Deb and I have been busy – seems like we have been here for a long while even though it has only been four full days. We have been welcomed by the people at the studio, found our way around town speaking no Hungarian but showing lots of good will – the usual hand signals, a smile and willingness to attempt to speak the language seem to go the distance.

We are still finding it cold (even though they say it is 6 degrees outside) – snow remains on the ground and it seems even though it is a holiday weekend, people are scarce in the street. I like to think they might be attending the local baths but think that is optimistic.

We finally made it to our studios today to do some work – so much time has been spent talking with the technicians Klara and Jakob, and getting materials and equipment set up. Both of us did some tests with engobes and colourants – with somewhat different qualities here, and I spent some time using the local porcelain which surely is luscious but also very pernickity. It was good to throw again after such leaving it for such a while – porcelain is probably not the best clay to begin witih again but perhaps the other clays will be easier after this! My red overalls (thank you Nan) were covered in the stuff – I’m certainly messy – that much hasn’t changed.

Deb toiled away making a damp cupboard for us, as well as cutting material for slab slings and doing a multitude of tests for her own work on three of the local clays. I admire the orderly way she has of working with materials and know I will learn lots working in the same studio with her. Good day today.