The thunderstorms promised by the forecast never truly arrived. A smattering overnight, yes, but hardly worth a mention, unless, like David, you gauge rainfall by the dampness of your garden wall or the depth in a coffee cup left out for two days. By his reckoning, it was officially “nothing to write home about.” In… Continue Reading

15th October 2013 A murky but dry morning greeted us, and I managed to coax David into joining Banjo and me on our morning walk. We took our favourite route, and while the only wildlife we encountered was a woodpecker or two, we were treated to a rare appearance by the sun, offering spectacular views… Continue Reading

14th October 2013 I woke early to a dreary, murky morning. Rain had crept in during the night, leaving our once-neat pile of dry, cut logs outside the wood store looking soggy and despondent. So much for the Bulgarian weather forecast; they clearly speak with a forked tongue. We’d planned a mountain outing, but with… Continue Reading

13th October 2013 While I was off taking Banjo on his usual walk (same route as yesterday, though unfortunately deer-free), David got stuck into cleaning the kitchen. I suspect he knew full well that dinner might not materialise unless there was a surface clear enough to prepare food on, utensils free of yesterday’s crusty evidence,… Continue Reading

12th October 2013 I awoke to the unwelcome sight of several more dead kerlinkas scattered across the duvet. Hoping the strange taste lingering in my mouth wasn’t some sort of insect protein, I washed it away with a comforting honey coffee before taking Banjo on his longest walk yet. We passed the cemetery (picturesque, if… Continue Reading

10th October 2013 During the night, newly qualified David Nixon of the RAF executed a bombing raid and returned to base with a dam burst and bomb bays emptier than a pub on a Tuesday night. The day that followed was less glamorous but equally destructive, this time directed at our nerves. With both barns… Continue Reading

10th October 2013  Banjo’s early morning walk was alive with wildlife, squirrels darting across the lane, deer springing into the fields. Despite his modest size, Banjo charges at his “prey” with heroic enthusiasm, only for each creature to vanish long before he’s within reach. One day, I hope, something might stand its ground. That will… Continue Reading

9th October 2013 Another hot and sunny one! With the pressure easing, our work pace was more leisurely, yet we still managed to finish cladding the other end of the barn. Despite the maddeningly complex angles, it fitted, almost as if we knew what we were doing. Flushed with success, we turned to the back… Continue Reading

8th October 2013  A glorious sunny day, fit for shorts and T-shirts. We didn’t surface until 9 am, and with only a few forlorn grains left in the coffee jar, our “morning brew” ended up being mostly life-giving honey with a whisper of caffeine. By around 11 am (scandalous by our usual standards), we finally… Continue Reading

7th October 2013 Another bright, frosty start to the day. Woke at 8 am, revived myself with a strong coffee, and took Banjo for his customary trot down the lane. On our way back, we bumped into Mark from across the way, striding out on his morning constitutional. We exchanged a few words about the… Continue Reading