What a great story about your Irish language journey with Patrick. Certainly befitting for tomorrow's St. Patrick's Day, "Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit."
Thanks Gabrielle so much for this. I remain a huge Patrick fan and still find myself thinking of him fairly often and fondly. He was a remarkably relevant, charming, funny and thoughtful man and I thank you for introducing him to me. In all my years, the way he pronounced my name will always be my favorite and I can still hear it, very clearly, to this day...
I remember introducing you to Patrick, Michael. It was at a somewhat fraught barbecue - my family were involved - at the old house in Venice, and I remember quickly introducing you two while passing through the house before moving into the back yard to put out the family fires. Some half hour later, I returned indoors to find you both sitting in the bay window chatting like the oldest of friends. He was a special man and I'm glad you got to know him. Very good to hear from you, I'll send you an email ...
This was fun, and this line really cracked me up: "...although Duolingo requires me to repeat that the boy drinks the milk over and over until I am tempted to pour the bainne down the pesky little buachaill’s throat until it chokes him" 🤣
I don't know why Duolingo does that. With every other language program I've used, there's been a couple called Pierre et Marie who would meet at the cafe and go for leurs vacances au bord de la mer and it would all have some context. Duolingo just repeats the same crashingly dull one over and over or throws some deeply strange ones in with no explanation whatsoever. I was once required to repeat in Italian that "it is under the green elephant!" Sort of makes you wonder who writes this stuff ... Hope you had a good St. Patrick's Day anyway.
The Pimsleur Russian course was amusing. Many of the dialogues you’re meant to repeat out loud focused on some sleazy businessman shopping for jewellery and fur coats in some mega Moscow department store, with dialogue like “Tell the shopkeeper you are looking for a fur coat for your wife” followed by “Ask your secretary if she’s free for lunch” - I see clearly where the target market is here.
There was definitely a strange element to it, Lorraine, because this was the sort of book I would usually have known about, but I'd never heard of it then and can't find trace of it now, and Patrick himself was openly surprised when I contacted him. But without going all Darby O'Gill and the Little People, it did turn into a wonderful thing in my life. I wish you'd known Patrick, you'd have loved each other.
What a great story about your Irish language journey with Patrick. Certainly befitting for tomorrow's St. Patrick's Day, "Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit."
Go hiontach! Go raibh mile maith agat, a chara!
Thanks Gabrielle so much for this. I remain a huge Patrick fan and still find myself thinking of him fairly often and fondly. He was a remarkably relevant, charming, funny and thoughtful man and I thank you for introducing him to me. In all my years, the way he pronounced my name will always be my favorite and I can still hear it, very clearly, to this day...
I remember introducing you to Patrick, Michael. It was at a somewhat fraught barbecue - my family were involved - at the old house in Venice, and I remember quickly introducing you two while passing through the house before moving into the back yard to put out the family fires. Some half hour later, I returned indoors to find you both sitting in the bay window chatting like the oldest of friends. He was a special man and I'm glad you got to know him. Very good to hear from you, I'll send you an email ...
What a wonderful story, and like Patrick you are a gifted storyteller!!!
You're not so bad yourself, Ms. Lira! Glad you liked it ...
This was fun, and this line really cracked me up: "...although Duolingo requires me to repeat that the boy drinks the milk over and over until I am tempted to pour the bainne down the pesky little buachaill’s throat until it chokes him" 🤣
🍀🍀🍀
I don't know why Duolingo does that. With every other language program I've used, there's been a couple called Pierre et Marie who would meet at the cafe and go for leurs vacances au bord de la mer and it would all have some context. Duolingo just repeats the same crashingly dull one over and over or throws some deeply strange ones in with no explanation whatsoever. I was once required to repeat in Italian that "it is under the green elephant!" Sort of makes you wonder who writes this stuff ... Hope you had a good St. Patrick's Day anyway.
The Pimsleur Russian course was amusing. Many of the dialogues you’re meant to repeat out loud focused on some sleazy businessman shopping for jewellery and fur coats in some mega Moscow department store, with dialogue like “Tell the shopkeeper you are looking for a fur coat for your wife” followed by “Ask your secretary if she’s free for lunch” - I see clearly where the target market is here.
I wish you a very happy
St Patrick’s day
The top of the world to you
And I hope you enjoy the craic
☘️🇮🇪☘️Ax
Special days are coming up xxxx
And to you too, dear fellow descendant of Patrick Philip Barrett of Cork City ...
☘️
Thank you for sharing your memories. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
And a belated same to you too, Jennifer!
Thank you. ☘️🌈
Wow. Wonderful! Amazing how life pointed you in Patrick's direction. Happy St. Paddy's Day!
There was definitely a strange element to it, Lorraine, because this was the sort of book I would usually have known about, but I'd never heard of it then and can't find trace of it now, and Patrick himself was openly surprised when I contacted him. But without going all Darby O'Gill and the Little People, it did turn into a wonderful thing in my life. I wish you'd known Patrick, you'd have loved each other.