Blogs from Boyana, Sofia City , Bulgaria, Europe - page 2

'A happy Valentines day to all our readers'(hopefully). Here we currently have very cold wind to contend with,strong as well, as sitting here in my room with super ser on i listen to it howl around the eaves. Yesterday i interspersed my mail writing with a bath(not many places provide bath,bed, gas heating and internet connection together.!).Today I'm just glad to have peace for a while as yesterday my Bulgarian was stretched to the limit trying to get 2 of M's grandchildren to leave me in peace and go away to their own houses!In the end i succeeded but it took a lot out of me (and the day!).We had a brief overnight snowfall Thurs evening but by yesterday it had gone away in the sunshine.More expected towards next week. The last proper snow we had ... read more

Well this is the first day I feel sane and in control of my destiny! The weather has been superb(if anything too hot) so all visitors ' sunny holidays satisfied. Also Mata and georgie can not stop telling people about my delightful family.You all made a great hit in this camp!! However having done its duty the weather has now turned to sporadic rain and overcast but is still too hot to be genuinely autumnal.Have got round at last to organising my 'firm's work and looking forward to 2nd visit from Jan and John who hope to purchase a 'country' property to compliment their seaside one. So all stations go and i now have approx 3 months to wait till Belfast stay (according to Sam). Time I hope to put heating into no 24 for winter ... read more

Once again sitting at the top of the village to get signal! Leaving for england on Sat. Car went through yet another clutch repair although this time I got relayed to varna and hopefully I think I found the right garage at last.Not counting chickens again but if it survives to Eng then I might be able to relax.Put 4 new summer tyres on ,got brakes checked.All OK and handbrake tightened up.So should have a pleasant journey tho past experiences don't make me optimistic.Melons planted and coming up.No sign of corn leaves yet.Orchids out all time now and the remaining ones are great,throwing out new shoots.Fruit season started for me 3 days ago with first of cherries.Some 7lbs already picked and 3 more trees still to ripen.A smal number of strawbs and peaches formed despite bad ... read more

Just as I thought things had settled well I found that my expensive clutch had started to slip already - as a result i am having to loose the car for 2 days while it is sorted. Yesterday went to garage with meta and daughter for support re unacceptability and in 2 hours when I go back today to leave it I have the unenviable prospect of trying to get dogmatic re free repair.They have already started to make noises about running on 4 wheel driving but the clutch should be competent to cover this eventuality or else not much point having it. Unfortunately it may prove less conclusive an argument for me to get free repair.Will just have to see. On to a pleasanter note ,Bottie recovered from stitches,trauma and injection ok and returned to ... read more

Can't believe how long since the last blog.1st thing is rest of journey with motor uneventful except for trying to get through Romania.heavy fog and poor roads conspired to make an o'nite necessary as I chose to follow main road rather than go to Vidin.Never again will I use Ruse crossing. Arriving back in Bulgaria I was immediately aware that fog was still persisting and that they had had heavy snow.However it wasn't until reaching Varna motorway and finding only one lane clearish that I realised getting to Boyana might be a problem!!Decided that should go long way round via Dobrich and hope 2 nasty hills on this route might have been salted or ploughed.Driving between 10 ft roadside snowpiles on main road ,where plough had been, and negotiating occasional incursions into near lane through snow ... read more