The capital with the eye of an expat
Pathways to healing
The first time I remember meeting Elmira Mezei was at her 50th birthday party. Her husband, my good friend, had invited me. I may have met her before, but that’s the date that sticks in my head. She was wearing the most fantastic pair of shoes and looked chicer than chic. She was so happy.
The capital with the eye of an expat
From Dublin to the Danube
We’re living in turbulent times. It seems as if each new day announces another raft of changes to the world order. Change is good. It keeps things lively. But so much change at once though? That’s destabilising. Discombobulating. Downright worrying even.
In the face of uncertainty
I’ve thought long and hard about what to write about in this, my first column of 2025. I recently returned from Sierra Leone where I read about Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme. Last year, 32 students from Sierra Leone were awarded scholarships to study ...
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The capital with the eye of an expat
Making a difference
For much of 2024, I’ve been wallowing. I lost two women who played a huge role in shaping the woman I am: my mum and my Donna. The void they’ve left makes it difficult to breathe at times.
The capital with the eye of an expat
The most exquisite form of courtesy
For many years now, November has been a month I associate with giving thanks. Most likely it’s a remnant from when I was Stateside. It’s a massive holiday over there; for many, it’s even bigger than Christmas. And it’s not just an American holiday.
The capital with the eye of an expat
St Andrew in Budapest
Where has the year gone? I can hardly believe we’re in October. Back in my corporate management days, I’d be busy compiling reports on Q3 and reviewing projections for Q4. I’d also have been able to tell you that I’m writing this in W42 ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
Plastic Pickup
Many moons ago, when I was negotiating a Catholic convent school education, one of the nuns put a question to us.
The capital with the eye of an expat
On stork time
In my village office during the week, I looked out of the window to see our two young storks perched on top of the roof of the barn. A magical calm came over me. I found myself smiling with the inner delight of a ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
A real painter
How did a kid who drew comic books in Békéscsaba find himself exhibiting/selling out his paintings on the other side of the world in Art Taipei? How did a drummer who played in and made music videos for underground rock bands in Budapest get ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
Pour decisions
I grew up with the iconic Blue Nun and the odd cardboardeaux brought back from France by neighbours lucky enough to go on foreign holidays.
The capital with the eye of an expat
In search of colour
Standing 22.4 metres (73 ft) underground on the platform for the M4 metro in Kálvin tér in the nation’s capital recently, a strange feeling came over me.
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The capital with the eye of an expat
The Albanian Riviera: New builds and daydreamers
I like to think that I can spot potential. In plans. In people. In property. Especially in property. I’m not for a minute suggesting that I know the real estate market and know where to invest to get the best return. I’m clueless in ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
7scents
I have a peculiarly impulsive sense of smell that has led me to stopping random people and commenting on the scent they're wearing. Women usually smile, take the compliment in their stride and volunteer the name of their perfume. Men, once they get over ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
Where there’s a need…
One of the silver linings in this whole COVID-19 phenomenon is that we’re all slightly more aware of the fortunes and misfortunes of others. Life as we know it came to a standstill and is now limping forward, trying to regain some semblance of ...
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The capital with the eye of an expat
Adding some Scottish to the mix
French philosopher Voltaire is reputed to have said "We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation". Presumably he was talking about the French. Some three centuries later, the British in Hungary are looking in that direction too, this time for ideas on ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
Scary stuff
It’s the time of year when ghosts, ghouls, and goblins roam the fringes of reality scaring the living daylights out of kids and adults still in touch with their inner child. TV channels, movie platforms, and cinemas screen their horrors of horror. Christian graveyards ...
The capital with the eye of an expat
The aftermath of Christmas
The dratted 2020 is behind us and with its departure we see the end of the UK’s membership of the EU, the end of the Trump presidency and the beginning of the end of the pandemic. With the advent of 2021 we see the ...
