Oct.31 & Nov. 1st.

Compared to the Divided States of America, Poland has more Holidays. No doubt, Christmas and Easter are the most important. However, for me, the most beautiful one is tomorrow

All Saint's Day is an annual national holiday in Poland to celebrate the saints on November 1. It is also known as the Day of the Dead, as many people remember dead family and friends on this day. It is normal for families to travel back to the village, town, or city of their families history. 

The preparation for this day begins several days before it. Cleaning materials are brought to clean the headstones, and rakes to take away the leaves. Each family member brings beautiful flowers, and candles to illuminate the graves at night. The cemeteries everywhere are a beautiful scene of a myriad of color.

Usually, it is a time for families to meet again with other relatives they may not have seen in months, or even years. When the visitation at the cemetery is over, it is also a good time to gather in a relatives house to continue conversations.

Joan and I would make a trip each Nov.1st for that event. Unfortunately, since her stroke in 2025, we haven't made a return.

For us, it was also a time to visit with dear cousin Kazia, and her son Andrzej. I miss seeing and talking with them in person. 

All Saint's Day>> I waited until late in the day until I went to the cemetery. I wanted to make sure the lighting was dark enough to see the candles bit light enough to see the sky in the background. I only stayed 30 minutes because Joan was home alone and that worried me. The pictures turned out good.

Solacki Park at night.

Karolina came late today, but it allowed me the time to something I have wanted to do, tale pictures of Solacki Park at nightfall. The park is only 15 minutes from our flat.

Very  few people were in the park so I was able to mainly take pictures with no people. I didn't need 20-30 pictures, so I took about ten and then selected the best ones to post. The building you see see is the church in the round.

My dear friend, Joanna has/had a house on the left side of the street. It will be three year next month since she departed this world. I really miss her. 

Break Time

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uu12zY01ts   Use stereo headphones if you have them.

What day is it?

Another typical day of chilly weather with off and on showers of rain. Not a good day to be outside, so we went nowhere. It seemed like Sunday. Especially since we watched highlights of yesterday's football games and Sunday back in the states was normally football day for us.

Tomorrow is shopping day, so it's off to bed before midnight in order to woke up at 06:30. Gabriela won't be here until 2:30, and then I go to Radek's for another English/Spanish meeting. He will be gone for two weeks to Spain, lucky guy, so I will miss two weeks without his help.

I made a nice potato soup for dinner with a salad and some good bread from the bakery. Breakfast was lemon-rricotta pancake with blueberry syrup. Yummy.

Ukraine

The past two days has been cloudy with rain, and in general, rather boring. 

I did take Joan out today for a little while just for coffee. 

Meanwhile in Ukraine,

Russian soldiers executed five civilians in the village of Zvanivka, Donetsk region, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported Thursday, referencing a Gestapo-like family massacre by Moscow’s occupiers on Oct. 20.

A married couple and their elder son were hiding in the basement of a private house, state-media Ukrinform elaborated, while their younger son had gone to a neighbor’s house to fetch water. Russian soldiers stormed the home and found where the family was hiding and then began interrogating them about the whereabouts of Ukrainian defenders in the village.

After receiving no information, they left, prosecutors described.

Later, one of the occupiers returned to the home and opened fire on the family with an automatic weapon. Believing all three to be dead, he left the scene.

In fact, one person – the mother – survived with a gunshot wound to the jaw.

Worried about her younger son, the official account continued, the wounded mother went to a neighboring basement, where she found his body alongside those of their neighbors – a 62-year-old woman and her 30-year-old son.

The injured woman managed to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory, where she was hospitalized and provided testimony about the war crime committed by Russian forces. Source Kyiv Post

Autumn in the Botanical Gardens

 Karolina

Poland warns Russia.

 

Ok, today, was shopping day. Gabriela was coming to sit with Joan at 2:30 so I didn't have to wake up at 06:30 to do the shopping. That was good for me. Total cost for next weeks for was $36. NO, the prices haven't come down, I'm just making 2 of my dinners that will be good for 2 days each. Joan doesn't mind because she can't remember what she had for dinner yesterday/ Sad, but true.

Radek came at 11:00, bring a cheesecake with him. The English conversation was about his time spent in Warsaw and what is happening now in the U.S. 

After that, we spent another hour going over a Spanish lesson.

There is this news about Poland.

Poland Cannot Guarantee It Won’t Ground Putin’s Plane for ICC Arrest — Sikorski

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, in an interview with Radio Rodzina, commented on whether Warsaw should allow a plane carrying Vladimir Putin to fly to Budapest for a potential summit with Donald Trump:

 

“We cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court would not order the landing of a hypothetical plane carrying Putin in order to hand the suspect over to The Hague.”

Sikorski added that “the fact that an EU member bound by the International Criminal Court invites Putin is disgusting. It also shows that Hungary positions itself not as part of the West, but somewhere between the West and Russia.”

 

“There are those who would like Ukraine to surrender. Ukraine has no reason to do so,” he emphasized.

 

Background: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has expressed readiness to host a Putin–Trump meeting in Budapest, despite Hungary’s obligations under the Rome Statute to arrest the Russian dictator under an ICC warrant.

Protest or party?

This protest against the Trump Administration was not confined to the United States. It also took place in London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Tokyo, Melbourne, Copenhagen, Brussels, and in cities in Sweden, Ireland, and South Korea. They all marched to show their solidarity with anti-Trump Americans.

  

The No Kings 2.0 march drew an enormous turnout last Saturday, with nearly seven million Americans taking part across the country. That is about two million more than the first one, a clear signal that the momentum is building as people are getting fed up with Trump’s draconian deportation program, and sending our own military into our cities to police American citizens. And this movement will grow every day that this sniveling loser of a man tries to anoint himself America’s new king. 

Speaker Mike Johnson tried to dismiss the event, calling it a “hate America rally,” but he couldn’t be more wrong. The crowds were filled with regular people who work hard, pay taxes, and genuinely love their country as much as they hate what Trump is doing to our country. 

 

In Washington, DC alone, the turnout was a staggering 200,000 people. That’s twice as many people as attended Trump’s second inauguration if anyone happens to be keeping score. The day remained entirely peaceful, despite Republicans spending all week painting it as a hotbed for “pro-Hamas and radical left violent extremism,” but there was no violence today. There was no unrest. Just actual American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights, but I guess that is something today’s MAGA movement can’t understand. Today was empowering, and hopefully this will build to something bigger! Keep on. You are not alone. There are millions of us.

 

For me, the biggest surprise came during the speech of Chicago's Mayor, Brandon Johnson. Close to the end of it, he called upon Chicagoans to participate in a General Strike. 

 

As a member of The General Strike US, that is exactly why we have gained 386,426 committed members.

Be on Guard!

 

Oct 18th--BE SAFE

Tomorrow is OUR D(Dissent) Day. 2,500+protests against Donnie Trump and his band of thugs, cowards, traitors to the Constitution, and ALL Americans, including the majority of Trump voters.

Be safe out there, and above all, non-violent!

Only politics.

The Trump administration has a plan to disrupt the protests this Saturday in California involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It is to shut down the major transportation highway in southern California and shoot missiles from the ships into Camp Pendleton, a major Marine base.

It is to demonstrate to Americans the power of our own military. Like we don't know already! Only dictators like Putin from Russia or Kim Jung Un from North Korea does that. Even loyal trump supporters know that. Its main reason is to instill even more fear in us, the anti-Trumpers. Maybe it will work. It will if you let it, but then they will have won.

His own private army, ICE and Homeland Security, no doubt will be at different protests around the country to abduct any “domestic terrorists” as protestors are now being called. Will it stop you from participating this Saturday and let them crush the opposition to having a dictator?

This major No Kings Day-2 should have 20-30 million people showing the world we are vehemently opposed to Trump and his gang of thugs, Republican congressmen, unqualified cabinet members, and followers. There are 2,500 registered protests planned so far. We need every village, town, and city this time. It won't stop the carnage or change their direction.

We told you about their plan last year, Project 2025. Far too many ignored it, didn't read it, or said, “Oh, that can't happen in America”. Well, my friends, it has happened in only 8 months. There isn't much time left before the takeover is completed and our great country no longer exists as a Republic. Now, there is only a 3-fold way to stop it. Protest, boycott, and strike all at the same time. Take away the money going into the administration, Trump, and the oligarchs. They will pay attention to that.

If you have read this far and you agree, take a real action to stop it. Just protesting won't do it. Either join a boycott group or a strike organization. I think you know I am with the General Strike US(GSUS) organization. So far, we have 383,860 committed members. It is not nearly enough to be a success. You can be a member of this org. without having to stay home from work if you can't. That is your option

We are organized, have a plan, a list of demands to be met, and partner with 27+ other groups. If you want to know more, type https://generalstrikeus.com. 

Thank you.

Joan's day.

Karolina was coming today at 12:00, so I had to get Joan prepared for her. She didn't remember meeting her last week or why she was coming. I had to explain that Karolina was coming to help her shower, wash her hair, and cut her finger and toe nails. I said it was just a test to see if she liked Karolina and was happy when it was all done. I told Joan it was her final decision whether or not Karolina would return.

Karolina arrived and I showed her how I got Joan into and out during a shower. Two of those handles were still holding on to the walls and were helpful for Joan. However, during the shower, one just fell down again. Out of the four I purchased, only one still worked. I knew I would be returning all four back to the seller for refund.

After the shower and her hair was washed, I showed Karolina how I get Joan onto he bed to apply her diaper and put on a pair of pants. 

Karolina was not aware that Joan could raise her body up so she proceeded to apply the diaper by rolling on her right side, push half of the diaper under neath her, rolling her to the left side and drawing it up to close. I told her there was a better to put on the diaper and showed her how.

After Joan was dressed, Karolina took Joan into the living room proceeded to cut her finger and toe nails.  

When all was finished, I asked Joan how she felt about the experience, not knowing her answer, She said she felt great, clean, and very happy about it.

The question her then was, do you want Karolina to come back? Absolutely, yes, was her answer, and so it will be now on Wednesdays. 

Wednesday shower+

The picture above is one of my favorites. We went back to the United States many years ago, and one night we had dinner with two friends. As we were walking away, one of them took the picture.

Tomorrow is a big test day for Joan. Karolina will come for the first time to shower, wash her hair, and cut her nails. She will be here for two hours starting at 12:00. To make it easier for Joan, I installed two handlebars on the walls of the show for her stability getting to and from the seat there. Karolina said I could leave when she arrives, but since it will be the first time with Joan, I want to make sure everything goes well in the shower. If it does, maybe in the time left I will go locally for a coffee and return by 2:00. I hope it does.

Today was an early morning food shopping day. I went to Carrefour and spent 200 PLN($54), but it wasn't everything I needed. I had to make a second stop at Lidl for mushrooms, 4 potatoes, fresh spinach, and garlic. They have much bigger selections of fruits and vegetables. Cost 20 PLN($5). So, in total, I spent 220 PLN($59)

I was back home by 8:30, put all the groceries away, and washed the dishes from last night.

I checked my emails; I had four to answer, so I did. I was tempted to lie back down, but it was 10:00 and I thought Joan would be awake soon, so I did a preparation for breakfast. Joan didn't wake up until 13:00(1 PM)

After breakfast, we watched highlights of 3 football games, and then Joan said she wanted to go outside. Even though it was a damp day outside, I took her to our favorite cafe, indoors. We had coffee and she had a cherry tart.

Back at home, I had a nice conversation with our friend from Bydgoscz and then prepared dinner, Spaghetti with a side dish of bread and cottage cheese.

Quiet & Ukraine/Europe

 A quiet day at home. We watched vie.a documetary on Diane Keaton, listened to some music, and then watched an old movie of hers, Annie Hall. It was a Woody Allen movie. I have never been a big fan of his older movies, this one included. I wanted to see if we still didn't care for it much after 48 years. The answer was we still didn't.

Meanwhile: Ukraine/Europe.

Perhaps the biggest risk to Europe’s security comes from the United States, where President Donald Trump’s administration is adopting a foreign-policy posture that combines insularity and confrontation.

The Trump administration has made no secret of its disdain for America’s security commitments, including those to its NATO allies.

While the Trump administration claims that it is merely demanding that NATO countries uphold their own commitments, particularly concerning defense spending, it would be foolhardy for Europe to count on the US to uphold its end of any bargain.

But it is not actually “America” that comes first; it is Trump and his inner circle, who have raked in staggering riches since his return to the White House.

Trump’s new executive order providing a full security guarantee to Qatar – which recently gave the US a $400 million jet that Trump is now modifying to serve as a new Air Force One – underscores just how erratic and opportunistic US foreign policy has become.

Nonetheless, recent US moves herald a harsher world, in which skies and sea lanes are contested, supply chains are increasingly fragile, alliances are in flux, forceful power projection eclipses diplomacy, and the country that long underwrote global stability is nowhere to be found.

Even if major withdrawals of US forces from Europe are avoided, a troop realignment is all but inevitable.

So, if a security crisis does erupt – not a farfetched scenario, given Russia’s hybrid warfare – the EU must be prepared to meet it.

But while Poland, the Baltics, and the Nordic countries are racing ahead with rearmament, other countries are lagging.

Overpricing resolved.

At the Apteka today, the problem was resolved. I assumed Joan's medicine was free. Pendil is one you pay full price, 94 PLN($25) for 4 boxes. That is a 3 month supply. It is one of the few we pay for. The Vitaman C was only 6 PLN.

Somehow, I caught a cold yesterday and woke up with a heavy cough, and a deeper than normal sounding voice. I like the voice but not the cough. I'm overdosing on vitamin C now.

I wanted to go to bed early tonight, but I have a meeting at 23:00(11 PM) with a resistance organization. 

Angry.

 I'm angry at myself first because I didn't do anything when it happened.

I went to the Apteka I've been going to for the last 16 years. I needed to pickup the Pendil medicine for Joan. They had all 4 boxes, and because of our age, there was no cost.

The pharmacist asked if I need anything else. I have a cold now, so I asked her for Vitaman C, 1000 mg. She gave me a ox of 15 tablets. When I asked the cost, she said 101 PLN. My reply was, "Are you kidding?" She said no. I told her I have never paid such a high price for Vitamin C. She said she was sorry but that was the price in her book. Grudgingly. I paid and left.

On the way home, I couldn't stop thinking about it. What a ripoff.

At home, I went to the internet and search for Apteo(brand) Witaman C Forte 15 Capsules. On one website, Ceneo, the price was 5PLN. On a second website, OLMED, the price was 36PLN. Nowhere was there a price of 100 PLN. I printed out both of those websites, and tomorrow morning I am going back to the same Apteka to get this overpricing rectified. I will still be angry until it is settled. 

Help.

Paige was here while I went to the Apteka to fill a prescription for Joan. They didn't have the medicine, so I have to go back tomorrow.

From there, I went to Diagnostka to drop off Joan's urine sample. It is to have her levels checked in her kidneys.

My next stop was at Auchan. We were there two days ago to buy dried cranberries, sesame seeds, dates, and nuts that I use in smoothies. I buy them in 1 kg bags, but the shelves were completely empty and being dismantled. I kind of freaked out because it is the only place I know that sells 1 kg bags of each. I saw a sign that told me they had all been moved to the back wall behind the 5 rows of different alcohol. I thought that was rather a strange place to move them to, but I went to look. I filled my shopping bag with what I needed and paid 71 PLN($19).

My last stop was at Cafe Lokum to buy two cinnamon muffins to take home. I promised Joan I would

Paige left about 2:20, and at 2:40 Karolina arrived. She owns a firm that has people who will come to your home to help me. It has become too dangerous for me to get Joan in and out of the shower, so that was the kind of help I needed. She only came to meet us and look at the conditions around the flat. She talked about a woman coming 3 days a week for 4 hours each time, but that is not what I need. In the end, we settled on one day, Wednesday at 12:00 for 2 hours.  The woman will shower Joan and cut her fingernails and toenails. That is all. 

Meanwhile, Ukraine

Russian attacks have destroyed more than half of Ukraine’s domestic natural gas production, forcing Kyiv to spend about €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion) on fuel imports as it aims to get through the winter, Bloomberg reports.

Ukraine projections suggest it will need about 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas to take it through to the end of March according to Bloomberg’s sources – equivalent to nearly 20% of the country’s annual consumption. The report adds that Oct. 3 strikes on Kharkiv and Poltava regions took out roughly 60% of gas production.

Ukraine’s government asked its G7 partners for equipment to repair damaged facilities. It also renewed requests for air defense systems to protect energy infrastructure and sought financial support for imports, Bloomberg writes.

Heat?

I sent an email to the administrator of our building about the heating problem. With the help of Renata, our flat owner, I now know what is happening.

It seems they have contracted with a larger heating company that is in major cities in Poland. They have a set policy to turn on the heat, partially, when it is cold for some consecutive. They won't turn it on in-full until it is 14 C. the reason of course, I believe, is to save money. The suggestion was to buy electric blankets. Of course, using electric blankets to stay warm during the day would raise the already too high cost for electricity.

So, for now, the above picture shows you how Joan is dealing, unhappily, with our new problem, 

Heat & Ukraine

It's cold enough that the heat has finally been turned on.

The only problem is that our radiators are not putting out enough heat to warm our flat. I thought maybe there was air trapped inside our 5 radiators so I "bled" each one. That made no improvement. Now, my only recourse was to email the administrator of our building and tell her the problem. I did that just before I started writing this blog. I hope there is an answer tomorrow. 

Meanwhile:

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have eliminated Batal Bigvava, known by the call sign “Balu,” commander of the Russian-backed “Pyatnashka” brigade.

Bigvava, accused of multiple war crimes, was killed during fighting in Ukraine.His funeral took place on October 1 in unrecognized Abkhazia, attended by “president” Badra Gunba.

The “Pyatnashka” brigade has been active since 2014, notorious for crimes such as looting, kidnapping, and torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war. Source-Ukraine News(Euroasia)

News in Ukraine

For the past twenty years I have participated in the excellent annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) conferences, but this year I felt a certain trepidation. How depressed would Ukrainians be after three and a half years of war?

To my happy surprise, I found that Ukraine has turned the tables not only on Russia but also on the Western world. Militarily, the Ukrainians think they have virtually stopped the Russian summer offensive, with Moscow’s forces gaining minimal territory at tremendous cost.

The talk of town was the innovative Ukrainian armaments industry, especially the many drone producers. Prominent participants Anne Appelbaum, Thomas Friedman and Chrystia Freeland have reported similar observations.

For years, Ukraine has relied on Western arms supplies, but now Ukraine has become almost self-sufficient in some weapons systems.

I talk regularly to Oleksandr Kamyshin, President Zelensky’s advisor on arms production. A year ago, he told me that Ukraine could produce 1.5 million drones in 2024. In January he said it would be 4.5 million this year. Now, Ukraine has the capacity to produce 10 million with sufficient financing, but quality is more relevant than the number. Kyiv now has the ability to export some drones. Source-Kyiv Post-Anders Aslund

All about Joan

I spent the last two days taking care of Joan, and she is getting better. 

She felt well enough to go outside, so I took her to Cafe Lokum, inside for a Caffe Latte. We sat for about an hour and then made our way back home. It was time to start preparing dinner for tonight, Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya.

I did the food shopping on Wednesday this time because I was so tired from the night before, and I slept right through the alarm on Tuesday.

My friend, Alina, found an organization here that has people who can help disabled people with things that they have trouble with. My problem with Joan is now getting her into the shower and out. The opening is big enough, but right next to it is a glass panel to catch excess water from spilling onto the floor. However, the problem is the little raised border at the opening. It feels a little dangerous trying to get in and out. I'm always concerned because of Joan's lack of balance. There will be a lady coming this Thursday to see if she can help.

Sunday-rest?

Well, it didn't start out that way. Joan had a problem just walking the 5 steps from the bedroom to the bathroom. When it was time to return, her legs were too weak to hold her up, and I had to carefully retrieve the wheelchair to take her back.

Yesterday, she slipped out of bed onto the floor, and I was unable to lift her up alone. I had to knock on three neighbors' doors before I found someone to help me. He was a young man of thin body, so i wasn't sure he could help. Fortunately, we did manage to get her back on the bed when I could change her and get her back into the wheelchair. 

The rest of Sunday was mainly sitting with Joan while she watched some programs, and I did some work on my laptop. 

For dinner, I made a meatloaf, boiled potatoes, and green beans.

Meanwhile,

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that NATO and the European Union have declared war on Russia through Ukraine at a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday.

“A clear example is the crisis in Ukraine, provoked by the collective West, through which NATO and the European Union want to declare, have already declared, a real war on my country and are directly participating in it,” Lavrov said, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.

It came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lavrov on Wednesday to reiterate US President Donald Trump’s “call for the killing to stop and the need for Moscow to take meaningful steps toward a durable resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war,” according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

Doctor & Ukraine

The only reason we went out today was a doctor appointment for Joan. She has had a cold since last Tuesday, so I made the appointment. The newest "doctor" prescribed antibiotics, probiotics and cough medicine. She has bronchitis.

A Russian senator from occupied Ukraine has admitted that Moscow is losing ground in drone warfare and that its war against Kyiv has reached a deadlock, contrasting with earlier warnings from Ukraine’s former top general that the conflict has bogged down into a costly positional struggle that would lead to Ukraine’s ultimate failure.

 

Dmitry Rogozin, a member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party and senator representing the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said Russian forces are advancing only “with enormous difficulty and at a colossal cost.”

 

He described the situation along the front line as a positional war, where equipment “is destroyed before it even reaches the front” and small assault groups push forward with little success. Source-Kyiv Post

Gdansk-Final part

 Saturday, we spent most of the day in Gdansk. We picked up Garrett around 11:30 and went to a restaurant by the river for breakfast. The weather was perfect and made to day so enjoyable.

After breakfast, we strolled on a bridge over the river to where the Maritime Museum was and learned about the history of how boats and ships played a big part of the development of the city.

When we were done, we drove back to our hotel in Brzeno and went for a long walk to the pier. Unfortunately,it was already closed for the winter.

On our way back, Garrett found one of the entrances to the beach had wooden pallets set up so that a person in a wheelchair could get very close to the beach. We took advantage of that and also the restaurant at the end of the passage. It was too early for dinner so we just had a drink and watched all the people on the beach. 

Garrett took the opportunity to put on his swimsuit and go for a 10 minute swim in the cold water. 

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was time for dinner so we walked to the end of the boardwalk for a fish dinner.

About 9 PM, we drove Garrett back to his flat, said our good byes and returned to the hotel to sleep.

Sunday morning, we took advantage of the free buffet breakfast, Packed our suitcase and made the 3 1/2 hour drive back home.

It was a good weekend. 

Gdansk Part 2 & Draft

So, there I was with no medicines. Not a good position to be in for two days. I didn't have the necessary codes to get a refill and no Apteka would do it without the codes. The Gemini Apteka said there was a service available for a doctor of foreigners and tourist in the evenings. It was in a nearby hospital and opened at 6 PM. We arrived there at 5:30 and waited. There was already one person waiting. 6 o'clock came and passed. No doctor. Now there were 10 people waiting.

One last person arrived, talked with the receptionist, they seemed to know each other. 

The doctor arrived at 6:15 and the last person arriving was called in first.Obviously, it was good to know the receptionist. About 6:30, the first arrival was called in, stayed about 10 minutes and then I was called.

I explained my situation, the doctor wrote the prescription, and I went to the pharmacy to get the meds. Problem solved.

By then, it was time for dinner so we went to a restaurant by the beach.  Part 3 Tomorrow.

======================================================================  

More than half of Poles support reinstating mandatory military service, a new survey has shown, as war in neighboring Ukraine keeps defense high on the public agenda.

The poll by United Surveys for news portal Wirtualna Polska found 50.5% of respondents were in favor of bringing back conscription, while 40.6% opposed it and 8.9% were undecided.  

Of those in support, 21% answered “definitely yes” and 29.5% “rather yes.” Among opponents, 28.2% said “rather no” and 12.4% “definitely no.”  

The survey was conducted Sept. 13–15 on a representative sample of 1,000 adult residents of Poland. 

Gdansk trip. Part 1

It was an arduous trip, but all in all, I'm glad we made it.

However, in the beginning, it was a disappointment. Not with the 3 1/2 hour drive because the road from Poznan is much better than it was 10 years ago. The frustration was seeing our rented room.

When I first visited the Hotel Lival website, it featured a stunning view of the Baltic Sea from the balcony. I thought this may be the last trip Joan and I make, and I wanted it to be special with the view. That is why I paid the higher price. My confirmation had NO indication it would be different.

When we checked in and went to our room, it turned out that the room was on the side of the hotel facing another building, and the only way to actually have a look at the sea was by opening the door to the balcony and looking north for a partial view. On top of that, there was no balcony to step out on. There was just a guardrail around the door. I was pissed.

I went back to the receptionist's desk and told her she had given me the wrong room. She checked and said it was the right room. I told her about the view, and she took out her reservation. She pointed to her copy and said that it stated a side view of the sea. I showed her the confirmation email they sent to me, and there NO mention of a side view. I told her if I knew that, I would not have booked the room. I asked to speak to the manager, but of course, he/she was on vacation. So, we got screwed.

Ok, I was in a bad mood and trying to shield Joan from it.

Then, after unpacking everything, although I brought all of Joan's medicines, I forgot my own.

I will tell you that story tomorrow. I need to sleep now. Pictures of our trip are on the right.

Off to Gdansk

 Not quite yet, but tomorrow morning we are off to Gdansk at 11:00 to visit with our friend, Garrett.

Haircut Day.

Today was the day of haircuts for Joan and I. I always have a little problem with the cost. It's not exactly the cost. Joan's haircut lasts about 40 minutes. My haircut and beard trim takes 80 minutes. So, it takes twice a long for me and yet Joan's haircut costs more than mine. I told the stylist about it, but he doesn't set the price. 

Usually, Joan goes first to have her hair washed and then the haircut begins. While it's going on, I use that time to go over a Spanish lesson on my phone or one from the book I take.

We were close to Cafe Lokum so, we were done, we stopped for a coffee. It was too chilly outside in the court yard so, we had it inside. It was the first time was inside the cafe.

We normally have an 11:00 AM appointment, but we had to cancel our last August meeting and reschedule for 3 PM today. Not the best time because of traffic rush hour for the workers to get home. We didn't get home until 6 PM.

Shopping & Ukraine.

Because my Spanish teacher is in Wroclaw today and Paige was coming to sit with Joan at 1 PM, I didn't have to wake up at 06:30 to go food shopping. That was nice. I went at 1 PM and spent 160 PLN($44). That was also nice. Any time I can keep it below 200 PLN  is good. However, I did have to go to three different stores to get what I needed.

Joan was safe at home watching A Fish Called Wanda with Paige, so I had time to stop at Cafe Lokum for a cafe latte and listen to last week's Spanish lesson with Radek. I record all of them and listen to them again during the week. I always learn a little more every time I listen, especially pronunciation.

Meanwhile:

The Trump administration has approved its first US weapons aid packages for Ukraine, which could soon be shipped as Washington resumes arms deliveries to Kyiv under a new cost-sharing deal with allies, according to Reuters citing two sources.

This would mark the first use of a new mechanism created by the US and its allies to provide Ukraine with weapons from US stockpiles, funded by contributions from NATO member states.

The sources said that Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has authorized up to two shipments each valued at $500 million under the program, which is known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).

The new transatlantic effort is reportedly set to bolster Kyiv’s military capabilities with up to $10 billion in arms, according to Reuters.

Rest Day!

Good weather + Ukraine.

70 F, sunny, made another consecutive day of excellent weather. It was only natural to take Joan outside while the weather was good.

This time we went to the largest park, Citadela. It is the largest park in Poznan. Fortunately, it has easy, flat walkways for wheelchairs which makes my life a little easier. We spent about 2 hours there and then stopped for a coffee on the way home. It was another way to sit outside. 

Back at home, it was time to prepare the pasta, blue cheese, and cashews dinner for tonight. It calls for walnuts but cashews, today, were cheaper..

I had a nice video call with the oldest son of my departed cousin, Leon. Leon was one of four siblings, and my favorite of them. Unfortunately, he died in a boating accident saving the life of a young nephew.  

 Meanwhile, Ukraine: 

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) carried out a drone strike on a major oil refinery in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan, sparking explosions and a large-scale fire, according to the intelligence sources.

The attack reportedly targeted the Bashneft-Novoyl refinery located in Ufa, the capital of the republic, roughly 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Ukraine’s border. The facility is one of Russia’s key oil processing plants.

Sources said that after kamikaze drones struck the site, multiple powerful explosions erupted, followed by a massive blaze. Preliminary assessments suggest that critical infrastructure, including a vacuum column used for primary oil processing, sustained significant damage. Source-Kyiv Independent.======================================

Support among Russians for continuing the war in Ukraine has dropped to its lowest point since the full-scale invasion began, according to a survey published by the independent Levada Center in September.

In August 2025, just 27% of respondents said they want Russia to keep fighting in Ukraine. By contrast, a record 66% said they favor peace negotiations with Kyiv. This is the highest share of support for talks recorded since February 2022. Source-Kyiv Post