The first day of freedom...

[wiseheart]

... was very busy indeed. As promised, I went back to school to help KA and her eight-term class preparing the disco buffet. It was fun sailing in, giving Boss Woman the widest, happiest grin of my existence, chatting with the (former) colleagues and seeing the kids be happy to see me. We did well with the baking, and one of the 6th-term classes gave me a wonderful farewell gift: a red tablecloth, with the name of every kid embroidered on it. We'll use that for the Christmas Eve afternoon coffee table.

After that, I came home, picked up Mum and we went to celebrate. First we had dinner in an eatery that we used to frequent earlier - well, I know now why we changed favourites. But afterwards we went to the Stühmer Café:







Usually, it is a quiet little place. But right before Christmas it's the place of a wonderful insanity: people besiege it for their absolutely wonderful Christmas tree candy selection:



They also offer an amazing sortiment of chocolates:



Anyway, Mum and I had great fun watching people - foreign tourists and our fellow citizens alike - storming to the shelves where they could fill large plastic bags with the candy of their choice, or mixed if they wanted (all Christmas tree candies are sold for the same price, which is not exactly cheap), have their bags weighed and spent indecent amounts of money there.

We had coffee, which is amazingly delicious, too. I make my Christmas tree candy myself.

Comments

[meathiel]

Sounds like a great first day of retirement.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. We've been planning our little celebration for a long time. Alas, our favourite restaurant has closed for good just a month or so ago, and that threw a wrench into the engine, IIRC the phrase. Still it was nice, and we had great fun watching the people collecting their candies as if there would be no tomorrow. *g*

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! The tablecloth sounds like a really lovely gift - how thoughtful of them,

And the Stühmer Café looks fascinating.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I left my wonderful prezzie at school in all the hassle today, so I'll have to wait fill Friday to fetch it. But once it's home, I'll take a photo for you folks to see it.

And yeah, the Stühmer Café is amazing. There are only two or three of them in the whole country, although chocolate products of the Stühmer factory are available in better-sorted chocolate shops in most places.

Edited 'cuz the autocorrect on my iPad is evil.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

What a fun first day! I hope they continue to only get better!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, tomorrow I'll stay home and bake Christmas cookies, so things look good. *g*

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Hooray for you! Congratulations upon your retirement! *hugs you*
What a fantastic way to spend your first day - a lovely return to school (did the tablecloth bring tears to your eyes?) and then on to celebrate with your Mum!
The cafe, and the chocolate selection looks like a great place!

One last Hooray! Or two - Hooray!

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Coffee and chocolate, heavenly. The only good chocolate we see is imported and pricey. I can't imagine having such a selection as that in your cafe. What a lovely place to celebrate on your first day of retirement. Also, what a sweet gift from your students, the tablecloth with their names embroidered. So nice, too, that you are not severing your connection completely, can come and go freely at the school.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Cool.
Candy for on the tree? Interesting.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

I've got just one set left to bake, but I've got to work tonight, so I'm not sure they will get done or not. We've also got a cat door that we need to install. Too much to do...

Enjoy your day!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I resisted the tears heroically, but it wasn't an easy thing. :)

The café is fantastic indeed, but Budapest is a fantastic city in many ways. Should you ever find your way over the pond make sure to drop by, and I'll be happy to show you around.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hope Boss Woman won't object. Fortunately, as long as the school as a whole benefits from my visits she's not inclined to do so. *fingers crossed because everything is possible*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

An old tradition - these things are unknown in any other European country. We always had them, and as kids found nefarious ways to snatch the candy before the tree would be demolished, so after a while only the decorative wrapping was hanging there. *g*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Poor you! Too much work and little play makes Spikey a sad girl.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Cute.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

A tired one, if anything else. It's just been a week... between work, computer issues, a mailing, Christmas stuff and all the things with the cats, it's been full. :P