Zdzisław Beksiński (Ostatnia Rodzina)

Yesterday my Mom dragged me to see a movie about a Polish painter, Zdzisław Beksiński. I didn't really like the movie, because I didn't understand it. I've never even heard of this painter before, and I've never seen any of his paintings.

The movie starts when Beksiński's son, Tomasz, moves to Warsaw in early 1970s. Tomasz is a young, single guy who has psychological problems. Throughout the movie he tries to commit suicide a few times. And at last, at the end of 1999  he succeeds. 

Zbigniew Beksiński lived in a typical communist apartment block on the outskirts of Warsaw (very close to my Mom's old house). He worked from his apartment creating tens of paintings every year. At that time people did not understand his art. It was too dark and weird.

Beksińki shared his apartment with his wife, mother and mother-in-law. His son lived in the apartment block nearby. They lived a simple and difficult life in the communist Poland. Beksiński's wife, Zofia, was portrayed in the movie as a loving and caring wife, mother and daughter-in-law. She was the one who took care of everything and everyone. 

Beside painting Beksiński was interested in filming and photography and at the end of his life in computer graphics.

He was brutally murdered by a 19 years old son of his acquaintance. He was the last one in his family to die.

Here is a short film about Beksińki's everyday life. Most of it was filmed by the painter himself.
There are many films about him on YouTube as he loved documenting his family on film. After his death many of those films were made public.

And here are some of his paintings. Personally I don't really like them.

Zdzisław Beksiński

24 February 1929 - 21 February 2005

All Saints Day at Powązki

Polish people celebrate All Saints Day on November 1st. It's a very important holiday.

While we were in Poland we went to the cemetery three times. Few days before All Saints Day we went to clean the graves in the Powązki cemetery (which is the oldest cemetery in Warsaw). Here are some photos of our family graves:

Before cleaning

After cleaning

My great-grandmother and
great-great-grandmother's grave

Most of the alleys in the cemetery looked like this:

On All Saints Day we went to the Powązki cemetery at night. It was even more beautiful than during the day. There loads of people. All the graves had candles and lots of flowers on them. There was the nice candle smell in the air.  It was quite cold, but not as cold as in previous years.

Look how nice it is now!

Graves of famous people, like this singer, had  l o a d s  of lights!

And more!!!!!!!

On November 2nd is All Souls Day. On that day one should also go visit more graves. We went to another cemetery, Powązki Military Cemetery. Many polititians, soldiers and famous people are buried there. 

I was most interested in seeing the graves of young people who died during Warsaw Uprising in 1944. I found the grave of the author of one of my favourite books "Kamienie na Szaniec", Aleksander Kamiński. There were also graves of those who were portrayed in that book, Alek, Zośka, Rudy and other  Warsaw Uprising heros.

Graves of those who lost their lives in World War II.

The grave of the author of the book.

The graves of Zośka, Alek and Rudy.

Polish cemeteries are so different to the Taiwanese ones and people visit them more often than in Taiwan. What do you think about Powązki cemetery?

On water and in air

A week ago we came to Poland. Before coming here we stayed a few days in Hong Kong. On the day we were flying out of  Hong Kong we went on a yacht cruise - it was so nice and warm.

The boat we were on.

Relaxing on a yacht

The next day we landed in cold, but sunny Europe - Zurich and later Warsaw.

So far in Warsaw we went to the Old Town.

We also went shopping. My Mom got me some shirts and books. One is about the history of Poland.
                                                                               

Yesterday we went to the Warsaw Rising Museum. It's a museum about Warsaw Uprising which took place during World War II (Aug.1,1944 - Oct.4,1944). The whole Warsaw was destroyed and many, many people were killed.

The divided Poland

The uniforms of Polish army pilots.

The plane that dropped food to occupied Warsaw.

Jas the scientist

Yesterday I went to the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education in Warsaw. I joined a group of  Polish homeschoolers for a class about DNA.

There were 20 kids from 3rd to 6th grade. We had the lesson in a real lab and had to wear lab coats.
First we learned a bit of theory about DNA and later we were doing an experiment.
You can also try to make it yourself, here is how:

• Put half of a kiwi into a cup.

• Add salty water (the kiwi cells will get weaker).
• Add detergent (it helps to break down the fat in the kiwi cells).
• Stir everything well, but try not to make too many bubbles.

• Put the cup with kiwi, water and detergent into a bowl of boiling water (it will speed up the process).

• After few minutes blend everything up.
• Pour the mixture slowly through a coffee filter and funnel into a larger cup.

• The solution that drips through will have kiwi DNA in it. Pour this solution  into a small tube.

• Carefully add very strong colored alcohol to it. DO NOT MIX IT!

• You will see a white stripe (like a cloud) in the alcohol - this is the kiwi DNA!

It was a really fun class. Much better than the ones in Taiwan.

Jas the carpenter!

After a week of sleeping on a very squeaky bed in our house in Poland we decided to buy a new bed from IKEA.  (The old sofa bed came with the house a few years ago and we've never changed it.)
On Wednesday my Mom and I drove to a huge IKEA and bought two beds and a sofa bed. On Thursday they delivered everything to our house and we started the construction.

Opening the boxes.

Adding wheels to the roll out bed.

Building the bottom of the sofa bed.

Using an electric screwdriver.

The sofa bed I build - really comfy!

The bed (with another roll-out bed underneath)
in the small room.

Now we are ready for Zozo to come! She is coming tomorrow!!!!

I am in Poland !

Last Sunday I arrived in Poland. It was a VERY long flight - it took us over 24 hours door to door!
We first flew Hong Kong where we waited for 3h for our flight to Zurich. And then in Zurich we had less than one hour to change.
In Warsaw Babcia, Dziadek and Ciocia Basia waited for us at the airport.

In less than two weeks Zozo will also come to Poland and later my Dad will join us too. This year we will spend Christmas Eve in Poland (on the X'mas Day we have to fly back to Taiwan). I wish it would be a white Christmas! Right now it's only cold and a bit wet, no sign of snow :-(

Babcia and Dziadzia have a new dog, his name is Lutek - just like my guinea pig (R.I.P.). They got the dog from a shelter. I take him for long walks. He likes to play with a stick and his reward is bread - strange dog - likes bread and carrots :-)
I will write more in the next few days.