News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

"traditional parties" are so uncompetent and irresponsible that they work for extremist parties.

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

Yes, Chemi, it was gross so straight to the garbage can and I had to eat something else ;). For sure, a home made purée with good butter, cream or milk, egg (there are people who even beat the white) and cheese but the potatoes ought to be of the right kind ;). Thinking about it, I may make one some time this week :)

Work / What's the hourly rate for a respectable small business lawyer in Poland? [5]

It seems to me realistic (in Warsaw).

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

Yes again, Chemi! In practice we can mash any kind of potatoes once they are cooked but some kinds are more suitable than others. As said, once I had to throw my purée away because it was uneatable. Potatoes were gluey and dark yellow and could not absorb other ingredients that I put (butter, milk or cream, egg and Swiss or Parmesan cheese). It was so weird

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

@Chemi: yes, there must be several kinds of potatoes with red skin but like you, I believe (most of?) they are firm and more suitable to salads. Potatoes to be mashed are to be starchy and softer.

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

@Atch: "lol"! No, what I mean is that unless starchy, some potatoes cannot be mashed. They are to be eaten boiled with butter, cream but without being mashed ;). Once I mashed some potatoes that were not suitable and the thing was uneatable ;)

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

According to what I've found through Google, best are the starchy kinds, e.g. Russet and Katahdin (?). The problem is that in Polish stores (other than Carrefour hypermarkets) nothing is indicated so we don't know what we buy. We know that we buy potatoes and that's all ;).

At Carrefour, they don't give names but on bags they indicate "for salad", "for fries", "for oven"...etc ... and it helps

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

I don't think red skinned potatoes can be mashed. I believe they are to be boiled or cooked in the oven.

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

There are things that seem to be "amazing"... I'm sometimes even "proud of it" since everybody expect miracles. However, I enjoy eating fancy food and also watching cooking programs ;).

News / Kaczyński slams "political correctness" plague in Poland [85]

According to all Poles I happen to know, all his "program" has consisted of the socalled JOW about which nobody gives a sh... in Poland (we saw the referendum) ;). Claiming to be "anti" system (whereas he has made a lot of money thanks to the system) and being a rock singer is enough for that lost youth. For me, it is NO program ;)

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

@Atch: in all big Carrefour stores (not the "Express" type). This has been so for about 2 years and I was shocked first time because completely new in Poland. In France (and I suppose in most Western countries), stores indicate kinds of potatoes and what they are for and as a result, French shoppers don't go to buy potatoes but to buy "x" or "y" type depending upon what they mean to cook.

Although I don't and can't cook, I do enjoy good eating and I know ;) that if wrong kind of potatoes used, the recipe can be messed up. Normal ;).

News / Kaczyński slams "political correctness" plague in Poland [85]

@Ziem: if Kukiz does have a program and you kow it, just tell me/us about it. He made 20% in May simply because he claimed to be "anti systèm" and this always appeals to a lot of dissastified citizens. Around 90% of people voting for him are 18-20 year old kids with no knowledge in anything. He claims to be "anti system" and is a rock singer so for those kids it's enough ;)

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

I was at Sejm until 1 hour ago and will go back there on Monday am and no strange athmosphere ;). Everybody knows that PiS shall win and that's it... Only in PF some people panick ;).

However, what strikes me is the huge difference in polls between PiS and PO. Normally two leading parties are separed by a few % but the way it is now amazes me. I believe that PiS is not any good so most probably people intend to vote AGAINST PO rather than for PiS. Seriously, were and are PO so bad that they are so far behind PiS? Am just asking..

Food / Best Polish Potato Variety for Mashing [67]

I don't know much re potatoes but I know that in Carrefour stores, they sell potatoes in bags as per their use: to be mashed, fried, cooked in oven, boiled, in salad... Otherwise stores in Poland never indicate what kind of potatoes they sell and therefore unless an expert and able to recognize potatoes by their look, it is a pure lottery. Once I bought some potatoes to mash and I had to through my purée away, it was waxy with a weird consistence. In Western countries, stores always indicate the name of each potatoe kind and its cooking use....

Real Estate / Help on choosing the best neighborhood to live in Warsaw.. [20]

Personally, I prefer my neighborhood (Stara Ochota), 10 mn away from Centrum. Saska is a mixture of communist housing with old (poor) folks and fancy houses inhabited by French expats (French gymnazjum and lyceum there). Easier too to move around from Stara Ochota.

Well, I don't want too many people in my area so good if people go elsewhere ;).

Work / Thirteenth Salary in Poland [13]

They do it in France too (called "le treizième mois") and in some sectors, including banks (for which I did work) even 14 months (16 months at Central Bank). These are real salaries. In Poland I know some French companies which do...

PS: Absolutely Jon! Since in France we have the choice of either paying tax every month (like here and in most countries) or in 3 installments, as I chose the second option, I kept my 2nd pay for tax whereas alot prefer to spend everything on presents and on food/booze for the holidays and then have to request special favors from ... Tax Office :)

Classifieds / New Poland's naturist FB page for expats and other English speakers [27]

My goodness me, Pol! At your Church, it must be a riot if all of them are like you ;). Maybe I need to start attending to get good laughs ;). In terms of paper, best to avoid grey paper (still sold? I have not seen any for years in stores where I go to or I may go to the "wrong" stores ;)) since it does not clean anything, it just rub the sh@@@@ all over the butt.

Well, I suppose that naturists don't care about "modern civilization" and don't need mobile phones. If they want to talk to someone, they just meet them....

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Not only out of politics but religion should be taken out of public life in general and should become a mere private matter. Hence, no indoctrination in schools, no cross or whatever sign in public buildings....

If PiS need "God's help" to win on 25.10, it's bad sign ...

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Yes, Maf! I believe that in any country, after 5, 8 or 10 years, people get fed up and want a change. This is democracy. Personally I would hate having the same ones in power for 20, 30, etc....... years. After 8 years of PO, most Poles are fed up and want to change and that's all. As a matter of fact, even if I do NOT like PiS, I was glad to see Komorowski out and I cannot wait till EW leaves....

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

@Wulkan: even if you sell potatoes or sh@@@@t, this is called "business".

Life / Where can I buy a bed frame (as in the picture) in Poland? [10]

@Jardinero: of course, it's most important since profits are sent back to company's home countries and of course the most powerful countries are those with richest multinational companies. As I am not used to seeing Scandinavian companies, besides Ikea, I had to notice that it was from Denmark because at first I did not know. How many Danish (big) companies do you know (if you are not from Denmark and don't live in Denmark)? Probably no more than I do and that's why I have noticed ;).

Off-Topic / The factors that caused the fall of the Soviet Empire [12]

Absolutely, Pol, in politics (and in business) there are no friendship and no love.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

@Delph: No, I'm just talking about the (quite a few) disappointed PO's voters I know. All these did not vote in May and don't intend to vote on 25th. These people just don't care any longer about politics and politicians (like I suppose at least 50% of Poles and of anyone in general).

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

disappointed PO voters will stay home. As I said, I know quite a few who stopped voting in May.

Life / Where can I buy a bed frame (as in the picture) in Poland? [10]

Maybe a nice company to work with but the quality of their furniture is very low. Aren't they from Denmark? Last winter, I bought some dish towels and some "guest towels" for a few ZL each and good quality but I would not buy furniture. Better to go to Ikea, Black Red White or Agata not to spend a lot of money. Of course, there are some fancy furniture stores in Poland (not far from where I live, there is great store with Italian furniture with tables for instance at over 4,000) but I'm only talking about cheaper things. Most Poles shop at Ikea.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

That's what I have often heard from PO people. I know quite a few people here in Warsaw who have stopped voting for PO as they claim "PO have done nothing" and who usually do not vote any longer. Some of them have turned to TR but most don't bother voting at all. Could some of them vote for people such as Kukiz....? If a lof of people don't vote, it could be very bad for PO as obviously PiS's people will vote...

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

You know, Doug, there is what people say and what they do. Nobody claims to vote PSL or Kukiz for instance and they do get votes...

However, Monday October 26 won't be any different

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

@Pol: I remember now that she's originally from Hungary. Besides being a wh, she was completely stupid.... Well, in Italy they like "colorful" people ;). As to men voting for women just because of their good looks, it happened no later than in May in Poland. Over 90% of voters for M. Ogórek were ... men. I suppose that Miller and Co, instead of a program, thought a cute blond would do the job, which was stupid and also insulting to both M. Ogórek (who never belonged to SLD and who has left politics) and women in general.

Netheless, no one gets elected now because of their ideas but simply because they are better at marketing.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

@Wulkan: this picture as a matter of fact is one of the very best one can find. Normally she looks much worse.

Life / Where can I buy a bed frame (as in the picture) in Poland? [10]

@David: did you look at it in real or only in picture? There is a Jysk store right next to the Leclerc store I often go to and I often look. Right now I'm looking (not too hard as not a priority) for a (not expensive) cupboard to put into my hallway and no later than yesterday I went to Jysk on my way to Leclerc and my opinion is: that not only their furniture is ugly but also very bad quality. For cheap prices, Ikea is by far the very best one can find in Poland. Jysk is ok to buy coat hangers or dish towels but certainly not for furniture. I doubt their bed will be strong and after a few years (if not before), you'll need to buy another.

Go to better stores, if not Ikea, to BBR or Agata with prices very close to Ikea's