She tells Kati that in spite of the levendula (lavender), moths got in her warm old English tweed skirt and sweater so she took the clothes to the Műszövô (weaver) in Lónyay utca, which nearly cost as much as to buy them new.

Kati dresses mostly from a turkáló (second hand shop). "Little Black Dresses my boots, coat, shawl, hat and gloves are still in good condition, but I have to take my down comforter and pillows to be cleaned and the angin (muslin covers) changed at the Tolltisztító (down feather cleaner) on Városmajor, which will be expensive as well.

"Thank heaven it's warm at home - while our Russia-based supply of heating oil lasts!" Kati says with a worried look, trying not to think of the gas bill to come at month's end. "I would rather not eat than be cold like we were in 1944 and '56! I sewed pillows to put between the windows and doors and tried to seal the fissures with newspaper and tape. It really makes a difference keeping the inside temperate, and not heating the passageway outside", replies Erzsi. "I miss having a fireplace! When we returned after three years' deportation to the Hortobágy, [the "Siberia of Hungary," where the communists re-located the majority of the intelligentsia, upper-and middle-class in 1950], we had to take rooms with another family on the outskirts of the city. "Once I went to what had been our rambling old flat on the körút - it had been chopped up into small rooms for the masses they brought to Budapest from the countryside to work in the factories. Imagine, Wedding Dresses had simply walled up all the fireplaces! Oh well, so much for nostalgia," they agree, as the tram stops in the Vásárcsarnok underpass.

"Look at the graffiti," comments Erzsi, "I must say I don't mind it, it actually adds life and color to this ugly tunnel and blank walls. My grandson tells me these 'artists' have rules not to deface historic monuments, churches and the like!"

"I'm happy the Holidays are over," declares Katica, adding that she had made 24 beigli for the family for Christmas, and knitted them all scarves and gloves as presents. Erzsi recounts how her menyem (daughterin-law) went through the closets after Christmas, Homecoming Dresses to throw out the out-of-date clothes, but she insisted they give them to the Máltaiak (Knights of Malta charity). "I took their socks to darn, and do my sewing repairs while listening the radio. I can't sit doing nothing, and sewing allows me to enjoy the radio programs, especially the literature readings and now, Mozart marathons on the Bartók station."

This reminds Erzsi that her favorite, which really has seen better days, has been fixed again.

"Speaking of repairs, I took my broken umbrella to the Prom Dresses 2012 in Vitkovits Mihály utca, but I'm afraid the little old lady is not going to last long."

Katica: "The last of the nylon stocking repair ladies has just closed her shop at Bakáts tér, so we now use the run nylons as pillow stuffing." Erzsike: "When my sister-in-law visits from Toronto, she takes her silverware to be cleaned, polished and repaired by the Silversmith in Veres Pálné utca, one of the few old craftsmen still remaining who does custom work such as replacing the knife blades of old family silver. He is just down the street from the porcelain restorer where we take our Short Prom Dresses ceramics and porcelains. By the way, is Libál néni still in business?"