Death Camp of Auschwitz - Poland

Whilst in Poland we visited the death camps at Auschwitz and Birkenhau, "lest we forget" - the horrors inflicted by man upon man - during the war and under the cover of war. The German army under a deluded Adolph Hitler systematically set about to annihilate the Jewish nation. They constructed their death camps and transported millions of Jews by the railway system where these people were murdered in cold blood . As numbers increased the Germans used various methods to kill, never humanely and reached the stage where they were killing hundreds at a time by using Cyclone B cyanide gas. In this camp, the "prisoners" were marched through the main gates, welcomed by a band playing - however the logic was that if the prisoners marched through the gates in rank, in time to the music the rows were easier to count !! Once into the camp, there was no escape, exit was in the form of ash, which was then used as fertiliser

The daily role calls took place for as long as was necessary with prisoners having to stand out in all weathers for hours until the numbers were checked. In the event of attempted escapes ten men from that block were executed as a deterrent to others. However, many just flung themselves on the electrified fences to commit suicide.

In this camp there is only one incinerator, the prisoners were stripped outside and up to 800 at a time herded into the "shower block" where they were murdered by gassing. As the incinerator was only capable of burning 400 bodies a day, many bodies were taken outside and burnt on the open ground. In the other camp things were horrendously different - but that will come later.

In Auschwitz, as stated no one left alive, there were cell blocks were women and children were subjected to inhumane experiments, with the infamous Dr Mengalli experimenting on twins.

In Block 11, which still stands as it was , there are a number of cells in the basement were people were killed by starvation, suffocation, drowning and others went through sham military courts which all ultimately ended up with execution by firing squad in the courtyard, hanging and floggings.

The entire site is a museum to the horrors which occurred, rooms filled with tons of human hair, suitcases, spectacles, artificial limbs, clothing - all destined for Germany.

If the Germans had had their way and time, these camps would have been razed to the ground and all trace obliterated - we already have evidence that in Germany attempts are being made to deny that these events ever took place

May we never see the likes of this again, let us never forget.

HUMILIATION V HUMILITY

I think I really need to blow my top or risk busting a blood vessel, so writing may well be some form of release.

I watched with more than a little satisfaction as Gordon Brown , our beloved P.M. put his extra large foot in it once again yesterday by saying one thing to a lady supporter and then another behind her back. He obviously will suffer big time for this gaff - or was it a gaff? He said one thing publicly and privately another - should he not be saying what he believes to be the truth all the time - but then again he is a politician and they are so twisted they make corkscrews look straight.
His next move was to go and apologise privately to the lady, WHY , when having humiliated her nationally, was he not prepared to be humiliated himself ?

This reminded me of an incident many years ago when I received a serious dressing down in public for something which I was alleged to have done, no explanation was asked for - it was straight to the jugular with my colleagues watching. Different story a couple of weeks later when the truth came out and I was completely exonerated - I was taken into an office, sat down , cup of tea and given a private apology - and a warning , - “better not talk about this”.

And so to the current time, those who know me are aware that for the past five/ six years I have followed a situation involving Edinburgh City Council which was very similar to the above. Allegations were made, later disproved , but no apology, - a heavy hammer was used to crack a nut when simple common sense should have prevailed - apart from the fact that the individuals involved failed to even follow their own procedures. But not even an apology - that would have meant an admission that they were wrong - just a closing of ranks to cover up incompetents and protect backsides.
There then followed and continues, the Corporate game of what is little more than bullying , big boy verses little boy . Big boy’s dad had lots of money (not his - it’s the ratepayers, but who cares) so big boy can afford to play games for as long as he likes without any redress in the hope that little boy packs his bag and runs away.
My ABC of things right and wrong tells me that this is not fair, it is not playing the game, but who says that Corporate bodies ever play by the rules - they are just out to win at all costs and not to lose face.

So for those who do not know me, you may never know what this is all about, because these Big Boys have big sticks, pay lawyers, and use the law to gag the likes of me.

Anyway , back to the mundane - a few more movements from the bowels of the earth this morning , Japan, Alaska and the USA west coast as normal.

Andy Murray is back in action in Rome later today , lets home he went to bed last night and not out partying.

Made it to the Eastern Star last night for the final meeting of this session, and hopefully will get down to Bonnyrigg for the RAC 500 social tomorrow night where we have one of the “Drifters” group singing.
Should be busy in The Mercat Bar with all the rugby taking place at Murrayfield, so guess who is not going to benefit from the holiday weekend.

Krakow Marathon - Sunday 25th April 2010

I think I said earlier that we had seen the Krakow marathon on Sunday morning. our taxi driver dropped us off at the main square at 9.30 a.m. and we had no idea why the place was all cordoned off and surrounded by police and army staff. When we heard what was about to happen we found a nice ringside seat, bought coffees and sat in the sun. A short time later the athletes /runners appeared, firstly the wheelchair warriors - who are marvellous. Closely followed by the elite runners both male and female and then the mass - I suspect in total, around 3400 runners in total. We did not realise at this point that we were only about 2 km from the starting point, hence the bunching at this stage.

As the day wore on we were on our wanderings and ended up strolling along the riverbank
and realised that this was also part of the marathon route near to the end the race. By this time it was 3 p.m., and the tail enders were still valiantly soldiering on towards their elusive finish line. There was a really mixed bunch of fun runners but all really deserved their award at the end - there was even one man who ran the entire route barefoot. It was just a pity that the London Marathon was on the same day as the Field of elite runners might well have been bigger.

No sleep for the restless

A bit of serious deja vu here at the moment - back in the sleeping bag in the conservatory after yet another serious bout of coughing woke me up. So, wide awake, time to spare and no excuse for not writing.

Have been busy since we came home yesterday from Krackow - very good flight home with Easy Jet, on time all the way - airport bus back to The Mercat Bar where we enjoyed a lovely bit of haddock and chips, Scottish style. We had left William and Sandra at Krackow airport as they headed home to London via Warsaw ( nice one with a frothy pint)

Notices are now up for the next wine night on 27th May, "Rest of The World Wines", and a new venture, a Sunday Jazz Lunch on 6th June for £25 which sounds interesting.

Used RGB's motor to get home but that meant I had to go back into town again later to collect him.

Sir Christopher, Miss Talk a Lot, Tam, Kathryn and all are off to sunny Spain so hope they have a nice time.

Had plans for this morning but found mail and e mail which was needing sorted quick - and then more work came in to tie me up, followed by trip to the Doctor to try and get a remedy for this cough.

Into town for a bit of serious business but did manage a few views of Edinburgh from a different angle, the three spires of St Mary's Cathedral , the gaping mouth of the roof of Murrayfield Stadium and a nice shot along the length of Dewar Place to Palmerston Place which nearly shows the Mercat !!!

By the time I got home through the traffic and three new sets of temporary traffic lights - I was well behind schedule so made a late entrance at RA Laird O Cockpen 500 where they were being visited by a Provincial Deputation. It was a superb deputation with 30 plus in the group to swell the numbers. Our 1st Principal did an excellent job, and had a fine feast organised for afterwards.

Sparky Mark was there in the flesh, having eventually made it back from the mountains of Morocco, having been delayed in the sunshine for an extra week due to the volcanic ash fiasco. He and Grant @Photogenix had to make do without Tam ( or Ricky who was off committing acts of piracy in the City).

In the meantime the earth continues to rumble, bump and bang for the residents of California, the sea around the Aleutian Islands must be foaming well with five big shocks in two days, and Andy Murray continues to earn a crust on the tennis courts.

Me, still cosy in the sleeping bag, and the rain has arrived (2.40 a.m) as forecast - so I will get wet heading for town later.

Krackow, Chaplin, web User and a great cafe.

Ladies wanted a wee trip to the shops so we went back to the massive shopping centre, just magnificent and better than anything we have at home, but William and i found charlie Chaplin who was wanting a wee look at my WEB USER magazine.

Despite our run in with the taxi driver, we did have a very good experience at a local cafe where we have had lunch and drinks on two of our days here. Place was nice, airy fresh and clean, food was lovely ( I had smoked cheese deep fried) whicc was lovely. The cafe, GLONOJAD wegeterianski bar, in Place Matejki 2, next to the tour office where we organised our trips, was run by the hostess Dominika Gasior, her friend and her boyfriend.

Ewa - Darek, married Krackow 26th April 2010

Sunny, but still chilly, and as we passed through the main square in krackow we met this lovely couple, Ewe and Darek who were married yesterday. They had had their party, reception and then with friends were out for breakfast - lovely to see them in their wedding splendour - we wish them well for their future together. One point of interest here is that in Poland the ladies wear their wedding rings on the opposite hand to our UK brides.

Krackow -local taxi pirates

Ricky B. you will be smiling at this - we have just arrived back at the hotel, eight taxi trips over the weekend and today we met the chief pirate - daddy of them all, rip off merchant, lesson for all those poor innocents who come to a place like this. For tourists, you need to argue the toss with the driver and get an agreed price sometimes before you get in the motor, BUT the hotel should also offer some guidance. Unfortunately, I would also suggest that for folks thinking this hotel (The Crown Piast) was good value, it is the hidden extras, like the taxis to town sometimes twice a day, beer at £4 a bottle, wine at £22 , Jacuzzi and sauna bookable, and with the most shocking traffic jams at the bottom of the drive . BUT tonight we were being charged 40 for what we were normally paying 22 to 25 one way. Our poor porter, Honey, a young Egyptian and qualified tourist guide in Egypt, had to mediate tonight after our fall out with the local Dick Turpin

Dath camps and Salt Mines

Sunny Sunday morning here in Krackow, Poland. Yesterday was a long and at times harrowing day. We left the hotel at 7.40 a.m. for the town centre, met the tour bus and headed out of the City to the Death camps at Auschwitz / Birkenhau where we visited the museums. I do not have the time or composure at the moment to write this up.

We returned to the city had a quick lunch then joined a second tour bur to go to the Town of Wieliczka and were taken down the salt mine there. A truly amazing experience with what was a massive salt mine now converted into a fantastic tourist attraction, with ballrooms, chapels, churches and galleries on various levels underground, We only went to level three at 350 ft underground , but there is a level nine, now under water at nearly 1000 ft down. the salt carvings are just wonderful but a nightmare to photograph due to the translucence of the salt causing bounce from the flash etc.

Managed to let william have a read at my Web User by the UNESCO plaque in one of the big chambers . This chamber is in the Guinness book of records for having held the deepest bungee jump and a hot air balloon ride.

Now about to leave for the city again. catch up later

Edinburgh Krackow and the people we met

Up at the crack of dawn, correction , I took a horrendous fit of coughing about 2 a.m, had to get up and take honey and cough medicine and ended up sleeping in the chair till 5 a.m. when the alarm woke the house up.
RGB gave us a lift to the airport en route to his meeting with the Cult, and with the airport being relatively quiet we were able to check in through Easy Jet, and then through security at the double. Headed to Wetherspoons for a full breakfast which was surprisingly good - big improvement and a lovely new bar / restaurant.
Flight was on time, we had room and a nice flight over to Krackow, then having beaten Sandra and William who were coming via Warsaw walked round to the tiny T2 for the incoming domestic flight which was bang on the button.
Taxi to the hotel. Crown Piast a five star, set in lovely parklands, however, great big roudabout being built with stupid congestion around us. Our Bellboy, Honey, was from Egypt, and knew several of the staff from the Savita Resort and spa.
Rooms are lovely, there is a spa somewhere but we have not found it yet

Quick changew and into town by taxi - big concern is that this hotel is fabulous but far too far from the centre of the town.

Dropped off in the main square and as we were famished stopped for something to eat , BUT , believe it or not the boys we were sitting beside were from Scotland and two of them had been in The Mercat Bar last night, and were going back there on Sunday afternoon off their flight home to see the football. So to Kerrin Duncan, who is getting married, all the best, David, Jingsy, Fraser, Andy, and the boys - hopefully RGB and Sir Christopher will OK after them on Sunday,

Wandered about the centre which is lovely, especially in the sun, spotted a couple of tots having a great feats with their candy floss. Got ourselves booked in for two trips on Saturday to the prison camps and the salt mines.

A few beers, some pastries for the girls, and after a long day on the road home to the hotel for a shower and a nightcap.

Phones glued to my me - with no luck

Thought I was going to have a lie in this morning - no such luck, Alana called in sick very early - not well, so I had to make a dash into town to get things up and running.

Turned out to be a busy morning, I had two new staff on duty with me, then 26 from one of the business networking clubs arrived to use our lower dining room for a seminar - next hit was when a stag group from Norwich arrived for drinkies and breakfast, a good humoured gang.

Lunchtime had its moments, but with Sir Christopher and RGB on site it ws time for me to head off. Tried to get some Polish money for tomorrow, no luck - stopped in to see Arlene and Alan, not there - not my day, but worse to come.

Home and onto the computer and telephone - Easy Jet and Expedia - cost a fortune on hold and got nowhere fast, and the computer was nearly flung out the window. Odd thing being that on tonight's "Watchdog" on TV , both companies were under the microscope for the same problems I was having. I have said this before, call a sales line and you will get an answer, but try and get customer services, no way.
I was on the phone to Royalties Gold sorting out a trip in August, but our calls to Cosmos Tourama were causing me serious grief - three hours on the phone and computer before getting a successful result. These companies must make an absolute fortune from folks who are left sitting on hold.

Should have been at the wine tasting tonight, but with so much to do before we leave for Krackow in the morning, sense prevailed and a night in was deemed necessary. Hopefully I will have some internet connection while away and with the cameras all sorted might just manage to find something of interest to report.

Earthquakes, yes lots of movement in California and New Mexico, but another one in Dominica,
Australia, and even off the Straits of Gibraltar !!

Lets see how Easy Jet and their colleagues manage to get us up, up and away in the morning, same applies to William and Sandra who are hoping to meet up with us.

Let the train take the strain

Pleased to be home again, and earlier than I would have been had I taken the flight I was booked on.
Another lovely day in Manchester, plenty of sunshine and nice fresh air, just a pity we were more or less confined to the training room for the day. Young Craig was suffering a wee bit, having been led astray by Liam !! last night when they ended up in the Casino after I left them - good job they never phoned me, it might then have been a case of the blind leading the blind.

Team worked hard,lots of discussion so hopefully they have learned a lot from parts one and two of the course.

The train journey passed quickly and it was interesting to be watching cars passing on the M6, rather than being in the car and watching the trains go by.
One of my fellow passengers, who had no flight was heading for Inverness and had to change at Edinburgh, but with two minutes between trains. The Guard reported that the train might be late so there was a bit of a panic as the train companies charge £250 a minute if they are requested to delay departures so that passengers can make a transfer. It is therefore economically viable to let the trains go and send passengers onwards by taxi ,
Jumped off at Haymarket, walked along to the Mercat Bar which was busy and RGB got me home.

Received my fortnightly copy of Web User Magazine and found that they had published one of the photos we had taken in Sharm el Sheikh with me in costume and reading my magazine to one of the local Bedouins, it is a wee special feature they have introduced.

Congratulations to Steve Davies for winning the World snooker championship, I had seen it on tv but not paying attention I thought it was a replay of an old tournament.

I see that Easy jet have their flights back on schedule again, so our Friday trip to Krackow looks like a Green for Go, just hope that Heathrow is up and running for the Johnston's of Eagham.


Big earthquake in Tonga this afternoon, that follows one in Australia, and one between Oz and NZ, but no change from California and New Mexico - the earth keeps shaking, again and again.

Manchester Tuesday

Manchester, Tuesday, Nice bright morning here at the Premier Inn, and I had a nice breakfast and was all organised before my seven “delegates” arrived to start their two day training course.

Plenty coffee to keep them going and as settled in and found our feet, with a couple of breaks before lunch. Lunch was surprising good so there were no complaints and they were happy enough to get their coats on and head out for a practical “Patchwalk” exercise. This allowed most of us to explore the immediate area around the hotel and see the trams at first hand. The tram system here is excellent, has been running for a few years and is well used by the public - BUT there are several different routes running across the city.
The Hilton Manchester Deansgate is in only a short walk away, and is twenty three floors high with the “Cloud 23” restaurant on the top floor. Being on a practical exercise we ventured in and the staff were kind enough to escort us up in the express lift and open up the restaurant which was closed to let us have a look at the place and the magnificent views of the surrounding city – giving me the perfect opportunity for a view Kodak moments !!! But thinking of how high we were, I tried to imagine the open air restaurant on the 61’st floor of the hotel in Bangkok, and even worse, with my toes curling inside my shoes as I stood on a glass panel in the floor, looking straight down through thin air to the ground, just what must it to be like to stand on the “glass horseshoe walkway” out into space over the Grand Canyon, and look down all of 5000 feet – the mind boggles and the nether regions twitch.

From the Hilton we took a tour round the block and stopped into the majestic Midland Hotel, famous as the venue where the famous Rolls Royce Company was formed during a meeting of the founder members.

Have to say the streets and this surrounding area were remarkably clean and tidy, a credit to the City.

My day progressed and when the group dispersed two of the lads took me off to a local “watering hole” for a couple of pints.

With the Icelandic volcano still playing up at tea time and no one knowing what was happening it was decided that I should play safe and get a train home on Wednesday night, so I duly got booked up on the Internet, but then had to take a wander round to Piccadilly Station, again a superb piece of work,

Nice evening, long day and the same again on Wednesday. Pictures taking ages to load.

Short and sweet, Manchester today.

Made it to Manchester today, by train, and it was probably as quick and more convenient than the plane . Got on at Edinburgh Waverly, seat booked on the Transpennine to Manchester Airport and jumped off at Oxford Road, which was only a five minute walk to the hotel.

My travelling companion on the train was a pilot with Jet 2 Com, so we had an interesting chat on the way down, which helped the journey pass. I had brought Dan Brown's " Lost Symbol" with me but never got very far with it - but it looks interesting - all these masonic secrets.

Staying at the Premier Inn and using their free Wi Fi at the moment , it is rather slow, but the prices they are charging for the room Wi Fi would bring a tear to a glass eye - so having to save my money for lawyers fees I will not be filling the hotel's coffers.

I have seven "delegates" from this area to work with for the next couple of days, so that should keep the old grey matter ticking over.

Ash, ash and more shaking

So the earth is still shaking in Baja, Mexico and also in L A. Nothing to worry about really, compared to the kind folks of Iceland who are letting their tame volcano spew forth a load of rubbish, just like the Edinburgh City Council HR Department - maybe this is not fair , should really blame the xxx, no that's not fair either, I will just bide my time and then all may be revealed.

Yes I was affected by the plume of ash, but have managed to get a train instead today, just as Go Jo did today to go to see the Queen and checkout if the streets are paved in gold - on the other hand Sparky Mark, MIA in Morocco, has made contact, he is fit and well, Company are looking after him in a hotel, but he did say that there were loads of folks stuck at the airport trying to get home.

Weather here was drizzly and miserable today, so I popped into Bookers for some provisions for the Mercat, then , what a joke, trying to get stopped outside the Mercat, with half of Turrifs workforce parked up and blocking West Maitland Street.

Next stop, Jacobs, where I managed to get my Canon cameras reset back to their original settings, so much for allowing a Nikon user to play with it - I will now at least only be able to blame myself for any future "duff" photos -but the guys in the shop were very helpful, even managed to teach me something in the hour.

Jenson Button did well today taking first place in the Chinese Grand Prix, closely pursued by Louis Hamilton - good job boys.
However, Andy Murray, is still enjoying himself despite losing the other day in Monaco, he was at a party which Shirley Bassey attended, she obviously put him off his game, cannot blame him, last time I was in a dressing room with her I was a bit distracted also !! legs all the way up to her armpits.

Caitlin and Robbie are now busy making plans for their upside down wedding in Oz next April, kangaroo steaks at the wedding feast.

No big silver birds in th sky - yet !

Delighted to say that my physical and mental beings are once again in sync - so much for a big boys day out.

Anyway, couple of cold hours out in the garden this morning before heading off into town . Took the car which was a good job as I was on the hunt for some high tensile steel bolts for the motor bike - not as simple as I thought, headed out to Two wheels, where I have been going to for about 27 years, partial success as I got one bolt, right size but not identical - so off to Dalkeith to the BMW garage there - none - and none in stock in Germany !!! so I now have a list of dealers to contact around the UK

Headed back to Haymarket and The Mercat bar, Sparky had been in touch, still in Morocco but out of the mountains, BUT he is running out of time on his phone - big drawback on a Pay as You Go and could not get topped up so RGB was trying to sort something out.

Took a walk along via Fraser's where Gillian and Kirsty (the fragrant ladies) were on duty, then met Mrs B and looked into a small art gallery in Dundas Street where we thought there was an exhibition of The Glasgow Boys work, but it transpired it was of Lavery and some others, and most were for sale, at some funny prices , like £120.000 plus. I have the feeling that it was being promoted on the back of the big exhibition of The Glasgow Boy's work in the Kelvingrove Gallery, which we will need to see before it heads south.

On the way there we passed No 17 Heriot Row, former home of Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Kidnapped, etc, but I did not realise he had written this little poem about Leerie the Lamplighter (click on the image for a full screen view).

Back to The Mercat, collected the car and detoured via Costco at Straiton on the way home. I was amused at the two wee ones who were sitting perfectly content in front of one of the TV's, oblivious to everything going on around them - sort of reminded me of the Senior Officials in Edinburgh City Council and their handling of, amongst other things, the ongoing tram farce. I believe that the Council are not amused with some of the comments being published on "Blogs" and "Twitter" and as I said the other day they have staff checking out what is being written about them !! I think I can say what I like within reason, as long as I do not tell lies, but they are trying to gag their employees . It's rather sad that they will not condone those who tell the truth, but within the organisation there are more than a handful who have survived despite their words and actions would make Pinnocio look like a saint.

On a lighter note - as I will no doubt continue to harangue the Council in view of their incompetence, I have had an entertaining evening watching the search for the new Dorothy in Over The Rainbow, and "Britain's Got Talent" - very good.

Beginning to wonder when air travel will start again, I have three flights this coming week, two I can round by driving, but will still have to wait till the last minute before I can use the car - then what happens when I try to get back and the planes are flying - what happens to the car ?

Much speculation that the other volcano in Iceland will kick off shortly, could be that we will be flying in hot air baloons soon.

Only twenty three earthquakes / tremors in Baja, NewMexico so far today, few more in Southern California and yet another big one in China early this morning .

The 49 Club monthly dinner - April, The Mercat Bar

Friday night now, and this has been a bit of a lost day for me !! as a result of my attendance at the 49 Club dinner yesterday.

Started off with an early start in the Mercat, joined for breakfast by Jamie John and daughter Lily Walters from Monrora, Indiana,and Mike and Jackie Mitchell from Brazil, Indiana, who were over tracking down their family roots in Buckhaven, Fife. Young Lily was not sure how to take me as I was telling her about haggis, short legged sheep, and Mary Queen of Scots - however she did send me an e mail later on.

The 49 Club, a specialist wine club with a membership from the licensed trade have ten luncheon meeting a year using a different venue each time - so for this prestigious group the Mercat did them proud, dining room was dressed properly, and the meal was stupendous ( very good) just a bit unfortunate that I decided to enjoy the company and the drink (for nine hours) hence today's delicate condition.

Our staff did us proud, not only were they really smart, their service was first class, well done everyone, especially Claire, Dee Jamie, and Jemma in the kitchen.

Sir Christopher elected to run the show, so I had the pleasure of keeping Miss Talk a Lot and her pal Kate company for the duration - ladies with hollow legs !!!