ISE15 Amsterdam

Exhibition slogen for this year: "Re-imagine your market, re-invent your business, re-design your world and re-define your future at ISE 2015." From another aspect, this can be validated for my "business" as well. :-)

The show was amazing again. This time I was there from the very beginning till the very end, from build up to break down like never before. Although, it was quite an exhausting week, I was happy to take part in it. Although, I lost my voice on the day just before the show and struggled with my sore throat all along, I was happy to make (quite one-sided) conversations with new customers and recognize returning ones. This week undoubtedly developed team spirit which is otherwise in normal case impossible. 

Last year, returning from Amsterdam I made a list that I must did this year. I'm happy to report that I did all of them, even extended with new goals that were achieved, too. This trip was undoubtedly about the realization of dreams.

Since this was my fifth year in Amsterdam, I definitely wanted to go outside the country and to see real windmills. A visit to Amsterdam and the Netherlands would not be complete without having seen the lovely Dutch countryside. Now, I had it.

When we approached and the first windmill appeared, I felt something unexplainable pleasure, some uninvited tears came and heard an inside voice whispering "now you are here and can thank for yourself; you planned it and put it into execution". Awareness that made me think this way instead of having another grey tick.  
My colleague Gergő joined me this excursion. He was amazed at my lucky me because we were always on schedule and on the right track, in time on the spot and everything happened so smooth. Normally, this is how I always do and this is how things happen with me. 

During this excursion we saw Zaanse Schans, the picturesque windmill village with its typical green-timbered houses and warehouses. Aaaaaand we visited a working windmill! The task of the mill we went inside was to produce oil from peanuts. Unfortunately, there was no wind so we could not see the true summit of perfection in the use of wind power. But the experience itself compensated this tiny incompleteness. We were allowed to go really inside and also upstairs outside. Beautiful pics could have been taken and it was not only me who thought this; a young Dutch couple performed their wedding photos then and there.
After the windmills we visited a clog maker and saw how those traditional wooden shoes are made. One or two pair per day in the past, one pair in 3 minutes nowadays. Then Marken Express provided a fantastic boat trip sailed by a cute captain and followed by a host of seagulls. Other highlights during this excursion included the famous and lively fishing village of Volendam where we visited a cheese factory and hardly believed the real age of the 74-year-old lady who drinks a cup of whey every morning and evening that is disgusting but brilliant for the skin. 

Marken. I really liked this place. Marken is a peninsula in the Markermeer. Because it was an island for so long, the costume of Marken is quite different from many other traditional costumes in the Netherlands. Accidently I found them on www.beforethey.com as well which actually means "before they pass away"...  

Worth to mention two other highlights that was not part of this excursion but the part of this one-week trip. 
Either of them is a restaurant that we tried collectively. De Kas, recommended by Lonely Planet. They grow their own herbs and vegetables in the greenhouses and gardens at the restaurant and on their own farmland. The restaurant itself is a 8-metre high greenhouse. What an atmosphere and what an experience! We laughed a lot and really enjoyed the situation and each other's company. We really had fun, so it was a good choice, another clap on the back. 

The scene of the other highlight is another restaurant. I met one of my friend from Budaörs who moved abroad so many years ago and finally found himself in Amsterdam. He works as a chef in a lovely restaurant. I visited him two times and my colleagues joined me. 
Gábor not only prepared heavenly courses for us but - as he is very verbose - we were truly entertained by him while eating. He spoke about his life in Amsterdam, introduced a couple of Dutch habits, let us tasting different kinds of Dutch beers and shared the secrets of coffe shops and their attachments. It was good to see him and his life over there and I'm happy to get to know also his dreams and plans. Cross my fingers for him and clap on my back to initiate and carry out this visit. 

Heineken Experience, the former brewery containing museums and attractions, was also a great entertainment. The biggest experience was to battle and label my own. More exactly my brother-in-law's as one of his favourite beer is the Dutch Heineken. 
And what are the 'must to bring' from Amsterdam? Stroopwafels (waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle), bulbs and different kinds of cheese and then say cheeeese! 

 

SCHOOL - The very first 5 months

We have the mid-year school report in our hands and to tell you the truth I have to be very proud. The very first feedback about Dominik's general accomplishment that evaluates him subject by subject and says that his behaviour and application are exemplary (5). It is also good to be aware that he belongs to the most skillful one third of the class. (They are altogether 32.)

Correlating with the nursery, the two most spectacular differences are the dirty clothes and the tiredness. When I pick him up from school in the afternoon, I just see his dirty coat, splashy trousers and muddy shoes and wonder if he had a good time or not. Although, he usually apologize and feel sorry about it but blames the weather. We usually hardly arrive home and I see looking backward that only a few more minutes would need and he would fall asleep. He extremely tired by the end of the day, although he says that the time passes faster than in the nursery. He visits the library with pleasure.

Within this five months, all of his tests and assessments were well above 90% - except one. That was only 84% just because his glasses. On that day, he crashed into a big boy accidently in the school yard while both running and his glasses were broken and saw not very well when wrote the test. So yes, also the first glass exchange happened during the first semester. 

As for the teachers, there are three of them. Half of the subjects are taught by one of them, the other half by the other one and English is taught by a third one. It quite funny that two of them stopped teaching them from the second semester since both are expecting babies.

English. Dominik is specialized in English and I'm happy to speak with him and repeat the learned things and even more. I was very happy to read the evaluation of this subject in his report: his vocabulary is rich; he can easily memorize and recall the learned songs and sayings; his speech comprehension is excellent; understands and follows the instructions; his pronounciation is correct. 
We are looking forward the second semester of this (not always very challenging) first year.

Goodbye 2014. Welcome 2015!

At first I thought 2014 was about healthy lifestyle and meals. Out and away, it was rather about 3 important people whose influence is really determinant on my future life. Each of them made an incredible hit on me and their combined effects initiated a beautiful change by Q4 of 2014.

First one is P. Enikő with her Zóna Movement. I've been doing her exercises for a year and I was never so close to my dreamed figure as nowadays I am. And I keep on training myself, of course. This is a must in everyone's life. Enikő helped me to feel fine myself in my skin, therefore saved a lot of time when dressing up, cos each piece of clothes start to fit as needed and when I take a look in the mirror, I'm satisfied. So she gave me self-confidence, strenght, energy and health.

Second one is F. Bori, the happiness coach who gave me back my belief in myself, made my inside engine work, taught me to focus on the right direction and things that really matter. She enlightened the way that just started to be a bit dark and dusty. Besides Bori, I received 4 more fantastic girlfriends, the participants of the workshop. We formed friendship and plan to do a lot of things together in 2015.

The third person is HE. He made it clear who I'm. He is the man who encouraged me in being aware of my feminity. Nothing else to mention about him because he is not part of my life - yet.

Summarized, the year of 2014 was the year of CHANGE. I'm changing and I love it. 

The power of MUSIC: 2 Concerts

Two concerts, two thrilling musical experiences. In a different way, but both of them definitely touched my heart, ever so much. I believe in and totally agree with the motto of one of the currently most famous radio station which is: "There are angles inside of one's soul that can be enlightened only by the music."

Concert #1: The Frantic

Magashegyi Underground - Akvarium Nagy Hall - 28.11.2014

The biggest Magashegyi Underground concert of the year that I cannot omit, mainly because of my friend who is at the stage. Unique performance, special sounding, talented artists. Congratulations, it was blood-strirring and even blood-pro. Thank you!

 



Concert #2: The Uplifting
Havasi Symphonic Arena Show - 06.12.2014

The music that are typically befit to big movies like Gladiator, in my opinion... In the morning of Santa's Day, Dominik found two concert tickets valid for that day. I was sure that the grandiose super production of the world famous piano artist Havasi Balázs - who is actually the fastest pianist in the world - will be a supreme musical experience for both of us. (HAVASI Symphonic ranked 16 on the music industry standard popularity chart Billboard Top 100, and was elected number 9 by Pollstar.) What a show, what a sounding, what a vision and what emotions! I'm thinking about the reason why a piece of music could make me cry, or at least why generates insensible tears. Just because of its goodness or has it some effect to the actual state of mind or just it touches the heart and this reflects in tears or its emotionality that generates more feelings inside?? By all means, it is fantastic and always want more, more, more. The voice of Lion King, the Grammy-prized Lebo M was also on stage to present the famous feature song of Lion King and guide the audience to Africa. I'm extremely grateful for my son that let myself persuade by him to buy the CD at the show. Since then, we cannot stop listening it. 

I also need to mention TAIKO, the Japanese drum that was an ingredient of both shows and for my ears' biggest pleasure. This was not the only commonality but the empathy and the incorporation with the tunes were also important factors regarding the artists.

A high number of creative and art professionals are working together for a concert that will give the audience a breathtaking audiovisual experience for a lifetime. My biggest respect is for those people who are willing to add something to the human beings and the beneficiary of their works not exclusively themselves but wide crowds and they make so many people happy through their music. Thank you, again. I'll be there next year as well!

Miracle Happens: NEW ME

I'm changing. 

With some exaggeration, I can say that I have just started to live again. I spoke about many question marks and uncertainty in summer and also about my friend, the so called indigo child. He gave the answers that were enough to calm me down for a while but not enough for the CHANGE. This change must be exclusively my DECISION that definitely helps me to step on my way and to become the woman I always wanted to be. That kind of change which helps me to find my balance, to feel myself better and better, to ENJOY life, my feminity; totally regardless any circumstances.

Accidently, I found Bori, my "happiness coach" and I decided to attend her motivational workshop held for women. During 8 weeks she transformed our mind, our attitude to life, raised consciousness, gave confirmation and motivation, start up our inside engine and so much more...

I'm changing and I love it.

4 days, 4 conversations

We had 4 free days (because of national holiday) plus an extra hour (because of changing daylight-saving time). So how to spend 4 days the most useful and what to expend the extra hour on? Let's see.

        We finished the short weekday in a playhouse with Emil on Wednesday and kid's day was resumed the following day. A few friends from the nursery were invited to play together inside and outside, to eat together, just to become closer and to discuss how everything is going in the school.

Friday was our rest-day and movie time (Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy). Finally I could meet my cousin and my godmother who had decided to spend the long weekend at our place. Saturday and Sunday were both my days. I organized a couple of meeting by Saturday and this day marched in the history as the day of true-hearted discussions. After breakfast Dominik left and conversation #1 was started with my cousin. Conversation #2 happened during lunchtime that was spent with my girlfriend in the downtown. Change, happiness, shine. It was good to see her so. 

And then, I had another appointment. I met HIM for the first time. Actually, conversation #3 took hardly more than 2 hours but was more meaningful than any other relating one. Something was started up, from deeply inside and I'm eager to discover if he is the person I think that he should be. Worthy close of the day the conversation #4 with my mom. Worthy and hearty. I love you, Mom.

Let's utilize that plus hour and spend it with work! However, we had a national holiday here, other countries did not stop working, so the number of unprocessed letters must have been reduced. Working a bit in advance so that the week will start best. And the rest of the day just let myself flying and cooking, flying and doing sweaty exercises, flying and listening to music in accordance with my current mood. :-)

Grandma is back to WORK

What a milestone in all our lives! My mother truly decided to be employed after several decades. Actually, she would have done this much much earlier but this idea was not supported by my dad. She's got her new job immediately and started to work from this month. She is doing what she likes most: looking after the youngest ones. She is a nanny in a day care in the next city. This is a historical event and we all have to get accustomed to this new situation. As for me, I need to submit that she is not at home most of the times I wanna go to her eg. to have a chat during my lunch time or I cannot leave Dominik at her when he is ill. In my opinion, no matter what feelings all we have on her decision, we have to have respect for it. The most important thing that she will be OK. And as far as I see, she is. She is very OK and happy and satisfied. She met some positive feedback even on the first week. Eg. a mother would like her to be the nanny of their twins although, they were belong to the other lady by default.

New people, new experiences, new tasks and self-realization. The hugest advantage of the whole new situation is that me & my sister found each other. Sounds funny but we both were tend to lost in our own engagements and devote not so much time to meet and chat. I think, this is the time when we recognized that we depends on each other and are able to ease each other's life. Now babysitting is the field that we can help each other most and mutually. We have introduced some constancy by looking after the children by turns. This way, not only me & my sister have some free hours but also the children make profit of playing together minimum twice a week.

90 YEARS - The Fine Age

Dominik's great-grandmother turned 90 on the 24th of September! 90 times she saw the flowers blooming, the leaves falling. 90 years with lots of love, experience, bad and good memories. Thanks God, she enjoys good health and we really hope that she is going to stay with us for many years henceforward.

50 YEARS - The Golden Jubilee

50 times to celebrate birthdays in men's life is awesome. 50 times to celebrate wedding anniversaries in a couple's life is even more awesome and also highly estimable.

Illustrious day was the 26^th of September. We all were honoured to be a part of the reblessing of a great marriage of the dearest and youngest Elizabeth and Nándi from Calgary.

Szigetköz_Act #2

Contrasted with the expectations, not so many people were brave enough to take part in the free canoeing and tenting opportunity organized by the open-handed Viziló Vízitúra year by year to make water tours more popular. This impartiality was due to the rainy weather. It was sad to see that no tent was set up in the territory of the camp. As for me (and for the couple of people besides us), I decided to choose a much more comfortable way of accomodation, a little wooden house out of the 5, for safety's sake. It proved to be the best choice, although, it did not rain by day but rained at night and dawn. Of course, we had the pleasure again to take to water more times and admire the versatile nature from there. And I also had the pleasure to pocket a lot of acknowledgements from the cutiest tour guides for the pancakes I made upon request. Finally, here come some words to remember that fantastic weekend: flying camera, pile of wood, wellington, castors, deers, mushroom, pocket-knife, Indian, Greenpeace, rapids, scavenging, bow and so much more...

Milestone: SCHOOL - The very first 3 weeks

During the very first week, we both needed to get accustomed to the new institute. To arrive in time, to remember all the neccessary things to pack in the schoolbag. The September also required to reschedule the daily routine such as going to and getting out of bed according to strict timing and my working hours needed to be changed as well.

On the second week, some uncertainty was arisen. The school is big, the faces are unknown, the rules are new. And from now, we are not allowed to come together till the classroom. We usually say goodbye at the entrance hall and I just follow him with my eyes (joining my companion in distress, the parents from the nursery) how he is going up the stairs till the second floor. Just let them go and see how they approach step by step to the way of independence.

Each morning of the third week began with a smile and a ready-to-act attitude that are not faded till the end of the day, although, he is completely exhausted by the end of each day.

So I can report that we both start the school and always wish to do our very best. Thanks to the nursery we attended, the children are well prepared and I'm sure that they will easily be over the first challenge without any hitch.

Robi, Nancy, Gábor and Anikó in Hungary

We had the pleasure in welcoming a part of the Lassu family from Calgary in Hungary and in spending some time and in doing some things together at the very end of August and the very beginning of September.

Szigetköz_Act #1

We are always happy to get free from town and throw ourselves into the nature. Szigetköz is calling us year by year and the car drives itself there automatically. Necessary accessories of a top notch weekend: tent, canoe, and paddle. It can be intensified with sparkling tour guides and shiny weather. I like dipping my paddle into the water again and again and feeling the power of every single pulling but regret to spoil the surface of the water with the gorgeous image reflected. We will be back soon.

A Week at the Game Reserve

If a Legoland trip is proper to the 6^th LEGO-themed birthday party, it seems to be a great idea to spend a week at the game reserve as a summer engagement after a game-themed 7^th birthday party. Arrival due prior to start my work, departure due after finishing at work from Monday till Friday.

Absolutely an unforgettable week filled with exciting programs and becoming dog-tired by end of each day.    

Dominik is 7

I've just counted how many birthday Dominik has in a year. More exactly, how many birthday party is held for him during the whole summer. It's quite funny because this number is 6!

1.) We usually did not hold any birthday party in the nursery because it was always over by mid June. Unless it was summer nursery and we just attended on his big day. This year, Dominik told me that he never sat at the round table to be celebrated by his friends in the nursery. I said: it is OK, easily solvable and this is the last time in such millieu, we'll bring cakes and you can be the birthday boy as you wish.

2.) In the meantime, his usual big birthday party was planned, the participants were asked which date fits their summer schedule best. So it happened that he had the second birthday within the month of June.

I worried how the LEGO party of last year could be surpassed. I knew well that it must be very different like the previous ones and did not want to stay at home, so I was thinking of an adventure park or an exciting playground or something outdoor where we can bring our cake with ourselves. (In most cases, you aren't allowed to bring any food/drink into such playhouses but you have to buy there.)

Then I found this possibility in the nearby game reserve that exactly seemed to be the one I was looking for. Prior to the final decision we went with Dominik to explore the site but no one was found there. We decided to enquire from the waiter in the nearby restaurant and he persuade me then and there that were are at the right place. He was an independent person from the birthday party point of view and said only good things since his son had been involved, too. So I made the decision, reserved the date, arranged the down payment, distributed the invitation cards, ordered the desired cake, organized the logistics of the children and the big day has come.

The program was amazing. There was healthy competition, playful learning, interesting challenges and exercises, smart games, animals and nature and even the adults were involved. As a summary, I'm happy to say that the party of this year was a worthy continuation of the last one.

Dominik 7

3.) As none of my cousins' children could attend the birthday party in the game reserve, we decided to hold an additional party at home with them. This will be due next weekend.
 
4.) The genuine day of Dominik's birth, the 24th of July. I celebrated him from early morning till night and forwarded him each and every best wishes of the relatives, acquintances and friends. I woke up early in the morning to prepare his favourite "breakfast". Although, I usually do not preapare pancakes on weekdays before work.

5.) Although, congratulations happened, due to other engagements, we have postponed the party held for close family members such as grandparents and godparents.

6.) Last but not least, we don't have to forget the celebration on Dominik's father's side.

So this is how it happens that Dominik has birthday during the whole summer: from June through July till August. :-)