Hello,

This week, as a way of distracting myself from the anxiety of suddenly living with two children, I started rooting around in the massive piles of papers we have at the family home in London.

It has inspired a new section that I will feature regularly:

Archive find of the week

I wanted to share with you a postcard that Marek wrote in April 1960 to his girlfriend Judy. He was staying in Poland at the time and she was planning on joining him there. The postcard explains how to travel from Britain to Poland when Ryanair wasn't even a twinkle in Michael O'Leary's eye.

Darling,

As a matter of fact you do not need traveller's cheques either - I have not changed mine at all, so we will have enough. All you want is a few pounds in cash which you will have to declare at the Polish frontier (and you must keep the declaration to present it if necessary on your way back), some Dutch and some West German money for your expenses & food at the train (if you go by train). How much - Fregata people will be able to tell you and Joan can get it at her bank.

You must also remember that you will need the East German visa which you cannot get in London (no diplomatic relations with Britain) but the East German customs officers who are entering your train in Germany will give you one for the price of £1 or 30/- in English money. The only difficult moment is in Berlin where you have to change for the Warsaw train as there are no porters and you have to carry your cases yourself. By the way ask Fregata for a sleeping car from Berlin to Warsaw - I think it is worth the extra expense.

Take some food with you and buy sausages & coffee sold at critical points along the train - otherwise you'll starve. You can have I think a nice breakfast in Holland - find out at Fregata and get the right timetable for every part of your journey.

Cable to Julek Warsaw Iwicka 8a m8 when you arrive - I will meet you at the station.

All my love, M.

I can confirm that Judy did make it to Poland in once piece - she remained a friend of our family for years to come, long after she and Marek had parted ways, and she told me in person about the trip. She was even able to tell me about how she met my grandmother Kazimiera. Judy passed away earlier this year and she will be missed by us all.

Music recommendation of the week

Naphta, an electronic music artist from Zgorzelec, released his new album Żałość (Sorrow) last month and gave a great interview in The Quietus, the British music geek's website of choice.

I absolutely love the first three minutes of the album (you can listen to the album in full here), the first movement of a piece called Chodź tu do mnie (Come Here to Me). It sounds utterly unique - somehow both like forgotten ancient Polish folk and buzzing menacing electronica.

The interview is worth a read too as he rants about the problems of identity and nationalism in Poland and how he can't be arsed with it all anymore, as well as his observations on cultural appropriation.

Lastly, I'd also recommend his short music video for the album's title track, as it shows Naphta running around the Tatra Mountains like a loon.

That's all for this week. Stay warm, my friends!

Adam

Adam Zulawski

TranslatingMarek.com / Procrastilearning.com / More stuff

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