Yet more busy

Well what a busy day. I've got some cracking pics so I'm gonna pop them up, write about each one, and try and entertain you maybe a little bit. The sun is going down as I type this and I've just poured my second pint as I haven't drunk much today at all as the water has been off most of the day. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Onwards.

Lovely morning sky

I slept really well last night though once again I was disturbed a couple of times by the same fly but I think I got it last night. I hope so, it's really been doing my head in. The alarm went off and I snoozed once and twice and then dragged myself out of bed. The boys greeted me exiting Julian with their usual cacophony of barking but I ignored them, put the kettle on, and went onto the balcony to snap the stunning morning sky that I just can't believe how varied it is.

"Stay away from me!"

I did the now standard of carrying a bottle of water to refill their water when I collected the food bowls (and today I found an empty water bowl so that was a good idea) and they behaved in much the normal way, with Ralf bouncing and barking and Rambo barking and bouncing and me saying "no!" and walking and hoping they'll shut up. What fun. It is so like a speed eating competition when they start (I'll maybe try and get a video of this some time soon, though I don't have enough hands) and then Ralf did his hoover impression before I grabbed him and held him while Rambo finished.

I went and did the watering, with stupidly low pressure on the free water meaning I could only do half the entrance flower bed, and it took AGES to fill the watering cans, and then when I walked back over towards their enclosure before heading up to the top field I remembered about the hare so I put Rambo in, then had to trick Ralf to come near enough for me to grab him and put him inside. My back has been bad since I was chasing them around yesterday and I had no desire to repeat the experience. I walked up to do the Zinnias and Magnolias and there was no sign of hare so I let the boys out again when I went down to do the silver birches and I went back across the front lawn to water the rose bush and the flowers that the weak hose couldn't get to. As per usual Rambo bounced everywhere and was so close to standing on my flowers. I really need to sort that out. More on that later though.

Flames behind a beer bottle

The water was on, if a little low pressure, first thing and I really rushed around the watering so I could get a shower and it stayed on long enough for my first shower for days. What a great pleasure and I scrubbed as much as I could and felt great. I then went back to Room 13, finished my brew, went to leave, realised it was a bit early so I grabbed the burning items and took them out the back. Ralf this time was very careful and didn't rush when I opened the back door, and even needed encouraging to come forwards and risk bouncing off the fly screen again. The fire lit well and it went down behind one of the beer bottles and I loved the backlight so I snapped some pictures.

Look at our shiny new road

After the fire was going I left it and then it was about time to leave so the boys were put away and I left to a chorus of barks and howls. My plans were complicated this morning by plans that Bekir had to do some paperwork but I had forgotten my kindle so I left Thomas running by the front gate and legged it get the kindle; they greeting this as well with barks but quieted as I returned to Thomas. Poor lads, I don't like having to lock them away but they can both still get out if I'm not there and they probably would. The new road is now "sverchi" (complete) from top to bottom and it is so nice to have a smooth road.

Hazy hills across the valley

As I came round the bottom corner on my road the view across the view was just amazing. It was hazy and the hills were just peeking through, with the river glinting beautifully in the morning sun, and I stopped and stood up on the running board to snap a series of pictures. I wished I'd picked up my filters but never mind. Despite these delays and pauses I still reached the village well on time and then we were off to get Bekir to his paperwork while I went to bank machine after bank machine to find one that could give me money so I could settle for the wood (and the men last week). Fortunately I found one so I paid the men the balance, then we made our way to the wood yard and waited about 20 minutes for the owner to arrive and then we were back home.

The first retaining wall goes in

The first thing the men got started on was building a frame just by the entrance, where they have cleared yesterday and found Shiva. I went and watched for a bit and really enjoyed them working. They are incredible and are brilliant at using the bits and pieces they have laying around. I was making myself breakfast after this which was the lovely fresh bread with bacon and eggs and it was stunning. I was then almost straight out to town to visit the bank to get a chunk of cash and also to go past Lidl. A lot of people are aware of the problems that the Bulgarian banking system is experiencing at the moment and I was not sure if I would encounter queues however my standard excellent service was what greeted me and I was pointed to an English speaking teller who answered my questions, and approved a 10k lev withdrawal on the same day though it was against their normal operating procedures. I think this may be evidence of nerves about "not being able to satisfy withdrawals" as they shut early on Friday when they ran out of cash. No matter, I had the notes that I needed and I always am amused by walking through town with a large wodge of cash that isn't obvious.

Shiva on a stick

When I got back it was nearly lunch time but I had a brew and was amused to see that Shiva has made him (her?) self very comfortable already and was exploring the enclosure. This week I'll be building their external home and setting them free which I am looking forward to, but it is lovely to be able to watch them explore and interact.

Enjoying the sun terrace

I wasn't that hungry yet but didn't want to miss out on the sun so I took my stuff upstairs to what will be the roof terrace and read my book for half an hour. I was glad of the sun hat because it was very hot up there, even with a nice breeze coming in from the gathering clouds.

Ralf checking out the view

Ralf was left downstairs but he managed to open the door to the roof and appeared half way through my relax. He was happy to sit next to me for a bit but then heard the sounds of the men on lunch distracted him and he went a few times to look over the edge. I was firm dragging him away but the last time I decided to snap a picture and hope he didn't jump. I got the picture, and he didn't jump, and then I went downstairs to get a butty as I was feeling a little hungry.

Invasive water stealing plant

After eating I went down to do a second water of the potted plants and Ralf went to harass the men for food as per usual. I noticed while I was going round that the tomato plant that hasn't grown as well as the others had a large flower blooming at its base. I pulled Bekir over and he said very firmly to get rid as it was taking all the water and would be stunting the growth. I grabbed the camera, snapped a few pictures, and then pulled it out as best I could. Anyone know what this could be?

Working out how to build the outriggers

The men carried a couple of beams of wood up onto the roof after this and then sat and discussed their strategy for the roof. I made it clear to Bekir that I want the roof terrace and that Lubo would need to draw it onto the plans and he was amused but happy.

Super relaxed doggy

Ralf had come up with me, as usual, and as I wandered around, walking over again to the end which will be the terrace eventually, he lay himself down and stretched out in the sun, relaxing and stretching and soaking up the rays. The men totally love Ralf and play with him and tease him all the time; indeed Sally almost lost his fingers at lunch by holding some bread just out of what he thought was Ralf's reach, and when Ralf jumped to get it his fingers were also in range.

Now complete and plastic lines

I had a great view of the completed wet storage chamber by the entrance that they had been working on; the plastic sheet had been removed from the temporary window I had built over the bedroom, the one I had been scared would blow onto me in that huge storm a few weeks back now. They don't like waste, these boys.

Bekir up on the scaffold

Shortly after this they came back down and set to on the bedroom again, taking it in turns to go onto the scaffold to remove the loose plaster from on the ceiling, and to scrape and finish the walls. We had bought more expanding foam this morning and that had already been squirted into the requisite gaps so they also spent some time trimming the overflow down.

Hopefully this will protect them

I mentioned earlier about Rambo (and to a lesser extent, Ralf) running through my flowers and knocking heads off. I have plenty of ideas how to stop them but all of them required me to buy stuff but at lunch time today I had a super idea; why not put old chairs over each plant, sinking the legs into the soil so they can't be knocked over. I went to the pile in the workshop that T had brought down and managed to find enough chairs to cover all the Fuschias and the Marigolds. I will find out tomorrow just how effective they are when the boys follow me back and do their usual galumph over the border.

A big lorry arrives

I spent a lot of today waiting for work from my job and at the end of the day I did actually receive some which is great; I have a load to get stuck into again. While I was waiting I spent half an hour sat on the sofa at first trying to read then, when Ralf came and sat on my lap, pulling loads of burs out of his fur as he was actually letting me do it this time. Or he was until he suddenly got annoyed and ran away. I returned to check my emails and then heard a loud honking and there was a cement mixing driving up the lane. I dashed outside, put the boys away, and then watched as it reversed up and nudged towards the storage area. I guided the driver and he jumped out and said "thank you" and had a little english, which was nice.

Is that all your hose produces?

It was a delivery of liquid lime and it took a fair while to slowly be emptied out of the lorry into the collection point. Bekir got the hose and was very amused at just how little water was coming out of the free supply but it needs the water else it'll go off and be wasted.

May as well just watch

Eventually he wedged it in a corner and sat on the edge of the table tennis table and waited for the delivery to complete. It came out in fits and starts and took a fair amount of time as I say but after a while Bekir was at the chute with a spade getting the last of the material and then the chap packed away and drove off, tooting again to say goodbye. What a pleasant chap.

Skakalets

While we were standing around watching all this occur I noticed a huge grasshopper on the swinging chair and took a fair number of pictures of it, much to the amusement of the driver. He told me it was a Skakalets and later when I checked it out that means Locust. It was a lone one but I have see a fair few of these about; hopefully there isn't going to be a plague of them any time soon.

Sally starting to use the lime

As soon as the lorry had gone Sally was in there with a couple of buckets and taking them full of plaster up to the wheelbarrow on the landing. They were going to start the plastering in the bedroom. It took a few loads and I went and did a bit of work while this was going on and I was beginning to feel hungry after my very light lunch.

The door is plastered in

When I heard Sally come up and wheel the barrow through to the living room I followed and was intrigued by their technique of flipping the trowel and throwing the plaster onto the wall, then quickly going over to do a first smooth and remove any excess. I watched for a bit, went back to Room 13, and then it was time for the men to go and I was actually happy because I was now starting to get quite hungry.

The trip back was easy and I got home and immediately started cooking my favourite pork pasta dish. I started the blog while it was cooking, then paused to eat and after that I got really tired and slowed right down. This is not going to be one of my fast blogs at all. Anyway, on some sensible advice I went up onto the roof for some air and watched the kids playing football in the field. As I had driven up coming back from dropping the men off they had been on the road (not a cheren put any more) and had all shouted and waved at me saying "hello!"; it feels good to be welcomed like that.

Anyway, I've had enough of typing now. Speak to you tomorrow I'm sure.