At the Medieval Fair in Torres Novas - The 29th of June 2013

We reached the Castle grounds where the Medieval Festivities would be held by early afternoon and were almost immediately impressed by the way people were dressed and the whole area decorated as in accordance with the main theme of the fair -  The Saint Queen Dona Isabel, whom King Dom Dinis is said to have donated Torres Novas together with the ownership of the churches and rights therewith associated in 1304. The 32 years that followed under her protection are said to have benefited from her sainthood and the good deeds that were known to and witnessed by many.

It was under this "magic" spell that we wandered about the various stalls selling products of the region which ranged from convent cakes, cookies and liqueurs to handicraft shoes and embroideries of all sorts ...

... but there were also demonstrations of crafts, some of which  children and adults were allowed to try, as well as games of the epoch.

Medieval songs could be heard in various places within the premises of the Castle and at the main city Square in which several musicians and singers participated. We were particularly impressed with the voice of one of the female singers and an harp musician.

(To be continued)

At Carina's ... - The 29th of June 2013

Mia and I decided to drive to Torres Novas with Carina, Filipa and Rui so as to be able to participate in the weekend Medieval Festivities in Torres Novas. 

Because we got to Tomar fairly early and the temperature had almost reached 37°C we decided to have a swim at Carina's before heading out to the fair.

The heat didn't seem to go down and at one moment in time we hesitated whether we should spend the afternoon at the swimming pool or venture into Torres Novas, which is what we had driven from Lisbon for. 

Aviation oriented modules - The 24th and 27th of June 2013

These short Aviation oriented modules allow me to "reconnect" with Aviation English students I hadn't seen for a while, either because they were sent to the Azorean and Madeira islands to work as ATCOS or (those working in closer located  ATC units) rarely attend any other courses at the Training School.

Throughout these "gatherings", particularly during the class breaks it is quite common to remember and talk about "memories" and school episodes of the past, some of which I needn't have been reminded of as they were still vivid in my mind, whilst others wouldn't have easily surfaced had they not been brought into the conversation ...

I  (left). Catarina, Fung, Salomé, I and Rui (right).

Filipe, I and Rita

One thing is sure though ... I did enjoy having been given the chance of being with them again and above all finding out they are doing fine in both their career and personal lives.

Portuguese "flavoured" traditions ...

I have recently come across street demonstrations of all sorts which clearly denote the necessity Portuguese people have been having of getting hold of something that may still have that Portuguese "flavoured" identity we used to be so attached to in the past ...

"A sardinha é de todos" (sardines belong to us all) reads the street notice in an allegoric and rather "poetical" way of reminding us all that the patron Saint festivities were just around the corner and with them the Portuguese cuisine therewith associated - grilled sardines ..., which haven't yet been "internationalised" though their prices have been subject to the ongoing "inflation" ... making us wonder whether they might belong to us at all in the near future ...

Alentejo male choir group demonstrations down town bringing to light the celebration of the anniversary of of the once well reputed Casa do Alentejo caught everyone's attention because of the melodic and languid-like voices of the singers together with their slow rhythmic forward movements ... reminding us all that whether or not we "move" at such a slow pace we may still end up in the same place ... (in European term policies, that is ...)

Coimbra ... Oh Coimbra !!! of the University students' movement so well known in the past (and yet so needed in the present)  ... The sound of that "charismatic" spoken fado-oriented song I listened to somewhere down town ... felt like "Coimbran" tradition at its best (despite the group being from any possible part of the country ... irrelevant for those who gathered around the group) ... with a modern and creative "flavour" ... a touch of humour ... and the inclusion of atypical instruments ...

... long live the Portuguese "flavoured" traditions ... and our sense of "possession" ... as to what is and may still be "ours" (in the future) ...

"Detachment" by Tony Kaye ...

I have been buying teaching-related films over the past few years irrespective where they are from, in an attempt to get to know which relevant  issues teachers are confronted with in other countries, some of which  have nothing to do with mine nor  the circumstances that surround the teaching environment in my country.

The latest film I have bought and just watched yesterday has made me think about some of the weaknesses and frustrations "embedded" in our every day teaching life. Unsure whether we can make a difference in our students' lives or simply  reduce our intervention to a plain useless role in their learning "arena", we as teachers move on passionately ... still believing that we may make that difference and if we don't, have at least some sort of impact or weight on them ...though ... needless to say we might never acknowledge either fact.



The film touches other very important issues which need to be addressed in regards to their sense of urgency but which we do sometimes ignore or don't pay too much attention to -  "strange" behavioural attitudes stemming from problematic childhoods, whatever the word "problematic" may entail.


Adrien Brody's interpretation is outstanding, though I must confess that after having watched him in "The Pianist" I didn't expect less from him. A well known cast of actors and a  director known for being "different" ...


Almost certainly one the best films I have seen lately ...