I couldn't sleep due to the ambulances screeching around the city centre in the early hours. A Sunday night with not a soul to be seen but the ambulances do not let up.
In the morning, still groggy, I left the house with the dogs for the park. Two men were pissing in the courtyard as is usually the case. I stepped over discarded vodka bottles and more piss before we climbed into Esmeralda and set off.
On the road we were cut up on all sides by maniac drivers honking furiously. They also like to drive inches behind me 'right up my arse' as it were, aggression is the norm on Polish roads. In order to avoid a headache I played with the radio hopelessly trying to find a station not playing horrid heavy rock and ended up turning it off as is usually the case.
On arriving at the park the dogs jumped out and I was told immediately by two policeman to 'control' them. Polish law states that dogs must be muzzled and on a lead everywhere and at all times. As soon as the police were out of sight I let them lose again. Even here in the greenery you cannot escape the wailing of ambulance sirens which circle the parkland. I had to witness at least another half a dozen men pissing, they don't even bother going into the bushes but do it on the path. Some youths who had been drinking paused to smash their bottles on the ground and have a piss before exiting the park.
On the way back I stopped at a hypermarket for provisions. It is the only place where I can find olive oil and cheddar cheese, for a small 3" square I have to pay nearly 6 quid. About to enter the shop, I stopped and held the door open for a man coming out who did not say thank you or even look at me, I'm used to this although will never like or understand it. Once inside the security guard stared at me. Wandering up and down the aisles people walked right in front of me and two barged into me without a word of apology. I strolled through the processed and long-life fare and once at the cashier I had to tell the woman behind me to stop pushing her trolley into my back. On leaving the security guard continued to stare accusingly.
On our return I passed a car collision, three cars all write-offs, no sign of any passengers. This is yet another daily sight which has long ceased to shock me. If Poles had any brains they would just drive a little slower, it's not as if they are need to be anywhere in a hurry as there is nothing of any importance happening in this town.
Back at the flat I sat down and thought about Christmas. I am unable to get back to London for Christmas due to the fact that there are so many Poles now moving back and forth between the UK and Poland, especially over the festive season. And they buy up all the Ryanair tickets months in advance for a fiver.
I'm tired of it. Tired of the hostility. Tired of the spitting, pissing and shitting. Tired of the jingoism. Tired of the pushing and shoving. Tired of the rudeness. Tired of the ignorance. Tired of the bigotism. I'm tired of Poland. I want to be back amongst civilised people.
