It snowed quite heavily yesterday, so the view outside my window is once again fresh, white and crisp. :-)
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Look! Snow!
It snowed quite heavily yesterday, so the view outside my window is once again fresh, white and crisp. :-)
Welcome to Sean's Bookclub
I recently read a book.
There, end of post.
Ok, there's more.
The book I read was Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I read it because I've read all the other English books in my apartment and Mum left it here for me to read when she came over. I was initially a bit apprehensive about reading something written by Dan Brown because of all the hype surrounding his other book - The Da Vince Code. I was expecting it to be crap, like a literary equivalent to the music from Australian Idol or something. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised; it is actually a good book, and I think fairly well-written, though the language isn't difficult, so it's an easy read, which is probably one of the reasons that Brown has become a mainstream author. The book managed to hold my interest; such that I didn't want to put the book down until I'd finished it. The story was mostly set in Rome, which was also good from my point of view because I have recently been to Rome, so the landmarks that were mentioned in the book were fresh in my mind because I've been there, taken photos of them, and had coffee or dinner in a cafe overlooking the exact point of the action. I don't think it's a literary masterpiece, but it's good none-the-less, and I'd recommend it to those who don't read often, and to those who do read often but who have run out of real books to read. I definitely fit into the latter category, as I'd run out of real books to read here and my Polish is by no means at a sufficient level to attempt to read a Polish book.
I've never read The Da Vinci Code partially because I look with scorn upon the many pompous wankers who I've seen reading it in cafes, on buses and various other public places, as if the book is merely a fashion accessory in an attempt to appear vaguely intellectual as well as having a nice handbag. I would probably read The Da Vinci Code in the near(ish) future on the basis of my experience with Angels and Demons if I found a cheap, English copy in Poland, but I can promise that I will not read it in public and so I will still be able to make derisive comments (albeit in my head) about people who do.
I'm currently reading a fantastic book for people like me (read: grammar nerds). The book is called, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" by Lynne Truss. I received the book in a package sent from the far-off land of Scotland, from the Kingdom of Fife, no less. (Thanks Lizard)
I'm about half-way through, so expect another installment of Sean's Bookclub anytime soon.
There, end of post.
Ok, there's more.
The book I read was Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I read it because I've read all the other English books in my apartment and Mum left it here for me to read when she came over. I was initially a bit apprehensive about reading something written by Dan Brown because of all the hype surrounding his other book - The Da Vince Code. I was expecting it to be crap, like a literary equivalent to the music from Australian Idol or something. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised; it is actually a good book, and I think fairly well-written, though the language isn't difficult, so it's an easy read, which is probably one of the reasons that Brown has become a mainstream author. The book managed to hold my interest; such that I didn't want to put the book down until I'd finished it. The story was mostly set in Rome, which was also good from my point of view because I have recently been to Rome, so the landmarks that were mentioned in the book were fresh in my mind because I've been there, taken photos of them, and had coffee or dinner in a cafe overlooking the exact point of the action. I don't think it's a literary masterpiece, but it's good none-the-less, and I'd recommend it to those who don't read often, and to those who do read often but who have run out of real books to read. I definitely fit into the latter category, as I'd run out of real books to read here and my Polish is by no means at a sufficient level to attempt to read a Polish book.
I've never read The Da Vinci Code partially because I look with scorn upon the many pompous wankers who I've seen reading it in cafes, on buses and various other public places, as if the book is merely a fashion accessory in an attempt to appear vaguely intellectual as well as having a nice handbag. I would probably read The Da Vinci Code in the near(ish) future on the basis of my experience with Angels and Demons if I found a cheap, English copy in Poland, but I can promise that I will not read it in public and so I will still be able to make derisive comments (albeit in my head) about people who do.
I'm currently reading a fantastic book for people like me (read: grammar nerds). The book is called, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" by Lynne Truss. I received the book in a package sent from the far-off land of Scotland, from the Kingdom of Fife, no less. (Thanks Lizard)
I'm about half-way through, so expect another installment of Sean's Bookclub anytime soon.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Lodowisko
I went ice-skating again today, for the third time since coming to Poland. It has been about six months since the last time, so I felt like a beginner all over again. The place was crowded, which was a bit annoying as there were people everywhere, but on the plus side, many of them looked like they'd never seen ice-skates before, so they were also a little unsteady on their feet. I didn't fall over this time, which is always a bonus, though many other people there did, so I felt smugly superior to them. Ice-skating is heaps of fun, and I only wish I were actually half-decent at it.
For the record, size 43 is too tight, 44 is tight but bearable and I think next time I'll ask for 45.
For the record, size 43 is too tight, 44 is tight but bearable and I think next time I'll ask for 45.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Post and Christmas
It's been a while since my last post containing anything interesting, but I haven't done anything interested or blog-worthy for a while. Lately I've been working, eating, and checking the mailbox for signs of life from the postal service here. I normally only check the letterbox once every few days, but I'm expecting the arrival of two packages from two different places around the world - one from Australia and one from Scotland. The last package that I received arrived a month after it was posted in Australia, so I'm starting to seriously believe that the Polish postal service (Poczta Polska) consists of little more than a sick donkey. I don't wish to be presumptuous, but if anyone is considering sending me anything in the mail, refrain from doing so and save yourself the postage money because at this rate, it's likely to arrive after I've left the country.
On a positive note, I went for a short walk around the town centre last night, for the first time in a few days and noticed that there are Christmas decorations everywhere, lights hung from the buildings and over the tram lines. Overall it's quite impressive, and really stands out from the grey/white landscape. It's beginning to look like the Christmas we Australians know only from Christmas cards and movies. Apparently some people around the world don't spend Christmas day in the pool or air-conditioned rooms. :-)
Also, Santa Claus visits people here on the 6th of December, so that's when children receive presents. Of course, more presents are handed out on the 24th or 25th too, so the kids here get two 'Christmas' days.
On a positive note, I went for a short walk around the town centre last night, for the first time in a few days and noticed that there are Christmas decorations everywhere, lights hung from the buildings and over the tram lines. Overall it's quite impressive, and really stands out from the grey/white landscape. It's beginning to look like the Christmas we Australians know only from Christmas cards and movies. Apparently some people around the world don't spend Christmas day in the pool or air-conditioned rooms. :-)
Also, Santa Claus visits people here on the 6th of December, so that's when children receive presents. Of course, more presents are handed out on the 24th or 25th too, so the kids here get two 'Christmas' days.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
That's no moon, that's a space station
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
An Update
Well, at the ungodly hour of 3:30am, Mum and I left my apartment in a taxi to travel to the airport at Pyrzowice (the closest airport to Katowice). Her flight left at 6:10am and that meant we needed to be at the airport by about 5am (ish). It takes between 1 hour and 1.5 hours to get there, depending on road conditions and traffic. It also costs 150zł in a taxi, which is approximately AU$60. I decided to brave the public transport system for my return journey, as I didn't want to pay that amount again, so I caught a bus to Katowice and a train from there to Gliwice. Mum flew to Frankfurt and arrived there before I got back to Gliwice. As a result, I'm quite tired tonight.
Last weekend was spent in Kraków. We had a good time there and saw most of the main tourist attractions like Wawel hill & castle, the Rynek, and the salt mine at Wieliczka. We were also quite lucky that it began snowing earlier this year than last, so Kraków was covered in a beautiful white powdery snow for our last morning there. I have many photos, some of which I'll post in coming days/weeks.
Last weekend was spent in Kraków. We had a good time there and saw most of the main tourist attractions like Wawel hill & castle, the Rynek, and the salt mine at Wieliczka. We were also quite lucky that it began snowing earlier this year than last, so Kraków was covered in a beautiful white powdery snow for our last morning there. I have many photos, some of which I'll post in coming days/weeks.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
I roamed around Rome
Rome was fantastic, and the weather was brilliant. I love the Trevi Fountain, and I could have admired it for hours. Being the devout Catholic that I am, I visited the Vatican, and saw the Basilica, which was beautiful (shame all that artistic talent was used on religious works) and climbed the 349 steps to the top of the dome, giving me (and a zillion other tourists) a fantastic view over Rome. I didn't get to see the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, which was a bit disappointing, because we didn't find out that it closes at 12:30pm on Saturdays until about 4pm, and it's closed all day Sunday.
On a frustrating note, I think I may have brought back a bit of a cold as an unwanted souvenir of the city. My nose is runnier than something very runny and I have a cough that an emphysema sufferer would be proud of. Yeah, there it goes again... hack up that lung (what a shame I can't record the sound for you to download). A word of advice for Poland: Aloe vera tissues are a great invention and quite useful at times like these.
On a frustrating note, I think I may have brought back a bit of a cold as an unwanted souvenir of the city. My nose is runnier than something very runny and I have a cough that an emphysema sufferer would be proud of. Yeah, there it goes again... hack up that lung (what a shame I can't record the sound for you to download). A word of advice for Poland: Aloe vera tissues are a great invention and quite useful at times like these.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Rome if you want to..
I'm flying to Rome on Friday morning, and I'll be there for the weekend. We fly back to Katowice on Sunday evening, arriving at the airport at midnight, which will be fun as I have to work on Monday morning at 7am...hmmm...
I'm looking forward to Rome because it's somewhere I've wanted to visit for a while, and there are plenty of things to see there. Going to Rome has meant that a certain song by the B-52's has been stuck in my head for a few days, so here are the lyrics for your reading pleasure:
Roam
by B-52's
album:
I hear a wind
Whistling air
Whispering in my ear
Boy Mercury shootin' through every degree
Oooh girl dancin' down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Skip the air strip to the sunset
Ride the arrow to the target-one
Take it hip to hip rock it through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Chorus
Fly the great big sky
See the great big sea
Kick through continents
Bustin' boundaries
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Chorus
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
I'm looking forward to Rome because it's somewhere I've wanted to visit for a while, and there are plenty of things to see there. Going to Rome has meant that a certain song by the B-52's has been stuck in my head for a few days, so here are the lyrics for your reading pleasure:
Roam
by B-52's
album:
I hear a wind
Whistling air
Whispering in my ear
Boy Mercury shootin' through every degree
Oooh girl dancin' down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Skip the air strip to the sunset
Ride the arrow to the target-one
Take it hip to hip rock it through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Chorus
Fly the great big sky
See the great big sea
Kick through continents
Bustin' boundaries
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Chorus
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
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