This is my blog about emigrating to Bulgaria. It starts with the idea and will take you through all the steps I am taking to create my new life in this wonderful idyllic country. Thank you for reading.
Please make use of the comments box to ask questions or suggest blog subjects too :)
First thing Halil was filling in fully over the first pipe, that was fitted yesterday, making sure the ballast and sand was well set over the top to protect it. Angela was doing a few chores after dropping Rosie at school and the puppies heard the men arrive so Bekir let them out; they are very noisy when they want to be. Bekir then got the big drill out and began knocking holes through the cement side to allow him to fit the pipe through to the downstairs bathroom. At this time it was warm but with interesting clouds; clouds that often foretell of heavy rain. Bekir's plan was to knock a few small holes in the cement and then tunnel through between them and pull the pipe, making the task quicker and also damage the slab less.
More holes dug
More stones to be moved
Pipe in to the wall end
And out to the pump end
Securing the pipe in place
When Bekir and Halil collected the pipe yesterday they had also picked up a couple of good quality pallets for Angela who had an idea to make an easy-to-maintain garden for Rosie's plants. Today she went and got wood preservative and painted it on the first one, then worked out the size of hole that was needed to sink it in and got that started. Meanwhile Bekir was continuing to drill holes through the slab and was making good progress. Halil, for his part, shifted more large stones and began filling in past the ramp. By mid afternoon the pipe was run from the wall of the house out to where the pumps will be and Bekir and Halil were covering it fully with sand and stones and making sure it was securely in place.
The storm, before it hit
Watching the rain falling, with Rosie
And that is about where they stopped. As you can see from the three videos above a big storm blew in very suddenly indeed (though it had been building for a bit it just hit fast) and it rained heavily and without let up so I sent them home a little early. It was hammering down when Angela got back with Rosie and we spent our time reading on the balcony and then watching the rain fall.
Sunshine over Apple Tree Farm
Now, of course, it is a lovely evening. I don't think it'll be lovely over the weekend, however, though fingers crossed we can still get outside a bit.
And so we finish Thursday and here I am again writing an update.
A bright moon
I'll start with the moon last night; it was super bright and amazing to look at. This picture was taken from the guest room bedroom window and later on when I headed to bed it was almost like daylight outside on the balcony.
Clearing the cement away
Making trellis tripods
So many weeds, and roots
Lots of clearing to be done
Another batch of mowing
Today I dropped Rosie to school and when I got back Bekir and Halil were already in and working. The first task for the day was to start clearing away the blocks and cement on the patio so the slabs that were there could be lifted and all the weeds dug out. Angela was making trellises for the garden, sat on the back patio in the shade. I was working and then at lunch I went out with the mower and cut the grass up the side of the driveway. The final bit to do on this round is next to the washing line and I planned on doing that after work. As it happens I did not do this, which is also fine.
Bekir starts to drill for the pipe
Tyre change on the trailer
Toilet pipe underneath sand
The other end, ready to go up the wall
After lunch Bekir got the breaker, and then the smaller drill, out and started making the hole through which the toilet pipe will go from the upstairs toilet out to the pumps. Orhan came over mid afternoon to borrow the trailer and Halil noticed that there was a huge tear in the side of one of the tyres! Not good but fortunately it was a very quick job to change. We'll have to get the tyre replaced on the spare urgently though. Late afternoon we finally heard that the pipes for the toilet were in stock at the shop so Halil took Thomas down and they collected them, got the bill for all the materials, and also picked up a couple of nice pallets for Angela to use in the garden. With the pipe in hand it was laid along the channel, and up through the hole Bekir had drilled that morning, and now the first one is in and ready. This is a big moment indeed.
The trellis around climbing flowers
Tomatoes ready to climb
When Rosie got back from school she was not in good form really; she also had quite a tumble on the patio and scraped her knee, but then she was super naughty also. We are so lucky normally that evenings like this one are a shock. I did get to go with her around the garden a bit and see the awesome trellis work that Angela had done, on the flowers and also the tomatoes.
So there you are. Update done. Thanks for reading.
This update was very delayed as Blogger's photo upload broke last night.
Today was another day where I wished I had a mini-digger. I wish I had signed a new contract for work as well as then I _would_ have a mini-digger as I would have gone and bought one.
The sun sets over the hills
A very lovely sunset
First of all, however, is this stunning sunset from last night. I ran like the wind onto the roof terrace and still missed the best of it as the sun sinks SO fast but I stayed until it disappeared completely. Lovely.
And the sun returns
Halil marks the level
Bekir makes sure it matches exactly
So much infill to shift
Loads of sand and stones
From sunset to sunrise and it was a bit foggy this morning though that burned off quickly. First thing this morning was another delivery of sand and stones and then lots and lots of shoveling. The men used their water level to work out where exactly to fill to and were working hard to finish off the first half of the patio. Unfortunately the toilet pipes haven't been delivered yet so we are still stuck with that task, but when they've done the spreading we can look to the drainage and then arrange cement delivery.
Some old iron
Later in the day the second truckload of the day, and fourth and final in total, arrived and emptied and now we will prepare for the cement day. I am very excited about this indeed! While digging through the sand Bekir found an old metal valve of some sort - if anyone can identify it that'd be great. It was completely rust up.
A baby toad, I think
Lunch time success
Pushing on behind the orchard
And onto the back bank
Halil piles up stones
At lunch and after work I took the mower out and pushed it around the front and side of the chicken house and then up through where I pulled out the saplings and right up onto the top bank, which I finished just as Angela got back with Rosie after school. The duck pond, which really should be emptied, has loads of life in it so we may leave it for a bit. I would love to get running water and a little stream in for when we get more chickens so the wildlife can flourish. The mowing was very hard work but now we have access again to the back bank. Bekir and Halil were still working away, Halil now moving the huge rocks over to the other side of the ramp to start filling that section.
So there you are; another day of it. Thanks for reading.
Today there are lots of videos, including deliveries of stones and infill that my nephew will love to watch.
13 tonnes of infill
Halil throws the infill towards its target
Rosie was back to school today after her holiday yesterday and I had the pleasure of dropping her off as I was going with Bekir to get a final quote and arrange for the delivery of the infill. Rosie loved having us both along, and then it was over to the quarry where we talked with the boss who grabbed one of the truck drivers and had him turn straight around and follow us back to dump the load already in his truck. Very quick service. There was a lot of large stones in with the small stones and sand and it was a HUGE task for Bekir and Halil to shift it from where it was dropped and spread it smooth. The videos above cover the lorry arriving, delivering (sorry for the shaky cam, I was also helping clear things away) and then the arduous task of moving it into place. I really wish I had a tractor or mini-digger now.
Evidence of turning round
Nearly finished spreading the first load
Halil hefts a large rock
Mid afternoon the second lorry load arrived, this time with the boss-man along for the ride. This truck really struggled to get onto the land, it took him many attempts to round the corner by the green building and then many more to turn around on our drive (and he left a fair amount of his tyres on the drive in black marks). He complained that the loader was an idiot and had loaded his truck badly so it wasn't driving well. It really didn't look easy but he managed. The men finished spreading the first load and made a start on the second before the end of the day. Hard work in the heat.
Back bank mowed as well now
Art time for daddy and Rosie
A colourful beetle
After work I pushed the mower around on the back bank and got that finished just before Angela got home with Rosie after school and then it was time for Daddy Time which involved art and then "catch you" on the balcony, followed by some "I hide" on the front lawn and then we took a walk around the house along the newly mown back bank and Rosie helped me with clips for tying more of the vine to the supports. Dinner was lovely on the balcony and we got to see the train go along the valley for the first time for a few weeks which was very exciting.
Tomorrow we'll have the same amount of infill again delivered, and we should also get the toilet piping. It was about 27 tonnes today so a fair quantity indeed. Thanks for reading.
As the title of this update suggests it has been a lovely long weekend indeed. Sunny and very enjoyable, though not relaxing.
Rosie places a feather behind the fairy house
Such a lovely display
The vine is growing well again
Saturday is Daddy Day and I was up with Rosie, though Angela didn't end up having much of a lay in anyway. Rosie and I were in the garden early, playing "catch you" and she moved her fairy house to a new location and then started to collect feathers behind it. The garden really is slowly coming together; when we have the new raised beds done it'll be awesome but already Angela's flowers by the path look so stunning. Rosie and I played in the sandpit and she also helped me while I checked the vine and clipped up some of the new growth to encourage it along the right path. After her nap we got to play on the balcony again. It was a good day all round.
This sapling must go
Rubble dug out while removing the saplings
Tortoise garden starting to be removed
Hacked back the weeds here
The never ending mowing of lawns continues
Sunday is Mummy Day for Rosie and I did a small amount of hobbying but mostly was out in the garden. My first task was to take the pickaxe and remove a number of saplings that were growing in the wrong place, like really close to the house. This didn't take long and then I set to with the sickle and did a load of clearing around the entrance to the fenced garden. Rosie and Angela started trying to take the tortoise garden apart but it was too solid (go me, who built it 5 or 6 years ago) so then they went next door and I followed once I'd cleared even more by the gate out of the garden and behind the spud towers. It was very tiring indeed and I was very hot. After this I pulled the mower out, while Rosie was having her afternoon nap, and got the next section of the lawn mowed. While I was doing the first clearing of the day I unconvered a toad hidden in the undergrowth. After this video I covered him up and let him be. He'll keep down lots of pests, they are noisy but good to have around.
Rosie spreads her pizza around
Climbing the back bank
Tasty cheese (and pizza)
I was pretty exhausted and very hangry by the end of the day and Angela planned a lovely meal with shop bought pizza bases that we could build our own pizzas on. Rosie got completely involved as she added her tomato base, spread it around, and then scattered all the toppings for her own. She then helped build mine. While waiting for these to cook we went on a lovely walk around the village and up the back, as is traditional, and then it was time to sit on the balcony and eat (which I was VERY pleased about).
Halil shifts the last of the firewood
Rosie at the cement company
Lots of drainage
Hot hot today
Shifting the blocks
And so we get to today. It was a long weekend for me but the men worked the holiday, which is good. First thing this morning Halil finished off the moving of the wood from the outside woodstore and I went with Bekir (and Rosie, who insisted on coming with me, though I was going to take her anyway) to order the stones and cement for the patio. We got that resolved then went to the normal builder's merchant to get toilet pipe (it won't come until Wednesday) and to collect all the drains we've ordered. Lots and very expensive materials are going into this project. It was a very warm day today indeed. When we got back Bekir and Halil got stuck in to shifting the blocks that were stacked on the patio and these are now very neatly piled up by the green building.
Circling bird - what is it?
Halil starts to lift slabs
Quite a substantial stump I dug out
Continuing the trench
Burning up the old cement bags
Front lawn all mowed
Lunch was on the balcony again and while we were eating a bird flew over that I couldn't identify. I only had my phone so the pictures and video are rubbish, but maybe one of you can help me with what it is? After lunch Rosie had her nap and I went outside to continue the mowing. Bekir and Halil were getting stuck in to digging trenches for the toilet pipes which was very hot and very hard work. I also did a bit of digging as I swung the pickaxe to lift roots and stumps as I came across them. Bekir made a little bonfire of the used up cement bags which was a good idea and I pushed on and got the whole of the front lawn mowed before needing to go in and rest. It is pretty hard work but so satisfying and worth while.
Digging in the hot sun
Rosie watches the tractor drive past
The trench extends towards the downstairs toilet
I rested after this and Bekir and Halil kept digging. What hard work it was for them today. They finished the trench that will bring the pipe from the upstairs toilet and then got started on the one going towards the downstairs. With the pipe being delayed we may have to delay the stone delivery due tomorrow but we shall see. After Rosie's nap I took her to the front lawn for a picnic on the rug and she was thrilled by a tractor that drove past down the side path - we don't see many of those type things around here. She also got to wave goodbye to Bekir and Halil, and wave at Hus and the White Car Driver from the farm. We did catch you and hide and seek and sandcastles (Angela got me to pour water onto the sandpit which made these much more successful) then it was dinner time and then Rosie bedtime.
Lovely sunset
I'll leave you with this sunset shot taken while writing this update.
