Lights are done (plus apartment day)

Today has been a pretty cool exciting day; let's get into it.

Rosie and Xena cuddles

Glorious golden morning

The remaining wood to stack

Drilling a guide hole for the cable

Putting bigger nails in the cable clips

Power is run down the centre now

Halil makes more storage

The morning started with lots of laughter and puppy attacks and a really glorious golden start to the day; autumn is late but now it's here properly. Bekir and Halil were in at their usual time and Halil went to get more wood stacking done; all of the wood is now inside and being stacked. Outside Bekir was continuing to run the cables for the lights, drilling a hole through the wooden supports to run the central bus cable through. He then swapped out the small nails in the cable tidies for larger more secure ones before hammering these in place to hold the light cables neatly to the roof. Halil ran out of pallet store for all the wood so he made a temporary extension to stack another row up - we have so much wood!

Xena climbing on my shoulder

A view from our new apartment

Lovely lights in the car port

Stunning sunset

After lunch, and after Xena decided to use me as a climbing frame, we headed into town to have another look at the apartment that we are thinking of buying. It was a good trip, and nice to spend a bit more time rather than feeling rushed, and I think we're going to go for it. The final decision will be up to the bank though. We were out all afternoon and when we got back (Bekir had stayed working) we found the lights for the car port are all but finished. I think Bekir said he has a tiny bit more to do but they are on and give a really good illumination which is great. The sun was just setting as well so I grabbed a picture to share.

So there you are; what a day. Have a good weekend, back tomorrow.

Starting lights

Another busy day, and some really awesome progress outside, so let's get stuck in.

Lovely morning sky this morning

Big (dead) spider

Halil trims the pallet down

Opening up the light fittings

Stripy clouds over the hills

Light supports attached to the roof

The day started blustery and cloudy with an awesome sunset that I had to snap first thing. Angela had found a big spider that the cold nights had obviously got to, sadly, which was laying on the shelf outside. I dropped Rosie at school which was lovely to do and shortly after I got back the men arrived and got stuck in to their tasks. Halil was back to moving the firewood and first of all had to trim down some of the existing pallets to fit more on the floor as we are running out of space in there. Bekir was on with actually fitting the lights onto the ceiling of the car port. By this time the day had clouded over and while it was never cold today it was pretty windy and blustery. Angela saw some fascinating stripy clouds that I snapped a picture of as well. Bekir initially suggested hanging the light fittings from chains but I preferred a solid frame so he made these up in the workshop then started hanging them from the ceiling in the locations I'd suggested.

Lots of wood really well stacked

So much wood stored for winter

Throwing more in through the window|

Bekir fitting a junction box

Progress being made by both

The rest of the day was much of the same. Halil stacked all the wood that was already inside the wood room then went outside and threw the rest through. We're very nearly done with this now, thankfully. There really is a  lot of wood! Bekir fitted every light fitting (I had him space them a bit wider than in that first picture) and then made a start on running cables to each light to a central bus line down the middle of the car port. This is really nearly done now! It is very exciting.

So there it is; a good day indeed. Thanks for reading, back tomorrow.

Short day today

Today's update is going to be shorter as I have very few pictures after a busy day.

Bekir does some wiring first thing

Halil gets the mixer going

One upright is in place

Secured with a tripod

Halil drills for a light switch

The day started with Bekir up the ladder getting a little bit more done on the electrics, redeeming his time while Halil got the mixer going and mixed up a batch of cement. They then used this cement to secure all the uprights that they had dug in place, and finally created a little tripod around each one to hold it upright. We headed into town together after lunch to try and find some mesh to go over the top (no luck on that one) and also to go view an apartment we are tempted to buy (a successful trip) but no pictures of the apartment this time as I was tired and also we were in a slight rush. When we got back from this they were back to the electrics and now we have a double throw switch for the lights out under the roof. Tomorrow they will start to fit these which is great.

And there it is; the day done. Back tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

A wonderful visit

I sat down to write this update on Tuesday evening but then took myself to bed at 8pm so now it is Wednesday morning and I'm going to try get this done now before work.

Wardy and Rosie playing football

At the kebab shop, Rosie refused to smile hah!

One troop of dancers at the dance festival

More of the dancers

More awesome dancing

Every group was given a gift

Wardy calling home

My mate arrived for his visit very late on Friday after a bit of a terrible journey down from Sofia involving getting lost then having a puncture however he did arrive safe and Rosie was very happy when she woke on Saturday and he was here. There was lots of playing and excitement before we headed into town for a kebab at my Dad's old favourite kebab shop for lunch. After that we walked round the corner to the community centre where a Folk Dance Festival was being held. It was awesome. Angela took Rosie home about an hour into the show as she was getting tired but I stayed with my friend until the end and we had a great time. After that we walked home, stopping for a beer, and then it was time for food and then book time and bed. A great day all around.

Rosie walking with Wardy

She's the true ruler

Rosie on top of the tower

Having fun at the restaurant

Sunday was another awesome busy day. Wardy, Rosie and I jumped in Thomas and drove up to Perperikon mid morning for the traditional tourist trip. This is actually the first time Rosie has done this walk. She was very good, walking almost the entire way up and down, and having a lot of fun looking at the ruins and generally being good. Wardy was also impressed with the site (and sight) and it was a great success. On the way back we stopped for lunch at our favourite restaurant before heading back for a sleep. We went out again in the evening to another restaurant for dinner which was awesome but I seem to have not taken any pictures.

Sat chilling on our top bank

A friendly bull up at our other property

The house is still standing... just...

Having a lovely meal out again

A really fun game of Snake - The Board Game

I took Monday off to spend time with Wardy. It wasn't the nicest start to the day so we relaxed for a bit but as it cleared we went for a walk around the land and sat on the little bench on the top bank looking at the view for a fair while, and also playing with the dogs. The workmen did come in but had to leave early again for a family situation which is why I didn't update the blog on Monday. After our relaxed morning we headed over to the other property we have in the mountains and had a really lovely time up there. It was super relaxed with lots of sitting and looking at the view and just enjoying the peace, quiet and tranquility. On the way home from there we were able to collect Rosie from school and she loved me and Wardy doing that! In the evening we went to another awesome restaurant for dinner and then in the evening Wardy and I played some board games in the evening before it was time to head to bed. Another great day.

Starting to dig and clear for holes

Footing ready for cement

Painting the uprights

Rebar gets painted

Over the weekend sadly we lost one of our chickens to an eagle; Monday morning I'd told Bekir to switch over to putting some mesh over the whole of the chicken run and they had gone out to buy supplies before having to rush off as I've said. Therefore yesterday they were in the chicken enclosure once more, this time measuring out and digging holes to put columns into. With a load of holes dug they pivoted to painting the metal with anti-rust paint so today (as I'm typing this in the morning) they can start the cement work and fitting the poles in place. Hopefully this job doesn't take too long as it is starting to get cold and damp for working outside.

So there it is. The men are in already for today and it is a cold and foggy start so I'm doubly gutted they are having to work outside. Hopefully it'll not take long. Thanks for reading, back this evening!

Roof is finished

Today's update is going to be a short one; one of my very good friends is on his way (he should have been here a fair while ago but has been delayed quite a lot) so I want to get this published before he arrives.

Bekir changing his mind

Sorting wood and mixing up mortar

Bekir seals the edge of the roof

Ready for plugs and switches

Temporary drains in just before the rain came

The day started at the usual time and in the normal way. I said hi to the men and Bekir, who was fiddling with cables, said he was going to go onto the roof to finalise the sealing of the edge as rain was forecast. While he mixed up some mortar for this, Halil was still working away on the epic task of shifting all our firewood and stacking it carefully inside. He is very good at this job indeed. So careful and does a great job. By the end of the day that job had been completed and the rain had arrived - perfect timing. Bekir also put some temporary drains on to prevent water from flooding under the carport from the outside part of the balcony. Halil had done loads of wood shifting but I didn't get many pictures.

And there it is. Thanks for reading and I'll be back Monday.