Learning some Spanish the Duolingo way

This week has been marred by an attack of the condition that I will call woman-flu; not quite as bad as man-flu, but no fun at all.

One day I was on the beach with friends, playing with sticks and hunting for pebbles with faces; the next day I was tucked up in bed with a herbal tea and a headache.

Sea holly, Rye harbour

Up and down from day to day, missing parties and carol concerts, and not feeling well enough to do much more than listen to the radio, catch up with masterchef and learn some Spanish.

Spanish? I hear you say. 

Why Spanish, when your next trips are Canada and New Zealand?

Well, Spanish, because in 2018 my other half (OH) promises to do less work and to take me on a trip to Argentina to see some of the most amazing salt flats in the world.

And if we are to survive in Argentina I will need to be able to say more than 'hola'. 

OH will make do with gesticulating wildly in English, and expecting his arms to translate what his mouth is saying. 

I perfer to at least try to speak the local language.

So I am learning with a programme called Duolingo.

Completely free if one is willing to endure some extraordinarily bad video adverts between classes.

And I am, because they don't know that I am not actually watching them; I run off to have my shower, and when I get back my  bonus points are topped up, and I can get on with the next lesson.

OH thinks the only words that we need in any foreign country are 'bring me meat and beer, quick"

I know that this is not going to go down well, so I have been working towards a level of proficiency that allows me to say this in a more polite way.

It has taken a lot of lessons to get near this goal.

duolingo lesson

What language programme have you ever encountered that teaches the art of speaking about cleaning the oven before how to to order a cup of tea or coffee? Who are these people? Do they not know about oven cleaning companies?

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First we had to discuss a need for carrots.

When does one ever 'need' carrots? 

Are we rabbits?

I need carrots

No.

We are possessive rabbits.....

They are my carrots

So far, no use to anyone. None of these phrases are of any use for a tourist in Argentina. Or Spain for that matter.

I now know the words for priest, accountant and stepladder, but not coffee, tea, wine or beer. And certainly not a large medium rare steak with chips and salad on the side and a bottle of fine wine.

This is painfully slow.

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But this week I finally learned some almost useful phrases.

 Substitute OH for Luis and we are away. 

 Yes! He always requires more food.

 I can just see myself saying this to a busy waiter. 

I am sure that eventually the polite way to ask for a table for two and a menu, por favor will crop up.

Meanwhile here is some really reassuring news;

I am normal

I shall find ways to slot this into conversations wherever I go.

Back in Blighty

Add caption

I am returned to blighty.

My trip down under ended sweatily in western Australia with my other half (OH).

This was his part of the trip. I relinquished all control and went along for the ride for 10 days before flying home for Easter.

Two facts that you should be aware of;

• This was my ever last chance to claim on his life insurance before a very big birthday ruled out this possibility for ever.

• OH promised me that it would not be too hot in Perth at this time of year.

We travelled gaily in the early autumn sunshine - around 37 degrees most days.

I will say no more on that subject, except that I do not carry a camera at 37 degrees, so phone photography became the norm.

OH planned the trip perfectly. We had beaches, forest, city and culture.

We dined like kings and enjoyed the drive, stopping for refreshment along the way.

express because it is undrinkable....

yes they have cones down under too

We passed 

• 'bonking frog wines'
• indoor beach volley ball................. why?
• 'moo and chew' cafe
• helpful signs asking 'are you awake at the wheel'? 
• 'Bunbury cares about you'     
• fresh barista coffee............interpret as you will

I looked for insurance realisation opportunities

I declined to swim with sharks.

I am told that my chances of being eaten by a shark are less than being struck by lightening.

I persudaed OH to go for a swim.

He survived.

what lurks beneath?

beautiful West Australia beaches

OH declined, however, to hike in an electrical storm.

We risked the snakes, but didn't find any.

We picnicked in lay-bys, and were glad we were not in need of all the facilities.

dump-ezy

We had 'coffee' in a very beautiful craft brewery.

brewery

coffee for OH

iced coffee for me

We went wine tasting; choosing by label as we had no other means to tell the bottles apart.

fat bastard

OH also declined to climb one of the amazing Jarra trees. Which was quite sensible really as there was nothing to stop you falling if you happened to slip 65 metres off the ground.

climbing a Jarra tree

He drove me a very long way to see the incredible Pinacles national park.

And it was worth the drive.

Pinacles National Park

selfie with the pinacles

On our return to Perth he treated me to a slap up breakfast.

breakfast

The following day I rebelled and chose the breakfast venue, outside in the sunshine.

And as it was too hot to do anything at all I took my hairy legs off to an air conditioned nail parlour and had my nails painted ready for my return to English springtime.

And while it blows a gale outside and I sit back at home in London wearing thick socks and a woolly jumper I can remember the wonderful skies and happy times that we had together.

And as I write OH , who is now of a certain age, and has his Boris (free bus and train travel in London) pass, is safe in the knowledge that his insurance remains unclaimed and that he is now  free to spend his days on the Circle line  going round and round as many times as he likes.

remembering the blue skies

A postcard project - on the pleasures of good old fashioned pen and paper...... from me to you....

Picture Postcard Country

I am back from my Christmas holidays, and doing some work. Well, that's what I tell my family...

I have visited so many picture postcard places that I feel it is time to mention my postcard project.


It began in Vancouver.

My son asked me to send him lots of real postcards when I left the country, and my first choice was from the Vancouver art gallery.

Vancouver

I chose it because it has many things in it that appeal to my photographic eye..... a big tree, power cables, an urban scene.

I posted it, and suggested he send me a photo of it at the other end.

He duly obliged.

And there began a project to keep me amused in the lonely hours when I have nothing to do but play with my camera.


I send a postcard.

The recipient sends me a photo of it at their end.


Choosing postcards and writing them has been a source of much pleasure.

Postcard from Glenorchy

Postcard from Ranfurly

Ranfurly is art deco country.

They have a little museum.

I have to diverge for a moment to show you the device for storing eggs that the locals used before egg containers were invented.

There was a rather nice photographer in the museum

mr right

and I rather fancied the woollen swimsuit for when he invited me to the beach.

Anyway, the point is, that I have no idea what will come from this project. It is the doing that matters right now.



I have written from Moeraki with a  flat white.

Moeraki postcard

Stewart Island with the worlds best battered blue cod and some water.

Stewart Island postcards

I have discovered the art of Grahame Sydney and fallen in love with Central Otago and the Maniototo plain.

Grahame Sydney postcards and beer 

I took his postcards out to the Maniototo region that he loves to paint.

Central Otago

Maniototo

At Stewart Island we discovered the muttonbush plant, that was used legally for writing letters until the 1970's.

Muttonbird scrub bush, Ulva Island

Muttonbird scrub leaf postcard

I tried writing my own, but didn't have the right ink ( resin from the Rimu tree)

It has a lovely leathery texture.

Muttonbird scrub leaf letter

I will save the postcards at their destinations for another day.  There is more work to be done with these, and I don't want to influence recipients in how they choose to photograph their cards.

If you would like to be involved, and will be happy for me to share your photo when the project comes to fruition, then please message me via my Facebook Page.


I will leave you with another from Maniototo.

Everything is coming up roses...... Christmas in Gore

this is Gore

Here I am, in paradise.

Well not really Paradise; I went there last weekend, and it was. Paradise is near Queenstown, in LOTR country.

I am in Gore , Southland , New Zealand South island. A small town surrounded by spectacular options for landscape photography.

Dairy farming country.

Where cows are plentiful, along with green grass and plenty of rain.

cows in a meadow

Where the roads are quiet and wide, and I can walk to work.

my daily commute

Tractors are a popular mode of transport.

on the road

And bulldozers are handy for tidying the garden.

The local hills are gentle and rolling

sundown

And the gardens are full of roses

Christmas roses

Roses filled compost heap

As you can see I could wax lyrical for some time.

But it is Christmas ......

and I have work to do.

My other half (OH) and youngest child are arriving on Christmas Day for a holiday.

And obviously Christmas dinner is first and foremost on OH's mind.


Hams and salads, strawberries and pavlova are the local favourites for the Christmas feast.

But we are ENGLISH

and must do things properly.

I mentioned to OH that I couldn't find a turkey, and that maybe a chicken would do.

SILLY ME

Of course it wouldn't do.

I mentioned that I couldn't find Christmas pudding either, and immediately OH volunteered to bring one, having only the day before muttered about  the extra weight of carrying a lens filter that I needed and asked him to add to his luggage......

PRIORITIES PLEASE

Food first.

I was getting worried.

But then I struck lucky.

I found the ENGLISH section in the local supermarket

English foods in New World Supermarket

Well never has a photo that I posted in Facebook engendered so much discussion and amusement.

I shall stop posting landscapes and post pictures of food instead....

Sandwich spread; 'sick in a jar'

tinned haggis; ' yum yum' ( ironic of course)

Branston pickle; sold out.........

Creamy Reeses? what on earth is that. certainly not ENGLISH

It was suggested that most of these foods were last normal fare in England when ration books were still available.

So we could feast on a tinned steak pie and some Birds custard......

Or I could cook a real meal, which I will endeavour to do ...........and not a chicken in sight.

Plus a flaming pudding along with brandy butter AND brandy sauce. Just like we always do.......

Epic beer

All washed down with some Epic Armageddon beer, and some local wine.


Followed by a walk in the park to see the local reindeer and the Christmas sheep.

Gore's very own stag

Gore's Christmas sheep

Happy Christmas everyone!

I'm off to Paradise.

Paradise, New Zealand

sheep in Paradise