Ania and her groupies...! xD

Wiciu, Bartek, me, Paweł, Wojtek and Piotruś with his little precious :D

thank you guys for all your help. you're irreplaceable ;)

My fourth poetry evening is over. There's no more poems, no more loud music, no crazy ( ^^ ) musicans, no cheesecake... The candles are extingiushed, the dishes are washed, the floor is swept. No more poetry - just reality with lots of duties.


Take care,
A.

Pictures...! :)

My poetry evening's photos. The promissed ones ;) Enjoy :*

Me and Bartek

Justyna, me and Monika. Last tips before performance ;)

 It really seemed to be a catastrophy. It was't funny at all.

Anna is smiling :D

...and writing a special dedication :P

That's all for now. Take care,

A.

Simply happy ;)

It was impossible… Impossible to made it work… But at least: IT WORKED OUT! J Impossible’s possible.

I’ve had my third poetry evening two days ago. In the morning, just a few hours before the event, everything was unfinished. Everything seemed to be… a CATASTROPHY! My musician didn’t answered my phones, so I felt so helpless. I couldn’t have a poetry evening without music…!That’s why I’ve started to look for a new person who could be my pianist. No one. Maybe a guitarist…? No one. For goodness sake! Even a DJ would have been welcomed… I was calling to various people for over two hours. It was so tiring but more than tiring – stressful. Finally, at about 3 o’clock I’ve founded someone who could play for me. I was so relieved! ;) Wojtek saved my life. Or maybe just my reputation ;) But I had to find a piano for him. I’ve decided to take school’s piano and locate it in proper classroom. I needed help so I’ve asked a few boys (younger than me but strong enough to take piano to the classroom) for a help.

After that I could take a deep breath. ‘My poetry evening won’t be a disaster’ – I thought. And indeed, it wasn’t :P Actually It was quite nice... All right. It was wonderful for me but I’m not particularly objective ;) My friends helped me a lot. They made great decoration, operated the sound equipment, baked delicious cake (I made croissants J It’s almost a tradition ), recorded a video and took really good photos. I have to thank them all – especially: all my class 3C, my Polish teacher,  Justyna, Monia, Bartek, Wojtek and Wojtek, Kuba, Mrs Giza and all my former teachers who came to see me, guests and new friends whom I met then. If I would like to thank all of you by name I had to make a long list… So simply. Thank you guys! J

I’m authentically happy that it had worked out. When it finished I couldn’t stop smiling. Broad grin was constantly on my face. It was a great feeling. Still is :P

Kisses,

Ania J :*

PS  I’ll show you pictures as soon as it’s possible. Hope in a few days ;)

Till then you can watch a few videos:

Gee

Jeff

Greg

Fabien

Chokeberry jam and… crepes! :)

When I was little , my mother frequently made crepes, and she taught me how to make them. They always seemed easy to make, so I was surprised to learn that some people think it is hard to make crepes. Crepes really aren't difficult to make. If you have a few ingredients and a small non-stick skillet, you can make them with not very much practice ;)

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Sift together flour, sugar and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk together with an electric mixer. Beat in flour mixture until smooth; stir in melted butter. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 2 tablespoons for each crepe. Tip and rotate pan to spread batter as thinly as possible. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

The easiest fillings for crepes are often the best ;) Sometimes even a bit of sugar sprinkled on a crepe is quite good. My favorite by far is jam and cinnamon -  preferably chokeberry  jam. Spread about one tablespoon of jam on a crepes, then roll it up.
A close second to jam is broccoli with cheese. I really like my green vegetarian crepes :P Mouth-watering ones ;P

All right. That’s all for now. I’ll be writing soon :)

Ania

‘Unhappy fly’s suicide’

I’ve been such a lazy lump! I haven’t written  from ages …! Sorry for that. I promise not to make so long breaks in the future. ;)

We have got holidays but the weather outside isn’t really pleasant… It’s quite english weather actually. Maybe that’s why I want to ask strangers (passing me everyday) ‘Wonderful weather, isn’t it?’ :P But I’m afraid most of them won’t understand me…Unfortunately, ‘cause I love to hear ‘Indeed’ as a response. Probably if I asked someone about the weather in English I would see an ironic look or hear ‘I don’t speak English’. It’s sad…

As I’ve mentioned the weather is not satisfying or even nice… It doesn’t seem to be July. Were are my beloved warm temperatures …? And why am I having  goose pimples…?! :/  I will keep my fingers crossed for better weather… Because of the present one I don’t feel like a broad grin…  ( just listen :  Serj Tankian - Gate 21, Radiohead - Street spirit, Pearl Jam - Sad)

Talking about the English… I’m studying phonetics at the moment. I’m doing some transcriptions, etc.  It’s weird, I know... :D But I like it very much. It is not a typical study for me. Especially when I use Iron Maiden’s lyrics as a base. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep at night, I do some transcriptions. I am a nocturnal creature so… I’ve already done plenty of  them :P

I’m also drinking a hot apple tea with some gooseberry juice. Different but delicious!

Take care,

Ania ;)

PS Today, at about 5 p.m. I was drinking my afternoon tea… Suddenly I noticed a fly. It was flying dangerously close to my cup. Too close…. I wanted to kill it but it killed itself!!! It got into my cup (really slowly) and drown in a hot beverage.  Authentically. It was a suicide!  Unhappy fly’s suicide. I’ve seen something like this for the first time in my life.

Welcome to my kitchen ;)

Hi.  I’m quite busy at the moment but I want to tell you that I was baking all Saturday long J And taking pictures also :P Enjoy the recipe and pics. Promise to write soon. Enjoy J

CREAM PUFFS (makes enough for 24  cream puffs^^)

Ingredients:

2 large eggs plus 1 large egg white
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 10 pieces
2 tablespoons whole milk
6 tablespoons water
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour, sifted

Preparation:

1. Beat the eggs and egg white in a measuring cup or small bowl; you should have 1/2 cup (discard the excess). Set aside.

2. Bring the butter, milk, water, sugar, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring once or twice. When the mixture reaches a full boil (the butter should be fully melted), immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the flour with a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon until combined and the mixture clears the sides of the pan. Return the saucepan to low heat and cook, stirring constantly, using a smearing motion, until the mixture is slightly shiny, looks like wet sand, and tiny beads of fat appear on the bottom of the saucepan, about 3 minutes (the paste should register 175 to 180 degrees on an instant-read thermometer).

3. Immediately transfer the mixture to a food processor and process with the feed tube open for 10 seconds to cool slightly. With the machine running, gradually add the eggs in a steady stream. When all the eggs have been added, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then process for 30 seconds until a smooth, thick, sticky paste forms. (If not using immediately in one of the following recipes, transfer the paste to a medium bowl, press a sheet of plastic wrap that has been sprayed lightly with nonstick cooking spray directly on the surface, and store at room temperature for up to 2 hours.)

4. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a large (18 by 12-inch) baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper; set the pan aside.

5. Fold down the top 3 or 4 inches of a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip to form a cuff. Hold the bag open with one hand in the cuff and fill the bag with the paste. Unfold the cuff, lay the bag on the work surface, and, using your hands or a bench scraper, push the paste toward the tip of the pastry bag.

6. Bake 15 minutes (do not open the oven door), then reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue to bake until golden brown and fairly firm (the puffs and éclairs should not be soft and squishy), 8 to 10 minutes longer. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. With a paring knife, cut a 3/4-inch slit into the side of each puff and on the top of each éclair to release steam; return the puffs to the oven, turn off the oven, and prop the oven door open with the handle of a wooden spoon. Dry the puffs and éclairs in the turned-off oven until the centers are just moist (not wet) and the puffs and éclairs are crisp, about 45 minutes. Transfer the puffs and/or éclairs to a wire rack to cool completely. (The cooled puffs and éclairs can be stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours or frozen in a zipper-lock plastic bag for up to 1 month. Before serving, crisp room-temperature puffs in a 300-degree oven 5 to 8 minutes; crisp frozen puffs/éclairs 8 to 10 minutes.)

7. Use the tip of a paring knife to make a small X in the side of each puff, about halfway between the top and bottom. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip with the pastry cream and then pip some pastry cream through the X in the side of each puff. (Fill each puff until the pastry cream starts to ooze out the side.) Top with chocolate glaze or sifted powdered sugar.

Take care ;)

Ania

VoTum

I want you to listen to one piece of music. By polish band called VoTum. Awesome vocals, great drums in the background, lyrics... Just listen. Enjoy


VoTum - Away

'Away- she says, out of this place
Everything's better than here and now",
Tired of endlessly trying to prove
That she could cope with what gets her down.

Each day she takes a look, peers out through the wall
And dreams of outer space, whispering
"I don't want to be here anymore"
And the fields of green disappear, her eyes shut.

Somewhere, somewhere
There's a secret garden where they won't find us
Somewhere, somewhere
There's a secret garden where we belong

I understand, I feel this too,
And sometimes I want out, but prowl up this river somehow
Try to face the fear under your skin
Of how long can you fight,
Knowing that all you get is the sense of losing?

She runs, she runs, she runs ...'

Take care.

Ania

NWD 8

Hi guys :)

Yesterday, I watched the best short DH movie ever! It's just a piece of 'NWD 8' but it's awesome. Harmony, speed and great soundrack... Brilliant! It is a must see! Not olny for bike addicts :P Enjoy

Fabien Barel 2008

Fabien Barel in 'NWD 8'

Ania

Just bikes :D

I kept the promise! :D

As I told you previously I love bikes :D All of them :) I have got a few in my garage and I ride them very often. Even if it's cold or snowy. I like riding my bike but I also like watching someone's riding :) It's pretty fascinating activity :P

I want to tell you something 'bout different kinds of bicycles. I will present you some 'unusual' ones. And I won't tell anything about 'the normal ones' :P because everyone knows them quite well :)

BMX

A BMX bike or BMX is the name of a popular bicycle used for both casual use and sport, and designed mainly for dirt and motocross cycling. "BMX" is the usual abbreviation for bicycle motocross. Though originally connoting a bicycle intended for BMX Racing, the term "BMX bike" is now used to encompass race bikes, as well as those used for the dirt, vert, park, street and flatland disciplines of BMX.

RACING BIKE

A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling. The most important characteristics about a racing bicycle are its weight and stiffness which determine the efficiency at which the power from a rider's pedal strokes can be transferred to the drive-train and subsequently to its wheels. To this effect racing bicycles may sacrifice comfort for speed. The drop handlebars are positioned lower than the saddle in order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic posture. The front and back wheels are close together so the bicycle has quick handling. The derailleur gear ratios are closely-spaced so that the rider can pedal at his or her optimum cadence. Other racing bicycles, especially those used in time trialling prioritize aerodynamics over comfort.

DH BIKE

Modern race downhill bikes weigh between 16 to 19 kg (35 to 42 pounds), and usually feature full-suspension and frame geometries that lean back farther (slacker geometry) than other mountain bikes. As of 2006, 203 mm (8-inch) is the 'norm' for suspension travel however some commercially available big mountain freeride bikes can have over 300 mm (12-inch). Large-diameter 203–5 mm (8-inch) hydraulic disc brakes moderate speed. Downhill bikes and freeride bikes are very similar but there are some slight differences. Downhill race bikes typically are much lower and have slacker head angles than freeride bikes, so that the bike is more stable at speed and in corners. Freeride bikes have a steeper geometry and a higher bottom bracket height, so that they are better for balance and maneuverability, however freeride bikes sometimes use single crown forks, which are shorter in travel length and lighter than the dual crown forks often used by downhill riders, dual crown forks usually have around 200 mm (8-inch) of travel, and single crown forks are usually around 180 mm (7 in)maximum.Downhill gear features body armor and full-face motocross-type helmets. Other protective gear such as a neck brace can be added to reduce the risk (by bringing the head to a controlled stop) of neck and spinal injury.

TANDEM :P

The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle (occasionally, a tricycle) designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement (fore to aft, not side-by-side), not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.

That's all for now :) Take care.

Ania

'I wish that for one day I could back in time to the 60's and watch one Beatles performance...'

Well... I wish that also ;)

The Beatles were one of the most charismatic bands in the history of popular music. Everyone knows them. Everyone knows their songs, melodies... Their almost fairy-tale story. That's why I won't remind it again. :) I'll do something a little different...

I'll became a barber who is showing photographs. Unfortunately not in Penny Lane.

 But right here. And right now. :)

Hope you weren't extremely bored ;)  Take care.

Ania