UK, Ireland / Is it good for Poland as Sinn Fein will win today in Northen Ireland [282]


Now! There it is! A perfect example of the nasty, mean-spirited attitude that prevails amongst so many Polish people - even though you're only a plastic Pole, or perhaps even because of that very fact.


And again - what a pitiful excuse of a society, if that is the prevailing attitude.

Thanks for proving my point Pollyanna :)

UK, Ireland / Is it good for Poland as Sinn Fein will win today in Northen Ireland [282]


I know the truth hurts Paw :)

UK, Ireland / Is it good for Poland as Sinn Fein will win today in Northen Ireland [282]


Yes, I know but I lived in London and I didn't see quite such callousness and disconnectedness there as in Warsaw - and of course I found myself comparing Warsaw to Dublin and you can't really compare two such different places. I was just fairly shocked that in a so-called Catholic country like Poland, nobody seemed to give a toss about anyone, whereas in Ireland, as Catholics, we were actively brought up to help others at every opportunity. That didn't seem to be part of the culture here in Poland at all.

You're right that it's improving. It's just that it feels a bit 'forced' and self-conscious.

UK, Ireland / Is it good for Poland as Sinn Fein will win today in Northen Ireland [282]


That's not what I'm referring to at all. Polish people are lacking in compassion for their own. I was really shocked when I first lived in Warsaw and saw the lack of social capital. Jon will know what I'm talking about. I was on the tram one day and saw an elderly man on the street, clearly very unwell, looked as if he was about to collapse, and nobody gave him a second glance. Utterly callous, heartless and unfeeling. I've helped many an elderly person whom I've seen struggling with walking sticks and heavy shopping. I said to one old lady that I was sorry I didn't speak good Polish and she replied 'You may not have good Polish but you have a good heart'.


I'm not remotely woke. As I've told you before 'wokes' don't do fabulous impersonations of Nigerians - or Indians. Here's the script for the Nigerian guy.

"Ah am wantin' to deevoss ma wife in LaGOS and marree ma Polish girlFRIEND." The emphasis on those syllables is very important to get the accent right.

I also have no patience with those who can't decide if they're Martha or Arthur. Basically I'm old-school. LG and B, plus the good old straight-forward trannies who go down the pub for a few drinks wearing their wife's skirt, I can deal with that. (except when they have facial hair, that's too weird, a beard and a skirt). But all that non-binary malarkey is a step too far.

Unfortunately you are too bereft of imagination to grasp the complexity that is Atch :))

Anyway I have Gołąbki to make so I must say farewell for now.


So many of the Protestant Anglo-Irish were an absolute asset to our country, true Irishmen and true patriots. Great men and women and such an important part of our history.


According to Ruth Dudley Edwards. She's what's known in Ireland as a West-Brit. She was quite a respected writer in her day. I read her biography of Patrick Pearse when I was sixteen. Enjoyed it. I was researching an essay. Won a prize from the Old Dublin Society for it! She seems to have gone a bit bats now. She's nearly eighty so she's just a bit of an elderly eccentric at this stage.

@Alien, no, you're wrong there.

UK, Ireland / Is it good for Poland as Sinn Fein will win today in Northen Ireland [282]


How many Polish girls have been raped by Polish citizens? Stats please.


I'm speaking only from the experience of the families I encountered over twenty years or so. I might say the same thing about the Polish families I've met - although to be honest they've been more of a mixed bag. They're not that big on altruism for one thing. That was one of the first things I noticed about Polish people.

Law / Rejecting Inheritance [44]

Novi, don't be such an idiot. Under Polish law you inherit the deceased's debts as well as their assets. People pursue debts. The Polish courts even pursue minors for the debts of grandparents! Take a look at this, from one of your favourite news sources. I remember the case, it was so shocking to me.

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550999/Impoverished-Polish-child-forced-dead-grandfathers-debt.html

Law / Rejecting Inheritance [44]

Steve. you posted here a couple of weeks ago and I actually answered your post with the information you needed. Here is a link to my reply.

polishforums.com/law/poland-father-life-support-usa-heir-88219/

History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]


Me too! I like the 1960s ones.


Absolutely. The whole point of such a car is the pleasure of driving it.

History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]


Yes. Even Rolls Royce is tainted with vulgarity. A Bentley is the only way to go.

News / Pawel Adamowicz, Gdansk mayor, dies after stabbing [353]


I know how fond you are of grammatical constructs, but that would be conjecture :)


And yet it's thanks to him that you now find yourself in the position of having to deal with the fallout from the 'no homework' policy for which the education system is ill-prepared. It was he who mooted it in the first place. When you make foolish promises to get votes you then have to deliver on them.I'm afraid it's another example of populist policies that lead at best nowhere and at worst to disaster. As I've often said, they're all as bad as each other in different ways.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [940]

Pawian, the problem is not the abolishing of homework, the problem is piecemeal educational reform being carried out by governments on a whim. The 'no homework' policy works - just look at Finland - but only as part of a whole system. The curriculum, the methodology of teaching, the measuring of students' progress and attainment, everything needs to change - and it needs to start at pre-school level, just as it does in Finland.

Anyway, you're a creative person so you can meet the challenge. Look at it as an opportunity for something new in your teaching life.

News / How will Poland be affected by WW3 which has now started [559]


No. What Anders means by a citizen army is basically an army reserve. The units would be equipped, not the individuals. My own grandfather was in the British army reserve for eight years and did regular training, extra courses etc. He was called up when war broke out. He was a proper trained soldier already, that's what Anders means. It's also essential for a solid core of NCOS which are really the backbone of the British army. A good Corporal can quickly be promoted to Sergeant in the event of war.

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]


A very credible author. Do you doubt the veracity of the facts he presents?

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]


So tell me what you know, based on your reading. It's too much I suppose to expect that you remember the title of the book or the author?

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]


Irish history and mythology are pretty much inseparable so I'd suggest you read the first history of Ireland written by the monks, the Leabhar Gabhála Éireann (The Book of the Taking of Ireland, also called The Book of Invasions). The basic gist is that Ireland was invaded five times by supernatural races, the last of them being the Tuatha Dé Danann and finally by humans who reached a pact with the Tuatha who retreated underground but who still come out from time to time, which is why people may encounter them.

If you want a quick potted history of the war, this is accurate:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatha_D%C3%A9_Danann

For the full mythology you need to read the Four Cycles:

Mythological Cycle: The first Irish mythological cycle details the arrival and disappearance of the first inhabitants of Ireland, a group of godlike or supernatural people called Tuatha Dé Dannan. The disappearance of these people gave rise to the Aos Sí, more contemporary mythical Irish creatures including leprechauns, changelings, and the Banshee.

Ulster Cycle: The second cycle is thought to have taken place in the 1st century, around the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. It details quests and feats of ancient heroes, specifically in the areas of Ulster, in the north, and Leinster, in the east.

Fenian Cycle: The third cycle recounts the journey of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his mighty warriors, known as the Fianna.

Historical Cycle: The final Irish mythological cycle, known as the Cycle of the Kings, is the history and genealogy of ancient Irish royals as told by court poets.

Unfortunately there is really no single source for any of this. No single book covers the whole thing or even a whole cycle but there is a collection of translations of tales from all four cycles by Cross and Slover called "Ancient Irish Tales" which is pretty comprehensive.

Oh and there's also this one, very good.

amazon.co.uk/Early-Irish-Myths-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140443975/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37CAXBNM8LAPA&keywords=early+irish+myths+and+sagas&qid=1706110208&sprefix=early+irish+m%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1

News / How will Poland be affected by WW3 which has now started [559]

Why don't we wait to hear the actual speech instead of what he's expected to say. Btw he expects war with Russia at some point in the next twenty years, not any time soon.

Work / Teaching (high school) Art & Design in Poland realistic? [4]


Not in your field :)

These look interesting:

mnw.art.pl/projekty/wolontariat/informacje-podstawowe/

ochotnicy.waw.pl/aktualnosci/847-ksiazka-i-sztuka-warszawskie-partnerstwo-dla-wolontariatu-na-zoliborzu

Work / Teaching (high school) Art & Design in Poland realistic? [4]


Bascially any jobs website will have an education section.


I presume those are private pre-schools? The pay may not be as much as they say. They sometimes advertise high salaries, especially if they're using a recruitment agency, but the actual offer is lower or if it's from an agency the job doesn't really exist. They just want to register you on their books and that's how they suck you in. Do the jobs mention language skills in Polish?

Another thing to bear in mind if working for private pre-schools is that they are often run by chains on a franchise basis and the owners/principals of the schools have no background in education and make a lot of demands on staff. Expecting you to do a lot of stuff outside of working hours is common.

The only thing I can think of that you may have overlooked is working in art therapy or art for disabled adults or children, maybe in a centre for autism or something.

A lot of jobs in Warsaw are found by word of mouth, through making contacts, so I'd say get out and about and start networking in likely places. You can also go door-to-door with your CV. In Poland a visit in person still works better than emails.

You could also try making contacts through volunteering, though it's not a big field in Poland.

Forgot to mention, a public high school in Poland would require fluent Polish.

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]


A banshee IS a fairy - 'bean sidhe', it means fairy woman. But the fairies of Ireland are not cute little things with wings and floaty dresses. They are more like another race of people, a supernatural race with whom we share the land. The story is that there was a great battle between us a long time ago and we finally agreed to share the place and not interfere with each other.

I really can't see an issue with it. I think that to deny the possibility of their existence is a lot stranger.


Actually that was the Irish monks :) and don't forget the Book of Kells.

But I love England.

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]


What are you on about?


They didn't 'choose' it. They converted because their ruler did, as was the case in most countries - but not Ireland of course :)


Verily I salute thee, oh master of witicisms!

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]


Maf strikes again! That one deserves a standing ovation :))


There is a difference between Satanists (idiots) and Pagans or those who are interested in following pre-Christian religious practices. For example in Ireland, many pre-Christian beliefs and practices survived and co-existed quite happily alongside Christianity. My own grandmother who went to Mass every day, knew and believed a lot of stuff that you would probably call witchcraft eg. the custom of the piseog, the belief in fairies and the necessity of respecting them for fear of retribution. She wouldn't see any contradiction between the two belief systems and neither do I.

rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0706/1151667-piseogs-ireland-folklore-evil-magic-spells/#:~:text=The%20word%20piseog%20has%20different,are%20not%20exclusive%20to%20Ireland.

Life / Medical screening in Poland [4]

There is a chain called Lux Med who have English speaking doctors. The rest of the staff have limited English though.

Life / Satanic and Heretical Manifestations in Poland [123]

Johnny, I think you'll find that Bobbers is attempting 'being hilariously funny'. Doesn't quite make it but a few marks for effort.

Law / Taxes and money, need some clarifications... [8]


There is a very good online accountant called Taxe.pl. My husband used them when self-employed and they were very efficient. The package he used cost under 100zl per month and they did his monthly income tax and VAT returns and ZUS for that. They send in the relevant paperwork to the tax office and notify you of how much you have to pay.

taxe.pl/oferta.html

Off-Topic / Things People Say in Ireland - Even though Novichok thinks they can't. [66]

Yes, very weird. According to RTE news he was Lithuanian.

Off-Topic / Things People Say in Ireland - Even though Novichok thinks they can't. [66]


It's nice, isn't it? I love seeing all the generations playing music together, the youngest kids and the 'aul fellas' :)) They put the word out on Facebook a few weeks before and gave the name of the tune to learn and then people simply turned up on the day with their instruments.

Another thing you'd like is in Dublin on Tuesday nights in the Stag's Head pub. You bring your ukelele - I'm serious! actually you can bring a guitar or a banjo as well, you won't be turned away. If you can't play you can just join in the singing:



I'm sure that as a Brit you know what I mean about missing 'the music' when I'm in Poland.

Off-Topic / Things People Say in Ireland - Even though Novichok thinks they can't. [66]

I agree and don't forget the music! Everybody in the world should be doing this. None of these people had met before the day they recorded this. That's what being a nation is about:

Off-Topic / Things People Say in Ireland - Even though Novichok thinks they can't. [66]

No need for that. They can have a GAA cumann. Poland already has Cumann Warszawa :))

Off-Topic / Things People Say in Ireland - Even though Novichok thinks they can't. [66]


The Chinese Premier was in Ireland today and according to the Irish government Ireland wants a "very strong and constructive relationship" with China, Whilst the old Chinee himself said "We are both committed to long-standing friendship and co-operation between our two countries, which really is the theme of this relationship and second there's huge potential in our cooperation," So you'd better watch your step Comrade :) you could all be speaking Irish a few years from now ;)

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [334]


Wonderful! I had one granny who was tee-total apart from a half pint of Guinness now and again for the iron - the other had her hair dyed bright red, Elsie Tanner style, and frequented the lounge bar of the local hotel, knocking back gin and tonics and cavorting with her old flames from pre-Grandad days :))