Lucy is ready to go so I’ve gotta stop now (look, I’m starting to write like an American). Breakfast in Bryant Park. It doesn’t sound quite as good as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, does it. But I bet it’s a helluva lot cheaper (see, I’m doing it again). Bye for now! Have a great fortnight, and please keep on sending in your comments, ideas and opinions: I’m very far from home and they make me feel as though I’m in the company of good friends.
PS. I really loved reading about your favourite small pleasures. Monica’s (Brazil) are so poetic – ‘the noise of cars on wet, paved roads’ – and Adriana, also from Brazil (are all Brazilians so poetic?), I loved your image of watching your son fall asleep. I remember so well when Lucy was small how I would sit next to her bed reading her a story until I heard her breathing change and looking up I would notice she’d fallen asleep. Yes, Adriana, it brought peace to me, too. Natalya’s (Russia) description of how she and her husband explore new places with their little daughter was so vivid and homely. And I just loved Sana’s (Pakistan) image of climbing a tree and sitting there eating a mango. How serene.
Lots of you have small pleasures connected with cars or driving. I love driving at night. Kriszta, from Hungary, loves sitting in a car listening to music while it is raining outside. I bet we could put all these images together and make a great poem out of it. Would anyone like to try and then share it with us?
Sanjay (India), I thought of you, thinking of me while I ordered a beer at a Scottish bar just off Times Square last night.
Leila, from Finland, understands the effects of the songs and movies about New York. Yes, Leila, I go round New York singing “I’m a legal alien” all the time. And just to make things perfect I’ve got tickets to see The Police at Madison Square garden at the beginning of August: one of life’s bigger than small pleasures, I think.
Perhaps I don’t say ‘thank-you’ to all of you often enough. You are so generous and positive. Grand (Indonesia) and Divya (India), for example, said some very kind things last time, and so many of you have sent us best wishes for our visit to New York. Thank you all.
One of life’s not-so-small pleasures: sitting in Bryant Park, New York City, making notes for The Stephen Keeler Column.SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS tricky
difficult; awkward
not bad-looking
If someone is described as ‘not bad-looking’ it means they’re not extremely attractive (female) or handsome (male) but that they’re (see GRAMMAR POINT, below) not exactly ugly, either. It can be a way of paying a reluctant compliment.
hype
exaggerated publicity
hullabaloo
fuss; excitement
just off
near; not exactly on, but very nearby
book launch
party to celebrate the publication of a book
PR
Public Relations
“When I throw a ball, boy do I throw a ball!”
This is an example of colloquial or informal American usage. Basically, it means that when I give (throw) a party or ball it will always be well-planned, extravagant, and successful.
drapes
lengths of fabric; long curtains
bathed in
This is a common collocation. When something is ‘bathed in light’ it is gently but completely illuminated. Other examples include: …bathed in soft light; …bathed in gentle light; …bathed in early morning light, etc.
replica
copy; model
sniffles
the noise you make when sniffing while/because you’re crying
sobs sharp intakes of breath while/because you’re crying
…one of the effects New York has on me
Notice the preposition ‘on’ and the verb ‘has’: things
have an effect
on you.
biased
prejudiced; not objective
run down
no longer in good condition; needing repair and/or restoration
relentless
non-stop
buddy
US (informal) English for ‘friend’. The British English equivalent is ‘mate’.
…cos I ain’t got no warm ones
US (colloquial) English for ‘because I haven’t got any warm ones’.
chips (crisps)
In British English ‘chips’ are finger-sized fried potatoes, sometimes called ‘French fries’ or even ‘frites’. In US English (and in common use in most European languages) the word ‘chips’ means what we call, in British English, ‘crisps’ i.e. very thinly-cut slices of fried potato pieces sold in packets and eaten, for example, at parties or in pubs, with a drink. You shouldn’t, therefore, go into a British pub and ask for a packet of chips. Instead, you should ask for a packet of crisps.
go on a diet
start to diet
Well done! If yous two was my kids I’da bin very happy you’d eaten everytin’ on yous plates.
US (colloquial) English, characteristic of parts of New York, such as The Bronx. The British (neutral) English equivalent would be: “Well done! If you two were my children I would have been very happy that you had eaten everything on your plates.”
on the house
free
Poughkeepsie
A town in upstate New York. The pronunciation is roughly /pkipsi/.
There will be more on some contrasts between US and British English next time.
GRAMMAR POINT Kwabene Ohene-Annor, from Ghana, raised an interesting and important question in comments, on my last Column, about possessive pronouns. Although it may be, strictly speaking, grammatically ‘incorrect’ to use ‘their’ in the following sentence
Please ask everyone to get their books and come with me.
it has become accepted usage. There is a reason why this has changed over the last few years. Traditionally (and grammatically) the sentence would have been
Please ask everyone to get his books and come with me. But the automatic use of the masculine pronoun ‘his’ has become regarded as sexist. English doesn’t have a neutral pronoun which can be used here, so the plural form has become adopted instead. An acceptable, if rather awkward, alternative is
Please ask everyone to get his/her books and come with me.WRITE TO STEPHEN Thank you for sending your comments, this topic is now closed.
Star Bao, China
Hello Mr Stephen Keeler
It's very nice to read your article and sorry to say that this is the first time I came to your article. The words and phreas are just great such as" When I th-row a ball, boy do I throw a ball". I learnt lot from your passage. Thank you so much. I'll keep to appreiate your article. Best wishes and sincele blessings.
Gloria, Barcelona (Spain)
Hello,New York is a city that I really want to visit some day. It has to be wonderful to stay there with lots of things to do and being able to practise your English. Ah! Escalera is a funny name for a cat!have a good time in NY!
Yoko, Japan
Hallo! Your column is very interesting.You really enjoy the life in New York. I come to want to go to New York and London. It takes a few hours to me to read all(I'm not good at English), but I want to read your next column!
Azerbaijan-Baku
Hi Stephen, my name is Sevinge(the meaning is JOY), as Fulbright schollars I've recently been to the USA-NY, Washington DC(White House museums galleries), Boston(Harvord University, New Mexico. I've lived in NY for 2 months. We were educated at NYU, one of the prestigious universities.T he theatres, musicals, operas are overimpressive. I could see Impire State Bulding, Chrysler building out of my balcony, It's Just Fantastic. I loved NY, welcoming New Yorkers. Thank you for taking me back to NY with your vivid description.I hope to be in London one day.
Poorav, India
If I been to USA,it will be difficult for me to understand those people, there English is I think very much different from Britishers as well as Indians.
Elif, Turkey
Hi Steven,I really like your communicative style. It’s friendly and shows a desire to communicate. You sound like a really nice father.I like the photos you’ve been posting on your blog. I'm really looking forward to finding out loads more about your life in New York.I hope you have a great weekend.
Jill Huang From Beijing
Hello, Stephen. How is your apartment sitting? Does everything go well? Are you a big Harry Potter fan? Tonight, Harry Potter movie will come to Beijing and I believe thousands of people especially children will queue to buy a ticket. There is a huge Harry Potter fan club around the world. What’s the temperature in NY now? Yesterday in Beijing, the temperature is 39 degree. It’s so hot. It’s burning outside. It makes me feel lazy. It’s the weekend now. I want to have a good rest on the weekend and on Monday I can read your new column again. Yes? By the way, Stephen, your picture of making notes for The Stephen Keeler Column is quite cool! Show us more pictures, please. :-> Have a good weekend! Jill.
Jane, China
Hello, Stephen!It's my first time to see the column, and i just to say:WONDERFUL!USEFUL!HELPFUL! See you in your next column.
Kirsti, France
I was too busy to write my poem, I hadn't seen Adriana's and Benka's. Great. But it's a pity the poems cannot be seen as they were intended, with their lines and spaces. Stephen, next time you ask for a poem, ask the BBC to allow for the original lay-out as well.
BBC Learning English replies:
This is the way the automated system publishes and it cannot be changed. Unforunately, we can't see your original lay-out.
Kirsti, France
Hello, Stephen. Ihope my contribution will not be too long. I took the challenge and I wrote two poems. The first one is about the pleasure people have expressed for learning, and some of their favourite words. Language Pneumono-ultra-micro-scopic silico-volcano-coniosis. Sounds a bit off-topic Is it not a miss, when speaking of pleasure? The word was created to be the longest in English. Jameel never hesitated to take it in with relish, achieving learning, a pleasure. Playing with sounds helps us meet and fulfill the requirements of eager learners, finding our feet, reaching personal accomplishments finding learning is pleasure. Is it not incomprehensible that what in school was complicated taught by Stephen - he IS incredible! - now easily is assimilated? His coulumn is a pleasure. My hypothesis is this: It's a spectacular reward seeing anyone will miss what Stephen writes on this board. Stephen, is writing your pleasure? Kwabena from Ghana, Egyptian Waleed - your African correspondents - Australian van Nguyen, (Vietnamese, indeed), one of your worldwide students, follow your column with pleasure. The Americas, Europe or Asia, have learners appreciating you, as the towns of Singapore, Seoul and Sofia to mention just a few. Worldwide we share the same pleasure. Speaking Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Hindi, Farsi, Flemish, Swedish or Spanish, or Vietnamese, Portuguese, if you please, we aim for improving our English. Thanks to you, Old Parsnip, we do so with pleasure. The second poem is inspired by the driving in rain. As you can see it is not one big poem for all the small pleasures of life expressed by the contributors. But I think other writers will add their poems. Won't you? driving in rain drip drip drip the rain starts to hit the roof of the car each drop is a star by my headlight lit drum drum drum the rain will come and the car is like a shed over my head drum drum drum ron ron ron the car spins along I am cosy and warm in the rainy storm humming a song hither and tither driving just nowhere hither and yonder rain is a wonder drip drip drum
Ava, China
Hi, Stephen! I'm a Harry Potter fan,soI'm very exited about thenews.What a pity thatI couldn't attend this 'party',I want to know more.To be a wizard is my dream,I believe there must be many children, maybe someone acted like the characters in the story, it's must be buzzing with excitement.
Fadoua, Casablanca, Morocco
Hi, i ll try to understnd all words, my english is bad, but i ll try all time to understans a new words, thanks Stephen.
Dete Amaral, Brazil, South America
Dear mister Stephen, I thought I couldnt find another Stephen as good as the King as a writer, but I was wrong. You are a great writer as well. You made me smile more than once, and Im really impressed with your writings about New York! Im , in fact delighted with you. Congratulations, I hope to have the chance to say hello more often. Dete from Brazil, Ceará
Anita, Slovakia
Hello Stephen! It has been interesting reading about your experiences as an Englishman in NY. When I ended writing the blog last September I was full of hope to visit England one day. At the time it seemed like I am crying for the moon. Since then I have been there, thanks to my daughter. And now, reading your post from NY I have got itchy feet… I would like to visit my pen friend in the U.S. However, he does not live in NY. Maybe one day…anything is possible. Stephen, my previous comment was published a little bit late. If you are interested please read it. Thank you. I am looking forward to reading your tales. Best wishes,
Adriana, Brazil
Hello Stephen. I want to ask you a question before you write the next column. There is a kind of expression in English that I like when I read it. It is about: The more..., the more likely... For example, a few minutes ago, I read on the student's blog and she wrote "The more expensive, the nicer it would be" or in the BBC news today: The sooner someone gets the help they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery". Could you please teach me how to build this kind of sentence one day, if you don't mind put down here? I'm anxious to read your next column. Bye teacher.
Pilar, Spain
Hello Stephen! Thank you so much for sharing your NY holidays with us. My holidays have finished yet, so reading your column have allowed me to take a break in my busy days.
Subash,Nepal,Pokhara
hi Stephen , I am a new visitor to your document and I like it . And thought that you can help me with my english so I am sending you this message. Give me some tips regarding how can I increase my english.Waiting for a good response.ok bye
Lisa, Korea
Hi, Stephen! As usual, I enjoyed your column. I really like your column because it is fun and interesting but also easy to read. It's very jovial^^ I want to go NY because there are lots of big parties we can enjoy. In Korea, where I live, those kind of parties are rare. I really envy you and Lucy that you joined the launching party. I'm a Harrypotter fan but shamefully still I couldn't read the last book because it is not yet translated in Korean. I have 4 Harrypotter books in the original but I've never finished those books. I tried hard but I think it is difficult for a non-english speaking person to read a English book in the original. T^T Everyday, I feel the need to raise my English skill. My mother is also a big fan of you so she is wating for me to hand the computer so that she can read tour column:-) I think I have to hand her the seat so that she can also enjoy your column.Bye!
Leticia, Uruguay,South America
Hi Stephen! It is very useful to learn english in this way. It´s is also extremelly interesting to read your column.
Cylaine Figueiredo- Florianópolis, Brazil
I´ve just found out about your column.Loved it. I went to new York a long, long time ago and it is on my plans to go there maybe next year.It is a place i would love to stay at least for a month, to feel as confortable as I was in my hometown.So, it will be great to read about it and maybe imagine myself in the places your are writing about.It is the first time I read it but I´m already a fan.Thanks and keep writing.
Monica ,Brazil
Hi Mr Keeler,Your trip sounds really great. You seem to be having a helluva time in New York savouring all those yummy dishes , touring around and visiting really nice places!This is exactly what travelling means to me! As a typical sagittarius, I love travelling and I fancy being like the locals, not like a tourist. When I travel, boy I do travel! I just wish I had more dough and friends all over the world to swap flats,with or without Escalera (By the way, Escalera reminds me of Bozo, a game with dice which you have to make full, general and so forth.)Well going back to the topic of trips, I know London, which I'm really fond of, but I haven´t been to New York yet, not even USA. Although, I must confess, there are only two places that really fascinates me in USA: San Francisco and New York.And I know New York by watching some of Woody Allen`s films and series like Sex and the City (one of my favourites)and it strikes me as a very picturesque, warm and lively city! And Hair let me know bit of Sna Francisco!I must disagree with Ana Paula, in that picture you are in the park making your notes you look more like Ghandi than our Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond!However if you want to check your resemblence to Drummond, you just have to stroll along Copacabana beach cause there,by the end of the beach towards Ipanema, you can find his bronze statue sitting crossed legs on a beach bench!Well, enjoy your stay and let us know more about your adventurous holiday with Escalator and Lucy,Love,Monica
Benka, Serbia
Hello, Stephen! I don't know if "My Poem" is any good because I am not much of a poet, but you can't blame me for trying. "The small pleasures of life as mentioned in Stephen Keeler's column, shared on the Internet and experienced by his readers are watching a child falling safe and sound asleep; rolling in the sand on the beach while listening to the waves of the sea breaking and drinking a bear with a brunnete at your knee; smiling to each other when crossing a street and smiling to a cashier when paying a bill, and laughing, laughing together at almost nothing while watching the fields of tall grass bending and waving and on each other lean; exploring new places with a man who skates in a suit and tie and is your daughter's father and you are his wife; do you need climbing a tree? pearching there in the treetop and eating a mango? come here!; being driven in a car on a curved country road by a friend at night, or just sitting in there, listening to some music while it is raining heavily outside or getting soaking wet. Have you ever smelt the soil in the rain? Have you ever smelt a wet grass after a nice summer rain? You never have?! Please, have. Because you should live a life a minute by minute, not a day by day and then you will learn to appreciate...,... being written about in what Stephen Keeler has." ( a column) PS: Are grammatical mistakes allowed in poetry? Otherwise there would be no poetic liberty or language.
Hasan , Aleppo, Syria
Salam Mr. Stephen .. Here is my second post and I wish then one will find its way to the site. I like your way of writing and would like to thank you for this intresting virtual tour around New York city and also would like to invite you to visit Aleppo and write about this impressive old city.
Sreekumar, India, Kerala, Kannur
Used very soft language. I can easily understand. "thanks"
Adek, Poland
Hello Stephan :-) Reading your columns I couldn't help but get the impression that I have known you for o long time. As I mentioned some blogs ago, we have a lot in common. I could say the same about myself as you about yourself: I read my children (I've got three of them) to help them fall asleep, I'm not really an animal person, I like travelling or rather visiting new places (as for travelling I'm not so sure about that). But...there is one big difference - you can play with words, you're very good at it - I'm not. When I was a young boy I tried to write a book for children, unfortunately, or maybe fortunatelly for would-be readers, I failed. I'm looking forward to your next 'THE STEPHEN KEELER COLUMN'.
Truc Ly, Vietnam
Hi Stephen! I'm really some confused between US and British English. But I love English although my English still have not yet quite good. I have not been visiting to New York yet and London either. So that I don't know how's different both of places. I only will be there via stories, photos and your column now. By the way, I'm a Harry Portter fan also. I have been study at Hogwarts School with him and sharing difficult, hazardous...during time from starding to the end. And I understood why Lucy sniffles and sobs then more nose-blowing. I'm glad when you and Lucy have a wonderful holidays and enjpued your visit break. Lucy deserve a good rest. See you next time. Best whises, Truc Ly
Kirsti, France
Thank you for your description of your adventures. I noticed that i wasn't the only one sobbing when reading this last Harry Potter book.
Mason, China, Yiwu
Hi sir stephen ok it is very good to learn english in this way. but the problem is how can i get what i have learnt from this article into my mind. Thank you.
Tracych, HongKong
In my opinion, I think there is sarcasm in your artical, but not too much.There are differences between NewYork and London according to their histories,the one is a short history, modern vibrant city, the other is a long history, classical, sophisticated city. In fact, they are both fantastic, if you put down your bias to experience.
Anita, Hungary
I'd like to ask if Lucy is the only Harry Potter fun in your family, or you've already read it.
Ravi , India
Memory is perhaps all that we have, is that not a wonderful thing to have? Yello cabs, Harry Potter, great food, and everything else that makes New York including the cat Escalera make it New York. Cold beer has the same effects anywhere but when I do visit New York I would definitely have this memory of your holiday to keep me company. The head of PR seemed very friendly? Why does everyone like Harry Potter? And yet why stack the books like a replica of the Empire State Building? I still agree the building itself is an awesome sight.I understand waiting for Harry Potter but the Bourne Ultimatum would effect me differently though. Wouldn't this be a better place to be in if we could eat and just forget calories and diet?New York would be a wonderful place.This was my first read of your column Mr Keeler, brings to me memories..
Omar Tirawi,United Arab Emirates,Sharjah.
Hi Keeler;I've just read your column for this month(August)and enjoyed it very much.I hope you will consider writing a columnevery week instead of once in a fortnight. I envy you and Lucy for the facinating vacation in New York whlie Iam locked in beween four walls trying my best to brush up my English. Don't eat too much espicially freid potato and hamburgers. In the course of next month I will have to answer , in detail, the following question:Describe a teacher who effected your life? That teacher will be you,because you made me love English Languge so that I've decided to take,for the first time in my life, a very important English language test(IELTS).Thank you very much for the vigilent effort you put in these columns.The best of all.
Reza,Iran,Mashhad
Hello Stephen. I read your story and learnt and enjoyed a lot from that. Thanx
Filippo, Italy
Hi Stephen! As usual, it is so interesting to read your column. I cannot say whether or not NY is better that London because I have never been to the United States. I think these two cities definitely have a different style though. About music, listen to " New York New York". It is a Moby's song perfomed by Debbie Harry.I am eager to learn some other new AmE words or expression. I bet there are some colloquialisms which have become popular in BrE as well.I cannot wait to read your next installment.All the best from Italy, Filippo
Haymar, Myanmar
Greetings from Myanmar. I'm not very much familiar with you because I've read three columns. But I am thinking to find the old ones and read them. I like you when I read your column very first time. I hope that now I have a teacher or instructor who will correct my mistakes from England and who will tell me some of the meanings that I don't know. Will you, please? Would you like to hear some comments from me about this column? No, they are not comments. But just some feelings of mine on UK and USA. More clearly, the British and the Americans. I like British for their discipline and manly (This character I don't know how to say, but you know I think they can understand and forgive others)character. And I like Americans for their straight-forwardness and the style of living regardless of what others will say. For example, they may wear jeans for the party where British people dress up like gentle men and ladies. The Americans will take lecture under sunshine in front of the class room together with the teacher whereas the British will follow what the teacher says in the classroom. I like both the British and the American for their good values. But I really oppose British attitude on the blacks in the past when the USA allow the blacks to be their citizens. I don't mean that I hate British or America. But I want to say only one thing. That is: Not the colour of the complexion blackens one's spirit, but his ego does.
Ginna, Bogota, Colombia
Good morning, I studied modern languages and i think your articles are very interesting to learn more. I have a doubt about the use and meaning of aint. It is only to say have not. Thank for your collaboration.Ginna
Elena, Russia
Hi,Stephen!I have really enjoyed reading your article about New York.I fully agree that Britain is a better place to live in.I am going to use the article in my English classes, and I hope my students will share my impressions
Adriano, Brazil
I wish you enjoy yourself while visiting America.I am curious about the reason of the city, which you are going to visit, is named Poughkeeps.When you get there, could you please ask people how come it has such a different name.Being an Englishman in New York gives you the right to ask a lot of question.I really like the column this week.Congratulations!
Tanya, Russia
Hello from Moscow, Stephen :) A day or two ago I disclosed your blog, it's highly interesting! There's raining today, and I say "Thanks" because I could read all this notes without a twinge of conscience. Anyway, I spent time very useful and I smiled a lot, you can view the situation positively. Somewhere I've read that your favourite building is St Basil’s Cathedral, mine too! But I don't biased, do I? :) Ooh, the 5th cup of tea draws to a close.. the rain had stopped, lucky me! we're going to dacha (summer cottage) Bye, have a good time!
Naheed,Pakistan
Hello Sir,Along with you,all of us are on a virtual journey to New York.I have never been to this city, but your column tells so much about it.Reading about sweet potato fries made my mouth water yummy!I am sure you and Lucy are having a whale of time.I can say seeing at the picture of Chrysler building that there is something magical about it.It's beautiful, and I can imagine how lovely it would look when the sunlight catches it in the evening.Have a great journey!Naheed
Mika,Japan
Hellow Stephen.I've never been to New York so I enjoyed to read your article very much.I heard that N.Y was very dangerous place and at recently news I thought US as a gunfull(everyone has a gun)country I'm hesitating hearing you look enjoying a lot. I try to go US but I'm afraid, too.Have you ever seen any people using a gun while you are in US?
Adriana, Brazil
Stephen, I know I am not your number one student who does all the nasty homeworks but your column is very spiring, so I will try a poetry suggested by you with my poor english. The title is "My Humble Poetry"/////"The highlights in his soul/ Is what has made her blind/ It is the only thing of him she knows/ Beyond the strange thoughts flowing in her mind///Not able to capture the magic moon/ Magesticly reflected in the river/ No matter it was midnight or noon/ Freud would never explain that fever(haha!!!I need a rhyme here): /// Wondering if she was in the Thames bank/ Instead of the wild waters of Amazon/ She would drop a tear to be sent/ Straight to the place where she came from/// Bringing together the blue of his eyes/ Crossing bravely the huge ocean of her dream/ And bright tenaciously in her sky/ then believe the heaven of her is the same of him/ Made of the same clouds and stars she has ever seen."
Marianna, Slovakia
Hi! As Lucy did by reading I did too just giving farewell to teacher Jo Kent. I feel a relief you and Lucy vill stay with us.I am even glad you want to suffer by reading this scribling yet without any phrasal verb. I really miss my young lady teacher, who learned me to write first sentences, so I try my best to contribute and write here. I am too far from reading such thick book but your description reminded me to go down memory line again. At university I spent sitting above study books in a big old gym all of my time.I would sit wrapped in a rug breathing unhealthy air in that big cold space bathed in twilight, seeing and hearing just walking feets through narrow celar windows located out just at pavement. I even forgot being once able working so hard or was that really from my own life? Once I visited Leningrad (that time) and said that I wouldn´t go to a big city for holiday again. My legs ached constantly. A year befor I visited Kaukasus, flew on the plane 7 times for smalish price and a man named Sultan recited me long poem there in his native language almost half an hour walking along night alley. (Men evidently like to learn by heart.) It was before the war in that region. Hey, I do have a tip for your next adventurous holiday in style. In my land was opened a highest located apartment in the middle Europa on the Lomnický pick, 2 636m, High Tatras. People say that such a view on Sunset and Sunrise can´t be payed with any money. What do you say? Sun sets down the trees, Beams mirors bleeds lake, Dewdrops cool eyes.
Evgeniy, Russia
Hi Stephen!That's good to hear you both have fun there, over the sea. It would be great if you could write us about other side of New York. I'm not going to force you to explore it by your own, but may be you could tell us what you have heard about the parts of the city where no tourist guide will recommend to go if you are going to live long „and prosper“. I mean (and you are right again, it's a power of films), there is some places that are dangerous not only for ordinary people but the police as well tries to avoid its duty there. I'm sure you could write about this serious theme in a free and funny way like you always did. Doesn't it seem like a challenge?Have fun!
Antonio, Belgium
Hi Stephen, I have liked very much your new column, like the older. Your experience with the cold beer remembers me a typical one that most Belgian people have when they go to France. It really happens very often. In Belgium we use to call “baguette française” the French stick (bread stick).Once being in France, in the baker’s, I wanted to have one and I asked for a “baguette française” the woman locked at me and said something like : all the bread we have here is French …. Antonio
Melli, China
Hi, Stephen. When i am reading this column On BBC, your fantastic photos remind me of something concerning your Lucy's A-levels. So did she make it?
Ana Paula, Brazil
Hello Stephen!Brrr! Here in Sao Paolo we´re having one of the coldest weeks of the winter. The temperature is around 5°C ~ 7°C, which maybe for you it´s not that much, but for me... uh... I need urgently more piles of blankts for this night! :-)Oh... it´s nice to read that you are enjoying very much your hot and sunny days. Besides that, I liked to see your photos. Although the days here are really cold, I could warm my day reading your column and writing my comment in it. Ah! Can I tell you one thing? Well, in that photo you´re sitting in Bryant Park, I thought you so looked like a wonderful Brazilian poet called Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Hmm... Maybe the glasses and your intellectual face gave me this impression ;-).Just one more thing Stephen. If in one of those days you are in front of Tiffany´s sipping a nice cup of coffee, or if 'Moon River' just comes to your mind, please remember me!All the best for you and Lucy, and I see you in the next fortnight. Ana Paula.
Myriam, Colombia
Hi Stephen!
I am really happy you write "neutral" English because I find it quite difficult to understand the colloquial one...I should take a course only to understand it! My daughter is also a fan of Harry Potter and she bought the book even though it was published in English (Spanish version will be sold in December I think)and she is taking a time to translate it.
Well at least she will practice her language skills while she is having fun! It sounds like New York is an exciting city. Trust me if you one day visit Bogota or Medellin in Colombia you will probably find the problems of NYC as a funny party! The traffic here is becoming a serious problem. But as always, you find great things and bad things in everywhere you go, so it is better if you take it easy. Sorry I am not good at writing poems nor in Spanish neither in English, pitifully my inspiration does not give me so much.
So, I say good bye for now, and will be waiting for your next column. Have fun!!! ... by the way Escalera is spelled correctly, congratulations!
LO, Senegal
Hello Sir STEPHAN I'm very proud to read your column.Surely you will said it's the first time I see this name; you will be right. For a longtime i look for a site where can i improuve my english speaking and writting. I think that which BBC learning english and your column I can learnt many things. I wanted to do a english learning trip but I do'nt have enough time.Thank you very much Mr Keeler for all you do to help many student like me.I'm very sorry for the mistakes.Bye;
You’ve seen them on TV and in every movie ever filmed in New York. These yellow cabs (taxis) are as much a part of the city as the skyscrapers and the summer heat.
This clock, in Times Square, counted down the hours, minutes and seconds to the publication of the book.
More food! Lucy and I eating cupcakes at the Magnolia Bakery (made famous by the TV series Sex and the City) in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.
The Chrysler Building, Lexington Avenue, Manhattan – one of my favourite buildings anywhere in the world. I could look at this building all day and never get bored. You should see it when the sunlight catches it in the evening: so romantic; so beautiful.
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