Mother Nature's Fury

Tonight, Toruń experienced another massive storm. It was coming...the day had been stifling and really humid. It took sometime, but I managed to capture a lightning bolt in action as it struck the ground and lit up the night sky. Simply stunning!

The Storm

Well it was only a moment of time. On Saturday evening there was a big storm over Toruń...and now the heatwave has gone. In its place we are now back to temperatures as low as 6-8C! Roll on summer!

The A380 and its crimson vapour trail!

This was the view over the Polish countryside - taken just a few minutes ago. The sun setting against a blue sky and a lone Lufthansa A380 jet cruises high above on its way to China.

Theme Day: Animals

Today it's the CityDailyPhoto Theme Day and this month it's animals. One thing I love about Poland is its nature. The forests and fields are abundant with fauna. Quite often you can see deer, boar, frogs, squirrels and hares roaming the countryside. This image was taken some time ago about 10km north of Toruń in the Polish countryside.

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More Snow!

OK...at last we can say Toruń is in the depths of winter. It's currently minus 2 and there is a crisp blanket of snow covering everything. With temperatures expected to drop further...expect the snow to stay a little longer.

Sunrise

The glorious sunrise over the Polish countryside...captured this morning at around 7am. Why on earth was I up at 7am on a Sunday beats me!!! ;-)

Fields of Beauty

God...I love spring in Poland!!

The Good Luck Stork

Poland is a very superstitious country...with many quirky tales. I particularly love the superstition about chimney sweeps. If you see one, you have to hold your button until you see someone of the opposite sex wearing glasses. Apparently, it brings loads of good luck!

Similarly, the arrival of the stork to Poland brings its own legend of superstitions. The first time you see a stork each year signals your character for the rest of the year. For example, if you see it sitting down, you will be very lazy. However, if you first see it flying mid-air then you will be very productive and hard-working throughout the year. Luckily, I saw my first 2011 stork in mid-flight...and so far the prophecy is true. Was up at 7.15am and did 7km on my cross-trainer!! ;-)

Here is a photo taken yesterday of the stork in action. Proof that 2011 will be a very productive year indeed!!

What a Load of Rubbish!

Unfortunately, Poland does have to clean up its act when it comes to littering. The old town of Toruń is indeed pretty much clean thanks to the team of MPO cleaners who roam the streets in the morning clearing away any sign of litter. However, just go a few km out of the city and you start seeing litter on the sides of streets, in the middle of roads and worse of all in the forests. Some people seem to be so uneducated or disrespectful...often chucking rubbish out of their car windows (as is the case with this fast-food eating culprit from last night). The government must act fast...and act now!

Off to the Slaughterhouse

This poignant picture was taken around 6.50am this morning just north of Toruń. You can just make out the flash of the truck full of animals (most likely pigs as pork is very popular here in Poland) as it makes its way to a rural slaughterhouse.

You can also see that yes (despite all the lovely greenery of the past few days), Poland is once again covered by a blanket of thick snow. When will this winter end? From one misery to another...

Silo and Hens

What I love about Toruń is that you don't have to go that far to experience nature on your doorstep. Just a few km out of Toruń one can find scenes very similar to this one!

Polish Wildlife

Today the sun is shining and there are clear, blue skies. So what better to do...than go for a walk in the Polish countryside. Flora and fauna (even in winter) is abundant here in Poland...and it wasn't long until we came across a herd of deer (8 in total!). The first picture looks as if it was taken in the mountains...but that hill behind the deer is actually a huge landfill (the result of the construction of the Sharp factory near Toruń).

On board the Night Train!

This shot was taken this evening on board an ARRIVA train heading through the Polish wintry countryside towards Toruń Glowny. It was bang on time...and cheap as chips, but lengthy ticket queues at the station.

Branch and Birds

These hungry sparrows are busy eating seed underneath a bare cherry tree.

The Assassination of Mr Mouse by the Cowardly Mr Cat!

Welcome to country life...and the sometimes cruel acts of nature. A mouse which had been rummaging around our cellar for the past few days (eating our potatoes and nibbling into our electrical wires) was caught at last. It was then let out for its run to freedom...but unfortunately landed straight into the paws and jaws of our waiting cat. Such is life I suppose! TDP was there to witness this incredible event.

More from The Big Freeze

The Big Freeze continues to sweep across Poland. Went for a walk today...and my mother's hair actually froze solid!!! Now that's cold!!

The Big Freeze

It rained a little in the afternoon of Christmas Eve and then yesterday the temperatures dropped again...creating very dangerous icy conditions. Going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve was like having to cross an elongated ice rink! Aside from the dangers...the big freeze has also managed to conjure up some incredibly beautiful images...especially as all the trees and plants froze solid!

Winter Storm

Polish roads are treacherous at the best of times. This morning...they got even worse...what with the snow and wind.

A Moody Landscape

Captured last night in the snowy wilderness north of Toruń. The ominous yellow glow under the clouds is basically Toruń's street lights.

Polish Pheasants in the Winter Snow

The male pheasant scares one of his female companions
and shows who's the boss when it comes to food!

The male roams the snow looking for food

The 3 pheasants search for grain under a cherry tree

Video captured of the pheasants

POLISH NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP: I spotted these 3 pheasants this morning from my kitchen window. They were busy pecking at grain through the snow. These images/film was taken 3 hours and amazingly as I type the birds are STILL outside eating! Hungry indeed!!!