Remember Remember the Fifth of November
Hello everyone, and especially my bosom possum
(I loved that, Leila, what a great expression!!)
Well I’m going to start by disappointing you – we had a lovely picnic in the park yesterday, but you’ll have to wait until next time to read about that, because today is the Fifth of November, so we have to commemorate Guy Fawkes. I’ll tell you all about him in a minute …
First, some of you have been nagging me to tell you the tragic story of Chris’s shoes. OK, but be warned, you will need at least a box of tissues, and you may never want to speak to me again …Are you sitting comfortably? Then let’s begin!
Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there lived a young prince called Chris. Being a prince of adventurous spirit, he decided after leaving university to travel and explore the world before returning home to settle down. So he flew away to the continent of Europe, where he saw many wonders. Eventually, he arrived in the country of Italy, which is famous for its food, wines and … shoes! The prince decided that there would be no better way to remember his trip than to buy a fine pair of shoes (that were about as expensive as his entire kingdom) that would last for his lifetime. So the noble prince bought the most wondrous Italian leather shoes he could find, and returned to his kingdom a happy man. Some time later, the prince met Princess Rachel and they decided to get married and live happily ever after. The shoes remained treasured in their box, and the prince wore other shoes to go about his business. But, one day, the other shoes began to fall apart.
“I know!” exclaimed the prince. “I will wear my best shoes for work until I can find some new ones, and then the best ones can go back into their box for special occasions.” So the prince wore his best shoes for work, and eventually found another pair to replace the old ones. After buying the new shoes, Prince Chris decided to wear them immediately, and put the best shoes into the box so he could take them home safely. And this is where the story becomes a tragedy – when Prince Chris arrived home from work, he left the shoe box containing the wondrous Italian shoes near the door where (according to Princess Rachel) it remained for several days. And so, assuming that the box contained the old, worn-out work shoes, Princess Rachel carried it downstairs and put it in the bin, where it remained until the palace garbage trucks came to take the bins away. The devastating loss went unnoticed until it was far, far too late. To this day, Prince Chris has kept the empty box for his beloved shoes, and whenever the prince and princess have a disagreement, the prince always says “But at least I’ve never thrown your shoes away.”
So there it is. The story of how I threw away Chris’ best shoes. (In my defence, it was an ACCIDENT! But I admit I really should have looked in the box before I chucked it out …)
Anyway, let’s move on!
Who is Guy Fawkes? And why is 5th November so special? Well, I shall tell you. I hope you like history! I’ll give you the potted version, and then tell you how we celebrate it today.
It begins with the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. Elizabeth had been strongly Protestant, and many Catholics had been persecuted during her reign. English Catholics hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant, since his mother had been a Catholic. Two years into his reign, in 1605, a group of young men decided that James was no better than Elizabeth had been, and that the only way to stop the persecution was with violence. So they hatched a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and hopefully kill the King and the members of parliament who were responsible. To carry out this plan, the group got hold of several barrels of gunpowder and stored them in a cellar directly under the House of Lords.
However, some members of the group had friends in the Houses of Parliament, and were worried that innocent people would be killed. One of them wrote a letter to a friend of his who was an MP, warning him not to go into Parliament on 5th November. This friend took the letter straight to the King, who sent troops to investigate. And guess who they found in the cellar, along with 36 barrels of gunpowder? That’s right! Guy Fawkes! He was immediately arrested, and then executed.
On the night that the explosion was intended, 5th November, bonfires were lit all over the country to celebrate the King’s safety, and ever since then, 5th November has been known as “Bonfire Night” or “Guy Fawkes Night”.
Bonfire Night was my favourite celebration as a child. In the north of England, the night before is known as “Mischief Night”, I think because of all the plotting that happened on the fourth. My sister and I used it as an excuse to be naughty and disobedient at home, although I remember taping up our letterbox (I think my parents still do this) because other people’s idea of mischief is to throw things (especially firecrackers, can you believe it?) through other people’s letterboxes.
The 5th November isn’t a public holiday in the UK, but for a few days beforehand you can see children asking for “a penny for the Guy”. We used to make effigies of Guy Fawkes from our dad’s old trousers and shirts, stuffed with newspaper, and take them round the streets, and people would give us a penny to spend on sweets (I don’t know if this still happens, but it was quite common when I was young). In the evening, we went round to a friend’s house for a bonfire and fireworks – sometimes bonfires were organised by local councils, or pubs, etc – and a bit of a party. We put the Guy on the bonfire to burn (this represents the end of the plot, I think), and watched the fireworks. The sad thing is that in the news the next day there are always reports of people who were injured by fireworks, and I think there are more public bonfires now to try and prevent this from happening. Because it’s November, it’s always freezing, and dark, so I remember wrapping up very warmly (and having a burning hot face and a freezing cold back from standing near the fire!) and lots of hot food – soup, baked potatoes, roast chestnuts etc. We used to have toffee apples, which are apples on sticks, dipped in toffee so they’re all sticky, and a special sort of toffee, called Bonfire Toffee, which was much darker than normal toffee – I’ll have to find out how to make it!
There’s even a rhyme about it (I think the rhyme is almost as old as the plot), which goes like this:
Remember remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
I have some very fond memories of Bonfire Night, and I hope I’ve managed to give you a bit of a picture of what it was like. It’s not celebrated here in Oz (well, why would it be?!), so I do get a bit nostalgic at this time of year! (If any of you are really interested, try searching online for “Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot”) Oh, and, if any of you have any celebrations that are specific to your country, or to the area where you live, I’d love to hear about them!
Leila, let me give you my full attention for a little bit, possum!
Things Down Under are getting interesting, thank you for asking! It’s the Melbourne Cup tomorrow (the race that stops the nation), and even though horse-racing really isn’t my thing, I’ll try to write a bit about it. We also have an election coming up in a few weeks, and for the first time it looks like the opposition might be in with a chance, so more on that as it happens!
First of all, well done on the homework – spot on both times! I agree that “in TV” is probably more logical, but we do say “on TV” – Isn’t English great?!
You can use for example or e.g. – either is fine! Remember for instance is also an alternative to for example, if you want a bit of variety!
How many thousands is fine too.
No article with arrogance – in English we don’t tend to use articles with abstract nouns, unless we’re talking specifically (e.g. The arrogance of the Prime Minister is incredible). Does Finnish have articles, Leila? I know a lot of languages don’t, and articles can be horribly confusing for students of English. Shall we have a look at some places where articles are missing from your last posts? See if you can put them in the right place (and everyone else, you can have a go at this too! Aren’t I mean?!).
1. Reason for that is …
2. I am rather impatient person
3. The reason for above is …
4. Someone knew that couple of songs
Leila, please don’t look at this and think “Oh my goodness, she’s found so many mistakes!” – The truth is, your writing is very accurate and I’m so glad I’ve found something I can maybe help you with!
One other tiny thing (I’ve picked up on this because I think it might be helpful to everyone else as well) I’d like to look at is how we use lack in English. Lack can be either a noun or a verb, meaning not to have something, and we use it like this:
As a verb: I lack space in my wardrobe for all my shoes. (no preposition)
As a noun: Lack of rain has made the ground hard and brown. (+ of)
There’s also an adjective: I’m lacking inspiration for these examples (no preposition)
And another adjective, meaning not to have a particular quality: Owen is certainly not lacking in charm (+ in)
OK, here are two sentences from Leila’s posts where she has used lack as a verb.
1. Can you suggest a correction?
2. Can you rewrite the sentences using lack as a noun or an adjective?
Have a go and we’ll see how you get on!
a. I maybe lack of it (self-confidence) at times
b. I lack of looseness in my writing style
Now, I realise I am LONG overdue to do some work on vocabulary, which I promise faithfully to do in my next post (once again I’m finishing this off after work, and I really need to be fully awake in order to do vocab properly).
Oh, and the title to Australia’s National Anthem is “Advance Australia Fair” (I sometimes try to wind Chris up by saying that as Elizabeth II is still technically Australia’s Head of State it should be God Save the Queen … but he just shakes his head at me!)
Anyway, good night (or I suppose it’s good morning for most of you now the clocks have changed!), and I’ll be back again soon with more amusing stories of life in Oz …
Rachel
Today’s vocab:
to commemorate (vb)
to nag (vb / n)
to settle down (phr vb)
to chuck sth out / away (phr vb - informal)
a potted history (expr)
to persecute (vb)
to hatch a plot (expr)
an effigy (n)
to wind sb up (phr vb)
Comments
Well spotted, Rachel: Finnish doesn't have definitive or indefinitive articles, but Swedish, the other official language of Finland, has.
Dear Rachel, You have written two stories of different times in an interesting way. I like both stories. In the first story you regretted you had not been so careless about shoes of your husband and in your second story you have given flashback of historical events. As for your question, do we have any celebrations that are specific to your country or location we are living, my answer is affirmative but this time I am not able to put it up in this blog. My country, Nepal is full of stories of god and goddess and we celebrate so many occasions based on memories of those stories. There is only 365 days in a year and in Nepal, people celebrate more than 365 rituals and everyday is ritual day in one part of the country. For your questions regarding articles, my answers are as follows: 1. The reason for that is … 2. I am rather an impatient person 3. A (one of) reason for above is … 4. Someone knew that couple of songs Meaning of word/phrase to commemorate (vb) –remember and respect to a great person or event organizing special ceremony to nag (vb / n) - to criticize or complain repeatedly in an annoying way to settle down (phr vb) - to start living in a place with your partner to chuck sth out / away (phr vb - informal) - to throw something away a potted history (expr) – not important history to persecute (vb) - to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone to hatch a plot (expr) –secret plan an effigy (n) – a model of hated person to wind sb up (phr vb)- to annoy or upset someone
Dear Rachel,How are you? Prince Chris Shoe story was very pathetic.How did he recover from the pain of losting his favourite shoe.Did he buy another pair of shoe like the old one or better than that. Rachel thank you for the receipe pavlova. I will defintely make that sweet during christmas holidays. History of november 5th is very interesting. kind regards. I will write you more later on.
Hello Rachel!!! Haha! I loved it the shoes story. Poor Chris! You´ve thrown his shoes away. But that´s ok, it was an accident, haha :-). Anyway, I enjoyed very much reading the 5th of November story. You used to make effigies of Guy Fawkes when you were a kid, my dad and uncle used to make for me, my sisters and cousins an effigy of Judas, so on the Holy Saturday of the Easter we could go around the groceries stores in our neighbourhood and ask for sweets and chocolates we shouted 'Queremos bala! ( We want sweets!), while we pretended to hit our little Judas. The purpose was standing in front of the grocery store shouting and playing with the Judas until the grocer gave us the desired sweets. Actually, we never shouted, all the grocers knew us very well. And as we were good children, we always came back home with lots and lots of sweets and chocolates. Some people used to burn the Judas, but we didn´t do that. We prefered to keep our Judas for the next year :-). Hmm... you see Rachel, the 5th of November and the Holy Saturday have some similarities. Even though the homework today is tricky, I´m going to have a go at it: 1. (the)Reason for that is … 2. I am rather(an)impatient person 3. The reason for above is … 4. Someone knew (a)couple of songs; a. I maybe lack of it (self-confidence) at times *I maybe lack self-confidence at times; *I´m lacking self-confidence at times; *Maybe at times I suffered of lack of self-confidence; b. I lack of looseness in my writing style- (I didn´t understand very well what this sentence mean) *I lack looseness in my writing style; *I´m lacking of looseness in my writing style; *Lack of looseness is in my writing style. to commemorate (vb): to remember officially a person or event; to nag (vb / n): to complain or criticize; to settle down (phr vb): to live in a place with no intention to move and start a family there; to chuck sth out / away (phr vb - informal): throw away; a potted history (expr): the summarise history; to persecute (vb): to opress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender sexual orientantion, and beliefs; to hatch a plot (expr): to begin a plot( secret plan)(?); an effigy (n): a likeness or image, especially of a person; to wind sb up (phr vb):to put in order to settle. Well Rachel, I´m looking forward to seeing the right answers in your next blog. Till there enjoy your day and have a fun :-). Ana Paula.
Hi Rachel. I fully understand and feel sorry for Chris. I think I would have a low complacency threshold or burst into tears if someone chucked out my best shoes or tried to get rid of one of my pairs. Although I can understand it was an accident...Is it possible for you to buy another for him? Poor Chris...Rachel this post has immediately reminded me "V for Vendetta", the film and those Guy Fawkes masks. Have you ever wtached it? It's a good film indeed. It is too demanding, though, for one who doesn't know much of the English history and many of those English words on the film. So that I had to watch it many times, until I could understand the lot. Rachel, once teacher Stephen explained the use of the word "say" replacing "for example" (you could buy the tickets at, say 1 pm). My answers to the questions about articles are: 1-The reason for that is... 2- I am rather an impartient person. 3- The reason for the above is...4- Someone knew those couples of songs. My suggestions to Leila: a) Maybe I lack self-confidence at times. b) There's a lack of looseness in my writing style. Vocab: to commemorate (vb): to remind an event or person; to nag (vb / n): to irritate; to settle down (phr vb):to move permanently to a place; to chuck sth out / away (phr vb - informal): to throw sth away; a potted history (expr):a summary of the history; to persecute (vb):to treat someone in an unfair way; to hatch a plot (expr):to create a conspiracy; an effigy (n):a model of a person; to wind sb up (phr vb):to say something to annoy someone. I Think my comment is too long. I'd better go. Byyyyye Rachel.
G'day from Karachi, I hope you are well, Rachel. I read your description (about/of) Guy Fawkes with great interest. It was lovely to read about your childhood, I made a picture of you as a small girl while reading it. Along with that, it was really sad to read the story of Prince Chris and how Princess Rachel accidently threw his new shoes. Here are my answers to the HW:1) The reason for that is.2)I'm rather an impatient person.3)The reason for the above is.4)Someone knew that a couple of songs. I'm just having a go at the use of lack:1) I maybe lack this at times.2)There is a lack of looseness in my writing style. I have a link to share with you and Owen will also like it: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/photogalleries/wildlife-pictures/photo5.html. Naheed
Hello Rachel...I love your stories...The way you tell them is absolutely amazing!! I wish I could tell my stories with your simplicity! Poor Chris, How could you do that to him? haha I have a similar story, with the difference that it wasn’t me the author of the crime but our maid. We had spent the day out in the country swimming and playing tennis. As we had changed clothes, we brought them home in a bag, similar to those people use to throw the rubbish. We got home and left the bag on the floor of the kitchen next to the backpack and the rackets we had taken to the country. Our maid found the bag and thought that it had rubbish. She took it out and put it in the bin (just like you did!). When we realized what had happened it was too late! There were a new pair of tennis shoes, all our swimsuits, a short, two t-shirts, a pair of sandals and something else I can’t remember… We hoped a beggar would have found that! (is this sentence ok?) As regards articles, The Spanish Language has articles according with the number and gender of the noun (La casa (the house) las casas (the houses) el auto (the car) los autos (the cars)) and adjetives have also number and gender ( las lindas casas (the beautiful houses) los lindos autos (the beautiful cars)…I hope I hadn´t confused you a lot!! Homework: Articles: 1. A reason for that is … 2. I am a rather impatient person 3. The reason for the above is … 4. Someone knew that couple of songs ?? The use of lack: a-I maybe lack it (self-confidence) at times // I’m lacking confidence to write my comments! b- I lack looseness in my writing style // The lack of looseness in your writings can be due to a lack of vocabulary. Today’s vocab: /to commemorate (vb) to remember officially and give respect to a great person or event /to nag (vb / n) to criticize or complain repeatedly in an annoying way: /to settle down (phr vb) to start living in a place where you intend to stay for a long time, usually with the same partner, especially after a period in which you have travelled a lot or changed partners /to chuck sth out / away (phr vb - informal) to get rid of something that you do not want or need any more /a potted history (expr) describes a form of a story or book that has been made shorter and simpler and contains only the main facts or features /to persecute (vb) to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone /to hatch a plot (expr) to make a plan, especially a secret plan made by several people to do something that is wrong, harmful or not legal, especially to do damage to a person or a government /an effigy (n) a model or other object which represents someone, especially one of a hated person which is hung or burnt in a public place /to wind sb up (phr vb) to annoy or upset someone or to tell someone something that is not true in order to make a joke Have a nice day!!
Thank you for your post .The story of your husband's shoes made me laugh a lot.May be it would be better if your husband lock his garment in a wardrobe of his own where you are not admitted otherwise it takes the risk of going to work barefoot or worser....Are you a cleaning addict?I am joking! Why dont you buy a new italian sHoes for his next birthday?This episode reminds me when my mother used to prepare coffe for my father but once she got confused and put in the coffee salt instead of sugar.What a drama! Since then whenever she prepared coffee he always checkd what she put into.
Hey up Rachel! Haven´t Chris accepted yet that you´ve acquired those special aboriginal´s capabilities about transporting thoughts? Now, you´ve passed the exam excelently as you guessed well that I love fairy tales a lot.(And, since now you will see invisible things, too, e.g.what closed boxess containing!) Last night I read and felt as being transpoted in to actions and times at the same time as I was making last corrections on the picture inspired on my autumn walks. Then, I long tried rewrite two `lack´ sentences but spelled with all that atmosphere around me I decided to rely on your kind advice.
Hi Rachel! The story of Chris' shoes... It was enjoyable! I fell sorry for the shoes, and for chris as well, but the way you told it us was fantastic! Atricles is one of the most problematic parts of English for me, so thank you for dealing with it! We have atricles in Hungarian, but their usage is more easier, at least for a native speaker. :) Best regards, Anikó
Hey Rachel! Goodonya telling Chris's shoes story, and I could fancy the Prince's face with "what?!Oh my God..." when he learned that his ever best shoes had been no longer with him. If it was me, I would re-write these sentences as “a. I lack self-confidence at times or I find myself lacking in self-confidence at times” “b. My writing style lacks looseness/coherance or my writing style is lacking in losseness/coherance”. I figure out the meaning of vocab on context basis. to commemorate (vb): to recall; to nag (vb / n): to beg, to insist, to settle down (phr vb): to set a home; to chuck sth out / away (phr vb - informal): to throw away; a potted history (expr): updated & interesting; to persecute (vb):to be in power/office; to hatch a plot (expr): have a plan; an effigy (n): a similar human being creature; to wind sb up (phr vb): to motivate. Bye.
Hi Rachel! We usually let off fireworks on New Year’s Eve. As for the accidents, the same thing happens over here. Last year few people remained injured because of the (il)legal fireworks . Where in Italy did Chris buy that pair of shoes? Good day!!
Hello Rachel. I am learning a lot from your meaty blogs. I think my English will be better very soon by reading your meaty blogs and especially by doing the homework which requires a lot of effort.I'll get down to my homework then. 1) Today, the 6th of November, we commemorate The green March. This day in 1975, 350 000 Moroccan people have marched on the Moroccan Sahara and liberated it from the Spanish colonialism. 2)Vocabulary: a)commemorate: remember and remind people of an important event. b)nag: to claim constantly. c)settle down: to live a sedentary and comfortable life. d)Chucked it out: threw it away. e)potted version:short and simple form. f)persecuted: treated cruelly. g)effigy: statue representing a person or an animal. h)to wind somebody/something up: to raise somebody/something to a high level of excitement or stress. i)hatch the plot: create a secret plan. 3) The use of lack: a)I may lack it(self-confidence) at times. b)I lack loosenes in my writing. 4)The articles: a)The reason for that... b)I'm rather an impatient person. c)The reason for the above...is 5)Particular comments: I think there are some mistakes in some sentences written by Leila . I then try to put correct words between brakets. Please Rachel correct me if I'm wrong. a)Karaoke is quite popular also in Finland, but it hasn't reach(reached)near(no near)the popularity that is(it)has in other parts of (the) world. b)She (is) building a new home. c) I hope that by the time we depart at the end of November, we (will) have grown to be possum bosom friends. d) Some what. (somewhat). That's it for now. Mansour
Hi Rachel, Didn’t ever Prince Chris tell to Princes Racheal about the wondrous leather shoes he had bought from Italy? Sometimes we keep valuable things without using much like poor Prince Chris did. We do not want to damage it. Sometimes not knowing the value of things we throw it away as clever princes Rachel did. Some of us kept our talents, skills and knowledge in the treasure box without exposing to others. One day we will feel bad when we realized that so much skills and talents went unutilized. We celebrate Pongal, festival of harvest in the 14th of Jan every year. The day before pongal, we celebrate Bogi. People will burn all the unwanted old things in the early hours of morning. There will be a smoke every where in the street. Some children burn the tyres and have a fun. The farmers will boil the new rice they reaped from the field and cook in the new clay pot. Destroying the old and starting a new life is the meaning of this festival.
Hi Rachel!I find your story about Chris'shoes really interesting and i don't have to use any box of tissues at all. And thanks so much for giving us more knowledge on the potted history of the Fifth of November. This is a brand new thing for me, haha the 5th November. Your story reminds me of our cultural celebration on 5th May (Lunar Calendar)- the season to kill worms and parasites for children as well as for plants. On this occasion our mother often makes fermented glutinous rice for us in the early morning. In front of our door hangs a mixture of herbs to keep insects and worms as well as unlucky things away from our house. Some shops and restaurants even stop working and hold big party to mark the season as Half year landmark. This doesn't relate from historic events but when I was a child, I used to long for the season so much. :)
Hi dear Rachel and all royal readers , How are you all feeling ? Today was Bank holiday in Iran because of one shiite ( one branch of Eslam ) religious occasions . So I was at home and I made most use of it for catch up house chores .Dear Rachel , losing the king most precious shoes actually was his own fault ( hope Kris have n’t got offend ) . I don’t know why most of men are n’t good at tidy up . By the way the story of Guy Fakwes , was very interesting . I have n’t heard about it . it sounds you have very memorial moments about it . Yes , we have a kind of celebration like it but I suppose it has very long historical background .It ‘s the last Tuesday night of a year that we calle it “ charshanbeh soory “ which means Wednesday celebration in English . All people in Iran take part in it and lighting fire and jumping over it most part of it and another kinds of things that you said to us . But always there are some tragic news after it ,so really I don’t like it . “ charshanbeh soory “ ‘s origin is Iranian ancient religion , Zaroastrainism ( Zartosht ), that is religion of Persian people very long befor than Islam . They have built many old temple in different part of Iran . And some of it ‘s believers , now lives in some cities of Iran . One of their interesting ceremony is keeping fire , light in their temples for ever .I hope you have n’t been boring with reading my today comment ( you see today is holiday and I have time for saying story about my country ). And About dead person ‘s Day , yes we have one day in our calendar for hounoring dead persons , and you must know that in Iran , we have lots of ceremony for respecting dead persons . I think western funeral is very short than what we have in Iran . take it for now and bye
Dear Rachel, I had to stop the last comment in the middle because my daughter was nagging me to make rice and good chicken vindaloo.(we call chicken curry) Thank you Naheed for your Lamb vindaloo receipe. You have done good rearch on that which was very interesting. I never heard the name of the food vindaloo before. You are right It might be portuges name.Rachel,I did a lot of gerund and infinitive excercise from the web site that you gave me, which were very help full to know more about gerund infinitive. Thank you again, Rachel you motivate us to learn more about grammar and give confident to write more in the comments. I am trying to make a sentence to each vocab from today post. There are several monuments in the world which commemorate the victims of the world war two.In our country we usually make an effigy of bad political person and burnt that on bonfire.By this blogging we not only learn english but also learn about other countires culture , history,food and etc,.thank you for BBc learining english service.I hate clutter at home so I chuck things out without looking them( specially papers)up. That's all for today. Kind regards.
G'day Madam! (I still don't know what G'day means? May be I am new here & might have missed the boat) both the story & celebration are really interesting, especially the story of Chris's shoes is a touching one & moved me to tears. I feel quite pity for your better half. First thing I must do after I walk down the aisle, is to tell my spouse to be very careful with my shoes. And thanks for telling us about Guy Fawkes Night. It was your favorite celebration, then it must be having something special to be observed. I would love to observe Bonefire Night. Adieu
We are celebrating Deevali. Some of our learners who are following Talk about English might have known about this festival.we celebrate this festival in the end of Oct or in the month of November.Though I am a catholic I celebrate Deevali with my friends and neighbors. In India, majority people are Hindus. It is their major festival. Festival is the time of joy. So every one share what ever they have with others. Particularly on Deevali we receive sweets from our neighbors and friends. In return we give cakes and sweets to them on Christmas. My children want me to buy crackers to celebrate the festival of lights with their Hindu friends. They won’t compel me to get crackers at the time of Christmas. They are very particular to invite their friends to show the grib and share the Christmas gifts on Christmas. We usually buy new dresses for Christmas at the time of Deevali. People feel that we can get variety of models now. The stock will be over in month of December or you have to pay extra on that time. If you buy now you may get some reduction. Most of the business firms announce bonus for the employees at the time of Deevali. I am already in the festive mood since I received my bonus.
All right! That is one of my friends daughter, who is two, greeting me whenever she meets me. How are you today? I really feel for Chris and you,because you will hear the tragedy Chris's shoes story from time to time forever and Chris will never forget the missing shoes.Don't worry you are not the only one to carry on your life with a sense of guilt.I did throw one of my husband's the most precious and valuable siver trophy away by accident.We just got merried and we had to move down near London so I had to pack house's stuff by myself and I had no a clue what it was.it was wrapped with battered old newspaper and it was rusted away and looked cheap plate.So I decide to sling away.As a result that sometimes my husband has a dream to seek the trophy and I am given a dirty look next morning. by the way,we took my son to local racecourse to watch bonfirework at night.Although it did not live up to our expecations my son really enjoyed himself.Thank you so much and I used your explanation to my son and it did work very well.have a wonderful day!
Hello again, I would like to rewrite one of the sentences using 'lack'. I maybe lacking it at times. I thought of this one just after posting my comment to you. However, still looking for the correct answer from you. Naheed
Hi Rachel :-) Your today's blog is very long but I read it at one go: loads of intrersting information and a very intertesting story about Chris’s best shoes. I must say thar Chris is an extremely patient person. If I'd been in his shoes I'd have gone crazy with anger. I hope he will be able to buy a new pair. All best wishes (especially for Chris).
Dear Rachel, with your permission I would like to write this short message to Paul Scott. Paul, as part of Christmas celebrations, it would be nice if we get to read some greeting messages from all the teacher bloggers of BBC LE. I would be great to be able to hear from them once again. Naheed<br> Paul replies: Dear Naheed, thank you for your comment. A few people have asked this and I'm pleased to say that we will be inviting previous bloggers (students and teachers) back to the site to say hello. We will do this in January (happy New Year) for a couple of weeks - I will give people more details once we know exactly how it will work.
Hello Rachel, I've been following this blog for a while and I find your style of writing quite marvellous. My choice of vocabulary is rather old-fashoned I believe. Nowadays, people usually use "cool" instead (of "marvellous). I'll try to keep in touch, until then...Bye
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