This is my blog about emigrating to Bulgaria. It starts with the idea and will take you through all the steps I am taking to create my new life in this wonderful idyllic country. Thank you for reading.
Please make use of the comments box to ask questions or suggest blog subjects too :)
As expected we still have a fair bit to do in Rosie's bedroom and playroom however progress has been steady enough.
Amazing morning views
We'll start with a picture of the sunrise this morning which was just stunning.
Bekir gets another coat on the ceiling
Halil patching up some plaster details
Using too small a tool for the job
Using the correct tool for the job
Halil holds the hoover
Crack is filled
Filling another crack above the door
Bekir sweeping up the dust
Mopping and scrubbing
For the men it was in and more plastering, getting another layer done on the ceiling while Halil was working on the final touchups for the beam in the playroom. With all this done Bekir started looking at the slight cracks that have appeared in the walls of the bedroom and playroom by where some of the plasterboard joints were. They started trying to use a small multitool to grind it out but that didn't work so had to go get a new grinding disc which made quick work of it. They then applied some more tape, and covered it over with patching plaster. Success. The final task of the day was to clean and tidy which they did really well. It'll take a few sessions to get it fully clean in there but it's much better now.
Rosie playing with Dutch
More Dutch cuddles
Wrapped up to keep warm
After school today was more time pushing on the swing and then a lot of fun with Dutch (who ended up going into a load of undergrowth and returned covered in burrs that had to be brushed out of his fur. I is finally starting to get chilly in the evening so I had to wrap a scarf around my head (as I cut my hair today).
So that's the day. We have an exciting weekend planned which you can read about when I'm back on Monday.
What a day; it really has been a very busy one here for all of us. I've been working and helping where I can while Angela and Grandma have been non stop cleaning and tidying.
I took Rosie in this morning as, on top of how busy she is, Angela woke feeling really rough this morning. It was very cold as we headed down the hill!
Out fixing our toilets. Again.
More rolls of insulation
Lifting the rolls up into the roof
The men spent almost the entire day trying to fix the toilets as last night we were back to sawdust toilets as both of them went to the same state of the pump running continually and just not working. They fixed them eventually, changing out some seals and making the vacuum part of the pump sealed again. While they were out shopping for seals they also picked up a load more insulation and at the end of the day they shifted them all up into the attic then they also got involved in the great tidying task. I was, by this time, shredding cardboard as fast as possible in an attempt to tidy the stairs some. We got lots done but still there's a lot of cardboard that we will just move out of the way and shred next week.
Rosie and Grandma out for dinner
I decided to take Rosie and Grandma out for dinner to give Angela a rest after her epic day and we had a lovely time at the fast food place near us.
And there it is. Big day tomorrow with the party, I'll be back on Monday. Cheers for reading.
Today has been very much a learning experience for everyone; it's been pretty tough at times but progress has been made and we are getting there.
Breaking open the fitting box
Bekir and Halil work on assembling the frame
Here are the rest of our blocks
The second frame is nearly done
Bekir removing tiles
The men started the day thinking they'd be working on the floor but the forecast for today and tomorrow is expected to be dry so I suggested we make a start at least on the solar boilers. We carried one of the boxes of hardware up and began the process of assembling the framework however didn't realise we were following the wrong instructions and even had the wrong box - I've bought one solar boiler that has two solar panels and one that only has one so there were two different sets of fitments. Oh well, Angela spotted the mistake and after that the frames went together quickly. Mid morning the remaining blocks we had ordered for the walls also arrived and they have been unloaded as well. After lunch with all the frames in place Bekir went onto the roof to remove the tiles along the line of the beam we were considering using to secure to, more on that later.
Bekir carries the frame over to the other roof
He made it safely
Extra beams to secure it to
Tidying up at the end of the day
A short while later I was watching, and hiding a bit in fear, as Bekir lifted the frame over to the far roof section to measure and ensure we had everything in place with plenty of space. The wind was starting to pick up at this point and it was cold and not ideal really but they kept at it, and he got over safely thank goodness. I then had to leave them to it for a fair while during which time they realised that the original beam they had planned to use was not in the correct place so they have fitted some extra wooden supports inside the roof which will have the metal brace bent around. By the end of the day a lot of preparation had been done and tomorrow they'll start to actually fit the first of the boilers, which is actually the biggest one with two collectors and a large boiler attached. We do also need to get some more valves before we can actually start using them but the main thing for now is to get all the invasive work done before we plasterboard the entirety of the inside.
A sun set of sorts
I'll leave you with a picture of the sun starting to set - it's been so long since we saw any sun!
So there it is; an exciting day today. Here's to tomorrow, back then. Thanks for reading.
Welcome back and after a quite busy weekend it's been a miserable day today; let's talk through the weekend first though.
Rosie very excited about the tree
The sun rises again on Saturday
New sunglasses and huge smile
Grandma's gift
Hanging on the front of the shopping trolley
Rosie and the Grandson in the tree house
Tinsel up over the pictures
Friday night as I said in the last update Angela and Rosie put up the tree in the library. Rosie is getting very excited indeed for Christmas! Saturday morning dawned bright and it was a lovely day throughout. As Daddy Saturday I had fun with Rosie, first of all playing for a fair while with her and her dolls before we headed into town to pick up a gift for Grandma and do a bit of shopping. When we got back we went to the neighbours and she brought the grandson back to visit for a bit; they went into the tree house among other things, before a nap, then going back over to play with the grandchildren again. It was a fun day. Sunday I was up very early (think 3am) to drive our friends to the airport. I got back in plenty of time but I was exhausted so the only picture from the day is of some tinsel I put up in the library. Rosie and Angela had been putting the main tree in the lounge and it looked great but I didn't get the picture.
The mesh at the start of the day
Damp nasty working conditions
Not outside working weather
Rosie, her presents, and the tree
A huge bounce
Painting black on the sand
The forecast for today was for snow and when the men arrived I suggested they start one of the winter jobs inside and let the weather improve later in the week however they were insistent to finish this up. It was miserable and cold and damp but no snow arrived. They worked steadily to add the missing mesh over the remainder of the chicken run and then went round the entire area again adding more zip ties to hold everything really securely in place. As always they have done a very good job. Tomorrow they'll be starting on the roof including fitting the solar heaters I hope. I do hope the weather holds out for that work on the roof. Angela had another great day and among other things she got all Rosie's presents wrapped up ready for the tree (and there are a LOT!) When Rosie got home from school I showed her the Christmas Train that Angela and I had put under the main tree (though she was more interested in the presents) and then she did some bouncing on her trampoline before we came in here and did some hobbying. A lovely early evening indeed.
So there it is; thanks for reading as always and back tomorrow.
I ended the last update expecting to be back the next day however unfortunately the men couldn't come that day, which was a lovely sunny day and perfect for working outside, and then Baba Marta did her thing and dumped a load of snow and only today have the men popped back to fix a problem, and complete some of the garden work. So, here I am with a MONSTER of an update, and quite a lot has actually happened, so go get a cuppa and then come back. I'll wait....
Sunrise is always a lovely time of day
Having a snack sat with me on the lawn
Up on the little bench on the top bank
This Bobcat has had its cage cut off
Rosie loved this shopping trolley
Sat on the ride on mower
Lawn fun time with the puppies
Out for dinner in the evening
Right. Thinking back it was a lovely weekend with glorious weather and we had a great time. There was lots of time outside with Rosie, picnics on the lawn and playing with the puppies on the lawn and the back bank. On Saturday we went for a Daddy Day Out to look at mini diggers (there were none at all even worth looking at, though this Bobcat with it's safety cage ground off did give me a chuckle) and then on to a hardware shop with the best trolly EVER and finally to the Husqvarna shop to see the ride on mower I was thinking of buying. Rosie sat on it for a bit but got a bit scared when the engine was turned on. We had another picnic on Sunday and then went out for dinner in the evening to a lovely restaurant. It was very awesome indeed.
Just a bit of snow fell in the night
The cranes for laying pipes
Angela and Rosie with Sammy
Beautiful blue sky
Rosie makes snow angels
Lovely view from the roof terrace
Icicles on the chair
The next day was a study in contrast. It had started snowing a little bit early in the evening and we woke up to a true dump of snow. It was Rosie's photograph day at school so I cleaned Thomas off and headed down with her but I was not able to get back onto the land because the corner by the gate was just too slippy. I very nearly got stuck but managed to reverse back up the track and just left Thomas at the top of the village. When Rosie got back from school of course we were straight outside and all three of us made another Sammy, this one with sculpted arms rather than sticks. It was such fun and Rosie was loving it, making snow angels while I enjoyed the crispness and the view. It was very cold, though, with some impressive icicles around.
Rosie stacking blocks into a tower
Still some snow around but it's melting fast
Putting air in the tyres to head to get pregletted
Rosie with Sammy's remains
We were given a cool hat
Meet Mo, the Mower
And then there was more snow
Rosie with her tower of cups
The following week was busy for me and I didn't get all that many pictures however Rosie had fun with building blocks and also running around in the melting snow. On Friday I took the trailer to get its preglet which it passed with no problems and that was a relief as, the snow having melted (and Sammy with it, sadly) Rosie and I headed back to the Husqvarna shop and bought the ride on mower! I think his name is Mo. Sadly a kid had turned the ignition on and flattened the battery and they hadn't realised until that morning so we had to wait while the person on a battery-buying-mission returned however when he did it was without a battery. They gave me a substantial discount and after a bit of fun driving it around (Rosie was SO good this whole time, and even jumped on my knee to ride along at one point) I loaded him into the trailer and we headed home. The next day it snowed again. Baba Marta was NOT letting go! Rosie also built more towers. She's getting so good at these!
Rosie playing Buckaroo
Very cold one morning
Xena looking out the window in Room 13
Lots of fun on the balcony
A beautiful colour sky
A small snow fall again
Rosie kicking the ball around
More football on the patio this time
And still we are talking about the time between the workmen being here. Angela bought Rosie Buckaroo (or at least she CLAIMED it was for Rosie but I'm not so sure) and we have had a lot of fun playing that. I'm rubbish at it. The weather has continued to be changeable with some very cold snaps and then even some more snow. We've had fun on the trampoline on the balcony, I marvelled at such a beautiful orange sunrise that I had to photograph to show Rosie as she loves sunrises and orange. We've also recently been able to get outside after school to play, kicking a ball around on the back bank and then I picked up a "real" football and we played for ages on the patio. Such fun!
A bucket on a string down into the sump
Bekir and Halil survey the mess
Cleaning the walls with a dog food tin on a stick
New cover takes shape
This will be much longer lasting
The new drainage channel
The exit is well protected now
A handle so I can lift it; they thought of everything!
And so to today. This actually begins a couple of days ago as I had to trim a branch off a tree that got broken in the heavy snowfall and when I dragged it over to the wood pile in the far section of the chicken house I got a shock as I saw standing water by where the sump was. A quick inspection revealed that the metal lid had completed rusted and rotted through and there was no cover on the sump any more. This, in turn, had allowed a load of dead leaves, grass and other stuff to fall into the sump and now the pump was not running and the water was backed up and filling the container right to the top. I spent the last two days after work with a bucket on a string removing the water and getting it as clean as I could and also I dragged the not-working pump out of the way and went and bought a new one. Today Bekir and Halil were back to have a look at this and they have done an excellent job today. First of all they finished up the clean-up job (Bekir is using an old dog food tin nailed to a bit of wood as a scraper) and they got all the dirt and other stuff out so the sump is nearly pristine. Then the new pump went in and was situated before they built an awesome new lid, a big high wooden structure that I can lift out of the way, and which won't have grass growing over the top of it no matter what happens. They also found where the end of the pipe that the pump exhausts through and built a little retaining stone pile and a trench so now it won't get buried again. Superb. I'm so pleased!
Sifting the soil before making use of it
Digging out for the tyres
Thelma and Louise check out the new tyres
With that task done they turned to shifting the soil that Angela wanted up against the far fence which the completed quickly and then finally they dug out and moved the tyres from the side of the raised beds to now either side of the ramp. They look really good there! It was so good to have them back for the day but now they'll be taking another holiday before the building season restarts some time in April I hope. We have a chicken enclosure to build, and a bunch more other things need doing besides.
That's not all - I got Mo working today and took him for a drive onto the top bank to test him out. He cut really well but I think needs some more fuel and oil before we try him again. It's going to rain all the rest of the week anyway however the best thing was Angela drove him down and I got a video and it is linked above!
Well as expected that was an epic update. I have no idea when the next one will come so watch this space and thanks for reading.
