Hello there I haven't been here for a while. Recently I've quit my job so I've been a little bit upset. Approximately a month ago I started collecting some medical documents and analyses which needed to apply for a job in the police. They have a department which specifically coordinates touristic problems in Moscow and they demand English or other foreign languages. I went to an interview and passed it successfully, so the only issue was to collect a lot of medical documents and pass examinations in a special medical comittee and obtain their agreement for the job. At first everything went smoothly but then an oculist didn't want to put in my document a proper category, she said that my eyesight is not good enough. She turned me down. Maybe I had been oblivious to my short sight and I shouldn't have tried even to spend my time for it. Now it's only water under the bridge. I keep on learning English. Hopefully I use it somewhere and it'll be profitable in my life. I'm thinking about passing some exam to get a certificate or a diploma so I could put it in my resume. People usually give me credit for perseverance and say me that my Englush is good but in my own opinion I'm still far away from my goals. I can read books in English easily but still every time use a dictionary. Speaking skills are worse because I lack of experience, there's no one who could be my language partners. From time to time I attend some English meetings or other interesting events but I'm looking for a native speaker and that's not easy. The main problem in English right now for me is vocabulary and understanding native speaker when they speak to each other for instance in films and series. Vocabulary also puzzles me, I know a lot of words and memorize them all the time, also I learn a loads of set expressions and idioms. I've got on my laptop about a hundred idioms fro donloaded from BBC site. The thing is I don't know how to use them because most of them I don't remember when I speak or when I'm typing this silly text. I'd like to enrich my text but as you see there's nothing complicated. I could do if I really wanted and work on every sentence changing words but it would be unreal. In a real conversation I merely don't have time to mull over and try to remember great expressions and suitable words, so my speach is usually poor and simple. I suposse I've written too much. Thank you for reading and correcting my opus.

My next vacation Last week I finally applied for a visa to Czech Republic. It was easy because I'm quite experienced in this matter. I had easily collected all necessary documents so I think soon I'll get a visa and I hope they will give me multiple visa to at least one year. At the end of March I'll go to Prague. I've never been to Czech Republic before, so I suppose it will be fun. I'm going to spend there a few days and then I'll get on a train or maybe on a bus and go to Munich. I visited Germany once three years ago but I was in Cologne and that time I also was in Frankfurt and in The Netherlands. So it's going to be my first visit in Munich, I know about the city a little bit. Mostly I've heard of Munich because of its football team Bayern and about Octoberfest. I'm not fond of beer but maybe I'll taste it once. Also I've searched in internet whether there will be any interesting concerts or events and I've found that I'll be able to attend Arch Enemy concert there. Another goal in my trip is Austria, Munich is quite close to Innsbruck so I think it would be nice to go there by train and spend there a day. I've been to Austria once but in Vienna. To make a long story short I'm going to have exuberant holidays.

about hockey Hello! I watch NHL games and try to understand what commentators say. The question is about the terms they use. What's the difference between ''deflection'' and ''redirection''? As I see it during a match it is when a puck changes its direction after the shooting but I can't figure out which one is deflection or redirection. It seems to me as the same action.

Spanish Archer Does ''Spanish Archer'' mean some slang expression or it's directly means to an archer from Spain? I had a discussion with someone about a song where Spanish Archer was used. Look to lyrics excerpt below as a context. Can you imagine how it feels it's so hard to reveal Oh I can't get through and I'm falling I'm getting out, I'm losing ground The Spanish archer's gonna bring you down Is there someone somewhere waiting in the wings to take my place Let's not drag it out like a cagney death scene In this season of change its not hard to explain Like the leaves on the trees I'm falling And as you turn don't look away The Spanish archer's gonna make you pay

A fictional story When I try to speak English or to type messages here or on facebook I usually can't use rare words even though I learn them almost every day because I see that my texts and speech are poor and simple. I don't mean really rare, outdated words but the words which native speakers use quite often. So now I'm going to create a story off-the-cuff using some words which I want to memorize. Maybe in the context it would be easier to remember them later. The story. Yesterday in the morning I went out to the closest bus stop. I was a little bit diseased so I was going to visit a pharmacy and buy an ointment. Near the bus stop I ran into my friends Alan and David. They had been waiting for a bus for ten minutes. We hadn't met since December so they had some news. Alan asked me for advice with some girl whom he liked. He asked me because I had known her when she had studied in my University. I considered she's gorgeous and I told Alan to put in perspectives his chances. The girl was also bitchy and I adveced that he shouldn't moon over her. Meanwhile a bus arrived and we got on. When we were heading off David told us his current affairs. He's a good narrator. Abruptly the bus stopped. We clamed up and simultaniously looked through a window. There was an accident on the road. It's typical in winter because roads are slippery and frosted. At length the bus pulled away and we inched. David finished his story and Alan started over his questions about the girl. I replied him meticulously that he should calm down. The girl was fastidious and spiteful. But Alan didn't get over it. I ran out of advice but I didn't want to walk out on Alan. David cheered him up and we said that we would back him up. Moreover we promised him to reconcile his problem wisely even though we're not omnipotent. Eventually we got out the bus and strolled to a cafe, we were famished so we polished off our dinner. I completely forgot about the pharmacy. Fortunately David said to me that he had also had the same injury the day before and his sister had bought the ointment which I was looking for. I asked him if I could visit him in the evening to borrow it.

Homeland I was born in USSR even though I was a kid when the country fell apart so I vaguely remember that time. I think it was catastrophic for most people. My homeland was in the South Ossetia so I have two native languages - Ossetian and Russian and I also used to speak Georgian quite well, but now I almost forgot it. Ossetia was a small district in the midst of Caucasus and when in the beginning of 1990s the ex-Republics of USSR became independent my country was given to Georgia. At first Ossetians asked Georgian authorities for a district in Georgia or some kind of a national region, but the President of Georgia claimed that Georgia is for Georgians. In Georgia also lived Abkhazians, so Ossetia was in trouble because we didn't want to be in a nationalistic and violent Georgia, so they sent troops and there was a war. I remember a little bit that time, I was only 4 years old. During the bombings I lived in a basement because of danger, lots of buildings were burnt down. In the day time when I could went out I usually stumbled upon to bullet cases, I collected them and used for my games. The war ended when Russia brought peacemakers. People were happy that violence ceased, but political situation wasn't good. South Ossetia declared independence and also Abkhazians who had also had a conflict whith Georgians did the same. But most countries of the world supported Georgia as they do now and my country wasn't recognized until 2008 when there was again the war. The President of Georgia was really insane and he was supported by the USA. But again there was complete fiasco for Georgia. Their tanks and troops were destroyed. South Ossetia had their own army, little but battle-worthy. Of course Russia helped and the war was ended quickly. There were a lot of casualties, Georgian troops killed even civilians. Some time later Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia, Abkhazia was recognized too even though they avoided the conflict. European countries and the USA predictably didn't recognize us. They support only Georgia because they are against Russia. I think all of the countries should recognize my country because almost 25 years passed and Ossetia is independent. In Europe nobody cares about it, they are happy that USSR doesn't exist anymore. Why Georgians had the right to be free but nobody listened to Ossetians. On the picture you can see the turret of a Georgian tank which was blown up and it stuck near a building. The turret is still there as a memorial

About holidays and a little bit about religion These days in Russia people are resting. If catholic countries celebrate Christmas on December in Russia holidays begin on December 31th and usually finish on January 10th. In Russia Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, it's because of the old calendar. I don't know exact explanation of that fact. People like holidays in Russia. But in comparison with other christianic countries which main celebration is connected with Christmas in Russia winter holidays mostly are associated with New Year. It's maybe because of our Soviet past when the USSR was an atheistic country and the main day of celebration was a secular New Year. Now even though in Russia every person can confess any religion or to be an atheist people like more New Year. I suppose that it assembles every person in the country with different cultural habits. In Russia live a lot of muslims, buddhists and other non-christians so it would be weird if the main celebration was concentrated on Christmas. Though I am christian I don't go to churches and don't like to take part in religious rituals. I don't have this habit to communicate with God. For me it looks strange. Franky sometimes when I feel physical pain or other indisposition I can ask him for help, but it's not a prayer. I talk to him as he's my old friend. Maybe it's a kind of selfish. I never talk to him when I am OK. But to be fair I ask him something only if I have emergency. I think if God really exists he should be really busy and I shouldn't bother him with silly talks or asking to give me prosperity, a lot of money or other materialic stuff. I know that a lot of religious people often go to churches and pray to him and beg him something which is unnessesary. I mentioned that I'm christian but also I like realism and meterialism, I like proofs and I admire of scientists and people who're involved to medicine. It's not fair when a surgeon do his work exellently and saves lifes but then some people say that God helped to a patient. Maybe I'm wrong or even a sinner, but actually I don't care. I think most christians in Russia are not ecclesiastical. I like holidays because it's a great time for relaxing. Finally I have free time, I don't have to wake up early and hurry to work. Now I can intently learn English, read a book, listen to music, write this note etc. I think I should say thank to Christmas for holidays. While I have these days I hope to write something else. Stay tuned folks! I could write more but there's a limit of symbols.

What I read I like to read books. Usually I read some classic novels. Since I've started learning English I tried to read something in English because it helps to improve language skills and pick up new words. Adapted books are quite easy for me but I feel that they are a bit unnatural as if they lost their soul. Last year I started to read original books. I think the first was Orwell's book ''Animal Farm''. I like this book very much and Orwell in general. Also I have read in English Oscar Wilde's fairy tales, I liked them too. Now I'm reading ''Whirlwind'' by James Clavell. This is one of my favourite writers. I have read almost all his books. He is well known as the author of ''Shogun'', the novel about Japan and samurais. On December I decided to read his ''Whirlwind'', it had already been downloaded in my e-book, but then I found it in English I considered that it would be great to read the novel in English. It wasn't easy decision because ''Animal Farm'' and Oscar Wilde's fairy tales are thin books and I finished them quite easily. In comparison with them ''Whirlwind'' contains about one thousand pages. So I hesitated that I could cope with it because I don't like to give up books in the middle if I don't like them. For me the book is really difficult and sometimes it's exhausting. When I am somewhere in public transport in one hand I hold the e-book and in another hand I hold a cell phone where I can look up unknown words in a dictionary. For almost a month I have managed to read about 20 % of the book. I think it's not bad. In Russian I read quickly. I would have already finished it if I had read it in Russian. Here I need to think about almost every sentence and somehow construct meaning and I also spend time to find an unknown word and match it to the sentence if it has many different meanings. The novel is about Iran when where was a revolution in the end of 70-s of XX century. The main characters are British who worked for a company connected with helicopters in Iran and in that period they where in danger because in the country was insurrection, Iran was changing from secular country to islamic, people accused foreigners in their problems and so on. Even though it's not easy to read I understand the general meaning so I think I'll finish it somehow in two or three months.

Star Wars The Force Awekens I am a big fan of Star Wars and I've been waiting for the sequel since it was anounced a few years ago. I have gone to the cinema twice. The first time I went the day after the premiere and I watched it in an IMAX cinema with a Russian translation, but unfortunately I missed the beginning of the film because I was waiting for my friend who had stuck in the subway, I was angry at him. The next time I decided to go once more to another cinema. it was the cinema where they play films with original voices. Yesterday I went there. It's interesting for me because I learn English and it's useful to watch films in English for practice. So yesterday I watched the film again. I noticed there a lot of foreigners. New characters of the film are great. I read afterwards a lot of reviewes in Russian internet community, most haters don't like Adam Driver's role of Kylo Ren, they think without a helmet he's not a sinister and tough guy as Darth Vader was but just a psycho kid. Some people also complain that he lost a fight to a girl who wasn't a trained jedi and also was hurt buy a guy who wasn't even a force-user. I think these ''facts'' are not worthy and I liked the film as many other people, I think JJ Abrams has done a great work and I'm looking forward to see the next two episodes of the saga and also spin-off's. I am a bit anxious that JJ Abrams won't be the director of the next episodes. Nethertheless I am glad that I finally waited up the film.