Gong Hei Fard Choy!

Chinese New Year starts this weekend, more specifically the 31st February 2014: "Year of the Horse" The first day of the Chinese New Year is an important traditional holiday and celebrations run from the Chinese New Year's Even until the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th day of the first month. In the Georgian calendar, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year as it is a lunisolar calendar. Unlike our own calendar, it doesn't continuously number...

Circomedia sounds classic!

This is how St Paul's Church in Portland Square looks at night. Very beautiful, isn't it?  After suffering from heavy bombing in WWII, raids in Dec 1940 and several other damage, both church and square were restored in the 1990s. The church opened in 2004 as the Circomedia, centre of excellence for circus and theatre training. Last Sunday, 26th January, I went to the Circomedia to listen to some classical music. Yes, classical music at...

Happy 1st Anniversary!

I have a one year old baby: this blog. This 131st post will be a big thank you to you, reader. It's exactly you who encouraged me to keep writing every day, every week, during this last year. It doesn't matter if you've just read my blog once, or if you are a constant follower. Every visit, every pageview, every comment... has a very powerful impact on me and keeps me writing. I can perfectly remember the day someone I didn't know left a comment...

Shhhhhh! It's silent comedy time!

First time I have ever seen a silent movie was a couple of years ago. I was on holiday in the South of Spain and the local cultural centre was screening Charles Chaplin's famous Modern Times. It was such a surprise for me to be able to get into a movie where the words were substituted by live piano music. During this weekend, 24-26th January, Bristol is hosting Slapstick Festival 2014 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival dedicated...

Beer-tasting at the Bristol Beer Factory

Last weekend, I had the pleasure to attend the first off-work event of the year together with some colleagues from work (and friends). We arranged a visit to the Bristol Beer Factory last Saturday at 7pm, and it seemed it was a great success! Apparently, everybody enjoyed the tour, the beer tasting and the chance to meet each other for something else rather than just work. We met at the back of the building. The Bristol Beer logo in North...

Walking on the riverside

Last Saturday, winter weather gave us a break and the sun shone during the whole day. My flatmate and I decided to go for a walk along the riverside, happy to wear those sunglasses that have been in the darkness for several months.  Hoping to have a similar weather this weekend (probably not tomorrow), I post the route we made. Hope you get something new out of it! Bristol Harbour has existed since 13th century and it was the original...

Meet&Greet: the ultimate guide to avoid awkward moments

Greeting is an act of communication in which human being intentionally make their presence known to each other. A greeting can consist of an exchange of formal expression a simple kiss, a hand shake or a hug. I am sure most of us have at least one awkward moment when being introduced to someone we don't know. Especially because Bristol has lately become such a popular destination for many young people from different nationalities in Europe. Imagine....

Christmas tree hungover

Ever since I can remember, we had an artificial Christmas tree at our place. My mom made sure we were aware of how environmentally unfriendly it was to cut a tree just to for a few days, and then to throw it to the garbage. It was just my aunt the only one I know who used to get real trees, and that happened very long long time ago, perhaps before my mom's convincing power was as strong as it is right now. Basically, everybody has a "fake" Christmas...

Seriously??

I don't usually walk through Trenchard Street, the street where O2 Academy is, so probably this will be an old new for those who live around that area. In September 2015, there will be a new student accommodation in town! Student accommodation on the same building as the O2 Academy? Seriously? I am speechless. There are UNITE accommodations everywhere in the city: next to the bus station, next to the universities... now, next to the biggest concert...

Twenty-fourteen storms Bristol

During the Christmas break, everybody was mostly complaining about the weather in Bristol. I was back home, so I couldn't see it with my own eyes, but there is enough evidence to support it. The Guardian posted a video on their website showing an aerial view of Bristol and Gloucestershire flooding last Friday, 3rd January. There are many images published on the web, all of them very impressive. Bristol Post published today flood warnings...