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Catching up with family

Canals in Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany

Saturday is normally a busy day for me, but today I was lucky enough to talk with my brother and his family in Germany.

Usually on a Saturday, I start classes at 7am and work through the day, into the night. However, today I was lucky. A few students this morning had canceled their lessons at the last minute. I was able to go for a quick run in the morning.  I was only out for about an hour, but the sun was blazing and it really perked me up.

Then later on in the day, I had a couple of hours off for lunch. Another student had canceled. My lunch break is usually only an hour, but with the canceled class, it was stretched to two hours. 

It just so happened that my brother was free to talk on Skype then. He is living in Germany this year. It was the first time we had talked in quite a while, so we had a lot of catching up to do. It was nice to see him and his family. We had a long chat. I think we spoke for an hour and a half. Every time we speak, I wonder why we don't do it more often.


at the last minute  at the latest time before a deadline
blazing  burning very hot
perked me up  gave me lots of energy
It just so happened  it was lucky that
catch up — share news

Grammar note: I used the past perfect (had done) a few times today. Did you notice?

  • Matthew's picture
    Matthew
    About me
    I am from New Zealand. I lived in Japan and Brazil for a long time, but now I am back home in Auckland. I am the founder of Poligo. I like to play guitar and video games and surf when I get the chance. I have a wife and two boys.
    Experience
    I specialize in teaching English to professionals and English teachers. I have taught English since 2001 in Japan, New Zealand and Brazil. I speak Japanese & Portuguese. I am the founder of Poligo and The English Farm (an online school for business English).

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