First topic message reminder :

I haven't been on the forum much lately so I was expecting a lot of catching up to do. Well, nothing much seems to be happening and I was just wondering how forums have changed. Years ago when forums were new and many of us were happy to be starting our new lives in Bulgaria there was so much to chat about from congratulations to information to discussion about all sorts of topics. Does anyone agree with me or is it just I am getting older and too used to my Bulgarian life and nowadays most Brits aren't really interested in things Bulgarian and prefer to just chat at carboots and other expat gatherings? Or maybe they are a bit too worried about their feelings being hurt or aren't bothered in anything much as in the old days?

Equinus wrote:

Sorry Bazz, I mean things like municipality tax and the like, not personal stuff. Unfortunately each area seems to have different ways of doing things, and the closer we get to moving out, the more anxious I get that we might not be able to find out what needs paying when and where, and how we find these places. The down side to not buying in a popular ex-pat area I suppose, no-one to ask. Because of the way things are done differently everywhere, such as post for example, asking on the forum just confuses things more. It is sometimes better not to ask, ignorance is sometimes bliss.

I'm sure most go through the same anxieties, and being the type to want to pay bills as soon as they arrive and before(!) if possible and stay well within the law.....I like to know what's what!

I'm sure we'll be fine. I'm just a worrier.

Mrs Eq

Lessons can be learnt from mistakes but mistakes can be costly. One piece of advice I would definitely give (from experience) is do not pay for anything up front. I am having some alterations and modifications done to the swimming pool, cost 700leva, so I said to the guy how much for materials and how much for you, he said 400leva for materials which I paid him and said when the job is completed and I am happy with the finished job I will pay you the balance. He said No problems

oldun wrote:

Well I think you have all missed my point. I was talking about content when people do post. Also, don't you think that me and my Hero have lots to do? I don't spend all day on the internet but enjoy a bit of a chat because we don't have a car and I don't do any expat things. I have done and still do as much as I can (which gets less daily due to aches and pains!) so please don't go back to the same old excuses that trot out every time anything to do with posting on the forum comes up.

I was scrolling through the members list and was absolutely amazed at the number of people who are now registered many who have never made a post of any kind. So why do they bother to join? I agree with Willowsend that some subjects become repetitive ( I didn't mean this topic to be one of them), but surely some of our new members have something new to write about?

Oh well, never mind off you all go to do your 24/7 work in the house or garden. I shall continue to take my rest reading my book in my beautiful garden and not bother with forums since no-one else seems bothered anyway. Have to mention that all you busy people did come online to reply to my post so you do log in busy or not.... [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I'm looking forward to my new life back in Blighty and you can bet I will be busy there but might still find a moment or two to write about how we are getting on. Had quite a few viewings lately so hopefully will get an offer soon although it will be sad to leave.

A couple more posts I see as I have been writing this. I, too, am not sure that forums are always helpful. People have different ways of dealing with things, some are overly helpful and get confusing with too much info and some just don't know what they are talking about or live in an area where things are done differently either bureaucratically or by local people. When we arrived there were no expats to help even if we had wanted to ask and we certainly had no language but we managed. We didn't have internet and used a cafe in town and only an old fashioned telephone landline. Talk about a steep learning curve. We used to go to the local shop or bar. Villagers were always helpful with a mixture of sign language or just repeating until we got the gist of what they were saying. First things I learnt was the name of all the products I bought in the shop followed by the usual greetings and how to buy a beer. We never used a translator after the bureaucracy was completed and anyway she went off to marry and start a family. Knowing the village bus timetable took a while and the first time I took a taxi home in the dark I couldn't direct him to our house and drove around the village twice! So to anyone just arriving in Bulgaria I would suggest you will get integrated into Bulgarian ways far quicker by being a bit independent and going it alone. It can be fun and will be much appreciated. Your tales will also be interesting to post on the forum for us all to read. Everyone has a story to tell which will be different to anyone elses. Forums shouldn't just be used to ask for information or sell something. Make it an interesting read.

oldun, I just love it. I wish you had been my Head Mistress when I was at school ::

Right there is nothing for it now but to put on these and deal with it

oddball wrote:

Right there is nothing for it now but to put on these and deal with it

Hope you don't pack them for Saturday, you will be charged excess baggage

willowsend wrote:

oddball wrote:

Right there is nothing for it now but to put on these and deal with it

Hope you don't pack them for Saturday, you will be charged excess baggage

Flaming nora never thought of that - but hey would Dougies face be a picture

Now with my mods head on Berni you are

oldun wrote:

I was scrolling through the members list and was absolutely amazed at the number of people who are now registered many who have never made a post of any kind. So why do they bother to join? I agree with Willowsend that some subjects become repetitive ( I didn't mean this topic to be one of them), but surely some of our new members have something new to write about?

There are plenty of members on our forum oldun, but how many people write these days? I send regular emails to lots of my friends and receive very few back. Everyone seems to prefer writing in pigeon English on Facebook and then only a few lines. Out of every 100 people I doubt many would feel confident to write on a forum, then there is the question of spelling, how many can spell properly or put a sentence together so that everyone knows what they are saying. Those of us that regularly write on the forum assume that everyone has the confidence to write something and spell properly, but we live in the real world and nothing is further from the truth. There are some who have no intention of saying anything of course, whatever their personal situation.

It's all about time and priorities for me and yes I am one of those people who find it hard to write down my thoughts and express any opinion but I'm always here reading and if I can in a small way add something I do.

oddball wrote:

Now with my mods head on Berni you are

It's not important to have a sense of humour on this forum, but it does help
and we can all see now who wears the pants in your house

willowsend wrote:

oddball wrote:

Now with my mods head on Berni you are

It's not important to have a sense of humour on this forum, but it does help
and we can all see now who wears the pants in your house

I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when you meet Berni next willow. I think those oversized pants may end up entwined around your body!!!

itchyfeet wrote:

willowsend wrote:

oddball wrote:

Now with my mods head on Berni you are

It's not important to have a sense of humour on this forum, but it does help
and we can all see now who wears the pants in your house

I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when you meet Berni next willow. I think those oversized pants may end up entwined around your body!!!

Along with my foot Itchy

It is quite sad (and harder for newbies) that not much seems to happen on this or other forums. I guess the 06-09 heyday has gone and from extensive reading of multiple forums/blogs etc, it would appear that have been so many spats between various expats and so many have been burned/ripped off that people are very very guarded about what they say and where - there are WAY more views than posts, so people are reading - just not writing. Compound this with the relatively smaller number of expats that are still remaining who, by now, are well settled and busy just getting on with it, and you can see how it happens.

:Thank you:Expatinchina. Exactly so on all points. Oddy you are a great Mod and humour is good but it can inhibit discussion or maybe its a warning that things might be becoming overheated. In which case I apologise but at least the topic has got some response.
Lets be a bit proactive and suggest some ideas for discussion - maybe even light-hearted like 'What funny mistakes did you make when you first arrived in Bulgaria?'' Or some nice animal stories for a change like how you took in a stray. Being a natural chatterer and interested in people in general, I admit I have little time for those who don't converse. Just be yourself and don't worry about spelling or what people will think as long as you are honest in what you say, no worries. I sometimes wonder if some people have things to hide and that is why they lurk rather than write and end up living abroad reinventing themselves having been on the wrong side of the law in Britain, or have I just become too cynical in my old age.
Must end now because Paul O'Grady is on my slingbox presenting 'For the love of Dogs'.

How funny-I was watching that on YouTube yesterday!

Must agree to disagree with this one, I don't think anyone is under any obligation to write on any forum, some of us are more than happy to read about the exploits of others like itchy who's blogs I love but its not something I would care to attempt to copy nor would I want to. Forums are a great for gaining information and also for sharing it but they are also a wonderful place to just come and chill out and have a rant about a bad day you may have had or perhaps to read a bit of news about something that you may have missed? anyway I digress away from what has now turned out to be me moaning so I'll stop here before I go to far, Rant over.