glorious spring (touch wood)

It was a phantom-rabbit-pregnancy, however - judge from the fotos and take bets - the sheep might be, as both have big bellies even after their wintercoats gone; Lulo came over and did them with his new electric sheerer. It would be lovely if new-born(s) would appear before next weekend - Jutka and Hani are due for a visit, also nice to have lambs for the village toddlers Easter egg collection. We usually get the little kids, the older ones have a more challenging terrain. Tuesday Alan had the tread-mill test ("terhelés" I don't know the English equivalent) had to walk then hurry then run while his heart activity was monitored. He did excellently! His specialist was pleased, no intervention necessary, though has to continue with all the medicines except one. We are continuing with the table-tennis whenever the unlocking of the fitness room is remembered by the relevant well-muscled village youth. Alan turned over all the garden and the planting is going well, we could do with some rain. Hippo had the trouble fuel pipe replaced and the roo-bars were put back with the extra spotlights. So we are in a positive mood at present in spite of the relentlessly mad sad and bad world that includes parliamentary elections here in Hungary, which is likely to see the present semi-fascist Fidesz win, openly or overtly aligned with the proper fascist Jobbik as the opposition is so pitifully growth/market/cuts oriented, that voting for them is really really difficult, I am not even convinced of their anti-fascist credentials, the way they had set up the prison-camps for asylum seekers when in power, is not promising. Still, I got good books, got good music - some dvd-s though the new ones were a disappointment so far, Breaking Bad did not work, I suspect some weird UV or what feature messed it up for the TV as well as the PC, and Outnumbered first episode annoyed us no end - we belong to the old school of parenting, never mind... the fotos show mostly the sheep being de-fleeced and after, so that you can have a good look if they are pregs, and general early spring vistas, with the flowering cherry trees. the Siberian plant that maybe does something this year,

back and busy

Cold and shining Albion (well, the Manchester bit and the tram) behaved well, and we had a rather good time. Dad and Muriel are well and having as much good time as can be had. They made our stay cosily comfortable. Though their swimming and sport days stopped, which is not good. We had lovely meals home and away, put on 1.5kg each, which is not too bad considering the frequency and quantity of food we managed to get through and relish. Also we managed to spend some time with friends and Carole looked after us, too. The travel itself was smooth if tiring both ways, staying with Marta was as pleasant and relaxing as ever. So. We are back, and it is nice to be out of the chilly winds of Lancashire. Alan is busy plowing and planting as we speak, hopefully not overdoing it. White rabbit is making a nest that busy travel home from the market seems to have done the job and we should have little rabbits sooner than expected. However, no surprise on the sheep front - no lamb this year even though with all that fleece they look enormous. The house - we are clean and beautiful - poor Erzsi had the runs while we were away but still cleaned the place up sparklingly. the colours are a bit lighter off-white than it looked in the book, but it doesn't matter; the more light the merrier. We look sort of modern and nearly minimalist, but slowly we put back all the nig-nags, the pictures. The casettes and books will take some time if we mean to dust and sort them as well... no hurry. I don't feel like editing the fotos. you are getting the lot without any particular order. Note the winter lettuce, the brand new tram in Milnrow, blue sky and handsome town hall in West Didsbury and the new walltiles in the kitchen...