Always ask for more

A few days ago I was called by a representative of my cellphone company. It transpired that it was time for me to renew the contract for another 24 months. If I wished, of course. To lure me all the more, I was offered a wide range of new mobiles to choose from plus some benefits. The latter included one-second billing, which I’ve had for years (!) now. One would consider it a standard rather than a generous present, but all right – let it be a gift. However, the moment I heard that it was only for 12 months and then I’d have to pay 18 zl a month for it, I got a bit unpleasant. With all the politeness I could muster, I explained what I think of the offer and what benefits other companies provide. And guess what? The woman “double checked” something on her computer and it turned out that there is still this possibility for me to be presented with one-second billing for the whole period of 24 months! Hah!

But… hmmm, come to think of it, it’s always like that, not only when it comes to mobiles. It’s simply life. You can observe it anywhere anytime, especially when you spend more time with some cheeky friends of yours. The conclusion is – you should always ask (or argue, for that matter) for more :)

Forbidden books

Holidays are a perfect time for a keen reader like me.
A few days ago, while passing by a bookshop, I noticed a sign: The list of forbidden books, advertising works by Gombrowicz, Conrad, Dostojewski and others. I immediately remembered the recent political events and…I felt like knowing all these books, which minister G. tried to delete from the school lists.
The weatherman told yesterday that it is going to rain the whole next week.
A reading week?

Wasting time

Holidays are a moment in everybody’s life when one can easily do absolutely nothing or waste time without a guilty conscience. As for me, I love doing nothing, which in my opinion is exactly opposite to wasting time. It’s very simple: doing nothing is a means of enjoying your life, and how could that ever be a waste? Cleaning my room, reading books which could hardly be called literature, watching TV too long – that is a waste of time. First of all, why should I make an effort and tidy up my room if 1) I know where everything is now 2) I will make it “disorganised” again very quickly (my mother calls me sometimes tsunami :)). Secondly – reading lousy books is equal to watching very low-quality TV and, thirdly, watching too much TV makes you live somebody else’s life, leaving your own, potentially much better life, behind (as someone quite smart has once told me :)). So, I prefer NOT wasting my time and 1) do nothing 2) read good literature 3) listen to the music for hours……. :) Life can be lovely :)

Sightseeing in Rome (to Basia)

Basia, you asked me what I did in Rome. I saw many ancient buildings, mainly I visited old churches: Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul outsite the Walls, Saint Mary. On the Spanish Steps there were a lot people. As usual many youth came to the Trevi Fountain, it was really crowded.
Turists like Rome’s nightlife. Some people are crazy. One evening I was shocked when a man drove his scooter after drinking a few glasses of wine. I was sure he had more alcohol in his blood than the limit. In Poland it would be a crime.
I’m going to visit Italy again in August.

Summer in Dorset

I’ve just come back from my 3-week stay in Dorset (south west England), where I realized I already knew how my paradise should look like :) Cosy small towns, villages and sandy seashore beaches that would take you on a path along the Jurassic Coast – south west coast of England. This is where you can still find signs of dinosaurs (!), climb the 100 million years old rocks, observe visible traces of prehistoric geological processes and most of all, enjoy the mostly unique views and let the sound of the ever-present water calm you down. I forgot how much I loved the Jurassic Coast, but I can’t tell you how glad I am I found it out again :)

In rain and wind

I spend every holidays near the sea. In the past I used to visit Mielno, one of the most popular tourist destinations and health resorts. I would go there exactly in the peak season, live in a luxurious hotel, lie on a crowded beach and… get bored. That is why this year I decided to try something different.
Shortly after the end of the school year I went to Bialogora, a small village situated near Gdansk, 2 km from the seashore. Although the weather was terrible, I swam in the sea just 3 times and lived in a declining camping house, this was holiday I will remember for a long time. Firstly, the peak season had not started yet, so there were just a few tourists, no crowds, loud music or souvenirs stalls, which I used to hate in Mielno. Also, the place was part of a national park, with many long trails, so instead of lying on the beach I spent a lot of time walking, up to 20 kilometres a day. I thought I wasn’t a keen walker, but intensive marching through the forest was really enjoyable. I also liked wonderful views of sandy beaches and swamps which the park is famous for.
I promised myself to go back there next year.

My trip to Rome

I was on an official trip to Rome last week. It lasted four days. I left for Italy on Thursday at noon and returned on Monday aftenoon. I flew Italian Airlines. The flight took about two and half hours. The food was’nt very good, they served just sandwiches and coffee. I arrived in Rome at about five o’clock. I had a small problem on my first day, I couldn’t find the street where my hotel was. The small street wasn’t on my map. I went to the police station and asked for help. The policeman couldn’t help. Another tourist at the station knew the street, it was just around the corner.

A teacher’s holidays :)

Usually when I tell people I’m a teacher they look at me with this ‘you-poor-thing’ face. Not seldom do I end up explaining (God only knows why) that it’s what I have chosen intentionally, that it wasn’t for lack of a better job, that my students aren’t those gymnasium brats, and so on and on.

But during holidays… when I admit what I do for a living I notice how amazingly different their facial expressions are :) — “Oh, how lucky you are!” Yes, I am. There’s time for holiday trips, for everything I had neglected during the school year, for everything and anything: I’m discovering how rewarding cooking can be when you have loads of time and ideas all of a sudden; I took to gardening, another household chore that also somehow turned out to be positively addictive; I’m expanding my home wine production from apple wine only to two kinds this year: apple and redcurrant. Oh, yes, being a teacher has its benefits ;)