xmas Eva

'cause it's my name-day here in Hungary on Xmas Eve - together with all the Adams. Zsolti came to greet me in a fairly dawnish hour and had not received the customary alcoholic shot for it... Very mild, beautiful sunny day, we had a walk -three of us with Martin - lovely. We had our prexmas with Szonya and as usual we ended up with great prezzies. Including a beautiful book with interesting letters from famous or just fascinating people, with the originals' photos. Soft scarves from exotic places, clever kitchen appliances... The duck dinner turned out better than (my) expectations, the 2 day marinating really worked. All lovely as per usual. Photo has my sister, who is looking rather prettier and younger than me lately with today's xmas tree in her Budakeszi home. Happy everything again!

Happy Stuff

so we didn't go up to meet kids - we were not 100% with a bit of cold, and we have to watch these viruses for Alan, whose immunity is a bit iffy lately. Good news - that psa count is down, not so good - he'll have another angiogram or whatever with cathatering, hopefully not as traumatic as last time, we expect an appointment for it sometimes in January. But Alan is feeling much better - usually. Still, we let Erzsi and Tibi help, though mostly we do what left - 2+1 sheep - the visitor is still here, owner promised hay in exchange for it (or hopefully him) to stay longer, Loju, the shepherd in the next village seem to have some sheep-accommodation problems. We kapt two beautiful cockerels from the stock we brought up, but 6 was chopped, today we enjoyed our first soup thanks to them. We had a few sunny days - bit of a minus at night but upto 5 or more during the day. Now a winterish gloom arrived, foggy and dark, no precipitation besides the fogginess and feels rather cold even though it is staying around 0. Alan also done the pruning of the figs, raspberry and the willows. Our antique grinder is fixed -re wound and has a safely switch with speed control. It cost quite a bit - but still cheaper than a new one and it works now much more efficiently. With this years xmas cake - which sports a marzipan santa we got from one of the nice Balatonfüred cake shops - I wish every lovely person who bothers to read this - a very enjoyable time this winter and all through the new year.

more peaceful winter recuperation

... but this time at home. It was around a few degrees over or under zero since we've been back. Alan manages to fidget outside a couple of hours a day, he is feeling better and better mostly. Erzsi is chopping the ducks and cockerels that are ready and planned for the freezer. We had the Mikulás celebration in the culture house yesterday, the communal workers put on the show, managed to grab the kids attention, with elaborate self-made costumes. Santa was forgetting his lines, he's a bit senile but a nice chap. With the grand finale, 10 of the kids all performed a little santa-time poetry and grabbing enormous looking bags of selected chocs off the sometimes unwilling santa. They also received "virgács" that is a small tree-branch only bad behaved kids supposed to get. Watching the youngsters is just entertaining in itself, every time. The village received 40 "forest meter" fire wood to distribute amongst the poorest, 3 times more than last year, but the council has to fork out load of money for the transport of it to the village. Here it will get delivered by the communal tractor+trailer the council managed to purchase, due being successful winning big grants. It includes field plowing and snow plowing attachments. We'll have an early and an in-time xmas this year, as Szonya will be here only for a few days, spending xmas home with Drew. Martin is arriving the same time, but stays a bit longer, till 29th. So we'll have duck-dinner with relevant trimmings (steamed red cabbage and special flavoured potatoes) on the 18th and the turkey on the 25th, just the 3 of us, unless somebody drops in... So we'll have to have the trifle, xmas cake, mince pies, beigli, xmas pud continuously from the 18th. Don't worry! We'll be careful and as health-caring as we can. As times will be hectic - will go to Budapest to meet kids etc - I might not blog for sometime - if so - happy everything for everybody!!