Rising PKP Charges

Nothing should surprise me anymore but once again I couldn’t believe me ears. On my way to work today and listening to the radio I heard another ridiculous idea. It seems that PKP want to start charging people to be able to use the station and its platforms, and pay to catch the train.

„Dworce mogą wyglądać tak jak lotniska. Być bezpieczne, czyste i ładne - przekonuje w swojej najnowszej kampanii informacyjnej spółka PKP i wyciąga rękę do naszej kieszeni. Z błogosławieństwem rządu, podkreśla "Metro"” http://biznes.onet.pl/oplata-dworcowa-juz-za-dwa-lata,18727,3601444,1,prasa-detal

Do the stations have to look like airports? Nope. Should they be safe, clean and pretty. Yes, but that should be a given not something I or any other passenger has to pay extra for.

Personally, I don’t like entering the stations for free so I doubt that I’ll be wanting to use them when I have to pay extra. Most are disgusting, poorly looked after, stink of piss and drunks, have limited public utilities which you have to pay for, and unpleasant staff who don’t understand the concept of customer service.

I’m curious as to where all the money they earn now goes. A normal ticket costs about 2.80zl for the SKM lines. PKP charge a lot more depending on the distance you travel. On top of that there is also the EU funding which Poland received which reaches the tens of billions. What’s happening to that money? Why does the government and all the other organization persist with taking money from the citizens but refuse to give anything in return?

„Według wyliczeń resortu infrastruktury nasi przewoźnicy płaciliby rocznie 134 mln zł opłat dworcowych. Wstępne symulacje wskazują, że koszt podróży jednego pasażera podniósłby się wtedy od 10 do 80 gr.” http://biznes.onet.pl/oplata-dworcowa-juz-za-dwa-lata,18727,3601444,1,prasa-detal

10-80gr extra doesn’t seem like a lot. But what guarantee do passengers have that the PKP are going to keep to their word and provide the region with ‘safe, clean and pretty’ stations everywhere. Whenever there are extra charges, the money seems to disappear into thin air in this country and no one knows exactly where it goes. I’d like to see the promised changes made before I fork out any extra cash otherwise I prefer to cycle.

Computer troubles

As a writer my Internet usage is very high. Unless I’m on holidays I’m constantly doing something on the Internet or on the computer in general. Writing. Researching. Reading. Surfing. When the computer starts playing up my blood pressure rises. The area I live in has a poor Internet connection even though it’s classified as Warsaw. Go figure. The capital city and I can’t get fast Internet just some slow crap. It just stops halfway through uploading something. Or cuts out completely for no apparent reason. Recently it’s begun to shut down all the Internet pages I’m using. To say it’s getting on my nerves is a understatement. Frequently, I change the rooms in which I work to get a better connection.

Last week my lap top started making funny noises. I’ve had it for almost two years and apparently the computer repair guy told me that after one year it has a right to start breaking down. Yikes. So does that mean that I have to have a few thousand ready every year or so to get a new lap top. That’s crazy. And the Internet connection? Do I have to move to the centre of town to be able to get decent Internet speed?

Other than that, I can’t imagine not working on my lap top but it definitely is time for a new one. Maybe I’ll treat myself to a Macbook Pro for Christmas if I behave and get my work done to satisfaction.

A brief update

I haven’t been motivated to write on this blog for a while now. I guess I’m uncertain of the direction I want it to take. At first I considered it to be a blog about life in Poland as well as my writing journey and that’s not a bad idea but I do need to make it a more regular activity. I’d like to promote Poland a little. It’s a beautiful country from an ecological perspective. No venomous snakes and spiders that you have to worry about when you go wandering in the forest. I’m going to try and make an effort to post at least once a week.

Recent updates are that the Polish government needs a lot of work. The fact that Poland is a part of the EU is saving it from an internal battlefield. I feel uncomfortable with what is going on between PO and PIS and their supporters. What happened with the cross outside the Presidential Palace in Krakowskie Przedmiescie was a joke. It got so much media coverage that the nation forgot about more important things like the floods that have jeopardized the livelihood of thousands of Poles. Komorowski won the election and Kaczynski has shown his true personality now that the race for President is over. No surprise since it’s virtually impossible to change your persona over night and do it genuinely. Whether things are going to improve is anyone’s guess. The government and all its Ministers need to start taking responsibility for their actions and actually do something instead of falling asleep, pointing fingers and earning money, well, for pretty much doing nothing. Palikot has been in the news recently. While many people don’t like him, he definitely gets my vote. If he toned down his blatant attitude just a little bit I think that he could really go a long way. A politician like him would take control and slowly but surely solve the many problems that surround Polish politics, society and economy.

On a personal note I have been very busy over the past two month. Writing articles and trying to finish my novel. Enjoying the summer with a bit of traveling. Training for a marathon. Cooking. Relaxing. Forgetting to write on the blog. It’s been a busy few months.

11 Random Monday Acts

1 - Ate half a packet of Tim Tam’s
2 - Cooked Bombay Masala for dinner – note to self: try that new restaurant on ul. Nowy Swiat 23, ‘Buddha Bar & Restaurant’ which has Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine. Yummy.
3 - Wrote lots, well came up with lots of ideas for articles anyway – that’s still being productive isn’t it? At least now I don’t have any excuses not to write query letters.
4 - Procrastinated about exercise – maybe I’ll do some weights tonight, my planned interval run will have to be put off for tomorrow
5 - Commented on Facebook – twice…weird I don't normally do that. Could social networking be growing on me?
6 - First day of session 2 uni, I’m doing Public Writing and Media Debates and Controversies – I’m wondering if I’m going to be the endless student?
7 - Hold on I did write a chapter of my chick lit work in progress
8 - Tried to think positively though it becomes impossible every time I have contact with Poland’s health care system, in particular their hospitals. They constantly break the European Patient Laws (Prawa Pacjenta –www.bpp.waw.pl) but I suppose I did a lot of that yesterday. I’m working on some ideas for an article regarding this area. The problem is that people are afraid to stand up for themselves in case a doctor will leave a needle inside them after surgery, forget to check their blood pressure, or something much worse. Accidents do happen.
9 - Wasted a lot of time surfing the Internet. It’s research okay. I’m really enjoying going through the Matador site. www.matadortravel.com
10 – Taught a TEFL lesson, just one, it’s so lovely to be finished by 10am, than again it is the holidays so many people are taking a break from learning English.
11 – Looked for jobs in London, thought about working in Spain or Austria or maybe even China. I’d love to spend 3-6 months working in one or two more countries. What is stopping me?

Komorowski v Kaczynski

No surprise as to the result. Komorowski up front with just over 40% and Kaczynski not far behind with 35% of votes (www.wp.pl). Napieralski didn’t do to badly with just 14% of Poles voting for him. If he presents himself well over the next few years, doesn’t get into trouble and stays away from corruptive activities while working towards a better Poland he could have shot at the Presidential seat next time around. So now the two candidates have another two weeks to persuade Poles to vote for them. With very close votes for both it will be difficult to tell who will get the final one. In 2005 there was a similar position and in round two the late Kaczynski won. With only a 54.4% turn out, round two is anyone’s guess as to what will happen on July 4.

Lately it’s been hard to tell who’s better and who’s worse when it comes to these two. Both have their positive and negative aspects, and most likely ulterior motives. Poland seems to be very incompetent when it comes to participating in Presidential elections and this is a downfall of this society. If more people voted there may not have had to be a round two or we may have gotten a surprise result with one of the other candidates getting the seat. It’s hard to tell who’s the better of the two, or which one is going to be the best for Poland’s future. I don’t believe Kaczynski could have changed so dramatically since the tragedy of April 10 and Poles shouldn’t necessarily give him the benefit of the doubt. He may have good intentions but will these intentions come to fruition if he gets elected in the run off, and there is a good chance that he will.

Both candidates campaigns over the next two weeks will need to work magic in order to persuade those individuals who voted to vote for them again, and those who didn’t to sway towards their side. Is this possible? Difficult to tell, one wrong move can cost many votes. The turn out may also be higher and this may have a strong influence on the final result. Let’s hope the turn will be better than today’s.

What will need to be considered is the future of health care, education, welfare, Euro adoption and Polish – Russian and Polish-American relations. Many issues which the government and President have not been able to agree on in the past. When deciding we shouldn’t let the campaigns alone swing our decisions but also consider the actions and attitudes of these two politicians. What have they done so far that has benefited Poland? What do they want to achieve? How have they behaved? What do they stand for? Do they want to help the majority or the minority? Will they think independently regardless of the party they belong to?

It’s a hard choice to make. The decision will also decide the direction Poland will take.

Here's a link to some comments against Komorowski (in Polish)
http://moimzdaniem.salon24.pl/184920,kaczynski-vs-komorowski-czyli-kto-gorszy-dla-po

General information on both candidates
http://europeancourier.org/test/2010/05/28/june-20-komorowski-v-kaczynski/

Some more info on the important issues to be considered during this election
http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20100618/159483099.html

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-20/poles-vote-for-president-in-euro-deficit-referendum-update1-.html

Must Vote, but for Whom?

This Sunday responsible Poles of legal age are going to make their way to the voting booths. The two prime candidates for the position of President are Bronislaw Komorowski and Jaroslaw Kaczynski. If we look at statistics the other eight candidates don’t stand a chance. The race is on between the two PO and PIS candidates. Who to vote for?

It’s a tough question. Listening and watching their campaigns makes my stomach turns. My trust in Polish politics is limited. After three years living in this country and taking an interest in politics I am shocked as to the behaviour of many of the politicians here and the rules that apply to them. From what I can see is that there aren’t rules. Candidates who should be removed from politics immediately are allowed to run for President. Lies, bribery and charges seem to be irrelevant here. I try to keep a positive outlook on all this but at times it does get difficult.

I’d like to see Poland become the country that it can be. To prosper and grow. To give equal opportunity to all its citizens. To develop the agriculture, tourism and construction industries. There are so many opportunities and talents that are wasted due to a lack of knowledge, resources, support or all of the above. It’s a shame because the potential is there. Poland is a beautiful country.

Poland requires a leader. Komorowski and Kaczynski as leaders are questionable. They are the only two candidates that are the most appealing and suitable but not necessarily ideal. They have their strengths and weaknesses but I don’t think that their abilities weigh up to the requirements of this country’s needs at the present time. Poland needs someone who isn’t just going to be charismatic and persuasive with the public. Poland requires a President who can make independent decisions irrespective of which party he belongs to. A President who will be able to assess the current situation in Poland and make educated and logical decisions in relation to education, the health care system, welfare, infrastructure and the future of the country. Someone who will put the people’s needs first, and their own second.

In order for Poland to become the best it can be, the country is going to require a strong leader with good intentions. A leader who can make those intentions into reality. Both candidates have made promises about what they intend on doing once they are in the Presidential seat. However, these are just words, and history tells us that during the campaigns, many of these words are empty.

I hope that every Pole that is legally allowed to is going to vote on Sunday. I think this election is one of the most important ones in recent years, especially due to the recent tragedies in Smolenski and with the floods. The people need a President who they can rely on and trust not only in times of tragedy and sorrow, but also in times of prosperity and change for the better. A President who will stop looking at the past and start thinking about the present and beyond.

Voters need to look at this objectively and without emotion. The future of Poland will be determined by the result of these elections. It’s a shame that we don’t have a leader who we’d like to vote for without a doubt.

Relaxing in Bieszczady

Bieszczady are one of my favourite places to visit in Poland, especially in the summer. They aren't as crowded as other parts of Poland like Zakopane, but have enough attractions and peace and quite to keep me satisfied and in a holiday mood. We tend to go every year, and last year we even purchased a piece of land so that maybe we can build a holiday home or a permanent home in the future.




Zagórz - ruins of a 19th century monastery




Lake Solina