Vlog from Gdansk

I hope you enjoyed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Tomasz is back from his visit to Gdansk, in fact he is scheduled to be working today on the News Channel (around lunchtime)

Tomasz did give us a couple of great Christmas presents, in the form of vlogs {i}:



And if you ever wanted to hear Tomasz snort or grunt, now is your chance. He's being at one with some boars, in case you were wondering...




{i} Video blogs, that is. Fancy portmenteau.

Meringue madness

I'm pleased to say The Schaf has made it to Gdansk for Christmas, even colder than it is in British Islands...



Tomasz was well-placed to observe a peculiar weather phenomenon. I'll let the good man himself explain: Witnessed an "icestorm" in Gdańsk today. Hours of freezing rain mixed with clear ice chunks falling from the sky onto a thick layer of snow. The result: Everything glazed with thick ice. Looks incredible. Never seen anything like it... Up to knees in peoples gardens. Piled up 5 to 8 feet in places. It's all thick ice right now....a real ice rink, you could skate LOL!

Here are the results, looks like a meringue gone wrong!







On Twitter, Matt Taylor quipped: "That looks amazing! You can imagine the weeks of chaos that would follow if that were to happen in London". To which Tomasz replied:
"It was just mental.Guess what...everything moved slowly but,it still moved! They moaned a little,now 'who cares' LOL"

Gallivanting in Gdansk

Czesc!

The blog has been quiet of late, because our hero has embarked on a trip to Gdansk. Via Warsaw, as dense fog shut Gdank's airport, so poor Tomasz had to endure a six-hour coach journey from Warsaw's airport to Gdansk. Still the latter at night looks nice...



Chilly there too, as you'd imagine: It didn't stop wild boar from rummaging around the streets of the city though..



Certainly a rare sight in the UK. The last wild boar was reputedly killed in Wildboarclough (Cheshire) a few centuries ago: However there is a now a small colony of boars in the Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire), after they were 'accidentally-on-purpose' released there a few years ago.

And for those reading this in the British Islands, a warning from His Loveliness...


Yes those along the North Sea flank of the country will have experienced the snow already; Northumberland, North York Moors and Scottish mountains copping the worst. Nothing here in Nottinghamshire yet, two sunny days-- but with chilly (that word again!) temperatures by day-- only 1.5C in the afternoon!

Sticking with us for a few more days, this northerly airflow. Should that low rise north from continental Europe, we could blizzards if it hits the cold air. Tomasz et alia will keep us informed, I'm sure!

Ucieczka do Polski

Przepraszam for not updating the blog recently. Over Bank Holiday Monday I was busy: I mounted The Wrekin, went along Wenlock Edge, took myself up the Long Mynd via Brown Clee and finished up circumnavigating The Stiperstones. None of which are euphemisms, rather various peaks in the Shropshire Hills.

Anyway enough of my drivel, Tomasz last appearance was on the News Channel over the weekend. After that, The Schaf has returned to his hometown. However upon Tomasz's journey, there was a sign! I'm not sure what it's a sign for though. I'll let the good man himself explain...

Had a slightly scary landing at Gdańsk Airport. A few mins before landing, I think the aircraft was 'struck' by lightning. Sitting by the window overlooking the wing, saw bright zigzag lightning bolt flicker through the wing and past the engine-- almost past my face!

That close I kid you not! Never seen anything like it and yet I've landed in storms in Miami. I know planes should cope.Landed safely in downpour and spectacular regular lightning

Well I'm glad he's safe and well, and has arrived safely. Hope he enjoys his time there.


>>>
Update:

Another dicey situation for Tomasz:
[I am] enjoying my time in thundery Poland...went for a walk with friends and, apparently, nearly got ambushed by wild boar! LOL hilarious.

Some photos from Gdansk, courtesy of the His Loveliness...






Let's hope he has a safer time in Paris next week!

Tomasz's own site-- and what a sight he is!

Some good news, and some bad news today.

First the latter: Tomasz reports on Twitter that he has this weekend off, so no Country Tracks performance from him this Sunday. I shall rectify this with an archive performance later!

I note somebody on Twitter called this site "slightly weird" [sharp intake of breath, chuckle]-- I think post-modern is the term that Tweeter is looking for! What's weird about about worshipping The Schaf hmm? Obliquely he's calling the dozens of Schaffanatics who visit this site, watch his Youtube vids, sigh when he comes on telly and write rightfully complimentary stuff on 'his' Facebook pages weird! Eee, I don't know...

Then again, everybody is somebody's else weirdo. I think we're all weird, because we all have our own quirks and foibles; which means being weird, is being normal. Oof, not thought it through have I?

So the good news! Tomasz has proved how amazing he is once more, by setting up his own website. Feast your eyes on this...

http://web.me.com/itomasz/tomaszschafernaker/Welcome.html

I'm glad to see Tomasz likes Norway {i}-- I have a strong hankering to go there. More impressive is Tomasz's artwork, he really is a talented artist... plus some great photos of Gdansk. Eell we wouldn't expect anything less would we? He is the best thing to come out the Długie Probrzeże, after all.

Plus there's the story of how he become a weather forecast and meteorlogist. Also details of his exercise regime, diet and musical tastes... I let him off for the prominence of R&B [shudders], for the fact he has included Scatman John! {ii}

I'm sure like me, you will be eagerly monitoring Tomasz's site for future developments. It probably mean that fewer will visit this site though [sniff, melancholic chortle]... but who I am to argue with The Schaf



An archive Country Tracks clip, from July 2009. I love the blue shirt, or rather the isobars behind it! Nice hand action and sound effect near the beginning, and he ought to wear those trousers more often too...



Thanks to pj8210 for the video

{i} Great culture, lovely language, rugged/beautiful landscape and rugged/beautiful men... what's not to like eh? God kveld to any folk from Norge who may be reading.
{ii} This will stick in your head for the rest of the week. RIP John...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEVUKofgNrU