March 2018
Thursday, 1st March 2018
Saint David’s day
Today, 1st March, is Saint David’s day. That may not mean much to you, unless you come from Wales: today is the Welsh national day.
And since it’s customary to wear a daffodil in your buttonhole on this day, I went out looking for one. It was a snowy morning so there was no chance of finding one in the garden. And even in the shop where I tried, the daffodils were so miserable and dried-up that I didn’t bother buying any. So I looked for a picture of one and found this one, taken ten years ago, on 1st March 2008 in my mother’s garden in England.
And that serves as a reminder that she had just died a few days earlier, and I was there to clear out the house. But that year spring came early and the the early spring flowers put on a special show for us.
And since it’s customary to wear a daffodil in your buttonhole on this day, I went out looking for one. It was a snowy morning so there was no chance of finding one in the garden. And even in the shop where I tried, the daffodils were so miserable and dried-up that I didn’t bother buying any. So I looked for a picture of one and found this one, taken ten years ago, on 1st March 2008 in my mother’s garden in England.
And that serves as a reminder that she had just died a few days earlier, and I was there to clear out the house. But that year spring came early and the the early spring flowers put on a special show for us.
Thursday 15th March 2018
What does “get on” mean?
At 6.22 this morning when I got on the bus, it was already pretty full and I found myself standing next to a group of three lads who were on their way to the grammar school in Wetzikon.
“Have you revised for today’s English test?” one of them asked the others.
“Yeah, I know most of the vocabulary,” replied one of the others. “But what does get on mean?”
I smiled outwardly, but groaned inwardly. “These lads have missed the point,” I thought to myself. The idea that you can translate get on by one German phrase and then consider that you have ‘learnt it’ is at best an over-simplification.
I considered breaking in to their conversation, and telling them what the phrasal verb get on means. But without a context, it could mean a lot of different things. In the end I left them to their conversation, and instead I tried to think of how many different meanings I could think of. I’ve jotted them down for anyone who is interested.
“Have you revised for today’s English test?” one of them asked the others.
“Yeah, I know most of the vocabulary,” replied one of the others. “But what does get on mean?”
I smiled outwardly, but groaned inwardly. “These lads have missed the point,” I thought to myself. The idea that you can translate get on by one German phrase and then consider that you have ‘learnt it’ is at best an over-simplification.
I considered breaking in to their conversation, and telling them what the phrasal verb get on means. But without a context, it could mean a lot of different things. In the end I left them to their conversation, and instead I tried to think of how many different meanings I could think of. I’ve jotted them down for anyone who is interested.
The first meaning that came to mind is one that I used a few minutes ago:
At 6.22 this morning when I got on the bus, it was already pretty full.
In that particular case you could translate get on by “einsteigen”. But that wouldn’t help you with this next phrase:
I saw him get on his bike and ride away.
Here are some more examples of different uses of get on:
I heard you had a job interview yesterday. How did you get on?
Teacher: “You there at the back of the class, stop talking and get on with your work.”
His brother and him don’t get on.
If you want to get on in life, you have to be prepared to work hard.
I don’t know how old my boss is, but she must be getting on for fifty.
What time did they get home last night?
I don’t know, but it must have been getting on for 1 o’clock.
In nearly all the above examples get on would be translated by a different German word or phrase. I wonder which of these meanings the English teacher was thinking of.
At 6.22 this morning when I got on the bus, it was already pretty full.
In that particular case you could translate get on by “einsteigen”. But that wouldn’t help you with this next phrase:
I saw him get on his bike and ride away.
Here are some more examples of different uses of get on:
I heard you had a job interview yesterday. How did you get on?
Teacher: “You there at the back of the class, stop talking and get on with your work.”
His brother and him don’t get on.
If you want to get on in life, you have to be prepared to work hard.
I don’t know how old my boss is, but she must be getting on for fifty.
What time did they get home last night?
I don’t know, but it must have been getting on for 1 o’clock.
In nearly all the above examples get on would be translated by a different German word or phrase. I wonder which of these meanings the English teacher was thinking of.
Saturday 24th March 2018
Before…
…and after
Today we moved from Bochslenstrasse to Tödistrasse. It was a cold day but dry and bright, which made moving so much easier. Our new home is in a small estate in Hombrechtikon Tobel. Seen from the road side, it’s nothing special, but seen from the courtyard at the back, it is very pleasant with roomy south-facing balconies.
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Contact
If you’re interested in English lessons or translation and checking services, please feel free to contact me in the language of your choice - English, French, German or even Lingala!
Here are my details:
Here are my details:
Mobile
078 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
Location
Tödistrasse 9, 8634 Hombrechtikon
(New address from 24th March 2018)
(New address from 24th March 2018)
If you are travelling from Rüti / Wolfhausen, drive past the Hombrechtikon place-name sign for about 300 metres and turn right into Tödistrasse, just before the Tobel bus stop.
Approaching from Hombrechtikon
If you are approaching from the centre of Hombrechtikon, follow the signs to Rüti. At the Tobel junction (the Methodist Church is on the left) turn left. Tödistrasse is the next turning on the left, just past the Tobel bus stop.
The entrance to our new flat is about 100 metres from the junction with Rütistrasse, on the left-hand side of the road.
The house number is number 9 and we are on the first floor.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
Arriving by bus
If you arrive by bus from Bubikon, get off the bus at Tobel and follow Tödiweg until you get to Tödistrasse. Our house is on the right.