Happy New Year!

...and all that. Have charged my camera, so chances are there'll be some pics later. Party is being prepared.

Bulgaria XII

One of the last days I made the mistake of joining in the wedding planning session FROM HELL. First of all it was a very unstructured event, where I had to step in and get the meeting back on track. Second of all, there are gazillions of wedding traditions in Bulgaria. Anything from me serving bread with salt and honey (honey for the sweetness, and salt so that you don't forget that life can be tuff as married - haha), to some dance competition where the groom has to chase the bride or whatever. I'm hazy on the details, since there were so much stuff. Also something about the couple kicking a bucket of water containing a red rose and a white rose, and whichever flower is kicked the longest sets the sex of the future baby. Gaaaahhh! However, I like the fact that there is a lot of dancing at Bulgarian weddings. Nothing like the torture of sitting still for 4 hours having dinner and listen to speeches. From what I understand it will be a fun party, going on until the wee hours in the morning. I think I might put up with that!

Bulgaria XI

Where we were staying.

Bulgaria X

Down by the riverside.

Bulgaria IX

Not everything is what it seems in Bulgaria. At least not when it comes to drinks. A schnapps that I learned to very much appreciate was Rakia, which came from a big plastic container to then being served from a Laphroig bottle.

Great stuff, which is now residing in my fridge in Coke bottles.

The wine, both white and red, also came in carafes. The red wine, we called it number 3 (were proof-tasting two other ones for the wedding) was surprisingly tasty and must admit I had a few glasses over the days there.

Bulgaria VIII

I like gf's parents. I'm not ashamed of admitting it, but they were very, very lovely. They took hospitality to a new level, almost to the extent that I wasn't allowed to do anything. Ok, this year it was ok considering I'm still crippled, but have a feeling it would be the same even if I were well.

I very much like the fact that they are liberal, and accepting of all types of people (otherwise I'd have been in trouble, hehe).

Bulgaria VII

The wedding dinner will take place a bit from the botanical garden in a restaurant with a view.

Bulgaria VI

The wedding will take place in June in a botanical garden. I sincerely hope there will be a few more plants and flowers then.

But gotta admit, the place is quite beautiful and the ceremony will take place outside, next to an old Roman bath with a view of the Black Sea. Good choice (if one now must get married!).

Bulgaria V

In the 5 days I managed to learn 4 words. Nazrave for cheers, da for yes, ne for no and merci for thank you. The last one is also used in Switzerland which helped. The odds that I will learn Bulgarian? Zero to none.

Bulgaria IV

Funnily enough they do not have lights or candles in their Christmas trees in Bulgaria. They do have on the trees outdoors (coloured), but not inside. Weird.

Bulgaria III

Gosh, can they cook in Bulgaria! From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, we were fed like every 3-4 hours. Always with a starter with lotsa small dishes, then a main course and often a dessert too. And everything was delicious!

Which is proven by that we got some sent with us coming home, and my English friend ate it! Even though the Brits have nothing to be proud of foodwise, they seem to loooove their white bread tasting of nothing (they call it toast) and their pies and puddings, equally tasteless.

If I ever go back to Bulgaria (and yes I will...for the wedding...more on that later) I won't go hungry. On the contrary, a diet beforehand would be recommended.

What you see on the pic is a tasting competition of the best baclava (sweet dessert). Not as I thought force-feeding (was left alone with the parents one afternoon and was terrified they were gonna push a tube down my throat - joke).

Bulgaria II

In Bulgaria there are loads of cats and dogs without any owner. And even if they do have owners they are sometimes left on their own for a long time.

In the house I was staying there was one cat, informally called the President since he ruled the house. Curling up outside in the cold were the neighbours cats, left all alone. Except for when I was out there having a smoke, cuddling them.

The dad in the house tried to show me how manly he was by scaring the cats away from the terrace with a broom, only to go around the corner and feed same cats when he thought nobody saw. Sweet!

Bulgaria I

Can see from the hits on the blog that some of you are eagerly waiting for updates from Bulgaria :).

Ok, here goes.

The infrastructure is...how can I put it...not there. Ok, so there are roads but not very good ones. Less commonly used streets and roads are simply not maintained and have lots of holes in them. It's a bumpy ride in Bulgaria.

Similarly houses are a strange mix of mostly very ill-maintained ditto and some new ones.

I was lucky since we stayed with Bro's gf's family, and they are well off, at least with Bulgarian standard. And the water only disappeared once!

Who in their right mind likes to travel?

When people are asked what they would do if they had money an alarmingly high percentage answers travel. Why, oh why I ask. First you have to be there like 1,5 hours before. Even if you have checked in online 24 hours beforehand. Queueing to drop the bags. It's exactly like in the old days when you were queueing to check-in. Then you queue for passport control. After that you queue once again for security check (had to take off my "airbag" because "you can have anything in there" - I wished at this point that I at least had a joint in there!). Then queue for boarding, only to be seated in a chair that is half the size of a normal one. But luckily you are served a meal, that not even a dog would eat if hungry. If you, just like us, are having a stop-over all of this is repeated. Somebody tell me why anybody wants to endure this! PS. It was so much better before 9.11 when I had a gold card and was swishing thru the airport in a whiff, not to talk about the good old days when you could smoke in the back of the plane!

Merry Christmas II

Christmas - the modern version. Was gonna post this 4 days ago, but due to a certain lack of infrastructure didn't work. Now back home in Switzerland, where EVERYTHING works. So good to be home.

Hair

Oh, gotta tell you before logging off. Went to the hairdresser today and spent half an arm (ok, the bad one but still) on highlights, cut and dry. A curly dry. I all of a sudden had hair! Like hair that was nice. Light, fluffy and wavy. A new experience. Think the last time I went to have a cut was early spring or something. Half-way thru the cut hairdresser asked "it's uneven in the back, want me to fix it?". Yes please. Not sure I'm gonna let friend do it again. And then Skype goes down! Been down all evening. And I had planned to skype all friends incl video, letting them see my new me. Darn! Nothing ever turns out like you planned.

Merry Christmas!

Water?

It's closing in. Bro packed for me, and we have a pre-booked taxi tomorrow long long long before it gets light. Was informed that we'll be staying in a house next to the Black Sea, "unless the water goes". Hmmm. Delightful to be travelling to a country where it's a 50-50 risk there will be no water. Can't wait!

Metal device

On the x-ray today I saw a metal object. Turns out doc used some sorta metal clip to piece together my tendon. If I'm really lucky I'll get a body search going thru security on Thursday, but with my luck I'm just gonna get a lesbian feeling me up. Life as a cripple is tuff.

Intubation

When at the doc's today I asked for the medical records regarding my op. When scanning thru I discovered I was intubated during the procedure. Asked the doc why, and he said "because you would't be still". Haha. That's me. I could also read about me having a biceps. That's nice to know.

That's so not me - yet

Oh, and I learned tonight why a bingo wing is called just that. According to my friend, who is Welsh so if I were you I would take his story with a grain of salt (but since he promised to bring me Haggis I might have to be nice to him), it's a British thing. The old women who play bingo, crossing their numbers, then shouting "Bingo" raising their arm displaying fat wobbly skin under their arm. Charming. NOT!

Terminator

Next week I'm getting a robot. Went to see the doc today, and thanks for asking, I'm healing well. Not that my friends cared, they are more busy laughing about the cripple, thanks so much. So, yes, I'm getting some sort of apparatus that will move my arm to and fro. There was lotsa speculation tonight about what this thingie actually can provide in terms of moving me around. Have a feeling I'll be very disappointed!

Twisted sister

As being hired without pay to do some sort of travel coordination for the wedding next year, I have been given access to the website soon to be released. In there you can find information about the weddees (the two who are getting married in case you didn't get it), what they like and don't and so forth. Bro has chosen this song as his favourite. Not sure how I'm gonna interprete that.

Casanova

In 20 minutes today I read about a prostitution plan, which was commented on by the police spokesperson R. Casanova. HAHAHAHAHA!

What I'm bringing to Bulgaria

Weak spot

Friend knows I hate to travel, but when it comes to an invitation for cruising the Mediterranean Sea next summer I think I might have to be a woman and change my mind.

First name only

Learned a new thing the other day. Do you know a phone book that is sorted by first names only? Nah, didn't think so. Well, Iceland's phone book does. How weird is that? "In Iceland, directories such as the telephone directory are alphabetised by first name rather than surname." Think ze Swiss have a lot to learn in terms of using first names, instead of the formal "Sie".

Like a friggin Christmas card

Christmas cards

Let me tell you what I think of Christmas cards. NOT! If you cannot be arsed to keep in touch throughout the year, don't bother to send me a Christmas card. At least not on paper. Email I can just delete. I mean, if you are not in touch for a whole year, why bother sending a card? It means nothing. Unless you are Martin Luther King, and he's dead, words mean nothing, and actions mean everything. Agree?

It takes all sorts to make a world

Pimp

Not for the first time I today acted like an intermediate in other peoples love affairs. Happy to help people who cannot get a shag on their own accord. Today it backfired a bit though when one party meant to send me an update and instead, by mistake I can only assume, sent it to the other party. HAHAHAHAHA!

Christmas is acoming

Couldn't be arsed to wait. May need a bit of help with the decoration though.

Apero-time

Just because I'm one-armed doesn't stop me from having a party. On the contrary, it's great to have people over since I have a list of things to be done, such as changing the bed, ironing and putting up the Christmas tree. Stuff I currently cannot do myself. So turns out there are some advantages to being crippled.

Bingo wing

One of the many disadvantages of being one-armed is that the skin is starting to hang under my right arm. Only two weeks of inactivity has rendered me an old womans arm. Aaaarrrgggh! Bingo wing, I so do not like!

My own personal airbag

Realized I haven't showed you my "airbag". Big friggin thingie I have to wear 24/7, only allowed to take it off for showers and physiotherapy. The pic-taking for the blog I took upon myself to decide. Nothing mentioned in the instructions. Good thing Switzerland is behind on IT! Sleeping feels like a beetle on its back, trying to gain balance. Not to talk about the strain it puts on the other shoulder. Feels like in a car when the safety belt is cutting into the throat. That strangling feeling. Bet you all my belongings it was a man who invented this thing.

Inflamed vein

Met with a couple of friends today, whereof one knew about my self-curing attempt. She of course couldn't keep her trap shut ("you cannot believe what Annika did, bla-bla-bla"), and all of a sudden I had like an insect buzzing in my ear, in both actually, like stereo, telling me to go see a doctor. Since I know they wouldn't shut up, ever, I went. Turned out to be an inflamed vein, stopping the blood coming through, making it feel like a tube. Doctor suggested that I didn't try any more self-curing (or cutting other people! why would I do that?), gave me a prescription for a gel and sent me on my way. So now my heart is safe from any sharp objects travelling around in my body. Good to know.

Self medication

Ever since I worked as a medical secretary extremely many moons ago I have had quite a low confidence in doctors.

Apart from them being good in partying, always bringing 80% booze, I have always thought that self-medicating is a good thing. After all, nobody knows my body better than I.

But trying to get that tube out of my hand tonight might not have been the best idea I ever had. Hurt like a MF and didn't accomplish the goal. Tube still in there, but now display two plasters after trying to open the vein myself with a razor.

A sight to see

Friend had birthday the other day and since we, her friends, think she is the most sorry excuse we've ever seen for a housewife we gave her an iron. Something she has never used in her life.

So being the friend I am I decided to give her a lesson. Obviously ironing my stuff.

Punctured heart?

When in hospital I had a needle stuck in my vein on the upper side of my hand, through which all sorts of goodies were flowing I'm sure. After having a sore hand now for 1,5 weeks it feels like there is a needle or some sort of tube left in there. Either I'm being paranoid, or I'm right. Probably should have it looked at before it travels up to my heart.

Rapunzel

Friend of mine had a chat with stupid person who thought the sun was revolving around the earth. Same friend had never heard of Rapunzel, apropos getting an unexpected visit through the balcony. "What was that about that punzel person?" Think that reading a book once in a while would't kill her.

Rudolf & Co

This was my evening, how was yours? Raclette, a serious talk, and Rudolf.