Friday 10th January

What a long day it's been.  I dozed on the sofa at home having set my alarm for two thirty but was already dressed for departure.  The taxi sent me a message to confirm that the taxi had been dispatched so at three I went out into the cold and it arrived at three o'five, the driver was Sudennese so was obviously finding it colder that I was.  I was straight through the airport security and boarding pass and sitting in the terminal after the long walk through Duty Free by four fifteen.  I checked the departure board and noticed that they were going to update the gate number at five and that came round pretty quickly,  Another long walk to the gate, the usual fuss with local people not obeying the bag size restrictions and having to pay.  Eventually sailed through everything, another long que waiting to board but soon settled, under seat bag was put in the locker because everyone else was doing and there were seats to spare but it was a bigger plane than normal.  We left on time, were half an hour early landing, I was very lucky on the bus that I had a seat more or less the first off and through passport control in the first wave.  I found a taxi straight away,apparently it was his first day and the idiot dropped me off at the train terminal not the bus terminal.  Eventually found the right place, the twelve o'clock bus was full but I managed to get onto the one so sat down in the wintery sun until it arrived in the terminal.  It was a four hour journey but I managed to get my head down and slept most of the way, it arrived in Kardjali and my next bus was waiting for me.

I walked down to the garage shop and the Nipper was parked outside.  the owner's wife was there to greet me, handed me Christmas presents and my jewellery that I always leave with them and the key to the car.  It was lovely to see them again, I asked about the repair costs for the two vehicles and said that I would be in to pay it over the weekend and they told me not to bother.....they know where I live.  It was strange getting in the Nipper again, the new clutch took some sorting out, I stalled it a couple of times but once I'd stopped off at the supermarket and bought basics, like bread and fresh eggs, I was soon zooming home.

First job was to undo the padlock and get the Nipper in the drive and use the lights to put the water on.   I followed that up with lighting the fire, fridge on and food in, Water heater timer set and over-ride on to get hot water, hot water bottle into my bed, internet and computers on and that was me for the first night.  My daughter phoned while I was down the hole sorting out the water sophoned back but she phoned me back, they were having supper.  Overall pleased with today, tired but expected and the next few days I'm going to build back my resources.  It's good to be back...on the bus down I was checking out the scenery and the evening skies.  I tried taking photos but he was going at a fair pelt and it was dark when I got home.  LN....Back to normal soon.......LN

Saturday 11th January

First day back for a full day.  I woke up to a dull morning, it had rained in the night, it was four degrees outside and fifteen in.  I lit a fire last night but it was late and I have the whole house to warm up and today I've kept the home fires burning all day.  I made breakfast of spicy sausage, bacon, fried bread and an egg to set me up for the day and it did.  I carried on with putting things away, finding things I'd hidden, washing went in and is currently finishing off drying in the bathroom and generally getting used to being home.  It seemed a very slow morning and eventually cat was sighted sitting under the tree so I went out and gave her a feed, she almost came up to me but then drew back until I stepped back a few paces and then she started to eat.  I say she, I'm still not sure, 'it' wont let me get near enough to check...I'll let you know.

I put back the polythene sheet over the garage 'gap' and filled up the lot basket from the log carrier, brought in smaller stuff and the fire has been topped up most of the day and the temperature in the house is now up to seventeen degrees but the outside temperature has gone down to two degrees.  We have snow forecast for tomorrow so we shall see what we shall see.  I had intended going to the cashpoint today to start collecting the reserves I need to pay for the car repairs but if it's snowing tomorrow, it will have to wait.  I'm going into Djebel on Monday anyway on the bus to bring the Beast back home so can give the first installment over then.  

As for the rest of the day, I spent a long time asleep on the sofa.  I think the journey yesterday took quite a lot out of me especially since I'd not been feeling good before I left.  I did a check on my blood pressure this afternoon when I managed to find the machine and it's looking OK....just a little off normal whatever normal is.  I've laid off my tablets for quite a few months now but have started them up again, it's not self medication but if you don't need them you don't take them and if you do, you do.

Supper was turkey nuggets with chippies from the freezer.  I'd frozen butter before I left but tried it on a chippie sandwich but didn't like the flavour so that's destined for the bin and I shall be needing a trip to Lidl to replenish supplies.  The boiler has been on all day and I'm having a bath before I go to bed and I might be moving rooms.  If it's going to be snowing I'm moving to the guest room which is over the kitchen and the chimney goes up along the back wall.  The radiator is one of the first to receive the hot water from the boiler and that radiator was really hot today.  So time for a bath....I've been watching Netflix and there appears to be new episodes of Outlander.  LN......Just a few of the garden....the winter flowering jasmine is beautiful and I have a few snowdrops out...just in time for the snow......LN

Sunday 12th January

So first real night sleeping at home last night and slept OK.  I woke at eight thirty to see it white over and snow still coming down but very gently.  The flakes were small and have stayed that way for most of the day.  I got the fire going from last night's embers and it was soon sending water via the radiators. It wasn't cold at first but then it soon got up to eighteen and has ticked over around the same temperature most of the day. I cooked bacon, egg, more sausage and fried bread for breakfast and set about a chicken curry in the slow cooker.  I'd taken the chicken out of the freezer last night, sliced an onion and opened a tin of tomatoes and lots of curry powder and just having finished half of it, it was well worth the doing.  I looked out for the cat, went out and called for it and no signs at all so I put food in a bowl and put it up on the lounge terrace chair and noticed tonight that some of it has gone so one of them got fed.  The messages were thick and fast mid morning, I was sending photos of the snow and I was getting updates on people's activities to and froing to England...so many of us on the move.

I settled in to finish watching Outlander and I'm sad to say it wasn't as good as the previous episodes and has gone away from the book somewhat....too much detail and not enough story.  I switched the set off and went to fill a couple of the log carriers so that I've plenty of wood in if the snow really sets in and cleared the path to the woodstore and the terrace. Work complete I settled on the sofa and had an afternoon nap, I still feel the need to raise my available energy levels after the last few days.   I settled in to read my book for a while, had an early supper, washed up and all tidy for tomorrow.  The flakes seem to be bigger this evening, not sure of the forecast, I think my plans to go into Djebel tomorrow are on the back burner.  I was originally going to take the bus in and bring the Beast back but it the road outside doesn't get cleared, I'm staying put.  I've got enough food, I would dearly like to do a Lidl shop for a few 'luxury' items like chocolate mousse but I think I have a packet I could make up it I really made the effort or even creme caramel....now there's an idea.  LN.....it's getting cool on the landing since I've drawn the curtain between the lounge and the stairwell....so I'm back to the fire....LN

Monday 13th January

Woke up at five thirty this morning, it was dark, cold and still snowing so there was no improvement on last night.  I salvaged the fire from last night's embers and it was soon going and pushing up the inside temperature from fifteen to seventeen and that's what it's remained for most of the day.  It hasn't helped, the outside has been minus three degrees all day so there's definitely a chill in the air.  I opened a can of baked beans and added it to the rest of the chicken curry in the slow cooker and that was ready for around four thirty this afternoon and with toast made a hearty meal for the snowbound.

I'm jumping ahead though, I made a spicy sausage omelette for breakfast and seem to have been drinking drinking chocolate for most of the day.  I've left the coffee alone, I seemed to be getting adverse reactions to it in the UK so have decided to give it a miss.  I've had to slow down though, I've only got ten sachets of it left and there doesn't seem much chance of getting out to the outside world at the moment to replenish stocks, the snow plough insists on clearing the road but leaving its bucket load outside the gate.  Other years I've kept my way to the road clear just in case but this year after the fall, UK and the travelling I'm not feeling up to it and so far have decided that nature can have its way.  

I put food out for the cat even though I hadn't seen hide nor hair of it but I caught sight of it eating food from where I'd left it on the bench on the lounge terrace.  I also noticed cat prints heading for the garage so have also put food and a water bowl in there next to the insulated box that I made up for it before I went to the UK.  I also put an old jumper in there so at least it could cuddle up if it found it.  I'll check the food tomorrow to see if it needs replenishing.  As I said I found supper early and also a box of chocolates that I'd forgotten about so I'm sure I shall manage through until breakfast.  I've still got eggs and bread and lots of food in the freezer so I shan't starve.  

Still minus three in Polyanets and since it's only the next village I'll take it as gospel so we're probably in for another cold night.  LN.....Time to move to the other side of the curtain and put Netflix back on....I've started a re-run of Peaky Blinders, bloodthirsty but a good storyline and I do like the characters....LN

Tuesday 14th February

So this morning wake up time was more sensible...seven thirty.  I'd rolled into bed around one last night after staying up to watch Peaky Blinders for the third time round.  The fire was still managing to stay alight so with a little coaxing I brought it to life and it's been ticking along nicely for the rest of the day.  I'm down to only five logs inside, I toyed with the idea of going to fill the log basket but tomorrow is another day.  I made myself another fried breakfast, it's beginning become routine, there is no sausage left so I'm relying on eggs and bacon and there appears to be plenty of bacon stockpiled.

I did get the shovel out today, I couldn't managed to open the fly screen door to the outside from the porch and in retrospect I should have taken it down, there's not much flying about today..there was a distinct lack of birds and those that I saw didn't stay around to get photographed except for a robin in the fading light.  I took food out for the cat and put some in the garage near the house but yesterdays was there untouched and some where I fed it the last time.  May be it's been invited in to a warm place...some people are just more charitable but I really don't like them but have to feed them.  It's been a hotline of WhatsApp today and I've just had a call from my Avatar in Germany where they have no snow.  I sent her a photo of her house earlier and was surprised to get the call.  The reception was rubbish but we did have a few words backwards and forwards.

Supper was another tin of baked beans into the slow cooker with the remains of last night's 'stuff' and tomorrow night looks like being the same.  I should really delve into the freezer and become creative but between my book, Netflix and a nice long bath this afternoon and washed my hair in the process, the days just 'progress'.  We did have a feint view of the sun this afternoon but it was nothing really to write home about and it didn't stay around long....probably too cold for it.  I've also washed everything I took off earlier and feel fresher for it and it's now in the guest room near the radiator.  I'm keeping on top of things just in case the electricity goes off....we've had a few flickers but nothing really frightening but I let the fire go down at night just in case.....no electricity, no pump to circulate the hot water.....no boiler.  LN......The house is looking very pretty with artificial candles and the solar lights in the garden are lit up....the sun must have been out longer than I thought......LN

Wednesday 15th January

It was a really early start for me but I got on with it anyway.  It was showing only fourteen degrees in the house but felt much warmer but I lit the fire anyway....there were still a few logs in the house and today I needed to refill log carriers and the smaller log containers but that meant clearing a path to the wood store so that I didn't have to trudge through the snow every time that that I needed to get more wood.

Priority was breakfast and I was making that at eight and to do some thing with the mince that I'd taken from the freezer last night and wait until the weather warmed up a little before I started work outside.  I used up the bacon from the fridge, fried it with an egg and a slice of bread and made it into a sandwich eating it while watching Peaky Blinders.  I washed up then got ready for the job in hand, two pairs of sock, fleece sweatshirt with a hood, over trousers and larger sweatshirt as a coverall.  I found my old padded ski gloves from C&A so they must be ages old but very warm, snow boots on and shovel in hand I first tackled around the house and terrace so that I could have a path to the lounge terrace.  I put a few scraps out for the birds and noticed lots of bird prints where I'd left the cat food yesterday but no sign that the cat had paid a visit.  Next I headed cleared the side of the house near the car and followed my footsteps from the previous day to the wood store dragging the log carrier behind me and my blue spade.  I cleared down to the house, filled up the carriers and two containers with smaller stuff and brought them down to the house....it would do for a day or two.  Not content with that I started to clear to the gate, went out and looked how much snow there was to the road but started anyway.  There were a few people on foot and one or two cars went by including my sheep farmer with his tractor and front bucket.  On his way back I'd only got around two feet to go to the road but he stopped, scooped up a bucketful and dropped it where I'd been dumping the rest.  He had one more go at it, but unfortunately the bucket was a little low and I'll wait to see the damage once the snow melts.  I think he's removed quite a lot of the grass and heard a clunk when he hit the metal pipe under my drive down to the lane.  I shut the gate and finished clearing down to the Nipper and now I have an escape route should I need to go into Djebel in an emergency.  

I came in at two and realised that I'd had about a four hour workout, started the fire again since it was really low, made a drinking chocolate and had a rest on the sofa.  The sun had melted the remaining snow from round the house and dried up most of the concrete and suddenly noticed a big fat cat that I'd not seem before attacking the bird food that I'd put out....it didn't seem to have noticed the cat food that was there from yesterday.  At three thirty I made turkey dippers with chippies and a tomato, Worcestershire sauce and honey dip to have with them, tidied away and promptly went to sleep to get my strength back up.  Unfortunately I woke up feeling chilled so topped up the fire and got into my PJ's around six and my long coverall.  The fire is going like a dream, inside temperature nineteen degrees and outside minus two and its only seven thirty my time.  Now time to switch off and bed in for the evening.  LN.....I might even venture into Djebel tomorrow and pay something off my bill for the repairs to the cars......LN  

Thursday 16th January

Slept well last night and woke up at seven and just the right time to get things done.  I was late getting breakfast and for some obscure reason chose to have cornflakes with sugar and milk and it's been a long time since I fancied that.  I meandered around a little, spotted black cat and another really shaggy thing attacking the bird food and put more food into the one that my cat was eating and went into the garage for something and suddenly there was a loud meowing, another shaggy cat shot out of the insulated cat box that I'd made for the black one, it jumped up onto the beam and then somehow just went from view but leaving behind a plaintive cry.  I took the empty bowl. filled it up and gave it to my cat and five minutes later, shaggy cat appeared and black cat let it feed from the same bowl.  Guess they're just buddies so I left them to it.

I went into the house and dressed for town, made a shopping list and set off about ten.  The main road was more or less clear and I parked up outside the car-parts shop and noticed that the family car was still in the drive next to the shop.  I walked to the cashpoint and put the card in twice for the maximum take and thought I'd try it again and it worked.  I didn't want to chance my luck for a fourth time so left it at that but I still don't know if there is a restriction.  I walked back to the shop, sat down and we had a catch up and I paid the money over for part payment of my bill and I made her check out the bundles that I handed over and half the bill for the repair of the two cars is now paid.  I know I joke about....'we know where you live' ..but I hate owing anybody anything and the sooner the rest is paid the better.  She didn't know and has to ask her husband.  As I was driving in I couldn't get the radio to work, there are so many buttons on it so I drove down to the garage and spoke to my ex-student who is holding the fort for his father and between us we figured it out.  I thought they were holding me to ransom until the final payment was made.

I drove down to the supermarket and got most of the things on my list except English butter.  I just don't get on with the local stuff and had put one in the freezer while I was in UK but it doesn't taste the same....I need fresh so maybe tomorrow.  I got back from town around two and set about clearing the rest of the yard so that I can get the Beast back home tomorrow.  I'll catch the early bus from the village, pick up the Beast and carry on to Kardjali for a main shop that's if the weather is good.  We've had a very good day but the clouds came over tonight, I haven't checked the weather yet but if it snows, I'll bring the Beast back here.....the way to the garage is all clear for me to drive it straight in.  

Chilli con carne is in the slow cooker and should be ready around seven thirty and I shall be having it with potato wedges.  I've finished my latest book on my new Kindle so am now going to check out my old books on my computer to load a few others that I might have read a while back but probably forgotten until I start reading them again.  LN.......I've had a good day today....settling back into winter....I might set about knitting something or just have a good tidy up......LN

Friday 17th January

Sleepless in Dushinkovo, woke up at three this morning, not an ounce of sleep in me and was watching reels on the phone for about two hours.  I do like the mathematical ones where you have to calculate the angles and most of them I get and it's good to know that the brain still works at my time of life.  I also enjoy the ones where you have to move so many sticks to get the calculation to be correct, some I'm OK with others, I move on.  So at five I was ready for another shot at sleep and managed a couple of hours and then it was all hands to the pumps.  I lit the fire, fed the birds, didn't bother getting washed and dressed until two this afternoon, I was far too busy.  It's been cold all day but sunny.  I think the temperature did manage to get up to minus three from minus six and is showing with my outside weather station as being minus two....warm egh.  As you can gather, the plans to go on the bus to fetch the Beast from the garage were shelved, the road was like glass this morning and I 'm not putting myself in any difficult situations....I've done enough.

I had another shot at finishing wrapping the rest of the presents that I didn't deliver before I left for the UK.  For those that missed the instalment, I had two cars on low loaders and incarcerated in the garage in Djebel all in the same day and it left me car-less and relying on taxis to get me to the garage and local buses to take me to Kardjali....not an easy time.  I had no car so couldn't get round the village and I still have other presents that I've yet to deliver and it will be the first time that I've watched some of them being opened.  So far so good but I have to go shopping for a few boxes of chocolates and biscuits to finish off the remainder for the villagers, my shopping before I went to the UK wasn't so accurate and couldn't get out to finish the list....I have excuses that will weather the interrogations.

Once I was dressed I put the old contents of the small slow cooker over the wall for whatever wanted it and switched on the big slow cooker that had the remains of last night's supper.  I've boiled up pasta and added it to the pot so I have bolognaise sauce with pasta for tonight.  It was going to be a lasagne but the energy and enthusiasm just wasn't there and it will fill a gap.  The rest of the afternoon was watching Peaky Blinders and  series six has bitten the dust.  I know there was a follow on from the series but it's not showing on Netflix, I might have to search for it.  I was late taking photos today but just managed to catch the tail end of the sunset.  A very large crow was on a vantage point on the pear tree over the garage and it sat there for ages....very obliging and I've had about three robins bobbing around today.  This year I've not seen many tits around, they're normally crowding in on any food that's put out but this year nothing.

So my supper is ready to serve and what I don't eat the birds will have tomorrow for breakfast.  I've just remembered that I have yogurt for afters with either honey or jam.
I'll check out the road surface tomorrow before I set sail, deliver the presents to this village and the next and then the day is mine.  I've got lots of things that I want to do, some that I need to do and others that will obviously go on the back burner until they really have to get done.  LN.....Must admit though, the Christmas decorations come down tomorrow.. we're half way through January......LN

Saturday 18th January

Six thirty start this morning but that was OK...I'd fallen asleep watching Netflix last night so I'd had an hour or so before I settled in my nest upstairs.  I checked the thermometer for the outside temperature just before I went upstairs and it was already showing minus four but the inside one was OK even though the fire had gone down somewhat.  I didn't like there long before sleep took over and I felt quite refreshed, a few aches and pains in the shoulder area and that could be the weight of the quilts on the bed or the way I slept but it only niggled not hurt.

I've gone on to the coffee substitute that they serve here...'3 in 1', mainly because the drinking chocolate is looking light, not many packets left and it will entail a trip to Lidl for replenishment.  I made a mug full, took it upstairs, washed and dressed and got ready for the day.  I made fried egg, beans and sausage for breakfast with fried bread, thought about the calories and then promptly shoved the idea to the back of my head, washed up and then set about getting wood in for the day and emptied the waste bins to have a bonfire but I did leave it for an hour or so...the air was raw out there.  I fed the cat(s) and noticed that the scruffy little one has taken up refuge in the woodstore.  When I went to fill the log carriers I heard scrabbling and saw a tail disappear but then it broke surface so I came out and left it to it.  Black cat came round so I put cat food out, she didn't eat all of it but obviously had enough and has other ports of call so to speak.  I took the rubbish down to the bonfire and it started immediately, the bin was three quarters full but the new stuff must have burnt quite a lot of it away.  I spent time outside just enjoying the morning, the only footsteps are mine except some cat ones that I identified.  The bushes have given up their snow and I dug out a couple of shrubs that were really bent over with the weight of the snow...gave them a helping hand so to speak.

I'd perked the fire up earlier so took to the sofa and watched a film that was quite enjoyable.  The trouble is when you get involved in a series you move on to the next and before you know it the morning or afternoon has gone.  I set about tidying up paperwork, it was very pleasant in the sun especially when the inside kept going up and up so I settled back on the sofa with my new Sudoku book from 'Santa', started with a one star, moved on to a two, then a three and finally a four which was too taxing so I found a packet of biscuits and some cheese and then drove into Djebel to get the rest of the money out of the cashpoint to pay for the car.  The shop was open and I went in and paid my dues and carried on to the supermarket to get more boxes of chocolates to wrap for tomorrow and a few more other items for the stockings.  I also bought five apples but no sooner had I unpacked than my friend from the bottom of the village arrived and in she came and sat on the stairs.  She was on her way to chop down some very spiky bushes to put on top of her hedge but we had a catch up and she has a very peculiar looking wrist so I gave her a tube of the cream that I use and two of the apples for her and her mother.   The snow had weighed the hedge down and she wanted more on the top of it to stop the cows from coming in.  I put my boots on and went with her to give her a hand, I hate the stuff but it is very effective, we got the work done and off she went down to the village centre.

Half six my time, I've closed the curtains to retain the heat from the sun and perked the fire up.  It's going to be another cold night by the feel of it and I probably will get involved in more spiky stuff cutting but I'm taking my loppers, they are much stronger and sharper than hers.  LN.....Same weather again tomorrow please, it's been a very pleasant day......LN