britblog 2014.10.12 14:57:54

Battersea power station was a huge electrical power station that supplied a lot of London's power. It's image was used for many things including one of Pink Floyds album covers. It is now a protected industrial building waiting for a new role.

britblog 2014.07.28 11:51:56

@Evain: Not unless I get kicked out:) As long as I don't watch the news I'm fine - a bit like in the UK.

britblog 2014.07.28 12:09:31

@Evain: Same as here, you adapt or go into politics. To be serious, as for politicians and politics, there is a lot of debate at the moment on really key issues - i.e. Scottish devolution and staying in the EU, so there is bound to be some cursing in amongst all the different views.
The reality is that there is a light at the end of the UK's economic situation and that makes a difference. The UK is forecast to outpace Germany by 2020, so anyone there now will share in it. The irony is that a lot of the success will be due to the huge influx of people from the rest of the EU that is currently creating debate!

britblog 2014.07.28 13:08:55

@charlieharper: I don't think I referred to MP's bad behaviour, or expenses fiddling, but at least they got caught, and some are no longer MP's. I am not sure I want to get into comparing Orban with Cameron et al, as that will take a comment longer than the original post.
As for school systems, there is a lot wrong in the UK, but everyone comes from a different perspective and some aspects here need fixing. My kids have done very well out of the Hungarian education system both socially and educationally it so its all about weighing up the pros and cons. In the UK it depends entirely on the school and catchment area.
On another note, when folks move, if it works for them, then everything will seem rosy, over time perspectives evolve and the faults rise to the surface, but the writer was a security guard who on promotion had to find reasons to fire people for his bosses and then to grass on those who criticised the company (was it Tesco!!?). No wonder its better for them. The concerns people have over government come when they feel that their criticisms of it may affect their future.

britblog 2014.07.16 11:13:01

Every country has its problems, BUT: The lack of transparency, nepotism, brown envelopes and backhanders for every contract create a cynicism that damages people irreparably. They come to see or imagine the bad in everything. The knock on effect on health and attitudes is only destructive. When they experience hope in another country, they won't come back, just fondly remember the stuffed cabbage, Balaton summers, family parties with homemade palinka, gran's cakes....They will look from afar and wonder where it all went wrong.

britblog 2014.02.25 16:09:14

@bpetya75: Very good, although it reminds me more of being here first in 1991 and being asked to frequently "change money" . These days it is my experience that students speak English with a very nice accent vs the "Cuban" on the clip:-)

britblog 2014.02.25 16:40:05

Although my children do not always appreciate it and it is labelled Dad humour!

britblog 2014.03.08 11:35:26

I am starting to realise how much time blogging can take, so I take my hat off to all those dedicated bloggers posting here! Apologies this has been a while in coming.
I am not sure it is possible to respond to everything, so perhaps a bit of background might help. I met my wife in 1990 and before we moved to Hungary in 2005, we explored / I was introduced to wider Hungary (lots more yet to see). Being in teaching meant long summer holidays and I became very good at putting my holiday requests in before anyone else so as to get several weeks together. We travelled and camped from Slovakia to Poland, Erdély and Bulgaria, Croatia to Montenegro (via Bosnia which was a little outside my comfort zone) and so on. Living in the centre of Europe makes the travel cheaper, although we feel it these days if we travel west!
In 1990, when I first visited, my pre-conceived ideas of the east were shaped (I am ashamed to say) by films – not the deep and meaningful type- and fiction. An early writer of the spy genre was Len Deighton – not the James Bond style, more intrigue and run down cities (East Berlin at the time) I was especially struck, as a teenager, by one black and white film set in Berlin. So strong was the imagery that crossing into Hungary for the first time, somewhere in my subconscious, I almost expected it to be in black and white. You may well laugh, but then James Bond and Arnold Schwarzenegger films have a lot to answer for!
When I taught my students about the EU, I would start with a map of Europe – name the country sort of thing. Not quite as bad as the American blond being asked on a quiz show about Hungary (youtube it if you have not seen it!), but Belgium threw a lot of them! As for Austria or Hungary well…… It’s not that they were daft kids, its really more about the UK centric view of life. Here in the middle of Europe, history is very, almost too real and the last 150 / 350 years have not been exactly kind. The UK had its civil war back in the days of Charles I and is surrounded by 30km of sea; for good and bad this has kept the world out, so perspectives are very different – a bit like the States as another “island”. So where am I “rambling” too…Well I suppose it is that contrast that some of the replies have asked about.
I enjoy going back to the UK to friends and family, the contrasting countryside and “English gardens” although roses grow better here! London, old cities, English pubs and real ale. Some aspects still “wind me up” like populist cheap media reporting badly on important subjects, and the unpredictable nature of the weather that seemingly makes outdoor barbecues almost impossible to organise; “but what do you like about Hungary I hear”!.... so:
jazz clubs with top names for forints, museum night, the Danube and its bridges, walking between Batthany ter and Lanchid early in the morning, in fact at anytime, thermal baths, walking in the hills Pilis, Matra etc, watching birds fly in over the Alfold, the best salami, virsli and mustard standing outside some cheap eatery, public transport getting better year on year, cooking in a bográc, langos with cheese, garlic, sour cream, tomato sauce and a beer (and a heart attack), intelligent conversation, blogs not rants, fields of sunflowers, water melon that doesn’t taste of water, kind people, the occasional Trabant, oddly depressing Hungarian films, innumerable pretty girls (sorry I am a bloke) Esztergom, Pecs, the annual international decathlon and friendliness of Tiszauvaros, the mixture of Debrecen, the Balaton (in all its guises), pretty little villages etc , vineyards on the hillsides, the many great cafes from Jegbufe to nice service in a small town, hunting down somewhere new to eat - must try a butchers after watching Gastroangyal, the weather, the wine, stuffed cabbage, paprika potato, goulash and percolt, brassoi, retes (still working on mákos testa although I have cracked Turo rudi) my mother in laws pogásca plus many more. Nearly forgot palinka – made 23 litres one year from plum – a fozde can be an interesting place!
Helpful assistants (from DIY shops to supermarkets) who patiently put up with me butchering the Hungarian language, trying to unravel Hungarian history and it effects, the architecture, the Danube bend, cycle tracks, lines of Poplars along the road, meeting yet another interesting Hungarian and the many good people I meet every day. And of course the fact that my family is half Hungarian.
I am sure there many more

britblog 2014.02.07 17:07:56

@charlieharper (UK, de nem London!): Thanks for this, it has been suggested that i add why we actually moved here and paost as you said. Its only time that is short! How do you find the UK these days?

britblog 2014.02.07 10:34:41

@PannonBoy: I think I would go with PannonBoy, since I last posted, I wrote two full pages of A4 in response to questions as to why I am in Hungary and why did i come - my laptop then did the "blue screen of death" and I lost it!!!!!
I have reflected and discussed the questions since and am not sure exactly what to post - I realise that although many will find the UK not the England of films and media, but sometimes depressingly shallow, culturally lacking with attitudes shaped by poor quality newspapers like the Daily Mail. If you are there and work you are generally accepted. I think that socialising and forming social groups is essential especially if one partner is working and the other is looking after children - it can be very lonely for the latter. Despite all the "problems", there are a lot of good aspects about the UK, but this all becomes a much longer discussion, and perhaps better commented on by Hungarians working there.
Ultimately my last two days of reflection have led me to the conclusion that the Hungary I first stated visiting 21 years ago and moved to in 2005 is not the same as Hungary now - nor am I for that matter. The main difference is the “existential insecurity” for many. Not a phrase I was very really aware of until recently.
What does this mean (to me) – well, in the UK you get a job, if you work hard you get on. There is less nepotism. If you do not do something stupid like stealing etc then you keep your job as long as you are competent. A women is not generally discriminated against because she has not had kids yet or likely to have more. If you start your own business then you get work on your strengths not what you pay to someone else.
The government screws up like they all do, but any hint of corruption is jumped on by the media and legal system, people who feel they have a legal case can fight their cause and do – they are cynical about politics but still have some faith in the voting political legal system. They believe corruption is more than it is, but it does not exist at a civil service / local government / medical level – more subtle – behind the doors of big business no doubt but even then less likely to be a Nokia box, rather deals that are beneficial to companies vs individuals.
TRANSPARENCY is a genuine aim of government, NGOs and many businesses!
Hungary has a rich history and culture, it is a fascinating country, it has some beautiful countryside and is full of thinking, educated individuals. I like it here, but is has changed of late and whilst MSZP and FISESZ both have blood on their hands politically – I now worry about the future.
If I am worried, then many must be frightened or they have given up – I always joked with a Hungarian friend that Hungarians had a genetic tendency to depression and dark thoughts . I think have a better understanding and feeling for the country these days and don’t make the “joke”, but maybe it is familiar?
One of the most important things in life that gives us hope and enriches our existence is to have hope and make plans for the future – short term and long term. The more I talk to people, the more this seems to be fading. Despair is perhaps a better description. This is why people leave – what is the pointy in encouraging large families, if the children grow up learn and leave. I believe that Hungary is now badly on the wrong track and it is very sad.
BUT it is important to have how and to finish on a high point, this link is to another thread on this blog. Someone doing well and not just in IT
hataratkelo.blog.hu/2014/02/07/valahogy_mindig_jol_alakultak_a_dolgok
Sorry to have moved into politics.

britblog 2014.02.07 13:20:52

@tableno: Thankyou, I was not sure whether to post or even to what level of detail.