Nice to meet you Anita

The lovely people at BBC Learning English have asked me to continue as the teacher blogger this month, so I'll be doing my best to help you develop your English during September. However, it looks like I'm going to have my work cut out as your English already seems to be of a fairly high level in terms of accuracy and range. I'm looking forward to blogging with you and finding out all about your life in Slovakia. Actually, a good friend of mine has just moved to your country. We used to work together in Osaka, but he has a new position now at the British Council in Bratislava.

Just to refresh your memory I'll briefly introduce myself again. I live in Kobe, Japan with my wife, Tomono. We tied the knot just over a year ago in a traditional Japanese ceremony. She is from the island of Shikoku in Japan. She works for a popular restaurant magazine in Osaka. I was born near London, but only actually lived there for a fortnight. I've since lived in Germany, Belgium, Canada and now Japan. My dad's job meant that our family moved every four or five years or so. I have to say, though, that even though I've lived outside the UK for a sizeable chunk of my life, my language abilities pale in comparison with your family's.

I remember you left a comment on one of my previous posts about your daughter coming back to Slovakia this month. You must be thrilled to bits to see her again. I haven't seen my family since March, so I know the feeling of excitement as the day draws near when you can be with each other again.

I don't think it's unusual for you not to be career-minded; people's priorities in life lie in different places. I think that aspiring to be a good parent is a great thing.

Well, Anita it's getting late and I should catch forty winks otherwise I'll be bleary-eyed in the morning. You've taken your first step today, let's hope that this month turns out to be a giant leap in the development of your English!

Lewis

Useful phrases from today's post

(to) have your work cut out

(to be) thrilled to bits (about something)

(to) refresh someone's memory

(to) tie the knot

a fortnight (Brit. Eng)

something pales in comparison (with something else)

(to be) career-minded

(to) catch forty winks

(to be) bleary-eyed

Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.