Category: 2014

Not that you would know it - the sun is shining, the skies are blue and temperatures are around 19-20C ... I have to admit it is strange as in October as you know we had about a foot of snow. Christmas here is rather understated and that is what is so wonderful about it - there was a small xmas market in Veliko Tarnovo, which we visited and there were lights across the town, but the shops aren't heaving and people aren't shaking collection tins in your face and there isn't even a hint of Slade or Wizard blaring out of the stores. We have exchanged xmas cards with our closest neighbours and one old lady brought me a little present (so sweet)...I couldn't have a nicer community to live in. That also includes the ex-pats here - we have three Russians in the village, a part time Scotswoman and another English lady and we are all invited for Christmas dinner together...so...

No that is not a spelling mistake – it has been one of those moments over here when you just have to keep focused on why you are here in the first place and just how lucky you are to have all that you have!! This picture epitomises why I am doing this – I lived this life as a child and would like it back and living here allows me to have enough land and the climate to make it happen, not to mention the availability of a lot of very cheap and nice wine of which I have plenty...or at least that's what I started off with... There are many positives about living in Bulgaria in fact way too many to list and they far outweigh the negatives, but sometimes you just want to scream and throw things...this has been one of those times, but as I generally don't scream and however much I'd love to throw things, I...

I returned to being a five year old again this last week as the first snowfall hit our village - we had around 10 inches in total, some areas had more and all they predicted was snow flurries...I'd hate to see it when they predict a blizzard!! Well it made the house and garden look lovely for a while as it covered up all the crap we have lying around, but also broke a couple of trees at the bottom of our field, which still need to be cleared up properly - they were plum trees of which I have lots so no big loss, just I probably wouldn't have chosed those ones to take down. The dogs (especially Kia) loved every minute of it - jumping through it, rolling in it and chasing snowballs, generally being a puppy again (even though she has just turned three) - after the sadness of losing Diesel it was nice to see the...

Firstly I must apologise for being tardy in writing this episode - it has been a time of "too much to do - too little time" and seeming to take 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, although I guess that is still progress of sorts... Of course our focus is winter, so we bought a whole lamb I butchered it and bagged it up into the freezer...we were going to keep the skin and have a go at tanning, but if I'm completely honest the weather was still hot and the thought of scraping the inner layer of sheep fat off the skin in the sunshine didn't fill me with glee, so we filed that idea...still we have plenty of lamb in our newly bought chest freezer, however not nearly enough of everything else. Dan and Jane being Dan and Jane when we went to pick up a small chest freezer, to supplement the already sizeable fridge/freezer we have, on arrival...

This week or so has been a real roller coaster of emotions. First we find this little bedragled dog in our field, who follows us home, he was emaciated, covered in fleas and fur that had matted up into clumps so much he could hardly walk. We gave him food and water, bought him a flea collar, cut off his matted fur, called him Barney and introduced him to our bunch. This was one step too far as only one out of the three even gave him a chance and he was certainly not in any state to stand up for himself. We knew straight away we couldn't keep him so set about finding him a foster home through TwitchyNoses and Rachel Gawith. She was extremely helpful but we needed to get his blood tests done to make sure he was healthy enough to be given a new home - one week later he had found a place in my heart, he followed me around all...

Well I haven't had time to do the promised before and after collage as yet...it has been all go here as usual. The plumbing for the upstairs bathroom and toilet is now in place, tested and I'm pleased to announce we have no leaks. The central heating pipes are all in place and will be tested next week once we have mounted the radiators on the walls, hopefully with the same result. We have bought our new bath, sink and toilet, which still need to be hooked up and set in place but it won't be long before we have a working bathroom upstairs and I'm stupidly excited about decorating and dressing this room...we did find an old wine barrel that I wanted (note the I in that sentence) to restore and put the sink on...apparently I have admitted defeat and will be building a nice square cabinet instead...between you and me I think this may just be a temporary...

Yes I know it is only August and that it is about 40 degrees out there in the shade, but as my wonderful Bulgarian neighbours keep telling me...winter is coming!! No shit Sherlock! It has been at the forefront of my mind ever since moving over here to ensure that the house is ready and warm for the onslaught of everything an Eastern European winter can throw at us and so far we have done pretty well (even if I do say so myself). This week the roof was made water tight with three chimneys being removed in the process - we don't need the chimneys and leaving them in place just gives the water somewhere else to try and get in - so down they came. The chimney we do need which sits directly above where the Petchka (which has ARRIVED by the way:-)) will be positioned, typically only goes half way up and stops before it protrudes through the roof....

The rain has finally decided to move along and left us with some blazing sunshine, for which we are truly grateful, especially as we have finished digging in the garden (for now anyway)! There is a problem though, sunshine is good when you have a glass of cold white wine and you are sitting poolside being waited on by some bronzed hunk...it is not so good when it is 34 degrees in the shade and you are sifting sand in the full on sunshine and mixing sand and cement by hand and carrying heavy buckets of the mixture up and down the outside stairs...and there was me thinking the external staircase would only be a problem in winter!! Lots has happened though since we last spoke - my new washing machine is here and plumbed in, which caused some curiosity amongst the household when we set it going for the first time. We also took some time off and went to...

Well just how lucky are we. This place is amazing, the more time I spend here the more I love it - the country, the people (both from near and far), the weather, the language (even though I struggle sometimes), but most of all our house. Those of you that will have read our blog from the start will realise that this was not the first place we chose but it was the last ... we could not be happier. The weather: Everytime I walk outside the door it amazes me that the air outside is warmer than inside, I'm sure I'll get used to this in time but for now it is still a novelty. Yes we have had a lot more rain than is seasonally expected, but because it is so intense and usually accompanied by wicked thunderstorms it is almost fun. I love thunderstorms and used to love watching them in the UK, when we got them, but...