Lots of driving

Quick blog today cos I'm shattered and going to get a chill and an early night tonight (though I can't have a shower because the water is STILL off.. What was that about that being illegal if it is more than 8 hours?

Frog in the pitch black (with a flash)

Last night my day ended with a rather rubbish evening and then I went to bed. On the way out I almost trod on my little frog and I chased it across the yard with the camera until I could get a good picture for you. I don't know if this is the one that sings or I have others, but it is the one I keep seeing hopping around at night, sometimes inside.

The sun is about to appear

I was up and about at 6am as I had to drive across Bulgaria today to collect my scaffold which had been brought across from England by the man who brought Rambo. Talking of which, the boys were pretty good this morning when I fed them and this walking and ignoring thing is working with Ralf. So far. It was still an overcast day, and had rained in the night, so I didn't need to do much in the way of morning routine.

Starting a burn

While I was feeding them I found that the dog meat had loads of maggots in it. I determined to try and buy a small fridge to keep their meat in as the heat picks up. I put it to one side and actually burned it, though now I think I should have put it in the humanure. Never mind, I had a load of stuff in the kitchen for burning anyway.

My front lawn

As I was leaving to head out to collect the scaff the sun came out and I was struck, while I opened the gates, by what a lovely view it was up under the trees along the front patch. It is so much better since I scythed but you can see that I will need to do another pass at some point. I'm going to spend the entire summer scything at this rate. Who knows what I'll do with all the hay.

Old and the new

At the entrance to my village I was really amazed at the progress that had occurred on the road, and the old donkey was making use of it too. I snapped a picture then scooted down and made my way to the petrol station to fill up. I had free wifi at the petrol station which is just such a great idea and meant that some messages I had sent prior to leaving which had not actually sent, were delivered.

My wee stop

The journey to collect the scaffold was uneventful apart from the engine management problem happening on the way, just after I overtook a truck. I stopped and had a comfort break, decided a quick photograph of the field of waving corn was worthy of a shot, and then jumped in Thomas and carried on with no problems. I was an hour early as usual and spent the time buying drinks and some weird pastry type thing for breakfast, and then dozing in the car as I was tired. Ken arrived, we strapped it down in the back, and then I was on my way back; no stopping this time.

The journey back was equally as boring and both ways I listened to music to keep me alert. I didn't use the satnav on the return journey and did it without any problems at all. At the turnoff on the road which takes you over the mountain to the local airport there was a car crash which looked like it had just happened; I'm not surprised at this considering the insane overtaking manouvres that I see every day. It didn't seem like anyone was hurt and the car in front and I nosed round via the wrong side of the road and carried on. An ambulance and a police car were closing in swiftly from town anyway.

He's standing on his back legs!

When I got back I was exhausted and seriously tempted by a snooze however the draw of a cuppa was too great. Having backed Thomas up to the front door to unload the scaffold and carry it upstairs I checked the water and no it wasn't on so filled the kettle from the smaller of the bottles of water. I heard scratching while waiting for this to boil and it was Jesus, doing one of his vertical escapades.

Ralf climbed up with me

Rambo looking on

A cup of tea and a telephone conversation (much appreciated) later I made my mind up that having a nap was a bad idea so I set myself a simple target. First of all I would select out of the massive pile of wood thrown down over the past few days a couple of beams and planks for use in the bed head and foot. Then I would sort through the rest and select out wood for the petchka, planks and beams. For the first bit I had the boys out and Ralf was super happy to see me, jumping up to lick me. Rambo was pleased too and they both clambered and explored as I picked over the pile.

When I went to move Thomas round to load with the burning wood I put the boys away again briefly (as Rambo tries to kill himself by running in front of the car) but when I went to let them out Ralf tried to nip me twice and then went into an insane moment where he ran for about 10 minutes until going into his house and laying down on his back showing me his belly. I don't know what got into him but the difference in his behaviour between the first time I let them out and this, only about half an hour apart, is dramatic. I learned today as well that, far from what I understood where he was fine with other dogs, he had also growled at their dogs while they looked after him. If I had known this I would probably have held off as I am thinking he is a better dog to have a singleton. He certainly seems to bring the worst out of Rambo. Anyway, we are where we are and I'll deal. for being so naughty (Rambo was also very aggressive at me) I put them back in their enclosure and there they remain til now.

Planks for fencing, maybe

Beams separated out

Full load in Thomas

I took myself over to the back of the house and set to on the huge pile of wood, tiles and dust that Bekir and Sally had left. It was very therapeutic work and I settled into a routine picking around the edges taking what was loose and slowly filling the back of Thomas. My target was a full load in him and I just kept going til I decided I couldn't fit any more in. I had a pile of plans, a pile of beams and the back of Thomas full. I was going for about an hour but made barely a dent in the pile. Tomorrow I will have to attack it again.

I drove Thomas round again and reversed him up to the front door but I was tired, thirsty and hungry so I left him there and went inside where I cooked a vegetarian pasta with bacon in it and drank nearly two pints of beer to rehydrate. No water, you see. While I was cooking I put some cabbage in with Jesus and he went and started eating it. I realise I have not taken and video of him (and actually never got any of Mo either; gutted) so here he is, eating.

This will be for the petchka

After eating a lovely bowl of my pasta which was super nice and I have loads left over for tomorrow too I went down and emptied the back of Thomas. It took about four or five wheelbarrow loads and I had to dump it in the kitchen as you can't get a wheelbarrow down the corridor (another doorway to remove there; just have a straight corridor!) but it is piled next to the window into the wood store so another time I'll sort through it and throw it through in stages.

Now the sun is still up and I am going to go and lay outside in said sun and doze with my kindle and a beer; ahh the pleasures of a super fast blog post. Night.