Birthdays and weddings
Am I right in guessing your computer is fixed and fully functioning now? It’s only when computers break down that you realise how important they are to your life…how did we live without them!
Today is Lantern Festival in China and officially the last day of the Chinese new Year; it's also my Nan's 85th and another of my friend's birthday.
By 10am UK time today, my Nan should have received the card I sent her through the post and a delivery of all her favourite, luxury food stuffs that I ordered online to be delivered to her door. I sent her a huge chocolate cake, pork pie, scones and clotted cream, chocolate coated marzipan etc as they are things she loves and doesn’t often buy for herself. The gift was following my Mum’s advice and Mum’s are always right!
Here is a picture of my Nan with Teah; it was taken last summer when I was visiting the UK.
Now onto Anastasia’s wedding plans…yes I think a hair pin is fine for the ‘something borrowed ‘bit and I’m sure we’d all love to help choose your wedding invitations but do you trust our opinions?!
I absolutely love St. Michael’s Cathedral, it is so dramatic, imposing and awe-inspiring. How lucky you are to be getting married there! I’m sure it will be a ‘fairy-tale ‘wedding in such a location, it is the kind of place that I imagine the rich and famous, celebrities to get married in (is there something you are not telling us?!)Do many people get married there? Did you have to book the cathedral many, many months in advance? How many guests will be invited to the church ceremony? And the reception?
In keeping with the theme of the blogs, I’ve decided to tell you briefly about my wedding day. I got married in China and my and my husband’s immediate family came over for the wedding. Even though neither of us are religious, we got married in a church(one of the very few in Beijing)I followed the ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ tradition, wore a very simple ivory dress but in general we didn’t want the pomp and ceremony or the formality of dress that traditional weddings have. The only people to attend the church ceremony were our families. Here is a picture of my Dad walking me down the aisle to ‘give me away’.
This was taken in the church grounds after the wedding ceremony. From left to right in the picture Jamie, my brother, my Dad, my Mum, me, Rossen, Rossen’s Mum (carrying my bouquet, she wanted to look like a bride too!), Rossen’s Dad who appears to be having forty winks and his brother, Victor.
The reception was the really fun and unusual part of the day but I’m going to keep you on a knife’s edge and tell you about that another time!
Thanks for all your comments, please forgive me if I don’t reply to all the comments every week.
The meaning of ‘each to his own’ was guessed correctly by Hyoshil and Ana Paula; it means everyone has their own ideas and opinions
Kuldeep, thanks for the jokes and the information. Hope your daughter is happy and is learning English well.
Paco, so you are looking forward to a holiday next week on the 28th. How do people spend this day usually?
Marianna thanks for the comments. Teah can’t draw yet, she can only scribble at the moment. I could post some drawings of my own on the blog though. My artistic skills are so bad you might think my pictures were drawn by a child!
Kristina thanks for the info. Of course, I know echolalia refer to autism as I’m studying child development. The point I was trying to make to all readers was that native speakers come across new words all the time and we should look them up in a dictionary and remember them, just as students of English should do;-). I also think it is a very nice word to say as it just rolls off the tongue.
Adek to understand a woman is a contradiction in terms!
Abida, if I had a penny for all the students who had asked me a quick way to learn phrasal verbs, I’d be a rich woman. Unfortunately, phrasal verbs are one of those things that just mean hard slog and difficult study. I don’t know a fast way to learn them especially as they often have multiple meanings and sometimes a literal and metaphorical meaning too. Reading helps in understanding how they are used and experience of the language teaches you more and more. Can anyone else offer any suggestions for learning phrasal verbs for Abida? Anastasia how did you get your head around phrasal verbs so well?
Learning new vocabulary, I can share some of the methods I suggest to students and the feedback has been that the method is useful. Remember different methods work for different people.A simple method is to write the new vocabulary word on a small slip of paper. Also write what kind of word it is (n., adj., adv., v., prep.), write the meaning (using English if possible or accompanied by a translation) and also write a simple sentence using that word. When you have about 10-15 slips of paper, put them in an envelope and carry the envelope around with you all day in your bag or pocket. Whenever you have 5 minutes free time, go through and read each the piece of paper one by one and do it as many times per day as possible. When you really know a word, you can leave that piece of paper at home for future review and put a new word into your envelope.
A similar technique can be employed using cue cards in a small box at home, read the first card in your box then put it to the back , keep going through the words until you know them. If you are using cue cards remember that colours (using different coloured pens or coloured cards) and pictures aid your memory too.
Thus far my week has been pretty ordinary, Nastya but tonight I’m going out with 4 friends for a birthday bash. We are going to do something ‘posh’, dress up, go to a five star hotel in downtown Beijing and eat Italian buffet dinner and drink free-flow wine that is included too. I’ll try and remember to take my camera and get some pictures of us all. I have the rest of the day to wonder (as typically women do) ‘what shall I wear?’ and to conclude ‘I have nothing to wear’!!!
Bye for now and have a great day
Trudi
PS I'm struggling to find anything but minor and infrequent errors in your blogs Anastasia. I think I may have to set you another challenge soon to keep you on your toes!
Vocabulary
fully functioning everything working as it should be
imposing (adj) impressive and grand appearance
awe-inspiring (adj) a feeling of respect and wonder mixed together
immediate family close family
pomp (n) big ceremony or impressive display
to have forty winks a have a short nap/sleep
to keep someone on a knife's edge to keep someone in suspense
to roll off the tongue nice sound and easy to say
a contradiction in termsstatement containng two words which contradict each other's meaning
hard slog difficult struggle
to get your head around something to understand something
birthday bash birthday party
posh (adj) luxurious, upper-class
Comments
Hello Trudi. About the celebration of Andalucia's Day, it's mainly an institutional celebration. This holiday ins't deep-rooted in Andalusian people. Andalucia's Autonomous Region doesn't have a very hard nationalist feeling itself, quite the opposite of the deeply nationalists "Cataluña" and "País Vasco", so we spend it like an ordinary holiday day. See you soon.
Hi there , What an interesting Blog ! You made my day . Touch the wood your granny looks healthy and happy .I love people at that age to be happy and stylish . And do you think she will eat all af her present ? I loved your wedding photo and you looked great ! Lovely jably ! As i don't know about reception party , i 'm waitng to hearing about this part of wedding ceremony . I hope to have a nice party have fun and bye
Hi there , has any one any news from Lewis ( teacher Bloger ) joy of bondle . If any one give a news i would be grateful solong
Hi Trudi and everyone else, sorry I have been silent for a while. I have a very good reason for my absence; my husband and I were involved in a serious car accident last Sunday. I have been beside myself ever since. I would like to share my experience with you, albeit just briefly: We were returning form our weekend skiing trip and drove off the road in a fair speed. The car twirled around on an ice road, collided with the snow formation beside the road, flew in the air falling on it´s roof and continued to slide upside down on a snow for 30 - 40 metres. Next thing I remember my husband saying, as we were sitting upside down in our car, belted in our seats, are you alive? I remember answering that I am alive, are you? The biggest miracle is that we were hardly hurt, badly shaken yes, but not much wrong physically; sore ribs, arms and chest now, but nothing broken and bruises will disappear. I am sorry to break so upsetting news, my tale is not as happy as yours was today Trudi. But perhaps it is good to also remember that we all are mortal after all. I do hope your birthday bash was enjoyable Trudi.
Hi Madam, Thanks for posting very beautiful pictures of your family. Your, in your wedding fineries, looks very very goregous. Here, bride wears red colour. Bride even can not conceive to wear white. Women hestiate to wear white dress. White wear do not considered good in any kind of party (except men).Some women, in accordance with culture, for some days, after dealth of husband, wear white dress. Girls do wear white but very scarely-- let me deviate from the topic- Anastasia, in her blog "Ballet again or where Russian Gas Comes From" says There are small tress not taller than 30". Is there any suitable word for such a small trees. I feel that 30" height too small to term it as a Tree.- Have a good day. Lovely kiss to Teah.
I could understand how much love and affection you have had with your Nan. The greetings and gifts you have sent to your Nan on her 85th birthday show how you like your grandma. You must have received so much care from your grandma in your early days isn’t it? Anastasia has made you to remember your wonderful wedding day. All your wedding photos are very imposing. Particularly, you and Rosen with wedding dress were awe-inspiring. You said neither of you are religious. I would like to know who motivated you to do your wedding in the church. Did Your parents force you to do that. Would you mind sharing your ideas not following any religion both of you?
Hello Trudi! It's so lovely to see your wedding photos. Oh! Your father looks very young if you don't tell anyone that he is your papa they will surely mistake him for your brother. You are very beautiful and your wedding dress is just an add to it. It's so good to see your nan and a happy birthday wish to her. Best wishes, Naheed
Hello Trudi, your Grandma will be happy, to get all these luxury food stuffs.While I read it, my mouth is watering. Yes, you really keep me on a knife's edge because I'm very interested in the unusual part of your wedding day. I wish you a lot of fun for your birthday bash and looking forward to your next blog. See you soon...
Hi Birthday wishes to your nanny!!. Your wedding story was interesting. Thanks for your tips on how to enrich our vocabulary. I wish to try it. Looking forward for your next bog. Cheers, Praveen Raj
Hi Birthday wishes to your nanny!!. Your wedding story was interesting. Thanks for your tips on how to enrich our vocabulary. I wish to try it. Looking forward for your next bog. Cheers, Praveen Raj
Dear Trudi, Thank you for your lovely wedding pictures.You look very pretty with your handsome father. Nana and Teah seem very happy in that picture. How was Nana's birthday bash. She is very lucky to have such a thoughtful grand daughter who sent lovely things to her every year. Kind regards.
Hi Trudi. Oh my goodness! It´s raining cats and dogs outside and I´m just going to write a quick message today Trudi. Well, you look beautiful in your wedding dress :-). I´m looking forward to reading about your wedding reception. Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Helloo everyone ^^ this is the first time for me to write something here so im a little bit unsure what i should write about >_< . However, im sure that i want to learn english. can you help me please? thanx a lot ..
Hi,Trudi I wish your grandmother being in rude health and evey happiness all the time.You look stunning and as pure as snow in the picture.have a good party!xx
Hi Trudi, It's very interesting that as a British like you said the word " visit the UK ", Best Regards. James
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