The hundred and fiftieth week of the pandemic

I have to make the point that those of you who think that I should stop counting the weeks of the pandemic, should look at China, where after a daft policy of over-oppressive lockdowns, now there is an even dafter one of no restrictions on opening up, with the unvaccinated oldies dropping like flies. This is not just a comment on the efficacy of their vaccines for the over 60's, or their policy of barely vaccinating them, but the bureaucratic regime's callousness towards its own people's health, counterposed to profit making on the world market.

A funny about how hard Hungarian is to learn

The last week was spent in BP, weather having turned really cold and sometimes miserable, mostly indoors (again). I have, however, discovered something that gave me 2 1/2 hours of sheer delight, when I happened to notice William Christie and his orchestra, Les Arts Florissants, on Mezzo. They were playing French baroque, Lully, Charpentier, Rameau and a bit of Handel (German/English). What really got me was the sheer enjoyment of all the musicians while playing. Christie must be not only a tremendously talented conductor, but also a fun and attractive individual.

William Christie

Being indoors mostly, I was reading, doing stuff on the internet and watching TV. Talking of which, I have finally learnt how to project programs from my laptop to the TV screen. Roy is only interested in programs, films etc. online if I manage to let him watch them in comfort. Stephen mentioned that he might enjoy the BBC's SAS - Rogue Heroes, so we did that. I have already seen it, but it was well worth watching it again, as I noticed bits of dialogue and action that I missed the last time. Roy obviously loved it and hopefully we might do this more often in future. Admittedly, what you need is a good quality laptop and a smart TV. So, Bér is out, it can only be done in BP.

Actors and the real men of the SAS

I have also been given the job of keeping an eye on the appointments posted online by the Hungarian Consulate in London for Stephen, but so far no luck. His tour of Australia is not going as well as he hoped. Obviously, it is the fault of his agents and promoters there, not his, that the audiences are scarce. Let's hope it picks up soon. 

Stephen on stage

On Monday I had three medical appointments, which I am happy to say, went quite well. The citology results are still to come, but otherwise, nothing too lethal was found. Of the three doctors, I like two of them a lot, especially the young man who does the ultrasound. He is so gentle and kind, all doctors should be like him. I have one more tomorrow, the ENT prof, whom I haven't met yet, I hope he'll be OK too.

Professor Dr. Imre Gerlinger, ENT consultant

On Monday Roy and I had quite a busy day, as whatever the weather, I had to stir from the flat for my appointments, so afterwards, we went to the Corvin Plaza to do some reccy for suitcases. All our luggage is ancient, heavy and we can't lift or maneuvre them without wearing ourselves out. I have taken a fancy to those that are rock hard on the outside, have 4 wheels for maneuvreability and are fairly light weight. Well, the prices started at  £140, which gave Roy a bit of a shock. We will look around in other shops too, but I don't think we can get away with anything under £300 for both of us. I also got myself a pair of pyjamas, as I do like C&A stuff and they still had one in that plaza.

Polycarbonate luggage

Recently, I corresponded with Sheila by e-mail and she still haven't managed to fix this stupid security thing on her telephone. Apparently, she gets asked about the caller and if she approves, she can press a button and they get through. The minor detail the telephone company obviously forgot to tell her, was that it doesn't work with calls from abroad. I have not been able to get through to her for months now, and recently Pam tried from Canada, and it cut her off too. I talked Sheila into using Messenger, but for that she has to be online. The telephone is useful just to ask her to turn on her computer, but no luck so far.

Kernow Chocolate for Sheila

She is 90 years old on the Monday after next, and we would so much like to be able to ring her on the day. Unfortunately, they have not organised any party, due to sickness and injury in the family all round. Perhaps in the summer, she wrote in her e-mail, but that is not much good for us, as the garden and our fruit harvests keep us at home then. We'll see what happens, but in the meantime I sent her some Cornish, specially handmade chocolates, I hope she will like them.

Gergely Bogányi's self designed piano

Tonight I am off to the Palace of the Arts for a concert with Gergely Bogányi playing. Bozsa, my good friend, has bought our two subscription tickets, hoping that I would join her now and again, but I have been naughty and didn't. I miss her so much, probably more than I miss the music, but tonight I will make an effort and we are both going half an hour early to have a natter beforehand.

Gergely Bogányi

Must go now, lunch is approaching. Roy tells me that it will be my favourite pasta dish. We always doctor even food that is perfectly OK to eat as it is. In the supermarket nowadays you can get little pasta pockets filled with either meat or vegetarian stuff. What we do is have them, but with a mixture of pesto, chopped olives, crushed garlic and a bit of grated Grana Padano cheese on top. Yum, yum!!!

Veronika Eberle

 

PS: The concert was fantastic. Gergely Bogányi played Mozart, Schumann, Rachmaninov and Brahms and he was sparkling. I always knew he was a virtuoso piano player, but tonight somehow he surpassed himself, not only with his skill, but choice of pieces. Especially the Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Handel tune. I have never heard that before, but it was a tour de force. And then, when I came home, on Mezzo there was more Brahms, this time the violin concerto, soloist was Veronika Eberle playing her "Dragonetti" Stradivarius, accompanied by the Orchestre Nationale de Lille, conductor was Alexandre Bloch.