St Andrew´s Day

St Andrew has been recognized as the patron saint of Scotland since the ninth century. He is said to have died bound to an “X” shaped cross, so this shape is now reflected in the Scottish flag, known as the Saltire.

According to a legend, a monk called Regulus brought relics of St Andrew to Scotland where he was given land to build a church by a Pictish king. That place grew into the town of St Andrew's, where the cathedral became a place of religious pilgrimage.

St Andrew's Day is a bank holiday in Scotland, a calebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music and dance. In Edinburgh, there is a week of celebrations, musical entertainment and traditional ceilidh dancing (couples dancing in circles or sets) 

Food Donation Campaign

Lending some of your free time to help those in need is really rewarding.

I have been a volunteer to the food donation campaign 2014 by Banco de Alimentos, which urgently needed baby food and nappies. as well as beans, chickpeas, rice, pasta, oil, flour, milk, cereals, cocoa and sugar as usual.  Thanks to people´s generosity, we have filled five huge containers with food and hope to be delivered to many families in Seville.

Feeling happy is sometimes very easy...and I feel happy tonight.

Mockingjay - Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde

Thanks María L. P. for your suggestion. Waiting for Mockingjay part 2 :)

25th of November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Domestic violence is any violent or abusive behaviour used by one person to dominate and control another within a close personal or family relationship. 

It can manifest itself in many ways:

• It can be physical: Beating, punching, kicking, slapping, or sexual assault.
• It can be emotional: Bullying, isolating from family and friends, undermining self-confidence.
• It can be verbal: Put downs, name calling, shouting.
• It can be threats: Threats to kill or harm you or another person, including children; to kill or harm pets; threats to kill themselves.

• It can be financial: Control over money; not allowing money for personal items, food or transport.Unfortunately Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic.

Nowadays, violence against women continues to be a global pandemic and we must fight for its elimination and prevention.

"Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue."


Secretary-General of the UN

I Have a Right - Sonata Arctica

Children´s Rights Day is celebrated every 20th of November, anniversary of the International convention for children´s rights in 1989.

Thanks, Francisco A. (4th year A Secondary) for your contribution. I´ve chosen one of the songs you´ve sent me, as it´s perfect to commemorate this day.

The Declaration of the Rights of the Child

1. The right to equality, without distinction on account of race, religion or national origin.

2. The right to special protection for the child’s physical, mental and social development.

3. The right to a name and a nationality.

4. The right to adequate nutrition, housing and medical services.

5. The right to special education and treatment when a child is physically or mentally    handicapped.

6. The right to understanding and love by parents and society.

7. The right to recreational activities and free education.

8. The right to be among the first to receive relief in all circumstances.

9. The right to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation.

10. The right to be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among  peoples,  and universal brotherhood.

One Direction: Night Changes Acoustic

Going out tonight, changes into something red 

Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress 

Everything she never had, she's showing off 

Driving too fast, moon is breaking through her hair 

She's having something that she won't forget 

Having no regrets is all that she really wants 

Heaven - Depeche Mode

Because we all need angels on our way and a bit of heaven...


 

Sad songs

When we´re feeling down we usually listen to sad music, don´t we?
Researchers at the Free University of Berlin have recently discovered that listening to sad songs when feeling lonely or distressed improves our emotional wellbeing as well as make us feel at peace and consolated by it.

The study says that sad music stirs up a mixture of complex and ‘partially positive’ emotions like nostalgia, peacefulness, tenderness, transcendence and wonder... and that helps us.

Do you agree? Why/why not?
What´s the saddest song you´ve ever listened to?

Anyway, against all research, I still prefer Pitbull when I ' m feeling down ;)

EYE IN THE SKY

It has been a relaxing day today. No school, that is, time off work. I have taken out all my vinyl records and played some of them. Camel, Kansas, Boston, OMD and Alan Parson among others.

Time goes by so fast...

Holding on and letting go - Vampire Diaries