About Me

I am a first-generation American.  My parents are Hungarian, from Budapest, and moved to the United States in 1952 from Germany via a displaced persons program.  They left Hungary to live in Germany as they thought it would be safer for them.  They lost everything and had to start over.  Those were very tough times.

I grew up in New Jersey with the American Dream – meaning that you can be anything you want to be as long as you work hard.  I have recently read Strengthsfinder 2.0 which totally busts that myth.  They say that people should work on their strengths, and if you put as much effort into doing that instead of working too hard on the stuff you aren’t good at, just think how much better off you could be.  Forget about all the time you could have saved if you knew that before.

I lived and worked in New York City for about 10 years before I moved to London (via L.A.) over 20 years ago.  I had married an Englishman, and once we had started our family he thought it would be a good idea to move to London.  He thought the school system and quality of life was better here.  As everywhere, some things are better and some are not.

Living in London permanently is a completely different experience to being a visitor.  It has been an interesting learning experience.  I was lucky when I moved here in that my small street had at least three other families with children the same age as my son.  It wasn’t long after when I became pregnant with twins.  At one point, I had three children under the age of three!

I have also lived in three different houses, all in the same neighbourhood and is the longest I have ever lived in any one area.  I just sold my house!  hallelujah! It took almost two years!

Now my children are at an age where one has finished University, one  is in her second year of University, and her twin brother has just started University (he took a gap year).  They are very independent and so I find myself at a different stage in my life.  I am able to reclaim some freedom.

My life is one of ongoing change, which I am not bothered about as it stops me from being bored.  I have a wide variety of interests to keep me occupied.  My current passions are dancing Argentine Tango and writing.

London has been my home for many years.  The weather may not always be ideal for me, but I do like it here.  I have very good friends and I have my children.  I also have a very good life.

The photo in my header was taken at the Jersey Shore (New Jersey/USA), Christmas 2004.  The New Jersey coastline is a sandy one, with lots of seashells to be found.  It has a very special place in my heart as we used to go there every weekend in the summer since we were babies.

In the photo of the children, that’s me in the middle with my younger brother in the front, my cousin to the right and some old school friends.

Going to the beach was very much a family affair consisting of Aunts, Uncles, various cousins, grandparents and sometimes friends from school and church. We would all drive down in a convoy in order to park the cars near each other and grab a good spot.  (Looking back, we used to leave ridiculously early in order to avoid traffic!)

There is something about the sea that calls to me and whenever I can I try to have a beach holiday.  This time around, instead of just staying on the beach, I go diving or snorkeling somewhere warm and interesting.

I mentioned earlier that I sold my house.  After over 20 years, I have moved down to Eastbourne.  Eastbourne is along the East Sussex coast.  I love it here.  I am still looking for the perfect house.  I am changing my life completely and starting over again.  How’s that for a new beginning?  This time, I have the beach/seafront at my disposal whenever I want it.  I thought of changing the name of my blog to Arlene’s Eastbourne Adventures, but I didn’t want to limit myself to one place.  Who knows what will happen or where I will be going next?