"A pinch and a punch..."
Dear Soyoung,
My late wife taught me – over thirty years ago – a little rhyme for the start of a new month. Today it is 1st February, so I woke Lucy at seven o’clock, as usual, with this:
A pinch and a punch
For the first of the month.
[“My Dad is so predictable – and, at times, just a little bit tiresome. And he’s lying: it was six-thirty!” – LUCY]
I know, it doesn’t even rhyme properly, does it? As you say it, you’re supposed to first (lightly!) pinch the other person and then (even more lightly!) punch him or her. It’s supposed to bring them good luck for the new month. Maybe it’s a Manchester thing (that’s where my wife was from). I certainly knew nothing of this rhyme when I was a boy growing up in the north-east of England.
Are there any rhymes or rituals for a new month, in Korea?
So, it’s February. That means just one thing for me this year: Kilimanjaro, in only thirteen days from now. This morning I bought a waterproof, windproof, insulated jacket and a small rucksack for my big adventure. Everything costs so much! But I don’t think you can do this kind of trip without good quality clothes and equipment (I’m leaving the pink shoes at home!).
Yes, it’s February – so it’s still winter. Or it should be winter. But, Soyoung, I’m writing this at two o’clock in the afternoon and I’ve been out in my car all morning – with the top down. Right now, I’m writing this with the kitchen door wide open. The sun is shining. My garden is full of crocuses. There is the sound of birdsong in the air. Soyoung, I do believe it’s spring!
Perhaps I should go for a run before the sun goes down and the temperature goes with it. So I’ll just write a few language notes at the end of this and then I’ll start preparing for my last blog to you.
Take care.
Best wishes,
STEPHEN
PS: I went to see Venus yesterday, and I enjoyed it very much. However, I think it's probably an old man's movie.
SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
pinch
If you ‘pinch’ someone you squeeze a small part of his/her flesh between your thumb and first finger.
punch
If you ‘punch’ someone you hit him/her hard with your fist.
NOTE: In this rhyme you’re really only supposed to just touch the other person very gently, or even just mime pinching and punching.
rituals
A ritual is an action or a series of actions (or ceremonies) which are carried out as part of a cultural tradition.
waterproof
Something which is ‘waterproof’ will not let water pass through it, or will not be damaged by water. There are several other compound adjectives like this, for example: fireproof (some materials used in the kitchen should be fireproof), shockproof (a good watch should be shockproof), windproof (a good tent should be windproof).
insulated
made from material which will stop heat escaping
equipment
the things which are needed for a particular activity (for example, writing equipment, painting equipment, sports equipment, camping equipment). NOTE: ‘equipment’ can never be used with an ‘s’ on the end (it is always plural in meaning but takes a singular form of the verb, for example: Her equipment was getting wet.)
crocuses
spring flowers (from which saffron can be collected)
A FEW SENTENCES TO CHECK AGAIN
Look again at the parts of your blog, Soyoung, where you have written sentences like these. I have re-written them, with corrections and some other small changes. Check them and make sure you know how to use them next time.
I’ve just finished work.
I’m waiting for my colleague who hasn’t finished yet.
I waste almost two hours a day travelling to and from work in the rush hour.
We all have different mother tongues and only have one thing in common – that we love learning English with the BBC.
My uncle is the Korean ambassador to France…
I only hate one thing, and that is racism.
I think it’s very important to understand others’ cultures before making judgements.
Comments
I see you are really good prepared for your big adventures. Don’t forget to take a lot of chocolate. Good luck!!!
I want to know what will be your next adventure after the Kilimanjaro. I hope you don't think the same as Martin Strel who wants to swimm the Amazon river from Peru to Brazil. I think he shouldn't do that. It's almost impossible to survive. I know I neither will know nothing about the next adventure and nor about the Kilimanjaro. It's a shame. I'm imagining you in the kitchen. The sun shining so bright. Birds singing. The colofour flowers...I bet you thought in that music: "...here comes the sun...it's sems like years since it's been here..." The ritual here is in the first day of april when nobody can trust anybody. It's a day of little tricks. Now the expectation is for the carnival. February is the month of carnival and its end pratically marks the beginning of the year. Ok and this is the end of my comment because the longer is the comment, the more is the risk to break the house rules and while you were being addressed so badly writen lines, my comments were not published. By the way, I wrote the answer of the math question. Where is the comment... don't ask to me.. I hope you like the book. Now it's my turn to look for a british book here. The name is "Affluenza" or something like that.
Hello Stephen. Tomorrow will be your last blog. So could you take a picture of you wearing your great pink shoes? Just for us see how nice you are on it. The weather is really crazy. I think all this weather mess is because of "global warming". Here is so hot and raining all the time, and it´s a heavy rain. Hundred of peolpe lost their homes because of it. That´s sad. I think is everthing settle to your trip. Do you think after you come back write a book about your experiences at Kilimanjaro? Regards.
Hi,Stephen It sounds like you've been busy with gearing up for the trip.You are absolutely right.You need proper and suitable clothes and good quality of equipment for such a huge clImbing.Your preparation for the trip reminds me one of my hilarious exprience.I used to climb up mountains in Korea and I was always conscious of danger,specialy winter climbing. One day I decieded to climb up the mountain Sulhock with one of my collegue who had never climbed a mountain before.I had given her a really and serious lecture which equipment she had to bring and which clothes she needed before we set off.When I met her at the foot of the mountain the weather was foggy and cold.As we reached half way up the weather got worse and it started snowing heavily.my collegue was stuggling to keep her balance so I had to help her really heavy rucksack.The weather turned horrible and the wind got up so I decided to abandon some of our possetions.when I helped her to decide what she had to keep I couln't believe my eyes.She didn't bring the important necessaries only Korean traditional alcohol,Soju,it was about more than 10 bottles.At that time I was furious and I nearly burried her at the mountain.Finally we got a shelter safely and drank the Soju and we laughed our head off. At that time i thought she was a pain in the neck but I miss her now and wish her good life.i can't think of any ritual for a new month in Korea. Have a smashing day!
It's a good place for me to learn English. I find it. Thank U BBC and Thank U Teachers Bookmark this page!
HI stephan ! How do you do ? Today is Friday ( Iranian ‘s weekend ) , so I ‘m free to have a long comment and perhaps my last comment for you . “A pinch and a punch For the first of the month” , It is a very interesting ritual for beginning of a month , but we have no ritual for it . Oh pour Lucy , Your father can pinch and punch you perhaps , one or two hour later .Also , I very liked your ritual on Lucy ‘s day that you said us , before . Your relation ship sounds very well ! And one question , Why every time that you mention to your nice wife , you say my late wife ?Were you get married very late ? Your global party sounds very interesting . I loved it .I think we all are in a virtual party in the internet . It ‘s the Net miracle , Is n’t it ? We know each other very well , so our party is very informal. we can smell all cookies baked by Ana , we can taste all kind of beer from Russia and France and Brazil and also from Korea ( oh my goodness ! Moslems can ‘t drink any kind of beer ! ) Lots of thanks for your grammatical notes in the past blogs . They were very useful . I liked your last tests and exams a lot . I think it ‘s very good idea for February teacher ( when you are climbing to Kilimanjaro ) . I have another comment , I hope your be more kind to us , and put us a very special gift . If you have time ( yes I know when we are going to such a long journey , there are many things to do , perhaps Lucy can help you ) , please record your last blog with your sound and perhaps some sentences of dear Lucy . Please try it . I wish you best in your climbing , please don’t forget us and in next blogs , put us comments , we all can’t stand to hear from you . We al l , can’t forget you . I hope , BBC moderatos be so kind to let you have a special blog and have an article about your recent journey .Perhaps many beautiful photograph of mountain snow scene ! At the end , very thanks for all your significant blogs . I learned lots from your Blogs . Good luck for you and your lovely daughter . Take care
Hi Stephen!I've just finished collecting all your blogs with readers' comments in these two months.Can you imagine that?It is 170 pages in word!I could read it as a grammar book!You are really a responsible and professional teacher.Pls accept my great thanks for all your hard work these days.Is this your final blog?I wish it is not true as last time,but..I should have to say goodbye to you.Best wishes for you and you family,especially you pretty daughter-Lucy.
Hi Stephen. Thank you for your fantastic blogs, full of knowledge and amusement. I will miss them. Good luck and my best whises for you and your daughter.
Hi Stephen. Thank you for your fantastic blogs, full of knowledge and amusement. I will miss them. Good luck and my best whises for you and your daughter.
Hi Stephen, You know what,yesterday I sent you a message but something weird must have happened... although it was apparently sent successfully it did not appear on screen. Well, never mind. Here I'm again. Let's hope it works this time. As for ryhtms and rituals, I don't think we have any for the start of the year, at least not that I can remember. Although we do have some which are similar to yours, such as 'touch wood' when we want to protect ourselves from bad things, and "cheers" when we want to wish good luck for people at a bar table, and even "God Bless you" after someone sneezes. You must be really excited expecting your trip to Africa. Do you intend to reach the peak of the Kilimanjaro? If so how long will it take you to do that? Will you be going with a group of people? That sounds a really great experience. I've heard that the most popular peaks are Marangu and Machame. Which route will you be taking? Once I climbed the Corcovado peak when I was in Rio and it was an amazing experience. It took us 2 hours to reach the peak and 2.30 to descend, it's worst climbing down. The reward is the view we get from the top!!! Stephen, it's a pity you won't take your pink shoes!! In fact, I think you should go all in pink. You would be a roaring success among the lions and tigers. For sure you would be in the guiness book!!! Well I wish good luck in your adventure. It would be great to have a blog with you giving details of your journey so that we could have an idea of waht it's like o climb this mont. Cheerio, Monica
Dear Stephen, it would be great if You could blog again with another students after some time. You could tell us about Your trip to Kilimanjaro. I like Your manner of teaching very much. Best wishes!
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
