Bulgarian proverbs can be divided up into two groups - the fairly understandable ones and those needing a little further explanation. I hope you'll agree that the following are not only wise - but clear in meaning.
He who sings thinks no evil.
When you let go of the tame, you chase the wild.
Angry Peter, empty basket.
The legs of the lie are short.
Morning is wiser than evening.
Measure seven times - cut once.
The mad never tire - they just sweat.
Drop by drop - lake.
United company lifts a mountain.
In a situation in which chaos reigns supreme, the Bulgarian sage will utter the incomprehensible words... The horse goes to the river. Very appropriate, couldn't have put it better myself. In this panic-driven scenario, there may be one final choice to be made, the only option, the last resort - yes, you've guessed it, the ninth hole of the flute. You may think it's just another typical cooking session with Claire as you hear the crashing about in the kitchen, but no. The saucepan rolled and found its lid can best be translated as birds of a feather flock together - in this case, my delicious chicken Véronique, a dish consisting of chicken cooked with wine, lemon and cream, and, glory of glories, halved grapes added before serving.
Food with grapes!!! In other words, unthinkable. Why use grapes for food when you can use them supremely in the production of rakia, the famous Bulgarian brandy? I don't know - perhaps before I left England, someone could have advised me that every frog should stay in its own swamp.