Left-Handers Day

Right-handed world

If you are a leftie then this event is organized just for you and for many other left-handed people all over the world. If you are a right-handed person then you should read this article and understand how difficult is sometimes to be a leftie in right-handed world.

Do you know?

  - only about 10% of world population is left-handed;

-   scissors and many other items are for right-handers;

-   many lefties had difficulties at school, mainly with writing;

-   at the parties left-handers commonly helping themselves to their neighbour's drink or bread roll at the table;

-   they enjoy a film more if they sit on the left of the theatre;

Lefty zone

Left Handers Day is held in London on August 13th. The aim of this event is to show that lefties have the same right as right-handed people. The event is organized by Left-Handers Club. Every year this club dreamed up a variety of weird and wonderful ways to mark the day. There are always a selection of puzzles, competitions and entertainers. Sports centres, carnivals, clubs and libraries are transformed into 'Lefty Zones'. Every one who is there should use the left hand. It is compulsory. So all the right-handers have to learn to adapt for once!

English weather (don't forget your umbrella!)

English weather is talked about, by the English, a lot. Talking about the weather accounts for more casual conversations than any other topic, and there is no better way to 'break the ice' than mentioning something about the forecast! It can change at any moment. The English have to put up with a pretty heavy amount of rain and bizarre changes of weather within the space of a few minutes. In England, you just never know from one hour to the next what the weather will do. The golden rule is to expect rain, sun, heat and cold all in one day and dress accordingly!

Freak hailstorms in the summer and scorching winter days aside, there are four seasons in Britain, in the order of an academic year, these are autumn, winter, spring and summer. Each season has its own beauty and watching the seasons change has for centuries inspired Britain's writer's, artist's and composer's. Confusingly none of these seasons can be described as the 'rainy season' since it rains all year round. So whatever else you do, you will need to acquire an umbrella and a plastic waterproof coat with a hood.

One of the main aspects of the British climate is its changeable nature. This is probably more apparent in spring than in any other season. You could be enjoying an idyllic picnic one minute and rushing for cover the next! On the whole though, spring is one of the nicest times. The flowers are starting to bloom, the trees beginning to bud. Heavy rains and hail can occur rather often. The trees, confused by the sunshine, have blossomed, but then, shaken to its roots by the mad May breezes, they had shed its plumage and been given a good February-style soaking. 

• Haunted castles •

As you know, Great Britain is a land of ghosts and haunted places. It has haunted castles, mansions, roads, hostelries and haunted places. The stories about the castle wouldn't be complete without the ghosts. To tell the truth, I like stories, tales and different legends about ghosts very much! So, I want to tell you about some of them.  

1) The first catle, I want to tell you about, is Glamis Castle. It is known as one of the most haunted castles in Britain. It certainly has more stories and legends attached to it than any other castle within the British Isles. It is said that many ghosts live in this castle. But the most famous is a Grey Lady, who is said to be the spirit of Lady Janet Douglas, burned at the stake as a witch on Castle Hill, Edinburgh in 1537.

2) One of the real haunted castles in Ireland is Ross Castle. Its owner was English Lord who had a daughter, Sabrina. She liked to walk around her father's kingdom. One day she met a handsome young man. He was the son of an Irish Lord. Soon they felt in love. The couple knew that they could never marry. So the only way out was to escape. While they were swimming the storm began. Young man died and Sabrina was thrown out of the boat. People rescued her but she died shortly after. Her ghost still lives in Ross.

3) Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire, one of Scotland's finest and most magnificent strongholds, is said to be haunted by one of its former residents. At the turn of the 17th century it was owned by Alexander Seton, the Earl of Dunfermline. His wife Lillias Drummond died suddenly, and he remarried in six months. On the wedding night, the couple was plagued by sighing coming from a window, and the next morning discovered that 'Lillias Drummond' had been carved into the sill, 50 feet above the ground. The inscription can still be seen there today, and no other satisfactory explanation for its appearance is known. Lillias's ghost, a Green Lady, is said to haunt the castle even today.

4) Deep in the English countryside is Chillingham Castle. It has a number of ghosts. The most famous is the 'blue boy' who as midnight rang out would cry and moan in agony or maybe fear. Another ghost, Lady Mary Berkeley, searches for her husband, who ran off with her sister. Lady Mary, desolate and broken hearted lived in the castle by herself with only her baby girl as a companion. 

Ones when William Lovell celebrated his wedding at the hall with his young bride. During a game of hide-and-seek the bride offered to hide. The guests and William searched for weeks, but she was never found and eventually man died of a broken heart. On windy nights the anguished cries of William can be heard, as he searches for his missing bride. Legend tells of a secret underground passage that ran over three miles away and a mysterious 'black monk' who, on moonless nights haunted the route of the tunnel from above ground.

"Atonement"

I've just watched a wonderful film "Atonement". It impressed me so much that I can't miss a chance to share my impressions with you!!!

Brief description of the film: on a summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination bring about a crime that will change all their lives, a crime whose repercussions Atonement follows through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century.

Although I have not read the book, I have just finished watching the movie, to be exact it just ended about 3 minutes ago. "Atonement" is  well, is so well written it will lead you to cry because of its creativity. I believe this is most deffinately one of the best written movies I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It's a tragic love story that yet is based on love, gives so much more. It's creative how the different views of the characters give such life to the plot. The characters are wonderful and the actors that stepped into these rolls outdid themselves. Keira Knightly has grown on me so much since her "Bend It Like Beckham" days and won me over in Pride and Prejudice, I love that she's doing movie's like this, and James.. wow.. I had always thought he would be a one hit wonder but also has won me over. This movie is great for people who really get into movies, and watch every aspect. Not typically for the people who are into Vin Dysel, and Fast and Furious movies.. if you catch my drift.
 All in all, I loved it and will think many more will also.