Life / Non-smoking cafes in Krakow to use laptop plugged in [12]

I'm just waiting for the day that drinking alcohol becomes illegal in pubs, hehehe

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]

ShelleyS, eh, u think the UK only has 3 countries? U clearly didn't do constitutional law or geography. The UK is composed of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, therefore 4 countries. Ur equals sign was a bit inaccurate, sorry!!

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

That's why the Poles, 'saving for the black hour', is more to the point

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

Keeping control of the purse strings will be an important thing for many households. The old 'saving for a rainy day' is common in Scotland, I imagine in England too. This is a positive thing. Petrol prices will keep rising I fear. Be smart Mister H. think Scottish!!

History / Could the truth "The Kremlin Fesses Up" at last be out? [21]

He just needs the party moustache to go with the uniform now.

Life / Local Poles taking advantage of foreigners living in Poland [235]

He tells it like it is to him only. He was suggesting that we wallop those that push us, how cultured!! Doesn't he understand that, in most countries, the police tend(s) to favour the national as opposed to the foreigner? Great fun fighting a losing battle. Doesn't Greg realise that we don't bring about this situation? We are not about creating hatred.

History / Could the truth "The Kremlin Fesses Up" at last be out? [21]

Well, Putin's glorification of Stalin speaks volumes. Putin would be quaking in his boots under Stalin and would likely be swept aside

History / Could the truth "The Kremlin Fesses Up" at last be out? [21]

I second that, Stalin was a despot who has made Russia synonymous with totalitarianism and cruelty. His only real plus was that he stood up to Hitler and didn't appease him like so many did for so long. Not quite sure what brand of Russian vodka was on that day (Putin I mean), probably Smirnoff.

UK, Ireland / Polish girls 'too pretty' for British schools [150]

Precisely!! I teach 13 and 14 year olds, I'm technically old enough to be their father. That's a scary thought!! I can imagine the distraction factor for, say, a 23 year old teacher. Casino, eh!? How did u get into that line of work?

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

Britain gave the world McLaren (let's forget the scandals please), Jaguar and, eh, Brabham. A wealth of F1 experience. Also, we seem to be forgetting about Aston Martin, associated with Bond and class. As the world changes, so does ownership. Oil giants and American giants begin to take hold. That's life!! We still have some of the best minds in engineering. Ron Dennis for example. A lot of the top racers were British, Jackie Stewart, Lewis Hamilton, the Hills, Mansell and McNish

Life / Local Poles taking advantage of foreigners living in Poland [235]

Cry on the internet, Foreigner 4 has some MMA experience behind him and would whoop yo ass foo, put u right back in the middle of next week, hehehe. Like me, Foreigner 4 probably respects being a guest in a foreign country and is a reasonable and educated teacher. He knows that if he did 2 u and those other yobs who wind him up, he'd land up in trouble with the law so he avoids it. What's so pu**y about that? Seems smart to me. Pinch of salt Greg, pinch of salt

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]

British athletes have done well enough Kris, how about Coe and Ovett? Or Daley Thomspon? Steve Backley wasn't that bad. Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave ring a bell? Lennox Lewis? Footballers etc etc etc

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

The Scottish oil industry, flourishing nicely. The wealth is there to be seen in Altens and Kirkhill in Aberdeen

UK, Ireland / Polish girls 'too pretty' for British schools [150]

Great posting by Dice, a song about pre-pubescent fantasies and lusting after sth. It was very 'fitting'

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

Well, Michał, I will make a concession being Scottish and say that the decline of our shipping industry, based in the Clyde, was regrettable and a national disappointment. Sheffield continues to fly the UK flag for our steelworks, with some success. I can't agree that the British motor industry has gone down the tubes. We have Rover, Triumph, Mini and others who reported high levels of profit. The problem lies in the superiority of the Japanese and German motor industries. We are still very much afloat. As for an industrial base, well, Scotland has strengths in tidal power [i]inter alia. [i] Tourism and farming will also never dip

UK, Ireland / Polish girls 'too pretty' for British schools [150]

I teach here in Poland so I'm glad the desks are solid and rooted to the ground, hehehe

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

Declining steadily since the 60's, claptrap!! Thatcher, as much as I didn't agree with her at times, raised the profile of our private industrial sphere and made us highly respectable. Britain has thrived on industry for aeons now. Do ur homework Frank. personneltoday.com/articles/2006/11/28/38318/polish-workers-set-to-return-home-with-new-skills.html, check this out, this was b4 the pound dropped last year. I know as many Poles are talking about it and Polish TV is mentioning it. As for the last point, I know it is more complicated than that. The pervasiveness of greed, we all know about it

UK, Ireland / Polish girls 'too pretty' for British schools [150]

I'm with Frank here, and thx 4 the explanation Tiger. Let's extend the point. I know a couple of Scottish girls who are better looking than anything I've seen here, and that's saying sth. But the average? Eh, no contest!! How can u be too pretty for school anyway? LOL

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

A recession is a distant prospect but we are still a fair way off that. What made u think that way Mister H? The effects on immigration would be, first and foremost, to reverse the tide by immigrants flocking home. Many Poles are now doing so due to the declining value of the pound in relation to the złoty. The British government should be doing more to ensure that companies aren't paying under the minimum wage on a large scale. Key industries are still enjoying high levels of output and profitability. We can also attract a lot of investment from abroad. The awkwardness lies in the property market.

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]

Try accusing many Americans of having an inferiority complex Greg and see the responses u get then. Brits are giving u a very level-headed response here. A sign of intelligence in not taking the bait and ranting/raving. A sign of comfort in being who they are without getting all defensive.

Life / Local Poles taking advantage of foreigners living in Poland [235]

Greg, what were u insinuating when u said foreigners act like p**ies here? How about reasonableness? Wrocław Boy made a valid point about pushy customers in shops, what do u propose? To beat him to a pulp? I don't feel bullied in Carrefour, just exposed to rudeness. I can tolerate that kind of stuff. If it came to a head and I couldn't steer it clear of conflict, then I'd favour my chances in a scuffle

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]

Getting the picture Gregory? Beginning to see a trend emerge? It's not in our national pysche to feel inferior. Depressed? Sometimes yes but that can be a natural reaction to life if u r wired that way or were treated badly. U mentioned this on another thread Greg, so I will answer here that we don't feel the need to strut our stuff and be super competitive, our country's impressive results across the board (pretty much) speak for themselves

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

Italy still has more earnings per capita than Spain but that's based on 2006 data. And only by 1 place too. So, it wouldn't surprise me if Spain has overtaken them. Italy has a tendency for fluctuating, being dynamically unstable

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]

And that's ur choice Bubba Woo, I respect it. I'm not overly proud of Scotland but i do feel that my country is internationally respected and I'm welcomed wherever I go. So, I can take pride from that. I've achieved well in the things that matter to me so I feel good about that. I don't compare myself with people from other countries therefore I feel neither superior nor inferior.

Language / Diminutive of Aniol [15]

Aniołek is good, or Aniołku also.

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]

Who would ur standard Brit feel inferior to Greg? Britain, for a relatively small island, produces and has produced some exceptionally talented people. If u wanna be specific, then there have been times when certain Brits have felt inferior, e.g Nigel Short to Garry Kasparov, but speaking English has opened many doors. I can go and teach English quite freely in many countries as a native speaker. Do u have that option Greg? It doesn't make me feel superior Greg, I was just born with that status and I don't take it for granted. If some people want to develop an inferiority complex, that's their cup of tea

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

Scotland will gain nothing economically? On what do u base that? Scotland will be replaced by other stupid politicians? We actually have pretty smart politicians Greg, smarter than ur average politician around the world. Menzies Campbell, Robin Cook (RIP) and Charles Kennedy to name but 3. Oh, Gordon Brown has to fit into that class too. Scotland could bery very rich if left to it's own devices by effectively utilising what we have. We have strong industries with sustained growth

UK, Ireland / Polish girls 'too pretty' for British schools [150]

It's a question of taste but the Dutch aren't in the same league as the Poles in my book. For kinkiness, they win tho! Poles have more variety that Swedes. Btw, what does IMHO mean?

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

The British? Eh, which country? Scotland, though not independent, is a separate country so please qualify ur statement. Oh, wealth is ur criteria for greatness, I c. Just look at how the fatcats make their wealth Frankie boy and u'll be astounded. Charitable people are happy making donations if they are satisified with their lot. Some countries have automatic advantages and are blessed with natural resources. Look at Kazakstan or Azerbaijan even with their gold reserves. Does that make them great!? Not necessarily!! South Africa had diamonds but was it a great country? Nelson Mandela did/has done some amazing things to move it in that direction but apartheid was appalling. America has a huge prison population Frank, it's wealthy enough if u ignore national debt, hehehe. Ireland is in that position only because the Swiss and Norwegians have dragged their feet for so long. A 1992 change of thought kept the Swiss away and a 1994 referendum ensured Norway's outsider status, despite concluding negotiations twice.

internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/richest_european_union_countries
this is what Frank was alluding to. Statistics that are over a year old. Poland saw vast economic growth and a rise in earnings in 2007 so I doubt the accuracy of their position.

Life / Local Poles taking advantage of foreigners living in Poland [235]

Foreigner4 has a point when u draft the financial aspect into it. OK, u could argue that service is service but, like it or not, money talks and if u don't have it, r u gonna talk/smile? Najprawdopodobnie, nie! I think u've had ur black-tinted sunglasses on for too long Ian, hehehe, LOL.