Midlands_Boro
Active member
What a cracking bunch of lads, every single one of you has sent a positive. I no longer need to question my sanity 
. Happy Lockdown
. Happy Lockdown
Fed up?
- Thread starter Midlands_Boro
- Start date
We don't have kids, so our friends are our world. Obvs we love our families, but the vast majority of what we do is centred around activities with friends. Yesterday was the first time I felt like this was a struggle but we did 3 hour long phone calls in a row with some of our closest which was great and helped a lot, and our friends said they got as much from it as we did. That said, I cant wait to see them for real, we're already planning a meal at somewhere nice with a night out after when this is all over
I'm making the most of it. A good long walk on the tops each day with the dog. Wildlife watching. Photography. Pottering in the garden. Waging war on the rats that have suddenly appeared (we have chickens ... it comes with the territory), starting to cut a highlight reel from my Nat Geo Turkey adventure (if anyone wants a peek at the Istanbul programme, let me know). And I'm going to have a big brush up on my Swedish, which has lapsed this last year. Stay positive. Enjoy the sunshine this weekend ... get your vitamin D everyone.
Cardiffdaffs
Well-known member
I am making a point to speak more with people be it on zoom or google duo. Resist watching tv in the daytime. Read more inc the online newspapers . Definitely leave your house for your hours exercise strictly social distancing. Appreciate not everybody can do that.
im doin a lot of online quizzes. Saturday night is Nick Heaths quiz. Each night at 7pm is the goose quiz on the app Twitch. You don’t have to do them live as you can watch the rerun anytime in the morning and submit your answers by 5pm.
4pm I take to the kitchen to do some cooking.
im doin a lot of online quizzes. Saturday night is Nick Heaths quiz. Each night at 7pm is the goose quiz on the app Twitch. You don’t have to do them live as you can watch the rerun anytime in the morning and submit your answers by 5pm.
4pm I take to the kitchen to do some cooking.
American_Mary
Well-known member
I’m maybe in the minority but I’m actually enjoying it, perhaps too much, no pressure, getting all the jobs done that I previously struggled to find time to do, plenty of cooking, interacting more with the kids and being able to spend more time taking an interest in them, I’ve expanded my herb garden into a nascent vegetable patch and done the prep work for a patio and outdoor kitchen, read a few books, caught up with friends abc family remotely, experimented in the kitchen, watched some good things on the TV, sorted out a few things for the house, writing a lot more than usual, have collated photos, music etc, I’ve found I’ve been able to switch off a lot easier than I thought I would and I hope improved me as a person, husband, dad and son especially.
American_Mary
Well-known member
It’s more the boredom for me, usually upon a Saturday, picking my footy and racing bets for the day then out and about prior to an afternoon of sport. Feeling lost already, and it’s only 9am
Virtual Grand National this afternoon....
I agree. I'm trying to learn Spanish (online) as my 'lockdown goal'. I'm actually finding it really motivating (and enjoyable). I've wanted to do it for ages, but never had time. Now, if I'm at a loose end, I just get on YouTube for my next Spanish lesson!!
I'm resurrecting my Spanish studying too. I'm shocked how much I've forgotten. It will come back though.
The Michel Thomas course is brilliant. When I lived out there it got me from hopeless to competent in a week. I think it may be free online in places.
spanishman
Well-known member
Sadly my Spanish is crap even though I have lived here over 15 years. The biggest problem for me is that I cannot seem to be able to listen to something said and then repeat it correctly. Plus my memory is not that good now. Plus I have never really had a strong business need to learn it. Those are my excuses.
SmallTown
Well-known member
Boo!!!
I can read Spanish really well and, as long as I can keep up with the context I can pretty much follow any conversation. my problem is speaking and writing it. I'm hopeless at both. I have a friend who works for Aeromexico and he says I just need to be happy to be wrong. I'm never going to be perfect if I don't practice.
I think it's because I consider myself quiet verbose and eloquent in English and it frustrates me that I can't express myself fully in Spanish. Rather point and say "Me gusta la lampara" Brick Tamland style.
I can read Spanish really well and, as long as I can keep up with the context I can pretty much follow any conversation. my problem is speaking and writing it. I'm hopeless at both. I have a friend who works for Aeromexico and he says I just need to be happy to be wrong. I'm never going to be perfect if I don't practice.
I think it's because I consider myself quiet verbose and eloquent in English and it frustrates me that I can't express myself fully in Spanish. Rather point and say "Me gusta la lampara" Brick Tamland style.
I'm a COMPLETE beginner... Have so far only done the alphabet, the pronouns, 'The & A', The verbs 'to be' (Ser, Estar (confusing)), gender/plural endings, IR (to go), and -AR verb endings (present tense only). I've got -ER and -IR verbs today. Exciting!! Future and past tenses to come.....
I'm reasonable at French, which I thought would help..... but it doesn't really seem to.
spanishman
Well-known member
Just because I am not good at it did not stop me doing things for the community. I was the president of our apartment block for 4 years. This involved liaising with the administrators and people working on behalf of the urbanisation. I got by with mnost of the people not able to speak much English. Also, I play golf regularly with Spanish people. So can chat with them about stuff. Just that it does not come naturally to me.
Thanks. I'll take a look. I just typed 'Spanish for beginners' into YouTube and started following a course. Mine seems to be "Spanish for beginners - Ques hora es?" - (I quite like it).
SmallTown
Well-known member
Ser and estar is such a difficult concept for someone who only speaks English isn't it? I'm ok with it in the present tense now but often get confused in the past tense. Also, not sure of other examples but it can change the adjective.
Such as listo. "Eres Listo" means you are clever, "Estas Listo" means you are ready. I mean, huh?
Such as listo. "Eres Listo" means you are clever, "Estas Listo" means you are ready. I mean, huh?
SmallTown
Well-known member
Also duolingo. It's no good for learning spanish but it WILL keep you topped up and thinking about it. That's the best way to learn immerse yourself in it.
"Huh?" indeed!! - well above my grade currently! My lesson a couple of days ago told me to use Ser unless it's describing feelings or location, in which case use Estar. (I expect there are exceptions, but that was good enough for me [for the time being])!!
Yeah, I did see/look at that one for a bit. At the moment I really have to think through my pronouns/endings, so I'm super slow. When that becomes a bit more natural I reckon it'll make more sense to start listening to more Spanish speaking.
Annoyingly I seem to sound Russian when I'm saying it out loud.
