The story of Girls Aloud

Great Britain is famous for its music and the impact it has done on the world music. Today I found a very interesting document showing the story of Girls Aloud-a pop girl group created through the talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. I have always perceived them as five random girls who were created to look nice and smile when asked to. After watching this documentary I realised that I was wrong. They worked reallyhard to be who they are now. Whether I like it or not they are a part of British culture and everyone who's interested in it should watch the documentary. It's worth seeing what these five grown-up women have to say about the past 10 years they have spent on stage.

The Harry Potter Shop opened on platform 9¾

There is no better news than this: The Harry Potter Shop was opened yesterday at King's Cross Station, London. The best thing about that is that the shop was opened  at Platform 9¾ (almost). It looks like the Wand Shop imagined by JK Rowling and you can get all Harry-style accessorize. Thanks God Christmas' coming. What would you like to get? A generic Ollivander's wand? Replicas of the wands used by the cast in the films - Harry's, Ron's, Hermione's, the professors', or even the Triwizard champions' wands? Or maybe a time turner, a small Triwizard cup and a display of Horcruxes? There are much more things available. I guess the opening of the Harry Potter Shop on platform 9¾ is like a dream came true for all Harry fans.

Those who don't know why all are so excited about Platform 9¾ watch this video to get the clue:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeDMiSniO0s?rel=0&w=640&h=480]

Christmas Mode On!

I woke up and started thinking about Christmas time in England. It's December already so all the street are decorated with Christmas lights, window displays show different Christmas scenes, people wear Christmas knitwear and yet again you can hear George Micheal singing what and whom he gave last Christmas. I love walking on the Oxford Street and on the Regent's Street as it feels like you are walking under a massive Christmas Tree. I am lying under my thick and warm duvet and right from my bed I have a beautiful view of the city covered with snow. It's -15 and to be honest - from my position - I don't mind :)



I did a little research about Christmas and here's a selection of interesting articles  I read in the morning:

Christmas gift guide: unique ideas for every budget – interactive

The Guardian's interactive guide to Christmas gifts. I think it's very handy and much more better than the mall's chase for the best present ever.

Sufjan Stevens – Holly Jolly Christmas

What would Christmas be without music?

The week ahead: Mega Monday and the annual festive game of cat and mouse

It's jingle tills time: there are just 15 shopping days to go until Christmas and, as retailers like to say at this time of year, it's all to play for.



The Best Christmas Recipes

BBC Food won't let you down and will make you Christmas  very, very tasty!

A Brief History of the English Language

I am very busy from Monday to Friday so the only time for planning the  lessons I have  at the weekends. This time (I don't know why) I had no ideas what should I teach and what students really want to learn.  I decided to  explain my students where does the English language come from:) I found this fantastic video made by The Open University and want to share it with my readers :)

I also want to give you some example of the words which are English (now) but come from other languages:

•  Native Americans

squash, pecan, chipmunk, moose, racoon, skunk, moccasin, pow-wow, wigwam, squaw,
tomahawk, to walk the Indian file, to be on the warpath, to send out smoke signals

•   Spanish

canyon, mesa, ranch, stampede, rodeo, tornado,

•  French

caribou, prairie, depot, cent, dime, bureau

• Dutch

waffle, cookie, coleslaw, boss, snoop

• German

sauerkraut, frankfurter, hamburger, kindergarten, noodle, No way!, Can be! Will do!

I have to admitt: I really  miss "A History of the English Language" lectures!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3r9bOkYW9s?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

90 years of the BBC

Look what I've found on www.telegraph.co.uk !

It's 90 years of BBC on pictures.

Do you recognise these people? Have a try and than check your answers on the website



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

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Jessie Ware- just another reason to be thankful for British music

I'm in love

I'm speechless

There are no words to describe her music.

Let the music speak.



[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJkddvJ4L4?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyY5upiRO8Q?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvlFWmvgeVI?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Photos takes from Jessie Ware's facebook page

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Life in Five Seconds: Over 200 Stories for Those With No Time to Waste by Quercus

"Life in Five Seconds: Over 200 Stories for Those With No Time to Waste" was published on 1st  November by based in London Quercus and it's definitely a must have for those who love books and graphics.

This collection of ingenious pictograms made by H-57 (a creative studio who deals with design, advertising and illustration)  covers on its 256 pages the world's most famous events, inventions, great lives, places, animals and cultural icons. You know them for sure so now you should see the pictograms.

Here's the description taken from lifeinfiveseconds.com

In our jet-fuelled, caffeine-induced, celebrity-a-minute world, who actually has the time to learn a thing or two?

C’mon, let’s face it, life’s too bloody short.

What you need is instant knowledge.

Life in Five Seconds takes 200 world events, inventions, great lives, places, animals and cultural icons that you really need to know about, and then, hey presto!, cuts away all the useless details.

The Last Supper, Lady Gaga, the moon landings, the Mona Lisa, the invention of electricity, Ikea, the Berlin Wall, celebrity chefs and everything in-between. This is the perfect gift for anyone with a sense of humour … and a short attention span.

So it's easy now: don't waste time, buy the book, download the Quercus Eye app and bring the stories to life.

Hmm.. I already know what I'm getting for Xmas... do you ?:)























If you want to see more extracts before getting the book check this link for more!

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