Just some of the ways to say hello in the languages of the people who attend the Conversation Club I run on a Saturday. I have South Americans (Argentinian and Venezuelans), a couple from Pakistan, a few Portuguese speakers from Africa, Brazil and Portugal, along with a Ukranian a couple of Kurdish guys and a Japanese guy. They are a great crowd, a very diverse bunch and good fun to be with.  It’s interesting watching them talk to each other, they ask questions about each others customs and countries, sometimes the questions get a little personal…

I seem to have been spending a lot of my time recently listening to other people’s problems, now I don’t mind listening, apparently I’m quite good at it…and i figure if you are good at something it is a gift. Where do I go if I have a problem…perhaps I should talk aloud to myself!!!

Autumn is rushing up fast, yesterday I picked a couple of conkers off the ground…they seem to be falling early this year..I wonder what is going to happen this year…you see..conkering has been banned in most schools this year by the Health and Safety brigade!!! ya boo sucks to them…in next weeks class we are going to have a conker competition…provided of course the H&S wallahs don’t read this!!!! I love Autumn, the cool, crisp morning and the fog and the beautiful colours..I must get out with the camera…

I love the Autumn in Amsterdam, I haven’t been over for what seems like ages, whenever I get withdrawal symptoms I look at a couple of webcams from the city and apart from the smells it feels almost as though you are there…well almost at a stretch…at least I am saving the planet and lowering my carbon footprint by webcamming!!!!!!!!

 

    

 

 

Books

Bill Bryson      Mother Tongue

Mark Abley     spoken here