This is not the end

All good things have to come to an end and this magnificent experience is about to end up. I have just 6 days left in The British Isles and I'll come back for sure. There are plenty of places I leave unseen and they are worth a visit. This last weekend has been absolutely quiet, I didn't feel like doing anything else, I'm so excited, with ants in my pants, that I needed to chill out a bit. I'm surprised that time has passed by so fast, there have been better days than others, but the overall feeling is pretty positive and I'm thinking about repeat it in the close future. It also depends on my marks next year, because I'm into the University I wanted and in two-month time (approx.), I'll be starting my classes. I just can't wait for it! What else can I ask for? Everything is going well, there are new people in my life who I really hope know in depth and there are people who are not in my life any more. Sometimes, we have to make decisions and turn the page. Actions speak louder than words, innit? I love to have a Kentish accent, I guess I have it, I don't know, at least I'm happy to have learnt in this part of the country.
A new challenge is about to begin: Learning German and I'm very happy about it, it sounds quite interesting to be able to read books written in this language.
So this is a see you later, for now :)

This week is being quite stressful because I have to prepare my documents to change the university where I'll study next course. I consider the period is too short and I don't want to wait until September because that means I'll begin later than other people and I don't want to miss any class. On top of all, being so far I don't have any control over the steps nor process, and I feel kinda insecurity and most likely unnecesary worries. But, I can't help myself, it's something very important to me, because i can't afford myself to lose another year. It's been difficult to realise what I wanted to do in my life and now that I'm aware of it, I only want to do it and work hard to achieve it. So, the deadline for the enrollment form is on 21st. which means you don't have too much time because I assume that you can't go at the weekend, or yes? All I know is there's a huge lack of info.

CAE

Yesterday was the E-Day (exam day). I'm not all done yet though. I'll do the last one part (Speaking test) on Sat, and to be honest, I'm looking forward to finishing it. I hope I don't get very nervous. But above all, most importantly is the pics are not too difficult and I know the vocabulary related to them, otherwise, I'll be lost! Unfortunately, I haven't had an easy time lately, so I haven't been able to manage to prepare my exam(s)/test(s)/whatever! properly. I've been down in the dumps, and I wasn't in the mood to put my nose into books. (this sounds suspiciously incorrect)

I have to mention that the last class we had, one of our classmates (Jim) gave out a lovely bunch of yellow roses. We all were surprised. I have put my two flowers in a vase with water to keep them as long as possible. Before I bin it, I'll dry a few petals.

The exams went not too bad, better than I thought previously. Although It was a big effort because we spent all morning long doing it. I hope it worths it. If not, I'll have another go when I feel ready. I know how much I've improved during this year in England. Naturally, it's much better If I return home with a official qualification... But you can't have your cake and eat it too, can you? All I want now is to end my exams up and start a new stage in my life. That's what life is all about, I guess: Beginnings and endings. As regards the exam (again), I think the best part for me was Use of English (this is the grammar test), I was comparing the answers with a classmate and we had the same ones, so or we are happily right or tragically wrong. Let's be postive about it, I have a hunch that it's the first one and not the latter. The worst part for me was the Listening because apart from its complexity, it was the last, so we were already quite tired and it was more complicated to pay attention. Oh my God, it was impossible to understand a single word from the first girl in the first exercise, she had an odd accent.

Ooook! I've been lazing about enough time for this morning. Let's get started!

Happy Birthday

Although we weren't precisely high-spirited yesterday, It was Abbie's B/day. In my humble opinion I believe it would have been more reasonable to wait a week because things have happened very recently. Anyway, as it wasn't my decision, we decorated the house with balloons and some stuff and she got lots of presents and cards. We are going to Splash water park tomorrow. She is going to have a party and I'm sure she'll enjoy a lot. I have tried not to go, but I have to. So, I'm afraid I won't be able to visit all the places I had in mind. I'll just take it easy and do as much as possible. No rush. I can always come back. The country is not going to move, I hope!

A bad day

Today, 7th June is about to end up and thankfully tomorrow will be another day. I couldn't imagine I was gonna receive such bad news. How could you expect anything like this? I'm not in an easy position though. After all, It's not my business but I can't help my feelings. What can I do? How can I help? Simply, I cannot do too much for them. Maybe, I have lots of questions inside my head and I don't get any convincing answer.

Life consists on changes and in loss as well. It's sad to think about what's about to come, and what's going on know. All I know is that I have to keep strong and bear this difficult situation. However, where can I get out that strength? Today I feel small, very small.

Where is the moment we needed the most

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

They tell me your blue skies fade to gray.

I give cuddles when they are required but nobody gives me one when I need a big hug to make me feel everything's going to be alright. I miss my family awfully, and maybe I have more reasons than never to come back. Who knows? Time will tell us. But for today, all I manage to think and the conclusion I have reached is: Life is a bitch and then you die. the lowering of the curtain.

Is it gonna rain?

(Picture taken in London's tube)

I have the day off and I'm still undecided.I don't know what to do or where to go. The sky is dark-grey and It will be raining soon (My washing is in the garden, damn it!) To put my clothes inside or leave them out...That's the question. The truth is that I don't care too much the destiny of my pieces of fabric.
Most likely is I'm going to spend the morning in Rochester because It's cosier than Gillingham and I don't want to do shopping, just walk around and take pictures and that's the orign of my worries about the bad weather. So, I'll take my brolly (FFFFFery immmporrrrtant) and my camera.
Yesterday I was tidying my stuff and I have got rid of lots of unwanted ''rubbish''. I have exactly two months ahead till I go home. So... Let's start the day! Happily and merrily life is but a dream, row row my boat lalala (I'm the best at making up songs' lyrics)

Rainy Saturday

After such a wonderful night, I cannot help this feeling of emptiness. It's being a sad day, the height is I've get wet on my way home and Abbie has laughed at my curly and soaking wet hair. I've tried to walk as fast as my legs allowed me. Jumping over the big puddles!

On the bright side, the sound of the drops on the ceiling of the library has been very helpful in order to being focused on my studies. I've been studying reported speech which I think it's quite interesting but I need more practice. It seems that there are some people who are not aware of the meaning of the words quiet room because some bastards were talking and surfing the net while others were trying to study. I've remained calm and just ignored them. Definitely, i'll take some music for the next occasion.

(The upper picture is my temple where I have all language books and dictionaries. The bad thing is most of them are only reference books which means I cannot take them home. Below, there's a picture of a book that has made me think of someone called Indira. I'm looking forward to cuddling her!)

Nothing special for today, just watch a movie that I've borrowed from the library ( Dances with wolves) and some pepsi and onion and cheese Walkers. I need to get some rest for tomorrow and for the next week due to is half term and I'll be working like a workaholic. I love resting days like today :)

Never say goodbye

Tonight is gonna be a bitter night. I'm going to have dinner out and I'm sure it will be very nice and pleasant. However, and in spite of the undeniable quality of the food in that Italian restaurant, the reason why we are meeting is to say 'see you'. You have been these last weeks saying how few time there was ahead, and I'll miss you so much. The important thing is we enjoy as much as possible and we keep in touch. It's not the end.

Another day that went by and soon another month. Time goes so fast in this place. I dunno way, maybe it's just due to I keep myself so busy during the whole day. Finally It was true that It was going to rain and we have had a typical rainy day. Abbie has had swimming today and I've spent 5 hours non-stop working. I feel so tired right now. I'd like to be in my bed, with Katy and Indira but all I have is Rossie and Tomasina. It's not tha same. I miss them a lot lately. I know I'll be with them soon and I cannot wait for that moment. So...tomorrow Friday at least! I still have to make my plans for the weekend.

Dover and Deal

What a wonderful places! If I don't have enough time I'll regret not visiting Sandwich, but may be it will be more interesting to see the other side: Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, etc. etc. As I said in a previous post, my intention is coming back and discover more places. I've been twice to Dover (having trouble in pronouncing the entire name of the railway station: Dover Priory, but It doesn't really matter too much because I was able to make myself understood). The city in itself it's not as big as I imagined (WRONG!) and It's a very cosy small town. The promenade was under construction and It was not very nice to see but anyway It was worth to visit it twice as we enjoy the wonderful castle (the wonderful and huge castle), the cliffs (in our attempt to see them) and the small museum where I saw a polar bear and I thought they were not such a big species!

Deal is a smaller city not very far from Dover and It counts with a nice seafront, a long and scary pier where everybody goes to fish. I saw a sing where it said it was prohibited fishing but only in a specefic area, I should have read the whole message. Damn it! haha
It was interesting to see how fishermen sold fresh fish on the shore, never seen before.

We got on a small tour boat and it was very exciting as it was my first time. I was a bit terrified because it was been rocking by the waves.

I have got tanned arms and chest in these sunny days. Everybody who has spent a weekend in London says ohh, It's always raining, blah, blah, blah. Rubbish! Oh, speaking of rain, I've broken three brollies since I'm here. On second thoughts, I didn't break the last one but the thing is the stupid wind keeps making me buying umbrellas like a maniac-

It was wonderful, amazing, stunning, etc. to be in the beach, I hurt my feet because of the pebbles (Big stones) but It was a worth experience and loads of fun.

Nearly 2 months left in the UK

Despite the fact that I've been having in mind to write on my blog, it seems my muse has taken a holiday. Now I find myself with lots of things to write about that have happened in these weeks 'in blank'. Lack of time has been another important issue.

May is on the verge of ending and the summer is showing shyly. Today is supposed to rain heavily but all we are having for now is a annoying wind. Cold or hot temperatures, life goes on and doesn't wait for anyone. I won't give any detail, but things are not going so wonderfully for all. We've received such bad news lately. Sadly, this is this is just the tip of the iceberg and worse is yet to come. I think fate of people is very often unfair and I don't understand why but I suppose that there are no reasons, it's just part of the game, and in all games you can be lucky or unlucky, the dice is cast once we are born and start breathing.

There are plenty of places to visit to and I cannot say the same about time which is almost over. Just two months more in here and I'll be back in the blink of an eye. I'll do my best and visit as much as possible. It isn't a problem because I'm going with the intention of coming back. I absolutely love the place.

I've been in the library this morning and I've found a very interesting book which helps you to expand your vocabulary. I think it'll quite helpful. I'm not conscious about the improvements I've done during these looong months. Next week we'll have half term and I'll be working more hours, this is a inconvenience as I have my Cambridge test rather soon, just a few weeks left to prepare it. I'm not taking it very seriously because I cannot concentrate properly, I don't have enough time to prepare each part, and so on. Apart from this, I'm very proud of myself 'cause I got a good mark in the reading part which was very complicated to me and It seems that I'm doing much better.

The teacher is mad, she goes very fast and we are all the time changing the page on the book so you can get lost easily if you don't pay attention. We were having a quick look at reported speech and I need to refresh it.
I'm going to miss lots of things when I'm home again. But...Home, sweet home. I need to rest and to put in order all the new knowledge I've acquired recently. What will future bring to my life?

Dance

Last Wednesday I was at Abbie's school. She wanted me to go to see her perfomance. They danced three different songs. I didn't like the songs particularly but they were full of beans and did a good job. They were a very symple and dynamic coreographies. They were quite coordinated though. It was a nice assembly and the headmaster was talking to the children and teachers. It was the first time I saw her. The radio was about to stop in the middle of a song, and they carried on dancing like professional dancers.

We are alive

Imagine a mountain higher than Mount Everest, so high you can almost touch the stars and the clouds in the sky. Life, in a simplistic way, is something like this. The bad news is you only have one chance to approach the summet on the top. It's not an easy climb (we have the proper name Ascensión in Spanish which comes from the verb ascender, maybe all people with this name have half of the journey already gained). Paradoxically, the verb ascend exists in English (according to the RAE it has a latin origin) language too, and in both languages we have the word (to) descend (verb) and descent (noun): descender and descenso respectively. Leaving words far behind, and carrying on with the metaphor, it's easily to fall down and move backwards. Nevertheless, it's a valuable lesson when you are able to fight nail and tooth to get back in the climb and don't give up.
The secret is to look for a ladder in one side of the mountain, a place more accesible and less uneven. If I have learnt something is: there's always a way, there's always something we can do about absolutely everything. So step by step, little by little, petit à petit, poco a poco...We learn in each step we take forwards, but remember sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take two steps forward.

Raindrops and Sunshine

Another week is just beginning. Abbie was complaining about the bad weather, saying we are about in spring and I answered her 'Precisely because spring is coming we have rain!'.
Another spring. Time goes too fast to me lately, I don't know why, I don't know how...but days pass by in front of my eyes and I feel it slipping through my fingers like fine sand.
I love listening to the birdsongs in the morning, they answer each other, in a secret code that most people can not perceive or simply ignore.
The other day, I was looking through my window. It's amazing how clouds move, they slide in the sky very gently.
It's funny how people suddenly is taking a umbrella in Madrid. The situation is as follows: Nice wather, passers-by form a mass of heads and blurry faces in the crowded streets and the sky begins to cry and the faces disappear and all you manage to see is a lot of umbrellas opened creating a colourful view. However, when it begins to rain in England, people usually cover their head with a hood. There are just a few with brollies. Most of them wear raincoats.

I used to hate rain in Madrid. I considered it very annoying and unpleasant, but I'm learning a valuable lesson..:C'mon it's just some water.

Good morning bright sun

(Photo taken from the train on my way to London)

This morning the sun is shining in the sky and I couldn't see beyond my feet because of the blinding rays of sunshine. I don't mind to wake up early, but this has been one of those days you want to stay longer in bed under the warm sheets (no sheeps!). The option snooze shouldn't exist in the mobile phone because it's a big temptation. So I've overslept 15 minutes, although nobody has realised because I've dressed up really fast.
When Abs and me were walking Scrappy Doo, we've realised flowers are about to bloom in the small grassland where we go for walks with the dog. They are really nice, a kinda yellow ones, and there are plenty of them along the grass. I like to see how the warm weather (relatively) is coming. But I know I'm not the only one feeling happy this morning.
Let's see how the day goes on... !!!

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down to the ground...

Life's short, seize the day

It's not long till I come back home...Just a few days and ¡Violá! I think I'm not gonna be able to do all things I'd like in a week, but I'll try to squash my time as much as I can. I'll be flying home on 21st (Winter solstice), I'll keep on my mind good memories about this date from this year on and wipe out bad ones forever and ever and ever. It's getting colder gradually, I hope it's snow when I'm in here...I'd be amazing! I feel good this morning, it's cold but it's sunny. I love sunny days in England!

Fireworks (31/10/09)

We were having dinner at Peige's on Friday. There were lots of food (mainly junk food), there were burguers, sausages, baked potatoes, baked pasta, cakes, etc. I tasted a new sauce made of lime and chilli and It was really spicy but i really liked it and i decided to have my potato with it. After dinner we were outside and there was a kind of wood stove in the garden and we were playing with sparklers , we had lot of fun. We were to see the fireworks on Saturday night, i was impressed 'cause there were lots of people in the street. It was amazing, there were lots of stars in the dark sky.
Estuvimos viendo los fuegos artificiales en una especie de campo de fútbol, aunque estaba muy oscuro y no sé a ciencia cierta donde fuimos, sólo se que era la primera vez que estaba allí ya que tuvimos que andar mucho hasta que llegamos. Había muchísima gente por todas partes, en los pubs, en las calles, y había muchos puestos vendiendo espadas de colores y ese tipo de cosas para los niños y los borrachos! Era la primera vez que veía fuegos artificiales tan de cerca y la verdad es que fue espectacular.

Poppy Day

The poppies that you see people wear,

Are there to show you they still care.

We open our hearts so that we can share,

A moment of silence, and offer a prayer.
To all the soldiers who died saving our country.
Yesterday was Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or even Veterans Day), there were many soldiers selling poppies along the High Street. Poppies are sold every year as an act of remembrance to fallen soldiers at wars. The price of each poppy is based on charity, and there were lots of different stuff such as stickers, plastic bracalets, pins... All the gains are destined to the Royal British Legion's funds. I saw lot of people wearing one in London's tube, but according to the BBC it's an important event across the whole country (although it's not the only one, of course). They keep one or two minutes of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month (11:00 am, 11 November), as that marks the time (in the United Kingdom) when armistice became effective.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Guy Fawkes Night (5th November)

Yesterday was the Guy Fawkes Night or shorter Bonfire night, an anual traditional celebration across the country. According to the historical origen, there ware a local group of Catholic conspirators who attemping to blow up the Houses of the Parliament in London with the intention of assassinate King James I of England and VI of Scontland and most of the Protestant aristocracy during the State Opening. This fact is known as Gunpowder Plot and it took place in 1605.
On this date, fireworks are displayed and people build bonfires on which traditionally guys are burnt, although nowadays this practice is dissapearing. There're lots of traditional food, such as:
toffee apples, jacket potatoes, potato pie, parkin, bonfire toffee, and so on. But we had for dinner fish and chips, susages and mushroom & chicken pie. I could see the fireworks on the news and hear them.

And at the end this is a traditional song that i've found, it goes:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
And what should we do with him? Burn him!

Engineering works

Some lines of London's tube are suspended due to engineering works and there's a bus service operating between the stations, but this is familiar to me... It's the same nightmare that in Madrid a couple of months ago but more tedious because all the lines are or are going to be under construction ( this is what i understand in the messy webpage at least) and the tube is considerably bigger. I had to change three times of train! They claim: we are transforming the tube, COOL!!! , but it looks to last nor one month neither two..In fact it looks that it's going to take longer.
But that's not all, There're train delays in national rail aswell but i'm not sure if it's due to engineering works or it was just a stroke of bad luck. I had to be waiting for half an hour to next train because of mine was first delayed 15minutes and finally cancelled. The height of it is that i was running uphill along the endless street while the rain's drops hit on my face (specially in my eyes i saw all blurry!) When i arrived to the station, there was a lovely family buying a tickets to London and they were more lost than me so the ticket clerk was explaining the prices and possibilities...
To make a long story short... I'm fed up with the transport of Spain and of England.