Any one know if Equinus is ok only asking because they use to post quite a bit but I can't recall seeing them for a while. Hope they are ok

Thanks for asking Carmen. We do pop in from time to time, but it was so quiet for so long, and difficult to get any discussion going, that we lost momentum and gave up. The same with a couple of other (GB) sites. Nothing sinister.

We are very busy with our first year of starting everything from scratch in less than favourable conditions. Some parts of our new life have worked, others haven't and we still need to ask questions, but crucially we need answers as it is important that we get going properly within another twelve months. Last year was interesting with having the garden already planted when we arrived, then handed to us by our wonderful neighbours for processing...an interesting learning curve. We hope we have now gained the respect of all our neighbours, who are fantastic, by working hard and helping out where needed, it works both ways. The language is proving sticky, I hardly saw anyone over winter to practice with! But we try and have a good laugh and are invited to family events over the year.

So with all that in mind, I took Bernie's advice and joined FB, joining relevent groups to our lifestyle, ie growing as much as we can for ourselves/ bartering excess/bartering chores and finding out when things should be sown/planted/harvested/re-sown. Also rearing geese for meat, chickens for interest, ex-batts for stupid reasons. With the work and the questions and such answered elsewhere, a blog I write so that I know what I have done from week to week I really don't have time to trawl all the sites I used to.

But Again, thanks for asking. I have seen Itchyfeet and Scunnered recently so they know we are still about!

Sara

Glad your ok, its seems you have been very busy and I get what you say about the winter it can be very quiet as no one seems to venture out in the cold and snow. The language is a bit of an issue with me too and I still can't get my head around it no matter how I try but try I must. Facebook is something I have tried but I keep away from now, its ok if your a certain type of person but for me I don't think you can beat a forum such as this one where there is a lot more control over what is and what isn't allowed and to be honest Facebook now share a lot of your information without you even knowing but each to there own. Anyway take care and good luck with your new life.

Equinus its great the overall you are enjoying your new beginning and taking on the Bulgarian way of life which is something I did many years ago and still do and I'm sure I must be more Bulgarian that English by now that said I have great respect for our neighbours in fact all our village who are always at hand if I need any help but it works both ways they know they can call on me to help to, I suppose this is how life should always be and if you think about it many years ago it was like this in most countries. I also have difficulty with the lingo but I get by with funny dances and signs and most seem to understand me in the end, anyway have fun and keep looking forward to the next challenge that Bulgaria brings your way

Thank for the update EQ good to hear from you and know life is good for you both. You know you can copy and past your blog on here too so we can keep up to date. I find Facebook good for us because we have many followers and it is easy to keep updated with photos etc but it is not everyone's cup of tea. The forum is more personal and informative. Many people are busy this time of year but they will always pop in hence we started the pop in and say hello post here viewtopic.php?f=46&
t=7090 It is just to let us know people are still around.

Although now in UK I still pop in now and again to see what folks are up to. I recently posted a topic 'accepting Bulgarian Lifestyle' and thought this might provoke some discussion. However, it didn't and almost immediately went a bit off topic. Now I see Davshaz Carmen and Equinnus are embracing Bulgarian life, I am surprised they didn't respond. Can always rely on Oddie to post though!

Maybe people think I am not interested in Bulgaria anymore and thus have nothing to say or respond too. Absolutely not true - I actually feel I have absorbed the Bulgarian way to such an extent that I find myself feeling very defensive of the country. Wasn't it great that the Bulgarian beat Andy Murray at Wimbledon?

As for Facebook - I follow it everyday and keep in touch with our Bulgarian friends that way with pics of our new life. I think it is as safe as you make it. Personally, my life is so ordinary that I would be of little interest to anyone except my friends. I ignore all adverts just as I do on the television.

Equinus wrote:

Thanks for asking Carmen. We do pop in from time to time, but it was so quiet for so long, and difficult to get any discussion going, that we lost momentum and gave up. The same with a couple of other (GB) sites. Nothing sinister.

But Again, thanks for asking. I have seen Itchyfeet and Scunnered recently so they know we are still about!

Sara

You must have seen me and Annette at the Hotnitsa do a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately whilst searching for the inevitable bargain of the day we didn't see you or Dave. We wish you both well and glad you are both enjoying the BG way of life.

itchyfeet wrote:

You must have seen me and Annette at the Hotnitsa do a couple of weeks ago

Nice one Sara If I has seen Itchy I would have run the other way Nooooooooooooooo only joking you really Itchy

oddball wrote:

itchyfeet wrote:

You must have seen me and Annette at the Hotnitsa do a couple of weeks ago

Nice one Sara If I has seen Itchy I would have run the other way Nooooooooooooooo only joking you really Itchy

Thank you for those words of wisdom Berni!!

Glad to see everyone is ok, I still pop in from time to time.

So Equinnus, Itchyfeet and Oddie were all at Hotnitsa but none of you met each other?? It was the same at Mindya Rockfest - I finally found out that several Brits attended but the only person that came over to speak was Itchyfeet and friends. What is it with expat Brits that they don't communicate with each other? The same folk probably say the neighbours never spoke to them. Try speaking first! I always smile and say hello when out and about and have met some lovely local people. What do you all think?

Anyway - going a bit off topic once again. Pleased Equinnus is still around and enjoying life in Bulgaria.

No Oldun I was not at Hotnitsa don;
t know where that is. i was only joking with Itchy. As for meeting people I have only attended one event since being here in BG that was the Mama Mia night and I spoke to everyone regardless if I knew them or not, if we all stuck to our own corners wouldn't it would be boring eh!!. I do the same when we have parties or concerts here in the villages I go around talking to people, poor people, they think I am a bit screwing in the head but they still talk to me.

Sorry Oddie - my mistake. I meant Scunnered. Pleased to hear you are like me and speak to people. Sometimes it has proved embarrassing when people seem not to respond. I mean Brits of course both here in UK and Bulgaria. Bulgarians always speak and sometimes, when I have been visiting Veliko Turnovo market, some Bulgarians have introduced themselves to me and asked which village I was from. Usually turned out that they had family or friends in Mindya. They loved to chat and would always give me something extra when buying fruit, veg or plants. Having said that, I find the local Sunday market here quite friendly and certainly dog walking starts conversations with most people. Not all!!!

Just to add, I hope you will post more now that you know you have been missed and inadvertantly started a discussion! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Actually, I did speak to Itchy, did not see his wife as I have a stall and can't really leave it to go wandering. I speak to a lot of people and have a good few people who seek out my goods and even ask me to make stuff for them, British, Bulgarian and Dutch. Scunnered is now a friend, she and her husband were kind enough to show us around the local area a year ago, and since then we have bought goslings from them and have had stalls side by side and a good gossip....and she makes a mean scone and lovely home made jam...mmmmmm. And i envy her the outlook from her home, so much prettier than looking on to the back of a barn.

We have both British and Bulgarian friends, as well as Russian and French. I have never had so many friends and acquaintances. We swap goods, livestock and stories, come and go visiting when we have time....and we work very hard in the garden, we will not have to buy any produce apart from lemons and oranges at all this year, and are producing stuff to sell. In fact our hours are longer than they were in the UK.

But we are doing what we want to do, spend a lot more time together, get out with the cameras to see wildlife when we can, still go to bed at 9 and get up at 5 and we are loving it. But at the same time spend little time on the computer except for looking for information to help us stay out here as long as possible and doing my blog as it is in effect my diary and way of keeping friends and family informed of what we are up to.

Thank you everyone who has asked about us and commented, it's lovely to know we are not forgotten. But please don't be offended if we haven't time to spend on the computers....we are likely to fall asleep when we sit down.