News / Polish man tries to sell British mother into white slave trade [128]

I just popped in to see how Polonius Forum was doing. Crow's comment reminded me why I don't bother with this ridiculous forum much anymore.

Work / Studies In Poland, is it easy to survive on part-time jobs? [259]


That's true for those who are looking for work or uni places, but Cambridge exams will always have their place. I've taught both, and was briefly a Cambridge examiner (not worth the hassle - crap pay). An IELTS certificate is valid for, I think, two years, so it's OK to use it to get a job, but it expires quickly. Also, IELTS exams can be taken every month of the year, unlike Cambridge. Camridge is better for students who are looking for a deeper understanding of structure and are interested in long-term study. IELTS is great for work- and study-based English.

Food / Dry sausage Polish recipe [4]

Frisco.pl sell it for 45.92/kg, and they have an English language function on their site.

Food / Dry sausage Polish recipe [4]

My advice would be to find Kabo kielbasa Biebzanska in an online shop. It would be hard to make a dried sausage as good as this Kabo product at home.

Life / Should I expect racism as a 'black' woman in Poland [149]

We're thinking of doing a public one next year, following the success of our Burns night this year. I won't post a link to me singing in a kilt.

Life / Should I expect racism as a 'black' woman in Poland [149]

agniesca, by stating that Poles are unsophisticated and unintelligent you make yourself look stupid. A week or so ago I had a dinner party to celebrate Bloomsday (never mind). In attendence were a film maker, an immunologist, a psychiatrist, a few university teachers and a translator. One guest, an assistant professor, had to drop out at the last minute. It's a pity I couldn't invite you to fill his place. You could have told all those Poles how barbaric they are.

Life / Advice for an American from Los Angeles moving to Bialystok [7]

Rio. PM me. I know B.Stok. nathans does not. 'Country living'!

News / Polish Bishop criticises Smolensk cult [12]


That's so funny. Thanks for the laugh.

Law / Stopped by the Poland's Police for no reason while walking at night [94]


That's worked for me a couple of times, but if the cop has you banged to rights, it's better to just accept the fine and points with grace. I copped four points and a 100PLN fine last week. I just consider it payment for all the times I don't get caught.

Polish cops are much improved these days, although the young guys I know are sceptical.

Real Estate / True or False - Credit for land and house in Poland [4]

I was self-employed when I applied for a mortgage. Although the bank I applied to wasn't my bank, it was reasonably straightforward. They just needed evidence of my income going back several years, and evidence from the court and tax authorities that I wasn't in hock to them or had outstanding litigation against me. In the end I didn't take their offer because they attached several strings which I found unacceptable. They said I would have to open a current account with them (that one was no problem). They said a minimum of 70% of my income would have to go through that account. They said I would not be able to pay off any capital for one year, just interest (crooks). They also said they would control the stages of the building work and fine me if I deviated from their plan. I told them to shove it, finished the house through earnings plus a smaller personal loan from my bank, and moved in six months later than I had hoped to do.

Real Estate / Foreigner buying house with 'Rolna'/Rural land in Poland - ever possible? Advice/help. [38]


If I were you, I'd speak at length with a lawyer who's conversant in this area of the law. The local authority may be willing to convert farming land to residential, or they may not, depending on a dozen factors. Don't buy land until you know for a fact that it is ok to build on.

Your neighbours are talking about half a dozen years ago. Poland has changed a lot since then.

Real Estate / Foreigner buying house with 'Rolna'/Rural land in Poland - ever possible? Advice/help. [38]


It can be difficult owing to the reasons you mention, but it is doable if you are willing to become obsessed with the project for two years or more. I've never regretted our decision to build. We bought an off-the-peg set of architects plans and paid a local architect to tweak them so we could have what we wanted. A hundred headaches later we got our place. We also know exactly what's behind every wall and under every floor.

One idea is to find a dilapidated house on a plot and demolish it. The plot will already be building land, so no problem there, but be careful when buying anything over fifty years old. The powers that be slap preservation orders on houses that are of no historical value, and which are falling to pieces. It can be a nightmare, and many owners are only relieved of the problem when they have an unfortunate fire which cleanly razes everything to the ground.

Work / Poland Business Help - I'm interested in investing in this country [28]

Thanks, Ali. I had no idea how to wash a car.

Work / Poland Business Help - I'm interested in investing in this country [28]

In bad winters I'd happily pay someone to shovel snow. Someone with a small sit-on snowplough would make a killing. In summer ice-cream places make plenty of money. Maybe seasonal is the way to go.


The personal trainer thing is definitely a goer, especially in the cities. I've recently taken up Zen meditation. I needed a hobby, and it's better than sitting around doing nothing.

Work / Poland Business Help - I'm interested in investing in this country [28]


There's one where I live. It's right next to a used car sales place and a Statoil, so ideally situated, but every time I pass, the guys are just standing around. There are several DIY carwashes in town where you can powerwash your car for 6 or 7 PLN.

As for second hand shops, they are closing more often than opening up. There will always be a market for them, but Poles have more money nowadays.

I always thought a salad bar next to or in a university would be a good idea. Young people are eating more healthily, especially girls, and they don't want schabowy and mashed potato anymore.

Love / Should I bring gifts? - help with a Polish wedding [46]


How many Polish weddings have you been to? It is certainly an option to give a money gift to the (usually young) couple getting married, but most guests give something more meaningful. The last wedding I went to was this summer. The guests didn't drink huge amounts of booze, and the second day party was a hired train to a picnic deep in the forest. Very civilised.


A thousand PLN for a couple to go to a friend's wedding?
Not round our way.

Food / UK beers in Poland and for what price? [7]

Lidl have English beer this week. Bishop's Finger, Spitfire, Abbot Ale, and a couple of others. About 4 PLN.

UK, Ireland / Why English do not like Polish? [417]


What would you know about it? You've never been here and know nothing about Poland. You just troll web forums and claim to be Polish, which is laughable.


On the strength of what? One grandparent?
Where were the others from? Do you troll German or Swedish forums too?

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Not true. I can't be bothered to link to reputable sites because people who think all vaccines contain mercury are not likely to listen anyway.

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]


There is little chance of a Brexit. According to polls, the ins and outs are more or less balanced, but there is a significant minority, 25%, of undecided voters. These people are important, and they are more likely to take the safer option and vote to stay in. Also, the in campaign has hardly started. The outs accuse the ins of scaremongering, while doing exactly the same, which is quite amusing. As for those pollsters who have the biggest financial interest in getting it right, i.e. the bookies, they offer a best price of 2/5 against an in vote.

News / Poland's Prime Minister Szydło keeps American bulldogs on short leash [36]

Yes, Ktos. Have some respect for older people. Very wise.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

Thanks. I never was much into the physical side of the genre, but I still play the Clash's first album in the car. You can take the man out of punk... (enjoying Dublin very much btw)

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

Atch, you are quite right. In the late 70s I could be found in the punk hangouts of London, copping an attitude in my army surplus and leather jacket. Now I am the very essence of civility! I don't even jaywalk. I wonder what Polonius did as a teenager. D'ye think he'll tell us?

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]

Is this a thread or just a rant about hating modern Poland?

UK, Ireland / Do Polish People Litter their own country (just like they do in the UK)? [84]

The thing I hate is finding stuff farmers drop on the dirt roads around the fields where I walk my dog. They just throw beer cans and water bottles from their tractors, and leave (cow-killing) plastic sheeting here and there. Unbelievable. I clear up. They must think the fairies collect it. If they think at all.

Real Estate / Real Estate current condition in Sopot area (checking the market) [21]


Do they? The fish I had up there tasted pretty fresh.

UK, Ireland / Good place (a bar or a pub) in North London to meet Polish people? [7]


Polish in London boroughs.
London Borough of Ealing - 21,400 (6.3%)
London Borough of Haringey - 11,300 (4.4%)
London Borough of Hounslow - 10,700 (4.2%)
London Borough of Brent - 10,900 (3.5%)
London Borough of Merton - 7,050 (3.5%)
London Borough of Waltham Forest - 8,600 (3.3%)
London Borough of Lambeth - 6,950 (2.3%)
London Borough of Wandsworth - 6,600 (2.2%)
London Borough of Enfield - 6,350 (2.0%)
Plus Balham, Hammersmith, Streatham and Lewisham.

Law / Foreigner Driving Polish registered Car in Poland - is it Legal?! [11]

That's too bad, Andreas, but it was worth a try. In the city where I work the Straż Miejska are keen as mustard. It's better to drive around until you find a parking space you are absolutely sure about. Szerokiej drogi!

Off-Topic / I need advice on baby clothes problem? [5]


It's got hee baw bee baw babbity to do with Ania. But is it worth falling out with your husband for? Why not talk to him again and explain your view about how you could use the three hundred? If he's still against it, return the clothes and strike Ania from your Christmas card list.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Yes, they were very good at that. It was a kind of good cop/bad cop thing, with gentle Jesus, all loving, all forgiving, and then there was the terrifying Old Testament God of thunder and retribution.


It is my fervent belief that nuns should not be placed within one mile of a child's mind.