Comments

G'day Rachel,Thank you so much for the recipe! All the readers will agree with me that we're having a great time reading your posts and talking to you. In answer your question about/to Australia's national anthem, I'm afraid I don't know and will be looking forward to the answer in your next post. Ah, this time we will be looking forward to hearing about so many things from you, and it will be exciting. Naheed

Hello again, Rachel, it would be a pleasure to share the recipe for Vindaloo with you. A little about this dish, it's a Goan dish which is roughly translated from Portugese as 'wine,vinegar and garlic'. It was first brought to Goa by the Portugese and became a Goan meal. Goa is a state in Southern india. I'm also providing you with a link for the recipe of 'Chicken Vindaloo. (http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/recipes/inc/nrcpc8.tdf?0) . The other recipe is with mutton by Sanjeev Kapoor, India's master chef. (Mutton Vindaloo)(Ingredients) Serves 4 1 kg Mutton (tender, 1 inch cubes) 4 tbsps Oil 5 small sized Potatoes (peeled & halved) 2 medium sized Onions (chopped) 2 Cloves 4 Peppercorns 2 Green cardamoms 4 Green chillies (slit) 1 tsp Sugar Salt to taste 4 tbsps Malt vinegar (Grind to paste) 1 inch stick Cinnamon 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 1 tsp Turmeric powder 10 cloves Garlic 1 inch piece Ginger 6 Red chillies whole (Method) Heat four tablespoons of oil in a pressure cooker and fry potatoes till light brown. Drain and keep aside. Fry chopped onions in the same oil till lightly browned. Add mutton pieces along with cloves, peppercorns, cardamoms, green chillies, sugar and salt. Mix and add two cups of water. Pressure cook till five to six whistles. Meanwhile grind cinnamon, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, garlic, ginger and whole red chillies to a fine paste. Open the lid of the pressure cooker, add fried potatoes and ground masala. Simmer till meat and potatoes are cooked. Add vinegar and simmer for another five minutes. Serve with Goan bread or rice. A little note from me, too. You can also cook this without pressure cooker, the only difference will that it will take a little longer to cook. Naheed

Hi Rachel! Wow! I'm really on the cloud nine when I've realised you're a teacher blogger in Nov. As I'm supposed that the teacher blogger will be altered to another one once the month is over. We'll not strictly follow BBC blogging house rules? Fortunately, I do like your way of blogging, topic appoaching and assisting useful feedback to commentors. I'll regret to see you leaving if BBC teacher blogger turns to someone else. I do hope this is not only my personal comment, but the others have found you in the same way and been with me. To me, writing a blog is more difficult than giving a debate which I prefer more about. Blogging is rather than telling a story or an experience, yet keeping people's comments in the way of interesting interactions is the hardest thing to do. I've ever joined in some sites, however it's quite boring and monotorous narration, so everyone gives reluctant comments to the end. I'm really off when you say about pavlova recipe, but some people over there mind on that and I'm sure you'll get some feedback very soon. Hey, let me have a taste on that cake, guys who have a go. Give a "Hi from vietnam" to Chris and Owen when you see them. I'm also glad to hear their stories in your blog. Keep going on. Till your next post of your pinic party. Have a lovely weekend!

Hi Rachel, Listening song is one way of learning a language. We can learn languages by listening songs. Am I using gerund correctly here. Many suggested that we could acquire word power by the way of listening songs and watch movies. I tried, but I could not follow it. Do you give any tips about that. Some times I even followed BBC learning English song line. It didn’t attract me much when I compare with Blog and talk about English. I love listening music especially melodious one.

Hi Rachel! To pick you up on sth= find, to work a treat= to be effective. No, I do not know your national anthem. What kind of music does your husband listen to? Ps: I realised that I commented on the wrong post yesterday.Once again,thank for answering to my comments and yes, you can find several paddy fields on the outskirts of Verona. All the best, Filippo

• Hi, these days I was busy with my study, as the exam is around the corner, and I didn’t pay a visit to your blog. I found so many updated passages today; and got my name somewhere! Many thanks! I appreciate that you do a lot for our readers. I love your writings. Your recipe reminds me about the recipes I know (Frankly speaking, only a few). For dumpling: place flour in a bowl,add water snowly, mixed with fingers and knead to form a soft dough.Cover with damp cloth, let stand about 15 minutes, then prepare meat,greet onion,leek, flavoring, ect (whatever as you wish) mixed thoroughly to make filling.Divide the dough into small parts,each one with the size of Pingpong Ball,Flatten each ball with rolling stick into a round thin pancake(the center should be thicker than edges) after that,place a teaspoonful of filling in center,fold over,and pinch in center first,then grasp edges between thumb and indes fingers to seal(you can create the shape you like).Boil about 10 cups of water in pan till boiling,drop dumplings one by one into boiling water, do remember to stir carefully with spoon to prevent sticking to the bottom of pan.Wait for the water boiling again.An secret is to add 2/3 cup of cold water into the pan and let it boil again. Serve hot,with the dressing you like~~~I am looking forward to your pictures~~they must be amazing!

Hey up, Rachel. Thanks for replying my comments. You are really nice. That's why you keep us here looking you in the eye. I'll tell you about the film another day. I've already read too much sad things in the news today.

Hi Rachel! Yum! Thanks for the pavlova recipe. Right now I´m having a piece of 'bolo de fubá com coco'( coconut and corn flour cake) and a cuppa. It´s not pavlova, I know, but at least I won´t feel so craving for something sweet :-). Rachel, what kind of music do you like to listen to? A couple of years ago, my sister gave me a CD with children songs in English. She said to me 'I thought this CD could be helpful in your English learning'. Oh it´s so lovely! My favourite song is called Bingo, it´s so cute :-)! Anyway, I really would like to know more about Waltizing Matilda, and in answer to your question I don´t know the title of Australia national anthem( don´t worry, I´m not going to look at Google :-)). Vocab: to pick you up on sth (phr vb): to notice something that a lot of other people have not noticed; to work a treat (expr): to be very effective. Have a wonderful weekend, Ana Paula.

Hi Rachel! Yum! Thanks for the pavlova recipe. Right now I´m having a piece of 'bolo de fubá com coco'( coconut and corn flour cake) and a cuppa. It´s not pavlova, I know, but at least I won´t feel so craving for something sweet :-). Rachel, what kind of music do you like to listen to? A couple of years ago, my sister gave me a CD with children songs in English. She said to me 'I thought this CD could be helpful in your English learning'. Oh it´s so lovely! My favourite song is called Bingo, it´s so cute :-)! Anyway, I really would like to know more about Waltizing Matilda, and in answer to your question I don´t know the title of Australia national anthem( don´t worry, I´m not going to look at Google :-)). Vocab: to pick you up on sth (phr vb): to notice something that a lot of other people have not noticed; to work a treat (expr): to be very effective. Have a wonderful weekend, Ana Paula.

Hello Madam Rachel! Though I am not interested in these recipes but I would like to ask you what this "G'day" actually means? Regards.

G'day What are you doing today , yes I konw today is saturday and long work hours . Thanks for recipe and wish you a grate weekend .My son Hooman send Hi to your cheeky moneky ,too and wants more photo of Owen bye

G'day Rachel, I have just known from your blog that the "Waltzing Matilda" is the most famous Aussie folk song. I have known the tune many years ago. I remember the Czech lyrics version "Hadej Matildo" (Guess Matilda). I like the tune. I know, it is really ridiculous and embarrassing! I thought the song is about some woman called Matilda, who is dancing a dance waltz. Ha-ha-ha. I have just read the truth about the sad lyrics in Wikipedia.

Hello everyone and especially Rachel ! This is the first time that I come here and see things around.To be honest, I found out that it is very interesting to read the blog entry as well as everyone's comments.I really like the friendly way that you've communicated with each other. Besides that I love to participate in this excellent blogging activity with you.Look forward to read your post. Nice to meet you, guys ! Cheers Have a nice Sunday !

Hi Rachel, even that I dont like hearing news I have force my self every moring to hear BBC on radio during driving to work and it is really inrich my vacobulary while any new words I heart it I repeat it again .

Hello Rachel. I really enjoyed your blogs during the last month. Your lapidary style made me eager to join in in order to profit from your broad knowledge and also to share my ideas with all the readers. Without cheating by looking it on google, I guess that the title of the Australian anthem may have something to do with the kangaroo or the kaola bear because these animals exist only in Australia and nowhere else in the world. For the vocab, I'm not sure about the meaning. I'll give it a go however. - To pick you up on: To make something evident for you. - To work a treat: To be effective, to work well. I'm eagerly looking forward to your next post. Kind regards. Mansour

Hi Rachel, Sometimes, I play the CD of English song to arrange a circumstance to learn English.

Hi Rachel, I like very much cooking but I do not usually cook cakes or sweet meals. Your recipe is quite interesting. I like the precision : the egg whites at room temperature. I am going to try to make it but probably not before next year when I have fresh strawberries. I was going to ask what was “castor sugar” but I couldn’t resist to google for it, so it seems to be what it is called here in Belgium “impalpable sugar” (kind of powder sugar)

Hi,Rachel How are you and your family? Has Owen been a good boy? I wrote to you as soon as I could but as you know mums always have their hands full to chase after their children.Specially mine is so demanding and never gives me to put my feet up.Ohhhhh!I am moaning and grumpy again.I am going to answer your question now. I am an origin of Korea.I've lived in England for about seven years.I used to think that my mum's house is was my sweet home but I've changed my thought since I visited Korea in July this year. it was really good to see my family and friends,but to be honest with you somehow I felt a little uneasy and awkward.people say home is where your heart is.I now reluctantly agree to it.I hope any of my family doesn't read today's my comment. As we are not a sping chicken my husband and me love to listen songs from 1970 to 1980's like "words" "sad movies" "never ending story" and so on. Whenever we have guests my five-year old son sings along very loudly one of the songs..Words,don't come easy to me,How can i say i love you ...and he never misses saying these are old songs and my mummy and daddy like them so much because they are old frames. His too truthful comments make the guest laugh their head off.Isn't he mischievous? Have a good day!

Hello, Rachel. I'm Douglas Batista from Brazil. I was just hanging around on-line when I found this amazing website. It's so nice and very useful for me, an English learner (learner of English[?]). The problems I face regarding the learning of a foreign language are the same most learners face: I don't have a real Engish enviroment from where I can absorving language. Therefore, I've decided to attend to this blog; to keep my English up-to-date and have great time, as it seems evebody here has! Have a nice day!

Hi Rachel and everyone, Hope everybody is doing great. It’s a pleasure to be a regular blogger and congrats to everyone who are doing that. Since you were asking for a legend story and here we are Wherever you go, In India you can find stories rich in legends and myths. Let me share a story which was believed to have happened before 450 years. My native place is near Tiruchendur, a costal town in Thoothukudi district, State of Tamil Nadu, India. We have a famous Murugan temple, a Hindu temple. This is a huge temple situated in the costal areas of Bay Of Bengal Ocean. In the 16 th century Portuguese started visiting India. Exploration brought them to Tiruchendur via sea route. They were fascinated by the beauty of the God Muruga idol and they took it with them. On their way there was a heavy storm and rain made them difficult to steer their boat and they came to a conclusion it might be because of the idol. So they dropped the idol in the ocean. Back in Tiruchendur the God appeared in a devotees dream and showed him the place. The Devote took some Divers with him to a place where a was lemon floating and underneath they found the idol Even now the idol is in the temple and you can spot the damages in the idol believed to be caused by the salt water. These paintings can be spotted on the temple walls. This story was told told to me by my father. More information’s can be found at http://www.tiruchendurmurugan.com/. I hope you enjoyed reading. See you tomorrow. Bye! Bye!

Hi Rachal, hoping that you are fine. One of my friend told me about BBC learning and sharing my first insight feelings, its really a good platform to share comments and listen others and most important thing is the improvement of writing skills. That's it for today.