TODAY IS BOXING DAY!!!

Watch this short video to know more about its origins. 

XMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Advertising in the UK is incredible but especially at Christmas. It makes you feel the magic in the air...

SCOTS INDEPENDENCE

As you probably know by now, Scots didn't get the independence from the British. 
Thank God, if not, the Union Jack would end up looking like this...

Last week tonight with John Oliver summarises 
what happened up north very well indeed

MY ADVENT CALENDAR

December: such an exciting month!

I can't help remembering the first time I was given an advent calendar in my life. I just loved it!
Opening those little windows in the calendar gave me the impression that Christmas was coming faster. Maybe it was just an illusion. For me it was wonderful...
Sometimes, it was hard for me to hold my horses and no eating all the chocolates in one sitting.

For those who don't fancy chocolates, there is a  fat-free advent calendar version online.

Go and check:
http://www.pearsonelt.es/adventcalendar/
and I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself as much I did in my teens.

REMEMBER REMEMBER, THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER

Back again after many months away.
Today I'd like to introduce you all to the BONFIRE NIGHT. 
It is a magical night all over the UK. What's going on?
Well, let's go back in time: 400 years ago, a man called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in order to kill King James I. But he was caught and executed. 
Nowadays, people celebrate this date by bonfires, torchlit processions and fireworks. Such an incredible night. 
 A penny for the guy, anyone???

 

    Remember, remember!
    The fifth of November,
    The Gunpowder treason and plot;
    I know of no reason
    Why the Gunpowder treason
    Should ever be forgot!
    Guy Fawkes and his companions
    Did the scheme contrive,
    To blow the King and Parliament
    All up alive.
    Threescore barrels, laid below,
    To prove old England's overthrow.
    But, by God's providence, him they    catch,
    With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
    A stick and a stake
    For King James's sake!
    If you won't give me one,
    I'll take two,
    The better for me,
    And the worse for you.
    A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
    A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
    A pint of beer to wash it down,
    And a jolly good fire to burn him.
    Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
    Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
    Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray! 

UNDER THE WEATHER

Coming back home from the sunny Málaga is hard but it didn't help at all to get rainy days AGAIN when the spring time was out there.
Anyway, the weather! (always an easy topic for small talk)
There are zillions of weather idioms in the English language, but I'd like to introduce here the ones I found more useful:


-TO FEEL/BE UNDER THE WEATHER: not to feel very well. Feel sick

- TO SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY: to keep it for when it will be needed


- TO HAVE THE HEAD IN THE CLOUDS: to have unrealistic ideas

- TO HAVE A FACE LIKE THUNDER: to be really angry

- IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS: to have really big problems

- TO CHASE RAINBOWS: to go after something that will never happen

- A STORM IN A TEACUP: a person exaggerates their problems

- EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING: there is always something positive about it

THE APPLE OF MY EYE

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. This is related to...

America is going CRONUTS!!!

Honestly, I didn't know the word CRONUT existed until 10 mins ago.
I was checking a website and it came up.
A cronut is Dominique Ansel's creation (a mixture between a croissant and a doughnut)
People in New York have been queueing to try this new creation. I can't wait to have them in Spain...
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/ultimate-food-craze-america-cronuts-19535819

HOGMANAY

Scots have their own way to celebrate New Year's Eve and they have a name for it: Hogmanay.

Watch the video below to see how they celebrate this special date.
If you want to know a little more about this tradition click here:
http://www.hogmanay-edinburgh.com/