今日のメモ-忘れてた-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・Irena Sendler ― credited with saving some 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazi Holocaust by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto, some of them in baskets ― died on May 12, her family said.
be credited with : ～の功績を持つ
smuggle ～ out of ... : ...を～からこっそり脱出させる

・In recent years, Kaczynski had spearheaded a campaign to put Sendler's name forward as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
put ～ forward as ... : ～を...に推薦する

・A gravestone manufacturer is helping bereaved families remember their loved ones with a touch of technology ― mobile phone QR codes on tombstones that link to photographs and video clips of the deceased.
技術力で

・If a stay-at-home mom could be compensated in dollars rather than personal satisfaction and unconditional love, she'd rake in a nifty sum of nearly $117,000 a year.
unconditional love : 無条件の愛
rake in ～ : ～の報酬を得る
a nifty sum of ～ : 多額の～

・This year, the annual salary for a stay-at-home mom would be $116, 805, while a working mom who also juggles an outside job would get $68,405 for her motherly duties.
juggle an outside job : アルバイトをこなす

・The biggest driver of a mom's theoretical salary is the amount of overtime pay she'd receive for working more than 40 hours a week.
the biggest driver of ～ : ～の最大要因

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

I forgot to write notes from the Mainichi Weekly on yesterday's blog!
I knew my brain hadn't worked well, though now feeling it getting better gradually.
Well, I'm going to put the kotatsu away today if I can finish my work.
Yes, I haven't put the kotatsu away yet, so after taking bath, I have to turn on the air conditioner in my room most of which the kotatsu and the heater are still occupying.
I want somebody like a wife who could kindly take care of my daily life, though I'm also a woman. (^^;

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今日のメモ-リスニングetc-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・The fact that I am now here, the fact I came to be to all intents and purposes at the mercy of Mr and Mrs Taylor's generosity on this night, is attributable to one foolish, infuriatingly simple oversight: namely, I allowed the Ford to run out of petrol.
to all intents (and purposes) : 事実上、つまり、あらゆる点で
at the mercy of : ～のなすがままに、～の言いなりで

・I resolved then to return as far as the gate, and from there, descend the field, walking in as direct a line as possible towards the lights of the villages, regardless of whether or not there was a proper path.
as far as : ～まで
regardless of : ～に関わらず

・By and by I found myself on a paved path going down into the village, and it was while descending this path that I met Mr Taylor, my kind host of this evening.
やがて、まもなく

・I rarely had the time or the desire to read any of these romances cover to cover, but so far as I could tell, their plots were invariably absurd ― indeed, sentimental ― and I would not have wasted one moment on them were it not for these aforementioned benefits.
cover to cover : （本を）最初から最後まで
were it not for : = if it were not for : もし～がなかったら

・'And that, Mr Stevens, is really the long and short of it.'
結局のところ、要点、要旨

・Naturally ― and why should I not admit this? ― I have occasionally wondered to myself how things might have turned out in the long run had I not been so determined over the issue of our evening meetings; that is to say, had I relented on those several occasions over the weeks that followed when Miss Kenton suggested we reinstitute them.
in the long run : 長い目で見れば
had I not been ～ : = if I had not been ～
had I relented ～ : = if I had relented ～

・She became very still, but to her credit she remained composed, reading the letter through at least twice.
to one's credit : ～の偉いところは、～の名誉のために言っておくと、称賛に値して

・'For instance, Miss Kenton, although the crockery is being washed to as high a standard as ever, I have noticed it is being replaced on the kitchen shelves in a manner which, while not obviously dangerous, would nevertheless over time result in more breakages than necessary.'
時間が経てば、そのうち、やがて

・But what is the sense in forever speculating what might have happened had such and such a moment turned out differently?
such and such : これこれの、しかじかの
had such and such a moment turned out ～ : = if such and such a moment had turned out ～

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

Though four days have passed since my taking TOEIC, I'm still not in good shape, feeling pain in my hands and legs, and sleepy all day.
I'm nevertheless trying hard to complete my unfinished work, which should be over in a few days.
When I finish all I have to do, I will sleep as long as I'd like to. (^^)

By the way, having taken TOEIC, I painfully realized my lack of listening skills.
I've watched one of news programs which offer bilingual broadcast service for more than a year, and I began to feel getting used to the newscasters' English enough to roughly understand what they speak.
I suppose, however, I'm not good at understanding everyday conversation.
Hmm..., what should I do to improve my English listening skills?
Some friends of mine say that hearing any of radio English programs is effective way for English learning, but I don't think, to my shame, I can stick to it.  (^^;
If I could improve my English skills only by doing what I'd like to, how wonderfull it would be.

眠い・・・、眠すぎるわ・・・。(/_<。)
“The Remains of the Day”は、仮定法のifを省略して倒置された形の文章が多く、この弛みきった頭で読んでいると、「？」で頭がいっぱいになってしまうこともしばし。
それにしてもKazuo Ishiguroさんの文章は素敵です・・・♪
何が綺麗な英語なのかなんてわかるわけもありませんが、「好き」だとか「愛してる」という言葉は（今のところ）１つも出てきていないのに、深い愛情がひしひしと伝わってきます。
“Never Let Me Go”を読んだ時にも同じ事を思いました。
ただ“The Remains of the Day”の主人公・Stevensさんは、思わず笑ってしまうぐらい几帳面で真面目なのに、鈍感すぎるのがチョットね・・・。~(=^‥^A
ラジオを聞いてウィットに富んだギャグの練習する暇があったら、女心の研究でもしなさい。
ロマンス小説を読む理由が「執事にふさわしい美しい英語を身につけるため」っていうのもどうなの？
らしくって私は好きだけど、こんな人を好きになった女性は大変でしょうね。

さ、もう少しでこの修羅場も一段落つくぞ～♪
頑張りまっす。p(^^)q

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今日のメモ-TOEIC終了～♪-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・The World Health Organization warned that shortages of clean water and warmer, humid weather in Sichuan Province made the region ripe for epidemics.
make ～ ripe for ... : ～が...の温床となる（この場合での訳し方。ripe : 熟した、化膿した、腐った）

・In a society where lip service and family background are emphasized, the success of businessmen and politicians often hinge on two things: what they get from their parents and how well they suck up to their superiors.
hinge on : ～で決める
suck up to : ～におべっかを使う

・Unless government, business, media, and education make a concerted effort to become more liberal in their operations and goals, and unless they enlighten the public about Japan's place in the world, the Japanese people will never come into their own as a body unified by civic and national duty.
真価を認められる

・You love good old gossip, but the next three weeks is a time when tactless talk could get you into hot water.
～を酷い目に遭わせる

・Capricorns love to be in control, but your daily routine is set to be turned upside down (until June 20).
～をめちゃくちゃにする

・You're pretty much on top of things and can usually keep your head in a crisis.
on top of things : 全て把握して、事情にすっかり通じて
keep one's head in a crisis : ピンチでも落ち着いている

・You have a bad hair day every now and then, but you're only human after all.
ついてない日

・I'm glad you guys hit it off.
馬が合う

・I have an upset stomach.
胃がむかつく

・The Ecuadorian government therefore introduced measures to protect the environment, creating zones that were off limits to tourists and requiring them to travel with a nature guide.
～には立ち入り禁止の

・To "clean up" usually means to physically clean oneself, but it can also mean to make a lot of money or profit.

・If you "clean up your act," it means you improve your behavior or stop doing something illegal.

・To "clean out" something means to empty out or take everything from someone.

・To "come clean" means to admit or confess to doing something wrong.

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

・For instance, I have of late taken to listening to the wireless in my room whenever I find myself with a few spare moments ― on those occasions, say, when Mr Farraday is out for the evening.
of late : 最近
take to : ～に専心する、～をするようになる

・There is no reason to suppose this is not an area in which I will become proficient given time and practice, but, such are the dangers, I have decided it best, for the time being at least, not to attempt to discharge this duty in respect of Mr Farraday until I have practised further.
当分は、今のところ

・All in all, this is an excellent place to partake of morning tea, but surprisingly few of the inhabitants of Taunton seem to wish to avail themselves of it.
all in all : 大体、概して
avail oneself of : ～を利用する（= make use of）（cf. avail : 役に立つ、～の役に立つ）

・As things turned out, that particular visit was simply the first of a whole series of such 'unofficial' meetings between Lord Halifax and the German Ambassador of that time, Herr Ribbentrop.
後でわかったことであるが

・However, as I went about my business, all I could hear for some time was Lord Halifax, in various parts of the building, continuing to express his doubts about the evening ahead, and Lord Darlington trying in vain to reassure him.
虚しく、甲斐なく

・But then again, it seems hardly worthwhile to speculate greatly on such matters now when one knows one will, in all likelihood, be talking face to face with Miss Kenton within forty-eight hours.
多分、十中八九

・And then on another occasion around that time, I remember his instructing me to cease giving donations to a particular local charity which regularly came to the door on the grounds that the management committee was 'more or less homogeneously Jewish'.
～との理由で

・I did, I suppose, hope that she might finally relent a little and make some conciliatory response or other, allowing us once and for all to put the whole episode behind us.
今度だけ、一度だけ、これを最後として、きっぱりと

・'She will be directly under my supervision and I will see to it she proves good.'
～するよう気を配る、きっと～させる

・'If I thought there was one modicum of sense in what you are saying I might bother to engage with you in this discussion.'
a modicum of : （望ましい物、良質な物が）わずかな量（額）の

・'I was at fault, Mr Stevens.'
間違っている、当惑している

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

At last, I finished one of what had tortured me for a long time on last Sunday, but I still have a few things to do in a rush.
So I write this diary in Japanese instead of English. (^^;

日曜日は○年ぶりのTOEICを受けてきました。
（前に受験したのはTOEICの試験がリニューアルされるずーーーっと前です）
朝から微妙な雨が降り続き、「一部、雷を伴う大雨が・・・」という天気予報を信じて相方に車で試験場まで送ってもらい、１時間前には到着。
長～い待ち時間の後、いよいよ試験の開始時刻になりスピーカが鳴り始めると、「あの入念な音チェックは何だったんだ？」と言いたくなるような小さな声がスピーカーからもれ聞こえるばかり・・・
大慌ての試験官達が「テスト問題を閉じてください！」と叫び、しばしの混乱の後、「スピーカーのトラブルにより試験開始を少し遅らせます。少しお待ち下さい」と一言。
さらに待たされた後、「トラブルの原因がわかりませんので、前の席の方はこの“大型”ラジカセで試験を行います！後ろの席の方は予備室にお移りいただきます！」と叫び、「さぁ、どうだ！」と言わんばかりの勢いで教壇の上に置かれた“大型”ラジカセ君は、どこからどう見てもごく普通のラジカセ君・・・。
（むしろ、その“やや”大きめのサイズに「古さ」を感じてしまったのは私だけはあるまい）

その後、予備室に移動する人達の問題と解答用紙が一旦回収され、諸々の準備の間にトイレ休憩も与えられ、さらに「予備室の準備ができないので、全員この教室で受験していただきます！」の一言で、集められた問題と解答用紙が返却され、その間、文句を言うこともできずにジッと耐えて待つ私達。
それからもう何度も繰り返した音チェックを繰り返すのですが、自称“大型”ラジカセ君のスピーカーが悲鳴をあげているんじゃないかと思うような音量で、真ん中あたりに座っていた私でも音が割れて聞こえたのに、後ろの方から「聞こえません！」と抗議をする勇敢な女子一人。
・・・耳、悪いんじゃないの？
失礼ですが、本当にそう思ってしまいました。~(=^‥^A
（決してそれほど大きな教室ではなかったので）
ラジカセの音量が既に限界に達していたのか、試験官もこれ以上音量を上げると、今度は前の席から苦情が出ると思ったのかはわかりませんが、「聞こえにくい」と訴える人を前の席に移動させて無事解決。
結局、試験開始まで40分も待たされました。 orz

でも何が苛ついたって、試験が終わった後、試験官全員前に並んで、「本日は私どもの不手際で皆様の大事なお時間を・・・」という趣旨の大変ご丁寧なお詫びを始めたことかもしれない。
なんのお詫びがないのもムッとするけど、それは責任者が言えばいいことじゃないの？
全員整列してまで言わなきゃダメ？
長々とお詫びを述べた後で、「問題と解答用紙の回収が終わるまで、席をお立ちにならないよう・・・」って、だったらさっさと回収してよ～！

・・・疲れた。
帰りも相方が迎えにきているはずだったんですが、当然、待合い場所にいるわけもなく・・・
一応、連絡はしてみるものの、散々待たされた挙げ句に、また相方の登場を待つ気にもなれず、トボトボと駅に向かって歩き始める私・・・
ホントに疲れた！
試験云々ではなく、とにかく精神的にも肉体的にも疲れた！！

ちなみに試験はどうだったかというと、ヒアリングは思ってた以上によく聞き取れませんでしたが、それがスピーカーの音割れのせいなのか、私の低すぎる英語レベルのせいなのかは不明。
音割れのせいだと思っていれば、個人的には幸せです。(^^;
あのトラブルの唯一の救いは、ヒアリングの成績の悪さを責任転嫁できる口実ができたことですね。(^^;(^^;
リーディングは初めて時間内に問題をやり終えることができたので満足です。
もちろん、正解しているかどうかは別問題・・・　(^^;(^^;(^^;

※その後、TOEICから謝罪の手紙と、１年間有効の無料受験申込用紙が送られてきました。
え～・・・、もう一度受けるのかと思うと果てしなく脱力してしまいますが、予想以上に丁寧な対応、ありがとうございました。m(__)m
悪口を書いてしまったので、一応フォローしてるつもり。~(=^‥^A

長くなりましたが、最後に今日のお気に入りの台詞を毎日ウィークリーから・・・

・It's no big deal in comparison to what's going on in the world.
世の中で起きてることと比べたら大したことじゃないわよ

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

はい、仰るとおり。こんなちっぽけな事でカリカリしてちゃダメよね～♪　=＾-＾=

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今日のメモ-ショック！-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・So she has set her sights on winning new fans abroad, starting with Japan.
～を目指す

・"I fell in love with Japan the first time I came here ― absolutely fell in love with it. I would live here in a heartbeat," she says.  "I think I must have been Japanese in another lifetime."
in a heartbeat : すぐに
in another lifetime : 前世で

・Hu and Fukuda, hoping to underscore the positive during his five-day stay, were to use ping-pong and pandas to take the edge off more contentious problems.
和らげる

・A spate of suicide by people mixing chemicals to create deadly hydrogen sulfide gas has occurred across Japan, while family members and residents have also fallen victim by inadvertently inhaling the gas.
相次ぐ

・Inhaling by hydrogen sulfide several times at a concentration of between 800 and 1,000 parts per million causes instant death.
百万分の（=ppm）

・Former world's No. 4 Date Kimiko was beaten in the final of the Kangaroo Cup International Ladies Open on May 4, taking some of the shine off her surprise return to professional tennis.
～から輝きを奪う

・Yet as a five-year cancer survivor, Goodrem has become an inspiration to an entire generation of Australians and enthusiastically taken on the role of advocate for a range of causes.
take on the role of ～ : ～の役割を引き受ける
a range of causes : 様々な主義、運動

・"Next time he goes to prison, he's going to stay there until his time is finished."
刑期を完全に終えるまで

・People with safes full of money were glad to hear that Ben Price was at work trying to catch Mr. Valentine.
～の逮捕に乗り出す

・Someone who "wouldn't hurt (or harm) a fly" is gentle and inoffensive.  It is often used in defense of someone.
cf. butter would not melt in one's mouth

・There are many situations where it would be convenient if you could be a "fly on the wall." This means to watch and listen to others without being noticed.

・The spider's web is often used to describe complicated situations where many people are involved.  For example, "After much questioning about the politician's funds, it was revealed that the tangled web of those involved included the heads of large corporations."

・She worked as a translator for the US government to make ends meet.
収支内でやりくりする、収支を合わせる

・"To tell the truth, a week ago I bought SS Company's shares on margin, and they rose as much as 50 percent, and I sold them off at their peak.  I made a killing on them."  "Good for you.  I bought Happy & Company's shares, but I eventually took a bath on them. I wish I were in your shoes."
on margin : 信用取引で
make a killing (on ～) : （～で）大もうけをする
take a bath (on ～) : （～で）大損をする
I wish I were in your shoes : うらやましい

・He began performing annually: Godspell, West Side Story and Two Gentlemen of Verona to name a few, and always the leading role.
幾つか例を挙げると

・You're buzzing with entrepreneurial spirit and have the "get up and go" to make it happen.
buzz with ～ : ～に溢れる
get up and go : 積極性

・Less than half of eligible people will have placed their X on the voting slip on May, according to estimates.  That is despite Ken Livingstone, the only mayor London has had, running neck and neck with challenger Boris Jphnson.
～と互角に戦う

・Johnson's moniker is down to his hair and combative style of speech.
～による

・First Livingstone was suspended for four weeks because he likened a Jewish reporter on the London Evening Standard to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
liken ～ to ... : ～を...に例える
concentration camp guard : 強制収容所の見張り

・Johnsonis a colourful character, but is best known for putting his foot in it.
失言する、ドジを踏む

・This week is the time to walk your talk as you commit yourself to a relationship.
walk one's talk : 有言実行する
commit oneself to : ～に身をゆだねる、打ち込む、専心する

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

・'I've had people try to put one over on me many times, and let me tell you, gentlemen, few people succeed."
～をだます、かつぐ

・'But it is out of respect for your views, Mr Lewis, that I feel one should not simply cast them to one side as though they were uttered by some soapbox eccentric.'
～に敬意を表して

・'As it happens, sir, a doctor is on his way.'
たまたま、折り合いよく、あいにく

・Such are, of course, precisely the values embodied in the Hayes Society's idea of a 'distinguished household', and the fact that it was confidently making such pronouncements as late as 1929 shows clearly why the demise of that society was inevitable, if not long overdue.  For by that time, such thinking was quite out of step with that of the finest men emerging to the forefront of our profession.
long overdue : ずっと前に始まっている、（支払期限がとっくに過ぎている、待望の）
（cf. although long overdue : 遅きに失したとはいえ）
out of step : 時代遅れで、調和しないで

・This was opened by a man dressed in his shirt sleeves, wearing no tie, but who, upon my asking for the chauffeur of the house, replied cheerfully that I had 'hit the jackpot first time'.
大当たりをとる、大成功する

・'You'll kick yourself for missing it.'
～のために後悔する、～したことで（自分を）責める

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

I was shocked to hear the news that my dearest Southern All Stars announced their indefinite break from their musical activities despite my having expected that in advance.
The shock was more than I expected.
It was like feeling a huge void in my heart.
I think now, however, I'll never make an end of being a fan of them, and I'm going to look forward to their coming back smiling and vigorously waving to us.
Needless to say, it's after the 30th anniversary live supposed to be held in this August at Nissan Studium in Yokohama is over that I look forward to it.
Yes, I love Southern All Stars as much as Keisuke Kuwata.  :)

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今日のメモ-言い訳 part.？-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・However, Mr Lewis's engagingly informal manner, and his statement at dinner that the United States would always stand on the side of justice and didn't mind admitting mistakes had been made at Versailles' seemed to do much to win the confidence of his lordship's 'home team'; as dinner progressed, the conversation had slowly but surely turned from topics such as the merits of Mr Lewis's native Pennsylvania back to the conference ahead, and by the time the gentleman were lighting their cigars, some of the speculations being offered appeared to be as intimate as those exchanged prior to Mr Lewis's arrival.
～に先だって、前に

・Once you've got a man on the canvas, that ought to be the end of it.
ほとんど負けが決まって、ノックダウンされて

・It was odd enough to see that rather feminine room crammed full with so many stern, dark-jacketed gentleman, sometimes sitting three or four abreast upon a sofa; but such was the determination on the part of some persons to maintain the appearance that this was nothing more than a social event that they had actually gone to the length of having journals and newspapers open on their knees.
「such + 名詞 that～」構文の変形（文語的、但し、"～ such that ～" はさらに文語的）
go to the length of ～ing : ～までもする、～するほど極端に走る

・Further assistance was called, a bath-chair arrived in due course, and my father was transported up to his room.
やがて、そのうちに

・However, as fortune would have it, when I put my ear to M.Dupont's door, I happened to hear Mr Lewis's voice, and though I cannot recall precisely the actual words I first heard, it was the tone of his voice that raised my suspicions.
良い巡り合わせで

・On descending, I found the kitchen on the brink of pandemonium, and in general, an extremely tense atmosphere amongst all levels of staff.
～の瀬戸際に、～の寸前で

・Of course, the effect produced by unbroken lines of gentlemen in evening suits, so out-numbering representatives of the fairer sex, was a rather severe one; but then again, in those days, the two large chandeliers that hang over the table still ran on gas ― resulting in a subtle, quite soft light pervading the room ― and did not produce the dazzling brightness they have done ever since their electrification.
女性

・This was a little unfortunate, the topic being one close to his lordship's heart and one he was inclined to explicate at some length.
かなり長く、相当詳しく

・'There has been much', he continued, 'which has implicitly or otherwise criticized ― it is not so strong a word ― criticized the foreign policy of my country.'
（あるいは）そうではないにせよ、ないしはその反対

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

I have so many things to do that I don't think I will be able to update this blog sufficiently, maybe until the end of May.
So tired as I am, I don't feel I can manage everything well enough to satisfy myself, though, I have no choice but to try to do it.
What I have to do for now is probably to read the Mainichi Weekly of this week's issue (a special issue for study in Australia!).

さぁ、何度目の言い訳でしょう？~(=^‥^A
メモぐらいはできるだけ更新していこうと思っていますが、日記自体は、つまり自分で英文を長々（？）と書き込むのはしばらくおあづけです。
再開目標は６月ぐらいですが、これまでも超マイペースだったし、取りたてて宣言するほどでもないような気も・・・。
胃のムカツキとどうしようもない倦怠感だけでも何とかできるといいんですが、投薬量は未だに減らしてもらえません。(T-T)
ま、何事もマイペースでいきますわ。(^m^*)

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今日のメモ-東スポの存在意義-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・These "3R's" (reduce, reuse and recycle) have been incorporated into the "3R Initiative," agreed upon at the G8 Sea Island Summit in June 2004 as a new G8 initiative to promote global sustainability.
～に組み込まれる

・First, the leaders of the two largest G8 counties, the United States and Japan, are seen as lame ducks and therefore lacking the political muscle to push through any major new initiatives on environmental or other issues.
lame duck : 死に体
political muscle : 政治的影響力

・"Make a man of yourself."
一人前の男になる

・If you "get a kick out of" something, it means that you find it funny or entertaining.  It can also mean that you think it's fun.

・When someone says that "get their kicks from" something, it means that they find it thrilling or exciting.  To do something "for kicks" has a similar meaning.

・To have a "leg up" means to have an advantage because someone gives you help or money.

・It is very smart, very funny and very touching; it begins with the pacing of screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we come to love.
screwball comedy : （変わり者が主人公の）軽快なテンポの喜劇映画
portrait of ～ : ～の描写

・But don't let my praise get in the way of sharing how much fun this movie is.
～の妨げになる

・It is so very rare to sit with an audience that leans forward with delight and is in step with every turn and surprise of an uncommonly intelligent screenplay.
in step with ～ : ～に同調して
turn : 展開
uncommonly intelligent screenplay : 非常に気の利いたシナリオ

・Of course, she gets pregnant, and after a trip to an abortion clinic that leaves her cold, she decides to have the child.
～を失望させる

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

・He seated himself at his desk and, as usual, resorted to holding open a book ― this time it was Who's Who ― turning a page to and fro.
前後に、行きつ戻りつ、あちらこちらに

・'The facts of life, Stevens.  Birds, bees.'
cf. the birds and the bees : 性教育での初歩的知識

・'Let me put my cards on the tables, Stevens.'
手の内を見せる、持ち札をテーブルの上に出す

・'Sir David should know that, but he's asked me none the less.'
それにも関わらず

・'Would you mind coming to the point?'
本題に入る、要点に触れる、単刀直入に話す

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

On Monday there was a small event which I think allowed me to get confident in myself somehow, and front-page news of Tokyo Sports I have no idea how I should describe. (^^;
According to the article, it's probable that Southern All Stars, my most favorite band, will suspend their musical activities from next year, and the prospect of their resuming the musical career doesn't look good.
I saw, and I can see even now, a lot of fans' messages representing their anxiety or confusion written in on every kind of BBS, to my surprise, or maybe I should write "naturally," except for the official BBS of the band.
I'm sorry to say this, but I think I know well how to read Tokyo Sports, and I don't care at all which way they choose to go, if they've decided it after deliberation.
If the news should be true, however, I'd like to say "It's disappointing that Tokyo Sports ruined the peculiar existence value of their own, which no other newspaper seems to want, for a piece of big news. I thought it was not "accuracy" but "ideda" that Tokyo Sports had always sought."

月曜日の東スポの一面が『サザンオールスターズ、来年から活動休止』だったようです。
『活動休止』って、今までもしょっちゅう活動休んでましたけど・・・。~(=^‥^A
解散に限りなく近い活動休止ってことなのかしら？
どちらにしろ、東スポの読み方ぐらいは心得ているつもり。

東スポは楽しみむ物であって、情報を得るために読む物じゃありません♪

・・・私の人生でただの一度も東スポを買ったことなどないので、単なる勝手な決めつけです。あしからず。
仮に事実だったとしても、メンバー同士がよく話し合った結果なら、個人的には全く問題なかったりなんかして。
でも万が一、これが東スポの正真正銘のスクープだったとしたら一言いいたい。
『東スポは記事の『正確さ』よりも『アイディア』で勝負してきたんじゃないの？　
たった一つのスクープのために、長年かけて築いてきた他の追随を許さない、というか他も追随したくないと思われる、その独特の存在意義を台無しにするようなことされちゃったらガッカリよん。』

・・・だから、あくまで個人的な意見ですってば。(^m^*)

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今日のメモ-BookCrossing-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・Passions flared brighter than the Olympic torch when it passed through Nagano on April 26 on its long journey around the world in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August.
～が近づく中

・The torch was guarded by a cordon of about 90 security officers and although around 85,000 turned up to watch, access to the relay was strictly controlled and the public could not get close.
～の警戒線

・A star-studded cast was among the bearers including Olympic baseball team manager Hoshino Senichi, table tennis prodigy Fukuhara Ai, comedian Hagimoto Kinichi, dual Olympic gold medalist Kitajima Kosuke and reigning Olympic marathon champion Noguchi Mizuki, who ran the anchor of the relay.
star-studded : 著名人がそろった
prodigy : 天才
reigning champion : 現チャンピオン

・This week will work best if you do something out of character for an Aries ― think before you speak.
柄に合わない

・Singles, remove those rose-colored glasses and do a reality check!
楽観的な

・"You must take after your father." "Yeah, I get that a lot."
「あなたは間違いなくお父さん似ですね（orあなたのやることはあなたのお父さんソックリ）」「うん、よくそう言われるよ」

・Ever glassed on a friend?
～を裏切る

・If you do something naughty, you feel guilty ― it plays on your conscience.
良心につけ込む

・It's the thrill of getting away with something.
～をまんまとやる

・Butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth.
虫も殺さぬ顔をして

・The committee is still in the dark about what actually is happening in that region.
無知、あるいは情報の全くない状態
・They have been keeping the nation in the dark too long about UFOs.
keep ～ in the dark : ～に情報を全く与えずにおく

・The problems you mention are inherent in the system.
～に備わっている、固有の

・「外国人」は "foreign national"、"surely" より "inevitably" の方が客観的

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

　　
・Well, to tell the truth, I hardly go to Salisbury myself, so I couldn't really say what it's like at close quarters.  But I tell you, sir, day in day out we have a view of the steeple from here.
at close quarters : 接近して
day in day out : 明けても暮れても、来る日も来る日も

・It is important to be reminded, moreover, that although Darlington Hall was to witness many more events of equal gravity over the fifteen or so years that followed, that conference of March 1923, was the first of them; one was, one suppose, relatively inexperienced, and inclined to leave little to chance.
何も運任せにしない　（leave ～ to chance : ～を成り行きに任せる）

・For one thing, I suppose I do regard it as the moment in my career when I truly came of age as a butler.
成熟する、十分に発達する、成年になる

・The conference of 1923 was the culmination of long planning on the part of Lord Darlington; indeed, in retrospect, one can see clearly how his lordship had been moving towards this point from three years or so before.
回想すると、振り返ってみると

・"Wretched thing is, this treaty is making a liar out of me."
私をうそつきにする　（make ～ out of ... : ～を...にする）

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

That's all for today.
I wouldn't like to write anything disgusting in this blog.
It's quite absurd for me to waste my precious time and day expected to be good by doing such a completely worthless thing.

I heard about a system called "BookCrossing" on a TV program the other day.
I was going to write about it, but I gave up doing it at least today.
Well, I might do it at a later date, maybe around Tuesday, though, please check the site I added to the bottom of this article, if you can't wait.
It's not a system which eggs people on not to buy books or tries to reduce the benefits of libraries, but one which encourages people to enjoy their reading books more by recycling used books at large.

ブッククロッシング（BookCrossing） ： http://bookcrossing.jp/

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今日のメモ-携帯販売員からオペラ歌手へ-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・I am sorry to say this, but there would appear to have been a number of houses in recent times, some of the highest pedigree, which have tended to take a competitive attitude towards each other and have not been above 'showing off' to guests a butler's mastery of such trivial accomplishments.
be not above doing ～ : ～しかねない、～するのもまんざらでない

・And I would maintain that for all his limited command of English and his limited general knowledge, he not only knew all there was to know about how to run a house, he did in his prime come to acquire that 'dignity in keeping with his position', as the Hayes Society puts it.
for all ～ : ～にも関わらず、（～がほとんどないことを考慮して）
in one's prime : 全盛期に、最盛期に（で、の）

・For when I look back over his career, I can see with hindsight that he must have striven throughout his years somehow to become that butler of his story.
後から考えてみると

・For although I am sure he never had the chance to encounter a tiger beneath the dining table, when I think over all that I know or have heard concerning him, I can think of at least several instances of his displaying in abundance that very quality he so admired in the butler of his story.
豊富に、大量に

・The silence seemed to go on interminably, before either Mr Smith or Mr Jones found it in him to mutter: 'I suppose we were talking a little out of turn there.  It won't happen again.'
軽率に、無分別に、前後の見境もなく、（順序無しに）

・Mr Silvers, however, had remembered the significance the visit would have for my father, and had thus called him in to offer him the option of taking several days' leave for the duration of the General's stay.
～が続く間中

・My father thus replied to the effect that while he was most grateful that his feelings had been taken into account, Mr Silvers could be assured that service would be provided to the usual standards.
take ～ into account : ～を考慮に入れる

・If one considers the difference between my father at such moments and a figure such as Mr Jack Neighbours even with the best of his technical flourishes, I believe one may begin to distinguish what it is that separates a 'great' butler from a merely competent one.
with flourish : 華々しく、仰々しく

・The great butlers are great by virtue of their ability to inhabit their professional role and inhabit it to the utmost; they will not be shaken out by external events, however surprising, alarming or vexing.
～によって、～の力で

・Indeed, on the occasion one is fortunate enough to meet a great butler, far from experiencing any special urge to demand a 'test', one is at a loss to imagine any situation which could ever dislodge a professionalism borne with such authority.
困って、途方に暮れて

・'Beyond that there's nothing much you can say.'
= There's nothing much beyond that you can say.(?)
(cf. I know nothing beyond what I told you. あなたに話したこと意外は何も知らない（辞書より引用））

・Incidentally, I should before now have explained myself as regards my referring to 'Miss Kenton'.
～に関しては、～について言えば

・I will have to point out how different things are now ― that the days of working with a grand staff at one's beck and call will probably never return within our lifetime.
at one's [or someon's] beck and call : 人のいいなりになって、人の手足となって働いて

・Indeed, all in all, I cannot see why the option of her returning to Darlington Hall and seeing out her working years there should not offer a very genuine consolation to a life that has come to be so dominated by a sense of waste.
結局のところ、大体、概して

・Miss Kenton and my father had arrived at the house at more or less the same time ― that is to say, the spring of 1922 ― as a consequence of my losing at one stroke the previous housekeeper and under-butler.
一挙に、（一撃で）

・'If you are referring to him to a third party, then you may wish to call him "Mr Stevens senior" to distinguish him from myself.'
第三者

・'But a hundred things should have indicated to you that my father is a figure of unusual distinction from whom you may learn a wealth of things were you prepared to be more observant.'
a wealth of ～ : たくさんの～
"were you prepared to ～" = "if you were prepared to ～"

・'I am most indebted to you for your advice, Mr Stevens.'
be indebted to ～ for ... : ...は～のおかげです

・This seemed to take the wind out of Miss Kenton's sails somewhat.
先手を打って～を出し抜く、～の出鼻をくじく、～の自信をうち砕く

・A drawback to this plan was the weather ― that is to say, several large puddles and patched of mud were in evidence ― and the fact that one would need to return to the billiard room again at some point to bolt the french windows from the inside.
in evidence : 目立って、ハッキリ見えて、証拠として
at some point : ある時点で、いつか、ある時期に

・'These errors may be trivial in themselves, Mr Stevens, but you must yourself realize their significance.'
それ自体では、本質的に、本来　（= in itself)

・It was invariably embarrassment at what he was about to impart which made Lord Darlington adopt such an approach, and even once the study door was closed behind us, he would often stand by the window and make a show of consulting the encyclopedia throughout our conversation.
～のフリをする、（～を誇示する、～をさらし者にする）

・Whatever may be said about his lordship these days ― and the great majority of it is, as I say, utter nonsense ― I can declare that he was a truly good man at heart, a gentle man through and through, and one I am today proud to have given my best years of service to.
初めから終わりまで、徹頭徹尾、（徹底的に）

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

Do you know the man who is a British tenor who in 2007 became the winner of the UK talent search show called Britain's Got Talent, the TV audition show, making a number of audiences so touched as to be in tears?
I saw Ogura was commenting about him in his Tv program, Tokudane!, the other day.
It's unbelievable all the more for his amazing voice that he had been a mobile phone salesman until he won the audition, and that he couldn't have had confidence in himself because of his past experience of having being bullied!
If you're interested in him, please check this out!  (^^)

どうして読書は全く進んでいないのに、メモばかり増えていくの？

それはさておき、Paul Potts ってご存じですか？
小倉さんがテレビでコメントしていたのを見ましたが、先日、ネット上で彼が話題になるキッカケになったオーディション番組の動画を見つけちゃいました♪
最初の動画がその番組。
スケートの荒川静香さんがオリンピックで金メダルを獲得した際に使われたことで有名な『トゥーランドット（Turandot）』を歌っています。
下の方は上の番組で有名になった後のもので、Sarah Brightman（サラ・ブライトマン）の『Time To Say Goodbye』を。
Sarah Brightman って、『オペラ座の怪人』の初代 Christine で、『オペラ座の怪人』や『キャッツ』の生みの親 Andrew Lloyd Webber の元・妻。
実は、『キャッツ』も『オペラ座の怪人』もDVD持ってます。σ(o^_^o)
Sarah Brightman のCDも・・・♪　(〃⌒ー⌒〃)ゞ
オペラの良さなんてこれっぽっちもわかりませんし、興味もないのですが、そういう知識とか理屈を越えたところで人を感動させることのできる人がいるんですね～。
Paul Potts さんも、実際にこれだけの人を感動させられるんだから、間違いなくその一人のようです。
Absolutely fantastic!!　=＾-＾=

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ポップアップ・カード♪

Any news about Southern All Stars' 30th anniversary event or new single CD haven't come out yet!
All I was able to confirm is that Keisuke Kuwata was recording a song or two, or three(?), according to what he said on his previous radio program.
There is a fact that makes me feel worried about the possibility of no special events to come.
It's that Hiroshi Matsuda and Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, the drummer and the bassist of the band, are still continuing their solo work, though I don't care at all about Takashi Omori, the former guitarist, having announced on his blog and a porno magazine his will to make a comeback as a member of the band.
An announcement of his ambition or dream, whatsoever, for the comeback on a porno magazine without showing sign of remorse...
So absurd that I'd like to tell him in person not to make me laugh, if possible.
Anyway, another fact that Keisuke Kuwata doesn't always put what he said, yes, he certainly said on TV last year they would show their appreciation for the fans, into action makes me more worried.

By the way, though Mother's day is coming soon, have you already decided what you're going to present?
If you'd like to make a pop-up card for your mother and have confidence in your hand dexterity, please check this site out.
When you'd like to learn from the basics, this site may help you.
Needless to say, no sooner did I browse the site than I gave up making such a complicated card. (^^;

前々回の日記にもちょっとだけ書きましたが、ポップアップカード作りにチャレンジしました♪

・・・え～、ネットで作り方を書いたサイトを見つけた時点で断念しましたが・・・。~(=^‥^A
『こんな複雑なもの、私に作れるわけがないだろ！』と、ほとんど逆ギレ状態でしたが、その後、ネットでポップアップカード作りの基本を書いてあるサイトを見てみると、案外簡単かもしれないという気になってきました。
母の日に間に合わせる自信はないので、暇を見つけて練習して、クリスマス頃までにまともなカードを作れるようになる！
なんて妄想に耽ってみる今日この頃。
もし興味があれば、母の日に手作りポップアップカードなんていかがですか？
まずこちらで基本を確認。　http://www15.ocn.ne.jp/~r-piece/try/top/try.html
そしてこちらでステップアップ♪　http://dyn.c-ij.com/japan/greetings/home.page?lang=jp
ちなみに、プレゼント本体はゲランの美容液と口紅にしました。
そしてチャッカリ自分用にも美容液をゲットする私。(^m^*)

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今日のメモ-再び-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・Even now, I would not go so far as to say it is a bad staff plan; after all, it enables a staff of four to cover an unexpected amount of ground. But you will no doubt agree that the very best staff plans are those which give clear margins of error to allow for those days when an employee is ill or for one reason or another below par.
go so far as to say ～ : ～とまで言う
margins of error : 誤ってもよい余裕
below par : 体の調子が悪く、標準以下で

・For it had occurred to me that the proposed trip in the car could be put to good professional use; that is to say, I could drive to the West Country and call on Miss Kenton in passing, thus exploring at first hand the substance of her wish to return to employment hear at Darlington Hall.
put ～ to good use : ～を上手く役立てる
（put ～to ... : ～を...に用いる、適用する）
in passing : 通りがかりに、ついでに（言えば）
at first hand : 直接に、じかに

・Then there was the question of what sorts of costume were appropriate on such a journey, and whether or not it was worth my while to invest in a new set of clothes.
（仕事にかける）時間・労力

・As it was, I believe my judgement proved quite sound on the question of timing; the fact that things turned out as they did is entirely attributable to an error of judgement in another direction altogether.
as it was : しかし実情は、実際は（前出の過程に対応して実情を述べる際に用いる）
sound : 良識のある、賢明な

・Naturally, I felt the temptation to deny immediately and unambiguously such motivations as my employer was imputing to me, but saw in time that to do so would be to rise to Mr Farraday's bait, and the situation would only become increasingly embarrassing.
rise to the bait : （主語が）誘いや挑発にのる

・And of course, in Lord Darlington's days, when ladies and gentlemen would often visit for many days on end, it was possible to develop a good understanding with visiting colleagues.
続けて、断続的に　（直立して）

・Sometimes, naturally, there would be strong disagreements, but more often than not, the atmosphere was dominated by a feeling of mutual respect.
大抵、しばしば

・We were all essentially cut from the same cloth, so to speak.
似たもの同士である

・I looked forward to the visit not only because visitors from Lord Darlington's days are most rare now ― Mr Farraday's circle, naturally, being quite different from his lordship's ― but also because I presumed Mr Graham would accompany Sir James as of old, and I would thus be able to get his opinion on this question of bantering.
昔ながらの

・I would like to have discovered what had become of Mr Graham, for although we had not known each other well, I would say we had got on on those occasions we had met.
what become of ～ : ～はどうなる
get on (with ～） : （～と）うまくやる、仲良くやっていく

・This was due, no doubt, to the fact that though I motored further and further from the house, I continued to find myself in surroundings with which I had at least a passing acquaintance.
cf. have a nodding acquaintance with ～ : 合えば会釈する程度の知り合いである

・And I believe it was then, looking on that view, that I began for the first time to adopt a frame of mind appropriate for the journey before me.  For it was then  that I felt the first healthy flush of anticipation for the many interesting experiences I know these days ahead hold in store for me.
a frame of mind : （一時的な）心の状態、気分、心構え、気の持ちよう
in store : （運命などが）待ち構えて、降りかかろうとして、（蓄えて、用意して）

・The landlady, a woman of around forty or so, appears to regard me as a rather grand visitor on account of Mr Farraday's Ford and the high quality of my suit.
～のため、～により

・Of course, the servants' hall at Darlington Hall, like any servants' hall anywhere, was obliged to receive employees of varying degree of intellect and perception, and I recall many a time having to bite my lip while some employee ― and at times, I regret to say, members of my own staff ― excitedly eulogized the likes of, say, Mr Jack Neighbours.
many a time : （many の後に不定冠詞＋単数名詞を伴って）多くの～、あまたの～
at times : 時々、たまに
the likes of ～ : ～のような人達

・I could have told you this at the height of his reputation, just as I could have predicted his downfall after a few short years in the limelight.
at the height of ～ : ～の絶頂で、～真っ盛り
in the limelight : 世間の注目を浴びて、（スポットライトを浴びて）

・How often have you known it for the butler who is on everyone's lips one day as the greatest of his generation to be proved demonstrably within a few years to have been nothing of the sort?
be on everyone's lipes : 誰もが話題にして、関心を持って
nothing of the sort : 決してそうでない、決してそのようなものではない、少しもそれに似ない

・The object of this sort of servants' hall talk is invariably some butler who has come to the fore quite suddenly through having been appointed by a prominent house, and who has perhaps managed to pull off two or three large occasions with some success.  There will then be all sorts of rumours buzzing through servants' hall up and down the country to the effect that he has been approached by this or that personage or that several of the highest houses are competing for his services with wildly high wages.
to the fore : 前面に、目立つ位置に
pull off : 上手くやり遂げる
to the effect that ～ : ～という趣旨の

・But then, of course, I hasten to add, there are many valets who would never dream of indulging in this sort of folly ― who are, in fact, professionals of the highest discernment.
hasten to add : 念のために付け加える　（hasten to say : 念のために言っておく）

・This, and the fact that the Hayes Society tended to be a rather secretive body, lent it much mystique for a time, ensuring that the pronouncements it occasionally issued on professional matters were received as though hewn on tablets of stone.
for a time : 一時の間、当面、当分
hewn on tablets on stone : cf. not carved [or written] on tablets of stone : 絶対不変[確固たるもの]ではない
（hewn : hew （たたき切る、切って～を作る）の過去分詞）

　　　　　　　　　　from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

How are you enjoying your holidays?
I almost did nothing but chat over something delicious with some friends of mine and take a nap with Ruu the budgerigar, and maybe today, the last day of these holidays, will end up with no special memory.
I must say, however, I like such holidays!
If I have something to write, it may be that I went to department store with my friend and checked all sorts of skin essences to choose a present for this Mother's day.
However, needless to say, I never buy it at the department store, because I always use the Net in buying such things.
I also made a card for Mother's day by using the Net.
I was going to make a pop-up card according to my friend's advice that I could make it by myself if using one of sites which introduce how to make some kinds of pop-up cards.
So we went back to my home and found one of the kind of sites we looked for only to realize it's impossible for me to make something complicated like that.
It was one of the simple cards for Mother's day that I managed to make for my mother.

やたらとメモが長くなっておりますが、読書自体は全く進んでおりません。~(=^‥^A
これ以上メモせずに放置しておくと、とんでもないことになりそうなので、ここで一度メモっとく。
『「Never Let Me Go」よりも若干簡単』と紹介されていたはずなのに、主人公である執事さんの語りになっているからでしょうか、私にとっては恐ろしいほどの量の未知の単語とイディオムに早くもめげそうです。
でも話が主人公の淡々とした＆愛情深い語りによって紡がれていくのは『Never Let Me Go』と同じ♪

かつては栄華を極めただろうDarlington Hallに仕える執事さんが、初めてイギリス紳士ではなくアメリカ出身の主人に仕えることになり、同時にたった４人でDarlington Hallの雑事の全てをやりくりするよう言われ、スケジューリングに四苦八苦するところから始まります。
そして『もし必要なら追加で誰かを雇ってもいい』、『少し休みをとって国内を旅行でもしてきたらどうだ』などの主人からの言葉と、以前Darlington Hallで働いていた女性から、もう一度ここで働きたいという意向を匂わす手紙を受け取り、ほとんど初めてといってもいい国内ドライブ旅行に繰り出します。
・・・私が読んだのはまだその辺ぐらいまで。~(=^‥^A

イギリス紳士にはないアメリカ人特有のからかいの言葉に、それを親愛の情の表現だと受け止めつつ、どう答えていいかわからずに戸惑う執事さんが可愛い♪
例えば、『今朝、雄鶏が鳴くような音をたてていたのは君じゃないよな？』と聞かれ、それがジプシーのたてていた音だと知っている執事さん、ウィットに富んだところを見せようとして、『雄鶏というよりツバメでしょう。放浪性のあるところをみますと・・・』と答えます。
ところが音の正体がジプシーだと知らない主人に "I beg your pardon?" と返されて、用事のあるフリをして部屋からそそくさと出て行ってしまうところなんて、可哀相だけど可愛い。（^m^*)

この連休はいろいろとショックなこともありましたが、めげずにマイペースで頑張るぞ！

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今日のメモ-The Remains of the Day-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・Nomo Hideo's MLB comeback suffers setback.
suffer a setback : 挫折する（↑は記事見出し）

・He has demonstrated with one gesture that he has a strong tendency, given his fluency in Mandarin and his history as a diplomat, toward China and that this may be at a cost to Japan.
対～関係を損なう

・Has Australia set itself a choice between two of its most important neighbors?
自身で選択をする

・The consequences for Australia are unfortunate, to say the very least.
控えめに言っても

・When a woman says she has to "powder her nose," it's a polite way of saying she is going to the lavatory.

・To get a "second wind" is to find renewed energy after a period of feeling tired, often to accomplish something.

・If you "get wind of" something, it means that you hear about a rumor or secret.

・Ancient rainforests grow in sand along the banks of fast-flowing, crystal-clear creeks, with the highest dunes on the island reaching up to 240 meters above sea level.
fast-flowing : 流れの速い
crystal-clear : 透き通ってきれいな

・Fraser Island is so special it has joined the ranks of the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as a World Heritage site.
～の仲間入りをする

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

　　　
・'I'll foot the bill for the gas.'
～の費用を負担する

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

I've started reading The Remains of the Day, a Booker prize-winning novel of Kazuo Ishiguro, an author of Never Let Me Go, while continuing the struggle with the English textbooks I bought long ago.
It's because staring at the textbooks day after day makes me feel bored and sleepy enough to deaden my enthusiasm for learning English.
I wonder, however, if I can balance enjoying the novel with learning English through the textbooks.
As for The Remains of the Day, I bought it along with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix from Amazon at the beginning of March.
It was said on a site which introduces English novels for beginners to be written in a little easier English than Never Let Me Go I love.
Honestly, I still don't know whether it's interesting or not, because I've just finished reading not more than 10 pages of it, where nothing interesting or exciting happens, though, it reminded me of how intriguing his English was.
For instance:

Recalling a time when I had had a staff of seventeen under me, and knowing how not so long ago a staff of twenty-eight had been employed here at Darlington Hall, the idea of devising a staff plan by which the same house would be run on a staff of four seemed, to say the least, daunting.
Although I did my best not to, something of my scepticism must have betrayed itself, for Mr Farraday then added, as though for reassurance, that were it to prove necessary, then an additional member of staff could be hired.

※ "were it to prove necessary" = "if it were to prove necessary"

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

↑の２つ目の文章、"Although I did my best not to, something of my scepticism must have betrayed itself" 部分で一度『？』状態に陥りましたが、"Although I did my best not to betray my scepticism" ってことなんですね。
一瞬、"something～"の部分は "Although～"の文に挿入された付け足しのようなものかと思ってしまいました。
同作者の『Never Let Me Go』が本当に印象的だったのと、あるサイトで『「Never Let Me Go」よりは若干簡単』と紹介されていたので、レベルの高そうな本にチャレンジする前に読書量をこなすのにはもってこいの一冊だと思い買ったのですが、ちょっと英語の本を読まない間にいろんな物が抜け落ちてしまったみたいです。
いえ、抜け落ちるほどの物もなかったのですが、英語に少し慣れたような気がしていた幸せな『勘違い』すらなくしてしまった感じ。
テキストとにらめっこするの、もうやめちゃおうかな～。(/_<。)

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