(Have a look first at the previous post, "At Wembley" - 28th May 2011)
"We were beaten by a fantastic team.
At the end of the day we have to acknowledge that we were beaten by a better team.
I think it was the best team we have faced".
Alex Ferguson
Manchester United manager
These words are a clear example ot the humanity of some people, such as Sir Alex Ferguson. People like him are even greater at difficult times!
His football team lost...
1 - 3
at
the UEFA Champions League Final 2011.
* * * * *
Barcelona wins Champions League
Brilliant Barcelona, inspired by Messi, delivered a soccer masterclass to overwhelm Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final and lift the European Cup for the fourth time on Saturday.
"The people watching could see that we not only won but we played a brilliant match".
Pep Guardiola
F.C. Barcelona coach
F.C. BARCELONA
FINAL CHAMPIONS 2011
CONGRATULATIONS !
* * * * *
Listen, Read and Sing... "We are the Champions" by Queen
Come to me, come to me tonight
Oh God, I need you, anyway
Baby, I just wanna be, be around you all the time
Oh God, I need you, oh...
I'm running, I'm scared tonight
I'm running, I'm scared of life
I'm running, I'm scared of breathing
'Cause I adore you
I'm running, I'm scared tonight
I'm running, I'm scared of breathing
'Cause I adore you
Come to me, come to me a bit more
Oh God, I need you
There's nothing left for me to say
So rest on me darling, stay forever more
Oh God, I need you, I need you
I'm running, I'm scared tonight
I'm running, I'm scared of life
I'm running, I'm scared of breathing
'Cause I adore you
I'm running, I'm scared tonight
I'm running, I'm scared of breathing
'Cause I adore you
Oh, what I wouldn't give away
To be your shelter and keep you safe
Keep you safe
I'm running, I'm scared tonight
I'm running, I'm scared of life
I'm running, I'm scared of breathing
'Cause I adore you
I'm running, I'm scared tonight
I'm running, I'm scared of breathing
'Cause I adore you
And I'm running
And I'm running scared
'Cause I adore you
( from: http://www.letrasmania.com/letras )
* * *
By the way, Do you Know thatAzerbaijan is a former Soviet Republic? But, ... where is Azerbaijan?
Choose the correct answer: a) It's a country near The Netherlands. b) It's a country between Hungary and Poland. c) It's a country next to Lithuania. d) It's a country in Eastern Europe.
We all know the geographical location of places such as London, Paris or Madrid, for example.
However, many other places are not so well known in general. In other words, they are simply unknown for the man/woman in the street -like myself (a teacher from CEUTA; a small Spanish town on the north coast of Africa, that is opposite Gibraltar and frontier with Morocco).
And that is the case of a nice place called...
...Bishopbriggs !!
Do you know that place? ;-)
Let me share an anecdote with you...
When I finished my studies at University in Granada (Spain), I received a phone call from the Spanish Ministry of Education, in Madrid, to let me know that I had been selected for a post as a Language Assistant Teacher in Scotland for the next school year, 1994/1995.
-Where?- I asked
The voice, at the other side of the telephone, answered to my geographical ignorance:
-In Bishopbriggs
Immediately, I replied:
-Excuse me ?!?!?!?
The voice said again:
-BISHOPBRIGGS
Then, I asked once more:
-Bicho… WHAT ?!?!?
The voice, patiently, repeated louder:
-BISHOP - BRIGGS
After several unsuccessful attempts, I said:
-Ah! I Know … Bishop - briggs.
But I didn´t… I simply had repeated what the lady had uttered a second before.
To tell you the truth, I had never heard about Bishopbriggs before. And what is more, I hadn’t a clue where Bishopbriggs was. But it did not matter to me. I accepted the post. I was excited and happy because I was going to that place, although I didn´t know where it was. And today I simply can tell you that it was great!
I spent one school year of my life in a secondary school in Bishopbriggs, teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (and improving my English as well) and it was wonderful, both professionally and personally. Even I still have very good friends there, ... the Griffins.
Today, I miss the old days in wet Scotland (despite the weather).
So, ... Because of that personal experience, I know a small nice Scottish location called Bishopbriggs.
And... That is what normally happens!! Sometimes, either personal experiences (like in my case) or famous people (such as well-known singers) put certain places on the map...
Today, for many people, Amy Macdonald ...
... and her "This is the Life" has put Bishopbriggs on the map.
Amy Macdonald (born 25 August 1987 in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow) is a Scottish singer and songwriter. Her debut album, "This is the Life" (2007), has sold more than 2.5 millions copies.
Watch the video-clip of her song "This is the Life"...
(a song used in a famous TV advert).
Activity.-
Using the lyrics of the song This is the Life look for Synonyms, Antonyms & Definitions:
A Synonym for:
- Chilly:_______
- Obscure: _______
An Antonym for:
- Hot: ________
- Light: ________
- Low: _______
- Inside: ______
- Everybody: ______
Which words have the following Definitions?:
- _________ : vocal, instrumental or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody or harmony.
- _________ : a type of car that carries passengers to a place for an amount of money.
* * * * * * * *
In conclusion, and taking the example of Bishopbriggs, I think that:
"Either personal experiences (a) or famous people (b) put certain places on the map".
My personal experience as Assistant Teacher in Scotland (a) and the music performed by famous people such as Amy Macdonald (b) has helped to put Bishopbriggs on the map. (Bishopbriggs is a small town in East Dunbartonshirne, near Glasgow, in Scotland; UK). Today Bishopbriggs' close geographic proximity to Glasgow effectively makes it a suburb and commuter town of the city.
And this is Bishopbriggs,
... a lovely place that otherwise -maybe- would not have been known for us!
TITANIC - PART II (Have a look first at the previous post, "TITANIC" - 6th May 2011)
Talking about "Titanic"...
Do you know this book?
In my opinion, a story worthwhile reading ...
Let's have a look at the opening lines of that fantastic book,
"Samson's Titanic Journey", by Lauren Graham & Roisin Mathews...
(O'Donnell Press)
Samson was very excited. He had lived in the shipyard in Belfast since he was a baby mouse but never before had as much as fuss been made about a ship. The beautiful new luxury liner called Titanic was about to be launched. The shipyard workers had been building it for months and now the day had arrived when it would finally set sail for Southampton.
Samson was going too. He had decided to leave his hometown in search of a better life in America and couldn´t think of a more spectacular way to get there than by travelling on board the Titanic. (...)
Read the following cutting from a Spanish newspaper:
El “Titanic” navega de nuevo
La ciudad de Belfast, en el norte de la isla de Irlanda, conmemora en el mes de mayo el centenario de la botadura del Titanic en sus astilleros con dos exposiciones y varias rutas turísticas en barco y en autobús.
