
AE 1220 - The Goss
135 Year-Old Message in a Bottle
Learn Australian English by listening to this episode of The Goss!
These are conversations with my old man Ian Smissen for you to learn more about Australian culture, news, and current affairs.

In today's episode...
Welcome back, language learners! In today’s episode on the Goss, with my dad Ian Smissen, we dive into an extraordinary discovery that took place in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Picture this: a 135-year-old message in a bottle!
A curious woman stumbled upon this ancient message right in her own home. Can you imagine the excitement? The note was penned by two local workers way back in 1877. It’s like stepping into a time machine!
So what did this remarkable message say, you ask? Well, it wasn’t your ordinary shopping list or weather report. No, no. This message had a touch of existentialism to it. The writers simply contemplated the fleeting nature of time and the inevitable dust that would cover their once-bustling lives. But isn’t it amazing how such deep thoughts can stand the test of time.
Inspired by this mysterious message, we start pondering. If we were to create our own time capsule for future generations, what would we write? What message would we leave behind? The possibilities are endless! We might share our hopes, dreams, or even a piece of advice to those yet to come. Or you can simply say, “I lived here.”
What would you leave as a message for people in the future? Let us know in the comments!
Until then, keep learning, keep exploring, and keep spreading the joy of learning! See you in the next episode! 👋
** Want to wear the kookaburra shirt? **
Get yours here at https://aussieenglish.com.au/shirt
Improve your listening skills today – listen, play, & pause this episode – and start speaking like a native English speaker!
Listen to today's episode!
This is the FREE podcast player. You can fast-forward and rewind easily as well as slow down or speed up the audio to suit your level.
If you’d like to use the Premium Podcast Player as well as get the downloadable transcripts, audio files, and videos for episodes, you can get instant access by joining the Premium Podcast membership here.
Get more out of every episode!

Premium Podcast members get access to...
- All 900+ podcast episodes including member-only episodes
- Member-only episode video lessons
- Downloadable transcript PDFs & audio files for every episode

Recent Episodes:


AE 1325 – How to Retire With $1,000,000 in Australia

AE 1324 – 9 Reasons Australia is SUPER WEIRD to Vietnamese People

AE 1323 – WILL – Spoken Contractions in Australian English

AE 1322 – 11 Weird Australian Culture Shocks From an Argentinian’s Perspective

AE 1321 – AM, ARE, IS – Spoken Contractions in Australian English

AE 1320 – The Goss: What Are Our Hobbies?

AE 1319 – Pete’s 2c: How to Learn English in 2025

AE 1318 – 16 Ways to Say YES in Aussie English

Share

Join my 5-Day FREE English Course!
Complete this 5-day course and learn how to study effectively with podcasts in order to level up your English quickly whilst having fun!


Want to improve a specific area of your English quickly and enjoyably?
Check out my series of Aussie English Courses.
English pronunciation, use of phrasal verbs, spoken English, and listening skills!

Have you got the Aussie English app?
Listen to all your favourite episodes of the Aussie English Podcast on the official AE app.
Download it for FREE below!



Want to improve a specific area of your English quickly and enjoyably?
Check out my series of Aussie English Courses.
English pronunciation, use of phrasal verbs, spoken English, and listening skills!
Leave a comment below & practice your English!

Responses