My Motley Misadvetures with English tests

My performance today could have been better. I made so many mistakes, mainly caused by my being heedless, that I decided to put my studies aside and focus on my homework. Akuc asked me to jot down unknown words, phrasal verbs and idioms while watching some series or comedy and incorporate them into my blog entry. With that in mind, after finishing lunch, I gave Ági a foot massage while watching an episode from one of the best series out there, Elementary, with Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu. 

So here is the list I need to use while writing this entry:  

1. to depredate - to plunder or lay waste to; prey upon; pillage; ravage.
   Synonyms: Attack, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, raid, ravage 
2. stint - a period of time that you spend working somewhere or doing a particular activity.
   synonyms: assignment, duty, job, stretch
3. motley - consisting of many different types of people or things that do not seem to belong together.
   synonyms: mixed, varied
4. to be on your beam ends - to be close to complete failure or destruction.
   synonyms: In dire straits, In a precarious position, In a tight spot, In deep trouble, At the end of your tether, At your wits' end
5. second to none - as good as or better than all others.
6. downright - used as a way of emphasising something negative or unpleasant; (especially of something bad) extremely or very great. 

So, here is my short mnemonic story without using "depredate" as I don't intend to pillage or plunder.

Today, I struggled with a motley collection of English tests as I prepared for my CAE exam. After waking up, I drew up my stint and started to study in time. I thought my plan was second to none, but in the end, it turned out that I was on my beam ends. I shouldn't have taken more than the usual number of tests, three to be precise, and I should have listened to my inner teacher that suggested taking the regular amount of tasks. My inner teacher was downright right, no wonder I finished the day with a mediocre result.

The weather was beautiful today. Lots of sunshine, no clouds in the sky, no rain, and the highest temperature was +22°C. Sort of summerish weather. It was very nice to take Abby for her afternoon walk, wearing nothing but a T-shirt and a waistcoat. We've been longing for this weather for months. However, I've just read on the internet that scientists claim 2023 might be the hottest year ever recorded on Earth due to the El Niño and La Niña phenomena. Not so promising prospects for the summer. But let's see what nature has to say and wait for the summer to show how precise or wrong those forecasts are. Last year was terrible when all those forest fires broke, devastated and scorched the woods in Greece and other parts of Europe.