At Mad Hatter's tea party in Kielce

I brought an Englishman to the regional cultural centre in Kielce the other day and what happened? Being shown around the imposing building we gatecrashed a party!

Rejow

What a pleasant ride around Rejow reservoir it is on a warm and sunny summer day! The bike route takes you along the beaches and through the forest where you can find an occasional wild mushroom if you are not riding very fast.  I found four yesterday.  The three parasol mushrooms made a tasty lunch fried in egg and breadcrumbs. Siesta now...:-)

Japanese artists exhibiting at the Polish Cultural Association

Yesterday I took the books back to the Polish Library in Hammersmith. This gave me an opportunity to see the current exhibition at the Polish Cultural and Social Association.  How could I miss it, the exhibition room is right opposite the centre entrance! There are two exhibitions a month on average, I think. Two Japanese artists are showing their works at the moment. It was nice meeting them and learning about their art. Megu does the calligraphy, while Taka, her husband, does the painting. They live in Tokio and work together. In order to see more of their works I joined the Instagram; Michal B., imagine that! You can look at their works here . Enjoy!

Housing in London

Somebody shared this short film about housing in London. Click here if you want to watch it.

Cricket on a Sunday...

 but only after church! :-)
 

Then off to a village pub! Quickly, Teddy is getting impatient!

The above pub is in Chalfont St Giles and you can read about this village here as I need to wish you good night, here and now! :-)

'An unobserved observer'

 We constantly take pictures nowadays. Most of us do, unlike in the past. I do take many, mostly of places or sights, because I know they won't mind. However, I also like taking pictures of people taking pictures, like this one above, because it's often good fun. Here are two grandpas photographed with their unsuspecting grandaughter outside the parish church gate, right after her christening. The photographer is her auntie. One of the guests got in the picture as well. 

Some time ago I saved this text about a famous American photographer, Walker Evans:
'Walker Evans once wrote a friend: "Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." Evans’ insistence on staring as the main road to learning included making pictures of subway riders with a hidden camera, but he felt so guilty about being an unobserved observer that he withheld publication for years. This compunction still dogs many photographers but seldom stops them.'

Yesterday I chained my bicycle on the pavement and on leaving I saw a man who chained his dog next to it. The dog was gone when I returned.

 Two sandy beaches emerged in the Ealing Broadway shopping area, one at the shopping centre piazza and the other on Ealing Green, between the stall with sweets and Pitzhanger Manor, now under some costly redecoration works.

 Maybe it was the wrong time of the day, but the Green  beach didn't seem at all busy.

 However, there were lots of people enjoying the sun and warmth in the nearby Walpole Park.

By contrast the walled garden was pleasantly quiet.

It took a few attempts to photograph the dog without its human companions.

I enjoyed cycling east via Ealing Brodway feeling the sun on my back. Halted by the traffic lights I took the last picture.

Approachable Ealing Mayor, Polish eagle and Poles at Acton Carnival 2016!

While everyone was getting ready to strut their stuff before the Acton Carnival hit the streets, I had the pleasure to engage in a chat with Councillor Dr Patricia Walker, Mayor of the London Borough of Ealing, and her Consort! I felt really welcome and it was a very nice feeling, much in contrast with the impression I got during quite a recent encounter with another local public figure; but we will not go there. We spoke for a good few minutes, even got a picture taken (which I shared almost straightaway, now getting more used to the social media) and touched on a lot of subjects. The other Polish friend who eagerly volunteered with me posed with us and we also got 'photobombed'. (I wish these were the only bombs in use... )

Of course, I learned about the origin of the Polish national emblem in the mayoral chain and realised that we both (Mayor and I, not eagle and I, mind you, Dear Reader) share a passion for culture, history and bringing mutual understanding among people of different backgrounds. She recommended a coming event at Ealing Central Library which celebrates Wira of Warsaw, a brave Polish woman now living in Ealing, a lady who I was aware of before. She was in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. When it fell, Danuta (her real name) became a German POW and finally had to make her life here, in England, like so many Poles who with the after-war geopolitical changes had lost their home and everything else back in Poland. Her son, George Szalchetko, who also lives in Acton, has recently written a book about her remarkable life. If I go to the library event, I will make sure that everybody learns about the initiative to build a monument commemorating these brave Polish people who gave up everything to fight off the oppressors and then were cursed in their homeland during the post-war years. Santa knew I wanted the book and got it for me from the little cosy bookshop in Pitzhanger Lane. Then I went to a talk by Mr Szlachetko here at CARA, Acton and talked to him, his mother and even his wife. It'll be great to meet them again. Maybe we could invite Danuta Szalchetko's wartime friend, Mrs Marzena Szejbal if there is enough time...
 I just thought I'd tell you about it here.:-)

You can read about the Ealing Borough Mayor here.