Modal Mania: Janette, these are your personal obligations: You MUST

mustMust and Have to, can be used to express obligations. Simply put: Must expresses a personal obligation while Have to an impersonal obligation or fact.

So, with this in mind:

  1. I must start writing my Christmas cards.
  2. I must go on the wagon for a few weeks because I want to drink like a fish during the festive period.
  3. I must check my bank balance to ensure that my credit card isn’t about to be confiscated.
  4. I must stockpile bottles of wine and tins of lager because drinking is the only way to cope with Christmas jingles.
  5. I must stockpile a lot of pain killers.
  6. I must find a new boyfriend who is keen on the concept of ‘part-time temporary’ dating. All this commitment is getting on my nerves.
  7. I must think of an unquestionable reason why I’ve decided not to spend Christmas with my family.
  8. I must remind myself not to go ice skating because this leads to broken bones.
  9. I must invent a cheap gadget to help my ass defy the law of gravity.

Gosh, I feel exhausted with all these obligations!

To be down in the dumps

down in the dumpsTo be down in the dumps is a common idiom used to describe a negative emotion. We use this idiom when we are feeling a little depressed, gloomy or sad. Indeed, this weekend, I’ve been feeling very down in the dumps because my best friend is moving to Barcelona.

What am I going to do without my partner in crime? I feel like a fish out of water

Yep, that’s right, I’m going to cry like a baby for months and I’m going to start booking weekend return flights with some dodgy no-frills airline company.

OMG, I’m sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo down in the dumps! Even the fact that Málaga beat Granada this weekend didn’t bring a smile to my face. I know; I am pathetic!

Britain doesn’t make great wine but..

Janette drinking wineWe know how to drink it!

So, if you have a glass of wine this weekend, don’t forget to say one of the following salutations:

  1. Bottoms up!
  2. Down the the hatch!
  3. Cheers!
  4. Sláinte or Slancha!
  5. Open the other bottle!
  6. Good health!

Right, I can’t think of anymore, can you?

However,writing this post has reminded me of the wonderful Spanish tradition where you have to look in the eyes of the person and salute them at the same time. We  British people, seriously don’t care as long as we  have something alcoholic in our glasses.  I know, how very rude!  VIVA ESPAÑA!!

British People Can’t Flamenco and We Can’t Fan!

Janette with fanAlthough I would like to say: ‘Of course British people have rhythm and that if we practise, we can learn Flamenco and that clapping thing and that OLE thing’. However, I have to concede that we CAN’T. In addition, perfecting the action of fanning is also a massive challenge for most of us Brits.

I’ve been practising for 5 years and look at me. Yep, the word ‘moronic’ comes to mind!