We have MOVED!

A typical British weather story

 

This was written on 30 March 2013.

 

I thought I’d share with you the strange experience I had when I went out today.

 

The UK has had cold weather and snow for many months and it is still persisting, which is unusual at this time of year. So, it was no surprise that having been cold but still this morning, it started snowing very lightly before lunch.

 

I went out to walk through the city, but shortly after I left and was in the city, the snow turned into some kind of mild blizzard and I had to turn back.

 

When I was nearly home, it had stopped snowing completely, the sun was shining and I felt warmer than I had done for many weeks.

 

After I had been back home for a few minutes, I looked out of the window and saw that it was snowing a lot again.

 

A little later, it was sunny.

 

This is why British people often discuss the weather. Do you have a similar story to share from your country?

UK Easter weekend

 

This weekend is a “long” weekend in the UK as the traditional Easter Bank Holidays (state holidays) on Friday and Monday mean we have four days instead of two.

 

The Easter celebrations are again based on Christian beliefs (that Jesus rose from the grave) but, as with Christmas, people celebrate it whether they are religious or not.

 

The Friday is called Good Friday, Sunday is Easter Sunday (the main day), and the Monday is called Bank Holiday Monday.

 

People will celebrate by eating lots of chocolate, particularly chocolate eggs, which symbolise the empty tomb of Jesus, in Christianity.

 

If you are celebrating it too, I wish you a Happy Easter!

 

Please read this great post by Shanthi Cumaraswamy Streat to learn eight idioms and phrases relating to Easter:

http://languageandthecity.tumblr.com/post/46578806990/8-idioms-and-phrases-in-english-using-some-easter

British English vs American English Mini Dictionary

 

There are many differences between British English and American English. Learnbritishenglish.co.uk offers this visual Mini Dictionary so that you can learn some important vocabulary. Not essential, but certainly useful:

Great Britain – hot or cold?

British English pronunciation lesson: linking words

 

In this lesson I offer advice on British English pronunciation when linking words. Please see notes and resources below. This topic was suggested by Marc Kevin Bautista.

 

 

I think this comes up when the second of two words starts with a vowel. If the last letter of the first word is a vowel as well, an “r” sound often links the words (see below):

 

The idea (r)of it

India (r)and China

A media (r)event

Pasta (r)and sauce

Saw (r)and conquered

 

Law (r)and Order

 

The linking (intrusive) letter sound seems to depend on the vowel sound at the end of the first word:

 

I (y)am

 

I (y)answered

 

She (y)understands

 

We (y)are

 

Me (y)and you

 

You (w)and me

 

You (w)are

 

You (w)enter

 

When the second word starts with a vowel but the first word does not end with one, it is common to pronounce the last letter of the first word at the beginning of the second word instead.

 

The hea (t)of the day

 

The passio (n)of the man

 

They (y)entered the restaurant

 

Don (ch)ou know? (Don’t you know?)

Ways to say “thank you” (including British slang)

 

William Blake quote

Economics news: British economy – the 2013 Budget

Every year in March, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the politician in charge of our economy) must present the Budget, which is effectively a set of new economic policies for the year and details of how the country’s economy is performing.

 

George Osborne holding the traditional Budget briefcase

The Chancellor, George Osborne, presented the Budget on Wednesday and, unfortunately, it mostly was not good news, the main problem being that growth of the economy was much lower than predicted, although the UK will not go into recession again.

 

This is a particularly bad omen for the coalition government, including Mr Osborne and David Cameron, who are under severe pressure due to the economy performing less well than they basically promised.

 

Please read here a BBC article summarising the key points:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21851965

 

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, it is a critical weekend in Cyprus as the government is trying to work out how to get a new bailout (loan) from the EU:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21909673

British English vs American English: more key vocabulary