HOLMES: FIDE SED CUI VIDE

Holmes is an English-language surname with several origins.

The name can be a variant of the surname Holme. 

This surname has several etymological origins: it can be derived from a name for someone who lived next to a holly tree, from the Middle English holm; it can also be derived from the Old English holm and Old Norse holmr.

More information: Surname Database

Another origin of Holmes is from a placename near Dundonald, or else a place located in the barony of Inchestuir. The surname is also sometimes an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Thomáis; similarly, Holmes can also be a variant of Cavish, derived as an Anglicised form of Mac Thámhais.

More information: House of names

I love the name of honor, more than I fear death.

Julius Caesar

NOTHING IMPORTANT HAPPENED TODAY...

King George the Third was King of England when America declared Independence in 1776. King George the Third kept a diary. On July 4th 1776, he made an entry in it: "Nothing Important Happened Today".

Revolutions start, things that change the world forever and even Kings can miss them if they're not paying attention. 

Alvin Kersh – Nothing Important Happened Today

Today, The Holmes have revised the Present Simple, the –ing nouns and have done some activities about how to create a good plot. They have had to say goodbye to Azahara, who has decided to live her life taking another way and fight the future using other tools. After that, they have prepared a travel to Tokyo (Japan) and they’ve decided which things were more important to carry on.

Now, they’re flying to the Empire of the Rising Sun with their suitcases plenty of towels, Japanese sticks, IPhones, make up, medicines, contact lenses, passports, credit cards, money, wallets…and fuets (Catalan sausages).

The Holmes go to El Prat Airport, Barcelona

Nobody has paid attention about an absolute truth. A new revolution is arriving and it has a name: The Holmes. Perhaps, for the rest of the world, nothing important happened today but for this family is the beginning of a great experience. 

Enjoy with us!

More information: Present Simple Exercises

A NEW LIFE WITH THE HOLMES

April Fools

Today, The Grandma has started a new adventure with a new family. In this case, the chosen family has been The Holmes, a nice and kind family plenty of women.

We have listened to MJ and her instructions and we have started to meet each other.

We have shared good moments talking about the origin of surnames until the end of the meeting when N and MJ have arrived with horrible news. 

We don’t know anything about the closer future but it’s sad and dark for all the family, a terrible joke in April Fools.

   
From our ancestors come our names,
but from our virtues our honors.

 Proverb

SEE YOU SOON, ADDAMS! WELCOME HOLMES!

Rosana and Jorge are the last members of the Addams family. She’s a diver from Belgium and he’s a wine taster from Germany. They’re enjoying their part of the Grandma’s fortune with the rest of the family. 

Now, they’re living in Cayman Islands and they send lots of good wishes to the members of the new family: The Holmes.

 

See you soon, dear Addams! Welcome Holmes, the future is yours!

VERO: SWEDISH EFFECTIVITY

Vero Addams

Vero was born in Malmö, Sweden. She shares nationality with other artists and scientists like Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, ABBA, Alfred Nobel or Max Von Sydow. Vero is a vet. She loves animals and nature and she’s a great fighter for Animal Rights and Environment. She enjoys seeing auroras (norrsken in Swedish), an incredible phenomenon of lights.

Although she was born in a Nordic country, she’s very passionate. She does things with all her heart and her vitality and energy cheer the rest of the family. She’s a great admirer of Swedish culture, of course, and a great fan of ABBA, the group that changed music in the 70’s creating some of the best, unforgettable and eternal songs which have been always on the top. 

During decades, the Nobel Prize has been a reference in lots of specialities. It’s one of the most prestigious prizes around the world, but for The Addams, the best Nobel has been meeting Vero, her energy and her effectivity.

Det bästa stället att hitta en hjälpande hand
är i slutet av din egen arm. 

The best place to find a helping hand
is at the end of your own arm.

Swedish Proverb

FELIPE: PORTUGUESE ART

Felipe Addams in Lisbon, Portugal

Felipe was born in Sintra, Portugal, the home country of other famous people like Mísia, Fernando Pessoa, Amália Rodrigues and Dulce Pontes. Felipe is an inventor and his reference has been always the great Leonardo da Vinci. This is the reason because of he wanted to visit Firenze (Florence) accompanied by all The Addams Family.

Now, he is travelling with his family around the world. It’s very important for him because this travel is a source of inspiration and creation of new ideas, something very important for an inventor. He is very young and knows that in the future, he will be considered one of the most important creators of the history.

 

Quem não pode como quer, queira como pode.

Do as you may, if you can’t do as you could.

Portuguese Proverb

ROCÍO: DUTCH MAGIC

Rocio Addams, the magician

Rocío was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands the country home of other important people like the painters Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn; the footballers Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten; the popular spy Mata Hari or the business man Alfred Henry Heineken, owner and creator of the beer’s empire.

Be born in The Netherlands means enjoying art and freedom. Because of this, it’s not strange that Rocío decided to dedicate her professional life to magic. She likes unknown and mysterious world and she does lots of tricks. She’s funny and spontaneous and she is admired around the planet. She became a star very young but thanks to her good character and her strong personality, fame hasn’t changed her.

Nowadays, she’s sharing her time with The Addams Family and she’s preparing a new show for this season where you will be able to enjoy with all her art and entertainment.

Every disadvantage has its advantage.

 Johan Cruyff

THE ADDAMS FAMILY: ITALIAN TOUR

The Addams Family has been travelling by Italy during some days. First, they visited Firenze (Florence) where they walked around the Dome and around the historical centre which was catalogued by UNESCO as World Heritage. They went to The Uffizi’s Gallery, Santa Maria di Loreto’s Church and The Palazzo Vecchio. In the Tuscany’s capital, they ate and drank local products and shared nice moments in other neighbour cities like Siena and Pisa, where they visited the Cathedral and The Leaning Tower.

More information: Some & Any Compounds

 

Next, they went to Venezia (Venice) where they sailed across the channels in gondolas and discovered the favourite city of Corto Maltese. They visited the Palazzo Ducale, the Rialto Bridge and San Marco’s Cathedral and walked across this incredible city plenty of history and art.

More information: Used to be

Finally, they arrived to Rome, the eternal city, where they relaxed between ancient ruins. They also visited other sightseen like the Fontana di Trevi, the Parthenon and the Tiber River, next to Castle Sant’Angelo and near The Vatican City.

More information: Shall & Should

More information: Relative pronouns

Now, The Addams Family has returned to Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona where they’re going to open a hotel and they are continuing with their English studies and reviewing some occupational hazards and employment.

Download Finding a job in Europe (A guide for jobseekers)

ANDREA: GREEK ADVENTUROUS

Andrea Addams practices parachuting

Andrea was born in Greece, country home of other famous people like Haris Alexiou, Maria Callas, Mikis Theodorakis, Aristotle and Plato.

Andrea is a parachute jumper and likes her job a lot. She can enjoy nature in a way that a few people can do it. She doesn’t know when or why she decided to be a parachute but she’s sure it was because of she lives in an island, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and she had a lot of curiosity about seeing her island from the sky.

Nowadays, she’s with The Addams Family travelling around the world and every time she gets on a plane, she can’t avoid the idea of parachuting.

Since we cannot change reality, 
let us change the eyes which see reality.

Nikos Kazantzakis

LURDES: MONACAN BEAUTY

Lurdes Addams plays in Monte Carlo Casino

Lurdes was born in Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco, one of the smallest countries in Europe very famous for its casinos, its car races and its tributes and taxes advantages.

She decided to travel around the world with the rest of the family to discover other sources of inspiration and other cultures. She was born in a small country and that’s the reason because of she has the necessity of visiting other places, although every time she does it, she misses much more her country and she need to return to her origins.

I work hard in social work, public relations, 

and raising the Grimaldi heirs.

Princess Grace

JORDI: MALTESE TEMPERANCE

Jordi with the Maltese Knights

Jordi was born in Mdina, near La Valletta (Malta). He’s a clown very popular in the world wide circus. 

Although he was born in this little and beautiful Mediterranean island, country home of other artists like Joe Sacco, the famous cartoonist or Corto Maltese, the wonderful hero, he moved to Cubelles (Garraf), near Barcelona, hometown of Charlie Rivel, his inspiration and idol.

Jordi is a clever person who knows what must choose and say in every moment, and thanks to this quick capacity of action-reaction, he reaches a lot of successes.

Malta is a marvellous country formed by three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. When you go to the island, don’t forget to visit the megalithic temples in Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Ggantica, Tarxien and the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni in Paola. They’re the most ancient prehistorical temples in Europe considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in the same way; you must visit the city of Mdina/Rabat and the capital, La Valetta where you will discover the incredible, mysterious and fascinating story of The Templar Knights of Saint John. You can also visit the Playmobil Factory and Playmobil Fun Park in Birżebbuġa.

Bil-kelma t-tajba tohrog il-far mit-tqajba

With a superb word you may make
the massive rat come out of a small hole

Maltese Proverb

LULÚ: RUSSIAN FORCE

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Lulú Addams with Han Solo & Princess Leia Organa

Lulú was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia and she’s a Jedi. It wasn’t easy arriving to this category but she had excellent masters like Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda. She learnt how to be patient, constant and how to choose the best moment to do things.

She’s a genius like other Russian: Yul Brynner, Yuri Gagarin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Anna Pavlova, Rudolph Nureyev or Mstislav Rostropovich who have arrived to write their names in our history in the same way that Lulú will do it in the recent future.

She follows the knowledge of the Jedi and has an enormous mental force which helps her to reach her objectives. She has the strong of Han Solo, the temperance of Leia Organa and the constancy of Luke Skywalker and the best of her: she uses her force to help The Addams in their present way.

Do or do not, there is no try.

Master Yoda

GOODBYE EDINBURGH, WELCOME LONDON!

The Holmes visit Edinburg, Scotland

After visiting some incredible places in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, like Arthur’s Seat, Royal Mile, Princess Street, Calton Hill or the Castle, and some other Scottish places, where The Addams Family has enjoyed its wonderful people, like Connor MacLeod; they went to Inverness to meet Nessie in Loch Ness. It wasn’t possible and then, they flew to London, the English capital, where they’ve spent some days.

They’ve visited emblematic places like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, The Houses of the Parliament, the London Eye, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London and they went to meet the Queen, a Grandma’s friend, who had invited all the family to take some tea in Buckingham Palace.

It has been an interesting trip to improve their English and join to The Collins who received them in their majestic mansion, Downton Abbey. They have talked about environment and gender equality and they've done their first KET exams, too. It has been an intense week.

More information: First & Second Conditional

In a few days, the family is going to travel to Venice and Rome where they will continue its adventures and stories.

 

When you hear someone from the very north of Scotland speaking,

I think it's nice, very musical and harmonious.

Sean Connery

NÚRIA: SWISS EFFICIENCY

Núria Addams in Basel, Switzerland

Núria is The Addams Family’s jeweller. She’s quiet, shy and very hard worker as her fellow citizens. She was born in Basel, Switzerland the country home of other famous people as the actors Vincent Pérez and Ursula Andress; the tennis players Roger Federer and Martina Hingis; the mathematician and geometer Leonhard Euler, the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau or Hans Kamper, FC Barcelona, FC Zurich and FC Basel pioneer, player and club president.

Switzerland is well-known as a business country, centre of the most important world banks and owner of the gold reserves. Perhaps, for this reason, nowadays Núria is a jeweller. Her passion about jewellery, clocks and diamonds is enormous in the same way that she adores country life.

Living in Switzerland is synonymous of green grass lands, snow, cows and folkloric horns and languages: French, German, Italian and Romansh are the four official languages in a country plenty of nature and ancient history.

Watch Ne partez pas sans moi by Céline Dion

Ne partez pas sans moi laissez-moi vous suivre
Vous qui volez vers d'autres vies laissez-moi vivre
La plus belle aventure les plus beaux voyages
Qui menent un jour sur des soleils sur des planetes d'amour

Don't leave without me, let me follow you
You who fly to other lives, let me live
The most beautiful adventure, the most beautiful trips
That lead someday to suns, to planets of love

Céline Dion represented Switzerland in Eurovision (1988)

GOODBYE DUBLIN, WELCOME EDINBURGH

Molly Malone Statue, Dublin

The Addams Family has been some days in Dublin enjoying this beautiful city. They’ve visited Dublin Castle, Custom House, Ha’penny Bridge, Trinity College and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. They also have visited the Molly Malone Statue and have sung the popular song altogether.

The Addams love popular traditions and to homage this girl, who is one of the most important Irish symbols, they have been composing little lullabies and beautiful tales plenty of imagination and mystery. They also have been working comparative, superlative and some modal verbs like must, have to, should and need.

Tonight, the family is in Edinburgh where they’ve arrived a few hours ago. They’re resting in The Balmoral Hotel after being received by 100 bagpipes in the airport.

During this travel to Dublin, the family has suffered the absence of Daniel, who was working in a new book and must stay in Sant Boi, but he’s going to join to the family again in Edinburgh, this wonderful Scottish city.

More information: Superlatives & Modal verbs

In Dublin Fair City, 
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!”.

Molly Malone

ISABEL: ITALIAN SPONTANEITY

Isabel Addams

Isabel was born in Naples, in the Campania (Italia). She’s a strong and persistent person who represents a great metaphor of her city: happiness, survival and a bit of superstition.

Italia is a country with a whole influence in science and art. Musicians (Luciano Pavarotti and Enrico Caruso); filmmakers and actresses (Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroiani, Totò, Rudolph Valentino and Sofia Loren); composers (Ennio Morricone); painters, sculptors and inventers (Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei); writers (Francesco Petrarch and Umberto Eco); anarchists (Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti) or fashion designers (Giorgio Armani and Guccio Gucci) have or have had a great influence in the world history.

Although, the Italian culture adores football and has important figures as Buffon, Baggio, Roberto Mancini or Del Piero, they also have an important presence in other sports. It’s the case of athletics where Isabel is an Olympic Champion. Her presence in the last Olympic Games in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London was memorable winning 13 gold medals.

Nowadays, Isabel is retired and she enjoys her free time travelling around the world with her family: The Addams.

Watch Voce' e notte by Mina

 

Si 'sta voce te canta dint''o core
chello ca nun te cerco e nun te dico;
tutt''o turmiento 'e nu luntano ammore,
tutto ll'ammore 'e nu turmiento antico...

Ernesto De Curtis & Edoardo Nicolardi

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WAIT: LET'S GO!

Ireland

The Addams Family is happy. Lulú has come back. It has been fantastic and all of them are plenty of joy. In this moment, They're leaving San Francisco and boarding to Dublin, Ireland. They will arrive tomorrow at midday, if nothing happens and the weather is good.

Download San Francisco Guide

They have lots of English things to do because they’re reviewing the Past Simple and they must learn the entire irregular verbs list. It’s a hard work but nothing is impossible for this courageous family.

More information: Past Simple

Today, they have been talking about creating and destroying with two powerful tools: a pencil and a rubber. It’s true, dear family, a pencil is a great and dangerous tool because you can create, express, write, give an opinion, compose, draw, paint… Imagination is power and our family is plenty or artists.

Moreover, they have been discussing about this famous first impression in an interview and how you can earn the attention of your interviewer with the most innocent comment, action or gesture. Finally, they have been practising how avoid a lie, not saying all the truth.

Goodbye San Francisco and welcome Dublin, The Addams are arriving...

Mrs McGraw lived on the shore
And after seven years or more
She spied a ship come into the bay
With her son from far away.
Oh Captain dear where have you been
You been sailing the mediterranean
Have you news of my son Ted
Is he living or is he dead?

Mrs.McGraw (Irish Popular Song)