https://videopress.com/v/zSK9D3Jt?preloadContent=metadata This is really weird! My students seem to like the sound of my voice and I do too I must admit, so added to the fact that I love poetry and find there's always a moment in the day that reminds me of a line or two.........the other day I went for a walk… Continue reading TIZ-WOZ!
Author: englishthatgrows
I have been living in Italy for a long time and I'm grateful for all the opportunities this beautiful, varied country has offered, especially art and music....oh! and food too. I also work here, doing the most exciting job possible (for a people-person like me) I teach English. New people, new ideas ,new methods to investigate,what more could anyone ask for!
Weather
We British are obsessed with the weather. Of course. It's exciting, variable from minute-to- minute because it's an ever-changing kaleidoscope. I remember calling my cousin and asking if predictions were good for my summer holiday in England. "Well", he said " we had summer last week on Wednesday afternoon". Here in Italy we don't actually… Continue reading Weather
Wakey wakey! Absolutely not “woke”
When you think about it isn't it wonderful. The way you gradually come out from that longing for hot heavy food and drink and emerge like a newborn into a world of salad and fresh- picked fruit? Suddenly the snug scarf round your neck and up to your nose can be shed and you come… Continue reading Wakey wakey! Absolutely not “woke”
But I always thought we ENGLISH invented roses….
Yes, well along with everything else worthwhile: cricket, all dressed in white on the village green, bucolic!; afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches (no crusts) and scones with raspberry jam and whipped cream; a proper breakfast with cholesterol-busting bacon, eggs beans, hash browns, fried bread; the weather with information on the best places to experience it… Continue reading But I always thought we ENGLISH invented roses….
Small and delicate or big and blowsy?
That's a difficult choice for a gardener. Naturally you want your visitors to gasp with admiration but unfortunately they do that in front of the huge blooms of Hibiscus. I still can't fathom why I bought it in the first place? A moment of madness I suppose. Every year I decide to get rid of… Continue reading Small and delicate or big and blowsy?
BAD NEWS TURNS TO GOOD
Well, the first time I went out to inspect my garden this morning I found to my irritation, no, much more than irritation actually, I was angry and disgusted because I found the kitchen waste buried deeply after much heavy spade work huffing and puffing yesterday, had been unearthed! I bury the kitchen scraps in… Continue reading BAD NEWS TURNS TO GOOD
Approaching Heaven
No no, I don't mean I'm moribund, I simply mean that today I've decided not to read any news, not to read any social networks, switch off the anxiety promoters, the fake news pundits.......and go outside. I struggled to undress my heavy teak armchair fom its winter storage and dragged it into a sunny spot… Continue reading Approaching Heaven
Other Plagues
This is not the first time obviously, nor will it be the last so let me remind you that epidemics have always been a potent inspiration for interesting and sometimes great, art. Let's start with my least favourite in this moment. Daniel Defoe's "Journal of the Plague Year" published in 1772 but purporting to be… Continue reading Other Plagues
A bit of love, a bit of breath, a bit of peace
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA I think the first big thing we can all do, for the community, as well as for ourselves, is stop vomiting those really nasty thoughts and judgmental spew on the internet. There is no fighting, there are no bombs, no ethnic cleansing, so get your act together. Our grandfathers went to… Continue reading A bit of love, a bit of breath, a bit of peace
The Best of times, the Worst of times…
I'm quoting Dickens from memory so I might be wrong. I believe they are the first few lines of "A Tale of Two Cities". So,in this period, I guess we're learning a lot, I think we'll have lost some of our fascination with social media by the time this is all over. Honestly, just how… Continue reading The Best of times, the Worst of times…
English that grows 