praise or punish?

Today I faced one of those moments, when as a parent I had to decide whether to support the official view or to applause the individual's performance.

When I reached school this afternoon to collect my son at 4pm, the head of his class told me she had to give my son a written warning (This is a kind of written punishment for kids at school. It is one of the worst, or most serious punishments - in fact, the written warning given by the Head of the School is the worst and this one comes second) for an especially unacceptable behaviour.

While I was gasping for air, she began describing the sin my son committed.

It turned out that he, with another boy, were running along the hallway (this is alone is considered a moderate crime at schools - isn't that crazy?) towards their room. My son and the other boy went into the room and then left it - through the bars of the window. The classroom is located on the ground floor and there are bars at the windows. The distance between bars are relatively small.

My gut reaction was: wow - my son's gonna be the next Houdini, isn't that a nice ability to escape from a barred window? Isn't it a courage to let yourself fall onto the floor while coming through bars? Isn't your body a miracle to perform this at all?

But I had to suppress my admiration as the teacher kept repeating how dangerous and forbidden that action was.

I had a hard time to cover up my laughter....

When we were alone with my son, I told him how able and skilled he had been. But I also reminded him that this skill had to be practiced somewhere outside the school :)

My husband told me he agreed with me. If our son takes lessons in buildering, than why not let him practicing some bar-climbing, too?

before Easter

Photo was made on Easter Monday, 2006. We set up nests for the Easter rabbit in the garden - so that he was able to place some chocolate and real eggs into those nests. My kids went out in the morning, looking for those little surprises.

We're going to have a school break before the Easter Holidays. Plus, we'll be away for a hiking trip by the River Bodrog. Meaning that there will be less blogging in the forecoming two weeks. Say, between 31 March and 9 April.
In the meantime I'm bravely sticking to my vow of not eating meat for 40 days before Easter. It's something similar to the Catholic fastening, only that I eat - and when I eat, I eat vegetarian. My family, especially my son has started feeling bad about this whole restriction... I might give in and cook something meaty for him for the weekend.

But I won't taste it. In fact adhering to a commitment makes me feel better about myself. Basically, I'm not a vegetarian, but we eat much less meat than the average Hungarian family. Now I eat no meat, no bacons, no chicken, no fish... at all. I started it on Ash Tuesday, February 28.

What? That it was on 21 this year? Oh, hypocricy at its best. Sorry for all those devoted Catholics out there - but making 40 days 46 to allow yourselves to break the rule every Sunday is just not working for me. You either stick to something or not. Sitting on the fence does not work for me. It never did.

I cook for me and my family on a daily routine. The number of take-out or ordered meals verges zero.

Here's a thing I often cook during this 40 (really 40)-day period.

Spinach creme soup - for 3-4 persons.

Ingredients:

a 800g pack of frozen spinach (this comes pre-boiled, shredded) You might use real spinach. For 3-4 persons, you'd need 1 kg fresh leaves. If you have stinging nettle available, substitute some or all of the spinach with it. Garlic cloves, smashed or finely chopped. Use as much as you like. Garlic is unrivalled at keeping unwanted people, including, but not limited to the doctor, away from you. Some flour (1-2 Tablespoons). Water. Salt. Any other herb you feel like adding - but the garlic is inevitable. Oil - olive, if possible, but any sunflower will do as well. Milk, 5-6dl.

Method.

Heat oil in pan. Add garlic. Stir. Salt. Add spinach. Stir. Add flour and stir. Add some water. Bring in milk - that will take the sourness of the spinach away and will give a smooth feeling to the soup. Cook for about 20-25 minutes. When using fresh leaves, you might feel that you need to add the leaves in portions, one after the other. And in this case, if you want a cream soup, you'll have to blend it at the end. With the pack of frozen spinach that is not needed at all.

Your turn: Do you cook/do you cook vegetarian? Would you like me to post more recipes?

on request: Ornamental fowls

Good Mr Schprock asked me about what ornamental fowls were. I am not a specialist - I am unsure if I wish I were....

We started keeping hens for the eggs and a rooster for the hens. I know that today eggs are produced in big factories and I assume most of the hens have never seen a rooster in their whole miserable life. If you have not YET watched The meatrix, I command thee to do so.

* * *

Welcome back.

Feeling any better?

The notion that 'our bodies are what we eat' is beyond question for me. It's not that I always eat organic, but I strive to eat healthy. But let's go back to the animals.

We started keeping old species for they are supposed to be sturdier and although they produce less (either in meat or in eggs), they are easier to keep.

For those who are a bit unfamiliar with hens, according to the terminology of meat industry, there are meat-type, laying-type, and double purpose varieties. And there are the old ones (the traditional species) and the ornamental types.

Here comes a brief history of our stock:

Our flock is quite mixed. We started with 4 Transylvanian Turkens (aka Naked Necked). 3 hens and a rooster. Since the neighbours complained for the noise, we had to give the 'old' rooster away. So, a Japanese pair joined us - a hen and a rooster. Later on, we bought 2 meat-type hens. Unfortunately, due to a repeated attack from a mart, three hens and two chicks died. And finally, we switched the Japanese roo for a nice Hungarian Barred one. With him, we also bought a nice black hen. And just recently, we have bought a Satsumadori hen. Now there are 5 hens and the Roo.

We keep them for the eggs and now (hush!) we are hoping for come hatching to come. It seems that our little Japanese hen has started brooding.

And now let's speak about ornamental animals.

They are kept and bred for their beauty. Usually their use is not that much important. The tendency is high in dog breeding, resulting in some awful, pardon me, beautiful and completely useless, pardon me, totally ridiculous breeds. Breeds that can not be born naturally, can not open their mouth and/or eyes without the surgeon's knife, breeds that are opt to various and sometimes serious diseases just because some lunatic breeder, pardon me, goal-oriented enthusiastic lover of animals has decided that health comes way after looks.

Back to poultry.

Ornamental fowl include, but not limited to pheasants and swans - if you think of very large, well designed and kept gardens. Acres of carefully managed green grass, bushes and trees for the ecosystem, spotted with these wonderful, really big birds... Oh, yes.

But for those who do not own a manor, there is the chance of keeping smaller beauties.

I'm sure the Internet is fully loaded with the pictures of them. I suggest reading Feathersite, where ornamental hens are listed alphabetically.

Here comes a selection of photos I found the most beautiful. All photos are from Feathersite.

The first two pictures depict Turkens - they are NOT ornamental, but the writer of this blog loves them: Buff coloured Turken chicken. Did you know the breed got its name for people thought they were crossed with Turkeys? The thing is that of course they are NOT. Bare-necked animals are much easier to pluck and they appear to have much fewer feathers in other areas of their bodies, too. The Turkens are fun to watch. Older hens resemble old ladies with a little cap on their wrinkled necks.

Below is a photo of a six-day-old black Turken chicken. The breed originates in Transylvania. We (our family) would like to keep more of these (at present we have only one white hen, called Lepke, Butterfly) - for it is a part of our national heritage. As they are local here in the Carpathian basin, they are accommodated to the special climatic and fodder conditions of the territory. Let's stay with Turkens, but move on to ornamental: Introducing the Frizzle Turken. Frizzle is a quality of feathers. It makes the plumage look like fur. A bit stupid idea, in my book, but they attract many by the visible softness of their outfit. This is a white chicken here. And now here's the Satsumadori, of which breed we also own a hen. We call her Sas (Eagle) -for her looks. This is a flock, with a rooster at 8 o'clock. The rest are hens - although the one at 3 o'clock might be a young cockerel...

Allright, now let's see what else I found appealing:

1.) The Brahmans, oh, well, those enourmous animals. These are HUGE. This is a hen - do I I have to add anything else?

2.) The Sebright - the 'chicken that looks like a dove'. This below is a Silver Sebright. They are pretty creatures with a petite frame. I don't trust them being able to push out an egg of 'legal size', though. They are nice to watch, but I doubt their usefulness. I'm sorry to all Sebright lovers out there...

3.) The Wyandotte - they seem to be a healthy medium, with an average sized body and shape. But the colors! My eyes! they are wonderful. The first is a Columbian - a special coloration.

This is a Golden Laced Wyandotte hen with chickens.

This here is called Silver Laced Wyandotte. A rooster.

And finally, a Brown Porcelain Wyandotte hen with chicks. I love how it resembles some wild animal.

on blogging - a MEME

today I found Anniina's been writing on what generally makes her anxious about blogging.

Although I hardly, if ever have the feeling that 'there's nothing really to blog about today', I know that sometimes it is hard to decide on the extent we let the internet into our private lives and thoughts. What if I write on my everyday issues? How interesting would that be? and ont the other hand; what if my out-of-this-wordly bubblings make me seem like imitating being someone else I'm not? Was this sentence English, for that matter, at all?

Can I communicate through to the kind readers to what I REALLY have in my mind? Do I REALLY want that?

But besides those points, I have to tell you that there are other things I'm worried about - so let's see my bloxiety.

1.) There are times I wish I had noone to look at my virtual diary and there are times I wish there were hundreds of people who would come and observe the things I have. This debate splits me into halves.

2.) Sometimes I worry about the stability of my blog. I have nightmares of my blog vanishing into the cables and becoming a 'once upon a time'...

3.) Sometimes I wish my blog was a printed material so that the reader could turn pages back and forth, and read back as much as s/he wanted...

This anxiety combines with the fear that visitors check the first (or the first two) entries and nothing more. All those other entries, good, inspired, revealing, interesting, boring, nondescript alike are jammed up in some subconscious electric garbage - which it is NOT, for Heaven's sake. There are many times when I got so obsessed with this...but then I calm down, asking myself: how many times do YOU (meaning me, SzélsőFa) have been wandering in the archives of other bloggers?

4.) And last, but not least: why, oh, why on Earth do I write this in English? Do people understand? Have I gone completely mad? Being a conservative? What am I doing?

You know what: Let's make it a meme.

Tell me and the world about YOUR bloxiety. Things that worry you about you writing a blog.

Anyway. This blog is my second home. A nest for the tired.
(photo was made by me in April 2006 in our garden)

preface

This is a preface to the Four Little Prayers for the Vernal Equinox. It used to be in the same entry with the prayers, but it grew out of control. So I copied it here, to a separate entry.

I started writing this series of prayers two weeks ago. I've been wanting* to write a prayer for some time now. I wanted it so much it ached. And I was always deterred by having found the lines I wrote meaningless and lame. Some of you might have read my entry called "The Door is Locked" (it was on February 28, you can find it if you go back to the February archives here) - where I wrote about this block I met. I seriously thought about quitting writing in general, but somehow I did not. Was it a failure? A weakness? A delayed decision? A sign of unworthiness? Mediocricity? I am still unsure as of the value of the things I write.

Weeks passed - and ever since then, from time to time, I got this feeling that I must, MUST write this or that down - whether that something comes out neat and enjoyable, whether it's just bullshit and prancing of words... The same happened to me like two days ago when I saw this photo of Poppy Street (for a more exact location, ask IllMan, Glasgow) ...

On a second thought, I address this to all of you blessed/cursed with graphomania... I don't know whether things written in the spur or those that has been elaborated over and over again are better - chances are that none of them** hits the success or content-meter of yours. Or mine, for that matter.

*I was well taught in English lessons that some English verbs do not, or do not usually have a continuous form. Grammar rules and words are there to bend them according to need. So there.
**referring to things I write
***all photos are taken from the Internet, except the forest one...which I made in March 2004. I tried to fit some of my photos to the other parts, but Blogger had another version of this composition in its mind and ate the photos. So I had to take new ones from the web.

Four Little Prayers for the Vernal Equinox

This little piece is here to celebrate the opening of a new season, namely Spring today.

Four little prayers for the vernal equinox

Part I.
Dawn at the River
Here comes the Sun
And with Him
The Spirit of Spring awakes
I feel its rising with every bud stirred
I embrace the flow
Water, come and be the river of life
For the wise old fairy of decay has gone to sleep
And you, you fill us with hope
Water, nourish my body and my soul

Part II.
Noon by the Fire
Spirit of Warmth, advance
Enkindle us up for production, for creation
For enjoying life
Be with us in every moment
For it's time to outgrow the former skin

Part III.
Dusk on the Meadow
Mother Spirit of Earth, your name is Holy
Bloom in peace
Each and every little achievement of yours is Holy, too
You comprise my brothers and sisters
And I am bound to adore you
Rise Spirit of Earth
Fill us with your abundancy

Part IV.
Night in the Forest
The Spirit of Air
Calls upon the scents of moss and mushrooms
The twigs and bushes are a-waiting to wake up
The Moon looks delighted
I am raised and dissolved
In eternity
In sleep
In constant perception
in constant love

Poppy Street - The beginning

The day she entered the Willows' house broke out cloudless. The sunset started flawless, too, when a thick puff of clouds, seemingly having come out of nowhere were rushing towards the west, as if in a hurried attempt to silence the joyous rays of Sun. By the time the evenings settled in, the sky was darkened by a sudden chunk of fog that creeped upwards, slithering from the nearby river. Mrs Willows was confused at the sudden change in the weather, but then shrugged: 'After all, it's wintertime - what am I to expect? Bright lights and cloudless skies when dimness is yet to come?'

Photo by IllMan

Monday Meme: List of Threes

Coming through Anniina - with my added (re-)marks in different colour!

Three songs you've listened to today
* The Partridge Family - I woke up in love this morning
* KD Lang - Hallelujah
* Harry Potter soundtracks over YouTube
Three colors you love
* Black
* Very dark green
* White
Three names of pets you had as a child OR later on
* Ingrid - albino mouse
* Körte - brown mouse
* Niki - a Gordon Setter bitch
Three people you miss
* my grandmother (she's still alive, though)
* my other grandmother (she's gone)
* my father (he's still alive)
Three places you visited last week
* Tesco
* my son's school
* a village fair with ornamental fowls
Three things you said today (to whom)
* No, it is not raining very hard (to my husband)
* Let me kiss you (to my daughter)
* Be well, feel allright, and behave yourself (to my son)
Three people you kissed OR hugged recently
* husband
* my grandfather, in a deep meditation, he's been dead for 3 years now
* my daughter
Three names starting with "A" in your cellphone
* Anya (Mother)
* Anya Vonalas (Mother's vired phone)
* Apa (Dad)
Three awards received
* Russian translation school award (3rd place as far as I recall, back in highschool's 2nd grade)
* Honorable mention of young director at a county-level film-festival (it was a TRULY AWFUL 3-minute movie, it really, really, really sucked)
* and that's it, I can't think of anything else. I am that mediocre. But I am always lifted by those lovely comments I get from my readers - when I post something worthy of a prize, of course.
Three cool singers
* KD Lang
* Ted Neeley
* Kormorán (I know, I know, it's a group and not a singer, but still...)
Three pet peeves
* Police
* People who want to convert you on the streets, waving Watchtowers into your face
* Cars, careless drivers

The original meme contained 3 names for a boy and 3 names for a girl, but considering I do have a boy and a girl, I'm not looking for any more names...if you get what I mean... *giggles*

And, if you've read it this far, AND are in a mode for some fun "TAG, you're IT!"

Some more comments, by me:

I usually like to listen to music while being at home, but sometimes I value silence more. I have not heard of The Partridge Family before this very day, but it was a pleasant surprise. KDLang is one of my favourite singers, so I simply listen to her like an everyday basis. Harry Potter - well, we are watching the series these days, weeks, months. I like the movie :))

Colors: I like almost any color, except pink and pale and or faded colors.

Pets: I had mice and had lots of it. Lots. And I had one dog.

People I miss: we live far away from those people I mentioned. My non-alive grandmother was so full of energy and sunshine, seemingly worryless strong, yet flexible nature. I do miss her, but I do not wish her to be here. She's gone in a very good way, without suffering...

Visited places: I don't go out to places, these were really hard to compile.

Things I said: hah, yes. I did say that to my son.

Names starting with 'A' - in the Hungarian both words mother and father start with 'a', so there you have it.

Awards: I suffered the most with this. I really can't recall anything else.

Cool singers: I like strong voices. Ted has been performing Jesus's role for ages and I have seen him in a recent show (on YouTube, of course) His passion and devotion still shows and that is highly valuable for me. Kormorán stands up for Hungarian culture and traditional values in the midst of all these mass of violent and international blah-music. Go, Kormoran.

Pet peeves: oh, there are many more, but these are those I came up with for this meme. At the same time I hold no revenge. I hate them but the moment they are out of my vision I'm clear of any negative emotions. At leats this is what I strive for.... :)))

Okay, I stopped. It's your turn.

a short notice on the ides of March

I decided to not go to the Budapest celebration of our 1848/49 revolution. According to the news, many of those who share similar political views with me, have decided to do the same - they celebrated by not attending. Did people think it would be dangerous to go to the streets? Did they fear the terror of the police, were they deterred by the events of the last time people went to streets (October 2006) - I don't know. There were some, who spoiled the official speeches - I understand those. People are fed up with what they in the power do and with what they don't.

Still I don't like that there are strong opinions of what we don't want...AND the views towards what we DO WANT are more scattered. There are various ideas and solutions. Our forces are broken for although we agree that this is not good, there is less concensus re: what IS good.

Above is a picture taken on Kossuth tér (Kossuth Square). This is where the Parliament is and the Holy Crown of the Hungarians is housed, too. This is where the protesting took place in October 2006. The police has built a fence and now it is being demolished. Probably in the hope that there will be peace. I doubt that there will be any. It will either be a mass of silently terrorized dissatisfied people OR a violent outbreak OR both. Pessimistic, me? Whoa? What did you say? Well, I admit that more often than not, I'm pessimistic when it comes to politics.

a new pullet in the henyard

UPDATE:

I'm not planning to visit any of the March 15 celebrations. So, there's no need to worry for me :) But, as everyone will be at home during these 4 days, I might not be able to update and/or check your/my blog(s) for this period. I'm sorry friends. Will be back on 19 March. Be well, God bless you all!

UPDATE 2:

Your Animal Personality

Your Power Animal: Eagle Animal You Were in a Past Life: Whale You are active, a challenger, and optimistic. Hard-working, you are always working towards a set goal.

The Animal Personality Test

UPDATE NUMBER 3 (probably the last one, I promise)

You Were Born Under:

Resourceful and practical, you are a quick thinker. You are very observant - and it's hard to get anything past you! A total perfectionist, you are especially picky about looking your best. You're a big dreamer - such a big dreamer that reality can disappoint you. You are most compatible with an Ox or Snake.

What Year Were You Born Under?

This weekend we attended a village fair for ornamental fowl, including, but not limited to chickens, doves and pigeons, peacocks, ducks and, (behold Anniina!), swans.

We wanted to buy some Naked Necked Transylvanian pullets, but there were not any. We fell in love with a wonderful Light Brahma, which, unfortunately turned out to be a cockerel. Too bad. And, we also fell in love with a Cream Frizzle, which, unfortunately turned out to be a rooster. Too bad we noticed it only AFTER buying it (him), AND taking him home. He got into immediate fight with our fairly enourmous barred Rooster - that's how it became obvious for us that the frizzle baby was a rooster, too.... Oh, my. We had to give him away for friends.

But to be honest, I'm not into frizzles, their plumage is not really normal. We bought him b/c the kids wanted it, especially my daughter. She was so sorry to have it let go.

But what did we get? It is a her, for sure. A Satsumadori at that.

introducing Eagle:

Why Eagle? Because of her body and head. She looks like a bird of prey with her long and lean neck, clean face... Even here eyes resemble those of some predators. I love her.

Here's another photo of 3 of our animals. Study the various types of bodies they have. See Eagle's lean and muscular type, Snowball's thick and meaty type and Roo's average body.

And don't you worry if those breed names tell you ain't no nothing.... I've had no idea some of these breeds were even present in our ecosystem... until this village fair this past Sunday... but if you have experience with any of them, do not fear to share. I'm eagle-r to listen to it.

wow - I am the Sunrise

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

how did she know?

Two days ago I was working in the kitchen. My kids were playing in the living room. At one moment I heard Rozi (my daughter, aged 7) laughing. I wanted to find out the reason for her giggles, so I approached them.

Rozi (showing the source of fun to her older brother): Read this and you'll see.

Me (perplexed, for she obviously can NOT read, well a few letters here and there, but...she finds fun in something that needs reading??? - curiosity drew me even closer) .

Rozi (coping with giggles):But see, it reads Ru-ma-ni-ya, but the 'y' has been left out...

Killing our sister

Pre-face: I wrote this on 8-10 March, but the inspiration was deeper within. Everytime I see a tree cut out for no particular reason (building new houses, making a parking lot clear included) I mourn over the loss. We, as many other languages in the world call the ecologically concerned greens. We, probably unlike some other languages have a special term for a special shade of green. Imagine a strong and bright, yet incredibly dark green. We say 'méregzöld', or 'haragoszöld', which literally translates into 'angry green' or 'green with a venom'. We do NOT apply this to angry environmentalists, though. But count me as one.
We all saw it coming
Big house, fancy-house
Lots of expensive architecture
Roll-on grass and sprinkler heads
Comfort and convenience
We all saw it coming
Until just one day
A man climbed up the tree and begun killing it

The tree that used to
Fill the spring air with a heavy scent
It used to caress our eyes with her white and pink blossoms
And also it casted shadow in the mid-summer heat
Supplid us with chestnuts, big and small to gather and treasure and
A kaleidoscopic shower of leaves in the fall
She gave it abundantly, not asking for whom it may concern
She gave herself so generously
For anyone with an eye and a heart to accept

And now she'll be gone
For the men working up on her body are strong and brave
For man is strong and brave
And he who conquers nature is a sure winner
And we, the walkers by just look and look away
Denying our lover and mother

Wouldn't it be wiser to shake that man off the tree
Hey, you're killing me - hear him shouting in frantic
And hey, it's you who're killing me
And my friend, and my mother
Wouldn't it be so wise to do this?
And still we walk away and look away

And it is not that man that does the harm
It is us
For we play safe and kill our sisters and brothers
we kill ourselves

on request..well not really, but I'm sure you'll like it

because you'll see some more photos of Hungarian caves.

The location is Tapolca, a small town living mainly on health and weekend tourism on the Northern side of Lake Balaton. As it is raining today here where I live, let me enthrall you with a photo made by someone on a rainy day at Lake Balaton. Credits go into thin air.

Enjoy the seemingly endless silvery surface and the pattern of coulds above. I wish I was there right now. Is it me, being so obsessed with what I see and imagine here in this picture or you find it just as much amazing, too?

So, the story of the Tapolca cave goes like this: A local man back in 1903 wanted to burrow a well in his property. Surprise, surprise, he found the cave! Let me introduce it to you - with the help of some internet-based material.

The Tapolca cave is about 4 kms long. Some 2,5 kms of it is open for visitors. But here's the twist in the plot, literally speaking :) Visitors go aboard boats! Here's some proof for your inpatient minds:

This is our family, my husband at the oars in a white tshirt, two boys behind (one of them being mine), and at the rear end, in a blue sweater it's me...with my daughter in my leap.

Now, back to some scientific and personal facts:
Although most tunnels are created by the hot water, there are dry parts as well. The wet part is accessible by boats, the fee is not very high. One boat takes 5-6 persons and then off you go into the wild - too bad that the journey does not last more than 25 minutes. You are on your own within and under the Earth - and the water is so mind-blowingly clear - you can see the bottom, which is like 4-5 metres away.... It is said that one species of fish (Phoxinus phoxinus L.) lives here in the cave, mind you, I have not seen any. But I was overwhelmed by the desire to take off my clothes and have a good swimming inside. I did not swim however... I was not alone...

So, the cave is famous for its special climatic conditions. With its relative humidity bordering 100%, and a relatively constant 14-16 degrees centigrade annual temperature the cave is suitable for curing asthma, allergy and other respiratory diseases. One of the braches of the cave has been used as a hospital since 1925. Below is a map of the tunnel system.

Above are other visitors.

The water comes partly from outside and partly from hot springs, which are located 300ms below the surface. This results in a reliably stable water temperature. Be it summer or winter, the water is 19 degrees centigrade.

The water system of the cave, at one part is connected to an 'outside' lake, called Lake Mill (Malom-tó). It's water is just as crystal clear and thus attracts visitors. Below are some duck over Malom-tó.

All photos, except the one that includes me, and that of Lake Balaton were made on 28-30 May, 2006 by me.

dripstones

All the following photos were made on 27 January, 2007. These I reserved for this entry for they all depict dripstones. As you probably know dripstones are in constant formation, they keep growing all the time. Once you touch them the growth is over. Most of them are coloumns, growing from the top (stalactites) or from the bottom (stalagmites) of the cave. Sometimes two coloumns coming from both ways meet somewhere in the middle. Sometimes the rock is formed in a way that the onlooker finds special characters within. As in the photo below, there's a lamb. Can you see it?

The photos below display the same formation. The first photo was made without flashlight.

These are found in the Pálvölgyi barlang in Budapest - see the earlier entries labelled 'cave' for more information. The most famous dripstone formations of the present Hungary however, are found in the Aggtelek Dripstone Cave, in the Northern part of the country. That cave system is part of the World Heritage as defined by the UNESCO. The first link takes you to an English photo gallery - it's worth the trip!

games I play

nothing hidden here... It's an entry about games online, PC or real-life, I like to play. This entry was inspired by Anniina :)

Among real-life games I prefer board games such as Catan and any in this series. I also like Cartagena, which is much simplier and easier to play. What makes them loveable? The ability to grow and excel in certain areas while there is space and potential for the other players to grow themselves also. You might not win, but you do achieve things. It's not like the Hotel, when there's one tyranny who takes it all. I dislike Hotel for being rude and teaching being rude.

And, I do like some chess, although being defeated almost all the time does not make it so compelling...

Among PC-games I like the good old Solitaire and any members of his/her (?) family including the Black Widow and Admiral.

And when I'm in a mood for some online gaming, I usually head for Jay, which is a sort of a riview site for a lot of exciting games. My favourite one of the moment is Sprout, a pleasant and surprising journey where the story unfolds according to your choice. It is a one-time game meaning that once you know the solution playing further is not challenging or really interesting at all. It's like a riddle. Once you solve it it's over. But here, the solving is the fun part. The graphics and the feelings involved make it worthwhile. Of the older games I like the Submachine (the link takes you to the second part, but there is a first and a third and a fourth one as well). With the Submachine I like that there is no violence or competition - you are alone and you have to discover the whole plot.

Also, I like doing the so-called 'escape-from-a-room' games, but I usually can't do them without a walkthrough. I am that stupid. Oh.

And there is another great game site I feed on, where most of the games are similar to those I've just described above.

And yes, motas. I love motas. Most of the levels I did without help. Wow. (for some reason the site is down, but keep trying...)

As in Sprout, your decision triggers the development in almost any of these games - the grow theme now has become a genre among the games.

And no, I'm not turning my blog into a reviewer site. Take it as a small interruption.

I hope you liked it, for playing is an essential part of our life. Without playing, without a playful attitude every now and then, we would dry out like some forgotten plant in a pot.

Your turn: What games do you like to play? Have you tried any of those I mentioned? Which board game will you be playing with me when I visit you/you visit my place?

remembering and getting ready for 15 March

Dear all, first let you all get acquinted with what we, the good Hungarians celebrate on the 15th of March. The Hungarians started the Revolution of Independence against the Habsburg regime in 1848. The ignition probably was Petőfi's reciting his poem called the Nemzeti dal (National Song) in front of the eagerly listening thousands of people in Budapest. The wiki site is somehow against us, Hungarians. Read it with caution. Do not believe everything you read as it is NOT fully correct.

This day is a national rememberance day and a bank holiday also. Its significance has been rising since the last few years of the communist regime - people not only remembered the good patriots of 1848-49, but they gathered to remind each other that there is still a dictatorship over the nation, although it's another one, but still a regime. So, the ever-present oppression bodies of our peaceful national movement (read: the rulers of our country) has almost always considered 15 March as a potential outbreak of another 'action' by the people. Participating on a non-official celebration has always been considered as an act against the actual general governing body of Hungary. Since that is more often than not is opposite to the good future of our nation.

This year, it will surely be something special. And I'm afraid the truth will not be available through the general broadcasting channels. The media will talk about 'violent masses' and unfortunate policemen, and later on about 'brave policemen who saved the streets from the ultra-nationalist mob'. Consider me standing on the mob side and you'll have a glance how fair the media is. K? I'm not telling that there won't be not any unintelligent people included who would be looking for a bit of aggressive fun in the streets - those are always there, regardless of the event. I'm talking about peaceful, repeat peaceful protesting mothers, fathers and families, university students and the general public, who will come and join in the day of 15 March for remembering 1848, Petőfi, the National Song. Of course, those people, including me will be united in the will of becoming free of depression of foreign forces, too. But, isn't a real independence is something that what any country would like and deserve?

Remember the video I posted around 23 October?

My husband met a policeman some days ago. He and my husband talked about politics and the policeman turned out to be a good Hungarian. (good, as opposed to errant, ignorant). The following information are coming from this person:

1.) people at the police are not allowed to go on a holiday around 15 March. Or else, they will be inspected by their own bosses and/or repelled from work. The reason? As it seems, a policeman can not officially belong to the so-called right wing of today's Hungary. The police as a body is faithful to the present Government. No right-wing or national approaches are allowed. Liberal or left? (the so called left, that is!!! Go George Orwell, go!!) - that is allright.

2.) the police did purchased those feared new weapons, which they will clearly use against the people in the street. You know, the mob, like me. (being ironic here)

3.) this policeman has clearly has his votes on the so called national side. He will be forced to fight against his 'brothers'.

I might or might not participate but my heart will be with them.

And here's a beautiful translation of Petőfi's poem by Adam Makkai.

National Song
Rise up, Magyar, the country calls!
It's 'now or never' what fate befalls...
Shall we live as slaves or free men?
That's the question - choose your 'Amen"!
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

For up till now we lived like slaves,
Damned lie our forefathers in their graves -
They who lived and died in freedom
Cannot rest in dusts of thraldom.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

A coward and a lowly bastard Is he,
who dares not raise the standard -
He whose wretched life is dearer
Than the country's sacred honor.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Sabers outshine chaine and fetters,
It's the sword that one's arm betters.
Yet we wear grim chains and shackles.
Swords, slash through damned manacles!
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Magyar's name will tell the story
Worthy of our erstwhile glory we must wash off - fiercely cleansing
Centuries of shame and condensing.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Where our grave-mounds bulge and huddle
Our grandson will kneel and cuddle,
While in grateful prayer they mention
All our sainted names' ascension.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

(March 13. 1848)