tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90459408533904494132024-02-07T17:52:58.833-08:00Bridgwater InternationalBRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-80475238931116449022022-07-04T00:46:00.005-07:002022-07-04T00:46:48.644-07:00July 9th is Bridgwater Twinning Day 2022<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h4 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a data-slb-active="1" data-slb-asset="796449187" data-slb-group="6547" data-slb-internal="0" href="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-scaled.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6548" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" src="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-212x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-212x300.jpg 212w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-724x1024.jpg 724w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-768x1086.jpg 768w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-1448x2048.jpg 1448w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twin-poster-22-scaled.jpg 1810w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline; float: right; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="212" /></a></span></span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">For the last few years Bridgwater Twinning Forum has timed it’s annual event with the town’s Quayside Festival. So On Saturday July 9th this year people can spend the day enjoying music, comedy, dance, carnival and street theatre to their hearts content around the streets of Bridgwater and when they think it’s all over, pop over to the Arts Centre for the evening for the Twinning Show. Bridgwater has 7 Twin towns around the world and this is the day they all get together and put on a celebration of international friendship with music, film and up to date information. The show starts at 7.30 and this year the event will be free (but with an option to make a donation to Ukraine).</span></span></h4><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="more-6547" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-slb-active="1" data-slb-asset="1114853532" data-slb-group="6547" data-slb-internal="0" href="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TWIN-DAY-LOGO-22.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-6549 alignleft" height="163" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TWIN-DAY-LOGO-22-300x163.jpg" srcset="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TWIN-DAY-LOGO-22-300x163.jpg 300w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TWIN-DAY-LOGO-22-768x416.jpg 768w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TWIN-DAY-LOGO-22.jpg 873w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>Organiser, Town Council Leader <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brian Smedley</strong>, said <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Bridgwater has 7 twin towns. And whilst it’s not called the Septuplet Forum, the spirit of international friendship is integral to bringing together peoples from across the world. Bridgwater’s first twin was La Ciotat in France back in 1957. In the 1980’s as we became more involved with the European Union Sedgemoor developed links with the German District of Schwalm Eder and in 1992 Bridgwater directly linked with the town of Homberg within that district. The same year Bridgwater became the first British town to twin with a Czech town after the velvet revolution which saw the collapse of communism. That link with Uherske Hradiste is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary this Month. In 2006 we twinned with the former British territory of Malta and in 2015 it was Priverno in Italy.”</em></p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3446" class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_3446" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline; float: right; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 248px;"><a data-slb-active="1" data-slb-asset="648899021" data-slb-group="6547" data-slb-internal="0" href="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ant-ken-meet-1991.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="antonin" class="size-full wp-image-3446" height="185" loading="lazy" src="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ant-ken-meet-1991.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="248" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-3446" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0.33em; vertical-align: baseline;">Cllr Mac McCausland, Antonin Machala, Cllr Brian Smedley and Mayor Ken Richards at the first Bridgwater-Czech meeting in 1991</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Just before the pandemic we managed a new twinning with Camacha on the Portuguese island of Madeira in 2019. Finally we have been developing links with the USA. Initially through the Joe Strummer connection with the city of Seattle, whose KEXP radio station runs an annual Clash Day event in which we participate (and in 2015 we used the occasion to sign a punk twinning with Seattle) but also Bridgwater has good links with Bridgewater, Massachusetts which we relaunched during the pandemic as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. All of these links matter to our partner communities around the world so people are invited to come and share in them and learn more at our July 9th twinning day”.</em></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For a history of the Bridgwater Czech link click <a href="https://www.vernonbartlett.co.uk/world-turned-upside-down/czech-links/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">here</a>.</p><h3 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; color: #614c49; font-family: "Changa One", cursive; font-size: 1.5em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday 9th July</h3><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6550" class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_6550" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline; float: left; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><a data-slb-active="1" data-slb-asset="1334703245" data-slb-group="6547" data-slb-internal="0" href="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/bsp-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-6550" height="225" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/bsp-2-300x225.jpg" srcset="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/bsp-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/bsp-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/bsp-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/bsp-2.jpg 1440w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-6550" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0.33em; vertical-align: baseline;">Portuguese singer artist BSP at home in Madeira</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The event on the 9th July will start with some films from the 7 twin towns and the show will also be broadcast simultaneously on you tube.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the show will also feature music from far and wide.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From far, the Portuguese performance artist <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BSP</strong> will be singing and painting (yes) at the same time and from wide, Cllr Smedley will be playing the guitar.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And all for free.</p><h3 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; color: #614c49; font-family: "Changa One", cursive; font-size: 1.5em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Bridgwater Arts Centre</h3><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6551" class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_6551" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline; float: right; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><a data-slb-active="1" data-slb-asset="1903088905" data-slb-group="6547" data-slb-internal="0" href="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/secret-notes.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-6551" height="146" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/secret-notes-300x146.jpg" srcset="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/secret-notes-300x146.jpg 300w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/secret-notes-1024x500.jpg 1024w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/secret-notes-768x375.jpg 768w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/secret-notes.jpg 1061w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-6551" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0.33em; vertical-align: baseline;">The Secret Notes</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Headlining the event will be Somerset band <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Secret Notes,</strong> formed by musician John Maybey. The <span class="il" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Secret</span> <span class="il" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Notes</span> are a 5-piece folk-rock band. The spine tingling harmony singers & instrument swapping musicians play mandolin, violin, guitars, bass & drums. They passionately mix instrumental folk that includes Irish, Celtic & Eastern European styles with traditional & enchanting original songs. Their diverse music spans from vibrant, lively dance tunes to ambient soundscapes. They bring uplifting energies with an accomplished sound. Marnie – Vocals, Ben Weedon -Violin , Jon Maybey – Guitar & Mandolin ,Steve Gill – Bass & backing vocals ,David North – Drums.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6470" class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_6470" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline; float: left; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 161px;"><a data-slb-active="1" data-slb-asset="288859261" data-slb-group="6547" data-slb-internal="0" href="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6470" height="161" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 161px) 100vw, 161px" src="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg-120x120.jpg 120w, https://www.westoverward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/meg.jpg 2048w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="161" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-6470" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a37f6d; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0.33em; vertical-align: baseline;">Meg Boucher</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bridgwater singer <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Meg Boucher</strong> will be doing a spot too plus the event will be compered by Somerset’s own <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yvette Staelens</strong>.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The event is free and there’s a bar and it runs from 7 (doors open) to 11pm on Saturday 9th July at the Bridgwater Arts Centre.</p><h3 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; color: #614c49; font-family: "Changa One", cursive; font-size: 1.5em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">By the Way…</h3><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On Friday 8th July from 12 to 3 we group will be holding an international ‘Petanque’ tournament at Victoria Park, the game that was invented in our French twin town of La Ciotat. Last year’s winners were the Bridgwater Czech team. Just saying.</p></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-19740508660730768372012-08-24T03:28:00.000-07:002012-08-24T03:28:28.466-07:00KLADNO TEACHERS 'ROUND WESSEX BY MINIBUS' ADVENTURE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsCWQ_cNkGH2Cs3rhCJ8dGvbUuxyqGuw-A3bUU8Yd63qgzd3nH8lE46VUq1uZoZbUSpcM3cMcSWensSMNue7MpmpaNgGTzDJJPqW6xQA6bZw2VAEu6Aoe6IsPZoKhyiXwRKKCy2His5E/s1600/zdena_2012_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsCWQ_cNkGH2Cs3rhCJ8dGvbUuxyqGuw-A3bUU8Yd63qgzd3nH8lE46VUq1uZoZbUSpcM3cMcSWensSMNue7MpmpaNgGTzDJJPqW6xQA6bZw2VAEu6Aoe6IsPZoKhyiXwRKKCy2His5E/s320/zdena_2012_0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has not been the best summer here in the UK. However, for climate change enthusiasts it's been perfect, clearly demonstrating that even world famous weatherman Michael Fish would be absolutely no use at all in knowing which way the wind was likely to blow in the next 5 hours. So , for a group of intrepid teachers , students , concrete inspectors, radiologists and lawyers including at least 2 children, from the Bohemian town of Kladno, what better time to take a trip in a minibus around the South West of England!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zdena Biggsova has been bringing Czechs to Britain for many years now and was instrumental in our original contacts with Prague 6 district. Retiring from her school in Prague to continue working in the nearby town of Kladno she has in the past continued her trip organising including jaunts to Ireland, Scotland and London in recent years. This year her merry band of chums flew in to Bristol on a lovely sunny August evening and were whisked away by us to the Swiss Chalet style youth hostel on the Polden ridge near the shoe town of Street and overlooking Glastonbury tor.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jolly</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning it rained. At least the jolly cyclists who also stayed over that night on their way from John O Bonkers to Lands End would get totally soaked. Or at least blown off their bikes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took the Czechs to Glastonbury tor. 'Walk up there and then walk down quickly before it rains' we advised. That didn't work. Dripping wet they had a little wander round the hippy shops and then rinsed themselves out in the minibus.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cheered up</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would it brighten up at Wells? Well, not that you'd notice. Still, the Cathedral was indoors. And Cheddar? Right, enough of this , let's get some fish and chips. So that cheered everyone up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otwj6lZC1bo/UDdV0Z4mbcI/AAAAAAAAAoA/ujb9FRLRcW8/s1600/zdena_2012_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otwj6lZC1bo/UDdV0Z4mbcI/AAAAAAAAAoA/ujb9FRLRcW8/s320/zdena_2012_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: blue;">That's Torquay that is</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the trick is-eating fish and chips makes the sun come out -and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Getting back into the minibus in now glorious sunshine we went off to Weston Super Mare, teeming with tourists, brandishing ice creams,candy floss, wearing 'kiss me I'm a scrubber' hats and with a not unpleasant view of Cardiff from 20 miles away the day had brightened up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we took them to Bridgwater where a little party was waiting for them in the Green Olive restaurant on West Quay and after that we all popped along to the Fountain inn where they mingled with the locals, trying out the Guiness, the Cider,the Whiskey , the accent, not for one minute expecting the weather would go mental again.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nutcases</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day we brought them back into town to do some shopping and explain why the West Quay wall had fallen into the river. For a full report see www.westoverward.co.uk. And to dispel any notion that all Brits weren't nutcases we left them in the capable hands of Wildman Napthine, a Bridgwater exile to Moravia currently back home on a succesful curry seeking mission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then off to Minehead- still sunny. Then Dunster - not only sunny but Medieval AND with a shop boasting a chocolate fountain which you could dip your strawberries and marshmellows in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What better time to drive through the Exmoor hills and down the Exe Valley, by passing Tiverton and calling in at Exeter then on to Dartmoor. Where it rained. And then got misty. And then flooded.</span><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">laughter</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, we weren't detered from treating them to a typical Moorland banquet. After the Tortillas , Enchilladas and guacamole dips, they were contented enough to contemplate the next days trek across the Baskerville landscapes to Laughter Tor, Gigglesome Brook and Daftarse gully as promised.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2PryL1svMdx_rX2RBhSgKtqI-GezMIYegDOG6xRdCOkM3aWogXxrS9ReJKT5L6T0KLgZSg7tJlAT_0Az6usu8rRdW6Z1HFTzPVCtMlZsNsxVaQNPOkLsO5aXTOkg1ghyphenhyphentMHxWpW9HAU/s1600/zdena_2012_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2PryL1svMdx_rX2RBhSgKtqI-GezMIYegDOG6xRdCOkM3aWogXxrS9ReJKT5L6T0KLgZSg7tJlAT_0Az6usu8rRdW6Z1HFTzPVCtMlZsNsxVaQNPOkLsO5aXTOkg1ghyphenhyphentMHxWpW9HAU/s320/zdena_2012_0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Looking out over Lyme Bay</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only did it rain, flood, got misty then rained some more, but we couldn't even see the Dartmoor prison 2 feet in front of us. So we gave up and drove down into Plymouth instead....fish and chips...that's the solution.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does this work?? Nice bag of fish and chips and the sun comes out again...this will wreak havoc upon my diet. Never mind. It's a great British tradition. So it was off to Tintagel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best thing about Tintagel is that the hostel is situated halfway down a sheer drop along a cliff face and to hear the screams from the back of the bus always brings to mind Bob Monkhouse when he said 'I'd like to die peacefully in my sleep like my father, not screaming in fear like his passengers'.</span><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">alcohol</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So after a meal of jacket potatoes out came the vodka and on came the singing. Always a feature of Czech groups with or without (but mainly with) alcohol. Shame I'd forgotten my guitar. Still, Jaroslav on saucepan bodhran seemed to do the trick.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS3b8-_FTxlJgvOesnx2MULHfazSujx5JxzOJWMj3QhrlC7qW_Gu1xxJlPBIbtZU-WUuQe9qEw8GVAZVBwCsTqnmzWy97eSgqF2D5pf-pFpo_FMwEmij2R3LMrU-6_ORFAEBxt_zT_3E/s1600/Photo0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS3b8-_FTxlJgvOesnx2MULHfazSujx5JxzOJWMj3QhrlC7qW_Gu1xxJlPBIbtZU-WUuQe9qEw8GVAZVBwCsTqnmzWy97eSgqF2D5pf-pFpo_FMwEmij2R3LMrU-6_ORFAEBxt_zT_3E/s320/Photo0239.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Next stop America</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day the weather was tormenting us...would it ..wouldn't it....yes!! It was a nice one. So we managed to catch the open causeway to the St Michaels Mount before it closed in on everyone and drowned them and stopping in Penzance for some extra re-assuring fish and chips we continued to Lands End itself where the sun shine like it was meant to. And there too were the John O Groatesque cyclists supping from their champagne. So sunny was it , so blue the sea , the sky and the mosquito bites, that Jana decided to walk half the group around the coastal path what she guessed was 6 kilometres. 6 miles later they reached the hostel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A beautiful sunset at Cape Cornwall helped everyone enjoy their Cornish Pasties and Old DogVomit cider.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaHfQu0AU1gCML3zFdWi0bvGfgthetREngae2aT29Zy6ZNY5qC08U5KqfOxn-H1dOBYtqZjQdiofFi4FkbqK8rOUC4ZrOqFmlM7SB_g0ouakHqX05QXPH6m4Fzloc2MXJrnb8gj18AoU/s1600/zdena_2012_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaHfQu0AU1gCML3zFdWi0bvGfgthetREngae2aT29Zy6ZNY5qC08U5KqfOxn-H1dOBYtqZjQdiofFi4FkbqK8rOUC4ZrOqFmlM7SB_g0ouakHqX05QXPH6m4Fzloc2MXJrnb8gj18AoU/s320/zdena_2012_0043.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: blue;">The less hot Eden Biome</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next day , naturally, it rained. You could hardly see the impressive coast between St Just and St Ives. But we tried. And then we went to the Eden project. Good plan. The sun came out and people started to suffocate amongst the tropical biomes and collapsing tourisms. Helpful tip - don't go in the tropical biome - stick to the more pleasant Mediterranean one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we headed off through more pleasant sunshine back across the Tamar and down along the South Devon coast to Salcombe. For anyone who doesn't know, the Salcombe youth hostel isn't actually in Salcombe, it's at the head of an outcrop of rock which takes you up ,down, round, over and through numerous hills and narrowly winding country lanes in which you take your life in your hands. Oh how the people screamed.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pleasant</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Totnes is a nice place where the independently minded shopkeepers have fought off the multinationals and have even introduced a Totnes pound. Sadly, it's a shit place for traffic, so we were stuck for a while and got to Torbay later than we hoped. On the positive side the sun came out and the Czechs could have a pleasant wander around the harbour. Then we headed east and stopped at a very sunny Lyme Regis where going in the sea was even an option. They didn't however.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVNodIi3k__qTSody8H4fu2l9zR-xbV7q3DJSqKdUc-whxTLEmFRlNf7g4OqrzdfEEkESaDL_-GeoAoIZ8PTSLcFmGLDIXLttoEpF-2Sf0WEhZnzkr6Z16DtUuLN06_I_DybAmKt5QJE/s1600/Photo0241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVNodIi3k__qTSody8H4fu2l9zR-xbV7q3DJSqKdUc-whxTLEmFRlNf7g4OqrzdfEEkESaDL_-GeoAoIZ8PTSLcFmGLDIXLttoEpF-2Sf0WEhZnzkr6Z16DtUuLN06_I_DybAmKt5QJE/s320/Photo0241.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Nice sunset at Cape Cornwall</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along the Dorset coast to Weymouth is a wonderful coastline as you drop down to Chesil Beach with the rabbit phobic Portland peninsula on the horizon and ending the day in the thatched cottage haven of Lulworth Cove with a special treat of ginger beer (45p a bottle in Aldis) .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No visit to the south west would be complete without a flight home. But before that we stopped in Bath. Where, luckily, it didn't start the raining until they all got on the bus to the airport.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And off they went.</span>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-10740757279856316082011-10-13T08:15:00.000-07:002011-10-13T08:23:10.361-07:00CZECH JAZZERS PLAY ART CENTRE BIRTHDAY BASH<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A55w47lRjy0/TpcBil2bCJI/AAAAAAAAAl8/oX4BE4CMbGo/s1600/shift.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A55w47lRjy0/TpcBil2bCJI/AAAAAAAAAl8/oX4BE4CMbGo/s400/shift.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662996750229244050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Czech jazz band PARADIGM SHIFT are over in Bridgwater for a couple of nights and a couple of gigs. Last night (Wed 12 october) they played to an appreciative audience at the Unity Club whilst tonight (Thursday 13th October) they take to the stage at the Bridgwater Arts Centre.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />The Centre is Britains first Art Centre, being founded in 1946, and today is 65 years old. PARADIGM SHIFT will be playing alongside Bridgwater Jazzers JAZZICAL.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">The event starts at 8pm .</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >The bands tour has been sponsored by the Bridgwater Czech Slovak Friendship Society.</span>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-56226207691066695212011-10-11T05:00:00.000-07:002011-10-11T05:48:44.940-07:00LA CIOTAT-BRIDGWATER'S FIRST TWINNING RE-VISITED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4kjXuxv5VSidKXleuYfAqohUhuOZozYvnjQXYEvw2I6ib1XnmtYkl4mSpaRApUEx87Do2Ghk2u5CGqaQBKFM3xG-Fo7UHFIVf_x2CArqupRjOhA4lOZWI0HZ5Jv8QTA3e4XQZhiwOrA/s1600/LaCiotat01+teams.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4kjXuxv5VSidKXleuYfAqohUhuOZozYvnjQXYEvw2I6ib1XnmtYkl4mSpaRApUEx87Do2Ghk2u5CGqaQBKFM3xG-Fo7UHFIVf_x2CArqupRjOhA4lOZWI0HZ5Jv8QTA3e4XQZhiwOrA/s320/LaCiotat01+teams.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662211575189837730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">In 1957 Bridgwater set up it's first ever twinning. In the style of the day this was with a French town in order to strengthen the 'Entente Cordiale'. Whilst most Somerset towns picked up twin towns in neighbouring Normandy (just across the Channel) Bridgwater ended up with a veritable Medeteranean paradise in Provence, slightly along the coast from St.Tropez ,Cannes and Nice. So what became of the little town of La Ciotat in the years since the Lumiere brothers first shot the motion picture classic '<span style="font-style: italic;">Train arriving in a station</span>' there in 1895 and what imperative spurred t</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">hem on to make that eve</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKaQlJ5no-VHXM92uNRDhrL6WZxVi2OnXQCm_-WepRvOTMKDkn02Qsld9NMW5vy2ck80yQEPQRhfbdSkaV9i34Nlp4QHQSmQ-U5iodJ3N0bYld-CX3KTxIOMenKNVKYNVb3bQH5mK9zk/s1600/LaCiotat03+harbour.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKaQlJ5no-VHXM92uNRDhrL6WZxVi2OnXQCm_-WepRvOTMKDkn02Qsld9NMW5vy2ck80yQEPQRhfbdSkaV9i34Nlp4QHQSmQ-U5iodJ3N0bYld-CX3KTxIOMenKNVKYNVb3bQH5mK9zk/s320/LaCiotat03+harbour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662211737920328226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">n more famous link with Bridgwater in 1957?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">?</span><br /><br />Well, we didn't know at all, so we decided to take a couple of football teams down there and see what the place was like anyway.<br /><br />Each year Bridgwater International and Altech SRO from our Czech twin town Uherske Hradiste take our football teams to visit a 3rd country . Last year it was Priverno in Italy - so this year we targetted La Ciotat. In order to do this we looked up an old friend -<span style="font-weight: bold;">Yasmina Boukerhoufa</span> had visited Bridgwater some years previou<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gieIcyVKDoY/TpQ3sjhFIsI/AAAAAAAAAkI/HCOGnkwY_VM/s1600/LaCiotat04%2Blittle%2Bbeach.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gieIcyVKDoY/TpQ3sjhFIsI/AAAAAAAAAkI/HCOGnkwY_VM/s320/LaCiotat04%2Blittle%2Bbeach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662211870099317442" border="0" /></a>sly and was enthusiastic then to develop more International links, whilst <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stephane Olry</span> , a tip top table tennis trainer, was a newcomer to Twinning but passionate in his desire to get involved. Both proved invaluable.<br /><br />Taking 71 people this time round was a bit of a feat. Whilst the Brits had a light drive up to Gatwick , a 1 and a half hour flight to Marseilles then a 45 minute bus ride to La Ciotat, the Czechs drove all the way across Europe on a 24 hour barely stopping coach .<br /><br />Staying at the Victoria Gardens hotel, overlooking the dive-off-able cliffs and rocks of Aren Cros, both groups filled the place to near capacity. On the down side it was a 45 min<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb2KObkLiawrwcjAnzU8ADssTAt9DoGNNxu3Iz4Exk71W-emKq_S_FXNEWBP20xgs2ja4SVbLT8kb87pmE3UQ6wkpWGHturOygBF84XS8xPeFf5PJzMFZGtailMZo4iD3C3BLPHPru5Q/s1600/LaCiotat07+stephane.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb2KObkLiawrwcjAnzU8ADssTAt9DoGNNxu3Iz4Exk71W-emKq_S_FXNEWBP20xgs2ja4SVbLT8kb87pmE3UQ6wkpWGHturOygBF84XS8xPeFf5PJzMFZGtailMZo4iD3C3BLPHPru5Q/s320/LaCiotat07+stephane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662212686968356610" border="0" /></a>ute walk to the town centre or an 8 euro taxi ride.<br /><br />The first football match saw the Brits play the French. The final score maybe reflected the mismatch in ages....well that's one excuse....<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Brits </span>(average age 50) <span style="font-weight: bold;">2 v the French </span>(average age 25)<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 13.</span> Another excuse could be the mighty Mistral wind that scattered all before it whilst depositing the sands of North Africa on the pitch and in the eyes of the (none sun glasses wearing) Brits.<br /><br />The second football match <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ctm1qxnwOt2Ap4UgiLg1Q59xV-_EbCZcBh-q6vgHNTUdeF8JGncvsETd8oGnoDg2R_1Tqrk0UDgRFKLri2qcto3UqfpUuYbmeUDUf-InkyDjPMG9qzum_xjMLnwCwR1Uw1XYXstbrxk/s1600/LaCiotat06+girls.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ctm1qxnwOt2Ap4UgiLg1Q59xV-_EbCZcBh-q6vgHNTUdeF8JGncvsETd8oGnoDg2R_1Tqrk0UDgRFKLri2qcto3UqfpUuYbmeUDUf-InkyDjPMG9qzum_xjMLnwCwR1Uw1XYXstbrxk/s320/LaCiotat06+girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662212481923507794" border="0" /></a>was delayed while we watched the French humiliate the English national team at Rugby from an early morning New Zealand. By the time it started the match featured several seriously inebriated 'players' for want of a better word whilst supplemented by 2 young French boys whose Bridgwater international shirts reached their toes, and a baguette wielding Stephane as a guest winger. The result <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bridgwater 1 v Czech Rep 9.</span> The lone English goal scored is the subject of a prize 'guess the goalscorer' Competition. Answers on a postcard to the '<span style="font-style: italic;">Cllr Smedleys great goal' competition </span>c/o Bridgwater International.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvoUp2szUqM4PEXAJXbxxr3FkCjbgL89y6drbW4SxSYrAa28h1Y8zOzz6LnU6fYv_jHp_sw5XUWsQXnbXP89oDS9Ft4VBKaEXVe_Ox2ONddGBmEd0gWSimN1XBBsVnZYnGZ2910AVEcQ/s1600/LaCiotat13+figuerelle.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvoUp2szUqM4PEXAJXbxxr3FkCjbgL89y6drbW4SxSYrAa28h1Y8zOzz6LnU6fYv_jHp_sw5XUWsQXnbXP89oDS9Ft4VBKaEXVe_Ox2ONddGBmEd0gWSimN1XBBsVnZYnGZ2910AVEcQ/s320/LaCiotat13+figuerelle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662213960635660354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A far more even game was the Czech v France game played later that day. Ending 5.2 to the Czechs (making them tournament winners) the match showed that generosity of spirit the Czechs are famous for. Especially lending their opponents a goalkeeper who didn't know the rules. And who had no hands.<br /><br />Re-establishing links with the La Ciotat 'Jumelagistes' was a rewarding exercise. Madame <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jean-Marie Vandamme</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Virginie Giaccone</span> proved able hosts with 2 social events for the participants at the St Marceaux Complex where the French pastis mixed with the Czech pivo and the Somerset scrumpy while the players and fellow travellers tried to make each other understood. "<span style="font-style: italic;">You got some paaasties then??</span>" and so on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a75dYgoyn24/TpQ5MpEt2lI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/RlbiKWklNYE/s1600/LaCiotat09%2Bdignatories.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a75dYgoyn24/TpQ5MpEt2lI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/RlbiKWklNYE/s320/LaCiotat09%2Bdignatories.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662213520858405458" border="0" /></a><br />Apart from the football, the trip was also a perfect holiday. French market stalls lined the quayside stretching from the beaches to the old docks - now restored to cater for the affluent yacht-repairing set, fine French sea side restaurants were interspersed with bars showing the rugby whilst a slight walk past the harbour and you are in the 'callanque' area<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4u8qCyqByf4/TpQ304NdtkI/AAAAAAAAAkU/YqpmqnqtMtc/s1600/LaCiotat05%2Bbill.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4u8qCyqByf4/TpQ304NdtkI/AAAAAAAAAkU/YqpmqnqtMtc/s320/LaCiotat05%2Bbill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662212013093140034" border="0" /></a> of rocky gardens and secluded beaches. One brave English traveller received a round of applause from the French beach-huggers for daring to go in the mildly mild october waters while the rest drew a line just above their ankles.<br /><br />As a result of the trip to la Ciotat we have 4 further projects in mind with the place and it certainly feels like old friends finally got together again.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-36043581025742642562011-10-05T15:17:00.000-07:002011-10-05T15:44:52.506-07:00MAKING A SPLASH IN THE MED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZR2VAliqm0/TozceyTYxTI/AAAAAAAAAjM/krwZgrmocoM/s1600/VOP%2BROME%2B2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZR2VAliqm0/TozceyTYxTI/AAAAAAAAAjM/krwZgrmocoM/s320/VOP%2BROME%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660141253155145010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bridgwater's VOICE OF THE PEOPLE choir have just returned from a succesful 4 days tour of the Lazio region of Italy which included the town of Priverno - twinned with Uherske Hradiste , and where they sang on the steps of the Town hall, Pontinia where they sung in the Fellini Theatre with the Pontinia Choir, the beach resort of Sabaudia where they sang in the sea and the city of Rome- where they probably sang in the Metro.</span><br /><br />The choir, led by natural voice practitioner Yvette Staellens, based at Bri<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt06meKUHmQe0iLP2JrYzwtUBxsFg6zoaZ4xCerjytn-127SbTfSqGJEtxFT4pWLMwPlEKK7BRxDh1kmNO0imwn1C0h37n3d9IlOrw81xus-YqFS0RLwNZrQ48vxNv5R7rfGHkrtlJ64/s1600/VOP+ROME+1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt06meKUHmQe0iLP2JrYzwtUBxsFg6zoaZ4xCerjytn-127SbTfSqGJEtxFT4pWLMwPlEKK7BRxDh1kmNO0imwn1C0h37n3d9IlOrw81xus-YqFS0RLwNZrQ48vxNv5R7rfGHkrtlJ64/s320/VOP+ROME+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660141389098788898" border="0" /></a>dgwater Arts Centre, flew from Bristol to Rome 44 strong and out again with a massive security presence (although this might have been due to Amanda Know flying out of the same airport at the same time..).<br /><br />Staying at the beach hotel of Oasa di Kufra the group quickly made friends with the other guests who they serenaded to sleep each night and awoke each morning with a gentle refrain. Along with some George Formby style ukelele playing that wasn't part of their usual set....<br /><br />The Italian summer had stretched to October and the warm evenings lent themselves to a perfect setting when they met up with Paola SanGiorgios Pontinia choir and both choirs sang to each other on the stage of the Fellini Theatre and then in the bar afterwards. Meanwhile the ukelele playing continued into the streets to 'entertain' the local Italians attempting to watch the Juventus v Milan football match on the big screen.<br /><br />A trek up to the mountain town of Sermoneta saw the group viewing the entir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6Tlm8CWfPE/TozcuR4WD8I/AAAAAAAAAjc/9xGOyQraQJk/s1600/VOP%2BROME%2B3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6Tlm8CWfPE/TozcuR4WD8I/AAAAAAAAAjc/9xGOyQraQJk/s320/VOP%2BROME%2B3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660141519329693634" border="0" /></a>e Lazio landscape from ahigh including the entire Pontine marshes drained by Il Duce himself back in the 30's to create a series of Fascist new towns - ideal locations for the choir to sing their songs of<span style="font-style: italic;"> 'no more Nations, give us peace on earth'</span>. And of course for us to remember that champion of the working class George Formby with a little bit more ukelele magic.<br /><br />The final day and the group visited the town of Priverno where an impromptu show on the steps of the town hall in the piazza brought an excited audience of bouncing ,cycling and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdDioa1u_66bwhh5YOR2czG6d2mtzmjMxSAM3trct9jnI2F3O6X2wGCF6MGjRyOGPkOqv2wQUgZXTRU8Q7Q8nZMOgNOOAoJgdOTQ-8c4nFszxWTeNxJ5kE6ytHwJtU__SLReqa9mSHac/s1600/VOP+ROME+4.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdDioa1u_66bwhh5YOR2czG6d2mtzmjMxSAM3trct9jnI2F3O6X2wGCF6MGjRyOGPkOqv2wQUgZXTRU8Q7Q8nZMOgNOOAoJgdOTQ-8c4nFszxWTeNxJ5kE6ytHwJtU__SLReqa9mSHac/s320/VOP+ROME+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660141643279009938" border="0" /></a>footballing kids into action who joined in while throngs of people lined the narrow streets as the singers wended their way out of the town singing as they went <span style="font-style: italic;">'adios amigos'</span> -which surely left the locals wondering <span style="font-style: italic;">'what are these spanish people doing here??'</span>. ..until they were reassured that in fact they were Brits....assumedly by the faint twang of a ukelele being bashed over a choristers head...<br /><br />This is the 4th tour the Voice of the People have done with Bridgwater International and long may they continue.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-24537792324255237582011-10-05T11:04:00.000-07:002011-10-05T11:09:41.229-07:00CZECH JAZZ BAND TO PLAY 2 DATES IN BRIDGWATER<span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Czech jazz band PARADIGM SHIFT will be in Bridgwater next week to play a couple of gigs including an International Jazz Night at the Unity Club on Wednesday October 12th with local jazz combo 'JAZZICAL' and to perform at the Bridgwater Art's Centre's 65th Anniversary party on Thursday October 13th.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_T0VaaAwT3XcZh5yRIEHWirArnx1RirS6yCcwRGJYolSGoZ-LNoO1IvLOsaEUymtaLmhiA1lAHD38rscVREFI6oBZfnFE8XTYOsdXpJXue9DbZci93TUIlILoSWz9zz5fSdzOqUFscE/s1600/jazzical.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_T0VaaAwT3XcZh5yRIEHWirArnx1RirS6yCcwRGJYolSGoZ-LNoO1IvLOsaEUymtaLmhiA1lAHD38rscVREFI6oBZfnFE8XTYOsdXpJXue9DbZci93TUIlILoSWz9zz5fSdzOqUFscE/s400/jazzical.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660071590303337970" border="0" /></a><br /></div> To check them out go to their web site ;- http://bandzone.cz/43BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-46855989000232350062011-09-30T11:25:00.001-07:002011-09-30T11:35:43.035-07:00PRAGUE STUDENTS IN TOWN FOR THE FAIR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YXX2am3b75k/ToYLyzWYIRI/AAAAAAAAAiY/nJa3MwbMQxc/s1600/tint%2Bdanxcing.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YXX2am3b75k/ToYLyzWYIRI/AAAAAAAAAiY/nJa3MwbMQxc/s320/tint%2Bdanxcing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658222949243035922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Arabska Gymnasium in Prague 6 has been an annual visitor to Bridgwater since the link first started back in 1996 when Dr Jan Soucek met Mr Andrew Pole in the Bridgwater Embassy in Prague (the 'U Capa' bar near IP Pavlova). Last year was the Doctors final visit as he has now retired, however the link goes on and this year Mrs Pavla Pracnova turned up with a group of 16 students eager to see what all the fuss was about.</span><br /><br />Picking the right time to come - not only was it Bridgwater fair, but the English Summer finally decided to arrive, the group also included on their itnerary a visit to the College where Media lecturer Mino De Francesca showed them several films made by the students, the YMCA where Jason let them have a go at Archery and even a game of Skittles was thrown into the cultural melting pot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HJCkYUxnAHxAl6g_6b4aw2BVHrn_aXjNbL40YoA2rMTmga4cHU0rLHUBuZ00m7YDG2vGionGueDvID-d_3CfqkR5AWiHdZ6oldPmLiH8fgnMpppMu0JJurQbpxTZdknAFovQBkmLP-4/s1600/tint+studs.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HJCkYUxnAHxAl6g_6b4aw2BVHrn_aXjNbL40YoA2rMTmga4cHU0rLHUBuZ00m7YDG2vGionGueDvID-d_3CfqkR5AWiHdZ6oldPmLiH8fgnMpppMu0JJurQbpxTZdknAFovQBkmLP-4/s320/tint+studs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658223057597885042" border="0" /></a><br />The students were toured around the county, climbing Glastonbury Tor, playing Cricket on the parklands of Burnham and involving themselves in the ancient history of the region from atop Burrow Mump.<br /><br />They also had a drive down to Devon and Cornwall where they misjudged the tides at the St Michaels Mount causeway, fell off a cliff at Tintagel and were eaten by Dartmoor ponies just south of Okehampton.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-60419402214153145522011-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:002011-09-30T11:23:51.190-07:00MORAVIAN FAMILY CENTRE WORKERS IN BRIDGWATER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz1U3Ckp7P7te_JrlbITf0zA7YS6iU7PfF8CMX0Pzj3tTzgi1L-eqq10aAthFHnm_rctihNO-VyVHYb4ySu9ab_Ema7G0cuopbFBtmSUNBi2_8PeE9CUaXTOt39Mu_sVMPXC6t44r2NQ/s1600/Czech+family+visit.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz1U3Ckp7P7te_JrlbITf0zA7YS6iU7PfF8CMX0Pzj3tTzgi1L-eqq10aAthFHnm_rctihNO-VyVHYb4ySu9ab_Ema7G0cuopbFBtmSUNBi2_8PeE9CUaXTOt39Mu_sVMPXC6t44r2NQ/s320/Czech+family+visit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658220023142764482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A successful link between communities in our two twin towns has been given a boost for the second year running with money from the European Social fund. Last year Dagmar Mega, from the Akropolis family centre in Uherske Hradiste arranged funding for Family centre workers in UH to come across to seehow things were done in Bridgwater. As a result of that first visit links were made with the Hamp Community Association and a second trip, funded by the European Social fund, was organised to further those links.</span><br /><br />In September 2011 Dagmar brought across a further 10 Family centre and Youth club workers to Bridgwater and we organised a series of visits to similar family centres in our district.<br /><br />The bulk of the programme was organised in conjunction with Les Riddle at the Re-Creation centre in Hamp whose volunteers prepared many of the meals for the group, and who involved them in community activities such as 'Community Computing' ,'Zumba', and even a 'Knit and Natter' session.<br /><br />The Project generated some £500 for the Hamp Community Association and as a result of the programme and Hamps new link up with the YMCA a 3 -year Euro project has now been signed up to for 2012.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-79163197299704712011-09-30T10:35:00.000-07:002011-09-30T11:05:07.593-07:00BRIDGWATER MAYOR VISITS UHERSKE HRADISTE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hAZVSyexd2zt3t5_80WFD84SUYDp3ZwAD6H7vW11BzS63u5rOldyU2uwi3aULdtgtS_SeezpSbJPLyqH1eYap9qLOBVSVSbdpUQhyffT_EAUpvriHHZGKuBtlmGMQyFhOQ4w61RUoJo/s1600/UHwine+festival+2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 403px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hAZVSyexd2zt3t5_80WFD84SUYDp3ZwAD6H7vW11BzS63u5rOldyU2uwi3aULdtgtS_SeezpSbJPLyqH1eYap9qLOBVSVSbdpUQhyffT_EAUpvriHHZGKuBtlmGMQyFhOQ4w61RUoJo/s320/UHwine+festival+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658210511312463474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >In 1991, when the Bridgwater-Czech Slovak Friendship Society was founded by Antonin Machala and Brian Smedley, the Mayor of Bridgwater was Ken Richards. The following year when Br</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >idgwater formally became the first British town to twin with a Czech/Slovak town (Uherske Hradiste) the Mayor was David Baker. Every year we change the Mayor in Bridgwater and several of our Mayors have made it across to our Moravian twin town. In September 2011 it was Cllr Pat Parker.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Accompanied by his Mayoress, Jennie Parker, along with a small delegation of the Secretary (Cllr Brian Smedley) and the Town C</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >ouncil rep on the Czech Friendship society (Cllr Mick Lerry) , Pat marched the entire 2 mile length of the Uherske Hradiste wine festival procession ro<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5eTUApBkH8feIrDOw8IkoZqodZYpnky9CUbjgnRsWU8sP47GAuT2fgH-p-l5HJmGV8GzB3vKKheRCkd_WR6DTAdEMMG2NS7CqcbwNk3sSISS82n5w3rPyQ5QSIu_EAP9Q3U3p3ieqz8/s1600/uh+wine+fest+11+2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5eTUApBkH8feIrDOw8IkoZqodZYpnky9CUbjgnRsWU8sP47GAuT2fgH-p-l5HJmGV8GzB3vKKheRCkd_WR6DTAdEMMG2NS7CqcbwNk3sSISS82n5w3rPyQ5QSIu_EAP9Q3U3p3ieqz8/s320/uh+wine+fest+11+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658210664855168866" border="0" /></a>ute, cheered on his way by wellwishers and alongside delegations from Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia .<br /><br />Carrying the flag for the duration of the procession was Bridgwater International's admin assistant Jana Branecka and alongside the Mayor throughout was translator Adela Tobolova.<br /><br />The group also spent some time in Prague where some 20 Friendship Society supporters from the Czech capital joined them for an evening out and made plans for next years programme.<br /><br />Whilst in Uherske Hradiste, Czech Society co-found</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >er Antonin Machala took the Mayor , Mayoress and Cllr Lerry up for a spin in his private aeroplane to give them an aerial view of the Festivities below.<br /><br />Cllr Smedley said <span style="font-style: italic;">"During the past 20 years of our very active link, we have taken 4 incumbant Mayors across to UH a</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">nd they've sent 2 back to Bridgwater. The Civic link is very important , however, more important is the work done by the many active supporters we have who organise, run and fund the trips. Doing the hard work which is often unrewarded , the home hosting, the budgetting,and the promotion of our towns within each other's communities. Although not 'councillors' or 'elected dignatories' the two most important people in our link with Uherske Hradiste for the past 15-20 years are without doubt Antonin Machala and Jana Hubena. It was a shame that they weren't invited to participate in this pa</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">rticular event by the UH Council."<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvGb0oXL8-YK6t_7DhFmkMLtqKqLzd5XtQ-wTFAZ43YVsJ-vcTDlSV_gCSrUO8QX4XdYMLegJVMGouBJ57HFh7S_tT5ms6LjAPX8nvffBl8iLJ8LkTKs6Gt2tfHIWvQF3iGJy8iLB15A/s1600/antonin+%2526+jana.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 427px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvGb0oXL8-YK6t_7DhFmkMLtqKqLzd5XtQ-wTFAZ43YVsJ-vcTDlSV_gCSrUO8QX4XdYMLegJVMGouBJ57HFh7S_tT5ms6LjAPX8nvffBl8iLJ8LkTKs6Gt2tfHIWvQF3iGJy8iLB15A/s320/antonin+%2526+jana.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658215160635983138" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /></span></span>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-87109039725852772032011-09-02T04:54:00.000-07:002011-09-02T05:16:49.548-07:00BRIDGWATER'S DEVELOPING ITALIAN LINKS
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpnVz1Ip48QKhM23u3RNnAHtBzBTdKMaIjFfP1V194p8vOATGPi8ABsw-shfkYO0IkqRUtO3K7l7-vQdlO3zjV_zq_MoKSaa4wLGxTw9WVnfShoRVLDcZgWBsBf2E2Ga3D5xptYGq2Pc/s1600/cerignola.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpnVz1Ip48QKhM23u3RNnAHtBzBTdKMaIjFfP1V194p8vOATGPi8ABsw-shfkYO0IkqRUtO3K7l7-vQdlO3zjV_zq_MoKSaa4wLGxTw9WVnfShoRVLDcZgWBsBf2E2Ga3D5xptYGq2Pc/s320/cerignola.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647734463252160418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A couple of years back, a Bridgwater delegation to the Uherske Hradiste wine festival (the next one is 9-11 September) bumped into a delegation from our Czech town's twin town, 'Priverno' just south of Rome. From that time to this we've been developing new partners fo</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">r our International friendship links.</span></span>
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<br />Last year we took our football team over to Priverno along with a team from Uherske Hradiste and played a couple of matches while getting to know the place.
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<br />This October we are taking the Voice of the People Choir from the Bridgwater Arts Centre over there on a singing tour.
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<br />Next February plans are afoot to take Bridgwater college Film & Media students on a fact finding trip plus Health care students from Richard Huish in March.
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<br />Priverno is a small rural community 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WP-YlLTRbdu7ON_TAeqZi6a3X61v1Va8Ce57X1Z_FcBWLjiefRx3MpwD0p_1SOpk-ACMwPPpsneM6AGyHknzXFRx6GVr6WlYED2fTdaCvOJsX8G0cyYiHEcaJNiQ7EvITJz6LzUf6ow/s1600/uh+wine+fest+09+b.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WP-YlLTRbdu7ON_TAeqZi6a3X61v1Va8Ce57X1Z_FcBWLjiefRx3MpwD0p_1SOpk-ACMwPPpsneM6AGyHknzXFRx6GVr6WlYED2fTdaCvOJsX8G0cyYiHEcaJNiQ7EvITJz6LzUf6ow/s320/uh+wine+fest+09+b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647735001505063330" border="0" /></a>0 minutes south of Rome and very close to the beachresort of Sabaudia - interestingly created as a 'Fascist new Town' in the 20's when Mussolini drained the pontine Marches and within easy reach of the world war 2 battlefield of Cassino and Anzio.
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<br />Our most recent Italian escapade was a visit to Bridgwater by 3 Italian girls from Cerignola who did voluntary work at the YMCA and were given English lessons by our Czech admin assistant Jana Branecka...and thus the cycle is complete.
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<br />BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-76534314749286929212011-08-06T05:01:00.000-07:002011-08-06T05:08:20.750-07:00ROUND IRELAND WITH THE BOBOVSKY'S<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkEQjFSwMNgD5HH5umBDlPzH9d1qlrLJV7g3aDE5Sc3ocq1XoDski_z2Jk9c8S1lpOIVerQzicfLYEnWiMTMs6N1rh1c8NZHYWEbKcpu9dCnFThOFY0taiUHQll98mLTuIUMTNUAUMIw/s1600/vera+irsko.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkEQjFSwMNgD5HH5umBDlPzH9d1qlrLJV7g3aDE5Sc3ocq1XoDski_z2Jk9c8S1lpOIVerQzicfLYEnWiMTMs6N1rh1c8NZHYWEbKcpu9dCnFThOFY0taiUHQll98mLTuIUMTNUAUMIw/s320/vera+irsko.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637713599597078690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A special treat this summer for a group of Prague travellers as Bridgwater International organised a 'Round Ireland' trip for them. By minibus. A bit like a safari. Without the lions.</span><br /><br />Crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare the group first visited the seaside resort of Tramore near Waterford and then carried on in a clockwise fashion visiting Cork, Killarney, crossing the Mouth of the Shannon and taking in the Cliffs of Moher.<br /><br />From County Clare the czechs took in the musical sights of Galway before wandering around the Connemara hills and climbing Croagh Patrick then ending up at the Yeats Village in Sligo.<br /><br />Topping Ireland via Errigal in County Donegal, Derry and the Giant's causeway, including the Bush Mills whiskey ditillery, they travelled along the beautiful Antrim coast with the Scottish mountains close at hand across the water and then into Belfast.<br /><br />Ending the trip in Dublin , where they visited the Guiness Brewery and experienced an evening of Irish dancing at the Arlington hotel, they crossed back into Wales via Holyhead, climbed Mount Snowdon, visited Tintern Abbey and flew home.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-33230229936244406322011-07-01T12:36:00.000-07:002011-07-01T12:46:09.147-07:00CESKE BUDEJOVICE STUDENTS TOUR WESSEX<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQEDE_x9ct56OEvoNt-_FU8z8xlssfrETpd1M7PS6RgIpiV4PeyovNidimIw2KCtk6jSlVwx6INbZsDGqfTA5wbTx5FoVkwFHijcBShTIfm-uFW46W7VEWKETIiy-o4wLvorZlfDJF2Y/s1600/DSC00379.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQEDE_x9ct56OEvoNt-_FU8z8xlssfrETpd1M7PS6RgIpiV4PeyovNidimIw2KCtk6jSlVwx6INbZsDGqfTA5wbTx5FoVkwFHijcBShTIfm-uFW46W7VEWKETIiy-o4wLvorZlfDJF2Y/s400/DSC00379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624472123116760178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's been an annual tour since the mid 90's. Eva Kordova from the Czech-English high School in the South Bohemian city of Ceske Budejovice brings over a group of students, they spend a few days in Bridgwater and then take a trip around the West country.</span><br /><br />This year the group spent their first three nights at Huntstile Organic Farm in the foothills of the Quantocks whilst visiting Glastonbury ,Wells & Cheddar and having a social night at the Bridgwater Arts Centre. During this time they also did some orienteering on the Quantocks, had a Col<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94nXxwCaIJ-WAztR6EYa3qsWNvhXn7K4kH-8hgBAw9cV8jpuHbuY0T4JF1ML0fRWRI-m-mMgjGkM4kCcsveI4LDHW7OsR-buZYN3_viuJedRXUAtERz58vQVitR5dtqUwqLGt11Xk4F4/s1600/DSC00375.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94nXxwCaIJ-WAztR6EYa3qsWNvhXn7K4kH-8hgBAw9cV8jpuHbuY0T4JF1ML0fRWRI-m-mMgjGkM4kCcsveI4LDHW7OsR-buZYN3_viuJedRXUAtERz58vQVitR5dtqUwqLGt11Xk4F4/s320/DSC00375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624472286002719154" border="0" /></a>eridge themed tour of Watchet with Ben Manning and had a look at Dunster on their way through Exmoor to Dartmoor.<br /><br />Experiencing a misty couple of days on the Devonshire moors they then headed off to Cornwall where they saw Tintagel, the Eden project and Mount St Michael, spending the night at Golant hostel neat st Austell.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mR6DEP2RDQ/Tg4j65a9ZAI/AAAAAAAAAdU/kMfQn6Rmd0E/s1600/DSC00381.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mR6DEP2RDQ/Tg4j65a9ZAI/AAAAAAAAAdU/kMfQn6Rmd0E/s320/DSC00381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624472479385609218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Leaving Cornwall the group crossed the Tamar to a hot and sunny Plymouth and then speedily up to Bath where they spent a night and the next morning before heading off to Wiltshire .<br /><br />Taking in the ancient sites of Avebury stone circle and the Uffington White Horse the group spent their last night at Ridgeway Youth Hostel and the final morning having a walk around Bristol before catching their flight home.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-84150703683778553022011-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:002011-07-01T12:34:16.429-07:00SLOVENIANS EXPLORE WALES<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Two Slovenian schools joined together with Bridgwate</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZq3vmm7GYs/Tg4gvWrsNyI/AAAAAAAAAcw/xAKXIyavLhc/s1600/DSC00363.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 464px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZq3vmm7GYs/Tg4gvWrsNyI/AAAAAAAAAcw/xAKXIyavLhc/s400/DSC00363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624468982547101474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >r International for a short tour of Wales which took them from the Snowdonian peaks to Tiger Bay </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >before finally popping over </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >the Severn bridge to Somerset.</span><br /><br />The schools, from Koper on the Adriatic Coast and Jesenice up in the Julian Alps, landed at Birmingham Airport from Trieste , visited Shrewsbury and stayed for 2 nights at Betws y Coed.<br /><br />On the Friday they were guided around the University of Bangor, had a tour of Caernarvon Castle and walked up Mount Snowdon, then on the Saturday visited Harlech castle, the seaside town of Barmouth and took in a festival at Builth Wells before spending the night in the Brecon Beacons.<br /><br />Sunday saw them at Cyfarthfa Castle, in Merthyr Tydfil before having a look around<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjam2Qv7-2ey1iiooq25atC3eHm4bZ4Azw362AOhpGktET0Q6Pak8B4GK7LlH9rg9tXIjBKxSManOLlL9ZrBRt9VwDIP1jgHRjqPg9mlsSW7gGsKBuIlI389Ego7-c1xM_hsODEguszY/s1600/DSC00356.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjam2Qv7-2ey1iiooq25atC3eHm4bZ4Azw362AOhpGktET0Q6Pak8B4GK7LlH9rg9tXIjBKxSManOLlL9ZrBRt9VwDIP1jgHRjqPg9mlsSW7gGsKBuIlI389Ego7-c1xM_hsODEguszY/s400/DSC00356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624469150390481538" border="0" /></a> Cardiff and then onto Tiger Bay and a tour of the Welsh Assembly curtesy of Welsh AM Mick Antoniw.<br /><br />Spending their last night at Cheddar YHA the group were treated to a social evening at the Bridgwater Arts Centre with a quiz and some singing plus food laid on by Kath Pearce , much of it donated by local Grocer Lance Duddridge.<br /><br />Before travelling to Stansted to fly home the Slovenians visited Richard Huish College in Taunton and spent some time with the students there.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-87904425451665360462011-05-23T01:37:00.000-07:002011-05-23T12:47:51.298-07:0023 MONTH UNBEATEN RUN ENDED BY CHEATING OPPOSITION<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFhgHBKb7xVEKyiGA9i2WuyqJRg_4mWyVQCs53hyzDc71JTdoo_mqwDSAFvb9bEzIVTyTxeD9TyhRl7JDqRknNXS1a-6s30pxJdmBCJANBPj4e2yqfLL11iDuzrE6kSqDjyKvu1M54Pk/s1600/sandino+steve.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 240px; float: left; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609831644099015282" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFhgHBKb7xVEKyiGA9i2WuyqJRg_4mWyVQCs53hyzDc71JTdoo_mqwDSAFvb9bEzIVTyTxeD9TyhRl7JDqRknNXS1a-6s30pxJdmBCJANBPj4e2yqfLL11iDuzrE6kSqDjyKvu1M54Pk/s320/sandino+steve.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Bridgwater International's multi-National football team (there was a Slovak bloke playing for them) have lost their 23 month unbeaten record at Bristol's prestigious 'Sandino tournament' with a solitary draw against Red Star Bedminster followed in rapid succession by 4 consecutive defeats.</strong></span><br /><br />The team, who had to hand back their 'Sandino Trophy' - a sort of handcrafted wooden plate strangely containing the remnants of a meal of egg and chips, were upbeat in their post match comments.<br /><br />Richard,(left) a violent centre back in the style of Norman Hunter, 'Chopper Harris' or the Boston Strangler, said <em>"The weather had something to do with it. Whenever theres 'weathe<img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px; float: right; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609831999711747890" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JALc_8U5w9S8hAn_GV9FgjeThhBRX6BFmP4j8Xh_u8CYRp-AlDJdPn0CKjvQ3nae7zsGih8DlNXt38v1XfMo3NbQNmAZFCwB_VDNWhDn-2ketF5mqIBuSDd7gJaqEA5cU549jtm-VwQ/s200/sandino+stephen.JPG" border="0" />r' we never play our best."</em><br />Steve (right) who scored 4 of the teams 3 goals, said "The opponents was a bunch of cheats man, not only did they pick better players but every time we scored a goal they scored More than us!"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>The resul</strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdxYlpCDjKKSOpKMCqoMfJBzuv9eZ_JBiCdjKXWSlkSrFNK11HMljT5ymZ2Zui33E3rYW6967PFSLucMje0d40ZA0kW03efyLJs8BNOGJezbJl0Y60DV02C9COIG8NCliVOs0gZix3aI/s1600/Bint+footy+team.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdxYlpCDjKKSOpKMCqoMfJBzuv9eZ_JBiCdjKXWSlkSrFNK11HMljT5ymZ2Zui33E3rYW6967PFSLucMje0d40ZA0kW03efyLJs8BNOGJezbJl0Y60DV02C9COIG8NCliVOs0gZix3aI/s320/Bint+footy+team.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610000602261545186" border="0" /></a><strong>ts;- </strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 3px; float: left; height: 1px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609832453562029202" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH2uGch5WUwNM0F8RR-CdWSVhuOoNaUCMH0Oskw7c2XbnsZIyFhyyETkvvy48NMyQaPd5hq-D3WRtNbDNpQA0h8woaQqJ1PnTyq34fssXvmxOGe953aKWmk3JHBUiPg8-mDrOEdTY3o4/s200/sandino+smed.JPG" border="0" /></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Bridgwater International 1 (Miles) v Red Star Bedminster 1</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Bridgwater international 0 v Bristol Nicaragua link 1</span></em><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Bridgwater international 0 v Bristol Chileans 3</span></em> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Bridgwater international 1 (Miles) v Avon Plate 2</em> </span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Bridgwater International 1 (Smedley) v Real Madras 3</span></em></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-21016929902706300232011-05-23T01:12:00.000-07:002011-05-23T01:36:50.378-07:00KLADNO TEACHERS IN LONDON<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPTNresIX0dfG_YSTcTdprY2E95Xmo9GgnegHHwkfDADNB4waTyqdvxfJm0OQSSXE6trh78hGBwgNlQl80kHbi1fBJJCQTNZPmLVuG6g1-sSTXg25V8O4Gsxtww06EYFZWkRsqOOefmw/s1600/tower+bridge.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 318px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609825690885554498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPTNresIX0dfG_YSTcTdprY2E95Xmo9GgnegHHwkfDADNB4waTyqdvxfJm0OQSSXE6trh78hGBwgNlQl80kHbi1fBJJCQTNZPmLVuG6g1-sSTXg25V8O4Gsxtww06EYFZWkRsqOOefmw/s200/tower+bridge.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>A group of 28 teachers from the Kladno area of the Czech Republic spent Easter in London with us, succesfully managed to avoid the Royal Wedding and also took in a tour of Cambridge.</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div>Flying to Stanstead, the group, led by Zdena Biggsova, a long term supporter of the Bridgwater Czech link, spent their first night in Cambridge. The following day clever student Simon Hann gave them a clever tour around the citadel of cleverness including a bunch of clever punts on the river.</div><br /><br /><div>The next few days were spent in London at the Thameside youth hostel in Rotherhithe from where the group visited all the relevent places you'd expect in the city including Bucki<img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609825128687919650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFlSYgqFDT7g74pb0us9NYU78wReUik8w0J4KTlD794ooUDvlWQKCgsoZAz-fgeuubfMkvlSRSgRZZ7DmzgKAUvc6_Jy3zbCC26ZLjTjdqAE16BlUAk4cDcdW1bY9KcilRBdpEYtaPe0/s320/towerrr+bridge.JPG" />ngham palace, Trafalgar Square, Soho, Chinatown, Greenwich, the Tower and St Pauls.<br /></div><br /><div>An added insight into British culture was provided by drivers and guides Nigel - who took the group out for a curry, and Brian who did a spontaneous interview on Sky TV outside of Westminster Abbey about how rubbish the Royal wedding was.<br /></div><br /><div></div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609826562966980626" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_TbcISbS9Q/TdobiXEyiBI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tOvQpQDJUA4/s200/nige%2Bkate%2Bwills.JPG" />Nigel, an avid fan of the 'Sat Nav' , spent much of his time in the Rotherhithe tunnel and on one occaision in a tacky gift shop on Greenwich where he met a lifesize replica of the unlovely couple.<br /><br /><div>(see photo)</div><br /><br /><div>One of the visiting Czechs asked "<em>Why do you still have a Royal family in the 21st century?".</em> Nobody knew the answer.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-40546195040981375652011-04-20T02:52:00.000-07:002011-04-20T06:18:04.275-07:00YEOVIL CHILDCARE STUDENTS VISIT SLOVENIA<div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwbDRjUZgbA/Ta6vB8LubMI/AAAAAAAAAaA/igKbqIhQbyk/s1600/mich%2Bljub.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px; float: right; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597603834738142402" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwbDRjUZgbA/Ta6vB8LubMI/AAAAAAAAAaA/igKbqIhQbyk/s320/mich%2Bljub.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>A small group of students from Yeovil College studying childcare have spent a few days before Easter comparing notes with their Slovenian counterparts and taking in the sights of Venice, Istria and the Julian Alps at the same time.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The group flew out to Venice where they spent a couple of days on the island of Giudecca at the famous Ostello Venezia. Travelling around the waterscaped city by vaporetto the students also visited the Doges palace and saw the catastrophe that was the total swamping of the famous bridge of Sighs by a 100 square met</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Et-dh4ceTdrIh9vTvRyydM74EQnZQG80Shm2v58O3ccwxlIpFNxKeU6w8MpEcEMlUCBPpUGbhgMPvN1rm-Jog3olmZNN3SoKYFZNtpescq01NfOP6IgJ3LmAQ2Gr4r9sDE9Jv7LZnwQ/s1600/mich+venice+ostello.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597604013326832642" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Et-dh4ceTdrIh9vTvRyydM74EQnZQG80Shm2v58O3ccwxlIpFNxKeU6w8MpEcEMlUCBPpUGbhgMPvN1rm-Jog3olmZNN3SoKYFZNtpescq01NfOP6IgJ3LmAQ2Gr4r9sDE9Jv7LZnwQ/s200/mich+venice+ostello.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">re advertising hoarding for a Japanese car company....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Travelling on to Slovenia the group stopped at the Istrian towns of Koper, Piran and Izola where they visited a Hospital and a medical school. There they were treated to a display of first aid and childcare.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">At the Piran kindergarten they were able to meet the children and take part in their daily activities whilst in Koper they had a session on Slovenian </span><span style="font-family:arial;">culture </span><span style="font-family:arial;">b</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w0XqhHFek3U/Ta6vUBqNNSI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/oc7zZAzKOYY/s1600/mich%2Bvenice%2Bsighs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 150px; float: right; height: 200px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597604145445811490" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w0XqhHFek3U/Ta6vUBqNNSI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/oc7zZAzKOYY/s200/mich%2Bvenice%2Bsighs.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;">y the students of the gimnazija there plus a night out at the 'Planet Tus' megastore and disco bo</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOApV63UTd5U5BYRWaqZZiA0uXKTnu8xWfL0Mk3YSVKn_MUnfLyy6tp7z3x9qC5WzxA3gAcBLtdylrxfnNhPZCGrD3EUSOLqIcL1HCfOnsaZ_BAoEOYvBCau-ZXaTSCbjy-uEpqEf_Fs/s1600/mich+koper+resus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px; float: left; height: 200px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597604331559730850" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOApV63UTd5U5BYRWaqZZiA0uXKTnu8xWfL0Mk3YSVKn_MUnfLyy6tp7z3x9qC5WzxA3gAcBLtdylrxfnNhPZCGrD3EUSOLqIcL1HCfOnsaZ_BAoEOYvBCau-ZXaTSCbjy-uEpqEf_Fs/s200/mich+koper+resus.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">wling complex alongside their Slovene partners.</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Moving up to the Julian Alps the group spent a quiet couple of days in Bled at the youth hostel there then dropped in to the capi</span><span style="font-family:arial;">tal Ljubljana where they bumped into 180 charity hitchikers from Sheffield on their way to Krakow to raise money for Third World disasters..well, to 'prevent' them we assume...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">The group was led by teacher Michelle Dennet and consisted of 1</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">5 in total.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwKGu8cwD95Oppv0YIYJ_bloNOb9T1hDkT5MEOw_LMeeaEf51N4m03DL1h45QBVk4b3QYzv6ZFxJvVWEQNO-RmHEfR0LmcwjWx6hONRVg1X5itljB0scYE9lr22TzboBcw1RU9FAaftw/s1600/mich+piran+kinder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px; float: right; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597605494527397058" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwKGu8cwD95Oppv0YIYJ_bloNOb9T1hDkT5MEOw_LMeeaEf51N4m03DL1h45QBVk4b3QYzv6ZFxJvVWEQNO-RmHEfR0LmcwjWx6hONRVg1X5itljB0scYE9lr22TzboBcw1RU9FAaftw/s200/mich+piran+kinder.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-78884696144021598162011-03-27T08:06:00.000-07:002011-03-27T08:51:40.391-07:00SOMERSET STUDENTS IN SLOVENIA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2PTly5ctui6stCyuV4tYeUjCkoHYqcm95YYdSAyVWnaB5pMKFYCaG2rpLkzTTCUHzYwcix0-36BA6LA2dHYdW1CM8Py63bGwQRw6YwtnKqgU9kFc3rH6ixIGwJS2bOrarLuHpJuypFU/s1600/DSC00187.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2PTly5ctui6stCyuV4tYeUjCkoHYqcm95YYdSAyVWnaB5pMKFYCaG2rpLkzTTCUHzYwcix0-36BA6LA2dHYdW1CM8Py63bGwQRw6YwtnKqgU9kFc3rH6ixIGwJS2bOrarLuHpJuypFU/s320/DSC00187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787949366440978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Richard Huish College 'Health & Social Care' students have travelled with us to the Czech </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Republic, Poland and Slovakia over the past few years. This </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >year they chose the increasingly popular Slovenia for their annual fact finding mission.</span><br /><br />Flying from Bristol to Venice - a couple of hours and a lovely rooftop panorama of the Alps then a swoop over the Venetian islands, they were whisked away by a waiting Slovenian coast to the border town of Koper.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggar8KWAvNuDwiNjdpzOs3npJbB0QN_525k90NoFB88dIW1n5AMRzPALVC0pnbxkdugF4z256xLam5I_kQ3Mg7PAawaJ_Z2kph7s_k87Cpp1vIEWum_YsJBcfcHvDlp8S0pANRZ84a4jo/s1600/DSC00186.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggar8KWAvNuDwiNjdpzOs3npJbB0QN_525k90NoFB88dIW1n5AMRzPALVC0pnbxkdugF4z256xLam5I_kQ3Mg7PAawaJ_Z2kph7s_k87Cpp1vIEWum_YsJBcfcHvDlp8S0pANRZ84a4jo/s200/DSC00186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588782732215398898" border="0" /></a><br />In Koper they stayed at the seafront Hotel Koper and had a programme organised by Grammar school teacher Ljuba Medak.<br /><br />During the course of the trip the students were to meet with 3 seperate groups of Slovenian students of the same age and commented on how friendly they were. Friendships were made, information exchanged a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKoc6E0C8EJxf2KhyuLXhswJfqIkaSo1U3TRGFzQxQN1dyNuHvHO1ID7Q7Xdz1am9lAbDiqIUtqs1sY9Gdy_WZKxXvUx1KjHM6Y7jXr2o0QWBSxhS9Imrf0XRD6csYAzpyP86rchnneE/s1600/DSC00179.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKoc6E0C8EJxf2KhyuLXhswJfqIkaSo1U3TRGFzQxQN1dyNuHvHO1ID7Q7Xdz1am9lAbDiqIUtqs1sY9Gdy_WZKxXvUx1KjHM6Y7jXr2o0QWBSxhS9Imrf0XRD6csYAzpyP86rchnneE/s200/DSC00179.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588782845232852690" border="0" /></a>nd points awarded for fanciability.....<br /><br />Travelling to the nearby hilltop hospital of Izola, the group were hosted by the Nursing students at Bolnica Izola and shown around the hospital (a good place to be ill as it has spectacular views over the Adriatic, so if you;re ever run over in Slovenia, ask the ambulance driver to take you there..it doesn;t matter which room - they're all good). Some students demonstrated how to repair broken arms, resusitate plastic dummies , mend plastic babies , take blood samples and change beds with patients still in them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOLz0f71hiJBSUDEcgzKYciPb7PDuuCykLQnOcZlTOAwDV1B2hiFA0nHZFkF-JRDaIubx6_XI62kCVwMwB64uAWQjiiL2Yg4PgfCNXZXtAqMrYtd5kU6cRltuT8WUENazORAQmC_-1JA/s1600/DSC00176.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOLz0f71hiJBSUDEcgzKYciPb7PDuuCykLQnOcZlTOAwDV1B2hiFA0nHZFkF-JRDaIubx6_XI62kCVwMwB64uAWQjiiL2Yg4PgfCNXZXtAqMrYtd5kU6cRltuT8WUENazORAQmC_-1JA/s200/DSC00176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588783015675178866" border="0" /></a><br />An evening of 'your country-my country' included presentations from both groups of students about each others schools, homes and cultures. The Slovenians gave the Brits a lesson in the Slovene language -which they took to remarkably quickly, before heading off to a Nightclub to try out some of the phrases. "Do you have an older brother?" , "Can I have what he's drinking" and "Which hotel was I staying at ??".<br /><br />A morning visit to the beautiful Roman lighthouse town of Piran the group was welcomed by the staff of the Kindergarten situated high on a hill under the town walls and met all th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyNFZeSWnPc/TY9ZDOc2z7I/AAAAAAAAAZA/o_LSrPBZmQY/s1600/DSC00208.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyNFZeSWnPc/TY9ZDOc2z7I/AAAAAAAAAZA/o_LSrPBZmQY/s200/DSC00208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588783574543683506" border="0" /></a>e children -who when asked to sing a song in English chose 'Frere Jacques'...but thats 3 year olds for you.<br /><br />The group then went off to the Slovenian alps where they stayed at the picturesque lakeside town of Bled for the next 2 nights. Violeta and her family made the students very w<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEgkOOmd2CUARjJIKCYsWII6630SbRszZ52O-hn5G7UCdg3NzhW2oEKkguzgWhWyruYUuShcjME2oj0xD30as34TldRF8dXJIxbmkHXmrF7OYuYPKMMFVOJesJG47cY1ZOEKc-2G6UOQ/s1600/DSC00194.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEgkOOmd2CUARjJIKCYsWII6630SbRszZ52O-hn5G7UCdg3NzhW2oEKkguzgWhWyruYUuShcjME2oj0xD30as34TldRF8dXJIxbmkHXmrF7OYuYPKMMFVOJesJG47cY1ZOEKc-2G6UOQ/s200/DSC00194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588783374880348418" border="0" /></a>elcome at the Bledec Pension with their Slovenian home cooking and the lovable Slovenian roadworkers outside the Hostel made sure they woke up on time every morning with their lovable road digging. At one point they even put a rope up to stop people falling into the giant hole they'd dug.<br /><br />During their time in Bled the group walked around the lake, took a 'Pletna' (boat) to the island and walked up to the castle perched on a steep craggy peak.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l_02Chv_qF8/TY9cq7ofcuI/AAAAAAAAAZk/RM1A5MXBfL8/s1600/DSC00206.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l_02Chv_qF8/TY9cq7ofcuI/AAAAAAAAAZk/RM1A5MXBfL8/s200/DSC00206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787555221861090" border="0" /></a><br />On their final day the students visited the nearby Jesenice school where the immaculate English accented Iris Kucina introduced them to their Slovenian counterparts where again they all got on like houses not on fire (which presumably better than houses on fire...)<br /><br />Leaving the Julian Alps behind them they set off back for Italy where they spent an afternoon in Venice before flying on home after what they all agreed was their best trip so far.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC9TV-PeANlkSqQpF0pewb79SqROIoSgIbLCeA4PSLNVCLbWbpqX3dwbIlogUYeGYXMVK865yYrEAyFyGXN3CQDny9H9pxe41YTUurYgY9IFjLNnC5wg-xaFAdyYhYWmkBdgoAsZq8ag/s1600/DSC00185.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC9TV-PeANlkSqQpF0pewb79SqROIoSgIbLCeA4PSLNVCLbWbpqX3dwbIlogUYeGYXMVK865yYrEAyFyGXN3CQDny9H9pxe41YTUurYgY9IFjLNnC5wg-xaFAdyYhYWmkBdgoAsZq8ag/s320/DSC00185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787729866013698" border="0" /></a>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-56386680132532271472011-03-05T05:25:00.000-08:002011-03-05T05:40:53.838-08:00WORKERS BEER COMPANY FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oHlug_pyIHJOynkch9iVWFBt7hAVi9tczg_4Nm2t9FVjD1e_ZWgFG4ftgoRxj9AOk9hOT0RQ6CB-_48O3ZsxntX-Bx0eD3f0TcVyd0DE3tLk2fddQwgH1ebzH6V1vxOrdGaUnvuEqeo/s1600/gabbi+at+WBC.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oHlug_pyIHJOynkch9iVWFBt7hAVi9tczg_4Nm2t9FVjD1e_ZWgFG4ftgoRxj9AOk9hOT0RQ6CB-_48O3ZsxntX-Bx0eD3f0TcVyd0DE3tLk2fddQwgH1ebzH6V1vxOrdGaUnvuEqeo/s320/gabbi+at+WBC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580588794358173714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Every year Bridgwater International in conjunction with Bridgwater Trades Council organises teams of workers for the WORKERS BEER COMPANY bars at various Festivals around the Country. We have now been asked to provide workers for 2011. Anyone interested or req</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >uiring more information should contact us by March 20th.</span><br /><br />Our volunteers in the past few years have included Brits, Czechs,Slovaks,Poles,Irish,American (have I left anyone out??) so anyone is welcome to apply.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt2VVs-3RCEqgejhhghrKH7h3eHtsjEj53-m-60dcG9LLKHNEg2t-RbRkzWRgOjgGGmhJmafSfVJzXWkVP44sntTW6R1403utWP3sSTlZbOXcsFdX0nsvVfhrihvyscX27LHU2dCx7tY/s1600/ondrej+at+wbc.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt2VVs-3RCEqgejhhghrKH7h3eHtsjEj53-m-60dcG9LLKHNEg2t-RbRkzWRgOjgGGmhJmafSfVJzXWkVP44sntTW6R1403utWP3sSTlZbOXcsFdX0nsvVfhrihvyscX27LHU2dCx7tY/s320/ondrej+at+wbc.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580590002664522050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Festivals on offer this year include;-</span></span><br /><br /><div> </div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><strong style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Glastonbury 21st -26</strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">th June</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><br />HOP farm 30th june - 2nd July</span><br /></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Uprise (London) 10th </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">july</span><br /></div><div> </div><div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204); text-align: left;"><strong>Latitude 13th -17th July</strong></div><div> </div><div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); text-align: left;"><strong>Tolpuddle 15th-17th july</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0); text-align: left;"><strong>Reading 26-28th August</strong></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Leeds 26-28 August</span></div> </div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Proms in the park (Hyde Park) 17 Sept </span></span>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-58564361243145387642011-02-12T00:07:00.000-08:002011-02-12T00:34:32.025-08:00BRIDGWATER COLLEGE MEDIA STUDENTS VISIT LJUBLJANA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZXAhealBX1ckqAInP9_SjisRpVrh-xwqdU02nrq05457sYu5AsZBuRysJn8iWKqmvJdEV1C1fFdIjnUXtIvwkH6HFnFfkBIa-sHTfbDtdO1RMlexnnFEc26Tv69AvGAdVXLq8cFwj3I/s1600/mino+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572716504877767058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZXAhealBX1ckqAInP9_SjisRpVrh-xwqdU02nrq05457sYu5AsZBuRysJn8iWKqmvJdEV1C1fFdIjnUXtIvwkH6HFnFfkBIa-sHTfbDtdO1RMlexnnFEc26Tv69AvGAdVXLq8cFwj3I/s320/mino+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>The 2011 Bridgwater International programme has kicked off with a visit by 25 Bridgwater College Film and Media students to the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. Along with their 3 staff members the students visited the Slovenian TV & Radio buildings and the Slovenian VIBA Film studios. </strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572716689084042130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_rVIYtcS055y9xtyiIIOTu2JwS6exrE0v7wkr-3F4vrrGyd8OxEk4bxcrgdTz7kuzjPR0uCLvG1vbmu6xurbUEavWC5kLMR7exlB0VVM5GPxbZ087sH5n0Qqc3L0DsdeF8R8wofGvEc/s200/mino+1.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;">The group also spent time in the small town of Radovljica where they showed their own works to the Media students of the High school there and took part in a 'Slovenian Quiz' which they past with flying colours having taken a great interest in the small EU border country during their 4 day stay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The College students stayed in the beautiful Alpine lakeside town of Bled and sp<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FY6Ru346KTE/TVZEhKZudTI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/CvAZpsKeeJI/s1600/mino%2B5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572716925436196146" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FY6Ru346KTE/TVZEhKZudTI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/CvAZpsKeeJI/s200/mino%2B5.jpg" /></a>ent much of the first day walking in the Nature, climbing to the Castle on the craggy peak above the old town, looking, as it did, something not dissimilar to a scene from an old Dracula or Frankenstein movie. And having the occaisional 'Kremsnitr' (thats a Slovenian cream cake) .The lake was frozen but both Slovenian ducks and people found the time to skate across it;s surface despite the warning signs....</span><br /><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7VTQRbY91Q/TVZE4MfV-pI/AAAAAAAAAWY/dCy1tvzRM4A/s1600/mino%2B6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572717321133619858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7VTQRbY91Q/TVZE4MfV-pI/AAAAAAAAAWY/dCy1tvzRM4A/s200/mino%2B6.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">A highlight of the visit was the viewing of short films by Slovenian film students from the AGFRT Academy. <em>'Trst je Nas!'</em> was a comedy about nostalgic would-be Partisans attempting to liberate the Italian occupied Slovene city of Trieste while <em>'Vuko'</em> told the story of a lonely elderly Slovenian man who befriends a couple of American Mormon missionaries and converts them to alcoholism.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgwdHK-ejt8/TVZFHuJ-VKI/AAAAAAAAAWg/inoSZ2rOmsA/s1600/mino%2B9.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572717587868832930" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgwdHK-ejt8/TVZFHuJ-VKI/AAAAAAAAAWg/inoSZ2rOmsA/s200/mino%2B9.jpg" /></a></span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Another highlight of the visit was the Chinese street entertainer in Preseren square Ljubljana whose performance seemed to involve shouting at people, arranging oranges on the floor and getting arrested by the Police after starting a fight.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFppYocSMKn7kmxF1aTpqnaje9LRZ1dXpDxvc5Dfb37E_bMwXHHCZ0y_Audtg_Ee2keV3Vyc7sWPEzpP5VHzDdcDUBFyXUUFRX8ENVuTsMj3wB4Nf2sTq63V5A9TPH7Y7dy82Zp2Kic0/s1600/mino+3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572718171323860018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFppYocSMKn7kmxF1aTpqnaje9LRZ1dXpDxvc5Dfb37E_bMwXHHCZ0y_Audtg_Ee2keV3Vyc7sWPEzpP5VHzDdcDUBFyXUUFRX8ENVuTsMj3wB4Nf2sTq63V5A9TPH7Y7dy82Zp2Kic0/s200/mino+3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Staying at the log cabin style hostel of Bledec the group also had evenings entertainment from a Slovenian accordionist in traditional garb explaining what exactly a Heligonka is (it;s an accordion) and from Janez Medja, who ran through a personal account of the collapse of the former Yugoslav state and the formation of modern Slovenia .</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">The college group was organised by Mino De Francesca and his lovely assistants Vanessa and Laura.</span></div></div></div></div></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-20580112735059984682011-01-19T14:03:00.000-08:002011-01-19T14:13:41.872-08:00Marek elected Chairman for 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7W_33PZrWDw3JEYRmhvLLFLajIBCuhQz07e4qESdUcrGLJAxKS4vMRLaAeVBtsHCCEt-oxUm8W6gHnJvrd_1Ap1CwqQTJZLLoj7QBv0HV260bneGeFLc3PKU2Dr3EF_WMkeGcBVHUgI/s1600/Marek+Delong.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564023518906512338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7W_33PZrWDw3JEYRmhvLLFLajIBCuhQz07e4qESdUcrGLJAxKS4vMRLaAeVBtsHCCEt-oxUm8W6gHnJvrd_1Ap1CwqQTJZLLoj7QBv0HV260bneGeFLc3PKU2Dr3EF_WMkeGcBVHUgI/s400/Marek+Delong.jpg" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">At the Annual General meeting of the Bridgwater Czech-Slovak Friendship Society held on January 19th, MAREK DELONG was elected as the new Chairman. </span></strong><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><br /><div>Marek, a Czech worker who has lived in Bridgwater for the past three years, is from Havirov in Moravia. He becomes the second Czech National to hold the post of Chair succeeding Marketa Weaving who stood down this year.</div><br /><div>The <strong>Bridgwater Czech Slovak Friendship Society</strong> was formed in 1991 and was instrumental in establishing Britains first post-Velvet Revolution Czech twinning (Bridgwater and Uherske Hradiste).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Officers elected were.</div><br /><div><em><strong>Marek Delong</strong> (Chairman)</em></div><br /><div><em><strong>Tim Mander</strong> (Vice Chair)</em></div><br /><div><em><strong>Dave Hanna</strong> (Vice Chair)</em></div><br /><div><em><strong>Brian Smedley</strong> (Secretary)</em></div><br /><div><em><strong>Kath Pearce</strong> (Treasurer)</em></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-77403840892471353602011-01-17T02:07:00.000-08:002011-01-17T02:28:10.728-08:00Czech Slovak Friendship Society AGM on 19th January<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MeLfwxrPEgUdh3IrpiqHSq8UwWVXpee-268dcIPYTRdxH9thZFtip0oB2l-R50VnMCMwsIXQDn1gJnw3LbpXB7e6ukS-PXmxYrYlcj2cc3WKkEWC-XdewhgxKR1-_gxNmgAaWBJcc_U/s1600/BCSFS+ctte+2010-11.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MeLfwxrPEgUdh3IrpiqHSq8UwWVXpee-268dcIPYTRdxH9thZFtip0oB2l-R50VnMCMwsIXQDn1gJnw3LbpXB7e6ukS-PXmxYrYlcj2cc3WKkEWC-XdewhgxKR1-_gxNmgAaWBJcc_U/s320/BCSFS+ctte+2010-11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563099577044327794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Annual General meeting of the BRIDGWATER CZECH SLOVAK FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY will be held at 7p m on Wednesday 19th January 2011. The venue will be the Unity Club,Dampiet street.</span><br /><br />Anyone who has been involved or would like to become involved is welcome to attend.<br /><br />The secretary <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brian Smedley</span> will present a review of the years programme 2010-2011 run by Bridgwater International and a look forward to ideas for 2011. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kathy Pearce</span> will present the years accounts.<br /><br />The AGM will also seek to elect officers to run the organisation for the next 12 months. Our Chair, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketa Weaving</span>, will be standing down this year as she has moved out of the area.<br /><br />The Present committee is;-<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Chair;- Marketa W eaving</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Secretary;-Cllr Brian Smedley</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Treasurer;-Cllr Kathy Pearce</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Vice Chair;-Tim Mander</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Vice Chair;-Marek Delong</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">SDC rep;- Cllr Julian Taylor</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Bridgwater Town rep;- Cllr Dave Loveridge.</span><br /><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER"><i><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING </span></b><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="">OF THE</span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></i> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER"><i><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BRIDGWATER CZECH <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">SLOVAK </span>FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY</span> </b><span style="">(2010-2011 )</span></span></span></span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER"><span style="color:#000000;"> <i><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:130%;">tp be held at </span></span><b><span style="font-size:180%;"> 7PM </span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="">on</span><b> WEDNESDAY 19<sup>th</sup> JANUARY </b><span style="">2011</span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER"><i><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="">AT </span><b>UNITY HOUSE </b><span style="">DAMPIET STREET BRIDGWATER</span></span></span></span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="CENTER" lang="en-GB"><span style="color:#000000;"><u> </u></span>AGENDA<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">1.Members present;</span></b><span style=""><i>- </i></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">2.Apologies ;-</span></b><span style=""><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">3.Minutes of 2010 AGM (27.1.10)</span></b><span style=""><i> circulated </i></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><sup>4.2010 REPORTS</sup><sup>; -</sup></span></span></span></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="color:#000000;"><sup> </sup></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style=""><sup>I)</sup></span><sup><b>Chair;-</b></sup></span><sup><b><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">MARKETA WEAVING</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style=""> ;</span></span><span style=""><i> </i></span></sup></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">ii)</span><b>Secretary;-</b></span><b> BRIAN SMEDLEY</b><span style=""> .;- will present a powerpoint of 2010 activities </span></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">iii) </span><b>Treasurer;</b></span><b>- KATHY PEARCE</b><span style=""> </span></span><span style=""><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i> ; will present the accounts for 2010-2011</i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><p style="margin-left: 1.27cm; margin-top: 0.18cm; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; font-style: normal;" align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-GB"><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.18cm; margin-bottom: 0.18cm;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><sup>5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 2011-12</sup></b><span style=""><sup> </sup><sup>The following were elected 2010-11 – positions will become vacant at the AGM</sup></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><sup>CHAIR;</sup></b><span style=""><sup>- MARKETA WEAVING</sup></span></span><span style=""><sup><i> </i></sup></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><sup>SECRETARY</sup></b><span style=""><sup>;- cllr BRIAN SMEDEY </sup></span></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><sup>TREASURER</sup></b><span style=""><sup>;- cllr KATHY PEARCE </sup></span></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><sup>VICE CHAIR 1</sup></b><span style=""><sup> TIM MANDER </sup></span></span><span style=""><sup><i> </i></sup></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><sup>VICE CHAIR 2</sup></b><span style=""><sup> MAREK DELONG</sup></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><sup>6 sdc rep</sup></b><span style=""><sup>'-to note that c</sup><sup>llr </sup></span><sup><b>JULIAN TAYLOR</b><span style=""> would continue as our SDC rep until May 2011 </span></sup></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b><sup>7 Bridgwater Town Council rep</sup></b><sup><span style="">;- to note that cllr </span><b>DAVE LOVERIDGE</b><span style=""> would continue as our BTC rep until May 2011</span></sup></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><sup>8 Plans for 2011 season</sup></b><span style=""><sup>;-The secretary will present a programme for 2011 to be run by Bridgwater International </sup></span></span></span><span style=""><span lang="cs-CZ"><span style="font-size: 22pt;font-size:6;" ><sup> </sup></span></span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;" lang="en-GB"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span> </p>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-91843001587287251652010-12-04T11:47:00.001-08:002010-12-04T11:49:10.588-08:00BRIDGWATER CZECH SLOVAK CHRISTMAS PARTY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNnkiZFwI5nzKIKcKQ9YUOiOGECwucV-4qIdeScdrU_NTIWXP4CtL5zYk4yYlxxspfQEvsdYly_cjyf0i4LLQuEk5Cg94zlmdo0Y_Dq0fT8uTu1zQU-5lbeRT0Z7p8_4FyyBLXImGzk4/s1600/BW+CZ+XMAS+PARTY+11.+12.2010.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNnkiZFwI5nzKIKcKQ9YUOiOGECwucV-4qIdeScdrU_NTIWXP4CtL5zYk4yYlxxspfQEvsdYly_cjyf0i4LLQuEk5Cg94zlmdo0Y_Dq0fT8uTu1zQU-5lbeRT0Z7p8_4FyyBLXImGzk4/s400/BW+CZ+XMAS+PARTY+11.+12.2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546916258591752210" border="0" /></a><br />Dear Friends and Supporters<br /><br />This years Bridgwater Czech/Slovak Christmas party will be held on<b style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> SATURDAY 11TH DECEMBER </b><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />at <b><br />Bridgwater Labour Club</b></span><br />- all welcome- especially members of the Bridgwater Czech Slovak Friendship society, home hosts, people who've come on trips with us and the local International workers community. <br /><br />There will be Gulash and slivovice from 8.30 until it runs out plus the Polish singer DARIANNA (until she runs out).<br /><br />Hope to see you there<br /><br />BrianBRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-7721223417791269382010-11-01T05:11:00.001-07:002010-11-01T05:27:49.147-07:00FOOTBALL TOUR LAUNCHES ITALIAN LINK<div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintY_2wi2lrMcshNLGRiwfofhy-Z78zRaPgwqJ7em81ha1Rvwjv5Pl4uueV5lkScBCwG9MNkOSkUeCGLg5W0N32p5GPB7L2xc8awBmSXSZHU7qsp_yFl7IAgGDqhFde4BynPOM_bm5Qng/s1600/bw+and+it+teams.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 547px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534555759444235106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintY_2wi2lrMcshNLGRiwfofhy-Z78zRaPgwqJ7em81ha1Rvwjv5Pl4uueV5lkScBCwG9MNkOSkUeCGLg5W0N32p5GPB7L2xc8awBmSXSZHU7qsp_yFl7IAgGDqhFde4BynPOM_bm5Qng/s320/bw+and+it+teams.JPG" /></a> <strong>For the past 2 years Bridgwater travellers have met representatives from the Italian town of Priverno at the Uherske Hradiste wine festival. Priverno -a medeaval mountain town situated just south of Rome and midway between the second world war battlefields of Anzio and Monte Cassino, is a twin town of Bridgwaters Czech twin town. If we can square the circle and make it a 3-way link up the possibilities for European funding -not to mention an excellent new destination for twinners- the opportunities are endless.</strong><br /><br /><div>A small Bridgwater delegation visited Priverno in mid October , flying from Bristol to Rome Ciampino by Easyjet. Staying at the beach hotel Oasa di Kufra in the specially built 'Fascist New Town' (Mussolinis idea back in the 20s) of Sabaudia, the group was joined by a coach party <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM1e9VNS1n5XN8z6tIxnZC3fHyVHJxJ3hu3zOD90E3WV3WkqGCUHRdI7Fw_4X8q7-CY4NgPLUNMUvdGuInyCZHV3nsQx64wiLX6qA_g12iheyjUhkZsxciLfEtmcSPW1_74Qb9waen7w/s1600/vince+ben+ant+smed.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534555995095773906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM1e9VNS1n5XN8z6tIxnZC3fHyVHJxJ3hu3zOD90E3WV3WkqGCUHRdI7Fw_4X8q7-CY4NgPLUNMUvdGuInyCZHV3nsQx64wiLX6qA_g12iheyjUhkZsxciLfEtmcSPW1_74Qb9waen7w/s320/vince+ben+ant+smed.JPG" /></a>of 38 Czechs travelling through the night from UH.</div><br /><div>Mayor of Priverno, Umberto Macci, welcomed the group and provided a football stadium so 2 friendly matches could take place. Bridgwater international - very low in actual numbers of 'Brits' (2 in fact) had to be supplemented by some spare Czech players and in fact held a young Italian side to a 4-4 draw with 2 great goals by Sedgemoor Unison striker Tim Mander. Meanwhile the Czechs -represented by Antonin Machalas Altech workers- also drew with an older more experienced Italian team this time 2-2.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cBWRnkAC6Z0/TM6xnidK7VI/AAAAAAAAATo/IBtcz20WYfc/s1600/mayors.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534556284907089234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cBWRnkAC6Z0/TM6xnidK7VI/AAAAAAAAATo/IBtcz20WYfc/s320/mayors.JPG" /></a><br /><br />At a social event thrown to consider future link projects both sides agreed to work towards a formal twinning to facilitate Euro grant aid and launch the links with a visit to Bridgwater by Mayor Macci in April 2010 followed by a visit to Priverno by a Bridgwater choir in May.<br /><br /><div>The October weather was stunningly summer like and the beach hotel a perfect location for future guests. Theres also no shortage of day trips - one day the group went by coach to the top of Monte Cassino-<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMX24EhEESm2uixgjRERecmEORxvclfdf5AYKRKLxngiV5QNhmVPlB3hPNVDq0iGl6Yll5Ajv3Bu4U6YWIlY3SNYrBycAktiIbe3wg8JwtoNgsiOo0keJ_BvQSQdDBSOInob8S5iCAQs/s1600/smed+down"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534556498506606114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMX24EhEESm2uixgjRERecmEORxvclfdf5AYKRKLxngiV5QNhmVPlB3hPNVDq0iGl6Yll5Ajv3Bu4U6YWIlY3SNYrBycAktiIbe3wg8JwtoNgsiOo0keJ_BvQSQdDBSOInob8S5iCAQs/s320/smed+down" /></a>where German paratroopers held out against the troops of many nations in 1943 until Polish troops attached to the British army stormed the mountain, and on the final day the ancient wonders of the italian capital Rome were on offer for everyone (The Brits did the site-seeing, the Czechs went to the Lazio-Cagliari match).</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Any groups interested in future link ups with our Italian friends should contact us over the next few months as we develop our programme.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-24624952042290737672010-09-09T05:43:00.000-07:002010-09-11T07:09:27.295-07:00MORAVIAN FAMILY CENTRE WORKERS IN SOMERSET<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-l6Hw_5nB345_IHZAPA9N2DMUVW9PBCyvyMdmXkJvhbt-77JFZD5X2sE9ykE3K5QIYgJqijlGQHQTATbuO1usbXe6zjwtH6I1Pj41NlIeTO0PSs0Qfel1LlVc135jy7ooW4OFDWva_E/s1600/dag+ed.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-l6Hw_5nB345_IHZAPA9N2DMUVW9PBCyvyMdmXkJvhbt-77JFZD5X2sE9ykE3K5QIYgJqijlGQHQTATbuO1usbXe6zjwtH6I1Pj41NlIeTO0PSs0Qfel1LlVc135jy7ooW4OFDWva_E/s400/dag+ed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515657730718567746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtvSq3uVj81NiKG1tTpP4WHTJ6qmvR_xIts9uKVWCqaFcacCBI1P2QYRg1YjCPTjc1M6WFMBEqVoGDOVOai_TKc_QClIP-W5DeTScQkpqFadrapbK-Ea8UMkBhgQdWv2BuECFVP2Ryl4/s1600/dag+hca.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtvSq3uVj81NiKG1tTpP4WHTJ6qmvR_xIts9uKVWCqaFcacCBI1P2QYRg1YjCPTjc1M6WFMBEqVoGDOVOai_TKc_QClIP-W5DeTScQkpqFadrapbK-Ea8UMkBhgQdWv2BuECFVP2Ryl4/s320/dag+hca.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515657199238134146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">As a result of a succesful bid to the EU Leonardo fund , a group of family centre workers from the Uherske Hradiste region of the Czech Republic have just been able to complete a 10 day study visit to the Bridgwater area </span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7po18EB3bqQMZcCo7_n65kzlT4IEK5Le0yNu6wopevfONpUwDJxU3zHEwMsjUzh1aWNUwMxSl0tu-W4ZAlprw1h5UJqMAnsXEFzQZyFTwS0clsKrxt3c04ymkCHWegYi7fGVyaOp6bfk/s1600/dag+2.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7po18EB3bqQMZcCo7_n65kzlT4IEK5Le0yNu6wopevfONpUwDJxU3zHEwMsjUzh1aWNUwMxSl0tu-W4ZAlprw1h5UJqMAnsXEFzQZyFTwS0clsKrxt3c04ymkCHWegYi7fGVyaOp6bfk/s320/dag+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514903000942417698" border="0" /></a><br />The 9 strong group of women came from 3 towns - Uherske Hradiste, Kromeriz and Valasske Mezirici.<br /><br />During their stay they visited Family centres at Sydenham & Victoria in Bridgwater plus childrens centres in Burnham and Watchet along with other community facilities such as the Hamp Drop in centre, the Recreation youth building and Home <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6xCX4GonEBtwF5EezprBRcgOAEY34nDv2_7UqROjdFaSzudbPXYUyRMJW3_vgHwLTfUjjXadybaRbWvI9JaiVME3xCB6CulB_gUDEfPGID-4TzySgM_EmEXctypVMgj9qIds7K6N_mE/s1600/dag+3.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6xCX4GonEBtwF5EezprBRcgOAEY34nDv2_7UqROjdFaSzudbPXYUyRMJW3_vgHwLTfUjjXadybaRbWvI9JaiVME3xCB6CulB_gUDEfPGID-4TzySgM_EmEXctypVMgj9qIds7K6N_mE/s320/dag+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514903146876176210" border="0" /></a>Start in Minehead.<br /><br />A course of English lessons organised by Somerset Skills & Learning accompanied the trip , whilst links with other providers included Sedgemoor District Council, Job Centre Plus and Bridgwater College.<br /><br />To gain a social and cultural context to their trip the group were also able to attend a musical theatre evening about Equal pay (performed<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cBWRnkAC6Z0/TIjfW7BTZSI/AAAAAAAAANw/_pJUS83tPrI/s1600/dag+chips.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cBWRnkAC6Z0/TIjfW7BTZSI/AAAAAAAAANw/_pJUS83tPrI/s320/dag+chips.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514903328608445730" border="0" /></a> by Mikron theatre co) and take a weekend break in Cornwall where they visited the Eden project.<br /><br />The trip was organised by Bridgwater International and the funding package was succesfully put together by Dagmar Mega from the Akropolis family centre in Bridgwater's twin town Uherske Hradiste.BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045940853390449413.post-82168864324422733122010-08-21T01:54:00.000-07:002010-09-20T04:56:15.642-07:00KLADNO TEACHERS TOUR IRELAND<strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >Zdena Biggsova and a group of 3</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >0<br />te</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tnG7Hei6ggLsHWdcDHE8YQpnlja1k_jRrwmBYFr_8tz3Cm-7l2N8XcIAoXpq5OBflxvWpOppbwdsoRtfKapin-1KkFv8OTFyIZuEOqUw-cibb7bFSq2pBjA7qLRgCpJuiPpWgKtktHo/s1600/climbing+croagh+pat.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tnG7Hei6ggLsHWdcDHE8YQpnlja1k_jRrwmBYFr_8tz3Cm-7l2N8XcIAoXpq5OBflxvWpOppbwdsoRtfKapin-1KkFv8OTFyIZuEOqUw-cibb7bFSq2pBjA7qLRgCpJuiPpWgKtktHo/s400/climbing+croagh+pat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518962067588629714" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >achers from the Kl</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >adno </span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >area hav</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >e just completed a week long tour around Ireland and taken in a bit of England and Wales on th</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >e way.</span></strong><br /><br />Flying to Robin Hood airport ,Doncaster, the group travelled in 2 minibusses across the Penines to North Wales. Stopping at Conway they enjoyed fish and chips and a walk around the town walls before continuing into the Snowdonia national Park where they stayed at the Pen y Pas hostel . Early the next morning they headed off across Anglesey to take the Holyhead ferry to Dublin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaXEOUH5f_1fDIibt3TwDcnfqpudwbGwTK5F6ibT8_kMSokZl22s5MHOH8cwXXDzWRSw469OZtV6ElZ1-SNX5RdHOphaAmLpIcrg2jwndF2BYPHVkSiH014SV2PmIvuXbb2_gve0GhIA/s1600/zdena+giants+causeway.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaXEOUH5f_1fDIibt3TwDcnfqpudwbGwTK5F6ibT8_kMSokZl22s5MHOH8cwXXDzWRSw469OZtV6ElZ1-SNX5RdHOphaAmLpIcrg2jwndF2BYPHVkSiH014SV2PmIvuXbb2_gve0GhIA/s320/zdena+giants+causeway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518962704047540866" border="0" /></a><br />Staying at the An Oige hostel in Dublin near Parnell Square, they had a guided tour of the town centre and an evening at the Arlington bar on the banks of the Liffey where they were entertained by irish music and dancing.<br /><br />After 2 nights in the Irish capital they travelled North to Belfast where they took on board quite a lot of rain thus thwarting their attempts to have an enjoyable walking tour of the Northern capital. They chose instead to travel by minibus across the 'peace <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZNU4Hv4rRWbzx1rKYAoHXWf2FTgddb3Vn70gTDDsaKgsk3eS9VK3IzJasKhnIAR9ubkm3MSWagj87_bPIChbSCcfHCSVr4hXOxuiS17AOsEYsmSOSd2dLq_PnEaJfQEH_H5JNma9OtU/s1600/pen+y+pas.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZNU4Hv4rRWbzx1rKYAoHXWf2FTgddb3Vn70gTDDsaKgsk3eS9VK3IzJasKhnIAR9ubkm3MSWagj87_bPIChbSCcfHCSVr4hXOxuiS17AOsEYsmSOSd2dLq_PnEaJfQEH_H5JNma9OtU/s320/pen+y+pas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518962483086442946" border="0" /></a>line' (which divides the Protestant Shankill and the catholic Falls roads) in an attempt to understand the years of conflict,before moving on to the Antrim coast and the Giants Causeway then westwards to Derry and a night in Errigal, County Donegal.<br /><br />A rainy night in Sligo at 'Yeats Village' included a visit to the poets grave, while the following day the group chose to climb Croagh Patrick the mountain which the Saint Patrick himself climbed up and without any shoes on. Some of the group managed it to the top.<br /><br />After driving through the glens of Connemara the group spent a musical night in Galway city before travelling on eastwards through Athlone , across the Shannon and back to Dublin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Y3rBu8JTV7fb1LLN9x-9b3R1G-2WL3f4qb34UZoKS4QiOvD5gGbtWx3Csq61UeV6NtYAJMBLXjxs1ugke6uBMz6AscEGWYvXwA5CrPLEf7NN3Kw84q6uG_ntm8xK0z_Lw1dzesmBY0/s1600/derry+walls.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Y3rBu8JTV7fb1LLN9x-9b3R1G-2WL3f4qb34UZoKS4QiOvD5gGbtWx3Csq61UeV6NtYAJMBLXjxs1ugke6uBMz6AscEGWYvXwA5CrPLEf7NN3Kw84q6uG_ntm8xK0z_Lw1dzesmBY0/s320/derry+walls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518962200856663186" border="0" /></a><br />Early morning ferry to Holyhead and another stop in Conway for more fish and chips then an afternoon in Liverpool meant that by the time they reached the stately Ilam Hall in the Peak District it was pretty late and they had to leave at 5am anyhow. Which they did via the Robin Hood airport, South Yorks - as the outlaw himself probably would have done.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cBWRnkAC6Z0/THKa5xggSaI/AAAAAAAAANY/3ptpYWQ0Na8/s1600/Dublin-1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cBWRnkAC6Z0/THKa5xggSaI/AAAAAAAAANY/3ptpYWQ0Na8/s320/Dublin-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508635611560429986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><em></em></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><em></em></span>BRIDGWATER INTERNATIONALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779294301535919322noreply@blogger.com1