Orphanage Party

As a lot of you know we collect toys and clothes for one of the local orphanages in a town called Debelets. This year we were invited to their christmas party in Veliko Tarnovo.

Today was that day!

The hall was packed with children, families and friends of the orphanage. The young children were very well behaved and sang some songs and even recited a verse or two.

Father Christmas then came in and gave out presents to all the children there, they were so happy.

The press came and are publishing some pictures and doing an editorial. One of them asked if they could interview us! So we will be in the local paper. They wanted to know how we got involved raising clothes etc.

This was a good day, we feel that with help again from Veselina, we have made a small difference to the lives of these children. We will continue to collect items of clothing and toys etc for this orphanage ready for delivery in the spring and again for next christmas.

I would like to take this oppertunity to thank all of those people who have sent us the goods, and taken time out to make clothes or go to charity shops, car boot stalls etc. and send them over to us.

Thank you everyone!

Please keep it coming, these children need our help.

Christmas Approaching

Well, when we first arrived we were informed that xmas did not really happen here in Bulgaria, shop's did not have any of those lovely pressie's we all love. No tinsle, festive spirit's etc. However this year it has all arrived, and in the middle of December, xmas lights in the streets, goodies in the stores, well some of them!
It is still hard to find present's that your looking for, I have managed to get Sally items that I hope she will like. But Sally is having dificulty find my present's, that's not unusual though. She says I am hard to buy for! I cannot believe that!
The weather is still mild, snow is still forecast for tomorrow, here's hoping.
We are having visitors xmas day, more on Boxing day, then on the 27th we are invited out to friends.
New Years eve last year was disappointing, we arranged to meet a few friends in our local bar, but it was closed! This year we are having friends around our house. Sally has today been trying to make her first scotch eggs and breaded mushrooms, very tasty!
So this year is starting to look busy over the xmas period.
Please, we just need snow..........It's coming.........

Car Service

For those of you who don't know, I have a Citreon Synergie, 7 seater MPV. Last Spring it was playing up and the Citreon garage here in Veliko Tarnovo sorted it out, changing a relay thingy.
This November it started doing the same thing again, so I took it back to the same garage. They could not identify the problem, saying it was something different.
I had to take the car away from them and take it to a Bulgarian local garage. The owner is called Nick, he has worked for four years in the UK, so has a good command on English.
In three days he has found the problem and fixed it, serviced the car and also changed to cam belt. I was dreading the bill, but it had to be done.
253 Lev, (£110.00) Can you believe it? I was more than happy. How much would this have cost me the England?
So if anyone has a problem with their car plaese contact me and I will put you in touch with Nick.
Some days are great here.

Double Yolker!

Well today we decided to have egg, bacon and sausage with Heinz baked beans for dinner, a couple of days ago I collected a huge egg fresh from our chickens. It turned out to be our first double yolker, lets hope for a lot more. We are now getting 4 or 5 eggs per day from 8 hens and a cockerel, just enough for Sally to keep baking.
Misty the cat is now exploring more of the garden every day and is climbing the walnut tree on our drive. Sally looks on helpless as she (Misty that is) tries to work out how to get back down.
The weather here is strange, day time it is around 20 degrees! The evenings are about 10 degrees. We have only had one day of snow around two weeks ago. Locals tell us that we are in for a hard winter, but it may only last for a couple of months. Let's hope we get enough snow to be able to go off skiing this year.
For those of you wondering, no we do not ski, but it should be fun. Sally and Veselina say they will watch me make a fool of myself. Nothing new there then!

New Sport - Dog Riding!

So this week saw our cat "Misty" take up the new sport of Dog Riding!

Heidi, being not used to cat's now and being 12 years old, seems to be putting up with the adventures of the kitten. However if Misty comes too close to Heidi's food then she better watch out!

I cannot believe this is actually happening, Heidi sit's taking no notice at all. The cat plays with her tail, sit's on her back legs and reaches up to box her and even tries to cuddle up to her.

Heidi must be going soft in her old age.

1st Snow Fall

Yes today the 22nd November 2008 we had our first snow fall. I was in a village called Novo Selo, when I left the property I was in it was snowing quite hard. Sally and I set off for Veliko Tarnovo to do the weekly shop where we found it only raining!
However after exiting "Metro", it was again snowing hard, but back home in Resen it's only rain so far. But we have seen it.......
I will soon have to think about planning next year, I have usually already done this by now, but this year has been a busy one and I am late! Still I should get time in December!
Time today to sort through my wardrobe and bring out the winter clothes, summer ones to the rear. No good looking at properties in shorts and t-shirt's now.
5 Weeks to Christmas, will I have time for it?

Banks Hu!

This week saw Vesalina and I complete on another deal for our clients. The protocol is to order your funds from the bank a couple of days before you require them.
So Wednesday Vesalina ordered a few Euros to pay for the property. Friday we were sat in the bank ready to collect the Euros, paperwork done and signed, off we go to the teller, only to be told they did not have enough Euros!
Can you believe that! We took all of the Euros in the bank! Then we had to still have a few thousand Lev to make up the difference. So funny.
On the chicken front, we are now getting approx. 3 eggs per day, just enough to keep Sally happy so she can bake cakes etc. I still get the short straw, I collect 1, she finds 2!

"Misty" The Cat

This week saw a first in this house. I was running a bath, no that's not the first! Whilst the bath was running, I was checking my emails in the dinning room. I went to check the bath and found a very wet cat sitting on the side of the bath washing herself!
I thought cat's didn't like water, however it seems that Misty does, mornings she can be found in the dry bath, skidding up and down. Maybe she did not notice the water in it.
We are now getting about 18 fresh eggs a week from our chickens, not bad from 8 hens and 1 cockerel, so we no longer need to buy any more.
Sally is busy thinking of ways to use up our egg supply, cakes, biscuits, fry up's etc. Nice!
It is very nice to actually go out to the barn and return with eggs after 6 months of just feeding the chickens.
Another good thing is that we have now had three of our cockerel's for a Sunday dinner! Yummy.

Firework Night

Well last night saw our second bonfire night at this house. Last years was a small affair but good. This year we invited 32 people and some children. Everyone turned up. There was a mix of ex-pat's and Bulgarian's.
I explained why we celebrate November the 5th, the Brit's yawned, the Bulgarians listened interested.
We bought the fireworks, Kahl and Andy who also contributed fireworks and carried out the display and kept an eye on the fire.
Sally made hotdogs, Wendy made some curries, Pat supplied home made cakes, Bissi made a terditional Swiss plum dessert, Veselina made a roulade cake. So many nice cakes! Yummy...
Most of the others brought beer or spirits.
I would like to thank everyone involved for making it a great night.
It was a pity that my camera does not take good pictures in the dark, I would have liked to put some on here.
It appears that this could be a yearly event, so if you want to be here next year make a note in your diary now.

New Family Member.

Well I have finally given in to pressure, we now have a new kitten in the house. Her name is Misty, please don't ask why, she is almost white with some ginger over her eyes and a ginger tail. She is 9 weeks old now and climbs up your back and will gladly sit on your shoulder as you walk around the house.
If you want a kitten or puppy here in Bulgaria you can stop along the road and if there is one running around you can take it home! In the towns, if a dog has a tag on it's ear it is registered as homeless, you can takle it to a vet to have it checked and the tag removed then take it.
We found a house in Resen that had 12 cats living there, we, Vessie and I asked the owner if we could take one and she was pleased to let us have Misty.
So long as you do not want a pure breed of dog or cat then there are so many to choose from. Some owners of properties even leave dogs with the house. If they are not required then we have to tell them to take them away.

My car trip!

Well in the last seven days I have slept in seven different beds! I flew back to the UK and spent the first night in my parents haouse, then moved to our house where our daughter Teri lives for a night. Then it was off to Williton, Somerset to meet up with Sheila. Sheila has bought a property in a small village near to Resen, on Monday we set off on the 1,866 mile drive across Europe in a Suzuki 4x4 and three dogs.
As I was packing the vehicle up ready to go, all Sheila was saying is "It's not all going to fit in". I managed to stay calm, even when the top box lid would not lock! Amazing really.
The drive was eventful and fun, but tiring as well. Driving that far you must be ready for the unexpected. We were lucky, our unexpected was a hotel in Serbia, called The National in Belgrade. The stay there will stay with us forever. I cannot explain here the events, but please when we meet, ask, it is so funny!
Sally and Shane stayed home to look after the dog, kitten and chickens, starting to sound like farmers now. Shane chopped the remainder of the firewood, Sally cooked and cleaned and saw friends. Kahl came around and pulled a chickens neck, so that's another meal in the freezer. Another one was done yesterday, so we can at least eat for two Sundays this winter!
Sally also did a bit of DIY, she painted the top of the "Kamina" white, smoke got to it last year. We were hoping to decorate the lounge this year, but we have not. However the dining room is almost finished, just a light to be fitted and a new carpet to lay.

Preparing For Winter

During the winter you can expect to burn between 10 and 15 cubic metres of fire wood! That's the figure we were told, however we used about 8 cubic metres last year. We also uaed caol to make the wood go further.
So this year I have already had 10 cubic metres delivered, cut, chopped and put int he barn for this year. The wood is going up in cost, so I decided to have an additional 10 cubic metres delivered last week. A local Bulgarian cut it up and another one came yesterday to chop it for us. All that remained was to wheel barrow it into the barn from outside of our gates.
I figured if I done ten barrow loads in the evenings and 10 in the mornings after about three days it would be done. After doing 9 barrow loads last night a lady neighbour came out with her barrow and was helping me, then she got faster, she was pushing the barrows upto the barn and I was just pushing it in and stacking the wood, but I could hardly keep up with her! Then I realised that another elderly lady neighbour had brought her barrow and was loading the wood for us.
I cannot believe how helpful the local people are here, they have nothing and want nothing for helping you. They just get on with it and then go home. We will be getting something for them, for their help.
Today is market day in Pavlikeni so Sally has to go!!!!! Guess who's driving!!!

Roast Dinner

Our Sunday roast was lovely, fresh roast chicken from our own stock! This is the first one we have eaten. Kahl came around and did the dirty deed, took it home and returned it oven ready.
Vesalina and Sheila came for dinner, (we have not told them yet, that they ate "Big John").
The taste was great, nice to know that we are getting some return from the chickens as the hens have not yet started to lay eggs. Should be laying soon though.
The weather is starting to get chilly. The Kamina and heating system have now been checked ready for heating the house for the winter. We have around 14 cubic metres of wood in the barn for burning this year and another 10 cubic metres that is in the process of being cut up ready for next years fire wood. All that remains is to top up our stock of coal, but this can be bought weekly from the coal man.
Bring on the winter!!

New Clients, New Friends

Well this week saw more clients, (Peter and Barbara,) arriving to look for a property to start a new life here in Bulgaria. Sally was once again an estate agents widow. Good job she knows what to expect now!
Anyway, I don't think anyone knows how much there is to do when you come to buy a property here, searching, viewing, banking, solicitors, offering, contracts, heating, works, renovation estimates etc. etc. etc.
We managed to find a property which is currently under renovation so they were able to choose some extra's or colours of their own. In fact they even decided to leave a wall in place that the developer was just about to demolish!
I know they have a good property here, and hopfully they will be over here soon on a pernament basis.
I like to think that I have done a good job and that they are happy with what I do, like all my clients I think we will become good friends, as far as I am concerned they are no longer classed as clients but friends.

Rain!

Well today we have rain, it's the first since we can remember! No one is complaining as we do need it, it saves watering the gardens.
A few days breather for me now, then more clients looking to relocate are coming over and I will be busy until the end of November. Then it could be time to hibernate for the winter!

Orphanage

Many of you already know that Sally and a few dedicated knitter's in the UK, make clothes and blankets for a local orphange in Debelets just south of Veliko Tarnovo. Yesterday we visited the orphanage with Sally's mum to see what kind of things they are in need of most.
The first thing that we noticed was how basic, but clean the whole place was, the children look happy and contented. They are in different areas depending on age, so there are cot rooms, then for the older ones bedrooms, connected to bathrooms and playrooms. There are several staff around to take care of the children.
We asked about their needs, they really need baby suits with feet in, I call them "grow bags", various sizes from new born up. Sheets for the cots and beds, 1 metre x 1.2 metres in size, they should be sewn up along the sides and one end, so they slip over the small matress. Pampers nappies, not sure how we can help there, to have them sent from the UK would cost too much, any ideas would be grateful.
So we are now asking anyone who has old small childrens clothes (up to four years old) to post them to us, we will then take them to the orphanage. Anyone who wants to come over to visit, we can take there to show you around too.
It's so sad to see the children there, playing, asking for hugs from visitors, then crying as you leave. We can make a small difference to their lives, so please help if you can.
I wanted to take some pictures, but it is not allowed, sorry.

UK Living

Well, we have been in the UK for three weeks during August. Just before we left I ordered 8 beers and a coke in our local bar, it cost 10 Lev (£4),during our stay we went out for dinner at a public house, I ordered a coke and an orange juice...£3.60. I almost asked the barman to check that I was not paying for the whole bar's drink's, but then remembering where I was, rip off Britain!
The weather was mild, but with plenty of the wet stuff. Family and friends made the trip worth it, but it does remind you why your living in Bulgaria. Long hot summers and cold short winters, real seasons.
Sally broke a tooth, so a dentist was needed, an appointment was made and her tooth mended, just £165, they say it could have been worse!
Arriving back home was lovely, 9pm we pulled up at our house and the neighbours were out sitting on their benches chatting, they all came over to welcome us back. They watered our garden and fed the chickens, it was nice to be home.
There is a word of warning though to anyone intending to come over to live here, it's nice to go back, but it tug's the heart strings when you leave family again!
Now it's time to ensure the wood is cut up ready for the winter and order the coal in, the grass needs cutting and the dining room requires decorating, it's nice to be home!

Back in "Blighty"

Well, August is a busy time for us, this year my parent's celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss! Well most of it anyway! My mother then turn's 70, and our daughter is 22 on the 19th. So we are in the UK to help the celebration's.
We have been told the weather is great, hot in fact, 23 degrees, even packed my short's, however since we arrived I have seen a lot of rain, and only a small amount of sun!
The pices in the supermarket's are expensive, dinner out is unbelievable, if anything coming back to England makes us glad we made the choice to live in Bulgaria. When we meet family and friend's most of them say "you got out at the right time", the property market has been hit hard, friend's of mine who are in the business, say they are considering options or have already been made redundant.
All I can say is, "there's room for more of you guy's in Bulgaria".
Life's too short to worry, ok, we don't have lot's of thing's avalible in the UK, but we don't have, junk mail, high water, gas, electric bills, overcrowding on the road's, £3 a pint beer, rain 4 days a week etc etc.
Do I sound like I miss the UK?

Long Hot Summer

Well this year is turning out to be the same as last summer, long dry and hot! Thankfully not quite as hot as last year. I am speaking to family and friends in the UK, the conversation seems to be a repeat of last summer, rain, rain and more rain. Well I would like to say, if you want we will save you some sun if you would like to come and see this lovely country.
We are even looking at spending a few days at the Black Sea coast next week, on the beech and in the sea, what a life!
The other topic is always how much prices have gone up in the UK, we have noticed a small rise in some items, but not enough to talk about.
Many food items are becoming easier to get here now, Metro, a large cash and carry have opened here in Veliko Tarnovo, also there is an english food shop in Resen, and with another company in Sofia importing english food, called Andy's food's, life for those who miss cheddar cheese for example is getting tastier.
I am getting ready to cut up the wood ready for our wood burner to heat the house during the winter months, but have to wait until the weather is a bit cooler. The wood has been here a few weeks now, sat outside and is dry enough to cut and store.
Listening to all the comments from the UK, I can say we are so glad we moved here.

Back to just us!

After three weeks of family and friends staying with us, we are now back to the three of us living here. It has been great seeing everyone and being able to show them around. It's surprising how many people know so little about Bulgaria, they have no idea what to expect when they arrive. After a few days many say "We could live here" then they start asking about schools, doctors, property etc. All the usual subjects, then when it's time to go home, they say "We don't mind if we miss the flight, it means we have to stay longer".
I think Bulgaria is missing a trick, it needs to be promoted more in the UK, so more people can enjoy the country.

Sad Times!

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our beloved dog Sasha, she was 10 years old, in mind and spirit she was still a puppy, a lovely dog we got from a rescue centre in Wiltshire.
We are not sure what happened, but she started to walk and would fall over, as if her back legs gave way. This was only for one day, the next she could not sit up even! She lay on her bed all day, not in any pain and still looking for a fuss, as anyone who knew her would know as her trade mark.We took her to the vet, who where very nice, they said we culd have x-rays done but really there was no hope of getting her back to normal. So we had to say a fond farewell to her.
Sasha brought a lot of pleasure to our lives, (and noisy barking) we hope we gave her a good life too. She will be sorely missed by us.

June in Resen.

This is Shane and Abbie, enjoying the sun in the garden. It's so nice here now that you can dip in and out of your pool and dry in the sun whilst getting a lovely colour.

Busy Times

Well it now seems that the year has really kicked off, with the warmer weather more and more people are now realising how attractive Bulgaria is. Sales are expected to increase during the summer months so prices will be rising as well. But the descerning client can bag a bargin or two. I have heard of a whole village for sale, OK, it's 10 - 15 properties requiring renovation, but imagine a gated road, a club house, manicured gardens, a swimming pool, tennis courts and a small shop. The possibilty to have a small village with around 20 properties, developed to UK standards, if someone were to buy this, they could choose who to have as neighbours!
Beer is still 60p a pint, cigerettes around a pound a packet, council tax an meare 20 pounds a year. Long hot sunny summers and cold snowy winters.
What more could you ask for?

Easter Chicks

One of our ideas was always to have some chickens of our own, fresh eggs for breakfast, how nice. When "Minty" was slaughtered we spoke to one of our nieghbours who promised to get us some chicks in May. May 1st arrives and a buzz from the door bell......our nieghbour standing there with a small box and 10 one day old chicks! very nice, but we now have to wait some time before my fresh eggs arrive. They look lovely and cute, not sure how Sally will feel when it's time for these guys to have thier neck pulled.

Today I have moved the compost heap to make room for a chicken run, Shane has found some posts in the garden and stripped the wire from them, with some help from his young lady, Abi.

It appears that now is the start of the "giving" season, the locals turn up at your gate and call you over. They give you lettuce, tomatos, cucumber, eggs, etc throughout the season. It's very nice of them, but when you try to give them something back, they come around again with another item for you, so it goes on.

The weather is warming up, some slight drizzle, but we need this for the gardens, the flowers and veg patch are coming on a treat.

Keep looking for the progress of the chickens!

Easter Weekend

So now it's Easter here in Bulgaria, we were very lucky this year as Sally's mum sent us a few small Cadbury creme eggs in the post, so we celebrated the English Easter, and now we are going to have the Bulgarian Easter as well. Sally has painted eggs, (see main page) we are ready. Happy Easter folks.

"Minty"

Well it has to be said that dinner was great today! Sally did a traditional Sunday roast leg of lamb dinner, with mint sauce as well. This is the first tasting of our "Minty". I am sorry to those of you with a delicate dispostion.
We are having a new bathroom suit fitted this week, by an English builder, stay tuned.
The weather is getting warmer by the day, the icecream vendors are back in the streets of Veliko Tarnovo.
I am on the look out for cheap Bulgarian properties, as I have several clients looking for this kind of property to renovate. So I will be out and about with a Bulgarian agent helping me.

Veliko Tarnovo's day

Well it has to be said, that today was a big disapointment. I expected to have seen roads closed, street traders out in force and a big influx of people.
However the reality was, no roads closed, about six traders selling balloons etc. quite a few prople in town. A marching parade, of sorts with a couple of decorated floats and some folk dancers. This was around 7.30 pm, there was a good light and firework show over the fortress, which is the best we have seen here.
On the whole thought the day was left wanting! Needs to be better organised and advertised more with support from more people.
Sorry I cannot report a glowing follow up for the day!

Weather

Well we are now well into Spring, the weather here is very nice, warm, around 20 -22 degrees, but the last two days during the afternoon we have had a very hard down pour of rain. It' s over in about an hour, then it dries up again.
Misty outside first thing this morning, so hope it will stay dry to day and tomorrow for the VT town day.

No big day again!

Well today was not Veliko's big day, mis read sign, it's next week. So look out!
Minty, has been seen to, thanks to Kiko for the actual deed, could not have done it myself. Not as bad as I thought it would have been.
Thanks must also go to Bill Watson, who very kindly came around to show us how to cut and tie lamb joints. Bill and Sally seem to have sorted out how to cook the joints and maybe even when we are going to eat them.
I laoded some new pictures of VT on the main page today, hope you like them.

News of Veliko's Big Day

Just had some good news, Tania, who helped me greatly with this site has just poped into my office, VT's day is being held this Saturday the 5th April. So we will be looking for a nice day with some pictures to load on here on Monday, after recovery period.
Keep watching.
Oh, just in case your wondering, Minty, is alive and well, new date for the chop is now Saturday the 5th April as well. Our friend Dave, says he likes her and does not want her to go, he says he will kidnap her, or should that read lambnap?

New Arrival

Well the lamb has turned up, only a day after we expected it, not bad for Bulgaria. It's grazing out in our field. Minty, as he is nicknamed, is running around and tried to escape, but there's no way out.
Been into VT this morning, a new CBA super market has opened, with another store next to it JYSK, a bit like Dunelm in the UK, and Technomarket are also there. Metro is due to open here very soon, the shopping is getting better all the time.
The weather is a bit overcast with showers today, we are told it is getting better for the weekend.

Lamb for dinner?

Lamb is very hard to get over here, mostly people eat chicken or pork, however I love lamb. It seems the only time of the year it is easy to get is for May 6th, St. Georges day.
So one option is to speak to a local person and ask to buy a whole lamb from them, the cost is around 3 Leva per kilo, but it is alive, so the dirty deed has to be done! who will do this? well I have found a man who says he will come and do it, then the idea is to get someone else to show me how to butcher it up, then next year I can do it for myself.
Sally is at home eagerly awaiting the new arrival, I hope she does not get too attached to it! Will keep you informed.
Anyone for dinner?

Veliko Tarnovo's big day

Well today was all set to be a great day out in Veliko Tarnovo. Every village and town have a special day each year, Veliko's day, March 22nd., is in celebratation of a great victory by King Ivan-Assen 11, over the Epir King Teodor Komnin in 1230. It's also to recognise the achievements of the 40 Holy Martyers who made the state.
So the stage is set, warm and sunny, just the kind of day to bring everyone out to have some fun. Yesterday, wooden arches were erected over the roads and decorated with flowers were put in place. Street traders, getting ready to set up thier stalls.
Then late yesterday afternoon, in the town centre an accident, killing two people, I don't have to full details as yet, but it appears that a house had been demolished to rebuild a block of apartments, the plot was cleared, but the site was unstable and there was a landslide. The celebrations, as you can imagine have been cancelled. The area is apparently still closed off.
I was hoping to place another page on my blog site to share with you the experience you would have if you were to move over here, or even if your lucky enough to be visiting here when a village has it's day, but alas, you'll just have to wait...

Tania Merccado Velazquez

Here I would like to introduce Tania, who is the person who I thank very much for this blog site. As I have mentioned before, we spoke about the idea and she took it and brought it to life.

Tania showed me how to continue updating the site, so I hope I can do it justice.

Tania is now well on here way back to Mexico, so all I need to say is thanks Tania, and good luck for the future. Remember your time in Bulgaria, stay in touch!

Thanks for the help

I would like to let it be known, to those of you who do not know how bad I am with computors, that I am very thankful to the person solely responsible for making this blog come alive. Tania Mercado Velazquez, Tania has been here in Bulgaria for about 6 months, on loan from Mexico. She takes a project and gets stuck in straight away, with good results.
I made the suggestion for this blog, she embraced it and you can see for yourself the outcome. Brilliant, thank you Tania.

This is the first day of the diary. We are sat in my office looking out at wonderful weather over the fortress. What a country, 2 degrees and snow yesterday, bright sun and 20 degrees today.