Wednesday 5 December 2018

Spanish lessons


I suspected something was up when I noticed how much time Gail was spending staring as some app on her phone called Duolingo, and leafing through an ancient Spanish dictionary.


Finally today she confessed to me that she will soon be going away on a Christmas holiday to Mexico, abandoning me to spend a week at neighbour Yvonne's (OK) and then a week in 'camp' (the horror....)

Now I will say I am at least relieved Gail is making some attempt to master a few phrases in Spanish, as I suspect a combination of schoolgirl French, German learnt as an adult, some long forgotten bits of Latin and the ability to speak English loudly and slowly, might not be much help when trying to negotiate her way round Mexico City and environs with her American friend Marse.

However, I fear that Duolingo is not quite coming up to the mark in some important areas, so I have been doing some research on Google Translate, and respectfully suggest that Gail might commit to memory the following text:


 Or what about?

Or best of all?

Perhaps my friends could suggest some more useful phrases Gail might learn. She is not leaving for another week so there is time...

18 comments:

  1. Bertie we hear ya... the mama is a duo-lingo-doer too... every morning she tries to learn french... it will not work, although it is so easy... we always bury our heads in our pillows and try not to laugh...(mission impossible she is tooooo funny)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hari om
    Bertie lad, if Gail is feeling truly sorry for leaving you, she may consider some contra band...
    "Have you any bones needing to be smuggled to Scotland?"
    "¿Tienes huesos que necesiten ser contrabandeados a Escocia?"
    Not that I would condone such action, mind. hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent suggestion. For some reason DuoLingo had neglected to teach Gail the word for bone, although any reasonable person would consider it as priority vocabulary...
      Toodle pip!, Bertie.

      Delete
  3. She needs to learn “speak more slowly please”

    And “Do you speak English?”

    Love you all

    ReplyDelete
  4. We think she should learn something like "I am a terrible person for leaving my brilliant dog at Christmas."

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Bertie...my dear one. I wish you could spend a week here with me. Yvonne and Neil are very fortunate to have your company.
    Please tell Gail it would be very rude to 'ceirra su boca' (my Spanish spelling is very rusty). Buenos tardes mi amigo.
    Cecilia

    ReplyDelete
  6. PS tell her to have lots of fun too and take sun screen.

    ReplyDelete
  7. She's leaving you AT CHRISTMAS?!?! But -- but -- Momma said that Christmas is a time of family togetherness. Didn't Gail learn that?!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes, those are important phrases to know in any language! Tell your mom to have a wonderful time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. We're sorry to hear you are being abandoned at Christmas Bertie but we hope Gail has a great time on her trip.

    ReplyDelete
  10. "Bertie misses you so much, surely you have some great surprises for him upon your return."

    We hope Gail has a good trip. Buen viaje!!! We hope that is correct.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

    ReplyDelete
  11. This might come in handy;

    "Where can I find the nearest Internet Cafe? I must skype with my loving pup Bertie"

    Our pawrents are leaving us too....so very unfair!
    xoxo,
    Rosy, Jakey & Arty

    ReplyDelete
  12. How about "I am sorry that I am being such a bore, I just miss my dog so much I really can't have fun without him"

    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh no! I don't understand why the people go places without us. I do hope she brings you the best, most expensive present.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bertie, I hopes Gail brings you back some FABulous souvenirs! I thinks she'll have a good time, and I hopes you have funs in jail, um, I means camp....☺
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥
    pees: tell Gail to drinks some margaritas for me, k?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bertie - Mexico really isn't Wire Haired territory. Too hot. You're better off on the beach in Aberdeen.

    ReplyDelete