A wonderful visit

I sat down to write this update on Tuesday evening but then took myself to bed at 8pm so now it is Wednesday morning and I'm going to try get this done now before work.

Wardy and Rosie playing football

At the kebab shop, Rosie refused to smile hah!

One troop of dancers at the dance festival

More of the dancers

More awesome dancing

Every group was given a gift

Wardy calling home

My mate arrived for his visit very late on Friday after a bit of a terrible journey down from Sofia involving getting lost then having a puncture however he did arrive safe and Rosie was very happy when she woke on Saturday and he was here. There was lots of playing and excitement before we headed into town for a kebab at my Dad's old favourite kebab shop for lunch. After that we walked round the corner to the community centre where a Folk Dance Festival was being held. It was awesome. Angela took Rosie home about an hour into the show as she was getting tired but I stayed with my friend until the end and we had a great time. After that we walked home, stopping for a beer, and then it was time for food and then book time and bed. A great day all around.

Rosie walking with Wardy

She's the true ruler

Rosie on top of the tower

Having fun at the restaurant

Sunday was another awesome busy day. Wardy, Rosie and I jumped in Thomas and drove up to Perperikon mid morning for the traditional tourist trip. This is actually the first time Rosie has done this walk. She was very good, walking almost the entire way up and down, and having a lot of fun looking at the ruins and generally being good. Wardy was also impressed with the site (and sight) and it was a great success. On the way back we stopped for lunch at our favourite restaurant before heading back for a sleep. We went out again in the evening to another restaurant for dinner which was awesome but I seem to have not taken any pictures.

Sat chilling on our top bank

A friendly bull up at our other property

The house is still standing... just...

Having a lovely meal out again

A really fun game of Snake - The Board Game

I took Monday off to spend time with Wardy. It wasn't the nicest start to the day so we relaxed for a bit but as it cleared we went for a walk around the land and sat on the little bench on the top bank looking at the view for a fair while, and also playing with the dogs. The workmen did come in but had to leave early again for a family situation which is why I didn't update the blog on Monday. After our relaxed morning we headed over to the other property we have in the mountains and had a really lovely time up there. It was super relaxed with lots of sitting and looking at the view and just enjoying the peace, quiet and tranquility. On the way home from there we were able to collect Rosie from school and she loved me and Wardy doing that! In the evening we went to another awesome restaurant for dinner and then in the evening Wardy and I played some board games in the evening before it was time to head to bed. Another great day.

Starting to dig and clear for holes

Footing ready for cement

Painting the uprights

Rebar gets painted

Over the weekend sadly we lost one of our chickens to an eagle; Monday morning I'd told Bekir to switch over to putting some mesh over the whole of the chicken run and they had gone out to buy supplies before having to rush off as I've said. Therefore yesterday they were in the chicken enclosure once more, this time measuring out and digging holes to put columns into. With a load of holes dug they pivoted to painting the metal with anti-rust paint so today (as I'm typing this in the morning) they can start the cement work and fitting the poles in place. Hopefully this job doesn't take too long as it is starting to get cold and damp for working outside.

So there it is. The men are in already for today and it is a cold and foggy start so I'm doubly gutted they are having to work outside. Hopefully it'll not take long. Thanks for reading, back this evening!

Weekend, fun and friends

Once again I embark upon writing an update on a Monday and I'm late to sit down and exhausted. Let's see how this goes, shall we.

Walking across our land

Our other house is falling down

Rosie ate the big blackberry

Having a run across the lower field

Looking at the neighbouring house

Rosie by the lake

Thinking back to Saturday after a nice early morning Rosie and I headed off up the hill to the mountain house to check it out. It was warm enough up there, though cooler than down where we live. We had a lovely explore with running and eating blackberries and we checked out the neighbouring property that may be for sale then on the way back to the car bumped into the neighbour who helped us demolish the first house which was very nice. We then paused at the lake and Rosie watched the frogs jumping in and then dipped her toes. A nice way to spend a morning

Rosie helps pick apples

A single pear (not yet ripe)

Sun shines through cloud

In the afternoon Rosie and I harvested apples and admired the pears and then it was time for a rest and relaxation for a bit. It was a nice day all round.

Thelma after the vets

Chopping and peeling apples

Bubbling away

Jarred up marmalade

Sunday morning started with a trip to the vet with Thelma who had a very sore mouth for a day or two. The vet was very concerned, more so than I've seen him before, and he gave her three injections and said to come back on Monday and if she hadn't responded she may be "very sick". She joined me in Room 13 while I was waiting for Angela to get back with her shopping. With these supplies I got stuck into making Apple Marmalade with our apples and it took me literally six hours to make six jars but it tastes great. I was so tired after that I was in bed by 8 and fast asleep.

Final bits of plastering

Lights fitted

Screwing the door frame back in

Lights on and paint applied

Chicken house floor repaired some as well

And so we reach today again and it has been a ridiculous day for me today, so busy. First thing Halil was finishing the final bits of plastering while Bekir worked on the electrics. He got all of this finished in the time Halil and I went to the garage to get Maisie's wheels looked at; tomorrow she'll go back to get new rims and tyres. By the end of the day Bekir had fitted the door back in place and finished the electrics and they had run out of paint (so will need more tomorrow) and also had done a load of mending on the floor. Great progress.

Chicken and sweetcorn on the BBQ

After work I escaped to our friends here who had planned to come on Sunday but the rain and storm we had made us cancel. It was still super windy today but we had a nice time in the pool and then lit the BBQ and Rosie had a wonderful time playing with their daughter and all round it was a brilliant visit and a lot of fun to see them again.

So there it is; that actually wasn't so bad to type up. Thanks for reading! Back tomorrow.

Weekend and more wood

 After a weekend that was too short I'm back to updates. Here goes.

The Mountain House, very much falling down

The property next door

Rosie watching as Angela splits wood

Angela lit the fire!

Rosie getting her bounce on

Daddy Saturday involved a nice drive up to the Mountain House, which will now have to wait yet another year to be done. It was a chilly day and we wrapped up warm. It was a little disheartening in a way being up there and knowing it's going to have to wait however the stuff getting done at the School is absolutely more important. Next year! Angela spent some time splitting up kindling as she had put the barrier back up round the fire downstairs and then Saturday evening she went and lit it; winter is coming. Rosie had a bounce before bed and then it was Sunday and I spent all day stuck to my computer working on software. Yuck.

A slice of moon

Going for a morning walk

Rosie by her flowers; they came again after Angela's efforts

And there is the sun

This morning blew that yuck away. The first thing Rosie said to me when I got her up this morning was "Daddy, I have a really good idea; let's go for a walk" and even though the sun was not yet up this is exactly what we did. We wrapped up and went for a walk around the garden then down the drive, out the gate, along the lane and back in the side gate. It was not a long walk but honestly it put me in a good mood from the very start and has stayed with me all day. We got back just as the sun was breaching the hills across the valley. The perfect start to the day.

More wood chopping

Bekir chainsawing

Out for another walk!

The remaining wood to be chopped

The men were in, but only Bekir and Halil as the other guy doesn't want to work. Such a shame, but never mind. They cracked on all day and have now really filled up the wood room inside. Indeed Halil cleared out another room in there to make space for all this wood. Crazy amounts, but better to have it than not. After work and school I did a little bit of picking up of kindling from around where they are chopping the wood and then, pleasure on pleasure, went for ANOTHER walk with Rosie, this time up round the back bank and down the hill and back through the village. It was lovely. Before dinner we played on the balcony for a bit and I got to see how much more wood there is left; so much!

And there you have it; a day made by Rosie. Thanks for reading.