It is really weird here but you can start the day on one job and be totally distracted for the whole day. That is why things are taking so long. We have had a long stream of visitors dropping in now we have finally moved in so endless cups of tea are being made at the moment. We are also having a few problems with swallows as our house seems to be the house of choice for building nests both inside and outside. After waiting for the babies to fly from the nest on our lounge beams, we evicted them and took down the nest thinking that would be the end of the story. Oh no, we are now woken daily by twenty or more swallows swooping over the garden, picking up mud mixed with cement left by the builders and taking it onto our balcony to build multiple nests. The fact that they are using concrete means they will probably be there for ever. They then sit and chirp on the balcony telling us to get up. Alternatively, they swoop into the bedroom, swing from the lights, continuing on through the rest of the house. They really are quite acrobatic and don't give a stuff that the cats are crouching in wait for any that might swoop too low. Its quite common to get dive bombed whilst making a cup of tea in the morning!
When we arrived here we always planned to have Sundays off and explore or relax. Well that idea lasted for about two weeks and we have been flat out since then. However, last Sunday we did take a trip to Dryanovo outside pool for a swim. Being Sunday, it was packed out with families, the pool bar was blaring out euro beats and you had to dodge the dive bombing kids. We did get a lovely swim in though, we just wont go on a Sunday again.
Here are few photos of a bit more work on the house and our trip to the Danube with our friends.
The view from the top of the mountain overlooking our village. Slaveykovo is 300meters above sea level and the mountains are 600meters above sea level.
The wild flowers up there are stunning.
Our first long overdue evening of sitting out with a bottle of wine and a roast dinner in the oven. What more can you ask for?
A day trip out to Ruse and the Danube. The river bank on the other side is Romania. You can canoe across but the mosquitoes might eat you on the way. They are vicious even in the day time.
Posing quickly for the camera before swatting a few more mossies.
Chris in his element investigating the steam trains. Due to the museums location by the Danube it was just a quick look before the mossies got the better of us again.
Stone plodgers being laid.
The inglenook fireplace starting to take shape with the wood store on the side
We have had the digger in for two days clearing all the rubble in the garden. It looks much better but has turned the ground into a dust bowl for the moment.
We also got up at 5am to knock down more of the bottom house in order for the digger to take the old bricks away. Its now been raised to one level which is built into the hillside.
The view outside our kitchen window. This couple are picking and sorting the sliva (baby plums) probably for making rakia. At the moment, sliva are ripening everywhere. We are just waiting for ours to finish ripening but might make plum crumble from ours!
