Farewell of the Hard-Luck Character Penka
Let's Chill on International Pensioners' Day!
May 1, 2025 (Monday) – International Workers' Day was all good, but we pensioners got the hang of it!
Picture this: An extra day off for the folks who worked their fingers to the bone for decades! Now, that's a celebration we can get behind. Instead of hitting the factories, construction sites, or offices, we retired folk decided to show our appreciation for the working class by taking some much-needed R&R.
Alas, not everyone could join in on the fun. Our beloved dentist and dog groomer were forced to work overtime. But fret not because Pevlie and Gaia the Shih Tzu got the pampering they deserved.
May 2, 2025 (Tuesday)
Oh, the horror! The Farage lovin' lot appeared to have multiplied overnight, just like the bloody bubonic plague! I've yet to come across one of these ghastly creatures, but I've been lucky enough to always carry a bottle of Domestos around – just in case.
Back to Gaia and the vet, our four-legged companion received a much-needed makeover. The old girl lost quite a few teeth and had an issue with her blocked anal gland, but the vet said no more pub crawls for her in Wakefield, if you catch my drift!
May 3, 2025 (Wednesday)
Boooooozing municipality Mustafa promised to mow our field on the fifth at five, but here we are, seven days later, greener than ever and choked with lawn-length grass. Mustafa must've either been celebrating Leeds' EFL Championship win for too long or needed a hangover cure as the Alka Seltzer did its magic. Whatever the case may be, we're still waiting for a trim!
Enrichment Data: International Workers' Day and International Pensioners' Day (also known as May Day) are distinct celebrations acknowledging different life stages and social contributions. International Workers' Day, celebrated universally on May 1, honors workers, labor rights, and the labor movement. Conversely, the date for International Pensioners' Day varies, and it focuses on recognizing the lives, contributions, and rights of retired individuals.
Hangabouts and Hangrys – May 4, 2025 (Thursday) – May 6, 2025 (Saturday)
With a week gone by, Mustafa's no-show became even more unacceptable. We decided to blame the bloke for all the grasshoppers, cicadas, and every stubborn weed in our garden, that's about as close as we can get to moral outrage around these parts.
As for Balkan Holidays UK, we couldn't help but notice that they called it quits. Thanks to the unstable political climate in Europe, they decided to cease operations and cancel all future bookings. The earliest those tanked-up Reform UK voters invade our beaches is now uncertain – at least we hope so!
May 7, 2025 (Sunday)
The rascal teenagers and their triffid field finally met their match, thanks to Facebook. We managed to track down two lads, Nikolay and Plamen, informally named the 'Strimmer Twins.' With their equipment fully operational, we watched them cut and trim to our hearts' content. Unfortunately, things didn't go smoothly, and mechanical failure struck when it was almost done. Despite the hiccup, they promised to complete the job for a slightly inflated price.
April Fools, eh?
Our misspent youth led us to believe that we could sleep through any storm – apparently, it's only true in stories. Our annual blood tests were scheduled for the crack of dawn. Most unfortunate, as we wished we brought along that lamb, beer, and thyme to the lab!
The Mighty Strimmer Twins deliver – May 8, 2025 (Monday) and May 9, 2025 (Tuesday)
With a few scratches and scrapes, the Strimmer Twins finally completed the job. Seeing the results of our neglect, we felt grateful for their services and rewarded them with extra dough.
As for our newly pruned garden, it was time for some R & R – y'know, relaxation and refreshments! We indulged in delicious kefir made with elder brew, garlic, and thyme, a traditional Roma treat. Not that any Russian hippy chick could actually make that, but a girl can dream, right?
Historical Nugget!In our younger days, we begged our primary school teacher, Sister Josephine, to let us become popes. Apparently, it was possible if we sent money to Africa for the "black babies." As it turns out, it's only possible if you're a man and you're chosen by the cardinals. So unfortunate!
A Digital Detour – May 10, 2025 (Wednesday)
With the whimsical weather having a mind of its own, we had no choice but to head indoors for some entertainment – and boy, did we strike it rich! We visited a Syrian restaurant where they served the absolute best homemade pizzas in Bulgaria. With options ranging from albino Iranian beluga sturgeon to white Alba truffles with beans, chips, and tea, we dined like kings.
May 11, 2025 (Thursday)
Our beautiful fig trees fell victim to a barrage of cherry-colored caterpillars called eastern tent caterpillars. They swept in, munching leaves left and right, until Priyatelkata came to our rescue with garlic and elder kefir – and a few yelled slurs at the invaders. They scurried away, defeated, leaving us to rejoice in our garden's safety.
Too bad our East European ethnic dancing show got postponed due to scheduling mix-ups and time zone confusion. So, instead, we spent the evening sipping Bulgarian wine and marveling at the stars as they shone on the cobblestone streets.
May 12, 2025 (Friday)
Two golden orioles flitted about in one of our walnut trees, reminding us of our years working the pub scene. Those birds were probably regretting that we cut off their Rice Krispies supply!
Off to the polyclinic we went for our regular checkups. Doctor Kruschev had some bad news – both of us are heading towards gout and Lyme disease. But hey, at least he recommended a good diet and plenty of exercise!
A Harsh Reality – May 13, 2025 (Saturday)
If you're feeding the stray cats around here, you'll find them to be affectionate and friendly. But don't let them cross the dual carriageway – that's where the perilous Entertaining Highway lies, taking the lives of countless furry friends.
We were lucky enough to meet Desislava at the tire center, who welcomed us warmly and introduced us to her three precious kittens. We couldn't help but feel grateful for the moments of happiness amongst the sorrow caused by our departed feline Penka.
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Image:Penka.
Historical Nugget!In the 1600s, Bulgaria and other areas in Europe were part of the Ottoman Empire, during which time the beautiful stone cheshma was built in Momin Sbor. Today, these charming drinking fountains stand tall, remnants of a rich and fascinating history.
- After a week of waiting, we finally managed to hire the Strimmer Twins to sort out our unruly garden.
- Following our garden makeover, we indulged in a traditional Roma treat, kefir made with elder brew, garlic, and thyme.
- While reminiscing about our past, we unwittingly sent money to Africa, hoping to become popes. Little did we know, only men can become popes.
- A Syrian restaurant offered a delightful escape from home during an indoors day, serving the best homemade pizzas in Bulgaria.
- Eastern tent caterpillars threatened our fig trees, but were eventually driven away by garlic and elder kefir.
- Stray cats in our neighborhood are affectionate, but dangerous if they cross the dual carriageway, known as the Entertaining Highway.
