Click here to read her first interview

Apart from a break during Covid, my teaching practice has flourished, with wonderful students who return every term, plus new learners. But the most exciting and rewarding, for me, was running free pottery workshops for Ukrainian refugee children in Budapest, which culminated in an exhibition in Liszt Ferenc ter called “Light for Ukraine”.

Forty lamps had been made by the children and a few adults, and all were lit at once by a representative from the Ukrainian embassy, to symbolize hope for Ukraine. A short documentary film about the project can be viewed on YouTube.

2. On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you with your life in Hungary, and why?

I think an 8? I have some very dear friends here, with whom to enjoy the rich cultural life - excellent musical events on offer, with world class musicians such as Kelemen Barnabas and Ivan Fischer`s (no family connection) great Festival Orchestra, amongst other things. Also, Budapest is within striking distance of other European countries to explore.

3. What’s the best party you’ve been to in the past year, and why?

I am not really a party person, but I do have a very special group of friends, and every time we get together it feels like a mini party, where we all let our hair down and celebrate good food, our interests, each other`s company and just the joy of being alive. Otherwise, two family weddings come to mind - but they weren’t this past year.

4. What’s your favourite drink?

Recently I discovered the most heavenly health juice and instantly bought an electric juicer to make the blend of carrots, celery, beetroot, ginger, apples, oranges and lemons. You can almost see the energy radiating from a glass of this magic potion. Alcohol wise, a nice cold Prosecco.

5. What hidden talents do you have?

I don`t think I have any hidden ones? I make pots, I love to teach pottery, I like to cook and bake and I love to play music. That`s about it.

6. What was the most interesting travel trip you have ever taken?

I go every two years to the Venice Biennale, and this recent one showed the work of artists from far flung corners of the world, which I would never have seen if it had not been collected under one roof, so to speak, by the brilliant Biennale organizers. I was blown away by the range of first class contemporary fine art and creativity pouring out of countries from the tip of Chile, to practically the North Pole.

7. If you were given a wish that could come true, what would you ask for?

An end to the war in Ukraine.

8. What’s the last book you read, and movie you watched?

Last book- “The Salt Path” by Raynor Winn.
Film – Scusate se Esisto (English title, Can you See Me)

9. If someone wrote a biography about you, what would the title be?

My son has suggested “Coming Full Circle”, because I was born in Hungary, grew up in the US, relocated to the UK, then returned to Hungary. But I might call it “Well at Least She Tried”.

10. What is the perfect pizza toppings combination for you?

Mushrooms, artichokes and maybe some good quality ham.

11. If you could trade places with any other person for a week, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

The beautiful and talented opera singer Danielle de Niese. Would be amazing to be immersed in fabulous music and live in Glynde place, from where its easy to nip over to Glyndebourne Opera house, set amongst fields of sheep and woodland in the idyllic southern England countryside, and where the world`s best musicians perform.

12. On a scale of 1 to 10 how unusual are you, and why?

But everyone is unique, or unusual in some way! Maybe a 5 for me? Feels safer to be in the middle.

13. What’s the best website you’ve ever visited, and why?

Pinterest!! Has masses of fantastic and beautiful ideas for all sorts of creativity.

14. Who do you admire the most, and why?

My hats off not just to one person, but to a group of Palestinians who courageously dared to organize a demonstration recently, in Palestine, against their own barbaric Hamas regime. Nothing beats that sort of courage, and I am in awe.

15. What do you like best and least about living in Hungary?

Best – Cheaper rent than UK. Good weather in the summer, good restaurants, rich cultural life. Beautiful countryside. Neighbours tend to be much quieter  and more considerate here, regarding noise, than in UK where noise pollution is ignored.

Least – Hungary is a non-information culture and queries are usually met with negativity and sometimes rudeness. This is even the case in hospitals where it is vital to be informed.

16. What has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?

Adopting my wonderful son when he was just 3 months old. That was 34 years ago!

17. If you won USD 30 million, what would you do with the money?

I expect I would go crazy for a bit like most people do, though I like to think I would do something useful, like set up a string of culture centres in the poorest parts of Hungary, and run vocational pottery courses for deprived people. Along the lines of “"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

18. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

“Mir ist so wunderbar”, the sublime love quartet from Beethoven`s opera Fidelio.

19. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Venice, or some place in Italy.

20. In ten years from now what will you be doing?

No idea. Maybe sitting by a river under a huge tree, reading a good book, or having a good laugh with friends, before getting on with making my own pots.