Unfortunately, since the Tories have invented this "no tax deducted at source from savings" lark, that is the latest excuse. I hasten to add that interest rates are so pathetic nowadays that we would need millions in savings before the interest was anywhere near the level producing taxable amounts, but that is well over the head of our dear government. So, come November I always spend about a day, cursing and looking for bits of paper, which haven't arrived because everything is on line. Latter being a saving grace, as I can always find what I am looking for on the net anyway.
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| Cache hide in the Gödöllő hills |
I was also busy writing geocaching plans, as suddenly I have a lot of caching days planned. So far we had a few of them en route into town, (a couple near Gödöllő lately), then a 3-day away little holiday, today one with Feri, which is in serious danger of being cancelled as it is chucking it down outside and then one planned for Sunday with a new caching friend, András, today's one next Wednesday if it is still raining in an hour, a couple of days of caching with Edit again on the first full December weekend and finally the middle weekend of December in Csobánka with Laci and Márti, which is more about chatting, eating, drinking and inspecting their new house being built, than caching, but still, I plan a couple for that weekend as well.
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| Laci and Márti's house back in October |
All these had to be put into a Word file and printed, together with the appropriate maps. Lot of work, but it makes for a much more orderly caching day when you have everything on paper in front of you, in the right order and with maps to back it up. I know that all this is also in your GPS, but that can go belly up, the batteries can die or the gadget left at home, so I feel a lot more secure when it is on paper as well.
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| The Empress Elizabeth's cottage in the woods above Gödöllő |
Another bit of paperwork included our annual Christmas Newsletter, in which we outline the main happenings of the year past. I write that right through the year, so the facts were almost completely in there already, but it needed to be written up into an understandable narrative and then sent. That was done in a couple of hours, so yet another chore out of the way!!
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| Mark Harmon |
I did a fair amount of TV watching as well, as my new Express VPN is brilliant. Knock, knock, as I wouldn't want it go wonky just as I write this. Compared with the couple we had before (MPN and Le VPN), it is miles better. Gibbs of NCIS fame has developed a new interest: the kid across the road. I often wonder how the writers of a series as long as NCIS (17th series this year) can still think up new story lines and make them credible. This lot are quite good at that. Mark Harmon is showing his age nowadays and his feminine side occasionally, which is seriously out of character, but still credible.
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| The chateau in Lovasberény, |
It was still last week that Nemesházi Laci rang and asked to move our weekend together to the middle of December. We agreed at once, as December still has some free weekends in it. Apparently, he and Márti will have to spend this weekend painting beams and rafters. The forecast is good and the timber having been delivered needs treating before it is put up. I am really looking forward to seeing how it is getting on, but it seems that he had chosen brilliant builders, as they are decidedly ahead of schedule.
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| Lovely old building in Székesfehérvár |
As now this weekend past had become free, I quickly organised a 3-day mini holiday to go caching somewhere where I have not been before. I booked a small wooden cottage in the village (town??) of Enying, just 10 miles South of Siófok by the Balaton. The idea was to gather as many of the still outstanding caches in Székésfehérvár en route down and en route home, and spend the middle day picking up some caches in the area's hills.
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| Atmospheric corner with steps up in Székésfehérvár |
I also let Feri and Karesz know about it and they decided to join us on the Monday. We started very early from BP on the Sunday morning. It was mind blowing how quickly you can get through downtown when people are still in bed. We, unfortunately and not for the first time, got lost in Kápolnásnyék, so the route into Székésfehérvár was a bit round aboutish, but it gave me an unplanned cache en route. Then came the big town, which I have been in before, quite a few times, and even more around it, but had no idea how beautiful the historical centre was. We did three multi-caches, one 9. one 7 and one 3-parter. This means that while this was only 3 caches, we had to visit 19 locations. The two long ones were done on foot, the 3-parter by car.
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| Mobile library a la XIXth century |
We saw lots of lovely old buildings, churches, statues and had fun. Even Roy enjoyed it, although the day was pretty cold, so we had to pop back to the car once to fetch more clothing. Talking of the car, we got lost again on the way in, but this time it was very lucky where we ended up, as being Sunday you could park where you wanted and we did so literally by the centre of town. Just as we started getting tired and hungry, (and I needed the loo), we spotted a cake shop/cafe, so we put our bums down, had lovely cakes and drinks, plus a rest in the warm. I had a yoghurt brownie and green tea, Roy had an apple pie and espresso coffee. Perfect break and reinvigorated we carried on.
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| Little Roy, big gate |
Just as it started getting dark (pretty early nowadays), we set off towards our B&B. That was a bit of a disaster. As it was a last minute arrangement, I just picked one from the net and while ultimately we were OK, initially we were rather pissed off. They kept it quiet that the accommodation is 3km from the restaurant which is their office as well. So we spent ages working out where to go and then had to find the place in the dark with no information, there were no house numbers on the buildings and it wasn't lit. I insisted that somebody leads us to it, which was provided.
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| Interesting new take on Christ on the cross |
Once there we had a look at the newly renovated little cottage and quite liked it. So we said OK, and stayed. However, in the light the following morning, it became obvious that we were in the middle of a building site. Apparently, they are having a continuous draw down of EU funds for their renovation project and keep working on the houses as and when the money becomes available. That's fine, but how about not letting them while they are being built?
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| Mujkó, the jester in the air in Székésfehérvár |
Having said that, we were quite comfortable after we managed to turn the heating on and the place has warmed up. The unfinished bits, however, were quite irritating and the only drawer without a bottom, added to the feeling of dereliction. Still, we didn't spend much time there and the beds were comfortable, so we put up with it.
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| Chiming clock in Székésfehérvár |
On Monday morning the boys have arrived and we were off to the hills. Most caches were not drive-in, so we had to walk/hike to them, but none of these hikes were long. Still, I haven't added up the distance yet, but it must have been lots of kilometres. The beauty of caching with Feri and Karesz is that they are very good company and help me by being bloody minded and even when the cache is difficult to get, they find it. They are ideal company for me and Roy and I are ideal for them to cache with as they can travel by train and then get a lift from us. Perfect arrangement and it works every time.
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| Glorious wrought iron balcony in Székésfehérvár |
Finally, the start of Tuesday was rather fraught. I thought I lost one of my camera chips, so we had to go back to the B&B to look for it. There was no sign, so I accepted the loss of my photos from the first day when Roy found it, while waiting for me at a cache later, in a place where I looked before, just not well enough. Brrrr!! That wasted a lot of time, but at least the chip turned up.
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| Roy looking pleased with his dinner |
In Siófok we couldn't find the end box of a multi and with the stress of the chip we went on to calm down. That was a good decision as a friend helped me out with the password and then later Roy found the chip anyway. We only did 6 caches on the last day, but they were very interesting. We drove the Duster right up to the top of a hill, where there was an old geodesic tower, which operated as a look out tower for some years, but no longer. Now there is a study route about the geology of the area there and that was quite interesting.
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| A hand dug tunnel through the ridge of a hill |
There was a cache nearby, close to a couple of caves, which were again fascinating. Apparently, the Romans two thousand year ago mined lead and silver in the quarry nearby, The views unfortunately were not exactly photogenic, as after two brilliant sunny, but cold days, the last day was decidedly overcast and even colder.
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| Geodesic tower by the geological study route |
Once home I spent yesterday on the computer, logging the caches, uploading my photos, catching up with my TV serials, maintaining my password database, posting a few albums on FB, so I was fully occupied again. My knee had suffered a bit during the walking, as I gave up wearing my knee brace as it didn't seem to need it any more. I think that is true, but 3 days was too much for it. I should have put it back on on the third day, so it is a bit sore again. As I am resting today, it should get better.
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| Cave |
Must go now as my tummy thinks my throat has been cut. Next post in a week or so.
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| Roy waiting for me to return from the forest |
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