Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

30 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

Good coffee and cake as well

Buying direct from David Austin Roses means we miss out on that.  Though I am avoiding cake now after my previous diabetic test results. 

[Gwiwer]

3 hours ago, DaveF said:

For the first three years at grammar school I couldn't see the point in learning Franch, in the fourth year I found I also had to do German.  What a waste of time I thought.

French was mandatory from 1st Year to O-level. Five years.  The idea being that you left school with a near-conversational ability in the language of our nearest neighbour.  It was, of course, also handy if you happened to holiday there.  I passed.  I was reasonably OK at what they called "Modern Languages". 

 

In our Fifth form we were expected to nominate two subjects for "General Studies".  I selected German and Spanish.  I therefore had the benefit of one 40-minute lesson a week for one academic year in each of those.  I never grasped much Spanish but still manage elementary German.  And I still occasionally use it.  

 

Before retirement with folk coming through the station from all corners of the (corner-lacking) world and often with little - sometimes no - English one could not always rely on Google Translate for accurate communication.  I used French and German every week.  Even if only to greet and give basic directions.  One of my colleagues was fluent in both those, Spanish, Portuguese and Flemish and was often called upon to interpret.  We had two Italian colleagues one of whom spoke little enough English but who covered that base for us.  And we had Poles who could assist with most Eastern European languages in addition to their own.  On a few occasions I even made PA announcements in French.  To the great surprise of all those waiting at one of the nation's busiest stations and to the delight of parties of French school-children who were assured that they were about to board the correct train in a language they understood.  

 

I continue to use both French and German on watch as visitors from those nations - or who speak one or other of those languages better than they do English - pass through and find themselves directed - in a language other than English - to the information panels we have in French and German.  

 

I sometimes thought it was a waste of time in school.  But my school days were often thought of as a waste of my time at the time.  They certainly were not the best of my life.  I wasn't an academic and I wasn't destined for Cambridge.  Nor Oxford.  I was therefore a failure from the day I started there in the eyes of the staff.  I have proved them largely wrong over the years since.  

[rockershovel]

The Falstaff who appears in Merry Wives of Windsor bears little or no relation to the original character. 

 

It begs the question of how Tudor audiences saw him. In modern eyes he is tragi-comic - an ageing veteran, dependent upon the favour of an at times, cruel and whimsical patron. His speech about the nature of honour and duty is quite thought-provoking. 

[TheQ]

2 hours ago, PupCam said:

Evening

 

🤣

 

 

I say that man Q, you can't go around saying things like that!     Someone will be bound to be dreadfully offended

 

Should the original Sir John Oldcastle or Falstaff or Will Kemp turn up I would be happy to talk to them about it.

Though actually the member of the Lord Chamberlain's men most famous for playing ghosts was Will Shakespeare himself, now I WOULD be happy to talk to the Vpstart Crow...

 

Evening Awl,

On the way to the MRC was followed part of the way by a series 1 landrover, windscreen down enjoying the evening sun.

 

MRC work went extremely well, we'll see how that is on Friday when the grey stuff and PVA have set.

 

Next to me things weren't going so well, a unit of unmentionables was being stripped, to be rebuilt on new boards. They've finally given up on trying to get the old boards flat...

 

Muggacoffee gone, goodnight Awl.

 

 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

5 hours ago, TheQ said:

Plenty of those in recent days.  

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Time to end the day on a cheery note...

Have a look at this five minute animation called "Alma". 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw0uORumRts

 

We used to show it to our Year 6s to help with their creative writing. 
 

[PhilJ W]

8 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

French was mandatory from 1st Year to O-level. Five years.  The idea being that you left school with a near-conversational ability in the language of our nearest neighbour.  It was, of course, also handy if you happened to holiday there.  I passed.  I was reasonably OK at what they called "Modern Languages". 

 

In our Fifth form we were expected to nominate two subjects for "General Studies".  I selected German and Spanish.  I therefore had the benefit of one 40-minute lesson a week for one academic year in each of those.  I never grasped much Spanish but still manage elementary German.  And I still occasionally use it.  

 

Before retirement with folk coming through the station from all corners of the (corner-lacking) world and often with little - sometimes no - English one could not always rely on Google Translate for accurate communication.  I used French and German every week.  Even if only to greet and give basic directions.  One of my colleagues was fluent in both those, Spanish, Portuguese and Flemish and was often called upon to interpret.  We had two Italian colleagues one of whom spoke little enough English but who covered that base for us.  And we had Poles who could assist with most Eastern European languages in addition to their own.  On a few occasions I even made PA announcements in French.  To the great surprise of all those waiting at one of the nation's busiest stations and to the delight of parties of French school-children who were assured that they were about to board the correct train in a language they understood.  

 

I continue to use both French and German on watch as visitors from those nations - or who speak one or other of those languages better than they do English - pass through and find themselves directed - in a language other than English - to the information panels we have in French and German.  

 

I sometimes thought it was a waste of time in school.  But my school days were often thought of as a waste of my time at the time.  They certainly were not the best of my life.  I wasn't an academic and I wasn't destined for Cambridge.  Nor Oxford.  I was therefore a failure from the day I started there in the eyes of the staff.  I have proved them largely wrong over the years since.  

We simply were never taught foreign languages at my school, although one of our teachers was born in Germany and had to flee the Nazi's just before war started in 1939. In fact I and a few others never realised that he was not English as he spoke the language so well.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Winslow Boy]

2 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

This is the nursery

Good coffee and cake as well

Roses are supposed to have had a good year, but I can't say I've been impressed with mine. But that's how it is some years.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

That’s shopping done now for about 2 weeks, so either we do without, or we get someone to pick up bits for us if they’re heavy items. If they’re light items, then Sheila says she’ll walk to Sainsbury’s at get them herself. 

 

I got my bag packed this afternoon and a taxi is booked, so all is set for tomorrow. 

 

On the subject of music, I learnt to play the cornet when I lived in Canada and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. When we returned to England, music lessons were all about listening (quietly) to classical music, then discussing what we’d just listened too, funnily I didn’t enjoy that one bit. But oddly enough, our teacher English was a great lover of the Beatles, so a track was played, then a discussion followed on the lyrics of the song just played. The ‘White Album’ was a particular favourite of his and many tracks were discussed in great detail, I did enjoy that! 

 

I have a varied and very eclectic taste in music, these include for instance;

Classical music, although not a great lover of concertos, they tend to go on a bit. 

Traditional Folk

Folk Rock

Rhythm and Blues 

Prog Rock

Rock

Modern Celtic Music, such as Enya, Clannad, etc. 

I even like the bag pipes, if they’re played well. I particularly like it when the bag pipes and rock music are fused. 

 

I’ve ways enjoyed reading, we lived at my mums parents house when we moved back from Canada and they had lots of books. They were probably my uncle’s, my mums 3 brothers, so there were lots of ‘young boys book’ such Biggles books, famous 5 books, Treasure Island, as well as King Rat, Virgin Soldiers etc. I suspect most are not ‘PC’ now, but think I read the lot, some more than once. I rarely read fiction now, mostly history or biographies. 

 

When we lived in Canada, as it’s a dual language country, we learned French, which at the time was mainly spoken, with a small bit of written, I enjoyed it and was quite good at it. When back in England, the teaching method was totally different and I couldn’t get my head round it at all. As soon as I could, I dropped it as a subject. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight everyone 

[Winslow Boy]

48 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

French was mandatory from 1st Year to O-level. Five years.  The idea being that you left school with a near-conversational ability in the language of our nearest neighbour.  It was, of course, also handy if you happened to holiday there.  I passed.  I was reasonably OK at what they called "Modern Languages". 

 

In our Fifth form we were expected to nominate two subjects for "General Studies".  I selected German and Spanish.  I therefore had the benefit of one 40-minute lesson a week for one academic year in each of those.  I never grasped much Spanish but still manage elementary German.  And I still occasionally use it.  

 

Before retirement with folk coming through the station from all corners of the (corner-lacking) world and often with little - sometimes no - English one could not always rely on Google Translate for accurate communication.  I used French and German every week.  Even if only to greet and give basic directions.  One of my colleagues was fluent in both those, Spanish, Portuguese and Flemish and was often called upon to interpret.  We had two Italian colleagues one of whom spoke little enough English but who covered that base for us.  And we had Poles who could assist with most Eastern European languages in addition to their own.  On a few occasions I even made PA announcements in French.  To the great surprise of all those waiting at one of the nation's busiest stations and to the delight of parties of French school-children who were assured that they were about to board the correct train in a language they understood.  

 

I continue to use both French and German on watch as visitors from those nations - or who speak one or other of those languages better than they do English - pass through and find themselves directed - in a language other than English - to the information panels we have in French and German.  

 

I sometimes thought it was a waste of time in school.  But my school days were often thought of as a waste of my time at the time.  They certainly were not the best of my life.  I wasn't an academic and I wasn't destined for Cambridge.  Nor Oxford.  I was therefore a failure from the day I started there in the eyes of the staff.  I have proved them largely wrong over the years since.  

It is surprising the outcomes that are predicted for pupils which are often shattered.

 

I was informed many years after I had left, that my head teacher had predicted that I wouldn't amount to much. What I think pleased me though, was that she was shocked when she learnt I hadn't lived up to her expectation.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

One of my reports said "Shows little aptitude for sport". They were spot-on with that...

[monkeysarefun]

16 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I’ve never understood the pervasive British attitude about Classical Music, that it’s <Not For The Likes Of Us!>

 

It certainly has its uses!  

 

WITH the dulcet tones of Pavarotti and his fellow tenors filling the airwaves, the carpark at Mt Annan McDonald's has been much quieter in the past few weeks.

The McDonald's store started playing classical musical late at night recently to deter young people from loitering at the store.

McDonald's Macarthur operations manager Matthew Watson said this was the first time the store had trialled classical music as a deterrent.

"We've noticed a reduction in the number of young people hanging around, but we'll have to reassess it properly in a couple of weeks," he said.

"We play a range of classical and opera music and so far it seems to be working."

 

Using classical or easy listening music as a deterrent has worked wonders in the past, with Macarthur Square employing the tactic in March 2009 to keep unruly teens away. The centre also  blasted Barry Manilow during late night shopping on Thursdays to great effect, proving the younger generation has no love for such hits as I Write The Songs and Copacobana.

 

From  the Sydney "Daily Telegraph November 21, 2013

[monkeysarefun]

39 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

I particularly like it when the bag pipes and rock music are fused. 

 

 

Rock On,  oh great Sir Bon!

 

 

 

(Perhaps @Gwiwer will be happy to discuss the Hook Turn at 1 minute  20, I've never understood them!)

 

Edited August 27 by monkeysarefun

[jjb1970]

I have always been envious of those who can master languages. I have never been able to make the effort, I  have a character flaw in that I am either interested and make an effort or I don't.  And despite my envy of those who speak several languages I have never been able to motivate myself to do it well. When I spent a lot of time in Japan I developed enough Japanese to get by and have picked up quite a bit of Indonesian but I would be inflating those abilities if I claimed they were at pigin level. 

 

I know some brilliant linguists. A friend is a Russian diplomat who speaks in Russian at IMO and other UN meetings and listens to the simultaneous translation in English so he can correct anything he isn't happy with. Apparently he can do it with German when necessary too. To make complex statements with a lot of specialist and technical language while simultaneously listening to simultaneous translation and mentally noting anything to be corrected is impressive. 

 

Another deeply impressive individual is an Argentinian diplomat who speaks several languages impeccably, including accent, to the point she could pass as a native. I see it with her English, French, Brazilian and Italian friends tell me she has the same ability in their languages. 

[Ozexpatriate]

12 hours ago, The Lurker said:

I did like "Lord of the Flies" for the story itself and did find the analysis of "To Kill a Mockingbird" opened my eyes to a different world.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" was on my reading list one year. I procrastinated and procrastinated and pulled an all-nighter before the exam and read it cover to cover. I was enthralled, wished I'd read it earlier. It remains a seminal work.

 

I enjoyed "Lord of the Flies" less, though it remains thought provoking. It remains a compelling insight into tribalism - more so than the genteel restraining effects of manners and 'society' which was part of a simplistic analysis at the time. The psychology of the need for 'belonging' and tribalism needs to be carefully taught somehow. I'm not a big fan of the movie.

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

We used to show it to our Year 6s to help with their creative writing. 

It's enough to terrify them to never use cursive writing.

 

Lovely though.

[polybear]

7 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

I never grasped much Spanish but still manage elementary German.  And I still occasionally use it.  

 

 

Bear also knows a little German, picked up thru' years of study....

"Hande Hoch"

"Nein, Nein"

"Actung, Achtung"

 

Plus that essential phrase:

"Bitte zwei Spiegeleier und Pommes"

 

4 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

Another deeply impressive individual is an Argentinian diplomat who speaks several languages impeccably, including accent, to the point she could pass as a native. I see it with her English, French, Brazilian and Italian friends tell me she has the same ability in their languages. 

 

Bear has met a few over the years that speak fluent Bullsh1t - I've a feeling that Puppers may even know some of them.....

[monkeysarefun]

Gotta say the sunrise this morning was a bit of a show. This wasnt the best vantage point to take a photo but Gary The Parrot was on my shoulder and I didnt want the territorial Magpie to potentially go for him so I did what I could from just outside the back door!

 

[rockershovel]

At a recent reunion lunch, I discovered that a junior Master at my school had taught a Russian class. It would have been a useful thing to do, given my subsequent career. 

 

I always did well at languages, but was shunted into the Science Stream for GCE O Levels where I did less well... one of the penalties of being an "11 Plus Boy" at a minor public school. 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Breakfast has been eaten, so nothing else to eat until after the op, I can still drink water until 11am though, so I’ll keep drink a bit until the taxi arrives at 10:15. This may be my final post until I’m discharged, I'll most likely just rest for a couple of days after I get home. 
 

 

[Hroth]

1 minute ago, BSW01 said:

Good morning everyone 

 

Breakfast has been eaten, so nothing else to eat until after the op, I can still drink water until 11am though, so I’ll keep drink a bit until the taxi arrives at 10:15. This may be my final post until I’m discharged, I'll most likely just rest for a couple of days after I get home. 
 

 

 

Good luck, hope it all goes well!

 

[Barry O]

@BSW01 hope it goes well!

Baz

[jamie92208]

17 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

 

Funny old world, I  had to learn French at school and have very rarely had any need for it. What little I learnt left me decades ago. We never had an opportunity to take Indonesian. If anyone had suggested Indonesian would be more useful to me than French it would have been met with howls of laughter yet that's how life turned out.

 

23 minutes ago, rockershovel said:

At a recent reunion lunch, I discovered that a junior Master at my school had taught a Russian class. It would have been a useful thing to do, given my subsequent career. 

 

I always did well at languages, but was shunted into the Science Stream for GCE O Levels where I did less well... one of the penalties of being an "11 Plus Boy" at a minor public school. 

I was also an 11+ boy at a minor public school. 

 

I was terrible at French and Latin. Uniformly 23rd or 24th out of 24. One of my reports for French reads, Guest was physically present.  My parents, both state school teachers, knew my teachers so sent me on an exchange to Paris for 3 week. I spoke no English in that time, went to scout camp, travelled on quite a few French trains and even went to a lycee four days. I got very tured but at the end could hold a conversation in French without think much in English.  That stayed with me and has been a boon to us over the last few years.  The Latin even helped when I was in Spanish speaking countries where the combination of a bit of Latin and French helped me to read Spanish.  I am so grateful for that three weeks in 1967.  I even saw and experience French steam Locos. The magnificent 141R's, double headed, and the very workmanlike 141T's on suburban trains. 

 

Jamie