Bad Luck

Bruised Apple

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:57:00 PDT

Today I didn't want to bruise my apple that I take to work daily, so I carefully took it out of the storage shed and brought it inside to wash. This was done successfully, dried and placed in the lunchbox. I notice the label was still in place at this point and tried to get it off. Having cut my nails the day before I couldn't get under the label to peel it off and in frustration bruised the apple with the efforts! So much for an un-bruised apple for lunch which was the objective!

Batteries Recharged

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:57:00 PDT

I am now geared for more work on this blog very soon.

Thanks for your patience.

Fishy Food Makes Me Ill On Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:48:00 PDT

It was the first time we had taken a week off for a holiday in 5 years as we travelled to the Black Sea Coast for a bit of beach time. the first night we decided to go out to eat, a very rare occasion with limited funds on our purse. On reflection we should have just relied on the homemade food we brought from home, Why?

Well I order mackerel and although it tasted okay, that night I was as sick as a parrot with all sort of stomach problems and throwing up! This lasted for 48 hours and cut our holiday time enjoyment by two days. This is the first time I have had food poisoning in Bulgaria over the five years there and it came at the time I least wanted it to happen!

Ran, Rain, Go Away!

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:50:00 PDT

Rain rain go away, come back another day! That is wishing really. For one week I have planed to weed the crops and for one week every day just as I make my way to the field the heavens open! Tomorrow is another day but I bet the same thing happens!

Hand Luggage and Contents Stolen

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:21:00 PDT

I accidentally dropped my car keys in the road the other day when parking in the town centre and placing my hand luggage in the boot. I walked away oblivious to that only to return shortly and find that I had not keys. The bad luck continues. My spare key of the car was in the hand luggage so I had no keys or spare for the car!

After breaking into the the car ripping out the back seat to get access to the boot it was found that there was no hand luggage there and I still couldn't move the car without a key. It was the case that someone had seen me drop the keys, picked them up after I had walked away, opened the boot and stole my hand luggage.

My hand luggage had my new digital camera, mobile phone, my normal prescription glasses, all my tablets and first aid kit, mobile phone and charger, wallet with all my money (100 Euros) personal documents such as lichna carte (BG ID) driving licence, insurance MOT etc. Also a manicure kit, a packet of sunflower seeds, a condom and not least the actual bag which good quality bicycle luggage bag that I use on the bicycle rack as well as a hand luggage bag.

I was gutted. I had to take time off work (more money lost!) and get a specialist to take the ignition apart in the car and get a new set of keys cut costing 50 BG lev. I will not have counted the whole cost unit until all the documents have been replaces and of course the cost all the items that come to over 700 BG leva! This is nearly two months worth of pay for me here! Someone is laughing behind my back as well of course.

A 12 Kilometre Walk For Nothing

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:44:00 PDT

My thoughts turned to doing a bit of exercise today and at the same time not just waste the energy but make use of it. The plan was to walk 6 kilometres to a petrol station to buy a 10 kg bag of charcoal instead of using the car. This would save money on fuel and get me a bit of exercise of course. A round trip of 12 km half involving a bit of weightlifting. The walk was brisk and I arrived at the petrol station after about an hour. On asking for the charcoal I was told that they had sold out this morning due to the fine weather we are having today! So it was a 6 km walk back empty-handed.

Plans To Work On The Land Cancelled Due To Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 05:05:00 PDT

Today the plan was to dig over the land at the factory farm and plant out beans and radish. The keys were taken to unlock the factory gates that would be deserted this Sunday and all the seeds and tools bought and stored respectively. I was a restful Saturday in preparation for the work to be made on that so called Sunday day of rest. Sunday morning arrive after the clocks had been put an hour forwards the night before, no need for an alarm my keenness to to get starting with the preparation of the land woke me up early. Low and behold as I raised the blinds and looked out it was raining! As the morning went on the rain got heavier and by 11:00 I had given up the idea of working on the land today. No rain for a fortnight and it rains on the day I want it not too!

A Bowl Of Sunflower Seed Shells Dropped

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:57:00 PDT

After an evening of watching a good film in bed with sunflower seeds being cracked and eaten throughout it was time to retire and sleep as we were so, so tired. One last job was to take the glass bowl of sunflower shells out to the kitchen and empty in the bin. Oh I wished that had been done the following morning! As I walked past the bed my hand knocked on the bed headboard and the glass bowl slipped out of my hand hitting the lino. The glass shattered and the sunflower shells scattered all over the floor. It was out with the hand vacuum cleaner but that wasn't any good as the batteries were too low. Then out with the electric vacuum only to fin there was no suction as the bag was full. Finally it was a hand brush and pan that cleared the mess, and the morning we had to be sure to wear slippers before emptying the vacuum bag and going over the area again for glass splinters that were still lurking.

Cut Finger, Surgery, No Work And No Money

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:10:00 PST

Ouch, I was moving old metal bits at work and my gloves had a small hole in one of the finger pockets. I sharp peice of metal decided to make a beeline to that particular place and cut through my finger. I had to go to hospital for surgery and stitches and now have no work for at least a week. That means no money and I can't work on the land planting trees and lettuce which I had planned this weekend. Also I was put on antibiotics so I can't drown my sorrows in rakia for a week either! To add more bad luck it is the finger on my left hand I am left handed in everything I do!

Digital Camera Lost

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:05:00 PST

I don't believe the bad luck today. I went around taking my photographs with my digital camera for my blog Yambol Daily Pictures and went to the church as it is is a day for forgiveness today in Bulgaria. As I went tot he shop for an ice-cream after the church business (yes it was that warm here today), I found that my camera was not in my pocket any more. After returning the church there was no sign of the digital camera, even after asking many people there. I have no camera again after the saga of getting one after me original one broke.

Burnt Boots

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:56:00 PST

It was bitterly cold at work and my boots were damp from shifting snow the previous day. Even with three pairs of socks on my feet were freezing cold by lunchtime due to the dampness that had penetrated to my feet. It was off with the boots and feet up next to eh electric barred fire that we had, normally used to turn out bread into toast. Whilst my feet and socks were warming up my boots were put on top of the metal grates surround of the fire. I then fell asleep as my socks steamed away on my feet only to wake up form the sound of hissing. This was caused my the rubber soles of my boots melting and the drips of rubber igniting with fire onto the electric bar elements. I quickly removed them and dipped them in a bucket of water. Not only were my boots ruined but I had to wear someone else's trainer after lunch and put up with the smell of burning rubber all afternoon. My boot were put into the wood-burner as fuel to keep warm in another room as they were no good for anything else now.

Snow Stops Plumbing Work

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:07:00 PST

We have had no water for two weeks now as the weekend came along I decided to do something about it. Digging up the outside pipes I found that they needed replacing so off to the shop I went for pipes and connections, all set to replace the whole system. Just after 5 hours of digging using a hired pneumatic drill it started snowing. No chance of finishing the job as the blizzard set in. Another day of no water and Sunday the work starts again. Fat chance of any break as the weekend is fully filled with plumbing work.

No Water For Five Days

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 07:02:00 PST

Day five and still no water! The underground pipes froze up Monday night and haven't had a chance to defrost throughout all this time. Today the temperature rose slightly during the day but not enough to give us our water back. Every day I have had to fill buckets up with water from work and bring them back in a taxi! I hope tomorrow brings the flow back but knowing my luck it will carry on for a few days yet. I will have to wear my dirty clothes to work on Monday and probably get given my card (see previous post!)

Flu and Redundancy

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:44:00 PST

Back to work and survived the first few days of sub-zero temperatures and the car not working due to being frozen up. Thought I was past the worse then I caught the flu and had to work through it and still am. This isn't the end, there is a rumour I will be made redundant on Monday due to lack of business with the recession in the metalwork industry. Bad luck never seems to end.

Back To Work With -22 C Forecast

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:49:00 PST

Well my back is feeling much better now and I will be back to work on Monday, but then the weather forecast told us that the coldest day of the year is the day I go back to work. The last thing I need is a cold environment to work in with ice underfoot after just coming out of rehabilitation from a warm home. But somehow I will get through the day which apparently starts with -22 C! Who knows I might be lucky for once and come out the other end unscathed!

Bad Luck - Back With Vengence (pun)

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:54:00 PST

More bad luck as I lie here in bed waiting for my back heal up so not only can I start jogging again but go back to work to earn some money! Just as everything was going so well this happens with a fortune to pay for medication and doctor's bills it just isn't fair.Added to which it is snowing heavily so my prescribed little walks every three hours can't happen. More bad luck!

Jogging put off for Two Weekends In A Row

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:02:00 PST

It was planned that I start up jogging last weekend to get some aerobic excise after Christmas and the New Year. Everything was set for my first jog on Saturday, trainers and sweatshirt ready. For the first time for at least two year I came down with the flu! So it was put off for the following Saturday. It is Friday evening now what happened? I twisted my back at work so it is confined to bed for the weekend hopefully to get back to work fit on Monday. Not only have my jogging plan been scuppered but two weekends in a row! Bad luck with health can't happen the following weekend to make three in a row can it?

Back To Work A Day Early

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:17:00 PST

After having a great Christmas and New Year with two good four day breaks in between from work it was with a heavy heart that I had to return to the grind again. Alarm set, early to sleep and no rakia this particular evening it was all set for the next day. 6:30 and the alarm sounded, breakfast, bathroom and off in the Lada which started first time in sub zero temperatures, no bad luck in sight right now. The factory gates where locked as usual as I waited for the security guard to open up, but after 20 minutes or so I was a bit puzzled why he hadn't' turned up. half and hour and I called him on my mobile, no answer. I rang my boss, who seemed a bit annoyed that I rang this early in the morning. I realised why, we weren't due to start work until the following day! Doh!

Rats Ate My Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:11:00 PST

Today I was looking forward to my salami and bread at work this lunchtime. I has put the lunch in a cupboard over Christmas knowing that is was cold enough to be stored there for four days. Lunchtime arrived and I went to get the stored food only to find that rats had eaten the lot! This was a great amusement for my workmates and I had to rely on their charity for lunch today.

My Cash Flow Is Frozen

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:14:00 PST

I went to get some money out of the bank cash machine this morning but came away with nothing. The reason was it was so cold the system had frozen solid and inoperative. It was some Christmas shoppings I intended to do and now this cant' happen as I have no money. Here they doin't use debit or credit cards and yet again under the mercy of the banks who hog our money and get massive interst off it from investments behind our backs. You could say my account has been frozen for the time being. I just hope it get above freezing point after finishing work today so I can try again.

Frozen Brakes

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:55:00 PST

Image via Wikipedia

The Lada pops up again with bad luck yet again. It was a very cold night around –7 C and the Lada started up without too much problems. After a few minutes warming the engine and clearing the snowed windows it was into fist gear and release the handbrake to drive away, but I wasn’t’ going anywhere. The brakes had frozen solid as the Lada refused to budge. It was another day for a taxi, money we couldn’t afford and a begging appeal for a lift home from one of my workmates. Another tip that was given was to not apply the handbrake in freezing weather and to carry a brick to stop the Lada car rolling on hills when parked in these weather conditions.

Leaking Lada Petrol Pipe

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:35:00 PST

Image via Wikipedia

My Lada uses gas even though the option to use the petrol is always there. Petrol is twice the price of gas so it is hardly ever used unless I run out of gas. The last time the petrol option was used was around three months ago when I ran out of gas. Today was another time I had to use it as it was sub zero temperatures overnight and the gas will not start up unit the engine is warm in these conditions. As the engine was turned over and started the smell of petrol was evident. I checked under the bonnet and there was a leak in a fuel pipe that was dripping over the engine. Another repair due and more cost of motoring this winter.

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:39:00 PST

Image by ckaiserca via Flickr

I had to get to work early today to load up a van for a delivery. I was asked to turn up at 6:30 in the morning to help the driver with this chore. Turning up dead on the dot, missing breakfast and a cup of tea beforehand I waited outside the factory. I waited and the waiting continued in the cold dark morning that threatened snow. No driver until 7:30 arrived. there was no apology just the fact that he was Bulgarian and runs by Bulgarian time which could mean any time! I could have had an extra hour in bed instead of pacing up and down the factory yard trying to keep warm on an empty stomach!

Two Broken Drills and More

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:18:00 PST

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At work today luck has it that the drill I was working with broke down. This wasn't really bad luck, that came five minutes later when the new one that replaced it broke after a short while of use. I am in the bad book with my boss who thinks I abuse the tools that he provides. On top of all this a strip of matel snapped on one of the boiler doors I was working on. Again I get the blame not the inferior metal that causes it to snap!

Mobile Phone Broken - Again

noreply@blogger.com (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:27:00 PST

Image via Wikipedia

Bad luck just seems to happen whatever the situation. A mobile phone bought in the UK tow years ago broke when I go back to Bulgaria. I finally got is fixed by paying a hefty sum of as it was still cheaper than buying a new phone, but it still wouldn’t’ work as my sim card had expired. So it was off to the shop to buy a new sim card. The phone worked fine for about 10 minutes and then went blank. It is back to the repair shop for no doubt more money to change hands. At this rate I should have just got a Bulgarian phone in the first place and be done with it!