english matters

Well it's been a right heatwave across Europe and what better time to get out and enjoy the sunshine? But while many folks have been out there enjoying the weather, us here at English Matters Towers have been cooped up indoors producing the magazine you love most. Whilst being hard at work, one of my colleagues recently introduced me to the wonders of Spotify. And what a life-changer it is. Like many of my friends, I no longer own a CD player or a record deck, so having access to a constant stream…Czytaj dalej …

Well it's finally here... after months and months of waiting, the World Cup is now upon us! Many years ago I was a season ticket holder at my local club Middlesbrough FC, although this obviously had to change when I relocated to Poland. While I do try and get to as many live games as possible in my newfound homeland, it's not quite the same as watching your local team. Anyway, the World Cup is a chance to see teams and players from right around the globe that you may never have seen…Czytaj dalej …

I've written about the wonders of the Scottish countryside before in this blog, but it is something that really never fails to amaze me. Whenever I return back to the UK, I always make a point in travelling 'North of the Border' to visit family members and also see what the beautiful country has to offer. In my most recent visit, we were met with blistering sunhine (you could easily have been in Spain or Portugal) and not a cloud in the sky. Not great for those of us prone to sunburn, but…Czytaj dalej …

As you may well have heard, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen to name their recent addition Louis Arthur Charles. This is of course their third child now, and he is still a long way off sitting on the throne. And many newspapers and TV channels are getting themselves into something of a frenzy, delivering round-the-clock reports on every little bit of information they can get their hands on. It really does feel like a new Messiah has been born! The British Royal Family has always divided opinion - there are…Czytaj dalej …

Those who were lucky enough to find themselves in the UK on Saturday April 14th, will have got to witness one of the country’s finest sporting traditions - The Grand National. First started way back in 1839, the event is a series of horse races over a one day period which millions tune in to watch on TV. The main event is a 6.9 km race with a £1 million prize fund - the most prestigious in Europe. But of course, while most watch at home or in pubs, the main place to…Czytaj dalej …

While the weather is beginning to turn and the sun is threatening to shine, the evenings are still far too cold to spend sat outside talking with friends. So over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself watching quite a few films, at both the cinema and at home. Here are my top picks: Games Night Currently at the cinema, this has everything a good comedy needs; strong characters, good music and laughs aplenty. Yes, it’s slightly ridiculous in parts (well, in quite a few parts) but it’s guaranteed to put a smile…Czytaj dalej …

Two weeks ago I found myself taken by surprise when I was presented with two tickets for the theatre. Now, the theatre is somewhere I don’t find myself frequenting on a regular basis (I much prefer to go for the easy option and have a night at the cinema with a box of nachos). However, if you care to do a bit of digging, there are some very good options for the cultured foreigner looking to get their theatrical fix. Capitol Theatre for example offers performances with subtitles, as does Teatr Dramatyczny. As…Czytaj dalej …

What with the snow falling so heavily in the UK, my recent trip back in February was marred with a number of problems. 1) Flights were delayed due to the bad weather. 2) Road were closed when I arrived at Liverpool Airport, so I was unable to drive to my home town in the North East of England. 3) My favourite shop had run out of pasties and sandwiches. Ok, so perhaps the last problem wasn’t that big an ordeal, but the first two just go to show how poorly Great Britain is…Czytaj dalej …

We’ve looked at sitcoms in this here column in the past, but I recently came across one which I had never seen before, recommended to me by my sister. The show in question is called ‘Frasier’, an American comedy revolving around the daily life of a Radio psychiatrist and his family in Seattle. Whilst the main protagonist seems to have the dream job, dream flat and dream lifestyle, things quickly take a turn for the worse when his disabled father moves in with him and friction ensues. It’s a cracking show and has…Czytaj dalej …

Well February is upon us and by now most of us have forgotten the festivities of Christmas and are either looking much more slim, or have given up on our New Year’s resolutions altogether. Shame on us! But whilst Feb is a short month where the weather can range from 12 inches of snow to bursts of glorious sunshine, I was truly shocked yesterday to see the shelves of my local corner shop filled with rows and rows of Easter eggs. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good bit of chocolate as…Czytaj dalej …