With resolve renewed and measurements taken I decided that even if the building work was not
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| Sewing in the garden -England |
quite as we hoped we could still have a comfy cosy holiday home. So a trip to Ikea to buy the most cheerful materiel I could find and digging out my old sewing machine I set about making covers and blinds to cheer the place up.
I chose a blue and orange print that would definitely brighten the place up, putting blackout material as lining to help cut out the light as well as the heat. Taking advantage of a bit of British sunshine I took my sewing machine out into the garden and got creative.It felt good to be doing something positive.
We were quite skint after paying for the building work so could only afford to go to the house once in 2010 so we went in July for four weeks taking mum and dad with us and meeting up with my sister Cathi, and Anna my niece.
We drove over to pick mum and dad up from Rochdale where we were treated to a "Mackey D" from "G ma and G dad" Then we were off for a very early morning flight from Manchester Airport.
It was a good flight, and I had a window seat so could appreciate the amazing views.
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Sofia coach station - 1st Kamenitza - cheers
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The stop halfway - Col tucking into a Kebab
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We fly in to Sofia and stay over night at a hotel then catch a morning coach to Tutrakan , it's a long journey with the coach taking six and a half to seven hours but, the saving is worth it.
We struggle to get cheaper flights to Varna or Bourgas and the saving travelling to Sofia depending on the time of year can be anything up to £200 per person and with four weeks of holidays it's not a problem.
We see the journey as part of the holiday, I love to see the scenery as we travel across Bulgaria.
The coaches now have WiFi but to be honest it is very hit and miss so I tend to see it as a bonus if its working.
We have a half way stop for 30 minutes where we can get something to eat and drink. The menu is all Bulgarian but has a lot on it, but I usually have something light either a Kebab and salad or something from the fridges. It's not a problem if you can't read Bulgarian as there are ready made snacks too.
There are both Turkish and European toilets at this stop and are very clean- well worth the 50 stotinki.
The coach drops you off in the centre of Tutrakan then a 15 kilometre taxi journey to Varnenci and we are there.
I love the excitement and anticipation I feel driving up to the house, a little nervous until we open the door and check everything is OK.
The house was just as we had left it, walking through the door gives the feeling of a big welcome.
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| wish I had straightened the blinds - lol |
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| Chris, Col, Yasen, Alistair, me, Mum and Dad - |
Once again dust sheets removed, rooms swept and surfaces wiped we were ready to Chill and just enjoy our Bulgarian home.
It's amazing how soft furnishing changes a house into a home, just the addition of my cheap and cheerful blinds and seat covers and already the room looks transformed.
I am pleased with the results,although a temporary measure definitely cheerful and definitely worth the effort..
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| Dad sanding the windows to make them shut |
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| Colin mixing cement to seal the walls |
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| Al and Chris clearing the dead wood |
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| Back garden cleared - gardener arranged by Dora |
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| front garden |
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| me and dad chilling |
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| sheds in the garden |
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| outside loo - to be inside one day |
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| mums 79 birthday - flowers from Dora |
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| Chris, Al Mum, Dada Cathi, me and Colin celebrating mums birthday |
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| not sure what bit mum - maybe a spider - good job she had some antibiotics |
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| fruits from the garden |
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| gifts from our friends |
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| grapes on the vine, hope to make wine this year |
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| bedroom - feels like home |
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| view through the kitchen door |
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| Baba Ginka helping to sort the beans |
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| view from the house |
We achieved loads this holiday, the house definitely feels like a home. We achieve a little each time we visit and slowly but surely the house is coming together. This can only have been achieved by help from my friends and neighbours and a massive big help from Dora.
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| Yasen and Colin |
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| Dora me and cup cakes |
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