THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL SUNDAY 24 & MONDAY 25

Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls,(make sure you visit Mama’s Jerk Station, on the corner of Portobello Rd and Oxford Gardens) over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival

revellers.

 

Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area, it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe. With many astonishing floats and the sounds of the traditional steel drum bands, scores of massive sound systems plus not forgetting the hundreds of stalls that line the streets of Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Carnival is arguably London’s most exciting annual event.

 

The Notting Hill Carnival used to get under way on the Saturday with the steel band competition. Sunday is Kids’ Day, when the costume prizes are awarded. On Bank Holiday Monday, the main parade takes place. It generally begins on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening, the floats leave the streets in procession, and people carry continue partying at the many Notting Hill Carnival after parties.

 

 

FEAST OF ST JAMES THE APOSTLE IN SPAIN - 25TH JULY

 

Many people in Spain celebrate the life and deeds of James, son of Zebedee, on Saint James' Day (Santiago Apostol), which is on July 25. Saint James was one of Jesus' first disciples. Some Christians believe that his remains are buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Many events are organized on and before Saint James' Day in the Basque Country and Galicia. These include: •Special church services to honor the life and work of Saint James.

•Exhibitions of art work by artists born or living in or near Santiago de Compostela.

•Theatre productions and street shows.

•Concerts of modern and traditional music, including bagpipe performances.

•Traditional dance events held outside.

Special services are held in the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela on July 25. Church officials swing a large incense burner at full speed during this service. They fill the whole church with incense smoke.

 

St James, son of Zebedee, was an apostles and a brother of John the Apostle, according to Christian belief. He lived at the same time as Jesus. He may have traveled to the area that is now Santiago de Compostela.

St James was beheaded in Judea in the year 44 CE. Some Christians believe that his disciples carried his body by sea to Padrón on the Galician coast. They then buried his body under what is now the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

St James' relics were discovered sometime between 791 CE and 842 CE. Santiago de Compostela then became a place of pilgrimage. Pope Leo XIII asserted that the relics of St James at Compostela were authentic in a papal bull. This papal bull was published on November 1, 1884.

Common symbols of St James include a traveler's hat and a scallop shell. The scallop shell is used to mark a network of pilgrimage routes. These routes lead to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela from many European countries, including:

Thousands of people walk, cycle or ride a horse along the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela each year. Many people hope to arrive just before Saint James' Day.

ROYAL BABY PRINCE NAMED GEORGE

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son - George Alexander Louis.

 

 

 

 

The first child of Prince William and Catherine, who is third in line to the throne, will be known as Prince George of Cambridge.

George was the bookmakers' favourite for the first name of the prince.

There have been six King Georges up to now, most recently the Queen's father, although his first name was Albert and he was known to his family as Bertie.

The name Louis is Prince William's fourth name and is likely to be a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh's uncle and the last British Viceroy of India before independence in 1947.

 

Alexander is said to be a favourite of Catherine's.

As well as being an established regal name, George is also a saint's name. St George was an early Christian martyr and is the patron saint of England.



DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE GIVES BIRTH TO BOY

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a boy. The child was born at 4.24pm on Monday afternoon and weighed 8lb 6oz. The duchess arrived at the Lindo wing of St Mary's hospital, Paddington, in the early stages of labour at about 5.45am accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge. He is on two weeks' paternity leave from his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot

 

 

KATE MIDDLETON IN HOSPITAL TO HAVE ROYAL BABY

 

Kate Middleton has been admitted to the hospital to give birth, according to a Kensington Palace

spokesman.

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London in the early stages of labour. The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge," the palace said in a statement today.

Middleton was admitted shortly before 6 a.m. today with The Duke by her side, and she is progressing normally, the palace said. There is no suggestion that she was induced.

Regardless of the baby's gender, Prince William and Kate Middleton's firstborn will be third in line to the British throne, after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William.

Kate and William have chosen to be surprised and do not know the sex of the baby, according to royal sources.

SWAN UPPING ON THE RIVER THAMES

Swan Upping 2013 will take place from 15 - 19 July

The census of people takes place every ten years. The census of swans takes place annually during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

The Swan Upping event takes place in July each year, commencing on the third Monday at Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday.

The swans on the River Thames are Mute Swans (Cygnus olor). They are not actually mute, they can honk and hiss alot. Mute swans are seen in Britain all year round and are distinguished by a bright orange beak, which has a knob of black tissue on the top.

Swan Uppers searching for cygnets

The Swan Uppers catch and check the health of the swans and their cygnets through five counties, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

HAPPY SUMMER

 

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!!!

 

ETON STYLE

Rapping, Eton-style: Now pupils at Britain's most exclusive school make a Gangnam parody for YouTube

 

   - The boys, dressed in their tail coats and white ties, performed Psy's trademark horse-style dance moves as they sang about their school.
   - Eton headmaster Tony Little said that he had watched the boys' comedy video and had enjoyed it.

 

ROAD SAFETY RUN

Dino the dog likes running. But there are lots of dangerous things on the road - tyres, rubbish bins and bouncing balls! If they hit him, he's in trouble! In this game you have to help Dino run, and answer questions about road safety along the way. How far can Dino run?

TROLLEY DASH

Welcome to Trolley Dash! You have sixty seconds to collect everything on your shopping list. Finish in time and move to the next level.

GAMES TO LEARN ENGLISH

Games to learn English is a site for students of English as a foreign language. 

A website to practise your English and have fun at the same time.

Enjoy playing games!!!

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

What’s the origin of this logo we may see all around Great Britain? Everything started at the beginning of the Second World War …………….

 This is the story: click here. Now watch the video:

THE HOLSTEE MANIFESTO

What is the meaning of this Word?

Manifesto Definition

Now we are going to watch  a short film titled The Holstee Manifesto: Lifecycle Video by Cooper Miller.

Some words you may find a bit difficult: to quit, to seize, to hug, to share, a bit.

 

 

Answer the following questions:

 What is the manifesto?

What values are mentioned in the manifesto?

Who wrote this manifesto?

You are now going to listen and read the manifesto using a kinetic typography video, and you should check anything you didn’t understand while watching the film.

 

What do you think of the manifesto?

What do you identify with personally?

What do you like about the manifesto?

Is there anything you don’t like?

Is it a good guide for life?

Is it too simplistic?

 NOW READ THE MANIFESTO

 

THE EXAM CHEAT - MR BEAN

DO AS YOU OTTER - DON'T POLLUTE THE WATER - THE SINGING SCIENTIST - SONG

DO AS YOU OTTER – DON´T POLLUTE THE OTTER

(Peter Weiss and the Earth Rangers)

 

Otter otter swimming in the water

Otter otter swimming in the sea

Otter otter  father otter daughter

Otter otter family

I said if do as an otter don´t pollute the water

Do as an otter - don´t pollute the

HONOLOKO - THE ENVIRONMENTAL GAME

SUMMER

 

Do people have lots of holidays where you live? Where do they go and what do they do? Read more to find about holidays in the UK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST CONDITIONAL SONG

USING THE FIRST CONDITIONAL

 

EXERCISES 1, 2,

PRACTISING 1st CONDITIONAL WITH WESTLIFE

THE FIRST CONDITIONAL

If you keep jumping you will break something

THE FIRST CONDITIONAL

Activities 1st Types Conditionals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

GAZPACHO DAY - 17th MAY MÁLAGA

The coming Friday  May 17th, the “Día del Gazpacho” (Gazpacho Day) will be celebrated in Malaga. 2013 will be the second edition of Gazpacho Day, which is a tribute to this refreshing, healthy and typically Andalusian drink, which has conquered both our hearts and our palates. During Gazpacho Day, gazpacho kits will be sold in the Central Market. These packets will include everything you need to whip up a tasty gazpacho at home. Supermarket chain Eroski in the shopping centre Larios has also signed up to the initiative, and during the day will be offering free samples of gazpacho from its own brand line. Another business that’s joined forces with Gazpacho Day in Málaga is olive oil brand Hojiblanca, which will be giving out bottles of extra virgin during the day. Last (but not least), there’ll be a score of restaurants in the city that will be offering bowls of gazpacho at a practically symbolic price.

Gazpacho Day is organised by the association “Málaga Sana” (healthy Málaga), which aims to promote healthy eating, based on a Mediterranean diet and homemade food. It also forms a part of the initiative “Food Revolution”, headed by British TV chef Jamie Oliver, whose objective is to fight obesity and the illnesses associated with being overweight.

www.malagasana.es/gazpachoday

SOMEBODY HAS STOLEN MORE THINGS!

PRESENT PERFECT

The Happy Verby Gang

Present Perfect (love letter: Dear Jose)

Present Perfect (already, yet)

  

1. Michael Bublé: Haven’t met you yet
And I know someday that it’ll all turn out
You’ll make me work
So we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid that I’ll give
So much more than I get
I just haven’t met you yet
2. Bryan Adams: Have you ever really loved a woman?
When you love a woman
then tell her that she’s really wanted
When you love a woman then tell her that she’s the one
’cause she needs somebody to tell her that it’s gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?
3. Rod Stewart: Have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day
4. Charlene: I’ve never been to me. (GPA! GPA!)
I can see so much of me
Still living in your eyes
Won’t you share a part of a weary heart
That has lived a million lives I’ve been to Nice and the isle of Greece
When I sipped champagne on a yatch
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed them what I’ve got
I’ve been undressed by kingsand I’ve seen some things that a woman ain’t supposed to seeI’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me
5. Madonna: Take a bow
I’ve always been in love with you
I guess you’ve always known it’s true
You took my love for granted why
The show is over say good bye
6. Barry Manilow: I write the songs (GPA!)
I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music and I write the songs
7. U2: Still haven’t found what I’m looking for
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
I have runI have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
Only to be with you
But I sill haven’t found what I’m looking for
8. Carpenters: A song for you (GPA!)
I’ve been so many places in my life and time
I’ve sung a lot of songs
I’ve made some bad rhyme
I’ve acted out my love in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we’re alone now and I’m singing this song for you
9. James Taylor: Fire and rain
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I thought I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you again
10. Paula Cole: Where have all the cowboys gone?
I will do the laundry
If you pay all the bills
Where is my John Wayne
Where is my prairie son
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
11. Barbra Streisand: The way we were (GPA!!!)
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me would we
Could we
12. Elton John: Your song
So excuse me forgetting
But these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen
And you can tell everybody this is your song
13. SOS Band: The finest
My friends say I’m lucky
To have someone as good as you
My love’s understanding
Understanding how to hold on to you
After all that we’ve been through
Time won’t change the way I feel about you
Out of all the loves before
You’re the finest I’ve ever known
14. ABBA: The winner takes it all (GPA!)
I don’t wanna talk
About things we’ve gone through
Though it’s hurting me
Now it’s history I’ve played all my cards
And that’s what you’ve done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play
15. Rod Stewart: Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you lately that I love you? Have I told you there’s no one else above you?
You feel my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
16. Eva Cassidy: You’ve changed
You’ve changed
That sparkle in your eyes is gone
Your smile is just a careless yawn
It’s all over know
You’ve changed

EUROPEAN OPERA DAYS - 11th AND 12th MAY

A coloured 7th edition which gathers 107 opera houses and companies across 24 European countries during two days (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May 2013).

 

European Opera Days Manifesto

Each year on the weekend closest to 9 May (Europe Day), opera houses in Europe and beyond open their doors to new and existing audiences to celebrate the art of opera and the talent of those who make it.

The European Opera Days celebrate opera as an art form.  Their aim is to help bring opera into the mainstream of cultural practice and to enhance its appreciation in today’s society. 

Opera is the European art form par excellence, because it overcomes national and linguistic barriers through the universal language of music. Its core values and themes are central to European culture, which is part of our common identity. For this reason, the European Opera Days are celebrated on the weekend closest to 9 May, Europe Day.

Opera today is alive and kicking.  It explores unconventional spaces and forms, uses state-of-the-art technology and draws inspiration from the world in which we live today. It plays a major role in contemporary artistic and cultural life and contributes to the development of a creative society.

Opera reaches out to everyone.  Europe needs a creative society in order to develop - just as opera needs the involvement of its audiences if it is itself to develop and remain an innovative art form, central to our lives.  Access to opera should therefore be promoted for all European citizens.

THE BOOK FAIR IN MALAGA 10 - 19 MAY

Another year is being celebrated the Book Fair in many Spanish cities, the annual meeting with news
of the publishing world and bookselling in general.


In Malaga the Book fair is celebrating from the 10th  to 19th of May its 43 edition in the Palmeral de las Sorpresas. The Book Fair is also a good opportunity to enjoy the beautiful PORT and  of the best view in Malaga during an excellent season.


If you want to find rarities, old books, comics, encyclopedias, and lots more, just wander to  along the port. If you like reading, this is your opportunity to roam about and buy whatever you want.

Around fifty posts turn the Palmeral de las Sorpresas in a great celebration of the written with the presence many local and national authors.