'FOREVER', HENRY MORGAN & JO MARTÍNEZ IN ACTION

Today, The Grandma has been enjoying one of her favourite TV Series of all time, Forever, the American fantasy crime drama centered on the characters of Dr. Henry Morgan and Detective Jo Martínez created by Matt Miller.

Forever is an American fantasy crime drama television series that aired on ABC as part of the 2014–15 fall television season.

Created by Matt Miller, it centers on the character of Dr. Henry Morgan, an immortal New York City medical examiner who uses his extensive knowledge to assist the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in solving crimes and to discover a way to end his immortality. Flashbacks within each episode reveal various details of Henry's life.

The series' network aired a sneak preview on September 22, 2014, and resumed the series at 10 p.m. EST on September 23, 2014. Reception of the series was mixed.

In the United States, television critics were divided over the series' similarity to other crime dramas and its premise. In contrast, voters in several online polls ranked the series as one of the best of the television season. Forever's broadcast was well-received in France and Spain.

Although ABC gave the series a full-season episode order on November 7, 2014, it cancelled Forever after one season. ABC cited the show's low ratings as the rationale behind the decision. Television critics believed that other factors explained the network's decision, as the show gained viewers who watched up to seven days later on their DVRs. Fans of the series reacted strongly, creating a social media campaign to save the series; despite these efforts, the series remains canceled.

Dr. Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd) is a New York City medical examiner who studies the dead for criminal cases, and to solve the mystery of his own immortality. His first death was 200 years ago while trying to free slaves as a doctor aboard a ship in the African slave trade. Each time he dies, Henry disappears almost immediately and returns to life naked in a nearby body of water. He has also stopped aging.

Henry's long life has given him broad knowledge and remarkable observation skills which impress most people he encounters, including New York Police Department Detective Jo Martinez (Alana de la Garza). Only antiquarian, Abe (Judd Hirsch), whom Henry and his now-deceased wife Abigail found as a newborn in a German concentration camp during World War II, knows that he is immortal. Henry is stalked by Adam, who is also an immortal, and claims to have been alive for around 2,000 years.

 

As sad and dreadful as death may be,
it forces us to cherish every moment because the truth is...
Life is precious because it's finite.

 Dr. Henry Morgan

 

Ioan Gruffudd as Doctor Henry Morgan.

Born in 1779, Henry is a New York City medical examiner who studies the dead for criminal cases and to solve the mystery of his immortality.

His first death was in 1814 while trying to free slaves as a doctor aboard a ship in the African slave trade. Since that time, Henry disappears each time he dies and returns to life naked in a nearby body of water.

He has been married twice; his first wife Nora, whom he married before he became immortal, had him committed to an asylum, and his second wife, Abigail, whom he met during the Second World War and remained with until 1984, when she left to find somewhere they could be together without being judged for Abigail's apparently greater age.

He abandoned his original career as a doctor in 1956 after he and a butcher were shot; Henry chose to crawl away and die instead of trying to save the other man because he feared others finding out his secret. Although knowledgeable about many topics, Henry demonstrates a general lack of knowledge about modern popular culture. He also dislikes cell phones but will use one if necessary.

Alana de la Garza as Detective Jo Martínez.

Jo is a sharp, no-nonsense, determined detective with the NYPD who is both intrigued and disgusted by Henry's detailed medical knowledge when examining a corpse.

She finds his behavior to be out there, but still relies on his insight for solving homicides. Originating from a rough background with a law-breaking father, she is also a recent widow; her husband was a lawyer who died of an unexpected heart attack while running on a treadmill on a visit to Washington a year before she met Henry. She is stationed at the 11th Precinct.

Joel David Moore as Lucas Wahl.

Henry's assistant in the Medical Examiner's office, who expresses uncertainty about how little he knows about his boss, and an uncanny memory for his daily activities. He studied film in college before working in the medical examiner's office. He makes horror films in his spare time.

Lucas tends to use popular culture references in his speech, many of which Henry does not understand.

 

Donnie Keshawarz as Detective Mike Hanson.

Jo's partner, who is stationed at the 11th Precinct. He was in a band when he was younger. He is married and has two sons. He also has a brother.

 

Judd Hirsch as Abraham "Abe" Morgan.

Henry's adopted son and main confidant. No one knows Dr. Henry Morgan better than his son, Abe. The keeper of Henry's immortality secret, although he has claimed that he worked with Henry's father to explain their association to strangers. At the end of World War II, he was rescued from Belsen, after surviving a death march from Auschwitz.

He currently owns an antique store where Henry uses the basement for his immortality research on himself. Abe fought in the Vietnam War and has a two-time ex-wife named Maureen Delacroix (Jane Seymour). 

Abe's research into his family tree revealed that he is a distant relative of Henry's, as one of his ancestors was the illegitimate son of Henry's womanizing uncle.

 

Lorraine Toussaint as Lieutenant Joanna Reece. 

Jo and Hanson's supervisor at the 11th Precinct.

 

MacKenzie Mauzy as Abigail Morgan.

Henry's second wife and Abe's adoptive mother. 

Henry met her toward the end of World War II when they were working as medical personnel near one of the Nazi concentration camps. Over the years, she worked as a nurse in addition to being a housewife.

The latest time period in which Abigail has been shown is 1982, when she was still married to Henry but looked a generation older than he (Janet Zarish); in 1984, she vanished without a trace despite Henry's best efforts to find her. Henry has acknowledged that the end of his relationship with Abigail caused him a lot of pain that prevents him from dating anyone for whom he has real feelings.

 

Burn Gorman as Lewis Farber/Adam.

A 2,000-year-old immortal who claims that he has been here since the beginning and that he has not found a death for himself. Analysis of his blood revealed that he had contracted several extinct diseases, including the bubonic plague.

Adam was tortured as part of the Nazis' research into his immortality, leaving him with a hatred of the Nazis and a sympathy for other Holocaust survivors, including Abe. Adam first appeared as Henry's appointed psychiatrist and convinced a patient that he could pass on his immortality.

Adam continued to try to find a lost dagger, one that not only caused Adam's first death but also was used to kill Julius Caesar. Adam appears in five episodes.

More information: Nine

 

Yes, some memories are precious...
and we need to hang on to them.
But Emily Dickinson wrote,
'Forever is composed of nows,' and she's right.
If we root ourselves too deeply in the past,
we'll miss what's right in front of us.

Dr. Henry Morgan

HENRY MORGAN, A WELSH PRIVETEER IN THE CARIBBEAN

Today, The Grandma has been reading about an amazing figure, Henry Morgan, the Welsh privateer and Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, who captured Panama.

Sir Henry Morgan, in Welsh Harri Morgan, (c. 1635-25 August 1688) was a Welsh privateer, plantation owner, and, later, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. From his base in Port Royal, Jamaica, he raided settlements and shipping on the Spanish Main, becoming wealthy as he did so. With the prize money from the raids he purchased three large sugar plantations on the island.

Much of Morgan's early life is unknown. He was born in Monmouthshire, but it is not known how he made his way to the West Indies, or how he began his career as a privateer.

He was probably a member of a group of raiders led by Sir Christopher Myngs in the early 1660s during the Anglo-Spanish War. Morgan became a close friend of Sir Thomas Modyford, the Governor of Jamaica. When diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of England and Spain worsened in 1667, Modyford gave Morgan a letter of marque, a licence to attack and seize Spanish vessels.

Morgan subsequently conducted successful and highly lucrative raids on Puerto Principe (now Camagüey in modern Cuba) and Porto Bello (now Portobelo in modern Panama).

In 1668, he sailed for Maracaibo and Gibraltar, both on Lake Maracaibo in modern-day Venezuela. He raided both cities and stripped them of their wealth before destroying a large Spanish squadron as he escaped.

In 1671, Morgan attacked Panama City, landing on the Caribbean coast and traversing the isthmus before he attacked the city, which was on the Pacific coast. The battle was a rout, although the privateers profited less than in other raids. To appease the Spanish, with whom the English had signed a peace treaty, Morgan was arrested and summoned to London in 1672, but was treated as a hero by the general populace and the leading figures of government and royalty including Charles II.

Morgan was appointed a Knight Bachelor in November 1674 and returned to the Colony of Jamaica shortly afterward to serve as the territory's Lieutenant Governor. He served on the Assembly of Jamaica until 1683 and on three occasions he acted as Governor of Jamaica in the absence of the post-holder.

A memoir published by Alexandre Exquemelin, a former shipmate of Morgan's, accused him of widespread torture and other offences; Morgan won a libel suit against the book's English publishers, but Exquemelin's portrayal has affected history's view of Morgan. He died in Jamaica on 25 August 1688. His life was romanticised after his death and he became the inspiration for pirate-themed works of fiction across a range of genres.

More information: ThoughtCo

Henry Morgan was born around 1635 in Wales, either in Llanrumney or Pencarn, (both in Monmouthshire, between Cardiff and Newport). The historian David Williams, writing in the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, observes that attempts to identify his parents and antecedents have all proved unsatisfactory, although his will referred to distant relations. Several sources state Morgan's father was Robert Morgan, a farmer.

Nuala Zahedieh, writing for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, states that details of Morgan's early life and career are uncertain, although in later life he stated that he had left school early and was much more used to the pike than the book.

It is probable that in the early 1660s Morgan was active with a group of privateers led by Sir Christopher Myngs attacking Spanish cities and settlements in the Caribbean and Central America when England was at war with Spain. It is likely that in 1663 Morgan captained one of the ships in Myngs' fleet, and took part in the attack on Santiago de Cuba and the Sack of Campeche on the Yucatán Peninsula.

In 1669 Mariana, the Queen Regent of Spain, ordered attacks on English shipping in the Caribbean. The first action took place in March 1670 when Spanish privateers attacked English trade ships.

In response Modyford commissioned Morgan to do and perform all manner of exploits, which may tend to the preservation and quiet of this island.

By December Morgan was sailing toward the Spanish Main with a fleet of over 30 English and French ships carrying a large number of privateers. Zahedieh observes that the army of privateers was the largest that had gathered in the Caribbean at the time, which was a mark of Morgan's renown.

Morgan's first action was to take the connected islands of Old Providence and Santa Catalina in December 1670. From there his fleet sailed to Chagres, the port from which ships were loaded with goods to transport back to Spain. Morgan took the town and occupied Fort San Lorenzo, which he garrisoned to protect his line of retreat.

On 9 January 1671, with his remaining men, he ascended the Chagres River and headed for Old Panama City, on the Pacific Coast. Much of the journey was on foot, through dense rainforests and swamps.

The governor of Panama had been forewarned of a potential attack, and had sent Spanish troops to attack Morgan and his men along the route. The privateers transferred to canoes to complete part of the journey, but were still able to beat off the ambushes with ease.

After three days, with the river difficult to navigate in places, and with the jungle thinning out, Morgan landed his men and travelled overland across the remaining part of the isthmus.

The privateers, including Captain Robert Searle, arrived at Old Panama City on 27 January 1671; they camped overnight before attacking the following day. They were opposed by approximately 1,200 Spanish infantry and 400 cavalry; most were inexperienced.

Morgan sent a 300-strong party of men down a ravine that led to the foot of a small hill on the Spanish right flank. As they disappeared from view, the Spanish front line thought the privateers were retreating, and the left wing broke rank and chased, followed by the remainder of the defending infantry. They were met with well-organised firing from Morgan's main force of troops. When the party came into view at the end of the ravine, they were charged by the Spanish cavalry, but organised fire destroyed the cavalry and the party attacked the flank of the main Spanish force.

In an effort to disorganise Morgan's forces, the governor of Panama released two herds of oxen and bulls onto the battlefield; scared by the noise of the gunfire, they turned and stampeded over their keepers and some of the remaining Spanish troops. The battle was a rout: the Spanish lost between 400 and 500 men, against 15 privateers killed.

Panama's governor had sworn to burn down the city if his troops lost to the privateers, and he had placed barrels of gunpowder around the largely wooden buildings. These were detonated by the captain of artillery after Morgan's victory; the resultant fires lasted until the following day.

More information: ThoughtCo

Only a few stone buildings remained standing afterwards. Much of Panama's wealth was destroyed in the conflagration, although some had been removed by ships, before the privateers arrived.

The privateers spent three weeks in Panama and plundered what they could from the ruins. Morgan's second-in-command, Captain Edward Collier, supervised the torture of some of the city's residents; Morgan's fleet surgeon, Richard Browne, later wrote that at Panama, Morgan was noble enough to the vanquished enemy.

The value of treasure Morgan collected during his expedition is disputed. Talty writes that the figures range from 140,000 to 400,000 pesos, and that owing to the large army Morgan assembled, the prize-per-man was relatively low, causing discontent.

There were accusations, particularly in Exquemelin's memoirs, that Morgan left with the majority of the plunder.

He arrived back in Port Royal on 12 March to a positive welcome from the town's inhabitants. The following month he made his official report to the governing Council of Jamaica, and received their formal thanks and congratulations.

Morgan died on 25 August 1688; Albemarle ordered a state funeral, and laid Morgan's body at King's House for the public to pay respects. An amnesty was declared so that pirates and privateers could pay their respects without fear of arrest. He was buried at Palisadoes cemetery, Port Royal, followed by a 22-gun salute from the ships moored in the harbour. Morgan was a wealthy man when he died. His personal wealth was valued at £5,263.

His will initially left his plantations and slaves to his wife, Mary Elizabeth, but because they were childless, on her death his estate was to pass to his nephews, the children of his brother-in-law Byndloss. The burial of Lady Morgan was recorded in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica on 3 March 1696.

More information: The Way of the Pirates

 

All that is needed for the publication
of a daily newspaper is ambition,
honesty and 10 million dollars.

Henry Morgan

D-DAY, THE MORGANS & A2 CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH EXAM

Today, The Morgans & The Grandma are in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. 

After some days enjoying Hogwarts, the D-Day has arrived and The Morgans have an interesting adventure to live: an A2 Cambridge English Exam.

 

Many thanks to Andrea, Elsa, Cristina, Joan, Jordi, Jose, José Luis, Kehiny, Lídia, Sandra, Valentina, Vanessa, Veronica and Xènia for trusting this project.

Thanks to MJ and Mercè for a great coordination, Yolanda for keeping the classroom always ready and to Óscar for taking care of our computers.

Long live The Morgans and good luck in Caribbean lands!

 

Cambridge Assessment English or Cambridge English develops and produces Cambridge English Qualifications and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The organisation contributed to the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the standard used around the world to benchmark language skills, and its qualifications and tests are aligned with CEFR levels.

Cambridge Assessment English is part of Cambridge Assessment, a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge which merged with Cambridge University Press to form Cambridge University Press & Assessment in August 2021.

Each Cambridge English Qualifications focuses on a level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

English qualifications designed for adult learners. A2 Key, B1 Preliminary and B2 First have the same exam format as the schools versions of these qualifications, but use different topics and content suited to adult learners.

In the 1980s Cambridge Assessment English, the British Council and IDP Education formed the international IELTS partnership which delivers the IELTS tests.

More information: Cambridge English

In 2010 Cambridge Assessment English and the English Language Institute Testing and Certificate Division of the University of Michigan agreed to form a not-for-profit collaboration known as CaMLA (Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments). Cambridge Assessment English owns 65% of the venture.

Since 2011 Cambridge Exams Publishing, a partnership between Cambridge Assessment English and the English Language Teaching (ELT) business of Cambridge University Press, develops official Cambridge preparation materials for Cambridge English and IELTS exams.

In 2013 Cambridge Assessment English formed a joint venture with the Box Hill Institute to deliver the Occupational English Test, known as OET.

In 2019 Cambridge Assessment English acquired English Language iTutoring (ELiT), an artificial intelligence developed off technology from the University of Cambridge, to support new English language assessment products.

Cambridge Assessment English was involved in the early development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and all Cambridge English qualifications and tests are aligned with the levels described by the CEFR.

Each Cambridge English Qualification targets specific CEFR levels but the exam also contains test material at the adjacent levels. For example B2 First is aimed at B2, but there are also test items that cover B1 and C1. This allows for inferences to be drawn about candidates’ abilities if they are a level below or above the one targeted. Candidates are encouraged to take the exam most suitable to their needs and level of ability.

More information: Cambridge English

In 1913 the exam could be taken in Cambridge or London, for a fee of £3 (approximately £293 in 2012 prices). The exam lasted 12 hours and included:

-Translation from English into French or German: 2 hours.

-Translation from French or German into English, and English Grammar: 2.5 hours.

-English Essay: 2 hours.

-English Literature: 3 hours.

-English Phonetics: 1.5 hours.

-Oral test: dictation (30 minutes); reading aloud and conversation (30 minutes).

The main influence behind the design of the exam was the grammar-translation teaching approach, which aims to establish reading knowledge, rather than ability to communicate in the language.

In 1913, the first requirement for CPE candidates was to translate texts. Translation remained prominent in foreign language teaching up until the 1960s. It was a core part of CPE until 1975 and an optional part until 1989.

However, CPE was also influenced by Henry Sweet and his book published in 1900: A Practical Study of Languages: A Guide for Teachers and Learners, which argued that the most natural method of teaching languages was through conversation. Due to this influence, speaking was part of Cambridge English exams from the very beginning.

-1209. University of Cambridge founded.

-1534. Cambridge University Press founded.

-1858. University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) founded.

-1913. Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) introduced. Now known as C2 Proficiency.

-1939. Lower Certificate in English (LCE) introduced. Renamed First Certificate in English (FCE) in 1975 and now known as B2 First.

-1941. Joint agreement with the British Council-British Council centres established.

-1943-1947. Preliminary English Test (PET) introduced. It was reintroduced in 1980 and is now known as B1 Preliminary.

-1971. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) initiated.

-1988. The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Examination Board becomes part of UCLES.

-1989. Specialist EFL research and evaluation unit established.

-1989. IELTS launched. A simplified and shortened version of ELTS launched in 1980.

-1990. Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) founded.

-1991. Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) introduced. Now known as C1 Advanced.

-1993. Business English Certificates (BEC) launched.

-1994. Key English Test (KET) introduced. Now known as A2 Key.

-1995. University of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations (UODLE) becomes part of UCLES

-1997. Young Learner English Tests (YLE) introduced. Now known as Pre-A1 Starter, A1 Movers, and A2 Flyers.

-1997. BULATS launched.

-2001. CEFR published.

-2002. UCLES EFL renamed University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL).

-2002. One million Cambridge ESOL exam candidates.

-2010. CaMLA established (Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments).

-2011. Cambridge Exams Publishing joint venture with Cambridge University Press established.

-2013. Cambridge ESOL renamed Cambridge English Language Assessment.

-2015. Cambridge English Scale introduced.

-2016. Linguaskill reading and listening introduced.

-2016. Linguaskill writing introduced.

-2017. Cambridge English Language Assessment renamed Cambridge Assessment English.

-2020. The University of Cambridge announces it plans to merge two of its non-teaching departments, Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press.

-2021. Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press merge to become Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

More information: Cambridge English

 

Cambridge is heaven, I am convinced
it is the nicest place in the world to live.
As you walk round, most people look incredibly bright,
as if they are probably off to win a Nobel prize.

Sophie Hannah

INTRODUCING THE MORGANS (XIV), XÈNIA MORGAN

Hi, I'm Xènia Morgan and I was born in Ιθάκη (Ithaki), Ιόνιο Πέλαγος (Ionian Sea). From a very young age I was fascinated by music and illustration. I am a tuner.

A few months ago, I discovered that the famous Welsh pirate Henry Morgan was an ancestor of mine and that I had brothers and sisters to meet. Thanks to The Grandma, an Andorran grandmother, who made every effort to locate us, today I know them all and to celebrate this meeting we decided to spend two months together travelling and reviewing our level of English because we have all decided to retire to Kingston, Jamaica, to enjoy the Morgan fortune, and English is its official language.

-What's your full name?

-My name is Eleni Papadopoulou.

-How do you spell your second surname?

-P-A-P-A-D-O-P-O-U-L-O-U

-Are you a student? What are you studying?

-No, I'm not a student. I completed my studies in music and acoustics several years ago.

-Are you working? What is your job?

-Yes, I am. I'm an instrument tuner. I tune pianos and other musical instruments to make sure they produce the correct sound and perform at their best.

-Do you like your job? Why?

-Yes, I do. I enjoy working with music and helping musicians achieve the best possible sound. Every instrument has its own character, which makes my work interesting.

-Where are you from?

-I'm from Ithaki, a small island in Greece.

-How long have you lived there?

-I lived there throughout my childhood and early adulthood. Although I travel for work, Ithaki will always be my home.

-Why are you studying English?

-I'm studying English because I often work with musicians from different countries. It also helps me read technical manuals and attend international workshops.

-How long have you been studying English?

-I've been studying English for about two months. I started learning with The Morgans and continue using it regularly in my profession.

-Tell me about your town.

-Ithaki is a beautiful Greek island with crystal-clear waters, green hills, and a rich history. It is traditionally associated with the legendary home of Odysseus.

-What music do you like?

-I enjoy classical music, jazz, and traditional Greek music. Listening to different styles of music helps me develop my ear for tuning instruments.

-Can you play any instrument?

-Yes, I can play the piano and the violin. Learning to play instruments has helped me understand how important accurate tuning is.

-Tell me about your favourite place.

-My favourite place is Vathy Harbour. I love sitting by the water, sketching the boats, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

-What do you like doing in your free time?

-In my free time, I love illustration. I enjoy drawing landscapes, people, and scenes from everyday life. I also like reading, walking, and visiting art exhibitions.

-Do you practise any sport? Which?

-Yes, I do. I enjoy swimming and hiking. Living on an island gives me many opportunities to spend time outdoors.

-How did you become interested in tuning instruments?

-I became interested in it while studying music. I was fascinated by how small adjustments could completely change the quality of a sound.

-What is the most difficult part of your job?

-The most difficult part is working on very old instruments. They often require a lot of patience and careful attention.

-Why is tuning important?

-Tuning is important because even a talented musician cannot perform well if the instrument is out of tune. Good tuning improves the overall musical experience.

-How did you become interested in illustration?

-I've loved drawing since I was a child. It allows me to express my creativity and capture moments that inspire me.

-Do music and illustration influence each other in your life?

-Yes, they do. Music often inspires my drawings, and illustration helps me think creatively when solving problems in my work.

-Would you like to combine your two interests in the future?

-Yes, I would. I'd love to create illustrated books about musical instruments and the stories behind them.

-How is a normal day with The Morgans?

-We haven't got similar days. Every day is different and this is something very important because it offers to you the possibility of living fantastic experiences every day and you can enjoy them with all your heart because you know that next day you're going to put the score to zero and we're going to start again. It's a non-stopping life.

-Which is your best memory with The Morgans?

-It's difficult to choose only one. I remembered when we travelled to different places and I was drawing our adventures. I love drawing and being able to draw the family has been something very special for me.

-Which is your favourite song?

-I'm Ioanian. I love Mikis Theodorakis and Kharis Alexiu, but I will choose the poem that has made my island most famous, 'Ithaka' by Konstantinos Petru Kavafis, a poem that talks about life and death and which was recited in English by Sir Sean Connery with music composed by another legendary Greek, Evànguelos Odisseas Papathanassiu aka Vangelis.

Παντα στoν νoυ σoυ ναχεις την Ιθακη.
Τo φθασιμoν εκει ειν o πρooρισμoς σoυ.
Aλλα μη βιαζεις τo ταξειδι διoλoυ.
Καλλιτερα χρoνια πoλλα να διαρκεσει 
και γερoς πια ν'αραξεις στo νησι,
πλoυσιoς με oσα κερδισες στo δρoμo,
μη πρoσδoκωντας πλoυτη να σε δωσει η Ιθακη.
       
Η Ιθακη σ'εδωσε τ'ωραιo ταξειδι.
Χωρις αυτην δεν θα βγαινες στoν δρoμo.
Αλλα δεν εχει να σε δωσει πια.
       
Κι αν πτωχικη την βρεις, η Ιθακη δε σε γελασε.
Ετσι σoφoς πoυ εγινες, με τoση πειρα,
ηδη θα τo καταλαβες oι Ιθακες τι σημαινoυν.

 Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

Konstantinos Petru Kavafis

J.K. ROWLING & ROBERT GALBRAITH, WRITE TO SUCCESS

After taking a few days off doing what she loves most in Germanic and Scandinavian lands with the company of Joseph de Ca'th Lon and Claire Fontaine, The Grandma has returned to Barcelona as tomorrow she hopes to meet The Morgans in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, where they have a very important date with Cambridge.

The family has spent a few days at Hogwarts enjoying the magic and preparing for this very special test. They have enjoyed the magical world created by J. K. Rowling, the English author who continues to conquer the hearts of young and old with her masterful works.

Joanne Rowling (born 31 July 1965), better known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is an English author, screenwriter, producer, and philanthropist.

She is best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has won multiple awards and sold more than 500 million copies, becoming the best-selling book series in history.

The books are the basis of a popular film series, over which J. K. Rowling had overall approval on the scripts and was a producer on the final films. She also writes crime fiction under the pen name Robert Galbraith.

Born in Yate, Gloucestershire, J. K. Rowling was working as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series while on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990.

The seven-year period that followed saw the death of her mother, birth of her first child, divorce from her first husband, and relative poverty until the first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in 1997. There were six sequels, of which the last, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007.

Since then, J. K. Rowling has written five books for adult readers: The Casual Vacancy (2012) and -under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith- the crime fiction Cormoran Strike series, which consists of The Cuckoo's Calling (2013), The Silkworm (2014), Career of Evil (2015), and Lethal White (2018).

Starting on 26 May 2020, her political fairytale for children, The Ickabog, is being released in instalments in an online version.

J. K. Rowling has lived a rags to riches life in which she progressed from living on benefits to being named the world's first billionaire author by Forbes.

However, J. K. Rowling disputed the assertion, saying she was not a billionaire. Forbes reported that she lost her billionaire status after giving away much of her earnings to charity but remains one of the wealthiest people in the world. She is the UK's best-selling living author, with sales in excess of £238 million.

The 2019 Sunday Times Rich List estimated J. K. Rowling's fortune at £750 million, ranking her as the joint 191st richest person in the UK. Time named her a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fans.

J. K. Rowling was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) at the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to literature and philanthropy.

More information: J.K. Rowling

In October 2010, she was named the Most Influential Woman in Britain by leading magazine editors. J. K. Rowling has supported multiple charities, including Comic Relief, One Parent Families, and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain, as well as launching her own charity, Lumos.

Although she writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling, before her remarriage, her name was Joanne Rowling.

Joanne Rowling was born on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, the daughter of science technician Anne and Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer Peter James Rowling. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964.

J. K. Rowling has said that her teenage years were unhappy. Her home life was complicated by her mother's diagnosis with multiple sclerosis and a strained relationship with her father, with whom she is not on speaking terms.

J. K. Rowling later said that she based the character of Hermione Granger on herself when she was eleven.

In 1982, J. K. Rowling took the entrance exams for Oxford University but was not accepted and earned a BA in French and Classics at the University of Exeter.

In 1995, J. K. Rowling finished her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which was typed on an old manual typewriter.

In June 1997, Bloomsbury published Philosopher's Stone with an initial print run of 1,000 copies, 500 of which were distributed to libraries. Today, such copies are valued between £16,000 and £25,000. Its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, was published in July 1998 and again J. K. Rowling won the Smarties Prize.

In December 1999, the third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, won the Smarties Prize, making J. K. Rowling the first person to win the award three times running.

The fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was released simultaneously in the UK and the US on 8 July 2000 and broke sales records in both countries. 372,775 copies of the book were sold in its first day in the UK, almost equalling the number Prisoner of Azkaban sold during its first year.

A wait of three years occurred between the release of Goblet of Fire and the fifth Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was released on 16 July 2005. It too broke all sales records, selling nine million copies in its first 24 hours of release.

In 2006, Half-Blood Prince received the Book of the Year prize at the British Book Awards.

The title of the seventh and final Harry Potter book was announced on 21 December 2006 as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

More information: Wizarding World

In February 2007, it was reported that J. K. Rowling wrote on a bust in her hotel room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh that she had finished the seventh book in that room on 11 January 2007.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released on 21 July 2007 and broke its predecessor's record as the fastest-selling book of all time. It sold 11 million copies in the first day of release in the United Kingdom and United States. The book's last chapter was one of the earliest things she wrote in the entire series.

Harry Potter is now a global brand worth an estimated US$15 billion, and the last four Harry Potter books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.

The series, totalling 4,195 pages, has been translated, in whole or in part, into 65 languages.

The Harry Potter books have also gained recognition for sparking an interest in reading among the young at a time when children were thought to be abandoning books for computers and television, although it is reported that despite the huge uptake of the books, adolescent reading has continued to decline.

In October 1998, Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to the first two novels for a seven-figure sum.

A film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released on 16 November 2001, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on 15 November 2002.

The film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released on 4 June 2004, directed by Alfonso Cuarón.

The fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was directed by Mike Newell, and released on 18 November 2005.

The film of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released on 11 July 2007. David Yates directed, and Michael Goldenberg wrote the screenplay, having taken over the position from Steve Kloves.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released on 15 July 2009. David Yates directed again, and Kloves returned to write the script.

Warner Bros. filmed the final instalment of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in two segments, with part one being released on 19 November 2010 and part two being released on 15 July 2011. Yates directed both films.

More information: Twitter

In 2000, J.K. Rowling established the Volant Charitable Trust, which uses its annual budget of £5.1 million to combat poverty and social inequality. The fund also gives to organisations that aid children, one-parent families, and multiple sclerosis research.

J.K. Rowling has received honorary degrees from St Andrews University, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Exeter, the University of Aberdeen, and Harvard University, where she spoke at the 2008 commencement ceremony.

In 2009, J.K. Rowling was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In 2002, J.K. Rowling became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (HonFRSE) as well a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL).

She was furthermore recognized as Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCPE) in 2011 for services to Literature and Philanthropy.

More information: The Guardian

 

 

I would like to be remembered as someone

who did the best she could with the talent she had.

J. K. Rowling

INTRODUCING THE MORGANS (XIII), VERONICA MORGAN

Hi, I'm Veronica Morgan. I'm Czech. I was born in Český Krumlov, Jihočeský Kraj and I am a baker.

A few months ago, I discovered that the famous Welsh pirate Henry Morgan was an ancestor of mine and that I had brothers and sisters to meet. Thanks to The Grandma, an Andorran grandmother, who made every effort to locate us, today I know them all and to celebrate this meeting we decided to spend two months together travelling and reviewing our level of English because we have all decided to retire to Kingston, Jamaica, to enjoy the Morgan fortune, and English is its official language.

-What's your name?

-My name is Veronica Morgan Nováková.

-How do you spell your surname?

-N-O-V-Á-K-O-V-Á

-Are you a student? What are you studying?

-No, I'm not a student. I completed my training in baking and pastry arts several years ago and now I work full-time.

-Are you working? What is your job?

-Yes, I am. I'm a baker and pastry chef. I make bread, cakes, pastries, and other baked goods for a local bakery and café.

-Do you like your job? Why?

-Yes, I love my job because it combines creativity and craftsmanship. I enjoy making delicious products and seeing customers happy when they taste them.

-Where are you from?

-I'm from Český Krumlov, a beautiful town in the Czech Republic.

-How long have you lived there?

-I lived there for most of my life. Although I sometimes travel to attend culinary workshops, I still call Český Krumlov my home.

-Why are you studying English?

-I'm studying English because I would like to learn from international chefs and read recipes from different countries. It also helps me communicate with tourists who visit our bakery.

-How long have you been studying English?

-I've been studying English for about ten years. I started at school and continue practising it through work and travel.

-Tell me about your town.

-Český Krumlov is a historic town famous for its medieval architecture and beautiful castle. It attracts visitors from all over the world because of its charm and cultural heritage.

-What music do you like?

-I enjoy listening to folk music, classical music, and modern pop music. I often listen to music while baking.

-Can you play any instrument?

-Yes, I can play the piano. I learned it when I was a child and still enjoy playing it in my free time.

-Tell me about your favourite place.

-My favourite place is Český Krumlov Castle. I love its history, beautiful gardens, and the amazing view of the town.

-What do you like doing in your free time?

-In my free time, I enjoy trying new recipes, reading cookbooks, walking around the old town, and spending time with my friends and family.

-Do you practise any sport? Which?

-Yes, I do. I enjoy cycling and hiking. They help me stay active and relax after a busy day at work.

-How did you become interested in baking?

-I became interested in baking when I was a child. My grandmother used to make traditional cakes, and I loved helping her in the kitchen.

-What is your favourite thing to bake?

-My favourite thing to bake is fruit pastries because they are colourful, delicious, and allow me to be creative with different flavours.

-What is the most difficult part of your job?

-The most difficult part is waking up very early in the morning. Bakers often start work before sunrise.

-Do you prefer making bread or cakes?

-I enjoy both, but if I had to choose, I would say cakes because decorating them is very artistic and enjoyable.

-What skills are important for a baker and pastry chef?

-Patience, attention to detail, creativity, and good time management are very important. It's also important to follow recipes carefully.

-Would you like to open your own bakery one day?

-Yes, I would. It has always been my dream to own a small bakery where I can create traditional and modern pastries.

-How is a normal day with The Morgans?

-We haven't got similar days. Every day is different and this is something very important because it offers to you the possibility of living fantastic experiences every day and you can enjoy them with all your heart because you know that next day you're going to put the score to zero and we're going to start again. It's a non-stopping life.

-Which is your best memory with The Morgans?

-It's difficult to choose only one. I remember when we received a visit from Vlad Tepes. It was a very emotional moment for me because he is an enigmatic character who I am passionate about, just as I am passionate about other Eastern European countries such as Romania, Bulgaria or Moldova.

-Which is your favourite song?

A very important song for us is 'Die Moldau' by Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, a classic among classics, but I will choose 'Dragostea Din Tei' by O-Zone, one of the most popular Moldovan songs.

Te sun sa-ti spun ce simt acum
Alo, iubirea mea sunt eu fericirea
Alo, alo, sunt iarasi eu, Picasso
Ti-am dat beep si sunt voinic
Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.

I'm calling you to tell you how I feel right now
Hello, my love, I'm happiness
Hello, hello, it's me again, Picasso
I beeped you and I'm strong
But you know, I'm not asking you for anything.

 O-Zone

THE MORGANS & HUFFLEPUFF, 'PATIENS ET LABORARIUS'

Today, The Morgans have continued visiting Hogwarts guided by Professor Albus Dumbledore, its Headmaster and Professor Rubeus Hagrid, its Guard. 

They have been talking about its four Houses, their history, members, values and rooms. It has been an amazing interesting day.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is divided into four houses: Gryffindor, founded by Godric Gryffindor; Hufflepuff, founded by Helga Hufflepuff; Ravenclaw, founded by Rowena Ravenclaw; and Slytherin, founded by Salazar Slytherin.

Before the visit, the family has been practising some A2 Cambridge Tests.

Download Cambridge KET Exam Model & Key

Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of earth, and it is for that reason that the House colours were chosen: yellow represented wheat, while black was emblematic of soil. The Hufflepuff point hourglass contains yellow diamonds. Students sorted into Hufflepuff often demonstrate exceptional abilities in Herbology, owing to their correspondence to earth.

The emblematic animal is a badger, and yellow and black are its colours.

Hufflepuff appears to have the least rivalry with the other houses, except in Quidditch, although the Triwizard Tournament did temporarily put a great deal of strain on the relationship between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, due to unusual circumstances of the selection of both Gryffindor student Harry Potter and Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory as Champions. This was mended by 1998, where a majority of Hufflepuffs rose to defend Harry from Pansy Parkinson and later helped to defend Hogwarts.

Hufflepuff is the house that produced the fewest dark wizards through out its history. Their cheerful and friendly demeanor can probably account for this property of the House. Hufflepuff firmly demonstrated its loyalty during the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998, when they were second only to Harry Potter's own house of Gryffindor in the number of students willing to stay and fight against Voldemort and his forces in the defence of their school. The Hufflepuff dormitories and common room have never been seen by outsiders and is the only house with repelling devices in case of intruders. They are accessed through a pile of large barrels, found stacked in a shadowy stone recess on a right-hand side corridor near the kitchens. The barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, will open if tapped in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff.
 

The Hufflepuff's head of house before and during Harry Potter's time was Pomona Sprout. She was the Herbology professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

More information: Wizarding World

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,
And unafraid of toil...