Tag: Learn English Malaga

Chill-out or cultural getaway?

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Are you suffering from the blues? Do you fancy a getaway to a chilled-out, unspoilt tropical island?  Or, are you more culture vulture than beach bum?

Adventure holiday
Having a ball, having a blast!

I personally have mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, I´m really keen on sunbathing at the beach with a mojito in one hand and a trashy novel in the other hand.  However, on the other hand, I´m nuts about learning about the history, traditions and culture of a new city.  In fact, if I had more time and money, I would definitely take more city breaks.  However, truth be told adventure holidays are my real cup of tea.  I love danger, risk and a challenge.  Indeed, the last time I went scuba diving I was scared stiff but I loved every second.  Bring on the adventure, let the good times roll!

Of course, it’s possible that your idea of having fun is completely different to mine.  So, if you could go on any type of holiday, what would it be?

To dress up

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trying on clothesTo dress up is a phrasal verb used to say that you are putting on more elegant clothes or wearing a costume.

For example:
Normally my sister wears jeans and a t-shirt, but last weekend she dressed up to go to a friend’s wedding. She looked amazing in a red silk gown.

Tonight, I have to dress up in a pirates costume as I’m going to a fancy dress party. My boyfriend is dressing up as a parrot.

Read more at: To Dress Up

Are you looking forward to something?

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To look forward to something means  to think of a future event with pleasurable anticipation, i.e. you are excited about something that will happen in the future.

I am looking forward to hooking up with some mates who are coming to Málaga at the end of next month.   Last night I called them to tell them about my plans for things that we can do in Málaga.  Thanks to you, I have lots of activities planned.  They will definitely fall in love with Málaga and have a blast.

In general, what do you look forward to?  Your birthday, the weekend, Halloween, important football matches, sleep?  Generally speaking, I look forward to eating and drinking!!!

Take a city break: Leeds, Madrid, Amsterdam?

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Leeds Skyline: Gorgeous

Easyjet, the budget airline, says: ‘Why not treat yourself to a break in a city break with plenty to keep you busy and to help you relax?’

Madrid and  Amsterdam and  Leeds are all firm favourites on the city break holiday destination list. Book today and your well-earned city escape could be just around the corner.

To help you choose the perfect city, Easyjet have written a brief  summary about the locations they fly to:

Madrid, Spain’s capital, is bursting with culture and activities at every turn – with museums, art galleries and night after night of flamenco. However, if that doesn’t whet your appetite, then you might be pleased to hear that the city has more bars per square metre than anywhere else in Europe!´

On the other hand, if city breaks aren`t your cup of tea,  treat yourself to an adventure holiday instead.  .

To read more about holidays click here.

To be under the weather

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feeling under the weatherTo be, or to feel under the weather is a common idiom used when you are not feeling 100% well. Perhaps you have a slight cold, stomach cramps, a headache or a hangover.

Last Sunday, I felt very under the weather. Unfortunately, it was completely self-inflicted! So, no sympathy required!
Why don’t I learn that it is never, ever, a good idea to mix lager and red wine?!

Anyway, personally speaking, the hangover is definitely the reason why aspirin was invented; and on a positive note, over the years I have kept a lot of chemists in business as a result of my aspirin requirements. OMG, I’m a total business angel!

Hobbies and Health Benefits!

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mind bodyDo you want to keep your body and mind in synch? If so, then you had better get an enjoyable hobby. Recent research has alleged that taking up and taking part in a hobby can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and sharpen the mind.

Many people think of hobbies as a diversion to help pass the time, but according to this research, hobbies also play an important role in the health and well-being of an individual, particularly the elderly, by reducing the risk of depression and dementia. Hobbies can be an effective tool in reducing stress and lowering blood pressure, and hobbies that engage the brain, puzzles for example, have been found to be effective in delaying the onset of Alzheimers.

OMG, I’m having palpitations and I’m about to self-combust because I don’t have any hobbies that engage my brain. Quickly Janette, think of something: jigsaws – no – dull as dishwater, crossword puzzles, no – too difficult (you actually need to know stuff to do them), memorising all the capital cities in the world, no – that’s just too nerdy.

Help me, help me now!

No, seriously, you could be the saviour of my future mental health. Please comment and give me some ideas. However, if your idea involves a WhatsApp application, you can forget it! I’ve just spent the weekend with a WhatsApp fanatic and it’s like talking to someone from another planet.

Quirky

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quirky hotelQuirky is often used to describe something that is different or unusual in a good way. It can be used to describe a thing, or a person’s personality or behaviour.

For example:

  1. Many people think Phoebe from Friends is a quirky character.
  2. 2 years ago I stayed in a quirky hotel.  It was shaped like a plane and it was suspended from two palm trees. I had a blast!

Want to see more quirky things?  Type ‘quirky hotels’ into Google Images and see what you get.

Bonfire Night! Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

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The 5th of November is Bonfire Night or  Guy Fawkes Night.

Guy Fawkes was a catholic who led a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and bring down England’s protestant monarchy. He was caught, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tortured for four days under personal orders from King James I.

Interestingly over time, Guy Fawkes has become a symbol of equality and social justice.  In fact, in recent history, a lot of people have worn masks of him during social, economic or political protests.

If you are a culture vulture and you want to know the origin of this British custom please click here.

 

To be snowed under

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snowed underTo be snowed under is an idiom which means you are really, really, really busy. Indeed, this week I’m snowed under. I have a million and one things to do and there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete them all. To help me, I’ve written a list.
Janette’s to do list:
1. Go shopping: In order to buy an inflatable crocodile for a beach party
2. Arrange a meeting with my bank manager: In order to beg for my credit card back.
3. Do accounts: In order to please my accountant. However, first, I need to find my calculator and then I need to look for all my receipts
4. Iron clothes: First, look up on the Internet how to to iron a shirt
5. Fix broken toaster: First, complain to the manufacturer that the model is rubbish
6. Buy aspirin: Fixing the toaster will give me a headache!
7. Water plants: First, find the plant food
8. Change boyfriend: As he’s really getting on my nerves
9. Apologise to boyfriend: As I’m really getting on his nerves
10. Organise dance competition: It’s a danceathon: disco versus flamenco.
11. Concentrate and focus on priorities: Janette, stop looking at disco dancing videos on YouTube!