Saturday 1st June

A new month, let's see what this one brings.  I woke up at two thirty this morning and I think it was because I'd had a snack last night instead of a meal and it was a mistake.  I convinced myself that I could get back to sleep and eventually I did.  Other nights I've started playing Soda Crush and carried on for a couple of hours but I didn't want to go down that path...I need my energy levels.  As it was I woke up at six, coffee and out on to my bedroom balcony just to enjoy another morning in Narnia.

Bacon and eggs for breakfast to set us up and I went into potter mode, strimmer mode and a little bit of topiary to finish it off.  I also tackled the shelving unit in the conservatory putting shoe polishes all together in one of the new plastic boxes and threatening to polish all my summer shoes.  It never happened.  I think I'd worn myself out, I came in at lunchtime and settled myself on the sofa and yes...off to the land of nod.  More of the same this afternoon in the garden and I've realised that I'm in need of more potting compost, I've got through two seventy litre bags in the last three weeks and most of it has been used repotting some of my older shrubs and my new seedlings seem to be thriving...it's good stuff.  The only problem is that it comes from Haskovo...a good day out but one to be planed and I've heard nothing from the company delivering the shredder so I'll have to stay in for Monday and maybe Tuesday.

I made shepherd's pie for supper and made one for Avatar and took it over while mine was finishing off.  I unlocked the gate, noticed that her little rubber shoes were missing, called out her name and nothing so I unlocked the door since the key was on the outside and left it on her cooker top and I hope she found it.  She was probably chatting to one of the neighbours over the field.  She'll know that it comes from me....I always use a Jamie Oliver enamel dish.

Everything washed up and put away....Brian Cox is half way through his program and I want to see the end.  The last time it was on the internet went off just before the end and with the lightening playing over the mountains...we could be in the same position tonight so better get viewing.  LN...Out for supper tomorrow...nothing else on the agenda....LN

Sunday 2nd June

A day of dismal clouds, broken sunshine and at the end of the day, torrential downpour and currently we have thunder and lightening....so this update is likely to be short and sweet before the electricity gets knocked out.

Seven start and I had a really vivid dream but didn't want to wake up.  I was in a supermarket with very little stock and was shopping for some sort of special event and I was searching all the shelves for interesting products.  With it being so empty I couldn't find a thing and never one to give up...I thought a little more time in bed would solve it...wrong.  Gave up and went down for a coffee and had heard what I thought was a 'ruck' going on down the village so nipped down to Avatar's house to see if she was getting any rough treatment.  As it happened it was between Haciber and Beysinger and all to do with the television being a little too loud for comfort but at seven in the morning...what the heck.  I sat with Avatar and heard the full details, confirmed that she'd found the shepherd's pie that I'd left for her last night and she told me that she'd been sitting on the bench with the other ladies when I delivered it.  I told her i didn't bother to check on her money box since I knew there was nothing in it....so I'd left it alone....our little joke.

Bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast, I went out to the conservatory and I'd had an emergence of flying ants and several without wings that were scurrying around.  Everything  out, out with the fly spray, carpet onto the terrace, swept and floor washed over but somehow a couple of bees and a big fly had found themselves in the house and were bashing themselves on the stair windows.  They got a dowsing of fly spray too and I went out to get some gardening underway.  I took some cuttings of the night scented jasmine and the pretty yellow jasmine, planted out the rest of the Sweet William from the other day.  At this point I noticed that my neighbour's son had 'dumped his car in the middle of the no mans land outside my wall and I'd planned to put the Nipper outside and wash the rubbish that had collected on the front of the Beast.  Undeterred, I drove the Nipper to the other side of the road, asked if they would move theirs so that I could put my where I should be able to put it and they dutifully obliged with a little muttering.  Now I wouldn't have made a song and dance about it except that they complained when mine was out against my wall before and told me to move it inside my yard so ....fair's fare...I did the same only in a much more pleasant tone.

More gardening this afternoon and at three I came in to have a shower and get ready for this evening...we were out for supper leaving at four thirty.  I saw the one bee lying on the stairs and moved it out of the way, the second must have not been in my line of sight, as I started to go up the stairs I trod on the second and got stung on the second toe and boy did it hurt.  I carried on up the stairs and got some water on it and this managed to dislodge the sting and I was able to take a photo of it....and I'd never seen one at close range before.  I put antihistamine cream on the toe and there's some swelling and it's painful but I'm sure I'll survive.  

As we left at four thirty the heavens opened and I got drenched going to the shop in their village to buy a bottle of wine to take with us along with a box of chocolates.  Supper was a Greek 'meze' and very tasty it was too. The drive back was in the rain and mist, we saw a couple of hedgehogs and lots of jumping frogs but arrived safe and sound at around eleven.
Thank you both for a lovely evening.  LN...Back to my dreams for the elusive goodies...LN

Monday 3rd June

So as you know we were late getting back last night and the storm was raging as I went to my virtuous pit.  The thunder was very noisy so I drew the curtains and it was seven this monring when I came to.  I was a bit of a slow start, I couldn't make any plans to go anywhere since the impending parcel delivery was imminent so with a little frustration rearing its ugly head I contacted the company to see if they could provide me with a tracking number.  Goodness knows why they hadn't done it in the first place, it makes more sense.  Any way this afternoon theyreplied to my email and I was able to track the parvel as far as Varna....arriving at nine thirty roughly this morning but there was no mention of onward travel so I'm still none the wiser.  I'll check again tonight to see if it's on its way to a 'depot near you' and at least we'll be able to go somewhere tomorrow or the day after.  We'd planed Haskovo, I need more potting compost and a few more pot plants...it's my fetish and I suppose things could be worse.

As for today...the bacon was reduced to end of slices so I nade a thumping bit omelette of it and it did the two of us.  The cushions from the outside furniture are splayed over the outdoor furning trying to get it dry.  Ishould have taken them in before we went out yesterday, it looked like rain but I didn't think we'd have so much.  It was a perfect day for gardening though.  Everything looked very green and fresh so I dug up where I've got an overfill of zinnias and yellow daisies and repositioned them.  The roots were damp, where they were going to was equally damp so they should all move successfully...fingers crossed.  My guest busied himself with the kettle that had gibven up the ghost last year before P arrived and it's now working and a very useful spare.

The children have been round today for the sweets for the festivities and some of them needed a dentist much more that more sweets.  I think I'll put a toothbrush in the sweet bag next year...I'll attack it from the other end.  I've also received lots of fluffy pancakes....ten at the last count...it's a good job that they freeze.  Woody was out today...I think he's a newby,,,it was almost as if he didn't jknow what to do or maybe hes just geriatric adn has forgotten.  I did managed to get a few shots of him.  As for the weather, cold and very misty this morning which didn't burn off untilthis afternoon.  There's still a chill in the air now at six and I might even be lighting a fire.  Lots of bea-eaters around trying hard to control their flight paths in the fairly strong wind and their colours are amazing with the sun shining on them.  Chicken legs for supper with roasted veg and I'm just about to start it now.  LN...Depending on the courier it might be another day at home or one of action.  LN....We'll see what tomorrow brings....LN

Tuesday 4th June

Seven start this morning and heard the bread van at eight but no way would I leg it down there in my turquoise pyjamas...we've got too many visitors from Turkey. I got a load of washing in even though it didn't look fantastic weather but by the time I came to hang it out it had turned into a very pleasant day.  The mist had burnt off leaving just pockets of the stuff on the hillside.

I pottered in the garden and uncovered and rescued the gherkin plants that I'd planted from under a bountiful harvest of weeds...the weather is just right for them, rain one day and very warm...they love it.  The tomato support has its own support and the climbing ropes will be installed tomorrow.  The plants have flowers on them already but don't hold your breath....I've had them at this stage before.  By this time I was called for kitchen duties...sausage, egg and tomatoes while I settled for toasted bun loaf.  I had no real bread otherwise I would have had poached on toast but instead I managed and decided to strim round the flower beds.  By this time my guest had got the lawn mower into action, I carried on strimming the bottom of the garden and most of the grass is done.  He did have a brief interlude where I thought he had run out of petrol but he had run out of steam so I finished the big house lawn and left the rest to him while I thinned out the bushes by the fire pit.  Rain threatened most of the afternoon but decided to fall around six and by now we'd both had enough so were heading in.

Tools away, washed and brushed up and we headed into Djebel for pizza and we were given a free portion of baklava but the owner.  Both feeling full to the gills, got more petrol for the mower from Djebel and bread and eggs for tomorrow's breakfast.  It's still raining now, the plants will love it and it's about sixteen degrees outside.  Not much bird activity in the garden today...we were making too much noise with machines.  I think my neighbours are celebrating out in the garden...no way can they do it inside, you can hardly stand upright in there. There was music plating but at eleven I decided to loudly shut my windows...a gentle hint and I think it was taken,  LN....Time to rest my weary head.....LN

Wednesday 5th June

Seven start and it was nippy out there on the balcony so I didn't stay for long.Down for coffee at seven thirty and the saga of the garden shredder continued.  I checked the tracking site and it said that the item had been returned to Varna so I checked my phone and I'd had two missed calls around one yesterday lunchtime.  I didn't recognise the number so I steeled myself for what could have been a difficult conversation if no body spoke English.  Now I always start a difficult call with ' Do you speak a little English' said in Bulgarian of course and wait for a response before I continue.  In this case the man I spoke to didn't but he passed me over to his colleague who had a smattering and between us I confirmed that the phone call was from the  courier company and that they'd phoned me to try to deliver it yesterday.  The final part of the conversation was that they would deliver tomorrow after one in the afternoon and this was agreed.  Ten minutes later the woman was on the phone asking me if I could get to Kardjali, Kaufland car park and they would deliver today and we agreed twelve o'clock and I knew that I could tie it in with a visit to Haskovo...I needed more potting compost and a visit to the market garden,

So boiled eggs for breakfast, I jumped into some decent none gardening clothes and we set off at eleven fifteen and only just made it There was so much traffic on the road and with the roadworks going on I had to take the diversion through Momchilgrad which really slowed me down.  So we arrived at the car park, I did a full circuit and didn't manage to see the courier white van with the lettering so I parked up near the entrance so that I could see if the van arrived and at ten after midday, he did.  I waved my order as he too circuited the car park and eventually he saw me, I handed over my identity card, signed his confirmation of acceptance and into the boot it went.  

We carried on to Haskovo, into the market garden and there was a new assistant there that completely got on my nerves.  Usually I'm left to wander around without any hindrance but no, she was like Peter Pan's shadow,  I did managed to find some Red Hot Pokers growing in a wild patch of ground, the man dug some up for me and told me there was no guarantee that they would take  and charged me for the privilege.  I've wanted these for ages and it's the first time I've seen any in Bulgaria.  I found a few more plants, got the compost put into the Nipper, paid my fees and off we went to the hardware store.  I found a ceramic lampshade in there and a ceiling cable and not sure where it's going to go but I love it.  Back int he car and to Kardjali and the world and all it's friends were on the road and all driving like lunatics.  Some obviously heading down to Greece and lots of overtaking where the signs distinctly tell them not to...tova e Bulgaria...  Back to Kaufland for a few items and a few more from Lidl and home for six.

I've planted up a couple of the Red Hot Pokers and I managed to find about five with roots and two without and the rest went in a deep pot to see how that come on.  Supper of a rack of pork ribs  with chippies and beetroot, very tasty.  Photos of the flowers either in flower or about to come out....it's looking very pretty and I ahve lots more to plant up tomorrow.  LN...Time to relax....LN

Thursday 6th June

Seven start and straight to the coffee,  Washed and dressed fairly early on, cooked bacon and egg with fried bread and I worked out a schedule of works for the both of us.  There was lots of mist around this morning but it had burnt off by nine.  I set about polluting the atmosphere with a thumping good bonfire and armed with my trusty pair of tree loppers I attacked the bottom bed near the bonfire,  It didn't stop there.  

This bed hasn't really been developed unlike the rest of the garden.  I dug up about ten pretty large suckers from the wild plum trees resorting to metal spade, pick and garden fork and I've really emptied the bed.  It all started because I'd bought a very pretty tree that the market garden had bonsai-ed and I think it will revert to normal if I give the roots enough room to spread...and that;s the theory.  It's supposed to be a Sunburst so Ill see.   It's currently sitting down there and from the lounge terrace it needs another two feet to the right and a little further back in the bed.

While I was working away, the woodpecker was attacking the old trees in the next bed and I must have watched him for about five minutes and it wasn't aware of me and where was the camera when you need it.  It did come back, I managed one shot of it but it went off to find a less crowded venue.  There were a few spots of rain but I worked through it and found it refreshing.  I'd worked up a fair head of steam and it was dripping off me at one point.  Tools away at seven, I didn't realise what time it was.  I watered the pot plants, hamburgers and chippies for supper tonight, kitchen all washed up and things put away.  My guest has just showered and I've put the boiler on for a bath....I need to relax these aching muscles.  LN...Nothing set in stone for tomorrow..so far....LN

Friday 7th June  Posted before the collapse of the internet and yet again....pickies to follow.....this is my second attempt...aaahhh

Well it’s been a busy day and when I come to tell you all about it, the internet is down so I’ll just wrote it up in Word and hopefully post it later.  

Lovely bath last night and again went to sleep in there and when I emerged my guest was asleep in front of the computer so I woke him up and packed him off to bed making sure he put the lights on and held on to the banister on the way down.  I didn’t want mishaps.  So now I had the tele and realised that I had a little time to wait and I would be able to watch Question Time and what a poor show it was.  Fiona Bruce is getting to be very intrusive, giving her opinions instead of guiding the panellist so I switched off and went to bed.

Seven start and I needed bread from the van so got dressed more or less straightaway.  I was the first one down to greet him, in English and now he’s started replying to me so I repeat it in Bulgarian so that he completely understands what he’s just said.  I think we’d have had time for a full English lesson, the other ladies were slow off the mark.  Poached on ham for breakfast, washed up and headed up to the top floor of the little house and found a couple of decent planks for edging the new bottom garden.  First job was to remove the concrete from them with my trusty Bulgarian hammer, wheel my tools down the garden, mix old engine oil with the bug killer stuff, grab a paint brush and Bob’s your uncle.  My guest was available with the garden spade and the drill for making holes in the planks making it easier to thump in the nails and we worked until around one when the temperature seemed to rocket.  Siestas for both of us and at four we carried on with the new garden bed and finished it around seven.  Now all it needs is planting up and probably the forsythia moving to the back of the bed.

Minced beef and onions with baked beans and mashed potato for supper, everything washed up, I’ve just relit the bonfire so that it’s ready for tomorrow.  I have debris to burn and then it’s time to give the new garden shredder a work out to complement the old leaves that I’m going to scrape from the path and dig into the new bed.  Let’s get round to titivating it.  LN,,,I’ll keep checking the internet…..LN

Saturday 8th June

So two shots at loading the pickies from yesterday and both times I was half way through when the service was interrupted.  I reckon it had been down all last night and the world and all its friends wanted to use it this morning.  So went into it tonight first time...it looks like we are back in business.  Reason I'm posting late is that I came in from the garden at eight after a very busy day, couldn't possibly think about food and the cooking thereof so it was a quick wash and change and we went to Momchilgrad and have had a very palatable meal.

So this morning I was up and about at six, boiled my travel kettle so that I didn't wake my guest and sat out on the bedroom balcony enjoying the morning.  Lots of birds, starlings, sparrows, cheeky jay eating the cherries from the tree, and magpies intimidating some of the lesser species.  The cuckoo was making lots of noise and it's my special one with the stammer.  Either it's been around for a number of years or that's how they 'sing' where they come from.  Two coffees later I put in an appearance downstairs after I'd washed and dressed and watered some of my pot plants.  I was out for seven and cleared out the second of the three beds on the left of the garden and it was close to half eight when I came in again.  How the mornings fly when you're having fun.  Poached eggs and ham on toast to use up the ham, all washed up and cleared away and ti was straight to it.  

I found a plank in the gods of the little house, sent it flying from the balcony to the terrace underneath and set about removing the old concrete from it.  I painted it with the old engine oil and it was ready to put to one side to dry off.  I prepared the side of the bed where the plank had to go, trimmed back some more of the bushes and got the bonfire going again.  By now the temperature was rising rapidly so it was into the house by around one, Egyptian PT....but we didn't emerge from the bunker until around three thirty and it was still hot out there.  All garden edgings are now in place, my new Sunburst tree is planted up and tomorrow I have a Mahonia to go in and another variety of honeysuckle.  The forsythia needs moving to the back of the bed inside the frame not sitting outside of it and then it's landscaping and strimming.  It's been a busy old day.

So out with the Beast after a wash and brush-up and it was the back lane to Momchilgrad.  As I said a very good meal, wine for my guest and water and orange for me, salad, chicken wings, shish kebab, chippies and all at a very reasonable fee.  Home up the back lane, it takes about ten minutes, brought the Beast inside the gate and straight into the drive missing the Nipper in the process.  More of the same tomorrow...I toyed with the idea of Greece and the markets but my guest isn't all that bothered and it probably would entail a wait at the border.  

My guest has gone to rest his weary bones...I think he's used muscles that he'd forgotten he'd got.  LN...Time I got my head down....LN

Sunday 9th June

Silly night, was awake at two thirty with cramp in the inner thigh and it wouldn't go away.  I did about five laps of the bedroom to no avail, told myself it didn't exist and managed to get off again despite the thunderstorm that was raging outside.  Eventually I woke up at seven thirty and by the time I arrived downstairs for my first cuppa my guest was already sunning himself on the terrace having moved the cat of the unknown neighbour from the garden sofa.    Plans were afoot to continue where I'd left off last night but the weather brought about a change of plan.  I managed to move the forsythia, realised I hadn't yet made breakfast so it was a late feed for the day.  Bacon, egg and fried bread and then back out to it after I'd tidied the kitchen.  I was having five minutes on the sofa and noticed that the cuckoo was on the electricity cables running across the garden and saw that a small bird was making life difficult for him. I managed to get a photo them battling it out but think I might have to send a shot to Chris Packham to see if he can identify the little one.  All suggestions on a postcard please... ;)

My guest decided that the bottom of the mulberry tree wanted trimming so that we could see the hillside and again it was boys with toys with a branch lopper.  After that the day deteriorated...we had a thunderstorm, very dark skies, rain, strong winds and eventually hail stones.  It went away... blue sky for a short while, everything was very steamy and humid and then it came back again.

So today the broad beans were earmarked for plucking but as the weather closed in plans changed and it was spaghetti bolognaise and I did enough for my Avatar.  So I served my guest, ran over the road with Avatar's supper and the door was locked and no one at home so I headed back.  I sat down and had mine, went out to check if she'd returned to find the cows going home and blocking the road for a couple of cars...our sleeping policemen.  Avatar was heading up the road following the cows so I m.  I went in the house and grabbed the food and meals on legs delivered.  Washed up, about to have a bath although if I'd have stood in the garden, nature would have done it for me....shock for the neighbours though.  LN....Please bring my sun back....LN

Monday 10th June

Six start for me.  It had been raining over night and the bench was a little damp but I still put cushions on it and took up position to watch the morning unfold.  The sun was hiding behind the clouds, the wind was chill but as soon as the sun popped out it was very pleasant out there.  I'd used my mini kettle and made my coffee in my bedroom so that I didn't disturb my guest and after the third cut I decided to make an appearance downstairs and he was up and about.  Breakfast this morning was the bacon bits fried off and made into an omelette and set us up for the day until we headed into Djebel and visited the soup kitchen for a late lunch.  Avatar came round this morning with a bowl of home make yogurt...I provide the evening meals and she does the dessert.

We caught the end of market day, I bought more eggs for tomorrow and we were home for three more or less.  By now the weather had settled down we though but as we arrived home it started to rain but didn't last for long.  It was book time this afternoon....I've been recommended one on Mindfulness and by three thirty I was fast asleep according to my guest who said he was catnapping.  Out to the garden for five, got the bonfire going although it was very reluctant, cleared some of the poppies that are just about to pop their seed packs from the side rose garden and the ones near to the little house terrace and they went in the bonfire too.  It's lid is now on for the night and hopefully it should still be going in the morning and will be added to.

No supper for me...I didn't have soup but chicken and rice and still feel full.  I'll have to find something for my guest and it's getting late.  LN....Let's see what unfolds tomorrow....LN

Tuesday 11th June

I watched television until quite late last night so this morning's start wasn't that great.  I was in a dream that I wanted to carry on with but can I remember it now?  Not on your life.  Out on the terrace with a coffee, walked the garden and noticed that my new bottom garden is coming along in leaps and bounds.  The new yellow bush is putting on loads of new little leaves and is looking very healthy.  The bonfire had burnt everything away so I poked and prodded and removed the tin cans and they'll go to the container tomorrow...I found other things to do.  I planted up the sun daisies that I'd bought the other day from Kaufland and the geraniums went into one of the existing geranium pots with a pace and the other in the old fridge that's by the little house wall.  I topped them all up with new compost to give them a few more nutrients.

Poached eggs on toast for breakfast but what a let down the eggs were.  They seemed to disintegrate as I cracked them into the water and they'll be scrambled next time.  They didn't seem to want to stay together and they were only freshly bought yesterday, probably freshly laid but not delivered and sold quickly enough.  I'll stick to the Kaufland eggs in future.  

Off to Kardjali by twelve, I paid my telephone bills, went to the cheapy shop and they were running a special promotion.  Three blouses for one leva....so I managed to find three that were made of cotton and bought some material to recover the outside furniture for a bargain price,  Kaufland for meat and a few more items and then on to Lidl for a few more things and home for five thirty up the back lane and we both wondered where the day had gone.

Supper of belly pork with barbecue spices, jacket potato with today's offering of the first picked broad beans and there's till more to pick.   I have more plants to go in tomorrow purchased from Kaufland and the garden shredder is up for it's premier performance ....and then the mulched for the winter.  LN....Time to switch off.....LN

Wednesday 12th June

Another dreadful night...I was hot, cold, out of the bedclothes and back under them and at six I was awake but shattered.  Downstairs by seven thirty, dressed and ready to get down to the bread van for some fresh white for me and a cheesy bread if he had one..and he did.   Lucky old me.  Bacon and eggs sandwiched between the cheesy bread,,,worth getting up for.  Washing up done and dusted, cheapy clothes from yesterday into the washing machine and out on the line by ten...and I still felt jaded.  

I planted out the chrysanthemums that I'd bought yesterday and threw more poppies out over the wall.  My guest  got hold of the lawnmower and started on the little house lawn so I got out the strimmer and did the parts that the mower didn't reach.  I also did round the garden surrounds so that when I managed to get my hands on the machine and finish off what my guest had started.  I'd strimmed until had no more to strim so I set to to put together my garden shredder.  I laid the box on its side and slid out the contents since it was too heavy to lift.  I read the instructions again and again and started the assembly very carefully.  I know me...I get stuck in and then realise that I've missed a step out so not this time.  The feet were easy to put on, I turned the stand upside down and placed it on top of the motor and at first couldn't find the four screw holes to attach top to bottom.  I eventually located them and in like Flynn....and on to the next stage.  Wheels on, my guest added the UK plug adaptor so that I could connect it to the supply...and that's as far as I got.  

I carried on clearing the new bottom garden taking out some old wild roses that have been left to their own devices and found a plant that has a label on it so must have come from somewhere....I'll have to get my book out.  Pork joint in the oven with jacket potatoes and I went back to my labours.  Tools away, supper served, melon for afters, washing up done, and the heavens are about to open.  The clouds came over very quickly and it's a good job that the grass was done today, another day of rain, and it would have been very long to cut.  

Quite stormy out there and we've just had the first claps of thunder.  Nothing fixed in stone for tomorrow...we'll see what the morning brings weathers-wise.  Internet was off due to the storm but back now.   LN....Better post quickly....LN

Thursday 13th June

It appears I've been all to cock on the days and days of the week and at last I've sorted it.  I think it all came about when the internet went down and again today it's been up and down all day.and so much so that this is going to be short and sweet and at least I've got the date right.

Six start but then I went off again and it was nine before I graced my guest with my presence....I think he was on his second cuppa and my coffee was waiting for me on the table.  I took it outside on the terrace, beautiful morning but first job was to replace the cushions on the outside furniture.  When the heavens opened all was safely gathered in and I'm not sure where the cat slept last night.  Not mine but he seems to have adopted me and my terrace.  Cooked for breakfast and then I was out to the garden.  Bonfire first, a little more of the copse cut away and now it's to my liking....just a few more shrubs to go in.  The garden shredder came out and it's OK but not really doing the job.  It chunks it more that delivers it in a form not suitable for the compost and recommends that you put it through again.  Sod that for a cartload of monkeys......it was spread on the little lollipop garden after I'd removed the stones.  It should do OK

We had a couple of hours out of the sun...it was very hot today and we didn't go out again until round about four thirty.  Trouble is it makes the afternoon short and supper time soon comes round.  Before that though I did manage to weed and dig over a 'fallow' patch of garden and only fallow because I didn't plant anything in it.  There's a new forsythia cutting in a cutout near the bottom of the garden and fingers crossed it will do OK.  No gourmet for me tonight....it was cold pork, chippies and baked beans followed by melon and washing up done, update to finish and then an early night.  I did manage a shower and hair wash this morning but I could really do with another...I might just go and put the boiler on.  No pickies....I've been fortunate with the internet.  LN....Starry starry night and Billy Moon out....LN

Friday 14th June

The first balmy night of the so called summer and I was up at two thirty opening the door to the balcony and then snuggling down under the quilt.  Normal order was restored.  I was straight off back to sleep according to my Fitbit and went through to six thirty and dog dozed until seven thirty,  My coffee again was waiting for me on the table so I said my good mornings and disappeared on to the lounge terrace to enjoy what started off as being a super day.  

Breakfast of bacon, egg and fried bread, washing up done and I went out to water the patio plants and if I’d have read the weather reports, I needn’t have bothered.  I tried with the bonfire a couple of times and gave up, it was up in the thirties and I wasn’t up for pushing the boat out with anything.  I came in at twelve and took to the sofa with my Kindle but didn’t manage to get off for an afternoon nap.  My guest took to the sofa in the lounge and did nod off and I think his conversation with the sleep gods in the form of grunts kept me awake.  I was just about to get out there and strim the bottom of the garden round the new bed and start to dig out the new burning base and I heard the feint rumble of thunder and from that moment on the sky started to get darker over Momchilgrad. It seemed to be raining very heavily towards the north east and then we got it.  Down it came, hailstones the lot and gigantic winds that threw pots and shrubs everywhere.  That eased, it seemed to clear up and then down it came again but now it’s turned into a beautiful fresh evening and everything is very green with the evening sun shining.

I curried the rest of the pork joint for supper with melon to follow.  Everything is washed up and I’m not sure if this is going to post or not.  The internet again is very patchy so I’m writing it in Word with my fingers crossed….so excuse the spelling mistakes.

I need to go into Kardjali tomorrow to get some wood stain for the mirror stand that’s going into the downstairs bedroom and it might mean a trip into the cheapy shop…rude not to. Just noticed that there must be about forty starlings on the electricity cable taking the evening sun all jockeying for positions…funny birds.  LN….Let my evening begin….LN

Saturday 15th June

Restless night....I was falling asleep in front of the television, my guest was running an anti-virus on my other machine, I went to bed, woke up and realised he'd left it running and the noise was irritating me.  Out of bed, checked the results on the screen and yes...it was asking for money to continue,  Now I run this 'paid for' program on this main machine so why pay for  more.  I only use the laptop if I'm heading out on holiday.  My ears are so sensitive that even the slightest noise disturbs me...deafness is not my problem... :(  Eventually I went back to sleep with the door open to the balcony and hoping that the heavens didn't happen and the rain crashed in.

Seven start and it was a bit of a dull old morning but I still took my coffee out disturbing the cat as I approached the sofa.  I went inside to make my second cup and again went outside to see if there was any damage from last night's storm and fortunately there wasn't.  There were flower pots in strange places so I collected those up, I noticed that the wind had blown the top off the bonfire and everything was saturated in there so lighting it was going to be a challenge and despite my best efforts...nothing roared in to life.  

Breakfast of poached egg with gammon on toast, list made and ready for Kardjali today.  I had wood stain to buy from the only shop that seems to stock it and a short shopping list including the bus ticket for my guest who leaves on Wednesday.  We stopped off in Djebel, my student's mum was outside their shop so we had a catch up on my student who is working his summer break from university in America.  She is so proud telling me that he's taken a second job to make up his money and bought a bike for twenty dollars so that he can get between jobs quicker.I asked her to send him my regards and we've decided that I now have to work on the little one with his English language lessons.  

We carried on to Kardjali, the old road is now open and was only closed to make it safe after a few rock falls.  Wood stain first, bus ticket second, second hand furniture shop third where I fell in love with a rocker-relaxer only to be told that it was already sold....boo-hoo.  It was a little expensive but it's a pity it couldn't be mine.  I found a very cheap metal 'Nicktraucher' metal table notice and a very heavy highball glass at the grand cost of two lev.  Last of the big spenders.  We went up to my favourite swimming hotel to see if there was water in the pool and there was but only a few people there so we stopped for refreshers and are destined for the pool tomorrow if the weather looks good.  As it was the clouds were gathering so we headed for our last port of call, Lidl, topped up with a few items and headed home.  As it is I didn't last long, had an ice-cream on the terrace, went upstairs, lay on the bed and fell asleep waking up at six.  I checked on my guest and he's still fast asleep on the sofa in the lounge so supper looks like being delayed.

As I mentioned, swimming tomorrow if the weather looks reasonable, pizza for supper if I can get anyone to partake, pleasant evening now that the thunder has receded and no garden to water...nature has done it for me.  LN....No pickies...tomorrow is another day....LN

Sunday 16th June

What a day...we should have gone swimming but it was one of those days that you couldn't quite tell if the clouds were going to come in or not.  As it turned out they didn't but by then we were on to other things.  

Usual morning except that the breakfast change slightly...ham and mushroom omelette....I wanted to use up the old eggs that seemed to do everything except stay together in the pan.  I added a couple of cheese triangles and it made quite a change.  Toast to follow and then it was all systems go after I'd washed up and tidied the kitchen.  I set about the bushes at the front of the house where they meet up with the grave garden.  Because of all the rain the shrubs have really taken off and it was almost a machete job to get through the undergrowth.  As it happens my little brushwood cutter did the job perfectly so the honeysuckle and the kerria have both had haircuts along with the rose and the odd bramble that had been hiding and was now exposed.  Once I'd got through I trimmed the rest of the shrubs that have flowered, cut back a couple of jasmines that have outgrown themselves and tidied round the well.  Not content with that i centred my attention on the rhubarb bed and the ousted the weeds....they seem to have enjoyed the rain too.  Lots of the old poppies have gone over the wall....if I'd have waited for the pods to pop, I would have been inundated.

Came in for a brief interlude and out again by around three.  The heat hadn't seemed to have decreased and walking from the grass to the main house terrace, as soon as you got to the steps it was like a wall of heat.  Bit of a tidy day and I managed to plant the honeysuckle in the new bed at the bottom of the garden along with another couple of plants that seemed to be suffering from over watering with the downpours we've had.  I think they'll fair better where the water can escape.

Super in the oven...roasted veg and chicken legs and and that should be ready around now so I'm going to wrap up.  There is only one pickie...the stork came in on a beautiful glide and yes, you've guessed, the camera was inside but I managed to catch it as it strutted in the field in the next village.  That promise to do better didn't come to fruition....my routine is all to cock so to speak.   LN...Supper is about to be served....LN

Monday 17th June

A very sleepless night last night.  I was awake at two and played that silly game until four eventually dropping off.  Soda Crush is such that you only seem to get more games allocated in the middle of the night...the rest of the time it's five and 'wait for next life'.  Up and about by seven on the dot, coffee on the terrace, back for the second cup which got left on the table and instead my attention was drawn to the strimmer...spooky.  Yard done, the rest of the grass between  the house and the wall complete, the wooden garden surrounds all neat and tidy and then the battery ran out.  I came in and cooked breakfast and then out again planting roses and a couple of 'no hope' yukka that my Avatar had given me that after sitting in water for three weeks had developed roots.  My intention for today was to clear out the little garden between the steps to the terraces but that became a job for tomorrow...I've got zinnia that need to be planted there to keep the humming moths happy in the autumn.

I moved on to the new siting for the bonfire and finished clearing the patch, took the old cans out of the burning container and emptied out the debris into the wheel barrow and emptying it on to the garden in the bottom right corner.  Next on the list was finishing the grass.  My guest had done one half yesterday but he was ensconced in Soda Crush so I took on the responsibility for heaving the mower around and by twelve it was finished...I was running out of steam at this point so I was in for water, settled in to the Kindle and got my head down for a couple of hours.  At four I showered and washed my hair, stayed in the bath towel until five on the sofa and eventually made it upstairs to dry my hair and get dressed.

I'd decided that I wasn't cooking tonight so instead we went to one of the hotel restaurants in the mountains overlooking Momchilgrad and had a very pleasant meal of lots of starters which is much nicer than one meal when the weather is hot and sticky.  We watched the sunset but by this time the clouds were gathering so at nine we set off for home along the Greek road and back up the dirt road and we were back for nine thirty and we just missed the thunder and lightening.  I caught the moon coming up as I waited for the computer to load, out on to the balcony for a few pickies but unfortunately some of them are too grainy to post.  

Lovely day...achieved quite a lot and a nice end to the day at the restaurant.  LN....Let's see what's worth boring you with.....LN

Tuesday 18th June

Funny old day.  I went down to the bread van at around eight fifteen only to be told that my Avatar was in hospital.  I enquired which one and got the reply that it was either Momchilgrad or Kardjali, no one seemed to know....I'd only mentioned to my guest that I hadn't seen her for a few days but since her son arrived from Germany, I was unsure if she'd gone somewhere with him.  I came back with cheesy read from the van so bacon was called for...the last breakfast for my guest and I toyed with the idea of going in to Kardjali to try and track Avatar down....and track her down I did.  

I'd spent quite some time this morning watching the log with the hole in it in  the yard.  I'd heard twittering coming from it but I'd had tits in there and also the sparrows had been in and out so I really wasn't sure what was in there nesting.  I walked over to it, saw a blue head and then took up position in the house on the stairs with the zoom on the camera and success.
Blue tits coming with beaks laden with goodies and leaving with nothing  so they appear to be very busy.  Eventually I made my decision and bu ten fifteen I was in the Nipper and heading for Kardjali giving Momchilgrad a wide berth.  I managed to park up at the hospital when the attendant saw that my car was very small and we managed to manoeuvre it near the barrier and it's free parking.  I went to reception and with broken Bulgarian I managed to ascertain that she was on the sixth floor so I took the lift and when I got to the sixth there were about ten doors going off so I stood hopefully in the small queue next to it and was called in.  Again I explained who I was looking for and was told that she was in room three along the corridor so took a guess on the door to the corridor and bingo...I was in.  I knocked on the door and opened it and in this small room there were four beds, four patients and five visitors and I spotted her straight away in the corner.  I got quizzed by one of the visitors, ignored her and went in and was told to sit on the bed which I ignored and sat on the frame of one of the other.  She looks OK, is on antibiotic injections and reckon that the cold and cough that she had had turned more serious.  I asked it she wanted me to get anything and she said that she was fine, had everything that she wanted but was obviously pleased to see me.  I think she's gone up in the estimation of the rest of the lodgers....she has an English person visiting her.  I joked that she was a bad woman and so was I so that's why we are such good friends and I'm not sure if the others understood but it didn't matter.  It looks like she might be there for a few more days...my guest leaves tomorrow so I'll pop in the next time I'm in Kardjali.

Lidl and home for twelve so it didn't take long at all.  I'd bought a French stick and tins of tuna so made tuna mayo baguettes followed by ice=cream and it's been an afternoon on the terrace where it was cooler.  Hot and humid today, it threatened thunder but it didn't amount to anything and it's turned into a pleasant evening.  Alarm clocks to be set for four thirty tomorrow so that my guest can catch the six o'clock from Kardjali to Sofia and he's doing his packing with not much enthusiasm. ...and if it doesn't fit Cinderella....it gets put into storage for the next visit or until I go to the UK.  Six thirty my time and it will be hamburgers and chippies tonight...nothing too taxing.  LN....Not looking forward to the early start....LN

Wednesday 19th June

So I'd just nodded off and my phone pinged to remind me to put it on charge which was just as well..I was relying on the alarms to get me in motion in the morning.  Back to sleep I went and at four thirty only one of the two that I'd set went off and I was too sleepy to find out why.  I was awake and that's all that mattered.  I heard my guest moving around downstairs and he was halfway upstairs with my coffee and I suggested that he went downstairs with it...it wasn't going to take me long to be ready for the off.  Washed, dressed, downstairs for quarter to five, keys at the ready so I took the Nipper out on to the grass outside the wall ready for the off.  My guest was having trouble putting his flight socks on so Florence Nightingale took pity...he had a flight to catch.  Into the car by ten after five, I did a last minute search and found a charger that he'd missed but he said that he had another at home so he would leave it.  I don't think it would have fitted in the luggage anyway....I'm getting quite a collection of his clothing left each time.  

There was quite a lot of early morning mist but I took the main road not the rough quick road.  It had thrown it down overnight and the last thing I wanted was getting stuck in the mud which collects after heavy rain and it ends up a little skiddy.  The police were in the garage on the way out of Djebel but we sailed through, just a few really foggy patches but no cows out this morning and we arrived at quarter to six and there were very few passengers waiting.  The luggage was loaded  and I asked the driver if he could put my guest off at the Metro stop so that he could get to the airport and it was arranged.  One of the other passengers had heard my request and after a couple of minutes she came over to us and said that for another couple of lev, the driver would take them to the airport since there were few passengers heading to Sofia.  My guest was over the moon, normally he has to negotiate a taxi and that can be difficult at that time of the morning with very variable prices.  Solved...  Off they went, I drove to the fuel station and topped up with gas and then home and fully energised to get going on the washing and out on the line when the fog lifted.  Five loads later, two beds stripped, sofa cushions washed, clothes left behind, hoover at the ready and bathrooms cleaned and ready for action.  A bacon sandwich helped me to get through the workload and I ate it as I checked Easyjet tracker and found that the flight from the UK had been delayed which meant the onward would be late.

The next time I looked at the clock it was four, the last quilt that the washing machine had struggled with since it is so large was pegged out and I sat down and had a few minutes to myself taking a photo of the bea-eaters that were on the electricity wires.  Unfortunately they are too far away but you get the idea.  It's quite surprising,,,,I've been going all day, no sleep but feel energised.  I should sleep well tonight, I've no need for supper, I attacked the remains of a pack of oatmeal biscuits this afternoon so had no room for any more.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow, it's started to thunder and I had to rush out to get in the final quilt as the raindrops were few but very heavy.  We've just had another downpour....what is it with this weather???  

Just phoned the UK and he's home safe and sound and absolutely knacked.  The flight was delayed by an hour when it left but the pilot must have made up some time...as all good pilots do.  LN....Soon be time for bed....LN

Thursday 20th June

Didn't sleep well at all last night despite the fact that I thought I might.  The light stayed on, too lazy to put it off and at five thirty the sun was coming up anyway so I made coffee downstairs and topped it up using my little kettle upstairs.  Real hotel feel about doing that.  Just need a few packets of biscuits and room service to set it up each afternoon...that's going to happen... ;)  We'd had rain overnight again so no need for watering duties and only a few wet patches on the terrace.  I felt pretty jaded this morning after the long day yesterday and the sleepless night and with lethargy boiled a couple of eggs and made toast.  I think also the house is very quiet now that I'm home alone and I need to get used to it again but it shouldn't take too long.  Kitchen tidied and everything put away, I headed down to the bonfire and set fire to it.  It burned pretty furiously for a short time so I put the lid on which acts as a bit of a funnel to make sure that everything is burnt away to discourage the cats from raiding it.  Stuff for them goes over the wall...I do not have cats she says vehemently but they seem to love me and the garden.  At least the lodger on the sofa seems to have disappeared.

So I took to my indoor sofa with a book and it wasn't long before my eyelids went southwards and I was surprised that the clock only showed quarter after one so I checked my Fitbit and that was showing two thirty....OK...battery change in the clock was required to get that pendulum swinging again.  Fortunately I had a spare on in the olive tin in the kitchen, where else do you keep them, replaced, adjusted and my life back on track.  I made a cup of coffee and took out a packet of biscuits and sat munching for a while realising that they were fast diminishing so will power took over and I replaced them in the kitchen.  Moving around and heard the latch on the front gate ping so looked out and I had a visitor who I thing had taken pity now that I was home alone.  I made coffee, it was a lovely afternoon to sit out and catch up on the 'news', gripes and groans, talk politics and exchange ideas.  More coffee was made and then off he went.  

I've just been round the garden with the camera and realised I have lots of things going over, new ones taking their place and now I'm into following the seasons and the flow of nature.  The linden blossom on the tree in the yard is buzzing with bees and the aroma from the blossom intoxicating.  The second one in the ripe for renovation property next to me is hitting me from the other side.  The honeysuckle slows down, the linden takes over and then it's the night aroma of the tobacco plants and the zinnias for their beauty.  Along with the zinnias we get the honeybee moths so expect to see a few shots of those in the not to distant future.  They're difficult to photo but worth it.  

I'm not going to Pilates....I've called it off for tonight.  I think I need to rest up a little before I start forcing my body into lots of different positions,  I'm actually alongside twenty to forty year olds so I do have to modify some of my movements. ...I don't bend like I used to.  Looking out for the moon again tonight.  Last night's was brilliant, very orange and I posted the photo on FB.  Nothing required for supper tonight so far and as for tomorrow, I need to strim the bottom of the garden and round the beds, weed this top between the steps that still hasn't been done and plant zinnias....and a little topiary on the wild plums is required at the bottom of the garden.  A leisurely day is forecast.  LN....Now for some pickies.....LN

Friday 21st June

So I did it again last night and stayed up to watch Question Time and half way through I wondered why.  The panel had to be reminded of the questions asked several times....they all seemed to want to get the party politics over with no one wanting to answer the questions.  I turned the computer off and headed for bed and that's when the toothache kicked in and I was down to the kitchen for one of the stronger painkillers that I've got.  At three this morning I made a promise to myself that I would be at the dentist surgery today...and I was.

Lovely morning to wake up to.  I watched the sun come up with the first coffee of the day on the bench and I'd put cushions down which will be made permanent features of the outdoors that if the weather gets to be anything like summer and the rain goes on to find pastures brown.  We have good mornings and then we normally have the showers but today they were late...came at five this evening.  So toast for breakfast and I decided to investigate further my leak in the bathroom.  I managed to pull the unit holding the wash basin away from the wall and found that it's either the hot water supply cut off valve or the pipe leading to the mixer tap so I left it in the off position awaiting Bekir's call that he can come and fix it.  At least the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom can dry out now.  

By ten I was in the Nipper and heading for the dentist surgery and by ten thirty I've arranged an appointment for Monday at twelve for an inspection and filling and then other work will need to be scheduled as required.  I've decided that this year I'm going to have everything done including new crowns and screw in replacements if necessary...it might cost but it will be done and dusted.  I carried on to the hardware shop and bought the replacement hot water cut off valve and carried on to my student's parents shop and we talked for an hour or so.  The husband came up from the garage and we had a chat, he went back to work and came back an hour later and I'm still there so I made a swift exit state left....I only fill in the gaps between customers so there's no problem with him but we joke about it.  I was home for twelve thirty, played on the Kindle for a while and promptly decided to catch up on the sleep I hadn't managed last night.  The gardening I decided could wait and it will still be there for me tomorrow.

I went upstairs to shut a few doors and I heard my fly screen open and close and as I came downstairs I noticed that Remsier had come in and was sitting down on the sofa.  I haven't seen her for a while and guessed that she had come to see if it was OK to pick the linden blossom that they dry off to make tea....and I was right.  She got her phone out, telephoned the daughter in law to bring bags down and ten minutes later she'd arrived with her daughter and the process began.  I firstly moved the Nipper from under the tree just in case there was any climbing involved...they can damage their bones but not the roof of my car and I reminded them that they weren't insured...it was all down to them.  I set Remsier off with some cut off branches and a bag to keep it in but they mother and daughter were a little factory.  Mother up the tree and daughter on the floor while I supplied some cut off branches for them to work on.  Any way three bags later, I'd just got the garden hose from the grass on to the terrace when the heavens opened, rain stopped play for all of us, I threw the not empty branches over the wall for the cows and some over the road in Haciber's field for the donkey and put a jacket potato in the oven for me for later.  The rain was very heavy while it lasted with a hint of a rainbow which came to nothing and now it's turned into a pleasant evening.

The tooth seems to have settled down now that the dentist appointment has been made but I'll make provisions and take a tablet before I get into bed tonight.  It's in the wee small hours that those things seem to kick off.  So the things from today's list just get moved on to tomorrow....another empty day to fill as I wish.  Supper should just about be ready or let's see what I can add to it to make it a gastronomic delight.  LN....My tree looks depleted....LN

Saturday 22nd June

So I had a better night remembering to take my pain killers for the toothache before I went to bed.  Supper was a meagre affair...just the potato with butter....I didn't do anything with it except eat it.  

Six thirty start this morning, the sun was up but there was still the hint of last night's rain so I didn't water the garden but they need a really good soaking tonight and they'll be seen to as soon as I've posted this entry.  There were loads of butterflies out this morning on the lavender as as I walked the garden I realised that there were just loads of the same type everywhere.  We'd had the black and white ones last week and now it's the orange ones.  There were loads of bees buzzing around, the garden was alive.

I had a bit of a funny morning.  I went into my newly departed guest room to put something away and accidentally knocked the new mirror frame and realised that I had to put tow restraining horseshoe nails to stop the mirror sliding forward.  I know that I had some so headed out to the little house and the woodstore to find them and you can guess what happens.  You find other jobs to do and the screw and nails are sorted out into individual boxes and the sandpaper box now has a lid on it.  I also remembered that I'd started my breakfast so back into the kitchen and popped the toaster on, buttered the toast and lashed on the Marmite.   Still not sure if I love it or hate it but it filled a hole.

I went on to the computer to do my emails and I heard the fly screen open and close so I shouted down, 'Who is it and what do you want' at the same time that I realised it was the Librarian.  She'd come to check how I was now that I was home alone, I made coffee and she stayed for an hour or so.  I invited her to lunch in Djebel but she'd arranged to do something with one of her ladies in the village.  We walked the garden, I've a list of the plants that she wants and we've arranged to do something next week after we both get out dental appointments out of the way.

A gentle afternoon watching tennis, almost eight my time and I must think about cooking a couple of hamburgers that I got out of the freezer this morning.  I can't say I'm fussed.  I found a box of truffles that I'd forgotten about and they are no more.  Pretty messy to eat though...they had a coating of cocoa powder and it seemed to go everywhere sticking to my fingers and I'd touched my mouth at some point. ...another wash was the order of the day.  

So Friday's jobs are still on the list and incomplete....moved on another day.  LN.....Let's see what tomorrow brings.....LN

Sunday 23rd June

What a day.   I woke up at six this morning and it seems to have been none stop in the garden except for the time that I've been glued to the tennis on the computer and well done to Lopez for winning the single title at Queens and then going on to win the doubles with Andy Murray in back to back matches.  As he said he wasn't sure how he did it...his tank was empty and was running on adrenaline.  

So first off I managed to weed the little garden between the steps and plant it up with zinnias taken from the pink Greek flower bed where there was excess.  It was a bit of a slow process, there is so much grass this year, it's all seeded and the weather, hot with lots of rain has been perfect for it.  I was flagging three quarters through but managed to stay with it and made scrambled on toast for breakfast and sat at the desk in the stairwell to eat it.  The temperature was climbing...it was twenty seven out and thirty two in and the outside station is in the shade.  Next task was to use the heavy duty electric hedge trimmer and I took down the wild philadelphus now that it's finished flowering and then moved on to the hedge beyond the acacia and the large berberis and now I can see more of the view from the terrace.  I don't want it to be like a prison in her and that's why the wall is fairly low so why hide the wall and the view with high level bushes.  I also removed loads of the poppies that have gone over to given the other plants a better change of survival and less competition for water as the season moves on.

By now it was so hot that I came in and settled on the sofa out of the sun and waited for the temperature to drop.  I went out at four and it was out with the lawnmower and started with the grave garden.  I worked at it until it ran out of fuel and came in to watch the tennis and Lopez single win.  In the interval between , thirty five minutes to be precise I filled the machine with fuel and carried on completing the main  lawn and the second only leaving the top section of the little house garden where the mole has been particularly active.  I'm going to be burying the mole tablets tomorrow....the runs are a menace to shipping... ;)

In to watch the Lopez/Murray match and it was really exciting but you have to love tennis.  It's shower time now....I've shed lots of fluid today but have made sure that I've kept myself topped up with water and fruit juice.  The chocolate hobnobs didn't stand much of a chance...they need to be replaced tomorrow.  I did take out some mincemeat to do something with but that can wait for tomorrow.  Dentist tomorrow at twelve, Avatar is out of hospital coming home in a taxi which I told her off for...she could have phoned me.  I'll go round in the morning to see if there is a shopping list of 'can't live without'...the bread van doesn't come tomorrow so I'll have to get her bread.  Wish me luck....a filling tomorrow for sure and then it appraising what needs to be done.  LN...This may take some time Oates...LN

Monday 24th June

I was just settling off last night at around twelve thirty when my neighbours returned from Turkey for another holiday.  At first I didn't know what was happening, there was lots of giggling, crashing around and cars manoeuvring and I had the thought that my ladies were having an 'all-nighter' and hadn't invited me.  Silly idea really so I went into the guest room and saw the grand-daughter with a flashlight in their garden...my faith in my neighbours had been restored.   I eventually got back off again and slept straight though until six thirty...I needed it.  I knocked up over twenty three thousand steps yesterday on my Fitbit.

Toast and Marmite for breakfast, out to the garden and finished the rest of the grass treading down mole hills.  I popped over to Avatar's with some slices of bread and to confirm what she wanted from Djebel and she was making soup and I'd only just had breakfast.  Her shopping list was....carrots....and nothing else and she was telling me that she had to get out into the garden and give it a tidy round since her son was coming back from his two weeks at a health spa.  I looked straight at her, told her that she was silly and reminded her that she'd just come out of hospital and that she should leave it for her son unless she wanted to find herself back in the hospital. I think I got through to her.

It was warm already so I had another shower and washed through my hair again before I got ready for my visit to the dentist.  I parked up easily, arrived ten minutes early for my appointment and waited in the corridor.  I was called in, sat in the chair and was man-handled from start to finish....his technique has changed and I came out feeling almost assaulted.  I have to go back next week for the treatment to be completed, I recognise he's good but I didn't enjoy the experience and his prices have certainly increased.  

Over to my students mums shop and we chewed over the fat about my dental treatment or lack of it and she agreed and had found out the same way.  I remembered the carrots from the supermarket and bumped into my other student, she was working so I didn't spend long talking to her.  Home for three and have had a very pleasant afternoon doing not a lot, watching a little of the tennis from Eastbourne and a few quiz games.  I used the mincemeat to make hamburgers, made a few chippies and was eating supper at five thirty....

Almost eight my time, it looks like it might rain tonight but I'm about to get the hose pipe out and water the terrace plants.  LN....Strimming tomorrow...and then all done....for a week or so....LN

Tuesday 25th June

So it was a very disturbed night last night.  My noisy neighbours were out there until twelve thirty last night jawing away...unfortunately the house is not fit to live in yet so they live outside until they decide it's time to go to bed.  They're only here for a month and then they go back to Turkey...it used to be so quiet here.  Eventually I went to sleep but woke up at two thirty and played stupid games until four and despite the game still being very active and I was on a winning streak....I closed up the Kindle and settled down again until eight so caught up on some of the missing zzz's.

Breakfast was a fried egg cooked in the hamburger pan from last night and I was sincerely tempted to cook another one...but will power took over.  Avatar came round to pay for the carrots that I got for her yesterday and we had a sneaky look at the vegetable garden and it's been on the list as you know.  She tried to pull a few weeds out and the ground was so dry that they'd really got fixed so out came the hose pipe when she left and I soaked it thoroughly...it had move from list to 'agenda'.  I somehow found myself upstairs sorting out the winter wardrobe and getting the summer stuff onto the shelves, half way through that I ended up sorting up the vegetable patch and now it's ninety five percent done...just a few sections for tomorrow.  I found tomatoes that are growing, my beetroot seem to be OK and some are ready for harvesting, parsnips and carrots will be watered regularly and the gherkins or little cucumbers are now strung up after a few amendments to the tomato support.  Tomatoes get strung up tomorrow.

Brief interlude for lunch, tuna mayo sandwiches and that's going to be enough for me for the rest of the day.  Tried to have a bonfire to get rid of the old rotten wooden paths between the veg in the veg garden but it was having none of it.  I didn't try too hard, the wind had picked up so it should be better tomorrow when I have more household stuff to get rid of.  So I tidied up outside and toys put away, watered the little house long wall garden, some of the new seedlings were looking a little 'crispy' and came in and finished putting the sweaters away and hanging up the summer clothes.  I've just looked out of the window and the little white cat is scavenging something and I've put nothing out so I hope it's the mole...serious work required in that direction.

Shower time...the perspiration has been dripping off me today despite the wind.  Temperature inside thirty one and outside, twenty nine...close call today.  Final weeding in the morning and that strimmer is going to earn it's keep ...I know I keep threatening but D'Day is approaching fast.  LN....And relax....LN

Wednesday 26th June

Better night's sleep last night but I still woke up tired and aching.  I walked around gingerly loosening up and then settled back on the sofa with my second cup of coffee.  It was a dull old morning, brightened up by nine more or less, another fried egg for breakfast, washed up and was ready to start on the garden knocking off the things that I'd put on my list.

Out to the terrace and cleared out the tub that had been overcome by grass.  I found a couple of nasturtiums that were in need of love and attention so I watered the soil, added some compost, planted up a few more nasturtiums from another tub, robbing Peter to pay Paul and I added a petunia that was the casualty of weeding yesterday in the onion patch.  One not so lonely petunia now.  Number one on the list finished.   Number two was to pot up the bottle brush cutting that had developed a fantastic root system in a jar of water and a hypericom that had taken root in the wall on the terrace that I'd pulled out yesterday.  I set to with the strimming using my old little strimmer and was doing OK but it was slow so I decided to give the new machine it's first outing but I'm not surer I've adjusted it correctly.  It was heavier to use and I was quite grateful when the clouds rolled over, the thunder started and I was having to tidy the tools away quickly before the rain really started coming down.  The wind struck up and I was soon in the house and taking to the sofa and I thought that was the end of my list for today...but it wasn't.

I got my head down and when I woke up. the rain had stopped and the terraces dry.  I resumed the strimming but this time using the battery operated one which seemed much simpler and easier.  I finished the garden in quicksticks and moved on to the grass at the front of the house avoiding the odd cowpat and after strimming I raked the grass getting rid of the stones so that next time I can use the little electric mower...there's method in my madness.  The bushes have been trimmed and are now perfect spheres much to the amusement of my neighbours.  Chicken leg into the oven with a large potato and supper was underway.  As that came out a diced eating apple went in with a little water, cinnamon and butter and that was my pudding served with some clotted cream and it all went down very well.  No need to water the garden, it belted it down,  

If it's fine tomorrow I'm concentrating my efforts on the garden round the walnut tree..garden surrounds first, weeding avoiding the several walnut trees that have started to establish themselves.  If it's raining I'm going to have the day off.  LN....Another good day.....LN

Thursday 27th June

Silly night again when the neighbour's young grand-daughter decided to have a good hearty laugh at twelve o'clock and I was just nodding off.  I was very tempted to get the lawnmower out at seven this morning but my good nature got the better of me.  I got disturbed again by something at four and spent the next couple of hours reading.  I felt absolutely whacked but got going at six thirty with coffees, made scrambled eggs and had finished breakfast by seven thirty and fully washed up by eight.  Down to the bread van and bought bread and chocolate biscuits and it must have been a premonition, I have Ms D of S and the little one coming over tomorrow morning after shopping in Djebel.  While at the van I've been invited to a mevlit  taking place on Saturday at our little mosque.  I stopped off and mentioned this to my Avatar and we have a date.  I'd put a load of washing in the machine so pegged it out, it was a beautiful day and dried very quickly.

I was on the sofa by ten with a the Kindle and a new book and read  until the eyes went southwards and it was twelve thirty by the time I came round and there was no energy to do anything so I carried on reading, made a sandwich for lunch and really didn't do anything at all.  I watched Eastbourne tennis and the wind was blowing the tosses for the serving allover the place.  There were loads of double faults and the players were getting very frustrated.  I had a phone call from Bekir who wanted me to pick him up to come out to sort my water problem and then I suddenly remembered that I'd tried the water earlier and the water board must be doing some repairs in the area.  No water supply to the house so I had to say no to Bekir.  It's on his back burner and the water's still off now.

Not too bothered by supper or finding it....it's too hot and I still don't feel to good.  Hopefully it will be all quiet on the northern border or the mower will definitely be out tomorrow.  LN...My whinge is over...LN

Friday 28th June

Reasonable night last night and a seven o'clock start.  I carried the travel kettle downstairs but goodness knows why.  All I needed was the water bottle to fill the kitchen kettle but I suppose there was a method in my madness, the water was still off so I filled that up to take it back upstairs.  As it happened...one was enough.  Catastrophe this morning.  I was playing Soda Crush and a message came up on the screen that my machine couldn't connect to the application.  I thought it strange, went back into it and ...started at game one.  My history has been obliterated...so much for technology.  It did happen to Ms D of S a while back but I really wasn't expecting it.  Back to the drawing board Cecil.

Washed with cold water and a flannel, dressed and went over to Avatar's house to see if she wanted anything from Djebel.  As I said, the water was off so I wanted another ten litres of drinking water, when it comes back on it might not be fit for consumption out of the tap so I'm getting prepared.  I also wanted a few things for lunch in case Ms D of S and the little one stayed.  I was back for eight thirty, I'd provided a taxi for my painter and his work buddy to the Cmet's office and another neighbour was deposited at the supermarket and made his own way into Djebel....he obviously didn't want to wait for the Friday bus and I'm free.  I unpacked my shopping and had a little bit of a tidy round just for my benefit, put a bottle of water in the downstairs toilet just in case and set out to clear some of the bed opposite the veg garden, dig out the weeds and grass,  ready to plant up the red hot poker.  I'd collected a little of the 'white tor' fertilizer from Avatar and that will go in the bottom of the hole with some new compost.  The soil is fairly poor along that border.

Ms D of S arrived more or less on time and she knew what was for lunch.  The girl in the supermarket had told her what I'd bought when I went in...so much for village life.  The little one is still a little shy around me but had brought with her a picture that she'd made for me so I added it to the other on the freezer door.  We sat outside, I'd sorted out the umbrella to keep the sun off the terrace and the swinging chair but I couldn't find the top cover so that's something else I shall need to sort and maybe make another.  Lunch was pickie bits but I failed on the cucumber stakes...I'd forgotten to get one.  We went out again and walked the garden and I noticed a rather large tortoise walking cross the grass.  Now this really confused me...the wall goes all the way round and all that I could think is that one of my neighbours put it into my garden from the road.  There are no hole in the wall apart from drainage holes and no way could it have got through one of those.  The little one started collecting the wild plums so I found a bag for her to keep them in and we joked that I have a little scrumper and in the first photo she looks like she's been caught in the act.  Bless her.

Off they went, the weather closed in, thunder, lightening and rain so I secured the umbrella to my balcony rail so that it stayed upright.  I settled on the sofa with the Kindle and read for a while, had half an hour's sleep and then went back to my book.  The thunder is still rolling around, it's tried to cheer up and then thought better of it.  I've got bits of cheese and ham that I'm going to throw into an omelette tonight, tomorrow I've got the mevlit or prayers for the village and I've paid for that already.  The water's back on so I shall be having a shower tonight, there's no phone call from Bekir so he's obviously not coming round tonight to do the plumbing....it will keep.  LN...Kitchen, shower and bed....LN  

Saturday 29th June

So I woke up at five this morning and got stuck into my book.  Coffee at seven, toast for breakfast, shower, hair dried and ready to hit the village and listen to the mosque hodjas singing out the prayers to their almighty.  

I headed down the village at around ten thirty and there were lots of ladies already there, I was welcomed into their midst and took my place on the floor inside the mosque.  Serviettes were handed out and the toilet water to freshen us all up.  There was a slight problem with the electricity and a cable was extended to the next door property to a power socket and it seemed to provide power to the lights in both areas.  The odd phone went off, children were playing games on phones and there were prayer beads being handed around that had picture beads in the threading.  My curiosity got the better of me and I asked one of the ladies if I could enjoy the experience.  I saw something but not sure what it was but didn't question it any further.  The clove syrup came round, the prayers continued and then the rice and meat was served but unfortunately the plastic plates were very bendy so took some negotiation to keep it on the plate.  Along with the plate we were expected to juggle a yogurt drink.  We all trooped out, bags of extra meat and rice were handed out for us to take home with us and I walked home with several of the women from further down the village with lots of offers for me to visit different houses for coffee.  The meat was put in a metal container in the kitchen, it was much to o hot to go into the fridge...it will be my supper.

The afternoon has been spent reading, I'm really stuck into this book, different style from what I normally go through and in some ways it's quite a depressing book.  Jewish, a mention of concentration camps and living under the regime for teenagers.  A little interlude was spotting Houdini, my newly named tortoise making its way across the grass and heading down to the bottom of the garden.  I lost sight of it as it was nearing the wall in the bottom left of the garden and I've investigated but see no signs of any humps and bumps of grass clippings.  I checked the rest of the garden but again, no trace and I'm still confused as to how it got in.

Easy day tomorrow, I might mow the grass if we don't get any rain overnight and if the weather is really good, I might get my legs out and extend the tan from the ankles up.  The weather really hasn't been that good this year at all.  LN....My bag of rice calls....LN

Sunday 30th June

So I was awake at six this morning and it looked a very promising day.  The sun was up, not a cloud in the sky and I was almost toying with the idea of finding a swimming pool but as the morning wore on, the clouds rolled in.  I didn't feel like getting out of bed and starting the day so I settled in to carry on and finished the book on the Kindle.  I mentioned yesterday that it was quite a sad tale and by the time that I'd got to the end, I really felt under the weather.  It's saving grace was that despite loosing all of her family in an air-raid, she went on to live a successful life in Australia.  I don't think it was a true story but it was very credible.  I emerged from my bedroom at nine and then settled in to the computer to do the normal tasks and eventually managed breakfast of a toasted cheese and ham sandwich.  I took this up to the computer and messed around and for some reason, the hang dog was hanging over me...that book has unnerved me somewhat.  

The rest of the day went by, I kept looking at the garden and the intention was there to get the lawnmower out but instead I lay on the bed had my afternoon nap and the inertia slowly lifted.  I'd only managed one thousand seven hundred steps on the Fitbit so I imagined myself pushing the mower around so at four twenty I headed out, fired it up and the main house  grass is finished and the petrol ran out on the last run ...I could hardly believe it....it was almost as if I measured it out.  At six I had put the mower away, watered the patio plants that needed it and sat on the terrace with a glass of water.  I went to brush the dust off the sofa cover and as I did, I lost the silver ring and watched it scud over the terrace but didn't see where it went.  I guested it had fallen off the terrace and in the lavender bush but there were so many bees having their fill that no way was I making them angry.  I checked the grass and garden between the two lavender bushes and didn't manage to find it but it can wait.  I know more or less where it is.  I went to the new bonfire garden and watered the Greek plant and planted the Mahonia that was still sitting in it's pot so I watered it in well.

I came in at eight more or less, supper was cheese biscuits and some soft cheese and I settled down to watch Professor Brian Cox  We are a very insignificant planet size wise....and when you think about how much of the planet is at war...it's good to be informed of the bigger picture.  The gardening has done me good and the Fitbit is now showing a healthy eleven thousand.  Tomorrow I'm heading in to Kardjali to take the second son of my student's mum for a swimming lesson.  I've offered to help out with transporting him since they both work and tomorrow night I'm going to my other student's family for supper.   It's going to be a busy day.  LN....Dragon's Den is on.....LN

Hi Elsa, Gorgeous pics as usual. It must be lovely when you have greenery & sunshine. We have had lots of rain the last week. But we need it. Anyway take care. Love from us in OZ.xx  8)