Goodbye! So long! Farewell! - and Thank you!
Dear Soyoung,
This is the last time I’ll be writing those two words – ‘Dear Soyoung’ – and that’s a little bit sad. Soyoung, this final blog is, of course, to you. However, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has visited the website and read our blogs. I want to say a special ‘Thank you!’ to everyone who has posted comments on my blogs to you. You have all been very kind, positive and encouraging. I hope you will continue when the new teacher blogger takes over, with a new student blogger, next week.
I have had a great time with you, Soyoung, and with Federico before you (in December). I have learned so much. It’s been a privilege.
It is midnight on Friday 2nd February (by the time I post this, therefore, it will be the early hours of Saturday morning). I’ve just checked and found no blog from you, Soyoung. I’m really sorry, but I have to post a blog now because I will be unable to post one at all tomorrow or Sunday. (I will, however, go online to look for your last blog at the beginning of next week.)
It’s been a busy day. Today would have been my late wife’s birthday. It’s impossible not to remember this day after thirty years of celebrating it. Since she died, three-and-a half years ago, we (Lucy and I) have always done something special on the day. So I spent much of the day in central London – at bookshops, in galleries, buying a few new CDs – and then Lucy came into town after school to join me. We had tickets for a series of short sketches by Harold Pinter (a famous British playwright) at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket (a well-known street in central London).
We met at the ICA (see previous blogs) and had a couple of caipirinhas then walked across Trafalgar Square to the theatre. At the moment, the ICA has a special projector set up in Trafalgar Square and at night you can go and stand under the light it projects and watch as your own personal spotlight appears, like a small person, and begins dancing around in the coloured light. You’re supposed to follow it, in a kind of dance. Well, I’m a pretty lousy dancer, but I did my best – and had a lot of fun. Lucy, of course, had much more fun – watching and laughing at me!
The theatre was excellent and by 10.30 Lucy and I were back on the streets of London taking our favourite walk – across Waterloo Bridge. At night, the view across London from Waterloo Bridge must be one of the most magical city views in the world. It is always so uplifting.
We popped into a favourite little French restaurant of ours and had a glass of wine and a few olives and were on the train home by 11.15. Lu has gone straight to bed but I wanted to complete this blog to you, Soyoung, to say goodbye and to thank you properly. I hope you continue to study English and I want to wish you all the very best for your future. Say ‘Hi!’ to all your family from me and Lucy – and, I’m sure, from all your readers around the world.
I have just read all the comments posted on my blogs from yesterday and the day before and, once again, I want to thank you all for your support and generosity. As you all know, I am going to Tanzania in about 10 days’ time, but when I get back I hope to be able to produce a page on the BBC World Service Learning English website, about twice a month. I will write about things of common interest and there will be some study material to go with it. It should also be possible for you to post comments. I don’t have any more details right now – just keep watching these pages. I am very excited about this development, and looking forward to hearing from you all again quite soon.
All the very best to all of you.
Thank you and goodbye (for now)!
With love and best wishes,
STEPHEN KEELER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to Federico (December 2006) and Soyoung, of course, and to Adriana (Brazil), Alex Mosky (Russia), Alisa (Belarus), Ana (Argentina), Ana (Poland), Anar Nabi, Ana (Poland), Ania (Warsaw, Poland) Anna Paula (Brazil), Buigai (Vietnam), Diego (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Diema (Bulgaria), Elena (Moscow), Ethan (China), Farida (Pakistan), Fenny (Shanghai), Gaetano (Rome), Gloria (Spain), Graciela (Santa Fe, Argentina), ‘H’ (Spain), Helen (China), Helen (Helsinki), Iryna (Ukraine), Hyoshil (Lincoln), Jana (Czech Republic), Jill Huang (Beijing), Julio (Brazil), Kasita (Bangkok, Thailand), Katya (Moscow), Layha (Brunei), Lena (Berlin), Lizzy (Taiwan), Lucia (Italy), Luciana (Brazil), Maria (Russia), Marianna (Slovakia), Marula (Scotland), Mauricio (Brazil), Michelle (China), Minh Le (Vietnam), Monica (Brazil), Monika (London), Naraa (Mongolia), Nozomi (Japan), Olga Pakhtaev (Krasnoyarska, Siberia, Russia), Pary, (Iran), Paulraj (India), Paulo Cezar (Apucarana-Paranã, Brazil), Rohit Pokharel (Kathmandu), Vijay Poomalai (India), Radek (Czech Republic), Rajveer (India), Ricardo (Mexico), Richard (USA), Rita (Germany), Roxana Carine (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Shipra (Delhi, India), Shirley (Beijing), Stephan (Cologne, Germany), Suha (Turkey), Suzie (Beijing), Swe Swe Nwe (Singapore), Tereza (Czech Republic), Tey (Thailand), Tram (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Ueslei (Brazil), Virginia (Spain), Wim (The Netherlands), Yau Liyuan (Singapore), J B Young (Canada), Zanta Zhao (China), Zeata (Hang Zhou, China), Zhao (Africa).
I hope I have included the names of everyone who posted comments on my blogs during January. Perhaps I should have included December, as well. I am very sorry if you posted a comment and your name is not here. It doesn’t mean I didn’t read your comment, just that I am not as well organised as I thought I was.
Comments
I do like this blog,and the conversation between the bloggers were really good during the past month.I wish for both of you congratulations and have a great year.
All the best for your trip Stephen! Hope to see you back as lively and healthy as you are now. Chao!
Dear Stephen I have been a reader of your blogs for the past few days. I enjoyed them a lot and I learned some useful words and expressions through them. I loved the way you wrote ,the way you explained your relationship with Lucy , the way expressed respect and love for your late wife(may god bless her) and her memories ,and the way you looked towards life. I loved the simplicity in your writing and communicating. And I also loved your beautiful, tastefully designed home . (Your pink shoes are cute too.) I wish you a nice and safe trip and I do look forward to reading the pages you have promised for twice a month on your coming back. It was nice getting to know you. I wish I had been to this useful site much earlier . Anyway thank you so much for what you have written and what you have taught us in a very friendly manner. Say my special hello to Lucy. have a nice trip. GOOD LUCK and GOOD BYE for now
HOORAY! I'm over the moon that you ,dear teacher STEPHEN, will produce a page on the BBC World Service Learning English website. I can't wait to read your excellent writings.I wish you a wonderful trip to Tanzania and good luck. All the very best to Lucy.(I too have a daughter. She is sixteen years old.)I look forward to hearing from you. Be well and safe!
I've been reading your BLOG for two months.I'm very glad to know you and really love your words.The article which sees you everyday has already become my homework necessarily every morning. hope to hear favourably from you.Good lucky!
thank you very very much for your more than interesting blog. Nice to meet you. I'll hope to read you again . Good look with your climbing stuff. Have a nice time!. (and again, thanks)
Dear Stephen, thanks for everything! That's really incredible how you were able to respond to all our expectations. I'am also happy that you will continue meeting with us on the special subpage. Actually this seems to be something I meant while asking you a question about the thematic blog. I cross my fingers for your Kilimanjaro expedition, hope you will be able to see something more, at least Ngoro Ngoro. Best wishes to you and Lucy,
hi Stephen Is it the last time for you to blog too?? I will miss you and miss lucy too, you have been very kind to us the readers. You invite us to you beautiful home throug BBC blogg site. Please when you are back, join us. I wish you god luck with your trip. best wishes jianna Sweden
"Ask a child to be quiet. The dog not to bark in the night. Latin woman just hide feelings if ill. I've learned from Soyoung something new. But it's easier ask a cat not to mew."*** "I felt sad in the 4th paragraph. I've just cleaned the tears in the bath. It's great that our trials to keep you here didn't fail. I confess I thought your shoes were a tale. Isn't any of your books somewhere for sale?***"My teacher is virtual, my thank you is real. I tried hard to be concise the english language make me dizzy, but even if I am buzy, for me this is not easy".*** "The comment must be small, so I send a kiss to you all. Including Lucy and readers all in all and the BBC moderator behind the wall.You are invited to Brazil just call. In love with Brazil you'll fall".
Hello Stephen. It was a pleasure to read your blog. It helped me a lot. This new project with BBC looks very nice. It´ll be great to hear more from you. All that I can wish to you is that you have a very nice trip, and good luck in your new project. By the way, stylish shoes hum... it´s a pity you didn´t upload a picture wearing it. That´s ok. Maybe in the next time. Regards.
It's my first time to comment here and I feel sad to heard this is your last blog.But anyway,it's our honour to have such a great teacher on BBC.in the past,I used to read the student blogger,and seldom to read the teacher one.But after you take over,I started to read both bloggers(you and soyoung)Your posts are all fantastic and I enjoyed read it so much.I'm looking forward to hearing your trip in Tanzania.Take care,Stephen!
Oh...It was very moving to read your post. All about your late wife birthday and so on. Thank you, Stephen, for sharing with us the piece of your life by blogging. That was really, really great! And nice way to learn English as well. I am looking forward to reading your pages after you are back from Tanzania. Good luck there, anyway! And fingers crossed for Lucy with her art history studies (I am an art historian myself). All the best!
Thank you very much for your aknowledgement! I will miss you a lot, I think you are an excellent teacher & a much better person. I totally appreciate your work & look forward to hearing from you at BBC. Wish you & Lucy the best on your next goals ( entering university & climbing the Kilimanjaro). Take care of yourselves! Love!
Dear Stephen! I do not know how to decribe my feeling now since there are some time I cannot see you and Soyoung. Your blogs accompany me in the past one month. At this period, I met one big challenge and nearly lost faith on it. But the sincerity between you, Soyoung and all readers keep infecting me. It is so warm and sweet! Thanks and hope your everything goes well! I will miss all of you! From Helen
Hi,Stephen It has been a great previlige to have you here and you have given me a very important reason why I have to improve my English.The better I learn English the better I understand my husband and son's culture. I've had a fantastic time and learnt many things from you.for exgample,an advent calendar and mulled wine so on... what I most thank you for is your easy and relaxed posters which were included beautiful expressons, corrections and grammar.I do hope you will successfully finish the big mission, of course make huge donations and come back home safely.I don't have the slightest idea what sort of wildness Lucy has but you have raised and taught her all the time so if you trust your parenting you don't need to worry about her while you are away.I am very excited about your next project and have a high hope it happens soon.Again I would like to thank you for your committement, great enthusism and sharing your warm heart with us.Good luck and take care of yourself and Lucy!P.S:love doesn't go away and grief never fade away,too.
Dear Stephen, Although I never posted a comment here, I started to read your and Soyoung's blogs about 2 weeks ago. And I think it is my last chance to thank you. I really enjoyed it. I wish you luck in your journey. Also I wish to meet such a kind and friendly teachers as you when I will come to UK. Best wishes, Vladlen Senin
Your blog has been very readable since. I enjoyed a lot of learning from the content of it. And would like to join to thank you. WIsh you a nice journey to Tanzania.
Stephen: Thank you so much for your blog!!I'am really appreciate what you have done for our English leaner! Hope everything goes well with you!!
Stephen: Thank you so much for your blog!!I'am really appreciate what you have done for our English leaner! Hope everything goes well with you!!
Hi, Stephen. I've just finished reading your last blog here and I'm glad to know that you will produce a page on the BBC World Service Learning English website after you come back from Tanzania. And I'm also glad to hear from you that I can post comments on your new webpage.Looking forward to hearing from you soon. I'll be here right waiting for you and your articles. Best wishes for your trip! Wish you Succeed!
Hello Stephen! Even though, I have not been a regular commentator this month I have been reading all your useful entries. You are a teacher who regards his profession as a vocation, not just a job. Thank you for everything that you did in December and January. I would also like to wish you good luck for trekking to Kilimanjaro. I will be thinking of you and I will keep my fingers crossed for you as well. I think you are an extremely good father and Lucy is a fantastic girl. Your warm personality clearly comes out in your writings. We could see the beautiful relationship between you and your daughter. You must be proud of her and Lucy must be proud of her father. Finally, I must tell you something. My daughter, who is studying in England at a university, visited us in January and she brought traditional English Christmas pudding for us as a present. I must admit that I liked it so much although, lots of people said that it is not delicious. I have prepared mulled wine since December by your recipe. Thanks again. The idea about the party is superb. And your shoes….Wow! My very best wishes to you and Lucy!
Hello, Stephen, I'm sorry that I didn't update the blog last 2 days of mine. You're dedicated and kind. Your blog makes me very warm. Now, it's regret that I couldn't concentrated it very well. It's not perfectly good time for me because I had to do more things at work especially Jan to Feb. I didn't like to lose the opportunity that is very special experience. Thank you for your kind help and good advice about my English. Of course, I look into BBC learning English for the future. I hope you and your good daugher, Lucy are very fine and everything goes very well. Take care, Soyoung
Dear Stephen! I'll save my thanks and compliments. I just want to say that the number of comentators in that month's blog is the higest one since I started to visit this site.I don't know what statistics shows.Is there any statistics by the way? It talks alot about the quantity of connection between readers and the teacher.It is great success,isn't it? Have a nice trip and don't forget us. Diema
Hello! Everything is there where the time begins. How do we have to live not knoving to speak yet. We have experienced that patience taking us up and seen with love that precious family life. Thank you and best wishes!
Dear Stephen, You ended up with great memories of your late wife. Even in the first day of this month you remember her in a special way. It’s really an emotional one. I wanted to ask you one thing sometimes back. Do you visit church regularly? You said that you are not very religious man. You celebrated Christian festival in a very meaningful way. But you didn’t say anything about you practicing, like visiting church, participating ceremonies etc... I don’t want go further on that now. I’m so happy that you will be with us after your trip to Kilimanjaro. I was much exited when I saw this in your blog. My special thanks to bbc learning English for this arrangements. All the best. Have a wonderful trip.
Dear Professor Keeler, follewing your blogs has been an extraordinary way to learn English language and to appreciate English people. Thank you very much. Now I'm looking forward to reading your new column on the BBC. Really I can't wait! Have a glorious trip and, please, say hello to Lucy.
Hello Stephen! It was a pleasure to read your blog for last two months. Your blogs were very useful and facinating for all who learn english from BBC learning english.Have a nice and save trip. You are a wonderful teacher. we all were very lucky to have such a good teacher for last two months. I am excited about your next project. My best wishes for you and Lucy. Thanks a lot.
Dear Stephen, I have been reading your extraordinary blogs regularly. And your teaching style is so great that everything seems so simple. Learing engliah is so much fun. Thank you very much for writing such nice blogs about your lifestyle and english culture. All the best to you and Lucy. Hope to read your articles soon. Cheers Mandalika
I wish you the best Stephen in Tanzania.And for your daughter Lucy, as well. May God bless you both. You have a big heart. I am happy you will return soon to this blog. I am sure everybody will miss you
Thank you for your blog. I will be waitnig for your page on the BBC website. What do I have now? Your fabulous shoe (empty). Your page have to be is this "pinc" color :) Come back as soon as possilbe.
Dear Stephen, I'll miss you a lot, You are a good teacher and lovely person. Thank you for your blog it was a pleasure, it helped me a lot. Good lucky in your trip and all the best for Lucy. I´ll wait for your new project with BBC learningenglish. I hope to read your advice soon. Thank again!
Thank you Stephen for sharing your live with us! I wish you and your daughter all the best and I am realy looking forward to hearing from you soon. Good luck in Tanzania!!
this is really a good way of serving to the students and all those who wants to lighten the candle of english language. so I as a student wents to appritiate from you guys and say special (thank you) for you all . Regards, Stanikzai
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Congratulate to u the happy birthday of your wife. Alove for you both
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