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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  AUGUST 2017
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 1, 2017, 4:39pm
Tuesday 1st August

Another silly night...I went to bed scratching at my foot and it was almost as if I had been bitten by some little creature while I was watching TV-Catchup so I was rooting around looking for the anti-histamine cream and religiously slapping it on.  That seemed to settle the foot but an hour later I was awake again and this time between the fingers was itching so it was back to the bathroom for that cream again but it was too late for any more sleep.  The sky was that lovely pink blue hue and it grew more intense until the sun started to climb behind the mountains fading everything out and then it burst forth at around six ten.  Prior to that there'd been what appeared to be a double star in the sky.  I tried to capture it and with great difficulty managed to get the blown up version...Anyway back to my book and now it seems to have got more interesting...her chapters appear to have reduced in size and are she appears not to be dragging it out so much....and I've been dipping in to it all day.

Six thirty I was out with the garden hose and everything had a good watering by seven.  I was down to the bread van by nine after stopping off and having a conversation with my ladies.  Apparently Beyser took a nose dive in the garden in the long grass and has a scraped knee to show for it....it was quite a topic of conversation.  Haciber has another set of visitors from Sweden along with her son who is also here...the house seems pretty full and it's a lot of work for her but it's routine and they can't say no.  So I came back with my loaf of bread and settled for freshly buttered with peach jam and that quite set me up for the rest of the day.  It was a cold start this morning and there's been a heck of a wind blowing all day but at least it warmed up as the strength got into the sun.  Bonfire and washing and then I was on the sofa with my book, door open and enjoying lying in the breeze from the lounge door being on tilt and turn.  It does keep the house cool and aired.  It didn't stop me from sleeping and catching up on the missing zzzz's from the night and it was one thirty when I retrieved my book from the back of the sofa and headed for the kitchen for a cold drink and some roasted peanuts.

It was back to the book after I got the washing in and put it away and then in the car to replace the missing fuel cap.  My student is managing the shop since his parents have escaped with the little one to a water park for a few days and he seems to be doing a fair job of it.  The garage was too busy to get the Beast washed...it got pretty messy when I came back from Kardjali the other evening, I managed to get some B12 tablets from the chemist and she was trying to get me to buy the ampules and go for injections.  I remember vaguely that my doctor in the UK got me on to a course of these and he joked that it's what they used to give racehorses...I'll stick to the tablets.

Eight my time...I'm not really hungry tonight so I'll see how I feel later.  LN...Shopping list achieved but bit of a lazy day....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 1, 2017, 5:10pm; Reply: 1
This morning's funny pics...

Solved..'for the second time in 2015, Venus and Jupiter will engage in a close conjunction — this time, separated by just more than 1 degree, with Venus passing to the lower right of Jupiter and shining more than 10 times brighter than the gas giant. Then, there will be two "mysterious" bright lights for the price of one!'.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 2, 2017, 4:50pm; Reply: 2
Wednesday 2nd August

Much better night last night.  I closed the door on to the terrace, sprayed the room about eight last night and the landing at about ten.  Peace perfect peace...not a hint of a tzzz at all last night but with fly screens...not sure where the little beauties are getting in but I suppose the hole doesn't have to be big.  Anyway...none last night.

Breakfast was Beyser's tomatoes on toast and they are so sweet and as I've said before, they seem to take so long to digest that there's not much call for other food during the day...except perhaps a packet of chocolate coated peanuts while one is engrossed in a book.  There was a brief flurry of activity around eleven thirty when I dug out the under wall bed by the bench...the weeds loved the heavy rain last week and I think I've got to start at one end again but I think the hoe might come out this time but it was just to hot to keep at it today.  I had the  secateurs on the roses when I noticed a procession of cars and walkers heading for the mosque.  Fortunately I saw Remsier...I was a little worried that one of my old ladies had popped off for a little gardening in the sky but instead it was one of the old men from Turkey who'd come back here to die and had done. I didn't know him but I'll still wish him a safe onward journey.. :-/

So I've finished my book and I think I've got them out of sequence and I'll have to buy book eight from Amazon...seven is finished, six is I believe unread unless I've forgotten or lost the plot which has been said but I'm denying vehemently.... ;) ;)  Afternoon nap and why not indeed..And I've just finishes watching Tipping Point and the guy won the jackpot on his last counter....Well played...he did get all of the questions right.  I'm now heading to the evening shift...the garden needs a good watering...as I've said it's been very hot out there today and my plans to do some woodwork didn't materialise...lethargy was the order of the day and tomorrow is another one.  Having said that...Lidl have the garden tree trimmers on offer so I might head in to Kardjali to get a set for my painter so that I can have mine back....he's had then for a couple of weeks and I found a need for them today.

So garden and hose pipe call...I don't think I shall be heading for the kitchen anytime soon...LN...Eggheads and an early night...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 2, 2017, 4:56pm; Reply: 3
And just a few more
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 3, 2017, 6:09pm; Reply: 4
Thursday 3rd August

So it was a good night’s sleep again but there was coolness about the air at six this morning.  I’d remembered that I was off to Lidl to get the extending loppers for my painter so telephoned him at eight to confirm that he still wanted them.  He’s working in Sofia which I wasn’t aware of and there was lots of noise and banging in the background so he was either in a very noisy apartment or he’d started already.  So at eight thirty I was in the Beast and heading for the big city.

My first stop was at Basmar to see if they had any solar garden lights which they did but at exorbitant prices so I gave them a miss but I did find a couple of wall tiles in their cheapy corner which I really liked but the trouble with this store is that if it hasn’t got a code they can’t sell it.  Why they don’t put the code on when they display it I shall never know…so I told her I would be back and walked to Lidl to get the loppers.  On the way round I noticed that they’d reduced the steak so picked up four packets thinking they might be gone when I was on my way out of town and walked it back to Basmar taking my life in my hands on the crossings.  I went back to see my lady…took the list to the cash desk with the tiles and they cost me ninety stotinki…and now I’m looking for a use for them…

Into town to pay my telephone bill and true to form there were two assistants and a big long queue…obviously someone had got the rotas wrong.  Back to Kaufland and picked up a garden blower for twenty five lev and an electric strimmer for fourteen which will do as spares.  Back home for one….the steaks are in the freezer and there was no real activity this afternoon it was just too hot and humid….After a little nap, a read and a Sudoku I set to and the garden is already watered and the Beast has had a hose down…it was very dirty from the other day.  I’m writing this in Word…the internet has gone down so not sure when I’ll be posting but fingers crossed for tonight at least.  OK...just come back up...LN….A book at bedtime me thinks…LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 4, 2017, 5:10pm; Reply: 5
Friday 4th August

Six start and after a good night.  I'd bought a liquid mosquito plug in yesterday so I tried it out and whether it was psychological or not I'm not sure but the sleep of the just.  I did make it down to the kitchen to get a coffee, washed up from yesterday and legged it back upstairs to check my emails from the comfort of the bed.  I'm really not sure why I get so many offering me Viagra so I block the lot but they appear to recreate other email addresses and so it continues.  You would think that in this day and age there could be something in place to recognise the oddballs....obviously not developed enough yet.  It was a lovely clear morning except for the heat haze and it was obvious that we were in for another hot one.

I managed it out to the garden by nine and set about weeding from the walnut to the mulberry and by ten I was half way along the wall but it was too hot to continue.  I came in on the pretence of a drink but didn't go out again until four this afternoon...I just moved up to the PC on the landing, watched some television, played a few games and generally chilled out.  I didn't even managed to get my head down this afternoon....that could mean a really good night tonight.  At five I decided to get the steak out, fry off an onion and one of the large mushrooms that't I'd bought yesterday and flash fry the steak.  It's not that I was disappointed, the flavour was good, the texture not so good.  I think the others that are sitting in the freezer are going to be made into a steak pie....I think I'll enjoy it more.  

So now it's just hit me that the World Athletic Championships are starting today so that's next week sorted then.  It's going to be writing history...it's the last appearances of Mo and Mr Bolt and it would be lovely if they could finish their careers on the up.  I've just put the opening ceremony on and fingers crossed that TV Catchup doesn't let me down.  LN...Tele-tubbie is going for tele- time...LN.

Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 5, 2017, 5:05pm; Reply: 6
Saturday 5th August

So after a really late night watching the athletics...it was one before I got my little head down and six on the dot I was awake again.  Mo was the draw last night and what an exciting race it was an what a performer.  With so many working against him...he never faltered...what commitment to sport and his determination to succeed.  Mr Bolt will be the call for tonight....so it looks like being another late one.

I hadn't watered the garden last night....lazy mare that I am so I was out at six fifteen soaking everything before the heat got up and drained everything again including me.  I'd finished the watering by seven fifteen and the intention was to get out and do more but it just didn't happen.  I was down to the bread van to get bread and a cheesy bun and I joined my Avatar and sat in her garden and both ate out for breakfasts at the same time.  She offered me tomatoes, coffee, yogurt drink and I refused it all...I didn't want to put her to the trouble.  

It was just too hot again and thundery even though we didn't have a storm.  The perspiration was just dripping from me even though I wasn't doing anything and it will be another shower before bedtime.  I lay on the bed for a while and I obviously needed to catch up on sleep so I did but by twelve I was back in the land of the living and settled in to watch the athletics this afternoon.  No way was I going out there...I sat in the breeze from my bedroom balcony that races across the landing and out through the guest bedroom balcony door...

Haciber came round this evening with a dish of meat and rice...not sure if she was just cooking it or it's from a mevlit...prayers for the dead or dying.  Only one problem with it...it's more rice than meat and they do use rather a lot of fat in the cooking process.  I ate what I could but I'm not that hungry...it's still too hot.  I do have a chicken that I ought to be putting in the oven to cook....so kitchen calls, then bathroom calls, then athletics calls.....LN...I've found my calling....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 6, 2017, 8:51pm; Reply: 7
Sunday 6th August

Late night again watching the world athletics and it was a seven start so didn't miss much sleep.  I was coffee and gardening straight away....I watered those I missed last night and the ones that looked in need I watered again.  It turned out to be a scorcher...thirty three inside and forty one in the shade on the terrace.  By seven thirty I was out there gardening and finished weeding the side bed of the long wall, the small fire pit bed that had just gone mad in a short time and anointed four wooden planks with a view to carrying on the edging.  I turned my attention to one of the first benches that I'd put outside my downstairs bedroom, trimmed the sprouting from the bowl of the tree and removed the bench with a view to putting it somewhere else. I moved the other bench under the plum tree and cut down most of the other fruit tree that had bore no fruit.  It should do it good.

Eleven and I came in...it was too hot to be out there so I got my book out and read for a while.  I moved up to the landing and watched part of the marathon and a few of the field events, put the chicken into the oven to cook before it took off by itself to the burning pit and realised that it was heading for four so it was tools away.  I was out with the hose again, there were some giant peels of thunder and I gave up silent prayer that it would rain but not until I got to the venue tonight for the wedding.  As it happened, it didn't rain but I was now on a deadline to get on a coach at six heading for a place I hadn't been to before.  I put one of my favourite outfits on scrubbing up well for the occasion and it went down well with my ladies...

So we managed to find a table together and there must have been about five hundred there..The bride and groom arrived to the wedding march which I still find amusing, the food was standard fare and the service was good, the soft drinks kept flowing and we left before those that were imbibing  got up to speed.  Just arrived back now...they are a lovely young couple but some of my shots were spoilt by the official photographer and his megawatt bulb on his camera.  It really messed up some of the long shots.

Trying to cool the house down...all the doors to the balconies are open...please let's have a little respite tomorrow otherwise I'm going to find a swimming pool for the day.  LN...Chilled but not chilled...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 7, 2017, 4:57pm; Reply: 8
Monday 7th August

Seven start this morning and I had my plans worked out but remember all plans should be flexible otherwise they fail. ;) ;)

At ten I was on my third cup of coffee, I had managed to get the washing done and out by eight but I looked at the garden and it's really suffering.  It reminds me of that add where the airline attendant says that you pick the child to help first in the event of an emergency.  You seem to water them all equally but when you scrape the surface...only the top soil is damp.  Underneath it's like dust.  I did give severe remedial mouth to mouth virtually to my hydrangea that is against the wall....I got the garden fork out, eased the roots and applied the contents of two watering cans to the said bush.  I've just checked it out and it appears to be doing OK and I'll give it a good soak tonight.  As for the rest, the zinnias are looking a little crumpled, still flowering but the leaves are crinkled.  The cosmos have still yet to flower despite there being a couple of buds on the ones under the plum tree.

As for me.....I didn't stay out there long.  It clocked up thirty six in the shade and it was thirty four indoors.  I got my kit together for laying another portion of the soil retaining wood on the flower beds but it stayed outside until five when I felt it safe to go out there again, I spent the afternoon reading and sleeping.  So one edging in place and the others are in place just need to ease out the trenches.  I tell myself that I must do better tomorrow and get out there early but unfortunately this weather seems to drain the energy levels.  Washing in, cold chicken for supper and I'm about to go out and give every thing a good soaking and then tools away.  I have the feeling that my next bill is going to be huge too but what else can you do.  LN...Work calls...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 8, 2017, 5:14pm; Reply: 9
Tuesday 8th August

So six fifteen this morning and all was well in my corner of the world.  I'd given the garden a really good watering last night so I only topped up or bottomed up the patio plants...it was going to be another scorcher.  I sat on the terrace to watch the sun come up and it really does put a spring in your step at that time in the morning but you know what it's like, come twelve you are beginning to feel drained since the temperature has shot up, by two you're dripping with perspiration and when you wake up at four your soaking, needing a shower and wondering what happened to the day.  That sums me up...

So met up with Mrs D of S minus baby this morning for coffee.  Apparently the little one is in to throwing things...oops.  I remember that stage well and you have to be aware of everything you have and where you leave it if only for a minute or so.  Anyway...bottom line she needed a new phone.  I think we're feeling the same...it's too much effort to get out there and keep up friendships...home is a nice place to hide away.  We did managed to arrange a joint visit to another friend for next week or so....a sort of baby party where the two newbies can get to know each other.  We sat for about an hour over coffee and water and juice for me and then went our separate ways.  I headed for my student's mother's shop wanting an update on their short break to a water park and five star hotel in the south.  She said everything was perfect, the hotel, the water park which they'd booked in the hotel package and the spa.  Five swimming pools at the water park including water slides for the children and one with swim lanes for the more serious visitors.  It might be worth investigating.  I left the shop at about one, picked up a few items from the supermarket and decided that Djebel was sufficient for today....CBA to head into Kardjali and swimming. I hadn't bought tuna for ages from Lidl mainly because they've shot up in price .  The little supermarket had some so I stocked up.  Lunch....tuna mayo on fresh bread while I read my book on the sofa.  I finished off with some honey Turkish delight...back to my book and of course the obvious...head down for an hour and a half.  Siesta time folks... ;)

Garden watered already....it soon will be time for that beautiful moon to be popping it's head over the mountains.  I caught it last night in its very early stages, and what I thought was the cloud base hiding part of it was in fact a partial lunar eclipse...silly old me...and I'll post the photos to prove it.  Few clouds about tonight but the temperature is still pretty high.  This weather is supposed to here for another week or so and the weight should drop off me...but not with honey Turkish delight....ah well.  Supper is not necessary...stuffed and too hot to eat...maybe some yogurt later.  I'm warming up for the World Athletics but we only seem to have had the one contestant that lived up to expectations...it must be the pressure and coming fourth just doesn't pay dividends but that's sport...it can be cruel.  LN...A little tele time...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 9, 2017, 3:43pm; Reply: 10
Wednesday 9th August

Normal six start and out to the terrace with my coffee to watch the morning come alive.  No mornings are the same...magic.  I had a bit of a shock when I went downstairs though.  My normal routine is to shut the main entrance door taking out the key and throwing it on the coffee table in the middle of the room.  So this morning the car keys were in the door, it was wide open and obviously I hadn't followed the close down lock up procedure.  It's a good job it's Bulgaria and no UK...

I made myself fried tomatoes on toast with lashings of black pepper, tidied the kitchen and washed up, more coffee and then rubbish out for a burning session.  It didn't want to go though so I've left it for tomorrow.  The bin really needs emptying out so that I can start again but everything is tinder dry and the last thing I want to do is set fire to the hillside.  I came in to sorry a splinter out of my finger with a needle but I'm not sure if I got it out or not.  There was blood, well a little but after that the day went down hill.  

I finished the Hangman's Daughter yesterday and was looking for a new book to read.  I think I've settled on the latest  and last to date Outlander but I never got round to downloading it to the Kindle.  It entailed sorting out a credit card and making the payment....and it was too much like hard work.  Instead I started to look at the contents of My Book drive and found lots of old photos of the house and renovations and you forget how far you've really come.  I really should get some printed out and an album made up and when I'm feeling down I should take it out and look at it....my own motivational tool.  I was flicking on the tv channels on the internet and it appears that they are announcing the new Strictly competitors.  I've had five minutes of Jeremy Kyle and soon switched that off...he really can't take that programme seriously...it's got to be for the money.

So this afternoon I came across 'The King's Speech' and I'd forgotten what a good film it was and is.  That took up a couple of hours more or less and the temperature is dropping enough now to make my way out.  It's been a beautiful day again, a little cloudy this morning  but it soon burnt off.  I've managed to put the photos of my Avatar onto the Kindle...I'm showing them to her before I send them on to her family in Germany....it's got to be her decision as to whether they go or not.  A couple of messages about my new found family on my father's side....apparently I have relatives in Canada in Banff....I feel another holiday approaching...'the thot plickens' as they say.  

To horse.....garden to be watered and tonight I will go through the lock up procedure.  Nothing on the agenda so far ...I'll play it by ear Sam.  LN....Watering time...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 10, 2017, 5:13pm; Reply: 11
Thursday 10th August

Silly night watching the athletics last night and watching Mo get  through his heat.  What a strange one...a contestant running a time trial to get into the semi-finals and now he wants to do another one to get into a final that's already been run....doh... :-/

Seven start and the sun was already up...it beat me this morning.  I did take the coffee outside and sat for a while, came in for the rest of the rubbish that needed burning and and headed for the bottom of the bottom of the garden,  The cats had already been in to it so the first job was to get the garden fork and clear up the area, it started first time and when it got going I put the lit on it for safety and headed back to water the pots on the terrace.  A very large cloud came over which was super and it stayed for quite a while, a cool wind was blowing so it took a while for the temperature to rise but rise it did.  The house levelled off at thirty four and outside was a little higher and it's still up there now.

I've had another lazy day....at of a pottering day.  Several messenger conversation and confirmation that Gyldjan, who moved to Germany after her wedding last September, is heading back for her official wedding celebrations.  The first was a civil one but you have to have the statutory thrash with all the family, neighbours and friends in attendance and I think it's going to be next month.  She did make a request for me to fetch her from Sofia airport tomorrow....I reminded her that I very rarely pick anyone up from Sofia but offered to be waiting for her in Kardjali if she lets me know what time the bus gets in.  No brainer if you calculate the cost of bus versus diesel.   She's going to let me know....

So my snake catcher cat was stretching, enjoying the evening sun but strolled off when it heard the camera click.  As for the lingering cow...I think it was eyeing up if there was anything to eat on my side of the wall...no way...move along...nothing to see here or to eat.  Supper will be the remains of last night's curry...time for garden watering and I've just noticed that the cat is back.  Strolling around the garden as if he's the resident feline...if it catches snakes and the likes...it can stay.   LN...A girl has to do what a girl has to do....LN


Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 11, 2017, 4:39pm; Reply: 12
Friday 11th August

Seven start...too much world athletics but not long to go now.... ;)  We seem to have a penchant for coming forth...not too good on the medal's table....they don't give anything away for that.  I know it's on the world stage and in front of a world crowd but I think that they're not prepared for it.  Anyway....I've put my head too far over the parapet as it is...

I was sadly disturbed by the weeds and grass that seems to be establishing itself amongst the flowers and today I decided that I should do something about it.  I dug up round the fig by the stack of tiles and removed lots but then I heard the bread van so legged it up to the bedroom to change from my PJ's into more acceptable trousers  to meet and greet the locals.  Skipped down the road, one fresh bread and a cheesy bread for breakfast, walked back with Haciber and Beyser and noticed that my Avatar's daughter has arrived from Turkey.  Beyser dragged me into her garden and insisted on giving me a bag of tomatoes, peppers and chills from her garden and I stopped off at my Avatars to see if she is going to the baby part tomorrow.  She confirmed that she was and said that she's going to put her handbag on the seat to make sure she saves it for me when I get on the bus.  I tend to stay behind to help some of them get up the steps and then it's too late...they plonk themselves down next to her.  I asked her if she wanted the greenery that Beyser had given me knowing that I don't like it but at that Beyser appeared int he garden waiting for her lift into Djebel with the bread van driven by her grandson.  Almost caught out we were.  So I headed home...sat and had my cheesy bun with my coffee and picked up my Kindle, the peppers in a bag and Haciber's dish from the other night and headed back down the road.  All tasks successfully completed and my Avatar and her daughter really loved the photos taken at the last baby party.

So back to my weeding.  I was out there until one and then just had to come in ...it was lethal out there.  I downed about four glasses of water, sat on the sofa to play a couple of games on the kindle but it was too late...my eyelids headed southwards and I was out until approximately four, came round slowly, drank more water and went to tidy up outside.  It didn't stop there though.  I dug over the beetroot bed and they've got slung to the animals since they'd gone really soft.  I rescued the been seeds for next year and I've got more seeds of hollyhocks and snapdragons to remove from their casings on on the whole its been a pretty fair day despite the heat.  I've also managed to string up the other outside chair...it was supposed to be the hammock but no way could I seem to get myself into it so it's been abandoned back where I'd hung it in the first place...definitely not for me.

Garden is on auto-water connected to the hosepipe and I'm moving the spray round the garden.  They really do need a lot and as for my water bill...it's a good job it goes on on direct debit.  I'm really not in the mood for food and am putting it down to the heat.....I have real sympathy for my crispy flowers and we've got a few more days of it to come according to the weather forecasts.  So more athletics tonight....time to move that hose round a bit and get myself something to drink.  Baby party tomorrow in Kardjali and the bus is at eleven so I shall be having a pretty lazy morning.  LN....Where's that litre of water....but firstly a shower...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 12, 2017, 4:46pm; Reply: 13
Saturday 12th August

Lazy mare...seven again this morning but again it was the athletics and another fourth place...and tonight the fun starts...relay racing and let's see who drops the baton this year.  I went out and finished off watering the garden from last night...this weather is fine but it drains the soil and drains the energy banks...but it was another day off for me so I was getting showered and hair washing ready for the off at eleven.  I'd got a line of washing out by eight this morning and I was hoping that the pair of local cotton trousers would be dry and I could put them on for the event...and they were.

I strolled down towards Avatar's garden and her grandson was reversing the car out of the drive and she was ready to get into it...so that's the story Jackanory...she was going in by car so so much for out sitting together on the bus.  They were picking up her niece in Djebel and heading in together but there were plenty more on the bus that I am very comfortable with.  I was quite surprised,,, the bus was the small one and as predicted, the second pick up point filled it to capacity so the driver was on the phone and by the time we got to Djebel...the second bus was waiting.  I sat next to the Cmet's mother on the way in and she told me that she was having problems with her hand.  I recommended that she tried Reparil Gel that was recommended to me and when we got to Djebel for the change over she suggested that we went to the chemist together so that she could get a tube to try.  I said it was OK and that I'd go on my owns so into my local and picked up one and handed it to her...she offered me money...I refused...after all it was my suggestion.  It might not work on her.  So we loaded into the second coach and arrived at the venue.  There was a little confusion...there was a wedding taking place on the second floor and one several of the ladies were on their way to the wedding not staying on the ground floor.  Most were retrieved but one had to be rescued.

So many babies and not as organised as some that I've been to.  The food was slow, children running around and the money was collected before the food which has never happened before.  I think several mothers had got together for one gathering.  My only other issue was that the lighting was really bad...no way could you take really good photos so I'm going to have a disappointed grandma... :-/  By two thirty it was over and we were waiting for the bus on the pavement and the noise from the wedding was ridiculous.  I think one or two eardrums will be out of action for the evening after the assault.

I was dropped off at the house and the driver rolled down to Beyser's.  I opened the doors on the first floor to get the air circulating and put on the PC to check out FB and emails.  I was aware that I was beginning to nod off but managed to stave it off with a coffee.  Monty Don has just give me a few more gardening hints and the main one was to keep on deadheading.....I have lots I really should be doing...maybe tomorrow.  No need for supper...lunch was sufficient....LN...Time to water again....LN


Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 13, 2017, 4:27pm; Reply: 14
Sunday 13th August

Beat the sun up this morning and was determined to get out there and do the grass before it got hot but no such luck.  I got the morning shots and some good ones last night of the sun going down, made coffee and it's going to rain I know.....I sorted out the cushions on the outside furniture and whenever I do that ...it normally pours down.  As for now...it's looking that was, thunderstorms were predicted but to date no thunder and no storms.  Ah well...it's looking like I've got to water again tonight... :-/

So last night's athletics...how exciting.  Congratulations to the relay teams, men and women winning medals, Mo when all the rest of the competitors were out to get you but the American didn't managed it.  I really didn't like it on the start line when the American made Mo's signature sign and ran his finger across his throat...at that point in my eyes he was doomed.  As for the high jump...fifth and sixth...and they're both young.

Eventually I was out in the garden on the wrong end of the lawnmower at ten o'clock.  I'd tidied up the garden first and moved the hoses out of the way but by ten thirty the sun had gained momentum and I was losing it so at the half point I came in to balance the water input with the output.  Two litres later I settled down with my Kindle for a while and after an hour or so went out to finish the deed.  It was difficult to to...because there are so many dry patches you can't maintain lines using the last one as a guide so it turned out a little higgledy piggledy (and that's not liked by spellcheck at all).  Anyway...it was done and machine away for another couple of weeks.  I watched a little of the men's walk and it was just too slow for me.  Competitive walking is not a pretty sight to watch...warnings ...red cards...eliminations...it had it all and our medal prospect was disqualified when he stepped up his pace.

Head down this afternoon after I'd managed to do the DM Sudoku five star in eleven minutes...the stress wore me out.  I felt a little peckish so I settled on fish finger sandwiches...it's too hot to eat much, close and thundery but as I said...nothing to date.  I did managed to speak to the Librarian this morning and weather permitting we are off to my Kardjali pool tomorrow...I need a day of complete relaxation away from looking at the garden and thinking i should be getting on with 'stuff' when there's really no need.  Athletics start again this evening for the final of the women's five thousand and the closing ceremony...Gone for another four years or so.  I can hear ice-cream calling me from the fridge.  LN...Let my evening begin...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 14, 2017, 6:05pm; Reply: 15
Monday 14th August

What a day at the London stadium....we won more medals in the relays and it was another late night for me.  I don't think I mentioned that I think I'd had something nibble my elbow yesterday while I was mowing the grass but last night it had turned into a throbbing hot thing and it was itching and I could have scratched it in holes.  I'd gone to bed thinking that it was going to be OK in the morning but I was wrong...it remained red and throbbing and so since we were heading into Kardjali, I phoned the Librarian and mentioned that I needed to stop off at my doctor surgery in the Polyclinic.  I phoned the hospital to check that she was working today and arranged to pop in later in the morning.  So the Librarian arrived and we set off down the lane, managed to find a parking place near the Polyclinic and down into the depths of the building and was in the surgery in quicksticks.  The doctor gave it a quick look and was determined that I was on my way to the main hospital to see the dermatologist but I had to firstly find a shop near the church to get photocopies of my registration document.  I left the Librarian at the Polyclinic while I found the shop, got five copies made and left three of them with the doctor just in case we needed more further into the future...forward planning.

So back into the car and off to hospital registration, paid over twelve leva and was given a ticket and told to go to room one along a corridor.  It was the same area that I'd been to to get the form signed for updating my driving licence.  So I waited and eventually got called in, the doctor looked at it, scratched her head, wrote a prescription for antibiotics and a spray to stop the itching.  Not to be deterred...we had lunch at the hospital for a pittance and headed off to the swimming pool overlooking Kardjali.  Very few people there, it was still early and I had my first swim in the pool on my own...no one splashing ...very restful.  As for the arm...the cold water did it good and took out some of the heat but after about ten minutes it was back again and up to temperature.  We left the pool at three, headed down to the town, found a chemist and paid over thirty lev for the prescription, over to Lidl and home for five thirty.  

Now the tablets have to be taken every twelve hours after food so I made a ham baguette for ballast and  had my first of the ten that I have to take, washing the arm and spraying the infected area.  It's quite strange...there seems to be a border that the infection hasn't gone over...a very defining line.  Next tablet at seven in the morning and fingers crossed that the swelling will disperse it pretty quickly.  The spray has taken some of the itching away...but it's still very red.  Nothing on for tomorrow so far...the weather hasn't been as hot to day ...and definitely not as humid.  No pictures...I'll get one of the arm in the morning....I'm in for an early night.  LN...Where's the Kindle...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 15, 2017, 5:58pm; Reply: 16
Tuesday 15th August

Pretty sleepless night scratching and itching...I tried the spray but it stung like crazy so I washed it off.  I checked up the 'ingredients' on the internet today since the destructions are in Bulgarian and I wasn't liking what I was reading.  I'll stick to the antibiotics and keep my fingers crossed that they're going to do the trick.  I was awake at six, down to the kitchen, coffee and a ham baguette so that I could have my early morning tablet.  There's still a lot of fluid hanging around and redness but definitely not as bad as yesterday.  Watched the sunrise and watered the pot plants on the terrace, stripped the bed and got the washing in. collected up the rubbish and got the bonfire going.  Somehow I got the fork in my hand and started off weeding the bottom of the garden near to the wall but it's so stony down there...I'm going to have an awful job trying to get anything really established so it might even be a rockery.  It's the last bit of the garden that needs attention but it will have to wait until the temperature drops...it's too much like hard work.  Washing hung out and then I heard the bread van heading to the square so I was in the house for money and down for my bread.  It appeared to be late...most of my ladies were down already...I think I was the last.

I stopped off at my Avatars for five minutes with her and told her about my visit to the hospital.  She had various theories as to what it could be that took a nibble of me....I still haven't got a clue and can see no puncture marks at all.  As for the rest of the day I really didn't feel up to much.  I think the antibiotics are fairly strong and I'm not sure if it's why I felt a little heady today.  I did manage to give emergency treatment to the zinnias in the vegetable patch.  They were really suffering from the last couple of days and the wind today was very drying.  I found a three litre plastic bottle , cut the fat end off if and sunk it into the ground above the plants feeding the hose pipe into the bottle.  I left it running for about fifteen minutes, reduced it to a trickle and gave them a good soaking but at root level.  It seems to have worked...they've perked up tremendously well.

Read for a while and put some new book series on to the Kindle, got my head down and felt better for my nap.  I've just finished giving everything a good soak...as I said we've had this very drying rain and it's been in the lower thirties again but so far so good...I'm managing to keep most things going.  A chicken went in at six so that is beautifully cooked and I'll be tearing a leg off it for supper.  I've got athletic withdrawals but there is another outing for the team on Sunday so I know what I'll be doing then.  Lovely sunset as I was watering tonight, I've yet to make the bed up...it's all go here.  LN...A woman's work....is never...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 16, 2017, 5:01pm; Reply: 17
Wednesday 16th August

Silly night..I was awake at five, making a sandwich at six and taking my tablet at six fifteen.   The sun caught may attention so I had to grab the camera and take a few pickies but then it was back to bed.  I read for a while but at seven was extremely tired so went off again until nine thirty this morning.  I'm putting it down to the tablets and the weather...neither of them is brilliant at the moment.  Today has been such a mixture...sun, cloud, terrific high gusty winds and I've been rescuing things all day, moving things so that they didn't get blown over and shatter and wedging chairs so that they stayed upright.  I don't appear to have lost any trees or sunflowers since I'd staked most of them up but that wind must have been very cruel to some of the more delicate blooms.

I've started a new book that I'm really not sure about but there are three in the series so I'll stick with it...it might liven up.  My head was hurting today and not really sure why.  The destructions for the tablets are in Bulgarian, I've googled it but not really come up with any answers.  Most of the day has been taken up lying on the sofa and taken up with reading, playing games and sleeping...there has been not great urge to get out there and do anything.  

Second tablet down....the arm has lost it's redness but it's still swollen and appears to be bruising.  I suppose that poison has to be taken care of somehow so hence I'm putting down the malaise to it's dispersal....and it looks like there's going to be little activity from now on.  LN....Enforced rest is normally needed....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 17, 2017, 4:27pm; Reply: 18
Thursday 17th August

Six start, loo visit and straight back to bed and off to sleep until seven.  Blow the tablet, it had to wait until just after seven this morning.  I went down to the kitchen, made toast and marmalade, I sat in the hallway and had breakfast and then went back to my desk to retrieve the tablet and my bottle of water.  I was out to the garden with the hose pipe at the ready and gave everything a good soaking.  Yesterday's wind had dried out a lot of the plants and they were looking a little sad for themselves.  Working away and my neighbour had come into the garden and found me on the end of the hose.  She was returning my flash drive that I'd given her with the photos of the baby party, her computer was undergoing major surgery but as she explained this morning, she hadn't a clue how to get the photos from the drive to the computer and had to wait until her daughter arrived yesterday to get them off.  She noticed that I have lots of yellow plums going to waste on the bushes halfway down the garden so took enough to fill a couple of jars to make juice.  I offered her more but there are so many this year because of the rain that I think she has lots of her own and was being polite.

Into the house for nine and I seemed to have achieved a lot in a short space of time.  I opened up the computer on the upstairs landing, did the DM Sudoku and played a few games of Free cell and at about ten thirty there was movement in the hall and my fly screen had been opened and I had an intruder.  Now I'm always concerned as to who is going to be there...it's usual for people to stay outside but I was faced with my original student from the garage and I couldn't understand why he was here.  I gave him a hug and he had come to tell me that he had passed his driving test and this was his first solo flight so to speak.  We moved into the lounge, he refused coffee but out came the licence and he proudly showed it to me.  We sat talking for a while and it's good for him...he doesn't have much change to practice his English so now that he's mobile, he could be down more often.  After about half an hour his mother phoned to tell him it was time to get back to the shop, I watched him turn round and head back to Djebel so I phoned her and said that he'd left and would be back shortly.  They'd only let him drive the old Renault....the others will come with more trust. I was really so pleased for him...it seems along time ago that I took him to England and on his  first airplane flight...and where have those years gone?.....

So I stopped for lunch after he left and then settle in with my book for a while but no sleep for me today.  It's been just as hot but my body must be getting used to the tablets...and my head hasn't felt as if it was in a vice.  We've just had another little excitement....Beyser my next door neighbour came to the door and was in a state of panic.  She was speaking Turkish but I got the word 'cleuch' which I know is 'key' but I didn't understand which key she wanted and for what.  I decided that we would have to go to Avatar's house so that she could interpret but then she pointed out that there was a cow in Star Mush garden next door and she was hoping that I had a key to the padlock...which I didn't.  Not to be deterred....I went into my workshop and came out with the bolt cutters and sliced through one of the links so that her and her daughter could go in and get the cow out.  Apparently it had got in down the bottom of the field so it was no use putting a padlock back on...cows don't forget...they'd be back tomorrow so we secured the chain with a bit of wire.  I'm so pleased that my wall is intact....I had several years if them knocking a fence down and me rebuilding.... :-/

So the garden calls again...we've had that drying wind all day and it's still keeling over the trees now but it does keep the house very cool with the upstairs doors open.  Off to Haskovo tomorrow....I need to buy some bales of potting compost so that I can takes some cuttings and I'm going to try to get the market garden to sell me a couple of the forty litre size or bigger if they have them.  The Librarian will be over early and if there's time when we hit Kardjali on the way back....we'll stop off at the pool.  Pools close down in September so we've not got many weeks left.  LN...Garden and then tablet time...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 18, 2017, 5:01pm; Reply: 19
Friday 18th August

It's been a good and exciting day.  I shopped and bought things that I didn't set out to buy but hey...it's nearly Christmas.

I caught the sun this morning as I had my coffee on the terrace, I mended the hose pipe where I had had to abandon it last night because two of the hoses came away form the connectors.  Fortunately I had some plumbing tape so it didn't take long to fix and then I finished the watering that I hadn't managed last night.  I don't think it did much good though...it was a hard day for the garden yesterday.  I sat and restrung the Why Why Bird that I'd brought back from the UK last time.  It had been hanging in the conservatory for the last twenty five years and was a great talking point within the family....'Why is it called that?'...Well why not!!'.

Watering the grave garden I noticed movement in Star Mush garden...one was back...the grey one that was eyeing it up yesterday.  I shouted at it and it stood looking at me...but it went back to munching and ignored me.  I was washed and dress in good time and the Librarian appeared at just before ten and we set off for Haskovo down the back lane.  I stopped off at Haciber's and told her that there were cows in Star Mush garden....she's local and has phone numbers so could sort out the farmer, not that I think he's really worried...the cows look half starved and there's very little for them to go at.  

I was only intending to buy potting compost so that I can get a few newbies started but it didn't stop there.  I did buy one hundred and twenty litres of the objective but homed in on solar garden lamps and managed to put twelve in the trolley.  I wandered over to the carpet section and noticed that two that I'd seen on my last visit were still on display so they were put on the trolley, saw one more that looked as if it might go in the house and that went into the trolley again.  I paid for the trolley load and then came the fun...getting them in the Beast.  They ended up wedged the whole length of the Beast and the one end was pivoting precariously over the gear stick but fortunately being an automatic...once selected there was very little else to do.  Quick stop off at Kaufland and Lidl and home for four.  The Librarian offered to help but I managed to get everything in and I was sitting down by five.  One more visitor tonight...Beyser came into the garden speaking to me in Turkish....she  knew what she wanted I hadn't got a clue but she eventually settled on the yellow plum tree and she produced a bag so had obviously come prepared.  

The sunset is as good as the sunrise was this morning...and now decisions will have to be made.....Where to put the carpets....LN....Decisions can wait...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 19, 2017, 5:39pm; Reply: 20
Saturday 19th August

Early to bed last night and straight through until six thirty....fantastic.  Early breakfast and the last tablet has now been taken...the swelling has gone down and most of the redness has disappeared....back to normal thank goodness.  I mended the hose pipe yet again...it collapsed on me last night and gave up the ghost so it was put top of today's list.  Fixed in quick sticks so the rest was watered.  Down to the bread van and there were a few new faces not seen no far this year.  It was hugs all round...it was good to see them again.  I had a surprise telephone call from my Cinderella back from Germany.  She'd taken my advice and come down from Sofia on the bus and said how good she found it, relaxing and quick.  She also mentioned that the wedding is in two weeks time more or less and I've offered to take her to Asenovgrad to get a wedding dress.....leaving it late again... ;)

This morning was taken up with collecting seeds from the plants that have gone over...their short season finished.  Some  like the zinnias were gathered from deadheading and I've stripped them and put them into ice cream containers...the hollyhocks will be going in to pots and hopefully will germinate and planted out before winter.  I've got snapdragons, tobacco and big white daisies  seeds ready for next year....forward planning or what.  Watching Monty Don tonight....I've got to get a wiggle on.

As for the rest of the afternoon I took to the sofa with my book.  It was well up in the thirties and too hot even for pottering. At five this afternoon there was a commotion outside, I went out and there is my Avatar sitting on Star Mush well looking sweaty and puffed out.  Beyser was closing the gate and they'd obviously been chasing cows...I think my Avatar was doing the chasing and Beyser was directing operations....quite normal.  The two of them are worried about the things that are growing in there...If you plant a garden up and expect it to be up and running if you spend ten weeks away from it....I rest my case.  The cows are obviously getting in down the bottom and fix the fence ...once they've been it they remember where they got in and they'll always come back to the same place.  

So after the excitement they followed me back into the garden and they were down for the wild plums and took a bag each more or less.  I don't mind...it saves them going to waste and we were joined by Avatar's daughter.  The lavender drew their attention and I delved into my bucket in the bedroom and gave them some and Beyser noticed the hollyhock seed pods from this morning so I ended up fetching her and envelope so that she could take some home.  Off they went and I made a lavender bag and sewed it on the machine for Avatar's daughter I'll deliver it later.....

There's been a concerted effort on the watering this afternoon....I've moved the hose round to the different sections and left it to do it's own thing....much less work.  Jacket potato for supper tonight with lashings of butter and cheese.  Nothing so far on the agenda tomorrow...I'll see how the mood takes me...it might be a pool if it's hot tomorrow.  LN..Tele and bed...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 20, 2017, 5:34pm; Reply: 21
Sunday 20th August

It's been a remarkably quiet day...there was not much happening this morning....it was another beautiful sunrise and it set the tone for the rest of the day,   Hot, hot, hot.  I'd stayed up late last night watching the Alan Bennet play about the lady and the van....it's the second time I've seen it but a lovely film/play.

I was out in the garden at about seven thirty with coffee and enjoyed the start of day.  It was so peaceful, the tractors ferrying the cow manure to the bottom fields seemed to be on a day off...the lads were sleeping in.  The bread van came and went...I'd got enough to last until tomorrow and I pottered until the sun really got some strength in it and then I came in.  I'd dug up an abelia yesterday that had nestled under the wall under the linden tree but it had really struggled this year.  It's been outside for the last couple of years but I'm thinking it's on the borderline of whether it likes the cold or not so I put it in a bucket of water to give it a real drink and not it's in a very big bucket and we'll see how it goes from there on.  I'll bring it in to winter in the little house with its sister plant.  They are the same but different varieties and the other one is doing really well.  Fingers crossed.  I trimmed up the rampant honeysuckle avoiding the shoots that were coming into their second flowering and intended taking cuttings but they are so easy to root in water so that can wait,

Today I intended to take more cuttings from the plants that I want more of but it was too hot to be out there.  I dug out the plant pots and the compost but the two never got together...instead I settled down on the sofa and finished my book while attacking a bacon sandwich...and that was breakfast.  I was surprised by a phone call from Princess with her latest news and made one phone call to the UK and they phoned me back.  That was another hour with the temperature getting hotter....definitely a day for indoors.  I was on the PC and I heard another rumpus from outside and yes....you've guessed it...Beyser was chasing cows from next doors garden.  This afternoon it was the athletics from Birmingham.  Some had obviously kept their form from the Worlds....others had gone off the boil but at least Sir Mo left on a high winning his three thousand meters.  

So now it's out with the hose again.  I'd soaked a few flower beds this morning but the water appears to have drained away so I'm up for the second shift.  I think I shall be starting the rain dance any day now but it will definitely be clothed.  My neighbours might only be sheep and cows but don't want to start a stampede... :-/  No supper for me...I've demolished a pack of salted peanuts and they should keep me going until tomorrow morning.  Garden and 'Far from the Maddening Crowd ' tonight....sounds like me on my hillside.  LN..Another blank canvas tomorrow....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 21, 2017, 5:38pm; Reply: 22
Monday 21st August

My rain dance worked but it didn't take off until three this afternoon.  The sun was slow to come up but I was greeted by a lovely red laden sky that changed as the sun came up behind it.  It didn't even show through until eight thirty more or less...so much so that I'd been out with the hose pipe and the spreader head and saturated most of the larger beds.  I came in for more coffee and decided to cook breakfast while the hose pipe was doing its own thing and settled down to two bacon and brown sauce sandwiches carrying on with my book...the second in the series.

I didn't move very far from the sofa for the rest of the day.  The temperature had gone up somewhat and I carried on with the book and as usual the eyes went southwards and I was on another plane for a couple of hours or so.  I went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water, went back to the book and it was about this time that there were rumbles of thunder rattling around.  I went out and grabbed the tools that were lying a round and put them in the little house, I got the hose with the jet nozzle on it and washed the windows down.  I'd looked at them with a view to cleaning them this morning...I'm glad I hadn't bothered.  I checked out the weather reports earlier in the day and there was a sixty percent threat of rain...and it proved correct.  At three this afternoon it started...very gently and I thought it wouldn't do much to the garden but then it came down and the gutters started overflowing...music to my ears.

I settled for an afternoon on the sofa, two bowls of ice-cream and having a few conversations on Messenger...it's been a very leisurely day.  The clouds are rising from the mountains and now the sky is all over grey not like the turbulent cloud formations that we've had during the day.  Eggheads has finished and now down to the kitchen to be creative with a once frozen steak.  LN...Let's see what I can come up with...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 22, 2017, 6:19pm; Reply: 23
Tuesday 22nd August

So my rain dance was so successful that it was still raining this morning.  I did my walk of the garden in the rain with t-shirt and summer weight trousers on and it reminded me of when my step daughter told me that she had won the Miss Wet T-Shirt competition when she was sixteen and it brought a smile to my face.  There is no way that I would be entering any competition and I went back into the house and dried off doing my DM Sudoku and attending to my emails and FB stuff.  I didn't realise how cold it was until I was sitting in front of the computer...it was a chilly morning.

I made another coffee, got washed and dressed in warmer clothing and put the washing into the machine.  I had a bonfire emptying out the container so that it had a chance of burning and got everything started.  It was reluctant but eventually got there.  The washing had finished by this time so it was out on the line and by now the sun was breaking through and the sky with very light cloud.  So what else did I do?  Firstly I fried off some tomatoes and had them on toast and threw out the ones that were not going to make it.  The steak that I took out for last night and didn't do anything with it was cubed up ready to make a beef curry for supper.  I took some cuttings of the hypericom, some more from the laurel and more from the honeysuckle.  They're in the little house  so all I need to do is remember to water them.  I took some baby petunias from the big container on the terrace and potted up the  hanging basket again.  The previous residents had died on me...too wet then too dry.

I took to the sofa this afternoon with the book and managed to stay awake....honestly.  At four thirty I made the curry and put it in the casserole to cook and at five thirty boiled up the rice and then put that in the oven to finish.  I decided at six to turn off the cooker with a view to serving up supper at six thirty but the best laid plans.....Gouldjan arrived with her nephew and her wedding invitation for me, tomatoes for the kitchen but she needed to go on my internet to send out her wedding invitations to those living far and wide.  I signed out of my Facebook hoping I could remember the password to get in and she got on and forty minutes later she was still tapping away.  I turned the oven off and then decided to turn it on again and they left at eight thirty.  I've just eaten my curry....it was delicious but could have been a little warmer but hey....it was good to see them.

So tomorrow we're taking the Librarian's computer back to the shop since it's playing up again but this time Gouldjan is coming along as translator so that the dragon in the shop won't be able to shout at us like she did last time.  They don't like problems or things that don't work.  So now I have to tidy the kitchen, try and find the password for my FB, put the washing away and then relax for the evening.  Lovely watching the boys bringing in the sheep tonight and as for the dog...not really necessary...they seemed to manage well without.  LN....Boots blacked by nine thirty tomorrow....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 23, 2017, 4:28pm; Reply: 24
Wednesday 23rd August

So it was a five thirty stars...it was light on and read until there was some light outside and then I realised that someone has stolen my mountains.  Nothing to see...move along please.  There was a hint of pink where the sun should be but that was it so I was back to the book and waited for something to happen.  I had to make it happen... I decided to get the little computer sorted guessing that the Librarian's laptop would be heading into Sofia for repair and set up a guest ID to make it easier for the Librarian.It was a bit of nuisance because I had to try to remember my Google password and that was going to be a difficult one but it was sorted.  I got washed and dressed putting on a warm sweater...it was a cool morning.  

I went down to the kitchen and cleared the kitchen from last night...the overnight kitchen fairies had not been in... ;)  As I was finishing off, there was a greeting from outside and my Cinderella who had only left me last night was back to finish off her wedding invitations using my internet....Love her....The original plan to phone her when the Librarian and myself were heading towards Djebel were shelved....she'd made contact with the school she used to work at and the documentation that she had to sign wasn't ready so she'd walked it up to mine instead.  The Librarian arrived and I made drinks for all of us and Cinderella said that she would be about ten minutes.  Twenty minutes later I told her that she was now into a Bulgarian ten minutes so she jumped to and was down and ready to leave for Kardjali.  We all had a little giggle, got into the car and down the lane for town.  First stop was the computer shop, Cinderella translated the terms and conditions of the guarantee and it said that in case of complaint the customer could decided it they wanted a repair or replacement.  The lady in the repair centre advised us that this didn't apply to Bulgaria, that the computer had to go back at least four times and the service centre would made the decision.  This is Bulgaria... :-/

We went for coffees, Cinderella set off to get her work done and the Librarian and myself went for a pizza before we meandered around the shop.  I bought several packs of buttons for peanuts from my cheapy shop and a couple of blouses again for peanuts.  Back top the Beast, over to Lidl for just a few items and then up the back road and home.  We got my little computer fired up and I took the Librarian through the keyboard and hopefully she has managed to get her settings in.  Off she set, I settled in to my book on the sofa and come up now to do my blog.  The third book in the Kentucky trilogy is no more.

It's been a good day today...iI tried to rain as we arrived home but it blew over pretty quickly and it's fine but there are clouds and not much of a sunset heading our way.   Out tomorrow and all will be revealed....I'll be wearing jeans for floor crawling.  LN...I'll update you tomorrow...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 23, 2017, 4:56pm; Reply: 25
I lied to you

We have a sunset..... ;) ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 24, 2017, 3:46pm; Reply: 26
Thursday 24th August

Silly night last night...I missed supper because I was too lazy I think and settled for roasted peanuts so at four this morning I was either hungry of suffering the fat content of the nuts.  I read for a while and managed to settle down again waking up at seven thirty....so caught up.The sun was up already but as I looked out of the window the finches were breakfasting on the sunflower seeds so I grabbed the camera, opened the fly screen and managed to get a few pickies.  I made a couple of ham sandwiches, more coffee and then settled down to check emails and FB messages.

Mrs D of S was expected between nine thirty and ten and we were off for the day to pay a visit to friends a good few kilometres away.  I had a shower and washed my hair and was ready with boots blacked by nine.  Off we set clutching the directions...neither of us had been before and I was not in the driving seat today.  We took the back lane and Mrs D of S was surprised how good the back lane was having risked life and limb for the short cut.  On the way down I spotted a secluded natural well and decided that on the way back I would take some photos and it was well worth the stop off.  A lovely day spent with a lovely family and two babies with only two weeks between their birthdays playing and getting to know each other.  It was rounded off with a superb home made cake and we were on our way by one fifteen today.  As suggested we stopped off at the picture spot and there were a few other gems hidden that weren't obvious from the road.  We headed back to Djebel and stopped for coffee while the little one had an ice-cream.  A visit to the supermarket for chicken wings and I was home for three thirty more or less.

My neighbour has arrived back from Turkey to see what damage the cows have done to her garden.  The tomatoes and peppers are no more and the beans are now picked and she's shelling them like mad before the cows get back in again.  She's got potatoes to dig up, apparently the cows didn't manage that but she was disappointed I think that all the work was in vane.  It's all dependent on the fences...I had years of mending, hammering and nailing while they popped up the next day a little lower down.  The wall is the best thing I've done.

Chicken wings have gone in with potatoes and onions and are ready.  No way do I want a four start tonight.  It's turned into a beautiful day and it looks like we're going to have another magnificent sunset.  It's magic here.  Tomorrow I'm shopping with Cinderella in a town I've not shopped in before.  There's supposed to be a superb market so we could be in for some fun except that we're really going for a wedding dress and this town is supposed to be the 'centre' for them.  LN...I'll let you know...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 24, 2017, 3:51pm; Reply: 27
And there's more
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 25, 2017, 6:45pm; Reply: 28
Friday 25th August

What a night....I sat watching tv last night and I fell asleep in front of the computer and there must have been one hungry something on the landing...I got bitten to buggery and was I itching when I got into bed.  They are now very proud, very red and I'm about to take a antihistamine tablet just in case they start with a vengeance later,

Got my bonfire going early and washed and dressed and in the Beast by eight twenty.  Today I was offering support to Gyuldjan, my Cinderella...we were about to trudge round the wedding dress shops in Asenovgrad, the wedding dress capital of Bulgaria more or less so we were going for an early start.  I headed down to the bus stop in her village which has always been the pick-up spot, she wasn't waiting but two seconds later she appeared in her little black rubber shoes, changed into her out on the town shoes and the black ones were dropped into her father's lorry,,,,hence my nickname of Cinderella.

We were intending to stop off for a coffee on the way but we were keeping good time so we saved it until we got there.  I'd never been before and parked up...I was normally on my way to Sofia and through it in a flash but eventually after a little to-ing and fro-ing I found a very good...free parking spot on the edge of the park....Sorted.  We found a restaurant and had out coffee and then started on the shopping.  The first question was 'When are you getting married' and when she told them there was a little  'Good luck' but we persevered.  I found that most of the manageresses knew how to talk and of course...were very persuasive...too persuasive.  She was poured into several and on offer was that any alterations could be done within the house so what do you really want.  In the third shop I fell in love with the staircase and took photos to see if it's viable. In the fifth shop a red haired lady managed to show us something that rose quickly to number one in the charts so we decided to go for lunch and she had a serious think about it.  So back to the same shop, she discussed the alterations and additions, it was paid for, we went back and found the car and we sat in the park awaiting the phone call to say that it was ready for collection.  The phone call came, most of the roads in the town are being dug up but I managed to find my way to the street and parked right opposite.  Another fitting and it sat very well on the frame, parcelled up and we were on our way.  I filled up with fuel which came with free coffee and tea, we sat in the sun at the garage and then headed home.

There was a quick stop off at Lidl in Kardjali and I dropped her off at eight fifteen....almost twelve hours of hard labour today but well worth it.  Tomorrow she had more use of my computer...more invitations to go out and then we're delivering some to the villages.  LN....`I'm caught up on the treadmill....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 26, 2017, 7:00pm; Reply: 29
Saturday 26th August

Busy old day.  It started off with what I thought could turn into a catastrophe ...but it didn't.  I fell asleep last night playing Soda Candy Crush and the battery ran down on the Kindle and this morning when I started to recharge it only half of the screen for the program loaded.  Having struggled my way through to level three hundred and something I had visions of having to start again but thankfully this afternoon when it was completely charged...it all came back to as it should be.  I'm one happy bunny.

So it started off well.  I sat on the terrace with my coffee watching and listening to the woodpecker knocking seven bells out of one of the plum trees on the perimeter.  I only caught glimpses of him and no way could I have sifted him out with the camera.  Eventually I walked the rest of the garden, noticed that one of the cosmos has put on three magnificent flowers and I thought they were all no goers.  I'll wait for the rest.  I was just heading into he little house to water the cuttings when Star Mush's daughter asked me if there was a gate in my wall.  I didn't really understand why but apparently she'd been down the bottom of her garden, secured the borders with horrible spiky stuff and couldn't get back in...or down the lane where she'd blocked it off on her last visit.  Brains egh.  I told her she was quite welcome to climb my wall if she was able and she managed it, she spied the rest of the wild plums growing in the garden and made a beeline for them so I provided a bag for her and off she toddled clutching it to her blue overall.

Gyuldjan appeared after I phone to remind her that she should have been here two hours ago to send out the rest of the invitations,  They are all done now.  I ended up clearing the downstairs bedroom, hovering and washing the floor over and put down the new winter carpet that I bought the other day.  It fitted a treat and looks good and now only one more to go but I'm unsure which room it's heading for.  Gyuldjan left at just after three and I was in the car and off to the Librarians to get the computer up and running.  She'd run into one or two issues and mobile phones and email addresses had changed and FB doesn't like that.  Anyway all sorted now and we had supper at the restaurant in her village,,,no exactly haute dining but very satisfying when you have a hunger and a thirst.  

Hoping for a quieter day tomorrow...it's going to be a potter day and if the weather is good maybe a bikini and terrace day.  That's the beauty of my garden...no prying eyes.  No pickies tonight...but I'll be out and about tomorrow....LN...Early start for the Head banger...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 27, 2017, 5:21pm; Reply: 30
Sunday 27th August

And my day of rest...well it was supposed to be but I stripped my bed down, washed everything from mine and all the sheets and duvet covers from my downstairs bedroom.  The machine does it very quickly though and it was out and blowing in what turned out to be a very stiff breeze with everything flying including things off the line.  All was safely gathered in around mid afternoon and I've just made up the bed and put on the insectocutor just in case anything fancies a nibble tonight.

Breakfast was bacon and egg and I'd finished it before the bread van turned up and not many people were out there today.  It looked like they were sleeping in too.  I downloaded more books on to the Kindle and hit a sticky patch with the little one...there wasn't enough battery in it to keep it activated on the computer and so I couldn't load up the books to read outside.  Never mine...it's charged now and I'll do it later.  The big one's OK but you can't read it in sunlight.  

True to my word I got out the bikini and was out in the sun on the bench on my bedroom terrace but it didn't last long.  It was just too hot and once that wind got up. I knew it was doing damage though I wouldn't have felt it.  I took my Sudoku book out with me and suddenly the wind caught it and that went flying so put a stop to that activity and after another half hour or so I came in, settled on the sofa in the hallway and got my head down.  It was a much better plan.

No supper for me tonight...it seems like my breakfast is still lingering.  I night get something later.  The wind has dropped and it's a beautiful still night, crescent moon is up and the sun's just got down.  What more could you want.  Tomorrow I think I'm up to something that involves a wedding and eventually a pool if the weather stays good.  I think my bride wants to get a bit of colour on before the big day.  Her husband is driving down from Germany and should by now be going through Serbia.  Another day more or less and he should be here with the car to get the rest of the plan for the weekend wedding into action.  My work is virtually complete except that I shall be taking photographs on the big day and have gained myself a place on the family table.  Probably means I get my cake first.  I'll await phone calls to tell me the action plan for tomorrow.  LN...Better go and put the phone on charge...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 28, 2017, 5:00pm; Reply: 31
Monday 28th August

What a night....I think that electrocutor is a mistake...things were throwing themselves at the fly screen so I had to shut the door and at three this morning there was a fly that just couldn't find the blasted thing.  I'm back to spraying about an hour before I go to bed...that should sort things out.  Seven start and I was waiting for a phone call to see how the day was going to pan out which came at twelve lunchtime.  I was dressed, breakfasted by nine, I took cuttings of forsythia and hypericom and generally sorted out the little house workshop so that it still remains tidy despite the pots.  As I said the call came at twelve...Gyludjan had finished her work in Djebel and I was picking her up and we were off to Kardjali so that she could get more documents completed and stamped by the Notary.

I occupied myself while she got on with her stuff.  I headed down to the Monday cheapy shop and meandered through the very cheap stuff and came out with some goodies.  I found a fitted purple jacket that will be perfect with jeans, a couple of t-shirts and a lovely little t-shirt for Mrs D of S's little one.  I like the slogan on the front and I'm sure father will approve.  Even I was amazed at the checkpoint...I paid one lev fifty for the lot and translated that's sixty five pence.  We met up again at the Beast and off we set for the swimming pool.  I'd packed an extra towel fortunately ....Cinderella had forgotten hers but remembered her bikini.  The pool lived up to expectations...very few people. spare sunbeds and umbrella.  I was straight way in the pool and swam for about half an hour without many breaks in between.  It appears I'm getting fitter ... ;)  Eventually Gyuldjan managed to get in despite sitting on the edge for about five minutes tying to acclimatise herself....no way....in or out.  I dried off and enjoyed my rest and relaxation but was back in for a second bout for about the same length of time.  

We packed up around five, saw a squirrel on the road but couldn't manage to get the camera out in time so we headed for Lidl, home for six thirty and there was a dog in my garden that I haven't seen before.  I've just had a visit from my Avatar with a photo that her sister has asked me to make larger and frame for her.   Apparently there were four dogs roaming while I was out...the one I saw has a bad paw...I sent him out of the garden but a minute later he was back in so I sent him out again.  I do like dogs but it's the responsibility of having one.... :-/   Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far....I've still to do the Sunday Daily Mail Sudoku....that could be my challenge after I done and delivered the photo.  Lovely sunset...beautiful day.  LN...The Photographic Studio is up and running...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 29, 2017, 6:22pm; Reply: 32
Tuesday 29th August

It was a pretty warm night last night so I opened the door to the balcony and lay on top of the duvet with just a sheet covering me but seemed to spend the rest of the night trying to keep warm.  By the time I woke up sufficiently to get under the duvet and warm up again it was five this morning so more or less time to get up.  I shan't make the same mistake tonight...doh.  First job today was to get the photographic studio into action and get my Avatar's photo sorted.  It was a long narrow photo so I chopped off the legs from my copy, enlarged it and got it into a decent size frame.   All delivered by eight thirty and job well done.  It was a picture of my Avatar's sister and their father and there were almost tears shed..

I was pegging last night's washing out at seven and got another load in the machine.  I walked the garden and noticed that the dogs had obviously been in the burning bin leaving bits of plastic lying around.  The lid was off and the huge stone that was holding it in place was in the bin...big dogs.  I went back to the house and got the rest of the rubbish that needed burning, cleared up the debris and got it going again and checking later there's nothing left but black ash....have a try at that.  The second load of washing was hung on the line and not ten minutes later there were a few spots of rain but nothing too drastic so I left it out.  After about an hour I checked again and brought it in, the sky was looking particularly black over to the west and the temperature had dropped considerably.  Good timing on my part...the rain started not long afterwards, I toyed with the idea of lighting a fire but instead found my sweater out and put socks on....and it's still only August and what a change from yesterday and the pool.

It settled in for most of the afternoon and I've read for most of the day apart from my hour's siesta...still on the sofa with the door open but as soon as I came to again I closed the door and at last the house warmed up.  I'd like to know where the rest of the day has gone.  I've had troubles with my Lenovo newby and unsure whether it's developed an issue with connecting to WiFi or the security program is the issue.  I need to get to another source and try it out first before I restore factory settings.  There's not much stored on it so it shouldn't be a problem but it's a step I don't really want to take.  I've had a few phone calls to the UK about it but nothing resolved to yet.....I'll try and sort it tomorrow.  

Kitchen calls...not really thought about supper yet.  I did pull one of the steaks out of the freezer but not sure my teeth will manage it...it's not what it says on the packaging I'm sure.  I'll make a curry out of it tomorrow.  LN...Another ham sandwich is beckoning...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 30, 2017, 5:48pm; Reply: 33
Wednesday 30th August

So the sun was up this morning before I was......I spent a much better night last night under the duvet snuggled up not struggling to stay warm.  I went down to the kitchen and got a coffee and took it back upstairs, opened the door to the terrace but picked up a sweater to put on top of my pyjama top to keep out that cold wind.  I ventured out into the garden with the secateurs and chopped off some of the dead heads from the marigolds to get them to flower again.  I moved on to the roses and deadheaded those and also chopped off the zinnias to get even more seeds before the birds get them.  The sheep were out in force trying to stay out of the wind and sun and all under one tree...well that's going to work isn't it.  Just too many of them.

I had a bit of a problem with my little Lenovo yesterday as I mentioned and it was playing on my mind.  I'd been running a program to let me know if anyone was trying to get on to my network and it had tripped and thrown a spanner in the works.  I couldn't get the Lenovo to see my router despite lots of effort on my part and the frustration was beginning to show through.  I hate it when things like that happen....I'd removed a PUP yesterday and that could again have been part of the problem.  So in the end I removed the tracking program and then took the Lenovo back to factory settings and spent the next couple of hours setting it up again and working my way through passwords etc.  Anyway....all back to normal apart from downloading the tracking program but I think I'll leave that off for a while.  At one I suddenly realised that I'd missed breakfast and now it was lunch time so I made a bacon and cheese omelette finishing off with ice-cream and now supper seems very unnecessary.  I'll see how I feel later,

Toyed with the idea of laying the carpet on the landing but the first job to do is to get some casters on the bottom of the desk chair or buy a new computer chair. Instead I cleaned off the desk, got rid of the 'bits' that accumulate just because it's a flat surface and filed the paper 'bits' in a 'look here first' folder.  I've also sorted out my computer cables and connectors...since most of the cables fit the sockets of the various items...some have gone by the way.  Suddenly realised that it's gone very dark very quickly and noticed how red the sky was tonight.  It was unusual in that it was more like a band of colour without much permeating through the rest of the sky.  Anyway ...grabbed the camera and captured it so you have long shot and with a coupe of zoom.  Nothing on for tomorrow so far.  I might go into Lidl...they have an offer on for a new axe which I could really do with and a four kilogram lump hammer...a tool and a half and it should help me with some of the bigger logs that need to be chopped...unless I get a man to do it which is very likely except that my painter is plying his talents in Sofia....and good luck to him.  'Nuff' for now,  LN....Desk admiration time...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, August 31, 2017, 4:51pm; Reply: 34
Thursday 31st August

Another month very nearly gone...this one has just shot by...and then we are into September, wood ordering and preparing for winter.  So the sun was up again this morning before me...lazy bunny...and I didn't really get going until eight.  I'd made my mind up to go into Kardjali mainly to get the axe from Lidl and I headed over to my Avatar's house to see if there was anything she wanted.  As we sat in the garden I noticed that there was a sheep in Haciber's garden and she eventually explained to me that it was going to the son's girlfriend's house as a present for her family for the meat 'kurban bayram'  holiday.  My sheep farmer turned up in his big wagon and between them they wrestled the sheep into the son's car covering it with a blanket.  Haciber was helping to shove but I'm not sure that she did much good but the thought was there.  Two more of the ladies arrived in the garden so I said my fond farewells to head to the grand metropolis but was it busy down the back lane.  It was a bit like the M25 on a Bank Holiday Friday.....but with the traffic going in opposite directions.

I stopped off and managed to get my axe but also managed to spend another forty leva on I know not what....that's Lidl for you.  I moved on to the leva shop and picked up more buckets and rubbish bins that I'm going to use for potting up my cuttings which is my task for tomorrow should I choose to accept it.  I carried on to my other cheapy shop in the centre of town and they'd got three pairs of fluffy socks for one leva so I stocked up for winter already.  I also sifted through some cards that were sitting on a shelf and selected eight for various occasions and they refused to take any money for them and told me they were a present.  I joke and asked if the police were outside and they were trying to trap me and we all laughed once they got the joke.  Sometimes things get lost in translation. On to Kaufland and picked up another seventy pounds of items with four large tins of Nescafe making up most of the bill but as for the rest...not really sure.  

Back home via the lane and again there was a little congestion...I unpacked the shopping, settled in to see my messages on my phone and Haciber was at the door with a plate of fluffy pancakes.  I thought that there were only a couple for me but I was wrong...two from Haciber, the same from my Avatar and yet another two from Beyser.  That was lunch sorted and tomorrow I have my breakfast at the ready.  I put supper in the oven at five...the steak was turned into a curry and everything was ready for six thirty.  Absolutely delicious followed by an ice-cream and now I'm stuffed.  Gardening tomorrow...potting up cuttings and I've collected the seeds from clematis that need to be put in.  It's been a good day...no pickies...but I promise to do better tomorrow.  LN....And the sun's gone down....LN
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