In England our perpetual obsession with the weather had recently reached epic proportions. December had brought some unexpectedly sharp frosts and downfalls of snow, even in the perenially mild south-west, and this was merely a precursor of the cataclysm to come. After a pleasantly mild few days around Christmas, we were suddenly assaulted by the full fury of a winter such as we had not witnessed since 1963. On the first day of heavy snowfall I was only able to get home from work thanks to the assistance of a colleague with a four-wheel drive, and this was to herald a month of battles against the fierce conditions.

On Saturday, 10 April 2010 Polish President, his wife and all passangers, who were on board. They were on their way to Katyn, to pay respect to Polish officers murdered by Sowiets and buried in Katyn's forest.

Poland lost not only President, but also many of the elite: politicians, generals, Katyn Families' members.

In Poland and abroad people pay respect to those who died in this terrible accident.

No decision yet about where the President and First Lady are going to be buried.

In 1918, after 123 years of occupation, the Polish state was reborn and regained its independence. Autumn 1918 marked the end of World War I and the defeat of all three occupiers. Russia was plunged into the confusion of revolution and civil war, the multinational Austro-Hungarian monarchy fell apart and went into decline and the Germans bowed to pressure from the forces of the Entente.

There is always something going on in Poland. Really, all year round. This is just a beginning of the long list of cultural and traditional events which take place annually. Some of them, like Christmas and Easter are family gatherings whith religious motivation, some are very unique, like Christmas Crib Competition, some are widely known like Camerimage or Wratislavia Cantans.