then owed me a straight hundred lev.  I drove to the cash-point took the money out for her, gave her the receipt and the money and it reminded me of when I used to do home-helping when I was first married back in nineteen seventy seven-ish.  I was still doing the same thing...care in the community.  I dropped her off and put the shopping away for her and stopped off to try to chat to Beyser who was sitting outside her house.  As I went back to the car, Avatar shouted to me from the house, I went in and she asked me how much money for petrol I wanted and it was almost a stand-up fight....she's as independent as I am and I got away with it.

So at eleven thirty I set off to me the lady who was arranging the holiday to Turkey and we arrived together at the Djebel Hotel.  The date has changed again to the 1st September which is good for me, three nights in Bodrum, two night below Izmir and one in Chanakale (Dardanelles) and Gelibolu (Gallipoli) Battles Zones in the First World War.  These are World Heritage sites and apparently are really worth visiting.  At the moment she needs another three people to say yes and then it's on, as it stands not sure it's going ahead but fingers and toes crossed.  The rest of the afternoon it was too hot to do anything, thirty six degrees so I watched Netflix and rested and hair washed and ready for tonight and realised that I have too get ready for the wedding.  Photos will follow.  LN....I'm running late.....LN

Wednesday 26th July

It's been a none day.  I watered the garden early, attempted a repair on the hose to tap connector and I'd been sold the wrong one or ones...she insisted I took both.  The hose pipe is really narrow so tomorrow I'm going to see if I can get one in Kardjali.  It's just been too hot to do anything and we had high summer winds, stronger than breezes whipping up over the fields, if it had been cooler it would have made it more bearable but hey...it's summer.

Last night's wedding was a complete success.  I was made very welcome by Bekir and his wife and she actually came over to the table and forced me on to my feet and the dance floor.  I stuck it out for around fifteen minutes, the hypnotic Turkish music goes on for a long time but I made my apologies, my feet were hot and my shoes tight and a girl knows when it's time to quit.  The organisation has improved greatly at the venue.  I've done about five weddings there but the waiter service couldn't be faulted, the food was traditional, salad, liver and rice, chicken and potatoes with a sauce and cake but all well cooked and served properly.  The empty plates were taken away immediately, before they seemed to have trollies that they stacked them on before wheeling them out and they appear to be no more.  It was good to catch up with the people from the village where I used to pick the men up from when they were renovating my house.  Sally and Bekir go back a long way with me and I'm so grateful that they gave me a strong house that I'm very proud of...there's more to do but Sally wont be joining in the fun...it will be Bekir and his son who is the one that got married.  He used to come with his father at odd times when he was about fourteen but never really settled to doing anything to help.  I was introduced to Bekir's sisters mostly from Turkey, seven in the family and he was number six and the only boy.  I made my fond farewells around ten thirty, it would go on but I wouldn't be sharing in the fireworks, I found my car and was home for eleven.

I did managed to book my hotel in Kardjali for next week so another job off the list and I can leave the car at the hotel.  Tomorrow I'm off to Kardjali to try and see the elusive dermatologist.  My own doctor has given me a prescription already and I'm to show it to her to confirm that it's right for the job and in the afternoon I'll see if my student is available, he was playing football yesterday and goodness knows how they manage it in these temperatures.  Saves dieting I suppose.  No supper for me, just more water, I've got to remove my packing from the bed, it will be shower and then relax.  I might even have to get the fan going tonight to circulate any air that's available.  LN.....I hope I've got more energy tomorrow.....LN

Thursday 27th July

Late shower last night cooling off before I sweated the night away.  I shut the balcony door last night, the fly screen needs a new mesh on it, only little holes but there again mosquitoes aren't very big.  The last thing I wanted was the 'tzzz' of a mosquito and me running around trying to find the beastie and the fly spray before any  damage has been done.  I'm aware that everything is entitled to a life but not in my house....anything with more than two legs has to be forcible removed.  I was awake at six which is par for the course these days, made coffee to kick myself into gear but the little Kindle became the key focus along with the coffee and eventually felt ready to face the world at seven thirty.  I was out watering the pots at eight and I'm not really sure why, there were a few spots of rain and it could go either way as this point and the jury was still out.

Dressed and ready for the hospital today, no appointment but my doctor told me to be there at nine and I was.  I tried to park in the hospital car park and that was a complete joke so I went to the park behind the Poly Clinic and paid one lev for parking.  I walked to the other hospital and those spots that I'd felt earlier had multiplied, quadrupled in size and like everyone else was running for cover.  The heavens opened, Jesus had got his boots on and lightning  was flashing all around.  The roads in Kardjali were flooded but that's how it goes here but by five it had all dried up.  

I made my way to registration, received a ticket with number seven written on it and waited my turn outside the number one cubicle as they call the consulting rooms.  I went in following number six, started to explain why I was there and I was stopped in full flood.  Apparently the doctor that I needed to see didn't start until three this afternoon and now it was ten in the morning....I had time to kill...big time.  I walked back to the car just when my parking had run out, I'd bought a cheesy bread and water from the shop to ate that and tried to plan the rest of the day.  I ended up in Kaufland where the parking was free, then to Basmar to try to get the connector for the hose-pipe, moved and again had to pay for parking at the leva shop and finally to the opticians to see if they could mend the driving glasses that broke yesterday. It wasn't possible to repair the frame so I chose a new frame, they confirmed the prescription lenses with a machine, made them up and I paid ninety eight leva and it took all of thirty minutes from entering the shop to leaving.  I carried on to the hospital arriving at two thirty, went to the room and apparently he'd started seeing patients at two thirty and as number six came out, me at number seven went in.  So the two specialists looked at the infection under the boob, it was decided that they would freeze it, I was warned that it growth would drop off and all would be well.  I was surprised when a large metal container was brought into view, the stick in the neck was removed and placed on several patches under my boob.  No waiting around here, no sooner the word that the blow and I was free to go carrying two prescriptions, one to continue treatment on the yeast growth and the second for the rash that I get on my arms.  I thanked them both and back to the car and back to Djebel to pick up my prescriptions and renew the insurance on the Nipper so that it's all ready for when I get back.

Not much to be sorted before I start on my travels, I bought a medium sized hold suitcase while I was in Kardjali to day, just need to add it to my booking.  The insurance will be completed tomorrow, they have to make a phone call because I'm classed as a foreigner but after the call I'm local.  LN.....I filled my hours in Kardjali very constructively.....LN  

Friday 28th July

Another early start so opened the terrace door to let some cool air through.  Made coffee and played games for a while and eventually made my way over to Avatar's house to return the cheesy bred that she insisted that I brought home last night.  I thought we'd have it for breakfast but she'd already had hers and I finished off the rest of a cheese omelette that they add a little flour to.  It was delicious and Fanta orange for breakfast....I don't do the trimming here followed by lots of water melon which I love the flavour of but why can't it be like melon with the seeds in the middle...it's so fiddly to eat.  Left around nine and had five minutes with Zelinger and Beyser but didn't sit down and make a morning of it....both of them don't speak enough Bulgarian whereas Avatar does.  We both search for the words occasionally and I supply the Bulgarian but it's done with good intent and we laugh about it.

So home and my first job was to collect the household rubbish and take the hosepipe down to the bottom of the garden to have a bonfire,  Precaution is the word, I hear that Greece and Turkey both have fires ravaging the countryside and Europe is helping out as much as they can.  It explains the planes that have been going over to try to douse the fire with water.  Any mine was OK, well under control and so I went on a tortoise hunt and in the very overgrown shrub garden by the long wall and the bonfire I saw Blue and another that was only identified as Rosy by seeing the others elsewhere in the garden.  CS was coming from the garage and Green God was down by the stone wall and almost got watered when I did the shrubs down there.  Little Purple was hiding somewhere, but much too small to be part of the sexual activities taking place.  I went back for another look and as I walked close to the long wall behind the garden I noticed Green God had moved from the stone wall and was obviously following the scent and joined in the fray.  I'm not sure whether Blue had scored or not but eventually Blue was removed, Green edged his way in, there was a clatter of shells and I think Rosy made her escape or burrowed her rear into the undergrowth so nobody was getting it.  As for the pickies, you have to look really close for three shells in a line and the dappled shade didn't really help.

It got very hot today so I've been mainly on the sofa thinking about packing and doing nothing about it but I did manage to recharge the power pack that I bought yesterday and worked out how to use it and this morning I added hold luggage to my booking so I was setting combination locks etc and remembering to write them down so I don't forget.  Beautiful evening...time to water the pots again so that they'll take up the water overnight and as for that funny connector, I solved the problem by using one from the new hose that I bought yesterday.  It's the same size but the new hose doesn't stretch as far as the old one so hence the bastardisation.  Not hungry, I've picked this afternoon and maybe later I'll become creative when it gets cooler.  LN.....Hoses at the ready....I have work to do......LN

Saturday 29th July

Six thirty start and the usual routine, coffee, open the balcony door to enjoy the breeze from the hillside and games on the tablet.  It was eight before I surfaced, made my bed and walked to make more coffee.  Washed and dressed and wanted to get out there and cut the grass before it got too much heat in the sun so after a yoghurt to fortify me.  I went on a tortoise hunt and found two of them snuggled in the same patch of garden I'd seen them in yesterday but not sure if it was the same ones or not but at least the heap of three was reduced to a twosome and there was no clattering of shells.  I struck up the mower and managed to do the little house grass completely in two stages stopping for water midway.  I forced myself to go out again, it's so dry that I felt I was getting pebble dashed as I went with grit in my ears and sticking to my skin with the perspiration.

After the effort I had a rest of the sofa which last a couple of hours, went back to sorting things for the UK so that I'm not rushing at the last minute.  I've charged the computer, gathered the chargers together in a bag and not a hint of panic yet at this end but I know it's going to set in soon.....it always does.  Everything is organised including insurance on the Nipper that runs out while I'm away and I pick up those documents on Monday.  I also sorted the fridge and threw out what would have been thrown out on Monday, the cats had a field day, tortoises benefitted from tomatoes and some water melon that I put down by their water containers.  Not sure if they like it, checked about an hour ago and it looks like both have been nibbled.

No supper for me, I made a tuna mayo with beetroot salad up and had it with bread wiping round the bowl and leaving nothing hardly to be washed up.  Water has been flowing all day, it topped thirty three this afternoon so it was as well being inside having done the grass fairly early.  I'm not sure that the other half needs it, I'll check it out tomorrow, no way was it getting done today.  LN.......Time to water the pots.....LN

Sunday 30th July

So early to bed and at eleven thirty last night I felt as if I'd been asleep for ages, I eventually settled down again and went through until six thirty this morning.  It was promising to be a very good day and it was even though the sky was interspersed with fluffy clouds I managed to get in an hour in the sun this afternoon.  I settled for yoghurt for breakfast and looking at an almost empty fridge I decided to empty it further....and switch it off.  Defrosting it and cleaning it is a job that I'm not too keen on but it's done.  I shall be living out of tins for the next day or so, beans on toast for breakfast, tuna mayo for supper....I'm sure I'll not starve.

Only managed to catch sight of CS today, the others are definitely keeping out of the sun and who could blame them.  I watered the plants giving them a good soaking and tomorrow I'm moving those without solid containers to catch the water into the big blue bowl that I've got.  Avatar is coming round to water them every other day or so and I've just found out that her daughter in law is coming to fetch her and take her to Germany for the winter the week end before I get back.  I've said that the pots will be OK, if I lose some of them so be it, it's getting to the end of the season so I'll see what survives.  I'm tempted to move some of the shrubs into the shadier parts of the garden where hopefully the water won't evaporate so quickly but on the other hand, if we have rain, they might not get much of it.  Seems to me they'll so to speak, take pot luck.....I wonder if that's where the phrase originated.

I spent the afternoon packing, sorting keys and finding cables and chargers to go in the suitcase.  The case is almost full but I'm having problems weighing the case.  I've got two weight scales that you suspend the luggage but I think they're more for bags of potatoes.  You need muscles on your muscles to use them.  Both of them came up with eleven kilos so what else can I ram in them...I'll have to do the washing up before I can pack the sink.  

Final run round the garden to check on the tortoise.....and to check out the food stations that I've set up.  They've got watermelon, tomatoes and nectarines that I thought were apples when I bought them, it was only when I cut into one that I discovered the stone.  Some have gone over the hillside, no point in feeding the ants as well.  Local corned beef and baked beans for supper tonight....not that I'm getting creative....I'm having them both cold straight out of the tin.  LN.....Well I might do something with them....LN

Monday 31st July

It's been a mixed bag of a day.  The scales came out again and so I found a larger suitcase and intended moving the clothes into that one to see if I could get anything in.  I checked out the other computer that I bought and realised that I'd set that one up much better than the one that I bought in England so that's going with me to the UK.  The screen is much easier to read, don't ask me what I did differently. I haven't a clue but I'll work on the other when I have time.  I made a late brunch out of the ingredients that I intended eating last night except that I put them in the sauce pan and added beetroot and it turned out like a Swedish dish that I used to eat when I was working there.  It was about eleven when I finished it, found the chargers and they're all in the bag and ready to go along with the power pack that I bought, and wrote a list of telephone numbers for Avatar.  I'm not anticipating any problems, I've had none since I've been here but I'm still touching wood all the same.

At one I drove into Djebel to get money from the cash-point to collect my insurance for the Nipper.  The current one doesn't run out until the eleventh but the new sticker is ready to be applied.  I also realised tonight that I'd not taken the old sticker from the Beast and was still showing last year's insurance so I found a Brillo pad thing, cleaned the old one off, dried it off and applied the current sticker.  So with cash in hand I went to the garage shop, my insurance was ready so I handed it over and somehow the conversation got round to fire extinguishers that are kept in the boot along with the triangle and the high viz jacket.  I've never taken one to be checked and not sure that other people do but going to Sofia I asked where I could get it done.  I'd offered to buy a new one but again it didn't have the proper certification so I said goodbyes to the shop and headed back to the car-park, checked the date on my fire extinguisher and it said twenty twenty one so I headed into Kardjali and to the place that I get my MOT's done.  The owner's wife came out to meet me, I explained the problem and she took me to the place which was down some steps and I know that on my own I'd have never found it.  By this time she'd already removed the date code so the man checked it, said it was OK, certified me and charged me five leva and now I'll get them done when I get my MOT's.

Back to Djebel, told my student's mum that I was now legal and carried on back home, had a bonfire, emptied the beach chairs and umbrella from the boot of the Nipper and tidied it up, washed the car mats and cleaned it out a little and then it started raining giving us a beautiful rainbow.  Avatar came over for instructions for doors and keys, she's coming over to water my plants and then together we walked down to the rubbish containers in the bottom square.  What a mess, both are full and overflowing, the cows have obviously got in there and spread it everywhere and it really did stink.  Thank goodness I live at the other end and away from it.  Eight my time, the day seems to have run away with me but some days are like that.  LN.....It's very calm out there with grey clouds....Avatar might not have much work to do.....LN