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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria  /  My Diary by Elsa Peters  /  OCTOBER 2020
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 1, 2020, 6:41pm
Thursday 1st October

So where did September go?  I suppose I've been so busy with guests, projects that it seems like it's just flown by.  Seven start this morning and it was just a wonderful start to the day.  I'd closed the curtains last night, the moon was just too bright but the light still came in through the side window and I was awake by six thirty.  I went out on to the balcony and took a few pickies of the mist in the valleys but soon came in again.  It was seven degrees overnight and twenty four in so where would you be...correct.  My guest was already up, I took my camera and coffee outside but again didn't stay there long.

Breakfast of mushrooms and fried egg on toast and again I'm not sure where the morning went.  By the time that I'd washed up it was chugging on for ten, I popped over the road and had a few words with my Avatar and then I started on the wood burner pipes, took them all out, cleaned them, gave the wood burner a spring clean even though it was the wrong season and replaced two of the long ones with others that I had in stock.  There appeared to be a small hole in the weld of one of the original so everything back in place and no smoke even though there was a fire.  I got it going to check out the path through the downstairs shower room but so far so good.  All finished and tidied away by twelve and then I started to do a little work in the garden after I'd washed my summer quilt and got it on the line....all go at my house.  I had a visit from a couple about four years ago when the lady tried to sell me what she called antiques at inflated prices.  She managed to make a bigger hole in the fence covering the old lane and with her husband they were attempting a picnic on the field outside my wall and fortunately the wind sent them running back to their car.  She had the audacity to ask me how old I was and that I didn't mind so much but when they go into the realms of asking how much my pension is I tell that that it's enough for me.  Again I was asked how much in leva and with a cheeky grin I reiterated that it was enough for me.   How rude, and off they went.

I settled on the sofa and did a few Sudoku and yes, I closed my eyes for ten minutes or so then got the tools ready to complete the work on Avatar's fence to ensure that the cows didn't break through while she in in Germany....and off she goes tonight to the airport.  Her daughter came over and said that she had problems with the boarding cards and could I print them out for her so we headed up the landing and eventually she had both of them printed.  I asked Avatar if she still wanted cow-proofing and she did so I gathered the cutters, barbed wire and securing wire and put them in the wheelbarrow and my guest came along to give a helping hand.  Everything finished by seven, I'd put supper of spicy sausage with chili flakes, tomato and beans into the slow cooker so ready to serve.  Washing up done, it's been a very productive day and tomorrow I shan't have Avatar.  I've been invited to stay with them in Germany and all being well in the spring, I shall be going, virus permitting.  Lovely moon again tonight and Mars is shining brightly.  LN....I love my house.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 2, 2020, 3:08pm; Reply: 1
Friday 2nd October

Just before seven start and again the sun was shining and the mist was in the valley.  I'd put my autumn weight quilt on yesterday and was concerned that it might be too warm especially since I'd thrown a rather large log on the fire last night and realised when I went to the bathroom that the radiator was warm.  My central heating is working so I'm testing it out again tonight and have just lit it.  I'm using up the odd shaped logs that wouldn't stack properly and had been dumped in the wheelbarrow....I'll save the serious logs for winter.  I like a fire though, nice feel about the house when it's going.

Down for coffee and my guest had risen from the depths of slumber around the same time and his tea was brewing in the kitchen. We hadn't got much of a plan for today so I thought about a visit to Zlatograd for lunch but it's amazing how sheltered you feel in the house and of the 'why risk it' mentality.  We hadn't a lot to go for, I was going to have a new belt made by my lovely leathercraft man but there's no urgency...another day will do.  Instead I got the washing machine going, gave orders for my guest to strip down his bed and two lines of washing out in quicksticks, made him a mushroom and salami omelette and I settled for mushrooms on toast.  I cleared the kitchen, he pegged out the washing and it wasn't long before we were fetching it in.  Beautiful day, we got up to forty degrees in the stairwell and it was twenty seven degrees outside but out of the wind but as the day wore on, the clouds came over around lunchtime and then were blown away and it turned into a lovely afternoon.  We did have one visit from a woodpecker to my lonesome pine and I managed to get one excellent shot and one other before it flew away.  I wanted to go on the balcony so that there wasn't glass between us but it would have flown away sooner.

An afternoon of reading and checking out dodgy emails and loading an anti-virus program on to my other devices to save the baskets getting through.  What is it with these people why don't they get a life that doesn't inflict pain on others.  Supper is in, chicken with roasted potatoes, onions, butternut squash and red peppers and I want to finish at a reasonable time tonight.  I hate it when I'm serving up around seven or seven thirty and for me I probably wouldn't bother with real food every night but with someone else in the house, it gets to be second nature...my nurturing and caring streak comes to the fore.  

Kardjali tomorrow and we'll go down to Kardjali lake and have lunch on the floating restaurant if the weather is good or find another in town if it's not.  LN....Fire going and time to relax.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 3, 2020, 7:31pm; Reply: 2
Saturday 3rd October

Short and sweet tonight.  I woke up early with the curtains open and what a lovely view it was.  Mist in the valley and photograph taken from my bed.  Down for coffee and the plan came together, toast for my breakfast and yogurt for my guest, it was good to sit out and just enjoy the morning, nothing much to do except get ready for Kardjali and head for the restaurant.

Into the Nipper by eleven, parked up at the free car-park, the mobile phone shop was closed so I left my guest in the car and headed for the shop down by the market and paid my outstanding bill.  On the way down to the store I noticed that one of the leva shops had a large plastic container like the ones that I've grown patio flowers this year and there was a red one that's a perfect fit for the top of my new red pot on the terrace so I bought it as I walked back to the car after paying my bill.  I dumped the container in the car and we walked down to the cheapy shop and the only thing that I managed to find was a red fleecy scarf with gloves on the end of the scarf and zipped pockets built in so I just had to have it.  The temperature today is up to the high twenties...not a day to be thinking of snow.

Back to the car and up to the restaurant and it's been a long time since I've been there.  We hadn't made a reservation but they managed to find us a table because we were early but as we left the crowds were gathering.  Food was good, they didn't have two of the items that we wanted on the menu but we came away with appetites fulfilled.  Back to Lidl and a few items and home for four thirty and it was another afternoon on the terrace in the sun.  We did walk the garden and I noticed a cricket on one of the plants and I photographed a hole in the ground at the bottom of the garden and we're still wondering what it belongs to.  

No supper for me....nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far but things can change.  LN....It was good to get out today......LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 4, 2020, 4:38pm; Reply: 3
Sunday 4th October

Another early start but the mist wasn't hanging in the valley this morning....it was hanging on the hillside and it was one step away from fog but then the sun came out and drove it away.  I sat out on the terrace with my Sudoku book listening to the morning awake and the snoring from my guest bedroom and there wasn't much activity from the said bedroom until nine so it was a late breakfast.  Bacon, egg and fried bread followed by toast and I opened the jar that I'd made last week and it was really very palatable.  Still not sure if it was apricots or peaches that my Avatar gave me but at least I made use of them.  As I mentioned, I have about another five kilo but before I start I need some lemons to make sure that there's enough pectin in it.

One load of washing out and then I set about putting back the soil that came out of the holes when we had the calamities with the plastic pipes.  I gathered a load of leaf mould from under my two big trees by the front wall, put about two barrow loads in the hole and put the old soil back on top of it.  I realised it wasn't enough so I put more compost and the seed compost in there too and it's ready for planting up.  I've decided the fuscia is going in and another little shrub that I don't know the name of to add colour to the bed.  I've also sprinkled some zinnia seeds round and about for next year.  The wall flowers are also heading for the bed, the seeds have just come through so in about a couple of weeks they will be ready for planting out.

Out by the compost bin and I noticed a beetle that was trying any which way to escape.  It must have been much smaller when it went in and in the end we felt sorry for him and he was lifted to safety.  They are so beautiful but I've really not go round to being able to handle them yet.  Tidying up the under patio bed I trimmed back the euonymus and disturbed a praying mantis that decided that life was better on one of the blue flower buckets,  I watered the rest of the pots and disturbed yet another grasshopper but didn't have my camera with me...it will wait for another day.  I turned my attention to the little garden between the garage and the front wall and that's now tidy, the leaves area dumped down the bottom of the garden ready for the great autumn cascades when the first frost arrives.  I felt it would be easier to dump the newbies in the compost bin...much less effort.  Supper is over...I had cheese and onion sandwiches, the salami, pate and the different cheeses came out we finished off the meal at the same time finished off the bananas.  I think there might be a choc ice in the freezer demanding my attention so I'll have to be checking in on it.   LN.....Bath and bed...I'm knacked...twelve thousand steps today....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 5, 2020, 5:26pm; Reply: 4
Monday 5th October

Bit of a catch up day.  Good start but didn't sleep to well and after breakfast I decided that a catch-up nap was required.  I think the accumulated tiredness hit me so I caught up on the zzz's  I was soon back to it though.....Mikey B's bench now has new supports and needs a quick sanding down and a lick of paint to bring it back to scratch.  That will probably get done after my guest has left...we're on final countdown....one week to go.

I set about cutting back the over hanging branches about the garage and that area looks relatively tidy.  I'm now thinking that a few more shrubs, providing that they are not liked by cows will suit that corner well or maybe a buddlieh and a berberis....that should teach them to leave other peoples plants alone.  I did throw the cut off branches over the fence into the ditch in front of the house and they stripped it bare on their way back to the farm.  A little bit of electrical wiring was taking place in the little house to give me a light in the old shower room where I've stored the latest wood.  As with most things there's always something missing or mislaid so at six we headed into Djebel to catch the hardware shop and bought the bits. popped into the car shop and I've arranged to take the Nipper in tomorrow.  I've noticed a few times that when I come to start it in the mornings, it starts then the engine fades then I have to start it again so that it can swop over to the gas.  Any problems and I want it checked out.

Too lazy to cook tonight so after the hardware shop we made out way to the pizza restaurant and despite the fact that there was a very patient cat, it didn't get fed, nothing left.  Home for eight, car into the garage tomorrow and that's about it.  Nothing else on the agenda.  LN.....A balmy night.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 6, 2020, 6:11pm; Reply: 5
Tuesday 6th October

Bit of a disturbed night last night with the brain box delving into areas that are best left alone and it really didn't help that the temperature was around twenty degrees and I had to sleep with my thermostatic leg out from under the quilt.  It was about three thirty when I decided that Sudoku wasn't the way to go and it was time for a few zzz's.  Morning started at seven and I decided to get washed and dressed and into the garage before the rush started.  I called into the shop first and the garage owner was already collecting parts for one of the repairs and he had two others waiting.  I went down to the garage, parked up, explained the problem, he had a quick look and I suggested that I came back another day and instead, he suggested that I came back after lunch so I was there for three.

I went back and made poached eggs for breakfast, no toast to follow and I was out gardening, clearing the weeds from the pots ready for wintering the pots and contents in the little house.  I put the two paving slabs that I'd dug up a couple of days ago to cover the pipes that had undergone trauma and were now covered with cement.  The log stool is sitting on one of them and the second one is next to the fuscia that's just gone in.  My guest was putting a light in the little house bathroom which holds two tons of wood so that in the dead of winter I can see what's going into the log carrier....it helps.

Back to the garage by three, the owner was straight on the job and decided that a new filter was needed and four new spark plugs.  It was fascinating to see the difference in the normal ones and the ones that are made for gas cars.  So plugs replaced, filter replaced, everything checked over and he checked it by pressing down the accelerator and achieving seven thousand revs and he likened it to a Ferrari.  I think he likes my little car.  I asked for the bill and it checked out at sixty leva roughly just under thirty pounds and parts were forty five so I think I receive a special rate for labour....just saying.

Supper of potato salad, tomato and onion in vinegar and oil, grated carrots, cheese and salami....that was enough and I followed it with some shop bough eclairs that weren't as good as they used to be.  Everything locked up for the night, nothing more to do and as for tomorrow, not a clue.  LN....I'll let you know what I get up to....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 7, 2020, 3:35pm; Reply: 6
Wednesday 7th October

Much better night, it wasn't so hot so slept well.  I was awake at six thirty though, made coffee upstairs and went back to bed with it.  Not much noise from my guest but when he raised his head I was playing nurse Florence...his ankle had started playing up last night so I'd applied deep heat and bandaged it in a very professional figure of eight and this morning it was to remove the bandage and listen to the 'oohs' and 'aarrhhs' as he tried to put his weight on it.  There's not much sympathy in this house so he knows not to complain...the definition is normally found in the dictionary.  So washed and dressed, scrambled eggs for breakfast since there wasn't a preference and then I set to on the little house organising it for the workshop to be turned into a winter nursery for the pot plants.  When the temperature is above twenty and we start to think of winter I remember getting caught out with snow around this time about six years ago.  The men were here and we'd decided on a barbecue and eventually the fire was lit and the meat was cooked but we moved inside to eat it.  I remember most the sudden fall of the leaves from the trees in the yard and the clearing up I had to do.  A few days later we were back to normal.

The tidying went on for a few hours, I started the bonfire and got it going so well that I had to babysit it for a while or get the hose pipe connected and be on standby.  It soon died down, bit more clearing  and sorting, starter wood chopped and ready to bring in to the little house and tomorrow it's going to be more of the same.  I haven't taken any pickies...they will come when it's finished.

Pork tenderloin in the oven and I've topped it off with a barbecue sauce and potato wedges to be served with it. .....again another lazy option.  LN.....Florence has duties to attend to......LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 8, 2020, 5:50pm; Reply: 7
Thursday 8th October

So I woke up this morning when my guest opened the latch on his bedroom door at just before five and my acute sense of hearing detected it...and it's left me grumpy all day.  There was a wonderful electrical storm over the mountains, I could see it but there was no thunder with it but pretty to watch. I couldn't get back to sleep, tried playing games and doing sudoku but to no avail so eventually I got up at eight.  His door was shut but at nine thirty I was in need of food so I knocked and went in and told him to get his nether regions into gear, breakfast was being served at roughly ten and it was then or never.  I went out and got in the cushions to the outside furniture that had been forgotten yesterday.  There were only a couple of the red ones so I hung them in the conservatory to air but they're still waiting to go into the chest on the terrace.  

I spent the morning catching up on emails and admin stuff that I'd been putting off for a while.  The afternoon I settled in for ancestry and I'm definitely coming down on the side of William as a seven time great grandfather not Thomas.  It's getting quite confusing with around four Johns being born within ten years of each other and they're difficult to sort out.  I'll get there, Rome wasn't built in a day and the last time confusion reigned, I had to confirm my Thomas which I did when I discovered his signature on two different documents....definitely and eye-opener.

As for the rest of the day, it poured down with rain until around six this evening so there's been no outside activity.  The sheep on their way home looked very bedraggled, my garden and yard have pools and the ground's so hard that it's taking a while to soak through.  At least the pots don't have to be watered and I suppose I shall be going round them in the morning emptying the buckets out before they drown to death.  The temperature dropped and at four I was bullied to light the fire.  When you don't have wood burners at home they're a novelty and I felt a bit mean saying that it wasn't cold enough for one so I gave in.  Unfortunately all the radiators are piping hot and the pump is going like crazy so I shall be opening the door to the balcony soon otherwise I shall never sleep. Lovely skies and the start of a rainbow that never materialised into anything worth recording.  We did have one sojourn into the little house and a pallet that I'd made into a useful shelving unit has been attached to the wall so is even more useful now.  I'll use it to store the gardening 'bits'.  

Supper was a giant brie with toast and that was enough, we'd both been munching on peanuts while watching the Chase. Probably Kardjali tomorrow if the weather is good...I need a few things and otherwise it will be a lazy day.  LN....Now to sort the fire....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 9, 2020, 6:54pm; Reply: 8
Friday 9th October

Normal start to the day....it had rained over night but I managed to catch the first glimmer of morning over the mountains.  It was chilly on the balcony so I didn't longer long, made a coffee and went back to bed.  I was washed and dressed by seven thirty, we didn't go to Kardjali, boiled eggs for breakfast, the weather cleared up around eleven and I  sat out under the balcony.  Even though it started to rain again it still wasn't cold...only a little damp but when the sun broke through, it was really hot but it wasn't long before the clouds came over again.

I planted a few seeds, trod down a few mole runs but the betting is that they'll be there again tomorrow.  I'm hoping the cats that seem to be roaming around get the scent and dig them up but so far no luck.  My guest took up stance over a spider hole and managed to get a few shots of it but the only program that I run on this machine will allow you to edit them but when you try to save a copy it only saves a copy of the original not the edited one.  Not much point really but I'll have to investigate it properly or add another app to the computer.

I came in at two and gave my feet a good wash.  I'd been wearing my gardening clogs, coiled up two of the garden hoses thinking that they use is over for this year and the water poured out of one of them and landed in my clog so mixed with the dirt inside my toes got pretty grubby.  So winter clogs at the ready, summer clogs washed and draining ready to go away until next summer.  My guest took to his book, I phoned to organise a taxi to take him form Gatwick to home and disappeared up to the computer and carried on with my ancestry.  I'm even more determined to follow the first trail I followed, I've just got to find my William's first wife that produced the bairns.  I think the second wife was too late to give him any.

I lit the fire at around five and made bolognaise sauce for supper putting it on the wood burner to finish off while I did the pasta.  It tuned out well and there's enough left to make a pasta bake tomorrow just more pasta and cover it with white sauce.  I suppose it's a packing day for my guest, we head off to Sofia on Sunday and I must remember to book an hotel.  Nothing so far for tomorrow, no last minute shopping required and what we don't have we can go without.  LN....Interesting skies today..... LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 9, 2020, 6:56pm; Reply: 9
And there's more
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 10, 2020, 2:08pm; Reply: 10
Saturday 10th October

Fog as far as the eye could see or as far as it couldn't see this morning and it took quite a while to burn it off.  I put a load of washing in and made bacon and egg for breakfast and was undecided about pegging out the washing but it was on the line by ten thirty.  It's been a lovely October day, the house held twenty three degrees overnight with only a little fire last night so it was lightweight trousers and long sleeved top but socks so that I didn't get dirty feet like yesterday.  I changed back to my gardening clogs and with socks, I've stayed presentable and would have no odd looks if I were to warm my pretty little toes in front of the wood burner tonight.

So what did I get up to?  Bonfire in the garden, the fly screens that have hung around the little house for a few years are now upstairs out of the way, lots of empty boxes burnt and I sorted out the nails from the screws out of the various pots that seem to get filled up with a mixture of both.  My guest chopped some starter wood for me and mended one of my plastic chairs (yet again) to last for another few years.  I don't know why I keep them, they sit in the little house next to the plastic table and it could all go really but it doesn't.  Note to self...start throwing things away.  The washing is in and put away and when I went down to top up the bonfire I caught sight of Blue Boy at the bottom of the garden.  On the way back I spotted a praying mantis on the steps down to the garden or up to the garden depending on how you approach them and it was lucky to survive and yes, the camera was to hand so it got snapped.  Tidying the little house I came across some mothball crystals and I was told by Avatar that the smell deters the moles so I went on a hunt and have desecrated a few fun runs and let's see if they work.  

Tools away early tonight, I've just completed the Covid declaration for my guest's flight on Monday and booked the hotel for tomorrow night.  I could have found cheaper but this one is on the road to the airport and I didn't want the hassle of driving round trying to find some obscure hotel in the back streets of Sofia...and all for a few lev.  There's enough pasta left over for tonight but I think we might be heading out...I'm too knacked to bother doing anything and I've got a day of it tomorrow.  LN....No maps required....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 11, 2020, 7:32pm; Reply: 11
Sunday 11th October

Nothing to report tonight.....safe journey up to Sofia and some marvellous Autumn scenery around Assenograd.  Idiots were still out on the Sofia highway and several blue lights flashing in pursuit.  Makes up the salaries I suppose.

Interesting pepper steak tonight in the hotel ....I was unsure whether they were pepper corns or they'd used a blunderbuss to kill the beast.  For one awful moment I though a trip to the dentist was on the cards....So I used the chips to mop up the sauce and left the bullets.

Another four hour drive tomorrow....airport drop off at ten more or less and then homeward bound.  LN.....wish me luck....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 12, 2020, 3:44pm; Reply: 12
Monday 12th October

So sleepless in Sofia....it was a disturbed night, down for breakfast at nine thirty, breakfast was all pre-packed due to the virus so it was picking up a plate where you would only eat probably four out of the seven items and such a lot of waste.  Mine had cucumber and salami that was obviously on the no-no list and there were tea-bags and no hot water.  The long coffee came up to a third of the cup so I had two long shots in one and it just about woke me up.  We were in the Nipper by ten, negotiated the barrier to get out of the car-park and I dropped my guest off outside the departures and made my way out of the airport and was 'on the open road Toad'.  

Motorways are mostly the same except that the Bulgarians and Romanians think that they are on the German autobahns.  Lights flashing and expecting you to pull over despite the fact that you are overtaking lorries and the like but yesterday's practice run meant that in no way was I intimidated.  I moved into the zone of my working life where I would sometimes do long journeys and a seven hour work day...and enjoy every minute of the journey.  One funny incident, two police cars joined the motorway before me and overtook, manoeuvred themselves in front of a couple of lorries and caught out several speed merchants leaving a cloud of blue smoke as they applied the brakes when they saw the police cars with only a few meters to go.....good to watch but I'm pleased it wasn't me.  I managed to avoid the trap when I came down the same road almost five weeks ago and followed the signs for Smolyan...and it was right.  I stopped for gas in Assenograd, and headed for the hills on my way to Kardjali and it was a brilliant journey.  Nothing in front of me to slow me down and I've certainly got the measure of the Nipper round the hairpins moving accurately between third and fifth gears and did a record journey of just over three hours from the airport to Kardjali.

I stopped off at Lidl and filled up o the basics, popped into the car-shop to report that I was home safe and sound and then home.  Nipper unpacked, shopping put away, washing from my overnight done and pegged out, ham sandwich on fresh bread and coffee and relax.  I really enjoyed the drive home and it is a testing road through the mountains but I'm pleased with how the Nipper handled it.  

Bath tonight and relax and nothing to do tomorrow unless I find something that I want to do.  I do have the remains of a just opened box of red to think about delivering at some point or it's up for collection.  LN....Back to normal....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 13, 2020, 4:23pm; Reply: 13
Tuesday 13th October

Well after yesterday's exhilarating journey through the beautiful mountains I woke up to gale force winds and lashing rain,  At this point I was thanking the airline for cancelling the Tuesday flight and bringing it forward otherwise I would have been battling with the elements on the way down from Sofia not enjoying the experience.  The gods were with me yet again.  I had a pretty slow start and settled for poached eggs on ham, toasted the bread and at that point the electricity went off, thunder and lightening got added to the mix and then the water went off.  It never rains but it upsets everything when it does.  Fortunately I have my gas /electric cooker so I could boil the kettle for more coffee but how many times do you try to flush the loo and switch lights on even though you know nothing is going to work.  

I didn't bother washing up, now that there's only me it's not so important.  I was messing around on my desk upstairs going though the print-outs from ancestry with a view of trying to get everything on paper that I knew and in sequential order.  It's easy to make notes of dates and people and searching is getting more difficult now that I'm dredging around sixteen hundred and you forgot where you've put the 'spoil'....but it's a little tidier now.  I was awakened from my devotions when what I thought was a Bulgarian greeting inside the conservatory and most of my neighbours stay outside and only look through the window to get my attention.  I shouted down that I was on my way and it was my buddy from one of the villages so we settled in for a catch-up.  I think the offer of  the remains of the winebox drew the moth to the flame...only joking....and around two cups of coffee later he was on his way.

The water came on around one, a very strange cloud formation cleared away and the electricity was on again for about two so I went back to ancestry and dug even deeper but it really is a hard slog and I'm back to Parish records.  One 'John' going back to 1700 was married twice, I can't find his first marriage record or that of his first born in 1732 so am now looking for an illegitimate record under her maiden name.  Fills my days when the cold winds blow but I was tempted to get out in the garden this afternoon but the rain really did come down and everything is very soggy.

Chicken legs and jacket potato for supper tonight and it should be ready any time now.  I didn't have that bath last night and didn't really have a good night but today I'm feeling very relaxed, the bath is on the cards for tonight and my bed is freshly made up and looking inviting.  Empty day for tomorrow, just as it should be but I might fill some of it with collecting leaves.  The high winds brought lots down.  LN....Sheep were racing around...all that new grass to have a go at......LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 14, 2020, 5:03pm; Reply: 14
Wednesday 14th October

Wonderful night's sleep...I didn't wake up until just after seven thirty and the sheep were already in their place for the day on the far hillside...and I hadn't heard a thing.  The sun was shining, there was a brisk wind but nothing like yesterday.  Apparently it brought down trees and that's why the power went off but still not sure why the water went off.  No problems today though and the temperature has dropped tonight and so I've lit a small fire that's gently ticking away.

It took me a while to get on with things this morning but what's the rush.  Washing in the machine and out on the line in quicksticks.  I was going to use up the rest of the boiled ham for breakfast but somehow I forgot to put it on the toast before the scrambled eggs so it went back into the fridge for tomorrow.  I set about cleaning the downstairs shower room and putting rubbish ready for a fire....it didn't happen, the wind was gusting so again I went for safety especially now the long hoses are coiled up and put away.  I decided to sit out on the terrace and enjoy the sun and suddenly spotted what I thought was Blue Boy under the mulberry half way down the garden.  I went down to check and it was no other than Rosie and she's not been around for quite some time and I thought she'd already gone into hibernation or left for greener pastures.  As it is though with the rain we've had recently, my pasture is getting greener by the day and I'm dreading having to get the mower out.  

This afternoon I settled in to ancestry again and found a new way to research and confirm parents the generation back.  I'm now convinced that William is back another two generations and I think his father Allin takes me back to sixteen thirty.  I was fascinated at some of the old parish records gong back to early fifteen hundreds.  There was a note made in 1888 about the records and reminding everyone that now all people registered during the Civil War and it really reminds you how far back you've really gone.  

No supper for me tonight.....a full packet to peanuts on the desk is no longer full.  I've just made it down the stairs though and thrown another log on.....it's so cosy.  It will soon be time to put the t-shirts away and bring out the sweaters.  LN....Winter is coming John Snow......LN  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 15, 2020, 4:04pm; Reply: 15
Thursday 15th October

It's been another beautiful day, not so hot but that's not a bad thing.  I was slow off the mark, I did see the sheep heading for the hillside when I went out to settle on the balcony but I soon came in again...despite the sun the wind was chill.  Washing away, windows open to let some air through, had a burn up and realised that I hadn't yet had breakfast, I opened up the loaf of bread and realised that the animals were going to benefit from those few spots of green mould.  Fortunately I had the remains of the onion bread that I'd got from Lidl on Monday on my way back from Sofia and it was fresh enough to be toasted.  Four slices cut, toasted, cream cheese spread thickly over them, layered with a very fine boiled ham and that was breakfast sorted.

Fully fortified I opened up the little house and found the bag of compost in the porch.  From the workshop I took some of the huge bale of starter compost, loaded four containers with some of both and potted up lemons and buzzie lizzies.  I'd wrapped lemon pips in wet kitchen roll and three had started sprouting roots so it was time now to see if they would continue to grow.  The last one that I did like this now has four leaves on it and is three centimetres high.....let's hope it fruits...some do and some don't.  The bizzie lizzie that I put in water a week ago has two good roots already to it's time to see what it can achieve and I've broken off another five stems to see if they will root.  I thought that they'd be good for my ladies since they flower all year.

I came in at one and decided to sort the anti-virus that I'd paid for but had never had working on my new machine.  It was a single use package and I needed to remove it from the old machine and now that it was up and running in the back bedroom it was a job that needed tackling,  Stage one worked well, 'why do you want to leave?' 'Are you sure?' and no I don't want to leave but I wanted it off the old machine.  I went on to the new machine and tried to download it and it kept falling over and just wouldn't load.  I went through the help screens to dry to identify the issue, was about to lose the will to live when I noticed that I could go and have a conversation with the help desk and Ivan, the hero, was on hand to take me through the process.  I downloaded the removal program that he directed me to and not only did it remove the crap but downloaded what I was trying to download and this time it worked.  I thanked Ivan but said that I was a little disappointed that to upgrade to a multi-user program, two different prices were quoted and it was nothing that he could do but maybe he could escalate it to the powers that be.  I thought that would be the end of it but instead he asked if I could take screen shots and send them over to him...above and beyond the call of duty....well done Ivan.

By now it was around four thirty and I've done very little since.  I might head in to Kardjali tomorrow and start the ball rolling, my driving licence expires in early December and I probably have to have a personal MOT carried out...it's what they do here.  Windows still open so it's time to shut up shop, no fire tonight, I went to bed early since I was shattered, woke up at three thirty, opened the window and was playing games until five so not a good night.  LN....Fingers crossed for a better one tonight......LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 16, 2020, 5:24pm; Reply: 16
Friday 16th October

Well it's the season of mellow fruitfulness and the skies this morning were incredible.  No red colour at all ...greys, blues, white, yellow and more definite dark grey clouds hanging over the Greek mountains. On a quick scan of the terrace I did notice the black cat cosying up to the terracotta frog....I suppose you make friends where you can when you're normally a lonesome cat.  I came in from the cold, went down and made coffee and got back on the bed to play a few games of Soda Crush.  There was no rush this morning to do anything and as I meandered through I made the decision to stick to my guns and head into Kardjali and start the process of renewing my driving licence.  I washed and dressed and went down to make breakfast using the rest of the onion bread and more cream cheese and the remains of the bread went on to the hillside...the cat had obviously gone elsewhere for better pickings.

Into the Nipper by ten thirty, decided to head straight for the hospital reception and let them know why I was there and the wheels were immediately put into action.  It wasn't a busy time for them and no long queues.  I handed over my licence, the forms were printed out and one of the young ladies was given the task of completing the document.  I've met the group before but when the new young assistant that had completed the form gave me instructions on what to do next, one of the others took pity on me.  I knew where the 'cabinets' for the specialists were but this one was on the first floor and was obviously a new office.  I followed her down stairs and we went in and it was a bit like party time, she handed over the form, the doctor asked me in Bulgarian if my knees were OK and I replied in Bulgarian that as far as I knew everything was OK.  He smiled, completed the form, stamped it in a few places and signed it and that was one cabinet done and we climbed the stairs back to the second floor and this time we went to where they were lined up.  One she went in on her own and came out with a signed form, on to the next where a lady put a trumpet thing in my ear and had a good look.  She asked me if I spoke French and I was so tempted to say 'pardon' but since it was a hearing test I thought better of it.  The last one she said she couldn't help me with since there were several people sitting waiting and at one my optician started the afternoon shift, recognised me, called me in, checked the strength of my driving glasses, wrote it on the form and signed and stamped it.  Back to the reception, the form details were entered in a ledger, my dues were paid, I thanked the trio, went to the hospital shop and came out with a box of 'Merci' chocolates and delivered them to the reception. You don't have to but this one girl went over and beyond and I really appreciated it.  It took me an hour from start too finish....result.

I carried on into town and paid my two phone bills, stopped off at Lidl for a few items and then carried on to KAT where the next part of the process was to take place.  It was a new lady in the section and she had to have help to get into the computer to print off my details.  I think mine was the first one she'd attempted.  She marked where I was supposed to complete the form and fortunately a policeman was monitoring the people coming into the office and between us we managed to complete the form.  Mack to the desk, he complemented me on my ability to write Bulgarian script and all answers were accepted when the form was handed over.  I paid twenty four leva on my card, I had to have a new photograph taken and was told that my new licence would be ready in fifteen days.  

Back to Djebel and to the garage and reminded them that I needed two new winter tyres and made an appointment for them to be fitted on Tuesday morning early.  Home for five thirty, chicken wings, diced onion and potato in the oven for twenty to six and I was having supper at six forty.  Stuffed to the gills, Transponder TV is being absolutely atrocious, freezing all the time and locking up.....maybe I wont be renewing later this year.  It's been a good day and I've achieved more than I set out to do....residency for the next ten years is authenticated and driving licence on the way.     LN....Kindle and an early night.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 17, 2020, 4:30pm; Reply: 17
Saturday 17th October

Silly evening, I was shattered last night, sorting out documentation always does that to me and I fell asleep watching Transponder, woke up and carried on watching the Graham Norton show so was pretty late to bed.  I didn't feel like going to sleep straight away so played a few games and eventually at around one I fell asleep.  Reasonable night though and surfaced at seven thirty fully refreshed to face the day.  It had been raining overnight but had stopped and was drying up and the sun was desperately trying to break through.

I made a simple breakfast of toast and ham, meandered through an hour or so with emails and Hotmail and then asked a friend to download a film that had been recommended to me and when I'd sorted out a program to be able to watch it, I settled down for the next two hours and watched it.  Brilliant photography but the main character was supposed to be coming to terms with life by making friends with an octopus, visited it every day more or less in the ocean but he certainly wasn't alone, there must have been quite a few responsible for the filming.  I walked the garden when the film ended and thought about planting my bulbs and instead decided to continue tidying the little house and really got stuck in.  I'm getting it ready for when the plants come in for winter, the floor is cleared, the water trays are in place but the cold weather is not really required just yet.  I did have a break and finished off a small bag of chocolate caramels, went out again, swept the floor, tidied a few more areas, locked up and got supper going.  

Strictly starts tonight, winter is on its way and let's see who's going to make us laugh or cry this year.  If the weather's good, the bulbs go in tomorrow.  LN....Another productive day.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 18, 2020, 7:46pm; Reply: 18
Sunday 18th October

Another silly night....I just couldn't get off to sleep and was still playing silly games at three thirty.  After that though it was OK until seven thirty, out of bed by eight, a quick walk round the garden in the morning mist and then back in doors for a warm.  It was cold or rather cool out there...the cold is yet to come but the temperature has taken a dip.
The bulbs didn't go in but they'll keep for a few days yet and as I was walking back inside I heard the bread van and decided that instead of the brown crusty loaf that I'm sure to break my teeth on in another day or so I'd settle for a loaf of soft brown.  It was good to see the ladies again, I've missed them and they've missed me and as I walked back up the road with Haciber, there was a shout from Beyser in Turkish asking me how I was....another language to learn.  I made poached eggs of toast with the crusty bread and two of the eggs that my garage owners wife had given me from their chickens,  The yolks were so yellow and delicious.

I was going outside but changed my mind and went on to ancestry instead to check a few dates and I was still at it until pretty late this afternoon.  I did manage a coffee and a pack of sultana 'dry fly biscuits' and dunked my way happily through the whole packet.  I watched Kelly's Hero while my jacket potato cooked, lit a fire when the temperature dropped and the sun went down and was just about to settle down to Antiques Roadshow when my Princess phoned to tell me that 'The Greatest Showman' was on Channel 4.  I got frustrated when the computer kept freezing and will have to go in to the shop to see what the problem is.  I've tested the speeds, spoken to Transponder and apparently the signal fluctuates at the lower end according to the technician on the other end of the help line so I've got to explain that in Bulgarian....wish me luck.  It seems to be OK at the moment and what a good film it is so far.

Fire going well, house is warm as toast but I really should be wearing my slippers.  It's twenty four degrees in and twelve outside so it could be a light frost overnight...time to sort the pots out and get them inside and also the outside cushions.  Nothing to do tomorrow, only winter tyres to be fitted on Tuesday morning and that's me sorted for this year with documentation and keeping legal.  LN....Back to the film.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 19, 2020, 5:54pm; Reply: 19
Monday 19th October

Happy Birthday to my dad, no longer with me in body but very much in spirit.  He would have loved this house and what I have done with it and I can imaging him pottering in the garden alongside me.  I feel him most when I'm doing something laboriously like putting away a delivered load of wood and hear him telling me to get on with it and put my back into it.  I always think of my mother's favourite song...'There's the sun, the moon and Harry.  Harry makes me smile' and he makes me smile.

Beautiful morning, mist in the valley, autumn sun and my grass is now green.  I played a few games, washed and dressed and then down to the kitchen to make breakfast.  Nice and simple, crusty toast with ham and cheese and it kept me going all day.  I carried on sorting the little house and had a bonfire to get rid of the rubbish and sat on the wall for a while and just enjoyed being there.  I walked back up the garden and heard someone using a saw and it seemed very near.  I guessed that my neighbour in the next garden was doing something, looked up and saw her more or less at the top of the oak tree behind my cranberry.  I didn't want to shout up in case she lost her footing...she's around sixty and really shouldn't have been doing it so I made my way to the workshop terrace and waited until the saw had stopped.  One big branch had fallen on to the cranberry and I managed to pull it down onto my terrace.  I dragged it round to the road and left it by the gate and went in to see if I could help her or at least be there if she fell.  It's been decimated, almost pollarded,  and my poor wisteria has taken a big hit.  I got her to chop it all back, I threw it over to the terrace and wouldn't let her feed it to the cows....you never know but that's where the oak was going.

I chopped another load of starter wood and came in at half four after getting the bonfire going again, brought in some old logs and lit the house fire.  I moved up to the top landing and put the computer on.  I did my emails and checked FM, I'd got a few hints from ancestry that I tried to follow up but apparently the system is down for 'essential maintenance'.  Joy oh joy.  I didn't really want to cook anything for supper and spotted the remains of a Petit Brie which is no more.  The fire's chugging along nicely, I've not done the jobs that I'd earmarked for today but does it really matter in the grand scheme of things.  Tomorrow it's down to the garage to get my winter tyres sorted and tomorrow night there is a painting exhibition that I'm off to and up to now, I'm still waiting for a response to my invitation to my student and her sister.  If they don't want to go, I'll still go and I'm sure I'll manage a meal in town after the event.  LN....Lovely day......LN  
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 20, 2020, 7:08pm; Reply: 20
Tuesday 20th October

I was having a very lazy morning in bed when I suddenly remembered that I was expected at the garage to get the tyres changed over to winter ones.  I had a rapid rise, washed and dressed, left the bed unmade, didn't have breakfast and was at the garage for quarter after nine.  One car was being sorted but my tyres were waiting and the new ones already on the rims so I walked down by the river and just missed a shot of a black stork as he followed the river northwards.  I went back to the car and by this time mine was on the car lift and work was underway and two replacements and two original put n place but the bad new was that the four that came off have to be replaced next spring.  One had a slow puncture and a couple had split in the depressions and it was decided that all four should go to that great tyre heap at the back of the garage.

I paid my bill and went back to the car shop to buy some covers for the rims, I'd lost one last year and so a new set was purchased and as it happened the garage owner came up for something else and ended up fitting the new ones for me and tie wrapping them in place.  My work over I went over to the Internet office and complained about my internet cover.  The girl said that someone might be out today but it was more likely that it would be tomorrow and I was surprised when he arrived at twenty after three this afternoon, did a few cheque on my router and  suggested that I cut the top branches from the wild plum tree since it lies in the field of sight of the base station.  Painter where are you...there's work to be done.

My students decided not to go to the painting  exhibition this evening so I'd arranged to have a lift with my friends from F since she had four paintings on display.  We arrived in Kardjali early and decided to look at another gallery that has opened up and noticed that there were soldiers training in one of the parks and a band striking up so we walked to the square and there were lots of army vehicles, weaponry and soldiers in camouflage gear around and a pleasant time was had by all.  I did come across a very disturbed looking soldier who was in a world of his own with a knife pointing in at his stomach.  He unnerved me a little, he looked like he was on a destiny run and I was hoping that he wasn't about to commit damage to someone or something,  We've heard nothing since so maybe he was just having a bad day.  We carried on to the exhibition and there were lots of paintings but nothing caught my eye and nothing that I wanted to push the cheque book out for.  I did meet quite a few interesting people though, there was wine on offer for the imbibers and mixed wraps but we decided that a meal at the Turkish restaurant was a much better proposition.

So over to the Turkish restaurant and on the way back to the car I noticed an unusual fungus growing on one of the trees so had to take a photo of it.  I got dropped off at home at around nine fifteen and decided to scan the Kardjali news to see if there had been any incidents at the army recruitment day....referring to my spaced out soldier and so far nothing.  LN.....What an interesting day.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 21, 2020, 4:51pm; Reply: 21
Wednesday 21st October

It was a funny night again and three before I rested my weary head.  I was awake again at six, couldn't get back off again so played games and was out of bed by seven.  I'd taken several photos of the dawn and really must find out which planet is out and about and took a chance by putting the washing in the machine.  It had two choices...it would get wet again or it would dry.  As it happened, it cleared up around lunchtime and I got it in and on the airer before the sun went down.

I made a bacon and egg sandwich, sat in the stairwell with yet another coffee and watched the clouds build up and the washing blowing on the line and wondered if it would end up in Greece which is not like the rest of us.  That border is still closed.  I wasn't in the mood for gardening and was still in my PJ's at this point, I washed and got partly dressed and ended up on the computer with ancestry.  I decided to try and sort out the dates of an Elizabeth who in my records was born in seventeen forty one but on the marriage certificate record was showing up as seventeen fifty five.  Again this was one of these where the person transcribing the  Lichfield diocese records the birthdate at twenty one years from the marriage record and not recon on 'twenty one years and above', but I wanted to prove it and did.  I suppose they did their best with the information they had.  About then I got incredibly tired so settled on the sofa with the rest of the paper records with the intention of sorting them out and getting rid of lots of scribblings.  Wrong move...I nodded off for a couple of hours or so but felt much better when I woke up.

Washing in and on the airer in the bathroom, fire lit, the temperature was dropping and I felt like a little comfort.  I've just had to go down and give it the kiss of life and it's burst in to life and a big log should ensure that it keeps going ....I'm obviously out of practice.  I got pork steaks out of the freezer this morning but think that it's going to spend the night in the fridge.  I made friends with a packet of Marie tea biscuits with a cup of coffee and it appears to have filled the gap.  I do have gardening on the agenda for tomorrow, bulbs to get in and leaves to sweep up and I need to contact my painter.  I tried to reach the top branches of the wild plum with my extended pruner but didn't manage it so I'll leave it to the experts.  The idea of the ladder did come into my mind but rapidly dissipated....too dangerous.  Lovely crescent moon tonight and several planets on display and hoping for a pleasant gardening day tomorrow.  LN....Toasted cheese sandwich is on the cards for tonight....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 22, 2020, 5:10pm; Reply: 22
Thursday 22nd October

Brilliant night, the afternoon sleep didn't spoil anything.  It was eight when I woke up and as I looked out I could see nothing, the hillside was covered in fog and I just managed to hear the sheep heading over to the far hillsides.  A couple of them had bells on otherwise they could have got there without me knowing it.  I did notice that they now have three dogs along with them and the man with them that normally looks after them.  I suppose it gives the owners a break taking some of the pressure off.  It's a pity that he doesn't have anyone looking after the cows that terrorise the village and summer crops.

Baked beans on toast for breakfast and then I set about making the pork curry.  It was only when I opened up the packet that I saw that there were four fillets of pork so decided that I would make pork curry in the slow cooker and freeze half of it down for another day.  So in it went, I cleared the kitchen and headed upstairs leaving the slow cooker to its own devices.  I fired up the computer to check on emails and I should know by now, I had a hint from ancestry and I was still there at three this afternoon checking out the wills and marriage bonds made with the Lichfield Diocese.  I was doing OK but as I went further back they were all written in Latin but one name really foxed me and I still don't know what it means.  Even Google didn't come up with the answer so I have to do more research.....it's Xpoferi...and all answers on a postcard please.  

I checked on the curry and turned it down so that it wasn't burnt to a cinder, went back upstairs and started to look for a special pair of trousers that I'd bought but never worn and just couldn't lay my hands on them......and so it began.  My summer clothes are away, the autumn and winter jumpers are out and the swim gear is definitely away unless I find a spa pool somewhere.  I went down at six and put the rice on, timed everything perfectly and it turned out fluffy and only the bottom was burnt.  As for the rest of it, the pork is destined for the hillside, it was tough so thank you Lidl....I shan't be buying those pork fillets again.  Soring out the clothes has made me realise that I have far too many and shall be donating lots to the local charities.  

No need to light the fire tonight, the temperature seems to have gone up again from the last two nights.  Haskovo tomorrow for a day out with friends, we'll probably visit the market garden but I think it's the wrong time of the year to be buying more...everything's slowing down including me....the bulbs are still waiting.  Visits from several varieties of woodies today and four helicopters went over but too high to get a shot of them but two wonderful pictures of clear blue skies.  LN.....Not want I wanted to achieve but a good day all the same........LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 23, 2020, 4:21pm; Reply: 23
Friday 23rd October

What a superb day it's been.  The sunrise was spectacular, mist in the valley, the sun crept over the mountain and just broke through making it a place of fairy tales.  I played around with my games from the bed and suddenly realised that the day was moving on and I needed at nine for a day out in Haskovo.  I didn't bother with breakfast, got rid of the remains of the contents of the slow cooker over the wall and someone was probably grateful.  I finished tidying the kitchen, offered coffee when my guests arrived and it was accepted.  We sat out in the morning sun and such a wonderful start to the day.  

We drove through Kardjali and on the way to Haskovo we diverted to Minerali Bani which is the old communist spa town and looked at some of the monstrosities that have been built as residences by the infiltrators.  We carried on to the main Plovdiv -Haskovo road, parked up and headed for the nearest coffee place and sampled the cappuccinos, decided to walk the market and the shops and I suddenly remembered that there was a bronze guy sitting on a bench and as we turned the corner I spotted him.  I suggested that we put a mask on him for a photo, took his off and had my photo taken with him and strolled down memory lane.  The last time was when I went to Haskovo for the day with Guljam around seven years ago.  Lunchtime was looming and we headed for the pizza restaurant but they were having work done, had cut down on the number of tables and there was no room at the inn.  We settled for the local 'Macdonald's', some sort of beef burger, coke and chips but it filled the gaps.  

Back to the car and again we took another diversion from the main road and stopped off to view the Stone Mushrooms.  It was my first time there and very impressive but the barbed wire fence round it didn't make it much of a beauty spot.  I had my photo taken next to the largest one so that you get the idea of how tall they are.  Apparently the volcanic stone underneath is softer than the top layer so hence it disappears and forms the mushroom shape.  We went to see the little man selling stone trinkets and I bought a couple of onyx dice for six leva and what a bargain.  Home for five and we sat out in the sun and it's amazing, end of October and there was still heat in the sun.  The moon was up and we had a discussion about the planets that are visible with the naked eye and it was confirmed by an app on the phone.  I'll be looking out for them tonight.  LN.....I've had a special day.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 24, 2020, 6:17pm; Reply: 24
Saturday 24th October

Six start this morning and again a beautiful start to the day with mist hanging in the valley and the sun breaking through.  I stripped my bed down and managed to find three loads of washing, cleared my guest's clothing that he left in the downstairs bedroom and put it away in the chest and found the washing that he's left in the clothes basket.  Pegged it out, made bacon and egg for breakfast, threw the remains of the bread over the wall for the animals and birds and had a bonfire and it was still only ten o'clock.

Princess phoned this morning requesting my recipe for a cold and I really had to think about it.  I knew that it had fresh lemon and orange juice in it, honey, ginger and I think I used to use rum or whisky but not for breakfast.  We had a lovely chat and catchup, they found out some information for me from the internet and signed me up to one of their sites so that I can watch movies and the likes.  With winter coming on we rely on watching films and with the clocks going back tonight, we're on out way to winter.  I happened to drop a line following up a suggestion to my buddy in the other village asking for a run down on the program that I'd now got access to and he said that he was thinking about popping over to trim the tree for me...he didn't like the idea of me risking life and limb and doing the job myself and we agreed that after lunch would be about right.  Meanwhile I got the garden umbrella down and put it away and the flower container at the base of the umbrella I emptied out, waved the busy lizzies and repotted them and put the rest of the compost into another container and potted up some of the wallflower seeds that I'd started off.

I got the ladder out, trimmed what I could reach so that he could safely put the ladder against the tree, got out the saw and the long handled pruner and like a good girl guide, I was prepared.  I'd suggested that he brought one of his outside garden chairs over...they need reseating in a woven plastic material and if it passes scrutiny, I'll do the rest of them.  Exchange is no robbery and backs do need to be scratched.  He kindly downloaded for me two series of a series that I'd been following, he left at four and so I tidied up the things that were lying around, moved the umbrella base concrete slabs and swept the area, locked everything away and came in at around four thirty.  I made my bed up and put on my winter duvet cover even though it's a little early but the weather is due to change within a few days.....winter is coming John Snow.  Saying that, there was nothing on the television this afternoon so I settled down and watched episode one of the new series and realising that there was still nothing worth watching I watched the second episode with a cup of coffee and a packet of biscuits that are no more.

The camera didn't come out but should have done.  The tree is now trimmed so that there is line of site to the repeater aerials for the internet and having checked it a couple of times and the speeds being perfectly respectable, it shouldn't be freezing when I'm watching Transponder TV...but it still is.  I shall have to get on to the company again, there's obviously a bottle neck somewhere in the delivery process.  The boiler is on and I'm going for a relaxing bath and then into a fresh bed. Strictly is back on but if it starts to freeze frame, I shall be abandoning it and complaining. Gardening day for real tomorrow., those bulbs will be putting themselves in...if only they would!!  LN.....Clocks change....mustn't forget.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 25, 2020, 5:24pm; Reply: 25
Sunday 25th October

So around ten thirty last night I was feeling tired so decided that I'd be better off in bed and have an early night.  For some off reason I put the clock on the landing forward not remembering 'fall back' and it wasn't until I realised that morning was breaking.  Gorgeous morning, beautiful skies and so much so that I took photographs and posted them on FB.  I don't make many posts but it's been very popular but there again....beautiful pickies.  I changed the clock over and had more time than I thought I did so I walked the garden, came in and washed and dressed, beans on toast for breakfast, cleared the dishes and it was still only nine thirty...the whole day in front of me.  

First part of the morning was taken up with putting my wall flowers into pots, finished emptying the compost from the flower container from the bottom of the sun umbrella into more pots and then ran out of steam.  Fortunately I heard the breadman's horn and legged it to the bottom of the village for a loaf of fresh bread.  I also had a few words with one of my neighbours and noticed that she had artificial flowers planted in the garden nearest the lane.  I asked her why and she replied that she did have real ones but Beyser's cows had demolished the lot so now she has to put in another gate further down her path so that the animals can't get in.  I remember well my days of chasing cows from my garden and one day in desperation I burst into tears. I chased them out, renewed the barbed wire and hammered a few nails in and one of the beasts crashed into the garden nearer the house and seemed to be smiling at me.  Obviously it wasn't but it was just how it felt at the time and now I have my wall.

I came in for a bottle of water and made my way on to the computer and was amazed to see that I'd picked up a few comments on FB.  A few witty responses and then I found my way to Game of Thrones, season seven, watched two last night and so thought I'd watch the third which then grew to the fourth.  Out again into the garden and dug up one of the fir trees that had gone to the great beyond because of the drought conditions.  I appear to have lost another one but that one can wait for another day.  More wall flowers planted, beds raked over to get rid of the seedlings and boy are there lots of them.  Even the zinnias have started up again.

Nothing for supper, I ended up eating too many peanuts while I was watch the film this afternoon, I'll stick to water.  Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow bur I've just looked out of the window with the terrace light on and it's chucking it down so I might be tempted to start to watch season eight...such a hard life.  LN.....Bath and bed.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 26, 2020, 5:42pm; Reply: 26
Monday 26th October

It's been a funny old day. It had rained overnight and was beginning to dry up but then the mist came down and it was with us until ten thirty more or less.  I was out of bed by eight, first coffee I made down stair since there wasn't a cup upstairs but subsequent ones were made with upstairs kettle.  It still hasn't been put away from my guest's visit.  Down for breakfast and I scrambled the last two eggs and had them on toast so that's something else on my shopping list.  I'm off to Kirkovo tomorrow as support staff so I'll have a shop up while I'm there....it wasn't worth going into Kardjali for the few things that I need.

I went out and viewed the plants that I'd put in yesterday and they seem to be doing OK.  They were well watered in overnight and even the shrub looks as if it's not rebelling too much.  I've also noticed that the second lemon tree in the conservatory that has just popped its head through is showing its first leaves and I've decided that putting the pips in wet kitchen roll seems to work.  

I hadn't got much enthusiasm for blazing a trail in the garden today, I went out and filled up the log basket just to make sure that I had some at hand should the temperature drop when the sun went down and it did.  The helicopters were out again today but three of them instead of the usual four.  I tried hard to get a shot of them but couldn't see the screen because of the sun and it was a big stretch for the camera and ended up seeing taking the tail end of it and out of focus....ah well.  I settled on the sofa and played a few games, checked out emails and FB, didn't fall asleep but had a very restful afternoon.  I lit the fire at four thirty, put chicken wings in the oven at five, potato wedges in at five thirty and I was serving up at six and having an early supper.  A little bit of Transponder and not too late to bed tonight....I've agreed the meet tomorrow at nine so I need to leave at half eight.

My step count is down for today, I did managed to do a circuit of the garden when it pushed me into moving but I ignored the rest of the demands.  LN....Need another log on the fire.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 27, 2020, 6:22pm; Reply: 27
Tuesday 27th October

Five thirty start this morning for no other reason that I woke up and couldn't get back off again.  Maybe the clock changes affected me more than I thought.  Played a few games and out of bed by seven, didn't bother with breakfast and was in the Nipper for eight fifteen to arrive at the destination at the allotted hour.  It was thick fog when I woke up, had been seven degrees over night so dressed for the weather.  I thought it would have slowed me down, there were lots of cows on the road so I kept my speed down but I still had time to stop off at the shop in their village and by cheesy buns for breakfast.  Coffee was made as I arrived and we all had breakfast together and then into the car and headed for the farm where the lorry loads of sheep 'poo' was coming from should we manage to arrange it but we found out later that the own was in Germany and we only met up with the shepherd and his family.

We left the farm and headed down to the petrol station on the Greek road to see if the next contact was available and it seemed such a shame that despite us carrying our passports, the border wasn't open for us.  The conversations were had with the contact and we carried on to the market in Benkovski and wondered round the market.  The plan was to buy fruit trees and the objective was achieved...two apple trees.  I was very tempted to buy a pomegranate but since they don't fruit for a new years I thought better of it.  We stopped for coffee in the local coffee shop and then went to the local hardware shop and I was amazed how the stores have come on in Kirkovo.  When I used to stay near there when I first came to Bulgaria there wasn't a lot of choice but now the border has opened they are catering for a bigger audience and the range has extended and the prices are very competitive.

Back to their house for coffee and a chat and I was in the Nipper at three thirty,  The fog didn't really burn off today, it was still in patches and the cows were still on the road so I again took my time only to be greeted by a herd loitering along my road.  Toasted cheese sandwiches for a late lunch, I set to watching Game of Thrones promising myself only one episode but I didn't stick to it....it really is a ripping yarn as they say....blood, gore and fantasy...what could be better.  I lit the fire around six and threw quite a big log on, I'd used smaller stuff yesterday and I seemed to be continuously feeding it.  It might not burn so hot but it's not a great problem, there's no snow yet and still waiting for the first frost.

No need for supper, the toasted sandwiches worked well but I might have cheese and biscuits a little later.  Nothing for tomorrow so far but I think I might be checking out the weather reports to see if anything needs to come into the little house for protection.  LN....It's all go here.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 27, 2020, 6:45pm; Reply: 28
And the pickies
Posted by: linda g, October 28, 2020, 8:54am; Reply: 29
Hi Elsa, fantastic pics as usual.  And great reading of your day to day activities.. and the definition of that word might be....
1. Latin abbr for Christopher
2. A form of saying you have a child or illegitimate child
3. Another form of saying a illness like the plague or something serious.

That's all I could find... hope it helps.  ;D ;D Take care. xx
Posted by: tcinbg, October 28, 2020, 2:08pm; Reply: 30
I use this on my smartphone. https://downloads.digitaltrends.com/sky-view-free/android
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 28, 2020, 5:41pm; Reply: 31
Wednesday 28th October

Thanks Linda, I read somewhere else that it could be Christopher but I was bordering on the late fifteenth, early sixteenth and really wasn't sure he was related to my family so not really pursued it.  Like you I have days of ancestry, give up and wait to start again.  I really must start on our grandmother/ great grandmother/ grandfathers records but I'm waiting for winter to arrive.  No gardening possible under three foot of snow ;)  

Another funny old night and day.  Awake at two and again at four, read until six with a coffee, back to sleep until nine and woke up feeling shattered.  I managed to make bacon sandwiches for breakfast, toyed with the idea of going into Kardjali or Djebel but the weather wasn't good so I meandered through the morning, loaded logs into the log carrier and lit the fire.  A load of washing was put on the clothes airer in the bathroom and while I was there I sorted out the four baskets under the washbasin shelf and now I've established that I've got more socks than any sock shop in existence.  

Twelve o'clock came round quickly, I threw a log on the fire, started to read a new book that I don't remember downloading to the Kindle and once I'd got settled the electricity went off.  This isn't a huge problem, the pump for the wood fired central heating has a battery backup and fortunately the fire wasn't raging so I didn't panic, left it in the lap of the gods and went to sleep waking up around four thirty and felt much better for it, so much so that a packet of biscuits was demolished with a cup of coffee.  The weather tried hard to clear up and it might well have done while I was asleep but I haven't seen much evidence of the sun today.....although my little solar lights are lit so there must have been some at some point.  No supper, the biscuits are blocking the hunger gripes and I'm hoping that my afternoon nap won't upset my night's repose.  LN...The cupboard is bare so I might have to head for Djebel tomorrow.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 29, 2020, 4:31pm; Reply: 32
Thursday 29th October

Thanks for the information Trevor....I'll have to give it a go.  Hope you are both keeping well and prepared for winter although it seems to be a little late this year...we've normally had one lot of snow if only lasting for a day... :-/ :-/

So again my five o'clock internal alarm went off and try as I might, I couldn't get back off to sleep again.  It had rained overnight again and it had started to dry the terraces but it took until three this afternoon before the sun broke through and I burst into action.  I made some effort, I put yesterday's washing away, made up the downstairs bed with the winter duvet covers and bottom sheet and found out a fleece blanket to make two pillow cases for the large feather pillows but that's for another day.  Bacon sandwiches again for breakfast, the fire was still going so I threw a log on it and it cheered the place up.  It was dull and lifeless outside, even the little black cat wasn't in evidence but she/he/it was probably sheltering somewhere warm and dry.  After clearing the kitchen I settled in the chair in the stairwell, got the Kindle fired up and carried on with the book that I'd started yesterday.  I'm not too sure about his writing style but I was too lazy to see if I had more books on the computer that I could have loaded on.  The fire was ticking along beautifully and it was one o'clock before I knew it so I made coffee and has some peanuts.....just to fill the gap and then carried on reading.  

At three I went out to have a bonfire, I was feeling lethargic and needed to do something.  By this time the sun had come out, I'd put an over sweater on since it hadn't warmed up much and ended up collecting seeds from the tobacco plants and checked on the wall flowers that seem to be growing fantastically well.  Urged on by the sun, I fired up the lawn mower but didn't put the basket on the back and cleared from the top terrace down to the mulberry mainly to chop up the leaves that had fallen,  Having got in the mood I carried on down to the Acacia and then moved over the other side and cleared under the cherry tree.  The grass is coming back in spurts and some of the weeds are really getting established, taking the tops off might slow them down a bit but I suspect I shall be digging them out and reseeding.  I cleared the leaves from the garage and the yard and put them in the composter, saw my painter and he's on standby for barrowing sheep poo after the lorry arrives.

Jacket potato for tonight and I've taken out a couple of hamburgers...the cupboard wasn't totally bare.  I didn't make Djebel or Kardjali today, it was too damp this morning and I was too busy this afternoon.  I'll save it for the weekend.  LN.....At least a few more steps on the Fitbit...LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 30, 2020, 6:02pm; Reply: 33
Friday 30th October

I was awake at six, drinking coffee at ten past and playing games after that back in bed until I suddenly remembered that painter chappie was coming round to trim the rest of the wild plum tree so that I could get better reception (supposedly) over the internet.  Washed and dressed I went out and opened up the workshop and got the ladder out for him and left it by the door and went back in the house to make breakfast.  I was half way through toast and apricot jam when I spotted him walking away from the tree and he'd already got the ladder up and was looking for more equipment to do the job.  We both went into the workshop and came out with a saw that I knew was as blunt as you like but I couldn't managed to find the new red handled one.  He carried on up the ladder and I realised that the saw was crubbish so I set about finding the other one, managed to locate it hiding in the woodstore and took it out to him.  The job had suddenly got much easier.  The top branches were taken away but unfortunately it doesn't have seemed to done much for my internet...blasted thing is still freezing so tomorrow I head for the shop and let them know.

The fire was still going this morning and I'd topped it up so it was quite a comfortable place to laze around.  I toyed with the idea of going out and planting bulbs, the sun had come out around lunchtime but instead I put the computer on to do emails, ended up watching an episode of 'The Last Kingdom'. metered myself and only watched the one and then carried out with ancestry.  I don't know what lead me down the path but I've suddenly got back to a Richard that I've not managed to get the birthdate for but his son, William was born in 1577.  Now I'm adding the children of each of the children but the system went down this afternoon to rain stopped play so to speak.  The bag of peanuts is no more and that's put food out of the reckoning for tonight....they've sort of got stuck half way down.

I've cancelled the lorry of sheep poo...it turned out to be around seven and a half ton and no way did I want to start shifting that in a wheel barrow.  I'll buy it by the bag from my local guy.....and much easier to handle.  No photographs today...the ones of the woodies at the bottom of the garden were not very clear due to the mist and I didn't managed to get out there this afternoon to take any more.  I've remembered  to take in the bougainvillea and the busy lizzie, the temperature is about to drop to single figures tonight so better safe than sorry.   LN....Kardjali tomorrow....shopping list required.....LN
Posted by: Elsa Peters, October 31, 2020, 4:48pm; Reply: 34
Saturday 31st October

So where did this month go.....and not many pumpkins out this year....this virus has a lot to answer for.  We've still not gone into lockdown here, universities have closed along with the secondary schools but not the junior yet.  Home schooling over the internet for some that are lucky enough to have computers but as for the poorer families, so far nothing is being done for them....maybe a word in someone's ear.

Six thirty start again so my internal clock is trying but not yet succeeding unlike the weather clock that sits in the hall.  I changed the batteries yesterday, the display was getting very feint and managed to reset it or so I thought.  The buttons are on the back. the display is on the front and with five buttons to choose from in limited time, setting it is a bugger.  Unfortunately the alarm somehow got set and went off at midnight last night, I pressed what I thought was the appropriate button to switch it off but in the light of day I had to have another attempt....no alarm symbols are showing, so fingers crossed I worked it out.

I had toast for breakfast and sat out on the bench eating it.  I'd dressed for Kardjali, written my shopping list and then it suddenly occurred to me that I need to go in on Monday to get my new driving licence so why make two journeys when one will do.  Instead at ten thirty I started off for Djebel with a much reduced list, picked up a man waiting for anyone to come his way and so took him in to Djebel.  I dropped him outside the supermarket at the beginning of town and parked up outside the car parts shop and went in for a quick chat to catch up on my student's mums results for the online course she's taken and it was very positive.  She got the second highest marks for the years...very well done.  I went into the main street supermarket for a few things and as I came out I noticed my painter was by the door and I guessed he wanted a lift home.  We walked towards the car and the man that I'd taken in was sitting with a bottle of beer between his feet and smoking so I guess he had done his shopping.  We loaded into the car and I dropped them both off at the Kmet's office in the centre of my village, I asked my painter to find out how much a tractor load of manure would cost and just as I was nodding off this afternoon he phoned me and gave me the news.  I didn't manage to head off to sleep again, played a few games, lit the fire and went upstairs to watch more episodes of the Last Kingdom and I've rationed myself to only two.  

Supper is in and should be ready anytime soon.  It's been another beautiful day saying that it's the last day of October and all my solar lights are twinkling on the terraces and I must get some more of the little ones....plastic, good and cheap.  Fire needs a lot, supper needs serving, kitchen calls.  LN....The bulbs might go in tomorrow.....LN

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