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.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Bright, Snow Filled Days
We've got snow here again but at least the sun is shining and the animals can be outside in the fresh air. The kids on the other hand, are spending the days inside as they're off school for a week on flu alert. Having the kids at home during the day has muddled my system up and I've lost track of the days - my brain has been on weekend mode all week and I have to keep reminding myself that it's only Thursday.
At least the Bulgarian government is being proactive in the spread of flu, a lot of the schools are off around the country and it should hopefully help with keeping flu sufferers to a minimum. I do worry about some of the older folk in the village when the weather is bad. This winter has so far, been better than last and we aren't hearing the church bells ringing every day which is a good sign.
February is almost here so it's time to start garden planning again. Soon I'll be sowing chilli and pepper seeds indoors and also getting a few other things ready. I'm still undecided as what to grow this year but will be checking this blog to remind myself of what has done well in the past before I make any firm decisions. I'll be watching the weather too and hoping for a good, not too wet spring.
What will you be growing this year and why? I'd be interested to hear from anyone growing organically. Oh and I'm looking for more charities for the Pimp My Project pages I started a while ago, so if you know of a worthy cause please get in touch.
At least the Bulgarian government is being proactive in the spread of flu, a lot of the schools are off around the country and it should hopefully help with keeping flu sufferers to a minimum. I do worry about some of the older folk in the village when the weather is bad. This winter has so far, been better than last and we aren't hearing the church bells ringing every day which is a good sign.
February is almost here so it's time to start garden planning again. Soon I'll be sowing chilli and pepper seeds indoors and also getting a few other things ready. I'm still undecided as what to grow this year but will be checking this blog to remind myself of what has done well in the past before I make any firm decisions. I'll be watching the weather too and hoping for a good, not too wet spring.
What will you be growing this year and why? I'd be interested to hear from anyone growing organically. Oh and I'm looking for more charities for the Pimp My Project pages I started a while ago, so if you know of a worthy cause please get in touch.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
When You Can't See The Woods.....
For the trees, then I guess you need a good chainsaw! And the same goes for life, it has a habit of getting muddled and things inevitably get in the way. Lately I've been clearing some of these things and already my life feels simpler, more secure and much more positive.
It's a mini shake up, a chance to get back on track and a start to cutting down on clutter (emotional and material) that should help me focus on the more important things. This year is certainly shaping up to be interesting and I won't give too much away yet, you'll just have to keep reading!
Over the last week or so (or since I last updated here) the weather hasn't been too good. We had 2 lovely sunny days but most of the time it's been damp and foggy, no surprise really since it is winter. I'm looking forward to spring though and a chance to get outside for most of the day. The days are getting longer here already which is great and soon the spring bulbs will be showing themselves. Soon the trees will be green and our little world will be much more colourful. Then I'll be out with the camera again and brightening this blog up too :)
It's a mini shake up, a chance to get back on track and a start to cutting down on clutter (emotional and material) that should help me focus on the more important things. This year is certainly shaping up to be interesting and I won't give too much away yet, you'll just have to keep reading!
Over the last week or so (or since I last updated here) the weather hasn't been too good. We had 2 lovely sunny days but most of the time it's been damp and foggy, no surprise really since it is winter. I'm looking forward to spring though and a chance to get outside for most of the day. The days are getting longer here already which is great and soon the spring bulbs will be showing themselves. Soon the trees will be green and our little world will be much more colourful. Then I'll be out with the camera again and brightening this blog up too :)
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Beautiful Bulgaria
Lately there seems to have been some upheaval in other areas of Bulgaria. A wild boar was found near the Burgas with foot and mouth disease First case of foot and mouth in Bulgaria for 12 years although it seems to be pretty much under control now after measures were taken to stop any further contamination. Further information can be found here 37 New Cases of FMD in Bulgaria, EC Vows Compensations
I do feel for the farmers that have lost the livestock, but if the spread of disease hadn't of been stopped things could have been much, much worse.
Over the last few days the weather here has been fantastic, sunshine, temperatures of 16 Degrees C and an ideal chance to get outside and make a start on my garden. It's hard to imagine that it was -27 degrees C this time last year, but I'm well aware of how quickly things can and do change here.
I'm hoping to make a few changes this year that will help the productivity and hopefully make the garden easier to manage. I'm building more raised beds, using our wonderful organic compost, and still thinking about trying a small hot bed to extend the growing season. I'd also like to convert the first raised bed area we made last year into a polytunnel type structure and it should be pretty easy to do.
Hubby has also been outside today enjoying the mild weather and has been making a new long bow. It's one of his passions and something he hasn't had the chance to do for a while. It was lovely to see him happily working away with a piece of timber and seeing it start to take shape. Each bow is made by hand in a traditional method and they are a piece of art when finished. Although this latest one may not be finished for some time. One day soon I'll take photos of his beautiful creations and post them here for you all to see.
The animals and kids have been out for the day, animals happily grazing or rolling in the mud and the kids have been to meet friends in town. So a good day for all and I'll end on that note. Hope you've all had a great day too xx
I do feel for the farmers that have lost the livestock, but if the spread of disease hadn't of been stopped things could have been much, much worse.
Over the last few days the weather here has been fantastic, sunshine, temperatures of 16 Degrees C and an ideal chance to get outside and make a start on my garden. It's hard to imagine that it was -27 degrees C this time last year, but I'm well aware of how quickly things can and do change here.
I'm hoping to make a few changes this year that will help the productivity and hopefully make the garden easier to manage. I'm building more raised beds, using our wonderful organic compost, and still thinking about trying a small hot bed to extend the growing season. I'd also like to convert the first raised bed area we made last year into a polytunnel type structure and it should be pretty easy to do.
Hubby has also been outside today enjoying the mild weather and has been making a new long bow. It's one of his passions and something he hasn't had the chance to do for a while. It was lovely to see him happily working away with a piece of timber and seeing it start to take shape. Each bow is made by hand in a traditional method and they are a piece of art when finished. Although this latest one may not be finished for some time. One day soon I'll take photos of his beautiful creations and post them here for you all to see.
The animals and kids have been out for the day, animals happily grazing or rolling in the mud and the kids have been to meet friends in town. So a good day for all and I'll end on that note. Hope you've all had a great day too xx
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Snowy Driving
Well we've been out today to stock up on much needed supplies, the kids had started complaining about being made to eat my "When the snow's here" winter stock piles of food from the freezer and we were almost out of dog food too (and vodka!).
Once winter has truly arrived we make the decision to stay at home with the log burner on and a good book rather than risk our lives and make unnecessary trips anywhere. It may seem boring to some but it's quite nice to be honest. Being able to slop around in your pj's all day is great too - although I do put on over trousers for going to feed and check the animals!
So our trip out today made a change although the roads were far from ideal and the temperatures dropped to -10 degrees C the closer to town we got. The closest large town to us is 22km's away and usually the drive takes no longer than 25 minutes. Today it was double that as the other half was going steady to avoid slipping and sliding on the snowy roads. We were amazed that the roads had been gritted though as in past years they haven't been - is Bulgaria moving forwards? I'm not so sure about that.
I do love to see the beautiful Bulgarian countryside all covered in snow, the trees looking sparkly and the fantastic icicles hanging everywhere. Hubby's not so keen and could quite happily never see snow again in his life. The kids aren't interested in sledging or snowball fights this year and the 2 spaniels come in from the garden looking like Yeti's. Although Yantra the latest dog has decided that her place is right in front of the fire and she's not moving for anybody.
All in all we're still happy in our little world, Bulgaria has, and continues to be full of new experiences and things we'll remember for a long time. Each year has been different and encouraged us to try harder. There were no new years resolutions made here but I'm hopeful that 2011 will be a good one. We'll just have to wait and see. Another few weeks and the snow will be disappearing, then we know it's only a matter of time before the summer sun will be back.
Once winter has truly arrived we make the decision to stay at home with the log burner on and a good book rather than risk our lives and make unnecessary trips anywhere. It may seem boring to some but it's quite nice to be honest. Being able to slop around in your pj's all day is great too - although I do put on over trousers for going to feed and check the animals!
So our trip out today made a change although the roads were far from ideal and the temperatures dropped to -10 degrees C the closer to town we got. The closest large town to us is 22km's away and usually the drive takes no longer than 25 minutes. Today it was double that as the other half was going steady to avoid slipping and sliding on the snowy roads. We were amazed that the roads had been gritted though as in past years they haven't been - is Bulgaria moving forwards? I'm not so sure about that.
I do love to see the beautiful Bulgarian countryside all covered in snow, the trees looking sparkly and the fantastic icicles hanging everywhere. Hubby's not so keen and could quite happily never see snow again in his life. The kids aren't interested in sledging or snowball fights this year and the 2 spaniels come in from the garden looking like Yeti's. Although Yantra the latest dog has decided that her place is right in front of the fire and she's not moving for anybody.
All in all we're still happy in our little world, Bulgaria has, and continues to be full of new experiences and things we'll remember for a long time. Each year has been different and encouraged us to try harder. There were no new years resolutions made here but I'm hopeful that 2011 will be a good one. We'll just have to wait and see. Another few weeks and the snow will be disappearing, then we know it's only a matter of time before the summer sun will be back.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Shovelling My Way into 2011
I'm back and hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and new year. We've enjoyed a bit of a break, a few drinks and some lovely meals and are now raring to go again ish!
Christmas here was a quiet family day, it was also a muddy but very warm 17 degrees C, not at all like you expect for the time of year. Alas winter has reared her ugly head again and we currently have a rather good covering of snow and even day time temperatures have stayed around the zero mark. Snow and cold weather means the woodburner is lit early and the animals don't get out as often as they should do, which leaves me more time to read books or watch films.
Daily life goes on for the villagers and they still manage to get to the cafe every morning (even Christmas day) to discuss the gossip or find out what's been happening. New years eve is a bigger celebration here and the whole village was alive at stroke of midnight as the fireworks were set off and the locals celebrated, some were even out bringing in the new year to the sounds of kalashnikovs being fired!
So that's the excitement over and done with for another 11.5 months approx now and we've been thinking long and hard what to do with ourselves in 2011. We're hoping that new challenges may present themselves and the weather is good for the veggie garden!
What are your hopes or dreams for 2011?
Christmas here was a quiet family day, it was also a muddy but very warm 17 degrees C, not at all like you expect for the time of year. Alas winter has reared her ugly head again and we currently have a rather good covering of snow and even day time temperatures have stayed around the zero mark. Snow and cold weather means the woodburner is lit early and the animals don't get out as often as they should do, which leaves me more time to read books or watch films.
Daily life goes on for the villagers and they still manage to get to the cafe every morning (even Christmas day) to discuss the gossip or find out what's been happening. New years eve is a bigger celebration here and the whole village was alive at stroke of midnight as the fireworks were set off and the locals celebrated, some were even out bringing in the new year to the sounds of kalashnikovs being fired!
So that's the excitement over and done with for another 11.5 months approx now and we've been thinking long and hard what to do with ourselves in 2011. We're hoping that new challenges may present themselves and the weather is good for the veggie garden!
What are your hopes or dreams for 2011?
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Winter Essentials
Well winter finally landed here, although to be honest it's not that bad. The snow is making the garden look pretty and the woodburner is keeping us all snug inside. Bit of a change from last week when we were sitting outside in the sunshine in over 20 degrees C and now it's just about freezing.
The donkey is refusing to go outside now and some of the pigs are enjoying their last few weeks of life - not that they know they won't be here in the new year! So it's pork on the menu for christmas lunch and I'm really looking forward to it. The kids have been cajoled into decorating the xmas tree but as they're both now teenagers a small part of the magic seems to have disappeared.
As I'm typing this the village bells are ringing, such a shame as it means that one of the residents has passed away. It's a sound we'll more than likely hear quite often in the next couple of months as the harsh winters do tend to affect the elderly a lot more. Just last week a lovely man we know fell and broke his shoulder after slipping on ice, luckily he'll be fine but it is a worry.
So on to my winter essentials list, for anyone living or thinking about living in Bulgaria there are some handy items that can save a lot of hassle and help you survive the worst months.
Top of my list has to be a decent chain saw with a good chain. Unless you're planning on heating your village home by electric, which is expensive and we do have power cuts, you will have a woodburner. Of course woodburners are fantastic but unless you have a supply of dry, aged timber, cut to a reasonable size to fit in your fire then you may be in trouble. Having a chain saw is essential to keeping your winter wood supply going.
Next I'd have to say thermals - I live in mine almost and they do help. Although they are possibly not an essential they are definitely worth investing in, along with decent gloves and a warm hat. Try to wear layers rather than one or two thick items.
Snow chains and/or snow tyres are incredibly useful here. And best not left until the last minute as you may find yourself stuck!
Books, candles and a freezer full of food will also help if the weather gets so bad that you're snowed in for weeks. We've learnt from past winters to never underestimate how much snow can fall overnight or how long it can take to thaw enough so we can get the car out safely. Safely being the key word, if you don't NEED to make a journey why risk it? There's nothing worse than getting stuck or having to crawl home in dangerous driving conditions. Always carry a shovel in your car boot in case of emergencies and make sure you have a working mobile phone in case you need to call for help.
In the house there are things to do too - make sure your water pipes are lagged to prevent freezing. Switch off any outside taps and put those hose pipes away. Make sure your chimney has been cleaned, this will help your woodburner to work efficiently and also lessen the chances of a fire starting due to soot build up. Don't forget that animals will need access to water and shelter at all times too. Try to keep paths clear from ice and snow and don't forget to put antifreeze in your car!
The donkey is refusing to go outside now and some of the pigs are enjoying their last few weeks of life - not that they know they won't be here in the new year! So it's pork on the menu for christmas lunch and I'm really looking forward to it. The kids have been cajoled into decorating the xmas tree but as they're both now teenagers a small part of the magic seems to have disappeared.
As I'm typing this the village bells are ringing, such a shame as it means that one of the residents has passed away. It's a sound we'll more than likely hear quite often in the next couple of months as the harsh winters do tend to affect the elderly a lot more. Just last week a lovely man we know fell and broke his shoulder after slipping on ice, luckily he'll be fine but it is a worry.
So on to my winter essentials list, for anyone living or thinking about living in Bulgaria there are some handy items that can save a lot of hassle and help you survive the worst months.
Top of my list has to be a decent chain saw with a good chain. Unless you're planning on heating your village home by electric, which is expensive and we do have power cuts, you will have a woodburner. Of course woodburners are fantastic but unless you have a supply of dry, aged timber, cut to a reasonable size to fit in your fire then you may be in trouble. Having a chain saw is essential to keeping your winter wood supply going.
Next I'd have to say thermals - I live in mine almost and they do help. Although they are possibly not an essential they are definitely worth investing in, along with decent gloves and a warm hat. Try to wear layers rather than one or two thick items.
Snow chains and/or snow tyres are incredibly useful here. And best not left until the last minute as you may find yourself stuck!
Books, candles and a freezer full of food will also help if the weather gets so bad that you're snowed in for weeks. We've learnt from past winters to never underestimate how much snow can fall overnight or how long it can take to thaw enough so we can get the car out safely. Safely being the key word, if you don't NEED to make a journey why risk it? There's nothing worse than getting stuck or having to crawl home in dangerous driving conditions. Always carry a shovel in your car boot in case of emergencies and make sure you have a working mobile phone in case you need to call for help.
In the house there are things to do too - make sure your water pipes are lagged to prevent freezing. Switch off any outside taps and put those hose pipes away. Make sure your chimney has been cleaned, this will help your woodburner to work efficiently and also lessen the chances of a fire starting due to soot build up. Don't forget that animals will need access to water and shelter at all times too. Try to keep paths clear from ice and snow and don't forget to put antifreeze in your car!
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