Miracle of the Hudson

Those pupils who are in the advanced level won't need to read forward to know what this entry is about, but in case you are in the intermediate level, go on reading.

On the fifteenth of January, 2009, one hundred and five people on board US Airways flight 1549 lived their worst moment of their lives. After their plane had taken off from LaGuardia airport, a flock of birds struck the plane, damaging the engines. The only possibility for the pilot, Captain Chelsey B. Sullenberger, was to try to land the plane as soon and as safely as possible. And ... HE DID IT!!! He landed in the Hudson River avoiding having caused a catastrophe if he had hit nearby buildings.

A few seconds after being "thumped" by the big dark brown birds, the pilot took over the controls and set the aircraft down so smoothly on the water that the flight attendants compared it to an ordinary "hard landing" on a runway, as they said.

This item of news was breaking news around the world and the BBC, among other TV channels, broadcast some documentaries about this "miraculous landing".

Here is the first part of the BBC documentary. It's very easy to understand, so don't miss it!!!

If you want to find out more about it, click on the following links, I now avoid so as not to tire you out.

BBC - Miracle of the Hudson - Part 2

BBC- Miracle of the Hudson - Part 3

BBC - Miracle of the Hudson - Part 4

BBC - Miracle of the Hudson - Part 5

Well, what do you think?  What would you have done if you had been in Captain Sullenberger's shoes? Go back to LaGuardia airport? Try to land at Teterboro airport? The Hudson River? 

Have you ever been involved in a really difficult situation? 

Leave your comments, whether based on your own experience or on another item of news.

Accident-prone or simply clumsy?

Who are you? Are you accident-prone or a clumsy person? 

I consider myself a clumsy person. If there's something I can trip on, you can bet I'll trip on it. It's always embarrassing if you are in front of other people or even standing in front of pupils (I still remember the day I banged into the desk and hurt my leg) but that's the way I am.

As you know, I don't like taking risks and try to be as careful as I can in order not to have many accidents. But what about you? Who's the most accident-prone person you know?

In case you're missing some listening practice on this entry, click here and you'll be able to listen to a man telling his friend about all his Friday mishaps. Were the guys clumsy? How would you have solved the situation? With a bunch of flowers? (Don't forget to check the script and pay attention to any new expression!!)

Write about your experience with accidents and how you sorted them out, it can be funny??

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hi there!

How are the after-effects of New Year's Day going? Guess a bit better, or maybe with a severe hangover?

My best wishes for this New Year and it doesn't matter that it's thirteen or if you are superstitious or not. I'll bet loads of good things are ahead for you all and you''ll know how to make the most of every single day in 2013.

Celebrations in Times Square (New York 2013)

Do you know the traditional Scottish song "All Lang Syne"? It's sung on New Year's Eve. It starts with a rhetorical question reflecting on whether it is right that old times be forgotten, and it is generally interpreted as a way to remember long-standing friendships. It's supposedly to be written or at least, based on a poem by Robert Burns and the custom of singing it was quickly spread to other parts of the world by the Scots and Irish people, not to mention English and Welsh people, who emigrated around the world taking the song with them.

This is the song with the lyrics.

Obviously, there are innumerable versions of it, including the one by Kenny G, on this link.

In order not to make this first entry of the year too long, just tell you that I'll spend my whole year reading and putting into practice Mr Wonderful's pieces of advice and quotes in the calendar Cristina (my workmate and for some of you, your teacher on Fridays) gave me as a gift to cheer me up last November and I've been looking forward to start using it. Here's an example.

 

Remember this is a very good year to achieve your dreams!