oh technology

the savonius rotor is going round like clappers, Alan did some
work on it to settle it even more stableafter all this windy weather;
needs painting not too pretty yet, but Clover makes up for it...
(wind comes from the south, lovely.)
Got the billy-goat - looks nice, no horns, no picture yet,
Alan has his doubts if it is frisky enough.
I introduce you to Ramblin Al's Blues - google Jango,
that is Alan's music station!!
Also, useful tips for all DIY plumbers who bend down a lot - look up
http://www.instructables.com/id/coin_slot_detector/
it is a really useful invention, easy to follow instructiona
with picture.
and more bookings - just waiting for oz hostel guests, booked for 3 days.

quiet after cluster

yes, they all arrived, nice US English teachers from Budapest stayed for two days, hungarian hunters for 3, all happy customers. Wwoofers Chris and Holly did tons of good works, another super pair, Chris especially, very knowledgable about stuff. They did not have to contribute as they were happy with switched off heaters. Tough kids, off to Transylvania with their tent and bikes! (see picure before departure) Weather was decent, with lovely sunny days, and not too cold at night, which is changing a bit, though the sun is supposed to come out still during the day and no rain forcast. Our kids xmas and new year plans are more or less set - we are off to Budapest for New Years Eve first time for 30-odd years!! Though we ll see Szonya while up North in England (Nov 13th - 23rd) very soon. Still no billygoat on loan - tad worrying, we might have to buy one, which is not economical - keeping a large animal that is only useful for a few weeks of the year...

Pécsvárad, fame and the usual autumn flower

so last thursday we went to discover Pécsvárad and to listen to Maggie and Pam's four-hand piano concert. Raimundo came with us, it was another beautiful day,
see pictures. On Sunday we had a successful day on the big market of Pécs, Alan found
the gizmos he wanted and for little money. I was picked by a reporter to give my opinion - as the average person of the street - of the world economic crisis and it's possible effect on me... so I gave my 2 penn'th worth, believe me!! And on my way to Budapest on Monday on the train, I was worriedly looking at the result in the Dél-Dunántúli Napló - well, my picture wasn't exacly fab, but merry, and some of my not too complimentary words about capitalism in general and the finance system in particular, were there!! Wow!
We have another set of lovely wwoofers from oz, doing tons of good works; clearing the polytunnel and put manure all over it, tidying the place in general, shifting what wood left... actually, I should make a photo of the geese now let to roam to clear up all the weeds, doing a good job. Next time... and we have a hostelbooking (!!) for today, and a call from the hunters for two people - but they are yet to materialise and it is 6pm, getting dark...

Abaliget - beautiful sunny autumn

fist - the Etnodrom concert was great - a Budapest band, but playing authentic and very
enjoyable and danceble music from Romania, Greece, North Africa, and of course, from Hungary. There was a very beautiful and colourful belly-dancer and the kids from local dance-house and a little girl of about 8/9 and a toddler all doing very good dancing.
Unfortunately I left the camera home, Alan made pictures with his mobile phone, but I can't work out how to transfer them on the PC, no software, I'll ask Pannon tomorrow.

The trip to Abaliget was very pleasant, beautiful weather, gorgous autumn landscapes -
even if the dominent colour is still green. The cave was ok - but nothing special - the walk in a proper wood was the best, some fantastic beeches. And sitting round the lakes eating the butties, going into the little bat museum and mineral show was ok. I wish
that chap selling the pretty stones wasn't going about their magical faculties though... never mind.

Today got a surprise hunter pay-guest -wow, the best off-season chance, let's hope it goes well. This we got from the nice ecohun hostel sign!! It means that Raimundo - an ex-Umist post-grad friend visitor, will have to lump it with us, I don't think he'll mind, he's arriving tomorrow.

the pictures show a few more still-lives and the trip, as much as I can fit...

october rush

yes, we are having a few "wwostels"; wwoofers who contribute towards the heating.
We had a couple from the US - Alan had another guitar lesson, and we expect another from oz next week. Today was busy - we had Armin fixing the storm-damaged roof where Alan couldn't get to; the vet had a look at Carolyn who was bashed by Clover (by Alan's opinion, and has an inflamed udder; and tea24 decided to check out my complaint about a slowed down internet... all in the same time of course... the picture shows our one successfully producing raspberry plant - but this one is a good one! The other shows Anna's beautiful fresh sausages - black pudding (blood), liver and paprika - very nice.
And a freshly painted door. Tomorrow its etnodrom- a roma music evening in Pecs!