English in Madrid

Here are some more animals to add to the list of expressions. See A - D , E - H , K - M , O - P and R - S . Turkey This is a picture of a very friendly turkey who is being looked after, along with my Pepita the pigeon and many other animals, in La Voz Animal shelter. Cold turkey is the unpleasant physical reaction that people experience when they suddenly stop taking a drug that they have become addicted to. I tried quitting smoking for several years, using nicotine patches, gums, and even hypnotherapy. Eventually , I just had to go cold turkey and rely on my own willpower. He had been spending far too much time on dating apps, so he decided to go cold turkey and deleted all of them. Vulture Source: Photos By Beks en Unsplash A vulture is a person or organization that is eager to win an advantage from other people's difficulties or problems. The vultures started circling when they heard that Auntie had gone into an old people's home. A culture vulture is a person with an...

Source: Wikipedia   Charles I (r.1625- 1649) Charles I was born in Fife on 19 November 1600, the second son of James VI of Scotland (from 1603 also James I of England) and Anne of Denmark. He became heir to the throne on the death of his brother, Prince Henry, in 1612. He succeeded , as the second Stuart King of Great Britain, in 1625. Controversy and disputes dogged Charles throughout his reign. They eventually led to civil wars, first with the Scots from 1637, in Ireland from 1641, and then England (1642-46 and 1648). The wars deeply divided people at the time, and historians still disagree about the real causes of the conflict, but it is clear that Charles was not a successful ruler. Charles was reserved (he had a residual stammer ), self-righteous and had a high concept of royal authority, believing in the divine right of kings. He was a good linguist and a sensitive man of refined tastes. He spent a lot on the arts, inviting the artists Van Dyck and Rubens to work in...

On her twenty-first birthday, 21 April 1947, Princess Elizabeth was with her parents and younger sister on a tour of South Africa. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, the Princess dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth. Source: You Tube  (Britis Pathe) Key Words: Princess Elizabeth 21st speech On my twenty-first birthday I welcome the opportunity to speak to all the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Empire, wherever they live, whatever race they come from, and whatever language they speak. Let me begin by saying 'thank you' to all the thousands of kind people who have sent me messages of good will . This is a happy day for me; but it is also one that brings serious thoughts, thoughts of life looming ahead with all its challenges and with all its opportunity. At such a time it is a great help to know that there are multitudes of friends all round the world who are thinking of me and who wish me well. I am grateful and I am deeply moved ....

  Source: You Tube (BBC News) Key Words: Charles first address I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow . Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example. Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing . That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today. Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where The Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than seventy years in which my Mother, as Queen, served the people of so many nations. In 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Com...

 Good afternoon, I have just accepted Her Majesty The Queen’s kind invitation to form a new government.  Let me pay tribute to my predecessor. Boris Johnson delivered Brexit, the Covid vaccine, and stood up to Russian aggression. History will see him as a hugely consequential Prime Minister. I’m honoured to take on this responsibility at a vital time for our country. What makes the United Kingdom great is our fundamental belief in freedom, in enterprise, and in fair play. Our people have shown grit , courage and determination time and time again . We now face severe global headwinds caused by Russia’s appalling war in Ukraine and the aftermath of Covid. Now is the time to tackle the issues that are holding Britain back . We need to build roads, homes and broadband faster. We need more investment and great jobs in every town and city across our country. We need to reduce the burden on families and help people get on in life . I know tha...

Source:You Tube (10 Downing Street) Key Words: Boris final speech Well this is it folks thank you to everybody for coming out so early this morning. In only a couple of hours from now I will be in Balmoral to see Her Majesty The Queen and the torch will finally be passed to a new Conservative leader the baton will be handed over in what has unexpectedly turned out to be a relay race they changed the rules half-way through but never mind that now and through that lacquered black door a new Prime Minister will shortly go to meet a fantastic group of public servants the people who got Brexit done the people who delivered the fastest vaccine roll out in Europe and never forget - 70 per cent of the entire population got a dose within 6 months , faster than any comparable country that is government for you – that’s this conservative government the people who organised those prompt early supplies of weapons to the heroic Ukrainian armed forces, an action that may very well ...