Wednesday 2nd August

So last night I was in an hotel in Sofia after driving from my home.  It's not that I didn't think about writing up the journey but that I fell asleep after a very adventurous day.  I think it's the first time I've missed doing an update so sorry....it was a very hot day yesterday.  It started off when I balanced a bottle of water on the top of my hand luggage in the stairwell next to me and when I reached over to have a drink on the way, the bottle was empty and I had to pull over to take everything from the bag and managing to rescue my boarding pass, computer, and tablets.  They dried out successfully, but I shall have to print my boarding pass for the return journey.  The temperature gauge was playing up again but no major hiccups but I do hate driving on the motorways in BG, the locals regard it as a racetrack and drive accordingly.

I slept well, set the alarm but didn't need to.  I had a shower and was down for breakfast for seven thirty, lots of choice and had already booked my transfers but unfortunately the driver never showed up so had a taxi voucher to the airport.  The transition to the plane was good, we boarded and unfortunately there was a very noisy four-year-old that decided it was going to scream for most of the journey but fortunately he wasn't directly behind me so didn't kick my seat back but upset the people next to me.  I settled for another bacon sandwich and coffee, the journey was very bumpy over France and the winds in the UK and lashing rain was a 'Welcome to the UK'.  This is going to be a short update, my daughter and SIL were there to meet me which meant that I didn't have a train and a taxi to get back home, I stopped off at ASDA and was amazed at the choice of commodities and I was introduced to self service tills with my daughter giving me a training course on how to proceed.  Can't say that I shall be using them.....the CO-OP in my village will do for me.  

I've just put on a sweater, my body has yet to adapt to the temperature change, I'm very sleepy since Bulgaria is two hours ahead and it won't be long before I get into my sleigh bed and pull up the quilt.  No photos tonight, I'll get back to normal eventually, allow me a little slack.  LN.....Lazy day tomorrow and then start to make plans for my time here.....LN  

Thursday 3rd August

So much for my lazy day today and what an interrupted night.  It might have been due to to flight yesterday, but I had foot and toe cramps that resulted in a very disturbed night.  It wasn't just painful, I was trying to push my toes into the mattress to alleviate the discomfort and nothing seemed to work.  Morning came eventually and the day went well.  I noticed that when I arrived the drive was very overgrown and needed love and attention and the hedge needed cutting.  The neighbour had cut his side and the top but this side seems to have gone silly with the weather and put out new growth that definitely needed cutting back and foolishly I offered to do it.  What started off as being a quick task turned into one that started at nine thirty with a hedge trimmer, rake and a broom that turned into a shredder, bags of rubbish and a trip to the dump to dispose of the garden rubbish officially.  I've been spoilt, mine goes over the wall at home and the trash gets put into the bonfire....makes life so much simpler.  It took two slices of buttered toast to get me going and then I didn't stop until three when it was tools away, bags of shredded tree cuttings and the long hedge still has to be done.

After the dump we headed to Lidl.  I'd fancied melon for breakfast and ham to make sandwiches with so I left him to park up, bought far more than that including a small chicken to cook for supper.  It went in the oven at five and came out at six fifteen and served it with mayo and Tabasco for those that liked it.....not fussy but effective and it filled a gap.  Dishes in the dishwasher, sat down to watch television and realised that Netflix is a much better bet that trying to organise what to watch in the UK.  

Off with my daughter shopping tomorrow.  She's redecorating the bedroom at home and wants new curtains to match the paint that she's applied to the one wall and new sheets and duvet covers.  It's going tp be a girlie day and I'm sure that we'll find other things to get up to.  Just after nine my time and I'm still adapting to the two-hour time difference between Bulgaria and here. Not a bad day weatherwise, feint glimmer of sun which dried some washing, noisy afternoon with a small plane practicing his loop the loops and the pilot was obviously enjoying him or herself.  No camera shots...far too busy on the end of several pieces of gardening equipment and a big garden tidy-up.  LN.....Bed is calling or at least resting my weary bones with a book on the Kindle......LN

Friday 4th August

Got to bed and went to sleep with the light on and still wearing my glasses.  Mine host came in to switch off the light to save electricity, I woke up and forgot where I was, gave him some abuse for disturbing me and off he went.  I'm just not used to anyone interrupting my sleep whether the light is on or off...living on your own makes you that way.  So I awoke at five which would have been six in Bulgarian time zone, read for a while and eventually got out of bed and down for coffee at seven.  First thing that I spotted in the kitchen was the honeydew melon so I found the largest knife from the draw and cut a large slice, cubed it up and had that for breakfast followed by two slices of toast.  There was no other sounds from the house, except for the kettle boiling so I made coffee and started my day.

I wasn't out with my daughter until eleven and I'm not sure what I filled the rest of the time with, she was on time and we set off for Shoreham by Sea to a very large confusing home wear shop.  No departments were labelled and it was more by pot luck and perseverance that we found what we were looking for.  She had also bought and paid for two items on the internet to collect, decided that she didn't want one of them so she wanted a refund and at that point the checkout froze up and we had to move to another checkout.  The poor assistant was almost pulling her hair out, that till point didn't work either and at the third we were lucky.  Everything went through properly.  Back to the car, my daughter wasn't too familiar with the area so spoke to 'Mercedes' and said 'take me home' and we were on our way.  Technology egh and 'Mercedes' was told she could take a rest and we carried on to Newhaven and finished our shopping, collected food from a shop within a shop and drove home for lunch.  My grandson was on holiday and we had a catch-up...it was a pleasant afternoon and we sat in the garden taking plants, flowers and shrubs and we've earmarked a day for market gardens.  

I was brought home around five by my daughter and SIL, got out my camera and took photos of the garden and now the thing won't connect up to the computer so again not pickies.  I think this little camera has to find a hole to hide in...I shall probably be shopping for a new one.....it's seen better days.  I didn't bother to pack my biggie...didn't think I needed it.....how wrong can you be!!  LN......More hedge cutting tomorrow unless we have rain overnight and then I'll be catching the bus into Brighton.....for a new camera......LN

Saturday 5th August

Six start and it's been a funny old day.  Wind, rain, only ten degrees, down for coffee and I didn't manage lunch until twelve.  I somehow found myself home helping and tidying corners that hadn't been done for a while, I've not been back since Christmas.  I had a conversation with my son last night and he's checking his diary as to when is the best time for me to travel to London to visit.  I didn't think today was a good day, Gay Pride has had a very soggy procession through the town and in some ways it would be described as a washout...but it won't be.  

I sorted out books that need to go to the charity shops, there must have been around four carrier bags to take.  One of his buddies buys them from the same shop, they do the rounds and then they get returned to the same shop and that's where I shall be taking them.  As for the photos that I promised to take, I've had to borrow a camera, no point in going into town today, and the new one was reacting badly to the program that I used to shrink down the pixels.  It just didn't want to play and it must have taken me around an hour to work it all out.  The question is now...will that transfer over and only time will tell.

Short update today.....I've done a good day, the hedge cutting was postponed because of the weather...definitely not the day for doing it.  LN....Promise the next few days will contain more detail.....my days are much different here.....LN  

PS.  The last photo of the clouds looked more like a 'fox face' on a smaller photo.....

Sunday 6th August

On the hunt yesterday and found my mother's bible given to her by her mother on her wedding day.  I knew it was in August and low and behold it was today so I was curious to know how many years they would have been married and it worked out to be ninety-one years.  Strange how things come into your head on or near the dates in question, almost as if something is prodding you with memories of people, not necessarily the events.

Another very early start, meandered around finding clothes that I've not worn for years and should really do something about, a few games of Sudoku until my host had risen from his pit.  I didn't bother with breakfast, planned my day, worked out the bus timetable to fit in with the Sunday morning service at the church I go to.  I was at the bus stop ten minutes before it was due to arrive, I'd not bought my ticket on the phone and the poor bus driver had to give me eight pound coins in change for the two-pound ticket.  I'd asked for a return but somehow he'd not heard it or absorbed it so I ended up with a single which changed the rest of my day.  It was good to see old friends and be welcomed into the church by the president but unfortunately not many people were out and about, the pianist hadn't turned up and singing hymns without music always seems to me impoverished.  The almighty's songs should rise to the heavens accompanied.  The service was OK, I had a few words with others at the end of the service and then the plan came into my head to walk back home via the sea-front along the undercliff walk so headed down to Brighton sea-front to commence the long haul home.  I took some photos but unfortunately the camera that I'd borrowed ran out of battery power so only managed a few, the others are on my phone and that's out of power to so you'll just have to know that I tried, oh how I've tried!!

The walk was long and it took me about one and a half hours to hit Rottingdean without a break, I stopped off at Tesco and bought a pork-pie, something that you can't get in Bulgaria, bread, coca cola and a great big bar of chocolate.  On arriving I checked my Fitbit and I've done almost fifteen thousand steps today and just over ten kilometers so deserved my afternoon nap but unfortunately woke up with horrific cramp in my legs so ran a bath.  I found an old bottle of Badedas and lingered longer than I probably should but felt much better for it.  Now to think about supper and check out what's available in the freezer.   LN......Almost time for bed and I should sleep well tonight.....so far nothing planned for tomorrow...... LN

Photo

Monday 7th August

Again I woke up really early but managed to get to sleep until six so not so bad.  I think I'm still wired into Bulgarian time, I should be OK in a couple of weeks and then it will be all change again.  I played a few games, went on the hunt for my glasses but no joy, I know that I had my readers yesterday but today, they remain hidden.  Another panic ensued, I'd lost the keys to this house, my own were in my handbag and eventually I found them in the folder with my passport where I'd obviously put them after I arrived so now they're in the pot with purses and glasses in cases.  I got into Mrs Mop mode quite early on and have spent a lot of the day on housework but this afternoon I settled into the BMX World Championship competition from Glasgow.  It wasn't what I wanted to watch, I'm more of an indoor track race person but that's not being televised until seven this evening so I'm setting myself up for that.

The weather's been OK today, a few clouds are gathering this evening but at least it's not so cold as it's been since I arrived.  Not much point in bringing half of the clothes I packed though, short sleeved t-shirts and cotton trousers haven't been the order of the day so far so fingers crossed, it might improve, it's August for goodness sake.  I think I've cracked the issues with cameras and uploading, my camera has given up the ghost completely and just won't play ball, the borrowed one is OK and Image resizer is doing what it's supposed to do.  I just have to make sure that the battery has enough charge in it or carry a spare.  I think I've been earmarked for hedge trimming duties tomorrow if the rain stays away, it's in the lap of the gods.  LN.....Surprisingly, not many aches and pains from my epic walk yesterday......LN

Tuesday 8th August

Another early morning start and that's getting to be quite normal.  I made coffee and took it back to bed and played silly games until l eight and then my day began.  I'd missed a phone call from my daughter and not picked up a message from last night so she'd phone the house phone and we were  planning the  day.  We were going to do  a trawl of the shops in Newhaven, go to the garden shop since I'd promised her a few shrubs for the garden.  We did Sainsbury for starters dodging between the showers, the garden centre where I managed to pick her up an identical version of one that I'd brought over at Christmas that she'd managed to kill so this was in fact a replacement. We'd planned coffee there but that didn't happen, the queue was very long so we gave that a miss, did the rest of our shopping and had lunch when we got home.  

My grandson home from the army arrived not long after we'd settled down to lunch, twenty five next month and defending the country for the next few years.  I can't get over how much he's changed,  He does take stick from all of us really well....youth of today egh.  So now the rain has set in again, I've just had to borrow a sweater from my daughter, the temperature has really dropped.  Lat week I was baking in thirty five degrees, this week it's down to eighteen degrees and my body hasn't yet adapted.

Staying tonight at my daughter's house, a sleep over and it's really good to spend time with her.  Tomorrow we are going to Asda, she's picking up a new phone....maybe I should invest in one for myself....my English phone should come with a warning  LN......Short and sweet tonight, no photos......time to socialise.......LN

Wednesday 9th August

So another lovely day wwith my daughter and we got on with loads in the garden.  She came into the bedroom for a chat, sat on the bed, printed off two copies of the Telegraph Sudoku and we carried it downstairs and sat at the  dining table each with our copies and started  to work in tandem.  I thought I was doing really well until I realised  that I had two sixes in one of the columns ....and it's still waiting there for me to have another go at it.  

We turned  to other things and made toast for breakfast and because it was such a super day we planned an attack on the back garden.  The first job was to plant the newbie that I'd bought her yesterday which entailed removing a chunk of grass from the lawn, digging the  soil over because it  was so compacted and edging it with some wood that  we found  behind the  shed.  In it went, we watered it in well and I made her promise that she would try her best not  to kill it.  I moved on to the side garden while she cleaned up some of  the pots, dug over a patch of ground near the fence and seeded it with meadow flowers.  I carried on weeding and the  mower came out and  she cut the grass while I held the cable out of the way,......team work.

Tools away for four o'clock, we sat in the sun and have both put on another  layer or suntan, supper is underway and tomorrow we are going driftwood hunting on the beach...she is determined  to made some shelving.  LN........Supper is ready, computer away....time to relax...photos of the garden tomorrow......LN

Thursday 10th August

So again I slept at my daughter's house but not such a good night last night.  Supper was really good, roasted veg and spicy sausages followed by half a yogurt but maybe a little too late.  I woke up at six and watched my SIL set off for work on his motorbike and shortly afterwards my grandson set off in the car to help a mate out for the day so it was just my daughter and myself to sort outselves out for the day.  She had a breakfast slimming world to attend, it was her day to take a taster food from one of the cookbooks so set off with her bowl of curried rice that she'd made last night for the rest of the gang to have a go at.  She'd printed off the Telegraph sudoku, we both struggled with it, gave up , she set off for her club, I rubbed out the entries on my sheet, gave up and settled for Netflix.  I'd only watched one episode, made myself a sandwich for breakfast and finished off the yogurt and she was soon back.  We tidied up the front porch, made new supports for the sweet peas, went back to sudoku and again ditched it and rubbed out the entries.We weren't doing very well.  The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to find a shredder, I suggested it, we found one that is coming next week, it then progressed to composters, I offered to pay for the shredder, she took on the responsibility of the composters.  By this time SIL had returned from work and had to write up reports so we left him to it and carried on with our plans for next week when the new equipment arrives....girls with power tools egh...we better carry out a risk assessment.

My daughter drove me home around five thirty and I was greeted by the neighbour not exactly whinging about the over hanging shrubs on the pavement but as I got out of the car I caught my hair on a rose bush coming from our garden.  He said that one or two neighbours had complained so no sooner the word than the blow, I unloaded my clothes to the bedroom, said goodbye to my daughter, got the tools out of the garage and now the hedge is cut and no reason for anyone to complain except me.  My back is aching and I'm destined for the bath tonight to ease my old bones.  It wasn't the cutting, it was the shredding and the tidying up afterwards but at least it's all done now.  I'm having an easy day tomorrow...nothing planned so far, my trip to see my son has been put on hold with the train strikes and the onward journey from London in a confused state.  They also go on holiday next week so everything is close to the bone with difficult deadlines.  I think we'll save it for Christmas.  LN.....Lots achieved today....I like days like that.......LN