Water troubles

Another super quick blog today because I am majorly busy getting ready for the Special Guest who returns tomorrow. Woo. I have been struggling to do a lot of things due to the fact that there is still no running water and even the free water has been on and off all day. I got Lubo to ring the water company (ViK) and his text to me said there is a "big problem" and it may be off for another "3 or 4 days". Not good. Anyway, onwards with the pictures and the words.

So the morning was pretty standard, greeted by a couple of barks and a howl and then up to find that, unlike yesterday when there was a small water pressure first thing, today there was nothing. I took the bottle of water (as there was not even any pressure in the free water first thing; there also hadn't been when I woke thirsty in the night really wanting a drink) and filled their drinking bowl when I collected them and then it was fully dry food (the meat was going off so I think I'll just stop getting it; they didn't seem to mind anyway) and as I promised yesterday I managed to get a video of some of the speed eating competition. They were actually pretty calm this morning but when Ralf finished you get to hear him burp and grumble as he had eaten too fast.

A moment of peace

After this it was time to do the rounds but first of all I checked and the water pressure was back on so the hose was deployed (at barely a dribble) around as many of the plants as I could reach, and then a huge amount of time was spent filling the watering cans. While I was hovering around the standpipe doing this the boys went down to where the men have their lunch and sniffed around looking for food, I presume. It was nice to see them running together coexisting without any snapping or snarling from Ralf, and growling from Rambo. Bless them.

Can you spot Ralf

Finally the watering cans were full and we started off on the usual route however this time both of the boys ran off towards the far fence line, round the back of their house, and then up along the fence, sniffing and looking intent. I called them but neither responded however I was pretty sure there was no hare in this time so left them to it and did the Magnolias and Zinnias then down to the Silver Birches. As I went towards them Rambo joined me but the last I saw of Ralf was him continuing to sniff up and down along the path the hare had last been seen. I watered round, finishing off at the entrance, then went in and changed into better shoes for running in, before going back up to the top, unsure what I would find. Fortunately Ralf was still there, going up and down up and down so I managed to distract him and he came to me after a few minutes of calling. I picked him up and stroked him, definitely not telling him off, but I was quite relieved. My concern was if he found the way the hare had got into the land he may have gone tearing after it.

Pretty flower on the common

One other thing while I was up there was a flower I have been appreciating recently when walking past it. There are loads of these all over the land and they really are very pretty.

So then it was time for me to leave but I forgot my wallet this time (with driving license, registration card and other important documents in it) so I went back for it. I still arrived at their village with so much time I could stop on their cheren put and take a picture of the Greek mountains before carrying on. While I was stopped a car came up the road so I went to get in and move but it went almost into the ditch, beeping all the way. Not sure what was such a hurry that 30 seconds of waiting for me to drive out the way wasn't possible. For such a laid back place some people are really impatient and it seems mainly when they are driving.

My (non smelly) humanure collection point

When I got back I was unsure what I wanted for breakfast but decided on a cheese and bacon spanish omelette, to use up some of the boiled potatoes that I had from the other day, and just to get something in me. I really enjoyed it so I'm glad I decided to go for it. A task which has been being put off for ages now is taking all the stuff that needs to go on the humanure. This includes the vat of oil spoiled by Ralf, two buckets of food cuttings, the gone off onions, and two full humanure buckets. I was going to wait for the water to come on but a text from Lubo telling me it may be 4 more days put that idea out of my mind. I put everything into the collection point and covered it all with hay. The boys were in their compound all this time as I had no interest in letting them near it.

Slowly slowly fills the can

I had been able to fill the watering can from the free water to clean out the buckets so after I put everything away and let the boys out I went back to refill both the watering cans. The pressure was pretty good and then it dropped and dropped and soon it was a trickle but I did get the metal can pretty full even if the plastic one had to be stopped because the Little Lady and Usmivka came over with chai.

Radioactive coloured chai

This was actually rather nice, if very sweet as they load it with sugar. It was a very bright colour as you can see and we sat for a bit drinking it, though Sally was off to keep on with the plastering as soon as he finished his cup and Bekir went soon after. The grandson had come with as well and the Little Lady fed him spoonfuls of the chai while he sat on her lap.

Shiva and Jesus

After this had finished he asked to see the tortoises and they were both out and about so it was a good time to observe them. They are living together very happily, sleeping right next to each other and both are eating and drinking so I have a good feeling about them. I do need to decide where I am going to put their outside run though and get it built sooner rather than later.

Getting on with the plastering

As I said the men were straight in the bedroom carrying on the excellent work that they have been doing and when I went in once to check Bekir was plastering around the edge of the balcony door and windows (he had covered the entire thing with plastic sheeting to keep the plaster off the glass - clever) and Sally was up the scaffold doing the ceiling. I brought them regular coffees and, towards the end of the day, a small glass of beer each having offered them one every day I was glad they accepted it.

Stretched out Sassy

I had fed and watered Sassy this morning and she had been super friendly again, hopping around my feet. When I poked my head in she was stretched out in her favourite place and she didn't move when I snapped some pictures. I then decided that the water situation was too bad so I would walk up to the centre of the village and fill from the tap there; no joy - it was dry. I got in Thomas and drove down the hill to Rambo's favourite watering place but there was no water there either. I made my way into town and stopped at another but that also didn't have any running water. Eventually I went to Lidl and bought 6 x 11L bottles of water, and 6 bottles of beer as I was running out, and I got back to find that the free water was on again.

A very scared bird huddled on the wall

No matter, I now have loads of bottles to keep full and 88L of water should be enough. The task  had set myself today was to tidy and clean for my visitor, then sort through the wood in the kitchen and store it properly. I did the hoovering and swept out on the landing, then went down to look at the wood. On the way I looked into one of the little side rooms and saw a bird clinging to the wall and looking terrified; I must have scared it. It was gone the next time I walked past.

Ground nesting swallows. Hmmmm...

In the corner of the garage I had spotted, a couple of days ago, three little baby swallows on the floor. I don't know if they had fallen out of their nest but they seem healthy enough and whenever I am in there the parent is flying around my head shouting at me loudly. Ralf is in there all the time though so I don't know how safe they are going to remain though he hasn't bothered them yet.

Yet more cleaning

There was a load of rubbish still in the corner I wanted to use to pile the wood so I got a wheelbarrow and dumped it all in another room (with the drainage dug out you can't wheel a barrow out the back door, and as I said the other day the corridor is too narrow for a barrow to go down).

It all needs to be cut to size

I then went to the big pile of rubbish wood I had dumped in the kitchen and sorted it out, throwing the big pieces through the hatch into the garage (proving the point of that hatch, but in reverse) and putting smaller, petchka sized, pieces to one side for later. It took about an hour or so but I ended up with a pretty good sized pile of wood in both rooms.

After this I went and had a shower outside. First of all I checked the water was on for the hose and it was quite high pressure so I went and changed into swimming shorts, came back, and there was nothing coming out. Typical. I had put the watering can on the table tennis table earlier for this eventuality though and the water was quite warm so I started washing with that then noticed that the hose was working again so finished off with that. It felt so good to be clean. I later shaved my head and then went down and used the hose again to rinse myself and I am now feeling much better because of this.

The ceiling is patched

I boiled the kettle, did the washing up, managed to clean the cooker and wash the roasting tray which was a win I didn't expect, and then sat and worked for the afternoon, determined to avoid any sweaty jobs after getting clean. The men were hard at work and I offered them the aforementioned beer which they gratefully accepted and drank while continuing. The roof was all done by this point, with all the loose plaster pulled down and Sally having replaced it all.

And around the internal window

They have also done the inside surround of the internal window, and started on the outside of this too; this should get finished early tomorrow probably even before I head to the airport. It looks to me like, other than getting a window fitted (and there has been no sign of them turning up yet) the room will be ready. Excellent. I may pop in tomorrow and plead that they do the bedroom window. We shall see. Bekir has also pulled out the badly done expanding foam around the balcony window and door and is nearly completed filling the gaps with bits of brick; I was just saying that this is one of the most brilliant things about them - everything they do is properly and there is no corner cutting.

So it was time to take the men and this went off without a hitch as always except I came over really tired and as I type this I am blinking to stay awake. I don't know why I'm so exhausted but hey, I'll have an early night I suppose and wake OK tomorrow. I have been baking some potatoes for ages now and I really hope they are ready soon as I am hungry as well. Enough whinging, tomorrow is an awesome day. I'll see you then.

EDIT

Oh, just another sunset

Got an edit before I posted as I spotted that the sunset was amazing this evening so went out onto the balcony to snap it. Ralf did his usual and came and joined me out there which was nice and I stood for about 10 minutes watching as it changed. I love that sight and it is also clear now that the sun will come in through the corridor windows and into the bedroom as well. Excellent.