Flats rising

When I look out of the window to my left, I can see a large crane busy at work. There is another multi-flat building rising. It is facing another building at short distance. Actually, two buildings are being built. They are joined together at a ninety-degree angle. And both parts are facing two separate, already inhabited buildings. That creates a minuscule square courtyard, like in an old castle! People living there will be able to look into the plates of the neighbours opposite without binoculars! Imagine the savings on watching TV as well! Well, I can understand such planning in overcrowded London or Rome, but here, in a small town which takes pride in occupying a vast area?

Hailstones

Last night I was getting ready for bed shortly after the ghost hour when I heard a horrifying noise. I was worried about the roof above my abode. It didn't calm me down to turn off the light and see the size of hailstones bombarding the balcony as if  fired by scores of cannons. They were terrible moments before I made my slow way up the stairs to see the situation. There was little I could do to protect the window in a diagonal wall. Had it given in, I'd have had a flood in the flat...

I'm not a Rain Man type

Has it happened to you? I went to collect the knee medication, which I'm to take daily for another seven months. The price turned out to be higher than anticipated, so I was glad it was possible to pay by card. However, twice I got the PIN wrong and couldn't risk the third attempt. I knew all the digits, but I just couldn't get the sequence right, tried twice and had to resign, or the card would get blocked. That wouldn't make things easy.... And then the pharmacist asked me how much cash I had on me and on hearing that I had most of the sum due, she told me I could take the medics and bring her the remaining amount of money when convenient, after the weekend. Of course, I'm not a complete stranger to the lady, I do my pharmacy shopping there, but still, she had no obligation to show me that much trust. Maybe being on crutches helps as well... However, I am really tired of it and my wrists and hands are even more so.

.....

In the mishmash which this blog is, you will not be surprised to come across this link:
http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/music-from-the-western-front . You may like to read and/or listen to some touching music and biographies of their composers. Enjoy!

How many synonyms of mishmash could you come up with if you tried?  (That's a question for those of you who try different things to improve their English. There will be no special prize from me. You would do it for yourself, right?)
....
However, here is one of my favourite, unprepared shots.  I looked through the window and was captivated by this sight:

That's the first of a few snaps I took with my phone. Nice?

Equestrian opportunities and a winged visitor

I admire people who are passionate about something. It's such an inspiring experience to meet them. Today, a former student, a great horse lover, sent me info about specialist workshops for the people who share this passion. It is in Polish, but as you will find out, the courses are run by experts from the UK, South Africa and  elsewhere: http://swiadomejezdziectwo.pl/szkolenia,,.htm

Later in the day, home alone, I was paid an unexpected quick visit, but managed to capture the moment:

Not that we had any conversation, the visit was far too short for that.

Pigeons, Picasso and Torcik Wedlowski

Today, spot a couple of pigeons for a start:

Got them? Now, should you have nothing else to do, you can try to count the pigeons flying here:

No worries, if you give the task a miss. No penance!

Well, maybe they are doves, not pigeons. I can't tell, honestly. Not off-hand, anyway. If they were doves, then Pablo Picasso's drawings on paper napkins that bought him a drink come to mind. Maybe he also drew the symbol of peace to earn him a Torcik Wedlowski that he liked so much when visiting Poland...

Here is the description of this delicacy provided by the net:

TORCIK WEDLOWSKI
'Unique combination of wafer cake, peanut cream and delicious Wedel chocolate. The whole torte is dipped in a dark chocolate then the top is decorated and signed in chocolate with the name of the company's founder,  "E. Wedel"  No two pieces are alike as all the decoration is done by hand.'

Do you have a sweet tooth?

Have a great day!

To and from Krakow on a sunny May day

Guess what? As scheduled, my knee went through another treatment today, which meant yet another trip to Krakow. The weather was amazing, sunny and hot, and the world looked marvelous through the coach window.

It was a bit worrying to be waiting for the long distance coach to arrive for more than twenty extra minutes, especially that during that time I saw around twenty police vans heading in the direction the coach was to arrive. Never in my life have I seen that many police vans whiz by wailing. No clue where they were going, to   a football match maybe?...

Anyway, the countryside looked idyllic. Just see for yourself:

 A row of Xmas trees and a big hug for 'Our Man' in The Middle East:

Checiny Castle on the horizon

The Kielce Region Countryside Museum in Tokarnia

Ruins of Checiny Castle, southernmost on The Eagle Nests Trail

Railway Station in Kielce

;Out of this world' coach station and neo-Gothic Holy Cross Church in Kielce

Shopping centre like anywhere else... This one in Kielce

These building watched the shopping centre above grow

No 'Boris' to provide Kielce dwellers with bikes

Countryside between Kielce and Skarzysko

A view of Pilsudskiego Street where the coach dropped me off

In the last picture you may notice a girl in a long white gown, which means she had her First Communion last Sunday. Accompanied by her mother, she is going back from church. They attended a May service held daily throughout the month. All First Communion children are supposed to attend May evening services, for a week (please correct me if I'm wrong), also on the first anniversary of the event.
First Communion is a huge event in a Polish family life as the majority of people are Catholics. On the day itself, which always is a Sunday in May, such a kid is the family celebrity of the day. After a long and elaborate service at church, culminating in a large group of children, each receiving a small flat white wafer flake (that is a piece of holy bread), there is a special, tea-total (at least officially) party to celebrate the occasion. Then comes the moment most kids look forward to: he or she gets PRESENTS! When I was a child common presents were: wrist watches, bikes,  little golden or silver necklaces with a little crucifix or money.  It must have changed since then.

First flowers from Oronsko Park

So good I went to Oronsko yesterday. It's been raining this morning and the sky is grey! To brighten it, I'll add some spring flowers I snapped in the park:

;;;;

Well, don't know whether to be glad or contrary. A pigeon has just landed on my balcony railing and is curiously looking into my window and the open balcony door. Why am I hesitant to greet the guest with joy? There is a serious reason: it cost me a lot of work to clean the balcony after winter the other day.

That reminds me of a friend I visited recently. When I entered her kitchen, I had to ask what happened to one of her pets, a rabbit who lived there in a spacious dwelling. Did he die of old age? No, apparently, he met a tragic fate. On a warm day the creature was hopping about in the back garden when my friend open the gate to enter the garage after work. A ferocious beast - neighbour's dog - seaized the opportunity and sneaked through the gate catching and devouring the poor rabbit in no time! Nature...

You'd think, she doesn't want another rabbit for sentimental reasons. Not quite. They give an unpleasant smell to the abode, I was enlightened. Practicality....

..............

My friend who's working in the Middle East often complains about sand storms. He'd be surprised to encounter a similar phenomenon in Skarzysko when it's dry. The sand lifted by a sudden wind accumulated in the streets throughout the winter  can easily be compared to a sand storm. Only that it doesn't last that long.

...........

So, Tuesday started with a rain, it was sunny and hot throughout the day and a real spring storm with all its highlights ended the day. I managed to get home and lock the door behind me just before the first drops fell quickly developing into a torrential rain. Here are pictures taken maybe half an our before it all started: