HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!2010.

Well its nearly here another year begins the seem to pass so quickly, a sign of age cos every thing goes quickly as you get older don't you think?We have been hearing gun's or fireworks can't tell the difference,you tend to here guns at this time of year due to the winter cull. Not nice but a necessity and done everywhere in the world its just a we bit more obvious here.Anyway enough of that talk,are you ready for the new year?thinking of making those new year resolutions,best part is breaking them!!!! Of course mine is the old diet again yuk!and to find time to improve my lapsing Bulgarian.That's it for now so have a lovely New Years Eve and Happy New Year to all my Family,Friends,and Readers.

Water,Water,Water!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces

Well we have had our share of water so far this winter,as we walked our 2 dogs(plus 1 stray)we took these photo's of the gushing water coming from the Hills round Tarnava.The water looks a bit dirty but its just the colour from the forest tree's its the rubbish that spoils it unfortunately.

Our Friends at the Building Yard.

Yesterday we went for more building materials for the house(well room actually)more insulation and gunk to stick it.We have got really good friends at the yard who help us with everything,so I am making them famous putting them in my blog.The lady is Vania(ваня)she speaks english quite well,we also have Alex(Алес)on the right, the chappi on the left sorry I'l have to get his name later cos he not on my list.Simeon(симеон)is the one stood with his son Boshil(бошил)Great people!!

Delivery,14th Jan2008.

No pictures from 2008 so i have added these recent ones for you

This week we've had groceries delivered again,and the went with Sonnie and Mike to

Yambol for some diy things.They have a 4 wheel drive so have no prod in snow.It was a nice few hours the roads were awful with thick ice and snow piled high,glad we haven't tried to go out in the van we would have gone sledging again in a lot bigger way!!

We saw the most amazing thing on the way an Eagle just after it had caught its pray yuk!you may say but what a wonder to see in the wild snowy countryside seems to fit perfectly fantastic.That was the second amazing thing ,Yesterday i saw an eagle swoop down just outside the garden,these unexpected treats make up for some of the Borden we are feeling at pres.

The Mountains

These pictures were taken on our way to Yambol yesterday 28Th Dec,the mountains look wonderful they just fit with this time of year.

Christmas Tips

Hope you will find these tips useful for your Christmas and New Year parties;
Food,allow 4-6 savouries,1-2 sweet foods,per person.
Drinks.

1. Sherry 1 bottle gives 8-10 glasses.


2. Wine 1 bottle gives 6-8 glasses.


3. Champagne 1 bottle gives 6-8 glasses.


4. Gin 1 bottle gives 32 cocktails or about 20 drinks with soda,tonic,fruit juice,etc.


5. Whisky 1 bottle gives 32 cocktails or about 20 drinks with soda,tonic,fruit juice,etc.


6. Fruit cordial 20-25 glasses per bottle(add 7 pints water to each bottle)

Food.

1. Sausage Rolls,720gms shortcrust of flaky pastry and 900gms of sausage meat makes 30 medium sausage rolls.


2. Cold Cooked Meats for salads.Allow 3kg per 25 portions.


3. Cold cooked Chicken or turkey allow 3kg per 25 portions.


4. Rice and Pasta allow 56 gms (uncooked)per person.


5. Fruit salad Allow 3kg fruit 2Lt's sugar syrup and 1Lt cream.

New Camera!! 10th Jan 2008.

This week being a little board we have been doing some photo taking of wild life,well some birds anyway,Woodpeckers,sparrows,blue tits,and CATS! that spent more time sat in our makeshift bird table eating everything we put on it,rather than mousing.This place is vast with Forrest's and fields all round us ,the budding David baileys heaven(not)we haven't seen hide or hare!!!! of anything else no deer, or wild Boer,this leads us to the conclusion that the Bulgarian Hunter Gatherers namely our friend Louba and co have scared them into a game of hide and stay hidden,ah well the old cat and dog will have to do tryed the mice too fast!

Bulgaria

These pictures were some of the first we took when we first came to Bulgaria.

They show part of Yambol park,the road from Tarnava,to Yambol,and our house in tarnava.

Christmas Passed.

Well its all but over the pressies are open,we've eaten and much(how cares)a good time had by all i think.Oh yes and the van came home Christmas eve so that's good FREEDOM!!It was a good job we did the shopping on the 23rd cos when we passed the supermarket on Christmas eve you couldn't even get in the car park for traffic,some things never chance were ever you are!! Well being ever the optimist lets think spring,summer,I think Christmas passed tends to be a bit of a downer don't know why, do you?

Christmas Day!!

Great Christmas day,we spoke on line with our family and opened our presents quiet but OK.Thank you all for the pressies.xxxxx

January 8th 208.

Another day stuck,the snow is not moving very fast even though the sun thores it during the day the minus temps freeze it again at night and our poor van comes to a swift halt give or take a slide or 2 3 4 on anything with a hint of water in it.Our friends Sonnie and mike come to the rescue again bringing us food supplies from Yambol,but it is getting a bit of a drag being stuck.h

Have put the tiles down and have been out chopping wood,David has however hurt himself feeding a cat out of the window he slipped on the tv wire knocking his ribs on the window frame and rendering himself unworkable for a while.he is in quite a lot of pain at the mo poor love.

Never the less when Viloo needs help getting the Russian car out we both went .Did I mention a Russian couple own next door?they only come in the summer hum is this a case of mad dogs and English men.Viloo lookes after the house for them,and the car,and sky tv,etc,etc,etc,we look forward to meeting them.

Christmas Eve.

Well the van has not returned.Yesterday we went to Yambol by taxi for the shopping.It was a nice change,as is everywhere the supermarket was very busy,of course not like Tesco's thank goodness.Anyway the snow has completely gone but i won't be complacent cos it'll be back!!!merry Christmas everyone especially Paula,Emma,Al,and all our lovely family miss you all.xxx

Yambol Theatre.

The pictures show Yambol's theatre,in the main square,haven't been in yet but I intend to explore it in time.

This picture is of David and Viloo telling the tale taken in 2007 when we arrived in Bulgaria.

The Village sheep coming home after a long day eating.

Maggie's Fruit Cake.

My no hassle fruit cake has gone down a treat hope you enjoy it.

1. 200gm stoned dates.


2. 200gm walnuts.


3. 250gm Plain flour.


4. 120gm Margarine.


5. 120gm Sugar.


6. 200gm Raisins/Sultanas.


7. 1 Level Teaspoon Baking Powder.


8. Chop the dates and nuts.


9. 1 Level teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda.


10. 1/4 Pint milk.


11. 
    
    
    
    
    1. Grease a 8" loaf tin or cake tin.


12. Sift the flour into a bowl.


13. Cut the margarine into small pieces and rub it in to the flour until it forms a bread crumb mix.


14. Add the sugar,dates, nuts,and raisins.


15. Dissolve the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda in the milk and mix with the dry ingredients.Add a little more milk if necessary,so the mixture will drop from the spoon when it is held over the bowl.


16. Place in the prepared tin,don't forget to line or grease the tin to prevent sticking.


17. Bake in the centre of a moderate oven (350f,mark 4) for 1 hour.


18. Serve sliced with a nice cup of coffee. Lovely.

Problem?Maybe.

22nd December and no van I must say we are starting to worry,no van no Chrissie food,no sweeties or beer!!! a bit dramatic we'll have to Taxi.The garage say they are waiting for a part Hum!where have I heard that before.Weather gone from rain to snow not good.Not a lot to do so walked to post office and them to the bar for,no not beer!coffee and not in your normal cup in a plastic party cup,oh well tasted OK and Stoyan the bar owner was very obliging.

January 7th,2008.Stuck.

Looking at the situation it is quite obvious we are ain't going any where for a while and joy of joy's the leki keeps going off,what fun.David has made a snowman on the window, sill it looks like an alien and he's stuck silver paper foil on it for eyes which is all very well except I peep out of the curtains and the bloody thing nearly gives me a heart attack.

Cornbeef Hash Pie(A real winter warmer)

Eat and Freeze.(this makes either 2 to3 pies or 12 Cornish pasties)
Ingredients;

1. 2kg Potatoes.
2. 2medium tins corn beef.
3. 1kg Flour.
4. 2 Large Onions.
5. Salt
6. 400gm lard/margarine
7. Water.
8. Baking Tray and Pie dish and large mixing bowl.
9. 1 Egg to glaze your pie.

Of we go then!!!!

1. Peel and boil the potatoes.
2. Cut the onion and corn beef into small pieces.
3. While the potatoes are still hot mix together the three,put to one side.
4. Sift together the flour and salt
5. Cut the fat into small cubes add to flour.
6. Rub in until it forms a bread crumb mixture.
7. Tip if you squeeze some in your hand it should stick together, if not add some more fat.
8. Add the water,enough to bind the mix,too much and the pastry will go hard.
9. You will have quite a lot of pastry so cut it in half to roll out.
10. Line a pie tin ,fill with potato mix.
11. Roll out the lid,with egg go round the edge put on the lid and crimp with your fingers or a fork.
12. Brush egg over the top of your pie.
13. Bake in a hot oven 425F,Mark 7,until golden brown.

The same process for pasties except you cut out circles for the pastie shapes.

Tip,use a side plate as a template,I find then a nice size for Cornish pasties.

HAPPY BAKING!!!








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Dont you just love him!

Yes he's here again Winston showing his new snow were"Jaz's got the coat so I want the Hat"