Absolutely Anything Else

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Got the cousins the artists name wrong, Joseph Velekei.
He did mostly wood sculptures. His bro in Switzerland was also an artist. paintings .
Nice enough guy, he died ut of the blue before we met him again.
His family still lives in Szentendre.
Just too weird to contact them now.
My husband must still have many cousins here in Hungary. His mother had 8 older brothers after all.
Met one female cousin a few times who lives close to Velence, her husband was nice too.
Just weird after decades of not being in contact with them to suddenly be BFF's.

Looked up some sculptures for Velekei and found them under the name Velekei József Lajos.

Looks like his famous work is the World Tree or  Világfa. 

A lot of his sculptures (at least on a Google search) seem to be trees or vertical works made of old tree trunks.

It's OK I suppose but wouldn't be on my list to save if I needed some firewood in an emergency and that was the only piece available.

Tried google search, thanks, you should be a detective! There is a photo of him in one site. He was nice enough but I only met him once. I can usually get a vibe from a person within a first meeting though.Nice guy, very open and friendly.
My husband wasn't a huge fan of his style but still, he had some talent.
Then again, we aren't ,"artistic" people. Well, shouldn't say that really, used to design my own crazy clothing and do hair and my husband was a machinist, had to use a ton of talent to figure out new ways of cutting metals to save both time and to use his machines the best way he could without buying every little gadget out there for a job.
Joe's bro in Swizterland was from what I heard a better artist.
We had thought of visiting him in Switzerland but time got away from us, he must be at least 83 now if he is even still living.
My son wrote telling me trains in his area of Japan or closing down for a few days, a huge Typhoon is coming. His wife will stay at her hotel job overnight a few days because of the train situation. He will be alone for his first big weather event.
I told him to stock up on water and food so he doesn't have to go outside.
Sometimes we forget there is another world out there besides just Hungary.

Strangely enough Mr Velekei looks a bit like Mrs Fluffy's uncle.  I am always surprised people can make money doing stuff like that.  Look at Warhol, made millions or even Tracey Emin and her unmade bed.  Literally money for old rubbish.  My ex is an artist and she makes stuff out of rubbish too. 

I've always had an idea to make some wind sculptures but don't have the machines to do it.  I'd have to learn how to cut and beat metal.  I used to do that kind of metal beating thing in school - I guess what was called "shop" in the USA.  We called it metalwork.   I had thought about about buying one of those all in one machines - lathe and milling machine.  Bit pricey and no expert so I'd be buying blind really.  I have so much to do anyway.  I've just made a firewood storage unit out of old fencing posts and bits of metal lying around.  Just cut it and welded it up.   Turned out quite well so far.   Need to paint it but looks like rain. Tomorrow maybe. 

The typhoons are pretty common out that way and they are set up for it.  I doubt there would be much cause for concern.  I've been in some tropical storms out that way and they are pretty wild. What I don't understand is why they build houses out of cardboard and wood in those kind of environments.  A solid construction out of concrete isn't going to be blown away.

My son said the typhoon blew over and was gone in about 10 hours. Just a ton of wind . He got a terrible headache from all of the pressure in the air.
Thank God it wasn't anything big.
121 degrees F. in Camerillo,Ca. where my one bro lives. What is going on with those record highs in Ca.?
Looks like the weather may get a bit warmer mid week, would love one more trip to the lake but not sure about the water temp.
I hate just laying around in the sun without going in for a swim.
We had several lathe machines and a mill.
Had 3 different machine shops, 2 times my husband had a partner and once he went alone.
Yes, they can cost more then a new Mercedes.
Last time he got smart and bought some old machines from Sandia Labs in NM.
He rewired, changed a motor and repainted them.
Had a nice Bridgeport mill and a large lathe and 2 smaller ones, drills sanders all that stuff.
When we decided we had enough of it and moved to Vegas, we sold the shop machines piece by piece.
We had our minds set to move, if not we could of actually made a ton of money we found out by just redoing machines.
People were literally almost in fist fights over who could come up with the cash first to buy our machines.
Sold them for a profit and they were worth it.It was crazy , everything sold like within days. Some people just wanted a good little machine for home use.
OK, guess they had a 4 car garage, those things take so much space.
I didn't know how talented my husband really is until he bought those old machines and turned them into better then new.
I think in the day the Hungarian trade schools must of been really good and taught all one needed to be 100% ready to do anything in your trade.
In Las Vegas on a job interview for a machinist job my husband once went into the office and just spoke to a women behind the desk, The boss was out. She said they were not hiring but she would still pass on his info plus my husband dropped off several examples of his work for the owner to examine.
By mid day the same day, he was hired over the phone.
Got the money he asked for too.
Too bad there is not much use any longer for a manual machinist.
At least not in the US.
In Honolulu we met a HU engineer who was making some sort or new diesel engine. The guy had many sponers who paid for his shop, his living expences and had funds available for his project. He even had a family that was supprted by these believers in his engine.
He asked my husband to help with it.
For a few months my husband worked in the guys shop one on one with him. The guy's lathe was one my husband never saw in his life. It was so old, must of been from 1900. Still he figured out how to use it.
Got paid half in money and half in co,. stocks.
No stock reports yet, guess that project has been scrapped.
Husband said it was fun though, didn't do it for the money but to keep busy and try something new.
I tell him to teach on U tube because a few times he looked there at people teaching and he said they have no clue what they are doing.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
Husband said it was fun though, didn't do it for the money but to keep busy and try something new.
I tell him to teach on U tube because a few times he looked there at people teaching and he said they have no clue what they are doing.

Your hubby should do YouTube videos - I look at those kinds of things all the time.

I'm thinking about this kind of machine - Chinese lathe/mill - for home use.  Interested in professional opinions! 

Intresting post..... Protest

SimCityAT wrote:

Intresting post..... Protest

What's really scary is what the new head of that Uni said:

Mr. Vidnyanszky, who in 2013 was appointed head of Hungary’s National Theater, has made numerous disparaging accusations about the university over the years. He also expressed a desire to have the school focus more on “the nation, the homeland and Christianity.”

Nation. homeland and Christianity?  Do me a favour.

Turning this place into a theocracy run by a right wing autocrat.   It's 2020, not the Dark Ages.  We all know what happens to autocrats who get too big for their boots.  Just look at Belarus!

I wouldn't be surprised if this is the beginning of the end of O1G.

Transferred from https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =6#4937696

Cynic wrote:

...

As for the dining car, it's just been refurbished so is in pretty good condition right now, but it will cost a load of money to move it back to the mainland on a truck; maybe an idea to get it through an annual rolling test and then ship it on the rails; it's ex DB stock.

They say every old soldier has at least one book in them - have to see.

I'm now looking at old railway carriages to put on land at Balaton as a summer house.  Looks like a UK carriage can be had in medium condition for £10K plus gadzillions to move it.  I was thinking of a container house but a railway carriage is even more interesting if it's in excellent condition.  Might not even need planning permission as it's a mobile home! Haha!

fluffy2560 wrote:

Transferred from https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =6#4937696

Cynic wrote:

...

As for the dining car, it's just been refurbished so is in pretty good condition right now, but it will cost a load of money to move it back to the mainland on a truck; maybe an idea to get it through an annual rolling test and then ship it on the rails; it's ex DB stock.

They say every old soldier has at least one book in them - have to see.

I'm now looking at old railway carriages to put on land at Balaton as a summer house.  Looks like a UK carriage can be had in medium condition for £10K plus gadzillions to move it.  I was thinking of a container house but a railway carriage is even more interesting if it's in excellent condition.  Might not even need planning permission as it's a mobile home! Haha!

Having now thought about it for 30 seconds, the only thing about living in a railway carriage is that the ones I'm talking about (so 70's rolling stock) were never built with much in mind except cramming as many people as they could into the available space; insulation was poor; most trains still relied upon steam heating in those times.  I've sat in that very dining car on New Years day 1981 at Marienborn station, when they took away the East German locomotive to swap it out for a West German version, when the West German loco broke down in the -20 degree cold.  It got very cold, very quickly inside the train; it very quickly turned into a long fridge on wheels and some people went to extreme measures to keep warm!!!  All the toilets froze, the windows steamed up from the condensation, which then froze, so you couldn't see out.  The Soviets had all buggered off except for the poor sod at the end of the platform who was of no use in helping me.  In the end, the West German train driver walked back up the line to West Germany to call out the DB version of the train breakdown service who came and towed us out; it's then that you realise that there is something called realpolitik that trumps everything else.

Cynic wrote:

....
Having now thought about it for 30 seconds, the only thing about living in a railway carriage is that the ones I'm talking about (so 70's rolling stock) were never built with much in mind except cramming as many people as they could into the available space; insulation was poor; most trains still relied upon steam heating in those times.  I've sat in that very dining car on New Years day 1981 at Marienborn station, when they took away the East German locomotive to swap it out for a West German version, when the West German loco broke down in the -20 degree cold.  It got very cold, very quickly inside the train; it very quickly turned into a long fridge on wheels and some people went to extreme measures to keep warm!!!  All the toilets froze, the windows steamed up from the condensation, which then froze, so you couldn't see out.  The Soviets had all buggered off except for the poor sod at the end of the platform who was of no use in helping me.  In the end, the West German train driver walked back up the line to West Germany to call out the DB version of the train breakdown service who came and towed us out; it's then that you realise that there is something called realpolitik that trumps everything else.

Nice story. I can imagine how cold it would be.  I remember those steam heated carriages in the UK.  I think they use electric heating now but I haven't been on a train for years. 

But what were the extreme measures? Break dancing?  Sing-a-longs?

Maybe in the summer down at Balaton it'd be OK as temperatures are high enough not to need any real insulation.  As it'd be a static version, passive ventilation would help against condensation and for any background heating would be an air based heat pump (airco in reverse).   The low temperatures here mean that the water pipes are buried in the ground about 1m down and normally turned off when the houses are not occupied for long periods.   Even in cold periods, if the water is still moving, it wouldn't freeze up.   That said, we fill our water valve manhole with insulation blocks during the winter.

My concern apart from logistics of obtaining and moving is how to get a railway carriage to fit with a family of 4.  Maybe if it was a sleeper, it would have a corridor down one side with compartments for different functions - 2-3 bedrooms, kitchen plus open area for a living room.    It would need a large decking area as it'd be "off the ground".    Existing land we have access to is probably far too soggy to support the weight of a carriage. I read they weigh 33 tonnes.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

....
Having now thought about it for 30 seconds, the only thing about living in a railway carriage is that the ones I'm talking about (so 70's rolling stock) were never built with much in mind except cramming as many people as they could into the available space; insulation was poor; most trains still relied upon steam heating in those times.  I've sat in that very dining car on New Years day 1981 at Marienborn station, when they took away the East German locomotive to swap it out for a West German version, when the West German loco broke down in the -20 degree cold.  It got very cold, very quickly inside the train; it very quickly turned into a long fridge on wheels and some people went to extreme measures to keep warm!!!  All the toilets froze, the windows steamed up from the condensation, which then froze, so you couldn't see out.  The Soviets had all buggered off except for the poor sod at the end of the platform who was of no use in helping me.  In the end, the West German train driver walked back up the line to West Germany to call out the DB version of the train breakdown service who came and towed us out; it's then that you realise that there is something called realpolitik that trumps everything else.

Nice story. I can imagine how cold it would be.  I remember those steam heated carriages in the UK.  I think they use electric heating now but I haven't been on a train for years. 

But what were the extreme measures? Break dancing?  Sing-a-longs?

Maybe in the summer down at Balaton it'd be OK as temperatures are high enough not to need any real insulation.  As it'd be a static version, passive ventilation would help against condensation and for any background heating would be an air based heat pump (airco in reverse).   The low temperatures here mean that the water pipes are buried in the ground about 1m down and normally turned off when the houses are not occupied for long periods.   Even in cold periods, if the water is still moving, it wouldn't freeze up.   That said, we fill our water valve manhole with insulation blocks during the winter.

My concern apart from logistics of obtaining and moving is how to get a railway carriage to fit with a family of 4.  Maybe if it was a sleeper, it would have a corridor down one side with compartments for different functions - 2-3 bedrooms, kitchen plus open area for a living room.    It would need a large decking area as it'd be "off the ground".    Existing land we have access to is probably far too soggy to support the weight of a carriage. I read they weigh 33 tonnes.

LOL - we had a diary of train "events".  I'll leave it to your imagination as to the kind of things that ended up in there. 

There were no restrictions on who or what we transported; we brought an elephant for one of the Berlin Tattoo's (kind of like the Edinburgh Tattoo, but with much nicer beer).  The most outrageous events tended to be the wives clubs going on their day trips to Braunschweig for some erm "shopping".

I should mention for completeness that we also ran freight trains at night.

The dining car is basically 2 compartments split 1/3 2/3; the 1 3rd being the kitchen; the main part being fixed dining tables and bench seats.  It differed by having a large water tank in the roof and fitted for LPG tanks to run the cooking equipment.  You wouldn't need that size kitchen for a family of 4, so perhaps just gut the entire thing inside and start all over.  I've done similar things to stacaravans in Holland (gutted the interior), not a great deal of difference, there's not a lot of steel above the bed of the wagon.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
Husband said it was fun though, didn't do it for the money but to keep busy and try something new.
I tell him to teach on U tube because a few times he looked there at people teaching and he said they have no clue what they are doing.

Your hubby should do YouTube videos - I look at those kinds of things all the time.

I'm thinking about this kind of machine - Chinese lathe/mill - for home use.  Interested in professional opinions! 

[img align=C]https://diamondindustrial.co.uk/WebRoot/Store25/Shops/8cb0134d-92f1-4b3b-80c0-3b49d6f02b85/5C41/B95C/4A61/FF00/A837/0A48/355E/C7E9/CL7610300.jpg[/url]

Just noticed this. I'll ask him later if my mind doesn't go blank on me. ATM ihe is on U tube trying to figure out how to repair an app. on his old 3 G I phone! Gotta love U tube!

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
Husband said it was fun though, didn't do it for the money but to keep busy and try something new.
I tell him to teach on U tube because a few times he looked there at people teaching and he said they have no clue what they are doing.

Your hubby should do YouTube videos - I look at those kinds of things all the time.

I'm thinking about this kind of machine - Chinese lathe/mill - for home use.  Interested in professional opinions! 

[img align=C]https://diamondindustrial.co.uk/WebRoot/Store25/Shops/8cb0134d-92f1-4b3b-80c0-3b49d6f02b85/5C41/B95C/4A61/FF00/A837/0A48/355E/C7E9/CL7610300.jpg[/url]

Just noticed this. I'll ask him later if my mind doesn't go blank on me. ATM ihe is on U tube trying to figure out how to repair an app. on his old 3 G I phone! Gotta love U tube!

Interested in the app repair,  I currently have a pile of old iphones that either have dead batteries, or the IOS is so old, none of the apps work anymore.

Cynic wrote:

....
Interested in the app repair,  I currently have a pile of old iphones that either have dead batteries, or the IOS is so old, none of the apps work anymore.

I keep all my old phones.  No idea what's on them. If they go in for recycling I'll smash them up with a hammer beforehand.   Maybe cut them up with an angle grinder.   I'd like to dump them really.  We do keep a couple of cheap simple ones as emergency phones in case the main phones go wrong.  So long as you can get the sim card out, then all should be well if one really needs to call for help.

I'm looking for a phone for No. 1 HU Fluffyette but when I see like Samsung 128GB, I keep thinking half of that will be uselessly used by annoying bloatware blocking up resources, slowing performance and interfering like a dead rat stuck in a sewer pipe. 

EU competition should make sure these crappy apps can all be deleted by owners.   In fact, let's separate Android from Google as they are the worst culprits. Apple, yes, maybe iOS separate out too.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
Husband said it was fun though, didn't do it for the money but to keep busy and try something new.
I tell him to teach on U tube because a few times he looked there at people teaching and he said they have no clue what they are doing.

Your hubby should do YouTube videos - I look at those kinds of things all the time.

I'm thinking about this kind of machine - Chinese lathe/mill - for home use.  Interested in professional opinions! 

[img align=C]https://diamondindustrial.co.uk/WebRoot/Store25/Shops/8cb0134d-92f1-4b3b-80c0-3b49d6f02b85/5C41/B95C/4A61/FF00/A837/0A48/355E/C7E9/CL7610300.jpg[/url]

Husband said for a hobby shop it is OK, hard to tell  with a photo. Said the stand could be stronger for the mill and the swing could be larger but it depends on what you use it for.
For little jobs it looks good.Of curse for small little jobs it is fantastic.
He said the stand could be stronger when you use the mill so the isn't too much vibration to hold steady.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

....
Interested in the app repair,  I currently have a pile of old iphones that either have dead batteries, or the IOS is so old, none of the apps work anymore.

I keep all my old phones.  No idea what's on them. If they go in for recycling I'll smash them up with a hammer beforehand.   Maybe cut them up with an angle grinder.   I'd like to dump them really.  We do keep a couple of cheap simple ones as emergency phones in case the main phones go wrong.  So long as you can get the sim card out, then all should be well if one really needs to call for help.

I'm looking for a phone for No. 1 HU Fluffyette but when I see like Samsung 128GB, I keep thinking half of that will be uselessly used by annoying bloatware blocking up resources, slowing performance and interfering like a dead rat stuck in a sewer pipe. 

EU competition should make sure these crappy apps can all be deleted by owners.   In fact, let's separate Android from Google as they are the worst culprits. Apple, yes, maybe iOS separate out too.

The only phone I have that works flawlessly is an old Nokia Windows Phone and MS stopped supporting those, so except for a phone, it's useless.  I need one that can run the NHS app; they wanted over 600 quid for a new phone!

Cynic wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

....
Interested in the app repair,  I currently have a pile of old iphones that either have dead batteries, or the IOS is so old, none of the apps work anymore.

I keep all my old phones.  No idea what's on them. If they go in for recycling I'll smash them up with a hammer beforehand.   Maybe cut them up with an angle grinder.   I'd like to dump them really.  We do keep a couple of cheap simple ones as emergency phones in case the main phones go wrong.  So long as you can get the sim card out, then all should be well if one really needs to call for help.

I'm looking for a phone for No. 1 HU Fluffyette but when I see like Samsung 128GB, I keep thinking half of that will be uselessly used by annoying bloatware blocking up resources, slowing performance and interfering like a dead rat stuck in a sewer pipe. 

EU competition should make sure these crappy apps can all be deleted by owners.   In fact, let's separate Android from Google as they are the worst culprits. Apple, yes, maybe iOS separate out too.

The only phone I have that works flawlessly is an old Nokia Windows Phone and MS stopped supporting those, so except for a phone, it's useless.  I need one that can run the NHS app; they wanted over 600 quid for a new phone!

600 spons is not unusual money.   I think possibly the Nokia you mean is the 6310i which was a very good phone.   I had one for a while and it worked flawlessly.  These days they only last a couple of years - either they get superseded or something fails - usually the screen or battery.   If lucky it might be possible to repair it but might as well go in the bin as obsolete.  They are obsolete by the time you even get it charged up. 

Mobiles are now more like cinema cameras - my kid wants to use it to make videos in UHD 8K.  Entire movies have been filmed on high end mobile phones. 

Even a couple of years ago, I used iPhones to record training and presentations and the quality for video recording was superb. Must be better now.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
Husband said it was fun though, didn't do it for the money but to keep busy and try something new.
I tell him to teach on U tube because a few times he looked there at people teaching and he said they have no clue what they are doing.

Your hubby should do YouTube videos - I look at those kinds of things all the time.

I'm thinking about this kind of machine - Chinese lathe/mill - for home use.  Interested in professional opinions! 

[img align=C]https://diamondindustrial.co.uk/WebRoot/Store25/Shops/8cb0134d-92f1-4b3b-80c0-3b49d6f02b85/5C41/B95C/4A61/FF00/A837/0A48/355E/C7E9/CL7610300.jpg[/url]

Husband said for a hobby shop it is OK, hard to tell  with a photo. Said the stand could be stronger for the mill and the swing could be larger but it depends on what you use it for.
For little jobs it looks good.Of curse for small little jobs it is fantastic.
He said the stand could be stronger when you use the mill so the isn't too much vibration to hold steady.

Thanks!  All noted.    It would only be for little amateur home stuff that needs a bit of turning.   I think the entire thing weighs 300kg so wouldn't move too much. I think it would need bolting down to a concrete floor to keep it steady.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Your hubby should do YouTube videos - I look at those kinds of things all the time.

I'm thinking about this kind of machine - Chinese lathe/mill - for home use.  Interested in professional opinions! 

[img align=C]https://diamondindustrial.co.uk/WebRoot/Store25/Shops/8cb0134d-92f1-4b3b-80c0-3b49d6f02b85/5C41/B95C/4A61/FF00/A837/0A48/355E/C7E9/CL7610300.jpg[/url]

Husband said for a hobby shop it is OK, hard to tell  with a photo. Said the stand could be stronger for the mill and the swing could be larger but it depends on what you use it for.
For little jobs it looks good.Of curse for small little jobs it is fantastic.
He said the stand could be stronger when you use the mill so the isn't too much vibration to hold steady.

Thanks!  All noted.    It would only be for little amateur home stuff that needs a bit of turning.   I think the entire thing weighs 300kg so wouldn't move too much. I think it would need bolting down to a concrete floor to keep it steady.

Yes, husband said the mill could vibrate and parts wouldn't be accurate. I ran a Bridgeport mill but don't know a thing about how to do it! Husband spent time setting the mill just for me with stops so the machine wouldn't get the better of me. The math and skills to do that are out of my pay grade!
My job was to sweep chips off the floor, can't mess that up too much.
Once when we had our own shop in NM, we got a "hot job" meaning had to be done fast.
Our HU nephew just happened to be visiting from Hu for a couple of months.
My husband set up 3 of his machines for us "helpers" to run while he did the important parts himself on his lathe. We did it, not sure how but he set the 3 machines up for us to run with stops.
Amazing to see a craftsman in their element.
Sort of miss those machinist days, I also enjoyed just running around town dropping off finished parts and taking metals into be heat treated.Was easy and fun when it is your own business.
NM was a bit hard to break into though to get parts to do. We did allot at the time for trains. Husband also in between while starting our business had a machinist job making aircraft parts. Areoparts was the co. Wonder if they are still in business?I know they were upset he was moving away and had to quit.
Our shop was leased in an industrial park. The machinist who leased across from us was from the UK. Bernnie was his name,Nice guy but what a strange situation with his American wife and her children.
His step-daughter was about 17 and had a baby. Spitting image of Bernnie! People were talking for sure.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

...
Yes, husband said the mill could vibrate and parts wouldn't be accurate. I ran a Bridgeport mill but don't know a thing about how to do it! Husband spent time setting the mill just for me with stops so the machine wouldn't get the better of me. The math and skills to do that are out of my pay grade!
My job was to sweep chips off the floor, can't mess that up too much.
Once when we had our own shop in NM, we got a "hot job" meaning had to be done fast.
Our HU nephew just happened to be visiting from Hu for a couple of months.
My husband set up 3 of his machines for us "helpers" to run while he did the important parts himself on his lathe. We did it, not sure how but he set the 3 machines up for us to run with stops.
Amazing to see a craftsman in their element.
Sort of miss those machinist days, I also enjoyed just running around town dropping off finished parts and taking metals into be heat treated.Was easy and fun when it is your own business.
NM was a bit hard to break into though to get parts to do. We did allot at the time for trains. Husband also in between while starting our business had a machinist job making aircraft parts. Areoparts was the co. Wonder if they are still in business?I know they were upset he was moving away and had to quit.
...

I hadn't thought about vibration. Just an amateur so don't know much.  Much of my fiddling here is trivial stuff but I could make some other more complex stuff if I had the gear.   Be just a hobby thing and not a business.   

My uncle was a trained blacksmith and went through the full apprenticeship.  He worked as maintenance engineer and made large scale model steam locomotives when he was retired and his wife was ill.  These locomotives were huge - large enough to sit on and pull small carriages.  He completed  one and was nearly finished on the other one when she passed.

Suddenly he sold all his machines, his locos, sold all his tools and converted his workshop into a dance studio!  Who could tell that doing the tango was his secret ambition!  I did however find out when he passed that him and his wife were very keen dancers when they were younger.  I suppose his dance studio was to revisit the past.   He ended up losing his marbles due to Alzheimers.  He was a very talented guy with his locos.   I think one of them is now in a museum.

There's a lot to be said about intricately crafted industrial items - they are beautiful works of art as much as sculptures.

I keep thinking I'd like a forge, the tools and an anvil.  I quite enjoyed that bit of "shop".  My neighbours would go ballistic if they saw that going in.  Noise, smoke, dirt and what have you.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Our shop was leased in an industrial park. The machinist who leased across from us was from the UK. Bernnie was his name,Nice guy but what a strange situation with his American wife and her children.
His step-daughter was about 17 and had a baby. Spitting image of Bernnie! People were talking for sure.

People don't like to talk openly about incest and want to keep it in the family.

Ok, not really a thing to make light of - engaging with his step daughter.  He should know better!

From: https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =7#4940987

Cynic wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Ah Wittering, I remember that place.  One of my GFs Dad was based there. 

If it was a full motion simulator, you'd be into the big bucks and maintenance would be something of a problem.   But owning that, it that would be really something.

It was the full-blown thing; there was no way I could have done what I'd have loved to do.  Assuming I could afford it and the works required to rebuild my garage (and the RAF would sell it to me), there was then the installation and maintenance.  Someone has a MS Flight Sim version, not quite the same though.

I had a joystick with feedback for use with MS FS.  It would provide resistance and act as a stick shaker in a stall.  It was quite interesting to use with the MS FS helicopter as you could turn the stick to act as a rudder.   I still have it somewhere but I think it stopped being supported by MS.   I still have my CH Products yoke and pedals.  They were pretty good and relatively realistic.  On my broken desktop PC, I had multiple screens so I could get more visibility.  Worked quite well but the graphics board failed and the other one wasn't up to it.  About a month ago I tried the PC again and it wouldn't boot up - motherboard problem.  Shame really but better to spend on real flying than a PC.

Problem I have is that my current desktop triple monitor display is based around a Mac and I don't want to put a Windows partition on it when I have 3 other old PC's under my desk that I could use.  My office windows PC behind me is only a dual display; my fault, I should have thought about it more when I built my office.  I considered trying to reclaim what is now the laundry/mudroom (and is physically the other half of my office building),  but that got vetoed in the planning stages.  Once I grow up and accept that I've retired, I'm sure everything will become clear.

Cynic wrote:

Problem I have is that my current desktop triple monitor display is based around a Mac and I don't want to put a Windows partition on it when I have 3 other old PC's under my desk that I could use.  My office windows PC behind me is only a dual display; my fault, I should have thought about it more when I built my office.  I considered trying to reclaim what is now the laundry/mudroom (and is physically the other half of my office building),  but that got vetoed in the planning stages.  Once I grow up and accept that I've retired, I'm sure everything will become clear.

Retired?  You lucky lucky bar steward in the words of Mr Python.   

I reached 60 this year and wish I could give it up, run away and join a travelling circus.   Not easy to be an acrobat or clown in your 60s.  I suppose I could be an elephant trainer or lion tamer instead.

I cannot see me ever retiring - still got quite young kids at home.  I am thinking probably the best move is to be semi-retired.  Because of COVID  I am at home a lot more and much is done by video.

My Mrs said I should do the flying properly now while the weather is good and no-one can go anywhere except around in circles.  I'm thinking of going once or twice a week and aiming for the PPL in about 20 weeks.

Apart from that, there's always gardening.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

Problem I have is that my current desktop triple monitor display is based around a Mac and I don't want to put a Windows partition on it when I have 3 other old PC's under my desk that I could use.  My office windows PC behind me is only a dual display; my fault, I should have thought about it more when I built my office.  I considered trying to reclaim what is now the laundry/mudroom (and is physically the other half of my office building),  but that got vetoed in the planning stages.  Once I grow up and accept that I've retired, I'm sure everything will become clear.

Retired?  You lucky lucky bar steward in the words of Mr Python.   

I reached 60 this year and wish I could give it up, run away and join a travelling circus.   Not easy to be an acrobat or clown in your 60s.  I suppose I could be an elephant trainer or lion tamer instead.

I cannot see me ever retiring - still got quite young kids at home.  I am thinking probably the best move is to be semi-retired.  Because of COVID  I am at home a lot more and much is done by video.

My Mrs said I should do the flying properly now while the weather is good and no-one can go anywhere except around in circles.  I'm thinking of going once or twice a week and aiming for the PPL in about 20 weeks.

Apart from that, there's always gardening.

Kind of had it forced on me when the US multi decided to outsource the regulatory team; so when I did the sums and worked out that my house was paid for; the kids were grown up and left the nest; my Forces pension would become effectively tax-free and you don't pay NI on it; wife working (NHS nurse); I didn't need to work and that was without my private pension I'd built up over the past 25 years since I left the forces and my state pension which I get in 3 months time, plus the odd bit of consulting I do for people who find themselves in bother.  I thought at first I'd miss it, but I'd worked from home for 5 years prior to that, so nothing really changed except my mobile phone number (that was the biggest inconvenience - I'd had that number for 25 years).

COVID has changed nothing for me really; we live in an old mining village in North Yorkshire, not exactly the most lively place, but it's beautiful.  It benefits from having the Chairman of one of the betting companies living just down the road; so we got the fastest broadband fibre-optic installed as part of the BT trial so he could have his house set up for the online gambling.

I don't do gardening. 

The weather is still great to take in some lake time while we can.
i am so spoiled mentally because I still always think the sun will shine tomorrow.Ca. had sunny days forever.
All those fires in Cali now something else. Maybe it will just explode one day from the lava underneath the surface. One huge earthquake and it's done...
No other logical thing comes to mind other then it is ready to go.
We had planned on visiting the US soon even though our son gave up on the place. With all the troubles there now, forget it. No way do we wish to see it right now. Only 2 bufffet's in Vegas are open, can't even get my mind around that.
This was the fall we were going to SE Asia, looks like that isn't happening either.
All good,it is what it is.
Blacksmithing,we knew a HU guy in Ca from Szeged, a real country dude. He made a very good living in S. Ca. making iron fences for homes.
Heard he is back in HU. He had the craziest nick-name ever Zig Zot.
I always think of the Zig-Zag man on cig.mpapers when we discuss this guy.
It is strange that almost every HU person we know has some sort of nick-name. At times I am at a loss when their given names are used.
One guy is Rabbit, one Painter, another Raisin. It gets weird.



Sort of a bummer though to have saved up and not to go.

Cynic wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

Problem I have is that my current desktop triple monitor display is based around a Mac and I don't want to put a Windows partition on it when I have 3 other old PC's under my desk that I could use.  My office windows PC behind me is only a dual display; my fault, I should have thought about it more when I built my office.  I considered trying to reclaim what is now the laundry/mudroom (and is physically the other half of my office building),  but that got vetoed in the planning stages.  Once I grow up and accept that I've retired, I'm sure everything will become clear.

Retired?  You lucky lucky bar steward in the words of Mr Python.   

I reached 60 this year and wish I could give it up, run away and join a travelling circus.   Not easy to be an acrobat or clown in your 60s.  I suppose I could be an elephant trainer or lion tamer instead.

I cannot see me ever retiring - still got quite young kids at home.  I am thinking probably the best move is to be semi-retired.  Because of COVID  I am at home a lot more and much is done by video.

My Mrs said I should do the flying properly now while the weather is good and no-one can go anywhere except around in circles.  I'm thinking of going once or twice a week and aiming for the PPL in about 20 weeks.

Apart from that, there's always gardening.

Kind of had it forced on me when the US multi decided to outsource the regulatory team; so when I did the sums and worked out that my house was paid for; the kids were grown up and left the nest; my Forces pension would become effectively tax-free and you don't pay NI on it; wife working (NHS nurse); I didn't need to work and that was without my private pension I'd built up over the past 25 years since I left the forces and my state pension which I get in 3 months time, plus the odd bit of consulting I do for people who find themselves in bother.  I thought at first I'd miss it, but I'd worked from home for 5 years prior to that, so nothing really changed except my mobile phone number (that was the biggest inconvenience - I'd had that number for 25 years).

COVID has changed nothing for me really; we live in an old mining village in North Yorkshire, not exactly the most lively place, but it's beautiful.  It benefits from having the Chairman of one of the betting companies living just down the road; so we got the fastest broadband fibre-optic installed as part of the BT trial so he could have his house set up for the online gambling.

I don't do gardening. 

Good investment long term having a Forces pension.  Might not have seemed like it at the time though.   

I don't mind gardening but I cannot do as much as I would like to.  Bad back - from gardening.

People always say they are too busy to go to work and I can see that as easily being true in the first 5 years post retirement.  Never ending work here.

I always thought they could pay pensions in advance starting say, 21 years old with a declining balance leading up to zero when the grim reaper arrives.   Then one could go out as one came in, with  nothing and of course have a good time in between. 

The COVID19 thing is supposed to change the entire way of working - offices in towns will close, people will work at home for many service industries.  Others of course must go to work - power stations, factories, hospitals etc.

I heard about a model where the government paying a liveable allowance to every person and any paid work you do on top is gravy.  Quite fancy that.

I have some Clarkes gear - plasma cutter, pillar drill, MIG welder and a compressor. For the price, good, although they are more or less in the 'home use' category, they haven't let me down in the 15 years plus I've had them - and spares still readily available from 'Machine Mart' in the UK although I haven't needed any yet. I brought the whole lot over from a boatbuilding project I was doing in the UK. Were I to go 'professional' though and require stuff for daily use, I'd probably spend more and buy higher quality gear. I also brought over an old British made Myford lathe, must be at least 50 years old and still in perfect order - I wondered if it was worth bringing the lathe over, but it's proved to be really useful for refurbishing my ancient Land Rover and making little round things that lathes are good at.
As for the Chinese made lathes, I've seen them in UK Machine Mart outlets, not too impressed by the build quality and I doubt if they're precise enough for really fine work, but look OK for home/hobby work, and of course a lot cheaper than European equivalents. I went into my local Lidl in Vac last week for some bread & milk, could have bought a plasma cutter and compressor as well while I was there - won't be long before they start selling lathes as well I guess .....

rakfaray wrote:

I have some Clarkes gear - plasma cutter, pillar drill, MIG welder and a compressor. For the price, good, although they are more or less in the 'home use' category, they haven't let me down in the 15 years plus I've had them - and spares still readily available from 'Machine Mart' in the UK although I haven't needed any yet. I brought the whole lot over from a boatbuilding project I was doing in the UK. Were I to go 'professional' though and require stuff for daily use, I'd probably spend more and buy higher quality gear. I also brought over an old British made Myford lathe, must be at least 50 years old and still in perfect order - I wondered if it was worth bringing the lathe over, but it's proved to be really useful for refurbishing my ancient Land Rover and making little round things that lathes are good at.
As for the Chinese made lathes, I've seen them in UK Machine Mart outlets, not too impressed by the build quality and I doubt if they're precise enough for really fine work, but look OK for home/hobby work, and of course a lot cheaper than European equivalents. I went into my local Lidl in Vac last week for some bread & milk, could have bought a plasma cutter and compressor as well while I was there - won't be long before they start selling lathes as well I guess .....

I've also got quite a lot of Clarke stuff - from Machine Mart but also seen others selling it.   It's OK but not perfect.  I have a Clarke fancy torque wrench which lasted about 2 years.  Just couldn't take me using it.  But I've got others which are more specialised  - high torque 250+ Nm and used on setting drag on axle pinions - so not too worried about one going wrong.

I have been considering getting a pillar drill but not sure if I should get a bench one or self-standing. Need more room.  I was thinking the milling head on the Chinese lathe would be very useful.  I don't have anything  seriously accurate to do.  Little round things can only be done on lathes and I'd be thinking only of those.   I wouldn't be machining complex engine parts.  Just cleaning up and maybe making some small stuff.

My brother bought the plasma cutter from Lidl and he says it's pretty good. He's been making some decorative things out of stainless steel.  We don't have a Lidl in our village but maybe they will start selling lathes at Aldi. I might well buy one if it's got the milling machine.

One thing I've been thinking of making is a blasting cabinet as I've got a spare rear axle I need to refurbish. My hobby car had an axle bearing failure a couple of years ago which I repaired but it's very difficult to set up properly  - various shims etc needed - so I thought I'd start with an older axle for refurbing and I can fully get to grips without lying under the car.  Been under or on my workbench for a good couple of years.   I thought I'd make a large box with a replaceable perspex window and somehow glue in some large heavy arm length rubber gloves - like the ones they use to inseminate cows.  If I bought metal sheet and angle iron, I could make a frame and then cut the sheet to fit using the plasma cutter.   Then thick perspex for the window. Then I could blast the axle and really clean it up before repairing it.   I've got a blaster with the soda attachment but doing it outside killed all my grass and it's not come back after a couple of years!

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

The weather is still great to take in some lake time while we can.
i am so spoiled mentally because I still always think the sun will shine tomorrow.Ca. had sunny days forever.
All those fires in Cali now something else. Maybe it will just explode one day from the lava underneath the surface. One huge earthquake and it's done...
No other logical thing comes to mind other then it is ready to go.

Maybe CA will break off, float into the Pacific and become an independent country.   Be about the 6th biggest economy in the world. 

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

We had planned on visiting the US soon even though our son gave up on the place. With all the troubles there now, forget it. No way do we wish to see it right now. Only 2 bufffet's in Vegas are open, can't even get my mind around that.
...
Blacksmithing,we knew a HU guy in Ca from Szeged, a real country dude. He made a very good living in S. Ca. making iron fences for homes.
Heard he is back in HU. He had the craziest nick-name ever Zig Zot.
I always think of the Zig-Zag man on cig.mpapers when we discuss this guy.
It is strange that almost every HU person we know has some sort of nick-name. At times I am at a loss when their given names are used.
One guy is Rabbit, one Painter, another Raisin. It gets weird.

HU guy I knew said he could make money out of anything in LV.  He was planning a mini-golf tournament/World Cup in LV - you know with windmills and hazards etc.  I don't know what happened to his plans.  I suppose if you can make money out of Formula One (wow, going fast around and around, how clever) you can make money out of a  yoghurt pot drumming band.

Getting anywhere these days without hassle is a problem never mind Asia.   I'm coming out of quarantine after 14 full days and it's been a long slog.  I wouldn't fancy this again but I will have to do it come late October/early November.  Last shot before full-on Brexit. 

Brexit, Trump, COVID19, Belarus, Russia, China - so much for living in interesting times, some stability and normality would be better for once.

Yes, poor Cali is being hit hard.
Not sure any longer but yes, in the US if you wanted to make money and had half an oz. of energy t but your ideas into action, it was possible to make it.
I sometimes think back on my father.
He was gifted in looks and brains but so lazy.
In the 1950's even he could buy a house and new car every few years, we were the first in our hod to have a tv set too.
I remember my unlces and aunts my father's younger siblings, they at teh time seemed ,"poorer" then we were but now, good grief, not sure how but most all my cousins are very well off and have traveled the world. Still enjoying the fruits f the labors even during this hard time.
Back when their parents were young if you kept your ob and family together you had a good chance of being comfortable.
Even in 1971 when my husband arrived t the US from a refugee camp , times were not bad.
He said within just one year od living and working in the US he had "everything" he thought would make him happy when he was in Hungary. Car, nice apt. clothing and extra money for fun.
one year isn't very long either.
Now, it looks like those times are gone or at least on hold.
Have fun getting out in the world again, feels great to have the sun on your face.
I haven't been keeping on on Britex.Too many things going on at once.
Guess they will be requiring UK citizens to register here?
Not sure but sounds like it won't be too bad, you will be treated just like us Americans, like 3rd world people, that's what we are called at immigration.
We actually went into the city hall a few weeks back and had the clerk give us all the forms to try for HU citizenship for me.
We'll see, so far they are just sitting there with the rest of our to do list.
It's a good thing I never,"wrote that book" because on the forms there is a page where they wish you to give your life's story. Hmm, should I go fact or fiction? No really when you put it down on paper I might come up with one or two short lines about my life. Not anything so special after all.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

......
Even in 1971 when my husband arrived t the US from a refugee camp , times were not bad.
He said within just one year od living and working in the US he had "everything" he thought would make him happy when he was in Hungary. Car, nice apt. clothing and extra money for fun.
one year isn't very long either.
Now, it looks like those times are gone or at least on hold.
Have fun getting out in the world again, feels great to have the sun on your face.
I haven't been keeping on on Britex.Too many things going on at once.
Guess they will be requiring UK citizens to register here?
Not sure but sounds like it won't be too bad, you will be treated just like us Americans, like 3rd world people, that's what we are called at immigration.
We actually went into the city hall a few weeks back and had the clerk give us all the forms to try for HU citizenship for me.
We'll see, so far they are just sitting there with the rest of our to do list.
It's a good thing I never,"wrote that book" because on the forms there is a page where they wish you to give your life's story. Hmm, should I go fact or fiction? No really when you put it down on paper I might come up with one or two short lines about my life. Not anything so special after all.

Interesting - "everything he thought would make him happy".  So I guess all that stuff and lifestyle wasn't enough?  It's obvious what was missing  and that was YOU!

On immigration, yes, we British will become 3rd country nationals.   We always had to register if we were here over 90 days but many people were incredibly lazy and laissez-faire and many just didn't bother.  We had our EHIC (European Health Cards) from the UK and could access all health services just like locals.  Our driving licenses were interchangeable and we had no restrictions on owning property etc. At the border, we just went through the e-gates and queued up at the EU passport counter. 

That's all about to change.  The UK Embassy told everyone to get properly registered so there was a slow rush at the immigration to do that.   In theory we retain all our rights to residence and access once registered but the actual agreement on leaving is not completed so we have no real idea what is going to go on.  While we can live with the UK being out the EU, some continuity would be good.  It's not a good idea for HU citizens in the UK either.  They are being given the same kinds of rights as we have here but it's much more open there for them. 

I keep thinking I should be able to get citizenship as I've been here long enough but I cannot pass the language exam at all.  I never bothered to learn Hungarian properly as I never needed it for work so there wasn't much incentive other than Mrs Fluffy and it was more important she spoke English due to our extensive travels.   Sure, I know plenty of words and phrases but I'm useless conversationally. I put all my effort into other language skills for work purposes and that was more about keeping up with German.  Now I find myself possibly the wrong side of 60 and with fewer brain cells available for learning Hungarian.

Ref the language - one of the 'curses' of being a native english speaker is that wherever you go, there's bound to be a local who can speak at least passable english, so there's not much incentive for an anglophone to learn the local lingo. This can sometimes give you a slight sense of inferiority because you're quite often talking to someone who can speak your own language, as well as their own ..... Hungarian is not a particularly easy language, but I can manage the basics such as ordering a beer, saying 'thankyou', 'good morning' and 'f*** off' (not normally used in the same sentence). I find that most younger Hungarians can speak at least some english, some very well - older ones usually have some German. I lived for a while in Algeria, where the main languages were French and Arabic, english was pretty rare, and as a result I quickly picked up a passable competence in French. My problem in Hungary is that I live in the 'sticks', my only neighbour being my brother, and his Hungarian wife who speaks really good english - were I to move to Budapest though, and avoid english speakers, I'm pretty sure I could pick up basic Hungarian pretty quickly. The thing I find a bit strange here is that many everyday consumer items, such as cans of beans, soap powder etc, have their names and description in English, although the usage instructions are typically in Hungarian, Slovakian, Romanian etc - it's the EU I suppose. One thing I've noticed is that many Hungarian words are very similar to Turkish words (of which I know a little) - when I've remarked on this sometimes it seems that I've touched a raw nerve because I've been told "No - that's a Hungarian word !" ...

rakfaray wrote:

Ref the language - one of the 'curses' of being a native english speaker is that wherever you go, there's bound to be a local who can speak at least passable english, so there's not much incentive for an anglophone to learn the local lingo. This can sometimes give you a slight sense of inferiority because you're quite often talking to someone who can speak your own language, as well as their own ..... Hungarian is not a particularly easy language, but I can manage the basics such as ordering a beer, saying 'thankyou', 'good morning' and 'f*** off' (not normally used in the same sentence). I find that most younger Hungarians can speak at least some english, some very well - older ones usually have some German. I lived for a while in Algeria, where the main languages were French and Arabic, english was pretty rare, and as a result I quickly picked up a passable competence in French. My problem in Hungary is that I live in the 'sticks', my only neighbour being my brother, and his Hungarian wife who speaks really good english - were I to move to Budapest though, and avoid english speakers, I'm pretty sure I could pick up basic Hungarian pretty quickly. The thing I find a bit strange here is that many everyday consumer items, such as cans of beans, soap powder etc, have their names and description in English, although the usage instructions are typically in Hungarian, Slovakian, Romanian etc - it's the EU I suppose. One thing I've noticed is that many Hungarian words are very similar to Turkish words (of which I know a little) - when I've remarked on this sometimes it seems that I've touched a raw nerve because I've been told "No - that's a Hungarian word !" ...

That's the problem with international working,  knowledge of many languages and master of none.  I can also use all those phrases and I regularly use the last one when driving.  Even Mrs Fluffy knows the English versions when driving.   

We've got two kids here both of whom are bilingual dual citizens one of whom is a teenager so gets the hump when asked to help with anything, never mind translating.  The other one refuses to speak about anything much despite knowing both languages.  Always asks Mum to translate, even when I want something. Weird.

I think those labels they stick on are local regulations.  It's really annoying they stick them over English when they'd be better sticking it over the Mongolian or Georgian or whatever.  I have to pick them off.  In Aldi, I can usually read the German labels or mix it up with Hungarian to get the local gist of it.

Most Hungarians haven't a clue so it's not worth asking them.

Some words are the same in Turkish or connected.   If you look in the airport in Istanbul the Turkish word for gate is "kapi" which is pronounced "kapu".  And of course, here in HU, it's kapu for gate. 

There are big discussions if the word "Tessék" in HU is the same in Turkish as "teşek".  It sounds almost the same to me.  But the meaning is different - "Here you are" in HU and "Thanks" in Turkish. 

I once tried to draw a parallel with "Bitte" in German when you hand something to someone and I got blank looks.

So not sure if there's mileage in making these connections. 

My theory is to look at the oldest words like church and fish to see if they are the same but I've found it doesn't work with say Hungarian and Finnish or Estonian.  Hungarian is supposed to be in the same branch as those.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

......
Even in 1971 when my husband arrived t the US from a refugee camp , times were not bad.
He said within just one year od living and working in the US he had "everything" he thought would make him happy when he was in Hungary. Car, nice apt. clothing and extra money for fun.
one year isn't very long either.
Now, it looks like those times are gone or at least on hold.
Have fun getting out in the world again, feels great to have the sun on your face.
I haven't been keeping on on Britex.Too many things going on at once.
Guess they will be requiring UK citizens to register here?
Not sure but sounds like it won't be too bad, you will be treated just like us Americans, like 3rd world people, that's what we are called at immigration.
We actually went into the city hall a few weeks back and had the clerk give us all the forms to try for HU citizenship for me.
We'll see, so far they are just sitting there with the rest of our to do list.
It's a good thing I never,"wrote that book" because on the forms there is a page where they wish you to give your life's story. Hmm, should I go fact or fiction? No really when you put it down on paper I might come up with one or two short lines about my life. Not anything so special after all.

Interesting - "everything he thought would make him happy".  So I guess all that stuff and lifestyle wasn't enough?  It's obvious what was missing  and that was YOU!

On immigration, yes, we British will become 3rd country nationals.   We always had to register if we were here over 90 days but many people were incredibly lazy and laissez-faire and many just didn't bother.  We had our EHIC (European Health Cards) from the UK and could access all health services just like locals.  Our driving licenses were interchangeable and we had no restrictions on owning property etc. At the border, we just went through the e-gates and queued up at the EU passport counter. 

That's all about to change.  The UK Embassy told everyone to get properly registered so there was a slow rush at the immigration to do that.   In theory we retain all our rights to residence and access once registered but the actual agreement on leaving is not completed so we have no real idea what is going to go on.  While we can live with the UK being out the EU, some continuity would be good.  It's not a good idea for HU citizens in the UK either.  They are being given the same kinds of rights as we have here but it's much more open there for them. 

I keep thinking I should be able to get citizenship as I've been here long enough but I cannot pass the language exam at all.  I never bothered to learn Hungarian properly as I never needed it for work so there wasn't much incentive other than Mrs Fluffy and it was more important she spoke English due to our extensive travels.   Sure, I know plenty of words and phrases but I'm useless conversationally. I put all my effort into other language skills for work purposes and that was more about keeping up with German.  Now I find myself possibly the wrong side of 60 and with fewer brain cells available for learning Hungarian.

My Hungarian is embarrassing after being married to a well spoken Hungarian for so long.
I was discouraged so many times about learning that I no longer really care.
My husband doesn't want me to speak bad  Hungarian with horrilble grammar. He makes it so hard I give up.
The good news I think... when I got my papers for citizenship and lady sat with us for a spell and asked questions before digging out the book of forms for us to fill out.
She asked if I spoke Hungarian or not. We said no but we heard for those over age 60, they are sometimes willing to let that part slide.
Husband told me she wouldn't of bothered digging up and sorting out all those forms if it wasn't possible.
She said in the end it takes 6 to 9 months to be approved and the pres of Hungary makes the choices.
We will have to see, big challenge to fill out those forms and get all the paperwork in order again.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
My Hungarian is embarrassing after being married to a well spoken Hungarian for so long.
I was discouraged so many times about learning that I no longer really care.
My husband doesn't want me to speak bad  Hungarian with horrible grammar. He makes it so hard I give up.
The good news I think... when I got my papers for citizenship and lady sat with us for a spell and asked questions before digging out the book of forms for us to fill out.
She asked if I spoke Hungarian or not. We said no but we heard for those over age 60, they are sometimes willing to let that part slide.
Husband told me she wouldn't of bothered digging up and sorting out all those forms if it wasn't possible.
She said in the end it takes 6 to 9 months to be approved and the pres of Hungary makes the choices.
We will have to see, big challenge to fill out those forms and get all the paperwork in order again.

Wow, if you can get citizenship simply by asking it would be a surprise.   If that works, maybe you can share.   You're qualified in many areas as many of the ticks in the boxes you must surely have.

I don't know about the language knowledge not being so important - a lot of effort goes into discussing it as evidenced by others posting in these forums. 

I know over 60s don't need to pass the constitutional exam - that's been like that for some years.   In the law though the language skills are still a requirement.  Maybe you know know enough anyway.  I think you'd have to recite the oath in Hungarian. But might not be too bad though to learn a few lines.

View around here is the President is a political pushover so perhaps he'll sign anything if you have sufficient support and connections from the right people.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
My Hungarian is embarrassing after being married to a well spoken Hungarian for so long.
I was discouraged so many times about learning that I no longer really care.
My husband doesn't want me to speak bad  Hungarian with horrible grammar. He makes it so hard I give up.
The good news I think... when I got my papers for citizenship and lady sat with us for a spell and asked questions before digging out the book of forms for us to fill out.
She asked if I spoke Hungarian or not. We said no but we heard for those over age 60, they are sometimes willing to let that part slide.
Husband told me she wouldn't of bothered digging up and sorting out all those forms if it wasn't possible.
She said in the end it takes 6 to 9 months to be approved and the pres of Hungary makes the choices.
We will have to see, big challenge to fill out those forms and get all the paperwork in order again.

Wow, if you can get citizenship simply by asking it would be a surprise.   If that works, maybe you can share.   You're qualified in many areas as many of the ticks in the boxes you must surely have.

I don't know about the language knowledge not being so important - a lot of effort goes into discussing it as evidenced by others posting in these forums. 

I know over 60s don't need to pass the constitutional exam - that's been like that for some years.   In the law though the language skills are still a requirement.  Maybe you know know enough anyway.  I think you'd have to recite the oath in Hungarian. But might not be too bad though to learn a few lines.

View around here is the President is a political pushover so perhaps he'll sign anything if you have sufficient support and connections from the right people.

Had this conversation with Kevin before he took the hump over it. It is worth looking into it because there are quite a few countries that allow it without taking a language test and you are over 60 years old and married to a citizen of your adopted country.

But if you give up your USA citizenship, that is quite pricey to do so.

SimCityAT wrote:

But if you give up your USA citizenship, that is quite pricey to do so.

You do not have to give up your US citizenship to get HU citizenship.
Countries such as Japan only allow you to be a citizen of Japan.
Our son was first a US citizen then in his teens he got HU citizenship as well.
He lived in HU for well over a year with his HU wife. Never had any issues.
Had a HU passport and a HU birth certificate given to him as well.
I don't care really, so beyond  it all at this point in time but it could come in handy in the future.
I'd actually enjoy learning the HU constitution and even giving a go at saying an oath in Hungarian.
It's just when people rapid fire words at me is when I just turn off.
I am sure I'd be speaking pretty good Hungarian by now if we hadn't moved to the city where it seems like everyone wants to speak English. Makes me lazy.
My one grandfather was born in the US but his first language was German.The other was also born in the US but had such a heavy Ruysn/Lemko accent you'd think he just got off the turnip truck.
Well actually, he was the first generation of Rusyn's in the family to be born in the US. Both of his parents were Ruysn and spoke it at home. Sounds almost like Ukrainian or Polish but slightly different.
My grandfather on dad's side spoke perfect Russian and a few other Slavic languages.
He was unlucky enough to visit relations in former Hungarian lands now part of SE Poland. Just a click N of  Slovakia.6km to be exact. Well he got drafted on his family visit into the Czars Army and found himself living in eastern Europe for a long few years. Got married there and had 2 children before returning to the US. Crazy tale for sure.
Growing up we would ask our father where he was born, always a different story, first we were Ukrainian, then Polish then from over there, not sure why he kept it so secret but I read that for a very short time after the war the Ruysn people had their own country, then Russia said no way and now they are called, Rus or Ukrainians they are also Carpatho Ruysn or Highlanders . Andy Warhols parents were both Ruysn.One thing that was interesting when we visited the village where my father was born9 still a pop of 150) was they were so proud of their Ruysn museum. I had no clue what it was about until I saw it. They used to make a world famous axle grease for wagons and coaches that was the best in the world. Very expensive made from some sort of tree bark. They had the names of the founders of the trade in the museum. Out of about 10 names, 6 were sporting my maiden surname. That was a surprise to me. They had maps of their old trading routes and the came right here into Budapest and beyond.
My father had to learn English at age 7 when he arrived in the US and started school.
I wondered why Kevin wasn't posting any longer, he is missed, he had great comments.

SimCityAT wrote:

...
Had this conversation with Kevin before he took the hump over it. It is worth looking into it because there are quite a few countries that allow it without taking a language test and you are over 60 years old and married to a citizen of your adopted country.

Ah, Mr Picky and somewhat Pompous himself, not RIP but RIB, Rest in Balaton.  Maybe he'll come back as someone else or he's inhabiting Facebook forums now.   Shame really as he was quite engaging.

I've heard that sort of thing before about citizenship but I thought Hungary wasn't one of them. 

I read the law a while back and it says one could be naturalised if you were incapable of language capable by reason of say, physical or mental defect.   

I am quite happy to declare either of those - I bashed my knee the other day on a wall and the shock stopped me learning anything new and caused me to watch Netflix too much during quarantine.  I'm now suffering from too much TV which is causing a mental defect manifesting itself as lack of interest*.



*cheap shots for serious problems, mea culpa.

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

...
Had this conversation with Kevin before he took the hump over it. It is worth looking into it because there are quite a few countries that allow it without taking a language test and you are over 60 years old and married to a citizen of your adopted country.

Ah, Mr Picky and somewhat Pompous himself, not RIP but RIB, Rest in Balaton.  Maybe he'll come back as someone else or he's inhabiting Facebook forums now. 

I've heard that sort of thing before about citizenship but I thought Hungary wasn't one of them. 

I read the law a while back and it says one could be naturalised if you were incapable of language capable by reason of say, physical or mental defect.   

I am quite happy to declare either of those - I bashed my knee the other day on a wall and the shock stopped me learning anything new and caused me to watch Netflix too much during quarantine.  I'm now suffering from too much TV which is causing a mental defect manifesting itself as lack of interest*.



*cheap shots for serious problems, mea culpa.

There is another Hungarian film on Netflix now. It is in Hungarian with subtitles, Called,"Tall Tales".

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

...
There is another Hungarian film on Netflix now. It is in Hungarian with subtitles, Called,"Tall Tales".

Ooo...thanks, is it a OV political drama?

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

...
Had this conversation with Kevin before he took the hump over it. It is worth looking into it because there are quite a few countries that allow it without taking a language test and you are over 60 years old and married to a citizen of your adopted country.

Ah, Mr Picky and somewhat Pompous himself, not RIP but RIB, Rest in Balaton.  Maybe he'll come back as someone else or he's inhabiting Facebook forums now. 

I've heard that sort of thing before about citizenship but I thought Hungary wasn't one of them. 

I read the law a while back and it says one could be naturalised if you were incapable of language capable by reason of say, physical or mental defect.   

I am quite happy to declare either of those - I bashed my knee the other day on a wall and the shock stopped me learning anything new and caused me to watch Netflix too much during quarantine.  I'm now suffering from too much TV which is causing a mental defect manifesting itself as lack of interest*.



*cheap shots for serious problems, mea culpa.

There is another Hungarian film on Netflix now. It is in Hungarian with subtitles, Called,"Tall Tales".

There are lots....