UK, Ireland / Finding ingredients for traditional British Xmas dinner in Poland? [21]

a good local butcher should have turkey pieces. got a quarter turkey last year myself with one leg bone in it. took that out and boiled with neck for gravy. rolled the meat. much nicer than a trad turkey as not dry. Anyway Selgros sell whole frozen turkeys all year around and they are as good as anywhere.

I have never found a proper Ham here. DIY only option.

Sausage meat with require DIY seasoning.

Marks is the easiest to get most things.

PS: for a good cider there is a new one on the market called Green Mill. Finally. Reasonable price and not loaded with sugar. Alma have it.

Real Estate / Apartment Rental Agencies in Łódź [16]

booking.com/hotel/pl/kinematograf-piotrkowska.pl.html

This is new and central. Has a small standard kitchen in each. Don't know if it suitable for 45 days though.

Law / Investors/Entrepreneurs.. Steer Clear of Poland. [77]

You would want to be very careful, and certain about what you are doing.

In certain areas you could have an issue with extortion (Petrol stations, restaurants/pubs). In others bureaucracy.

Do a lot of research. I'm not saying don't, just speak to people who can accurately advise.

Study / Tips/advice for an Erasmus student in Lodz [10]

For accommodation including bills I think you should allow 5/600pln per month if sharing an apartment. Service charges (including a hot/cold water allowance can be 1/3 extra on basic rent). Then Gas, elec, internet/tv will be on top again.

1200pln per month seems extremely tight to me.

Law / Which bank in Poland offers the best interest for savings in Euro? [13]

mbank offer 0.8% on a saving account. it comes with a visa debit card if you want.

Life / Wedding venues in Lodz or Zgierz?? [15]

dwor-kruszow.pl/kontakt.php

We went to a different place I wouldn't recommend, because of the owners. The above really impressed us but was too small. The owner was excellent and it looked fabulous.

Life / Cost of Living in Lodz [50]


The USA is not the Western World. Judging from the slight grammatical errors I'd venture the poster is not a native English speaker, and guess they are coming from another EU country as there is no mention of a visa. Also Lodz has a burgeoning call-centre industry that require speakers of other EU languages like French and Swedish. That salary would be well below average for someone coming from France, Germany etc - but not Greece or Spain.


Like drama much? Yes the new centres have taken many of the chain stores from Piotrkowska, which leaves the street free for independent stores and businesses. Also the entire street is currently being resurfaced so obviously there will be an impact on businesses. There are a few units that have been empty on the street for years, but that is because the tenants agreed crazy rents and now cannot pass on the units. I know this has happened in the case of a number of banks. They rented units and then merged with another bank, meaning consolidation. The street is also the longest high/main pedestrianised street in Europe, filling every unit is a challenge as there are hundreds, if not more than 1,000.

The poster primarily asked for information on the cost of living in the city. I have cited exapmles of costs here, and I have visited most cities in Poland. I have yet to see a large city as cheap as Lodz for socialising.

Life / Cost of Living in Lodz [50]

Hi SC,

Unlike others here I live in Lodz, and choose to do so. It's no Florence, but I think it has it's advantages, and some flaws of course. There are 700,000 people living here, it is a large University city. There are now plenty of foreigners living, working, studying here. There are innumerable options for socialising and all at a fraction the cost of larger cities. There are plenty of young people to socialise with, and most speak English.

A basic, central one-room apartment will start at roughly 1,200pln per month including service charges, excluding utilities. Sharing would be cheaper of course.

Lunch out costs 15pln+, a beer 6-9pln. You can spend more easily if you like and the likes of Manufaktura charges a premium. The restaurant's here are excellent and varied.

3,800pln in Lodz is a perfectly respectable salary (guessing approx 3,000pln p/m nett), I know many living on less.

As said by others here versus a western salary it's not brilliant. But then I know Spaniards working in Ireland for 50e a week, learning English as there is no work at home.

News / Shops in Poland to be closed on Sunday? [208]

I'm not religious in the slightest. I do think there is merit in the German system however. Shopping centres being open 24/7 is convenient, but these private companies cannot be trusted not to exploit workers. They try to erode the premium payments made constantly for unsociable hours.

I think restricting Supermarkets and shopping centres to something like 10-4pm on Sundays would be a good compromise. The leisure industry would of course be excluded, as would convenience stores under a certain size. People could still get whatever essentials they need.

In Paris pharmacies rotate their Weekend openings around local clusters of 4/5 shops. Means public get essential service while people get reasonable leisure time. I think such practical solutions work best.

Law / Moving to Poland and start a business [16]

HI Ryan,

Try Infosys and SWS for jobs. With an IT back ground you should have a fair shot at work, even without Polish.

southwestern.pl/Kariera,6,0.html
infosysbpo.com/global-presence/europe/delivery-center/pages/lodz.aspx

both are hiring as far as I know.

UK, Ireland / Polish city that's moved to Britain [120]

Thank you the Sun for reminding us all why nobody reads your rag.

A quick 12 hour stint over on Ryanair and a few photo's on Piotrkowska is sufficient to come to absolute conclusions on the city, its people and its future. A few cut and pastes from Wikipedia to suffice as research.

It is a laugh that this man calls himself a journalist, he is not even related to one.

Real Estate / MNE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY , LOFTS, U SCHEIBLERA, LODZ [36]

Results of sealed bids auction yesterday:
65 registered bidders.

45 of 233 apartments sold. 1 of 7 buildings (the cheapest one).

Examples:
40m2 sold for 175k pln with 4 bidders.
156m2 sold for 635 pln.

The liquidator says she will hold another sale in the new year at the same prices. Doubt they will get anywhere. This sale will have cherry picked off the best apartments, and at 4,000pln+ per m2 you can get better apartments elsewhere in Lodz. The lack of enough windows and balcony's will mean IMO the remaining are not even worth 3,000 pln m2.


Not any more. A fire destroyed the building - "suspicious".

lodz.gazeta.pl/lodz/1,35153,11808465,Pozar_tkalni_Unionteksu__straz_podejrzewa_zaproszenie.html
lodz.gazeta.pl/lodz/1,35153,11808979,Uniontex__co_z_budynkiem__Bedzie_sledztwo_ws_pozaru.html
lodz.gazeta.pl/lodz/51,35153,11810251.html?i=1

Real Estate / Poland Agent refuses to let me see their tenancy agreement unless I sign to pay their fee [13]

An agent last year asked us to sign a similar document regarding a land purchase. She refused to show us the land unless we signed, giving her a fee on the purchase. When we did she then added the address of the property, AFTER we had signed. Altering a contract without consent after it is completed, I laughed! Even in Poland this cannot be legally enforceable. I videoed the whole thing.

These agents/brokers are cancerous scum. The Polish Gov need to bring in a law mandating the seller pays all fees, like the rest of the civilised world. Until then these quasi-criminals will continue to trade with impunity.

Food / I am a cider drinker, where to get it in Krakow [40]

Joker Polish Fruit Cider is currently 1+1 free in Tesco.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


Their prices are a scandal though.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]


I'm pretty sure by law it should be 19 in offices. Some of the offices here require sun tan lotion in the winter. You would actually sweat in them.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]

I'm always asked here am I not cold. It was 19 degrees in Lodz yesterday. People here dress by the calendar, not the weather.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]

We have NEVER put the heat on in apartment in 5 years. Last year it was minus 20 outside and we had to open the window!!!! Utter madness the heat people have houses at here in the winter. Same for offices and shops too.

Love / Why don't Polish women treat education seriously for themselves? [130]


a weekend in Paris?


What utter tripe.


Polish families are on average smaller that western families, and therefore women are more likely to work.

Law / Selling product to restaurants/ supermarkets [7]


You mentioned would HAVE to be tested, not true at all. Intra EU movements do not require any prior testing. Unless there is a reason the authorities would only spot check.

Law / Selling product to restaurants/ supermarkets [7]

Not at all correct. If it is certified by one EU state any other recognises this. Its called the free market. The EU has set minimum hygiene, HACCP and quality standards across the EU. The Polish authorities can of course inspect and test the product if they wish.

No harm in contacting supermarkets directly. Might be worth looking up Polagra, trade show on in Poznan in a few weeks.

Law / 1 euro = 4,46637049 złotego polskiego [21]

read last week a piece by some esteemed genius in one of the profiteers (ML or such like) that the PLN is irrationally high versus the euro. Should be going the other way, and would in his opinion.

Love / How many Polish girls are married to foreigners? / How many Polish boys to foreign girls? [104]


real patriotism! was the German passport cheaper?

If this clown arrived in Germany a year before the fall of communism he is about 22/23. What does he know about anything. He claims to be Polish but doesn't speak the language or even have a Polish passport. Why engage with him?

He also lists a long line of "conquests" of ladies of various nationalities, at 23! He is either; Casanova, paying for it, or a liar.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

de bad monkey, giz a shout for a pint of plain! Mad for Porter

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Bad time of year to be looking for anglophiles in Lodz, Holiers. Try Kaliska, usually where they hang out.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

Szanowni Państwo,
Informujemy, że od 27 lipca br. wszystkie rejsy regularne zostają zawieszone do odwołania, tym samym wstrzymana zostaje sprzedaż biletów lotniczych.

All flights suspended until further notice.As per company website.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Graeme, Graeme, Graeme.

So innocent - comparing Norway. I paid 9pln in Manufaktura for a pint last weekend and was annoyed. Pints are about 6ish pln downtown (1.25 pounds) . A can in a supermarket is 50p (2.50pln). Pints are fine her, just 1%+ stronger than home so pace yourself!

Yes it is all the above reasons that makes me yearn for by beloved rugby to turn into an entertainment farce!!! Actually those rules would suit a man of my "standing" but I can't buy into a sport that lasts 2-3 hours. I'd much prefer to embarrass myself for 80 mins and near die at the end.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


Went to college in Dundee myself and I would agree, way more scary. I have a very good Scottish mate who did his BA in Paisley, he said it was a scary place at night.

Lodz with be like Neverland compared.

PS Graeme, I have seen some eidgets making fools of themselves playing that American bastardisation of my beloved sport here. I'm sure you'll find them online. Anyway when you arrive I'll allow you buy me a pint if you like ;) (didn't forget everything from my time in Scotland)

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


Ah another proud Pole! I've never seen a nation like it to put its own down.

Graeme, do you play rugby by chance? Great way to meet people, we have a lot of Erasmus student playing with us. Very low standard v Scotland, we play mainly 7's.

gentlemensrc.pl

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

Budget airlines mean we can travel regularly as opposed to the good old days of 400pound short flights. I hate flying Ryanair, but welcome them because of price.

I would fly OLT, only booking on a credit card though. IMO they will be long gone by Christmas. No business strategy, not a clue what they are doing.

PS Ryanair have the highest safety and servicing standards in the industry. They know 1 plane crash could ruin them (remember Valujet, exactly), and they have more flights per day than anyone. They run their own maintenance facility in Prestwick too.