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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  MAY 2012
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 1, 2012, 4:03am
Tuesday 1st May

Morning....white rabbits....and at least I would see them.  'How green is my garden', not 'how green is my valley' and I think today is a day to do something about it.  Yes I know, once the sun really set in then some of the stuff that has taken hold has a short life span but having been promised the loan of a lawn mower and a man to do it, it or he hasn't materialised and the cow would be too destructive unless it was tethered.  I hear Kardjali calling....where's that tool shop when it's needed.

Beautiful sleep last night and I'm putting it down to a bowl of chips and tomato sauce and that could be another reason for having them again. ;)  Time to get on and I'm having my coffee before setting off on my daily jaunt. :-/
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 1, 2012, 5:05pm; Reply: 1
Tuesday continued.

Well I had the sun in the morning and the moon at about four thirty this afternoon.  Quite a strange phenomena.  Beautiful day though...hot as you like or don't like if you are working on a roof and I think I disturbed Bekir from his slumbers when I shouted up did they want anything from Djebel just before I set off for my student....

Didn't manage to get to Kardjali.  I worked on the garden this morning and got rid of lots of the weeds that were ruining my top garden and tomorrow I build a new raised patch, put in the new broom with some sacking in the bottom so that the roots remain damp and make a new bed.  I've loads of tobacco plants and that reminds me...I have to take some to my student's mother.....when I said that I had tobacco plants growing she associates it with the acres that they grow here and get a subsidy for.  I told her that I grow it strictly for pleasure, it comes in every colour you could think of and at night smells superb.  She was amazed so must put up a large pot of the stuff for her so that she can have it on her balcony.  

My student's lesson today was on building history through the ages and I learnt that Christopher Columbus was buried in Seville cathedral.  Now I've visited it and this was a fact that no guide told me about.  So his homework and he had no choice but to accept it was to investigate the said man and tell me all about him.  Neither of us could remember whether he brought potatoes or tobacco back to this country but I've left him to find out.

Got back with a requested bag of cement and the question of the roof came up on the existing front porch.  To be honest...I'm sick of this roof....and my attention span has wavered somewhat.  A decision had to be made as to whether we extend the roof over the said front porch and Sally muted that we could have a terrace over it and at that I freaked.  Please finish the roof and move on to the next subject.... :-/ :-/

Worked on the top garden when I came home....tomorrow I will make the raised bed and get it installed.  No students, no nothing tomorrow...it is my day.

Supper...not a clue....drink...vodka, tonic and pineapple juice since I didn't have peach or apricot....heading downstairs to see what's in the offing or in the fridge.  LN....  really calm night...no fire necessary not even for effect....it's been a beautiful day.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 2, 2012, 5:01pm; Reply: 2
Wednesday 2nd May

Silly o'clock start again and eventually went to sleep again until six thirty.  What is it with me...either too much of the potent stuff or not enough....must start a diary of imbibement. ;) ;)

Men back.....I told them no breakfast for me since I cracked open a jar of my peach and ginger from last August and had it on toast with lashings of butter.....just the way that I like it.  Today's work has been all about filling in.  Bekir was up on the roof finishing off the wiring of the roof tiles and Sally was awaiting instructions which came after a site meeting.  Windows.....the first decision was to not reduce the width of the corridor window space between the pillars.  Too much work for too little visual impact so we've gone with the potted version thus saving me a man day or so.  The next decision was to remove the windows from the first bedroom balcony, raise the window sill level by one brick and build a column behind the door so that it is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  Also the window sill height in this room was raised by one brick height so jobs a guddun.  I suppose that's the benefit of being on site.  I make these decisions instantly.  Only one sticking point.  In the second bedroom not sure it I want to put a door to the garden in or just leave it as a window....and I think I need to sleep on it.  

So lunchtime we were all in for a surprise.  Apparently one of my neighbours has gone to the great beyond so what do they do here?  The men go to the mosque, the women take goodness knows how much rice and a cow or a sheep (I know not which even after eating it) and they feed the rest of the village and some of the other villages as well.  Mine came, as did my men's with a soft drink so that was lunch sorted and so much so that I think supper is out of the question.  

I've spent most of the day working on the top garden dispatching weeds and tomorrow I'm making my raised bed and planting it out.  The garden is easier to cultivate when you have defined areas...this patch has just gone wild.  My four honeydew melon plants are in, I bought some dwarf tomato plant and carnation seeds this afternoon when we had to go to Djebel to get the mesh for the upper terrace and Socks came to pay a visit late this afternoon.  He's got such a beautiful nature with him.

So men home....as I said I'm not much into the cooking tonight since I have eaten already....probably cheese and biscuits later.  LN....got to tidy up my tools and then back to a new book which is a little strange but I'll enlighten you tomorrow when I'm a bit more into it....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 3, 2012, 9:15am; Reply: 3
Thursday 3rd May

Silly o'clock again and read until four thirty and then got my head down until six thirty.  I did go to bed at ten though last night because I was really tired....that'll teach me.

Down to the yard this morning to pick up four meter lengths of roof guttering since the lorry promised for yesterday with the six meter lengths didn't materialise.  We were promised this afternoon...couldn't risk it...men with nothing to do isn't on.  The guttering has to be placed before they can put the capping tiles on the roof so that should be happening this afternoon.... :-/ :-/

Was taking the coffee out to the men by the stored timber and there was a scuttling and two lizards shot between the planks.  I came back in to get my camera but all I got were their noses peeping out and you'll have to look closely at the pickies...one was yellowish and the other those beautiful shades of blue and green.  I think spring must be here for them too.

So my student this afternoon and I've just found out that my Avatar's sister, that's the one that walks with two sticks and is almost bent double, took a fall yesterday and was taken to the hospital last night and is due for an operation today.  Tomorrow I am on taxi duties....now to get a text for my little beauty to get his head and his tongue round.... :-/ :-/
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 3, 2012, 7:31pm; Reply: 4
Thursday continued

Not making the Kardjali  trip tomorrow apparently.  Number two grand-daughter is running a temperature so Granny to the rescue while mother and father work in Germany.

Metal work on the roof complete and late as it was, they did manage to settle down to a glass of beer and it's the first time this year that it's come out.

Delivered men home,  ent to visit my Avatar when I got home and checked on the patient.  Still running that temperature but sleeping it off.  Supper tonight was a pan fried chicken leg with fried onions and potato crisps.  Delicious...LM...I've got a book to read and a glass to fill....LN.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 4, 2012, 5:49pm; Reply: 5
Friday 4th May

Slept well last night upstairs in the guest room....wanted a change and went through until five thirty so read for an hour or so.  Made some coffee and sat outside for a while but it was a little chilly before the sun came up.

Went to pick up the men and down to the yard to get some tiles so that Sally could put new ones on not the two that he had taken from the stack....tow old ones didn't do it for me.  On the way down there I mentioned that the yellow broom was very pretty and that I wanted some for my garden so on the way back from the yard I stopped the car and out we got.  The first one Bekir pulled didn't have a good root stock on it.....I picked up my window scraper and managed to dig a reasonable piece out and Sally got a piece that didn't have much root stock and what it had had been stripped of it's outer covering.  So when I got back it all went into a bucket and we've decided that we are having a competition.  Bekir reckons that one hundred percent his will take, Sally said that he is two hundred percent certain that his will survive and mine...well not really sure.  So now the competition is on.  I've actually stated that I have the notion that Sally will sneak another one in or will apply Roundup to Bekir's.....it's that serious. ;) ;)  

So they've been up on the roof today and it has been hot, hot, hot.  The capping tiles have to be cemented in place and Sally was supplying the cement and making sure that the line was right and it wasn't like a donkey's hind leg, while Bekir pivoted on the roof.  They were still at it at seven thirty tonight so Sally had red wine and Bekir beer and I got back at about eight fifteen tonight.  It's a long day for me too.

Tomorrow I am off to Haskovo to attempt to get a lawn mower.  I am tired of looking at the ocean of greenery that could be passed off for a lawn with a little effort on my part.  It will make it so much easier to manage.  Need a few more plants.  I've sorted out the ones that I have and lobbed some peat into the posts to give them a fighting chance.  Several geraniums, three fuscias, lots of white busy lizzies to go in and petunias.  There are several self sets of nasturtiums around the garden and I have loads of tobacco, zinnia and white pretty stuff that has germinated.  I just need them to get a little bigger to distinguish them from weeds. :-/ :-/

Lunch was tuna mayo with hard boiled eggs and potatoes thrown in and it went down well.  I finished off with the remains of the black cherries from Lidl and as for supper, I'm not really in the mood.  I've got a glass of the red stuff on the go and I'll see how I feel later.  My colourful lizard has been out and about today.  I spotted him in the 'var' pit by the front gate but by the time I had the camera he had gone.  He was last spotted up on the roof just as Bekir was finishing off for the night.  The reckoned they should leave a hole for it.  I reckoned on fitting windows and doors and leaving it to fend for itself.

LN.....I'm back to my book and I promise I will give you the run down on it.  LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 5, 2012, 5:46pm; Reply: 6
Saturday 5th May

Washed, showered, hair washed and dressed and ready for the big time.  Off to Haskovo with the librarian to do a little 'shopping'.  They arrived at nine thirty as arranged and off we trundled with an empty car.  

Found the shop very quickly and the road from Haskovo to the hypermarket didn't look too promising at first but it was as I remembered it from last September and it just had to be done.  Grabbed a trolley and the first thing to be spotted was one of those up and down wind up umbrellas but on a support arm not a central pole.  It was then laid aside next to the cash desk.  Found some curtain rings, they were put into the trolley and I very nearly made it with only those items but then the lawnmowers came into view.  Now as you know I keep looking at my sea of green and really needed to do something about it.....well I have.  I am now the proud owner of a super petrol driven lawn mower and the men will have to put it together on Monday morning and fire it up for the first roundup.  The beauty of it is that you can adjust the height with a simple lever and it's self driven.  All will be revealed...watch this space....which was more than could be said for the car.  I did say that it was empty when we set off but on the return journey it was full to the gunnels.  Not only did I make purchases but they did as well.

Bought several large flower pots and on the way back from Haskovo we stopped off at a man at the side of the road that we had seen on our way in.  A few antiques were on display and I now have a butter churn and a rather large terracotta jug and had to limbo into the rear seat of the car.

Back to Kardjali and into Lidl to pick up some butter....the local stuff just doesn't seem the same and I think they were packing my shopping round me.  Home, everything unpacked in the hall and lounge.  Several plants are soaking in water and the forty litres of potting compost will come into its own tomorrow.  German beer on the go, supper was chips and mayo and I'm thinking that it's getting a little too often but they were followed by a dish of very healthy grapes.

Chocolates at the ready....the way to hell as they say is paved with good intention....LN.....I'm back to the ground floor and not sure where I'll be sleeping tonight.  It was cold last night so cosied up in the nest....I'll just have to wait and see.....Photo shoot tomorrow if I managed to unpack and assemble anything...otherwise Monday will have to do...LN...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 6, 2012, 4:24am; Reply: 7
Sunday 6th May

Beautiful moon last night and supposedly the nearest it's been to the earth for one hundred years.  I didn't catch it as it came up unfortunately...I was too busy stuffing my face with chocolates but I suppose better late than never.  Early morning start.  I've done the estate, sat out with my coffee, caught the morning sunrise and general have a good feeling about today.....The librarian is still having problems connecting to the internet so I'm off today to have a look at the computer and try to find the best spot in the house for it by moving furniture.  Problem is the wall of the house are thick and they might be on the wrong side of the hill so going to try it upstairs to see if that's any better.

Breakfast calls, got some gardening to do before I set off.  There are three Spirea shrubs that I came back with yesterday in a bucket that need attention.  Must get on.....
Posted by: Hwlffordd, May 6, 2012, 8:42am; Reply: 8
The house looks to be coming along famously!! When will it be ready for guests ?? :)

I'd be happy to "test drive" it to ensure it all works well and is comfortable and ready for "important guests" :)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 6, 2012, 4:57pm; Reply: 9
Quoted from Hwlffordd


I'd be happy to "test drive" it to ensure it all works well and is comfortable and ready for "important guests" :)


Now I take your comments on board...how about we settle for concrete floors, windows and doors before we start experimenting on the comfort potential of the establishment....I should hate you to only give it a four star rating when I know eventually it will receive a five.... ;) ;)

So off to the librarians with laptop in hand and established connection with Mtel with mine and her computer.  This afternoon was a training run on how to emails, play freecell and generally use the laptop.  I thought she was aufait with it but turns out 'no'.  Now she can email....jobsaguddun.

Thundered this afternoon and a smattering of rain.  I had my Sunday lunch and would have gone to Greece for the afternoon but for the lack of a passport that was sitting at my house...next time.  She was taking a carload of locals to the hot springs and a fete worse than death that is only held once a year...and I missed it...or did I?

Back home for fivish.  One of my neighbours came round with a huge pot of yogurt and cost to me...two of my Belgium chocolates...exchange is no robbery.  I also came back with some lupins that will be planted tomorrow along with the other things sitting in the bucket.....I'm going to be so busy and I must go in to get some benzine to fire up the lawnmower.  The book will come out pretty early and I think Bekir will have great fun with it on its test drive.

Lovely calm evening after the mini-storm.  Not much thunder, lightening or rain but sufficient to dampen the gardens.  LN.....back to my book and bottle of the fermented stuff....work tomorrow....  just a few picks of yesterday's gatherings....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 7, 2012, 6:16pm; Reply: 10
Monday 7th May

Six o'clock, read for a while, beautiful sun rise and again we had the mists hanging over the river in the valley.  Out to fetch the men and today was a bit of a 'let's tidy up because we aren't coming back for a while' and I should have spotted it earlier than I did.

The roof got washed down and some metal work completed, Sally was out there with the broom and shovel and everything is spick and span.  It was suggested that the mower came out of the box and so I got the instructions in English, Bekir in Bulgarian and Sally in Turkish and it was all versions to the ready.  I had to go into Djebel to get some petrol and the box said use unleaded which isn't available in Djebel so the other one was purchased and did the job.  Apparently you can only get it in Kardjali so next time I'm there I'll fill up the bottle.  Bekir was on first run when it was fired up and Sally was on 'stone' patrol and I was ooing and aaring....and shouting...'I'm getting a lawn'.  My Avatar came round hearing the noise and watched with a serious face but thought that it was really beautiful.  We had it on fill height just incase we hit anything solid but Sally was doing a sterling job.

So my turn next...first job was to start it and that was a job in itself.  You have to have the handle and the clutch thingy in position and then you pull the rip cord and firstly no go.  Three attempts and I'm fired up and ready for action and it soon demolished the really long grass and we got two of the grass box full to bursting only after about ten minutes.  Well it is about a foot long.  Next time should be easier and enough is enough...tomorrow I am going to clear a patch of debris and a little and often and it will soon be done.  I don't think I'll go for stripes yet.....enough trouble controlling it.  It's parked up under the lounge terrace window sitting side-wards in its box with a lid over it....I suppose the kennel comes later.

So men home and there was a shuffling of feet and Bekir decided that there was no imminent work for them so they are off for a couple or three weeks.  I know they have their own work to do but I hadn't got my wallet with me so didn't pay them....I know they don't mind but I feel bad about it.

So tomorrow's mapped out for me...gardening....I've got my sweet peas in and created a support for them using an old wrought iron gate frame for the one lot and a wigwam for the other.  Now to sort out the flowers from the weeds, get the garden raked and the rest of the 'lawn' cut.... ;) ;)  Had a visit from the stork today but didn't manage to get a really good pickie....it spotted me a fraction after I spotted it.

LN.....another beer calls....I can hear it from here.
Posted by: MOS, May 7, 2012, 7:22pm; Reply: 11
OOooW RED Cabbage HOW MUCH  :P
Wow a lawn there will be no stoping you now that you have your own mechanical cow !!
that milk churn was once a red wine barrel .you arn't suposed to suck on the tap Elsa now look what you have done !! ;)
See you soon sugar G & H
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 8, 2012, 3:44pm; Reply: 12
Tuesday 8th May

[quote=26]OOooW RED Cabbage HOW MUCH  :P

As for you MOS..two bloody rows now don't ask again.... ;) ;)

Early start, read my book, out in the garden by seven. knackered by eight, breakfast and back into the garden renewed.

The top bed is now dug out completely and now has to have the woodwork and stone applied so that it becomes a garden and not a  earthen patch/...that will come tomorrow.  Up in the high twenties this morning so worked until the swear from my wrinkled brow ran into my eyes and headed for the shade of my lovely house to do emails and things.

I seem to be having a high interest from China on my blog and I reckon that they re going to start big time if I give them access so.....application to join denied.  The last bug I got from my emails was from yahoo.cn so I am very wary.

Did my student and the text was about a boy that was not particularly a good son until six months in a outward bound camp made him change his opinion on life....maybe I'm doing more than just teaching English.. ;)

Had a call from Gouljan and she had missed the bus and since I am going that way anyway....she found my car in Djebel....she is now in a relationship...two weeks of it and that is a big thing at her age with a thirty nine year old male....we are off to the woods on Saturday (weather permitting to collect thyme....she wants it for tea...I want it to plant in my herb garden.

Mother of all thunderstorms as I drove home from Djebel only to be greeted by four cows in my garden.  Weather being what it was and grass being very high. so long as they left my flowers and shrubs alone they could munch the rest.  Thunder stopped at about six so I was out there to shoo them out.   Supper tonight chicken curry and I must attend to it as we speak...rice is in the oven and the rest sitting on the hob.

LN....I have things to attend to....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 9, 2012, 5:07pm; Reply: 13
Wednesday 9th May

Woke up at five, read for about half and hour and then realised that I had nothing to get up for so went back to sleep and it was eight thirty when I came to for the second time.  Bliss, sheer bliss.  You don't realise how much it takes out of you picking up and delivering the men back home but I said I would do it, since they don't normally work out of their village and I've always stuck to it.  I do like it when they have a rest though... ;)

Bit of a damp squib day....a little thunder rocketed round early on, rain dribbled from the sky so it was definitely a day for pulling out weeds since the ground was soft.  It picked up around lunchtime and turned into a t-shirt day and I moved the plants that I had in the bowls where they had established roots and potted them up.  Busy lizzies are all out, three azaleas, carnation from my women's day flowers from my student, bush honeysuckles, mahonia and now ready to start a new lot off.  There's so much hedgeline that it would be rude not to.  More seeds planted up so that I can identify the self sets in the flower beds from weeds.  Last year I had tall white flowers and Zinias given to me so I know not what they look like as immature plants but I shall know for next year.

Worked until four thirty and generally tidied the terrace off and moved the bags of coal that I hadn't used into the coal store in the other house, neatened up the logs and swept up the crap that somehow lingers.  Sorted out both of the grape vines and got more supports in for the sweet peas and decided that an early supper was the order of the day.  I've not been eating until about eight after taking the men home so today I did a chicken breast with honey, onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, carrots, chilli and made it into a sweet and sour with vinegar and pineapple pieces served with pasta.  Pretty damned good it was too.

Eight o'clock my time.  Time I went down, sorted out the fire that I lit just because it went a little nippy tonight when the sun went in, chugging on with my book and about to go and get my first for the evening.  LN....time and tide wait for no man or woman in this neck of the woods.  I forgot to mention....the bea eaters are back and swooping in low.  Looks like I shall never get any to settle in Bekir's bee house.... :-/  And the thunder has just started....
Posted by: 50 (Guest), May 9, 2012, 7:32pm; Reply: 14
Brilliant photos as usual Elsa.  The roof looks great.  By the way, I think I may like to conquer Everest some day!!!!!!! ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 10, 2012, 5:11pm; Reply: 15
Thursday 10th May

Thank you for the compliments Danuta...I aim to please and sometimes I just aim...and they turn out OK...as for the climb up Everest, I have contacted Sherpa Tensing's grandson and he is available....when you are ;) ;)

Early morning start, book reading until five and then down for a couple of disturbed hours.  You know what it's like, did I sleep?  didn't I? was that a dream until at eight I was up and doing.  Walked the estate, raked up the rocks from the new garden, watered the plants, planted out the remains of the bizzie lizzies that were lingering in the water beds and decided that I needed texts for my student.  Decided to read for a while before I set sail and forgot my wallet and phone but I went back for them because if you don't have your driving licence on you, you are fined and there is no five day let out for submitting it.

Student today hyperactive but astute.  He's a bright boy.  Bought some more petunias from Djebel....found out the man that delivers the DHL post and went to introduce myself but he had disappeared to make a phone call.  I have things arriving and I want to make sure that he knows it's me that he is delivering to in Dushinkovo.  Thunder is rocketing round the hills and has been since I left Djebel so tonight's update is short and sweet.  The hills are not alive with the sound of music but covered in mist, the odd clap heralding what might be a storm or just a storm in a tea-cup.  I'm going to say LN....my fire is going...supper was the remains of last night's with some curry powder thrown in for good measure and I now have a Catherine Cookson on the go.  Alcohol is Oozo or the local Mastica.....I fancied a change and at four fifty for a litre, I thought I might run to it....or even walk to the kitchen and fill it up with water...LN....back to my book while the thunder, thunders and the lightening lightens.... :-/ :-/
Posted by: linda g, May 10, 2012, 5:12pm; Reply: 16
Hiya Love the pics. 2nd build looks great. I dont know how you do it. U a better woman than me gungadin...lol. Take care. regards from all here. Linda.x
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 11, 2012, 4:48pm; Reply: 17
Friday 11th May

Thanks Linda and as for the jokes, keep sending them but I must admit I steal some to pass them on....bad girl ;) ;)

Quick update tonight....I've been out in the garden all day moving stone and the 'magare' or builders's horse to me and you and putting it out of sight.  It sort of took up a place in the garden all on its own and now is no more.  The stone has worked its way out of the confines of the original little garden and it is now firmly ensconced so that I can get the mower out tomorrow if the weather permits.  The thunder has just started and a few flashes of the white stuff and I'll be shutting down this thing pretty soon.  

Bea eaters are swooping as are the swallows, martins or whatever they are.  They were having a lovely time in the 'not so much a wreck' earlier on...going in through the bedroom, into the hall, round the lounge and out through the upper room....aerobatics at full stretch.  I must check out if they have made any nests in there but it's a job for tomorrow with the camera to hand.

A wasp has made a little nest on the outside of my upstairs bedroom door and unfortunately I caught it with the fly screen when I went out this morning.  Not damaged but I must take a photo before I give it the heave ho.  If it get's bigger it will be knocked off anyway so it's better that the little beauty has time to make another one but not there.

Tuna mayo for lunch and I've got hamburgers for tonight that are about to get fried off with onions and into some of the local big rolls that I've found.  I think it has to be a double decker and I might just happen to do chips with them....Big Macs all round and you'll need them if it rains like it did last night.

So I'm saying goodnight...there's just been another huge clap and that's not applause for the contents of this entry....time for supper and time to let the storm do its damnedest....LN....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 11, 2012, 7:13pm; Reply: 18
Friday continued

Storm's passed so I thought I'd post the pictures.....the hamburgers were delicious....and now it's time for bed said Zebedee...LN.....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 12, 2012, 4:29pm; Reply: 19
Saturday 12th May

Six thirty wake up and not a moment lost in the night...the sleep of the just.  Drank beer yesterday with one tot of oozo to finish off so is that the secret?  Who knows??

Played in the garden and stripped the couch grass from underneath the terrace wall and now I have a bed that I know not what to fill it with.  I thought about rosemary and lavender and bush honeysuckle but maybe I'll leave it for a while until I control the wayward strands of grass...bugger this native gardening...some of them there weeds have been here a lot longer than I have... :-/ :-/

Finished my Catherine Cookson and it was a happy with a big argggghhh at the end of it and now I set about another Anne McCaffrey...liked the last two but this one seems to be an ongoing saga and I have the first.  Must check out the library for the rest of the set....

So there I was trying desperately to kick the lawnmower into action and I realised that Semile's little one (ten years of age) was watching me from the gate.  He threw down his bike and offered to help to which I issued a big NO.  Drunks and children under sixteen should not be near the equipment so I reckoned that if it was a 'no go' I would ask his dad but after a little time in the sun it must have warmed up and at the third pull...there was life Jim and not as we know it.  Went round the easy bits again and some of the 'magare' ground but I realise that it is both too high and too damp to make much of an impression on the virgin stuff.  So out with the scythe and I've felled part of the untouched, tomorrow I shall rake it up and then attack the remnants.  Having said that...we had the storm clouds rolling in again and have just had a brief downpour but it seems to have passed over hence my update.  Gouljan came round this afternoon at five and we were supposed to be going to collect some thyme so that she could dry it and I was going to dig up a few plants to add to my herb garden.  Firstly thought she was going visiting a recently bereaved family and if it didn't rain we were herbing and if it did...there is always another day.  As it happened it rained so despite my offers to take her home, she walked it and thyme and my chunk for the garden will have to wait.

Lit a fire for no other reason than I wanted one....a big log and a few lumps of the black stuff and I have a nice rosy glow.  Vodka and peach and apricot juice on the go tonight and let's see how that effects trhe sleep pattern.  You do realise don't you that this is a scientific experiment???? ;) ;)  LN.....I'm hamburgering again tonight but last night went without the chips....tonight the chips are down....and I'm off to the kitchen NOW...LN...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 12, 2012, 4:39pm; Reply: 20
Saturday pickies that I forgot about
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 13, 2012, 2:58pm; Reply: 21
Sunday 13 May

Woke at three thirty this morning and settled into my book until five, thought I'd get my head down but no go so I'd finished my first shift in the garden at seven thirty.  Breakfast the inevitable poached eggs and made my way out again to tackle the rest of the bed.

I had six of my local ladies round this morning looking at the latest flowers that were growing and generally inspecting the improvements to the wreck.  Communication was mainly through my Avatar so the oohh and arhhs I understood, it's the same in any language.  I was invited to go with them they were on the look out for little daisies that apparently make very good tea.  I declined the offer.

Thinned out my beetroot that seemed to have gone crazy, need to thin out the leeks and red cabbage, honeydew melons are in, fuscias are under the wall, acacia strung up to the fence so that I can weed underneath and weeds have had a good going over especially the bindweed.

Remsier came round complaining about her back and she asked me what I was doing.  I told her that I was cutting down the grass because my new machine was finding it hard going.  Now this is the lady who owes me a day of work since I fetched her daughter from one of the far-away villages and we settled on no payment.  So today it was repaid.  I'd struggled with my scythe using it more like a machete but along came her husband, sharpened up his equipment and he managed three quarters of the rest of the garden before the rain came and yes, it was preceded by gigantic winds and the odd clap of thunder but that seems to have dissipated now.  The bonus is, they are going to take it away and use it for the animals so let's hope for some dry days so that it isn't hanging about for too long.

Fire going....windows closed up and shut in for the night.  I was thinking about going down to the restaurant tonight but I think I'll do Kardjali tomorrow....I need coffee from Billa and I'm sure there is something in Lidl that I can't do without....LN....about to attack the kitchen....I'm hungry.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 14, 2012, 3:51pm; Reply: 22
Monday 14th May

Lazy day and decided not to go into Kardjali but into Djebel instead.  Had a shower and washed my hair and eventually set sail at about eleven thirty.  Walked the market, bought another orange plastic bowl for the kitchen and noticed that they had tomato and other plants. I bought a packet of seeds and there is millions (well close) and I only want about five plants which does me fine.  This notion of boiling them up and making juice and puree for the rest of the year or growing them and giving them away just doesn't float my boat.  So my bush tomato seeds have germinated, will go in as planned and the ten plants of beef tomatoes already in flower that I got for two leva are already looking at home in my little raised bed.  I also bought four cucumber plants for two leva.  Not that I like them but I can give them away and watch the faces of my neighbours when they are ready to offload theirs on to me.... ;)

Met up with the daughter from my restaurant lady today and offered to do some English practice with her.  She is going to college in Kardjali but apparently, the teacher is pretty useless and they only read and never seem to speak it.  I suggested that when I've finished with my student on a Tuesday and Thursday that I go round to her shop and we do an hour.  I want her to get comfortable with reading out loud to me so that she can get some confidence together.  The book that they had given her to read even I found difficult, not quite war and peace but pretty close.  She was over the moon with the idea so I'll make use of my reading sheets that I laminated for starters.

Remsier came round this afternoon to see if her man had been to finish the rest of the garden.....she'd been into Djebel and I think he had disappeared when she got back.  No further activity to report on the slaying of my grass and weeds but maybe tomorrow.  Funny tonight....I was sorting out the bonfire and getting rid of the rubbish when a skanky looking big white dog came in through the fence about to check out my bonfire for toasted goodies.  I shouted at it and it eventually left but I could see it skulking against the fence waiting for me to disappear so in I went and came back with one of the bangers.  So with matches in hand I stood on the terrace and lit it, dropped it, kicked it and my clog shot off and went sailing into the air, the banger landed about two meters from the terrace and went of with an almighty bang....hence the name.  The dog shot off over the hillside but if it's one of Semile's...it's time he fed it some more....it looked a sorry sight.

So just come in....potted up the rest of the petunias, rejigged the supports for the sweet peas and they've at last got the message that skywards is on.  Rain has stayed off today and no howling winds.  Chicken breast thawing so it's something with chicken tonight.....five litres of beer and two litres of wine for seven leva....three pounds fifty of anybody's money or thereabouts. Must make a start on it...LN....I've beer to consume and chicken to cook. Pickies of the veg plot tomorrow when they've had a chance to bed in.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 15, 2012, 3:53pm; Reply: 23
Tuesday 15th May

Three thirty I was reading, nine thirty I was dead to the world with a thunderstorm going and I heard my name being called at the front door.  Came too quickly and realised that my night attire could be mistaken for 'casual gear' so answered the door to my local mayor hand delivering my two bills from M-Tel.  I related the saga of waking at silly o'clock and he said that he had done the same thing but he obviously had come to earlier and was complete with aftershave that was somewhat overpowering.  When I learn the Bulgarian I really must tell him about it. :-/

Student and spent time this morning preparing my lessons realising that I had not one but two this afternoon. Grabbed a cheese sandwich before I set sail and did the heavens open when I got to Djebel...did they ever.  Lessons over and went to the restaurant for a quick catch up with my lovely lady and home at about five thirty.  Fire going, cold as you like tonight and I have just seen the most spectacular double rainbow from my landing.  There appear to be several pyroclastic surges coming from the tops of mountains but this double rainbow seems to go on and on and the main one is complete.  Just beautiful and it appears to be ending in Gouljan's garden so I bet her father is out.  One day filling holes in the road and the next digging them in his garden for that illusive pot of gold.

About to head for the kitchen....I have another chicken breast and this time it will end up in a curry.  Last night's was pan fried with onions and mushrooms and served on toast with mayo...delicious but I think I ate too late hence the early morning start.  LN....the thunder has just started so computer must be put to bed early....and kitchen calls....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 16, 2012, 5:37pm; Reply: 24
Wednesday 16th May

Seven thirty start, coffee, out into the garden, rescued some plants that had been really rained on overnight and drained them off, toast and more coffee and decided that it was a morning for getting the washing done and the house cleaned.  It was cold outside, no wind but it was damp and there were a lot of clouds hanging over Greece but what's new....

Finished my book, had a bonfire and just managed to catch the washing and bring it in the house before it started to rain but then it stopped again so out to the garden and my task for today was to start digging up the dandelion plants that have sequestered themselves in the what I am coming to call my lawn.  With trusty English fork in hand and Bulgarian spade I was easy the ground with the fork and bringing them out with the spade....long roots and some of them must have been there for a long while.  Put an edging plank down the side garden.  Nothing was defined and now it is and planted it up with Zinia, Marigolds and Nicotina and we'll see what lives.  

Came in at just after eight and I was surprised how late it was.  Had lunch so not in the mood for supper though I did get some mince out with good intentions.  I don't think I shall starve for one night.  Just had a phone call to say that a parcel has arrived via DHL and that was super quick.  I have to go to the bank to collect it though since her husband is in Kardjali tomorrow and did I mind?......no....it's a new bank card.

So LN....I'm sorting out the French beans tomorrow...they need sticks to go up and so do the tomatoes and cucumbers....that could be fun.  Students in the afternoon and then off for a long weekend...lovely life....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 17, 2012, 9:10am; Reply: 25
Thursday 17th May

Rain, rain go away and don't come back....we've had torrential stuff bucketing down.....and on top of that thunder and lightening but just at the moment there's a brief lull so I thought I'd give you the weather report from Bulgaria.....students this afternoon, so got some preparation to do...enjoy your day...I've put the draft together for the boat and the animals are lining up in an orderly fashion... ;) ;)

But into each life a little rain must fall....
Posted by: Joanna, May 17, 2012, 4:25pm; Reply: 26
It's been raining in buckets here too. Oh well a chance to go to the big town to get some seed and some office type work done. Got to be done sometime ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 17, 2012, 5:43pm; Reply: 27
Thursday continued

Went to pick up my card via DHL and my first job was to compliment the lady on her command of the English language.  My next question was how did you get my number and since I hadn't given it to the bank I've not a clue how it appeared on the DHL paperwork.

Well I did my first student to be told by his mother that he hadn't done his homework but by the time I had got upstairs it was all complete.  Good boy....On to my second, I am amazed at the lack of proofreading in the book that we are using.  Apparently it was issued for a three months course free of charge but the second section you have to pay for...thank goodness they didn't have to pay for the first.  There are so many glaring errors in the first. I would have been really sad to have had my name associated with it.

Spaghetti bolognaise for supper and after I left you this morning I went for the Bulgar wheet meatballs mix and I have twenty four of the little beauties awaiting frying off.  I followed on with black cherries and natural yogurt and am now stuffed to the gills.  A little more wine to wash it down I think and then off to my little nest to see what tonight brings... eight good hours is all I require...pretty please....LN...let's see :-/ :-/
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 18, 2012, 1:46pm; Reply: 28
Friday 18th May

Kardjali this morning...will pad you out on the details later...thunder has just started with a vengeance and it has rained non stop all day......how's that for a quick update.

I'm cooking those meatballs but have turned the first lot into something else since they all dissolved in the pan.  The rest are in the oven and we'll see what happens.    Might catch you later with some pickies...but don't hold your breath...you could die..... ;) ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 19, 2012, 5:05pm; Reply: 29
Saturday 19th May

Quick update on yesterday....my find in my 'change of ownership' clothes shop in Kardjali and brand spanking new linen jacket with the price tag of 154 Euro reduced to half price then found it's way to my shop for .....just under nine pounds.....quality and it's the sort of thing that is useful out here when the insects start to nibble at night.  Driving back and stopped off in Djebel to get some money out of the cash point and the blinking machine stole my card.  Fortunately the new one had arrived the previous day but shock horror on my face...thank goodness it had arrived or I would have been sleepless in Bulgaria.  So decided to check my statement and noticed a charge of twenty five pounds on my account that I knew nothing about so phoned the bank....apparently it was after my fiasco with the pensions people..... they stopped paying my pension in January and I'd not noticed until I was refused money at the cash point, came home, rectified the situation by shifting money around and the charge was for five days of going over the agreed overdraft facility.  Now I've never used it...it's been sitting there and I said that I thought it was excessive for five days after being with them for seventeen years or thereabouts.  So from the desk who could only agree to fifty percent refund to the supervisor who eventually....and by this time I'd probably spent the refund on the phone call...agreed to the refund.  In the old days I'd have threatened to take my overdraft somewhere else...but it's the first time that I've had dealings of this sort with them but after all, I'm a good customer.   Moan over....

Today's weather has been about as grim as the last five days but it did at least clear up a little for the fete in Djebel.  Not good enough for me to parade my new coat so decided that I would potter in the garden which I've done for most of the day.  Found lots more dandelions that have been removed, my tree has had the ground under it dug over and I'm thinking that a dollop of my tobacco seeds might pretty up the area and have almost uncovered my original stone heap so that I can start putting it at the bottom of the fence to stop the sheep sticking their little heads through and eating all my plants and do they like forsythia.... buggers.

Couldn't get the bonfire going for love nor money but I suppose everything is just so wet.  I was hammering in a metal spike to make holes for my bean and tomato poles when suddenly I realised I'd hit the water table...very wet underfoot and guess what...it's just started raining again.... :-/ :-/

Tested my meatballs out and they were horrible so Tommy has had his supper.  My Avatar did have a swift look at them and I think that she thinks I'm wasteful but if the dog has a meal from them...I don't think they've gone to waste at all.....so now my supper is in the dog....I've got to think of something else...so I'm kitchen bound....LN.....no fire lit yet but perhaps to bed early with a good book might be on the cards since it's eight o'clock here and it seems a waste of good wood for about a couple of hours...LN...must get on.

Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 20, 2012, 5:11pm; Reply: 30
Sunday 20th May

Stupid o'clock...not even silly o'clock.  Three thirty wide awake, tried to go back off but no go so read, had coffee. lit fire since I was cold and decided at seven that it was time that I made for the bed and slept until nine thirty.  So meandered the morning in my pyjamas, attended to the garden and then was disturbed by the front gate and Byser was make it hot food to Strar Mushes Kushta and I don't know if she wanted a partner in crime but I was at the ready.  It was the first time that I'd looked into the house / shack and it was grim but on the window sill I saw a pretty little vase so I asked if I could have it and since the things that I get attracted to mean nothing to them.....it is now sitting on my shelf between the lounge and the hallway.  I love it.

So pottered today as yesterday and have had a really chilled time.  Thank goodness the weather has improved and it was almost tee-shirt weather today.  I don't know if you remember but there is a brother of the ones that I bought the houses from who visits about this time and spends about a month here.  He is disabled but has such a beautiful disposition and face and we chat quite a lot.  He is over for the fete worse than death in Djebel and remarked that he had see Bekir and Sally there yesterday.  I asked about Star Mush and he provided me with a video on his mobile saying that he spends most of his days in bed since his hips don't work.  Not much of a life from the one that he had here but that's age for you.  I asked him to give my regards to him if he sees him soon.  Thinned out and replanted my red cabbage and if any one asks how much I shall suspend their member ship but the tally is now three rows.... ;) ;)

Supper tonight was barbecued spare rib pork chop with roiste potatoes and my over-wintered broad beans...and they were delicious.  To follow I had baked apple stuffed with my peach and ginger jam with fresh yogurt and now I'm stuffed.

Amazing result with the fire...I lit it at 6.00 this morning since I was cold and made the fire lighters to get it going this evening and unused....it was still going so with a little kindling it was roaring and is now doing what all good fires should do.

So LN....I'm into another fantasy novel and it's getting good...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 21, 2012, 4:56pm; Reply: 31
Monday 21st May

What a day....I've worked on my stone and weed heap all day and at last it's looking almost in shape but I'm knacked.  Weather was up and down ....no rain but when the sun came out it was really hot and then it clouded over but as I said...no rain so that's a bonus.

Not much to report today unfortunately...it's like that when you get into the creative gardening thing.  It is vaguely reminiscent of a burial mound now that it's uncovered so perhaps I could have it identified as the tomb of Zeus or somebody important and start charging entry fees. ;) ;)

Surprise visitor this afternoon....Emaule who used to come and visit my workers dropped by to see if they were here today.  He's been working in Zante for the last two months picking spinach for the Germans...apparently they can't get enough of it.  He's as brown as a berry and puts me to shame.

Sat and watch the kamikasi birds.  They were diving into the other house and coming out of every opening there was.  They went in via the balcony, once round the upper floor and down to the lower and out through the windows or the doors.  Beautiful to watch but they did take a breather on the electricity cable.

Need to go and get creative in the kitchen...almost eight my time and nothing prepared yet....and I think it might be something with chips.  Off to the kitchen...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 22, 2012, 5:07pm; Reply: 32
Tuesday 22nd May

Six thirty start this morning and I'm whooping with joy.  Coffee, emails and the weather is well...acceptable but cold.  My last night's fire was just ticking along nicely which I was surprised at but outside was chill.  Apparently there was a earthquake last night but I was none the wiser for it.  Just north of Sofia according to the press.

Found a new feature on my washing machine.  I've only had it for two years and not bothered to check it out but last night I was waiting for the electricity to go into 'cheap time', set the machine, found the 'delay' button and it must have done it while I slept.  Pegged out the heavies this morning but the lightweights were on the airer in the upstairs bathroom and cooked to perfection by one thirty this afternoon.  Sky was going darker so brought in the rest and now hung up, fully aired, might be ironed if I get completely bored but doubt it.

Sorted out my texts for this afternoon, pottered in the garden and uncovered a huge ant's nest....frighteningly so.   Brunch came next with the gammon left over from last nights gammon, potato, onion and cheese omelette so I made fried bread and fried egg to go with it.  Fully stuffed for the day.

Did my lesson, moved on to the next and as I parked the car afterwards near my leva shop there was a bang as I switched it off.  I thought that it was one of the elastic seat covers giving way but when I came to start it again there was a clunk and nothing.  Went back to my student's mum and dad's shop and he came out and immediately there was a downpour.  I hovered with the umbrella, he shook the engine, gave it a go and it turned over.  The thunder started and we were back to square one with the last of summer waving goodbye.  Goodness knows what it was wrong with the car and I'm just waiting for it to happen again. :-/ :-/ :-/

Home, fish fingers and chippies, supper over by seven thirty normally unheard of in this neck of the woods.  Fire burning well. Now it's turned into a beautiful evening....LN....I've filled the wine lake again so I'm going to embibe... ;) ;) ;
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 23, 2012, 8:27am; Reply: 33
Wednesday 23rd May

What a morning and it's only eleven fifteen.  Silly o'clock start but I fell asleep in the chair last night so by the time that I went to bed I'd already had a couple of hours.  Trouble is, I lit the fire and it's so nice to curl up in front of it.

Breakfasted by eight, toast and peach and ginger conserve, had a bonfire, came in and did some emails and a few Freecell and decided to go out and get in the potting compost that I bought yesterday and sort the plants out.  Thought I might as well 'walk the garden' and looking at the new bit of fence that I'd put up it looked like there was a length of hose pipe sticking through.  Closer inspection called for but realised that it was the tail of a snake got up reasonably close but couldn't see the head of it as it was coiled round outside of the fence.  Now I'm not very brave so I went along to see my neighbours to ask if there was a man they called out in such circumstances but there only solution was to shoot it and I'm not into doing it damage as long as it doesn't do me any.  The consensus is that there are very few dangerous snakes in Bulgaria but I didn't get that close to find out.  

So while I was out, I joined in the loose woman breakfast party and had soda bread and rice with black pepper in it and I explained in Bulgarian about the snake and my trusty translator Hacebar did the rest.  They asked me what the English was for it so maybe they'll remember so when they all speak English it will be my turn to laugh at their pronunciation as I'm sure they do at mine.  But I keep going regardless.  So came back at it's still there but the tail is now outside of my domain so perhaps it's taken the hint,  Lunch I think is over at my Avatar's house and again is rice with veal and onions.....le's see if I'm invited.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 23, 2012, 11:26am; Reply: 34
Wednesday update

The snake has been disposed of....it was one and a half meters long and was poisonous (so I'm told). It  appeared to have taken up residence in my metal drainpipe that's been in the hedgeline for a long time...shame...wrong place, wrong time.....but I'm not really sad to see it go.  I would have kept looking for it.   :-/
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 24, 2012, 4:34pm; Reply: 35
Thursday 24th May

Quarter to seven this morning and I had a pretty lazy day.  The weather's as dull as ditch water, again it rained overnight and today has been pretty grim up until this evening.  Now I didn't bother to get dressed thinking that I would have a quick wash this morning and a shower before I set off for Djebel for my student.  And isn't it always the way....one of my loose women came round on the pancake trail....she had an armful of the things and it was obviously her task for the morning to deliver to the community.  I had my allocated two and I thanked her and said 'breakfast' and she laughed....there again it was twelve o'clock and she'd probably been up since silly o'clock preparing them.  My next visitor was the water board man with my bill and I had to really dig deep to pay it....for one month....four leva and thirty two stotinki.....roughly two pounds....and I make sure that I give him the exact money....I didn't get change once and so I now take care of the stotinki and hope the leva takes care of themselves.. ;) ;)

Dull when I set off and so I put on my new coat and it feels good.  I've not known it to be this cold in the time that I've been coming here...what with that and earth tremors...what is the country coming to.  Rain did stay off and found out that the schools weren't working today since they are celebrating the founding of the Cyrillic alphabet so the children were dancing apparently in Djebel and I missed it.  I asked my student if he took part and all he said was....'I watched' and didn't seem to have any enthusiasm for it at all.

Went into the supermarket and got enough to last the weekend.  Got back and unloaded the car and it was at that point that the thunder started for real and the heavens opened but now it's turned into a lovely evening glow.  Everything is very green but after all the rain, it flaming well should be.....'it's Summer' she was heard to yell to the countryside.

Supper over and done with tonight....chicken liver risotto...delicious and last night's fish curry was the d.b's too.  I wrote the name of the fish down but unfortunately my student's mother didn't know what it was even though it came from the local supermarket.  Foreign muck. :-/

Back to my book tonight.  I'm really trying with it, have thrown it down a couple of times but still pick it up hoping that it might just get interesting.  One more try.  Bea eaters are out swooping as are the swifts and so interesting to watch with their aerobatic jaunts.  LN...time I said goodnight.  Pictures are from yesterday...nothing much to photograph today.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 24, 2012, 5:55pm; Reply: 36
Thursday update

Well I said that there was nothing worth photographing today but I was wrong.  There is a huge hare grazing in my garden and he has been for the last half an hour and where is that super zoom camera when you want one...still in the shop or on ebay and I really need to get one.  So beautiful to watch.  He went for the ready cut stuff, then decided that he would go for the 'pick your own' but much as I willed him to move up towards the house, he wouldn't but there again if he'd have been after my red cabbage...I'd have been soon out with the broom like Mr McGregor in Beatrix Potter Tales of Peter Rabbit.  

LN....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 25, 2012, 4:03pm; Reply: 37
Friday 25th May

Seven thirty this morning but I did have a brief respite at one this morning when I knocked off a few pages of the latest book that I've started.  The one that I abandoned is sitting on the table in front of the wood burner on the back burner and I think it's likely to stay there.  It would be providing heat if it were mine, but it's not and it has to go back.

Out to the garden and did a circular tour but came in pretty sharpish...it's cold, it's damp, it's miserable and it's June almost.  Never have I known weather like it over here...England yes....and as I understand it, England is undergoing a heatwave.....sucks.  Played on the computer this morning and created a spreadsheet in Excel where my knowledge base isn't the strongest.  Worked though and all my columns add themselves up and give me a grand total...grand. Phoned and caught up with the library and I'm paying them a visit on Sunday.

Ordered the bit that I want for the Beast from the internet and I got a new one not used and it should be delivered to the UK in time to come out with my next visitor since they wouldn't dispatch to Bulgaria.  Eventually I decided that enough was enough so I put on a fleece and some woolly socks with longish trousers and headed for the flower beds to thin out the tobacco plants and spread them round a bit.  I sorted out the flower bed infront of the wreck, got rid of the grass and weeds and filled it with tobacco and marigolds and then it started to rain.  I carried on for a while but then it got to be a downpour so down tools, made a fish finger sandwich for a latish lunch followed by pineapple rings since I fancied something sweet and lit the fire.  Now not too bothered about supper and the chicken breast might have to wait until tomorrow although....sweet and sour chicken now that the pineapple is open might be on the card.

So my adoptive pigeon Walter is spending time between the electricity cables and the garden.  The sparrows think it's Christmas since they have all that free hay for nesting  and I had the Golden Oriole back, the woodpeckers, a couple of hoopoes, bee eaters and the cuckoos belting forth despite the weather.  Hive of activity it's been outside but not a lot inside.  Waiting to see if my hare returns tonight...it's getting to be its time.  

And I'll leave you with these picture of my little world and I'll imagine you out with the vinegar and applying to over-exposed white patches that are now showing more than a hint of summer....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 26, 2012, 3:34am; Reply: 38
Saturday 26th May

So last night I was watching a film on my pc when there was a knock on my door at 10.40.  Now I don't leave the outside light on but obviously thought that someone in the village had a problem and it was my Avatar clutching a bag.  She asked me if I could drive her to Djebel and I said that unfortunately after a couple of brandy and waters I couldn't risk it.  She explained that one of her granddaughters was off to the Black Sea for three days with the school and had forgotten to take the bag with them when they left yesterday.  Me ever the solutioniser, said that we could go in early this morning....I asked how early and she said that she had to catch the bus at six so we agreed on a five a.m start.

Boots blacked, two ladies strapped into Beauty, two young ladies sprung from their beds, one left to catch the bus, and one brought back to go back to bed at grandmas.  That's youth for you.

It's a beautiful morning and let's see how long it last but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good day.  The plants that I moved about yesterday had a good soaking in and I forgot to mention that the hare did in fact graze the estate last night....can't mention it to anyone round here though....they'd be out with the shotgun and have the barbecue lit ready.

A full day ahead of me...it's only six thirty and I feel like I've done half a day already.....let's see what I can get up to. ;) ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 26, 2012, 4:29pm; Reply: 39
Saturday continued

Breakfast was local feta cheese with bread and more coffee and I messed around on the pc until the mood kicked in and out I went.  The flower beds from my downstairs bedroom window needed sorting.  The plums that had popped up from root suckers needed grubbing out and the self seeds were all over the place....all done and dusted but the weather has been up and down.  Moved some of the hay that was cut down so that the grass underneath  doesn't suffer so badly and checked on the weather forecast for the next two weeks and it was now or never to get the lawn mower out.  Tomorrow is destined for rain and is most of next week....rats...but won't be many of those around...it's too wet.

Managed to get the lawn mower to start eventually but it took a lot of swearing on my part and I always believe it helps...well it made me feel better anyway.  You know what it's like...first off it won't start so you get the book out, read the appropriate page and try to follow the diagrams that suffice for three different types of the same machine and you wonder which one in fact relates to your machine.  Go out try it again and this time it's no joke and you mean business ...and then...it springs to life and I managed to do the top half of my garden just before the rain came down.  Result.

I had guests this afternoon and it was the full conducted tour....and I explained that I was working outside so there had not been a lot done inside.  They do live in the village but they needed Hacebar to bring them in ...maybe they were shy.

Supper is underway....and sitting on the wood burner and will be ready when I am.  Beer underway and despite my four thirty start....I've had a good day....library tomorrow to try to root out the rest in the series of the fantasy that I am enjoying...LN...my supper should be ready by now and I'm certainly ready for it...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 27, 2012, 6:32pm; Reply: 40
Sunday 27th May

So all the best plans of mice, men and me were all up the wall today.  Last night I spoke to my librarian and the women in the village wanted to go to the mega market in Dimetriograd this morning so the plan was that I would go with them and they would pick me up at approximately eight this morning and off we would go.  Now the weather didn't look too promising and I thought it was a bit ambitious so at nine fifteen I was still waiting and so made the phone call.  No they had changed their minds because of the weather and so it was agreed that it was back to plan A and I was there for about ten thirty.  As I arrived in the village one of the local ladies that I know said that they were wanting to go off to Greece for another festival and mosque day and that my librarian had said that if I had my passport and I wanted to go that we would all go.  Guess what....as fortune had it I was carrying the said identify document and we loaded up at twelve thirty and off we set.

Now I've never done the Grecian road to death before and who didn't have her camera to capture the moment.  We set off for Zlatograd and the road is all down hill from there except that you have to climb steadily for about twenty minutes before it decides to go down that hill.  The road is aptly named since the Bulgarians and the Greeks haven't a clue about keeping to their side of the road and the road is really only for two cars each clutching the mountain or the valley side.  The scenery is beautiful, the mountains creased against each other with the villages and hot springs scattered about.  Now these local ladies like to take the hot water but today was different....there was a festival in one of the villages and people came from miles around to visit the mosque. Lamb and rice dished out from cauldrons were handed out freely to everyone with a container or in some cases plastic bags filled. Also bread, a cinnamon and honey and another very sweet honey cake were handed out for afters.  The sun came out and we all dined al fresco, the men in the mosque, the women in the women's place, or on the streets, free milk was handed out and the water was delivered from the various springs on the high street.

People on the other side of the Greek mountains carry the title of Pomacks and have often been referred to as 'Bulgarian-speaking Muslims' and therefore historically been categorized as part of the overall Bulgarian Islamic society or the Turks.  The border with Greece separated families like the Berlin wall.  With the border now being open all gathered under the sun on this special mosque day.  There were stalls set out along the way selling all sorts of items and the young ladies were dressed in a most aspiring way.  Their clothes were beautifully 'coutured' and it reminded me of Gibraltar in the old days where the local ladies had their chaperons when they took the Sunday promenade.  Again I would say...where was my camera when I needed it.

So back to the feeding frenzy....and it certainly was.  The ladies that we were with were wanting enough food to feed their husbands and villagers because it was considered 'holy food'.  We came back stuffed to the gunnels and definitely enough for the villagers that were waiting for out return.  We didn't see the hot springs.  Someone made the mistake of saying that they had to be in Zlatograd for three thirty and when we made the turning, there was nowhere to turn round and out fate was decreed. There will be another day and the camera will be the first thing to remember.

Back home now.  Managed to gather some wild plants for the garden which will get put in tomorrow and they will certainly be watered in....it has poured down yet again and I drove home through flood and high water but at least it stayed dry while we were out and about.  So the only photo I have was taken with my rubbish phone and that was of the cakes...so here goes....what a lovely day out.  LN.....a little beer I think to get that rice moving.  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 28, 2012, 6:03pm; Reply: 41
Monday 28th May

I woke up to rain, cold, grey skies and the only thing to do was have poached eggs on toast, light the fire and laze around between pc and games and my book.  Not really inspired to do much but then I walked the estate and decided that it was perfect weather for digging out more of the dandelions and the deep rooted stuff but came in when I was too wet to be outside so back to my book,  As for the roots on those things, some were about a foot long so they must have been in a few years.  There was a squelch when they came out.....English fork to loosen them, if they came they came and if they didn't, the spade went in and forced the issue....not many didn't succumb to the technique.

Back to my book again but it did stop eventually at about four so out I went again with the trusty tools, decided to move some bindweed from the bed to the left of my frog looking from the house but that's when catastrophe struck.  I lost both clogs in the bog, managed to rescue one, walked back to the house in my socks, put my leather clogs on, grabbed a beer and the fork and dug it out.  Not to be down hearted, washed them out came in and heated up Saturdays night's sweet and sour chicken, added curry powder, had an early supper and by this time my clogs had dried out sufficiently to carry on for a bit longer.  

So sundown at eight my time there abouts, tools away, more fuel on the fire and back to my book when I've finished this. The clouds are gathering again and I just hoe it doesn't rain, my pot plants are so waterlogged and my tomatoes are not looking the best of specimens....we want some sun so please England, can we have our weather back?  LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 29, 2012, 4:19pm; Reply: 42
Tuesday 29th May

What a thrill to wake up to sunshine and misty valleys but the novelty wore off as the day wore on.  It was pleasant enough this morning....I had a deputation of my Avatar and Hacebar and I'm still not really sure why they came round except maybe they were just passing.  I asked my Avatar if she had any work to do and she replied in the negative so I offered her the shovel which she was quite willing to do so I laughed.  They both went home with some of my bush tomato plants and zinia plants that are now growing profusely in the wrong place but hey....what they do with their vegetables I can do with my flower plants... ;) ;)

Again I was grubbing out the dandelions but they are only this seasons so the length of the roots is negligible.  I was going out to carry on with the rest of the new flower bed but the weather and lethargy got the best of me so I came in and played a few games of freecell and got some texts printed off for my student.  

The lesson went well but I get the feeling that his mother had had to hound him to do his homework but he made a fair job of it and answered all of the question sheet that I had put together.  We then had another text to go through and his homework for this week is to carry on where the writer left off and finish the story in whatever way he wants.  That should test him...he has to use his imagination and his use of the English language to complete.

Went on to see Dani and we set about translating the book, The Night of the Jackal', that she has to do as her homework from English to Bulgarian.  Now this is stretching me somewhat but we're giving it a go together with the help of Google.  What did we do before Google?  We finished the first page but she did have to serve in her clothes shop.  My little birthday buddy (her daughter) came into the shop while we were working away and she is now learning to count up to twenty having got ten under her belt.  

Stopped off at the supermarket on my way home and I think the owner is asking if I will teach him English...The girls on the checkout were laughing so much and he wanted to know if I had children, how far I lived away from London but he didn't ask me the question that most Bulgarians do...like how old are you?....maybe he's saving that for another day.  

So home for six thirty, fire going, haricot beans after soaking for the day are in the slow cooker, wine poured, spicey sausage casserole for mains and I've got banana and yogurt with honey for afters.  Walter has a girlfriend and I think he invited the family to dine at 68 this lunchtime but when they all landed on the roof...I had to make enough noise to tell them that fifty or so of them were not welcome.  Didn't see Harold Hare last night so not sure where he's dining....'The Ship who Sings' is no more so I'm on to the next tonight and I think I'll go for a murder mystery and give the Fantasy a break for a while.  I've just been reminded that it's two weeks before I have visitors so must get my list out and the wood burner pipes are top of it looking at the smoke that came off it tonight and the colour of the glass window....that's more than likely tomorrow morning if the rain stays away...LN....must get on I'm hungry....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 30, 2012, 5:54pm; Reply: 43
Wednesday 30th May

Woke up at six, looked out and realised that there wasn't much to get up for so went back for another couple of hours.  Unlike me I know but it was a grim day.  It brightened up so out I went with my trusty fork and spade and set to firstly on the dandelions...which is a bit like hide and seek...they hide and I seek them out...and I moved on to the hedgeline to try to try to join up the gardens.  Now this has been dug over once until nature reclaimed it so the couch grass is not as deep rooted as it was first time round but the intention was to complete it and get some flowers in.  Unfortunately the weather overtook me and yet again....I think I'm going to adopt the song 'It's raining again' as my theme tune for this year.  Not only raining, we had the full works, thunder, lightening and a very big hail storm leaving a lot of plants looking not too good.....it's May for goodness sake...come on lads.

Now you might ask which sheep is Shawn ....well they all are.  Obviously Semile has been very busy and they bounded over this morning all looking very white apart from the brown, coffee coloured and black ones.  They've obviously been 'rammed' as well sporting different coloured stamps on their back.  Novel idea....I wonder if they have a sense of achievement if they manage to pull the red or green one.

So to fill the afternoon I started a new book and it's supposed to be on a par with Hannibal Lector ...so we'll wait and see.  I was feeling cold so thought I would light the fire and it suddenly occurred to me that there was more smoke in the room than going up the chimney so at this point I decided to have a silent panic.  I remember on my birthday two years ago when the little one caught fire and since then I have heeded the warnings.  With my trusty shovel I emptied out the biggie and set to to clean the pipes and chimney connection.  Yes...should have done it earlier but now it's done...at one point I think I could have gotten a part in a Chaplain movie...but all clean now and the fire is going and everything in the garden is rosy.

Student tomorrow....off to Lidl first thing to buy an electric toothbrush that's on offer, probably will visit the window man to get him to come out to measure up....and then to the bed shop to order my mattress.  Just realised what the time is...there is no supper underway...the lounge is cleaned up but the downstairs bathroom is rather soot bound so I still have work to do... LN...this might just be the night to have a beer and forget about food...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, May 31, 2012, 5:44pm; Reply: 44
Thursday 31st May

Slept the sleep of the just last night and woke up at six thirty and burst into action.  Well not really.  The debris from last night's chimney assault was still waiting for me in the downstair's bathroom.  I did nothing with it at all last night thinking that tomorrow is another day and it certainly is.  Where I had trod through the soot there were Robinson Crusoe like footprints only this time not in sand but in soot.  Hoovered up the majority, and set to with the mop and bucket and cleared the bathroom, removed the towels and stuck them on a 40 degree wash and it looked like we might just have a day to dry them out.  Right but wrong.  Went to do my student at 2.00 and it was fine but half way through the lesson and it was thundering again and throwing it down.

Decided that today was a day for Kardjali.  Lidl had an electric toothbrush on offer and now it is charging in the hall.  There are some weird and wonderful instructions for charging the battery and one of these days I might read the manual.  It has three settings and advises you to think of your mouth in four sections and gives directions for total oral health with a special programme for gum hygiene.  Bed they don't sell many here.

So topped up on a few things from Lidl, got home at about six thirty and unpacked the shopping.  Not much to do really...the fire is going, the meat for tomorrow's supper is thawing, enough in for the weekend and a good book to keep me going.  LN...tomorrow's food is sorted tonight's is still in dispute.   Burst into action or head for another beer...time will out as they say...eight forty five my end...almost time for bed...LN
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