1st December....

White rabbits....with the snow forecast for UK they probably will be.....just in time for me to pick up the slush...

What a long day it has been after staying up until all hours trying to sort out this computer or mine.  Seems to be alright currently so I won't curse it too much in case it's listening.

Well I nearly frightened the life out of the builders today.  Left hand drive, manual, a gear stick on the wrong side and no door for me to rest my right elbow on.  I now have to know the width of the vehicle instead of driving in the gutter.  It was quite scarey tonight.  There appears to be an intermittent fault on the lighting circuit and everything, repeat everything went black for a few seconds so I pressed everything in site and alls well that ends well.  

There are tiles on my roof and I have the photos to prove it but the camera needs charging. I'll post tomorrow.  I kept to my word and got rid of seven wheelbarrow loads of the rubbish from the hedge by the new fence to the dump and all that I am left with is the rubbish on my side.  I am gong to see the local Cmet, show him the beautiful panorama and then point out the rubbish heap.  We need a rubbish bin in the village.  I uncovered a very old rambling rose this afternoon so am drasticaly pruning it and running it over the new fence a) to hide the nails and b) so that there will be something to support the fence when the planks really begin to rot.

Anyway....shower time and I believe it's hairwash time since I had one of the biggest bonfires today in my new outside petchka.  LN

Wednesday 2nd December

News from the garage, the beast is recouperating as is the wife of the garage owner having just given birth to a 7lb 6oz new baby boss as the rest of the garage have named him.  As for vehicles I think I might be the owner of a Clio who has now been renamed 'Beauty' since I suppose it has to be Beauty and the Beast.  Herbert was fine today and dined out on chicken bones as is the rule in Bulgaria...now I am saying oh you never give dogs chicken because the bones split but obviously Bulgarian chickens' bones are stronger that UK chicken bones..... :-/

So today we were up on the roof of the second house removing the tiles so that we have enough to finish the first house.  Stara Mush was directing operations and even replaced the ladder for me when all the others had gone off to find lunch.  It is rather a sad sight or sad site which ever way you want to look at it but I'm assured that it won't take too long to fix (gore dol) or thereabouts.  The double glazing salesman came round today at my reqest and kept saying what a beautiful house it is.  I suppose from the road it just looks like a house but when you get into the garden, see the windows and views...now you are talking.  Let's see what the quote looks like at 10.00 tomorrow morning.

Sorry no pickies...my internet connection is not strong enough...maybe tomorrow....and now I am going to wash my hair and condition it with Green Tea hair mask for 'Dry and Exhausted Hair'.  Not sure whether to drink it, eat it or spread it on liberally and wait until I feel fully refreshed to rinse it off again.  But we'll give it a try and at 2BGN it will be worth it....LN

Wednesday pickies...my internet connection has suddenly gained strength before I tried the Green Tea Mask.... ;)

Friday 4th December

Bl...internet.  This is the third attempt to load this page so I'll be quick.  Super day, loads of work done, raining but the men occupied themselves with windows, tiles and channel for toilet....loading the pickies quick before it fades again..LN

Angela M....your holiday is getting nearer with a loo and shower and I just noticed this on the other wall...is this an omen?

Friday 4th December

It's been another good day and I decided to go down and pick up the beast and give beauty a rest but then decided against it calculating the diesel for the rest of the week....the beauty takes the biscuit and the cheese.

The roof is almost complete and I decided to add a few more planks to my fence but then looked at the open well and thought I should do something about it and so I did.  It is now wood covered but unfortunately by the time I had finished, fed the boys some more coffee it was really too late to record the afternoon's work.  Tomorrow, tomorrow....It just means that any of the grandchildren will not fall down it and it is purely precautionary.  Stara Mush might find a way in but there again, he has his own.

Well I have already started my entertainment's diary for when I return to the UK and it's all set for T-Mobile thrash on the 22nd.  The old gang together and although I am the oldest of the gang, what a team we make...

Well I'm going to eat properly tonight and the builders are going to phone to see if they want to work tomorrow.  It is threatening rain so they might manage a day off if that is the case.  I await a telephone call at 7.30 in the morning and if it is to say that they can't make it, I role over and have a day off myself.....Good night, LN and updates tomorrow.... ;)

Saturday 5th December

Beautiful day until the sun went behind the clouds and yes the guys wanted to work so I was in the car at 7.30 this morning.  I almost have a roof.  I just have to buy 8 meters of the capping root slates which will be attached tomorrow and we are there....I promise to take pictures from all angles as proof.

Tonight off with Richard for a meal at our local restaurant and I have pre-ordered grilled Carp.  I love it.  He is off to Istanbul tomorrow and then going on to Thailand so it is veritably the last suppler.  Must dash...I have fifteen minutes to get ready and that includes a shower...Lega Nosht.....

Monday 7th December

Another warm day and lots of work has been done.  I now have a chimney and an extended downstairs loo so that we can open and shut the door without banging knees.  It was also to get the petchka chimney in place since the timber in the roof was just in the way.

Today we also managed to concrete one of the floors, well, half concrete, the light got the better of us but there is always tomorrow.  Pictures will be downloaded tomorrow when the chimney has its 'chapka' (hat on) which is being maestered as we speak by one of the maesters.

Short and sweet, my internet connection is playing up, well it's more like my laptop is playing up....lecka nosht....

Tuesday 8th December

Still not sorted out my internet so definately even shorter with the promise of the results of tomorrow's photoshoot.  My chimney now has a hat fashioned out of roofing tiles and the final capping tile has been attached and cemented in place.  Not sure if we have to have a ceremony but I'll take along a bottle of Fanta tomorrow I don't want anyone falling off the roof.  They have a few more floors to concrete yet..

As I said, short and sweet.  Lecka nosht....

Wednesday

I now have a new hall floor and a chimney that goes all through the house including the downstairs loo.  Things they are a changing....short and sweet....internet is a bummer....

Hi mummy..... You seem to be getting along 'just fine and dandy' as Dolly Parton would say! Not long til you are home and I CAN'T WAIT to see you.

I'm hoping that you and Dad are free to come over for Christmas lunch this year. Rob's Mum and Dad are coming to stay as Nanna passed away at the end of November and we thought they could do with the distraction. Don't worry, I won't be cooking, I will be getting fizzy woo on Poinsettia cocktails...... and I'm definately not allowed anywhere the Mushy peas anyway......

Moon and Back,
Princess xxxxxxxxxxx  :K)

Monday 14th December

To my beautiful Princess who is suffering with Woman Flu...to the moon and back again.  As promised the pickies from the last day in BG will follow and my workmen closed up the site perfectly and I got rid of all of the rubbish from their waste bin.  My woodburner was burning in its newly appointed corner while they did the last of the concrete floors in the kitchen which was supposed to be a little job.  Wrong.  They decided that all it needed was a little step which I said was what it didn't need coming from the hall into the kitchen so they set about digging out the kitchen floor and now I have a decent layer of concrete instead of a skim.

The long ladder was taken apart, the small ladder removed after I had taken the last photographs and the final piece of polythene was put into place to secure the upper floor for my sojourn to the UK.  As they laid the last of the floor the first snowflakes appeared and it was perfect timing for me.  It was light but sort of signified that it was time to stop work and for us all to take a break and what they have achieved is truely amazing.  We have come a long way with the house.  

Supper in our little restaurant with Heinz and Silvana and a fond farewell on Friday night to the family was sad.  On Saturday morning the snow covered the ground, the bus from Djebel to Sofia was on time and the flight was on schedule.  Back in the UK it is almost as if I have changed worlds and now to prepare for Christmas.

Thursday 17th December

Well the snow has followed me back and we had our first flurry at lunchtime while I was enjoying lunch with Angela.  Everywhere is so busy with firms taking over places for Christmas lunches.

I've finished my cards, got most of my presents and am looking forward to lunch with Princess and the frogs on Christmas day.  My contribution...my special sausage meat stuffing and bread sauce.  I should be able to manage that at a push.  Christening this weekend.  Ten thirty in London so weather permitting....there with boots blacked.  Lecka nosht....

Saturday 19th December

Got a few pickies yesterday morning of the snow and went down for a walk down to the sea this lunchtime,  Now our postmaster reckons that we should support our local post office and not do things on the web and guess what the bloody place closed down at 12.30 just as I was about to buy the stamps for my Christmas cards...so why wasn't he supporting me.  Ended up in the Co-op to get the stamps and now my cards are on their way...with a bit of luck.

The sea was lovely and it was strange to see snow and sea together but with the sun shining on the sea it was worth the walk.  I even managed to pick up the last few presents for the kiddiwinkles from the dinky-do shops.

I seem to collect snow wherever I am....

Monday 21st December

Now I've changed machines I can now put on the pickies from the beach....here goes but with more snow forecast for today....and tomorrow I'm supposed to be in Hatfield for a 'bash' I'm watching the weather very closely.  Wouldn't like to miss out on a good night out and a chance of catching up with MikeyB. ;)

Wednesday 23rd December

Well it's almost here and I still have to get some presents.  Had a wonderful time last night with the best retail team ever in T-Mobile and despite the fact that this might be disputed in the corridors of power I would fight the last man/woman standing and defend the statement.  The restaurant was in Hatfield and the food absolutely great and the highlight was midnight shopping in Tesco where we spotted Ron Weasly from Harry Potter but without the famous entourage.  We reckoned he was probably filming in the area though not at that time of night and especially in Tesco.

The journey down this morning was great until I hit the A23 when it all ground to a halt.  It took me about an hour to do the fifteen minute journey to home and despite a 'blood' van racing passed at a terrific rate I didn't see the cause of the holdup or any blood and gore on the road.  Now that's just not fare!! :(

The temperature has shot up from -3 this morning to +7 now in Brighton so now I should manage to go down with some sort of ailment.  Off to church tonight to get in the last before Christmas and into Asda to get those last minute things that probably everyone else is going out to buy.  Last minute shopping was supposed to peak at 12.14 today but I bet there will be hoards tonight at 9.00pm.

Now I'm going to settle down for a coffee and see if there is any comfort food lingering....and don't ask me why... just know that I can....BFN....

Tuesday cont

And here is the photo to prove that we were the best retail team ever......at play last night....not a brilliant pickie but adequate for purpose.....

Saturday 26th December

Boxing day...so called I reckon because you box up all those presents you didn't want and take them back now the shops are open.  Am I coming over as a misery socks?  I had a really good day yesterday with Princess and co.  Chief frog cooked everything to perfection and the chocolate tin was always available.  Peter James twittered me to say that he has at last found the Christmas Spirit after I told him it was in the decanter on the sideboard.  

Driving duty for me so for the first time on Christmas day I drank two sips of a cocktail over lunch and then nothing at all until my car was safely in the drive back home.  I finished off a bottle of lookalike Baileys and suffered all night for my sins.  It seemed to push my blood pressure up a bit so no more of that stuff for me.

The sales are on.  My Inbox is full of promotional emails for holidays and the likes but I think I shall not be venturing out.  The weather is now +8, no snow and raining.....fun egh.

And now...enjoy Boxing Day ;)

Woohoo finally managed to read your updates!  :P

Really sorry I missed you earlier this week, as I was really looking forward to seeing you again!

Well I hope you have a lovely time catching up with everyone and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Lots of love

MikeyB

XXX

Sunday 27th December

Thanks Mikey B and I'll forgive you since you were snowed in and no I don't want a note from your parents this time round.

Well used my trusty bus pass to go into Brighton to join the masses doing the sales slog.  My bargains...a pair of boots from Next reduced from £80 to £30 in a colour that I wouldn't normally buy and a red cast iron casserole dish that will remain in England until some one is going out with transport.  But the price was right.  

Yesterday was a complete wash out weather wise and today looked like it was going to be better until we approached Brighton.  At least it didn't rain but the wind was cold.  Thornton's couldn't be ignored so I'd better throw the box away before I feel completely guilty.  The weight that I've taken off has to stay off.....so I must have an easier day of food and drink tomorrow and for the rest of the week.

I had a lovely surprise yesterday.  My builder from BG managed to get someone to send an email with Christmas and New Year well wishes .....so I responded with a few words of Turkish reminding him that there was lot of work left to do.  It's about a month before I go out so they should be well rested.....anyway, enough said....I only said that I'd reduce the drink intake tomorrow so Lecka nosht.....I'm off for a refil.

Tuesday 29th December

The end of the year is rapidly approaching and so forward into 2010.  Where did those years from the Millenium go?  We were all worried about computers and the like when the 2000's came in and what did happen...absolutely nothing.

It is still raining and the cold spell is yet to hit the south.  I hope it stays away since I am heading up to the Midlands probably towards the beginning of next week and that's the last thing that I want...bad weather.  To jjjj who tried to join, I have to sort out your registration.  It appears to have been disabled and not by me.  I think that the name made it look like a spoof but not so, it is one of my builders who would like to see pictoral proof of his labours.  I'll see if I can get it sorted.

Now there isn't much to say....so I'll leave it at that....and I'm on the case jjjj.

Thursday 31st December

It is the eve before New Year...actually it's not, it's 7.21 in the morning and I've been up since 4.30 watching rubbish on the tv.  I just couldn't get any more sleep out of the night so I'll probably get my head down this afternoon.

Went into the art shop yesterday and got CJ some more art stuff since he has taken to drawing and we sat yesterday afternoon creating works of art from a 'how to draw' book and our New Year's resolution is to keep practicing to achieve more of a Beatrix Potter bunny that the demon bunny I seem to be putting on the page at the moment :(

Also yesterday went into Asda and Peter James has been reduced to £1 so got three of his books that I haven't read. These will also be circulated to Princess so that's our reading taken care of for the start of the New Year.  Don't suppose I shall manage to stay awake for the clock to chime at that bewitching hour tonight but let's wait and see....now for a bath and to wake the rest of the household.   come on it's 7.30......