So here I am back from my trip to buy a house, I think a lot of people don’t realise the amount of planning that’s needed between trips. They seem to think the only time you do anything is when you visit! If you can imagine buying a house then have work done, and plan for all the fitments even in this country its a big task, but move the house 1000 miles away and its daunting

My first trip had gone well, I had my house, but did need the place waterproofing for the winter. It did not matter to me that it may have gone two winters without glass in the top floor, I had left a few things that needed doing with the agent to sort out costs with the builder. Everything was in place with the house, company set up and builder, I just had to wait till the sale was complete.

But first I had to transfer the money from the UK, I found a company that would send the money over. They would send it as fast as you got the transfer to them, I sent by BACS which takes about three days to reach them, and they only take about 2 cents commission per € off the bank rate. You can reach them on http://www.gcen.co.uk/. Just a little update on this one, they will now only send a £10,000

In the course of time my quotes came via email, now here I am sat at my desk doing 3 aircraft audits, and for the life of me I cant make sense out of the quotes! Emails going back and forth one thing I could not understand was a quote for a septic tank, as my house description stated septic tank installed. It went something like this

Me: Why do I need a septic tank, I got one

Kristina: You have got one but its not a real one

Me: But you said I had one

Kristina: But that was in the offer of the house, but you don’t have to have it if you don’t want it

Me: So how much will a real one cost me

Kristina: +++ €

Me: Ok I will have a real one then

Dont buy a parrot from a Bulgarian, I get the feeling Monty Python is still around! Don’t get me wrong Kristina is a very nice lady, I feel Bulgaria has a long way to go in commerce in order to free itself from the old Eastern block thinking, its not just the above its other little things that I have noticed. Had the above been with a agent in the UK my response would have been put one in at your expense or let me know which court you would like me to issue the writ!

So in the end after emails flying back and forth, I still cannot understand the quotes I just tell her I need everything doing except the tank because winter is coming on, please do it. The work was not a lot repair 3 chimneys, repair roof, install drainage, put waterproof covering on top floor windows and check electrics.  I am now happy that the house will get waterproofed in time for winter as it can go to -20c

Its now getting time for Christmas, I even have a bit of tinsel on my PC at work and I am feeling very seasonally jolly as you do at this time of year, so I send a Christmas greeting to all in the office

Me: Happy Christmas to everyone has the jobs been done

Kristina: Happy Christmas, no you have not paid us

Me: When I was over we opened a bank account that you have POA on it and it has +++€ in

Kristina: We will check with the bank

Kristina: We can confirm you have the money in the bank, and will get the builder to start work

Ffs am I the only one that feels God hates them? I was livid! Even my bit of tinsel could not console me, there and then I decided that I was going over early in the New Year. I know they can have deep snow and cold weather but I did not care if the snow was 10ft high, one way or the other I was going.

One thing I cannot for the life of me get my head around is, I asked the agent for my address, but it appears I dont have one! Most villages I understand dont! I have a number but no street name. Can you imagine how the British taxman would take that one, oh and I dont have a postman so dont send any begging letters please

Lots of other things to do also, I was planning to buy a van, buy things on Ebay at a good price then drive over, but I got to thinking what do I use the van for after? As you can imagine my home is starting to climb family and friends holiday lists, so I started looking for a large estate that I could use for transporting my stuff over to BG, carry my building materials and after as a means of transport in BG. After much searching I found my car on Ebay

My transport for BG

I have had much fun on Ebay, if you have not used it before you can buy anything you want, I even know a Mig fighter was sold on it early in the new year! If anyone has a contact in BG with a Mig going spare please let me know as it would look good in my garden

Jan 2007