Wednesday 1st May

White rabbits, a pinch and a punch for the first of the month....say whatever sits comfortably with you.  I was up and about at six this morning, made coffee, a bit of a cloudy start but the terraces were drying off after yet more rain.  Topsy turvy weather but it looks like the sun is heading this way next week.  I didn't bother with breakfast, I had documents to scan in and send off to the holiday company but I'd forgotten that I'd updated my computer and I had a mare of a morning. I tried to download a scanning application to go with the Brother printer but that seemed to knock out the normal method of printing and I ended up taking photographs of a thirteen page document and another two page declaration and sending them in an email apologising and asking her to confirm if they were OK.  She responded quite quickly so the pressure was off but I was determined to sort out the printer function but nothing seemed to work and at two I gave up.  I opened up my laptop and from that one I can print so all is not lost.  The upside is that I managed to get the scanning working properly using the Brother application so that's one thing solved.  At ten I made more coffee, got washed and dressed and started my real day.

By now I got on with normal tasks, tried to chop a few of the old hard logs but they're now in the log basket, no way would the axe go through them, I could get no purchase at all.  They're not too big so should burn so long as there's smaller stuff round them.  At three I fired up the lawn mower and managed to do down to the bottom of the big house grass and tomorrow morning I'll do the little house grass and that should mean that it won't be too long when I get to cut it before I go away.  It was pretty hard work, I was having to empty the grass box every two rows but I was puffing a little on the uphill and on the bank between the gardens.  I stuck with it though, can't give up but I might use the little electric tomorrow, it's so much lighter,

I came in at five thirty and lit the fire and it's going well and then I settled down to sort Netflix and look at taking out a subscription for here.  I dropped my S.I.L. a message and got a phone call from my daughter saying that they pay for my subscription so it would be OK to sign on as 'I'm travelling'.  I tried it and all it needed was a code which was sent through to his phone, I entered the code and lo and behold it works.  As he said I'm on his account and if they have a problem with it, they'll contact him.  Not done anything for supper so far, not very hungry so might even forego it.  LN.....Now what can I find to watch tonight....LN

Thursday 2nd May

Another six start, coffee, more coffee, Sudoku but I gave up, my times were absolute rubbish this morning.  Downstairs at seven after changing my bed, was going to put the clothes in the machine but I just got too busy.  I didn't bother with breakfast, tidied round, sat outside on the bench since it was quite a good morning.  I made a phone call to Germany to confirm that my Avatar had another set of keys to get in when she comes back on the thirteenth.  I have a set but am probably going to Sofia on the eleventh, flying out on the twelfth and rather like last year, we crossed over in Sofia but this time we were heading in different directions.  I also sent a thank you to my student for helping me with the documentation for my holiday and received a lovely reply and then since Netflix is again available, I carried on watching Night Agent that I'd started and slept through last night so back to the drawing board Cecil.

At eleven the day was slipping away from me so I got the little electric mower out and set about the bottom of the big house grass that I hadn't managed to complete the other day.  I'd left it until later in the day, the grass was wet from the overnight dew and since rain was predicted, I worked through until around one thirty, came in for some bun loaf and toasted it and that was a late breakfast with lots more coffee.  Two more episodes of Night Agent and then back out there with the big one this time to do the rest of the grass, eventually finishing at around three thirty.  I thn found other things to potter with, the little bushes have been rounded off, the sticky willy has been removed from a lot of the low wall, I found five of the tortoise over the course of the day and the 'highways' next to the walls are more obvious now that the rest of the grass is cut.

Down tools and everything packed away, I got inb enough logs for this evening but there's no need to light a fire tonight, the house is warm.  I made cornflake chicken and chippies in the air-fryer and that chicken seems to remain moist and from frozen to plate it's around fifteen minutes...result and tasty.  Boler is on and I'm in the bath as soon as I've posted this, I've finished the Night Agent so am looking for something else to fill my evenings thanks to my daughter and SIL.  LN...Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far, maybe more pottering in the garden or maybe shopping, I'll see how the mood takes me......LN

Friday 3rd May

Six start, played silly games for an hour or so , more coffee and started my morning.  It was a dull old day, had rained overnight but looked as if it might clear up but that was wishful thinking on my part.  I threw some bread out that had an unhealthy tinge of green on it for the cat but after yesterday's chicken blow out it moved on to fresh pastures with more chance of success.

I did the usual stuff on the laptop, emails etc., felt really cold in the house so set the fire ready to light it later but I didn't wait long.  Fortunately I'd got in lots of logs yesterday and starting wood and it didn't take long before I was feeling the benefit of setting a match to it. It's been bad all day....we've had thunder and lightning, a very heavy hail storm that surely has bashed down a lot of the neighbours seedlings and I bet the tortoise have been hidden away all day or even down in their winter holes.  I didn't check on them...it was too wet and too cold for me to be out and about.  In fact I've had a Netflix day and thank goodness it has been sorted.  I did managed to switch it off and get my head down for an hour or so this afternoon and then back to it.  I haven't checked the weather for the weekend, next week it's supposed to be back to back sunshine which will be good...only snag is that rain and sunshine cause the grass to grow and just having finished taking it down to a reasonable level, the process will start again.

I've just had a bowl of tuna, onion, beetroot and mayo salad, feel stuffed to the gills and am now ready to finish watching the last couple of episodes of the Netflix I started this afternoon.  LN.....It's still throwing it down outside so maybe I need to find the plans for the ark......LN

Saturday 4th May

Another early start, the fire was still going so I rescued it and kept it going most of the day except when my back was turned, I failed to put a log on.  It didn't take long though and it should last now for the end of the evening.   It's May, by now I've normally cleaned out the woodburner and the pipes and it's just on the odd occasion that it gets lit....this year it's been difficult to predict.  No sight or any of the tortoise but why would they be out and about, probably deep underground or under the thick clumps of grass.  At least there's plenty of food for them.

I did a load of washing ready for holiday, a purple lightweight fleece lined jacket for travelling unless we have a sudden heatwave that we not got an inkling of currently.  I've had another day of Netflix, too wet to be out, too cold to be in the little house potting things up and too lazy to find anything else constructive to do.  I did make poached eggs on toast for breakfast, put the washing on the airer and got more wood in to last for the day and I'll have enough until tomorrow. Didn't manage lunch and feeling as flat as a pancake and not really in the mood for food, I'll last until the morning.  Kardjali tomorrow, it's easier to shop on a Sunday than a Saturday, the Nipper is out of gas so that's the main reason for going in to town.  LN.....Back to the lounge and the fire but thank goodness for the central heating.......LN

Sunday 5th May

Another early start but I snuggled down again and it was seven when I opened my eyes for the second time.  Not sure I opened them for the first time...it was just too early.  I had a very slow morning learning how to navigate my old Kindle, it's got lots of books on it, was one of the first issued and I've decided to take it with me on holiday.  It's not a touch screen so it speaks for itself how old it is.  I've done the 'Last Kingdom' so many times on Netflix that I've decided to read the whole series again to see just how far it's removed from the book and it should be an interesting exercise.  

Toast for breakfast, cat was looking longingly at me but there was nothing.  I'd not bothered with supper last night so no left over for it at all and it eventually walked along the street when I drove my car out of the drive onto the road, it reckoned there was more chance of pickings elsewhere. I did a circuit of the very wet garden to see if the tortoise were out and about sunning themselves if only to dry themselves and warm up.  Rosy was spotted first in a grassy hollow against the high wall facing into the sun, CS was further along the wall, Blue was a little further on and they all seemed to be favouring this side of the garden.  I turned to walk along the bottom wall and found Red and Green but as for Shiny Blue who I believe used to be Little Purple not be found at all but there again, it was only half nine.  Walking back up the Frog garden, I've noticed that the Yucca has two other flower spikes on it making three in total.  It should be magnificent this year.

Kitchen tidied and washing up done I decided that I would go into Kardjali dropping off the dish drainer that I'd bought for my student's family along the way, I messaged her to let her know and got no reply and when I got there the gate was locked and nobody at home.  I managed to get it through the gate and propped it against the garden wall and much later this afternoon I got a photograph of her and her parents in Istanbul.  They'd decided to go at the last minute.  I carried on to Kaufland and bought very little but did pick up three little solar lights and thought they would make gifts for my neighbours.  When I got to the checkout, the girl said that she couldn't sell them she didn't know the code and gave me a total for the shopping while the lights were on top of her unit.  I said that I wanted them, she sighed heavily, picked up the phone, said that no one could help and that I would have to go without.  Now I don't like this, I worked in supervision in supermarkets for far too long to be fobbed off but in a different language is becomes more difficult so not to be defeated, I put my shopping in the Nipper, went back and took a photo of the item code and back to the checkout.  She took my phone,tapped in the code and I bought the items.  There was no apology but she said that it was because of the holiday, Easter Sunday here, I said it was because they were lazy in the office and didn't care about customer service and I managed that in Bulgarian.  One more shop to buy two pairs of new reading glasses for my holiday, tried to pull into Lidl and that was closed so carried on to my supermarket in Djebel and bought a few items for the goody box.  Shopping away, the sun by now was warming up so I stripped down and settled in a garden chair with the small table as a footstool and my first layer of suntan is on already, well will be when the 'pink' fades.

I put the boiler on, read for a while and went in the bath and slept for an hour or so emerging at six and getting out my summer PJ's., first time this year.  Seven my time, what was planned for tomorrow has been shelved because it's a holiday and St George's day and moved to Tuesday so if the weather is good, you'll know where to find me.  LN....Time to get the sunbeds out......LN

Monday 6th May

So yesterday was strange in that I was in bed for ten, no late night Netflix for me.  I'd had a bath, felt very relaxed so didn't want to spoil it with rubbish so lights out around ten thirty, slept through until five thirty, played games and read my Kindle and out of bed by seven.  I think it's the anticipation of the holiday and unlike the UK, I'm still waiting for the time of the flight on Sunday so that I can decide it I need to make a booking in Sofia if I need to stay in a hotel and the time of arrival back in Sofia the next week.  Again, do I drive or take the bus.  I'd supposed to hear early this week but tomorrow is Tuesday, I know it's been the Easter holiday here but it all seems so lax to me.  

I made poached eggs on ham for breakfast and so far today I've not succumbed to coffee and settled for water.  I've decided to eliminate it from my daily intake wondering if it's that that's been causing my numerous red patches on my arms...it could be anything but I'm starting to do my own patch tests or rather intake tests. Load of washing in the machine of potential holiday wear and on Wednesday, the suitcase and bag will be packed, I'm not good at leaving things to the last minute.  As for the rest of my day, the weather was so good that I carried on with the tanning process and have added another 'layer of red' which should be brown by tomorrow as I used to tell my children. It's been up to twenty four degrees in the sun and out of the wind and I've settled into the book on my Kindle and am now up to thirty four percent read.  The only trouble is that it's the last in the series so it's rather like reading the last chapter first.  As for doing the comparison with the series on Netflix, I've found a few anomalies already....especially when it comes to taking back his hijacked heritage from his uncle.  I'll keep you updated.

I had an early supper and tomorrow cat will have chicken and bones, i'd just decided to watch a rerun of Bridgerton on Netflix and Haciber appeared with a lady that I'm not really sure who she is but she gave me a geranium.  She might be Zelinger's daughter in law so I better ask tomorrow and in retrospect I was not very conversational. They woke me up for a start, with a start, and I didn't know why they were there and I still don't.  I'm out early in the morning sorting out car insurance for a friend and then my student tomorrow afternoon and then three days to sort out hotels and transport to Sofia and packing.  Fire lit, lovely sunset and today's excitement was watching the tortoise take the long walk across the grass from one wall to the next....might be better pickings under the high wall.  LN......Bath, Bridgerton and bed in that order......LN

Tuesday 7th May

Early to bed, early to rise and I've forgotten the rest.  Five thirty first time and six thirty the second time my eyes opened and the sun was just coming up, a big red ball.  It lost its colour as it climbed, had some heat in it this morning and then clouds formed, brief showers and after yesterday it was a complete let down.  Not that I wanted to take any more sun today, I was duty lobster last night but how it's given me a healthy glow ready for my holiday.  I don't really go in for the pale and interesting look.

Shower and hair washed, I didn't have a bath last night mainly because to wash my hair in the bath is very difficult and a strain on the neck. I didn't bother with breakfast and was in the Nipper for eight, taking my rubbish down to the container and two table solar lights for Zelinger.  I tapped on the door very lightly, there didn't seem any life around so I put the gift bag with the lights down on the doorstep so that they would trip over it if they didn't spot it.  I met Haciber by the rubbish bin but didn't show her the goody bag, they'd all want one, back in the Nipper and at nine thirty I was off again and this time to help out with an insurance application.  That was easy to obtain, we went for a coffee, back to the house in Fotinovo for a chat and home for twelve.  Toast for a late breakfast, the travel company have sent me my documents so printed them off and now to make decisions as to how many nights I stay in Sofia, driving or bus and this will be decided tomorrow.  I need it set in stone so that there are no hiccups.

Lovely time with my student,stopped chatting with his mother until his father returned from the garage and home for seven fifteen.  Chicken in cornflakes with Duchess potatoes into the air-fryer, fire lit and I was sitting down in front of the fire eating supper by eight, washing up done and now time to relax.  Might do Karjali early morning, I do need so more casual shoes so might try the new shopping mall and then packing tomorrow afternoon.  LN.....Time to relax.....LN

Wednesday 8th May

Early start, five thirty and by seven I was knacked...it had been a long morning.  Cloudy start to the day, morning did break, eventually the sun came through but there was lots of most on the hillsides which obviously turned into clouds.  I really had trouble making a decision as to when I would go to Sofia, worked out several plans but nothing came together.  Eventually I gave up, settled for a toasted ham sandwich and at ten thirty I'd done two loads of washing, tried on outfits, transferred conditioner into a smaller bottle to make packing easier and started to pack my case.  Travelling arrangements were still bugging me so at eleven I went into Kardjali to pay my home telephone bills, moved parking and went in search of shoes and managed to find a black pair of enclosed slip-ons that will be perfect for my holiday and a pair of blue trainers to replace the one that I bought in Bangkok years ago.  I can finally throw them away.

Back in the Nipper, two trips to the cash-point and I now have enough euros to last me for next week in Sicily.  I contacted the hotel to make the reservation to be told immediately that prices were ninety euro per night so I said that I would try a booking company to see if it was cheaper.  The hotel itself had a saver scheme but the last time I tried to use it I think the website was under reconstruction and nothing happened so I thought I'd give it another go and bingo, I found the cheapest rate as a member, paid for the first night using my Bulgarian card, entered the details for the second night and at this point I think the system thought there was something funny going on and asked me for further information that I probably had but didn't know that I did.  I had a message on the screen to phone a number which I did and that got even more complicated so it was a 'no-help' desk.  While I was waiting I put in the details of the second night again and this time paid with my English card and the transaction went straight through and then I was advised by the lady on the other end of the phone to visit my bank to sort out the other card.  Just what you need!!

Thunder and lightning this afternoon but it seems to have slipped away....only hope it's not going to Italy and beyond.  Not about to prepare supper, the mid morning sandwich is still sitting heavily or maybe I'm just getting over my abstinence from coffee. News from my older student is that she really enjoyed Istanbul, she found the dish drainer and they are keeping it not giving it away as I suggested and that we are going to Istanbul together when I come back from this trip.  They have relatives living there so there is somewhere to stay and she speaks fluent Turkish, Bulgarian and we communicate well in English so there won't be a problem and we'll go on the bus...an adventure.  The rain came and went, let's hope it stays away and I'm happier now that I've got a hotel booked and the Nipper will either be at the hotel while I'm away or at Terminal 2 long term parking....waiting for me to come back.  LN.....I shall sleep peacefully tonight......LN

Thursday 9th May

Early start again but this time it was really dull, misty, threatened rain all day and nothing happened.  There was a brief moment of brightness around four this afternoon when I was getting logs in to make the fire, but that soon disappeared.  So last night my tablet fell to the floor from the side table and I thought nothing of it until I went to switch it on this morning.  It did switch it on and went to the home screen but that was all, there was no going further, the screen did nothing.  I went through the process of trying to check out the button combinations to try to bring it back life but nothing.  

I made poached eggs for breakfast using a method that I'd seen in one of the reels on the phone.  It was suggested to crack them into cold water, put them in the microwave for a minute and supposedly you would have perfect poached eggs.  Unfortunately the person gave now setting so I popped them in for another fifteen to twenty seconds and the yolks were hardish but not bad for a first attempt.  The upside is, no smelly saucepan to wash out.  Cat was looking longingly through the window but this morning I had nothing for it....I'd put out bread earlier but it really is fussy and went nowhere near it.  In the Nipper by nine thirty in search of two things, a short handled shoe horn and another tablet to replace the broken one unless I could my man could replace the screen which he couldn't.  It's a really old Acer and has seen better days and my man pronounced it's death knell and sometimes it's more expensive to replace the screen.  Went to the local electronic store next to Lidl and got one, not too expensive but will do the job and then over to a shop I;d not been in before which had everything if you had the time to look for it.  I gave up and found someone working there and she took me straight to the display and several types.  Mine is metal with a spoon end on it and more to the point, it's telescopic so I can even put shoes on from a standing position...result

Next stop the garage as I drove back through Djebel.  He was in the new building so I left the Nipper running and he immediately knew that I wanted him to look at what was causing the noise, it sounded like a tractor.  He put it over the pit and fixed it, he'd mentioned that there was an additive that you could add to the oil to cut down on the smoke and fumes, he had it, showed me the bottle but I didn't look at the price, he added it and checked the oil, water, brake fluid and everything that needed checking and when he'd finished I asked him how much and it was quite a lot.  I'd not looked at the price of the additive when he showed it to me so he put it in front of my nose, it was fifty five leva.  I dug out sixty and he was looking for a fiver but I said for him to keep it, he tried to refuse but I said for him to get a coffee.  I stopped off at the shop, I've   borrowed a rucksack which is far better than the hand luggage I was taking and will be more serviceable during the holiday.  Tablet set up, Kindle brought back into action, my battery pack is on charge, cables and leads are all sorted and they;re ready to go into the case.  Packing done but I had trouble weighing it.  I thought the scales ready a little over ten but I didn't believe it, the wheels reached down either side of the scales so I stood on the scales and weighed myself with and without the suitcase and the first reading was correct.  Pizza for supper followed by some chocolate breakfast cereal without milk, I live inventively.

Little owl has just landed on the edge of my bedroom balcony but the camera wasn't to hand and then it flew onto the little house roof but when I came back with the camera, it had left but nice to know it's still around.  Got all day tomorrow to do final preparations, I've checked the weather in Sicily and it will be raining when we arrive and cloudy for the following day so I'm not holding out much hope of sun, sand and swimming.  LN.....Maybe I can do that when I get home......LN

Friday 10th May

Well what happened today?  Not a lot. The weather has been touching eight degrees outside all day and even the bonfire didn't raise the outside temperature at all.  I've packed, changed my mind on what to take with me but eventually I got there. The suitcase is packed, the safety strap is round it and I refuse to go in there again.  I've changed the laces on the new trainers and have settled for blue instead of the bright green ones that I chose yesterday, I'm taking them with me and might get more buoyant when the weather picks up.  As for the house temperature, I was feeling really cold when I came in from the bonfire so I lit the fire immediately and it's kept the house at about twenty two degrees for most of the day.

I did a check on the weather in Sicily and it's destined to be in the high twenties and night time temperatures of nineteen or so and I really can't wait.  It is back to being winter here....one day on the terrace sunbathing and thank goodness I did otherwise I would burn up and be duty lobster if I hadn't put down a base tan already.  The rucksack has been packed a few times and now it's sitting by the table downstairs in the stairwell and I'll go through the checklist and make sure everything is in,  I'll disconnect a few things, I've already turned off the water to the outside tap, I don't want any huge water bills when I come back.

So now to bed, I intend leaving around twelve tomorrow and setting off for Sofia calling in at both of my student's homes to say fond farewells even though I shall only be gone for a week.  So tomorrow in Sofia and then flying out on Sunday afternoon and then. let the tour begin.  LN....I'll try and keep you posted on the journey and add a few pickies of interesting places.....LN

Sunday 12th May

Well it's been a long day.  I stayed in the hotel until one thirty and caught the courtesy bus to the airport.  I'd never been to terminal two before and I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out.  There was no way to print out the boarding card on the booking, we were supposed to meet the representative at two and I was there in time and suddenly three checking desks opened and the rest of the travellers came out of their hiding places and I joined a queue, the luggage was weighed and taken and at this point we were issued the boarding card, then through security and on to baggage check and I was ready for boarding only time for a toilet stop.

The flight was good, free water for everybody and when it touched down the applause went up, typical Bulgarian response and also Scandinavian to thing of it.   There was a bit of confusion as to what to do when we got off the plane.  There were three girls with lists and I didn't seem to appear on any of them so it was out with the tour details and I now knew to find Stephan who would tell me which coach number I had to get on and he took care of getting my luggage stowed.  We were on the coach for around an hour and he talked all the way in Bulgarian but so quickly that I got none of it.  I followed the herd when the coach pulled up at a super hotel and again I joined a queue and was wrist tagged and issued my card for a double room.  I made my way to a dining room and was greeted and seated and that's going to be my table for the stay....which I think is two days.

I did take photos of the sun going down over the sea and the journey to the hotel but I can't seem to find image resizer so I have to have a search so you'll have to put up with this tonight....LN....Another day, another coach and other views....LN

Monday 13th May

After a very hectic day but settling down nicely since I am the only English person on the tour.  The guide gives all his continuous commentary in Bulgarian, I pick out some words but he's fast and furious, knows his subject well but his subjects very little.  We did a mountain UNESCO site this morning in Moderno and others in Palermo this afternoon getting back to the bus for five and then back to the hotel.  It was still a beautiful afternoon and the swimming pool was calling me so I responded to the invitation.  I asked at reception for a pool towel and told that there was a twenty two euro deposit and if you don't return it you've paid for it I suppose.  I opted for my coverall and saved my cash.  The lengths were shorter than the width because of steps at both ends suitable for children so I stuck to widths and was at it for about half an hour and felt much better for it.  I've done sixteen thousand steps today according to my Fitbit and so I'm resting on my laurels.  I'm going to apologise in advance, I've taken lots of pictures but the battery on my machine was low and it's now charging.  I thought the computer plug is universal in Europe but no, here is different and you need an adaptor and when I went to Information, the girl knew exactly what the problem was and I have one on loan until tomorrow which is when I check out anyway so I'll be looking to buy one.

Evening meal was a bunfight, huge queues on the self service and a bottle of water was two euro fifty so I reconned I could wait until I was back in the room.  Short and sweet tonight, I'll be reviewing the photos and picking out a select few.  LN....My suitcase is packed and it needs to be by the bus for eight.....I'm off to bed.....LN

Tuesday 14th May

Tonight's is a very swift reply.  Internet is not free, hotel is rubbish, arrived late, food set menu and no pudding.  Shower and bed, we have an early breakfast and departure.  LN....Promise to try harder tomorrow....LN

Wednesday 15th May

I didn't sleep too well last night.  When I went to my room after supper there was something about two inches long, black that started to make its way along the top of the ceiling.  It ceiling was sloping so much to difficult to get to but in the end I wrapped myself up in the sheet feeling rather like an embalmed mummy thinking that at least it couldn't get to me.  I woke up at four and it was still there in the same place so rested my weary head down again and slept through until the alarm woke me but not it and I was out of the room by seven for breakfast with my suitcase leaving it by the bus with others and carrying on to the restaurant.

First stop this morning was Ragusa and  I've realised Sicily is all about old churches and cathedrals with St George being claimed by every one.  It was a dull start to the day but then the weather cheered up the temperature rose and we stayed there until twelve more or less and then on to the next place.  This time Modica and again three fantastic aged mother churches, lots of very rich looking people and not necessarily on our bus.  I bought lunch from a little bistro place, the man slicing the meat and cheese before he loaded it into a bun so that you could say yea or ne...Back to the bus and an early night in the hotel after an hours drive and this time there is a view of the see but unfortunately not from my room.  I have a ground floor with a small private terrace but I think I'll be heading down to the see if only to put my toe in it.  Supper is at eight tonight, I need a shower it's been a sweaty day.  We've covered around eleven kilometers and I've done 14,000 steps unlike yesterday when I did 20,000 partly because I got let loose from the crowd, went AWOL for a while and found my way back.  LN.....I'm thinking I'll need a holiday after this....probably go down to Greece for a few days by the sea......LN  (Photos when I get home, difficult to get things done on my lap sitting on my bed.....)

Thursday 16th May

Slept well except the alarm didn't go off on the phone so tonight I must investigate why not, we have a hotel change tomorrow and must have out luggage at the bus at a most ungodly hour.  This holiday has been a hard slog but tomorrow we are off to see Taormina, a mountain town that I stayed at more years that I care to remember and then off to Mount Etna and just hoping it behaves itself.  Photos have been difficult to control to get them on to the computer.  I don't really trust the access and haven't spent a lot of time on the computer so I promise that I will put lots on when I've resized them so that it doesn't 'sqiff' the rest of the website.

Today has been about more churches, a lovely walk around Syracuse which is very cosmopolitan, markets, calamari street food for lunch and this time I didn't get lost, I have my guardian angel looking after me.  The guide gives instructions at to what time we have to be back at the bus but he doesn't bother to make sure that I understand.  I might have to give feedback, although, I doubt they get many English signing up for Bulgarian holidays.  My bad!!

And now down to supper and then an early night.  Last night I was in bed for half nine, must have been asleep by ten and woke at five so I'd had a good rest.  Not so many steps today on the Fitbit, only just over ten, must try harder tomorrow especially if I'm running from a lava trail.  LN.....Let's hope not and I'll try to do photos later....LN

Friday 17th May

It's been another long day, Mount Etna behaved itself, only a little smoke coming out of the top.  The place was heaving, we walked part of the trail resembling ants on a route march but I didn't do too much of that....too much like hard work.  We moved on to Taormina which is a mountain top village and it was good to go back and see the changes.  I didn't managed to find the boarding house that we were put into last time which must have been about thirty years ago if not more and the hotel where we used to swim had also been knocked down to make for lots of new development.  The shops have all gone high end, lots of speciality  chocolate shops, lots of tourist outlets all selling the same things and we didn't even get to see the arena when some amateur singer gave us a really good rendering of an opera classic.  I know times move on but everything is just so touristy.  

The next thing to overcome was a route march complete with suitcase to the hotel this evening.  Apparently the bus that we had been allocated for the holiday was too big for the road to the hotel but I'm not convinced and  tomorrow we'll have to find the bus for the last day of our travels.  We also have the final day's checkout, and we might again be wheeling our wares through the highways and byways. It's turning into quite an adventure trying to avoid the Italian traffic.

Again no pictures but I'll go through them on Monday  and Tuesday and publish the best.  LN.......I might even find time when I'm waiting for the plane....LN

Saturday 18th May

Tomorrow we are going to the airport so last night in an hotel.  I'm looking forward to going home, just one night in Sofia and then a steady drive home.  I thought that we were going straight to the airport tomorrow but it appears that we are going to have a conducted tour of Catania before going to check in.

I'm back in the hotel and have fiddled around with getting my camera to connect and managed to find a few photos to add to tonight's efforts.  I need to study them to locate them properly but thought I'd give you a taster.....there are lots to choose from and when the battery on the camera ran out I used the phone so even more to try and recover.  

So here goes....I've got to get ready for supper, it's not a choice, it's 'presented' but breakfast this morning was good with lots of choice and boy do the Bulgarians put it away....Anyway....LN.....I'll be home soon.....LN

Just a few more from today, Messina and mountain village

Messina was really interesting with a fantastic cathedral and towered automated clock and I even photo-ed the script to go with it.  Not really much else to see, three cruise ships docked into the crescent shaped harbour so there were lots of people around all speaking different languages but pleased to say that English was more understood than most.  Unfortunately I'm in the habit of chipping in with Bulgarian so had to hold myself in check...The mountain village that we visited afterwards is home to the film 'The Godfather' and most of the souvenirs from there have Marlon Brando's face on them and there is a tribute to Francis Coppola, the guide guiding the filming.  As I said, just a few more...  

Sunday 19th May

Slept well but woke up early.  I'd got packing to finish and just a few things to sort out.  I was down for breakfast at eight, managed to get everything that I wanted before it all went and even stole an orange to take with me for mid morning.

The tour guide plan got into disarray.  The luggage had to be in reception by ten, we were supposed to have the luggage transferred to the bus by the hotel but the bus couldn't leave because he'd run out of tachograph time and it rather threw a spanner in the works.  Several new plans were hatched, one was almost dispatch but there was no trains running since it was Sunday it was shelved.  The second was to transfer the luggage to the bus but it wouldn't leave for the airport until two meaning that we had four hours to kill.  We were opposite the beach except swimwear was already on the bus by the time this plan came to light so we just hung around in the resort, walked the town and were very relieved when it was time to head to the airport.  The gate opened not long after we arrived, baggage drop was swift,security was very efficient,plane loaded quickly, very turbulent when we started and I'm sure we had a tail wind, there wasn't even time to drinks run, only perfume purchases before we touched down.  The luggage was slow to come through and by the end of the holiday more people were trying out their English and I was joking in Bulgarian.  I've swapped phone numbers with several of the guest and have been invited to meet one if them in Zlatograd next week end.

I got stung with the taxi fare from the airport to the hotel.  I phoned the number I had for the shuttle but no response so did the other.  I've now got new instructions to contact the driver via WhatsApp, he works twenty four seven.  So supper over, time to get my head down to prepare myself for the drive down to home tomorrow.  LN...It's been a full on week,  I'm tired and happy and would use this company again.....LN

Monday 20th May

Got out of sync this morning....I'd set my phone for Sicily time so I was late for breakfast and only just made it.  I use my phone to sync with my Fitbit and it wasn't until I got in the car that I realised that I was an hour behind everything else and everybody else.  I dreaded going to get the Nipper, the rain was pouring down and the parking is on a field and yes, my feet got very wet but at least my luggage wouldn't, I'd left it in reception and loaded it in having parked up at a reserved 'space'.  I was also dreading that I would put the key in and something would have gone wrong but it fired up first time and was good to go.  I'd settled the parking account and breakfast, the room I'd paid for on booking so it was quite a gentle bill, parking for the days was only fifty five leva which I think is really good since two nights are paid for with the hotel booking.  

I set off for Sofia centre and it felt very odd driving again and by now everything was very dull and Sofia is very busy so you have to keep your wits about you.  I made all the right road junctions and got on to the motorway without any problems but it's notoriously fast and furious and there was lots of spray being thrown up and lots of lorries.  I'm used to a three lane motorway so the lorries sort themselves out and rarely come into the outside lane but in BG there's only two lanes so it gets dicey.  All was going well until it went down to one where they were digging up the other carriage way and that lasted for about two kilometers but fortunately it was clearing up a little by then.  It's quite frightening at times, some just don't stick to the speed limits and because of the amount of lorries on the road you have to stay out because if you pull over you never get out again and as you can expect. some of the crazy drivers git miffed but you have to stay your ground.....and I did.  

I came off at the correct junction and pleased to say that they've improved the road and signs to Asenovgrad and I sailed through and by now it had dried up.  The road through to Kardjali has lots of twists and turns but sign posted well for recommended speeds and with a dry road it was easy.  I hit Kardjali in good time, stopped off at Lidl to get a few things and now that my Avatar has returned while I was away I bought her a bag of mandarins just because I know she likes them.  I stopped off at the car shop to tell that that I was in residence or would be soon, my student doesn't want a lesson he wants to go to football practice since the season is coming to an end and that was fine by me.  I pulled up outside the house and Avatar was sitting with her daughter sorting herbs to dry to make tea. I gave her the mandarins and she was so pleased, but I didn't stop long, I had things to do.  Unpacking sorted, three loads of washing done and drying, Avatar's other daughter came over and gave me the money that I'd paid to the local guy to cut the long grass down.  I'd actually forgotten all about it so it was a nice surprise.  LN.....It's nice to be back home but the grass is going to be a hard job tomorrow, it's amazing how long it's grown in a week......LN

Tuesday 21st May

Woke up really quite early and felt OK after yesterday's 'washerwoman' achievements.  I slept well, it was good to be back in my own bed, didn't bother with coffee but had water and settled down with my book.  Unfortunately I'd not had enough sleep so nodded off again but it was still early so generally sorted a few more things and went on the hunt for things that I'd put safely away while I was away.  I washed up things left from last night and made two ham sandwiches for breakfast and now I did made coffee but in a small glass just to cut down on my intake.  I was actually wasting time, I was waiting for the sun to dry up some of the grass so that I could get started on it and really wasn't sure how to tackle it.  Firstly I did the yard using the little mower and the strimmer seemed like everything was coming into play today and carried on to the first space between the house and the wall using the little electric mower.  I didn't do the second part and didn't want to move on to the 'grave' garden, I wanted to start on the main garden and clear round the flower beds to generally tidy it up.  I started about half eleven but it was really slop going. The plan was to strim the garden and round the beds, but by twelve I really hadn't done much, it was slow going.  I tried with the electric mower but it really wasn't very effective so I gave it a go with the petrol mower at first with the grass box but that was full after one run so I sat down and thought about it, got up again and tried the petrol one without the grass box and this was cooking on bas so to speak.  I gave myself targets and had planned to finish at six but I was just too knacked, I put the tools away and locked up, stripped off in the conservatory and went for a shower and have since added a cardigan to my bed gear.  I did another walk round the garden and I was really surprised by the red hot pokers, there were no flower heads showing before I went away.  The main ones have flowered but two that I transplanted have also flowered for the first time and they usually last for ages.  Both wild philadelphus and the cultivated one are all in bloom and the smell is quite overpowering.  The three yucca heads look like they're about to burst forth...and should be stunning.

Had a little run in with Netflix this afternoon and had to phone the help desk.  I'm on my SIL's account and named and paid for each month.  When I couldn't connect last time because 'the device is not recognised', there was a tab to select 'I'm on holiday' and we were given a code and it worked until I tried today.  Speaking to someone which was an achievement in itself, I explained the problem, was told that the code was only for one week and had expired, that to be 'invited to take up an offer' from my SIL and was then advised I could only take out this account if I lived in England.  I think they should start chasing the ones that use an account and they don't even know who owns it.  Plus point is that if I take an account out in Bulgaria it's half the price but I shan't be doing that until winter draws in.

I sat in the stairwell playing solitaire, went out to take the photos and the noise from the calves was horrendous.  Most were calling for their mothers, the drone was overhead helping the farmers to search for strays and they were out with the land-rover making more noise than the cows.  Eventually they'd got most of them going in the same direction, over the hills and into the barns but some of the really new ones seemed really stressed out and obviously tired after a day out.  Looking at the garden from the upstairs desk there still seems a lot to do to get the garden sorted, it must have been perfect weather with the right amount of rain or may be the universe is telling me that I shouldn't have taken a week off.  I'll see how I feel tomorrow, I'm only going to use the petrol mower without the box and if necessary I'll go over the dried grass and pick it up next time with the new growth.  

Not really in the mood for supper so far, too tired to even think about it.  LN......Guess what I'm doing tomorrow......LN

Wednesday 22nd May

Well another glorious day filled with mowing the grass and pulling weeds but I did install the umbrella so that I could take rests on the bench and read my continuing saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg.  I've had the series on my very old Kindle for years so started reading the books again and managed three on the holiday when I didn't understand what the tour guide was talking about as we went along and I've almost finished the one that I'm reading now.  I've got about five more in the series to go.

First job this morning was to fold and put away the washing from the holiday that was sitting on the two airers, put another load in and put that to dry.  It's been another hot day and by lunch time I'd gone over the grass that I'd done yesterday but this time with the box on the back of the machine and finished the one lawn.  I made tuna mayo sandwiches and sat out on the terrace under the umbrella and looking at what still had to be done.  I use time and motion, I try to guess how many runs it's going to take to do a certain area and used the machine so that it was pushing the grass over the run that had just been done.  I go along the short side and that doesn't count in the total, up the other long side which does and back to the starting point.  It gives me something to calculate while I'm pushing the machine. That side of the garden finished I took to my bench to about half an hour with my book and then attacked the grave garden to the side of the house and the rest of the space between the house and the front wall.  I'd finished!!

Tomorrow I've got to strim where the mower wouldn't go especially close to the wooden surrounds on the gardens and get weeding the beds and pulling the sticky willy from the shrubs on the low wall.  I've had a good day, pleased that I've broken the back of it and if the weather is this good tomorrow, the sunbed will be out and I could be swimming on Friday or a day in Greece over the weekend.  LN......Let the holiday mood continue......LN

Thursday 23rd May

So the best laid plans of mice and women in my case didn't happen.  The plan today was to go over the the grass again but this time with the grass box on the back to pick up the cuttings from yesterday but that just didn't happen.  I woke up at seven to thunder, lightning and a very heavy downpour that kept me in bed for a while carrying on with my book.  It was dull, miserable, fork lightning but fortunately not centred overhead but more over the mountains with only low rumblings.  I eventually made it to the kitchen, I'd put more washing away and another load in the machine and decided to sort out the storage baskets in the bathroom.  I'd mixed socks up with tights and underwear with winter pyjamas and face cloths and now the four baskets are now sorted.  Winter pyjamas are away, but still handy and summer ones that hopefully will get used.

I made toasted ham and cheese sandwiches for breakfast and yet more coffee.  It had stopped raining by now but no way could I attempt the grass so I moved a few pots around, opened up the umbrella so that it could dry out and went on a tortoise hunt and all have been located.  I think they must be as confused as I am with the weather but at least I left the grass perimeters intact so that they have food and shelter especially down the bottom of the garden.

I did more reading this afternoon but nodded off for a while, returned to the kitchen and took food from the freezer for tonight and then settled down to read the book of Sicily that I bought about two days before we were coming back.  The guide was probably very good if you were Bulgarian but I should have bought the book on the first day and kept a diary and the number of the photos I taken.  If it's like this tomorrow though, I'll be able to document everything,

Now back to the kitchen, I've got Turkish kebabs tonight with potato wedges and it's all going in the air-fryer.  It does save putting the oven on although the air-fryer doesn't heat the kitchen and I was toying with the idea of lighting the fire but instead closed the windows and put another sweater on.  LN....It's almost June for goodness sake...time for sunbathing and visits to the pools.....LN

Friday 24th May

So up and about by seven this morning, not much happening outside so I stayed in bed reading.  I did the usual morning routines, moved to the chair in my bedroom and carried on with my book until around eleven.  As I got up I felt a little strange, light headed so checked my blood pressure and it was really quite high.  I've not been having tablets for about four months now without any problems but I always have a pack of the usual prescription drug from my doctor and took one tablet, the normal dose,  I'm not sure but I think reading the Kindle and concentrating on the text had upset my balance but after an hour, the tablet had kicked in and I felt better but now I had gone down below the norm when I checked it again.  I also think that the effect of the holiday and the two hard days cutting the grass and getting the garden round had finally overcome me.  Today was going to be a day of rest.

I made toast for a late breakfast, sat on the terrace to eat it and rationed my coffee intake.  At one I looked round the terrace and it was time to get the furniture sorted, none of the old wooden stuff had padded cushions on and it was time to get my trusty old sunbed out from the little house and get another layer on.  Firstly the cleaning materials came out, I scrubbed it down and then realised that the outside sink was blocked and the pipe taking it away had broken so out came the screwdriver to remove the waste pipe fitting and in no time it was all back together again and working.  So not it was my time on the sunbed and I was soon down to my underwear covered with suntan cream and fortunately I have no overlooking neighbours, only sheep and cows for company and I lay there for about an hour until I thought I'd had enough.....then the hard work started.  I found the cushions from the little house for the furniture and the foam for the sofa, all present and correct and now it feels like summer is here except late this afternoon the clouds started to roll over, looked like rain but didn't.  I'd heard Avatar's daughter and saw Avatar sitting in the garden so went over to sit with them for a while.  I've not really been over much since I've been back, her daughter lives in Turkey and she doesn't see her very often so I've left them to it.

We were joined by other family members that live along the village and a couple of neighbours and I join in where I can.  They are so used to speaking Turkish but for my benefit Avatar will translate some of it for me into Bulgarian and she said that she's learnt it from me which I laugh at.  A lot of it goes over my head but it doesn't matter, it was just pleasant sitting in the garden under the pear tree, me saying that when Avatar goes back to Germany in September, I'm going to scrump the pears and sell them and keep the money.  I came home at six thirty, just started writing my blog when the power went off so had to start again.  We don't have many power cuts these days, probably someone just switched the wrong switch.  Very busy hummingbird moth attacking the Sweet William and also very fast and didn't really get a good shot.  It was probably topping up before it went to bed for the night.  LN......Zlatograd tomorrow so a few more pics for you.......LN

Saturday 25th May

Awake at six, very chilled morning, made a three egg omelette for breakfast with triangle cheese in the absence of any break which went down very well,  I saw that my Avatar was having breakfast outside so I cut three roses from the front by the gate, put them in a little coffee jar and took them over for her and her daughter.  She'd mentioned how she'd loved the smell of them so that could have some over there.  I was still in my PJ's, it was around eleven when I came home so I tidied the kitchen and went for a shower and to wash my hair, I was out today in Zlatograd with the friend I'd made in Sicily.  She phoned when I was in the shower telling me that they were staying at the Crystal hotel and I'd assumed that it was in the old town of Zlatograd not in the main part of the town.  She'd mentioned that it was a tall building near to a bridge and I still thought that it was the tall hotel by the bridge that we'd spoken about already.....wrong.  As it happened I caught up with the big red coach that she was travelling in just before Zlatograd and it turned right at the island and I went left assuming that it was too big to go down the narrow streets but when I checked the parking in the old town the big red bus was nowhere to be seen.  I parked up and asked where the hotel was and was told that it was back int Zlatograd town so I drove back to the town and found a parking spot and saw the big red bus and going back into the hotel was my friend so I called her, she heard me so everything was OK.

We sat in the shade while she ate a very large something filled with cheese and at two thirty the group that she was escorting were gathering outside the hotel.  I left the car in the carpark and walked with the group back to the old town and it reminded me of being in Sicily where the guide was blasting forth only this time I knew quite a lot about the place since I'd been there several times.  She finished the tour around four, we went for a coffee, they had an evening's entertainment sorted and I said fond farewells around six and drove to another friend's house to deliver a cigarette lighter controlled tyre pump which I'd said that I would get for her.  We stayed chatting for a while, back in the Nipper for nine and home for nine thirty more or less.  Good to see my friend again even though it's only been a few days since we parted ways at the airport and she was in her element being the tour guide.  I can't post photos, the battery on my camera is out of juice so it will have to be tomorrow.  LN.....Tired but contented, garden tidying tomorrow and maybe help out my Avatar with her grass......LN

Sunday 26th May

So again the best laid plans didn't work out as expected.  Avatar's absence from her garden was clearly noted and no sign of any activity with the grass maintenance today.  I didn't want to push her into anything so stayed on my own turf.  It was six when I woke u, there were a few clouds in the sky and it was fine until around eleven when the clouds rolled over and the wind was surprisingly strong and cold.  I played around with my new tablet trying to get the hang of it without any visible progress so instead remembered that I needed to get some charge into the battery of the Beast and water into the washers of the Nipper so it was a day for car maintenance.  Firstly I looked for the car documents, the ones for the Nipper were in the car and the ones for the Beast I vaguely remembered that I'd brought them into the house before I left for holiday and for the life of me I couldn't remember where I'd put them.  I searched upstairs in the filing but without any joy and eventually found them under the television cupboard between the shelves.  I wanted to check the dates for MOT renewals and insurance so that I didn't miss them.  That sorted I put the Beast on charge and unfortunately there are two batteries and I can never remember which one to try first but I chose the wrong one.  It was charging for about an hour, I unplugged everything and tried to turn it over and nothing so I connected up to the second battery and set it going and after one and a half hours it was good to go.  Meanwhile I opened up the bonnet of the Nipper and filed up the water bottle and realised that the inside of it was in need of love and attention.  I'd bought some new seat covers ages ago so thought I'd have a go at fitting them which turned out to be disastrous so they're back in the bag and in storage in the little house.  Instead I got a damp cloth and cleaned down all the seats and the inside of the Nipper, tidied out the boot and put the beach folding chairs in it ready for Fanari if the weather is good this week.  Now the Beast was fired up I drove it down to the spring to give it a run and I really do like to drive it....it's just a pity that diesel is so expensive and gas is so cheap, hence the Nipper gets more use than it should.  

I cleared up outside and locked everything away, the cold was driving me inside and at four I was cooking two chicken breasts in the air-fryer and made the into sandwiches with Mayo and that's my supper over and done with.  I also decided to light the fire.  I'd had the windows open all day so ran round closing them up, set fire to the wood that the men had but from my trees last year which is beautifully dry and it didn't take long before the pump was swirling hot water through the radiators.  It's a beautiful evening, the wind has dropped and the fire is probably overkill but the wood was free so why not.  Just a few photos yesterday of the school yard in Zlatograd, there would have been more but the battery ran out on my little camera and it really does need replacing or at least get some new batteries. Shopping tomorrow, Avatar wants some bottled water and I'll ask her daughter if she wants to come with me.  LN.....I'm going to get chicken legs, Avatar is going to cook them and invite a few of the ladies from the village to share chicken with rice with us......LN

Monday 27th May

I woke to a beautifully calm morning, I did the usual put washing away and found a new load to put into the machine and didn't do much until around ten thirty.  I'd promised Avatar that I would help her with the grass but there wasn't much activity across the road so I topped up the mower with petrol and wheeled it over the road and into her garden.  There was still no sign of either her or her daughter so I set about the grass but I did nage trouble starting the machine.  It was reluctant to fire up so I cleared the air filter, put it on clearer ground so that more air could get through it, tried again and we were off.

She came out to speak to me, said it was too hot for me to work but I just ignored her and carried on.  The first part was easy going but as I carried on it was obvious that the grass that had been cut originally hadn't been cleared properly.  It had been done with a strimmer, the family had tried to clear it but there were still clumps of it intermingled with the new grass.  At first I was throwing the grass over the fence and was doing this every two runs but eventually I found the wheelbarrow, filled that up and started to heap it up near the back fence so that it could be thrown over to the field.  I was going great gums and keeping good time until I reached the part furthest from the house between the fruit trees.  Some of the branches that had been blown off in the winter had embedded themselves in the strimmed grass under the trees and made the blade clatter as it chopped through them.  That patch of ground took longer that half of the grass that I'd already done and by now I was tired.  Eventually I managed to finish it and we sat down to a late lunch or fluffy pancakes and honey, the daughter had prepared iran the local yogurt drink but I stuck to water which was just as well since my throat suddenly tightened and I started to cough.  I can only think that I'd had a reaction to the honey so I packed up my belongings and went home pushing my machine and first thing I did was to take an antihistamine tablet which seems to have sorted it out.  At three I was on the sofa stretched out and didn't wake until five thirty so had a good rest.  

I popped over this afternoon to check the time that I'm taking her to Kardjali tomorrow and Avatar's sister was there and we sat at the table and had watermelon which was very refreshing after my nap.  Home for seven and at eight Avatar came over here to present me with hot bread that had just come from her oven and some biscuit thingy that tasted like a custard slice so I'm stuffed ready for bed, almost ten my time so I should sleep well, hopefully without the bread keeps me away.  LN......A much gentler day tomorrow with my student tomorrow afternoon......LN

Tuesday 28th May

So again the best laid plans of mouse and anybody else involved changed this morning.  I was up at six again, woke at two thirty and managed to get off again fortunately and full of beans, watched the sunrise and thought my day was planned.  I meandered through my morning, finished my book, the twelfth in the series and realised that there was a final thirteen but couldn't find it on the little Kindle so thought I might have to buy it.  

Avatar came over at nine thirty and brought me half a cheesy bread, half for me and half for her that she'd got from the mobile van. It's a tradition that we had but I'd forgotten all about it since she was in Germany for the winter staying with her son.  I moved the car out to the grass outside the gate ready for ten when I was going with her daughter into Kardjali to get a few things.  Just before ten both of them came over and asked if I would take her daughter's blood pressure with my monitor, I sat her down on the sofa, got the machine and there was no way she was going anywhere today, it was sky high so told her to go home and I would go shopping on my own.  They both toddled off, I'd got the list from them so could manage and so on my way I took the pressure monitor over the the house so that they would know if they had to call the doctor or get me to take her later.

I set off for Kardjali, realised that since I'd taken the steering wheel cover off it was really slippery so I stopped off in Djebel to by a new one from my student's family's shop and now there was no rush.  We chatted for a while, I went out to put the new one on the Nipper and couldn't manage it, she came out and couldn't do it either so I drove down to the garage and asked for a strong man and her husband did it in quicksticks.  I jokingly asked how much and we settled on a hundred leva and said I would pay him later which caused a few eyebrows to raise.  I drove back to the shop, asked to confirm that my student didn't have football this afternoon so that we could have the lesson and learnt that he was at home so I decided to go up to the apartment and we could get it over and done with leaving the rest of my day free.  We finished at twelve thirty, I bought what I had to from Kaufland, moved to Lidl and was back home for three having dropped off the shopping at Avatar's house.  I noticed that she had done the grass round her house, her daughter answered the door and said that she was feeling better and that her mother was asleep after two hours of pushing a lawnmower.  I unpacked my shopping, settled down on the sofa, found that I'd Archived Book thirteen so won't have to buy it, started reading it and promptly fell asleep myself waking up at six.

It's turned into a beautiful evening after a day of clouds, rainbursts, cold winds but at last the wind has dropped and everything is still outside.  Let's hope we can soon get back to normal, in May I've usually been to the swimming pool but this year, no winter or spring, a very mixed bag.  Not in to cooking so I'll manage through until breakfast.  LN......Not sure if Avatar is up to cooking chicken and rice for the village ladies, I'll check in the morning......LN

Wednesday 30th May

So today was the day that the village ladies would all join us in Avatar's garden for Chicken and rice and that idea was tossed to the wind, rain, thunder, lightning and whatever else the gods could throw at us.  We checked on the number of legs I'd bought yesterday when they came out of Avatar's fridge and reckoned that we needed five because they were big ones.  The rest went into the freezer, Avatar is having family over so they will soon get used up.  I think there were twelve in total and because they had an offer on at Kaufland they came in at around twenty leva which is so cheap that I'm thinking of going to get some for my freezer.  Before we started messing around with the chicken though, I'd arrived at their breakfast time and was invited to join them and had bread with melted cheese on the one wide and they leave the other untoasted and I really don't know why except that lots of local people don't have many teeth and toast is not a thing that they have.  I settled for black tea since I find Turkish coffee too strong for me, breakfast over I realised that they knew what they were doing so I wended my way home and went back around one when it was all done and ready to be served up.  The chicken had been cooked on the bone, the bones removed and then the rice added and cooked with the chicken.  It was also decided that the weather was probably not good enough to sit outside, it was cold, the clouds had rolled over and looked really threatening so it was served up in individual dishes, placed into plastic bags and Avatar took them round to the houses for the ladies.  We sat outside eating ours, I was wearing my bodywarmer over a long sleeved t-shirts so was OK but then the first drops of rain came so we moved inside and then the heavens opened.  The clouds were almost black, the wind was howling, the thunder very loud and the lightning really quite scary although I'm not really a fan of it at the best of times.  

We moved into the lounge and Turkish television was on for a while until the electricity went off and it got very cold.  I mentioned to Avatar that I would be going home to light a fire but that put paid to that idea....no electricity no pump to get the hot water round the system.  I eventually came home around four thirty to see that the bird feeder stand had been overturned by the wind and it had fallen on a container of very pretty tobacco with flowers around two foot high.  I've had to cut them down since they were all broken off and the sweet smelling flowers are now adorning the window sill in the lounge.  The upside is that I don't have to water the pots tonight but the downside is that the grass is bound to put on a few centimeters overnight.  I also brought back a dish of chicken and rice and I've just warmed it up in the microwave and supper is now over expect that I just might find a chocolate pudding lingering in the fridge...and why not.

Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far, if it dries up overnight I might get the strimmer out in the morning and go round the flowerbed surrounds and do some weeding ready to put the new seedling in.  They're getting to more that seedlings at time that they were allowed to develop longer roots.... especially the sunflowers.  It's been good today, first time I've done anything for the ladies of the village all at the same time and it was really appreciated.  LN.....I can hear that chocolate pudding calling me from the kitchen.....LN

Thursday 30th May

It's been a funny old day.  It was a reasonable sunrise at six this morning but the rest of the day has been dull, no sun to speak of and culminating in rain be it ever so light.  I made poached eggs on ham for breakfast, tidied the kitchen and then settled down with my book on the sofa and Utred is no more but that didn't get finished until five this afternoon.t was stop and start with the book, I summoned up the enthusiasm to go outside, I did a search and didn't find one tortoise on my patrol, opened up the workshop and the woodstore intending to get active but that didn't happen either.

I think it's got a lot to do with the weather.  Normally at this time of year I've been to the pool a few times, the grass has stopped growing so enthusiastically and everything seems much more settled.  I think that the holiday took quite a lot out of me and then finishing the grass as soon as I got back was very tiring, Zlatograd on Saturday and then doing Avatar's grass on Monday, lesson on Tuesday and shopping and ladies lunch yesterday has somehow piled on the pressure and now I just need to relax.  I've also got lots of seedlings that need to go in but I've got to clear some weeds out first, a day out in the garden in the sun is what the doctor orders, let's see how kind the gods are over the next few days.  There was lots of activity round the starling nest on the little house terrace.  I looked out this morning and noticed that the metal baking tin that covered the top of it was missing and I found it on the floor behind the compost bin.  I can only think that the wind got under it yesterday but baby bird is still there only now it can be seen from the front opening when it's either waiting for food or shooting its droppings out for the parents to take away.  I've been surprised at how many starlings have been hanging around on the roof of the little house, not sure if they're giving encouragement to the newby or not....I must check out starling behaviour on the internet.

Supper is waiting to go into the microwave, I have chicken and rice left over from yesterday so that won't take long to do, I've just started another of Bernard Cornwell's books that I found on the little Kindle so I think a bath and then an early night.  LN......A little relaxation and a few thoughts sent out to the weather gods for a few dry sunny spells.....LN

Friday 31st May

Stupidly early start....five forty five and at six I was out on the landing making coffee.  I'd got myself into one of those recurring dreams that you want to finish but can't and all I had to do was to complete the challenge and couldn't.  Eventually I thought that stripping the bed and getting the duvet cover and sheets into the washing machine would be far more productive so that's what I did. ....and it didn't stop there. I'd done four loads of washing by seven, I've given up drying it outside because of the little buglies that come inside with the clothes so it was on to the clothes airers in the guest room and the stairwell was decorated with the duvet cover and the winter blankets from the sofa.  So once I'd taken the blankets from the sofa I had to get the hoover out to pick up the bits that the blankets had kept from me and so it went on...and on.  

Toasted cheese and ham sandwiches for breakfast and I was sitting down to eat them when WhatsApp pinged and my ex-student asked if she could visit around two so I reckoned that I must have had a premonition or an advanced warning form one of the gods that I needed to do something and I'd already done it.  So since everything was going swimmingly I was able to settle into Game of Thrones book 1 until it was time to start making my bed up again and think about putting some time in outside in the garden but that didn't happen, but honestly...I did think about it.  Avatar was nowhere to be seen so she must have taken the bus into Djebel with her daughter, I'd offered but she said that she was looking forward to going on the bus, a bit like parading in public after spending the winter in Germany, a coming out party.

My student arrived on time bringing a packet of biscuits, I had gifts for her from Sicily, over the moon with the fridge magnet and loved the small present.  We sat down and looked at some of the photos that I'd taken, we walked the garden and she'd taken lots of photos but the thing that she was drawn to was the clump of 'red Hot Pokers....she'd never seen them before.  I bought them from a market garden in Haskovo a few years back but this is the first year that they've really come into their own...nine heads and one baby starting out.  They do brighten a dull corner proudly bobbing their red and yellow heads.  Off she went at three thirty, she's going to investigate a Cappadocia tour from Istanbul with flight and we'll make it on the bus from here to the airport.  She speaks Turkish fluently and English more than OK so cooking on gas so to speak.

The boiler is on, the fire is lit, the sun's gone down and that wind is cold and has been all day.  There's supposed to be a few more days of this and then it's supposed to be settling down to summer....fingers crossed.  LN.....Gardening tomorrow unless that small chance of a thunderstorm and shower actually happens......LN