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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  JULY 2010
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 1, 2010, 6:31am
Thursday 1st July

I got a lift into Djebel this morning, Beauty is up and running again and I have men working so it can't all be bad...  The weather seems calmer this morning but we'll wait and see...it normally starts off fine but then the clouds roll over, it goes thundery and then it clears up again.  Writing my shopping list for Kardjali tomorrow...I'll just make sure that the car's OK before I take it that far today....oh ye of little faith.

Back from Djebel, loads of work done to the car....and emptied the place of the stuff that stops insects eating your wood.  I've come back with 20 litres for the loft space and the ceiling is going up at a fantastic pace.  I'll get a few pickies and post later....now for some more gardening....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 1, 2010, 8:05pm; Reply: 1
Thursday continued

Three attempts at posting pictures and updates.  My connection is flakey this end...congestion on the line so I'll post them tomorow morning...LN off for my beauty sleep and by golly do I need it.... ;)  And then it posted it twice....time for bed said Zeberdee....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 2, 2010, 3:45am; Reply: 2
Friday 2nd July

Morning...let's get those pictures on now that the rest of Bulgaria sleeps..well yes they are posted (below) and now I can update a little of the events of yesterday.

The car is back to being what it was before....in fact better.  Now I said that I couldn't understand where the water had gone...I said 'water pump' and nobody listened.  Well as it happens I was right!!!!  Divine inspiration or what.  Apparently....it only leaked when the car was running and not when it wasn't.  This was only discovered when they had fixed everything else but hey....it's done and Beauty returns to the fold.  As for the Beast...the part is on its way from the UK and so are the gaskets.  Result...but they just have to get here.

Went into Djebel last night to my little restaurant to collect my Avon goodies....my lady appeared from her garden and gave me tomatoes and some mixed fruit cordial that she had made herself...delicious.  She then went into the kitchen, place filo pastry in a big greased shallow dish, mashed potatoes again from her garden with onion, feta (ish) cheese and sage, topped it with filo and laced it with butter and cooked it on a hotplate, turned it and cooked it until the filo was browned. So easy to do and another one to add to the stable. Great for veggies or as a side dish to anything else.  Got back late as I said and remembered that I should always leave an outside light on if there is any chance that I'll be late or get the street light fixed or as I've said before...get a torch to leave in the car....

So today  I can have that chilli sausage casserole that I was going to have last night before I was 'fed' by my lovely lady.  

Now off to pick up my men....lash, lash.....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 2, 2010, 6:03pm; Reply: 3
Friday continued

Went to my neighbour, my lady in the picture to ask how she was....I came back with onions, garlic, green beans, carrots and potatoes.  Washed and put away in my sliding veg drawer for tomorrow.  My sausage casserole looms from yesterday so I shall experiment tomorrow.

What a busy day....I got my car MOT'ed at the gigantic cost of 30Leva....was told that I had to pay car tax in Djebel but at that office I wasn't on the computer so mentioned who I had bought it from and apparently the previous owner is still liable for the tax so if he doesn't pay he gets fined.  Need to sort it though...Thought we had once but the man didn't turn up to go to the solicitor for the sign over...This is Bulgaria...

Ordered and am having tiles delivered for upstairs.  I decided that they are so easy to keep clean and easy to lay so it was a no brainer. I’ve got 3 cubic metres of sand coming tomorrow so my men will be busy just a skimming of cement and then tiles.  The wood is all covered in the anti-insect munch- stuff and is ready to go over the landing and upstairs hallway.  Goodness it did seem high up and there was a joke that it would be a long sleep if Bekir fell.  I did say that that was impossible...when the house was finished that would be OK but until then not a snowball in hell's chance.  I came back with presents for the two guys...for Sally another 10litres of anti-munching stuff...for Bekir 30 metres of electric cable conduit but the best of all was two litres of Turkish beer which they sat in the garden and drank just before it started to thunder and the cloud burst occurred.  We had torrential rain and now a beautiful calm evening.

I’ve just had a casualty.  A blue/coal tit must have got in through one of the sideways bricks upstairs and has just slammed into the windows on the upper landing.  I thought he was outside but no…at my feet.  Managed to pick him up and put him outside.  He rested on the bucket by the outside water tap but then as I went out to take a photograph…he legged it to my special tree so I suspect that everything works but that he was just stunned.

Men gone, sausage casserole from last night looks OK….Arianna beer looks inviting…LN catch you tomorrow….
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 3, 2010, 6:20am; Reply: 4
Saturday 3rd July

Today is dull, too wet for the tobacco that they grow round here so everyone is virtually unemployed at the moment apart from my two industrious souls working up above.  They've now platformed the stairwell and are working on ladders planing beams and adding the 'stops the insects from munching' stuff with a paintbrush.  By the end of the day I shall have a fully ceilinged landing and then they start on the floors.  The sand comes today and so does the toilet and the tiles for the upstairs.  The bath comes later....all visitors will have a shower or nothing and if it's nothing...they won't be visitors for long ;)

Today is a day of 'well I could's' so I'll sit down and plan what might happen....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 3, 2010, 6:04pm; Reply: 5
Saturday continued

As it was I spent a lot of time upstairs with the men just watching it take shape. It looks bl**dy brilliant.  They are such craftsmen ;)

My tiles are delivered, the sand failed to turn up so off I go tomorrow to find out why :-/.  It's on the agenda for Monday morning, screeding the bedroom and landing and then tiling on Tuesday.  I shall have that bedroom finished for you Mikey B and D....and I also had the upstairs toilet delivered today so that if there is a need for the little room in the night then there is no need to descend to the lower eschilons.  There is water and we might even have the washbasin connected to the cold mains at least.  D of S did suggest that they could have had a bucket but I said it wasn't my style so why should it be theirs ;D

The men were late going....I've just got back from dropping them off but there isn't a moon out so maybe they are early. ;)  My agenda for tomorrow is to tidy up the rubbish from upstairs, have a big bonfire to get rid of most of it, make the sofa downstairs (still not managed it MOS if you are looking) and to make another.  The mattress will be ordered on Monday (or a bed delivered depending on the price) to go into the room by about Wednesday.

Now for a few pickies....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 4, 2010, 6:05am; Reply: 6
Sunday 4th July

Is this Independence Day?  I have a feeling it is and boy do I feel it.  Washing done, emails complete, supper in the slow cooker (made up to three portions just in case D of S and A decided to come over, otherwise freeze it)
and now going upstairs to get rid of that rubbish.  I slept really well on my Turkish mattress, not so much 'memory foam' but it just doesn't come back up so feels like a nest. ;)  

To horse.....update you later...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 5, 2010, 12:35pm; Reply: 7
Monday 5th July

I never did get back to update yesterday but it all went very quickly.  D of S and A did come over but quite early in the morning and we decided that tonight was good for a barbeque to add to the chilli in the slow cooker so I then had work cut out to finish the upstairs clearing but throwing the debris out of the upstairs door .  Now a clever idea would have been to close the downstairs lounge to garden door first so despite the fly screens keeping the big stuff out, the cement dust blew gently into the lounge covering everything in a fine layer of dust.  Doh....

So cleared the upstairs and the landing, took the foam mattress from my bed and lugged it upstairs, laid polythene on the bedroom floor to keep the dust from the mattress and made a bed upstairs.  It looked very cosy but is only 4ft wide so suggested that if they liked to stretch out that they could put their camping mattress by the side and after all, it was only for one night.  Came down the ladder and cleaned all through downstairs in quicksticks, had a shower, made potato salad and garlic bread and I was doing my first entertaining in my house...nice feeling.

They brought a winebox, D cooked the pork with peppers on the barbeque and what a good night we had sitting outside until midnight under a lovely starry sky.  Upshot was, a with her little legs decided that she couldn't manage the ladder so slept on the sofa downstairs, I was in my little bed but with the old window shutters under the mattress so that it didn't fall through the slats and D in the new room.  I must admit though....when I was making up the bed I did lie down on it and admire the view....after all it's going to be my pride and joy. ;)

Now back from Kardjali, got the mattress and it's being delivered tomorrow.  Bekir and myself have just designed the bed and that's my next job planing down a couple of the big timbers for the bed base.  All fun here isn't it......I'll need him to saw the timber since it's pretty huge but I have also come back with a bow saw from my favourite tool shop.  Hadn't got one...now I have....to work ::)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 6, 2010, 8:32am; Reply: 8
Tuesday 6th July

So last night I made a To Do list and I've given everything a RAG (red, amber, green) status.  Currently everything is sitting at red, some more redder than others but I suppose I really should get moving.  I have achieved loads this morning but nothing that I have done was on the list.  So do I need to revise it or wait for the revision and then revise the revised giving everything a bright red status. ;D

My mattress arrived last night but it remains in my bedroom downstairs until the tiles are down upstairs.  It would only be in the way and that pile of wood is still sitting in the lounge, though not so big as it was, so that must be taken upstairs out of the way but not by me might I add.  Men's work.....let's look at the list and I did manage to print it out and it's in a prominent place....out with the chain saw....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 6, 2010, 6:15pm; Reply: 9
Tuesday continued

Well what I thought was a fairly tidy house has been transformed into a very untidy house in such a short space of time.  I cleaned windows this morning which was the wrong thing to do since Sally has been round clearing up the old cement and putting on more where others forgot or so it seems.  This is called finishing but I don't think that I saw a snagging list....

Any way....I can put an amber status on two of the projects and I am just about to nail a kitchen bench together.  I prefer to do it when they aren't around, I feel more professional when they have gone home.  I get the feeling that they frown on nails except for anything they do.

I've got my first freesias out of the garden and they smell divine apart from the fact that they almost went floorbound as my Made in China ladder collapsed while Bekir was attempting to stand on it.  He offered to fix it, I admonished him and told him it well get replaced tomorrow that's if we can find one that was made in Bulgaria or Turkey.  That's it for tonight....I'm out with the nails.....LN....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 7, 2010, 3:07pm; Reply: 10
Wednesday 7th July

Had a day of woodworking which should make one of the projects at least a green by the end of the night.  The sofa is the next one to tackle.  I also cleared up the mess from yesterday and the stairwell is now empty apart from the woodburner and the ladder.  I'm so pleased with the tiles..so easy to maintain.....housework is not my favourite topic....

The men are upstairs resting after lugging goodness knows how many buckets of screed on a hoist upto the first floor.  The unfortunate thing is that the floor has a distinct bow in it so there's more to do than they thought otherwise the tiles would be horrendous to lay.  Sally is flattening it while Bekir is mixing, loading and hoisting.  I also have the pipework in for the toilet and screen under it so that as a temporary measure....my visitors will have their own toilet.  I like the way that they get the level right here with just a piece of plastic pipe and a pencil to mark it on the wall....and it's all underway.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 8, 2010, 7:03am; Reply: 11
Thursday 8th July

Weather from the front....I've got my men building an ark and the animals are lining up two by two in the garden. ;)  It's throwing it down and has been for the last few hours and everywhere is sodden....sodden nuisance and it has the odd clap of thunder thrown in.  All the locals are muttering since the tobacco has now been harvested and they want the sun to dry it.  There are polytunnels everywhere and some very sad faces.  My lady from the village was very down yesterday.  Apparently her tobacco has something wrong with it, I don't know what, but I think she has lost her crop and to them that is a massive part of their income.  She was not a happy lady.

So I have a half screeded floor upstairs, a half installed toilet upstairs and today I have set them tasks that are all inside and we'll wait for it to clear.  It's those jobs on that unseen list that I mentioned in and earlier diary entry.  As for picking a good day for it....I set the washing machine off overnight when the electricity is cheaper and now it's......drying on my clothes airer....typical and I believe it's the biggest load I've ever done.  Is that a glimmer of brightness I see on the hillside????   Yes it is.  

The sun is out though I don't know for how long, the washing is blowing in the breeze and the men are screeding....oh joy...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 8, 2010, 2:30pm; Reply: 12
Thursday 8th July continued

Just thought I'd add a few pickies...just had a wonderful email from Princess so now I feel good.  Busy girl...  the work goes on and I've realised that the upstairs loo managed to get in the picture.  We were unsure whether to have a loo with a view or facing the wall but I've been told that it can be turned round at a later day after my visitors.....oh such accomodating men.....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 8, 2010, 7:49pm; Reply: 13
Thursday evening

Just got back from the last supper with D & A of S.  She goes back to Sofia tomorrow and England on Saturday and back to the dreaded grind on Monday.  A few tears will be shed I'm sure but as soon as she sells the house in Swansea she'll be over with her boots blacked.  Nice evening....and my lady at the restaurant made me promise to go down to her 'gradina' on Sunday and I shall probably be wending my way back with a variety of goodies from the garden.

Just made myself a brandy and hot water.  It's a lovely starry night but there's a distinct chill in the air.  Barmy night inside ....not balmy out.  The BBC weather predicts rain for the next four days so let's hope that it clears by the time my guests arrive....LN everybody...time for bed....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 9, 2010, 7:53pm; Reply: 14
Friday 9th July

What a funny day but at the end of it my car exhaust has been welded, the Pajero part has arrived from the UK, Sally my miestor and myself constructed the sofa and Bekir has tiled the upstairs bedroom.  We did have some laughs over the sofa though.  It sort of 'grew' and is going to grow even further tomorrow apart from the fact that it's legs are going to get shorter.  Too high for me....I like to slob not sit or rather stand on ceremony.  I did ask him if he coud do the same again tomorrow and that's when I though he would decide to do tobacco instead ;)

Any way I've swept the lounge and tidied up a bit in general but really need to get all the tools outside, then it will be easy.  Tonight I'm tired and so I'm saying goodnight....another busy day tomorrow.....LN.
Posted by: 8 (Guest), July 9, 2010, 9:47pm; Reply: 15
my you have been a busy girl.  Looking good though. 8)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 10, 2010, 7:15pm; Reply: 16
Saturday 10th July

Today has been a day of up and downs....the men have been working upstairs and I have been trying to work down.  Unfortunately they had their own agenda which didn't coincide with mine and it seemed to get lost in translation.  The upstairs bedroom is fully tiled and grouted but the simple request / job like cutting up a huge piece of wood to make the bedbase went unheaded.  They won't be doing that until monday and I wanted to get the bedroom finished so that it was a job out of the way.  Wrong...the huge timber is sitting in the hallway and in the way and the legs on the sofa are still waiting to be shortened.

I came in from the garden at almost nine tonight and realised that I hadn't eaten since breakfast.  A large local spicy sausage fried off with onions and mixed with chicken and mushroom soup and it was absolutely wonderful.  Because it was so late I decided that I would have it with garlic croutons instead of going for the pasta or potato option.

I've finished tidying the entrance way and all of the old wood that seems to have accumulated has been 'filed'.  If it's not being used in the next 24 /48 hours it gets into the used file although I do have quite a lot of woodwork yet to do.

Sorry everyone...I'm too tired so off to my snuggle down mattress....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 11, 2010, 3:43am; Reply: 17
Sunday 11th July

Beautiful calm morning...cow bells coming from somewhere in the valley, sun and mist on the hills...really beautiful and almost a shame to disturb it all with a.....reciprocating saw.  Yes, needs as needs must, I have my plan Baldrick and plans must be followed to the letter unless I get distracted by the World Cup later.  Not that I've watched a single game to date but there might be an invitation later.

Onwards, ever onwards and upwards....

Quick update....I have shelves in the bathroom, my printer cabinet is in situ after spending a week outside unfinished while I looked on it with shame and disbelief that I had made such an abortion out of poor wood.  A few good nails and it will do until winter when I can throw it on the woodburner....and I am half way through building my bench so that my guests will at least have something to sit on when I serve up the culinery delights.   Six inch nails work wonders when you run out of screws....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 11, 2010, 9:00pm; Reply: 18
Sunday continued

Well it was almost 10.00 this evening when I came in from woodworking.  It was still light which surprised me, I thought it was earlier.  I've cleaned some of the windows today, the first time is always the worst since there are splashes of cement and plaster on them but the bedroom upstairs is waiting for the bed, mattress, sheets, and the sixty minute makeover...just fluff that cushion one more time....and tomorrow....it will be finished and then I move downstairs.  Sally's sofa is still too tall and they just seem to plane the wood until all of the character goes out of it....still, it can always go upstairs as a bed in one of the rooms.  Tomorrow it will be trimmed to a reasonable height and then I shall make another out of chunks of wood and a mattress.  Need two when you have visitors....my bench is standing up for itself but i just need two more lengths of timber....yes there is stuff here but i'm thinking it might go towards the staircase so I'm leaving it well alone.

Guess who dropped her last bottle of Samsara in the bathroom this moring and I shall state it now....tiled floors are unforgiving.  Thousands of pieces but the bathroom does smell good.

On another note LN....i'm shattered tonight.....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 12, 2010, 7:40pm; Reply: 19
Monday 12th July

How late am I tonight.  Work, work and yet more work.  Some giggles along the way though.  I went to buy two mattresses for my sofas today and had Bekir with me.  He tried to negotiate discount for me but the lady was having none of it but as a parting gift I was given a fleece blanket.....nice touch.  Did it rain this lunchtime, did it ever....I've told Bekir that all work on the house is to stop and that ark is the priority and I'm not joking.  The leaves are turning yellow on the tomato plants, tobacco is not drying properly so it all is very 'unseasonal'.  

My stairs go in tomorrow....or rather are being made in situ....as I said to my carpenter, the men are still going up and down and a decent staircase would get ruined so I am having a temporary one fitted for my guests arriving on Wednesday on EJ.  I'm heading up to Sofia with D of S....

I've just had an email to say that the Beast is ready....ready for what it didn't say...could be the scrap heap but I'll go and see the cost of the repairs tomorrow.  At least the correct part arrived from England unlike the part that came from Taiwan.  That's in the shop and will probably gather dust.

Good news.....Mikey B is getting me more Samsara.  He'll bring it over on Wednesday and this time it goes nowhere near the bathroom... :-/

Now time for bed.....lots to do tomorrow.  Curtains to cobble together and hanging space to sort out and stairs going in and beds to make.....just tired thinking about it.  LN...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 13, 2010, 8:16am; Reply: 20
Tuesday 13th July

I'm livid.....I received my telephone bill yesterday for my home phone and my internet connection.  Now I took out a cheap one at first and then realised that I would probably go over it so upgraded.  Instead of them cancelling the first, I am now paying for two and also for going over the tariff on the first one that I took out.  So after a phone call this morning, yes, they agreed that I had been overcharged but advised me that I still had to pay it and that they would issue a refund at a later date.   Absolutely wonderful....so I have to shell out approximately 70BGN which will get refunded when they get round to sorting it out......whoopeeeeee.

On a brighter note, all my big wood is now down to managable size but the maestors have got all my tools this morning so can't do a thing.  They have now learnt how to use the router and I think they are improvising...bugger.  As for the last planer I bought, it has blown up and has to go back to the shop so down to one and yes, they have got that as well as the sander.   Bum..... :'(  but by the end of the day I should have some stairs for my guests.  I'm quite used to the ladder but let's be a little civilised when heading up to the galleried landing.....

Suppose there's nothing for it but shopping   :)and housework.... :-/
Posted by: 25 (Guest), July 13, 2010, 11:50am; Reply: 21
I await my telephone bill with trepidation!
Posted by: MikeyB, July 14, 2010, 5:05am; Reply: 22

Morning EP!

We're sat in the departure lounge waiting for EasyJet to make up their minds on when they fancy taking off!

Perfume, plugs and Dawn safely packed,(when you see the size of her case you'll know why she fits in it)  so we'll see you shortly!

Me xxx

Posted by: Princess, July 15, 2010, 1:10pm; Reply: 23
Hi Moo Mar......... How are you doing? It's so blummin windy here that I was chasing swimming trunks round the garden at 7.15 this morning!...... We're off to the Outlaws this weekend and then breaking up next Friday....... 5 working days, 2040 minutes I think!.......

Hope you are well and having good fun with your visitors, big kisses, Princess xxxxxxxxxxxx :K)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 15, 2010, 8:32pm; Reply: 24
Thursday 15th July

Mikey B was right....Dawn's suitcase was and still is big but they were relying on me to provide and iron to smooth away the creases....and I'll be doing that then :-/.  So today we got a special offer on one from Tecknomarket but I've told them that I don't know how to use it so it's down to them.... :)

I have two cars...Beauty and the Beast are now parked in my drive and ready for action.  Took it for a test drive round the garage and Mikey B was allowed to drive it home since I didn't trust him with Beauty.  Tomorrow I have to go into the office and pay the tax on it and then on to Kardjali and get it MOT'd.  Then I can forget about all the legalities for the next year.

I forgot to mention.....I do have stairs and lots of pictures of them going in.  The men were splendid but I acknowledged very early on on Tuesday that they wouldn't finish what they were setting out to achieve so invited them back on the Wednesday while I was on airport duty.  Brilliant...they finished everything.

We've been round and about today and tomorrow off to Momchilgrad to see the house and get the fly screen from the window man....let's hope it's done, I got two little tiny frogs in tonight and was fortunate enough to see them hopping over the tiles in the hall.  Swept them out....beautiful but guests are invited and no invite, no can do.

Special message to you Princess....enjoy your weekend and it is even less minutes by now before you break up into thousands of pieces....love to you and the frogs and always to the moon and back..xxxx

And to the rest of you....LN...and I promise a few pickies of the places we go to see.....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 16, 2010, 5:28am; Reply: 25
Friday 16th July

Just a few pickies of the stairs that I took before my guests arrived....so I'd like you to remember that all I asked for were a set of temporary stairs so that my guests didn't have to climb that ladder.  I said...big wood, big nails not too much planing or planning but my men don't work like that....so here you go....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 16, 2010, 7:25pm; Reply: 26
Friday night continued

Fully paid up Beast and all legal....went to see MOT man and he did all his stuff and gave me an MOT certificate and we had a discussion on the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, him playing keyboard and guitar and his daughter in Istanbul.  He's a lovely man and I am fully MOT'd.  The Beast is running as it should and so we went to Momchilgrad to my house in the mountains and 'it's still standing' yea, yea, yea but very remote but as for the views....still stupendous.  Called in at the motel on the way back and nothing seems to have changed.  Popped in to see D of S and he'd managed to strim his lawn and had come out a lovely shade of red/brown but it was really hot yesterday.

Just cooked pork with mushrooms, potato salad and hardboiled eggs for those that wanted, washed up and all put away and so now it's time for this quick update and then to bed.  I'm sleepy tonight....it's been hot and humid today but we did do some exploring and found a lake further on from my house.  There was a keyboard player and a flutist and lots of men but no women....one of the men asked me why I had a house in Dushinkovo and my reply was....why not!!!  

Any road up....Lecka Nosht....I must get my ittle head down.  Sleep tight.....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 17, 2010, 5:23am; Reply: 27
Saturday 17th July

My visitors are still sleeping.  Beautiful morning and a woodpecker gently knocking seven bells out out of my special tree.  The bea-eaters are back after time away, I know not where and it looks like being another very hot day.  Just waiting for the mobile shop for a new loaf of bread for breakfast....toast, butter, Bekir's Acacia honey, home made cherry jam and natural yoghurt....now what could be nicer.  ;)

Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 17, 2010, 10:18pm; Reply: 28
Saturday continued
And now too tired to concentrate...later me thinks
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 18, 2010, 6:08am; Reply: 29
Sunday 18th July
Went exploring further on from my house and on the way back spotted my house from the lower road.  Hadn't realised how impressive it looks and can only look better when the outside is rendered and balconies and terraces are finished...which year will that be????

Last night on the way back from Dzebel stopped by the police on a routine road check....hadn't got one document with me since I had put them all in the car folder but fortunately they recognised me and the vehicle, laughed, told me to drive slowly and I was sent on my way....the docs are now ready to be stashed in the Beast.

Had two different visitors yesterday.  A scruffy bundle of fun that just wanted to play.  I fed him bread but which he turned his nose up at but then he went into the bonfire garbage and decided that he wanted a chunk of polystyrene instead.  I offered bread again but obviously a stray but unfortunately I have run out of what he likes best.... :(  We'll wait and see if he reappears.

My second visitor was found by the first and was just so small.  I heard him sniffing about and managed to get some quick pics.  Mikey B made me a bench and we are looking to site it now....a little too large for the kitchen so looking for another flat spot....and that will probably be under the large tree where it's just a nice spot to sit.

Today....need I say it, a beautiful morning  with a clear blue sky.  It's destined to be 34 degrees according to the BBC weather channel....let's see if they get it right.

Now to post a few pickies....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 18, 2010, 10:12pm; Reply: 30
Sunday night continued

I have a bench but I haven't photographed it yet for publishing....later, probably tomorrow.  I cooked pork in pepper sauce tonight as well as local hamburgers in a chilli sauce with carrots.  I found enough for four and after washing and drying went to bed and slept like a log.....Monday we are supposed to be going on a jaunt...we'll see how far we get...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 19, 2010, 8:58pm; Reply: 31
Monday 19th July

Took the top road to Ardino today...beautiful journey.  Unfortunately didn't start off until lunch time so the rest of the day went rather quickly.  We missed out Pamporovo and side stepped Zlatograd all to be had another time and another place...

On the way beautiful views and on the way back we found a super water construction/ reservoir....and still functional. Went down to visit the fisherman at the bottom with his five fish in his keep net.  Not big but in his estimation....supper.  

Arrived home at seven to find the cows in the garden, all my tomatoes and sweetcorn munched to buggary, my azalea flattened and my rosemary gone.  There was also a large cowpat outside my front door.  Now I know my mat says 'Welcome' but it doesn't mean it for 'cravas'.  Bastard beasts.....tomorrow I fix that fence good and proper with barbed wire....

Time for bed...my guests go on to Sofia tomorrow at lunchtime...LN....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 20, 2010, 5:44am; Reply: 32
Tuesday 20th July

First off .....hardware shop -barbed wire....at your peril crava....and visitors onto the bus for Sofia....all things achieved.

Stripped beds, washed sheets, towels etc and now ready to move my little body upstairs and spend my first night in my amazing room.  I've lain on the bed and appreciated the wonderful panorama but not spent the night there yet.  D of S was the first and Mikey B and Dawn vacated this morning and now it's mine....got to be really special to get it away from me now.....I'll get some pickies of the bedroom now that the curtains are up and the bed is in place.  One of my huge timbers cut into four, cross timbers and that's it....the bed matches the roof timbers.  Side tables were again some logs sawn up to make tables....easy peasy and the men just smile when I suggest these things.

Next on the list....bath for upstairs and hand basin, tiles in the upper landing and I really do need some more furniture so I better get banging....LN...I'm pooped...till tomorrow...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 20, 2010, 5:26pm; Reply: 33
Tuesday night

Thought I'd just put a few pickies up of the bedroom....it's all mine now so here goes....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 21, 2010, 3:56pm; Reply: 34
Wednesday 21st July

Beautiful morning waking up to stupendous views.  Decided that the bonfire area looked in need of love and attention so put some effort into having a bonfire to get rid of the rubbish, tidying up the area and changing the fire bin to one that is fairly intact.  The other had done well but was way past its sell-by date.

Put supper in the slow cooker, chicken, onions and mushrooms with a hint of chilli and it cooked all day and I've just had it with pasta.  The windows men arrived at 6.30. five minutes later I have a fitted fly screen on my front door which is such an improvement.  It means I can leave it open now and none of the wee beesties can come in.  It will also keep out the tiny frogs that insist on skipping over my hall floor and find a hiding place in the hall.  I normally spot them and with my witches broom fling them into the night.  None there in the morning so I assume they are OK,  Now a barrier.....saves the hassle.

Fed, showered and ready for a pleasant evening with a book, drink and tonight it's Eric Clapton...if only.  LN..I'm out there with a book.  The wind has got up and I've just spotted a beautiful rainbow yet as of now, no rain....let's just wait and see....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 22, 2010, 5:33pm; Reply: 35
Thursday 22nd July

Second morning waking up in my little pad with the sun in the morning and the moon and stars at night.  I don't bother with the curtains since there is no one except low flying helicopters or spaceships that can see in and I do like the light in the mornings.

Weather was wonderful until this afternoon when the thunder started rattling around but that was as far as it got.  It looked like rain and I could see it on the hillside out towards Greece but nothing dropped here.  Really felt tired so got my head down on the sofa this afternoon and called in a few zzzz's.  The computer had to go off due to the thunder and my book wasn't very inspiring....in fact I have run out of good books and might have to hit the bookshop in Kardjali or Amazon.  I did pick up a Bulgarian picture dictionary with a CD and started with it yesterday and did another session just before the thunder set in...just a few more words under my belt.

Socks came round tonight just as I was finishing supper so he was in for a treat.  I had a few pieces of chicken left which he put away rapidly and so I decided to find out whose dog he is.  I walked up the village and three of my Turkish ladies were enjoying the evening so I asked them where the dog came from.  It turns out that it is my lady from my Avatar but I haven't seen her for a few days so don't know if the dog has been left to to fend for itself which is even more reason to feed him.  I sat in the garden with the ladies that only speak Turkish and their grandson who is six and a half did the translating from my sparce Bulgarian into Turkish for the ladies.  She bought me out pumpkin saturated with sugar and turned into a candy. I had a very pleasant interlude.

Home now...Socks was returned to his garden but I see he has followed me home and has taken up residence on my pile of bricks that I call a terrace..LN....I'm thinking about an early night....but I have left a bowl of water out for the little beauty especially now the frogs can't get in under my fly screen... ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 23, 2010, 4:16am; Reply: 36
Friday 23rd July

Had a pretty poor night last night sleepwise.  Dogs were barking and I believe that I am with dog.  Socks was round this morning, still looking very flea bitten and covered in burs and sawdust making me think that he has spent the night on my so called terrace.  I'd love to get him cleaned up...such a sweet little thing...but must find out ownership first as they appear to be away.

I need to get him into a tub of water and bath him but at the first sign of the brush he just scoots.  This mornings food and not ideally suited to a dog were the remains of some potato salad that was about to be binned and a hard boiled egg that I was unsure about.  Mixed with bread, he gulped it down.  Not too keen on the bread but that's what they give the dogs out here.  I suppose I might be tempted to invest in a bag of dog food....I'm weakening but he needs cleaning up first.  Where he had scratched yesterday on the patio I could see the fleas and just had to spray the area....not for me....

Beautiful morning, still early and have downloaded plans for a picnic table.  I think indoor furniture might be on the agenda before outside and I do feel like a bit of the sawing and banging.....I'll let you know later how the day panned out.... ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 23, 2010, 4:11pm; Reply: 37
Friday continued

Shrub, the wrong type, the wrong place took preference over anything else.  I worked on grubbing it out until I could grub no more and came in and read for a while.  It was very hot today probably 34 ish so somehow I ended up having a little siesta....Went out there at approx 4.00 determined to get the beauty out and onto a bonfire of sorts and even thought of starting a fire under it but no, I kept at it and low and behold, I have a hole where a shrub used to be....now to decide what to do with it :-/

Socks has been round and about all day and is currently lying out on the patio.  He doesn't like bananas, he likes nadanitsa which I found lingering in the fridge and he let me get an old hair brush to get out some of the burs from his matted coat.  He put up with it for a while and then that was it, had enough, a few barks and a couple of quick steps in every direction and off.  

About to cook supper but I've just got a few pickies of today's achievement.  Showered, shampood and about to be fed....what could be better and let's hope for a better night.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 23, 2010, 4:15pm; Reply: 38
Sorry....

One of Socks that didn't post
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 24, 2010, 5:24am; Reply: 39
Saturday 24th July

I am definately with dog...Socks was round for breakfast and crying on the doorstep at 7.00 this morning.  I think the owners are still away and I presume someone is feeding him.  All I could come up with this morning was a hard boiled egg and some Cheerios that my guests didn't manage to get through. He had his breakfast and then let me brush him again but goodness know where he has been but now he has thistle heads embedded in his coat that definately need cutting out....not up to holding him down and trying that...maybe later.  Now he's fast asleep just outside my front door.....now to see what the rest of the day holds....catch you later...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 24, 2010, 2:18pm; Reply: 40
Saturday PM

Gardening, gardening and more gardening but the sort that you need a hoe for and a spade...sorted out my newly acquired hole and it looks like it might fit into the garden somewhere.  I've also removed a pile of builder's rubble and thrown it under my special tree so that it will make good balast for he contrete base for my summer gazebo.

Washed the floors since I put my muddy footprints all over them...got a list together for the mobile shop but no eggs until tomorrow lunchtime....no scrambles for me tomorrow or poached...for breakfast...

Took socks back to his house and he got thrashed for being AWOL...two minutes later he was back and decided to dig in the gravel outside my back door...why do dogs dig??????

Anyway...lovely evening...just come in from the garden and am about to attack the freezer to see what treasures it holds and not holding out for anything very inspiring....LN tout le monde..I'm on the hunt.... ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 25, 2010, 5:28am; Reply: 41
Sunday 25th July

Found some chicken so made it with onions, a hint of chilli, lots of pepper into a mushroom cream sauce and had it with pasta....not gormet but very adequate.

Was awakened this morning at approximately 5.30 by the mother of all thunderstorms and watched the lightening on the next hillside.  I got up and closed the door since the curtains were at 90 degrees but didn't bother to close the curtains but did manage to go down and get myself a coffee, drank half of it and then decided it was better under the covers and went back off to sleep.  My alarm call was someone trying to wake up Stara Mush (my next door neighbour) firstly by shouting and then by lobbing bricks at his concrete bunker of a house.  I had to make my way into the back bedroom /storage room to find out what all the noise was about.  I thought the village was under attack.

So now it's 8.15 and I am into my second cup off coffee for the day.  My mobile shop didn't have any eggs so it's toast and jam for me this morning and I really do need to get in a shopping trip to the big city (Kardjali) at some point later in the week, my men are bound to want something by then and I know what is top of my list....a bath.  Not sure if they've ever fitted one before but now's the chance to learn... ;)

I couldn't understand why the back of my knees were sore....on closer inspection I have....sunburn....I normally wear long shorts but looking at the two shades on my legs decided it was time for the short, shorts, not a pretty site but in your own back garden....that's quite OK.  So now I have neopolitan legs for a day or so but as I used to say to the children, it will be brown tomorrow or just cover them up until they have.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 25, 2010, 4:20pm; Reply: 42
Sunday 25th continued

Wonderful productive day.  I now have a flower bed and have moved three geraniums that didn't seem to be doing too well from the top garden to my new patch.  I've also planted up the lavender which is flowering and my little yellow flower from my avatar and from the upstairs bedroom, it is an improvement and as soon as they start growing it should just look dandy.

I had my little hedgehog round this morning and a tortoise that decided that the fallen wild cherries would make a good snack.  I also surprised a little brown lizzard who stood very still while I got his pickie...here you go..just a few to whet the appetite.  Seven o'clock and all's well..showered, shampood and I'll leave the shave until tomorrow...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 26, 2010, 1:26pm; Reply: 43
Monday 26th July

What is it with the weather out here at the moment.  Rain for two consecutive nights, great for the garden and lousy for everything else.  Unlike yesterday though it has only just cleared up and again we had thunderclaps most of the morning and it just carried on rumbling round so I decided to finish my boring book and get out my brain training on my DS.   I'm still chasing a new record on the Maths 'inserting the appropriate signs'.  Can't seem to get under 15 seconds so went on to Sudoku until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and I just blocked out the thunder through closed eyes.   Silly me left the bedroom door open and have mopped up tiles and left the bottom of the curtains to dry out...boy did it rain.

Nice now though.  Cloudy toward Greece with a breeze but with the sun setting westward it is shining of sorts.  I heard a yelp from a dog just a short while ago and guess that my Stara Mush wasn't having Socks in his garden.  His daughter is over from Turkey and spent yesterday washing her fathers extensive wardrobe by hand taking water from the well to do it but I only caught it at the rinsing stage while I waited for the mobile shop.  I did offer my washing machine but got a shrug and little else so no further action necessary.

I'm just about to toss a coin...cheesy chips and chicken wings in Djebel or cheese and onion omelette cooked by my own fair hands...what a decision.....I've changed my mind...I'll let my stomach decide a little later....




Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 26, 2010, 6:48pm; Reply: 44
Monday night .....

Cheesy chips and chicken wings won and just have to record it....driving home tonight there was a bright orange 'ET' moon where you expect boys to be riding across it on bicycles.  Magic, but now that I am home it has disappeared behind clouds and I suspect that we shall be having more rain tonight.

Saw my restaurant lady tonight and she had arrived after a day in her gradinka.  She insisted that I had some tomatoes, I told her that I had some but she said...'but you haven't got any of mine'....they are so proud and so I returned home clutching the black plastic bag along with two bottles of tonic....wonder what that's for and a bag of sugar.  I'm determined to make some jam out of those wild things growing in my garden.  LN...off to my little pit....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 27, 2010, 4:16am; Reply: 45
Tuesday 27th July

I was right...rain overnight followed by clinging mist so that I can hardly see the bottom of my garden.  Socks has just abandoned the wait at the front door since I have nothing to feed him except Cheerios which he leaves.  He seems to be getting picky which suggests to me that he is getting fed elsewhere and only comes for the titbits.  He does need a good brushing though.  Those huge burs are still in his coat but I suppose that's the way out here....a dog is functional not pretty...and I don't believe that you should put a bow in their hair and get them into wellies and the likes, it's basic care.  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 27, 2010, 11:13am; Reply: 46
Tuesday continued

What a productive morning....I was going to make a stool and then I looked at the Janqui tree and thought they'll be over soon if I don't do something with them.  I have also been down to see my Avatar to see if anyone wants the rest for making rakia....too many and too high for me.  The blanket went on the ground at first but then I realised that most of them were rolling off it so I strategically placed the sunbed under the tree so that I would have something to aim for if I took a stretch too far...I've stretched my full stretch to get what I've got...and not a bad haul.  Jam and fruit gin seems to be the best options....let work commence.

I thought I would add a couple of pics of my garden...it was the one that I dedicated to my sister and the flowers are coming on a treat, well they were until the rain and wind hit over the last couple of days.  The geraniums were worst hit along with the freesias.....but not to be deterred....here goes...

And as a grand finale...the red somethings are now two large pots of jam and a jar of red thingy vodka which should take about four weeks to 'brew'.  I've just bottled up my first ventures into alcoholic vodka/gin/brandy  and am left with a jar of alcoholic fruit so on the shopping list for tomorrow is some sweet martini which I'm sure will benefit from the alcohol left in the cherries...hic....Lecka Nosht....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 28, 2010, 5:24am; Reply: 47
Wednesday 28th July

Well that orange moon was out again last night but still no bicycles....I'll just have to keep on looking but this morning we now have the mountains blocked out again by morning mist so now we wait for it to burn off.  Again it saves watering the garden so it is good for something.

Had a surprise phone call from CJ yesterday afternoon while he was playing golf.  Martin just handed him the phone, I checked to see who was calling and this little voice said hello.  I said what are you doing using this phone and he replied that he was as surprised as I was.  I think the score card was slightly in Martin's favour but I believe a good game was had by all.  Princess and the frogs are off to France at some point....enjoy...that's what school holidays are for.

I think I am off to Kardjali this morning.  I have a planer to go back to the shop because it doesn't plane and I am left with the remains of some Nescafe that out here just isn't the same so I need some more 'Clever' stuff from Billa.....the rest of my list grows....like fruit juice although when I checked out the calories I'm not so sure it's such a good idea. :-/  Off for a shower and get ready for the big city....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 28, 2010, 5:16pm; Reply: 48
Wednesday continued

Well they say that the best laid plans of mouse and whatever can go to pot very quickly and so they did.  I had my shower, washed my hair and then found a book that I hadn't read and that was the end of the day, well almost.  I sat out in the sun reading until it started to....yes you've guessed it...rain...just a few big spots but it forced me inside and I carried on with my reading until I suddenly had the urge to cook egg and chips, so I did.  Delicious and then the weather cleared up so I planted out all of the things that I had growing in pots into my new little garden mainly because it's easier to water them there and then I decided to excavate the polythene tobacco growing tunnels that have been buried by the previous owners.  Now these make exceptionally smelly bonfires but it's better than dumping it elsewhere and making a mess of the place.

Today had been a day for visitors.  My lady avatar came round with my 'drop one carry one' lady as I call her and tonight I had a visit from Stara Mush's daughter.  They have come from Turkey to clean the old man up so not much of a holiday for her and she is the one that virtually ignored me at the villiage mobile shop.  So tonight she had a full tour of the house and garden, thinks it is beautiful and has taken a bag of pears from the garden to give to the previous owner of the house when they go back to Turkey tomorrow.  Quite a talking point is my house over there.

Well I'm now going to see what I can eat tonight now that I cooked at lunchtime and I shan't be long before I am back into that book again.  Socks has been round most of the afternoon and evening but I can't find his brush.  I have the feeling that he has either buried it somewhere or just taken off with it.  I've looked around but no can find....Anyway....I'm signing off for tonight...maybe Kardjali tomorrow...I really do need coffee before I poison myself and my system with Nescafe....LN...sleep tight.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 29, 2010, 2:55pm; Reply: 49
Thursday 29th July

Slept in until 7.00 this morning probably because I closed the curtains to shut out the brilliant moon. Very quiet today, Socks came round about lunchtime but I'd shut the outside doors since the wind had gotten up during the morning but it did mean that the swept and mopped floors dried exceptionally quickly.  Best decision I made to have terracotta tiles thoughout the ground and upper floor but I am still waiting for them to be laid on the landing and in the two back bedrooms. I call them back rooms because they look over the road and the mountains to the north west....mine looks south so hence front.  Pobably should be the other way round but I know what I mean..

I might venture out later...I'm still in need of that coffee so it will be a quick change and 'in the car and go' if I can summon up the energy.  Just noticed Socks having another scout round the house....he seems to go down to where I burn the rubbish to see if there are any goodies....not this time boy and now he's flopped out by the front door in the shade.  Perhaps he comes here because all the other neighbours shun him and move him on and if he goes back home he get's belted.  As I've said, dogs are functional and there to do a job. Might catch you later....I have just finished my book so now I'm looking for recipes for the attention seeking fruit from the two pear trees.  They are getting bigger every day but still as hard as nails at the moment.  Just need to find out, how, why, where and when I need to do stuff.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 30, 2010, 5:53am; Reply: 50
Friday 30th July

Last night I put the outside light on and two little frogs were jumping on the concrete and now that I have the fly screens the Welcome mat is as far as they get. So while I went to get my camera....they hid or left so I though I might just as well take some photos of something.  The house and the grape vine look very pretty at night, in fact this house comes to life with a few lamps on.  In the day it's cool, calm and inviting with stunning views and at night with the darkness surrounding it's cosy and I've purposely gone for low light bulbs and dimmer switches, don't really want aliens or planes landing thinking that it's a landing strip.....

This morning I was stunned by the sounds of nature....Crickets were going ten to the dozen and there were bird calls that I had not heard before....perhaps I should get a tape recorder to try to identify them by the sound they make for as yet I haven't spotted them, only heard them...

Today has got to be a day of activity...this Nescafe is going to kill me if I have to keep drinking it and I appear to be out of everything, not really but....and I certainly won't starve.

Few night shots of that amazing moon although the photo has not done the colour justice but just look at the distance that those houses are from mine....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 30, 2010, 4:17pm; Reply: 51
Friday afternoon

What a beautiful day..I made it to Kardjali, I went to immigration to try and upgrade my residentia and it got completely confusing. Now this guy spoke English but he said that any bank would take my 18 BGN to make my residentia complete...UBB did not know the code for accepting cash on behalf of the police so I just said...postle...later...and decided to to shopping instead.  Found a super haberdashery so now know where to get my buttons, curtain tapes etc but unfortunately the straw hat they had for sale was a tad too big...and the owner and I agreed....

Went to Billa and got my coffee so I shall not die tomorrow morning...two jars and lots of lovely stuff as well including two bottles of martini and one has gone straight into the cherries (removed from the vodka) with some more so let's see what that produces.

I have used my cooker/oven for the first time and I have cooked a chicken and so I have cut the bread and what could be nicer...crusty bread and chicken so I shall pull it apart and enjoy.

The beast performed well today.  I was nervous but not even any smoke on start up...what's it planning....

Now I'm in for supper and Elaine Page is belting out at full volume....Lega Nosht...the chicken and martini beckon... ;)
Posted by: 25 (Guest), July 30, 2010, 8:56pm; Reply: 52
Hello,

you seem to be chugging along nicely, hope all is ok.  Are the builders off for the summer then?  Can't beat the moon at the moment.  I have a trilogy about Alexander of Macedonia if you are interested.

Reagrds,

D of S
(thats Dominic in Samodiva)

Chok Eeyen
shisko hobavo
(All is good)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 31, 2010, 1:27am; Reply: 53
Saturday 31st July  

Well it's silly o'clock....for some reason I am unable to sleep so now after doing emails, reading and leaving comments on another blog I thought I'd add a little to this....Morning D of S, and yes the builders are off for a short break....but hopefully back on Monday.  I think I work them too hard so they need all the rest they can get between bouts.  As for the books, I am completely out so shall be wending my way over.  

I would also add at this point....where's July gone?  And now I'm going back to bed....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, July 31, 2010, 6:08pm; Reply: 54
Saturday 31st July

It's late-ish...my internet connection has been like a bride's nightie all day and it's still spikey now so this is going to be a quick update.  It has taken me about half an hour to get on and I have the feeling that it's about to throw me off any minute now...

Gastronomic day...started off with scrambled eggs for breakfast and lunch was the cold chicken with mayo...long time since I've had that.  This afternoon's activity was making a small stool/table/ whatever you might like to call it and not so much carpentry or joinery but nailery....some good six inch nails, in fact I'm sure that's what holds Bulgaria together, went into the piece...tonight I was going to cook but I've just come in from the garden and didn't realise the time...it's more or less shower time, little music, some more of the cold chicken, little drink and beddy byes for me.  Tomorrow I'm meeting my restaurant lady at 10.00 in the morning and we are going down to her garden so camera at the ready....I should take a few of her since I don't think I've got any of her on the site at all....any way...I'm just going to copy this in case it doesn't upload first time and pickies will have to wait until tomorrow....I can't risk still being here trying at midnight....LN...new month tomorrow....so let's see what August brings and let's hope it's more settled weather that we've had this month....LN
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