extensive reading

[Easy English Blog]Car problems

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classic blue coupe die cast model

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I want to go to the sea to see the cherry blossoms. In my city, there is a place called Cherry Road. It has many cherry blossoms and overlooks the sea. It is a very beautiful place. But I can’t go, because my car has problems. I am worried that it will break down. If it breaks down near Cherry Road, I will have trouble, because Cherry Road is in the countryside, far from the city centre.

Sometimes, my car won’t change gear. I can’t drive or reverse. It has happened three times. Tomorrow, the maker of the car is going to look at it and try to find the problem. I hope they can find the problem and I hope it is not too expensive to fix.

I bought my car a year and a half ago. I didn’t expect to have problems so soon. I hope it is nothing serious.

So, this year, I will just see the cherry blossoms around my house and in the city centre. Maybe I can go to the countryside next year.

Heather@ I Talk You Talk Press

 

[Easy English Blog] New website

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semi opened laptop computer turned on on table

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We have a new website. Well, it’s not completely new, just redesigned. The old website was designed back in 2012. I thought it was time for a change. We have more graded readers now, so I wanted to display more books on the top page. We also decided to link our Facebook and Twitter accounts to the website.

I am happy with the design. I always ask the same designer to design our site. He knows our business well, and always does a good job. He also made a smartphone version of the website. When we started, smartphones were not as common as they are now, so we just had a PC site. It is important to keep up with the ever-changing technology!

You can see our new website here.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog]Enjoying the sunset

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Our city has a famous sunset viewing spot. Unfortunately, I don’t have the chance to visit it at sunset time, because I am still working. Last week, I was lucky. I had no work one evening, so I went down to the lakeside for a run. I chose the time so I could see the sunset as I ran. There were many people around so I had to be careful when I ran. I also had to arrive at the spot early to get a parking space. The car parks fill up quickly around sunset time. Here are some photos I took as I was running. I hope you like them.

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Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog]Mild weather

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hello spring handwritten paper

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We didn’t have any snow this year. People have already started changing their snow tyres back to normal tyres on their cars. I must change mine soon too. It is cold some days and warm the others. I’m starting to feel sleepier. I always feel sleepy in spring. I feel less motivated too. I work better in autumn and winter.

I have to think about ways to maintain my motivation and energy levels in this season. Of course, I’m going to exercise every day, and drink coffee every morning. This is my morning routine. I am usually OK in the mornings. It’s the afternoons when I start to feel sleepy. This is when the weather warms up. I don’t think I’m suited to warm weather, or hot weather in summer.

I hope the mild winter doesn’t mean we are going to have a hot summer like last year. I had to use my air conditioner every day for months last year. It was so humid I couldn’t concentrate on my work. And of course, I felt very sleepy. I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see what the year brings.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog]My pet

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I have a pet turtle. Her name is Lee-chan. She is 16 years old. For a long time, I thought she was a boy. But around six years ago, she started to lay eggs, and I realised she was a girl!

When I got her, she was the size of a 500 yen coin. Now, she is bigger than my hand!

Lee-chan and I have been together for a long time. We have lived in different places – different houses, different cities…my life changes, but she is alway with me. Even though we have been together for a long time, she sometimes gets angry with me if I try to clean her water, or try to brush her shell.

When she is hungry, she comes to me and waves her arms around. It is like she is saying “feed me!” In summer, she likes to sit on her terrace and sunbathe. Her terrace used to have a bamboo sheet covering it, but it got dirty. I need to buy a new one. At the moment, her terrace is just a white rack. She doesn’t seem to mind, but I want to make the environment more natural for her. I think bamboo is better than plastic. I’ll buy one today.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog] It’s blooming!

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I have been worried about my plum blossom plant. It usually blooms in February, but this year, there have been no sign of blossoms. Until now! I noticed a single blossom on its branches, and a few more buds. It looks like it is going to bloom after all!

I wonder why it is blooming late this year… All the plum blossoms in the city have been in bloom for a few weeks. Maybe I didn’t water it enough. Or maybe it got too much sunlight last summer. I don’t know. I’m not used to taking care of plants. This plum blossom plant is only my second plant. I think I need to do some research so that it blooms beautifully next year.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

 

[Easy English Blog]Fitting in study

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I am going to take the Chinese proficiency test HSK in September, so I have to study Chinese every day. Some days, I am so busy that it is difficult to fit in study. When I studied Japanese, I used to study for three hours every day after work. Now, my life has changed, and I don’t have that time any more.

So, I try to fit my study into my days in other ways. Every morning, I ride my exercise bike for 15 minutes. While I am riding, I read my Chinese textbook. I listen to YouTube videos while I am putting on my makeup and getting ready. I listen to the audio for my textbook in my car while I’m driving.

I write new words in a small notebook and carry it with me when I go out. If I am waiting somewhere, or waiting for someone, I take out the notebook and review the words.

It is not ideal, and I need to study more if I am to pass the test, but it is better than nothing. Still, I need to make more time in my life for serious study. I will try to do that this month!

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog]Package from home

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person s holds brown gift box

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I received a package from home the other day. It was from my family. There was lots of chocolate inside! I love chocolate. Of course, Japanese chocolate is very delicious, but I miss chocolate from the UK.

When I get a package of chocolate, I tell myself I will eat only a little chocolate each day. But I always eat more. I know this is not good for my health. So, when I get a package of chocolate from home, I exercise more. Tomorrow, I’m going to run 20km because I ate so much chocolate today!

My family always sends me a package of chocolate around Easter time too. Easter is in April this year, so in April, I think I will go running very often! I also think I should go and see the dentist soon…

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog]No blossoms yet

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I have a small weeping plum blossom tree. It is called “shidare ume” in Japanese. Last year, and the year before, it blossomed in February. It had beautiful pink flowers. This year, it hasn’t blossomed. I don’t know why.

Maybe last summer was too hot for it. Maybe I didn’t trim the branches properly after it bloomed last year. Or maybe I didn’t give it enough water. I keep it outside, so it gets the rain, and I water it a few times a week. To be honest, I’m not good at keeping plants. I think plants need care and attention. I don’t think I give my plant what it needs.

When I look at my plant, I feel sad. I wish I could see its beautiful flowers, but I don’t think I will see them this year. Hopefully, it will bloom next year. 😦

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

[Easy English Blog]What happened to winter?

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pink cherry blossom tree

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Our warm winter is continuing. This time last year we had so much snow. It was the worst winter for 36 years in our area of Japan. This year, we have had no snow at all. I am glad about this, because I don’t like snow, but it feels strange.

It has also been unseasonably warm. Most days, the temperature is around 8 or 9 degrees. Of course, it gets colder during the nights, but the daytime is not so cold.

Last December, I had my car tyres changed. We use snow tyres in winter. So we are all driving around on snow tyres, but there is no snow! Soon, it will be time to change the tyres back to normal tyres.

We might get some snow later in the month, but it is already starting to feel like spring some days. Of course, I want spring to come soon, but I wonder…what happened to winter?