Profile
I am married with three sons. I studied Commerce, Economics and English Literature to primary degree level. I studied and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. I spent my working life auditing private companies and companies listed on stock exchanges: manufacturing, banking, airline and insurance companies. My wife and I spent three years 1991-1994 based in Prague. I finished my career back home in Dublin. I retired as an auditor at the end of 1999 and spent the next fifteen years as a consultant and as a company director. I am learning Italian because I now have an Italian daughter in law and I want to be able to talk to her wider family.
I play golf and swim. I am interested in history, literature and religion.
Learning
Italian
French
Language Skills
EnglishNative
Gaelic (Irish)
Arabic
Lesson Feedback
Lesson history
| Last month | Last 3 months | All time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed lessons | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Attendance rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Teacher reviews
Anna Maria
Italian
Dec 13, 2016
grazie!è stata una lezione dove abbiamo parlato di argomenti molto interessanti.Complimenti.la sua comprensione e' ottima!
Activities
Last day of my computer course
Finally, this is my last day of this interesting computer course about Windows Server and so it is also my last English notebook entry this week, because I am writing it on the bus. I thought that this course would be easier but it was not. I know the Linux operative system quite well, while I have never worked with Windows, so I know it like normal users. Also today it’s raining in my city, the sky is foggy and the temperature is cold. My trip by bus took me a long time, not only because the traffic, but also because today there is a strike, so there are less busses and I waited a long time for one at the bus stop. I don’t know why strikes are generally on Friday. In this hour of the morning the bus is always full and it is impossible to find a seat. I enjoy standing because at work I spend a lot of time sitting on the chair in my office. I see the towers across the windows, this means that I’ve nearly arrived. It is 9 o’clock, and I’m perfectly in time. The sun is appearing between the clouds, and I feel happy.0 votedNovember 25, 20161- The silent L in English
There are a few words in English that have the letter L which is not pronounced.
Some of these are as follows:
Talk Pronounced: tak
Walk Pronounced: wak
Should Pronounced shoud
Would Pronounced woud
Could Pronounced: coud
half Pronounced haf
salmon (the fish) pronounced: samon
italki pronounced: itaki
November 14, 201600 THE ATTRACTION LAW
I received the book as a gift. At that time I was very busy, I put it in my bookcase and forgot it for a long time.
One day, I don't know why, I picked it up and started to read.
The book described how obtain what you really desire by the power of the mind. I was a bit skeptical but anyway I read and read. With unusual diligence I begun the exercises and every day during the shower I thanked you for every thing I had.
I started step by step to change my approach to the future. Every day I intensely visualized in my mind a new job, the publication of my article, a new positive equilibrium for my self. And incredibly everything I had figured arrived!
I was very enthusiastic and I shared the secret with everyone.
But as I started, I don't know why, in the same way I stopped with the exercises, the mind visualization and the rite of thanks.capital ' I '
And now there is a new challenge, all to imagine.
I have been starting to read the book again!0 votedNovember 6, 20160Fist time on italki
This is my first time on italki so actually I don't know what I can expect. I really would like to improve my English meanwhile discussing whith other people about their culture, tradition etc. I think that it could be a great source of knowledge. I'm very shy but since I would like to work in the International field I'm trying to overcome this aspect by, for example, discussing with people I don't know as in italki. I hope I will have a great interesting experience that will let me grow as a person.
So if someone would like to help me and to have conversation I'll be pleased:)0 votedNovember 6, 20160Laura Dekker
The juvenile court of Utrecht barred Laura Dekker, a 13-year-old girl from the Netherlands, from undertaking a trip around the world in September. Laura wants to become the youngest sailor to sail around the world by herself. The court initiated an investigation in order to judge to what extent such an experience may have on the girl’s physical as well as psychic status.
In July, Laura’s father asked to be authorized to exempt her from compulsory school attendance. He didn’t think the school would reject his request, but he was wrong. The law is pretty clear ‘the ones who do not send their children to school shall be prosecuted by the law’. If Laura doesn’t show up in September, the competent authorities will intervene.
Laura was born on her parents’ sailing boat, while they were sailing off the coast of New Zealand. She has been a good sailor since she was a child. The dad said ‘she is able to sail like a pro. I’m not worried about the trip around the world. She knows what she is doing.’
In August, she had already been halted by the port authorities in Great Britain. They didn’t want her to sail by herself on her boat, called Guppy. They wanted her to sail with a responsible adult. Her dad, Dick, is a skilled yatchsman who sailed the North seas on his own when he was 12.
Laura is in a hurry and says ‘I’m not the only one thinking of the record. There is a fierce competition and I must hurry up. I won’t be 13 forever.’0 votedNovember 6, 20161The joy of life comes from our passion for adventure
My life, my recent life if I want to be correct, has been very weird. If I have to describe it I think I could say "it has been like a movie". I've had my personal soundtrack "There is A Light That Never Goes out", I've had particular experiences, and I've had a good story to remember and to tell.
Everything it's strange, also the timing. If I think about this period I feel it was rushed, but I feel also that it has been a long period.
Coming back to my story, I've had a relationship. Do you think "what's the matter?". She is a separated woman, with 2 children, and the most important thing: she is 36 years old. 10 years older than me. Maybe for you there isn't a problem, but for me it has been strange and I've got a lot of time to accept it.
I met her in a club, usually I never go there. I feel uncomfortable in these places. My housemate introduced me to her (she is a collegue of hers) and we started to chat. First drink, second drink, third drink, the level of alcohol increased and I kissed her and I asked to come over to my house and she agreed.
For the first months we had just sex, but day by day something changed and it has become a real relationship. However, also even though I've always tried to hide everything from my friends, my collegues, my parents, it has been impossible. Everybody knew the story.
I've felt a lot of different sensations but I'm not able to describe them, maybe it's impossible for each one.
And now? as well it started, and now it's finished. It's like I'm weaking up from a dream, a fantastic dream that I will never forget in my life.0 votedNovember 1, 20161earthquake in Umbria
Hi everyone,
since I live near the epicentre of the earthquake that this morning at 7:41 am had woken us up, I'm really worried about what could happen in the coming days! Four days ago, there were two shocks in the same place more or less, and they were 5.9 and 4.5. Fortunately, there were no fatalities because at that time people weren't sleeping so they had time to escape...
We all were expecting aftershocks to be less intensive so we thought that there would was little possibility of a stronger earthquake ... This morning it was 7.1 ! Then the tv news said that was 6.1 and later they adjusted it to 6.5 ( I personally think they were trying to let the news be less alarming )... Once again no fatalities. However, a seismologist said that we had better expect shocks that could be around 6 and then less intensive ones, or even a shock that could reach 7.5!!!
I do hope it won't happen... Already buildings have collapsed: churches, some houses... I keep hoping there won't be also "collapsed" lives :(((('no dead people ' is good English but maybe too blunt! 'Fatalities' means the same but sounds softer.
0 votedNovember 1, 20161Letter to a friend (IELTS writing task 1 exercise)
TASK:
"You have just spent a week with a friend on holiday. When you got home, you realised you had left your wallet there.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- thank your friend for the holiday
- explain that you left your wallet in their house
- give them instructions of how to send it back to you"
LETTER:
Dear Laura,
I want to thank you for the amazing time I had with you in your city.
It was great seeing you after all this time and being able to spend an entire week together. You have not changed at all during these years, and I guess we can say the same about me, at least about bad habits, because I forgot something at your house.
First of all, I am truly grateful that you let me stay at your home and let me have this unforgettable experience in your city. I had so much fun visiting it with you and I consider myself lucky, because thanks to you I was able to discover many interesting spots that are not covered in any usual tourist guide. I also enjoyed immensely the true authentic local cuisine, I think without you I would have been ripped off by flavorless and overpriced restaurants catering to tourists.
On the painful note, I believe I have left my wallet in your guest room. I had all my important documents and cards in my handbag and I did not realize my wallet was missing until I got back home. It is a purple leather wallet. Could you please look for it and tell me if you find it? It would be very helpful if you could send it to me. I would, of course, cover all the shipping costs, so please tell me also the necessary bank account information.
Thank you again for the wonderful week and sorry for further bothering you with my negligence.
Please take care.
With love,This is excellent. I didn't think that '..greatly helpful..' sounded right. I think you could have said '..cover the shipping cost, ...' but as you said 'all' I think you should use the plural 'costs'.
0 votedNovember 1, 20161
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