OUR MEMORIES FROM POLAND

Friday - Departure from Oak Farm ½ hour late – lots of cases! Arrive at Stanstead in record time, Trevor’s incentive to get there quickly was Nelly singing! Check in opened early and through to duty free – 1st bit of shopping! Arrive in Poznan after ½ hour delay at Stanstead to glorious sunshine, Kai nearly arrested after minutes in Poland for filming ???? Transfer to hotel in our own 53 seater coach...first problem we are in two hotels ½ hour drive apart. After many hand gestures and grunts as we had no translator we eventually got rooms sorted. First meal came next with a touch of alcohol here and there.

Saturday – 31 degrees - Good start everybody awake on time and ready for breakfast, then onto two minibuses and to the shops – the girls eyes are popping out at all the goodies and the boys are popping out at all the girlies. Shopping was only a little burst as it was off to the Taj Mahal where we had a good meal and half way through we were joined by a horse (honest, see the pictures). Then a mission to find a supermarket after which we returned to the hotel for some silliness and an evening meal. So far all we do is catch rays, eat, shop and drink.

Sunday – wake up call today as we are up and down for breakfast hair and makeup all done as we perform at 1pm outside in 32+ degree heat. The traffic queues for the festival were massive and eventually we all arrived (sometimes even travelling cross country in an attempt to get there). People everywhere and some pigs and cows, giant rabbits. Now we are actually with the Sulechow culture council. Our performance was very well received and despite the heat (did I mention 32 degrees +) all dancers did very well. Off then for something to eat at a nearby hotel and then a spot of retail therapy. As we all started to wilt it was decided to go back to our hotel to freshen up and prepare for more food. We did get offered £225 for Izzy but we couldn’t contact Rachel, decided to wait for a better offer. At this point maybe we should mention – Sandra in the Gents at Taj Mahal. Karen locked in room by Sandra. Josie found two men in her room (wrong room Josie!). Off – roading in the yellow mini bus!

Monday – plans for Monday should be – breakfast, taxi, shopping, taxi, evening performance, supper. But if we have learnt one thing it is to be flexible – very flexible! Everyone is changing colour rapidly if not from the sun then from the mosquito bites. We very much want to get the song “samba mosquito” if nothing else to remember our time here. Breakfast happened although some did not arrive ( hangovers!! ) then taxi to Sulechow followed by bus ( yes public transport ) to Zeilona Gora to finish shopping ( Karen managed to get two hand bags in less than 10minutes!) the plan was then return to the bus stop but we passed some very welcome fountains, you got it, everyone had a quick dip! We eventually got to the bus stop just before 4pm ( due to dance at 5pm! ) when the temperature was still over 32 degrees c. The first group of dancers arrived at the venue for our evening performance shortly before 5pm only to be told we will dance at 6.15pm, now we understand how clocks work in Poland. The venue was stunning a culture centre with its own theatre. A very up market event but wow what a reception! Yesterday was good but this was special! It was then off to the Taj Mahal, only problem was we booked a meal for everyone but we had so much food including a fish on fire. Eventually we get back to our hotel (10.30pm) to order ice creams and to say the first of our farewells to Andre our mini bus man – a gentle giant who was great. I am writing these notes just before midnight and can hear a lot of singing from the rooms above, yes they are Shuffles or should I say Shussles! (See Sunday’s programme). Ooh must mention our award presented to us today. Monday eventually finished around 2am Tuesday when Royston finally felt it was ok to leave those that had been a little over the top in the alcohol department.

Tuesday -Just as we had started to understand Polish timing. The coach to remove us from the country had arrived early( I WONDER WHY!!!! ). More farewell’s to our new friend Bartosz and the deputy mayor. On our journey to the airport we were accompanied by the officials from the town twinning association and our translator Baroneia. Everyone has just about run out of money and is in need of sleep and a cuppa!

To sum it up: What a wonderful experience and we return with fantastic memories of a very enjoyable country and people that just wanted to make everything great for us. (dobra dobra) Many, many thanks to our hosts and new friends in Poland and to the town twinning association, in particular Alison. Karen and I are planning our own revisit to Poland although I may have to take marmite! At some point most of the girls fell in love. Kai considered moving to Poland and Diane pulled! We understand one parent was caught pole dancing with a chair!

Back home and surprise surprise its raining, we had a run in with a very sarcastic traffic warden and to cap it all our journey back to Oak Farm included a 2 ¼ hour queue on the M25

 

A small selection of photographs and mini report can be seen at www.rushmoortwinning.btik.com

which is the place to go for further twinning information. They are a great bunch of people and always ready to help (even if you are in another country and have a problem !! ).