In this rather different series of podcast Episodes (Series 11), I want to share with you a short novel I have written, set in Florence, Italy and inspired by its history and people and a recent working visit there. This series of podcasts is in effect, therefore, an audiobook in a change from my usual host/guest interview format.

This episode therefore introduces you to the eighth part of my novel, 'Forever in Florence', which is formed of two parallel storylines; with the stories being presented as alternate chapters, set in two different time periods, 500 years apart.

The odd numbered chapters; in this episode Chapters 43, 45, and 47; are set in the modern day and introduce you to its lead character, Isabella, who applies for a job in Florence's Academia Galleria so that she can be closer to her muse and idol Michelangelo Buonarroti and his works.

We follow Isabella's life and her loves, including her love of her home city, its food, its people, the beauty of Tuscany and her friendships, particularly with her best friend, Mia. In this and later episodes, you will also hear about her lifelong love for one particular songwriter, artist and poet who Isabella adores.

Chapter 43 Extract

"David noted that they were still holding hands as they navigated the way slowly through the busy city streets. Cars had no place in this city and pedestrians knew it. Eventually they made their way to the drop-off point at the end of the small alleyway leading down towards Isabella’s home. No cars could make it down there, so Isabella had to gently and carefully guide David down the length of the passage and into her small courtyard garden."

In parallel with Isabella's life, the second storyline involves Francesca. This story is set in the High Renaissance and follows the life of Michelangelo as he struggles with his art, his stone craft, his relationships with the church and the city and with its controlling family, the Medici. Chapters 44, 46 and 48 in this episode tell Francesca's story.

Chapter 44 Extract

"The morning sun eased its way into the dense city streets as Francesca walked the dogs by the river. They were well-behaved and came to her when she called them to come to shake themselves dry at the water’s edge. Her mission today was very simple: to get her master Michelangelo Buonarroti out into the safety of the countryside with as little fuss as possible and to settle him into Antonio’s grandfather’s farm buildings for protection."

While based on some experiences described in the literature about Michelangelo's life, this is a story of fiction and is not meant to be wholly historically accurate, so please accept it as that; a story.

If you would like to receive a free copy of the draft of the story so far, perhaps to read as you listen to the audio version, please email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify and other podcast platforms also have the facility to follow a word by word transcript of the podcast, available via a tab next to the 'Description' tab on laptops or desktops, or at the bottom of the podcast description on mobiles and possibly tablets, headed, 'Episode Transcript'.

For more information on this podcast series, 'John Scott Lawton's English, you know', or to make any comments or to ask any questions relating to English Language learning, please contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a sound bite comment on Spotify.

Please visit my LinkedIn profile at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to view Recommendations regarding my English Language teaching and Executive Coaching Services (towards the bottom of my profile page).

#teaching #learning #learningenglish #TEFL #TESOL #IELTS #listeningskills #listening #teacher #stories #fiction #audiobooks #storytelling #Michelangelo #Italy #Florence #shortstory #shortnovel #novella #Firenze #Medici #BobDylan #Bologna #Italia #history

In this rather different series of podcast Episodes (Series 11), I want to share with you a short novel I have written, set in Florence, Italy and inspired by its history and people and a recent working visit there. This series of podcasts is in effect, therefore, an audiobook in a change from my usual host/guest interview format.

This episode therefore introduces you to the seventh part of my novel, 'Forever in Florence', which is formed of two parallel storylines; with the stories being presented as alternate chapters, set in two different time periods, 500 years apart.

The odd numbered chapters; in this episode Chapters 37, 39, and 41; are set in the modern day and introduce you to its lead character, Isabella, who applies for a job in Florence's Academia Galleria so that she can be closer to her muse and idol Michelangelo Buonarroti and his works.

We follow Isabella's life and her loves, including her love of her home city, its food, its people, the beauty of Tuscany and her friendships, particularly with her best friend, Mia. In this and later episodes, you will also hear about her lifelong love for one particular songwriter, artist and poet who Isabella adores.

Chapter 37 Extract

"The last comment took her rather by surprise. She didn’t know how to respond. Many questions were going through her mind. Was he another player, coming over to Italy for a few months, leaving his English wife and possibly kids at home while he had fun in the sun, aided and abetted by his sister? Or did he mean ex-wife and he had just not been very clear? He didn’t look old enough to have been married and divorced, although on reflection, she felt, there was a sadness to him that made him look old enough to have lived that experience."

In parallel with Isabella's life, the second storyline involves Francesca. This story is set in the High Renaissance and follows the life of Michelangelo as he struggles with his art, his stone craft, his relationships with the church and the city and with its controlling family, the Medici. Chapters 38, 40 and 42 in this episode tell Francesca's story.

Chapter 38 Extract

"Antonio stood by the side of the main route to Bologna, anxious to get back to the university campus to prepare for his final examinations and to complete his degree. He had worked hard thus far and he was determined to do well."

While based on some experiences described in the literature about Michelangelo's life, this is a story of fiction and is not meant to be wholly historically accurate, so please accept it as that; a story.

If you would like to receive a free copy of the draft of the story so far, perhaps to read as you listen to the audio version, please email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify and other podcast platforms also have the facility to follow a word by word transcript of the podcast, available via a tab next to the 'Description' tab on laptops or desktops, or at the bottom of the podcast description on mobiles and possibly tablets, headed, 'Episode Transcript'.

For more information on this podcast series, 'John Scott Lawton's English, you know', or to make any comments or to ask any questions relating to English Language learning, please contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a sound bite comment on Spotify.

Please visit my LinkedIn profile at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to view Recommendations regarding my English Language teaching and Executive Coaching Services (towards the bottom of my profile page).

#teaching #learning #learningenglish #TEFL #TESOL #IELTS #listeningskills #listening #teacher #stories #fiction #audiobooks #storytelling #Michelangelo #Italy #Florence #shortstory #shortnovel #novella #Firenze #Medici #BobDylan #Bologna #Italia #history

In this episode I return to my regular interview format as I talk with Slovak national Martin Salamon from the company, ejoin, about the improvements required in the infrastruture for a country wishing to significantly increase the use of electric vehicles.

ejoin is a Slovak manufacturer of charging stations for electric vehicles, charging stations, chargers, and electromobility.

The ejoin website is available at: https://ejoin.eu/

Martin and I discuss the benefits of electric vehicles versus diesel vehicles (such as my 19-year-old Landrover), not just in terms of environmental sustainability, but also in terms of the running costs of keeping a vehicle on the road over time.

We talk about some of the safety concerns that have been expressed about electric vehicles, particularly the fact that some people are worried that batteries in such vehicles can sometimes catch fire.

On a technical level, Martin references AC and DC charging stations for electric vehicles and these refer to AC (Alternating Current - which is generally slower) and Direct Current (which is considerably faster) when charging a vehicle.

We also discuss the economics of owning an electric vehicle versus a petrol or diesel alternative, where many factors have to be taken into account, not just the initial cost of purchasing the vehicle itself.

If you wish to contact Martin directly to discuss the challenges faced with building the capacity of electric vehicle charging stations in Slovakia, in particular, please follow him on LinkedIn at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar-sal/

Spotify and other podcast platforms have the facility to follow a word by word transcript of the podcast, available via a tab next to the 'Description' tab on laptops or desktops, or at the bottom of the podcast description on mobiles and possibly tablets, headed, 'Episode Transcript'.

For more information on this podcast series, 'John Scott Lawton's English, you know', or to make any comments or to ask any questions relating to English Language learning, please contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a sound bite comment on Spotify.

Please visit my LinkedIn profile at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to view Recommendations regarding my English Language teaching and Executive Coaching Services (towards the bottom of my profile page).

#electricvehicles #electriccars #Košice #Slovak #Slovakia #Bratislava #Slovensko #capacitybuilding #English #Englishlanguage #listeningskills #TESOL #IELTS #listeningpractice #IELTSexam