Tuesday 11th August

This is going to be a quick update tonight.  I've had problems getting into the server so will need to speak to someone tomorrow.  Tonight it's all about getting something down on paper and I'll tackle the other when I've calmed down a little tomorrow.  

I've felt much better today despite the heat.....it's been just too hot to do anything....so I didn't.  I did managed to get into Djebel this morning to get bread for the freezer, I was down to the last nub of the last loaf this morning so needs as needs must.  There was a car strangely park at ninety degrees to my front wall and I wasn't sure who it belonged to.  There was also the arrival of a digger so I decided to take a plate back to Avatar's house and saw that the digger was clearing the old trees from the front of the house opposite to Avatar's house and digging up the roots in the process.  Avatar wasn't about so I came back with the plate and would deliver it later....which I never did....but will tomorrow.  While I was in Djebel I bought some mole-smokes for the garden to see if I can get rid of the pesky things.....I've got so many mountains out of molehills....I shall do something about it tomorrow.  Firstly though I need to translate the 'destructions' so that I come out of it unscathed.

I was Netflix watching today and feel thoroughly relaxed, chicken wings with onions and potatoes went into the oven at around five thirty and supper was served around one and a half hours later....chicken wings tasty and potatoes browned but not over cooked and I've just finished supper off with ice-cream from the freezer.  LN.....The washing up can wait, the kitchen is tidy except for the dishes in the sink....only me to look at it so what the heck.......LN

Wednesday 12th August

So last night I was busy watching the end of the series I have been following and unfortunately I slept through the last two episodes and woke up at one thirty.  So I backtracked on the ones that I'd missed, settled myself back down on the sofa and watched until the end.  I did say it was compulsive viewing and it proved it last night, it was half four when I went to bed so didn't wake this morning until around nine o'clock and felt OK.  The rest of the day has been slow but the temperature was up to thirty one degrees around lunchtime so there wasn't the incentive to become very active at any point....and no point in becoming very active so I didn't.

I made beans on toast around eleven thirty, finished the remainder of the ice-cream off, sorted out with the service provider why my blog was difficult to update last night and why the blog timed out on me and what I've come to realise is that where I used to get assistance from a British company and with an English sounding voice, all this has changed.  I had to go through several layers of questions to even get to speak to anyone, names, numbers but my inside leg measurement still remains sacred to all but an appointed few.  Of course I was transferred to another country for the really technical stuff and I find that no longer feels like my England.  I know that in my advancing years, I have a lot of history to look back on and judge things...and making judgements is probably what I shouldn't do....just accept what is.  It took longer than I thought it would and no one could tell me why I had time out screens and was advised to contact my service provider....and when I did I had no help at all!!  It seems to be working OK now, maybe it just sorted itself out.

Well after the activity yesterday when a front hedge and trees were removed from a house two doors up, they are now dumped in the field opposite more or less against Avatar's fence.  The cows attacked the heap yesterday stripping most of the leaves and leaving a very untidy heap of bare branches.  It's in Haciber's field and apparently she gave permission for it to be dumped there and it gives her a supply of starter wood and a few larger branches but really it's an eyesore for everyone else.  I did managed to sort out the  the freezer this morning and find food for the cat but it just wasn't anywhere to be found except that I've just seen it tonight when I went out to see if I could photograph the wood heap.  It's obviously been fed by someone else today or by lots of people....I'll put fish fingers out tomorrow to see if there are any takers.

Today has been another day for Netflix and I started 'Ann (with an 'e')' and I'm really enjoying the series based on the book 'Anne of Green Gables'.  I've never read the book but maybe it's the time to see if it's on Kindle.  LN.....There's a birthday party going on in Avatar's garden for her grand-daughter....I'm staying my ground here......LN

Thursday 13th August

Had a good night's sleep and didn't wake up until eight this morning, just a few minutes with my phone and then downstairs to get dressed and start my day.  I settled for water and didn't bother with coffee, two slices of white bread into the toaster and put only butter on it.  A friend suggested that my recent outbreak of red blotches could be something to do with the number of eggs I had earlier in the week, I didn't think that it was any different from any week but I heed all advice and left them on the worktop.  I'm thinking now that it's time I went on to a strict regime again of 'jungle juice' to start my day and monitor everything else.  I saw a strange car today parked more or less outside my gate so I went out to check and it was the water meter man to read the meter.  He has to reach down into the meter pit around two feet and normally the wildlife has to be removed from it.  This time there was only soil and he put it down to the amount of rain we've had in the previous months that's brought the silt in.  He read the meter and said that he thought I'd used a lot and I remembered that I'd left the hose on one night and that must have pushed up the reading.   I admitted my failing, he smiled and I added that it was only the once, he smiled, replaced the lid and the large stone and went on his way.

Again the temperature has been in the early thirties with a Savanah wind for most of the day.  My lightweight garden rubbish collection bucket has been blown over and the contents spread around, the cobwebs that nestle in the corners of the large windows have been disturbed and were wafting in the breeze started to get on my nerves so this evening I've been out with the brush and a spongy brown thing on a length of metal and have removed everything I could reach.  I haven't found the energy to get the long window cleaner with hose attachment and really have a go and the outside four upstairs windows, I haven't found a company yet that provides this kind of service but I'll keep trying.  

I've just come in from watering the pots and the large shrubs that are coming into flower and this time remembered to shut down the outside tap feeding the hosepipe.  While I was watering I heard a funny sound rather like one of the old-fashioned horns that they have on fair-ground rides so I went out to check.  I noticed my second down new neighbour,who's having his front hedge dug, had parked his car cutting off parking space against my front wall.....I just hope it doesn't become the norm, it also hinders my reversing into my drive....and yes, I'm being a bit of a grouch but some things just start and are difficult to finish.  Nine my time, sorry I'm late posting but it was the watering that slowed me down.  LN...Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow so far, I'll see how I feel in the morning.......LN

Friday 14th August

Well it was a late start for me, just before seven and I felt so much better for it.  I made toast for breakfast, took my tablets and went back on my B12, I've been a little lazy and not sure if my feeling a little light headed was due to the weather but today I've noticed an improvement.  I had a shower and washed my hair, wrapped a towel around me and headed for the balcony off my bedroom and stretched out on the chair and feel up on the small table.  The sun was warm but not hot, the wind was warm so I removed the towel from my hair and let it dry more or less naturally for about thirty minutes, then back to the bedroom and finished it off with the hairdryer.  By now the clock had moved on  to around eleven, I noticed the cat in the garden so gave it some fish fingers that I'd turfed from the freezer last night as part of the clear out and they seemed to suit the cat's palate, the lot were scoffed and off it went obviously for somewhere to sleep it off.  I shouldn't think it had any room for anything else.  

I decided to go into Kardjali but by now the clock was ticking on and I probably should have left it until tomorrow...but didn't.  I collected up the egg boxes and dropped them into the garage shop from whence they came.  She asked if I wanted more and I declined, I've got about eight left and am rationing myself because of my outbreak of red blotches.  I carried on and there wasn't as many cars as I had expected, I drove to the Poly-clinic with the intention of getting my signature and stamp on my new Health book but for some reason, the App. that I use for parking wasn't working and I couldn't work out why.  I didn't want to leave the car and get a fine for none-payment so moved to Kaufland car-park which is free for an hour, searched for a grass mower, found a small one which requires batteries and a charger which they didn't have so I went to Lidl, parked up and they had both in stock but I should have bought two batteries not one.....that's for the next time in Kardjali.  The other reason for going into the store was to buy butter, I was down to the last two inches in the packet and that wouldn't last the weekend.

I drove home and again the traffic was light, I was home for just after three, checked that the battery and charger were the correct ones, am about to put the one on charge and over the weekend I will give it a try out, one battery is supposed to last ninety minutes....I'll set the stopwatch.  I was feeling a little hungry when I got back so put a large potato into the microwave, loaded it with butter and cheese and that will be sufficient for me until morning.  I've just been out to take photos for the blog and noticed Avatar's family out in force taking and evening walk.  Two seconds later Avatar joined them but then was soon back to the house, another family member was visiting from Djebel because everyone was in one place having come from Germany, Belgium and Turkey.  How the EU has scattered families in search of better wages and conditions....meanwhile the local wages and pensioner payments don't go up by much but the cost of living here has risen considerably because of the euro.

So time to post and settle in for the evening.  I've been researching more cruises for my friend and myself for later in the year....there are some good offers about.  LN...October looks like the month that I shall finally see Dubrovnik.....all being well......LN

Saturday 15th August

Another early start and I seemed to be working at a cracking pace with time passing slowly and ten I checked with my Fitbit and realised that the battery in my wall-pendulum clock needed changing.  I logged it in the 'to-do' list, had toast and a poached egg for breakfast and promptly forgot about it until I glanced at it and it was showing only nine thirty so then I did something about it.  I keep a supply of batteries in a  tin in the kitchen so there are always some to hand and five minutes later it was done, I moved it on to the correct time and then went back to what I was doing.  The first job this morning had been to put the lawnmower together and I decided to read the book first not after.  I'd charged the battery last night so put it in the slot and fired it up.  I'd set the wheels at the highest point but dropped them one notch after a few runs, it's not as powerful as the one that needs to go back to the shop but worked quite well on crispy weeds.  Earlier that morning I'd found a photograph that I'd taken yesterday of the family out for an evening stroll so I printed it off and put it in a frame and took it over to them.  Avatar was sitting in the garden with Haciber and I kept the picture in it's frame on my lap but then Hasiber dried to wrestle it from me.  I was quite shocked and said that it wasn't for her but that it was for Avatar to open and at this she got up and went home....she really does lie to be the centre of attention.I handed it over to Avatar and one of the ladies from the photo came out of the house and Avatar showed it to her.  She's the grandmother of the little girl who is looking round in the photo and it's just a  memory of the time they are spending here.  I came back home.

Next Joh was to tidy up the yard from the wood delivery a week ago and to empty the log carriers and stack them on top to the others,  I also swept the wood store, put things hack where they were before I'd cleared a space for the wood, swept the leaves from the garage and threw the debris over the road for the cows.  I also chopped back the grape vine and yes, I do have grapes but I really should have watered them, they are very small and I'm sure the cows will love them.  I fed cat, turned my back and two seconds later the black. shite and ginger was sharing the food but shot off when I approached and disappeared over the low wall and off into oblivion....and not been back since.

I didn't do too much for the rest of the day, I came in at two and it was getting to be quite warm out there.  I put the washing away that I'd done that morning it didn't take too long to dry in the conservatory.  Again it's late my time, I started watching 'The Diplomat' on Netflix, just made some tuna mayo sandwiches for supper, it was too late to cook and I couldn't decide what to have anyway so that was quick and easy.  LN.....A bath is on the cards tonight.....it was dusty where I was sorking and my feet in plastic sandles want a good seeing to so I bath is the obvious solution......LN

Sunday 16th August

It was an early morning start yet again, quite cloudy at first then the clouds broke up a little and I went to sit out on the balcony but soon came in.  The wind was blowing a gale and there was quite a chill in the air so I came in.  I went down to the kitchen and squeeze a lemon, added my usual spices, honey, salt, pepper and hot water and took it back upstairs with me.....my jungle juice morning starter.  I picked up the phone to check emails and the like, settled on reels and wasted half an hour or so and back to the kitchen to make breakfast.  I poached an egg and put bread in the toaster,  unusually both came together at the same time so I served it up and sat at the table in the stairwell to eat it.  Cat wasn't around so I threw the food that I had for it over the wall, someone would find it, it was probably sleeping in.

I've had one of those days where you try to find something and can't lay your hands on it, remember when you last had it but its onward journey to its resting place doesn't come into focus and it remains hidden.  I'd come across it in an obscure place last week and after much searching and going through several folders.  In the end it was where it should be in the correct folder but I'd put the folder where it should never have been but all's well that ends well....that which has been lost has been found.  In sheer frustration I put Netflix on and watched a couple of episodes of Diplomat until the wind got so strong and was blowing the terrace umbrella enough for me to consider tying it up to my balcony railing.  I'd found an elastic hooked tie when I was tidying the woodstore and had put it where I would know that it wouldn't get hidden again.  I rescue it and went up to the balcony, unfortunately it wasn't long enough for me to go over the top to tie round the top of the umbrella so I found a suitcase strap and managed to bring everything together.....it's now secured and it can blow as much as it likes.

So back to Netflix after the excitement, the wind dropped as soon as I'd put in the support but it's there for next time.  I did have a nap this afternoon, realised that I'd taken a small joint from the freezer which was a gift for something or other and that it needed cooking.  It was more bone that meet mainly ribs so I put it in the oven and let it set there ribs upwards then after an hour or so I turned it over for another twenty minutes.  I took it out of the oven, let it cool down and now the cat seems to be well fixed for the next few days. I took what meat there was from it and I shall have it for supper and thank goodness I'm not too hungry.  It's a lovely calm evening, not a cloud in the sky and all's good in my corner of the world.  LN......Kardjali tomorrow, I have work to do and need to buy another battery for my cheepy grass mower....one in use and one to fit when the first runs out......LN

Monday 17th August

So yesterday I noticed that I'd forgotten to renew the insurance on the Suzuki and that the MOT had in fact run out.  It was an oversight on my part, I think I've been distracted by other concerns that have come along and a certain element of panic came over me.  My rational brain was telling me that if I got stopped, it was going to be a fine, no one gets hanged for it but my English brain was thinking about court appearances if the police became involved.  I was out of bed, dressed and ready for the trip to Djebel and was hoping that the police hadn't taken up one of the usual positions on my way to town and fortunately, the gods were with me, the layby was empty and I carried on to Djebel.

The garage shop owned by my friends was open, I walked in to find both husband and wife there having their morning routine before they part company for the day.  I'd got there before the coffee, I stated the issues and immediately brains went into action.  My insurance was processed, screen stickers issued and I was legal by eight thirty.  I thought now that I would have to drive to Kardjali, the son had indicated the previous year that he thought that the Nipper would not pass the emissions but her husband suggested that I take it down to his garage.  I did have to do two other thing before I drove down to the garage, I had to take money from the card machine and secondly I had to pay the road tax at the council offices.  I asked for the department at reception in Bulgarian and was shown to the desk, asked which desk I had to use again in Bulgarian and the young lady realised when I said 'thank you' to her that I was English.  She then complimented me on my Bulgarian, she spoke really good English and it was a mutually stroking session..

A car was being processed when I arrived at the garage and one waiting.   Mine was driven into the bay, the emissions were checked by the son and he said that it would pass, father returned from the repair shop and they continued with the rest of the testing.....and it got through.  I paid the man, received the documentation, I was legal and it was only half nine.  I'll process the Jeep later, I'd had enough for one day. ..I shall not be afraid to go into the council offices with more difficult enquiries in the future.  I went back to the garage shop and thanked her and apologised that I'd upset the morning routine of coffee and ciggies but she said that it was no problem and pleased to help.  

I stopped at the supermarket on my way home for bread, onions and a large bottled water for the kitchen for drinking.  I haven't done much this afternoon, I sorted out the old documentation and filed it and only have current in the Nipper.  It was so hot outside that I didn't bother to put my nose out, I took to the sofa and Netflix filled my afternoon.  I also phoned my bank in the UK with a query and a couple of friends that I needed to catch up with and it turned into a very pleasant day.   LN.....Why did I panic....age does this to you....LN

Tuesday 18th August

Early start in bed after a late night sleeping in front of the TV on the sofa.  I've thought about moving the TV upstairs and put an timer on it to switch off automatically,  I should be more disciplined!!  I went out onto the balcony but had to come in for a cover up, the wind was cold despite the sun breaking through and there was a fair wind blowing.  I was off this morning to my friend's house and we were going to try and book a cruise to Dubrovnik but the booking got more complicated when the flights weren't included and we were trying to get flights to coincide with the ship's departure so we gave up and went to the pool for lunch and spent the afternoon in the sun.  I did phone the travel company to send me a list of the all inclusive tours where the air departures were included, they were supposed to send me a list, never did but there's always tomorrow.

I drove down to the hotel in Kirkovo, parked up and we decided to eat straightway since it was almost lunchtime and settled for Bulgarian salad and cheesy chips which we shared and we had water with them.  We moved to the pool area, settled in a very quiet open tent structure and there were very few people at the pool which made it very pleasant.  I was first to get in the water and it seemed very cold maybe because my body temperature was hot but eventually I managed  to submerge my shoulders and I was launched.  It's not a big pool and since I was the only one in it I could pootle around to my hearts content and move very freely from the shallow to the deep end....and the water felt warmer as my body cooled down.  My friend came in to join me, we chatted as we swam and it was very relaxing and I got out after about twenty minutes, I'd had enough exercise, move a sun bed into the sun, stretched out and was just nodding off nicely when some noisy children and young adults invaded our private space and I woke up and moved into the shade.    The moment was spent.

We packed up, paid for the lunch and swim, an afternoon's fun for both of us amounted to thirteen euros....try that in the UK.  I drove back to hers, we had coffee and sat in the garden watching the clouds come over and the internet reports that there might be rain tomorrow.  Not sure there will be but it will be very welcome for the plants even though I've given them a good watering this evening.

The journey home was quite exciting, there was a family of wild horses or so it seemed on my drive back through the forest.  I tried hard to get the mother and colt but the colt bolted but father was waiting as I pulled on to the main road and managed to get quite a good shot.  I only managed to get sheep and cows as I continued my journey home but I'm used to them and driving around them.  No supper for me tonight, I'm about to put the electronic apparatus out of the way and settle in to continue the series I'm watching.  LN....It's been a very relaxing day, tomorrow Kardjali I've got a few jobs to do and a few things to buy.....but firstly a shower......LN

Wednesday 19th August

Woke just before six to a cloudy sky, not much in the way of sun this morning so rescued my phone and put it on charge to see what was happening in the world.  There wasn't a lot, rain had been promised but no sign of rain clouds so I went out on to the terrace and decided to bring the umbrella from under the balcony, swing it round so that it provided shade to the rest of the terrace.  I had trouble winding the handle to put the umbrella to operating position, I think it needs dismantling and the mechanism oiling but not on my list of things to do....maybe more a winter pastime when I can hand it over to someone else.  It works for me at the moment.

I came back in the house and made coffee, no sign of cat for breakfast so I decided to hoover through, pick up some of the dead flies, generally tidy up but then the bug hit me.     I went to the little house, found the mop and bucket and carried on with the good work and by nine this morning I was mopping down the stairs and complete the lower level.  I'm really not an organised person that I do jobs on specific days of the week, my life is quite helter-skelter but I knew it was time to get on top of the housework.  It's not that I've got visitors coming this year....amazingly this was all for my benefit.  Tools away, toast and marmalade for a late breakfast and then a short time with Netflix until I came up with the next thing to do.

I popped over to see Avatar and have half an hour with her in her garden, she's still got the family with her and is on the final count-down but before they go they're getting an air-con unit fitted so that she has heat in the winter.  She's decided that she's not going back to Germany this year, she's finding it hard to travel and so she's staying.  I'm a little concerned for her, there is only going to be one air-con unit in her bedroom/ day room and it's quite a big house.  If the weather this year is the same as last, it might be enough but if it gets really cold, she might be staying with me......I'll insist on it.

The sun got up to strength this afternoon so I positioned myself in front of the television, put a chicken leg and a couple of potatoes in the over and supper was ready for five thirty,  I put the bones and the potato skin on a dish when I tidied the kitchen for cat's breakfast but the best laid plans....it appeared this evening around six thirty and is finishing off the rest of my supper and it looks like it will be having biscuits for breakfast.  It appears to be giving it fir justice...it may have had a poor day scrounging from the neighbours.

Lovely calm evening with the cows summoning up the calves so that they can all go home,  I sat on the cascading stone wall at the bottom of the garden and checked out the mountains and hillsides and realised how lucky I am that I live in such a beautiful part of the world.  Greece is near for the beaches, ski-ing resorts are about two hours by car for the winter and several hotels with pools to fill days that need to be filled.  LN.....It would be a nice evening to sit outside with a glass of the red stuff....shame I don't drink any longer...there again....it was and still is, my choice.....LN

Thursday 20th August

So everything I wanted to do today I've completed....what a good feeling.  I was out of bed by six thirty, shower, washed hair and dressed for town by eight.  I was going through Djebel by eight thirty, stopped off at my garage shop to see if she wanted anything from the 'big city', she said that there was nothing so I was back in the Nipper enjoying this beautiful morning.

I observed most of the speed signs and took it very leisurely, negotiated Kardjali cones on the main road out and parked up at the parking behind the Polyclinic and that where it started to go wrong.  The parking system that's used throughout Bulgaria had the same issue that I reported a week ago and I really wanted to get to the doctor's surgery before the rush started so I made the decision that I would sort it out later, if there was a fine to pay I'd pay it and complain when I had more time.  I walked to the Polyclinic, my doctor's surgery had no one waiting in the corridor so I knocked on the door, heard someone inside so sat down and waited.  Eventually a lady came out, I was welcomed in and hugged but the doctor, she asked me how I was and I explained that I was fine and only wanted my new health book signed and her official stamp put on it.  She asked if it was a new one, I replied that it was the only one I'd ever had and she'd never asked for one in about twelve years.  She got to work on it filling in the details and her nurse came in and she's one of my favourite ladies in Bulgaria.  I had a hug from her too and she got my file out and helped with the administration and I said it was good to see them working together again.  She'd moved doctors but the last few times I've been there, she's been in attendance....a good working relationship.

I went back to the carpark and the system still wasn't working so I contacted them via WhatsApp and explained the situation and they couldn't work it out either so I shut down the call and carried on to Kaufland and bought chicken wings, and several packets of meat from the 'reduced to clear' section for the freezer and made my way to the car and then on to Lidl and did the same thing and remembered to buy the other battery for the grass mower.  I am intending doing it over the next few days and one battery on charge and one in use should see me through.  I did also buy some apricots that were on the cusp at a very good price and there's enough for Avatar to have some.  I filled up with gas and carried on to Djebel, a quick stop for potatoes, yogurt and a croissant for breakfast and then home, unpacked and put away the shopping, coffee and croissant, television on and then contacted the parking company to see if they had any answers for me and they didn't. I promptly went to sleep for an hour or so.......it's still thirty two degrees out there at seven o'clock....it's been a hot one.

I popped over to Avatar's house around five with the apricots which she promptly hid.  She's got family over and really there wasn't enough to go round...I buy for her.  I came back, put some spare-ribs with small potatoes into the oven for supper, went outside and watered the pots, put the cactus that I'd brought back from the beach into a larger container on its own to give it more space.  I've just checked supper and it's almost ready to serve.  LN....Only the battery to put on charge, eat supper, a little of my series and then to bed......LN