Last Thursday I made the worst mistake as a teacher since writing on a secondary school board “dreems” instead of… everyone knows… – those many years ago.
This time I somehow dictated “a nip” instead of “a nap”.
Well, it was an evening, and, after a long journey, I was myself in desperate need of some sleep.
But still, such a lapse – shame.
So, nip a nap early enough
and be spring-conscious later ;/
5 Dec 07
Chelsea pavement
Someone has thrown away their heritage.
It is raining.
But there is a black umbrella next to the pile – for the books to protect themselves, should they feel like taking the pain…
Rome wasn’t built in a day… Neither was a spelling Roman Empire 
In Polish we often say ‘Wszystkie drogi prowadzą do Rzymu’ - all roads lead to Rome, meaning a huge communication hub, old-style or new…
And here we are, at the crossroads, with landowners asserting their rights in such a manner.
Poor roamers!… – adding insult to injury is neither pleasant nor reassuring…
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
CHORUS
In 24 hours from now the famous song with Robert Burns’ lyrics (1788 ) will be sung in many English-speaking communities all over the world. The music is a traditional folk tune and it is also pretty well-known in Poland, especially among Polish scouts.
Both the English and the Polish versions praise history of friendship; the Polish one puts a bit more emphasis on the long-lasting bonds.
Nice little thing to start the New Year with, banal as it may seem…
The next episode of the Battle of Britain*… tomorrow Arsenal play Manchester United… to be broadcast only by channel… [such and such]
The sirens, the sombre male voice…
This was a Friday night commercial on RMF Classic, the Polish equivalent of Classic FM. None of my friends found it offensive, though they often complain, how misunderstood we are in Europe as ‘history nuts’.
And here we are – the greatest myth of contemporary Britain as a football advert bit, and nobody finds themselves uneasy about it.
___
*known in Poland – with no obvious explanation – as the Battle of England
Monstrosity, next to the rather tasteful stone and plaque, put to commemorate the valley walk in the Tatras (of June 1983), in which pope John Paul II took part:
Barnes, London: That sycamore tree: the site of the car accident in which the leader of T.Rex band, Marc Bolan died, aged 29 (16Sep 1977):
