Water Back up System In The Village

It was a very happy Kamila who had travelled with us this weekend to the Skalitsa farmhouse. It was like a summer weekend as we all worked pruning the vines and cutting them up for firewood tinder for next winter.

In the kitchen Kamila noticed a barrel in the kitchen. "Are you making wine?" was the question after figuring out what was written on the barrel.

"No, there's just water in the barrel." we said. She was quite curious as to why we have all this water when the water runs form the tap less than 2 metres away.

We had to explain that we often get cut off with water and the barrel is our back up system. Kamila understands too well what it is like to be without water for days on end, she has her own water reserve as well!

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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.

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Back to Yambol

It was a long and lonely path today as Kamila made her way to the car. She was on her way back to Yambol after some three weeks holiday on the Skalitsa Farmhouse. She had a wonderful time and fond out how different it is in the villages compared to the towns in Bulgaria.

She will be reflecting on the experience over the next week no doubt, but right now she is looking forward to seeing Eli again, who is waiting in Yambol for here.

Although Kamila loved it here in Skalitsa, she saw for herself that it is hard work for many people who live here. they have no money and have to grow their own food to survive. Basics such as water is always available although you sometime have to walk to get it but to Kamila and most people living here, that's not a problem.

So, Kamila, full of thought, says goodbye for now to Skalitsa, she will have lots to talk about when she gets back to Yambol.

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Storks in Skalitsa

Kamila was feeling quite sad today. The reason was quite simply that tomorrow was the last day here holidaying on the Skalitsa farmhouse. She will be very sorry to go, but at the same time be happy to get back to here friends she left behind in Yambol.

She wondered into the street and saw at the end of the road a stork's nest with three baby stork there. We told her that they will be flying away very soon and will return to nest again next year in the same spot.

Kamila was quite taken with these birds as they were very large and graceful as she saw them glide over her head on occasions.

"Do you get Storks in Yambol?" was the question on Kamila's lips.

"No, just int he villages where they have peace and quiet and lots fields of hay and straw to search for food." we replied. "You can come back next year and see them again Kamila," we added.

To this Kamila turned towards the storks and shouted out, "See you next year storks!"

They didn't hear or understand Kamila, but we didn't tell her that.

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Night Light for Moths

Another point of interest as Kamila walked through the grounds of the Skalitsa Farmhouse yard. "I know it's a lantern, we have them in Egypt and they use oil." she said referring the the dangling lantern. "Where do you put the oil?" she enquired.

It uses candles not oil and we put it there to attract away the moths from us at night, the light isn't very strong."

"That a good idea, I know moths do like lights, very clever!" she added.

We agreed that she could see the light work this evening as the darkness of the evenings now are drawing in and it wouldn't be too late by the time darkness arrived.

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The Flyscreen

It was a mystery to Kamila as to why we had two doors. We explained one was for security and to keep the weather our. The other we told here was to keep insects and bugs out of the house as some of them bite and sting.

"I don't have a problem with being bitten or stung, I have a thick coat to protect me." said Kamila with a grin on her face.

You very lucky to have in built protection Kamila but us humans are very juicy food to many insects, we have to try and put them off with sprays and netted doors."

Kamila thought for a while, then said, "I'll stand guard on the balcony and have a quiet word with these insects and bugs, they seem quite friendly in Skalitsa."

We didn't want to upset Kamila so we left here thinking she was doing us a favour. We don't think she knows what insects are in Skalitsa, they are different from the town insects of Yambol. We'll see how she gets on.

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Kamila in Skalitsa

It had been a whole since Kamila had a holiday, in fact when we asked her she didn't know what a holiday was. We had to explain that sometimes it was called a break or a vacation and was something you do when you have time off work.

It seemed that Kamila hadn't ever had a holiday before so we decided to take her to the Skalitsa Farmhouse for a two week break.

When Kamila found out she was all excited and couldn't keep still thinking about what she would find there. She had heard so much about our time there and now she could see for herself.

So, we went and Kamila was fidgety throughout the 35 kilometres car journey. She watched with amazement the fields and animals as we whizzed into the country side.

"I can't wait to get there!" Kamila kept saying every five minutes.

We finally arrived and Kamila saw for herself how beautiful the farmhouse was and countryside around it.

She sat by the living room window just taking all these new things in.

"Tomorrow will be another adventure for you Kamila" we said. "You will be a village camel for two weeks."

Kamila didn't say anything but was just in deep thought, she didn't know what to expect tomorrow.

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