In the last podcast, I said that I was going on holiday to Germany. Here is the story of our journey.

　　We GOT UP very early, at 3am. We GOT DRESSED and had a quick breakfast. Then we GOT INTO the car. When we left home it was still dark, but as we drove southwards it GOT lighter. We GOT TO Dover a little after 7 o’clock, and GOT the ferry from there to France. Then we drove east and south through Belgium. We stopped at a motorway service station near Brussels, where we GOT some petrol, and something to eat. At a little after 3pm we GOT TO Heimbach, a pretty little village in Germany for our holiday.

　　Now I will tell you the same story again, without using “get” or “got” (except in one place, where I cannot think of a different word to use).

　　We rose very early, at 3am. We dressed ourselves and had a quick breakfast. Then we got into the car. When we left home it was still dark, but as we drove southwards it became lighter. We arrived at Dover a little after 7 o’clock, and took the ferry from there to France. Then we drove east and south through Belgium. We stopped at a motorway service station near Brussels, where we bought some petrol, and something to eat. At a little after 3pm, we arrived at Heimbach, a pretty little village in Germany for our holiday.

　　Both these versions – the one with “get” and the one without “get” – are good English. But the “get” expressions in English are very common – people use them all the time in both spoken and written English. So don’t be afraid of them.