Apple tree
Originally uploaded by A John Walters
Pretty unusual, one of the apple trees has decided to flower again!
Thursday 26 August 2010
Saturday 21 August 2010
Return Home
Got the metro to the Deli Station to catch the train to Szombathely (Then catch a connection to Körmend)
Hobo had suggested getting a beer in the shops at the square but I said there'd be some at the station. Doh, of they sold beer, but as it was the station the prices were about 50% more!
We went into the station office proper and made our way to the ticket kiosks. In the Deli station the tickets are sold from a sort of rotunda. Hobo had a quick scout around and motioned me towards this particular ticket kiosk. He had a brief word with the woman and she put a "closed" sign up and disappeared. Following Hobo, found the woman standing at the staff entrance having a fag. Turns out to be some relative of Hobos. Didn't catch which one though. Sister maybe?
After chatting we went back around and waited at the closed sign. She opened it up and then gave us our tickets. Cool, the queues at the other kiosks were huge.
Went to one of the shops and got a sandwich and some cans.
We had an uneventful journey to Szombáthely. The train being direct meant we didn't have to swap, catch buses or anything.
Got to Szombáthely and just managed to get the connection to Körmend. (Had to buy another ticket though.)
Körmend at last! There was a bit of a wait 'til the next bus to Halogy so we ensconced ourselves at a pub quite close to the station. Its painted bright yellow so whatever its name is I'll always think of it as the yellow pub.
Had a few beers and that's when I started to notice that every so often someone would come in with a load of lunch-pails and hand them over. After a while they'd be handed back steaming. Wonder what that's all about? (Oh, the people were generally in the 'elderly' category.)
Oh, I also managed to fuse the place when I switched the light on in the toilet.
caught the bus and headed to the pub where Steve turned up after a while. Not sure what happened after that but "Kelly's Heroes" was on again!
Hobo had suggested getting a beer in the shops at the square but I said there'd be some at the station. Doh, of they sold beer, but as it was the station the prices were about 50% more!
We went into the station office proper and made our way to the ticket kiosks. In the Deli station the tickets are sold from a sort of rotunda. Hobo had a quick scout around and motioned me towards this particular ticket kiosk. He had a brief word with the woman and she put a "closed" sign up and disappeared. Following Hobo, found the woman standing at the staff entrance having a fag. Turns out to be some relative of Hobos. Didn't catch which one though. Sister maybe?
After chatting we went back around and waited at the closed sign. She opened it up and then gave us our tickets. Cool, the queues at the other kiosks were huge.
Went to one of the shops and got a sandwich and some cans.
We had an uneventful journey to Szombáthely. The train being direct meant we didn't have to swap, catch buses or anything.
Got to Szombáthely and just managed to get the connection to Körmend. (Had to buy another ticket though.)
Körmend at last! There was a bit of a wait 'til the next bus to Halogy so we ensconced ourselves at a pub quite close to the station. Its painted bright yellow so whatever its name is I'll always think of it as the yellow pub.
Had a few beers and that's when I started to notice that every so often someone would come in with a load of lunch-pails and hand them over. After a while they'd be handed back steaming. Wonder what that's all about? (Oh, the people were generally in the 'elderly' category.)
Oh, I also managed to fuse the place when I switched the light on in the toilet.
caught the bus and headed to the pub where Steve turned up after a while. Not sure what happened after that but "Kelly's Heroes" was on again!
Friday 20 August 2010
My Flat VI
Spent last night in the flat watching Hungarian TV. Hobo finished of the last bits and pieces and we put the flat back together.
In the evening we watched "Kelly's Heroes" dubbed into Hungarian! The beer helped although not sure if I learned anything.
In the evening we watched "Kelly's Heroes" dubbed into Hungarian! The beer helped although not sure if I learned anything.
Thursday 19 August 2010
My Flat V
Checked out of the hotel this morning. Met Hobo at the usual pub and spent the day in the flat helping out.
Wednesday 18 August 2010
My Flat IV
Another beery start at 8am.
Mid-morning i had to go get another bucket of paint. Cheap enough, as it was on sale, about half the price of similar stuff in Kormend. Another hard slog getting it back, without the benefit of stopping off for a rest in a bar too.
For lunch, I went to the Caladonia. I make it a point of visiting it whenever I go to Budapest. I'm not sure if the owner recognised me as my visits are once a year now but always have a quick chat with him. He used to live in Machen and drunk at my local!
I asked him to suggest an ale I as wanted Hobo to try a genuine British beer before we left.
Mid-morning i had to go get another bucket of paint. Cheap enough, as it was on sale, about half the price of similar stuff in Kormend. Another hard slog getting it back, without the benefit of stopping off for a rest in a bar too.
For lunch, I went to the Caladonia. I make it a point of visiting it whenever I go to Budapest. I'm not sure if the owner recognised me as my visits are once a year now but always have a quick chat with him. He used to live in Machen and drunk at my local!
I asked him to suggest an ale I as wanted Hobo to try a genuine British beer before we left.
Tuesday 17 August 2010
My Flat Part III
Met with Hobo at 08:00 today so had time for breakfast. Hobo took me to a small bar near Deák Tér for a traditional Halogy breakfast of coffee, rum and beer. (This was to be the template of a standard morning in Budapest)
I went back to the paint store, with the tenants friend, to get a tiny roller for painting behind the radiators and other hard to reach places. From what he'd been told by Hobo, he expected the shop to be out on the outskirts. Its not quit that far, just feels like it when you're carrying a 25Kg bucket of paint!
I hung around the flat for the rest of the day, occasionally helping Hobo move furniture and stuff. I showed Hobo some of the photos I took after the 1st renovation, way back in 2003.
I realised there's no biting insects in Budapest so I resolved to put my shorts on when I got back to the hotel.
Apparently, the current tenant has been there for 3 years.
I went back to the paint store, with the tenants friend, to get a tiny roller for painting behind the radiators and other hard to reach places. From what he'd been told by Hobo, he expected the shop to be out on the outskirts. Its not quit that far, just feels like it when you're carrying a 25Kg bucket of paint!
I hung around the flat for the rest of the day, occasionally helping Hobo move furniture and stuff. I showed Hobo some of the photos I took after the 1st renovation, way back in 2003.
I realised there's no biting insects in Budapest so I resolved to put my shorts on when I got back to the hotel.
Apparently, the current tenant has been there for 3 years.
Monday 16 August 2010
My Flat Part II
I met up with Hobo at 07:00 at the flat. I missed breakfast at the hotel, as it doesn't start until the time I was to meet Hobo, so went for a breakfast burger at MacDonald's in Déak Tér. Although the door was open there were a couple of blokes pushing delivery trolleys about saying "Zarva" or closed. So we did the next best thing and went to the coffee house next door. Bit of a tourist trap along the lines of a Starbucks. The coffee was OK but on the expensive side.
After coffee, we went looking for a paint-shop. Hobo asked some random bloke on the square where on was and he indicated up the street that runs past the Basilica. (Can't remember the name offhand). Well, we went up the street until we got to the square where Nyguti Station was. I suggested the mall there but, when Hobo asked the security guard, there weren't any there. We carried on up the street until we hit Árpad Bridge. While umming and arring what to do next Hobo spotted a painter across the road (at least he had paint spattered overalls on, so probably a painter)
Anyway, the guy was on the phone and then went into a pub so we followed him in. Hobo ordered some beers and then went and talked to the guy. Nope, he didn't know where any paint-shops were either. It was now 08:00 while I'm having my 1st beer of the day. Not started drinking that early since Xmas eve when I worked for Thomas Ness!
Hobo then remembered that his father had a paint-shop on a corner on Nagymeru u. which goes off the street we just walked up. I could see St Annes church down the street and told Hobo that it was on the same street as my flat. We hit Andrassy Avenue and Hobo rung one of his family to ask about paint-shops. Apparently there was one on my flats street but in the 70s or 80s!
We eventually found the shop and Hobo went around getting all the tools he needed and he spotted some paint on sale. His eyes lit up and he wanted two then and there. They were 28L buckets and I thought buying two was asking for trouble so I suggested to hobo buy one today and get the other one later. Good job, they were bloody heavy! We struggled half a block before Hobo needed to rest, conveniently just by a pub. We had a couple of beers before struggling to my flat going in relays with the bucket of paint. (I had visions of it spilling all over the street but thankfully neither of us dropped it!)
Surprisingly, there was someone at the door to meet us. A friend of the tenant who'd been given the task of checking on the work. Quite a nice bloke too. Speaks quite a number of languages and bought us beer!
Helped hobo clear the little rooms and went back to the hotel, being about 6 in the evening by then. I extended my stay to four days and then went to the bar and asked for a beer in my best Hungarian. She said that there was no beer on tap but they had bottles. I was quite pleased as normally, in Budapest, they switch to English as soon as I've finished talking (or, worse, German.) On the other hand, I'm an old hand at asking for beer in Hungarian nowadays!
After coffee, we went looking for a paint-shop. Hobo asked some random bloke on the square where on was and he indicated up the street that runs past the Basilica. (Can't remember the name offhand). Well, we went up the street until we got to the square where Nyguti Station was. I suggested the mall there but, when Hobo asked the security guard, there weren't any there. We carried on up the street until we hit Árpad Bridge. While umming and arring what to do next Hobo spotted a painter across the road (at least he had paint spattered overalls on, so probably a painter)
Anyway, the guy was on the phone and then went into a pub so we followed him in. Hobo ordered some beers and then went and talked to the guy. Nope, he didn't know where any paint-shops were either. It was now 08:00 while I'm having my 1st beer of the day. Not started drinking that early since Xmas eve when I worked for Thomas Ness!
Hobo then remembered that his father had a paint-shop on a corner on Nagymeru u. which goes off the street we just walked up. I could see St Annes church down the street and told Hobo that it was on the same street as my flat. We hit Andrassy Avenue and Hobo rung one of his family to ask about paint-shops. Apparently there was one on my flats street but in the 70s or 80s!
We eventually found the shop and Hobo went around getting all the tools he needed and he spotted some paint on sale. His eyes lit up and he wanted two then and there. They were 28L buckets and I thought buying two was asking for trouble so I suggested to hobo buy one today and get the other one later. Good job, they were bloody heavy! We struggled half a block before Hobo needed to rest, conveniently just by a pub. We had a couple of beers before struggling to my flat going in relays with the bucket of paint. (I had visions of it spilling all over the street but thankfully neither of us dropped it!)
Surprisingly, there was someone at the door to meet us. A friend of the tenant who'd been given the task of checking on the work. Quite a nice bloke too. Speaks quite a number of languages and bought us beer!
Helped hobo clear the little rooms and went back to the hotel, being about 6 in the evening by then. I extended my stay to four days and then went to the bar and asked for a beer in my best Hungarian. She said that there was no beer on tap but they had bottles. I was quite pleased as normally, in Budapest, they switch to English as soon as I've finished talking (or, worse, German.) On the other hand, I'm an old hand at asking for beer in Hungarian nowadays!
Sunday 15 August 2010
My Flat Part I
The flat needed redecorating as the last time was more than 5 years ago. I'd done a deal with the local decorator to come up with me to do the work as, even with hotels, it was cheaper than hiring one in Budapest. I spent 5 days there and this is what happened...
I met Hobo in the pub at 07:30 and had a coffee while waiting for the bus. (No beer!) We caught the 08:30 bus into town just 5 minutes walk away from the train station. I got Hobo to ask for the train tickets and just handed him the money.
The First (of many) disasters of the day happened when we got to Szombathely. Due to an unexpected delay with our train we missed the connecting train to Budapest by 5 minutes. According to the route map I made, we could still catch a train to Győr and then get a direct train to Budapest but Hobo insisted it was no good. As he was Hungarian I bowed to his greater knowledge. (however, as it transpired, I'm not too sure that Hobo has used the long distance trains much and I probably knew as much as he did. File this away for next time when I'll insist we do it my way)
We had to wait 2 hours for the next train so we went to the nearest open pub. We also bought some food in a corner shop for the journey. We then caught the slow train to Budapest. At this point I was expecting it to go north to Győr but the train tracked the north of Lake Balaton.
The train stopped several times on empty track to allow other trains to pass and at Ajka we had th second disaster of the day. The train terminated there and we had to pile on a pair of buses. I thought they would be going direct to Budapest but no, a few miles on we got off at some station and got on another train. This turned out to be the halfway point.
We eventually got into Deli Station at 17:00, some 5 hours after we left Szombathely!
First thing to do was to go to my hotel and dump off my stuff, then get the key to the flat.
Got a book of ten tickets and went to the hotel. This turned out to be disaster number three as, in spite of having a booking confirmation, the hotel turned out to be shut. Not closed as in on a tea break but closed for refurbishment.
Oh well, not the first time I've ended up in Budapest without a hotel so I'm more than used to finding one at short notice so I thought lets get the key first before anything else goes wrong.
Went to the address I was given to pick up the key and 4th disaster! Ok I'm lying but the concierge and his mate looked a bit intimidating.
We went back to the flat and then found that the keycode didn't work. We hopped in as some guy and his car went in so that was OK. (Later found out the keycode was right but you only had about 10 seconds to push the door open. We kept trying to turn the handle and by the time we pushed the door was locked again)
After that I went to the sister hotel of the one that was shut. I've heard that a trouble shared was a trouble halved so if the hotel didn't have a room for the night I was going to share my problem of the shut hotel. The hotel didn't have a room for the night but the receptionist knew about the shut hotel and phoned around for me and eventually found me one that had a room for the night.
The hotel was about 15 mins walk away. (It turned out to be about 5 minutes walk away from the Blaha Lujza square which is a bit of a bus/tram/underground terminus.) Got to the Hotel, where they seemed to be expecting me, and booked in and dumped all my stuff off. Job done.
I met Hobo in the pub at 07:30 and had a coffee while waiting for the bus. (No beer!) We caught the 08:30 bus into town just 5 minutes walk away from the train station. I got Hobo to ask for the train tickets and just handed him the money.
The First (of many) disasters of the day happened when we got to Szombathely. Due to an unexpected delay with our train we missed the connecting train to Budapest by 5 minutes. According to the route map I made, we could still catch a train to Győr and then get a direct train to Budapest but Hobo insisted it was no good. As he was Hungarian I bowed to his greater knowledge. (however, as it transpired, I'm not too sure that Hobo has used the long distance trains much and I probably knew as much as he did. File this away for next time when I'll insist we do it my way)
We had to wait 2 hours for the next train so we went to the nearest open pub. We also bought some food in a corner shop for the journey. We then caught the slow train to Budapest. At this point I was expecting it to go north to Győr but the train tracked the north of Lake Balaton.
The train stopped several times on empty track to allow other trains to pass and at Ajka we had th second disaster of the day. The train terminated there and we had to pile on a pair of buses. I thought they would be going direct to Budapest but no, a few miles on we got off at some station and got on another train. This turned out to be the halfway point.
We eventually got into Deli Station at 17:00, some 5 hours after we left Szombathely!
First thing to do was to go to my hotel and dump off my stuff, then get the key to the flat.
Got a book of ten tickets and went to the hotel. This turned out to be disaster number three as, in spite of having a booking confirmation, the hotel turned out to be shut. Not closed as in on a tea break but closed for refurbishment.
Oh well, not the first time I've ended up in Budapest without a hotel so I'm more than used to finding one at short notice so I thought lets get the key first before anything else goes wrong.
Went to the address I was given to pick up the key and 4th disaster! Ok I'm lying but the concierge and his mate looked a bit intimidating.
We went back to the flat and then found that the keycode didn't work. We hopped in as some guy and his car went in so that was OK. (Later found out the keycode was right but you only had about 10 seconds to push the door open. We kept trying to turn the handle and by the time we pushed the door was locked again)
After that I went to the sister hotel of the one that was shut. I've heard that a trouble shared was a trouble halved so if the hotel didn't have a room for the night I was going to share my problem of the shut hotel. The hotel didn't have a room for the night but the receptionist knew about the shut hotel and phoned around for me and eventually found me one that had a room for the night.
The hotel was about 15 mins walk away. (It turned out to be about 5 minutes walk away from the Blaha Lujza square which is a bit of a bus/tram/underground terminus.) Got to the Hotel, where they seemed to be expecting me, and booked in and dumped all my stuff off. Job done.
Saturday 14 August 2010
Long break
Bit of a long break, first I was ill for a week then the PC kept crashing because of the heat and then I got Bloggers block.
I can't remember all the things I did since June but I did have a go at making Pickled Walnuts. You have to pick the walnuts while they are still green and the shell hasn't started to harden inside the fruit. (Walnuts look very much like apples when they start off and its the pulpy fruit we're trying to preserve by pickling)
They need to be soaked in a strong brine solution for 2 weeks, the brine being changed once. Not sure why but since the plate I used is now stained black, theres probably a good reason!
They need to be stored for about 3 months before they are ready to eat.
I noticed this with the piccalilli I made last year is that the first 2 I used were quite ferocious but after 3 months the vinegar had calmed down a lot so pickles do need to mature before eating.
I can't remember all the things I did since June but I did have a go at making Pickled Walnuts. You have to pick the walnuts while they are still green and the shell hasn't started to harden inside the fruit. (Walnuts look very much like apples when they start off and its the pulpy fruit we're trying to preserve by pickling)
They need to be soaked in a strong brine solution for 2 weeks, the brine being changed once. Not sure why but since the plate I used is now stained black, theres probably a good reason!
They need to be stored for about 3 months before they are ready to eat.
I noticed this with the piccalilli I made last year is that the first 2 I used were quite ferocious but after 3 months the vinegar had calmed down a lot so pickles do need to mature before eating.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)