Week 10

Winter is finally here but heavy snow for the last twenty four hours means at least the temperatures have risen slightly. Minus 14 every day was not fun!!

Looking back down the track in the woods

Soon the snowploughs come and even our village roads are cleared.

Our house

Maizie having been rummaging in the snow for her ball

We had 30cm of snow on Monday but still Borko and his men managed to get here! We reinstall the woodburner downstairs so that we can get them some warmth and so that the plaster dries out. The new shower upstairs has sprung a leak from one of the seals on the shower tap already so Borko and I go to the shop to replace it, as thankfully it has a warranty. The warranty however turns out to be repair only. The unit will be sent for repair next week and will take at least 30 days to be returned!! No way. We cannot be without a shower that long so we leave the tap to be repaired and head off into Ruse to get a quality tap from Borko's supplier. The village roads are thick with snow but everybody here has winter tyres on their vehicles and Borko gets us to Ruse with no problems. Borko tells me that only when the snow gets to 1 metre deep does it become a problem to drive!! He drives back from Ruse on roads that I would not have walked on but we get home safely and he, as always, just takes it in his stride. 'ah no problem' as he would say.

Despite us both having colds we still play out in the snow

Pamela in the garden with the dogs

Work for us outside has stopped so we spend our days doing computer work. Pamela is writing meditations and finalising the Reiki courses ready for next year. I am designing the website and stationary for the holiday lets as well as designing the new stair rails for the outside stairs. I have a design but whether my carpentry skills, and I use that term very loosely, can make it reality we will see next week when the weather is supposed to get better again and I attempt to construct them.

It has been so cold that the washing machine has frozen. I lag the pipes even more but I think it is the actual machine. For two days we have an electric heater in the palace but still it does not work. Back to hand washing then.

The builders are doing an amazing job. They have nearly completed all the boarding and plastering. The boarding around the beams in the bedroom is so time consuming but worth every minute. The new bedroom window is now in, as is the new PVC door for the shower room.

The beams in the downstairs bedroom will look amazing

Ice road up to the shop

Borko's family come to play with Maizie & Marple

Marple being cute

Ani made a snowman

Marple enjoying some sun

The snow has stopped now and consequently the temperatures are falling again. Everywhere is turning into an ice rink. It is far too dangerous to walk the dogs, us or the dogs will end up breaking a bone. As everything starts to thaw the outside tap seal cracks and water is pouring out. Water costs money so it has to be fixed straightaway. No choice now but for my first taste of driving in the snow and ice on winter tyres to get to the builders merchant for a new tap. Despite my fears the winter tyres are amazing and I get home safely. All but very minor roads have been cleared of snow and there is zero disruption to daily life. To fit the tap is another story and it takes a blow torch and three of us pulling on wrenches to free the old tap. Today the temperature has risen to 7 degrees so I try defrosting the washing machine with a hairdryer. A couple of hours later and it works again. I earned a few brownie points for that from Pamela.

Extra lagging on the washing machine pipes

Sunrise from the kitchen window

Pamela and I still have colds so Monica sent us this package. It contains herbs for an age old remedy that her grandmother gave her. I don't think we have ever met anyone as kind and thoughtful as Monica. We are so lucky.

Preparing the herbs from Monica's recipe for the herbal tea. When brewed the tea was amazing and you could feel it working instantly, it was so menthol.

As the snow melts we are now able to take the dogs up the woods again. On the way this morning we met Stefan who gave us some apples. Every time we meet someone we know they give us a gift or invite us for a drink. Bulgarian villagers are so kind and we cannot wait for next spring when most of the repairs will be finished and people like Stefan who grew up visiting our house will be able to see the restorations and enjoy a glass or two in the courtyard.

 

This morning my computer was infected with malware after I tried to download some manuals  from the internet, so as Pamela continues to write her courses, I will try and fix the laptop. You have people like Monica and our neighbours who help you without you even asking and then people who deliberately try to cause mayhem. Thank goodness for the Monica's of the world.........