May forever

The most beautiful month of the year, May. Thursday morning saw the commercial orchards dripping with icicles; that would be the last frost of the year. A mere 48 hours later and dawn broke with 10 degrees on the thermometer.

Below: my front garden, early afternoon. Forget-me-nots, apple blossom, and brilliant blue sky. The ground is exploding with vegetation; the late-winter garden work is over. Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow. No mow May, no intervention. Let the leaves produce oxygen for our planet.

Below: this must be the best apple blossom, across the tracks on ulica Słoneczna. The pink will soon fade, the petals will soon wither. Last days of perfection. It is dry, however; rain is much needed.

My stroll today takes me into Chynów, then on to Sułkowice.

Below: roadworks along ulica Kolejowa continue. The old asphalt between the level crossing and the old stationmaster's house has been removed ahead of a resurfacing. Signs have gone up at the bottom end of ul. Wspólna saying that the road will be closed from 30 April to 5 May; today is 2 May and the road's been open for the past three days. I hope the work will be done on time.

Below: with the top layer gone, we can see some local history – the old 'kocie łby' (literally cats' heads) – cobblestones. A reminder that the station, and indeed the entire Warsaw-Radom railway line was built in 20 months, opening in November 1934.

Below: looking north from outside the main station building. The first parking spaces (kiss & ride?) have been paved; waiting now for the pavement to connect station to level crossing.

Below: from zero local eateries to three within the space of 18 months – that's progress! Here comes the latest one, days away from opening. Loft Chynów – "Lunch Pizza & Burger by Pizza Park". Beer on tap. Will definitely be visiting!

Below: on to Sułkowice, along ulica Ogrodowa, near the elementary school. Note the neatly coppiced trees lining the fence.

Below: approaching the police-dog training school on the left. Note the traffic speed monitor on the other side of the street. The display (on the other side) shows how fast vehicles are going – and how many points on the licence that would be. But it's just performative. Local drivers have learned to ignore it (and the other one further along ulica Ogrodowa nearer Chynów). 

Below: Sułkowice's new three-story block of flats, an unusual typology for Polish rural residential development, which shows how supply and demand are being matched.

Home by train (one stop, 2.73zł with senior's discount – that's 55p for a journey just under 3km / 2 miles). Beautiful day!

This time two years ago:|
In and out of Germany via Świnoujście

This time six years ago:
Back to the działka after lockdown

This time eight years ago:
The Network vs The Hierarchy in politics

This time 13 years ago:
Pozytywki ponds after refurbishment

This time 14 years ago:
Mayday in the heat (don't exaggerate with the suncream!)

This time 16 years ago:
Night train, carry me home

This time 19 years ago:
Into the mountains