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My first impression was driving in deep snow on the 9th of January 2010 and that coldness continuing. I stayed for about a week and I wore a ski Jacket and thermal clothing all the time.

The main challenge for me was the language and I still find it very challenging. However I was never very good at language learning at school so all I can say is that I get by ok.

I moved over with a little family of friends so have never been desperate for company. However as I've got older I definitely prefer city life in the winter and although I have a home in a village people in my countryside area don't go out and about much.

I love the miles and miles of forest. I have lived in very beautiful coastal areas and also places that have hills and valleys. Therefore I have never found the lake areas very scenic or impressive. Austria is nearby and much more scenic.

Budapest is a fantastic capital city and I never get bored or feel lonely when I repeatedly visit the same spas , museums and landmarks.

I've been here so long I don't even notice "only in Hungary" things any more.

My circle is almost entirely family related.  I know people of course but family keeps me busy 90% of the time.   We live in the burbs with our two HU kids.  The Mrs F family have a "house" (aka hovel) down at the water's edge of Balaton.  We go there a couple of weeks a year.   We'll go this weekend to do some gardening.

My HU language skills are truly dreadful.   Of course I know stuff but I am certainly a lot better in German.   Usually English and German are enough to get by.   A lot of people try German on me but it depends on context.   The dog is entirely Hungarian and (British) sign language fluent. 

I keep saying I will learn Hungarian as this is currently the only thing separating me from becoming a naturalised citizen and being free of the Brexit curse.   I'm the only non-native speaker of Hungarian here.  We use English at home. Maybe I'll have a proper go at learning Hungarian  when I pass official retirement age later this year.  Theoretically I'll have more free time. 

On the other hand Mrs F keeps saying she wants to leave HU as she finds the politics poisonous.  If it wasn't for Brexit, we might have gone already.