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

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 went back to the entry screen, the card details had gone.  I decided to risk it and checked with the reception in the hospital wht time I could get to see the doctor and it wasn't until two this afternoon....I had time to kill so I went back and managed to set up the parking app....and went back to the hospital and sat it out in the waiting area.  The doctor called my in just before one, decided that we wouldn't have time for much if she was going to lunch so we agreed that we would meet up at two ane we did.  I had an ECG, a full checkup, I have the blood and urinary test tomorrow morning and anything else that goes with it.  If I require any more tests, this will be documented and carried out after my guest have gone back to the UK....Bulgarian backward hospital systems....pah.

Next trip was to the bank to try to get some cash out and she stopped me in my path.  My Bulgarian registration card was not sufficient, I have to take my passport tomorrow, I don't want to risk my English cards in the cash machine but am rapidly running out of euro but I shan't return to the Kardjali Branch but go to my favourite one in next nearest town, they're much friendlier.  A quick stop at my local supermarket for a few things, got the fire going from the embers when I got home, a little snow falling but nothing too drastic.  LN....My day will be full tomorrow....but I was pleased with today's efforts....LN

Wednesday 11th February

So this morning I was on a mission.  I drove to Kardjali at nine fifteen, managed to park up at the hospital and was having my blood taken at ten this morning and also 'can you pee in this plastic cup, fill up the sample bottle and dispose of the rubbish.  I know the young lady from a previous visit and being English makes you stand out a little, she spoke English well and when she was trying to find a specific word in English and found it we both laughed.  I had to visit my doctor first to find my Bulgarian Health reference number and after the business was done I went back to her room and she will get the results and if there is anything that needs investigation, she will phone me tomorrow....and I call that service.  I went back to the car and decided that I would get my money sorted at Momchilgrad but that was a wasted exercise since they've closed the branch....so instead I drove back to Djebel and took my money from the cash machine using my other card....goodness knows when the other will be ready for collection.  I've lost all faith in that bank.

I didn't bother to stop to do any shopping, I'd had enough exercise for the day, it was a cold day and I wanted to light the fire and get the house warmed up.  I've had no sign of cat at all today, deserted me for another provider but I know it will be back.  A lot of the people that have been here for the winter and heading back to Turkey and we shall probably see them when the weather is good again.  I made toast for a late breakfast since I was told not to eat anything before the blood test was taken and by now it was getting on for one o'clock.  I made a warm drink to keep me going until the fire really kicked in, put the television on and went back to the series that I'm watching.  It's good because it has few good strong characters so even if you miss bits you still stay with the story lines.  

I bought a Grade 1 chicken from the supermarket and thought it best cook it before the Grade 1 was no longer.  I've not used the oven for a long time and fogotten how the controls work.  It was quite a big bird and too big for any other method of cooking so needs as needs must.  There were white numbers, symbols etc. on the control dials but where I've cleaned it most of them have rubbed off so it was out with the handbook from all those years ago and I need a pot of 'white out' to paint them on again.  It will make life easier when my family are here.  So back to my series while the bird was cooking, I've removed it from the oven and am about to attack it so cat should get some decent breakfast tomorrow.  So on final count down for my birthday celebrations with the family and I really appreciate them coming over.  LN..... I'm almost ready for the visit and I've just been advised that snow is forecast for Saturday, the day they arrive....oops......LN

Thursday 12th February

It's a plethora of birthdays this month, my daughter's was the 3rd, my mother's would have been the 4th, my son's is tomorrow and mine is the 17th...expensive for cards and presents but when they ask me what I would like for my birthday, a skip hire would be an appropriate gift.  I accumulate 'stuff', I get attached to 'stuff', I have trouble off-loading 'stuff' and I would like to start to off-loading 'stuff'.

I suppose I had a house to fill when I'd finished putting the roof on this one and a second one in the garden for those other things like yogurt pots, jam jars and all useful things for gardening and becoming a hunter gatherer.  This year my new year's resolution was to start sorting things out, I don't what the next generation to wonder why I kept certain things and it's not for posterity.  My two are going to have a few surprises when I come to sort out the house in England,  Did we really have to bring back the metal sledge from Romania on a ski-ing trip and a two foot high snow man the next year.  Having said that I won the 'bingo' in the hotel in Djerba on the last night of the holiday, had to spend the money on something so bought back two spice racks for the children and I metal two foot high birdcage for me that went in the hold when we retuned to the UK the next day.  It was in the days when you were allowed to do that sort of thing.  I wasn't sure if I would see it again but there it was on the carousal.  It hung in the conservatory for a few years but eventually it arrived in the loft and one day soon I'll find it or someone will if I don't get around to it.

As for today, we had a brief interlude of feint sunshine late this afternoon but it's been one of those cold miserable days. I've done loads, beds are made up, my daughter and hubby arrive on Saturday, my son arrives with my grandson and a very late arranged brief overlap.  It's really appreciated, it's a big birthday year and I don't know where all the years have gone but most of them seem to have been filled with something.  I didn't move to Bulgaria until I was over sixty and I've certainly filled these last years with house renovating, gardening and planning more holidays with a local tour company with the advantage that insurance is included in the package, unlike the UK and cruise lines.  Although with Greece being so near, holidays aren't so important...days out with a meal in a lovely restaurant satisfy lot of the needs.

Cat did benefit from the chicken that I cooked last night, it arrived looking very wet and bedraggled on the terrace around eight thirty so I put the food out immediately.  Since then I haven't seen it all all, probably holed up somewhere out of the wind that seems to have picked up.  Temperature is up to five degrees tonight and the fire has been going all day and I've just put another large one on now.  I did intend going out before it went dark to get more logs into the conservatory but I always seem to work better in the mornings, it will be three log carriers in and some of the very old offcuts that have been hanging around for ages.  I might have to be swinging the axe just a tad to get some down to a reasonable size....but that's for another day so won't worry my head about it just yet.  LN.....I had chicken and mayo sandwiches for a late lunch, early supper....that's me finished for the night....and there's still plenty for cat for tomorrow.....LN

Friday 13th February

So it was another early morning start, the weather was no good and I had things to do which I got on with and was in the Nipper to go into Djebel, I was missing some hooks for hanging curtains.  The market was on today so I might be lucky but I wasn't.  All that was available were the cheapy plastic curtain hangers, I wanted the 'old' type which just weren't available so I need to look through my old curtains to see if I can find enough.  I bought some of the new type, they were one euro for a substantial number but it's a bit like fools gold.  By the time they're hanging, the connectors will be failing....modern alternatives...pah.  Before I went though I managed to fill up three containers with logs and two with starter wood, all stashed away in the porch.  I also lit the fire, with the weather being so cold and damp, it was nice to come back to.

I have managed to remember to take my prescription to the chemist and the girl asked me if I knew how to use them.  I repeated what the doctor had told me verbatim and I was right on both counts.  She's taken me off the heart tablets and given me an emergency pack, it my blood pressure shoots up, I take half a tablet with water and the second one is for my allergic to seems to be just about everything. Just a few drops under the tongue should take away those spells of doing my good impression of Botox injections.  

I went to my local farmer/butcher and ordered five kilograms of mince meat and it will be ready for collection on Monday.  At least he's not going to be giving me rubbish since I live in the same village and am a good neighbour.  I did try another shop for curtain hooks, it's the one that also sells carpets and I managed to find one at a reasonable price for under the kitchen dining table,  the tiles can be a little cold so the carpet is to provide insulation.  For internal insulation I'd put the remains of the chicken into the slow cooker and made soup when I got back.  I took the meat from the bones and despite my efforts at off-loading some to cat, again it's not been around at all....I'm beginning to get a little concerned.  

Tools will be put away tomorrow morning around eleven, my work will be done and what isn't done won't matter......it will be good to see my offsprings.  LN.....And now...relax.....LN

Saturday 14th February

Well happy Valentines day to those that believe in such things.  Not much happening in this neck of the woods.  I was doing last minute arranging using that J-cloth for those last minute corners that seldom go into to.  In the end I gave up, the house was perfectly presentable. there were three containers of wood in ready to keep the home fires burning for the next couple of days at least and plenty of starter wood.  I checked the time of the flight, it was a very early one and they would be arriving just after eleven so I sent a GIF of a plane trying hard to make a landing in a headwind but I think they were down by the time that it arrived.  I got a phone call from my daughter just after they'd come over the mountains from Asenovgrad to the main road to Kardjali...they were well on their way.  I remembered to warn them of the road works approaching Kardjali, a very bumpy stretch of road with two meter drops to the one side protected only by a rope.  Goodness knows what it would be like at night....best not try it.

Their intention was to stop off in Kardjali to do some food shopping but I said that I'd stocked up pretty well yesterday so in the end they called into my little supermarket in Djebel, topped up with the things that they like and now I have an extra dozen eggs to add to the two dozen that I bought the other day.  I'd prepared for tonight's meal, we had spicy sausage with stir-fry vegetables followed by local home made yogurt delivered by my sheep farmer's wife.  I asked her how much and was told that it was without charge and 'from the heart' and it really is delicious and with Bekir's home produced honey became the pudding for all of us.

We all chipped in with the washing up and tidying away and there's just been a mammoth search on for the clothes that were left behind last year.  I knew where they were but I couldn't quite remember but when I took my search head off and my thinking one on, I went straight to them and feet are now enclosed in a pair of 'crocks', tiled floors need the insulation that only a pair of 'crocks' can provide.  It's so good to have them here, complete relaxation for them both and they should be completely grounded just before they leave.  And now to keep my guests company....more will be arriving soon.  LN....Let the birthday celebrations begin.....LN

Sunday 15th February

It's been a funny old day weatherwise, the sun looked more like the moon coming up, no hint of yellow, wispy dark clouds flying across it and then the storm him.  Ferocious wind and rain, the lonesome pine was swaying in the wind, cat got fed early and the I didn't see if for the rest of the day.  We made toast with boiled eggs, ham, tomatoes for breakfast and around ten there was a message from my ex-student telling me to look at my WhatsApp which I did.  She asked if I had guests and I said that I had but that if she wanted to come round she would be made very welcome, I wanted her to meet my daughter.

She arrived with her mother at eleven with balloons, a cake and singing happy birthday to me and it was all quite unexpected.  The are such a lovely family, I asked where father was and then said that they'd left him at home.  In they came and we made tea for them at their request, I relit the candles on the cake, and we had it for breakfast, they sang a full rendering of Happy Birthday, it's still early but it's started the celebrations well.  I also had a pot plant as a present and after they left we were searching Google and found out what it is called.

Not long after they left the electricity went off and there was no power to the woodburner providing my central heating.  I left it for ten minutes or so, the storm was still raging outside so it was all hands to the pumps, I emptied the ash can so that I could take the hot lots and embers and put them into the little woodburner in the kitchen.  It is a very old one, bought with the house and is only there for emergencies, the main woodburner needs electricity to run the hot water through the radiators.  I soon got it going in the little one and it really does throw out some heat, I've still got the gas burners on the main cooker so there was no danger of starving ourselves.  We didn't do very much, we'd forgotten to print off the sudoku challenges and now wasn't able to and all we did was to keep the home fire burning and wait for the power to be restored.  I hadn't got an emergency telephone number for the electricity company but eventually phoned a friend, tried the number, joined a queue for an English speaking representative, waited and waited to be eventually told that the call would be terminated and to try again.  At five o'clock I decided to walk down the village to make sure that it was everybody not just me that was without power, got down as far as the bottom square and as I asked the question of Emula, the power was restored.

I walked back home, lit the woodburner again leaving the little one still burning, we set about making supper, fried off minced beef with onions, added baked beans. sliced potatoes and put a layer on top of the meat mixture.  This went in the oven and when the potatoes were beginning to brown we sprinkled grated cheese over the lot, put it back in the oven and after thirty minutes we ended up with a delicious oven bake.  It's the first power cut that I've had for around two years but it makes me thing that a battery back up for the UPS for the woodburner seems like a good idea, I shall have to investigate further.  LN.....It's been an exciting day from start to finish.....LN

Monday 16th February

It's been quite a busy day.  I had a shower and washed my hair before the house was awake, put a load of washing in and then started to make breakfast for the guests.  This morning we were off to Kardjali on a shopping spree and I wanted to buy a very large cake to cut up and take round to the ladies in the village for my birthday.  I'd also ordered beef mince from the local butcher and so we just about managed it before they closed and I now have enough stock in the freezer to last me for a couple or so months.  

We carried on to Kardjali and to Kaufland car park, all of the other parking places were filled up in and around the area.  We found everything we needed, chocolate bars, crisps, vegetables so that I could do roasted vegetables since I reckoned it was my turn to cook and give my guests an evening off.   We called in at Lidl on the way back t Djebel and only to get English type butter, the local stuff just doesn't do it for me and in Djebel I managed to by two cakes which should be fine for the ladies to help me celebrate my birthday.  It's a custom here to go round with cake and I don't want to let the side down.

We were home for around two this afternoon,  unpacked and put away the shopping and all sat around in the lounge relaxing and some more that others.  my SIL decamped to the bedroom upstairs and got his head down for a while and may daughter was doing her usual crossword but the sleepy dust kicked in and she was out for the count for about an hour.  In the absence of every one else, I collected some of the rubbish that I'd stored in the woodstore and took it down to the bottom of the garden and had a bonfire.  It was such a pleasant afternoon, the sun was out, not much warmth in it but enough to sit on the wall and survey the countryside.  I did notice that the strong wind  yesterday had brought down quite a large tree, there was nothing to fall on and no one had yet noticed it and thought about taking it for firewood,  It won't stay long.  My time to cook supper so I made roasted veg, chicken on skewers that I finished off with honey in the pan.  It all went down well, yogurt and honey for pudding but I did have an accident with the remains of yesterday's cake, I caught it with my elbow, it shop up in the air and landed on the carpet at foot level.  We managed to salvage some of it that went into my yogurt, the rest declined.

Now it's winddown time, I've just stirred up the fire, the temperature is dropping outside but it's holding nineteen degrees inside which is good going.  LN.....Special day tomorrow....I'm celebrating the birthday for my parents and sister that never made it this far......LN

Tuesday 17th February

So what a nice surprise this morning.  My daughter had cut out balloons in different colours and printed off a Happy Birthday poster and stuck it on the window overlooking the garden so that I noticed it when I opened the curtain to the stairwell this morning and I had a second surprise with a similar design on the lounge window.  I am officially an octogenarian so from now on, I shall always know best....not much will change.

We had breakfast, I had presents to open and I have an extra large bar of Cadbury chocolate that is still not out of the wrapping paper, I know what it is and shall enjoy it when the house is quiet and all my guest have gone.  I'll need something to look forward to when the house is quiet again.  The phone has been a little hot line, the kitchen was turned into a cake processing factory and a special delivery was made to a lot of the houses in the village.  We had trouble at first, I couldn't find the plastic plates that I normally use to take them round the village so we ended up driving to Djebel, firstly to take cake to my special families and then to buy the trays that I couldn't find but once we were back from Djebel it was full steam ahead.

My daughter cut the cake and loaded it on to the serviettes that I'd put on the trays and then they were placed in a polythene bag.  My SIL put them on trays and then into the boot of the car....we were going to drive round the village and complete the delivery.  The remainder will be gobbled up I'm sure, my son and grandson arrive tomorrow into Plovdiv and my real birthday party is going to be a family get together in a restaurant in Djebel.  My daughter helped me deliver the cake and it's the first time that she has been really introduced to my neighbours and their homes....it was good for all of us.

I cooked this evening's meal and we had stir fried vegetables with chicken and saveloys with jacket potatoes and we're all stuffed to the gills.  I must admit I'm about to get a slice of cake it will be a shame to let it go to waste.  Snow is forecast for tomorrow, the meet up is around seven o'clock tomorrow night snow permitting.  LN....I don't feel any older and may it always remain that way......LN

Wednesday 18th February

This week has seemed exceptionally long and I've just mentioned this to my daughter.  It was a long lead up to my birthday, that came and yesterday it was a busy day delivering the cake and today has seemed like the calm after the storm.  I woke up again with the light on, sleeping on my propelling pencil that I use for sudoku, the puzzles were scattered on the carpet next to the bed and it was still only six thirty.  I tidied up the debris, put a new lead in the pencil and continued with the puzzle that I was doing when I fell asleep on the job and managed to succeed in finishing it.  

I put a load of washing in the machine, rescued the fire, got the food ready for the cat and then laid out the breakfast things on the worktop, made a coffee and sat down in the lounge and starting another sudoku, this time the difficult one.  Eventually there was movement from the other bedroom and my SIL appeared and made a coffee for him and one for my daughter but that sat on the worktop for a while.  My daughter loves her sleep and came down to claim the beverage about an hour later.  It still wasn't late, it was just me that had had the really early start but that's par for the course when I'm on my own.  SIL did tidy up the rubbish, started the bonfire pit although there wasn't a lot of room in it to get a good fire going and decided that he would take the rest down to the containers at the bottom of the village.

We've had a very lazy day just keeping the home fires burning and eventually the sun came up and it's been a very pleasant day if cold.  Cat didn't appear until five this evening so not sure what it's been up to so I put out the breakfast that I'd prepared much earlier, it picked what it wanted out of it and then went off to pastures probably a little more comfortable that a cold bench in a howling wind.  I've just missed the sunset but managed to pick up some of the pink tinge to the grey clouds.  I guess it could be a frost tonight.  Tonight my son and his son are arriving and we are meeting at the restaurant in about one hours time...stretching out my birthday and why not.  LN.....It's going to be another year before I have another......LN

Thursday 19th February

So last night we were at the pizza restaurant around seven, I was greeted by the young lady that used to serves us last year with a great big hug and smile.  She's such a sweetie, nothing is too much trouble and father even came out of the kitchen and wave to us.  There was a children's birthday party taking place so it was a little noisy but the room is big enough to take it.  My daughter actually commented that it was good to see little girls dressed like girls used to dress with tights, fancy little skirts and the boys with trousers and shirts and not trying to be what they're not.  My son arrived with my grandson around seven thirty from Plovdiv airport, hugs all round for everyone and we were soon there with the menu and ordering out pizza and meat plate for my SIL whose not able to have wheat otherwise he's likely to come up like a puffer fish.  Huge pizzas, cheesy chips and the desert was left over from the children's party so it was a freebie for us, we left the restaurant about nine and were home in quicksticks sitting around in the lounge and reminiscing about old times, brother and sister with just less than one hear apart.  We all toddled off to bed around eleven, I went out like a light and this morning at six, again with the light on and the sudoku papers on the floor.  Back to normal tomorrow hopefully.

I was up and about at six thirty this morning making sure that everything was moving smoothly.  This morning was saying goodbye to my daughter and SIL, they were on the road by eight o'clock heading for Plovdiv airport and their plane was due to leave at one back to the UK.  I received a text to say that they were at the airport and Plovdiv is such a small airport that everything is simple to negotiate.  The early start was to get the hire car back and everything signed off and it all went smoothly. Tomorrow is going to be a similar routine but the good news is that the flight leaves two hours after they thought it did so grandson is looking forward to longer in bed in the morning.

This afternoon we headed out to the bank to pick up my cashpoint card after I received a text to advise me that the new one had arrived at the bank.  I went to reception and there were so many people waiting to be seen, I tried to explain to the man that all I wanted to do was to pick up my card but he insisted that I was issued with a 'wait to be served' ticket and with my son waiting outside parked on the road, this was just going to take too long.  In the end I gave up, I want to see the manager tomorrow, I'm going to have a discussion about the shoddy service the bank offer to clients, threaten to leave the branch and find another bank and tell him or her why.  That's two bad experiences I've had with them.  After the bank we made out way to Kardjali Dam and I realised I'd taken totally the wrong road, I wanted to go to Kardjali Lake not the Dam and I managed to speak to a local who gave us full details of how to get there and with the help of Google maps we found it.  It wasn't the same as before, there were lots of new hotels so we settled in one and had coffees, found my original spot that I used to go to but there is so much new building work done and still taking place.  It was very hard to recognise it.

We arrived home around five, we'd put spicy sausage, onions, tomatoes and beans in the slow cooker before we left and I prepared and cooked six jacket potatoes and in half an hour supper was ready.  It taste OK, I'd put the tins ready, my son had opened them, chopped the onions and sausage and it was fine.  LN...We shall all go to bed stuffed to the gills, showers tonight and breakfast in the morning and then they'll be on their way.  LN.....I might even make another effort with the bank if I can work up the enthusiasm to do so....LN

Friday 20th February

I managed to keep the home fires burning overnight and I was making breakfast for my son and grandson at seven.  They were flying home after my birthday bash and the flight was leaving from Plovdiv around lunchtime.  He's not really spent much time here and it was good for both of us.  He's seen that this is now my home, my reasons for being here and the friendships that I have in the village and in Djebel.  After a working life in the UK and travelling a lot abroad, I didn't build up much of a network in the UK and over the last fifteen years this definitely seems like home.  I spend more time viewing nature than I ever did before taking so many photos of the birds, animals, not so much of people, I respect their privacy.  I had four jays in the garden this morning looking for food, they're very nervous birds but managed to get some good shots of them attacking the remains of toast and birthday cake....I think they preferred the toast.

I managed to do four loads of washing after they had left, the beds are stripped down and the last load is still drying.  My mission today was to obtain my cash point card from my bank and that went slightly sideways,  I still don't have the card.  I drove into town, thought I was really lucky to obtain a parking space outside the bank but in the end it turned out to be very unlucky.  In the olden days, there were around seven spaces outside of the bank for customers which had now turned into a Blue Parking Zone where apparently you have to prepay for your parking, even the national parking scheme doesn't allow you to register and park in these zones.  I was waiting to see a 'consultant' for about half an hour despite there only being one client with the customer ticket before me.  The service is dreadful and as for helping me ....she didn't know the meaning of the words of 'customer' or 'service'.  She was antagonistic from the start which caused my hackles to rise...after all what is a bank, someone who looks after my money, it's not the banks, it's mine and she is working for me when I go there....

I handed over my passport, my residency permit and my customer number and she was immediately sighing.  I asked what the problem was and she said that she couldn't understand my Bulgarian and that I should have attended with a translator which I really object to.  She said that my Bulgarian wasn't good enough and that I had to complete a form and I asked if there wasn't anyone in the branch that spoke English and when eventually someone arrived, I explained in Bulgarian that I really didn't understand why she was having such a bad time with me and the new person got it.  It was because all my documents were new, the passport and the residency card and the system hadn't carried them over and details on my bank profile had to be changed.  I think it was too much work for the one that I'd been allotted, it was after lunch and she didn't really want to be helpful and was determined not to be.  The four page form was issued to me and I sat at one of the other desks to complete it and my tax number I didn't have with me.  It's due to new banking regulations, I had this in the UK and all they did was send me a simple for to complete but due to the postal service in Bulgaria I'd missed the deadline for returning it but a phone call later and everything was satisfactory in the UK... but this was going to take more time.  I said that I would take the form home with me, all I need is a bank card to allow me to take my money from the bank.

I went out to the car, noticed a slip of official looking paper on the windscreen, walked round to the drivers door and noticed a yellow wheel clamp on the tyre...something else to contend with.  I phone the number, I explained where I was parked, gave her the car number and  the lady advised me, in English, that someone would be out with me if I waited by the car.  Sure enough. five minutes later three men appeared to take a wheel clamp from another vehicle, finished that job and removed mine and I paid the fine with my card and I was on the road again.  Perhaps the people that sort out parking could work at the bank, very helpful, spoke English and polite with it.

I drove home, opened one of my birthday chocolate bars and consoled myself.  I shall fill out the form in my own time, have all the information to hand and will not feel that I'm intruding into any ones day job that they are paid to do.  I put on a series that I'd been watching after getting the fire going again, related to my daughter the events of the day in a text message and asked her if she thinks that's how 'War and Peace started and ended up being such a large book.  The update tonight is that I must have fallen asleep and was solidly out for the count and didn't wake up until eleven my time, the fire is out but the house isn't cold but it's still chucking it down outside.  It's eight degrees outside, eighteen inside so it doesn't look like the predicted snow is going to happen....just wet, soggy ground underfoot.  LN..... I found out that the manager from the Momchilgrad Branch that closed, is now overseeing the tellers....I shall look her out next time....she helped me last time I needed money to pay for my holiday.....LN

Saturday 21st February

Well today has been a 'tidy round' day, washing has been put away, clothes put away on hangers, catch up emails and phone calls and generally I didn't do too much at all.  It wasn't worth venturing out until I had to late this afternoon, the logs in the conservatory were extra large so I went out to get some smaller stuff to get the home fires burning to get the house really warm again.  It was down to two degrees this morning and really heavy rain, I did venture out to take food out for the birds but there weren't many takers today.  The jays were still circling and finding bits where they could but they didn't stay long, even the slightest movement and they were off.

I printed off the Sudoku that my daughter had sent via email and had five to go at,  Three I've completed but the other two and 'rub out' and start again.  I find it very difficult when you start to make changes and it seems to run through the whole workings out...it you change one and then the next one follows on and in the end you don't know which numbers are in the right place and which are wrong.  Much easier to start from scratch with a blank canvas so to speak.

I had a visit from my lady that wants bits of everything from my garden, she came round with a pretty vase and some artificial flowers in it.  She was eyeing up the freesias and trying to get me to dig up a bulb for her but since they've only just stopped flowering it's not really the time and underneath I've got sun daisies that take over and live in the same pot.  Each plant has it's season and she's not disturbing either.  Somehow she was having a tour of the house, I'd gone upstairs to make sure that the intruder light looking towards the main road as turned off otherwise every car that goes by trips it.  It was off but she was taken by how warm it was upstairs so we did the tour and when we went into the room where I've got ski stuff and coats stored I saw the pink down coat that I bought ages ago, never worn because I don't like pink particularly so I offered it to her.  I must have had it ten years or so and only aid a few lev for it and at least it's eventually gone to a good home.  As she was leaving she put the new coat on first and put her jacket over it and complete with umbrella, she set off in the rain.

It's down to zero tonight and that rain has turned to snow and a hefty wind is blowing it everywhere.  We should have quite a few inches overnight so tomorrow it's another home day for me.  I've sorted out the documents that I need to complete the form for the bank, I might tackle it tomorrow  but the quieter day to get things done is probably Friday after lunch especially now that I know to park away from the bank....I don't want any more fines for parking in the wrong zones.  No photos of the jays today, same crew as yesterday and the wind was such that not many birds were taking shelter somewhere else.  LN......No photos today, I'll do better tomorrow if the snow settles overnight....LN  

Sunday 22nd February

It started to snow hard last night but the ground was wet and it didn't appear to be sticking.  The roofs were covered but as the temperature climbed, the water butt that I'd put out again had filled up due to the snow and the rain so I reinstated the hose drain to the drainage channel by the side of the road so that the yard didn't become too waterlogged.  Another bright idea that I had that turned out to be successful....where do they all spring from.

This morning's job was to carry on from yesterday where I'm putting things back to how they were before I had my family over.  The quilt from inside the 'nest' that was on my bed has been reinstated and I have just the single layer large bedcover over me.  The nest cover had been turned up the other way so that I had the length width ways on the bed but there was nothing round my neck with any weight on it and it didn't feel cosy.  I shall sleep well tonight although I've just taken the edge off it by having a bath and I've managed forty winks in there already.

As for the rest of the day, I put the sofa up on it's edge and cleaned underneath it and it wasn't as bad as I'd expected.  It also meant that I could push the foam filling back where it should be, the whole thing is either destined for replacement or to Momchilgrad and to be properly upholstered.  It came from someone's house, I've put a temporary cover on it that's lasted ten years more or less so it's really time that I did what I set out to do.  I'll wait for the spring and can put it in the back of the Beast to take it over to the man to save pick up and delivery costs and even provide the material that I want it recovered in.  He or his wife only have to do the work.

I split a few logs to help some of the larger ones to stay lit sooner and longer and should have plenty to manage for the next month or so and maybe even longer.  I only ordered two tons this year, last year I had three with some left over so I suppose if you even it out, I will have used two and a half each year.  I made a phone call to the UK to wish someone a happy birthday and check that Moonpig had delivered and it had and after that, tuna sandwiches that are now sitting heavy, I was piggy and ate the whole contents of the tin.  I've had a lovely long bath, clean pyjamas and clean bed to get in to, nine my time and I shan't be too long before I shuffle off to the bedroom with my Kindle.  Nothing on the agenda so far for tomorrow, I'm still recuperating and coming down from the excitement of having a big birthday with the family over.  LN...On to the next decade.....lots of paperwork to sort out this year......LN

Monday 23rd February

Very lazy day, fed the birds this morning, it was a cold dull morning and I thought they needed it but most of them were quite inactive.  Eventually most of the smaller birds made use of the heap of brown seeded bread and they did it fair justice.  I did put my nose out to go to the woodstore to fill up one of the containers but even so I didn't spend long over that.  I  did manage to chop some of the larger logs into wood that would catch quickly, some of them are so dense that they seem to take ages to get going and end up smouldering, which is no use at all when you want it to catch and warm the house via the radiators.    I also chopped some of the builders offcuts that I found in a box, it's very dry, very effective and useful when the fire just won't go.

I settled on the sofa late morning and put on Prime and settled down to watch a series.  It was a new one to me, I watched a few episodes, left to make lunch and Prime decided that there was no one watching it and I'd missed the reminder since I was in the kitchen.  I tried to find it again and unlike Netflix, Prime doesn't automatically go back to the program you were just watching, I searched for it but could only remember half of the name so the end of that one will remain a mystery to me...but I did find another one and watched all of it so that there's no danger of me missing the end.

I made beans on toast around two three this afternoon and that will see me through until tomorrow.  It's been a 'picky' day, Toblerone this morning and biscuits this afternoon and I'll not be needing anything sensible, maybe a few more biscuits with a hot drink before bedtime.  Not much to photograph today either, house to mountain fog for most of the day, a lack of birds because of the weather and I was too lazy to go out searching.  LN.....Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow, if it's colder let's have snow, cold and grim I don't do......LN

Tuesday 24th February

Last night I just couldn't get the house warm, the fire wouldn't get any whoomph into it, the flames were none existent and I was cold so this morning it was drastic measures.  At seven thirty I was taking the woodburner pipes out, putting them outside and cleaning them, cleaning the woodburner itself, removing the ash from the inside of anywhere that ash would collect and had fun putting them back again. Eventually it was assembled, I tidied up outside, was just hoovering up inside when there was a knock on one of the stairwell windows and so I turned off the hoover and went to the door.  

It was almost like an assault, there were four vans belonging to my internet company outside the gate, lot of men hanging around, they had arrived to give me cable so I was no longer reliant on the antenna and we were working out the best way to do it.  The pick up point for the old system was attached to the outside of my bedroom and I thought they would have to have access to the roof space and the main man that did the original installation was looking for access to the loft.  I realised that that the best option was to route the cable along the side of the house, under the eaves of the balcony in the guest room and down the wall at floor level just one hole.  Firstly he tried to get the drill through at the top but it was impossible and after my suggestion, it was a piece of cake.  I replaced the wooden ceiling slats, there was so much insulation up there that he gave up on that so I finished the job with my trusty Bulgarian hammer and I suddenly remembered that I had a loft ladder stored up there that had never been installed.  May be it's time that it was, another phone call to Bekir is on the cards I reckon.  Off they went on to the next location, I offered keys to Avatar's house if they wanted to do that one but I was advised that they'd stopped payment while they were in Germany and once they were over here and paying, the men would come back and make the connection.

I lit the fire to see if it was any better and it was.  There was an awful lot of rain came down but now it seems to have dried the chimney out again and the radiators are hot and heat has been restored.  I made my way to the woodstore and chopped a few more logs to keep in reserve for when the fire needs that boost, padding round the bigger logs keeps the home fire burning.  I'd not managed breakfast for myself, I'd fed the birds and the cat so now I was on the look-out and realised that I'd given the last of the bread to the birds so settled for two jacket potatoes, had half a can of beans and that was served up as a late brunch and kept me going until I attacked the Toblerone that was sitting on the back of the sofa....it was just too handy.  I didn't manage it all but I put some effort into it.

As for the rest of the afternoon, I searched Prime and came up with the Handmaid's tale, I'd read the book ages ago and forgotten the story and it's not as I remember it.  I thought it took place in sixteen hundreds but perhaps it's been moved on a couple of centuries to make it more modern.  I've just put another log on and the pump has kicked it and flames are showing in the burner where last night there was nothing, only dull embers....today's work was not in vain.

It's been dry today, the temperature in the house is up to twenty degrees and outside up to nearly nine degrees and it's February.  I think we are in for a pretty poor March, so far this year we have had no real snow to speak of or frosts, no minus seventeen's as in previous years. LN.......Looks like I might have to go the the UK to get my winter according to the Internet threats.......LN

Wednesday 25th February

Slept well, woke up at five after a realistic dream and thought I wouldn't get back to sleep again but I did until seven thirty.  I lit the fire from last night's ashes and kept it ticking over for most of the day, it's been another cold one with very strong winds.  I haven't been very proactive today at all, I chased off the ginger and white cat, black cat was sitting on the bench but put it's nose in the air and ignored the food that I'd put out for it so I threw it on the grass, something would see it off.  

I did the normal chores, no visitors today and thank goodness, I haven't felt very much like entertaining and being entertained so the television went on around twelve and I'm now wondering why I'm still watching Handmaiden's Tale.  It was a long drawn out start to it and now it seems like a long slow summing up and there appears to be lots more series and episodes.  I don't thing that I shall be following it for long....it's so different from the book and it should be advertised as 'loosely' following the book by the author.

I'd put the pork into the slow cooker last night and added curry powder, left it cooking for a couple of hours or so, into the fridge overnight and back up to temperature this morning and that was a late lunch, early afternoon curry special but unfortunately the pork didn't soften up at all.  It's probably going for the cat tomorrow.  I need to go shopping, the bread is finished. eggs are almost out and so is the mayo so a trip into Djebel is on the cards for tomorrow.  Firstly though a trip to the cash point and then on Friday back to the bank to satisfy its needs on paperwork but this time I shall be going in to see the bank manager who used to work in Momchilgrad and has replaced the one that has been seeing to my account for over ten years.

Bath and early bedtime, not more viewing, it would be too much like hard work to find something else to watch.  Tomorrow I shall sort out with my ex-student why my access to our Netflix accoundt isn't working.  LN....I hear the back calling me....LN

Thursday 26th February

It's been a funny old day.  Sun on the mountains this morning heading towards a very thick cloud slick and then the sun was gone and it was this afternoon before it dodged the clouds and became obvious in the blue sky.  The temperature did get up to four degrees but there was no heat in the sun.  As for me I was trying to search for a piece of paper this morning, I'd put it somewhere safe and for the life of me I still haven't managed to find it.  I did intend going in to Djebel, I'm still without bread but that plan didn't materialise and I do need to get to the cash point but it would be better with my Bulgarian card so today I carried on filling in the form, trying to dot the 'i's and cross the 't's.  Not an easy task when there are so many options.  I did managed to find the business card of the ex-manager of UBB in Momchilgrad so I'm going to make an effort to see her and see if she can facilitate the transaction...at least she has a basic command of English, intelligence and a need to help people.  Some of the other tellers don't have those attributes.  I'm also going to try to contact the tax office tomorrow to see if a Tin Number is really essential since there are no outside transactions going through my account will UBB, I only use it for paying bills, it's savings and nothing is going into it only out.

I've kept the home-fires burning well today and the house is repaying me in maintaining a comfortable temperature now that evening has turned into night.  The fairy lights in the yard must have found some solar energy, they're really bright tonight and do make the place very homely and welcoming.  Supper was two giant fish fingers cooked in the air fryer and desert was biscuits that I managed to find in the 'goodie' box and that's certainly not as stocked as it was when my daughter and SIL were here.  That's something else to go on the list for tomorrow.  LN......Sunrise and sunset were the main focus of the day....fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow if I'm out and about.....LN

Friday 27th February

Thank goodness we're almost to the end of February.  For me it's been a very busy month, lots of birthdays, a big one for me and it's left me feeling in the doldrums.  Winter has been a let down with very little snow to speak of, lots of rain, some of the old people having houses collapse around them because they have had no protection on the outside of the buildings.  Perhaps winter will come in March, just when the daffodils appear in the garden along with the hyacinths.  Snowdrops have come and mostly gone, winter flowering jasmine has been exquisite this year and mine is still going strong.  I checked out the garden this morning and I have lots of different weeds showing probably because I had 'manure' delivered and spread it around the flowerbeds very thickly, I shall suffer for that, there will be lots to clear before I start spring planting for the summer.

It's been a 'crisp' day, temperatures overnight at minus one degree getting up to around three during the day and the fire has been going all day.  It's up to twenty one degrees in the stairwell this evening after a combination of sun and fire and the windows in the stairwell magnify the sun's rays to get the house up to this temperature.  I haven't done a lot today.  I must have eaten something last night that caused my lips to swell up again and so I was taking anti-histamine/ allergic reaction tablets and they were very slow to kick in and get me back to normal again.  I couldn't go anywhere because of what I call my trout-pout and it's very reminiscent of the poster girls after too much Botox. Mine is free but just an inconvenience for a day or so.

I could really have done with a trip to the woodstore but I haven't really put my nose outside the door except to throw some food out for the birds and anything else that wanted it.  I really need to go to the cashpoint for euros and the supermarket but that can wait until tomorrow....there's nothing too pressing and I shan't starve. LN.... Now back to the fire and Prime....it's kept me company for most of the day....LN

Saturday 28th February

Last legs of the month and it's really been digging it's heels in.....cold all day, bleak wind and when I went out to get the wood in, my fingers were really cold and I had hot aches when I went back inside.  It took me back to when I was a girl and would come in from the cold and I never really understood why grownups called it 'hot aches' in your fingers when the cold caused it.  I suppose I've never thought much about it until this morning....I really should find out the correct name for it.

I didn't bother with breakfast and probably should have done.  I got the fire going and today has been a day of writing up the instruction manual for when I move over and let my children have the house.  There's so much to think about, the original documents have to be photocopied for a second record, there are utility companies that need to be included, banks both here and in the UK.  So much of the last eighteen years has been of my doing and it's trying to get everything in order so that they know where to find things, pay things, stop some services, like hosting, internet and phone contracts.  This is beginning to sound glum....maybe it's the cold that's got through to my brain.

The sun did eventually find it's way out but it didn't really heat things up.  I had a visit today from my egg lady with my friend who 'wants bits of everything from the garden' to grown in hers.  She knocked on the window as I was coming down the stairs, I went to the door and unlocked it and was surprised when the egg lady was with her and hadn't ordered any from her and she gave me two eggs.  I must have looked surprised too, she said that she owed them to me since she hadn't given me any change when I'd bought the last lot from her.  I had forgotten all about it, obviously she hadn't so I thanked her, I was on a call to the UK at the time so couldn't invite them in but must phone her tomorrow.  Now it's back to the sofa, the fire and the television and a hot bath before bedtime.  LN....I'm finding out that old bones feel the cold more than young ones do......LN