We've had a new order from Peter's mum; we now call her "the Boss from HQ". We were requested to purchase some new CDs to be found at a random house in the second district. After careful examination of a map, we realised that this was a bloody long way away. Peter said he was quite happy to go it alone on this adventure, so I stayed at home and got on with cooking dinner and writing my report. The doorbell rings three hours later and in walks a frozen supplier, he announces: "It's far... there's snow up there!" My comment that "it's hardly fucking Ben Nevis," wasn't welcomed. He couldn't even find the house. Peter also casually placed a poor little Hungarian man outside number 17 into an existential predicament. When asked where house number 20 was, he replied: "I'm sorry sir, it does not exist".

Earlier today, people were laying flowers at the new 1956 memorial:





This afternoon we went on silent march with the centre-right Fidesz political party. This was both in protest to the alleged police brutality on the 23rd, and a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Soviet tanks entering Budapest and crushing the uprising. The news warned that today could see an increase in violence. As it turned out, it was very peaceful and respectful. The Hungarian government would have stumbled into even more trouble if a second set of allegations of brutality circulated, just like it did twelve days ago.

Still somewhat of a police presence:


The march was cold and wet, and the number of candles and burning torches made it somewhat scary; they were all brandished by menacing old ladies.







I'm in the process of joining Central European University as an external researcher - which should be spiffing. They're showing some shorts about 1956 on Monday with discussions afterwards, and there's a series of public lectures on social anthropology starting, both of which I might attend. There was some sort of party going on when we got to CEU - we thought about just looking confident, grabbing a few glasses of the free champagne and standing looking at 'installations' whilst talking about their poignant post-modern implications. Sadly, fear bested us. It was like an academic Ab Fab.

Peter would like me to mention that he saw a book at CEU called:



The Daleks are coming...

I've been for a coffee at what is widely thought to be one of the best coffee houses in the world: Centrál Kavéház:



Yes, it was nice, even better than Vennals. Did I just say that? I am now a heathen! Raargh! Peter asked for a hot chocolate, and was a bit confused when they brought out a mug of hot milk, a bowl of cream and a lump of chocolate on a stick:



However, this next photo is the best of the day - give me my bastarding Pulitzer!



And a video compilation of the march: