Having a whale of a time
I’m so glad to hear that Csilla got home safely. I’m sure you are having a whale of a time together. I remember when I was 19 and I had just returned from Vancouver in Canada. My parents met me at the airport and when they saw me they gave me such a wonderful, big hug. It didn’t feel like five minutes since we had said goodbye at the same airport seven months earlier and my mum had been in floods of tears. I sometimes think that only when you have been apart for a while do you realise how important people are to you. I think that I took my parents for granted when I was at home. My mum took care of the housework and my dad worked all day. It wasn’t until I was on the other side of the world that I really appreciated them for all they had done for me.
I’m not too keen on Formula 1 to be honest. I used to watch it occasionally with my dad when I was younger, but I’ve never really been into cars so I’m not too fussed about watching it now. I’ve got a few friends who just can’t get enough of it, though. One friend I knew a few years ago used to stay up all night to watch the races. His friend even flew over to Japan from the UK just to watch the Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit. It always surprises me how much people will pay, or what they will do, in order to pursue their interests. Like Star Wars fans waiting in line outside cinemas for days just to see the films before anyone else. Have you ever gone to any great lengths to pursue an interest?
I have to say your house looks very picturesque. And the garden is so green! I’d love a house with a garden, too, some day. It’s no surprise that you love nature and you have so many pets! Tomono always says how much she’d love to have a dog, but keeping a dog in an apartment in the city doesn’t seem right to me. I remember a neighbour of mine used to keep two large dogs in their flat. I felt so sorry for them, being stuck outside on the balcony for most of the day with no space to run around.
Tomono had a similar experience to your son when she was younger. On her way home from school she found a puppy which had been abused and abandoned by the side of the road. She took it home and nursed it back to health. It’s a tiny little thing which still lives at her mum’s house. They named him ‘Toyota’. He really makes me laugh sometimes because he’s so cute and only ever turns left. Tomono’s mum takes really good care of him. She even takes him to a special beauty parlour for small dogs…
Finally, I’d like to believe that we are masters of our own destiny. I’m not comfortable with the idea that life is predetermined. How about in other countries and cultures?
Sorry for rambling on for so long today!
Lewis
Useful phrases from today’s post:
(to) have a whale of a time
(to) give someone a hug
(to be) in floods of tears
(to) take someone for granted
(to) appreciate someone (for doing something)
(to be) (not) keen on (doing) something
(to be) into something
(to be) (not) too fussed about (doing) something
(to) stay up all night (to do something)
(to) fly over (to somewhere)
(to) have a (real) passion for (doing) something
(to) wait in line (to do something) OR (for something)
(to) go to great lengths (to do something)
(to) pursue an interest
(to) keep a dog/cat etc (as a pet)
(to) feel sorry for someone/something
(to be) stuck outside
(to) nurse someone/something back to health
(to) make someone laugh/cry/happy
(to) ramble on (about something)
Comments
Hello teacher! I am happy to read your blogs. It answers to some of my questions. I would like to express my personal opinion about destiny. I think most people do not feel comfotrtably with the idea of life’s predetermination just like you.The man of 21 century feels strong and capable to rule the world.That confidence comes from lots of technical inventions during the last years. On the other hand, no matter where we live and the faith we profess we are weak against natural disasters and terrorism. So this confidence is a little bit faulty. When I was younger I thought I can do everything and no one can stay at my way. But now I am not as sure as I was.The experiences I have now make me wiser. My opinion has changed also since I watched ‘Final Destination’. Have you watched this film? Despite the fact that I realise it is a little bit exageratted, I was very impressed.From my point of view superstition could not help us in everyday situations but can make us more careful.Since I watched this film I keep in my mind that we can not always master our destiny. Bulgarians have a good proverb but literal translation will be inexact. The meaning is that when in someone’s destiny was written to drown he/she will not hang himself/herself. Is there any English proverb with a similar meaning? I’ll be grateful if you explain how to aboid he/she and himself/herself in the prevoius sentence. Thank you in advance!
Lewis, i take a lot of interest in reading ur blog. today i thought of writing this as i have come accross some friends who really belives in horescopes and they take them granted. you wont belive my collegue was really stick to the horoscope. she told that her parent hav ematched the horescope before doing any thing. thus in soem occations horescope plays critical role s as well. imagine your whole marriage life depends on the horescope as you have selected the person according to your horescopes not according to the ideas of the cuple.
First of all, you shouldn,t have need to sorry for rambling on for so long because when you are waffling more and more I can learn lots of useful English from you. Secondly,I had never thought My husband would be a foreigner before I got married to my husband. As I said to my family I fell in love with an english man and I wanted to marry him my mum looked terrified and tried very hard to recover the shock and she said she already knew i was going to marry to a foreiner and she continued her story.one day she went to see a fourtune- teller and asked her about my future.surprisingly she told my mum that your daughter will marry to a man from abroad and she's leaving you and lives abroad in 10 years.I do believe that I am mastes of my own life.However I sometime wonder my life is predetermined or not. thank you again,
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I've been trying to think of a similar expression, Diema, but I can't come up with one yet...I'll let you know if I do. About avoiding 'himself/herself' you can use 'one' and 'oneself' instead, although you could also use 'you' and 'yourself'. I hope this helps...
Hi! Teacher Lewis, I think that your parents are so proud of you. Long life to them in good health and happiness. I'm so sorry that my English is by no means great and I am not able to write everything I want.Bye, bye!
Hi Lewis and everybody else!! While navigating the BBC site I came across this nice blogs which drew my attention. I noticed that you were having a whale of a time together and decided to join you.May I? Here in Brazil as we are really religious people we tend to believe that God is responsible for what happens to us. Most of us are at the mercy of God's wishes. We tend to use sayings such as "It's written in the stars..." "If God wants...". I must confess, though that despite my strong religious belief, I reckon we are the ones who trace our destiny.It would be too much to ask from God to manage the life of every single creature down here. Poor Him.That's the reason why I'm here talking to you because I know that I'm the only one responsible for improving my English. And I want to thank everybody here for giving me this chance!!! See you.
About destiny, I wrote in my comment to Anita. I read and write this, in a short spare time in my office, so I am not looking for the expressions in the dictionary. At home I don't have ADSL that is expensive here. Anyway I think it is useful for me this practice and I enjoy it. Could you explain me what did you mean about the dog "only ever turns left". I couldn't understand. Thanks
Please don't worry about making mistakes when you write comments- communication is far more important. Beatriz, I mean that Toyoto only turns left when he walks or runs. If he wants to turn to the right, he turns left 270 degrees...I hope this makes it clearer. I look forward to reading your next comments!
i'm very happy to find a good place to make progress in my english , sometimes i'm a creazy english learner ,but no more time and chance i have ,i have to find any time hiding in my working to read something , thanks , everyone's teacher! Meanwhile , it's very good story that happened to your parents . we all need to treasure our destinies , i think.:)
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