My first non-German language was French. I've been learning 9 years of French at school and then I was married to a French. So, my French was rather idiomatic. I had only learned 3 years English. But at the university I needed English because I studied physics and English is definitely the language of science and after that in business I needed it very much too. We have sister companies in the US, UK and Singapore with whom I work so I daily have to speak or write English. I also read English books.

I feel that posting here helps me in non-formal language. I sometimes need dictionaries, especially for haikus, but not often. The trick is to say it in a different way if you don't have the word to say what you want.
I am sure that this makes my English less precise than my German would be.

The next thing is about emotions. I have the impression that it is easier to speak about emotions in a foreign language. Because there is always the additional distance provided by the language.

Anyway, nobody here has to write basic English to make sure, Lut and I and all the others understand. We are talking about cats arent't we -and that is our specialty