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You can follow me now in Facebook. You have just get into Facebook and you can find me by my name or email. If you have not get Facebook account, you have to register, but it is easy, free and very fast.

Ahora me puedes seguir también en Facebook. Basta con que entres en facebook y me buscas por mi nombre o dirección de correo electrónico. Si no tienes cuenta en Facebook tendrás que registrarte, pero el fácil, gratis y rápido.

London XIX. In the tube

A couple was standing next to the door of the coach. Both looked tenderly each other as they kissed softly on the lips.
A man sitting in the coach looked briefly at the couple as they kissed and he quickly turned his head. He seemed to be staring into space, behind his old-fashioned glasses.
He was thinking why he had not ever been able to enjoy a moment like he had just seen.
He had a good job and a good salary. He was no longer young but, when he looked at himself in the mirror in the morning, he thought that someone could still liked him.
In the next station the couple got off the train and started to walk together along the platform hand in hand.
The train started again and he followed them with a glance. The couple was gradually waning, as his hopes and finally they disappeared.
(This short story was the yesterday homework. My teacher told me about it: "Manuel, really good. You've created a lovely atmosphere. Well done". My teacher is called Helen and she is very kind, isn't she?).

Traducción de cortesía.
En el metro.
De pie, junto a la puerta del vagón, una pareja se miraba con ternura, mientras se besaba suavemente en los labios.
Un hombre sentado en el vagón miró furtivamente a la pareja mientras se besaba y giró inmediatamente la cabeza. Parecía estar mirando al espacio, tras sus gafas pasadas de moda.
¿Porqué nunca había podido disfrutar de un momento como el que acababa de ver?, pensaba él. Tenía un buen trabajo y un buen sueldo. No era demasiado joven pero, cuando se miraba al espejo por las mañanas, pensaba que todavía podía gustarle a alguien.
En la siguiente estación la pareja se apeó del vagón y ambos comenzaron a caminar juntos por el andén, cogidos de la mano. El tren arrancó y él los siguió con la mirada. La imagen de la pareja se fue difuminando poco a poco, como sus esperanzas, hasta que ambas desaparecieron completamente.
(Este relato breve fue parte de mis deberes de ayer. Mi profesora me ha dicho acerca de él lo siguiente: "Manuel, muy bien. Has creado un ambiente 'lovely'. Bien hecho". Mi profesora se llama Helen y es muy amable, ¿No te parece?).

London XVIII. The Cameron's old new ideas

Prime Minster of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, publish an important article today in The Daily Telegraph. Cameron explains the principles of his idea about "The Big Society". These are some of the Cameron's arguments:
- The grip of state control will be released and power will be placed in people hands.
- Professionals will see their discretion restored.
- There will be more freedom, more choice and more local control.
- It will create a new presumption that public services should be open to a range of providers competing to offer a better service. Instead of having to justify why it makes sense to introduce competition in some public services the state will have to justify why it should ever operate a monopoly.
- More people will have right to take control of the budget for the service they receive.
- The Big Government will be dismantled and will be built the Big Society in its place.
- ...and other beautiful words more.
These ideas are not new ideas, they are the same ideas. If I was a British citizen who needed public services, like the most of them, I would be seriously frightened.

Traducción de cortesía.
Las viejas nuevas ideas de Cameron.
El Primer Ministro del Reino Unido, David Cameron, publica un artículo importante hoy en The Daily Telegraph. Cameron explica los principios de su idea sobre "La Gran Sociedad". Estos son algunos de los argumentos de Cameron:
- El dominio y el control por el Estado serán liberados y el poder se colocará en manos de la gente.
- Los profesionales verán restaurada su discrecionalidad.
- Habrá más libertad, más opciones y más control local.
- Se creará una nueva presunción de que los servicios públicos deben estar abiertos a una amplia gama de proveedores que compitan para ofrecer un mejor servicio. En lugar de tener que justificar por qué tiene sentido introducir la competencia en algunos servicios públicos, el Estado tendrá que justificar por qué debe seguir operando un monopolio.
- Más personas tendrán derecho a tomar el control del presupuesto para el servicio que reciben.
- El "Gran Gobierno" será desmantelado y se construirá la "Gran Sociedad" en su lugar.
- ... Y otras bellas palabras más.
Estas ideas no son ideas nuevas, son las mismas ideas de siempre. Si yo fuera un ciudadano británico que necesitase los servicios públicos, como la mayoría de ellos, yo estaría seriamente preocupado.


-- Desde Mi iPad

London XVII

On Sunday I went to Mass with my host family. Maybe I did not tell you they are a Catholic family very involved in the activities of their parish and their children's schools, which are Catholic as well.
The ceremony is a bit different than in Spain. I think possibly Anglican ceremonies have influenced the practice of the Catholic Church Sunday in England. The priest entered the church at the beginning of the Mass preceded by a group of acolytes with candles. The Mass is sung, everyone receives communion and at the end the parade is repeated in reverse. At the entrance to the Church there are missals and books of psalms, as in the Protestant churches and a paper with the Mass of the day, which allowed me to follow it in English. I followed the homily as I could. The gospel of the day was the famous passage about "the other cheek." The celebrant spoke of current issues and mentioned to Gandhi and Mandela. The speech looked to have more sense than which I remembered in Spain. At the end of the Mass I was introduced to the pastor, a nice Irish and we had a friendly and short talk.

Traducción de cortesía.
El domingo fui a misa con mi familia de acogida. Tal vez no te he dicho que son una familia católica muy involucrada en las actividades de su parroquia y de los colegios de sus hijos, que son también católicos.
La ceremonia es un poco diferente que en España. Creo que posiblemente las ceremonias anglicanas han influido en la práctica del domingo de la Iglesia Católica en Inglaterra. El sacerdote entra en la Iglesia al comienzo de la misa precedido por un grupo de acólitos con velas. La misa es cantada, todo el mundo recibe la Comunión y al final el desfile se repite a la inversa. A la entrada de la iglesia hay misales y libros de salmos, como en las Iglesias Protestantes y un papel con la Misa del día, lo que me permitió seguirla en inglés. Seguí la homilía como pude. El evangelio del día fue el famoso pasaje sobre "la otra mejilla". El celebrante habló de temas de actualidad y mencionó a Gandhi y Mandela. El discurso me pareció que tenía más sentido que los que recordaba en España. Al final de la misa me presentaron al párroco, un agradable irlandés, con el que tuve unas breves y amables palabras.

London XVI

Yesterday I went to The Houses of Parliament. I booked a ticket on Friday in the night by Internet for a guided visit on Saturday at 12:30. I had previously to collect the ticket in a office next to Parliament and then, I got into Westminster Palace by Cromwell gate, like a lord.
I always liked this building, despite its low arquitechtural value. First it is a very armonic building, in spite of its visual power. Moreover, Great Britain is the first modern democracy on the world. Something start in Greece more than two thousand years ago became exactly in Great Britain the parliamentary system of all civilized countries today. Because all this the visit was exciting for me.
I had choosen to carry out my visit with an English guide, but the guide offered me a visit in Spanish but I told her I prefered it in English. So I only understood the middle of the explanations, but it was my chance to practice English in that moment.
I could see the House of Lords Chamber, the House of Commons Chamber and the royal rooms. I felt especially motivated in the House of Commons Chamber.
The whole building has an atmosphere of powerful, wealth and national pride.
During the visit, logically, the best hits in the history of the British Isles and their great military victories are mentioned, among which are unfortunately the victory over the Spanish Armada (the guide does not use this ridiculous term of Invincible Armada) and of course Trafalgar. The guide looked at me when she spoke about that and when she spoke about Katherine from Aragon, like they call her.
Finally I must say that the visit of The Houses of Parliament is absolutely interesting and I recommend you if you came to London, do it.

Traducción de cortesía:
Ayer fui a ver el Palacio de Westminster, sede del Parlamento británico. Compré una entrada el viernes por la noche a través de Internet para una visita guiada el sábado a las 12:30. Tuve que recoger el billete en una oficina próxima al Parlamento y, a continuación, entré en el Palacio de Westminster por la puerta de Cromwell, como un lord.
Siempre me gustó este edificio, a pesar de su escaso valor arquitectónico. En primer lugar, porque es un edificio muy armónico, a pesar de su potencia visual. Por otra parte, Gran Bretaña es la primera democracia moderna en el mundo. Algo que se inicio en Grecia hace más de dos mil años, llegó a ser el sistema parlamentario de todos los países civilizados de hoy, precisamente en Gran Bretaña Debido a todos estos motivos esta visita fue muy emocionante para mí.
Yo había elegido llevar a cabo mi visita con un guía en Inglés, pero la guía me ofreció una visita en español, pero le dije que prefería en Inglés. De modo que sólo entendí la mitad de las explicaciones, pero fue mi oportunidad de practicar inglés en este momento.
Pude ver la Cámara de los Lores, la Cámara, la Cámara de los Comunes y las habitaciones reales. Me sentí motivado sobre todo en la Cámara de los Comunes.
Todo el edificio desprende un ambiente de poder, riqueza y orgullo nacional.
Durante la visita, como es lógico, los mejores éxitos en la historia de las Islas Británicas y sus grandes victorias militares se mencionan, entre los que están, por desgracia, la victoria sobre la Armada Española (la guía no utiliza este término ridículo de la Armada Invencible) y, por supuesto, Trafalgar. La guía me miraba cuando habló de eso y cuando habló de Katherine de Aragón, como ellos la llaman.
Por último debo decir que la visita del Parlamento de Westminster es absolutamente interesante y si vienes a Londres te recomiendo que la hagas.

-- Desde Mi iPad

London XV

Yesterday I had lunch in the common room in the school. I sat down next to a girl who I only can see her eyes. I asked her about her name and where she come from. She told me she is from Saudi Arabia.
It is the first time in my life I speak with a woman with her covered whole face, except her eyes. These days, it is frequently the first time in my life about a lot of stuff. It is exciting, isn't it?
I would like to ask to my Arabian classmate many questions. For example, why does she study English?, what kind of life will she have when she finished her English learning?
But I decided keep my mouth shut.

Traducción de cortesía:
Ayer comí en la "common room" en la escuela. Me senté junto a una chica a la que solo se le veían los ojos. Le pregunté por su nombre y de dónde era. Ella me dijo que es de Arabia Saudita.
Era la primera vez en mi vida que hablaba con una mujer con todo su rostro cubierto, excepto los ojos. En estos días, con frecuencia es la primera vez en mi vida sobre un montón de cosas. Es emocionante, ¿no?
Me habría gustado preguntarle a la chica muchas cosas. Por ejemplo, ¿por qué estudia Inglés?, ¿qué tipo de vida le espera cuando termine su aprendizaje de Inglés?
Sin embargo, decidí mantener mi boca cerrada.

-- Desde Mi iPhone

London XIV. Boil beans everywhere

This is the cover of today's London Evening Standard, the free newspaper which you can get every evening on the streets of London.



The most important news of the day today is that the civil servants in Britain live in a sick note culture and for this reason they have lost 1,6 million work days in a year.
The source of the information is a conservative MP (member of Parliament) who had asked to the Government for it. Obviously, the conservative MP intend to blame the former Labour government for it.
In my two first weeks in London I have been watching on the TV the weekly sessions of questions and answers in the Parliament between Prime Minster David Cameron and the Labour leader, Ed Miliband. For my teacher these debates were part of my English learning. She enjoyed very much seeing as Cameron punched to Miliband and, sometimes, she said derogatorily: "labour". In these sessions could see that actual Government tends to blame previous Labour Government for all actual problems.
I think in Spain we are going to see the same things sooner than late. On the other hand, I think people believe everywhere that the civil servants are not good workers and they are always trying to avoid their obligations.

Traducción de cortesía:
En todas partes cuecen habas.
Esta es la portada del número de hoy del periódico gratuito London Evening Standard, que puedes obtener cada tarde en las calles de Londres. La noticia más importante de la jornada de hoy es que los funcionarios públicos en Gran Bretaña viven instalados en una cultura de la baja médica y por esta razón han perdido 1,6 millones de días de trabajo en un año.
La fuente de la información es una diputada conservadora que había preguntado al Gobierno por ello. Obviamente, la intención de la diputada es la de culpar al anterior gobierno laborista de ello.
En mis dos primeras semanas en Londres he estado viendo en la televisión las sesiones semanales de preguntas y respuestas en el Parlamento entre el Primer Ministro, David Cameron, y el líder laborista, Ed Miliband. Para mi profesora estos debates formaban parte de mi aprendizaje del Inglés. Le gustaba mucho ver como Cameron golpeaba a Miliband y, a veces, decía despectivamente: "laborista tenías que ser". En estas sesiones pude ver cómo el Gobierno actual tiende a culpar al anterior Gobierno laborista de todos los problemas actuales.
Creo que en España vamos a ver las mismas cosas más pronto que tarde. Por otro lado, creo que la gente tiene la creencia en todo el mundo de que los funcionarios no son buenos trabajadores y que siempre están tratando de eludir sus obligaciones.

London XIII

Today is Friday and the school finish at 1 pm. I have been in Candem Town market in the afternoon with my classmates. The place is great. You must go there when you visit London. Absolutely. My classmates came back soon, so I decided to take a walk. There was a lot of people in the streets. The crowd was stuck at the gate of the Tottenham Court Road tube station. The police ordered to go into and to go out from station by turns. I saw a queue of eight people in front of a cash machine of Lloyds Bank. Next to it, HSBC had a line with ten cash machines with a lot of people.
People was having beer in the street, outside pubs, like El Salvador Square on Friday afternoon (afternoon is after noon, after 12 pm, as its name says).
I looked for a nice place where having dinner, but all the restaurants were full. In some of them, people looked into the menu while waited his turn outside in the street. I had to eat something in a fast food place, although I was sit down very confortably in a leather armchair.
After dinner, I have been walking around The Soho and Chinatown. The streets were very very busy. I finished in Piccadilly Circus, where I took the tube to came back at home. At the link of Earl's Court, I asked to an English gentleman for the next train, and he asked me if I'm Italian. He spoke in a very correct Spanish and told me he is a teacher of English. He gave me a card of a cheap hotel of your family and he offered to talk to me in English if I want. He told me my English is very good and I am happy.

London XII

I am going to present some of my classmates.
Maybe, the most curious case is Veronica. The first day, in the welcome room, I focused in a woman because she was certainly in her forties, which highlighted at that place where the most were in their twenties or less. When we meet in class I knew that Veronica is a catholic Korean noon.
The second case is Jovanna. Jovanna is from Montenegro and she says that her country has 600.000 inhabitants. I think I had luck because I could met one of them in the world. Her main language is Serbian and her second language is Russian. She speaks perfectly Russian, because she lives in Moscow and works in a travel agency. I asked her about secession of Montenegro from Serbia and she did not like. I agree with her, although I am not from Montenegro. I told her that in Spain we say it is better tail of lion than head of mouse.
The third case is Benoit. He is from the French-speaking area of Switzerland and he speaks four languages. English, which he speaks better than me, will be his fifth language. Benoit thinks the French believe they're better than everyone else. I told him that the word chauvinism, used in many languages, comes actually from French.
These days had lunch with Iovanna, Benoit and Irma, who is from Estonia. She is not in my class and I only know about her she works at a bank, because she speaks very little.
Another day I will speak about other people.
To be continued...

-- Desde mi iPad

London XI

We are twelve people in my class, from eight different nationalities: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Montenegro (not Black Mountain), Switzerland, Argentina and a smart and very young boy who came from Spain.
This is my first day in the school. I am angry because I could not swim today because I got lost looking for the pool because a wrong indication and I found it later and also I have too much homework, so I have to stop.
To be continued.


-- Desde Mi iPad

London X

Andrea, one of the boys, asked me this early morning at breakfast if I had had a good sleep (what a lovely boy!) At first I did not understand him, because he spoke to me too far. His mother suggested him inmediatly he should repeat it nearer and, finally, I could understand him (not british). I asked him if Monday was a hard day for him. He put a sad expression and said yes. He is lovely. Really!
Writen in the tube to my first day in the school.
To be continued...


-- Desde Mi iPhone

London IX

Things can get better. If you do not believe it, read the following. It is the anti-Murphy law.
I moved yesterday. The vet phoned early to say that Patch (the cat) had eaten that morning in the animal's hospital, where he was. Like a person. The patient had a good night and he had eaten. It was something good, wasn't it?
The lunch was delayed, so I had to eat quickly, because the taxi was coming. When I left, my host family said good bye to me only with a handshake (british). But, before, Claire, the girl, hugged me very affectionate and emotional. My teacher said that we'll keep in touch, I'll phone her, etc., but, "If you want". She repeated that two or three times.
I arrived at Garzolini's home half an hour later.
First, a cup of tea, of course. My hosts (Anna Maria and Jeremy) talked with me for one hour or more. They spoke carefully and slowly and I could understand them. They asked me about my family, job and everything and she told me they were born in Cape Town (Ciudad del Cabo), South Africa and their fathers are Italians and their mothers are English. They have been living in London since seventeen years ago.
The other day I told you they have three children who are 9, 8 and 4 years old. The oldest children play violin and piano, respectively and the younger, Francesca, practices dancing. One of the boys sings in a chorus which plays in Brompton Oratory, an old catholic church which I remembered, because I liked very much and I took a photo to Carlos in its garden.
In the home, in the dinning room, there is a beautiful black piano and classic music sounded in the stereo while we talked.
After one hour or more I asked for my room, because I was impatient. My room is in the second floor and Jeremy had uploaded my heavy lugagge. She told me that if I did not mind taking off my shoes before climbing the stairs, because the carpet.
My room is very light and spacious. It has a big bed, two bedside table, an armchair, a chest of drawers, a table and a chair. My private bathroom is just next to the bedroom and it is spacious and has a windows overlooking the street. Everything looks amazing. It is like a small apartment only for me. I could say that I am going to stay in a four stars hotel (well, an Engish four stars hotel, I do not want to overstate). In fact, Anna Maria told me later that the Roger Federer's parents had stayed in my room during the Wimbledon championship. Like you hear it!
I am writing this having a coffee in a Cafe Nero, a place like Starbucks, where the coffee is as bad as everywhere. I asked for a cappuccino medium size and the waiter gave me a big cup of half liter of strange and creamy liquid. I had been walking for several hours in London with a frozen wind and, maybe, in that moment, I understood such a bad coffees are sold in Starbucks and similar bars. With that bad weather people wants to have a big glass or cup of anything, but very hot. I would prefer a cup of "caldito", but...what I am going to do...

-- Desde Mi iPhone

London VIII

Today I arrived at home from London for dinner and I found a tragedy. A car has run over the cat and he has broken a leg and several ribs. The surgery has cost 4.000 pounds. Any doubt about the love of the English for the animals?
Nevertheless, my host family has had the courage to uncork the bottle of wine I gave them the other day (which, incidentally, was not bad), to drink it at dinner. I told them I especially appreciated the detail, because I understood that the day is not for celebrations. The father said they were celebrating that I'm leaving tomorrow. So we had a conversation about British humor (british).




After dinner, a friend of Claire, the girl's home, asked me about the recipe for paella. I was trying to explain her the ingredients and the way for cooking paella. In short, without words.
Well, I leave here tomorrow with a good taste. Tonight, as a goodbye and because was Friday, we went to a pub for a drink and the day ended with the emotional losses on the poor cat.
Tomorrow, new home, new family. We'll see ...
To be continued ...

-- From My iPad

London VII

Maybe you think that in the United Kingdom is always bad weather. These days read in a book of my teacher about United Kingdom that the image of a wet and foggy land was created two thousand years ago by the invading Romans and has been perpetuated in modern times by Hollywood. It is funny, isn’t it?
True o false, british people is always talking about the weather and my teacher, every morning, tell me if it is a dry or wet day, or a beautiful day when it is cloudy, or a lovely day if you can see sometimes the sun, or absolutely lovely day if it is a sunny day, as today is.
This afternoon, after having lunch with my teacher in a big pub in Surbiton (where I am now living), I have been walking along a beautiful path by the Thames river and it was a really lovely afternoon. Look at the photos.


I walked between Surbiton  to Kingston, a town next to Surbiton, 1,5 miles away, approximately. When I went towards Kingston, the sun warmed my back and then, I stopped and sat down in a bench. There are a lot of benches of wood by the path and, on all of them, there is a memory like this photo.



It is a bit sad to read the memory of so many people who enjoyed this place and cannot today.
Coming back to Surbiton, the sun warmed my face and I thought that sun in the winter is one of the nicest pleasures in life.
When I arrived in Surbiton I decided to have a beer and to write this and here I am, in the Duke of York pub.
To be continued…
-- From My iPhone

London and londoniers

Una pareja cogidos de la mano por la calle hace un bello contraste: ella es transparente como el cristal, él es negro como un teléfono.

Una anciana que debe tener, al menos, 90 años y que apenas puede moverse, deambula con un andador con 3 ruedas y un cesto, en el que lleva la compra del supermercado; el cesto rebosa y algunas bolsas cuelgan del manillar del andador; el autobús se para y la anciana comienza una operación imposible de subir al autobús, con el andador, la compra y su cuerpo menudo y cansado, casi vencido; el conductor observa la escena impávido y yo, desde dentro, me acerco a la puerta; entre unos viandantes que empujan desde fuera y yo que ayudo desde dentro conseguimos introducir a anciana y andador; ahora comienza un lento caminar por el pasillo, arrastrando el andador cargado, hasta que encuentra acomodo en un asiento; mientras, el autobús permanece en la parada; al llegar al destino, la operación de bajada me pilla lejos y es otro el samaritano que acomete la tarea inversa, de bajar del autobús a la anciana y su carrito; tras 2 ó 3 minutos, el conductor, impaciente, cierra la puerta que casi deja fuera al buen samaritano que, tras depositar su buena obra en la calle, intentaba reintegrarse al autobús.

Un chino gordo, con un sombrero de cuadros escoceses, dos tallas más pequeño que su cabeza, de la que cuelgan unas greñas que asoman bajo el sombrero.

Un perro rastafari.

Otra anciana que se baja de un taxi en una calle de una zona muy elegante. Ella es menuda y porta un bastón en el que apenas se apoya, a pesar de que parece mantenerse milagrosamente en pie. El taxista, un joven negro, la acompaña a cruzar la calle, pero termina su trabajo a mitad de la calzada. La anciana recorre la otra mitad con andar precario y sin contratiempo. No hay tráfico en la calle. Al final de la calzada inicia la difícil tarea de subir a la acera. Desecha la ayuda del bastón, se apoya en un coche allí aparcado y consigue finalmente encaramarse a la acera.

London VI

Today I decided to have a look to my new house, where I will move on Saturday and my new school, where I will start my next learning English stage on Monday.
I was worried about my new host family and the new school, but I am now happy.
I found soon the house, rang the bell, wait one minute and Anna-Maria opened the door. She is called Anna-Maria Garzolini and her children are called Luca, Andrea and Francesca. Doesn't matter. The Anna-Maria's family was from Italy but she is English of second generation and in her home they speak in English.
I could not see the house, because there was nobody, except Anna-Maria and she went out quickly for her children. But I have had a good first impression.
Then, I take the bus whose number I had found in Internet. This is probably the path which I will have to do every day. The way is beautiful. The bus passes near a golf court of Wimbledon Park and, in the opposite side, you can see the main tennis court of Wimbledon, where the most famous championship of the world is played.
Five minutes after I got off the bus at Wimbledon Station and I went to my school which is 300 metres away. Wimbledon School of English (WSE) is in an old and beautiful building. It was cold and going into the school was warm and very nice.
After having a look inside the centre I liked everything I saw. I am sure that it will be an excellent experience for me. But not everything was good. I have to tell you that everybody who went into and went out (students and teachers, I supposed) was very young; in their twenties, more or less (or more less than more). I do not mind how old is somebody, but I mind how old am I. And five months with people so young everyday...
Well, then, I was walking around the commercial area of Wimbledon and bought a bottle of red wine for my host family in a supermarket. It is a Spanish great reserve wine and I hope they enjoy it. I did not tell you that on Monday they invited me to dinner in a tipycal pub. The cat (Patch) came with us and got into the pub.
Here in Wimbledon there are a lot of pubs and bars which look nice and warm. I have decided to have a half paint in Alexandra. The waiter is a very old and very british man who, seeing the bottle showing from the bag of the supermarket, offer me a corkscrew. Some old people talking each other in the pub while I write this.
See you later, bye...
To be continued...

-- From Mi iPhone