The ninetysixth week of the pandemic

Last weekend was eventless, which really did make a change. It was getting really cold and we kept indoors most of the time. Then Monday came and we were waiting for the technician to install our new internet, TV and landline phone. He was supposed to come between 8 am and midday and arrived around 11 am. Apparently, he has already been to Buják, a village half an hour away, and started working on our system.

The sun is just rising in the flatlands

He looked a bit startled by the task, but with suggestions from us and using his own initiative, he soon grasped what the job entailed. He had to crawl along a tight bit of the attic in the eves to get about 30 metres of cable from the electricity post outside to the far back of the house. He was not a fast worker, but very precise, fastidious and careful, which we appreciated lots. It took him 4 and half hours, but by about 3:30 pm he was finished. He took care to explain everything, he wouldn't leave until everything worked perfectly, unlike some bugger I had also from Vodafone in BP a few months ago. I did get his name and telephone number, as I might need him in the future.

Karesz heading for the shelter

Now we have some upload speeds that are mind blowing. The television set, which was the one we brought out from BP, has a picture far superior to the one it had when connected to the system in the flat in BP. This makes me think that the bugger that was rushing, rude and totally negligent when installing that system last autumn is responsible. I used to think that as the TV is quite old, it was perhaps that, but it couldn't be. I might complain, especially if we spend a fortune on an all singing, all dancing new smart TV and the picture does not improve. The actual Vodafone package we are having in the village is exactly the same as the one in town: 500 megabits speed internet, 115 digital channels, a third of which are HD, on the TV and a landline, which I haven't used yet, but I'll try it today.

 

So, all in all we are set to enjoy this new system and currently it only costs £20 a month. It'll probably go up after 6 months, as it must be an introductory price, but still, it is very much a good move we made with this, and I'm only annoyed that I didn't discover its availability for over a year.

The boys

Then on Tuesday we went into BP for Roy's implants. He looked a bit worried, but was the usual brave soldier he always is. He was in with the dental surgeon for about 90-100 minutes. He didn't look too bad when he surfaced, Daniel, the dentist, explained to me what to do or not to do in the next week, and we will have to go back for taking out the sutures next Tuesday. He was prescribed amoxycillin against infection, Kataflam, which is diclofenac, for the pain and quite a strong mouthwash to use while he can't clean his teeth.

Not exactly a wam morning

 

He had a reasonable night's sleep, although about a quarter of an hour after I went to sleep he had to get up to take a Kataflam just to be on the safe side for the night. He always tries to be the hero, but thankfully he was sensible this time. He hasn't taken another one since, so he is doing OK. I keep an eye on him to make sure that he only eats soft things and hope that all will be well by next Tuesday, when the sutures are coming out. The dentist said that he will then have to wait about 2 and half months, and then if all is well, he can have the bridge fitted. In the meantime he has to exist with a temporary one again. £1000 was the first instalment for just the implants, there's another one to pay next week, and then the final cost of the bridge itself will have to be settled in March. Brrrrrrrrrrr!!

A way through the junipers

And then Wednesday was the long-awaited geocaching day with Feri and Karesz. I chose this day as the forecast was for bright sunshine for all day, but I failed to notice that the temperatures were going to plummet. Karesz came over in the morning and by 6:30 we were on our way. We first had to go to Feri's house on Csepel Island to pick him up and then we were off.

The first ruined church

The caches we visited, all 13 of them went under two categories: 1. ones none of us had found before; 2. ones that some of us had found before. The end count was: Karesz 7, me 8 and Feri 10. We were having a very good time, even though we were freezing their bums off to start with. The coldest temperature I saw on the car's display was -14 Celsius. I managed to photograph it at -13 Celsius, when we stopped at one of the caches. 

A picnic and camping ground in the forest

 

The terrain was pretty flat, but occasionally we had some steep, although not too high forested sand dunes. Pretty much like I used to run in on orienteering events. The objects we have been looking for included old church ruins, several study routes, electricity pylons looking like clowns, a private zoo, a small motor racing circuit, a juniper forest and a few others.

One of the electric clowns

The clown in close-up

 

It was a lovely, if somewhat long day, but the punchline came at the very end, where some idiot hit the car behind us at speed and pushed it into us. Thankfully nobody was seriously hurt, the only physical injury was a bump on the forehead of the driver in the middle of the three car pileup. The real punishment was having to hang around for nearly three hours, partly waiting for the police, and then after they got to us for the massive amount of paperwork to be filled out and signed off. We all nearly froze rock solid in the waiting around, even though occasionally we got in the car to warm up.

The centre point of Hungary

Yesterday I was like a zombie. I went through the motions of packing up in the flat, travelling down and doing some food shopping en route. But once I was home, unpacked, put everything away and ate some lunch, nothing worked any more. Not my brain, nor my fingers. As for my eyes, they were definitely on strike. Today, however, I was a bit more productive. I had a long sleep overnight and as I did have a great deal to do today, I got on with it.

An old military camp

I started with my old friends in the health food business. I order my vitamins, probiotics, nuts and dried fruit from them about 4 times a year. They cocked up my loyalty points again, but I managed to get them correct it. Good job I noticed them, so I could contact them before they ran out. I have no idea when they are going to deliver it, but it got ordered yesterday, the last thye the loyalty points were valid.

They taught the hussars to ride horses here

Then I had to deal with the fall-out from the accident. I rang my insurance agent, who explained the amount of paperwork involved, which is horrendous. Then he said that I might take it to a major dealer, who would deal with all the paperwork and while they would probably be quite expensive, but I wouldn't have to do anything. I found that reasoning quite attractive, but we can't yet know exctly whether the card had suffered any damage.

One of the study route's boards

So, on Monday morning I will take it to Tomi in the village, just to see if there is anything wrong. If not, we'll forget about the whole thing. If yes, then we'll have to decide whether we get Tomi to fix it or the dealer. I hope Tomi will say there is nothing to repair and that'll be the end of it.

Karesz in the juniper forest

I also did my usual extension of the geocaching logs and upload of photos this morning. The new internet is amazing. It is so fast, it beats Budapest. It was a joy have those upload speeds, why didn't I do this sooner, I will never understand.

Feri in the juniper forest

I had lots of phonecalls about several issues as a moderator, and for some other matters, but most had been sorted. I still can't send off my Nespresso order, as my  credit card details have changed since I last ordered capsules and I can't find any place on their web site that would allow me to amend the card details. How stupid!!! And they have no phone numbers anywhere, so I can't even ring them.

Remnants of a medieaval church

I also managed to cancel my previous internet provider, which was pretty painless once I discovered that while a firm called DIGI taken them over, they have kept their own name and website, so I had to ring their service department number, not that of DIGI. The guy was pretty good, and it was done in no time. I also cancelled the direct debit, so hopefully everything is OK in that department.

Entrance gates of the small private zoo

 

I rang my sister Nelly, who is spending the winter in BP, so that her son could assist her in day to day living. Her eyesight is now almost nil, so she does need a lot of help. We chatted for a while, and I think we can keep this up. Reasonable diplomatic relations are never a bad thing with one's sister.

Another old church ruin

Must finish now as I am flagging. Next post hopefully next week, provided there are no more accidents on the road.

The middle car after the bang