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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  FEBRUARY 2013
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 1, 2013, 5:37pm
Friday 1st February

Well it's white rabbits or brown hares  who can say.  I know that my leeks are being attacked by something and I have my idea....but there again all of them would not make a pot of soup so it's as well the wildlife gets it.

Not much today...the usual, garden fire, house fire, wood in, end of book and into another,....Phoned my Librarian and asked why there were no emails...she appears to have na problem in internet connection...again.

Breakfast was fruit loaf and a whole chicken went in with roasted vegetables and it and what came out was delicious.  Washed down with a little of the red stuff by courtesy of A opening then bottle for me. Restful day.....and restful evening...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 1, 2013, 5:39pm; Reply: 1
My photos didn't post...bummer
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 2, 2013, 4:55pm; Reply: 2
Saturday 2nd February

Woke up at six, read until seven and thought that it would be good to get my head down for a bit and I did.  Woke up suddenly and noticed the morning sky and had to capture it.  It is one of the most beautiful things of being here.....sunrises and sunsets and I never get tired of them.

Added to this morning, three of the freasias had opened and the smell was so pungent....they are such lovely flowers and so delicate.  As for the rest of the day ...that sun didn't stay around for too long and turned into the pale watery wintery specimen.  Not much heat coming out of it but at least it stayed dry.  Nearly finished another of the Lee Childs books and I have to change authors.  I'm noticing that he uses the word 'tan' rather a lot and you know sometimes that each time that you hit it, it grates on you.

So wood in and a small fire going most of the day.  It's just pleasant to look at and only used about three big logs today.  Cold chicken for tonight....not really wanting to cook tonight.  Lovely long email from one of my good friends so tomorrow I shall save my finger and send her a reply.

Down to the fire now......as I said not a lot is happening on my hillside...driving will be a pleasure...but I reckon it will be the automatic Beast...gear changing will be a little bit of a problem me thinks.  So LN....food and fire....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 3, 2013, 5:45pm; Reply: 3
Sunday 3rd February

Firstly Happy Birthday to my beautiful Princess and the number of years will remain a closely guarded secret.  Girl's talk as they say.

So as for the weather today.....absolutely atrocious.  High winds all day, lashing rain and electricity off for most of the afternoon.  Downside of that is that I have to run down the woodburner because of the electric pump and it's a toss up as to whether I empty the big one into the small one but it's been OK for the last couple of hours.  Having said that....the wind is coming up grom the Med so it's been about fifteen degrees today but with the wind and rain it certainly didn't feel like it.

My flowers have really come into their own today and without much input from me.  I like flowers like that.  Made a huge pot of chicken and vegetable soup and I'm getting much better at preparing the veg.  Leeks, carrots, red onions and potatoes with the remains of yesterday's chicken and the carcas is in the slow cooker already.  Domestic goddess eat you heart out.

Down to the fire just in case the power goes tonight.  The night lights are at the ready and my useless windup lamps are stationed in useful places.  They did seem such a good idea at the time and thank goodness they were buy one get one free or I would have been really disappointed.  LN....,it's supposed to quieten down at eight pm.....let's wait and see....LN




Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 4, 2013, 7:43am; Reply: 4
Monday 4th February

Happy birthday Mum.....not here but never forgotten.  The day is remembered too by the closeness to my daughter's birthday.  I left mum and dad's house at about five thirty on Sunday the third, a few years ago now but nothing would force me to divulge how many, telling them that I would try and hang on to my imminent bundle as a birthday present for mum.  Spoke to dad at ten that night more or less and apologising that I hadn't managed it and that he had a beautiful seven and a half pound granddaughter.  Memory Lane egh...nice place to go at certain times.

Washing washing, breakfast...cheese triangles on toast and I thought they would spread easily....would they buggery.  Nice surprise on my freasias...I have a white one about to burst forth.  Been round the estate.....didn't lose anything in the gale force winds.....I bet there were a few casualties...but calm and peaceful this morning though a little damp.  On to the day...I have things to do....
Posted by: createdbyme4you, February 4, 2013, 8:49am; Reply: 5
Hi Elsa beautiful freesias I can almost smell them  from here, flowers are a wonderful  reminder of life past and present  :)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 4, 2013, 6:33pm; Reply: 6
Quoted from createdbyme4you
Hi Elsa beautiful freesias I can almost smell them  from here, flowers are a wonderful  reminder of life past and present  :)


Too right Jackie,,,,I always had these flowers in the house from the local florist but it was always a struggle to keep them alive long enough for all the blooms on each stem to develop.  Now growing them in buckets seems to work and I can literally say.....freasias....I've got buckets of them.... ;) ;)

So this afternoon's period of activity ended at four o'clock when I could hardly keep my eyes open so I didn't.  Hopped off to bed for an hour so I thought and woke up just before eight.  I'm reckoning that lugging this extra weight round on my right arm is leading to restless nights without me realising.  Fire's out but house still warm.  Going back to bad with my book and cozying down until tomorrow hopefully or expect an update at silly o'clock....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 5, 2013, 5:35pm; Reply: 7
Tuesday 5th February

One week today my plaster comes off and I'm counting down.  The outside bandage is now several shades of grey and I even went into the chemist today and picked up another couple of bandages but ashcans and wood burners are not very kind to white bandages.

So after yesterday afternoon's monumental sleep I expected to have a very  'light' night so I read until two thirty and went through until seven this morning.  Good for me.  Lazed around  this morning unsure whether I would be dressing for Kardjali or sorting out the Librarian's computer and we did both.  Got caught out by my Kmet (mayor) and was still in PJ's when he delivered my first birthday card and thank you Yvonne.  We worked together fifty years ago and despite no internet connection on her part we still keep in touch.  

Librarian arrived at ten fifteen, computer sorted, went into Kardjali and paid a few bills, moussaka for lunch at the grand cost of eight leva for both, shopping at Lidl, shopping at my Leva shop in Djebel and in the supermarket and home for four.  Asked her to bring up the computer to check that it was all working and set her up with a FB page and she found her son and granddaughter and they messaged each other.  Now you can tell people how good it is to keep in touch but when it happens for the first time....she was over the moon and went home like a dog with two tails.  I just love it when that happens.....it's when the light goes on....

Remsie came round this afternoon and tomorrow I am a photographic studio so that she can apply for her passport.  I suspect she is off to Turkey form her holiday.  Not hungry...the lunch was very filling.  Fire going and house warming up nicely after it was neglected all day.  Just too busy to throw a log on.  Managed to open a bottle of the red stuff though and now I am going to contemplate...my book...and get on to the next Reacher novel and he has already mentioned the word 'tan'.  I'll have to email him.  So photos tonight are of my wonderful freasias again and sorry to be going on about them...but you should smell them.....heavenly....LN....fire, wine and book are calling me downstairs....listen hard...you just might hear them...LN...these are for everyone I care about.....and I care for a lot of people....
Posted by: Joanna, February 6, 2013, 6:17pm; Reply: 8
After many a power cut and the risk of a boiling boiler we now have a CPU, continuous power unit. They are not cheap but they run off a 12V battery for about 3-12 hours, depending on what it is doing, after the power goes off.

Nice freesias, my favourite flower too  :)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 6, 2013, 6:56pm; Reply: 9
Wednesday 6th February

Well I've got two conversations going with FB and that's not easy with one finger typing....and thank you Joanna....seen them with two different spellings and never sure...

Late morning.....wood in, poached eggs on toast for breakfast, nothing much doing so settled into my book this morning.  Got my head down for a couple of hours this afternoon and I can only believe it is compensation for disturbed night time sleep.  I seem to wake up know that my arm is in the wrong place so I end up with it facing upright and then overnight I move again....so I sleep in the afternoon....

My Avatar came round with home made pizza this afternoon that I had for lunch and this evening I had the remains of my soup with a handful of rice thrown in.  Gouljan hopped off the bus this afternoon and delivered letter advising me that I had a ten pound bonus paid into mt account.  Thanks.....I would appreciate mt winter fuel allowance instead bu I suppose I have to make another call for that to join up the dots.....too difficult I guess....

So fire going most of the day but not really necessary....ticking over nicely tonight....book at 80% and flowing well....LN...that's about it....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 7, 2013, 5:55pm; Reply: 10
Thursday 7th February

Really quick update.  We have had torrential rains all day today and a couple of thunderstorms and I think I've just heard a rumble in the jungle....

Water went off until lunchtime today and I didn't envy the men working on it as it would have been filling up any holes they were digging faster than they could have dug them.  We've also had gale force wind again so please can we have more snow and winter weather.....we know how to cope with that.  How do you expect me to build an ark single handed...

Time for shut down I think.....don't want my computer to get shredded....just a couple of pics of yesterday and two of today...what a contrast... :-/......LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 8, 2013, 8:09am; Reply: 11
Friday 8th February

Guess what......the water is off again so what they were doing yesterday they didn't manage to complete.....Let's hope it's not too long or I'll be collecting rainwater.....between building the ark and sorting out the animals.....and remember...I only want two of each. ;) ;)

So just to cap it all the electricity went off this afternoon for a couple of hours.....and believe me ...we pay our bills here.

Finished another Jack Reacher novel and thinking that I have become addicted but I do wish that he would lose the word 'tan'.  Don't know what it is  about it and another surprise for me.....I am beginning to like Timothy Sprules and I don't know what I didn't like about him in the first place but he was on Chris Evans this morning...I'm listening to too much Radio 2 and my opinions are changing and I'm to old for a transfiguration.

So electricity back on, water on but at a reduced pressure which makes me think that I shall be using the downstairs toilet not the upstairs and no danger of doing the washing tonight.  Managed to open a tin of tuna this lunchtime and dolloped mayo into a bowl and had them on toast so not really in to doing much tonight.  One meal is enough these days....it's not that I'm very active turning over the pages of my Kindle.  

Haven't received a winter fuel allowance since I was out here so decided to chase it and four twenty on a Friday afternoon when they finish at four thirty seemed about right.  I've been advised that a memo is on its way to the appropriate department and checks will be made and very pleasant they were about it.  All donations will be gratefully received.  If they can manage to write to me telling me that they have sent me ten pounds then things are looking up but I had to go through security before I could change the 'V' to a 'D' where some plonker had written it down wrongly.....all sorted now.

LN...Jack Reacher calls......I've found another.  Forgot to give you a weather report...it went up to thirty degrees in the sun in my stair well today....and a beautiful day was had by all as it dried up the slush from my garden...LN...time for a little red...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 9, 2013, 8:07pm; Reply: 12
Saturday 9th February

So what a day....everybody denying that it is the 9th February...such is life...... think it is all to do with the book that I am reading....the umpteenth Reacher novel....and it's getting exciting....

My Librarian came over today for another lesson in Facebook and we had a good day......she's a quick learner.  Lunch was bubbling on the cooker, the bread was warming in the oven and the pasta was boiling in the pan......sounds almost like a plot but it wasn't.. ..she settled down to do her emails and I did my Facebook.

Seriously had a good day....very relaxed and at the end of the day she had to pop into Djebel for a M-tel card and some cheese for one of her neighbours so I went with her for the ride.  As you know I don't get out much these days.  Two cars and one hand......

Fire going, supper cooking, shopping gathered, wine open.....what could be better....LN....I'll concentrate on the wine,,,,,
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 10, 2013, 5:02pm; Reply: 13
Sunday 10th February

Well a Happy New Year to some of my readers and I've caught up on my horoscope in the year of the Snake.....not bad...not bad at all.

Weather OK today.  We had a fifteen minute gale force wind that rocked my special tree and as I did my lap of the garden I realised that I should have worn wellies since it was very wet under foot.  Checked out the base of the tree and there were so many fir cones under it.....didn't know there were that many up there.  This year I'm going to get a few seedlings from it started and thinking about it I should start a few other things off as well.  It doesn't feel like winter at all.  Yes today there was a nip in the air but it wasn't cold.  My stairwell was up to twenty six in the sun.  Not normal for February.  Bet it will come back and bite us in the bum.

I have no more Jack Reacher novels and hopefully his tan will fade along with his tan raincoat.  He loves that word.  I'm now going to settle in to Bernard Cornwell again.  Need to get rid of the violence from my thinking patterns.  Supper was the remains of yesterday's lunch...well not actually the remains....it was what didn't get eaten yesterday.  The sky has been a peculiar mixture of clouds today.  There appeared to be several layers and we were surrounded by 'fronts' on all sides.  Let's see if the red sky at night means anything or our usual red sky in the morning.  Perhaps I'll ask my sheep farmer about it.

Downstairs I go and put this thing to bed.  Eventually managed to do yesterday's Daily Mail Sudoko after several attempts and ending up the same rabbit hole.  It was a five star one but today's three star...eight minutes using only one hand.....good going and now the good 'is' going.....back to the warmth and the wine....LN....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 11, 2013, 7:28pm; Reply: 14
Monday 11th February

Very bad connection tonight and very bad coverage so the message is simple....I am fine...tomorrow I have the plaster removed and I'll be updating you as soon as I know the outcome...

Two birds bashed into my window today...I heard the thud and found the bodies on the concrete.  They obviously thought they could fly through plate glass...wrong.  I lit the bonfire and gave them a good send off...sad...but nature has it in its grasp.

Wood in, fire lit, all of the normal stuff....supper tonight was spicey sausage with home made baked beans with a touch of chili with pineapple added....worth travelling for....LN...it's back to the fire and the wine....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 12, 2013, 3:49pm; Reply: 15
Tuesday 12th February

Beans on toast for breakfast and the prisoner ate a hardy meal.......I was trapped in that plaster caste but bring it back, all is forgiven.  

I was unveiled at eleven thirty, scissors at the ready and he was very gentle......and the good news is that it will take a lot of squeezing of a rubber ball before I come bouncing back to you....and don't you dare join in the chorus.  Sport is out but there again was only 'in' up to the age of forty when our rounders team was called the 'Roundabouts' because we were all round about forty.  Driving is out for a few weeks even though it's an automatic so its buses and taxis for a while.

Well I think my slow release painkiller has just kicked in but I wish it had done it sooner.  As the man said....a lot of damage was done and now I've got to set about repairing it.  Looking up the tablets on the Internet it tells me to avoid alcohol so I'll have to change my route round the supermarket.  Physio was recommended but I'll start with the ball first and see how we go after that.  I'm dreading my first sleep....the protection has gone and I know that was a pain but I'm envisioning rolling over in the night..................I'd like to say...sweet dreams....not thinking it will be tonight somehow....LN...I'll update tomorrow...
Posted by: scarahfluff, February 12, 2013, 10:12pm; Reply: 16
Hello Elsa,
Hope you manage to sleep tonight ok. Our neighbour has a broken leg and has had a nightmare like you. Hope fully get to meet you for real soon if all goes to plan. Take care and LN. Xxx
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 13, 2013, 4:31pm; Reply: 17
Wednesday 13th February

Quoted from scarahfluff
Hello Elsa,
Hope you manage to sleep tonight ok. Our neighbour has a broken leg and has had a nightmare like you. Hope fully get to meet you for real soon if all goes to plan. Take care and LN. Xxx


Thanks Sarah.....better than I thought it would be....I was reading from four until five this morning but went off again until seven and have had a very quiet day.  I must admit though I bandaged up for a little bit of protection and it seemed to work.  I slept on my back with my arm resting on my chest. :-/ :-/

Happy Birthday to my first born. It also snowed on February 13th all those years ago. Hope you've had a good day and that my card got there in time.  I found out my favourite photo of my little ones and added it....i love it.

Stripped off the bandage and gave it a good massage with soapy water and applied lashings or the prescribed repair gel, put on a very light bandage mainly so the gel will stay in place.  I haven't used the ball today.  I think it's still early days...don't want to any more damage....it needs constructive not destructive exercise this early on.  Checked out You Tube and there is a good selection of physio videos.  I liked the idea of using Theraputy.....must try to get some.  Two lots of wood in....rain has been forecast for the next couple of days and my left hand is coming more under my control every day....must practice handwriting though...looks like drunken spiders crawled over the birthday cards that I sent to the UK.

Pancake season is upon us and I had my first delivery this morning and they did me well for breakfast,

Fire going, supper over, I used up the baked beans that I had made with spicy sausage and a little chili.  Reckoned it would be a good platform for my slow release pain killers....LN.....back to my book.


Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 14, 2013, 5:29pm; Reply: 18
Thursday 14th February

Went off to sleep at nine last night so at one I was wide awake so went back to my book....two thirty thought it was about time that I got my head down and tried again and at two forty five I was making coffee and back to my book again.  The slow release had released all that it was going to and the next shot wasn't due until eight in the morning and I had a pain that wouldn't seem to go away no matter where I tried to rest it.  Eventually at five I tried again and woke up at seven or thereabouts... :-/ :-/

Got the fire going...emails and Facebook, toast for breakfast since it was all I could manage to achieve, miserable weather and rained all day.  This afternoon was better, I have been exercising the wrist sort of pushing it that little bit extra since that's how I think it's going to work for me.  I'm even managing to type this using both hands so that's a definite improvement.

Supper was a bit of a challenge.  I got a piece of pork out of the freezer this morning and thought I would check the middle basket to see what was in it. Couldn't lever it open with one hand so ended up taking out a sliced loaf more or less piece by piece so that I could manage to open it...and I succeeded.  Next challenge was to hack the meat so that I could curry some of it and that was difficult to do but followed that with some karate chops on an onion but all in all....a delicious pork curry and something again for my slow release to bed down into.

Quiet day all in all...there was a yell at the door and post lady was on the evening bus, hopped off, delivered a letter and hopped back on the bus.  I shut the gate after her since the rain has swelled the wood and it's difficult if you're not sure how to manage it.  Back to my book now.  The washing up can wait until tomorrow....one bowl, one cup and one pan....not worth running the water for.  LN....I think I'm on the bus tomorrow...I have cards to post and a few things to get but I doubt I'll be around for the one thirty back again...taxi will do it for me...LN....back to my water.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 15, 2013, 5:54pm; Reply: 19
Friday 15th February

Happy Birthday to my maternal grandma today.  Lots of lovely memories of her and her budgie.....she got it to swear which surprised the doctor that visited her each week to give her her injection for anemia.

Silly night last night and finished the third of the Saxon books by Bernard Cornwall and have started the forth book today.  Went back and eventually came round just before seven, emails and website and deleted the forty seven pages if trash that want to sell items on my website.  I've just checked now and I have another one hundred and sixty applicants with ridiculous names with stupid email addresses....grrrrr.

Into town on the bus...I was waiting by the gate as it was heading up to the furthest village, so it stopped, I got on and we took the scenic route and came back via our village and into Djebel.  Went into my student's parents shop and we put the world to rights.  She was suffering from some virus that was creating profuse down pouring from her nasal cavity and complained that she had run out of tissues so I hopped off to the supermarket and made her a gift of four toilet rolls, Mountain Fresh, that should keep her going for a while.  On to the post office and got my road tax for the two cars which cost me just over one hundred and thirty leva for both...(just over sixty pounds) so at least when I can drive again I shall be legal.  A little bit of shopping and taxi home and I didn't have to tell him where I lived and he knew the house as well.  Got my fire going and eventually it seemed to warm up....cold and damp again today...not pleasant.  Head down for an hour or so this afternoon and hoping for a full night's sleep tonight....the wrist was just a little bit painful last night...just knew it was there if you know what I mean.

Down I go...back to my fire and the book....had the remains of the curry sauce and rice as a soup for lunch with a good chunk of bread so not up for much tonight....LN....going to stoke up, get in my jimjams and stay warm and chilled...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 16, 2013, 6:19pm; Reply: 20
Saturday 16th February

Better night......six thirty start but have felt OK today.  I've been using the wrist..painful but still must keep at it...gentle exercise...much more interesting that exercises.  Enough wood in and kept a little fire going today...just makes the place more cheerful.  Task for today...a mad urge to waft round with the vacuum, take the dust off the place and the only part I was dreading was if the dust bag filled up and I wouldn't be able to get the bag clip in place easily but the gods were with me....two more cards delivered this morning by one of my neighbours who apologised that he thought that nine thirty was early.  I had to explain who they were from and why...just a thing that you have to do here. ;)  ;)

Got the rest of the pork with onions, tomato paste and a drop of the red into the slow cooker.  Sun came out this afternoon enough to get a couple of windows open and blow the dust that I hadn't managed to find and settle it somewhere else.  The house is really looking very smart.  Going cold now, there is supposed to be a frost tonight.  Managed to peel and mash potatoes, peel and slice carrots and supper was really delicious and plenty left for tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my birth share six year old's party in Djebel so I might wend my way in there by taxi to deliver her present. I'll see how I feel in the morning.

PC going off now and down to business.   Going to strip the bandage off and saturate the said appendage with hand cream......it's a little scaly after five weeks in plaster.....and definitely in need of something.  Fifty percent of fourth book down and twisting and turning in every direction.  LN....things to do and book to read.

Posted by: linda g, February 16, 2013, 6:28pm; Reply: 21
Hi Elsa, Hope I am near the date to say Happy Birthday....Card in post. Hope you have a nice day, and hope your injury gets better soon for you. Everyone says Hello from this end. Wish I could send you some heat....its been stiffling here for the past 2 weeks....in the high 30's and we had a couple of 41 days.. hope its cools down soon.... Take care.. Linda & All.xx :) :) 8) 8)
Posted by: createdbyme4you, February 16, 2013, 7:00pm; Reply: 22
Going to strip the bandage off and saturate the said appendage with hand cream......it's a little scaly after five weeks in plaster.....and definitely in need of something. Hi Elsa hope you don't mind  could I suggest some olive oil and a few drops of lavender if you cant get lavender oil chop up some ginger (for healing )mix together store in a jar rub in when needed  
or mix sunflower oil with honey rub in leave for 3 to 4 min rinse off better than cream  and cheaper   ;)  
Jackie
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 17, 2013, 6:05am; Reply: 23
Sunday 17th February

Thank you Linda and I'll look forward to receiving the card as will my neighbours....oooohhhh....Australia.....They love it and so do I.

Lavender I have in the garden Jacqui so I'll make an infusion or concoction?  I have no idea of the difference and think I better Google it first.  As for the ginger, only got the powdered stuff but can buy fresh when I go into Lidl next time...new to me...never heard of using it before.

The sun is shining and all's well with the world.  Six thirty start this morning without any interruptions once I'd found out when to rest my aching appendage.  Fire going so I'm toasty after I've showered and washed my hair.....and I've decided to take that taxi into Djebel....it would be rude not to after her father invited me to the bash.  So breakfast, get clean and presentable to the world and saving my present from Princess for later .... stretching out the day...
Posted by: janet, February 17, 2013, 9:51am; Reply: 24
Happy Birthday Elsa hope you had a great day, Love Dennis And Janet :)
Posted by: 50 (Guest), February 17, 2013, 11:57am; Reply: 25
Happy Birthday Elsa.  Hope you have a wonderful day.    :)
Posted by: scarahfluff, February 17, 2013, 1:06pm; Reply: 26
Happy Birthday Elsa. Hope you have a fab day and get to enjoy a drink or two tonight. :-):-):-)
Posted by: createdbyme4you, February 17, 2013, 3:15pm; Reply: 27
Elsa a very happy Birthday  to you cheers  ;)
Jackie x
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 17, 2013, 4:37pm; Reply: 28
Sunday continued

Thank you all for your good wishes and yes I have had a lovely day. Ordered the taxi, got glammed up and headed for a birthday party for a six year old.  I know which side my bread is buttered on...cheesy chips, sausages, hamburgers, homemade filo cheese pastry, salad and delicious birthday cake.  There were about twenty little children and mothers and my super restaurant lady.  Two of the little children has waistcoats that had been made by my restaurant lady and I casually said that I wanted one but now in white and she suggested black.  I thought nothing of it and ten minutes later, the birthday girl presented me with my present and what was it!!  A black waistcoat that she had made for the shop but she'd nipped down and got it for me.....lovely lady.

Got a phone call from Gouljan and she was also in Djebel waiting for her Cinderella coach to get her back home.  I suggested that she waited at the bus station and I legged it up there and we got a taxi back together.....lovely driver...despite having to go on to the next village the price was the same.

Spoke to CJ, Princess and Martin and the present from Princess and company was a magnetic book mark which I mistook for a fridge magnet not having read the instructions....and by golly it is and a packet of wild seeds to sprinkle as I think fit.

Not hungry but I've switched on the slow cooker with the remains of last night's beanfeast and I'll see how I feel later.  

And a good day was had by all!!  LN...I'm off to tend the fire and I've found the fifth book of the Saxons so got something to get my teeth into again....LN
Posted by: MikeyB, February 17, 2013, 7:19pm; Reply: 29
Happy Birthday Elsa! Glad you've had a lovely day and managed to get out of the house!

Nowt wrong with cheesy chips, sausages and hamburgers... food of the gods!  :P

Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 18, 2013, 12:42pm; Reply: 30
Monday 18th February

Quoted from MikeyB
Happy Birthday Elsa! Glad you've had a lovely day and managed to get out of the house!  Nowt wrong with cheesy chips, sausages and hamburgers... food of the gods!  :P



Thanks Mikey B and I'm so pleased that the little one seems to be out of the woods....That's children for you and believe me...you've got a long way to go... ;) ;)

Such a beautiful day today.  Clouded over a little now but I looked at the nest and decided that it needed stripping down and the bedclothes launching into my thing what does it and not too sure that I'm going to manage to get that kingsize quilt back into that quilt cover single handed but I can always go over the road for reinforcements should it be necessary.  Washing pegged out after a fashion and though it would be a good idea to take a chair outside for a bit of a read and as normally happens, the clouds rolled over and the sun went in.  I should know by now and there again...it's only February.  

Had a spot of bother getting into the blog this lunchtime and I'm hoping that there is a glitch with the internet provider....blog was OK when I went in through the backdoor so to speak.  Always makes me a little nervous....I should really try to print it all up so that I've got a record....one day I might want to make it into an ebook...for free of course and edited to take out some of the rubbish.  

So I'm in and the washing is about to be removed from the line and on to the airer....catch you later...  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 18, 2013, 6:47pm; Reply: 31
Monday continued

Washing in, on the airer, bed made up ready for tonight and did it all on my own, supper was roast chicken with the rest of the mashed potatoes made into balls and baked in the oven.  I must admit I did have a glass of wine with it...I'm sure my kidneys will cope with one.  It's supposed to be raining tonight according to the weather men but to date nothing and the temperature again seems to be dropping.

So washing up can wait until tomorrow....dear Tommy will have a selection of goodies tomorrow so he's be licking his lips as I walk up the road towards my Avatar's house.....LN.....I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight...fresh bedding is always pleasant to get in to.  LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 19, 2013, 5:51pm; Reply: 32
Tuesday 19th February

Split shift in bed last night despite my lovely clean nest...read for a couple of hours and not sure what caused it but the fifth and final book of Saxon bit the dust.  Did managed to go off again until seven but these sort of nights don't do me much good.

Fire lit as soon as I got up this morning and it was a cold and damp one.  There was a brief of glimmer of sun for all of about ten seconds and then down came the mist and at lunch time along came the rain that eventually turned into sleet.  Checking out the men that are supposed to know, we should be having snow tonight but to date nothing more that we had earlier.  

Surprise visitor this afternoon.  Remsie's grand daughter delivered another birthday card for me and thank you A.  It was a lovely surprise...I know that you've got a lot on your plate at the moment.  The one from Australia hasn't arrived yet but the novelty factor means that it is probably being shown around Djebel if only for the stamps.  The girl is about thirteen and asked me if I had any English books and bless her, she can read it but hasn't got a clue what it is all about.  I showed her the Kindle and she started to read the page that was lit up and kept stopping to ask me what the word was.  I translated some of it for her but as for the story...must buy her a hat so that it doesn't go over her head.  It's the way that they teach English here...they can all read it but don't understand a word.  She got to play games on my pc though... ;) ;)

Supper tonight was cold chicken and the food that I had put to one side for Tommy is still sitting in the kitchen and will be tomorrow's treat.  I haven't even ventured out of the door today...not much need...enough wood and coal but I will deliver the food tomorrow before it goes off.  

Quick Birthday greeting for Janet....have a wonderful cruise with the family and friends....LN....I've got washing up to do before I settle down for the night...
Posted by: BGBound, February 20, 2013, 6:37am; Reply: 33
Happy Birthday Elsa, I hope you had a wonderful day.......sorry it's late but not bad considering I didn't wish you happy new year until just over a week ago  ;D x
Posted by: janet, February 20, 2013, 11:40am; Reply: 34
Hi Elsa, many thanks we will have a great cruise.   I have a new iPad for my birthday just giving it a try, hope u enjoyed your birthday .Dennis will upload some photos when we see some whales. Ha ha :D ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 20, 2013, 4:38pm; Reply: 35
Wednesday 20th February

Thanks BG Bound.....I thought the New Year stuff was early for next year and have a wonderful cruise Janet......bet we don't get pictures of whales though!!

Silly night's sleep again last night.  All due to me going to sleep in front of the fire so by the time that I got to bed at eleven thirty. the mood had left me.  Eventually head down at  two thirty but didn't know where to put my are for comfort.  Checked out the weather and it was snowing quite hard but not sticking on the terrace but it was white over this morning.  As the sun came up it melted it all which caused fog and mist which blocked out the sun...what a vicious circle.  Cleared up around lunchtime and it was a lovely day and the sun in my stairwell made it very warm but chilly outside when I went to burn the household rubbish.  Tommy got his breakfast and wolfed it all down and stayed around in the yard while I got the wood in.

Sat reading this afternoon and have come across another prolific author and since they all appear to list death in the title but no sequence number I've had to list them so that I read them in order.  I made the mistake with Lee Childs and they were all over the place.  

There's a toot, toot outside the gate at about four thirty and so I go out and there is a car and a lady with a parcel for me.  This one I don't know so she didn't stay around to find out who it was from and it's as well.  It was a card and calendar from my son and it must have taken me about fifteen minutes to get into it.  It had gaffer tape round it and with only one hand to push and pull it wasn't easy.  Lovely pictures of the family and the two grandchildren in some super poses.

The wrist is aching tonight and I've just given it an application of the repair gel that was dispensed.  Not sure of it's purpose but it's supposed to be brilliant for sport's injuries.  I suppose going to the cash point can be considered a sport by some.  Pleasant day though not wildly exciting....let's hope my little brain stays chilled for tonight....I wont to go to sleep at eleven and wake up at seven...OK!!  LN....I'm off to the kitchen to see what might be cooking..LN


Posted by: timpet73, February 21, 2013, 1:00pm; Reply: 36
Hi Mum,

Sorry about the packaging, but great it got there Tim xx
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 21, 2013, 6:43pm; Reply: 37
Thursday 21st February

Quoted from timpet73
Sorry about the packaging, but great it got there Tim xx


Went to bed at about ten thirty last night....packaging no problem but can I just remind you son, we are two hours ahead and not one so after answering the phone, sleep was put on the back burner and the book came out.  When I eventually settled off again I was dreaming so vividly that I almost wrote it down this morning but caught the sunrise at about six thirty and camera out.  Fire still going from last night so salvaged it, ashes ditched and breakfast underway.  By nine this morning I had done all I wanted to do so settled back with my book but at eleven I was flagging so took to my bed at eleven thirty and it was almost three when I woke up again.  Whether it's the tablet I don't know.  I'm aware of the dull ache in my wrist but my dreams are very vivid....I'll let you know.

Avatar came round this afternoon for a chat and to return the facial sauna that I had let her grand daughter borrow.  I haven't seen the results...I hope it worked.  First of the thirtry six books down and well into the second....female detective set in the year 2056 thereabouts but they seem to have the same problems as does the year 2013.  Supper tonight was home made vegetable soup and the warmed bread that my Avatar delivered.  There was more food for Tommy but when she's around I don't often deliver it.  She would probably think it was a complete waste and that Tommy eats better than she does.

Eight thirty...trying to decide whether to go into Djebel tomorrow or into Kardjali on the bus....Lidl have a cross shredder on offer...not so important here as in the UK but thought it might be a good idea....spam literature hasn't reached here yet.  So back to my book, back to my fire which seems to be going exceptionally well tonight for no apparent reason...just the way it goes some nights.  LN...sleepy valley for me tonight....and phones switched off...LN

Posted by: createdbyme4you, February 21, 2013, 7:48pm; Reply: 38
Wow Wee Elsa what a beautiful sunrise !!!!  soup looks good to  :)
Jackie x
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 22, 2013, 9:05am; Reply: 39
Friday 22nd February

Thanks Jacqui...sunrise splendid yesterday...today?  Haven't even see it.  The rosiest glow is in the woodburner!! :-/  As for the soup it was delicious but I think it was the bread that gave me the heartburn...I'll stick to shop stuff from now on.... :-/

Happy birthday M....hope your card got there in time as for the bottle of wine....it's in the post or ASDA...not sure which.  This morning's update is to complain about changing various passwords and the ever decreasing circles we appear to go in to find new ones....bit of a bugger isn't it and I'll explain why later...I still have work to do and as for Djebel...the weather is too grim to be out there in it....curled up by the fire seems to be the order of the day.  Must get on...I've got loads of books to read.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 22, 2013, 6:33pm; Reply: 40
Friday continued

Horrible weather stayed all day today and the only time I ventured outside was to give Tommy his goodies.  I even took the pickies through the window.  Didn't take long for him to wolf it down,.  I cat came sniffing round and it didn't take long for him to see it off either.

My food was comfort stuff....fish finger sandwiches and water to follow.  That's living.  Back to my book, third in the series and about to get settled for the night. Let's hope the weather is better than today...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 23, 2013, 5:11pm; Reply: 41
Saturday 23rd February

Well the weather has been just as miserable today.  The sun poked her little face out at about four thirty and then shot back under her cloud mantle.  That sounds very poetic but I just wasn't in the mood.  I hate cold damp weather.  

Having said that I managed to try the other chimney this morning and I have my little one burning again.  It really does make such a difference.  Breakfast was toast interspersed with the calving knife going up the chimney and I managed to butter it with a knife held in my right hand.  Now maybe the butter was a little soft but I managed it and I've been testing it out all day with logs and stuff...light weight ones and I managed to hold the box of matches in my left hand and strike one with the right.  This time last week I couldn't have done that so I detect improvement. ;) ;)

Facebook is still a complete pain.  I can't update my statues, search for friends and can only comment on posts that have been left on my pages.  Checking out Google though it seems that there are lots of us in the same boat.  I think I have something to share with you.  I had the urge to cook fish fingers again this afternoon but this time with chippies, tomato sauce and mayo.  So the mince and tatties will have to last until tomorrow.  I wouldn't have cooked it but it came out of the freezer on Thursday and I thought it would be better than giving it to Tommy.....he's looking too healthy.

Well into the third book of the series and it transpires that at the age of eight she killed her father.....that was something I wasn't expecting and it got me thinking of how do you plan a whole series of thirty odd books or do you just make it up as you go along....I'd be satisfied with writing just one.

Two fires to keep in tonight....washing machine just finished...I stood in front of it and stripped off just like the ad (and I'm sorry if you are just having your supper) stuck everything in the machine, went for a shower, trying out the right on my hair.  It's aching now but I suppose that's good....tablet at ten.

So closing down now....don't need to eat....back to my book and the comfort of my cosy chair.  LN and I hope you've all had a good day...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 24, 2013, 6:07pm; Reply: 42
Sunday 24th February

Mellow start to the day....mellow rest of it and mellow evening....what could be better.

Little woodburner was still going this morning and didn't bother with the big one.  Six thirty start so opened the windows and watched the dawn and very pleasant it was.  Vague pink blue tinges and that was OK until the mist started to collect but it soon cleared.  It wasn't a sunny day....but there was warmth in the air...just like spring but I know there will be a turnaround next week...it's supposed to be getting chillier again.  

Pottered this morning,,,read a little of my book, got the wood in and tidied up a few things in the little house.  Came in a poured a beer and decided on tuna mayo on toast for lunch and all was well with my little world.  Realised that I'd left the little house unlocked but decided that the garden fork, yes my trusty English garden for could come out to play and I wanted to see how the wrist would stand up to it.  Gently I turned over the soil in the frog garden and found some snowdrops and a very distressed looking hyacinth which should do better now that it's exposed.  Cleared out the dead stalks from last year from the rest of the flower beds but didn't do too much digging...little and often and it should do the trick both on the garden and the wrist.  After all ...it's been out of plaster for less than two weeks.

Beautiful moon tonight....nothing dramatic about the day but as I lit the bonfire it was almost like getting back to normal....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 25, 2013, 3:09pm; Reply: 43
Monday 25th February

I think you know that I've been having trouble with Facebook where it would let me comment on other people's posts but wouldn't allow me status updates of or to search for friends....so I thought I'd use Internet Explorer instead of Chrome and blow me...it worked.  So then I did more investigation and removed Ad-block and re installed and guess what ...it's now working correctly apart from a plug in that I had to sort out so that I could listen to BBC radio and do my Daily Mail Sudoku....so success all round.

On the bus this morning absolutely jam packed full and nearly had to sit on someone's lap.  Went into my restaurant lady's shop and surprised that she was working but apparently school was out today and my student seems to thing that it is a holiday left over from Christmas :-/  Went for a coffee with my lady, bought a waistcoat the same as the one that I had been given for my birthday and delivered it to my student's mum as a present for being there for me.  I was given a jar of preserved fish and that's going to be opened when I get in the mood for it.  Apparently her father is the provider.  Met Gouljan in town and we discussed the merits of Vivacom over M'tel and the jury is still out.  I came back on the bus and Gouljan had got herself a lift home bypassing the bus and the crush.

Just a little background on the rest of the afternoon.  I couldn't manage to get to wear my diamond rings when I went on the cruise due to swollen finger joints so they stayed in the UK.  Had a bit of a panic on and remember putting them in an envelop but for the life of me couldn't remember what had happened after that.  My daughter searched the house in England to no avail and she mentioned that she was still looking.  In desperation I 'asked those upstairs' for a little help and I vaguely heard that I should be checking a document wallet that I'd brought back with me.  Upstairs with Gouljan this lunchtime playing on PC's and suddenly the box with my filed documents fell off the shelf and landed upside down.  Left it there for a while and started to pick the folders up and yes you've guessed it...one folder, one stapled envelop and four diamond rings.  I've just text my daughter to advise her that her inheritance is safe and is now put somewhere safe.

Lovely spring day...donkey just nosing its way round the field to the side of the house....fire ticking over.....all's good with my world...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 26, 2013, 4:30pm; Reply: 44
Tuesday 26th February

So what happened overnight to that lovely spring feel....woke up to mist, clouds that turned into rain.  Gouljan stopped and got the driver to toot his his horn so that she could pick up her Vivacom dongle that she left here last night so that I could make the comparison....and I didn't come to any real conclusions.  I checked out the company's current offers and that still didn't make up my mind whether to switch or not.  Settled down to my book after a breakfast of a fried egg and brown sauce butty and my lovely Kmet appeared at my door with my birthday card from Linda in Australia.  I had to open it to show him and it contained a photograph of me at thirteen that I had never seen before and also a school photo of our class.  Apparently this was copied out of a book that I must get my hands on...if only for the history.  Thank you Linda and for making my Kmet's day.

To top it all today we had the mother of all thunderstorms around lunchtime.  Big huge flashes and bangs, the computer was put to bed and the plugs removed, the telephone switched off and I settled down with a book until the tiredness overtook me and I closed my eyes in front of the fire and got my head down for an hour or so.  Rude not to.  Thought it had gone over but no, back it came at four o'clock my time and we had another few short sharp bangs but I decided to update before it comes back again....it seems to be loitering and the clouds look very black.

Both fires going most of the day using big oak logs so not a lot of effort at all and the house is warm and I'm settled in for the night.  Supper might happen...can't say that I am in the mood but it might be like last night when I decided to peel an onion (and that's getting much easier), slice up a spicey sausage and fry it off with the onions and slap it all on a couple of fresh roles with tomato sauce...delicious.  I'll wait to see if the mood overtakes me again...LN....I hear a rumble in the jungle so I'm off...LN.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 27, 2013, 4:48pm; Reply: 45
Wednesday 27th February

Yes it happened.....two rolls with fried onions and spicey sausage loaded with tomato sauce....and it hit the spot.

Damp and drab again today but there was only a little rain.  I did eventually get my bonfire going but it took about a box and a half of matches.  I really should have taken the bandage from my hand before I started striking them...it was close at one point.  Got my wood in, Tommy lingered but I didn't give in and then he went off to play with the other one that I chase out of the garden in disgust.  I have the remains of a casserole but I'll save that for tomorrow.

Spent a lot of time on Facebook and emailing today because there was nothing to do outside and I'm tired of reading.  I pick the book up and having read five by the same author and going on to the sixth I think I need to find someone else for a while.  The phrases are starting to get familiar.  I'm going to try crocheting tomorrow to see how far I get.  I did go out and check the garden and I've spotted a lily that I forgot about, the rhubarb has started to push up and the hyacinth that I discovered is now starting to get out of its leaves and stick up its spiky head.  

Tried to liven up the Beast today and it wouldn't turn over so I have two duff cars now with flat batteries.  Not really ready to drive yet but have to put this on the memo board to sort them out.  Tracked down the books that had my school photos in them and I would love to get in touch with some of the people I went to school with.  I have one or two photos of school plays that really need to be put on Friends Reunited when I get round to it...

So back to my book....no hamburgers tonight...not much appetite.  Wrist has been aching most of the day and didn't know where to put it...yes...I know it's on the end of my are somewhere just up from  my hand....before anyone tells me.  LN...I'm off....things to do...
Posted by: createdbyme4you, February 27, 2013, 8:02pm; Reply: 46
Hi Elsa sorry to hear your wrist is still giving you jip just a thought  :) 1 ball of soft wool in your hand gently  move around like your making dumplings using your fingers helps to
strengthen the wrist  ;)hope this helps Jackie
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 28, 2013, 5:12pm; Reply: 47
Thursday 28th February

Thanks Jackie for the advice...it's either that or get out the Black and Decker and slip if I get much more out of it...

Half past two start this morning and was rubbing gel into my arm and wrist to try to get settled so I could go off again.  Finished my book and set up the next one for the morning and yes I know, I said I was going to go with another author but it was all too much like hard work to find another.  The little fire last night appeared to be going out so I thought I'd leave it to it but no one was more surprised than me when I had the warmth and the rosy glow in the kitchen at seven this morning when I woke up for the second time.  Big one didn't take much lighting and since the garden was showing signs of that white stuff and the clouds were scudding from the east I thought it would cosy the place up a bit.  The sun eventually showed its little face and by lunchtime we had the makings of a good day with wall to wall sunshine.  I don't think the temperature was that great but what an improvement on yesterday and the day before.

Checked out the garden and heard rumblings from Star Mushs' house this afternoon and more metal was being taken out...not much left of it now but I wish they would clear the garden of rubbish.  It is such an eyesore from the upstairs roadside bedrooms.  I think I'm going to have to mention it or even tackle it when the wrist is back to normal.

So lazed out on the sofa in the hallway and read my book this afternoon.  Had Radio 2 playing in the background and then the electricity went off for about thirty seconds, came on, went off so it said something to me...enjoy the peace and quiet .  Temperature was about twenty five in the house this afternoon...free heating.  Tuna mayo on toast for lunch and at this rate of one meal a day with toast for breakfast I think I shall be reaching my summer weight before we actually get there.

Quick update...would like to know where February has gone.  So tomorrow there are supposed to be shepherds frolicking in the morning dew so do I look out for the?  I think not.  It will be the first of March....Ladies' month...the day of Baba Marta where we all dish out lots of wrist bands wishing everyone good luck and good health for the rest of the year.  I'll be on the bus suitably armed for the grand occasion.  LN....got to find out my bands, my binoculars for those morning shepherds, sort my fires and find myself a little beer tonight...that tuna is sitting a little heavy...LN

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