Tuesday 2nd February

I didn't even get round to saying 'White Rabbits' at the start of the new month...so I'll say it now.  My close advisor in BG has now given me the latest weather report. Essential kit...wellies, umbrella and ark.  The last I heard was that the animals were going in two by two.

The party for CJ went with a swing as all good parties do.  It was noisy, balloons were the favourite but few survived the onslaught of marauding young teens.  Girls played football along with the boys but I did detect a certain amount of disinterest and there was even a look of 'grow up' when the boys decided that it was more fun to chase a balloon that eat.

The cake was a gorgeous concoction of sugar, chocolate and marshmallows and when they had all received their little bags for going home it was fair game to stand by the cake and remove the mini marshmallows from around the side of the plate.  Photographs will follow when I manage to shrink them down to loading pixels.  

My car is being fixed today so I am told and I'll be returning the wrongly supplied legs when I'm up and running so to speak....enough... ;)I have sorting out to do....

Wednesday 3rd February

Happy Birthday Princess and was it all those years ago that I was rushing over the bridge to Irthlingborough and struggling over the carpark only to nearly give birth walking to find a bed.  It does seem a long time ago!!  Present wrapped, card written and what else is there to do?  To the moon and back sweetie....

My car is back on the road.  I have new springs fitted and reasonable to boot.  Autovets keep me mobile and the car too.;)  I have to get the wrongly supplied ones back to Worthing so that's my job for tomorrow should I choose to accept but this morning the cold seems to be getting worse by the minute so I might be forced to spend the day in bed thinking about all those jobs that I had lined up for myself.  That's retirement for you...to do or not to do...that is the question.  

Thursday 4th February

Tonight I must raise a glass to my mother...it would have been her birthday today.  And talking about raising glasses we did that last night with Princess on her birthday.  Had a lovely conversation with an old friend and her husband yesterday.  It's marvellous how some friendships go on and on and are reassuring in themselves.  

Now to publish a few pickies.  Saturday saw the arrival of my son and family so we took a trip down to the local hotel, lunched and went to the beach.  They were supposed to be coming down for the birthday bash but change of circumstance meant we had them a day earlier.  Then we have to publish a few of the party so that CJ can show his friends when they go to the after school club.  Princess was continuing with quality control as were the rest of us, grazing carelessly amongst the sandwiches, cheese and onion sausage rolls and the rest of the goodies.

Here you go

Thursday continued

One more picture that I forgot....there was one sparkly candle that just wouldn't go out....even with all the boys blowing.... ;D

Sunday 7th February

So eventually got my legs, or rather the Macpherson struts for the Calibra supplied in error back to the garage in Worthing and the credit back on my card.  So now where can I spend it?????

Didn't have a particularly good night.  The cold has now turned into a racking cough that kept me awake most of the night interspersed with Scrapheap Challenge and Countdown and this morning I feel drained.

Richard has made it back to BG from Thailand managing to avoid all that it had to throw at him and my shopping list is now complete for my return.  Tea bags and Landrover magazines for the boys at the garage.  Small recompense for the way that they manage to keep my cars on the road.  I have purchased another ski holdall (the rest are over there full of goodies that I probably could have left here) and tomorrow I pack my bag well in advance of my 18th Feb departure.  Tools from Poundland are a must.  It's not that they're expensive over there it's just finding them.  

Welcome to Sarah G if you do manage to find the blog.  Good luck with AJ and ask him from me if he remembers that he has a Facebook account.  If you now work for him you may have to take over the management of it. ;)  Enjoy....

Now to get ready to settle in to watch the rugby.....

Monday 8th February

Another monday morning....snow covering the car and now it's throwing down sleet.  I was up with the lark at 6.50 although I think the lark has either flown south or is having a lie in each morning.  Haven't heard a peep from him/her.

Today is going to be a day of activity.  Packing to do, ski gear to be rescued from the loft and tools stripped out of their plastic wrappings.  Twenty kilograms is easily loaded into easyJet and with their policy of compliance, difficult to sort out at 5.30 am with a queue behind you.  Catch you later....

Wednesday 10th February

Snow showers, bright sun, howling wind and it's only 11.40 in the morning.  I wonder what the rest of the day holds.  

I've just emerged from an hour long bath reading through a travel brochure and one has just socked me in the eye.  Expensive but a ten day Siberian Express is one of the ones tht I would love to do so it's made its way to the wish list.  This is taken out, viewed and eventually acted upon when the urge get's strongest.  I think it's one that a single traveller can book...you don't have to phone a friend!! ;)

Must get on...clearing out places that haven't been touched for years....part of the cleansing process.

Friday 12th February

This month just keeps ticking on and we are half way throught already.  TJ's birthday tomorrow and mine this coming week.  Another one down and how many to go?  Perhaps it's good that we don't know.  The snow seems to have gone but the wind is cold and coming from the east.  

It was another restless night but I did catch Loose Women and Jeremy Kyle in the early hours.  It was a sort out day when you go through your wardrobe and realise that half of the things in it are no longer useful but you just can't throw them out yet.  How many fleece jackets can a girl own?  It all started when I picked up a book on uncluttering your life.  Didn't realise how cluttered mine was until I read it and yes.....they must have been peeping in the windows or perhaps the window cleaner has been feeding them information.  Well it is a little less cluttered now and there's a bag awaiting delivery to the charity shop.  I think this is where some of it came from in the first place so it's recycling at its optimum.  Let's do some more refining after all, it's too cold to go out. ;)

Saturday 13th February

Good night out last night at the Coach in Rottingdean.  Good food, good company and good prices....ended up in the Black Horse that has undergone some fantastic improvements to the decor.  Caught up with old friends I haven't seen in a while and that's always good to do.

This morning I am off to a teaching session at my local church so let's see how I can improve my mind!!  Notebook at the ready....and lots of sharp pencils.  Here we go...

Sunday 14th February

What a wonderful session at the church yesterday.  Brilliant medium concerned about up and coming platform workers having the right approach to mediumship.  My only regret is that I shall not be around for the next planned session.   They did mention having an extended weekend away in Bulgaria but at the suggestion that they all brought a paintbrush with them, I think the novelty wore off quite quickly.  Great bunch of girls and one brave guy.

Happy New Year of the Tiger to those that follow the Chinese New Year.  I sent out greetings to F and an immediate response returned the thought.  Have a good day...

Off to Princess for lunch today and CJ is off playing rugby.  Last week he scored his first try so does this mean the end to his good looks?  I hope not :'(

Tuesday 16th February

Well have I been busy.  One grandchild...fed water and entertained for the last two days.  I thought that Princess deserved a rest after sorting out her little beauties all last term.  I have been to places on the internet such as Phun and learnt how to create and destroy all manner of things.  Fun...in the extreme sense of the word.

Whe CJ was growing up we did nothing until there was a 7 on the clock in the morning.  He reminded me of this when he came in and said that we only had 5 minutes before there was a 7 on the clock.  This took me back a few years and brought back fond memories....how quick we forget during the growing up period...

I checked out my packing and although I don't have much to take this time it seems to be full already.  The suitcase police will be here just before the taxi at a guess.  Good night for now...early to bed...early to rise...must have glucose drip available for the postman after he has delivered the birthday mail tomorrow....my special day!! ;)

Wednesday 17th February

Postman delivered and looked relieved as he pushed the cards through the letter box.  Nice to be remembered!! ;)

Went out with Princess and junior frog today to see AM and get the last minute items to bang into the travel bag.  It's packed, it's unpacked, it's packed, it's too heavy.  I'll be pleased when I'm on the plane.  At that point it's too late and we all somehow make do.

My taxi arrives at 4.00 in the morning and it will be downhill from there.  One thing I'll miss...who killed Archie...to be revealed on Friday.  Must remind Princess to text me the details ;)

Going, going gone now.....back to the packing or I won't even be able to get my head down before the taxi arrives...lecka nosht.

Next post...BG

>>Coughs<<

It's been a week young lady since your last update!!  ;D

I'll make up my own stories soon  :P

Wednesday 24th February

And this isn't after being chastised Mikey B.....bloody laptops and internet connections.  I'll be glad when I get down to my little Kushta and can have my own connection and not depend on the hotel....

So here we go.  Flight got in early and arrived in Sofia at approx 11.35 and caught my trusty bus for my four hour journey at the princely sum of 20 BGN (works our to about £10 there abouts.)  Now I tried using my phone and they have this new system that all PAYG have to be registered or no game play.  Now I did register mine in Kardjali in December but obviously the British Passport is not good enough but the message to tell me that I need to register was in Bulgarian so me no understand.  This left me with another problem.  I normally phone a good friend to say that my bus has arrived at the Bus Station but no phone, no friend and couldn't find a carrier pidgeon so I'm standing there with a very large travel bag but fortunately spotted the local bus, apologised for my large suitcase which he loaded in the boot.  I think it brought the average speed down to 20KPH.

Got to the hotel, money from the cash point, down to the garage next day to see which one was roadworthy so I settled for the Clio.  Had to road tax and insure it so that I was legal and phoned the men on Saturday and yes the weather was good enough for them to work.

Almost have a kitchen with full electrics in two and a half days and spent the day stripping off old plaster from the walls and now am a whiter shade of pale and about to head for the shower.....  the rest of the work is coming along fine and we have had warm weather from Greece for the last few days.  and just to confirm the border crossing is open at a town called Zlatograd and it is approx 80K to Kavala....now there's a thing and great if you fancy island hopping...

My shower calls....and I promise that I shall update regularly and put some new pickies on.

Lovely surprises today....I got three of them.  My tall builder picked me a snowdrop from the garden, my old man from next door gave me a candlestick that he had made a long time ago when he lived in Turkey and one of my female Turkish neighours tied some sheeps wool onto my bracelet heading up to the March Womens' Festival.  I must get to read up on it....welcome back.....Lecka nosht especially to you Mikey B....

Thursday 25th February

Picked up my men this morning, lit the fire for them, hung out my washing and made them coffee and prepared myself for a day out in Haskovo.  Little trip up the road with my mate Richard with the intention of seeing my solicitor friend of a friend so that I can get the company re-registered and my end of year tax documents for submission.  Now each year I have done this I have declared business trading as 00.00 but we still have to submit about an inch thick of documents and you have to sign each section.  Urmmm, now there's a way to waste a couple of hours and the will to live but the penalty of not doing it is around 500 BGN.  Stiff egh.  

Now the intention was to spend a couple of hours in Haskovo, have lunch and a meander around the shops but did it rain!!  Poured it down so we headed back to Kardjali, took back the D-Link that had caused me all the problems while it was still under guarantee with 10 more years to go on it and explained the issues.  Lots of smiles and nods and after signing yet more documentation we left it in the store to be returned for investigation.

Back at the house, my old next door neigbour is still supplying antique tools so that we can remove old plaster from walls ready for a new covering.  Bathroom tiles have been removed and that looks like new pipework to me...urm it is.  This could be the shower cum downstairs loo that is in progress.....don't you just love it when you see a plan coming together...

Now just re-equipped the hotel room with more tonic to go with the gin, munching on cashew nuts and about to finish off emails and jump into my little pit ready for the 8.00 pickup of my workers....Lecka nosht...tout le monde ;)

Thursday continued...

Sorry....forgot to post the picture of the candlestick that was a present from my old man next door...that would never do. ;)

Friday 26th February....

Sleep would not stay after 5.15 this morning so just got Skyped up to cut down on my phone bills to UK.  Anybody out there at 3.30 UK time with the time zone difference? ;)

This turned out to be an interesting evening.  Went round to my usual restaurant and again the only women in there were cooking and waiting on tables and it was very busy.  Who should be in there but my police support guy Oggie (if you get stopped call me and we communicate in...wait for it...French) but to date have never needed his services.  Also in there, Oggie's boss, chief of police and senior detective so now over a couple of beers I have new found friends.  It works out that the detective is the husband of the wife that I am on jovial terms who owns the shop next to the hotel and is also brother in law to the lady who cooks in the restaurant.  Complicated??  Take care in Dzebel...everyone is related to someone in some way of another....Again I was asked how old I was which seems to be the first question asked and if you mention you are a pensioner they want to know how much you make in a month.  Now my age I disclose but the other I leave well alone :X

Saturday 27th February

We all had a day off today.  I think the men are under pressure from the wives....the tobacco season cometh...so they are trying to keep the women happy including me.  That lie in I thought I would have did not happen. The inner clock dictated that I spring to life at 6.30 but I made the most of it.  Had a long shower and tidied the hotel room and then went looking for kitchen worktops....an exercise in itself.

I decided to hit Billa instead and stocked up on essentials that come in a bottle and 4 ltr cardboard boxes and I obviously mean fruit juice and tonic water ;)  Got some really smelly cheese that you can't get in Dzebel and two for the price of one Heinz, yes I repeat, Heinz backed beans and having acquired a toaster from Richard I am having beans on toast for breakfast.  Perhaps that's why I'm wide awake at 1.30 in the morning...it's the excitement.  I'll let you know if they are real or imported seconds tomorrow :-/

Sunday 28th February

Great moon last night, beautiful morning....let's see what the rest of the day brings...catch you later...

So here is catching you later. Grabbed a coffee this morning with H and S my German friends who have just got an apartment here and I handed over my notebook to the expert to get it sorted so that it can pick up the internet from the hotel.  My laptop is ok but it's useful to have one in reserve after the problems I've encountered recently.  Good news, it's fixed and if I had read the manual I could probably have achieved it....who reads the manual I ask. ;D

Went out for a drive today with one of my local compatriots and we had lunch in Momchilgrad at the pizza restaurant.  Now as you have gathered, some things get lost in translation and this was one of them.  This pizza was supposed to contain, cheese, ham, mushrooms and pepperami and it came with....ham, sweetcorn, red peppers and I can't say that I noticed much cheese either.  So part of the entertainment was picking out the red peppers...me no likey.   :-/

The area around Momchilgrad is really beautiful with very high rolling hills that look stunning with the sun shining on them.  It's so different than the hard backdrop of the Greek mountains.  Part of the amusement was missing the potholes that have appeared after the snow and my friend has a phrase for most things 'This is Bulgaria' closedly followed when I hit a pothole and she shuddered on impact by 'This is my car'. ;)

Got back to the hotel at about 4.00 this afternoon and decided that a little kip was in order and woke up about an hour ago...yes missed the night's entertainment so decided to get undressed, check out my emails and just catch up with the blog.  Now it's done....Lecka nosht...it's shut eye time.