One Year Along, Stress Free, Sort of

Gosh this last 11 months have flown by and so much has happened or changed, for the good.

I don't think I can put it all in order but lets see what has been happening. 

Firstly we just enjoyed a beautiful summer in the garden, swimming in the pool, soaking up the sun, meeting new friends and enjoying being hospitable again. I feel I'm in the wrong place every time I get in the pool! It is a life's dream to have one and with such a wonderful view I am overwhelmed every time.

I was so completely stressed after packing up two homes for the move that things have moved slowly really.

I have made some special friends since moving here and thank God for them. Mum loves it, she has socialised so much here and has enjoyed Rakia and Red wines, everyone loves her.

We had a lovely 93rd birthday party for her which was made up of Europeans, Italian, French, German, English as well as Bulgarians. Weather was brilliant and the booze was flowing. Mum really enjoyed it 

The Dr's have been brilliant and we have just the best GP! After being diagnosed with Gout, which was stupid as my symptoms were different, she had me properly diagnosed in less than an hour with Osteo Arthritis through X-rays, feel & observation. I was also diagnosed a while later with type two diabetes, no wonder I was tired and washed out all the time let alone feeling ill and strange most of the time. I also had a 5 yr overdue female issue sorted in record time! To say I'm impressed is an understatement. There is also a lovely hospital in Meden Rudnik, modern with helpful staff English translators and very accommodating Dr's. There is a very nice cafe on the ground floor for visitor and patients to use with good coffee and food to be had, limited hot food but very good all the same.

We've sampled lots of different restaurants and cafes and have identified a couple of favourites already, with many more to try. I have to say I do miss the restaurants in Veliko Turnovo, they are fabulous and so far nothing is up to par with them!

I have decorated two rooms downstairs but still have lots to do. I have also started to remodel the kitchen but have a damp problem stopping me from painting as yet. My next two projects are the loft room, making it a beautiful space to relax in and a fifth bedroom and also I have to seal the upstairs terrace floors as rain is seeping through to the conservatory, garage, kitchen and utility rooms.

Right now we are having a new deck made for around the pool, this is completely an unexpected expense but the previous decking was completely rotten. I fell through it twice last year so it is a must for mums safety and the safety of visiting family in August and September. So I guess the moral of this is even when you buy a completely renovated property it can still bite you in the ass!
Photos soon

Lots to do this Summer but the best news is I have met someone to share it with. I am a very happy lady right now, oh how things have changed! Ill tell more in a later blog.

Christmas was lovely we had old and new friends over, drank Champagne and Prosseco, ate Turkey, Goose and Pork with homemade Christmas pudding and Lemon Drizzle cake, opening pressies around the table. It was lovely.

The winter has flown by with only a couple of days I can say was really cold, probably four in total. Lots of sunshine and only a couple of days of snow, bloody fabulous!!!!!

I did have one problem, it was such gorgeous weather in November I would go to open the gate with no cardigan on and I did end up with bronchitis. Again my Dr was fabulous and nailed it.

Time has gone by in a haze, Spring is here again and Summer is around the corner. I was a very lucky lady and had the most fabulous trip to Dubai with my new man. It was fabulously hot, especially welcome as I left Bulgaria in snow! What a totally fabulous country, complete luxury and very expensive but I recommend you go, if you have not already, especially for a special occasion. Loved every second of it!

I have taken up restoring and up cycling, furniture. Loving painting and learning new techniques. I'm hoping to o into business in the not too distant future. I have sold a few pieces and my house is filling up with furniture to revamp. I will soon need a workshop and shop to display the goods.

Life is better......