Another Easter

And another lovely trip to the seaside. There wasn't quite as much adventure, monopoly, wine or Greek tradition as last year, nor was there much pleasant weather.

But there was still bonding with animals...


secret caves...


and sea!



Plus there were some things that didn't happen last Easter. Like a drive by viewing of a prehistoric monument.


And rainforest! The warmth and humidity felt so comforting after the 5 degree temperatures outside. Less than two weeks until Hong Kong!

Complaints

I asked a class today to prepare a story about a time they had bought furniture or something big for their house. It was in preparation for making a complaint phone call so I encouraged them to think of a purchase that was in some way problematic.

After some work on past tense verbs, the first anecdote went like this:

'I swear to god this is a true story. I used to have two girlfriends. One of them cried to me for new furniture, washing machine, everything for our apartment. So I take her Argos buy everything. Cost me 1000 pounds. Then, next week she kick me out. I ask her why she kick out me and she said is because you got another girlfriend. I said, "Why you didn't kick me out before I buy you everything for flat?". She used me!'

The women in the class laughed and another man started to tell him off. I, meanwhile, was thinking, 'Habitual past and a phrasal verb! Bonus!'.

Daffodils

More from my balcony. These make me think of my mum, who (full of optimism) planted bulbs in our Sydney garden, hoping that a freak winter might one day prompt them to flower...

Berber terrorists

I went to ask for an appointment at my hairdresser on Monday. They didn't have anything that day so when I mentioned that I'd come in again later they gave me their card. I don't know why I have an aversion to booking things in advance.

That evening, when I looked at the card, I noticed that the business is called 'Rush Hair Salon' but their email address is rashhairsalon@. Neither of these were particularly encouraging so on my day off yesterday I decided to try out the barber on Broadway Market. Sitting in the seat and looking out the front window, I noticed that it was actually a 'Berber Saloune'. Is that faulty English or another langauge? Anyway, it was a good cut for 8 pounds so I'll probably go back.

Meanwhile, on Mondays my old men's class are doing a unit called 'Homes'. Can you translate this description that one of my students came out with (to everyone's great enjoyment)?:

Mubarak living terrorist flat. It has 4 bedroom and big chicken.

At last

It's officially spring on my balcony.