The hottest June, ever

May 2019 around the middle of its second decade, stood a chance of being the coldest since 1991. Eventually, thanks to lack of incidences of extreme cold (no frost, +1.1C on 6 May was the coldest moment of the previous month) and after reasonably warm third decade, the mean temperature stood at +13.5C, not much short of the long-term (1981-2010) average of +14.0C.

The first days of June brought the first whiff of proper summer, long awaited after spring deficient in warmth we had got accustomed to in previous years. Day-time highs over the first decade of the month did not reach +30C. The first incidence of heat was recorded on 11 June. The month saw in total 8 days with temperature exceeding +30C (beating the yearly norm by 60%). Over the entire month the temperature did not fall below +12C. The heat waves were interspersed with just warmth…

The hotness reached its climax on 26 day of the month when June and all-time records were broken in several weather stations across Poland. In Warsaw the official meteo station on the fringes of Okęcie airport recorded +35.3C (thus the previous record set on 21 June 2000 of +35.1C was broken). Poland-wide record of +38.0C was also broken on that day, when +38.2C was measured in Radzyń, Wielkopolska. The heat eased off the day before yesterday and yesterday. I have made use of +12.1C dawn-time low yesterday to air out and cool down the dwelling and thanks to this I have enjoyed mere +24C inside, while outside temperature soared again to +35C (precisely it topped at +35.2C)

As I write this post, full-month temperature data lack the last 5 hours, but with a sufficient dose of certainty I might say the temperature averaged out +22.9C, which makes it the hottest June since records began (well ahead of June 1917 whose mean temperature ran at +20.4C) and the third hottest month in Warsaw since records began, after July 2006 (+23.5C) and August 2015 (+23.0C).

The current decade has been abundant in incidences of record-breaking heat and near-misses in that respect in Warsaw…

29 April 2012, +30.4C, when temperature peaked above +30C for the first time in April

8 August 2013, +37.0C, all-time heat record in Warsaw

21 March 2014, +22.4C, short of +23.0C March heat record

1 September 2015, +34.9C, new September heat record set

23 December 2015, +14.4C, short of +15.0C December heat record.

2 November 2018, +19.2C, new November heat record set.

If the global warming (no matter if the mankind has caused or has just contributed to inevitable natural trend) is not halted, heat waves will be more frequent and will last longer, making our lives more miserable… The climate is akin to a pot of water. While it gets hotter it begins to swirl. The same happens to the weather. Anomalous events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cold snaps, blizzards will get more frequent. In terms of precipitation and temperatures we will see higher deviations from the mean, weather events will go into different extremes on different continents…

Short-term hope lies in long-term forecasts. July and August are predicted to be colder than June and near long-term average, which gives some hope for a nice warm, yet not sultry summer.

Delfin - book review

The book has become famous for mere one sentence which, if my memory serves me right (after reading the book myself, my copy changes hands and a queue of people waiting their turn to borrow it from is long enough for me to keep a list), can be found in the last paragraph at the bottom of page 239, in which the author mentions in passing Mr Morawiecki (current prime minister) and his wife have adopted two younger of their four children (one of tabloids has highlighted the piece of news which allegedly had been known publicly).

Conspiracy theorists (on whose side I am this time) claim the tabloid’s publication has fortuitously coincided with release of another book (I have also read it), by Tomasz Piątek, Morawiecki i jego tajemnice, which explores and backs by references links between Mr Morawiecki, his father Kornel and several people from Mr Morawiecki’s milieu with… Kremlin. Just like Mr Macierewicz, whose secrets, including ties with the Russia Mr Piątek had discovered, Mr Morawiecki does not feel like commenting on the book (suing for a libel does not come into play, since Mr Piątek brings up facts, ask numerous questions, but does not make affirmative statements).

Returning to Delfin, the author, Piotr Gajdziński, formerly a chief public relations officer of Bank Zachodni WBK (whose CEO Mr Morawiecki was between 2007 and 2015) and a close workmate of the current prime minister, actually washes the dirty linen in public. Shedding light on events from corporate past of Mr Morawiecki which took place more than a decade ago (Mr Gajdziński was fired by Mr Morawiecki in November 2010 for lack of line-toeing submission) does not take my fancy, but the end of familiarising ordinary people with what Mr Morawiecki is like, justifies the means. In this instance I believe the effort of the author has definitely been the lesser of two evils (the bigger would be keeping it to himself).

I will not divulge the content of the book, nor will paint the picture of Mr Morawiecki’s traits. I want you to reach out for the book and find it out yourselves! Cross my heart, to my best knowledge, which goes beyond what is written in the book, the picture painted there is accurate and by no means exaggerated. Those who know my identity realise what I wish to put across…

The transfer of Mr Morawiecki to politics was a great relief to Bank Zachodni WBK. Sadly, at the expense of the entire country. Mr Morawiecki has the right to have his own views (even despite pretending to have been someone else before his shift to politics), yet his traits of character should disqualify his from being a statesman (but make him a perfectly suitable candidate to perform managerial roles in wicked corporations). Each day of his premiership goes to the detriment of Poland not because of his views (which do currently do not square with mine, but did twice when I had chances to talk to him face to face), but because of what he is like.

Back from the recovery

Back in Warsaw, at home from the sanatory. The fortnight lasted quite long, yet I was doing my best to make the most of the pastime.

Friends familiar with the purpose of my journey had been wondering why I had not chosen a less distant destination (especially since long time spent behind the wheel is a hard time for lumbar spine). Firstly, my everlasting fondness for Dolnośląskie region draws me there, secondly, my only family well beyond Warsaw live in Jelenia Góra, who have kept me company for some time.

I also could have chosen a posh resort specialising in therapy, however given I am still rebuilding my savings after my flat purchase and the threat of a surgery (cost of PLN 30,000) and subsequent recovery has not been fended off, I have opted for a state-run sanatory with the full-board stay and three cure sessions per day set me back 175 PLN per night. If you count out three treatments which cost around 75 PLN, the remaining 100 PLN was the price for a single room and three meals a day (turning up to the canteen punctually at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. was infuriating to me) which was a cheapie, so I should not complain about the standard of a run-down two-star hotel which was my dwelling for nearly two weeks.

The usual day schedule from Monday to Friday was repeatable: three treatments between breakfast and lunch and then time off. The only weekend was also free of sanatory-based activity.

Not every day after morning treatments and exercises I had enough energy to take trips (some exercises and treatment can be exhausting), but I have done my best to make the most of my presence in South-western corner of Poland. I have not revisited places I had popped by in 2009 and 2013.

To the right, on the last day of May, I drove (without a car I would have gone crazy there) to visit Wodospad Kamieńczyka. I had been advised not to strain myself, so I slowly climbed a mile-long ascent, on the last section quite steep, but the effort was worth it. The waterfall in the seclusive, yet commercialized place is a marvellous venue.

On the next day I took a longer trip to see Zamek Czocha, one of less known attractions of the region, yet with fascinating history. The guided trip around the castle's nooks and crannies (duration 1 hour 20 minutes) is a must if you are in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra.

On Sunday I took my aunt and my niece for an all-day foray to the Rock City in Ardsprach, Czech Republic. The place had been recommended to me by many of my friends and they had been absolutely right. Despite crowds of visitors (most were Poles) and heat (+26C in the afternoon) the excursion was more than enjoyable.

The last destination of an afternoon trip on Wednesday before the check-out was Harrachov in Czech Republic, a winter resort famous for ski-jumping competition. My goal was to behold Mumlavsky Vodospad, literally a murmuring waterfall. Hidden in a forest and on business day in low season not plagued by droves of people. Only a group of Czech pupils were hanging around. I could not make a longer pause because of thunderstorm hanging in the air and threatening to burst out.

On my way back to Warsaw the obligatory stopover was Wrocław (one not-just-in-business visit this year ticked off). I walked around Ostrów Tumski and market square for more that an hour, then headed for an eatery to munch a lunch and set off to Warsaw.

Impressions?

My hopes for a company were dashed soon after the arrival. Average age of a sanatory guest is around 70, maybe except for some soldiers on a three-week ZUS-paid stay who began their day with a tin of beer before breakfast (and nobody bothered to pay attention to their inebriation); not my cup of tea. The very elderly people with their irritating habits can also make a young man’s life a misery.

My general observation is that the entire sanatory system ought to be torn down and built from scratch. In Poland a sanatory is a form of state-subsidised holidays for pensioners rather than form of cure for those in need regardless of age. My ideas for a turnaround are simple.

1. Prevention is better than cure, while sanatoria are focused on curing pain rather than on causes (in my instance, the goal was to prevent a surgery).

2. The system, just like in many other institutions, is based on pretending. If you don’t enforce what they are bound to provide you with, a sanatory will pretend to help you and you will pretend to be helped.

3. The sanatoria and towns where they are located should get focused on treatments only. Today, some parts of the ancillary business such as discotheques contribute to miracles of recovery then patients ill in the morning pull through on their way to the dancefloor.

Yesterday I was at the orthopaedist to have a professional examination of my MRI. I thought I was already on the mend, yet it turns out my spine might require a surgery in a few years, even despite continuous exercising. The vision of getting under a surgeon’s knife works as a first-rate motivation to me to sacrifice twenty to thirty minutes each evening to ward off the worst eventuality…

Tylko nie mów nikomu - film review

The yet another controversial film delving into depravities of the clergy premiered on 11 May. Unlike Kler which went to the silver screen (and has become the blockbuster immediately), Tylko nie mów nikomu is a documentary exploring the topic of paedophilia plaguing the Catholic Church in Poland and has been released on YouTube. An investment in a cinema ticket is hence unnecessary; a broadband Internet connection is fair enough to get to grips with the film in one’s place. The exact number of actual viewings in unknown, since Youtube counts in every playing longer than 30 seconds, however the approximate audience of 20 million is whopping.

The film is available free of charge since it has been… crowdfunded. Sekielski brothers had decided not to seek commercial sponsors to raise money for the controversial documentary, but had not problems soliciting donations from munificent private contributors.

Unlike several people who I have talked to, I have stuck it out till closing credits. Most of viewers I have talked to had to pause in the middle of watching since the content of the film was too heart wrenching. My tolerance to dirt is relatively high, but this film made me want to puke several times during the two-hour watch. The documentary leaves a mark or even a scar and poses questions rather than gives answers.

Firstly, hats down to victims who had the courage to tell stories of their trauma to the camera and to confront with the priests who had harassed them.

Secondly, the documentary reminds sexuality is a very delicate sphere of human psyche. It takes little to harm it and lasts years to recover from a trauma.

Thirdly, I cannot refrain from sharing the most shocking observation learnt from a film. Academically, most criminals whom we call paedophiles, are not genuine paedophiles. A genuine paedophile can reach sexual arousal only in contact with a child (an adult would not stimulate them). The overwhelming majority of criminals (including priests) convicted for sexual harassment of children do not meet such definition. They resort to sexual contacts with children, since the same activities with adults are, for some reason, out of their reach. This is the most appalling and disgusting, since I would not consider a girl (let alone a boy) aged let’s say 17 or less a sexual object. In other words, a girl below certain age (approximately 17 years) would not even stimulate me sexually. The most horrifying conclusion, not just after watching the film, but after conversations with workmates and friends is that the percentage of men who react like me appears to be smaller than I would expect…

In the public discourse, the film was dubbed as a part of all-out anti-church campaign. I would refute the accusation the film attacks the Church as an institution. It points at specific representatives of the clergy who are guilty of criminal deeds and highlights practices aimed at covering up incidences of paedophilia, sweeping it under the carpet, disregarding victims. It also plainly blows a deal to cult of the late Polish Pope whose shameful heritage in concealing paedophilia crimes is inexcusable.

The timing of film’s release somehow coincides with the home straight of the campaign before the European election. Striving to foresee the result of next Sunday’s vote in Poland, I bet the ruling party and the combined opposition who go neck in neck, will get similar outcome. Much will depend on the turnout and mobilisation of voters. I will visit the polling station around the opening hour, before heading for the sanatory. Deep down I hope a situation from 2015 presidential election when the one who was bound to win did not end up victoriously, repeats.

Customarily, for the period of being off for holidays, blogging is suspended, but in mid-June will be resumed with a coverage of the trip or with another allegedly noteworthy note.

Lumbar spine, sadly not on the mend

Poles, when making (birthday, name-day or other) wishes to one another wish on themselves “above all health” (przede wszystkim zdrowia, alternatively, zdrowia, zdrowia i jeszcze raz pieniędzy). And this is what I could wish to myself. Work-wise, money-wise and social-wise (with a small gripe my friends could find more occasions to meet up) things are shaping up at least well. Only the problems with the lumbar spine put a damper on my lust for life, hopefully only temporarily.

Soon after the last update, I have finally found a decent physiotherapist who has worked up a proper set of exercises (having carefully examined the x-ray photo of my spine). The regular exercising has helped me cope with the morning pain (body stiffness after the entire night is the major nuisance) and generally stretched my body.

In the meantime, general circumstances were not conducive to mending the spine. Moving in, which involved carrying stuff and repeated thorough cleaning, has not given relief to my spine, despite following the rules how not to overstrain it.

I had my ups and downs, nevertheless, the pain did not hinder my normal functioning. Until last week, when cards were stacked against my spine. On the two last days of the long weekend I helped my parents prepare their house for the refurbishment. Moving pieces of furniture, carrying stuff, kneeling and bending have put a strain on the most vulnerable part of my body (leaving all other parts unaffected, happily). On Monday I took a business trip beyond Olsztyn, driving a rickety pool car, whose driver seat was so spoiled that I could not regulate the driver’s seat properly. Consequently, I found myself cramped behind the wheel for a total of five hours. While my legs, neck and other part of my body have quickly pulled through, my lumbar spine has not.

On Wednesday evening, while doing shopping I raised my leg to tie a shoelace and.. got stuck in such position (leg already down) with a terrible ache in my spine. Brushing aside the fact none of the shoppers bothered to pay attention to me, I waited out the worst pain, paid for the shopping and toddled home.

On Thursday a workmate helped me out with a painkiller, in the afternoon I went to a doctor who prescribed me another set of painkillers and wrote out a referral for MRI in urgent mode which I had done on Friday morning.

Just today I feel the improvement, either from painkillers finally doing their job, or the inflammatory spot easing off.

In two weeks I am heading to a… sanatory… Yes, indeed, I bought a fortnight intensive stay to have my spine cured. For a while my concern was whether I would withstand a five-hour drive there. Sadly, the only reasonable train which would bring me to Jelenia Góra by the time I must turn up to have the preliminary medical examination sets off from Warsaw just after 6 a.m., which means I could not vote in the election, something I would not forgive myself. Besides, not going car means a longer journey and involves more suitcase-carrying, on top does not offer flexibility of taking quick sightseeing trips around the mesmerising Dolny Śląsk. Hope within two weeks I am able to take a trip, just with one or two breaks along the way.

POW - photo update

Wednesday, 1 May was the only day of the long beginning-of-May weekend with relatively clement weather (sunny, up to +18C), so instead of lazing away in the afternoon, I took the bike out of the basement (an underground parking lot and a storage room I believe are the concomitant essentials of a comfortable dwelling) and jumped on it, to inspect the progress of works on the Southern Bypass of Warsaw construction site.

Firstly I set off to the western end of the building terrain, however not from the usual spot from which the site is observable (i.e. not from ul. Płaskowickiej) but from the north-west corner of Las Kabacki. The fence separating the construction are is relatively far from the tunnel inlet, so I could snap little, but believe me or not, works out there were going on. Interestingly, works on Ursynów Zachód junction have not commenced.

Further east, ul. Pileckiego and ul. Stryjeńskich have had their bypasses (po polsku bajpas) tarmacked over, yet traffic is due to be diverted there on 10 May. The purpose of changing routes is to dig the tunnel beneath those streets which have been opened to traffic so far. Drivers will need to learn how to tackle asymmetrical intersections with traffic lights. I foresee traffic paralysis and several prangs over the next weekend.

Narrow ul. Płaskowickiej is definitely not a good place for cyclists, so I move east through Osiedle Wyżyny to finally find the bike traffic playground built last year. The purpose of the facility is to teach children basic traffic rules. Given irresponsibility of those who do not need to come by any document to become traffic participants, I commend the idea. Based on my observations, parents, sadly, fail to instil in their offspring the rules of prudent cycling.

Another snap, taken peeking through a hole in the fence running along ul. Stryjeńskich, looking east. The tunnel section is built by the Polish subsidiary of Astaldi as a leader. Despite financial hardships of the parent company, the builders have not abandoned this very construction site. Apparently, the technically complex contract is profitable enough to keep it going (hope they carry on until the completion).

I stray away for a few minutes from my route to visit one of more famous building in Ursynów. Who will guess (or rather who knows) what this inconspicuous block of flats is renowned for?

Pedalling through Ursynów, I spot very few cyclists and pedestrians outside. Sadly, those who I meet on my way cycle recklessly, shout their mouths out and swear… Here, on the verge of the escarpment I see the route of the roads as they slip out of the tunnel. I sincerely doubt the expressway will be opened in August 2020…

Another view of the Wilanów section of the bypass, snapped from a guarded housing estate whose premises I have trespassed on. In the distance one can see developments of Ursynów and… a viaduct. Besides, the black spot in the eye of my camera persists (more visible when I use optical zoom).

Another picture, from the same place. I wonder whether bright sparks who have purchased not inexpensive pieces of residential housing out there had checked the zoning plans or they had just shrugged off proximity of the six-lane fast-traffic road. Sound barriers, even if put up, will help little and living here will become a nightmare. Price of flats here have little upward potential, I’m afraid…

Further east, I cross ul. Przyczółkowa. Here the progress of works is more visible, as viaducts have been erected. Though the junction is far from being completed, its general layout is already visible. Traffic arrangement these days is far superior to how it was a year ago, when a windy stretch of ul. Przyczółkowa was a hindrance to motorists.

My destination, Wał Zawadowski, less than half a mile from Vistula. Here works are quite advanced. All spans are in place, now the elements which would carry the viaduct over Vistula are slowly being laid. Again, no matter how merciful the weather in coming winter is, I cannot see the bypass passable in late summer next year.

On my way back, I no longer follow the POW, I rather take a detour south of it. The road, no curbs, no pavements, flat landscape, sun shining in my face, yet I am within the borders of Warsaw, in Powsin. In the open air, the wind gets gusty and takes the gloss off cycling. This was my first longer than 15 kilometres ride this season and I felt it in my bones. Note the wing mirror assembled to my bike's handlebar - my recent purchase to increase the safety - while cycling on public roads I missed the sight of traffic behind me.

Unfortunately, weather forecasts say the first two decades of May are to bring rainy weather with below-average temperatures. Currently Poland is plagued by drought, if the tide turns, we may see the same weather pattern as in May 2010 repeated…

“That’s what she said”, but is that what she meant?

Lucy (namely customarily changed)and I have known each other for some less than 4 years, I think. We met in the New Factory, around 3 years ago we tried to go out, i.e. went out to town a few times, got somewhat closer than holding hands, yet we both realised there was too little chemistry between us to pair up, yet enough to pal up. As adults do, none of us has taken umbrage and though she no longer works with the New Factory, we see each other a few times a year. Since the going-out attempt, I have found a girlfriend, she has found a boyfriend (we both got to know our second halves), I have broken up with the girlfriend, she and her boyfriend are still together.

Two weeks ago Lucy asked me on messenger how I was doing with decorating my flat and the progress of moving in. In response, I sent her some photos, she insisted I showed her the flat, rather than just pics. Recently I have embraced all forms of gate-crashing, so I suggested she came over on the same day.

Knowing our relationship was clear I expected she would pay me a visit, take a mini-tour through the dwelling, we would eat or drink something, have a chat and she would go away. She came with a bottle of wine, yet firmly insisted I did not open and keep it for a better occasion, in the meantime she called her boyfriend (who was spending the weekend at his father’s) and told him where she was, the visit followed the scenario I had outlined before.

On Easter Sunday my parents spotted the bottle of wine. I told a female friend of mine had dropped in on me and had brought it. They were convinced she had come with a clear intention and I had missed an opportunity. On Easter Monday when I went for a long walk with my father he told I should have shagged her, for pleasure. There was no reasoning with parents, but let’s leave this thread off.

The story illustrates not just the generation gap (my friends see the same disparity in perception of the same behaviours between their parents and them), but how times and acceptable behaviours have changed as well. What a few decades ago was a clear signal of interest (and for many a step too far), today is just a meaningless friendly visit and I am convinced (knowing Lucy for many years) if I had made a pass on her, I would have ended up slapped in face, she would have made off and the circle of my friends were have got narrower by one person.

I am far from commending the Islamic model in which a woman cannot talk to another man if her husband is not around, I am also far from condemning the current laxity of female-male relationships, yet the distinction between showing (a sexual) interest and being nice to a man has waned in recent years. When ambiguous jokes, despite #metoo, have become the order of the day, when being nice to a male friend has the same appearances, as picking a boy up, the importance of flirt, a sophisticated art of tightening a relationship into the romantic angle, has waned and I deplore about it. We, males, as straightforward human beings, happen to get lost in it and misread (in both ways) the signals sent to us by females.

Is the friendship between a woman and a heterosexual man possibl?. I argue, yes, as long as a man does not find his female friend sexually appealing. I have a few female friends, most of them are objective attractive, but I personally do not find them sexually attractive, which is absolutely normal, unlike willing to have sex with any creature of the opposite sex. This lack of sexual attraction ensures the relationship is safe and rules are clear for both parties.

As I concluded the conversation on the situation above with one of my female friends (10+ years since hitting it off without understatements), a male is a too straightforward creature to think up the concept of friendzone. Having gone through some ups and down in relationships and endavours to enter into them, I feel seasoned enough not to fall into the trap of the friendzone. If I am interested in a woman, I will not try to get closer to her by reaching the status of her trusted friend and getting stuck in that position while someone else will shag her (pardon the explicit language). In majority of situations such approach means I lose a woman (who wants me to be her friend, but not boyfriend) at all, which ensures I emotionally close such chapter, not caring whether it might hurt her, therefore the loss is preferable to a delusion.

My home, my place on earth

Home… not just a place where you reside in but where you celebrate the important moments. Children who fly the nest usually return to their parents’ for Christmas, Easter and other festivals, but only once they raise their own home, they can invite their nearest and dearest to their place. For such reasons, but also to express my gratitude for their aid during the protracting remont, I invited my parents over to celebrate Easter in my new flat.

My parents refused to let me prepare all the stuff and we shared the culinary duties – they brought a vegetables salad and a cake, while I handled the rest. The run-up to the Easter weekend was a nightmare at work (I counted 63 hours worked between Monday 8 a.m. and Friday 3 p.m. with any overtime pay being a Loch Ness Monster), so I was frazzled by the time I set off to cook stuff (fortunately had done most of the shopping in advance). On Thursday, late in the evening, deep under water, I began regretting taking up the task, but eventually I have not given up on the culinary adventure. With hindsight, the satisfaction from playing host to mum and dad was worth it. I could not lose the faith since the place I live in resonates with so much positive energy that it lifts my spirits every time adversities try to get me down.

The very vicinity of my flat is a magical area (the dream dated 2014 coming true, though not as a detached house), at this time of year a marvellous hangout to take a break after lousy time at work.

Just a few snaps from spots located less than a mile from home. A view atop of Górka Kazury, a shot taken on Saturday, an hour before sunset. After scrambling up the hill, one can enjoy views of Ursynów and Las Kabacki splaying out. Sadly, the place in the evening is chock full of visitors, so not the perfect place to contemplate the eternal in solitude.

A pond in Moczydło, on the other side of the Warsaw Underground’s technical track, just on the verge of Las Kabacki. On sunny weekends the place is full or locals. Today before midday few visitors were in sight.

Back to a snap from yesterday’s evening stroll. This is ul. Perkalowa, being actually a beaten dirt track, looking east towards inhabited parts of Natolin and Kabaty. Few people around and fortunately none of them is the legend of the area, Pan Leszek Wojciech, a homeless (allegedly mentally ill) guy one of the vagrant men who have built their huts in the local shrubs and is said to be dangerous to individuals who roam around.

To the right, a photo taken nearly in the same place, looking west against the sun. Trees, copse, sky, nothing else. A venue seemingly untouched by civilisation, yet a mile away from an underground station. Ursynów, I have fallen in love with you!

Ul. Moczydłowska, today’s pic taken while returning from a walk with my parents. The alley has a status of a living street and takes one directly to Las Kabacki (and will serve me in coming months primarily as a route to my parents whom, weather permitting I will be visiting by bike.

This is yet another year when I strengthen my conviction the last decade of April when most trees are in blossom and greenery bursts out for good is the beautiful season of the year. Let the moment last and let’s make the most of it before it’s gone!

Remont - lessons learnt when it is over

Having nearly finished the process of furnishing and decorating the flat and having gone through the first (and surely not the last) remont ordeal in my life, before I rest my head, time to share what experience I have gained.

An old German adage says you build your first house for your enemy, the second one for your friend and the third one for yourself. I was doing my best to learn from mistakes made by my parents in their house and to avoid what was done wrong in two rented flats I dwelled in.

My first piece of advice – do not let yourself get carried away by purchase-related euphoria. I plead to have well underestimate the scope of works my flat required. Quickly after the purchase I realised it would not be just a thorough refurbishment and decided nearly everything would be ripped off, as brand new stuff would serve years. Cool down, take a deep breath, since all works need to be well-thought-out!

The second piece of advice – work out layout in advance – it pertains specifically to placing equipment and fixtures which require water and electricity connections (sink, kitchen, dishwasher, etc.) – rewiring and plumbing come first and should match how you want to get your flat arranged, not the other way round.

The third piece of advice – hire an architect if you lack time or idea to design your dwelling. With hindsight I do not regret not taking up one, but I see advantages of having a helping hand of a reasonable, experienced architect.

While being generally very satisfied with the outcome, there are some errors which could have been evaded.

The bathroom light switch location on the hinge side of the door is the paramount glitch and my mistake since I failed to notice importance of door opening direction (and ordered to swap the bathroom and toilet doors just ahead of the assembly). Actually if I am to be the owner of the flat when the next remont is done, light switches of the bathroom and the toilet will be combined and placed between the doors, on handle sides. I thought the solution would be peskier than it really is once I have got used to it.

I have chosen triple-glazed windows to get better insulation and noise protection. The difference in price was marginal but it turned out putting in internal rollers to it would be a problem (since the upper tube hits a wall while a window is being fully opened). Two companies refused to assemble it, the third one did it, after I signed a declaration I would not complain about the outcome. Actually the problem has turned out to be inflated (I had taken measurements before commissioning the assembly), however such buffers (made by my father) had to be stuck to balcony doors (the most frequently opened) and once it gets warmer, I will have to buy a sample of while paint to cover them.

The socket in the kitchen for the dishwasher (separate circuit) was placed before I worked up the layout of the kitchen, including where the dishwasher is placed. The upshot is that an extension cord (meeting safety criteria) had to be used. Just for the record, the previous dishwasher socket was just next to and below water valves!

The unpainted (this still needs to be done) has pipe is another example of minor glitches I have overlooked. In the hall one can spot the old fuse box, if the bespoke shoe cabinet was four centimetres deeper, more shoes boxes would fit it, compartment for ironing board and drying rack in the bedroom wardrobe should have been located on the outer side, and so on and so forth…

All in all, I have not underestimated the expenses (building materials, labour charges and furniture set me back nearly exactly 1,500 PLN per sqm), however grossly underestimated the duration of the venture. Seven months lapsed between the purchase and the moment I moved in. Location and layout of the flat are nearly perfect, the place feels like home, finally!

To celebrate it, I organise Easter this year at my place, a culinary challenge ahead, though at my parents’ insistence, we shared the work.

For the very ending, a series of snaps for the sake of comparison: October 2018 when the remont was at its worst vs. yesterday. Oh, what a makeover!

Winter timeline 2018/19

For starters, a look back at a long-term forecast published on 30 August 2018 (sadly the substantiating page to which I link was deleted 6 months after publishing)/

October 2018 – temperature around long-term mean, or below, frequent rainfalls. Wrong – little rainfall and above-average temperatures!

November 2018 – no extremely high temperatures, yet sunny. Wrong – 2018 saw the warmest first decade of November in the history, with record-breaking temperatures reported in many places in Poland

December 2018 – higher mild winter, with high precipitation. Right, all in all.

January 2019 – instead of snow and freeze, lots of rain, with record-high temperatures. Wrong – temperature-wise very close to long-term average, with many sorts of precipitation.

February 2019 – mild winter to continue, Sparse snow and sub-zero temperatures. Right, pre-spring began early in 2019.

March 2019 – early onset of spring with lots of precipitation. Partly right – since indeed March was warm, yet very dry.

26 September 2018

First ground frost in Warsaw (two metres above ground temperature dropped to +1.1C), however in many placed in Poland sub-zero temperatures were measured just before dawn. This was a one-off incidence of chill, marking a sudden shift from late summer (+27C recorded mere five days earlier).

27 October 2018

I’m having my tyres changes for winter ones. Had it not been for a high likelihood of being quite busy over next two weekends, I would have put it back until 10 November, as over coming two weeks the temperature is projected to rarely drop below +7C, not to mention no sign of winter on the horizon.

17 November 2018

First frost this autumn (four days short of turning up record-late, as on 21 November 2017), bites firmly, since temperature at dawn falls to -4C. Anomalously warm late autumn has given way to pre-winter.

18 November 2018

First freezing rain this year, first sleet this year, all washed away by pouring rain in the evening. Road clearance services in Warsaw have not buggered up!

19 November 2018 – 27 November 2018

Ugly pre-winter with temperatures around zero, overcast sky (nearly no sunshine), chilly winds, frequent fogs, but little precipitation, including no snow.

28 November 2018 – 30 November 2018

We are shifting into thermal (sub-zero temperatures all day round) but snow-free winter mode. Finally lots of sunshine, somewhat obscured by smog, but chilly wind makes it feel like well below -10C.

November 2018 in terms of temperature was warm (though after the first half it stood the chance of being record-warm); Temperature in Warsaw averaged out +4.4C, vs. long-term mean of +3.2C. Stats:

- month-time high: +19.2C on 2 November 2018 (historical heat record broken),

- month-time low: –8.9C on 30 November 2018 (the end of the month was chilly),

- the warmest day: 2 November 2018 (daily average of whopping +14.4C),

- the coldest day: 30 November 2018 (daily average of –5.7C, what a contrast over mere four weeks).

1 December 2018

With a pre-dawn low of -12C December gives a cold welcome, but temperature inclines to -4C as the sun heats the earth up. Judging by long-term forecasts, double-digit frost should not repeat this year.

2 December 2018

Temperature soars overnight to cross the point of freezing in the morning. Still sunny and noticeably warmer.

3 December 2018 – 7 December 2018

On the verge of winter with some night-time frosts and nasty stuff typical for winter; freezing rain, hoar frost, sleet, freezing fog. Roads and pavements slippery.

8 December 2018 – 11 December 2018

A spell of rainy late autumn with temperatures above freezing and not a bit of sunshine.

12 December 2018

Most of Poland is hit by heavy snow or sleet turning roads and pavements into ice rinks. Warsaw escapes severe weather, except for sleet in the evening.

13 December 2018 – 15 December 2018

Temperature very close to zero. Little snow falls, even less of it lingers. Waiting for the first proper delivery of snow this winter.

16 December 2018

Finally, first decent snowfall! It snows by midday, but less than five centimetres of white powder accumulate. Judging by current predictions, it will be washed away before Christmas (though long-term forecasts have chopped and changed).

17 December 2018 – 19 December 2018

Temperature fluctuating between -6C and 0C. Skies are overcast, yet no precipitation is witnessed. The snow slowly evaporates.

20 December 2018

Still below zero. A little blizzard hits Warsaw during evening rush hour. Meteorologists warn the snow would soon turn into freezing rain as temperature is set to rise soon.

21 December 2018

More snow has fallen overnight, but it thaws out before dawn. Snows melt quickly in the rain.

22 December 2018

Whatever remnants of the white substance had escaped yesterday’s meltdown, have disappeared overnight. Up to +7C, with occasional rain and chilly wind. The annual Christmas thaw in overdrive.

23 December 2018

Gloomy. It snows in the afternoon, but mammoth snowflakes instantly melt. +5C and pouring rain in the evening.

24 December 2018

Snow falling in the morning and… melting. Sleet in the afternoon. A light dusting of snow in the evening, which lingers on some surfaces, yet too little to call it white Christmas.

25 December 2018

The sparse snow fallen yesterday evening disappears completely by midday. Temperature turns positive and according to most recent forecasts is about to stay above freezing by the end of the year.

26 December 2018 – 30 December 2018

Grey, rainy weather without a littlest bit of sunshine, nor frost.

31 December 2018

Of note are two hours of sunshine, first since two since weeks. Still balmy…

December 2018 was slightly warm. Average temperature in Warsaw was +1.5C (vs. long-term average of –0.7C) Stats:

- month-time high: +8.4C on 8 December 2018 (in recent years December’s highs were double-digit)

- month-time low: –11.8C on 1 December 2018 (oddly enough, beginning of December was the coldest, exactly like in 2010),

- the warmest day: 8 December 2018 (daily average of +7.8C, not around Christmas this year),

- the coldest day: 1 December 2018 (daily average of –8.1C),

- number of days with snow cover: 8,

- the highest snow depth: 5 centimetres on 21 December 2018.

1 January 2019

Warm and rainy beginning of 2019. But mild winter is just round the corner.

2 January 2019

Temperature drifting towards zero (the point of freezing is reached in the evening). In the morning – heavy rain, then sleet and snow, yet by late evening instantly melting.

3 January 2019

One sunny, frosty, windy, chilly day. Warsaw escapes an assault of winter which is struggled by many cities in Poland

4 January 2019

Still frosty. Snow showers begin around midday, but the layer of white powder is relatively thin, hence does not play havoc with the traffic.

5 January 2019

The weather is dynamic. In the morning heavy snow in temperature near zero, taking aback road clearance services for the first time since… long ago. By midday temperature rises to +2C and rain beings to melt the snow. In the evening the short thaw ceases, what has melted freezes up.

6 January 2019

Temperature below zero with gently falling snow. Still windy…

7 January 2019

As skies clear over, double-digit frost hits again. At dawn temperature drops to -12C, but then shoots up to reach -3C early in the afternoon.

8 January 2019

Morning brings freezing drizzle, then regular snow which ceases to fall in late afternoon, raising the layer of snow by some 3 centimetres. Temperature fails to creep above zero. Slippery… At the same time rain lashes down in western Poland (where they enjoy +5C and not a trace of lousy snow).

9 January 2019

Was supposed to thaw out for a while, but it didn’t. Instead, some two centimetres of new show have gently fallen. City clearance services bugger it all up both on roads and pavements this year. Slippery everywhere… I’ve had enough of winter…

10 January 2019

Chilly, around -6C over the day and with a little dose of new snow. For the record, weather across Poland has been marked by contrasts. Western part have stayed in late autumn (rain, sleet, temperature near zero) which central and eastern swathes are kept in winter’s grip. As I write it, at 9:00 p.m. temperature in Koszalin is +2C while in Suwałki thermometers show -16C.

11 January 2019

-10C at dawn. Little snow, then sunshine, then snow again. -3C in the evening. Note the weather is so dynamic that I cannot make a composite record even for two days in a row.

12 January 2019

The first day of thaw. Temperature of mere +1C does not let the snow melt quickly.

13 January 2019

Thaw steps up and gets rainy. Snow melts quickly.

14 January 2019

Another day of dynamic weather. In the morning it rains, then it cools down towards the point of freezing, but skies clear over. After sunset a freezing sleet or hell knows what hits southern fringes of Warsaw and turns roads and pavements into veritable ice rink, causing traffic chaos.

15 January 2019

Roads have been salted overnight, so moving about returns towards normalcy. After a cloudy, but snow-free it snows again in the evening (by tomorrow morning it melts).

16 January 2019 – 17 January 2019

All-out, incessant thaw. Rainy, cloudy, ghastly, grey.

18 January 2019

Getting colder. Several snow showers during the day, however temperature stays positive, so the snow does not linger.

19 January 2019 – 20 January 2019

Rather sunny, clement, kind of bright, though frosty (between -5C and 0C). No such thing as snow.

21 January 2019 – 24 January 2019

Sometimes gloomy and cloudy, sometimes sunny and bright, yet still without flurry. Single-digit frost.

25 January 2019

-6C, or minus six Celsius degrees. Flurry which hits in such temperature is crisp, thin and light, but road salt does not prove as effective as it is just below the point of freezing.

26 January 2019

Roads have been cleared up overnight. It begins to snow again in the afternoon, yet the precipitation is rather sparse.

27 January 2019

Temperature climbs to 0C. Winter is giving up for a while.

28 January 2019

Thaw comes over, up to +2C. Wet, thick snow falls in the evening and refuses to melt.

29 January 2019

A relatively warm day, with day-time high of +3C.

30 January 2019 – 31 January 2019

Colder. Temperature just above 0C and snow falling nearly incessantly and not necessarily melting.

January 2019 was normal; with no extremes and frequent through-zero movements and abundant icy conditions. Average temperature in Warsaw was –1.8C (vs. long-term average of –1.9C). Stats:

- month-time high: +6.6C on 1 January 2019 (compared to previous years not too warm),

- month-time low: –11.8C on 7 January 2019 (I wonder whether it drops any lower this winter),

- the warmest day: 17 January 2019 (daily average of +3.9C),

- the coldest day: 11 January 2019 (daily average of –6.9C),

- number of days with snow cover: 20,

- the highest snow depth: 8 centimetres on 11 January 2019.

1 February 2019

Mild thaw, a bright (at times sunny day).

2 February 2019 – 3 February 2019

The first intimation of spring. Temperatures near +10C, gusty southerly winds, partly cloudy, partly sunny.

4 February 2019

Out of the blue… Hits the morning snow. Dense, thick, heavy, falling in slightly sub-zero temperature partly lingers, partly turns into slush. By the end of day it is not gone, since with day-time high of +1C it refuses to melt quickly.

5 February 2019 – 6 February 2019

“Through zero” weather, meaning night-time frost (little below freezing) and day-time (mild) thaw. Frequent precipitation in form of snow of freezing rain = icy…

7 February 2019 – 11 February 2019

Noticeably warm days (close to double-digits), but cooler nights (close to zero). Little precipitation, moderate dose of sunshine. These days bring another whiff of pre-spring.

12 February 2019 – 13 February 2019

Somewhat colder (from mild frost to no more than +2C), chilly, cloudy, snow, sleet, drizzle.

14 February 2019 – 20 February 2019

Definitely not a winter weather. Positive temperatures nearly all the time, once nearing heat records, generally sunny or foggy, but with little rain or drizzle.

21 February 2019

The last day of the warm spell, a wet, rainy, dark day…

22 February 2019

Temperature plummets overnight from +4C to -5C, plus a light dusting of snow. Icy, chilly, but sunny

23 February 2019

The coldest morning this February followed by a rather sunny day. Warmth is bound to return tomorrow.

24 February 2019 – 28 February 2019

Getting warmer day by day. Although mornings bring temperatures close to zero, day-time highs drift towards double digits. Funnily enough, last year end of February saw temperatures dropping to -15C each dawn.

February 2019 was very warm. Average temperature in Warsaw was +3.2C (vs. long-term average of –1.0C). The weather was March-like with few incidences of wintery conditions. Stats:

- month-time high: +14.0C on 19 February 2019 (more than 3 degrees short of all-time record set on 25 February 1990),

- month-time low: –7.0C on 23 February 2019,

- the warmest day: 28 February 2019 (daily average of +7.2C),

- the coldest day: 22 February 2019 (daily average of –3.0C),

- number of days with snow cover: 8,

- the highest snow depth: 3 centimetres on 1 February 2019.

1 March 2019 – 3 March 2019

A bit of colder, with night-time frost. Gloomy.

4 March 2019 – 10 March 2019

Another assault of spring.. Temperature fluctuates between +2C and +16C. The period is characterized by gusty winds which blow the scent of spring, yet do not let feel the warmth. The notable event is the first thunderstorm this year on 9 March.

11 March 2019

A light dusting of snow fallen overnight… Melts quite fast, but reminds in mid-March saying the winter is over might be premature.

12 March 2019 – 16 March 2019

A string of windy and thus chilly (with actual temperature fluctuating between 0C and +10c nearly all the time) days. Spring not yet in the air and the full-blown one, as it hit in early April in 2016, 2017 and 2018 I sense is a long way off.

17 March 2019

Warm breeze, sunshine, scent of spring is in the air, +17C in the afternoon. But just for one day. I still believe Warsaw will be covered by snow in March or in early days of April.

18 March 2019 – 20 March 2019

Somewhat colder, even with morning frosts, chilly winds keep blowing.

21 March 2019 – 22 March 2019

Spring in the air, I adore that specific scent. Temperatures above +5C. Still waiting for the last snow this winter…

23 March 2019

6 a.m. – frost on grass, 2 p.m. – balmy +16C. Whiffs of warmth at this time of year are short-lasting.

24 March 2019 – 25 March 2019

Getting colder, i.e. single-digit temperatures. Cloudy, yet without rainfall.

26 March 2019

I waited for the last snow this winter and it came. It was meant to fall overnight, but came in the afternoon with a hailstorm, sending the temperature towards zero. Of note – it has not melted.

27 March 2019

After a frosty morning sunbeam melt probably the last snowflakes this… spring.

27 March 2019 – 31 March 2019

March has a warm ending with double-digit day-time highs. Long-term forecasts do no herald any relapse of winter.

March 2019 was warm. Average temperature in Warsaw was +6.0C (vs. long-term average of +2.8C). Impressive warm, yet colder than in 2014 (+7.0C) or 2017 (+6.2C). Stats:

- month-time high: +17.1C on 17 March 2019 (plenty of sunshine on that day),

- month-time low: –4.8C on 3 March 2019 (compare it to -15C measured in early March 2018),

- the warmest day: 4 March 2019 (daily average of +11.8C, thanks to night-time low of +8C),

- the coldest day: 2 March 2018 (daily average of –1.4C, see how quickly the temperature soared,

- number of days with snow cover: 2,

- the highest snow depth: 1 centimetre on 11 March 2019.

Two first days of April brought morning frosts (and clear blue skies), but then each day temperatures were inclining. Time to bid a farewell to winter weather!