Travel / Ostroda to Elblag Canal Trip [6]

My family and I were taken on this trip by our Polish cousin who lives in Lebork. It is a shame you trip was spoiled as we had a fantastic trip but time was limited so we left at Maldyty and caught the train back to Elblag. Please don't think too badly of the Poles maybe this crowd were not so good but in our experience we have only had wonderful times in Poland. If you enjoy travelling in Poland try the area of the Slowinski National Park, or the old fishing village of Kluki, the dunes of Leba, the Hel Penninsula and Westerplatte, the Tri Cities of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. Malbork Castle. All areas that we particularly love. Don't give up on the country because of some poor behaviour of a few people. I am from the UK and we have plenty of bad experiences during our travelling here but you cannot allow other people to spoil what should have been a fantastic experience.

Love / Understanding Polish Man [41]

hello Lilianna77 My advice to you is there are plenty more men out there. Forget this one he is not worth the effort!!

Life / COFFIN PHOTOS FROM POLAND? [11]

I always thought this photo business a strange thing to do but my Polish relatives here in the UK explained that when a loved one died in Poland the photos were sent here to relatives who could not attend the funeral and of course vice versa. If a Polish person over here died phootos were sent back to their Polish relatives in their native Poland. Also when my father died here in the UK his family back in Poland went to church at the same time that his funeral wastaking place in the UK, that way they felt that at least they could share some of the funeral even though miles apart. I thought this was very nice of them.

Travel / New Year's in Krakow [22]

New Year in Krakow sounds idyllic. I am so jealous, back here in the UK it is almost a non event except for Scotland of course who celebrate their Hogmonay. Most of our young people just fall around the streets getting drunk and end up in hospital. We don't get much snow here either. Would just love to join in the fun in Krakow as it is a beautiful place to be in. Anyway never mind we will just sit at home here in the UK have a vodka or two and dream of Krakow (even the television programmes for this special night are crap). Anyway cheers to you all in Krakow hope the night is great and that the snow arrives to make a most beautiful scene.

Travel / New Year's in Krakow [22]

Hi London Chick I am not harsh on the UK. If you lived in the same area as I do (Stoke on Trent) believe me the New Year is horrendous. I have family in the police force and they have an unbelievable job around Christmas and the New Year. It is safer to be off the streets around here, no kiddin. Anyway to everyone out there hope you all have a great Christmas and that the New Year is even better.I am not a kill joy I like a good party too.

Travel / New Year's in Krakow [22]

Thanks for the support Hueg maybe this year will be different. We have recently returned from a long weekend in Krakow and the difference of there and our own city of Stoke on Trent puts this area to shame. There was no chewing gum, take a way cartons or dog mess on the streets - it really was clean and a most welcoming city - hm yes I would really love to spend the NY over there.

Travel / New Year's in Krakow [22]

The sad thing is that here in the UK the drunken people take up the medical care of our NHS and ambulance service, the people who are genuinely ill cannot get the treatment that they need and have to wait in corridors on a trolley before they can get a proper bed in the hospital. Maybe times will change but I am not too hopeful and am always glad when the New Year has come and gone. I think really it is not just a problem over the Christmas Season it is now becoming normal to get "legless" on our streets particularly in the larger city areas, I just hope that somehow every one can have a great time and that our medical resources are not too stretched - I would love to be in Krakow as I have said before I think it is a beautiful city, I also love Gdansk, having family in that area I have been able to visit and can only say what a warm welcome I and my family have always had and I would love to see the snow and the lights of your Cristmas Season. Maybe one day who knows. Till then All the Best to everyone for Christmas and the New Year, hope its a good one.

Travel / About my Holiday in Krakow - the wonderful hospitality in Poland [8]

Hi jackedt glad you enjoyed your trip. If you go to Poland again try to make it early June, we have had some fantastic weather during our trips taken in this month. Don't give up try again it will be worth it. I love the country.

Travel / About my Holiday in Krakow - the wonderful hospitality in Poland [8]

Hi London Chick and jackedt great to hear from you both I am on facebook so will have to check out Polish WOW Factor. Watch this space.

Feedback / Polish Forums Checker [41]

Oh dear I thought I was the only person not understanding the Checker but thanks for the many replies - will give it a go. Thanks for replying to my question all of you.

Feedback / Polish Forums Checker [41]

Hey SeanBM I am a fantastic typist I can touch type and watch tv as well, but am only just learning about computers. I came across this PF site and thought hm I will have a go at that so I think between us we would make a great team.

News / NUDE BRITISH MEN RUNNING AROUND IN WROCLAW [82]

Bet these men had great big ........cars. That is to compensate for their little "embarrassments"

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

You are quite right scorpio. This EU business is just a big "con"trick. We are sick and tired of our "ordinary" men and women losing their jobs and then their homes. Our government keeps telling us that there are jobs out there. Where we keep asking are these jobs? There is a great deal of corruption out there in the many countries of the EU. Large football clubs, business consortiums, wealthy celebrities and they all avoid paying their tax. Why does the Inland Revenue never call in these types of debts? The only people being paid good money now are these footballers and celebs. It is stupid that the same people that are being evicted from their homes are the same people that have had their money sent to help these banks. I wonder why the people that have debt problems could not just pay a nominal rent to the banks and then when things pick up they can come to some other arrangements to continue on with their mortgage. No one needs then to lose their home. Is this too easy a solution or just a no go area?

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Sometimes it takes people who are hard workers who can use their hands (not brain) skills to get countries out of the mire. Where have our educated politicians got us? Education is sometimes a way of keeping people off the dole here in the UK thus keeping the true jobless figures down. We need more people with genuine skills plumbers, carpenters, electricians etc. Instead of educated morons who can talk the talk but not work the work.

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Hi lesser, you are quite right that many migrant workers have come to the UK. I welcome them with open arms as far as I can but you see my cousin came here and he was a very willing worker and was doing anything that he could find. I am very happy for anyone who can make a living over here. We do have many lazy people who will never work. Now then to get back to the Polish people. I have seen for myself how some of these people are living. It is very inhumane. Our unscrupulous landlords are having them paying extortionate rents, as many as 10 or more to a flat, some with children as well. The trouble is that our own English workers cannot work for the minimum wage and pay the cost of heating, lighting, feeding families. We have to pay council tax of over £100 per month minimum. Schools do not have the resources to teach the Polish children as they not only have to settle into the school system but they have to master the language too. This is not a problem for me personally but it is hard on the young children.

To welshguyinpoland. I too thought Mrs Thatcher was a very principled lady. Yes the mines probably were inefficient also, but what did she think would happen when we had to close all the mines, how long would import of coal reamain cheap? Why is our energy so expensive now, because she sold off our energy companies, railways, bus services etc. Yes yes I know business has to be efficient which brings me on to the people that have become unemployed by Thatchers policies. Where are all the miners etc going to earn a living? I hear the words retrain coming to mind. Retrain to what? Mrs Thatchers plan was to make England a "service" country. A country of commerce - this means to me banking, insurance, call centres etc. This was fine but these jobs have now gone to a place called India. We make an enquiry at the bank and it can take an hour or so to sort out a problem. Education was then the subject, get everyone to go to university. Well this is already proving a problem because more and more people are getting degree's thus more and more people are going for the better jobs. The degree is devalued because so many people have got one. I think what I am trying to say is that some common sense needs to prevail. Not everybody wants education they want a trade where they can learn bricklaying, plumbing etc.This way they can earn some money without being a drain on the state. Where I live we had pottery companies, steel works, engineering, farming and agriculture. The masses were employed. It is going to need great vision for our country, we are judged by how much money we have. You will always have lazy people unfortunately. Anyway sorry for going on and making this seem like a sermon but please Mrs Thatcher was no angel, and she had a load of "yes men" around her because no-one actually stood up to her and say that some of her ideas were not so good. Also do you know how many people are leaving here now because they can no longer afford to live on the low wages that they earn

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Hello again. Yes I understand what you are saying about the dockyards etc, times are a little different now though. Just from around here for example take JCB Diggers for instance, they are making 400 people redundant this is on top of the previous at a guess 400. This has a knock on effect to all the other smaller engineering businesses as the manufacturing of parts is contracted out (JCB only assemble they do not actually make any parts) This brings me on to say that just in such a small area that I am mentioning there will be over 1000 people losing their jobs. Now where I ask are all these people going to find work? All the industry around here has gone. Even the supermarkets are working with minimum staff. All those years ago when it was pit closures, dockyard closures etc the country was at least starting to pick up and there was often retraining schemes. Plus the miners had lucrative pension and redundancy packages (not all I know, my father being one of these) I have friends who lost their jobs in the pits and they have looked after their money and have made investments etc and when they retire they will have a reasonable pension due to the money put into their pension packages. Many many people around here have no such packages. So they will not be having a great Christmas just a letter telling them to not bother to come back in the New Year. Has anyone seen the Gun Wharf Quays in Portsmouth? They have done a fantastic job down there building apartments and shopping complexes together, but the cost of this housing is £250,000 minimum. The same has happened at Poole. Liverpool Docks also has a shopping complex at their docks. How much shopping can people keep on doing. Yes jobs are created but it is all too much all about shopping I think. We are told not to use our cars and yet out of town shopping complexes are still being built. People have to use their cars, how else are they going to get to their place of work? I am sure that Poland has many skilled workers and so has the UK and all the out of work people do not want to work in retail business. We need governments to invest in its own people teach people a trade, when they are trained many could earn a living without being a burden on the state and who knows new business would start again. One other thing I have noticed about Poland they have a transport system that appears to work. Over here it is useless. Too many leaves on the line or wrong sort of snow stops all trains. If you wait for a bus it doesn't turn up and then an hour later we get 3 in a row to the same place - true, no joke. Could I be the next Maggie? Don't think so Mazza doesn't sound the same. Again only joking!!!

On top of the JCB jobs it is now Wedgwood Pottery 346 jobs to go. Royal Doulton went ages ago so yet more bad news. How are things in Poland?These are just local jobs being lost not national job.

Life / Polish Christmas Traditions [19]

Thread attached on merging:
wHAT ARE THE TRADITIONS OF A POLISH CHRISTMAS?

What happens during a traditional Polish Christmas? How is it celebrated by families? Do you expect snow?

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Unfortunately we are told that the UK has a special relationship with America so what goes on there the UK follows. It is really stupid. In the UK we say America sneezes and the UK catches the cold. Again it is our stupid politicians they are educated idiots I think. It is time the UK stopped fighting other people's wars and to look after our own people. At our local hospital we had the emergency department so over loaded with sick people that the ambulances had to leave old people outside on a trolley with just a blanket until they could be moved inside. The old people also had not even got a pillow for their head and instead had dirty folded up blankets to use to rest their head on. Believe me it is getting really crap over here in the UK is there room for the Brits in Poland I wonder? Well behaved ones I mean.

News / British food exports to Poland up 53% [43]

In the UK we have imported some very nice Polish foods I just love the gherkins and Polish salami type sausage. Polish shops have taken off very well also so it is a fair exchange I think. When you try Marmite toast your bread and put on some proper butter (not margerine) and then just dab the Marmite over the toast. Do not put it on thickly like using jam. You can also make a hot drink of it, put a teaspoon or so in a cup and pour on boiling water stirring as your pour the water. Wait for it to dissolve and then drink slowly, you could also make some toast cut it into strips and dip it in the Marmite drink. Another use is to make a stew/casserole and put some Marmite in to enhance the flavour. It is just a matter of taste, you either love it or hate it.

Life / Polish Christmas Traditions [19]

I think the extra plate business sounds lovely. I had heard about that but thought maybe it did not happen any more. Old traditions are lovely. Think I will have to catch a Ryan Air to Gdynia and surprise my family there, I know there would be a warm welcome. Proper Christmas trees are beautiful and the smell of the pine is lovely. The artificial stuff we have is not the same. I usually get some pine pot pouri to at least get a Christmassy smell in the room. Oh I am really getting in the spirit of the coming season.

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Hi Topicalpost everything that I have put on my post is very true and not something that I have made up, I do not even need to read a daily paper as I have eyes and experience. If we are one of the richest countries in the world why are our elderly people having to choose whether to eat or heat their homes? This is a true statement. After having worked all their lives the state pensions are a pittance. People are loosing their jobs at JCB, Wedgwood, local engineering business's, shops (oh yes this country is good at building more and more shops).As for me you are right I did not go hungry because my Polish father worked hard all his life and when he needed medical treatment he was let down by the NHS industry that you speak of. He died on a filthy hospital ward. It was that bad that the hospital actually apologised to us. I do not need to look inside myself at all I live my live my life doing the best I can for my family, I have looked after a grandmother until she died at the age of 91 years, my mother is an invalid now after having had a hard life bringing up us - her family. People are losing their homes because they are buying a home on a mortgage and cannot afford the repayments. If other people who live in rented accommodation cannot pay the rent they get it paid by the state - think this is crap. The UK must be seen by some as a very rich country I agree but it is our money that the government have used to bail out the banks - why should this be? I have worked hard all my life and at this time this country is definately not the country that it was. If you would care to check out the papers over here you would read what is happening. I am not telling lies there is no point in that.

A further message to Topicalpost.I have today had a copy of our local newspaper and you will find this on thisisstaffordshire.co.uk and this is the site of our newspaper The Sentinel. The headline I draw you attention to "The tumour's grown...and I'm running out of time" She requires Sutent treatment for kidney cancer. She has been told that she will have to wait until January to find out if she can have this drug. Mrs Hopkins is 70 years old and has sent the following letter to the care trust about her delay for this drug.

How can a system like this be fair and just? Please consider the people of this country.I have always felt that if I can understand something, and it is morally fair, then I can accept it. But I have not spoken to one person who can accept what is going on with this postcode lottery and I cannot believe the way that I, and others like me, have been treated. It is inexcusable, that people can be treated like this in 2008. If it is happening now, then what have our young people got to come in future years? I think, as do many others I have spoken to to, that things need to change. Our people need to be looked after in a fair, decent and moral way - a way that can be judged as fair to all and not just some.

What she means by postcode lottery is that it depends on which part of the country you live because different areas only supply and fund certain cancer type drugs.

Now then I will also tell you the following conversation when my father was in hospital.

Dad - Oh dear I need a bed pan quickly

Me- right I will find a nurse

Nurse - I am busy (doing what I don't know)

Me = I think you had better sort my dad out

Nurse says to Dad - I am busy just do it in your bed and we will clean you up later

Please don't tell me that I am making this up IT HAPPENED. I have witnesses, this is just one factor of the reason that the hospital apologised to us.I was also going in to the hospital at meal times to feed my father because if I or another family member didn't go he would not have had anything to eat. At one time he wanted a drink and he had to have it through a straw (this had gone missing) I asked a nurse and she said to me Oh look its under the bed, then she left. I had to go to the kitchen to get my dad a clean straw. Needless to say he also caught MRSA

Yes things have started to improve but believe me there is no lie in any of my information - it is so true I would take a lie detector test. Finally could I say that for you to go La di dah or what ever it is appears to me to be very rude. The NHS is not as you say an industry it is a service, there is a big difference in these two words. Everyone in the UK pays National Insurance payments from their wages and we pay all sorts of other taxes for this service. This is just some of the reasons that I feel that this country has gone down bank. The impression of us being one of the richest countries in the world is again down to money and not about the people of our country especially the young and the old. EAT OR HEAT IS A VERY TRUE STATEMENT Lets hope that this does not go to Poland.

Sorry about this guys I know you will probably fed up of my posts now but just to say

Rolls Royce
GKN
BAE Systems
Astra Zeneka

Yes even more redundancies. Watch Out It is happening and could be in your country soon.

No I am not lying either

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Hey don't forget that the Royal Doulton products that America loved so much are now from Indonesia.

Life / Polish Christmas Traditions [19]

Hi welshguyinpola - Oh yes I know of course about real trees in the UK I think you misunderstand me. When we were young my dad insisted that we always had a real Christmas Tree and it was lovely, however we seem to have more and more of the artificial kind with lights already attached and some already decorated. I have this year seen a 6 foot black Christmas Tree and it was horrendous. For a lot of families a real tree from a Garden Centre is very expensive and also because of all the central heating the trees are often bare as the needles drop off very quickly and do not last for the whole of the Christmas Season. This brings me on the pine pot pourri this is what I buy to get the smell of the pine into my rooms. I am not trying to suggest that everything that Poland does is the best but I am trying desperately to get to know the country that half of me belongs to. From the visits that I have already made somehow the welcome that I have experienced has filled me with pride. Not many countries are welcoming to the Brits but I cannot say that about Poland - so of course I love the country. Oh and also I have had many holidays in Wales in the area of Prestatyn and that too has always been lovely. So please accept I am not biased on the side of Poland I am in the middle of a learning process. Anyway hope your Christmas is a good one too.

News / EU Hypocrisy Regarding Polish Shipyards [30]

Hello again welshguyinpola could you explain to me how the NHS is free? We pay National Insurance contributions and taxes that go into the system.You ask where would the money come from for a better system. Well what about a portion of the lottery money. If just 1 weeks profits went towards the NHS I don't think too many people would complain after all most of us will need the NHS at some point in our lives. Do you know how many people have had operations done privately and when an emergency has arisen they have had to be transferred to a NHS hospital because the private one does not have an emergency service. It is fine if all goes well, but well if things go wrong you take your chance that you do not die in the ambulance on the way to a NHS hospital. Please don't tell me this is not true because it does happen. When we get our wages after having worked hard and payed all our dues why should we not have some of life's luxuries as you put it, what do we go to work for if not for some happiness? We do not get prescriptions free like you do in Wales but I would rather pay for prescriptions and get a good hospital service. By the way did you know that our hospital here in North Staffordshire have closed down the kitchens and the food is purchased and delivered from a company in Wales? What happens when the snow falls in Wales? Do our patients go hungry? The food is so bad that patients are having relatives bring in food for them. Please don't tell me this is not too either. Try checking out our local newspaper The Sentinel. I am tired of being accused of lying by some people on this forum. Everything I am putting out is TRUE.

Thanks for your support RenaNorton I am doing my best on this forum to let people know what it is like over here for the ordinary working man but not getting very far because people think I am lying.

Just a quick message to Topicalpost. I happened to be at our local hospital on Friday 21st November and there was great excitement in the accident and emergency department. What was the cause of this excitement - a consignment of pillows had been delivered. The staff were so delighted they could replaced the blankets at people's heads with a pillow. Now tell me again that I have been lying if you dare. I was there myself and saw it with my own eyes.

News / NUDE BRITISH MEN RUNNING AROUND IN WROCLAW [82]

On behalf of the Brits who do behave themselves (please do not class us all the same) all we can do is apologise for these stupid idiots. It would be better if the Polish Police just herded them all up, locked them in a cell and put them on a plane back to the UK. Finally they should never be allowed to travel to your country ever again. We are fed up of having such a bad reputation in other countries so the people who serve these stupid people should also be reprimanded. No business should be allowed to serve drunkards in the first place so some responsibility should be taken by the establishments that are taking their money and providing the alcohol. As I say please send them home!

News / NUDE BRITISH MEN RUNNING AROUND IN WROCLAW [82]

Hi daystrom glad you like some of us Brits. We do try to be liked but some stupid idiots such as those in Warsaw let us down badly. When me and my family were in Spain we were very badly looked upon by the Spanish. Our child members who were aged 4 and 18 months old went onto a trampoline together, the Spanish children who were with their parents went on to the trampoline so our two had to come off. When ours came off so did the Spanish kids so ours got on again and hey presto so did the Spanish ones. You may think that they wanted to play with our two but they were too rough for the baby one, and at the end the Spanish children actually stood spitting at our two.Their parents just sat laughing and clapping what their children were doing. I don't think that two innocent children should have been treated like this, but hey again I think it could be a Brits abroad thing. However the Spanish don't mind having our money. I can honestly say that I have been to Poland a few times and have never come across such anti Brit feeling. I still feel though that if people are already drunk they should not be served. In the UK it is illegal to serve a drunk but of course who is going to police this? If stupid people want to damage their livers and kidneys well let them get on with it, if the drink doesn't kill them off maybe hypothermia will. It is very cold over here in Staffordshire, we have actually had a heavy snowfall yesterday and it is now freezing. How many will be stripping off this week I wonder. Brass Monkey weather I think.

Travel / Kraków Restaurants [19]

Has anyone tried the Sioux restaurant in the main square Krakow? We had 2 lovely evenings there, food was good and quite reasonable.

News / British food exports to Poland up 53% [43]

I wondered where you were noimmigration where you bin hiding?

Hope one or two of you out there have tried Marmite again it really is very nice in stews and casseroles and full of vitamin B