Adrian was born and raised in the countryside of the English Midlands, moved to Birmingham and had various jobs, including working in an abattoir, picture framing, painting and decorating. He built his own telescope, learned how to drive a steam engine, and discovered Apple computers.
After teaching himself graphic design, he had a number of jobs with design agencies, which lead to several years working with management consultancies at clients such as Rolls Royce, CAA and BAe. It was while working on a project in Hamburg that he met his wife, and they have been together ever since. After living for a year in Germany, they moved to the UK where they bought and renovated a house. He worked in graphics, web design and multimedia, ultimately becoming a web design/usability consultant. They decided to sell up and come to Hungary about two years ago, bought and renovated a farmhouse, and are now almost self-sufficient.
He says: "I also paint, produce technical illustrations which have been widely published, but mainly we just enjoy our life together and take everything day by day."
Xpat Interview
1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
My wife and I arrived here about two years ago, after coming here for a
short holiday previously. My wife is ethnically Hungarian, and it was an
opportunity to come back 'home', and we could have a much better quality of
life here than we could in the UK. It's been much more difficult but much
more rewarding than we ever imagined.
2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes - Munich, Germany for about a year.
3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
I can't speak about city life, as we live deep in the ountryside - but it has to be the attitudes, beliefs and opinions of the people we find out here.
4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend--what must they absolutely see and do?
Take a boat trip on the Danube - but definitely don't go to the National Art Gallery unless you enjoy being depressed!
5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
The little apple or cherry cakes that our neighbour bakes on special days!
6. What food from home do you miss the most?
Chinese takeaway
7.What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Mayonnaise
8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Jet fighter pilot
9. What¹s a job you would definitely never want?
Plastic surgeon
10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Jamaica
11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
China or Japan
12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Favourite band - Hawkwind, Hobby - astronomy
13. What can¹t you resist?
Doing things I've no idea how to do
14. Red wine or white?
Red (especially the stuff we make ourselves)
15. Decaf or regular?
Regular, 4 star, leaded
16. Book or movie?
17. Morning person or night person?
Night person
18. Dog person or cat person?
Cat person
19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest
20. What would you say is your personal motto?
"Dignity and an empty sack is worth the empty sack"
"No good deed goes unpunished"