Third Time Lucky

Plans for Budapest

Two weeks today I shall be in Budapest with Sveta. I just booked the tickets. That has pretty much wiped me out financially but thats ok, Im going to start paying myself this month and so things should get a little easier.

Its so long since I have seen Sveta, its so long since I have had a holiday and I will have never been away from the business as long as this before. All three factors are going to require some mental adjustment PRIOR to going on holiday. I suspect that the worst thing that I could do is just go on holiday as it will take me about 3 days to relax, during which time I shall be completely unbearable

Required: Reading Material

If I am to take the train to Budapest then I will need copious amounts of reading material. Work prevents me from having much time to scour bookshops and therefore if anyone has some recommendations I would be grateful.

Train or Plane and what time is tea?

Sveta, may God Bless her Cuteness, remains convinced that "tea" in England is served at 5 ' o clock. It was what she was taught at school and nothing that I can say or do can persuade her that this is another type of "tea" and that the tea that she is thinking of happens around 3:30 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

The first long conversation that Sveta and I ever had was on this issue.

Tomeck, the second chef ( aka The Kitchen Bitch/Cyka/Dziwka) can now say in English

"Exactly!"

" Lovely Boss!"

" I love you,. Boss"

" Did I get money today?"

"Can I have beer, please?"

I kid you not. Its a strange household.

3 Little Questions

Did I miss something? There appear to be large battles and a major NATO offensive on-going in Panjwayi district. Apparently the district is under the control of the Taleban who are "deeply entrenched". We know that it must be a serious offensive as the USAF has started shooting the Canadians. [Really, those chaps in the USAF ought to stop that. I remember that more British troops died in Gulf War I from US fire than from Iraqi fire....but thats another story.]