Four years has flown by!

During this week the 4th anniversary of my arrival to live "full time" (though there have been some periods of time when I've had to be away during that, including three years ago right now when I had returned to Northwich leaving A with no power, no water and a rat hiding in the cooker) and my Dad has been thrilling me every day by sharing memories on Facebook of the journey and the places we stopped on the way. What a journey it has been since then and, despite the ups and downs, I wouldn't change a thing. Coming here was the best decision ever!

And so, to the update and I've got a bit to get through, including some cool videos (though none of Thelma as the one I filmed of her playing with her flashing ball along the dark corridor via Facebook Live is not on my phone nor can I download it; that's the last time I've ever using "Facebook Live" I can tell you!

Puppies sharing a bed, attempt one

Washing line snapped

Puppies sharing a bed attempt two

My hobbying space being used to the full

A little sculpting I did, to make this cloak

Thelma playing with the flashing ball in the dark corridor

Last Monday A went shopping leaving me working away. I put a load of washing on after she went and laughed at the puppies who only had the small bed up here, but still both wanted to be near the fire. When I went to hang the washing out, however, I got it nearly all done before the line snapped and the washing ended up in the orchard. It was a good thing I was there when it happened. As it was I brought it all inside and hung it to dry in there. I did miss one item of clothing which A recovered yesterday after a week of sitting in the orchard. Oops. The sun was out and the puppies were determined to share that tiny little bed; look at how cute they are cuddling up together. My "new start" has been going very well and all this week I've been able to get away from my desk, whether to hobby or relax. Monday was hobbying night and I did some conversions for the Battle Companies game and then did the dark corridor / flashing ball with Louise.

The Bagga Machine for the Water Board digs to the pipes

Blue sky and smiling Beard

Spring flowers on our path

Really lovely, and thriving in this location

Rambo gets a belly rub in the sun

Sunshine at the front, huge storm behind the house

Back inside and the puppies have their own chair

Dark clouds catching the sun at their tops

Rain sheeting down

Our water has been a bit up and down recently in terms of pressure and on Tuesday the Little Lady finally shouted at the kmet and got the water people out to have a look; they brought their bagga machine and have left a real mess in the lane however the pressure returned to normal, though we had some brown water coming through for a bit so our habit of always having bottled water for back up proved wise yet again. It was, once again, a glorious day and we had lunch on the patio, enjoying the flowers that are now shooting up everywhere, and even Rambo was in the mood to celebrate. The other side of the building, however, was a different matter. A huge storm was brewing and we headed inside in case it hit. This time it did not however the clouds were impressive and the sheets of rain falling in the valley were clear to see.

Two weather fronts colliding

Dramatic broken clouds

The front of the house, and inset, the back taken together

Our new awesome gaming table

Clouds above the Parents' hotel, where they were 4 years ago today

The weather did not clear, indeed we had a thunder storm hit in the night that was quite close and violent and disturbed Thelma and Louise a bit, though not as badly as would have been expected. There were more storms through the day, and some really impressive cloud displays that I went onto the Roof Terrace to capture. At one point during a particularly heavy period of thunder and lightning the rain was hammering down at the back of the house while there was barely a drop falling in front and it continued like that for a fair while. I popped out to do some chores, like paying taxes and I also picked up our new 4'x4' gaming table which is amazing. The clouds gathering over the hills across the valley as the evening drew in were dramatic and A called me out to get a picture. Louise was clearly dreaming of warmer times as she was sleeping in front of the fire; she really is such a cute dog!

The sun behind clouds, but illumination below

An amazing, spooky and awesome light show

More evidence of sisterly love

About two minutes after the sleeping photo was taken...

She doesn't even care

This storm took out our internet

Another storm on the horizon

Swirling clouds like a wave caught mid-crash

Thursday was another mixed day which started out cloudy but with the most beautiful affect of the sun being higher, but the thinner cloud letting the light through being a few degrees below; it was spooky and awesome and I rushed around to grab the camera to take some pictures. At lunch once again we sat out on the patio to eat but Louise found the wettest most disgusting smelling pile of recent duck poo and got it all onto her neck and was not even slightly ashamed; indeed she was massively proud of herself. It reeked!! Fortunately it also dried and then rubbed of easily. After that lovely lunchtime the storm closed in and mid afternoon it was almost continual rumbling and flashing; I sent a message to my work "huge storm here" and then the internet died and you could see why; right in the middle of that cloud is the internet pylon. The storm did pass, however, and we were able to get some almost-sunset photographs as more storms approached.

A carrying out the rug for beating

Beautiful flowers by the path

Friday was a spring clean day as I was continuing to tidy the Games Room and Corridors (though I haven't taken any pictures) but A was in the kitchen giving it a good scrub down. She lifted out the rug that was underneath our dining table and then hung over the edge of the trailer to beat it. I hasten to add that I did help and didn't just stand taking pictures. She did a wonderful job and the routine of cleaning every Sunday morning may have to make a reappearance. The flowers by the side of the entrance path had bloomed even more since earlier in the week; it's such a lovely thing and we have more bulbs to plant that I think will go in there as well.

Usmivka happy with his present

Amazingly tasty home made kyufte with their own beef

Raising a glass with the Other Brother

A cheeky little chappy

Siblings

Usmivka with his lovely smile

The Little Lady and HER lovely smile

The Little Lady with the Grandkids

Candle time with the cake

Chicken and rice with salad; tasty!

Turkish Delight, and a round of Turkish Tea

That evening we headed over to the neighbours as it was Usmivka's birthday; it is always so lovely to be invited there and this was no different. We were settled in their front room and spent the evening eating many different meals, from homemade kyufte from their own beef, and amazing salad, and then chicken and rice and finally cake. We bought him a bottle of nice vodka that he then proceeded to share with me. The whole family was there and it was a really lovely evening. I took loads of pictures and enjoyed every second. When we got back I was still buzzing so I ended up hobbying and painting for another few hours. All in all that was a super evening and certainly goes into the "good for the soul" list.

Louise watching me making breakfast

Lovely eggs from our own chickens

A pleasure to eat breakfast outside with A

YES! The rally IS back

This truck was so loud

Evidence of their passing

The stream is flowing again

A moment of relaxation during a huge tidying weekend

Set up for a game of Battle Companies

Just some of the painting I did last night

Yesterday was a bacon and egg day, the puppies were most pleased about this, and not just that but we got to eat it on the balcony. It was a good place to sit as the wind was really whipping even by that time of the day and when I headed onto the balcony to check out if the sound of engines meant the rally race was back I could barely open the door up there. Most excitingly it WAS the day of the rally so A and I rushed up to the top of the village in time to watch a couple more groups of competitors go past. I then ran up the hill, as A went home, and grabbed some more video of another couple as they went past but that was the last for the day. A bit later on I heard more engines and went back up the hill but no cars came past and I just got to enjoy the view, and the tinkling spring running down the side of the road. The sun stayed out well, even though the wind was too high to be outside much, and we sat together in the sun on the rug and enjoyed it then went inside and played two excellent games of our Battle Companies. We ate dinner in the lounge in front of the fire and then had a lovely relaxing evening both of us doing our hobbying; I missed the time and painted miniatures until gone midnight!

The track above the properties

House for sale

Guard dog doing his thing

Our beautiful open fire, that we can't use

And so, we get to today (and if you're still reading - kudos! It's a long one!). We had heard that a property near one we liked was maybe available so headed back up into the mountains to view it, particularly as the weather is wild and we wanted to see just what it was like up there. It was pretty brutal, but unfortunately we couldn't get to the actual property because a neighbour had his cattle and cow-dog in the land and didn't want the puppies going in. We stood for a few minutes, took some snaps, then drove back. It looks like a pretty nice place, and the land is awesome, and the price they're asking is pretty fair but we need to think more and also review some other options. That view, though. In the car Louise was singing along to Alabama 3 which we just had to get a video of. Since then I've been typing this and A has been in the kitchen and got the open fire lit; we both wish this had a good draw as it's AMAZING but once again it got super smokey; such a shame.

So there you have it; another week gone. We haven't heard from Bekir yet so we may or may not have workmen next week; I suppose you'll find out because I'll suddenly start blogging more often.

Thanks for reading, all.