ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Hello, pleased to see you blogging again, Carrie!
One confession to begin with: I'm one of those people who are forever pointing out that they don't believe in astrology, but on the other hand find the subject very entertaining at times. According to the Chinese signs of the zodiac I am a Tiger: brave, competitive, and - speaking of downsides - unpredictable. Which I am not. None of that. What else? It says Tigers will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one. Okay, I can relate to that - but that's a natural trait in mothers, isn't it?
You see, under the Western zodiac I am Taurus - so I suppose I have all the options because a lot of qualities attributed to Taurus clearly contradict those associated with the Chinese Tiger. But while reading up on the subject I have just learnt something new: There's another differentiation involving the elements and according to that I'm apparently not just any old tiger but a Water Tiger: "Sensitive and tranquil, realising that other people have worthy opinions too..." Now, that's more like it! Turns out the zodiac is right after all ;-) Do you have any idea if you are, say, a Fire Rat or an Earth Rat? You ought to check!
Yours

Elisabeth (Austria)

Hello Carry,
I am a Tiger according to the Chinese astrology. It is very similar to my Western zodiac sign, the Aquarius. Both of them like independence, freedom and very reliable friends. Well I feel that I am really a Tiger, who is very brave and wants to fight for liberty all the time. I am a Wood Tiger who always want to tell the truth to everybody, to teach the people how they could make a better world. I'm very idealistic.
I don't collect anything. I have a shelf with a lot of angel figures, but I don't collect them. I am interested in esoterical topics and I have read a lot about dragons. I think your dragon-collection may give you force and bravement.

All the best,

Virág from Hungary

Dear Carrie,

This is the first time I am reading your blog and I must admit you're very energetic. I am not saying this because of the zodiac sign you're born with, but I can feel the energy in your writing. You made the blog very interesting to read, and raised the curiosity to know further about both Dragon and Chinese Zodiac system. I am born in the mid of August, apart from being Leo, I wonder what my Chinese zodiac would be. However, as like Elisabeth, I don't believe much on astrology.

Regards,
Rajeeb

Hi everyone,

I've just read my chinese sign. I'm a bit disappointed because I am described in a really different way compared to my professional goal? I am wondering myself now if it is better to change things right now? However, I like the part talking about my ability in invetsment.

See you soon!

Hi Carrie,

I'm Saki from Japan. I really enjoyed reading your blog.

I am a Pig according to the Chinese Zodiac, which sounds a little bit dissapointing to me because I do not like pig very much. But the attributes of the Pig well describes my personality. A pig is said to be gallant, sometimes too "gallant" that I tried to hide in a broom closet in order to avoid attending to a morning gathering and listening to a horribly long speech which our headmistress used to give during my school days. (I was found and caught by a sister after that, which was really embarrassing.)

In Japan, we do not actually have a Pig year. Instead, we call it a Boar year. I've learned from wikipedia that people in nothern Thailand call it an Elephant year. How cool!

Unfortunately, I myself do not collect boars, but I have a mug with boars painted on it. It was a birthday present from my friend several years ago when it was a Boar year. In Japan, you can see many tea cups, plates, mats, and all these goods which features this year's Chinese Zodiacs. I'm sure you can find some cute dragon goods in Japan this year to add to your huge collection.

Lastly, I was excited to see you mentioned about J.R.R Tolkien in your post. I love fantasy books, and I'm just reading "The Hobbit". I'd be appreciate if you could share more of your experience in reading.

I'm looking forward to your next post!

P.S.
By the way, where did you get the wooden dragon which has 3 necks in your picture? It's soooo cute!

Hello Carrie!

My sign is dragon on the chinese horoscope and when I was a kid I was very proud of it, though I don´t believe in these kind of things very much. However, sometimes I confess that I read it just for curiosity, and the prediction for this year is very exciting, as i'm majoring, the horoscope says that it'll be a good year for success on the profressonal aspect, and I really wish it!
About the characteristcs, I think I'm very passionate and I used to be imaginative, unfortunately I'm not anymore!

Seeya!

Hello again,
I really would have liked to present you with my very own personal favourite dragon, Carrie. It might not have been fit to be put on a shelf though - except in the shape of a narrow disk - because it's a piece of music. It is The Reluctant Dragon, a children's story really, and I used to listen to a version by the fabulous King's Singers a lot when my children were younger. The charming thing about that dragon is that he knows nothing about spitting fire or fighting, but is forever looking for rhymes because he loves poetry. I can still recall this bright tenor voice enacting the dragon, singing his overwhelmingly friendly "Good evening" - ah, the King's Singers... I was trying to find a link to that version, but alas, I didn't succeed. So, no actual gift from me, I'm afraid - but chances are you know the Reluctant Dragon anyway. Do you?
By the way, all the best to "dragon" Artur - for whatever tests you are going to take this year!
Elisabeth (from deep-frozen Austria)

Hi Carrie,
Here I am after a long absence from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ page.
So.........guess what??? I'm also rat.

Thank Elisabeth I've come to learn that there are different type of rats :-)

I checked and I am Metal Rat. Apparentely, this type of Rat is likely to be idealistic in thought, vivid in speech and actions and intensely emotional. He may cover up the intensity of his feelings by presenting himself as a happy and charming person, even though he is easily moved to jealousy, anger and selfishness.

Hmmm, I'm afraid that these characteristic of me are true.

By the way, you are right, the dragon at the festival seems to be real alive!

Have a good day

Hi Carrie!

I have read these blogs here in learning English section and find them interesting, so I decided to register here and join the conversation.

According to Chinese Zodiac I'm a goat. Intelligent and artistic as described in Wikipedia. Maybe it is true, because I like to write grazy stories and read good books. I have read J.R.R. Tolkiens trilogy too. It's an excellent adventure. I think that the movies about this trilogy are very well done too.

In Western (or is it from ancient middle East?) zodiac my sign is gemini. I have two sides in every single thing in my life. Another side wants to drink coffee and the other one prefer tea. Sometimes it's difficult to cope with these two sides, but it makes my life interesting.

One of my hobbies is collecting books. As I mentioned earlier I like to read a lot. I like to read fantasy books too, Tolkien is definitely number one. I like also a German author Hermann Hesse and Franz Kafka is also one of my many favourities.

Well, time flies and it's already night here in Finland. I wish all the readers good night and sleep tight.

Hi !
Today I try to write in English! I'm Dragon. Wood Dragon. In Western zodiac I'm Capricorn.
This combination is nice, really, but I think it is sometimes tortuous as I'm always trying to seek the right, the wrong, about myself.
I'm learning english and I hope to progress with you, reading and writing as well I can. But for the moment it's all,
Bye-Bye!

Hello Carrie,

A choir! Consisting of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ staff and singing a piece by a King's Singer! I take it, if this happens to celebrate an anniversary of the World Service, this has to be shown to the "World" at large - so, will we get a chance to hear and see that piece of music and yourself being part of it? I truly hope so!

As for the Reluctant Dragon, it was written by Kenneth Grahame. He is probably much better known for The Wind in the Willows. Both stories obviously have been put to music at some time and found their way onto that children's cassette that I used to listen to with my daughters. The girls are more or less grown-up now, so chances are that none of the current members of the King's Singers has actually taken part in that project. Try and ask anyway ...

And please, don't forget to give us the details about your choir performance!

See you there,
Elisabeth