Genealogy / Funny Polish surnames [64]


What about Kleks? It is even funnier.


I had a neighbour called Słonina - Lard.

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]


Wow, like bigos in Poland! Also best when heated several times.


Another wow. Yes, you can buy everything in GB.


You read too fast, I am afraid. Did you recently graduate from a fast reading course? hahahaha . Go back and read my message again - as an intelligent woman, you will certainly find out what I wanted to say about traditional English cuisine. hahahaha


My words exactly. Is calzone a traditional English dish?? hahahaha

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


They are going to also lose a lot of money. E.g, Belarussian well developed IT sector (World of Tanks etc) has been attacked by Lukashenka`s henchmen - they cut off the Internet or even arrest managers. Now most of IT companies are planning to transfer their headquarters and workers to other countries. It is business which brought Belarus 2 billion $ per year - they called it the Belarussian Silicon Valley.

The dictator is visibly hurting the economy which will result in the drastic worsening of living standards soon. Belarussians have no choice now - they can`t allow him to rule anymore or they will eat grass like North Koreans during famine.

REVOLUTION! But are they determined enough to overthrow the cockroach, as they call him?

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Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes!

sb/sth is of blood and bone.

Current political situation can be commented with this one:

the tail is wagging its dog.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

Hmm, in a flat? Yes, it is possible but most Brits don`t have it, I suppose. Besides, it is not a major improvement. Sth else, then.

OK - hint: most Poles don`t have it in their flats.

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]

It means that is was used in traditional English cuisine but today people seldom cook it so allspice is sort of forgotten in GB. Right?

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes, exactly.

sth goes/runs like blood from the nose.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


The improvement reminds of a British style of life in cities, really. Most British flats have it, I suppose. hahaha Drop those cables, they only look like ones but aren`t. What else can they be?


Hmm not quite coz the tank is Soviet-licensed Polish made T-55.


Yes, they are Podhale Highlanders. No dancing - those guys are too fat to be dancers. hahahahaha Look at other people - what can you say about them? What are they? What are they wearing? Why? Besides, check the date - it is important. Not exactly the one displayed but around it. Even the ground may give you a clue.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes! but most often meant to upset sb continuously, over the long haul. A flea is able to spoil our blood more than a lion. hahahaha

Hmm what else? Blood is boiling - a similar one in English. To have blue blood? Sth freezes blood in your veins? Too easy.

How about: to have sth in blood?

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


But I said my prayers before so I knew there would be a happy-end. I survived intact, contrary to the house whose roof edge was hit by the falling branch and one tile fell off.

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]

Not as fizzy as Coke, of course. 30% of it.

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


Of course, enumerating our jobs this season I didn`t mention collecting crops which is an obvious activity every year.
Here, a load of fava beans to be processed. Altogether, three of them.

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News / Some say modern Poland is split into A and B; The "Old", and the "New". [14]

But C is an option, not taken seriously by some experts.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Perfect translation. :):) Family bonds are by far more important that any other.

BTW,, talking about blood

to spoil sb`s blood

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]

If you like fizzy and sour drinks, then yes.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Good eye. The major alteration did concern them, indeed, except that they aren`t cables or wires. What, then?


hahaha yeees, excellent.

I said that two riddles are still pending: do you remember the one about the event shown in messages 195-200 on the previous page?:

And a new one:

What are they and what is the occassion?

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Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]

Funny. It is like one day Poles will stop using dill to pickle cucumbers. :):)

Yesterday I prepared my beetroot juice for fermentation and apart from usual stuff, I added allspice for the first time, together with other spices, e.g., cloves.

Aaah, fermented beetroot juice! That is the thing I would miss in another country - certainly it is unavailable there in shops.

Travel / Hiking and Camping Trails in Poland [51]


Johhny, you`d better not mess up with our girls. They can be tough when dealt with too roughly. hahaha


So, it wasn`t a shelter but a private house, I suppose.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]

Today, another giant demo of 200.000. Forces decided to go brutal and a lot of people have been beaten or detained. Secret police even broke windows in cafes or shops where demonstrators were hiding.

It is visible that peaceful demos are useless and people only lose blood in vain. It is obvious Lukashenka won`t leave unless he is forced to.

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]


Really? Allspice is only ground?? Strange.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]

It was significant enough when combined with other factors you mentioned. I offered you a compromise but you unreasonably rejected it. hahahaha.

Yes, Solidarity leadership, operating underground, called for street protests on various anniversaries and special days, such as: 1 May, 3 May, 31 August, 11 November, 13 December.

News / Some say modern Poland is split into A and B; The "Old", and the "New". [14]


Reaserch result which I saw in 2018 said: Poland A is richer but Poland B is happier. :):)

The division into Poland A and B started before WW2.

Look at the map of prewar Poland for high school History exam:

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News / Poland - the leading yacht producer in the region [18]


90% of the production of about 200 yacht producers in Poland is exported. This industry is doing better and better each year.

News / Poland fines singer for bashing Bible [159]


Well, it depends how conservative the judge is. In 2007, a black metal leader tore the Bible at the concert and threw the pages among the crowd, saying:Eat this sh..t! He was eventually acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2014.

Life / Grandma's Day in Poland [5]

Did you see it in a Polish kindergarten?

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News / Is there anything Poland won't do for money? "Wolf's Lair" - up for rent" [59]


Obviously for commercial reasons, simple. Why not??

Check their site for tourists
wolfsschanze.pl/en/


That`s a different case.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Why do you put all protesters in Solidarity basket? I already told you there were a few anticommunist opposition groups, or even parties and they had their own share in protests. I mentioned Fighting Solidarity, now it is time to mention KPN.

No, the book wasn`t translated I am afraid, but I saw it in foreign libraries or on Amazon so if you find it in electronic version you can try to translate its parts.

I have just taken it from the shelf and looked though 1980s period. Protesters` violence consisted mainly in throwing various objects at the riot police: stones, screws (with slingshots) , litter bins, Molotov cocktails. Sometimes coins to show contempt, or even yogurt cups. When at home, inhabitants also threw flower pots, in one case sb threw a fish tank. They also threw back what they got from the police - gas grenades. They attacked policemen physically when got close enough to them. To block the passage of riot units or vehicles they built barricades across streets.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]

Of course, none. Nationalists who were allowed to function in communism were eager supporters of the regime. If Iron was older, he would have been one of them.

Life / A Polish comedy programme (swiat wedlug kiepskich?) [16]


Of course, it would be a hopeless task. hahaha


I never had such an intention. hahaha

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Yes, but when emotions overwhelm the mob in street, the situation often gets out of control and anything can happen. Communists realised the possibility that if 100.000 or more mob gathered in streets, they would be helpless, having only regular riot police for their defence.


So now I can tell you they did play a part. Not crucial, I never claimed it, but important one. The most intense protests took place in 1982 -84 after the martial law - those were violent riots with a lot of people injured on both sides and a dozen fatal victims in some unlucky cities. In 1988, communists remembered them well and they were aware the choice was limited - either start talking with the opposition or deal with people`s annoynance in streets again.


Yes, but as long as those opinions weren`t destructive for the regime. When they became such, communists reacted brutally and didn`t care about anything. In 1981, they cracked down on Solidarity which had 10 million members. How did they care about people`s opinions then?


hahaha no, the future of a communist country depends on how strong and loyal is the army and other forces which regimes use for their aims. See North Korea: citizens eat grass and tree bark during frequent famine periods - do communists worry about economy? Of course not.