One of my readers commented recently on a throwaway remark of mine- fear of war- and I began to think about it more deeply. And this fear is indeed always at the back of my mind, as is my horror of being in prison. So I began to try and think why these two things are […]Read Post ›
I don’t know who took this photo, but it is one of my favourite ones of my father. He stayed in Italy after the war, and started attending Rome University , but soon realised that there would be more opportunities in England for Poles like him, who had been deported to Siberia, then managed to […]Read Post ›
It was Holocaust Memorial Day last week and my son, a teacher was asked to take the school assembly and reflection the meaning of the day. I am unable to embed the Youtube video of Szpilman actually playing the music referred to, but here is a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9oQEa-d5rU which may work. If you ever saw […]Read Post ›
As today is the 85th anniversary of the soviet invasion of Poland, I thought I would share with you some of my father’s thoughts on those awful events, before he and his family were arrested and deported to Siberia as enemies of the people. Below is a translation, as far as I could, of my […]Read Post ›
If you live within reach of London it would be lovely to see you here. This commemorative exhibition should be both informative and fascinating. The exhibition is open till 8th August and then from 10th August in POSK in Hammersmith. Warsaw Calling 80th anniversary exhibition commemorating the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, 20 July-8 August 2024 Opening […]Read Post ›
Not to be forgotten As I write this on Sunday afternoon, this year’s Remembrance Ceremony is drawing to a close. I was sorry not to be able to go, as I have been most years since 1978, when I went for the first time,. Jacek and I went together with my mother and a friend […]Read Post ›
Marysia is ten years old. How did that happen? She is wearing a teeshirt, that belonged to her brother or sister which I brought back from Salamanca in 1992. It has worn well. I think it lasted many years after that. We are in Menaggio by Lake Como which happens to be one of my […]Read Post ›
1928-2022 Today she would have been 96. She only died two years ago after a long and varied life, full of difficulties, and tragedy, which she overcame by sheer force of will, I think, to eventually gain happiness within her too short marriage (She was widowed just at the moment when she thought she would […]Read Post ›
This is one of my favourite photos of my stepfather, my mother’s second husband. I have written about him before, but as today would have been his 93rd birthday I thought I would celebrate it a bit, and show you one or two things that I have found. The photo is one of two portraits […]Read Post ›
I opened my desk yesterday thinking I would do a tiny bit of decluttering, and managed not an iota. I found so many interesting things, and important things, none of which I wanted to get rid of. Many I had totally forgotten about. Like this envelope. I didnt recogise the handwriting in the first instance […]Read Post ›
Life Through Basia's Eyes 