Party Night plus Fetching Rambo

The blog today will be quite a long one. And if I am saying it'll be long, that should warn you it's going to be epic. This is because it covers last night and today as I was back too late to do anything after the meal last night. So make yourself comfortable and enjoy.

The table when we arrived

After I posted the blog last night I legged it to have a shower, put the washing machine on delay start, and realised that I had been an idiot to remove the back off Thomas as I needed that to transport Rambo the next day. This just goes to show how something which is super important to you can slip your mind when you are casting around for stuff to do. I realised it wasn't a massive issue as I could swap vehicles with T tonight and go in Lucy, so I grabbed the satnav out of Thomas, and collected together other items I needed, and then set off towards the restaurant. I arrived about 1 minute early and was the first there so I sat in Thomas in the pissing rain (and it really was hammering down) waiting for some others to appear. It wasn't long before I saw my friends jeep come into the carpark but go to a different place; had I come to the wrong place after all? No, because a minute later she came scooting back and parked next to me.

Salad at each place

Then there was the rush from the cars to the dryness of the building and I was stood with my friend and her family waiting for the other guests to arrive. After a few minutes one of the guys from the garage arrived with his family and then we took our seats and waiting for T and his mum, Bekir and Sally who were late because they left my place late. I was in a small amount of trouble for this :D They arrived a bit late and then we started to eat the first course; a lovely shopska salad. I was able to snaffle a fair few extra olives from people who didn't like them and they were lovely.

Traditional items decorating the room

A few quick words about the restaurant. It was basically a room on the ground floor of someone's house and he only did it as a hobby really; you hire the entire place and provide the meat yourself and our chef will cook it. The room was decorated with many authentic items from the local region, including regional dress that is specific to this mountain range. There were also some cowbells on a swinging action which our host kept rattling whenever he felt like it.

The grand reveal

As we were finishing our salads we were offered the chance to watch as the lamb was removed from the oven. Now you may think this isn't really a big thing however this lamb had been cooked in a very special way; it had been entombed behind several large sheets of metal and some clay and roasted very very slowly all day, probably for about 11 or so hours. We all crowded into the small room where the oven was (as official photographer I got a prime position - perks of the job) and our host hammered and bashed away the clay and removed each layer of protective material and then reached in and, to applause, proudly displayed the prize. The juices in the bottom of the dish were thick and shiny and amazing and the lamb was completely the same shape as when I had seen it last; being carried from my house after being stored in the fridge.

The motorised spit roast

He had a few things to do to prepare it for bringing through to us so while we were waiting the wife of the chap from the garage showed us around (she knew the place well, obviously, as the garage shares the carpark) and took us to the other cooking area where there is a motorised spit to roast whole sheep over coals. She said, however, that the method used for our meal was always considered better. It is a very traditional way of cooking and is the kind of meal that you would have at a special occasion like a wedding. All very interesting stuff.

Now THAT is how you do roast lamb

After this our host appeared carrying the tray and encouraged everyone to have a look.He had dressed the dish with green things and tomatoes and lemons and looked very proud of himself. I snapped a load of pictures and then he told me to go round the other side and, to be fair, it was a much better angle for the shot. This is food as art.

Smiles all round

The next stage took it from static art to performance art and all performances require an audience. A few of us had moved to watch in the adjoining room but most were still around the table. I like this picture.

Our host about to perform a trick

So, to the performance. As if about to conjure a magic trick our host took a hold of the lamb in the roasting dish and paused...

Tender meat falling off the bone

... he then took a grip of the meat and lifted his hands; the meat lifted up and the bones dropped out without any resistance at all; the meat was cooked so well, and to such tenderness, that it was literally falling off the bones. This was part of the demonstration to show just how well it was cooked and we really didn't have any complaints about that at any point.

Main course of meat with rice

We went to sit down and wait for our main courses to be served and they were brought around by our host's wife and daughter, a plate each with some meat and a pile of the rice which had been stuffed inside the lamb and cooked at the same time. Now the lamb was amazing but I think I liked the rice even more; it had such a rich flavour and so many different flavours at that. Divine.

Toast done in front of a roaring fire

And so started the period of the meal which always accompanies good food; companionable silence. I have always said that if people are talking too much during the main course they are probably not having a good time and I think this held true as we really did keep very quiet for an extended period of time. Our host kept bring more and more food; cheesy chips were distributed, and bread, and then he came in and toasted some more bread by the fire and passed it around. There was too much food on the table when we sat down and it was a real over-facing by the end.

Our host leading the ladies in a dance

After we had nearly finished eating our host joined us and turned the music (traditional Bulgarian again) and this was the cue for the dancing to begin. He grabbed my friend and started proceeding around the table, tapping people to get them to join in what appeared to be the Bulgarian equivalent of a conga line. It was really good to watch and occasioned much applause at the end of the song when they sat down and when he did it again, I joined in. Yes, me dancing. Shocking.

I made the mistake of completely emptying my plate, as did Lyubo (the guy from the garage) sat next to me. We were both settling back to let it go down when, before we could say anything, the empty plates were whisked away and new, full, plates were put in their place. I did make an attempt at eating this however I was way too full and only really picked at the rice.

By this time I was feeling a bit tired and was aware of the early start the next day, and Bekir and Sally were both looking like they could do with going home or they'd be asleep sat at the table. I offered, and had accepted, that I would take them home so everyone else who could stay would be able to do so without disturbance and, after a couple of minutes swapping things from Thomas into Sally, I headed back with the men through the slight mist (which rises from the road in a most beautiful way) having some laughs and also aware that both were physically nodding off. I waved goodbye to them and, after initially turning round to not go down the cheren put, was encourage by Bekir to grow a pair and go for it.

Lucy performed magnificently and I had no problems at all guiding her over the rough road and down to the new road. I was home relatively quickly after this and then, after a nice chat and a cuppa, I went to sleep and slept the sleep of the exhausted.

Well, we've got to today! wooo...

Today was a big day for me as I was driving over to meet Ken the pet transport person and collect Rambo. All the effort this week has been focused on getting the place ready for him and I was really excited, and a little nervous. The alarm went off and dragged me from a nice dream but I was out of bed and had the kettle on before I could change my mind about waking up. The brew was only just begun when I realised the time and headed out to hang my washing and then returned to grab my stuff and leave. I forgot one thing and went back up to Room 13 and it was a good job I did; when I had fed Sassy I had left her cage open and she was stood there, outside it, looking at me when I came back in. I was able to catch her quickly and return her to her cage but think of the chaos she would have caused being free in here, with all the cables and other lovely bitable things, for a whole day.

A very misty view

It wasn't raining when I left but it was a bit overcast so the hanging out of the washing was done a bit on faith in the weather forecast and as I drove I went through alternating sunshine and heavy overcast which eventually turned into quite thick fog as I climbed out through the clouds. I did not take many pictures on the journey (mainly because the route I took was a really boring one and secondly because when I saw a picture I wanted to take, I couldn't stop because of other cars, or no safe place; I really needed to have someone with me to snap those pictures) however this was one taken just as I broke through the top of the clouds. I really liked the way the mountains were just poking through but barely visible.

As I say the drive is really boring, particularly the last half on the motorway as you are driving across a massive plane with absolutely nothing to break the monotony. The few points of interest after leaving my region were the massive communist era industrial buildings which are now collapsing into ruin. There were some fantastic complexes and I do wish I could have snapped some pictures. Next time I do this drive (which may be sooner than later, of which more in a bit) I will make sure I go with my friend and she is primed to snap these pics.

Plant shopping

People who know me will not be surprised to hear that I got to the pick up point an hour and a half early but this was good as the meeting point was a Kaufland and I got to go in and get some duvets and rugs for Rambo to sit on in the back of Lucy, and I also found some hay for Sassy (HUGE CHEERS) and a draft excluder which was not a dog but a zebra. After buying this and getting Lucy ready for Rambo I went back in and, with help from a certain person, picked out and purchased a load of awesome plants to be brought back and used around the place. I was also able to finally get a small water can for my plants inside.

Rambo's bed in Lucy

As I was loading all this into Lucy I was greeted by a familiar voice and it was Chaz and Ivan, who I was meeting for lunch as they live near the meeting point. We went inside for a coffee at the cafe in Kaufland and then went and stood outside by Lucy to wait. And wait. And wait. It was then that I checked my phone and found that it had switched itself off and I had a few missed calls from Ken. A quick call back and we found that he had been waiting as well, on the other side of the car park, and had been there for an hour. Whoops. We walked over and Rambo came bounding over to me, gave me a hug, then went back to Ken and gave him a hug as well. He was very happy and had obviously enjoyed his time with Ken.

Happy doggy

I walked with him, reminding myself of just how strong he is, over to where I'd parked Lucy and he jumped in the back with no difficulties and I lifted the ramp, secured it, and drove her to where Ken was to load the dog food and other bits that he had brought. A final shake of the hand and profound thanks and I was off following Chaz and Ivan to the place for food.

No light option, this

We went to the usual place and I dashed into the toilet and filled Rambo a bowl of water and took it back for him. Once again the design of Lucy came to the fore here as I was able to leave all the windows open to give him fresh air; this would not have been possible at all in Thomas so my stupid yesterday actually turned out for the best. Back inside we ordered and shared some salads and then our mains arrived. I had chosen an omelette as I was still stuffed from the night before. It did not turn out to be the light option that I expected. I ate about a quarter and then asked for it to be boxed up for my dinner tonight.

Our meal was lovely, it was great to chat and discuss things, and one chance comment has opened up the opportunity to see them again this week. A plant nursery local to them is shutting down and selling off their trees at massive discounts. I just happen to be on the look out for some silver birches and a load of fruit trees, and my friend wants some silver birches too. Chaz is going to check their stocks and, if they have what we want (and I can get a mini digger in to prepare planting holes for them) I may be heading over with Thomas and the trailer and buying a load of trees. How exciting.

And then it was time to say goodbye to them and get into Lucy and start the long, tedious, drive back. I took a couple of wrong turns (once because the satnav said to turn in 3 miles, and then suddenly 20 yards and I wasn't able to react in time, and once because I was an idiot and ignored the satnav and misread a sign) but was home pretty quickly and this ended up being a good thing as Rambo got into his run and had a huge wee straight away. I did get this (accidentally) on video but I decline to share it; the poor dog needs some privacy. Anyway, as you can see he was very excited and was running around, then coming to see me, for a fair while.

On the way in through the village I had seen Usmivka Mush and, sure enough, not long after I pulled up on my land he came past with the Special One to see Rambo. This was the first of a stream of visitors as the whole family (apart from the little lady) put in an appearance to see Rambo, and then to come and see Sassy. The kids do love my pets.

And so I come to the end of this super long blog entry. I have been out playing with Rambo and giving him some loving; he destroyed the bottle of Ariana (empty, of course) that I gave him to play with and had great fun playing tag and tug and fetch with it; you don't need expensive toys for a dog to be happy. I did try and encourage him to go in his dog kennel but, despite putting his head in, he didn't go fully in yet. I may need to make the entrance a little bigger. I ate the remains of my omelette for dinner, washed down with a pint of very nice beer, and it tasted just as good cold as it did hot in the restaurant.

Now I am going to post this and go to bed as I am pretty tired and I am really looking forward to doing nothing tomorrow. No alarm, no getting out of bed unless I have to, and only doing a few bits and pieces around the place to potter and enjoy. A lovely relaxing Sunday.