I did not make any plans for my 44th this year. I had the usual birthday dinner with my friend Chris whose birthday is on the 22nd. We usually go for Indian food, but this year we decided to break tradition and to go one of our favorite old haunts, the Tukory on Hold u. (formerly Rosenberg u when I first arrived in Budapest- yes, those Rosenbergs) in the 5th District. On the actual day, I decided to get some fresh air on a beautiful autumn day, and took a bike ride up past Romai Part as far as the dike. I was very disappointed to see that with one exception, all the old boat houses are gone. Although the new apartment houses are very nicely designed, I miss the csonakhaz ambiance very much. I had planned to enjoy a celebratory beer at the small pub at the foot of the dike but it was closed, or closed for the season. I was intrigued by the possibility of having a beer on the water at a place I could not even see from the road, and checked out the Duna Club Steg. It turned out out be a 3-table bar and shack on a wooden pier at water level with friendly service, and a pohar of Heinken for 300 huf. Halfway through my beer, Richie and Tara called and invited me to brunch with them at Cafe Vian on Liszt Ferenc ter. Cafe Vian remains the most friendly place on the square, including to small children and dogs. They were especially attentive with refills of ice water for the expectant mother. Back at Richie and Tara's we shared a waterpipe with apple tobacco and made pasta with olive oil, hot pepper and garlic while Terriann read out information about our astrological and Chinese astrological signs. Turns out I am not a simple goat, but a fire goat, hmmm. A very nice birthday indeed, thanks folks!