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 :)
Today is a day of two halves. I'm late starting this so let's get to it.
A big pile of sand has been delivered
Let it burn
Starting to slap the mortar on the walls
Angela takes a stroll
Getting towards the end of the first mix
The men started the day trying to make use of our existing sand to make up the plaster/mortar however that sand was bought mixed with stones and it was really difficult for them to separate the stones out, what with all the rain that has made the sand very heavy and sticky, so we ordered some more sand which arrived very quickly. While waiting for that Bekir had another tidy around and lit another fire to get rid of it. It was quite stinky. Once the new sand had arrived they mixed a load of mortar up and then Bekir got to work in the restricted space, throwing the mortar onto the exterior wall to seal it prior to plastering. Thankfully the rain did stop today, however it didn't really brighten up that much and was miserable and grey all day. In the afternoon Angela went to collect Thomas with the men and also to do some stuff at our friends house to winterise their place so it was only a half day for the men anyway.
Gizmo and Tiny say hi to Rosie
Rosie watching the show
Rosie on my shoulders
Time to meet Santa again
As Angela was out I got to collect Rosie from school and when we got back the puppies from the farm were at the gate again. Rosie loves them and hopped out the car to say hello to Gizmo and Tiny. After that it was time for a little hobby then when Angela got back, much later than we'd expected, there was a huge rush to get back out the house and down to town in time for the lights show. It was pretty awesome with singers and dancers and Rosie saw some of her friends, sat on my shoulders for a bit, then met Santa and got a little gift. We left actually before the lights were turned on as Rosie was hungry and so were we - we had a nice dinner at the local fast food place which we do like then headed back in time for bed time for Rosie and me to write this update.
So there it is. Another weekend is upon us so back on Monday. Thanks for reading.
I'm late starting to write this update because of everything that has happened today so let's get to it before I collapse in a heap on the floor of tiredness.
Wonderful productive garden Angela has created
All the family sat in the morning sun
Before we get into the day we were up quite early this morning and so Angela and Rosie got to do the watering before it got too hot. I also sat out and pottered a bit and then we all sat on the deck chairs watching the sun rise and the puppies got involved as well; it was a lovely full-family moment.
Messy building ready for tidying
Halil shovelling out the old hay and dust
Bekir fiddling with wires
Halil scrapes the walls
Bekir chips away at the ceiling
The men were in on time and Bekir said that he was worried with how hot it is that rendering the outside of the chicken house would be a bad idea. I agreed and so we decided to switch focus to inside the building. It was a total mess, having been used as a temporary tool store by the men for a few months and also the chickens and then Bekci living in there. First thing they lifted out a load of stuff and then swept the big bits up. Then they got two shovels and worked to knock down the loose cement and plaster. After a bit they found my new power washer and switched over to using that which was a much more sensible idea indeed and really kept the horrible dust down that was making it very unpleasant in there while they were working. Bekir also did some electrical work including running a cable through into the next room of this outbuilding so we can have a plug socket in there.
Rosie with her blue tongue
Two clowns doing magic tricks
School kids singing a patriotic song VERY lustily
I collected Rosie from school as Angela had an appointment and when we got back it was straight into the pool for a bit before we packed up and headed into town where the Childrens Day celebrations were being held. It was really awesome, we had some food and Rosie had a drink that turned her tongue totally blue then there was dancing and singing which Rosie danced to before we headed home. And that is why I am late starting this update.
So there it is; another awesome day and here's to tomorrow. Thanks for reading.
Update today is going to be a short one as I've not taken many pictures and anyway it's not been that varied a day.
Pre-dawn, the sun is in there behind the hills
The sun just clears the ridge
There goes the sun
I slept like a log and woke wishing to continue to sleep but the alarm had gone off and my bladder demanded I move and that was that. It was an overcast day, and has pretty much stayed that all day with threats of rain but none appearing. The overcast however still allowed for a very pretty sunrise which I grabbed pictures of as it progressed from pre-dawn when I first woke through to the sun finally disappearing into the haze. It actually did burn through a couple of times which was nice but not that often and now it's dark and cold so much that A lit the fire in Room 13.
Hikmet gets started on the next units
Mesut getting some mixing done
Chipping out a hole for the light switches
Mesut puts cement on the walls
Louise just heard A returning
What a beautiful picture; she's so talented!
Hikmet was moved into the Art Room to start putting paint onto the remaining two large storage units in there. Mesut continued with the cement work chasing Bekir around the Gaming Room while Bekir was working on the electrics still, now putting in the light switches for the Gaming Room. A headed down to collect a delivery from ekont while I was working and came back quickly. The work continued and I struggled with tiredness while A drew some AMAZING pictures including one inspired by the walk we took around the village on Sunday.
Cement machine puts itself away, watched by village men
Mesut on with fixing the roof cabling
Hikmet and more painting
Bekir laughs at me taking pictures
Mesut polishes some plaster
I had to go out and visit the solicitor to sort some stuff out for A's residency card and this visit ended up taking quite a lot longer than expected. I was delayed in the centre of the village by a cement mixing pouring onto the house that is being renovated there; I was greeted by several of the men of the village and waited and relaxed until they were done; it's a different pace of life here. When I got back it was revealed that Hikmet was low on paint and so A went out straight away to get some more. By the time she got back I was dead on my feet and went for a half hour lie down and slept like the absolute dead. When I woke it was time for my daily work meeting and then I took the men home. I got home to find the fire lit in Room 13 and we ate our dinner and now I've written this up.
So there you have it; there is every chance that tomorrow the tiles will start to go down - this is super exciting!
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.
