Welcome to March guys! This month sees the start of spring (hopefully) and a monster month of music courtesy of Marcin.
Not much is happening in the world of Speed this week, so not much by way of news. I will tell you however, about the four (yes, four!) Music Clubs remaining this month.

Saturday also sees St. Patrick’s Day. All those with Irish in them (myself included) make sure you get to a pub for a pint of Guinness!

NEWS AND REVIEWS

Last week saw Sean’s Advanced Conversation Club. This was a great success as always.

This week sees the Kids Club make its reappearance, with Linda and Tanya. If you want to join in the monthly fun and games, sign up with the secretaries. It’s on Saturday 17th March, 1.30pm – 2.30pm, to be held in Room 4.

Also this week sees another Music Club with Marcin. This time it’s a band called The Rat Brothers. I have no idea who they are, but Marcin assures me they are good. They play in an “an lo-fi acoustic retro style”, whatever that is. Join Marcin in the usual venue, The London Pub, on Saturday 17th March at 8pm. Sign up with the secretaries.

Marcin would also like to tell you about his own band, Papilla, and their upcoming gig at Dekadencja in Katowice. This venue is on ul. Mariacka 20. Tickets cost 10zl. This takes place on Friday 23rd March, at 8pm. If you want more information, ask Marcin. If you want to know what Papilla sound like you can check them out at the following address:

www.last.fm/music/papilla

Marcin would appreciate this very much. It would raise his profile. So go!

However, it is likely you won’t see the majority of the teachers for this weekend’s gig at London Pub. Why? Because we’re all going to Szczyrk (I think that’s how you spell it) for the night. Good fun will be had by us! But you should go to the gig, because that will be good fun too!

ST PATRICK'S DAY

This week also sees St. Patrick’s Day. This is a time where anyone with Irish blood in them (or rather just anyone) celebrates, usually by drinking Guinness. There will be a lot of green around, and generally people are happy. This takes place on Saturday 17th March.

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent. Celebrations are generally themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians celebrate this holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food, drinking Irish drink, and attending parades.

The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five-day festival, over 500,000 people attending the 2006 parade. The largest St. Patrick's Day parade is held in New York City and it is watched by 2 million people. The St. Patrick's Day parade was first held in Boston in 1737.

St Patrick was born in Britain, near the end of the fourth century. His original name was Maewyn Succat. At the age of sixteen, Maewyn was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave. After six years he escaped to Gaul (France). He changed his name to Patrick and became a priest. His mission became to change the druid people of Ireland to Christians. He used the shamrock (see picture above) to explain the idea of the Holy Trinity (father, son and holy spirit). Legend says that Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, and sent them into the sea to drown.


So make sure you wear green on Saturday, and watch out for the leprechauns!

See you next time guys!