A birthday party in Czerniejewo

It was not an ordinary birthday party. It was something out of the ordinary, which shall remain imprinted on the memory of the guests for a long time to come. A truly jubilee performance was held in the historic halls of the palace in Czerniejewo.

Celebrating the 9th anniversary in grand style

One cannot fail to invite to a birthday party one's nearest and dearest, a notion that is often used to cover also one's closest friends. Accordingly, the invitation to the 9th anniversary of "Welcome to Poznań & Wielkopolska" was extended to all those who have been closely associated with the magazine for many years. Present at the ceremony were not only the co-workers, who publish their articles in the magazine, but also the representatives of the world of politics, science, culture, art and business. It would be difficult to mention them all. Worth noting, however, is the fact that the incumbent Governor of the Province of Wielkopolska was present at the ceremony. The guests met in the palace in Czerniejewo on this Sunday evening to bear witness to their affinity with the magazine as well as its editor-in-chief, Mariola Zdancewicz, who has been in charge of the monthly for 6 years. This affinity founds its expression in beautiful bunches of flowers which the editor was presented with.

A truly family atmosphere was created by the editor-in-chief who welcomed the guests playing Frederick Chopin's nocturne. Her piano performance was followed by beautiful models who blended perfectly well into this romantic ambience presenting wedding dresses from Madame Zaręba's salon as well as slightly eccentric clothing by young designers from the IDEM group. A real musical feast was prepared this evening by a soprano singer Elżbieta Arsso-Cwalińska, who performed among others songs to the lyrics of Jerzy Cwaliński in the piano arrangement of Piotr Kałużny.

In accordance with the birthday tradition the person celebrating the anniversary received a present. It was Mariola Zdancewicz's portrait by Krzysztof Romiński, which delighted all, as it depicted perfectly well the characteristic traits of the boss; an energetic, decisive and ingenious woman.

Gifts from the editorial staff, some of which were of a considerable value, were distributed among the guests by lot. Two paintings by Przemysław Kijas framed by "Renes" will decorate the interiors of houses of Prof. Waldemar Łazuga and Janusz Kędzia, director of the Edison Hotel in Baranowo. Also Jan Wieczorek, the President of the Board of the "Jedynka Poznań" company, was lucky as he won an exclusive glass table from the Jerzy Kuczyński's workshop. The remaining guests had no reasons to complain as the gifts they received featured among others a work by Stanisław Wojcieszak, a leading photographer of "Welcome ...", a sculpture by Kazimierz Rafalik, a pearl set in gold from the Kuczyńskis' Pearl Gallery, compact disks from Dionizy Piątkowski, a set of alcohol from LWWG Polmos Zielona Góra, sweets from the "Stollwerck" company, sets of cosmetics from "Dermika" and an invitation to dinner for two people to the restaurant of the Trawiński Hotel.

The jubilee feast lasted till late at night and the tables were laden with truly royal dishes including stuffed roasted pigs. There was also a delicious nut cream cake.

"I was there too, drinking honey and wine ..." and now I shall be waiting for the next meeting in a year's time to celebrate, undoubtedly in no lesser style, the tenth anniversary.

Beata Zagrodzka-Blok