Today we're talking about the idioms "free rein" and "carte blanche" 

For instance, "the architect given carte blanche to design the store", or "you have free rein to hire anyone you want".

DAILY Business English VOCABULARY builder

You're free! Do whatever you want!

Teacher Joseph's Podcast

Christmas Preparations 

I talk about Marie Collett, a distinctive voice from 1980s British independent radio, best known for delivering British Airways travel news on LBC and other ILR stations.

I discuss her accent, vocal style, and on-air authority, and how radio in the 1980s framed women’s voices — particularly those associated with aviation, travel, and reassurance. Marie Collett’s delivery reflected a very specific era of British broadcasting, when accent, tone, and perceived credibility were carefully curated.

This clip looks at:

Marie Collett’s role on LBC and independent local radio

The British Airways travel news format

Accent, gender, and authority in 1980s broadcasting

How women’s voices were framed in radio news and continuity

Why these voices still stand out today

This is a reflective piece about media history, radio culture, and voice, not speculation — placing Marie Collett within the broader soundscape of 1980s Britain.

The clip presented here of the voice of Marie Collett is presented for educational purposes and is copyrighted by Global Media.

1143 Who Was Marie Collett? LBC, British Airways Travel News & Radio Style in the 1980s

In this short reflective video, I take a simple McGills bus journey service number 26 to Braehead shopping centre and walk through the shops, quietly observing what Christmas looks and feels like today. Instead of focusing on buying or rushing, I look for signs of meaning, kindness, reflection, and something deeper behind the season.

This isn’t a review of shops or a vlog about spending money. It’s a slow, observational walk through everyday spaces, asking gentle questions about what Christmas has become — and where its meaning might still be found.

A calm, reflective video for anyone who feels a little detached from the noise of Christmas but still senses there’s something important underneath it all.


1142 Where Is Christmas Today? A Bus Ride and a Walk Through the Shops

On this date, 10 December 1936, King Edward VIII signed the Instrument of Abdication, giving up the British throne so he could marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson. This historic moment reshaped the monarchy, led to the reign of King George VI, and eventually paved the way for Queen Elizabeth II.

In this video, we look at why Edward VIII chose to resign, the constitutional crisis it triggered, and how the relationship between Edward and Wallis became one of the most famous love stories of the 20th century.

If you enjoy history, royal stories, or daily “On This Date” content, remember to like and subscribe.

Key topics covered:

Edward VIII abdication

Wallis Simpson and the monarchy

Constitutional crisis of 1936

“On this day” historical events

British royal history explained

On This Date: 10 December 1936 – King Edward VIII Abdicates for Love

Neil McTaggart makes his first journey into town after settling in Canada.
The air is clean, the world quieter than the mills of Kilbirnie he left behind. In a warm little café, he meets Mrs Brant, a woman with her hair pinned up and a strong puritan look that reminds him of his grandmother. Through her quiet kindness, Neil begins to sense what belonging might feel like in this new land.

This gentle, reflective story captures the rhythm of early immigrant life in rural Canada — the small kindnesses, the silence, and the slow building of community far from home.

🎧 Part of the “Neil McTaggart” storytelling series — following a young Scottish man’s journey of migration, memory, and identity in 1920s Canada.