This week’s edition by: David

So here we are, into the shortest month in the Gregorian Calendar. This year is actually a “leap year”, meaning we get an extra day in February. Why is this? Because the length of the year is actually 365¼ days. Now a quarter of a day is quite hard to have, so we just save them up and add an extra day every four years. Genius.

Anyway, read on for the latest adventure starring Bobby Callan and Miss Brown. Also this week we have Music Club, with Marcin and Daniel. This is on Saturday 16th February, at 8pm. This month it’s that man again, Jeff, and his able-fingered assistant Radek. Be at the London Pub for this musical extravaganza!

Also this week sees one of our secretaries, Marta, celebrate her birthday. Make sure you pop into the office and say “many happy returns of the day!”



WORD OF THE DAY (courtesy of Dictionary.com)

eleemosynary \el-uh-MOS-uh-ner-ee\, adjective:
1. Of or for charity; charitable; as, "an eleemosynary institution."
2. Given in charity; having the nature of alms; as, "eleemosynary assistance."
3. Supported by or dependent on charity; as, "the eleemosynary poor."

RANDOM PIECE OF TEXT OF THE WEEK

This week’s subject – Fred the Frog, the picture in Room 5. Courtesy of an anonymous teen student.

“Fred is a very friendly frog. He has got orange eyes and orange hands. He has got a green head and a white stomach. When Fred was young he wanted to be a film star. Now Fred is a painter, because he loves painting. His mum is a tennis player and his father is a dentist. His family haven’t got a surname, because they are frogs. Fred is twenty years old and he has got a girlfriend – her name is Juliet.”

The Adventures Of Bobby Callan – Part Eighteen

Bobby and Miss Brown boarded the train. It was quite full, quite meaning nearly completely. It was one of those old trains, the ones that take three hours to travel 50km. Bobby groaned, as he had experienced these trains before in Poland.
“Wait Bobby” Miss Brown said as Bobby prepared to enter one compartment.
“Don’t you look to see what kind of people are in the part of the train you want to sit in?” she asked.
“Not really. I can’t really choose who I sit next to when the train is quite full. I prefer to just find a seat, and if anyone has a problem with it then they can object.”
They found a compartment that was quite empty, and sat down. The train began to move with an almighty effort. Bobby wondered if it was indeed powered by hamsters. After about half an hour, Bertrand Russell walked in. Bobby jumped up with a start.
“Bertrand, what are you doing here?” he asked. Bertrand just smiled, sat down and promptly fell asleep. He started snoring loudly. Bobby wondered if dreams troubled him at night as they had troubled him recently. Miss Brown nudged him gently.
“Bobby, are you remaining on the chair?” she asked. Bobby shrugged his shoulders.
“Er, yeah. Why?”
“Because I am to go to the observation deck. I want to see the countryside as we travel.” Bobby noted her use of ‘to be’, and wondered if this had been planned for ages.
“Well, be careful. Finland is one of the coldest countries in the world. It is always winter here. And remember that when we go out in winter we ought to put on our hats and coats. I don’t want you to catch your death of cold!”

Several hours later they arrived in Rovaniemi, the provincial capital of Lapland. Bobby wondered aloud whether he could have got there quicker by reindeer. Miss Brown glared at him and walked up to the nearest person. Bertrand had disappeared.
“Excuse me, but we are lost. Could you please direct us to the residence of Santa Claus?” she asked patiently.
“Aha, tervetuloa! Suomi on mahtava maa!” he replied. Miss Brown looked bewildered. She turned to Bobby.
“Don’t worry. He just said welcome, and that Finland was a beautiful country. Let me handle this!” Bobby said confidently. He had been taking Callan lessons in Finnish. He thought there was a use in learning languages that were little spoken in the world.
“Etsin Joulupukki:ia” he said to the Finn. I’m looking for Santa Claus.
“Aha, you speak very good Finnish! Because of this I will take you to see Santa. He is a close personal friend of mine. Come with me!” The Finn, who told them, his name was Jarkko, led them to a stable. There they climbed aboard three large reindeer, and began their journey into a dense forest outside the city. There was snow everywhere.

After a short time Jarkko bade them to halt. They dismounted, and continued forward by foot. Suddenly there was a roar, and before them stood a great lion. Miss Brown held Bobby tight. Jarkko spoke.
“Bobby, if you were walking through a forest and suddenly came across a lion, what would you do?”
“That’s ridiculous. Everyone knows that lions live in hot countries” Bobby said.
“What if we are in Narnia Bobby?” Miss Brown asked.
“Yeah right, and I believe there are people living on the other planets.”
“Well you had better believe it Bobby” the lion said.
“And you, mind your own business Mr Lion” Bobby replied. He then realised what he had just said, and stared open-mouthed.
“Come, and I will take you the rest of the way to Santa Claus” the lion said.