Friday 1st June

Morning ...white rabbits and if they were out there I couldn't see them for the fog, morning mist, whatever you like to call it.  It might burn off around lunch time by which time the thunder will probably start again and the rain.  I'm not a cynic, I'm turning into a realist and realising that global warming is not happening here.  I even dug out a pair of my winter pyjamas last night and there is a danger that all my winter gear might be replacing the summer stuff that is hanging, ever hopeful on coat hangers as we speak.  Seven o'clock my time and the cheapo watch that I put through the shower yesterday has dried out over night and is now showing the correct time.  It was touch and go or rather touch and not go for a while, but it's pulled through.  Coffee and book spring to mind.  I met up with Remsier yesterday and apparently all the hay that was cut has spoilt so it's going to be got rid of either by burning or dumping it on the rest of the garden that needs cutting down as a mulch.  Drawing board coming into play today....but first coffee.....catch you later

Friday udpated
Managed to finish the weeding of the hedge down the eastern side of the garden and it is planted out with zinea...what will take will be beautiful and I'm hoping that they all do.

As predicted the rains came at 2.10 so I thought the only sensible thing to do was to go to virginal pit and sleep for a couple of hours and it was still raining when I awoke.  What is it with this weather????

Read my book, lit my fire, cooked my spaghetti to accompany the bolognaise that was in the slow cooker, poured a glass of the red stuff and went back to my book and ate my supper.  Not a good day weather wise but as expected... :-/ :-/

Finished supper and decided that it would be good to go out and have bonfire of all the hay that was cut and even that was too wet too burn so at nine ten my time I have called it a day but have stacked it all up ready for tomorrow.  

LN...let's hope the weather improves....I have thins to do like the mother of all bonfires tomorrow to get rid of all the rubbish from the garden.  I'll keep you updated....

Saturday 2nd June

Beautiful sunrise and not much to burn off this morning.  You just kept waiting for it to disintegrate though and it gave a hint this afternoon but then it passed over......just the faint rumble of thunder.

So what did I do today.  Pegged out the washing, pottered in the garden, moved the sofa from the hallway outside and put on the outside cushions.....this was if I found the time today to sit out.  I treat this as work and this morning it suddenly hit me that I am allowed a day off.  I feel driven sometimes to get on with things but it's only myself being the task master or in my case mistress.  No one is looking over my shoulder.....so today was one of those days.  I did work in the garden, had a bonfire but realised that the wind was just too strong to get a good one going.  I think there is a rethink as to what to do with the stuff that's been cut.  I think I should plonk it down the bottom of the garden on the builder's rubble and then try to dig it in and see what happens.  I can always run round with the round up to sort it out if too much seeds.  Looked at the lavender this morning and some thumping great dog has broken one down so I gathered up what I could and now it's looking healthier inside in water.... :-/

Had a lovely surprise today.  Last year I bought from Momchilgrad a beautiful variegated petunia that had a beautiful perfume.  I thought I had lost it, tried to keep the seed but to no avail but on closer inspection, what I thought was tobacco growing was in fact about twenty five of the said variety.  They are now rehoused, in various flower pots and in the main garden and some have even found their way over to my Avatar.  Only snag is...I didn't realise that I had one big pot inside another so I've got to wait for them to become rooted before I can turn it on its side and slide the other pot out....it's far to heavy now that it's full.

So the remains of last night's supper is warming up in the slow cooker.....I'm just about to put the rice on and add some chilli powder and kidney beans to it....little beer might be called for to help it on its way so I'm off to the kitchen now to make final arrangements....LN

Sunday 3rs June

So I woke up this morning and couldn't work out if it was Sunday or Monday but I now have another day of weekend.  Six thirty this morning ....drank coffee....cleared out the dross from underneath my kitchen work top tiles after spotting a couple of ants and realising that the offending beasts had been brought in on some onions from the local supermarket...the offenders are now outside.  By the front door I have flying ants...I realise these things have to procreate so I was round there with the anti-insect spray and found the site that needed eradicating....it is now eradicated.

I have erected my new over the top umbrella. Yes we had rain again today, only a brief downpour but sufficient to bring my book in and rescue the cushions from my activity centre. The umbrella was downed and only raised sufficiently to dry out.  I did a little work in the garden but decided that Sunday was my day of rest and then found out that the Jubilee celebrations were on BBC so chugged into the channel and watched it.  The best moment for me was Land of Hope and Glory and I still hope it can be but I doubt it....it's for others not for us...but the girls were amazing...soaked but still singing.

Shame about the fly-passed but the weather rules the skies like it rules the waves.  Queenie still looks good as does D or E....got to give it to them....eighty six and ninety...not a bad score.

So .....not a thought about supper...or about any thing else....I'm going to chill mode...LN....here are my photos of the event that made me smile...LN

Monday 4th June

Five then went back to sleep until seven,,,I've decided that if I eat too late then that's the way it goes.  Last night's supper was not the healthiest, egg and chippies with mayo so I got what I deserved.  So full from last night that a cup of coffee, or two was all that I was up for this morning.  I tried to get the bonfire lit but the breeze made it almost impossible to control so I've decided that the cut grass is going to be piled on top of the stuff that hasn't been cut yet and most of it is done.  Underneath the cut stuff, the grass / weeds are wet, the ground brown so I've moved it so at least it can dry off and tomorrow it there is no rain overnight I'll be able to go over with the mower all the way down to the bottom of at least half of the garden.  The rest will have to wait until the man with the scythe is up and ready for action again.  I was very tempted to lob the old cut stuff over the hedge but I'm sure that I read somewhere that it's not good for the animals...memo to self...do some more research on the internet.

Really hot today and decided at lunchtime or thereabouts to get under my umbrella and finish my book. Quite a good story, the author likened it to Hannibal Lector and I would beg to differ.  Nice twist at the end though.  

Lunch was alfresco....onions, tomato, local cheese and a couple of hard boiled eggs...very tasty....must get some more potatoes tomorrow, the two that were left were not really worth bothering with since they were a little soft so they got planted out this morning.

Lawn mower day tomorrow and at last the garden has some colour in it now that the sun has decided to shine.  My yellow flowers out and I noticed the dreaded Colorado beetle has emerged from the soil and is beginning to attack them so tomorrow must get some spray from my hardware shop to eliminate them.  Not quite Monty Don style gardening but no way can I squish them between my fingers. things.  The seem to head for tobacco as well as potatoes suppose it's where they can get a meal.

Tidied up outside, notice that my little fire of household rubbish has just sprung to life so I'm out to attend to it.  LN...a woman's work is never done.... ;)

Monday continued

Just had to pop back.  The moon tonight is just beautiful.  My camera just wont catch it in all it's splendour but this is the best I can do...LN

Tuesday 5th June

So it's a quick one tonight..the thunder has started rattling and goodness knows where it came from  ...it has been such a good day.   Well in retrospect only up until lunchtime but I was I was so busy up until then that I never noticed.

Cleared the rest of the hay but since it was still so damp from the overnight mist the lawn mower was not coming out to play...There is another day to do these things.

Showered, hair washed for my student but I'm sure he doesn't notice.  The text was prepared earlier this morning so it was a sail trough to lunchtime.  Into Djebel...bought the Colorado beetle powder, did my lesson, replaced the two buckets that I had given to My Avatar....went round to my favourite restaurant and met the family and sat for an hour with the English book that I had given my five year old lovely birthday brethren.

Home via the supermarket for tomatoes and potatoes and arriving home, left the bucket by the car with a couple of loaves of bread in it while I talked to my Avatar and noticed that Bycer had shunted two cows up the road and only one was visible.  I ran up the road and the loaf of bread was no more so I flung the rest at the calf.  My Avatar at a run now decided that it was for Tommy's supper so rescued it.

Gouljan came round this evening with some plants for the garden and hers make mine look like...well I wouldn't like to mention.  I offered her a glass of the usual which she accepted and we talked boyfriends...hers not mine.  The outcome is that we are off to Haskovo on Saturday since she has no one else to consider.

Supper was a thawed out fillet of an unknown fish that I decided to do it as the Thai's do as sweet and sour...it was absolutely delicious served with pasta....must go now...the thunder's really rocketing around...LN  Two thunder claps nearby and two electrical outages...time I went and pickies tomorrow...LN

Wednesday 6th June

So as morning follows night it happened and I hadn't got a clue what time it was.  The bedside clock was flashing at me and as I went off to the distant drone of the UPS for my central heating pump so this morning it was silenced confirming that we had power.  It was just a horrible night last night.  We are all pretty sick of this recurring thunder, lightening and rain and not just rain, but buckets of the stuff.  It's breaking down flowers, battering the lavender and generally upsetting things.

Having said that....the sun came out so I was out with my trusty fork attacking dandelions and deep rooted things when who should come round but my neighbour and her husband still intent on paying back the debt for the trip I made around Christmas time.  He came round carrying his trusty scythe and his bag of bits, she came round with the pitchfork and just as they were sizing up what was left, it started to rain again.  I told them to leave it but he wasn't having any of it and set to.  It was just a shower and he worked away, she raided the cherry tree and asked for some of my tobacco plants which I willing gave away since they are crowded in the bed.  I planted out the plants that Gouljan brought round yesterday but the remainder will go to my student's mum to put down the garage.  I have just too many.  

Tommy hit the bonfire pit where I'd disposed of the remains of my very hot chilli beef and I thought his eyes were about to pop out of his head.  His tongue was out and he was coughing a bit...that might teach him.  The grim reaper stayed for about an hour and then headed home and sent his wife to pick up his tools at about five.  I don't think his heart was in it and who could blame him.  It came on to rain again as we were loading her up to set off up the road and not sure when will be the next session.

So supper tonight was chicken wings done in the oven and I found a bag of potato wedges that I'd got in Lidl and plonked some of them on the top and they cooked through beautifully.  I'm late tonight.  The sky is mottled with pink and grey and the sun is bound to be shining somewhere.  Hopefully it will be here tomorrow.  Off I go downstairs now...the fire was lit at about six and it's really cosy.  No sign of thunder tonight....maybe it heard me shouting last night for it to be gone...only I didn't use those words.  LN ;)

Thursday 7th June

Six o'clock start but that's good for me saying that I hit the sack at 10.30 last night....slept the sleep of the just and woke up very refreshed.  I went out to test the temperature with a very cloudy start and I soon came in again.  Rather a cloudy start but it burnt of beautifully and it was very hot this afternoon.  

My grim reaper arrived at about ten thirty, left at eleven to get his cigarettes and returned to floor the rest of my grass/brambles/weeds.  I think I amused him by going round the garden and removing all of the long rooted stuff where they would just put round up on it and finish the lot.  Having said that it is at last beginning to look like a lawn of sorts and it I keep taking out the weeds eventually I know that it will look OK.  There's just such a lot of it and the weeds come permanently form the hillside next door on three sides.

Student today...he insisted on munching through a box of chocolate biscuits and offering them to me as he went.  I had a couple but when I went to the supermarket later I bought him a box as a present...if not for him for the rest of the family...was my lesson so boring?  We did the pyramids of Giza and I threatened him that he had to translate it for his mother into Bulgarian.  His home work was good though.  When it came to write two sentences about the water board he thought it was funny to write 'They give us water and we pay them money'.

Down to the restaurant this evening and met up with my favourite restaurant lady and we went to see the house that is up for sale.  The first one I even refused to take pictures...the stone walls were falling down and it needed pulling down and rebuilding but the spot wasn't even worth considering.  We drove up to another one that might be being sold and this one was in a better location with views over Djebel.  Two and a half decara more or less and the house has great potential.....but it all depends on the price.  The local lady is going to phone the owner in Turkey to see if they want to sell and if so how much they want for it.  Pretty house.

Chicken in the oven tonight with some more of those oven roast potato wedges...finished the wine so down to the beer.....tomorrow I am taking the rest of the plants to the garage and digging up some of my strays to accompany them.....then on to the library with provisions since their car is off the road.

LN.....things to do before tomorrow....

Photo update

This is one that just didn't want to post yesterday.....and one of the well...with water....no hosepipe ban here...

Friday 8th June

Early start, out to the garden and was already pulling up roots by seven of the clock...nice cool morning air and they were coming out as easy as pie until I spotted this one.  It had been scythed down yesterday by my grim reaper and I finished the job this morning.  The ground is so wet and I am into the water table and out they sloosh...apart from this one.  I had to really dig deep and tug hard and eventually it slid out...and what a beauty it was.  I didn't measure it and it is no real competition but the satisfaction of removing such a whopper is ...well no words for it.

Dug up zinnia from my nursery garden and marigolds from the pathways and put them in a bucket with the rest of the Gouljan mum's biggies.  Had a shower, washed my hair and I was in the car at about ten thirty, delivered the said plants in the bucket to my student's mum, picked up the bread, milk, chicken for the car-less librarians and as a bonus added two litres of wine as a means of sustenance.  It was really appreciated.  Went down with the younger librarian to the town and we discovered that ice creams really hit the spot and stopped off for a coffee.  Back to the library and was amazed to see that they had an owl nesting in the loft who was doing a rekkie over the new chickens that they were incorporating into the flock...One down and don't know how many to go but she has chicks to feed with their chicks...nature will as nature will.

I plundered their garden and came back with pink and blue cornflowers, lily corms, vigorous lavender, and aloe vera plant that must be placed in gritty soil and a busy-lizzie....and I call that a day's work.

It's all in the respective pots apart from the lilies that go in tomorrow and then turned my hand to supper fancying cold chicken with potato salad but when we came to the 'salad' bit I had no mayo so instead fried them off and made a quick sweet chilli sauce to have it with....washing up done, the nest has been demolished and I am on to summer bedding, the washing machine is doing it's stuff and tomorrow I am off to Haskovo with Gouljan for a spot of shopping....LN....the wine lake has been replenished... ;) ;)

Saturday 9th June

Silly o'clock start but came too eventually at about five thirty so grabbed a coffee and surveyed the estate.  I didn't go back to bed used my trusty fork to dug out a few more of the dreaded dandelions.  Emails, facebook, CSH website and then on to Freecell to while away the time until I could get down to get my breakfast and sort out a few more things...washing out and dangling...as I said the nest is no more but it is so warm tonight that I timed it right.

Haskovo at 10.00, my fanbelt was making strange noises yesterday so on the way I got the garage to check it out and it is booked in for Tuesday.  I look after my cars so that they will look after me.

Uneventful journey into Haskovo but on the way stopped off at the man that I got the pots from last time.  I bought another two and a half barrel converted ages ago and it now has metal feet and is about thirty centimeters off the ground...He mentioned something to do with lemons but I didn't get the gist of it and Gouljan was too busy trying to get me a discount.  I got a huge pot and a one that I can use as a candle stick and I think that might come inside.

Gouljan had come prepared with a list from her father and we had to find the only lorry parts supplier in Haskovo.  Eventually we got there but the part that they were able to supply only came in a kit so it was back to the drawing board and eventually into the shop where my lawn mower came from.  Today's list was insect destroyers and I managed to pick up three that go into sockets for the house but without having to replace the tablet everyday and two electrocutors for the terrace.  I thrill to the sound of 'pop, pop, as I'm steadily sipping my vino.  Had lunch in the restaurant and went into Metro and were told that we had to have a special card but she let us through this time.  I picked up a 24 pack of toilet rolls for seven pounds ish and that should keep me going and my guests happy.

Did the Lidl shop on the way back....Gouljan home....lit my bonfire to get rid of all of the old grass that is clogging it up, looked at the cold chicken and smelt the curry powder so became creative....fly/insect/mosquito thingies all in action....LN....it's time to tidy the tools up outside and get a drink...LN

Sunday 10th June

Early start and worked out in the garden potting up old plants into new compost until I decided that I needed a shower.  It has the makings of another beautiful, hot day.  

I was drying my hair out in the sun at around eleven thirty when the rush started.  Remsia's daughter and grand-daughter came to turn the hay closely followed by Remsier and her husband so I thought it wise to put on a few more clothes than my all in one underwear and medium length shorts out of courtesy.  They were busy so I decided to drop my head forward and brush my hair down wards to dry the underneath and then my Avatar arrived with her nephew who speaks English very well and has a kebab shop in Ipswich and is over for a holiday.  Must be some money in these kebabs...he is over for a month and I gather that his family is over in Turkey...so pleased I put on the extra attire.

He wanted the conducted tour and I apologised for the debris.  Well not really debris but I hadn't made my bed and the washing from yesterday was still waiting to be folded and taken up stairs but...takes me as you find me.

Very hot this afternoon so I settled in with a beer and a book on my activity centre with the sunshade up.  My eye-lids were heading southwards so down went the beer and the book and I headed for the upstairs bedroom and got my head down for a couple of hours and now am benefiting from it.  I might regret it tonight but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Settled down again with the book and again Remsier was back with the daughter to turn the hay again and they were surprised that I was reading and drinking a beer.  Off they went again only to return with a huge sheet and now the hay is stacked up at the bottom of the garden and tomorrow they'll be round with the donkey and trailer and remove it.  So my task for tomorrow should I choose to accept it is to get the lawn mower out and take it all down to a reasonable length.  Where they cut it down before it has started to grow and needs to be attended to before it gets uncontrollable again.  So tomorrow morning a quick rake over before the sun has any power in it and jobs a guddun.

Not into supper...too hot to eat so might make something later....LN....I'm back to my book.  It's been a good day, I've deweeded the vegetable and flower garden but still they grow....

Monday 11th June

Well yesterday's afternoon nap didn't disrupt the sleep of the just.  I was awake at six though but lasted out until six thirty and didn't even bother with a coffee, I went outside to walk the estate, picked up my form and went dandelioning....new word...add to dictionary. I was doing OK until some low flying something must have settled on my wrist and did I have a reaction to it.  It came up in a lump so out with the Sudocreme but I think I need to take remedial action and get some anti-histamine tomorrow.  It seems to be swollen and I've had to remove my bracelets in case they are worrying it....give it overnight and I'll see what it's like in the morning.

Decided that I would be in for a while so did my mail and I now find out that my guest arrives on Thursday, not Friday.  So everything is being brought forward a day and tomorrow it's 'get the shovel out' and clean under the beds. ;)  Looked down the garden and Remsier and her husband are removing the hay and lobbing it over the fence....and by the time I went to check it was all over and the donkey with the cart was ready to be loaded.  They got two good loads apparently towards the winter feed and two more fields to go.  It looks so much better and after having the snake in the garden a couple of weeks ago, it's much more sensible to keep it as close to the ground as possible.  

This afternoon went as if to thunder but it didn't and the rain stayed off.  I kept looking at the grass and knew that it was in need of a trim so out with the trusty mower at about four thirty, tidied up the edges as best I can until I get the strimmer, and just caught the sun going down as I cleared away the tools.  Really feel I've had a good day in the garden and at long last the tobacco has started to flower and is adding more colour to the garden.....just waiting now for the zinnia and that should top it off nicely.

Forgot to mention, my hare was at the bottom of the garden this morning.  As long as he stays at the bottom and leaves my veg alone....he can visit when he wants.  The jay was flying backwards and forwards and the cherries are decreasing rapidly.  I suppose I should at least collect some and do something with them but they were a let down last year...not sweet at all.  So into the kitchen to look for something to eat...it's got to be something quick and simple...it's almost too late to bother.....LN...I'm on the hunt... ;)

Tuesday 12th June

Five thirty start mainly brought about by a throbbing right forearm and I suppose forearmed is forewarned.  It was and still is very red but I managed to transplant twenty four of the leeks into their permanent place and only another fifty or so to go.  

Came in for breakfast at about eight and decided that there was washing to do since it was such a lovely day and four loads were completed and the last hung out just before I went in to see my student.  Tomorrow is the cleaning day and Thursday last minute potter and my student and then off to meet the Sofia Kardjali bus.  My friends know how to make it down here for twenty two leva on a full sized coach...cheap as chips.

I kept looking at my arm and wondering if I should be doing something about it.  Showered and set off for my student, delivered a load of bottles to the bottle bank, round to the carpark and straight to the chemist.  They looked at it and uummed and aarred and I ended up with twenty four anti-histamine cream and tablets for just on three pounds.  I remember in the UK when I started with a bout of hay fever after several years without an attack and the tablets were so expensive.

So tablets taken but one bright soul said that it is normal guessing at what had bitten me and said that it was nothing to do with an allergic reaction but that it would be gone in three or four days and it was nothing to worry about.  Went down the garage after the lesson and had the two belts change, car pressure washed and the bill came to forty leva...just under twenty pounds...try that in England.

Supper was a spicy sausage with onions and diced potato, tomato, honey and chilli with some fresh crusty bread.  Beautiful day weather-wise, the garden is watered, the leeks are looking a little better, crickets are bursting their little lungs or rubbing away their back legs and I'm waiting for the fireflies to come out to play.  Magic to watch when there is no other light as a distraction.  LN and wish me luck tomorrow...I have lots of work to do starting probably with a few games of Freecell just to work up to it... ;) ;)

Wednesday 13th June

Unlucky for some and it was for me today....there is no corner that has not been unturned.  All the carpets up, hovered through, all the floor tiles washed, curtains removed and OK...so I'm late with the spring clean...now that our summer is here but it had to be done.   I have guests tomorrow... ;) ;)

It's not that the place was dirty but when the fire is no longer needed it's time to get it ship shape.  I managed to even clean the windows on the upstairs landing and there are only three outside ones that are destined for the hose.....I just can't reach and there has to be some solution but I need my men back to solidify the ideas that are coursing through my brain and it's all to do with getting  a sort of metal trellis attached to the balcony rails on the upstairs terraces.  It's been through the drawing board stage...once.

Just lit the bonfire to get rid of the last of the dregs although I do keep adding to it with the baby dandelions.  It's quite therapeutic and I suppose one day there will be none...one day.  It's when Sally says that the house will be finished and beautiful and my response in Bulgarian is always...one day.

Update on arm....swelling has gone down but the bite itself looks very angry.  I dowsed it with some sort of spirit stuff from the chemist (not the local supermarket) to see if that will draw it to a head and that's what I feel it needs....not pretty.

So camera didn't come out today...I've been too busy doing mundane stuff....now down to the kitchen to find something to eat and drink...well the beers out already so it's only the eating that needs to be sorted....LN...my bonfire needs attending to before my glass....LN

Thursday 14th June

Well six thirty this morning out in the garden and came in at nine o'clock and marveled at how much I had done.  More dandelions removed, bonfire pit cleared out and surrounding plants removed so that I don't set fire to the hillside.  Thirty more leeks have been planted and lots of marigolds that have grown in the wrong place have been rehoused and watered in.

So student today and we discussed Petra and his homework is to review Nike goddess of prosperity.  Don't I give his some tasks to do... ;)

Went to pick up my guest from Kardjali stopping off and loading up from Billa with all the essentials like beer.  Supper tonight was cold cuts with potato salad and a little of the red stuff to wash it down...Hard life.  Since he had an early start, tomorrow will be a simple task, as you please, before I give him the agenda of what he has to achieve before I'll let him on the plane...

LN....just washed up and I appreciate that this update is late...C'est la vie....

Friday 15th June

Out this morning at 6.00 and planted up the hypericom that was a pressie from the UK and had to find a place for a bag of red onion sets that had also been delivered.  I'm stuck for space now...all my growing ground is full so had to dig over the space between the rhubarb garden and the house getting rid of the weeds as I went and it is now firmly established as 'veg garden'.  Tomorrow morning the rest of the leeks will be parked up with the red onions and fingers crossed that something comes out of it.

I also found a very sad looking lupin so on the edge of the new garden there are two little beds that had become really overgrown with bindweed and couch grass and the lupin is now housed in one of them.  New flower bed dug that needs wooden edging to stop the soil falling onto what will be the lawn when I get some grass.... so still being creative.  And all the while I was working, my guest was calling the sheep home or snoring his little head of and at nine thirty there was a grunt and a growl and I went in to make breakfast.  I had some really meaty sausages and served them with a fried egg on toast...

Out again in the garden, we strung up the vine to save it trailing on the floor, Gouljan arrived at five thirty for her hot six o'clock date and I sat in the garden until I felt it was safe to leave them unchaperoned.  He's thirty seven, she's thirty three but this is Bulgaria.  It might work...he's looking for a wife and she wouldn't mind a husband so tomorrow I've convinced her that they should go out for a coffee or a meal in Kardjali and he has her number.

Supper tonight was chicken in red wine with onions and mushrooms served with rice.....delicious ....washed down with a little beer,  We sat out and watched the fireflies doing the flashing thing and at almost ten my time, it will soon be time to get my little head down.  Started a new book about the Peking siege of the women.  I'll keep you informed on that one and Baidou Spider should be busy for the next week or so....

Now I promise, promise, promise to get that camera out and post some pickies and I believe I have found my next one on Amazon...just need to check out the immediate finances before I make the purchase.  I'm only a pensioner you know... ;) ;)....LN...'leeking' tomorrow  morning....

Saturday 16th June

Out in the garden at seven and did some weeding and planting and everything is looking good.  Why do weeds take over when left to their own devices...nature reclaims its own so quickly?  So with my trusty English fork and a lot of stamina I've only got one bed to go and that's destined for tomorrow morning.

Breakfast was sausages and tomatoes so absolutely stuffed until tonight...the sausages here contain no fat and unlike English ones maintain their bulk during the cooking process.  Took the Beast in for about twelve of the clock and the new part shipped over courtesy of my guest is installed and the fuel tank drained of water yet again.  Cost for job...ten leva, cheap at half the price.  Had a phone call and have visitors tomorrow from about two hours away so the kettle will be on for about ten thirty and we'll see how the day pans out.  We might be lunching...depends what they have on their agenda.  Went over to the library this afternoon and sat out in the sun and had a chinwag.  Brought back their computer and a sewing machine that doesn't work and it will give my guest something to play with if he gets bored.... ;) ;)

Did a little shopping and stocked up with fruit juice and I just happened to spot a bottle of vodka and I thought I would give it a good home even if it is only temporary.  It opened up tonight and showed me some of its charms and mixed well with the apricot juice and tonic water...such a good mixer.  Supper was a chicken curry followed by honey dew melon and that should see us through till tomorrow.  My Avatar came up with natural yogurt and some of her chicken eggs this morning but I insisted on paying for them much to her chagrin.  She is on a very tight pension but is so independent.  

Night is falling....nine thirty my time and I've not even got round to doing my Daily Mail sudoku for the last tow days...the joy of having guests....LN...I've got yesterday's and today's to do....

Sunday 17th June

Breakfast was my Avatars eggs boiled for five minutes but they were so fresh that mine had to go in for a couple of minutes more for safety.  Fresh eggs don't do much for my alimentary canal.  Got the scythe out and felled the lane and the rest of the stuff down by the bonfire and the garden path and threw the debris over the hedge for the sheep to take the hard work out of grazing.  I was prepared for visitors at about ten thirty but they eventually arrived at about twelve so it was coffee and then into the lunchtime scenario.  We peeled potatoes, onions and carrots and had a very successful lunch of potato salad, coleslaw, cold meats, cheese, crispy things and took about one and a half hours over it.  Very relaxed.

They came bearing gifts.  I had originally asked for cuttings of various jasmine, spirea, escalonia, honeysuckle but they came with about four year old shrubs and now I have to read up on the stuff that I never asked for to see if it is winter hardy.  I should take cuttings of all of them before they go in just to make sure that I have substitutes.  They showed us pictures of their newly acquired house and their garden seems to be at the stage that mine was before Remsier's husband did his stuff on it.  They need a local with a scythe and if he takes the stuff away if will cost nothing for him to do it...look at it this way...you are doing him a favour in the bartering society.

So no supper tonight...I am still fairly stuffed from lunchtime.  My guests are on their way home and I am very grateful for the gifts...we've had a lovely day....LN

Monday 18th June

So this morning up at six and into the garden watering the plants that I forgot about last night....started the bonfire and had a mare of a time...it just didn't want to go but moved all of the new plants into the patio of the wreck where there is not much sunshine during the day.  It will be cleaned out and PHOTOGRAPHED tomorrow when it is fit for the public gaze.

Headed off this morning for Haskovo stopping off for breakfast in Djebel and yes, it saves me a job.  We managed to find a computer shop to get a power supply for the librarian's computer and that is one of the tasks for tomorrow...Then on to Haskovo and to the hardware store with a list.  I got my petrol driven strimmer, found a shelf unit for the upstairs landing to take all my 'bits', drawer sliders for the yet to be made furniture, more chisels and a new outside bench.  The car faultered a little as we set off from the hardware store but I part registered and thought nothing of it.

Driving home and stopped for fuel and hey ho, paid for it, got back in the Beast and all I got was a 'click' from the starter.  Now it was hot but at this point I was blocking the petrol pumps so they huffed and puffed and moved me to the side of the garage away from the pumps and I telephoned my garage and it was arranged that the owner would drive out and rescue the damsel in distress and any hangers on.  I prayed to the car god using several adjectives that only car gods know and after forty minutes the bloody thing started but my car angel had driven already to Kardjali when I sent back the message to turn again 'private' we have lift off.  Homeward bound I went to the garage and recreated the issue....and they resolved it by hitting the starter motor with a bloody great iron bar and lo and behold...it worked.  Drove to the shop and apologised for the dragging out and explained that I had been to the garage and described the scenario and the garage owner said that all he would have done was...hit it with a stick....

Tomorrow the car goes in for the starter motor to be stripped down and new brushes inserted, Gouljan is wanting a lift and will be in the bus-stop at nine and I will have my student at ten...sounds like all go tomorrow.  The bench is assembled and I've yet to find the perfect place for it in the garden. the shelving unit is still in the box and the strimmer instructions have been read and absorbed.

LN....tomorrow looks like being busy and I really must find a decent text for tomorrow to keep him from falling asleep.....LN...

Tuesday 19th June

Five thirty start and decided to try to go back to sleep but nothing doing so six o'clock down and in the garden and came in at seven thirty.  Well that was my morning exercise over.  Breakfast was gammon with fried eggs but the novelty of cooking will wear off I know...just give it a couple of days.  Found a text, printed it off, created a Wordsearch using the words from the text and his homework is to do the Wordsearch and make up sentences using the words from the Wordsearch.  That should keep him busy. ;)

Just before I picked up Gouljan this morning, Biysea dropped but to ask if I was going to Djebel and could she have a lift to visit her sister.  I told her to get her skates on which in local language is ...get your long jacket on and change your headscarf and you'll be ready then and she was.  Picked up Gouljan and there was the welcoming committee waiting and I heaved my neighbour into the Beast since it was going in to get its brushes sorted along with the windscreen wipers that had definitely seen better days.  Everybody dropped off at the appropriate drop off point and straight to the garage to dump the Beast....back into Djebel with the garage owner and then up to my student.

Today's text was all about the Alaskan dog sled race and how it all began....and we looked on the internet and found the course and pictures of the event.  Finished at about eleven thirty, chatted in the shop for a while, picked up some shopping and back to pick up Gouljan at the end of her day at 2.00 and home James,  

I didn't manage to get any real gardening done it was weeds, bonfire and general tidying.  Went to scrounge some beans to add to my few and Jack would never have got to see the giant if he had relied on mine.  Tomorrow is the gardening day and I'm about to get my L plates fitted when I test drive the strimmer.  Tomorrow could be fun.  All my new plants have to have homes.

LN.....I'm going to hit the sack and get my strength up for tomorrow....I will report....verbally and visually....LN

Wednesday 20th June

Slept in until six forty this morning and had a bit of a lazy start.  Sat out with my coffee and even went in for a second cup and made enough noise so that my guest was awake by seven thirty and we were breakfasting by eight.  Fried tomatoes on toast followed by banana and my Avatars's home made yogurt.  

Threatened the garden with the new strimmer and the lawnmower but my heart wasn't in it....instead I sorted out the new plants and potted them up into something that might mean that they live instead of the little fiddly pots that they came in.  I've kept all the labels and have to draw a plan of what goes where since there are some that I've not come across before.  The pots have all been kept for my visions of a market garden and I have enough different ones now to make a start... ;)  I've even attached one of my Ikea plant supports purchased in a sale about three years ago to the wall of the terrace of the 'not such a wreck as it used to be' and it's looking quite pretty with the advantage that it is all growing in pots and can be removed when the men come back and start concreting.  Had to have a trip into Djebel though to get more potting compost.  The lady in the shop thinks that I am throwing good money away and what's wrong with cow manure she thinks.....

Sorted out the top of the landing so that the new shelving unit when it is built can fit in there.  It's destined to take books, printer paper and all the usual gubbings associated with the top of the landing office. And what a lovely office I have....the views are stunning.

So supper was chilli beans with gammon with garlic roasted bread followed by melon and ginger.  Wine has run out so it's top of the shopping list for tomorrow and it's a shopping trip after my lesson with my student.  Time to get a book out....I've tidied up outside, watered the garden and now it's time to water myself...LN....I've got a drink to pour... ;)

Thursday 21st June

Morning.....up at five thirty, garden watered, coffeed but not breakfasted yet but as I sat down on the lounge terrace to rub out and re-do a Sudoko I looked up and saw an amazing beetle that had no right to be able to fly.  I can only assume that he had a force landing after bashing himself on my windows for part of the night....so here it is in it's full glory.  It rather has the appearance of a rhinosaurus on a lunar landscape... :-/

Just added a few of the newly potted up shrubs and through the square window there is a Polish Spirit clematis...and after one night in big pots they're all looking happier than they were in the small ones....

Friday 22nd June

Not such an early morning start, well sevenish, but the wine took a battering last night and I wanted to come round slowly....and I did.

Now there is a brand new strimmer sitting in the wreck and my guest was trying to persuade me to give it a test drive but I managed to delay the experience until later this afternoon.  Now I thought the thing had a push button start but no such luck....it's the same as the lawn mower but I've sort of go the hang of that.  I lashed it on to my back, eventually got the settings suited, dropped it lower to have sufficient space to get it started and airborne.  

Various problems with the new strimmer...the cushioned strap is not cushioned enough, one of the screws is missing from the carburetor housing, the lever for the 'choke' works the opposite way.  It's Bulgaria.  Lawns completed and it looks almost like a garden...

So tomorrow it might be a trip to Haskovo....not sure yet, I could do with some concrete outside tiles to get the garage for the lawnmower set up...

Supper tonight was sweet and sour pork with barbecue sauce and roasted potatoes.... and quick update and bed...I'm falling asleep already...LN...

Saturday 23rd June

So last night's update was sketchy...I was falling asleep when I was typing it and had a really good night's sleep waking at six thirty so out to the garden, watered the veg and plants and then on to weeding underneath the wall.  I'd given myself two tasks for this morning and both were accomplished by ten thirty.  Jobs a guddun.

Decided that we would go into Kardjali for lunch and to get the bits to finish off the repair on the librarian's computer.  We couldn't get a switch for the machine and it was decided that a piece of wire would not be suitable...it needed the real thing.  Another repair job, the sewing machine was stripped down.  It was one that was bought from the local market by the Librarian and was a nineteen fifties Elma with Swiss precision that must have been very precise about the time it was manufactured but sixty years later....despite all the effort the worm cog that supported the bobbin load was stripped and don't reckon there's much change of getting a replacement in Bulgaria....so she was sold a 'pup' so to speak.

So off we went, back to the computer shop and ended up buying a new case since he didn't have a switch, I got a new mouse since my has the judders and I was about to throw it on the hillside and also purchased a new USB six hub port.  The cable on mine was suspect to say the least and Gouljan has the loan of my other one.

Lunch was at the Chicken restaurant, had to go and pay my M-Tel bill after a shirty text this morning that they would suspend my service if I didn't cough up, walking to the shop I found a new flower shop and got a super big Berberis and another couple of plants from a very nice man that was amazed that I could attempt Bulgarian.  Billa for beer, Leva shop for one or two things and home for five thirty more or less.  Computer is rebuilt in the new case and is currently having a disk check done on it and hence the late update since my monitor was otherwise engaged, it is destined for the library tomorrow and we are invited for lunch.

Went out to sort the bonfire and ended up weeding the rest of the vege patch....It's ten fifteen my time and it won't be long before I hit the sack...Just another beer to sort me out...dehydration you know...you have to learn how to stave it off.... ;)  LN...at least my new mouse is working fine....

Sunday 24th June

Garden watered at silly o'clock due to my neighbour deciding to turn over her hay really early and a dog joining in the mosque chorus with a superb howl.  I sat down with a coffee and turned to my book but my leeks stared back at me so over to the newly created garden, used my dibber to get another twenty of so holes, dug up the appropriate number of shoots and they are now heading for winter soups....that's forward planning for you ;) ;)

My guest has finished the new gate and it is in place...tomorrow I need to cover it with woodstain so that it looks the part and we need a corner taken off the bottom so that my ladies don't have to struggle too much to enter the abode.  Pictures will be taken tomorrow after the staining so that you get the full picture.

Off to the library at twelve for Sunday lunch and to return the sewing machine that should go back to the market from whence it came and the computer complete with new case and power supply.  Got it on the internet eventually and it has update upon update to perform and spent several hours doing it.  On our approach to the librarian's house we were met with her car parked in the middle of the road to her house.  Apparently the neighbour has build the new wall before installing the new road on land that has been purchased for the purpose from another neighbour.  The idea of the car was to stop the wall being completed so that it cut off access to her property.  I chatted to the man and suggested that the road should have gone in before the wall was built but all that I received back was a question and to how much my pension was to which I replied that it was enough.  The librarian's car was removed and returned to its yard and the wall remained unbuilt during the time that we were there.

Ended up erecting a couple of wall units similar to the ones that I have on my landing since she met with difficulty building one...think Ikea and instructions... :-/  and now she has two.  We have also acquired another sewing machine for repair...does the list never end.  So came home with a letter explaining the situation with the wall and the new road and decided that on the way back we would call in at Gouljan's house so that she could do a proper translation.  Her brother and sister in law were leaving as we approached and so I said hello to my Christmas fairy (the daughter) but I think she was confused with my guest's beard and she must have thought that Santa had arrived early. :-/

Anyway...home with goodies of natural yogurt and eggs, wine opened and we sat out until the tzzzz of a mosquito made me decide that a move inside would be the best bet.....Supper is a packet of bacon crisps and another glass of the red stuff.. beautiful day and not a bad night... ;) ;)

Monday 25th June

Five thirty and yet again and I'm thinking that I need a course of sleeping tablets.  Not really....it is so pleasant out in the garden at that time in the morning and you get so much done before there is any heat in the sun.  Did the weeding though and watered the garden and moved some of the piles of dust from the wreck terrace so that when I come down from the soon to be bedroom I have two concrete fence posts to land on.  Much safer.

Had the intention of getting out the strimmer this morning/ afternoon but today it was over thirty in the shade so no sooner was it up but it was very fierce so settled into a book at around mid-day and read for the best part of the afternoon.  There were a few rumblings of thunder and it clouded over but it came to nothing.  So no rain for the last two weeks or so and the hillside is looking very dry and so much so that one lone sheep decided that it would make a play for my garden but it was soon shown the hillside in no uncertain terms....note to self...must put back the netting that was removed at the time of the snake.  The gate is up as I said and gave it one layer of preservative but before the photo is committed to the web I have to apply a coat of wood stain so that it looks the same as the old one....all will be revealed...

Supper tonight was fish with a sweet chilli sauce with pan fried potatoes and onions with crusty bread.  Really was very tasty.  I'm on the beer and my guest is on the remains of the red wine.  All shut up for the night mainly against mosquitoes.  I was out there with my fly swat but I could still here the dreaded tzeeer.  Showered and freshened up after supper removing the mozzy wipe that seems to lack anything that drives them away....LN.....down for a refill...

You'll have to try the mosquito trap that I made (see the blog for details, if you haven't already) and see if it works for you. I understand that mosquitoes are territorial and so don't move far from an area, so if you can get the numbers down it will take a while before you get more moving in - well that's the theory anyway.   :)

Tuesday 26th June

Five thirty start and sat and watched that big ball of red breaking the surface....I love it.  I go back to how the Egyptians thought about that life force and you can understand why they worshiped it.  

Pottered for a couple of hours weeding, managed two cups of coffee and realised that I had to pick up Gouljan this morning after she phoned last night to see if I could take her into work....and also prepare a text for my student.  Found a huge moth/butterfly on the terrace and checked my emails hadn't hadn't had a request for landing rights... ;).  My guest suggested a fried egg sandwich at eight and I thought he was going to do it...wrong.  He sat reading his book so I cooked mine and went to join him on the bench which made him jump to action and go and make his breakfast.  Nice motivational technique.

Set off and got to the pickup point by nine and coming back my Avatar is looking very tearful and clutching money in her hand.  Apparently the grand-children had no money so we were taking it to Djebel so I found the house, stood outside and called the older girl's name a couple of times and eventually the young one came out and I handed it over.  Paid for and collected my ordered quilt, went to the shop and spoke to my student's mum and then I started the lesson.  Bless him...he does like his shooting games as do all boys but I persevered and told him that I wasn't leaving until we had been through the text thoroughly....it was a long lesson and eventually we ended up discussing football, Ronaldo and Peter Crouch of all people.  My skills are endless!!!! :-/

Picked up some shopping, home about one thirty and unpacked it, tuna and mayo sandwiches were the order of the day.  Went to see my Avatar to find out if everything was OK since she really did look upset this morning and I think it is the worry of having two grand-daughters living on their own while their parents are working in Germany....she has enough to do anyway with such a huge garden and a couple of cows.

Got my head down this afternoon....it was very humid, thunder rolled around and it rained a little but there apparently is more to come tonight....good...it will save me watering the estate,

Supper tonight was pork kebabs, cheesy chips and a tomato and onion salad....just enough.  A couple of beers to wash it down and at ten thirty my time I'm heading to my virginal couch...sleep calls despite a two hour siesta.  LN...and thank you Joanna for the mozzy instructions and to Danuta for a copy of the things that Confusions didn't say but probably should have done...that should ensure that Baidau spider checks my blog... ;)  

Wednesday 27th June

Lazy morning...I woke up at five, saw in the dawn, read for a while and then got my head down for another couple of hours....bliss.  Eight of the clock down for coffee and a garden stroll and again took my book down until hunger pangs drew me to the frying pan and the eggs and it was fried egg sandwiches taken on the terrace with more coffee.  Just the sort of morning I like.

Off to the library at about eleven thirty or so I thought until Beauty's flat battery threw the plans haywire.  Started it with jump leads from the Beast and I reckon that I had left one of the interior lights on from yesterday afternoon and despite the fact that the battery appeared charged, it wasn't enough to give it sufficient woomf to get it on to the highway. All lights are off tonight and we'll see what tomorrow brings.

So on to the library...the shelves are now upright and screwed to the wall so that she will be able to display more books, the toilet problem has been identified and can be solved and the computer has had Chrome installed along with Avast and is up and running.

Home and supper was nothing more than spicey sausages fried off with tomatoes and served on toast and toasted buns.....sufficient since we had toasted sandwiches at the library.  The beer is flowing tonight ...not a terribly hot day.  The storm clouds were evident until three this afternoon but now it's a beautiful calm night with a half moon in the sky.  LN....no pictures...I've been far too busy.... ;)

Thursday 28th June

Bit of a disturbed night.  Up and down to the loo for most of it and even ended up reading from one this morning until about two thirty but still awake at six.  Coffee called from the kitchen and then headed to the terrace with my book which I have realised is the follow on from Boadicea.  Working through it quite well this morning then stopped for tomatoes on toast but remembered that I had my student and it was a mad dash to the finishing post to get a few texts printed off and homework sorted.  As I was leaving Emaulet appeared in the garden, realised I was off to Djebel, asked if he could come to get his grandfather's gas bottles filled and so I said if he was quick it would be OK.  He ran down the road, I followed in the car, he dashed inside to get his long trousers on instead of his shorts, ran on to his grandfathers and appeared with two small gas bottles.  Set off for Djebel and it was only when I was half way there that I realised that I still had my rubber gardening shoes on which don't look all that elegant with town gear....ah what the heck.

Two texts for my student today, one about Marco Polo and the other about umbrellas and when we spoke about the latter I dug him in the ribs to explain what  the ribs of an umbrella were....he should remember that.  Arranged to meet Emaulet at approximately 11.20 and who should he be talking to but Sally who had gone in to have three teeth removed and was looking sorry for himself.  I realised that I hadn't paid them for the last lot of work they had done which is quite normal but thought that Sally might be running short so over to the cash point and I am now a fully paid up member of the builder's society.  Leaving Djebel I saw Sally walking out of town so I stopped and asked Emaulet to find out why and apparently his lift had disappeared so I took him home. I felt really sorry for him...hot day and aching from the dentist's chair and a ten k walk if nobody had stopped for him.

Home....designed new table supports for the lounge and one done and one more to go and already applied the wood stain.  Will be put in place tomorrow.  Had a phone call from the garage and we are meeting my student, his parents and the little one for supper tonight in Djebel so that's why my update's early.....LN....I'll be on orange juice so light on the alcohol tonight....I'll have to make up for it by stuffing my face....and I can make up for it when I get home.....LN

Friday 29th June

After writing a superb piece of prose the like of which may not come out of my fingers after a considerable amount of beer, I am posting pictures tonight and the rest will be left to your imagination.  The thing wouldn't load, the camera didn't want to connect to the PC and the only thing that I can think of is that I removed the USB connector and replaced it...ah well...

Weather was brilliant...early morning start, supper last night was very pleasant with my student's parents, shopping today in Kardjali and both Billa and Lidl took a bashing but isn't that always the way when you have guests staying.  I had a 'rescue me' plea from Gouljan from the next village and despite a couple of glasses of beer I headed off knowing that there are no police in the villages...only on the main roads.

Supper tonight was fried chicken with potato salad with egg, coleslaw and tsiki.  Tommy was destined for the bones but he had gone off after one of the local ladies and was a 'personno non grato' with my Avatar....Washed up and a packet of sort of chocolate hobnobs are taking a bashing....not too late tonight...the six o'clock starts most days is beginning to tell....LN....

Saturday 30th June

Six thirty again this morning and decided to log on and and who should I see down the garden but Harold Hare....he's back.  Fortunately he doesn't get anywhere near my veg patch or he would be for the pot but grazes down the bottom of the garden.  Upside he's not a problem...downside with this camera I cannot get a decent shot of him and if I make any movement towards him he's off.  He lopped around for a bit, I did manage to get out to the terrace but then he headed for the safety of the bushes at the bottom of the garden and was last seen sprinting off over the hills and far away.

Watered the garden since the promise of a scorching hot day appeared to be on the cards, moved that thumping great stone from the yard to the bottom of the steps, weeded under the terrace wall and put in a yellow carnation that I bought yesterday.  It’s quite funny buying plants here.  She tells me the name in Bulgarian and most I recognise the from the leaves.  This carnation looked different somehow so she went back into the shop and appeared with a white one in her hand.  Dug out by the new veggie patch and removed lots of bindweed but I know for a fact that it will be back tomorrow so with a little persistence I might clear it one day, :-/ :-/  

Missed lunch today...it is just so hot and instead got my head down for a couple of hours.  Woke up at around four thirty, back into the garden and now realise that it's getting near opening time.  Supper is anything that I can find in the fridge that needs eating up along with my first tomato and cucumber for guests.....I only grow them, can't stand the things though I might be tempted to make face or hand cream out of them when they are no longer getting eaten.

Beautiful big green caterpillar with a tinge of blue near the forsythia that the sheep insist on sticking their heads through the fence and attacking.  I shall have to try and identify it along with that huge white moth that I haven't managed to track down yet.  Beer calls from the kitchen...I can hear it from here.  LN...the temperature is still up in the high seventies but should be about right in half an hour or so...LN...Nut brown hares in the morning....no white rabbits.