Blog Review

Hi FAU Bloggers.

Today it's time to write the final post. I think the best way to finish is to ask you to evaluate your blog experience this semester. I know things got a little complicated because of the strike and the Sit-In but I hope you found this to be a useful learning experience.

So, please write about your blog experience this semester.
Say:
Which post you enjoyed writing most,
Which post you least enjoyed writing,
Whose blog you enjoyed reading,
Whether or not your English improved (and how:).
What things you liked and disliked about using the blog.

Mention anything else you think is important or interesting. Try to write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on your Teacher's blog and on the blogs of three classmates.

A Toy

Hi Bloglanders,
Today I'd like you to write about a toy you had as a child. Actually, I don't remember that many toys from my childhood but one that people in my family used to talk about a lot is a toy wheelbarrow I had when I was about 3 or 4 years old. I lived in the countryside in Wales as a young child and my dad was a keen gardener. I was given the wheelbarrow as a birthday or christmas present and I used it to help my dad with his vegetables. It was a blue wheelbarrow, made out of metal, with yellow handles and red wheels. I guess it must have been quite small but, at the time time, it seemed rather large to me.
I can't remember if it came with a spade or not, but I do remember they I played with it all the time. Apparently, according to my older sisters, I was quite a businessman. I used to sell caterpillars to some Italian children who lived near us. I'd collect the caterpillars from my dad's cabbages and wheel them round the neighbourhood selling them. I think the Italian boys used them as fishing bait. I don't know what happened to the wheelbarrow. We moved to the city when I was 6 years old and I don't remember seeing it after that.

Write about a toy that you had as a child.

Say:

What it was,

What it looked like,

When you had it, 

What you did with it,

What you did with it.

Mention anything else interesting or important. Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on your yeacher's blog and on the blogs of 3 classmates.

A Phone App

i FAU Bloggers!

Today I'd like you to write about a phone app you use a lot. Up until a couple of months ago, the app I used most was Whatsapp, however, In May I started using Duo Lingo to learn Japanese and it's currently my favourite app by far. Actually, I was a bit frustrated with the app at first because of a flaw in my phone. I couldn't get the app to function properly until the 3rd or 4th attempt of installing and uninstalling. I like the app because its mobile and you can complete part of a lesson in a fairly short space of time. This gives you the feeling that you are making progress whether you are or not because you advance through the level. The methodology is quite interesting as I've notice that the more mistakes you make the easier the lesson becomes until your only option is to succeed.
I use the app at least once a day for about 15 minutes but I often do additional exercises - especially if I travel by underground or bus. I used to use the app most in the evenings but more recently (since the end of the strike) I've been using it early in the morning. I like Duo Lingo most of all because it's helping me achieve a goal and at the same I enjoy the daily challenge that keeps my brain active.

Write about a phone app you use a lot.
Say:
When you got the app,
What you use it for,
How often you use it,
Why you like to use it.
Mention anything else you think is important or interesting.

A Special Place

Hi Blogheads,

Today I'd like to write about a special place. I think i'd describe a special place as somewhere were you feel at peace with the world just by being there. I've been lucky enough to feel this way on numerous occasions (don't forget I'm much older than you) - eating bread and cheese for lunch on a precipice in the Pyrenees with friends after a 6-hour hike, a sunset on the big dune in La Valle de la Luna, Sunrise on the path between Aguas Calientes and Machu Fichu, lunch with seagulls on a beach in Abel Tasman, New Zealand. I have special places in Chile too (lots in Valpo, San Pedro, Valdivia, La Vega; etc.) However, one moment that tops them all is visiting the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, in February, 2017 .

I mean WOW!

This building is just the epitome of Zen. It is embedded in it's environment. Moreover, it was the centre piece of a novel by one of Japan's most revered authors, Yukio Mishima. Mishima is a modern legend. He wrote about a military Coup and then actually tried to put the same plan he wrote about into action. His attempt failed and, rather than give himself up, he committed Hara kiri (i.e. He killed himself).
So, great author, great story, AMAZING building, AMAZING surroundings.
Even though there were lots of other people (tourists), the feeling you got was one of tranquillity and understanding. It was as if the environment had been created as a work of art instead of having any functional use. The building was meant to be contemplated and viewed, not used or lived in. This is actually a restored version of the original building that dates from 1950 after it was set alight when a Buddhist monk attempted to set himself on fire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji) .

Write about a special place you like,
Say:
Where it is,
When you went there,
Why you think it's special,
What you know about it's history.
Mention anything else you think is important or interesting. Try to write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on my blog and on the blogs of all your classmates.

A PIece of Technology

Good Morning Bloggers!

Today I'll like you to write about a piece of favourite piece you like at the moment. It's not easy for me to choose just one piece of technology but, I would have to say that my mobile phone is currently my most prized asset because of it's versatility. I really love my computer because with the right app it converts into a music production center that gives me hours of fun. However, today's mobile phones are close to what I would have considered Science Fiction a few years ago. I love being connected. I love having portable music of my choice. I love the Internet. I love the fact that I can learn a language via an app on my phone riding the bus to work. I also love the amazing videos and photographs that I can take and share. It's also wonderful that I can chat and text with my family in the UK who are almost 12,000 kilometres away. I guess the only negative side to the mobile phone is if you lose it. If it falls into the wrong hands people can get access to personal information and that may lead to problems. I think it's quite funny that I feel this way about my phone because I fought against having one for years. I still go out without my phone quite often, especially if I'm going out to eat or to the cinema.    

Write about a piece of technology you like.

Say;

What it is,

What you use it for,

When you use it,

If it has any negative aspects.

Mention anything else you think is interesting or important. Try to write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on my blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

Something you like to do outside

Hi Blog Heads,

Sorry for posting a little late:) This week I'd like you to write about something you enjoy doing outside. For me there are three things that come to mind: football, cycling and hiking (otherwise know as trekking). However, as football involves other people, and cycling requires a bike, I'll talk about hiking.
I think I developed my love of hiking when I was a young child. My family lived in the countryside in Wales until I was 6 years old and from a very young age we would do a lot of walking. My parents never had a car and I never passed my driving test until I was 53 years old so, walking has always come naturally to me. The walks I remember from my childhood are those we did in North Wales where there are lots of forests and hills that are public footpaths. In fact Britain has an excellent network of footpaths and trails that are well looked after and pass through hundreds of miles of beautiful countryside (You can see some of them here:https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/).
I like walking for different reasons. I love nature and it's great to get some fresh air away from city life. I like spotting different wildlife, especially birds. Nowadays here in Chile I have also done lots of walking but maybe not as much as I would have liked to have done. I think my first walks were beach walks like Algarrobo to Quisco, or Maitencillos to Catchagua. I've hiked up some volcanes in the south and amazing places like Alto los Vilches near Talca or areas around San Pedro de Atacama. I would really like to visit other places in the south but finding the time is complicated. I think the next walk I do will be to Aguas de San Ramon. Here are a couple of photos from a walk near Coyhaique.

Write about something you like doing outside.

Say:

What it is,

When you started doing this activity,

Where you do it,

Why you like it,

When you did it last.

Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on your teacher's blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

A Birthday or a Celebration

Dear Bloggers;
Today I'd like you to write about one of your birthdays that you remember fondly.
In my case I'm going to talk about my 23rd birthday. At that time I lived in Chester, the town were I grew up between the ages of 7 and 23, so it was my last birthday before I moved to live in London. The reason it was so memorable is because my sister, who lived in London paid me a suprise visit. I think it was a rather normal day. I in the morning I went to work in the laboratory where I worked as a Laboratory Technician, and at 4pm I finished for the day and went home. When I arrived to my flat I found my sister waiting for me outside. I was really happy to see her and totally suprised that she had come to see me. A couple of friends came by to take me out for a drink so we all ended up going out to eat something and then we went for a drink. It was a quiet celebration but it was still special. We ate (pizza I think), drank and chatted. My sister gave me a really nice present - an earring in the shape of a musical note - which I still have (although I took my earrings out when I started working in Chile!!). I've had some wild birthday celebrations but I remember this one because it was quiet and relaxed.

Write about a birthday or celebration you remember.
Say:
When it was,
What you did,
Who you were with,
When you remember this event.

Mention anything else you think is important or interesting. Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on my post and on the blog's of 3 classmates

A Television Programme You Enjoyed As A Child

Hi Blogheads.

Today Im going to tell you about a television programme I enjoyed as a Child. We didn't get a TV until I was about 6 years old. The first programme I actually remember watching was The Monkees, a story about 4 young men in a pop band. It was quite a silly programme but it had been made in the USA to try and match the popularity of British pop band The Beatles. The group were actors although they sany their own songs the music was created by session musicians. There was a lot of controversy about this but as a 6-year old it wasn't an issue. I started watching the programme because of my 3 elder sisters who were big fans. The 4 monkees were Peter, Davy, Micky & Mike. Each week they got into a situation caused by a misunderstanding or problem. There were always a couple of songs with images of them running around trying to escape from an evil villan or an eager fan. I think I enjoyed the music most of all. The songs were very catchy pop songs, many of them written by well know pop composers. I don't think the programme would be very popular today but it did serve as a blueprint for lots of other future programmes involving songs and singers.

Write about a television programme as a child.
Say:
What programme it was,
When it was on,
What it was about,
Why you enjoyed it.

Mention anything else important or interesting. Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on yout teacher's blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

A Hobby

Hi Blogheads.

Today I'm going to write about one of my favourite hobbies - making music. I started making music when I taught myself to ´play guitar aged 12 or 13. I used to write poetry and once I could play a couple of chords I started writing songs. A couple of years later I bought a synth and learnt to play a bit of keyboard. I joined my first band at about 16 but we only ever played live once. Aged 17 I started a punk/new/wave band with some friends and I've been making music ever since. I played in bands up untill about 1993. When I moved to Chile in 1998 I started experimenting making electronic music using different computer software. first one called cubase and then Ableton Live. I don't write as my lyrics as I used to and nowadays most of my creations are instrumental. I don't really know what genre my music could be described as either. Most of the time it's just weird. Often it has a House or Hip-Hop feel but I just play around with whatever comes out and improvise. I also make little videos to go along with my tunes. Mainly random stuff I've filmed that I play around with in Imovie.
Here are some recent creations:

Write about a hobby you have.
Say:
What it is,
When you started it,
What it involves,
How often you do it.
Mention anything else you think is interesting or important. Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on my blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

Free Post

Given this week's strike, please complete this FREE POST before the next class.

Write ay least 150 words on a topic of your own choice.

A Holiday You Remember As A Child

Hi Level 4 Bloggers,
I think the first time my family went on holiday I was about 9 or 10 years old. We went to a little village on the coast of the Irish Sea in North Wales called Criccieth. My family at that time consisted of 5 sisters & 2 brothers as my youngest brother, Ged, hadn’t been born yet. The cottage my parents rented was actually in the countryside about 5 miles from the coast. I remember seeing different landscapes and we did something different each day. My family loves walking and I remember us walking through fields and forests. We also spent time on the beach. The great thing about the beach at Criccieth is that it has sandy parts that are great for paddling (or swimming if you are very brave - the water is freezing!) and other parts with rock pools. I remember playing in the rock pools and catching small crabs and shrimps. Criccieth also has a castle. For me as an 8-year old it was really fascinating and visiting it was one of the highlights of the trip. I guess we stayed in Criccieth for about a week and it was in either July or August. Luckily, we had great weather and I remember having a great time. Here are the only 2 photos I have of that trip.

Write about a holiday or special occasion you remember as a child.
Say:
Where and when it was,
Who was there,
What you did,
Why you remember this occasion.
Mention anything interesting or important. Try to write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on my blog and on the blogs of 3 classmates.

A Concert or Exhibition You Enjoyed

Good Morning Bloggers;
Today 'd like to write about a concert I really enjoyed. I've been lucky enough to see some amazing artists performing live. I started going to concerts on a regular basis when I was about 16 years old and haven't stopped since (for example, this year I went to WOMAD in February and Gorillaz and De La Soul in March).
Anyway, the concert I'd like to talk about today is a concert by Canadian artist Feist at Club Amanda in October 2012. The concert was supposed to take place in Caupolican but for some reason the venue was changed at the last minute. I first heard about Feist when I saw a documentary on her on the Film & Arts channel. I downloaded some tracks and really liked them. She has a beautiful voice, she plays a mean guitar, and also has a sense of humour. That's a great combination. The concert at Club Amanda was really amazing. I went with my wife and we both agreed that Feist sounds as good live as on record. She had a really talented band and an earthy, organic sound. There was also a great rapport with the audience and I'm sure everyone went home happy.

Here's a track I recorded - a version of Nina Simone's See-Line Woman  plus a live track from a show in Paris that I love.

Write about or a concert or exhibition you enjoyed:

Say:

Where and when it was.

Who you went with.

What you enjoyed about it.

What the highlight was.

Mention anything else you thing is important or interesting. Write at least 150 words. Leave a comment on your teacher's blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

A Special Family Celebration You Remember

Good Morning Bloggers,

Today I'd like to tell you about a special family celebration I remember. I actually come from a big family, I have eight brothers and sisters, and, in 2010rite , we decided to rent a farmhouse in Wales for a week and have a family reunion. It was a sort of open house and about 33 people came and went over a period of 7 days. Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, in-laws, partners. It was great. The farmhouse cottages were amazing, we had our own little boating lake and a pool room. We played games, did jigsaws, made music, cooked, made bonfires, drank, ate and generally had a good time catching up or sharing new stories and ideas. However, the main pass-time was walking. My wife and I did a walk at 6am the first morning we arrived and we did at least one long walk each day after that. One day we visited a nearby beach and another we spent in a beautiful forest. I enjoyed the celebration because it was the first time that I had been able to share with my brothers and sisters for such a long time:) In addition, I got to know my all the new members of the family (a niece or two & my nephew's twin daughter's) which was great.

Write about a family celebration you remember.
Say:
When it was,
Where it was,
Who was there,
What you did,
Why you enjoyed it.

Mention anything else you think is important or interesting. Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment my blog and on the blogs of 3 classmates

A Walk You Would Like To Do Again

Hi Blogheads:

Today I'd like you to writ about a walk you would like to do again. My family is a family of keen walkers. When I was a child, my parents would often take us out for walks at the weekend. One of my favourite walks was up a Welsh hill called Moel Famau. Normally we would start from home in Mynydd Isa and walk about 5 kilometers through Mold to Loggerheads. Depending on the weather or how much time we had, we would then decide whether to do a walk up to the summit of the hill or to do a full trail. The walk up the hill is about 6km and the full trail is about 17km.

My favourite was doing the full trail because part of it was though a country park called Cat walk because it was a very narrow path that was quite high (especially for a young child!). Also, this part of the walk was through woods and along a river, the other part was pine forest and bare grassland at the top of the hill. I must have walked up that hill at least 50 times in my life. One of my aunties lived in a farmhouse at the foot of the hill and I often stayed with her in my summer holidays from school. She had a son who was a year older than me. However, when I was about 10 years old he had a car accident and lost one of his legs and so, unfortunately for him, his walking days were over. I think the last time I climbed Moel Famau was in the 1980’s but I’d love to do this walk again as it would bring back all my childhood memories. There’s a website with information about the country park here:

http://www.walkmag.co.uk/walks/wales-loggerheads-country-park-flintshiredenbighhire/

It even has a Facebook page!

Obviously, these didn’t exist when I was younger but at least you can get an idea of what it’s like.

Write about a walk you would like to do again.

Say:

Where it is,

When you did this walk before

Why you enjoyed it,

Why you would like to do it again.

Mention anything else you think is important. Write at least 250 words. Leave a comment on my blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

The Best of 2017

Hi Bloggers,

Today I'd like you to write about last year. You can focus on one thing in particular or write about a series of significant events.
For me, 2017 wasn't a very good year because I worked too much and had a lot of stress. However, it was a memorable year because I managed to fulfil one of my life long ambitions which was to visit Japan. I went with my wife in February for 13 days. The trip was very cheap because we bought the tickets 6 months in advance but the journey took 30 hours. We spent 3 days in Tokyo, 2 days in Kyoto, a day in Hiroshima & Miyajima, 3 days in Matsuyama on the island od Shikoku, one day in Osaka and then 3 more days in Tokyo.
It's hard to say what the highlight of the trip was as there were so many amazing things. We got to see the David Bowie Is Exhibition in Tokyo (Bowie is one of my heroes), we visited lots of amazing shrines, and beautiful places like The Golden Palace in Kyoto. I guess the big thing was visiting Shikoku. Shikoku is the smallest of the 4 Japanese Islands and I read about a pilgramage that people make there when I was younger (I still have the book!). Since then I had been fascinated with going there so it really was a dream come true. One of the amazing things about Japan is the mix of old & new cultures which you see everywhere. Now I want to go back but I'd like to learn some Japanese before I go:)
Sayonara!

Say:
What the best of 2017 was,
Why it was important to you,
How it impacted you or made you feel,
Mention anything else you thing is important or interesting. Try to write 150 words. Leave a comment on your teacher's blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.