sCALd

Gosh! i scalded my hand!!!

vocabulary:

• scald: to burn the skin with boiling liquid or steam
  i dropped a pan of boiling water and scalded my leg. 
• imminent: coming or likely to happen very soon
  a strike is imminent.
  imminent disaster/danger
• groovy: very fashionable and interesting
  that's a very groovy hat you're wearing, did you knit it yourself? 
• hooray/hurray: used to express excitement, pleasure or approval
  you won? Hooray!
  Hooray! It's time to go home!
• hurt:
  (v) to feel pain in part of your body
  Tell me where it hurts.
  My head hurts.
  (v) injure someone or cause them hurt
  Emma hurt her back when she fell of her horse.
  (v) to cause emotional pain
  she criticised my writing quite severely and that hurt.
  (v) to cause harm
  one more drink won't hurt.
  a lot of firms are being hurt by the current high interest rate.

my scalded hand is really hurt! 

lESS iS morE

Learning from conversation.

Vocabulary:

• scaredy-cat: someone, especially a child, is easily frightened
  come on, scaredy-cat, it won't bite you. 
• underfoot: under your feet as you walk
  it feels nicer underfoot.
  the grass was cool and pleasant underfoot. 
• rousing: making people feel excited, and proud or ready to take actions
  she delivered a rousing speech full of anger and passion.
• Silhouette: a dark shape seen agains a light surface (???)
  the silhouette of the bare tree on the hill was clearly against the winter sky.
• en route: on the way to or from somewhere
  I stopped en route and got some wine. 
• rowdy: noise and possibly violent
  a rowdy party 
• hut: a small simple building, usually consisting of one room
  a mountain hut
  a wooden hut
  a row of beach huts 
• stilt: one of a set of long pieces of wood used to support a building so that it is above the ground or water
  the houses are built on stilts to protect them from annual floods. 
• mosquito net 
• coral reef: an area of coral, the top of which can sometimes be seen just above the sea
• snorkel / snorkelling:
  we went snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef
• fairly: more than average, but less than very
  I saw her fairly recently.
  we get on fairly well.
  I'm fairly sure that this is the right address.
• suppose: 
• to think something is likely to be true: suppose + (that) / suppose + to V
  I couldn't get any reply when I called Dan, so I suppose (that) he's gone out.
  Do you suppose (that) she will marry him?
  he found it a lot difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be.
  We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was Swiss.
  Her new book is supposed to be very good. 
• used in making polite request
  I suppose you couldn't lend me some money till tomorrow, could you? 
• used to show unwillingness to agree
  I don't agree with it, but I suppose (that) it's for the best.
• (conjunction.) used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean "what would happen if":
  Suppose we miss the train - what will we do then?
  We'd love to come and see you on Sunday, suppose/supposing I don't have to work that day.
• presume: to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain.
  I presume (that) they are not coming, since they haven't replied to the invitation.
  You are Dr. Smith, I presume?
  "Are we walking to the hotel?" "I presume so/not."
• assume: to accept something to be true without question or proof
  I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school. 
• apart from: except for or not considering
  apart from us, there was anyone there under 30.
  apart from the salary, it's not a bad job.
• except: not including; but not
  the museum is open daily except Monday(s).
  everyone was there except for Sally. 
• seem: to be judged to be 
• He's 16, but he often seems younger.
  the children seemed tired.
  I suspect his claim is not all they seem -- he tends to exaggerate.
  things are seldom as/what/how they seem. 
• I seemed to know more about him than anyone else.
  they seemed to be taking a long time to decide.
  There seems to have been a mistake -- my name isn't on the list. 
• It seems (that) she can't come.
  It seems to me (that) we need to be at the airport two hours before take-off.
  "was a decision made?" "It seems not/so." 

Expression: 

• What time it will get you there? 
• It is a long time since I have been to Paris.
  It's been a while since I was last time in Paris. 
• I bet: said to show that you understand why someone has a particular opinion or feels a particular way
  "I was so relieved I didn't have to clean up after the party." "I bet you were."
  "I'm so annoyed with her." "I'll bet."

cAmP

vocabulary:

• camper: a person who stays in a tent or in a hoiday camp 
• camper van: a motor home
• retro: similar to styles, fashions from the past
  inside, the decor is very retro. 
• foreign money
• stall: a large table or a small shop with an open front from which goods are sold in a public place
  in the village market, the stalls are piled high with local vegetables.
• tent: a shelter made of canvas and supported by poles and ropes that you can fold up and carry with you.
• caterpillar
• costume: a set of clothes worn in order to look like someone or something else, especially for a party.
  our host was wearing a clown costume.
• sort: to deal with something by repairing or organising it
  to get everything sorted
  We've sorted out the computer system's initial problems. 

Okey-FOkEY

vocabulary and phrases:

• omnivore: an animal that is naturally be able to eat both plants and meat
• omnipresent: present or having an effect everywhere at the same time
  the singer became an omnipresent icon of style and beauty.
• foul: to do something against the rules of a sport, often causing injury to another plater
• lad: a boy or young man
  a group of young lads were standing outside the shop
  lads and lasses (boys and girls)
• renowned: famous for something
  the region is renowned for it outstanding natual beauty.
  renown: a state of being famous
  her renown spread across the country.
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder. : when people we love are not with us, we love them even more. 
• bring it on. : said to show that you are prepared and willing to compete in a competition or to do something difficult. 
• stag party / hen party : a party for a man/woman who is going to get married, to which his only male friends/her only female friends are invited  
• yep: yes
• yap: short, high sounds made by a small dog
  yappy
  a yappy little dog
• okey-dokey: ok
• footy: football

eXPRessioNs

expressions:

• are you being served? 
• what are you having?
• can i take your order, please?
• can i get you anything else?
• I'll just get your order for you now.
• like mother, like daughter. 
• i've got to say....
• i'm just worry about ....
• How are you coping without her. 
• let her down.
• I've gone through this relationship.
• what are you up to?
• are you up for it?
• How are you doing?
• how do you spend your day? 
• off the top of my head...:
  I couldn't tell you off the top of my head, but i could go and look it up. 
• i'm chuffed with his present.
• i'm delighted with it.
• i'm please with it.
• only time would tell. 
• i got quite a shock.
  i was in shock.
• It's not rocket science.
• the weather turns really bad.
• at busy time, queuing may be necessary
• I've never ever seen that before. 
• long story short,...
• it happens all the time.
• shall we start?
• as cool as a cucumber: calm
  she walked in as cool as a cucumber, as if nothing had happened.
• good for you / good to hear. 
• how did you find it?

dReamArKER

When I listen to some gothic music, it always gets me thinking about you, my dear friend.
I miss you.

IntAnGIbLe waSTe

after moving to windsor, i saved lots of time on commute to work. However, i didn't manage my time better. that's a huge problem. I've got to change it! there are several things i need to sort out. 

first, the banking thing! I reckon i'm running out of taiwan dollars in my taiwan account soon. secondly, the GP. since i've already been staying here for more than 6 months, i should and have to register GP in case i need any medical service here. apart from that, i did sort out some things, like the rental house problem. I'm lucky that the B&B host seems to welcome me to rent the house for longer term. that's exactly a good thing to me. first of all, i don't need to give deposit so that i can use my money more flexible. on top of that, the host is really kind that she's willing to give me discount for renting the room. how lucky i am! 

as to the inner things of me, i am very unsatisfied with my time management. I didn't spend quality time studying english, instead, i spent too much time working, from 9am to 7 pm or later. it's funny that when i was living in Putney, i'd got to force myself to watch TV less so that i could have more time studying english on my own. now, since the family i'm living with watch films on TV a lot, i don't really watch TV. however i hardly remember what i've done actually. that's horrifying that i waste my immense time intangibly. 

let's see. 24 hours - 8 hours (sleeping) - 9 hours (working & lunch) - 2 hours (breakfast & cooking & dinner)   = 5 hours! how can i waste the 5 hours without doing anything! 

set the goals and just do it! think before you leap. once you decide it, do it without thinking! 

YoRK

vocabulary:

• chord
• daunt: to make someone feel slightly frightened or worried about their ability to achieve something
  she was not daunted by the size of the problem.
  nothing daunted: still confident and enthusiastic despite a failure or problem
  she was rejected the first time she applied to the university, but, nothing daunted, reapplied the following year and was accepted.
  daunting: making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something.
  the country was faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming four decades of division.
• archaeology
• brooch: a small piece of jewellery with a pin at the back that is fastened to a woman's clothes
  she wore a small silver brooch. 
• toga: a piece of clothing wore by people in ancient rome
• cloak: a loose outer piece of clothing without sleeves.
• authentic: if something is authentic, it is real, true, or what people say it is.
  an authentic 1920 dress
  an authentic viking shopping
  authentic italian food
  

KitCHeNWarE

vocabulary learnt from shopping!

• shed: a small building, usually made of wood, used for storing things
• colander: a bowl with small holes in it, used for wash food or for emptying into when it has been cooked in water
• oven tray / roasting pan
• saucepan 
• frying pan
• mould: a hollow container with a particular shape in which soft or liquid substances are pored, so that when the substances become hard it takes the shape of the container
  a cake mould 
• tin: a closed metal container in which food is sold
  a tin of beans
  a biscuit tin
  we used two tins of paint when we painted the ceiling.
• mill : a small machine for crushing things into power
  a pepper mill
  a coffee mill
• froth: small white bubbles on the surface of liquid
  i like the froth on the top of the coffee
• turner
• toothpick
• serviette: a squire piece of cloth or paper used while you are eating
• kettle
• chopping board
• zest: fruit skin 
• grater: a small device with holes surrounded by sharp edges used to cut food into small pieces
• coaster: s small piece of wood, plastic or other materials that you put a glass or cup on to protect surface from heat or liquid
• mug
• cloth: a small piece of material used to cleaning
  a washing-up cloth
• airer
• mat: a small piece of strong material that covers ad protects part of a floor
  a bath / door mat
  a small piece of cloth, cardboard or plastic that is put on the table surface to protect it
  a bear / sink mat
• cutlery: knifes, forks and spoons
• bottle opener
• scoop
• knifes and forks
• tongs

lEARning FROm DOinG

Vocabulary learnt from hiking:

• spring / sprang / sprung : to move quickly
  those deer sprang. 
• barn: a large building on a farm in which animals or hay and grain are kept
  we saw a large barn. 
• straw: the dried yellow stems of crops
  a bale of straw
  a straw hat 
• flint: a kind of stones
• elderberry: a kind of berries
• cock: an adult male chicken
• vane: a flat narrow part of a fan which turns because of the pressure of air 
• windmill: a building or structure with large blades on the outside that provide the power for getting water out of the ground or crushing grain when turned by the force of the wind

  

  Windmill

• wind turbine: a tall structure with blades that are blown round by the wind and provide power to make electricity

  

  Wind Turbine

  
  
• maize (UK) / corn (US.)
• lone (adj): alone
  a lone tree
  a lone survivor
  lone parent
  he was a lone voice arguing against a reduction in resources.
• doing sb's head in: to make someone feel confused and unhappy; annoying
  Getting up at four o'clock every morning was doing my head in.
  He's really doing my head in.
• in the middle of nowhere: describes a place far away any towns and cities and where few people live.
  he lives in a tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere.

toO mUCH

Keep studying.

• keep/get/be/remain in touch: to communicate or continue to communicate with someone by using a phone or writing to them
  are you still in touch with any of your old school friends?
  we're in close touch with our office in Spain.
  Jane and I never kept in touch after college. 
• lose touch: to  stop communicating with someone.
  we lost touch over the years.
• be in contact with / lose contact with / make contact with
  have you been in contact with him?
  you can contact me by my phone / on (number).
  she finally made contact with him in Italy
  Air traffic control lost radio contact with the pilot of the aircraft ten minutes before the accident. 
• I couldn't be happier.
  I couldn't care less.
  I couldn't agree more.
  I couldn't ask for more. 
• i was in a rush/hurry to get home.
  they were in no rush/hurry to sell the house.
  what's the rush/hurry for?
  we left in such a hurry that we forgot our tickets.
• what are you up to at the end of this month?
  it's up to the manager to make the final decision.
• blow sb away: to surprise to please someone very much
  we are blown away.
  the ending will blow you away.
• go for: to choose something
  which one you've gone for?
  instead of wine, I'll go for a beer.

So MANY GeT oN...

How can there be so many "get on" to get on with.......?
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/search/british/?q=get+on

collocation:

• get on: to have a good relationship
  we're getting on much better now.
  he doesn't get on with is daughter.
• get on: to manage or deal with a situation, especially successfully
  how are you getting on you new home?
  we are getting on quite well with the decorating.
  I wonder how Michael is getting on in his new job.
• get on: to continue doing something, especially work
  I'll leave you to get on then, shall i?
  Stop talking and get on with it.
  I suppose I could get on with the ironing while i am waitng.
• get on to sth: to start talking about a different subject
  how did we get on to (the subject of) your grandmother's cat?
• get on for: almost
  it was getting on for midnight.
  he must be getting on for 80 now. 
• get on sth: to go onto a bus, train, aircraft, or boat
  i think we got on the wrong bus.

DeVOn

To compensate yesterdays missed study, i've got to do more tonight!

Vocabulary:

• Vally:
  there was snow on the hill tops but not in the valley.
• peninsula: a long piece of land that sticks out a large area of land into the sea
  the Korean peninsula
• nature /ei/
  natural /æ/
  nation /ei/
  national /æ/
• heritage: features belonging to the culture of a society, that were created in the past and still has historical importance
  this monument are a vital part of cultural heritage of South America.
• sector: one of the area into which economic activity of a country is divided
  in the financial sector, banks and insurance companies have both lost a lot of money.
  public sector / private sector
• coastline: the particular shape of the coast, especially as seen from above or on a map
  coast: the land next to or close to the sea
          we spent a week on the coast
          the accident happened 3 miles off the coast
  costal: position on or relating to the coast
          a coastal town
  shore: the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or wide river
          you can walk for miles along the shore.
          the boat was about a mile off the shore when the engine suddenly died.
          we waited until we were on shore before repairing the sails.
          onshore wind
  beach: an area of sand or small stones near the sea
          we spent the day on the beach
  seaside: the area near the sea, especially where people spend their holidays
          let's go to the seaside at the weekend
          a seaside resort

gEt TIRed anD cARRY On

Today's vocabulary:

• set off: to start a journey
  what time will we have to set off for the station tomorrow?
• head off: to start a journey or leave a place
  what time are you heading off?
  head off to London
  head off for the beach
  head off west 
  Let's head off!
• phenomenal: extremely successful or special
  her rise to fame was quite phenomenal.
  his first book was phenomenally successful.
• immensely: extremely
  he was immensely popular in his day. 
• immense: extremely large in size or degree
  they spend immense amount of time getting the engine into perfect condition.
  he is an immense goalkeeper. (extremely good)

stEP by sTep

I've found that there is an obvious improvement since I've been trying to spend 2 hours everyday studying english. Although you just study by yourself, as long as you concentrate in a period of time to organise your mind and really look up every vocabulary you've learnt or heard everyday, trying to absorb those vocabulary and their usage, it really makes you can learn it by heart. don't be greedy to learn too many words at one time. that usually results in learning nothing. everyday a little bit, it really feels great that you find yourself can remember the new vocabulary when you are trying to write down something or during the conversation with others.

fOCus

I don't like the feeling of hesitation.
That wastes my time and mind. however, if i want to get rid of it, i've got to train myself to make decision quicker! I've got to prioritise values in my mind.

coNtENt

sometimes you've got to convince yourself to be patient.
I've worked with my new job for about 3 weeks. I'm quite excited everyday, although i do feel stressed sometimes due to the language. but, that's one of the reasons i am here, isn't it?

The most intriguing thing to me is that I can feel happy and excited when i work as a software developer. I am not sure what is the difference between here and taiwan. i just knew that I didn't really feel "excited" when I worked in taiwan and realised there must be something wrong. there was no serious problem with my jobs (frankly speaking, they are all nice and rewarding), but I just didn't feel satisfied and happy deep within my heart. I would complained easily when things went wrong, or say, not in the way i expected.

Here, working for a small, or say tiny, company gives me a totally different points of view. It's not perfect. Everything seems relatively unstructured to me. However, instead of unhappy, that makes me even more energetic. I'm certain there are many things waiting for me to work on.

It's quite interesting that even now I am facing a new working environment, new challenges, and new skills (I think I was a bit not open-minded enough to the front-end stuff in the past), I feel content (I am not sure if it can describe my feeling correctly, ha!). I am desperate for learning as much as possible, no matter it's new or old to me. If i already knew it, I wanna know deeper. If it's new, brilliant! it's the time to broaden my horizons.

now I look forward to keeping this great altitude with me wherever I am and keep open-minded to the unknown future. 

tHE sECRete oF happinEsS

vocabulary and phrases:

• down in the dumps: unhappy, miserable
  You're sounding a bit down in the dumps. 
• unfit: not healthy because you do to little exercise
  I 'm feeling unfit.
  i used to take plenty of exercise, but now i'm terribly unfit.
• put a smile on your face
  I've got some news today that might put a smile on your face. 
• put you in a good mood
  Hopefully this programme has put you in a good mood.
• has got to be
  it's got to be everything.
  you've got to be joking.
• worry (v.i.) : to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen
  Don't worry.
  It's silly worrying about things are outside your control.
• worry (v.t.) : to make someone to feel unhappy and frightened because of problems or unpleasant things that might happen
  it worries me that he hasn't phoned yet.
  nothing worries me. 
• happy-go-lucky: describe someone who does not plan much and accepts what happens without becoming worried
  I am happy-go-lucky.
• rank
  She ranked the bottles in order of size along the shelf.
  the world happiness database has ranked countries in order of how happy their people are.
  my entry was ranked third in the flower show
  2012 must rank as the most difficult year for European since the 30s.
• a state of mind: how someone feels about their life at the present time
  happiness is a state of mind.
• content: pleased with your situation and not hoping for change
  he seems fairly content with his life.
  they're content to socialise with a very small circle of people.
  different things make different people content.
• holiday
  have you decided where you're going for your holidays this year?
  She is on holiday next week
  how many days' holiday do you get with your new job?
• hectic: full of activity, or very busy and fast; busy, lots of things going on
  a hectic schedule
  the hectic pace of city life
  I lead such a hectic life that i don't always get time to think about the future.
• rewarding: giving a reward, especially by making you feel satisfied that you have done something important or useful, or done something well
  having an active life is most important for a happy and rewarding life.
• over time
  our happiness changes over time.
• comforting: making you feel less sad or worried
  I found her words very comforting.
  that's comforting to know.
• cheer sb up
  you can cheer me up by telling me that i answered today's question correctly

CoLLocATiOn

It's actually very important and useful to learn collocations and phrases when you are learning new vocabulary or listening to a conversation. It helps you know how to use the words correctly. on top of that, once you learn them by heart, they can help you speak more fluently.

Collocations and phrase:

• mow the lawn
  you can't mow the lawn if it's wet. 
• mow sb down
  three people were mown down this afternoon when a drunken driver lost control of his car.
• come on in
  Come on in! we're just about to start dinner.
• at the moment: now
  I'm afraid she's not here at the moment
• for the moment:
  if you're doing sth for the moment, you are doing it now, but might do sth different in the future.
  Let's carry on with what we agreed for the moment.
• at the stage
  a part of an activity or a period of developement
  her youngest child is at the stage where she can say individual words but not full sentences.
• at the weekend / at weekends
  what did you do at the weekend?
  we usually go windsurfing at weekends.
• at the end of the day
  something that you say before you give the most important fact of a situation
  Of course I'll listen to what she has to say but at the end of the day, it's my decision.
• at times: sometimes
  you can be really annoying at times.
• at lunchtime
  are you free at lunchtime?
• at the age of
  in theory, women can have children at the age of 50. 
• at interals
  the bells ring at regular intervals through the day.
• in the first place: at the beginning
  the trousers shank when I washed them, but they weren't really big in the first place.
  Thankfully, he wasn't hurt, but he never should've been there in the first place. 
• in the media
  the issue has been much discussed in the media
• in a bit
  see you in a bit.
• Hello there
• after you
• a wide range of 
  she's got a wide rang of vocabulary.
• up and down
• dog walk
• sea level
  the top of Mount Everest is 8848 m above sea level.
• humble lunch

VoCAbulaRY

hu.....i've got a long list of new vocabulary since I came here but i haven't really take a good look at it. And I realised i didn't spend enough quality time learning and absorbing new vocabulary which is really not helpful to improve my english at all. so it's time to do that.

Vocabulary:

• loo:
  I'll go to the loo.
  where is the loo?
• sensational: very good, exciting, unusual
  she looks sensational in her new dress.
  sensational report
  related words: amazing, brilliant, awesome, incredible, superb, terrific, outstanding
• sensation: feeling
  I had the odd sensation that someone was following me.
  i can remember the first time I went sailing -- it was a wonderful sensation.
• terrific: very good
  you look terrific.
  a terrific opportunity
• genuine:
  if something is genuine, it is real and exactly what it appears to be
  if people or emotions are genuine, they are honest and sincere.
  Genuine leather
  he's a very genuine person
• genuinely: really
  i'm genuinely sorry for what i said, I really am. 
• wary: not completely trusting or certain about something or someone
  i'm a bit wary of/about giving people my address when i don't know them very well.
• timid: shy and nervous; easily frightened; without much confidence
  She is a rather timid child.
  "uh, excuse me" he said timidly
• frosty: very cold; with a thin layer of white ice covering everything
  if people are frosty, they are unfriendly and not welcoming.
  it was a cold and frosty morning
  he gave me a frosty look.
• dialect: a form of a language that people speak in a particular part of a country
  the poem is written in northern dialect.
• colloquial / cooloquially: informal and more suitable for use in speech than in writing
  colloquial speech
• wonky: not firm, weak
  one of the legs on this chair is wonky
• pavement: a path with a hard surface on one or both side of a road that people walk on
  keep to the pavement.
  US. sidewalk
  pavement art, pavement artist
• league: a group of teams playing a sport who take part in competitions with each other
  who do you think will win the league championship this year?
  Liverpool were top of the football league last year.
  they are currently bottom of the league.
• overlook:
  (v.)provide a view of, especially from above
  our hotel room overlooked the harbour.
  (n.) a viewpoint
  there are lots of scenic overlooks along the road
• forgetful: often forgetting things
  she's getting very forgetful in her old age
• forgetfulness / forgetfully

[house]

• bungalow: a house only has one storey
  relating words: flat, apartment, barracks, terraced house
• patio: an area outside a house with a solid floor but no roof, used in good weather for relaxing or eating
  in the summer we have breakfast out on the patio.
  relating words: on the garden, terrace, arcade, passage, corridor, in the hall, hallway
• chubby: fat in a pleasant and attractive way
  chubby cheeks
  related words: ample, fatty
• conservatory: a room with glass walls and roof, used for growing plants or for relaxing in
• feature wall

I'm thinking how to make myself memorise new vocabulary sooner, faster and not forget them easily. 

I already knew that i have to know the usage of the new words otherwise i cant remember at all, and even i remember i still don't know how to use them or when to use them. recently i heard a method recommended by the podcast, which is keep relating vocabulary in the same category when you are learning. actually i found it's easier said than done, because sometime they are just scatter in you mind and not easy to categorise them. Anyway, I still have to try!