Off to the Hills
Hi everyone and thanks for all your kind words and contributions. Well done those of you who attempted the homework – Olfa – It would be great if you tried this too before I give the answers out. :)
Tonight is just a quick one to let you know that I’m off to Kandy tomorrow to visit our office there. I'm quite excited as I haven’t been yet and I am told the surrounding countryside is very beautiful. I will be there for 3 nights so I am taking Pankaj and Isabel too. I’ll be visiting a girls’ school, doing a couple of interviews as we need to recruit teachers, and delivering a training session for the teachers there. Apart from that, I am not sure what else is in store for me. I hope to be able to blog while I am there but not sure if I will get the chance. I will definitely tell you about the Kandy trip on my return though. Have a good week and we’ll catch up later.
Answers to challenges in November 14th blog:
To tell you the truth – to be honest/frank (this is a good starter for a sentence building up to some drama/good/bad news)
Inertia – state of being unable to move or act
Footy – colloquial expression for football
Lethargic – adjective from lethargy; unnaturally sleepy/low on energy. This word originates from the two Greek ‘lethe’ (forgetfulness) and ‘argos’ (idle)
Ubiquitous – all round, everywhere
Pull it off – be convincing
Deft – skillful/dexterous in movement
Something else – an American expression meaning an important/remarkable thing/person
Duffle/duffel coat – very common type of winter coat in the UK; made from the material duffel – thick coarse woolen cloth
Bomber jacket – short jacket with zipped front and elasticated waist
A fiver – colloquial term for 5 pounds – usually a five pound note
Be vetted – be checked thoroughly
Cost you and arm and a leg - very expensive
Phrases including a form of sport
You might have interpreted this task in two ways – either phrases that contain a form of the word ‘sport’ like these:
A sporting chance – a fair chance of success
A good sport – someone who is happy to take part and doesn’t mind losing/willing to be made fun of; a good fellow
A bad sport – someone who can’t take a joke; can't lose graciously
(Not very) sporting – (not) willing to take a chance
Sports day/club/shop/equipment/gear/injury/jacket – all these compound nouns are pretty self explanatory but note that they are all separate words, no hyphens either.
Or – phrases that derive form a type of sport like these:
What time's kick off? - has come to be used for everything from christenings to funerals, by males anyway.
To kick into touch - from Rugby Union, has come to mean finish a relationship with someone or to jettison an unworkable idea etc.
Well folks, that's all for now.
wish me bon voyage Olfa - it'll take me about 5 hours to get to Kandy by road.
Helen
Comments
Have a safe journey Helen! I´m looking forward to hearing from you again. See ya, Ana Paula.
Hi, Helen As my comment is a bit late you have probably arrived in Kandy by now. How was your jouney? Did you drive all the way long or you and your husand take turens? Does Kandy's view live up to your expectation and has any event been in store for you yet? if you have,please share it with us when you come back! hope you have a lovely time during the stay in Kandy and safe jouney.xx
HI Helen, It is my first post on the BBC's blog. It is so interesting to make friends with you and people from around the world.So eager to hear your story in Kandy!!!!!!!!!
Hi Helen, It is my first post on the BBC's blog. It is interestig to make friends with you and people around the world. I have learnt from your ealier posts that you had some time living in VIet Nam, my hometown. Great! You must have had much memory about that period of life( I hope so). So eager to hear your story in Kandy!
Dear Helen, I've just looked at the map, where is Colombo and Kandy. I wish you having a pleasant trip. I'm looking forward reading your new blogs. Dusan.
Hi Helen, How was the weekend? I went Tamil movie Varanam Oyiram (1000 colours ) which was released last Friday with my wife and children. The story is about father and son relationship. Surya, the actor played both son and fathers role perfectly well. But after the interval the story was dragging. It is nice to know that you are heading on Kandy with Pankaj and Isabel. We are really looking forward your post about Kandy experience. I am more interested to know more about your nature of work in Sri Lanka. You said you are going to select teachers, giving training for them and visiting schools. How you are doing all these? From British council are you organizing all these? One of the many days-off, the four days off, these four days, a well prepared workers who know, for my fifteen years. Have a nice trip Helen, till then bye
Dear Helen, How is your Kandy trip? I live in trincomalee which has a lot of sandy beaches. I love to go to kandy which is one of the most beautiful place in Srilanka. There are a lot of places such as historical land marks, botanical garden , tea estates to see. When my brother in law worked in mahawali dam project I went with my family to kandy several times. Once we went during the kandy esala perahera time which is usually held in july and august month. Helen if you stay in srilanka until next august, you must go to kandy during the kandy esala perahera time. You all will enjoy that especially isabel will really enjoy that. It is decorated elephants parade. The orange young coconuts in your house make me thirsty. Before sunami we had three of this orange coconut in our house. We used to drink during the very warm weather time.It is very healthy drink which has a lot minerals and vitamins. How is your teachers training and other things going on in Kandy. I hope that you will have some time to see places with your family in kandy. Kind regards.
Hi Helen! I'm new here and it's my first time to come to your fatastic blog.It's a great privilege for me to join BBC learning English community and to meet you all here.And I'll keep watching your blog every day at least every weekend when staying at home. Fogot to tell you that I'm a college student in Sichuan University, and English is my favourate as well as basketball. Tolerate my poor vocabulary, Heeeeeeh...May happiness always around you and your families! ChenQing(my real chinese name)
Hi Helen, how is your trip going? I wish it's wonderful. Apart from interviews and give training to teachers there, do you have time to walk round the beautiful surrounding countryside? I'm wondering if your kids enjoy staying there. Really eager to hear your story and want to know how charming Kandy is.
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