Hi everyone, good to be back to a sunny Britain after a holiday in China.

How are you doing with your work or studies and how is life in general?

Well before I go into my story today, I have agreed to post the answers to the quiz questions for my colleague Finn.


IDIOMS QUIZ 成语小测验

Answers:

1 = G
2 = C
3 = B
4 = J
5 = A
6 = E
7 = H
8 = D
9 = F
10 = I

1)     Move the goalposts = (G) When you do this, it means you change the rules in a situation, often in a way which makes it more difficult for someone to achieve something.
FOOTBALL, goalposts = 门柱


2)     The ball is in your court = (C) This means: it's your turn to make a decision.
TENNIS, court = 球场

3)     Lightweight = (B) Not of a high ability.  Sometimes used to describe someone who can't drink a lot of alcohol.
BOXING


4)     Go the distance = (J) To complete something.
HORSE RACING

5)     Get the ball rolling = (A) To begin something.
FOOTBALL, BALL GAMES IN GENERAL

6)     Neck and neck = (E) We use this when talking about the difference between two competitors – if they are very close, we can say they are ______________.
HORSE RACING

7)     A blow by blow account = (H) A detailed description.
BOXING, blow = 打击

8)     Take it on the chin = (D) To face up to something difficult.
BOXING

9)     No holds barred = (F) With no restrictions.
WRESTLING

10)  Par for the course. = (I) What is normal and expected in a situation.
GOLF, par = 标准打数

How many did you score? Well, I have a small task for you too today after you read the following.


It is well known that British people love talking about the weather. As far as I can see a lot of people’s mood changes with the weather. When I left for China mid April it was still rainy and cold but three weeks on it feels like a real summer.

You can imagine how happy everyone is at the moment as Britain has been having a continuous two-week sunny summery weather with blue skies and temperatures reaching the high 20s.  This early taste of summer has put a smile on the face of Britain and brought sun-seekers out in their hundreds of thousands this weekend to beaches all over the country. Looking around in the streets I see that girls are wearing light coloured summer dresses and sandals(凉鞋); boys are putting on their shorts and wearing funky sunglasses(时尚的墨镜). Daylight is getting longer between 5 in the morning and 9 in the evening. The country is into its best season.

Do you like summer days with lots of sunshine? Well, let me tell you a few sun–related idioms 与太阳有关的成语 that may help you enlarge your vocabulary.

But I have a task for you, I would like you to give me a good translation for each of these idiomatic expressions (请把下列成语译成汉语):

Make hay while the sun shines. This means to do something while the situation or conditions are right. For example: “I've got a few hours to finish the housework before the kids come home, so I might as well make hay while the sun shines.”

Everything under the sun: Everything under the sun is everything that exists or is possible. Here are a couple of examples: “We talked about everything under the sun.” “She seems to have an opinion on every subject under the sun.”

A ray of sunshine: Somebody who makes you very happy especially in difficult situations. Can you think of a friend who is positive and always cheers you up? Then you can say to him/her: “You are a ray of sunshine!”

Talking about sunshine I think it may come in different forms, it can be a good book or a good radio programme or a piece of music. One of my favourite songs is ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong; it always fills me with happiness whenever I listen to it.   I love going to concerts too, which is quite easy to do in London where we have some of the best concert halls in the world. It is just such an uplifting（令人振奋的）experience for me.

Another thing that gives me a similar feeling of happiness is a good and engaging （引人入胜的）conversation with friends or colleagues. It enriches（ 丰富）your mind and gives you a lot of food for thought. How about you?

Please write down your comments and don't forget about the translation task I set you for the sun idioms.

With more later on Thursday,

Li Yang