Surprises in the Post Office

UNIT 1. Sound drilling.

At the Railway Station

[ei]

(Mr Grey is waiting at the railway station for a train)

  Mr Grey: Hey! This tram's late! I've been waiting here for ages.

Porter: Which train sir?

Mr Grey: The 8.18 to Baker Street.

Porter: The 8.18? I'm afraid you've made a mistake, sir.

Mr Grey: A mistake? My timetable says: Baker Street train — 8.18.

Porter: Oh no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.

Mr Grey: At 8.08?

Porter: You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It's the first of May today.

Mr Grey: Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?

Porter: It says; Baker Street train — 8.08.

Mr Grey: Hh! So the train isn't late. I'm late.

Mike, Myra and Violet

[ai]

(Myra and Violet are typists in the library)

Myra: (smiling) Hello, Mike!

Mike: Hello, Myra. Hello, Violet. You're looking nice, Violet.

(silence)

Mike: Would you like some ice-cream, Violet?

Violet: No thanks, Mike. I'm busy typing. Talk to me some

other time. I have ninety-nine pages to type by Friday.

Mike: Never mind. Do you like riding, Violet?

Violet: Sometimes.

Mike: Would you like to come riding with we tonight, Violet?

Violet: Not tonight, Mike. I'm going for a drive with Nigel.

Mike: What about Friday?

Violet: I'm going climbing with Miles.

Mike: Hm! Oh, all right. Bye!

Myra: Violet, he's put something behind your typewriter.

Vio1et: Is it something nice, Myra?

Myra: No. It's a spider.

Joyce's Rolls Royce

[oi]

(Joyce takes her Rolls Royce to the garage)

Garage boy: What a terrible noise.

Joyce: Eh?

Garage boy: (raising his voice) What a terrible noise! This is the noisiest Rolls Royce I've ever heard.

Joyce: (pointing) It's out of oil.

Garage boy: Out of oil? And look! The water's boiling. Madam, a Rolls Royce isn't a toy. Perhaps you've spoilt the motor or even destroyed it.

Joyce: How annoying! While you're changing the oil, I'll go and visit my boyfriend, Roy.

A Mouse in the House

[au]

Mrs Brown: (shouting loudly) I've found a mouse!!

Mr Brown: Ow! You're shouting too loudly. Sit down and don't shout.

Mrs Brown: (sitting down) I've found a mouse in the house.

Mr Brown: A brown mouse?

Mrs Brown: Yes. A little round mouse. It's running around in the lounge.

Mr Brown: On the ground?

Mrs Brown: Yes. It's under the couch now.

Mr Brown: Well, get it out,         

Mrs Brown: How?

Mr Brown: Turn the couch upside-down. Get it out somehow. We don't want a mouse in our house. Ours is the cleanest house in the town!

Snow in October

[әu]

(Joe Jones is sleeping, but Joan woke up a few minutes ago.}

Joan: Joe! Joe! Joe! Hello!

Joe: (groans) Oh! What is it Joan?

Joan: Look out of the window.

Joe: No. My eyes are closed, and I'm going to go to sleep again.

Joan: Don't go to sleep, Joe. Look at the snow.

Joe: Snow? But it's only October. I know there's no snow.

Joan: Come over to the window, Joe.

Joe: You're joking, Joan. There's no snow.

Joan: OK. I'll put my coat on and go out and make a snowball and throw it at your nose, Joe Jones!

A Bearded Mountaineer

[iә]

(Mr and Mrs Lear are on holiday in Austria)

Mr Lear: Let's have a beer here, dear,

Mrs Lear: What a good idea! They have very good beer here. We came here last year.

Mr Lear: The atmosphere here is very clear.

Mrs Lear: And it's windier than last year.

Mr Lear: (speaking to the waiter) Two beers, please.

Mrs Lear: Look, dear! Look at that mountaineer drinking beer.

Mr Lear: His beard is in his beer.

Mrs Lear: His beard has nearly disappeared into his beer!

Mr Lear: Sh, dear! He might hear.

Waiter: (bringing the beer) Here you are, sir. Two beers.

Mr Lear: (drinking his beer) Cheers, dear!

Mrs Lear: Cheers! Here's to the bearded moutaineer!

A Pair of Hairbrushes

[eә]

Mary: I've lost two small hairbrushes, Claire. They're a pair.

C 1 a i r e: Have you looked carefully everywhere?

Mary: Yes. They're nowhere here.

Claire: Have you looked upstairs?

Mary: Yes. I've looked everywhere upstairs and downstairs. They aren't anywhere.

Claire; Hh! Are they square, Mary?

Mary; Yes. They're square hairbrushes. Have you seen them anywhere?

Claire: Well, you're wearing one of them in your hair!

Mary: Oh! Then where's the other one?

Claire: It's over there under the chair.

Passports, please

[p]

(Mr and Mrs Tupman are at the airport. They have just got off the plane from Paris)

Оffiсаl: Passports, please!

Mr Tupman: I think I've lost the passports, Poppy.

 Mrs Tupman: How stupid of you, Peter! Didn't you put them in your pocket?

 Mr Tupman: (emptying his pockets) Here's a pen... a pencil... my pipe... a postcard... an envelope... a stamp... a pin...

Mrs Tupman: Oh, stop taking things out of your pockets. Perhaps you put them in the plastic bag.

Mr Tupman: (emptying the plastic bag) Here's a news­paper... an apple... a pear... a plastic cup... a spoon... some paper plates... a piece of pork pie... a pepper pot...

Mrs Tupman: Oh, stop pulling things out of the plastic bag, Peter. These people are getting impatient.

Mr Tupman: Well, help me, Poppy.

Mrs Tupman: We've lost our passports. Perhaps we drop­ped them on the plane.

Official: Then let the other passengers pass, please.

Mr Tupman: Poppy, why don't you help? You aren't being very helpful. Put the things in the plastic bag.

Official: Your name, please?

Mr Tupman: Tupman.

Official: Please go upstairs with this policeman, Mr Tupman.

Happy Birthday

[b]

Bob: Hello, Barbara.

Barbara: Hello, Bob. It's my birthday today.

Bob: Oh, yes. Your birthday! Happy birthday, Barbara!

Barbara: Thanks Bob. Somebody gave me this blouse for my birthday.

Bob: What a beautiful blouse! It's got brown and blue butterfli­es on it.

Barbara: And big black buttons.

Bob: Did Ruby buy it for you?

Barbara: Yes. And my brother gave mea hairbrush and a book about baby birds.

Bob: I didn4 remember your birthday, Barbara, I'm terribly sorry.

Barbara: Well, you can buy me a big bottle of perfume, Bob!

Bob: I've got a better idea. We'll get into a cab and go to a pub, and I'll buy you a bottle of beer!

A Damaged Telephone

[d]

Daisy: Dunstone 238-282.

Donald: Hello, Daisy. This is Donald.

Diasy: Oh hello, darling.

Donald: What did you do yesterday, Daisy? You forgot our date, didn't you?

Diasy: Well, it rained all day, Donald, and I have a bad cold, so I decided to stay at home.

Donald: Did you? I telephoned twenty times and nobody answered.

Diasy: Oh, the telephone was damaged. They repaired it today.

Donald: What did David do yesterday? Did he and Dotty go dancing?

Daisy: No. They stayed at home and played cards with the children.

Donald: And what did you do? Did you play cards too?

Daisy: No. Sidney and I listened to the radio and studied. What did you do yesterday, Donald?

Donald: I've just told you, Daisy, I tried to phone you twenty times!

Guests in August

[g]

Craig: I've just got a telegram from Margaret and Greg.

Carol: Are they coming to England again?

Craig: Yes. At the beginning of August.

Carol: Good. We can all get together again.

Craig: I'm glad they're coming in August. We can take the dog and go for walks together.

Carol: Yes. And we can give a garden party.

Craig: And Margaret can play her guitar in the garden and sing Greek songs again.

Carol: Yes. August is a good time to come to England.

The Cuckoo Clock

[k]

Mrs Cook: Would you like some cream in your coffee, Mrs Clark?

Mrs С1аrк: No thank you. But I'd like a little milk.

Mrs Cook: Would you like some chocolate cakes?

Mrs  Clark: Thank you.

Mrs Cook: Take two. Here's a cake fork, and here's a...

Mrs Clark: Excuse me, Mrs Cook. But what's that next to your bookshelf? Is it a clock?

Mrs Cook: Yes. It's an American cuckoo clock.

Mrs С1ark: Is it plastic?

Mrs Cook: Oh, no, Mrs Clark. It's a very expensive clock. It's an electric clock.

Mrs Clark: Well, it's exactly six o'clock now, and it's very quiet. Doesn't it say 'cuckoo'?

Mrs Сооk: Of course, Mrs Clark. Look!

Clock: Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Mrs Clark: How exciting! What a clever clock!

Clock: Cuckoo!

At an accommodation agency

[n]

Mr Mason: Good morning. I want an apartment in central London.

Manager: Certainly, sir. How much rent did you want to pay?

Mr Mason: No more than $27 a month.

Manager: $27 a month? We don't often have apartments as inexpensive as that. We have one apartment for $29 a month in Northend Avenue. It's down near the station.

Mr Masоn: Is it furnished?

Manager: No. It's unfurnished. The kitchen has no oven. It's forbidden to use the garden. No friends in the apartment after ele­ven in the evening. No noise and no television after 11.15. No...

Mr Mason: No thank you! I want an apartment, not a prison!

Mum's Crumpets

[m]

Jim: Mum, may Tom Mitcham come home with me for tea tomorrow?

Mrs Smith: Of course, Jim. Have I met Tom before?

Jim: You met him in the summer. He's very small and smart.

Mrs Smith: Oh yes. I remember Tom. Does his family come from Cambridge?

J i m: Yes. Oh, Mum! Will you make some home-made crumpets tomorrow?

Mrs Smith: Mm... maybe. If I have time.

Jim: I told Tom about your crumpets, Mum. That's why he's coming for tea tomorrow!

Noisy Neighbours

[ŋ]

Mr Pгing: (angrily) Bang! Bang! Bang! What are the Kings doing at seven o'clock on Sunday morning?

Mrs Pring: Well, Mr King is singing.

Mr Pring: Yes, but what's the banging noise?

MrsPring: (looking out of the window) He's standing on a ladder and banging some nails into the wall with a hammer. Now he's hanging some strong string on the nails.

Mr Pring: And what's Mrs King doing?

Mrs Pring: She's bringing something pink for Mr King to drink. Now she's putting it under the ladder, and... Ohh!

Mr Pring: What's happening?

Mrs Pring: The ladder's falling.

Mr Pring: What's Mr King doing?

Mrs Pring: He's hanging from the string. He's holding the string in his fingers and he's shouting to Mrs King.

Mr Pring: And is she helping him?

Mrs Pring: No. She's running to our house. Now she's ringing our bell.

Mr Pring: I'm not going to answer it. I'm sleeping.

At the Photographer's

[f]

Phillip: I want a photograph of myself and my wife. Photographer: Please fill in this form, sir. Would you prefer a full front photograph or a profile?

Phillip: A full front, don't you think, Phillippa?

Phillippa: Yes. A full front photograph.

Photographer: Please sit on this sofa. Is it comfortable, Mrs Puffin?

Phillippa: Yes. It feels fine.

Photographer: Mr Puffin, please give a friendly laugh.

Phillip: That's difficult. If you say something funny, I can laugh.

Photographer: And, Mrs Puffin, please look soft am beautiful.

Phillip: (laughs)

Phillippa: Is it finished?

Photographer: Yes.

Phillip: Will the photograph be ready for the first of February?

Photographer: Yes. Please phone my office after five day, Mr Puffin.

A Fine View

[v]

Vera: Has your family lived here for very long?

Victor: Five and a half years. We arrived on the first of February.

Vera: What a fine view you have!

Victor: Yes. I love living here.

Vera: Look! You can see the village down in the valley.

Victor: Yes. It's a lovely view.

It's Expensive

[s]

Sam: Let's go to the seaside on Sunday.

Alice: Yes! Let's go sailing and water-skiing. That's exciting.

Sam: It's expensive too. Let's just sit in the sun and go swim­ming instead.

Alice: Let's stay in the Six Star Hotel and spend Sunday there too.

Sam: Be sensible, Alice. It's too expensive. Let's sleep outside instead.

Alice: Yes. Let's sleep on the sand. That's more exciting.

A Walk in the Woods

[w]

Gwen: Did you see Victor on Wednesday, Wendy?

Wendy: Yes. We went for a walk in the woods near the railway.

Gwen: Wasn't it cold on Wednesday?

Wendy: Yes. It was very cold and wet. We wore warm clothes and walked quickly to keep warm,

Gwen: It's lovely and quiet in the woods.

Wendy: Yes. Further away from the railway it was very quiet, and there were wild squirrels everywhere. We counted twenty squirrels.

Gwen: How wonderful! Twenty squirrels! And did you take lunch with you?

Wendy: Yes, About twelve we had veal sandwiches and sweet white wine, and we watched the squirrels, It was a very nice walk.

A Special Washing Machine

[ ]

Mrs Marsh: Does this shop sell washing machines?

Mr Shaw: Yes. This is the newest washing machine, madam.

Mrs Marsh: Is it Swedish?

Mr Shaw: No, madam. It's English.

Mrs Marsh: Please show me how it washes.

Mr Shaw: Shall I give you a demonstration? Here are some sheets and shirts. You put them in the machine. You shut the door. And you push this button.

Mrs Marsh: The machine shouldn't shake like that, should it?

Mr Shaw: Washing machines always shake, madam. Ah! It's finished now.

Mrs Marsh: But the sheets have shrunk, and so have the shirts.

Mr Shaw: Do you wish to buy this machine, madam?

Mrs Marsh: I'm not sure.

At the Butcher's Shop

[t ]

Butcher: Good morning, Mrs Church.

Mrs Church: Good morning, Mr Cheshire. I'd like some chops for the children's lunch.

Butcher: Chump chops or shoulder chops, Mrs Church?

Mrs Church: I'll have four shoulder chops and I want a small chicken.

Butcher: Would you like to choose a chicken, Mrs Church?

Mrs Church: Which one is cheaper?

 Butcher: This one's the cheapest. It's a delicious chicken.

Mrs Church: How much is all that? I haven’t got cash. Can I pay by cheque?

Butcher: Of course, Mrs Church!

George Churchill

[d ]

Jerry: Just outside this village there's a very dangerous bridge.

Jоhn: Yes. Charles told me two jeeps crashed on it in January. What happened?

Jerry: Well George Churchill was the driver of the larger jeep, and he was driving very dangerously. He'd been drinking gin.

John: George Churchill? Do I know George Churchill?

Jerry: Yes. That ginger-haired chap. He's the manager of the travel agency in Chester.

John: Oh, yes. I remember George. He's always telling jokes. Well, was anybody injured?

Jerry: Oh, yes. The other jeep went over the edge of the brid­ge, and two children and another passenger were badly injured.

John: Were both the jeeps damaged?

Jerry: Oh, yes.

John: And what happened to George?

Jerry: George? He's telling jokes in jail now, I suppose.

A Stupid Student

[j]

- Excuse me, did you used to live in York?

- Yes.

- Did you use to be a tutor at the university?

- Yes, for a few years.

- Do you remember Hugh young? He was a music student.

- Hugh Young…Did he use to have a huge yellow jeep?

- Yes. And he used to play beautiful tunes on the tuba.

- Yes, I knew Hugh. He used to be a very stupid student. Do you have any news of Hugh?

- Yes. He’s a millionaire now in New York.

- A millionaire? Plying the tuba?

- Oh no! He produces jam in tubes and tins of sausages and onion stew and sells them in Europe! I read about Hugh in a newspaper yesterday.

- Oh! Well, he wasn’t so stupid! Well, he wasn’t so stupid!

Early for Lunch

[l]

Mr Alien: Hello, Lily. You're looking lovely today.

Waitress: Hello, Mr Alien. You're early for lunch. It's only eleven o'clock.

Mr Alien: When I come later there's usually nothing left.

Waitress: What would you like?

Mr Alien: Leg of lamb, please.

Waitress: And would you like a plate of salad? It's lettuce with black olives.

Mr Alien: Marvellous! I love olives.

Waitress: And would you like a glass of lemonade?

Mr Alien: Yes please, Lily. And a slice of melon and some yellow jelly.

A Horrible Accident

[h]

Helen: Hello, Ellen.

Ellen: Hello, Helen. Have you heard? There's been a horrible accident.

Helen: Oh dear! What's happened?

Ellen: Hilda Higgins' husband has had an accident on his horse.

Helen: How awful! Is he injured?

Ellen: Yes. An ambulance has taken him to hospital.

Helen: How did it happen?

Ellen: He was hit by an express train. It was on the crossing just behind his house.

Helen: How horrible!

Ellen: He's having an important operation in hospital now.

Poor Hilda! She's so unhappy!

Helen: Perhaps he'll be all right.

Ellen: I hope so.

             Gossips

                [θ]

Judith: Edith Smith is only thirty.

Ethe1: Is she? I thought, she was thirty-three.

Judith: Edith's birthday was last Thursday.

Ethel: Was it? I thought it was last month.

Judith: The Smiths' house is worth thirty thousand pounds.

Ethe1: Is it? I thought it was worth three thousand.

Judith: Mr Smith is the author of a book about moths.

Ethe1: Is he? I thought he was a mathematician.

Judith: I'm so thirsty.

Ethel: Are you? I thought you drank something at the Smiths'.

Judith: No, Edith gave me nothing to drink.

Ethe1: Shall I buy you a drink?

Judith: Thank you.

The Hat in the Window

[ð]

Miss Brothers: I want to buy the hat in the window.

Assistant: There are three hats together in the window, madam. Do you want the one with the feathers?

Miss Brothers: No. The other one.

Assistant: The small one for three pounds?

Miss Brothers: No. Not that one either. That one over there. The leather one.

Assistant: Ah! The leather one. Now this is another leather hat, madam. It's better than the one in the window. It's a smoother leather.

Miss Brothers: I'd rather have the one in the window. It goes with my clothes.

Assistant: Certainly, madam. But we don't take anything out of the window until three o'clock on Thursday.

A Proud Parent

[r]

Mrs Randal: Are all the children grown up now, Ruth?

Mrs Reed: Oh yes. Laura is the cleverest one. She’s a librarian in the public library.

Mrs Randal: Very interesting. And what about Rita?

Mrs Reed: She’s a secretary at the railway station.

Mrs Randal: And what about Rosemary? She was always a very pretty child.

Mrs Reed: Rosemary is a waitress in a restaurant in Paris. She’a married to an electrician.

Mrs Randal: And what about Jerry and Roland?

Mrs Reed: Jerry drives a lorry. He drives everywhere in Europe.

Mrs Randal: Really? Which countries does he drive to?

Mrs Reed: France and Austria and Greece and Russia.

Mrs Randal: And does Roland drive a lorry to?

Mrs Reed: Oh, no. Roland is a pilot.

Mrs Randal: Really? Which countries does he fly to?

Mrs Reed: Australia and America.

Additional dialogues

 [r]

-  Good evening! My name is Bridget Rees. I've got a room reserved.

- Oh, Miss Rees. We thought you were coming tomorrow. We've reserved a room for you tomorrow night.

- Tomorrow night? But I wrote to you! And made the arrangements by phone! Then I wrote and confirmed the reservation!

      - Don't worry. I'm sure there's a room free tonight. Yes, room 3 is free. Would you sign a register and I'll ring for the porter. He'll carry your cases in your room.

[i]

              Our visitor this evening is the film director Tom Fitz William. This year he’s winner of the “Silver rings” film prize. His prize winning film “Dinner at the Ritz” is set in India. Tim lived in India till he was sixteen and still visits India frequently. The fifth son of an Irish father and an Indian mother he is an Irish citizen but lives in England.

     [j]

- Can I help you?

- Yes, I'm looking for John Yardley.

 - John Yardley? Sorry, I don't know anyone here called John Yardley.

- That's strange. He is the computer manager. I've arranged an appointment.

- I think you've made a mistake. The computer manager is Jennifer Young.

- Oh, this is the office of "Youth in Computers", isn't it?

- No, this is the General Workers Union. "Youth in Computers" is next door.

 [h]

Miss Hariette Harlow, 4, Handburg House, 28 Harlow

Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, England.

Dear Hariette! I'm having a horrible holiday here. The hotel is huge and high up on a hill. I hurt my heel and had to go to hospital. The weather is hot and I'm hungry. Harry is quite happy however. Next summer I shall stay at home. Harry can go on holiday by himself.                                                    

                                                                                                   Hillary.

 [p]

- Can I help you?

- I hope so. I have a complaint I bought a pullover in your shop. It was a beautiful pullover and very expensive.

- What happened?

- It was a present for a friend abroad. You said you can pack it and post it for me. I was very pleased.

- What's the problem?

- The parcel was damaged in the Post. The paper came off. The pullover was spoilt.

- Hm, dear... I'm sorry if the pullover was spoilt but it happened in the Post. So the Post Office are responsible.

- The Post Office said that the parcel wasn't properly packed. You are responsible.

- We are very experienced in packing parcels. Lots of people send our pullovers as presents. Hundreads of pullovers. I'm sure our parcel was properly packed.

- I'd like to speak to the Department manager, please.

[g]

- I want to improve my English. Is it a good idea to go to a Language School in August?

- I went to an English Summer School a year ago. It was at the Gold School of English.

- Was it good?

-Yes, very good! They were grammar lessons and regular progress tests. And we also played games. That was great!

- What sort of games?

- Guessing games, for example. A simple game is the "bag" game. One group has a big bag, the other group guesses what’s in the bag. It’s a good game at the beginning to get to know each other.

- Did you get to know the other students well?

- Yes, it wasn’t a big group. I've forgotten exactly how many. We got on very well together.

                                                   [l]

Ladies and gentlemen! On your left you will see a lovely castle. This belongs to lord and lady Lovely who lived here with their family. All the land to the left of the road belongs to the Lovelys. They have a famous collection of wild animals including lions, so, please, do not leave the coach until we are safely inside the car park. We are lucky. Lord Lovely is allowing us to leave the grounds and go inside this beautiful stately home. Most people can only look at the castle from outside. The time now is quarter to eleven. Please, return to the coach by quarter past twelve. Don't be late or we'll miss lunch.

Hello and Good-bye

A: Hello Anna. It’s ages since I've seen you. How are you doing?

B: Not so bad. Busy as usual with exams. And you?

A: Oh, still at the same place you know, but enjoying it.

B: Do you see anything of Jane these days?

A: Haven't you heard? She's gone off to live in California.

B: Oh, lucky her! She could do with a bit of Californian sunshine instead of these grey skies.                                                 

A: Yes, so could I. Incidentally she went on her own, without Geoff.

B: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I thought they were very well-suited.

A: Apparently he didn't want to go. Anyway, I must be off. I've got a meeting in ten minutes.

B: Good to see you again, Sarah. Remember me to your Mum.

A: I will. Bye for now.

A Good Holiday

A: What's your idea of a really good holiday?

B: Given a free choice, I'd say somewhere completely off the beaten track, like a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

A: That doesn't sound like my scene at all - far too lonely.

B: Not at all. I'm not particularly keen on crowded places. In fact I find it quite amazing that people want to be sociable on holiday

A: Really? I much prefer having holidays in a town where there's plenty of opportunity to do and see things.

B: I'm happy if I can just gaze at the sea. There's nothing I enjoy more than lazing on the beach with a good book, than having a leisurely lunch before going back to the beach again.

A: That doesn't appeal to me one bit. I'd probably die of boredom.

B: Fortunately we never go on holidays together, so we'll never have to fight about it!

Food

A: Listen to this: «Would you eat what you cat if you knew what the thing you ate had last eaten?»

B: Pardon? What on earth are you talking about?

A: It's this article in the paper talking about what we eat. It says many of the incidents of food poisoning in humans are a result of diseased food fed to animals.

B: Oh, I'm with you now. I agree, it’s horrifying. Soon it won't be safe to eat anything.

A: Right. First it was eggs and chicken, now it's beef. Personally, I'm thinking of becoming a vegetarian.

B: That's no answer. Think of all the chemicals they spray on fruit and veg. I honestly believe we've got to be more radical than that.

A: You mean stop eating altogether.

B: No. What I'm trying to say is that we, the consumers, are going to have to think again about what we want. Mass production of food leads to lower prices, and also all these health scare problems, too.

A: On the other hand, are we willing to pay more for food produced more naturally and in smaller quantities?

B: Exactly In the end, it's a question of money.

A: It seems to me that the government will have to consider more subsidies to keep the price of food down,

B: Quite. Have an apple.

A: No thanks. Not after that discussion!

Tapescript 63b

A = Andy C=Carl

A Hi! Carl? It's Andy.

C Andy!

A Yeah. How are you? Feeling better?

C No! Not a lot. I have to sit down most of the time. It's too tiring walking with a crutch.

A Really? Still using a crutch, eh? So you're not back at work yet?

 C No. And I'm bored to death. I don't go back to the hospital for two more weeks.

A Two more weeks! That's when the plaster comes off, is it?

C I hope so. I can't wait to have two legs again! Anyway, how are you? Still missing all that snow and sun?

A No, I'm fine. The suntan's fading though. Josie's is too. She sends love, by the way.

C Love to her, too. I miss you all. By the way, have you got any holiday photos back yet?

A Yes, yes, I have. I got them back today. They're good. I didn't realize we'd taken so many.

C What about that one you took of that amazing sunset behind the hotel?

A Yes, the sunset. It's a good one. All of us together on Bob and Marcia's balcony, with the mountains and the snow in the background. It's beautiful. Brings back memories, doesn't it?

C Yeah. The memory of me skiing into a tree!

 A Yes, I know. I'm sorry. At least it was towards the end; it could have been the first day. You only came home two days early

C OK, OK. Oh, Andy, have you written to the tour operator yet to complain about that car we hired? They did promise us a bigger one.

A Yes, we have. Yesterday, in fact. Bob wrote it and we all signed it. I don't know if it'll do any good, but it's worth a try

C And Marcia's suitcase, did that turn up?

A Yeah. They found it. It arrived on the next flight. Marcia was delighted.

C I'll bet she was! I suppose it was a good two weeks really, wasn't it?

A Sure. Some ups and downs, but generally I think we all got on well and had a great time. Shall we go again next year?

C I'd like to. All six of us again. Julie wants to, too. She fell in love with Switzerland, but she says she'll only come if I don't break a leg!

A Good! Great! It's a date. Next time, look out for the trees! I'll ring again soon, Carl. Take care!

Sports and Games

- What would you say are the most popular games in England today?

- Well, I suppose football, that is, soccer or rugger, and cricket.

- What are the other outdoor games?

- Oh, there's tennis, hockey, golf, and so on. Tennis is played all the year round on hard courts or grass courts in summer and on hard or covered courts in winter.

- What about horse-racing?

- I should say that is one of the most popular sports in Great Britain. Then there are, of course, walking-races, running, swimming and boxing.

- I've been told that there are no winter sports in England.

 - Well, you see, the English winter isn't very severe as a rule, and we do often have the chance of skiing, skating or tobogganing, but winter is the great time for hunting provided the ground is not too hard.

- Is there any golf to be had near London?

- 0h, yes, any amount. There are dozens of good golf links within an hour or so of London. You ought to join a golf club if you're keen on the game.

- I think I shall if I get the chance. What about indoor games?

- Well, there's chess, billiards, cards, table tennis... By the way do you billiards?

- Well, I do, but of course, I'm not a professional or a champion, just ordinary amateur and not a very good one at that.

Interview

I = Interviewer M = Martin

I So Martin, what sports do you play?

M I play football, volleyball, tennis, and table tennis but volleyball is ray favourite game as it's a team game and you can play it with your friends, and enjoy it as a team.

I Is it quite a fast game as well?

M Yeah. It is a fast game and that's another reason why I enjoy it.

I How exciting...

M Yes.

 I Where do you play, then?

 M I play at local sports centres more during the winter and sort of play in tournaments around England. I also, in the summer, play beach volleyball.

I Is beach volleyball different from the volleyball you play in the centres?

M Yes, it's a very different game. Instead of six players on a team, it's only two players.

I You mentioned you played in tournaments - now do you do quite well in the tournaments?

M Yes, I've played for South West England and we've got through to the semi-finals of different England tournaments, and for Wessex, my other volleyball team, we've actually won a few tournaments. So yes, I have done quite well.

I Oh well done! What sort of equipment do you need?

M Well, first of all you need the ball and the net, and obviously the court... but you may also need knee pads and your volleyball kit.

I OK... knee pads because you fall on your knees a lot?

M Yes... 'cos you... when diving and things like that...

I Diving?

M Diving... yeah.

I It sounds like swimming. That means jumping to catch the ball?

M Yeah, jumping to get a ball up in the air.

I Yes, all right. So how often do you play volleyball then Martin?

M Well during the season, which is about September to June, I play twice a week. One of those is training, and one of those is a match. And during the summer I play beach volleyball, but that’s only once a week.

 

Mrs. Jones went shopping

One day Mrs. Jones went shopping. When her husband came home evening she began to tell him about a beautiful cotton dress,” I saw it in the shoe this morning she said... and... «And you want to buy it, said her husband. “How much does it cost?» «Fifteen pounds». «Fifteen pounds for a cotton dress? That is too much!» But every evening when Mr. Jones came back from work his wife continued to speak only about the dress and at last after a week he said «0h, buy the dress. Here is the money. She was very happy. But the next evening when Mr. Jones came home and asked «Have you got this famous dress?» she said «No». «Why not?» he said.

«Well, it was still in the window of the shop after a week, so I thought nobody else wanted this dress, so I don’t want it either.”

Retelling

Well, this woman called Mrs. Jones who one day went shopping. She went into the shop and saw this dress, cotton dress, I think. When her husband came home in the evening she told him about her visit to the shops that day and said she had seen this cotton dress and said that she was nervous, that she wanted to buy it.

Well, of course, the first question her husband asked was how much did it cost and it cost 15 pounds. Naturally, it shocked him a bit. In fact it was rather expensive amount as far as he was concerned.

But Mrs. Jones thought she could get better of him and every evening when Mr. Jones came home she used to come up to him and pestered to him about the dress, she must have this dress, it was the only thing she was after.

In the very end his patience was wore out completely and he said, he told her to buy the dress, gave her money and send her off.

Well, the next evening when Mr. Jones came in of course the first thing he asked was if she had bought the dress after all the fuss she had been making. He was surprised when she said «No». When he asked her the reason he was even more surprised, the women’s logic, I suppose, because she said: «Well, it has been in the window, it is still in the window. When I went back there it’s been a week since I first saw it. So I thought that nobody else could want this dress. Well, it wasn’t a

very fashionable dress, why should I have it? I didn’t want it either».

May Week at Cambridge

The most interesting and bizarre time of the year to visit Cambridge is during May Week. This is neither in May, nor a week. For some reason, which nobody now remembers, May Week is the name given to the first two weeks in June, the very end of the University year.

The paradox is pleasantly quaint, but also in a way apt. May Week denotes not so much a particular period of time as the general atmosphere of relaxation and unwinding at the end of the year's work. It starts for each undergraduate when he finishes his examinations and it continues until he goes down at the end of the term.

 Everything as far as possible has to happen n the open air parties, picnics on punts, concerts and plays. May Week seems almost like a celebration of the coming of spring  till then ignored in favour of sterner matters like examinations and this spirit of release seems to take over the entire town.

People gravitate towards the river and on to the Banks which are the broad lawns and graceful landscaped  gardens behind those colleges which stand next to the river Queens, King’s, Clare, Trinity Hall, Trinity and St. John’s. The river banks are lined with strollers and spectators and there is a steady procession of punts up and down the Cam, some drifting slowly and lazily, others poled by energetic young men determined to show off their skill.

Meanwhile the colleges are preparing feverishly for the various events in which May Week culminates; the most important of those are the May Balls, for which some girls plot years in advance to get invitation at the May Races.

Rowing plays a very important part in Cambridge life, and no less than 128 crews of eight compete in the “Mays” which are rowed over the period of four days.

Music and drama also have a part to play in the festivities. Nearly every college in the University (and there are over twenty of them) holds a May Week Concert. At Trinity for example, there is a concert of Madrigals, at which the performers and most of the audience sit in punts at dusk beneath the willows. Many of the college present a play in the open air. At Corpus Christy College the setting is the medieval courtyard in which Christopher Marlowe lived over 400 years ago at Queens, a Tudor Court.

At the Art theatre, the Footlights, a famous University club which specializes in revue, puts on its annual show. There is also a concert in King's college Chapel, but it is almost impossible for the casual visitor to get tickets for this.

The climax of May Week and for many undergraduates the final event of their university life, is the spate of college May Balls. When the river is lit up with colored lights and flaming torches, braziers glow in the gardens, marquees are erected in flood lit courts, ballroom orchestras compete for dances with string bands and pop groups and punts glide romantically down the river. And in the silver grey light of dawn couples in evening dress stroll leisurely, perhaps, rather dreamily through the Backs and the narrow deserted streets, until it is time to punt upstream through the meadows to breakfast at Granchester or some other equally attractive sport.

May week at Cambridge

      (Reproduced by Roy Paully)

As you probably know the universities of Oxford and Cambridge are the two oldest universities in England and because of that, because of their age they have many traditions which toforeigners might appear to be very strange

One of these traditions is May Week in Cambridge. This is particularly strange as it doesn't happen in May and is not in fact a week. It stretches over two weeks, the 7^th and 8^th weeks o the term. There is no real reason for calling it May eek and perhaps it is heralding the coming of May which is till then being ignored in favour of more serious matters examinations. There're many different activities which go on during May Week for the most part there are many play put on by individual college societies. Very often taking place outdoors in College gardens. There are also rowing races with crews of eight competing in bumping races. What I mean bumping races is when the aim is to bump back of the boat in front of you on the Cam river.

Personally I come from Oxford University, so I know far more about Oxford. At Oxford we don't have a May Week We work until the end of the eighth week when examinations finish and it is not till then that we have our equivalent of May Week when similar things take place.         

Filming History Where it Happened

On a couple of days last August visitors to Bath could be forgiven for feeling that they had suddenly been transported back to the days of George the III at the beginning of the 19th century. Outside the elegant Pump Room horsedrawn carnages jostled with sedan chairs, while on the pavement, among the dozens of people strolling about in period costumes, an old gentleman was being pushed along in a Bath chair

Interested spectators who paused to watch what was happening were treated to a preview of a scene from a new film «A Bequest to the Nation». This film - the fourth historical movie in eight years to be produced in Britain by Hal Wallis, doyen of Hollywood's independent producers-is based on Sir Terence Rattigan's play of the same name and deals with the last few months in the lives of admiral Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, giving a realistic, rather than romanticised, view of their lives and times.

It was Wallis's first visit to Bath, which he described as «a beautiful city, a real architectural treasure», and he spent two days there filming.

Hal Wallis, who could be said to have triggered off the current interest in historical drama when he came to Britain eight years ago to make Becket with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, likes whenever possible to film history where it actually happened. «Today people won't accept sets for historical production built on a studio backlog and I wouldn't want to film them that way. When you have the actual places available as locations, as you have here in Britain, then it's foolish not to take advantage of the opportunity», he said.               

This was the reasoning behind Wallis’s decision to come to Britain first to make Becket, then «Anne of the Thousand Days»; «Mary, Queen of Scots» and now «A Bequest to the nation» - four films spanning 700 years of British history from the 12th to the early 19th centuries

Once such authentic setting was Hover Castle, Kent, once the home of Anne Boleyn's family. This was where Henry VIII courted Anne and here Wallis made «Anne of the Thousand Days». The courtyard today is almost completely unchanged from what it was in Anne Boleyn's days. Photostats of love letters which passed between Henry and Anne during their courtship were also used in the film.

Sometimes when the actual places where the historical events took place either no longer exist or prove to be unsuitable for filming, Wallis and his team try to find alternative locations which have some association with the character or are of the same period. Wallis who has made more than 400 movies during his long and distinguished career: particularly likes making historical films. «I find history fascinating» he said. «And the real life drama of great historical figures makes excellent material for screening drama. Not only do I enjoy making these films but judging by their success at the box-office, lots of people enjoy going to see them».

Women in Films

In the last twenty years, much energy and ink have been spent arguing about, the role and place of women, and films have reflected the changes in attitudes.

In the early days of the cinema, until World War II and much before women's lib, the situation was quite clear. Most of the great stars were women: Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich. They were beautiful superwomen whom men dreamt about and women tried to copy. People went to the cinema to escape from day-to­day life, not to see reality. Men dominated the film industry, but women dominated films - rather ballerinas steal the show in many ballets. When men are only there to lift them up, women in film had interesting complex personalities and audience came to see them.

There were exceptions: westerns - traditionally male-dominated.

The other exception was romantic comedies where actresses like Catherine Hepburn, Carole Lombard and Claudette Coldert were given Spencer Tracy, Сагу Grant and Clark Gable for partners. In these comedies men and women were smart, witty and attractive, equal but different and brought out the best in each other. All was well.

     The picture changed after the war. People became more interested in psychology and realism in films - not, however, in women's psychology unless they were helpless and pitifully neurotic. There was a great many war films, as male-dominated as westerns. The leading ladies of the romantic comedies changed, but the men stayed the same.

In the 30s, Cary Grant played opposite Katherine Hepburn, in the 40s Ingrid Bergman, in the 50s Grace Kelly and in the 60s (when Katherine Hepburn was playing mothers, if not grandmothers of adult children) Sophia Loren. In films, as in real life, nobody objected to an older man falling in love with a girl half his age, but the opposite is unthinkable. If Gary Cooper at fifty had acted with an actress of the same age she would have been playing his mother. In the 50s women in films could be one thing at a time: a gorgeous sex object (Marilyn Monroe) or a well-groomed perfect wife (Doris Day) or a frustrated spinster, or a sweet young girl waiting to meet the right man.

In the late 60s and early 70s a lot of very successful Hollywood and British films had no women in them except as props or in the distant background. Popular films in the 60s were a man's world.

Fortunately, the times have changed a little. Society is getting used to the idea of women's lib and the status of women is slowly improving: "The film industry has recognized this and something strange is happening: it is now fashionable to make films about women. Women as individuals are once more worthy of being filmed. «Julia» is about two women friends, moving played by Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave - who in real life have both let the world know they were liberated a long time ago. «An Unmarried Woman» is about a woman getting a divorce. «Looking for Mr Goodbar» and Woody Allen's «Annie Hall» - which he describes as a nervous romance, a hilarious romantic comedy for the 70s, star Diane Keaton. A few years ago, the same excellent actress was underemployed in «The Godfather» as Al Pascino's subdued and obedient wife. She, and. women in films have come a long way since then. It may just be a new trend but it's a change for the better.

Part of news bulletin

Thirty five vehicles were involved in a multiple collision on the M 1 motorway this morning. The accident occurred about three miles south of the Newport Pagnell service area when an articulated lorry carrying a load of steel bars jack-knifed and overturned. A number of lorry drivers and motorists were unable to pull up in time and ran into the overturned vehicle, causing a major pile-up. Some from the steel bars from the load were flung by the impact across the central reserve into the southbound carriage way which was restricted to single lane working because of repairs and resurfacing, causing several miner accidents. With both carriageways blocked police closed the motorway for a time, and diversion signs were posted at the nearest slip roads. Breakdown vehicles and ambulances had considerable difficulties in reaching the scene of the accident because of fog. This was dense in places and the flashing amber light signals had been switched on for most of the night. So far there are no reports of anybody seriously injured in the accident.

This accident, the fourth involving a multiple pile-up of vehicles in the last month, comes just as the First National Conference on Motorway use is getting under way. At the opening meeting in London last night Sir John Stone the Metropolitan Area Traffic Advisor, cri tic ized the standard of motorway driving in this country. He said that there was evidence that many of the basic disciplines of motorway use had yet to be learned by British drivers. Lane discipline was much worse in this country than in America and habits of drivers when overtaking were particularly bad. One saw far too much dangerous pulling out without an adequate signal having been given and there was a similarly dangerous tendency for drivers to cut in after overtaking. Perhaps the commonest form of misuse, however, was the reluctance of drivers of private cars to move into the inside lane whenever it was possible to do so. Sir John said that far too many were determined to stay in the middle or even the outside lanes regardless of traffic conditions with the result that drivers wishing to overtake became impatient and tried to follow too closely behind the vehicle in front, thus, making accidents more likely. The conference is continuing.                        

Now the Common Market negotiations. Mr. Geoffrey Rippon, the chief negotiator, flew to Brussels last night. It is thought that the object of his journey is to attempt to reduce the disagreement between this country and the European economic Community on what Britain's contribution of the Community budget should be. Britain has put forward the suggestion that a reasonable contribution would be thirteen to fifteen percent built up in a series of equal yearly steps over a period of five years. But the council of Ministers is considering a recommendation that the British share should be twenty one point percent in the first year rising to between twenty and twenty five percent in the fifth year.

There have been signs that some European leaders are reluctant to take the present British offer seriously and it is widely felt in Whitehall that Mr. Rippon’s main task at the moment is to make it clear to the Six that the offer is viewed in this country as reasonable and realistic one.

The Common Market issue was also taken up today by officials of the National Farmer's Union, when they commented on a pamphlet issued by the Conservative Central Office. The pamphlet claims that on balance farmers would be better off if Britain joined the Common Market. The National Farmer's Union, however, points out that while fanners in Europe receive more for some products, such as barley wheat, cattle and sugar, they get less for milk and pigs. In addition, says the Union, the pamphlet fails to mention horticulture, which constitutes an important part of British agriculture, and which is likely to be badly hit in the even of a link-up with the Common Market. The officials said that in their view the pamphlet tended to overemphasize the benefits of joining the EEC and to leave out of account many genuine difficulties.

Tapescript 15

1. Suzanne

I love many sports, but best of all - skiing. I first skied when I was six years old, and lived in Canada, and then for many years, in fact decades, I wasn't able to ski again because I was living in hot places.But since I've been living in England, I've resumed skiing and it's even better than it was. For me now the place to ski is the Alps, and particularly France. I live in England and the winters are gloomy, and there's not much sun, so one of the wonderful things about skiing for me, is the light and the brilliant sunshine that you find high, high up in the mountains. A lot of other people like it, too, and it can be rather crowded, especially around the lifts because you now have mechanical lifts that take you zooming up, flying up the mountains like a God, whereas in Canada I had to walk up if I wanted to ski down.

 The equipment you need... skis, and boots and poles. Many people own their own equipment but I hire mine in the resort. I do have my own clothes though, and clothes are very important because skiing is quite a fashion-conscious sport. Also, it's necessary to have yes that will protect you because the rather can be very severe. You need a ski-suit, hat, goggles to protect your eyes, socks, mittens, and a rucksack is useful to carry round your bits and pieces. Now at this point, I have to confess that I am not the world's greatest skier. I would say I am a respectable skier, I'm a safe skier, but that doesn't stop you wing a wonderful time. Also, there is the social life that is such an important part of ding. You can eat and drink as much as you want because you know you're burning it all off. And then at the end of the day there's the evening food and wine with friends and everybody talking about their excitements during the day. I love it!

2. Dorothy

I’m an elderly lady of eighty-three and I've ways been interested in keep-fit, yoga and anything to keep myself mobile, and er... two years ago, I joined a little club run by the Salvation Army, where about eighteen of us meet together and we go through all our movements with music - it's very enjoyable, needless to say, I am the eldest one there, but m able to do most of the exercises, when I feel OK. When I've got a bad bout of sciatica, I've got to ease up a bit.

How often? I go once a week on a Thursday for..., oh we exercise for about three quarters of an hour, and then we end up with having a ice lunch, which is always very good, and that at the Salvation Army Hall in Branksome.

Who with? Lots of my friends; I have made friends since joining because I was a complete stranger when I went there but now there's a lot of people I can call my friends. And for this keep fit we just wear a leotard with a nice bright yellow top and feel very smart. And across the top it says, 'Branksome is fighting fit'. And am I good at it? Well, I think I am... and the instructress tells me, or tells the others rather, that I am an example to the rest of them.

Tapescript 25

I = Interviewer M ⁼ Megan L = Laura

I What are some of the good things about being a teenager, not an adult?

M Urn... well, you don't have to go out to work, for a start.

L And you don't haw to pay bills. You can go out with your friends, go shopping, go to the cinema.

M But I always have to tell my Mum and Dad where I'm going first.

L So do I. Another thing is we don't have to do the housework and the washing and cleaning, and all that stuff, which is really boring.

M One problem is that you never have enough money. We get some money front our parents, but it's never enough. You aren't allowed to buy what you want.

I What do think it's like being an adult?

L Well, adults have to worry about bills and looking after their family. They can't do what they want when they want.

I They have responsibilities, you mean?

L Yeah. I feel more sorry for my Mum. She's always rushing around and she has to go to work as well. She doesn't have to work on Thursdays and Fridays, but she has loads of different things to do in a day, like shopping, er... cooking, taking me to dancing and swimming.

I So do you think your Dad has the easier life?

L Well. I don't know. He has to work full-time, and he drives over a thousand miles a week, but he doesn't have to do anything in the house. When he gets in at 7.30, everything's been done!

I Urm, tell me about school. What are some of the school rules?

M Huh! We have to wear a stupid school uniform, and we're not allowed to wear white socks, they have to be black. We can't wear make-up, and we aren't allowed to chew gum!

 L And if you break one of the rules, you get a Friday afternoon detention.

Tapescript 26

Bert Atkins talks about his school days

I = Interviewer B = Bert

I When did you start school, Bert?

B Well,... er, I was born in 1919 and I started school when I was five, so that was 1924. It was just a little village school, only 20 of us in all. I don't think it had a name, we just called it «The Little School». And we stayed there till we were ten, and then we moved to 'The Big Boys School' in the next village-I don't think that had a name either, it was always just «The Big Boys School».

I And what can you remember about your first school?

B Well… you know the first thing they taught us, all of us, boys and girls? The very first thing they taught us... was knitting. Itseems strange, doesn't it? But we all had to learn to knit. We couldn't learn to read and write till we'd learnt to knit!

I Why was that? Was there a reason?

B Oh yes, there was a reason all right. You see, we all had to knit our own cloth to clean our slate. We weren't allowed to use paper and pencils, at least not until we were seven years old. They were too expensive, so we had to use chalk and a slate for the first two years. So you see it was a good idea, knitting a cloth. I think that's what I remember most about the Little School.

I And when you were ten you moved to the Big Boys? Did you have to take any exams to go there?

B Oh no, I don't remember any exams. When you were ten you just started walking to the next village to 'The Big Boys'. There was no transport, you see, you had to walk. It was about four miles. I didn't get a bike till I was fourteen, and of course I'd left school by then. You had to leave at fourteen in those days.

I And what about «The Big Boys»? Did you enjoy it?

B Ooh, in the beginning I was terrified. There were so many really big boys, and the teachers were really strict. You had to behave in «The Big Boys»!

I What did you have to do?

B Well, we had to stand behind our desks at the start of every lesson, we weren't allowed to talk at all in class, ever, well... only if the teacher asked a question. The headmaster, Tom Bevan he was called - we called him Bossy Bevan. He was really strict, we were terrified of him, terrified. Once he hit a boy so hard he broke his nose. But he never hit me, no. The worst punishment I got was writing lines after school, and that was for coming late. In the winter, it was, and in all the snow and 1 arrived ten minutes late. Huh…I had to write one hundred times, «I must leave home early. I must not arrive late». One hundred times. But I was never hit, never.

I And did you have to do much homework?

B Homework? No - we never got homework. I don't remember any homework, We didn’t have to do any. The teachers never thought about it. I think they'd bad enough of us after each day. They didn't want more work!

I So were your schooldays the happiest days of your life?

B Ooh no! Never. I don't think I had an education really. The happiest time of my life was when t was in India during the war. It's the only time I've been abroad.

Tapescript 29

1. Sumie

In my country, Japan, usually we invite guests home at the weekend, in the early evening, about seven o'clock. Before they come, we must tidy the front garden and clean the entrance hall. Then we must spray it all with water to show that we welcome guests with cleanliness. Then guests usually bring presents and when they give you the present they say, «I'm sorry this is such a small present», but in fact they have chosen the present very carefully. When the meal is ready the hostess says, «We have nothing special for you today but you are welcome to come this way». You can see that in Japan you should try to be modest and you should not show off too much. If you don't understand our culture you will think this is very strange.

When we have foreign guests we try to serve traditional Japanese meals like sushi, tempura, or sukiyaki but when we have Japanese guests, we serve all kinds of food such as spaghetti, Chinese food, or steaks. When guests leave, the host and hostess see them out of the house and wait until their car turns the corner of the street; they wait until they can't see them any more.

2. Rosa

I come from Spain. At home what we love most is going out to eat in bars and restaurants. There is a big choice and we can go from one bar to another trying different things and having a few drinks, usually wine or beer. But sometimes we also like to invite people to our home.

I usually invite my friends for an informal meal. I cook Spanish omelette, which is made with potatoes, onions and eggs, fried in olive oil. Then we have things like cheese, ham - Spanish ham is very different from English ham. And if you buy the best one called habubu, is something delicious, worth trying. And then things like olives, anchovies, mussels. We drink wine or beer. Some people may bring a bottle of wine or something for pudding. We usually meet late in the evening, about eight thirty or nine. Of course we dress casually; we just want to be relaxed and comfortable, and talk and laugh together.

3. Leslie

I'm from the United States. Sometimes when our family gets together with other families, we have what's called a «pot luck supper», which can take place in the evening or even at lunchtime. This is an informal occasion held perhaps in someone's garden, so people dress casually but nicely. Invitations can be written or made by phone, and each person is asked u bring a dish of food. They're given a choice of starter, main course, salad or vegetable, or dessert. The hostess knows how many of each kind of dish she needs but not exactly what the guests will bring. This is why it's called «pot luck», as it's a lovely surprise, holding a dinner party and not knowing what you're going to feed your guests. As the guests arrive, they put their dish, or pot as it used to be called, on the table and the meal is served buffet-style, and drinks are provided, although some guests might bring a bottle of wine as a present.

I really enjoy this kind of entertaining; it's fun, relaxed way of getting together with friends.

Tapescript 36a

The Geography of the British Isles

The British Isles can be divided into two, not only because of its geography but also because of its climate and agriculture. If you draw a line from about the Bristol Channel to the Wash, then to the south of this line there are mainly low lands and hills, and to the north there are higher lands and mountains. This includes the Welsh Mountains, the Highlands of north-west Scotland, and the Pennines, which is a range of mount