Living On A Shoestring, Amazing Answer To Prayer, Come On Summer

Well my last post caused a little controversy.
First made me angry then tickled me, because some people just want to be nasty for the sake of it.
This is my story, I do not lie, I do not make things look better or worse. It is what it is, good bad and most of the time indifferent. I have many witnesses to what I say so it is not just my word!
It is a diary for me, a note book of how life can be in Bulgaria and especially for people to learn from my mistakes.
I am who I am, I change with time, for the good and sometimes for the bad but then back to the good, I hope. I am a good person with a good heart. I am giving and help others but normally keep this to myself as I see this philosophy as life and how it should be!!!!
For instance many people (thank you) have been praying for me and the situation. I have seen amazing answer to prayer. a couple of people have provided me with dog food, thank you so very much and I have struck a deal with someone to exchange a cake a week for a bag of dog food, so I am so much lighter in my step to know that my dogs are OK for food :-)  I feel so much better for being able to exchange something for something, like in the old days. I said I would not take money or borrow off people, but for my dogs help with the food has been such a blessing!!!!!
Life to me is about just that, doing things for your friends, family, neighbours. Helping each other out, what a wonderful way to live.  I will make sure I pay this forward to my village families and friends just as soon as I can.

It seems to me that some people think when life throws a curve ball that we are less as a person, that in poverty we are low life and they not being in that position are superior. Hmmmm I have always had a problem with people that think like that, heartless is just one word but ignorant is the best. Life is not always fair to any of us but for many more it is downright desperate. Education is to be grasped, if possible, for some though this is not to be. Having a good education does not make a person better than those that are uneducated just makes them privileged.
I wish I had grabbed my education with all I had but I hated school. I did though have a head on my shoulders and managed to get really good jobs. I then went to college when I was a mother of teenage kids. Meeting my second husband put a stop to me going to University as I moved to the Midlands to be with him. Now it is too late for me but just because I do not have a university degree does not make me stupid, far from it.

So I am intelligent enough too do my own detective work :-)

Funny thing, I have been included in a book on living on a shoestring. It is about what it says LOL, but for people living in Bulgaria etc.
I did try to get a link to put on here but I am not technically minded, as soon as I work it out I will do it. It is by a travel expert.  Funny because now I am really living on much less, but sunshine is around the corner.

Talking of sunshine, come on sun, where are you????? Get away from that normally wet and grey country we call England and get back here where you belong!
I am cold it has been wet, damp, grey and blooming miserable. I now have man flu, really just a bad head cold. Throat, head, eyes, neck, back etc. Only a few sneezes, a bit of coughing so I am in bed resting, hence these blogs. It seems to be doing the rounds so glad to get it out of the way so I can get stuck into all the mess that needs sorting and also catch a bit od vitamin D while having coffee breaks!  Oh let alone sorting seeds. Have to say I am a fair weather gardener so always late in this type of weather. Still there is still a lot to be planted and still time.

I have been having trouble with my Kamina/Fire. Just haven't any good wood left so it has been a struggle to get it going let alone keep it alight!  Marko popped in this morning saw my lack of wood and no fire with me in bed ill and told me off good and proper! I really thank God for him, such a good friend. He chopped wood and built me a roaring fire. I am now lovely and warm :-) :-) :-) Even the pup's are sleeping in front of it on the sheepskin, sweet

Mummy is on the bed with me, having a well earned rest

Living on Thin Air, Well 70 Stotinky = 25p

I think I can safety say this is going to be the most challenging part of my life, by far!

I had to gain entry to my house which is shared with my husband, due to him not allowing me access or a key for two years.
I still had my personal belongings there, along with some household items. It seemed that asking over and over and even arranging to collect a furniture item, fitting in with his timing, was not possible. After arranging a horse, cart and muscle he was not there.
After this I then found out he was not living there at all, he is living with his girlfriend, he just came to the house 2 nights a week to feed the 3 dogs, which were left out in all weathers. I knew then I needed to act
I tried to ask questions about the dogs etc but my emails would be ignored.  So I eventually had to take the bull by the horns and get into the property.  I checked it out with the Solicitor and yes I was within the law to do this.

What I found was just astonishing! Filth, rat infestation, damage, broken toilets, broken sinks, burst pipes, rubbish piled up, just astonishing and too much to list!  The dogs were starved not just of food but of socialisation and affection, Minishka hyperventilated when she saw I was going, so so so sad!

So I have taken over the house again and have found good homes for Minishka & Lidle as I felt I could not cope with feeding 6 dogs.
My punishment for (restricting his access, OMG really!!!!) is to stop my money and leave me with nothing and no way to feed the dogs, all 6 of them.
I am not completely destitute just yet as I have enough food for me for a week or so and some liver for the dogs for a few days. So my faith in God is that something will come along, as I know he is involved in my life.  I may lose the electric, and even be cut off from all communication but I have good friends who care about me so I am not completely alone.
Unfortunately my family are not in a position to help me and why should they, I am 56 years old and should not have to rely on family, mum or kids at my age!!!!!

Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing, but could I have ever seen this person inside the wonderful man I fell head over heels in love with? I don't think so! I put him on a pedestal as someone all men should aspire to be as did my mum, my family loved him and were so proud of who his was. I am still devastated but it is like layers now, like shedding skin,.I will have a bad week really cry and feel completely ripped apart, then I will be OK again, see him for who he is now, then another bad time but maybe just a day or two. So it goes on.
In my heart my husband has died and I am grieving losing him, I don't know this man that has taken his place.

I know there are people who know what I am feeling and have gone through it but others just can't understand. I loved my husband deep in my soul and trusted him completely, even when inside in my spirit I really knew he was having an affair, I guess I chose to ignored it, tried to pretend I was wrong, even though things were bad. The signs were classic, what an idiot love makes us!!!!

So I am in Bulgaria, in a little village high up in the hills no money, a bit of food, internet and phone for a month LOL  I have had offers from people to lend me money but I cannot accept as I have no idea if/when I can ever pay it back and to be honest once bitten twice shy!!!!
I will rely on God and see what happens, faith you know can move mountains!

Trying to stay positive. Good thing, that no one can take away, is summer is coming and it will soon be warm, I can sit in my garden and smile :-) I love living in Bulgaria, all I have to do now is sell this new house to live off the money while renovating the original house.

I have contacted a really great solicitor who is also a barrister so court it is, not what I wanted at all. Why is it when I have done nothing wrong and want to settle things amicably it is impossible? When does "Nothing is too good for my woman" become I will see her suffer and starve? I still just don/t understand. I suppose I will always love him, the man I loved, unless by the grace of God I meet my true soul mate (not holding my breath here, as I believed I had). Life can be so sad.

So the up side to life is, because there is always an upside if we look ;-)
The house I have been renovating is sort of finished, just some finishing and painting to do, I know I can't do this but I think if I price it and take this into account. Also rent to buy may make it sell quicker and give me a monthly income to live on, please God.
Lots of plans for business but again, no money means this may be on hold for a bit.
I can be and feel optimistic, as I am not sitting in the dark with no food, life, as I said, will be very interesting and very challenging.

Pups are almost 5 weeks old now and bloody beautiful. I will miss them when they go to their homes in a few weeks time.  I won't miss negotiating the wee wee that Lulu has missed, clearing it up or treading in it. They have a full mouth of teeth, run, jump, fight, play and love loads of cuddles, love them so much!
Lulu is a bit fed up now as they really have hurt her and her teats are so sore. She still feeds them a little a few times a day but they are on solid food now. I pour boiling water onto dried dog food and mash it down. I would post photos but the internet is having problems, not enough punch the last couple of days, soon I promise.

I would like to wish you all a happy Easter whether it has just gone or you like us are about to celebrate it this weekend. Never forget the true meaning even if your faith is different to mine it still represents love. Love one another, your neighbour, friends as well as your family, be they blood or chosen. Love you ex new or old and love yourself. If only we loved more, how much better would this world be to live in.

xxxxx

PS
Gizza job ;-)

Plan Z, Chillyness, Future Planning

Poor Marko ( Venelin) he is doing a sterling job on tiling the shower room, but doesn't get aesthetics! I have cream tiles with two panels of coffee coloured as an accent. The shower will run down the centre of one panel and the second is on the opposite wall. Unfortunately he laid them off centre, I tried to cope with it, but just can't.  So I will have to buy another box ( I am 3 tiles short) and we will add another tile to the panel, this I will be able to cope with.  Blame it on a house with no straight walls or edges. I am smiling as I type, as Marko says plan Z.
It is looking fabulous though, so much better than before and worth waiting a year for. Mind you, had I known I had female friends who could tile I would have given the job to them. People tell friends when you are good at something, we all need a little help here!

It is not finished yet but here are some interim photo's.

This was the shower when I moved in

I am looking forward to it being finished and feeling like mine.

The hallway and loo has stopped for a bit due to needing to change some pipes and add a stopcock. All done now so work will resume soon, I think he is also swapping around a bit to stop being bored as he is working alone again.

So in amongst all the work in the house, sleeping and living in one room, pregnant dog worries, and all that this entails I have a major concern for later in the year when I will literally be abandoned financially!
There is no work in Bulgaria and to be able to live, like in any country, I need a certain amount of money every month to pay bills and eat.
The plans I had for a business have gone out of the window due to needing finances to make this possible.
To say I am stressed is an understatement LOL. I am tired all the time tend to fall asleep early and wake at stupid o'morning (this is how stress affects me)
So what are my choices? Well seeing as I have no home in UK, no right to help financially or even to use NHS, no money for a deposit on a bedsit etc and no where I can live in the interim, my choice is here or nowhere.
Very worrying so I am on the look out for an online job. A real one not spamming sales, pyramid sales, etc. Not so easy. The competition is huge with so many people wanting to do this type of work. So if any of you know of internet based jobs please drop me a line! I need a minimum of £50 per week but preferably £100 a week so I can live a bit of life too, but as they say beggars can't be choosers!

This years winter weather is so far removed from normality it is amazing. We have had a couple of cold snaps but nothing Arctic as yet. I have not been cold at all in my winter living quarters, so all the earlier work was well worth the effort and money.
Preparation is the key here. This can be difficult when it is your first or second winter after moving here. If you are moving over, listen to what your neighbours and new friends tell you. Preparation of your house will make all the difference. It is romantic when you are here with a partner as you have each other but living on your todd, freezing half to death in a dreary, draughty, ice inside of your windows and no inside loo house is no fun! I was like that last year in this house, due to not realising it was in such bad repair, and my friend has it this year. Thank God she has a good wood burner. The worst bit for me now is having to go upstairs for a shower but using a electric heater heats the shower room up enough.

I do love photo's of snow though, so here is a reminder.

So the snow has just gone and we have beautiful sunshine, blue skies but pretty cold weather. Nice to see the sun though, doesn't it make us all feel so much better! Fingers and toes crossed for it to continue in this vein for the next few weeks then Spring will be here and all will be right with the world.

Today it is really warm in the sun. Happy, happy, happy. Today is also a scone baking day. White Chocolate scones, Sultana scones and Vanilla scones.

What a Difference!

I last posted photo's of the next stage of the renovations. So that day while I wrote my post, fiddled and faffed around Marko really got on with it. He was on his own for the first half of the day but then went off coming back an hour later with help. Here are photo's of the before and after, What a difference a little makes.....

 Waste water pipe from bathroom through the ceiling, along with all the other water pipes

 Gone

 Unsightly brick wall and electrical wiring.

 Gone

 Old wood window and waste pipe

 Gone. New double glazed small window installed

I am over the moon with the change even though there is still a lot to do.

The thing I am not looking forward to is all the painting that is ahead of me, especially all the doors. Walls no problem but woodwork and doors urghgrrr! Still I count myself very fortunate to have my own place and I am no longer wasting money on rentals.

Happy, happy

Renovation progress,

Well it has been some time since my last post, I really am absent minded, annoyingly so.
Christmas has come and gone, thank God for that. I was OK but wouldn't want to re live it again, lets hope I don't have to. I do hope everyone else had a great time and if not, I am sorry, it sucks big time doesn't it!!! It was the first ever Christmas spent completely alone. For a big Christmas loving person this was very sad, but I survived it.
I had a lovely boxing day with friends, fantastic food, then the snow came. Two weeks later I was still stuck in but had plenty of provisions so it was no hardship.

I quite like being a hermit in winter, shut away from the cold, wind and snow. Hunkering down on the sofa with a roaring fire, cookery books and the girls snoring next to me. I love being warm and cosy.  It was however lovely to get out in the cold but sunny weather for lunch with a friend, after over two weeks, it set me up for the next few weeks ahead.
Where I live it isn't just the snow that has us stuck in, it is also the mud. Like quick sand it sucks wheels and feet down into it's clay like grip, has cars spinning and slipping into tree's and walls or down into dips which then need towing out. I have to say I hate the mud more than the snow!

This year, like last, has been nothing like our normal winter. we are just on our second lot of snow and only about 3" so far, bit different to our 3' drops most of the winter. The temps have been great too with just the 2 weeks of cold after Christmas about -18 or -19c a lot higher than our normal -27 up to -38c which we normally get. It is chilly now but really only -4 or 5 at the moment. The forecast for February is fabulous with sunny days. Long may it continue!

So the renovations have been sloooooooooow. I am in the kitchen/diner/come winter living room. Managed to get in a few days before Christmas. It is great I live in this space only, just going upstairs for the bathroom. It is cosy, warm and comfy. I am really happy with it. Come Spring I will go back into the living room and sleep in my bedroom but right now I am living as the Bulgarians do, keeping warm and wood usage down.

Still needs shelves put up, bits and bobs but it is really workable.

The next stage, living room, is almost finished. The floor tiles are laid the window and plaster is done and the fireplace is made. The problem came when the grout was being done. The colour was really horrid, so I asked for it to be taken out and now have to find a better colour, the local hardware stores do not have enough of one colour, so it is a trip into Gorna or VT to get it.  The we ran out of yacht varnish with just a couple of inches to go. we will get back to that at a later date.

The next stage on from that is now under way and I can't wait to get it done as it is an eyesore, the one completely unfinished area that was neglected for 25 years. 

 The concrete slabs which made up the door step have been removed and a proper step will be made.

 Damage floor from the flood in September.

 This old window has been removed and a new smaller double glazed window has been fitted. 

 Stone floor to be laid, plaster board toilet walls.

 Pipe from shower and sink along with water pipes to be boxed in and a false ceiling put up.

 So this is the back hallway leading out to the garden. It also leads into another large room which I am using as a walk in larder. It can be made into a full on bathroom if needed. The room you see above is being made into a downstairs loo. The pipes along the ceiling are being boarded in and the floors laid to stone.  Then it will be all be painted in the Spring/Summer, along with the rest of the ground floor.

This has turned out to be a huge job which should have been finished in December but I am now looking at March.  Once the front hall floor has been finished the bathroom is being tiled then that will be it for the foreseeable future.

The sun is shining the snow is glistening and my emotions are healing. No longer is it 1 step forward 2 steps back. I am facing an unsure future, but there is nothing I can do about this. I am in Gods hands now more than ever before.............

Moving Forward, Keeping Warm

I apologise for posting this months after I had written it, I hadn't realised I had not clicked publish!

Well my life is moving forward emotionally as well as home. Renovation, Revelation and Regeneration seem to be my life right now, and boy am I loving it! About blinking time.

So  Renovation, Well after a time which seemed to take forever (and will not show) yesterday we moved forward, probably about the same, but it really made a difference. Looks like it is coming together now. Still a long way to go but now it will be building up instead of tearing down.

Sink base built waiting for stone cladding

The start of the insulation

My lovely new window shelf.

The kitchen has been moved back in place, though temporary placement of units due to it all needing to be moved back out once the dining/winter living room is finished.

The sink waste will be here later this week, so no more chucking the washing up water in a bucket, thank goodness. I can cope with it all, but not having hot water or ability to just empty the water down the sink is a waring on me. Funny what such a little thing creates such annoyance, yet the bigger disruption doesn't.

A new tap arrives today fron England, transported over by "On the go" who I highly recommend. They transport goods from UK to Bulgaria & vice versa. Excited about that, I know sad hahaha.  Also on the way is a Welsh Griddle OH SOOOOO EXCITED about that. My family is Welsh so I am half welsh oh and half Irish so my personality is kind with a killer temper if my family is crossed!  Anyway there is a family recipe for traditional Welsh cakes, comes down the faily from my Nan to my mum but from Great Nan to Nan. I have no idea how far it goes back but my mum is 90 and Nan would be 115!

Mum has had her griddle since she was young, nan bought one for each of the girls (3) I have been trying to get it off mum for years but she just won't let it go. I can understand as it is a beloved memory and when she can lift it, or get someone to lift it for her LOL, she still bakes killer cakes. So I decided to bite the bullet and buy one. I know it won't be as good as mums (they were/it is sooooo heavy) but I am going to practice till I get it perfect. Also I will be teaching myself to make Muffins and crumpets. I am excited because it opens up new recipes for me to try during winter. 

I tried a new thing the other day with a Pork knuckle, apples and beer. Have to say YUKKKKKKK!  I won't be doing it again! 

I have been feeling poorly the last week banging virusy head, eyes and feeling weak. I am happy it hasn't developed any further and that it has come at a time when staying in is the order of the day, due to lots of snow.  It snowed non stop for two days, nothing yesterday then more on and off today. Taken me by surprise. I knew it was going to snow, but it is October so I thought it would be a sprinkle then be gone the next morning. Well how wrong was I.  I don't mind though because the coastal areas have terrible flooding again and deaths. There are many areas near me that have had a lot more snow too, so I consider myself fortunate. It has been really quite cold though today it seems warmer, so hopefully we are on the right track back to double figures for a couple of months. Who knows what winter will throw at us this year?????

Kitchen, What Kitchen? Snow in October!!!!!

Well here we are a heavy snowfall in October, arrrrgh!  I don't think it will last for long, fingers crossed. I know we are supposedly due another days fall but I am really hoping that it will melt quickly

Just the beginning

I mean it is only October, I know we have had it once before in October but nothing like today. Also the regions of Haskovo, Bourgas and coastal areas are flooded again. What the hell is going on with the weather????  I know it is not just Bulgaria that has strange weather this year but we are normally basking in sunshine, in fact up till 3 days ago we were still sunbathing and enjoying 26 and 28c with no chilly breeze.  

So I am in doors with a virus-y head keeping warm with the log fire lit and wet dogs all around me. The girls love it and have been out playing tag. Lilly my rather large pup has loved her first experience of snow. It has been almost impossible to get her in, bless her.  She has been running, skidding to a halt to shove her nose in it eat some then scampering off again, very sweet and funny.

So this week I have had no kitchen and for four days no water either.  I have handled it all really peacefully :-) Just rinsed out cups and piled up the washing up in the bowl.  I did make sure I didn't cook anything elaborate for dinners. Marko made sure I had the sink and tap sorted for Friday night so I was OK over the weekend. I have the sink but no waste, which means I pour the dirty water into a bucket & chuck it in the garden. It is so lovely to have running hot water back again though, like having an old friend move in.

  /
I  am so impressed with Venelin (Marko's real name) he works mainely alone unless his brother Angel is free then he helps with the heavy stuff, like putting the beams up or a bit of labouring like sanding or mixing the muck. Mostly though Venelin mixes his own while working alone. He just keeps on working.
What a gem to have in the village :-)

Oop's No Sink and Lots of Dust

Have to see the funny side and I am!  Kitchen progress.  All this had to be done before the floor is laid

This is our starting point on the Friday morning.

No sink or hot water till next week

This house is solid and won't be going anywhere, certainly won't be falling down, let alone get knocked down!!!!

I told you it would get worse before it gets better. Good job I have lived through one renovation already, in fact it was quite a while before I had hot water in my first house here, I did have a sink though. 

I am going to rig up a table and washing up bowl, so I can wash up, I just have to remember to empty it in the garden LOL  This also means I can get some baking done as I have an order for Sultana scones and have promised a friend an apple cake.

My glamping kitchen

Feeling very very lazy right now, probably due to as soon as I clean anything turn around and a thick film is back, so I really can't be bothered. I am not annal about these things and thank God I am not OCD so I am taking it in my stride. Thank goodness I have moved on from where i was a few weeks ago!  I am however really looking forward to the day that my house is clean, liveable and comfortable again.

Months and months ago I ordered a new (second hand) L shaped sofa for my winter living and sleeping. All this time I have waited and now it is coming on Tuesday!!!!!!  Thankfully the house is big enough that I can get one of my living room sofa's up in a bedroom and then store the new one covered in a decorator sheet. At least it will be here ready for when the rooms are finished and hopefully all will be ready before the upstairs is shut down for the winter.

I will be living as the Bulgarians do during winter as I don't have the luxury of central heating yet, I will be exploring different forms of heating this year to see if there are any affordable options other than wood burning.

I don't mind this as long as I have something comfortable to sleep on. It is a really cosy way to live in winter as only one fire is needed (making heating cheaper), the only thing is the bathrooms are freezing but I have an oil filled rad which I will put on an hour before which should be OK, if not I will have to buy a gas fire just for that.

I know some ex pats who have a great layout for winter with a bedroom off the living/dining room and a downstairs shower room, so literally everything is on one level and cosy.  If it came to it I could turn the living room into a bedroom and have the fire lit in there just for the evening, I will see how it goes

Wood burners are the norm here and I have no problem with them other than the sooty dust, but I have a bad back and bringing in the wood for the fire ends with me being crippled. This year I am going to see if I can pay someone to bring me in enough to last a few days at a time. Lets see how that goes.

The wood varies in cost according to what area you are in and how far they need to deliver. I normally buy from the Kmet (Mayor) but have found somewhere cheaper if I need to add extra due to a harsh winter. Then there is the cost of having it chainsawed, then chopped and split, then stacked. Most people can do this themselves but I can't.

Lets hope this is another mild winter or at least a short one!  This could be pie in the sky though as we have had two really good winters on the trot.

Right now my brain is taxed as to what colour to paint the walls, I keep changing my mind ;-)

Talk About Re-Modelling, Taking Shape in the Mess

Loving what is going on in my life right now, what a change from just 6 weeks ago when I hit the darkest time of my life!  Admittedly it was a culmination of years of neglect and pain, loss & a broken heart, BUT wow I keep saying this in my head WOW!
I can only put this down to answered prayer, and I am completely thankful to all those who prayed for me.  Please continue to do so, I still have a bumpy road to travel xxxxx

So the renovation of my house is in major face lift stage, the flood threat has been sorted with a built up wall and new window, outside has been dug down lined and has a big pipe laid directing any water away from the house into the garden, then cemented. Marko is waiting for the wood I need to buy for the window sill before he can finish making it good inside, but the threat is sorted.

So much has to be done before the main job of laying the flooring but all the materials, tiles, stone etc has been purchased and we are heading that way.
I am very excited to be in the throws of having the kitchen sink demolished today alone with the bloody awful tiles all cemented to the walls!!!

 The sink is in the background horrid cement and tiles also far too big

 Hurahhhh good riddance!

 Before the floors can be laid, mess has to be made.

The beam is Oak that came from the animal houses I had demolished in the barn. It is not needed but I want to add character to my concrete house and I love wood beams. So 3 beams have been saved from the wood burner, Solid thick Oak, plained, sanded then cleaned with magic water (white spirit), treated with Groont (this is how it sounds, not sure how it is spelt) which will stop the woodworm, and then oiled.  I am adding another two in the dining room, or I should say Marko.  So if you buy or have a property lacking in Bulgarian character just add it yourself!

It is going to be interesting not having a sink for a few days, I have the new sink but a base has to be built for it.  I did have a wooden one on order but it did not arrive on time, no  ones fault just the way it goes here sometimes, and we ran out of time. 

So I am having a brick built base built, covered in the same stone I have for the fire places and walls, then wood at the back for the taps to sit in. A curtain will be across the bottom, fingers crossed it will look good!!!!!

Hoping the electrics will be sorted soon as I am still cooking by torch light, it is not a problem but would be nice to be able to see properly again LOL

Feeling Energised Positive and Lifted, Loving Bulgaria

I am feeling Energised finally, looking at things positively and getting excited about life again, life is good if we just give ourselves, and life, time we are healed. Truth sets you free and this is why I am feeling so much better now. Nothing like finding out the real truth of things and situations, it may be painful but it is also empowering, I am empowered!

October  Taken from one of the spare bedroom windows

Bulgaria is a fantastic country to live in, the beauty of it all, the freedom to live and the way almost anything goes.  I have also recently met quite a few new people and think friendships are developing. Also I think a lot of that is due to me being lifted out of the fog, no one likes a moaning winging minny, it is after all hard to take over such a long period!

From this......

Going........

Going.........

Builders have started work on the larger renovations in the house, so excited will post updated photo's as things progress.

The flood was a real kick in the teeth at a really bad time, but I got through it, with the help of a friend and thanks to a very special person I am able to get all the damage sorted.  I am also getting the house, winterised at the same time.  This was on the cards due to this house being terrible bitter cold in our mildest winter yet Brrrrrr. My house is only 25 yrs old and concrete with high ceilings and an open stairwell through 3 floors. It is actually colder in the house than outside  We have had two good winters on the trot so common sense says this could be a bad one. I think everyone is really hoping to get another "not so bad" winter and it is what is being predicted, trouble is the last two really mild winters we were predicted to be the worst winter in donkeys years, so it doesn't bode well LOL.
So far the tanking outside the window has been done, as well as re plastering of the living room wall, after the flood. Hopefully now this will not happen again. New windows are coming next week (if all goes to plan) and the kitchen/dining room wall is down, almost ready for the wooden beam.
As with everything to get something done, first we must do.........  This has been a constant so far but hoping that we have identified all the extras now. There is only so much I can afford each month (I live on a really tight budget) so I hope to catch up over winter and save for finishing the kitchen and then be free to start jobs in the Spring, specifically the bar/cafe renovation and outside area around it, known here as either a Mehana or Magazin. I really hope this can be done next year as I miss putting on the Secret Garden Tea Room events which raise money for Bulgarian charities.  There are also still lots of jobs in the house, but little by little. A heating system is really important and needs looking at for next year. Phew this is all really hard when you are a woman on your own, especially as I have only ever been involved in the design and decorating aspects of houses.

Any how lots will be completed here including making it more comfortable to live in during winter.
It has been decided that insulating the dining room with a new window in that and the kitchen will make the room warmer and I will live like most villagers do in that one room through the winter. I didn't realise this was possible until a friend told me she had done it. I have seen hers & it is a fabulous job. The norm here is to bolt insulation tiles to the outside walls then render over & paint. This is a very expensive job as the whole house needs to be done (otherwise it looks really odd!). This way I can do one room specifically for this winter and the rest can be done as and when needed and afforded.
In the hall way there is a half built toilet, or at least this was the original intention of it. This will be finished and a toilet put in, this means I won't have to carry water upstairs to flush the toilet when the pipes freeze and I won't have to go into Antarctica every time I want a wee!
I have been dreading winter for months knowing how cold it was in here last year, when winter was really mild. Now all I need is my estranged husband to get me wood for the wood burners, otherwise I will turn into a frozen popsickle

The weather now hurtles back and forth between summer temps (we have had a few 30c over the last week) to really chilly autumnal days and night temps down to 5 and 3c brrrrr.
It's funny one day when driving around the car windows will be right down as it is so hot, the next the wood burner is lit!  Autumn brings with it beautiful colours as we all know and I love looking out the window to see the changing landscape and colour palette. It is all very beautiful but ushers in the drab barren picture of winter which I find really depressing, especially when it is muddy, much prefer the snow, and I hate snow LOL.