Monday 1st May

Six thirty start again and I was back to bed with a coffee, Claire and Jamie until I happened to look out of the window and catch the rising sun.  I shot out of bed, grabbed the camera, shot up the stairs and took the shots...and then back to bed.  Out by seven thirty though, washing in, toast and jam for breakfast, washing up done, finished tidying and hoovered the twin bedroom and put new mattress protectors on the both beds.  I hung out the washing and it was still only nine,,,,it was going to be a long day and it has been.

I set to on the rock heap at the bottom of the garden....it's just hiding a lot of broken tiles and rubbish and I've eaten into it but there is still about another full day to do on it.  Some of the stones I want for surrounding new wall bed and that's something that I've got to work myself up to.....a day of filling the wheelbarrow and just pushing uphill....I've saved it for another day.  I came in and got my head down for an hour or so...and then I was back at it.  I did upset a skink but by the time I'd got the camera...it had buried itself again.  I decided to have a catch-up on the snooker, plumbed to Filmon and was confronted by a 'Do you want to pay' screen.  Obviously the answer is no so I tried out TV Catch-up and it seems to be working well.  

Washing in by five thirty and I looked at the little house grass/lawn and decided that it would be easier to cut since the sun had dried off the overnight dampness....and I was right....I'd finished it within the hour and it came to a halt when the back wheel fell off.  Not a problem...I was able to screw it back on...I obviously hadn't tightened it enough when I did the repairs.   Another day of gardening tomorrow....that heap has to go.  LN...I should sleep well...LN

From the horses mouth..............

Dear User,

Thank you for contacting FilmOn Customer Support.
Unfortunately, We need to inform you, that we are no longer offering the free SD watching due to contractual requirements with our content vendors.
We're very sorry and apologize for the inconvenience, as we had no possibility to let our Customers know about this change in our service in advance.

Mind you every single bit of info on the web site still says FREE.

Pain in the proverbial whatsit   :(

Tuesday 2nd May

Thanks Trevor.....yes there was no way of letting out customers know...negotiations don't take place?  No...it was foisted on us at the last minute...haha....and yes, it still reckons that it's free...but we know better.  I went to TV Catchup to watch the rest of the snooker...but the dark invader won despite my doll with the pins... ;)

So six again this morning and I wondering if I'm deprived of sleep.  I've had a few strange muscle pains lately...when I stop and rest it's difficult to start again...and I've found the secret...don't stop.  Toast and jam for breakfast, washed up, washed and dressed, one of my rugs in for washing and it was still only eight o'clock.  I'd also watered the plants and walked the garden to see what I might get up to today.  I didn't fancy rock moving and earth moving so I set about using some of the old wood from the bottom of the garden to start to edge the side beds.  It makes it easier to mow the grass and stops the edge of the lawn collapsing.  I selected my wood, topped up my old motor oil pot so that I could paint it, grabbed the hammer and nails, the heavy slammer hammer to knock the supports in and my metal spade to dig out the trenches,  Three planks put in either side of the mulberry and now planning a garden seat surrounding the mulberry  to rest my weary bones when it all becomes too much.  

I came in for lunch and made toasted cheese and onion sandwiches and despite my leanings to not stopping, stopped, got the Kindle out and after a few games of Candy Crush where I managed to find all the bears and spread jam on everything...I promptly fell asleep.  I was regenerating for about an hour and then back to it.  My sheep farmer came round with the sheep and complaining about the weather.  He said that we desperately needed rain, he had sheep and cows going hungry so I said that I'd have a word with my man upstairs but I kind of like it like this.  Heavy dews at night and warm during the day...suits me sir.  Lots of bird calls today....the hoopoe is back and the bee eaters were on the electricity wires,,,spring is here...

So eight when I came in tonight....I've weeded most of the side beds so I need to get some new grass seed to get some down on the bare patches.  The old stuff is six years old so I think I'll give the ants a treat with some fresh stuff.  Lovely surprise....Haciber has just brought round three litres of home made plum juice...it's already stashed in the fridge in half litre bottles and should see me through this week.  Bath night tonight...some of the work today was energetic and it does help the old bones....LN...Eggheads, bath and a book at bedtime....LN

Wednesday 3rd May

So it was a six o'clock start but I fell asleep in the bath last night so I was late getting into proper sleep....Coffee and back to bed with my book for a whileand out in the garden by seven thirty.  I potted up the last of my hanging baskets with petunias and gave everything a good watering.  Down to the bread van this morning for my Turkish language lesson and today it was 'Good Morning' and I have to put a picture to the words so that I remember them.  'Gunayden' and since my postmaster is named Aiden, I imagine a post office hold up...the warped mind of living on a hillside and I shall be tested on it next time I'm down getting bread.  He did have a cheesy bread though so my breakfast was sorted and I sat out on the terrace with yet another coffeemunching away.

First job was to trim back the forsythia bushes since it flowers on this season's growth.  Only the big one to do but I'm looking to dig up the bush by the side of it so it's for another day.  I separated out the blue poppies from the iris...I'd put them in the same bucket thinking that the poppies wouldn't germinate but they did so now that have a bucket to themselves.  They've been in the shade all day and given plenty of water so fingers crossed.  Out with the strimmer and tackled the area where the outside toilet used to be, I rescued the fig that was getting overgrown by chickweed and I'm really not sure how such a little root supports such a lot of growth.  I had half an hour  with my book and then forced myself to get the lawnmower out and go over the little house grass again and managed to do some of the main lawn but fortunately I ran out of petrol and it ground to a halt....lucky me.   Moved over to the vegetable garden and noticed that the beetroot, despite taking care when sowing the seeds, some were clumped together so they were uprooted, put in a container with water and I planted them up again at six thirty tonight...they should do OK overnight.  

It was such a lovely day that I got out the old Kindle, got settled on the sun chair, slathered myself with sun oil and lay out enjoying the sun.
It wasn't peaceful though....the sheep were particularly noisy and I reckon they were finding it hard to find anything to eat out there and there are air manoevers going on again....oh the joys of living in the country.  I came in when I thought I was 'done', looked at the lawn so went out and finished the rest of it.  I am now a happy bunny....LN....Tomorrow is another day...LN

Here is one that appears not to time out so far, I've had it on in thebackground for nearly an hour, still playing.  :)

http://www.viewtelly.com/  

Thursday 4th May

Thanks Trevor....I seem to have no problem with my selected program at the moment...but it's good to know a back-up... ;)

Five thirty start and I guessed using my internal clock and I was right...good to know it's still working.  Coffee, back to bed, out to photo the sunrise and then back to bed again until my eyes stayed open.  I cleared the kitchen, fixed toast for breakfast and set about printing out a 'To Do' list and to start making my entries.  I had things that I really needed to do today...I needed to book the hotel in Sofia with free parking so I was on to the website but it was closed down for 'maintenance' so I went in through another backdoor but this way didn't give me the option to select the correct hotel in Sofia.  Final solution...email the hotel, wait for a response, and wait for the response so I telephoned and got though to a very helpful young man.  I explained the issues with the website, he managed to get on it and talked me through so that I could book online...which was cheaper than he could do it direct.  Armed with the information I tried to book it but it didn't give me the offer of free parking for the time that I'm in England.  Arggghhh...so I was back on to my young man who appeared to have the patience of a saint who booked it for me and held it with a credit card but I had to go through the process for the second booking to get the internet rate.  All booked...he confirmed the booking to me so I offered up my congratulation on his customer service techniques and he responded with a thank you to me for noticing.  We all like acknowledgement...  

Other tasks completed....I phoned Bekir and he will be round to fix the small leak in the bathroom boiler over the weekend.  I should hate this to develop into a big leak while I'm away....it could do lots of damage.  I headed into the workshop and grabbed the blackboard paint...there is now a large yogurt pot under my hanging basket to catch and retain the water...it was draining away too quickly.  Next I was drawn to an old  stainless steel rubbish bin that had been abandoned so I've taken it all apart, the lid is suitable for a plant pot holder and the body of it will do something at a later date....little creative me... ::)

As for the rest of the day...I came in to have lunch and made cheese and onion sandwiches and finished it off with a large pot of yogurt and dolloped apricot jam into it, demolished several chocolate biscuits, read for a while and promptly nodded off.  I had good intentions but I think I did too much yesterday so an easy day today.  The sun was out but the wind was a little cool and I had most of the windows open, I woke up cold so I lit the fire and I'm super cosy tonight.

Nothing on for tomorrow so far....I might head into Kardjali so that I'm here all day on Saturday in case Bekir comes round to fix the leak.  LN.....Feeling very relaxed.....LN

Friday 5th May

Five thirty start and I decided to go for the cheap rate electricity and get a load of washing it and I was pegging it out by seven.  All go at this end.  Took the photos of the morning and went round the garden and was amazed at the number of flowers in bloom and the ones that are coming into flower.  I went back to bed with the book for a while but was out in the garden with fork in hand by eight.  My task today and I did choose to accept it was to dig out the weeds round the wild plum tree and I was hard at it when my painter stuck his head over the wall advising me that he was heading into Djebel and that he was catching the bus.  I gave him the tidings of bad news...the bus had already left at just after nine so I offered to take him in...he had an apartment to quote for, for painting the inside.  I dropped him off in Djebel centre, I went and had a word with my student's mum and then carried on to the garage.  I'd noticed some water on the front of the Beast and I wanted it checked out.  No problem...everything fine.  I did a little shopping and bought a chicken instead of chicken wings...it worked out much cheaper.

So we met up at eleven and I dropped him off at his home, I left with leeks and some flower bulbs from his garden.  I made myself  cheese sandwich for an early lunch, grabbed my book and took it outside on the terrace.  The sun was so hot it would have been a pity to miss it...another layer of suntan so that at least I have some colour for when I go to the UK.  I was out there until two when it got too hot and I went back to digging under the shade of the acacia tree.  There were lots of poppies that had self set and I had the brainwave to use the old tyres, till them with soil and replant the poppies in them.  That gave me enough not to feel guilty about digging the rest up.  

Working away and heard voices by the main entry door and Bekir and his son were there.  He'd come in response to my phone call to mend the leak in the bathroom.  He had one shot at it, thought he'd fixed it, put the water back on and it was still leaking so he headed into Djebel with his son to buy and new connector and this time it was a success.  We walked the garden together, I suggested and described my new garden gazebo and we agreed that they would start work in October.  There is metal work to do, the well needs to be sorted and the balcony needs to be put on the third bedroom.  It was good see him again.

So chicken cooked and served with roasted potatoes with onions and there's plenty left for the next couple of days.  There has been thunder rattling around today and at last there is some rain which will be good for the garden.  The moon is out though so there shouldn't be too much.  Early night for me and tomorrow the first task is to sort out the sliding drawers in the bathroom until and put back what I need and throw out the ones that I no longer want.  LN...Challenge accepted...LN

Saturday 6th May

Well the mother of all storms last night and this morning my internet was down so I think it did more to some than others.  I made the phone call and was advised that the subscriber would be advised of my call but thought they had more fish to fry to worry about my demands.  The world and all its friends were probably phoning... ;)

It was cold, damp and the fog came galloping in and enveloped the hills and even my garden so I couldn't see the wall.  I did put my nose out to check on the plants that I'd put in yesterday...the poppies are getting there, the plants from my painter are standing proud and look to be settling in nicely.  I started to make toast for breakfast and decided I needed more....so out with the eggs and poached a couple of them and I sat at the table in the stairwell enjoying the brief glimmers of the sun between the clouds.  Washed up and cleared the kitchen and then headed upstairs to sort the bathroom sliding baskets...and I now have one spare.  Most of my winter pyjamas, tights and vests are away but are close to hand just in case we get a snap cold spell that has been known to happen.  Just for the record...there are no leaks from the boiler connector...

I had a bit of a wardrobe sift and have put some things in the suitcase ready for my trip.  I'm only taking hand luggage...I can buy more when I get to the UK should I need it.  As for the rest of the day....it was too cold to be outside.  I checked what I had to when the internet came back on and went back to reading.  Lying on the sofa I realised that I needed to light the fire.....no it's not that cold, I could have put another sweater on but the homeliness of a fire was obvioulsy needed.  I had no need to go anywhere or do anything....the grass is obviously doing its stuff and growing so my trusty lawnmower will be out next week...so much for rainy days.

Cold chicken tonight for supper and it looks like I could be having it upstairs by the computer.  I'm doing a clean up on my little machine to take to the UK and the scan seems to be taking forever.  LN...At least it's warm....LN

Sunday 7th May

I didn't managed to get my head down until two this morning...I was waiting for a scan to finish on my little PC and it seemed to take forever.  Eventually put it to sleep, put myself to sleep and slept through until six thirty.  Another couple of poached for breakfast..I lazed about with Sudoku and didn't managed to do it so it's printed off and I'll have another go tonight.  

I managed to get out there with the fork in hand to tackle the side garden and managed about three meters and moved to the bottom beds and carried on digging up lots of broken tiles ...bulder's rubble...who needs it.  The sun was out but the wind was pretty brisk so I came in at twelve thirtyish and lunch was a junior chocolate roll...very reasonable.  I went out again just after two and set about the garden under my pine tree.  I've seen weeks this year that I've never had before...they must go in cycles.  Lots of the rosette weeds with long stems and little white flowers but they're pretty easy to lift but I still have a big passion against chickweed,

Thsi is going to be a short update....I managed to light the bonfire to get rid of the house rubbish and the weeds and the sky has got darker and darker and there's been a rumble of thunder and I think it's about to break into a full storm any minute.  It might blow over...but I doubt it..

Nothing on for tomorrow....I'll see what the weather is doing....quick sign off...there's been a pretty big flash and clap.  LN....Time to switch off...LN

Monday 8th May

So after I posted last night we had the most beautiful rainbows and I'd forgotten how to use the panoramic shot so we have three and you'll have to join them yourself mentally... ;)  They were double, vibrant and again tonight there is one over the hillside but it only goes part of the way...the rest of the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds.  Strange weather...I stayed up last night and caught the Barbara Windor story...interesting and I think she only really came to my attention with the Carry on series...but a lot more to her than that.

So late to bed and early to rise...four thirty and I really don't know why.  I wonder if there are any sleep clinics in Bulgaria!!  I read for a while, tried to go off again but couldn't, raised myself from my virtuous couch and it was still only six thirty.....coffee, washing up and back to bed again with the Kindle for more of the exploits of Jamie and Claire.

So I had it in my head that I had the appointment with the dentist tomorrow so I phoned the Librarian to see if she wanted to go into Kardjali.  Her laptop had ground to a halt to off we set making the computer shop our first port of call.  We were directed to the repairs office, a very officious lady whose volume got louder the more we didn't understand....eventually we got there...paperwork complete,documents signed and phone details left.  As we were leaving my student telephoned me and said that they had received a call from the dentis asking me to go in at twelve instead of twelve thirty.  I didn't think much of it, thinking that I was due the next day and the amended time had been locked into my brain.  At ten minutes to twelve, my dentist was on the phone asking where I was and I realised that I must have got the wrong day so back to the car...shopping curtailed ...hell for leather back to Djebel and I made it for twelve twenty five.  My dentist wasn't impressed but partly my fault for getting the wrong day but partly his for changing the time at such short notice.  Anyway...I got severely butchered...he dug and gouged and my mouth is still twitching now and everything is just a little tender....that should teach me. :-/  On the way back to the car, one of my sheep farmers asked if I had made my appointment...oneof the joys of living in a small town and village.

So over to the soup canteen for lunch, they don't do deserts so we stopped off at the supermarket and I bought a jar of fruit and some ice-cream and we took it home and shared out the booty.  I made coffee, she left around four, I lit the fire and promptly fell asleep catching upon the lost overnight zzz's.  Again we've had a day of sunshine and heavy showers and there is a partial rainbow that's been sitting on the hillside for the last half hour or so....though not so vivid as last nights.  And now my calendar is clear for tomorrow except that I'm out for supper at my student's house.  LN...Maybe I should just check...LN

Tuesday 9th May

Very unsettled night and I was awake at four this morning reading.  I tried to go off again but couldn't eventually getting out of bed by six thirty.  Dull start again but I went out there with the intention of clearing up the heaps of the weeds that I'd dug up yesterday but I didn't stay out there long.  I did managed to strim the top garden and the patch between the house and the front wall but that was the height of my achievements today.  I settled back into my book andplayed sleep catch-up.....I think the weather has a lot to do with it....it's been a cold old day today.

Had a visitor this afternoon and boy did the rain come down followed by hail and I feel sorry for all those that have planted the baby tobacco plants...they were quite large chunks of ice.  As it was we headed out this afternoon to Kardjali....and I managed to get the items that I didn't get yesterday due to my rushing back for the dentist.

Over to my students for supper tonight...we had fish with salad and home made cake....really quite stuffed.  There hadn't been any hail in Djebel...I think we got the remains of the lot that fell on Smolyan....After dinner game that I'd not played before where you had to made number sequences.....I played three games not knowing the rules...I made mine up as the game went along.

Now fingers crossed that I shall sleep straight through tonight....I need my beauty sleep. ;)  LN.....Book at bedtime...LN

Wednesday 10th May

Straight through until six this morning...result.  Normal morning routine but decided to move out the glass jars that had accumulated in the kitchen ready to donate them to my ladies who hopefully will return them full of Bulgarian goodies. Got a load of washing in and wanted to get it out before we had the post lunch downpour which seems to be usual at the moment.  I looked at the time...it was still only half seven...I seemed to have been going for it for ages...

Bonfire and today's task was to get some of my seeds planted up so that they get a few days of love and attention before I leave for other shores and I'm pleased to say that results have been achieved.  There wasn't much damage from the hailstorm yesterday...there's still blossom on the medlar and miniature pears have already formed on the fruit tree at the bottom of the garden.  Some of the Cleomes have been planted up in one of the smaller beds and I spent time clearing under the long wall garden with the shrubs and planted up the Gardenia which has been lingering in a pot and doing nothing so let's see if likes a shady well drained spot.  Near to it I've planted up the Cosmos and we'll see how they fare.

So the washing was in at one thirty at the first hint of rain and I came in for lunch.  I was out again by three when it had eased off, strimmed around the little house flower beds...no chance of getting the lawn mower out...everywhere is too wet.  By five it was really throwing it down again so I put my toys away, locked up the workshops, banked up the fire that I'd lit earlier when I came in and now it looks like it's settled down again but somebody must be having rain...there's just a glimmer of a rainbow over the mountains.

The fighters were whizzing round most of the day and I missed the best shot of them as they flew over head...camera was in...I was out but I did manage to get one of the stork.  At least the stork does it quietly.  Nothing much on the agenda for tomorrow....it's a 'tidy day' inside and out.  LN...Bath and bed....LN

Thursday 11th May

So after a super bath last night and hair wash, I watched the later version of Eggheads, a little bit of the cookery programmes and headed off for an early night.  Six thirty start and had a really good start to the day.  Most of my suitcase is packed and I realise that I probably too much for my small suitcase so I reckon that I shall be phoning to add a bag to the booking.  It's not that I want to change my outfits on the cruise every day but a girl has to maintain standards.... ;)

Bed stripping time ready for my guest...I'd got a couple of loads out, it was a super day for drying...at last we had some sun and a brisk wind.  I'd settled down on the sofa with the book and was surprised at eleven thirty by a visit from the Librarian.  She needed to take her car back to the garage for a filter to be changed so we headed in after we'd had a coffee, walked the garden and she had raided my rhubarb.  I picked up one of my neighbours along the road...it was pension day so I popped in to see if there was any mail for me....and it was a no.  I also stopped off at the petrol station.....diesel for the Beast and petrol for the lawnmower...I was really running low.

So we met up at the garage, the said filter was changed and then they set about investigating a 'clonk', we went in to town for lunch while they were doing the investigation and when we returned, the clonk was given a name.  Unfortunately the parts couldn't be obtained until tomorrow so I suggested that the Librarian spent the night at mine.  We stopped off and did a little shopping, we'd had lunch so settled on the idea of sandwiches for later.  She settled down and had a little nap, I got another couple of loads of washing out, made up the beds and we were all set to go.  Unfortunately I received a phone call during supper that the parts wouldn't be delivered until Saturday so as per the original plan, the Beast will go in for a complete check over before I drive to Sofia, I'll take her home in the morning and she'll bus it up on Monday unless they manage to finish it on Saturday.  Super finished, I washed up, a little television and soon to be bedtime.  I'm upstairs, the moon is stunning tonight and much better than last night.  No clouds in the sky and the temperature is set to drop....maybe I should have got a few of the tender plants in....too late now.  LN...it's been nice having company...LN

    

Friday 12th May

My first wakening was at five thirty but I was out for the count again and emerged from my upper bedroom at seven fifteen.  The Librarian was already up and reading lounging on the sofa....and I'd crept around.  She already had her coffee, I made mine and we sat watching the morning appear.  Eight thirty and I cooking spicy sausage and fried eggs and we finished it off with  toast and blackcurrant jam.  We were both fortified for the day.  Washed dressed and I earmarked ten thirty to be in the car and ready to head to Djebel...I found out some containers and shared some of my seeds with her.  I dug up self set marigolds, beetroot that needed splitting, lily of the valley bulbs and seedlings of cosmos, zinnia and cleome...she has now another item to add to her to do list.  We were on time and off to the garage to get the house keys so that she could go home.

The new tyres were already on the car and we had confirmation that the parts would be delivered on Saturday morning.  Back into the car and I headed for her village and there were so many police stopping cars this morning that I actually dropped my speed as I headed for each of the villages on the main road but we got there without any stoppages.  I dropped her off and headed back to Djebel...my car was supposed to go in for a check-up and fortunately they managed to do it and the only hiccup was that one of the brake light wasn't as bright as the other so work was done, dry wire spray was applied and it was completed.  I was home for three...I read for a while and have spent an hour or so trying on the clothes that I'd put to one side to go in the suitcase.  The pile has now been whittled down and I'm more or less there.

Just cooked supper and had it watching TV.  Eggheads in on now so I'm about to post....final day tomorrow for getting stuff into the suitcase...LN......I want to put it to bed.....LN

Saturday 13th May

Well today brings back memories...if we'd have gone for the long haul we'd have managed forty five years today.  Sadly it wasn't to be but you can still look back fondly on the day.  

Six thirty start and my packing is more or less complete.  I booked the cabin baggage and have a bag within a bag so that there's always one there to fill in the UK should I need it.  Bit of a funny day really.  At eleven thirty I had a phone call from the garage to say that the Librarian's car was ready for collection so let her know.  To get from her village is almost impossible so I suggested that I got inmy chariot of fire and ran a mercy mission and everything seemed to be going OK.  Down to the garage, paid the man, back to the car park and we left both cars and went for lunch to our soup kitchen.  We callit that but there's lots more than that on the men.  Anyway...finished off and paid the man, back to the carpark and I noticed that there was a wet patch under the car where the radiator was.  She moved it back a bit for me while I looked again, nothing came out but as there was a light that remained on even though the'd done the work on it...I suggested that we went back to the garage to check out the dash light and the damp patch.  It's the radiator and at my suggestion we left the car there so that both things could be checked out properly and yes....I would take her home.  We sat in her garden enjoying the sun and it's a bit like sod's law...you solve one problem and another raises it's ugly head...We shall await the outcome.

So I was home for five thirty, got the last of my washing in and noticed that my Avatar is over from Germany so I went down for a catch-up.  I  think she's pleased to be back and tomorrow they are having a calf killed and will be very busy cooking and bottling it to take back to Germany.  I don't envy her even though she's doing it with her son and his wife...it will be hot again tomorrow.  Washing in, I've sat for an hour reading.  I looked at the grass and was tempted to get out the lawnmower but I really couldn't manage it tonight...tomorrow is another day.  Walked the garden and was amazed by the amount of shrubs bursting forth.  They've all done well this year, I think the wall has retained some of the moisture that used to leach on to the hillside.  Weeding my broad beans there was a sudden scuffle and very frightened lizard was trying desperately to climb up the polythene of the encloseure.  Poor thing...I got the shot and left him to it.

Eurovision tonight...I might have a look in at it for a while but I won't be a stalwart.  Since it's no longer about the song and the singer... it doesn't have the appeal.  Last night's Master-chef was finally over....I really couldn't have called it....so that's another series done and dusted.  Busy day tomorrow for me....I shall do the grass weather permitting,clean through, wash the floors and collapse in a heap......LN....A day to look forward to...not....LN

Sunday 14th May

Five thirty awakening and then head down again until seven....I had nothing to get up for but I didn't managed to stay in bed after my first coffee.  I put the computer on and downloaded the photos that my student had sent over of her parents and grandfathers and set to to make them the size to fit in the frame.  It's about fifty centimeters long and about thirty tall and there's room for six photos behind a stencilled mounting using the word FAMILY...and since they are really a very nice family...that's the reason I bought it.  I completed it this morning so that they have it before I go away. Down for breakfast and toasted the last of the bread, slathered it with butter and apricot jam abd sat on the stairs eating it.  It was altogether and very leisurely morning.  The last of the washing went in and it looked a good enough day to get it out and by ten I was heading in to my students with the photo frame.

My other sudent's parents were outside the shop and he was just on his way with a boot full of empty bottles to visit the nearest spring fortop-ups.  Apparently they only use spring water for drinking and cooking...standard outof the tap is only for bathing and washing up.  And it's free.

So the mother was in the garden, father was on his way out, my student had been busy making a cake and the elder sister was making lunch.  All go in their household.  I handed over the gift which was really appreciated....I think we do far more in the way of decorating our homes and it's already found it's place to be.  Tea and walnut cake for second breakfast, we toured the garden which is full of all things and lots of it and we sat in the sun putting the world to rights.  Mother ws off to a graduation party, father still hadn't returned so I gave my fond farewells....I really wanted to get the lawn done.

Out with the mower, brought it to life around one thirty and had finished the little house lawn when the wheel dropped off.  I think it really needs a locking nut and I hadn't got round to sorting it so out with the size 15 spanner and fixed it.  In the meantimeI strimmed the ridge down the middle of the garden, it's pretty precarious trying to do it with the mower and then set about the rest of the grass.  By this time there were some pretty big clouds heading my way and fortunately I didn't hear the rumble of thunder over the mower.  I managed to finish it, mower away into the workshop, strimmer and spanner away, washing in and then the heavens opened and it threw it down.  Really big peels of thunder but it seems to have gone over now and it's a sunny evening despite the clouds to the east.  I've only got seeds to put in tomorrow, get the plants near the outside tap to make it easier for my painter to water them.  I'm nearly there..... ;)

Boiler on ready for a lingering soak....a job well done today.  The sheep are out on the hillside...they look like they've had the winter coats removed...summer must be here....and they're now heading home.  LN....Time to relax....LN

Monday 15th May

Lovely bath last night...that's what Sunday nights are for but...maybe I shouldn't have taken out the boiler pipes today giving them a spring clean before my guest arrives.  He has the habit of 'lobbing on another one' and I couldn't live with the risk.  So as well as doing the chimney thing I cleaned the house from top to bottom, washed the floors over and even got the rugs up and bashed them out on the line.  Breakfast was squashed in between jobs and all it consisted off was the end of the loaf and lashed with butter....I didn't even have time to get any jam on it.

My painter came round and we went through the  jobs that I want him to do while I'm away.  He even wrote down a little schedule for himself but basically all I need doing are the lawns and watering everything in pots on the terraces.  He did ask me if I wanted him to plant up tomatoes and cucumbers and that met with a big no.  We found out the padlock that I'd used the last time I went away and he looked after the place and he's under instructions to leave the padlock off for when I come back...I only have the one key....Bekir has the other.  So when he left I arranged the rest of the pots and seeds into larger water containers so that should make his life a little easier and I've asked him to make a note of the hours that he is here...I know that he won't want paying but I shall insist.  Swept everything off and it looks very tidy out there...I should go away more often.... ;)

More visitors this evening and we sat out until I could stand it no longer and we moved inside.  The temperature has really dropped tonight but now that everything is cleaned out....I've thrown them out before they clear me out of coffee.... ;) and I've just put another sweater on....it is cold.  The last of the spicy sausage was fried off with onions and I certainly feel better for it....stuffed.

Last things to go into the suitcase tomorrow morning....I'm scheduled to leave around twelve thirty....but I'm told that the new motorway from Haskovo to Sofia cuts time off the journey....you just have to find the new road.  Dramatic clouds today and lovely moon last night although it' now on the way out.  LN....Time to relax....LN

Tuesday 16th May

Leisurely morning but there are always last minute things to think about when locking up the house for three weeks....Had my last bonfire, delivered Bekir's telephone number to my Avatar who is back for the summer and I want to give her something to do.  I know it's safe in her hands....she won't miss a trick.  I did phone Bekir to check  if it was  OK  but since he's had a set of my keys since last winter....I knew that it  would be.

It was last minute throwing things in the bag....I know I said it was  done but is it ever!!  Eventually I was there....the potatoes have been thrown on to the hillside with the last of the bread, the donkey enjoyed the red cabbage and for my daughter I will add....it was a whole one.  I'm remembering the Victoria Wood sketch.  

So into the Beast by twelve as planned....stopped off at the garage and handed over the Librarian's telephone number so that she can get the jeep sorted....headed into Kardjali and filled up  with  fuel, paid my MTel bill and put some money on my Bulgarian phone for when I get back so I suppose I set off at around one thirty and I made it to the hotel by five.  Weather was a bit iffy as I got nearer Sofia and despite the traffic signs being a little confusing...safe and sound.  Checked in, booked the Beast into its holiday home, and I've just done about twenty lengths of the pool and it's not a little one and I feel so  good.   Just about to have a shower  and  then  something to eat....a big fat hamburger with chippies...could fill the gap pretty nicely.

From the window there is snow on Vitosha and it's surrounded  by very black clouds.  I'm just  acclimatising myself for the North Sea and Scotland and may God bless all who sail in her.....LN...Shower and food....LN

Wednesday 17th May

I'd churned up the central heating in the hotel room and boy was I melting at five this morning...but I suffered in silence and didn't bother turning it was down.  I was enjoying the room service sauna.  I didn't bother with breakfast...I'd had a Aberdeen Angus cheeseburger last night...served on a slate, bugger to eat but with a basket of chippies, mayo and ketchup and it would have been rude to leave any of it...so I didn't.  Thank goodness I had my swim first...it could have been fatal.

Settled my bill and caught the nine o'clock shuttle bus to the airport and check in commenced not long after I got there.  I suppose with it being a very full flight that the sooner they could get people through the better.  I heaved my bag on to the conveyor belt and it registered twenty one kilos....I hadn't put the lock on just in case and I asked the girl in Bulgarian if it was OK, she looked at me, we smiled at each other and she said that it was....pheeew....my rucksack was full to bursting anyway.  Loaded OK...a bit of a noisy flight with several babies kicking off but it was soon over.  We arrived at Gatwick and the applause went up from the Bulgarians...I just think that he's doing his job at the controls but it's what they do.

On to the shuttle and picked up the train to Brighton.  I phoned by contact and he was there to meet me...home we went via Lidl...home from home getting to the house by three thirty.  My Princess arrived after work and we had big hugs, she stayed for a couple of hours and we played catch-up.  She's changed her hair and we had a bit of...let's look what you'd look like this colour.....however, we decided that it would probably look like candy floss....I'm too old to change it now...nature is as nature does.  Just spent the last half an hour setting up a new tablet...a Lenova Yoga that I'd forgotten I'd bought.  It's to take with me.  It's got a lovely 'plink' to the keyboard....I'm wondering why I lugged my laptop over with me.  So no pickies for today....I did have one of a man delivering balloons to the hotel this morning....I was waiting for him to try the revolving doors but he came in by the side door and walked up the stairs to one of the conference rooms with a very embarrassed face on him.  Anyway...my body clock says it's eleven nearly so I'm getting ready to rest my weary head....LN....Promise more tomorrow....LN

Thursday 18th May

Slept well last night but I was still on my Bulgarian time zone in my little brain...it was a five thirty start.  The rest of the house came alive ...well sort of...at six thirty so I went down for coffee then....I didn't want to make much noise me being a quiet soul.  I've finished the third Outlander and on to the fourth later in my book at bedtime and I'm sure it won't be long.

Kippers for breakfast...Lidl specials that you can't get in BG....and out to see A and J in Burgess Hill.  We stopped off at the Asda on the way to get some things for lunch and I was so confused....that store is so large I couldn't find a thing.  I'm used to small shops where I know where to get what I want with limited but sufficient choice.  How do people shop here without they want to make a life of it?  So over for our visit by eleven thirty and it was good to catch up with A....J is not in the best of health and communication is a little difficult and it reminded me of when I used to go Home Helping back in the 70's.  So I helped get lunch together...pork pie, sausage rolls, Tiger French stick with ham followed by chocolate cake....and we were all stuffed to the gunnels by the end of it.  We said our fond farewells and headed to Eastbourne, land of the ancients.  My daughter had spotted a teasmaid and my host bid and won it so we were off to collect.  On to another store we used to visit...ESK....and I somehow spent almost thirty pounds on things I have to either carry or get shipped back...why, why, why Delilah...

Home for six and I somehow confused the times of the TV programmes forgetting that I'm over here.  Eggheads been and gone and tomorrow I'm looking through the clothes that I've still got here and ready to pack my bag again.  Weather today has been horrible...cold and absolutely throwing it down...not nice at all.  I suppose I should get over it and look at the long term forecast and find a pair of boots or wellingtons out...it could be grim Jim.  So just a few images.  A pair of matching suitcases in the airport...and the balloons from the hotel....I promise to try and be more original tomorrow...please a little sun would be nice.  LN....I'm going for a bath....LN

Friday 19th May

So I fell asleep on the sofa last night trying to do the 'hard Sudoku'.  I was given a nudge, woke up and promptly headed up to my room and halted for a moment to fight my way into a bag of milk chocolate peanuts but rationing myself to four only.  Head straight down on the pillow and the sleep of the just until five thirty this morning, read for a while and down for coffee at six thirty and the house remained still.  I was back up to the bedroom, tried on and found more things to pack from the clothes that had remained here, got a load of washing together and now everything that I want to take is either packed or damp awaiting packing.  

This took me through quite a large portion of the day and then it was helping my ex other to sort out the things he was taking and getting that into a carry on bag.  There has been a steady supply of more chocolate peanuts...the bag has been by my side and I've just shared the remainder as an after supper snack but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I dropped an email to Princess this morning asking her if I could borrow back my leather satchel but decided instead to pack the laptop and chargers into my ruckie instead leaving my leather teardrop bag for the extras.  Everything has been charged to full capacity, my Bulgarian phone has been switched off....better that way.  I don't want a huge bill not of my making.  Princess finished work early today...'it's Friday'...went up the shout....and we had a really brilliant catch-up time.  Phone calls are OK but there are certain things that just don't get said...three hours of mother and daughter nattering about everything under the sun and reminiscing is fun and stretches the boundaries.  So it was too late to cook and she decided that she was 'home James' and off to the Chinese restaurant and we were off for fish and chippies.  It was my first time back at the takeaway for must be eight years and they were just as good as I remembered them.

No pickies again I'm sorry to say...it rained most of the morning, cleared up this afternoon but I realised how cold I was as I headed for the chippie.....I think another sweater is going to be the standard wear for the next ten days or so.  Almost time for bed, the body clock is at last adjusting....One more hour and I can head up the wooden hills....just got to get the mornings sorted,  LN..Book at Bedtime me thinks....LN

Saturday 20th May

Silly four thirty start this morning.  I read until six and then head down again and eventually came to at about seven thirty....but felt positively jaded. Bacon sandwich for breakfast with lashings of coffee which did something to revive me and then I don't quite know how the rest of the day escaped me...but it did.  

Eventually made it down to the village by two thirty....it was fresh on the beach and a few hardy souls were out there trying to get barbecues going and get wind assisted surfing underway so I watched them for a while.  I love the cliffs here...one way to the Marina and the other to Seven Sisters....beautiful view from the sea but too cold to swim out for a look.... ;)  I stopped off at the second hand bookshop and found a book on Aromatherapy which might make it back to BG since I've a bag booked.  It's beginning to resemble Mary Poppin's carpet bag.....  too much and too little.  Came back for lunch, settled down on the sofa and could easily have nodded off so instead we went visiting to say fond farewells to friends along the street.  Tea and chocolate hobnobs....we'll be visiting them when we get back.

So last load of washing in and I'm already clad in PJ's.  I'm still not sure what I'm going to travel in but by tonight everything will be padlocked, coat hangered so all I have to do is get dressed, shoes are polished and ready, all the millions of chargers are in a separate bag....how do we acquire so many?   Madness.  The lawn is having it's final trim, the car has been cleaned out, all systems go, the wind has dropped and it's turned into a beautiful evening...LN...Long may it continue....LN

Seven Sisters? Is that the café where we caught up at Christmas?

Tuesday 23rd May

Sorry,sorry...technology has nearly beaten me with computers, phone, cameras....bugger,bugger....

Yes Mikey B....our Christmas watering hole....it was good to be back but now sitting in Dunfermaline in Scotland in a Starbucks for internet access.

Sailed  on time but the log in process was slow....yesterday was eating all day and a late caberet starting at 10.30 after dinner ensures that I have to get in a siesta..No photos at the moment....I've had to get another memory card for my camera today so that the laptop can read it...the camera settings won't load...not a good start to the holiday....

I might manage to get it sorted later today but if not it will be when we get to Fort William in a couple of days time....LN....Send me connectivity vibes...LN

Anyone heard anything from Elsa recently, since her last post here?

:) Thought she may have been going away in Uk somewhere..... tcinbg[

Thanks Linda, on a UK cruise I believe, just not like her not to post something.

Trev

I'd assumed she'd had a technology failure on the boat, but it has been a week already since her last post!?

Exactly Mikey, why I'm a bit worried. No point in ringing her, I know she said she turned off her BG phone to keep the cost down.

Wednesday 31st May

I'm back.....and nothing untoward....laptop failed to connect with my camera, ship's internet very intermittent, Starbucks coffee left me hyper and frustrated at not being able to connect my laptop and in Dublin everything had to be turned off on the ship so that we didn't interfere with the local television stations....As for the cruise itself... I didn't see what I really went for which were the Scottish Isles and it was due to the real Scotch mist....I didna touch a wee dram for the whole voyage.  I ate too much, will need to go on a diet or mow my lawn every day for a week to start moving the three meals and four courses regularly consumed....nice though.

So what did we get up to.  First day sailing, second Edinburgh, more sailing in the mist and then on to Fort William.  Beautiful place but we had to use the little boats to get us to shore and getting off some of the oldies with there walking frames and dodgy knees proved to be difficult for the crew.  I felt positively spritely helping out the oldies and no comments from the rest of you please.  From there we set sail to Belfast and we went up to the Giant's Causeway, on to Dublin for an overnight so that the crew could let their hair down and I could make full use of the hairdryer to get everything down to my skin dried out once I got back on the ship and after that it became a bit of a blur.  Falmouth, Portland for Weymouth, donkeys on the beach and Mr Punch and we docked this morning....and UK home for one today.  Did I enjoy it?  Yes and no.  I really wanted to see the north of Scotland and the Isles, the food was fantastic and always available, the nightly cabaret was distinctly average and as for the comedian and the impressionist....they didn't really do it for me.  As for the average age of the passengers..it was slightly reduced when a baby boarded in Portland to sail with his mother, one of the management, to Southampton.  The swimming pool was the highlight....I tried to remove the calories but output never exceeded input.....and it was around eighty degrees in the water and it felt like minus ten when you came to get out....a slight exaggeration on my part but it was towel round, fleece on and lift down to the cabin dripping as you went....no use in lingering.

Normal service should now be resumed.  I've got to sort out a whole load of photos, give my latest camera a decent burial at sea unless I can breathe life into it and get it to connect to the pc.....and honest I did prepare one post for Dublin but thanks to the Irish...no connection.  Beautiful weather today, my three loads of washing are still gathering the last rays of the sun and I'm eternally grateful for your concerns.....AWOL without permission was not my intention....  So now I've more or less packed....I return to BG on Tuesday next, one night in Sofia and then down to home.....pretty please, make it quick. Photos to follow.... LN.....New month tomorrow.....LN

Ah glad your ok!

I did send you a text today on your UK mobile, and it did say delivered, so I knew someone must have been alive to charge it lol!  ;D

Thank you Mikey B.....I've not checked my phone yet but I really appreciate the sentiments..Takes more than Fred Olson to kill me off.....or TM.....Back but knacked.....Lots of love to you all.....xx

Normal service resumed then? Good to have you back. :)

Thanks Trevor....it's good to be back.....