Wednesday 1st July

Into the new month and le't see what joys this will bring.  Thankfully I am feeling better today and the dreaded lurgy seems to be lifting.  It's early yet.  I'm waiting for Mrs Kitty to return to her three new kittens born on Monday.  She decided to take time out from the little beauties but is already getting chased by the ginger tom so decided that feeding and hiding in her'nest' is a much better option.  She has safely returned.

More to follow later...I'm just going to unload the wood from the beast and see what I fancy doing for the rest of the day.  Well I unloaded it and decided that I was going to do nothing for the rest of the day.  The thunder started to roll and since the four dogs have a tendency to freak and Suzi was out playing for the day, I dog sat in the house.

Wednesday continued....

Now I have the photos from Suzi's camera that I promised at the end of last month.  It took a while to get them off...as I said the health on the hill has not been in top form but here we go.

The first few are of the evening bash in aid of the local party due to go for elections this month.  About 150 women gathered at the local school all paid for by the candidate.  Music, dancing and food and only the two Anglachankers present, yes Suzi and myself and we seem to get invited now as a matter of course.

Wednesday continued yet again....

These are the photos of my hospital visit again promised and only just fulfulled.  Pepe is the translator, Suzi the photographer and me.....I'm only the patient but the specialists at least found it funny that it took three of us.  Pepe to translate into a mixture of Bulgarian and Greek to Suzi who converted it to English.  I'm just confused by the whole thing and feel like....well you can guess how I felt.

Thursday 2nd July

I was going into Kardjali today but instead ended up in Dzebel at my garage.  I had a problem with the Plugs and eventually we sorted it out speaking in Spanish of all things.  Just keep trying all the languages you know and there has to be one means of communication.  It turned out that he had worked there about four years ago and I dread to think how long it has been since I was using it regularly but we remembered the 'palabras' (words) and we got there in the end.

Walking along the main street on my way to the chemist for some more tablets to clear this 'bugly' I met my local KMET or village representative.  I had only met him once before when I had to go and get my documents for my electricity but he recognised me, I looked at him and eventually put him into place.  We tried to talk to each other but he didn't speak any English at all and my Bulgarian seemed to become more restricted the harder I tried.  Eventually he took me by the hand and we went into his office and 'dug out' a lady with limited English but I now have an appointment with both of them at 10.00 tomorrow morning.  It all started when I tried to ask him if he knew the address of my house in Dushinkovo so that I would be able to put in on my mail.  Not like England....what exactly is my postal address??  Here if it's not written exactly you don't get it.  They don't mess around.  Tomorrow all will be revealed. ;)

And then yes, I drove home in a thunderstorm.  It's cleared now but the joke is wearing a bit thin especially when you are all enjoying a heat wave and you shouldn't be because it is Wimbledon.

Early night for me.  I haven't had an afternoon nap today so early to bed, etc. and head into a good book before I rest my weary head and the rest of me.  Lecka Nosht. :)

Friday 3rd July

I was there at the appointed hour, in the right place and the right time. When I asked the security guard in my Bulgarian replied in English that it was OK for me to go the office.  

I went to the office and was informed in a mixture of German and Bulgarian that the KMET wouldn't be there for another 25 minutes.  So I went for a coffee.  On my way back the security guard was standing taking the sun outside of the building and I jokingly said that in England, ten o'clock is ten o'clock and he asked me if I was on English time.  He obviously didn't get my meaning first time round and then I said it again and added that in Bulgaria ten o'clock might me ten thirty, two thirty or maybe not even that day.  The he got the joke.

The KMET did arrive at the newly arranged time and then said that he had got to go to Kardjali and could we make a new appointment.  I said that it was not that important and for him to enjoy his day.  I decided that it would be better to leave my card with my telephone numbers on in his office in Dushinkovo and we could take it from there.  It was too hot to get bogged down in detail.

From there I went to the house and did a bit more measuring and then decided that it was too hot in my present state of health to get anymore sun so went back to the caravan and read my book until I felt it was time for an afternoon nap.

Just finished supper, washed up, about to have a shower and wash my hair and an early nght for me again.  These new tablets seem to knock me out.

Saturday 4th July

And yet another thunderstorm so the hoover had to be put away for another day.  We switched the electrics off completely but suddenly there was a loud bang and the light switch hummed and it wasn't a tune that we recognised!!  It hailed so much that we couldn't see the Greek mountains at all and various pieces of garden furniture found themselves relocated.  They have now been returned to their alloted positions.

There is a buzz in the village.  It is the local elections tomorrow and there is excitement in the camp.  It is reported that there are going to be several coachloads of 'out of towners' who are coming to put their crosses in the appropriate boxes.  I think it will be good to be down there with a camera to snap the happy scene.

The air has cleared.  The temperature has dropped and let's hope for a better day tomorrow, weatherwise.

HI,

We have just read your blog, just had an indian in the garden. not a real one.

Hope you feel better soon.  Lecka Nosht


Angela

Sunday 5th July

Today I woke up and felt better than I have for the last few days. I think this bugly has at last decided to move on and about time to.

Election day.  The local KMET's office was the designated polling station and we were invited in to have a look at how it was done.  People had come from all around including Turkey.  Not so very long ago, this group of Bulgarian / Turkish or Turkish / Bulgarians were not recognised and had to use Bulgarian names.  They have only just got back their rights and their party is to signify this fact.  They come to vote so that they have a representative in government to maintain their rights.  

It was very somber in the hall with some very serious official faces looking back at us.  There was another room separated by a curtain where the votes were cast.  Unfortunately there was a worry that some of the older people wouldn't understand the procedure and there were a few spoilt papers so we hear.  We ended up at the local cafe and watched the procedings from there.  The locals have come a long way in a short space of time.

This afternoon I decided that I would get my tools out and cut the pieces for the table that I'm making for the kitchen that I shall have one day soon.   It's all done but looks nothing like those you buy ready to assemble from B & Q.  No instructions and my woodworking skills were learned a long time ago so I'm dredging the memory banks.  I did purchase one of the local hammer/axes and today learnt how to use it.  Felt quite proud of myself and now I have an old barrel that the locals used to salt meat, etc and it is now ready to have a circular wooden top.  It is going to be a hall table, that's when I have a hall.  Well it's as well to be prepared for that eventful day.

No thunderstorms today.....yet....and it looks like being a lovely night just to sit and watch the sun go down.  And it was.  The moon is full, golden with a hint of peach in a black velvet sky.

Monday 6th July

Today was a day for documents.  Documents here are so complicated that even the locals do not know their way through the system.  Today's task if I chose to accept it was to pay the local tax on my car.  I had already paid the Ecotax when it was registered and I thought it could be done in Kirkovo but no it had to be carried out in Kardjali.  So off I go down to the motel to meet Manev who was going to take me through the different offices that we needed to go to and on the way I teach him English and he teaches me Bulgarian.  It passes the time on the way to Kardjali.  So when we get there we go to one office that calculates the tax and I pay over about 25BGN which is far less that I was lead to believe and I'm feeling OK. Manev then decides that I need a 'residencia' so that the car can be registered to me in Dushinkovo and not to the company but this proves more difficult that enough.  We make our way to the Post Bank and I hand over the tax while they take copies of what seems to be every document that I possess.  The passport is not deemed to be adequate and the only thing that I have with a picture and my full name is my....wait for it.....my Brighton bus pass and hey it did the job.

Unfortunately I still have to go back on Wednesday to complete this part of the task.  This is Bulgaria for you.  Just when you think you are almost there...hey presto.....there is another tax to pay.  

I got back to the ranch to see Suzi finishing painting the bathroom, we've just eaten, I'm on the Ariana beer tonight and I'm hoping that I sleep better than last night.  I went to bed at about 10.30 and at 11.00 I was lying there so decided to get my head into a book and still there at approximately 2.00 this morning.  Let's just hope for a better night.

Guess what...just for a change it thundered, lightened and rained.....just for a change......

Glad you're feeling a little better EP  :)

Also good to see more regular updates too! Any news on the builders being set free by their wives yet to start on the house?

M xxx

Tuesday 7th July

No such luck Mickey B.  They are firmly chained to the apron strings.  The tall builder always waves to me when I drive down the lane and sometimes I'm sure I see the words 'Help' and 'Sorry' over his head in a speech bubble. :-/  The little builder just smiles.  Two weeks time has been muted so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

It has been a beautiful day today but I think frustration is coming to the surface.  I just want to be getting on with things and I would go to UK for a visit but I'm still not supposed to fly and sod's law dictates that as soon as I venture on to a plane the workers would be available.

Oh well tomorrow I have to go and finish the registration of goodness knows what and find out how my Brighton and Hove old age pensioners bus pass help my application when the UK passport didn't.  It's a bummer out here with documents.

Just walked up to the barn and there is one of the ginger cats with....a little blue lizard in his mouth.  The tail shot off and kept wiggling but he managed to devour it all.  The sheep are just wending their way home and making a hell of a racket.  It's 8.30, still light and warm and they are stopping off at the lake for the one for the road.  Think I'll do the same but it will be from a bottle not the lake......

Wednesday 8th July

As arranged I went down to the motel this morning with the intention of taking Manev into Kardjali to get my residentia.  This was further compounded by the fact that I now had to have health insurance so I produced by European Health Insurance card and with the help of a dictionary we agreed that it was, is, might be, could possibly be, the document that could, might be, stands a good change of being the one that might be acceptable.  So a photocopy of the said document was taken to Kardjali along with the other photocopies and we'll just have to wait and see.

Since I now didn't have to make the journey, I stopped off at Ali's woodyard and got the planks for the table top and spent the afternoon sanding down the wood and now have all the bits to complete the said task.  I did slip with the saw and attempted to remove the top of my index finger but raced for the first aid kit holding the said digit in the air to stem the flow, went into the caravan, wrapped a J-cloth round it, doused it in cold water then sprayed it with antiseptic spray and found a hell of a big dressing.  It is now bandaged and it is really difficult to type with the said digit being about three times bigger than normal (I use all fingers as all good touch typists should) so tonight's entry is going to be a short one.

It's a lovely evening.  The crickets are cricketing, the frogs are making a hell of a din in the lake and there are two boys fishing, the donkey has decided to start braying early tonight and the sheep are going home or taking the shepherd back home.  As I've said before nature can be exceedingly noise up here on Suzi's hill.

Friday, 10th July

Thunder, thunder and more thunder.  Yesterday the morning was bright and I sat out and got some wood preservative on my table bits.  It was a dark shade of brown and waiting to be assembled and it is now a lighter shade of brown where the rain just rained on it.  It started at about lunchtime yesterday and cleared a little by the evening but the thunder rumbled for most of the day.  Just when you thought it had finished it started again and so phones were a 'no no' and no internet connections could be attempted hence no update.  

I went to bed at about ten thirty last night and it came back with a vengeance.  It started to pitter patter on the roof and I thought it was a nice sound to nod off to and then it came as a hail of bullets ricocheting around.  It was so noisy and at about four this morning the thunder and lightening started again and went on for about an hour.  I woke at about six, felt shattered and could not get off again.   This could be a lazy day.

Update on the 'saw' finger.  It's much better today and I'm managing to hit the right keys with it.  Only the offending joint is bandaged leaving the end useful again.

Evening update.  Yes this afternoon we had thunder, lightening and rain but now it's all quiet on the western front, 9.00 at night and a red sky but I can't see a delighted shepherd.  He's got the flock home early tonight  I think according to the noises coming out of the mosque.  It's Friday night and all's well.

I'll just make my way to the caravan, get myself a nightcap, and hope the pitter patter of raindrops fall gently on the roof tonight without any more bangings and clatterings.

Please remember.....it's supposed to be summer

Saturday, 11th July

And this morning.............the Greek mountains look like they have been stolen.  We had brief discussions about how they have maybe shrunk with all the rain but they were hiding in the morning mist.  The mist was hanging in all of the valleys this morning making it look like fairy land.  Did a little bit of burning the essentials and then it started to rain.  Not heavily but determined to drench everything and my wood seems to be getting even a paler shade of brown.  

It's not a day for doing much.  The rain didn't last long and the sun came out with a vengeance.  Pepe phoned to say that she was working in the field on the tobacco so we gave her a wave and went back to our nothingness.  She's very industrious and some mornings starts at five or five thirty before the sun gets up.  In fact everyone who work on the tobacco is up and about but it's really hard when the sun is right up.  They work under licence on a very intensive crop.  The bottom leaves get picked, strung out and dried, and the picking is a daily process.  Pepe has two daughters, one at college and the other attends local school but part of their day is either picking the leaves or threading as this is what keeps them at college.  I couldn't see many from England threading leaves on to string to hang out to dry to secure their next term at college.  Some would be more likely to be drying themselves out from the night before. ;)

I think I shall be having to take my prescription up for some more of the tablets.  I had a brief moment of the wobbles this morning and despite threatening to have one for the shepherd last night I never did.  A little bit of a disturbed night which has given me a bit of a disturbed day.

Saturday night

And yes....a tropical storm.  Hail stones, raging winds, thunder, lightening, fushia pots blowing off their hangings, garden chairs landing in obscene postions and decking ornaments tossed on the hillside.  Was it dramatic or what!!   Half an hour later a wonderful sunset.  Where's the sense in this weather and I repeat again....it's summer for goodness sake.

Let's hope tomorrow gives us a better day.

Hello Elsa, thanks very much for sharing your Bulgarian experience,and welcoming me onto your site.Like most others,yourself included of course,cant wait for your guys to stop picking the tobacco and get on with your renovations! Is there a reason for three houses,i.e,renovate and sell on,or perhaps rental income?We wont see pics until work begins,i know,but could i ask which of them is your favourite,the one you see yourself in?My personal preference will always be the higher up the better,although i understand that could have its own problems,especially in winter.But as a non-driver, access or lack of it doesnt  really concern me,although getting materials etc delivered,might have to by helicopter,lol! I hope all runs smoothly for you,as it is the builders that Suzi used,i feel certain you will be fine,their work looks pretty good to me,and they seem pretty versatile,anyway best of luck,i shall be watching with interest.
                                                    Johnd.

Sunday 12th July

There was a ghostly sighting in the caravan last night and I just had to take a picture of it.  Martian or what!!  No it was the calor gas heater and the kettle sitting on top....see photo below....spookey.

Since the mail man can't get anymore letters through my door there has been a request that I return to England and clear the back log!!  I am making my escape on the 16th but have already booked a return ticket hopefully I shall have workers starting on or around that time.  Being an action person, there is no action and you can only plan so much in advance.  My table is now ready to assemble but it is becoming increasingly difficult to store stuff so there is no point in finishing the construction except to be of use for getting under if there should be a nuclear attack.  (It is made out of good 4 x 4 timber.)

I am also looking forward to seeing the family.  I think it is the longest I have been away from them all and Princess and company.  I'm not sure if the school holidays have started yet but I'm hoping that it has and I can sit round the pool and their house and expecting that they will have better weather than we are having at the moment.

Yes, I woke up to being shrouded in mist again and it took about two hours to burn if off.  It cleared, Eyup arrived and said that it would rain this afternoon and I that note I took myself to the caravan and started to read my book and promptly fell asleep for a couple of hours.  The book is so good!

Then I tried to print out my travel documents and the printer decided that it didn't want to know the PC so I spent another hours trying to fix it only to find out that the cable preferred to go into a direct socket not through an adapter.  Hey presto it now works so I have my travel docs and hotel reservation to hand so no last minute panics.

It hasn't rained yet but is very cloudy but it is the first day in a long while that we have not heard the distant rumble of thunder by about this time.  Let's hope that it stays that way.

Monday 13th July

Today has been designated as the day that the caravan moves to the top of the hill.  I have secured all of the contents and those that cannot be secured have been designated to the floor area.  I have emptied the loo so that there is not so much weight in the van and I think I have been allocated the job of assistant crew hand and official photographer.  The results will follow!!

It is up and resited on the top of the hill.   And when it was up it was up, and when it was down it was down and when it was only half was up.....we both panicked a bit but it sailed up gracefully and so much for Richard scratching his head the last time it was up there for the winter and saying how hard it was to get the van up there..  I really must praise Suzi in her control of both caravan and rolling 'Surf'.  She had the measure of both while I walked the course checking the inches remaining under the caravan and looking for the odd bolder.

My afternoon has been spent removing thistles from the site and choping down the very pretty but deadly bushes so that there is still a view of the lake.  I now have to get all of my stuff out and into the beast.  You never know who might appear and want to squat while I'm away for two weeks.

Tuesday 14th July

Well what an exciting day.  I spend the night with the three kittens in the house and at 5.30 this morning the light was streaming in but I decided to  get my head under the quilt and made sleep stretch until 8.10.  Now there's an improvement.  Coffee on and out on the decking to take in the view.  Not much changes but it's worth a look just in case.

Loaded my stuff into the beast and deposited it at Pepe's house in the village to keep it secure while I am away. The grandmothers came in and converstaion with them was a no-go since they only speak Turkish so it was a bit of a three or four way conversation with Pepe's daughter translating some of it into English.  One of the daughter's boyfriend is working in England and apparently in Brighton.  When he phoned I was handed the phone and he said the kebab shop is in Lewes, East Sussex and he has been given orders to send chocolates back with me.  I did try to explain that I only travel with hand luggage so it better not be a big box.

So this afternoon I had my first lesson threading tobacco ready for it to be hung out to dry.  We all sat on the floor and there is a special way to hold the treading prong and you have to line up the main rib stem of the leaves and get the double ended prong either side of the rib.  When the prong is full it gets passed onto strings and you start all over again. This is always a family thing.  The leaves get picked at about 5 in the morning and threaded each afternoon starting about 10 until when they finish.  Child labour rate is 20 stotinki for each strand threaded.  I reckoned at that rate, I earnt just over....... one BGN.  I'm glad I've retired.  Unfortunately no camera to record the happy scene.  It was supposed to be a deliver and run exercise.

Tuesday evening update

What a lovely sunset and it just had to be captured along with that old plum tree.  Shortly afterwards it was almost like a lava field, brilliant red but my camera just couldn't do it justice.  I really need to read the manual ;)

Mum, just managed to sit down for half an hour and read through your blog. You'll be pleased to hear that the sun was out today, and the pool is up and ready for swimming~ we can of course just lie by it~ we don't want to wear our selves out! I'm thinking that we have 6 weeks so we had better pace ourselves!! See you Thursday, ~Moon and back, Princess xxxxxxxxxxx ??)

Wednesday 15 th July

Well packed up everything that needs to be packed and heading off to Sofia this afternoon.  Exciting or what. ;) Thanks Princess for confirming that the pool is up and running hopefully not down the hillside....  Moon and back...me you too!!

Anglia tomorrow and my own little bed tomorrow.  Got the joys of the Holiday Inn tonight.

Update tomorrow when I've sorted the washing and hoovering.  The joys of being home are already beginning to crowd in.

Thursday 16th July

I got Suzi off her mound of mud and off we set in the MG for Sofia.  We kept to a very economical speed and were even overtaken by a Lada but because it was a blue on it didn't matter.  Brown...now that would have been a different thing.  

We found the Holiday Inn straight away.  Suzi asked if I remembered the route on previous visits but as I said, I was always in a taxi and too busy watching the meter to worry about the road.  So the ladies made it...got in the room, showered, dressed for the city and went to dine.  This was interupted somewhat by a photographer who insisted that the umbrellas on the terrace had to be facing the same direction for the photoshoot.  Apologies abounded and we were very close to getting up and arranging the others that were already in a line just for the fun of it......but we kept ourselves in check.  Steak and garlic mushrooms and then to bed.

I woke up at 6.20 and went down to the pool at 6.45.  I got changed for swimming, and yes you've probably guessed it....that photographer again.  I was now asked to sit while he managed to finish his shots so I suggested that he could have started earlier and reminded him and the pool attendents that the, POOL OPENED AT 6.30.  The attendents agreed, the photographer shot back that he started and 4.30 and I reiterated that the pool times were 6.30 and perhaps he should have started earlier still.  Good sport.  I eventually got in at 7.10, did my 30 lengths of the pool and woke up 'sleeping beauty' at about 8.30 with a cup of coffee.  She obviously enjoyed her stay and wanted to keep a few momentos which I grabbed from her and whisked her to the terrace for another coffee.  Eventually I got my courtesy bus and 10.00 foolishly leaving her with the room charge card.  I'll await the outcome.  

Now for a few shots....

Here you go

Evening update


The plane arrived on time and I got the high speed train to Brighton and used my faithful bus pass to Rottingdean.  The sun was shining and it was a very hot afternoon but guess what........it rained this evening and there was a....thunderstorm.  Perhaps it was trapped in my rucksack and escaped when I opened it to sort out the washing. ;)

Princess popped round after her day at school and we hugged as mother and daughter should.  We complemented each other on the weight we had both lost.  I've taken off almost 4 kilograms and feel so much better for it though who's to say if it was lack of food, lack of alcohol because of the tablets I was taking or just sheer willpower.  I'll settle for the tablet theory.  

Into my own bed now.  It's only 10.30 here but add on two hours time change and yes, I do feel that it's time to lay down my weary head.

Lecka nosht...tout le monde ;)

Friday 17th July

What a good night's sleep.  My own bed......but the downside I woke up at 5.30 which would be 7.30 BG time.  Two cups of coffee and I'm almost human again and I'm waiting for the doctor's receptionist to phone me for an appointment/ cancellation.  I just wanted to have an English translation of the buggly that I experienced in BG and I'm taking my BG tablet boxes along.  What a difference.  In BG I get to see someone that day.  England....'Well we have no appointments until Monday unless it's and emergency'.  Well yes it is.  I have no tablets and the head is swimming and it's not in a pool or in 'De Nile'.

My car angel is back in BG so the beast will get some love and attention while I am away.  Timing perfect for me...not so good for my angel.  Apparently that Lada that overtook us on the way to Sofia got it's own back on Suzi when he wasn't looking.  She is visiting the insurance company today. :'(  More later after my doctor's visit.

Saturday 18th July

Did not receive a phone call to go to the doctors so decided to walk there and if no appointments to book one for Monday.  So I went and stated my case and got 'Oh we don't phone patients and there's nothing left for monday!!'  Now me being without any tablets and a swimmy head was a little bit put out by this and didn't take too kindly to the tone of voice.  Now she might have been put out by the number of calls for suspected Swine flu but I hadn't got that.  'Oh read this she said and you'll just have to wait'.  This was a dislaimer where I had to convince myself that this was an emergency and state that I still wanted to see the doctor and the inference was 'be it at your peril if he decides that you weren't an emergency'.  Forgot...this is the UK.  So I wait, see the doctor, very nice chap, explained the situation, he came up with the same thing diagnosed in BG but he did reassure me that it wos viral and would probably take 2 to 3 weeks to clear and gave me the prescription.  I didn't get shouted at or chastised so he must have thought it was worth seeing me.  When I emerged, I went to reception and said that I was sorry for the confusion and they said that it was all their fault and that I should never have been told that I would get a phone call.  It makes it better for when I want to go next time.  Friends now.

Road taxed and insured the Calibra yesterday so where shall I go today and what shall I get up to.....I'll tell you later ;)

Well it wasn't much.  Went into Brighton on the bus again using my trusty free bus pass but I couldn't get over the number of people.  Everywhere was so crowded.  The weather started off very hot but degenerated into cold winds and spitting rain.  Managed to cook a half decent supper using the oven.  In BG .....no solid fuel heater in the summer......no cooker.  Missed the night...fell asleep on the settee, woke up and headed for my little bed.

Sunday 19th July

Still got this insomnia thing going on...5.30 again.  Church at 11.00 and Princess and company for lunch if I can remember how to cook the lunch thing.  Rushed into Asda for potatoes, chicken, milk and puddings and bought the basics ready to get going on the lunch which I promptly did when I got back from Church.

It was good to see Callum John again and he is almost as tall as me now.  I think that they stick him in a growbag overnight just to make sure that he catches up with me in height.  All the good intentions of dieting went to the wall with two carefully designed frozen puddings from dear old Asda and a pot of double cream.  Thank goodness for Asda!!

Monday 20th July

Still up early but not a lot of action about until 9.30.

I am now having Callum for a few days when he finishes school on Wednesday lunchtime so thank goodness that I taxed and insured the Calibra.  Today I sent off for my plastic photo driving licence giving up on demand my old paper one issued for the second time in 1976.  It was with regret :'(.  There was a certain amount of nostalgia associated with it but at least with a photo ID the BG police will have something that they understand with a picture on it.  My Brighton bus pass served the same purpose but not under close scrutiny by the BG police. ;)

Tuesday 21st July

It's amazing how quickly you fall into the routine of washing, ironing (well almost), dishwasher emptying, food shopping, cooking and cleaning.  Sad isn't it.  Last week I was living on a hillside and threading tobacco leaves ready to be hung out to dry.  This week it's bus passes, sorting out paperwork, cars, driving licences and insurance.  No TV in BG and yet here it goes on as a matter of course but nothing really changes.  I tune into East Enders and it's as if I haven't been away.  No need to catch up on storylines but redeaming programmes are 'Hotel Babylon' and 'Who do you think you are'.  It is rather sad that there was no one of interest in Michael Parkinson's background but I suppose that's about the same for most of us.  I think investigating previous lives is much more fun.....mine has a lot to answer for.   Only 10.30....the rest of the day to go so what shall I do now....decisions, decisions. ;)

A couple of conversations on Messenger this morning from two would be BG residents.  Both taking different paths at present.

Had a little tea party with Princess and a work colleague today and they were telling me about the new measures for children misbehaving in school.  We joked about how I used to administer discipline before it was considered inappropriate to do so.  Used to bash with the beat and Princess remembers it was at the top of the leg where it really hurt.  What a bad mother I was........

Now supper's already prepared and I'm just waiting for someone to come and eat it otherwise it's in the dog... :-/  lucky dog...

Wednesday 22nd July

Well I've just had news from the home front that the builders are not able to start until October.  Now this puts me in a dilema and I'm not sure how to react so I won't bother until I've thought it through but to say I'm disappointed is the very least.....

So  today I was bugged by cars again.  Was ready to jump into the Calibra with Callum J and turned the key and all that I got was.....nothing.  Battery completely flat.  So change of plan, we did not go into Lewes to see Pepe's daughters boyfriend working in a kebab shop, instead we watched television.  We did make up for it by eating out tonight in our home town and we have just got back at 10.00 and are now making preparations to take to our virtuous couches.

Tomorrow morning, Calibra willing, we are setting off at the crack of to head for Staffordshire.  Night everybody!!

Friday 24th July

Well just got back from Cannock and the Calibra behaved itself and so it should.  The battery charged itself up on the way to Staffordshire and showed willing at every firing after that.

My sister was in good spirits despite the illnes and we went out to dinner on Thursday night and yes it could only happen to me.  My meal ordered was no longer available and only three were brought to the table and I was left with just the knife and fork and serviette.  I questioned the lack of nourishment and was informed that there was no steak and ale pie left and while the other three tucked into theirs at my command I suggested that they bring me the quickest thing to cook on the menu so that I could at least have the chance to join the others in the meal.  It was Scampi and chips which was whistled to the table and so we more or less all ate together.  I was informed that the EPOS system alerted the waiter / waitress that there was no more of the said meal left but the order for three was processed and sent to the kitchen without mine.  I was told that it was human error.  So I suggested that a loaded gun was attached to the EPOS system and if he/she didn't press a button to confirm that he/she was aware of the situation that the gun went off and it saved sacking her/him.  Effective egh....

Well this morning I had a ten year old that wanted to burn some energy so we went swimming at 9.30 this morning.  I said that I hadn't got one of the membership cards since we were only visiting relatives in the area and she made me confirm that we weren't coming back again and let us in for free.  My trusty bus pass came out again to confirm my age and identity and Callum got in for free following the Cannock under 16's policy so nothing to pay.  Good in this day and age so we raced each other and timed each other and generally had fun while getting fit.

Watched my sister doing the garden this afternoon between the showers and have a few pictures to post of their garden.  They live in a cul-de-sac where every one takes a pride in their gardens and what a beautiful sight it is.  That again makes a change in this day and age but I suppose most of them are of the age where it matters.

Just driven back via the M6 Toll road, M42, M40, M25, M23 and it was murder all the way from the bottom of the M40 down to home.  Stop start, stop start all the way so no fun anymore.  Dropped CJ off at home and now ready to taking to my virtuous couch.  Lecka nosth........... I do have some photos to post that's if I haven't left my camera there which I have a feeling I have but it's too late to check at the moment. ;) Night....

Saturday 25th July

My plastic driving licence arrived this morning after my request for urgency was acknowledged....have the real thing now which saves me using my trusty bus pass in difficult situations...... ;)  The camera was in the car so let's put a few pickies on.

The long and the short of it and now I have to go put a cross on the door.  Sister's blossoming despite not a very good diagnosis looking after a germ ridden husband and a sickly niece.  I said that she should have come home with me yesterday and left them to it whereas it's not her nature / nurture to do that.  I make out it's mine to leave them to it but deepdown, and you have to really dig, we're pretty much the same... :)

Now for the pickies....

Hey Elsa P  :)

I've only just caught up with your escapades... and what good reading it makes!

I'm really sorry to hear about the builders delaying again, as I know how patiently you've been waiting, and how much you were looking forward to some progress being made! Are you sure they've not been smoking the stuff as well as picking it??

Tempted to leave the Magenta chalis and come and start it myself  :P

I went passed Cannock on Thursday afternoon on my home...would have waved and blown you a kiss if i'd have known!

lots of love xxx

Sunday 26th July

Don't you go threatening me Mikey B with the ramblings of an old man ;).  You will never leave the magenta fold until, like me you are evicted, they take their toys back and don't want you to play any more.  What a shame about you being near Cannock and me not knowing about it.  We could have had a coffee :-/.  Next time.

Most beautiful sunset in Rottingdean last night as we sat in the Coach House and watched the last stragglers on the beach or was that 'stranglers'.  Well my eyes aren't as good as they were but I'm sure I'll have an update when I get the local rag. We stopped off last night at the Black Horse for one for the road and there was live music playing.  Bluesy Rock and very good it was too.

It's funny how sunsets are a focal point for the end of any day.  Sit and watch the sun go down and unlike the Egyptians who new it would return the next day, we just hope and I'm still waiting.  It's hiding behind lots of that grey stuff this morning.

Off to Princess and company for lunch today and might even take my fur line swim costume.  Their pool can be a tad on the cool side.  Will update later with probably a few pickies..... ;)

Monday 27th July

Well the swimming pool was out of bounds.   Firstly because there were too many chemicals and since the bikini fur was only 'Faux' I imagined it being stuck to the torso as the chemical reaction took place.  Secondly the pool had developed a small leak and now the eighty year old neighbour had his own paddling pool.  On investigation, the pool had to be emptied so that one of the pipes can be replaced today.  The joys of affluence over effluence experienced on a Bulgarian hillside.

I must say though that my son in law cooks a mean Sunday roast, Princess a wonderful Cherry sponge and no bill at the end of it.  Splendid!!

I have been on this morning and changed my flight.  I've decided to twiddle my thumbs here instead of there now that the builders have been commanded to stay in the fields until the tobacco is all safely gathered in.  I have grandchildren that I can entertain and lots of things to get done here, like catching up with friends.  I'm sure that a few of my 'ladies what lunch' can be contacted and the social whirl can begin again.  Now where was my little book..... and my social calendar can begin to get updated!!  Watch this space.... ;)

Tuesday 28th July

Not good for the heart.  I phoned the doctor's surgery and got through first time...now that's a first.  Either the swine flu is subsiding or it's a temporary lull now that the hot line is available.  Why did I want to go?...My 'saw' finger has still got quite a bump and I wanted a nurse's opinion.  When I asked to see the nurse I was  told.... 'fully booked but if I wanted to, I could see a doctor'.  Now I'm not used to this.  I was wondering if I had accidently taken a flight in the night and I was back in BG but no, I am still here.  This I'm not used to.

Well my social calendar is already taking a turn for the better.  On Thursday I am out to play with Angela one of my best buddies and next week, Tim and Luey's to see the kiddiewinkles.  I might even be bringing one of the little beauties down to stay with Nanny.  Also going back for a night with the 'clan' I used to work with and it's rather nice to think that they don't mind going out with an 'oldie'.  Added to that, one of the members lives not far from Tim so I think I might even put a face to a name but my son gave me the safety warning about meeting in a public place.  Nice to know he cares but I don't know if he was just protecting the member or me. ;D

Saturday is Gay Pride parade in Brighton and I have a friend coming down for that so I might just mosey along to see what all the fuss is about and of course, there will be pictures.  

Now let's formalise everything and enter it in a paper diary................just so I don't forget anything ;)

Tuesday pm

Well the weather was so good that it had to be done.  Princess said that the pool was in action so off I went to capture the happy scene.  And here you go remembering that boys will be boys and if one is on a sunbed and the other thinks he shouldn't stay there he won't.  Callum and Jack equally matched in cunning despite there being a few years between. ;)

Wednesday 29th July

It was five thirty in the morning and I was awakened by a cocophany of sound from the garden.  The normal chirping birds and the blackbird's cheery 'keep out of my garden' song was outdone by a lot of cackling.  The magpies were at it and creating one hell of a din and then I saw why.  They were raiding a nest in the tree but a grey cat seemed to have got there first and they were bombing it.  Now I don't have a grey cat so goodness knows where that came from so I went to get my camera and all I got was the remaining magpie high in the branches.  Noisy blighters and I'm not a great fan of magpies anyway.

So what does today hold?  It's raining so the parting shot with Princess was that we would go into Seaford if it rained to 'do the charity shops' but if the sun dared to shine we would cast our bodies as offerings to that great sun god.  As it stands at the moment the clouds dictate the charity shops after I've had a second opinion on my 'saw' finger from the nurse. :-/

Well the nurse looked at it and suggested hot salt water and Sudocream to soften it to see if an infection comes to the surface.  I don't think it will.  It was just a deep cut and needs to heal.

We did the charity shops and I ended up buying a chrome orange/lemon squeezer that I think will make a good kitchen ornament....why???  because I can and it was cheap.  I also bought a pair of wooden sandles with an exceptionally high heel and the lady in the shop said that she liked them but couldn't walk on them to which Princess replied that I had no intention of doing that but that they would look brilliant when sitting on a bar stool.  Again...they were cheap.

After demolishing a half of a chocolate chip cake the boys were again in the pool until the clouds rolled over so I wended my weary way home and am now into cooking steak, mushrooms and chippies followed down by the remains of a cherry and walnut cake.  A little Amontillado I think while I'm creating in the kitchen....

Thursday 30th July

Angela was a let down....she didn't want to go out to play but we still had a pretty fair time.  We made do with tuna and coleslaw sandwiches, squash and finished off the cherry and walnut cake taking it 'alfresco' in the sun until the rain started.  Then we sat ourselves down in the conservatory and the sun came out again and it was intermittent sun/ rain and we coffeed ourselves out.  And can we talk ;).  

I've now made my arrangements for next week and am setting off for London on Tuesday morning to catch up with the two other grandchildren.  Apparently the little one has two teeth now so there will certainly be a change from when I saw him about three months ago.  

Now let's get the hotline going and arrange the rest of next week. :)

Friday 31st July

Well we are almost at the end of another month and where does the time go.  At this rate it will soon be Christmas. ;)

Just sorting out tomorrow.  It's the Gay Pride parade in Brighton and after all these years of being in Brighton I have never been to see it but now that the city are supporting it with the appropriate banners over the council buildings I'll have to go and check it out or.....it is our villages Summer Fete so I just might go there instead.  It's the 'Get the Football' in the bucket that draws the most attention and the bricabrack stalls.  Good bargains to be had especially at the last minute when if it's not sold it goes to the tip.  Looks like it might be a matter of tossing a coin to see which one I grace my presence with. :-/

Now to get ready to head into Brighton on a shopping trip. Girls will be girls.