It was Byal Kladenets (White Well) right next to the massive reservoir that runs through to the power station giving the whole region electricity that I found myself heading towards early last Saturday morning.
My brother had a scooter and from Skalitsa to Byal Kladenets which was about 12 km there was a mainly ploughed up dirt track lining the sunflower and sweetcorn fields filled full of failed crops this year. This actually cuts another 10 km of the journey is running on a main tarmac road.
Why were we going there?
Well we had to pick up two horses and transport them back to Skalitsa as I was to look after them for a few weeks before hopefully they are sold or looked after for the 4 months my brother is away.
As we made out way two up on a small scooter there was an apprehension about the journey there and even more about the journey back. My brother has a fear of horses and I only really have experience with a donkey and cart not these massive muscled animals.
We had heavy rain a few days before and as we left the road onto the track the slipping and sliding started, in many parts we had to get off and walk our way through parts. This was a real problem for us as only after a short while we wished we'd done it another day when the track had dried out but we were now committed and had to carry on.
A sigh of relief was breathed as we finally got to the village and paused a while before going to get the two horse that were grazing on the side of the hill. Genna and Sparky (the horses) were being looked after by a Bulgarian neighbour who was called to help being them in to be kitted out on the cart that was waiting.
This was the next problem, Genna somehow jolted away from the Bulgarian that was helping and ran free and away from where we wanted her. The next two hours were spend trying to catch here as she played games. Chasing her was obviously not going to work as the minds where working overtime as our bodies rested.
A lasso was the only answer as one was made up from the tethering rope. The plan was to get Sparky out on the fields again as Genna usually grazes next to him. Then if we get within a couple of metres of here we lasso her and job done.
So, we did exactly that, with the Bulgarian neighbours thinking that we were crazy as he just sat on his own cart and watched from a distance, we worked to plan. Every aspect of the plan worked as Sparky was made the bait. It was only a matter of a few moments and a well judged throw of the lasso as Genna approach and the job was as good as done. the Bulgarian neighbour watched with disbelief as the new cowboy maestros strode proudly past him with the two horses.
We kitted the horses up, Genna to pull the cart and Sparky to follow tied up behind then we were off on the track that had almost completely dried up with the now hot sun blazing.
It was a very tired horse that ended up in Skalitsa with another journey back that was far from relaxing on the dulating terrain but we were all tired but home and dry.
Showing posts with label Bulgarian neighbours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bulgarian neighbours. Show all posts
A Sorry Dog Tale in Bulgaria
This is a true but very sad story about British Dog owners and Bulgarian country folk with one loser at the end, the dog.
A British couple had set up their new dream home in a small remote village in the midst of farming people, very much like thousands of other villages scattered around the Bulgaria countryside. Livestock roaming the streets was common place in these types of areas, all calm, peaceful and living in harmony with the community system that worked.
Traditional ways of keeping dogs in Bulgaria are very different to that of British ways and this primarily was the heart of the problem. The British couple remained adamant that their dog should live with them very much in the British fashion. It was allowed to run around the countryside, live and sleep in the house and essentially be treated as part of the household. It would often be let out to roam free in the streets and fields outside the boundaries of farmhouse and grounds until not before long the sad sage began.
A elderly woman neighbour had called round to the house complaining that the dog had attacked and killed many chickens from her farm and blamed the British couple for letting the dog out to roan free. The matter was resolved simply by the old woman being compensated with money to replace the chickens and a promise from the British couple to not let the dog out in the future unsupervised.
The dog was now confined to within the boundaries of the grounds, still without being tethered or tied up. It was only a matter of time before the dog found escape routes with the massive area of land and continued began to chase and worry sheep, goats and poultry in the area. The Bulgarian owners had full justification to continue to complain but the British remained firm about how the dog should be allowed freedom regardless of the stress it was causing to local livestock. The dog was apparently obedient when the owners were there but not when they were absent.
Subsequently with the owners absence on other occasions, more local chickens were killed and more monetary compensation made but this really wasn't the way forward as far as the Bulgarian locals were concerned. They were living in fear of the next attack and the worrying was affecting the sheep and goats milk production and the British couple refused to accept that the dog was not under control in their absence.
There remained this insistence that the dog should continue to be unleashed at all times in their absence and no compromise was sought as they felt they were morally right in the way the dog should be brought up. No real regard was made to the loss of local Bulgarian livelihoods that were being caused by this dog. This couldn't carry on where there comes the part that brought the matter to an end.
The British owners were away again for a few days and on their return they found that the dog had been poisoned and lay dead on within their own grounds. The calculated consequence from the Bulgarians point was one less worry for them and their stocks now safe. From the British couple there was now bitterness and suspicion to many of their closest neighbours and the house is now up for sale for a move to another village.
The mayor and local policeman were approached regarding the matter with a shrug of the shoulder response, there was nothing they could or indeed would do about it!
The question is raised who is right and who is wrong added to which some might say was an inevitable end in Bulgaria.
www.bulgarianrealestateonline.com
www.ourbulgarianworld.com
A British couple had set up their new dream home in a small remote village in the midst of farming people, very much like thousands of other villages scattered around the Bulgaria countryside. Livestock roaming the streets was common place in these types of areas, all calm, peaceful and living in harmony with the community system that worked.
Traditional ways of keeping dogs in Bulgaria are very different to that of British ways and this primarily was the heart of the problem. The British couple remained adamant that their dog should live with them very much in the British fashion. It was allowed to run around the countryside, live and sleep in the house and essentially be treated as part of the household. It would often be let out to roam free in the streets and fields outside the boundaries of farmhouse and grounds until not before long the sad sage began.
A elderly woman neighbour had called round to the house complaining that the dog had attacked and killed many chickens from her farm and blamed the British couple for letting the dog out to roan free. The matter was resolved simply by the old woman being compensated with money to replace the chickens and a promise from the British couple to not let the dog out in the future unsupervised.
The dog was now confined to within the boundaries of the grounds, still without being tethered or tied up. It was only a matter of time before the dog found escape routes with the massive area of land and continued began to chase and worry sheep, goats and poultry in the area. The Bulgarian owners had full justification to continue to complain but the British remained firm about how the dog should be allowed freedom regardless of the stress it was causing to local livestock. The dog was apparently obedient when the owners were there but not when they were absent.
Subsequently with the owners absence on other occasions, more local chickens were killed and more monetary compensation made but this really wasn't the way forward as far as the Bulgarian locals were concerned. They were living in fear of the next attack and the worrying was affecting the sheep and goats milk production and the British couple refused to accept that the dog was not under control in their absence.
There remained this insistence that the dog should continue to be unleashed at all times in their absence and no compromise was sought as they felt they were morally right in the way the dog should be brought up. No real regard was made to the loss of local Bulgarian livelihoods that were being caused by this dog. This couldn't carry on where there comes the part that brought the matter to an end.
The British owners were away again for a few days and on their return they found that the dog had been poisoned and lay dead on within their own grounds. The calculated consequence from the Bulgarians point was one less worry for them and their stocks now safe. From the British couple there was now bitterness and suspicion to many of their closest neighbours and the house is now up for sale for a move to another village.
The mayor and local policeman were approached regarding the matter with a shrug of the shoulder response, there was nothing they could or indeed would do about it!
The question is raised who is right and who is wrong added to which some might say was an inevitable end in Bulgaria.
www.bulgarianrealestateonline.com
www.ourbulgarianworld.com
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