With the summer film season in full swing, some of you may be wondering how much money you need to make your own blockbuster film. After all, with the latest Batman adventure, The Dark Knight, earning almost $200 million in the first few days of its worldwide release, who wouldn’t be tempted to make a film and retire on the proceeds?
The tourism business is at least 2,000 years old. It began when wealthy citizens of ancient Rome, deciding they would rather spend their summers away from the city, took trips to the countryside and the coast.
A tourist industry soon sprang up to cater for the Romans’ travel and accommodation needs, and for a while it thrived. But Roman tourism ended with its empire, and for hundreds of years the turbulent economic, social and military situation in Europe made frequent, safe travel out of the question.
You can learn and enjoy so much with a walk in the park. No, not your local park but the Peak District National Park.
The Peak District was Britain's first national park, established in 1951 and can be found mainly in the county of Derbyshire and also parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Yorkshire.
It covers 1,438 square kilometres – but enough of the facts and figures, what's the place actually like?
This week we have had the Royal Chelsea Garden Show, one of the best and most famous in the world. Gardeners come from as far away as Japan to show their blooms and skills at Chelsea. Although I lived in central London for a number of years I’ve never been. For one thing it is too crowded and for another the crowds are only allowed to view the gardens from the edge. For me it is all about handling the plants, brushing against them, smelling as well as seeing the roses, the freesias and more exotic blooms. I prefer to watch this one on the television with my feet up and a cup of tea. I can listen to the interviews with the growers and designers and see the plants close up. It isn’t as good as real life, but it will do. The one time I would like to be at Chelsea is at closing time on the last day – that’s when they sell off the plants for charity. I’d need more than a taxi to get home that day.
There's something ultimately satisfying about singing along to a favourite song. Whether it's at work, in a car, lounging in a backyard, or at the beach, music, and the words that go with great storytelling songs, is one of life's great enjoyments. What many people don't realize is how listening to songs provides benefits beyond the joy of the immediate listening experience.
You are strolling down a wide boulevard carrying some shopping bags. As you walk along you exchange witty comments with the street stall vendors, make clever observations about the weather, speaking the language like a native. You smile modestly at a compliment and reply, “No, I’m not from (insert the country of your choice here!), I’m just here visiting." Hey, wake up! You’re daydreaming again! But what language learner doesn’t dream about one day having the words spill effortlessly from their lips? I’ve often imagined myself sitting at a cafe in Paris, ordering a cup of coffee and a croissant, and reading a local newspaper as the neighbourhood goes about its business around me.