Mark Brayne

Learning Hungarian – Mi az Ördögért (Why on Earth)? Indeed, why on earth (in devil's name, which is closer to the Hungarian above) am I - and have been for so long - learning Hungarian? Sitting in Budapest half way through a three-week (almost) sojourn in Hungary in the early summer of 2025 with the specific intention of getting to grips with this intense, complex and profound language, I thought (not being sure if anyone actually ever reads this blog) it might be time to have a go at explaining to you, and to me, …

As a cautious poster on social media, except in my closed/private Facebook account, I've not yet contributed much here. But, with a few followers, thought folk might be interested in my blog, mainly about cycling but also musing on the meaning of life and self. And languages. Interested?

Ad free: Under Fire: A Journalist's Story of the 1989 Romanian Revolution | The Cold War Conversations Podcast Get more from The Cold War Conversations Podcast on Patreon

Slightly bemused that getting followers here, as if I might have something interesting to say... In spirit of which, those signing up might enjoy, exactly 35 years on, my reminiscences with Cold War Conversations of covering the Romanian revolution for BBC radio. www.patreon.com/posts/118377...

What a wonderfully intelligent thread, that doesn't go sour after a few posts. Only upside for us is that my German wife who'd had to give her German passport up 50 years ago to become a Brit (complex, involved East Berlin and BMG), now has both citizenships. Our kids too, though not their Dad sadly

I’m not going to leave X just yet - I hate that sense of being driven away from a place I used to love. But after one day on here, I already know how much prefer it.

So if you see this and would be kind enough to share it to let people find me, that would be hugely appreciated. Thank you.

Happy to share this

The censorship algorithm on Twitter reduced our audience by roughly 95%, and seriously, who does that to a wildlife biology & advocacy group ?
So we moved 😇 over here to BlueSky

If you could, please help us regain our following
Follow
Retweet and
Repeat ;-)

Together we can change the world.

Ad free: Under Fire: A Journalist's Story of the 1989 Romanian Revolution | The Cold War Conversations Podcast Get more from The Cold War Conversations Podcast on Patreon

Slightly bemused that getting followers here, as if I might have something interesting to say... In spirit of which, those signing up might enjoy, exactly 35 years on, my reminiscences with Cold War Conversations of covering the Romanian revolution for BBC radio. www.patreon.com/posts/118377...

After 5,000 Days of Arbitrary Detention, Bahrain Must Immediately Release Danish-Bahraini Citizen and Human Rights Defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja Today, December 16, 2024, Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja has endured 5,000 days of arbitrary detention in Bahrain.

Today marks 5,000 days of arbitrary detention for Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja in Bahrain.

Al-Khawaja should never have spent a day in jail. We urge the governments of Bahrain and Denmark to ensure his release.

Not sure I've properly said hello here and welcome, Matthew. With thanks again for our conversations this year. A much much better place, and appreciate as ever your clarity and courage. What times.

Thanks Chris. Yes, recovery has been excellent. And your pronunciation of Sheringham is spot on of course. In fact, thaas huly akrut.

Our follower base is growing rapidly, so a warm welcome to all new followers on BlueSky! Will you help us make our account as visible as possible by reposting this message?

➡️ Do you want to be updated daily on the news about the war in #Ukraine. Follow us and discuss topics in the comment section.

Not too keen Gavin to have to go back to X to read that. Could you post the link here on BlueSky?

My 1st post to this list. As lover of langs (German&Russian@Leeds +Latin, French, OHG, Mandarin, some Polish & Spanish & learning Hungarian for last 40 yrs! ) now listening to War & Peace in Russian on Audible, reminded how breathtakingly, viscerally richer the original is than even best English v

Welcome here Chris as a loyal, very distant reader and admirer of yours in another place.

Agreed, it's been brilliant.

Yup. Know that place. Mandarin (on top of Russian, German, French) was fun, but Hungarian is the real deal. Try it.

Repost if BlueSky is now your primary social media site.

It's evolutionary psychology Bob. Whether yeast in beer or Homo Sap with fossil fuels, life consumes & procreates until it hits a boundary (predators, food..) As species we haven't yet hit that. My therapist conclusion? Change comes only when there's no choice. Individuals, collective, same thing.

Not really climate related, Bob, but Jutta's (Mehrzahl von Jutta ist?) make the best wives... Rare and nice to see that name in an English language context. (So nice that I married my Jutta twice, with small matter of 14 years divorced in the 50-year sandwich)...

Good to see you here Matthew. The story continues - and thanks again for your passion and for sharing that with us #EMDR types these past few months

Great to see you here Simon. Also finding this place so refreshing, and I might even start posting things!

And it's really a nice place Alex. Welcome. Hoping to understand your posts...

My first trauma related post here. Just dramatically came off my Brompton on a brand new speed bump outside Sheringham Tesco that didn't yet exist in my internal world. Which is where we all live until updated. That's what EMDR does - or, surviving said crash with rapid and kind NHS response.

One of the best writers on Germany (actually, probably, THE best), definitely one to follow here...

Monbiot naming the central, burning truth in where we are with climate breakdown. Accelerating collapse, and failing failing terminally.

Indeed. So refreshing when it's acknowledged. Human beings, with Lovelock, sadly just not evolved far enough. Carrying capacity will have the final say.

I'm with you Jack. Just a question of time. Current lifetimes. Once there's a collective recognition, that's when effective action to prepare can begin. In meantime, BaU and heads in sand.

Apols, just deleted and reposted with correct 1.5 degrees not 2.5 lost. Rather significant difference!

All very well Starmer saying #cop29 govt won't tell people what to do, but a) 1.5 warming is already well lost and b) without govts getting serious about legislating behaviour change, nudging is useless. Basic psychology: people don't change unless they have to - either law or literal survival.

Typo. Should of course have read 1.5 degrees. Rather significant mistake that. Does BlueSky allow edits??