A fool's paradise

Meaning
These days, the phrase a fool's paradise describes any situation that somebody thinks is good, without realising that it won't last – or that it's actually bad.

Example sentence
Jack's work is terrible. He's living in a fool's paradise if he thinks he's getting a pay rise.

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Extra vocabulary

star-crossed lovers
very unlucky lovers

a fool
a silly person

fool someone
trick or deceive someone

do right by someone
treat someone well and fairly

come back to earth (with a bump)
to accept reality again after a pleasant experience or a hopeful dream

to have your head in the clouds
to be unaware of what is happening around you in the real world

a wishful thinker
a person who has hopes and plans that are unlikely to happen in reality

living in a dream world
having ideas or hopes which are not practical and are not likely to be successful

a pipe dream
a hope which is impossible to achieve or not realistic

down-to-earth
sensible and realistic

level-headed
someone who has the ability to think clearly and realistically and makes good decisions

to have your feet on the ground
to be sensible, practical and realistic

Answer
Robert Harley is in a very similar situation to Romeo. Robert wants to marry Janet, but Janet's mother thinks that Robert can't be trusted. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo wants to marry Juliet, but Juliet's nurse thinks that Romeo can't be trusted.

But the story of Romeo and Juliet didn't end well - they both died! Let's hope that Robert and Janet have a happier ending.

#IELTS

Source: http://www.ielts-exam.net

Which IELTS Books are the Best?

This is a question that I’m often asked.
The “best” book depends on your individual circumstances and what you are looking for.
Here’s a few suggestions:

Cambridge IELTS 11

Cambridge IELTS 11 provides students with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with IELTS and to practise examination techniques using authentic test material. You can choose an edition containing either four complete tests for Academic or for General Training module. An introduction to these different modules is included in each book, together with an explanation of the scoring system used by Cambridge English Language Assessment. A comprehensive section of answers and tapescripts makes the material ideal for students working partly or entirely on their own.

Cambridge IELTS 10 Student's Book with Answers

Cambridge IELTS 10 provides students with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with IELTS and to practise examination techniques using authentic test material prepared by Cambridge English Language Assessment. It contains four complete tests for Academic module candidates, plus extra Reading and Writing modules for General Training module candidates. An introduction to these different modules is included in each book, together with an explanation of the scoring system used by Cambridge English Language Assessment. A comprehensive section of answers and tapescripts makes the material ideal for students working partly or entirely on their own.

Cambridge Grammar for IELTS Student's Book with Answers and Audio CD

Cambridge Grammar for IELTS provides complete coverage of the grammar needed for the IELTS test, and develops listening skills at the same time. It includes a wide range of IELTS tasks from the Academic and General Training Reading, Writing and Listening modules, and contains helpful grammar explanations and a grammar glossary. A Student's Book 'without answers' is also available.

Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced Band 6.5+ with Answers and Audio CD

The book covers all the vocabulary needed by students aiming for band 6.5 and above in the IELTS tests and provides students with practice of exam tasks from each paper. Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced focuses on moving students to 6.5 and beyond by working on vocabulary-building strategies necessary for success at advanced levels. It includes useful tips on how to approach IELTS exam tasks and covers especially tricky areas such as paraphrase and collocation. It is informed by the Cambridge English Corpus to ensure that the vocabulary is presented in genuine contexts and includes real learner errors. The Audio CD contains the listening and pronunciation exercises from each unit. The material is suitable for self-study or homework tasks, and may also be used in class with the teacher.

It's been a great day for me and I hope it's been the same for you all.
Enjoy the following episode of Jamaica Inn 🍀

That's it for tonight. The old owl is going to read a book and he thinks you'd better do the same.
Sweet dreams

#jokes

Just because nobody complains doesn’t mean all parachutes are perfect. 😜