Speak loudly and she'll understand!

Right then. So it's now into October and let's just recap what I've been up to recently. Well, apart from trying to get interested in work again I have done something fun - at least for me.

I went up to a little farm are called Dominikowice, where my family comes from (Yes- I'm half Polish). I wanted to spend time on the farm where my father had been born and grew up - and also I wanted to make myself work on my Polish.

I stayed with one of my cousins who speaks...NO English so that was step one. I had to listen very hard and try to speak. She was terrific. So patient and after a couple of days she was translating from Polish to easy Polish for me whenever we went to see other cousins. Some of them definitely belonged to the "Speak VERY loudly -but just as fast - and she's bound to ndertsnad" school of language. But it was fun listening and trying to answer and talk.

I did things I'd never done before like gathering mushrooms in the forest at 8am - before they went yucky! Then we took them home and I helped prepare them and we ate some too! Delicious. I learned how Barsczt Bialy is made and Polish Tomato soup. I picked plums and rasps and apples from the trees and ate them! Not all of them - just the ones that cried out "Eat MEEEEEE!"

I had fun learning to talk to the dogs in Polish - and the seven cats. I also had a chance to walk to the Warta River - where my father learned to swim, when his father threw him in! He also used to take a ferry across the river to his tutor during the summer holidays - because he wanted to go to Gymnazium. I saw the Kaplica at the end of the road where the names of family members are inscribed - they were killed in the first days of the Second World War.

I also did something excellent. With my cousin's help I went to the local town offices and was allowed to see the entry of my father's birth in the old ledger! 1908 - all in Russian but there it was - his name! Then I got a copy. I wasn't allowed to photograph the original entry - ochrona - security! But at least I saw it. I also heard lots of stories form relatives all about the family -and lo and behold - I understood most of it! Hurrah!!

A couple of times I had a break when younger members of the family came round and I got a chance to clarify points and chat in English.

I had a great week - and I tell you right now - if you are trying to learn a foreign language it's the way to go. From now on in I'll truly understand when students in Oz tell me it's hard living with a host family!

Dave came up for the weekend and then I realised how much I'd taken in in such a short time. It was his turn to look bemused! I want to do this again but I don't have time - we've only got a few weeks left now. Maybe I'll do it when we come back at the start of our next trip here.

Meantime - we have an invitation to another cousin's for Sylvester - look out! And we've been to Warszawa = more later. We have a trip planned to Malbork - biggest Gothic castle in Europe, and also to Prague in November. but wait for it...... we just booked our Christmas holiday - Transylvania in a Count's cottages.

So there'll be lots to read before we leave for Brissie in mid-January!