St. James’ Park

An Alternative Campsite and Hostel in Bulgaria

People

A lot of people have invested their time and energy in helping me to get St. James’ Park started, and I can’t thank everyone enough – of course they have the added incentive that anyone who volunteers and helps gets free camping for life!

Elly

Elly is the owner of St James Park. She is my daughter and she bought this place about 3 years ago. She is an Engineer and is busy getting her career together so we agreed that I would live here and develop the field and the house as a long term base for her and for my grandchildren.
Elly

Kathy

I’m Elly’s mother and I’m the one writing all this stuff. I live in St James Park and if you come to volunteer, I’ll be your host. I’m trying to find a photo of me that I like - when I do, I’ll put it up - meanwhile, you’ll just have to guess who I am!

The Lifers

Phil

He made this wonderful website after I asked the Universe to find someone to help me! I loved the fact that he was in Paris and I was in Popovo while we emailed each other stuff. I really can’t thank you enough!

Christina, Ailsa, Fidelus

…and the other people who sat around my house in Chorlton in Manchester and came up with great ideas which all went into the Ideas Book – some of those ideas have already happened, some have been added too and most of them will happen eventually.

Alex

He dug the first toilet in the blue gazebo and sampled the local Rakia

The Geordies + Lerone (who is learning to speak Geordie)

Geordies Drink with the LocalsThey cleared the open barn space and made the path up the hill to the fire circle.

Jo Campbell

She did loads of research for into compost toilets and the complexities of mixing pee and poo and she sent me some PG Tips.

Sveltlana Dimitrova Nikolova

My best friend in Bulgaria. We found her through a mission to buy a ball of string! She speaks English and has gradually come to believe in what I hope to achieve at St James Park. She is my negotiator, translator, interpreter and the person to ask all the questions about the mysteries of Bulgarian life. She also has a wonderful family who have been happy to share their lives with all of my visitors and volunteers.

Gary Blackburn

He found Svetlana!

Tino

TinoA lovely dog who has adopted us. He used to be very sad, skinny and grovelling but now he’s confident, happy and getting even fat! He also moves everyone’s shoes.

My neighbours

George (pronounced Jorgay), Vaskilka and their son Drago who live next door are the best neighbours that I could have dreamt of having. They lend me tools; fix my tools when I break or blunt them: lend me their horse and carotsa to take rubbish to the dump; do all the big nasty heavy things that I can’t do; give me advice on how to live here – like building fences and pruning grapes; bring their very scary circular saw in to sort out my wood; fix the roof; find me a guy with a tractor and look after the place when I’m not here. They’re great company and I’ve spend a few evenings eating, drinking, laughing and singing with them without a common language! Drago is now a Newcastle supporter.

GeorgeVasilka Drago

There are lots of other people in the village who have helped me but often I can’t remember, or spell their names! That will change as my Bulgarian improves and all of their pictures will appear on this website.

The Volunteer

(For more information about becoming a WWOOFer, have a look at www.wwoof.co.uk)

Name Country When Thank You
Petra Austria August 2006 Kept me company at the beginning, listened to my every changing plans, had never seen the Sound of Music! With Sarah, she scythed the whole field using a Kosa – big lethal looking tool.
Sarah Australia September 2006 Stopped by on her way from Japan to Aus! Worked on the field with Petra and of course helped build the BBQ
Claire England September 2006 Built the first compost place and made the toilet pretty. Made the bbq table and was willing to do very yacky jobs!
Ingrid Tennessee, USA October 2006 Great juggler and so willing to try the language – complete with clown expressions! Tino’s best friend – got stuck into the field and the treasure trove and helped me with the Rakia. We shared a love for Dolly Parton.
Eden Oregon, USA October 2006 Amazing energy and great juggling – she kept the kitchen neat and tidy – tackled the field and cleared out the treasure trove to begin the museum – this was a room full of dust, old wheat, other yacky things and no light. Had some great discussions with both these lovely women.
Lewie Ireland October 2006 He brought me some music and build the new compost area. Helped with the fences and broke rocks in the hot sun in the field.
Jamie England October 2006 Came down from Poland by train – 45 hours! Worked on the field and the fences and was a key part of many intense debates and discussions – he somehow missed Elly during 3 years of going into BarOne in Sheffield!
Ed and Jess England April 07 Came to check out Bulgaria as a place to live and loved it so much they bought a house down the road
Jacqie England May 07 she planted flowers, did a bit of bird watching and is now thinking of buying a house in the village
Jenny Cornish JUNE 07 A Girl Guide and wonderful company for a month. she did loads of work on the fences and kept Alan company-she’d also like to live here
Laura England May 07 Came overland from Manchester and dug the potato patch
Max Australia June 07 I didn’t know I needed a volunteer to help with my IT issues until Max arrived. Great conversation and he’s also thinking of living in the village
Alex Holland July 07 He gets the gold star for getting here-hitched right to the door and didn’t ask for directions once. Did all the windows.
Jennie England July 07 Helped me to make chutney and made a swing.
Tom and Laura England and Ireland July 07 Came for a week, stayed 3 months and bought a house. Tom painted the house and converted the spidery room into a bathroom and Laura helped me make laods of jam and chutney.
Oliver England August 07 Heard about us from Christina in Finland. He weeded the field and painted the windows.
Aslak Denmark October 2006 Max rescued him from another volunteering place. Helped Tom to build the bathroom and learned a lot about liking Rakia
Danny America October 2007+ My persistent volunteer - he’s been here 3 times. Spend almost 2 weeks chopping wood - i thanked him many times over the winter
Corrina Switzerland October 2007 She did loads of digging and helped me to paint the kitchen and living room when it was raining.
Brodie Canada October 2007 Experienced in killing and skinning Moose so he helped with Alan.
Josee Canada April 08 She brought a tin of real Maple Syrup and helped me to get started for this year.

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