Saturday 1st December

Happy birthday to my niece who appears to be celebrating it in style complete with steins of beer in Munich....another one following in the family tradition... ;)

I stopped up to watch one or two programmes on the TV last night, snuggled down pretty quickly around midnight and stayed asleep until eight this morning.  I woke up really refreshed, the sun was already up and the temperature was gradually rising to a comfortable level, outside was still only around minus five.  The frost on the ground made it look like a fairy tale...it was all very sparkly.

Shower, shampoo, hair dried, found out a card for my ex-student's nine year old brother and went out to sort out the Nipper.  The windows were iced over, it was reluctant to start but did manage it on the first turnover and I left it running while I sorted out coats, hats and gloves to put into the car.  Zelinger was walking along the road and apparently the water was iced up so she was heading up to see Remsier's husband but I'm not sure what he could achieve.  I passed her along the road, picked up one of the students that I know who was walking into Djebel but unfortunately I was well passed his grandfather and so left him walking.  I stopped off at the chemist to get some more Arthritis tablets to take to the UK with me, put some money inside the card and went towards the car shop and recognised Beauty in the drive.  I saw my student's father and we had a laugh that Beauty was out and about and he'd come up from the garage to get some antifreeze to put in it.  I mentioned that it had no papers and he said that the police are at the top and bottom of the town and he was turning off to the hills back to his garage....so all was good in his world.  My student is back from university in Sofia and we had a catch-up....his English has really improved and mother was asking him for a translation for one or two phrases.  He obviously had a good teacher... ;) ;)

In to Kardjali and I stopped off at the leva shop for presents for my ladies, carried on to the car park, over to the cheapy clothes shop and bought a French designer jacket for two lev, a concealer stick from the chemist, grapes and sultanas from the market, more shopping in Kaufland and fell in love with a static hammock with a fly net all round it but resisted the purchase.  Wrong time of year.  Back to Djebel and stopped off to buy a chocolate cake that I'll share with the ladies tomorrow and home for five.  Car unpacked, shopping away, fire lit and now I'm into evening and have just had a cup of coffee with a slice of the cake, some healthy grapes and half a bag of not so healthy marsh-mallows.

Strictly tonight....and tomorrow I'm round the village with the cake and then wrapping presents and beginning to get organised.  The tree will go up tomorrow, December is here...it's all systems go.  LN....Fire alert...logs required...LN

Sunday 2nd December

Four thirty trip to the loo so I went down and put a log on the fire....it was another cold night.  I had to go out to empty the ash can in the porch and noticed the thermometer...it was nine degrees in and about minus six out.  So because I was mobile I put a load of washing in the machine at cheap rate electric and took a coffee back to bed and snuggled down with the  Kindle.  Soda Crush awarded me an extra two hours playtime but I eventually got fed up with spreading jam, eating chocolates and finding bears.   The world was calling.

Washed, dressed over pyjamas, bacon and egg with fried bread for breakfast, washed up, put the washing on the airer and it was only eight thirty more or less.  I decided that the best thing for the cake was to distribute it to the needy...I certainly didn't need about three thousand calories.  I managed to get seven slices out of it still leaving me a couple, wrapped them in foil and as I headed out to take them round the village the bread van sounded its horn and I carried on to see who'd come out to greet it.  The usual little crowd was down there and there were six ladies so they each had one and I had to try to explain why I had it and they more or less got the idea.  The seventh on went to one of the ladies mother who is part of the clan but not out with the others.  I skipped back, filled up the log basket and the log carriers, put my cake in the fridge for later and then set about wrapping the presents for the ladies,,,Santa's grotto is alive and kicking in BG.  This was also interspersed with the A!-M-Tel help line...my home phone was only allowing me to make emergency calls so I had to remove the Sim Card from the phone, replace it and he forgot to tell me to switch it off and on again to reset it.  My years in telecoms have paid off and I re-established service.  For a while at least...I think the phone needs to go back.

Presents done I settled in to watch the snooker, Ronnie your actual playing and he managed to get himself three games down until he starting playing with his head and managed to win the game.  Christmas tree up, Santa is on the dried sunflowers in the lounge, all curtains are closed to keep in the heat.  It's going to be another cold night.  Strictly results tonight, the rest of the decorations will go up tomorrow, the phone will go back and I'm in to single figures now for presents to buy.  It's been a good day.  LN...The cake is calling from the kitchen....LN

Monday 3rd December

Six thirty start, coffee and back to bed.  Tragic last night...I settled down to watch the Sunday Strictly results programme, saw the first couple to get nominated for the dance off and then the internet went off...panic, swearing, resolving host so nothing to do with me, restarted the machine, resigned myself to finding out in the morning and then...it came back on.  Seeing the other couple in the background, I assumed who the first couple had to dance against and watched the final interview with the couple who were having to leave the competition.  And then to bed.

The fire was just going this morning so I nurtured it and it sprung into life.  The sun was up, there wasn't much heat in it to start with but it turned into a beautiful day.  The wood was in so I didn't need to bother to fill up the log carrier, I finished off the bacon, added a fried egg and bread and that was breakfast to set me up for the day.  I made it in to Djebel for eleven and sent off a couple of Christmas cards that have a long way to go from the post office.  It's not like the UK...they have to register the letter in their computer system and you get a receipt for the purchase of the postage.  Fortunately there was only one person in front of me so it didn't take long this time.  Next I went down to the garage to get the Nipper washed on the outside and refused a wash and brush up inside.  It did get the once over though and the oil was checked...that's one advantage of buying it from one of the brothers at the garage...it gets well looked after.

Back to the town centre and went to the garage shop to have a few minutes with the garage owner's wife, bought some fire lighters since I'm down to the last few and went for a walk round the market but didn't buy anything.  Back to the car and down to the bottom supermarket and just as I'd started my shopping Guljan's mother came up to me loaded with shopping and asked if I could give her a lift home so I left my trolley loaded her shopping into the Nipper, she went back to the doctors surgery to finish her work in town and I went back into the supermarket to finish my shopping.  The Christmas shopping is complete so back home dropping mother off in the next village.  Unpacked the car, lunch was cheese with biscuits and grapes and then it was head down for the afternoon waking up with cramp in my legs that left me hopping around for a while.

No need for supper I've had enough food for today.  I shall be watching the interview with the couple that left the Strictly show last night.  Nothing much on the agenda tomorrow...I need to get the rest of my Christmas cards sorted out and ready for delivery, wrap the rest of the presents and carry on writing the list of things to do before departure.  It could be a very gentle day.  LN....Hoping internet stays up....LN

Tuesday 4th December

Four thirty start but decided to try to get back to sleep and managed it.  Seven of the clock when I came to for the second time.  Bliss...I'd had a bath last night and lay lingering for some time so went to bed really relaxed so I was surprised at the early start but who can say why and what for.  Managed to catch my two Monday night programmes....I do enjoy University Challenge...keeps the old grey cells active and it was a race to the finishing post last night with the underdogs come through on a final challenge...quite a surprise.

Breakfast of the gammon steak with egg...it had lingered in the fridge but was very tasty, fire lovingly tended but by eleven this morning I was leaving it to to out.  I threw out the stale bread and two chunks landed in the wild plum tree creating a takeaway for the birds but unfortunately they've not shown any interest at all.  I'll probably find the cats up the tree tomorrow.  The sun was up, the door was open and the rest of the lights were going up in the conservatory.  I went into the little house to try to find another extension block with the intention of putting Santa and the string of lights on a timer but they were all in use....I might have to invest in another.  The presents are all wrapped, in their respective bags and only a few more to buy...I'm nearly there.  

I've just been round and drawn the curtains, the temperature is dropping and the fire has been lit yet again.  A few clouds are gathering tonight over the hills to the east and the sunset was hidden mostly from view.  I think the balmy days have been and gone and we're back to winter.  Good while it lasted.  Smoked cheese, biscuits and grapes for supper tonight...I seem to sleep better when I don't overload the digestive system.  LN....Fire patrol...LN

Wednesday 5th December

What a warm old night it was....I was throwing off the top quilt and sticking my leg out of bed as a thermostat to cool me down.  I eventually got back off again and got out of bed at six thirty.  Washed and dressed quite early, undecided what I wanted to get up to but I wanted to go down to Zlatograd to get some extra stud buttons on a waist coat that I'd bought from  the cheapy shop and thought it might be the place to do it.  They've got a very good leather shop there.  Heading down that way I realised that I hadn't seen or heard anything from the Librarian for a while so I gave her a call to see if she was up for a visit.  We arranged to meet at ten thirty at the restaurant in her village giving her time to get dressed and for the temperature to get up to strength....but it was slow and there was time for me to have a bonfire at the bottom of the garden.  The wind was cold and there wasn't much sun shining though early on so I came in for toast and Marmite for breakfast...you either love it or hate it and the judges are still out.  

I set off at ten and made it to hers for ten thirty and we set off for Zlatograd old town.  We found the leather shop and no doing...they hadn't got the type of buttons and they couldn't make what I wanted them to make.  I don't think he's a real master.  We headed off to the dinky do shop and I bought some small beaded wrist bracelets and then over to the hotel for coffee.  Back into Zlatograd centre for a walk round the lev shops and we eventually found a small restaurant tucked away and had very tasty mousaka.  Nothing much happening in town so we headed back to her village and I dropped her off just before two and was home for two thirty.  

I relit the fire, it was damp and cold and seemed to take ages to warm up.  I closed all the curtains, put up a temporary curtain rail between the lounge and the stair well and added a fleece blanket to cut down the movement of air between the rooms and the stairs and it appears to have worked.  I settled down on the sofa and watched my make Ronnie get through to the next round of the snooker and he played like an automaton.  

I'm going to try the cobbler that mended my house slippers tomorrow to see if he can do the job for me....he has an industrial sewing machine which should manage it.  My little one just isn't strong enough.  So Djebel firstly and then Kardjali for a meander if the weather is good.  LN....Kitchen bound for nibbles....LN

Thursday 6th December

Six fifteen start this morning and boy was it a cold wind that was rattling round,,,I had leaves flying everywhere.  I partly opened the curtains, lit the fire from scratch and back to bed with a coffee, played games but was washed and dressed by eight thirty.  I topped up the fire, played around with button batteries on my little snowmen and realised that I really did have to buy more if they were to see it out until Christmas day.  I'd already checked the bag of button batteries that I had but what was left should have been thrown away.  You know what it's like...you put it back where it supposed to live and there's no life in it so it should have been buried with the dead not the living.  I fried off a spicy sausage for breakfast with an egg to set me up for the day, threw out the skin and a couple of slices of bread and I couldn't understand where the noise was coming from.  I had a stand-off between couple of cats so in the end I disturbed them and off they shot leaving it for the birds.

I made my list and headed into Djebel and the sheep farmer followed me impatiently along the village road, overtaking me on the main road and flashing as he went.  We slowed down as we approached the fifty and were both pulled over on a document check.  My officer checked the window stickers to ensure I was legal and I asked him in Bulgarian if he wanted the car documents and he replied that he wanted to see the 'chauffeur documents' and then he said 'driving licence' in English.  I got it out of my wallet and handed it to him, he said my name, village, handed it back to me and told me to have a nice day.  In Bulgarian I wished him the same and off I set, overtaking my sheep farmer who was in deep conversation with the other officer.  I carried on to my student's mum's shop and bought my batteries.  I asked for them by number so she gave me the box to find them for myself and I bought up the supply.  She did take a note of the number though to get more in for me.  

My first stop in Kardjali was at a shop that I'd had mentioned to me in the summer.  I'd had one attempt to find it and hadn't managed it and thought that I'd have another go...and did.  It's more like a warehouse of secondhand everything and I was in Aladdin's cave and loved it.   I bought  a few things, had others measured up for me and will pay them another visit after I've been round the house to check what I really need.  There's some quality stuff there.  Back in to town, bought a few things, returned to Djebel and made a few more purchases and go home around four thirty.  There is now an extension cable on the porch lights and I'l see if the timer switch is working properly.  I do love things that make my little life easier.  Firer relit, chicken leg in the oven with potatoes and onions and that was ready by seven.  

It's another cold one tonight with the wind coming down off the snow capped mountains....I have nothing to do tomorrow but I'm sure I'll find something...I normally do.  LN....Back to the warmth....LN

Friday 7th December

Five thirty start and nothing I could do about it.  I tried to settle down again but it wasn't happening so I decided to clean out the top of the woodburner to get rid of the soot.  It was smoking yesterday and did it need it.  Spring cleaned the grate and no sooner was it clean that I struck it up.  It was cold this morning.  It was now only six and the whole day was in front of me.  I settled down on the sofa in the winter lounge with the Kindle and got stuck in to Game of Thrones, played a few games and watched the sun come up.  It was one of those mornings where thee are lots of dark blues to start off with with a hint of more peach than pink and it gradually changes as the sun gets higher behind the horizon until it breaks through and morning arrives.  I'd left the curtain closed last night between the stairwell and the lounge and didn't  open it until the sun broke through....it makes such a difference at night and stops the heat escaping through the floor to ceiling windows but on the upside when the sun comes through, I catch it all.

There was no rush about the morning..I made toast and marmalade, threw out the old bread for the birds. washed up and cleaned the kitchen and settled back on the sofa with my book again and still in PJ's.  I heard my phone ringing and realised that it was still in my handbag from yesterday so rescued it and it was Princess so I returned the call.  Her suggestion is that I change my welcome note to indicate that the phone is in the bag and that I will call back when I find out where I've left it.  We had a little chat about Christmas and my grandson and suddenly R and K from F were at the door unannounced...I opened up and closed down the call, kettle on and I'd drawn them in with my description of the Aladdin's cave last night so I got dressed and we were off for a second viewing.  It meant that I could have another look at the sofas despite not having got round to measuring whether they were suitable or not.  One or two more jobs in town, coffees and since we were heading back to Djebel for one that I introduced them to my soup kitchen for lunch.

I dropped off at one thirty more or less, relit the fire and this time the sofa was with sleep in mind and I'd just nodded off when the Bulgarian phone went and it was Gouljan from Germany for a chat.  I'd met her mother in Djebel earlier in the week and taxied her home and Gouljan just wanted to say thank you.  There's no need but it's appreciated.  Eventually I settled down again but remembered to put the washing that I'd done earlier on to the clothes airer and it was five when I woke up for the second time.  It must be an age thing...

So up to write tonight's instalment and flicked over to TV Catchup and my mate Ronnie was getting himself into the semis in the snooker and he's through.  Fire stoked up, curtains all drawn, not sure what's for supper yet and at six thirty the evening is all mine.  Off to Greece tomorrow and joined by Mrs D of S and it's just after eight thirty at hers.  I changed up some lev in Djebel today so I've  enough to play with but not enough to do serious damage to my personal economy....the card is always in reserve though.  LN....Kitchen and choices...LN

Saturday 8th December

Silly night last night.  I woke up on the sofa at one, went to bed but no sleep left in me so read for a while and eventually got off at around three and awake at seven.  My little head was buzzing about the design of the little house and getting a dip pool and a hot tub in there and working out how to rearrange the roof so that the hot tub was enclosed.  Now considering it's winter why these ideas should be rattling round I've no idea....maybe eager to get started again on the design front.  Coffee, toast, beautiful sunrise with lots of planes heading somewhere and leaving vapour trails over the sun.  Washed and dressed, I was picking Mrs D of S up at eight forty or thereabouts and the car was white over and took some defrosting before I could set sail...but I managed to get over to her village by eight forty one so not bad timing.  She was ready and we got to the next drop off and pick up point five minutes early.

The border was a little slower than usual, there were about five cars in front of us and the guards were really chirpy and both the Bulgarian and the Greek were testing out their English on us.  I suppose we still have the novelty factor.  There wasn't a lot of traffic on the road but some of them seem to have a death wish and probably will leave a trail of destruction behind them and come out completely unscathed.  Such is the fate of a Bulgarian driver.  On to the motorway, we were heading down to what is supposedly the largest open air market in Greece and despite the fact it is rumoured that there isn't much money to spare, the coffee shops were heaving.  First job though was to find a parking space and  eventually we managed to find one.  Lovely walk over the bridge over a very old river bed with huge boulders and then on to the market.  I bought grapes, a Christmas sweater and that was about it while others bought vegetables, fish and the fishmonger thought that his Christmas had come early. We moved venue to the old town and  I spotted a parking space very close to traffic lights that I'd seen someone pull out of.  There isn't a lot of parking discipline in Greece....but again no traffic wardens so not a great problem.  There was some very pretty architecture and it just begged to be photographed.  Back to the car and we went on to one of the shopping malls and everything is very geared up for Christmas.  I finished my Christmas shopping as did the others, back to the border and a Bulgarian lesson from the border guard, coffee in Fotinovo, Mrs D of S chauffeured home and I popped in to have five minutes with the little one.

Home for five thirty, car unpacked, fire lit, supper of biscuits, cheese and grapes and I'll manage until morning.  I hear that my Ronnie is through to the snooker finals smashing his opponent today and tonight I have the Strictly semis starting in about forty minutes time.  Final wrapping of presents tomorrow and sorting out the bags for the ladies and then packing for the UK.  There wont be a lot to pack...I have enough clothes there to see me through.  I might just manage a quick bath before  my programme starts.  LN...On your marks, get set....LN

Where is this market then? I googled "biggest market in Greece" and it could have been one of about 20. You know what Greeks are like? Everything is bigger, better and cheaper.  ;D

Sunday 9th December

Xanthi....over the border and west along the motorway....just one of the twenty...nineteen to go... If you actually make it down to this neck of the woods....we've got lots to choose from... ;)

Lovely bath last night and woke up at eight this morning.  The weather was damp, miserable, cold and I only ventured out to throw bread out to the birds and to fill up the log carriers.  The important things carried out first.  Toast for breakfast, kitchen tidied, chicken taken out of the freezer for later and I've had a very lazy day.  I watched the first half of the snooker and very pleased with the way things are going....the boy is doing well and I shall be in for the second half after Strictly results later this evening.

Tomorrow is going to be another day centred here.  I'm out tomorrow night for supper with the family but shan't deliver the pressies until later in the week or they'll be opened by the younger daughter but probably re-wrapped so the others don't know.  You've got to love her.  Supper is ready...LN...Kitchen bound...LN

Monday 10th December

Eight start and what another damp, dreary, misty cold morning.  I was down for coffee for inner warmth, lit the fire for outer warmth and then went back to bed with the Kindle and Soda Crush.   had little do do today unless I pushed myself and at eight thirty I really wasn't in the mood.  I did manage to get my suitcase out to see what I might pack, washed my duvet jacket in case I want to take it with me and also my body warmer that has come up a surprisingly nice shade of dark green.  They're both on the radiator in the bathroom and I've spent quite a lot of time separating the clumps of feathers.  It might be ready for Saturday.

No more of the presents got packed, the fire took a lot of attention...the wind was in the wrong direction and I settled for toast for breakfast.  It was nice and easy.  I took lots of photos of birds in the garden but that came to a rapid halt when the memory card was full and the next hour or so was taking the pickies from the memory card and getting them on to the computer.  It was hard to delete them from the camera but eventually I managed it.  The rest of the day was lazy and I was ready for supper with my family and in to the car by five thirty.   I stopped off in Djebel to get some bottles of soda water and eclairs and we soon settled in for the evening.  Beef and rice with home made pickles and we sat around catching up on events since I'd seen them last.

Quick drive home and the police were active in the fifty limit but I didn't get stopped.  I reckoned it was because they know the car by now.  The Christmas lights were still on and welcomed me home, I caught the end of University Challenge and then the baby development  programme that I recommended to Mrs D of S.  Time for bed now, the fire was out and I didn't bother to light it when I got in and I should have done.  LN....Action day tomorrow....LN

Tuesday 11th December

Really good night's sleep and again it was almost eight when I woke up.  I was a little late getting to bed though after I stopped up watching the child development programme.  I noticed that I had a missed call from last night from Princess and returned the call...they are going to pick me up from the airport to save me having to get the train. I heard the horn of the bread van but wasn't dressed so didn't managed to get down to it.  I settled for buttered brioche  for breakfast and coffee has been on the cards most of the day.  Despite the eventual appearance of the sun, I just felt cold and it's probably because I haven't been very active...The most work I've done today was to keep the fire burning brightly.

I've fluffed up my down jacket and most of it seems to be dried out...it's now hanging over the banister and the rest of the washing done this morning has taken it's place on the radiator in the bathroom.  Everything I want to take to the UK is washed, dried and parked up near the suitcase.  I think there's an element of organisation appearing out of the chaos...I just have to knuckle down and finish wrapping the presents.  My list of things still to do is getting smaller.  LN....An early night calls...LN

Thanks for the location. We will be in the area late spring so definitely will visit, both the market and yourself. I'll tell you more later, we are going on a hunt for something valuable, although I doubt we will find it. Anyway, all good for broadening the mind and having a bit of an adventure.  >:(

Wednesday12th December

It's OK Trev...we're all 'looking for something valuable' but I normally find that someone has beaten me to it....OK...in the next lifetime....it will be mine...all mine... ;) ;)

Silly night again...three thirty start and I stayed in bed trying to get back off again but nothing doing so I was up and at it at five.  The fire was still going so I breathed some life into it by throwing on another log and got out the Kindle and did a few chapters of Game of Thrones until I got bored by it and decided to take some pickies of the morning.  Venus was very clear this morning and there was one hanging off it...must find out which one it is.  The rest of the sunrise was peculiar.  Just before the sun came up it looked like an atom bomb had gone off and on magnification is really looked like it and then...my secondary central heating appeared and it wasn't long before the temperature was climbing indoors and I wondered why I was burning wood...doh...

I was down for bread at eight and broke the news to my neighbours that I'm off on Saturday.  I brought another loaf for the freezer and walked back with Haciber and boy was it cold despite the early sun.  Inside was fine, outside not so.  I filled up the log carriers while I was still dressed for outside and had a bonfire...breakfast could wait for a while.  It didn't have to wait long...I opened a pack of 'cooking bacon' and I'm still not sure what else you're supposed to do with it, took out about three rashers and fried them off with an egg and made a sandwich...breakfast was served.  I then decided to tackle a dripping toilet and since I have two thought I'd cut off the water supply while I'm away but the isolate key in the pipe wouldn't turn.  I did take the pliers to it and resorted to the rubber hammer but still no go so I phoned my man and he's coming out tomorrow to fix it either by replacing the toilet if the inside workings have given up the ghost or by just turning it off until I get back from the UK.  It drips and continuously fills and  if it were to pop its clogs so to speak...I could be facing a big bill so best fixed.  I next turned my attention to the fridge that was desperately in need of defrosting...and it's done.  The ice is on the garden and I wouldn't be surprised if it's still there when I get back looking at the temperature forecast.

All presents are sorted and ready for delivery...only two more to get tomorrow as top ups.  I was going in to Djebel today to get them but I might be there tomorrow for a new toilet so I thought I'd leave it.  Lovely sunset tonight...best for a while but lots of dark clouds around so we might have a light covering of the white stuff by morning but I'm hoping that we don't.  I have Bekir to pick up at eight.  Supper is in and is almost ready...I can smell it from my desk and I beginning to warm up to it.  It's a cosy night in by the fire and hopefully a better night tonight.  LN....The kitchen calls...LN

Thursday 13th December

Six start and boy was it a cold one..minus four on my outside thermometer.  I coaxed the fire into life, coffee and five minutes with the Kindle, washed and dressed and out to the Nipper to get it warmed up by seven twenty.  The windows eventually thawed out but clever garage put antifreeze into the windscreen washers so I had no problems at all and was just outside the village just before eight and had time to take photos of the sunrise from a different view point.

Bekir was ready and Sally was walking towards the restaurant.  He was a little confused as to why I was there...Bekir hadn't mentioned anything to him and I explained that the problem was with downstairs toilet...which is now fixed.  The situation was assessed, the problem had been caused by a chalk deposit on the rubber seal which was easily removed.  The second problem, that I couldn't turn off the water supply to the cistern meant that we had a trip into town to buy a new switch.   We set off for Kardjali and I also remembered to remove the gas bottle from the kitchen and have it topped up.  Removing it and replacing it is difficult for my poor old hands and Bekir easily managed....it's a yearly event for him.  So the garage first to top up gas and petrol in the Nipper, secondly to the hardware shop for the new water switch, into the stationary shop for note books and chalk to complete two more presents, Lidl for final chocolates for Bekir and Sally's wives and Djebel for a top up for my kitchen gas bottle.  We were home for twelve, the work completed, final presents wrapped and put into the Nipper and delivered after I'd dropped Bekir off in his village.  Fotinovo and left with the builders, the Librarians and we stopped off for a coffee at the restaurant in her village and finally to see Mrs D of S and the presents were camouflaged in another bag so that the little one didn't feast her eyes upon the wrapping paper.

Home for six, fire lit, the remains of last night's supper became tonight's supper, chocolates brought into play for pudding, more logs on the fire, more chocolate and final washing about to go into the machine.  LN....Countdown to lift off....LN

Friday 14th December

What a day it's been.  Packing up and finalising presents is all very exacting...at last...I'm there.

It started with a bonfire to get rid of the rubbish and having toast for breakfast with Marmite and after that I was sorting out what I was wearing for my journey, packing the items that I wanted to take with me, removing items I'd changed my mind on and then replacing it with what I was originally going to wear.  How do things get so complicated. Lunch was something that Bekir recommended to  buy which was frozen and packed in non see through plastic and once thawed out turned out to be the carcasses after the joints had been removed.  I wasn't deterred and cooked them in the oven and nibbled my way through them delivering the bones to the cats over the wall.  I enjoyed it and hope they did.

The cars are switched around...the Nipper is in the garage and the Beast was about to be put through its paces and will stay in the garage while I'm away.  The Nipper does look ever so small and makes me realise that I could have a garage door on it and still have room to walk around,  I may very well do it later on.  I had a visitor this afternoon who stayed for an hour or so and we chewed over the fat, he left at about four thirty, headed in to Djebel and did the last of my shopping.  I remembered to take the presents for my student and the family and delivered it to mother's shop where the presents will be hidden until nearer Christmas.  Usually the younger one opens them well before time so this year I thought I'd keep her guessing as to whether I'd bought them anything or not.  So last presents wrapped and everything is ready for delivery, the boiler is on so that I can have a shower tonight and wash my hair so I don't have to think about it in the morning and I only have to concentrate on getting dressed, delivering pressies to the villagers and heading into Djebel to leave the Beast at the garage.  My bus to Sofia is at ten thirty so I want to be there at around ten fifteen so I'll take a taxi in.  

My check list is made and tomorrow it will be....gas off, water off, computers and wifi off, the phones are on charge along with the Fitbit and the chargers are destined for the suitcase.  There probably won't be an update tomorrow...but the camera will be out on Sunday...weather permitting.  LN.....Shower or bath?....decisions, decisions....LN

Sunday 16th December

Full on day yesterday....I was playing mother Christmas to my ladies and a couple of the men in my village, into the Beast by eight thirty and heading for Djebel,  The Beast is having a holiday at the garage and I took a taxi at around nine thirty to be at the bus station in good time for the Sofia bus.  I had qualms about the taxi...I think the clutch has gone and there were times that I thought we wouldn't make it ...but we did.  It was going to be a full size beauty but they changed there mind around ten and we ended up with a sprinter.  And did it sprint...I was in Sofia in plenty of time to allow me several hours sitting in departures and I did manage to negotiate the Metro from the coach drop off point and the free coach from terminal two, the end of the line for the metro, and terminal one.  The flight was late leaving and the plane had to wait for a slot but he made good time up despite turbulence and Princess and her beau were there to meet and greet.  It was more or less straight to bed and I decided that I would watch the Strictly final in the morning and made sure that I didn't know the results in advance.

I woke at five thirty which is seven thirty my time, read for a while and then went down for coffee.  My host eventually surfaced around seven so I asked him to set the tv up so that I could watch my programme and it's one of the best finals for some time.  It was so difficult to call....any one of them could have won it but Stacey came through.....by popular choice but could have been any of them.  Church this morning and the roof didn't cave in and then on to a trading estate to get myself a presssie for myself, Christmas cards. mince pies and a loaf of bread.  There were just too many people and cars around.  We headed up to Burgess Hill and picked up our very good friend and set off for the Cock Inn for lunch.  The table had been booked, we got settled, lunch was served but unfortunately I ordered scampi and it was mushy so I complained at the end and left half of it.  I should have sent it all back...I've got the feeling that I might be seeing it again later...hopefully not ....but it doesn't feel good sitting in the gut.

Home for eight and we had to stop off on the way and pick up a couple of metal car ramps from the lane opposite.  Apparently the house has been sold and these were not part of the divorce settlement and were left on the road side, spotted by out friendly neighbour and reported as being in need of rehousing...and they are now sitting in our drive.  Neighbourhood watch....who can fault it...

I shan't be late tonight...just late enough so that I don't wake up at the 'crack of' again.  Cards to write tomorrow and I think I may need a canoe to get down to the post office if the rain doesn't stop.  It's chucking it down.  No supper...lunch is sitting very heavily...for the moment.  Even a mince pie doesn't tempt me to partake.  LN....Pleasant first day back....LN

  

Monday 17th December

So I'm still in Bulgarian time in the morning and woke up at five fifteen and my Fitbit told me it was seven fifteen.....first job was to reset the time and this is why the update is late.  It is Monday, my usual quiz programmes on the tv and in BG my blog gets done knowing I have a two hour lead over the UK, here I don't.  Sorry....

Lovely sky this morning after last night's rain and Venus is still shining brightly.  The only thing missing is my view of my mountains but if I look to the right I can see the Downs...not so tall but gently sloping hills.  Bacon sandwich for breakfast, Christmas cards written and posted and then a trip in to Brighton so that my host could fill up with various things from Lidl.  I posted my overseas card at the post office near to Lidl and on the way back saw a shop window of toy stuffed cows and went in to buy some for presents.  The shop keeper was a lovely old gentleman and we ended up discussing and him showing me the fabrics that he was bringing over from Turkey to sell in his material shop.  I recognised some of the designs as being typical.  I did go back into Lidl and bought a small real Christmas tree and will decorate it tomorrow...I have so many decorations as home and this house seems so bare and un-Christmassy.....I'll tart it a little tomorrow.  We went down to the Marina to get the things that he couldn't get in Lidl and then I set off to the luggage shop to catch up with the lady that owns the business there.  They had a mini-sale on and I bought a leather cover for my Kindle...

So home, coffee and mince pies and I seem to have slept for a while, curry for supper and my programmes and I nodded off again and didn't even see the end of University Challenge so I don't know which team made it through.  Gentle day tomorrow so far but if the weather is good I might go into Brighton on the bus, parking is so expensive, and get my Christmas shopping out of the way.  I just have a few pressies to buy.  Now time for bed....awake by Bulgarian time and asleep by UK time isn't good for a girl's beauty sleep.  LN...Going into recovery....LN

Tuesday 18th December

Five fifteen start again and despite my best efforts I couldn't get back to sleep again so the TV went on at six and I watched the morning show with Piers Morgan.  I do think he's a big mouth, talks over guests and is like a dog with a bone sometimes but does get down to basics in most arguments.  Poor Suzannah...she does well as a sidekick.  The sunrise was more or less a glimpse of the sun between the dark clouds and that was the best of the day.  It's been blowing a gale most of the day and very dull and now it's absolutely throwing it down...very stormy indeed.

Kippers for breakfast that have sat on my stomach most of the day and I still know that I had them...I've had nothing since and won't be doing.  Had a phone call from my friend A who joined us at the Cock Inn the other lunchtime and she asked if we had found her gold bangle in the car as she thinks that it's lost.  I don't know what caused me to say it but she uses a walking frame with a basket and I asked her to check the basket to see if it had dropped in there.  It was by her side, she checked it immediately and there it was.....little old psychic me....and those were her words.  I owe it all to one visit to the Spiritualist  Church since I've been back... ;) ;)

The rest of the day has been leisurely....I think I'm catching up on the extra effort I put in before I left and the long journey over.  I had too long to wait before the flight and the person behind on the plane had the sort of voice that you wished would just shut up for a while.  I had an empty row and couldn't get my head down...well I could get my head down but couldn't get him to shut-up even though I was willing him.  Well all better now.  I got a couple of hours in on the sofa under a blanket and feel much better for it.  As for going in to Brighton for the day...the weather was just too miserable....we'll see what tomorrow brings.  Now going downstairs to be sociable....I'm the guest.  LN....I want snow....LN

Wednesday 19th December

Five fifteen start and played on the Kindle for a while and I convinced myself that it had to be heads down again....and it was until seven fifteen.  That's more like it..  I went down to make coffee and decided that I could spring clean the kitchen....my guest leans towards a tad untidiness and I thought I could do my bit.  Washed, dressed by nine...Marmite on toast for breakfast but the box of mince pies seems to be too convenient...they are certainly going down and it looks like I shall have to get more.  

I've been looking through my address book and need some more inserts to add new contacts and my book of passwords for various sites is full of crossing outs and that also needs to be updated.  I had the feeling that I had a similar notebook in the wardrobe in my son's old room and off I went down memory lane.  I found lots of things that I'd forgotten about, my old Suzy doll that I used to take apart and put together again was hiding in the draw at the bottom of the wardrobe.  I had this doll when I was about eight years of age, the joints and head were held in place with an elastic band and I used to enjoy putting the arms in the leg socket and vice versa but unfortunately one of the hooks that held the band in place had slipped inside the leg and was very difficult to get out.  The seem was opened, a washer put on the inside to stop the hook falling out and I could now put her back together again...and at sixty four years old she looks OK.  At around twelve I suggested that we go in to town so that I could get a few things, it had stopped raining but instead I ended up assisting in the repair and maintenance of the built in cooker.  The thermostat on the grill had decided to select its own temperature so a new one was inserted and now we have back control....or so I'm lead to believe.  It's not been fully tested yet but it seems to be working so far.  By now it was around one and the rain set in again so we decided that it wasn't the day to go trailing round the shops so instead we went to visit our friends in the next road, drinking coffee, eating cake and generally putting the world to rights.  She's in her eighties, he in his nineties but both with tremendous energy and zest for life.  We headed home around six and set to preparing supper.  Frozen beef wellingtons were found in the freezer, I peeled potatoes and supper is now over and yet another mince pie to top it all off.

Brighton is definitely on for tomorrow....at some point I have to think about presents despite the weather.  Christmas is not a movable feast.  Come hell or high water or even horrendous downpours, I'm heading out with or without an accomplice.  LN...I think it's bath time.....LN

Thursday 20th December

Five fifteen start, I played Soda Crush for a while and decided to get my head down again....nothing was stirring...not even a mouse.  My UK phone went at seven and it was Princess and I said that she'd woken me up and her response was that I was always awake at seven and my response was...'well I am now'...and we had a giggle.  Arrangements made, we're going to Eastbourne on Saturday at some ungodly hour to try to beat the crush and it gives me the opportunity to see if there is anything she'd really like for Christmas.  The sun was up and it looked like it was going to be a good day so I washed and dressed for town, toast for breakfast and I was ready for just after nine but it took a couple of hours to eventually get the eleven o'clock bus.  My host isn't the best at getting active in the mornings.

So a day ticket on the bus and I was five pounds down already.  I got off at Churchill Square and my host stayed on to the furthest point and we agreed to meet up somewhere in the middle of West Street,  My first visit was to W H Smith  and I was invited to use the self serve cash point and I refused.  It's much quicker getting someone to do it for you.  Cards bought, birthday present bought from the Lego shop and all posted and on the way to London, Primark for jeggins for me, Poundland for a few things that I don't need but fancied, a trip round all the perfume shops for my Samsara with an unsuccessful outcome and on the bus for home at three thirty.  The sun was just going down over the see and the windfarm was showing up against the evening sky and was worth capturing.  I'd left my host by the bus stop while I legged it over the road to take the pickies and ran back to the stop to catch the next bus to the end of the street.  I would have walked it but the rain was just about to throw if down again.

So back home and noticed that the cherry tree was in flower along the street, the fuschia's were flowering in the garden and they are so beautiful.  I must take a self-set back with me....or try to strike a cutting while I'm here.  My Christmas tree is going to be dressed tomorrow which should take all of ten minutes to do but it's my addition to Christmas here....I miss my decorated house.  As for the toy cow on the bed...I have five more that I have to get rid of before I go home.  I'd love to take them for my neighbours but excess baggage is something I try to avoid...too costly.  Not sure what's for supper tonight...I'm about to raid the fridge and sort myself out....I didn't fancy what was on offer.  Lazy day tomorrow wrapping all that I managed to buy today.  LN...It's getting nearer....LN

Friday 21st December

So I managed a seven start to the day, down for coffee, back to bed, a few games and then the urge to get up and do something hit me.  Washed dressed, toast and Marmite and then I wrapped up...I was walking over the Downs to the village.  It had more or less stopped raining and by the time I went it had.  The sun was attempting to break through the clouds but the there was a gale blowing out there so the old duffel coat with the hood came out and I was well padded underneath.  The walk up to the Downs is a fair hill to climb but I managed it holding on to the handrail and stopping to get my breath a couple of times on the way.  Last year my calves hurt the following day so watch this space.

I noticed a few changes.  There is an extension to one of the bungalows skirting the Downs which is a recent addition,  It's not pretty but probably very functional to get the view.  There were a few people walking dogs but no one looked very happy about it...I was out for a different purpose...I needed some fresh air in my lungs...I'd been inactive for two long.  So I walked by our windmill, looked for the wood art that used to be in the allotments but that's now changed to two horrific figures and then carried on down to the sea.  I negotiated the traffic crossings, went in to the charity shop but they were taking apart the window and redressing it so there was nothing of interest to see and headed for the view point looking out to sea.  It was a grey rolling sea with waves crashing on to the long beach.  I spoke to a man walking a dog that had tried to take the undercliff walk from the next village down to Rottingdean but had found it unsafe.  The waves can be really fierce in winter so he'd taken the high road...he had to take the dog to the vets.

So back up the High Street and I admired the fruit and vegetable display from our local greengrocer and marveled at his display of parsnips...a sight to behold.  I was also amazed at the pots of bulbs that he has on show.  On to the second charity shop and picked up up a glass decanter with a very heavy bottom for a reasonable fee, bought a couple of Christmas presents and a weekend case that might be useful for something.  Along to the Co-op and lottery tickets purchased for tonight and tomorrow and then home sweet home which was rather a trek at the end of a long walk.  Very restful afternoon and a siesta, supper of gammon, potatoes and mixed mashed swede and carrots that I bought in the Co-op.  And now into the evening...bath...hair wash and tomorrow Eastbourne.  LN...Christmas cometh....LN

Saturday 22nd December

Lovely leisurely bath last night and managed to get my hair dry to boot.  Straight to bed and woke up at a fairly sensible time this morning to get me ready for my day out to the shops in Eastbourne.  Ham sandwich for breakfast set me up for the day and Princess was at my door for eight twenty five and off we went.  My grandson was in the car which was a surprise, he's home for the holidays and was full of his new venture and stage of life.  

The roads were fairly quiet and we managed to find a parking space fairly easily.  The boys went one way and we set off to do girly things in Boots, Smiths, Primark and the shoe shops and we only seemed to buy essentials....not really living up to our reputations.  I did managed to get a few more presents though.  As for Princess, she is obviously used to having to pay for carrier bags so came prepared...folded unicorn and 'Frozen' bags appeared and our shopping was well catered for.  We met up with the boys and did some of the communal shops and by ten thirty the boys were hungry and we headed in to an 'all you can eat' for breakfast place and I settled for a bacon sandwich.  I'd never been in this pit-stop before and if I was hungry I would do it again.  There was everything you could want.  Back to the car for eleven thirty and we set to do the final shopping in Sainsbury and by this time it was heaving.  I'm just amazed how the store has changed, lots of clothing which they didn't have before, shoes and we did managed to pick up a pair of gloves each with elves sewn on to the finger tips at a massively reduced price.  It would have been rude not to.
Home for twelve thirty, the outside little Christmas tree is dressed and the lights are on.....it's my addition to Christmas.

I settled on the sofa with a packet of chocolate buttons with a resealable top but sad to say...they are no more.  I did buy a tin of Quality Street that I can dip in to as I want but I'm loathed to start them....and I bought a second tin for my time with Princess and Co.  My host is spending it with his family and me with mine...only fair really.  A little television tonight....no pickies...I've been far too busy.  Out for lunch tomorrow with Princess and Co. at the local Toby carvery...all go this end.  LN...Dieting when I get back....LN

Sunday 23rd December

Horrible night's sleep last night.  I was awake at two this morning after having a dream about burglars and finding the place wrecked,  It might be something to do with the piles of wrapped and part wrapped presents scattered around...If burglars broke in to here they'd think it had been done already. The tidy fairy has booked for tomorrow to bring back a semblance of order.  I did get back to sleep again eventually and the second awakening was at a much more sensible time...coffee...breakfast of a ham sandwich...more present wrapping and then getting myself into gear for a one o'clock carvery along the sea front.

The joint was fairly heaving...it was good to have a proper catch up with my grandson and fortunately there was lots of space between the tables,  You didn't feel that you were sitting on top of people and it was mainly families out preparing for the onslaught of the rest of the seasonal activities. A family of elves arrived with big ears attached to green felt hats and they caused quite a stir.  Note to self...need one of their hats to go with my elf finger tipped gloves... ;) The order was taken and we all decided to 'go large' on the carvery and off we trotted with out tickets to the counter.  Ham, pork, beef and turkey were all served and then the rest of the veg was up to the individual.....with some being more 'laden' than others.  Mine was pretty moderate and I managed to eat it all ready for 'pud' but there were no other takers so I shelved the idea.  Bill paid and we went our separate ways, Princess and Co to the sanctity of their home to get their heads down and we headed for Newhaven shopping centre and ended up in Lidl of all places.  I only wanted toothpicks...the meat had lodged in the crevices and nothing would move except by hook or by crook so I went for the hook.

Shopping completed we headed for Burgess Hill to visit my good friend and deliver a present and we timed it right to pick her up from the nursing home where her husband unfortunately has had to take up residence.  Alzheimer's a bummer.  We got her home with her walking frame and in to the house, the kettle went on and we sat in the lounge sipping coffee and I handed her the present that I'd got for her.  She was over the moon with it.  I'd got her a dark red and black very large scarf that would also double as a shawl and she loved it.  I told her that I'd got one for me in green but she seconded the opinion that the colour wouldn't have suited her and that she was really happy with the one she got.  At eight we decided to take ourselves home and headed back over Ditchling Beacon and it's a road I don't really like.  It's the old coaching road with flat points so that the horses could have a rest on the way up and leads to some very interesting cambers.  Home and shopping unpacked and I was delighted to receive a telephone call from my prodigal son and we talked for around an hour.  He had a year's activity to update me on....

So tomorrow I'm shopping early in the morning for final presents and Princess is picking me up at around five tomorrow night and I'll spend Christmas Eve with them.  My host will be setting off early on Christmas morning and hoping that there will be very little traffic on the road up north or there will be a lot of people eagerly awaiting his arrival.  No only has he children there but grandchildren and great grandchildren.....and here's hoping that they all have a wonderful time.  LN...Only two more sleeps....LN

Monday 24th December

So it was four this morning when I woke up on the sofa so it was a quick leg up the stairs and in to my bed.  The second shift ended at seven thirty and so far so good...there's been no need to get my head down.

I had a very frustrating morning.  I've been trying to log in to the main machine so that I could do my emails and I found out later that the keyboard has problems....and eventually I made it.  Some of the settings it remembered from last year but not the one that I wanted.  I did try to set up my other tablet that has duel boot but so far no joy.  I shall leave it to my trusty grandson that seems to be a whizz with all things electronic...it should be up and running by tonight so that I shall be able to get my update done tomorrow.  Presents all wrapped, I did do another top up from Asda this afternoon, packing done and I'm waiting for Princess to pick me up...strong girl.  

So as for updates...I'll try to keep you all in the loop but you'll probably all be busy doing your own Christmas things.  I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and enjoy what ever you get up to.  LN....My taxi is on its way....LN

Thursday 27th December

So that's it for another year.  I'm back home and have spent two hours this afternoon relaxing in a Badedas bath with the Kindle and this time only one of us was in the water.  The Kindle was put to one side before the eyes headed southwards for a power-nap... ;)

Santa left loads of pressies in my stocking at my daughter's house and lots of things under the tree for everybody.  One thing that amused me was the different types of gin that were handed ....Princess received a bottle of rhubarb gin, which I'd never heard of before, a strawberry one was floating around and apparently this year..it's all about gin but it's rumored that next years tipple is likely to be spiced rum.  Thank goodness I've given up the demon drink...my kidneys would never take to the changes.  As for chocolates...I have the famous chocolate orange to get through, I bought two tins of Quality Street which should now be renamed Quality Lane since the tins are pretty small to what they used to be.  The one tin was to be eaten and Princess house but since it wasn't touched, I now have one and three quarters left which I have about ten days to get through.  I promise I'll keep trying.  This evening Princess and Co are going to see the Rocky Horror Show at the Brighton theatre and unfortunately the tickets were ordered and issued in October as an alternative pantomime treat from work.  I didn't realise it was running in Brighton and there are tickets available.  I'm going to speak to her tomorrow to get a review and make my mind up then.  I've got the music on my ipod and realise it can be a bit raucous but think it might be worth the effort.  A meal in town and the theatre either tomorrow or Saturday....a treat to look forward to.

Thoroughly relaxed from the break...it was good to spend time with my daughter and family and I'm hoping that they can come over for longer next year to spend time with me.  Had a good conversation with my son and we're due to meet up before I go back on the 7th January.  Telephone calls are all very well but there's more humour face to face and it's what we're all good at.  So I was in PJ's by five after my back and it won't be long before my head hits the pillow....I'll take the Kindle where there's little danger of damage if it falls.  I'm back to reading Game of Thrones and am now on book three....and this time appreciating it all the more after seeing the films.  Now downstairs to be sociable now that my host has arrived from seeing his family up north.  LN... Checking the chocolate box out....LN

A belated Merry Christmas Elsa! x

Friday 28th December

Thanks MikeyB and lots of love to you and yours.  

Well today has been a horrible day.  It started off OK and I decided to head downstairs for coffee and I spotted some crumpets and thought I would have a couple for breakfast...wrong move.  There was a bit of a funny smell about them but I'd never had that brand before so I didn't think much of it, spread the butter on them and they seemed alright until around an hour later.  I'd washed and dressed, found a gift back from Princess which was one with a 'Frozen' design and I read the lettering and realised what it was.  An 'Elsa' starter kit where you had to cut out the necklace and bracelet and me with my normal humour decided to phone Princess...it did say ask an adult for help cutting the stuff.  Her response was that she hadn't done the H & S certificate so wasn't able to help.  So I moved on to the computer to catch up with normal rubbish and suddenly I came over all hot and the tummy gripes set in.  I just made it to the bathroom and worshiped the great white god for fifteen minutes or so....went down to the lounge and spent the rest of the day snuggled up in a blanket before getting my head down.  Lucky old me...the bugs were ejected before they could do any real damage but I just hate being ill.  I was asleep for a couple of hours and felt better when I woke up but I shan't be having anything to eat until tomorrow....more fasting than feasting.

It suddenly hit me this evening....I feel as flat as a pancake and I think it's all down to the fact that the weather has been absolute rubbish ever since I've been here.  I think I've had one sunrise that was worth getting the camera out and one sunset over the sea and that's about the top and tail of it.  Wall to wall miserable days and no crispy frosty walks this year.  'Country roads, take me home to the place where I belong' was playing on the radio today and it sort of struck a chord.  As for heading out to the Rocky Horror show at the theatre, it's not on.  Princess reported that the performance was brilliant but there were lots of hecklers that knew the script and had to join it so for a first time viewer it was difficult to understand and play along with.  Despite the fact that the tickets are very reasonable...I shan't be making the effort.....forewarned is forearmed so to speak.  Age makes it more difficult to put up with certain situations.. ;) ;)

So conversations with my student has resulted in another quest for me...D&G perfume that I'll have to head in to town for at some point and it might be tomorrow.  We have a couple of dinner invitations that we have to sort out in the ten days or so that are left.  LN...Better start making phone calls.....LN

Saturday 29th December

So it was six thirty when I woke this morning so I settled in to Candy Crush and I kept winning.  The game lasted for about an hour and a half until I got to 'eating the chocolates' and I gave up before I got stuck into that.  I don't enjoy that game and coupled with the fact that it was a 'hard one' I had more fish to fry so to speak.  Breakfast of bacon and egg baguette which set me up for the day and by eleven I was ready to head for the highlights of Brighton with my two item shopping list,

I managed to get on the eleven thirty bus for my five pound return, the weather was chill but not cold and at least if was dry even though it looked like the heavens would open at any minute. There was one little boy about three years of ago who had been on the bus when I got on and had an obsession with the word 'poo' and both grandmas were subjected to this treatment.  Everything was poo.  There were few people on the bus until it got nearer to one of the main stopping points and that's when the mothers with pushchairs descended.  One poor lady with twins was having a terrible time with a double buggy, she obviously hadn't put restraining belts on the little ones.  The first one escaped and was hanging on to the back of the pushchair rail, she was holding on to the second one who appeared to be climbing over the first one and eventually she put the second on e on the seat next to her.  Not content with just being out, the second one was standing against the back of the seat and waving to all and sundry, she was grabbing the first one so make sure it didn't fall out of the pushchair and her hat eased it's way over her eyes.  Now she had the dilemma....which one did she let go of to move the hat so that she could see again.  She risked it with the one on the seat, adjusted her hat and then tried to put the second on back into the pushchair while the child was omitting ear piercing noises.  Eventually all was quiet on the western front and off they got to the delight of the other passengers along with poo boy and his grandmas.

I carried on to Churchill Square and went to Primark for more underwear similar to that I'd got from Eastbourne but nothing to be had.  Made my way to Boots for the branded tweezers and managed to get small travelling ones and carried on to TK Max and picked up a pair for a third of the price....branded by somebody else.    I meandered the Brighton Lanes and nothing has changed.  There is still lots of expensive jewellery that no one appears to be buying and the windows are crammed full.  I did spot a brown and blue agate pendent set in silver but couldn't warrant its purchase.  I have so much that I don't wear at the moment...I should be selling not buying.  

Back to the bus stop and looking around the area there were several homeless and it seemed thoroughly useless.  Does giving them money really help?  I don't know the answer to that one.  So the bus came and sitting on the front seat I recognised the wife of my hosts friend and we settled in to a good chinwag on the way home.  We are supposed to be setting up a night out with her and her husband so I must remember to ask my host to make the phone call to get it organised....they're his friends more than mine.  So home by three thirty, I'd got a little cold so I decided to have a long bath to chase out the chills and to relax with the Kindle,  I took a bag of Cadbury Snowballs in with me, finished them all and so no supper is required tonight,...I'm an easy guest to have.  Eastbourne shopping has been suggested so I'll see if it materialises...these ideas sometimes evaporate.  So the PJ's went on after the bath so I'm ready for bed and have been for a long time.  Just after eight thirty my time...a little tv and that will be me done for the day.  LN...I'll be checking out the sunrise.....LN
  

Sunday 30th December

Silly night...didn't get to sleep until one and then wide awake at three thirty hot as you like.  I decided to take off my sweatshirt of a pyjama top to cool down and managed to sleep until six thirty and I've been tired all day.  Toast and marmalade for breakfast since I was the only one around and managed to get to church for ten forty five but very few others made it.  Maybe it's too close to Christmas and the weather wasn't good for some of the older ones to come out and play.  Lidl for a few items that were missing from the store cupboard, it was one by the time we got home.  We unpacked the shopping and decided to take a trip into Eastbourne, the parking is free on a Sunday and why Brighton doesn't do it beats me.  

The journey was grim...we took the coast road and there was so much hill fog, everything was dull and damp.  My only reason to go was to try to get the underwear that Primark didn't have in stock and to get a perfume gift box if they still had one in Boots.  My perfume is still not available in stores, available on line but you wonder if it's the real thing or a copy.  I did offer to buy the tester of the original Samsara from Boots but there was no joy there.  They've relabelled, rebottled and assured that it's the same but it's not.  There were lots of offers to be had but I wasn't tempted by much, clothes are so much cheaper in my cheapy shops in BG and the only thing I really liked was a pair of boots but with a price tag of seventy pounds, I wasn't that tempted and that was with a fifty percent reduction.  We scanned the ticket to leave the carpark and sure enough it was free, back along the coast road and I managed to get a shot of a favourite local river walk at Cuckmere Haven and one of the top of the river with a man on a skiff but he's very much in the distance.  As we neared home we were tempted to stop at the local chippy so that there was no cooking to do tonight but it was closed so it was a rethink for supper and we settled for snacks.

Flicked on the television and watch the original Charlie and the Chocolate factory which I absolutely adore....and then promptly fell asleep during the next programme hence the late update.  I'm so much out of routine.  Nothing so far on the agenda for tomorrow....New Year's Eve will be spent quietly at home...most of our friends in the village are in bed with hot chocolate by ten thirty despite the date on the calendar.  LN...Time for bed said Dougal....LN

Monday 31st December

A simple message tonight.

  I've had a super evening, hope you have too.   Happy New Year to friends and family far and near,  2019 is almost here.....and I wish for you all that you wish for yourselves.....LN....Here's to success in 2019.....LN