The ham turned out to be really delicious — we cooked eggs with them as usual to give them a smoky flavour. My family has been having cooked ham and boiled eggs for supper on every Saturday for more than twenty years. On Easter Mondays I used to visit my female relatives and and friends, and sprinkle them with perfume for some eggs and occasionally for some cash. A really stupid custom, and to make it even worse, you have to tell some stupid poems before the sprinkling.

Well, I am going to do some hovering, because we have parents coming for dinner, and we want to flat to be really spick and span.

Then he woke up, he was fed and then Mum could play with him for a while. They all encouraged me to hold him, but I did not dare. He was the smallest human being I have ever seen, and he seemed so vulnerable — I was terrified of accidentally dropping him. They asked me what will happen to my child. Well, I definitely hope that some child-holding mechanism or gene will be activated in me till then.

This was also the first time I saw my sister’s apartment in Eger. It is really cozy, although I felt that when choosing the wall’s colors and the lightning, athmosphere was much important then to actually be able to see. The boy’s room, however, was quite bright and friendly — I especially liked the toy crabs on the wall.

We ate the pastrys my sister’s husband baked for us in the meantime. It was a Hungarian pastry which was made by my Mum’s grandmother’s sister especially often. She could do it the best, although Robi’s was also excellent.

We decided to do something useful instead; so we visited the neighborhood of the house I grew up in, and took some photos of some good-looking scenes.

I have serious orientation problems, and I always had. I have a hard time finding my way at places I do not know well enough. My parents were annoyed of this, and did some serious — and, sorrily, completely futile — efforts to improve this situation. We went to the top of the hill we lived at quite frequently — soon it became my task to lead the family there. I got lost and frustrated fairly often — until I found a street with lot of stairs going straight up.

At the top of the hill is a small forest. There is a really scenic view, some really nice-looking glades, and a strange monument erected for the leader of the Hungarian Jacobine Club, Ignác Martinovics. I loved to play here when I was a child. I imagined this place to be a secret fortress among huge, snow-covered mountains, where warriors fight each other with stone axes. (I even made my own stone axe each time we went up there.) Now I saw it is still a popular place among young children. However, when it was time for them to have lunch, we were able to shoot some photos with V.

Then we had to hurry to Mum’s since she waited us with some superb lunch. So, in spite of the terrible and irritated morning at the photo course, we managed to have a really nice day at the end.

This day was about the light modifiers — reflectors, grids, umbreallas, softboxes and dishes. We had to make photos on the entire scene, and two closer ones on the models to be able to study the effects of the modifiers. Since we were insturcted to concentrate on the task and not to stop fiddling with the composition, the pictures, as photographs, are really worthless. Except the last one — this time I could not resist giving some instructions to the model. She said it was the best photo of her taken this day. I took it as a compliment, because some guys at the studio simply ignored the teacher’s instructions about fast and effective work. They acted as if they tried to shoot the title page of the Vogue instead.

Unfortunately, we simply could not bear to stay for the last two hours of the course. These “Vogue” boys and girls insisted on acting like idiots, and since the last part of the course was meant to be a kind of treat, we left and treated ourselves elsewhere instead.

We soon became friends, and I remember him being the most interesting person I ever met during my eleven years spent at the university. He is also the only one who is always open to an honest and constructive debate. That’s how our relationship turned to be really serious, almost intimate: discussing countless topics through e-mail. I think he is one of the persons who inspired me to learn to form my arguments more clearly and logically.

Being someone really close to me, he also helped me getting through two or three serious break-ups. He was with me when I had to make the most important decisions in my life. I can only hope that I was able to return some of this support during the years spent together.

When his girlfriend, Zsófi organized his surprise-birthday party in a cozy pub in the city, she asked us to bring some photos about Balu and about our common memories. She collected the pictures in two thick. nice-looking albums.

I only make photos regularly since I got my first digital camera in 2004. However, I was able to collect a lot of photos which picture important or memorable moments of us. Here are a few of them.

This photo was taken in May, 2004, on an excursion organized by the editor-in-chief of the university newspaper we both worked at. What surprised me when finding this picture on my old computer, that he seems so young, while it was taken barely four years ago. However, when I thought it over, I realized that he did changed a lot in the last years — and not just his looks.

These are our footprints on the bank of the Danube, near to their house in Göd. Mine is the smaller one; the funny thing is that we basically are the same height. This photo was taken when I visited him at the end of the summer. We were walking and talking by the Danube and somehow I felt that I needed to swim. It was strange, because I nearly never swim in natural waters. However, it was so much fun, that two days later I went back and swam again — now I even took my swimming trunks with me. Being at Göd with Balu is always a nice and peaceful experience.

In 2005, I started to organize small parties for my friends. We had a few drinks, played pool, and talked a lot. I always tried to make sure that Balu is there at these occasions. He is funny, and really easy-going; he is kind with everybody, so when he was there, he also helped me to keep the group together. It was really helpful, since my friends did not necessarily knew each other. I was always imrpessed how easily is Balu able to start a conversation with someone he never met. This is an ability I always lacked, and always admired in him.

An other newspaper excursion with an almost entirely changed staff in 2006. By that time, Balu became a very good and experienced columnist and editor at the paper. He also won two awards given for university journalists. A year later we started to hold a course together on university journalism.

A trip to Szilvásvárad in 2007. We were on holiday at the same part of the country, so we spent one day together. We made a small excursion, and then we visited Eger and finished the day in a very nice confectionery.

This photo (shot by V.) was also taken at Szilvásvárad. Once I stated Balu and Zsófi to be my “favorite dream couple”. This is a very nice and typical moment of theirs. I hope it is also a nice way to say thank you for the excellently organized surprise party to Zsófi.

Well, I not only forgot how to skate, but the delicate art of putting on the skates also slipped out of my mind. First it was so tight that I simply could not bear the grasp of the plastic around my feet. When I loosened the buckles, I almost left my skates behind. It took me an hour and maybe 10 test circles around the rink to adjust it properly.

However, that was nothing compared to my problem with my skills. It seemed simply impossible to hold my balance. I must have looked like Tom from Tom and Jerry, constantly leaning back and forth, occasionally (well, frequently) windmilling with my arms. And when I finally fell, I landed with a mighty crash, making the young girls scream around me.

V.’s performance also increased my frustration. Skating wonderfully, in a regular style, backwards, in “skiing style”, jumping, spinning etc she was just the exact opposite of me. Of course, I never ambitioned mastering this kind of tricks, but if I recall that I was able to skate for hours without the danger of falling, it literally hurts.

I need more practice. Soon.

This time we were much smarter. Unlike last year did not planned to do anything special (besides being at V.’s house). Ee played on the computer, talked, had some champagne with V.’s Dad. We did not watch television — in fact, we just swichted it on just to know when midnight was.

Next day, I was a bit sad while packing my things. Usually I do not mind going home after a few days of holiday, but this time it was too nice, too peaceful, too perfect to leave it behind easily. It was a very wonderful way to spend the holidays: I hope we will have some more Christmas like this.

On the 2nd of January, a very few people of the staff could be seen at my workplace. As it turned out later, even I wasn’t obliged to go there. I did not mind it, however: that day with the dizzy people around and with the small amount of work to do was an excellent warming up.

Though Kökény is only 7 kms from Pécs, it was much simpler to go by bus. We got on the bus — the driver typed “250″ in the ticket machine, asked for 350 forints, and gave no tickets. Naturally, I made my complaint at the station. Then I only thought that the driver steals the money of the bus company. Going back to Kökény in the evening, it turned out the two tickets actually cost 250 forints. I realized that the guy was stealing from me, too. I am eagerly waiting for the company’s answer. (V.’s Mum said that I should have solved the situation with the driver. I do not think so. First, I am not dealing with bastards. Second, if I make a written complaint, I have some chance not only to solve the given case, but to improve the overall situation. As I know Hungarian bureaucracy, the driver will regret stealing, if we only look at his administrative tasks concerning the case.)

Our primary destination was a small, unique restaurant where V. wanted me to taste the tartar steak. It was better than good, it was gorgeous — finely grounded, excellently spiced and served with fresh, just perfectly toasted bread. The place also had a really nice atmosphere. If you are at Pécs and want a nice place to eat, drink or have a coffee, I really recommend Áfium Restaurant.

After lunch, we planned to visit the Vasarely Museum; unfortunately, the exhibition is currently on a European tour. So we went to see the Csontváry exhibition instead. He is one of my favorite Hungarian painters. A few years ago, when I sent postcards more frequently, I regularly picked the ones with his paintings.

On the street of the museums, V. showed me two grids made of iron bars, covered with padlocks locked onto them. V. was surprised that I never heard of this place. Each padlock was put on by a couple which wanted to demonstrate the strength of their feelings.

We had some shopping to do, so we went to the shopping mall. We bought what V’s Mum needed for the supper and the tomorrow cake, and we decided to have some icecream. There is a large confectionery in the mall. We were there in the summer: they had superb ice cream and V. definitely wanted to have some more today. Being full with the tartar steak, I was rather sleepy, so I also had some cofee. The ice cream was just as good as in the summer.

After finishing the ice creams, we sat there, talking, spending the time until we had to leave for the bus station. Suddenly a waiter come to our table (not the waitress who served us). He stood their motionlessly for at least thirty seconds, like the Angel of Death reminding us to our mortality. I told him that he can take away our glasses if that was why he was here. He did not say a word, just tugged our bill on the table, murmured something and left. I did not understand the situation so I got up and asked him to come back when he is not busy. Then our waitress came to the table and asked what the problem was. I told her that we had this little embarrassing scene — she assured us that we did not have to bother with it.

A few minutes later, the guy came back with some cakes wrapped in paper and a plastic bag, put it on our table and left without a single word. Again, I got up and asked for explanation. He said these were our biscuits. I told him we had not ordered biscuits, while he tried to convince me that we not only had, but we had even paid for it. It took a long time and a really tedious conversation to make him understand that someone probably mixed the tables. I definitely felt that I needed the manager — this was much more embarrasment than I was prepared for by having an icecream. The manager was also stunned, so she offered us not to pay for our ice creams. That’s how we had two enermous glass of icecream for free. However, we still felt that it would be really uncomfortable to stay, so we went to an electronic shop instead and V. bought me a new mouse.

It fits to my hand, and its roller is much better than my previous one’s was. It does not glow for a change. I am happy with it, just like with our afternoon. I like when there is no time left to be bored.

This year I got a new wallet and pajamas — V. thought it is better than sleeping in old T-shirts. We even had a Christmas tree this year. I haven’t had one since I moved apart from my family. We started our own Christmas decoration collection — we even bought color lamps.

On the 24^th I was at Mum’s place. She made a very special (and delicious) fish for supper. I got suits from her, so it’s not a problem anymore to follow the dressing code of my new workplace. I also got the lates novel of Umberto Eco, which seems just as enthralling as the previous ones. We also played cards as there was nothing interesting on TV. Two years ago there was a really lovely Audrey Hepburn film, but this year they could only come up with K-9.

I spent the entire next day with my (pregnant) sister and with her husband. We had lunch together at Mum’s and we had tea at Dad’s. After that, they kindly took me to the railway station — I will spend the rest of the year at V’s parents’ house. I type this post on the train. A really strange guy is sitting opposite to me with an enermous, messy beard and shabby clothes. I bet he works at some university’s faculty of arts, as he was not able to put his bag on the luggage rack. Lucky him! I was at hand.

When shopping for myself, I usually know exactly what I need and I know where to find it. At such times, I am extremely quick.

On the workshop I recently mentioned many participants were complaining that they have no time for Christmas shopping. I did not really understand what they were talking about. The majority of Christmas shopping starts in your head. You have to imagine what kind of present would fit your loved ones; then you just have to go and get it. That’s how I bought everyone’s presents in two short trips. They are nice, personalized gifts, there is reasonable hope that the recipients will like them (there is always some risk in giving presents, isn’t there?). So I can relax.

Except, of course, if I forgot about someone. It happened last year, and I had to dig up something far after the last minute. Fortunately there was some lovely book-seller who thought of the absent-minded guys like me. However, I do hope it will not happen this year.