John's Blog

Budapest Christmas 2008

john — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:25:41 +0000

This year we went to Budapest a little earlier than usual, we were there for the weekend of December 6th - St. Nicholas day. On that day Father Christmas comes to town and all the good children get a shoe full of sweets whilst the bad children get a stick. After settling in on Friday (buying a weeks transport ticket and getting a first look at the Christmas Market) we went to the Operetta and saw one of Maria’s favorite pieces - CsárdásKirálynő - The Gypsy Princess. Great performance and much improved from the preview we saw in September.
First thing Saturday; Claire and Maria went shopping - we found a bead shop right next to the hobby craft shop Maria wanted. Claire was very happy.

John left them to it and went to the Central Market Hall to get some Hungarian hot wax peppers. We cannot find a supplier in Nottingham, though recently we did find one in London as we passed through so with any luck they will reach Nottingham eventually.

Robert went off on his own to the Christmas Market where we all met up. It is a good thing that we all had mobile phones - otherwise we would never have found each other!

We got together for a bite to eat and some mulled wine. Claire and Robert tried to work out where they were.

One of the main treats at the market is the kurtöskalács, a sweet pastry cooked as a cone on a wooden former over coals.

As it was December 6th Santa had flown in all the way from Sweden - he was a great attraction.

There was a wide variety of goods for sale - all by Hungarian crafts people and made locally.

On Sunday we went for brunch at Gundel on the way we passed a thermal lake - the ducks looked like they were lining up for a race.

On the way back we passed through Heros Square.

We finished up at the Christmas Market in time for a play.

Nottingham City Square at night

john — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:44:34 +0000

I had a couple of pictures in an exhibition for the Olympus Photo Safari Group - if you would like the join the group then please accept my personal invitation. The exhibition was a great success and has led to an exhibition book. I was in the city centre during the early evening after a meeting.

Christmas decorations at Patchings

john — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:53:15 +0000

Maria has decorated the studio and I put up the outside lights. Looks very festive.

All ready for the Christmas Market next weekend.

Walk in Wollaton Park

john — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:48:02 +0000

It was a nice day and I was working at home so I went for a lunch time walk in Wollaton Park (only 10 minutes from the house). I had forgotten how lovely it was - should go there more often.

I spent ages wondering why I couldn’t get the camera to focus - until I realised that the lens was set to manual!

Rain in Swansea

john — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:39:39 +0000

It rained the whole weekend in Swansea, still we walked round the Marina, a tall ship had recently arrived. I had left the camera set at 1600 ISO and in the rain etc. forgot to check so these pictures are a little grainy.

Spectacular - would have been even better without the rain. There was also a Norwegian Church.

We left after lunch with Claire - the rain had won (this time).

Swansea for the weekend

john — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:22:43 +0000

Wanting to get away from it all for a couple of days (and having one spare holiday day) we went to see Claire.
We drove through Noth Wales and then down the coast towards Carmathen before ending up at Claire’s flat in the evening. The weather was fine until mod afternoon when it started to rain - well it is Wales after all.

How Brains might have foretold the big crash

john — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:21:09 +0000

BBC NEWS | Magazine | How Brains might have foretold the big crash.

Maria’s little helper

john — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:19:08 +0000

Maria has made herself a little helper.

Budapest, September 2008

john — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:55:57 +0000

Here are some pictures from our latest visit.

Rednecks

john — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:57:08 +0000

I came across this article today - I found it fascinating reading, I have never seen a good definition of rednecks before.
BBC - Why rednecks may rule the world