Chalk and Cheese (1-5)

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1️⃣ BRIGHT AND EARLY

🌞 The phrase “bright and early” means very early in the morning, usually when the sun has just risen, and suggests energy, enthusiasm, and readiness. (bien temprano, first thing = a primera hora)

🚅 We have to leave bright and early if we want to catch the train.

🏃‍♀️ She wakes up bright and early to go jogging every day.

🤝 The meeting starts bright and early at 7 a.m.

🏢 He got to the office bright and early to finish his project.

🛣️ We’ll start our road trip bright and early tomorrow. 

🏖️ If you want a good spot at the beach, you need to get there bright and early.

🌞 Give me one activity you would like to do bright and early.

🌞 Do you think waking up bright and early is better than staying up late? Why?

Helena: Yes, waking up bright and early has a riddle in Spanish kind of....

Who wakes up bright and early will be helped by God..

Graham: A riddle is a question that seems to be nonsense but has a clever answer (acertijo) You might say to someone who is not making sense - stop talking in riddles.

I am not an early riser. Well, I wake up early but it takes me a while to get moving. I certainly don't feel bright.

The early bird catches the worm. 🐦‍⬛🪱


Augusto: I got up bright and early to catch the boat to St. Kilda.

Graham:

Source: You Tube (Ruth Aisling) Key Words: Visitng evacuated Kilda

Augusto: I slept very well last night. I got up bright and early and had a delicious breakfast of porridge. Then I put on my coat and went out to watch the sunrise over the Shetland Islands.

Graham: 

Source: You Tube (Promote Shetland) Key Words: explore Shetland


2️⃣ CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

🌞 Describes something that is inexpensive but enjoyable, practical, or satisfactory.

🌞 It’s often used for restaurants, clothes, furniture, entertainment, or places that don’t cost much but still give a good experience. (barato y bueno/agradable)

🍝  We had a cheap and cheerful dinner at a little Italian restaurant.

🛏️ The hostel was cheap and cheerful, perfect for a short stay.

👗 She bought a cheap and cheerful dress for the party.

⛺ Our weekend trip was cheap and cheerful, but we had so much fun.

🌞 Can you name a cheap and cheerful restaurant in Madrid?

🌞 Do you prefer buying expensive clothes or cheap and cheerful ones? Why?

🌞 When was the last time you had a cheap and cheerful meal?

Helena: I used to like cheap and cheerful clothing when I was thinner, but now I have to put up with other ones🤷🏻‍♂️

Graham: Really? I've always seen S, M, L, XL and XXL at the same price.

This will make you green with envy then ...

My 30-year -old suit still fits me perfectly. I tried it on yesterday (I have got a wedding to go to this weekend). I don't want to splash out on a new one. It may not be a cool look but I don't give a damn.


Augusto: The other day I ate with my sister at a cheap and cheerful Japanese restaurant.

Graham: I know a nice cheapish and cheerful one: Musashi


Augusto: I really like wearing the jacket I bought on Serrano Street, it's cheap and cheerful.

Graham: On Serrano street? I don't buy it 🤥


Juanmi: 🖖🏼

🔮 I had a cheap and cheerful dinner at the restaurant around the corner.

🔮 The Nike new campaign is cheap and cheerful, but it is relevant.

🔮 I like this WhatsApp group — it’s cheap and cheerful, nothing new but useful for check while you are waiting the train.

🔮 The webdesign were cheap and cheerful, and it yet looked amazing and modern.

🔮 Sometimes the best solutions are the cheap and cheerful ones. Give me an opportunity to work in this project.

 Graham: The new Nike campaign cheerful maybe but cheap?

... but useful to check while you are waiting for the train. 

..., and yet it looked amazing.

They gave me an opportunity to work on this project.


3️⃣ DOS AND DON'TS

🌞 Refers to the rules, guidelines, or recommendations about what you should do (dos) and what you shouldn’t do (don’ts) in a particular situation.

🌞 Commonly used in instructions, etiquette, advice, and safety rules. (lo que se debe y no se debe hacer)

🇯🇵 Before visiting Japan, read about the cultural dos and don’ts.

👨‍🏫 The teacher explained the classroom dos and don’ts on the first day.

🤝 Here’s a list of dos and don’ts when preparing for a job interview.

⌨️ We learned the dos and don’ts of using social media safely.

🍎 It’s important to understand the dos and don’ts of healthy eating.

👨‍💼The company handbook has all the workplace dos and don’ts.

🌞 Give one do and one don’t for learning English.

🌞 What are the dos and don’ts when attending a wedding?

🌞 Give some dos and don’ts for a country that you have been to.

José: The first requirente to attend a wedding is that the groom and the bride invite you. Then, you must give presents them, as dos.  You mustn't do, to wear white clothes, neither to get drunk, as don't.

Graham: The first requirement ... the bride and groom invite you. Then the first do is that you must give / get them a present. What you mustn't do is wear white, nor should you get drunk. (give sb sth / give sth to sb)

Well, I always break one of your don'ts. I think you can guess which one. (to break the law/a rule)


José: If you go to UK must take money, money, money, passport and an umbrella, as dos. You mustn't do: Forget the tip, speak  loudly and jump the queue, as don't

Graham: You mustn't forget to tip, ... or jump the queue as don'ts.

I don't think the British are great tippers. Where it is necessary to tip is the USA.


Augusto: I remember when I was doing my military service, I had to be very mindful of many rules and regulations. There were many dos and don'ts, and if you didn't follow them, you could be punished.

Graham: I think a period of military service would have done me good in some ways. On the other hand, I'm not great at following orders


4️⃣ (EVERY) NOW AND AGAIN/THEN

🌞 Sometimes, occasionally, not very often  (🇪🇸 de vez en cuando)

👵🏻 He calls his grandmother every now and again to check on her.

🎭 I like to go the theatre now and again.

⛱️ We all need a break every now and then.

🧺 Every now and again, we go to the park for a picnic.

🌞 What food do you eat every now and again?

🌞 Which TV shows do you watch every now and then?

🌞 Tell me one activity you do now and again for fun.

José: I eat seafood every now and again because it's very expensive.

Graham: I eat seafood just every now and again ... (the just suggests you'd like to eat more)


José: I watch the match of football of Real Madrid on TV every now and again, but I never watch Barcelona.

Graham: You just don't want to be reminded of their superiority.

José: In any case, Barcelona has nothing to do with Real Madrid. There is no comparison between Real Madrid and Barcelona -  it's below to Real Madrid

Graham: no tiene nada que ver con - to have nothing to do with sth = there is no connection.

When the sense is that one things is better than the other = there is no comparison.


José: I like to see a starry night every now and again. It's very fun to see the sky full of stars, with the moon and planets like Saturno.

Graham: It's very fun. 😡

It's a lot of/good/great fun. 😍

I'm with you on this one. I like to look up at the stars and wonder. However, I couldn't care less about discoveries of black holes and the like.

Source: You Tube (TikTokHymn) Key Words Total Eclipse Heart


5️⃣ CHALK AND CHEESE

🌞 When people are said to be like chalk and cheese, it means they are completely different, with no similarities at all. (🇪🇸 como la noche y el día, totalmente distintos)


⛷️ 📖 My brother and I are like chalk and cheese - he loves sports, and I love reading.

👬 The twins may look alike, but their personalities are like chalk and cheese.

👨‍🏫👩‍🏫 The new teacher is like chalk and cheese compared to the old one - much more relaxed and friendly.

🌞 Are you and your best friend like chalk and cheese, or are you similar?

🌞 Why do you think people who are like chalk and cheese sometimes get along well?

🌞 My parents / My children / Me and my colleagues are like chalk and cheese because ______.

Augusto: Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid are like chalk and cheese.

Graham: Are they? I think every football team has something in common - they have their fair share of cheats.

I suppose you are referring to the difference in success between the two.

I find it boring when the same one or two teams win everything.

Comments

Sir Joseph said…
Hi Graham,

There are people who prefer to live at night and other prefer to live during the day, the first are called owls and the second we call larks. The lark wakes up bright and early and the owl late. I prefer wake up bright and early. I´m a lark.

My friend gave me a cheap and cheerful recipe yesterday to cook with my family and it was a success. This recipe consisted of cod with garlic, vinegar and pepper, more or less.

Since forever, the human beings have established dos and don´ts, although they were the most simple, to order to live together. It´s elemental that it must have dos and don´ts to regulate our behaviour, among other reasons, to protect weak and old men like me (LOL). Therefore, I don´t understand to people who ask and enjoy with anarchy.

I go away to walk through the countryside now and again. It´s my favorite sport every now and again. I do it always if I can do. It is not the same walking through the countryside than through the streets of Madrid.

Darkness and light are like chalk and cheese also the darkness man is ignorant quite the opposite from clever man, both are like chalk and cheese.

See you.
Saturday, 21 February, 2026
Graham said…
Good evening José,

I am most definitely not a lark. I am more like a reluctant owl.

I use AI to get lots of cheap and cheerful recipes. I just tell it a few ingredients I have and it comes up with some ideas that would never have occurred to me.

I use AI now and again to help me decipher your comments but sometimes I disagree with it.

There are people who prefer to live at night and others prefer to live during the day. The first are called owls and the second we call larks. The lark wakes up bright and early whereas the owl wakes up late. I prefer to wake up bright and early. I´m a lark.

My friend gave me a cheap and cheerful recipe yesterday to cook for my family and it was a success. This recipe consisted of cod with garlic, vinegar and pepper, more or less.

Since the beginning of time, human beings have established dos and don´ts, although they were very simple, in order to live together. It´s elemental that there must be dos and don´ts to regulate our behaviour, among other reasons, to protect weak and elderly people like me (LOL). Therefore, I don´t understand people who ask for and enjoy anarchy.

I go for a walk in the countryside now and again. It´s my favourite form of exercise. I do it whenever I can / whenever possible. It is not the same walking through the countryside as walking the streets of Madrid.

Darkness and light are like chalk and cheese. What is more, the ignorant man is quite the opposite of a clever man; both are like chalk and cheese.

This is what AI suggests is a more advanced and natural version of your comment:

Some people prefer to stay up late at night, while others would rather live during the day. The former are known as owls, and the latter as larks. Larks wake up bright and early, whereas owls tend to rise late. I personally prefer getting up early—I’m definitely a lark.

Yesterday, a friend shared a simple yet delicious recipe with me to prepare for my family, and it turned out to be a great success. It was a straightforward dish: cod seasoned with garlic, vinegar, and pepper—nothing fancy, but full of flavour.

Since the dawn of humanity, people have established rules—dos and don’ts—to make living together possible. Even the simplest rules play an essential role in maintaining order. It is fundamental to have such guidelines to regulate our behaviour and, among other things, to protect the vulnerable and the elderly—people like me (LOL). For that reason, I struggle to understand those who advocate for and take pleasure in anarchy.

From time to time, I go for walks in the countryside. It’s one of my favourite activities, and I do it whenever I can. Walking in the countryside is quite different from strolling around the busy streets of Madrid.

Darkness and light are like chalk and cheese—complete opposites. In the same way, an ignorant person and a wise one stand in sharp contrast to each other.
Monday, 23 February, 2026
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