Bye from the Beach and the Chair
Hello all!
Is that a cryptic blog title or what!
I just got back from the beach after taking Isabel for a walk before bedtime and I looked into the office and up at the calendar and saw that it is the last day of November. 
I couldn’t resist the last opportunity to reply to you all and say goodbye from the beach. For those of you who have enjoyed the blog, I will be back in January, which I am really happy about. :)
Look at what Pankaj bought me for my birthday - isn't it cool? It is sooo comfortable and I feel like I am in the mastermind chair when I sit in it and put my head back on the head rest. :)
I see there is going to be an open blog from tomorrow. I enjoyed the last one so let’s see who joins in. I hope all of you do and Paulraj I think you should feel confident enough to blog now without waiting till the middle of next year! I didn’t mention my family because they were quite cool about it really and it was more of an issue for Pankaj’s parents as we were living in India. Had we been living in England at the time there might have been more to say about my parents but by the time they found out, it was already a fait accompli and they were both very happy for us.
Well Done Dusan, your homework was almost all correct. Check the couple that were not.
Naheed, I manage very well in a sari thank you very much! I have to get my mother/sister-in law to tie it for me though. :)
Toni – keep trying the homework. Even if it is difficult, check the answers at the bottom of this blog. I look forward to hearing more from you in January.
Ewa – let’s do a swap – I will come to Krakow and you go to India and we can compare notes.
Thanks to Filippo and Daria for your recommended book lists. I’ve already read Eco and Calvino and I loved them so I am sure I will enjoy other contemporary Italian writers too. I have ordered the Mikhail book already Daria.
Hyoshil, yes I love green tea too and browsing for hours in bookshops, flicking through volumes of classics and modern fiction too.
Paco, do write in more often – your English is good and you use a nice turn of phrase.
Thanks to Naweed, Marianna, Ana Paula and YPW for your kind comments. Ana Paula, I say 32 again because I was first 32 some years ago and I decided I didn’t feel or want to get older than that just yet!
Anonymous – do let me know how Mercy is and I may get my Dad to bring it over for me.
Leslie, look at the answers to the homework – you got phrasal verbs mixed up with verb patterns using infinitive/gerund. Good try though. Keep it up!
Answers to challenges and well done those of you who took them up. You did really well.
Challenge1 from a Good Read: 5 examples of narrative devices in today’s post – phrases which move the story on/introduce a new point.
• In my last blog I said …
• Well, I am going to give you…
• That’s not to say that
• When I was a little girl…
• I have always loved…
• I still harbour this desire to…
Challenge 2 from a Good Read: 4 phrasal verbs in today's post and use them in a sentence. Say whether they are literal/non-literal/both.
• Set up (literal)
• Bring over (literal)
• Grow up (non literal)
• Throw out (literal)
• Give away (literal)
• Throw away (literal)
Phrasal verbs from Mixed Marriages and Mumbai:
• Win over (non literal)
• Bring round to (non literal)
• Pull something off (non literal here)
• Give into something (non literal)
Challenge from Mixed marriages and Mumbai: Find words/phrases in the post that mean….
1. For the most part
2. Threw herself into (non literal)
3. Spurred us on to
4. Come clean
5. Fill you in (non literal)
6. Hooked up (non literal)
7. An item
8. Throwing a party
9. Tied the knot
Have a wonderful December and hope to meet you in the open blog or if not, in 2009!
Very best wishes,
Helen
Comments
Hi Helen, thanks for all. I'm glad to know you and your life story. Right, january is here and you can be sure that I'm going to be there. I'm relly adicted to this site, it lets to know whales of costumes and nice people. Discover this site has been fantastic for my english but better for my person. To talk with so wonderful people is a masterclass of sensibility. Now,living on the crest of the vawe arrives december with its open blog. Woooow!!! tons of assured new emotions. See you soon, Toni.
Hi,Helen, we do not want you to leave .This month has passed so quickly and i am sure you still have a lot more useful advices and methods you can offer us.Would you keep blogging all next year?Thank you and see you on JAN or before
Hi Helen! It´s really nice to know that you´ll be back in January. See you in the open blogs :-). Ana Paula.
How good of your husband to give you a comfortable chair! The picture of the sunset is beautiful and it is nice to take a walk in the evening. I like to read your blog at anytime. Best wishes to you and your family!
I have enjoyed your blog very much, thanks.
Hello Helen, I'm looking forward to reading from you in January. Dusan
Dear Helen, thank you for the pictures! We have the first snow in my town, so I miss the time I could wear a T-shot:) Thank you also for your blog! I regret I’ve missed its beginning, so I’m looking forward to meeting you here again in January. Best wishes!
Hi helen! It’s been a great pleasure to read your posts, and lean English from you. I sincerely wish you and your family the best Christmas and a happy new year. I also wish you to have a fantastic time with your dad when he visits your family in January. My son, William would like to send your sweet pea, Isabel a huge hug and a kiss. Thinks again, and see you soonxx
Hi Helen! I'm so sad...I discovered this blog one week ago and I think you write very interesting things.I'll come back on January to read your news...I loved reading about your love story...it's so romantic! And I really love your photos. That beach is wonderful, I've never seen such a sea!I wish you a happy Christmas =) Kisses
Hi Helen, Thank you so much for bloging this month. I am looking forward to read your entries on January though your writing manner is a bit difficult for me. To learn something you have to overcome obstacles, there is no other way unfortunately. All the best!
Dear Helen, How are you and your family? I am very sorry, that due to my computer problem I couldn't be able to write comments to your last week blogs. I have to go now. I will write you again
Hello Helen, Greetings from cold Poland.We are approaching slowly to winter.Very nice to see you sitting on a sunny Saturday morning in your office with doors open and hear the song of a variety of birds.I like this picture very much.We must wait for these sunny and hot days still at least five months.Isabel your daughter is a very lovely child. Your husband is a very handsome and good man.I have read your teacher blog whole November and enjoyed your blog very much.I have learned a lot.Thanks for your advices and methods learning English you could offer, and books lists to read.I didn't try and never read book in English language.Now I'm reading "Veronica Decides to Die" Paulo Coelho.I find this book very interesting and reading goes me no fast but I understand and catch all.I think, from this time I will be read next books and improve my English very qickly.Helen! you are very brave woman.Your wedding picture beautiful.You are looking most lovely in your tradition Indian bride dress.Your smile beam on all pictures I have looked at says that you are happy woman,wife and mother.I wish you and your family good luck and happiness in your life.Happy New Year 2009.I'm looking forward hearing and seeing you in January.
Hi Helen, Thanks for your support and encouragement. You have given me a confidence to apply for a student blogger in the coming month. I will be a luckiest person if I get an oppertunity from BBC LE to blog under the guidence of you. And I am really happy that you will the teacher for the next month. I will apply soon. In the meantime I will join in the open blog this month. bye for now.
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
