This is Magalhães!

Nice to meet you Magalhães!
I don't know what Magalhães, the navigator thinks about the idea of naming an object after him...
Who was Magalhães?
He was the navigator in the service of Spain, who commanded the first expedition to circumnavigate the world. (1480-1521)
He discovered the Strait of Magellan. Unfortunately this famous sailor was killed in the Philippines, but his Spanish Companion, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, made the project come true.

Time to read a story

"Then hold on, take deep breath and here we go!"

NESSIE

The Loch Ness Monster, also reffered to as "Nessie", is a creature or group of creatures said to live in Loch Ness, a deep freshwater lake (known in Scotland as a loch) near the city of Inverness. Nessie is generally considered a lake monster. Along with Bigfoot and Yeti, Nessie is perhaps the best-known mystery in cryptozoology...

Horse riding holidays in Scotland

Horse riding holidays in Scotland through the great glens of Scotland, around the vast lochs and across the wild moors is a chance to see Scotland as it should be see, naturally!
Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is bounded by England in the south and on the other three sides by water: by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and north and by the North Sea on the east. Scotland is divided into three physical regions—the Highlands; the Central Lowlands, containing two-thirds of the population; and the Southern Uplands. The western Highland coast is intersected throughout by long, narrow sea lochs, or fjords. Scotland also includes the Outer and Inner Hebrides and other islands off the west coast and the Orkney and Shetland Islands off the north coast.

Happy birthday!

Thanks from Gustavo!(Beautiful!)

My name is Gustavo and I’m almost ten (I’ll be tomorrow).
I am so happy to have a post dedicated to me. Thank you very much. Lots of kisses.
Here is the poem:

Escrevi este pequeno poema.
E foi tão divertido
Que escrevi de tarde e de noite,
Até ter adormecido

Quando o sol estava a nascer
E o dia a clarear
Quis o pequeno-almoço
Mas não o consegui encontrar
(Também já te aconteceu?
Então sabes do que estou a falar).

Estava com alguma fome
E, não sendo coisa minha,
Peguei neste pequeno poema
E dei-lhe uma dentadinha.

Estava tão delicioso
Tão bem que ele sabia!
Que estive a petiscar
Toda a noite e todo o dia.

Quando o sol estava a nascer
E o dia a clarear,
Quis este pequeno poema
Mas não o consegui encontrar.

Escrevi-o outra vez
E foi tão divertido,
Que escrevi de tarde e de noite
Até ter adormecido.

Adivinhaste o que aconteceu a seguir?
Estou certa de teres conseguido.

Events - 28th July 1833

Britain passes the Emancipation Act - abolishing slavery throughout the British Empire.

Drinking tea...

Some people feel that taking a break for tea helps us to slow down, reflect and stop the often hurried pace of our lives. Giving tea parties helps us to celebrate our friendships, teach our children manners and create memories that we will treasure forever. Whether it's a cup of tea and a simple plate of cookies between two friends or an elaborate high tea for honoured guests, it's a special time for all involved!

WELLCOME ANT ARMANDA!!!!!

Dedicated to Gustavo

I Wrote This Little Poem

I wrote this little poem.
It was so much fun to write
that I scribbled through the afternoon,
the evening, and the night.

When the morning sun was rising
and the sky was growing light,
I went searching for some breakfast
but no breakfast was in sight.
(If you've ever needed breakfast
then you'll understand my plight.)
I was feeling fairly famished
so, although it isn't right,
I picked up this little poem
and I took a tiny bite.
It was utterly delicious!
It was such a sheer delight
that I nibbled through the afternoon,
the evening, and the night.

When the morning sun was rising
and the sky was growing light,
I went searching for this poem
but no poem was in sight.
So I wrote it down again and
it was so much fun to write
that I scribbled through the afternoon,
the evening, and the night.

If you think you know what happened next,
I think you may be right.

Kenn Nesbitt
Dear Gustavo: I know you love poetry. Next year you may start writing your poems in English. Laura will be a great help and she will be very proud. Happy Summer Holidays, Gustavo!

Time to read poetry

On the Thirty Third of Januaugust

On the thirty third of Januaugust,
right before Octember,
a strange thing didn't happen
that I always won't remember.

At eleven in the afternoon,
while making midnight brunch,
I poured a glass of sandwiches
and baked a plate of punch.

Then I climbed up on my head to see
the silver sky of green,
and danced around my feet because
I'd turned eleventeen.

A parade began to end
and music started not to play,
as rain came out and snowed all night
that warm and sunny day.

That was how it didn't happen
as I keenly don't remember,
on the thirty third of Januaugust,
right before Octember.

Kenn NesbittThe beach on the thirty-third of Januaugust

Bon appetit !

FISH AND CHIPS

This is England's most famous dish. Cod or pollack are the traditional fish, but you can use sole, flounder, or whitefish fillets. It is imperative, however, that you purchase a tabloid newspaper to serve your finished product.
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
4 - 6 ounces ale
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups vegetable oil for frying
4 large russet potatoes
2 pounds fish fillets, cut in half, crosswise

Preheat oven to 250° F.
Prepare batter: Mix flour, cornmeal and salt together. Add ale and mix well. Batter should be thin.
Cut potatoes in even, finger-sized pieces.
Heat oil in deep fryer. DO NOT FILL TO TOP. The potatoes and the fish will cause the oil to bubble. Allow room for the oil to rise.
Cook 1/3 of the potatoes until golden brown, about five minutes. Drain on paper towels. Place in warmed oven. Repeat process until potatoes are done. Do not put in too many potatoes at a time. It will cool the oil too much.
Dip fish in batter, allowing excess to drip off. Fry in batches until golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in oven until all fish are cooked.
Wrap in tabloid newspaper shaped like a cone. If lacking, a plate will have to suffice.
Serve with a sprinking of malt vinegar.
Serves: 4

Hi H....!

This is for you...

This summer you can visit India...

If is that so, you will need a map!

I hope you like it!

Strong as an ant!

An ant can lift 20 times its own body weight.

What do the stars think about us?

The Sun returns to its home sign today, roaring its way into heart-centered Leo at 6:54 am EDT. The midsummer Sun exhibits the true power of intent, relentlessly showing up high in the sky day after day. In a way, we can all be like flowers in full bloom now, boldly demonstrating our beauty. Mercury's easy trine to electric Uranus enables us to flash our intelligence, yet the dreamy Pisces Moon reminds us that what's hidden is also important.text:here

Happy birthday!

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative democratic elections. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress and its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. He spent 27 years in prison, much of it on Robben Island, on convictions for crimes that included sabotage committed while he spearheaded the struggle against apartheid.
Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.
Mandela has frequently credited Mahatma Gandhi for being a major source of inspiration in his life, both for the philosophy of non-violence and for facing adversity with dignity.
He was born on 18th July. Happy Birthday!

Joke of the week

How does an elephant get down from a tree?
It sits on a leaf and waits for autumn.

There must be an answer!

And what about "our friend France"?

Bastille Day 14 July 2008France

Vive le Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!
"Aux armes, citoyens!"

What happens when you starve your masses, lock them up, ignore them, or even worse, patronise them? They kind off loose their cool, storm the nearest prison, free the inhouse talent and learn to say "off with their heads!" That’s exactly what the Parisian ordinaire figured out for himself - with a little philosophical and theoretical help from resident brains. Post storming the Bastille, the hoi polloi loaded a few hundred fatcats into tumbrils and sent them off to the nearest guillotine for a quick cut and shave.
When heads begin to roll, its time to up and out and that exactly what the king and his merry men tried to do. At least, some did and some didn’t. Louis XVI and the one and only Marie Antoinette got their comeuppance, or as some would say, finally lost their heads together. Minus a royal head, France became a republic. Whether the French got what they deserved, ours not to say, but at least there were many more heads to roll the next time round.
Still, the French had so much fun, they decided to make it an annual event (the party, not the tantrums). Once rollin’ heads became passé, it was okay to bring out the hardware, flex a few military muscles and flash some fireworks. Those that can, do. Those that can’t hang around the Left Bank, the Right Bank, under the Eiffel Tower, around the Champs Elyseés and wherever there’s some space left to light up a gauloise and drink some champagne.

Vive la revolution!
Mais, Oui!

Have a magnifique Bastille Day!

All together

Em Português é mais simples e, afinal, somos todos, neste departamento, professores de Português!
Amanhã vamos estar juntos pela última vez, num daqueles encontros que formalizam os nossos laços da pior maneira. Era preferível organizarmo-nos em five-o'clock-work-tea, em vez de chamarmos a este encontro o nome burocrático que tem: Reunião de Departamento.
Felizmente, não presido. A Paula fá-lo, com certeza, muito melhor do que eu e eu agradeço-lhe o empenho e o profissionalismo com que se dedicou a esta tarefa para mim muito ingrata.
Infelizmente, não faço parte neste momento, formalmente falando. Mas, do ponto de vista pessoal e humano, sei que pertenço e faço parte. Nunca na vida tinha tido estas certezas! Nunca na vida tinha sentido que a Humanidade a que pertencemos, em dose restrita, um grupo de amigos, como é o caso, uma família, nos pode "aguentar", nos pode ajudar a atravessar um ribeiro, um rio e até um deserto.
E eu não queria que o ano lectivo acabasse sem vos dizer que vos estou muito, muito grata, por todas as ajudas que vieram, em formas de palavras, de gestos, que transformaram os momentos mais difíceis em momentos tremendamente felizes, que dissiparam as dúvidas, que fortaleceram as fraquezas, e que, no seu conjunto, mudaram definitivamente o rumo das coisas. Nestes quase três meses, nunca me senti sozinha, nunca me senti afastada, distante desta vida que também é minha, claro! Nunca se quebrou o nosso contacto e a maioria sabe tudo o que aconteceu ao longo destes meses: ao vivo e a cores, por sms, pelo telefone, por mail. Fosse como fosse, senti que estávamos sempre com a humanidade da relação de amizade perfeitamente actualizada!
Que mais posso dizer para além de “obrigada”?
Queria que lessem ou ouvissem a minha gratidão, como eu a sinto: uma emoção muito forte que me faz feliz.
Se alguma coisa mudou em mim foi mesmo a auto-estima que está em alta, que é um grande combustível para grandes travessias.
All together faz cada vez mais sentido. Parece ter sido premonitório.
All together now and for ever!

It's July!

"Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers."Sara Coleridge, "Months"Summer is a fun time but it is also a time to be wary of preventable injuries and conditions.
Sun is fun, but, please, take care.
If you go to the beach don't forget your sunscreen lotion, specially on the most exposed parts - the lips, face, neck, shoulders, back, knees and tops of feet.
take the cap and if it's to hot, wear a t-shirt. Your shoulders will thank you for that.
This is very important: we're talking about YOU!