A day of diggers

 The update today is going to be very short, though the day was very long.

Inspecting the first digger

Very nice, but out of my price bracket

This was SOOO BIGGGG

Ride on mower option

Flat battery and couldn't get it started

Might I buy this; we shall see...

There is a picture of nearly every digger I looked at today while we went hunting for one to potentially buy. The first one was an "antika" and the guy we brought along to have a look at the machines and give us an expert opinion was very critical of it. We then went to look at one that was out of my price range but very nice (and parked next to a HUGE digger that I really wanted) then we went past another that was even further out of my price range. On the way back home we stopped so Bekir could pick up a new chainsaw and I saw a potential ride on mower option before we visited two more diggers; the first had a flat battery and was quite battered and the last one was apparently the best option of the lot. I rode around in it for a bit with our expert and then took over driving it (very badly!). Time for a decision to be made.

That was all for the day; it took all day and we didn't even get time to stop for lunch. I let the men go home as soon as we got back then got back to work myself for a bit. What a long day. Thanks for reading.

Only two more weeks

Wow. Two weeks since I last blogged, I am slacking terribly. To be fair, there is not much to write about when I am here all alone and the vegetable season is (supposedly) coming to an end. However, I will try to fill you in with what has been going on. 

Garden:

It is most definitely autumn here; the temperature is dipping dramatically at night and early morning, so I am unsure as to what will happen with our persistent tomato plants.  As with last year, I think we are going to have a surplus of green tomatoes to make some ragu with. I am looking forward to some of the plum ones coming good as we haven't grown these before.

Tommies

The Beard is going to love the green tomato harvest just as much as he did last year when he thought it would be a good idea to try to blanch and skin them for a ragu. I have a hand-held whizzer that would have saved all that nonsense.

Still producing

It just shows how warm it still is during the day when the courgettes are continuing to flower and fruit. Quite amazing. I have had great value from them this year. I have discovered a few more ways of cooking them which has been pretty awesome as I don't think I have eaten them very much at all until I arrived in Bulgaria. They are becoming quite a favourite.

Courgettes

When I got back from Ireland and the UK, next door had been over and harvested what she (and I) thought would have been the last of the chillies.  She had preserved a couple of jars for me and even though I was sure the plants were about done, I continued to water them. And I was right. Still going strong. I have just been for coffee next door and I saw a string of her own chillies air drying and so I think I will try that method myself. I love how we learn so much from them.

Chillies

Still going strong, if a little slower, are the peppers. I cannot begin to tell you how many I still have to process and I suspect this will have to be done this week at some point as they are all starting to peak. I am certainly not going to have to buy any over winter.

Peppers

As with last year, the melons we planted must have been somewhat late in going to seed as we are starting to see some babies appearing.  It is of course much too late in the year now for these to grow to be edible, but we are living and learning.

Baby melon

Very young

As I said, I have just been for coffee and Little Lady was giving advice about the garden. Now, she has been setting tasks for the Beard for when he gets back and was very insistent in saying that "when he gets back he MUST put some manure around those olive trees and you must make sure and have a break!" I kid you not. She said that it is about time he came back and did some work - I hope you read this Mr Beard! lol

Olives

I haven't just been walking around taking pictures of the garden, I actually did a little bit (which ended up taking ages) of tidying around the tomatoes. The plants, especially the cherry tomato plants, are just simple huge, so I went through and took all the over-ripe or caterpillar eaten ones off and fed them to the chickens. I don't think that after all this time that this is a bad amount of waste. All the new growth will not go to waste now and all the dead leaves and branches have been mostly removed. They are still flowering away!

Waste

Friends:
Almost two weeks ago now, S of SandS gave birth to a bouncing little boy. I of course was chomping at the bit to go and get introduced however, was very patient until the family had visited and S was feeling up to more visitors. He is quite simply, adorable. So very alert and much inquisitive indeed. He really took a good hard look at me when I had him, it was absolutely hilarious, especially when he frowned. I guess that says it all!  His facial expressions when hearing a new voice did make us all laugh. Such a cute little kid.

New arrival

Beautiful boy

Around the School:
I am not even going to attempt to say when any of things have happened, so let's just say they did. I have felt a bit sorry for Rambo lately as he hasn't had many walks this year and we really should make more time to do that, for us as well as him. So I braved it. Three dogs, three extendable leads and me trying not to get in a complete tangle! I managed, but only just.

I must be mad

The view from the track to the lake. Rambo was sniffing the air here. He knew.

He can smell the lake

This will show you just how dry it has been here. Apart from a couple of nights of rain in the last couple of weeks, we have had none at all for more than four months. The ground is crying out for water and still it doesn't come. I am sure there will be some along soon though; we are headed to that time of year.

Drought

The level of the lake was shockingly low and Rambo's obedience, even more shocking!

Patience

I managed to catch both of them getting their legs wet! Thelma is less of a princess and went for a very brief paddle to try and retrieve her stick. She gave up in the end and went and found one on the bank for me to throw for her. They really do not like swimming.

Thelma and Louise paddle

A complete contrast to that is Rambo, who I had to actually call out of the water when he was getting so tired he was gasping for air! I did not fancy getting in there to drag him out when he ran out of steam.

Retrieved the stick

As I have said, there have been a couple of nights of rain, but not a huge amount however, this was the first sign that I have seen anywhere I have been that it is having any effect.  I love this shot and it was purely just to show the Beard that there was some water coming down the storm drains. The colours are great.

Lucky shot

Back at the School and the chickens are loving their freedom. They are out for most of the day although, I actually think they have slowed down on their laying since being allowed out. I thought at first that I was just unable to find where they are laying, but after a couple of days to being back in their enclosure, I was still only getting two eggs again, none of which were from ducks. I'm not quite sure what is going on, but I suppose they will lay again when they are ready. Or they will be in a few pancakes with some cucumber, spring onions and hoisin sauce.

Free range

As I mentioned, it has been much cooler and it has not gone unnoticed by the little puppies. Thelma sat shivering at the door the other morning and so I thought I would be helpful and put their tracksuits on. They hate me now. They both walked around like they had splints on all four legs and were unable to bed at any joint. I was laughing so hard and may have left them on for much longer than was fair to them. However, I am bigger and the boss.

Cold morning

Since the Beard's last visit, Thomas has been in the garage getting looked at for an overheating issue. When I had called Monday week ago to see how they were getting along with him I was told he was all sorted and ready to take home. This worked very well as Chaz was coming to town to pick up his curtains and we were going for lunch at our favourite restaurant. He kindly gave me a lift over and for a very small fee, I was told they had done something with the radiator and anti-freeze and he was good to go. True to their word, after a booting down the new road, beyond the turbo kicking in, which was when the issue had been occurring, he was keeping a steady temperature again. So he should be ready for winter now once we get his winter tyres on.

Thomas is back

I haven't just been pottering around. I made an attempt at chainsawing again but noticed that the chain was hanging a little loose when it was beginning to get stuck in the logs. I was stopped in my efforts as even I was aware that this could be dangerous or not good for the saw. I have since been next door and Orhan kindly had a look and tightened it up for me. I now have the task of sharpening it again and then I will be good to go. I have only managed to get a small amount of our stock cut and I really could do with getting a wriggle on.

Chainsawing halt

I am quite excited by this next arrival, sad as that may be. Ever since I have got here I have wanted a stove like Little Lady has, on which she has pots bubbling away all over winter. A multi-functional wood-burner which I am determined to get the hang of this winter. Of course, I also have a very special present from Belgium coming my way which will be pride of place on the maiden voyage (burning). This should allow us to have stews/casseroles/curries bubbling away throughout the day when winter finally hits and there is a need for constant heat. It wasn't cheap, but it produces up to 15kW of heat which is the recommended output for a room this big.  This means that we can heat that whole area without needing to light the open fire. We will of course use the open fire, but we don't HAVE to.

New wood-burning stove

ANOTHER arrival: My new bike. This didn't arrive fully assembled and I am amazed and quite proud that I managed to fit it all by myself, especially given they are quick-release wheels and brakes which are on discs rather than (what I would consider) normal wheel brakes. The pedals caused me some confusion however, as I had no idea there was a specific pedal to each side and that they were screwed in in opposite directions. Still, I managed after some tips from the Beard and YouTube.

New bike

I went shopping on Saturday in preparation for his arrival back at the School. We have arranged for a bonfire party again this year and there are LOTS if jobs he will have to do in that week when he gets back. I have had a list of things that we need and one of them was draft excluding strips for the bottom of some of the doors. I managed to get one onto Room 13 to test it before splashing out on about 6 in total and is seems to be working well.

Draught excluding strip

Of course, my new, epic, wood-burner cannot work without the right equipment, so I went out and bought ALL  the bits and bobs I needed and spent ALL the money at the weekend. Building up the blue jobs for his return as well, obviously. Amongst the pipework were two curtain poles for the kitchen and nook and I still need to try and source an extra long pole, or have one custom made for that large picture window in the nook which looks out onto the back bank. There is also a radiator for the burner, a log bucket sitting neatly underneath and more strips for the other doors. It feels like I am actually getting some stuff done!

All the kit

Skies and scenery:
Just a couple of random shots for you; this first one caught my eye whilst out doing the watering one afternoon. The sun has gone behind a cloud and it is like the sky has been cut in two, with one side lit up and the other not.  Anyway, I thought it was interesting.

Half and half

I looked out the window the other night and for some reason, really appreciated our view again from the living room. I suppose I haven't been really sitting in there in months and it just struck me as a lovely view to have from the sofa.  Of course, the curtains will all be going back up soon.

Evening view

These next three are the reason autumn is my favourite month. All captured on my way to or back from seeing SandS and Mini S. I love autumn colours. So vibrant.

Autumn scenes

Burning leaves

Stunning display

Puppies:
One last section before you die of boredom. There have been a few occasions recently that Little Lady has shouted or Louise has been barking madly at the side gate for me to go out and discover that Little Miss Thelma has been outside the perimeter of the land and running up and down the lane. Whilst she does not go far, after our loss of Ralf when he escaped, I cannot bear the thought of anything similar happening again. So we played a game.

Escape route

I was outside and calling them. They escaped through their holes.

Blocked

I fixed the holes.

Breathing in to get out

One that only Louise could squeeze through, as she is that little bit smaller.

Wired

Not any more.

Little tinker

Finally, the last hole is where our front wall is really starting to need attention. This is now moving up the ranks in terms of urgency, but is quite a specialised job. It will have to be done though otherwise we will find our garden on the lane. Still, first things first....

Temporary fix

Puppy-proofed!

*and relaxes*

That is it.  Today has been nice. I was up early and did the photos for this blog first thing, then I did the humanure and cleaned Sassy out, then I cleared up the kitchen, washed up, put my pork in the slow cooker (about to be munched), I hoovered out the bedroom and stripped the bed down and washed the bedding and now I am going to go in and sit in front of the fire, have a couple of glasses of wine, eat my pork and read a book until I fall asleep.

Thank you for persisting. You will be pleased to hear that when he is back he will be doing these much more regularly than I have managed. And just so you know, IT IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY!  HURRAH!

Leka nosht.

A xx

Spend spend spend

Today has been a day of spending big but that was always the plan. We haven't done any wood chopping though so not all of our plans worked out. No matter, it's been a really good day. Onwards.

Very foggy start to the day

As soon as I finished the update last night I went to bed, curled up, and went to sleep even though I had half a cup of tea next to me on the bedside table. I had that incipient migraine feeling in my legs and was feeling pretty wiped out. When I was woken up by the puppies wanting out at about 5am I was feeling a whole lot better and, after a little struggle, I got back to sleep. Once again A got up without disturbing me and I woke up pretty naturally, but earlier than I wanted due to the workmen coming on a Saturday. The beautiful clear skies of the night had been obliterated by really thick fog which smothered everything.

Bedroom Petchka

We were heading off to the big hardware store, via the bank, early this morning and one of the things on the list was the rest of the pipes for the petchkas in the living room and bedroom. To help us work out what we would need we lifted the petchka into the bedroom and offered it up. It sits in really nicely, and I'm glad that we're getting new black pipes for it as it'll look really good. We worked out we need 12 more metres of pipes; nothing is small in this build.

Thomas is fully clothed once more

Before we left I got Nikolai to help me, with his colleague, get the back onto Thomas. It wasn't too much hassle with their help but then it was a real pain to get the first bolt in to hold it on. Eventually this was done, we were loaded in, and off we went. The visit to the bank ended up being quite a mission as I had five payments to make and each had to be manually typed in but eventually it was done, I was richer, and we made our way to the big shop.

A testing out her new camera before buying it

When we got there we left the puppies in the truck, bought almost the shops entire stock of black petchka pipes, and then paid for them and stashed them in the truck before heading back in to get the bookshelves and for me to look for a mill (no luck) and a pond filter (a brilliant one was found). We left feeling satisfied, made our way to the electrical store in our local town and spent oodles more money on new cameras (one each) and a microwave. This last is a big concession for me as I didn't want one but it makes so much sense when you're coming in to winter and making big stews that you can then reheat easier. Here is the first picture taken on A's new camera - aren't I looking SHARP.

A beautiful day from in Thomas

After counting out lots of 50 lev notes at the checkout, with a queue developing behind me, we headed towards the local town which Bekir had informed us was having an open day today.On the way A was playing with her camera and snapping random shots of the way there. As you can see from them the weather really had improved since the foggy start and it was even above 20 degrees and lovely and warm. Sure enough as we pulled into the town we could hear music and there was a fayre ground and all sorts of other things going on. We managed to find parking not far from the centre, got our cameras on the go with straps and a memory card for me, and then headed into town.

Bolt cutters for splitting bones, and the head

More goat over the coals

We made our way towards the music, pausing briefly by the goat stall before walking on as it was very busy. After a while we realised that there were no other goat pits around so we headed back to the first one and waited. Then waited. Then waited some more. It seemed that the method to getting served was to push in at the front and the rest of the queue just didn't move, not even the little old lady in front of us (who had also pushed in, as it happens) and when a group of strapping young Turks came over and pushed in I threw my toys out the pram and we left. Annoying as I wanted goat again.

Slightly dry chicken, but lovely bread

We crossed the road once more and headed up the main festival street until we came to an empty table and sat there, ordering some chicken, some bread and two beers. It quickly became apparent why the tables were empty as the chicken had been over the coals too long and was dry and not that tasty. No matter we ate it all as we were hungry from all the spending. The owners were very friendly, took pictures of the puppies (Thelma was in full on sulk mode as she didn't want to walk anywhere and particularly not in crowds) and showed us a photograph of her son with his dog. They are very friendly.

Thelma mid chew, Louise mid beg

The puppies were getting plenty of chance to grab food from us as we were tearing off bits of meat and bread and passing them down. Even they weren't that impressed with the food, however, and after a while they refused any but the juiciest bits. They are ruined, I tell you.

Local kids saying hello to Thelma

Once we had choked down all the food we could we paid up (it wasn't very expensive) and headed out along the road. This time I had Louise on her lead and A carried Thelma who was sulking still. We were heading towards the noise of a band up the road and when we found it they were on a brief break from music making. As per usual the girls got lots of attention and these kids were brave enough to come say hello and ask to stroke them.

Louise singing along

Shortly after this the band struck up again. I had wondered why everyone was stood on the sides and no one was sat down on the benches in front of the stage but it quickly became apparent. It was much much too loud and even where we were the volume was overwhelming. The funniest thing, though, was Louise's reaction. As soon as it started she started to howl along. Once I stopped laughing I got a quick photograph and then we escaped so she could calm down. She was not impressed at all.

Very noisy fun for the kids

On the way back to Thomas we strolled a slightly different route back, first of all dropping a street lower and then (after Louise did a big dump right in the middle of the path that I had to clean up with napkins and then hunt for a bin to dump) through the kids fairground. The music here was really loud as well and we didn't stop long, just time to get some pictures to test out the colours on the new cameras. This one was from my camera.

Whole chicken over coals

The final photograph was as we went past the goat roasting pit from earlier. The goats were all gone but there were now chickens on spits over the heat. A got what I think is the best photograph of the day as she had been playing with her settings a lot. She's much more into cameras whereas I normally use the automatic setting most of the time and here you can see how it pays off.

New arrivals at the neighbour's house

We drove home along the nice newly resurfaced road past the sunflower fields but as we were going past the Little Lady's house we were hailed and encouraged to come out to see what she had to show us. It was a load of tiny chicks that one of her hens had just hatched out. They were in one of the numerous barns and store houses around her yard but she encouraged them out with handfulls of bread.

Little Lady preserving peas

A friendly wave from Usmivka

She was boiling up peas in a cauldron on an open fire in the yard, a load of jars full were submerged fully in water. This is how you do it properly, rather than my effort-full attempts at preserves. There's so much to learn. She offered some to us and will maybe drop it over later on. As we were leaving Usmivka came over to see us and I was able to get a lovely shot of his lovely smile from in the car. They're such a great couple.

The side wall for the drive is done

We got back to find the builders were still there but they had basically finished their work for the day. We unloaded everything then strolled round to check it out and spent a lovely few minutes sat underneath the pear tree enjoying the weather and the way that the driveway will end up looking. Then it was inside for a brew and A at first said she wanted to get out and chop wood but then very quickly agreed when I said I'd rather not. We were both pretty tired so we headed to bed to rest however I ended up not being able to get over and got up after a few minutes so as to not disturb A's sleep more than I already had.

Green water in the pond

I decided that rather than put the side on the wood store, which I'm not totally clear about a design for, I'd head to the duck pond and wire in the external plug socket for the new water filter. As I got down there I found the workmen were heading off, having had a BBQ again on the driveway, and I waved them off then gathered all the tools. It was quickly apparent that the pond would need emptying and cleaning else we'd just be washing the filter almost immediately as it has really scummed up badly.

New pond with the plugs underneath

I sat on a rock to wire the plug up and after five attempts I finally had it all done correctly and had shut the casing. It was then that I realised that I hadn't attached the back of the socket in place first and therefore had a loose socket. Fortunately I was able to secure it with a number of screws have inserted into the wood on all sides and it is pretty safe now. I then ran the power inside, fitted a new breaker and wired it all up. It will have to wait for us to empty and clean the pond before we can turn it on; that'll now happen tomorrow.

Sat together in the sun

Glorious day

I went inside and was shocked to see it was already 6pm and there was no sign of A. I tried to wake her carefully but Thelma had other plans and jumped on her face to lick her; they're lovely, these puppies. Once I had dragged her out of bed I poured as a beer apiece, got the chairs, and we took them onto the balcony on the new tiles to enjoy the still gorgeous glorious day. It was absolutely dead quiet (the ignorant idiots on motorbikes had finally gone away) and we both reveled in this being our home.

Photography

A was also pointing her camera at the beautiful sights and I got what I think is the second best picture of the day of her taking a picture. It'll take some getting used to, and I think I really should play around with the settings more now I have a very good camera to use, but even on full auto the results are brilliant.

There goes the sun

We stayed up there until the sun went behind the hill and then headed down to get our chores done. A did the ducks and chickens while I did the watering round and tomorrow I think we'll be eating some of our own cabbage with our huge Sunday Roast Chicken which we have planned. Dinner this evening was pizza and garlic bread and while it is lazy and may not be good for you it's nice to have lazy food sometimes. I've poured us a small dram of whisky to ease the evening away and A lit the fire, though I didn't think it needed lighting, as she is still waking up after her long afternoon nap. I do hope she can sleep tonight.

So now tomorrow we have a large list of things to do which we didn't do today but at least we don't have workmen around. I will miss them when they aren't here any more, I'm sure, but it would be nice to have more than one day a week without strange men around.