Yes, I know, I know...
Summer is over. We have had a good rest from classes and studying. Some of you may have been to the beach, or to some foreign country -maybe to an English-speaking country-. Some maybe just stayed at home to do those things you don't normally have the time to do, like...reading English books, for example! (optimistic, I know.)
But time has come to start again. With renewed forces. With the willingness to work and to learn, and to have fun.
Before classes begin, here in Plasencia and anywhere else throughout the country, let me remind you that this summer has been the summer of London and the UK. First, British people celebrated the 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne, which is known as the DIAMOND JUBILEE.
Elizabeth II was proclaimed queen when her father, George VI, died in 1952 of cancer, and crowned at Westminster Abbey the following year. She is the second longest reigning monarch in British history, after her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, and one of the most popular. She has not always been so, especially after the death of her daughter-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales. But she managed to overcome that period of trial and has nowadays an 80 percent approval rating among her people. The proof is how they have enthusiastically participated in the events celebrated and that are still being held until the year is over. The highlight of the Jubilee was the PAGEANT held in London on June 3, when a flotilla of 1,000 boats, among them kayaks, canoes and gondolas, followed the royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, down the river Thames, in a display last seen 350 years ago:
1. Only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. They are:
• Victoria (63 years)
• George III (59 years)
• Henry III (56 years)
• Edward III (50 years)
• James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years)
2. The Queen is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England.
3. Since 1952 The Queen has given Royal Assent to more than 3,500 Acts of Parliament.
4. Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular audiences to 12 Prime Ministers. They are:
• Winston Churchill 1951-55
• Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57
• Harold Macmillan 1957-63
• Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64
• Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76
• Edward Heath 1970-74
• James Callaghan 1976-79
• Margaret Thatcher 1979-90
• John Major 1990-97
• Tony Blair 1997-2007
• Gordon Brown 2007-2010
• David Cameron 2010 - present
...if you want to find out more, click here.
Maybe you'd like to hear the Queen herself giving thanks to her people.
The other event that has marked one of the most exciting years for the British people is, of course, the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, held in August and September respectively. Here you have some hilights. Enjoy!
The British team, commonly referred to as TEAM GB, won 65 medals, 29 of which were gold. Would you like to check the medal count in total? Click here.
So, as you will imagine, the people in the UK have never been prouder to be British!
How was YOUR summer? What did you do? Click on 'comments' if you want to tell us.
So now we are ready. LET THE GAMES BEG...eeeerrrr, I mean, LET THE COURSE 2012-2013 BEGIN!!!
