Thursday, June 25, 2009

Plans...Plans..

This is about some my future plans .
My nearest plan - move to another, better place. I hope, we can find good property in Kogarah or Rockdale. It will be my 12th moving. After my 17-teen, when I left my home-village and mama, and moved to Saint-Petersburg for studying, I've never lived more than 4 years in one place, usually less than 1 year. Good opportunity to throw away rubbish from your house and head, but now I dream about The Home and The Castle. ))
During the holidays I have to study Driver Knowledge test and, perhaps, get a learner license. Then practice driving as much as possible.
After the holidays I'm going to do Training and Skills for Work course. As my skills will improve I hope to find part-time or casual job. Anyway, I will look for something next semester.
Good luck for all of us.
Our English lessons were very happy time for me.
I am looking forward to see you again, my friends. I already miss you.
Dear Marion... Thank you.
Lucy.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

"The Castle"

"The Castle" is the film about Kerrigan's family- parents and four children. It's a very close knit family, they loved each other, they were considerate, gentle and easy-going.
We have known a lot about all members of family, their achievements, hobbies and favorite things. I couldn't determine who I like more, because they supplemented each other. For me this people were more interesting as a family then separately. I like them all together.
Very often Kerrigan's looked funny, unsophisticated, even a bit silly, but they have done the main work - they have built not house, but home. They have established their Castle.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Bushwalking around Bundeena.

Things to see and to do:
1) Dharawal Engravings
Dharawal Engravings - it is the fascinating Aboriginal rock platform carvings. The artworks depict food sources, creation themes, birth and Dreaming figures. Other ones depict killer whales, stingrays, turtles, kangaroos, long ago carved by the Dharawal people of the area. Carvings are located on the cliff walk, some 700 metres above the water level.
2) Bundeena Reserve
Wildlife in the reserve includes echidnas, flying foxes, ringtail possums, brushtail possums, blue-tongued lizards, diamond pythons and red-bellied black snakes. There is a signposted path.
3) Views
The National Park Fire Break, which protects the eastern border of Bundeena from bush fires, runs north-south between Eric St and Beachcomber Ave. At various points of it provides views of the Jibbon headland, Sydney, the sand hills of Cronulla, the Kurnell headland and the National Park.
4) Smooth-Barked Apple
Just inside the entrance to the caravan park (in Scarborough St) is an excellent example of a smooth-barked apple (also known as Sydney red gum) which has been heritage-listed.
5) The Coast Track
For people wanting to explore the coastline there is the 'Coast Track', a marvellous 26-kilometre walk from Bundeena to Otford. The Coast Track runs the length of the park's coastline, passing through Little Marley and Marley Beach, Wattamolla, Burning Palms and Garie.
I look forward to see Bundeena!

My thoughts about time.

Time runs too quickly for me. Even weekdays fly... what to say about weekends? It's just a flash! Week-ends always not enough for all my businesses. I’m not an excellent time – manager. So, very often I think “I do it tomorrow” or “I start it on Monday”. Sometimes really do, sometimes not.
I remember only one period of my life when I never worried about the time – it’s my childhood, especially holidays. Holidays - it was a whole life, very interesting, full of being. Holidays went, went and never end.
But my seven-year- old daughter considers that time runs too quickly for her. What will she say when she turns thirties?
Wise men say – if you want feel alive, don’t think about yesterday and tomorrow – be here and now.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Work accidents.

There is exists a lot of different ways to hurt yourself at the work place.
The most common may be:
fall;
wounding or injuring by equipment or tools;
collapse;
food poisoning;
chemical poisoning;
burn (sunburn, flash-burn, acid burn etc.)
losing one's way
and many-many others..
Happy working! Be cautious.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mother's Day

The modern Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis, as a day to honor mothers and motherhood. The practice of celebrating a Mother's Day to honor your own mother is a recent tradition, first established in the U.S.A. in the early 20th century.
On this day Mothers get presents and special attention from their children, families and friends.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Swine flu

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and is caused by a flu virus. Pigs can be ill but rarely die from the virus. Normally this virus not infects humans. But occasionally it can happen when people have had close contact with pigs. The flu virus constantly changes and now swine flu spreads from person to person. Swine flu is a new virus so no-one will have immunity to it and everyone could be at risk of catching it. This includes healthy adults as well as older people and children. At this time there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease.
The Russian official news source confirmed: there are no swine flu cases in Russia at present.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

ANZAC Day

Australians celebrate ANZAC Day on the 25th of April every year. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Australian and New Zealand soldiers came from different places, homes and cultures. Australian soldiers are called Diggers.
ANZAC Day reminds us about some events that took place in the First World War. Australia joined the countries which fought in WW1.
Among war heroes Australians are especially proud of Simpson. There was a lot of fighting on the peninsula at Gallipoli, where a lot of soldiers from both sides died. Simpson found a donkey. He called the donkey Duffy. The brave man lifted the soldiers, who needed medical help onto the donkey’s back. Guiding the donkey and holding onto the man, Simpson set off for the dressing station.
A lot of people work in the army, the navy and the air force. They form The Defence Force. “Defend“ means “keep safe”. People in the Australian Defence Force keep our country safe and protected.
On ANZAC Day we remember the brave men and women who have served Australia in times of war. We remember especially all the people who have died or suffered in wars so that we might live freely. On ANZAC Day we have a special ceremony to show our thanks to these people.
The Ode is part of a special poem that is said during the ANZAC Day service. Here are the words:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
On ANZAC Day flowers and wreaths of red poppies are laid at the bottom of war memorials as a way of saying we have remembered these brave people. A war memorial is a place that honours all those who have died in wars.

My Easter Holidays

In the holidays I mostly stayed at home with my family in Sydney. During this time we celebrated with family and friends two birthdays – my daughter Polina’s and my husband Ivan’s.
Also some friends invited us to their home and we visited them there. A couple of times we went out of the city.
The first day of my break we spent in a beautiful place near Hempted, in the Blue Mountains. There were fourteen people including children. We went to Hempted to pick mushrooms. We spent about two hours doing that and collected a little basket. After that we had a lovely time with friends. We had a BBQ in the bush and admired the scenery.
The organization of the birthday parties took a lot of my time! I prepared many games, funny tasks and surprises for both our heroes of the day and our guests. Both parties were in two languages - Russian and English, so, it was rather difficult for me to create a comfortable atmosphere and invent interesting activities for everyone. Before this party I decorated our backyard with New Year garlands, solar lamps and torches. The best reward for me was the happy faces of my relatives and friends.
During the holidays I also tried to self-educate. I saw several documentary films about Russian and World history and read some articles about the world economical situation, especially about the reasons of the financial crisis.
I really enjoyed my holiday time and made full of intensive learning, positive things and new experiences.
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Saturday, May 2, 2009

ANZAC BISCUITS
1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup sifted plain flour, 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed, ½ cup coconut, 125g butter, 2 tablespoons golden syrup, 1 tablespoon boiling water, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
METHOD:
Combine oats, sifted flour, sugar and coconut together in a large bowl.
Melt syrup and butter together in another bowl.
Stir soda with boiling water and mix into melted butter and syrup.
Stir mixture into dry ingredients.
Place rounded teaspoons of mixture onto a lightly greased oven tray (about 5cm apart).
Flatten out with a fork.
Bake in a slow oven (160˚c) for about 20minutes or until biscuits feel a bit firm.
Loosen biscuits and cool on wire trays.
This mixture makes about 25 biscuits.
The missing verbs:
flatten, melt, loosen, bake, place, stir (x2), mix, combine, cool

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Earth Hour

My family join all people who will be vote to the Earth.
On March 28th we will switch off the lights at 8.30pm, for 1 hour. I suggest that we will have wonderful time with my husband and kids... We will sit outside and see the beautiful stars.
P.S. Today is Sunday. Yesterday we walked with family on our street and admired night sky... Also I counted how many houses joined the voting on our street. It was about a half of all amount...
Russia took part in Voting Earth!


A little bit more from Yahoo:

Earth Hour 2009 is the biggest, most common and united action during the all human history!

In London, the lights went off at the Houses of Parliament and the famous electronic billboard at Piccadilly Circus.

In Paris, hundreds of monuments and buildings, from the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral to the Arc de Triomphe, all went dark. For safety reasons, the lights on the Eiffel Tower were switched off for only five minutes.

Elsewhere across Europe, St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Greek parliament in Athens were all plunged into darkness, while entertainers danced in front of the Romanian parliament in Bucharest.

In Egypt , the lights went off at the Giza pyramids, the Cairo Tower and the Alexandria Library on the Mediterranean.

In the United Arab Emirates, which has the highest per capita energy consumption in the world, Dubai's iconic sail-shaped seven-star Burj al-Arab hotel turned off its nightly multi-coloured light show.

Mountaineers planned to raise an Earth Hour flag on the 8,848-metre (29,000-foot) summit of Everest, the planet's highest point.

The lights went dark in downtown Manila, as they did in the world's tallest completed skyscraper, the Taipei 101 building.

In South Africa , Table Mountain was to be seen only by starlight for an hour. And the Weekender newspaper reported that one couple would turn the lights down on their marriage at a vineyard near Cape Town .

A United Nations-led conference in the Danish capital later this year is meant to approve a new global warming treaty for after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol for cutting carbon emissions expires.
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Harmony Day

Today I saw the video about the Harmony Day celebration in TAFE. Unfortunately I missed this important event and I regret it. But I'm happy to see that some active people prepared interesting performances for other students.. I think everyone of us have amazing experience in Australia and everyone is grateful to Australia for this experience.

People sang the beautiful songs. One girl played a musical instrument.... So, people did something interesting for all of them. I had very strong feelings when I listened to people, especially when they sang together. It is the moment when people shared the same cheerful mood, when they had friendly warm feelings to each other.

It is very important to show people that all of us have the same basic things, the same goals... And with that - diversity is one of the main principles of evolution.
So... Harmony Day helps people to become closer to each other and stay different simultaneously..

Sunday, March 15, 2009

1. Who can borrow from the TAFE library?
Any TAFE student can borrow items from TAFE library.
2. What do you need to bring to join in?
Only TAFE card.
3.How many items (things: books, videos, etc) can you borrow?
six print items and four audio-videos.
4.What is included in print items?
Books, magazins, newspaper.
5. How long can you borrow books for?
Two weeks.
6.How long can you borrow videos for?
One week.
7.What happens if you want them for a longer time?
You can renew items.
8.How can you renew books or other library items?
9.How many times can you renew items?
Twice.
11.Can you search the library catalogue from home?
Yes.
12. Can you return books after-hours?
No.
13.When is the library open?
8 o'clock in the morning.
14.How can you make photocopies or print from one of the library computers?
Use TAFE card and pay money.
15.How much does it cost?
20 cents for one copy.
16.Is it the same price for Student Association members?
No. A half of this prise.
17. What other services are provided?
Different servises - find information for students, books...
18. What ESL resources do they have?
19. Can you borrow books from other TAFE libraries?
Yes, students can borrow books from other libraries.
20. What is a good idea for ESL students?

Superstitions in Russia.

1) When you break your kitchen ware (glasses, plates) accidentally - it is good luck.
2) People think: when a black cat crosses your road (your way) - it is bad luck.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

G'Day mates! Let me introduce myself....)))

My name is Liudmila Pavlenko. I came from Russia (Saint-Petersburg) in September 2008. I emigrated in Australia with my family: husband Ivan and two adorable daughters - Polina (she will be 7 soon) and Margarita (2.5).
I have lived in Russia for thirty years and I like that years. My life in Russia was full of love and adventures. Thank you my country, thank you my relatives and friends.
Now we have chosen living in Australia. I still feel like a new-born child here. Everything is surprising me - relaxed people, the fine weather, luxurious tropical flowers, lovely beaches, the magnificent night sky and the stars, the aroma of the evening streets... The lifestyle in Australia is absolutely different from the Russian one. But it not makes a problem for me.. I enjoy every day here.
People are very friendly and do a lot for migrants.. Australia - the excellent example how people from different countries can live and work together and create the beautiful world. I hope that my knowledge will be demanded in Australia. I believe in the bright future.

All the best!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Homework

Usage of everyday expressions

1) How are things with job-hunting?
2) Due to my living in Australia it dawned on me that people everywhere are very similar…
3) It’s very important for family life to give the spouse the benefit of the doubt.
4) Sometimes when I am having an interesting chat with people from other country, I forget that I am speaking in English, not in Russian.
5) Most probably the sincere interest - it’s a good way to break the ice between unacquainted people.


Recount


How I spent my last Sunday

Yesterday I had extremely dangerous day for me.
I had a lot of housework, so I decided to stay at home.
In the morning I was roughly awoken up by my two – year - old daughter. She awake and played on my bed. I was quietly sleeping when she accidentally jumped on my head. I was strongly scared and got a heavy kick. But it was only beginning.
Afternoon I washed up kid’s sandpit at the backyard. Suddenly I felt something hard under my fingers. I though it was a small stone, but when I looked at it - I saw the red-back spider. I became panic-stricken. Fortunately, it didn’t bite me. Thank you my guardian angel.
The last “fanny” event happened in the evening. I wanted to drink a cup of tea, switched our electric kettle on. It was standing on the fridge. Suddenly, kettle started to jump and turned over... Boiled water began to flow on the fridge, on the wires, on the plug socket… I quickly switched electricity off, but the kettle unfortunately was broken.
It was noted, that troubles usually happen three times in one day. So I hope, that all my worries finished.
P.S. Today is Monday. Unfortunately, my elder daughter is ill today, although she was healthy yesterday. I hope, tomorrow everything will be better.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Recount

On Monday I viewed the new photo album of Marion, my English teacher. She was in Victoria (Australia) on her Christmas holidays. She traveled in company with her beautiful daughter and a friend. They visited the interesting places, Rocky Valley Dam, Falls Creek.
It's a place where nice-looking, peaceful scenery matched with majestic waterfalls and wild outcrops ..
Adventure started from viewing of not big Falls Creek village and beautiful surrounding valleys, then travelers explored several remarkable sight such as rocky outcrop and a small lake with waterfall. I saw in her travel journal also an attractive paht through the Alpine National Park and a photo Marion's companions.
In the end of the album are represented the amazing photos of oldest cattleman's hut among ancient trees.
I was really enjoyed with viewing perfect album and have to say: Thank you, Marion!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Hello Marion,
We hope you are doing very well.
We watched your photo album in your blog. It is very interesting.
We are interested in which part of Australia is that amazing marvellous valley.
How long have you been here?
How many populations in this village?
What kind of accommodation did you live there?
How is the height of these magnificent mountains?
We would like to ask you if you had use Photoshop for changing colours of these photos.
Your holiday seems grate!
Best regards,
Sincerely yours students
Natalie, Liudmila, Wayne.