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Julie and Joe

Author: Joe

First test firing

Rocket stoves and Hugel beds

Posted on 11 April 2015

We’ve had a couple of extra helpers visiting for a few days last week. Anna and Olof are on a round-the-world trip, visiting various projects and learning about self-sufficiency, and practising permaculture. Danni and Richard are still here, but Anna and Olof’s interests (permaculture and rocket stoves) seemed too good to pass up! It was…

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Finished plasterboard

Kitchen update

Posted on 21 March 201521 March 2015

Work on the kitchen has been progressing well this month, and our plans have expanded somewhat from the original design. No surprises there! Having stripped out the old suspended ceiling, we’ve realised the original mud ceiling is in very poor condition, and would need to be totally replaced. So, we’ve decided not to bother, and…

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Proud builders!

Many hands

Posted on 21 March 201521 March 2015

We’ve had quite a good response for our request for volunteers on Helpex. Our first volunteers, Richard and Danni, have arrived from England and are settling in very well. They arrived on 5th March, having spent a few days in Sofia. After a couple of days settling in, we have worked them hard ever since!…

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Pair of horses

Todorov Den in Sadina

Posted on 28 February 201504 March 2015

Our friend Ivan invited us to go with him to the Todorov Den horse-racing celebrations in the nearby village of Sadina today, so we have spent a pleasant morning with him and two other friends, watching the racing. It’s no Aintree 🙂 Groups of four riders raced each other across a grassy field, with a…

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View across the garden

The summer house

Posted on 17 February 201512 September 2015

After helping the Velikov family move their belongings to Popovo, we have now got the keys to our new second house. The house is intended as a base for family, friends and volunteers to stay in, if they want. It’s a small property; one main bedroom, kitchen, living room, a second bedroom in an adjoining…

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Back to the village hall

St Tryphon’s Day

Posted on 15 February 201517 February 2015

So it’s ten o’clock in the morning and we’re in the village square with a bonfire going, the musicians are starting up and we’re handed our first cup of wine of the day. Welcome to St Tryphon’s Day! St Tryphon is the patron saint of wine growers, and this day is celebrated in the Eastern…

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Owners old and new

Room for expansion

Posted on 13 February 201517 February 2015

With somewhat mixed feelings, Julie and I have bought a second house in the village. Mixed, because while we’re delighted that we’ve been able to buy a lovely little bungalow for friends, family and volunteers to stay in, and they’re very happy that finally they can do things like get an eye operation for grandfather,…

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The nearly-finished shower-room

We have a shower!

Posted on 31 January 201517 February 2015

After two and a half months without a functioning bathroom, our new bathroom is finally open for business! The shower has been put back in, and we have the hot water boiler renovated and working. Most of the tiling and the majority of the painting and plastering is done. The trencher idea didn’t work out as…

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