Rain, rain and more rain
Hello Xuan and readers,
Great to hear from you so soon. How is your revision going Xuan? Steve is leaning over my shoulder reading your post, as I type. Steve – do you have a message for Xuan and the readers?
Do you know how lethal this can be? (what do you think ‘lethal’ means in this context - yes, I’m a qualified English teacher too).
I think Steve means that I should not let him loose on the blog.
Hope you are all OK and enjoying Anne’s blogging. You seem like friends to me – I hear so much about you all. Xuan, Anne and I have both been to Hang Bo street but never together, we travelled separately in different years, but would love to go there together with our kiddies soon. Cris, I love Argentinean wine and would love to see the Andes one day. I am sure that we will as a family. To everyone else, I have enjoyed reading your comments and wish you good luck with your English. On that note, it’s 10.51pm here in Bangkok and bedtime for me, though Anne is going to carry on chatting. Good night all!
OK, back to me now. Xuan, you mentioned the weather in Hanoi. It’s getting really hot in Bangkok too and we are having more and more rain storms. Like Hanoi, the weather here is rainy and unstable. All of the power went off at work yesterday for 2 hours, due to high winds and a rain storm. I agree that this type of weather can make you ill (not *its easy to be ill by this weather). Ernesto asked an interesting question – do you prefer a rainy day or a hot one. You’ve got me going here. British people can talk about the weather till the cows come home. I like the rain in Bangkok. It falls really heavily, it is predictable and when it rains it is usually warm. It is good fun to go out in the rain here. When it rains in the UK it is generally cold and it is unpredictable (many a BBQ and picnic has been ruined by rain) and it is generally NOT fun to be outside. What about this picture. Do you think the man is having fun being outside with his cello? Why do you think he might be outside? If you like, have a go at making a short story about him and why he is standing in the rain on the pavement.
(image from www.allposters.com)
Having said that I don't like being outside in the UK in the rain, one of my happiest walks ever was with some friends from school, walking in the UK Lake District in the north west of England in the pouring rain. We all had our wet weather gear on, proper heavy duty walking boots and we had a ball. The colours in the countryside are so different when it rains – the green and the grass and the hills really stand out. And when it is cold and wet outside, it is great to sit by a roaring fire inside. I remember we walked all day, then stopped at a small pub in the evening to rest, and there was a huge fire blazing. So its swings and roundabouts, six of one and half a dozen of the other (i.e. both situations are good in different ways, being in the heat or being in the rain both have good points and bad points)
(image from www.dotlife.wordpress.com)
You know how much I like talking about the weather, so here is a weather vocabulary quiz for you.
• An umbrella keeps the rain off you. What is the name of the object, that looks like an umbrella, that keeps sunshine off you?
• Rearrange the letters to form name of the illness you get if you spend too long in the sun. (ROTESHATEK)
• What is the illness you can get if you spend too long outdoors in the cold and your body temperature drops to a very, very low level? It starts with the letter ‘h’.
• How many expressions can you think of in English to mean ‘it is raining heavily’
• What are wellies (this is a slang word)?
• What is a sou’wester? Do you know the history of this word?
(image from www.intersafe.ca)
Finally, well done for tackling the quiz, Xuan. You got all of the answers absolutely correct!
(1) It’s Monday today and I am writing this blog. (TO WRITE)
(2) I posted my blog last night. (To POST)
(3) I am glad that my exams have started. (TO START)
(4) I have passed my first exam (TO PASS)
(5) I passed my first exam yesterday (TO PASS)
Night night everyone and speak to you tomorrow.
Anne
xxxx
PS - thank you all for your comments, and I will reply to you all this week.
to let someone loose - to allow them to do what they want, to give them freedom
You’ve got me going here – informal expression, meaning ‘I could talk about this for a long time’
till the cows come home - informal expression, meaning ‘for a long time’
it falls heavily – i.e. there is a lot of rain
to have a go - to try to do something
ruined – spoilt, unable to happen
heavy duty – big and strong
to have a ball – to really enjoy yourself
to stand out – to be distinct and visible
a roaring fire – a large, blazing fire
to blaze - to burn strongly
to tackle something - to try to do something
Comments
Dear Anne! Hope you are fine. This is time you have asked something difficult and im afarid that i dont know the answers of your quiz excpet the one i think. Your question is :How many expressions can you think of in English to mean ‘it is raining heavily’ = Its raning like cats and dogs. I love the raning season. Here in our country rain looks very beautiful but it ruined our happiness when the loadshedding has started.What a pity:(. Anyways tc and bye for now
Hi Anne, like you i like very much heavy rain,it makes me think about a lot of things about my life and relax me at the same time.On the contrary, i don't like hot days specially in the summer because in Italy the temperature in that period is very high (sometimes also 40°C) and when it happens i go to the beach with my friends as soon as possible(i am glad to live 20 minutes far from sea).I like more the winter then the summer and stay for a long time near a roaring fire and i think it is very romantic too. Changing issue, do you like movies?and...do you like more go to the cinema or stay at home and see a dvd?what is your favorite movie? Sorry for my english, i am studing by myself but i started just 1 year ago and somedays i don't have enough free time for it.I hope it didn't make you crazy... bye
Hello Anne the man in the rain is a famous musician who,after many misadisadventures,is living in poverty.The only thing he still has is his cello that he keeps playing along the roads to survive.After the death of his wife he refused the success and the company of his old friends.He is alone and is obliged to go out even in the rain to collect some money.At the moment the umbrella is repairing the instrument rather than himself and is dreaming of a blazing firebecause it's raining cats and dogs. Let'shope he doesn't fall in hypodermia. Is this very short story too sad? bye bye fror now.
Hi Anne, I liked your blog about the weather. I prefer sunny days than rainy days. Say hello to Steven; Oscar wants to tell him that he thought Steven wants to go to Los Andes because all the best vineyards are located there :-) About the quiz: 1)parasol or beach umbrella 2)SUNSTROKE (but I couldn't rearrange what you wrote) 3)hypothermia 4)It's raining cats and dogs. It's pouring down. It's bucketing down. 5)I think that they are a special kind of rainy boots. 6) I don't know. Hope one day I can come across you and your family in Argentina. Must close now. 'till next blog. Bye, xxxo
All the weather is upside down,if this is applicable. We are suffering for the lack of rain. We have to save energy because most of the power come from hidroelectric sources. They say that the rain will come next month. I hope so, for the agricultural work and for the presses. If not, it will be a difficult winter. Good night
Hi Anne and Steve! Ooh... I like the showers in the Spring time. Apart from being so refreshing, the flowers in our garden become more alive after them :-). Good night, Ana Paula.
Hi Anne and everyone, today I will also have a go with the quiz Anne set for us. I love beach umbrellas, or parasols, as some people call them. If one wants to avoid getting a bad heatstroke, it is good to stay under a parasol. Outdoor life can be dangerous if one goes to extreme, for instance cold can cause hypothermia. Last night we had a very bad weather here in Finland; it was pouring down… not water but hails. I do like rain, a perfect day to wear wellies. I have two pairs of rubber boots or wellington boots as some of you would call them. I wander how many people know that when NOKIA stared doing business, some time ago now, they used to make wellies, in other words totally different line of business as they do now (mobile phones). I am guessing that sou’wester is some kind of a hat?
Hola (in Spanish)Anne and readers. Really I envy you (in positive, of couse) about talking other languages. I have in mind to study French in the future, but I think that it will be when I will be able to say: "really, I am very confident with my English's skills" About weather, here in Spain May is being a rainny month. It's a good new because we need water for daily life, despite the efforts of the government to promote water's save. It has be funny that you have let Steve loose on the blog. Kind regards to him!!!!! Changing the subject, what about the earthquake in China? I'm so worried about all of our "blogmates" who live in China. Do someone know something? Anne: have you notice the earthquake in Bangkok? When I saw these bad news on TV, it was impossible not to think about all of you. I hope the best for everybody. I can't talk right now, I'm in the thick of my work. Bye bye. See you soon. Mercè (from Spain)
Hi Anne! Wonderful blog from you and Steve, thanks. I do not wonder that Steve is listening a lot about your blogging friends. When I discovered this space(sept 06) I could read but I was hardly able to write a sentence, learning only for two month. But, I had to tell to my old ill parents about wonderful people, their life, countries I got to know here. Gradually, we were more and more acquaintanced with teachers and students. I tried practicing here and my wocabulary and writing abilities have been improwing. I am sure, we had been experiencing the most exciting year for long in 2007. However, I didn´t write last two month and I am conscious of forgetting almost everything. Really hard to write again. How amazing to know, Steve is the teacher too. Teacher-men are rarely on the blog here. Let hear about yourself, Steve, in the future! I am uneable to answer the quiz. As I learn English in my fifties, I suppose, I won´t be able to learn French, yet, which I am really sory about. Nice days whatever weather you have!
I have read teacher blogs regularly for a long time, but I started reading student blogs and comments too recently. It’s nice to see a multicultural group of people chatting here and especially encouraging each other to study English. I’m fascinated by a positive atmosphere and students’ common aim to learn English more here. That’s why I thought I’d like to be one of you and write comments now and then too. Nice to meet you all. I have enjoyed reading your blogs, Anne. My children are of the same age as Josh and Rachel. I’ve learnt a lot of useful words and expressions to tell about our daily life and children’s doings. I’m interested in reading about Thailand too. I still have to go back to one of your previous blogs, because we appear to have a common interest. It’s reading, and that’s not all, we have a common favourite book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. As to weather, it’s hailing here now. I’m going to stay at home and go into your weather vocabulary quiz.
Hi,Anne First of all,I'd love to say "HELLO" to Steve. I think you should let Steve more often loose on your blog.His blog is much better than your's.(Ha ha..I am trying to pull your leg) Secondly,talking of rain expressions I've got some off the top of my head.1.It's raining cats and dogs.2.It's chucking it down.3.It's pouring down.4.Heaven opens.5.Rain comes down in buckets.6.It's pi..... down(It's a bit rude but I am sure you know the word. I think a sou'wester is a yellow rain coact with a hat.I am pretty sure you inputted the picture that you inputted today's your blog is a sou'wester.I understand the history of sou'wester is connected with wind or rain which blow from South East and sailers.that's my mere acknowledgement of it.Would you give Josha and Rachel a big hug on behalf of my son and me? Have a smashing weekend!xx
Hello Anne. I’m back and keen on blogging. Nice challenge to put on short story about man and cello. Frankly speaking, it’s a bit sad story. I suppose, man had certainly colorful aspirations when he started to play the violoncello forty-five years ago. Have no doubts, there were a lot of ups and downs in his career as cello player. Probably, one of the most significant events was the day he had passed successfully all the exams and his mother dropped a tear of joy. There were many other stepping stones in his life and all of them came to mind a second later he had recognized his the first loved passion among women passing by. That’s why he is lost for words and still standing in the rain on the pavement.
Hi everybody. I'm so happy because every time I switch on my computer and go to blogging here, there are new friends who want to explain their things and comments. For this reason I want to say "hello" and a warm welcome to Elina from Finland. Oh!, It's a dream for me to visit your country. Perhaps some day .... Welcome to the club of lover's reading. I hope all together will keep on talking about books. Good luck for everybody! mercè
Dear Anne, All of sudden, my old friend from Terai region visited me today. He is here to purchase fertilizer and some pesticides. He is expecting monsoon to start early. During our chat he told me that temperature in Terai region is unbearable. Room temperature is more than 40 degree Celsius and there is more chance to increase it by 3-4 more degree. Most of the peoples are living either inside home or looking for parasol if they have to stay outside home. If weather condition remains same for few more days, there is a chance of steady rise in temperature and most of people suffer from heat stroke. When monsoon start, temperature will drop down and there will be pouring out i.e. it will be raining buckets. Farmer start to sow seeds though they look like drown rat and do not care for sou’wester, raincoat and gumboot (wellies) because this is the time they sow few seeds and harvest large amount. It is good time to play in clay and enjoy natural gift for most of people.
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