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.