Hi Everyone

We took the Calafat/Vidin route on Friday (the bridge is not open as yet, but very near. The journey from Vidin to Polski Senovets took longer than expected due to large numbers wanting to use the ferry that we had to wait for the 2nd ferry. We then were directed her, there and everywhere to get to Pleven due to roadworks and eventually after 10 hours non-stop driving.

Sara and I survived killing each other during the four days driving and the dogs were as good as gold throughout. Although we did not kill each other the whole process has taken its toll as both of us are now down with heavy colds/coughs so the combination of 4 days driving and now 3 nights lack of sleep we are as you would say like a "
sack of ****"
, but we are here in our jungle. To consider 3 months ago the was no sign of grass or creepers now it is totally overgrown in some areas as the neighbour Venka had previously been given access to grow things as it was previously a holiday home.

She had already met us when we viewed back in March and this time greeted us with hugs like long lost friends. she speaks no English, but on Saturday arrived with bunches of flowers for us and had her grandson there to translate to invite us for dinner that evening. The whole aspect of tiredness and her generosity as the feast in front of us was so overwhelming that both of us that when we returned HOME we were both in tears.

Her grandson informed us that the plants in our garden were ours as they were effectively surplus for her to keep the weeds down. As seems to be the norm they are afraid of our dogs although the worst they would do would be to like them to death, but they do at least let us know when people are around.

So much for for settling down for a couple of days our furniture arrives on Wednesday and so we have had daily trips to P. Trambesh to get gardening hardware to get ris of the weeds so our belongings can be brought in without the guys breaking their necks on the steps. We have also been to VT, yes VT he who does not like driving in strange cities let alone abroad to get to Practiker to get more gardening stuff and then to try and find somewhere where we could get a dongle until we get internet setup - the only one we could get was GLOBUL and I know life in Bulgaria is slow, but the dongle is even slower!!!! Anyway the drive in VT reversed the way due to rush hour, roadworks and then to top it all to collect the does to the house to be sent to the estate agents home not the office.

The water meter was read today, another scenario "
are the dogs locked away"
before they would come in the garden, so all in all not currently the relaxing life it will be tending our veg and chickens.

Anyway we are here, but if anyone can let us know a good company for internet/TV/phone package for P. Senovets coverage, please let us know.
Mr &
Mrs Eq

Can't help you with the 'dongle' thingy, but I am happy to hear that you and the dogs are here at last. I'm sure that you will have a gazillion questions over the next few weeks, but please don't be shy..ask away. Between us all and our collective experiences, there will be a suitable answer or solution forthcoming.

Looking forward to hearing all about everything.

:Good luck:welcome and good luck in your new home and new life.
Do not know any thing about your area but we use vivacom for phone interenet and mobile phones and we have never had one problem with them They do TV too but we use Filmon through the internet plugged into the television.
If we can answer any questions then we are here and willing to help

Hello Mr and Mrs Eq and :Welcome3:to Bulgaria and your new home. You had a long and tedious journey to get here, but it is worth it in the end, especially with the reception you received from your BG neighbour. We are fortunate in having a good neighbour as well in the personage of Bernard. Your dongle may be slow, but it has to be faster than this stupid thing that is supplied by Vivacom that I am using whilst I type this.

Best wishes from Annette and myself and we hope to speak to you soon.

::

We did a similar journey with dogs a couple of years ago. I bet you are so glad to be here at last.
Here's to your new life!

to Bulgaria enjoy your new life and chillaxe.

Welcome to your new home and life

Great news you made it safe and sound to your new home. For now just chill out relax get over your colds and take things easy one step at a time. The weeds and everything else will still be there. As neighbor to fine you people from the village to come and clear the weeds for you - believe me it will take you the best part of 2 weeks to get it sorted and they will do it within a day. Most definitely worth paying for.

Enjoy!! looking forward to hearing all about your new life in BG.

Thanks everyone. Not much time to relax yet as our stuff is being delivered tomorrow and up to this morning you couldn't see the gates for weeds! Dave has cleared the path and is tackling the gateway today. Venka's son has said he will come and clear the weeds next weekend, but as I have been going through the 'garden' area, cutting the long grass and chucking it aside to dry (no point wasting it) I am finding grape vines amongst the weed-vine which we would like to keep, and which have been 'cleared' in previous years. In old photos there are mature vines, and if these are they, they should have a good root system and should grow away next year. There are also roses and hostas and a large hydrangea which we have already had to cut back as it was blocking the side gate.

But oh, I do miss my familiar garden tools and am looking forward to getting our stuff tomorrow, nearly a week late. We have taken lots of pics which I will use on the blog site eventually, can't use them yet as this dongle is useless.

Ah well, on we goo, see what else I can find.

Mrs Eq

Chill a bit and get over the dreaded lurgy first. Bulgarians in my area have a quaint saying..'Rabotata ne e zaek, da iz biaga', roughly means 'work is not a rabbit, it wont run away'.

So glad to hear you both made it intact and with all dogs in tow!

Keep the adrenaline going - there's plenty of time to relax when the boxes are in and opened and you can crack open a bottle while you find a home for your belongings!

Do keep us posted on your trials and tributlations as and when your connection permits!

Take care

How are you doing Mr and Mrs Eq - did your van arrive in time with your belongings and is you health better?

:Welcome3:to your new home and good luck clearing your jungle so your furniture can get in.

itchyfeet wrote:

How are you doing Mr and Mrs Eq - did your van arrive in time with your belongings and is you health better?

Furniture etc arrived when it was supposed to and so far it seems ok.....but where to put it all? The place looks like a junk shop. We have been out and bought some stell shelving for the kitchen, not pretty but until we know how the kitchen will be pulled about by builders there is no point in buying units. Dave will need some shelving anyway so he can have them later. The clearing of the land is coming along since the purchase of a strimmer/brush cutter. One big patch will be cut and left ready for the chickens, the 'drive' is clear, we have a lawn of sorts, though the ryegrass leaves rather sharp stubble for the dogs' feet. The grass was left drying for hay (waste not want not) but now it is raining.

Our lovely neighbour is still plying us with food, something I am not in great need of as I could live off my reserves for a goodly while. Since our massive dinner on our second day, we have a big bucket of little new potatoes, some little bread rolls and some soup. I will be baking them a cake as soon as I can find the necessary ingredients and space, she is making me feel guilty! According to her grandson she is an ace cake baker, so it will have to be something very English as I cannot compete. Trouble is, most of my recipes I google and I can't google on this stupid dongle!

As for the lurgy, the fever has gone and generally we are not too bad while active during the day, but night times are a different matter and neither of us are getting enough sleep through coughing. Good job we are not in a little semi.

Ah well, onwards and upwards. Time to clear the way to the toaster.

Mrs Eq

PS Another night time problem.....blinking rats! In the roof space. Playing, fighting, making merry. One was even in the bathroom! Don't like poison but some went in the hole it disappeared down and it was plugged with no-nails....well you have to use what is to hand. Little b******

well done both of you you sound as if you have made really good progress in the short time you have been here.
What recipe would you like i will do the search and post it for you if you want. As a by the by I found any thing Italian the Bulgarians love speggetti bog pitsa cheesy pasta pesto pasta and prawns and a good peice of ciabata bread. All goes down well with a glass of wine
Keep up the good work take care you have a life time to get it all together