Life / Polish equivalent of Maplins or Radio Shack in Łódź [12]

Saturn at Port Lodz might be worth a look.

Life / Amazon Kindle in Poland? (updated Kindle 3 3G) [10]


Kindle is not designed for Browsing, the feature is what they call "experimental". It is very limited. The MP3 player is also not stereo. Buy it as an e-reader and you will be happy. The others features are great if you have no alternative.

Work / Chemistry degree - what are my chances of finding work in Poland? [29]

HI Pam,

Living in Poland is very cheap versus the UK. If you want to try it you could live for under 250 pounds per month in a small city.

You could well get work as an English teacher but beware. They are often the least trustworthy people to deal with. If they pay you on contract you have to pay your taxes separately. Most Polish wages are quoted after tax and so you expenses like medical are covered. Often these companies quote you gross wages and then leave you unemployed for the summer. Get everything in writing.

Good Luck

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


+1, long regarded it as a total rag. It's editor thinks he is running OK magazine. A paper for the FF populist gobshites.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]

There were roughly 250,000 Poles in Ireland at the peak. That roughly equates to €2,500 per person per year sent back on the total you quote. Many Poles came to Ireland to earn money to send back in order to buy a house etc. They lived frugally and saved. The Min wage was €365 per week, with virtually no tax on that (before all the tax changes of the past few years). That meant they earned over €18,000 nett per year. Rent maybe €4,000, shopping in Lidl for the week maybe €5,000 PA. They don't go to pubs, eat out, they spent their holidays in Poland. Most I know didn't have cars. So really why would it be out of the question to save €2,500 per year on that basis?

Is this not the exact same tripe said about Irish emigrants. How many Irish was fed and educated by money sent home by relatives in the UK, US, Oz etc.

How much did they send back to Ireland?

Love / Do Irish / British guys like Polish girls? [138]

I think you might be socialising in a very restricted circle judging by the Irish men you meet. I'm not saying you don't have some valid points but some of that is OTT.

only a few of them are educated - I have very few male friends who do not have a Higher Education. I would actually struggle to think who I know that doesn't. Speaking to my wifes friends (Poles) they bemoan the lack of educated Polish men suitable for relationships.

atttiude towards foreign women - Any man that treats a woman like that is clearly one who uses prostitutes. Walk away.
addiction to drugs and alkohol - I don't know any drug users, but see no difference in the way Polish men drink.
lack of ambition - I find that laughable. How many have left Ireland over the past few years because that will not sit on their arses. We also have a huge SME sector driven by people who take risks. We attract massive foreign investment because of our workforce (the actual total tax applied to foreign corporations is lower in France than in Ireland in case you are going to quote that bull, and we attract more investment despite being 15 times smaller a country). Again I suspect your comment this is down to a certain calibre of Irishman you meet.

Irish men/people love their sports yes, the participation levels in organised sports are enormous. the local GAA team fields a team every weekend during the summer from every parish in the country. Can you imagine a team of adults and up to 12 junior teams being drawn from the surrounds of every church in Poland each weekend to play a competition? Not to speak of rugby, soccer etc.

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]

Haven't visited Wroclaw yet so can't compare.

I choose to live in Lodz so that says something. I'm sure its not as pretty as Wro.Lodz is an industrial city that is less than 2 centuries old, Wro is originally a Germanic city nearly a 1000 years old - big difference. Therefore its buildings and skyline will be nothing alike.

Lodz has a great bar scene and I've never witnessed any trouble here on a night out. There are many excellent, cheap and varied restaurants. There are a lot of social activities cinema, theatre, concerts etc. I wouldn't say it has many good museums. It has good shopping in Manufaktura and on Piotrkowska. It has excellent national transport links.

the cities massive varied cultural history is fascinating to me. A century ago it was a mix of Russian Orthodox, German Protestants, Polish Catholics and Jews. I find the graveyards fascinating. They are segregated and have some of the biggest/flashiest graves you will ever see.

Real Estate / Real Estate Agencies in Poland (they are greedy for money) [18]

The simple fact is the practice is illegal in most countries. When renting/buying a house it should be the landlord/seller that pays. In Poland in order to complete a transaction you must pay someone who is acting in the other party's interest to provide you a service. This is simply wrong.

It will eventually end up in the European Court if the Polish Government don't act, and be found to be illegal.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


Why would you even take the time to "contribute"? What is in Flaki again? Every culture has their own cuisine traditions.

To answer the question:
Alma sell 200g Kerrygold and Irishland cheddar, price 10.50 to 12.50PLN for the Mild (red) and Mature (white). My Alma also stocks it in a large block you can have sliced to the size of your choice. I have previously seen Cheddar by weight in Real too.

Kerrygold salted is readily available in most large supermarkets, Tesco and Real carry a salted and unsalted version (has a silver foil strip).

If not in store ask for it in-store or on their website. They operate their own chilled warehouse so everything is available to every store.

UK, Ireland / Are the Irish welcome in Poland? [24]

jesus man relax. Stop buying the Sun and when you get here you'll realise that Poland is a lot more open and cosmopolitan than the English press make out. Most uni students speak brilliant English. The language will not be a barrier in most instances.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

Budget airlines mean we can travel regularly as opposed to the good old days of 400pound short flights. I hate flying Ryanair, but welcome them because of price.

I would fly OLT, only booking on a credit card though. IMO they will be long gone by Christmas. No business strategy, not a clue what they are doing.

PS Ryanair have the highest safety and servicing standards in the industry. They know 1 plane crash could ruin them (remember Valujet, exactly), and they have more flights per day than anyone. They run their own maintenance facility in Prestwick too.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


Ah another proud Pole! I've never seen a nation like it to put its own down.

Graeme, do you play rugby by chance? Great way to meet people, we have a lot of Erasmus student playing with us. Very low standard v Scotland, we play mainly 7's.

gentlemensrc.pl

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


Went to college in Dundee myself and I would agree, way more scary. I have a very good Scottish mate who did his BA in Paisley, he said it was a scary place at night.

Lodz with be like Neverland compared.

PS Graeme, I have seen some eidgets making fools of themselves playing that American bastardisation of my beloved sport here. I'm sure you'll find them online. Anyway when you arrive I'll allow you buy me a pint if you like ;) (didn't forget everything from my time in Scotland)

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Graeme, Graeme, Graeme.

So innocent - comparing Norway. I paid 9pln in Manufaktura for a pint last weekend and was annoyed. Pints are about 6ish pln downtown (1.25 pounds) . A can in a supermarket is 50p (2.50pln). Pints are fine her, just 1%+ stronger than home so pace yourself!

Yes it is all the above reasons that makes me yearn for by beloved rugby to turn into an entertainment farce!!! Actually those rules would suit a man of my "standing" but I can't buy into a sport that lasts 2-3 hours. I'd much prefer to embarrass myself for 80 mins and near die at the end.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

Szanowni Państwo,
Informujemy, że od 27 lipca br. wszystkie rejsy regularne zostają zawieszone do odwołania, tym samym wstrzymana zostaje sprzedaż biletów lotniczych.

All flights suspended until further notice.As per company website.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Bad time of year to be looking for anglophiles in Lodz, Holiers. Try Kaliska, usually where they hang out.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

de bad monkey, giz a shout for a pint of plain! Mad for Porter

Love / How many Polish girls are married to foreigners? / How many Polish boys to foreign girls? [104]


real patriotism! was the German passport cheaper?

If this clown arrived in Germany a year before the fall of communism he is about 22/23. What does he know about anything. He claims to be Polish but doesn't speak the language or even have a Polish passport. Why engage with him?

He also lists a long line of "conquests" of ladies of various nationalities, at 23! He is either; Casanova, paying for it, or a liar.

Law / 1 euro = 4,46637049 złotego polskiego [21]

read last week a piece by some esteemed genius in one of the profiteers (ML or such like) that the PLN is irrationally high versus the euro. Should be going the other way, and would in his opinion.

Law / Selling product to restaurants/ supermarkets [7]

Not at all correct. If it is certified by one EU state any other recognises this. Its called the free market. The EU has set minimum hygiene, HACCP and quality standards across the EU. The Polish authorities can of course inspect and test the product if they wish.

No harm in contacting supermarkets directly. Might be worth looking up Polagra, trade show on in Poznan in a few weeks.

Law / Selling product to restaurants/ supermarkets [7]


You mentioned would HAVE to be tested, not true at all. Intra EU movements do not require any prior testing. Unless there is a reason the authorities would only spot check.

Love / Why don't Polish women treat education seriously for themselves? [130]


a weekend in Paris?


What utter tripe.


Polish families are on average smaller that western families, and therefore women are more likely to work.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]

We have NEVER put the heat on in apartment in 5 years. Last year it was minus 20 outside and we had to open the window!!!! Utter madness the heat people have houses at here in the winter. Same for offices and shops too.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]

I'm always asked here am I not cold. It was 19 degrees in Lodz yesterday. People here dress by the calendar, not the weather.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]


I'm pretty sure by law it should be 19 in offices. Some of the offices here require sun tan lotion in the winter. You would actually sweat in them.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


Their prices are a scandal though.

Love / Should I forgive my cheating Polish girlfriend? [73]


Yes.

Endless fighting and then she cheated. Whatever the reasons I would say you are both better off apart. Harsh but true, a clean break likely better for you.

Food / I am a cider drinker, where to get it in Krakow [40]

Joker Polish Fruit Cider is currently 1+1 free in Tesco.

Real Estate / Poland Agent refuses to let me see their tenancy agreement unless I sign to pay their fee [13]

An agent last year asked us to sign a similar document regarding a land purchase. She refused to show us the land unless we signed, giving her a fee on the purchase. When we did she then added the address of the property, AFTER we had signed. Altering a contract without consent after it is completed, I laughed! Even in Poland this cannot be legally enforceable. I videoed the whole thing.

These agents/brokers are cancerous scum. The Polish Gov need to bring in a law mandating the seller pays all fees, like the rest of the civilised world. Until then these quasi-criminals will continue to trade with impunity.

Real Estate / MNE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY , LOFTS, U SCHEIBLERA, LODZ [36]

Results of sealed bids auction yesterday:
65 registered bidders.

45 of 233 apartments sold. 1 of 7 buildings (the cheapest one).

Examples:
40m2 sold for 175k pln with 4 bidders.
156m2 sold for 635 pln.

The liquidator says she will hold another sale in the new year at the same prices. Doubt they will get anywhere. This sale will have cherry picked off the best apartments, and at 4,000pln+ per m2 you can get better apartments elsewhere in Lodz. The lack of enough windows and balcony's will mean IMO the remaining are not even worth 3,000 pln m2.


Not any more. A fire destroyed the building - "suspicious".

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lodz.gazeta.pl/lodz/1,35153,11808979,Uniontex__co_z_budynkiem__Bedzie_sledztwo_ws_pozaru.html
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