Polish Vodka?

All Souls Day in Poland, where candles are left at graves...



This statue of the "Boy Soldier" comemorates the historic fact that in the latter days of WW2 even the children were involved in trying to throw off the Nazi menace in Poland, and this struggle produced terrifying losses among those involved most especially in the Warsaw Uprising, which was exactly contemporary with the liberation of Paris. [I took this photo twelve months ago today in Warsaw].

I am forcibly reminded how gentle, and respectful is Polish culture when compared to ours in the UK. All Souls' is National Holiday in Poland where everyone takes the time to pay respects at the graves of family and of the fallen Military, as compared to the horrible spectacle of little children playing "Trick or Treat," on the streets in the UK on Hallow'een. The priorities seem topsy-turvy to me. We are chasing the wrong cultural values in my view. We would be better to drop the slavish emulation of US tradition and remember that we are a great European Nation, among other great European Nations, and take our example from the civil and decent traditions prevalent in many continental countries, not the least of which is Poland

My plan to go there permanently is by no means shelved though the short run has set it back somewhat.

It is to my considerable releif that I can report that some of my Polish friends are also returning to their homeland, and I personally hope that this move takes on the proportions of a full spate in the coming years. Poland needs its own bright youngsters at home to revitablise its own economy, rather than provide cheap labour for us in the UK! Our own younster need to learn how to work!!

All the best from George

That scaffold looks a bit topsy-turvy to me in the photo our Fredders!

Beano

Hey Beano,

It is quite obvious that Poland is the biggest building site imaginable at the moment! It is straightening itself out, and in this case the building work is on the wall of the "Stare Miasto" which is the old town, where some of the fierfest fighting took place in the Warsaw Uprising. The whole place was raised to the ground by the Nazis, and the restoration continues... I think it is fair to say that the Polish have a great wish to sort out their country after the destruction of the Nazi period and the yoke of being a Soviet satelite state for the next half century.

You will find scaffolds everywhere, there, just now!

ATB from George

A Solemn photo taken by me on the 2nd of November 2006:


And a solemn link.

Lest we forget... I know I never will...

All the best from George

Dear Munch,

The crows were the only living thing happy in that place. I can never forget it.

But I post the memory, as we must not forget what can happen.

The happiest times and the saddest, I have spent in Poland. I am off to say goodbye to a good Polish friend tonight, who is returning home to a work for his country. The Poles will not stay in UK. It will be a party... They have somewhere they want to be...

ATB from George

Should I risk the non-PC observation that I can still type after a crazy quantity of the best of Polish Vodka and beer: Zyviec, and Wyborowa...

Thanks heavens for people who know how to get pissed and tortally affectionate, whilat retaining a good dose of respect, and it may be understood how well balanced is the Polish attitude to friendship! I am planning an English Party for my departing [2] friends at lunchtime tomorrow. Life would be too short to avoid the chance of some real English Ale at the Talbot [at Knightwick], before my friends leave these shores for good on Sunday...

ATB from George

No party today. Last night's was too good. Please don't shout! George

Polish Parties are for Friday nights! George

Last night was a corker! I rode my bike 16 miles today and my goodness that waw hard work! Into the wind and not feeling any too fine either, but certainly the evening before was worth it, and fully worked out of the system after two hourse slog up hill and down dale today to the garage to collect the aged, but now tested Volvo!

Hey hoh. Maybe I should change the old maxim, "Friday Night Is Music Night," for "...Is Vodka Night!"

ATB from George!!!

***

acad

Why do you persist in being a totally obnoxious pleb.

The sooner Naim has the sense to boot you from this forum the better.

Dear Mick,

I hardly ever look at links, especially when no introductory text is included! My PC is not even up to making Youtube work! I am not worried about Mr T. He does not like me, but it would be a strange world indeed if I could please everyone! Thanks again for the thought though! I have never felt the need to alter myself much beyond sleeping with my own conscienence!

I suspect that within bounds, we both understand the significance of Carpe Diem!

ATB from George

Against my better judgement, I'll wade in. As an ex-philosopher, I find some of acad's posts on this forum about philosophy and religion interesting, whilst recognising they will not be to everyone's tastes. However, I have to agree with Mick that acad's latest post is uncalled for, and seems designed to inject rancour into an otherwise good-natured thread. I have to ask acad, since he writes so eloquently on Buddhist thought - since when is petty spite part of the eightfold way? I won't write any more about this, as I hate getting dragged in to fruitless online squabbles.

Dear Droo!

I am hopeful that we can keep this nice, eccentric thread non-confrontational, and so I really hope that yours and Mick's posst are the end of the matter. I did not look at the link. I never do unless it is well introduced, and on a topic I am interested in in! So my feelings are not hurt, because I don't worry about what I do not see or hear directly.

ATB from George

Worcester County Cricket ground under water this summer.

ATB from George

Bye

Heavy sigh of relief for some reason!

Time for supper now! George

A Preacher at a Temperance meeting one day was wishing to show the evils of the demon drink so he put two glasses on the table, one full of Scotch, and the other full of water. He produced two earth worms and put one in each.

The one in the water swam around and was perfectly happy, but the one in the Scotch shrivelled up and died very quickly.

The Preacher asked the one of old boys at the table what they made of that, and the old guy shot straight back,

"Well, if you've got worms drink Scotch!"

ATB from George

Well.. alright then. See you around old chop.

Now, tipple.

Posted for Mr Johan R, a few minutes ago on the subject of Mono recording and replay, etc ...

Dear Johan,

After a rather diffficult day at work, three hours sleep, fetching my best Polish friend from Bristol airport [at a good clip in the old 240], one superb fish and pork supper with added Wedding Vodka [in other words a proper Polish party(!), and I left some lovely Bigos behind but I will fetch it tomorrow], and then a fine Columbian coffee here, I am definately good for an answer to your point about facing speakers outwards, as in the arrangement illustrated above:

I undestand your point completely. But no I would not do that. The more direct the speakers do relay the sound to the listeners' ears [without the listening room acoustic adding to the sonority] the less the recording "of a musical performance" will be diluted in my view! I once devised a plan for recording without hall or venue of ambience, which would be a practical impossiblity. And can you imagine a room large enough to contain an orchestra and yet be anechoic?

But given that in natural recordings the hall will always have something non-musical to add, surely the less one's listening room adds over that, the better! So I would work at facing for the most direct sound, facing them straight forward, and tune the listenability of the replay by "facing inwards," "straight forward" or even "outwards" as this most reduced the impact of the listening room.

[The old 240 never missed a beat this evening and quietly showed heels to a couple of Mercedes and several lorries!]...

Your comprehension must be that my harmless reason for allowing fun is "Carpe Diem!"

ATB from George

Tonight after a week of extremes at work [answering the phone to the great unwashed general public is very hard work on occasion], and culminating in my supervisor sitting next to me at lunchna d humourous chat, after a horrible day yesterday, I decided that a small treat was in order:

One bottle of each of these: Lech, Warka and Zyviets. [Lech like Lock but with an "e," Varka, and Jeuviets].

After a long time abstaining from beer in bottles - cans are cheaper - I reckon there is no substitute for glass in keeping the wonderfully subtle and variagated taste of beer unspoiled!

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Warka after a long time not finding it! I started the Lech first, then have had the Warka, and the Zyviets will follow ...

Prep'ing for my birthday this coming week, when undoubtedly there will be a marathon Party starting on Friday evening. I would hate to think that my real birthday [mid-week] led to poor performance at work!

ATB from George

PS: I am not quite so fond of Strong Warka, which is surorisingly sweet, and is definately knock out material! Two of those and you go to sleep, and tend to wake up with a headache!

Cheers, George!

Warka in hand, "Skol, dear Mark!" Norwegian, that of course! But you can take the boy out of Norway, but you will never entirely take Norway out of the man!

ATB from George

PS: If the third botle does not put me to sleep I have a small amount of Soplica [Soplitsa] Vodka waiting to bring on Morpheus! A gift from a good friend from his cousin's Wedding in Poland three weeks ago!

I'm currently quaffing a nice Rioja, George. Plenty of oak and dark berries - just how I like it.

I'm raising my glass to the screen as we speak!

Mark