Last year seemed like a
very long one. I’ve been on the move a bit less than in recent years, but the
start of 2015 feels like 24 months ago, not
12.
A very quick recap: After seeing in the new year in
Budapest, I made quick visits with cousin Kylie (visiting from Oz) to Berlin
(where I had dinner with artist friend Norbert and Marisa from Malta) and to
Amsterdam (saw Susan from New York, and NZ cousin Sarah and Simon) before I
flew back to Asia. In Kuching I spent time with Emily, Min and Sam, Ivy and
Swee, and other friends made in recent years, and had my annual health checkup.
There was nothing wrong with me that wasn’t already wrong with me. I learned
while I was there (staying at the Batik Boutique Hotel, as usual) that my
application for a Hungarian residency permit had been approved for five
years.
This has changed everything!
I spent February, including Chinese New Year, in Hong
Kong, which was busy and fun and felt like home again. It offered up some new
people (among them Joanne, Andy, and Sylvia). Spent time with Polly, Linda (who
was on a visit from the UK), Carol, and Cathy and David. Hiked and ran with
Cathy and Jocelyn. I gave a talk at Women in Publishing, which I helped start
25 years ago. A quick visit to Zhuhai to spend a couple of days with old
Oz bestie, Chris M, and Xiao, who returned the visit to Hong
Kong.
Back to Budapest for three months, March through to late
May, to start taking up my residency. Ran the Vivicitta Budapest Half Marathon.
Spent a lot of time seeing cultural events with Miki, Julie and David. Through
the Budapest Zombie Runners group I met two special guys, Riyadh and Tiago. I
took holidays in Slovenia (where I met the Two Joans in Ljubljana) and with JB
in Croatia (Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, where I ran a race along the old town
walls, plus a hard, hot and hilly half marathon, and met Aussie runners Louise
and Sandra). Visitors to Budapest were my near-oldest friends Barb and Bill,
and Di. Other new Budapest faces were runners Andrea and Robert, Agi, and
Nozzies Karin and
Virginia.
I spent June and July in New York, back in the apartment
beside Central Park where my books are on the shelves and my runner friends are
at Engineers’ Gate most mornings at 5.30. I wrote nearly 300 pages of a first
draft of my book, ran races and saw lots of films. I had a week-long break in
Toronto (to see former Hong Kongers Sarah and Will, and Frances) and Montreal
(where I caught up with visiting Dead Runners Laura and Rob). Chiu Yin
organised a writing workshop with the writer Amy Hempel at Tuxedo Park, where I
met Sheila and Joni. Dominic was in town from
Tokyo.
Back to Budapest for August and September. Through
running I met Kristy, Barb and Maria. Many fun morning runs with Riyadh. Saw
lots of Hungarian and other foreign films at local arthouse cinemas. Miki
became a close friend. He and I visited Istanbul for four days. I called in to
see Kadir, manager at the AgoraLife hotel in Sultanahmet, where I stayed for a
month in 2011. Chris H came for a visit from France. Visitors from Oz: Susy,
and Kevin and Simone. Ran my third Wizz Budapest Half Marathon. I started
working on my book again from scratch with Judit, a writing coach in Budapest.
To New York to do final training for an October marathon
(my fifth) in Pennsylvania (Steamtown) with Maria. My time wasn’t my best, but
it was good enough to qualify me for Boston in 2017. New pal Sue also qualified
in her first marathon. I completed the other races I need to do to get entry to
2016 New York City marathon. My 63rd birthday. I continued to work with
Judit on my book. Another writing workshop at Tuxedo Park with writer Laura
Shayne Cunningham, Chiu Yin, Sheila and Joni. Spent time with Liliane from
Lausanne (we met in 2011), Vince from Hong Kong, Fran (we met in Kuching in
2014) and caught up with visitors from Oz: Lynne and Greg, Robert and Merelin,
and Bridget.
In early November, I returned to Budapest. Ran the Way of
Knowledge Half Marathon (my 38th). Worsening back pain took me to an
orthopaedic specialist who took spinal X-rays and diagnosed scoliosis on top of
the osteoporosis I already knew about. No more running… I’m still getting my
head around what that means. In December I took a weekend break in Zagreb,
during which I left my bag containing passport, cards and cash in a taxi. There
was a happy ending after a very charming Croatian geologist came to my
rescue.
I’m finishing up the
year with a week on the border of southern Hungary and Serbia, checking out
secession-style (art nouveau) architecture while I plough through a very heavy
workload.