Helen the organizer of our activities at Millman Street Pensioners Centre acquired free tickets for the Terracotta Army exhibition at the British Museum. Now I am not a very museum person I feel like this, you see a bit flint and it is labelled ancient axe head, how do we know! But with this exhibition I was rapped I was amazing that all these army figures was buried under the earth for centuries and was only uncovered in 1974.
The first emperor who’s name was Ying Zheng was born 259 BC At the age of 13 years he conquered the other seven provinces of China. He became King of Qin; his success in battle was due to his highly developed weapons and the highly developed stratagem of his officers. His army was mostly made up of the peasant of China and they joined in their millions. Discipline was strict and insubordination carried a harsh punishment When his campaign was over he declared himself the first August Devine Emperor of Qin.
He governed his empire with a firm hand and there were grave consequences for all law breakers and dissidents. He planned to join the walls that surrounded the conquered states to make one gigantic wall. This was the first Great Wall of China, built to protect his empire from marauding foreigners. He also built new roads and canals He standardized weights and measures and introduced a single currency. He built more than 270 palaces and filled them with serifs and women from the captive states. He built these palaces in line with the stars in the Milky Way as he thought himself ruler of the cosmos. The capital of his empire was Xianyhang.
The emperor feared death and wanted to live forever. He tried to prolong his life by taking herbs and potions. He also drank mercury and this was believed to have contributed to his death He was also afraid because he had, had three attempts on his life. He also feared the spirits of the people he had killed, and thought that they would extract their revenge on him in the afterlife.
So he built a great tomb complex. This complex was built by 700,000 workers, 7000 were slaves and convicts. If they were worn out because of their hard labour while working on the tomb, and they ended up being buried alive.
He had his work-force constructed a terracotta army to guard him in the after-life. Which consisted of cavalry, archers, heavy armed foot soldiers and light infantry and terracotta cavalry horses. All these replicas were kitted out in a uniform made 800 pieces of terracotta welded together with copper wire. For leisure in the afterlife terracotta musicians, entertainers were manufactured and for the day to day running of the complex civic officers were created. Also ornamental lakes on which floated terracotta swans and water birds, were also fabricated, all this took 30 years to construct
Although his reign on earth was short, he constructed an afterlife kingdom where he could reign supreme forever. That was hidden from the world for many centuries until the twentieth century. His concubines and all who knew the secrets of the tomb were put to death after he died.
In 1974 a farmer unearthed a terracotta head while farming one of his fields. This lead to the uncovering by 7000 terracotta warriors found in large pits surrounding the emperor tomb. The tomb itself was never excavated as it was deemed too dangerous for men to do so, as the tomb was surrounded by rivers of mercury. This is one of the most important archaeological sites ever discovered.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Old Brompton Road London SW5
I would like to confide in the readers of this Blog about the place I most like to visit – Old Brompton Road. The surroundings are so grand and interesting it takes my breath away.
There is Harrods, the famous department store, where rich and poor go through the revolving doors and always come out with some purchases.
You can visit the Royal Albert Hall and Victoria and Albert Museum. It is not far from Kensington Palace where both Princess Diana and Princess Margaret had last residency. It is also near Hyde Park where people stroll and spend time. People can gather and speak of anything without fear of prosecution or persecution.
In Old Brompton Road even a man without any resources can feel a well to do person for the day.
The number 19 Bus takes me directly to the famous street!
There is Harrods, the famous department store, where rich and poor go through the revolving doors and always come out with some purchases.
You can visit the Royal Albert Hall and Victoria and Albert Museum. It is not far from Kensington Palace where both Princess Diana and Princess Margaret had last residency. It is also near Hyde Park where people stroll and spend time. People can gather and speak of anything without fear of prosecution or persecution.
In Old Brompton Road even a man without any resources can feel a well to do person for the day.
The number 19 Bus takes me directly to the famous street!
A good grumble !
My tutor asked me what I was going to type for a new post in my computer lesson today. I'm afraid I replied that I couldn't think of one thing except a good grumble! To which she said "go ahead" so here goes.
I am not a very grumbly person, or so I think but the one thing that really makes me grumble like mad is the television and all the things it puts on week after week.
Once there were lovely dramas to watch and one looked forward to the evening and sitting down (with a drink in one's hand of course!) to the next exciting instalment.
Now there are only the reality shows with people showing off and all the game shows with people trying for large sums off money. As for the wife swapping shows where families change over to look after different houses and husbands. Oh dear, O dear!!
Just give me my two soaps in the evening and I'll stop grumbling!
I am not a very grumbly person, or so I think but the one thing that really makes me grumble like mad is the television and all the things it puts on week after week.
Once there were lovely dramas to watch and one looked forward to the evening and sitting down (with a drink in one's hand of course!) to the next exciting instalment.
Now there are only the reality shows with people showing off and all the game shows with people trying for large sums off money. As for the wife swapping shows where families change over to look after different houses and husbands. Oh dear, O dear!!
Just give me my two soaps in the evening and I'll stop grumbling!
Sanctury in Holborn
Dear Readers ~ El Moano again!
An interesting little spot in Holborn is Ely Place. Before the postcode came into being, the actual address was Ely Place E.C.1 Cambridgeshire. This is because the place was the home of the bishops of Ely. There was a palace at one time. They had a palace here because every so often they were called to sit in Parliament .
The church, aside from Westminster Abbey, is the only surviving work from the reign of Edward I (1239-1307) . The crypt is even older - early Norman and well worth a visit. In an alley way is The Mitre pub - still on the same site since 15th century. The reason, apart from it's age, it is regulary visited it has part of a tree growing inside the pub. Lastly, if you where living in the very early period of the Medieval Times and you where being chased by the King's men or the townsfolk and you managed to get to the gates of Ely Place you could claim sanctuary.
So go and pay it a visit it's free and part of Holborn heritage
Cheerio for now
El Moano
An interesting little spot in Holborn is Ely Place. Before the postcode came into being, the actual address was Ely Place E.C.1 Cambridgeshire. This is because the place was the home of the bishops of Ely. There was a palace at one time. They had a palace here because every so often they were called to sit in Parliament .
The church, aside from Westminster Abbey, is the only surviving work from the reign of Edward I (1239-1307) . The crypt is even older - early Norman and well worth a visit. In an alley way is The Mitre pub - still on the same site since 15th century. The reason, apart from it's age, it is regulary visited it has part of a tree growing inside the pub. Lastly, if you where living in the very early period of the Medieval Times and you where being chased by the King's men or the townsfolk and you managed to get to the gates of Ely Place you could claim sanctuary.
So go and pay it a visit it's free and part of Holborn heritage
Cheerio for now
El Moano
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Positive Thinking
It has been a pleasure being able to use the internet and broadband . We, the older generation, missed out on this technological revolution and late 20th century advancement. As they say it is never too late to learn - so we are giving it a try to see what we have missed and how we can learn and enjoy ourselves in the autumn of our lives.
It is sometimes a steep learning curve - it's hard to absorb the skills as the receptive parts of brain cells slow down with age and it takes 10 times more effort now than as a teenager to store and reactivate the memory. But we cannot turn back the clock, nor can we rejuvenate our physical strength, mental faculties and concentration.
Perhaps our fathers said similar things while we were growing up. It is a changing world and man’s thirst for knowledge will always be there and more development will come. Maybe the new found knowledge will enhance our lives. Misuse of it will lead to total destruction of the universe or mankind.
Each individual has something to contribute through his/her experience and positive thinking. Being mortal we have a limited time on this Planet. If we can contribute something for the next generations this Earth will be a better place to live in.
What is holding us back are greed, jealousy, power and lies. We must embrace the teachings of Gandhi, Mandela, Martin Luther King. We sincerely hope that we will not see the likes of Hitler, Hussein and Polpot again. As Louis Armstrong sang ‘What a wonderful World’.
It is our duty to make sure that we cut back on CO2 emissions, chlorofluorocarbons and all forms of pollution which contribute to global warming. We must not use up all the natural resources otherwise the next generations will not have much to sustain them. So let us be creative and have positive thinking.
It is sometimes a steep learning curve - it's hard to absorb the skills as the receptive parts of brain cells slow down with age and it takes 10 times more effort now than as a teenager to store and reactivate the memory. But we cannot turn back the clock, nor can we rejuvenate our physical strength, mental faculties and concentration.
Perhaps our fathers said similar things while we were growing up. It is a changing world and man’s thirst for knowledge will always be there and more development will come. Maybe the new found knowledge will enhance our lives. Misuse of it will lead to total destruction of the universe or mankind.
Each individual has something to contribute through his/her experience and positive thinking. Being mortal we have a limited time on this Planet. If we can contribute something for the next generations this Earth will be a better place to live in.
What is holding us back are greed, jealousy, power and lies. We must embrace the teachings of Gandhi, Mandela, Martin Luther King. We sincerely hope that we will not see the likes of Hitler, Hussein and Polpot again. As Louis Armstrong sang ‘What a wonderful World’.
It is our duty to make sure that we cut back on CO2 emissions, chlorofluorocarbons and all forms of pollution which contribute to global warming. We must not use up all the natural resources otherwise the next generations will not have much to sustain them. So let us be creative and have positive thinking.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Holborn Facts and Folklore
Dear Fans ... it's me El Moano.
I thought I'd give you a rest from one of my rants. Who said hooray?!
This is a small pocket book of information about Holborn.
Firstly, Red Lion Square. Folklore says that the head of Sir Walter Raleigh was buried here after it was taken down from the Temple Bar in Fleet Street. He lost his head when he fell out with James I.
Secondly, a piece of Victorian history. If you walk down the bottom of Bed Row where it meets Brownlow Street you will find a large hand pump for fresh water. How could the poor scullery maid have handled this and then walked to the other end of Bed Row with two buckets at least five times a day? She really was the poor skivvy.
If you care to stroll across High Holborn - pass through Little Turn Stile and turn left at Lincoln Inn Square - you will come to The Soames Museum. It is a wonderland of curios from everywhere - showing how they would have lived in the 1780s or about that. It really is a one person collection of its time.
When leaving the museum, go across the square to Portsmouth Street to The Old Curiosity Shop made famous by Charles Dickens. It is a strange building. How it still stands is a mystery. Then go a short way to Carey Street (the expression 'to be in Carey Street' meant that you were on the way to debtors prison). Anyway, in this street is a pub called The Seven Stars which is at least 3 hundred years old. It's a strange fact that it never had an inside loo til the 1970s.
Well that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed our little stroll.
El Moano
I thought I'd give you a rest from one of my rants. Who said hooray?!
This is a small pocket book of information about Holborn.
Firstly, Red Lion Square. Folklore says that the head of Sir Walter Raleigh was buried here after it was taken down from the Temple Bar in Fleet Street. He lost his head when he fell out with James I.
Secondly, a piece of Victorian history. If you walk down the bottom of Bed Row where it meets Brownlow Street you will find a large hand pump for fresh water. How could the poor scullery maid have handled this and then walked to the other end of Bed Row with two buckets at least five times a day? She really was the poor skivvy.
If you care to stroll across High Holborn - pass through Little Turn Stile and turn left at Lincoln Inn Square - you will come to The Soames Museum. It is a wonderland of curios from everywhere - showing how they would have lived in the 1780s or about that. It really is a one person collection of its time.
When leaving the museum, go across the square to Portsmouth Street to The Old Curiosity Shop made famous by Charles Dickens. It is a strange building. How it still stands is a mystery. Then go a short way to Carey Street (the expression 'to be in Carey Street' meant that you were on the way to debtors prison). Anyway, in this street is a pub called The Seven Stars which is at least 3 hundred years old. It's a strange fact that it never had an inside loo til the 1970s.
Well that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed our little stroll.
El Moano
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Is Football becoming a new religion?
Over the last few years soccer has taken the centre stage in almost every country, some elite players are earning a fortune. One can see Churches, Temples, Mosques and other religious places are less than quarter full whereas socccer matches bring in thousands of spectators. Everybody wants to be Pele, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, George Best, Maradona or Zinedin Zedan so that they can earn a fortune and to lead a glamourous life style. Think of the old adage 'If you do not study or educate yourself you will be left at the bottom of social ladder'. Although it is still true in some extent, when young kids see their soccer Idols driving a Ferrari, Porche, Rolls or Mercedes without any output from their brain cells, it creates a negative and unreachable situation. Young kids playing truants and dream of being superstars.
As time goes by, their aspirations come to a dead end. In some cases this leads to drug taking smoking, drinking and other substance misuse which may cause more social unrest.
As time goes by, their aspirations come to a dead end. In some cases this leads to drug taking smoking, drinking and other substance misuse which may cause more social unrest.
But football is a beautiful game. It pays superstars handsomely, as they bring in gate receipts and revenue from TV and satellite advertising. The clubs can pay them from their vastly increased income.
We cannot condemn the games whether it is soccer, tennis, cricket or golf. Parents, at the outset, tell their children what is achievable and what is not. But if their kids are talented or showing some kind of special interest, they should be encouraged.
We cannot condemn the games whether it is soccer, tennis, cricket or golf. Parents, at the outset, tell their children what is achievable and what is not. But if their kids are talented or showing some kind of special interest, they should be encouraged.
I watch the game regularly and enjoy the excitement, the skill, the passings and movements of the players but I never watch a game if I have other more important things to do. I think people who watch matches or games should do so in their leisure.
Some young people know more about Rooney, Robson, Ronaldo or Thiery Henry than about their school homework.
Owing to cutbacks by local councils, swimming pools, libraries, football, tennis and other sports facilities suffer - and we cannot create superstars of tomorrow. Look at Wimbledon, it is one of the four classic events in the annual sporting calendar but we have not found another Fred Perry since 1936 - although Andy Murray may be the answer to our prayers!
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