Last two days

Wow what a last two days and as I type this (mid afternoon Friday while sipping a brew and taking a load off before carrying on with stuff) it is still going. The blog didn't happen yesterday as I had hinted at due to friends visiting so this will go back to cover two days.

Little saved frog

Actually, in all honesty it goes back to the night before when I was taking Rambo I found a toad hopping across the downstairs landing so grabbed it and took it out to by the pond. Lovely. From what I can remember I slept well and when the alarm went off (as I was collecting the men) I was off out to make a brew and try and wake myself up.

The wild eyed bitch of our village

As I left to collect the men the crazy eyed dog was at the gate and I managed to grab a quick picture before it legged it. This is the one I thought had tempted Ralf out (it's a bitch dog) but as we haven't seen him at all, and she is around all the time now, I don't think that happened any more.

The stone BBQ table at the men's village

I was to the men's village a little early as usual so I had time to pull up just at the top of their cheren put and snap a picture of the stone table on the ridge where the men of that village sometimes sit of an evening and have a BBQ. I would like to make use of some of the stone in our huge waste pile to make something like this I think. We shall see if we are able to shift it. That plan could just be too much hassle.

Woman shifting wood

When I got back A was out on the wood pile that had been put together by Ohktay before the digger machine did its thing, burying the good wood that I had stacked up with lots of bad. She had made really good progress isolating the burning wood out so I took a picture then went out to join her. We cracked on and pretty quickly had finished that job, with a pile thrown over towards the back door for burning, and the good wood split again into planks and beams.

Bekir on the roof doing the chimney

Bekir, Sally and Ohktay were straight to work with Bekir going onto the roof to finish the chimneys and Ohktay mixing cement for Sally to put on the roof terrace after the rain had dimpled it the night before.

Huge load of huge logs

We were really slaving away and once the fire wood had been thrown down, and a load had been dragged through and stashed, I went straight back out to load the trailer while A carried on shifting the fire wood into the hole by the back door. There were some SUPER heavy beams in this load, some I could barely shift, but I got it all done and we were only left with the planks.

This is a bullet hole. Honest.

While I was pushing one of the biggest and heaviest of the beams onto the trailer the nail that was in the end went straight into his back. It looks a bit like a bullet hole though so I'll probably claim it is that instead. We emptied these beams and then went back round to load the planks. It was a really busy day but finally we finished and now we have about 6 cubic metres of old wood for burning inside for next year, and probably twice that or more in the green building for use in construction projects next year.

Another skim of concrete on the roof terrace

All this time Sally and Oskhtay had been working through the cement bags and getting the final concrete up onto the roof terrace. It was looking amazing now, and I can't wait next year to come back with floor tiles and finish it off; build the BBQ and the dining table and everything up there. It is going to be such a feature of the building and I reckon we'll use it a lot.

De-stalking the elderberries

With the outside tasks completed I set myself by the cooker and first of all reheated the apple sauce from the freezer then, after adding cloves and cinnamon, bottled it into jars. I then pulled the blackberries and elderberries out and made a jam from them. The one box of elderberries was already off the stalks but the other had the berries still attached so I stood there and separated them. This was actually really easy so next year I will probably do it this way; freezing them on the stalks then avoiding really badly stained fingers at the separation stage.

Window fitters get to work

Myself and A then started the task of relabelling all the previously made jams and chutneys, and I selected those I wanted to take back to England either as gifts or for us to eat, and I then brought them in to be stacked in Room 13 over winter where it may be a bit warmer than out on the corridor. Half way through the afternoon the window people arrived and put in the last windows of this year. There was one drama in the kitchen when they took the wrong window out but we decided to just fit it there and leave the middle window as the old windows and next year, when they come to do the double door onto the patio, they can just swap it back.

Mixing cement, and Thomas with his lid on

Ohktay was still out doing the cement and when I saw him take a break I popped down and got his assistance to carry the back onto Thomas. I then put the fixings on but was in too much of a rush as today I have had to go and retighten them. No worries though as it never fell off in the mean time.

The door goes in for the roof terrace

I spotted the fitters carrying the double door for the roof terrace up to the attic so followed them with the camera and watched as they struggled to fit it at first, then suddenly worked out a solution and it fit like a dream. I left them to it and went downstairs as it was nearly time for my friends to arrive

Me and my friends at dinner

They had made really good time down from Sofia and I gave them directions where to meet, which they missed slightly but pretty soon we had met and I led them back up to the house, going across the narrow bridge which the comment was "that would be a foot bridge in most countries". Yes, well Bulgaria is better than most. We settled them with beer and a brew and then did the tour which went down well and then some of the slightly heavier spirits came out. A took the men home and when she got back we were sipping and talking and catching up. We then made our way to the restaurant and had an absolutely lovely meal, which I ordered as a selection of many different dishes, and then back home and into Room 13 for more snifters (A was very happy for her beer finally) and then bed. It was such a lovely evening and so great to spend time with them again.

Final sunrise we shall see from this position

With one guest in the guest room and the other on an airbed on the floor of Room 13 we all headed to bed and, other than the Room 13 guest getting lost trying to find the toilet early in the night, I slept really well other than apparently snoring a lot. The men, who we hoped would be finished yesterday, had said they had a few more bits to do so we had arranged to collect them at 9 rather than 8 which was nice as the alarm could be set a little later. When I got up the last sunrise we shall see this year from the balcony was just finishing and there was enough of a view for me to get the camera and capture it. I then went through, woke my Room 13 friend and put the kettle on for everyone.

A variety of drinks

My day started out tidying up from the night before and washing up and everything; I took some pictures of each of the bottles we had sampled the night before, though the measures I had poured were tiny so we didn't have too much and were all awake well; even my guest room guest appeared earlier than I expected him.

Friends in the morning, and as they left

The morning was spent with me and A pottering around gathering things together and packing and tidying, and our guests muttering together about the next few days as they are in a coding competition. I cooked a lovely (if I say so myself) bacon and egg butty breakfast for us and again it was nice to chat and have them there; soon enough though they had to leave to get back to Sofia in time and I waved them off knowing that I'd be seeing them in a week or two anyway back in blighty.

Just a few chilis

One task we had on the list was to go out and get as many chilis as we could off the Lidl plants on the Hugelkultur so we took a bucket and started pulling and wow there were a LOT of fruits on there. I stayed until this task was done then jumped in Thomas and headed down to town for my appointment. On the way I went past the builders merchant and picked up a large padlock for the front gate and then spent the next two hours wishing I could end the meeting and get on. Eventually we were done and I picked up some take away kebabs for me and A and got back just before she had toast in the thought I had abandoned her.

Selling more tiles

As I drove back onto the land I could see a van was pulled up by the tiles; Bekir had managed to find another person to sell some of my tiles to. After a while they headed off after paying me and I am now left with loads of tiles, but still fewer than before.

Spread out to dry over winter

Now it was time to set the chilis out to dry so I got a tray, spread some wire mesh over it and finally some kitchen roll and then (having supported the paper where there was no mesh underneath using some cups) I put the chilis on and spread them out. This was when we realised quite how many we had. Hopefully we'll come back next year to find loads of lovely dried chilis on the desk, and not a room full of dead flies and a rotting mess. We shall see.

The men keep working

Putting the roof box on Thomas ready for packing

Having done this we finished packing more stuff then I put the roof box on Thomas and filled it up right to bursting point with boxes and shoes and bags. We then worked out the straps that are holding everything to the edges of the truck bed while Rambo will be in the middle and then we were unable to put anything more in as it would go on seats needed to take the men. I pulled Lucy round to her winter parking place and removed the battery and then we had basically done what we needed to, or at least as much as we were able to.

We have an edible melon!

A had been out in the garden and found one of our melons was soft and ripe and ready for eating so we brought it in, chopped it, and now it'll be our desert in a few minutes. Yes, we only got one fruit off these plants but they grew so well and have given us so much confidence for next year.

Carrying in the drain pipes

There had been a few bits and pieces left outside that needed bringing in; A had brought the small bits of wood in while I was out in town but now we pulled the metal downpipes from where they were sat and stacked them up in the downstairs corridor. With that, everything outside that needed to come in was done and away.

Standing on the porch for the last time

S and S were coming past to borrow some of the tools which would otherwise just be sat here over winter and they arrived as I was talking to an agent about a possible job. After finishing that conversation I joined them where they were sat with A on the balcony (actually, I forgot to say that me and A had sat out there for half an hour just before having a cuppa and making sure to wring every last bit of pleasure we could out of this last day - I had a vision of snow covering the washing line and that made me so sad to be leaving, but that is life). We didn't sit there long and then got things together, including nearly 2kg of processed plums that I have made them promise they will make use of, after the pain I went through to core and skin them. S was lovely enough to take a picture of me and A stood together on the porch of the last night of the year we are here.

Three guard dogs glaring

We have seen the Little Lady a couple of times today, once earlier while the guests were still here when we gave her our gifts (chocolate and a head scarf for her, whisky for the men) and later with one of the large melons for her cows, front door keys, money for the final electricity bill and other things. This picture is of their three guard dogs (for some reason they got another one today) as I was stood by her door waiting for her to bring out some chai flowers for us to take home.

The Little Lady with the men

The Little Lady came back with us one time and then popped onto the roof to talk to Bekir and Sally; you could tell how busy they were by the fact that they didn't stop once but chatted while working. You can see on this picture just how much they have done today, putting metal across to keep the roof edge safe and Sally concreting the outside wall to make it water and snow proof. As I type this (about 7pm now) they have just come down from the roof where it is dark and are now about to put the windows in the corridor window where there is no glass at the moment. They have worked like legends again.

There goes the sun

It has been a lovely day, weather wise, today and the sun going down as I was up on the roof with the Little Lady and the men was lovely over the mountain. I snapped a picture and as it happens I have missed any further photographs so this is your final sunset picture of the year.

A with the turnip and cabbage we grew

And so to harvest; our vegetable garden has gone so well that we have turnips and cabbage ready to eat, and the beetroots are amazing as well. Sadly the broccoli fell over in the storm but it grew so well also. Here is one of the proud gardeners holding some samples. As I have explained my idea is to leave the plants in the ground and see what is there when we come back. I hope to have LOADS of huge fruits of our labours to greet us in March.

Where we got to this year

One final task was for me to do the humanure and we had loads of food and other things to go on there as well. We also had some burning to do and I went onto the top bank for a final progress picture of the year. It has become too dark now to take another picture even though more has been done since this was taken.

Really tasty last tea

Dinner was a mishmash of mince and veg and it was absolutely awesome. We ate it even before the men had gone and while I was typing this so there has been no Father Ted episode for us this evening.

The roof terrace is weather proof

The men are just finishing off the window now, I've helped them a bit and they have used the windows we had put to one side for the raised beds but that is good, they are perfect. A went on the roof just now to get a picture of the roof terrace finished and you can really see just how dark it is now.

I am going to take them home, then we will load the last bits into Thomas by the light of the porch, have a night cap, and head to bed. I will highlight this in red so none of you worry if there are no updates for a few days. I will do my best but I can't promise anything.

It's goodbye for now from Old School Bulgaria.

Ciao ciao

*sad face*

postscript

When I got back from dropping the men I pulled Thomas back near the front door so we could load by the porch light, as planned, but as I got out I was hailed from the side gate and it was the entire clan from next door, the Little Lady, Usmivka, the Special One, the Other Brother and his wife and kids, come round with some pumpkins as a gift and to say goodbye. We swapped contact details and then did a lightning tour for the Other Brother's wife, and then with tears and hugs and many farewells they left, leaving both of us with tears. What a wonderful family and it just makes getting back here for good even more important.

What a crazy day

Today has been such a crazy busy day I feel like I haven't stopped rushing around and I don't think it is even over yet. Well, anyway on with this update; if I can get a post published today I'll be amazed though frankly.

Police parked in the middle of the road

First of all a picture I forgot I had taken the other day when I was in town. While I was waiting a police car came and parked behind me. Now I wasn't parked that well but he just basically abandoned his vehicle sticking half way across the road. Crazy. This is pretty standard over here though.

Another spooky misty tree

So to the normal blog. We both slept like logs last night, after staying up actually quite late after I published; neither of us were in the mood for sleeping really.The alarm went off in the dark and there was snoozing and snuggling and much complaining before we finally got out of bed. It was another super misty morning so today I got a picture of my favourite tree looking spooky and spectral.

The mist cleared, briefly

Roof terrace progress

As A was leaving to get the men I commented that I wasn't sure what I would be doing first thing but then I looked round and saw the huge pile of washing up so that was it. I then set myself to do some work and glanced out of the window to see that the fog had drifted away slightly. I ran up to the roof terrace to get a picture of the gorgeous colours of the sky and found out exactly where the progress of the men had left them last night. Brilliant.

Tomatoes in all sizes and some with rot

When A got back I hadn't even put the kettle on which is unusual for me but was a harbinger of how busy today was going to feel. I was making chutney in my breaks and so first of all I went outside to harvest the tomatoes. There was one HUGE fruit on the random plant by the burning pit and quite a lot of other fruit on the single surviving plant on the Hugelkultur. I harvest the ones that looked best and then after chopping these went back outside because I'd found a lot of the rot was quite superficial when you cut them up.

Rambo looking at the goats

While I was stood chopping these up at one point I saw that the goats were on the lane and then first one then the other jumped up onto the ledge outside my fence. Rambo was stood staring but he didn't move and just looked at them. They munched on some of the grass which was growing through to the outside and then jumped off. It was only when they jumped down that Rambo barked and chased after them. He is really useless; when they are on the road I don't care - scare them when they are trying to get onto the land!

Chilis on top of raisins

I chopped the tomatoes then the three apples on the table outside, then added onion, raisins, sultanas, chilis, sugar and vinegar. I was following my excellent book but then made it up and I think I put a bit too much vinegar in as it remained quite liquid even after boiling for ages. Quantities I used as follows:

• 1kg chopped tomatoes
• 500g apples
• 350g onions
• 180g sultanas
• 180g raisins
• 12 chilis
• 320g brown sugar
• 1L brown vinegar

Coffee break on the terrace

To give an idea of just how disrupted today has been before I added the sugar I was stopped by the Little Lady coming over with coffee for us and then men. It was lovely, and we got to sit on the new roof terrace in the sun (and arranged that if Ralf appears the Little Lady will ring Bekir and he will look after him over winter - quality) but we didn't stay sat around for long and Sally, as usual, was the one who was up and getting on with the next tasks; in this case removing the old uprights from by where the door to the roof terrace will be.

Waterproof material goes over the second concrete skim

It was then lunch time and we had a bit of shopping for more gifts to do so we headed out in Thomas (who also needed more fuel) and got everything done in super quick time. When I got back Bekir was looking for me as they needed more "cherno" which is the black felt type roofing material. We headed down to the builders merchant and picked it up, along with some more superglue for A, and I had a nice chat with the owner who wished me luck in England. They are lovely here. When we got back I had my lunch (cheese and tomato butties again - lovely) and then got a snap of the men doing the waterproofing layer on the roof terrace.

Pouring waaaaaaaaaaay too much vinegar on

I really did use too much vinegar in this first chutney; it was bubbling away all the morning and then I turned it off to go out shopping and then put the heat back on and left it again for ages more. It did reduce down but when I was bottling it up it was still so liquid I had to spoon just liquid in to each jar to make sure I wasn't left with just load of liquid at the end. It smells lovely though so we'll see. I ended up with ten jam jars full.

The Bagga machine is back!

When we got back from our shopping trip I saw something as I was driving up to reverse in to the trailer with the intention of heading straight up onto the top bank to shift wood. I was halted in this by by the fact that the digger machine had turned up. What a day. I took the shopping in and went to see the man who was talking to Bekir. He was pointed at the job and spent the rest of the afternoon driving back and forwards finishing off the task.

Later in the afternoon I popped out onto the back bank to get a video of the digger doing its thing as I know you will all be fascinated to see this. I also got him to move all the rubble that had been put down on the basketball court so maybe next year (yeah yeah I know) I can put a back board up there when we get back.

Marrows and blackberries

Having finally finished the green tomato chutney I turned to the marrow which the Little Lady had given us weeks ago which has languished in the bottom of the fridge. I looked though my book of magic and found a recipe for blackberry and marrow chutney. This had to be done. I chopped and weighed the marrow and worked out my quantities from there and put it on to bubble away as quickly as possible. It actually finished quick enough that I was able to put it into jars before leaving for the men and I got three full to the brim out of this small batch. I definitely put waaay too much vinegar in, I could have done with maybe 1/3 the quantity.

Clearing the basketball court of rubble

Digging out the drainage ditch again

All through the afternoon the bagga machine was chugging away shifting rubble and dirt and smoothing out the bank again. It was so much nicer out there; I can't wait for the drainage to be done and the concrete path to run all round the edge again. I went out late in the afternoon to have a word and make sure that the final couple of tasks (the basketball court,and the filled in trench on the back wall) were part of the job and he was happy to finish them off. We also had a shouted conversation with Bekir, sat on the edge of the roof, about the drainage next year and he is lined up to work with the master whom Bekir will provide for these jobs.

I also sold 300 more tiles today to the same guy as bought them yesterday. As I said he owns the farm in the valley which I love driving past so much. Today I saw him admiring the raised beds so I went out and spoke with him about them, and then showed the small amount of vegetables which are growing in the fenced garden. He was seemingly impressed, and it is great to meet the person responsible for such a lovely house.

During the afternoon we also had a lovely visit from Lubo and his wife, who I had never met before. It was great to have a coffee and then show them around the house but the real excitement came just before they left when I asked about the insurance on Thomas and found out it had run out on September 3rd! Now I am sure that we were stopped by the police after this so who knows what they were looking at. Anyway he immediately said he would sort it and I am now fully insured, and with the add on to be covered over in the UK as well. Excellent.

Dramatic shot as the clouds cover the sun

After they left, and before the second chutney was put into jars, it suddenly cooled down as a cloud blew in from nowhere. I rushed out to get a picture as it covered the sun but a few minutes later it was sunny again. It stayed like this for a little while.

The clouds are now a storm, with rain falling

Suddenly there was a huge crack of thunder and then another. It seems that cloud from earlier had blown over more and was threatening a storm, the first one for a fair while at least. I popped onto the roof to get a photograph as the sun was still out and in it you can see the sheets of rain falling from the clouds that are racing in our direction.

Finishing touches for the day

It was very close to the end of the work day by now so Bekir put the finishing touches on the concrete on the terrace and then they went and got changed and I took them back. The rain was heavy in places on the road but wasn't too bad and by the time I got back it was clear again at home. I jumped in the shower then had time to chat to my mate who was sat in the living room at the new flat we'll be living in possibly by this time next week (horrible thought) and then it was out for the evening.

Super tasty Turkish style kebab

We were meeting my friend and S and S at one of the really good restaurants in town (where we had gone for A's birthday) for a leaving meal for the two of us. We had a really lovely time and the food we ordered was excellent in the main. I took S's advice on mine and was very glad as it was a lovely meal; chicken and yoghurt and flat bread and rice. So tasty.

Autumnal view along the patio

It is now super late as we sat and talked for about two hours after finishing eating but it was nice so there is no complaint. I'm off to collect the men in the morning as my two mates will be here tomorrow (so if no blog, you know why) and A will take Bekir and Sally home instead of me. I'm going to finish this sip of lovely port then go to bed. A picture unusually on the last paragraph looking the other direction along the front of the house; what a view.