Hi again, everyone over there!

This is my third bulletin and the last one before I disappear for a nice summer holiday somewhere around the Fertő-tó (Lake Fertő) next week. Do not even try to find me!

On a more serious side of life, it is summer season but far from off season. I am working on different services that we provide under a chargeable scheme for UK companies. We naturally need to keep professional standards in whatever we do, but chargeable services is an area that requires even more attention, accuracy and effort. Luckily, my colleague who I am teaming up with on a permanent basis is of great help and support. She takes over task packages within tasks and this makes life easier and more transparent for me, leaving more time for planning and working on new project ideas.

I am also acting as Deputy Head of Section in this period (we rotate on a three months period basis and my turn started in May this year). I am very happy to take on this additional responsibility as I am given the opportunity to learn and prove skills other than those required by my Trade & Investment Officer job. I love working together with Deirdre (see Embassy home page for details of her position and job) on issues, which are beyond my everyday work and where I need to utilise a different mindset. It is challenging and motivating, moreover this is clearly showing that the Embassy wants their employees to develop and ensures ways of it…

This Friday will bring the Embassy Away Day - this year we will go to Visegrád by boat. We will only need to be the passengers though… It is normally a good opportunity to get know more about each other and each other's work, problems and way of thinking, which helps then manage everyday relationships. I have never been involved in such events before I joined the embassy six years ago. I was delighted with the first occasion, when we were broken up into groups and each group had to find their ways to Szentendre (the Skanzen) after visiting different places in Budapest. We needed to take photos at those places, proving that we indeed were there… My group was the "black" one - we needed to wear something in that colour - and by the time we arrived to the Skanzen, all the others have already started their lunch… We were the last… but we had so much fun trying to find the necessary places all over Budapest.

I also continued my studies at the Open University in the last few weeks and I still enjoy it, though my books will need to accompany me on my holiday and I am also expected to submit a written report at the beginning of July. I therefore will need to squeeze studying into my busy agenda.

Nóra Singer

Trade & Investment Officer
19 June 2008