bimber94
1 Oct 2010
Life / Gypies/Indian-looking women with kids beg for money in Poland [143]
Good time to get into the caravan business.
Good time to get into the caravan business.
bimber94
1 Oct 2010
Life / Gypies/Indian-looking women with kids beg for money in Poland [143]
If it was up to us, they wouldn't have stood a chance of joining. We don't have any say. ALL politicians ignore our needs and never represented us EVER!! Don't bother voting, as there has never been such a thing as democracy.
Amathyst
Maybe it wasnt just Romainia we shouldnt have allowed to join the EU
Maybe it wasnt just Romainia we shouldnt have allowed to join the EU
If it was up to us, they wouldn't have stood a chance of joining. We don't have any say. ALL politicians ignore our needs and never represented us EVER!! Don't bother voting, as there has never been such a thing as democracy.
bimber94
1 Oct 2010
Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]
What do the parents and grandparents live on? It's known, also, many of them (including the dreaded 'moherowe berety') give much of their money to the Church.
zetigrek
How? The answer is parents and grandparents.
How? The answer is parents and grandparents.
What do the parents and grandparents live on? It's known, also, many of them (including the dreaded 'moherowe berety') give much of their money to the Church.
bimber94
1 Oct 2010
Life / Gypies/Indian-looking women with kids beg for money in Poland [143]
If you've been to London in the past twenty years, you'd have seen them in many areas there, notably Brixton (what newsreaders call 'South London').
If you've been to London in the past twenty years, you'd have seen them in many areas there, notably Brixton (what newsreaders call 'South London').
bimber94
29 Sep 2010
Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]
Oh yes, Leszek Balcerowicz! Here's his real name, 6th one down: jewishtribalreview.org/polishnames.htm
Oh yes, Leszek Balcerowicz! Here's his real name, 6th one down: jewishtribalreview.org/polishnames.htm
bimber94
29 Sep 2010
Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]
All these posts show that Poland still has a Victorian-style 19th Century economy, with no consumer rights (except in theory, on worthless paper). It seems the old Communist system wanted to teach Poland a really good lesson in fighting for its independence twenty years ago. To the best of my memory the minister in charge of the economy at the time of the changeover was Balcerowicz (or whatever his real name is!). It seems the old reds had in mind for the new Poland: "chciałeś, to MASZ!". They could, of course, have installed a more modern economic system, but they chose to be nasty. That's probably the rat I smell.
All these posts show that Poland still has a Victorian-style 19th Century economy, with no consumer rights (except in theory, on worthless paper). It seems the old Communist system wanted to teach Poland a really good lesson in fighting for its independence twenty years ago. To the best of my memory the minister in charge of the economy at the time of the changeover was Balcerowicz (or whatever his real name is!). It seems the old reds had in mind for the new Poland: "chciałeś, to MASZ!". They could, of course, have installed a more modern economic system, but they chose to be nasty. That's probably the rat I smell.
bimber94
29 Sep 2010
Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]
It's true that some things are still cheaper in Poland than in the UK such as transport, cigarettes and booze (you can do without the last two). However, I still believe the Polish consumer gets a very raw deal. Patak's pickles are about £1.40 in UK (Tesco) and at least four times dearer in Poland. The cheapest bar of shop's own soap (Tesco) is larger and cheaper in UK than in Poland, where you pay three times more for half as much. There is no reason why prices should generally be so high in Poland than in countries where wages are much higher. I smell a rat somewhere. So what are we going to do about it, apart from moan on the internet?
It's true that some things are still cheaper in Poland than in the UK such as transport, cigarettes and booze (you can do without the last two). However, I still believe the Polish consumer gets a very raw deal. Patak's pickles are about £1.40 in UK (Tesco) and at least four times dearer in Poland. The cheapest bar of shop's own soap (Tesco) is larger and cheaper in UK than in Poland, where you pay three times more for half as much. There is no reason why prices should generally be so high in Poland than in countries where wages are much higher. I smell a rat somewhere. So what are we going to do about it, apart from moan on the internet?
bimber94
25 Sep 2010
Genealogy / Looking for old street name : Teuchertstrasse in Gliwice [24]
Many thanks for your info, pgtx.
Many thanks for your info, pgtx.
bimber94
23 Sep 2010
Genealogy / Looking for old street name : Teuchertstrasse in Gliwice [24]
Does anyone know what Plac Bochaterów Stalingradu in Gliwice is known by these days?
Does anyone know what Plac Bochaterów Stalingradu in Gliwice is known by these days?
bimber94
22 Sep 2010
Life / Cold winter in Poland this year - Gas Shortages as of Late October [32]
It might be cheaper to stay in Thailand or India for the winter. I heard this winter will be a severe one.
It might be cheaper to stay in Thailand or India for the winter. I heard this winter will be a severe one.
bimber94
22 Sep 2010
History / What was better in Poland under communism? [67]
You could exchange dollars for PRL money 'na czarnym rynku' and get much more money for your money, buy amber/silver jewellery and sell it in the West. Beer - standing in a queue - was about 2p in English money (say 25p today). Happy cheap days if you weren't being beaten up by some nice milicjant doing his duty and maintaining peace and harmony in his workers paradise.
You could exchange dollars for PRL money 'na czarnym rynku' and get much more money for your money, buy amber/silver jewellery and sell it in the West. Beer - standing in a queue - was about 2p in English money (say 25p today). Happy cheap days if you weren't being beaten up by some nice milicjant doing his duty and maintaining peace and harmony in his workers paradise.
bimber94
22 Sep 2010
Travel / Share Your Travel Experiences in Poland [16]
My experiences of Polish train travel can be charitably described as varied. Mostly uneventful, though once, some dangerous-looking character tried to get some old lady to part with her purse (so I stood between him and her and looked at him severely - he got the subtle hint). Some stations can be rather dodgy! Katowice station has a number of bums bumming around, even in the daytime (wouldn't like to be there too late at night). Warszawa Zachodnia isn't that safe it seems, but what really gets my goat is Wrocław Główny. The station itself isn't at all bad, but travelling on the 'Ślązak' train which plies between Zielona Góra and Rzeszów, someone at Wrocław gets on every single time I've been on it, asking for money, claiming they've just been mugged or lost their money/ticket/other valuables they can't survive without. It seems quite a few people leave their brains behind before entering Wrocław station, and are careless with their property.
My experiences of Polish train travel can be charitably described as varied. Mostly uneventful, though once, some dangerous-looking character tried to get some old lady to part with her purse (so I stood between him and her and looked at him severely - he got the subtle hint). Some stations can be rather dodgy! Katowice station has a number of bums bumming around, even in the daytime (wouldn't like to be there too late at night). Warszawa Zachodnia isn't that safe it seems, but what really gets my goat is Wrocław Główny. The station itself isn't at all bad, but travelling on the 'Ślązak' train which plies between Zielona Góra and Rzeszów, someone at Wrocław gets on every single time I've been on it, asking for money, claiming they've just been mugged or lost their money/ticket/other valuables they can't survive without. It seems quite a few people leave their brains behind before entering Wrocław station, and are careless with their property.
bimber94
22 Sep 2010
Food / I have a Polish couple coming over for afew days and would like to cook for them. [93]
Get out the good old lard and vodka;).
Get out the good old lard and vodka;).
bimber94
21 Sep 2010
Real Estate / If you own a property in Warsaw, you don't own the ground it stands on! [9]
Every country has its strange laws which have never been, but should be, repealed. One is that in a certain American town, it is still illegal to drink milk on a Thursday.
Poland is no exception! If you own property in Warsaw, the actual property is legally yours, but the ground it stands on is council property. In theory the local government can demand you shift your house elsewhere on pain of demolition. As far as I know this stems from the PRL period where property ownership was frowned upon (unless you were related to one of the bankers, if you catch my drift). Another strange Polish law today is that in the countryside, farm owners each owns bits of an access road leading to other properties running through them. So if your property is further down the road and you want to improve the state of the track so your new car doesn't fall to bits, all the farmers whose 'land' you have to traverse all have to agree; and that all at the same time! And if any one of them at any time changes his mind, you're stuck. Some farmers also have close family in local council offices, who can pull (or block) strings in his favour.
Polish law has to tackle these seemingly small local issues if it is to make life easier for the smallholder. These laws have no place in modern Polish society and hold Poland back. The time is grossly overdue for the government to nationalise all country roads/tracks.
"The law is an ass" - in Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens).
Every country has its strange laws which have never been, but should be, repealed. One is that in a certain American town, it is still illegal to drink milk on a Thursday.
Poland is no exception! If you own property in Warsaw, the actual property is legally yours, but the ground it stands on is council property. In theory the local government can demand you shift your house elsewhere on pain of demolition. As far as I know this stems from the PRL period where property ownership was frowned upon (unless you were related to one of the bankers, if you catch my drift). Another strange Polish law today is that in the countryside, farm owners each owns bits of an access road leading to other properties running through them. So if your property is further down the road and you want to improve the state of the track so your new car doesn't fall to bits, all the farmers whose 'land' you have to traverse all have to agree; and that all at the same time! And if any one of them at any time changes his mind, you're stuck. Some farmers also have close family in local council offices, who can pull (or block) strings in his favour.
Polish law has to tackle these seemingly small local issues if it is to make life easier for the smallholder. These laws have no place in modern Polish society and hold Poland back. The time is grossly overdue for the government to nationalise all country roads/tracks.
"The law is an ass" - in Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens).
bimber94
20 Sep 2010
Life / 2 months to go - I will be a Polish citizen and try to find a better place to raise my kid. [67]
This goy seems to be such a vind-up. Let's ignore him already.
This goy seems to be such a vind-up. Let's ignore him already.
bimber94
16 Sep 2010
History / Something to amuse you - Mister of Poland Beauty Contest 1990! [12]
Was that sponsored by 'The Coleherne' in Earl's Court?
Was that sponsored by 'The Coleherne' in Earl's Court?
bimber94
15 Sep 2010
Polonia / Polish people in New Delhi [86]
@ anakanka:
Sounds interesting, and good wishes to you; but don't hang around Paharganj too long. If you don't want to be ripped off all the time like I was in Poland, the question would be 'kya, tum Hindi malum?'.
@ anakanka:
Sounds interesting, and good wishes to you; but don't hang around Paharganj too long. If you don't want to be ripped off all the time like I was in Poland, the question would be 'kya, tum Hindi malum?'.
bimber94
14 Sep 2010
Travel / Driving to Poland from England - any tips? [264]
If you mean Nowa Sól near Zielona Góra, there's now no danger of falling into anything wet (except possibly as in the photo in post 166).
joemapper:
Does anybody know what the roads are like south of Nowy Sol towards Krakow after the floods??
Does anybody know what the roads are like south of Nowy Sol towards Krakow after the floods??
If you mean Nowa Sól near Zielona Góra, there's now no danger of falling into anything wet (except possibly as in the photo in post 166).
bimber94
7 Sep 2010
Food / Is Polish food still more natural than in the West? [142]
Anyone tried kaszanka? Made with delicious congealed pig's blood and barley.
Anyone tried kaszanka? Made with delicious congealed pig's blood and barley.
bimber94
7 Sep 2010
History / Where Are Milicjanci (Polish Police during Communism) Now? [7]
Ex-hippie if you don't mind. Also, American inner cities are a different story.
Ex-hippie if you don't mind. Also, American inner cities are a different story.
bimber94
7 Sep 2010
History / Where Are Milicjanci (Polish Police during Communism) Now? [7]
Yes ZOMO are very eligible to be included, though I never had any dealings with those ultra thick barbarians.
The Policja now are angels by comparison. In fact they're quite civil, as they should be in any civilised society.
Yes ZOMO are very eligible to be included, though I never had any dealings with those ultra thick barbarians.
The Policja now are angels by comparison. In fact they're quite civil, as they should be in any civilised society.
bimber94
6 Sep 2010
History / Where Are Milicjanci (Polish Police during Communism) Now? [7]
Now Poland has a free market economy and a member of the EU, NATO and so-called democracy etc., the majority of the Polish population no longer walk in fear of being beaten up by the police.
In the 70s and 80s, the milicja gave me and my family heavy looks and followed me around, presumably because I used to have VERY long hair and looked alternative. More than once I nearly got my head kicked in by these protectors of the workers paradise. My reaction then was to keep walking (fast but not too fast) and keep smiling!
Being so confrontational was truly uncalled for!!
WHERE ARE THESE SCUM NOW? Many of them must still be alive breathing our air; they must have names and addresses, email addresses, mobile phone numbers...
Are they forgiven and forgotten? Not as far as I'm concerned.
Now Poland has a free market economy and a member of the EU, NATO and so-called democracy etc., the majority of the Polish population no longer walk in fear of being beaten up by the police.
In the 70s and 80s, the milicja gave me and my family heavy looks and followed me around, presumably because I used to have VERY long hair and looked alternative. More than once I nearly got my head kicked in by these protectors of the workers paradise. My reaction then was to keep walking (fast but not too fast) and keep smiling!
Being so confrontational was truly uncalled for!!
WHERE ARE THESE SCUM NOW? Many of them must still be alive breathing our air; they must have names and addresses, email addresses, mobile phone numbers...
Are they forgiven and forgotten? Not as far as I'm concerned.
bimber94
6 Sep 2010
Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]
I can just imagine it. Teaching English lang with a Scots accent: "the ca' sa' on the ma' ahm tellin' ye". Just kidding Seanus, couldn't resist it.
I can just imagine it. Teaching English lang with a Scots accent: "the ca' sa' on the ma' ahm tellin' ye". Just kidding Seanus, couldn't resist it.
bimber94
4 Sep 2010
Life / Tricks & Dodges (The Poles are nothing if not inventive) [26]
The Poles are nothing if not inventive.
When satellite TV first came on the scene about twenty years ago, it was someone in Poland who was the first to get satellite TV for free by using a metal dustbin lid. This was a couple of years before the channels were coded. This was mentioned in "The Daily Telegraph" at that time, but I don't have the details to hand.
Other tricks they use (and not used in other countries as far as I know), are:
- blocking your chimney with a hat, slit into a cross shape at the top. You then get a blocked chimney with the resulting smoke in the house. When the chimney sweep shoves his brush up, the hat opens up and all seems well to him. When he pulls his brush down, the hat closes again.
- using a large bicycle wheel (tyre removed) as a TV antenna, linking it up to your TV. You'll get a brilliant reception, but your neighbours' TVs will have an unwatchably poor one.
- putting a cracked egg in a wall when doing, say, tiling or plastering. After a couple of weeks your room will pong to high heaven for ages, and you won't know how to get rid of it.
Anybody got any more bright ideas?
The Poles are nothing if not inventive.
When satellite TV first came on the scene about twenty years ago, it was someone in Poland who was the first to get satellite TV for free by using a metal dustbin lid. This was a couple of years before the channels were coded. This was mentioned in "The Daily Telegraph" at that time, but I don't have the details to hand.
Other tricks they use (and not used in other countries as far as I know), are:
- blocking your chimney with a hat, slit into a cross shape at the top. You then get a blocked chimney with the resulting smoke in the house. When the chimney sweep shoves his brush up, the hat opens up and all seems well to him. When he pulls his brush down, the hat closes again.
- using a large bicycle wheel (tyre removed) as a TV antenna, linking it up to your TV. You'll get a brilliant reception, but your neighbours' TVs will have an unwatchably poor one.
- putting a cracked egg in a wall when doing, say, tiling or plastering. After a couple of weeks your room will pong to high heaven for ages, and you won't know how to get rid of it.
Anybody got any more bright ideas?
bimber94
4 Sep 2010
Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]
Has anyone heard that drinking beer through a straw gets you PiS-t really quick and makes you feel aggressive, possibly due to the lack of oxygen? I've seen Polish women doing just this all the time, with no obvious ill effects.
Has anyone heard that drinking beer through a straw gets you PiS-t really quick and makes you feel aggressive, possibly due to the lack of oxygen? I've seen Polish women doing just this all the time, with no obvious ill effects.
bimber94
27 Aug 2010
Food / Buying alcohol, wine in Poland. It's very difficult. [79]
Like in a salt mine in outer Siberia?
No Olaf, I didn't talk to this "expert". You're right that I should have grilled her first. Being naive, I took her at face value. She seemed very intelligent and very plausible.
Yes I'm still angry, so I'll bend over so you can F my flabby backside. I deserve it.
Olaf
But I also understand the frustration, however this can happen everywhere not just Poland.
But I also understand the frustration, however this can happen everywhere not just Poland.
Like in a salt mine in outer Siberia?
No Olaf, I didn't talk to this "expert". You're right that I should have grilled her first. Being naive, I took her at face value. She seemed very intelligent and very plausible.
Yes I'm still angry, so I'll bend over so you can F my flabby backside. I deserve it.
bimber94
27 Aug 2010
Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]
No but I may as well have done. They stole from us in the UK in the 1980s whilst we put them up AND helped them find work on the side. Now they have small businesses only thanks to us, and now wouldn't even bother to crap on my face. Family my butt!! PL PEASANTS.
Hey! Has anyone noticed? The Polish Lotto's bonus ball has quietly disappeared?
No but I may as well have done. They stole from us in the UK in the 1980s whilst we put them up AND helped them find work on the side. Now they have small businesses only thanks to us, and now wouldn't even bother to crap on my face. Family my butt!! PL PEASANTS.
Hey! Has anyone noticed? The Polish Lotto's bonus ball has quietly disappeared?
bimber94
27 Aug 2010
Food / Buying alcohol, wine in Poland. It's very difficult. [79]
Learnt a very costly error the other day. Had some guests from a far-away Polish town. One middle-aged woman - and her friends - all claimed she was a sophisticated wine expert. So to impress, out comes my only bottle of Chateau Haut-Brignon 1985 (a brilliant vintage!!!) which I bought in France ages ago. When I showed them the label they all ignored it. When I wouldn't put it down one of them eventually piped out: "hmmmm, looks nice". Too late to put it away again. When tasting, the so-called wine expert asks: "z czego to jest?". The words pearls and swine came immediately to mind. I could have kicked her butt!!!!! Wine expert my flabby backside! From now on it's a litre of bełt (aptly labelled 'FART') or the cheapest vodka. I'll never take Polacks seriously again. 99.99% of them are such potato republicans. F them!! And yes, I'm F angry with myself I wasted such good wine. I made a fool of myself for being so trusting and naive.
Learnt a very costly error the other day. Had some guests from a far-away Polish town. One middle-aged woman - and her friends - all claimed she was a sophisticated wine expert. So to impress, out comes my only bottle of Chateau Haut-Brignon 1985 (a brilliant vintage!!!) which I bought in France ages ago. When I showed them the label they all ignored it. When I wouldn't put it down one of them eventually piped out: "hmmmm, looks nice". Too late to put it away again. When tasting, the so-called wine expert asks: "z czego to jest?". The words pearls and swine came immediately to mind. I could have kicked her butt!!!!! Wine expert my flabby backside! From now on it's a litre of bełt (aptly labelled 'FART') or the cheapest vodka. I'll never take Polacks seriously again. 99.99% of them are such potato republicans. F them!! And yes, I'm F angry with myself I wasted such good wine. I made a fool of myself for being so trusting and naive.
bimber94
25 Aug 2010
Love / WILDROVERS FIVE YEARS IN POLAND....come to an end...! [132]
The picture of the bear in post 127 could be Salman Rushdie in a bear suit, unless the fatwa on him was lifted.
The picture of the bear in post 127 could be Salman Rushdie in a bear suit, unless the fatwa on him was lifted.
bimber94
23 Aug 2010
Life / Before 1980 family in Poland was friendly towards immigrants; now they are not [11]
In the 1980s, all of my family in Poland - countless cousins, aunts etc etc, were very friendly towards us from the UK. After the fall of Communism, relationships changed with the new system. In those days, we always brought a carload of bananas, pineapples and other goodies to Poland for them every year; they begged for 'zaproszenie' to work unofficially in the UK, even jostling & pushing each other to be first. These days, a few are still friendly, most distant but casually friendly, and two or three positively hate my guts simply because I don't go to church anymore! This was highlighted last week at my cousin's funeral, where most were pleasant, but those hateful few sat as far away as possible at the 'stypa' and ignored us completely. If I still had something to offer them, such as in the way of easy money, things would definitely change once again. These days, some of them (who now have small businesses thanks to our zaproszenie) wouldn't PiiS on me if I was on fire on Christmas Day!! What's your family like? Better I hope.
In the 1980s, all of my family in Poland - countless cousins, aunts etc etc, were very friendly towards us from the UK. After the fall of Communism, relationships changed with the new system. In those days, we always brought a carload of bananas, pineapples and other goodies to Poland for them every year; they begged for 'zaproszenie' to work unofficially in the UK, even jostling & pushing each other to be first. These days, a few are still friendly, most distant but casually friendly, and two or three positively hate my guts simply because I don't go to church anymore! This was highlighted last week at my cousin's funeral, where most were pleasant, but those hateful few sat as far away as possible at the 'stypa' and ignored us completely. If I still had something to offer them, such as in the way of easy money, things would definitely change once again. These days, some of them (who now have small businesses thanks to our zaproszenie) wouldn't PiiS on me if I was on fire on Christmas Day!! What's your family like? Better I hope.