Latest news with #Pawel
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Paisley student competes in prestigious cooking competition in Venice
James McKay of the West College Scotland Paisley campus travelled to Italy last month to take part in the Unox Cookery Competition. It was ready steady cook for one Paisley student after he made the final of a prestigious competition. James McKay of the West College Scotland Paisley campus travelled to Italy last month to take part in the Unox Cookery Competition at the company's headquarters in Venice. The event saw college students from across the UK compete in an online cookery quiz over several months via the Unox app. The top ten students earned a coveted place in the grand final in Venice, where they faced a three-hour challenge to create a two-course meal using the Unox oven. Each finalist was also tasked with incorporating two mystery ingredients into their meals – lemongrass for the main and cinnamon for the dessert. James, along with Greenock campus student Pawel Martynk, represented West College Scotland (WCS). It was a close and fierce contest but James was pipped by Pawel to the top spot. However, the Paisley student maintained that although he never won, getting to meet people within the industry as well as experiencing the city of Venice was wonderful. He said: 'I really enjoyed going and competing in the Combiguru competition. I managed to meet new people and it helped with my experience in cooking. 'The people that ran the day were so nice and helpful, and I also got a lovely tour around Venice. I would highly recommend anyone to do it.' As the overall winner, Pawel received a professional set of chef's knives, a place on an exclusive bread and pizza-making course, and a state-of-the-art Unox oven for the Greenock campus—prizes totalling nearly £10,000. Chris Watson, curriculum quality leader for hospitality at WCS praised both students. 'I was delighted for both students to be representing the college at an international level,' he said. 'It was a great achievement even just making the finals in Venice. 'The competition was fierce, and it was testament to Pawel that he managed to come out on top. This is an annual event and I hope this result will inspire next year's intake to take part and hopefully succeed once again.' Jim McAllister, head of languages, business and leisure industries at the college, added: 'This is the second year in a row we have won this open competition. 'Another huge effort from the regional hospitality teaching staff, bringing success to WCS in an international arena. Special thanks to Chris for working with and encouraging staff and students to give up their time and energy in these endeavours.'
Edinburgh Reporter
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Martial arts charity comes to town
A martial arts charity has been formed in Edinburgh and is assisting youngsters and adults alike come to terms with physical and mental health difficulties. The Edinburgh Combat Project, which has a major fund raising gala dinner arranged for the Capital next month, actually has its roots in a small Polish town where Pawel Zakrzewski grew up struggling to cope with the tragic death of his father before moving to Scotland with his family. Some of Pawel's coaching takes place outdoors Aged just five and too young to understand grief Pawel's pain turned to anger. He lashed out, got into fights and struggled to contain his emotions. Then Pawel discovered martial arts and the lessons it provided are being channelled into helping others with similar experiences. Now 33-year-old Pawel has gone from angry teen to mentor, coach and founder of a charity launched in collaborated with Daniel, his brother. So far they have impacted the lives of over 50 young people and adults and this is only the beginning for a charity operating out of shared car wash premises in Slateford. Pawel hopes to broaden out into satellite stations around the country with the help of the dinner set for the Balmoral Hotel on Friday, 30 May. The sad fact is, he says, that there is no shortage of potential recruits. Some 168 hours of free training are currently provided each week. Pawel says: 'In a class of 25 only about three participants are not receiving complimentary membership but I don't want anybody to be suffering stigma.' 'I know how bad it made me feel taking all the benefits (of martial arts training) especially in the small town of Waltz (pop. 24,000) where everybody seemed to know everybody. 'Among the disciplines we offer are boxing, Thai boxing and Brazilian ju-jitsu and it is a seven day-a-week operation. 'Depending on the success of the dinner we would hope to provide more for the participants. 'Already 145 tickets have been sold which means there are 65 left.' For more information go to or to register your interest in the Gala dinner see – pawel@ Like this: Like Related
Metro
27-04-2025
- Metro
I was paid £22,000 to stay with a complete stranger for a week
A man emailed last month to tell me how, despite being a successful businessman, he behaved like a brat. He was convinced, he added, that he would benefit from a whole week's detention in my study. I'd confiscate his phone for the week, stop him drinking, using cocaine and smoking; make him write lines, spank him, and force him to stand him in the corner. 'You are my last hope,' he wrote. 'Money is no object. Can I call you? I'll pay!' I yawned. Well, telly was rubbish, as usual, so I thought why not earn some quick cash in return for a chat. I sent him my number, bank details and a request for £50. Two minutes later £100 plopped into my account. Ooh, lovely. Then my phone rang. 'Mistress, thank you for agreeing to speak with me,' the man said to me in his thick East European accent. 'You agree I need punishing and a whole new way of life?' I replied that in principle it was a yes from me – but I wasn't sure I could manage a whole week. 'But I need it so much,' he pleaded. 'Are you busy in April?' I wasn't, but still suggested we both sleep on it. If he really wanted it to happened we would need to think some more about how it would work – such as where he would stay, what we should do, what I would charge. The man agreed with me and hung up, leaving me £100 richer for four minutes of 'work'. Feeling pretty chuffed with myself, I assumed he'd soon sober up and I'd never hear from him again. However, the next morning I woke to find £22,000 had arrived in my bank account. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. It was still there, transferred from my new Polish friend, Pawel (as I learned via the bank transfer), a few hours earlier. In all honestly, if he'd gotten back in touch, I was going to suggest £1500 would be an acceptable fee – so thank goodness I kept quiet. I messaged Pawel, trying to play it cool. 'Safely received. Thank you so much.' 'Thank you Mistress!' he quickly replied and started sending me places we could stay, such as stately homes; palaces with swimming pools and hot tubs. His idea of detention was quite different from mine. Still, I was hardly about to argue. Although my greedy self was ecstatic, sensible me started to panic. How had I let myself get into a situation where I'd be spending a week with a man I didn't know? Pawel hadn't really given me any choice, which was a definite red flag. If he'd offered £200 I'd have turned him down, but the enormous £ signs were blinding. In the end I decided to quit whining and invested a fiver of my £22k in a bottle of pepper spray. A couple of week's later we met at a fellow domme's house. I'd be filming for a few hours after his plane landed, so she agreed to supervise the first few hours of his week long detention. 'He's very sweet,' Miss Iceni messaged me. 'I've spanked him gently, since he's got a week of this ahead…' This was a huge relief. Pawel, a self-made billionaire, had been vague about his expectations, so I'd asked a few friends to act as safety buddies, who constantly messaged me. Eventually, I had to ignore them because, for £3000 a day, you can't be on your phone half the time. Thankfully, Miss Iceni was right. He was charming, if shy. Then he explained he'd always wanted a long detention 'like in your films'. Baffled, I racked my brain, desperate to figure out what he was referring to. Then I remembered decades ago I'd shot a series featuring three girls who'd behaved so badly they had to spend a week in their headmistress's home, writing lines, getting their mouths soaped, being spanked. We had booked a West London holiday rental, so we could be close to all the action. And, as is often the case in Melissa world, the week was much more innocent, yet totally bizarre, than anyone would believe. I spanked Pawel a bit, but he wasn't really into it. He complained it hurt, and suggested we go to the pub instead. I love a pub, and 168 hours of discipline sounded boring and ridiculous, so I cheerfully agreed and as we chatted over pints, he told me he struggled to find straightforward, trustworthy pals because they want him for his money. A cab got us back to our home for the week at 1.30am. Pawel asked the driver to wait while he collected cash before driving us to a casino. 'No no no,' I said, with uncharacteristic firmness. 'Bed!' The next day I rose at 7am, head grumbling. He was snoring still. Marvellous. Coffee, shower, make up, answer emails, more coffee. Still he snored. Toast, then. Maybe a pecan slice. We'd done a big shop and the fridge groaned. I started to feel vastly better. Now what? I grazed in the the sunshine with a book, periodically scampering in to check he was still asleep. Given what I'd been paid it felt a bit rum to be spending my morning reading and eating cake. So I took a few pouty selfies; added to my Insta story; updated Onlyfans. Still Pawel snored. He sounded like a threshing machine. Coffee again. Finished my book. Started another. Wrote about my idiotic week to date. Hmm. It was noon now. Maybe I should wake him? But he'd told me how hard he worked, how much he needed a rest… At 3pm I started to panic. I messaged Miss Iceni, who was meant to be joining us for dinner and a show, to ask advice. 'Maybe you should pop your head round the door?' she suggested. 'He might have gone on a binge and be playing a tape of himself snoring to fool you. Make sure he hasn't stuffed the bed with pillows. Give it a good prod.' The previous evening Pawel had already escaped my grasp to give a stranger £10 for a cigarette, so that didn't sound totally improbable. And I had no better plan. I stole upstairs to open his bedroom door. No, it was definitely him making that racket. The room stank. He looked a little blue about the lips. Oh god, oh god . Don't let him die. What would I tell the police? I could hear it already: 'Why, Miss, is there a dead man in this house? What's his name? I can't write NaughtyBoy69 on the incident form now, can I Miss, be reasonable.' No. If he went to meet his maker I decided I'd leave an anonymous apologetic note to the cleaner and scarper. Finally, at 3.26pm Pawel scampered down the stairs. 'Sorry, Miss – have I missed breakfast?' The week passed like this. He continued to sleep for an average of fifteen hours a day. He liked shopping. He wanted to take me to all the most expensive shops in London and buy me anything I wanted. I do not like shopping, and I do not want anything, except not to be shopping. He gazed at me in wonder as I solidly refused offers of jewellery, perfume, shoes. Pawel continued to suggest we go to the casino where he'd give me £2000 so I could try my beginner's luck. but I didn't want that either. I don't find wasting money amusing. He wanted to buy every type of Haribo, every brand of biscuit and sugary cereal, and had to be forcibly restrained. It was like babysitting a 6ft billionaire toddler. Instead I insisted we go for walks and feed the pigeons. More Trending When Pawel asked what was the best restaurant in London, I told him it was unquestionably Wetherspoons. He loved it. He preferred his food plain. He'd always hated chowing down a froth of this and a mist of that. I genuinely liked Pawel, felt for him, enjoyed our week together and once we parted, I knew I was looking forward to our next week-long appointment. Not only for the massive wad of cash, but because he's good fun. There's even been talk of me visiting him in Poland. You imagine the rich have it easy, and in many ways they do. But Pawel taught me that an excess of wealth does leave you lonely and innocent. He had never heard the word no and had never learnt the concept of enough . View More » I'm proud to say that just in the space of a week I managed to remedy that. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: No clubs — just caffeine: London's Coffee shop raves are the 'new way to party' MORE: Map shows likely Red Arrows flypast route on VE Day 2025 MORE: Interactive map reveals the worst London crime rates by borough
