A TRIBUTE TO A GENIUS: WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?

A day with The Jones in Scotland

Today, The Jones have received two new members: Susana and Noelia Jones. They have arrived to Scotland directly from their countries, Austria and Belgium. Now, all the family is united and they're going to start their English course officially.

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. 

Stephen Hawking

The family has played a little to welcome the new members and they have been describing cards with few words. For other hand, The Grandma has explained a curious story about the common origins of the oldest Europeans guards, a story that connects Sant Boi with Scotland; and squares with yards during the Middle Age.

  

There is no unique picture of reality - Stephen Hawking.

It's not possible to understand our History without paying attention to the Middle Age and this is one of the reasons because The Grandma always explains stories about it and pays a lot of attention about words and their meaning and etymology. She has also spoken about her sad feelings because of the last goodbye of Stephen Hawking, one of the most intelligent scientist and without any kind of doubt, the cleverest mind of our century who gave answers to some questions that seemed impossible to resolve.

More information: Stephen Hawking

 

The Jones in Calton Hill, Edinburgh

After paying tribute to Stephen Hawking, Connor MacLoud and his family have offered a Scottish breakfast to welcome The Jones to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and one of the most beautiful European cities.

 

The MacLouds have guided The Jones across the city and they have visited some of the most important sites and taken thousands of photos and selfies.

However difficult life may seem,

there is always something you can do and succeed at. 

Stephen Hawking

The Jones have decided to take profit of their Scottish visit and meet J.K.Rowling and the magic world of Harry Potter. This is the main reason because the family is going to travel to Hogwarts and spend some days in that magic place before visiting the Highlands. They have written about the favourite activities that they want to do in Hogwarts. The list is long and interesting, and The Grandma has a lot of work to prepare this travel but she's not worried because she's in contact with an old friend who is going to help them, Minerva McGonagall, one of the most prestigious masters in Hogwarts and, as her surname indicates, a Scottish woman.

Finally, The Jones have played again to test their vocabulary with Scattergories and The Bomb. It has been a different day before starting the official travel.

Download Edinburgh Guide by The Grandma

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. 

Be curious. 

Stephen Hawking

CATHEDRALS: RESILIENCE AND RESISTANCE TO SHINE

Antoni Gaudí and the Sagrada Família

Today, The Bonds have visited some places in Paris like Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower. They have taken lots of photos and they have had enough time to practise some Telephoning English and Second Conditional. 

The family is working a lot and they need some time to rest and sum up all the information that they are receiving. They have written a little post about Columbus and have listened the interesting presentation of Mariona Bond who has talked about her new future project.  

After all, The Grandma has explained the importance of being the owner of your land during the Middle Age and its influence in our history from then to nowadays in the industrial evolution, and the importance of keeping strong in front of the worst moments to be ready to start a new hope when the moment arrives. 

More information: Second Conditional

Eusebi Güell in Park Güell

All generations have lived hard moments and have passed them resisting and creating the most incredible art, like old cathedrals, from Notre-Dame to the Sagrada Família, like masterpieces from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables to Salvador Espriu's Inici de Càntic en el Temple and being strong and perseverant from The Uffizis to The Medicis; from The Güells to The Bonds.

Tomorrow, The Grandma is going to take a free day to try to resolve some personal business meanwhile the family is continuing visiting the city of love and light which creates a magic triangle with Venice and Barcelona.

Download BCN's Natural Wonder 

Life is not pink but The Bonds are going to offer their colour tone in the city of art and vanguards. We're ready to enjoy the city!

Who knows where the world may turn us, only a fool would say.
Who knows what the fates may have in store.
Follow the light of truth as far as our eyes can see.
How should we know where that may be? How should we know?

Then the angry skies, the battle cries, the sounds of glory,
and for all those years our eyes and ears were filled with tears.

La Sagrada Família the war is won the battle's over.
La Sagrada Família for the lion and the lamb.
La Sagrada Família we thank the lord the danger's over.
La Sagrada Família behold the mighty hand.
La Sagrada Família the night is gone the waiting's over.
La Sagrada Família there's peace throughout the land.

La Sagrada Família, Alan Parson Project 

VISITING THE JEFFERSONIAN? WELL-DONE BONDS!

T. Brennan & S. Booth

Today, The Bonds have practised Past Simple and how to create adjectives with well and bad. The family is working very well and the rythm is incredible. They're going to take a pair of days to consolidate their knowledge before starting the last part of the course.

More information: Past Simple

The Grandma has been explaining sad stories about how science can localize bones under ground thanks to the last technology of the satellites and about the importance of discovering the recent past, talking about it and recovering the memory of all people who suffered the cruelty of war. 

Finally, the family has remembered the case of Tor mountain a tragic story in the Pyrenees which astonished all the neighbours and the whole country.

Tomorrow, the family is going to live one of the most incredible days of the course talking about Maya culture and its relation with Antoni Gaudí and Mallorca and about the importance of chess during the Middle Age.

 I am not leaving until these bones lead me 

to wherever the hell my husband is.

Temperance Brenan

KING ARTHUR, WHEN LITERATURE PROTECTS YOU

King Arthur & His Knights Of The Round Table

Today, The Bonds are in The White House. They're meeting the new President of The USA and his special guest: Queen Elizabeth II. This meeting has been classified like top secret and this is the reason because of we haven't got any kind of photo about the event.

The Bonds have taken advantage of the visit and they're reviewing some Social English, the modal verb Have to and some Relative Pronouns. It's true. You often have to wait much time before the President receives you although you're the special guest star. 

More information: Have to

After the meeting, The Bonds have a created idea about the behaviour of The President and they're writing some comparisons between him and other special people who had strong ideas and did them in a particular way.

MJ has wanted to join the family in this special day and she has asked some questions about the meeting. You know, she's the boss and she needs information.

In addition, The Bonds are talking about how literature has protected communities and countries during the Middle Age. The Grandma is talking about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Orlando Il Furioso, Roland, El Cid Campeador and Tirant lo Blanc, incredible heroes with powerful skills in a dark age, heroes who are part of our History and stories that we have to keep as long as we can. 

 

More information: Historic UK

Finally, Pedro Bond has talked about Horitzó 2020 a new vision about educational system which is very interesting and, perhaps, it's the clue for the closer future.

 Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story;
 And tell it strong and clear if he has not:
 That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
 Called Camelot.
 Camelot! Camelot!

King Arthur

ORCHIDS, KOSHER WINE & JAPANESE SAKE

Today, The Poppins have studied Present Continuous in both forms: Present and Future.  

They have been talking about the evolution and changes in the languages.

More information: 

Present Continuous

They’ve read two more chapters about Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and they’ve started to think in their cooperative. 

They’ve taken some successful examples like Kosher Wines in Capçanes (El Priorat) or Sake in Delta de l’Ebre and The Grandma has remembered an old friend, Raymond, aka Perry, who bought a little island in the Pacific and grew orchids.

Tomorrow, they’re creating some plans for the new cooperative and for their next travel to Brazil. They’re also talking about the Black Virgins in Europe and their possible origin and about the Bubo Bubo, an incredible animal who was a symbol of culture and knowledge during the Middle Age.

My greatest satisfaction in acting on television is to have the opportunity to communicate with the world. 

Raymond Burr

MIDDLE AGE: CREATING A LEGEND

Today, The Holmes have reviewed Past Simple, Used to and First Conditional. They have been practising with some exercises and paying especial attention to the irregular forms.

Don Quixote & Sancho Panza

The Grandma has continued talking about William Shakespeare and Antoni Gaudí, two old friends who she admires a lot and all of the family has talked about the importance of literature in the Middle Age and its capacity of creating heroes like Orlando Il Furioso, el Cid, Roland, Tirant, Don Quijote or King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

More information: First Conditional

More information: Used to

After that, they have described Antoni Gaudí’s works with a memo game.

Download Barcelona's Natural Wonder

Tonight, The Holmes have met the Pope in the Vatican City and they have spent good moments with him, especially Rosa who is a religious woman and Geni who is a… a… a… an excellent partner!

Download Antoni Gaudí's Works

Tomorrow, they’re going to homage Freddie Mercury preparing some songs for the Eurovision Song Contest where they are going to participate very soon.

No legacy is so rich as honesty

– William Shakespeare

REVIEWING THE PAST: TAROT & THE GAME OF THE GOOSE

Occitan Flag

Today, The Holmes have reviewed some grammar: some & any compounds, gerunds and imperative. Before this, they had read another chapter of Oscar Wilde’s The Ghost of Canterbury.

For one hand, they’ve listened to a story about the origin of Tarot; the human corridors in the Middle Age and the importance of monasteries like cultural centres and they’ve paid attention to gerunds and infinitives with state verbs.

For other hand, they’ve created a story based on four characters of Tarot.

By the way, The Holmes are in Sicily enjoying the island and its people: Catania, Taormina, Siracusa, Agrigento… the list is endless.

 Á auga de correr e ós cans de ladrar, non llo podes privar.

 Not forbid dog barking or running water.

Galician Proverb