UK, Ireland / The un-acceptable side of new entrant countries coming to the UK [56]


The article was interesting in that nothing in the detail backed up the headline that Poles (and others from the A8 countries) were going back home en masse. Of course it is possible to find people who have had problems since arriving in the UK. We have homeless people too. The problem for Poles is that they have no access to the welfare state benefits when things go wrong - unlike economic migrants from non EU countries who often can sponge off the state. Just another catchy headline with limited intellectual content to the body of the story. I remember when the Sunday Times was a well written and balanced newspaper. Pre Rupert Murdoch times, sigh.

Life / Non-verbal communication of Polish people? [10]


Steady on, that's fighting talk. There are some very good English beers although I am forced to admit that the generally available lager type stuff is pretty awful.

Life / Non-verbal communication of Polish people? [10]


Could be a hangover from when they had to queue for the basics of life in the bad old Communist days. After a while you get used to it and start to actively participate. When I had to queue to pay my telephone bill I got really adept at the local customs. As an ex blind side flanker I found the old skills were really useful. :)

History / Secret Society/Secret Police in Poland [47]

I would love to talk about the good old SB but I have to check to see if I can find my name on the Wildstein List first

UK, Ireland / The un-acceptable side of new entrant countries coming to the UK [56]

As a brit I would absolutley LOVE it if immigrants had no hand outs. My point was that many do and that the Poles and other A8 people do not. Much of the resentment against immigrants to the UK from us locals comes from their being given housing, welfare benefits and access to our overloaded health and education services often at the expense of our own people. That is why most of us welcome the Poles because you tend to work hard, pay taxes and take no welfare benefits (at least until they have worked here for 12 months)

We are a soft touch for economic migrants thanks to our open door immigration policy introduced (without ever being in an election manifesto) by our wonderful current government

UK, Ireland / The un-acceptable side of new entrant countries coming to the UK [56]


I fully agree Annia. And it is not just debt for individuals. Our current borrowing asa nation is through the roof. So much for the 'prudence' of our government. The levle of the National Debt is the highest for over 40 years. The bubble will burst for the UK economy very soon

UK, Ireland / The un-acceptable side of new entrant countries coming to the UK [56]


I stand corrected. However, if you take into account the prospective funding required for an ageing popoulation in terms of pensions and services, the size of the problem continues to grow without any clear strategy for resolution. Add to that the relatively low interest costs currently needed to service the debt then this country has a problem IMHO.

Law / Advice on investment of $40,000 in the Warsaw area [30]


Cinammon, Foksal 19 and a few other clubs :)

Forget property in Warsaw with $40k. My apartment cost double that 5 years ago (and it's not even that big)

UK, Ireland / English food - unhealthy? [52]

There are far too many artificial additives and supplements in super market. pre-prepared food in the UK. Two years ago my family stopped buying these foods. Within weeks we had more energy, felt less tired and started to lose weight back to our normal levels. From now on it's only fresh food for us. We won't buy even vegtables from super markets any more. We get them from local markets.

Now if I could only give up beer I would be really slim and healthy (but very, very boring).

UK, Ireland / English food - unhealthy? [52]

Could be a water retention problem. I used to have the same problem but having adjusted my habits to go to the loo after every second pint the problem has gone away.:)

Being serious it could merit some medical advice which I am eminently unsuited to provide

History / Are there sports invented by Poles? [16]

Not strictly speaking a sport but a little known fact:

The oldest known non-returning boomerang, an artifact found in Poland, dates from about 20,000 years ago.

I suppose it might have been a test of skill as well as for hunting. Anyway it should upset the Aussies no end.

History / Are there sports invented by Poles? [16]

Yes true, but it's a curved stick to increase the areodynamics and stability in flight. Most of the original boomerangs were in fact non returning. As people got lazier ........

History / Are there sports invented by Poles? [16]

entertainment.howstuffworks.com/boomerang4.htm

Here is the link to the article. Must have shown signs of being shaped by hand.

History / Concentration camps: where did all the birds go? [10]


I got the same impression of eerie silence there too. Also around some of the battlefields from WWI (Mons, Ypres)

Language / difficult English words for Polish speakers? [119]

What about difficult English words for English speakers, like:

• Colour and color
• Centre and Center
• Tap and Fawcet
• Grey and gray

Two nations divided by a common language

UK, Ireland / 700 are arriving every day from Eastern Europe into Britain [50]

I don't think peterweg is supporting the article, but pointing it out as another piece of scaremongering by sections of the British Press (note the Evening Standrd is I believe part of the group that also publishes the Daily Mail)

UK, Ireland / 700 are arriving every day from Eastern Europe into Britain [50]


Don't do it Matyjasz. I would lose my golfing partner and who would I drink with ? :)

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that we all believe what is written in our media !

Life / What are Poles going to do if there are to live with other nations? [109]

Very true, some people are intelligent, well informed, tolerant and compassionate whilst others are not. I leave you to decide which category I think you fall into. :)

Life / What are Poles going to do if there are to live with other nations? [109]

Groundhog Day

Life / What are Poles going to do if there are to live with other nations? [109]


This is either deep and meaningful philosophy or complete tosh.

Are you Eric Cantona in disguise?

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]

St George is the patron Saint of England. But being a reserved lot the English never really celebrate St George's Day. Certainly no where near the way in which the Irish celebrate St Patrick's Day. There are a few small village type festivals on St George's Day. I bet if you had a poll in England as to the date of st George's Day 70-80% of people would get it wrong.

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]

Mmm I remember being in Boston for St Pat's one year. My liver took the rest of the year off

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]

Apart from the English in some places. Luckily my Mother was from Cork so I got away with it

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]

It was the Green Guinness that got to me. I thought I was hallucinating. And then the Jamesons was green, and then the sandwiches ......

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]


Yeah I recall hearing this but am not sure whether it is true or not.

Life / What are Poles going to do if there are to live with other nations? [109]


I'm losing my grip on reality. I thought he came from Africa

Life / What are Poles going to do if there are to live with other nations? [109]

So where are you all alone then? It would help me to understand the contents of this thread

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]

Oh good, I'll have another Guinness in your honour :)

UK, Ireland / Will the Poles be out on St. Patricks day [66]


That similarity was one of the first things that struck me when i went to Poland. If there was a World Cup for partying this would probably be the final. :)

Love / still looking for another polish girl - i wont give up :) [48]



and Gzregorz and Patrjca ......

What's happening in the Polish Mountain Dog world. Suddenly there are loads of them. Is there something going aon that we all should know about? :)