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Christmas Eve home food disasters 2025

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:19:32 GMT

Christmas Eve

home food disasters 2025

This year we stayed home. My wi fe wasn't feeling very well and Ania is in the middle of mock exams, so the extra stress of going away for Christmas although nice had to wait.

As it turned out I really wish we had gone to St Ives again. It really is the best time to go. Minimal tourists but everything is open and strangely good weather usually.

This Christmas was a slightly lack lustre affair and everything seemed to go a little wrong.

I ended up buying the Christmas tree myself. A nice tree but I have never seen needles fall so fast! Thankfully it wasn't expensive and all the best ones had been sold already. Being a man I found one and purchased it within 10 mins, no 2 hour searching...

Due to the pressures of work and my wife being ill, I decorated the house minimally and the Christmas tree, even more minimalistically than ever before (see below) much to the dissapointment of the family but they were nowhere to be seen to help so tough better than nothing.

For Christmas eve, naturally I prepped the meal again. I tried to make it a little better for them. Since I don't eat fish (well other than fish fingers which isn't really fish is it!) I got them some nice M&S type fish meal.

I made probably the nicest mushroom soup I have ever made, simmering for a few hours and bursting with flavour. Mum would have been proud.

Then disaster struck. I was adding a tiny bit of salt at the very end. The salt bottle has a double lid, one side sprinkle the other for spoons. Gently tipping the sprinkling side over the pan, the other end opened up depositing half a tonne of salt into my perfect soup!! Nooooooooooo

I had to pour half of it out, add a lot of water by which time it was effectivelly dish water! I added a tin of supermarket soup to help but it was terrible!

My fish fingers were reduced to wooden fingers as I left them in the air fryer for 1 minute too long, even though I had checked constantly, but the rest was fine it just wasn't anything special!

I made Poppy Seed cake again this year (recipe on the blog list somewhere), but for some strange reason I decided to use up my plain flour which I had a lot of, before it went out of date. Little did I realised plain flour does not rise with yeast at all! In the end it was like 2 slabs of beige concrete, tasted okish but the birds had it. So according to Polish tradition, at least the birds will be wealthy in 2026, but not me.

On the plus side I discovered that Lidl frozen Black Forrest Gataux was actually quite nice! Maybe there was even something natural in it who knows?

So all in probably one of the least successful Christmas Eve meals we ever had, but still better than nothing.

Never mind hopefully 2026 will bring something better?

Cornish Christmas Eve get away 2024

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:53:20 GMT

Cornish Christmas Eve get away 2024

Following last year's first ever Christmas away in Cornwall I decided to do it one more time.

Regardless of location the Krawczyk Christmas Eve family tradition will continue.

Unfortunately my van was off the road and couldn't be repaired in time so we had to use Lucy's car which being a smaller 2 door was cramped to say the least!

A long but uneventful trip saw us arrive at our destination, tired and squashed but otherwise fine.

I left some veg behind because it litterally would not fit in the car. A quick early trip to the local Co-op down there fixed that. I baked my Makowiec before we left home but everything else I did there.

This cottage had it's own parking space which made life a lot less stressful, plus it was spacious, clean and recently refusrbished by the looks of things. A very nice place to stay.

The Holy bread mum left for me is more than enough to last all our lifetimes and it is also another nice memory knowing she and dad are always with me, especially on Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas for 2024 and lets hope 2025 will get better.

The Last Krawczyk

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:54:11 GMT

The Last Krawczyk - 200 years in the making.

For years I was drifting along life's winding river, with no real plan or direction where I was going to end up?

Sometimes I washed up on a nice sandy beach other times a gritty mudbank. Even during those muddy times I really had the distinct feeling, someone was watching over me? They would guide me away from mud banks and back to the nice sunny sandy beaches.

I mention this because, although I know mum and dad and our family friends have long passed away, I do hear them speak to me sometimes? I assume it's just my memory of their voices when I am thinking of them but they do seem to help me.

Many times I asked a question, for example how to fix something on my banger cars, or help with resolving a work problem?

I know scientists believe, if you go to bed with a problem to solve, the mind continues to process over night and the following morning you wake up with the answer!

This might be true and I have experienced that but it doesn't expain trying to find a lost spanner in the garage left 6 months ago, no clue where I put it! I resort to asking mum or dad to help me find it. I have no idea how but without fail they have never let me down yet and those lost items are found again! They don't talk to me I just get a feeling I have to look in a particular location? Explain that one boffins!

That must sound a bit potty but statistically it has happened more times than you would expect.

With this in mind, one day I am casually looking for something online then by chance I am faced with the realisation of something far greater and humbling just by accident. A lifetime of puzzle pieces or even remnants of memory suddenly all make sense litterally over night!

So what was this great awakening?

I came across a Polish Geneology website and it opened up a very large chapter of my family history I never knew.

Looking for my parents and grand-parents names and in no time at all I actually found them, their siblings and host of other things!

Many hours searching into the night and desperately trying to put the pieces together I came to the conclusion there is an entire section of Poland, effectively where both sets of parents came from and lived, right from the early 1800s!

I am on 7 generations so far and still going strong. I probably have enough cousins to start my own country!

A lot of photos on my website suddenly came to life. I identified lots of people and taken educated guesses about others.

I thought am I getting old because like my dad I too always liked history, but geneology was never really my thing, especially since the only real family I had were mum and dad here in the UK and that is all that I knew and was important to me.

My current research has led me to one final conclusion.

After 200 years I am the last Krawczyk in this particular blood line.

Technically my daughter Ania is the last true Krawczyk! No pressure I will be passing the torch to her.

At the start of this blog I mentioned I was being helped/guided along in my life.

Knowing so much more about my parents families from both sides, I feel both mum and dad were also being helped in some way?

They both went through hell, sacrificed so much more than anybody will ever know but still managed to live a nice life, bring me up in-spite of everything. We were a happy, strong family unit and of course I am eternally greatful to them for everything.

So what next?

The pilgrimage to Poland I always promised myself but never did?

The last time I visited Poland I was 11 years old.

Worthy of a TV documentary I expect! The boy in the bubble, time travelling back to my childhood memories.

With the advent of google and streetview I have even managed to remember and track down specific locations when I was 6 years old! Maybe my memory isn't that bad after all? But read the toilet stories blog, those events left a mark on me!

I have even tracked down where some of my grand parents are buried or at least the area they might be, either way I will find and pay respect to them.

So fingers crossed I can make that trip next year? Camera gear at the ready a lot of places to visit and experience today's Poland as well as the past.

Penhros Polish Village end of an era

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:34:24 GMT

Penhros Polish Village - end of an era

Penhros Polish Village is located between Pwhelli and Abersoch on the North Wales coast line.

The area is in typically beautiful Welsh countryside with rolling hills, grazing sheep, birds singing and lots of araf (slow) painted on the roads.

It was a former RAF base handed over in 1949 to ex Polish soldiers and displaced Polish families after the war.

My godfather Theo and his friend Pani Minko, amongst others, decided to sell up and move there in the late 1980's. I expect it was little Poland to see out their final days.

I hired a large Ford Transit van one Saturday, packed up their belongings and off we went. The M56 being one of the most boring motorways in this country, I remember glancing over to the double passenger seat to see them both fast asleep bobbing along in this bouncy large van.

Before the days of internet and satnav, we just had A-Z maps.

I followed the map to Penhros village, which is actually located in a forrest about 0.5 mile from the base! There is nothing better than feeding a large removals van through a narrow forrest road only to discover it is the wrong place.

Attempting a 3 point turn is also character building!

Eventually we arrived at the 'correct village' and started to unpack.

A chapel on the left and white buildings littered the site with letters of the alphabet on the side, so you know where to go.

K block for Kowalski in our case.

The accomodation was small but complete featuring a bathroom, combined living room with kitchenette and bedroom.

They would not accept a small side cabinet in the room (personally I thought they were being mean) so I took it back home. It's still here in our hallway, moving with me from house to house, an everyday reminder.

I used to visit a few times per year in-spite of the 2.5 hour trip each way from my house.

Sadly Pani Minko passed away in 1992 and Theo in 1999, buried side by side in the nearby cemetary at Pwhelli.

Hence this village in the backwaters of Wales has ended up being connected to my life indirectly.

Today I still visit my godfather's grave, tidying up, fresh candle but also pop in to the village afterwards and just soak up the memories for a short while.

I expect most of the residents ended up in that same graveyard because I have never seen so many Polish graves together. It's very humbling knowing the sacrifices they made for us, to be left forgotten in a graveyard in the middle of nowhere.

Strangely it is always gloriously sunny and peaceful in that graveyard regardless of surrounding weather conditions.

Unfortunately in 2023, they have decided to demolish the village because it is too costly to just repair the buildings (which are ex army barracks from the 1940s!) They say they want to rebuild from new and the current residents can stay in their current homes during the work according to the press?

Sadly I think it shall be the end of this chapter of Polish history in that part of the UK.

It's sad seeing boarded up windows, overgrown gardens once neatly trimmed in the past.

There used to be rabbits hopping about everywhere they have gone too.

Read the press links, once it is gone that's it.

I know time moves onto the next generation but we shouldn't forget the past nor build over it for financial/commerical reasons.

Photos are from June 2024. I hope it will still be here next year but like the rabbits I expect it wont.

Happier times.......Pani Minko and Theodore Kowalski the day they arrived at Penhros village.

Large number of Poles who never made it back. Never forget their sacrifice during and following the war.

Still together after all these years.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Krawczyk stuffed pancakes - nadziewane naleśniki

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:34:58 GMT

Mum's Polish Kitchen - Krawczyk stuffed pancakes - nadziewane naleśniki.

Mum's version of a classic, filled pancakes.

Her own recipe pancakes with a delightful stuffing that I tried to recreate from educated guesses and knowing how mum loved her quality ingredients.

These were a huge hit everytime.

It is not worth making 2 or 3 pancakes because of the effort involved and stinking the house out with hot oil, be brave embrace quantity you can offer these to your friends too especially on Shrove Tuesday.

You can skip the pancake making part and cheat with packet mix but honestly it's peasy and quick to make save your money.

Ingredients:

Ingredients list for about 6-10 pancakes subject to how thick you want them and size of pan.

I used a cast iron 10 inch diameter frying pan (25 cm) and thicker pancakes (who wants to eat paper!) so I doubled the below amounts to make 10-12 at these quantities.

For the batter

100 grams plain flour

2 large eggs

300ml (1/2 uk pint) milk

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon of vegatable oil

For the filling

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons of Arak flavouring

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 or 2 pots (300 grams) of cottage cheese. Don't buy a cheap ultra low fat get a decent brand like Dunsters farm, as its too watery. (1 pot for small numbers (1 egg), 2 pots and 2 eggs for larger quantites)

Topping

Cinnamon

Brown Sugar

Method:

Make the batter

Mix the eggs, salt, oil, milk and flour very well in a jug, using a fork. Place it to one side for about 30mins or so.

Filling.

Place the cottage cheese in a small bowl. Add the egg (eggs) Arrak and sugar too. Give it a good mix with a fork.

Make the pancakes

Heat a frying pan and back off the heat a little. Drizzle some oil onto the pan swirl it around until it coats the base.

It should be hot not smoking. Quickly pour some of the batter mix into the middle of the pan, swirl it quickly to spread it around to get a nice pancake.

When the edges start to lift a little (about 20-30 seconds , you can usually lift it with a wide spatula, see if the underside is starting to go a bit darker, if so use the spatula to flip it over to cook the top side. Add a smidge of oil if required to keep it from sticking. Another 30 seconds and slide it onto a plate. Repeat for the rest.

You can let them cool down, put cling film on them and store them in the fridge for a day or 2 if you like, they would last about 3 days at mums, assuming they were not eaten beforehand.

Make the stuffed pancakes.

Pre heat the oven to about 200 degrees C.

Put some greasproof paper on a metal tray.

Taking one of the pancakes, lay it on a side plate. Subject to how big the pancake is take 2 or 3 tablesoons of the cottage cheese filling and lay it into the middle of the pancake. Now like a spring roll or pastry parcel, fold and roll the pancake around the filling ensuring the edges fold in to stop the cheese from escaping. Lay it on the tray and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Don't be shy put a lot on.

Repeat for the rest.

Now place the tray in the hot oven but maybe reduce it a little and keep an eye on it. 15 mins should be enough however my oven is either nuclaear fusion or raw, so I kept turning mine around. You want the egg in the cheese mix to set but not so much you are making an omlette!

Serve:

Let them cool for a little. I would sprinkle more sugar on the top and that's it.

The house should now smell of cinnamon!

Warning they are quite filling and you can just have the sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on the pancake without the filling if you like, just as nice. Makes a change from boring sugar and lemon.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's nadziewane naleśniki....................simpleski.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Keeping the website going

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 20:40:46 GMT

Keeping the website going...

I considered shutting down this site and frankly saving the money it cost's me every year to keep it published.

It is not for financial gain other than a place to keep my family memories alive in an easy to access location.

Everytime I think that is it, I decide to renew. It is funny how something that came out of grief and deep sadness now actually gives me comfort.

The other reason of course are my recipes which if I don't do for a while I forget? Handy because I just take a look at my phone and off I go.

There are lots more photos I need to scan and pointless silly stories to recall.

Ania is getting older, at that point in her education where she will need to make important choices soon. I hope one day she will look back at these pages, smile maybe cry but above all remember her Polish roots with pride and know she has a whole lot of family history, people who sacrified their lives to ensure we could live a better life than they did.

So for now the site remains.

Happy New Year 2024 let's hope it is a good one for the world.

Below me and Ania at Edinburgh Christmas Markets again (with creepy Santa on a ride!)

I said no more classic cars but I always wanted one of these, my Beetle's Italian cousin I couldn't resist! A teeny Christmas present...................... Last one promise!

We were lucky to stay in St Ives and enjoyed a different type of Christmas.

Christmas eve 2023 in Cornwall

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:32:10 GMT

Christmas eve 2023 in Cornwall

For the first time ever I decided we would go away to Cornwall for Christmas!

Yes it was a bit more effort on my part, food prep before we left, lugging lots of food and pans.

Some things will never change in the Polish Catholic calendar, nor the Krawczyk family tradition.

I prepared fresh mushroom soup and other food at the cottage the day after we arrived, which turned out to be a wise move since there was a 5 hour power outage that evening!

Mums Salata was made at home just before we left, packed in sealed containers ready for Christmas day and beyond.

I also baked poppy seed cake, one normal and the other split into poppy seed buns, which turned out quite well. Another 20 years and I will get better at this baking lark.

The Holy bread mum left for me is more than enough to last all our lifetimes and it is also another nice memory knowing she and dad are always with me, especially on Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas for 2023 and lets hope 2024 will get better.

Christmas eve 2022

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 09:20:35 GMT

Christmas eve 2021

Our evening Christmas eve meal table set.

Some things will never change in the Polish Catholic calendar, nor the Krawczyk family tradition.

Although it is very poignant for me, all those happy memories with my parents, I am so pleased my family still maintains this tradition.

Ania insists we have this every year which pleases me so much.

Unusually I was very well prepared. Mushroom soup made in advance, poppy seed cake baked and everything else all done and dusted. I even made the family Salata ready for Christmas, although we can't eat it on Christmas eve due to it containing Wiejska sausage.

The Holy bread mum left for me is more than enough to last all our lifetimes and it is also another nice memory knowing she and dad are always with me, especially on Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas for 2022 and lets hope 2023 will get better.

Popcorn the kitten

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:49:03 GMT

Popcorn the kitten, Ania's new friend

Following months and months of ' Please can we have a kitten ' from both Ania and Lucy, against my better judgement I said ' Ok but you look after him! ' Ha well amazingly Ania has kept to her word and continued to look after him.

I have to admit he is a funny little scamp, very lovable but they are still trying to get him and Fifi together.

Probably by the time I retire things will settle down but no issues so far.

5 Years today since mum passed away

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 07:52:35 GMT

5 Years today since mum passed away.

I can't believe time has passed so quickly? A lot has happened in five years.

We left the European Union.

Covid engulfed the World and of course Russia invaded Ukraine with the fallout that has caused.

The only positive is mum did not have to deal with these events.

It may have been five years but it is still only yesterday to me and always will be. That pain never leaves you especially since we were such a close family.

I know both of them are still guiding and helping us today and keeping watch over Ania.

One day we will be together again I just hope it is not because of Putin.

Ukraine War 24th February 2022

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:38:04 GMT

Ukraine War 2022

I am writing this in June 2022 because frankly 2022 has been a total disaster!

Listening to the news over the past few weeks during February and hearing that Russian Troops were massing along the Ukraine borders, nobody wanted to believe they were going to invade another country in 2022 but they did.

Since then things have gone from bad to worse with Ukrainians having to evacuate.

This is such a terrible situation and I can't believe in this century that gangster Putin thinks he can go back to soviet times and regain old territory.

I am so angry because the sacrifices my parents made, feel like they were for nothing if he wins.

I pray this will finish soon and Russia will realise what this monster has done not just to Ukraine, the world but it's own country.

Christmas eve 2021

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 13:20:19 GMT

Christmas eve 2021

2021 surprised everyone with yet another covid variant, Omicron sounding like a baddie from an old Flash Gordon film.

Some things will never change in the Polish Catholic calendar, nor the Krawczyk family tradition.

Our evening Christmas eve meal.

With my new found baking skills I produced two poppy seed rolls. No stress this year trying to find the last ones in the Polish shops!

I have to admit it was not quite my usual well planned event, An odd gaff on the food front and last minute searching for festive Christmas songs on you tube didn't quite go to plan but it was nice to continue this family tradition.

But we are still here and I hope Ania will continue this tradition. Mum definitely left me enough holy bread just in case.

Merry Christmas for 2021 and lets hope 2022 will get better.

My Bill Gates nanobot vaccine

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 10:32:29 GMT

My Bill Gates nanobot vaccine

Out of the blue I receive a text from my doctor suggesting I book a vaccine appointment. Great I follow the link and sure enough I get one the very next day.

The following morning the TV news is full of stories about the Astrazenica vaccine being postponed in Germany because of blood clot risks? Hmm not what I want to hear a few hours before I am to be vaccinated? Of course I have no idea which vaccine I will receive?

I have a few hours to fester over this before I go.

Everything is very well organised and the staff really supportive and helpful.

Of course it is the Astrazenica I am to get!

Wait and wait and wait then its my turn. I walk into the partitioned area and two nurses are waiting.

I mention I am not a fan of needles so whilst one talks to me about it, the other does the deed, before I realise it is all over. Well done they were great.

Because I am driving myself (everything is self service in my house) I have to sit down for 15 mins just in case?

Once my time is up I go home, don't feel anything as yet.

Around 7pm I feel tired so retire to bed.

My heart feels like its racing. My Fitbit watch shows resting heart rate is 80+bpm I am usually in the low 60's. I lie there all night unable to sleep, my arm is starting to hurt now. I get up a few times and drink water because I feel dehydrated.

The following morning I walk to the bathroom and almost pass out on the floor! This is not a good sign, eventually I crawl back to bed on my hands and knees. After an hour I feel a little better.

My heart is still racing but I am so tired from not sleeping I nod off for an hour or so?

I manage some tea and toast then fall asleep again.

My arm is now very painful and have to sleep on the other side. I spend the entire week in bed, suffering from very cold chills (like a man flu). This continues for 5 days progressively improving towards the end of the week. I have not felt this bad ever, not even with real flu years ago?

If you previously had Covid (which I did last year) the body really attacks the vaccine thinking its the virus, so we know its working but I never expected this? It will be my Polish fighting genes they don't mess about.

This must have been the very early Beta version of Bill's nanobot vaccine?

Walking past Wifi hotspots like Costa Coffee, I think it has since automatically upgraded itself over the air to a stable version.

I can now change TV channels by just pointing my finger at the screen, think of the channel and it switches over by itself! Fantastic thanks Bill.

Unfortunately Bill knows when I go to the loo and how long I am there and so on, all this data being generated, surely my life is not that interesting?

The second jab is not available yet but I hope it will be a milder affair.

Take the vaccine folks, it is the only sensible route out of this mad pandemic world.

My case was probably a little harsher than others. I don't know anybody who experienced this, just a sore arm for 2 days.

If like me you survived the 1970's this will be a walk in the park!

Keep safe and lets hope 2021 is a better year for us all.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Makowiec

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 21:34:54 GMT

Mum's Polish Kitchen - Makowiec or Poppy Seed Roll.

Mum's version of a Polish classic, Makowiec (Poppy Seed Roll). A traditional Polish cake baked for Easter or particularly Christmas. I don't ever remember a Christmas without it?

This is the first time I have ever baked it? I am using mums Polish cook book as a starting point, cross referencing the web and some educated guesswork.

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person.

All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.

Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp, no value stuff here please!

This recipe makes 2 rolls (one for you and one for guests).

Ingredients:

I have broken these down for each section.

Yeast base

4 teaspoons of dried yeast (or fresh is better) I use Fermipan

1 cup (250ml) of warmed milk

15g of castor sugar

4 cups flour (500g) (I used Strong bread flour but any white flour will do)

1 teaspoon of salt

3 egg yokes

50g butter (melted and cooled)

1 tablespoon of vanilla essence or paste

Filling:

300g of dried poppy seeds (ebay/tesco sell them)

100g of castor sugar

15g of butter (melted and cooled)

3 egg whites

small handful of raisins

1 tablespoon of almond or vanilla extract

Topping:

1 egg

1 tablespoon of oil (I use olive)

Optional

1 tablespoon of icing sugar

2 tablespoons of warm water

Flaked almonds, mixed nuts, candy peel?

Method:

Before you start on the cake make time for the poppy seed. I understand you can buy ready prepared poppy seed paste in a tin? Its very expensive and I have never seen it in the UK, so I am following my mums old school method.

Measure out 300g of poppy seeds into a pan. Pour boiling water over them, mix then cover and leave overnight or at east as long as you can before the flour mix below.

The following day you will need to drain the water off, which is not as easy as it sounds.

Lets make the dough first.

Pour the 250 ml milk into a pan and gently warm it up.

Melt 50g of butter in another pan, then cool a little.

In a small mixing bowl, pour the warm milk, add 15g of sugar and 4 teaspoons of yeast mix it all together.

Now place it aside somewhere warm like a radiator for 5 mins or until it starts to bubble with that lovely yeast aroma.

In the meantime, add the 4 cups (500g) of flour to a large mixing bowl, 1 teaspoon of salt, mix it.

Separate the egg yolks from the whites into 2 small bowls.

Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract to the egg yolks, mixing it well.

Afore Yeast go

Once 5 mins is up return the yeast mix to the kitchen.

Stir in the 3 egg yolks (with vanilla), 50g of melted butter into the yeast and mix well.

Add the wet yeast mix to the large bowl with the flour. M ix it all together with a spoon then dusting flour on your hands knead the mixture just for a few minutes. It is not a dry dough it has to be a little wetter than a usual bread mix so add a little cold water if its getting a bit tough.

Knead in the bowl until its a nice consistency and all the bits are picked up from the sides of the bowl.

Cover the bowl with some cling film, mum used a damp tea towel but I prefer the cling film it stops it drying out. Place near warm radiator for about 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.

Filling duty

Whilst that is rising back to those pesky poppy seeds.

Use a sieve place a clean thin cotton table napkin or tea towel. Over a bowl pour or spoon the wet poppy seeds into it so the water drains away. This can take some time, be prepared for some wastage. Take the towel and squeeze it a little more, but there is no need to make it bone dry just remove the excess.

Place it into a blender or food processor or leave it whole it's up to you.

I used my other half's Ninja blender thing, loud enough to scare people from across the continent! Did you hear me in Canada?

Throw in some of the raisins, they will help the blender pick up the seeds. Repeat for the remainder of the seeds. You are supposed to cut the seeds to release the oils but I don't think its critical?

At this stage you can also throw in some assorted nuts if you like, they will also be chopped up nicely but not too fine please. (Later on you will mix 1 whole egg and a tablespoon of oil to glaze, you can mix that now and paint the edges to help seal if you like?)

In a pan melt 15g of butter and cool.

Butter a large baking tray (or use parchment paper) I have a large one used for Christmas turkey with high sides.

Place the poppy seeds into a medium sized mixing bowl adding 100g of castor sugar, the remaining 3 egg whites 1 teaspoon of almond or vanilla essence and the butter. Mix it all well with a fork.

After the dough has doubled in size, dust a chopping board with some flour and your hands too. Empty the dough onto the board and knead it for a few minutes. Cut into 2 parts and shape them into balls.

With a rolling pin spread each one to a rectangular shape, roughly 10 x 14 inches (25 x 35 cm). But unlike me ensure they fit in the baking tray which ever size you go for!

Once you have rolled one out, spoon half of the poppy seed filling and spread it out evenly as though you were making a pizza but don't go too close to the edges, leave them naked.

Length ways begin to slowly roll the mixture over, swiss roll style. Ensure you pinch the outer ends and tuck them underneath.

The join in the middle has to be underneath so the weight of the cake stops it from bursting open and leaking the filling. Sadly I had leakage maybe my mix was too wet because I didn't drain the seeds well enough (doesn't detract from taste but looks a bit messy - sorry mum.)

Now carefully position in the tray, leaving space for the next one. Repeat with the other.

Place near a warm radiator for about 30 mins so they grow in size, covering with a tea towel.

Pre heat the oven 170 degrees C .

In a cup break 1 whole egg add 1 tablespoon of oil, whisk it up and once its been 30 mins paint the tops with the mixture using a brush.

Place in the oven (lower shelf) for 35 mins , checking it every 10 mins and rotating if like you me have a duff old oven. Place foil over the top if your oven likes to cremate food, removing it for the last 3 mins to brown the top!

Once it goes ping you should have a nice pale brown colour on top.

Leave them to cool for about 30 mins.

They might be reluctant to come out of the tray but give it a go, doesn't matter if they break, they are going to be sliced anyway.

You can just eat them as they are but they look nicer with a covering. Mix a little icing sugar with some warm water and paint that on the tops. Drop some flaked almonds on there or glazed fruit or mixed chopped nuts then leave to cool and set a little more. Experiment.

There you go.

My mum told me you should have some poppy seed cake on Christmas Eve along with the other traditional food because it is supposed to ensure you will be financially secure in the new year? I have never missed a Christmas Eve without one yet and after 2020 I won't be taking that chance this year!

Serve:

Once cooled cut it into thick strips.

Wrap in cling film to stop it drying out.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Makowiec...................simpleski.

Update: December 2023....

Mini Poppy Seed Buns.

I tried a variation on this recipe by only making 1 poppy seed roll as described above the second ball of dough I cut into smaller dough balls. I rolled them out as before, placing a suitable amount of poppy seed filling, buttered the outer edges and rolled them up like a small spring roll/chinese pancake. Finally squeezing the out ends underneath the main body of the parcel and placed in a muffin case. Repeated for the rest of the pastry. Left on a radiator (under a teatowel, for about an hour until they rose. Placed in the oven as before.

Surprisingly they turned out really well, still with the poppyseed twirl pattern inside. Give it a go.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Poppy Seed buns

Christmas in the 1970's

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:00:10 GMT

Christmas in the 1970's

When tinsel and red Christmas baubles were all the rage! I remember it well.

Exhibit 1 above.

Orange shiny curtains, hand sewn by mum. Orange, yellow and brown were the popular colours of choice in the 1970's.

Tinsel excess, a real tree and proper Star on the top, what more do you need?

Exhibit 2 below.

There I am in stylish purple cords, slippers and de rigueur tank top, with my favourite bear Ojciec (father in Polish).

Sat on a Remploy rocker next to the tree. Not told to pose in anyway what so ever by dad as he took the picture.

Observe closely the twisted pair cable plugged into the mains for the traditional filament Christmas fairy lights.

Those lights would get so hot the house was at risk of burning down. But hey this was the 1970's a time when such concerns never crossed anyone's mind!

We drank and ate E-number infused food.

Rode bikes painted with a high lead content.

Fired toy guns with real gunpowder caps in them.

Children ate candy sticks that looked like cigarettes and everybody smoked like chimneys for real.

Everyone drank hard booze and were probably exposed to other carcinogenic substances I don't even want to think about!

Disclaimer: The Krawczyk family did neither of the above. No smoking or heavy boozing in our house thank you very much!

The weeks leading up to Christmas have not changed much in 40 years. Well ok Amazon, Ebay or even a pandemic wasn't around then, so maybe actually we were better off in the 1970's?

The excitement of finishing school and dad finishing work.

Christmas shopping with my parents. Saturday after 5pm the shops used to close.

Visiting Santa at Lewis's department store in Manchester.

The actual trip to Manchester itself was exciting! Travelling by train or bus, I always preferred the train.

Katsouris Deli in the market hall to buy all the food.

It was a magical time only seen through a child's eye.

The first snow falling.

We used to have snow in the 1970's proper snow and power cuts.

Every house had it's collection of candles just in case? I still have them now, although my other half loves Yankee Candles, we will never be short of light (or scent) in case of power cuts!

Dad even had Pifco paraffin lamps (for his greenhouse) as a candle backup!

Everything seemed to be made in Hong Kong in the 1970's by Pifco and powered by Ever Ready PP6 batteries. I dare you to bridge the contacts with your tongue?

The main event was of course Christmas Eve. The only family tradition I still continue today (see Polish Christmas Eve Blog )

We ate the traditional food and exchanged blessings as always.

I would eat fish fingers because I don't like fish (fish fingers aren't really fish are they?)

Afterwards we would change into our Sunday best. Nice warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves then walk to Mass.

Originally it was the Chapel at Holy Cross College but as time went by it was better to go to St. Marie's church.

We used to walk there and back (no car) that was part of the fun for me. Not often were you allowed to stay up so late? Returning home in the evening then straight to bed.

Sometimes if it was past midnight I was allowed to have some Christmas Day food mum had prepared (Salatka for example - see blog)

On Christmas day I would rush downstairs and look under the tree.

Dad would bring the bears and we gave each other presents.

Sometimes friends would visit, join us and exchange presents but mostly it was just us.

I would play with my toys all day and well into the evening.

Mum would put some vinyl on the Ferguson record deck. Kolendy (Polish traditional carols) and dad, Greatest hits of Johnny Cash.

We watched the big Christmas films at the time on the Black and White telly.

My best ever presents being a Lego train set and later a Raleigh Chipper bike, 1974 and 1976 respectively?

They were particularly special because I knew dad must have saved and saved to buy them for me.

Even at such a young age I knew the value of these things.

Today I still take care of everything hence why its all in exceptional condition. Of course I don't have the bike or train set but you know what I mean.

On Boxing day we visited friends and exchanged presents. Ate lunch at theirs or they would come to ours.

A very happy time that seemed to go on for ever.

I have to say New Years eve/ day have always been a bit flat for me, even now.

We used to attend Mass and stayed home mostly, watched some TV.

I would make up stories with the bears and dad. Right up to February this year, I still made up bear stories with my daughters bears but she is at that age now where she has denounced bears!

Simple times by todays standards but extremely precious memories never to be forgotten and remembered every single Christmas since.

I know 2020 has been a terrible year for the world but keeping these old traditions alive helps us continue with our family history and maintain some continuity to help us get through it all.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas from 1974!

Wesołych Swiąt!

Pandemic Early Christmas 2020

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 21:22:21 GMT

Pandemic early Christmas 2020!

For the first time ever we have our Christmas tree in the house and almost completely decorated on 29th November!!

I have been in the loft and retrieved all the decorations most of which are up now.

This is the most bizarre year I have ever known?

The houses in the street already have Christmas lights out, usually I would look down at such things being a firm believer of keeping Christmas in December but like everyone else people have decided to get things done earlier? We are even considering ordering Duck for the meal this week to be ready in time? It's not even December!!!

With the risk of virus spread during Christmas we have decided to be sensible and stay home. It's not going to the same without visiting family or friends but for the sake of one Christmas I would rather take that hit and not have a third wave in the Spring? Everybody wants this to end, we have to make sacrifices for that to happen?

But will the tree survive before Christmas Day? I will be on water top up duty with extra vigour this time?

More decorations to go and the Star is a bit top heavy I might have to consider alternatives?

I have to say not one of my favourite decorations it looks like something Melania Trump would have designed in a dead of winter kind of vibe?

More Christmas tatt but it does brighten the place up a bit with some glitter.

Thankfully I purchase my AA and AAA batteries in bulk from Costco in advance!

I probably have enough to power a small substation.

The door baubles are out and illuminated tree (sigh)

Should I celebrate Christmas eve maybe next week instead? No we shall still have the traditional Polish Christmas Eve supper (see last years blog), although we might have to cut back on some food, but lets see?

I was going to wish you a Merry Christmas but frankly it's far too early so lets hold off till its time.

All Souls day not a pumpkin in sight

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 16:58:36 GMT

All Souls day not a pumpkin in sight.

All Souls day in the Polish or indeed Catholic calendar is right up there with Easter and Christmas for its importance.

November 2nd people would visit their deceased relatives, placing a candle and fresh flowers on the graves. They would say prayers and remember them.

In church they would light small votive candles one for each member of their family.

As a small child this would be my job - a not too small responsibility either.

I would put money in the box, light the candles, kneel at the alter before mass started and say a prayer for them. After a few years that list would get pretty long and there was the risk of setting off the fire alarm in the church due to the blazing inferno of candles! Coat sleeve safety was also an issue!

I have a dim view of the commercialisation of this event, it loses the whole point! So no pumpkins or plastic tatt from Asda for me thank you.

This year being a pandemic year I still placed flowers and a candle on the grave, saying a small prayer and remembering them, not that I ever forget them of course. Sadly I could not go to Wales to visit my godfathers grave or Scotland for Stanley's (why did they have to move so far away!) due to lockdown restrictions but hopefully next year I will make up for that? Poland too of course where I have to visit my Grandparents graves (only late by 30+ years so far).

This day is not meant to be a sad day it's to remember the good times and be happy, one day I hope to see them all again (but not yet!) however they are with me always I know that.

I wish you all the best and lets get through this pandemic together so we can light more candles in the coming years.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Steamed dumplings - Kluski na parze

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 21:40:04 GMT

Mum's Polish Kitchen - Steamed dumplings -kluski na parze.

Mum's version of a Polish classic, steamed dumplings. A very nice substitute for potatoes or pasta even.

I had to work hard to investigate this one, all I had were quickly written notes on my phone from 6 years ago with lots of blanks however they turned out just how I remember them.

This one reminds me of the days the kitchen was filled with steam and lovely aroma of Vanilla. It probably contributed to the plaster cracking in the kitchen years later but that is another story.

All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.

Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp, no value stuff here please!

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of dried yeast (or fresh is better 3 oz) I use Fermipan

3/4 cup of warmed milk

4.5 Cups of strong bread flour ideally (its tough but soft just like me)

6 whole eggs , this is my toned down version mum had 12!!

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract/essence

60 grams of butter

4 packets of Vanilla sugar they are 8g each plus 1.5 tablespoon of caster sugar

Method:

Before we begin get yourself a large pan, a tea towel or similar and 2 elastic bands large enough to go around the pan.

Fill the pan around 3/4 full with water.

Fold the tea towel in such a way it sits on the top of the open pan and no drooping material on the cooker itself (incidentally mine is an electric hob - goodness knows what you will do with gas, maybe use a colander inside the pan with material on that, not sure?) Wrap the elastic bands around the outer edge of the pan then switch it on and wait for it to boil and steam. Do not let the material fall on the cooker and singe like I did! End of tea towel number 1.

You also will need a plastic mixing bowl or anything that can be placed upside down on top of the pan and contain the steam.

Once that is getting to temperature, take the butter, place in a small pan and melt it, place to one side.

In another small pan warm up the milk then leave to cool a little.

In a large mixing bowl put in the flour, vanilla sugar and stir it well, leave.

Break the 6 eggs into a cup and mix them up.

In yet another smaller mixing bowl (I actually did the lot of this in 2 bowls but trying to be professional here!) place the yeast in, add about 1/5 cup of the flower mixture from the big mixing bowl, add 1.5 tablespoons of sugar and then milk and the butter. Mix them up well and leave to one side for about 10 minutes or so until you see it bubbling that means the yeast is having a nice feed.

Now add the yeast mix (should still be warm) to the flour , eggs, vanilla essence and carefully mix it all in until you start to get a nice dough. It should be slightly soggy but no so much it sticks to your fingers. Add flour to dry it out a bit or milk to wet it more. Either way begin to knead it in the bowl until all the bits are picked up from the sides.

Flour a board then knead it on there for a few mins. No need to go mad you are not making bread here and there is no proving phase either.

Once you are happy with the dough cut it up into 2 large pieces and then roll each one out as a fat sausage until you can cut 6 pieces from each (total 12).

Roll each cut into a ball about the size of 2-3 inches in diameter, but you can do what you like? Bigger or smaller up to you experiment. None of mine were identical in size, I am not opening up a Michelin star restaurant.

Lightly flour a tray or board and place them on there spaced a few inches and leave to rise for about 30 mins or so. They will double in size and have nice rounded off smooth skin.

By this time the steam should be rising from your pan.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be careful with the steam I burnt my fingers a few times even though I was being careful.

Check the water level don't let it boil dry. I found after number 6 is removed pour some boiling water from the kettle onto the tea towel so it tops up the water in the pan then carry on.

Take your first roll and carefully lift it (use a spatula underneath) and place it gently onto the steaming towel then quickly place the upside down mixing bowl on the top. Ensure it is not a tight fit you need the steam to escape.

Time it for 9 mins shouldn't need more than 10 but use a wooden dowel/chop stick to check, stab it and if it comes out clear its done.

Don't be tempted to keep checking it trust me it will be fine. Don't drop it on the towel as it deflates. If they do look a bit flat don't worry the steam will re-energise them and up they go again.

When the timer pings carefully remove the top bowl, use a spatula again and lift it off the towel (using a towel with your other hand so you don't burn yourself) place on a cooling rack and onto the next one.

If you have smallish sized ones you can fit 2 at a time or more if you have a huge pan.

Repeat for the rest, ensure you let them cool but they are nicest when they are still a little warm.

That's it simple eh? Maybe you can use a Chinese type bamboo steamer instead but they tend to be small.

Serve:

Mum used to serve these instead of potatoes, so beef with a mushroom or horseradish sauce and sauerkraut or veg.

You can just eat them neat or if you were having a pasta dish with a meat based sauce they also go well.

They can be cut and toasted like a brioche and I suppose like a brioche you can use them as burger buns.

They are slightly sweet which goes well with salty food combinations. They are not heavy like suet dumplings.

After they are cool store them in an airtight container. After about 2 days they might get a bit dry to warm them up and wake them up again steam them for 2 mins again. I have never frozen them before however I expect they will be fine.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's kluski na parze ...................simpleski.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Placek

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:53:09 GMT

Mum's Polish Kitchen - Placek or yeast cake with crumble topping.

Mum's version of a Polish classic, Placek drożdżowy z kruszonką. A very flexible if robust cake made with yeast, eggs and a sugar crumble on top. This is baked at Easter but honestly you can't wait until Easter for this one come on!

If there is one thing that reminds me of childhood and those happy days growing up its this cake and rather more importantly the aroma in the kitchen.

This is the first time I have baked it, mostly guesswork and googling but I did have some notes from mum a few years ago.

All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.

Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp, no value stuff here please!

Ingredients:

I have broken these down for each section.

Yeast base

4 tablespoons of dried yeast (or fresh is better) I use Fermipan

3/4 cup (150g) of warmed milk

200g of castor sugar

1/2 cup flour (I used Strong bread flour but any white flour will do)

Cake mix

4 Cups (800g) of strong bread flour ideally (its tough but soft)

7 eggs , yes this is my toned down version mum had 12!! 1 full egg and 6 egg yolks

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract/essence

200 gram of butter

1/2 teaspoon of salt

Crumble topping

3/4 cup (150g) of strong white flour

4 packets of Vanilla sugar they are 8g each plus 1 tablespoon of caster sugar

60 grams of butter or margarine.

Method:

For this cake you can use blenders and mixers but I am doing it old school like my mum and its really not too difficult just using a fork and some elbow grease.

Cut the butter you need for the yeast. Use it to lightly butter the insides of a deep roasting tin, the sort you would use for Christmas Turkey basting, with high sides they are roughly 12 x 16 inches or similar.

To make the yeast starter.

Place the butter in a small pan, melt it and let it cool somewhere.

In a medium sized mixing bowl mix the flour, yeast, sugar together dry.

Slowly add the warm milk constantly mixing it in.

Put it somewhere warm with clingfilm over the top. I tend to leave it on or near a warm radiator for about 15mins which is enough to get the bubbles coming through and that fantastic yeast aroma.

Cake base.

Take the eggs break them putting the yolk of 6 eggs in a dish but keep the white, drop it into another dish for later, not forgetting to add the full egg to the yolks - number 7! Add the Vanilla extract to the yolks and mix them with a fork.

When the yeast is ready after 15 mins take a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, egg yolk mix and the butter, yeast mix all together stirring it in gently with a spoon or fork. Keep doing this until you are getting an even dough.

If its a bit wet then add some flour, if its a bit dry add a little bit of milk or water. Ensure you have clean hands dust them with flour and start to mix the dough in the bowl. I find its easier to knead it in the bowl and then after about 10mins or so knead it on a chopping board dusted with flour. You don't need to knead (see what I did there) to make it perfect bread dough but with the strong flour you have to show it who is boss!

Quick dust of flour in the mixing bowl you just used and return the dough to it, cover with clingfilm and pop it on or near a warm radiator.

I keep mentioning the effort in Polish cooking because this one can take a while and its not worth doing small portions.

Leave the bowl for between 2-3 hours so it rises and doubles in size.

Ok you are on the home straight honest!

Drop the dough into the buttered dish you have. Using your hands just gently smooth it out so it reaches all the corners don't worry it's looking pancake flat at this stage it will rise to the occasion.

Cover it with cling film and return it to that homely warm radiator. Let it double or grow as much as you can, normally 2.5 hours or so?

Take the film off, now with the egg white you left over, brush it gently on the top so as not to let the air escape and the cake sink.

Crumble time my favourite thing!

In yet another mixing bowl, place the flour and Vanilla sugar and butter. Using the back of a fork start to mash it in or cream I think is the term? No need to be perfect I go shabby chic style myself.

Once fairly even use your hands and squeeze the mixture through your finger so it clumps together. Gently sprinkle it all over the top and mums top tip was never put large lumps in the middle or it will sink. Mum used margarine a lot probably because it's easier to use and clumps better.

When done, place into a preheated oven on the lower shelf 180 degrees C for 30 mins. Keep watching it every 10 mins and turn the tray around if your oven is rubbish like mine. Put a stick in and if comes out clean its done.

Take it out and let it cool for 20 mins.

As a child I couldn't resist picking the crumble off the top my favourite bit straight from the oven.

Use this as a base for different variations of this cake, like plumbs or raisins or host of others. I will give them a try at a later date but for now this original one is best for me.

Serve:

Once cooled cut it into strips or rectangles, a little butter to spread and just chomp away. It's light and not too sweet.

Keep in a cake tin overnight.

Towards the end it gets dry we are talking after 6 days, pop it in the oven to bring it back to life, you must have it with butter its the law!!

You can toast slices, its very similar to French Brioche and can be used as such.

Random childhood memory

Mum gave dad large doorstep sized slices for his lunch and for his friends at work too. Lets just say he was always popular at the factory!

I always remember the smell of yeast and then vanilla in the whole house. Mum worked hard all day to make this but it lasted the entire week and is actually very cost effective.

Good all year round with a nice tea or coffee or something stronger.

Be warned though yeast tends to affect the lower regions of the body, that's all I am saying!

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Placek drożdżowy ...................simpleski.

Updated with Marzipan.

I decided to add marzipan which I remember mum did too sometimes.

Using the same procedure as above, however before you are about to add the crumble, thinly slice a packet of Marzipan (they are usually in 500gram packets, I used 3/4 of it) and evenly place it on the top of the risen dough. Egg wash with the egg whites you kept, then crumble on the top and pop in the oven as usual.

Cheat tip.

I foolishly decided to start this at 8pm on a Sunday night, because we Polished off (pun intended) last weeks cake. Incidentally it lasted 7 days in a cake tin without going off or soggy.

By around 10pm I got as far as the dough prove phase but it was late and it had another hour to go, so I cut my losses and tipped it out onto the buttered baking tin.

I spread it out as normal although it did seem a little thin, covered it in cling film and just placed it somewhere warm (the dryer was on!)

The following morning it had risen nicely and filled out the tin so you can leave it over night if you have time to finish off the next day before work?

Thinking back mum used to put it in the tin without proving because she baked this cake almost every month she knew it would rise.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Solidarity

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 20:46:04 GMT

Solidarność - Solidarity the winds of change.

It's impossible to do a blog about Poland without at some point mentioning Solidarity. Here is my personal observations based on my parents reaction at the time.

Without Solidarność I doubt the fall of the Berlin Wall would have taken place or Eastern Bloc countries such as Poland free to choose their own path? It effectively brought the Cold War to an end.

Just to be clear I am no expert on this subject I was at school in England when this happened and not returned to Poland since starting big school. My mum visited during those years and she used to tell me her experiences whilst in Poland.

My parents and all the Polish friends we knew felt this was the golden age for Poland.

Solidarity had begun, heavily supported and helped by the Polish Catholic church.

Pope John Paul II was Polish (double bonus) and everyone in the country both in Poland and Poles abroad had for the first time since 1945 hope that at long last Poland would be free of the Communist regime.

It wasn't plain sailing and people forget (this was 1980 after all) how many gave their lives, suffered under the Communist regime at that time for supporting or even displaying a Solidarność sticker (like the ones in these photographs) let alone beaten up by the Military Police or Secret Service.

There are many stories of bravery, even just printing leaflets or arranging meetings in churches to help gather support and plan events, fell foul to the early knock on the door.

Many Catholic priests were arrested, beaten and worse. Sadly there were still people who would report you to the Police maybe they didn't want things to change, they were happy with their lives who knows but at what cost?

Even during the late 80's we still heard stories of daring escapes from Poland over the border to West Germany and beyond. I know of one man who clung to the underside of the train the entire way to escape Poland, the same train we used to go on, that's a 2 day journey!

My parents would listen intently to the news which if you were around in the early 80's was on the BBC covering the events in Poland. We would pray for freedom at Mass on Sunday and hope Solidarity would finally get to power.

Sadly many of my father's friends would never see that day because they had already passed away in England after living here since the war.

There is a bitter irony because when Solidarity did get into power and the old regime crumbled it brought Poland to its economic knees. How can you change a country after 40 years overnight, I think Lech Wałęsa knew this.

They were very difficult times, mass unemployment, low wages, little food and a country falling apart after suddenly being given the chance to do what it wanted? Poles however started to build themselves back up and eventually got to where the country is today.

A few people who left Poland to live here (in the 2000's) still prefer the UK and would never go back, not because they get better wages for the jobs they do, but because here you get treated like a human being.

There is still that Communist mindset, masses of paperwork and queues for the simplest things, its 2020 Poland get your act together!

The stickers and lapel badges in this blog were my mum's brought back from her trips.

I still keep them in a box maybe it reminds me of those times or just my parents? They are worthless today forgotten but to some of us (even old kids like me) still mean something.

If nothing else Solidarność did bring one word to the World's vocabulary still used today Solidarity .

Mum's Polish kitchen - Bigos

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:38:24 GMT

Mum's Polish Kitchen - Bigos.

Mum's version of a Polish staple. Bigos, a heady blend of sauerkraut, Polish sausage and pork.

All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.

Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap veg.

Ingredients:

1 or 2 Jars Sauerkraut.

6 Pork chops

1/3 ring Wiejska smoked Polish sausage

1 Chicken stock cube optional

Pepper, mixed herbs

Paprika

Olive oil or butter.

Tabasco

Worcestershire sauce

Method:

Wash your hands often.

Take a 2.5 litre saucepan and add a 1/2 inch slice of butter or some oil and warm up the pan.

Take the pork chops, cut off larger pieces of fat then chop into 1 inch slices/cubes whatever you like. Drop them in the pan and let them brown for a couple of minutes turning now and again.

Take about 1/3 or more Wiejska sausage, into slices not too thin as it shrinks. Cut them in half, once the pork has browned a little throw them in and stir for a few mins too.

Sauerkraut - is fermented cabbage, its good for you surprisingly but quality and taste are variable. I usually only buy Krakus brand however none was available so went for Dawtona, however its not quite as good, very acidic more so than others, so drain the liquid beforehand. Add the Sauerkraut to the pan and mix well.

Pour some boiling water to about 1/2 the pan stir everything add some black pepper and chicken stock if you want (but I left the stock out in this case).

Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of paprika powder, splash of tabasco and worcestershire sauce, then mix.

Mum used to put whole peppercorns in which I always found as I bit into them! So no peppercorns!

She also used Maggi seasoning which does the job but is full of MSG as I discovered years later hence the Worcestershire and Tabasco substitute.

Finally sprinkle some mixed herbs, final mix, put a lid on and let it boil for an hour, stirring once in a while.

Turn off the heat and let it sit for 10mins, taste. It should be sour but not too much and not acidic if it is then add some sugar to it, stir in and leave it for a few mins, add more water if required?

That is all you need.

It tastes better the next day because the flavours blend nicely overnight.

After the first night and its cooled down place it in a suitable container and keep in the fridge just taking out what you need, heat it up in a small pan or just on a plate in the microwave. If its looking a bit dry add some water to it.

Serve:

I serve with salad potatoes, Pork chops , beef with a sauce or Kotlety.

Simply have it with fresh bread and butter.

I warn you now, it will stink the house out when you cook much to my wife's annoyance.

Bigos the Greek God of flatulence !!

Random childhood memory

Once I had Bigos at a Polish Cafe in Glowno.

Served with a door step slice of bread it was superb however the meat had plenty of fat, you get all the taste but as a small kid I struggled to chew it. Dunlop tyres would have been proud.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Bigos .....................simpleski.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Meat patties - Kotlety mielone

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 09:09:50 GMT

Mum's Meat patties - Kotlety mielone.

Mum's version of a Polish staple. Kotlety mielone , basically meatballs in the shape of patties, extremely versatile.

A few notes before we begin .

All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.

Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap veg.

Note to veggies: I have no idea if that Quorn stuff might be any use here? I would guess not as it may just fall to bits but give it a go?

Shall we begin?

Ingredients:

500g Minced lamb, or pork but also beef or veal.

1 Onion

2-3 Eggs

1 pk Breadcrumbs, Polish ones in Tesco are quite cheap.

Salt, pepper, mixed herbs

Olive or sunflower oil.

Method:

Wash your hands often.

In a mixing bowl place the meat, 2 eggs, mixed herbs, some salt and pepper together.

Grate the Onion in.

Mix everything then start to add the breadcrumbs to the mix, until it becomes thicker and begins to stick together almost like a dough.

Use a large heavy frying pan add the oil and let it warm up.

With a large spoon take some of the mix and form it in your hand so you have an even pattie, try to keep it roughly the same thickness then drop it in the pan, repeat for the rest of the mixture.

It takes about 8-10 minutes each side, but this is dependant on the meat, how thick the pattie is so just keep checking, you want it to go brown on both sides. Remove to a plate and that's it.

I tend to use minced lamb or pork, but you can mix either half and half.

There are variations that I experimented with, add some tomato puree, splash of tabasco, some paprika, fresh herbs, all these lift it up.

Serve:

Usually I serve with salad potatoes, sour cream and cucumber but its equally good with other food.

Try it in a bun like a hamburger.

Horse raddish or mushroom sauce with potatoes and sourkraut.

Let it cool then cover and place in the fridge they will keep for a few days, handy for picnics.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish Kotlety mielone .....................simpleski.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Life after 1945 shaken but not stirred

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 13:40:39 GMT

Life after 1945 shaken but not stirred.

The expatriated Polish soldiers somehow managed to get themselves back on their feet and start a new life in the UK. Not an easy thing when you literally have the army shirt on your back, kitbag and not much else?

Reviewing letters, photographs and remembering people at the time, a lot of things have fallen into place now with the benefit of hindsight. I can only speak for my local area, but knowing what Poles are like even today I don't think much has changed?

The Polish soldi ers and their families arriving 1945 , were sent to resettlement camps.

They eventually moved out to their own homes or hostels, but some lived their whole lives in the camps.

My father spent the first 4 years in hospital recovering from his war wounds.

Polish culture revolved around family, the church and community.

Reviewing the photographs a few things become apparent. People with missing limbs or other war disabilities even then would try to hide or cover them?

You see many images wearing leather gloves or sunglasses, something I never really thought much about as a child?

It wasn't the fashion they just wanted to hide the fact their hand, arm, fingers were missing and didn't want to stand out from the crowd.

My father had to wear a leather strap device to help take the stress off his wrist and hand that still contained shrapnel.

He hated the idea of wearing it? Pride maybe I don't know?

A few of the Remploy factory photos show people with missing arms, but you can only tell because they have the suit sleeve tucked into their pockets or have a prosthetic filling out the sleeve and again a leather glove to cover the fingers. If they were in photos they would hide that side or cover their damaged hand, something I notice a lot with my father, his right hand being obscured by his left.

I remember a lot of families just had one child? Probably because one child is all they could afford to bring up?

Some ladies never found a person to marry until they were past child bearing age and just lived with their partners or adopted. Others exploded with many children ensuring their family foundation was secure for the future.

Sadly a few committed suicide, a terrible loss, maybe the terrors of war never left them?

Most towns up and down the country founded a small but thriving Polish community, located near to their place of work or the Catholic church. They would be near RAF bases or Army camps where they were stationed?

Many churches would have Polish language masses at certain days and times. Usually a Polish club would open up, funded by the community to preserve Polish culture they left behind?

They left Poland but Poland never left them.

After the Polish Mass they would serve Polish meals, I know Manchester does. It's a way to retain contact with your friends that you may not see the rest of the week, due to work or just being elderly and not getting the opportunity to?

It's a sad fact many Polish clubs now are going because of the ageing population or the Poles who came to the UK in recent times are not interested or have their own ways to stay in touch, using the internet? Once the clubs are gone they are gone forever and so will all that rich culture and history.

I don't think this is unique to Polish communities, a lot of Italians/Spanish grew close links with the Polish community too, maybe stemming from the same strong Catholic beliefs and having their children attend the same Catholic schools?

On my street we had 1 other Polish family, the Krepa's. Really nice friendly people. I remember he was a miner in the local colliery and his wife stayed at home.

There was a Greek person called George at the end of the street, he was a very tall man, thinking back now he could have been a prisoner of war in the camp just up the road?

A number of dad's friends all lived within easy reach of the Remploy factory as did we. Nobody had cars or anything flash like that, we walked or took the bus everywhere hence my size 11 feet and skinny build.

They retained the Polish Scouts traditions, with musical concerts in traditional Polish costumes.

Organised dances and parties, celebrations of religious festivals and trips to Holy places like Fatima and Lourdes.

They started up their own businesses, shops, worked in heavy industries like coal, steel, worked the land and everything else in between.

Where families could afford it their children went to University and they studied hard.

In fact watching the news sometimes you see eminent professors, scientists or politicians and they have Polish surnames and of that age (being first generation). The desire to succeed and build on your families foundation was there and still is.

The Poles are very good at integrating with those around them. Generally friendly natured and willing to help out, nothing is too much trouble, which is why they have thrived so well no matter where they settled?

Sometimes though you get fed up being constrained within the Polish family shackles. Polish families are disciplined and can be strict, hence so many nervous kids, me included, but it teaches you good habits and a strong sense of loyalty and what is right and wrong that will bode well later in life.

First generation kids like me, saw the bright lights of what England had to offer. Being at school not being constrained to Polish culture you mixed and matched, but I was proud to speak fluent Polish in fact I insisted on it at home, I just wish I had spent more times reading and writing too.

Now sadly I hardly speak Polish at all, and I struggle to get my daughter to try even though she picks it up very quickly. Hence this website is in English, it would take me forever to write it all in Polish, I may translate at a later date?

I can't speak for Poles who arrived in the 2000's I don't know any, but I expect they are just like anybody else in the world trying to get on in life and make the best of what they have.

Look around builders, plumbers, coffee shops, cafe's, hotels, everywhere, working long hours and doing their best just like they always have.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Breaded Pork chops with cucumber in sour cream

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 19:37:26 GMT

Mum's Breaded Pork Chops with cucumber in sour cream.

Mum's version of a Polish staple. Fresh salad potatoes and pork chops served with finely sliced cucumbers in sour cream and dill.

A few notes before we begin .

All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.

Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap veg.

Note to veggies: I have no idea if there is a pork substitute but maybe that Quorn stuff might have it? You can use Chicken substitute instead although I have no idea if it will taste any good or not?

Shall we begin?

Ingredients:

10+ Salad potatoes like Charlotte.

1 Large cucumber

6+ Pork chops or loin or chicken breast if you prefer?

1 Large sour cream

1 Fresh or dried Dill weed.

2-3 Eggs

1 pk Breadcrumbs, Polish ones in Tesco are quite cheap.

Salt, pepper, sugar.

Olive or sunflower oil.

Method:

Wash your hands often.

Place the salad potatoes in water (skin on) and bring to boil, add a little salt .

Cook them for about 15 or until they are only just starting to get soft.

Ensure they are roughly the same size, cut in half if required before boiling.

If serving 4 people, take the whole cucumber and slice it finely, which ever way you prefer, the thinner the better into a bowl.

Pour the entire contents of the large sour cream or at least cover the cucumber enough so its well coated.

Add pinch of salt and pepper and about half a tablespoon of dill weed.

I add 1 tablespoon of sugar but that is my taste. Mix it all up and leave to marinade for about 20 mins or so then stir it again when ready to serve.

For variation add roughly chopped fresh tomato and lettuce just as nice.

For the coating, break 2 or 3 eggs and whisk them into a bowl with a fork. Add a pinch of salt and pepper too.

Pour some of the breadcrumbs into another medium sized plate/ bowl.

Cut off excess fat from the meat and place on a chopping board.

With a tenderising mallet hit it a few times to soften it up, think of someone you don't like, always helps.

Do both sides, the chops will spread and thin out a little. Repeat for the rest and place them to one side.

Remember you are dealing with raw meat so always wash your hands and careful where you place it.

Bring a large frying pan up to temperature and pour in some oil.

Take the chop, dip it in the egg mix then into the breadcrumbs both sides and straight in the pan.

Fry one side until it starts to change colour a light brown, then flip it.

Normally you can do about 3 or 4 chops at the same time subject to how large your pan is? They take about 10 mins to do however if you have thicker meat maybe longer.

When cooked remove to a plate then repeat for the others.

To be certain they are properly done cut in half the meat should be a pale white colour.

I don't waste anything you can pour any remaining egg or breadcrumbs mixed into the pan at the end.

If you like eating fat, cut up the fat you trimmed earlier and drop that in the pan.

Serve:

By the time you have fried the meat the potatoes are ready, drain and serve.

Once plated cover the potatoes with a little butter and sprinkle dill too.

Stir the cucumber one last time and divide up into smaller side bowls for your guests, it might not look pretty or arty in any way but its a good staple, easy to make, filling and very flexible.

You can replace the pork for chicken breast, just cut it thinner to ensure its cooked through.

Sometimes I fry an egg until its just starting to cook and drop that on the potatoes when serving. I had that once as a child in Poland and have done it ever since, mum always thought it was a little odd but I liked it.

Any left over chops should cool down before you place them in a covered bowl into the fridge overnight. Next day you can warm it up, quick fry in the pan with oil or oven or microwave?

They are handy as a quick snack in fresh bread or bun, with Mayonnaise , some lettuce and tomato whatever you like.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish breaded pork chops......................simpleski.

Smacznego Bon appetite Champion Lad!

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

The indoor pandemic life continues

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:28:11 GMT

The indoor pandemic life continues - or how not to go mad at home!

It's already June 2020 around 2-3 months since the pandemic took hold in the UK.

Look that's my new auto-dimming Aldi welding mask - cool eh who would have thought a few weeks later it would be the perfect personal protective equipment!

This horrible virus has taken so much from everyone., in some ways I am glad mum didn't have to go through this.

Here at Krawczyk Towers, we had the infection quite early on, it was thankfully mild for us.

I am still not 100% sure if we got rid of it, are super spreaders or if we really had it at all? One day when decent tests are available we should find out?

Generally we have been avoiding shops/supermarkets and so on. Most stuff has been delivered and we still use the veggie box delivery if we run out.

My previously purchased 16kg bag of flour, I have been using like a baker possessed!!

'I must use it up' has been my mantra, now after only 2 months I am down to 4 Kilner jars ! I may have to buy more and yes it will be a 16kg bag again, this time Costco has plenty of the stuff in so I am fine.

Other than wanting to go somewhere like the country or seaside, we have managed to keep our sanity.

I am so glad we moved into this house. It has the space and enough work to keep me busy and away from my works computer screen. Look at my achievements so far!

I painted the gates.
Tiled, painted and finished off the porch - be gone 1970's quarry tiles!!
Ordered skip and threw a tonne of old stuff we never used and freed up loft, junkroom and garage space.
Fitted new house sign (yes not exactly taxing but it means I don't have to go anywhere, purchased online.)
New lights in garage so I can see where I left that tin of paint I forgot about last year which is now a hard lump inside.
Cut some large branches and bushes and weeds from the garden, skips are good!
Fitted new lights in the garden, it looks like a Greek Taverna at night, maybe they are too energy efficient!
Sorted out ebay stuff, now that number 1 child is suddenly growing , she doesn't like teddies anymore! Aaagh!
Home brewing stout.
Baking sourdough, bagels, banana bread, flat bread and more.
Study for exams to do with work, however motivation very low on that one, think I am getting past my sell by date.
Fixed some bits on the car due to the great weather we had in May and no doubt more to come.
Managed to continue my running, hard as it is. I tend to walk faster than I run which is a concern.
Home hair cuts! Yes I purchased cordless hair trimmers, not too bad won't be going back to the barbers now! ha!

The worse thing is home educating my daughter, my wife is excellent at it, I am not. Then its so hard to get her motivated and not distracted to actually sit down and do it. The moment I walk away she has stopped and is doing something else.

Sounds like me at primary school.

The 3 Musketeers, Damien, Tony and me, easily distracted and not listening to Mister Stevens!

So far so good other than an odd cold and seasonal sniffles we carry on as normal as we can.

I am so fortunate my job is remote support anyway through t'internet, so its not really a big change for me, but I do miss the interaction with people in the office and customers.

Hopefully soon we will be allowed to get back to some normality but I doubt that will happen anytime soon and not for at least another year. I pray they find some vaccine or a way to stop this virus in its tracks.

Stay safe look after your family and friends.

Now laugh at my pictures........

Spring half term week before the virus, we managed to get to the Old Man of Storr on Skye. Blowing a gale but so glad we went. Our last outing.

Our Greek Taverna - good innit peeps!

Back from a short run in torrential rain! You cant tell from that picture but I am soaked, that running jacket not very waterproof either.

Here I am Mister Happy writing pointless blogs to pass the time.

Number 3 self hair cut! See not that bad is it, at least the greys hide better!

A tribute to Stanley Surmacz

Sun, 24 May 2020 19:31:12 GMT

Stanley Surmacz a quiet and very clever man.

Stanislaw Surmacz like most of our family friends, quiet, kind and always there to help.

He was a soldier in the Polish army, survived the war came to work at Remploy with my father as a plant engineer from what I remember. He never talked about his war experiences.

Surmacz (as my dad always called him) was always messing about with mechanical stuff, building, repairing he was a keen engineer.

Once a new machine arrived to Remploy from London and nobody knew how to put it together let alone make it work. I supposed you didn't get a book of instructions in those days. But he managed to figure it out when nobody else could.

I always remember him with his trilby hat and in later years he did look a bit like Bill Maynard (Who played Claude Greengrass in Heartbeat tv series - google it). There is also a shade of Paul Hollywood to his face, not least Errol Flynn from that early photo playing the violin!

He also liked photography fortunately I have these photos plus lots of pictures of us, as a family including my dad, which I am grateful for since dad was generally behind the camera like me today.

Stan always had a Triumph Dolomite (in chocolate brown of course) the only person we knew that did have a car!

I always remember trips out to the countryside in it, huge brown velour seats in the back. It was an excuse to get the camera out. I always remember Radio 3 on with Classical music playing.

Once he purchased a small boat, we drove down to Blackpool and I sailed in it with him. Thinking back now, all that poo floating about no wonder it's called Blackpool!

I think he retired from Remploy in the mid 80's by which time he met Lily, she was a shy and very lovely lady.

They used to live on the same road as us but he decided to move to the Isle Of Skye, to see his days out I guess.

It was sad to see them move up there, they were always round our house, birthdays, parties just to say hello and it wasn't the same afterwards.

He purchased a traditional Scottish house near Broadford. He bought an ex Post Office Leyland Sherpa van to move house with) I don't even want to think how long that took!

I did promise myself I would go up and visit when I passed by test, sadly that was not meant to be.

Stan had only been there a couple of years, they purchased another house in Glendale, with land, water nearby for his boat, when he was taken ill to Inverness hospital and sadly died. He was a diabetic I don't remember the details but it was a shock to us. Late 1980's I think?

His wife stayed up there eventually moving to a care home where she passed away in the early 2000s.

From what I have been told, he was going to leave the Truimph Dolly to me, used to touch up the rusty bits on the paintwork now and again but it's a Triumph you can hear them rust in real time! There is more to this story but its too upsetting to relate here.

My parents took care of everyone we knew and made them feel welcome. I suppose we were the only family he knew other than his wife all that time, he married very late in life.

I did go a few years ago visited his land and house. There were 2 caravans still there with all their belongings, including the model railways (that I got him into!) it was like they had just popped to the shops for milk, upsetting for me but at least I could say goodbye in my own way.

The saddest part is not knowing exactly where they are buried since they insisted, no headstones and basically wanted to be forgotten about. I do know the cemetery on Skye so when I venture to Scotland and I am near Skye, I do visit and say a little prayer for them, so they know we never forgot them.

Thanks for everything Stan.

Ha!! That's him on my Raleigh Chipper bike outside our house!

Lily his wife, such a nice lady.

Stan's kitchen - Home made Bagels

Fri, 15 May 2020 19:50:04 GMT

Stan's kitchen - Home made Bagels

My attempt at home made Bagels and they are just like the real thing! I was more surprised than anyone.

Because of the current lock-down situation and my 16kg strong bread flour purchase, I feel I have to bake and justify this!!

Sourdough bread has been successful and pizza too . We do like bagels in the Krawczyk house so it was the natural option.

I did try a cheat recipe that uses flour, greek yogurt and not much else. It was ok but I wouldn't do it again.

Make them properly - boiling in water edition, which I explain here.

It is from the Allrecipes site.

This is obviously an American version because they must have bagels the size of hubcaps over there? This amount will make easily 8+ large bagels, but if you reduce the cut sizes you can get at least 20 from this! I make mine roughly 3 or 4 inches in diameter, they grow bigger in the water.

I do experiment a lot, first batch I followed the instructions and they turned out perfectly (first time shock!!) but I felt they lacked a tiny bit of flavour, so for this blog I tried half rice half chips version, well ok 1 cup of Wholemeal flour to the normal 3.5 cups of strong white bread flour. It didn't look as nice as the first batch because the wholemeal flour is a bit harder to work with, more powdery and didn't knead as easily as the first batch with just Strong bread flour.

I would recommend following the recipe as is for now then play afterwards.

I didn't have any toppings so I went for the naked version.

Ingredients:

4.5 Cups Strong white flour

1.25 Cups Warm water

1 Tablespoon Instant dried yeast (I used Fermipan)

3 Tablespoons White Sugar

2 Tablespoons Oil (I used Olive Oil)

1 Teaspoon Salt

Honey

Boiling water in a pan ( 4 Quarts they say - Large pan I say)

Method:

Combine all the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.

Add the oil and water slowly to it. I used a fork to bind most of it before I went in there with my hands.

It mentions using a Kitchen processor but really are you THAT lazy! It's good lock down exercise and not that hard?

After you have mixed it well in the bowl, dust some flour onto a work surface and knead it for about 10-15 mins. You are trying to make it smoother and malleable.

Line another mixing bowl with little oil then drop the dough into it and cover with clingfilm.

Leave somewhere warm for 2 hours so it doubles in size.

Now the fun starts!

Fire up the oven and get it to temperature (it mentions 270 Gazillion degrees - really even the Devil would find that too hot!) My ageing oven will just about reach 220 degrees which is plenty for this.

Get your large pan fill it with the water bring to boil and drop in a large tablespoon of honey, this adds a nice sweetness to the outer crust.

Whilst that is on the go - flour the work surface , drop the dough onto it, knocking out the air. Knead it again for about 10 mins, should be nice and soft?

You can now try 1 of 2 ways to make Bagel shapes?

Method 1 - roll the dough out to a fat sausage shape. Cut it up into 6 or 8 equal parts, then roll each one into thick sausages, which you then join together but a drop of water and pinch them together, work it a little to smooth it out so it looks pretty. You can roll it out to small more but smaller bagels its up to you. I have managed to get 12 from this amount.

Method 2 - As above but instead of rolling out the sausages and joining them, take each segment and roll into a ball. Then stick your thumb into the middle and make a hole. Its not pretty but it works.

Personally I prefer Method 1 you get a more authentic look, but try both.

Once you have crafted your naked uncooked bagels into shape, let them sit there for 15 mins to rise a little, by which time the water should be boiling and the oven ready.

Take 3 bagels and drop them into the water, let them boil 1 minute per side.

Use a slotted spoon to take them out and place on a tray. I use a perforated pizza base try but you can waste your hard earned money on parchment paper if you want to.

Pop the tray in the oven (middle shelf) about 10-15 mins until it goes brown. Because my oven is on its last legs I have to keep rotating the tray, but you might not have to. They should go a nice brown but don't cremate them.

Take them out and place on wire rack to cool down.

Carry on with the next batch and there you go.

Seal in an airtight container once they are cool.

Place them in the freezer if you have made a lot, they stay fresh, let them defrost when you need them.

Amazingly they are very tasty and easy to make. They toast very well.

Try and get your kids involved its fun. Sadly mine isn't interested but there you go!

That's it enjoy!

Update

Following some experimentation a couple of slight improvements.

2 large tablespoons of Sourdough starter (see my other blog) just gives it a little more flavour .

Really knead the dough well both times, it makes all the difference, they spring up like inflatable paddling pools!

I switched to extra strong Canadian flour (Costco) although harder to work actually has a superior taste.

Make a dough a little wetter especially with strong flour it's easier to work with.

Cinnamon and Raisin Bagels

As above but in the mixing stage add, 3/4 cup of raisins and 2 Tablespoons of Cinnamon powder.

Everything else remains the same.

They are nice but don't go mad with the raisins too many will spoil it.

The dough might be a little wetter than before so you may have to add some more flower as you knead it.

Poppy Seed Bagles

Follow the plain recipe but after you remove from the hot water drop them into a wide plate of poppy seeds.

Lift them out carefully turning poppy seed side up onto tray and into the oven.

I have to admit I wasn't too keen on that method so in the end decided to place them on the tray from the water and just dropped some seeds onto the tops with my fingers, nicer result less waste and no burnt fingers.

Add about 1 or 2 minutes more cooking time also.

With poppy seeds.

Sunset Radio and The Hacienda

Fri, 15 May 2020 13:02:08 GMT

Sunset Radio and The Hacienda

Sunset Radio? 102 fm Keepin the dream alive - yeah baby! You never heard of it? What about The Hacienda in Manchester? Mad for it you twisted my melon man!

A little context first.

My first proper IT job started on March 13th 1989, at a well known insurance broker based in Manchester, see below couple of pics from the computer room. I was a computer operator on a Honeywell DPS7000 mainframe. In the days when you sat with the computer in the noisy and cold room!

We all started at the same time, quite a young workforce and it was just a laugh a minute! Really nice people and fun times.

We worked shifts that included nights. Let me just say you have not seen Manchester until you work nights! Some things you never want to see.

During the night time we had the radio on. I discovered this new radio station playing my kind of Soul and R&B and Dance music (that blog hasn't been written yet), it was called Sunset Radio and yes I wrote off for some car stickers which I just found still unstuck/unused. Must be worth 2 pence on fleabay?

The station was set up by Mike Shaft one of my favourite DJ's at that time, it was years ahead of everyone. They played not only my stuff but House, garage and all that Mad Manchester stuff before it really took off!

Some of the middle of night shows were a little suspect, flowery language, pretty sure they were either drunk or on something. Either way it was a little loose on structure but good because of it.

When I finished my shift I drove home, stopping at the lights immediately opposite The Hacienda night club. I had no idea what it was and often wondered why people would queue all the way around the building late on a Friday or Saturday night in the pouring rain?

Naive of me but wasn't until later I found out why. Personally never went in, not really my scene maaaaan but at least I was driving past it during its heyday early 90's (suppose that is something?) Now its a block of flats with just the Hacienda logo in the window, progress eh.

Hacienda seems to have become the cornerstone of Manchester Pop culture since, a little overblown for me. I liked the music but not until a few years later after realising there is more than Soul music out there.

Below a tape someone did from Sunset Radio (bit hardcore for me)

Due to coronavirus all events have been cancelled so they decided to do a live stream event April 2020, click below.

1940's German Torpedo Typewriter dad's lifeline.

Wed, 13 May 2020 19:32:09 GMT

1940's German Torpedo Typewriter dad's lifeline.

This is a Torpedo typewriter. It was dad's communication lifeline, allowing him to write letters and notes. Due of his wartime injuries he could not easily write with a pen anymore.

I don't know its history but the German letters are on the keys so maybe a wartime thing? Trust the Germans to name a typewriter Torpedo, those crazy cats!

When I was younger, I still used it to apply for jobs. It worked perfectly but I seem to remember a spring or cable went pop, considering its age and use, it did very well.

I never got around to fixing it but can't bring myself to part with it, this and his Voigtlander camera are the 2 physical things that remind me of him. So it's staying!

For younger viewers this is what people used before word processors came on the scene in about the late 1970's early 1980's and then of course Micro computers and Personal computers made them obsolete almost overnight.

No doubt there are still some hipsters who use typewriters even today and God bless them.

There is something enjoyable about typewriters, not least the punch noise ready to annoy anyone within 10 feet of you.

During the early 80's I purchased a more modern machine Silver- Reed below.

I recently purchased a new ribbon for it (amazing what you can still buy off Fleabay) and used it to show my daughter. Of course it's gathering dust now but for the purpose of this blog, it was cleaned and woken up.

Considering most of my life I have worked with modern technology and computing I have a strong appreciation of the analogue world. I still use a Parker fountain pen, we have an old GPO bakelite phone in the house fully functioning, thankfully a bell switch to ignore the spam calls!

The typewriter has a certain period charm you just don't get with WORD!! Yes WORD is infinitely more useful today but sitting there typing out a letter (trying not to make a mistake) clomping away at the keys with that distinctive tone is fun. Don't forget the carriage return of course! Carbon paper behind if you need 2 copies, yes times were more involved before computers came along.

I am grateful to this old typewriter because a lot of dad's letters and memories of his war days were typed not hand written. He could still write numbers when he did his measurements for woodwork, furniture and so on, but not write long text it was too much for him. Fortunately this means I have some chance to decipher his letters and hopefully one day publish his wartime experiences on this site.

The old tank weighs quite a bit not really portable, my funky blue Silver-Reed is much smaller and lighter but still compared to a laptop, you need to do weight lifting on a regular basis.

So there you go the old typewriter, mentioned so we don't forget what they look like in the brave world of AI and self driving cars (God help us all!!)

Where is my Tippex?

I don't get more 70's than ABBA I do I do I do!

Wed, 13 May 2020 15:22:05 GMT

I don't get more 70's than ABBA I do I do I do!

ABBA yes THAT ABBA!! My first musical love, well after Disney's Jungle Book but I was about 6 at the time.

Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few years, you should know who ABBA are/were??

My earliest musical tastes were naturally Disney related, dads Classical music, Polka's, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash and Boney M with Brown Girl in the Ring? Don't ask mum loved it.

Moving swiftly on everybody loved ABBA they were HUGE and I mean HUGE!!! All these super groups and cool people on download charts and social media today are just drops in the musical ocean, forgotten by teatime.

ABBA had the works.

Good catchy singalong tunes
Expertly played and sang
Attractive lead singers
Glitzy
Everything nicely packaged.

I expect they all went nuts behind the scenes from the pressure but they kept knocking those hits out all the way from Waterloo, which they won at the Eurovision song contest in 1974. Although I was knee high to a grasshopper (long forgotten northern phrase) I remembered them winning.

Those were the glory days of Eurovision, nothing else like it at the time? Sadly in recent years it's turned into boring mass produced Europop or is that Eurotrash? (Eurotrash now that was a funny programme!)

Back to ABBA, so yes even from age 6/7 until now, I am still a big ABBA fan. I don't actually play the music that much anymore if I am honest but if I hear Dancing Queen or Voulez Vouz (seem to be the only ones that get played these days on the wireless) it just takes me back to happier times as a kid.

Yes its not cool to like ABBA and here I am on a public website of my own invention admitting to being an ABBA fan, but hey I have was never been cool so why start now?

I had the magazines and posters now sold off but I still have the 7 inch singles and albums. You can never get rid of vinyl its part of your life.

Me and my best mate (who shall remain nameless to avoid embarrassment) were huge fans weren't we Damien!

We saw ABBA the Movie in Bury when it came out at the pictures. (1978?)

The film focused on their tour of Australia where they were even bigger than HUGE! Massive innit bruv.

Oddly it was shown on the telly a few years ago, I recorded it but would never watch it. I suppose it just brings back so many happy innocent times gone forever?

So here I am, a stack of albums, a decent record deck but I don't play them?

Everyone has their favourite but for me it was always ABBA Arrival, every track is fab. They only play Dancing Queen from it but there are so many others just as good.

Personally I can't stand covers of their records, so when Madonna pinched one, it wasn't the best and don't get even me started on Mamma Mia!! Terrible singing so much cheese they could set up a market stall.

However I do like Muriel's Wedding (1994) a hilarious film with copious amounts of ABBA songs love it.

The problem with ABBA they were so successful and played so often and marketed so well they became part of the furniture, to the point where they are not really thought of. Only when there is a scandal or some news about them getting back together again, does the press jump back into a frenzy.

They will be remembered in the way The Beatles are I suppose for decades to come. You either love them or hate them but they did become a cornerstone of the music market.

It was a shame when they split up in the 80's, sad day for me but to be honest it was time, their sell by date (Use by 1979) had been and gone.

That leads me nicely onto my love of Soul music, yes from ABBA to Soul music in one fell swoop! Fortunately there was a lot of good music in the 80's (also bad) but lets just park the ankle warmers, big hair and shoulder pads for another blog.

Hmm tempted now to actually fire up ABBA the Album just for old times sake?

Money money money must be funny in a rich mans world?

Fifi the rescue cat - rescued.

Tue, 12 May 2020 12:37:27 GMT

Fifi the rescue cat......... erm rescued!

Not long after we sadly lost Cheetah our old cat, my wife decided she wanted a new one, the house didn't feel complete without it.

At this point I stand up and admit I am a dog person, I can't be near some cats because I start to cough but it was 2 to 1.

Some ground rules established I agreed. After a few weeks Fifi turned up from the local rescue centre.

She is about 4 years old, actually a nice cat full of energy, quite shy but starting to open up a bit now.

Thankfully she is friendly and likes to be next to people, wanting strokes, so everyone is happy so far.

Out of sadness came some joy.

Stan's Polish kitchen - Home made Sourdough bread

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 09:18:11 GMT

Stan's home made Sourdough bread

My attempt at home made Sourdough bread care of Paul Hollywood and the BBC good food guide!!

Because of the current lock-down situation its difficult to get fresh bread on a regular basis, well actually you can but I prefer to stay home and home bake, which is superior to anything from a supermarket.

In the UK Sourdough is regarded as some fancy Artisan thing but the rest of the world, not least Poland its always been the standard bread you could buy.

When made properly its actually a lot of effort and you have to want to spend the time and have the love to do it.

Since I am stuck in the house I decided to get back into baking again.

I am no expert but if you never try you will never know.

This is also good for Pizza bases.

Be under no illusion the sourdough bread you buy from supermarkets has sourdough in it but its not proper sourdough, you really do need visit a proper Artisan baker for the real thing.

The biggest issue I had was getting hold of Strong Bread Flour? The best is Canadian Flour available from many outlets or called Krupczatka in Poland. Eventually I tracked down a commercial wholesale supplier who would supply a bag (it is 16Kg though!) Its dated for 12 months and something tells me I will be baking a lot so no great issue, other than buying a lot of Kilner jars to store it in, but anyway............

I have split this into 2 sections.

Make the Sourdough starter then bread with that starter.

You do not use normal yeast or self rising flour for this but natural bacteria that is in the air or in this case grapes.

How to make the sourdough starter. (Paul Hollywood BBC recipe)

Ingredients:

6 White grapes washed

250g Strong white flour

250ml Tepid water

Method:

Slice the grapes into a mixing bowl, with the flour and water.

Mix them with a spoon until well combined.

Pour into an airtight container (I use a plastic lock down container) leave somewhere warm, like near a radiator for about 3 days.

The contents should start to bubble and rise doubling in size.

You should discard half and add 100g of strong white flour and 100ml of tepid water to feed it mixing well, after 24 hours its ready to be added to the bread mix.

I am someone who hates waste, I removed half of it to another container so I had 2 lots of starter to use, the other one fed also but placed in a fridge to slow down until it was needed.

For some reason when I tried that both sets of starter seemed to die off?

After some experimentation I decided to just feed it with 3 heaped tablespoons of flour and some water every day regardless, this worked and nothing died off in fact it fizzed like a sherbot lemon.

So now I have 2 starters one to use and 1 for the next batch.

You can now have an indefinite starter for all your baking needs.

How to make the Sourdough bread. (Paul Hollywood BBC recipe)

Ingredients:

375g Strong white flour + extra for dusting

250g Sourdough starter

150ml Tepid water

7.5g Salt (personally I prefer less as the bread is sour enough)

Olive oil

Method:

Combine the flour, starter and salt into a mixing bowl adding the water a little at a time. Use your hands to mix until the dough is soft.

Coat a chopping board with some olive oil, tipping the dough onto it.

Knead the dough for about 15 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. A good way for some exercise.

Tip the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling film. Leave it to rise and double in size, keeping it somewhere warm for about 5 hours.

Now you can knead it in the bowl or a chopping board again, knocking all the air out. Keep kneading it until its nice and smooth like playtime with Bluetack! Roll it into a ball and dust with some flour.

I needed to knead it for longer a bit rusty on my technique.

Tip it into a well floured banneton or proving basket (freely available on ebay) allowing it to rise for 4-8 hours (yes 8 hours I did mention you should do this for love.)

Put a tray or Pyrex dish filled with water on the bottom shelf of a pre-heated oven 220c/Gas 7. Don't be tempted to keep checking it as the steam and heat escape.

In my case the oven is on its last legs, it either burns or doesn't cook properly, hence I had to keep rotating the bread and topped up the water. It would have risen more if I didn't have to do that.

Gently tip the risen dough onto a lined baking tray (or in my case a flour dusted pizza tray) bake the loaf for 30 minutes at 220c then reduce the heat to 200c and bake for a further 15-20 mins. Remove and cool on a cooling rack.

That's it, you should have a great tasting bread that is good for you too, no artificial stuff in here!

Use this basic recipe and change the mix of flour? Add wholemeal flour or anything else - experiment.

Some plain flours taste nice but are too weak, combine with the strong bread flour to create the pockets of air and the other flour provides the taste and texture.

Sourdough you can freeze and it toasts really well.

If its getting a bit dry pop it in the oven for 10 mins and it will come back to life.

Good luck with your baking.

Ideally you want to double or treble the ingredients and make more loaves at once, freezing the others for later.

Smacznego (Bon appetite)

Polish Easter 2020

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 10:35:12 GMT

Polish Easter 2020 Wesołych Świąt!

A Polish Easter like no other in 2020 during a virus pandemic! Still keeping the faith though.

So many happy memories around Easter for me.

In the Catholic Calendar Easter is the big one, its the corner stone of our faith. Jesus died but he rose again, hope and new life all in one.

We used to celebrate Polish Easter Mass on the Sunday at Holy Cross Convent.

If you were a non practising Catholic, Easter and Christmas were the only 2 masses people would attend religiously!

For me not being able to go to Easter Mass at all this year is just unheard of in my lifetime.

Good Friday we were not allowed to eat meat or do any chores or work, something I still abide to this day. At 3pm we would stop and pray.

Saturday was just a normal day.

Easter Sunday, the Mass just seemed to be more energising! People were so much more happier and full of life, it was always a colourful extravaganza !! Hymns would be sang out loud with extra gusto! You dressed in your extra special Sunday best and yet (still!!) nobody would open a window or leave the door ajar to let some air in a small chapel!

Following Mass everyone gathered outside in the garden beside church, wishing each other Happy Easter, exchange gifts, Easter Eggs etc.

My mum used to hard boil eggs when she was a little girl and decorate them by hand (long before Cadburys got in on the act!)

We walked home and tucked into a fantastic special feast mum prepared, food that we tended to save until Easter.

She used to work such long hours preparing everything during the week or Saturday. I hope to cover those in later food blogs.

Being an active child, it was difficult not being able to do anything (much like dad) but we all gathered around the TV and watched the usual religious films of that time, shown on the TV.

The Hollywood Classics such as:

Ben Hur (1959)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Plus many more.

Often my mum would cry such was the tension, not so much because of the film but what it represented.

Listening to Polish Hymns on the record player and just enjoy our time together.

When I was younger me and dad would tell made up Bear stories with my Teddies, something I still do with my daughter although how long that will last as she gets older is to be seen.

See look below - woolly hat thick coat I never stood a chance did I!

The other great thing about Easter was being off school and meeting up with friends! We would go to each others houses or play out all day long. Just very happy times with no cares in the world.

Today we are all locked down unable to go anywhere? I would usually go to mum and dads grave, give it a clean, fresh candles and flowers see how the Tulips and Daffs have come up, sadly I am not allowed to do that now.

So mum and dad are not here with me (physically) anymore so I light a candle and say a few prayers this Easter for them and my family. This is all we can do this year, but thankful my own family are well and together safely which is all that matters really doesn't it?

Wesołych Świąt to everyone I hope in spite of this terrible virus you all remain safe and well over Easter and beyond.

Happy Easter from the Krawczyk family.

Cheetah our cat gone but not forgotten

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 19:38:56 GMT

Cheetah our cat gone but not forgotten

Cheetah our long time cat sadly passed away last Saturday 29th March 2020

Cheetah was about 17 years old and a rescue cat.

Lucy took her in after she was found on a building site without her mother. She was named Cheetah because she was super fast and nobody could ever catch her.

I am not really big on animals and ironically I could not get too close to Cheetah physically because I would start coughing but as cats go she was a very nice, quiet friendly cat. She never bit or even scratched anyone or anything in the house.

There were of course a few 05:00am specials and the odd poop somewhere it wasn't supposed to be, but they all do that.

Last year we noticed she had aged very quickly. She had a bad hip but a few months ago she lept back into action and was as sprightly as any cat 10 years younger. The vet called her Immortal Cheetah!

Sadly of all the things to happen when we are in lock down because of this horrible virus, Cheetah finally decides to leave us for good. Very upsetting but she will never be forgotten.

She will always be part of the family.

Coping with home lock down and coronavirus

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:07:26 GMT

Coping with home lock down and Coronavirus!

What a terrible start to 2020! Ironically I saw a comic post somewhere saying China managed to start WW3 without firing a single weapon! Not really funny is it? (Above my home office is my daughters play room and a 20 year old Ikea table!)

I would like to wish everybody reading this a speedy recovery if you are suffering with the virus and pray this pandemic finishes soon.

More importantly all the healthcare professionals and everyone else maintaining the infrastructure of the country, keeping it running, they risk their lives on the front line for us.

I am not going to repeat everything you have already read in the news just my experience and ideas how to get through it locked in at home.

The Krawczyk family had the infection and self isolated for the duration the government dictated but actually we have been home a lot longer before and after the symptoms regardless.

Thankfully for us the symptoms were mild, constant coughing, a tightening of the chest more like an anxiety attack as much as anything but we did also get a temperature but managed to control it. Tiredness is still the ongoing issue now, 2 weeks after we felt well. Personally I am not even sure its gone, I don't think anybody can ascertain that yet?

So lets get down to living in lock down at home.

Food!

For food supplies luckily we found online local wholesalers that decided to provide deliveries to homes and used them to keep the fresh veg topped up, no need to leave the house.

In a strange irony the habits and skills my parents instilled in me all those years ago have paid dividends during this time. We never had much money but never went hungry always made use of whatever we had in the kitchen and I still continue that approach to this day, I hate waste.

We order a veg box. I take a look and see what we have in the fridge, check when things are likely to be on the way out and make something out of them.

The easiest thing to do is a curry , just lob everything in the pot, mix the herbs and curry powder in (not too strong, always easier to add than try and cool it down!). Throw in potatoes that have seen better days, even soggy apples they all taste really good. If you have a tin of coconut milk, it adds a nice sweetness and cools the curry if its a bit hot? My daughter chomped it up, not realising how much veg was in there! Bonus!

The other option is chilli - same thing just chuck it all in but add some mince meat (lamb or whatever you have) , mixed herbs, chilli powder, tumeric, paprika and so on. A tin of baked beans (student version!) the longer it blends the better the taste.

Soups - whatever veg you have leek and potato but add broccoli or anything else in there. Blitz it with a blender and sprinkle some grated cheese on top! Makes anything taste nice.

Ironically I have actually lost some weight probably because I have never eaten as much veg as I have being at home!

Thrown together curry below.

Bread

Bread freeze it in fact freeze as much as you can to stop things going off , we don't know how long this horrible virus will last?

Bread - ok I have restarted my home made Sourdough bread making again (after 6 years!!). As you may know by now Sourdough is the defacto bread for me!

I use this to make my starter - very easy (even easier if you have enough Strong bread flour which I don't anymore!)

Clean a suitable container as below - follow the recipe and within 3 days you have bread yeast! lovely!

Because selfish people have been panic buying you cannot buy flour anywhere, unless you want to pay over the odds on Fleabay which I won't!

All the mills are closed or won't service private individuals.

In the end I found a commercial wholesaler that will take your money and send it to you even if you are not a business.

I await my 16kg bag of strong bread flour!

Continuing my theme, not wasting food, bananas! What do you do with brown soggy nanas?

Well you make Banana bread !

I had never made this before, now 3 times and surprisingly it tastes nice and light as a feather no concrete in sight!

Improvised on some of the ingredients.

The Flour turned up!

16Kg is a lot of flour I can tell you. How they can still make money when a large HGV turned up with just this 1 bag for me!

I have dispersed it into Kilner type jars to keep it fresh, that's me sorted for the next 12 months.

So what next ......

Home Brewing!

Yes I don't drink anymore but if it means I have something else to do at home than stare at a computer screen I will jump at the chance! I was going to be an organic chemist, one of the few things I was actually good at, but no lets choose a totally different career!! I still don't mind a cheeky stout.

You don't really need much for this? I ordered everything online - this is a Wilko's Chocolate Stout kit. Day 2 so far and the smell from the bubbler on the top is fantastic!

I ordered a job lot of glass swing top bottles so I can reuse them again and again for something else (all 18 of them!) Lets see how it turns out?

Although I must remember to have my work conf calls in another room I don't want them thinking I am farting in the background from the bubbling noise.

Follow up to this post - 15/4/2020.

The bottles have been filled, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar added to each for the second fermentation. They are warmed up for 2 days, but now in hibernation for 14 days in a cold dark place! I just hope they taste nice and yes I ran out of bottle so had to use Kilner jars Dukes of Hazard Moonshone stylie.

Update 12/5/2020 The Beer is ready!

The beer was left for the required amount and one of my 'emergency' bottles opened up for a trial. Well its fizzy and windy. Tastes nice surprisingly, stronger than I expected but so far no hangovers or headaches.

Sanity and home education.

Yes how to keep your sanity? Well my other half is in the dining room working, her job involves a lot of conf calls, my daughter in the living room and I am in my daughters play room! Keeping apart is good but not for too long.

We still have to home educate my daughter, which is very difficult whilst trying to hold a job down! But we do maths in the morning and English in the afternoon, then she can watch some Youtube trash or play games in between. So far its working and thankfully the school provides material to follow.

You must keep to a routine or it will all fall apart quickly. Thankfully for my job I can work from home anyway so none of this is odd to me.

Get your favourite music on, install something like Podcast Addict and search for your fave subject or music?

Sadly I can't listen to music because the minute I put some on, I get a works phone call. It's some law of the Universe in the same way the delivery man turns up in the middle of important conference calls!

Try to video call your daughters friends so she can still chat with them. That must be the worst thing for her not being able to play or be with her friends just mum and dad!

Don't be tempted to binge watch Netflix before you know it's 01:00am and you have work in the morning!

Try to keep cool at home, its very easy to lose your temper over the smallest thing and get cabin fever but it's no ones fault this has happened.

Get some fresh air. I am just thankful we moved house when we did, because we have a decent sized garden.

I have started running again just up the road and back, well I say running I mean faster walking and not now because I fell off the ladder yesterday, just a grazed knee but no running for a while! Sometimes I amaze even myself.

I really don't know how long this will last, but if the worst we have to do is boredom being stuck indoors we are doing well.

When I see idiots on the news gathering on beaches or going to parties I get so cross!! Be thankful we don't have V2 bombs dropping on our houses or food rationing!

Stay safe everyone take care of yourselves and lets hope this will be over soon.

Soda capsules, electric cars and other missed opportunities

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 13:43:03 GMT

Soda capsules, electric cars and other missed opportunities - story of my life!

Yes Soda capsules , compressed CO2 gas bulbs used for Soda syphons and other applications! Read on.

The advantage of growing up in a house with no computers, mobiles, tablets and only 3 Black and White TV channels you have time to think, time to invent and create your own entertainment! No this is not going to turn into a Monty Python sketch (luxuries I used to dream of Soda syphons!)

Other than being fascinated by cars from an early age (3) I was always interested in how things work, hence my life long interest in taking things apart and sometimes managing to put them back together, mostly in the right sequence with only a few spare washers and nuts left over. Obviously not required after all!

As a typical 1970's boy I loved my bike and model train sets, no PS3 Playstations here!

My first train set was Lego for my sixth birthday then moved onto Hornby 00 gauge stuff which I purchased second hand from the Model shop in Bury.

Because of my interest in electrics I discovered soldering then managed to build a replica of one of the model steam engines totally from scratch, using brass sheet and soldering it all together. Spare time was not an issue then?

I did a lot of Airfix model kits, stunk the house out probably ruined my lungs from the glue smell, that and mum's endless clouds of hairspray.

Later I built my own twin record deck (still have it) from a plan in Practical Electronics magazine, when I started college, must dig that out? But I am going off at tangerines again, focus! All this practical hands on stuff has created the fool I am today.

So what have Soda compressed gas capsules got to do with anything? Because we had a soda syphon we used to buy them.

Once I purchased a Revel PT Torpedo Boat model kit, quite a large one. It had an electric motor and operated the propellers I intended to make it remote controlled.

Sprouting large torpedo tubes on the deck I had this great idea to fit soda capsules inside them and somehow build a release mechanism that would puncture them, force the gas out and of course shoot the torpedo's, sinking any enemy model boats in the local Lido!!! I was 9!

Have you ever seen these capsules? They are designed to be very tough due to the force of the gas inside. The metal end plate that you pierce in the soda syphon takes some force? Glad I never followed that one up or a visit to the hospital might have ensured! Could be a future drone alternative project for me? Hmm?

Maybe its a Polish thing but I hate paying for someone else to do stuff I can do? My wife wants to pay someone for everything and yes they are generally quicker than me but they wont care I do. Since it's for us I take my time and do it properly.

Because we didn't have much money we did everything ourselves on the house or when I passed my driving test I ended up doing all the work on my cars. Being old classics or Beetles they were fairly easy to work on but also it gave me the confidence to know what to do in the event of a breakdown? Have you ever driven home on a Friday at 5pm in the rain with no handbrake or no clutch, character building but can be done.

Once I had a 1958 Wolseley 15/50 (google it kids) driving to Wales to visit my Godfather. It cut out, but with the aid of the foil from a Wrighley's chewing gum wrapper I fixed the earth connection inside the dizzy, got me there and home (4 hour round trip).

I would be changing wheels, wipers, lights, batteries, oil everything stuff that people seem to have forgotten how to do or don't like getting their hands dirty these days?

I used to draw and paint a lot, something the art teacher at school encouraged me to follow up, she thought I had a natural talent. That was nice of her and she did inspire me but seeing myself driving down to the South of France in my 2CV with my paints, although nice, my practical side thought I could not make a living from it? Missed opportunity eh? I could have been an artist!! Some say I am already a kind of artist!

From age 10 I was thinking about electric cars or rather once I understood how petrol engines and cars worked I thought if they could put dynamos on the axles, when you drove they would charge up an extra battery then have an electric motor also connected to the engine. You could switch off the petrol engine and use the electric power you generated whilst driving to extend the range? Hmm sound familiar?

This was late 1970s people! Missed opportunities? I could have been the next Bill Gates or Dyson or that annoying bloke from Tesla?

My first IT job, because that was the dark side I decided to pursue, although some days I still think back to wafting through poppy fields En France with my paints and 2CV ! Merde!

So back to IT, the company I worked for was just around the corner from The Hacienda (famous Manchester Dance Club in the 80/90's).

I used to work shifts and finishing on a Friday around 10pm I would stop at the lights opposite the club but never knew what it was at the time? I did think the people were stupid queuing there for hours all the way around the block? Little did I know it was the famous club. Mind you at that time I was a Soul man (Luther Vandross, SOS Band), none of this indie Manchester 'Mad for it' stuff, well I did a few years later but there you go. Missed opportunity!

Some of my drawings from about age 11 or so above.

I still kept my folder with all of my drawings. I used to draw a lot it was very relaxing. Sadly I left it behind although sometimes when I am teaching at work I tend to draw to explain things. I am very much a visual person, can't say anything without waving like a demented Parisian!

Working in IT, its quite frustrating as you very rarely see the fruits of your labour.

I love Art Deco, Art Nouveau particularly Charles Renne MacKintosh designs and my love of Leaded windows I setup a leaded windows design and build business. I say business it was more just to pay for the materials as I enjoyed making them.

When my daughter was born that stopped but I intend to restart it someday? Missed Opportunity could have been a leaded windows millionaire by now then I could drive off to France in the 2CV (or Bentley maybe)!

Don't let missed opportunities stop you, keep looking and trying just don't waste your life in front of a computer screen get outside and actually talk to people.

Next thing you will be creating weird family web sites into the small hours, who would be foolish enough to do such things....................

Below that's me, first week in my first house with my first Classic 1958 Wolseley 15/50! That house needed a lot of work! Oh the 90's with turn-up jeans lovely and I was still super skinny then. Nervous energy better than diets.

Mum's Polish kitchen -Barszcz Buraczkowy (Beetroot Soup)

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:19:33 GMT

Mum's Barszcz Buraczkowy - Beetroot Borscht

Mum's version of Beetroot Soup. You've heard of the 'London Look' this is the 'Purple Fingers look!'

A few notes before we begin .

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person. All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.
Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap veg.
Only buy fresh loose beetroot not precooked or packaged in a bag.

Note to meat eaters: I have made this soup for a vegetarian friend but normally you throw in a chicken leg, breast or even slice of pork and chicken stock cube. In this case none of the above just a vege stock cube otherwise everything stays the same.

Ok shall we begin?

Ingredients:

1 Large bunch of fresh loose Beetroot, please don't buy ready cooked or that pickled stuff!

1 Small chicken breast or leg, whatever you like. Its just for the stock. FOR NONE VEGGIES ONLY

1 Chicken stock cube or Vegetable stock cube for veggies

2-3 Peeled carrots and chopped in half

1 Large onion

8+ Salad potatoes like Charlotte, peeled. See method for more information.

1 Large single cream (can be double but tends to split)

1 Small bunch of fresh Parsley , dried is fine also.

1 Small sour cream.

Dusting of Mixed herbs,

Dill

Seasoning

Water

Lemon juice

Method:

Wash your hands often.

Select a large saucepan 2.5 ltr in this case.

Peel the carrots leave them quite large because you need to fish them out later, then drop in the pan.

Peel the onion cut in half then drop in the bottom of the pan.

Potatoes, take only a few, peel and drop in the pan. They turn a lovely shade of purple but I prefer them to be cooked in another pan for 20 mins with a hint of salt and dill then added at the time of serving.

Beetroot. Find a plastic or similar chopping board that can be easily cleaned. Wear rubber gloves to avoid Beetroot fingers, although you can pretend you smoke 50 Beets per day or have recently buried the neighbour under your patio, either way its not a good look for work the next day? Peel, top and tail the Beetroot.

A usual sized bunch of 4 or 5 in the supermarket is fine. Cut them roughly into 1 cm cubes, then add to the pan.

Pop in a handful of fresh parsley if you have it (don't chop it because it will be removed later).

Throw in a bit of fresh dill too. I tend to buy it fresh in the supermarket (Asda always have it reduced in the herbs section just freeze it in a bag).

Add water about 1 inch from the top of the pan, then throw in dried herbs and the stock cube (chicken or vege) bit of pepper.

That's it, lid on and let it simmer for about 30-40 mins, stir a few times.

Check once in a while to ensure it does not evaporate.

If you put a teaspoon into the side of one of the carrots and its soft enough you are done.

Heat off, discard the Parsley and the onion.

Go fishing for the carrots and the few potatoes, place them on a side plate.

Now use a large sieve and pour the contents into another saucepan of a similar size, the idea is to leave the Beetroot cubes behind. Shame to waste them so put them under your plants.

Pop the carrots and potatoes back in then stir in the full pot of single cream. Double cream gives a fuller flavour but as I keep saying in these blogs it always separates for me.

Taste it you may need to add a little bit of sugar to taste or salt or lemon juice squirt to give it some zing because it needs to have a little bit of acidity.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish Beetroot Borscht......................simplesville.

Serve:

Serve in a wide rather than a small soup bowl. A splash of sour cream in the middle and sprinkle some fresh chopped Dill.

If you followed my advice to cook a selection of new potatoes in the other pan, drain them, knob of butter, fresh or frozen dill on top and either pop them into the soup bowl also or leave on a side plate? Go on live dangerously.

This is good as a starter but can also be a main if you added in the chicken or lot of potatoes and carrots with it.

Let it cool down overnight, it will taste better the next day. It should last 2 days outside of the fridge but I recommend you put it in the fridge overnight after the first day.

Transfer the amount you need for that day and warm it up in another saucepan and eat like that, don't reheat the original pan.

Great for cold autumn, winter nights. I seem to be doing a lot of food blogs recently?

Smacznego (Bon appetite)

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

The Bury Beetle Boys!

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 19:10:39 GMT

The Bury Beetle Boys! Welcome to the 80's!

Lets fire up the Quattro.... erm no hold on fire up the VW Beetle, phut phut phut tik tik tik tik tik cough!

I had to write this at some point, so boys if you are reading this, don't worry I look the biggest eejiot anyway!

Sometimes you meet friends along the way, who end up being your lifelong friends, yes the fools are still in touch with me. We met at school, went through college and beyond.

The photo shoot above was at Heaton Park 1984 (In colour!) my 1971 1200cc Beetle, Andy with his cool Triumph Dolly and Sean with his dad's Big Beetle 1303s MAX POWER!

I doubt they would let you drive on the grass today but they were easier times.

I am so glad we took these photos. Ok ignoring the erm duff 80's attire and even dodgier haircuts it was just innocent fun or posing if you will.

The Photo below was taken outside Andy (left) parents house maybe 4 or so years later after the one above.

We were the Bury Beetle Boys. I even made a car sticker for us (in the garage somewhere). Later on even Andy H ended up with a Beetle however I seem to remember it being reminiscent to a garden shed on wheels?

My first car was that Beetle above, that or a Morris Minor? The Moggy you could put your hand through the cills whilst the Beetle was ok? I say ok it was a slightly less shed like.

I cut my mechanical teeth on that car and so began my lifelong love affair with VW Beetles and the air-cooled scene, being at its peak in the mid-late 1980's, finally I was on trend for once!

I had 4 Beetles over the years and the second one, I still have since 1987! I joked it would be my retirement project , ironically it probably will be?

It still fires on the button however due to its extended lack of progress, (it's being off the road since November 1990) I will probably convert it to electric power eventually.

The reason for Beetle power - my dad gave me £400 to buy a car. I ended up with the Beetle which I obsessed over, resprayed it in the street using aerosol cans, looked pretty good actually and drove everywhere in it.

I can still smell that Beetle only aroma. A heady blend of plastic, hot oil, fumes and cold metal, if metal has a smell but you know what I mean. The one in the garage smells the same!

My first job was thanks to that car. A friend John took me to a trimming place where I purchased some material to redo the seats and door panels. I sewed them all by hand which I had never done before. The day after I drove it to the trimming place said 'Look! Giz a job I can do that' and he did! People don't do that anymore do they?

Thank you Reg for being a superb boss and a gentleman.

(That interior is still going strong in my Garaged Beetle. The first one was written off by an eejiot in a Ford Sierra!)

Being a 1200cc it was under-powered. I left my heel on the accelerator pedal and it found its own speeds on the motorway, it could just about do 65mph!

The second one was a 1300cc and the best I have ever owned, why I will never sell it.That can do 85mph without breaking into a sweat on the motorway and heating so good you can melt shoes!

Then there was Colin, the man who taught me how to repair, fix change stuff on these cars when I got stuck?

A very big haystack of a man, fantastic flowery language but he was actually a gentle giant.

Irish parentage he could make swearing sound funny rather than intimidating.

His most famous phrase which me and Sean used to burst out laughing was ....

' Hey Stan you need to get the Sh** out of those idling jets!'

Sadly Colin passed away the other year. If it wasn't for his help I would have struggled with these rusty tubs. Thanks Colin.

A more involved VW motoring blog to follow later.

Below we have from the left Andy K, Sean, Damien, Andy H, me (plus quiff)!

Mum's Polish kitchen -Zupa Ogorkowa (Cucumber Soup)

Sat, 04 Jan 2020 17:21:36 GMT

Mum's Zupa Ogorkowa

Mum's version of Cucumber Soup, very simple and good for you.

A few notes before we begin .

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person. All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.
Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap veg.
Only buy Krakus Cucumbers in Brine (not the pickled variety).

Note to vegetarians: You can make this soup without meat replace the chicken /chicken stock with vegetable stock, otherwise everything stays the same.

Ok shall we begin?

Ingredients:

1 Jar Krakus Cucumbers in brine, available from good Deli's or Polish shops, avoid the brands in supermarkets, some of that stuff I wouldn't feed to a dog!

1 or 2 small chicken breast or leg, whatever you like. Its just for the stock.

1 Chicken stock cube

2-3 peeled carrots and chopped into 4

6+ Salad potatoes like Charlotte, peeled

1 Small single cream (can be double but tends to split)

1 Small bunch of fresh Parsley , dried is fine also.

Dusting of Mixed herbs, Dill

Seasoning

Water

Method:

Wash your hands often.

Select a large saucepan. (I am using up the previously opened jar from the Salatka recipe hence this is a smaller portion size 2.5 ltr saucepan, but add more veg to increase volume.)

Peel the potatoes and carrots, you can leave the skin on but it tends to float off and becomes a bit slimy to eat. Drop them in the pan.

Important note.

Open the jar of cucumbers, at this point I would pour the juice into the saucepan however please remember the juice or brine is very VERY salty. Generally Krakus brand cucumbers are consistent but sometimes they can be a little bit too salty (for my personal taste) depending on your own preference?

a) If you like things very salty/sour and you are cooking enough to feed 5-6000 people , then pour the entire contents of the Jar in.

b) Should you not like the idea of eating salt with a hint of water pour only 1/3 initially into the saucepan. Taste it at the end, if it needs more you can always add some in and simmer it for 10 mins more.

c) The safest option is only to add the cucumbers. Taste them at the end if it needs a bit of zing then refer to b) otherwise there is normally enough brine in the cucumbers when removed.

If its still too salty add more water and some cream till it neutralises the salt but you do need it to be a little bit sour.

Place the cucumbers on the chopping board.

Cut them roughly into 1 cm sized cubes and drop in the pan, mixing everything well, top up with cold water until pan almost full. (That's pan as in a saucepan not Pan as in Mister - see what I did there?)

Add a sprig of parsley, don't chop it, then some dill too and mixed herbs.

Now add the the chicken stock cube, wash chicken and push it to the bottom of the saucepan.

That's it, lid on and let it simmer for about 30-40 mins.

Check once in a while to ensure it does not evaporate then mix and pour in the whole tub of single cream (mum always used double, but it splits for me)

Mix well and leave to simmer on low for another 10 mins.

Discard the Parsley.

Add a little pepper to taste and serve .

You can thicken it up a tiny bit with Cornflower mixed in, but I find it spoils the taste a little plus its no fun when it doesn't splash on your shirt during eating. It's the Law!

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish Zupa Ogorkowa......................simples-ski.

Serve:

Serve in a wide rather than a small soup bowl. Sprinkle some fresh chopped Dill in the middle and maybe a splash of sour cream if you like but you can get cream overload.

This is good as a starter but can also be a main if you eat the chicken and potatoes and carrots with it.

Let it cool down overnight, it will taste better the next day. It should last 2 days outside of the fridge but I recommend you put it in the fridge overnight after the first day.

Transfer the amount you need for that day and warm it up in another saucepan and eat like that, don't reheat the original pan.

Smacznego (Bon appetite)

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

PRL Polish transport - my guilty pleasure.

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 17:17:56 GMT

PRL (Polish Peoples Republic) Transport my guilty pleasure!

Growing up, instead of milk, I must have been fed petrol, due to my love of transport!

I admit to being a self confessed petrol head even today. Mum said unless she bought a toy car wherever we ventured I went into a strop! I am not too bad these days, its coffee instead!

Until I passed my driving test we never actually owned a car but still managed to survive.

I was a lot thinner, healthier and still had money in the bank! I also attribute my size 11 feet to all that walking, which today is a good thing since most shoe shops tend to have size 11's in the sales because not many are sold. But I am going off at tangerines now.

During the 1960's/70's Polish transport was completely different to the UK. Everything seemed to be at least 10-20 years behind, not least the Trams which I absolutely loved, but looked as though they were from the 1930's and probably were?

They did have more modern-ish Fiats like the 125p which was actually a 1960's design anyway!

The FSO Warszawa M201 Garbus (fastback) was my all time favourite. I have always loved the shape especially from behind. They were a Russian copy of an American car from the 1940's I think?

It was built by Gaz and called Pobieda M20. The Russians offered it to the Poles built under license, however as always the Poles had their own ideas and managed to change it and manufactured all of it in Poland instead.

Technically it the first Polish car!

I am sure its a can of worms by most standards even then, however wearing my rose coloured glasses it just reminds me of those long happy summers more than anything else?

I did have a crazy idea once to buy one and drive it back here but fortunately common sense prevailed.

It was probably the Warszawa that seeded my interest in classic cars, however mine were British Classics like , Morris,Wolseley, Armstrong Siddeley and Rover to name a few. The other reason for owning a classic was lack of funds plus they are easy to fix,work on and service, no computers in sight!

I still check out the online sales but honestly the money they go for now! They are basically rot boxes dragged out of farmers fields the same as old Land Rovers are in the UK! Other than visiting a museum in Poland one day, I wont be buying one anytime soon.

Trams hardly changed from the older type but I still loved them.

The trams in Manchester actually remind me of the tatty old 1930's ones from Poland, noisy, cramped and uncomfortable, the Edinburgh ones however are superb.

Should you ever visit the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, they have a number of old trams which look very familiar to the Polish ones? I expect a trams a tram!

I loved the Polish single decker buses. Like something from 1950's America, affectionately known as cucumbers (ogórek)!

Officially built by Skoda then under license to Polish company Jelcz 043 they were called.

Getting inside was fun they seemed to be really wide and went on for miles.

Some had trailer cars attached later they even had joined ones with a swivelling floor and concertina around them. Very noisy very smokey. plenty of windows and luggage space plus fold out seats in the middle. People then had a much smaller personal space area but didn't seem to mind!

To my dismay later in the 70's the Warszawa was built with a large boot rather than the coupe (Garbus) style that I loved, its a fugly looking thing. It was more comfy and quieter but still stunk of petrol.

My cousins had a Warszawa Garbus which I remember when I was very young - see the Toilet incident blog!

Other cousins had a Syrena which I always remember being a great looking 50's type car but very noisy inside and very uncomfortable! 2 stroke engine, mix oil and petrol in the tank, you can imagine the fumes!

I seem to remember someone having a Polski Fiat 126 Bis cool LITTLE cars but again noisy and uncomfortable, air cooled engine, but cute.

Zastawa was another car dotted about town. Yugoslavia's finest export!

Nysa vans were a particular favourite but used by the Military Police and I also remember Ambulances.

Wartburgs from East Germany were plentiful , again 2 stroke noisy engines but comfy ride.

Zuk vans another Polish product, looking very functional.

There were Star wagons of all shapes and sizes, Fire engines, tippers you name it.

New in the late 1970's the FSO Polonez! What a horrible car!

My dad laughter through the tears.

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 23:54:29 GMT

My dad laughter through the tears. Dogs to Police search and rescue!

In spite of hospital visits and regular pain my father endured, there was plenty of laughter usually at my expense, not least my double denim and BIG Hair!

As time passed dad suffered more with his war time injuries. He was less mobile than he used to be, however Bury market and the promise of woodworking hand tools, screws and nails was too much to resist.

With just his walking stick he still managed to walk into town by himself.

Daily he walked to the newspaper shop for his copy of Dziennik Polski (Polish Daily newspaper in England).

One Sunday morning I noticed my dad's thumb resembled a throbbing comedy thumb from a Tom and Jerry cartoon after being hit with a hammer, red and inflamed.

'What happened?' I asked 'Oh I was bitten by a dog yesterday' he calmly replied ever the old soldier.

'What??? You could get infected we need to go to A&E now!' I shouted.

Reluctantly he put his paper down, took his coat and off we rushed to my waiting steed, the trusty 1971 VW Beetle.

I sped off to the A&E hospital in Bury and we parked outside the main entrance.

It was early Sunday morning and rained over night so the roads were wet.

I exited the car, ran to the passenger side to open the door for him and splat! I slipped on the wet road, landed bang with the side of my head hitting the tarmac like a bouncing ball! This shocked me a little but I got up, helped dad out of the car, took a hanky out of my pocket, wiped the blood I felt on the side of my head and walked into A&E reception.

Picture the scene.

I stood there with now a very blood soaked hanky pressed to the side of my head, whilst my dad with his hand up and a very red swollen thumb doing a 'Magic our Morris sign!'

The receptionist said 'Yes can I help you?' I blurted out 'Can you help my dad he was bitten by a dog yesterday' as he gave her the thumbs up?

'Never mind the thumb what happened to you' she asked? ' Oh I just fell outside on the road' I replied.

'Right go and sit over there until I call you.' She commanded.

So there we sat, with a handful of other unlucky souls waiting to be seen.

After what seemed like eternity but was probably only 30 mins, (me progressively dripping blood down the side of my arm holding the hanky to my head) we are called into a room.

The nurse cleaned us both up. I had stitches in my head and we both had Tetanus injections, I had more than my dad and in my bottom!

We drove home. You should have seen the look on my mums face when she saw my bandaged head!

Dad in the meantime was still doing a 'Magic Our Morris' thumbs up with a plaster on it! He was fine.

A few years later dad was starting to get a little forgetful. I had left home by then so mum and a friend helped to look after him.

One day I received a frantic call from her saying 'Dad's gone for a walk and not returned? It's been a few hours now and he mentioned something about going to the river in the morning? '

I quickly phoned the Police, explained the situation and they dispatched the Greater Manchester Police Search and Rescue helicopter plus most of Bury Police force!

Quickly I left work and drove home to mum.

She was in a state whilst the lady Police officer was trying to keep us calm and settled.

Someone had seen an elderly gentlemen walking close to the river Irwell, (near Remploy where he worked) and they were focusing the search there just in case he had fallen in the water?

You can imagine the worry myself and mum were going through?

I wanted to desperately go and search too so I rushed out of the house when something caught my eye, at the top of the road was a familiar figure? It was my dad!!!

I ran up the road, the fastest I have ever run and he said' Oh hello Staś, nice to see you' and smiled as he always did.

I shouted back to the Police outside mums house 'It's ok call off the search he is here everything ok'.

'Where have you been mum was worried?' I asked. 'I just thought I would go for a walk along the river as it was a nice day?' he replied!

We laughed about it later but me and mum aged about 10 years that day. I was just so glad to see him.

Shame about the double exposure on this photo, was a good one. I might have to work some photo shop magic with it?

The importance of being polite.

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 21:38:34 GMT

The importance of being p olite, otherwise known as The Kaszanka Incident .

The Kaszanka Incident sounds like a 1970's disaster film, well it nearly was.

Let me explain.

Maybe because I grew up surrounded by the older generation in the Polish community, they were generally very nice and exceptionally polite people.

Polish language even today (ignoring the swearing) is still a very civilised way to speak. You always address people, Sir or Madam never 'Oi you fat face?' Although when people ask me about Polish swear words (being a good Catholic boy) I really don't know any, but they always remember Gruba Dupa when I tell them? Yes that is as harsh as it gets.

Even when people are rude I just can't bring myself to be rude back (well maybe just a few 100 times) but BMW driver's really do not own the road!!!!

Frankly I could have been a professional butler if it wasn't for my sausage fingers and clumsiness.

Once in Poland with mum, she went shopping and I was playing outside with some new found friends in the sandpit. It was getting near teatime so I went back up the stairs to the flat. I knock on the door but nobody answered?

'Oh maybe mum is not back yet' I thought? At that point the next door neighbour, who was a lovely lady opened the door and asked me if I was ok? 'Come in' she said 'wait for mum here'.

'Why don't you have something to eat whilst you wait?' she said, 'Thank you' I replied politely, because that's what you do.

So we sat down and she put the tea out, something called Kaszanka (which is basically Polish Black Pudding.) She gave me a largish bowl, loose meat the same as the wee Scots eat Haggis, pan fried and fancy free!

I had never tasted this thing before? From the first spoonful I knew I didn't want to have anymore, it was basically greasy mince meat (with pigs blood vegetarians look away now). I didn't like the taste or the smell (which as I type this has just come back to me oooh I feel ill).

But of course this nice lady had taken me in so I polished off the lot! 'Oh' she said 'You must be hungry?' and promptly filled up the plate to the top with a second helping!! Polish portions are not small by any means.

I started on this second plate. I was just too polite and shy to say 'No thank you' plus she had already put it out, it would be very impolite of me to leave it. I somehow managed to finish that one off just in time for a knock on the door and it was mum! Was I pleased to see her!

This kind of situation has followed me through the years! For example I don't like fish, never have due to my mums insistence on cremating the smelliest fish in the kitchen and stinking the house out for 2 days!

Once I was given a smoked salmon pasta, 'It's just like smoked ham' I was told! I ate it but it WAS NOT like smoked ham I can tell you. I was impressed I didn't see it again later that evening?

I am probably the last person left on the planet to hold a door open for somebody? When I do, people either barge past you or look at you thinking am I going to steal their wallet or bag?

But even during these times where nobody seems to care about anything but cute kittens on Facebook or orange people with caterpillar eyebrows having a crisis when they break an expensive nail, it still pays to be polite.

There I am , tie proper shirt and smart tank top! (They will be back in fashion again mark my words!) Sat in the front room (best room) on a Remploy rocker, dads photographic model and it must be a Sunday after Mass dressed like that?

Either that or I am an extra from The Sweeney!

Mum's Polish kitchen - Sałatka (Polish family salad)

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 21:48:51 GMT

Mum's Krawczyk family salad

Every Polish family seems to have their own version of this salad, here is mum's. Of all the things that remind me of birthdays, Christmas, Easter in fact any special occasions it's this salad. Human beings are a funny lot.

A few notes before we begin .

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person. All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.
Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or veg, buy well, eat well.

Note to vegetarians: This Salad is suitable for vegetarians just don't add the Polish sausage.

Warning ! You have to boil eggs for this one, so the house will cast an aroma!

Ok shall we start then?

Ingredients:

600g Good full fat Mayo, go for your favourite brand not a cheapo one.

290g tin of garden peas in brine.

5-6 large eggs.

6-7 salad potatoes such as Charlotte variety, they need to be firm.

1 packet of radishes

1 jar of Polish Cucumbers in brine (not the pickled ones) only buy Krakus the rest are pants

1 ring (or half) Polish Wiejska - Polish smoked sausage, Costco sell this as well as Deli's

2 peppers , red and green

2-3 sticks of celery

5-6 sweet and firm apples like Jazz or Golden delicious

Optional: small single cream, small salad cream, sugar.

Method:

Wash your hands often (something I do a lot!)

Pour a glass of vino.

Select a large mixing bowl and decent chopping board.

Wash all the veg.

Take the potatoes, skin on, place them in a large saucepan, put the eggs on top of the potatoes add water and let it boil for about 20 mins, so the eggs are hard and potatoes just soft. Whilst that is cooking onto the chopping!

The most important thing here is to cut all the ingredients the same size which is roughly 1 cm square.

Take each veg in turn chop then drop it in the mixing bowl and give it a stir.

Drain the peas then drop them in.

Radishes can be fiddly be careful not to cut yourself. Save a few for decoration later.

Discard the seeds and middle bit of the peppers before you chop them.

Cut about 6 inches off the Wiejska sausage. Peel the outer skin and cut the same as the veg. (Leave this out if you don't eat meat). Mix everything.

Wiejska sausage is a nice smoked pork sausage can be used in many ways. Cut it in slices and place on fresh bread and butter, tomatoes and chopped onion. Cut in slices and pan fry with scrambled eggs, ensure its caramelised a little first, alternative to bacon and eggs, use it in Bigos (another Blog on the cards) and many other dishes where it adds flavour.

Once the eggs and potatoes are cooked, drain and pour in cold water to cool them quickly. Then drain and let it dry a while.

Peel the eggs they should be hard. Chop them same as the veg.

Peel the skin off the potatoes and cut those. The potatoes and egg are the backbone of this salad so ensure you have cooked enough.

Not only should the ingredients be cut the same size but they should be similar proportions however I find, potatoes, eggs and Sausage need to be a little more.

Open the cucumbers in brine and remove about 6 of them, subject to size, if they are small get some more if bigger then less. Cut them and drop in mixing everything in the bowl.

You are almost there.

Open the jar of Mayonnaise empty the whole contents, stirring into the mixture. A mum top tip, drop in some of the dry veg into the jar and with your spoon, use that to capture the nooks and crannies of mayo and remove to the bowl. Give everything a really good mix.

Taste test.

Using a small spoon try some of the mixture? You have to adjust it to offset any particular strong flavours.

Sometimes the cucumbers are too sour or salty, add some brown sugar.

If the mayo is a bit much or bland, add a teaspoon of salad cream to give it some zing?

Mix it and try again?

If you added too much mayo and its quite a wet mix, add some more veg, potatoes, apples etc.

There should be no ingredient more prominent than the other.

If its too strong or acidic (sometimes from the apples) add some single cream.

You wont get the best final flavour until it has been in the fridge overnight to marinade or at least after a few hours.

Ensure you cover the top with a plate or cling film to stop it drying out or going yellow. Keep it refrigerated at all times and take out as much as you need. Don't store in a metal pan use glass or ceramic.

In the morning give it a good mix and taste again, things should have blended nicely and its ready to serve.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polska Sałatka.......................

Serve:

This is a versatile salad, its got enough to be a dinner snack with fresh bread, or a side salad dish to a cold sandwich platter or even hot food, works well. It is actually quite healthy if you ignore the mayo!

Some families put carrots in plus other veg or swap out stuff they don't like give it a try.

This will keep in the fridge for about 4 days but once it starts to taste a little acidic or fizz, its time to ditch.

Smacznego (Bon appetite)

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

My amazing Mum a small tribute

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 17:33:35 GMT

My amazing Mum a small tribute

Mothers really are amazing. Mine was remarkable although I didn't always realise how much until I left home and became a parent myself.

Its pretty obvious now, looking back and reading letters.

This site talks a lot about my father and his military history, sacrifices he made not least providing a roof over our heads and food on the table, but this isn't the full story. My dad may have been the strong army type but he couldn't do everything alone, hence the other side of the partnership was my mum.

She was a very glamorous fashionista, extremely sensitive and caring. Superb at learning new things by herself, such as cooking, she could also sew and make anything? Paint, draw and design clothes. I think she could have gone on to run her own business, but then she would never put herself before her family.

Mum always said, 'dad was the head of the family but she was the neck', which was entirely true.

We never owned a car so walked everywhere. My mum would push that large Silver-Cross pram up and down the road to Bury town centre (up hill from where we lived). Carry umpteen heavy shopping bags from the market.

I used to do the same when I was a little older and let me tell you those plastic bags get heavier the longer you walk even if you are walking downhill.

Being a full time mum is a full time job. Dad would pay the bills and fix the house, mum did the rest and I mean the rest, everything, bring me up take care of us when we were ill etc.

When dad retired he did more around the house but later he fell ill more often. Living 40 years with a piece of metal in your chest is not the ideal situation. He was prone to chest infections and we had a few close calls leading to extended hospital stop overs. Mum took care of him and me. She had to because half the time the staff in the wards just frankly didn't care enough to look after him properly, something I found when mum was in hospital.

Because of her sensitive nature she took everything very personally and would cry at home when dad was ill in hospital. I keep saying how sensitive she was but she was actually very strong, she just never realised it herself?

She would visit and stay with dad all day, every day when he was in hospital. I would turn up after work in the evenings and take over, so mum could go home. She was exhausted.

I had left home by the time dad passed away but I had to officially identify him to the Police in hospital, something I would never let mum do. To break with tradition you are supposed to have dad's open coffin in the house overnight before the burial and I just would not allow it, for no other reason than I knew it would be the most upsetting thing to do to my mum.

Years later mum ended up in hospital a few times although she would never let on anything was wrong with her. Once she passed out and I had to get the Police to kick the back door in so the medics could get to her. She fainted and knocked herself out on the radiator. She was in hospital for a while after that, yet she was insistent there was nothing to worry about? She could be quite stubborn when she wanted to be and she wasn't even from Yorkshire!

A few years ago I was worried she wouldn't pull through but amazingly she came out of hospital better than ever. She made lots of arrangements to sort things out on the house, even get laser surgery done for her cataracts , something which I was more worried about than she was! Yet she just got on with things! I was amazed.

We managed to get another 5 years, then in 2017 she was diagnosed with Cancer. It was a sudden thing, the doctor just came out and told me and we ended up on the fast track to blood transfusions and scans and well everything. Neither of us even realised what this meant and even then she thought everything would be fine as did I.

There came a moment where I just couldn't cope trying to take care of her by myself and asked for home help. Not long after she was admitted to hospital which gave me some time to sort a few things at home for her and let them do proper examinations. On the Tuesday I asked the Polish parish priest to see her and by the Sunday night she had left us.

This was 2 years ago and to this day I still can't believe she is not here? She was so strong for everyone else.

Because my dad was older than my mum as were our friends from days of Remploy, mum ended up being nurse to many of them. Helping them with prescriptions and going to town for them and so on. She was there for them always and lived through their pain.

She remembered every single person we knew. Their name day and sent a card or invited them to our house for a little party. She never forgot the dates they died and always visited their graves with a candle or flowers.

I have to say living in a small community also brings its problems, life is not all sweetness and honey.

Some who came from Poland, that she helped settle in, were jealous of what we had and spread gossip and rumours.

This mortified my mum and she ended up depressed. Even if you help people they can still come around and stab you in the back.

After that she would be wary whom to trust and she lived like that towards the end. That wasn't the happy go lucky mum that I knew from before, but she was still the same person underneath.

I don't think she ever grew up and I am the same, one day maybe I will?

Recently I found a 1966 Christmas card from her mother. On the back it mentioned how much she missed her, wishing her all the best for Christmas and not to forget to write. Reading it you can tell she missed her desperately and was sad she left Poland.

Three months later she died, one month before I was born.

I know my mum was devastated even though I don't remember that, but I do remember when grandad died suddenly years later and how she was then. I didn't truly understand what that meant until mum passed away.

It's a pain inside that never ever leaves you. You don't think about it all the time but sometimes it just pops into your mind.

Naturally I was very upset when my dad died but with him it was different. He was in pain for his post war years and in some ways I was happy for him. When I looked at his face for the last time, all the pain and worry lines had gone he was free of that, it strangely comforted me.

I often ask mum and dad for help with stuff on the house, car, work, just when I am stuck what to do? Yes you may say that sounds a bit loony but I believe there is more to this life? We are not just Apes in suits and trainers, but that's just my opinion.

Don't ever underestimate your mother she does more than you will ever know and wont even show it.

Thanks Mum for everything I just wish I could have done more for you.

Mum's hair styled by my daughter!

I used to work from home sometimes and mum would come around and take care of her for the last couple of hours till I finished work. It was really my fiendish excuse to have mum nearby not just for my daughter but for me. Mum would turn up in a taxi rammed to the gills with bags of presents, colouring books and so on.

She would also turn up with saucepans full of her cooking so we didn't have to cook, just warm it up, totally selfless till the end.

Mum's Polish kitchen -Zupa Grzybowa (Mushroom soup)

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 15:40:00 GMT

Mum's Zupa Grzybowa

Mums version of Mushroom Soup (zupa grzybowa), a very simple dish but as usual preparation time means its not worth making enough just for 2!

A few notes before we begin .

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person. All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.
Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap veg.

Note to vegetarians: You can make this soup without meat replace the chicken /chicken stock with vegetable stock, otherwise everything stays the same.

Warning ! No matter how many mushrooms you buy it will never be enough!

They shrink down to nothing so buy more than you think you will need.

For example this is a largish pan, I added 2x 250g boxes of mushrooms plus dried for extra flavour, once added to the pan they are right at the top, once the water boils they drop down by a third.

Ok shall we begin?

Ingredients:

500g good Chestnut or other brown mushrooms (don't buy white they have zero flavour)

1 or 2 small chicken breast or leg, whatever you like. Its just for the stock.

1 Chicken stock cube

1 packet of Polish dried mushrooms or similar Italian if available.

1 large red Onion cut into 3 sections

3-4 peeled carrots and chopped into 4

6+ Salad potatoes like Charlotte, peeled

1 large single cream (can be double but tends to split)

1 Small bunch of fresh Parsley , dried is fine also.

Dusting of Mixed herbs

Seasoning

Water

Update - Some larger Tesco's sell Hortex frozen forest mushrooms. These are a perfect replacement to the fresh ones.

Method:

Wash your hands often

Pour a glass of vino.

Select a large saucepan.

Peel the potatoes and carrots, you can leave the skin on but it tends to float off and becomes a bit slimy to eat. Drop them in the pan.

Wash the mushrooms. I find it amusing that mushrooms are already washed at the factory then placed back in soil so they look freshly picked! Now cut them into thick slices not less than 1 cm. Don't peel them, drop into the pan.

Add a handful of the dried mushrooms, as many as you like, they will swell up and really give it a flavour boost but they can be like eating old shoe leather if not boiled long enough.

Drop in the parsley as is, don't chop it.

Wash the chicken then drop in the pan. This is very much a drop it in recipe!

Add the water until about 2 inches from the top of the pan. Should the mountain of chopped mushrooms want to make a break for freedom, just reduce the water a little.

That's it, lid on and let it simmer for about 30-40 mins. The mushrooms will reduce, once in a while give it a careful stir.

Once its ready no more than an hour, you can take it off the heat and add some single cream, stirring as you do or it could split. Mum usually added Double cream which is a much nicer fuller taste but it always separates for me.

Remove the onion and the Parsley from the pan and discard, they should remain intact after the boiling.

Remove the chicken, carrot and potatoes and place on the side for a moment. Blend the contents with a hand blender (be careful its hot, but can be done later when cold) ensure its quite fine. Add the potatoes and carrots and chicken back in the pan and serve. I sometimes leave a few sliced mushrooms intact also for artistic reasons.

Add a little salt and pepper to taste and serve .

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish zupa grzybowa......................simples.

Serve:

Serve in a wide rather than a small soup bowl and thick Sourdough bread slices with butter. Sprinkle some fresh chopped Dill in the middle and maybe a splash of sour cream if you like but you can get cream overload.

I only add a few potatoes with it but its actually nicer to boil the salad potatoes separately, drain, cover in butter with some Dill on a side plate, then drop them in to your plate. But each to their own.

This is good as a starter but can also be a main if you eat the chicken and potatoes and carrots with it.

Let it cool down overnight, it will taste better the next day. It should last 2 days outside of the fridge but I recommend you put it in the fridge overnight after the first day.

Transfer the amount you need for that day and warm it up in another saucepan and eat like that, don't reheat the original pan.

Traditionally served on Christmas Eve.

Smacznego (Bon appetite)

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Polish Community in Bury

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 17:52:46 GMT

The Polish Community in Bury

The Polish community in Bury, Lancashire has been around since the late 1940's. It grew over time and the Church was central to its existence along with the Polish Club founded in 1962.

The larger towns and cities in the UK will no doubt have a Polish Club somewhere? Manchester, Leeds, Bradford.

Usually comprised of volunteers, a place where you can eat authentic Polish food, dance Polish dances, listen to traditional songs, see the Polish Scouts, learn to speak Polish on Saturday school and of course, births, deaths and marriage celebrations in traditional style.

You will always find cheap booze in the average Polish club, no need to be Polish they welcome everyone.

My parents used to go to this club now and again.

Polish mass was celebrated at the Convent Chapel which later turned into Holy Cross College.

The circle of Polish community life.

Bury Market and Deli (Katsouris Delicatessen),
Church
Polish Club.

Between these you could feed your belly, nourish your soul and exercise your dancing feet!

When the Chapel went, the Club built a church inside the Club building, which is still there today.

I used to go frequently but as time went by work, family and day to day life got in the way.

Sadly the only time I go is funerals but when I do I am transported back in time!

Most of the people I knew when growing up in the 1970's/80's have long since passed away.

It's sad to see the location of gravestones within a distinct decade where people all seemed to go at the same time.

It was an ageing population even in the 1970's but these people had been through the hell of war, the misery of losing their families (if lucky they could rejoin them years later), or escape Communist Poland and start a new life here with nothing.

Some never managed to start a new family or find someone to live there final days with, so people had friends, very good friends. Some I have already written tributes in these blogs, because they were more than just friends of my dad after Remploy, they were family. My family was very close because we just only had each other. Yet I feel fortunate to have lived this double existence? The Polish friends on the one side and my English friends who have always been there to support me. I shall do a blog on them later complete with photos!

It seemed that most Polish families would have a single child, probably because they couldn't afford to feed 2 or more but it was obvious to me even from an early age.

The Teacher, Doctor, Dentist, Solicitor would be Polish and they would almost automatically have the community as their default clients.

The funny thing is Poles tend not to ghettoise, they integrate very well into the surrounding area. They have a get up and go attitude.

Even though these elderly people had been close to death during the war or had long time injuries, I rarely heard them complain?

I think they were just lucky to be alive, make it through war and start again.

When you have nothing, anything is a bonus.

My dad although he was severely injured was not frightened of anything at all and would still put the fear of God into me if I did something wrong (which naturally I never did since I was a perfect Angel!).

There are more negatives and pictures to go through and scan, hence this blog will be updated later on.

I find it quite upsetting looking at these photos, recognising the faces but sadly can't remember all their names now.

Polish Club December 2019 as it stands now. Apparently Zumba is a thing!

A tribute to Pan and Pani Zarzecki

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 19:49:27 GMT

Mr Kazimierz and Mrs Antonina Zarzecki

Pan Zarzecki on the left and Pani Zarzecka on the right, 2 really nice people and life long friends of the family.

Kazimierz worked in Remploy with my father and I think Antonina did also, it feels so strange to call them by their first names!

They lived just up the road from us and would occasionally pop round for lunch on Sunday's.

Pani Zarzecka was just the nicest person you could meet, very kind and I always ended up getting a massive kiss on the cheeks when she saw me!

I really don't remember much of their history before but they were a nice couple. I remember he hobbled along probably a war wound in his leg, working at Remploy everyone had some scar from the War although they did their best to hide and never talk about it.

The above photo is Sunday after mass. Observe the Sunday best outfits and looking very late 1970's Terry and June style! Kipper ties were king in those days. In fact I know exactly where that road is!

Below my dad in the back and Pan Zarzecki at Remploy, not long I think before they both retired?

Dad and Pani Zarzecka one sunny day.

Pani Gotkowicz, Pani Zarzecka at her home and mum, early 2000's I would say.

Pani Zarzecka outside her house, sadly her husband passed away suddenly in the early 90's but she lived on until 2007.

A really lovely lady I cant stress that enough. She helped my mum when she was feeling alone, they helped each other out.

She taught my mum how to cook my all time favourite cake (see the Master Chef blog) and was just the gentlest person you could ever meet.

Thank you for everything but no more kisses please!!!

Polish TV and film

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 13:57:04 GMT

Polish TV and films

Polish Cinema has been around for decades but it wasn't until more recent times before it was recognised.

I am no expert but thought I would drop these few in as I find them. I will add more as time goes by.

Taking a guess I am thinking Polish productions are quite cheap to make hence Netflix investment, much the same way Canada is for American productions because of the tax breaks etc.

With the advent of online streaming services I came across a few Serials on Netflix which are Polish Production.

I have to say its a good way for me to practise my Polish language. I don't really speak Polish much to anyone these days unless I meet the obligatory Pole working in a hotel or cafe in the UK.

After many years the WW2 Polish Pilots finally get some recognition with the film Hurricane .

Its worth a watch.

You can see it on Netflix and I think Amazon too?

A TV series called 1983 is based on the premise that the Berlin wall never fell, Solidarity never happened and Communism continued on to the present day in Poland. (Almost Man in a High Castle style?)

Its very dark its actually very well filmed, very gritty quite frightening to think how things can go?

The constant identity checks and spying was very much Stazi like.

Worth a watch good acting. This is a Netflix Polish production.

Another Polish /Netflix production is Ultraviolet , set in Lodz, follows Ola who is a taxi driver but gets involved with an online community that helps to solve crimes.

Its a clever little idea, its not exactly high brow but its no worse than the average knocked out en mass American stuff!

Because its Lodz I am watching intently to see how its changed, of course everyone has brand new cars and latest mobiles etc. Progress eh?

My mum the Master Chef!

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:21:14 GMT

My mum the Master Chef! Self taught

My mum probably only knew how to peel potatoes and boil an egg but the responsibility of parenting forces you to learn the art of feeding yourself and family very quickly!

When she married my dad she didn't know how to cook anything? Her mother used to tell her 'you need to learn!' Sadly her mother was across the pond in central Europe not England.

My mum was a very sensitive person, she would be easily upset and quite shy at times. I remember her father being the same quite shy for a big man, I mention that because it's like she had a sixth sense if you will? I don't know how to describe it but she had a natural ability to just try something and get it to work. I am talking food here as well as plants - but that's another Blog!

She had a couple of Polish cook books from Lodz, which I drew all over when I was about 5 or 6, I know this because it says my name and age 5 and 6 over the pages its a boy thing, but anyway she used them as a guide, tried something out burnt it (caramelised as we say in the trade) the second time it was perfect. By adjusting the recipe to her own version it was superior to the original.

Once I cooked some home made Chicken Fajitas, mum never had them before and she liked them. She had a go the following week and they were 500% tastier than mine and I never told her how to do them she just guessed!

Her own versions meant the portions would feed the population of Lancashire and the ingredients were the best available.

If baking she would use live yeast from the Deli, not powder, or self raising flower! How very dare you Sir!

You had to use Canadian Strong Flour Krupczatka from the Deli, not many places sell it even today.

I remember you warmed up some milk, cut off a piece of yeast dissolving it then adding it to the mix.

We used to eat the yeast raw, good for you but also gives you wind!

The kitchen was small, the window and back door generally open since the whole space would be filled with steam, from boiling pans, any commercial chef would have been proud.

The entire house would smell of whatever she cooked that day, which was both good and bad.

FACT! Because of my mum's love of fish (which is a common Polish thing) she used to pan fry lots of fish usually the really smelly ones, whatever the yellow smoked ones are?

The entire house stunk for days, the smell makes me feel ill and to this day I can't stand to eat any fish and wont even try to eat them because of my childhood traumas!

On the plus side when she baked bread, dumplings or cake the house smelt divine. She made Poppy Seed cake roll for Christmas Eve, doughnuts, cheesecake etc.

One cake in particular passed on to mum from our dear friend Mrs Zarzecka, chocolate sponge, with, marzipan, Plum jam and sugar crust on top! The most favourite cake in the entire world for me. I have never made it but for the sake of this website I will do and pray I don't create a new form of caramelised cement compound!

She cooked lots of meat with veg and a sauce and potatoes dishes, various soups, cucumber, beetroot, mushroom, bean, white soup and casseroles. They all start out life as casseroles, it's a variation on a theme. We use stock cubes also but its always based on real chicken or other meat. These recipes are for later blogs.

Steamed dumplings the size of water melons were my favourite (particularly steam filled kitchen days). They were slightly sweet and substituted potatoes.

Breaded pork chops or Kotleti (type of meatball) were staples and I still make them frequently, served with new potatoes (French Charlotte are the nearest to Polish) with melted butter, side of sour cream cucumber and dill. To be covered in another blog when I get around to making them.

We also did Bigos (Sauerkraut and pork) very easy to make - another blog.

Pierogi, like Italian Pasta parcels but made differently and usually larger.

A butter sponge Placek very similar to French Madeleines and Italian Panettone.

You have to remember Poland has been invaded by just about every country over the centuries and took elements of their cooking.

I think Polish cooking is very similar to French, Italian, German and Swedish.

We also made our own fresh egg pasta sheets, rolled out onto that Remploy table in the living room on a large clean sheet of material to dry out. This was in the 1970's long before you could buy all this in supermarkets like you can now!

So we did very thin sheets, folded them and sliced them into narrow strips of pasta.

We also did drop Kluski basically the same mixture but dropped into a hot soup where they set in the soup - more blogs to do.

For Easter mum would do filled pancakes with her own special mix inside. This was well known by many friends and polished off (no pun intended) very quickly. That is something I need to try myself , I have all the ingredients listed somewhere.

Then Chrusty which I did with my daughter last year, basically pastry strips - blog to do.

The more I think about this the more meals come to mind and now I am feeling hungry.

So other than experimenting she also watched a famous TV show in the 1970's called ' The Galloping Gourmet ' , which is kind of cheesy now but there was nothing like it. Today's cookery programmes are very staged, this was live and it was fun and silly and enjoyable to watch! Take a look on youtube if you have a spare 5 mins.

It wasn't healthy cooking by any means but fun.

Check out the blogs for Mum's Polish kitchen, where I try to recreate them for you, if I can do it you can.

You will notice a lot of cooking blogs, food defines a culture /country doesn't it and in my case be they special occasions such as Easter, Birthdays or Christmas good food was always on the table. Mum didn't have any fancy food processors for years it was all done by hand, which after cooking the same recipes myself is not exactly a 5 minute job, not difficult but time consuming.

Smell and taste being 2 very powerful senses linked to memory just remind me of the good days when my parents were still here.

Some of these blogs recreating mums recipes I admit have brought a tear to my eye but at the same time I know they are both stood next to me in the kitchen watching me cook. Mum probably shaking her head saying 'no Stash not that way and add more salt!'

I hope you enjoy the food blogs but give them a try its all good stuff and cost effective especially during these times when everything is getting more expensive.

Poppy Seed Roles from Barbakan Deli in Chorlton Manchester.

Poppy Seed plait for Christmas. Mum always made these but involves a lot of manual effort for her. This one is from Barbakan Deli in Chorlton, still the best place for such things, not cheap but you do get what you pay for.

Kilearn Hospital Scotland, 1945

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:49:51 GMT

Kilearn Hospital Scotland, 15th May 1945 >

Kilearn Hospital located 15 miles north from Glasgow Scotland. Due to his severe injuries following Monte Cassino dad spent the first few years of his UK life there.

Kilearn Hospital was built a safe distance from Glasgow as an Emergency Hospital in 1940.

I visited in 2017 whilst nearby in Glasgow to see for myself.

It is not too far from Loch Lomond and that whole area is beautiful, rolling hills, Lochs and pretty little villages.

If you are trying to recover its a lovely part of the world.

I understand there was a convalescence home on the shores of Loch Lomond, but I cant't find anything about that yet? I have been to Loch Lomand many times again fabulous location, very restful.

The hospital closed in the 1970's apparently. There are keep out signs everywhere due to Asbestos, which is a shame as I wanted to go and take some photographs, maybe to confirm these pictures are of the same location.

If you click the link below, there is quite some history behind its purpose.

My scanning empire guide to old photos

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 23:22:22 GMT

My guide to scanning old pictures

So you have a mountain of old images and a crazy idea to publish them on a website you will build as you go, planned on the edge of an AgfaColour slide frame! Read on...

When I had the idea to capture my parents old photos, I expected it to be fairly straight forward but no, patience and some reasonable gear is needed?

Some top tips, in case you want to do the same?

Scanning prints is straightforward. Any good quality scanner will do the trick. The newer ones use LEDs to illuminate the photo not the old lamps which get hot and can damage 70 odd year old photographs. I used an Epsom XP-760 scanner/printer, although you can buy fancier versions that include negative holders too.
Ensure you line up the photo squarely and try not to move it when you close the lid, or you end up wasting time in post processing, fine if you have 10 prints to scan but 100's is not.
Scanning Negatives? There are some cheapskate ideas on youtube but honestly for £39 buy yourself an ION Slides forever scanner from the usual online suspects. Why spend a fortune on super cool auto scanners unless you are doing this professionally of course, which I am not. Its a neat simple scanner that's great for negatives and Slides, you get through them in no time and the image quality is excellent.
Documents can be tricky, scan them in colour even if they are black and white, you want that warm coloured image rather than the harsh greys that sometimes appear. Be gentle with them and unfold them carefully so you don't damage them. Don't forget to clean the scanning glass once in a while too?
Photo Shop, or similar is a powerful tool, but don't be tempted to start fixing every single thing you see wrong. I took the decision early on not to fix damage on these old prints, in some cases not even the colour on 1950's shots because that period colour patina is what makes the picture and it instantly tells you when its from? I had to fix a few bad creases that spoilt the image, for example a bad one across a face but light scratches and so on should be left, pictures like people have stories to tell.
Mobile phones, yes some quick shots like my cooking recipes are handy mid flow you are not going to get your fancy camera and tripod out unless you are a full time blogger and do this for a living but I don't. I am more interested in capturing stuff naturally and quickly in some cases.
My Digital SLR, Pentax K1 for when I do want to capture something well, outdoors for instance.

A tribute to Antek Blicharski

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 21:46:35 GMT

Pan Antek Blicharski a clever and quiet man

Pan Blicharski one of the few people we always called by his first name Antek, unusually by Polish standards.

Antek was a long time friend of my fathers maybe even the same regiment but definitely in at least same Polish resettlement camps as my father, there are photos of them together from the 1940's.

Sadly I don't remember much of his early history other than he was very active in the Polish Ex Combatants Association of Great Britain. I remember he used to fly out to places like Holland, where they used to mark the anniversaries of various battles particularly Polish troops.

A well read man, very clever. If we needed some help with paperwork or any confusing legislation he would normally be able to help and advise. I sometimes wondered if he was a solicitor? I think he worked at Remploy also and was disabled due to his war injuries.

I remember him being quite a fast talking, quite anxious person, maybe that was due to the war but he always seemed to be in a hurry, but put a bottle of Scotch down on the table and that was it, the old army tales came out and him and my dad would talk for hours.

He was a very nice gentlemen very polite and witness to my parents wedding. This generation were all the same very nice quiet people, they had gone through hell, anything after that was acceptable but I think it must have been hard for them to adapt, especially being alone with no family or partners to live with.

He had this large quiff of hair as seen in the photos and always smartly dressed.

On my birthdays he used to buy me interesting books to help me learn, about science, how things work which helped me develop into who I am today. I have always been fascinated how things are made and work, I do it in my job.

I think he passed away in the early 2000's but I don't know much more.

Thank you Antek for being there when my parents needed you and for helping me learn.

Travelling to Poland during the Cold War years

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 17:27:25 GMT

Travelling to Poland 1960's/70's

We travelled to Poland every year since I was 6 months old. It took 3 days by train and ferry. I loved every minute of it. (pic courtesy retours.en)

We booked through a company Fregata and Tazab Travel.

The journey entailed:

Taxi from home to Manchester Piccadilly Station.
Over night Sleeper to London Euston.
Taxi across London from Euston to Victoria Station.
Overnight sleeper from London Victoria to Harwich ferry.
Harwich overnight ferry to Hook Van Holland.
Overnight Sleeper from Hook Van Holland to Warsaw!
Taxi from Warsaw to Lodz.

3 days yes it took that long and although I didn't have very good sea legs I loved it.

Mum used to pack around 5 or 6 suitcases. The old school large plastic bound ones that were very awkward to carry. Thankfully we always had assistance from people nearby so it was never an issue.

People were helpful in those days no Walkmens or Ipads to ignore you with.

Even at the tender age of 8 I had to carry 2 cases that were bigger than me!

You can't imagine my excitement. I love travelling always have, but not planes which are purgatory for me, really boring and sat down for so long is not my idea of fun. Don't even set me off about coaches, although we did go on a coach to Poland one year and I hated every minute of it! Never again.

About 7 pm dad saw us off to Manchester and came back home in the taxi.

During the late 1960's and early 1970's they still had Steam engines which I still love today althought replaced by Diesel later on yet my biggest memory is the smell of steam, coal, oil and smoke. Fabulous!

Maybe because it was late in the evening and always dark, I always remember being very cold as I stood there looking for a free luggage trolley on the platform.

We entered the carriage after the porter helped us load the baggage in and I was constantly peering out of the window jumping with excitement. It would be a compartment with a few other people and everyone would say hello offer sweets all very nice.

My mum was exhausted because I would not go to sleep instead choosing to peer out of the window, all the new things to see.

I don't remember much of the trip to London but it was stressful (I could tell my mum was particularly stressed) finding another trolley then a Black Cab. Once loaded up, the trip across London was also exciting but then it really was the big smoke! Very grubby smokey and noisy place I didn't like it and honestly not a fan today either.

The same fun unloading at Victoria Station, mum would find a trolley and dash to the correct platform and we got on the sleeper train.

The seats dropped down above your head and converted to beds. Once again load the bags in and I was STILL awake still excited but eventually nodded off.

When we reached Harwich and my memory is a little hazy but I am pretty sure the train drove onto the ferry then we got off into the ship. Sometimes we had a cabin sometimes not but I always remember a particular trip with a very rough sea, everyone was sick I mean everyone, not the best memory. Top tip, book a cabin in the middle of the ship if you can (minimal pendulum effect.)

8 hours later arrived in Hook Van Holland.

The train was ready for us on the other side and we would get on. This was my favourite part of the journey and the longest.

The train left Hook Van Holland and passed through the Dutch countryside which looked beautiful with canals everywhere and fields of colourful tulips, very flat.

We crossed the border into West Germany, where the landscape was totally different. Cute wooden villages and rolling hills and forests.

We had to go through Berlin which at that time was split East and West.

The train entered the station and would stop.

Military border guards with rifles and angry looking dogs would get on the train and you had to show them your passports and Visas.

They might have asked you to open your luggage so they could check it. In the meantime they also checked the underside of the train with the dogs, just in case anybody was trying to sneak in.

After 30 mins they disembarked and waved the train through.

I always remember going over an Iron girder bridge across a river immediately afterwards and you were in East Germany.

The countryside again changed it had rolling hills but didn't seem to look as bright or alive as the West side? Strange I remember all of this in detail?

On one trip we were in the last carriage, the loos were at the end, if you dropped some loo roll down the loo and flushed it, quickly sped out and looked down the track you saw the loo roll in the middle of the track disappear into the distance! Strict rules everywhere saying not to use the loo at the Stations! I expect they have poop tanks under the trains today.

After a very large number of hours we reached the Polish Border where the train stopped. I can't remember the name of the station but the next one was Poznan, then straight to Warsaw.

I think they changed engines in Poland? You would see lots of PKP (Polish State Railways) coaches along the tracks and mostly steam engines everywhere. The Polish engines looks more like American prairie type engines but outlined with white markings. I wish my memory was as sharp today as it was then.

Eventually we arrived at the main station in Warsaw. I remember it being underground like the London Underground with lots of dim regular lights along the platform and very cold!

Hop off the train look for a trolley, load the bags on there, move to the Taxi rank.

Sometimes Grandad would make the trip from Lodz to meet us or mum's brother would and take us in his car (which I remember was a lorry).

The trip to Lodz would actually be the most hazardous (if you have ever seen Polish drivers). The lasting memory I have is the incredibly strong smell of cheap poor quality petrol!

Finally we arrived in Lodz and stayed with Grandad, it was another adventure.

Off we went, presents in hand from the cases and visit all her friends and relations, people mum had left behind.

The saddest part was visiting her mum's grave which she did every trip then years later Grandad's.

The rest of the time we rode on the trams, I absolutely loved the trams.

During the earlier trips, Grandad would take me on the tram, I was so excited I didn't realise I was still in my slippers and travelled to town with them (as you do!)

These earlier trams were the rickety 1930's ones , very angular and wooden seats, later on they were more modern and comfy, I say comfy.....

Typical White over Red livery.

I loved the Polish single decker buses. Like something from 1950's America, affectionately known as cucumbers (ogórek)

Jelcz 043 they were called for all you bus geeks.

Getting inside was fun they seemed to be really wide and went on for miles.

Some had trailer cars attached later they even had joined ones with a swivelling floor and concertina around them.

Very noisy very smokey and one day I hope to ride one again for old times sake.

The rest of the time we used Taxi's since they were very cheap.

My favourite ones were the pale blue FSO Warszawa M201 Garbus (or fast back).

These absolutely stunk of petrol from the engine and fags, everybody smoked in those days including the taxi drivers.

I hope to sit in one again just once, although they seem to be quite rare or used for wedding cars instead so all painted white.

The return trip was just as stressful and exciting! Mum had loaded all the baggage with tonnes of stuff from Poland.

Clothes
Dried food/herbs/mushrooms which her Auntie had picked for us from the forest especially.
Tea towels, everything was wrapped in them to protect things from breaking. Like the umpteen bottles of Polish Vodka she used to bring back!
Polish Crystal which mum collected (that's another Blog).
One trip a full Photographic Developing lamp, which I have.
Another trip a full folding bike (that I assembled until 01:00am one night in Grandad's flat because I was so excited).
Bedding
Host of other things I can't remember.

For the return trip, we had a large cooked pork shoulder, which we would slice a piece off and cut some bread on the train as lunch, snacks, something you can't do today.

Once home, I was so exhausted, after we offloaded the bags it was straight to bed, the best sleep I ever had.

The next day we opened up all the bags and see how much survived?

This is the reason I found a mountain of immaculate never used Egyptian cotton tea towels in mums sideboard when clearing the house out, complete with Polish price label intact from the early 1970's.

Made me smile and brought back all these holiday memories.

To my shame I have not returned to Poland since 1978!

Yes I know, perfect candidate for one of those Channel 4 documentaries - the man in a time bubble!

I began secondary school, then college, then dad was ill, then work started and it just never happened?

I intend to correct that soon but it will be a bittersweet journey and maybe I am scared to spoil all these rose coloured memories I have?

Who knows? I will write a blog and take lots of photos when I do.

Polish Christmas Eve family tradition.

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:24:56 GMT

Christmas Eve is THE night at Christmas

Christmas Eve family meal together with the breaking of Holy Communion wafer (opłatek). The one family tradition we still follow today.

Christmas Eve has always been special in our family, more so than Christmas Day if I am honest.

Whilst everyone is out getting very drunk because they finished work for a week or 2, the average Polish home will be preparing this special meal.

I could be wrong maybe this is a generational thing but even so it would have been handed down and Poles generally have very close family ties and keep this going.

On Christmas Eve mum and dad would set the table with all sorts of lovely food and cakes. Nuts and dried fruit, juices, soft drink, wine, fish and soup and bread, but no meat. I didn't like fish so I had fish fingers, that's not really fish is it?

Don't forget Polish poppy seed cake which is supposed to ensure you are financially ok for the next year! We don't know if its true but nobody takes any chances and you wont find any in shops the week before Christmas so buy it early!

A candle would be lit and the Holy Communion wafer or opłatek as its called, laid on the table (available from all good Polish churches everywhere).

Dad would put on Kolędy (Polish Carol songs) quietly in the background on the record player.

Before the meal we stand up take a little piece of the opłatek each, offer it to the person across from us.

They would break a little bit off yours and make you a wish for the new year, such as good health, happiness or if you were a bit grumpy say sorry and hope to be better from now on.

The person would then repeat the process with you, breaking your wafer, wishing you the best and so on.

This is repeated until everyone has wished everyone well, its a very nice yet humbling thing to do.

We all then eat the broken off pieces of bread with any bits that drop on the floor must be eaten, this is holy bread very sacred. You are not allowed to chew it with your teeth but let it dissolve in your mouth, it doesn't taste of anything by the way.

Then we all sit down and begin the meal.

Apparently whatever happens on Christmas Eve will be repeated the rest of the new year so be nice people don't argue!

We used to leave an empty place at the table and plate for my dad, now I do the same for my mum too since she passed away. It's the only family tradition I insist on with my family and I hope when my daughter grows up she will continue this also.

It means a lot more now than it ever has to me, but I know mum and dad are there at the table with us too.

Poppy Seed Plait for Christmas.

Mum's Polish kitchen -Jaja (Stuffed eggs)

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:33:57 GMT

Mum's Stuffed Boiled Eggs

Mums Boiled Stuffed Eggs. These are quick and easy to make handy as a starter, side dish or part of a typical open sandwich spread for all occasions.

A few notes before we begin .

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person. All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.
Please ensure you buy good ingredients, choose large free range eggs if you can and good quality Mayo.
Usually 1.5 eggs per person as a rough guide.

Ok shall we start then?

Ingredients:

5 Large eggs

1 Medium Jar Mayonnaise

1-2 Spring Onion strands

Seasoning

Method:

Wash your hands often

Choose a suitable mixing bowl or similar.

Take 1 or 2 spring onion strands, wash them and slice finely. Drop into the mixing bowl.

Select a large enough saucepan for the number of eggs you have (assume 5 here).

Bring to the boil and let it cook for at least 5 mins to ensure they are hard inside.

Remove from heat, drain the hot water and fill with cold water, leave for a few mins.

Peel the shell off, rinse the eggs under water (pet hate egg shell shards)

Cut the eggs in half (either way you prefer).

Using a small teaspoon tease out the egg yoke into the mixing bowl with the spring onions. Repeat for all eggs.

Add a pinch of black pepper and mix the dry ingredients together so they have an even texture.

Add 2 Tablespoon of Mayonnaise to this mixture (for 5 eggs) more will be required for larger numbers. The consistency should be of cold custard!

Scoop out an amount of the mixture to fill the hole left in the egg white and slightly proud. Repeat for all eggs.

Add a drop of Mayonnaise onto the top of the egg. For decoration add a small off cut of spring onion in the middle.

That's it!!

Sadly I have never found a nice way to present these without them tipping on their side, but you can use red pepper slices and place the eggs in the middle, sometimes works.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish stuffed eggs ......................

Serve:

Serve with a few thick Sourdough bread slices with butter.

Very easy although the house will have an aroma of boiled eggs for a while!

Smacznego Bon appetite Que aproveche

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

Mum's Traditional remedies

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 20:57:57 GMT

Mum's traditional remedies!

A few of my mum's traditional herbal remedies. Not what you expect today but they actually do work!

There is no need to spend lots of money on pills from the Chemists these rely on age old handed down advice.

Lets start off with a nice one.

Cold/Man flu

Hot black tea, honey, slice of lemon and a good shot of Cherry Vodka.

You can use other Vodka's too as long as they are berry based.

I love Cherry so that's my favourite.

Ensure the tea is piping hot make it builders strength and for goodness sake don't add milk!

This will make you sweat like crazy, you are not supposed to get drunk on it - Polish Hot Toddy I suppose.

It does work, have some in the evening before bed it will help you get over it.

Coughs all varieties.

Get 1 large white Onion and chop it into stripes then place it in a cereal sized bowl.

Add some chopped raw garlic and then sprinkle about 3 heaped table spoons of brown sugar on the top.

Leave it a few hours (ideally cover with another bowl to keep the flies off , but I have yet to see flies , vampires or anything near it).

After some time you will see onion juice appear at the bottom of the bowl.

Take 2 tablespoons worth, trust me it works, that cough will be gone before you know it.

Keep taking it every few hours until you feel better.

This should last at least 24 hours if not longer.

Flu/Radation poisoning/The black death/Political TV broadcast about Brexit

If nothing else works, this will. Garlic fantastic!

You will not thank me for it, yet my mum did feed me this when I was about 7-10 and I trusted her! Yes its horrible it was vile, especially as I never liked garlic until I discovered Italian food in my late teens!!

Cut a thick slice of Sourdough bread, any bread will do but that's my usual one.

Thick spread of butter, I supposed you can use the spreadable ones we have today.

Slice a full Garlic and layer it on top of the bread. That is it!

Yes you are then supposed to eat the entire thing! It was foul but other than having no friends for 48 hours and definitely no vampires I woke up in the morning and the fever had broken.

Even if it didn't tell your mum it did or she would feed you a second slice!!!!!

Update to this:

There is a more acceptable version I accidentally discovered. Avail yourself to a ripe Avocado and 2 or 3 large cloves of Garlic. Effectively you are making guacamole but with more zing! Cut the Avocado in half, take out the stone and peel away the skin in a bowl. Mash it up, chop in a handful of small plumb tomatoes, some fresh red onion if you like and grate in the garlic, zing of lemon juice (zing is that a word?) mix it all up and there you go a disguised raw garlic 2020 version of the garlic on bread alternative! Enjoy with Tortilla chips, you still cant kiss anybody with that garlic stench but the vampires and bugs should stay away.

Last chance saloon.

If none of the above worked then you have to take the 'Get me out of here I am a Celebrity challenge' even before that was invented!

Boil some full fat milk in a pan.

Pour it into a decent sized mug then add a thick wedge of butter to it, yes I did say a big wedge of butter! Leave it a moment for the butter to melt then drink the milk soon as its cool enough to drink. Try to drink it as soon as you can (before you feel like throwing up!)

Strangely that also works. I have never tried that one since I was 8, it's the only one I can't face! Give me a raw Garlic on a plate any day!!

Herbal Teas!

Herbs and herbal teas have been the staple in Poland for centuries and still are today.

We like our natural juices and teas long before anyone on this side of the pond had considered it cool or healthy.

Some of these are now well known but my favourites:

Peppermint tea, drunk black maybe a tiny bit of sugar, good for indigestion and tummy pains.

Chamomile tea, good for digestion again plus if you have a fever it can help also, plus using it in a bowl with hot water and steaming it under a towel with your face in there, clear your nose if its blocked.

Raspberry tea, good for colds, add some honey.

I will add more as I remember them.

Tribute to Doctor Karwowski

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 21:41:42 GMT

Doctor Karwowski remembered - a life saver.

Doctor Karwowski was our family doctor and probably every Polish persons in the local community. He was a very nice and kind man.

In the above photo he is stood next to me. (Taken in 1981. yes I am wearing a suit, its after mass and actually outside the Chapel at Holy Cross Convent, Bury).

He was our Doctor for a long time but when he passed away it was a sad day for the whole community. Thankfully his daughter took over years later.

Wind or Appendix?

In 1978 I had just returned from our usual summer holiday in Poland.

The week before I had complained about pains in my abdomen?

My mum took me to a doctor in Lodz and he thought I just had some sort of stomach upset and promptly dispatched me off to a nearby chemist. I took whatever they were and felt better again.

We used to travel to Poland on the train and ferry and took 3 days each way. (That warrants a separate blog so I wont go into details here) .

So we were home after our 3 day journey.

The very next day was a Saturday and in the morning I start to get very bad pains again, like I am about to give birth or something?

Mum rushes me to the doctor, remember we had no car so we walked to town.

He asked me a few questions then started to see where the pain was - you know the usual does it hurt when I press here (hard!) yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooowwww I cried out.

Ok he gets the phone and calls an ambulance. Its an appendicitis, I was in hospital and next day it was out. Apparently it was ready to burst and I was lucky it didn't happen on the train or ship the 3 days we travelled.

Once again someone was taking care of me above.

So thank you Dr Karwowski for all your help over the years.

Take 2 paracetamols and sit back on that Cloud next to the Angels.

Polish toilets - scarred or is that wiped for life!

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 19:39:26 GMT

Field toilets and the Głowno yellow rain incident.

I always seem to remember my toilet experiences in Poland, probably because they were quite stressful to a me between the ages of 5 and 11! But funny too!

I found this photo (above) I am fairly sure its a cousin's house in Głowno Poland that I visited one summer with mum mid 1970's. I must have been about 6?

I loved it there, it was in the middle of a forest (I have frantically google- earthed it but can't quite remember where it is?) But I digress back to potty shenanigans.

It was a medieval type prairie house (if there is such a term) . Wooden, no electricity or running water inside. No inside loos either!

In the back was a large courtyard, where my cousin messed about with motorbikes, I can still smell the petrol.

He actually took me for a ride into town on the back of the bike through the forest, to say I was petrified was an understatement.

It was only a teeny 50hp lawn mower sized engine moped, popular in Poland back then Romet Komar, but he dreamed of a Kawasaki.

Riding on the back of a bike at seemingly light speed with trees coming towards you is not my idea of fun.

One side of this courtyard was a very large wooden toilet block.

It was about 5 feet high, you walked up via steps to the top where there is a bit of a boardwalk then a bank of doors (think about 6). You opened one of the doors and there was just a flat timber raised boxed in board with a hole in the middle for the poops to drop in, nice eh! The smell.............. the flies!

The reason it was so high because the lower part is actually a cess tank a very large one! I can't find any photos on t'internt so will draw a picture another time, anyway being a small boy I was scared I could fall in there or something would bite my bottom (yes yes I know but I was 6!) so I didn't like going but when I did, I found I could actually hold my breath for longer than I ever anticipated, bonus.

Once a month the poops man would turn up with a tanker, open the floor at the front of the toilet block which hinged up, drop a large pipe in there and suck the poops up. Apparently once day he fell in and nearly drowned! Horrible but funny at the same time!

(Imagine the truck below as a tanker instead)

Toilet trips were very stressful!

One night I had gone to bed in the house, but after a few hours I needed to go for a wee.

It must have been around 11pm?

I didn't want to go outside in the pitch black, house I was not familiar with, to that toilet block I was a bit scared.

We are in the middle of a forest with nothing around but 1 street lamp in front of the house (near my bedroom- I was at the front) that was the only light, not even a candle but then I was 6 they won't let me play with matches.

They did actually leave an enamel potty for me in the room and a traditional type water jug however because it was so dark I could not find them anywhere?

A Krawczyk is not going to be beaten by this situation especially since my bladder was reaching critical mass by now, all I could think was to open the window, (a very small double shutter type) I managed to get myself in position and off I went - ooooh if you only knew the relief!

To this day I remember all of this vividly.

At that moment I heard 2 people walking past the house (where too I have no idea, there was a rough dirt road in front that passed the house!) anyway I heard one of them say' Oh did you feel that, I think its raining!" Nuff said.

During another trip out to the countryside with another cousin she had my favourite ever car FSO Warszawa Garbus (below - that's her) but that's a blog in its own right - I am a petrol head.

When you are very young it seems you need to wee and poop quite a lot, but anyway we are driving out for miles in the Warszawa, (me bouncing around on the huge rear seat no seat belts of course) when I really REALLY need to go.

We stop the car.

In the countryside I remember there being wooden toilets every now and again (have you ever seen Mr Beans Holiday where he sits in a wooden loo by the side of the road) well that's what it was like!!!

I went in but the smell was so bad and hundreds of flies (its effectively a hole in the ground with a wooden hut around it for your modesty). I just couldn't handle that so ended up going out behind a bush.

Oh hang on no loo roll? Ok fortunately nearby leaves were of a suitable size and durability! I am very good at improvising on the spot it's a Krawczyk thing.

I am the person to be stuck on a desert island with. Before long I would have built a small town from available materials complete with shopping complex and cafes! Of course you have to put up with my boring stories .....

I told you scarred for life by toilet events from an early age.

Mum's Polish kitchen - Gołąbki (Cabbage parcels)

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 20:25:12 GMT

Mum's Gołąbki or feeding the 5000

Mum's version of Gołąbki (stuffed cabbage leaves in tomato sauce), Gołąbki is another name for Pigeon because they look like little pigeons I suppose? No Pigeons were harmed during the cooking of this dish!

Mum was an exceptional self taught cook, this was one of my favourites. I hope to keep to her original recipe as much as I remember. I hope you like it?

A few notes before we begin .

Most Polish cooking is a faff and takes a fair bit of effort, its not difficult just a lot of preparation and messing such as peeling, chopping so its not worth making just a small amount for 1 person. All mums portion sizes are suitable for a family of 3 or 4 people and will last 3 to 4 days without going off. They are quite filling, healthy and wholesome you wont leave hungry trust me.
Please ensure you buy good ingredients don't skimp on meat or cheap supermarket own tins of peeled plum tomatoes. Buy the branded ones.

Note to vegetarians: My Grandfather was a butcher by trade so many of mum's dishes are meat based and Veggies were unheard of in the 1970's, so I am sorry this is a meat dish. You can substitute the meat with that horrible Quorn type stuff made from recycled dustbin lids and mushrooms or whatever they make it from?

Personally I would make something like a firm pesto or falafel type mix instead although I have never tried it and don't know how that would taste but what the 'eck give it a go, life is too short to worry about mistakes God knows I made enough of those!

Warning ! Gołąbki tends to have after dinner effects on the body, i.e you wont make friends after eating cabbage I can tell you!

Ok shall we start then?

Ingredients:

500g good low fat minced pork

500g good minced beef (or Veal)

1-2 large onions (red is best but white is ok)

2-3 large eggs

3 Chicken stock cubes

2 -3 tins of peeled plum tomatoes

Tomato paste (about 2 Tablespoons worth)

1 large Single cream (but experiment, double cream separates as does sour cream but can be used) Mum used Double.

1 -2 Savoy Cabbages, must be Savoy the plain one is like eating a plastic credit card.

2 carrots peeled but uncut

1 Cup Arborio rice or round desert rice but its harder to find. Cup as in something you drink Tea from.

Dusting of Mixed herbs

Water

Method:

Wash your hands often (something I do a lot!)

Pour a glass of vino.

Put the wireless on (for your bangin' tunes , that's Radio people not wifi)

Select a large saucepan the bigger the better, you want to have a few inches of space from the top once you have layered the Gołąbki in the pan. They tend to expand and lift up, along with the sauce that overflows onto your cooker that just happened for me tonight whilst typing this Blog! I never learn!

Take 1 red onion and grate it finely into a mixing bowl big enough to take the minced meat.

Put both meats into the same mixing bowl.

Mix the onion into the meat ensuring you break up the meat which tends to stay in clumps from the packet.

Now pour about 1 cup full of the rice into the bowl and mix that in. It probably getting a bit hard to mix so add the 2 or 3 eggs - break them into the bowl and mix well. If the mix is a bit watery add some more rice, if its not watery enough and your mix resembles concrete about to go off, add another egg.

Pour in a handful of mixed herbs.

Add a splash of Tabasco (not very Polish but I use it instead of pepper these days) or just grind some black pepper.

Splash of Worcester sauce or Maggi flavouring. Mum used Maggi but recently I read the ingredients on the back and decided eating unprocessed Uranium was more natural but its up the you?

Give it a really good mix, don't use a mixer its better rustic.

Peel the carrots and other onion. Place the carrots on the bottom of the pan or at the end on top its up to you.

Cut the onion in half and just drop that in too.

Drop in the 2 or 3 chicken stock cubes, subject to how large your saucepan is. You can park a small family car inside mine and have room to spare.

Now wash the cabbage and b reak off the leaves one at a time.

The idea is to take a good tablespoon sized amount of the meat mixture and place it inside the cabbage leaf, wrapping the leaf around it in a similar way you would wrap a tortilla, ensure its tightly wrapped and push it to the bottom of the pan. It's sometimes useful to put a heavy object such as your partners purse or wallet on the top to retain its shape.

Top tip , the spine of the cabbage is very strong, just nip it with a knife in a few places so it bends easier around the meat. You are trying to create a small parcel of cabbage around the meat inside.

Repeat with the other leaves. The larger the leaf the more meat you can add, don't be tempted to put a large meat ball in there it will just fall apart later on.

The very small leaves are not that useful but just drop them in the sauce later, cabbage is good for you and those smaller inner leaves are very tender.

Layer them on top of each other until you have used all the meat mixture up. Please ensure its very tightly packed.

Now add the 2 or 3 tomato tins (subject to how big your pan is) Peeled plum tomatoes have a better taste than ready chopped. Lightly chop them up, add the tomato paste (about 2 tablespoons maybe more if the sauce needs to be stronger).

Now add some cold water just up to the level of the top parcels but ensure there is space to the top of the saucepan. Add some mixed herbs again or Marjoram if you have it.

Put the lid on but let it have a little air gap. Bring to boil and let it cook for 40 mins.

Check it and gently try to mix the tomato paste into the water at the sides but don't move the parcels.

40 mins is a rough guide, your saucepan size the stiffness of the cabbage (oo-er) will decide how long. To be certain 1 hour minimum. Check it, put a tablespoon into the cabbage if its soft its done if not let it boil.

By now your house will be quite aromatic Eau de boiled cabbage - sorry but actually its a happy memory for me.

When its cooked taste the sauce.

Does it need some seasoning, or maybe a shot of sugar (Ooh Sugar Evil!!) Well if the tomatoes are a bit acidic you need some sugar to offset that.

Finally you add the cream, enough to change the tomato sauce a shade paler. Mix it in slowly so it doesn't separate and try not to break the parcels. The cream will help give the sauce body (saucy body?)

The sauce should be the consistency of a slightly thick soup.

OK so its not a pretty thing but tastes nice.

There you go Mrs Krawczyk's Polish Gołąbki.......................

Serve:

Serve in a wide bowl about 3 or 4 parcels with the sauce and a few thick Sourdough bread slices with butter.

It's a healthy and hearty dish that will keep you going for hours, the rice swells and fills you up.

Let it cool down overnight, it will taste better the next day. It should last 3 days outside of the fridge but its best to put it in the fridge overnight after the first day.

Transfer the amount you need for that day and warm it up in another saucepan and eat like that, don't reheat the original pan.

Smacznego (Bon appetite)

I don't recommend this as a first date meal for a number of reasons.

More recipes to come keep an eye and nose out for them.

The 1958 Voigtlander Prominent

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 17:37:58 GMT

Just metal and glass why is it so much more?

Its dad's camera from the 1950's. Dad loved it, produced excellent photos and over the years so have I. So why do I still like it in 2019?

Ignoring the old school selfie from the 80's above (I am wearing a suit, must have been Sunday after mass), its just a damn fine rangefinder camera. No batteries, no auto exposure meter no nothing, just your skill, a roll of film, and off you go and very very quiet operation.

Dad had all the kit (See below) The original Blue velour lined box is also intact but in the loft at the moment.

It came with lens hood, red and green filters for B&W shots, a Contur viewfinder fits to the top of the Flash hotshoe.

A Sixtomat light meter (although I was saddened to find just now the glass has cracked) but it still works!

Brochures, Tripod and Flashgun bar with dish (for old style Flash bulbs) and flexible cable release. Everything the man about town in 1958 would ever need.

The Camera is quite heavy so is everything else, built to last and in 2019 it has proved itself.

I love the lardy bulk it actually helps to steady your arms during exposure.

Dad taught me a technique to lock my arms and hold my breath when pushing the button, something I still do with my Pentax K1.

The Pentax K1 again I love it because it weighs about 3 tonnes and is built like the proverbial outside convenience and not a fashion item for 12 months before its superseded by the next big thing.

I just realised if it wasn't for this camera all these memories would have been lost forever, but then I wouldn't be spending hours in the evening working on this website? Damn you Voigtlander!

So my hobby continues but unfortunately after 30 years working in I.T my eye sight is starting to diminish and trying to look through a teeny viewfinder the size of a small pea, means regular usage of the Voigtlander is coming to an end, but lets see, there is life in the old dog yet (both the camera and me!)

Are Poles obsessive compulsive or just like things to be right?

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 09:59:54 GMT

Polak's more tension than a rope bridge.

Are Poles a little obsessive at times? I know I am. Is this why they make such good conscientious hard workers?

When I started this website and figured out what to do, I have been obsessively changing it around almost daily because I want it to be structured properly and look nice.

That's me above in 1991. Fitting a new front wing to my VW Beetle.

A backstreet garage would fit it first then spray it on the car (no paint underneath) within 3 months rust would have set in. Not me. Pre-fit it to ensure everything lines up, do some jiggling until it does, clean it up, prime it about 3 coats, sand between coats then spray on about 3 or so top coats sanding between each and thinning down the final coat a little for better shine (this is Cellulose paint). Repeat with more paint if required finish not up to scratch. See that took me the whole day- obsessive or just doing it properly?

My mum was the same with sewing or cooking or anything in fact, everything she ever did had to be just right or she would get annoyed or upset or both.

Dad was perfect with his woodwork and building, decorating and so on, even with one hand not as able as the other, yet to this day I can't match his woodwork perfection. No wonder he was a quality inspector at Remploy, best man for the job.

When I go to a continental Deli here that sold Polish food, you will find the inevitable queue of anxious Poles desperate to get that last Kabanos! You could cut the tension with a sharp knife.

Sadly I also find some people very rude in such respects. They dive in, shout across you to the person behind the counter and basically barge their way past you! I hate rudeness. After 30 years I don't she any change.

Watching The Travel man 48 hours in Krakow recently on the TV, I actually saw the same rudeness over there!

Why do people do it!! Grrrr

Of course I used a very large brush to tar the entire population which is totally unfair.

Other than queues my experiences have been the nicest most accommodating people you could ever meet, especially out in the countryside.

Actually imagine the London bubble, inside the bubble during rush hour tube trips, you see the worst in humanity, outside of that situation the real people emerge.

That's some decking I built then agonised over (below). Still not 100% happy with it and you should see the look on my face when autumn arrived and covered it in leaves! Aaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggghhhhh

A tribute to Theodore Kowalski my Godfather

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 21:19:06 GMT

Pan Kowalski a gentle considerate man

Mister Kowalski (or Pan Kowalski) to this day it feels wrong to call him by his first name Theo. I wanted to ensure he was not forgotten although I didn't really know that much about his early history.

Like my father he was displaced left here after the war. He would never talk about the war.

He refused to speak about it, not even wanting to keep his war medals. Only once did he mention about being forced to march barefoot in Siberia. I guess he escaped and joined the Polish troops in Africa?

He worked at Remploy and witness at mum and dads wedding. He was a friend of my dad for a long time.

Always very smartly dressed with a cigarette in his hand but not in his fingers oh no,but one of those mouth piece things for smoking (very 1930's Hollywood) with a small well trimmed mustache again very Clarke Gable style.

Theo was a considerate man. He took his job as my Godfather very seriously, never forgot my birthdays and always came to our parties and I think enjoyed his time with us.

Sometimes I feel like I was everyone's surrogate son? The ones who never found a partner or started a family. I was glad he was my Godfather.

He had a life long friend Pani Minko (I also cant bring myself to just call her first name, Kazimiera). They must have been together a long time. Here they are in the photo below (second and third from the left in front of the bus). Absolutely lovely people.

I remember he gave me a Parker Rolled Gold pen on my 6th Birthday (still have it) a medal of our Lady of Lourdes after he went there in the 80's, (I carry with me every day) and £1000 towards a deposit on my first house in 1990. (Its actually taken me 40 mins to write this short paragraph as I can keep stopping as its too upsetting) .

During the late 80's/maybe 1990 they decided to move to North Wales, Penhros which is a converted old army base used as a Polish nursing home.

I hired a van and drove them both there with their belongings. When we arrived, they had to take a small side cabinet back as it wouldn't fit in the room (personally I just thought they were being mean treating these people like that) but I took it back home. Its still here in our hallway and has moved with me from house to house.

A final example of his nature, he even paid for all his funeral costs and arrangements years before so he would not burden anyone with them.

I used to go a few times a year to visit them although its near Absersoch which is a 2.5 hour trip from my house' I wish he stayed on my street where he was before?

Sadly Pani Minko passed away in 1992 and Theo in 1999.

Thankfully they are still together buried side by side.

I go a few times a year to put some flowers on there and a candle, because they have nobody else to do that.

Thanks for everything Theo.

Vodka and other drain cleaners

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:02:05 GMT

Vodka as Polish as Beetroot soup!

I can't have a Polish inspired website without mentioning Polish Vodka can I? There are numerous kinds of Vodka some are good for digestion, some as medicine and others for cleaning drains and tape heads!

Considering I was brought up as a Pole, I don't actually drink Vodka and whist on the subject I don't like fish either!

The only time I ever have Vodka is Cherry Vodka to add to black tea, lemon and some honey as a cold cure!

It does work I promise try it!

You only add a small shot the idea is not to get drunk but kill the bugs. (See my blog on mums medical cures).

There is a Vodka called Rectified Spirit which is 99% Proof so basically rocket fuel.

You must NEVER ever drink it neat or it will suffocate you. FACT! It removes the oxygen from your throat not least burn it.

Incidentally it's also good for cleaning tape heads on Cassette players, something I doubt anyone will be worrying about in 2019.

Every party or birthday, there was plenty of Polish Vodka, Bells Scotch and Drambuie or Cognac Brandy - real hardcore stuff with some Canada Dry Ginger Ale, de riguer in the 1970's!

Exhibit A below:

Observe the said drinks plus the give away Baby Cham glasses. We still have 2 sets that I do use sometimes just for some retro fun.

I expect the Scotch was from his days at Killearn Hospital. Dad also liked Porridge, again I expect after 4 years in a hospital these things eventually become the norm. (Not the Bells of course on the ward but maybe after hours).

There are a few Scottish links to my family, but more of that in other wee blogs.

The Poles like the French tend to drink but with food and don't go out of their way to get smashed in the first 5 mins (maybe they do now but not in those days).

It was funny seeing these elderly people get quietly drunk to the point they struggled to go upstairs to the loo.

Oh and yes that shiny Orange curtain in the photo was sewn by mum. It was the 70's everything was orange, beige and brown.

Left to right 1/8th of my mum, Pani Cieciura , dad and friend Alan.

Two Sets of rare Baby Cham glasses - very 1970's Abigail's party!

St Antoni and the Black Madonna

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:29:02 GMT

Saint Antoni and the mystery of this picture

Being from a Roman Catholic family, religion is central to life. St Antoni and particularly this picture of St Antoni have special meaning in the Krawczyk house. It used to hang on the wall at mums parents flat in Poland.

I'm not sure how old it is probably 1920's?

Mum said just before the start of the Second World War the shiny background colour turned from gold to black.

When the war finished it returned to the gold colour you see now.

I know my mum was a very strong believer in the Church right until the day she died and I have no reason to doubt her?

It was in fact her father who told her this story. This was before the glass was cracked so you can say well its the change in humidity or something else scientific and logical and why should you think otherwise?

My mum never doubted her belief.

She always insisted if you pray every week, God will allow you one last mass before you die and so help you to heaven.

When she was admitted to hospital with Cancer, I never thought she would leave us so soon? Naively it didn't even cross my mind she would not get better?

I called the local Polish priest asked if he would visit her and give Holy Communion in hospital, it would help to comfort her.

He arrived on the Tuesday and she was gone by the Sunday but her wish came true she received her last rights before God took her. Mum's Bible and picture cards of Our Lady (photo above) were laid out in her hospital room, she prayed until the end. (This has been the most upsetting Blog I've had to write but we were a very close family).

The Black Madonna has a special place in my families hearts.

We used to visit Częstochowa in southern Poland, where an Icon of the Black Madonna is revealed in a special Mass.

Most Polish families will have a picture of this in their homes.

A few weeks later whilst sorting through my parents house, a neighbour whom I had not seen for years stopped and spoke to me. She reminded me of the times she used to talk to mum and dad, which was nice of her but one thing she said will always stay with me.

If all this religion is just one big joke and there really is nothing on the other side of our lives once we die, then it doesn't matter, it got us this far.

The Church helped all those soldiers through War, through life after the War and held their hand at the end.

The Church is not perfect and in recent years I see myself as a kind of Hippie Catholic. I don't have hard and fast views about how people should or should not behave but there is something. In my own experiences I have seen things I can not explain.

So if its a big joke fine I don't care it got me this far.

I just hope that gold background doesn't turn black anytime soon for my daughter's sake as much as anyone's.

Tea pots, Pyrex and enamalware

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 11:52:21 GMT

Pyrex the immortal one!

When the world ends all that shall remain: cockroaches, Nokia 3310 phones (with working battery), Toyota pickup trucks, awaiting a Brexit decision and Pyrex. Very popular in the 1960's definitely in the 1970's and still alive today.

As a child I always remember mum cooking or serving everything in Pyrex. Its the most amazing material.

I still have most of the dinner service (Pyrex), bowls for the oven (Pyrex), even serving utensils with yes you guessed it Pyrex handles!

Mum also lugged back a large number of enamelled pots and pans like the one below, all the way from Poland in those large cases (see other blog). Why ? There were super cheap in Poland compared to here.

Of course they weigh as much as the national debt but somehow we managed it?

I only have 1 left, in good condition and dad still drank his tea, Camp Coffee or milk in an enamel mug. Wouldn't surprise me if it was his actual army one? (Oh the milk was full milk and dad used Carnation Condensed Milk for his coffee too, another post war habit I expect) no oat or almond veggie milk here?

Strangely I have an affection for these enamel things, surely must be healthier than cooking on non-stick pans today.

We never had a dishwasher so these have survived extremely well. I don't even want to consider the carcinogenic ingredients for the paint but hey we are still here (just).

There were tea pots (aluminium - left over stock from building Spitfires, after the war - that's another blog) and delicate coffee pots in fine bone china - too nice to use.

Maybe as I am getting older, I do think the modern equivalents are just cheap copies that are built to last 6 months then fall to bits, although I did buy a cheap stainless pan set from Ikea in the early 90's for my first house and its still hanging on (barely).

Name days and Birthdays double bonus

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 22:54:44 GMT

The luxury of 2 birthdays per year - jealous yet?

Two birthdays are better than One! In Poland you tend to celebrate your 'Name day' or Saints day rather than your actual birthday, but since I was born here, my family and Polish relations would celebrate my Name day St. Stanislaw whilst my English friends would celebrate my normal Birthday! Double bonus!

Of course mum and dad would also celebrate my real birthday too.

I loved my birthdays.

Mum would make a fantastic selection of food, and my friends would come and celebrate with me. Yes I had friends!

She baked a homemade birthday cake with candles on. I would get so excited (I still do today but its not quite the same!)

The parents would all chat - the music would go one, the Vodka came out (for the adults just to clarify). Fantastic.

I knew my parents didn't have much money, only my dad worked but I was humbled one birthday when he got me a Lego trainset! It was the best ever present (other maybe than the bike in the other blog!)

Happy times and 2 birthdays in the year, sadly I just have 1 now like everyone else. Not fair is it.

Stefka the flatulent army horse

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 22:31:25 GMT

The Polish Lancers - horse versus tank!

My dad would constantly tell stories of his army exploits. Soon as he started both myself and mum would instantly switch off or go and do something less interesting. I feel ashamed of this now but I did have to listen to him until I left home in my 20s.

With hindsight I suppose it was his way of dealing with the post traumatic stress. Mum said he would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, from a nightmare, memories of the terrors of war.

You have to remember people like my dad, left their home, family everything they knew, shipped to the other side of the world, beaten, shot at, see their friends literally blown up in front of them and other horrors I don't even want to think about. They had to lead a normal life, mostly alone if they didn't manage to find someone to settle down with or had family.

Sadly I know of 2 people who committed suicide at their homes. Terrible loss still fighting a war that finished 30+ years before.

I do remember some of his war stories. Stefka his horse when he joined the Polish Lancers (I am still researching so this story might change). When they were asleep in tents out in the field, Stefka would put her head in the tent and wake him up by nudging him or sneezing on his face, but the worse she used to sometimes walk in the tent completely and let of farts much to his annoyance, they were apparently quite potent.

As a kid I found this hilarious, well you had to be there.

In other news, the Polish army would learn songs like Waltzing Matilda and sing them as they marched. Wasn't that the Aussies song? I do know the Australian Desert Rats of Tobruk were there with the Polish , my dad fought in Tobruk and was injured during that battle. The Aussies called them the Polish Rats of Tobruk as a mark of respect. My dad has letters from them after the war, more research for that one.

Funny that in the age before Facebook and the internet people still managed to keep in touch with letters.

A letter is so much more special than an email isn't it?

Dad would also say auf wiedersehen when he was saying good bye a lot which I can hear him say right now!

He also told me that even the German soldiers hated the SS. I suppose there is honour amongst soldiers even from opposing sides, there was respect for rules and rank, that's probably all gone now?

Just imagine the German army rolling in with Tanks and heavy guns and all Poles could do was defend their land on horseback with just rifles and lances. Remarkable people.

Picture below he is sat down smiling as usual, that's my dad.

Irena Santor and Jim Reeves

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 20:18:01 GMT

Irena Santor, Jim Reeves and Wrangler jeans

Irena Santor one of my mum's favourite Polish artists. Mum brought Polish vinyl over when she came to live in the UK. Jim Reeves 12 songs of Christmas was always our default album on Christmas Day!

I googled Irena Santor before and she is still recording at 84!! Fantastic luv go for it.

Looking at the Stenia album cover - well erm I don't remember that before, a racy number and a sultry look! Those crazy 1960's!

Just because Poland was in the grip of the Communists didn't mean the Poles played by the rules?

Sure they were forced to learn Russian at school which nobody liked, but you had no choice and yes people were snatched and beaten up by the MO (Military Police in their blue Nysa/ Zuk vans) but the one memory I have above all in Poland was the endless sound of The Beatles songs playing on the radio, record players, tape decks and so on. Where did they get this from? Never underestimate the black market free economy!

Going back to vinyl mum has some 7 inch and 78's singles somewhere that I need to find.

They were rough pressed on square vinyl yes square in lovely pastel shades!

These would play on the Ferguson record player (Teak and vinyl covered) I took it to bits to see how it worked (but that's another blog).

Dad would play The greatest hits of Johnny Cash, no idea where he got into that?

He really liked Scottish music, probably because of his time in Kilearn Hospital near Glasgow.

Scottish reels were very similar and upbeat to Polish Polka songs. You just can't sit still and have to get up even if you don't know the moves or even dance.

The house would fill with Polka's always during our parties. We had many parties the very best in Bury if I say so myself.

Sometimes in the evenings dad would also play the 1812 overture, the full-on 12 inch version which I still have.

He loved his war history and not just his own endless stories, but Napoleon.

My middle name is actually Alexander because of Alexander The Great - cool eh!

Oh I forgot Wrangler jeans.

When myself and mum ventured to Poland for our annual school summer holidays, she took 5-6 large cases you know proper large plastic type old school cases the size of a Morris Minor each of them.

They would be filled with my old clothes, Wrangler jeans and M&S clothes, that I grew out of and sell in Poland to friends, then buy Polish stuff she wanted, in the same cases for the return trip home. (A special blog reserved for holidays and trips).

Wrangler jeans were the absolute pinnacle of fashion in the 70's!

Simple commerce Comrade.

Right time to play this album lets see what it sounds like........................

Growing up in the 1970's

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 20:08:37 GMT

1970's life in a northern town

I was born in the late 60's. We had the space race, The Beatles, Volkswagen Beetles, the summer of Love, the Cold War and other stuff I have no idea because I was only a baby!

My dad saved up and purchased a small 1930's Semi-detached. Nice area, for the princely sum of £1600, a fair amount of money in those days. He paid that off pretty soon, every penny.

It was a cold draughty house with leaded windows and a coal fire. Over the years he renovated it mostly by himself (remember he was a War veteran with lumps of Tank steel lodged in his body).

I always remember he painted the front door in Dulux Gloss (Everything was Gloss then and it was proper chest killing fumes too!)

He left the front door slightly ajar so it wouldn't stick to the frame overnight. A Policeman walking past closed the door for us, being considerate (yes Policemen and women used to walk the streets in those days) and of course the door was stuck and he had to sand it and repeat the paint the next day. Imagine leaving your front door open today?

My mum was originally a seamstress in Poland hence she sewed our curtains and bedding and my clothes. Dad purchased a Singer sewing machine which was the dogs in the 1970's. She would buy sewing patterns and make my clothes.

Some I still have today in 2019 (modelled by a couple of my old teddy bears! Poles (English or otherwise) tend to look after stuff and keep indefinitely but that's a blog in its own right).

We had no TV, no telephone, no central heating basically nobody did in those days. As time went on he saved up and we got a Black and White Telly a Redifusion or Phillips. with 3 channels and no remote (that wasn't until the 80's).

Mum was a house wife, did the cooking, cleaning, bringing me up. Dad worked at Remploy up the road, which was a furniture factory.

employ was set up by the government to provide employment for the soldiers after the war especially ones who were disabled, can you imagine them doing that today neither can I?

He was a furniture inspector. A lot of people I knew as a child also worked there. I will do separate blogs about them because they deserve to be remembered. Sadly all passed away now.

All our furniture was Remploy, some I have kept like the sideboard I am sat on in one of the photos. Dad told me off for driving my matchbox cars on it!

I used to get up early in the morning about 05:45am, come downstairs. Dad would put the coal fire on, make me a doorstep sandwich, a thick slice of Polish Sourdough bread and 1/2 inch butter layer on top. I would eat it with some milk, then he would put me back in bed and go to work at 06:00am and return home about 16:30ish.

I used to always run to the door when I heard him put the key in, so excited he was back.

He would remove his work clothes, sit down we would make up Bear Stories with a couple of Teddy Bears I had

(have ), I still do that with my daughter now.

Mum would put the supper out, sit together always in the small living room and eat and chat, then bath time for me in the original 1930's iron bath upstairs then to bed in a super comfy Polish Duvet and the softest feather pillows you could imagine. I so miss that.

Mum and dad would talk downstairs then go to bed.

One thing Polish people love to do it party!

Get some Polish vodka, whisky, Canada Dry Ginger ale, open sandwiches, pickles, home made cake, (everything was home made since you couldn't get this from shops!)

Polka music on the record player (or indeed Gramophone) 78rpm's, mums Polish 1960's tunes before she left Poland.

I will dig them out and record a song or 2. I always remember Irena Santor Album was her favourite. (I actually googled her and she is 84 now and still singing! Amazing!)

Ironically today, a fancy cafe will sell you sourdough bread slices with some topping extolling the virtues of how cool continental cuisine they are (for an extortionate price) yet literally it was my normal bread and butter! They have only discovered Sourdough bread in the last 5 years.

The street where I lived had just 1 car on it, orange 1970's Datsun 100a. Everybody knew everyone and their kids, we all played together and when it was time to go in, you went in.

My dad thought nothing of shouting down the street for me, with his belt in his hand if I didn't turn up.

For my 7th Birthday my dad surprised me with a Raleigh Chipper bike (the Choppers smaller cousin) in custard yellow.

Made in England, built to last, thick chrome, and probably lead in the paint but we survived. I loved that bike.

I was never in until it was getting to bedtime, everybody played out until the latest they could get away with.

I remember hot summers and very cold snowy winters. We had no car until I passed my test in 1986!

This is why I have size 11 feet. I walked everywhere.

Once I got lost in the towns outdoor market age 4 but I was just sat there watching people in a cafe, my mum was in a state when she found me I was only around the corner from her.

From the age of 7 I walked to and from school mostly by myself but mum would pick me up also.

The first day of primary school at lunchtime I thought it had finished so I walked out of the gates, walked to the bus (I had only ridden once before with my mum) got on, said sorry I don't have any money to the bus driver and he said ' oh ok hop on' .

I got off at the right stop, then I had to cross the busy main road into town, walked to my house and sat on the wall outside, mum was out shopping.

Emmi the next door neighbour popped out and asked why I was there?

She waited with me until mum came home and mum nearly had a heart attack when she saw me!!

I didn't do that again, its me being naive and well no fear of anything but I think God was looking after me that day.

When I was 6 months old mum took me to Poland for the first time but that's another blog story.

We had 5-6 weeks summer holidays in Poland every year until I started secondary school. Just me and mum.

Sadly Babcia (Grandma mums side) died just 1 month before i was born, it devastated my mum. Obviously I don't remember that but I do remember when her father died and I know the effect that had on her.

She was an extremely sensitive person. I am the same fortunately as I have got older and gone through my own sh** I had to toughen up! Yet mum was also very tough and resilient something she never actually thought of herself being? Years later she was in hospital a number of times for longer periods and I saw how strong she was and stubborn not always a good thing but she got through it better than I did. She never knew but I would walk out of the hospital to the car in tears.

I loved my childhood, life felt good even though we didn't have much, we were a very close family and had good friends.

The Church paid a central role. The calendar revolved around the Polish Catholic mass.

Dress up on Sunday, go to Polish Mass at Holy Cross College Convent Chapel (the Italian community used the same chapel but later in the morning). We had a chat with everyone after mass then went home for lunch or to friends houses or they came to ours.

Sometimes we would go somewhere for the afternoon and get an ice cream or dad would take pictures, simple life but very enjoyable.

I am still in touch with my first best friend Damien, from primary school. There was also Tony but he had to go back to live in Italy. We were the 3 musketeers, basically we played and messed about all the time and never paid attention! It was like a bad old joke, did you hear the one about a The Pole the Irishman and the Italian!

I failed my 11 plus and ended up in Class 1D in high school (1 above the lowest class).

I was so angry about this, I studied hard and would go up 1 class every half term until I got to the second but top class, because that's where I wanted to be.

Apparently I was only the second person ever to do that in the history of that school!

One plus point I knew everyone in every class and never got bullied at all - bonus!

More blogs about the 1970's to come.

Put your brown pants on and purple tank top, light up that ciggy and sit back with Shawaddywaddy in the background.

Oh and I had to wear shorts - everyone wore shorts !

Dad's journey Poland - England 1939 - 1945

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 11:38:54 GMT

A long journey from Poland to England

My father joined the Polish Border Guard in 1932 then the Polish Carpathian Lancers 1939, went on to fight in the North African campaigns, Palestine, Egypt, Tobruk , El Alemein, in the II Polish Corps, finally he was severely injured during the bloody battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.

My fathers life history (taken from his own notes)

Born in Poland, Brzeg
1917 Started school
1926 Asynk High school in Kalisz
1932 Joined the Army and served over 2 years in Second Uhlan Cavalry Lancers based in Suwalki Poland
1935 Discharged from army and civilian again (presume it was his national service) attended Asynk School again in Kalisz. (Dad apparently wanted to be a teacher)
1938 Re-called to Army ready for impending War.
1939 On 24th September his regiment (Karpathian Lancers) crossed the border to Hungary and Kisbodak Camp.
1939 November 1939 he was ready again to move to another location called Baia in Romania then 4 weeks later crossed the border to Yugoslavia. 6 or 7 weeks later crossed the border to Bulgaria then by train to Istanbul, Turkey.
1941 From Turkey by train to Syria Allepo, then onto Homs.
1941 1st March 1941 once again with army pass through French Capitulations.
1941 June 1941 his Brigade crossed to Palestine onto Camp Latrun. Following this Egypt outside Alexandria place called Mex. By Ship down the Suez Canal to Tobruk where his Regiment the Karpathian Lancers journey to Cairo and Mena Camp outside the Pyramids.
1943 The whole Brigade move to Palestine and Iraq, joined by soldiers from Russia and this became the II Corps unit. Then onto Egypt and Italy.
1943 Italy he was wounded twice.
1944 18th May 1944 he took part in the bloody battle for Monte Cassino and that was to be his last, being severely injured with Shrapnel deep in his chest. The Italian Military hospital surgeons could not remove it being too dangerously close to his heart. He also had a punctured lung and shrapnel in his right hand.
1945 He sailed from Italy on a Red Cross ship to Scotland (probably Kilearn Hospital, near Glasgow) arriving 15th May 1945.
1945 Then Whitchurch Hospital Hermitage Camp near Newbury.
1949 Oak Lodge Camp, near Havant, Portsmouth leaving 12th July 1949.
1949 13th July 1949 Remploy Factory Radcliffe Lancashire, where he worked as a furniture inspector and stayed in the Hostel there until 2nd May 1966.
1966 3rd May 1966 lived at the our family home he purchased until he passed away in 1995.

(He did write up his experiences but that is something which is going to take time to translate, but I hope to do it)

I am impressed he survived for so long with such serious injuries? I would say his personality and determination probably helped him? He was always smiling and very friendly.

I was sad to read one of his letters to his brothers in Kalisz saying how very lonely he was and seemed he was drinking too much. I suppose in that environment, other than going to the Polish clubs for dances or the Cinema there was little to do, except maybe trips out and photography.

He had a valid military drivers license but never owned a car.

I have found many post cards from his travels around the UK, such as Scotland, the Lakes and he loved Chester. I have tended to follow his places, Chester, Lakes and Scotland (is my second home!)

He once told me a Scorpion bit him in the desert also which can't have been much fun, but God was looking after him.

I also remember a story in Italy if it wasn't for an Italian nurse giving him a blood transfusion he would probably not be here, due to the amount of blood loss. Might explain my love of Italian food then haha.

He was processed at the Witley Camp Godalming Surrey.

There is en entry for 411 Basic Unit PRC Oulton Park Camp, Nr Tarporley, Cheshire but he does not mention that in his notes?

I have to be completely honest its been a double edged sword finding things out like this. Its good for me to know I have captured everything but reading personal letters is very upsetting especially since mum and dad never complained about anything yet in reality they both had their own pain and suffering. I don't ever remember seeing my mum and dad argue in fact ever!

Because he was injured in his hand, it was difficult for him to write so he typed most things on an old German Typewriter (I still have), fortunately for me, because I don't practise Polish writing, it takes me a while to decipher things.

Reading his and mums letters I found myself having to stop and wipe the tears off the laptop keyboard, (yes I am a grown man and not one to weep at the slightest thing but its life and we have to deal with it.)

Not really knowing much about his life before he married my mum, it opened up new insights (other than the War) and no doubt I will find other information but the whole point of this website is to remember how life was for these people, who arrived here with nothing but the shirts on their back, injured, exhausted and alone but continued the Polish way of life and traditions whilst integrating into English life and the Poles are very good at making good from nothing they hard work and are determined, or stubborn in my case.

I will update this post as I find out more information but in reality there is a whole book in the making.