finished Lent Term...a new hope

Again a term has passed by...so quickly you didn't even realize it. The substantive part of the LLM has now come to an end. Easter Term is mainly for revisions, with only a pinch of lectures, and end of May to mid June is exam period. Every exam is fitted in to two weeks...checking out the past years schedule it is going to be a tight contest...in 2006 every following day there was an exam in the papers I'm taking this year, which I must say I'm not used to. During my undergrads 95% of the exams were oral and spread around a two month exam period, so this system is going to be a real challenge.

Last Saturday was the Barristers Fair down Lincoln's Inn in the City at Holborn, I took an early train and arrived 30 minutes before it opened, only to find a huge crowd waiting to get in. Luckily I had a pre registration, so after the gates opened I managed to enter with a quick pace. The fair covered some 42 Chambers and every hour there was a talk on the different areas of specialization. I attended the Criminal Bar, Public Bar and Accounting and Tax for Barristers presentations. The Hall's for the exhibition was packed, could hardly get around...still managed to see everything that was on offer, talked to a few representatives from different sets and picked up a load of material. Even met a few LLMerz and people from College. In the afternoon I made my way down to Greenwich to meet up with cousin Jay, and spent the rest of the day hanging around his place. On Sunday we planed on going down to Winchelsey, but due to the harsh weather we stayed put in London, and went skateboarding to Greenwich park (even Brody did some boarding - the bullterrier on the picture :).

To celebrate the end of this term, I've embarked on a four day trip to the continent organized by CELS (Centre for European Legal Studies) led by Mr. Steinfeld and Dr. Gehring, visiting the EU Institutions. This passed Tuesday we took of from Corpus Christi College and caught the EUROSTAR from St.Pancras-Kings Cross. The amazing journey to Brussels was just over two hours through the channel tunnel. After arriving we were taken to NATO HQ, just on the outscirts of the EU capital. This place was aweful, looked like a communist styled building complex circled by thick barbe wire and security: very crude military style. All electronic equipment had to be left on the bus, and an airport style security check was preceded when entering the compound. We were given two main presentations, one by a PR guy, who's political one hour talk was basically reasoning why NATO is so important, and after the head of the legal department gave us a verbal tour on the structure and operation of this "gunpowder" organization - as Francis, my Ugandan friend put it. The most surprising fact to me was that there is only four lawyers working for NATO, out of which two was just recently recruited: I think this talks for its self.

Finishing with our visit, we retired to Hotel Ibis, an the afternoon was free to us. Francisco, Francis and I hiked to the Grand Platze, where we met up with Kristof, Karolin's brother who's been living here for over four years now working for the Commission, who took us to a fine local Patessiere (Restaurant).

The next day we headed to Strasbourg for the European Court of Human Rights (a seven hour bus ride), where we had the joyful opportunity to talk to the UK and German Judge, and after have a look around the city, which was a really nice place. The controversy of this town that its a cross bread between French and German influence, which makes it wonder about. In the afternoon our destinantion was set at Luxembourg, where we spent the night. This little country was a surprise. I was anticipating a place like Lichtenstein, but it was nothing like it...actually it was nothing special. Everything was closed by 10pm, so we ended up having a pizza dinner. On Thursday the European Court of Justice (ECJ) was on the agenda.

The ECJ I really enjoyed. The highlight was the court session on case No. C-265/07, a procedure against the Italian state. The main language of litigation was Italian, with the five member Panel using German, French, Latvian, Greek and Slovenian. The English interpreter ladies did a good job, but after the session was ajourned we were left with open questions on the case. The core issue was something to do with the different deadlines for state and private bodies executing effective judgements in non-contested debt recovery cases (?). Anyway, I'm really looking forwrad reading the decided case online... Afterwards Advocate General Sharpston, the UK AG welcomed us for a hour discussion, to be followed by a fancy lunch. In the afternoon we strolled around in downtown Luxembourg, and then headed back to Brusseles, where we spent the night at Ibis Hotel again.

The final day on Friday, was dedicated to the Commission and the UK Permanent Representation (UKREP). We were almost an hour late, so pissed them of a bit, but in the end there was a professional briefing held by a UK lawyer working for the Commissions Legal Department, and then an Irish lady from EPSO on working for the Commission. Lunchtime was free, and then we concluded our trip at the UK Embassy to the EU, where legal and NATO issues were discussed. By 10pm we were back in Cambridge, which left me with just enough time to pack my belongings, get some 5 hours of sleep for the flight to Hungary the next morning.

got Spooned in the Lent Bumps

To say, the past few weeks were quite intensive rowing wise...well it was pretty much all - apart from going to lectures - what I was doing. Almost every weekday we were at the boat house by 6:40am and puddled up and down the Cam for a good two hours. Just to be beaten four times out of four races in the Lent Bumps: that is being bumped by another College team. For those of you who are not familiar with the Bumps races, here is a little introduction. It took off in the 1820s and became a high spectator event. The whole point is that the teams line up after each other (one and a half boat lengths apart) and on the gun they start chasing one another up the river, with the goal to catch the boat rowing in front and eventually bump into them physically. The distance is set at 2.7 km, but most of the time there is a Bump before rowing over. Because the river is so narrow, this is the only way to get most or all of the College teams rowing and competing.

This year Fitz had two mens VIII and one womans VIII racing. I was rowing in the second mens VIII. Last year our team won a blade (a dedicated oar with the names of the rowers painted on it, nice to put on the wall) by bumping four times, but this year it was devastating, we earned a Spoon (a wooden spoon:) instead of a blade by being bumped four times, which is the opposite. The mens 1st did quite well, they got three bumps, the girls ended up the same as we did...spooned :))))

Anyway it was worth taking part, I needed the exercise and helped me get up in the mornings and not sleep in. There is a similar race coming up in June, the May Bumps (?), but I'm not sure if I'll be continuing, hence cricket season is almost here and wouldn't want to miss that...

spring time is here, with bits and pieces

Well, well I'm pretty amazed on what is actually happening here...for the last few days its been like a week in April. It's around 13-15C, the sun is shining, no clouds on the ski and my garden looks awesome. Hope it continues like this and doesn't deteriorate. We went cycling yesterday and rode around the eastern part of Cambridge covering almost 40km in not more than 3 hours. There has been plans to eventually ride down to the seaside to Harwich, which is about 90 miles away...

Anyway, I've been enjoying the past few weeks: Karolin visited me for a long weekend, celebrated my 30th birthday, got promoted to the second boat, had dinner down at Gray's Inn ect.

The focus has been on rowing lately. Being on the second boat, means more outings, more ergs and a more serious team. Even the boat is better quality. We usually take of at 6:45am, and row up and down the Cam for about two hours. Then, other days we work on the ergs: 6 x 500m and 2 x 5000m. Its hard work be it does help you concentrate better, gets you up early in the morning, avoiding late night drinking and sleeping in.

Karolin was over for my 30th birthday. She was really impressed by Cambridge, I must say. I took her around the major College's (Trinity, Peterhouse, Fitzwilliam ect.). We mainly ate out. Cycled around town. Even went to the cinema, checked out the exhibition at Fitzwilliam Museum. I've just noticed over these few days, what a tourist attraction this place is.

My birthday went easily. The night before we ended up down the County Arms (an English pub run by Chinese, with Thai food on the menu, crazy :). Of course Jeff started ordering tequila shots...the rest is up to your imagination. The next day was Pancake Night, which is some sort of Anglo-Christian tradition, marking the start of Lent, so my birthday was celebrated with pancakes and a Cherry Pie donated by Karolin...this evening ended the same way as the last...

Just recently I had an e-mail from the Centre of European Legal Studies, that our March trip to the EU Institutions has been somewhat finalized. We're leaving London on the Euro-Express to the Continent and shall be visiting the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg, having dinner there with the British Advocate-General, popping down to Strasburg to check out the European Court of Human Rights, and then finally visiting the Commission in Brussels. Since I've never been to either, so I'm very much looking forward to it.

start of Lent Term

OK, so I've decided that from now on I'll be writing this blog in English. Most of you who read it do understand the lingo, those of you who don't...well you don't deserve to read it :) (just kidding)...I simply think it'll be a good change.

So, Lent Term has started, last week on the 15th of January. I was back in Hungary for a few weeks, because although I did plan on staying over for the holidays, in mid December Cambridge and the College just died out, and it was getting pretty...well not boring, but uneventful.

Flying home turned out to be a good decision, the three and a half weeks was just enough time to see everyone, get hooked up. Xmas was terrible, I was ill with the flu for a couple of days with a temperature of 39.1 C (its what you get as a present in Hungary from Colonel Winter:).
New years eve was an experience up at Wallaces place, everyone who counted was there, and must say I really enjoyed it (Gergő you still owe me the pictures...upload them to ftp.bohanet.hu (username and password is "bohanet").
Then, once in to the new year planning a snowboard trip to Austria was on the agenda. Since it was the peak season for skiing and snowboarding we did manage to find a decent place in Zell am See (Salzburg county), and the glacier up in Kaprun was just awesome. The first nigh it snowed, hence we had powder-virgin snow to ride on all through the four days of our stay. The Hotel was an alleged four star Sporthotel called Alpenblick, equipped with a indoor-outdoor swimming pool, sauna's, steam rooms ect. Food was delicious, and our room was brand new and spacious. All in all it was a trip worth the time and money.

After the snowboard trip, the next day I returned to Cambridge, only to find that everything is back to normal, and started term the following day with lectures. This first twelve days seemed to show that Lent Term is going to be different. I've decided to cut down on the social activities, also the pubbing and excessive drinking. I'm restricting my social involvement to formal halls, which are mainly waiter served dinners with a purpose. There was a lawyer formal on Wednesday in Fitz, Thursday went to Pembroke College together with a few LLMerz, and last night there was the Middle Temple dinner down Clare's College, which was basically a professional lawyer formal with the barristers from the Inn. Next Wednesday I'm going to Trinity Hall, before that on Tuesday there's the annual Gray's Inn Dinner in London, and then in February Lincoln's Inn is having a Dinner too, where I've booked a place.

All in all the motto for this semester if "simply taking it easy", concentrating more on the studies, doing more work. I'am however continuing with rowing, I've been put on the 3rd boat this term, being positioned as stroke, which means that I lead the team with my rowing pace, and everyone in the boat has to follow me. To be honest, it is a bit easier this way, for the simple reason that one doesn't have to keep an eye on the others in front ...heheh... the "bumps" cup is at the end of February, which is going to be an exciting race.

Briefly, thats about it...do keep reading, but expect a more layed back reporting on whats happening, and get used to reading it in English. Let me end this post just by saying that if you're around you are more then welcomed to visit me here in Cam, I guarantee an unforgettable stay, so do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to come...

Eire and Ulster

Hétfőn reggel átrepültem Dublinba Lionékhez (AKA Dendy és Bürlá). Mit mondjak érdekes hely ez az Írország. Arra számítottam, hogy olyan lesz mint Anglia, de inkább egy európai New York-ra emlékeztetett. Tipikusan ír. A házak fehér és szürke színre vakoltak, néhol jellegzetes tégla falú épületekkel is.

Az első napot Howth-ban, Dublin északi részén a kikötőben kezdtük. Néhány euróért szétkajáltuk magunkat tigris rákkal (finom finomat?), majd felmásztunk a kikötő melletti dombra, hogy körülnézzünk. Utána irány a belváros. Megálltunk Bull Island-on, majd jött a downtown. Hajnali kettőig nyomattuk a városban. Majdnem minden szórakozó helynél egy magyar volt a kidobó.

Másnap folytattuk a dublin-i körutazást (hála a taxivállalatnak, ami Lion vezetése alatt van :) Elnéztünk ide meg oda, az Adam's aukciós házba ahol az ír festőművészet remekeit árverezték, egy 1.5 millió EURO-s örökség darabjait (Jack Butler Yeats, Paul Henry, Louis le Broqcuy). Voltunk a magyar boltban, ahol erős pistátá meg túrórudit lehetett kapni.

Szerdán felnéztünk Belfast-ba (Ulster - Northern Ireland), ahol már otthonosabban éreztem magamat. Újra font a fizetőeszköz, mile és nem kilométer van, no meg az arkitektúra is english style. A belvárosban kószáltunk , felültünk a City Hall mellett felállított óriáskerékre, majd körbenéztünk a karácsonyi vásárban, ahol mindenféle gasztronómiai finomsággal találkoztunk (átbaszós rákokkal is :), végül beültünk egy német sörsátorba weiss beer-t inni, mivel elkezdett szakadni az eső. Hazafelé pedig még megnéztük a külvárosban az Ulster Unionist-Loyalist graffitiket.

Végül Csütörtökön eljutottunk a Four Court's-ba, Írország és Dublin igazságszolgáltatási központjába, a Négy Bírósághoz (helyi, circuit, Appeal, Supreme). Beiktattuk a King's Inn-t is, az egyetlen ír barrister chambert. Utolsó programként pedig megnéztük az ír politikai foglyok börtönét, ahol az Easter Uprising vezetőit végezték ki.

We won the Fairbairns Cup!

Egyszerűen megnyertük. Fitz lett az első Cambridge-ben a Fairbairns kupán. Annyi szerencse azért kellett, hogy a St. John's College-ot diszkvalifikálták. A három férfi hajóink közül a 1st Mens nyerte meg a versenyt, a 3rd 29. lett, mi pedig a 35. helyezést értük el (újabb technikai malőr miatt) a 73 induló közül. A lányok is tartották az erős közép mezőnyös átlagot. (http://jcbc.jesus.cam.ac.uk/Fairbairns/)

Természetesen az ezt követő Boat Club dinner-en volt nagy dínom-dánom. Előtte megtartottuk az idényszerű club meeting-et, ahol az öreg rókák beszámoltak a klub éves működésről...egy kis szavazgatás, meg tisztújítás után meg irányba vettük a Dining Hall-t, ahol volt minden finomság.

...ending Michaelmas Term.

Jó gyorsan eltelt ez a néhány hét is. Úgy pörögnek a napok és a programok, hogy alig győzőm a naptáramban vezetni, hogy mikor hová kell mennem. Elkellene egy titkárnő (esetleg farkascirmos nem vállalnád?).

....általában Hétfőtől-Péntekig minden napra jut valami, kivéve Szerda, az a pihi nap, ekkor szoktam a Laundry-ba menni, illetve beülni a Crown Court-ba egy-két büntető tárgyalásra. Esténként többnyire vagy valami nagycsóka tart előadást, vagy valami összejövetel van, ha meg nem akkor bőven akad program a College MCR-ban (a klubban) vagy a College Pub-ban ;-)

Sikeres politikai karriert is kezdtem a College-ban, 19-5 arányban beválasztottak az MCR Bizottságba, így saját hivatalom is van már (amit azt hiszem majd egy feliratos pulóver fog jelképezni). A policy-m pedig, hogy megszervezzek egy emlékművet Szent-Györgyi Albert Prof-nak, a Nobel díja 70. évfordulójára (persze Hillerék és az MTA még nem válaszolt, pedig már két hete, hogy írtam nekik).

Példának kedvéért, nem kimerítő felsorolással, azon előadók, akiknek az előadására eljutottam: "halálraítéltek az USA-ból, illeve Írországból, akiket 17 év után felmentettek", The right honorable Jack Straw Lord Chancellor and Secretary of Justice (igazságügy miniszter és legfőbb bíró), Lord Winston (angol Czeiczel Endre) , Dr. Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury), Lord Carswell (Law Lord - House of Lords), Justice Lyons (North London Circuit Presiding Judge), Eleanor Sharpston QC Advocate General - European Court of Justice ect.

Nem hittem el. Meglett a bicajom. Kb. két héttel ezelőtt kaptam egy note-ot a rendőrségtől, hogy hívjak fel egy számot és láss csodát, a Ranger-ek megtalálták elhagyatva valahol a városban. Mivel bejelentést tettem a lopásról és megadtam az alváz számot, ezért be tudtak azonosítani. A rendszer úgy néz ki működik. A szopók bár lelopták a lámpákat és a sebességmérőt, de a canga egyben van. juhééé...

Múlthét Szerdán voltunk a Sötét Oldalon, a nagy riválisnál, Oxford-ban. Van egy testvér College ott, St Teddy Hall. Ők itt voltak nálunk úgy három hete, így most viszonozták a hospitality-t. Két kisbuszt béreltünk, melyek egyikét én vezettem (jobb kormányos!), úgy, hogy az első lehetőségnél eltévedtünk és majdnem Birmingham-ban kötöttünk ki. Végül jól sült el, mert az unalmas autópálya helyett kellemes vidéki tájakon át vezetett az utunk Oxfordig. Ott elnéztem a helyi jogi karra (ami Cambridge-hez képes szégyenletes, egy szocreál förmedvény, na azért annyira nem gáz, de megnyugtató, hogy nem oda kell bejárnom). Este pedig részvettünk a Teddy Hall Formal-on, vagyis hivatalos vacsorán, ami nem volt rossz... a vacsi után kb. fél tizenegykor szakadó esőben indultunk vissza Cambridge-be (most London felé az autópályán), és kb. 1am körül értünk haza.

Jól teljesített a csapatunk (Fitz Mens Second Novice Boat) a St. Clairs Novices Reggatta versenyen (Cambridge tradicionális nyolc evezős versenye a College-ek között, kb. 700 méter) . Az első kört megnyertük, pedig a harmadik másodpercben az indulásnál crab-et kaptam, vagyis az evezőmet elnyelte a víz. Közben a másik csapat ránk vert vagy két hajó hosszt, de sikerült úgy behozni, hogy mi gyaláztuk meg őket egy hosszal...sirály volt! A két verseny között egy órát vesztegeltünk a 8 fokos hidegben, így merev izomzattal kezdtünk bele a második futamba, melynek a végére az ülésem is kifutott a sínekről, így megszívtuk. Csütörtökön lesz a Fairbairns kupa, mely 2,7 km és az nyer aki a legjobb időt teljesíti.

A 4-es poziciót kaptam a hajóban (vagyis és vagyok a motor), ami pont középen van. Hetente kétszer háromszor evezünk kb. másfél két órát reggel 7am-től általában, kivéve Vasárnap, akkor 2pm körül szoktunk kezdeni. Illetve ergs-eken is erősítünk, ami nem más mint evező szimulátor.

November 30-án hivatalosan befejeződik a Michaelmas Term, még holnap van egy-két előadásom oszt annyi, két hónap úgy elszállt mint a sicc, és itt a december ami arra lesz jó, hogy az ember pótolja az olvasnivalót. Szombat este lesz a nagy evezős Formal Hall, amire a veteránok is eljönnek állítólag. Szerdán Stephen Hawkings (ő az a tolószékbe kényszerült tudós, aki a kortárs Einstein-ként ismert és itt van katedrája Cambridge-ben, ahonnan a világegyetemet kutatja) tart előadást a Cambridge Union-ben a Fekete Lyukakról (Black Holes).

December elején meg irány Dublin...