Today the country has lots of snow (well lots for the UK). London had 2-4 inches and it stopped all the buses and most of the underground! Why are we never prepared for the weather?

Christmas day and we are finally ready – last minute though. I tidied up my ‘corner’ ready to replace the computer desk and shelving next year – we are gradually redoing the lounge.

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 – CsárdásKirálynÅ‘ – 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.

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

All ready for the Christmas Market next weekend.

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).