MARI CARMEN, JEAN-BAPTISTE, MARC AND EUROVISION

Jean-Baptiste Nicolás Robert Schuman

Mari Carmen is our postwoman. She was born in Luxembourg, in a suburb near The European Parliament site, and in the native country of Jean-Baptiste Nicolás Robert Schuman, one of the European Union fathers. Perhaps, this was the reason which boosted her to choose this job: carry news up and down! 

Mari Carmen speaks German, French and Luxembourg, the three official languages in this small country, the richest of the EU. Mari Carmen’s idol Marc Girardelli has been an important inspiration in her main hobby: skiing. She’s preparing herself for the next Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Do you know that Luxembourg is the second country in the Eurovision winner-ranking? Yes. It won in 1961, 1965, 1972, 1973 and 1983. Wow!

The EU Official Site

DAVID, ABBA, GRETA & ROXETTE: SWEDISH STYLE

Greta Garbo

David, our surgeon, was born in Sweden the native country of Greta Garbo, Max Von Sydow or Ingrid Bergman but also of Europe, Roxette or Stieg Larsson. 

He’s the Nordic archetype: blond, blue eyes and terribly charming. Nobody resists him. His job enables the possibility of traveling around the world. He’s not a normal surgeon. He’s one of the best plastic surgeons. He’s created and retouched hundreds of famous people and his results are better than no Photoshop. 

One day, David got bored about these superficial people and, inspired in one ABBA’s song, his favourite group, decided to change his live and dedicate it to help without receiving anything.

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving

Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you

ABBA

BRITISH CELEBRITIES (VIII): SHERLOCK HOLMES

Sherlock Holmes

Elementary, My Dear Watson

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional and bohemian character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish physician and writter. Holmes was the most prestigious detective in London at the end of the XIX Century thanks to his ability using forensic science (shoe and tire impressions, handwriting analysis, ballistics, and fingerprints) and logical reasoning for solving the most difficult cases. 

He doesn’t work alone. John Watson, a physician, is his partner. Both of them live at 221B Baker Street.

Sherlock Holmes is considered the most portrayed movie character by Guiness World Records with more than 70 actors playing him in over 200 films.

It is simplicity itself... My eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey.

More information: Sherlock Holmes Site

LAURA & MÍSIA: PORTUGUESE HOMESICKNESS

Mísia

Laura is our filmmaker. Because of her job, she traveled around the world constantly and knew lots of people. She still remembers her first audition playing the role of Ilsa Lund, the main Casablanca’s character in Porto’s Rivoli Theatre in her hometown. It was a great success and catapulted her to Hollywood. 

Laura loves fados and carries her land deeply in her heart. She travels accompanied by Mísia’s full discography for hedging in her own thinking.

One night, while she was listening to a fado, she thought about her life and loneliness and had an emotional crisis. Then, she decided to leave her career aside for an undetermined time and return next to her lovely family. Nowadays, she is living in Sant Boi.

More information: Mísia Home Page

And no matter what the progress
Or what may yet be proved
The simple facts of life are such
They cannot be removed.

MONTSE, AUDREY & HÉRCULE: BREAKFAST IN BELGIUM

Audrey Hepburn

Montse (aka The Second) is our farmer. 

She was born in Belgium as Audrey Hepburn and she wanted to be an actress and a UNICEF ambassadress as her but one day, in a scholar visit to the country lands she discovered her real passion: the animals and the agriculture. 

She’s vegetarian, of course, and belongs to an undefined number of Protective Animal Associations. She has three Maltese dogs which escort her everywhere. 

Moreover, she is a fanatic of Hércule Poirot, the Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie.

More information: UNICEF

GOD SAVE THE GRANDMA'S FAMILY!

Attila

Today, we’ve reviewed Present Simple vs. Present Continuous, adopted a lovely pet, created new compounds (well/bad+adjective), read a chapter of the Nicky and Pete’s history and before finishing the class, we’ve received the incredible visit of MJ and Her Majesty the Queen. David is still ill but today M. Carmen has returned at class. She has passed her exam. 

In a few hours, we’ll have the latest news about Montse (aka The Second), Laura and M. Carmen who have joined to the Grandma’s Family Twitter recently.

More information: Present Simple & Present Continuous Exercise

Have a nice evening!

 

Good save Queen forever!

MONTSE POTTERY & INSPECTOR GADGET: LIVE IS LIFE

Michael Schumacher

Latest news from the family!

Montse (aka Montse Pottery, because she’s graduate in Chemistry) is our mechanic. It’s normal. She was born in Germany, the giant of automobile industry. Montse loves all kind of machines (cars, motorbikes, planes, washing-machines, mixers…) and she admires Inspector Gadget, a French cartoon of the 80’s and Michael Schumacher, the best driver of the history, sources of inspiration for her.

Nowadays, she’s living with her family in Sant Boi and she’s working as a volunteer in the Barcelona-Catalonia’s Circuit of Montmeló, near Barcelona. 

Which is her dream? Create a motor team and manage it. She knows she will do it. 

Why? Because she is a girl full of energy: Live is life.

When we all give the power
we all give the best.
Every minute of an hour
don't think about a rest.
Then you all get the power
you all get the best.

Opus