Lorikeets
G’day all!
Well, things are happening Down Under – there was a general election yesterday and for the first time in 12 years there’s a new government! How exciting! The Liberals are out (I always think that’s a bit of a misnomer, as the Liberals are anything but liberal and in my opinion could better be described as right wing conservatives) and the Labour Party are in. Hopefully this means that Australia will now take a more responsible attitude towards climate change, among other things – I guess we’ll have to wait and see!
What I really wanted to tell you about today (and show you some pictures) is the visitors we’ve been getting to the gum tree which grows just outside our apartment. As it’s spring, the gums are in flower (not flowers, exactly, more like fluffy seeds) and the lorikeets just love eating the seeds. So we’ve had heaps of them squawking outside our windows for the last few days; Owen is fascinated and watches them for hours, telling me whenever one flies away or another one arrives (it gets a bit tedious after a while, but he enjoys it!). So, I thought you might like to see some pictures …
We’ve also had lots of magpies (there are always lots of magpies, but I think these guys are keeping an eye on the lorikeets to make sure they behave themselves!), which brought to mind a little rhyme from my childhood – more of a superstition, really. Magpies are thought to be unlucky (I’m not sure why), unless you see them in groups of two or more. According to how many you see, your luck will be different. The rhyme goes like this: One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy. Five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told. Have you heard this before? Chris hadn’t, when I mentioned it. I’m not sure what happens if you see a group of eight or more magpies – maybe that’s so unusual it wasn’t worth putting in a rhyme …
Thank you all for telling us some legends from your countries – I really enjoyed reading them. Habooba, what a mysterious story! Ana Paula, the story about Naia was lovely – I did a quick search for the Vitoria Regia flower so I could see it for myself. (The story is a little bit similar to the Ancient Greek story of Narcissus – do you know that one?) Leila, what a great T-Shirt! Do you have any legends from Finland that you could tell us about? (Only if you have time – I know our month is nearly over!!) Kirsti, I wonder if anyone has ever managed to steal the stone from the Vouivre successfully? Ana, I thought the story about Oleg was very sad; it put me in mind of a story from Wales that I loved when I was younger. The story goes like this …
Prince Llewellyn had a favourite hunting hound named Gellert, which had been given to him by the King. Gellert was a very gentle dog, except when out hunting with the Prince. One day the Prince was preparing to go out hunting, and whistled for his dog, but Gellert never came. Angrily, the Prince went out hunting without Gellert, and returned home empty-handed. He was still angry when he returned, so he went to find the dog. As he entered the castle, Gellert came running to meet him and as he drew closer the Prince saw blood around his mouth and jaws. At once, the Prince’s mind turned to his one-year-old son, who loved playing with Gellert. He rushed to the child’s bedroom, and the closer he got, the more blood he saw. He searched frantically for his son, but couldn’t find him anywhere. At last he reached the conclusion that the dog had destroyed the boy, and so he drew his sword and struck the dog. As Gellert lay dying, Llewellyn heard a sound from under the cot – when he looked underneath he discovered his son, alive and unharmed, and the body of a huge grey wolf, torn to pieces. Too late, Llewellyn realised what had really happened: Gellert had saved the life of his son and killed the wolf. Llewellyn’s grief was so great that he buried his faithful dog outside the palace, within sight of the great mountain Snowdon, and covered the grave with a cairn (a mound of stones). To this day, the place is known as Beddgelert (The Grave of Gellert).
What do you think? I’ve visited the village of Beddgelert (on holiday once) and you can see the tomb of Gellert there with an inscription which tells the story. Who knows if it’s the real tomb (or even if it’s a true story)? But it’s quite moving to go there, all the same.
Godonyazall (well done everyone) for having a go at the articles, and especially well done for getting them right! Great stuff!
Here are the answers, just so you can check:
1. Tomatoes and cucumbers are grown in a glasshouse. (or glasshouses)
2. Regarding the subject matters you have wished for.
3. We could hear a rattling while sitting.
4. The Finnish tango is a close relative to the Argentinean tango.
5. To wish my parents a happy wedding anniversary.
6. The movie would give me a bad taste of the book.
7. The plot of the film is set in history (or in historical times).
8. The building has a false ceiling to make it look nice. The false ceiling is made of plywood.
I’m copying your answers for the next couple – good work!
1. The longer I spend looking at the BBC Learning English site …
• the more convinced I become of its purpose (well done, Leila)
• the more I learn (thanks, Waqar Ali Roghani!)
• the more familiar I will be with its contents (note the word order here)
• the shorter my difficulties in learning English are (word order again)
2. The more I read about Australia …
• the more I want to go there (I feel the same about Finland, Leila!)
• the more I am impressed.
• the more I learn about it. (well done, Silwal Kishor)
• the more I want to visit this country (yes, Ana Paula!)
A quick note about word order with this construction – the second half of the sentence has the same word order as in a normal statement (subject -verb-object).
With the more familiar I will be with its contents – familiar goes with more because it’s part of the comparative structure.
And with the shorter my difficulties in learning English are – are needs to come at the end to keep the word order the same as that of a statement.
OK, and the last ones – I know these probably sound a little strange, but they are correct, honestly!
1. It was too spicy a curry for Owen to eat.
2. It’s too big a pile of laundry to do at once.
Here are some vocab definitions from my earlier posts for you, and a little bit of homework …
15th Nov – Drama, Drama, Drama
to put sb to shame (expr) – to embarrass someone by doing more than they do
to get sth up and running (expr) – to start sth operating
to dig (sth) out (phr vb) – to find sth you haven’t used for a long time
to catch up with sb (phr vb) – to meet someone you know after not seeing them for a while.
old haunts (collocation) – places you used to spend time
to make up for sth (phr vb) – to improve a bad situation
18th Nov – Music & Movies
get my act together (expr) – organise myself
adapted (adj) – changed (e.g. a book is changed to become a film)
shortlist (n) – final list of people who are considered for a job or a prize.
prolific (adj) – producing a lot of something
bookworm (n) – someone who reads a lot
to be taken into care (expr) – (of children) to be removed from home and looked after by government social services because they are in danger.
not for the faint hearted (expr) - not suitable for someone who is easily upset.
cheesy (adj – informal) – in bad taste or bad style
a hopeless case (expr) – (you could also say a lost cause) – someone who has no chance of succeeding or improving; this is often used jokingly
be stuck in a time warp (expr) – old-fashioned
to gang up on sb (phr vb) – to unite as a group against someone
remiss (adj) – not doing a job well enough
get round to (phr vb) – to do sth that you’ve intended to do for a long time
And some homework –
1. What was the last thing you needed to dig out?
2. When are you next planning to catch up with friends?
3. Can you describe one of your old haunts?
4. Can you think of a book that has been adapted into a movie?
5. Who is a prolific writer (or singer/musician) from your country?
6. What’s the next thing you plan to get round to doing?
OK people, that’s all for now! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and I’ll be back soon!
Rachel
Today’s vocab …
a misnomer (n)
squawk (vb)
keep an eye on sb (expr)
empty-handed (adj)
frantically (adv)
Comments
G 'day all! Dear Rachel , It sounds you live in a very beautiful suburb , what a gorgeous photos . They were very colorful , are Lorikeets some kinds of parrots ? Last week when I was on my way to sport club I saw a group of magpies , I think they where about for or five and it was mysterious , Oh my goodness , what are going to happen ? I hope you put more photo about your living place . In the photos it sound very Green . The Gellert story , what a poor thing ! It 's a tragic story , I think I watched one adapted version of it in the TV . Do you have any photo from Beddgelert ? Also I liked three sisters legend , thanks for sharing them with us .And very thanks for the different countries legend t, too , Specialy I really liked the one that Ana pual had written in the comment .About Home work : 1) A few weeks before I dug my food processor out after a long time . 2) In my last trip to Tehran ( the capital city of Iran ) , I caught up my close friend from university after about ten years ! 3 ) The Alvars Ski place is one of my old haunts . It 's in the foot of mountain of Sabalan mountain , very near to my city , Ardebil. Sabalan is a very beautiful mountain and it 's top is an old volcano and the special thing about Sabalan is that , there is a lake in it's top . Un fortunately I have n't a chance to see it but I love it 's foot area because of it’s Herbs and wild tulips . Each year I try not to miss it’s tulips season . 4) The chamber that I have read it's English learning version and I really loved it . 5) I think Mr Shajarian is one of the Iran 's Traditional prolific singers , who has been in the Us for a while .6) I wana to get round to my Yoga exercises . Have A LOVELY WEEKEND ALL MY VIRTUAL FRIENDS !
Thanks Rachel for sharing such nice pictures; natural greenery and sweet birds are two things which I missed every time in Dubai. I like little kids too much (love to Owen) and pets (cats, monkey, and different type of birds). Homework: 1. What was the last thing you needed to dig out? I will be very happy if I dig out a Rabab (Pashtoon musical instrument) in Dubai, as I am too much excited to listen (is here any verb confusion. Can we use here ‘listen in’ instead of ‘listen’?) its pure and fantastic music. 2. When are you next planning to catch up with friends? I had already planed to catch up with two of my friends from my native village, residing and working in Dubai, if H.H Sheik Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, provide us this opportunity by announcing a holiday on December 2 (national day of United Arabs Emirates). [Rachal: Could you let us to know that ‘Catch up with sb’ is used for planned meeting or for some sudden and unplanned meeting. I think it giving the sense of the last situation.] 3. Can you describe one of your old haunts? Yes, I want to share memories of my old hunts at Nathia Gali (a hill station in North West Frontier Province – Pakistan). Actually I was there for my duty with a high level government official, as a member of his press team, but I really enjoyed that trip and still remember that place. Believe it or not you can touch clouds and can listen ‘voice of the silence’ at that nice place. It was a very good experience for me. 4. Can you think of a book that has been adapted into a movie? Although, I am very found of history and wars movies, but at the moment I’m empty handed to name any film that had been adapted into a movie. 5. Who is a prolific writer (or singer/musician) from your country? Sorry to say that I’m not in touch with the current literary writing in my country, however, I like Amanat Ali, a young singer, who is gifted with a special voice. While as a musician, I like Shoaib Mansoor, who recently delivered a good film (In the name of God) for film lovers. 6. What’s the next thing you plan to get round to doing? I am getting round to take admission in the English language course at British Council, Dubai. But it will take time as it is too much costly and I have to save money for a long time. Now vocab … a misnomer (n): wrongly named. Squawk (vb): noisy complaint; loud screech. It would be nice to mentioned that Dubai Police using a siren that is, I think, similar to squawking of falcon. keep an eye on sb (expr) : be vigilant about sb / sth or closely watching some one. empty-handed (adj): having nothing; having failed; not successful frantically (adv): highly excited or frustrated Note: I used online dictionary for the vocabulary. Is it right? I mean can we use it? Take care and bye.
G'day Rachel, It must be so refreshing to stand by the window in the morning or when you are very tired. Because what I can see in the pictures that there's a vast expanse of lush green trees around. And when there are those beacutiful Lorikeets along with it then it makes the day just perfect. This is the first time I've come to know a rhyme about Magpies, and more to my surprise, they are considered to bring bad luck. In my mother's family owls are said to bring bad luck, and maybe the reason is a couple of deaths that occured, but personally I believe that life and death is in the hands of the Almighty. I remember, when I was young, my mother even made us change the tv channel if she had seen an owl in it. But things have changed and now she has a soft corner for this big eyed bird. Rachel, I really felt my heart heavy when I read the story of the Prince and the Gellert. What an honest dog he was! Here's my today's HW: 1) Just a few days ago we baught a scannar and I dug out all the pictures of my childhood to be scanned. 2) This time, both Eid and Christmas are approaching in December so it will be a great time to catch up with friends and relatives. 3) It was an empty old house in my aunt's neighbourhood which was one of my old haunts, now it has been renovated into a beautiful house. The house was guarded by a very kind watchman and he used to let us play there, we used to be around 10-11 children and would pluck mangoes, custerd apples, chikoos and bananas with his permission from the garden . 4) It's Jane Austen's novel Emma that has been adapted into a movie, there're few more, though. 5) The name that springs to my mind is of late Ashfaq Ahmed who was one of the prolific writers of Pakistan. 6) I'm planning to get round to my new accounting books. All the best wishes to everyone, Naheed
Since I was asked to comment on the entry I must say it is brilliant - especially the very clever turn from what Australians expect their new government to do concerning climate politics (and therefore environmental issues in general) to those beautiful birds as an example of Australia's rare wild life which is definitely worth an effort to be protected. ... well, I guess that sentence was far too long and therefore I need to stick to this web page to improve my English gradually. Anyway, another reason for me emailing is that I keep receiving failure messages from your email-account, Rachel. What's going on ? Did you put me on some sort of Spam-list? I've been trying to contact you for ages ... so, if you see any possibility for us to get in touch again, please let me know!!! Best regards from ´Germany, xxx yours, Ana
I found one legend where a man managed to take the stone in order to heal his dying master. The master recovered and the two of them became rich, but eventually the Vouivre, though she was blind when she hadn't the stone, found them and killed them.
Hi Rachel!!! Oh... how wonderful pictures! And what a lovely, but sad story. Poor Gellert! Anyway, yes, I know Narcissus story. I really like Ancient Greek stories and Vitória Régia story is a bit similar to it. By the way Rachel, have you ever seen Caravaggio painting Narcissus? It´s one of my favourites among his paintings. I´ve never seen in flesh, just on books and on the Internet. It´s wonderful indeed. Thanks for your explanations. I always get confused about the word order. Well, let´s give a go at the homework: 1. What was the last thing you needed to dig out? The last thing that I have to dig out was a purple wig that I used two years ago at a friend birthday party, and recently one of my siters ask for it. Gee! It was hard to find it, haha. 2. When are you next planning to catch up with friends? I´m planning to catch up with my friends next weekend. We´re going to the movies. 3. Can you describe one of your old haunts? One of my old haunts is the Pinacoteca Museum. It´s a fantastic building full of wonderful art works, with a wonderful café attached it which has a fab view to Luz Park. Simply adorable :-). 4. Can you think of a book that has been adapted into a movie? Oh, I can think in plenty of books that has been adapted into movies. For example: Rebecca, A Clockwork Orange, Proud and Prejudice, etc... 5. Who is a prolific writer (or singer/musician) from your country? A prolific writer in my country is Lygia Fagundes Telles. She´s 84 years old and she still writes amazingly books. 6. What’s the next thing you plan to get round to doing? The next thing I plan to get round is taking a properly holiday. This routine of work, work and work is wearing me out. Oh I need a little break near the sea :-). Vocab: a misnomer (n): a name that does not suit what it is refers to; squawk (vb):to make an unpleasently loud sharp cry; keep an eye on sb (expr): to watch sb; empty-handed (adj): without bringing or taking anything; frantically (adv): doing sth in a hurry and in a state of excitement or confusion. Well Rachel, I´m off to bed now :-). See you soon, Ana Paula x.
Hi,Rachel. Since I happened to find this space, I am feeling like having a lot of friends all over the world. Your warm and humorous blog always make me happy. Thanks.
Hi, Rachel. Thanks for your awesome blog. I really appreciate what you wrote. I find an interesting thing that in China magpies are thought to be lucky no matter how many you see. What a big cultural gap, wow!
Rachel after your classifying my story as a mystery, I turned back and read it again. You are right. My writing has turned the Poor Story to a sort of Horror story. I don't know whom I am obliged to apologize to... May be nobody as now I believe it turned to be my own version of the inherent theme...HOMEWORK: 1.As I was going through my late granmother's things, I dugged out a very old framed picture of my grandfather in his uniform...2.I always dream of catching up with my university dormitory friends back in 1988-1991. I don't know when I can realize it...3. One of my old haunts is a one big berry tree in our house when I was a kid; my sister and I used to sit for hours under that tree and receive other kids from the neighborhood as our gusts... 4.I can think of many great books that having been adapted into movies, to name a few, I can mention, Harry Potter, Many of shakespeare's plays, many of Dickens' books, many of Jane Austin's novels,...5.Not from my country, but Elissa, and Nancy Ajram are two prolific Arab singers...6.I hope I'll get round to discard all the unwanted, useless things in the house as soon as possible.
Hi,Rachel how are you and specially your little soldier,Owen? It's been a bit nippy here.Magpies are thought to bring a stroke of luck in Korea.When you especially see them early morning people say they might have very precious guests or visitors.If you see some magpies on the new year's day it is believed to bring sheer luck through the whole year.i am sorry to write my comment short but I have to go and collect my son.see you soon
I saw an advertisement in the dailies three weeks back to make attention for the Australian tourist. The advertisement appealed to the Australian voters to exercise their franchise in the nearby Australian embassy. It speaks much about the value of the individual voters whether they are in their own country or away from the country. Could you tell me how much percentage of voters turned out in your general election? If you take Indian general elections, it would be a good one if it had crossed above 60%. The Election commission is adopting many measures to increase the number of voters in the elections. We had electronic voting system only in the last few elections. You might not have seen pool related violence in Australia or Britain. But in some countries this has become a common. What do you think about booth capturing, rigging and bribing the voters? You are expecting positive changes from the newly elected government. Every one expects much from the new party when changes occur. I digged out the study materials when I had used it on my post graduation twenty years ago. I am going to catch up Mr. Nirmal raj, my friend before Christmas. I used to visit my parents native once in a year especially during summer. I stopped visiting their village since fifteen years. Luckily our relatives arranged to visit old haunts two weeks back. Honestly speaking, I have been developing reading habits for the last couple of years. Some how, I could not develop watching English movies. I can not see English movies in this part of the world because they all dubbed in the regional movies. And I don’t have any idea about prolific writer. I get round to study on Mother Child health progrmme in our health services. This is part of my M.Phil study.
Hello Rachel, it's my first time to visit your blog. It's a nice blog! According to above photos, your apartment is surrounded by thrifty woods. It is really excellent environment. Regarding Gellert story, I can realize how anxious and panic the Prince Llewellyn was. I also take pity on death of Gellert. The story proves that communication is very important. Well, concerning homework are in the followings. 1. What was the last thing you needed to dig out? The last thing I needed to dig out is my favorite book named " Secrets of the Millionaire Mind ". It is indeed a excellent book which inspire you toward the way of success. 2. When are you next planning to catch up with friends? When the lunar New Year holiday is coming,I will catch up with friends and relatives. 3. Can you describe one of your old haunts? A coffee shop where computer can enter BBC learning English site by internet. 4. Can you think of a book that has been adapted into a movie? My son read a book named " ERAGON " recently. 5. Who is a prolific writer (or singer/musician) from your country? A-mei who is a famous female singer in Taiwan. 6. What’s the next thing you plan to get round to doing? Develop a sales plan to achieve sales goal. Hi Rachel,thank you for sharing fruitful messages and story.
Hello, Rachel! I just have discovered your column. I was reading BBC site before but it was mainly Stephen Keeler column and “Grammar & Vocabulary”. Sorry, I read very slowly still and cannot see all information which I can find on the BBC site. I would like to have an experience in writing now, so I will be happy to join to a part of BBC site which can help me to reach this goal. I was going to do the homework which I found on your last column have written before holidays and I was very puzzled. I have understood you are used American English sometimes and some of phrasal verbs were not so clear for me. OK, I saw the comments leaving other students and things are clearer for me now. So it is my homework: 1. I just have dig out your column and I think that it will be very useful for me. Of course, I would like to do regular exercises. I hope that it would help me if I will have sit a FCE exam this summer. I hope I used the words “dig out” correctly. But I am not sure. 2. I am very puzzled by the meaning “catch up”. From commentaries of students I understand that “catch up” is meaning “meet”. If so that, I have to write the next sentence “I am going to catch up with my friend this evening. She is going to leave the country very soon.” But my on-line dictionary hasn’t this meaning! According my dictionary, more usually to write “I had to run to catch up with her”. I have understood that the meaning of “to catch up with” is “to reach”. 3. It is better with words “old haunts”. Of course, I can describe my old haunt. It is seemed a little strange but my old haunt is a gymnasium. I have so much rest going to this place! It will be not seemed too strange if anybody can remember the novel “Kafka on the shore”, which is written by Japan writer Haruki Murakami. The one from main hero of this novel, 15 years old Japan boy which was named himself as “Kafka”, spends so much time in the gymnasium and library… 4. Yes, I can think of a book that has been adapted into movie. It is no one book. It is all stories about Garry Porter! Of course, I am not a child very longer but I like books for children all the same… But have you really asked about a book whish is turned into movie? 5. As regards the question about a prolific writer… Alas, I am an emigrant and live in Ireland a little more than two years. I am learning English near tree years. I only began to read books in English and I don’t know the modern writers of Ireland. Especially prolific writers… 6. What is the next thing I plan to get round to doing? My Good, there are very confusing words for me again! What are mean “get round”? What I am going to do in my future? My dictionary hasn’t this meaning. But if my guess is correctly I have to write that the next thing I plan to get round is continuing to attend BBC site. Thank you, Rachel. Sorry, I am not sure that I answered correctly to all questions.
Dear Rachel, thank you for the nice photos of lorikeets. Beware, little children tend to copy the behaviour of others. What if Owen perches on a gum tree one day and starts chomping on the fluffy seeds??? Just joking, really. But just think, it would make looking after him even harder. How many gum trees are there in Oz? Hm, I had never heard of that magpie rhyme before you mentioned it in your blog. But I do like it and I have even started wondering whether I will be able to come up with a decent translation of it to be used in Russia too. Hm hm hm... I think it would be popular with country people (as they have loads of them in villages and lead never ending fight against them) and would also help to protect magpies. Your Welsh legend about Gellert made a very sad impression on me. The moral is that real friends are very faithful but it is always men that kill them. So, what is all this talk about male friendship about, then?! Sincerely, Ana
Dear Rachel, Story about Prince and Gellert is somewhat similar to children story I have read about a squirrel and a farmer. There is only difference in plotting. In farmer story, the squirrel saved farmer’s son from snake and expected he would be nicely treated. Then he went to meet with farmer in the filed where farmer was working. When farmer saw squirrel with blood in its mouth, he thought that squirrel killed his son and farmer killed the squirrel in the spot. When he returned home, he found his son safe and sound. Then he sorrowed for what he did to squirrel. The rhyme for magpies is also common among children. I heard this rhyme from my little sisters when I was about 30 years. Your blog gave me nice recap of those old days because this rhyme is one of favourite of one of my little sisters. a misnomer (n) - a name that does not suit what it refers to, or the use of such a name squawk (vb) - to make an unpleasantly loud sharp cry keep an eye on sb (expr) - to watch or look after someone empty-handed (adj) - without bringing or taking anything frantically (adv)- almost out of control because of extreme emotion, such as anxiety
Hi Rachel, I was in Sydney for an english course last winter, and I had seen loads of those beautiful birds!!!Just like Owen, I used to spend hours just watching them!!!!!!What a wonderful city, and wonderful people!!! I felt like home. Now, reading your blog make me feel homesick of australia... can someone be homesick for a coutry that is not his/her own??? :-) Anyways thank you for writing this awesome blog!!!
Dear Rachel, How are you and your love ones. I feel very guilty,that I didn't write comments to your last couple of bloggs.Even if I have busy schedule this week,I am planning to catch up with my cyber space friends. Rachel, I have to dig out your past bloggs to get to do old home works.Your appartment surrounding looks very colorful and top of that the lorikeet enhance the beauty. Lorikeets are very big and beautiful birds,people train them to talk and sing to do business. There is an island (very small) close to our house which was our old haunts where there are lot of pigeons if you clap your hands near that there will be thounds of pigeons flew awayfrom that place and also close to sea shore you can see beautiful and colorful correls. Next thing I am planning to get around to do Christmas shopping to please my children and friends.Even though we are hindu we celebrate Christmas. Kind regards.
Thiru Rachel, Vanakkam It’s a Tamilian way of greeting the people. You know most of the Indian prime ministers are from the Hindi belt land. They usually address the election campaign with Vanakkam to attract the people. Even though, they do not know the Tamil language they try to speak few words like this to gain the attention of the people. See how the languages play in the election campaign. In the same way they end with Nandri( thank you). Your Lorikeets look like Parrots. People have parrots in their house as pet. What the unique feature of this birds are if you say something it will repeat. The owners of the birds usually teach it with Vanakkam and Nandri. Any one enters into the house; these birds say Vanankkam and leaves out of the house they say Nandri. This is the time for me to say Periya Nandri( big thanks) for these two wonderful months. I have learnt much English grammar, Vacab lessons from you. I must practice it in my day to day life. Hope we meet again in the same column some time later. Once again my sincere thanks to you.
Hello Rachel! Wow! The colourful Lorikeets look so nice. I have heard about (Rachel, is 'hear of' different from 'hear about'?) the gums But the first time I see them especially in flower. I guess the seeds must taste and smell nice so they mouthwater the lorikeets (How is it pronounced? I haven't got it in my dictionary). And the magpie rhyme sounds fine! Neither have I heard it. I like it - it's easy to remember. Oh! The Wales legend is moving :-( (It reminds me of my two dead dogs - one was poisoned) Well, I have great sympathy for Prince Llewellyn's grief and awfully sorry for poor Gellert, who was wrongly suspected. Why are the legends so sad? Now, I'll give my answers: 1/The last thing I dig out was a souvenir notebook of my highschool classmates (Where on earth is it?). 2/I'm going to catch up with my friends on our Lunar New Year holiday (in early February,2008). 3/One of my favourrite old haunts is my grandparents' home town where river goes round and I love it to go everywhere by boat. 4/I don't have much money for books. I usually borrow them from my friends :-). When I love a book, I really want to see the film adapting from it. I feel happy :-) if the film is interesting, but it doesn't matter if the film isn't! (It will be out of my loaf at once). Some of the books I really love that has been adapted into movies are 'Gone with the wind' by Magerette Mitchell (the film is fab with Vivien Leigh and Clark gable), 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte, 'The three Musketeers' by Alexandre Dumas or Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. 5/I'm not sure who is a prolific writer here but I like Nguyen Tuan, Vu Trong Phung (authors), Nguyen Binh, Han Mac Tu (poets) and several musicians and singers. That's all for now. Next time, Best wishes, Myen.
Hello Rachel! These pics are very beautiful!! Answers: 1) a jumper 2) I plan on seeing a couple of former schoolmates next week. 3) Milano Marittima is the tourist resort where I used to spend my summer holiday when I was a child. 4) Silk is a novel of Alessandro Baricco. He is an Italian contemporary writer 5) The Pooh. I think they release an album every year. 6) I would like to buy a laptop. Cheers!
Hello, Rachel! I just revealed that I didn’t exercises correctly! It was happened because I didn’t read yours explanations of the words meaning with attention! I would like to correct my mistakes and I send you my new homework: 1. The last thing I was needed to dig out, it was my pocket-book. I didn’t use it for a long time and looked for it everywhere because I was needed to find the phone number of my friend. 2. When am I next planning to catch up with friends? I hope it will have happened next week. I have to return to my English course which I was skipping because I was needed to learn on the computer course. So I will be able to meet with my old friends. 3. One from my old haunts is Phoenix Park. It is the biggest park in Dublin where you can meet squirrels and deer. There is also Dublin Zoo. 4. Can I think of a book that has been adapted into movie? Yes, it is the series of books “Garry Potter”. I am not a child but I like books for children. 5. Who is prolific writer in my country? Sorry, but I don’t know. I do not nothing know about all prolific writers in the world. 6. What is the next thing I plan to get round to doing? To learn English, of course. I have read your last column and I like your description of behaviour of birds. When I was a child I had lorikeets in my home. But they were not very funny birds; my little yellow-green and blue parrots were funnier. I remember as one from my little yellow-green parrots pestered to my cat. When my cat ate its dinner, my yellow-green parrot approached behind cat and pecked it’s to the tail! It was the very cheeky parrot. Thank you for your column.
Wow! Today I was Googling for information on the Prince Llewellyn story for a book on urban legends I'm writing and came across your very recent posting. But it was the squirrel version from Anastasia from Russia which caught my eye as it is a version I had not come across. Anyone else out there in the great wild yonder with variants which might be new to me? Incidentally, the story is untrue and made up by shopkeepers or innkeepers in Beddgelert to drum up trade. Cheerio, Paul.
hi,rachel thank you for your blog . The story about Gellert made me very sad,because i will plan to sent my dog to a strange family. I am planning to want a baby.doctors in China warn always that the dog may spread disease to pregnant women and their fetus.I just want to know if it is really ture.Dear Rachal,can you tell me in Australia how do you usually deal these matters. thank you very much!! About the homework: 1,what was the last thing you needed to dig out? --Clothes which need to use in winter. 2,when are your next planning to catch up with your friends? --I will plan to catch up with my friends at the christmas night this year. 3,Can you discribe one of your old haunts？ --A hotpot restaurant with a fantastic view is my old haunts place, it s a very good place to hang out with friends or for a business meeting. 4,can you think a book that has been adapted into a movie? --"Lust and Caution" directed by LiAn, a very famous director in china who ever was the winner of the Oscar by the film "tiger and dragon"and the fiction "Lust and caution"writted by Zhang Ai Ling,a very very distingguished woman author who lived in shanghai the last century 30s. 6,What is the next thing you plan to get round to doing? --Keep to learn at the BBC Learning English Blog.
What isthis magpie welsh rhyme.. you know One for sorrow, two for joy, three for children.. I can't remember now and I really would like to find it out. In basingstoke, Hampshir, they say that whenever you wee a magpie alone, on its own , you have to say aloud " hello mr. Magie, where is your wife?" because they say that if you don't it will a cast a spell or at least bring you bad luck. the welsh saying in different, so sweet.. but I ust forgot all so please, HEPL ME...
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