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


Yep a valid point, even if it is made at my expense!

I wouldn't say I particularly ignore the immigration issue, although I suppose I do chose to 'not listen' carefully to what is happening in other parts of the country, for the reasons I mentioned before. Not right, I suppose, but easier for me than to deal with conflicting emotions over the whole thing.

But put aside how I feel about my friends and my guy, where I live we don't have a problem with immigrants. We're not swamped, we don't have troubles reported in the paper, etc and we are lucky to have a low unemployment rate. Plus all the Polish people I know work hard, pay their way and claim nothing in the way of benefits, etc. So again, its easier for me to see things in a more positive way than the author of this thread and others do.

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


Yes, snap judgement on my part but the immigration argument is hard to keep listening to when you care about/love some of the immigrants in question! When I hear the comments made about losing 'Britishness' or cuts in wages due to cheaper labour or whatever, (in the media, on the net, etc) I just feel like they are directly talking about my closest friends, my family, so its hard to remain objective! Do you understand where I'm coming from? Its not that you don't have good and valid point and opinions.

Also, after a week of seeing noimmigrations hate threads, it did seem like another anti-Pole post - which you proved it was not. Thank you for that :-)

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


Yes I agree with you and as we know the problems you have highlighted are being faced by most of the younger generation nowadays, ie getting on the property ladder.

Hopefully some other people will be able to give you their input as well, but in them meantime, I can tell you that the Polish people I know are financially in better positions than my English friends.

Again, I use my friend as the example so am not generalising, but they all save and have savings, they buy expensive purchases, such as their car, with cash and not on credit and they have the ability to do this as they have a great work ethic. My guys at work do a full time week for us and will work evenings or weekends on private jobs if extra cash is needed.

I do wonder how they will move from renting in shared housing to becoming home owners but one of our friends has just bought a new built flat, as he and his gf both earn quite good money.

In all honesty I am more worried about my English friend, who still lives at home. I don't see how she will get on the housing ladder as she has such high outgoings through being irresponsible with credit as a teenager. Sometimes I wonder if we have been given too much opportunity and not had to learn how to do things the hard way? Myself included of course.

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

My Polish friends came here for a better life and it is their opinion that they have a better life now. They say they have much better earning potential and can make something of themselves here, which they don't believe they could do at home in Poland.

When I asked them they said don't want to go back to Poland to live.

Even if we don't see why they would chose this country, its evident that they are seeing the opportunities they could have here that they don't have at home. Maybe you don't feel happy with your lot in life because you haven't lived anywhere worse.

edit just read your edit about minimum wage and parents... I can only tell you about my friends opinions, but they earn much more than minimum wage, although they do earn lower than the going rate for English trades and they are glad to have the freedom away from their parents and live their lives independently... but as I said, that just goes for my mates, I'm not generalising

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

Yes apparently so

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

Haha.. I doubt that! No-one likes being called a typical English whinger!

Anyway, in typical English style, I'm off to make a cup of tea :-)

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

haha.. I'm not offended!! Just tired of another whinging thread about the same old thing... its boring

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

I think the fact that you live in bton & hove says a lot.

I have family there and the cost of living is higher than other areas of the UK and as its a tourist destination you are bound to have loads of foreigners!!


How do you know that?


Where do you think you will go to find a job that pays better and a government that loves you?


What do you want? What exactly are you missing out on now that you are "being pushed aside in favour of foreigners"?

I'm sorry... but you sound like a typical English whinger. Sorry, but you do!

Love / Polish Boyfriend Left to Poland [19]

Oh no... thats really sad.

I don't know if anyone else here has experienced something similar?

I hope you two manage to work something out :-)

Life / "I can spot a Pole a mile away" - Polish fashion? [146]


Belmarsh is in London

Broadmoor is a high security pyschiatric hospital in Berks

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


Yep, but again, not all employers are like that. Some offer fairer terms but I have yet to meet one which is truly an equal opportunities employer, if you know what I mean.


Umm.. interesting... but I can't comment as I don't know anything about this!!

I'm going out now. I suggest you register and see if you can learn anything new from us guys and us from you :-)

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


The South East. I can't speak for Inner London or further north then the Midlands. I'm sure its greatly different up north.

But I don't want to start generalising so I say my region, as I can only confidently talk about what I see and work amongst. Otherwise I'm giving out ill-informed info and we can't have that now can we!

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


This is rare - honestly.


I don't know. It probably breaks some kind of Health & Safety Reg though seeing as you can't even wipe your ass on site without the proper safety equipment!

I just want to reiterate that all I know for sure is that in this region your average Polish worker in the building industry can expect to receive a wage of approx 50% the going rate for a British worker doing the same work.

And I don't know anyone who lives in a toilet!





See I told you it was out of sync! We are agreeing not to argue but also still arguing. Typical man and woman discussion! Haha

Watch this get moved to Random Chat!!

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


I am, we're just writing out of sync.

Also, I'm not dismissing the experience of others. It appears I am commenting on what you said your friend said!?

I'm not up for arguing, I just get irked when a debate is one-sided. For every Polish worker undercutting a Brit, there's a least twice as many Brits expoliting a Polish worker. That is fact in my part of the country unfortunately.

I'm off to make tea now, so chill for a bit!

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


No I'm not but as I said if you find a niche or develop a product then you move yourself out of the common market. There are differences between the build process in Poland and here, what with our regulations and 'way of doing things', so you don't have to go too crazy with developing some fabulous new idea, just offer the client more than the common builder.

Furthermore, I have found that, from a buisness point of view, it is far more benefitial to forget the client who wants to haggle over the pounds and the pence. Offer quality to those who want it and will pay accordingly. This sounds obvious but it goes against the grain for many builders.


I'm not sure about this. I don't know any Polish people who live in toilets or pay 20p a night to stay where? I only know Polish people who pay the going rate for privately rented accomodation and who wish to get on to the property ladder as soon as they can. Thats not a sarcy comment either btw!

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]

You don't have to be expert, just don't be misguided by the media and trolls like noimmigration.

Get out there and get involved, then you will see for yourself what the truth is.

If you still feel the same way, then c'est la vie. You are, afterall, entitled to your opinion.

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


Haha... having a friend who has a building company or knowing someone who has one is NOT the same as having first hand experience of the construction/building industry. I would suggest that your 'friend' looks closer to home at what he is offering his clients. If a Polish guy can lay a patio or build a silly little extension cheaper than he can then maybe he should explore the market further and find his niche.


Because I doubt that you would give my explanation proper consideration.

I can tell you that many in the building industry are positively salivating over the prospect of securing some skilled Polish workers, who they can exploit by making higher demands and paying half the wage.

This is something I personally abhor as an employer in the construction industry.

Love / IS MY BOYFRIEND CHEATING? I went to Poland with him. [158]

Hmmmm... its not great either way. Can't live with em, can't kill em!

You will be ok though, even though it doesn't feel that way right now :-)

UK, Ireland / Poles in the UK sleeping in toilets [165]


You are misguided in this assumption.

I can't even be bothered to begin to explain to you the current climate of the construction industry but I would suggest that unless you are an employer in the construction industry, or have a building company, then you should just keep your ill-informed opinions on this subject to yourself.

Move on to something you have half an idea about

Life / Legally changing my Polish name to English one? [55]

I don't know about the legalities of changing your name, but I don't think you should do it just because some of us can't pronounce it!

I can't say Marcin properly either because I can't roll my 'r' so it just sounds the same as marching. But my Marcin likes to be called Martin anyway. He says to him it is the same thing.

Love / IS MY BOYFRIEND CHEATING? I went to Poland with him. [158]


I wouldn't stoop to his level by getting involved in deception and lies. I think you should rise above it and walk away.

Love / IS MY BOYFRIEND CHEATING? I went to Poland with him. [158]

You are right Bubbles (nice to see you back on PF by the way!!)

But she must be really hurting and its so easy to say just walk away but its soooo hard to do. Some people can be so cruel... I was going to say some men can be so cruel but then I thought, there's just as many women out there who break men's hearts!

Love / i Have been dating a polish guy for 2 years and i NEED help [10]


Haha... thats a good one! I find that slapping the mother-in-law around always helps to relieve tension!!

Love / My Polish guy - loves me he loves me not [73]

Maybe he's not very brave?

If it were me I'd probably wait until you came in the shop than do this:


Good luck though :-)

Love / why wont he communicate? going crazy [90]

If you just wait for a while, lets say until the end of this week and then review the situation again things may look different.

You can text him again, but it doesn't have to be right now. Just wait for a bit. That doesn't mean you have to give up on him completely. Its more like just sitting on your hands and waiting to see how you feel in a bit and if anything has changed.

Love / why wont he communicate? going crazy [90]

I don't think it's a good idea. Some people don't like surprises. How do you envisage a good outcome from doing this because I can see ways for it to go badly but not really any good?

Thats just my opinion though :-)

Love / why wont he communicate? going crazy [90]


I agree with what you are saying Miranda, but I think Marek made that comment because okay has sent many texts and there does come a point when you need to stop.

I have sent texts out of desperation and regardless of how it looks to other people, it doesn't make you feel good yourself to send a message when you are at such a low point. You can't delete it once it's sent, so sometimes its better to wait until you are calm and then make contact.

If I feel I might be sending a dodgy message I just write it out on my phone and then save it and if I still am happy with it a few hours later or even the next day, then i will send it!

Love / why wont he communicate? going crazy [90]


You remind me of myself! Haha

In that type of situation I would fluctuate between sending him a ranting text, then think maybe I should send a nice text and just chill a bit and then I'd be upset again!?

But Marek is right, it does just end up making you look and feel stupid. You know how it is, you go one text too far (or in some cases 20 texts too far!!)

I don't know what to suggest because I would also want an answer, I'd want to just be told straight, but you don't want to look desperate as Marek says or pee him off by bugging him all the time.

Love / why wont he communicate? going crazy [90]

That is such a frustrating situation Okay because all you want is to know what's going on and there is so much doubt hanging in the air. Did he get your messages? What's going on and what is he thinking?

But speculation aside I think Sapphire made a very valid point, whatever is going on he should have contacted you and if he hasn't then the most likely reason is because he's selfish!

It is a horrible feeling though when you don't know what is happening or, if it's over, then what went wrong. It can drive you crazy!

I hope things don't get you down too much. There's always bigger and better things out there in life :-)

Love / Things not to do with a Polish girl? [97]

Oh yeah. There can be problems with the family, my guys family hated me on first mention because I'm English. I don't know if thats a common problem or not though.

Other people will always have a comment about whoever you like and its almost always just a load of cr*p anyway! You have to go with how you feel. They probably ask you why you like a Polish person just because it's a bit different to them and they are like sheep, just following the herd and not daring to do something different to what everyone else is doing.

Don't worry about that though because I don't think you'll find this as much of a problem as you get older. Well, I haven't had this problem anyway. No-one has asked me why I like a Polish guy!

I'm glad you've found this forum though. I think you'll find it helpful.