Three Months

We have now been here for three months, its hard to believe as the time has flown. Remembering that for the first month we were basically snowed in and incommunicado as we had no internet or phone.

But once the sun came out, the work began.
Steve and a local lad Lotsi pulled out fences and posts, which chopped the property into small sections, a tractor came in and ploughed up the earth and we now have much more garden, I then started raking and sewing grass seed, I think our neighbours are convinced of our madness, as they have prolific vegetable patches and watch us growing useless and inedible grass, but the fruit and veg shop down the road sells the freshest produce around for a pitance so we are putting off the self-sufficency thing until next year, there is just too much to do in the house.

We are finally in the main bedroom, this was a huge undertaking as the floor had some damp, and had to be dug up and a new floor of concrete thrown.This was all done by my amazingly versatile husband and Lotsi. The walls were also a bit suspect, and 10 bags of cement went into keeping them upright.
Steve is not happy with the final product, but I love it, its bright and big and ours and who cares about the imperfections, its an old farmhouse and has character!!!

I had my final fitting of my bottom teeth on Monday, they look amazing, I finally have a full set of bottom pearly whites. I will have to wait until July for the top row to be fitted as the implants need 3 months to bed in, but hey I have patience, and told the dentist I wanted them all complete by my birthday on 1st September, so everyone is working towards that date.

Renovations have come to a bit of a halt! I think we can probably blame the weather which has turned a little chilly after the 25-30 degree days of the last month, there is a lot of rain in around, which is brilliant for the grass.
I notice my husband is doing a lot of thinking and a lot of research on the web.
The bathroom is the next big job, and by the sounds of it, its a big big bloody job, what with the water pipes, sewerage, floor and electrics and not forgetting that we are actually living here and can only go without washing for.....??? a day or two.
Plus we just are not able to get any professional help from any tradesmen here, they are all working in the UK, Germany, Belgium and Austria and anyone left behind is pretty useless and wants to charge a fortune.
But watch this space.................

Our socail life is pretty good.
We have joined the ex-pat community of Brits, they are a nice bunch (if a little older than us), they are all very sociable, plus we have an English couple living in the same village as us, and they are really nice decent people, and we found a pub run by an Englishman Stan not far from us, he is good fun and includes us in all his gatherings, so all in all actaully a better social life then we ever had in England, possibly because we could not afford to go out there as the price of a pint there can practically buy as both a meal here!!!

So after the three month milestone, I can say that both Steve and I are happier than we have been for a long time, we still love Hungary, as does Roly, the weather has been awesome, and we just love love our home!

We feel good and comfortable and safe in it and and have absolutely no regrets!!!

Sharon

A Dog Blog!

This is me Roly the family pet.I am a little older and greyer then this pic, but still the same lovable adorable me!

I love this new place we have moved to, I was a little frightened in the beginning, as its such a big wide open space, and I am a little hard of hearing, and the folks have yet to buy me some contacts so my eyes are not as sharp as they used to be either.

But once thar horrible cold white stuff melted, and I could begin the long walk of marking my teritory, I discovered the most delightful smells,there are umpteen bushes and trees  to mark and joy of joys, the two silly sheep are frightened to death of me!

It takes me a good rwenty minutes to walk around my new back yard, and on either side of me , are fellow dogs, we touch noses and trade news every day!

The weather is lovely and warm and my parents are around most of the time to cater to my every need, so life is coming up daisies!!!!

Roly

Finally connected!!!

It has taken us over 2 months to get an internet connection at home, we perserved and refused to take Nem (No) for an answer and it paid off!!!!
The last 2 months have gone in a bit of a blur, the first was the coldest weather the Hungarians have experienced in a 100 years, snow fell with alarming regularity, and Steve and I camped on two sofas pushed together in the lounge in front of the ceramic wood burner which saved our and little dog Roly's lives!!!
By the second week of April it was like chalk and cheese the the temperature gauge rose and rose and has not stopped, its 31 degrees now, but the house is lovely and cool.

The Hungarians are by and large a friendly lot, once they see that an attempt is being made to converse with them in their very strange and difficult tongue they don't seem to mind us, the Ungool (English) in their very sweet village, out British vehicle and odd number plate causes a lot of drivers to tailgate and get a better look and all the locals know our car.

We are still camping, my dishwasher is still wrapped in plastic, and my hands are chapped and red from washing bloody dishes???!!!! Its slow going trying to get any tradesmen to come and do any work for us, as the Germans, Austrians and the UK are snapping up all tradesmen with any talent, and they are all going where the money is!!!!
So we have resorted to DIY home impovements, with the help of a local neighbour, whom we have put on the payroll at 600florints per hour (GBP1.70) and worth every penny! He does not speak any English, but is young enough and smart enough to understand what we want, and we all manage to have a laugh, get things done in the universal language of charades!

So, Life in Hungary is just wonderful! We have no television, and have had no internet, and we did not really miss either one very much at all, the days are long, the wine is good and red and cheap! What more could anyone ask for?

Arrived!!!

Well, we arrived safely, after a gruelling 24 hour journey through UK, France, Holland Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and into Hungary. Steve drove like a star for 19 bloody hours without a single moan (Amazing!) Roly slept most of the way, such a good boy........ but then blew it all by hurting his leg on our first morning by jumping from a sofa onto the slippery parquet flooring and tearing ligaments or something making him a cripple and in pain.

Our wonderful Hungarian neighbours had lit fires and switched the boiler on for us on our arrival, so all was well.
Will try to post more later but we are battling for internet at moment.................

Packing and funerals...
Well, this is my first post on the blog...looks like our lorry is going via Belgium to drop off my friends stuff over there and then he should arrive sometime Friday for the big trek to Hungary.
It is with sadness that we must attend the funeral on Monday of the dear old lady that lived in our house in Hungary before us, we will have been over there for two days so no pressure really, will be a very sad affair, as she was much loved.
Our house in blighty is now almost packed and the garage is full with boxes etc, where did a this crap come from?...still it's going to be like xmas when we start unpacking...
Great adventure starts shortly, watch this space.
Steve

Exterior Pictures

Two Weeks to Go!

Everyone has mentioned that the easiest way to communicate our progress would be to create a blog! Be patient as I am new to this blogging stuff.

We have two weeks left to go, I have eight shifts left to work..............................
The house is in a kind of organised turmoil at the moment, we have managed to crowbar the youngest son and all of his goods out, and not before time. I'll say no more on this subject.

Steve and I have moved into the spare room, and Steve is trying to dismantle our King size bed, without tools, which are all, already in Hungary!!!!

Roly, the old pooch, looks increasingly more concerned as boxes and suitcases get filled, he doesn't like suitcases, its always bad news for dogs!
BUT NOT THIS TIME!!!!

I keep telling him that he is comin' wiff!!!! But he lies down, generally right underfoot, eyebrows twitching in concern, watching the progress with much trepidation.
His EU passport is up-to-date, he is been jabbed, swabbed, squeezed, prodded and scanned, and deemed fit for the road trip across Europe, I spent £20 on a variety of different squeaky toys, which he is only allowed to have in the HH (Hungarian Home).

It seems as if the van is all organised, and should arrive at some point on Friday 22nd Feb 2013, we have faith..................................

We are running out of days to say good bye to people, and have had a very boozy two weeks, having drinks with neighbours, and work buddies, with no end in sight at the moment, we may need to leave the country in order to save our livers!!!!