Nice Week

I've had a nice week and hope you had the same. It started with a German lesson with Barbara. We focused on new words and how they are used in daily speech. Then I met my ladies to practice more English before I went to the meeting room opposite where I live to meet Thorsten. I practiced using the Tablet again and agreed to meet tomorrow to change the operating system on my laptop.

On Tuesday, I met my SPD Oldies for Kaffee und Kuchen and meeting three candidates for a soon to be vacant position. They introduced themselves and we could then decide which one to nominate. All of which was done privately. On Wednesday I met a new group of Oldies with an interest in improving their English before I went to the Gündelfinger Restaurant to meet Imre for lunch.

He ate the 3 course set lunch menu plus my pudding and then ordered a plate full of chips - he was still hungry! We then went back to my place for more chats and coffee. He said he was full and did not want any cakes with the coffee. What a surprise! On Thursday I had a quiet day and Friday started with training led by Kerstin. Tomorrow I am going to a New Year festival given by Vietnamese members of my local AWO. I was there last year and really enjoyed it. Perhaps the ambassador will be there again! Thanks for the photo Jutta.

Language Book

I've had a mixed week. Visits included to a new family of refugees, to the hospital to have my hands x-rayed, meeting with the Kowalke Gang for a long lazy lunch on Thursday, training with Kerstin on Friday morning as usual and to visit a special SPD event on Friday evening. Between these and things like shopping for food, I opened another book.

It is amazing. It is called The English Language and written in 1985 by Robert Burchfield (1923-2004). He was born in New Zealand, fought in WW-1, returned to New Zealand and started an academic career. He won a scholarship to Oxford University then edited the Oxford English Dictionary for 30 years.

He also wrote and edited many books. He has complete knowledge of the language in showing how English developed and emerged from contact with many other languages. He also makes clear distinctions between regional dialects and the emergence of written English and spelling.

I recently received an invitation to the Jahresampfang 2020 (annual reception) of the SPD Lichtenberg. This is the district I share with about 270,000 people! It was not the first time I had received such an invitation. As usual it was held im Festsaal (the festival hall) of a local hospital. The hall was packed with members and guests.

Two members received honorary prizes for their work in the community. One was a retired music teacher and he quickly got the members to join him in a song. This was followed by a large buffet with drinks. I met many people I had not seen for a year or more and really enjoyed the evening.

Coffee Talk

Settling back into routine after the Christmas and New Year breaks. We got news from Colin that all is well with him near to Sydney. The flames have moved to another area. There are forecasts for storms and heavy rains in the UK this evening and tomorrow. Also, of high temperatures and fires in the south of the USA. I am sure you get reports on your national news so I won't go on.

I got a very interesting card from Neil Deane. I've posted about him before and now can tell you that he is writing another book. It will probably be completed by late summer and on sale in autumn. Hope to get a first copy to read and write a report - as I have done before. His other job is Prof. of English at Essen University so his time is very limited for writing.

I like his card about the advance of coffee language over the years. It really makes you think. Read the comparisons on the card he sent and judge for yourself. I have also collected more 'Rubbish English' over the last couple of months. Most come from interviews with politicians, business people, sport speakers, journalists being interviewed on BBC Radio 4 and a few from The Guardian.

Here goes: mansplaining / manspreading / upskirting/ anthropomorphising / seriously good / a marmite politician / waspy women / to front up / a pledge card / driving through efficiencies / a huge massive thing / I absolutely think..../ an upfront fee / footfall flags / tomorrowness / freeness / deniability / to delay out / that is a big ask / take brexit off the table.  UPDATE: a concerning issue / hugely being damaged / to reach outside the box / impactful / in battlement looking in / a car-crash interview/ it's less good / it becomes a coin toss / They are the frog in the boiling water/  under what she done/ wokeness has been weaponised / a less big thing / 'Think Before You Speak'. 

Singapore

I had a very happy few days in Singapore a few years ago. It was a stop-over on my way to Sydney in Australia. I liked everything about it and noted it was a multi-cultural place. I posted a story and photos to my blog, but you don't need to spend time trying to find them!

Ian and Birgit decided to divide their time between Sydney and Singapore and so found a flat in Singapore. They spent Christmas and the New Year there. They sent me a couple of photos. One of them is of the forest in the north. Very nice and relaxing to look at.

The other is of a tray with vegetable biriyani. Very traditional Indian and a dish I like a lot. In Singapore you will find people from many backgrounds including India. India is also part of Ian's background.

He knows about the history and cultures of the country - and regional food. We spent some time there many years ago with friends from our university. I hope you enjoyed the biriyani, Ian, and keep sending the photos.Now back to life in Berlin :-)