Over and Out

Good morning to all of you after a long time...

Check out

http://www.junglegarten.com/

And come back here from time to time, maybe the BlogMuse will return in the spring.

Living in Germany must be rubbing off at last. You will not believe it, but in the last 24 hours I have produced 7 different sorts of cookies. They all taste good and what's more they look good! Even really complicated procedures with egg white and brushing with yolk and leaving overnight. (Those were the Bethmännchen, one of my favourites.)

I have even packed them (lovingly) into those little cellophane bags and tied the top with red ribbon and a tiny piece of pine tree.

The Brits will be most impressed.

Take a look at http://www.christmas-cookies.com/

for some yummy recipes

Christmas Markets

Wondering if I should eat any of that tasty goulash which has been simmering on the range for hours. Tomorrow the first three traditional VHS Christmas Buffets take place and so may be it would be wise to go hungry this evening.

Just asked Horst what I should write about today. We were on the way home from the Christmas Market in Rotenburg, so that possibly influenced his answer: " 'All about the Christmas Market in Yeovil' and it will be a very short piece as there isn't one."

Well he is right there, but it's not true that the UK is completely void of Yuletide markets. Many of them are called "German Christmas Markets" as even we Brits admit that when it comes to being tasteful at Christmas, then Germany has won the title.

Check out www.christmasmarkets.com/UK.html

Especially tak a look at Bath - not too far from Yeovil so perhaps that will have to do.

A Colourful World

It's the first Sunday in Advent, and how beautiful the world looks - white and crispy and sparkling!

It's such a joy for me to unpack all my Christmas decorations and decorate the house, deciding which ornaments get their turn this year and which need a rest. And of course, there are always a few new beauties to join the gang.

Those of you who were already with The Penguinet last year will remember Woodlands School's Advent Calendar: it's a tradition worth keeping, so here you are again:

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/calendar

New photos have been flying in from Borneo, and I must share these coloured chickens with you. Now, it's Borneo, and there are animals of untold colours and forms there and so Omi politely enquired what type of chickens these are... to get the answer they are perfectly normal chickens, who had been coloured by their market vendors with food colouring.

Wow.

In a complete lather

That was a surprise: on Tuesday afternoon the fourth group of the day marched in, looking pleased with themselves. They had exciting news and so I invited them to tell me... you could have knocked me down with a feather when they told me about the Royal Engagement. Not, you understand, that the engagement itself was a surprise, just that my students knew before I did.
I am so thrilled. Think of the lessons we can enjoy together next year. Princess of the Week! Royal Weddings of the Past! The mind simply boggles.
I can't wait.
Visit http://www.royal.gov.uk/

Burning the midnight oil

Gosh I was so busy yesterday morning, I forgot to write the new blog! I hasten to say it was busy-ness for the students as this week's lessons involve tons of preparations, websit-visiting, youtube-searching etc.

Waking at just after 5am this morning I had that funny feeling of forgetting something - and remembered The Penguinet.

We're coming to that time of year again where people start to bastel. I am sure there is no English equivalent of this as in my opinion, w don't do it. Or at least, not well. I attended Bastel classes at the VHS with my children when they were little. It was a nightmare. The German Moms produced pieces to die for, whilst my efforts were, well, an embarrassment.

Anyway, for all thos Bastel Kings and Queens out there, try this, it was found by Laura who is planning activities for Aquarium visitors. :

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/

If you do that...

It's been a tough week for the students: so many of them struggling with 'If' clauses. It's not on my list of serious mistakes (you'll still be understood), but when I hear this particular mistake on a regular basis I know it's time to do something.

One of my psychologists said something this week which made me think (actually they all do, always); that I teach through enabling my students to experience. So I'm not into exercises, I can't see the connection to Real Life and I know that getting 10 out of 10 in a test does not mean a person has really understood what is going on.

Nevertheless, I know some students love exercises - so for those of you wishing to practice your "Ifs" - here you are:

www.testyourenglish.net/english-online/grammarquiz/ifsquiz.html