Thank you, Paul McCartney

Last night I saw Paul McCartney in concert. It wasn't the first time. As a boy of thirteen, living in the north-east of England, I once slipped out of the house secretly, took a bus to a nearby town where they were playing, and bought a ticket to see The Beatles. It was that easy, then. It must have been 1963, and I wanted long hair (some hair would be good now) and one of those grey jackets with a high collar and black braid. I wanted a shiny electric guitar and I wanted to stand on stage in front of thousands of screaming teenage girls and sing my heart out. I wanted, in fact, to be Paul McCartney - despite the thrashing I got when I got home around midnight!

I was grounded for a month, but nothing ever stopped me wanting to be, almost believing I was, Paul McCartney.

What can I say about the concert? His voice is not what it was. He has to strain to reach the high notes in Hey Jude! and some of the youthful sweetness is gone. But the young McCartney never had a gritty rock ‘n' roll voice. Now that he's older he has, and last night he performed Back in the USSR as the rock ‘n' roll classic it has always been. OK, so it's not exactly high brow entertainment, but Blackbird is as sweet a song as anything Schubert or Mozart ever wrote, and McCartney still has those sad, soulful eyes which, together with the melodies and the orchestration, bring back sentimental, nostalgic memories of where you were, and who you were, all those years ago.



Like Lennon, my best friend was killed – twenty-five years ago, in a train crash in Canada. So, like McCartney, I have lived a long time without him. We never produced great work. We didn't change the world (we didn't even change the street where we lived; hell, we rarely changed our socks!). No one will ever name an airport or an academy after us. But it was a great and productive friendship and I wonder if girls' friendships are like this. And if they're not, why were the thousands of women in the audience last night there? What fantasies, what memories passed through their minds as we sang and clapped and swayed from side-to-side, smiling and happy and, for an hour at least, full of the milk of human kindness?

Thank you, Paul McCartney. You may have stolen my identity, but you still know how to delight a hall full of people on a cold October night.

Best wishes,



SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

Next time ...
Sorry if you were never a Beatles fan. I hope you were able to get something useful out of this column anyway. Next time I'm going to try to answer Dunia's (Baghdad) question about how I would choose a husband for Lucy. I need your help, though. What do you think? [Note to Lucy: you can ignore the next column!]

Use of English Notes
Re-read the text. Find the expressions listed below, to the left. Then read the explanatory notes for each expression, to the right.

As a boy of thirteen	An alternative way of saying 'as a thirteen year-old boy'.
I wanted to stand on stage	Note that no article is needed in this expression.
despite the	Note that you should not use 'of' with this expression. You can use either 'despite the' (without a preposition) or 'in spite of the', but don't mix them up.
rock 'n' roll	A fixed expression (rock and roll), almost always written like this. Other common expressions like this include 'fish 'n' chips' (fish and chips) - a traditional English meal, and 'gin 'n' tonic' (gin and tonic) an alcoholic drink.
high brow	You can use 'low brow' as the opposite, meaning entertainment, art, music, writing, and so on which is simple and easy to understand rather than intellectually challenging. It is used to show disapproval.
To name (something) after (someone)	John Lennon Airport (Liverpool) is 'named after' John Lennon.
'full of the milk of human kindness'	This is a quotation from Shakespeare's Macbeth.

WRITE TO STEPHEN

This topic has now closed. Thank you for all your comments.

Karin, Leksand, Sweden
That is a great column! I have seen a lot of shows on tv describing just how people changed their hair and styles to look like the beatles and similiar bands, so you needn't feel embarrassed. I believe that it's a common phenomenon, even in these days. Though people might not realize they are affected just yet. But also, it's a lot easier to get access to different kinds of music, and the variety of style among teenagers have increased. Also I think parents have softened up a bit which is great, it's more acceptable to stay out late and attend more concerts. Maybe that is because our parents are about your age and grew up at the same time as you did. Still, dad never wanted to look like Bowie for example though he was a great icon. I guess Paul was just one of a kind!

Sweden, Leksand
It was an eye-opener to read your column, it made me realise it isn't such a big different being young now and fourty years ago... All the time we hear about how dangerous it is to be a youngster today with all the temptations like drugs and also peer pressure, but in the end all youngsters (now or fourty years ago) just want to live for the day.. And that can be sneaking out to a concert without thinking to much about the consequenses :)

Erik, Sweden
Hello Stephen.I'm not the biggest fan of The Beatles, but their music is legendary.We went on a trip with my English class to cambridge last week, and took the train to London to be there one day. We visited Abbey Road, it was a great experience seeing all those signatures on the wall. It shows how they have and still are affecting peoples lifes!

Viktor, Sweden, Leksand
Hello Stephen! :>Thanks for yet another great article, I enjoy them as much as I enjoy listening to The Beatles. I'm looking forward to seeing you when you are coming to our English class. Cheers!

Johan, Leksand, Sweden
Great article! Like the way you write about the beatles, wish I was born in England in the 60's, I really would have liked to see the beatles play live.

Marcus, Leksand, Sweden
I really enjoyed your article. I'm also a big Beatles fan, though I'm only 18. Too bad I could see the Beatles perform at a live consert. You say boys' friendships are fiercely competitive but fiercely loyal. And I couldn't agree more. I really understand your choice to sneak out to see the Beatles and Paul McCartney because some things in life simply are more important than other. Once again, I really enjoyed your column and it was funny too! Thank you Marcus

Anders Week, Sweden, Gagne
Hello Stephen..I really liked your article. Sounds a little like an obsession, but I have a friend who would cut his foot off to meet John Lennon. I think everybody who has a good friend have the same kind of friendship like you..rock on!!

Anna, Leksand, Sweden
Hi Stephen! It was a really good article, and I really know what you're saying about girl's friendship.I think friendship between boys are more honest than between girls, girls are more back-stabbing than boys.I'm not that much of a Beatles fan but I enjoyed your article because it was so describing and lively.

Oscar Alfredsson
Hello Stephen, I really liked your article and i really know what you meanI WANT TO BE A ROCKSTAR TOO! :D

Leksand, Sweden
Hi Steven! This is the first time I've read an article of yours and I did it just because a teacher told us to. I was surprised of how good it was! You're a very good writer.Hopefully I'll be reading it again, I really enjoyed it! Take care!

Peyman, U.S.A, Ohio, originally; IRAN
Hi, Stephen. I am a freshman student at Ohio Northern University and am just done with my quarter exams. I really like your column even though it is the first time i am reading it. Your articles are very helpful for my essays and journals. thanks.

Evelin, Estonia
Hello Stephen! Of course, Blackbird is a sweet song - it has a cordial and encouraging message.I remember some Beatles songs from my childhood – these songs seldom sounded on our radio. I liked them, but my absolutely favorite song was The Imagine - although I didn´t know what Beatles sang about; I knew nothing about English at this time. I only listened to the melody and the singer´s voice which sounded magically to my ears. I saw the strong impact of the beat music on one of my cousins who made yourself a guitar and learned to play it. Although he didn´t become a musician, the music is a part of his life. Girl´s friendship like boy´s friendship is loyal, my best friends are ones who I know since my childhood. You noticed in your column you tried to write poetry when you were young. I´d like to know, do you like reading poetry now? What kind of the poetry do you prefer?

Anna, Latvia
I like 'the Beatles'too. I remember my boyfriend singing Yesterday for me some years ago. In spite of this my feelings were not about the past. Later, when my son was a baby - his favourite song was Hey Jude, something very light is in this melody. As far as I remember from my teenager years I never wanted to be anybody else, even a famous pop star. I was keen to do things on my own, not like others.

Csilla, Hungary
Hello Stephen, Your articles are great- I love reading them... I enjoyed this one too even though I'm not a Beatles fan. I think that girls' friendships exist though they may be different- I met my best friend at university and despite the fact that we live in different countries we are still in touch and I miss her a lot. Have a great weekend, Csilla

Jill Huang, Beijing
Hello, Stephen. Wow! That picture! My friend and I were still in shock from the feeling when we saw your picture. Just kidding! That’s cool! But I like your current look much more. :-) Hey Jude is very popular and each time I listen to it, I feel different. It’s touching. It’s moving. Like you, I’ve loved a singer since I was young. Her name is Wang Fei. She is very famous in China. Now, she got married and had two lovely girls. She said she wouldn’t sing any more and she hopes all the fans could forget her. She wants to live a simple life like an everywoman. Wish her live a happy life! See you next Monday! Take care, Jill.

Rasma Raisters, Riga, Latvia
I've recently discovered your column and was delighted by it. I particularly loved your columns from the time you were in New York. I'm a New Yorker but have been living in Riga since 1994. I miss my "summer playground" but unfortunately at this time I cannot make it back. However to compensate for the fact that everyone here speaks Latvian but are learning English I give private lessons from my home. I love "surfing the net" looking for material to help my students learn English. Your column will now be included in that material. It's great for discussion and learning new words. A comment on your Lucy. I fell in love with this name when watching reruns of "I Love Lucy" when I still lived in NYC and simply went mad for the name when I saw the then adorable little girl who played Lucy in my all time favorite movie set in NY - "The Goodbye Girl". Of course, I have the video and when I get really homesick I watch it and blubber like a baby. My husband, who was born and raised in the "sickle and hammer" generation can't wait to see NY again because he fell in love with the city when I took him to visit the US back in 1997, '98 and '99. Because of him I also have the opportunity to speak English at home (he's always trying to perfect his skills) and I enjoy speaking in my native tongue. I also write informative articles and poetry for www.Buzzle.com. At the moment, I'm writing about food and food history and poetry on various subjects. It's not Shakespeare but I enjoy doing it. Looking forward to your next column I will now end my long and winded commentary.

Iris, Germany
Dear Stephen! Reading your nostalgic memories about the Beatles and Paul McCartney brought tears to my eyes, because their wonderful music is music of my generation too. And I think, Paul McCartney is not only a gifted musician and a man of great charm, but he is a living legend. Oh! Stephen! Don’t worry, please. Many people from all over the world love to visit one of the most attractive columns. And this one bears your name, doesn’t it? And, by the way, it’s very interesting to learn English through reading your fascinating reports and comments as well. Thank you, Stephen. With best wishes to you and Lucy, Iris

Ania, Poland
Hello Stephen, I like The Beatles and ABBA too, although I'm a much younger than You. In fact this is good music for me. In my opinion friendships betwen women happen rare. Why? ask women. I would like to go to England maybe then my English will be better. Best wishes and a lot of sun. Ania

Marianna, Slovakia
Hello Stephen! Here it is memorable as I, in the age about 5, should recite a children title `A broom is standing in a corner´. Actually, we were two there with a boymate named Štefan. I was preparing in the family and excited told to everybody that I would shout loudly for the whole hall. Then, we both stood on stage long without getting any voice out of our mouths until they had taken us by huge applause away. It is a good job that you´ve got such an amount of close, good or another friends and more or less dilligent students. And, how about your russian friend Katia? She shall be british now, I suppose.Cheers!

Natalja
hello stephen I wonder if there is some teacher here from bbc.com that can corect my essay. One importent part in learning english is to write essay, so my question was if i can send my short essay that im writing every day regards natalja
BBC Learning English
We're sorry Natalja but we don't have the resources or time to be able to correct individual essays.

Zaya, Mongolia
Hello Stephen,I haven't seen Paul McCartney's concert, yet. But I do listen to Beatles songs. I like Paul's eyes; he has as we say in Mongolia 'baby cow's eyes', aren't they beautiful? I saw McCartney's some drawings back in Europe, I think he is an excellent artist, too. A friendship between woman? Yes, a strong friendship does exist among woman. I miss my girlfriends a lot since they live in different places around the world.

Benka, Niš, Serbia
Hello, Stephen! The strongest, and longest, friendship I have experienced is with the girl who, is now a woman, became my friend in high school. The winds of war separated us 1993. In 2000 I was surprised to get a phone call from Daniela from some town in Holland whose name I can't pronounce. She has never forgotten me. My heart pounded so fast that it wanted to jump out off my breasts when I heard her voice streaming out of the receiver. True friendships are able to survive the years of hardships and challenges placed in their path-poetically said. They never die. Benka

Dilek, Istanbul, Turkey
Hello Stephen :) i really enjoy reading your columns. As i see from your picture you have much good looking right now. So, don't worry about your hair :) Cheers....

Nima Vazirian, Iran
I only want to say a few words to dear Ela. That's really a blessing the way you feel and think, and I'm really really happy for you. Perhaps, since Noora, Majid, and I belong to a different generation from yours, we feel a bit different. Also, no one can deny the marvellous beauties that exist all over Iran. In spite of that, I can never disregard the gloomy faces I see around me all the time. Regards,Nima

Mills, Madurai, India
Do the majority of the native speakers of English (Britons) write in a simple yet engaging way like you do? In India the old people rue the way English is spoken and written by the young. What is your idea of the quality of English in other commonwealth countries.By the way, one not only learns English through your column but also about good old days, lost childhoods...

Lucia, Slovakia
Hi Stephen, interesting article I have to catch up with previous articles, this is my first visit on bbc lerning english site I`m want to improve my english skills thanks.

Carmen, Spain
Girls' friendship? Maybe more complicated than boys' friendship, I see you boys talking about football and laughing and I feel girls don't relax in this way, we are thinking about hidden meanings or intentions, you boys just talk and relax. I want to make clear that talking about girls and boys, our differences, implies a degree of generalisation which may not be fair for some people.

Carmen, Spain
Not a Beatles fan in the past although I appreciate their songs nowadays. Nevertheless, thank you very much for this column full of emotion and feeling, it was like listening to your favourite music in a peaceful place, it was like being young again and having no problems, well, different problems I mean.Why would you choose a husband for Lucy?Why would she need a husband?

Rosa, Basque country
I never was much of a beatles' fan. I suppose it had to do with the fact that I wasn't very good at getting their words. You know, back in those days (1977/78)there was no way to understand a song if you didn't speak the language. We would spend hours on end playing our Lps or our cassettes once and again in order to get the meaning of songs. So I preferred Cat Stevens and his ballads , which I still know by heart.

Nadda Chitchulanon,Thailand
Hello Stephen; I really like this kind of article,really good. And I agree with a sentence said "Boys' friendships are like that: fiercely competitive but fiercely loyal" Real Friendship never died. It is always there.Thank you very much,Nadda

Ela,Iran,Tehran,Karaj
Hi stephen :)when I study your articles for the first time I got surprised ,I felt I m reading my dairy,we have very similar interests ,Iran is a big and beautiful country,I m a girl of 26 ,I just want to add something to Mjid's comment. no matter where you live and how much money you earn,if you are waiting for some good news ,or perhaps you ask yourself that what's the government doing!?lets say stop thinking!of course I hope that it's spending more money on sport!right now call a friend of yours and plan to go out,I 'm so happy I'm living in our country,Dear Majid why do you think that we all Iranians have lost our chance of being a real teenager !?More tourists are coming in our country these days ,have you ever asked yourself why!?it's because of the variation of climatic conditions in Iran,where you can experience four season at the same time,right now if you like sunny summer ,travel to south(persian gulf),if you like cold winter,travel to west,if you like rainy days ,travel to north(Caspian Sea),if you like windy days,travel to east,if you like hot weather and driving in desert travel to center of Iran,what else do you need my dear:)as far as I remember my family and I have been planning for short trips I 'd love to share my recordings and my pictures which I ve taken during our trips with others,have you ever experienced getting lost in the fog ,or you notice that you are in the wrong place and has thought that I must have lost!or at midnight you are stuck in the mountain,or you feel danger in a green forest .if I want to count my short trips and talk about them it takes ages!as well as historical places which some of them are belonged to 7000 years ago you enjoy endless natural views in Iran.Damavand our paradise on earth,Mount Damavand also known as Donbavand, is a dormant volcano in Iran. Located in the middle Alborz Range, it is the highest point in both Iran and the wider Middle East. It is also the highest volcano in all of Asia. Though not volcanically active , there are fumaroles near the summit crater that deposit sulfur, which were most recently known to be active on July 6, 2007 .The mountain is located near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, you feel four season when you climb Mount Dmavand.lets talk about Ali Sadr Cave ,The wonderfully beautiful Alisadr Cave among the low hills is one of the longest water cave in the world .In fact ,it is an endless network of caves full of clear water , It is so peaceful to ride in a boat through the cave. two hours boating and 1 hours walking in the cave makes you younger,beleive me:)I visited this cave 8 times,I can't describe it ,Dear stephen come here and enjoy:)everything in the cave is shining ,you feel you are in a palace of jewelleries!I would be happy if I could tell you about our last trip that we got lost and we reach to a mine!most part of Iran is mountinous with beautiful views!green and full of fowers:)every time you remember the power of God!wish you the best of luck !

Francisco, Colombia
I enjoyed a lot reading your column, Stephen. I've just discovered we are contemparies: I was born in 1950. First time I heard the Beatles I was 14 years old in 1964. From then on, I´ve been a fan of their music Best whishes

YPW, Sweden
I like Paul McCartney and I like pop music although I was old now.

Marcus Tullius, Germany, Bremen
Hello Stephen,you wrote your latest column on my birthday. It is great to know that you and many other people went to see Paul McCartney. His voice was very pleasant when he was young.I wish I had gone to a concert as well on that day, any one, though I am not very much into pop music myself, but it is not easy to find out a place where a concert is being given on a rainy Monday, alas. So I stay indoors playing chess and piano with my five-year-old son. It was fine, I must say.I would like to know if you still have contact with your childhood friends, those who are still around, if they are around. I bet you do, to judge from the way you write about boys' friendships. That is not my case, though. When I left the country I was born in, the emotional ties I used to have faded away with the years and only two remain loyal despite the time and the distance. I do relish giving them a ring every now and then. Nowadays I have new friends, the ones I conquered in my new country and that is all right, too, I reckon. Now it is time I started my QiGong training straightaway (also good against back, neck, knee and whatever pains one may have!). Thanks a lot for your marvellous column. I have been learning a lot since I came across your texts. They help me improve my English.Best wishes from Tullius.

Adriana from Brazil
Stephen, please let me write a comment once more. I've already replied to Naheed in another page but I'd like to publish my thanks to her here too ...or you won't note that you have inspired us to create a sisterhood here (which welcomes everyone). A kiss to my sisters and to you, Stephen. It's been a long time since I've started reading your writings (including the previous blogs)...nearly one year! I cannot forget your picture with your family at that beautiful table...Bye...waiting for the next writing.

Mohsin Ali, Swat-Pakistan
Stephen! How are things going? Where are you? Home or abroad? You bet. Many of us may not be interested in the topics you are writing about but after all there are many things we learn regarding english. It's nice to see you as a young gentle man in that photo. Hope to listen from you soon in your next column. Thanks

Majid, Iran
Hi I just want to add something to Noora's comment. Yeah,I think all Iranians have lost their chance of being a real teenager especially those who are at their late thirties. Let's hope a different situation for the next generation.

Maria, Russia
Hi, Stephen! I wait for your every column with great impatience. It`s just like getting some pieces of news from an good old friend! Your sence of humour is great and it takes a lot of effort not to burst into laughter (`cos, I must confess, I`m reading it on my work).I am really sorry that you`ve lost your best friend.Like you, I`ve lost my best friend. She was only 10 then: she, her young sister of 8 and their mum crushed in an accident. And I just wanted to notice, that THERE IS friendship between girls, although it differs from the boy`s one.

Noora, Iran
Imagining you at thirteen, I realize how normal you acted to your age, while our time never allowed us to be normal. When I sit and try to look back, I see that we had no childhood. As if someone had come and grabbed it from our hands. We stood puzzled for years. When we found out what had happened, it was already too late.

Anne, HongKong
Your essay really remind me of my good old day. As a teenager, I always had a liking of the songs of Beetls and my best pasttime was listening to radio then. Though I wasn't good at English in the meantime, I still found I could sing along and had a lot of fun.

Truc Ly, Vietnam
The memory always was very nice! especially happy memories of childhood and this memory always remains with us. The friendship's important in per our life. But it's nice sentiment forever if we know have respect together. In fact we cannot change everything. we must accept a truth and live with that truth. I love hearing music. It makes our life happier than we have been imagined. Hoping you are well. best wish!

Tatiana, Brazil
Hi, Stephen I love reading your articles, as much I read and study I realise that I should study more and more. I´ve been learning a lot vocabulary and with your experiences. Keep writing, Best Wishes Tati

Tenzin & Tibet, India - Dharamsala
Hi Sir I felt nice to read your tour experience.

Kiran, India
hi stephen i read your article , and it made me conected with your childhood how it was i dont know and about beatles i just heard there name but never lisson because i have tried that can not understand but its too hard i know it take lot of practise and i will do to understand beatles songs i think you will get from this para that i am not so well with english speaking and had recently join this site to improve .The earlier day i tried to focus on vowells to identify the difference between two vowells but to say true i didnt got anythink pls help me on this vowells ,few days before i had also given request for developing my accent i know it will take days and i am sure in your guidance i will improve lot i will wait for your reply .thank you once again kiran india.

Habooba, Ahwaz
You didn't change the world..., but Stephen dear, you are chaging our English, and you are motivating many of us to read more, well...thanks

C. W. Lau, Hong Kong, China
Dear Stephen,You are right! We did not change the street and the world. However, I change my socks every day. By the way, I am listening to Hey Jude at this moment. I am so happy that you are a Beatles fan.Yours truly,C. W. Lau

p.s. Please leave Lucy alone. She will be fine. Stop being a FATHER!

Ana Paula, Brazil
Hello again Stephen!!!If you excuse me for a moment, I just would like to say to Naheed that I also consider her a good friend. So a big HELLO to you Naheed and to all our other friends from the blog area!:-) Thank you Stephen. See you soon, Ana Paula.

Zuzana, Czech Republic
Wow Stephen!I read only 3 your columns but I think it s magic reading or your magic writing! I don t know what it is. I didn t wait this your new one and now I have read it with one breath and I understand it!!! Really! With BBC I perhaps will be as a native speaker very soon! Thanks very much. Have a wonderful time and give my regards to your lovely daughter.

Marta, Colombia
Parallel life stories?Can friendship change the world? YES, but our world, our soul and the sense of life.Maybe none street has your name, but you are changing minds and lives with your column. Maybe, we won't meet each other, but you are making a difference and in my humble opinion that's a friend does.Thanks.

Leila, Finland
Friendships are important, yes. For us girls a sisterhood is our kindred. At least I think so. If I see a woman in pain, I also ache, and at times the energy of men almost frightens me, isn´t bizarre. Love to all sisters.

Solange, São Paulo Brazil
Hello Stephen hope that you are well.It was nice to read your experience as a Beatle's fan.I love going to concerts, I am not a Beatle fan and never was, but I do like some of their songs and have a tape with some of their songs, a good friend of mine gave it to me.And about girls being bestfriends?!well we can be bestfriends but we are also very competitive, so its hard to find a true friend.I am very faithful and bacause of it I get hurt a lot, I give more than I get.But despite all this I have good friends even though I am a shy person at first!Well Stephen thank you for your column.

Peter
I still think that Vader is the best band I've ever heard!!!!!

Marianna, Slovakia
Hi!You had a good taste for girls so I am convinced Lu inherited something good from you too! (Am I right you are the one with dark hair? In fact, the better way for my understanding is that complicated things are told to me repeatedly.) Yes, I start to be nostalgic. I can´t cast out of my mind the picture of you and smiling Lucy at your site at your Christmas tree. By the way I wish all the best to her 19th birthday. The first snow is falling here today. However, warm clothing wouldn´t be so welcome as your a friendly-fortnight visit into my family. As Paul and Leila asked us to sing (I would never, don´t even know any song words and tune) my mum wasn´t to stop with songs yesterday. She seemed to be much better and father tired but delighted tried unsuccesfuly to obscure the smile as usual. Many warm greetins from us, enjoy the winter! And a big agreement with sweet Naheed!

Alex Wang, Canada
Thank you, Stephen KeelerThis morning I saw Stephen Keeler in his blog. It wasn't the first time."Full of the milk of human kindness" was the single phrase that connect readers of the blog with Shakespeare's great work. It's fantastic to be able to connect to the mind of a modern British man, named Stephen Keeler, and that of an ancient one, Shakespeare.

Majka, Poland
Hi,You're right, much more handsome than friend!I must say that you have great sense of humour. I like that people. I was never a Beatles fan but I like to read what you write (always something interesting).Regards from cold PolandMajka

Nevton de Liz, South of Brazil
Hi Stephen. I have been reading your columns for some time. That is incredibly amazing reading that every morning. I thank you so much for all the work done and hope you keep running this space for such a long time, helping us in keeping up our English ability.Once again thank You and BBC very much for such opportunity.

Naheed, Pakistan
Hello Sir, hummm.. another page from Stephen Keeler's book of memories, lovely. As for friends, I don't have friends in real, but I have made so many on the BBC LE and I count them as my good friends, not meeting them face to face, though. I would love to mention their names as they are regular commentators to your column. With your permission I would like to say a big HELLO to Anna Paula, Marianna, Adriana, Benka and Leila. Naheed

Niaz Ali, SMC, Swat-Pakistan
Hello Sir! Thank you so much for sharing your adulthood fantasies with us, how sentimental these are? but what can we do because time is flying. You have really made me apprehensive because one day & that day may not come (as things here are not good at the moment), like you I will be wallowing in nostalgic memories of my adulthood, won't I? By the way, you look terrific in that picture. I can't believe it was you. Also thanks for improving my vocab, particularly for adding to my knowledge the expressions "despite the" & "in spite of the". Have a great fortnight. Au revoir! Niaz Swati

Toshiko, Osaka, Japan
Hi, StephenThis is my first time to read your column. I'd like to take a look BBC English programme because I've been studying English. Today, I met your article on pc. I could read it somehow and I like The Beatles also. I was born in 1947. I will read your column one by one everyday. Thanks, Shephen

Adriana, Brazil
Stephen, you made me laugh until I cried with your words " It must have been 1963, and I wanted long hair (some hair would be good now) and one of those grey jackets with a high collar and black braid." Sorry for that...I couldn't avoid guessing you wearing those accessories. I love Beatles's songs. I know almost if not all. My friend and I in our misspent childhood ( once you used "misspent youth, may I replace youth for childhood?) used to listen her father's records from his collection. All the records had the letters and I learned how to sing them. Of course he didn't know that we were spending our afternoons listening those beautiful songs. He was extremelly jealous. Until one day we caused a damage to one of his records and the situation became black for us. Thanks Paul Mc Cartney. You don't know that I once had an important point at school when the English teacher asked us to sing a piece of a song in English and I decided to sing the song "Mother" and another song but I forgot its name. It begins "I think I'm gonna be sad, I think is today yeah..." ( I don't know if it is written in this way)...Stephen, Of course you have changed the World. At least my world on my first blog as a student blogger. So thank you, Stephen, too. Best Wishes.

Ana Paula, Brazil
Hi Stephen!!!Oh I love it The Beatles Stephen! I can imagine you had a great time last night! I´m closing my eyes now and I can hear Paul singing Blackbird, so lovely :-). Well, I guess you´re not missing Lucy so much, are you? Best wishes, Ana Paula.

Gomti, India
Hi Stephen,This is very thoughtful experience of teenage boy.You are true, friendship is a bond which always lie in our memory and we live it in every moment of our life though he or she is not with us.I have been getting vast exposure through you expertise knowledge.Extremely good for English learner.Thanks,Waiting for your next article...