Yantra's Day Out

Thanks to friends I've been out into town today, the roads are mainly clear but since we live off the road getting the car out isn't as easy. So off we went with Yantra the dog too. First stop was the vets, poor little Yantra was pretty scared and didn't really enjoy the journey either. She's a timid dog and doesn't trust strangers at all, being in town was a totally new experience too and I'd imagine all the different smells in the vets waiting room was quite terrifying too, but she had to go.

Fifteen minutes and one injection later she was looking very chilled about things - that's what sedatives will do! Another 2 jabs 5 minutes apart and she was totally asleep, shaved and on the operating table when I left her. I did mean to take her to the vets weeks ago but then we had fresh snowfall and couldn't get the car out at all. So while she was being spayed I headed off to go to the bank, pay the phone bill, buy a vignette for the car and stock up on bread and other essentials.

My friends had headed off elsewhere and had arranged to pick me up on the way back, and Yantra too of course. So an hour later and with my jobs done it was back to the vets to pick up a rather sleepy and bedraggled looking dog and pay the bill of 64 leva. To give a comparison of the price car tax (vignette) for one year is 67 leva. But it's done now and Yantra is spending the night downstairs in front of the fire where she's been since coming home. She's had a small tea of leftover casserole, ventured into the garden for a quick toilet trip and looks rather sorry for herself but not totally unhappy.

There are enough unwanted and homeless animals here without us adding to the problem so most of our pets are neutered/spayed. Just yesterday hubby went on a mission to help save a stray dog in the next village that had been seen running on the road frequently. Our friend Pat who is an animal lover had been stopping and feeding the dog and was getting increasingly worried about it being on the road and out in the cold. Hubby and Pat's husband set off, found the dog, managed to get hold of her and drove her to a new home with another expat friend all in the space of an hour - good work lads!

The dog who has now been named Ella finally has somewhere warm and dry to live, regular meals and has even had a tidy up haircut and bath. Lucky Ella should now have a great life and it's great to see what a little bit of teamwork can achieve.

You Can Take The Girl Out Of The Village.......

But not the village out of the girl! I've been into town shopping today and while it's lovely doing something different from the normal I do miss the peace and quiet of home. Some people live their lives entirely in a town and thrive on it but to be honest I don't miss the hustle and bustle. Yes, it's easier to find things you need, public transport is abundant and there's plenty to do and see, but for me it's not what I want or need in my life right now. I'm happier at home or even down in the village cafe chatting over coffee with the local ladies.

The village centre is always kept clean and tidy, at this time of the year it's full of flowers and most mornings is quite busy with people buying bread, meeting up and generally doing their morning chores. Friday mornings are the busiest since it's market day and everyone seems to be in a good mood. A lot of the villagers have no transport apart from donkey/horse and carts so rarely go out of the village, they survive on food grown in their gardens and basic necessities that can be bought in one of the many shops.

When we first moved here I did find one or two of the shopkeepers quite blunt but now that we know them all better things are great, and they're used to me asking the bulgarian names for things by now! They do appreciate that I am trying to learn Bulgarian even if sometimes I struggle with things I don't usually buy.

I'm not sure I'll ever be totally fluent in Bulgarian but do enjoy being able to have a conversation with the lovely friends we have here. Reading and writing Bulgarian is something I find very hard and admittedly I don't really try. Place names, food items and road signs I can manage but that's about all. Maybe I should add learning to read and write Bulgarian to my winter things to do.

The piglets are growing up so fast and are hilarious to watch as they dart around the yard and will play with anything they can get hold of - tonights game involved an empty feed bag and they looked like they were having a great time. Mum is totally unconcerned when they are in the yard and usually carries on munching at the bits of grass growing while they play. They are so unfazed by us being around and enjoy a bit of a scratch. We still have 3 of the older piglets here too and they are getting rather big and have been busy making themselves a wallow by tipping their water bucket at least twice a day! They're filthy but happy and that's what counts.