It is so strange to hear childen plaing out on the street at 10.30 at night - all our children in the UK are tucked up in bed llong before now. Bulgarians start to venture out from about 8pm families are in the park - children playing on their skate boards and roller blades , popcorn stall has a cue and the teenagers are all chatting, not a mobile, lapton, tablet or any kind of hand gagdets in sight. Conversation is the name of the game here Fab!!!! Reminds me of my teenage days.

Well I don't know where about in the UK you are referring to but where I live the brats are sometimes still playing out at 4:00am, ok maybe I exaggerated slightly for the older brats but those are the ones that decide to have a game of football and all the shouting that goes with it when they finally come home from the pubs and night clubs.

Then again it's nothing unusual for even the very young and early teenagers to be playing out even at midnight and not forgetting we get darker earlier than BG plus the fact that it's not as warm at night either.

I'm with Phil on this. Our house in the UK backed on to a playing field, and small children were often out there screaming and kicking balls about well after we were in bed. Then the under-age drinkers would take over. And we were living in what was considered one of the better areas.

However, what is nice about here, as in other countries such as Greece is that it seems to be family time, rather than 'kids get out from under my feet' time. Family time seems to be dying out in the UK.

One of the reasons I moved to Bulgaria is because it reminds me of my growing up in the UK in the 60's. You can walk the streets when it's dark and no one bothers you and the teenagers respect us ancients.There are hardware stores every where as it used to be in the UK and you can buy 10 screws or a hand full of nails which are not pre packed and cost a small fortune.I bought some chain link fencing yesterday and it was weighed and worked out at 38Lv for a 10 meter roll and 2 meters high and bought three of them, you pay for what you get.
Health and saftey is not an issue here and you are allowed to use your common sense unlike the mummying they do in the UK.As you pointed out kids can play safley in the streets when it's dark here even though any police presence is absent because children are valued here and mum and dad are at home and not out at the local pub.Political correctness is not an issue here becuase the majority of Bulgarians are polite and treat you with respect.
Bulgarians may not have a lot but they use and cherish what they have.My neighbour died last weekof lung cancer and he was only 52 years old. and I didn't find out until yesterday.Another neighbour asked me if I knew and I told him I didn't and he aked me if I saw a tractor and trailer outside which I did.He explained that here in my village when someone dies they are buried quickly and are taken to the cemetary by the tractor and trailer.No 3000 quid coffins and loads of flowers and a smart hurst with men in top hats.I thought now it's the tractor and trailer for me as it's simple and respectful and doesn't cost a fortune for a funeral and my wife can spend the money on more useful things like fire wood.Bulgaria to me is an ideal place for an old fart like me and an eye opener for the youger generation to get the feel of the 60's in the UK.

I know what you mean about the tractor and trailer. We were in the village when a funeral procession came by and it was the same. Also no-one seemed to have spent a fortune on black clothes they wouldn't use again.

Speedy It really is a completely different way of life here in every aspect from bringing up the chidlren to funerals. I have been here 6 weeks or more not and not once have a I heard a parent scream at their child infact not even heard a child cry yet and I am in the own most days. When the mums speak with he children is is alway very calm and reassuring ndwhen the children are out together have you noticed they all hold hands when walkng - It is so much like my own childhood and nooooooooooooo Speedy I am not that old I was only two in the 60ies .

oddball wrote:

- It is so much like my own childhood and nooooooooooooo Speedy I am not that old I was only two in the 60ies .

And meeeeee er, plus VAT or was it Purchase tax,

I've always said, just dig a hole and throw me in, as for the coffin well that's to be used as the bar, that way people can have a drink on me, which some might say makes a change, also under no circumstances is anyone to spend money on a fancy funeral or flowers.

oddball wrote:

Speedy It really is a completely different way of life here in every aspect from bringing up the chidlren to funerals.

One of my past professions was working within the funeral trade and conducting and arranging funerals as a funeral director. I was interested to see that in Pavlikeni they have a nice Mercedes Hearse and it is not unlike the one's we use in the UK, of course the funeral itself would be different and also the burial. When we lived in Turkey, we witnessed some funeral processions go past and the coffin was normally placed on the back of a flat lorry or the local council vehicle which was very similar and burials were a must with the deceased facing East. I did conduct a Greek funeral once and at the graveside their was a lot of smashing of plates on top of the coffin and olive oil also being poured into the grave.

A Minister did tell me that he conducted a graveside funeral and at the end of it all a mobile phone could be heard ringing, the family members had placed a mobile phone in the deceased's hand and were phoning him to make sure that he had in fact expired! No one answered of course!!

:: ::

itchyfeet wrote:

oddball wrote:

Speedy

When we lived in Turkey, we witnessed some funeral processions go past and the coffin was normally placed on the back of a flat lorry or the local council vehicle which was very similar and burials were a must with the deceased facing East.

Normally the coffin also belongs to the council (Belediye) and it's not uncommon to see written 'in turkish' on the side of the coffin, "
Property of the Council"
once the body is removed from the coffin at the graveside then placed down the hole to face 'Mecca' (which is not necessarily east), the coffin is then returned to the morgue ready to be used again, and no, they do not go to the trouble of polishing it or anything else.

In the UK a internment without a coffin has to have a deeper hole than the standard size (whatever that is) and if the hole has not been dug deep enough the body is turned on it's side inside the coffin to face Mecca and the lid is then left slightly open, then the arguments start as to who is now going to pay for the coffin as it will not be being returned to the undertakers, although usually a 'whip-round' (collection) at the local mosque usually covers the cost.

Went out collecting walnuts this morning brought a big carrier bag back, then noticed our neighbours picking the sweetcorn so we went to help - We were there for a few hour. When all the sweetcorn was picked, we were told to come to their place for lunch. Had a fab lunch salad, chicken, patotoes, bread, wine and grapes.

oddball wrote:

Went out collecting walnuts this morning brought a big carrier bag back.

Our neighbours have also been collecting walnuts including Bernard, he has now got lovely black fingers as a result of peeling off the green peel, bless him!!

itchyfeet wrote:

oddball wrote:

Went out collecting walnuts this morning brought a big carrier bag back.

Our neighbours have also been collecting walnuts including Bernard, he has now got lovely black fingers as a result of peeling off the green peel, bless him!!

Ah well as it turned out when I went to the orphanage the children picked a few walnuts and gave them to me, one of them had a little bit of the green on it. I had the dark mark in the palm of my hand for days so I learned fast - wear the gloves

More and more Brits are choosing to make Bulgaria their permanent home, and the age profile of those settling here is slowly changing. Previously, Bulgaria attracted British pensioners in their droves with its mild climate and low cost of living. Yet, nowadays, more young families are moving here, lured by the safe, relaxed environment that the country provides. Despite falling in love with Bulgaria, the reality of living here was different from a holiday experience. “Bulgaria reminded us of Spain 40 years ago;
the way the country is run and the fact that it takes months to get anything organised. The public transport was awful. Even faced with these challenges, we never had any regrets about our move. “There are so many things we both love about Bulgaria;
the people are fantastic;
I trust most of them with anything, which is more than what I would do in England. The way of life is a lot slower, which is perfect for retired people, and everyone is so respectful of everything: space, the elderly, the English and, of course, the weather is great. Bulgaria is the perfect place for those who no longer find England safe. For younger expats, Bulgaria will take a little more getting used to. If it is sold as the New Spain, potential purchasers have to understand that it took many years for Spain to get the reputation of the expat haven it has today.

oddball wrote:

Went out collecting walnuts this morning brought a big carrier bag back, then noticed our neighbours picking the sweetcorn so we went to help - We were there for a few hour. When all the sweetcorn was picked, we were told to come to their place for lunch. Had a fab lunch salad, chicken, patotoes, bread, wine and grapes.

Pleased you had a good lunch and happily integrated with the locals
Well that is a happier post Berni talking about the different way's of life in Bulgaria, rather than different way's of death in Bulgaria

davshaz wrote:

More and more Brits are choosing to make Bulgaria their permanent home, and the age profile of those settling here is slowly changing. Previously, Bulgaria attracted British pensioners in their droves with its mild climate and low cost of living. Yet, nowadays, more young families are moving here, lured by the safe, relaxed environment that the country provides. Despite falling in love with Bulgaria, the reality of living here was different from a holiday experience. “Bulgaria reminded us of Spain 40 years ago;
the way the country is run and the fact that it takes months to get anything organised. The public transport was awful. Even faced with these challenges, we never had any regrets about our move. “There are so many things we both love about Bulgaria;
the people are fantastic;
I trust most of them with anything, which is more than what I would do in England. The way of life is a lot slower, which is perfect for retired people, and everyone is so respectful of everything: space, the elderly, the English and, of course, the weather is great. Bulgaria is the perfect place for those who no longer find England safe. For younger expats, Bulgaria will take a little more getting used to. If it is sold as the New Spain, potential purchasers have to understand that it took many years for Spain to get the reputation of the expat haven it has today.

Of course we can look as ourselves as the pathfinders, something for everybody else to follow and this happened in many countries throughout Europe including Spain, who I suppose were the first to experience British presence in their country.

BG is a perfect place to start and encoiurage many younger people to come here if they have talent for making money and living off the proceeds.

Not expensive costs to live here and so a business earning a modicom of money would be perfect.