Love / Difficult Polish girlfriend - how long would you put up with her? My story. [68]

She needs to be tangoed, matey. Pure and simple. Like the John Smiths commercials recommended, 'no nonsense'.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

His post rate is super high, way beyond even mine if he keeps it up :)

How's the cannabis plantation in Ireland btw? ;)

News / 14 year old rape victim from Warsaw denied abortion! [348]

Maybe it's a natural process, temporary in nature, like people claim JSA. I claimed JSA for some time, does that mean I am a parasite or was it merely a transitional phase?

UK, Ireland / Polish workers in England, advice need to find a place to live and a job. [10]

Super last part, wildrover. Maybe they know that many Poles tried this, only to come back to the UK shortly thereafter. I think the truth of the matter is that Poland hasn't been badly stung by the crisis, compared to others, but that employers put up a front that gave off the impression that they had fallen on bad times and that work was scarce.

The crisis cemented the jobs of those that could do so and others were left out in the cold. I have talked to many Poles who have temporarily come back to Poland and they say that, every time they return to the UK, there is more and more uncertainty. I believe that Poles would be better off back here. They miss their homeland and it's a major hassle getting set up abroad. The rat race will make them feel that there is no time for all the kafuffle and that it's better to stay put.

Work / Tips of English Teacher interviews [6]

Chess is played as a team sport, Wrocław ;)

Remember to stay fresh and don't get flustered. Show an awareness of classroom dynamics, e.g some of Harmer's research.

Much of the advice above is sound. Remember, your natural self will come across in that interview. Don't be too robotic or give parrot answers, take a deep breath and answer fairly honestly.

News / 14 year old rape victim from Warsaw denied abortion! [348]

So, your response Harry? There are some important developments to happen inside the womb before the baby emerges. Nourishment is needed and is sought after wherever it can be found. Hardly a leech or parasite, Harry.

UK, Ireland / Polish meat in English supermarkets? [73]

Please read it and tell me if it says 'pasztet' on it. If so, it's pate. They like something akin to Brussels Pate and not Ardennes.

UK, Ireland / Father's Day cards banned in Scottish schools [64]

Good old Fingal's Cave :)

Banning a national practice with years of tradition, what a nonsense! Sorry, the times haven't changed enough yet to warrant outright bans.

Work / ZUS rates for self employed [9]

It rises proportionate to inflation and salary increases. It's up to about 330PLN now, just short. 800 PLN is just a joke, based on the fallacy that people who are self employed are somehow so much richer.

Food / Packet soups recommended or not [32]

Aha, I've forgotten the packet soups back home. We are more of a pot noodle culture.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

The government and people have to allow for natural occurences to take place. Anyone who knew the dynamic at the time in Poland, prior to accession to the EU, could have predicted the exodus to the UK and Ireland.

There's no use in crying over spilt milk.

Food / Packet soups recommended or not [32]

I liked soups as Scotland is very much a soup culture. We have soups that can compete with the best Polish ones. We have peasantish ones and high-end ones.

Haven't you seen the commercial about it, sausage? No, konkretnie, smaczna ;)

Food / Packet soups recommended or not [32]

15 minutes, wow, I didn't know. Well, it's as the HP motto said, 'the best things come to those who wait'. Have you tried the new soup, simply called 'Smaczna'? I think it's from Winiary too, a subsidiary of Nestle I believe.

Food / Packet soups recommended or not [32]

So about 1.50zł? They are just as filling. I was mortified at the cost of that soup (16PLN). Soup is traditionally a food for peasants to warm their cockles and get them going.

Plus, packet soups can be made quickly. Most workplaces have a kettle so it's just pour and go.

Food / Packet soups recommended or not [32]

Didn't you mean Winiary, sausage? They are good, Knorr too. Knorr Serowa is tasty :)

It felt so good to go back to the cheap soups after having forked out 16PLN for a bowl. To hell with that, never again! The packet soups nicely fill a hole.

News / 14 year old rape victim from Warsaw denied abortion! [348]

You make it sound like Dracula. Harry, why do you think a foetus would suck blood from its host? Do you imagine the host would object in the majority of instances?

Life / What's the weather like in Poland? [81]

It's pretty grim at the moment. Still and lifeless, maybe that suits some of the locals ;) ;)

News / 14 year old rape victim from Warsaw denied abortion! [348]

Where's your wink mark, Harry?

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

RevokeNice

This whole debate is showing the difference between practicalities and a religious approach. Check out what is said at about 3 mins into this discussion, youtube.com/watch?v=HPgwkjVixvI

Practicalities, however, may call for some action to be taken. It's important to take a balanced approach and look at the bigger picture. The reality is, you have little leeway to change things, short of pulling out of the EU.

Please watch the presentation above (the Youtube one). Immigration and the economy are central topics.

Listen to it in its entirety, he'll open your eyes to many things. Sorry, immigrants are needed and it is the fault of government that they didn't impose quotas or upper limits.

Study / Celta - Application Form [24]

I'm not too well up on those lists, pc. There are just some that mark harder to my knowledge.

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]

This is nonsense, those 1,600 could have been handpicked to say that and stir up trouble. Besides, what's 1,600 relative to the population of Russia? Russia has about 142 million people. Let's look at those figures together. 1,600 and 141,961,600.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

People believe in symbolic steps. Most couldn't tell you 5% of the Treaty's content so they do things like that. It needs to be passed so Ireland can extract great concessions and has already received a separate protocol. At last, the overpaid Irish Taioseach is beginning to earn his bread rather than just draw his salary.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

They don't want to reunite, according to statistical data.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

So if you were to reunite the peoples of the north and of the south, problems would arise. Is that what is needed?

As for the central debate here, Irish employers were filling vacancies in the market. If they are willing to supply jobs, the Poles are the demand. People deserve a chance and they don't have super options here for the most part.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

Sorry, it played a major part. Look at Shankhill Road, the ideological divide between Catholics and Protestants. It was the subject of much discussion in Scotland as Rangers Vs Celtic debates sparked it. Religion is practised on the land, the country and forms self identity.

Tell me, Ireland32, do you feel there to be a major difference between a Protestant and a Catholic?

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

Was never about religion? That's not true, it played a large part as your identification with a group was an identification with a religious denomination. Look at the Protestant Orangemen march. If it wasn't about religion, why did so many object?

Geographically, unification would be a nice thing but, again, identification plays a large part.

UK, Ireland / Modern Plantation for Poles in Ireland [352]

The simple truth is, the EU isn't predicated on a pick&choose basis. True, there are opt-outs and protocols which can change things but the truth remains that Poles are entitled to travel to Ireland under the free movement of people provisions and are also not blocked from sending money back home.

The Irish had too much of the good life and didn't moan then. The Poles were a constant, they have been working and sending money home for quite some time now. When the downturn started, so did the moaning. How can the Poles be blamed for this when they are a constant?

States foresaw all this a long time ago, the complications that the EU would throw up. However, they entered into it, for better or for worse, and tried to make a good fist of it. It's similar to getting married in that regard. Very often, comity and cooperation are to be preferred over profit and advanced selectivism.

UK, Ireland / Father's Day cards banned in Scottish schools [64]

True, they are a quick fix solution when different treatment would be helpful. We really need to use our options.

UK, Ireland / Father's Day cards banned in Scottish schools [64]

Exactly, it's not about exclusion at all. It's analogous to teaching in that I'd devote a little extra attention to a student who was lagging behind but not at the expense of the learning development of others who have paid the same money.

Outright bans often serve no constructive purpose.

News / Should Poland send volunteers to Georgia ? [100]

I can go along with that. NATO is playing war games there, it just finished last month.