Bulgarian life
108. The oldest people at the drum and bass festival
I’ve never really been one for acting my age. I like Twilight. I use words like ‘totes’ and ‘awesome’ in a non-ironic sense. I only own two hand towels (and both have seen better days). Last night I ate a bowl of cookie dough for dinner.* But even I was...
107. It’s all gone a bit Pete Tong
We had the most unholy storm last Friday. I’m talking hailstones the size of golf balls, no electricity, water running down the inside of the walls, a foot-deep torrent of water running down the street kind of storm. (‘Human sacrifice. Dogs and cats living...
106. A cheeky trip to Sofia
Things we did in Sofia last weekend: 1. Soaked up the beautiful buildings and atmosphere. Sofia is at its best when the sun is shining, and I can happily wander for hours just taking it all in. 2. Ate lunch at Made in Home: peach and goat’s cheese salad for me,...
7 ways Europe rocks
Because I'm in the mood to list seven ways Europe rocks my tiny world. 1. Speedy passport lanes I bet even the most hardened Brexiter will miss their lovely EU passport and the civility of the ‘EU passport’ lane. I’m buggered if I’m going to queue up behind the...
102. Now you see them…
You know when you stare at a magic eye picture for ages and the image finally leaps out at you? That happened with our tomatoes this week. We were sure there weren’t any growing on the vines yet (very disappointed we were too), then we realised today there are tons...
101. A very tame anniversary and gearing up (or rather, clearing up) for visitors
Last weekend we celebrated 10 years together. I don’t know where the time has gone. It’s lovely to think that half that time has been spent in Bulgaria working towards our big and crazy dreams. I’m not a sentimental person but I couldn’t ask for a better partner,...
99. My least favourite thing about Bulgaria
Despite my somewhat sarcastic tone (one reader kindly referred to it as ‘whining’), I like to think I paint a positive picture of Bulgaria. I hope it comes across how much I love, love, love it here. I really hope so. But nowhere is perfect, right? Like anywhere,...
98. Random conversations with the neighbours
For five years we’ve had morning coffee with the neighbours almost every day. At first I was a bit reluctant because I’m a lazy moo and sometimes I like a lie-in. But then I started to look forward to morning coffee. Now I get outraged when they can’t make...
96. Imagining elaborate deaths for arseholes on public transport
I have a set routine whenever I travel from England to Bulgaria. I am (most of time) too tight to cough up for a taxi to the airport, and I am (always) too tight to pay for a hotel room. So, for a 6am Easyjet flight, I have to get a late train up to Gatwick...
95. Out of touch
This cat pic couldn't be a better metaphor for my life. What is this Invictus Games that everyone keeps going on about? What did Jay Z do to Beyoncé? What’s going on in Brazil this summer, the Olympics or the World Cup? I have no clue anymore. I am...
94. Yes, you should come on holiday to Bulgaria (no, not to Sunny Beach)
‘Oh, you live in Bulgaria?’ says a random stranger. You can guarantee the next thing they say is, ‘Anywhere near Sunny Beach?’ ‘Er, no.’ I’m allowed to slag off Sunny Beach because, unlike most Sun journalists, I’ve actually been there. When we were thinking of...
92. Stuff that’s been happening lately
I have been driven mad by rain. Too mad to pull stuff together into a cohesive post. Instead, I give you the imaginatively titled, ‘Stuff that’s been happening lately’. If you need me, I’ll be under my duvet. Isn’t the weather just awful? I shouldn’t have...