Tuesday, April 9 2019

09:00 I get ready for my friend "Magyar" Mike's visit. He comes to our house every Tuesday morning at 10 am for our "Hungarian hour". I sit down with the computer and prepare a Hungarian vocabulary  test I want him to take at the beginning of the hour. And he will do the same for me.

10:00 Mike calls at the door and we study Hungarian for an hour. We exchange vocabulary tests and afterwards we read through our current textbook's 11th lesson: a dialogue in Hungarian, and the subsequent exercises, plus extra dialogues.

As we tackle the exercises, I have a sudden insight - we've reached lesson 11 in the textbook, and the exercises and grammar have now become much more complicated, and Mike now really has a lot more difficulty keeping up with everything. He is not a trained linguist, and Hungarian is not an easy language, to put it mildly.

a typical example of the grammar we encounter

in the 11th lesson of the textbook - yikes, poor Mike !!!!!

Mike began studying the language in the early 1990’s when he was a graphic arts teacher at a local technical college that had a relationship with a similar college in Pécs, Hungary, a relationship which included regular exchange visits for both students and teachers. And I first met Mike during a series of WEA Hungarian lessons, which were being taken by about 40 teachers from Mike's College. And I visited Hungary for the first time in 1994 with Mike and with some of his colleagues from the college.

It was a fascinating time to see Hungary, because the whole of eastern Europe then was beginning to open up to the West for the first time in almost 50 years, and to take their first steps into the long-awaited real world of democracy and capitalism, after 40 plus years of the communist fantasy world.

In Hungary, I was initially surprised to see "advertisements" on the walls of buildings, until I realised that it was the same 2 advertisements every  time: (1) an advertisement for Blikk magazine, and (2) a political advertisement for Viktor Orbán's "Fidesz" party , when it was a forward-looking party of young idealists paving the way for democracy and capitalism, and not the group of bigoted nationalists it has now become - happy days !!!

"Hungary's two advertisements" in 1994 - this is me, next to an advertisement 

for Blikk magazine (right), and an advertisement for Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party (left):

"if you are bored with bananas, why not try an orange?"

The orange was the symbol of Orbán's Fidesz party, and the slogan came from a typical Hungarian joke:  a dialogue between two women in a female prison, where bananas were routinely used to make life a little more bearable – my god, what a crazy world we live in !!!!

Hungarians were surprised to meet Mike and me - at that time, the majority of foreign tourists were either Germans or Austrians, and Brits and Americans were thin on the ground.

Everyone was very friendly to Mike and me. In this picture we have just met,

and are talking to, an old man, a retired school principal, while we were walking over the hills

11:00 Mike has to leave. Lois and I drive over to Leckhampton. We swing by the local Red Cross charity shop and donate 2 more suitcases packed with our unwanted books – and with that, we have now completed the so-called "book phase" of our downsizing mini-project - hurrah! Our long-term goal is to be able to move out of our ridiculously large house effortlessly and move into something much smaller when we have become too feeble to cope with the house and garden.

13:00 We have lunch and afterwards I go to bed and take a gigantic afternoon nap. I feel totally washed up today for some reason. I am getting old, no doubt about that.

15:30 I get up and Lois and I relax with a cup of tea on the couch. This morning she has booked us a week's holiday in a holiday cottage in Devon for September, which will be nice, in a holiday complex we have already stayed in twice.

flashback to last autumn: our holiday in North Devon

17:30 We have dinner - 2 of the low-fat ready meals we bought the other day in CookShop. Afterwards we have to go out. Lois wants to participate in her sect’s Bible seminar, taking place tonight in Brockworth library. I drive her over to Mari-Ann and Alf's house. They will drive her over to Brockworth, where all three will attend the seminar. I drop Lois off in front of the house and drive home again.

20:00 I have a little alone time. This is my chance to see the first episode of the third season of a Danish TV thriller series with the English title "Follow the Money", which Lois has no interest in seeing.

I had given a tip-off to our U3A Danish group members that the BBC would start airing the third season last Saturday, because I know that the group members (apart from Lois herself) are very into Danish TV shows that showcase  a lot of sex and violence – my god, what madness !!!!

The plot seems to revolve around two main characters, one is a 90% good guy and the other a 90% bad guy:

(1) young Nick, a 90% bad guy character who has ambitions to control the majority of the illegal drugs  being imported into Denmark. But he also has a softer side - he misses his young son who has been taken away  by the authorities from Nick and his depressed partner, and placed with an elderly couple (an uncle and aunt), who have become his foster parents.

Nick, 90% bad guy – a drug smuggler with a softer side. It's useful to me, as someone who

tends to mix up various characters when I am watching  TV dramas,

 the fact  that Nick is very tall and slim, and has bleached blond hair, which makes him stand out

(2) thirty-something  Alf, a 90% good guy, a member of the narcotic squad's “task force Nørrebro”, which patrols and investigates drug trafficking in one of Copenhagen's less pleasant neighbourhoods.

Alf, a 90% good guy, is a narcotics officer in the city's "Task Force Nørrebro" drug squad.

He is a little nervous and is suffering from PTSD post-traumatic stress syndrome.

It is again useful for me, as someone, who tends to mix different characters up,

when I watch TV dramas, that Alf is that rarest of creatures, an Oriental Dane.

- "Kudos, Alf !!!!"

Alf is having  an affair with a work colleague, Isa, who is the police's local legal expert. We see Isa first when she is scolding Alf's team for secretly filming, without a warrant,  activities going on in a men's changing-room, where drug trafficking deals are being arranged. Isa insists that the team destroy the resulting video tapes, which cannot be used for evidence in court, she says.

we first see Isa, the drug squad’s  local law expert, when she is bawling out Alf's team

for filming, without a warrant, a men's changing-room where drug deals are being arranged

A little later we see Isa in a more relaxed mood, in bed with Alf. He tells her that his colleagues had earlier been calling her a "tight-assed chick" after her bawling-out rant session (see above).

Alf is obviously in love with Isa, but unfortunately she is married, with children. Later we see Alf gazing a little sadly at her, as she kisses and embraces her husband Lars in the police station's parking lot and hops up into the car with him.

Alf gazes rather sadly sad at his beloved Isa, as she kisses and hugs

her husband Lars in the police station parking lot, and then hops up into the car with him.

Poor Alf !!!!!!!

21:45 Lois comes back from Brockworth. She says there was a bit of a snafu in the Bible seminar - the speaker on this evening's rota actually repeated last week’s subject by mistake, but no one had the heart to tell him that he was talking about the wrong topic - he had obviously spent a lot of time preparing his presentation – my god, what madness !!!!

The seminars' current schedule

a typical recent session

The seminars are publicised as a course for local citizens who are interested in learning more about the Bible, and the advertisements do not mention the name of Lois's sect in any prominent way. But the unspoken long-term goal of the seminars is actually to recruit new sect members, I think.

22:00 I go to bed, but Lois needs to wind down after tonight’s exciting session. She stays up a little longer and sees a little television. She is always a little "hyper" after Bible seminars - I have to say. And she usually has trouble falling asleep - poor Lois !!!!!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!!!!!

Danish translation

09:00 Jeg forbereder mig på min ven ”Magyar” Mikes besøg. Han har det med at komme hos os hver tirsdag formiddag kl 10 til vores ”ungarske time”. Jeg sætter mig med computeren og udarbejder en ungarsk orddforrådtest, jeg vil have ham til at tage i begyndelsen af timen. Og han vil gøre gengæld.

10:00 Mike ringer på døren og vi studere ungarsk i en time. Vi udveksler ordforrådtest og bagefter læser vi igennem vores nuværdne lærebogs 11. lektion: en dialog på ungarsk, og de efterfølgende øvelser, også ekstra dialoger.

Mens vi takler øvelserne har jeg en pludselig indsigt – vi har nået til lektion 11 i lærebogen, og øvelserne og grammatikken er nu blevet pludselig meget mere kompliceret, og Mike nu har det virkelig meget meget sværere med at holde trit med det hele. Han er ikke en uddannet lingvist, og ungarsk er ikke et nemt sprog, for at sige mildt.

et typisk eksempel på den grammatik, vi møder i lærebogens 11. lektion

- yikes !!!!!

Mike begyndte at studere sproget først i 1990’erne, da han var lærer i grafik på et lokalt tekniske college, der havde et forhold med et lignende college i Pécs, Ungarn, som inkluderede regelmæssige udvekslingbesøg for både studerende og lærere. Og jeg mødte MIke først i løbet af en serie af WEA ungarske  timer, som omring 40 lærere fra Mikes college deltog i. Og jeg besøgte Ungarn for første gang i 1994 sammen med Mike og nogle af hans arbejdskollegaer fra colleget.

Det var en fascinerende periode at se Ungarn i, fordi hele øst-europa dengang begyndte at åbne sig til vesten for første gang i næsten 50 år, og at tage deres første skridt ind i den efterlængte virkelige verden af demokratiet og kapitalismen efter 40+ år af den kommunistiske fantasiverden.

I Ungarn var jeg i begyndelsen overrasket at se ”reklamer” på murene af bygninger, inditil jeg indså, at det var de samme 2 reklamer hver gang: en reklame for Blikk-tidsskriftet, og en politisk reklame for Viktor Orbáns ”Fidesz”-parti, dengang det var et fremsigtet parti af unge idealister i gang med at bane vejen for demokratiet og kapitalismen, og ikke den gruppe af bigotte nationalister, der nu er – lykkelige dage!!!

”Ungarns to reklamer” i 1994 – en reklame for Blikk-tidsskriftet, og en reklame for Viktor Orbáns Fidesz-parti: “hvis du keder dig af bananer, vælg en appelsin”.

Appelsinen var symbolet af Fidesz-partiet, og sloganen stammede fra en typisk ungarsk

vittighed: en dialog mellem to kvinder i en kvindelig fængsel, hvor bananer

blev brugt til at gøre livet lidt mere uholdeligt – du godeste, sikke en skør verden vi lever i !!!!

ungarerne var overraskede at møde Mike og mig – dengang var størstedelen af udenlandske turister enten tyskere eller østriger, og alle var meget venlige over for Mike og mig. Her møder vi,

og taler med, en gammel mand, en tidligere skoleinspektør, mens vi gik en tur over bakkerne

11:00 Mike skal af sted. Loig og jeg kører over til Leckhampton. Vi smutter ind i det lokale Røde Kors velgørenhedsbutik og donere endnu 2 kufferter propfyldte med vores uønskede bøger – dermed har vi nu fuldført den såkaldte ”bog-fase” af vores downsize mini-projekt – hurra! Vores langsigtede mål er at kunne flytte ud af vores latterligt store hus uden besvær og flytte ind i noget meget mindre, når vi er blevet for svage til at klare huset og haven.

13:00 Vi spiser frokost og bagefter går jeg i seng for at tage en gigantisk eftermiddagslur.  Jeg føler mig helt slået ud i dag af en eller anden grund. Jeg bliver gammel, ingen tvivl om det.

15:30 Jeg står op og Lois og jeg slapper af med en kop te i sofaen. Hun har i morges booket os en uges ferie i et feriehus i grevskabet Devon til september, hvilket vil være rart, i en feriekompleks vi allerede to gange har opholdt os i. Feriehuset ligger i nærheden af havnebyen Lynton og Exmoor-nationalparken.

tilbageblik til sidste efterår: vores ferie i Nord-Devon

17:30 Vi spiser aftensmad – 2 af de fedtfattige færdigretter, vi forleden købte i CookShop. Bagefter skal vi af sted. Lois ønsker at deltage i sin sekts bibelseminar, der finder sted i aften i byen Brockworths bibliotek. Jeg kører hende over til Mari-Ann og Alfs hus. De vil køre hende over til Brockworth, hvor de alle tre skal deltage i seminaret. Jeg sætter Lois af foran huset og kører hjem igen.

20:00 Jeg har lidt alenetid. Dette er min chance for at se det første afsnit af den 3. sæson af en dansk tv-thrillerserie med den engelske titel ”Follow the Money”, som Lois har ikke nogen interesse for at se.

Jeg havde givet en vink til vores U3A danske gruppes medlemmer, at BBC ville begynde at sende den 3. sæson sidste lørdag, fordi jeg ved godt, at gruppemedlemmerne (bortset fra selve Lois) går højt op i de danske tv-serier, der fremviser en masse sex og vold – du godeste, sikke et vanvid!!!!

Plottet synes at kredse om to hovedfigurer, den ene 90% good guy og den anden 90% bad guy:

(1)    unge Nick, en 90% ondskabsfuld figur, der har ambitioner om at kontrollere hovedparten af de stoffer, der bliver importeret i Danmark. Men han har også en blødere side – han savner sin unge søn, der er blevet fjernet af myndighederne fra Nick og hans deprimerede partner, og anbragt hos et ældre ægtepar (en onkel og tante).

Nick, 90% bad guy – narkosmugler med en bløde side. Det er nyttigt for mig, der har

tendens til at blande forskellige figurer sammen, når jeg ser på tv-dramaer, at

Nick er meget høj og slank, og har afbleget blondt hår- hurra!

(2)    nogle og tredive-årige Alf, en 90% good guy, et medlem af narkopolitiets ”task force  Nørrebro”, der patruljerer og undersøger narkohandlen  i et af Købehavns mindre behagelige kvarterer.

Alf, en 90% good guy, narkopolitimand i byens ”Task Force Nørrebro”.

Han er lidt nervøs, og lider af PTSD – posttraumatisk belastningsreaktion.

Det er nyttigt for mig, der har tendens til at blande figurer sammen,

når jeg ser på tv-dramaer, at Alf er en sjælden asiatisk dansker. Ros til dig, Alf !!!!

Alf har en affære med en arbejdskollega, Isa, der er politiets lokale juraekspert. Vi ser Isa først, da hun skælder Alfs hold ud for at filme uden kendelse aktiviterne i et mandlige omklædningsrum, hvor narkohandel-deals bliver arrangeret. Hun insisterer på at holdet ødelægger videobåndene, som dermed ikke kan bruges til beviser i retten, siger hun.

vi ser Isa, narkopolitiets lokale juraekspert, først, da hun skælder Alfs hold ud

for at filme uden kendelse et mandlige omklædningsrum, hvor narko-deals bliver arrangeret

Lidt senere ser vi Isa i mere afslappet humør, i seng med Alf. Han fortæller hende, at hans kollegaer tidligere havde kaldt hende for en ”stramrøvet tøs” efter hendes udskældning.

Alf er åbenbart meget forelsket i Isa, men desværre er hun gift med børn. Senere ser vi Alf kigge lidt trist på hende, da hun kysser og krammer Lars på politistationens parkeringsplads og hopper op i deres  bil sammen med ham.

Alf kigger noget trist på sin elskede Isa, da hun kysser og krammer sin mand Lars,

og hopper op i deres bil sammen.

Stakkels Alf !!!!!!!

21:45 Lois kommer tilbage fra Brockworth. Hun siger, at der var lidt af en bommert i bibelseminaret – taleren på aftenens turnus gentog faktisk sidste uges emne ved en fejltagelse, men ingen nænnede at fortælle ham, han talte om det forkerte emne – han havde åbenbart brugt en masse tid på at forberede sin fremlæggelse – du godeste, sikke et vanvid!!!!

Seminarernes nuværende skema

et typisk nylig session

Seminarerne bliver publiseret som et kursus for lokale borgere, der interesserer sig for at lære mere om bibelen, og reklamerne omtaler ikke navnet af Lois’ sekt på en fremtrædende måde. Men seminarers uudtalte langsigtede mål er faktisk at rekrutere nye sektmedlemmer, tror jeg.

22:00 Jeg går i seng, men Lois trænger til at geare ned efter aftenens spændende session. Hun bliver oppe lidt længere, og ser lidt fjernsyn. Hun er altid lidt ”hyper” efter bibelseminarer – det må jeg nok sige. Og hun plejer at have svært med at falde i søvn – stakkels Lois !!!!!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!