Busy! Busy! Busy!!

Since last posting we have had a wonderful visit from my Granddaughter Tullulah and her mother Vikki. The weather could have been better, but Lu and I had a lovely eight days spending some quality time together.

Day of arrival, having fun loving and squeezing the gorgeous girl!

We went swimming in Lake Balaton which was freezing but they braved the water. We played dollies and ate out lots, also went to the warm thermal baths and had a goof there.

Last night out to dinner.

Vikki sampled our local and very cheap wine, and gave it her seal of approval, especially when we told her that it was only 85 pence a bottle, she mentioned that for the same "glass" of wine it would have cost her four quid at her local pub!! She is a great Mum to Lu who is pretty advanced for her age, chats non-stop!

Last night at Cotties! Our local resturant.

I loved having them here and hope they come back again next year, maybe in season and when it is a little warmer.

PATIO!

There has been some delays to the patio, we had to wait a week for delivery of some chippings to back fill, the Hungarians are an unreliable lot!!
Palfi our local builders merchant promised them on the Monday evening, 2 weeks before Lu and Vikki's arrival, we sat outside from 6pm, poured a drink and waited and waited and waited! By 11pm we were rolicking drunk and no Palfi!
On Wednesday we went to see his wife to tell her to remind him, (via sign language and gestures as she speaks no English!) she again promised delivery that evening, again we sat outside exercising immense patience but  - no Palfi!!!
On Friday we went to his yard where he keeps the chippings and Steve (again) shook hands with him, to us this means its a deal, but very obviously not in Hungary,  he again said "eshte", evening, and guess what, no delivery!!! Uurghh!!! Its so incredibly frustrating, Steve was ready to punch him, but of course we have to stay calm, stay calm..................
 On Sunday we spotted him at a small local fair and for the millionth time shook his  hand on Monday evening delivery (a week now!). As insurance we also rallied our local friend Lotsi, he got onto the phone with Palfi, and rattled off in Hungarian our urgent need for this stuff and yay!!!! A week late it arrived!!!
But it did set us back some what.
We spread the chippings and then the rain came...................

After chippings! Slow progress!

The first few rows.

We have also been a little bit torn between doing the patio, and now that autumn is here, we also need to get organised for winter. That means cleaving and splitting our wood. So again the patio took second place and Steve and I cleaved and split every log in the barn, which took some doing! He bought a small hydraulic splitter which makes short work of even the biggest logs, but it takes two people and a lot of time and patience, but also a great sense of satisfaction, knowing that we will not freeze this winter. The best part about it though is that our central heating is now paid for and no scary bills will arrive!!!

So to date, wood is chopped and its back to trying to do as much of the patio as we can before winter arrives, so I had better go, as the patio is calling!!

Sharon