Mark Jervis
@jervism.bsky.social
Writer/teacher.
Website:
http://www.markjervis.com
Sofia Drabbles:
https://sofiadrabbles.blogspot.com/?m=0
Bulgarian Village Garden:
https://bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/?m=1
Website:
http://www.markjervis.com
Sofia Drabbles:
https://sofiadrabbles.blogspot.com/?m=0
Bulgarian Village Garden:
https://bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/?m=1
If we had any onions, we now have enough dug over space to plant them. We're also at peak snowdrop.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/snow...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/snow...
Snowdrops & Dewilding Veggie Patch (part 3)
- Snowdrops fully out - Plaster crumbling on outside wall - Next door's wall collapse - Broke J6-1 drip-pipe connection - Weeded & dug over ...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:42 PM
If we had any onions, we now have enough dug over space to plant them. We're also at peak snowdrop.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/snow...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/snow...
-2 & a light dusting of snow but the veggie patch was still diggable.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/dewi...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/dewi...
Dewilding Veggie Patch (part 2)
- Saw Little Owl - Snowdrops on wildside - Composting - Digging over J3 barnside
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:15 PM
-2 & a light dusting of snow but the veggie patch was still diggable.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/dewi...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/dewi...
Some practical quirks of the transition to the Euro in Bulgaria: many ATMs & automatic payment machines are out of order, many shops are only taking card payments, & the vending machine at work has simply swapped Leva for the same number in Euro so everything costs double.
January 10, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Some practical quirks of the transition to the Euro in Bulgaria: many ATMs & automatic payment machines are out of order, many shops are only taking card payments, & the vending machine at work has simply swapped Leva for the same number in Euro so everything costs double.
Having started to wear my numerous pairs of Christmas socks, it's clear that the current trend is for different designs for different feet. Is this a sign that the sock industry has hit a product wall, or is it another indication that human intelligence is in decline?
January 6, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Having started to wear my numerous pairs of Christmas socks, it's clear that the current trend is for different designs for different feet. Is this a sign that the sock industry has hit a product wall, or is it another indication that human intelligence is in decline?
A pause in the dewilding as the veggie patch was frozen. It was -9 in the night.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/froz...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/froz...
Frozen Ground Odd Jobs
- Veggie patch is solid so couldn't continue dewilding - Started new garden journal book - Took out poles & supports from strawberry patch -...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:16 PM
A pause in the dewilding as the veggie patch was frozen. It was -9 in the night.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/froz...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2026/01/froz...
End of year roundups from 2025 for growth & bird sightings - it was a meagre year on both fronts but, in fairness, we had other priorities.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/p/2025.html?...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/gard...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/p/2025.html?...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/gard...
2025
The great reset Vegetables Everything dead in Veggie Patch, Strawberry Steps, & Herb Garden Chives (pot) Dead: 16/03 Basil (pot) Dead: 16/...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:58 PM
End of year roundups from 2025 for growth & bird sightings - it was a meagre year on both fronts but, in fairness, we had other priorities.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/p/2025.html?...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/gard...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/p/2025.html?...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/gard...
First village Boys' Walk of the year
January 2, 2026 at 11:49 AM
First village Boys' Walk of the year
First time I've touched the veggie patch in over a year so this is part 1 of what will probably be a sprawling saga. It will take a hell of a lot of work to get it ready for Spring.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/dewi...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/dewi...
Dewilding Veggie Patch (part 1)
- Pulled out bigger weeds - Rotted detritus into compost bin - Nettles apparently dead - Weeded & dug over barnside top of veggie patch - Bi...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
First time I've touched the veggie patch in over a year so this is part 1 of what will probably be a sprawling saga. It will take a hell of a lot of work to get it ready for Spring.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/dewi...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/dewi...
Some essential maintenance. Experimenting with gardening during The Boy's afternoon naptime - this might be the way forward for 2026
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/reti...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/reti...
Retiling the wall
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Some essential maintenance. Experimenting with gardening during The Boy's afternoon naptime - this might be the way forward for 2026
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/reti...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/12/reti...
Finally made it to the village for Christmas.
December 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Finally made it to the village for Christmas.
You can tell a lot from someone's response to seeing the word 'outstanding'.
December 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM
You can tell a lot from someone's response to seeing the word 'outstanding'.
'Forlorn' and 'born' is a curiously overused rhyming couplet in Christmas songs.
December 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
'Forlorn' and 'born' is a curiously overused rhyming couplet in Christmas songs.
It's been exactly one year since I stopped smoking so it seems like a good time to take stock and look at some of the benefits of quitting...
December 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It's been exactly one year since I stopped smoking so it seems like a good time to take stock and look at some of the benefits of quitting...
Only discovered when we got it home that the walker we bought is called 'Sharky' because it plays 'Baby Shark' when you press a big green button that's at perfect elbow height. They were clever not to fit batteries in the shop's display model.
November 15, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Only discovered when we got it home that the walker we bought is called 'Sharky' because it plays 'Baby Shark' when you press a big green button that's at perfect elbow height. They were clever not to fit batteries in the shop's display model.
It's got a snout, whiskers, & a piebald coat. The other animals in the collection are a blue raccoon, a green owl, a pink mouse, & a yellow cat.
It's clearly a dog.
Wife: insect.
It's clearly a dog.
Wife: insect.
November 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
It's got a snout, whiskers, & a piebald coat. The other animals in the collection are a blue raccoon, a green owl, a pink mouse, & a yellow cat.
It's clearly a dog.
Wife: insect.
It's clearly a dog.
Wife: insect.
At a work training day, we were given 5 mins to come up with a list of 5 things that bring us joy. Here's mine:
1. Sunday mornings between feeds
2. Boys' walks exploring the neighbourhood
3. Guinness after gardening
4. Making & eating gouveche
5. Autumn gloaming walks in the village
1. Sunday mornings between feeds
2. Boys' walks exploring the neighbourhood
3. Guinness after gardening
4. Making & eating gouveche
5. Autumn gloaming walks in the village
October 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
At a work training day, we were given 5 mins to come up with a list of 5 things that bring us joy. Here's mine:
1. Sunday mornings between feeds
2. Boys' walks exploring the neighbourhood
3. Guinness after gardening
4. Making & eating gouveche
5. Autumn gloaming walks in the village
1. Sunday mornings between feeds
2. Boys' walks exploring the neighbourhood
3. Guinness after gardening
4. Making & eating gouveche
5. Autumn gloaming walks in the village
We're seeing 'Billionaire's Bunker' through to its/our bitter end & my wife has a theory: it's been written by AI.
October 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
We're seeing 'Billionaire's Bunker' through to its/our bitter end & my wife has a theory: it's been written by AI.
The grumpiness & trouble sleeping are kind of worth it for the range of new expressions that come when the tooth eventually breaks through.
#Teething
#Teething
September 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The grumpiness & trouble sleeping are kind of worth it for the range of new expressions that come when the tooth eventually breaks through.
#Teething
#Teething
At least once a year, entire districts of Sofia will be without any hot water for at least a fortnight - I'm sure it's the same in all capital cities of EU member states. This year, my district's fortnight aligns perfectly with the start of the school year & my son's top 2 front teeth coming through
September 2, 2025 at 9:16 PM
At least once a year, entire districts of Sofia will be without any hot water for at least a fortnight - I'm sure it's the same in all capital cities of EU member states. This year, my district's fortnight aligns perfectly with the start of the school year & my son's top 2 front teeth coming through
Me: I've been quite lucky as it sounds like the Rotherham matches I've missed have been crap anyway.
Wife: That's not luck, that's just ALL Rotherham matches.
Wife: That's not luck, that's just ALL Rotherham matches.
August 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Me: I've been quite lucky as it sounds like the Rotherham matches I've missed have been crap anyway.
Wife: That's not luck, that's just ALL Rotherham matches.
Wife: That's not luck, that's just ALL Rotherham matches.
In a cloud of house martins
August 29, 2025 at 8:06 AM
In a cloud of house martins
New mower - the fourth. Electric again. The extension cable is a pain but at least you know what you're getting.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/08/new-...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/08/new-...
New Mower (4th)
- New bird: Gray Heron - Storks still here - Little Owl active at night - New mower: Gardena Power Max 32/1200 G2 (electric) - Mowed lawn - ...
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com
August 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
New mower - the fourth. Electric again. The extension cable is a pain but at least you know what you're getting.
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/08/new-...
#BulgarianVillageGarden
bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/2025/08/new-...
Village stork on the neighbour's chimney
July 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Village stork on the neighbour's chimney