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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  FEBRUARY 2016
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 1, 2016, 4:30pm
Monday 1st February

So 'white rabbits' and 'pinch and a punch' and all that for the new month.  February is my month of family birthdays...well it started at the end of January with CJ and then we have my two, my ex and mine.....Unfortunately I did look a the cost of getting to the UK but at short notice to get everyone together for a party...can't really do it over the distance.  Having set that...it's just another year....

So what did today hold?  Eight o'clock start for me and the intention was to head into Djebel and get my hair trimmed but I really couldn't be bothered.  Morning coffee, I didn't need to light the fire so I didn't bother and the morning mist lifted about eleven and it was warm in the sun but there was a chill to the wind but having said that...it's winter.  Decided to look at the bathroom through visitor's eyes and had a bit of a tidy up.  That then stretched it to my upstairs bedroom but I got distracted and had a bit of a fashion session.  I'm normally in jeans or work clothes and don't much try out the haute courture ....donning tights, shoes with heels and putting outfits together that have been bought at different times.  What a lovely time I had and realised at one point that most newly acquired items are from the charity shop and I could do a fashion show on my own just to show what bargains are to be had.  Best not though...if I advertise it too much all the bargains will go.

So last night I had a roaring fire so I decided to throw one of the packets of stuff that is supposed to dislodge the soot from the chimney.  I've done this in the before and I usually end up with a problem but thought nothing of it as I lit the fire about three this afternoon.  Suddenly there was smoke pouring out of the chimney cleaning access in the bathroom indicating that there was a blockage up there somewhere.  I emptied the wood burner and put it into the little on in the kitchen...removed the pipes that go from the wood burner to the chimney and ended up with three meters of plastic piping rattling it around and boy was there a lot coming down.  Anyway....all back to normal, fire going well, no smoke pouring out and the secret is obviously to put another couple up as soon as possible and bring any more soot down that's lingering....The joys of wood burners.  So another handicap is that the water is off and how many times do you go to wash your hands especially when they get sooty...and you know that nothing's going to come out...but auto-pilot is a wonderful thing.  

Almost seven and the water's not come on so they must have problems somewhere with a burst I reckon.  Not much into supper...I've had too much coffee today so it's a top up with bottled water tonight.....And there are no photos....LN...I've been a bit busy sorting out pipes and stuff to stop and take photos....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 2, 2016, 4:49pm; Reply: 1
Tuesday 2nd February

Five thirty start this morning and I'm still not sure why.  I didn't manage to get off again so read for a while, played Angry Birds which I haven't done for a while, didn't bother with the fire since it was a comfortable heat in the house and still.....the water was off.   Boiled the kettle and washed in the kitchen bowl since I couldn't be bothered taking the kettle upstairs.  Again I was heading for the tap when the water was too hot...habits are hard to break.

Washed and dressed and down to the bread van for a couple of loaves, eggs and I was tempted by some of the savoury buns with white cheese on the top which came in a pack of six.  I settled for two for starters but by one this lunchtime...they'd all gone.  I lay in the sun reading for a while and then the urge to do something hit me so I removed the old putty from the glass in the door to the little house.  This had never set and the glass at the top was slowly edging its way out....the door is just so twisted,  The way that the putty had been pushed in to correct the distortion so I took it all out, reseated it with brown silicon and I think I was wearing more of it than I'd placed in the frame and it ended up that I had to put string round the frame and force the glass back in place with a chunk of wood until the bonding had taken place and it's still there now.  I managed to lock the door and that seems to have pushed it further in so we'll wait and see what tomorrow brings.

The water came on this afternoon and I got a load of washing done just in case it goes off again.  Back to my book this afternoon for a while then into the oven with a joint of pork that I'd rescued from the freezer this morning, peeled potatoes, parsnips and carrots and into the oven they went...all except the carrots which were destined for the hob with some peas....a proper roast.  I found some Bisto lingering in a jar and made gravy....served up and thought I'd eat it watching the afternoon Filmon but as I went up the stairs I looked at the setting sun and had to go out there and capture it.  It was a really strange sky tonight.

So tomorrow I'm taking the other door window glass out and using silicon to put it back in.  This one should be easier than the one I did today...the frame is in better shape.  Just before seven my time.....David Attenborough  telling me all I need to know about hedgehogs....LN...I'll tell you about my rant for today tomorrow....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 3, 2016, 7:13pm; Reply: 2
Wednesday 3rd February

Good morning and happy birthday to my Princess....my baby and always will be.  

Beautiful morning....I opened the curtains and it was a stunning dark blue sky tinged with pink and so many stars still out and the moon hanging over my special tree.  I rescued the fire and got back into bed with my book and opened the curtains so that I could keep a check on the awakening morning.  I wasn't disappointed as the day started.  Out came the camera and I went outside to get some good shots of the skyline and then I looked back at the house and realised that it was all reflected in the ground floor windows so I captured that as well.

Back to bed and it was eight thirty before I started my way in the world today.  Washed, dressed and then there was a day of ready, playing games, getting wood in, emails, checking my work yesterday on the little house porch window which seems to have been a success.  I left the wood in place so that it can really set and tomorrow I'll put another layer on and do the second window ....weather permitting.  I didn't feel too good today....I'd drunk a lot of water yesterday and suddenly remembered that the water had been off, came on, went off again and may be I should have stuck to the bottled stuff.  I've not had pains in the tummy just a gentle rumbling and an uncomfortable feeling and I slept for about an hour or so.  No supper...going to give it a miss tonight.

And now my rant from yesterday.  I tried to order flowers from Interflora yesterday and jumped every hurdle they place in my way as part of the ordering process but failed at the last fence when they were unable to process payment.  I checked the card details and re-entered them and still no joy so I abandoned it and used the telephone to make the order.  This is is not the first time that payment has failed with them and I have the emails to prove it but by this time I would have thought that they'd fixed it.  I went on to the 'Contact us' and I did and also they promised to sent me confirmation and the order number but it appears that they took me email address down wrongly and were only able to contact me because I'd contacted them.  Today there have been several interaction...they know about the problem, advised me to use the .com not .co.uk so I checked out the site and the prices quoted on the .com are prohibitive and suggested that from a marketing point of view they should do the same.  Anyway the flowers have arrived and are beautiful, the card from here arrived, all confirmed by a telephone call from Princess....

So into the evening....about to switch off Filmon and take to my book.  Nine my time so soon be time for bed said Zeberdee....LN...just a few photos of my morning...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 4, 2016, 7:01pm; Reply: 3
Thursday 4th February

So this morning it would have been my mother's birthday so Happy Birthday mum.....another February birthday...

Silly night's sleep again...three o'clock I was reading again but I managed to go off again until seven thirty but there was no real opportunity for a morning sunrise photo shoot...it was a full grey sky.  I decided that I would salvage the fire...the house was warm enough but as I took the ash can out I realised that that wind was really cold so I was making the right choice.  Toast for breakfast and then I stripped the bed down and got the sheet and quilt cover from the nest into the washing machine and the second load was made up of the pillowcases.  The quilt and sheet went out on the line...the sun was trying hard to break through but sadly it never did make it.  The pillowcases ended up on the bathroom on the airer.

I finished my latest book and decided that I would go and tackle the final window in the door of the little house porch.  The putty was a soft as you like but the good news was that the window that I'd done the other day was really well secured and now they both are.  I removed the piece of wood that applied the pressure to hold the glass firmly into position and put it in place to hold the second window pane and the next job is to clean up the glass and remove the excess silicone which could be a really slow process.

At two I took the rest of the joint of pork from the fridge, cubed it and along with sliced onions browned it off, threw in curry spice and paprika, tomato paste and water, into the slow cooker with it and tonight I had the most amazing curry...it was the best I'd ever made here.  I'd used the local way to make the rice....I brought it to the boil and moved the pan over to the wood burner and forgot all about it....it was cooked to perfection and really fluffy.  

I've had several emails today from Interflora asking me why I didn't complete the online order and there quality control appears have no control.  There have been different names on the bottom of each email...not much consistency on follow up.  I've suggested that we close the issue and that they spend the time looking at their systems so that customer's don't have to contact them...I can be the only one that wants to order flowers from abroad for delivery in the UK.

So almost nine my time again and I'm wondering where the day's gone.....no snooze today so I should have a decent night's sleep (hopefully) and I've eaten early enough that my body will be still in processing mode,  LN...Snow has been forecast for tomorrow.. no need to go anywhere so I'll batten down the hatches, bank up the fire and enjoy the day....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 5, 2016, 7:28pm; Reply: 4
Friday 5th February

So at five this morning I was awake and put on the outside light and it was white over and blizzarding.  I went out to empty the ash can to rescue the fire....I was thinking that it would be necessary...not much chance of any sun today.  I went out to dump some old bread so that the birds would have something to nibble on and realised that there wasn't much change of a snowman...it was very wet snow.  It was then a matter of clearing out the kitchen wood burner...both were going to be blasting away today.

Beans of toast for breakfast, put the rest of the can of beans in last night's curry which spent it's night in the slow cooker, washed up last night's supper things and decided that today would be a chance to catch up on a few of those jobs that are on the list...so I darned several socks while watching Masterchef on BBC2.  What they put themselves through...I got settled on the sofa and into my new book by Sue Grafton and I'll have to Google her...I just like her writing style.  I switched on the slow cooker and had an late lunch, early supper, got in few more logs to make sure that there was plenty dried out and warmed up for tomorrow.  Went back to the sofa and got my head down for an hour or so...waking up at five in the morning is OK but it makes it a long day.

I've juiced a couple of oranges since I'm out off fruit juice, didn't want coffee and I'm still off the alcohol....that's over five weeks now and really am not missing it but not sure I feel better for it.  I've lost a few pounds though and must look out for a set of bathroom scales for confirmation.

It's still snowing...it's supposed to be down to minus three tonight and according to the forecast...the sun will be out tomorrow.  The snow plough was out and the roads are clear but I've got a bit of a snow drift going on by the front gate ...Let's see what tomorrow brings...LN....Time to stoke up the fires...LN



Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 6, 2016, 5:04pm; Reply: 5
Saturday 6th February

Six thirty start and peeped out of the window and there it was...the first slither of the new moon and there certainly wasn't much of it to see so it was out with the big camera.  It had trouble focussing but eventually we got there. Got the fire going, ashes out and it was certainly cold out there so it was back to to bed with a coffee and my book.

Out of bed for more photos to catch the sun rise but by the time I was looking at it second time round the clouds had come over.  They were pretty clouds and eventually the sun managed to climb above them and show her little face.  Bacon, egg and fried bread for breakfast and then out to have a bit of a bonfire and clear the snow from the terraces.  The sun was beginning to melt the snow so it wasn't a difficult job.  I managed to get another load of logs in but by eleven I had let the fire go out....it was topping twenty eight in my stair well and it was really pleasant lying in the sun and reading...another of Sue Grafton's book down and I am on to the letter K....for the next book.

Walked the garden and took a few photos and it was really pleasant being out there.  The air was so fresh and clear.  I noticed that there was a track of really large footprints...it must be the sheep man's kangol.  I made a couple of shepherd's pies this afternoon and at six I popped over the road with one of them for Haciber...it's been a while since I provided her with supper.  I watched the rugby this afternoon and this is going to be cut short...the England Scotland match has just started.  Just a few of today's photos of this beautiful day...LN...I hope you are enjoying the game...LN

Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 7, 2016, 6:23pm; Reply: 6
Sunday 7th February

Six thirty start and I couldn't even see the bottom of the garden...a rime frost as they say or a hoar frost...not sure which one and having looked at the dictionary definition for both of them I really need to have a look in the morning if we have the same sort of weather which I think we shall.  Clear cloudless sky and millions of starts out tonight and no sign of the moon yet but I know it's a late riser.  I did light the fire since all my efforts to get a bath scheduled in seemed to have failed and so I wanted the house warm for when I left the heat of the shower.  I really needed to wash my hair...you can get a little lazy when you seem to always stick your hat on when it's so cold.

Used up the rest of the bacon this morning, fried an egg but no fried bread this morning.....I really need to lose some of the weight that I've put on.  Not drinking alcohol has helped...I've lost inches on the top half but need to take a little off round the middle.  It doesn't help that it was such a super morning when the fog burnt off and I could lie in the sun wearing my PJ's on the sofa reading and my first visitor was Haciber returning my dish from last night filled with roasted mixed nuts.  My second was my painter calling my name from the terrace and despite I was still in PJ's but they look more like a lounging suit, I invited him in to the warm since it was really cold out.  What he wanted was to ask me if I would get him a couple of bottles of extra virgin oil the next time I'm in Kardjali and he wanted to know if I could take a photograph of him for his children and the family album.  I took them...I'm not happy with them so I'll catch him again and then I'll frame a couple for him but I need to get my printer sorted first...it needs a good clean.  

Had my shower and washed my hair...feeling squeaky clean followed by a manicure and a pedicure.  Winter feet here get very dry being trapped in woollen socks.  I bought a plum coloured sparkly nail varnish at the grand cost of one lev but it didn't seem to spread very well.  It will do for a couple of day or so but at least the feet look better.

Lazy afternoon reading, the temperature went up to thirty five in my hall and consequently it was eyelids southwards for an hour or so.  Supper tonight was the second shepherds pie heated up and bottle peaches and cream for afters.  I also blended up some of the other peaches, added some water so I've cut down on coffee today.  The television went on late this afternoon and I caught the end of the memorial service for Terry Wogan and the tribute from Roger Royal....very moving.  So now I'm battening down for the night....rested after my afternoon siesta and back to my book...the K for Killing is going well.  LN......House warm, all cosy....back to PJ's...LN  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 8, 2016, 4:47pm; Reply: 7
Monday 8th February

Six thirty start and really a very cold morning.  There was a thin ribbon of red on the horizon but the clouds above it didn't bode for a very good day.  And it wasn't....the temperature has stayed low all day, not much of a wind but really bleak.  Started the fire with last night's embers and by seven the hot water was rattling round the radiators and warming up the place nicely.  Sat down on the little table in front of the fire to drink my coffee staring off into the flames with the brain registering not much at all.  Washed, dressed and wrapped up in a couple of high necks against the cold, started the Beast to warm up the engine before I had to leave at nine twenty five, got in a couple of baskets of logs from the previous years supply ready for when I got back from town.  On with hat and gloves and picked up my painter as arranged from the bus stop.  I hardly recognised him...he'd shaved off the beard he was wearing yesterday and looked so much younger...and apparently it was due to pressure from the older ladies of the village...nothing to do with me.... :-/

So off we set...I had very little to buy but still managed to spend.  Diesel for Djebel and that's really come down in price, first stop was the locksmith to get two new front door keys cut and the bookshop to get a few more cards.  We walked the market but the fruit and veg didn't look very good and all of the stallholders looked absolutely frozen.  Back to the Post Office to post a letter and the computers were down so everything was being handled manually and it cost me more since they sent it airmail and 'burzo' post....Found a local butcher and bought a couple of sheep's hearts that I'm going to stuff and put in the slow cooker tomorrow.  It's been ages since I cooked that dish and one is going to be for the painter.  He sort of turned his nose up at it...we shall see....Kaufland to top up pork and sundries and stopped off at Lidl for the other things that neither of us can do without....not....

Home for four this afternoon and again salvaged the fire which is now belting it out.  Shopping away and pork cubed and already in the freezer in five different bags.   I came back with four mackerel from Kardjali and two are in the freezer earmarked for my painter and the other two I've cleaned and they're in the oven for tonight's supper.  Lovely sunset tonight and I tried to take it from different angles so hope you're not too bored.  I can smell the fish so I must go and check it out.  LN....It should be ready in ten....it's not managed to escape from the oven...LN

Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 9, 2016, 4:41pm; Reply: 8
Tuesday 9th February

So the sunrise this morning was a reversal of yesterday.  The cloud base was hanging on to the mountains and I had to wait for the sun to climb over it.  I managed to catch a pickie of it but it had not got any of the wow factor about it.  The fire was still going so a few sticks of kindling under it and it was belting it out in quicksticks and a couple of small logs kept it going until eleven when I let it die a natural.  

Did a load of washing and decided to peg it out for a change since most of it is dried inside these days.  The wind was pushing it out at more or less ninety degrees and it was a lovely sight to see.  And for breakfast this morning.  For those that know me no milk passes my lips and hasn't for a few years but yesterday out shopping I had the urge to buy cornflakes and fat milk.  So this morning...two bowls of the said cornflakes which kept me going until lunchtime when I was forced into topping up with one and a half small baguettes filled with cheese and onion.  Today it's been a whim day....I've let my feelings control what I've done.  So I washed the hearts that had been in salt water over night.  I made breadcrumbs, diced an onion and some mushrooms and put them in the frying pan with some butter mixing them all together.  I stuffed the hearts with the mixture, browned them and put them in the slow cooker on high turning them down to low for the afternoon.  

So after a full stomach and lying in the sun with Sue Grafton....I finished K for Killing and I was disappointed with the ending.  It seemed to wrap up very quickly and left a few unanswered questions for me.  I headed into the workshop and sorted out the wood that had been covered up with tools at the end of last year.  It's the wood that's hung around for a couple of years and is old stuff from trees that have come down in the garden and it's a good opportunity to get rid of it.  It's not really cold so I'll leave the oak until it is or for next year...it really does burn intensely.  

Back to the kindle and the new book but I put it down, the eyelids headed southwards until just after four. I relit the fire and now it's time to check the hearts, make some mashed potatoes and serve up my supper.  LN .....I'll let you know the results tomorrow...if I live to tell the tale...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 10, 2016, 6:09pm; Reply: 9
Wednesday 10th February

Lazy day....I was still in PJ's when Hacibar knocked on the door and brought me round some of her home made bread and some olives.  I welcomed the bread and refused the olives...not one of my 'likes'.  I'd not bothered to light the fire...the house was warm, the temperature had gone up but the wind was bitter today and blowing a gale out there.  I'm surprised that Hacibar made it over the road in safety so I sent her home with a pack of salted biscuits as a little thank you.  She gave me the weather forecast....rain for the rest of the day and she was right.

I decided it was time to get dressed just in case I had any more visitors but with the weather closing in I didn't think they're would be any others.  I was tempted to head into Kardjali to get some more of the three litres of pure apple juice on offer at Kaufland just under five leva since it's got no added sugar in it.  I opened one last night and it's very tasty.  Cornflakes again for breakfast, I did light the fire and in fact lit the small one in the kitchen as well.  No sun so I needed the comfort.

Lazy afternoon but no sleep and settle in to Kindle, Angry Birds and a couple of other silly games.  Supper was the second heart sliced and warmed up in the gravy and it was even better than last nights...I stewed a couple of apples with dark sugar and served them with fresh cream and feeling quite stuffed.  Countdown and Eggheads and then it's off with the computer and down by the fire.  Restful day....I might make it to Kardjali tomorrow so see if the promotions are still active but no real enthusiasm for it at the moment since the rain is really coming down and that wind is still howling...LN...Back to Eggheads...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 11, 2016, 5:16pm; Reply: 10
Thursday 11th February

Five thirty start and not a glimmer in the sky apart from what appeared to be a huge star.  So out with the Canon to take a pickie of it and the battery was as flat as the proverbial and the magnification on the Sony wasn't good enough for what I wanted to capture.  The star looked like two really close together  and I really didn't understand what I was looking at so back to the drawing board Cecil and hope it's out there again in the morning.

As it got lighter the sky was quite magnificent...not any pink in sight.  I managed to take a pickie of the star but to the right of it there appeared to be a dark circle in the sky.  I checked out the lens but there was nothing untoward with it so all answers on a postcard please.  Again that's another one to watch out for in the morning.  

Changed my mind about going into Kardjali.  I did a cost analysis on it and worked out that I would only save two leva per box of juice and it was going to cost me about twenty lev in fuel...so a bit of a no brainer really.  Washed and dressed by nine, on to the PC and played around for a while, went out and surveyed the garden and noticed that I have tulips coming through in the tub on the terrace and a lovely clump of snowdrops in the frog garden.  The garden is at last coming to life but I'm wondering if it's not a little too early...it might all come back and bite us in the bum....it's been known before.  Not a bad day but still that cold wind blowing but I did climb the ladder to the top floor in the little house and went out on to the balcony.  It was really hot in the sun out of the wind so I dragged out the garden lounger and sat out in it for a half hour or so to try and build up a little colour on my face.  England sort of left me looking and feeling grey.  Filled up the log basket and then back into the warm.

Cornflakes for a late breakfast, kitchen cleared from last night, chicken out of the freezer for tonight and settled back down with the book grabbing another coffee.  I snoozed for an hour or so but I woke up feeling cold so I lit the fire and headed for the kitchen to prepare the chicken with bacon, onions,mushrooms and a stock cube and on to the burner with it.  I left it for about forty minutes, put a couple of potatoes on to boil, mashed them and put everything on the top of the big wood burner until I was ready to eat.  It was delicious and had the rest of the apples that had soaked up the brown sugar juice with cream for afters.

A little television this afternoon but I've been sorting out the photos that I dump on the desktop.....it's got really silly and I've decided to get organised.  I noticed lots of small birds feasting on the grass in the garden late this afternoon and managed to snap them.  I think they're starlings and then they took to the electricity pylons before they went on to swoop elsewhere....So...not a very productive day but I've definitely saved money by not going in to Kardjali so that's an achievement in itself...LN....the fire needs attending to so I better do something about it...LN  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 12, 2016, 9:15pm; Reply: 11
Friday 12th February

Stayed up last night to watch Question Time and at two this morning I wondered why I'd bothered.  I've never heard so much waffle and only one person really heard the question and answered it...the rest fudged it.  And when I hear that they've just been awarded a ten thousand pay rise and have the audacity to add that they don't really want to take it but it's been put forward by and independent panel...what a load of nonsense.  I wonder how many will send it back and pay it into the treasury.... :-/

Sniffed my way through the night and issued the most alarming sneezes which signify the start of a spring cold.  Slept until seven thirty this morning and the sun was up so I missed it.  Washing on, no fire to get started but cleaned it out ready for tonight but haven't bothered with it, cornflakes and yet again and washed and tidied the kitchen and it was only nine thirty.  Had a small bonfire and waited until it had finished before I pegged out the washing and I sat outside to take my second cup of coffee....When I move I really move but it's nice just to take in the view and the morning sun.

Headed for the little house and tidied off the balcony clearing away the old plaster that had fallen from the wall.  This wall will eventually be plastered in between the stone but decided that the weather wasn't really good enough to strip it back yet.  I'll get workmen lined up first.  Started the next book in the series, had my little snooze, got the washing in and put it away and it was almost time to get out of work clothes and into 'out for the evening dinner with the family' attire.  Stopped off in the village to get some chimney cleaning tablets only next time I'll remember to clean the chimney after I've used one before I light the fire.  Smoke seemed to be coming out of every orifice last time.

Lovely evening...good food and we seem to cover several topics including political stuff.  The three words that they all learnt this evening...west, vest and poison....and that just about sums up our conversations. Home for ten twenty.....house warm or maybe I'm running a temperature with this cold brewing....It was raining hard as I drove home and there were lots of frogs hopping about on the new asphalt...Just after eleven now....I've let them know that I've got home safely...they insist upon it....Time for bed...LN....nothing so far on the agenda for tomorrow...I'll see how the mood takes me....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 13, 2016, 6:03pm; Reply: 12
Saturday 13th February

Happy Birthday to my first born...I hope he is having a good day....

Last night I said that there was nothing on the agenda for today and that I would do as the mood took me.  The mood didn't take me...so I went nowhere and I've done very little.  This cold has taken over, I felt really sorry for myself issuing gigantic sneezes and sporting a booming head.  I got through the morning chores, settled down with my book and thought seriously about self medicating but instead I settled to feed my cold with more cornflakes and lunch was tuna mayo on toast....

I did do a little outside clearing off the terraces where the dust from the pile of ballast for the wall building had been whipped up by the high winds but I don't know why I've bothered since we've had gale force winds today and it's still howling now.  I also found some supports for the freesias and tied them up since they seemed to be flopping everywhere but upwards.  I didn't bother lighting the big wood burner this morning, I settled for the little one in the kitchen which did it's stuff until four this afternoon when I got the big one under way.  About the same time the heavens opened and it's still going strong.  

I'm watching the rugby this afternoon...The second match is better than the first....but I think the weather is in their favour.  So it's a short update...I'm about to find the first aspirin of the day....the head is really going strong now and I'm really not good with colds...LN..I think it's going to be an early night, a snuggle up feeling sorry for myself...LN  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 14, 2016, 6:37pm; Reply: 13
Sunday 14th February

Happy Valentine's today to anyone in need of a hug.  I presuming that the Bulgarian postal service is struggling to manage with all the celebrating going on in my village in the next week or so..... ;)

Seven thirty start but I did spend a couple of hours reading in the middle of the night....I was also making hot lemon and orange juice drinks with honey and salt to try to kill off a few bugs that are lingering in the system....I hate colds....The sun was shining and the temperature was very springlike so there were no fires to light but I cleared them both out and set them for when there was a need to ignite.  I went out and got in two lots of logs for the little and big wood burners and was still in my PJ's and was surprised how warm it was.  I left them both out in the sun to warm up before I took them in the house and then settled down to finish my latest Sue Grafton and yet again I was disappointed with the ending....I might have to start sourcing a new series.  Shower and shampoo...my hair was in need of resuscitation....cold don't do much for a woman's crowning glory.  

A late cornflake brunch and head down this afternoon as I realised that my eyelids were falling as I was checking out FB and emails...I intended watching the English rugby this afternoon and slept through.it and only found out the result when I was discussing it on a telephone call from the UK.  I was told that it was a good match ...for England,,,, and will try to catch it on the Rugby run-down tonight.

Lit the fire at five and put some chicken wings into the oven and got settled on the sofa again and started the next book.  Supper ready by six thirty and served up with mayo and some lime and chilli chutney that I found in Lidl....and it's a corker... :o :o

So getting ready to dose up with aspirin tonight...I want a complete night's sleep...sneezing, coughing and hacking should be banned between the hours of midnight and six a.m  No photos today...sorry but I never sort of got round to it...LN....Fire, book and bed...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 15, 2016, 6:06pm; Reply: 14
Monday 15th February

So again I was on the early shift with my book so it was throw another log on, make my hot orange and lemon drink and back to sleep eventually at five thirty.....why, oh why Delilah.... >:(

Second rising came at seven thirty which was OK and emptied the ash can to keep the fire going.  On to the PC to check things that have to be checked, on to the sofa with the book and eventually jumped to realising that I had a card to buy and post this morning .  I managed to get dried peas that I'd put inot soak last night into the slow cooker to chug away while I was out.  Up for a top and tail and jumped into my jeans and a jumper and despite the fact that the sun had eventually made its way out from behind the clouds, that prevailing wind was still chill.  I was out in the Beast at eleven ten and went straight to the post office with the intention of buying the card from there but there were so many people in there it was much quicker to leg it down to one of the little shops that I use and buy one there.  Back I went to the post office to write the card and I managed to get it all sorted before they closed for lunch at twelve.  I'd parked up at the top of town so walked down to the market and bought lemons and oranges, went on to my student's parents shop and had an hour or so chewing over the fat.....It had been a while since I'd seen her.

Bought small light bulbs for the standard lamp and moved on to my birthday buddy's parents shop and had a few words with her grandmother.   Back up to the top of town and back on the road and was flashed a couple of times along the road and there were two police cars waiting by the turning to Ustra but the gave me a friendly wave...they know where I live.  I think it's all due to illegals and with Greece being now under so much pressure we appear to be doing our bit.  Rescued the fire yet again, blitzed the peas, fried off some gammon pieces with an onion, peeled a potato and finished off my original pea and ham or rather 'p*ssing ham soup' as it was always known in our house.  Sitting down and there was a knock on the door and poster was there with a bag of goodies for me...four letters and a box which is going to remain unwrapped for the next couple of days.  

Time to go down for my soup.....lovely clear sky tonight and a very bright moon....and it's been a really nice catch up day.....LN....And now a chilled evening...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 16, 2016, 7:16pm; Reply: 15
Tuesday 16th February

So I know what woke me up at silly o'clock this morning....it was a coughing fit and I'd got tears streaming down the face and bolting into the kitchen for a glass of water.  While I was up I decided to go for the hot lemon and orange, salt and honey potion and it seemed to do the trick and calm it down.  Unfortunately it left me with a pounding head and I'm convinced that the bugs and virus are having a field day since there's no alcohol batting round the system...might have to start again...I did manage to get a couple of hours in and caught the magical sunrise or not so much as a sunrise more a cloud colouration that disappeared as soon as the sun managed to get high enough.

Didn't have to bother with the fire...the temperature was up in the twenties in the house but I cleaned it out and set it ready for the evening.   I emptied the ash can and did a walk round the garden and lit the garden burning pit to get rid of the rubbish.  I put a load of washing in since there was a warm wind blowing for a change, pegged it out when the fire had finished and checked out the garden and the plants that were starting.  This week's raised temperature has really brought things on.

I took my printer apart this morning and gave it a good clean but I think age isn't on it's side.  I've had it for eight years or more and I think it's the print jets that are worn out.  I found a replacement but they won't deliver to Bulgaria and the cost of getting it to the UK from Jersey and then the onward travel pushes the price up but I can't get the equivalent one here so I might settle for a local second best.  The other one was an A3 one that did double sided printing....it's up in the air at the moment...I'll sleep on it....

My painter came round this afternoon with a battery charger so that I can get Beauty up to scratch again.  I have neglected her lately but the big one is so much more comfortable and considering the miles that I do...it's not an extravagance.  Anyway it's all wired up and I'm supposed to go out and plug it in tonight so that it charges at cheap rate and he's supposed to be coming round in the morning to put it back in the car.

Pea and ham soup with toast for a late lunch followed by black cherries and cream and I think that's me done for the day.  The fire is going gently...it's more for effect than required for heat and it's so comfortable in here tonight.  I'm about to go downstairs and settle in for the night.  If I remember to switch the battery charger on at ten this evening...so be it....if I don't ...damn the expense...I'll do it at the day rate.  As for today.....spring appears to have sprung....LN...keeping fingers crossed it will stay now that the shrubs are budding...LN
Posted by: Buddy, February 17, 2016, 7:00am; Reply: 16
hi yes start of spring is here but its febuary...........happy birthday to you.................... hope you get better soon .hope you ok for friday...take your antibiotic/will clear your head  sooner xx
:K)[color=purple][/color]
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 17, 2016, 7:33pm; Reply: 17
Wednesday 17th February

Thanks for your well wishes my Librarian....it seems to have lifted quite a lot this morning...it might have something to do that I got very little sleep.... :-/ :-/

So at two this morning I was reading again since I hadn't got an ounce of sleep in me and that went on until four thirty.  I did managed to get another couple of hours in, got washed and dressed pretty early on and my painter came round at eight thirty to put the battery into Beauty.  It's not that I forgot to put it on charge, the blasted thing made such a noise that I decided I didn't want to cope with any emergencies at silly o'clocks so I felt it best to leave it unplugged.  I explained why I'd done it and he agreed and off he went to work on his father's old house with his brother.

Into the car for ten thirty, dropped off the empty bottles at the garage shop so that they can recycle them with oil, on to Kardjali to discuss how much I can get out from the cashpoint each day with a local bank card, dropped off my glases for repair, Kaufland for a few items and driving over to Lidl I spotted my student's father waiting for a bus to Djebel so picked him up and we did a Lild shop.  I left him in there and went into the electronic shop next door and bought my new printer.  Can't be a**ed trying to clean the old one up.  Dropped off the father, back to the garage shop and found another couple of friends that I hadn't seen for a while.  I stopped off at the local supermarket and bought a couple of Tiramasu gateaux,  I took the birthday card for my birthday buddy round to her grandmother's restaurant and left a cash loaded card for her....back home and my painter was waiting for me and we got the battery back in the car together.  I sliced up the cake, put it on to paper plates with very jazzy serviettes, loaded everything into Beauty now that it was a goer again, dropped my painter home and handed him some cake, drove back to my village delivering cake as I went.  Byser gave me a couple of hamburgers uncooked that I could have for supper and I plonked them on the driver's seat and I forgot about them, sat on them and those two hamburgers were now.  Into the frying pan with them and on to French bread so that we supper sorted and after two slices of cake...I should go through until tomorrow.

Well my birthday is over for this year...I've really enjoyed it in a quiet sort of way.  I love my village and my neighbours and they're really appreciative of anything you do for them.  I need to catch up with messages on FB....some of the comments were really lovely...you forget the impression you leave on people on your journey through....LN...Nothing so far for tomorrow...playing it by ear....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 18, 2016, 6:07pm; Reply: 18
Thursday 18th February

Fell sleep in front of the PC last night and woke up at one absolutely frozen.  The fire had gone out and I realised that I'd actually opened the bathroom window and I was sitting in a draft.  Ishut the window, perked up the fire and threw another log on and promptly headed to bed.  What a way to end a birthday.

Six thirty start this morning and yes, the fire was still going so I emptied out the ash from the bottom of it, made my orange lemon drink and got washed and dressed early today.  By nine I was on the sofa reading and munching cornflakes for my breakfast,  Played around for a while with some games, loaded up the log basket and moved Beauty back into the drive after she had spent last night out in the lane.  I heard a strange noise in the under eaves of the little house.  I think a bird has got stuck up there and couldn't find where it had got in.  There's no way I can help it...to all intents and purposes it's sealed....I'll see if it's rattling around tomorrow.  

Next task...to install my new printer.  As I unpacked it I realised that the data cable was missing but fortunately the old one fitted otherwise I'd have been snookered.  It's in, it works but it's a downgrade from what I had before but it was down to lack of choice in the shop.  IJT Direct would not supply to Bulgaria and by the time that I'd have got it into UK from Jersey and over to Bulgaria...it would have made it very expensive.  The only reason that I like Brother is that there are four printer cartridges so if one of the colours runs out...you only change one cartridge.  

Lazy day for the rest of it...the fire's been going all day since the sun hardly came out and it's been damp and cold...more like a November day.  Well stuffed French stick for lunch and no need for supper.  Loads of birds enjoying something from the grass in the garden and later they took to the overhead electricity cables...and managed to stay still when I took a few shots of them...with the camera may I add.  Haciber came round with a letter that arrived to my Avatar's house and she wanted to transfer the responsibility over to me.  I tested out my new scanner and now a copy of it is on it's way to Germany....Nothing to tonight...out for lunch tomorrow with the girls...so blacking boots for the occasion....LN...fire, book and no going to sleep up here tonight...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 19, 2016, 5:08pm; Reply: 19
Friday 19th February

Six thirty start and fire rescue duty and as the light came up I realised that the temperature had dropped and it was raining quite heavily.  I had to be ready for just before ten...Mrs D of S and the Librarian were coming over.  They were on time and the Librarian was clutching a box with plants in and a box of chocolates for my birthday and I made coffee and then we walked the garden.  I was hoping to pick their brains and pointed out a cluster of new plants and I'm thinking that they are new specimens of the white poppies that have self set.  We came to an agreement that they probably were so that a lot that now need replanting in different parts of the garden before they get slaughtered by the lawnmower.  

We arrived in Kardjali just before twelve and managed to get into the post office before they closed for lunch.  The assistant was so sweet...she was shy at first but decided that she could have a go at trying out some English on us and I ended up teaching her a few phrases since there were no others waiting to be served,  So my Baba Marta cards are printed and despatched.  

I went in to pay my home telephone bill and I was offered another two year contract only this time for only an extra one leva a month I would get 500 minutes a month to all home phones and mobiles and one hundred minutes a month to UK fixed numbers but not mobiles.  Unfortunately there were no free cash points so I shall have to take it out on another day since my two buddies were waiting on the pavement...such a good deal.  We did the charity shops and shock, horror...I didn't buy anything.  We tried the shoe shop and again I came out with nothing and then over to the restaurant.  The food was brilliant...local meatballs, chicken in cornflakes, lamb skewers, salad and cheesy chips with orange and lemon drinks.  

Over to Kaufland and bought more primulas for the garden, packets of seeds and a few other bits of foodstuffs,  Back to Djebel and into the hardware shop for a smile with the owner and her assistant and I managed to buy an extending handle and tomorrow I'm going to have a go at cleaning my landing windows...the more the sun shines...the moor I feel guilty about them....they are in much need of love and attention.

So off they went, I lit the fire and now it's belting out the hot water into the radiators.  It's not been good weather today...damp and the kind of cold that gets into the bones but at least the rain held off.  The precedent has now been set ...this restaurant is being used for all birthday treats and the other two pay...so I have until October to save up for it but I'm sure there will be more visits before then.  Television is on, I shan't have anything to eat tonight...I'm still stuffed from lunch....so I probably need some carbonated water to get it going down.  I might go into Kardjali again tomorrow to take out the telephone offer...it's too good to miss.  LN...I might see if there is anyone else that want's to come to town to play....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 20, 2016, 6:31pm; Reply: 20
Saturday 20th February

Well not much to report all day today.  I've done the usual chores, I've had the fire going all day since it's been cold, damp, miserable outside and I've been looking for things to do all day.  I've read, played Angry Birds, made two new flower pots out of an empty olive tina and a coffee tin.  I bought some thick string / thin rope and wound it round and it looks very attractive.  I've got enough to make another one out of a coffee tin and this could be a gift for one of my buddies.  

The primulas went outside to have a good soaking and the intention was to get out there with the watering can but there was no need as the heavens opened and it's still raining now.  Just a few photos today and from the inside.  My new amaryllis which was a birthday pressie from the Librarian has put on a couple of inches overnight, the hyacinth bulb that I bought on Wednesday complete with potting compost and flower pot appears to like its new home and the freesias have at last put a couple of flower heads up but it's too dark to photograph it where it is and too heavy to lift it into the light.

So this afternoon I made a chicken curry that turned out really well and went down equally as well,  The kitchen is in need of love and attention but I think that can wait for tomorrow...I settled in for the indoor athletics while the curry was cooking but was disappointed that there only seemed to be football on Filmon this afternoon and now it's completely gone to pot with the EU programme with the latest news and view.  Let's just hope that there's a better turn when the election takes place.

So PC off, back to my book and the rest of the box of chocolates which has in fact taken a bashing today.  There's such a lot I want to do in the garden and the little house but the mood dissipates when the weather is so rubbish...LN....I'm going to switch off and get my place in front of the fire...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 21, 2016, 5:11pm; Reply: 21
Sunday 21st February

Seven this morning and the sun was very close to surfacing...and I slept through all night which is a first for ages...Yesssss.  I managed a couple of boiled eggs for breakfast with soldier, cleared up the debris and the pots and pans from last night, cleaned the build up of soot from the woodburner and gave it a good spring clean.  It's just precautionary...it's really been behaving itself lately.

Up on to the PC to do my emails and FB and there was a knock on my door and Remsie was there.  I haven't seen her much lately since she was kicked by a cow and spent a few days in hospital but she came to tell me that she blacked out briefly this morning and I suggested that she went to the doctors.  I offered to take her but she said that she would go in in the morning since it's market day and she can get what she needs.  Now my conversations are not very long in my limited Bulgarian but we manage OK until she forgets that I'm English and then she takes off and I have to remind her...sitcho bavno, bavno...everything slowly...and then I'm fine.  She stayed for about three quarters of an hour and then was off to see to the cows and the donkey.

At this point I decided that it was time to get washed and dressed.  Out to the yard to top up the log basket and I also grabbed by gardening spade and fork since it looked a good day to get out there and get rid of some of the weeds.  I tackled the long flowerbed under the wall and the little lone between the sets of steps taking care with the bulbs that are now showing.  I moved on to the garden at the base of my tree and cleared the old stuff out.  I cleared one section of the veg garden but by this point I was feeling a little cold despite having an extra sweater on and I didn't want to go down with another chill.  I came in for lunch making sandwiches of smoked salmon and cream cheese, got the Kindle out and promptly fell asleep for a couple of hours.  I lit the fire when I woke up, concentrated very hard on limiting myself to one or four chocolates remaining in the box without success.....

Collected up the tools and watched a gentle sunset, the moon is up already up and is verging on the 'full' and is partly hidden by scudding clouds tonight.  The temperature is dropping but it should stay above freezing.  So I don't need supper....I've done pretty well with my late lunch sandwiches, the fire is chugging along nicely and warm as toast in my little abode.  LN....Nothing on my agenda for tomorrow, nothing pressing, nice state to be in....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 22, 2016, 7:15pm; Reply: 22
Monday 22nd February

Seven this morning and it's getting better...another good night.  The pre-dawn sky was beautiful and could my eye as soon as I got out of bed so it was out with the camera but then I missed the sunrise...I was too busy making coffee and it seemed to happen very quickly.  The mist was hanging over the mountains and especially over the new road to Greece along the river but it eventually all burnt off and it's been a beautiful day even though the wind had got an edge to it.

Cornflakes for breakfast and then on with an extra sweater and the hat and out with the fork and spade.  I managed to dig over the six other small vege beds and so now there's only one to go and then it is ready for planting.  I've also managed to do one more of the flower beds and then the fun began.  I decided to get the strimmer out and trim round the vegetable garden edging.  I found the strimmer but the hunt was now on for the battery.  I checked the shelf allocated for 'gardening' on the shelving rack in the workshop but to no avail and eventually after searching all of the workshop I headed into the little house and found it with the rest of the gardening stuff that had been removed from the pallet shelving by the front door.  I gave it a try and the battery was fully charged so it's had its first run for this year.  I came in for lunch and had spread cheese on toast and my telephone went and it was Gouldjan wishing me a belated happy birthday and letting me know that she was back but unfortunately. someone had gone off with her suitcase and she was left with some old lady clothes and tomatoes....She'd bought new clothes for herself and guess where they were...well it was anybody's guess but eventually it was discovered that it had been taken off at Krumelgrad and would be in Kardjali at four thirty this afternoon so of course I offered.  I picked her up at four fifteen, we picked up the suitcase, checked out Kaufland and dropped her off just before six.  Driving back I spotted the moon tonight ...it was so orange but by the time I got home a lot of the colour had faded but I shall be looking out for it tomorrow...

In Kaufland I'd bought two spare rib chops and the lady suggested that I had different ones with a sauce already added.  I explained that I had my own secret recipe and I'd be using it tonight.  I sliced up potatoes, covered them with oil and a little salt and put them in the oven with the chops......I'm stuffed and I only ate one of the chops.  

So tomorrow I'm off to the Librarians and we're heading firstly for the market in her nearest town and then on to Zlatograd to check out the meat shop.  LN....I'm sure we'll find somewhere for lunch.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 23, 2016, 7:03pm; Reply: 23
Tuesday 23rd February

What another good night's sleep...just before seven this morning when I came to and the dream was so good that I didn't want to come out of it.  Coffee, took a couple of shots of the morning and then on to the PC to get the 'work' done.....

Washed, dressed and cornflakes munched but eight.  My painter came round about eight thirty and wanted me to hang on to see one of his friends that was going to help him with some of the jobs that need to be done but I really didn't have the time this morning.  I was off to visit the Librarian and we were off to the market.  She was waiting at the motel so off we went, we did the market but I bought nothing, into one of the dinky-do shops and picked up a few photos of town art and then back into the Beast and over to Zlatograd.  We sat in an open air restaurant and had coffee, I paid a visit to the loo and the door got stuck and I had a slight panic on but I pulled at the handle and eventually it opened.  There was no lock on the inside so goodness knows how it got stuck.  We walked the town and bought some buckets for plants, I found a super computer shop with the best selection of Brother printers I'd seen and I was ruing the fact that I'd already bought one.  The Librarian bought some mince meat from our super butchers but I've still got about two kilos left and then down to the river for lunch.

The restaurant again was open air but the food was a little disappointing but adequate and on the way back we stopped and watched a fisherman catching his breakfast.  Back to her house and I set up her printer again since the scanner didn't work and stopped off at Mrs D of S's on the way back to see how her work was progressing.  Again we sat out in the sun with our coffee until we were both starting with icicles so I was back in the Beast, home...fire and waited for the moon to come up so that I could take some photos.....  

No supper for me...lunch is sitting very heavily.  Nine my time so time to post pictures and then down to book and fire.  LN....really pleasant day in good company and nothing to do tomorrow...so far...LN  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 24, 2016, 6:33pm; Reply: 24
Wednesday 24th February

Pretty drab morning and no chance of seeing the sunrise.  There were a few spots of rain then it seemed to blow over but forever threatening.  Washed dressed and ready for my cornflakes but I'd read an article yesterday that for those that have chocolate cake for breakfast the calorie and weight loss is greater so today I took a photograph of my 'balanced' diet and sent if off to Mr D or S for a giggle.

Out to the garden and dug out my pomegranate tree that is about to burst forth.  There is so much grass and so many weeds, mainly clover which is good for nitrogen but lousy for crowding out the real plants and grabbing the nutrients.  I also managed to find a small forsythia and spiraea that again had been swamped.  I dug out another of the flower beds but it all got too much about one when the temperature dropped so I came in, went to make a coffee and realised that the electricity was off so lit the gas ring on the cooker so back to basics with matches.  I had a visit from one of my neighbours and asking me for something of which I have no idea.  She explained that she wanted a black cream...she had a thorn wedged down her nail from the bush that everybody uses to keep cows out of gardens.  The only thing I came up with was Sudocreme...my standby so I told her to go home, put it in hot water with some salt in it and gave her my tweezers to try and grab the end.

Off she went, the electricity came back on, went off again and came on again and I lit the fire.  I'd tidied out the workshop this morning to make it easier to get at the wood so I'd got a good load in and chopped lots of starter stuff.  Settled in reading this afternoon...it was too cold to go out again and it started raining and tomorrow is another day.  

Supper was the cold sweet and sour pork chop and I'm now munching on a packet of biscuits...I like these diets.  LN....television off, I've remembered to adjust the time on the boiler timer and now it's going on...I'm about to linger in the bath but without the Kindle....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 25, 2016, 6:54pm; Reply: 25
Wednesday 25th February

Woke up at five for a toilet break but decided instead of getting my book out and reading I'd try to get a few more zzzeds in and I did.  Second time of waking was just before seven.  The sun looked like it might make an appearance but it was an unfulfilled promise.  It didn't manage to get over the clouds until around lunchtime and rained for most of the morning.  I legged it down to the bread van this morning...the two uncut that I'd got in were now masquerading as potential building blocks so it was time to invest another eighty stotinki for a fresh one.  Two rather thick slices, fresh butter and apricot jam...now what could be nicer and all this while reading my book and sipping coffee in front of the fire that I'd got going since it felt cold and damp and it was pleasant to look at.

So when it stopped raining I grabbed the rubbish from the house and the wheelbarrow from the garage and cleared out the burning pit to get the bonfire going.  Everything was so damp but I eventually got there.  I carried on clearing the flower beds and got to the point where I was doing bits in all of them and eventually they should all be done.  I was down the bottom and Remsie came into the garden and down to me and the other day we were talking about one of the villages that she wanted to visit.  She asked me if I would take her there at five tonight because her granddaughter whose husband works in Belgium, had come home with her great grandchild....  I don't normally do chauffeur work that late at night but thought I could tie it in with a visit to Mrs D of S so off I went to pick her up.  She had her fourteen year old grandson with her and I complemented him on his man perfume that was really strong.

So I dropped them off stopping at a little shop along the way so that she could buy her visiting goodies.  I went back to Mrs D of S's and was surprised with a helping of spag. bol with pasta.  I'd arranged to pick up my passengers at seven so I set off at ten to seven and parked up but Remsie came out and invited me in and I refused the invitation because it would stretch the evening out even longer.  I'd taken my kindle and sat out in the road reading and they eventually appeared at seven thirty and we were home just before eight.  Fire was still going so I perked it up to give the house a boost, just made it for Eggheads and soon it will be time to hit the sack.

I'm out tomorrow for supper at my student's house...life's all go.  Rain is forecast for tomorrow so it will be another day of stretching out with my kindle and a fire...what a life...LN....Time to enjoy that fire...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 26, 2016, 9:15pm; Reply: 26
Friday 26th February

Five start this morning and not really sure why.  I had a an issue with a dog barking its little head off last night as I was reading my book.  I shoved on the outside light and there it was...brown and white with its tail held high and owning the garden so I shouted at it in Bulgarian and Turkish and off it went and ten minutes later it's back and sitting as proud as Punch on the terrace as if it had found its new kingdom.  Again I shouted for it to leave but it was having none of it so I headed up to my balcony and lobbed over one of the very loud banger and off it shot.  It came into the bottom of the garden this morning but didn't venture anywhere near the house and so far tonight...nothing....May be it got the message...this is a dog free zone.

Fire going this morning, wood in and mended the gate.  It appears it's gone rotten at the bottom, the final rail was dragging on the floor so it's now held together with wire and it seems to be holding out OK.....I think major joinery repairs are needed or a new metal gate that will give me no problems at all for the next ten years or so.  I planted up the new polyanthus, two in the garden and the other four into window type boxes and then headed for the sofa and a book.  I managed to read until two ish but then there was very little energy left to I stretched out, removed my glasses and eventually came to at about four thirty.  I had a good stretch and got myself organised and it was over to my student's house for supper and a chat and at ten I was back home and thanking them on the internet for a lovely evening and for my birthday present.  They have to know that I've safely traversed the forest and that I haven't got eaten by a bear.

Lovely moon tonight even though it'son the wain and there appears to be bits missing.  It's pretty cold though and I was grateful that the fire was still going and with a little encouragement it's sprung to life.  I only have a couple of pictures today...this morning's attempt and this evenings final glow.  It has been good in the middle but that wind was cold and went straight through you if you were out there long enough.  So it's goodnight from me....Saturday tomorrow and nothing to do and nowhere to go...LN....what a nice thought...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 27, 2016, 7:35pm; Reply: 27
Saturday 27th February

So it was a silly night last night.  I managed to catch the Judi Dench-Steve Coogan -Philomena...how delightful and beautifully acted.  So that was me after midnight and after yesterday's sleep I wasn't really ready to get my head down and it was four in the morning before I put my light out.  The good news was that I had nothing to do today so with a blank canvas I managed to get quite a lot of gardening done.  Beans on toast for breakfast and the other half of the can will do with some mince for tonight.

I'd kept the fire going all night and since it was a dull morning I was pleased that I had.  I put an extras sweater on before I went out with my trusty fork but as I dug up this year's seeded poppies to transfer them to other flower beds I was beginning to get a little hot around the polo neck.  The sun had broken through eventually and it was hot, hot, hot so I moved one of the benches that had been stored in the little house and moved it onto the lounge terrace, got my Kindle and a couple of cushions and stretched out in the sun.  I took off the polo neck over jumper but ended up putting it round the back of my neck...that wind was chill.  I stuck it out until three thirty when the clouds started to build so the cushions came in, the bench was moved under my bedroom balcony, the little house locked up and it was a quick stoke up job again.

A little bit of Brain Training and used the mince that I'd got out of the freezer this morning, fried it off with an onion and the beans, into a pie dish with it and I put sliced potatoes on top of it and it was ready for the oven just when the rugby was about to start,  One more visitor, Haciber brought me round some stuffed vine leaves and I hadn't realised that it had started raining so I told her to get along home.  

Watched the rugby...well fought England....so it's time to get the washing up done to leave a tidy kitchen for the morning.  No sunset tonight but there were lovely pink rising clouds over Greece....really strange....and then thy brought the rain.  LN....a little more Filmon and then an early night...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 28, 2016, 6:04pm; Reply: 28
Sunday 28th February

Just after seven start and the usual cloud base that eventually burnt itself off and up it came.  I had a very lazy morning taking my book back to bed and tearing myself from it at nine thirty.  I'd popped out to make coffee and popped back in again...it was very unusual for me.  There was no fire to light since it had the makings of a good day and I was proved right in my decision.

I moved round the house opening windows to get some air circulating....it tends to hold the smell of the wood burner which is great in the winter but as spring takes hold you need to clean out the house.  Breakfast was bacon bits and onion fried off and I added a couple of eggs to make an omelette.  I topped it off with cheese and it turned out fine but I must remember not to add any more salt to the mix....the bacon bits were quite salty so before I use them next time they'll need soaking in water for a while or just not to add any more salt to the mix.

I made it outside and did some more clearing.  I dug out some huge stones from under the new wall to the right looking down the garden which is necessary before I start planting it up next month.  I'm going to put some hollyhocks and sunflowers under the wall to add some colour to the greenery.  I filled the wheelbarrow with grass and clover from the little workshop bed but I gave up after an hour or so.  I'm much better at creating gardens than doing the maintenance...I just hate weeding.  I returned Haciber's dish from last night and had cake and Fanta forced on to me even though I told her I hadn't long had breakfast.  She told me that she had a problem with her home phone and I worked out that for some reason it was locked despite the fact that she has no outstanding bills.....I asked her for her number and I intended to phone it to see if she could receive calls but she didn't know it....bless.

Came in from the garden at three thirty and lit the fire....there was a chill in the air despite the sun.  I shut the door, got the Kindle out and the eyelids headed southwards and about an hour later they headed northwards.  I think it was the fresh air that did it....Made a coffee and managed to catch celebrity Pointless and the jackpot remains intact.  Eight my time and the sky's clear and the sky is filled with stars...there is so little light pollution here.  It's a Waning Gibbous moon and not due to rise until midnight tonight so I'll probably miss it unless I have problems nodding off....

So busy day tomorrow....catching up on legals and taxes....LN...it's good to get the yearly things out of the way...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, February 29, 2016, 5:07pm; Reply: 29
Monday 29th February

Happy Leap Year...I wonder how many men have gone into hiding until it's all over.....

A seven o'clock murky start for me with the mist hanging over the river and the new road to Greece.  I grabbed a coffee and went back to bed after taking a photo of the fairytale view and the moon still up.  I was putting off the shower and hair wash and timing it to perfection or so I thought...and I more or less did.  I'd left a note on Gouldjan's FB last night to see if she wanted a lift into Djebel this morning and had to phone her since she hadn't responded.  As it turned out she couldn't get away before nine so she went in on the bus.  As it turned out I only managed to pick up one hitch hiker this morning who offered to pay me the statutory two lev bus fare which I obviously refused...I was going in anyway,

So got there by eight forty five and waited for Mrs' D of S to come in from her village.  We'd arranged to meet up so that I could help her with her immigration documents and we thought that we'd got it all sussed.  Wrong...her house documents didn't show the house number in the format that they wanted it so all the ducks weren't in the row and she has to go back to her Kmet for confirmation.  We did get her other documents translated though and set the wheels in motion with the bank and she'll complete next week...hoops and having to jump through them.  We did a couple of the charity shop but not at Monday's prices...we'll wait until the weekend....We went to the post office and posted some seeds to Princess' school deputy head for the children to have a bit of a competition with sunflowers and make pretty up the school. As we were leaving the Bank car-park, there was a man trying to get out of his parking space and I saw where he was heading so I stood in front of mine.  He went forward and moved back into a gap and I heard a crunch as yes...he'd caved in the back door of the car next to mine.  I pointed it out to the car-park attendant...the man got out and looked at the damage but there was no note left on the damaged car....I'd done my bit....the attendant hopefully did his.  We moved on to Kaufland for a few top-ups, hot dog and chips for lunch from the Kaufland diner, over to Billa for parsnip seeds which had curiously been labelled up as Parsley and finished off in Lidl for butter and biscuits.  

We drove into Momchilgrad and I paid my back taxes on my house on the hillside so that's one thing out of the way, picked up some fuel and the attendant asked me if I spoke French and we had quite a conversation.  Apparently he'd lived there for seven years and then back to Mrs D of S's for a coffee and then home James...

Lit the fire to get the house warm for this evening....I've put chicken in the over and I really should go down and have a look at it...and it's fine and there should be enough left to make some soup tomorrow...It's time I did a return favour for Haciber....LN.....Supper and sofa...LN
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