THIS WEEK
28 DECEMBER 2013 - 3 JANUARY 2014
SATURDAY
Flour power
It was the annual Els Enfarinats festival in Spain, with people in military dress pelting one another with flour and eggs for fun. This is one cultural event home economics teachers don’t want students to emulate.
SUNDAY
Pointe less
The Sugar Plum Fairy hung up her tutu after San Francisco Ballet’s final performance of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker this afternoon. But don’t worry if you missed it: she’ll be back en pointe next year for appreciative audiences.
MONDAY
Silent night
Silence was golden at London’s Royal Albert Hall this Christmas season when Oscar-winning silent film The Artist was screened to the live accompaniment of the London Symphony Orchestra.
TUESDAY
High on the hogmanay
New Year’s Eve - known as Hogmanay in Scotland and Silvester in Germany - was upon us once more, prompting fireworks, soul-searching and resolutions. I will plan my lessons better...
WEDNESDAY
Fresh start?
New Year’s Day dawned and non-drinkers went for bracing walks while the boozers slept in, feeling faintly disgusted with themselves. Oh, blow it: there’s the rest of the year to mark those exercise books.
THURSDAY
The world is not enough
A big day for media studies students: today marked the anniversary of Australian media magnate Rupert Murdoch winning control of The News of the World in 1969. He axed it in 2011 during the phone hacking scandal.
FRIDAY
Happy birthday, my precious
The JRR Tolkien madness that descended last month with the release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues today as fans of the books and films raise a toast to the author to celebrate his birthday.
NEXT WEEK
4-10 JANUARY 2014
SATURDAY
At their fingertips
Teachers of the visually impaired will be celebrating World Braille Day, held on the birth date of its inventor, Louis Braille. Events will include campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of the code.
SUNDAY
Batty, but brilliant
The World Championship of Ping Pong is taking place in London, with top players battling it out over the two-day tournament for a share in the #163;100,000 prize fund. The organisers hope to raise the sport’s profile.
MONDAY
Defacing the music
Fathers’ rights campaigner Tim Haries, 41, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is due to stand trial in London accused of vandalising a portrait of the Queen. Mr Haries has denied the offence.
TUESDAY
Herb your enthusiasm
Put down those Christmas sweeties from Aunt Deirdre - it’s time to celebrate the Japanese Festival of Seven Herbs. To mark the occasion, people drink a soup of rice and herbs for good health and longevity.
WEDNESDAY
A meeting of minds
The Association for Science Education’s annual conference opens at the University of Birmingham, UK. Billed as the largest science education exhibition in Europe, it attracts more than 3,000 participants.
THURSDAY
Kate’s special day
Everyone’s favourite wearer of good-quality high-street fashion, the Duchess of Cambridge, is due to celebrate her 32nd birthday today. Will William give her vouchers for John Lewis or Debenhams?
FRIDAY
Claws for thought
It’s this year’s Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival in Cambridgeshire, where a local man parades through the streets dressed as the titular bear before his costume is burned. There’s nowt so queer as folk...
