Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]

SeanBM.... the one and only. How the devil are you sir?

In case you haven't noticed the "real world" by which I mean mountains, oceans and people conversing face to face is fast disappearing under a maelstrom of anti social media apps resulting in a total lack of civilised conversation, fantasy identities of perfect people being the norm and eejits walking into me on the streets of London with their eyes glued to mobile devices which are shaded from view if they are but one release out of date!

Luddites of the world unite

News / How will BREXIT affect the immigrants in UK and Poland. [1114]

Amazed at the result. Still gutted about how the people of this country have been treated by the two camps in the debate leading up to the referendum. Lies, half truths and startling omissions from both sides. No clear understanding of a transition plan on one hand and from the other camp no indication on what the EU future direction might look like.

I think the younger people are generally despondent. They, rightly, see it a decision on their future taken by people who are not worried about what happens as they will be gone. In my view the result would have been completely the other way if it was for membership of the EEC and not the EU. The EU has only itself to blame for a largely undemocratic federalisation policy.

That said the big excuse for not governing our country properly has been taken away. The onus is on the UK now to address better education and to remove the erosions of our personal freedom and liberties that have taken place over the last 20 years or so. This country needs to improve in so many ways to give those young people what they deserve. Whether our politicians can take the opportunity to use this sea change to address the improvements remains to be seen but as an elderly cynic I am not holding my breath.

UK, Ireland / Common pitfalls for Poles learning English [187]

Of course it sounds antiquated and I agree that a conditionals brush up is a far more important task.

My point, however, is that shall was used a lot in the way I described, not just for offers and suggestions, and not all that long ago.

We shall fight them on the beaches for example.

Sorry if I am labouring a point - I'm having a naff day.

UK, Ireland / Common pitfalls for Poles learning English [187]

In a fit of conjugation nitpicking I have to disagree:

The traditional rule in standard British English is that shall is used with first person pronouns (i.e. I and we) to form the future tense, while will is used with second and third person forms (i.e. you, he, she, it, they). For example:

I shall be late. Shall we go the pub?

They will not have enough food. Will you being going to buy a round at long last?

However, when it comes to expressing a strong determination to do something, the roles are reversed: will is used with the first person, and shall with the second and third. For example:

I will not tolerate such behaviour.

You shall go to the ball!

In practice, as you point out, the two words are used more or less interchangeably, and this is now an acceptable part of standard British and American English.

Shall may be constrained to the dustbins of modern language but it retains a charm.

'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' rolls off the tongue far better than 'Will I compare you to a summer's day, innit' IMHO

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]

I'd love to write one, just for old time's sake but where the hell would I start. I've just been trying to read up on a few threads looking for inspiration and have come to the conclusion that it's pointless trying. All the topical spice and pithiness is already there in the Random thread that seems to be encapsulating the wider world. It's all there - bigotry, intolerance, entrenched opinion, humour, lunacy and myopia. I couldn't compete with that.

<Ed - nah, you're just too lazy these days>

UK, Ireland / Why did you move to the UK / Ireland from Poland - what incentives were you given ? [26]


I don't think so, I've never seen him here

Work / Thinking of working or investing in Poland (Think AGAIN!) Experience and attitude of British toward Poland. [80]


... in which case your claim that it was difficult to get another job following redundancy is just utter bollox IMHO. There is and has been a shortage of IT skills in the UK and if your skills and experience were current they would have been in demand. I can only assume that there were other reasons why nobody wanted to employ you. Maybe attitude is one of them?

Life / Fresh Christmas trees sale in Poland [20]


I think it was called Saturnalia by the Romans but the original mid winter festival pre-dated the Romans. Saturnus was the God of Seed and Sowing so:


presumably they put a loaf of bread on top (in the absence of a virgin who are in short supply in the pagan heartlands of Toxteth and Croxteth)

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Where I live we went past stark raving mad a few weeks back. I think we are now in the official monster raving loony period. Still, not long to the next crash.

UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

It is very difficult to narrow down a list of places to visit really as it would be influenced by a number of factors. The fist point I would make is that you mention having children so I would discount travelling by train. Train fares in the UK are expensive so the bill would soon mount up with a family travelling. You would be better advised to hire a car for your time here (but not in London as driving there is a bit of a nightmare and you can get around the city far faster using public transport) Also as others have pointed out the train services in rural areas are not great.

You don't mention how much time you will have on your stay outside of London. If it's only a few days then I would look to limit the distances you travel. That would take places like Scotland and the Lake District out .

For places nearer to London then there are many. Bath, as previously mentioned is a nice place. If you are a fan of Shakespeare then Stratford upon Avon is a must and this has the added advantage of being on the edge of the Cotswolds and all the typical English villages that are in that area. If you want the coast then avoid the big resorts like Brighton and Bournemouth. My favourite part of the South Coast is in Dorset around Lyme Regis where it is not as crowded and there are some interesting things for kids to do like looking for fossils at Kimmeridge Bay.

Devon and Cornwall are good too and if you get away from the tourist traps then you will have some space even at the height of the tourist season. The travel time is quite long that far West though.

Maybe if you have some things your family like doing you could tell us and then we could be a bit more focussed. Irrespective of that I hope you have a good time here.

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


Er, I'm not sure I can remember that. Oh, wait, yes I can. I think I meant to say I quite liked the sassy Scotsman. Didn't always agree with him but there again I don't always agree with most people. He did go a bit over the top and all I would say is that there are others who deserve the same fate and I hope the purge does not pass them by.

Hope that helps ShawnH. Now don't go outside without your coat on over there. It's hard to type with frostbitten pinkies.

Work / Living in Poland (telecommute to London) [27]

" To have a Cash ISA Saver, you must be at least 16 years old and either (a) resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes or (b) subject to United Kingdom tax under Section 28 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, or married to, or in a civil partnership with, such a person. You must inform us if these conditions no longer apply to you."

So if you don't meet these I guess you should not have an ISA at all.

Just checked the HMRC site and it looks like you may be OK...

"You can only open an ISA if you are resident in the UK for tax purposes (ask your Tax Office if you are in any doubt about this)."

If you start an ISA in the UK and then go abroad, you cannot continue putting money into the ISA (unless you are a Crown employee working overseas or the spouse or civil partner of a Crown employee working overseas). However, you can keep your ISA and you will still get tax relief on investments held in the ISA. When you return, you can start putting money in again (subject to the normal annual limits).

Off-Topic / A Nationalist's Day out [52]

"A Nationalist's Day Out"?

Seems remarkably similar to the Jolly Boys Outing to me.

OK Mods, you may bin this with gusto.

Travel / Is Warsaw dangerous nightly ? [14]

Sleeping rough in a city that you don't know sounds like a bad idea in general, especially when you can get a dorm room in a hostel for as little as £6 (sterling) from a cursory review of hostelworld,com .

Travel / Poles the worst-dressed tourists in the world? [25]


I can only assume the target audience for the poll were all Brits. We do tend to think we're the height of sartorial elegance (after all we invented the shell suit)

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


Not true. I've just moved into the garden shed to avoid her cats that hate me. Next week I'll receive the gear to set up on tap Guinness in the shed whereupon my life will be complete.

Actually I was toying with the idea of writing a one off summary in the microcosm of life that is Polish Forums. However, I found it impossible. You see in the days when I started this thread it was relatively easy to work out was going on. It was easy to spot that A hated B, that C was secretly in love with D, that E was completely off their rocker and that there was a relatively simple subset of themes to pick up on.

Nowadays it's too complex for my limited intellectual capacity to cope with. A may well hate B still but only because A and C were ganging up on D who was the best friend of E who once went out with B who had an affair with F who thought that Poland was backward and was wrong for not invading the Austro Hungarian empire when they had the chance. Add to that the fact that G is having an ongoing war with H and I when in all probability H,G and I are the same person with a multiple personality disorder and you can see why it is just not going to happen any time soon. As I get older I'm getting more confused anyway so I'll leave it tp others to distil what is really happening here.

"When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion" - Herbert Spencer

Life / New Royal Baby Boy - Recommended Polish Baby Names [21]

If we have to have a Polish name then I'd go for Magdalena which would ensure that he toughens up a bit as he goes through the state education system

Life / Professional feminists' of Poland meet-up [631]

What is Kondzior on about? He states women can't hold their own in physical tasks quoting music as an example. What a load of baloney. I've just been listening to Eva Cassidy, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Sandy Denny to name but a few. Tell me they're inferior

He gets my vote for the most inane drivel ever posted on PF and believe me that's going some.

UK, Ireland / WHAT IS IT ABOUT POLISH PEOPLE THAT MAKES THEM THINK THAT UK WANTS THEM? [309]

Ah, another of my countrymen providing further evidence of the benefits of a British education I see. Nice to see the contrasting style of rebuff used after his post.

Life / Expat, immigrant, foreigner. Not all foreigners in Poland are expats. [84]

I thought an 'expat' was someone who had changed their name from Patrick or Patricia to something more appropriate for their new surroundings.

Bin me for flippancy

Life / Men in Poland in the forest? Just men? [133]


Freemasons

News / Poland is the source of horsemeat in burgers? [169]


Neigh

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


Talisker 25 year old?

Love / ARE POLISH GIRLS GOLD-DIGGERS? [359]


Are they an item then?

History / POLAND: EASTERN or CENTRAL European country? [1080]

So after over five years of deep contemplation the answer is still out there somewhere?

If anybody's interested I stand by answer from way back then.

Life / Why do people think that Poles are culturally isolated? [126]


For the same reasons some people think of there being no culture anywhere in the world that they have no knowledge of - ignorance, preconceptions and an innate feeling of superiority.

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


Indeed it is, the tea shops in particular are first class;)

Top 4 prem club? Now that takes me back. I'd be deeply upset at that remark but luckily for you I'm still upset at Everton being (briefly) in fourth spot;)

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]

I hope the next one is not that long in coming;)

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]

The last ever Omnibus Edition

As we all know, the world ends tomorrow so I thought it best to use this opportunity to pen the last edition, to make peace with my maker (Admin) and to have a few last parting shots at some of the members. As yet, exactly how the end will come is not clear. Earlier this evening I thought I could see a giant fireball in the sky but it turned out to be the farmer at the top of the ridge outside my home having a bonfire. My betting is on a neutron star sucking us to bits with its extraordinary gravitational force. If it does end that way it's at least going to be quick, probably the quickest bj in history. Maybe it will be a giant flood. It's certainly been raining heavily here today. Anyway, no point indulging in idle speculation. It's time to make my final confessions:

• I have to admit that I was secretly in love with Pingwin. Of course that is between you and me because even if it the last night I don't want the Boss finding out, even at this late stage. No point going to meet my maker in a wheelchair. I don't know what happened to Pingwin but she was very sweet and kind to people on here.

• Yes, I followed the dark side to that other Forum where I was so prolific I don't think I've reached 100 posts yet. About the same as on here over the same period. Now my leaving made bugger all difference to most people but it has caused a rift between me and one of the mods who is no longer talking to me. You know who you are. Pie would like to say sorry and it's not too late to kiss and make up you know. Mwahhh. There, I feel better already.

• This next one has haunted me for years. I don't even know whom I should be apologising to. Many years ago when I was a strapping youth who virtually lived on the beaches of Bournemouth, I once committed a heinous crime. A group of rather attractive ladies went off for a swim in The Channel leaving behind their clothes and crucially, a camera. In the high spirits of youth my friends and I decided to drop our trunks and snap the wedding tackle before replacing the camera unnoticed. Somewhere one of them had to have been arrested at a branch of Boots in London and it was all my fault. Before you ask, there was no zoom on the camera.

• There are many, many more things that I should confess but I see dtaylor has opened up the bar for the PF end of world party so I'll just add one more. I was the only one of the seven year olds in my class in Toxteth that couldn't drive a car at that age and also didn't have a collection of hub caps. Perhaps that is why I was sent to Bournemouth in disgrace.

As my parting shot I'm going to resurrect an old idea of mine from way back on here - which album or song track do I associate with posters on here?

Des - Several Species of Furry Animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a Pict (why use one word when twenty will do) (Pink Floyd)

Harry - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (The Ramones)

WB - Sorry seems to be the hardest word (Elton John)

Bubba - Never mind the bo****Ks, here's the entrepreneur (sort of S*x Pistols)

Oh crap, I can't be bothered any more. I'll use the last moments to finish my autobiography which was to be called The Life of Pie before that Canadian tw*t nicked my title. It will now be called - I did it her way.

See you on the other side (if you believe in that sort of thing)

Ciao

USA, Canada / What US National Parks are worth visiting most? [11]

I'd include Glacier National Park in Montana. Stunning place and you get to drive down the Going to the Sun Road too.