International Happiness Day

Last 20th of March, we celebrated the first International Happiness Day. This day has been established to promote the idea that all human beings seek happiness and it is a goal that all the governments should take into account when designing their political and socio-economic policies.

This initiative to declare a day of happiness came from Bhutan, the birthplace of the concept of the Gross National Happiness Index (GNH), which rejects the sheer use of economic and material wealth as an indicator of development rather than a more holistic outlook, where spiritual well-being of citizens and communities is given much more importance and influence.

Therefore, if we had to decide or measure our degree of happiness, what would you say? I'd say I'm definitely happy. Check some answers to this question by clicking here. 

Marcus Aurelius said "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." What do you think? 

Undoubtedly, getting up every morning and fight for our life seems to be exceedingly difficult nowadays, but instead of blaming society or even ourselves for it,  we have to count our blessings and try to help ourselves so as to be able to help others achieve this goal. But, do we have the possibility of being happy inside us? Is it a question of attitude and way of thinking or not? Is the way society has developed what makes us feel unhappy?

Common, guys, smile, think a little bit and leave your comments.

To my Valentine

Today's St Valentine's Day and maybe you are celebrating it in a special way or simply you seem to be more enthusiastic with your partner than usual.

I can deny I'm quite a romantic person myself and that romanticism defies us to become somebody completely different from what we are. We usually start a relationship thinking that we will learn a lot of things from and with the other person, maybe secretly and constantly looking for signs of approval. However, in the end, we end up learning more than somewhat about ourselves.

Yes, it is love that moves the world, it's not money, work, ... It provides us with physical and mental health and "a place" to belong to or cope well. If you are lucky enough so as to meet your better half, you will be able to share not only great moments together but also relatives, household chores, professions, money, ... all that which can make us more mature or sink so low as not to get over love again. But, when love ends, you cannot point fingers or blame anybody for it, not even yourself. The only thing that you can do is to try to find someone who can value the sheer pleasure of knowing that you were made for him/her as well as to put things behind you.

Yesterday was the day devoted to single people and heartbroken souls. Today is the day for those in love. A lot has been said and written about Saint Valentine and its celebration. Everybody has their own opinion and feelings about it but in case you want to find out a bit more about Saint Valentine, click here and watch the video.

Although love makes men and women equal, the way to perceive it is different many times. Beyoncé found a way to put some feelings into words if she was in a boy's shoes.  Here's the song.

Obviously, there are loads of songs with different views of love and I could have chosen others. Maybe it's your turn and you can suggest some of them for Saint Valentine's Day.

Finally, just to thank my Valentine this year for the wonderful and delicious red rose given. ;-)

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. 

Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday and is therefore the final day before the beginning of Lent, a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday.

It is traditional that people in the UK eat pancakes, toss pancakes or participate in pancake races. 

The origins of eating pancakes started with Christians who observed Lent and wanted to use up all the rich foods in their cupboards before it. During Lent, eggs, sugar and butter were not allowed so these ingredients were used to make pancakes.

Today everyone celebrates Pancake Day regardless of religion. 

 As you can see in the photograph, an English pancake is a thin, flat cake made of butter and fried in a frying pan. In films you can see that it is normally served from the frying pan.

Caster sugar (superfine sugar) is sprinkled over the top and a dash of fresh lemon juice added. The pancake is then rolled. Some people put golden syrup or jam on their pancakes. 

Click here for the recipe.

Pancake races are held all over England. The object of the race is to get to the finishing line first while flipping a pancake in a frying pan a pre-decided number of times. The skill lies not so much in the running of the race but in flipping and catching the pancake, which must be intact when the finishing line is reached.

The most famous pancake race takes place at Olney. According to tradition, in 1445 a woman of Olney heard the shriving bell while she was making pancakes and ran to the church in her apron, still clutching her frying pan.

The Olney pancake race is now world famous. Competitors have to be local housewives and they must wear an apron and a hat or scarf.

Each contestant has a frying pan containing a hot, cooking pancake. She must toss it three times during the race that starts at the market square at 11.55 am. The first woman to complete the 375-metre course (the record is 63 seconds set in 1967) and arrive at the church, serve her pancake to the bell ringer, and be kissed by him, is the winner. She also receives a prayer book from the vicar.

The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

Whether you are Christian or not, don't miss the opportunity to taste a pancake. So, indulge yourselves!!! 

Groundhog Day

 

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!