Absolutely Anything Else

Final
- @SimCityAT
BBC is saying Australia and Finland are hot faves to win. I might watch, I might not. I'm not at home right now and I don't know how long it will run. Hours I think! - @fluffy2560

8pm - 11.50pm BST

Final
- @SimCityAT
BBC is saying Australia and Finland are hot faves to win. I might watch, I might not. I'm not at home right now and I don't know how long it will run. Hours I think! - @fluffy2560
Running?
Never watch sports coverage so am guessing this is a long running race?
My brother used to run every Saturday as a teenager for 26 miles.
Down LA Blvd; In Simi and over the windy pass road into the San Frenando Valley;
Left in the morning and came home after dinnertime.
Took a shower and slept in all day Sunday.
My first ex BIL was on the track team at UCSB. A super skinny guy.
I did a light run with him once when I stayed with them in Santa Barbara. Boring is all I can remember.
Tried the jogging fad in the 70,s found it dull and my knees were not happy.
It is not a rich man,s sport like golf or tennis, just need a good track and decent pair of shoes.
Oh, and a good pair of knees. - @Marilyn Tassy

It's the Eurovision Song Contest. Height of kitsch, glitter, glamour and nonsense - European style.

It's completely nuts and even weirder is Australia participating.  They are members of the European Broadcast Union (EBU) so they get a slot to perform.

Maybe the US gets involved sometime - have to join the EBU for that.  Will Ferrell is a kind of "ambassador" for it since he appeared in a movie as the Icelandic entry.

Hungary might not broadcast it due to OV legacy BS but accessible on YT otherwise.

@fluffy2560

...and there is also this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervision_2026

Oh,Eurovision.

I do not follow current music trends.

Classic rock only.

I used to be a die hard Stones fan but have only listened to a couple of tunes off their new LP.

Is it an LP or CD or Tape, really have not been in a music shop in forever or bought any music in ages.

Used to save all my lunch money and baby sitting money to buy records with but these days I do not care.

I saw my old LP collection in Vegas when I was there. My SIL,s son said they were worth a few bucks.

So far the climate controlled room has kept them from wrapping.

Maybe someday if I had the time I could try selling them off, might pay for a vacation, maybe just a weekend in a motel 6 room? IDK, not sure what they would go for.

My DIL,s grandmother passed yesterday in Japan. Not sure how old she was; My son said she was nice to him.

He is getting a new suit today as there will be a 2 day long traditional funeral for her and he needs to wear a black suit and tie. Hope he can find one that fits him, 6 foot 3 in Japan is not really off the rack.

Today will be a day of prayers with a monk and tomorrow will be the bone picking day.

That I hope he is ready for, not for the faint hearted westerner.

I have and will be sending prayers too. Sad.

Oh,Eurovision.I do not follow current music trends. - @Marilyn Tassy

Eurovision doesn't have a music trend. It covers all music genres. Europop, rock, classical, and even opera. Its all for a bit of fun.

Eurovision was created by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in 1956 to test the limits of nascent transnational live television and to create shared, cost-effective entertainment for European nations still rebuilding after World War II.

How Australian pop star Delta Goodrem went from Neighbours to cancer ordeal to Eurovision darling

UK Entry - most definitely not the current music trend in the UK.

Oh,Eurovision.I do not follow current music trends. - @Marilyn Tassy
Eurovision doesn't have a music trend. It covers all music genres. Europop, rock, classical, and even opera. Its all for a bit of fun.
Eurovision was created by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in 1956 to test the limits of nascent transnational live television and to create shared, cost-effective entertainment for European nations still rebuilding after World War II.
How Australian pop star Delta Goodrem went from Neighbours to cancer ordeal to Eurovision darlingUK Entry - most definitely not the current music trend in the UK. - @SimCityAT

It was a toss up between Israel and Bulgaria but Bulgaria stormed it.   In the end, it was just an OK song. 

Certainly the types of music are highly variable.  The Italian entry was easy listening and the UK entry was total novelty.  No idea how that guy got selected.  Managed only 1 point.   Some of the faves were just rubbish - who made that assessment?

It's just an institution - one has to watch, all that glam, kitsch, bad jokes and obvious bigging up of national friends.  Amazing (not) that Greece and Cyprus gave their points to each other.

It's a proxy for why Brexit was a stupid idea!

@fluffy2560
...and there is also this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervision_2026 - @SimCityAT

Who in their right mind would participate in such a thing?

Ludicrous.

Oh,Eurovision.
I do not follow current music trends.
Classic rock only.
I used to be a die hard Stones fan but have only listened to a couple of tunes off their new LP.
Is it an LP or CD or Tape, really have not been in a music shop in forever or bought any music in ages.
Used to save all my lunch money and baby sitting money to buy records with but these days I do not care.
I saw my old LP collection in Vegas when I was there. My SIL,s son said they were worth a few bucks.
So far the climate controlled room has kept them from wrapping.
Maybe someday if I had the time I could try selling them off, might pay for a vacation, maybe just a weekend in a motel 6 room? IDK, not sure what they would go for.
My DIL,s grandmother passed yesterday in Japan. Not sure how old she was; My son said she was nice to him.
He is getting a new suit today as there will be a 2 day long traditional funeral for her and he needs to wear a black suit and tie. Hope he can find one that fits him, 6 foot 3 in Japan is not really off the rack.
Today will be a day of prayers with a monk and tomorrow will be the bone picking day.
That I hope he is ready for, not for the faint hearted westerner.
I have and will be sending prayers too. Sad. - @Marilyn Tassy

Sorry to hear of the DIL's grandma going on to a higher dimension.  She must have been ancient.  Japanese people seem to live forever.  I suppose she'll be cremated.  Buddhist methods I guess. From a Western perspective, very odd to see. I was at a temple recently out in Asia where they burn the bodies.  There was a morbid fascination about it all.   Death is such a mystery for many but it's a massive family affair out there.  Everyone turns out to see it happen.  Seems almost a celebration.  No coffins!

I always wondered if your son could fly to the Marianas Islands and get all his tailoring and footwear needs satisfied.  It's US territory.  Or Guam (what a dump!).  Where the US starts its day - so they say on the TV there.

Those islands are easy to get to from Japan - closest US territory with everything like a US main street.  Cost money though but good for a weekend perhaps?

My son just wrote a short message saying it was a hard weekend.

I bet it was.

I am not sure exactly how they did it but I know they keep the body with them overnight.In a nice coffin of course; Whole ceremony about watching a professional wash and dress the person, do their hair and makeup etc.

They have some funeral homes that include a overnight room for the family to stay with the body, has beds, showers etc; Like a hotel with a coffin.

Very formal affair.

They pray to their   ancestors and burn incense.

My son is a Buddhist so not a big thing for him to follow the tradition.

Heard a funeral there costs upwards of one million yen.

Should do the exchange on that. Just over $6,000, not too bad of course there are always add ons.

I know about 6 years ago it was only $400 in Budapest for a cremation, inflation probably has hit that too.

My moms, old friend paid an extra $30,000 when her elderly husband died just to give him a lead outter coffin; I went to his funeral and that was all everyone was talking about, not about him or his life, weird. That was in the 1980,s too. Now it is probably double the price, waste of money.

A Muslim man I worked with in a casino died out of the blue; He was perhaps in his late 50,s. Really nice man, I barely knew him because I was new at the job, just worked there perhaps a month.

He worked at that casino for 26 years straight!

I went to the funeral home to pay my respects. His brothers were there and his young wife; She went right up to me and cried in my arms, so sad. She asked me where everyone from his job was. I also thought there should of been more co workers there.

I told her that they probably would stop by after work, IDK if anyone did or not but I was angry with everyone for not supporting his family after 26 years of service.

People act strange around death.

When my MIL died and my husband flew in from Ca; He and his sister arranged her service.

My husband paid extra for the priest to wear a higher hat! Crazy, like she would be closer to God if we sprang for the high hat?!

They called out the names of her family members and did not include the grandson or one of the grand daughters, mistake perhaps but those 2 idiots got up and walked out of the service! Ego was hurt??

I dislike it when people think everything is about them. Even someones funeral.

From what I gather, my boy,s FIL took him to buy a suit. Hopefully he will not need to wear it again anytime soon!

From what I gather, my boy,s FIL took him to buy a suit. Hopefully he will not need to wear it again anytime soon! - @Marilyn Tassy

That's good.  I suppose your son has sufficient Japanese to communicate with the FIL.   Make the most of it!

I was never able to communicate with my FIL - Hungarian and Russian only.  Just visual stuff and hand waving.

Only way I can get hold of in-laws now is with a Ouija board.

My son just wrote a short message saying it was a hard weekend.
I bet it was.
I am not sure exactly how they did it but I know they keep the body with them overnight.In a nice coffin of course; Whole ceremony about watching a professional wash and dress the person, do their hair and makeup etc.
They have some funeral homes that include a overnight room for the family to stay with the body, has beds, showers etc; Like a hotel with a coffin.
Very formal affair.
They pray to their ancestors and burn incense.
My son is a Buddhist so not a big thing for him to follow the tradition.
Heard a funeral there costs upwards of one million yen.
Should do the exchange on that. Just over $6,000, not too bad of course there are always add ons.
I know about 6 years ago it was only $400 in Budapest for a cremation, inflation probably has hit that too.
My moms, old friend paid an extra $30,000 when her elderly husband died just to give him a lead outter coffin; I went to his funeral and that was all everyone was talking about, not about him or his life, weird. That was in the 1980,s too. Now it is probably double the price, waste of money.
A Muslim man I worked with in a casino died out of the blue; He was perhaps in his late 50,s. Really nice man, I barely knew him because I was new at the job, just worked there perhaps a month.
He worked at that casino for 26 years straight!
I went to the funeral home to pay my respects. His brothers were there and his young wife; She went right up to me and cried in my arms, so sad. She asked me where everyone from his job was. I also thought there should of been more co workers there.
I told her that they probably would stop by after work, IDK if anyone did or not but I was angry with everyone for not supporting his family after 26 years of service.
People act strange around death.
When my MIL died and my husband flew in from Ca; He and his sister arranged her service.
My husband paid extra for the priest to wear a higher hat! Crazy, like she would be closer to God if we sprang for the high hat?!
They called out the names of her family members and did not include the grandson or one of the grand daughters, mistake perhaps but those 2 idiots got up and walked out of the service! Ego was hurt??
I dislike it when people think everything is about them. Even someones funeral. - @Marilyn Tassy

What a waste of money to spend $30K on a lead coffin.   Think of the pollution never mind the cost.   I mean, there's no reason to preserve him to that level.  Maybe they could have sampled and stored his DNA.  But unless he was a Nobel prize winner, or some other extraordinary talent, then no real reason to want his clone walking the earth.  Might be better to send his remains into orbit.   But even so, nature vs nurture....DNA is not enough.

What's with the priests' bigger hat?   Never heard of that before.

And not being mentioned, happens all the time.  My brother has 3 or 4 grandchildren but can I name them?  Nope, as they live in the other side of the world and I've never seen them in real life.  Only in pictures.

When it comes to great-grandparents, never met them.  No idea although I've seen their names in the family tree.  I think an individual's memory stops beyond grandparents.

I never knew either of my grandmothers and mom,s 2 aunts passed just before I was born.

One who went off her rocker latr and hung herself,saw my older sister an an infant and did some weird native American sort of bless in on herself!

Mom asked her WTH and she told mom that my sister was a dark energy or words to that effect!

OK, yes my sister was wild but as a new born???

Mom bought us a Ouija board one year for Xmas; Like a double whammy of pagan ideas.

Played with it for a ;spell; no pun.

Then mom decided it was evil, took it outside and burnt it.

Clones of anyone is no good. One chance only to get it right.

Seems lately I am getting all twisted up with worry for people, silly as it is all out of my control.

My brother wrote a long letter from prison.

Seems they always bunk him up with druggies coming down from something.

Getting sick on the floor, rolling in the muck, screaming etc; eyes rolled back before the staff calls for an ambulance.

My one legged bro asked the guard to help him clean the floor, they just gave my bro a mop!

He joked that for once his 38 years of janitor experience came in handy!

At least he can still laugh.

I think he gets out in about 3 weeks time. IDK what is waiting for him but it will be an adjustment for sure.

I never knew either of my grandmothers and mom,s 2 aunts passed just before I was born.One who went off her rocker latr and hung herself,saw my older sister an an infant and did some weird native American sort of bless in on herself!Mom asked her WTH and she told mom that my sister was a dark energy or words to that effect!OK, yes my sister was wild but as a new born???Mom bought us a Ouija board one year for Xmas; Like a double whammy of pagan ideas.Played with it for a ;spell; no pun.Then mom decided it was evil, took it outside and burnt it.Clones of anyone is no good. One chance only to get it right.Seems lately I am getting all twisted up with worry for people, silly as it is all out of my control.My brother wrote a long letter from prison.Seems they always bunk him up with druggies coming down from something.Getting sick on the floor, rolling in the muck, screaming etc; eyes rolled back before the staff calls for an ambulance.My one legged bro asked the guard to help him clean the floor, they just gave my bro a mop!He joked that for once his 38 years of janitor experience came in handy!At least he can still laugh.I think he gets out in about 3 weeks time. IDK what is waiting for him but it will be an adjustment for sure. - @Marilyn Tassy

Of course, grandparents and their grandchildren tend to have somewhat of a more distant relationship, especially now people tend to be scattered to the four winds all over the earth.  I'm looking to my older kids to produce some children now - grandchildren for me.  They are getting too old themselves - mid-30s  I thought it would make me feel older but perhaps it will make me feel younger.   I said to one of them the other days, the longer you wait, the more difficult is.  I said to her, a child will shape your future, so if you want a kid, then just do it and work it out as you go. It's what everyone else does.  And I've always found kids delightful (85% of the time) but maybe we were just lucky.

It sounds like a nightmare being sick in prison but I guess what else is there to do but get stoned and who knows what the drugs have been cut with.  3 weeks is not so long.  I hope his support network is there for him when he's out.

Shame about the Ouija board being burnt in the garden. Perhaps it opened a portal to Hell and the Devil in Disguise (thank you Elvis) materialised through and it took the form of Donald Trump. I was thinking previously of Rosemary's Baby - I saw a clip of that.

Today I might mow the grass and spend a bit of time on my mushroom seats.   Yesterday I hoovered our older car and did a bit of cleaning inside to make it look better.  It really needs the seats cleaning but I ran out of steam.   I'm planning to sell it and buy a smaller car for our daughter to drive around town etc.  This is the summer she has to learn to drive.  Or more specifically, learn to pass the test.  Despite numerous discussions, we find her summer holidays get full up with festivals, friends and travel.   If she could drive, we wouldn't need to be 24x7 taxi drivers.

Something interesting, the UK has new figures out today though.

https://news.sky.com/liveblog-webview/m … t-13040934

Something interesting, the UK has new figures out today though.https://news.sky.com/liveblog-webview/m … t-13040934 - @SimCityAT

Interesting.  I can only think Romania is printing money.   What they should have done in that graphic is group the EU countries in the Eurozone together.   We're expecting the Euro in 2030-2032 in HU so we should get normalised with the other EU countries.   I wonder if there's enough margin to keep Euro funds in another EU country where inflation is higher.  There's always a simple debate going on if inflation rates include interest rates.  They do in my mind - they must do but economists say they don't.   So more return in another Eurozone country for money that spends the same back in the home country.

Taking a break for a tiny bit before dinner cooking begins.

Spent the last 5 hours running all over Budapest and wasted, tired now;

My husband said from not on, only one errand a day.

Hungarian health care, IDK; Some issues need to be taken care of with a private doctor after all.

6 weeks ago or so I saw a red spot on my collar bone  and it looked like the start of a sore of some sort.

Put my trusty Chemo cream on it and it vanished within a few days.

Then started taking note on every slight mark on our bodies.

Can laser off anything that you wish these days for a fee of course.

Made an appointment for the dema doc  with the TAJ system;

Early morning, for me early anyways; 9 am.

Took a trolly and bus and walked to find the palce.

Signed in she saw us right away, an doctor in her late 70,s or early 80,s.

She saidd my cream might be getting nold since I bought it a decade ago but they do not even have such a cream here in Hungary.

Weird;

Her conclusion was to get young again!! WTH, very professional answer!

Waste of time.

Then decided to see our bank hubby did not listen to me to find out if they moved locations yet or not.

Took the number 2 tram all over the place, bank was closed they moved, went all the way back to the Westend and walked all over, no they do not have a cashier  at that location, went to yet a 3rd location and took care of things;

Walked inside the Lehal  center for a bit , broke done and had a glass of nice dark Dreher beer and ready to nap now.

Exciting stuff!

Was considering popping over to immigration tomorrow but need a mental break .

Was nice outside, getting like summer.

IDK, what to say about my bro getting out soon. I mentioned to my cousin that I hope he got back his driving license and bank card from his son since he son has gotten out of the hole recently.

My cousin told me it is bad news and she will not mention it till my bro is informed by his son!

Dang and double dang!!

What a bunch of idiots in the family!!

What did he do? My mind is spinning now, maybe he forged my bros name and stole his savings? IDK but it is upsetting.

Then in his recent letter he mentioned how halfie, fully crazy wanted to ask him a question.

I will take a wild or logical guess, she wants to know if she can be his caretaker and dump our eldest sister because it is getting close to time to get a job and she can not do that, God forbid.

I told my eldest sister to no way allow her to take advantage of our  brother because he will be back in prison again, this time for life.

God is wise, at least she never had children! Barely can take care of a dog.

@fluffy2560

What you really need to do is reduce VAT, people will spend more money at home instead of going to next door countries.

@fluffy2560What you really need to do is reduce VAT, people will spend more money at home instead of going to next door countries. - @SimCityAT

I was thinking of investments.  If one can get 3% in one country on EUR and somewhere else, it's 5%, that's 2% in your favour.  Sure, not so much but with large amounts, it will make a difference.

VAT here is bonkers at 27%.  There's no upper limit in  the EU for VAT.  It has to be brought down to something reasonable (if any of it is), maybe 22% or 20%.

Prices are very high here.  Big ticket items, best to go to Austria and buy in person.

Banks in Hungary give 3 percent interest on saving accounts, I think at least.

7 percent on a T bill but you have to invest for 10 years for that rate.

Way back we invested in the US in an IRA account, think it was 14 percent interest!

Never going to see that again.

Our son called. I asked him about the funeral last weekend in Japan.

Wow oh wow, more then I thought;

Super heavy experience.

His FIL seems like he likes my boy, took him shopping for a new suit and shoes, they even got matching black ties.

Part of the funeral is keeping the deceased overnight with you.

The funeral place has rooms for that.

They provide showers, food and a place to sleep and a place for the coffin.

Guess who out of the family was selected for the honor? My son, his wife and one uncle.

What a experience. I know they used to do this also in the US but it usually no longer happens. Too many legal issues and health issues to deal with.

He took his turn over the course of the night to say prayers and burn incense.

He liked the grandmother, said she was always very nice with him.

What freaked him out was his memory of my mothers funeral and her laying in wait.

2 days,very stressful. He was afraid of making a mistake, bowing wrong etc.

The family went over it with him but putting it into action is another thing.

The funeral home feed everyone each day although he said there was no drinking water around.

They have another ceremony as the take in the deceased to be cremated.

Then what got him was what happened after that.

He already knew about the bone picking ceremony but was not ready for what he saw.

Said her body was still smoking when it came out and it still looked like a human form, not crushed bones like they do in the west. Her skull was still in tack too!

He felt terrible for all of it, he is not an emotional person in general but this was allot at once.

He was given chopsticks and told to pick up one of her long bones. He stood for a moment and felt everyone,s eyes on him, so afraid he would drop it; He did fine but wow.

The funeral director ended it when he took a special stick and smashed her skull in, a way to show she was gone from this earth.

Yikes  I guess;

Make you think about things.

@Marilyn Tassy

When my mother died, she was left in her coffin at our house overnigh the day before of the funeral, the same with my grandparents. Must be a typical thing in Wales. 

Banks in Hungary give 3 percent interest on saving accounts, I think at least.7 percent on a T bill but you have to invest for 10 years for that rate.Way back we invested in the US in an IRA account, think it was 14 percent interest!Never going to see that again.Our son called. I asked him about the funeral last weekend in Japan.Wow oh wow, more then I thought;Super heavy experience.His FIL seems like he likes my boy, took him shopping for a new suit and shoes, they even got matching black ties.Part of the funeral is keeping the deceased overnight with you.The funeral place has rooms for that.They provide showers, food and a place to sleep and a place for the coffin.Guess who out of the family was selected for the honor? My son, his wife and one uncle.What a experience. I know they used to do this also in the US but it usually no longer happens. Too many legal issues and health issues to deal with.He took his turn over the course of the night to say prayers and burn incense.He liked the grandmother, said she was always very nice with him.What freaked him out was his memory of my mothers funeral and her laying in wait.2 days,very stressful. He was afraid of making a mistake, bowing wrong etc.The family went over it with him but putting it into action is another thing.The funeral home feed everyone each day although he said there was no drinking water around. They have another ceremony as the take in the deceased to be cremated.Then what got him was what happened after that.He already knew about the bone picking ceremony but was not ready for what he saw.Said her body was still smoking when it came out and it still looked like a human form, not crushed bones like they do in the west. Her skull was still in tack too!He felt terrible for all of it, he is not an emotional person in general but this was allot at once.He was given chopsticks and told to pick up one of her long bones. He stood for a moment and felt everyone,s eyes on him, so afraid he would drop it; He did fine but wow.The funeral director ended it when he took a special stick and smashed her skull in, a way to show she was gone from this earth.Yikes I guess; Make you think about things. - @Marilyn Tassy

Sounds similar to my observations. As you know I was out in Asia recently for quite a few weeks and I went to a temple to see the bodies being burnt. I would not be so crass as to post a picture of a half-burnt dead body although I would if someone asked.  It was a pretty weird experience.  Just so alien.  I took many photographs and I had a guide who explained it all.

In that version of Buddhism, they took the body for ceremonial washing in milk from the temple, which then went in their special river.  The took of the body's clothes, discarded them and wrapped the body in a sheet.   The clothes were collected to give to the poor!   Imagine!  Dead man or woman's clothes.  That's more creepy that anything.

The eldest son or a nominated man, then carried the body with others to the pyre, then 3 times in a circle and the eldest set fire to it.  They use wood but also a special type of dried grass which burns with an intense flame.  The ashes dumped in the river.  It takes a lot of hot materials to reduce the body to ashes and the river was pretty dirty looking.   Just very different to the Western world.  I did not see any bone picking or smashing of skulls.  Local workers made sure the entire thing was destroyed/burnt/cremated.  Ashes not collected as far as I saw, just brushed straight into the water to be carried away.

I guess your son saw it as an honour to be doing  the vigil.  I can see it would be.   I've got a morbid curiosity about these things, so I'd be OK with watching the body for a while.  It's not really the loved one anymore, just a husk,  so nothing to be worried about.  It's not like they are coming back to complain. 

Interest rates are quite low but if one has that difference between countries, there's money to be made on holding the same currency. Locking money up is not so easy.  In any case, recently I never have any money to lock up for those periods.   The only thing I seem to be good at is spending it.  BTW, I saw a survey that in the UK, a box of eggs cost like $1.20 back in 2020 and now it costs like $2.20.  I can feel these price increases everyday as we have kids, cats and dogs and too many cars.  In my view, we're spending far too much.  I am paid well but even for us, any disposable income is being whittled down gradually. 

@Marilyn Tassy
When my mother died, she was left in her coffin at our house overnigh the day before of the funeral, the same with my grandparents. Must be a typical thing in Wales. - @SimCityAT

I think it's Welsh and Northern England and Ireland. Don't know about Scotland or other regions.

Same in HU, they lay the body out on the bed or on the floor until the next day.  Mrs F said they used bricks to stop the grandad's head lolling about.

I've got a home office and the neighbours told me the old bloke who lived here died in this very room.  He was found expired on a bed that was here.  I sometimes wonder if there's an echo of him still in our house.  If I didn't know that, I wouldn't even think about it.

My eldest sister did the Hippie Dippy thing in India way back when.

She also saw bodies burning and then being put into the Ganges River.

She said people bath and drink that water!!

I suppose the bacteria is burnt away but still...

I suppose having a loved one spend one more night at home after death can be comforting for some people.

I only had all the flowers for my mother in my home over the weekend.

She was cremated on a Friday and her service was on a Monday;

The funeral home had no extra space to hold all her flowers.

My house did small nice but it was depressing.

I and my baby bro were the first to arrive at her grave site. I wanted all her flowers there before anyone showed up.

As we were carrying them to the site the caregiver brought her out in a box;

My bro had to grab me because my legs went out from under me.

I thought I was OK but I was not.

I can not even think about what my son saw and did.

He must love his wife is all I can say!

My eldest sister did the Hippie Dippy thing in India way back when.She also saw bodies burning and then being put into the Ganges River.She said people bath and drink that water!!I suppose the bacteria is burnt away but still...I suppose having a loved one spend one more night at home after death can be comforting for some people.I only had all the flowers for my mother in my home over the weekend.She was cremated on a Friday and her service was on a Monday;The funeral home had no extra space to hold all her flowers.My house did small nice but it was depressing.I and my baby bro were the first to arrive at her grave site. I wanted all her flowers there before anyone showed up.As we were carrying them to the site the caregiver brought her out in a box;My bro had to grab me because my legs went out from under me.I thought I was OK but I was not.I can not even think about what my son saw and did.He must love his wife is all I can say! - @Marilyn Tassy

That's right. In India, it all goes in the Ganges. Must be an absolutely polluted with all sorts of stuff. Dead animals, chemicals and bits of bodies.  Each to their own I guess.

It would be time for your son to take the lead as "organiser" to support his Mrs so she can concentrate on the mourning.   I guess he's more of a bystander and the Japanese relatives take the lead.

It happened to me to be in charge when my Dad went.  The other siblings were not there. So  arranged for the funeral people to collect my Dad, my sister arrived just in time to see him go off in the back of a van.  But the others were still at their houses or work.  It was a little weird. I was there more or less exactly when my Mum and Dad went.  I told my Dad I'd see him tomorrow but I was delayed 30m and by the time I arrived, he'd passed.  It was like clockwork.  If I had been there 30m earlier, I'd have been there at the exact moment.   I haven't seen their grave for a couple of years.  I should go and have a look.  In the meantime, my sister is maintaining it.

My son usually never takes anything serious, Has a sly remark about just everything.

The look on his face last call was not normal for him; Looked serious and sad.

Perhaps he has reflected on not being around to help us in our old age. No, he could care less, never thinks about tomorrow or issues until they fall in his lap.

Perhaps that is the way to live, one day at a time.

I still want my mommy, silly but true.No one else let me be a jerk without calling me out.

My mom and step dad are resting in Simi Valley.

A graveyard where my friends and I used to hang out on Friday nights after school and drink lifted bottles of Boones Farm Strawberry Hill wine and smoke.

Now I would be pissed if I saw teens sitting around the graveyard smoking and carrying on.

It is a will maintained place, right near the community swimming pool, a duck park and picnic area.

My step dad always liked that duck park and would take my younger siblings there to feed the ducks when they were small.

Time pushes on.

Went into immigration in Budapest on Tuesday to get some info;

Everything is done online now, since the clerk gave an instruction sheet to my husband in Hungarian, I will let him figure it out.

Why didn,t she give one in English too?

With that being on my mind and agenda i was looking at old PDF files to see if I had downlaoded their app , it also is in Hungarian.

Is the system rigged for us dummies to hire someone for help?

I am sure it is in English as well, just lazy to dig further.

While looking into my files I found a family tree file and opened it just to refresh my mind.

I clicked down and saw more info that I never read in the 12 or so years of having the info.

Dumb me.

I saw the application my grandfather filled out in 1923 to get his US passport;

He had a long affidavit swearing allegiance to the USA and where he had been living most of his life.

Wow, strange really.

Born in Penn. In 1896 but it seems at age 8 his parents left the US , took him and went back to Poland.

He was in his mid 20,s when he returned to the US for the first time.

No wonder he spoke English with such a heavy accent.

Odd that his parents came to the US, said no way and went back to Poland.

Looks like one of his uncles had a large farm and everyone moved there to help him work the land.

Went into immigration in Budapest on Tuesday to get some info; Everything is done online now, since the clerk gave an instruction sheet to my husband in Hungarian, I will let him figure it out. Why didn,t she give one in English too? With that being on my mind and agenda i was looking at old PDF files to see if I had downlaoded their app , it also is in Hungarian. Is the system rigged for us dummies to hire someone for help? I am sure it is in English as well, just lazy to dig further. While looking into my files I found a family tree file and opened it just to refresh my mind. I clicked down and saw more info that I never read in the 12 or so years of having the info. Dumb me. I saw the  application my grandfather filled out in 1923 to get his US passport;He had a long affidavit swearing allegiance to the USA and where he had been living most of his life. Wow, strange really. Born in Penn. In 1896 but it seems at age 8 his parents left the US , took him and went back to Poland. He was in his mid 20,s when he returned to the US for the first time. No wonder he spoke English with such a heavy accent. Odd that his parents came to the US, said no way and went back to Poland.

Formatting went all wrong using the quote button.  Had to remove all the spacing. No idea.

I'll be going to immigration in November.  I don't know if I'll get renewed under Article 50 Brexit arrangements or that will have fallen by the wayside now it's been quite a while since the UK kicked itself in the face.  I will have to get Mrs F on the job so we are really fully prepared for renewal.  I expect to get a 10--year card now.  My card expires almost  exactly at the time I reach official retirement age at 66.5.  I don't know if that means anything either. I will be informing them I am retired.   I suppose it means going to the Kormanyablak as well for driving licenses.

Meanwhile, the weather is typical summer and so it should be as we'll be in June on Monday.  Once again, time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. An oldie but a goldie. Supposedly.

I was trying to get up earlier as I had to weld our gate up.  The metal construction had failed so I just needed a couple of taps with the welder.  We're also started to find our sunblinds for the deck - we lost them for a while.  All our elastic bungees we use are broken - so much for being UV proof.

We've got a family do tonight in a restaurant.  It'll be fine.   I plan to wear my shorts, trainers and a T-shirt.  I'm done with dressing up now I'm approaching 66.   Kind of interesting it's June so it's the full 6 month and 66 years and that's 666.  How nice.

My son usually never takes anything serious, Has a sly remark about just everything.
The look on his face last call was not normal for him; Looked serious and sad.
Perhaps he has reflected on not being around to help us in our old age. No, he could care less, never thinks about tomorrow or issues until they fall in his lap.
Perhaps that is the way to live, one day at a time.
I still want my mommy, silly but true.No one else let me be a jerk without calling me out.
My mom and step dad are resting in Simi Valley.
A graveyard where my friends and I used to hang out on Friday nights after school and drink lifted bottles of Boones Farm Strawberry Hill wine and smoke.

Now I would be pissed if I saw teens sitting around the graveyard smoking and carrying on.
It is a will maintained place, right near the community swimming pool, a duck park and picnic area.
My step dad always liked that duck park and would take my younger siblings there to feed the ducks when they were small.
Time pushes on. - @Marilyn Tassy

Boozing in the graveyard.   Seems very Halloween.   Funny that graveyards are a bit of tourist attraction.  But they are quiet places which is unusual in a busy city.   I find them quite serene. 

Went into immigration in Budapest on Tuesday to get some info;
Everything is done online now, since the clerk gave an instruction sheet to my husband in Hungarian, I will let him figure it out.
Why didn,t she give one in English too?
With that being on my mind and agenda i was looking at old PDF files to see if I had downlaoded their app , it also is in Hungarian.
Is the system rigged for us dummies to hire someone for help?
I am sure it is in English as well, just lazy to dig further.
While looking into my files I found a family tree file and opened it just to refresh my mind.
I clicked down and saw more info that I never read in the 12 or so years of having the info.
Dumb me.
I saw the application my grandfather filled out in 1923 to get his US passport;
He had a long affidavit swearing allegiance to the USA and where he had been living most of his life.
Wow, strange really.
Born in Penn. In 1896 but it seems at age 8 his parents left the US , took him and went back to Poland.
He was in his mid 20,s when he returned to the US for the first time.
No wonder he spoke English with such a heavy accent.
Odd that his parents came to the US, said no way and went back to Poland.
Looks like one of his uncles had a large farm and everyone moved there to help him work the land. - @Marilyn Tassy

Why should they give it in English? Its not an English speaking country.

Went into immigration in Budapest on Tuesday to get some info;
Everything is done online now, since the clerk gave an instruction sheet to my husband in Hungarian, I will let him figure it out.
Why didn,t she give one in English too?
With that being on my mind and agenda i was looking at old PDF files to see if I had downlaoded their app , it also is in Hungarian.
Is the system rigged for us dummies to hire someone for help?
I am sure it is in English as well, just lazy to dig further.
...
Why should they give it in English? Its not an English speaking country.
- @SimCityAT

There's a good chance of instructions being available in English for foreigners at immigration.  They might want to be nationalistic and do it in Hungarian, but most foreigners will not speak any Hungarian to any level. Or German or French or Ukrainian etc.   People will have to bring translators/interpreters to deal with the bureaucrats.

Went into immigration in Budapest on Tuesday to get some info;
Everything is done online now, since the clerk gave an instruction sheet to my husband in Hungarian, I will let him figure it out.
Why didn,t she give one in English too?
With that being on my mind and agenda i was looking at old PDF files to see if I had downlaoded their app , it also is in Hungarian.
Is the system rigged for us dummies to hire someone for help?
I am sure it is in English as well, just lazy to dig further.
While looking into my files I found a family tree file and opened it just to refresh my mind.
I clicked down and saw more info that I never read in the 12 or so years of having the info.
Dumb me.
I saw the application my grandfather filled out in 1923 to get his US passport;
He had a long affidavit swearing allegiance to the USA and where he had been living most of his life.
Wow, strange really.
Born in Penn. In 1896 but it seems at age 8 his parents left the US , took him and went back to Poland.
He was in his mid 20,s when he returned to the US for the first time.
No wonder he spoke English with such a heavy accent.
Odd that his parents came to the US, said no way and went back to Poland.
Looks like one of his uncles had a large farm and everyone moved there to help him work the land. - @Marilyn Tassy
Why should they give it in English? Its not an English speaking country.
- @SimCityAT

I know that but they offer English on their online site and the clerks deal all day long with people entering Hungary who do not speak Hungarian. My interview years ago was held in English. Now days it is all online.

I

Why should they give it in English? Its not an English speaking country.  - @SimCityATI know that but they offer English on their online site and the clerks deal all day long with people entering Hungary who do not speak Hungarian. My interview years ago was held in English. Now days it is all online.I - @Marilyn Tassy

I don't trust anything online with the HU government.  Some of their actions are idiotic.  PM^2 won't have fixed all that by last week.

When my time comes, we're going to physically go there after Mrs F has tried to get the proper story from the phone service.  Check and double check.  Repeat, rinse and repeat.   This is why it takes ages to do anything here. People confirm and reconfirm to make sure they aren't being spun a load of twaddle.

It's a bit odd trying to do so much in Hungarian when English is the lingua franca.   Hungarian is such a minority and obscure language, why bother trying to bend the hordes to one's will?   Even in the UK, one can get official documentation in other languages - from German to Urdu.  Or Welsh.

The Dutch - as always - are really pragmatic about it all.  They all speak English for business and Dutch for culture.  I always loved that about them.    Belgians pretty much the same.  And Scandinavians, they might as well all be honorary English graduates.  Quite remarkable.

In Austria it is all in German and at immigration they won't speak English even if you know the speak it, that goes with all governemnert buildings, there are some online sites that are in English, but the forms are all in German. If you don't know, you take someone along that does speak German and quite right.

In Austria it is all in German and at immigration they won't speak English even if you know the speak it, that goes with all governemnert buildings, there are some online sites that are in English, but the forms are all in German. If you don't know, you take someone along that does speak German and quite right. - @SimCityAT

Most countries have a national language codified in law but there are some that do not.  UK I believe does not have a national language.  US now has English codified - a Trumpist action against the Hispanics.   

Their problem is Spanish but obviously we have no problem over here as Spanish is associated with Spain, not Mexican immigrants. I like Spanish myself. It would be one of the languages I'd have liked to learn.

Personally I believe it should be any language you can get away with so long as everyone has the same understanding of whatever is being discussed.

Bit of a  odd story - when I worked in Cyprus (North) aka TRNC, I looked at the law there and the national language was English and Greek and Turkish were secondary languages.  However, I found people who could not speak English in positions of power in the TRNC government. Their job descriptions specifically said they had to speak English - it was a qualification to be hired.  It was a strange business. I guess their legislation was frozen in time like the conflict.

@fluffy2560

Wales is the only country in the UK to have an official language, which is Welsh. England doesn't or Scotland.

Some people......

Just leave it alone, it's a wild snake, and is very common.

Why should they give it in English? Its not an English speaking country. - @SimCityATI know that but they offer English on their online site and the clerks deal all day long with people entering Hungary who do not speak Hungarian. My interview years ago was held in English. Now days it is all online.I - @Marilyn TassyI don't trust anything online with the HU government. Some of their actions are idiotic. PM^2 won't have fixed all that by last week.When my time comes, we're going to physically go there after Mrs F has tried to get the proper story from the phone service. Check and double check. Repeat, rinse and repeat. This is why it takes ages to do anything here. People confirm and reconfirm to make sure they aren't being spun a load of twaddle.It's a bit odd trying to do so much in Hungarian when English is the lingua franca. Hungarian is such a minority and obscure language, why bother trying to bend the hordes to one's will? Even in the UK, one can get official documentation in other languages - from German to Urdu. Or Welsh.The Dutch - as always - are really pragmatic about it all. They all speak English for business and Dutch for culture. I always loved that about them.  Belgians pretty much the same. And Scandinavians, they might as well all be honorary English graduates. Quite remarkable. - @fluffy2560

Good luck with going in, we did, they put some useless chick at the info desk; She just gives out a sheet with instructions;

We will probably go back in person this week and not be as nice as we were.

The site said I am registered but they never sent the code to book an actual appointment!

Then next time you look it states the site in being worked on!

Then instead of the code it has a WWW page where to send money, OK, will do but the amount is not listed!!

I noticed many people with appointments waiting so there has to be a way without pay for a service.

You would think after 15 years and nothing has really changed, same address etc; that is would be a breeze, no.

We are not tech savvy but not 100 percent idiots either.

I think they want to force you into hiring help, split the profits etc;

I see red when I go into these sorts of places.

I doubt most in the office waiting speak any Hungarian at all; My husband does but it still is not much help; OH, they also do not answer the phone for info.

Good news is is seems my edit is now working here! I will take any good news!

Went into immigration in Budapest on Tuesday to get some info;
Everything is done online now, since the clerk gave an instruction sheet to my husband in Hungarian, I will let him figure it out.
Why didn,t she give one in English too?
With that being on my mind and agenda i was looking at old PDF files to see if I had downlaoded their app , it also is in Hungarian.
Is the system rigged for us dummies to hire someone for help?
I am sure it is in English as well, just lazy to dig further.
...
Why should they give it in English? Its not an English speaking country.
- @SimCityAT
There's a good chance of instructions being available in English for foreigners at immigration. They might want to be nationalistic and do it in Hungarian, but most foreigners will not speak any Hungarian to any level. Or German or French or Ukrainian etc. People will have to bring translators/interpreters to deal with the bureaucrats. - @fluffy2560

I a sure they have instructions in English, since my husband was speaking in Hungarian she just handed him a sheet in HU. Big help!

Big help since their online site is terrible to figure out, seems easy and straight forward at first but it again did not send out the promised code to know anything.

I am sure they want people frustrated so they hire help;

Just a heads up, be ready for a headache!