日傘

Today is a real scorcher. The sun is beating down and the humidity is high. In weather like this we should be careful of dehydration, sunburn and heat stroke.

Minor ailments may include prickly heat (also called heat rash) and muscle cramp.

Lots of Japanese ladies use parasols to shade themselves from the sun. A hat and sunglasses are also recommended.

• a scorcher = とても暑い日
• the sun is beating down = 強い日光がある
• humidity = 湿度
• dehydration = 脱水症
• sunburn = 日焼け
• heat stroke = 熱射病
• prickly heat = 汗も
• muscle cramp = 筋痙攣
• parasol = 日傘

引っ越す

Moving home can be expensive, stressful and hard work. We need to pack our belongings and arrange a removal company to move our stuff to our new home.

• 引っ越す = move home

Example:

• I'm moving home next month to be nearer my office.
• I've moved into a new apartment; please come and visit me!
• I want to move in with my boyfriend but my parents won't let me.

Also:

• 引越し業者 = removal company / remover

賃貸

Many people rent their homes; that means we don't own our home but we pay rent (money) to the landlord. If you rent your home, here are some useful words:

• 家賃 = rent (money)
• 不動産 = property（英）real estate（米）
• 不動産業者 = estate agent（英） real estate agent / realtor（米）
• 大家さん = landlord （男）landlady（女）
• 借地人 = tenant
• 保証人 = guarantor
• 礼金 = commission / fee
• 敷金（保証金）= deposit
• 契約 = contract

If a property is vacant, we can see a sign saying 「テンアント」but this is a bad translation from English. In England the sign says "To Let" or "For Rent".

パーティー

Thank you to everybody who attended the second anniversary party last Saturday. I hope you had a good time. I hope you all come to the next party. If you took any photos, please send them too me.

二日酔い

After drinking too much alcohol we often feel ill, especially the next day. We can say:

• I have a hangover (noun)
• I'm hungover (adjective)

Hangover symptoms usually include:

• headache
• dehydration
• nausea

飲み放題

「飲み放題」is very popular in Japan. This system is available in England too, however, it is difficult to find. In English you may see this system called:

• All you can drink
• Free bar
• Unlimited drink

「食べ放題」is much more popular in England, especially in Chinese restaurants. We call this system:

• Buffet
• All you can eat
• Unlimited food

懐かしい

After we see a person or thing from a long time ago, we can say:

• That was a blast from the past!

We also use this expression if we discuss some event from our distant past. This expression is usually positive.

If we talk about happy memories from our distant past, we can say:

• Those were the days.
• The good old days!

久しぶり

If we haven't seen a person for a long time, when we meet, we say:

• Long time no see!

or

• It's been a long time.

We can add:

• How have you been?

or

• What are you up to these days?

ハロッズのチョコ

Thank you to Sachiyo for the souvenir chocolate from Harrods, London. Sachiyo went on a business trip to England and Germany last week. She managed to sneak some sightseeing one evening in London.

二周年のパーティー

Our second anniversary party will be held on Saturday 11th June at 7pm. There will be party games, a quiz and a raffle. Please buy your ticket now!

無線

London Bridge English now has Wi-Fi. You are free to bring your gadgets and devices and connect to the Internet!

梅雨

The rainy season has officially started in Kanto. Here are some words associated with the rainy season:

• overcast = 100% cloud cover
• damp = lots of water in the air and cool or cold temperature
• humid = lots of water in the air and warm or hot temperature
• muggy = very humid
• sticky = very humid
• dull = low daylight because it is overcast
• mould = 黴
• mildew = 青黴
• grey day = overcast day