Sunday 1st February

What a day, it started to snow last night but it was not very heavy, damp on the ground so nothing was sticking.  It was only just on freezing and when I got up this morning, it was more light very light rain but as the day went on it turned into definite snow and now the garden is covered over and it's still coming down now.

I'm back to my seven thirty starts and that suits me.  I did take the long water bottle to bed last night, not that the fleece sheets ever feel cold to get into and the fleece duvet cover completes the set.  I was a little early going to bed, put the light out once and put it back on again and read Oppenheimer for about twenty minutes until I thought it was about time that I settled again and I did and felt very rested when I woke up.  The fire was just hanging in there and it didn't take long to burst it into life again and the house was on its way to being comfortable.  I made spicy sausage and a couple of fried eggs for breakfast with fried bread, quite a lot of coffee and generally tidied round, I had the egg lady coming round this morning with a new supply and I thought I might have another couple of visitors who were interested to see how central heating worked with the woodburner.

I'd got enough wood in yesterday so thought there was no need to go out there and as I looked out on the garden I noticed that the cover that I put over the garage and the Beast was flapping in the breeze so I wrapped up warm, put gloves on and went out to secure the cover, the elastic had pinged but I managed to get the front of the Beast covered and the breeze blocks put back in place to secure it.  While I was out there I decided I might as well fill up another container of wood and I should be OK for a day or so.

My egg lady arrived, didn't want lev so went back and found euro and paid the lady.  She was trying to give me change which I'd written off so I suggested that she gave me an extra egg next time.  Second visitors came close on the heels of the first, they did the tour, I explained the workings of the central heating and suggested that they look at the maker's website to check what's on offer now, mine was installed around twelve or more years ago.  Another string to his bow is that he's an electrician so since he won't be able to get out of the village tomorrow, he's coming to installed my new under cupboard worktop strip lights and the new fitting for the downstairs toilet.....result.

Very pretty garden with the outside light on, snow still coming down, outside temperature minus one, inside nineteen, time to switch off the computer, close the stairwell curtain and hot up the house.....LN......Very relaxing day......LN

Monday 2nd February

Cold overnight but I slept well and was warm and toast until six thirty.  Not an ounce of sleep left in me so poked the fire and got it going well, cleared the kitchen worktop so that the man that was coming to fit the strip lights had room to move and put his screw driver down.  I know that I've got lots of extra stuff on the worktops, I really need to sort out the spice rack and who needs so many plastic kitchen spoons and spatulas when cooking....I think that they are breeding in the pot that they're sitting in.  

First job was to feed cat, I'd seen it yesterday evening and put a dish of food out.  I prepared a new dish and one for the birds and noticed that there were lots of tracks near the dish that I'd put out for Cat.  As I approached the dish this morning it leapt out from underneath the bench as if to flee, it really is a scardie cat.  I put the new dish down, noticed that it's still limping, picked up the cushion from the chair and it was stiff with frost and had the intention of making it a new bed but looking at where the tracks were heading when I went to the woodstore, I think it might be in the garage in the box with blanket that I put out last year.  As for the birds, I put out almonds, apple and raisins that I'd put through the blender, added a little water and the crust of the loaf and I've had visitors all day but they didn't stay long enough to take photos...or I wasn't quick enough.

Man and wife came round at twelve, she was his workmate and was obviously used to helping out so I stayed out of the way.  Kitchen lights went in quite easily, I didn't manage to find any electrical tape and he'd forgotten to bring his and despite my searching everywhere I thought it might be, he eventually sent his wife out to the workshop to tell me that he'd done it.  He moved on to the bathroom, did the job, light has a shade now because it's a new lamp.  They stayed for coffee, I him how much as he wouldn't take any money, I pressed the point but he didn't back  down....he wanted nothing...how neighbourly.  

I'd cleared the way through to the woodstore this morning and out to the road incase I needed to get the car out.  I'd also cleared the gate to the house and the snow was now slightly softened so it didn't take much effort to move it.  After they had left I cleared the terrace, mainly for the cat and left another dish of food but haven't spotted it since this morning when I startled it.  I made hamburgers with real mince beef that I'd bought from Greece for lunch and there was a ping from my phone.  It was my daughter asking if I knew anywhere she could go to try out her new snow boots so I mentioned that mine was on its way to a different state...water.  Then she came out with it, they'd booked tickets to come out on the fourteenth of February, she hadn't told me and wanted it to be a surprise nearer the date but couldn't contain herself.  They're out until the nineteenth....it's very kind of them since it's a special birthday this year.

I cooked the burgers, delicious and fried an egg in the fat that was left in the pan and I shall be making them again except that I'll be trying out local butcher not treck to Greece for it.  Shan't need supper, full as a little tick, fire going well and it might be an early night with Oppenheimer or try to find a new series on Prime since my Netflix account doesn't seem to be working any more....I'm not part of the group any more.  LN...Heading for minus two so I'll be careful around the property tomorrow, I did get enough wood in to last though so no need to head to the woodstore only maybe to check on cat......LN

Tuesday 3rd February

Woke up at six this morning, an hour before the normal awakening and coaxed the fire into being on a cold and frosty morning.  I sat enjoying it for a while then checked on the cat's bowl that now contained frozen food and it was obvious that this wasn't going to be eaten by said feline guest so I threw the contents onto the snow, where the less pickie birds would find something interesting in it.  I went back in the house and put cat biscuits in another dish and put it down when suddenly cat sprung out from under the Nipper darted back when I was spotted, I put the dish down, the dish got sniffed at, a few nibbles then off it went to find more interesting offerings around the village.  The bird dish also got added to and this has been quite popular for most of the day.  The remains of my hamburgers from last night went into the slow cooker with half a can of beans, water, a packet of tomato puree, potatoes and that was going to be an early supper.

Having had the good news that I shall have visitors for my birthday I found out the warm sheets and had a laundry session and they are now dry having spend the day either on the stair banisters or the clothes driers in the lounge and in the bathroom.  I also found out material to line the curtains in the twin room from my material coffer and while I was delving I found out a pair of very large curtains that I'd bought from a charity shop and these are partly up in the double bedroom on the front of the house.  More work required tomorrow but I ran out of steam by four this afternoon so I put the contents of the slow cooker into a dish and ate the lot, tidied round and there's a little of it left for cat tomorrow but it will need padding out with cat biscuits.

I decided that a full belly required rest so put the television on, found something on Prime and unfortunately after this morning's exercise with the amcurtains I fell asleep, woke up at seven thirty fully rested, rescued the fire and am now ready for the night shift....LN.......I might just go up and view the chaos I achieved this morning.....LN

Wednesday 4th February

It's been a funny old day.  I was very lethargic this morning, I think I did too much yesterday.  The fire was just in so I gave it the kiss of a firelighter, I'd got plenty of wood in and soon got it going and for a time I just sat watching it.  There's something about a real fire that those that have one love and those that don't wish they had.  The older I get I find them 'work' but the exercise must be doing me some good...or so the Fitbit tells me with all those footsteps and exercise reports.  It iwoud have been my mother's birthday today and there is a rush of  February birthdays, my daughter's was yesterday, my son's is very soon and mine is closely on it's heels.  It's been an expensive time for me but I enjoy spoiling them.  While I was investigating on my family history program, the date that my father died, there was a hint in newspapers that I followed and it was an article about my father breaking his arm during a school sport day, having it set by the doctor at the surgery and then going back to the sports field.  The boy that eventually won the competition praised my father and gave away his prize to my father and the article was all about sportsmanship.  It's really strange because I used to take part in the highjump and have school certificates for that and the hundred meters and yet my father never told me about the accident he had, I don't remember having any conversations about school sports days.  I printed out the article and my daughter's comment was that it was strange I should find it on mother's birthday.

Eventually I thought about getting on with something so I made my morning jungle juice that is supposed to deliver me all those benefits and settled it nicely with two poached eggs on toast for breakfast.  I left it for a while then settled everything down with a coffee.  I got dressed and put on extra layers, today was just cold, damp and miserable and it's the cold that really sinks into your bones even though the air is warm, you still feel cold when you look at the view or lack of it.  Not a mountain in sight and now the fog has come down, the temperature went up to plus one degree and what could have been snow was very fine drizzle that wetted the terraces, removed the icicles and most of the snow.  It's going to be lethal tomorrow on the roads, I think I'm destined to wait until spring comes before I surface again.

So today I went back to planning the curtain upgrade, I found abed quilt that had seen better days and so I removed some of the cover that had worn through and tidied up the edges and spend the afternoon attaching the fleece to a long tab headed curtain that's going over the door to the unfinished balcony in the twin room and I must get round to getting the men in to do the job.  I can't decide to have it sandwiched between another curtain that I have or just to attach material to the existing curtain and use the tabs to secure it to the hanging rail.  I did the log run and now I should have enough in the porch to last a few days so the curtain is downstairs and is in view so I won't forget about it.  I made a chicken curry and put it in the slow cooker to finish and be ready when I wanted it.  I had an attempt at rice but I think it's the wrong sort of rice, I didn't add enough salt and it tasted like pudding rice....aghh well, next time.  

The washing up can wait until tomorrow morning, it's time to switch off technology and get settled on the sofa until bedtime....and for the last time I'm going to warm up the same coffee I seem to have had since early afternoon.  It goes in the microwave, I forget about it, remember it then warm it up again and promptly forget about it again and the saga continues.  LN.....Time to put another log on the fire and get the other side of the stairwell curtain and enjoy it...it's getting a tad cold here......LN

Thursday 5th February

Rain, rain, go away and despite my protesting it's still raining now.  I couldn't get the fire to go, it was as if the wood was wet but it wasn't, then I thought the chimney might be sooted up but at long last, at five this evening it decided to come to life...as I said....funny old day.

Apart from the weather I've had quite a good day.  I carried on making the curtian for the twin room and decided to get out my sewing machine to do some of the work for me.  I cleared off the work area, set the machine up and it's been so long since I've used it that I'd forgotten how.  I managed to set up the thread to the needle and sort out the bobbin, I'd forgotten how to replace the foot that holds the fabric in place and played with that for quite a while and eventually I managed to get the stitch length right and did a practice run.  The side seams on the curtain were quite thick, I managed one of the sides and decided that I would sew the others by hand.  

I took the curtain down to the lounge and sat looking at the failing fire and was determined to get it to go, I was cold, the house was cold and everywhere was damp.  The temperature outside I think was warmer than inside so I went back to the bedroom and hung the curtain over the door to the 'yet to be finished' balcony.  It looks OK and the room shouldn't take too long to be finished for my visitors.  I turned my attention to the fire again and this time I got it to light properly, it must be that the chimney was holding so much moisture that I couldn't get a draught to keep the fire going but once it got hot, it was self activating.

Not much activity in the garden, most of the birds have been hiding in the hedges.  I caught sight of cat but not for long, it circled the garden but went on to pastures greener before I could get any food out to it.  Supper for me was toast and pate, I was just not in the mood to cook.  I'd got curry left from last night but it was going to take more effort than I was will to put in to do it, the boiler is on for a bath but having just woken up on sofa, that plan is also shelved.  LN.....Come back cold and snow, it's much better than a whole day of rain........LN

Friday 6th February

It's been a funny old day.  I woke up at eight this morning which was a bonus but I was spending the night with Oppenheimer until one this morning, snuggled down with my extra large hottie bottle and it was the peace of the just.  I emptied the ash can and decided that there was no need to light the fire, I toyed with the idea of getting the pipes out and giving them a treat but instead found myself going into some of the corners of the kitchen, opening plastic boxes storing treasures that I'd forgotten about.  I seem to have cornered the market in washing up sponges and brillo pads......instead of checking current stock I went out and bought new to replace existing when they were retired due to  lack of performance.  I have enough to last me to the end of my days and beyond.  

I carried out clearing the kitchen, lots of yogurt pots heading for the little house for spring planting, large yogurt buckets for storage boxes and when there was a knock on the door it suddenly hit me that I was still in my PJ's.  It was one of my farmer neighbours asking if I wanted milk from his cows or fresh made yogurt...all for free.  I ordered yogurt for the 14th when my guests arrive and it's home made by one of the ladies in the village again at no cost....but I'll make a donation.  He reminded me that I took a photograph of him and his wife on his hay cart, framed it for him and he still cherishes it....a moment in time.   So kitchen finished, I was looking around for things to do and I spotted cat and it reminded me that I had curry in the slow cooker that was to go, walking through the porch I noticed the remains of my curry from the other night so it all went out to cat who took a chicken leg and legged, another cat came round so I sent it on it's way and the rest went over the wall for anything that wanted it....I just don't want to encourage interlopers into the garden.

At four I decided to drive into Djebel, I was armed with a list none or it was completed.  I went to the cashpoint first, put my card in and the machine bleeped, the instructions on the machine had all rubbed off and it reset itself, my card was now locked in the machine.  I pressed everything in sight ever hopeful so I phoned the number for assistance or what I though was for assistance but the man put the phone down on me, a Bulgarian friend tried to contact his as well on my behalf in Bulgarian and all she got was abuse threatening to report her to the police for harrisment.  I bought a couple of hyacinth bulbs from my friends flower shop for my garage lady, I know she likes them and the narcissus that I bought her are on their way out.

Back to the car, I didn't bother doing any shopping, the mood had passed, I wanted to get home and report the card and have it blocked.  This was done, he told me not to order a card and recommended that I went to my bank on Monday and spoke to someone in charge.  Apparently mine was due to expire within the next month so there is one in production and he thought it might be speeded because of the circumstances.  I drove home, the fire was just in so I brought it to life again, the radiators are warm and I've decided to put the boiler on for a bath.  Beans on toast for supper for a quick fix, washing up done, bath and then relax.  LN...Monday, Kardjali and my bank and a food shop.  I need meat for the freezer and some goodies to pick at...the house contains no chocolate, biscuits, etc.......LN

Saturday 7th February

I had a fairly early night and woke up at five this morning.  I checked the embers and got the fire going again,  had an hour with Oppenheimer and then started my day.  Kitchen, coffee, washing, more coffee, cleaned the cooker and tidied the underworktop shelving and did a job that I've been putting off for ages.  The ladies of the village very kindly give me home made preserves, I store them on the shelf but never get round to opening them.  After a while I wonder how good they are and then forget about them and after ten years or so I've decided that they should go, not exactly go but I've moved them to the little house and I'll sort them later.  I also sorted through the containers and found an old meat mincer that I was given and forgot about, cleaned up some of the containers with 'bits' in.  I've cleaned the glass in the door of the cooker, I'd forgotten I had one but now when I get around to using the oven instead of the air-fryer, I will be able to see how the food is doing.  As you've guessed, I'm more about seeing to basic needs, the flambe's will have to wait for my next lifetime.

Cat was noted by its absence but shot out from under the bench when I went on to the terrace.  I've stopped leaving food out, I've had two new ones that I've not spotted before and this is really not the place for waifs and strays.  My CAT has become the queen or king in residence when choosing to be in my presence but I know that it finds itself in every foot establishment in the lower village, I've spotted it there.  

My finale for the day was to take down the curtains in the third bedroom upstairs and the curtains are now turned up at the bottom.  It's usually only my sewing room but these I finished off by hand.  The material I bought ages ago in England and it's a Warner fabric and called 'Pine trees and peonies' and I love it, it's very vibrant and cheers up a bedroom that doesn't get much sunlight.  The other bedrooms either get it coming up or going down and it's the only one that has the balcony door but as yet, no balcony..... hopefully it will be sorted this year.  

So work finished for today, I've put in a good Saturday and Sunday doesn't look like it's going to be a day of rest.  Monday has been earmarked for the bank to organise my new card and I think I might get in a blood test, ECG and check-up if the doctor can fit me in....otherwise it will be make an appointment and remember.  Time to find something for supper, I'm not that hungry, the boiler is on for a bath before bedtime, a little more time with Oppenheimer and then hopefully a good night's sleep.  LN....Not a bad day weatherwise, we actually had a sunset even though there was a very fine rain and a very feint rainbow....where's winter gone?....LN

Sunday 8th February

When I woke up this morning I did what I normally do....guess what time it is before I've checked on the clock and this morning I was spot on...seven thirty...well maybe on minute out but not bad...my biological clock is still active.   May it always be so.  Coffee was first on the agenda, and the rest of the day has just zoomd by.  I didn't bother with breakfast, the fire was again hanging on by a small red ember and amazingly with just a few twigs it was soon blazing away.  It looked a promising day outside but I had some washing to do and drying it is simple with two airing contraptions and radiators but if it hangs around for more than a day, I do get a little upset.  Anyway....all my washing done, just a little on the airer now in the bathroom and hanging partly on the radiator, looks like a tent but works very effectively.

I started to make an omelette for a late breakfast and early lunch but for some reason, one of the eggs had some brown specks in it and it really put me off.  I fished them out, convinced myself that it would be OK but after partly cooking it I caught a whiff of something that I wasn't too sure about.  I had one bite of it, changed my mind about it and gave it to cat but the omelette is still sitting in the dish on the terrace.  Maybe the cat wasn't hungry, it had been fed by the village and would come back to it later but I left it where it was, no point bringing it back into the porch to put it out again.  I really don't mind who has it....it's not going to be me.

I phoned my daughter this afternoon to check on the comings and goings for my birthday.  In my head I'd got one party going back to the UK on the Thursday and the other staying until the next day but I wanted to make sure of the days and who was doing what....things get a little confusing sometimes especially if too many people are involved...KISS...'keep it simply simple'.  The rest of the day has been having the odd half hour with Oppenheimer, doing a little bit of manoevering washing and back to my book.  

Had a surprise phonecall from Germany, my bestie from over the way who leaves me alone while she queens it with her family and the postman.  Calls are always hectic, always loud and the daughter forgets that my Bulgarian is only as quick as my brain can work and sometimes she uses words that I just don't know that get repeated louder in case that helps...and we all know it doesn't.  Anyway I've set them a challenge to put her mother's phone to accept WhatsApp.  I sent a photograph to her mother back in November of Mandarins and asked how many kilograms she wanted sending over but the response was that this phone wasn't set up to receive and I've suggested that they get on with it.  She also gave me the news that she's not bringing her mother back until late May which is a little late but it's to fit in with other family...needs as needs must.
Time for me to switch of technology, a little more of my book, maybe some Prime and then early to bed.  I need to go to the bank tomorrow to start the process for my new card since it was eaten and obviously inwardly digested, now blocked but hopefully the card wont take too long to sort out.  LN....I have a shopping list of things I need to buy in Kardjali...better get scribbling then....LN

Monday 9th February

So again we're back to rain, damp, cold weather, I've had the fire going all say but I feel cold.  I made myself a bed up on the sofa, removed the cushions and put two large cushions instead and it's stopped all the slip-sliding that was going on.  I didn't bother with breakfast, stopped the coffee and still haven't eaten anything so far so I'll refer to it as fasting....but for health reasons.

I didn't make it in to the bank or the doctor's surgery today so if there is not a shed load of snow delivered overnight, I'll be going tomorrow.  It's down to zero outside so it's going to be a cold one, the weather has been so unpredicatable this winter so far, it changes day by day.  The snow was here and then it was gone, up to ten degrees outside and now back to what should be our winter weather which reminds me, I need to buy a new snow shovel, my large black one that I used metal to repair has gone to that great graveyard and will never worik again as intended.  The little blue half sized one is perfect to keep in the car but not up to a real job.

I set to this afternoon on setting down instructions on where to find things and information regarding the house.  When my daughter is over we're going to complete the legal documentation so that she has a power of attourney, it's when you suddenly realise that age is marching on and there are so many procedures that are different with me living here.  The legal side of living in general.  There are no photos tonight...it was grey, grey, grey but if it snows overnight, that camera will be out again.  LN...Now back to my sofa and to a new series I've found on Prime....compelling viewing......LN

Tuesday February 10th

So after me reporting last night that snow was imminent, before going to bed I put the outside garden light on and the snow was gently collecting on the garden and blizzarding near to the light.  It had mentioned snow on the weather for the next village so I checked the temperature that was current and it was just a plus but I guess that higher up it's colder, hence the white stuff was falling.

I went to bed around twelve, snuggled down without my giant hottie and woke up at seven on the dot.....looks like I'm back to normal.  I felt OK and checked my blood pressure just to confirm and it was showing a little higher than usual but better than it had been for the previous few days.  My doctor is pretty easy to get to see so I took it in my head to take up the Bulgarian offer of a yearly MOT, dressed for the weather even though it had stopped snowing.  No sign of cat but the omelette from yesterday had gone from the terrace so I guessed it was being fed somewhere.  I went to throw some bread out for the birds and disturbed cat that was under my bedroom balcony, it shot out and because it had shown itself I went into the porch, took outa  the container, shook out the ice from the dish and my hand slipped as I was pouring the dried food into the container and more was delivered than I intended but I reconned one might be up for sharing, if there was a surplus.

I made it into the Nipper by just after ten fifteen, the snow had stopped and the roads were clear.  I drove to Kardjali and parked up at the back of the hospital and tried my parking app. and it suddenly occurred to me that the fact that my card had been gobbled up and me blocking it, my app. wouldn't work.  This now meant I needed to add another card, it required a confirmation number, this was displayed in another screen and when I