Spring is definately here

I am finding it increasingly difficult to find time for my blog as there seems to be so much to do.  Because we were not used to this glorious weather in the UK, we still think that when it is sunny, we must be out in it and doing something in the garden.  In actual fact the summers in Bulgaria are long and so in time, I will learn that you don't have to grab every minute of sunshine but chill in the middle of the day when the sun is at it's hottest.  Because our lounge come kitchen (as it is at the moment) was originally the cellar, it stays very cool during the hot days so I will attempt to set aside time during the hottest part of the day to catch up with things like my blog and cook our evening meal etc.  Its teaching an old dog new tricks!

The chickens have settled in well.  The head of the bunch is a young cockerel called Dandy.  I haven't named any of them but they were Sara's chickens and she had, so his name I remember.

The plastic cup was designed to attract his attention!

The next in the pecking order would appear to be Cagney who Sara talked about in her early blogs. see www.debrazzerman.blogspot.co.uk   She is a very broody bird so if I ever wanted more, I'm sure she would oblige.

Then comes my favourite because she has beautiful markings and appears to be a good layer - No 3

Then lower down in the pecking order are the two ex-battery hens that clearly love their free range life

And finally, the little runt who gets all the other birds (except Dandy) pecking at her, poor thing

On my first full week of having them, they gave me 17 eggs, so not bad!

Our first three eggs.

Most Friday nights, quite a few of the ex-pats in the village meet up for a chin wag in the local bar.  Now compare a bar here with a pub in the UK - well there is no ambient lighting and no typical pub memorabilia.  There is an outside area with an old coca cola sun umbrella attached to a little table and a bench style table that is frequented by the locals especially during the day.  Inside, the bar is down at the far end but if you can see what you want in the fridges, you just help yourself and grab a glass if you want one and pay the lady, who does everything, when you see her.  The toilet facilities are a little whiffy but seem clean enough but my trick is to make sure I have been before I leave home.  There is always a meal on offer cooked by Ivan - a huge man who when he speaks, the earth moves.  He features in my Christmas blog wearing knickers but that's another story.  He was a chef in the Bulgarian army apparently and seems to cook OK but a bit "stick to the ribs" fayre.  Most things include potato even Moussaka but the meat they use here is highly salted and a bit chewy by UK standards so mostly we eat before we go out.  The long term ex-pats have shown him how to double fry chips though and to be fair they are very good.

One Friday at the end of February, there was a box of letters on one of the tables and it seems the Postmistress decided that because most of us went to the bar on Fridays, we could pick up our rates bills!  No where else in the world.  We found one for GJ but, as we are all assessed separately, we couldn't find mine.  So the box went all the way down the tables with my glasses, and after a while everyone decided that mine was not there.  One of our friends, Sue took us along to the Mayor's office to pay our bills and sure enough there was one for me.  It cost us pennies compared to the UK but the biggest cost is for your vehicles and because ours are not registered yet, the bill was low.  Our next step is to sort the vehicles out.

Before we can sort out the car registrations, we need to obtain our citizenship. For this we needed to open Bulgarian bank accounts.  GJ picked the bank that aspired to have the best reputation for Internet banking so off we trotted with our passports and house documents (presumably to prove we live here) and thankfully there was one chap who spoke English that sorted us out.  We were asked to come back in a fortnight to collect our Debit Cards but when we did, they had moved - nice of them to tell us!  Eventually we found their new swanky open plan offices - seems to be a lot of trust here or no bank crimes because they actually dealt with all the cash on the table in front of you without screens - one woman was just counting wad after wad!

That done and our next step is to hire a translator who will take us through the proceedure of becoming a Bulgarian citizen and from then on we can register the vehicles.  We have heard horror stories about this and we have been warned that there will be a lot of head scratching over the camper van.  When you consider many Bulgarian homes don't even have an inside toilet, how will they be able to assess a vehicle that has it's own bathroom?  Watch this space.

We had a bit of dull weather a few weeks ago so we cracked on with our bedroom.  Its vertually finished and we have moved in.  It feels very Scandinavian although there is only one picture from Ikea. 

Lots of wood

The Ikea picture

View of part of the garden from one window

We went to our first car boot sale a couple of weeks ago on the outskirts of our local town Veliko Tarnovo (VT for short).  It was such a shame that the days leading up to Sunday were great but on the day it rained so there wern't too many sellers by the time we arrived.

Dave uncovers his stall so I could take a picture.

Sara and Dave were regular stall holders at the car boot sales, Sara would sell Jams, Chutneys, Cakes, homemade cards etc and Dave would exhibit his paintings.  To keep up with tradition, Dave made quite a lot more cards (I had one for my brother) and he has been making Raspberry & Apple jam with some raspberries that he found in the freezer and Brown Sauce which was Sara's intention - pretty good it is too.  He also made tea light holders with spare jars and acrylic paints.  I had two of those for our outside kitchen.  Apart from my purchases he said he had had a good day as you can see from the near empty table.  We also bought a nice honeysuckle plant for Sue so that she could fill the hole we left when we had some strawberry plants from her.  Everyone helps each other out here, almost like it used to be in the UK.  The next car boot sale is this Sunday in our village and is apparently very well attended.

One of our neighbours with their book stall

Work has started on our gates.  Technically this is our back entrance.  Our front entrance is supposed to be through our barn but we have another neighbour who has his poly tunnels either side of our  shared drive and now thinks he owns the strip of road and the turning circle in front of the barn gates as well. He parks an old van out there and there are some rolls of chain link, a big water butt and goodness know what else. 

 

Our shared drive apparently, with our barn at the end!

 We have explained that we will need to get some wood delivered soon and he has said he will let us through (good of him) so we decided that we don't need that entrance other than for the wood delivery so we would get our lovely neighbour Radko and his building firm to extend our gates so that we can drive the vehicles into the property.

 This is how the back entrance looked...

This is how we want it to look.....

This is the working in progress......
Ready for the concrete edges

Bringing the "big guns" out

Mind the camper?

As you can see, Radko was having work done on his entrance at the same time - most economical.

And I will show you the results next time.

The garden is going mad now, the blossom has given way to unfurling leaves, daffodils have made way for tulips and the sowings I have made are galloping along.

See the rapeseed in the distance, almost ready for harvest.

I have planted onions from sets purchased down at Trambesh market, Early Potatoes from David and Graham our local nurserymen, and from seed directly sown - Radishes (various) Beetroot (various) Asparagus (friend gave me some seed) Cabbages, Broccoli (various), Sprouts, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Spinach and Kale.  From seedlings, Tomatoes (various) first sowing and Peppers - first sowing,  Plenty more to go in yet!

On a final note, Tuesday was the 40th day after Sara passed away and in Bulgaria this is a significant time celebrated with an event to mark her passing on to the heavens.  There was a ceremony at the grave side with the priest and 40 or so friends assembled.  Dave recited one of his lovely poems and we all lit candles while their neighbour placed offerings of food and wine and then planted some flowering plants on the grave.  When the ceremony had finished, we all went to one of the village bars where Dave had organised for us all to have a meal and we were sent home with a bag full of foody goodies as is tradition.  We, as family, traditionally put a poster on our gate (when we get one) for 6 months, to celebrate her life.  Like me, Sara didn't like having her photo taken  - the camera always lies, but Dave managed to find this one from their wedding. Here is the poster

Anyway I must stop rambling and get out into the sunshine (oops! sorry for those of you in Blighty!)

Speak soon

H, GJ and Bracken (he was 9 years old yesterday!) 

The birds are arriving................

At the end of the last post, I showed a picture of my hands with the Martenitsas (red and white bracelets) on.  The custom is that they should only be taken off when you see the first stork arrive and then you should hang them on a tree.  I was lucky enough to receive 6 Martenitsas and felt quite blessed until I began to realise that they were actually a bit irritating especially when washing up and having a bath with them on.  We had heard that the storks were arriving but we had yet to see one.  The weather had been a bit mixed so we were doing a lot of decoration within the house (bracelets getting grubby again) but then we had a few days of lovely sunshine and we were working outside in the garden. (weeding making the bracelets even grubbier), until today!  Working away in the garden with our heads down, we had a phone call....... one of our neighbours saying "look up" and there they were.  No pictures I'm afraid, they were just to high but they definitely looked like storks.  So now one of our apple trees is heavy with Martenitsars.

GJ did a hatchet job when he cut this one back so I thought it could do with some adornment.

I had a birthday last week and I had a lovely birthday present...

This is what it should look like when erected....

We have agreed to re-home some of Sara's chickens so that Dave can concentrate on the rarer breeds whose eggs and chicks command a higher price. The shed was delivered last weekend and GJ and Dave have spent the last two days erecting it and creating a chicken run.

I will introduce you to the chucks on the next blog

I have started planting a few things in the garden.  I have decided to grow climbers (Peas, Beans, Broad Beans etc. along the outside of the poly tunnel frame and they can afford the rest of the plants a little shade throughout the summer.  We went to Trambesh Market last Wednesday and picked up a kilo of onion sets so I have put them in - 160 in total. Back breaking work but worth it.  I have also sown 4 different types of radish and five different types of beetroot. All seem to have taken as they are pushing their heads through already,  Other direct sowing that I have attempted is Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale and some Carrots.  I have had to cover things over for a few nights but they still seem to be OK.  

See the home-made trellis - very Bulgeski.

I have also started to leave my seedlings out side over night and luckily 95% seem alright with that.

Mostly herbs but the white seed trays are seedlings of winter veg - Broccoli, Cabbages and Leeks.

Tomatoes, Peppers, Chilies and my first time of trying, some flower seedlings.

I thought I would do some companion planting with a lot of Marigolds which are supposed to keep the nasty bugs away and encourage the good ones.  I have also grown some Nasturtiums, Stocks and Geraniums.  Possibly for window boxes.

I have just seen something on face book that is perfect for growing flowers that you can spread all over your garden and move for mowing:  Rip up lots of paper into small pieces and soak in water for 15 minutes.  Put the drained, soaked paper into food processor with a dash of the water. Whizz up and press half the paper maché into cake moulds.  Put ,mixed flower seeds on top of the mixture and add another layer of the paper.  Dry overnight and then take out of the moulds.  Place on you lawn at random intervals and the seeds should germinate and you should have a little block of flowers which can be moved if necessary. Brilliant, I will be trying this if I can convince Bracken that they are not for him.  Kids would love to do this!

We have started doing decoration when the weather is not as sunny or bright as it could be.  We don't seem to get much rain at this time of year although I believe June and July have a lot of thunder storms.  The first room (box room) as I probably mentioned before, has become a dressing room but as we have now started the master bedroom, is now another junk room.

 When it's cleared, just the curtains to put up and it will be finished

Well what else do you do with a bookcase?

We had some fun trying to get a nice colour to paint for the main bedroom.  I had ordered some new curtains from the UK because here they seem to be just flimsy things.  The colour is described as biscuit so I wanted a creamy light brown (lighter than the curtains). We got the lightest we could find and after using two 2lt pots and mixing it with one and a half  5lt pots we finally had the right colour.  So plenty of filling and two coats of white before the colour and then two coats of colour, we are now ready to sand down the floors (all wooden).  Gosh I hate decorating!

Our lovely neighbour Elinor has had babies - well not her.  Her two sheep (there were 3) have had two lambs - cute!

 And she had her rotivating done this week and the rotirvator was brought to her house using real horse power....

This picture shows our type of horse power against hers. 

 I took a few pictures that show part of the winter sitting room now that we have our own furniture in it.  The beam in the centre actually holds up the whole house - a well seasoned piece of timber.

 ....and just look at the size of my temporary kitchen on the left of this picture - makes life a bit tricky but at least I know it is only temporary.

A few random pictures......

on a walk once day I cam across some wild hellebores in the middle of nowhere!

and this unusual buterfly

while this fella was found in the garden

and my first legumes to make an apperance

The chooks have arrived so now I must be into animal husbandry!!!

til the next time...

H, GJ and Bracken

A sad start to Spring but looking forward........

As all the followers of my sister's blog will know it has been taken over by her husband after the very sudden sad loss of the lovely lady herself.  I will not dwell on my loss because I hope that the few people who do read my blog will know that I try to keep things up-beat and Dave,  my sister's husband is saying all the sad things that we are thinking.

Dave's blog address is www.debrazzaman.blogspot.co.uk

Well apart from the afore mentioned sadness, there is still a lot to be celebrated here in Bulgaria, not least the start of Spring.  Yes it starts at least one month before the UK and when it starts it starts.

I believe this is a wild plum tree.  They are everywhere and the blossom is magnificent.  We had a bit of damp weather the week before last and we decided to try and do some decorating.  Because I have unpacked alot of clothes, it was decided that the first room to do was the box bedroom which I want to change into a dressing room.  This room had been painted bright blue!  Several coats of paint later I now have a brilliant white dressing room but it's not quite finished because the weather changed again for the better and we had to use our time outside.

I will show you the room when it is finished!

Outside again and we have been continuing with the tidying and preparation of my growing beds.  Because we now have all GJ's tools and garden equipment we worked in earnest.  GJ decided that he needed to get his work space in order before we carried on with things and so we bought two free standing shelving units to go into the straw bale house.  Sounded easy, these slot together units but not if they are made in Bulgaria!

When we finally did get everything together and the straw bale house a bit more organised we were ready to roll.

I decided that the first few things that needed planting were Beans (various), Peas (various), Onions, Potatoes, Garlic and Sunflowers.  These have mostly been direct sown but I have started some off in pots first so I can see what fairs best at this time of year.  I built trellises for the climbing beans and peas with bits of wood from the stocks collected so far. 

The sunflowers have been planted at the bottom of the growing tunnel because from there  to the back wall of our neighbour's house will be where we will keep the chickens when we are ready for them and I thought 1) they would make a curtain and shade things planted down there a little and 2) I'm sure the chickens would love a peck at a sunflower head now and again.

Whilst we have been working in the garden we are constantly accompanied by a flight of sparrows.  They chirp so loud, its like being in  an Avery.

We also come across some unusual guests......

As I watch the forecast in Windermere as well as here, I cannot help but feel sorry for their weather and hope that some of ours gets sent over to them.  Maybe then they too can enjoy lunches in the garden!

But not wishing to gloat and on a serious note, the 1st of March is a very significant date in the Bulgarian calendar.  It is the festival of Baba Marta meaning Grandma Spring and with this all your friends and family are given red and white armbands or lapel pins.  Your are to wear these until either you see your first stork or the first blossom of a fruit tree when these, the Martenitsa's are hung on that tree.  Here are my gifts:

 The parsley was given to us by Elenor, our neighbour from opposite.  She clearly had nothing to give when we took some daffodils and a martenitsa over to her, but give she must and the parsley was added to that nights' dinner.  I love the humble simplicity.

I hope that anybody reading enjoys the above even though there has been so much sorrow.  Sara's very Bulgarian funeral was very touching and she is buried in a cemetery in her newly native village.  This brings great comfort to Dave who is determined to keep things going as Sara would have liked.

Til the next time...

H,, GJ and Bracken xx

It's here................

Well finally our belongings have made it to Hotnitsa.  My Sister and Brother-in-law arrived to give us a hand, nice and early but the stuff arrived quite late so there was a lot of waiting around.  Then it was action stations!

As things we're so hectic this is the only glimpse of the truck we could take - lovely picture of my lilac trees though - will post a picture when they are in full bloom.

The Range Rover arrived in the articulated truck to Bulgaria but was driven from the home of the chap who organised the move so that he could use a smaller vehicle - I was wondering how an articulated truck could get down our lane?

Our first glimpse of GJs beloved car

Simon, the removal chap, walked up the drive and took a sharp intake of breath. It's a long drive he said.  I don't know why I felt so sorry for the two chaps he had working for him because GJ, Dave (the brother in law) and I all worked just as hard as they did and my sister Sara was ensconced in the straw bale house organising the drop down of boxes.

About 2% of the total haul

And the room that will eventually be my kitchen was also filled

As predicted, Elenor our neighbour came out for a look. She spotted my new cooker and asked if it was a washing machine.  Simon explained that it was a cooker and her eyes widened.  Bulgarian cookers are usually part of the fire, like a rustic version of an Aga.  She walked away muttering something about bread making and I hope she is not expecting nice loaves to pass her way - people who know me, know that I can cook quite well but not bake!

As the week progressed, the weather picked up again and the temperature gauge was showing close to 30°c in full sun so although we should be emptying boxes, more work was done in the garden.

All the way along this fence there were suckers from a tree called "tree of heaven" so called because they reach for the stars.  GJ got useful with his chain saw.

But Bracken still thinks its time to play...

  It's amazing how a green plastic bucket can keep him amused for ages.  However, we have now experienced our first rain in Bulgaria.  We went down to the local bar on Friday night where we get to talk to some ex-pats.  We stayed slightly longer than we normally do (Bulgarian beer flowing) and when we left to walk home, the heavens were opening.  Although we only live a 5 minute walk away, we got absolutely soaked as we hadn't prepared and taken an umbrella. Oh well, there are no kebab shops on the way back to shelter in (very British joke).

It now seems that Spring is in the air....

Our first crocus

and daffodils....

everywhere.

Last Sunday, even though it was Valentine's day, in Bulgaria, it was the day of the vine.  This is traditionally the day when the vines are annointed with some wine to encourage a good harvest for the forthcoming year.

Our neighbours, Radco, Pepa and their son, blessing the vines. See Radco wearing a vine hat.

If this year's yield is as good as last, then it should be good wine.  Certainly, last year's wine was good when we tasted it, or is it just that Radco is a good wine maker? 

On Wednesday we went shopping.  When we had the snow, it became apparent that I needed a much larger freezer and whilst we were in the "Technopolis" shop, we thought we had better look at an Air Conditioning unit for our bedroom (advised that it is necessary here).  On Thursday both were delivered and on Friday (today) the Air Conditioning is being fitted.  Some things happen quickly here and the fitters arrived at 8:30 and all finished by 11:30................happy days. 

Now that's what I call efficiency.

Our neighbour from opposite, Elenor, caught GJ when he was outside and handed him some more eggs (the second lot we have had from her) and some snowdrops.  In the UK, traditionally we don't pick snowdrops but Sara tells me that they are supposed to symbolise spring and it is tradition to give them to people.  They are also connected with the March festival of Martenitsa, whereby, on 1st of March, Bulgarians give one another (and the ex-pats) red and white strings to wear on their wrists or a red and white talisman to clip to their jackets.  On the last day of March or when you see your first stork, this is then hung from a tree.

 We have been looking into chicken coops.  This is what I would really like but watch this space as in the Spring GJ will be attempting to make me one like this.
(Може би)

 Maybe he is just thinking about it here...

Some random pictures:

 Bracken has been so busy!

 Spring and all the buds are showing now on the fruit trees

This is a green woodpecker - couldn't get close enough and this is taken through a window - very interested in the garden and it was joined by 2 lesser spotted woodpeckers.

and now we finally have a bench outside the gate - another important Bulgarian tradition.

Til the next time....

H, GJ and Bracken