Friday 1st December

White rabbits, first of the month, pinch and a punch....just some of the sayings.  My daughter called it Sprout Day and she sported her sprout patterned socks and demanded to know where mine were so I went on the hunt for them, found them and they're ready to be packed to be worn on Christmas day.  I hate the things, was forced to eat them, would always serve myself one as I encouraged the children to eat them and now they like them and insist that I have one which I do try to hide under the turkey bones.  Enough of state secrets, let me tell you about today.

I opened the curtains to a brilliant red sky and had to grab the camera and take a few shots.  Even the small watering hole for the animals was coloured red making it look like a lava pond.  As morning moved on the sky turned yellow, I never did see the sun come up, a cloud base formed and hid it from view.  I went back to bed with a glass of tea to let the house warm up from the sun, played games and eventually hit the ground at eight thirty.  I had a second tea, made toast and had apricot jam yet again and decided to write my list of things that I had still to buy for presents for the village and friends in Djebel and at eleven drove into Djebel to see if the cashpoint was working and get money.   I stopped off at the car shop to see what the arrangements were for this evenings Birthday Bash with my student, went to the dinky doo shop and then on to the supermarket.  I have one more trip into Kardjali to do and then my Christmas shopping will be complete and that might happen tomorrow and is weather dependent.

I wash Netflix this afternoon, promptly fell asleep and woke at four, washed, changed and was in the Nipper at five thirty arriving at the shop at six, as arranged.  I handed over the present for the birthday boy and he liked it very much, we walked to the restaurant, the food was poor, my chicken was sent back for further cooking but the company was pleasant.  The first son, my first student who is now twenty four and his brother, my current student who is now fourteen.  I have history with the family and am pleased to be welcomed into their home.  We went back to the apartment for the birthday cake and clever big boy worked out that we could still make the correct age on the cake with candles by using roman numerals...bright boy.  I said fond farewells and had a straightforward drive through the forest, there were no cars or animals about, parked up and was surprised how warm the house is, nineteen degrees and no fire going all day.  Just after ten my time, I'm eating my second portion of cake that I was sent home with, with my fingers but I must go down to the kitchen and get a fork...it's very sticky.  LN.....I'm so lucky to be adopted by this family and my other family in Djebel.....I'm a lucky bunny.....LN

Saturday 2nd December

Looks like winter has gone again but we've had strong March winds all day.  I had a very sleepless night...awake at two thirty-five and I thought I'd given that habit up.  I made use of it though, I put a load of washing in the machine at cheap rate, washed Netflix while it was finishing and put it on the clothes airer and it's probably ready to put away.  I also washed up the contents of the sink so I also had a clean kitchen to come down to when I eventually got out of bed after the second shift.  Morning was not memorable at all, not like yesterday's showcase and it's been not bad apart from the wind, seventeen degrees outside and twenty in without a fire.

Toast and marmite for breakfast and then I prepared the leeks to put into the slow cooker, thawed out a chicken leg in the microwave, added water to the slow cooker and followed the recipe that my student's mother had given me.  It went in at eleven and was ready for five and my only mistake was not cutting the leeks up thinly enough, they were a little tough but the chicken was fine.  I made a béchamel sauce using some of the stock from the slow cooker and it turned out like a thick soup and there's enough left for tomorrow.  

Santa's grotto went into action this afternoon, I think I've only got specialist presents to find and I can do that one day next week.  I also printed off gift tags and a few Christmas cards that I've updated from ones that I designed for a previous year.  All that I need to do is handwrite the 'To' and 'From' but they all know who it's from....nobody else gives gifts at this time of year, oniy me.  I found some Christmas lights this morning when I was searching for gift bags so they've gone up in the conservatory and the clay animals have all been washed and are pristine and now adorning the kitchen outside window sill inside the conservatory.  

No photographs today, I've just been too busy with Christmas wrapping and preparation.  LN.....Six thirty my time, supper done and dusted and here's hoping for abetter night's sleep....LN

Sunday 3rd December

Another two thirty start but after a bathroom break I managed to get off to sleep again until five thirty and then I decided that I might as well be up and active.  I'm not quite sure how I filled the time between then and eight but I was busy doing something.  For some reason I started cleaning the upstairs bathroom wall tiles, I'd bought a new gadget and it seems to work very well on bathroom tiles but gave up after the wall with the upstairs towel rail on...enough was enough.  Not much of a sunrise, mountain to mountain clouds which did manage to disappear around nine thirty when I went down to light a bonfire, it was a very warm muggy morning, bit of a wind blowing but not as bad as it has been.  The cat got fed and so did the birds and everything was devoured pretty quickly.

Breakfast for me was toast with marmite again and I've been snacking on roasted peanuts, I've not exerted much energy so not had to fill up to keep the levels topped up,  Not much activity out of me today at all, I dressed to head into Kardjali but had second thoughts about it and might go in tomorrow.  Again no photos, nothing much was happening outside or inside for that matter.....the water heater is on and I shall be soaking myself in a hot back before bedtime to see if I can manage to sleep through tonight.....it's getting to be too much of a habit,  LN.....No supper required, another log on the fire that's been going for most of the day and the boiler is now up to temperature so I'm signing off......LN

Monday 4th December

Another cold start and very dark at six this morning when I opened the curtains to look at my world.  The sky was a black as pitch and the only brightness came from the street lights peppering the hillsides.  I made tea, still no coffee on the horizon for me for the time being, the house was still warm since the fire had been going most of the night and eventually burnt out.  It was only two degrees outside, I'd heard the rain in the night, it had stopped now but when it started again, only a few degrees colder and it would have been snow.  I washed and dressed for town, finished the usual morning jobs, didn't bother with breakfast and was in the Nipper just before ten.  I did stop at the car shop purely because there was a parking place outside which is quite unusual on Monday Market day.  I didn't stop long but as I was leaving I noticed petrol on the ground leaching towards the centre of the road so I made my way down to the garage and had the car checked out.....it was somebody else thank goodness.

I carried on the old way down to the Makaza road or rather 'Death's Highway' as we usually refer to it.There wasn't so much traffic this morning, maye the Romanians are ski-ing instead of sunbathing.  First stop was the new shopping centre and I spent around an hour looking for things to buy for unusual presents and I think I did OK.  I did two of the other shops in the centre, unfortunately the shops are filled to the brim, it's difficult to find anything specific, more a matter of 'seek and though shalt find' eventually if you look hard enough.  I managed to pay my telephone bill, the man started with the sales patter about upping my connection etc. so I told him that I was parked illegally and hadn't got time for any sales talk.  He got the message, took my money quickly and efficiently and I was on my way.  A quick trip into Kaufland and then back to Djebel for my student's lesson.  

He was up in the apartment and had lit the fire which was OK until he had used me as goal keeper while he practiced his trick shots and was now opening doors and windows because he was hot.  I stopped the game saying that I wasn't and reminding him that we had to get to the end of the book before I left for England next week.We could always squeeze in another lesson but I'd prefer not to and by five....we're on target, we'd worked the plot out from the pictures int he book but he'll still have to read it to me.  I left for home at six, stopped at the supermarket for fresh bread, shopping all unpacked, lit the fire, made sandwiches for supper with hot chocolate and an éclair.....I know how to live.  

Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far but you know how things can change.  LN.......Now time to get back to the fire and the warmth.......LN

Tuesday 5th December

So I woke up at two stretched out on the sofa in front of the TV and fortunately I'd got in my PJ's earlier and went off to bed.  I did mean that I'd slept through yet another episode of Queen of the South but at seven when I woke up, I rescued the fire from last night, emptied the ash can and got it going again.  Tea, caught up on the Netflix that I'd missed last night and finished off the series and it was still only eight thirty.  My life is now mine again.  

I remembered I'd bought bacon yesterday so made a couple of bacon sandwiches, more tea and then set about sorting the presents that I'd bought yesterday, bringing in the boxes and sorting the presents into family recipients.  It's easier with the presents for the ladies, they all have the same but when it comes to individual presents, not everything that I selected for one person is ending up where it was intended.  One or  two changes have been made.  The temperature rose from two degrees over night and ended up around four this afternoon so it was a good job that the fire was going and still is.  I did have one problem with a present that I'd bought, it's a pottery Christmas tree and I thought it was to be used with t-lights but on closer inspection it needed a battery.  No I'd have thought that the battery would have been supplied but when I managed to get into the thing...no battery so I searched and managed to find one that fitted.  I put it back together again, it's working OK but I suppose I shall have to get a few more batteries and should wrap one if I decided to give the other one that I bought to someone else.  Alternatively I could keep them both for me...it is Christmas after all.

The presents for my family are all wrapped and in one box, I only have to wrap a few presents for the other daughter, her husband and the baby with the same letters in her name as mine, so almost my namesake.  ASEL is the little one's name.  Just the outer wrapping to do and I've also colour co-ordinated the wrapping paper to the person and stuck bits on the Christmas card so that they'll know who the presents belong to.  At one I decided that I would probably not have enough wrapping paper so went into the shop that I always used to use and bought more of the one that I like and four more others.  I also invested in a new Sellotape dispenser, I was getting really frustrated with my old one and the rest of the afternoon went swimmingly.  I was back home for two and one more day and everything will be under the tree, or under the decorated teasels and the Christmas lights that are in place all year.  Time to put up my decorations even though I won't be here to enjoy them.  

At five I called it a day, gathered everything up from the table and little sofa and it all went into the lounge on the big sofas.  I want everything done tomorrow and then all I have to think about is what needs to be done before I head out next week...I don't want a rush to the finishing post, I have a bus to catch one week from tomorrow.  I don't need supper, I've just made two ham sandwiches using up the ham that I bought yesterday and am just about to get settled in front of the fire with a hot chocolate.  Seven forty five my time, time to relax and renew for tomorrow but no sleeping in front of the television tonight.  LN.....Let's hope I can get a good night in my bed for a change....LN

Wednesday 6th December

Well I did it again.  I woke up at one on the sofa, pulled myself together and staggered upstairs, undressed and got into bed and by that time the sleep had gone out of me.  I lay there for about thirty minutes, realised it was no use so started to play games until the eyelids started drooping, off with the light and it was seven when I awoke the next time, turned over and it was half eight this time.  Unfortunately the Fitbit only caught the latter stages, it was on charge but over all, I probably didn't get a bad sleep score in.

Washed. dressed, set the fire but didn't light it, it was dull and foggy outside, five degrees but dry and no wind.  I made bacon sandwiches for breakfast, put the remains of the tuna from the other day out for the cat but it really didn't show a lot of interest and had target practice with a few eggs that are old.  I pick a stone over the wall and try to hit it with them....I got one direct hit and four others.  I'd cracked one of the eggs to have it with the bacon this morning and hadn't like the look of it, it was sticking to the inside of the shell so they have to go...and they did.  The cat probably found them more interesting than the tuna mayo but nothing seems to go to waste here.  I cleared the kitchen and went into the little house to find the wild bird food from last year, tried to fill up the hanging bird feeder but the seeds were too small and fell onto the workbench.  I swept them up into a dish and put them on the bird table and lo and behold, the cat took up residence on the wall near to the bird table....obviously decided that fresh meat is best. I had a bonfire, carried on to the little house and gave the terrace pots a good water and hopefully one more soaking before I go to the UK and they should survive.  One or two of them hadn't got water catchers under them and now they do and while I was at it I renewed the mouse bait that I put in dishes around the place and there are no walnuts this year to tempt them into midnight feasting.  As for the woodstore, there's nothing in there either except for wood.  Both of the log carriers got filled and wheeled into the porch, I wasn't going to have a very energetic afternoon so the fire was going to be lit.  I'd found the suitcase that I am going to take to the UK, it was full of Christmas decoration over the years and so I thought I'd get festive and put a few lights up and hang some tinsel.  I didn't make much of an effort but ...'snowy white show and jingle bells'.....it's on its way.  

The fire was lit and it certainly makes the house a little more cheery.  I made a drinking chocolate and opened a packet of biscuits and I shan't be wanting any supper tonight.  I found something on Netflix, lay on the sofa and stayed away much to my surprise, bodes well for tonight.  Just after six my time, tomorrow is definitely a wrapping day....I put it off today but did put most of my 'stuff' that I want to take to England ready to put in the suitcase including a new t-shirt/top for Christmas day with the motto 'Express your ELF' which I found in the bargain rail at the grand price of five-fifty leva.  It's made out of green velour and I shall have to make sure that my daughter does it spirit it away.

Now time to close down the computer, settle down for the evening and put another log on the fire and definitely bed at eleven and not on the sofa.  I might pop into Djebel tomorrow, I need button batteries for the snowmen and one larger one for the other pottery Christmas tree and then back to it.  LN.......I've had a good day despite a restless night......LN

Thursday 7th December

At last, I slept through until six thirty, half asleep and awake until seven thirty and felt refreshed.  Unfortunately I opened the curtains to a dank, dark, miserable morning, it was raining very lightly but it was really cold and down to four degrees.  I think snow cold is OK, rain cold when the bones ache especially as you get older is not OK.  I made tea and took it back to bed, played a few games of Sudoku and felt ready to face the task of the day....finishing off the present wrapping.

I lit the fire and filled the log basket from the log carrier out in the porch and it didn't take long to get it up to a reasonable temperature inside.  I found warm clothes to put on and even put a pair of padded trousers over my tights, it's the first morning that I've felt cold this winter.  Bacon sandwiches for breakfast sent the hunger bugs packing followed by more tea and I'm wondering why I went out and invested on six jars of coffee when it was on sale in Kaufland.  It doesn't go off though so it should be alright for a year or so.  So my main presents were packed and I was doing well until I couldn't find a bottle of vodka that I'd bought the other day.  I was also wondering it I'd wrapped it and mistakenly put it in one of the parcels thinking it was a bottle of wine and you know how it is, the more you think about it the more you realise that you have to unwrap any present that has a bottle in it of similar shape just to check.....and that's how my afternoon went.  After unwrapping what I thought was finished with I still hadn't found the bottle so I checked the Nipper to see if it was in the boot, I even doubted that I'd bought it so tried to find the receipt.  Couldn't find the receipt but then it came to me, when I'd unpacked my shopping in the kitchen I'd put it on the window sill in the kitchen so that it didn't get knocked over and broken....doh....just a little under pressure with Christmas and packing for the UK.  

I decided that a trip to Djebel was on the cards and I left at four, I wanted to buy bigger gift bags to hold the pressies for the ladies, one large box of chocolates to finish off the last big present and one more that I'd completely forgotten about.  I stopped off at the car shop and we laughed about the bottle of vodka.  She shared a box of chocolates with me and I found out that I'd missed her birthday a couple of days earlier....it's in the diary for next year already.  Gift bags bought, pressie bought, chocolates bought and I was home just before five, livened the fire up and at last the water is pumping round the radiators.  I think it's going to be another cold night and snow was mentioned on the radio as I drove home but I'm not sure where it's going to fall.

So tomorrows task is to wrap the presents that I unwrapped and by the end of the day everything will be stacked and ready for delivery on Monday.  I'm also going to take a first fun at my packing , clothes are accumulating on the chest in my bedroom and it shouldn't take me long to get them in the hand and overhead sized bags, I want this weekend free.  LN......No pickies, cat had jumped down from the bird table as I got the camera poised.  She was sent packing.....LN

Friday 8th December

Early to bed and early to rise.....five thirty start, coffee, no tea bags upstairs and played games until seven.  I must have nodded off again briefly, it was eight when I woke up and started my day for real.  It was dull and miserable again, the temperature was two degrees outside, seventeen in so I thought it best if I light the fire and it was soon climbing inside but going down outside.  The rain turned to sleet, the sleet turned to snow and around twelve it was coming down pretty fast but not settling, far too wet underneath.  I made beans on toast for breakfast to set me up for the day and thawed some beefburgers in the microwave, fried them off briefly with an onion and put that in the slow cooker with the rest of the beans, some tomato purée, a little water and chili flakes and that became supper at five this evening.

The presents are all done, wrapped and ready to be delivered, only got the ladies' bags to fill and that won't take long.  I had a lovely conversation with my son regarding plans over Christmas and it looks like something has already been arranged with my daughter so I'll fit in where needs be.  It was at this point that I saw that the snow flakes were getting really big, it was beginning to settle so I went out to fll the log carrier so that I've enough for tomorrow.  I also found the wild bird food and put out a dish on top of the log that the starlings used this year for nesting in.  I think that since the cat has been up  on the bird stand, there must be a smell of cats so the birds are not using it any longer.  Later this afternoon I noticed that there were about six or seven tits filling up and it is sheltered by the roof timbers.  

At last I've decided which suitcase to take to the UK so started to fill it, closed it up and weighted it and was surprised when it only registered seven and a half kilograms....have to find a couple of house bricks to get full value from Easyjet.  I've also got another bag to fill so won't be over on this trip and I shan't be bringing much back with me, I was panicking about the weight but have settled my thoughts now.  I posted a photo on facebook when the flakes got really big, it's eased off now but of course the temperature is dropping so if there's a frost overnight, we might have it for a few days.  I just hope the snowplough drops it further away from my gate and onto the grass, it took me ages to move it to get out of the drive last time.

Supper over and was delicious, washing finished and drying in the bathroom, fire made up and radiators toasty.  LN.....Winter has finally made an appearance.....LN

Saturday 9th December

Another sleepless night in Dushinkovo....couldn't get off, got off and then woke at five thirty and thought it best to start my day.  It was very cosy in bed, minus two outside and about seventeen in the house so I lit the fire to give a glow to the place.  I needn't have worried, the sun came out eventually and did what it does best, free central heating and the house was up to twenty four so the fire was allowed to tick over.  Toast and jam for breakfast, there wasn't any bacon yet and I didn't think my body could cope with more beans so that sufficed for today until early afternoon when the kitchen called.

I had a good morning, I cleared the terraces of snow and the ice that was underneath it and was helped out by the sun warming everything up.  I also cleared a path from the woodstore to the house so that I didn't clog up the wheels of the log carriers and bring snow into the porch.  The bastard snow plough driver still hasn't twigged that if he pushes the load a little further along the road outside the gate, it would mean that my exit route to the road was clear.  He didn't have much to clear from the road but sure made a good drop of dropping it where he didn't need to.  I carried on and cleared to the road and where the gate had to swing, I didn't really need to bother, the sun has done it all now and only a few patches left.  The Choisya and Oleander were weighed down with the snow so I released the branches, two loads of wood into the porch and one ready to bring in tomorrow in another of the log carriers.  Tools away,  I went in and made a drink, went upstairs and finished my clothes packing and all that's left is chargers, tablets, computer and all that will go in the underseat bag.  I've just worked out that I have three whole days left to pack and repack, deliver presents and then on wednesday, it's all systems go.

I made a couple of phone calls to the UK to old friends and spent time reminiscing about old times with one of them.  I've also followed her parentage back on my ancestry site and she was amazed at what I'd found out.  I'll put it on paper and send it to her from the UK, she's not up with technology so that seems to be my only way to do it.  Made a couple of tuna mayo sandwiches, made a 'fruit tea' but as to what fruit, haven't got a clue, it was red coloured, prepared in error but it didn't taste too bad. I settled on the sofa and it wasn't long before  my eyelids when downwards and it was half four when I woke up.  I've rescued the fire from the embers and it's going well.  The temperature outside has dropped to zero already so we could be in for a chilly night.  Curtains are drawn to retain heat and the boiler is on, I'm going to linger in the bath this evening, I haven't found anything on Netflix that I want to watch so might even go back to one or two old favourites....there's comfort in watching what is familiar...too much violence, drugs and sex in some of the new stuff.  LN.......On that note, bath calls, good to see the blue and coal tits making use of the amenities.....LN

Sunday 10th December

So last night  had the bath that I'd said I was going to have, searched round for shampoo to wash my hair while I was in there and realised that I was all downstairs in the wet room.  I put my hand in one of the basket that sits on top of the shelf and found some Aussie Formula, goodness know how old it is but it did the job. It might have been one that my daughter left when she was over last time or even the time before.  Needs as needs must.  I combed my hair through while it was still wet, made two pigtails and went downstairs and on to the sofa to watch more of my series before I took to my virginal pit.  I slept well and woke up at eight which for me is very good, caught sight of myself in the mirror and thought I was Pippi Longstocking reincarnated.....it's not a look I shall be sporting outside the house anytime soon.

Toast for breakfast, cat had the rest of the hamburger and chilli beans and the washing up is still waiting to be done,,,,I've been out all day.  I set off to visit Bekir and Sali and wasn't quite sure what I'd find on the road.  No more snow had fallen but when I drove through the forest there was snow on our road even though the snowplough had removed most of it but on the side road going across to the Makaza highway it was pretty grim.  Now the men's village is up what we call a 'cheren put' or rough road and as I made the turning after the duel carriage way there was a police car blocking the road and setting up a speed camera.  I stopped before the camera and asked them to move indicating that I wanted the road that their car was blocking and grumpily one got back in the car and reversed it so that I could pass.  Lord help the next one that they stopped but it was a cold morning.  The rough road was very rough, icy, slippery, wet with potholes but the Nipper managed it and when I reached the semi-main road I turned right for Sali's house.  I'm always nervous when I leave the car and approach houses, they all have dogs so I normally shout the name of the occupier and they come out and all's good.  This worked for Sali and Mrs Sali, I handed over the loot, was invited in and Mrs. Sali spent the next ten minutes looking round for present to give to me.  I got a headscarf, a pair of sock and some knitted slippers, a cup of coffee, sat with them for about thirty minutes and then left to go to Bekir's house.  I had to reverse for about two hundred yards, there was no place to turn but I managed it, back to the road and parked up in the square and asked the way to the house.  I'd never been there before, directions were sketchy so I took the same approach, called his name and a neighbour walking down the street went and whistled him for me and so in the house I went.  I refused coffee, we chatted for a while and  I thought I was in for more socks but she came back with a jar of Bekir's honey from his bees...one hundred percent pure and delicious, I've had it before.  So back on to the rough road, the police car had left, my gas ran out at this point so I switched over to petrol, went into Momchilgrad and filled up with both and then on to the school that my friends are renovating with more presents.  Again we had the problem with dogs and a phone on silent is not a lot of use when you're trying to get into a property but fortunately I hear the daughter's voice so struck up a conversation with her and mother came out.  Stayed there for about an hour and came away with a lovely picture provided by the little one.  Drove back, quick stop at the supermarket and now have no intention of leaving to go anywhere else apart from deliver presents locally.  

I had a visitor about twenty minutes after I'd arrived home, it was the lady whose mother lives in the village and wants bit from all my plants.  She came to tell me that she'd lost her job and would be available to clear my little house of the old wood that I don't want anymore.  I said that I hadn't time before I left, that I would be back in January and she could work something out for then....problem solved.  I've had a good day, on target until something upsets the applecart so to speak....spoke to an old friend on a video call which I hate and phoned my daughter to tell her not to bother picking me up from the airport.  Parking is expensive and the train is very frequent to Brighton.  LN...My chicken wings must be cooked by now...the kitchen and the fire in the lounge calls.......LN  

Monday 11th December

Cold, dark, damp morning but I'd very little to do outside so it really didn't matter.  I lit the fire at six thirty and it's been going most of the day except while I was upstairs deciding which hand luggage to take I ignored the fire and I've just got it going again now.  It shouldn't take long, the house is still nineteen degrees, we had sun this afternoon which shot it up to twenty four in the stairwell and five degrees outside.  

I made poached eggs on toast for breakfast, fed the last of the stale bread to anyone that wants it and the chicken bones went out for the cat.  It obviously wasn't enough, it was perched in the bird table until I spotted it and sent it packing.  I did not that all the food has gone so it does need refilling tomorrow.  I tidied the kitchen, washed up and feeling very virtuous finished watching the series that I'd started and didn't get round to starting the 'elf work' but all the packing was finished by four this afternoon.  I moved upstairs and had a rethink about the clothes I was intending to travel in and realised that if it's very wet in Sofia, the down jacket is going to be quite damp so changed my my and am currently favouring my old faithful leather big jacket.  Also if I'm short of luggage space on the way over or back, I can wear lots underneath it...that's the plan.  Also my faithful brown boots are taking the journey with me, they're comfortable, waterproof and warm and I've got lighter boots in the UK irf push comes to shove.

I had a phone call call from the garage asking if I was going for the lesson and it had slipped my mind completely.  It just doesn't feel like a Monday, I offered to go and we decided to forget it.  So tomorrow it's the day for putting in chargers, etc.  Unfortunately I found out today that my lift isn't going to be able to take me to Kardjali as arrange, he's in Sofia already so I'll be taking the nine o'clock bus from Djebel or a taxi if I miss it.  The Sofia bus leaves at ten thirty to there is some leeway.  Missed most of the sunset tonight, just managed to catch the tail end.  LN.....Presents out for delivery tomorrow....let's hope people are home......LN

Tuesday 12th December

So woke up at two thirty and yet again, played a few games of Sudoku without success on the really difficult ones but I do find I keep challenging myself....I'll learn one day.  I did manage to get off to sleep again but was up and about just before six, brain going ten to the dozen, made tea, washed up from yesterday and turn the fridge off to defrost it before I go.  There's very little in it anyway, I've run it down, the butter went into the freezer, an old pack of bacon went to the cat along with some cheese.  What the cat doesn't manage, the birds will but I wasn't sure about the smelly blue stuff but if seems to have left the yard.  I lit the fire, it was cold this morning, played around with the packing, taking somethings out and adding more and eventually picked the leather rucksack over the cloth bag...I'm just hoping that some bright spark doesn't decide that it's too big for the underseat but fingers crossed it will be fine.  

I started the Beast, it's stood too long so unpacked it from its winter jacket, and decided to deliver the pressies in style and to charge the battery. at the same time.  The key struggled to unlock it and it didn't sound right but after doing Djebel and back and round the lanes a few times it sounds fine.  I do love it, it's just a pity that diesel is so expensive.  Ladies presents delivered and Gouljan's mother and father catered for.  Mincho wasn't at home so went back to the square, caught some of the ladies but Zelinger was at prayer so just left hers inside the door and caught up with her later in the day.  I've had a few gifts myself this year from the ladies and a few for the children but I'm really sure on space so they'll have to have them when they come over.  I went to see my other Gouljan and was surprised to see that she wasn't at work.  I was invited in, her mother has developed a slipped disk and has so much support dressings on her slender frame, stripped off she would be a perfect match for the invisible man.  Apparently the operation has only a fifty percent success rate and she's not willing to take it at the moment and I'd probably feel the same way.  Mother went back to work, Gouljan insisted on opening her presents and was so pleased with them all.  I did warn her that there was a bomb attached and that if they were opened before Christmas day it would explode but she was will to risk it.  Father popped his head in, it was his day to pay out pensions, he also likes to open them early and I bet he has already.  

I left and drove to the car shop, bought an additive for the diesel to stop it freezing and reckoned that the reluctance this morning was due to old fuel and the cold temperature so I added the fluid before I put one hundred levas worth of fuel in it and it sounds smooth as silk now.  Finished delivering the pressies back in the village and received more myself, parked the Beast back in the garage, reapplied the winter jacket, had a bonfire and checked out the water in pipes, the lagging with insulation board is still OK and there's no water in the clock box.  I packed it up again, I'll turn off the supply in the morning before I leave.  I came in and cooked turkey burgers for supper and turned the gas off and that's another thing off my list, only got the emersion to sort out and that's just unplugging it from the electric.  I think I'm on target ....final packing will be done before I go to bed and tomorrow it will be jump into travel gear, load the garage presents into the Nipper, turn off the water, car onto road, apply padlock to the gate, keys already sorted, car to garage in Djebel, walk to the bus station, pick up nine o'clock bus to Kardjali and ten thirty to Sofia and then relax.    If there's a hitch anywhere...take a taxi....it's only money.  LN.....I'll let you know if it worked tomorrow night from the hotel......LN

Wednesday 13th December

I had a six start, everything was done last night but this morning I decided to not use my leather rucksack but moved everything over to the official sized bag....at seven thirty....I don't want any confrontation tomorrow and certainly don't want to pay anymore to Easyjet.  

I caught the nine o'clock bus. bought breakfast from one of the food shops, ate it while waiting for ten thirty to arrive, realised that I ought to go to the loo before we set off for Sofia so walked to Kaufland supermarket, the toilets in the bus station should be marked as public no fly zones.  I had a single seat right by the door and when the lady shut the door for take off my jacket was caught in the door so I knocked on the window, she opened the door and released me but I've never been so uncomfortable for so long and not being able to do anything about it....the bus was full.  Sofia by one thirty and got off before the bus station and gingerly got into a waiting taxi expecting the worst but he only charged me ten leva and in the grand scheme of things that not bad at all.  Got established in the room, no kettle this time so made noises and they have a new system where you are given a special container, you go to the filling station and can even get sparkling water.  I was give two packet of coffee and a paper cup and worked out the system quite quickly.  I could do with one installing at home.  Another slight problem, the television remote didn't work so one of the maids went down and found me new batteries....all systems go.

I don't have to be out at the crack of dawn tomorrow, the flight is at one thirty so a reasonable time to arrive in the UK.  I'll get the train down to Brighton and will probably get a taxi for the rest of the onward.  Going down for supper around six thirty, nice long shower and then bed.  It's been a long day and packing up the house has been more stressed this year but cars in the right place, keys where they should be and all presents delivered to the right people.  LN....Nice photos of the sunrise but not got the right program on this new laptop....you'll have to wait till the eagle has landed.....LN

Thursday 14th December

Hotel was fine and I managed eight hours sleep which for me is never heard of.  I did go to bed at ten though and slept through until six so I was still up early and had time to fill before breakfast and the courtesy bus to the airport.  I was still panicking about the luggage but eventually I recognised that it would be OK eventually, but I hate going through airport security.  I had breakfast in the hotel at eight thirty, there was a wide selection of food but I settled for two bacon sandwiches and two muffins with apple juice to wash it all down.  Back to the room and read the Kindle and tried to keep everything charged up but there were a lot of electrics going on.  I took the courtesy bus and arrived at the airport at half eleven, sailed straight through check-in and then on to virtually stripping down.  I'd dressed for snow which wasn't in Sofia so had a body warmer and leather coat, big boots and all that has to go into trays that disappear, and you wait for them to reappear and hopefully everything is there....and it was.....and then it's time to get dressed again.  On to the passport control and as well as my UK passport I presented him with my Bulgarian registration document and that sailed me through.  I went to the gate, settled myself, I had two hours to wait before the flight was due to depart.  On to the bus and I sat in the right seat and was second on to the plane, bag in overhead, other bag on the seat and I asked one of the hosties if it was possible to put my coat in the overhead and she told me not to and to put it under the seat.  I explained that I had a bag in that compartment and she said well if you put it up there and there's a problem with lack of space it will have to come down again.  By this time I was still fighting with people getting on the plane so I sat down, got back up again and got 'divorced' from my leather jacket....it went in one of the overheads about two down from my luggage.  I also realised that I'd picked the wrong seat, the lady next to me was reading a newspaper and as she turned pages her elbow kept knocking into me and the guy next to me was having problems getting comfortable.  Next time I'll go back to an aisle seat.

Flight landed OK eventually but we were far away from the main gates and stayed that way for a while.  The electronic system directing the aircraft to the docking station had gone down and it was at least thirty minutes before we were docked.  Passport control was OK, on to the rail to take me to the train station and it was so difficult to get a ticket.  The booths had all gone, the way they'd arranged the entrance to the automatic ticket machines I must have walked around five hundred meters, a very unhelpful assistant was forced into helping me, down to the platform and being forced to go down another rabbit hole made me miss my train .  The next one was on another platform so I had to climb stairs since the lift wasn't working and walk down another set of stairs complete with heavy luggage. The train journey was fine, Brighton station was the next hurdle, lots of police around and men erecting barriers blocking off the route to the taxi rank and I was forced to go out of the main entrance to the station and by this time I was feeling rather knacked.  Got in a taxi, had a really good conversation with the taxi driver about Bulgaria and religion and his parting shot was that I should read the Koran.  We shook hands, I said that there was not much change of that happening but he did let me off with seventy pence from the fare because I only had notes.  

Unpacked, had a mare of a time getting into the system here so the updates are done but again no photos.  I'm too tired to investigate, I need image resizer to do its stuff before they're of the size to post and I'll tackle that when I've had a good nights sleep.  LN.....Back in the UK, things to sort out.....but not short of energy despite the long day.....LN

Friday 15th December

It's been another long day and it's only half six.  I was awakened at half five this morning by my host going to the bathroom on his crutches since his knee is playing up and just couldn't get back to sleep again despite trying various techniques.  So I put the light on and did a little computer updating, got bored with that so went down to make a coffee and decided to clean the kitchen and worktops.  He's now had to resort to two crutches and finds it difficult to keep on top of the things that have to be done....so....the angel of all household tasks has descended and the kitchen fairy went to town and now all's good in that area of the house.  By eight I'd got bored with that so I washed and dressed and was at the bus stop at the top of the road to catch the nine fifty into Brighton and I left him slumbering.

I arrived in Churchill Square in Brighton around ten thirty, the bus takes a very convoluted route but does cover all bases and gathers them all in from the neighbourhood.  It was good to be back in Brighton again, it wasn't too crowded, the weather was OK and not too cold.  I wanted more computer cables so went to the 'Poundshop' but unfortunately the range has changed and there really wasn't much on offer.  I did manage to buy chocolate snowballs, marshmallows, a couple of books and stuffed them into my leather bag partly hidden by my body warmer. I tried Primark but they've had a refit and it was just strange shopping there and the familiar high street was no more.  Lots of the shops have moved out, new ones have taken their place but there was nothing that really interested me.  I managed to buy Christmas cards since that was the reason I was there, was greeted at the door of one shop by a young lady with ginger biscuits that I immediately recognised as the ones that I used to have in Copenhagen at Christmas time when I was working there.  I said to the young girl that I knew them as 'Peppercocka' and she looked at me blankly so I didn't push the point home...there would have been no point in doing so.....but I did buy two tins of them for Christmas.

Back on the bus and I was home for one thirty more or less and felt that I'd had a good day.  My host hadn't realised that the kitchen fairy had been at work, he'd not made it down on his crutches and was playing on the computer upstairs.  I made tea and coffee, was tempted to open the biscuits but controlled myself and instead we finished off the bar of Cadbury snowballs and moved to the lounge.  I did managed to buy some new charging cables and put them to good use already.  Tired of the television I went back to my room and have managed to download my photo reduction program onto my new machine so should be able to post pictures again.  Time to move back downstairs, I think I'm on kitchen duties again, I'm getting hungry so I'm going on a hunt to see what's available.  LN.....Christmas cards will be done tomorrow and maybe even get some in the postbox......LN

Saturday 16th December

Today again was an early start, I'll still running on Bulgarian time.  I finished the rest of the kitchen tidying, sent a message to my daughter, received a replay and decided that since the weather wasn't so bad I could walk down the village and get bread and ham for breakfast.  The cupboard is bare here, a grocery delivery is about to take place and so old Mother Hubbard got in her own stock.  I made ham sandwiches for breakfast, my host was still ensconced in his night quarters and then my daughter phoned and we had a first real catch-up since I've been here.  She asked if I was going to church tomorrow and offered to take me in to Brighton and said she would like to stay for the service which came as a real surprise.  I think the last time that we went together was just after my mother died which was a long time ago.  

So back to my day, I searched without much luck for my address book so that I could start my Christmas cards but didn't manage to find it.  I looked in all the places where I would expect it to be but no luck.  I did the cards that I could, sent messages to those that could help with other addresses and then gave up.  It turned into a miserable damp day so no change of getting another walk in over the Downs and to the sea but there's still plenty of time for that.  I put a gammon joint into the slow cooker so at least I would know what I was doing later in the day, my host is still hobbling around on his crutches and the basis for an evening meal was in place.  Not much else to report really except that despite not being able to get English TV in BG, I was determined to watch the Strictly final which was going well until Cher started to give her renderings and I promptly fell asleep on the sofa.  I've not long woken up, had missed the result and have just Googled it and despite being third after the judges scoring, the last girl remaining picked up the trophy.  I was pleased that she did it, a deserved winner.

So church in the morning at eleven, then I think we'll meander into Brighton Marina and have a look at the shops if the weather is good and play it by ear.  Time for my beauty sleep.   LN.....Camera will be out and about with me in the Marina......LN

Sunday 17th December

Early morning start again and I should just have about cracked the start of day when it's time to go home.  I didn't bother with breakfast and was ready and waiting for my daughter and husband to pull up in the car to take me to church but unfortunately it didn't have the results I was hoping.  We arrived early and was invited to sit in the church to wait for the service to begin, one of the stewards decided we needed to listen to some Christmas songs which didn't seem at all appropriate for me but we went with it.  The rest of the congregation appeared in dribs and drabs and in the end there were only around twenty people there.  The web page advised that there would be an international medium and that was the reason I was there and introduced to us was a lady who had travelled down from London to take the service and I can only assume that she was a substitution for the one that was supposed to be there.  

The opening reading was inspiring and her address was all about kindness to each other which is especially needed considering the state of the world today.  Unfortunately when she came to linking with her spirit guides, a connection is made but it is directed out to the congregation and not to an individual and I think mediumship today has changed.  She started her second  in a way that it could have been destined for my daughter and myself and included something that we'd discussed while we were waiting for the service to begin.  She said that she was drawn to us but it seemed more as if she was talking to my daughter and describing me and my life.  I had to stop her at this point and explain that I didn't think the message was for us, since I was very much alive and not dead yet which caused a titter around the rest of the people in church. Eventually she moved on with the same message and someone else took it on.  We sang the last hymn, left the church and son in law had driven to pick us up and off we went to Brighton Marina where it was cold and blowing a gale so we didn't linger long, found the restaurant and had a very enjoyable meal.  They dropped me off at home around three, I had a search for my Bulgarian debit card and found it in my passport and I guess I put it there when I realised that I wouldn't be using it.  In the restaurant I went for my English card, realised that my other card wasn't in the place it should be and had completely forgotten making the transfer to the passport.....that's age for you.

I settled down on the sofa this afternoon and fell asleep probably due to the early morning starts and trying to keep on top of things and sorry for the lateness of this postings and again without photos.....I'll sort them out tomorrow.  LN....My bed it calling.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far....I'll see what I can get up to......LN  

Monday 18th December

Another early morning start but it is getting later I'm pleased to say.  Coffee, back to bed and played a few games then waited for the sun to come up and I was waiting all day....and still no sign of it.  Since my host is still getting around the house on crutches I phoned the doctor's surgery to try and identify what was actually happening with his medication was any treatment on the agenda.  I firstly addressed my concerns in reply to the last email I received from them and decided to follow it up with a phone call to the surgery which took me around twenty minutes until my turn came....I started out at tenth in the queue....the state of British medical system.  Eventually I spoke to a lady and asked firstly if my email had arrived in the inbox and it had.  I asked her to read it and said that I was concerned that nothing seems to have happened since I raised issues with the in October and she said that she would speak to the doctor and I was put on hold again.  My main question was what could he take for the pain that didn't interfere with the prescribed cocktail of drugs that he's already taking and her response was that she wanted to speak to him to confirm that she could share information with me.  Now he was still asleep, so I woke him up by removing the breathing assist nightly attire and he mumbled that she could share any information that she had with me.  As I moved the phone and asked her if she had got it, she suddenly went off the line and now I had to join another queue to renew the connection.  I was now thirteenth in the queue, twenty minutes later I spoke to a gentleman, explained that I had lost connection with the lady that I was speaking to, he went off the line, came back on and told me that she wasn't available, asked me to wait and he would come back to me.....and never did.  I sat holding the phone going nowhere.  Next step was to send off another email and apparently I am supposed to receive a reply within two days.  Let's wait and see.

By now it was getting on for lunchtime, my host was still asleep and didn't join the land of the living until one thirty, I'd filled in time by finishing my Christmas cards and making bank transfers for birthday and Christmas presents using my son as the banker and my grandson away with the army won't run out of drinking vouchers while he's away.  The rest of the afternoon was sorting out my computer, passwords being the bain of my life and just delving into drawers to find what was hidden away in my old bedroom and trying to place an Asda online shop so that we don't run out of food.

Just seen a weather report for home and we have snow, lots of it and I'd love to be there.  I just hope that we have more when I get back but not while I'm making my journey from Sofia to home.  Let me get settled first.  I suppose I better start thinking about supper and see what I can find....not for me, I've got a bag of soft mallows starting me in the face and it would be rude not to.  I'm turning into chief cook and bottle washer.  LN.....Don't you just love the national health!!!!!....and no photos, I can't find my camera......LN

Tuesday 19th December

Seven thirty start this morning so at last I am acclimatising to the time scales but it's so dark in the mornings that you'd never know.  I had another session with the surgery when they sent an email to me asking me to phone them.  I got cut off the first time, tried again and managed to get through and when she said that she would put me on hold I asked her not to after being cut off so many times from them and this time she promised to phone me back....and I didn't get cut off.  She had a discussion with the paramedic that had come out to visit my host in October, came back with what action we could take and I have to go to the surgery tomorrow to pick up a prescription for the pain and documents so that we can get blood tests done.  All this has to be accompanied by a letter so that I am able to access the contents of my host's medical records.  At last I seem to have got things moving.....and before I go I'm arranging for him to have help at home for three or four hours per week.....he's at the stage that he needs it.

I had breakfast, arranged with my daughter that she's picking me up in the morning and tomorrow we are shopping in Lewes and hopefully we won't get another parking ticket in Tesco's car park.  We were supposed to be going today but the weather was just too wet even for us so hence the delay.  Despite the weather, I get tired of being inside the house, as you know there's lot of light inside my house and air circulation so I gathered up my Christmas cards and walked down the village.  There were very few people about, most had the sense to stay inside, I made it to the post office, she stick the stamps on for me, I withdrew cash and set off for the sea front to watch the waves crashing on the undercliff walk and the pebble beach.  I like it when it's wild and I was the only one down there.  Next stop Tesco where I bought mini-pork pies, chocolate, ham and a few other things bearing in mind that I was carrying them home.  I stopped off at the charity shop and bought a children's wooden hang up sign where you write how many days it is until Christmas and I think I might just take it back with me to give to my ex-student who always wants to open her presents early.  Just a gentle reminder.

Two of the pork pies have gone and some of the Cadbury chocolate, my host was still in bed when I got back so I settled down in front of the TV and watched what I can't get over in BG thanks to the company providing the service going bust.  Now it's time to think about supper, I've had too much chocolate to worry about it, but I have a duty to perform.  LN.......Shopping tomorrow but I must remind myself that there's not a lot of space in my luggage.....I could always take another bag back......LN  

Wednesday 20th December

Not such an early start this morning, I didn't bother with coffee and had an hour trying on evening clothes that I hadn't bothered with for the last ten years or so. I even have one that my mother made me when I was twenty four years of age, I can almost get into it but need to lose a little more and then I shall be finding a ball Cinderella....and I'd wear it with pride....it's still fashionable.  Toast for breakfast and a mini-pork pie.  I had a bath didn't bother with my hair it was OK and got dressed and waited for my daughter to pick me up....we were going shopping.

We drove to Lewes, did the charity shops, Waitrose and then drove round to Tesco advertising pre-packed veg at fifteen pence so we filled the trolley with carrots, parsnips, potatoes, sprouts, red cabbage and swedes and the total came to approximately two pounds.  It's a good reason to become a vegetarian but after this morning's pork pie....maybe not.  Back to her house, we unpacked the shopping, had lunch and chilled for the afternoon.  We went out again this time to the surgery to get the paperwork done for a blood test and x-rays on my hosts knee and it should be sorted before I go home.  

It won't be long before I head upstairs for bed, it's been quite a busy day, miserable weather and cold and I'm looking forward to climbing into bed tonight.  A gentle morning is planned.....Telegraph suduko while my daughter does the crossword.  LN.....Just our morning routine when I stay here.....LN

Thursday 21st December

Another early morning start except that I stayed at my daughters last night, son in law was up and about getting dressed for work and off to catch a bus, a train into London for an early morning meeting.  Unfortunately they only have one bathroom and so I had to wait for him to leave before I could make my morning trip to the bathroom.  Once up I went down made coffee, took it back upstairs with me waiting for the rest of the house to come to life.  Eventually we move downstairs and started our day getting the printer to work to print out the Sudoku and the Telegraph crossword and it really took effort.  Fortunately my daughter is quite computer literate and re-jigged the wifi and printer settings.  Over the second cup of coffee she handed me my Christmas card that she'd made for me based on Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball video substituting a Santa hat, a chain made out of sequins and the wrecking ball made like a paper bauble....class.  I loved it and she was so pleased with it and excited to hand it over.

Eventually we got dressed and headed to the local supermarket for a few items for supper tonight and temptation took us to the clothes section where I found an oversized  fluffy hoodie reduced to half price and I just had to buy it and it's great, fits where it touches and keeps me really toasty.  SIL arrived back from London, we had supper of barbecue sweet and sour pork chops with potato wedges and peas.  I'm stuffed to the gills again and shall be dieting when I get back home for sure.  Early morning trip to the supermarket tomorrow for the final shop and then I go back to my home base until Christmas Eve.....LN.....Early night.....early morning start to beat the crowds.....LN

Friday 22nd December

So that early morning start didn't materialise.  SIL was up first, I'd been awake but waited for the house to come to life before I started my day and I heard him go downstairs.  My daughter went off to the bathroom next and we went down the stairs together to find that SIL had made tea for my daughter and coffee for me....what a star.  My daughter had already printed off the Telegraph sudoku and her crossword, the television was on and we half watched a Christmas film from Netflix, I tried to do the sudoku and she her crossword but eventually we both gave up.  I've brought mine home with me and will attempt it later and it was only a 'moderate' one.  The plan to hit the shops early didn't happen, SIL decided to catch the bus and to into Brighton to the gym and we waited for him to text us to say that he was nearly finished.  We drove into the Marina in Brighton, parked up in the Asda car park close to his gym,  he joined us at the car and off we went to do another Christmas shop along with lots of other people.  I had my own trolley for the few items that my host had asked me to collect and they dropped me back at home at approximately two in the afternoon.  It was one of those days where it had just slipped away from me.

I settled on the sofa and West Side Story was just starting on the TV and it's a film that I'd never seen or seen it so long ago that I'd forgotten it.  I love the music, one of Leonard Bernstein's best and my host appeared from upstairs around three in the afternoon.  I finished watching the film, put a load of washing in the machine and am now thinking of what to do for supper, I'd be happy with chocolate but I don't think that's really on the cards.  I'm here now until Christmas Eve, have presents to wrap and maybe even go into Brighton tomorrow to buy some more.  I've just looked at the clock and realised what time it is.  This update is late and as for supper, I think it's off the menu....chocolate seems a much better proposition.....Cadbury Dairy Milk.....my favourite.  LN.....Christmas is approaching fast.....I can almost hear Santa's reindeer bells....LN

Saturday 23rd December

So it was a stupidly early start this morning, I heard the clatter of crutches on the landing and it was enough to get me up and about, making coffee and watching television while my host went back to bed and slept like a baby.  I had the last of the mini-pork pies and and made a ham sandwich for breakfast, did a load of washing, emptied the rubbish and tidied up the lounge and kitchen and felt very virtuous.  I spent time on FB replying to messages, moved back downstairs and watched Saturday Kitchen until I could watch it no longer.  I dressed for the outside, put my big boots on, leather coat to keep out the wind and set off over the Downs and down to the seafront.  Lots of people about walking dogs or dogs walking people about...I'm never sure and there was one man who was walking bare footed and I told him I thought he was brave.  He replied that his feet were now getting cold....what an idiot!!  It's one thing being close to nature in the summer, when it's blowing a gale and raining a little, I call it odd.

I carried on to the sea-front and walked towards Saltdean and even went down to the sea.  It was quite a stormy sky but I love the way that the sun sparkles on the sea and how it catches out certain areas and illuminates them.  Again lots of dogs and there was one lady who was dressed in an all-in-one brown onesie and it was the same colour has her dog's natural coat so I had to take a photo.  I walked back to the village and over the road to Tesco and bought mince pies and more crumpets just in case the mood takes me.  My host was up and about when I got back, he went for a shower and while he was in there there was a knock on the door and it was a man from along the road with more books for my host.  I invited him in since I do know him, made tea and we sat in the lounge until my host put in an appearance.  He left around half four, he's a very active octogenarian, reads lots of books, loves opera and very interesting to talk to.

I'm now upstairs and have spent the last ten minutes sorting out the photos and shrinking them down to size to get a few to post.  Dull damp day, very windy and cold and hopefully it will get better as we move nearer to Christmas day....but I doubt it.  LN.....Bath tonight for me unless I get lazy which might easily happen....time to get on with supper.....LN

Sunday 24th December

Up at seven this morning and with very little to do, watched television with my morning cup of coffee and felt completely at peace with the world.  It was mince pies for breakfast, well it is Christmas and then into the bath at ten and lingered enjoying the tranquility, washed my hair and dried it and got dressed.  I had nothing to do except deliver my last card to my neighbours and complete my packing for two days at my daughter's house.  I was getting picked up from home, we arranged a time and then I had a deadline to meet.

I hadn't seen my neighbours since last Christmas so there was quite a log of catching up to do.  Their son was home for the holiday from Cornwall, was flying later that day to Mexico with twenty or so mates and what a good time they'll have I'm sure.  They're all surfer dudes, he's now a similar age to my two and I could hardly believe it.  Still single and free as the birds of the air and surfing this year is taking them to one of the favoured resorts of the west coast of Mexico also home to crocodiles and of course, mother was getting a little scared about it.  we decided that crocodiles stay on the surface and wouldn't come up from underneath to which my comment was that that was only the sharks.

My daughter was early, my host had taken to his bed again so off I went.  SIL had done his normal and prepared everything for tomorrow and ended up making pavlova for pudding because no one really likes Christmas pudding after a blow out.  Supper over and feeling very stuffed, coca cola to wash ii all down and we're all about to settle down to a Christmas film...probably Holiday and then a fairly early night so that Santa is left to his own devices.  LN.....No children this year to coax to sleep.....it used to be so much fun...and still is but in a different way....discussing how it used to be.....LN

Monday 25th December

Merry Christmas to everybody who reads this and those that don't.  I've had a pretty wonderful day with my daughter and SIL. breakfast of croissants with butter and jam, more presents than I expected with lots of chocolate that hopefully will get eaten before I get to packing a suitcase.  It's been a horrible stormy day outside for most of the day but warm and comfortable inside.  SIL cooked the lunch and I really didn't think that I would finish it but only left a little stuffing which was acceptable to the cook.

I fell asleep this afternoon on the sofa and was told that I purred gently through one or two programmes, family are very forgiving, woke up and managed a home-made pavlova with very thick cream and strawberries, soon to be followed by salted nuts, more chocolate and more television.  We all enjoyed the Michael Parkinson's interview with Morecambe and Wise and the three of us were chuckling away......the humour is timeless.  Now my daughter has settled into 'Call the Midwife', it's not something I've ever followed so I've taken the opportunity for a quick update.

I hope you've all enjoyed this Christmas, surrounded with love and kindness and for those that haven't, I hope that it comes your way soon,  LN.....Now back to join the others and I think there are more chocolates waiting.....LN

Tuesday 26th December

Well it's been another lazy day...not fit weather to be outside.  There was a plan to garden today if the weather proved promising but instead it was a day of turkey dripping and jelly on toast which was a throwback from my childhood, sudoku that I just couldn't manage despite several attempts and a crossword that my daughter knocked off in quicksticks.  The afternoon was one of chocolate and television, the film Calamity Jane was showing and I was very surprised when my daughter joined in the score and we had a sing-along.  I remember the film from the old days with my parents and the sound track on long player.  I was surprised that my daughter knew all the words as well.  Lunch was a cold platter of turkey, ham, pigs in blankets and a pork pie for me with pickled onions, cheese and Branston and I think it's going to be the same for supper.  It was washed down with water, as you know, I don't imbibe and even the Coca-Cola has gone by the way and I stuck to water.

It's been a pickie day, Christmas chocolates have been filling in the gaps in the day and I must admit that I've just finished the top layer of a box of Cadbury Dairy Milk and was applauded my daughter and SIL for managing to eat them all.  Disciplined I put the lid back on the box......the rest will be saved for another day.  Six o'clock, I think it's time for a shower and get into some really snuggly clothes for tonight's viewing.  We haven't checked the schedules yet but this year seems better than normal, perhaps it's because you are not restricted to the main four channels, there's so many programmes to choose from.

Home tomorrow, I have lots of things to sort out with regard to my hosts health and I'm hoping that the hospital will be open to make appointments.  I've also got to see if I can get a care plan in place and easy to cook food delivered.  It's not what I came back for but it is what it is....as the saying goes.  Switch off time, again no photos, there was no gap in the rain to go out there and get the camera into action.   LN.....And now onwards to the New Year.... ..LN

Wednesday 27th December

Another mixture pf a day....I stayed another night with my daughter and SIL, woke up early but didn't want to disturb the household so lay quietly until it was seven thirty and I could creep down and make coffee.  My daughter wasn't far behind me and came down with the crossword for her and sudoku for me....and I'm still trying to solve it....even though I'm home.  Christmas is over for another year and reduced to what's left in the fridge that needs eating up and in my case what I've brought back with me to share with my host.  My daughter and SIL follow an eating plan based on points for luxuries that they are allowed and I find this difficult to follow.  Food stuffs or treats and rated and I must admit they are very serious about it....on the other hand I'll pig out and then not touch any of it for a week or so.  They're both more disciplined than I am.  My daughter and myself had toast for breakfast with the turkey jelly and we just enjoyed it....in our book it only occurs once a year so we don't even bother scoring it.  Breakfast tidied away we started to take down the Christmas decoration. In our house I always was rushing to get them down by twelfth night and some years I managed it and others I didn't.  Christmas packed away, I packed my bag and was ready to leave by twelve armed with the remains of the turkey dripping, the trifle that we hadn't managed to eat, cheese that I'd bought specially for me which I'd never got round to eating and lots of 'treats' including my half  box of dairy box that was patiently waiting for my attention and it got it this afternoon.  

They dropped me off at one thirty, helped me get my belongings into the house and off they went.  I've had a very good time with them, fully catered accommodation and I'll be leaving a review on Trustpilot or Trip Advisor...at least that's what I told them.  My host wasn't out of bed so I unpacked my belongings, stashed the food in the fridge and the goody boxes are on the lounge table for grazing.  I watched the film Sister Act and devoured most of the chocolates so supper is out for me.  I did serve up an omelette for my host and two bowls of trifle went into the lounge and empty bowls came out again, I loaded the dishwasher. cleaned the kitchen and settled down to Only Connect that I love and University Challenge.  It's not that I know many of the answers and it always comes as a surprise when I know any of them......still I try.  Nine thirty my time and it's late for the update...apologies offered and hopefully accepted....my life seems a little disjointed here and I have still things to do.  LN.....Planning day tomorrow, hospital visits to organise for my host and transport to be arranged....and I really do need to start taking photos...even I'm missing them....LN

Thursday 28th December

Apologies for not posting last night, the brain was willing but the flesh was weak due to technical issues.  It's one thing being in your own house where you know where everything is but even though this was my home for along time....things have moved around.  

I toyed with the idea of going for a walk and by lunchtime the weather set in and I wasn't going anywhere.  I settled on the sofa, television on and that was me for most of the day....There were lots of couddavs, woudavs and shouldavs..but not a lot happened but I did enjoy watching Michael Palin's journey down to Ur of the Chaldees going through lots of war torn countries along the way.  This was followed by Queen's journey 'In his own words' and I really enjoyed it.  I missed the man and his music, I went abroad in 1967 just when they were breaking on to the scene, didn't come back until 1971, married in 1972 and was busy raising children after that.  I think I really came to appreciate them very late to the party but not forsaken them since.

Just a couple of photos from yesterday from my bedroom window and the birds seem to be permanently in residence....even without the leaves for protection.  LD......I promise to update tonight, if only for my daughter so she doesn't have to worry.....LD

Friday 29th December

So after posting this morning late, I headed for the bathroom and sank into the tub, washed my hair and switched off from the world.  I have a very large corner bath. the shampoo must have been in there for about ten years and it's an Aussie Miracle that it all still works as well as the day it was purchased.  The only conditioner that I had was ant-frizz and it's just as well, I came out of the bath wrapping towels round my hair and torso, noticed that there was a message from a friend that I'd contacted before Christmas.  I hadn't heard from her for a while and neither had other friends and we were all worried about her so when I got the message, I had to replay immediately and why wouldn't you?  I eventually go to dry my hair and the anti-frizz worked...it was an Aussie miracle!!

By the time that I was ready to face the world, the sun had gone in.  I was plannning another route march down to the sea front but after spending time on the message, drying my hair and searching for an ornament that I'd bought for my mother and intended giving to my daughter, it was too late to go down to the beach.  I didn't find the ornament, I thought I'd packed it away when  I went to BG but short of unwrapping the bbubblewrap covering everything, I gave up.  I then moved on to the jewellery that I leave in the UK, put some to one side to take back with me to BG and the rest packed away until the next time.  I should really go through it and sell it back to the jeweller that I bought a lot of it from, it's mainly silver and is a fair weight.

I've been watching television for the rest of the early evening.  The nice thing is that the money they're chasing is for charity so the contestants are more humourous and not self serving.  Unfortuantely the Christmas spirit might fade come the New Year but by then I shall be in BG with no British television to watch so it wil be back to Netflix.  Search for supper about to commence, not that I'm really hungry, it's been a 'grazing' afternoon and I think i'm at the peak of a sugar rush.  LN.....Time to lie down in a darkened room and do a spot of meditation......LN

Saturday 30th December

So I was awake at four this morning and realised that I was in for a swollen bottom lip, just like I used to have before when they swapped my tablets over.  I'm allergic to some foodstuff, had eaten cheese and crackers last night and those were obviously the culprits.  I went to the bathroom and took one of my 'Alergia' tablets, went back to bed and lo and behold this morning it looked like I'd been 'Botox-ed' but only the bottom lip.  I took another tablet and drank about a pint of water which was the remedy from my phamacist in Bulgaria and the lip has slowly gone down and I'm now back to normal.  I went back to sleep until half eight and the obvious solution is....no more cheese and crackers for me for a while.  

I made my way downstairs, tidied round, emptied bins to earn my keep,put the television on and watched rubbish for awhile and by now I know most of the adverts.  I can't wait to getting back to cleaning out the woodburner, filling up the log basket and log carriers and moving snow when it appears.  I think I feel more alive in BG.  I wnt back to my bedroom and logged in to my ancestry program and was surprised how much it has changed and not always for the best.  I've been reading the facebook page and how others are coping and it's as I expected, it's not being re-engineered by people who do this as a pleasureable timewaster. The changes aren't being introduced slowly where you have a version control...it's whopped out to the masses and you have to work your way through it.  I got fed up with trying, I closed down realising that my head just wasn't in the right space either to have patience with it.  Downstairs again but this time for toast and apricot jam, I thought I'd got out a new pot of marmalade and was too lazy to go to the cupboard and find one.

It's been another grey and miserable day and my intial though was to take a bus into Brighton and do some window shopping but when I saw the weather I changed my mind.  I can't even go to church tomorrow, even that's closed down until next year.....I must check out the weather report for next week.  One thing I could do it is to carry on completing my next year's travel journal which was in my Christmas stocking.   I've noticed on FB that one of the local firms is advertising cruises going out from Athens and sailing the Med, further investigations are to be undertaken so now to update the journal with the phone numbers and the nice thing is, travel insurance is included in the price unlike the UK.  LN....Enough for now, down to the body of the kirk.....photos promised for tomorrow....LN

Sunday 31st December

Well another year comes to an end and to sum it up...there have been good times and not so good. I had the whole family out for a holiday in the summer which was an experience. and that may not happen again, I'm getting too laid back.  I had a late night last night.  I started watching the Tina Turner concert from fifteen years ago and it was still magic, that was followed by the story in her own words and the film and it was three in the morning when I took to my virginal couch, not waking up until eight thirty.  There wasn't a sound from the rest of the house so I went downstairs and made breakfast, it wasn't that I was hungry but just wanted something to start my day.  Horrible night last night, the ouside intruder light kept coming on due to the wind which was really blowing a gale...it's a straight fun from the see to our house with very little in between.  

I started sorting paperwork and at three I decided that a piece of Christmas cake would fill the gap from breakfast to supper with a cup of coffee and realised that Matilda, the film of the Roald Dahl children's book was on the television and so I got supper underway and sat and watched it.  It's such a lovely film with a feel good factor about it and as you know, I just love his books.  I did start reading this one with my student but we decided to watch the film instead...it was somewhat easier.  Supper was ready-made pies so not a lot of effort went into getting those out of the freezer but I did wash and peel carrots, parsnips and potatoes and they were roasted in the oven with the pies and I only had to serve it up, load the dishwasher and that was the height of my effort for today.

It's going to be a very quiet time 'letting it in'.  Djebel is seeing it in in style with a party in the square under the tree with music and dancing and so next year I'm hoping the municipality is doing the same thing.  I hope that the new year is kind to you all, that things work out for you and inspiration appears when things don't appear to be going so well.  Sit in a quiet space and wait to be shown the path.... or at least the way back to it.  LN.....Happy New Year.....LN