Sports

National sports in the UK
Horse Racing is one of the national sports of Britain.
History
Traditional thoroughbred racing could date back to period of Ancient Greeks, while the modern racing developed in the UK started in 12th Centry. Arab stallions were brought in at that time.

Later in 18th Centry, Horse Racing was developed rapidly and professionally. Race courses were found. Great classic races were setting up throughout the country such as the St Leger (1776),the Oaks (1779), the Derby (1780),­ the 2,000 Guineas (1809) and the 1,000 Guineas (1814).­


Organizations

The sport of horsing racing is regulated by the British Horseracing Authority.

The UK Jockey Club and the British Hourseracing Board are the most famous organizations for horse racing. The Jockkey Club was the first governing body for the sport as we know it today, founded in the 1750's.The Horseracing Board became the governing body in 1993, though the Jockey club still has an important role in English racing.

Famous Racecourses

Ascot

Ascot Racecourse is the home of Britain’s most prestigious race meeting – the Royal Ascot. The history of Ascot racecourse was found in 1711 by Queen Anne.

Goodwood

Goodwood (West Sussex coast) is considered by many to be the United Kingdom’s most scenic racecourse. The racecourse derives most of its significance from hosting the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting, which in turn features two group 1 races, the Sussex Stakes and the Nassau Stakes.

Cheltenham
This course is often called the 'home of National Hunt racing'.

There are also other famous courses: Chester Racing (the oldest racecourse in Britain ); the Town Moor course in Doncaster (used for both flat and National Hunt racing); Newbury.

Types of Race in Britain
National Hunt racing-obstacles (either hurdles or fences);
Flat racing-unobstructed races over a given distance;

Famous players
Players for horse racing are called jockeys. Sir Gordon Richards (5 May 1904 – 10 November 1986) was the Pride of Great Britain's jockeys. He is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey and the only jockey to have been knighted.

National sports in the China

It has been said that the national sport of China is table tennis. We usually call it ping-pong in China. It might because that the Chinese first world champion was from ping-pong.Actually different countries are good at different sports, such as Cuba is famous for vollyball, Baxi is good at soccer. Nearly all the world champion titles in ping-pong belong to us. So many medias said it is our "national sport". In order to continuing our advantage in ping-pong,government and comunities have invested lots of money to support ping-pong.

Crime and Justice in the UK

Becoming a Juror

It is interesting that every ordinary people in UK might be selected as one of the 12 Juries, and they are not required to have knowledge of the law. The purpose of the random selection is to make sure a fair trial.

The jurors will attend in the court nine weeks after they recieve a Jury Summons letter contains the detail of the case. And there are several things people should do when recieve the letter:

1. Reply to Jury Summons with in 7 days;

2.Lear how to be a Juror: watch the DVD film 'Your Role as a Juror'

Finally, informations for the specific court where you are serving is given the day you at court.

It is quite different from the courts in China, we never heard that ordinary people who haven't learn much about the law.

Types of crime
The main types of crime are Gun crime, Knife crime, Burglary, Robbery, Vandalism, Anti-social behaviour, Fraud, Identity fraud, Bogus callers, Drugs and crime.

Youth Crime and Youth Justice
According to the report of Mike Hough and Julian V.Roberts -"Youth Crime and Youth Justice"(2003), the public have a negtive view of youth crime in Britain. The reasons might be: firstly, over-estimate the proportion of youth crime and increasing number of juvenile offender; secondly, people know little about the Youth Justice and the youth offending teams in Britain; thirdly, the public is to some extend have unstable attitudes towards the sentences of youth, people like to be lenient when confront with specific cases while they still think the youth justice system is too soft on young offenders; another reason might be the media, they always keep telling public the worst cases of juvenile crime.

Living condition, educational background, negative influences from family and psychologic status might lead to youth crime. Therefore, the best way to deal with Juvenile offenders might be pay more attention to their lives. Improving psychological service in schools, offering job and trainning opportunities.

The welfare state in UK and China

The social security system is run by Department of  Work and Pensions in Britain. The fund of this programme is contributed by the national tax system and the National Insurance Fund (employees and workers). The social security system benefits to not only the workers who pay for the NIF, but also to low income people, disabled people or family needs. 

In China, the department which has a similar function with the Department of Work and Pensions in Britain called the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Meanwhile, it is also financed from general taxation. However, some other departments are included in this programme: the Department of Welfare Lotteries and the Department of Charity and Social Donation. Unfortunately, it is difficult for the fund to cover all the citizens because of the huge population in China.

One of the differences between the two welfare system is the official retirement. In Britain, employed women at 60 and men at 65 is the official retiring age. While the retirement age for women is 55 and for men is 60 in China. The retirement age in China is lower than that in Britain. Personally, I think the reason might be the employment rate. The job market in China is tougher than Britain, so that job opportunities are preferred from young generation.

National Health Servic in UK in an significant part of welfare system and it offers free health care for British peole. However, the welfare system can only pay a part of medical care of citizens in China, and the proportion that citizens should pay for health care depends on their contribution to the fund system and working age.

Education systems in UK and China

Levels of Education systems:

Pre-school and nursery education in UK is similar with kindergarten inChina. This level is for the children which ages range from zero to five. Children are being taken care of for their parents, play together or sleep together. However, kindergartens in China also teach children with basic knowledge which preparing for primary school level. Meanwhile, in UK, there are reception classes in primary schools as foundation stage.

The rest parts of education system in UK include primary Education, secondary Education and tertiary education. While education system in China is classified as primary, junior, senior and tertiary education. There is no extral levels of studying for Chinese students befor they enter a college.

Every student need to finish the senior level in order to get their High School diploma, and inevitably experience the most rigorous exam in their life-University entrance examination. However, in UK, the students which like to start higher education need to study two more years than students prefer to have a job. In that two years, students focus on the subjects their have choosen, and whereby their final resuls-"A" Levels and GCSE to enter higher education system.

It is easier for students to get into universities in UK than in China, because of competitive the quota of students. However, it is easier for students to graduate from Universities in China than in UK.

School Terms：there are three school terms in UK, Winter, Spring, and Summer. While we have only two in China, Winter and Summer.

Open Universities in UK are quite similar with those in China, which set up courses for people to do part-time study in a more flexible way.

Another similarity between these two education systems is private schools. Private schools are expensive, however there are still some parents like to send their children to private schools in order to get a better education. Teaching resource, teaching facilities are Campus Environment are always being considered. On the contrary, some people think that it is useless for children to study in private schools, there is not that much difference.

British food and drink

About Traditional Food
Breakfast
It is well known by people all around the world that breakfasts in Britain are always extremly important and generous.







The traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms.










Dinner
Trading British dinner is "meat and two veg", usually put hot brown gravy, (traditionally made from the juices of the roast meat, but more often today from a packet!) on the meat and usually the vegetables. One of the vegetables is almost always potatoes.

The Fish and Chips
A fish and chip shop is a place people have to visit when visit Britain. It is a shop which cooks fried potatoes called chips. They are usually accompanied by fish, pies, mushy peas, etc. The chips used to be wrapped in newspaper but now white paper is used. They often ask if you want salt and vinegar to be sprinkled over your chips.

Bangers and mash
Also known as sausages and mash, is an English dish made of mashed potatoes and sausages, the latter of which may be one of a variety of flavoured sausage made of pork or beef or a Cumberland sausage.

The dish is usually served with a rich onion gravy.

 
 
 
 
 
Yorkshire Pudding

This dish is not usually eaten as a dessert like other puddings but instead as part of the main course or at a starter.

The traditional way to eat a Yorkshire pudding is to have a large, flat one filled with gravy and vegetables as a starter of the meal. Then when the meal is over, any unused puddings should be served with jam or ice-cream as a dessert.

 
 
 
AFTERNOON TEA (The traditional 4 o'clock tea)

This is a small meal, not a drink. Traditionally it consists of tea (or coffee) served with either of the following:
Freshly baked scones served with cream and jam (Known as a cream tea)
Afternoon tea sandwiches - thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off.
Assorted pastries

About Drink
Traditional Drinks in Britain: Tea, coffee, Wine, Bitter.

Pubs In Britain
Pubs are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax there.

Groups of friends normally buy 'rounds' of drinks, where the person whose turn it is will buy drinks for all the members of the group.








Pub Drinks
Bitter：The most popular kind of British beer is bitter, which is dark and served at room temperature (not hot, not cold). British beer is brewed from malt and hops.

Other Alcohol Drinks: Wine，Cider ，Whisky

Pub Food

Nearly all pubs sell pub lunches.
One of these is the Ploughman's Lunch

 
 
 
 
Including a great wedge of Cheddar cheese, some bread, some pickle, and an onion. Other typical pub foods are scampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes), pie and chips, and chicken and chips.

Christmas Card

Dear my friends,

Wish you a Merry Christmas.
I will never get a happy Christmas without you by my side.
You are the wonderful presants and angels on the Chrismas tree in my heart.
My Christmas is coulorful, just because of you.
That are the best Christmas gifts you give me.
Think you so much!
Wish our friendships forever!
                                                                                                   

Yours,

Nikki

UK Government-Secretaries

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs：
Hilary Benn MP (appointed on 28 June 2007).
Responses to:

• All departmental issues including budget, delivery and strategies
• EU Agriculture, Fisheries and Enironmental Council
• International negotiations on sustainable development and Defra’s interest in climate change
• National Economic Council (NEC) & National Development Council (NDC)

Secretary of State for Transport: Lord Adonis MP (appointed 5 June 2009).
Responsibilities:

• Delivery of Government's transport commitments
• Long-term transport strategy, including high speed rail and carbon
• Security
  

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:
David Miliband MP (appointed on 28 June 2007).
Responsibilities:

• Overall management of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) including departmental strategies and policy planing
• responsible for relations with foreign countries, matters pertaining to the Commonwealth of Nations and the UK's overseas territories and the promotion of British interests abroad.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:Yvette Cooper MP (appointed on 5 June 2009)
Responsibilities:

• Welfare and pension reform
• Helping people free from poverty

Secretary of State for Defence：Bob Ainsworth MP(appointed on 5 June 2009).

Responsibilities:

• Take over the whole business of Defence Department including departmental plan, budge and Defence Policy, Media and Communications
• His personal work on Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Nuclear issues ,Bilateral Defence Relations, NATO and EU issues

Home Secretary for the Home Office: Alan Johnson MP(appointed on 5 June 2009)
 Responsibilities:

•  The whole business of the Department and its policies
• Personal work: Security, Counter-terrorism, Civil emergencies, Expenditure issues
  

Secretary of State for Health: Andy Burnham, a Cabinet minister, is the leader of Health Department. He responds to the NHS and social care delivery and system reforms. Also  finance and resources, strategic communications of the Health Department.


Chancellor of the Exchequer : Alistair Darling MP (appointed on 28 June 2007)
He in charge of all economic and financial matters of UK Parliament.
He controls Her Majesty's Treasury (HM Treasury), which developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy.

 
Prime Minister's responsibilities:

• Selecting all other members of the government
• Chairing Cabinet meetings
• Decision of holding general election for the House of Commons
• Oversees the operation of the civil service and Government agencies
• Recommending a number of appointments to the Queen: members of the Church of England and senior judge

The Assembly of Wales

Outline

The first minister: Rhodri Morgan (Rt. Hon Rhodri Morgan AM), he was appointed by the Queen following the elections in May 2007. The first minister can appoint the Welsh Ministers, Deputy Welsh Ministers and the Welsh Assembly Government).


Members: there are 60 seats for Assembly members, and the elections be held on a four year cycle. They represent specific area of Wales.
 
About the Tour to Senedd--home of the National Assembly for Wales
 
When we got into the building for the first time, I felt a little bit surprised. It seems to be complicated and serious that we had to take off our coats before go through the security check-in gate, and scaned for security inspection. But when you have realized that you are entering a government building, it is not that complicated, for we Chinsese students don't have many opportunities to walk in a government place. The Wales Assembly is open to us.
 
The building Senedd must be one of the symbols that Welsh would be proud of. The tour guide told us that it is called a environmentally friendly building. It is designed in a sustainable way. First one is, the beautiful roof, despite of the wooden material, the roof can go for at least 100 years. Second one is, people use recycled rain water to fush the toilet which collected by pipes outside the building. Third one is, electronic lights are unnecessary at day time, because there is no wall but glass all around the building. Furth one is, geothermy is applied to keep the building warm in winter, so that minimises using air conditions. The guide told us that, in spite of the high costs to build such a beautiful and environmental buiding, it can save 50% expence on energy.
 
The Siambr was the second place we visted. I'm not sure about the word 'Siambr', but after our viste, I know that it is a place to hold conferences. The guide told us assembly members meet every week, and every one can be a sitter-in to some of the members' discussions. The subjects that might be discussed in the Siambr can be health, environment, education, transport, housing ect.
 
We were so luckey that we meet one of the Assembly members, Mr. Franks, a regional member account for South Wales. When we asked him about the drawbacks of Wales Assembly, he said he hope the Assembly to have more power, such as to make local laws for Wales and to solve Welsh education problems which are specific.

Halloween

Also called     All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Eve
Observed by  Numerous Western countries (see article)
Type              Secular, with roots in Christian and Celtic tradition
Begins           Sunset
Ends              Midnight
Date              October 31
Celebrations Costume parties, trick-or-treating in costumes, bonfires, divination
Related to     Samhain, All Saints’ Day

Jack-o'-lantern

History

Orign of Name

The word Halloween, originally spelled Hallowe’en, is shortened from All Hallows' Even – e'en is a shortening of even, which is a shortening of evening. It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day.

Symbols
Jack-o'-lantern-carving of pumpkin, is the most famous symbol of Halloween.

Traditional characters include the Devil, the Grim Reaper, ghosts, ghouls, demons, witches, goblins, vampires, werewolves, zombies, skeletons, black cats, spiders, bats, and crows.

Foods
Caramel apples or taffy apples

Created by dipping or rolling apples-on-a-stick in hot caramel, sometimes then rolling them in nuts or other small savories or confections, and allowing them to cool.


 
 

        
Barmbrack (Ireland)
A yeasted bread with added sultanas and raisins.

                      

Bonfire toffee (Britain)
Treacle toffee, is a very hard, very brittle toffee that is associated with Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom.

Candy Corn (North America)
A confection popular in the United States and Canada, particularly in autumn around Halloween.





Trick-or-treating

Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?"










Costumes

Costumes are based on themes :such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils; characters from television shows, movies, and other pop culture icons.

Policies of The European Union

In this post, I would like to make a list of main points from one of the policies of the EU which is focused on Economics.

Economic and social affairs
The purpose that EU was found is base on the economic co-operation.
The main goal of the EU is to develop a effective powerful single market surround Europe.
The single market will make the members of EU more competitiveness and financial prosperity.

Here shows some of the main policies:

Energy liberalisation
A full market opening of all EU gas and electricity markets .
Aim:  more choice and lower price.

Modernisation of the EU’s competition rules
Simplifying the procedures involved
Aim: to develop industrial co-operation across the EU

Single European Sky
Big reductions in airport delays.

Financial services market
To reduce the main cost of business.
To speed up the creation of a single market.

EU budget factor made up by:
1.Common Agricultural Policy;
2.Structural and Cohesion Funds is big part of the budget;
   In order to reduce disparities in prosperity across the Union;
3.The EU’s large development budget;
4.Maintaining the internal market;
5.Administering the Union


Economic and monetary union (Single currency)
1.Basis of the single market : the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital;
2.The single European market:
   good for growth and jobs;
   the world’s largest international free trade area;
   reduced fiscal barriers;
3.It is not about de-regulation but do good to UK business and consumers

Regional support
Two main strands to 'Structural Operations:
  The Structural Funds towards regional development made up 90% of the total monies spent;
 The Cohesion Fund supports members whose capita GDP below 90% of the EU average.

Enlargement
EU started with six member states;
Six times enlarging→current 27 member states;

The Four Nations of UK

The United Kingdom

The UK is made up of the four separate countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and each have their own governments.

Capitals
England-London
Wales-Cardiff
Scotland-Edinburgh
Northern Ireland-Belfast

 Identifying Symbols

△Flags

  


  England
  St George's Cross


 

  Wales
  Dragon of adwallader


           

   Scotland
   St Andrew's Cross

  Northern Ireland
  St Patrick's Cross

△Plant 

     England-Rose     

           

Wales-Leek

Scotland-Thistle

Ireland-Shamrock



△Patron Saint
    England-St George
    Wales-St David
    Scotland-St Andrew
    Ireland-St Patrick



Population
△Population in 2007
    England                51.1 million
    Scotland                 5.1 million
    Wales                     3.0 million
     Ireland                    1.8 million

Clothes

The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century.







Characteristics
The Irish are supposed to be great talker.
The Scots have a reputation for being careful with money.
The Wales are renowned for their singing ability.


Food
△Wales





 Bara Brith (which translates as speckled bread), a wonderful sticky fruitcake smothered in butter or Welsh Cakes, a type of scone cooked on a stove-top griddle.There’s nothing quite like the treat of a Welsh afternoon tea with Bara Brith.

Laverbread, not to be mistaken for bread, but actually seaweed, often fried into crisp patties with eggs, bacon and fresh cockles for a traditional Welsh breakfast.



△Scotland

 

Arbroath Smokie-a wood-smoked haddock still produced in small family smoke-houses in the East coast fishing town of Arbroath.

Bannocks (or Oatcakes)

A barley and oat-flour biscuit baked on a gridle. In modern times bannocks are often eaten with cheese. There are several traditional recipes and many manufacturers in Scotland today.

△Ireland

Champ – a delicious comfort food dish of potatoes mashed with lots of butter, warm milk and chopped spring onions or, as we call them, scallions.

Irish Stew - a hearty casserole traditionally made with meat, potatoes, carrots and onions. The Ulster variety is made with steak pieces instead of lamb – cooked to a peppery slush and often served with thick slices of buttered bread.

KING ARTHUR IS LEGEND

Everything I leart about King Arthur was start with a legend story named King Arthur & Merlin The Magician.

There is also a video version of this story called ‘Merlin’ on BBC TV channel, and it always stay in the most popular dramas top ten list on BBC iplayer web site.

About King Arthur

It is said that King Arthur was lived around 500 (AD), a period of about 50 years. He was such a mythological personage that he commanded the Round Table(Knights) to united the whole British Isles. But no one exactly knows that if King Arthur is a real person or not. When he was born ? Where he came from? We are unable to find the answers.

As a result of the mystery of King Arthur, many legends worked out. The Death of King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone, Excalibur, Avalon, Knights of the Round Table.

About Merlin the Magician

In Arthurian stories, Merlin was Arthur's best friend. And it was Merlin that who guided Arthur to win the Sword in the Stone, so that Arthur was able to united the British Isles.

The British Isles

There were 5 parts of th British Isles. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland. And we learnt that the first four parts of the British Isles made up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is known as UK for short.