Death comes to Pemberley

Inspired by a lifelong passion for Jane Austen, the successful crime writer P. D. James masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice and imagines life at Pemberley after the marriage of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy...

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Ok

Os 27 países da UE e suas capitais

The importance of learning English

Sintra…always

Presidents´Day

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Comparar com Agosto de 2012

A Vírgula

I have just received an email about the comma:

Vírgula pode ser uma pausa... ou não.
Não, espere.
Não espere.

 Ela pode sumir com seu dinheiro.
 23,4.
 2,34.
  
 Ela pode ser a solução.
 Vamos perder, nada foi resolvido.
 Vamos perder nada, foi resolvido.
 
 A vírgula muda uma opinião.
 Não queremos saber.
 Não, queremos saber.

 A vírgula pode condenar ou salvar.
 Não tenha clemência!
 Não, tenha clemência!
 
It reminded me of my old post Punctuation Saves Lives 

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing

Charles the First walked and talked half an hour after his head was cut off.

Charles the First walked and talked. Half an hour after, his head was cut off.

Golden Globe Awards 2013: List of Winners

Anne Hathaway

Argo, the story of the dramatic rescue of American diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis, and Les Miserables, an adaptation of the Broadway musical, were the big winners at this year's Golden Globes. 

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical:

Les Miserables 

Best Motion Picture, Drama:

Argo

Best Director, Motion Picture: 

Ben Affleck, Argo 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: 

Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical:

Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:

Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables 

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie:

Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey 

Best Original Song, Motion Picture:
Skyfall – Skyfall 

Surprises… 

Bill Clinton and Lincoln director Steven Spielberg have long been close friends. Nevertheless it was a big surprise to see, the 42nd U.S. president introduce the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.

The first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge

Artist Paul Emsley was chosen to paint the first official portrait of The Duchess of Cambridge, which was unveiled on 11 January 2013 in the National Portrait Gallery. 

Paul Emsley said: “The Duchess explained that she would like to be portrayed naturally - her natural self - as opposed to her official self. She struck me as enormously open and generous and a very warm person.” 

Santarém

The capital of the Portuguese Gothic, which I visited today.

 Marvila Church

S. João de Alporão Church

A view of the Tagus river from Portas do Sol

The day wouldn´t have been complete without trying Pampilho, one of the region´s delicacies. I was told it represents the stick that farmers from Ribatejo used to walk with.

Les Misérables

This movie is good for those who have never had the chance to see the Broadway show. Furthermore, anyone who is fond of the Broadway musical will like the film as it follows the musical step by step. 

The only fault I found was the actor who plays Javert, Russel Crowe. I don´t think his voice or his acting were suitable for the strong character he perfomed.

As for Anne Hathaway 

and 

Hugh Jackman I enjoyed them very much as well as the two actors in supporting roles: Daniel Huttlestone and Eddiee Redmayne. 

The ending is extremely touching

2013

The number 13 has been associated with bad luck for centuries. The Last Supper where Jesus gathered his 12 disciples might have originated this controversy. Among other superstitions people believed that if 13 people sat at a table, one would die within a year. 

Nowadays many hotel lack floors numbered 13 and some Airlines skip row 13. 

Reinforcing this reputation, on April 13, 1970, an explosion aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft aborted the mission. However there is little historical evidence for fearing years ending in 13, despite Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre burning in 1613. For instance, 1913 wasn´t particularly tragic, considering the First World War started one year later. In 1813, Napoleon Bonaparte was conquering Europe. 

Let’s hope that 2013 is another case of nothing particularly notorious or harmful.

Brandenburg Gate

It has been 30 years since I have last visited the capital of Germany, Berlin.
In those times, there was a big wall dividing the city into East and West. I was a student then....



Checkpoint Charlie

The Christmas Broadcast

The Christmas Broadcast (better known as The Queen's Speech) is broadcast every year at 15:00GMT on Christmas Day.

The first televised Christmas Broadcast in 1957

Obama: Person of the Year 2012

For the second time, Time Magazine has named Barack Obama "Person of the Year."

Barack Obama: Person of the Year 2008

Queen Elizabeth Land

The British government announced that the southern part of the British Antarctic Territory has been named ‘Queen Elizabeth Land’ in honour of The Queen’s sixtieth year on the throne. 

The Foreign Secretary said: 

“As a mark of this country’s gratitude to The Queen for Her service, we are naming a part of the British Antarctic Territory in her honour as ‘Queen Elizabeth Land”. 

“This is a fitting tribute at the end of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year, and I am very proud to be able to announce it as she visits the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”

Sandringham House

Sandringham House

The Royal Family and Sandringham

Each year, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family spend the Christmas period at Sandringham House in Norfolk, a tradition begun by The Queen's grandfather, King George V. Sandringham House in Norfolk has been the private home of four generations of Sovereigns since 1862.

December 2012 Newsletter

www.clever-pants.com

e-mail: portugal@clever-pants.com

Christmassy Jokes

Did you hear about the dyslexic devil worshipper?

He sold his soul to Santa.

What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?

A Christmas Quacker!

What do you call Santa's little helpers?

Subordinate clauses!

Snowed under?

Let’s get festive with this seasonal collection of idioms related to the the word season and Christmas

idiom (n): an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made

Off season

Not in the busy time of the year.

 “We don't have much to do off season.” "Things are very quiet around here off season."

Open season (on someone)

A period of time when everyone is criticizing someone. 

"It seems as if it's always open season on politicians."

The silly season 

A period of time in the summer when there is not much news, especially political news, so the newspapers have articles about events that arenot important.

 "It's the silly season again, and as usual, the papers are full of stories about the Loch Ness Monster."

Full of the joys of spring.

To feel very happy and full of youthful energy.

"The sun was shining, and even though it was October, I was full of the joys of spring."

The dead of winter.

Used to describe the middle of winter, when it is very cold and dark.

"He disappeared in the dead of winter: The river was frozen, the streets almost

deserted."

Be as pure as the driven snow

To be morally good

"How dare he criticise me for having an affair? He's not exactly as pure as the driven snow himself."

Be snowed under

To have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all (often + with) "She wants me to take some time off but I'm snowed under with “work at the moment”.

From everyone here at Clever Pants we wish you a very happy festive season, whatever you are celebrating!

See you in 2013!

© Clever Pants 2012

www.clever-pants.com

Victorian Christmas Trees

The Royal Family at Windsor Castle in the Illustrated London News, in1848

Christmas was a special time for Queen Victoria and her family. A decorated Christmas tree was a custom introduced by Queen Charlotte, King George III´s German wife.

William Corden the Younger (1819-1900) Queen Victoria´s Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1850

Albert Chevallier Tayler (1862-1925)The Christmas Tree

O Primeiro Postal de Natal

O costume de enviar cartões de Natal começou em Inglaterra, no ano de 1843. Sir Henry Cole, um alto-funcionário britânico, teve essa ideia de mandar imprimir postais natalícios, para poder enviar a todos os seus amigos e conhecidos as suas saudações de Natal. Assim, encomendou ao pintor John Calcott Horsley a criação do primeiro cartão de Natal, cuja cópia está à vista em cima. Dessa primeira edição foram vendidos 1000 exemplares em Londres. 

Nos nossos dias, está aos poucos a cair em desuso, sobretudo devido à cada vez maior utilização da internet para se remeter todo o tipo de mensagens. Dessa forma perde-se cada vez mais o hábito de se escrever aos familiares e amigos, mesmo nestas ocasiões tão especiais. Cada um escolherá o seu método. Eu, enquanto professora de inglês, aproveito o meu blog para enviar a todos os leitores Merry Christmas and a Very Happy 2013!

O Pai Natal

Esta personagem jovial e feliz tem as suas origens remotas em S. Nicolau, bispo de Myra, no sul da Turquia, onde viveu, há mais de 1600 anos. Tornou-se Santo, devido à sua bondade em ajudar os mais pobres dando tudo o que possuía, com atenção especial às crianças.

Na Holanda chamam-lhe Sinterklass e é especialmente querido pelos mais pequenos. Foram os emigrantes holandeses, que introduziram a sua figura nos EUA. De início era representado com as vestes de Bispo. Mas, no início da década de 1930, um anúncio da Coca-Cola decidiu apresentá-lo, alegre e redondo com um fato vermelho, as cores daquela marca, com o objetivo de levar o público a consumir mais daquele refrigerante também no inverno. O sucesso foi grande e, hoje, este velhote bonacheirão de belas barbas brancas faz as delícias das crianças em todo o mundo. Nos EUA, por influência do nome holandês chamam-no Santa Claus ou simplesmente Santa. No Reino Unido preferem chamá-lo Father Christmas 

December 8

Manuel da Rocha. Coroação de Nossa Senhora. Retábulo em talha dourada e policromada. Séc XVII. Sé Nova de Coimbra



December 8 is Immaculate Conception Day in Portugal

Showcase 4

Wonderful Madeira

 Madeira: "Sea of clouds"

Christmas in Funchal, Madeira island

Wonderful Madeira | Photo by: João Fernandes