Print Topic - Archive

Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  NOVEMBER 2013
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 1, 2013, 8:20am
Friday 1st November

So not so much as white rabbits for the first of the month but a grey cow...as I looked out this morning I really thought I was dreaming....there was a cow prettily framed in my fence.  The rest of it was outside but it's head was firmly through and I though I'd just received a present from the cow farmer....Semile and I looked for the bow of ribbon round its neck.

All hands to the pump or rather to its horns but no amount of wrestling by Bekir could get it back from whence it came.  The beauty was released by removing an upright from the fence so it could get its horns out.  Looking at the pile of 'droppings' on the other side it must have been there for a good few hours.  When it was free, the first thing it did was to go to a pile of mown grass and start eating its fill and as Bekir commented...it must have been really hungry but as Bekir commented, it was probably no good for the freezer since it was old and the meat tough.   And it's name...Youzier......now youzier'see's it, and now you don't....

Let's get on with the rest of the day....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 1, 2013, 8:23am; Reply: 1
And here are the pickies
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 1, 2013, 6:06pm; Reply: 2
Friday continued

So the one that was called away and paid off was forced to return at lunchtime...we needed the cement mixing for the top of the wall.  It is now done.  It's been a very hard slog and not even finished by the light of the moon...there wasn't or even isn't one tonight...we'll there probably is somewhere but not here.  

I've just demolished fish fingers and chippies, having a little beer and feel that today has been good...the wall is near completion...my wood is still uncut but that's a days job and just hoping that the weather holds until it's safely stored.  LN....tomorrow I'm finishing putting my plants away for the winter and tidying the wood so that I know where it all is....LN...I would say that I've got fish to fry but I only had its fingers and that's been done...LN
Posted by: tcinbg, November 2, 2013, 4:38pm; Reply: 3
Are you sure their is not a bull in that field?  ;)

Like the wall, quite impressive considering how long they have been working at it.

Trev
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 2, 2013, 4:57pm; Reply: 4
Saturday 3rd November

Lazy start this morning since I had a bit of a restless night.  The flies have descended on the roof space and the buggers were dive bombing me as I wrote my blog last night and when I went to bed one, but only one decided to terrorise me so I upped my quilt and headed for the downstairs bedroom...Bastard I thought!!

All quiet on the western front tonight though and I'm sitting here with baited breath...and I never know how to spell that before anyone picks me up on it....and Chicago is belting out downstairs ...it's been a very quiet day.

What did I do?  Very little.  Having the men here most days means that I'm ready for action and jumping to the coffee pot as required but today was mine.  I played on the internet until nine or there abouts...showered, washed my hair, pedicured my feet although I don't know why it's called 'pedicure'...there was nothing wrong with them that a good scraping, cleaning and polishing wouldn't sort out...it's not that I had athlete's foot or anything.  Anyway I digress.  Feet done and decided that I'd settle down with a book but that didn't last long.  As the eyelids descended downwards I got my head down for a couple of hours on my 'not much activity'centre that never quite made it outside this year.  The sun was shining...I woke up, read a few pages and had a few more minutes and that went on for a while until lethargy was tossed to the wind.  I lit a fire, dug out some of the old plants from the garden, swept the patio, had a bonfire and food was beckoning.  Raided the fridge and in its deep dark depths found a packet of ham so peeled a couple of potatoes for chippies and I know that two days in a row isn't entirely healthy but bugger it and to add to it...I shoved an egg in the chop pan and that frothed like a pyroclastic happening.  Having said that...it all tasted remarkably good and now I'm set for the night.

As I said, fire already going and beer is going...kitchen finished but now I'm heading downwards.  New book is proving interesting but seems like lots of short stories to date but the last one by this author was peculiar in the beginning so I'll stick with it.  So 'Chicago' is over...Yentl is now gracing my two little speakers and I'm about to go back to my book.  LN..have a good evening everyone...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 2, 2013, 5:06pm; Reply: 5
Quoted from tcinbg
Are you sure their is not a bull in that field?  ;)

Like the wall, quite impressive considering how long they have been working at it.

Trev


Sorry Tev she's a milker...and was missed at that morning's role call.  As for the wall...they're frightened of the whip...good blokes I have working for me....LN
Posted by: tcinbg, November 3, 2013, 12:02am; Reply: 6
Quoted from Elsa Peters


Sorry Tev she's a milker..


In that case, you should have got out there with your bucket whilst she couldn't move  :)

Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 3, 2013, 3:59pm; Reply: 7
Sunday 3rd November

Five o'clock start this morning but then managed to settle back down and lifted my head from the pillow at seven thirty.  I was creaking a bit this morning...the downstairs bed isn't as comfortable as the upstairs but at least the pesky flies seem to have work themselves out so back upstairs tonight.  

Carried on reading Amy Tan this morning and am getting more into it but remembering the characters is a little disconcerting.  Over to my students and on my way there was an old man hitching a lift and it's pretty normal in Bulgaria to stop and pick them up.  I slowed the car and as he tried to get in with his bag on his back he had this huge axe that stopped him sitting down so he got out again, he took his bag off his back, I told him to put the seat belt on and the said bag sat between his feet.  At this point I'm wondering if I have picked up a stray axe-man but by the end of the trip he was wondering, I'm sure, why this English woman was living in Bulgaria.  He did tell me that he had a sister in my village but I didn't pursue it...we were safely at the end of the journey...and me in one piece.

So greeted by the family, the elder sister was making lunch and I was intrigued as she made this traditional Turkish dish that I shall be trying some time.  Meat, onions, rice, black and red pepper, fried potatoes, filled to the brim with stock and hot water and braised until the rice was done,  It was then turned out onto a huge dish and surrounded with sliced tomatoes, grated carrot, onions and it was delicious.  Enough to feed the five thousand and yet again but this time there was only one guest...his wife had gone off to visit the neighbours from the town she was born in and the husband had gone gathering wood from the forest.  After lunch we sat around and the old man who was wearing an hearing aid had heard that in England they were much more delicate than those issued in Turkey and he was pestering me to bring him one back on my next trip home.  I tried to explain that the diagnostics and matching process was performed by professionals in the UK and there was no way that I could assess what he wanted,  This didn't sit too well so I suggested that he scoured the internet for what he wanted.....made more sense to me.  Also learnt a way of how they remove the bottom stray hairs from eyebrows and upper-lip hair with a piece of twisted cotton but it costs two leva to get it done by the lady in the village...bit of a no brainer really....

Back into Djebel...fuel for Beauty...cash point wasn't having any of it so moved to the next and the link was OK so I can pay the men tomorrow.  Sat for a while reading and worked out it was time to light the fire, ran a load of washing which is now on the airer in the bathroom and on the radiator.  Chicken legs have gone in for tonight's pickings....I'm still full from lunch but at around eight I'll probably need something to help the beer along.  My nephew confirmed that he has booked his flight and arrives in two weeks time.  One of the first of my clan to make it here...I'm thrilled but I've told him I'll get the bike serviced so that he can go out on it but please leave the lycra at home and remember the shin guards.... there are  one or two stray dogs in this neck of the woods and lighting bangers down hill on a bike is not an easy option.

So..load of starlings in the garden tonight eating goodness knows what....tomorrow is a workday and we'll see what the men plan for tomorrow and I hope it's the wood to get it out of the yard.  Fire going beautifully.....I'm about to check my chicken legs...well not mine...the ones in the oven....LN....my evening starts now,,,LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 4, 2013, 5:34pm; Reply: 8
Monday 4th November

I've just found out a new word for all those that are training their moustaches to terrorise the neighbourhoods....POGONOPHOBIA.....fear of beards.  Steady Andrew...I'm not exactly afraid...just wary...

So today has been a good day.  It started off with me reminding the men that we had to pick up materials that if they wanted to build the rest of the wall that they had to get metal and cement.  There was an..ooh...ahh and so we went down and spent about seven hundred leva on materials.  We took bets...this was supposed to arrive today but looking back on the history of Ysat.,..not a lot happens on the first day so a two leva bet ensued.  Every car that made it down the road was scrutinised but nothing materialised...until....four thirty tonight and the wagon approached.  Thirty bags of cement....metal to complete the panels and enough other metal to provide a stairway to heaven or so it seemed.

Realised that I had enough money to pay the bill for the materials but not enough to pay the men so off to Djebel at quite a late hour but I need more money for the sand wagon tomorrow.  All bills paid, Ysat finalised although my workmen reckon that I have months to pay him...Bekir and Sally paid for last week and enough for the ballast wagon tomorrow...

Telephone call from Gouldjan advising me that her mother owes me for the sugar that I purchased for her...I'm going to go hungry for sixteen leva...

Men home, me home, fire going, chicken curry about to be served...Contact with a school friend this evening which she initially denied but now as an after thought thinks there might be some miles in it..I'll await the reply on facebook....LN...I'm down to serve supper to the deserving...me...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 5, 2013, 5:20pm; Reply: 9
Tuesday 5th November

Five thirty start with a book and no 'Angry Birds'.  Well there was one because I'd woken up so early but having said that...I felt OK so what's the panic.  Few flashes of lightening this morning and I think that and the thunder woke me up and so I looked out and yes, it was chucking it down and I was thanking the men for wrapping up the thirty bags of cement in polythene so professionally before they left last night.  thirty times ten leva a bag...lot of money to lose.  The rain has been none stop all day and when I say none stop...it was really heavy with it and the thunder and lightening has been rattling around all day.

Toyed with the idea of phoning them and cancelling today but they have made themselves very useful today.  I made a list a few weeks ago of the jobs that I wanted done...sort of a tagging list and two of the jobs have been knocked off today because it was too wet for them to do anything outside.  I'm not sure that Sally likes being in but that's the luck of the draw.  Had a visit from Semile this morning and he's never been inside the house before and was he surprised and kept telling me what a 'thinking' brain I have...he can come again.  He loved the house.

So what have they done from the list....my rockwool insulation that has sat up in the roof space for a couple of winters is now down in a double thickness for most of the roof and I have only three rolls to buy to complete the job.  They were also running up and downstairs with half bricks and buckets of cement so they've really filled in some of the gaps.  The loft ladder has been 'dimensioned' and is going in tomorrow...weather permitting which means if it rains it's going in ...if it doesn't it get's shelved for another day.  Their priority is outside work with December rapidly approaching.  I have a lovely job for the third man should he appear tomorrow.  The workshop took in quite a bit of water today because the outside soil level is far too high.  I've got some of the drainage pipe to go down the bottom of a trench so tomorrow...he digs the trench.....bummer but someone has to do it.

Final Suffolk door latch is on upstairs and two more tomorrow...one for the kitchen and the downstairs bedroom and then I'm complete with two left over.  I have a couple of door hook hangers to buy for the back of the kitchen door now that butcher's hooks have to go....

Men home at five thirty and they're off to their favourite cafe tonight so goodness knows how they'll be tomorrow.  If it's fine they're out, if it rains, they're in and I can find lots more jobs like architrave round the doors....I've just put some pork into the oven that I got out of the freezer this morning.  So much for my watching the sell by dates...this had got 2011 on it but I thought I'd give it a go.  It looks alright and smells alright so it probably is alright.  If you don't hear from me ever again and the blog suddenly stops...you know it wasn't alright.  

LN..must check up on the pork....and then some 'Angry Birds' me thinks... Oh and a quick one for D of S...you brought the rain with you I guess...it's normally your better half that does that......thanks but this time every cloud has a silver lining...I'm getting the jobs done that I want...LN

Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 6, 2013, 6:14pm; Reply: 10
Wednesday 6th November

Many happy returns to my daughter in law...hope you have a wonderful day and that the present has arrived....maybe you can confirm.  I keep getting these receipts for proof of postage but ...tova e Bulgaria...it would be nice to know. ;)

Six o'clock start again but it does mean that I'm fully awake to fetch the men and this morning it was a slow pick up...it was absolutely persisting it down and they stayed in the cafe until it had slowed down a bit and Sally reminded me that he had left his umbrella in the car last night...they all carry umbrellas...suppose we are just more hardy in England...you get wet...pretty normal.

So down to the yard and the other three rolls of insulation were purchased and laid before the first cup of coffee was prepared.  I then mentioned that there was architrave that had yet to be applied to the doors and the next thing I know it has jumped up the list and the loft ladder has dropped down a notch....I'm not too fussed...the work that they've done today has finished off the lounge and the upstairs landing....it was a job that needed doing.

This afternoon I shot off to buy a back of door hook thingy so that I would be able to hang up keys and bags on the back of the door now that they've applied the architrave...and fitted the door latch.  I can no longer fit my butcher's hooks over the top of the door but problem solved.  Everything back as it should be.

Men home five thirty...stopped off to visit D of S as he was over from Cyprus.  He had no intention of visiting today.... a night on the tiles with the local lads but he has promised that he will be round tomorrow.  He was just off to catch up with the lads again...I won't hold him to it.  Supper tonight was the remains of the pork from last night with chili sauce, ginger, curry, beans, tomato and all fried off. put into a casserole and topped with sliced potatoes and was it good.  So not only did I survive last night but lived to tell the tale.  Little mastica on the go tonight...Michael Jackson again playing...he's got or rather had so much energy.  LN...my attention is now turning to the music.  Sorry there are no photos...imaging, rain, rain and yet more rain...that should keep you going...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 7, 2013, 6:02pm; Reply: 11
Thursday 7th November

Misty misty start but what a day it turned in to.  Up with the birds again and ready to leave at the allotted hour but somehow I got stuck behind a couple of cars in the fog and was three minutes late for the men.  Catastrophe....

Third man is here and his job is to mix and ship the concrete to the men while Bekir is the metal master and Sally the digger and pick man.  They change round sometimes but normally...each to his own so to speak.  Trench for the down wall is dug...the wood came off the other columns and out poked a small lizard that had obviously thought he was set for the winter.  Bekir was a sweety and moved him into the sun and he was soon off to find pastures maybe a little greener....I think I last saw him heading for Stara Mush kushta...seems like a plan.

D of S did manage to call round this afternoon with his local mate and they surveyed the scene and obviously my men put in that extra spurt...you know the one that I mean.  They stayed for about half an hour, drank coffee and left for Momchilgrad....daughter has to come home and help with the tobacco...it's all hands to the pump.

So men home, I've just cooked and eaten five fish fingers on butter and mayo slavered bread.  Not so much healthy as filling the gap.  Down to my last glass of mastika so it will be a dry night from this point on and that's really not a bad thing.  No music on the go tonight...I might check out Filmon to see if I am missing any UK programmes but I think not.  End of the week is looming....Friday...and Saturday I can lie in.  Picking the men up every day and dropping them off gets a little wearying but I said that I would do it and do it I do....

LN....let's just drop a few pickies in....I'll catch you tomorrow....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 7, 2013, 6:07pm; Reply: 12
Lost  a few pictures on the update
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 8, 2013, 6:18pm; Reply: 13
Friday 8th November

Beautiful sleep last night....I finished after one drink and I think that's the secret.  Still a six o'clock start but I read my book for a while, did a little on the internet, washed and brushed up in five minutes flat and I was three minutes late again for the men.  Still hardly think they're going to sack me.

As Bekir got in the car he handed me a present ....Now I'd described 'Barnsley' chops to Semile and nothing was forthcoming but this morning I had two Barnsley chops all to my very own.  I did suggest that I put them in the freezer and have them when my guest arrives but Bekir was adamant...they are for you and a big thank you.  He was concerned that they weren't what I wanted but I soon put his misgivings on the back burner.

Third musketeer waiting when we arrived home....straight to it with the cement mixing and all hands to the pump.  Semile was round with his tractor at just after nine for a metal straightening exercise and then being such a good neighbour...they all had coffee at nine fifteen more or less.  Bit more chinwag...I asked him if he had work to do and should he be on his way since my men had loads.  I scrambled up a couple of my Avatar's eggs for breakfast and could hardly get over how yellow they are....and tasted delicious.  

Bekir had his customary nap by the bus shelter this afternoon and Sally hangs his head.  He's woken up by the shovels on cement and the first squeaky wheelbarrow...better than any alarm. Work progressed on the wall...it's got such a fall on it that the amount of concrete seems to be exceptional but no way do I want a wall that falls into the lane or keels over ...it's guaranteed for fifty years...I only wish I were but if my children take to the high life here...they can pick up the compensation if it falls down after forty nine....

Little bit of confusion this afternoon...Bekir offered to work tomorrow to get the wall more or less finished and then wanted next week off.  Now I have a guest the week after next and it makes far more sense to me for them to work next week and have the following week off.  Negotiated and agreed but the downside is that they want to work tomorrow on the wall so my day of rest had disintegrated...I'm working tomorrow too.  Lit the fire and put the chops into the over while I was taking them back home....and as I got in there was the aroma of lamb fat from the kitchen.  Sliced up some potatoes very thinly and made potato chips to go with it remembering that my granny had a fish and chip shop and she used to supply the local clubs with potato crisps and at the tender age of six I was enlisted to prepare the little blue squares of salt.......memory lane.

So supper ready, did it justice and there's very little left for Tommy.  Bekir can gift me those whenever he wants...I shall never refuse.  Little beer on the go tonight....So impressed with the Rockwool insulation...the house is very toasty tonight.  LN....I have work tomorrow and I'll make them suffer for their art...LN
Posted by: MikeyB, November 8, 2013, 8:52pm; Reply: 14
Mmm very jealous of those yellow eggs... and as for those chops... very impressive  :P

Usually European chops look like they've come off the skinniest of skinny things! So you must have some fat ones somewhere  ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 9, 2013, 4:58pm; Reply: 15
Quoted from MikeyB
Mmm very jealous of those yellow eggs... and as for those chops... very impressive  :P

Usually European chops look like they've come off the skinniest of skinny things! So you must have some fat ones somewhere  ;)


And thank you Mikey B.  I have four more eggs to go and the promise of as many chops as I want....how can one refuse.... ;) ;)

And on the sixth day they put up most of the wall and on the seventh...a man with a chain saw is coming to finish off the pile of wood when light stopped play.  We fiddled around with the PIR and I kept telling them that it would reset itself and they wouldn't believe me and no way was I going to jump around for an hour while some man and his son wielded a chainsaw.

I'm ahead of myself.....as I said last night the men decided to work their way a few bags of cement and throw up a wall and throw up a wall they did.  Monday in go the concrete pillars, the metal work is all done but when the man who delivered the logs for my Avatar came to chainsaw them I jumped on the bandwagon and thought it would save Bekir a job.  Now I didn't want to step on his little rubber shoes for one minute so I asked him to do the negotiations for me....I knew the price the other man was charging but didn't know his availability so over he came when he'd finished my neighbours off and looked at the pile and started straight away.  Cost so far...one cup of coffee and nothing for the lad and tomorrow...forty leva...jobs a guddun.  So the man and his son come back tomorrow morning to finish the job.  I might also ask him to take down the dead cherry and the one that was blown down in the wind but needs sorting....for an extra few leva...I'll foot the bill...especially since he is a policeman...(and there's a pun there that some of you might get...).

Had a few cats up the tree on the field opposite and the noise what that that only cats can make when there are two males having a go at each other of after a female.  I went down the garden to investigate and they were up a tree caterwauling and so Sally decided that he would scare them off with the gun but I said no to that but he wanted to play anyway...my terrorist but unfortunately he didn't even know how to load it...

Into Djebel this afternoon for some Var which in the end they didn't need but I have three bags for the future...came back with a wine box that I did need and some coffee for the men.  Popped in to see my student's mum and we hugged...haven't been in much these days, filled up with fuel and then home James.  Men home, chainsaw massacre planed for tomorrow, shan't be able to see my student but I'm so tired from doing six days that tomorrow I want to play in the new bit of garden and decide what I want to keep and what can go.

LN....I've poured the first wine, I'm not too fussed about supper at the moment and will see how the mood takes me later...LN...I'm really tired tonight....


Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 10, 2013, 5:00pm; Reply: 16
Sunday 10trh November

Early start with nothing to do,  The mist lingered until about ten thirty but after that it turned into a beautiful day.  Decided to start on the little house and clear it out for the men to stack the wood tomorrow.  The porch has a wall in it and tomorrow that goes and I cleared the old mortar off the wall so that it can be pointed up and look pretty good for a porch.  The policeman with three years service left to do came round and finished the wood.  What a nice man and his son who is in his second year at English school in Kardjali was his helpmate today.  Yesterday I had the eighteen year old as a helper.

Wood finished and piled in the yard and I even got him to finish off the old cherry tree that had died and that's now ready to be chopped and stacked.  What a good day.  Went to bed this afternoon to be awoken by my Avatar with more eggs in her cardigan pocket.  She was so apologetic but I was just so knackered.  Having the men here for six days is quite stressful.  There are always decisions to be made and make them I do.

So supper tonight was spaghetti bolog.watsit and it was delicious after I had added a little of last night's red wine to it.  I'm listening to Les Mis sound track and singing along without having drunk so much so most of it is in tune.  My Ipod has just decided to play up and gave me a loud hissing sound so unplugged it and now it seems to be OK again....gremlins.

Men tomorrow...the wood will be stacked ready for the winter...the little porch will have its wall knocked down and the small wood will go in there...well that's the plan.  LN...no photos tonight...I was just to busy to get the camera out...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 11, 2013, 3:57pm; Reply: 17
Monday 11th November

What a dramatic start to the day.  I was awake fairly early...like five thirty...bit too early really but the views really made up for it.  I was on the computer since the book I was reading was utter drivel and my Angry Birds had run out of battery so what's the next best thing...facebook and emails.  Looked up from my desk and caught the glimmer of morning that just got better and better.  Caught a few shots of the dawn...showered, shampooed, dried my hair and out for the men at the usual time.  Most of the red had gone from the sky by the time I set off but the weather report from Bekir proved to be true...there was supposed to be rain later and that came at about four thirty this afternoon.

I digress...out to Djebel this morning for yet more metal for the wall and some thin wire for the towers.  My first decision was to take down the wall in the porch.  I hated going in there to get 'stuff' so it was down and much lighter.  Tomorrow I'm getting polythene for the metal panels and once more I am back to polythene windows.  We had a discussion about whether the wall should be higher and this meant undoing work they've already done and the solution proposed meant putting breeze blocks on top of stone wall so I stopped them there...I'll live with it and plant a tree.  So it's been a bitsa day.  Men have occupied themselves but the final assault on the wall has not taken place.  My third man has chopped logs and stacked and I helped for a while but then my Librarian appeared and I insulted her by shouting 'she lives'.  I'd emailed, I'd tried to phone and nothing but she's obviously been as busy as I have so she's excused.  Tomorrow we're off to Kardjali for Lidl and more winter coal and more of a bonus...as the rain set in this afternoon so that rain stopped play for my men...she's taken them home and I was on the wine at just after five.....now that is a bonus.

Fire going, house is toplo...really warm..update finished early and you have pictures...what more could you want...and I have Sting singing his little heart out.  LN....I have the remains of yesterday's spaghetti to warm up...I'm so organised tonight....givot egh.....(that's life), LN... ;) ;)
Posted by: linda g, November 11, 2013, 5:27pm; Reply: 18
Hi Elsa, Love pics of sky it looks like its on fire, so beautiful. The wall looks good too.  Take care and keep warm. Us in OZ..xx :) :)
Posted by: 50 (Guest), November 11, 2013, 6:59pm; Reply: 19
Photos are so beautiful Elsa.  What a morning!  Should be cosy in the Winter with that amount of wood.  Looks great!
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 12, 2013, 4:41pm; Reply: 20
Tuesday 12th November

Thank you you lovely people for commenting on the photos.  I though it looked like the sky was on fire too but what a contrast this morning....I couldn't see the bottom of the garden, the fog was hanging heavy and everything was drenched.  

Picked up the men as per normal and the third man was here and I though his task for the day was to chop the wood and get it all stacked away.  The next thing Bekir was heaving the axe and the boy was just stacking.  Sally was still sticking his stuff on the walls and making a super job of it and so I left them to it.  The Librarian arrived at about eleven and off we set for Kardjali.  She had bits to do and so did I like getting another three bags of coal to see me through the winter, stock up on some canned beans and things from Lidl and top up my account that pays for my water and electricity.  So I went into the bank to see my 'personal' assistant and asked her how the account was doing.  Now I only keep this one specifically for paying the two bills and she looked it up and when it came up on the screen she started laughing.  There was two leva in the account....and so the gods are working for me yet again jolting me into doing the essential so I handed over some money as working funds....if I'd not have bothered I would probably have come back from England to no electricity, they'd have cut me off....the water would have gone back to manual payments and would have just mounted up.

Had lunch in town at a 'cantina' and still full so there'll be nothing for me tonight.  Made coffee for the boys and then we've had a succession of 'villagers' coming round for a 'chat' and I think to top it all....a couple of them came round in a car and proceeded to ask Bekir to look at a chainsaw that they had just bought and couldn't get to work.  I am a repair yard for tractors, all machinery that's either broken or hasn't worked for years and I'm providing the labour.  Must get me a sign made and work out a list of charges for services rendered.  I even think someone saw me sneak in with one hundred and twenty sachets of Turkish three-in-one coffee and news has got round that I want to finish them before they go out of date.  I'm a grumps today.

So got them home....back home to a beautiful warm house...staying off the 'sauce' tonight and about to load some more books on to the Kindle.  I've just run out of good authors to read or need to dig some out from the CD that I have.  The last couple of books I've read did nothing for me at all but unfortunately I keep going thinking they'll get better and could kick myself when I get to the end and they didn't.  LN...let's go hunt...LN....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 13, 2013, 5:09pm; Reply: 21
Wednesday 13th November

I've given up this no drinking lark.  I abstained last night, put the light out at eleven after reading for a while and ...nothing.  The light went on again and I read until one...off went the light and I eventually dropped off but was in one of these recurring dreams where you can't break out of it and at five on went the light...read for a while and then got my head down until just before seven.   I've just had my first red wine...I'm not going through that again... ;) ;)

So off for the men, into their shop and picked up a loaf of bread which Sally immediately told me to put down and suggested one of the others and I dutifully obeyed.  Back to the house and then I was off to Djebel to post a birthday card, pick up some silicon for a small leak in the roof or so I'm told, chatted to my student's mum for a while and she was over the moon that her son had actually communicated that he had seen me in Kardjali when I was having lunch.  I think she was surprised that he had told her something of his life...typical teenager.

Sally was titivating my columns when I got back.  He'd done the half going down to the lane yesterday and I'd mentioned that now the one lot is done the first ones to be done should look the same...so he had.  Bekir was putting the ironwork into the wall capping and when I got back Sally was going for the big guns with the cement for the wall top.  He mixed, barrowed it, Bekir administered it to the said wooden moulds and I got stuck into clearing the garden of the remains of the cherry tree that was felled on Sunday.  I'd mentioned coffee but Bekir refused...it was concreting all the way so when they put their buckets and spades away for the day....I came out with the red wine...well it was ten after five so I thought it was time the children play.  Took them home and Sally said that the wine had done the trick, before we left though I put in a spare rib pork chop and some roast potatoes, slathering the chop with my sweet and sour barbecue sauce and I'm about to put this beauty to bed and investigate the aroma from the kitchen.  Yes...just checked, it's ready to serve.  And it's served.  LN...I have a plate to clear...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 14, 2013, 5:28pm; Reply: 22
Thursday 14th November

Silly o'clock and yet again....new book is opening up nicely and it's the first of many in the series...chappie called Butcher and it's about a wizard....absolutely wizard... ;)  Three thirty start and tried twice to get the book and the head down but it didn't work but maybe that winter for you.  I think it's because I still have a lot going on with the wall and the sideline stuff and I'm sick of making decisions this year....it's been a hard slog.

So out for the men early, Bekir gets in clutching a bag of mushrooms and one of grapes and it's almost like the little lad who goes scrumping.  Having said that he bought the grapes from the shop and told me they were 'scupo' (expensive) but the mushrooms he'd collected that morning.  Now I challenged him on this one and reminded him that there were old ladies in the village living on pensions and he was depriving them of an income by not leaving them for the needy.  He reminded me that most of those don't want to work and that he was prepared to do anything to earn money.  I went back to my driving and never said a word until we got home.

First job for Bekir was to confirm that the chimney is OK for the winter and OK it is.  Pipes out and cleaned and he managed to get his arm up and clear the debris from the little fire in the kitchen and then went up on the roof and made sure that all is well.  I feel much happier now.  I made him stay up there for a photoshoot but couldn't get him to wear the red hat and the false beard I'd provided and yes....I jest.

I don't know how my day got underway but somehow I got the carpets up in the hall to clean underneath while I was cleaning up round the woodburner and then I remembered the white emulsion paint that I had upstairs and now my hall is done, the kitchen and the bathroom get done tomorrow. everything back as it should be and I'm all clean for the winter.  I was using a paint brush in the absence of a roller but Sally found one really large brush which I managed to stick on a broom stick and could do the ceiling form ground level...Result ...no balancing on table tops.  I eventually got the technique of loading the brush and getting it on the ceiling and not all over the floor....and now I'm the expert.  I did say that if Sally couldn't find anything to do outside he was more than welcome to take the job off my hands but they found plenty to do.  The rest of my wall now has capping...the columns have hats, one of the gates is hung on the new post and the concrete between the posts is going off tonight.  

Men home, went into Djebel to get the fuel topped up and there was a police block stopping everyone for boot checks.  The other policeman recognised me and told me to go, not even bothering to check me out.  So a little beer tonight to see if that will do the trick where abstinence or one glass of wine did nothing for my nocturnal eventing.  LN....my fire needs a log putting on it...LN.
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 15, 2013, 6:26pm; Reply: 23
Friday 15th December

Two o'clock this morning but I was able to get my head down after an hour in a book until seven so perhaps that the way it's going to be for a while.  A sudden thought came to be though...if I separate my big curtain into its original form I can get it in the washing machine in two goes and stitch it back up again....solves the problem of me having to have it dry cleaned or find someone with a big enough washing machine...like the local hotel.

It was a pea souper this morning but according to Sally yesterday it was going to be sunshine...not much hope of that...it was raining and even the rain didn't wash away the fog and it looked like it was set in for the day.  So turning the corner into the lane that goes to their village I was flagged down by one of the men working on a renovation near to the men's restaurant.  He got in and it suddenly hit me that not only was I picking up two but I was dropping one off for work...so the familiar greeting is 'kak si? or 'how are you?' which in my book got turned into 'taxi ne kak si'.....well it amused the men.

So on the cards for today was the door to the new workshop which has been done, the second gate hung and the drive made into something that resembles one.  The final column has been completed but I felt so sorry for them this morning since it had dropped to two degrees that I even cooked them some lunch so that they would have something warm inside them.  They had a spicy sausage and chicken wings done in the oven and I delivered it on the dot of twelve thirty.  I think it raised their spirits but they soon fell again when they went back to working outside.  

Bekir received a telephone call to say that the windows for the workshop would be here in thirty minutes and I was upstairs when I heard the van pull up.  I looked out and yes, there were windows on it but they were mid brown not the brown of the rest of the windows in the two houses so I was prepared when I got downstairs.  Bekir and Sally knew and all I had to do was tell the windowman, sorry, not acceptable so the new ones will be delivered the week after next...apparently they had run out of the dark brown....worth a try I suppose.  Finale today was to move the remaining twelve bags of cement into the house for the winter but I upset them yet again by asking them if they could put up the door shield to stop the snow piling up against the entrance door and fortified with a glass of red wine each while they were eating my walnuts, they looked at each other ....and then it was done.  

Home James...they are able to work the week after next since they have 'homework' to do and I have a guest.  I paid them off for this week...if the weather suddenly closes in, it could be next year before I see them again.  Only a couple of things outstanding from my this year's list and one I can finish tomorrow and no need for the other to be done.  Fire has been going all day today and the house is toasty and warm.  The curtains are washed, ironed and dried and will be joined tomorrow morning and rehung....supper was fish fingers and chippies since the men had my chicken wings and sausage and I'm now going for the second glass of beer.  Tough life egh...LN....I'm back to the fire and my book....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 16, 2013, 4:44pm; Reply: 24
Saturday 16th November

Silly start but I'm getting used to them now and I feel it's the pattern I've got to break slowly.  What a frustrating day and it started off so well.  The curtains that I washed yesterday I decided to hang them and guess what...the blasted things were about four inches short...they'd shrunk in the wash.  Now fortunately there is a added 'bit' that was double so I could unpick that and make it singe and there wouldn't have been a problem but when I measured one of them had shrunk more that the other so I decided to go and play outside...it was more than my brain could handle.

Brought most of the logs that weren't split into the little house so that they would dry out inside.  Cleared up the porch area and put a new sill under the mat so come the snow it doesn't get awash...swept the yard and got in the wood.  And then the main focus was to board up the gap in the third bedroom where the loft ladder hadn't been fitted.  I'm tired of flies dive bombing me when I'm on the computer at night and that's the only place that they could come through...bastards.  What a professional job...who needs workmen!!

So back to the curtain  and I've decided to leave it until tomorrow.  Supper is in...port chops with hasselback potatoes should be ready soon.  Lovely moon tonight and it seemed to rise early before the dark pink glow of evening really descended.   So almost six thirty my time....kitchen calls...I can smell the pork and now's the time for the sweet and sour topping.  A little drink might be in order....I've had a good day...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 17, 2013, 4:22pm; Reply: 25
Sunday 17th November

Remembering my sister...it would have been her birthday today and fondest thoughts to her three children....the eldest of which arrives on Tuesday for a few days.

Well five thirty start so not too bad.  Read for a while, coffee at seven and onto the computer finishing yesterday's Daily Mail sudoku...and what a little beastie that was.  Showered, shampooed and ready at nine thirty for an early start on the day.  I have my student this morning but will have to explain that no food for me today, I have my 'baby party' where they pin the lev notes on the child and display the presents.  It is Remsier's great grand-daughter I think and I believe my role is official photographer.  But back to my student.  

Today I was shown another custom...The Day of Ashure is an important day in the Muslim year.  Ashure (in Turkish: Aşure) or Noah's Pudding is a Turkish dessert that is made of a mixture consisting of grains, fruits and nuts. It is served during the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, on the Tenth of Muharrem, or the Day of Ashure. "Ashura" means "tenth" in Arabic. In anecdotal history, it is claimed that when Noah's Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey, Noah's family celebrated with a special dish. Since their supplies were nearly exhausted, what was left (primarily grains, dried fruits and the like) was cooked together to form a pudding and my student's sister prepared it for us.  Ours had chickpeas, rice, haricot beans, walnuts, honey, milk and was topped off with pomegranate seeds.  Not the easiest to digest but considering that was probably all that Noah had left...it was food.

Now on to the baby party held at the local restaurant above the supermarket.  My neighbours had arrived via coach and were already seated when I got there along with another forty or fifty people.  A few others I recognised from the husband's village and from the wedding celebration I went to earlier in the year.  The little girl was seven months old and was paraded to the guests.  The baby clothes were pinned on to sheets and shown to the audience and then the little one was sat up and the money just started rolling in.  Mother stashed the loot in the handbag and we sat down to soup and chicken leg with rice with a slice of cake to follow.  Water or cola to wash it down and then everyone who had arrived by bus set off home, my car was in the carpark so I had a few minutes with my other student in his parent's shop where he was earning his keep while they'd gone shopping and then home.  

Sat out in the sun reading after I'd lit the fire.  There was frost on them there fields this morning and it looks like it could be a cold one again.  No men in the morning but a complete house clean tomorrow...my guest arrives on Tuesday and I think I may have already taken another booking....for a few days the following week....Christmas in the UK will be for a rest....LN...no food, I'm stuffed....might just manage a beer or a little mastica...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 18, 2013, 5:08pm; Reply: 26
Monday 18th November

Up and about this morning and the house was the main priority but I've interspersed the cleaning with a few games on the computer, washing, a bonfire and generally just enjoying the day but what a mare of a morning.  You know that I took down the hall curtain and washed it in two halves because it was too big for the washing machine, well the thing shrunk and when I came to hang it, it was about four inches off the floor.  Well it looked OK but didn't do what it was supposed to.  It's to stop the hot air from the fire travelling up to the top landing especially when it's minus goodness knows what out there.  So I've rejigged it...taken the double bottom section off and made it single and reattached.  Guess what....I'd only sewn it on the wrong way so out with my vegetable peeler knife and unpicked it double sharpish, restitched it and rehung it....what a bastard but it did make me chuckle.  I think the older you get you can let yourself get away with 'errors' and spend time putting it right without getting angry or beating yourself up for getting it wrong in the first place.

So, it's a nice feeling when the house is all ready for guests.  I have taken another booking...well not exactly a booking but a friend is coming over for a few days leaving next Tuesday.  On Saturday it's one out and one in.... and that should be fun on the change over.  One on the six a.m. Kardjali to Sofia bus and then drive to Plovdiv for eleven thirty.

Beautiful day today.  White over this morning but as the sun came up and warmed it up, the mist collected in the valleys and when that had burnt off it turned into a very warm winter's day.  I sat out on the terrace and read for a while....no men to worry about...no decisions to make ...just a very easy day.

Tomorrow the Beast is off for his winter check over, Beauty has already been done.  I'll head off for Kardjali by about three and my guest should be on the bus and arriving any time after that.  I need a few things from Billa or Lidl just to top up the fridge but on the whole most is safely gathered in.  I'm looking forward to having my nephew here...we need to get to know each other again...it's been a while since we spent time together.  His intention was to get the mountain bike out but I recommended that he left the lycra at home for this time.  You're probably better off wearing shin pads with the stray dogs around here or having ready to launch bangers in your pocket.  Well it will be his first time in Bulgaria and five days as a taster is about right.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some sun.  

Fire crackling, central heating has just made it round for the first time...little drink on the go and I'm putting my toys away namely hoover, duster and mop.  LN...it's been a good day....and what a beautiful full moon it is tonight...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 19, 2013, 8:41pm; Reply: 27
Tuesday 19th November

So this morning the housework that I thought I'd finished yesterday sprung to life.  I noticed the bathroom tiles were a little bit jaded with soot from the chimney and you know what it's like...once you start you have to finish and I did.  My next task...I foolishly decided to clean the huge landing windows with my new trusty extending window cleaner thingy....I think I made more of a mess of them that the whole of one winter and summer had done but after much swearing...they're as good as they're going to be until the mood takes me again.

Went to start up the Beast to take it in this morning for a health check and there was nothing healthy about it....batteries as flat as the proverbial so no go.  I toyed with the idea of getting the garage out but CBA...it can wait for another day...Beauty can handle all that I can throw at her.

Goulljan came round this afternoon just before I was setting off for Kardjali to pick up my nephew...we chatted for a while and explored the idea of setting up and English Speaking club and she's going to ask around so that we can make it official....and then into the car, I took her home and had five minutes with her mother and a wheelbarrow....entertaining stuff.

As for the bus down from Sofia...I got a message to say that the eagle had landed so I did my bit and flew to Kardjali and waited for a red mini-bus and a guy with a red jacket....and I recognised him immediately.  We've spent the last few hours jawing and catching up and he's brought me over Elton John's newest CD in memory of the fact that I was the first to introduce him to Elton John.  The world...full circle.  

Enough for tonight...no pictures....we have a bottle of beer to finish and loads more catching up to do....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 20, 2013, 7:12am; Reply: 28
Wednesday 20th November

Sorry...last night sounded very rushed and it was.  I think the first time that someone stays with you you want to give them your undivided attention...and I did.  We had a lot of catching up to do.  I hadn't seen him since, his mother's, my sister's funeral and with the best will in the world...you promise to stay in touch and you do via FB but it's not like...staying in touch.

Well I can write this...he's still sleeping but remember we are two hours on.  His friends on FB have joked about pickpockets in BG so I've just posted that I've been through his pockets already while he's still getting extra zzzz's in.  Nuffin for nobody...I've had it already... ;)

Weathers not brilliant this morning.  Little bit of rain coming down but not enough to stop us doing anything...that's if he gets out of bed.  New Elton CD playing while I'm doing the update....I'll let you know...Breakfast calls...I can't wait much longer.. ::)....PD
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 21, 2013, 6:20am; Reply: 29
Thursday 21st November

Sorry for the lack of update yesterday...we got carried away, ate late and talked even later.  Quick update on yesterday...the Librarian had a problem with some 'stuff' that was being brought over from China and was running into the same issues that I had when my Kindle arrived from America....Bulgarian import duty.  Off to Kardjali we went...found the solution and the parcel will be delivered in the next few days....result.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't too kind but it looks like it could be a better day today...so let's see what we can plan...when he wakes up.

Great big front over Turkey and Greece and let's hope it stays there.  There were distant flashes of lightening both last night and again this morning but no rumble of thunder so it seems to be contained.  Out with the camera this morning...I wanted to catch the dawn so that I can show my nephew what he missed...I'm nice like that.....I promise to update as to what we eventually get up to for the rest of the day....
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 22, 2013, 12:15am; Reply: 30
Thursday continued

Delivered Cappuccino vanilla to Gouljan mum, lasagne to my other Gouljan's mum, got Paul's ticket for the six a.m. coach for his flight on Saturday and headed into Ardino for a late lunch...what a lovely day.  The light was too dark to take any photographs as we came over the mountains and the dark clouds were rising.  Came over the top road via Mishevo and down into Djebel and we went into my favourite restaurant for a beer but my little birthday girl was suffering from an ear infection so wasn't up to counting up to twenty in English despite lots of encouragement.

We're both taking to our virtuous couches at two fifteen...we've talked too much but the fire has kept us company and it's still loaded and giving out its warmth.

LN....chilled and cool....it's lovely having him here.... ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 22, 2013, 8:33pm; Reply: 31
Friday 22nd November

Seven start after a late night last night.  Breakfast was spicy sausage and fried tomatoes and we were set up for the day.  Discussed a few websites and got on to the subject of NLP and yoga, stress, choices and general coping.  At twelve I thought it was about time that I got out of my PJ's and faced the day so off we set for a tour of a few more of the towns ending up at the Librarians for coffee late in the afternoon.

We're both aware that there is a four thirty start in the morning to make sure that we are on time for the bus to Sofia and are busy setting up various alarms.  Now I'm normally quite good but feeling so relaxed that I'm worried that I'll sleep straight through it or those...depending on how many we manage to set up.  

Beautiful weather today but I've seen the threats of blizzards arriving from France on Monday....now that could be fun...LN...I'm going to get my little head down...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 23, 2013, 9:19pm; Reply: 32
Saturday 23rd November

One out.....one in...I woke up this morning at three thirty and realised that I had only one more hour in bed before the alarm went off...that's if it went off at all.  I'd managed to set it on one of my phones but as to the other ...I'd struggled with trying to find where to set the alarm and never managed to find it...but at ten thirty at night...maybe it doesn't really matter.  So read until four thirty and went to wake my nephew up asking him if his alarm had failed to go off.  Apparently he had the same problem as I did...but he'd eventually set it for four forty...so I told him to go back to sleep for ten minutes.

Into the car by five...into Kardjali by five thirty, breakfast purchased by five thirty five and ticket submitted for scrutiny and on to the bus by five fifty five after explaining that he wanted dropping off by the old hospital so that he could do a quick turnaround for the airport.  Made my way home and stripped beds, got the washing machine going, hung the sheet over the banister so that it would dry...there was fog on them there hills.

Set off at nine twenty ...up over the top road to Asenovgrad and the weather was beautiful and on to Plovdiv airport in plenty of time for the arrival.  We recognised each other and then into the car and homeward bound.  Stopped off to get in the beer from Djebel and my guest has delivered a bottle of really good cognac which hasn't the same quantity as delivered...yes it was opened and yes we both had a snifter.

Supper tonight was barbecue spare rib chops with potato fritters and red cabbage and if any one asks me how much.....I shall cancel their membership.  Fire going gently, the rest of the house is warm as toast and fingers crossed that the temperature doesn't drop much below freezing.  Snow is suppsed to be on it's way...Sleep calls...LN                                                          
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 24, 2013, 6:18am; Reply: 33
Sunday 24th November

I know, I know...no photos are boring.  Caught the morning and it's good in a way....guests sleep because of the time difference to the UK.  Problem is, they miss the morning sunrises hence I take photos to show what they missed...Not nice really am I... ;) ;)

Now to work out how to catch the best weather for the day and the places to go to on a brief potted view of southern Bulgaria...the Tourist trail beckons...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 25, 2013, 3:22pm; Reply: 34
Monday 25th November

So my guest is quietly snoozing in front of the log fire so I can get o with my update early.

Seven start this morning and it was fairy footsteps going outside for a ciggie that woke me up.  I haven't relaxed the rules...outside for smokers.  Breakfast was poached eggs of toast and then off on the tourist trail taking in Kardjali, its markets, the restaurant on the lake for lunch, up to Ustra to check out the views, back to Djebel for some fuel for tomorrow morning and some cream to rub in his leg.  He thinks he might have pulled a muscle when he was going to brake.  Thing is...I was driving so no matter how hard he pressed down on the floor....I was in control.  I'm quietly chuckling.

The lorry was out in the village increasing the height of the winter sand to throw on the road.  I stopped to talk to our local road man and he reckons that there will be snow tomorrow night but not very much.  So tomorrow morning my guest back to Plovdiv and we're leaving at eight in the morning.  I should be home for about one o'clock and there's plenty of food and drink in so I shall be battening down the hatches and on snow flake watch during the afternoon.  I think winter might be here.

Winter's sky tonight to the south but to the west there is many a black cloud.  Supper tonight is the remains of last night's chicken, leeks and potatoes in a packet of chicken soup probably served with chunks of hot bread.  I'm about to get a little beer out, it's dark and it must be time although I can't see the yard arm.  LN...I hear a rumbling from the jungle...
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 26, 2013, 4:04pm; Reply: 35
Tuesday 26th November

So it was 'name that tune in one' this morning and I couldn't locate where it was coming from.  It wasn't one that I recognised and when I tracked it down it was my guest's phone alarm in his coat pocket set for ....wait for it...four twenty.  I took it back upstairs and handed it to him as he stood half asleep at the top of the stairs and asked him to silence the thing before it never worked again.

Toddled off to my virtuous couch and played Angry Birds which was probably how I was feeling and finished my book.  At six I dimmed the lights and stayed there until seven....breakfast.....emptied the ash-can, prepared the fire for this afternoon since I had Plovdiv airport run to do leaving at eight this morning.  There was sleet up over them there hills so I did the drop and started back almost immediately...no way did I want to get stuck up with the eagles.

Stopped off in Kardjali on the way back...I had a message from 'those up above' that there was something waiting for me in my charity shop and sure enough the vibes were right.  Walked into Mania, down into the basement and there was a super wool zip up sweater and another one in tan coloured wool.  Liked them both so to the cash desk where they weigh them.  Now I was expecting about twelve leva for the biggie and about five for the other one and when she put it on the scales she calculated it at just over three and the small one at about one fifty but she reminded me that I had my discount yet to come off.  Result...both of them...four leva forty...about two pounds for the pair.  I couldn't buy the wool for that.

Back to Djebel....spent a little time with my student's mum in the shop since we hadn't seen each other while I had people here.  Lit the fire and it's chugging along nicely, the temperature has dropped and northern Bulgaria has snow already.  We are expecting a smattering so maybe my tree will be crowned in the morning.  No photos today...it's been dull, sleeting and not nice at all.  Maybe I shall have Christmas stuff for you tomorrow.  LN....I'm going to get in front of the fire with a drop of something...it would be rude not to...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 27, 2013, 7:52am; Reply: 36
Wednesday 27th November

Not white over as expected this morning but the snow has arrived.  At the moment it's melting on contact but we are just on the zero degrees so it just might stay around for a while...while I'm cosy and tucked up with a book inside.

As for last night...fell asleep at about eight in front of the fire and it was all down to my early morning alarm call and not by my doing.  Off to bed, straight to sleep again but I'd had enough sleep by four thirty so got up, made a coffee, set the washing machine going, back to bed with a book, down for the second coffee by which time the washing machine had finished.  On to the airer in the bathroom and some of it's now ready to put away.  

Beans on toast for breakfast at eight, waiting for the Daily Mail sudoku to update and watching the snowflakes build...not such a bad life.... ;)
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 27, 2013, 5:16pm; Reply: 37
Wednesday continued

Phone call later on this morning asking if I could be a standby translator while the Librarian's son tried to get a parcel that is locked in Customs in Sofia.  We did the carriers, a friendly desk in the Customs office and I ended up talking to my old mate that eventually allowed my Kindle in from America....and the answer was...if you are a guest in Bulgaria...inso much as you have not registered as a visitor and received the appropriate documentations...you cannon. repeat cannot, order stuff from the internet and get the said documentation to allow you to pay the import duty.  It will never get through to the appropriate department.  This took three hours of trailing around to verify...The Librarian was about to kick off and fortunately I managed to calm down the aggression...we might need that man again at some point.  The Head of Customs said that if he didn't have the correct information and tried to process it, he might end up in handcuffs.  I said that there were four people looking on that would see it as a step up the ladder for one of the others but the one that spoke English was very reluctant to do the translation but my bulgarian got better at this point, and I explained it to him.  My suggestion...try and get the parcel readdressed to England....much less hassle.

Home just before six and got the wine out for the Librarian while her son stuck to coffee. They left just before seven and he's now going to get his emails underway to try to resolve the situation.

Snow came to nothing...it's lingering on the mountains now the mist has cleared and we can see it.  Kardjali was cold but in my new sweater I was toasty and all I need to knit now are leg warmers.  Temperature is dropping but there's enough wood in to last and some to dry out for tomorrow,  I've got a packet of sour cream and onion crisps on the go so it might not be much for me tonight...the chicken wings from last night will fight for another day.

LN....down to the fire....and that wine box is looking a little worse for wear but there should be enough to see the night out...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 28, 2013, 7:31pm; Reply: 38
Thursday 28th November

Grey morning that gave way to sunshine and so much so that I was out gardening and clearing the old polythene from the lime mix pit that we had when this house was done.  The men had removed the wooden surround but left the base down but it really had to go and so it has.  I watched two cats in the garden singing their little hearts out to each other...now why do cats do that.  The one approached the other rather tentatively with a flickering tail and they ended up inches apart and started the cat's chorus.  Not being a cat person I do not understand the nuances. :-/ :-/

I had a phone call from the garage asking if my student's father could come sort out the Beast....and it lives...It has been given the kiss of life.  I followed him back to the garage, sat in the sun reading while it has been serviced and given its winter protection.  So over to the shop to find out the cost for the work, it got added to my list and subtracted from the credit for taking their son to England...and I have some left.  I asked them to keep it which they were reluctant to do but there is insurance in February for Beauty so it can go against it.  

Phoned Gouldjan and asked if she wanted a lift home and she was surprised when I turned up in the biggie.  Back home I put my tools away.  My fire was still ticking along nicely and so topped it up, used the chicken wings from yesterday to make chicken soup, opened one of the large dark beers that I'd bought and after supper promptly fell asleep in front of the fire.  Totally the wrong move because I know that I shall be awake in the night at silly o'clock so let's see what chores I can  find to do in the bewitching hours.  Weather forecast for tomorrow looks promising so I should be able to finish clearing the drive, have a bonfire and I might even make a start on the metal bank that sits in the yard.  Alternatively I can hope that a kind gypsy appears and offers to take the lot.

LN.....I'm back to Jim Butcher and Harry Dresden the Wizard series...book three underway and an exciting read...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 29, 2013, 4:30pm; Reply: 39
Friday 29th November

Happy thanksgiving for my American buddies.

Woke up at six which for me knowing that I had a nap early evening is superb.....coffee, book and open to the world at seven thirty.

Breakfast. bonfire. sorted out the bonfire pity to burn the polythene....and sorted out the doorstop via the front door.  Remsier appeared and asked me to take her to the school.  I think her grandson is going up to big school and she needed a consultation.  Back home for two and I was amazed what time it was.

Watched a You-Tube and had this great urge to watch Fiddler on the Roof and it's just finished....so totally what my previous live was all about.  Six thirty now ...cinema over....down to the kitchen to work out what's for supper. Reckon not much in the offing....I'm not hungry and Fiddler on the Roof has heightened my threshhold.....

So LN....I think I might be watching the full version of Yentl this evening...my Jewish leanings have been surfaced.....LN    
Posted by: Elsa Peters, November 30, 2013, 4:11pm; Reply: 40
30th November

What a cold one this morning...outside at least.  The fire was still going this morning so with a little tender love and care it was chugging along nicely at seven.  Back to bed with coffee and finished the third Jim Butcher and now that I am completely into his style I should be starting on the forth anytime soon...like when I've finished my update.  Cloudy start but the sky took on a pinkish glow as the sun tried to break through the clouds but that happened much later and it turned into a beautiful day.

The Beast out of the garage and Beauty into the yard,  Now that the biggie is going again it needs a few trips to bed it in again and a little more diesel going through the works.  Today was day out for my student and her sister.....with the objective of the sister buying some leather boots.  Now the father thought that she could pick some up for about sixty leva but I think he has lost touch with the shoe industry.  We discussed why she wanted leather and I'm not sure that I followed her train of thought but she had her own reasons and to her they were pretty valid...to the father...I think not.  

So off we set and I thought I was going to have to lift both of there five feet frames into the Beast or attach a rope ladder but they made it.  We went to Kardjali and I don't think there was one shoe shop we missed but the younger one found a pair for twenty leva...a girl after my own heart.  Found a really interesting fruit tree going between shops and several of the fruit lying on the ground....I've never seen one before and when we opened it up, it had the smell of melon.  All answers on a postcard please or I'll be trawling the internet and will save you the trouble.

Went to the Pizza restaurant for lunch and I really had to fight to let them allow me to pay the bill.  I even had to threaten the little one that there was no way I was taking her to England if she paid it.  Into one of the little supermarkets and it was a close thing that we nearly dumped everything and walked out.  Two big long queues and two grumpy shop assistants but I'd probably be the same since most of the customers were pretty grumpy too.  It reminded me of Tesco in the old days before customer service was invented.

So back to their house for coffee and chocolate.  The elder one started preparing supper but I made the excuse that my fire was out and it was going to be a pretty cold night by the looks of it but having said that...there was a glimmer of red and it was going in quicksticks so to speak.  Not into food, the pizza is lingering, washing it down with a little beer and then into book four.  I've had a really good day and they really are a delightful family...makes me homesick for my little lot back home but there again...you can't have every thing and in two weeks I shall be over there for Christmas.  That should put things right.

LN....down to the warm.... ;)
Print page generated: March 28, 2024, 12:38pm