Time is FFFLYYYIIIINGG here! I can’t believe it is already mid March. It’s horrifying to think that I’ve spent almost third of my total time here… I don’t want to come back to England. Yack!!
Yes, yes, of course I miss all of you there in Rochester and in Helsinki.


We went to see the 10th annual furniture fair in Budapest, called Laka’s Trend Fair. It was quite different from the design fairs I’ve seen in London and in Helsinki. Hungary doesn’t really have own ‘design culture’ like for example Finland has. Of course they have long traditions in art and craft but the design (fashion, industrial, furniture…) doesn’t really exist because of the past communism. So the fair was quite small. All the big brands, Cappellini, etc, had their products exhibited there but the Hungarian brands were quite different from the rest of the European design styles.
We spoke about this with Attila and he was maybe a bit jealous that Hungary is in such a state. I told him that maybe for the young designers, like him and Tuan, it is very good situation. They can actually bring Hungarian design on to the map. What I’m trying to say is that maybe young designers has a bigger change to actually make it.



Last Saturday was absolutely freezing. Before the sunny weather this week the spring ended as fast as it came. Even though the weather was awful, very English, rainy and windy, we decided to go to this flee market out side of Budapest. That place was amazing. I’ve never seen that much stuff in my life. It was a proper treasure island. You could find anything from the last 60 decades there. It was very inspiring place and I can’t wait to take my mother there when she comes. Beautiful, beautiful things, I spend my money in old movie posters and matchboxes (don’t ask!)

After last weekend the weather changed completely. The sun has been shining all week. Actually today is the first cloudy day in a week. It’s so summer here and I love it. Makes me smile.

On Wednesday we had our traditional Molkky tournament on Margit island. Margit island is like Hyde Park in London: big green spot close to the central. It’s a beautiful place and lot of people spent their days there. Anyway molkky, for those who doesn’t know the game, is Finnish version of petanque. But instead of balls you throw wooden blocks. Each of the twelve sticks has a number on them. You have to collect 50 points to win but it’s not as easy as it might sound… There are many rules that makes the game really, really fun (specially after few beers). There is a group of exchange student, me among them, who are absolutely hooked with that game.

15 of March is a national holiday in Hungary. Maybe you heard about the riots they had here. I was told that you shouldn’t go out all day, because it might be dangerous. So me, Outi and Ari made a roadtrip to Szentedre.
Szentedre is a small town 20 km north from Budapest. It’s a really nice and cute place but not too big to spend the whole day so we decided to go to Vienna. Yes, we actually drove to Austria in two and half hours. It was crazy! We went for pints with Harri, Ari’s friend who studies there. Vienna looks pretty much the same than Budapest but it's much, much cleaner.
Vienna is a beautiful place. I have to go back. And I saw at least 10 H&Ms there..!!! “Oon ma juonut viinii Vienissa…” Who knows that song?? Here's a picture from Vienna. Some important building in there. Looks like a church to me.



Andrea and me went to the zoo last Saturday. They have the first baby rhino born in Europe and it was so cute! I wanted to take it home. It wasn’t that small anymore… a size of a lamb or something. I was more excited about the hippos though, as you can see. I saw giraffes and polar bears for the first time of my life. But we are sure that some of the animals were plastic, becuase they didnt move at all!

I have to go and carry on working now… We’re having a small party in our flat tonight and I have loads to do before that.

Talk to you later!!

putzi

Aiti soitti ja kerto etta mun eno nukku pois viime torstaina. Kaikki ok, mutta aika paha mieli aidin puolesta. Ranskiksen kanssa juttu loppu aika seinaan talla viikolla… Pitka juttu. Selitan myohemmin. Voin ihan hyvin nyt, tilanteeseen nahden, mut olin aika rikki muutaman paivan.