Wednesday 1st January

Well Happy New Year everyone, hope the heads of cleared for those that imbibed and that it's been a day of sheer indulgence finishing off the chocolates and goodies that Santa left.  I woke up to lashing rain, gale-force winds and felt sorry for my daughter who was heading over to Gloucestershire for a New Year visit. I've spent the day answering FB messages, phoning friends and everything was going swimmingly until I tried to change the bulb in a ceiling connector and goodness knows what was holding it up for the last few years.  

As I rotated the bulb, the connector fell to forty five degrees, the screw fell out and as I stood on a very bouncy bed holding on to the ceiling to steady myself, the whole unit came away in my hand.  Joy oh joy.  Now for some reason there is fiber board on the ceiling and I needed a rawl plug to fill the hole.  A hammer was brought into play to knock the rawl plug home, I was given instructions to attempt to screw in the screw without the unit in place. I did about three turns with the screw and there was no purchase and as I unscrewed the screw the rawl plug came away with it.  I've given up, it's dark outside and the lamps in the bedroom are providing intermittent light and shadows making it difficult to see the wood for the trees.  I've down-tooled, I don't want to start 2025 with another accident and am now going down to watch television.  As I said, I don't know how it managed to stay up there fas long as it dis.

I did have a nice long bath this afternoon, there was nothing else to do so I lingered for about two hours.  I washed my hair and did two long plaits and should be all right if the Red Indians attack overnight and hopefully take me hostage.  Shopping tomorrow with my daughter if the weather holds, we'll take a rain check in the morning.  LN......Now back to the Toblerone.....thank you Santa.......this could take some time.....LN

Thursday 2nd January

So it was a good job that my daughter read the blog last night, she let me know that she was going visiting today not yesterday and that our shopping will take place on Friday.  This holiday coming in the middle of the week has confused me no end with the current day of the week and weekends.  I did remind her that I do know that we've moved to 2025.....

The weather was better this morning, cold but the sun was at least shining if only for a short time.  The wind was still gale forcing around the place so I did the next best thing....snuggled down with my book not breaking surface until ten when I went down for more coffee and settled in front of the television with toast and marmalade.  Nothing much that grabbed my attention except someone going on about the state of education in England, the fact that private schools are going to be taxed and that there are no child places left many schools if you move areas and are forced to go private.  The comments were that if half of the things that this government have carried out since they have been in power would have been quoted in the manifesto....they would never have come to power....namely the removal of the fuel benefit.

I switched off the TV and went back to my book and now I'm warming to it.  This morning's chapter was about the relics that have been dug up in Mongolia buried around three and a half thousand years ago.  It reminded me that the daughter of one of my friends was a Russian translator and worked for ten years in the Altai region.  I must get in touch with her to see if she's read the book.  There's such a lot I don't know about that period of history, Egypt is well documented along with Turkey but not much about Russia makes the headlines.  I'm at thirty eight percent read....onward and upwards and I should be quite well informed by the end of it.

Supper is ready to go into the oven so I shan't be going on for long tonight.....and we have chicken and bacon thingies with jacket potatoes.  I'm amazed at the things that you can get here but not in BG like tins of soup.  You can get it in packets but it's not the same as opening a can of Heinz and finding real chicken at the bottom of the bowl.  Time for me to move downstairs and put the supper in the oven or it won't happen, the lamp in the bedroom has been put off for another day....we've moved to plan B.  LN....I have kitchen duties to attend to......LN

Friday 3rd January

This morning I was awake at five and delved into my new book on the Kindle.  I've reached the part now where the author is writing about the neolithic sites in England around the year ten thousand BC naming Stonehenge and Starr Carr near Scarborough in Yorkshire and that was worth a Google to find out more about it.  I find it completely fascinating and wonder why I've never heard of it before and now I need to find out more than the book that I'm reading gives me.  The title of the book calls it 'magic', I call it the evolution of natural 'religion' that everything has a purpose and a reason for being here and when that purpose ceases to exist, extinction occurs.

I managed to go back to sleep for an hour or so and had a really vivid dream that stayed with me for a while but faded as most dreams do returning to the dream pool.  I got dressed and started my day, found out enough clothes to take to my daughter's house for an overnight stop and have had a very enjoyable day.  She picked me up around ten thirty, we went shopping to the local dinky-do outlet shop and she introduced me to the things that you can buy to create journals for treasured memories.  It's all changed since I was making birthday cards.  She showed me a small printer that links to wifi and has a very agreeable price tag and so I have one on order to take back with me since it's only about twelve centimeters by twelve.  It also has rolls of adhesive paper and prints the image in black and white so that you can colour it however you want to....I'm going to have something to fill the winter nights!!

We shopped in Lidl, she made leek and potato soup when we arrived home, had lunch and then set off for a walk round the hills and fields at the back of her house.  It was still crisp, puddles were frozen over and children on the walk were jumping in them and it reminded me of when I used to take my two when they were small 'up the lane' back in the UK.  When the snow came we used to take the garden spade and dig tunnels through the snow drifts....great fun and my daughter was talking about it today.

I've had a lovely day and am staying the night cosied up in another little bed but not such a great fall to the floor as when I stayed with my son.  At last I've got some decent photos to put on this evening.  LN.....Time to get on with it......LN

Saturday 4th January

Much quieter day today, special day with my daughter and family yesterday but didn't want to outstay my welcome and was ready for the return to my second home by eleven.
My bag was packed, the holidays this year have come at difficult times and on Monday they are back to work with a vengeance.  They had things to do.  I had toast for breakfast, did the Telegraph Sudoku quite painlessly for a change and even solved some of the clues in the Telegraph crossword for my daughter.  Some of the clues were more easily solved by 'ancients' and I'm certainly one of those.

It was a fristy frosty morning, my grandson was up and about taking his car in for a service, caught the bus to the area and had walked up from the coast road and looked frozen when he arrived.  As I drove back to mine with my daughter we were aware that the roads were a little icy....not many local council workers out and about...probably go back on Monday.  I made toast and sour cherry jam and sat on the sofa in the lounge, there was no sign of life from the rest of the house and then snuggled under a blanket and went back to sleep for a short while.  I watched a very interesting program this afternoon about conservation work on National Trust properties and the reasons why they came into the possession of the National Trust.  Two women who inherited a property and made it their lives work to create a shell gallery at the top of it and another who had brought an obelisk from Egypt and erected it in his grounds.  Sadly he was banished from England and never saw what he had achieved but continued to send artwork which included a couple of Reuben's and must be worth a small fortune now.  

Time to think about supper, I came back from my daughter's house with a pot of leek and potato soup and that is going to be warmed up for tonight.  It was delicious yesterday after the walk and will save me starting anything from scratch again.  Church tomorrow providing the weather is not too dreadful....cold I can stand, cold and rain I'm not too keen on and I will have to catch the bus there and back. LN...... Better get my warm, wet outer at the ready.......LN

Sunday 5th January

Really bad stormy night, no snow but the wind was howling and the rain lashing and I was in two minds whether to go to church or not.  It's a thing that I do when I'm home and thought about it seriously and decided I would do it.  I was reading until round about eight this morning, snuggled up in bed but bit the bullet around eight thirty, made toast and coffee and hit the trail to the bus really wrapped up warm.  It's not a long walk to the bus stop but I wasn't sure what time they ran on a Sunday so I headed out just before ten and saw one going in the opposite direction.  The bus goes down to the village, wait for ten minutes or so, at least I knew one was imminent.  I was joined by a lady at the stop, she was off to church too but a different one than mine and we had interesting conversations about where she lived before and it was very near to where I was born.  She'd moved down here about eight years ago to be near her daughters when her husband died but she's not sure that she made the right decision as a final resting place.

I reached my get off point, walked across the road and was at church for around ten thirty and only a few people were already there.  I walked into the church hall and it was quite warm in there but only about fifteen people made it this morning.  It's a church I've been going to for about forty years on and off, I've seen the hierarchy all die off and the new breed take over and their aims seem very different to the original.  We sang modern hymns that I neither knew the words or the tunes to and some of the nostalgia is missing.  I suppose it's new ideas and new people and they're doing their best to keep it going against all the odds.

I left the church and made my way to the bus stop and it wasn't long before the bus arrived to take me to the end of the road and home.  I had a message from may daughter to let me know that a mini-printer that I'd ordered would be with me from Amazon between three thirty and five thirty and it arrived around four.  My daughter had one already and I wanted one.....it's wifi and works with Fun Store and prints black and white images on to sticky paper that you can stick into books to embellish your own journals.  I charged it up, switched it on, paired it with my phone and printed out an image.....how clever am I!!!  Nothing on the television tonight worth watching so shall be taking it my virginal couch around ten to settle into my book.  I'm half way through it and feel that I shall probably have to read it again, there are lots of theories about ancient tribal procedures, early bible history and doctrines from all religions.  At last the heating has come on upstairs, it's going to be another cold night.  LN.....Think it's time for a cocoa......LN

Monday 6th January

Awake at seven thirty this morning, the wind was still howling outside but at least the rain had stopped.  I carried on reading my book and am now being initiated in the rise of magic in Africa and there are some real eye openers.  I think I might start looking out for some of the figurines and bring them into play when life gets difficult to contend with.

I sorted out my washing, put everything that needed to go into my luggage home into one of the plastic bins that I have and decided to book my taxi for the journey to Gatsick only to be told that I would have to pay up front and they would send me a link.  It was going swimmingly until the authorisation code to confirm payment was sent to my phone and then I lost the link to the taxi firm.  I phoned the bank and they couldn't help me so I phoned the taxi firm, they confirmed that payment hadn't gone through and some very kind man on the other end advised me to pay for it on the day and confirmed that that would be OK.  Problem solved.  Normally when you are using a confirmation code the information is entered into a screen....I'll know for next time.

Washing done and my next job was to remove the sand from my toadstool present from my grandson so that some bright spark at the security at the airport didn't insist on it being taken apart.  It was strange, it appeared to be in a polythene bag but it all came out and now it's much easier to pack without the pressure of the chance of taking it apart at five in the morning.  My bag is more or less packed, I've only got my kindle to go into my bag, presents from my daughter are already stashed along with my new little printer.  I'll leave any clothes that won't fit here....I'm certainly not short of clothes over in BG.

I had good news today, both cars are fixed and my student's mum asked which one I wanted on Friday so I asked her to surprise me.  I've given an expected arrival time of four in the afternoon and again it's weather dependent.  Looking at the weather reports for BG, we're up to fifteen degrees today but rain all next week....no change from here then.  I must remember to apply for my road tax when I arrive and print off the details to store in the cars.  I've received the link already but I'll do it from BG, much simpler.

Monday night quiz night including Just Connect....it sends my brain out at a tangent which stretches it somewhat.  I might follow it up with a bath, get relaxed and settled down to my kindle.....I've got rather involved in this book despite not thinking too much of it at the beginning.  LN.....Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far....maybe chase a few more relatives of my old work colleague........LN

Tuesday 7th January

A sleepless night last night....I was awake at two thirty and read until three thirty and then back off to sleep until seven and felt below par all day.  I think it's because I'm on a countdown to going home, my bag is packed and the weather is such that I'm not in the mood for getting windswept over the Downs.  My daughter is back at school, there are things that I can do but no my place to get on with them.

Toast and marmalade for breakfast, I bought two jars last week so have replaced in advance.  It's been a horrible day.  I was in my PJ's until eleven and the postman caught me out when he delivered a parcel which I'm still trying to work out.  Last week mine host purchased a battery tester from the internet and asked if I wanted an all singing and dancing watch since they were only about one pounds forty to purchase so I said yes.  I put it one to a USB to charge it up and haven't managed to do anything else with it at all.  I think I need to download the program and then I might see the wood for the trees.  The instructions were very 'pale' on the paper so I might get them up with me by the computer and see if I can get anything out of it......not expensive and I didn't buy it.

The rest of the day has been spent in front of the television, inertia set in but I did catch the programme of Shirley Ballast 'Who do you think you are' which was very interesting.  It fitted in nicely with the book that I'm reading documenting the movement of peoples around the world especially round the time of the slave trade.  Apparently her grandmother several times removed was taken in Madagascar and moved to South Africa but the family originated further south and were Muslim.  A document was found where the mother and children all converted to Christianity....what can be discovered with so many documents still around is amazing.  I know with my family history, I've come across last wills and testaments for the seventeen hundreds.  Most are still there if you know where to look.

Half seven my time and I'm about to run a bath.  I'll take my kindle with me and make sure that it doesn't end up floating like so many before them.  It would be such a shame since I'm getting used to it but my only complaint is that when changing the font size, you have to use a slide bar not set numbers like we used to have.  It's either too big or too small...nothing is 'just right'...baby bear.  No photos today....just too stormy outside to take any.  LN.....The heating has not come on upstairs yet so it's either bath or lounge.....where's that coin.....LN

Wednesday 8th January

I woke up early, read for a while, made coffee and was just to settle down again when there was a knock on the front door.  I went downstairs in my PJ.s and remembered that a nurse was coming to take a blood sample from mine host so I invited her in, she followed me up the stairs and I woke the patient and eventually he came into the bathroom and the sample was taken.  I explained who I was, that I was here for Christmas from Bulgaria and that I used to live here.  The blood was taken, I went down and made more coffee and then sat watching morning television.  I had a weird episode when I went exceptionally giddy so I took one of my blood pressure tablets....it seemed to calm everything down and after an afternoon on the sofa I'm back to normal.

And now for the exciting bit...we have snow which is a little too close to comfort for my departure but listening to the news, it should clear tomorrow.  I've also been told by my daughter that the roads between the house and the main airport road is blocked because of snow and my comment was that there was no preparation...we've had no advance warning.....NOT.  It's typical of the UK.....no one seems to take adequate preparation.  Pictures were shown of bags of wood being delivered to houses when the temperature dropped, my lorry arrived with three tons on it in September.....forward planning.

I've had a mare of an evening....I'm trying to take photos from my phone to my laptop and I'm still struggling.  LN.......So maybe later....if I manage it......LN

Only photo that I've managed to get across....doh

Thursday 9th January

Well according to the local news this morning the roads were utter chaos last night.  Vehicles were abandoned and I'm sure that some of the drivers have probably never driven on snow before....it's been a while since we had it so deep and so sudden.  It took me back to when my daughter had a Citroen and I had my Calibra 2.5 SE....she sailed into Brighton where we both worked, I drove very tentatively, my big fat tyres filled up with snow and ice and her smaller ones skimmed over the top.....and I was worried about her being a new driver.

Today I received two notifications that I needed to apply for road tax for both vehicles in BG that are expiring tomorrow.  I had problems last year, my BG bank has a duel security system to guarantee the payment which I always seem to fall foul of but I thought I would give it a try and it failed so I reverted to my English card and I have both cars with road tax.  Two cars ready and legal for one hundred and seventy leva.....what's not to love about BG except some of the potholes and lack of road surface in some places but having said that, most of the ones that I use are good.

Most of the snow had gone this morning, just a few patches of it lingering on the grass but with the temperature dropping tonight, my taxi to the airport a three this morning might be taking it a little bit steady.  The flight isn't until six so I've allowed plenty of time for check-in and security.  My bag is packed except for my computer and make-up....that's the last thing to go in.  My clothes are loaded on the coat hanger in the order that they are applied to the body.....and I've even polished my boots.  I've finished the book that I was reading on the Kindle and just by luck I found a piece of paper with a book title scribbled on it after watching a book review programme on the television.  I'd tried to order it before but it didn't seem to be available electronically but today tidying up I thought I'd check again and Amazon had it, it was down to two ninety nine and 'whisper-synced' to my device and ready to read.  This afternoon I lay on the bed and managed to read the first chapter....I have a new book to read on the four hour journey from Sofia to Kardjali tomorrow the book is called 'The God of Small Things'.

I've not had to do much today and feel much better for it.  It's been an odd time in the UK this year.....the festivities came in the middle of weeks which seemed to make the 'going back to work' come even sooner for my daughter and family and I was here but they were working so didn't see them as much.  I posted a 'memory' on FB this morning and it made me realise how much I miss cruising and that's my late new years resolution.....I'm going to investigate Egypt and the Nile Cruise.....the write up on the new Cairo museum is very impressive.  LN.....Next installment hopefully is tomorrow evening n BG if all goes well.....fingers and everything crossed....LN

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

Sunday 19th January

Six thirty start so not so bad.  It was dark, I went down to make coffee and brought it back to bed and checked my phone until I noticed that the sky was getting lighter so I opened the curtains and went downstairs.  I lit the fire, it wasn't cold in the house since yesterday's sun had warmed up the brickwork, melted most of the snow from the terraces and today's sun had finished off the job.

I fried off sausage and an egg and had breakfast on a sandwich, washed up the dishes from last night and took photos of the morning.  The snow is so beautiful, the birds were dipping in and out of the pile of bread that's sitting on the stone on the terrace.  I also added the apple peel and core from the apple that I had with yogurt last night but they're so skittish, any movement and they are off.

I spent the morning tidying the lounge and removing the rest of the Christmas decorations and putting them away for next year, God willing.  I also set about finishing wrapping the presents that I intended delivering this afternoon.  That didn't happen.  My neighbour that I helped out yesterday cutting the vicious wood appeared today and we went cutting more wood for the top of her hedge.  She left with presents for her and her mother, the rest of the villagers will have to wait.    

Tomorrow plans may have to change, I'm not sure what I'll be up to, I had an incident with a patch of ice as I left the wood store and I may very well be resting.  Seems last years luck has followed me into this year.   LN.....Fire going, wood in and enough to last until the morning.....LN

Monday 20th January

Had a reasonable peaceful night and thank goodness I have two banister rails to get up and down stairs.  An angel of mercy phoned this morning and came up with a plan to photo the prescription and then she would arrange for it to be brought down to my village.  The sun arrived with the pain and antiseptic cream and pain killers that have to be taken after food.  The bill was in for payment of said medicines but in my hurry to understand the regularity of taking said tablets and applying the cream....I forgot to pay him and I've made him aware that I refuse to pay any interest incurred.

I'm not in a good way walking is round the furniture but I managed to light a fire. get wood into the house and empty the ashes.  I used my very competent brain to work out how to do things and by holding on to the furniture I'm managing and waiting for the pain to ease. I had a phone call from the lady who feels responsible for the accident....I was helping her to cut wood for the top of her hedge and if she'd left me covering a box in the same material as my bathroom curtains, this would never have occurred.

I've arranged with her help someone to come round tomorrow and get in enough wood for me and bring it into the porch.  He's supposed to be coming at nine in the morning.  LN.....No photos, not up to having much enthusiasm for the snow that leaves such rubbish like ice in its wake.....LN

Tuesday 21st January

Slept OK but then came the problem of putting foot to the floor, then the second one and suddenly there was more main that expected.  It's always the way, when the ache sets in it really does.  It was not such a good way weatherwise, the sun looked like it was going to shine all day but it was lying to me.  Intermittent sunshine, the temperature has settled at four degrees tonight and nineteen inside so time to poke up the petchka.

I had my first visitor at nine thirty this morning, one of the village boys came over to get in wood from the wood store and he filled up the porch for me.  I have enough to last until the weekend.  I offered money, he touched his heart and it makes me realise that I've a place in this village.  Later today I managed to climb the stairs and bring down my 'nest' from upstairs to the bedroom downstairs, another two quilts and my two feather pillows, not forgetting my stuffed elephant that my grandson bought me for Christmas two years ago.  I made up the bed up and looking forward to getting installed tonight.

I had more visitors this evening bringing bananas and some juice and very willing to do anything I needed.  She's a nurse and her comment was that I had 'the good injury', if the pelvis had been broken it would have been six months in bed and the same of physio to get on my feet again.  So now I have to rest and since I'm now operating solely on the ground floor, things should be easier.  Using the little laptop on the table in the stairwell and playing behind me is 'The Scent of a Woman' from Netflix, only recently added.  I first saw this film goodness how many years ago and I still love it. I missed the dance scene firing up the laptop but now I going to take it back to where I left it and replay.  Time  to draw the curtain to keep the heat in and slap another log on t he fire...with a little luck it will still be in tomorrow to save me a job.  LN.....I thinking of gettin a 'walker'....to help me over this bad parch I've fallen on, so to speak.....LN

Wednesday 22nd January

The fire was still going this morning and with two well place logs and only one top up, it's still going well.  The sun came out this morning but there didn't appear to be much heat in it....too many clouds around.  The temperature in the house is twenty degrees and five degrees out so at least we shouldn't have any overnight frost.  

I managed to get myself set up with bananas delivered yesterday by ty student's mum.  I got them into the lounge and on to the small table by the sofa and also managed to bring in a container of strawberry and banana drink, not my usual choice but appreciated none the less.  I also brought from the kitchen another bottle of juice and a large fizzy water...it used to be so easy to get things from anywhere in the house....my activity has been curtailed but hopefully things will heal and I'll be back to being normal.

I did manage to make it upstairs and throw down several pairs of pyjamas over the banister, made it back down the stairs and gathered up the pile of clothes into the dustbin that I'm using as a walker until the one that's been ordered can be delivered.  I have a friend coming tomorrow and need to place an order with her and on Friday a local friend is coming to see if she can help.  She was the one that was with me at the time of the fall and I'm sure she feels partly responsible since we were going out to get wood for her mother to protect the garden from the cows.  

Now for a self massage with the cream from the hospital and bed seems the most comfortable place to be but getting in and out is not so good.  LN....I'm counting the days till I'm up and at it again.....LN

Thursday 23rd January

Well what an exciting day.  I slept until two this morning, settled down again and it was six the next time and at six thirty I put in my order from the day from a good friend who was visiting later.  I want food that can sit on the table and be available for when I have to have a tablet that states 'to be taken after food and I think I half a packet of biscuits or a banana will fit the bill.  The good news came around eight this morning....my Zimmer frame was being delivered today to the car shop, I'd already asked them to take out a repeat prescription on the first that had been issued by the hospital from the chemist next door and that my friend would pick up the items on her way to my house when she'd finished shopping in Kardjali.  My body is frail but the brain still puts all ducks in a line and they normally swim up the river in order.

It worked.  My friend arrived around twelve thirty and the first thing to be unpacked was the Zimmer frame and what a joy it was to receive it.  I tried it out, it didn't need any adjustment and it's much better than skittling around in a plastic two foot tall container.  Next she unpacked the provisions that I'd asked for onto the table in the winter lounge, we sat down with a coffee and then we devised a list of other tasks that needed to be done.  There wasn't much to do...wood needed to be brought into the house from the porch which was easy to do, I asked her it she would bring down the clothes airer from the upstairs guest room and the dirty laundry from the bathroom.  I put it into the washing machine with little effort and one hand on my frame, poured the washing powder into the compartment, set the machine and turned it on.  She left before it had finished and it was no effort to put it on the airer in the kitchen and hopefully I'll be able to bring it into the lounge tonight and it will be in front of the fire.

I sent my daughter a message telling her that 'Mrs Bump' had now got a Zimmer frame and she sent me back a GIF that made me laugh...and that's what daughters are for.  It has made it much easier to get around and delivered price was seventy one lev.....cheap at half the price and I'll save it for when I get old when this incident is over or hire it out to my neighbours.  Now back to Netflix, I'm still wading my way through 'The Last Kingdom'.  I've only watched it around three times and read all of the books and love the characters.  LN....My mind is more settled this evening and tomorrow I have more visitors coming so what else do I need doing?......LN

Friday 24th January

Slept OK, Zimmer frame is keeping me company in the bedroom overnight and made my morning bearable.  The fire was still going so it was just a matter of getting the ash out of the ash can and I've been using the hand shovel for that to save the weight on my torso.  It's only been five days, it feels much longer but I suppose it has to.  The normality of walking around and getting things done has been removed and now I'm having to work out the best wat to do things and I've been quite inventive today.  I settled for another banana for breakfast but things have to change now that I can get about a little better.  I took the dry clothes from the airer, folded them and they're still in the kitchen waiting to be carried through.  A gain the television has been my companion for most of the day, I need to get more books on the kindle and I have to find the books on the computer and the right cable to transfer them....it's all been too much for my brain today.  I had an email in Bulgarian that I needed to read and for some reason Google translate didn't want to open up despite various efforts and I even had to sign in to my diary this evening.....I know things have to be secure but....its very annoying.  I had my morning conversation with my lovely garage shop lady and a few jokes flew backwards and forwards and it's just that she gets me....and I like that.

It started off sunny then the clouds rolled over and it's been quite a dull afternoon.  At twelve I worked out that I needed a larger table by the side of the sofa.  I was putting things next to me on the sofa then they were falling between the cushions and the back of the sofa and it was getting annoying.  I had a lightweight table in the guest room but didn't fancy trying to get it downstairs and put a liite more brain power on and moved the table that normally sticks out from the wall parallel to the wall and closer to the sofa.  It's on wheels to it was easy to move round...and job done.  Hungry around two so made a dish of tuna mayo, two slices of toast and that did the job and I'm settling for bottled water for the time being.  I also took chicken drumsticks from the freezer, thawed them out and put them in the slow cooker with two chicken stock cubes and I've just added a small tin of tomato purée and some curry powder.  

Now about to get ready for bed and settle down for the night....might be more TV or get my Sudoku book out.  It says that they are 'giant but they still only have nine boxes to fill in.  I think it refers to the size of the print and it's the final one before you move on to Braille.  LN.....my back is aching sitting on this chair so I'm going to manoeuvre myself back to base.....LN

Saturday 25th January

Three times in the night to the little girls room and it was hard going with my Zimmer.  I felt like I'd done a marathon in the night.  I was up for real around seven and it's seemed like a very long day....busy in patches then slow the rest of the time.  I had to light the fire from scratch and used some of the wood that I'd cur up for starter wood and it was soon sending the hot water round the radiators....and then the sun came out.  I'd used my wood because the logs that I had in the house from the delivered wood were large and I struggle to get them into the burner.....too much weight and pressure on the pelvic area which is now knackered.  Walking is fine, turning from the waist up is fine just  lift and carrying is not on the cards at the moment.

My friend arrived around eleven and brought a present just because I had given her and her mother one each.....she admired the walker, asked what the two hanging bags were for and I said that in one I had my phone, glasses for when I'm on the move and the other had tablets and cream so that when I go to another room or to bed, I have everything with me.  She was impressed and was very interested as to where I'd bought them from.  I turned the slow cooker on and added more water and that was going to be a late lunch.  She kindly filled up the three log carriers for me and the two small starter wood with not so small starter wooe but that's OK.....I can manage.  Off she went and came back at four this afternoon with her mother and she was fascinated by the house....she's not been inside before.  I'd only just woken up, I'd let the fire really burn down, slept right through it and felt sleepy but very refreshed when the arrived.  Off they went and tomorrow she's bringing me round some food that she's cooking for her mother and putting extra for me....very kind.

Enough now, I'm sitting on a chair in the stairwell and it's much more comfortable on the sofa in front of the fire.  LN.....Let's see what tomorrow brings......LN

Sunday 26th January

Horrible night's sleep, the bedclothes were too heavy and I'm thinking I need a cage underneath the quilts to take the weight off my legs and pelvic area.  May be I  did too much yesterday when I was feeling good and shouldn't have done.  The fire was rescued this morning and it's been going all day, not really necessary when the sun's out but there wasn't much sign of it when I first started getting around.

My friend from the village arrived this morning with toast cheese sandwiches, she'd made them for themselves at home and put a couple in for me.  I'd settled for water and apple juice while she sorted out the wood, put a large log on the fire as I'm guessing that the reason one of my other muscles is playing up is that one of the logs from last night was heavy.  At eleven I had more visitors bearing gifts, more fruit and a robot hoover that I begged them to take away but she was insistent.  She installed it, said that it could be left to its own devices but I just thought it was a perfect thing to trip over while trying to avoid it.  Her husband carried a container of wood in for me and brought me a few more logs in but smaller this time and off they went to feed the chickens down at the garage.

I slept for a couple of hours this afternoon, woke up at four and made turkey dippers and potato wedges in the air-fryer for an early evening supper.  I even managed to get a bowl out and have yogurt and sour cherry jam and am feeling stuffed to the gills.  I settled down again with The Last Kingdom and suddenly there was a noise I didn't recognise and the floor cleaning thing that started up on it's timer and I wasn't sure how to switch it back to home charger, I pressed a few buttons, picked it up, it came up with an error message.  I put it back down again, pressed 'Base' and I thing it's docked successfully.  I've turned the charger off......it's just too much of a liability.

Washing up done, fire set for tonight and think I'm going to abandon one of the quilts for tonight and settled just for the nest with a lighterweight quilt.  LN.....Let's see how I fare overnight......LN

Monday 27th January

So now we are entering my dreaded month of birthdays....two the end of this month and the rest of my brood including mine on the seventeenth.  Cards were easier to send, choosing them was fun in the old days, handwriting greetings both funny and sincere but now it's useless post from Bulgaria, if they arrive at all and the same applies from England to here.  We've given up so rely on the internet and bank transfers these days so they can choose their own gifts and as for me.....what do I really need now that the years have chugged on.

I've had a normal day for me....the fire was hanging in there and didn't take long to burst into life.  I had my morning messages from the garage which I really appreciate and a few emails from home asking about the accident.  They get the updates from the blog but some people like the detail so they are supplied privately.  The washing from yesterday is ready to put away, the robot hoover supplied by my friend started up again this afternoon and I spent some time trying to decide which button would send it back to its docking station but everytime it got near, my glasses went out of focus and it was all the time spinning that I gave up and let it get on with the job in hand.  I think my feet have never been cleaner.  My other friend didn't make it, she thinks that she's going down with a cold and doesn't want to add to my misery which is very good of her.  I don't think I could take the pain of sneezing for long as it involves tummy muscles if done properly.  One of my other neighbours came around mid morning carrying gifts of biscuits and fruit and I'm not sure if she was expecting her Christmas present.  She sat for a while and we passed a few pleasantries but no way could I get to the room with the presents in it.  It's blocked off by the table that I've swung round to make life easier for me....she'll have to wait like the rest.  My Christmas is just so delayed this year

I've done very little else exept for trying to pair my eleven inch tablet to my mini-printer with Bluetooth but I think another setting has to be changed.  I eventually gave up, went back to the Kindle and started to read one of the Outlander books and then rewatched the episodes on Netflix, I have wool and could be crocheting or knitting and embroidery I could be doing but I just don't seem to be able to settle.  It's just this nagging pain but I still should be sitting and let nature take its course but there are still things to do that put me in a difficult position and then something else seems to hurt.

Let's get on to a better topic.  We've had another sunny day, cold last night but in the house the temperature is still twenty four degrees which is outstanding for January.  I get the feeling that February might might us in the bottom with lots more snow and low night time temperatures.  I shall pay more attention to the ground if that happens and stay away from anywhere icy.....I've learnt my lesson.  So now to settled down to a few more episodes of Outlander, the fire is set for the night, tablets over and done with and now relax and then to bed said Zeberdee.  LN.....It's a bit like one step forward and two steps back but now I've identified the 'home' button on the robot, I should be fine.....I have control.....LN

Tuesday 28th January

Much better night, I threw off the heavy quilt and just managed with my nest which is two fleece sheets with a quilt stitched together and a quilt inside.  It's my solution in the winter, fleece blankets dry much quicker especially over the balcony when the sun is out.  It's very windy out there this morning but fortunately is battened down really well.  The fire needed attention this morning, it had gone out overnight and having limited side movement means that I tackle everything really gingerly at the moment, I'm alright up and down but no twisting of anything attached to the pelvis especially legs.  I can support my own weight as I found out this afternoon when I was working between the counters in the kitchen.  I made toast and sausages in the air-fryer for breakfast and tuna mayo with toast for a late lunch which is going to see me through.  The routine is now food, tablet, massage with the cream and then see what needs doing that I can manage easily.

I lit the fire, brought logs in from the porch but used the smaller starter wood to get the fire going before I lob on a large one that keeps it ticking over.  I now seem to be judging it fairly well, it's run down tonight but I shall be banking it up aroundeight thirty hoping that it will be going in the morning.  I had interesting communications on social media that made me laugh out loud and one from a friend that I haven't had contact with for ages,  He posted, I commented updating him on my predicament and it turns out the he was 'getting a new leg today' which would change his reliance on a wheelchair and I realised how lucky am I.  I'm hoping that the Zimmer is a short-term solution.  He did say that he wished his body was still in such fine form as his brain, we used to be in a group on the web and we were always the ones to see the funny side of a situation.  

I've finished Outlander until they release more of the same.  I'm not sure when that's supposed to happen but I need a new series on Netflix.  I started the robot cleaner manually this afternoon, worked it for about half an hour just in the area that I'm living, pressed the home key but unfortunately, when I'd started it I'd moved the docking station so had to fiddle with it.  It put itself away but started up again after about fifteen minutes so I pressed another button and home it went.  It's eight degrees outside at the moment and twenty three in so i shant't freeze overnight but according to the local news, we can expect lower temperatures towards the weekend.  Got my man in to sort out my requirements on the wood front in the morning and I must remember to ask him to put a black bag in the container in the square.  LN.......I need to make a list....all this time with so little to do that I'm bound to forget something.....LN

Wednesday 29th January

I seem to recall sleeping on my back with my knees bent and when it came to getting out of bed this morning, I'm guessing that the pain in my back and hips was due to the overnight sleeping position.  I struggled around and tonight I will not just sleep with the heavier quilt folded down, the really lightweight one is going to go on the bed.  The weight on my knees must have realigned my position.....and all this without alcohol||

I slept in a little late this morning and apparently so I found out later that the lad from the village had work today and his mother said that he came round, saw that there were two containers of wood so went off to work.  I didn't hear him calling me but with two closed doors inbetween it's hardly surprising but no harm done.  My friend who arranged it phoned me and gave me the details but I was very surprised when his mother came round mid morning to see if there was anything she could do for me.  There was nothing...I'd not bothered lighting the fire, the sun was out and shining into the house and soon up to twenty five degrees and tonight the house still sits at twenty three degrees and ten outside.

The chicken leg went into the slow cooker with a can of tomatoes and some curry powder and that was ready for around four this afternoon.  I settled for toast for breakfast just for something for my tablet to sit on as it went on to do its stuff and had a massage to get those joints that were reluctant into action again.  I listened to an interesting podcast this lunchtime about the conflict between religion and the science and found it very interesting.....Judaism verses Atheism....with no real conclusions except that one description regarding of God of 'the spy in the sky'. That's what we were told at Sunday School....God sees everything.

I had my early lunch and added potato wedges to the menu, unfortunately cooked too many potaotes so they're going into an omelette for breakfast.  The robot set itself off late afternoon, I let it run to see what it would do.  My carpet is still there and looking immaculate and Robo put itself back to bed when it had finished.  There was a slight disturbance, I'd forgotten to close the curtain to stop it going under the stairs and getting stuck but I managed to bullfight it out of the area using a chair as a buffer and back it came and once it was over the threshold, the curtain was drawn, it was confined. I lit the fire around five this evening, it went first time and is ticking away nicely and only one more log required before bedtime.  LN.....In myself I'fm feeling fine, the territory is secured, there are fewer motions that I need to be careful of and hopefully it won't be too long before everything is back to normal...afterall it's only been just over a week.....LN

Thursday 30th January

So on our way to February, one month of the New Year almost gone, I call it my birthday month.  Well yes, it is my birthday month but Auariarius is my busist month for cards and memories, mother, daughter and son and myself all born under this sign.  

As for this morning's weather, quite a change from yesterday with grey and very grey skies, it looked as if we had had rain in the night and it's been dull all day.  I was awake early, I wasn't sure if my young man would come to sort out the logs for me and he didn't disappoint.  He arrived around ten minutes to eight, I'd put porch light on already so that he knew that I was up and getting slowly about and I went out to meet him.  He was amazed by the walker that I had, his little eyes lit up and I'm not sure that he'd see one before.  I explained that I'd bought it from Kardjali and off he went to fill two log carriers for me, one with oak making it two in the porch and one with the smaller stuff from the tree pruning last year.  I asked him if he could also put the rubbish in the container for me, he obliged and off he went just before eight o'clock, on his way to work.  I've known him since he was around sixteen years of age and he's quite a young man now.

I had toast for breakfast so that I had a platform for my tablet, had a good massage and thought about lighting the fire which I eventually got round to.  It's nt been cold today for the time of year but just dull and the garden seemed lifeless.  It's not that I've had a black day like the clouds but there's so much I would like to be getting on with but can't and am looking forward to the day that I can.  I've filled my day with reading, Sudoku and sleeping of which I seem to have done quite a lot today.  Last night I was quite restless so I'm not sure if I was catching up on sleep or banking it just in case tonight is the same.  Moving on, time to bank up the fire for tonight, I'm still trying to work out how I can get one of the garden chairs into the bathrom and sit under the shower and negotiate a wet floor with the Zimmer in my imagination but the garden chairs are in the workshop so I need to get that organised before I can plan the rest.  LN.......So now for my journey into night-time and to filling my evening......LN

Friday 31st January

I was surprised at how low the temperature fell last night and there was frost and ice on the terrace this morning....best stay inside then, I did too much damage at the end of last year and the beginning of this. I must have slept peculiarly last night, I had aches in different places and that how it appears to be.  I'm not sure if I try to do to much during the day, I try to reign myself in but to no avail.  I'm down to just four tablets and it was suggested by my student's mum that I stopped taking these from a certain group quoting that they might damage the kidneys or the liver but still keep on with the cream.  On the phone this lunchtime I've ordered the prescription once again and I will treat it like I did the others, change to Nurofen and monitor the need.

As well as the frost this morning we had freezing fog making everything look very ghostly and it took ages for the sun to break through and raise the temperature to a reasonable level.  I boiled a couple of eggs for breakfast and had them with toast taking a photograph and sending it to my daughter just to let her know that I'm not fading away.  The message back was 'they look delish' and they were.  The yolks were probably a little well done for my liking but I managed OK.  I got on with my morning chores and brought a fewnlarge logs to keep the home fires burning for the rest of the day and I still have two large ones left should I need them tonight.  I tidied the kitchen, managed to create some music playlists and filled my morning listening to music and ready, doing a Sudoku in between and answering messages.  I was just about to put an early evening meal at around four this afternoon when I had a call telling me not to bother, my friend for the lower village was cooking for her mother and had prepared some for me.  She arrived around half four and had three containers in a carrier bag and it looks like I have food for the weekend.  One was a thick meat stew, enough for two meals and I had one tonight, the second was a cream of mushroom soup and the third was was a chicken soup all with vegetables.  Tonight's meal I added potatoes in skins from the air fryer and I shouldn't feel hungry until the morning.  Tomorrow's job is to freeze portions of the two remaining soups in portions and have then as and when.  She stayed for a while and she's here until Sunday when she goes back home to Kardjali.  She really does look after her mother well.  I think she's coming back tomorrow with Zelinger, who really wants to come and see me.

Fire going well, temperature is still nine degrees outside and twenty three inside with only a small fire.  The visit with my prescription, fruit and bread from my student's parents is delayed until tomorrow....my student has football in Kardjali tonight.  Now time to shut up shop for the night, I've started watching Vikings again but my heart's not in it like it was first time round so time to find something new.  LN.....It's supposed to be good weather again tomorrow and changing on Sunday, not that I'm going anywhere.....I'm safer around the house and just getting on with 'stuff'....LN