celebrations

(last Saturdays) Alan will be home alone from 4, as this year the women's they do is exclusive and quizless, which makes it less tedious, so I'll show my face. Besides, we get flowers!! (sort of compensation in ex-soc countries for not being equal...) I hope Erzsi comes down, too; she's feeling better and she's hardly ever goes anywhere. If it is this nice tomorrow, we might go the Pécs market, see how we feel. (later: she didn't come, but I managed to smuggle the flowers for her. There was a whole meal (sans cakes) and loads of good Villány wine and some rubbish about the history of international women's day -well the history wasn't too bad, but the report on how everything is ok, and sort of making out as if it was Mother's day versionB that was annoying). Alan's out digging and such all day, even when he says. is his day off. No cooking today, tons left of chard mulligatory soup, greek giant beans, vadas-sort-of rabbit and a little bit of egg-spagetti to soak up all that juice. No cake, though I have the horrible feeling we might get some at the women's thing. I have good kindle (Richard Ford: Canada) good book (Jókai: Egy az isten} loads of xwords and sometimes skeptic messing and ok, a tad annoying weekend Népszabadság. I might even walk the sheep family on the top of the sunny hill like yesterday. I might make a panoramic photo if I remember to take the camera

(today) Alan is helping Erzsi to get her 20 factory rescue hens this morning and she is a bit overexcited. Nice day. Been to Siklós yesterday to get rabbit medicine (mummy rabbit has some nasty stuff in ears) on The Day (42nd) we had a pleasant afternoon in Villany making it a lobster-less but very nice celebration, including sitting outside with our latte, warmed by the sunshine. Unfortunately the traffic doesn't seem to use the alternate route around the wine-cellar main street, which the rogue crew that wrecked our house were building. There are new posh establishments that need trying out "Halasi" had rakottkrumpli on the otherwise select menu We sat at their comfy chairs and did not need the thoughtfully provided blankets. We went in to our usual ones for wine and strudels and had nice chats with the locals. About kids living abroad, and how useful the internet/skype is. my panoramic views need sticking together. It is pretty, honest, even with its after-winter grayness.

roll on the spring!! (forgot to press publish on this from a few weeks ago?)

whatever the thermometer says!! We got the first of this years lambs, so there! To our wonderful Moxie, not three this time, so they are huge and beautiful, and boys I'm afraid, say no more, wink, wink. Crocuses are out in a shy sort of way, tulips just show lots of healthy leaves. The orange tree (inside) that was a gift from the bears has fairly continuously for the last few weeks dinky white flowers that smell amazing. Can't see any small oranges - maybe for that it needs a bee or two? Wonder hens - these are self raised - have been laying all through the winter and often 8-10 per day, we have to think about pickling eggs. Though with Easter egg collection coming, I'll be able to give away a few trayful. Now getting ready for table-tennis, as a compromise, Monday and Thursday morning is ours in the fitness room - which is not optimum, as often we are not here at this very time, but better than nothing. The future of the village unemployed looks bad - they cut the number of the communal workers drastically - you know, the election year is over - only 8 young and 3 adult starts this March; there were 23 places last year. There is a wooden outside scheme going to give work and a bit of training - there are benches and pick-nick tables springing up all over the public places. We were thinking of ordering some of these sturdy furniture, if the burocracy allows such a thing. The big news: Sharon and Marci are coming from far away, cold Toronto at Easter - which is so near! But before that we are off to Milnrow, to have a quiet celebration of dad's 90th, he wants the big deal in the summer.