Trevek
30 Sep 2009
Life / Which Polish Season you love the most (weather) [12]
Autumn. Just driving through the forests, watching the different colours
Autumn. Just driving through the forests, watching the different colours
Trevek
1 Oct 2009
Life / Which Polish Season you love the most (weather) [12]
Please do, that would be wonderful.
I remember having to take an early bus into the village some years ago. The bus stopped on the far side of the 'kolonia' (is that right?), so I had to walk along a field road, at that time in the morning there was still a lot of dew and one of the fields was always full of cobwebs on the grass. In the morning, the dew was hanging on the webs and sparkling in the early morning sun.
especially when it is not raining everyday - then october can be really beautiful - I have some photos of a sunny october day a couple of years back - perhaps will leave links to them some time soon (or miniatures) - the colours may really be amazing
Please do, that would be wonderful.
I remember having to take an early bus into the village some years ago. The bus stopped on the far side of the 'kolonia' (is that right?), so I had to walk along a field road, at that time in the morning there was still a lot of dew and one of the fields was always full of cobwebs on the grass. In the morning, the dew was hanging on the webs and sparkling in the early morning sun.
Trevek
1 Oct 2009
UK, Ireland / Exhibition celebrates Bonnie Prince Charlie's Polish links [18]
Sounds good. Funny how everyone blames the English for a Pole and a German fighting over who gets the crowns! (joke, people!)
AN EXHIBITION celebrating the Polish heritage of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s mother will open tomorrow at Moray Arts Centre.
Sounds good. Funny how everyone blames the English for a Pole and a German fighting over who gets the crowns! (joke, people!)
Trevek
1 Oct 2009
UK, Ireland / What is it with black culture in the UK? [22]
I seem to recall hearing ofthem. Were they not the people who put blades under their cap peaks, so they could just whip the cap across someone's face in a fight?
I was always told never to grab a guy's lapels in-case he had razor blades sown underneath.
What about girls, who are often more vicious and often ready to use weapons (shoes, bottles etc)
I remember hearing about some group called the "Peaky Blinders" in the north of England
I seem to recall hearing ofthem. Were they not the people who put blades under their cap peaks, so they could just whip the cap across someone's face in a fight?
I was always told never to grab a guy's lapels in-case he had razor blades sown underneath.
"Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the "warrior gene," are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons,
What about girls, who are often more vicious and often ready to use weapons (shoes, bottles etc)
Trevek
2 Oct 2009
UK, Ireland / Exhibition celebrates Bonnie Prince Charlie's Polish links [18]
I thought he only had one good battle and died winning it.
The bold pit cur fell in a fur
an' Clavers got a clankie-o
Or I had fed an athol gled
On the Braes o' Killiecrankie-O.
Bonnie Dundee - much better role model and military tactician but didn't have as much success in 1689 as Charlie did in 1745.
I thought he only had one good battle and died winning it.
The bold pit cur fell in a fur
an' Clavers got a clankie-o
Or I had fed an athol gled
On the Braes o' Killiecrankie-O.
Trevek
2 Oct 2009
UK, Ireland / Exhibition celebrates Bonnie Prince Charlie's Polish links [18]
Your welcome, my friend.
That said, Clavers did pull off an amazing victory at Killiecrankie, apparently he was quite a soldier.
Trevek - I stand corrected - Thank you !
Your welcome, my friend.
That said, Clavers did pull off an amazing victory at Killiecrankie, apparently he was quite a soldier.
Trevek
2 Oct 2009
Life / Poles that have lived or live abroad are they different? [68]
The guys I know who've returned now understand my point of view when I'm moaning about poor service in shops, bad drivers and idiot bureaucracy in Poland.
The guys I know who've returned now understand my point of view when I'm moaning about poor service in shops, bad drivers and idiot bureaucracy in Poland.
Trevek
5 Oct 2009
Life / Poles that have lived or live abroad are they different? [68]
The thing is that many Poles living in Poland have little experience of speaking Polish to a learner of Polish. Whereas the British are used to hearing foreigners attempt English and will often try (unless they just enjoy being prix) to adjust their speech (S...L...O...W...L...Y... AND LOUDER!!!!!), many Poles don't and don't seem to have a concept of a need to do so.
Even if you say in Polish that you don't understand and ask them to speak slower, it seems that this suggests you can actually speak Polish and so they speak faster. It's often easier to just say you don't speak the language!
You should learn the language since you reside in Poland, you uneducated oaf.
The thing is that many Poles living in Poland have little experience of speaking Polish to a learner of Polish. Whereas the British are used to hearing foreigners attempt English and will often try (unless they just enjoy being prix) to adjust their speech (S...L...O...W...L...Y... AND LOUDER!!!!!), many Poles don't and don't seem to have a concept of a need to do so.
Even if you say in Polish that you don't understand and ask them to speak slower, it seems that this suggests you can actually speak Polish and so they speak faster. It's often easier to just say you don't speak the language!
Trevek
29 Dec 2009
Law / New ID 'card' in Poland [19]
At last, I get my new 10 year id 'card'. WTF!!!!????
Ha! Next time a Pole laughs at my huge green paper attachment on my UK driving licence, I'll pull out the big, flimsy piece of paper which is my new id.
Come on, guys... I know I'm a foreigner but do you have to remind me at every turn? The 5 year card was OK, it was credit card sized (like a Polish ID) and fitted in my wallet. After 5 years it was still in good shape. But what the hell is it replaced with? A big piece of paper, unlaminated and too big to fit in my wallet without screwing it up. And this is supposed to last for 10 years? It'll be lucky to last 10 months?
Is this just so i don't forget over the next ten years that i'm not Polish?
At last, I get my new 10 year id 'card'. WTF!!!!????
Ha! Next time a Pole laughs at my huge green paper attachment on my UK driving licence, I'll pull out the big, flimsy piece of paper which is my new id.
Come on, guys... I know I'm a foreigner but do you have to remind me at every turn? The 5 year card was OK, it was credit card sized (like a Polish ID) and fitted in my wallet. After 5 years it was still in good shape. But what the hell is it replaced with? A big piece of paper, unlaminated and too big to fit in my wallet without screwing it up. And this is supposed to last for 10 years? It'll be lucky to last 10 months?
Is this just so i don't forget over the next ten years that i'm not Polish?
Trevek
29 Dec 2009
Law / New ID 'card' in Poland [19]
yeah, probably had a job lot of pale paper sitting around. mind you, why should I be surprised... nobody in my local immigration office speaks English or German.
yeah, probably had a job lot of pale paper sitting around. mind you, why should I be surprised... nobody in my local immigration office speaks English or German.
Trevek
29 Dec 2009
UK, Ireland / Can I join the British Royal Marines if I"m a Polish citizen? [17]
This might give you some idea.
royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/how-to-join/eligibility/
If you do have an interest in The French Foreign legion, you can write to them for information. They'll send you brochures and an idea of pay (seriously, I did it once). Trouble is that it is a fixed 5 year service.
This might give you some idea.
royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/how-to-join/eligibility/
If you do have an interest in The French Foreign legion, you can write to them for information. They'll send you brochures and an idea of pay (seriously, I did it once). Trouble is that it is a fixed 5 year service.
Trevek
30 Dec 2009
Law / New ID 'card' in Poland [19]
Well, it helps with things like credit. I'm married to a Pole and have my own firm but still have trouble getting things like credit ("Sorry, can't give credit to someone without a pesel on their id" said GE Moneybank, or "Sorry, you can't have 5 year credit because there's only 3 years left on your id" said Skoda car-showroom). Also, I don't want to carry my passport around everywhere everyday.
So what am I supposed to carry around on a day to day basis?
Why have the id card anyway? Are there any advantages? I've not been required to get one yet ...
Well, it helps with things like credit. I'm married to a Pole and have my own firm but still have trouble getting things like credit ("Sorry, can't give credit to someone without a pesel on their id" said GE Moneybank, or "Sorry, you can't have 5 year credit because there's only 3 years left on your id" said Skoda car-showroom). Also, I don't want to carry my passport around everywhere everyday.
This is because it's not a replacement for your national ID - it's just a piece of paper to confirm your permanent residency in Poland.
So what am I supposed to carry around on a day to day basis?
Trevek
30 Dec 2009
Law / New ID 'card' in Poland [19]
I'm British, so technically I don't need it anyway. The thing is Olsztyn has a weird mindset...
Seriously, when I applied for GE Moneybank credit they were fine; I showed them all my residency docs, firm paperwork, ZUS and tax payments etc... then they asked for my PESEL. I handed over my pobyt and the lad said, "There's no PESEL." I said that I had one on a piece of paper from the ratusz (obviously, I'd need one to start a firm). He made a few calls and then apologised, saying they wouldn't give credit to someone who didn't have PESEL number on his pobyt. No amount of meetings with other meletters was of any use.
The Skoda shop... well, I wanted 5 year credit to buy a car 'on the firm' (paid about 10-15k up front). They said i had only 3 years on my id so they wouldn't do it in case i ran away to UK (duh!). My wife said she'd take the credit and run away to UK the next day. Mind you, we are talking about a car showroom where you have to carry cash because you can't pay 1000 zlots insurance with plastic.
I should take citizenship, then I could go to UK and get all the preferential treatment (translators, free money transfers etc) that i can't get as a Brit in Poland.
What nationality are you?
I'm British, so technically I don't need it anyway. The thing is Olsztyn has a weird mindset...
Seriously, when I applied for GE Moneybank credit they were fine; I showed them all my residency docs, firm paperwork, ZUS and tax payments etc... then they asked for my PESEL. I handed over my pobyt and the lad said, "There's no PESEL." I said that I had one on a piece of paper from the ratusz (obviously, I'd need one to start a firm). He made a few calls and then apologised, saying they wouldn't give credit to someone who didn't have PESEL number on his pobyt. No amount of meetings with other meletters was of any use.
The Skoda shop... well, I wanted 5 year credit to buy a car 'on the firm' (paid about 10-15k up front). They said i had only 3 years on my id so they wouldn't do it in case i ran away to UK (duh!). My wife said she'd take the credit and run away to UK the next day. Mind you, we are talking about a car showroom where you have to carry cash because you can't pay 1000 zlots insurance with plastic.
I should take citizenship, then I could go to UK and get all the preferential treatment (translators, free money transfers etc) that i can't get as a Brit in Poland.
Trevek
30 Dec 2009
Law / New ID 'card' in Poland [19]
I know what you mean, Steve. I've been here 8 years myself. That said, I've still got a UK/EU driving licence. Occassionally makes them feel sorry for me when they pull me over.
Ironic thing is that a UK driving licence is now not considered legitimate id in UK! (go figure).
I know what you mean, Steve. I've been here 8 years myself. That said, I've still got a UK/EU driving licence. Occassionally makes them feel sorry for me when they pull me over.
Ironic thing is that a UK driving licence is now not considered legitimate id in UK! (go figure).
Trevek
30 Dec 2009
UK, Ireland / Do you know any Polish war emigrants living in UK? [7]
The Glasgow Sikorski club mentioned above is a good idea. Allegedly the old boys refer to being 'w glasgowie', so as a linguist you might find a few nice things.
You could try contacting the Royal British Legion, they might know of some Polish ex-servicemen's groups.
This is an old article but it might be of use. It's about a Polish hospital in wales.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/3436885.stm
Here you are: newalesnhstrust.org.uk/index.php?page=penleyhospital&lang=en
The Glasgow Sikorski club mentioned above is a good idea. Allegedly the old boys refer to being 'w glasgowie', so as a linguist you might find a few nice things.
You could try contacting the Royal British Legion, they might know of some Polish ex-servicemen's groups.
This is an old article but it might be of use. It's about a Polish hospital in wales.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/3436885.stm
Here you are: newalesnhstrust.org.uk/index.php?page=penleyhospital&lang=en