Celebrating my MA

A late celebration of getting my MA,I'd actually got it back in October and officially graduated at the City Hall in Sheffield in November. Last Sunday went  to the 'Au Bon Vieux Temps' restaurant in Sidi Bou Said,the night before there had been a fire at the mosque next to the restaurant.At first it seemed to have been an accident but later found out the Salafists had burnt down the shrine. The pictures of the burnt out shrine had been posted on Facebook,Ayem texted me he had seen these photos and was put off going to the restaurant as he feared there might be trouble in Sidi Bou Said. Mourad,Philip,Cormac and Esther,Moujib his friend Azza,and Carin came and later on Ursula as she was skint and couldn't really afford dinner.
Our table was facing the sea,the view is great during the day time so in the  evening you can only just make out the other side of the bay but it was very thoughtful of the restaurant to do the seating in this way.
The decor of the  restaurant includes some paintings and also photographs of some celebrities who have dined here including the ex-president Sarkoky and his wife Carla Bruni and one of the princesses of Thailand.
Leaving the restaurant was delayed a small demonstration just opposite a nearby restaurant,actually there seemed to be more police than demonstrators.The demonstration was against the Minister of Foreign Affairs spending government money inappropriately.Half an hour later we managed to walk through the police and demonstrators without any problems.

Life in Qatar

click here to see some interesting photos about Qatar

London

On Monday ,mum Tony,Lucia and I  went to to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park ,mum enjoyed dancing to the music at the carousel bar and to the live music by the 'Abba-like ' band.
New Year's Eve Tony.Lucia and I went to the Riverside Bar and a short time before midnight we made our way outside to watch the firework,I went further up the river beyond Lambeth Bridge and down to the river bank,the tide had gone out and loads of people were gathered there.A good spot to see the fireworks.

On New Year's Day I went ice skating at Somerset House,Tony and Lucia later came along but just to watch.

Wet Christmas in England!

Most of England is suffering from floods especially the south west of England where the train service from London to the south west has been severely affected,the main lines from Tiverton practically submerged.
On Christmas Day the fire brigade appeared in the street outside the back of Tony's flat,the basement of the block of flats next door had been flooded so two fire engines were stationed in the road with one of them pumping out the water.

On Boxing Day Cirque Soleil did a 15 minute performance outside Harrods' before the department store opened its doors for the Boxing Day sales,there were also some demonstrators protesting against Harrods' selling fur products.Despite their noisy protests it was still enjoyable watching Cirque Soleil.

The next day we went to a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown where the dim sum was served up from trolleys which meant the food was nice and hot so no cold food this time.

Teaching English Radio Live from Gafsa!

This month the Teaching English Radio programme reached the town of Gafsa,down in the south west of Tunisia. Gafsa is the home of the Tunisian mining industry,phosphate mining started here way back in the late 19th century.
It is the first time that Radio Gafsa has broadcasted a non-Arabic programme! In the studio there was Nigel Bellingham,the British Council's country director.The presenter as usual was Hayet and on programme 2 of series 2 the topic was 'Finding and Creating Resources'. When teachers do not have access to books and resources,or access to the Internet, it can be a challenge to find and create resources but with a bit of resourcefulness and imagination they can be created! Just look at the realia around you for inspiration!

click http://www.radiotunisienne.tn/rtci/sounds/anglais/anglais07122012.mp3 to listen to the programme!

We'll be having a break in January but listen out for programme 3 in February when the topic
will be 'Using group work in practice'.

Palm Beach Hotel Tozeur

The British Council Teaching English Radio Team! (me,Kiros and Nigel plus RTCI presenter Hayet) flew down to Tozeur.We are staying at the Palm Beach Hotel,the inner reception area is dominated by an palm filled like oasis.Tomorrow we drive to Gasfa to do the Teaching English Radio programme from Radio Gafsa,the first time a non Arabic programme to be broadcasted from this radio station!

Dave Brubeck 'Take Five' pianist passed away

Dave Brubeck ,the jazz pianist of the hit 'Take Five' passed away.