UK, Ireland / What exactly is the process to get into the UK? [44]


For the young and mobile (i.e. no mortgage/kids etc) there's always something.

UK, Ireland / Working as an au-pair in UK and leaving the host family. Is it legal? [60]


Au pair work is a specific international scheme, with, I think, age and citizenship restrictions, and is designed to allow young people to experience life in another country while at the same time improving childcare provision. It has never been taxable, and in any case, the wage would fall below the tax threshold for a single person.

Real Estate / BUYING A HOUSE IN POLAND.. and having the seller strip it bare.. [12]

I found the sellers sitting in my kitchen, six months after they'd sold the flat. They'd kept a set of keys for old times sake and didn't understand why I was so angry.

Life / Persian community in Warsaw? (i don't mean cats) [18]

I don't know of any Iranian shops, but the Samira Restaurant (hard to find, at the back of the National Library) has a small shop section with Middle Eastern items, and the shop on Nowogrodzka (or is it Zurawia), just west of the junction with Krucza has some Pakistani things. The Turkish restaurant on ul. Zgoda (opposite Grill Bar Zgoda) has a 'retail shelf' with some Turkish products(I know it isn't the same, but maybe worth having a look).

Some friends speak highly of a restaurant called Sheesha Lounge, which isn't Persian, but has some Persian dishes on the menu.

UK, Ireland / What exactly is the process to get into the UK? [44]


Doesn't stop all the young Aussies having fun in London. Poles too, sometimes.

UK, Ireland / What exactly is the process to get into the UK? [44]

London is best for work, as is the South East in general, being the richest part (the most expensive too). Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh are 'hip' and fun, according to some. The North is usually considered friendlier than the South. Wales and most of Scotland are pretty, but not so easy to get work in. But London is most people's choice.

But UK is a complicated place, and any opinion is subjective.

Life / Indian moved to Poland [532]


Fortunately this troll is a long way from Poland. An Indian restaurant in Wroclaw would be a great idea. There's already a British style pub.

Life / Do Poles do hand shaking EVERY TIME they see friends? [30]


Most wouldn't, but very rarely someone might, especially if they'd had a few drinks and thought you were refusing. Everyone shakes hands here - it's normal.

Love / Is Poland gay friendly? [25]

Mostly people in the provinces chatting with each other. Not much dating, mostly just flirting and chat by people living in the back of beyond - gayromeo.com is more popular in the bigger cities in Poland.

News / FORWARD POLAND -- new polticial party [6]

Another marginal bunch of nutters

News / Helena Wolinska dead [90]

Remember, Celinski, that you posted about her, saying she had been extradited to Poland? I wondered where you got that from, now it's clear - nowhere!

It's sad that people like Pani Wolinska, who committed crimes are able to get away scot-free, but there comes a time when a line must be drawn under the past, so life can go forward.

Life / How to wire a plug in Poland? [16]

Plug converters (both ways) are quite cheap - Argos or Electroworld in the UK and Media Saturn or Electroworld in PL stock them. When coming to PL, don't just use shaver converters - they can stick in the sockets here, especially if the sockets are new or good quality.

UK, Ireland / Angelika Kluk's murderer found guilty of killing Vicky Hamilton. [5]


In Scotland. Probably in Saughton Maximum Security Prison.

The police think he might have been 'Bible John', the serial killer who was active years ago. Apparently he was in the neighbourhood at the time, and the killings stopped as soon as he moved away. A vile individual.

Life / Where can i get a real good piece of juicy steak in Warsaw....? [15]

I agree! The Poles have many fine qualities but good beef butchery is not one of them. The first time I bought steak, it was cut using a bread knife by an old lady who wiped the blood off her fingers onto her dress. That was at Marcpol.

Try Carrefour. They're a bit hit and miss but sometimes have good steak. If not there, try the shopping arcade next to Hala Mirowska (NOT the Hala itself, but the newer buildings to the right. There are some reasonable butchers there and sometimes even lamb. Mini Europa have good steak but expensive.

News / The Heart of John Paul 2 will be in Wawel. [14]

People won't forget him quickly. Though it's worth remembering that he left a last will and testament making it very clear that his body was not to be mucked about with and that he wanted to be buried in the Vatican. In one piece. His wishes should be respected.

Life / Expats in Poland: Are you going to live in Poland long or short term? [65]

Came here ten years ago (planning to stay for a year) and liked it. Opened a business, so here long-term. With every year that passes I have fewer ties 'at home' and more here.

It seems almost surreal that five years after I came from the UK to Poland, thousands of people started to move from Poland to the UK. The world is getting smaller.

Hard to say what I like/dislike about PL, being here feels normal and my life is here whether I like it or not - it would be an enormous upheaval to leave. I suppose I ended up here by chance, though I don't regret even one minute of my time here.

Life / Polish Police - my bad experience. [33]

I've had good and bad experiences. When I first came here I was stopped arbitrarily by the police in Warsaw and had money stolen from my wallet by them. On the other hand, when I needed them recently they were very good. People say they are changing for the better, especially in the capital.

News / The Heart of John Paul 2 will be in Wawel. [14]

Nice thought, but he made it crystal clear that he didn't want to be buried in PL. What's more important, his wishes or those of others?

History / Who Was Really Behind the Shooting of John Paul II? [21]

Worth remembering that the 'Illuminati' was a short-lived republican movement popular among university teachers in 18th century Bavaria and for the past 200 years has existed only in the minds of conspiracy theorists. It's true that none of the post-war Popes have been masons. Some of his more right-wing detractors claim JPII was a member. He wasn't as far as I know, although some of his best friends certainly were.

I thought the Mehmet Ali Agca thing has been cleared up years ago. Wikipedia has a good article on the matter.

Life / Where to get a cup of coffee in Warsaw? [40]


They've announced that they're opening branches in PL this year.

History / Who Was Really Behind the Shooting of John Paul II? [21]

Perhaps 'anti-monarchist' is a better term than 'republican' on an international forum - I was using the word in its UK rather than US meaning (very different concepts and individuals. As for Wikipedia, the English language version doesn't seem too heavily policed, given some of the aggressive disscussions and edits that happen. The Polish version is however somewhat controlled.

As for shadowy secret societies, I find it hard to believe they exist - life just ain't like thAt. And if seemingly opposing groups like "CIA/Zionists/Rothschilds/Arabs" are working together rather than fighting each other, surely that's a good thing?

Though Joe, I think you're right that there are financial conspiracies, just that they're not so well organised or wide ranging. As for the Rothschilds, they are a business 'empire' controlled by managers, rather than a shadowy group with dark ambitions. As for the assassination attempt on JPII (who by the way openly and honestly co-operated with the US and British govenments - even the CIA and MI6 - against communism), the finger should be pointed to the USSR and its satellites.

News / "We buy out Poland, Hungary, and Romania!" - the President of Israel [74]


Hmmmm...

If President Kaczynski made a speech saying that thanks to dynamism etc, Polish investors are buying up Manhattan, Hungary etc and that it's almost amazing, would you be "speechless at his arrogance" or proud?

History / The movie Defiance is a big lie (heroes that saved Poland suppored communism) [102]


Yes and no. There are no statistics about the number of Polish citizens killed for being homosexual during the holocaust - remember it wasn't illegal in pre-war Poland, and at leasr one gay bar remained open in Warsaw during the war. The only reliable statistic is that up to 55000 German and French citizens were killed for being gay. Europe-wide, 100000 is commonly quoted.

As for the film Defiance, nobody but an idiot expects Hollywood to be accurate. Remamber Braveheart and just about any film touching on the struggle for Irish independence.

UK, Ireland / Polish people in an english army [85]

But would a Polish citizen be able, in all conscience, to swear the Oath of Allegiance to The Queen? And what would happen if there was some sort of European conflict and he found himself having to bear arms against Poland?

Life / When in Poland, should I be British or Scottish? [104]

People here don't quite get the concept of Britishness. People assume from my surname that I'm Scottish, people who've met my family assume I'm Welsh, If they aski about my roots they describe me as Irish and when I say I'm from the North of England, they say "You mean Scotland?".

Life / Are there any good vitamin shops in Warsaw? [9]

Rossmann have some, and there's a vitamin and healthfood shop on the bottom level of Zloty Taras. There are plenty of bodybuilder shops - a popular one is in the corridors under Dworzec Centralny.

Life / CAN ANYONE TELL ME WERE I CAN BUY A 2M SATELITTE DISH IN POLAND [12]

Try allegro.pl (a Polish version of Ebay). They have some cheap ones at the moment.

Life / MARKS & SPENCER IN WARSAW [15]

Also try 'Kuchnie Świata' at Złoty Taras and Arkadia. They have quite an interesting selection of foreign foods for those tired of Polish 'cuisine'.

Life / English Books in Poznan [13]

The British Council library on Ratajczaka (directions above) is excellent!

Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]


Nice post which sums up a lot of what the political gay movement is about.

As for gay and lesbian people from Islamic countries, I know a few who have come here to Warsaw for a better life.