Monday was way too hot to do anything apart from the early morning weeding and watering. So after breakfast we decided to go to Ruse as we wanted to buy a gas cooker for the outdoor kitchen. We are trying to spend as little time indoors as possible so a gas ring outdoors means we will not even have to be indoors to boil a kettle. Additionally it will save money on the electricity bills and during the winter when we get power cuts not only will we have the fire to cook by but the gas rings too. We managed to get everything we needed from the market in Ruse but the city was even hotter than our village so we went home before we totally melted. The rest of the day was spent in the pool trying to get cool. Just after our evening meal we got a phone call from Efan asking us to go to his house, so off up the hill we went. When we arrived he was milking his goats so we watched him do that for a while before he invited us in. He has totally set up his courtyard for outdoor living including a double bed. He does not need to enter his house at all during the summer heat. Not sure about sleeping in a bed outdoors though considering the bugs and other interesting creatures we get here. We had a great evening though drinking his homemade wine and eating homemade goats cheese which was gorgeous.
Efan milking his goats
Homemade goats cheese
Rosemary from Efans garden drying in our kitchen
Tuesday we tried to motivate ourselves to get some jobs done early before the heat beat us. I nip off to Opaka to get the gas bottle filled for the outdoor gas rings. Meanwhile Pammi cuts up some old pillows and makes some more meditation cushions. We then set up the outdoor kitchen so we have everything to hand. As the kitchen area is under cover and is mainly shaded by the grapevines and roof overhang, it stays fairly cool most of the time. By lunchtime we call it a day, have lunch, then head for the pool which is where we spend the rest of the day. That evening we christen the new gas cooker when I cook us a tomato, pepper, onion and garlic dish served with crushed griddled potatoes. We go to bed late to try and make the most of the cooler night air (which is still a good UK summer temperature of 20 degrees).
Our new gas rings
Maizi chillin out
Wednesday I decide that despite how rock hard the top land is I will dig up some potatoes as everyone tells us we should have dug them by now. It is slow, hard work as we have never watered this land and it is like digging concrete with a fork. Incredibly the potatoes are a good size and there are lots of them on each plant. Half way through the first row and TH arrives to tell me not to dig them and leave them in the ground. I give up. Yesterday dig them. Today don't. But I don't need telling twice. It is way too hot to be doing this. By now Pammi has had to stop weeding too so another days work comes to a stop. We have now mastered the chemical balance of our pool but there is a build up of dirt on the bottom that we need to get out and despite cleaning it every day it does not seem to get rid of it. I spend a few hours on the internet seeing if there is an inexpensive solution which does not involve buying a proper pool vac. As usual there are a thousand ideas on there so I design our own vac which I can make tomorrow.
We are now getting another crop of strawberries after we thought they were all finished
Pammi chillin under the grapevines
Thursday morning I make our pool vac out of the nozzle attachment from our hoover, some duck tape and a length of hose that cost less than fifty pence. All I have done is attach the hose to the water pump which sucks out all the dirt, filters it and pumps back in the clean water. The pump is not strong enough to filter the water effectively on it's own and needs the nozzle so that you can get right onto the dirt particles. It is not perfect and needs tweaking, maybe putting another filter between the nozzle and the pump, but it makes a huge difference. Once Pammi has finished her meditation and Reiki practice we head for the shade to chill out. That evening we decide to go into Ruse for a walk along the Danube and a meal. It is a beautiful evening and the river front is packed with walkers, cyclists, people swimming in the river and others playing cards or board games. A while ago there was an exhibition of sand sculptures along the river bank that we never got to visit but they were still there and were amazing. We walked up to the centre and found a small Italian restaurant where we had gorgeous homemade pasta and pizza. I also have avocado with blue cheese which was baked in the oven which was a new way of having avocado for me. I have never had it cooked before but it was really nice. After the meal we walked back through the square which was buzzing with families and people watching the world go by, then down through the park which again was full of families enjoying their evening. Unfortunately we got to the Danube just as the sun had set but still managed to get a few photo's. It was a really nice evening and we had not walked along the Danube since our last holiday in Bulgaria about a year ago. Back home we finished our evening playing with the dogs and having a glass of wine under the stars.
The pool vac
Nice clean water going back in
Sand sculpture
These are all about twelve feet tall
The sculptures lined up along the Danube
Fishing on the dockside
Sun setting over Romania, just over the river
The last of the days sun
Friday for a change was scorching and no work was getting done other than the essential watering etc. But today is our village market day so we went to see it, believe it or not this is the first time we had actually had time to go there. Despite there only being two traders, one selling clothes and a guy selling peppers from the back of his car, the village square was packed. It is obviously the social event of the week as everyone was sat around drinking coffee and chatting. We walked through and then went for a stroll around the village but soon headed home as we were melting. Friday is also market day in Popovo and as we need jars for preserving our tomatoes and peppers, which we have an abundance of and the freezer is now full, we headed off there in the car. After making our purchases, including Pammi getting some new sandals and nail polish, we sat in the square and had an ice cream and ice cold drink which was very welcome. Back home Pammi does some Reiki work whilst I update some of the websites we advertise on. We have also put a ten litre water bottle in the garden which I will paint black so that when the sun heats the water in the bottle we will have hot water to do our washing up with in the outdoor kitchen. Free hot water. Yay. That evening I cooked us a tapas meal of potatoes in wine and paprika, peppers stuffed with cream cheese, homemade garlic bread, corn on the cob and salad. Scrummy. The sky at night is incredibly clear as we have so little light pollution and tonight we even get to see the milky way which was awesome.
Grapes are starting to ripen now
Even Maizi thinks it is too hot to play, but the ball is never far away
Cooking our tapas
Saturday morning we soon get our watering and early jobs done. Pammi is feeling a bit unwell today so goes for a sleep before doing her meditation and Reiki. I pop into Ruse to pick up some more pool filters as most shops seem to be running out of them. I buy the last two in the store. Back home we spend the rest of the day chilling and in the pool. As we finish our evening meal Dora and Danni from next door pop round and Pammi goes to fetch Baba B and her son-in-law so we can have a get together. As usual nobody arrives empty handed and they bring Rakia (straight from the freezer), soft drinks, bread and a large Shopska salad. I am not sure if they think we will poison them as whenever we try to give people food they always refuse but always bring food with them for us. Anyway it turned into a very late night with much food and drink consumed.
Everybody had a great night
Sunday we never woke until nearly 10 o'clock due to our late night. So apart from the blog being written and Pammi doing some cleaning nothing else got done. TH popped in with a couple of his neighbours to meet us which was nice of him and the son spoke English so he wanted to practice on us. Later in the afternoon we had a couple of people come to see us who own holiday homes in the village so we spent a nice afternoon with them drinking tea in the courtyard. They have invited us out tonight but after last night I will sticking to soft drinks..........
Next week we have another holiday guest arriving which is exciting and we are really looking forward to meeting her as she has an Holistic business in Australia.
Stay safe everyone and have a great week.
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