1999

"Time to die," says Roy Batty in the final scenes of the film Blade Runner. This seems to be the motto of all artists who envisage the future. As the third millennium begins we take a look at some scifi images of the world to come.

Fawley Court
Henley-on-Thames
Oxon RG9 3AE

The name" Fawley Court" comes from the Old English word for fallow deer, which at one time roamed this country in great herds. In 1953, Fawley Court with its vast gardens was purchased by the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Over the years, it has been completely restored and is now a splendid example of British heritage. Here, they operate a school for boys and a historic museum. There is also St. Anna' s Church, which was paid for by Prince Stanislav A. Radziwill and built on the grounds.

They came, did their work and are moving on...

The Peace Corps (PC) came to Poland at the request of the Polish Government in early 1990. That is anundeniable fact, but it is only part of the truth. It wasn' t quite that simple. As one Chicago-based newspaper noted back in 1995:" Over the past few years, Mr Piszek has been concentrating on propagating the learning of English in Poland. Five years ago, he was the main force behind bringing Peace Corps volunteers to Poland."

Thank You, Ireland!

Much of the modern slang commonly used today in both British and American English has its origins in colloquial African-American language from the first half of this century. This type of speech became 'hip' or 'cool' in the 50s and 60s through the lifestyle and writings of America' s Beat Generation, the growth of rock ' n roll (itself an African-American term originally referring to sex) and the hippie movement. Nowadays many of these words are so widely used that they can hardly be still considered slang - many are even listed in dictionaries.

Irish cooking, though simple, draws on a tradition established over years. The Irish people know well how best to use fine foods produced from the land. It is not surprising that potatoes come first, being nourishing and satisfying for everybody. But it is not potatoes Irish cooking is about. Ireland' s famous beef and lamb dishes have become well known to the world. Most of us have tasted or at least heard of Irish Stew or Beef with Guinness.

As anticipation of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney mounts, The World of English speaks with sailing champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz about his life, sailing, and of course, English.

One thing all nations have in common is celebrations of one kind or another. Some are of religious origin, others are secular. Nearly every country has its national day or independence day, celebrated throughout the land, as well as local observances, restricted to certain regions or even individual villages. Typically such occasions include parades or processions, marching bands or folk musicians, and nearly always there is food, music, games and general merriment.

The Christmas holiday is among the world' s most widely celebrated festivals. Let' s take a look at some of our planet' s customs during this season of good cheer.