Podcasts, Travel
A visit to Brick lane, London
Brick Lane is a street in East London, England, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of Osborn Street.
Today, it is the heart of the city’s Bangladeshi-Sylheti community and is known to some as Banglatown.
It is famous for its many curry houses, vibrant markets and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
A link to Visit Brick Lane
Podcasts, The Arts
Guitars on the beach with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple
DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan joined thousands of guitarists at the Guitars On The Beach event in Lyme Regis, United Kingdom to perform the band’s classic song “Smoke On The Water”.
Organizers were hoping to draw more than the 2,267 guitarists that appeared at last year’s record-breaking event.
As of mid-June, more than 3,000 guitarists had already signed up for the event.
The musicians were given the chance to play along to a number of songs, with the three main ones being Buddy Holly‘s “Rave On”, STATUS QUO‘s “Rocking All Over the World”, and “Smoke On The Water”.
Gillan contacted the organizers and asked them if he could to appear at the gig. He wrote in a letter: “I hear you might be doing ‘Smoke’ with the massed guitars, and if that is the case, I thought I’d offer my services if you need a singer.”
Geoff Baker, who has organized the event, told the Dorset Echo back in June: “My jaw hit the floor.
“This is sensational news. Ian‘s involvement will take Guitars On The Beach to an entirely different level. Everybody involved is thrilled and blown away by his hugely generous offer.”
He added: “Clearly ‘Smoke On The Water’ will now be the main event for many.
“It’s the classic guitar riff and not difficult to play. Massed guitar bands in America, Germany, Canada and Poland have all had a crack at the world record playing ‘Smoke’ — but none of them has ever been led by Ian Gillan before.
“This is going to be amazing, and many more people will now want to take part.
“It’s quite something to write home about, that you once played with Ian Gillan in a band with thousands of guitarists.
“‘Smoke On The Water’ was recently voted the greatest guitar riff ever written, it is universally popular and it is anybody’s guess how many will join the band now.”
Read more
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Food & Drink, Podcasts
Victoria – English Food Blogger
Susan caught up with Victoria – English Food Blogger, an enthusiastic food blogger from England who talks about her interests in food and blogging.
Victoria’s blog is available here for those that would like to read about her food and recipes.
Food blogging is a very popular subject, with bloggers from all over the world sharing their recipes and thoughts on food with an ever-growing audience of foodies.
If you are an enthusiastic cook or interested in food and would like to share your passion with others, have a look here at How to start a foodblog.
You don’t need to be an expert – just able to write and pass on your interests and enthusiasm with the world.
Here are some really interesting food blogs to read if you need to be inspired.
Before listening to the podcast, think about the following :
- What are food blogs about?
- Who writes food blogs?
- Why do people write food blogs?
After listening to Victoria – English Food Blogger, try to answer the following questions?
- How old is Victoria?
- How did she start doing her blog?
- What did Victoria study at university?
- Why did Victoria choose to write a food blog?
- What foods does Victoria mention?
- Who tests out Victoria’s recipes?
- Is it difficult to set up a food blog?
- Is setting up a food blog expensive?
- Who does Victoria primarily write her blog for?
- What tips does Victoria give for potential bloggers?
Victoria gives some tips for non-native English speakers who may wish to write a blog.
Do you have any tips for budding bloggers whose native language isn’t English?
The rise of the food blogger is perhaps no surprise in a world trying to connect with the simple life.
Available to all who have access to a computer and the Internet, we are inspired to try local produce, to experiment with what’s in-season and to be conscious of what we are feeding ourselves and our families.
Nourishment comes from more than simply nutrients; it comes from appreciating the process.
But where do you find these bloggers?
How do you know where to look?
Have a look at the Top 100 Food Bloggers of 2015.
Music – Jahzzar – “Please Listen Carefully.”
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Podcasts, Travel
Sébastien asks Meyer about her job and life in South Africa
Sébastien, a French doctor from Paris interviews a South African about her life and work in South Africa, where she teaches English in a Zulu school.
Sébastien met Meyer, whilst on holiday and he clearly had EFL PodBlog foremost in his mind when he interviewed her – well done Sébastien.
We are grateful for this Guest Podcast – Sébastien asks Meyer about her job and life in South Africa and welcome others to do something like this.
Meyer comes from Piet Retief, in South Africa, near Swaziland – here is what Wiki has to say about it :
Piet Retief is a town situated in a timber growing region in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.
It is the seat of the Mkhondo Local Municipality, located not far from the Swaziland border.
The town was founded by the Voortrekkers in 1883 and named it after the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, who was killed by the Zulus under their King Dingane’s orders after he tried to settle on their land.
In 1886, the inhabitants of the town declared the Klein Vrystaat (Little Free State), which contained a population of only 72. This republic existed until 1891, when it was incorporated into the South African Republic.
The town became a municipality in 1932, with its main tourist attraction is the Dutch Reformed Church that was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk and built in 1921.
Some more information on Piet Retief.
If, you would like to make a podcast and have it published here on EFL PodBlog and on iTunes, then go here.
We will edit, add an intro and end to the podcast – you don’t have to worry about that.
If you would like us to add music or sound effects, we can do that too.
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Podcasts, Travel
Very Bad Trip – Stephen
Ever had one of those trips where everything seems to be going wrong?
When even as you get into the airport, you just know that it’s not going to be your day?
If you think about for a moment, it’s probably quite a common thing.
I mean, we are herded through corridors, security and passport checks, set off our luggage, trusting that we will ever see it again, without a care in the world.
Then we join a shuffling queue, before being ushered up a shaky metal staircase or along something that resembles a metal caterpillar, and willing enter a metal tube that propels us at many hundreds of kilometers an hour through the sky at alarming heights.
Sometimes we are closer to snoring strangers than we would care to be, as well as microbes and bacteria that are sneezed and coughed into the confined airspace that would challenge even the mightiest antibiotics.
We then suck sweets to reduce the pressure in our ears, drink something and maybe eat something that we aren’t always sure of, before bumping along a specially-made tarmac road and then making our way along endless corridors, up and down steps to a carousel, where our luggage (if we are lucky) has amazingly arrived before us.
And we generally love all of this – all in the name of travel or holidays…
Listen to Susan talking to Stephen, whom she caught up with at the airport as he was preparing to take another flight.
Stephen talks about one particularly bad trip that he went on to a Greek island.
Before listening:
Think about the possible problems that could occur on a flight.
On this very bad trip – Stephen mentions some of the problems that he encountered.
After listening:
What was the main cause of the ordeals that they went though?
If you have had a very bad trip, why not tell others about it in the comments or send us a podcast and we’ll share it with our listeners.
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Podcasts, The Arts
A visit to the David Bowie memorial, Brixton, London
