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stevetuba.co.uk
Days in the life of a Curmudgeon...2009.
Velence...1st June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0619hrs...Up since 0500hrs. Mud with Mom. I have been out there for over an hour...pondering...in the rain. 13.3°C and 19.8°C...drizzling. Today is a national holiday. Events will be rained out...as they were yesterday. Jutka told me the other day that an acquaintance from Seattle will be here on the 3rd. Velence...2nd June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0416hrs...Kwan in the corner...Stranger came up...fed two. Time to make a Cup. 12.7°C and 20.7°C...hazy. 0937hrs...Heading for the far store. 1105hrs...Back with a prior to Bela’s. Sari was outside as I arrived at the store...so I went over. 1629hrs...In the intervening period...phone...Jutka...store...ok...done deal...back. On the way back...Jutka reiterated comments about Istvan. I added a few choice bits also. Velence...3rd June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0528hrs...Up since 0500hrs. Java eventually with Joey...a small black and white kitten. Kwan’s playmate. 15.2°C and 20.9°C...Some clouds...though it could go either way from here on. 0551hrs...I ponder the "Insanity"! I find myself...now...here...in an insane situation. I ask myself when the insanity started. Well...England...yes...that was insane. California...yes...that was insane... until I was alone. So there is the clue. Things were just fine until it involved others. Looking back on it now...with hindsight...I was better off back in Seattle...alone. All the losses I’ve incurred have taken place after leaving. And a result of others. Granted that I’ve done a few things that I'd probably not taken as far as I have...given some help...but at what "cost"? 1444hrs...Just in from out. Caught Cila walking home. Talked. She mentioned the "argument" as in Istvan had told her. What exactly I’m not sure. I told Cila that he talked and I listened to his tirade. She said there will be more coming...soon I assume. She also mention the altercation with Bela the other day...and Jutka. She did not ask me when I would be returning...to work. I assume she knew better. And...since she was at Jutka’s this morning...I must also assume that Jutka brought up some of what I’d told her yesterday. Velence...4th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0446hrs...Java with Kwan. 13.8°C and 21.2°C...clouds...with color. Cold wind out of the west. 1009hrs...Heading for the far store...now! 2022hrs...I eventually got back in one piece...and without drama. At one point Cila called to tell me of a program on the radio. I tuned in. No big deal...since it was at the very end. I started a semi-major pickup. I found what I was in fact looking for...naturally in the last place I looked...which was within reach as I sit here...though not in a logical location! I had turned the place upside-down. I even rehearsed a short speech...that I would give to Cila...explaining the loss thereof. "See...this large bear came in and....." Speaking of animals...I have now seen hedgehogs on numerous occasions. I did get a shot of one...but it was out of focus. [It was dark.] Velence...5th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0524hrs...A Cup with Joey and Blackie...later Stranger. 13.5°C and 20.5°C...greyish. 1115hrs...Back for about 30 minutes. Earlier...phone...Cila...pastry for me from Sari...and Jutka coming...ok. Have consumed said cherry topped pastry. Cherries being in season right now. Jutka arrived...and they headed for the cemetery and other places...I came back...and on the way watered the lettuce...which is now useless...since it has in effect flowered. Velence...6th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0615hrs...Java with Joey, Stranger and eventually Kwan. 16.5°C and 21.0°C...hazy. 0858hrs...Have fed numerous. Most of them are sick...in one way or another. Mom may be pregnant...but I was wrong the last time. The haze has burned off...and it looks to be a hot day coming. Finished "Systemantics"...a fast read. Came across my voice recorder...and plan to use it. Reading into "Fifty Great Adventures that Thrilled the World". The book is old. Strangely it doesn’t have a copyright date. I’ll look online. I need to hit the far store sometime today. I expect to get a call from Jutka. 0956hrs...Just in from out. Played with Joey...while reading. My Fluke 12 showed a problem the last few times I used it. The "Ohms" function would not show zero with the two leads connected together as it should have. Pissed me off to think that this was so. In the process of rooting about I came across another set of leads. I swapped them...and found...to my pleasant surprise that the display showed zero. This meant that the problem was with the leads themselves! I soon located the problem in the black lead...‘gator' end. I will need to solder it or some thing like that. Anyway...glad it was not the meter itself. 1629hrs...About 45 mins ago...phone...Dori. States that she and crew were ready to come over at 1700hrs. I told her the "work" situation had changed...and that I didn’t have a plan of action for them. She countered that she wanted to clear out an area that they had looked at the last time they were here. Fine with me. She reiterated that she was...at the time unable to contact Cila. I have/had no idea either. There may be a problem getting at the tools...but who knows what will develop by 1700hrs. I don’t really want to go...and will try to get out of it...assuming that they think that I need to be there. 1713hrs...Phone...Dori...etc. Can’t get out of it. 2110hrs...Back for ten. Fed four. Got lots done. There were four counting Bela. Later it became six...plus me. Velence...7th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0415hrs...A Cup with Stranger. 19.2°C and 22.0°C...clear...a full moon has set. Yesterday we cleared out the area behind the Kamara...(Camera...a chamber normaly without a wndow), Shed One and the Smoke House. What was there was that which Cila and I had generated months back. With Dori, Saci, Agnes, Bela and myself it was short work. Most of it was done in two hours. Judit and friend showed up later to help. A call was made for Anci to bring the van so that the now fully loaded trailer could be dumped...in the "Ravine". This was a new place for me. We drove up into the hills...through a locked gate...and there we were. Sure a hell...there was this massive...deep...ravine. From where we stood it was not possible to see the bottom. Primeval...it was. While Bela and I did the heavy work...Anci and Dori walked off. At one point we needed the car/trailer moved...but Anci had taken the keys...and had to be called back. Dori had a handful of cherries...picked off a tree in the orchard. Well...now...since I’d never been to this location...I didn’t realize that we were on family property! Including the ravine! Bela pointed out the property lines. Gads! Earlier I had discarded the idea of clearing out the stack of roof tiles between Shed One and the Smoke House from the back because of the blocking twigs and branches on the ground. But now...with all that cleared away...it’s not only viable...but the best plan...given that the front has been blocked ever since I placed the second trailer there a month ago...and now full of scrap iron. I plan to use the empty space to park the tractor...still in the garage. 1030hrs...Phone...Jutka...lunch...1330hrs...and then vote. I’ll hit the far store too. Got back at 1530hrs. Done deal. Velence...8th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0512hrs...Clock reset. Java with Kwan, Joey, Stranger and two blacks. 16.4°C and 21.7°C...cloudy...hazy. The party that I voted for won by a record...an EU record at that...a landslide as it were. A major move to the right! About bloody time! 56.3%...with the next closest 17.3%. This is for seats in the EU Parliament. In the compound...not a single bit of scrap metal has been disposed of since I started work. This is a major bottleneck. Another thing that bothers me are the "planning’s" that I’m hearing for the new found spaces. Everything from a greenhouse...to a vegetable patch. I hear of cutting out trees from one...and not from another in as much as it never having crossed their mind...as in horror of horrors. I even heard of building rooms...which I need to get clarification about...since it sounded the most interesting...though savagely put down on the spot by others. 0618hrs...Fed six. 0649hrs...If what I see/hear on this morning's TV about yesterday’s voting...things are about to change. Back to the compound...I also hear that Pityu’s car should/could be parking in the garage. Well...yes in could...but it would mean a re-thinking of the overall parameters...which others negate...even though it was one of Pityu’s thoughts originally...which I’d mentioned more than once. A car takes up a lot of space...not only where it’s parked...but access to that space. 0739hrs...Have just done breakfast...eggs. 1429hrs...Back from the close store...Fed a bunch. Velence...9th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0714hrs...Mud with the crew plus Joey. 18.4°C and 22.1°C...Some cumulus moving in from the southwest. 0943hrs...Heading for the far store...now. 1028hrs...Back for about twenty minutes...fed a few. It turns out that I’ve been drawing the scale incorrectly...I know...hard to believe. The two levers have been transposed...and now it even "looks" better. The analysis still alludes me though. I don’t know if it’s the measurement taken...or that they are incorrect from the start. The sample...the scale...itself is not a first class example...by far. Two screws still defeat me...hence I’m not able to get the exact dimensions needed. I got an email the other day from a guy...living in Berrylands that came across my website regarding England’s First Geocache. He will be starting to play the game soon. I need to get back to him. 1743hrs...Windy. The "dynamic"...is interesting as it’s played out here within the "family". Not enough men to do all the work the females think up. The old saying that "Everything is possible for the one that doesn’t have to do it." comes to mind. The other one is that..."If you think you have a...simple...solution to a problem...you don’t understand the problem." 2028hrs...Have been reading/editing from a year back. Gads...lots of typos! Velence...10th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0331hrs...A Cup. 18.2°C and 22.8°C...Clear...with Moon. 0941hrs...Major breakthrough with the scale! My analysis of the operation indicated that a location could be found for the placement of the weight to be measured such that an error would occur. I started yet another drawing...and then...looking at it...I realized something. I took a look at photos I’d taken...and sure as hell...the location of the weight to be measured was restricted! What had been described variously as an ornamental feature...was in fact a critical part of the design. It was a vertical board...braced...that in effect limited the location of said weight. It limited the location such that it was always over three of four fulcrums...and still effecting a fourth...hence together the main fulcrum. [I was wrong about that.] 1039hrs...Just in from out. Istvan and wife...the neighbour to the east...known as the "green house"...have just arrived. Should hit the shower...and shave...then the close store I think. 1246hrs...Store...now! Mom is in fact the "P" word...and hungry! 1314hrs...Back and fed numerous. Fired off the big fan for the first time as in NOW! 1928hrs...As drawn...based on measurement that I’d taken...and my subsequent analysis thereof...I ended up with an unacceptable error. The one thing I am sure of is that placement of a given weight anywhere on the platform should give the same reading. To that end I began to juggle one fulcrum location and then another...three total...with the result that I now have an error of less than 1%. I will now need to work the numbers backwards...given that I was working the reciprocals thereof...to see if it was/is possible to hold the fulcrum location to the precision indicated by my number. This still leaves the matter of...as yet...not having truly precise measurement of the unit. Velence...11th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0349hrs...A Cup with Other, Stranger, Joey, Blackie and another black. 18.6°C and 23.3°C...clear with Moon. 0439hrs...WELL NOW! I took the three fulcrum locations reciprocals ...that I’d generated yesterday...and converted them back to real dimensions. It then became clear that they were very close to even figures as I would have expected. So...3.2311 becomes 3.25...1.088 becomes 1.000 and 5.950 became 6.000. I then plugged those new values into my spreadsheet. I had generated error cells at the very bottom...and when I went down for a look...I was pleasantly surprised! The unit was perfectly flat as to weight location! No...not the unit but the design. I now show an error of 2.44% for the balancing weight! I have a hunch that that is a result of yet other dimensions that I took off the unit being incorrect. The main point is that I should be able to again work the problem backwards. This will lead to a set of dimensions that constitute the design specifications. Whether the unit meets those specs is another story yet to be written. 0848hrs...I’ve just finished re-doing the spreadsheet so as to facilitate making changes to all the variables. The first one I altered changed the slope of a line that should have remained flat...and caused an error in the measurement. The second one that I altered nailed it dead on. No slope...and perfect accuracy of measurement. Interestingly...the values of three of the variables ended up being exactly what I came up with when I originally took rough measurements...10 inches...1 inch...plus 5 inches adding up to 6 inches. Though another dimension that I took to be 4 inches...needed to be 3.25 inches. THEN I took more "precise" measurements...and the whole thing went down hill from there...so far as the expected results. It’s totally clear that any deviation from the correct values will have a detrimental effect. 1317hrs..Just back from the PO and far store. Fed a few. Velence...12th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0524hrs...A Cup. 15.7°C and 22.9°C...clear...as I continue to ponder the situation. The "Unresolved Anger". 0612hrs...Fed the crew...plus. The light is good...thinking. 0701hrs... 1205hrs...ISS in a few minutes...I monitored the last orbit with success. I have rigged up a short "long wire" antenna. Velence...13th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0436hrs...A hot Cup...with five. 14.3°C and 22.1°C...cloudy and a cold wind. Yesterday around 2000hrs...phone...Cila...asking if I wanted to go along to Bela’s. It’s his sixtieth. I opted out. She’s not been well of late. Mentioned that there had been a work party the other day at the vineyards. I was not asked because of the heat that day...good thing. 1020hrs...Have showered and washed down the balcony. Fed Kwan and Mom some chicken. 1147hrs...About ready to hit the close store...for cat food. 2015hrs...A slow day today. Velence...14th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0401hrs...Mud with Other and Kwan...keeping each other warm in the corner. 0414hrs...17.0°C and 21.8°C...Clear...with the Moon and Venus...and Mars is supposed to out there too but I can’t see it. Velence...15th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0447hrs...Up since 0400hrs...Coffee with Joey, Blackie and another black. 18.2°C and 22.3°C...Delineated overcast. Yesterday around 1530...phone...Lajos inviting me over for a cookout. I said that I’d go. Then I thought about it. Ended up not going. I couldn’t see myself shaking hands with Istvan and having to listed to his drivel. My not being there would/could have brought up the issue. Did some research on the "Unit"...and found a few things. It’s know variously as a "Decimal Scale"...and a "Bridge Balance". 1052hrs...Just back from the far store and PO. Fed four. "Slip Slidin’ Away..."...you know I am. 1225hrs...Damn...phone. Ok...The green house neighbours have arrived with guest. I stared to build some lunch...and right off...drama. The eggs are frozen. And my cheap Chinese long snout gas stove lighter has gone Tango Uniform! How does that happen? The last time I used it it worked...now...not! And I’m hungry! As in NOW! I wait for the eggs to thaw. 1952hrs...Phone...Cila...asking me to go over. Gads! 2104hrs...Back...no drama! Though I had to listen to a very long story that I’d heard at least twice before! Velence...16th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0655hrs...A Cup...with a few. 21.5°C and 23.6°C...mostly clear. Last night as I went into the kitchen I noticed Istvan standing in the doorway leading to the rest of the house...with a small chair in hand. The table was set for dinner. Cila was stirring a pot of meat. I said that I’d just eaten...which I had. As I was talking to Cila...Istvan proceeds to show and tell the chair. The sole purpose of which was to strengthen his statement a week ago as a demonstration of his woodworking skills. Another chair appeared...and even the chair he mentioned that day came out...the one with one new leg. This one leg is about 11 inches long...roughly square in cross section...as in no big deal. I assume that...perhaps Bela had said something to him...as in Istvan’s attempt to equate that to rebuilding the Fan Mill. On my way back I did a quick survey of the compound. Damn...the first chamber...the Camera...was stacked high with Istvan’s chairs which had been outside. This stack of chairs now blocks access to the inner chamber...as well as rendering the space useless. Ok fine...the space that had been taken up by the chairs is now occupied by the folded ping-pong table. The point is that said chairs can not possible remain where they are...period. Istvan had said at first that they would go up to the wine cellar...but after an altercation with Sari...he changed his mind. Then they were to be put up into the attic...with the excuse that there was no room at the cellar...which there is! I doubt that the chairs will be moved without my...or someone else saying something about them. The chairs could not...and would not have been put in the Camera at all...had I not cleared it out in the first place. More on this later... 0742hrs...Heading for the compound to take some measurement of the unit. And photos. 0921hrs...Back for about ten mins. It was not without drama! First I got drenched as I took off the last plastic bag that protected the unit. It had collected a massive amount of water which I’d not realized. Then I took measurements. As of now...there is no good news. I re-measured a few critical dimensions...and sure as hell they did not match what I expected...though they did match my earlier numbers. Velence...17th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0428hrs...Up since 0400hrs...Coffee with Kwan, Stranger, Joey and Blackie. 19.0°C and 23.9°C...overcast. 1019hrs...The ISS is so bright now...and I have tried this before...that I will try in less than an hour to see if NOAA-17 can image it...as in a flare. The Shuttle will not launch today. Another hydrogen leak! Or more accurately...the same leak. So it’s now on for July 11th! The good news is that I will be able to again image it. And since it’s to be a long mission...every day thereafter will be good also. 1108hrs...No luck imaging the ISS flare with NOAA-17...no big deal. Velence...18th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0504hrs...Mud with four. 14.5°C and 23.5°C...clear. 1321hrs...Have repaired the window screen so that now I can keep it open. With the kitchen window open...I have one hell of a breeze through here...nice. It’s been house work today. Ok fine...I was channel surfing...3 channels...and came across "The Breakfast Club" in progress. I watched it. I’ve started yet another drawing of the Unit. Velence...19th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0410hrs...Java with Joey and Stranger. 20.0°C and 23.8°C...clear. I finished the drawing...and printed it...yesterday. 1029hrs...Back for some time from the far store...fed the crew. I saw that Sari was packing the car as I arrived at the store so I went across. She and Bela were heading out to spray some insecticides on their crops in Nadap. 1044hrs...Phone...Cila...she and Jutka are going up to Nadap also...did I want to go...ok...now! 1216hrs...Back without drama...except for the heat in the sun. Bela and Sari showed up. He’d finished his spraying. His plot of land is just up the hill from Jutka's and Anci's. 1545hrs...Looking at sat images. I have failed to mention that over the last month we’ve had major storms in various parts of HU Land...though none here in Velence. Will...tonight be it? There had been walnut size hail doing great damage...into the billions. With today’s high temperatures...and a coming cold front...my guess is that this could be the big one...here. My car...at Anci’s is marginally protected. Everything else will just have to be as is. The grapes and other crops may suffer though. My thoughts now turn to photography...as in how to capture the drama...best. 2036hrs...The Sun has set and the temperature is dropping. The expected clouds are in view. Velence...20th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0434hrs...Up since 0400hrs. Have spent the last 30 minutes out on the balcony with my Java. It’s windy...clear...19.5°C and 24.0°C. Kwan was running, playing wildly. The storm warning strobe is at its high rep rate. Yesterday I bought some thumbtacks to repair the window screen that Kwan took a fancy to climbing. 0905hrs...Have just sent an email to "A" regarding Richard’s Happy Birthday email to me a month ago. 1048hrs...Have been proofreading my web pages...the blog pages specifically. Hate it. And now I think I’m hungry. Velence...21st June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0554hrs...Mud with the crew and then some. 13.4°C and 22.3°C...cloudy...no wind. Yesterday...Watched "Grease" for the first time. Dumb. 0807hrs...Have just read an article that I’d download a week ago about Tuba City in Syria. The page was an update...2006...to the original story that I first read in National Geographic Magazine in 2004. It reiterated the importance of the city...as a capital of a small kingdom...etc. Glenn Schwartz has found more tombs...though disturbed. He thinks that they are royal tombs based on the locations and sacrifices. 1054hrs...Back for twenty mins...Fed the crew. Velence...22nd June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0501hrs...Coffee with the crew. 14.9°C and 21.3°C...overcast...no wind. Yesterday I generated a spreadsheet to show the effects of an error in the design of the unit. This also shows the correction that would be required to fix it. 1346hrs...Just out of the shower. It’s been drizzling/raining all day. 2016hrs...Two phone calls...Cila to say that Istvan was on his way with some pastry...and then Anci to say that she planed to go into Fehervar tomorrow morning...but not before 0900hrs...I said great...and none too soon! Cila will be going too. Spent most of the day reading online...a web site I found a few days ago. Have fed Kwan and a Black. I have eaten all the pastry. It was quite good. Velence...23rd June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0611hrs...Java with Kwan. 15.8°C and 20.5°C...overcast...and having rained. 0800hrs...Just out of the shower...shaved...on schedule. 0844hrs...Raining. Took out the trash...so it must be Tuesday. 0927hrs...The call...It’s now set for closer to 1000hrs! I‘ve put out bread for the birds...both in front and the back of the house. 1019hrs...The Call...! 1457hrs...Back for about fifteen mins. Have unpacked without drama. 1506hrs...Bought three Cds..."No Milk Today"... The darkness has returned. Velence...24th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0519hrs...Mud with none! No cats in sight...at all. THEN I see a dog...in the yard! THEN a second. They eventually leave...cross Kemping...and go under the fence...disappear. Strange! They must have been here long enough to scatter the cats. 17.5°C and 20.6°C...Low overcast...foggy...misty. Rained some overnight. 0837hrs..."No Milk Today..." About ready to hit the DO...and chemist’s. And the far store. Fed a multitude! 0937hrs...Back...without drama. 1607hrs...Finally managed to find the version of "J’attendria"...which I’d always wanted...which led to Rina Ketty and Louise Brooks. Have done some research on the latter...because of her photos and "look". Interesting! Velence...25th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0514hrs...A Cup with Other, Joey and Kwan. 17.0°C and 21.2°C...mostly clear. 1112hrs...I’d gone back to bed...and woke up dreaming. I played it back a number of time to get it straight. I was in bed...and noticed that there were a number of cats on the bed too...lined up like logs...more or less the smaller they were...the farther they were. Then I see that the row went down to the floor and continued on...more cats. A large cat nearly pushed me aside...and I moved to make room. I then thought that I need to get a photograph of the scene. It seems that my camera was some distance away...as in...far. I don’t question it...I just go to get it. I find myself out on open ground...and notice very small kittens...in a row...making their way across a slight depression...which soon fills with water. I notice on the...now...bank more of the very small kittens...and again think that I need to photograph this scene...on my way back with my camera...and hasten on. I’m then in a urban setting...a labyrinth...and though I seem to know where I want to go...I just don’t seem to remember the route. I take a turn and see a door...I open it and go through...only to see further on that there is an iron gate that looks to be locked. I don’t bother to even go close enough to confirm the thought...and turn round. Across an expanse I see in the gloom...a long (sandy) haired young man...sitting on what looks to be an unusually tall shoeshine stand. We make eye contact and he smiles. I explain my plight...saying that I’m not lost as such...just took a wrong turn. We begin to chat as I backtrack. He seems to be a traveller...a tourist I guess. (I have never "seen" this individual in the flesh nor in another dream...though as I think about it...he may be based on a film character.) Anyway...I seem to want to turn him into a Hungarian. He volunteers that one of his parents is Polish...his father...since his name is Polish...and denies Hungarian roots. As we continue to walk and talk...he starts to use Hungarian mixed in with English. I do a double take. About then I "find" the place I should have turned...and am out in the open. But...the next scene is more or less inside again. I want to give him my card. I seem to now have a portfolio...through which I begin to rummage...looking for a card. I notice that there is a man standing nearby...in a brown suit. (this was from a film I saw the other day.) I pull out what looked to be a large versions of an incomplete card...as in A3 size...which I don’t question at that time as being strange...except that they are only vague outlines of cards...bits and pieces...fully expecting to find a finished card. Then it occurs to me that I should be looking in my wallet. I open it and find three Tesco coupons...(these from the other days shopping)...and extract them. Once out...they enlarge to A3 size. It doesn’t strike me "strange"! I say that I recently got them in England (a lie)...and that I was giving them to him...(since he would be going to England soon...though where I got that little fact is unclear.)...and explain the effective dates to him. As I read the dates I’m chagrined to discover that the effective dates run for an entire year! Gads...I now wish I’d not offered them...since in real life the inclusive dates were rather short (I thought) and I planed to give them to Anci and Cila...but they would most likely never be used. The dream ends. I never did take the photos. The reference to the kittens has to do with Anci having offered me her new kittens and the fact that Mom is expecting...as in very soon. Last night the USA stunned the international Soccer world by beating undefeated Spain two zero! I watched most of the game though I missed the second goal. The US team played extremely well I thought. They blocked every attempt at a goal by Spain...shutting them down completely. Though statistically Spain had the ball for more time...it was mostly on their half the field. The US team made numerous attacks for a goal...far outnumbering those of the Spanish. They only failed...mostly...because the passes were a bit long. ??39hrs...There is thunder to the east...and coming this way. Velence...26th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0609hrs...Mud with the crew...fed same. 0901hrs...Michael Jackson...dead at 50. Farrah Fawcett...dead at 62! 1016hrs...Time to hit the road. Far store...And the chemist’s. 1125hrs...Just back from the close store. I had forgotten an item...dry cat food...hence the store. They didn’t have any! Just as I got back from the far store...phone...Jutka...looking for Cila...and asking if I would help her picking cherries. I wanted to see Cila also...and have just called over...no answer. Jutka will call me when she returns from the cemetery...2 hours or so. 1549hrs...Phone...Jutka...calling off the cherry picking in light of the storm that has just passed through. Lots of thunder...and rain...you know it did. I think I’ve nailed my quest for the female vocal version of "Maria la O". I now have a couple that sound about right. Damn...it’s taken over 15 years. Now thanks to You Tube...done deal. Velence...27th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0605hrs...Coffee with four...Kwan missing. 18.0°C and 22.3°C...Fog...and calm. I can not see the other side of the lake. 1038hrs...Thinking that I should call Jutka...and get it over with. The other day I also managed to record what I call "The Love Theme" from Hitchcock’s "39 Steps". And a very clean version of "O Maiden, My Maiden". 1057hrs...Going to Cila’s first to pick up some spinach for Jutka...then from here to pick cherries. 1502hrs...Back without drama...though Mom had managed to get inside ...before I left...without my knowledge...hence came charging out when I opened the door. The drama was inside! 1830hrs...Cila informs me that they are taking a trip next week. This will work out well since it means that I can work on the unit undisturbed. I would really like to pull the main balance bar so that I can take accurate measurements. Velence...28th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0426hrs...Java with Kwan and Stranger. 19.0°C and 22.7°C...Clear to the east. The start of another exciting day in the Village. Yesterday managed to pick two buckets of cherries. It was not without some drama...as I fell off the ladder. No harm done. Talking with Jutka...there seems to be some concern over procedures used by Istvan at the cellar...effecting the wine. The golden ratio is 1.61803399. 0859hrs...Have showered...not shaved! 1121hrs...You’re born into the "Dynamic"...the "Matrix"...Hence is your life "positional" there in/on? Are there "better" places on the Matrix? Does it have...in effect...a topology? 1649hrs...It’s raining cats and dogs. I’m worried about water entering Anci’s garage! I’ve made brownies...that went almost without drama. It came to me in a dream that I should regulate the temperature by the expedience of turning the main gas valve. It worked...but just. South Africa/Spain...2 2...in overtime. I think that USA will play the winner...not sure though...on second thought. 1715hrs...Spain scores...3 2 on a penalty shot. 1727hrs...Two mins to go. 1730...Done deal...Spain. Velence...29th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0231hrs...Out there under the stars. The Milky Way...visible. 0249hrs...Just in from out. A Cup...then Mom showed up...brought out some milk...then a Black...which Mom...now very territorial...chased off with a smack. Then Stranger showed up. 1047hrs...Just answered an email from Del...in Arizona regarding Donna...the Little Pink Zebra...K7LPZ. I now need to hit the far store for the usual stuff...as in cat food! Listening to "Soldiers of the Queen"...which I first heard in the film "Breaker Morant". Sad story! Insane! Anyway...time to hit the road...now! 1132hrs...Back...no drama. Fed the crew and then some. 1142hrs...I stepped out the front door to be out of the sun...and Mom showed up...after feeding her on the balcony. She wanted to come in. Then I closed the door with Mom outside...and who the hell is inside...but...KWAN! Talk about DRAMA! Velence...30th June 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0530hrs...Mud with Kwan and eventually Mom and Stranger. 19.8°C and 23.2°C...Mostly clear. I woke up at 0203hrs...hit the WC...and went back to bed. I thought about the time. What was it about 0200hrs...the 30th? Gads...I got up to find the note I’d written. Turned on the desk lamp...read the note. "02:10:31...90°!" Damn...looked at the clock...0207hrs. Killed the lamp...put on my robe and went out onto the balcony...and looked due west...and scanned the sky. Nothing! With less than three minutes to go...I should have seen it. I continued to scan the sky. Then I looked up. Why I looked due west when I should have been looking more to the south I don’t know...anyway...there it was...the ISS...the brightest object in the sky moving silently east north east. Last night at exactly 2130hrs...phone...Cila...asking me to bring in the mail from both houses for the three days that they will be done...two days and a morning. Lajos will be feeding Jimmy and the chickens. She plans to leave at 0800hrs this morning...contingent on Anci’s arrival...which is always an unknown. I am also to spend time talking to Jimmy. 0840hrs...About ready to head over to the compound. 0850hrs...I’m out the door...now! 0903hrs...Damn! I’m back. I assumed that they had gone...but I heard a voice and then saw that one of the door windows was open...and Jimmy did not come looking for me. 0908hrs...Have call over to Anci’s to find out what the deal is regarding her arrival. Yes...it was to have been 0800hrs...but...you know the rest. Anyway...it’s still on. I’ll give it another 30-40 minutes. 1001hrs..Phone...Cila...leaving now...for sure...two hours later than planned! 1125hrs...I think Mom is getting very close! I‘ve made her a little place in the corner of the balcony...but I think that she will not use it. She almost went to a place in Agnes’s yard where she had been two years ago. She looked back at me...all the while talking...and turned round. I came inside...not wanting to distract her at this time. Drama...you know it is. 1335hrs...Phone...Jutka...store...ok...15 mins...ok. 1552hrs...Back for about ten mins. I know...hard to believe it took so long. I now wait for Jutka to call back...because we will be going up to the hills of Nadap...to harvest apricots. 1612hrs...The call. 1712hrs...Back. Ran into Bela and Judit coming down off the hill. The harvest was minimal...Jutka did all the picking while Bela told stories. I took a few photos of sunflowers and the valley beyond. 1912hrs...I have not seen Mom since this morning! Velence...1st July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0237hrs...Just in from out. I noticed the time when I woke up...and thought that if I were to step outside I would be close to catching the ISS ...not an overhead pass like yesterday...but something. I went to the west end of the balcony on the off chance that I might see Mom. I then naturally looked up at the sky...remembering yesterdays fiasco...as in looking in the wrong direction. I then saw a cat that looked like Mom crawling under the fence...and soon disappearing. Just then a house alarm went off! This alarm goes off so many times that it’s a real nuisance! Then I looked up at the sky...and there it was...the ISS. Not as bright as yesterday...given the orbit...but there. It was going to pass behind the house....hence I knew that it would be out of sight soon...but then I spotted another object...dim...following the ISS about 10 degrees behind. Interesting I thought...since I had no idea what it was. Once inside I fired off the laptop. My satellite tracking program showed nothing. Online I downloaded the latest Keplers...and took a look at the list. Nothing! 0701hrs...Thinking about heading for the compound...while it’s still cool. There is tomorrow morning...but that would be the last window of opportunity to pull the bar off the unit. I have a plan of action...a new tool...to remove it...but if that fails...I’ll have to re-think the problem. It may turn out that I only have to remove one screw...which would be a good thing. Anyway...I’m out the door...now! Oh...no sign of Mom. 0759hrs...Back for about twenty. No luck...rusted solid...both screws. Took another measurement of the supposed 10in dimension. Turns out to be 262mm...or 10.31496 inches. This throws out the whole design. All the other dimensions left alone...it leaves a minimum error of over 7%! 1013hrs...Just back. I tried plan "C"...or was it "D"? Anyway..."Houston...we have the bar." I used a "Wise Grip" 90 degrees to the screw. But I had gone back with a Propane torch and heated it all up. So with the "Wise Grips" both screws came out very easily! Should have thought of it before. 1100hrs...I’ve run the numbers. They indicate an error in the design...or at least in it’s final execution. There is no way that I know of to make corrections after not getting a fulcrum in the right place. One dimension dictates all the rest. In this case the first dimension is wrong...right off the bat. It should be 10 inches...but instead it’s 10.335 inches. Since the...then...critical 1 inch dimension is amazingly correct...the ratio of 10:1 is not in play...even if all the others were correct. The second critical ratios are the two that facilitate the main feature of the design...that of being able to place the load anywhere on the platform. This is also negated by yet another wrong dimension! Velence...2nd July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0333hrs... Mud with Stranger and Other. Mom showed up yesterday. 20.4°C and 25.2°C...clear. I missed the ISS by 5 mins. Velence...3rd July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0721hrs...Java with a few. 20.2°C and 24.9°C...hazy. 0956hrs...Mom is spending time on the balcony...hence I assume that her kittens are dead. The other day I was spotted by Bela as I approached the far store and hailed. I went over and while Sari pitted Morella cherries Bela and I chatted. I brought up the subject of the "bar". He gave me yet another version of how it...possibly...comes about that the scale was fabricated in such an inaccurate manner. THE BAR. I do not understand how it’s possible to get so many key points so wrong. Bela postulated that an original was built...most likely a copy...and from there production units. The errors that I’ve found are so gross that it leads me to believe that no one questioned...hence understood...that which was being built. I need to reassemble the unit in such a way so that I can confirm what the numbers already tell me. Specifically that the unit is inaccurate...outright...and that placing the load in various locations on the platform will in fact change the balance. 1110hrs...Oh...last night we had a pretty good thunderstorm...rain etc. 1648hrs...There are now towering clouds with the sound of thunder in the distance. 1734hrs...WELL NOW. The neighbour boy was out there weed whacking...on Agnes’s yard...and he moved onto this yard...a bit...so I hit him up with cutting it all. He asked 5k...I gave him 10k. 1759hrs...Done deal...in less than an hour. Not a first class job...but. His hand shake was weak...by the way. Velence...4th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0418hrs...A Cup with Stranger...Joey...Blackie...and Mom. I’ve been out there for an hour. 20.9°C and 25.7°C...hazy. 0440hrs...Now that I can see...it’s cloudy. It struck me that the street lights should be going off anytime...based on the brightening sky. So...I guessed 30 seconds. I reached into my pocket only to remember not putting my wrist watch there last night. Ok fine...I started a count down...30, 29, 28...etc. When I got to zero I changed the parameters to plus/minus 30 seconds...hence...1,2,3...etc. The lights went out at 38 seconds! 1044hrs...About ten minutes ago...knock on door. Istvan...came to thank me for cutting the grass. Offered me a bottle of wine...I declined it. He said that Jutka had instructed him to ask me...but as I explained...I don’t drink...it...given a choice. I need to hit the far store...sometime today. 1712hrs...Did the store. The object following the ISS was/is Progress M-02M. I will be up at 0400hrs tomorrow morning to shoot a good pass. I‘ve cleaned up the MTO-1000...but I should set up the D70 with Sigma 10-20 also. Velence...5th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0225hrs...Eight mins to an ISS pass. Not the one I will shoot at 0412hrs...but I can use this one as a test. I need to make a CUP...NOW! 0246hrs...I got out there just in time...done deal...Mom assisting. 0421hrs...Back in...not as spectacular as I had thought it would be...I will now take a look. 0427hrs...All useless! Focus! Velence...6th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0519hrs...Mud with part of the crew. Was up at 0400hrs...and caught ISS. 0854hrs...22.8°C and 20.5°C...clear. A second Cup! Last night I rearranged the furniture. Today I’ll vacuum the area. I need to hit the far store sometime today. 1610hrs...Back from said store. 28.5°C and 27.4°C. I swung by the lakeshore on the way to the store. No big deal. Now it’s Stranger that’s gone MIA. Speaking of which...McNamara dead...at 93! Velence...7th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0352hrs...Java with the crew. Kwan on the window ledge as I write. I was out there earlier...0230hrs. The house alarm went off...down the street. This is a real pain. It lasts for about five minutes. I noted no cars in front of the "Green House" neighbours...and thought that perhaps they’d all left. It was cloudy...the remains of last nights minor storm. Moonlight was showing through holes in the clouds. Then a car drove up and parked. The neighbours...three...rolling in. One of then was drunk for sure. I thought back to my days of rolling in at three in the morning. Gads! I glanced up...and in a hole in the clouds...ISS in what was an OVHP...(Overhead pass). Joey showed up....Blackie too. There was a lot of milling about. Then at one point Joey froze...looking west. She is the most observant of the bunch. I looked to see what had caught her attention...I waited. Gads...two dogs...a black one and a white one...heading east on Kemping. Joey jumped off the balcony and I assume hid...as she’s done in the past when dogs are around. 0820hrs...Fed the crew and then some. 21.6°C and 23.8°C...partly cloudy. 1425hrs...I had misplaced my digital callipers. I searched high and low. Using my massive cranium encased brain...it came down to the patio table. More accurately...that which was on top thereof. It was stacked a foot high with all sorts of stuff. I’d lifted up various parts of the stacks but found nothing. So...it came to pass that there was nothing for it. Dig! And about halfway down...there it was. Such drama. Velence...8th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0500hrs...Java with part of the crew. Kwan looking in from the window ledge. 20.8°C and 23.0°C...cloudy...but color to the east...windy...storm strobes at max rep rate. 1442hrs...Cool with gusty winds...overcast. I need to hit the far store. I’ll do that first and when back...write about some of my latest downloads. R1a1 stuff. 1517hrs...Back and fed part of the crew...plus. Anyway... "Follow the money."...that was the phrase that caught the imagination long ago in another matter. Mine is...now..."Follow the genes." I can see that I...nor anyone else will ever "find" the Magyar gene...the Y-DNA...as a true marker thereof. They’re just too mixed up...the genes that is. All the claims and counter claims are so over the top as to render most of it useless. When I found that my Y-DNA...was R1a1...and subsequently that "60%" of Hungarians were that same R1a1...I was quite happy with it. Then later I discover another project with a 20.4% figure. I knew that both could not be correct. That is...not correct in the sense that the figures represent the population on whole. They do represent the selected population tested...ONLY! So...from the latest downloads...ancient DNA...second millennium BC to the forth century AD...of 26 remains tested in a place called Krasnoyarsk...north of the Altay Mountains..."nearly all" were found to be R1a1! This place...a city...is but a stones throw from the Tuba River! The interesting point not made was whether the 26 were "selected" from a larger core. Twenty six remains over 2300 years is a small number...it seems to me. But the best part of all of this that they are spending more time and energy looking at ancient DNA. I think the results will be more important and useful. At one point I knew that Mom was getting close...she was "telling" me so. So I constructed a place for her in a corner of the balcony. It was a large plastic tray into which I placed an old feather pillow. I placed the tray under two mated patio chairs that formed a barrier and roof. The roof...the backs of the two chairs...I covered with a towel. I showed it to her one day. She checked it out. Nothing came of it in the end...but I just left it in place. The other day I saw Mom exiting the "pad". Cool I thought. Then earlier today...who should exit it...but Stranger! He’s in there now...comfy! There’s room for at least two in there. Velence...9th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0400hrs...Mud with three. 17.2°C and 22.5°C...clear. Just past a full moon reflecting off the lake...Venus due south....brightening to the east...quiet. 0423hrs...Just in from out. I looked up at the southern sky...gads...ISS about six diameters below the moon! Velence...10th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0300hrs...Java with three. ISS due in two mins! 0313hrs...I had had just enough time to check whether the ISS would occult the Moon. I wouldn’t. Outside I was surprised how close it came to "hitting" Venus though. I waited for Progress to show...and did in fact see it through thin clouds. I’ve started to CAD the "bar". I’ve finished the schematic drawing by adding two tables of data...and a graphic of the bar. 0333hrs....Just in from out. I’ve noted that I’ve not seen a Hedgehog in some time. Well...there was one out there just now! 0829hrs...Just out of the shower...and dressed. Going to hit the far store soon. 18.2°C and 21.1°C...cloudy...no wind. Will now check online sat images. 0851hrs...Printing a page...then it’s out the door. 0934hrs...Back...fed three. 1000hrs...Kwan has managed to destroy the window screen...as I watch! He’s inside...but doesn’t know it. Damn...spoke too soon! 1833hrs...Back for about tent mins. Fed the crew...plus some. Went to the chemist’s to pick up an order that I placed a week ago for some alcohol...50ml...only...if you can believe. I then stopped in to check up on Bela. They were having lunch along with Jutka. Jutka indicated that she had some mail for me. I went over...she by car...and was asked if/when I could get to some work around her place. I was dressed in shorts and a light shirt...it was cool and windy. I came back here...changed and went back...to at least survey the situation...made a drawing...took measurements...and even moved some soil. It started to drizzle...and lunch was about ready. I’d declined to eat at Sari’s earlier. I’d run into Anci on the way to Jutka’s...heading back to her place of work. She eventually showed up at Jutka’s to pick up the 20GBP note that I’d given Jutka months ago...for Niki...who’s going to England tomorrow on holiday. Velence...11th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0352hrs...Mud with three. Nice conjunction...the Moon and Venus. 1153hrs...Have re-read for the forth time three pages that I’d downloaded earlier. Velence...12th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0327hrs...Java with none. 0843hrs...Just out of the shower...shaved too! I may get a call today from Dori and crew. We’ll see what happens. 1553hrs...Just back from the close store...cat food...fed all. I got a call from Cila three hours ago inviting me for dinner. Then about 30 minutes ago a call from Jutka...asking if I wanted to accompany her to the vineyards. I said yes...and she indicated that Cila would also be go. Ok...fine...I reconfigured the D70 with the macro lens...and planned to take the D300 with the 300 2 8. I walked over...and saw Istvan...but he’d disappeared by the time I went through the gate. Jutka had not arrived yet. I stayed outside and waited. She arrived soon enough with a plate of fanks...doughnuts...and asked me to take them in...but I declined to do so. She went in and came right out...and announced that Istvan was going also. Not on my time! I headed back here. Oh...and this is a big OH...the entry, and the steps to the kamara....(the first chamber) were now totally blocked. I mean TOTALLY! This was not an accident...nor temporary...it was by naked spiteful design. A sick mind! I’m going to decline going for diner. Not a chance that I’m going to sit there making small talk...with that idiot sitting opposite me. 0535hrs...Call...done deal. Not going! Will talk to Cila tomorrow. Clear out my tools. And then it’s off to do some work at Jutka’s. Velence...13th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. The start of the third year...here! 0337hrs...Mud with Mom and Joey. 0852hrs...About ready to head over to the compound. I plan to take photos of the disaster created by you know who...the idiot! It will actually be hard work just to get at my tools. And then what...do I put all the rubble back where it was? Damn! Then off to Jutka’s. 1514hrs...I’m back...without drama. I’d hit the PO and paid two bills...and took out some cash. The plan now it to go back tomorrow morning...to beat the heat. Velence...14th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0406hrs...A hot Cup with Mom and Stranger. 0449hrs...Just in from out...Other...and then Joey. Mom’s playing at being a kitten. Have not seen Kwan...as yet. 18.9°C and 22.2°C...clear. It’s to be hot today...with high UV alert. 0607hrs...About ready to head over to Jutka’s. 1056hrs...Back for about 15 mins...without drama. All went according to plan...in fact better since Bela was able to come with the diamond wheeled saw to cut the concrete slab that became the "front porch" for the shed. Bela and I managed to put the bloody heavy thing in place. It looks good. Bela left and Jutka and I emptied the shed. I started to make necessary repairs...but gave up in light of the heat and humidity. I will go back later today. 1541hrs...Just back from the close store...cat food. At 1100hrs it was 27°C...it’s now 29.4°C! If it were not for a wind out of the west...it would be stifling. Stifling I say! OH...I had a CP incident earlier! Hit it! 1720hrs...Back from Jutka’s for about ten mins. I put a number of things back into the shed...and locked up. I’ll be going back in the early morning. Velence...15th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0546hrs...Java with Mom. Kwan and Stranger romping in the field across Kemping. 21.2°C and 24.2°C...clear. 0610hrs...About ready to leave. 1023hrs...Back for at least 30 mins...to re-group! All went well enough except for the bloody heat and now mosquitoes! I screwed up one cut...and then broke a piece that needed to be done in two pieces. That piece still remains to be cut. That will complete the flooring of the shed. The mosquitoes were eating me alive...so I’m taking back some repellent. My shirts drying out in the sun. In here the fan is running. 1043hrs...Killing time and cooling down...SCORE 12213 and 60 SECONDS! I think that that is my third 60! 1056hrs...Ready to head back to Jutka’s. 1238hrs...Back again...had hit the far store...and have showered for a second time today. It’s 30°C outside. Velence...16th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0819hrs...Just in from out. Was up at 0600hrs...and outside since...observing and reading. It was cloudy at first...but has cleared from the west. 23.5°C and 24.8°C...clear. 1857hrs...Have called Jutka to tell her of my plans for tomorrow morning...she agreed. It has been a bit cooler today. Last night there were thunderstorms to the west...but never here. This morning the remaining clouds went east. 1042hrs...I caught the 2024hrs ISS pass just after sunset! I then photographed the next pass at 2159hrs. That went ok. I then went back out for STS-127. It was not bright...hence it did not show...as it would turn out...as I shot it. It will be closer tomorrow...so I’ll try again. As I was heading to a location two lots over to the west...the first thing I see is a hedgehog in my path. I’d set the D200 for 30 seconds...so there I was confronted as it were...not a problem except that the mounted lens was the Sigma 10-20...set at 10! Ok fine...zoom to 20...flip up the flash...take off the lens shade...aim...and press the shutter release. You know the rest! Velence...17th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0445hrs...Up and outside with a Cup...at 0400hrs. Part of the crew waiting. 22.9°C and 26.3°C...clear. 0849hrs...About ready to head over to Jutka’s. On the way back I plan to hit the far store. 1204hrs...Back for the second time! Well...more to the point inside now...but I never got in the first time because I’d left my keys at Jutka’s...since I’d removed them from my pocket. So it was to here...back to Jutka’s...and then back here again! Damn. The main reason for coming back had to do with dead batteries in my flash unit. And so it was. Cheap ass Duracells. One cell may in fact be defective...too! The task is going well enough...though the heat is now inside the garage too. It’s now 29.3°C and 27.5°C. 1215hrs...Heading back. 1358hrs...I have returned in one piece...and without drama. 1611hrs...30.6°C and 28°C! 1813hrs...It’s just too hot to write...though I have thoughts that I should commit to print. The gang is up at the vineyard to prune the tops. Cila had me down as going too...but there must have been a change of plan. Jutka listed those going...leaving me out. It’s over 30°C right now...which is too hot for this kid...plus the IDIOT would be there. Velence...18th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0423hrs...Up since 0400hrs...Mud with the crew plus Groucho...and Joey at the end. 22.9°C and 26.8°C...clear. I was expecting to see storm clouds with high winds. 1457hrs...The temperature is dropping...it had been 30 plus...in front of a coming storm. I’ve called Jutka...and she’s ok with what we moved out of the garage...putting back that which is of concern. I’ve been plotting the storm track since this morning. A very strong gust came through about ten mins ago...nearly knocking over my discone antenna. I’ve clamped it...for now. 1525hrs...Dark...thunder in the distance. 1538hrs...Just in from out...standing in the doorway for the last ten mins. That was when the rains hit! Strong gusts. The rain is coming down sideways. Lightning all round. I have the R-2000 monitoring it. Crackle...crackle. [My shortwave radio.] I chuckled as first Kwan and then Mom gave up the balcony for the relative safety of Pityu’s overturned boat. All are now hidden. 1356...Have made a cup of coffee. 23.6°C and 25.5°C. Had to close the rear windows...the rain was coming in! 1617hrs...21.2°C and 26.0°C. 1624hrs...Walter Cronkite...dead at 92...yesterday. 1643hrs...I’ve opened the rear window that I’d close to cool down the house. I’d closed them because the rain was coming in. It’s now a bloody 18.9°C and 24.4°C. The rain has stopped...and there are signs of clearing. 1649hrs...Oh!...I observed the ISS first visually and then on the next pass photographed it...last night. Not bad. Funny...My cats came over to see what the big deal was. Mom sat right under my tripod. They did the same thing the other night too. 1726hrs...Lightning...closer...and now it’s raining again...large drops. Velence...19th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0547hrs...Java with Mom and Kwan. 16.1°C and 25.5°C...clear. 0907hrs...About ready to head over to Jutka’s...and then the far store on the way back. ????hrs...Back for 15 mins. Well...I needed some more tools and Jutka drove me to Anci’s. I then needed more tools hence another trip. On the way back...I asked to stop at said store. Then it was back here for yet another tool...and a chance to feed the crew. Made good progress...building a frame for what will become shelving...in the shed. Oh...I first fixed the front gate lock...which was the reason for needing more tools...in the first time. Back here now...fed the crew...plus two. It’s been cool most of the day...which made today’s work possible. Velence...20th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0433hrs...Up since 0400hrs...Mud with Mom and Blackie. 17.4°C and 23.4°C...clear. 0454hrs...Just in from out. The lights went out at plus 50 seconds. 0903hrs...Showered and dressed. About ready to hit the far store. 1035hrs...Just back. I was heading east on Kemping...and thought that I really should check out the scene across the street regarding the feasibility of reaching the lakeshore. As I approached the entrance...I changed my mind...and continued along. I looked toward the lake and was surprised to see a lone fisherman. Gads...I thought...and turned round. Sure as hell...it was again possible to reach the shoreline. This is great news. 1649hrs...The online research continues into many areas. The NIST tolerances for Field Standard Weights is 0.01%! That’s 100ppm. 1913hrs...About twenty mins ago...Dori and part of Agnes’ crew headed for the beach. She indicated that...I guess she and Andras will visit me on the way back. Velence...21st July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0750hrs...Up for an hour...Coffee outside with the gang. 19.6°C and 23.4°C...clear. It will be hot today. 1238hrs...Five mins ago...phone...Lajos...wants to see me....ok...any time...now I ask...ok. 1420hrs...Lajos has been here and gone...and I started and finished the lunch that I was just about to start when Lajos called. The mother of a son who’s brother is a friend of the guy that drove my car to HU Land from UK Land...had asked Lajos if I would be interested in taking to said son about photography...having heard about me through the driver...etc. No problem...the ball is now in Lajos/Son’s court as to date and time. [This will make the third such interest.] Velence...22nd July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0652hrs...Up since 0530hrs. Coffee and reading with part of the crew. Fed same...eventually. Reading stuff I’d download yesterday...about language/linguistics. The debates etc. Collectively...a bunch of weenies if you ask me. 1052hrs...Just in from out. I put up my famous Solar Blast Shield...which then promptly fell down...do to sustained winds. I re-built it...only to have it blown down again. I then looked for and found better lengths of wood....Bela’s...and it seems to be holding up...though now the sun has risen too high for it. 2148hrs...Shot the 2117hrs ISS pass. Not bad but I don’t know what I’m seeing. Focus is ok this time...but atmospherics are lousy...the ISS is spiky. Earlier I called Jutka to find out if Lajos came up with my screws...he had. Later Lajos called...and asked if I had a driver. I guess the screws are lag bolts. I told him that I did. The research and reading continues. There is now information refuting that which I’d read as gospel before...as in some stuff by Spencer Wells...EVEN. Velence...23rd July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0420hrs...Up since 0335hrs. Java with Mom, Kwan, Stranger, Joey and Blackie. One satellite spotted. 0606hrs...Dressed...ready to hit Jutka’s. 21.4°C and 25.3°C...clear...and will be hot today. 1315hrs...Back via Bela’s. Just as came up to the High Street...Bela’s house being on the corner to my left...a voice rang out. Must have been there over two hours. Velence...24th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0207hrs...Yeah I know! Java out in the wind...and part of the crew. The storm warning strobes are flashing at the max rate. No clouds...just windy...gusty. It’s 25.3°C and 26.5°C...clear...stars...etc. 1310hrs...Showered. About twenty minutes ago...phone...Sari...making Langos...great...I’ll be there soon. 1617hrs...Back for about 15 mins. Ate three. And I think she gave me three more...not sure. Velence...25th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0200hrs...I went out onto the balcony at about 0120hrs...it was calm with stars to the east...clouds to the west. I noticed the storm warning strobes...high rate. At 0330hrs...the first gust hit. Mom, Stranger and Joey in attendance. I forgot to buy their favourite dry cat grub so they had to settle for another brand that I’d bought by mistake weeks ago. Debating making a cup of Java. Around 1800hrs yesterday while on the balcony...I heard a sound...Istvan with bike. He mention an invitation to Csaba’s later. I declined it. I also had a call from Anci with an invitation for today at 1500hrs. I thanked her...and though I didn’t specifically accept...I assume that she assumes that I did. I don’t plan to go. 0231hrs...Just in from out...with a Cup. The temperature is dropping...and I’ve managed to lower the inside temperature by over 3 degrees. Going online to check the satellite images. The winds were predicted...but I want to see about rain. 0239hrs...Major storm cloud formation to the west! If it is moving this way...at speed...then it should hit at about sunrise...if not before...I figure. 0258hrs...Just in from out. Lightning to the southwest! Balaton. Thinking that I should call Jutka to warn her. 0331hrs...Have heard thunder now...hence it’s getting closer. "Only a Rose"...Jussi Bjorling. 0348hrs...We have rain! 0354hrs...The train wreck continues! 0841hrs...19.7°C and 25.8°C...cloudy. 1054hrs...Have called Jutka to tell her I’m coming...via Anci’s...via the close store to buy Lajos some white wine. I’m gone! 1507hrs...I’m back...not without drama. I finished that which I’d intended at Jutka’s...and we ended up talking at length. I got ready to leave...and checked to see where my keys were. Not finding them...I assumed that I’d left them hanging in the door lock. I eventually took off intending to hit the far store...which was by then the close store. I parked the bike...and looked for my wallet. Damn...no wallet either. It then dawned on me. Both items were in my coat...the one that I taken off and handed to Jutka. Back to Jutka‘s for said coat etc. Did the store...and on the street...I approached an old guy with his dog. WELL NOW...as I passed...the dog lunged...lunged I say...at me. Velence...26th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0522hrs...Mud with the mob. 18.3°C and 24.6°C...clear. Will throw myself together and head for Jutka’s soon...while it’s cool. 0556hrs...About ready to go. 0832hrs...Back for about ten mins. Fed 8...or was it 9? It went well enough on site. I managed to excavate one cement slab...1 inch by 24 inches by 127 inches. It took me most of two hours. The slab is now ready to be cut to length. Velence...27th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0658hrs...Mud. It’s 16.3°C and 23.2°C...some clouds. I was up earlier...then strange dreams...probably because of a film I’d been watching but never finished. 1339hrs...Back from taking monies over to Cila...talked. Then the close store. I’ve got back pain in progress...I guess those cement slabs were a bit much! 1354hrs...OH! I will be "taking care" of Jimmy and the bloody chickens while the rest of the gang go on a vacation of sorts next week...I start on Monday...though now that I think about it...I need to reconfirm that! Velence...28th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0704hrs...Up for over an hour. Coffee and camera with the crew. Just fed some of them. 17.4°C and 23.4°C...clear. I need to hit the far store this morning. 0855hrs...About ready to go. Velence...29th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0419hrs...Coffee with various members of the crew...and the hedgehog. 20.9°C and 24.4°C...clear...stars...Jupiter. 1455hrs...27.7°C and 26.6°C. Just noticed a lump on my throat...right side. I can feel it when I swallow. Re-reading a number of pages...Scythians. Velence...30th July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0449hrs...I made a cup...grabbed the nearly empty bag of dry cat food...and headed outside. Blackie was at the door waiting impatiently. I looked at the sky. Jupiter was where I expected it to be. To the south was a bright "star"...that I at first stupidly thought was Saturn...based on magnitude...but then upon reflection...cancelled it. It should not have been visible...and...duh...I would have seen it before. To the east was Venus. I poured out most of the contents of the bag...and sat down...facing due south...and took a sip. My solar blast shield was still up...blocking my view to the south east. My thoughts went back to the bright "star". GADS! It was gone. My satellite tracking program has developed a major glitch...which I’ll need to take care of. As of yesterday it comes back with an error message when I try to run it in manual mode. I need to be able to run it that way to confirm that what I saw this morning was in fact the ISS. 20.9°C and 25.1°C...clear. 0512hrs...It now won’t load at all! 1029hrs...Have called Jutka to confirm the day that the gang leaves....it’s in fact Monday the 3rd ...ok fine. I will now try to fix WXtrack. 1450hrs...At 1300hrs...phone...Sari...Bela will help tomorrow. Ended up having to talk to him directly. Anyway...it’s on for 0800hrs at Jutka’s. I’ll call Jutka later today to inform her. I plan to get there...at perhaps 0700hrs...to mark the lines and get the diamond bladed saw ready. I copied over an older version of WXtrack onto the laptop...where it worked just fine...though I miss the refinements of the newer version that burned. According to it...it was not the ISS I saw. 1618hrs...Thinking that I should hit a store...as in the far one methinks. I’m gone. 1703hrs...Drama...It’s bloody hot...and I forgot to take MONEY! Fed the entire neighbourhood. Velence...31st July 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0435hrs...Mud with Mom, Blackie and later Kwan. 0654hrs...It’s cooled down...to a crisp 22.6°C...and it’s now cloudy. I’m about ready to leave. 23.1°C and 25.1°C...some haze...but mostly clear. 1710hrs...Back at 1700hrs...fed part of the crew. Made good progress at Jutka’s. Bela did show up and we ...I...cut six slabs...and with Bela’s help took them into the shed. I finished the last support...and moved the last slab into place. Then with Jutka we moved all the ceramic tiles that constituted a fireplace into the shed...clearing the deck completely. These tiles had been in the shed at one time...but now we...she...stacked them very neatly...and gained space in doing so. It also looks nice. Bela and I got hooked into fixing an upstairs wardrobe door...after which we spent time talking out on the balcony...it was a good thing. Jutka and I talked also. Istvan it seems is upset at my not coming over etc. I told Jutka that it was a good thing that he feels some pain. I also stated my terms. He is to apologize...and ask me to return to that which I’d started. I have more to add to my terms...but will do so at another opportunity. Velence...1st August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 1015hrs...Was up at 0630hrs. Coffee with the crew later. Fed same. Then it was off to the far store...no drama. Have just finished Grandpierre’s "The Fundamental Principles of the Universe and the Origin of Physical Laws"...interesting! Parallel to that I’m again thinking about...what would be construed as...large numbers...contained in which would be texts of various kinds...and I thought about images also...though it is a slightly different problem. 1707hrs...It’s 28.9°C and 27.3°C...hazy. Velence...2nd August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0429hrs...Up since 0330hrs...Just in from out. Coffee with the crew. 22.3°C and 26.6°C...clear. Reading yesterday’s downloads. It happened twice...yesterday. I was out coming in...there was Mom wanting out from within! Consternation...you know it was. The first time I thought...ok fine...she snuck in while I was feeding them...just didn’t notice. But I knew that I had been vigilant...nonetheless I gave up thinking about it. The second time...there we were again...me out...she in. Damn...I thought. It could just not happen. It then occurred to me...that she must be coming in through the open kitchen window. It would be a high jump...but hell...she’s a cat...and they can do such things. Anyway...out she goes...and I head for the kitchen. I’m not there for four minutes...when I see...with my two eyes...MOM...not jumping up as I’d suspected...but down from a handy tree branch. I had a good laugh...as she spun at my feet purring. Velence...3rd August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0349hrs...Up since 0300hrs. Java with the crew plus two. It’s 24.3°C and 27.6°C...clear...stars...not sats. 0416hrs...Just before 2100hrs last night...phone...I knew it would be Cila...and it was. She asked me to come over so that she could show me details about my duties while they are gone. I worked around the prospect. She will call this morning when they are about to leave. I will have over a week to get a few things done at the compound. 0447hrs...Just finished reading another account of the debacle at Lima Site 85...by Secord. A good read! Yesterday I finished transferring the last of what would turn out to be 84 images of birds for Jutka’s friend...the "painter" lady...Thomas Black's sister. I’ll call Jutka today to tell her that we can take them over at any time. 1156hrs...Well so much for an 0900hrs departure! Cila had call asking me to go over. I did at 1125hrs. They finally left at 1150hrs. It will be about 1530hrs when they arrive. I’ve been loaded down with more stuff to do. I’m to look in at Anci’s...feed their cats a few time...check that the hot water boiler is in fact turned off...etc. This leaves just Jutka and myself...holding down the fort. It’s now 27.7°C and 27.9°C...clear. I need to hit the far store. I would like to have done so right after the supposed 0900hrs departure...but...you know the rest. Velence...4th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0728hrs...I was up at about 0500hrs. The chickens in the compound were already up...though penned. I went over around 0530hrs...fed Jimmy...and opened the pens. I took the trash can out onto the street. Last night at 2300hrs I woke up to the sound of high winds. I’d left the kitchen windows open...along with one just next to me here in the living room. The wind was blasting through with great force. I went out onto the balcony to watch the developing storm. Lightning all over the south sky...and then the rain came. One of my chairs had disappeared...ending up below. The wind also blew down a ladder that had been hanging by a thread at the peak of the roof near the chimney. I found the pieces this morning just by the front porch. The wind had torn it up and tossed it over the house. There is now distant thunder to the south...with a threat of more rain and high winds. It least it’s cool...21.3°C and 24.1°C...cloudy...as in dark. I spent some time just looking around in the compound. Pathetic and depressing! It’s all so insane...really! If you didn’t know...that someone had spent over two month cleaning up...you could not see it now...from the look of it! Part of it is Istvan’s deranged handy work! 0807hrs...I need to hit the shower...AND SHAVE. My beard is starting to itch! I’m gone...as in NOW! 1318hrs...I’m just back from Spar...thanks to Jutka. She’d called earlier and of course I said yes. 1656hrs...Just in from out. I had gone over to the compound to recover an old parallel beam scale...one that I’d found early on. I had the presence of mind to ask Jutka to bring back a screwdriver...since I’d taken all of mine to her place...leaving me with none here. Anyway...I’ve started to dismantle the unit. Two screw will not budge as of now. The unit...stripped as it is now...is out of balance...though that may be as planned. The subject of Istvan came up while driving back from Spar. The whole situation is insane...if you ask me. A no win situation. Zero...zero! OR...actually...minus our side. Velence...5th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0921hrs...I was up at 0330hrs...and outside for an hour...coffee with the crew. There were signs of rain overnight...and then it drizzled...as it is now. I hit the compound close to 0600hrs...fed Jimmy and opened the pens...came back...and went back to bed. Woke up to a nice virtual dream. I’ve finished reading most of what I’ve found...and has been written ...about Lima Site 85. I have some questions regarding Swanny’s story. 0935hrs...It’s 20.6°C and 25.2°C...overcast...calm. 1537hrs...Phone...Jutka...asking if it’s on for the painter (artist) lady...yes says I...ok...she’ll call a 1645hrs...for a 1700hrs show and tell. Velence...6th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0610hrs...Up and outside at 0430hrs...hit the compound at 0540hrs...back by 0600hrs. It’s 20.4°C and 25.2°C...some clouds...color to the east as the sun rises. 1017hrs...Showered...not shaved. I need to hit the DO...if not today then absolutely tomorrow. Thinking that I could hit Jutka’s for a bit of work. And the store too. 1122hrs...Back. The DO doesn’t open till 1330hrs. Did the store though. Velence...7th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0907hrs...Up and outside at 0330hrs...where I remained for over an hour...then back to bed. Then at close to 0600hrs...over to the compound for the usual drill...without drama. Yesterday I called over to Jutka’s...no answer....but at around 1730hrs I decided to go over anyway. When I arrived...her car was in the drive...she’d just arrived...she told me later. I went there to replace the broken plastic doorknobs on the shed with a pair of aluminum ones salvaged from out back...that I'd seen months ago. In the end I was...as yet...unable to pull the pin holding it all together...so I gave up on it...for now...though I did hit it with some WD-40. It’s 22.1°C and 25.4°C...some clouds...hot in the sun. My blast shield is in place...since I’ve been out there reading. Fed my crew only...for a change. 1338hrs...Have been reading all day. Gads...Secord rang a bell...so I did follow up research. It’s the same guy! Iran-Contra! The plot thickens. 1643hrs...Major drama. It was 1504hrs when I looked at my watch. I should have been at the chemist’s...long before that time. They close at 1500hrs. Called Jutka...but it was too late. Damn! Yesterday I fixed the kitchen window such that it’s now possible to open it without Mom getting in. This morning I hit it with some WD-40. It’s one of those two-way windows...but the linkage was never connected. It is now! Velence...8th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0433hrs...Up since 0335hrs...Coffee with three of the crew...fed same...milk too. The Moon and Jupiter visible through clouds. Meteor shower on the 11th and 12th coming up. Could be as many as 200 per hour. It’s 20.8°C and 25.2°C...clouds...with holes. 1302hrs...Have done the far store...but not without drama. Plastic bottle in spokes trick. Shredded the bag...or at least a part of it! DUH! 1658hrs...From my readings of the last few week or so. The most interesting new information is that the Scythians were in fact Y-DNA...R1a1 (R1a1a now). So...OK FINE...I’m of Scythian origin. They pre-date the Magyars...as such...by 1000 years or so. Not to say that they didn’t exist...but were not...as yet...identified. And at a later time they were contemporaries of the Huns...Atilla. Another new...to me...bit of information were Carbon 14 dating of numerous sites by Russian researcher. The greatest concentration...to date...centers on...guess where? The Tuba River! The Scythian connection takes it back again to east of the Ob River...Tuva and the Tuba River. Which then makes possible the connection to my surname. Velence...9th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0629hrs...Have done the compound. It’s 19.4°C and 24.4°C...mixed...calm. Yesterday as I was coming back from the compound...I heard the phone ringing...but it stopped just as I got to it. I dialed Jutka’s number...it was her that had called. Invited for lunch today...1300hrs...ok. THEN...she turned doctor...one of her favorite manifest characters. So get this...She recommends that I should see the doctors about my medications....since I may not need the ones I’m taking...and or change the dosage. The doctor can do this just by looking at me...facetiousness intended. She bases this recommendation on her own experience...where in she unilaterally cuts the prescribed dosage...and claims that said doctor told her that the dosage he had prescribed was...massive...as in "fit for a horse"...and it was a good thing to do so...cutting it in half! Going on...she stops taking said medication...once she "feels" better. In effect she doesn’t do as the doctor says...period. But I’m to go to said doctor and do exactly as he says...that is...change medication...and or dosage. The "logic" escapes me! 1715hrs...Have done lunch with Jutka. It was good...one of my favorites. Velence...10th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 1558hrs...I’m just back from having spent all day at Jutka’s. I hit the far store on the way back. Made a major dent in clearing out Jutka’s garage...and filling the shed. It went well enough. I plan to go back tomorrow morning. I hit the chemist’s first thing to pick up the drugs that I’d forgotten to pick up bloody Friday! Velence...11th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0738hrs...I was up at 0230hrs...and took a look out a window to see if there were stars visible. I could not tell one way or the other...so I opened the front door with the intent that should it be clear I’d continue on...and do a bit of meteor shower observing. As soon as the door was partly open...I heard the sound of rain drops! So much for that. I came back in...and went out onto the balcony instead. Eventually went back to bed. 0928hrs...About ready to leave...PO and then Jutka’s. 1508hrs...Back. Ran into Cila on her way to the PO. She told me the INCRIDIBLE story of her "LOST" handbag! [During the vacation.] After she’d finished...I told her that I never wanted to hear that story again...and that I would leave the area if she started it. Velence...12th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0721hrs...Up since 0600hrs. I was up at 0130hrs to check out the meteor shower. It was in fact...surprisingly...clear so I went out...cats in attendance. I saw only one meteor to the north...low. The Moon was no help...and I finally gave it up as a lost cause. It’s 19.8°C and 24.6°C...mostly cloudy. 0853hrs...Well...CRAPOLLA! For the last three days or so they have been swinging shut the last of three gates leading into the compound on the other side of Kemping Street. AND today I see two men constructing a gate closing off access to a lot that afforded the last means available to reach the lakeshore. I had only gone down there once since it was open... not to take photos...but just a "look-see". NOW...it’s no more! Velence...13th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0304hrs...Up since 0200hrs...A Cup with Mom. Saw one meteor...I think. This is the first year where it’s been clear enough to see the bloody things...BUT naturally there is a Moon out...lighting up the sky. 0724hrs...Doing a second Cup. It’s 20.6°C and 22.4°C...partly cloudy. Nice and cool...some wind. 1546hrs...Just in from out. Did a can of HELL while reading with most of the crew. Earlier I heard the sound of a helicopter...and when I saw it relative to the lake I thought right away who might be in it. Prior to that event by about 45 minutes...I saw a figure dressed in black coming out onto the access road leading to Kemping Street. He examined the newly placed lion statues which were installed earlier yet onto the two columns constituting the main gate. He continued to come my way. A few minutes earlier a car drove up to the main gate on Kemping Street...but then drove off. Now it returned...out of nowhere...and the man in black got in. The car was a taxi...and it drove off heading east. 45 minutes later...the chopper arrives. It did at least 5 orbits around the property. The man? Korda! Velence...14th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0425hrs...Up and out with a Cup at 0330hrs. Three of the crew. I woke up to the sound of rain. It’s a day late. It’s 21.1°C and 24.1°C...overcast. 0845hrs...Lost power...tried to come up twice...stayed up the third time...as in now. 1309hrs...The rain has stopped. It had come down in buckets. 1357hrs...Time to hit the PO and far store methinks. 1439hrs...Done deal. Fed crew plus some. Velence...15th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0525hrs...Java with part of the crew. The neighbors gate is ajar...and no car! It’s 16.2°C and 22.8°C...clear for all practical proposes. I have not heard officially if today is to be grape harvest day or not. Jutka was concerned about getting the garage cleared out prior to that day since she needed the space. Date wise it could/should be today...given that it was the 13th last year. NOW...Last year I think there were four of us that went out first thing that day. Pityu, Istvan, Lajos and I. Pityu drove...his car...since Istvan doesn’t drive at all...Lajos may drive but I’ve never seen him...and neither has a car as such. We were there to prepare the plastic tarps that would eventually line the dump truck’s cargo space...while we waited for the truck to arrive. The rest of the help would come later. So far so good. NOW...Take Pityu out of the equation! While his car exists...it’s not here at the compound but at Anci’s...and even if it were...there is no one to drive it. There are large metal stands and other items that need to be transported up to the cellar...which is something that Pityu would have been involved with. These stands are now overgrown with foliage right where Istvan left them...and hence need to be dug out. Contrary to Istvan’s self image...it was Pityu who knew what needed to be done...and in what order...and just went about doing it...while Lajos and Istvan helped...though Istvan was as often as not...an obstructionist. Last year Istvan told me the day before harvest day that "he would be directing things"! Yeah right! And it’s a rather stupid thing to say...if you were in fact to be...or were the "director". I’m sure that I was the only one he’d said that too. As in what...I’d believe him? NOW...It will be most interesting to see what happens. Istvan will actually have to do that which Pityu had done in the past...unless of course he insists on Bela’s "help"...or more accurately...leadership! Bela on the other hand may just take charge. Last year Istvan threw a fit...as we were about to leave the vineyard with the fully loaded truck of grapes. It was bizarre to witness. My conclusion was that he realized that with three times the quantity of grapes...he would have three times the work...up at the cellar...doing the same job he’d done...stuck with(!)...the years before...and hence wanted no part of it. We eventually found him walking on the road...but were unable to talk him into the car. I predicted that he’d not show up at the cellar. I was right. NOW...How does this fit in with...his wanting to be the "director" of things? [Oh of course...the "director" dosn't actually do any work...at all...in his mind.] Velence...16th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 1213hrs...Up since before sunrise...but I went straight to reading...hence no entry. Going online to research more on the "Tuwa"...aka TUBA...people. 2040hrs...Back for about 20 mins. Bela caught me as I was leaving the far store...around 1600hrs. Velence...17th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0304hrs...Up for an hour. Mom, Stranger and later Kwan. I forgot to buy milk yesterday! It came out...Sari...that there has been talk of my moving into the old house. Bela cut her short...saying that it would "happen" after the grape harvest...hence there was no more discussion of the subject. Speaking of the harvest...it’s not this month but next! DUH! From the look of it...it may happen on the 12th of September. [It was Jutka's bleating about getting the garage cleared out...as in now...that led me to think that it was just matter of days.] 1724hrs...Have been to the far store...1600hrs. Velence...18th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0422hrs...Up and outside since 0330hrs. Private breakfast for Other. The stars were all there and then some. 1324hrs...Back for about 20mins. Call this morning...Jutka...Bela there to clear the kitchen drain...and could they use my jet wash? I tried to explain it to Jutka...that it would not work...but then decided that it would be best if just went there to explain it to Bela. In the end Bela and I managed to clear the bloody drain...but it was not without drama. 1358hrs...I now wait for Bela to arrive. It occurred to me that since he’d be going into Fehervar I could be of help and on the way back look into a battery operated bike. I’d forgotten that he was just going in to talk to the Cooper about getting a barrel repaired and not taking it in with the trailer now...but he said that a bike would fit into his car...so it’s on. He said 30 mins...that’s about 10 mins out. It’s 28.1°C and 27.2°C...partly cloudy...with gusts. 8041hrs...Back. We did the bike place first. Then the Cooper’s...but he was not there...and ended up calling him. It was set for tomorrow morning. We went to a couple of other places...then back to Velence. We coordinated with Anci for the use of Pityu’s car...and have been to the cellar to load the three barrels. The car and loaded trailer are in the compound. Amazingly...one of the other two decimal scales was sitting on the walk! Gads! Velence...19th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0721hrs...I again wait for the call...Bela. It’s 19.9°C and 25.2°C...clear. If it goes according to plan...I’ll have the new bike today. There are a few problems to solve yet...but they will eventually fall. 0756hrs...THE CALL! I’m gone. 1255hrs...Back...and back from the far store...under electro-dynamic propulsion! 1433hrs...Have just started a charge on "A" pack. "B" pack is being built and they will call when ready. I took apart the charger for a QVI...and found one solder joint I didn’t like the look of...re-soldered same. I plan to go to Jutka’s...since most of my tools are there...and do some dismantling of the bike. There are items that do nothing for me...but just add weight. The damn bike is heavy enough as it is. And I need to move others to a better location. The proposed GPS mount is of course too large...though workable. 2051hrs...Did the Jutka plan...and managed to remove the skirt guard...and repositioned the rear basket. I have an invitation for lunch tomorrow for 1300hrs. Velence...20th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0346hrs...Java with a few of the crew. 19.3°C and 25.2°C...clear. The stars were all there. Contemplating an expedition. 0426hrs...Well now! The bike guy made a big deal out of not overcharging the batteries. And the fear that leaving it on the charger for over four hours one could not trust the unit to shut down...strange but...ok fine. From the manual...can’t really read it...it’s recommended that batteries be put on the charger after every use. Anyway...I’ve had it on the charger now...three times...but only for a couple of hour at a time. Last night I hit it with two and half hours and pulled the plug...intending to power it up again this morning...which I did. There are two LEDs on the charger. A green one comes on as soon as AC power is applied. Once it’s connected to the batteries...it goes out...and a red LED comes one. Ok fine. Since I’ve had a look inside...I concluded that there was enough circuitry for it to indicate not only full charge...but to stop charging. SO...as I was heading into the kitchen...I glanced at the charger...and sure as hell...the red LED was off...greed LED was back on. GADS...it works. SO...no more of this nonsense about not trusting the unit. Slap it on the changer and wait for the lights to change state. What’s the big deal? 0628hrs...About ready to hit the road. Plan to head east...then south around the tip of the lake. It’s now a cool 18.2°C...still clear. 0630hrs...I’m gone. 0945hrs...Back...having done 17.7km. The pack is on the charger. I had a top speed of 25km/hr. 1658hrs...Back from having done lunch with Jutka. YUM...YUM! The pack is again on the charger. Velence...21st August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0716hrs...Up at 0300hrs. Then up again at 0511hrs...to catch the ISS. It’s 17.8°C and 24.8°C...clear. Thinking about today’s expedition. Kapolnasnyek...perhaps. 1211hrs...Back for about 30 mins...via Bela’s. 1757hrs...(Where)...We made some needed repairs to the bloody bike. I’ve just returned from a long test run. I’ve now found another problem that will need to be fixed having to do with the steering. It’s unsafe. I noticed that something was not right about it right off the bat...but only now stopped to diagnose the problem. Under certain conditions the front mud guard rubs against the frame. If I should be in a turn...coming back to the straight position...it now not just rubs...but prevent the front wheel from turning...binding in effect...causing a momentary...and sudden loss of control! GADS! 2053hrs...Have found and am reading a bunch of stuff by Mario Alinei. Damn good I thought....so far. Velence...22nd August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0452hrs...Up and outside with a Cup...at 0400hrs. Stars...etc. Forgot to mention...during the last three mornings...Iridium sightings...meteors and the hedgehog. I think Kwan is hurt...left hind leg! 0508hrs...It’s 19.5°C and 24.9°C...clear...though I do see clouds to the northeast. 1124hrs...Just in from out...as in too hot to read now. Velence...23rd August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0634hrs...Java with the crew. Mom has become a veritable terror. I was wrong...it was not Kwan but some other look-a-like that had been hurt. I’ve not seen it since. The readings continues. As a result I have to re-think the entire Proto-Magyar history. I need to take another closer look at Wells’ genome map. I think that R1a1 broke out at a different point...from that shown. Velence...24th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0332hrs...Just in from out. Mud with the crew minus Kwan. The stars...you know the drill. Clouds moving in. It rained Saturday...today being Monday...and I needed to do a black op into the compound to recover a small tarp...mine...to cover the new bike. 1709hrs...Earlier I did the far store. Bela was standing outside as I arrived at the store...so I went over first. Velence...25th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0401hrs...Up and outside at 0300hrs. A Cup with Blackie. My sick cat was gone...though it may reappear. It’s...gender unknown...in really bad shape...can’t eat or drink. Mouth and one eye damaged. Sad! [This cat will become Ike.] Oh! Well now! I looked up at the sky...high to the south west...and what do I see but two...close...moving points of light! Gads I thought...where is the third? The two...relatively bright ones...were about two degrees apart moving toward the north east. They would leave my field of view quite soon...blocked by the house...so I kept my eye on them...but took a glance away...when I spotted the third satellite! I’ve read about them...but have forgotten their names. This was my first sighting of them. 1256hrs...Back from having gone to the far store...Saci was outside...Bela inside...so I went over. Then we took a little trip...GPSed it in three places...interesting in the end. 1308hrs...It’s 23.9°C and 25.9°C...mostly clear. Am I hungry or not...that is the question at this time? 1713hrs...I made a run to the close store for no real reason...except that Electro-One was parked outside doing nothing. I went around the long way and ran into Bela coming the other way...perhaps from Cila’s. I came back with a detour past Anci’s...along the way. I thought about the short route down the ramp...but decided against it. Velence...26th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0645hrs...Was up at 0200hrs...crew minus Kwan...a Cup. 1542hrs...Just in from out...mass quantity to read. Had to move my blast shield...but it’s now useless. Damaged kitten reappeared...doing much better. Now able to eat some...and drink massively. Velence...27th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0438hrs...Up and outside at 0230hrs...Java with Mom...later Stranger. 1544hrs...Back for about twenty mins...from the far store via Bela...again. They had German guests...and we had lunch together. Velence...28th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 1226hrs...I was up and outside at 0345hrs...till 0515hrs. The damaged kitten was there so I fed same. I had decided to make a run to Spar...a store chain...in Gardony. I left here at precisely 0800hrs. I got there in less than 15 mins. I passed Bela’s at 0845hrs....hence easily back here by 0900hrs. It was a 10 km round trip. The damaged kitten was waiting. I noticed that his...it’s a he...right eye was now partly open! Later I fed him again with food that I thought he could just swallow...as in not having to chew. Plus lots of milk. It may well be his first full meal in a long time. He purrs when I’m with him. The readings continue...though I now need to dig out more. 1252hrs...It’s 27.8°C and 28.2°C...hazy. Velence...29th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. Up real early this morning. Did the usual with the crew. I’ve decided on a name for the damaged kitten. It’s to be "Ike" (Injured Kitten...Extraordinaire)...who is doing better each day. He’s now at least eating. At this moment...he’s in the penthouse pad in the west corner of the balcony...all curled up...cozy like. Agnes Tuba’s youngest granddaughter...saw it a week ago in front of their place...next door...and said that it...he now...was all bloody...with a torn up face. [The poor cat was skin and bone.] I needed to hit the far store...and since there was a storm coming. I checked out the online sat images. Sure as hell...and it was closing in fast. I decided to hit the road...now! Well...I got to the store ok...and then as I was checking out...I heard what I mistook to be the predicted rain...but it was just the high winds in the trees. The gal heard it too...and I said that the rain was in fact coming...as in very soon. She thought not! Ha! I no sooner hit the first bend in the road that led onto Kemping...when the rain hit...hard. For the last two days I’ve been scouring YouTube for the "lost" 78s. I found some by name...and some by shear luck. I’m a happy camper...you know I am. Velence...30th August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0319hrs...Java with part of the crew. It’s 17.4°C and 23.9°C...partly cloudy. STS was launched and is in orbit...with a visible pass in just over an hour...0434hrs. Historically the weather changes suddenly here in HU Land. Summer is over. Velence...31st August 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0401hrs...Going online for the latest Keplers for the ISS. It’s 15.9°C and 22.6°C...clear...with bright stars. Well now...The ISS and STS-128 are together. I should set up to shoot them with the MTO-1000...and forget about the wide-angle. 0423hrs...Done deal...ready to go outside. They will be visible at 0436hrs. I will double check the focus...on a star. 0444hrs...Got ‘em...Mom and Kwan assisting! I’ll "develop" the shots later. 1917hrs...Back for about 20 mins. Fed an innumerable quantity of cats. 2050hrs...I’ve trying to remember how it was that I ended up at Bela’s. Gads...He’d called yesterday to say that we had appointments for a mop-chop today. I was to show up for lunch. Ok fine...lunch...chatted...then off we went. Afterward we stopped at a place that sold electrical stuff. Then to a hardware store...where Lajos happens to work...buy more stuff. The last place we went to was closed for inventory. Back at Bela’s we set about constructing a motor driven grape crusher. Ok fine...but that meant going to Jutka’s for some of my power tools etc.
Continued: To be continued in STBlog2009 Sept-Dec
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