It’s still very windy. Today, on my way back to “Tanasza”, I saw an ownerless yacht, its mainsail dancing on the wind. I tied it, a good deed done. I hope others would do the same for me.
Oh, how nice. A friend of mine is taking a sailor examination right here. It does not matter if it the wind blows with the speed of 30 or 50 knots, the examinations still take place – I like it, it is difficult but seems right.
 
I’ve met a fantastic group of Poles here.  We met at Staszek Kalinowski and Jadzia Dziupla’s place. Although it was Staszek’s birthday, he greeted me with the following words: “Brave sailor, in your lone cruise around the world, myself and my guests gathered here welcome you. Stay safe and healthy, with our thoughts lengthy, accompanying you to the final directly.”.It was wonderful, Danusia from Zambia told us about Ludomir Mączka and Ruda Krautschnaider... she also mentioned an oak which grew next to Mr. Świechoski’s house. I have met many fantastic people, like ladies of  the union of Polish women in Cape Town (Zjednoczenie Polek w Kapsztadzie). They are angels! When I told them about children from school in Miejska Górka, they bought presents for them...
Just have a look at an excerpt from a letter which I received from the pupils of the school, together with a lovely gift card and a Christmas card prepared especially for me!

„Dear Natasza!
Your world and mine are so different – every person has their unique world, yet, we have much in common: our language, sight, hearing, dreams.... (...)
(...)Those kids, just like you, fight their weaknesses every day, they also sail an ocean, an ocean of their lives. That is why they want to cheer you up and give you strength through their smile and interest in what you are doing (...)
(...) You are a kind of celebrity here in our school. In fact, their interest in you is so great that our school bulletin “Bez tytułu” has an entire page devoted to you. The page is edited by one of our 6th-form pupils (...)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
I am going to Poland in a few days. I am going to promote a charity event – “Rejs z Nataszą 2 (Cruise with Natasza 2)". It will be a brief, but very intensive, visit.  I am so busy organising this trip that I had to skip club regatta yesterday. Well, I can’t be in two places at the same time. Bad luck, what can I say? By the way, I was very upset with it  - I really don’t know how people take it calmly?
One remark here, when I told them about another charity event organised by Mrs. Anna Dymna and me, the Polish society here was the first to collect money for this purpose.
 
Here is the point guys. We have a chance to make another handicapped child happy! You will find some more detailed information about the way you could help on my webpage.

20th of January

 Basia Chodacka – an amazing movie passionate, or rather a passionate of editing, recorded me today. She would run with her camera round the windy port, and then we had delicious dinner at Wandeczka and her daughter Beata’s (www.sunsetinn.net). You know, I must admit that our famous Polish hospitality is in fact our great national treasure. I hope we are not going to lose it... It’s “ours” more than anything else...