All Smiles This Week

It was all smiles this week as Kamila looks back over last weekend. We promised her as a Birthday present a trip to Skalitsa to see all her friends that she made there on her holiday in the summer. She was in a village dream world again as she met everyone and caught up with all the news.

Unfortunately a few chickens she used to be friends with her were no longer here. They had been slaughtered and eaten. When Kamila found out, she said that she totally understands that this is how things are here. She went on to comment that they were probably the luckiest chickens in the world with the life they had here. They were totally free range and enjoyed an outdoor life without stress.

Kamila also found out that she may have the opportunity to spend more time here in the spring as many things have to be done here on the land at the beginning of the growing season where her help would be needed. the countdown to spring has already started for Kamila, but she still has to experience a winter in Bulgaria for the first time. We might have to get here some more rugs to sling on her hump soon!

read more...

Happy Birthday Celebration for Kamila

Well it has been a while now since Kamila's arrival in Bulgaria and today was a very special day, it was Kamila's birthday. Now Kamila being a female Camel and past the age of being a child camel she never gives her age away anymore.

It was quite fun today trying to guess Kamila's age, all here friends includng Eli, Marta and others had a go, but even if they guessed right Kamila still wouldn't say. We all tell here she looks just as young as she did on her last birthday, and indeed she does.

The post is irregular in Bulgaria so we hand delvidered here a birthday card this morning. It is written in Bulgarian, but Kamila knew what it said anyway. "Not much guessing needed there," she said as she admired the flowers on the front of the card.

She also got a present of a box of chocolates, now many might think that that's not a lot for a birthday present, but in Bulagria it is the thought behind the present rather thant the value or how impressive the present is. In fact it would be quite embarsassing to give someone a present that costs a fortune, this of course is the way of the western traditions, not Bulgaria. Kamila is understanding Bulgaria very well now as she thanked us and offerred everyone a chocolate from the box of chocolates that was her present.

We have a little surprise for Kamila this evening as we have cooked some cabbage, Kamila's favourite and will be eating it tonight with a little drink calledboza, a very low alcohol millet fermented drink. It may end up with song and dance by the end of the evening. And as a special treat we will be taking Kamila to the Skalitsa Farmhouse to see her friends there this weekend. She doesn't know yet, so lips sealed until tonight please.

read more...

A New Friend Called Marta

Away from serious matters for a while Kamila has a new friend for life. Marta is a bear of great experience; she has come originally from Scotland, spent some time in England then Cyprus and now finds herself in Bulgaria. Who knows where else she will end up?

Kamila took to her straight away and a series of never ending questions from Kamila were fired at Martha. Kamila with her inquisitive mind wanted to know all about her past adventures. They do have the common fact that they were both in London for a while and stories and comparisons made from that.

It remains that Kamila has a growing family now in Bulgaria, this make her feel like it is home for her. Eli her other best friend is always with her and she has many friends in Skalitsa village at the farmhouse.

Watching from the outside we can see that Kamila doesn't have time to sit and think anymore she is too busy doing things with all her friends and helping people here. That is heart-warming to see.

read more...

Hunting and Killing for Fun

It was a Kamila that was shocked totalling today as she naturally wanted to find out what animal skin was hanging up on the bedroom wardrobe.

Not used to human ways really showed as Kamila was told that this was a fox skin. She asked why the fox was killed and this was the shock factor to her. We explained that fox skin is very popular with many people and the fox is killed purely for fashion. We went on to explain that the fox was not killed for its meat and that many people hunt foxes just for the pleasure of the kill. These people are usually rich.

Kamila just couldn't understand how people can be so shallow minded as she looked at here own coat of fur which was just as attractive as the fox's. We knew what she was thinking.

Kamila was made to understand that hunting happens in Bulgaria but hunting although a popular hobby is also a practical activity. The meat is eaten by products from the successful hunt is all used, i.e. nothing wasted. Furthermore hunting is for everyone here, not just for the rich.

It was a confused Kamila looking at this fox and wondering about lots of things. Well she has good reason to we suppose.

read more...