Welcome - Witam

Who am I? 

  My name is Stan (Staś in Polish)


I was born in sunny Lancashire to Polish parents who came to the UK following World War 2, but more of that later.


Since both my parents were Polish I effectively grew up as a Pole, with a heady blend of Polish and English traditions like so many others in the same situation.


I have led two lives fortunate yet isolating, not quite knowing who you are and where you fit in or belong? Everybody wants to belong somewhere don't they?


Our family friends spanned the generations.

Sadly most have now passed away but I want to keep their memory alive via this site. 


I was extremely fortunate to have such loving parents, to be born in England and lucky to have good friends both then and now. 



With my rose coloured glasses firmly mounted, I had a great childhood in-spite of wearing tank tops, woolly hats, shorts and breathed endless clouds of mum's hairspray, but it was the 1970's!


I do hope you enjoy reading about this long forgotten time in glorious black and white? 



A big welcome to you where ever you live in the world. 




Ta-ra for now.



Stan

My father Walenty

Walenty (Valentine - born on Valentines day)

Born in Brzeg Poland. His father was a farmer but his brothers owned a Printing company in Kalisz.

My dad joined the Polish forces in 1932. 
In 1939 he left Poland travelling through Hungry and down towards North Africa, Cairo, Palestine, Tobruk, El Alemein, and Italy Monte Cassino with the British 8th Army amongst others.  

He was seriously injured at the battle of Tobruk and Monte Cassino, having shrapnel and punctured lungs to deal with. 

For the last 40 years of his life the shrapnel remained in his chest. The Italian Military hospital could not remove it, being too close to his heart. There was shrapnel in his wrist too, a party piece where he would stick a magnet to it! 

He was in the Polish army under British Command 1940 - 1947 then Polish resettlement Corps 1947 - 1949.

Dad passed away at the grand old age of 85, still retaining his chiselled good looks and hair, a gentleman till the end!

As a father he was a strong man, quite strict but then most Polish families are. He was also gentle, very caring always happy to see you, smiling and welcoming. 

Considering he was an invalid it's amazing what he achieved on the house and garden, with his excellent woodwork and building skills. He taught me so much and gave me the confidence to have a go at anything no matter what it was.

Dad was a keen Photographer and naturally so am I. 

I was developing my own black and white negatives and prints in the bathroom when I was about 8! 
All you need is a blackout curtain and a red light bulb simples! No Ipad in sight. 
What? Evil smelling chemicals in a confined space and no gloves on my hands? What's up with you bunch of wimps!

His rare collection of photos inspired this website.

Read his Story in my blog click below
Dad's life story - Click here

My mother - Zdzisława

Zdzisława (Jean as the neighbour called her)

My mum was born in Glinno Lodz, Poland. 
Her father owned a butchers shop and cycled a lot (well that's what I always remember).

She met my father after the war and escaped communist Poland to live in England. Then of course I came along.

To say my mum was the kindest, most considerate and caring person you could ever meet is an understatement. 
She would gladly help anybody and always took the time to listen, understand and do her best often at the detriment to herself. 

Mum was very glamorous and would never leave the house unless her makeup, hair and clothes were perfect.

Often I would see my her emerge from a cloud of Harmony Hairspray 'Right shall we go then Stas!' I of course would be coughing from the haze. My lungs have never recovered.

I would be 'dragged along' to cosmetics counters in Lewis's and Kendals in Manchester. All the makeup ladies knew her and she often received free samples from them (that still happened in my 30's!) It taught me patience when shopping a skill that has more than paid for itself in subsequent years.

She was a self taught extraordinary cook reading Polish cook books she brought with her and watching the TV show 'The Galloping Gourmet'. 

I know everyone thinks their mum's cooking is the best however mine really was. 

She always insisted on perfection, the best ingredients. Teaching me how to cook from age 6, where I was boiling eggs in a hot pan, not very 'health and safety' but I survived.

I still cook my mum's recipes but more of that in the blogs where I documented them especially for this website. Cakes will be a challenge mine tend to resemble the finer qualities of set concrete!

Mum sewed most of my clothes from scratch, curtains for the house, bedding and everything else. Mum showed me how to sew too where I would make clothes for my teddy bears. I moved onto car upholstery for my Classic cars, nothing worse than a cold bottom on a vinyl seat! 

A good friend once said, my arrival probably helped dad come to terms with post war trauma,  but it was my mum, turned his life around and brought happiness and joy, like she did to me and everyone she met. 

I was just glad my daughter got to know Babcia before she left us in 2017.