UK, Ireland / Poland continues to milk Ireland dry. [129]

@RevokeNice
With reference to your 'social welfare' allusion above, the Nice Treaty has provided for equality throughout the EU. In my book anyone who had worked and paid stamps in an EU country is entitled to claim unemployment in that country.

Ireland has done well out of its EU membership since joining in 1973.
When Poland and other countries joined they also acquired the rights of all member countries, including freedom of movement.
I will remind you that one of the original purposes of the EEC (as it was then) was to encourage countries to carry out their foreign policy by cooperating, rather than by sending armies across each other's borders. This policy has worked reasonably well since it was started, wouldn't you say.

Irish emigrants abroad have also done well by being allowed to migrate to other countries.

Why do you have such an opposition to the EU and Ireland's continuing membership of it?
What alternative to it do you have to offer to Ireland's membership of the EU?

UK, Ireland / Irish Census and number of Polish [46]

@peterweg
Your definition could be applied to many nationalities.
I was hoping for a somewhat more intelligent response from RevokeNice.

UK, Ireland / Poles robbing Poles in the UK [12]


Actually the UK is as much in trouble as the rest of the EU — and busily printing its way out of debt — but no worries, I'll probably be heading back to London before long!!

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

Merged:

Is lamb available in Poland?!

Me brain's wracked lookin fer sheep!
Poland is a land of pork and poultry.

Anyone know which supermarkets are likely to have lamb in Poland, either fresh or frozen? Biedronka, and Netto don't, and my nearest Carrefour doesn't either. Anywhere within the Olsztyn, Gdańsk, Iława area, or even Warszawa (which I would go to occasionally)?

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

A rack of lamb is exactly what I am dreaming of, for the BBQ - we used to do it all the time (in UK) along with kszanka ;)

UK, Ireland / A Polish national getting a UK Passport [5]

You have a right to UK citizenship, which you will need to get before you are entitled to a passport.
Once you have your UK citizenship, you can apply for a passport.

UK, Ireland / From Hertfordshire, UK to Śląskie, Poland - Are we crazy? [35]

Hi Mac, I think Polish citizenship would be important to consider if you intend to buy land or property in Poland.
Once you get out of the cities, Poland is still like a bit Ireland in the 1970s. In our village, everyone goes to church except us! And local politics is rooted in clientalism and deference.

Context: I am Irish, wife Polish (UK citizen), we are living in UK for a decade. We are also considering moving to either IRL or PL for similar reasons to yours. Wife currently in PL (mother ill), we have house there which we bought a few years ago [so no worries on the mother in law front!]. We drove over in the car first, back in April - 1,800 km, and left the car there.

I am now a Ryanair frequent flyer - was in PL two weeks ago, heading over again next week for 2 weeks and a bit. 7-months net UK, 4,5 months PL, 0,5 months IRL, that's my deal for now. It works, but you need to plan it. Short frequent trips are better than longer less frequent trips. Flying is cheap. Hopefully this winter's covid won't shut everything down again.

I am just about literate in Polish, though very rusty (was a bit better 10 years ago), having studied it intensely in the noughties [when all those people with a funny language began to come to Ireland! Great stuff!]. If you have any in to Polish, you will pick it up as you go along - I find mine improving each time I go. I was in Mrówka (a hardware chain like Woodies) a couple of weeks ago buying nails or something, and I learned the word for receipt - paragon, the hard way [they ask you if you want one, and expect the customer to understand them, heh]. They speak very fast, with a funny accent in rural PL, and there are no English speakers. Second time I was in the shop, I replied 'nie', instead of 'nie rozumieum' :D

Also, very important: watch your 183 nights in UK. Add a few days as a buffer, and remember to subtract any nights you may spend in third countries, Ireland visiting rellies for example.

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

I am wondering if a butcher would be of help - in Gdańsk perhaps.
Alternatively, I might just bring some in on the plane from Ireland, might be easier in the long run!

Language / Best books to self-study Polish? [30]

'pióro' - 'długopis' :D lol, this happened to me also. Pióro is 1960s!

I would recommend an old style Linguaphone Polish course (pre-1990), you can occasionally get them on ebay for around £25. The lessons are a bit archaic, but it is a good solid resource.

Oscar Swan's grammar has always been available as a download, one current link is here:
researchgate.net/profile/Oscar-Swan/publication/41495047_A_Grammar_of_contemporary_Polish/links/5447abf70cf2f14fb8120f35/A-Grammar-of-contemporary-Polish.pdf?origin=publication_detail

As Swan retired some years ago, the original pitsburg.edu link is dead. A google search will find his courses and grammars easily enough.

He also published an advanced Polish course, though only as a book afaik,
Oscar E. Swan, Intermediate Polish, ISBN 10: 0893571652 / ISBN 13: 9780893571658. Published by Slavica Pub, 1986

His beginner course is still available online:
......
Took me a few minutes to find it. Original website is archived here: lektorek.org/lektorek/
Lessons as downloadable pdf files: lektorek.org/lektorek/firstyear/lessons/
Polish Grammar in a Nutshell: lektorek.org/lektorek/firstyear/nutshell.pdf
Another link to the reference grammar: lektorek.org/lektorek/grammar.pdf

A bit dated now, but in an age of quick teach yourselves of little use, I thoroughly recommend the lessons in this course, and the grammars.

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

Kaufland! I didn't look there. Thanks.
I'll take a look in Ostróda and Iława next week.

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

Nearest Makro to me would be Olsztyn - It's a bit far from me, buy doable, I generally go there if I am flying out of Szcztyno.

Language / Best books to self-study Polish? [30]

@Lyzko
Feldstein? Can you post details of this please -I am not familiar with it.

UK, Ireland / A Polish national getting a UK Passport [5]


My understanding is that he does, under the terms of the divorce agreement between the UK and the EU.

It is highly likely that he would qualify for settled status, living continuously in the UK for 45 years.
google it.

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

@Atch
Thanks for that head's up :)

There goes my Iława strategy! I will be doing a serious recon and mapping operation there next week = find all the best shops, cheap parking etc (you can park for free all day in the railway station car park..., if you can find a space!!). Ostróda is a bit limited in its offerings, have to spread the net a bit.

I will try bringing some lamb with me on the plane then - worst case is that the security dudes will take it off me on the grounds that is is dead, or whatever.

UK, Ireland / Is it good for Poland as Sinn Fein will win today in Northen Ireland [262]

Would Poland rather cuddle up to an expansionist Russia then, and by its tasteless megalomaniac dictator, or be run by Kaczyński's cat.

Food / Polish bacon doesn't fry up? [70]

Yep, I'll be bringing some Irish bacon rashers with me on da Ryanair next week when I head over to the gaff in Mazuria.

We'll chew them slowly.

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [279]

White wine: Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand.
They have perfect conditions for growing their grapes - best white wine ever. [I have not seen it in Poland though :( ] - Sainsbury, Tesco, Super Valu - IRL, UK; Monoprix Fr.

Red wine: any Médoc with a French customs label on the top of the bottle. Carrefour, Netto, and larger Biedronka. Waitrose, Sainsbury, Super Valu - IRL, UK.

Actually, most red wines with French customs labels are a good bet in Poland, come to think of it!

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

I'll be flying out of Dublin EU-EU

Language / Best books to self-study Polish? [30]

I got a reasonably good grounding in Polish a decade ago. I'll have a look for Feldstein in my usual old book outlets.

UK, Ireland / From Hertfordshire, UK to Śląskie, Poland - Are we crazy? [35]

183 nights in UK will ensure that you keep your UK tax residency status.

Language / Best books to self-study Polish? [30]

Important tip there...

UK, Ireland / From Hertfordshire, UK to Śląskie, Poland - Are we crazy? [35]

I think you definitely should get tax advice, from a Polish tax accountant.

And if you are going to transfer tax residency, I think it would be better to do it from Jan 1, Polish tax year, rather than April 6, UK tax year.

You won't be double taxed as there is a tax agreement between UK and PL, but filing a tax return in PL is more complex than in UK, and you will be expected to do it in Polish, or pay an accountant to do it for you.

Also, if your income is UK-based and you retain your UK tax residency, it is less likely that you will be taxed in PL. However, if you engage in business when in PL, that business/employment activity may fall under PL tax jurisdiction and you may need to make a return in both countries.

There is also the notion of VAT to consider - depending on the nature of your work, you might be required to register for Polish VAT, as the registration threshold may be zero if you are based outside the country but engaging in business inside the country.

Work / Need a coffee shop or room in Warsaw with Ethernet port not just WiFi [4]

You'll be lucky! To find an Ethernet port anywhere. Old tech - I haven't seen Ethernet anywhere outside a hotel in a decade, and never saw it in places like coffee shops.

Hotels might still offer it.

I would suggest a wifi device connected to your laptop via usb, or Ethernet which will then connect to the wifi of the shop you are in.

UK, Ireland / Posting mail from Poland to the UK [26]

I find UK to PL normal for a registered letter - took 6 working days. I also sent a box via DPD from Ireland, which took 5 days.

Last time we got a letter from PL to UK, it took around 5 days, normal sized letter unregistered. This was about 6 months ago.