Friday the 31st of January, 2025

Simply translate into English then scroll down for suggested solutions.  Good Luck!

Gregor hat eine Entscheidung getroffen.  

Ein Familienurlaub.  

Er und seine Frau fahren nach Afrika. 

Ein tolles Ziel. 

Die Westküste von Afrika.   

2 Wochen am Meer.  

Ein Badeurlaub.  

Gregor zieht es vor, am Pool zu bleiben.  

Gregors Frau genießt es, im Meer zu schwimmen.   

Gregor ist sehr glücklich. 

Er wird viel Zeit zum Lesen und Entspannen haben.  

Auch Gregors Frau ist glücklich.  

Ruhe und Frieden.  

Sonnenbaden und Schwimmen. 

Gregor lächelt.  

Es gibt sehr viele Haie im Meer. 

Gregor has made a decision.  A family holiday.  He and his wife are going to Africa. A great destination. The west coast of Africa.   2 weeks by the sea.  A bathing holiday.  Gregor prefers staying by the pool.  Gregor's wife enjoys swimming in the sea.   Gregor is very happy. He will have plenty of time to read and relax.  Gregor's wife is happy as well.  Peace and quiet.  Sunbathing and swimming. Gregor smiles.  There are very many sharks in the sea. 

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 The Farm at Lane's End -  Chapter 31

The Farm at Lane's End is the ongoing story of a typical English farming family.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In chapter 31, Ken, Jean, and Dave are talking about a trip to the coast.

Vocabulary

Used to - Used to is a phrase that tells of something one did, but no more.  I used to go to school in London.  We used to go to Whitby every summer.

High tide  is when the sea is at its highest.

Low tide is when the sea is at its lowest.

To join in - To join in with something means to take part in something.  I joined in with the game.

Words you might like to check -  Day out, excursion, day trip, trip, outing. /  Sea side, coast.

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And, now to our story.  The Farm at Lane's End. Chapter 31.  The Bartons are planning an excursion to the sea side.

Dave starts - Mum and dad, we haven't been to the coast for a very long time.  How about a trip to the sea side?

Farmer Ken thinks Dave's idea is good. -  A good idea, Dave.  Just like old times.  When you were little, we often used to go to the coast.  

Jean joins in -  I remember, we often used to go to Whitby. We really enjoyed it there.  The beach was wonderful.  It streched for miles and miles when the tide was out, and at high tide when the sea was in, the beach was completely covered. High tide and low tide.  I remeber them well.

Ken has something to say - And, when the tide was out, everyone did what they wanted.  Everything from taking long walks to riding their horses.

Jean has something else to say - You're right Ken.  And, when the tide was in, we always used to go to that nice little restaurant at the top of the hill for fish and chips.  I can still taste it when I close my eyes.  The best fish and chips in the world.

Dave has become very enthusiastic - Mum and Dad, we really must go to Whitby again. As dad said, just like old times. Won't it be fun.  And, I'm sure, Claire would love to come, too.

Ken has one more thing to say - And, by the way, we could take the train.  The steam train that runs between Pickering and Whitby. The N.Y.M.R   The North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The Bartons are happy.  Jean puts on the kettle for a nice cup of tea.

Questions - Where are the Bartons going?   Why do the Bartons want to go to Whitby? Please explain "we used to go to Whitby when you were little".   Where did you use to go to school?  What did Jean say about the beach?    How do you understand low tide?  How do you understand high tide?  Where did the Bartons use to go for something to eat?  Which meal did they choose?  What did Ken suggest at the end of the story?  What is speacial about the N.Y.M.R?  How do you understand the phrase, and, by the way? 

 

If you are interested!  The N.Y.M.R  Website, www.nymr.co.uk

Pickering to Whitby

In the north of England is a train that comes in from the coast. It's the NYMR and it runs from Whitby to Pickering. And, its first whistle blew a long time ago!

In 1836, the NYMR's first horse drawn train left Whitby for Pickering. A journey of beauty. There were the rises and falls of the dales, the pastel shades of the moors, rivers on their ways to the sea. villages sitting in hollows, and farms that dotted the horizon. And, all at horse drawn speed. But, 10 years later came change. Steam.

The NYMR was modernized and its one single track became two. And, the NYMR thrived.   For the next 100 years, It provided the villages and towns along its route with all that was needed for life.

But, then came the 1950s. The roads took-over. Lorries and cars were convenient and cheaper. The LYMR slid into decline. And, in 1965, its last whistle blew. The line fell asleep.

But, it didn't stay sleeping for ever! In 1973, the line reopened as a fully working museum. Once again, one could travel through beauty. And all thanks to the army of hard working enthusiasts who gave up their time to achieve this. But, the NYMR isn't only a museum. It has, once again, become an essential part of every day northern English life.

And, just like then, the NYMR is still being driven by the magic of steam.

The line that comes in from the coast is still there - and under full steam - and waiting for you! The North Yorkshire Moor's Railway. The NYMR.

For more details, www.nymr.co.uk

On Whitby Beach

Friday the 24th of January, 2025

In the Stadtpark in Vienna

Simply translate into English then scroll down for suggested solutions.  Good luck and good fun!

Es ist 5 Uhr.  

Es ist Zeit aufzustehen. 

Es ist noch dunkel. 

Um wie viel Uhr gehst du zur Arbeit?  

Du musst dich beeilen.  

Du hast nur zehn Minuten Zeit.  

Du musst dich gut anziehen.  

Vergiss deine Fäustlinge nicht.  

Hast du deinen Schal dabei?  

Es ist sehr kalt draußen.  

Seien Sie vorsichtig. 

Glatteis.   

Es ist sehr rutschig auf dem Boden. 

Das ist sehr gefährlich.  

Wann kommst du nach Hause?  

Ich mache das Essen fertig.  

Dein Lieblingsessen.  

Würstchen mit Kartoffelbrei.

It's 5 o'clock.  It's time to get up.  It's still dark. What time are you going to work?  You must hurry.  You've only ten minutes.  You must wrap up well.  Don't forget your mittens.  Have you got your scarf?  It's very cold outside.  Be careful. Black ice.   It's very slippery underfoot. It's very dangerous.  When are you coming home?  I'll have dinner ready.  Your favourite.  Bangers and mash.

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The Farm at Lane's End -  Chapter 30

The Farm at Lane's End is the ongoing story of a typical English farming family.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In chapter 30, Jean is getting ready to go out.

Vocabulary -

To wrap up means to put on very warm clothes.

Brass monkey weather is a coloquial expression that means extremely cold weather.

Treacherous means conditions that hide hidden dangers.

It's bound to be means something that is certain.

Words you might need to check - mittens, scarf, wooly hat, underfoot.

 And, now to our story.  The Farm at Lane's End.  Chapter 30

Jean is getting ready to go out.  She's going to the chemist's in the village. Ken is giving her some advice.

You'll need to wrap up, Jean.  It's very, very cold outside.  You'll definately need your thick wooly hat to keep your ears covered  and your mittens to keep your hands warm.

Just then, Dave comes in.  He's been  feeding the pigs.

I say, mum and dad, it's freezing outside. I can hardly feel my fingers.  It's brass monkey weather. 

Jean asks Dave about the conditions outside. 

Dave, is it slippery underfoot?  Is it icy?  

It's very, very icy mum.  If I were you, I would wear the warm winter boots that dad gave you for Christmas.  There's black ice everywhere. The last thing we want is you breaking a leg.  We'd have to do the cooking and cleaning ourselves.    That'd be terrible.

I promise to be careful, boys.  I say, has anyone seen my car keys?  I can't find them anywhere.  I can't remember where I put them. 

If I were you, Jean, I'd take the Jeep.  The roads are bound to be treacherous. As Dave said, there's black ice everywhere.

How long will you be gone, mum?

Not very long, Dave.  I'm only going to the chemist's. I'll be back before lunch. 

Drive safely, mum. See you later.

Bye Dave, bye Ken.

Questions - Please describe the weather.  Which month is it?  Is it summer or autumn?  Is it brass kangeroo weather?  Why should Jean wrap up well?  Did Ken advise Jean to wear gloves or mittens?  What did Dave say about the conditions?  Why did Ken suggest that Jean takes the Jeep?  How do you understand the word treacherous?  How do you understand the phrase "it's bound to be"?   Why is black ice treacherous?  Why did Jean go to the village?

Warm-ups 16 January, 2024

 

Ich schaue mir gerne Gartensendungen im Fernsehen an.  

Ich habe einen sehr großen Garten.  

Ich arbeite sehr hart in meinem Garten.  

Gregors Frau freut sich auf die Talkshows im Fernsehen. 

Sie mag österreichische TV sehr gerne. 

Susan sieht sich am liebsten Talkshows im deutschen Fernsehen an. 

Meine Frau findet Kochsendungen sehr interessant.  

Sie holt sich viele gute Ideen aus diesen Sendungen.  

Sie kocht jede Woche etwas Neues.  

Ich lese gerne gute Bücher. 

Am liebsten lese ich Geschichtsbücher.  

Gregors Frau liest gerne Kochbücher.  

Kochbücher haben sehr schöne Bilder. 

Bilder, die hungrig machen.

I enjoy watching gardening shows on TV.  I have a very big garden.  I work very hard in my garden.  Gregor's wife looks forward to chat shows on television. She likes Austrian TV very much. Susan prefers watching chat shows on German TV. My wife finds cookery shows very interesting.  She gets many good ideas from these shows.  She cooks something new every week.  I enjoy reading good books. History books are my favourite.  Gregor's wife enjoys cookery books.  Cookery books have very nice pictures. Pictures that make one feel hungry.

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The Farm at Lane's End is the ongoing story of a typical English farming family.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In Chapter 29, The Bartons are thinking about where to go on Saturday.

Vocabulary

To start the ball rolling means to start something.

The flicks is an alternative word for cinema - cinema/pictures/flicks/the movies

To recite - When someone recites a poem or other piece of writing,  they say it aloud after having learned it by heart

The Vicarage - The vicarage is the house where the vicar and his family live.

And, now to our story.  The Farm at Lane's End - Chapter 29

Ken starts the ball rolling.  I say Jean and Dave.  I fancy going out on Saturday. Any suggestions? 

Jean thinks for a minute.  We could go to the cinema. I haven't seen a good film for years. In fact, the last  time we went to the flicks we saw The Sound of Music.  And, that was many years ago. I really enjoyed the Sound of Music. A true Austrian story. The Austrians love singing.  They sing all the time. Maybe there's a good film on on Saturday.  

Dave is not so happy with his mother's suggestion.  I would rather do something different. How about going bowling?  Claire and I know a good bowling alley in Scunthorpe. Bowling is really great.  

Farmer Ken has other ideas.  I was thinking of something completely different. There's something on at the vicarage on Saturay.  A poetry reading.  Mrs. Duncan, the vicar's wife, is reciting from her new poetry book.  

Jean is curious.  I never knew that Mrs. Barton was a poet. A poetry reading sounds great to me.  What do you say Dave?  

Dave doesn't like this idea at all.  I know, mum and dad, you both go to the poetry reading, Claire and I will go somewhere different. A perfect compromise.

Farmer Ken agrees.  A good idea, Dave.  And, on Sunday, we'll all have lunch together. Everyone agrees. 

Questions - What did Ken want to do on Saturday?  What was Jean's suggestion?  What was the last film they saw at the flicks?  When did Jean and Ken last go to the pictures?  Was The Sound of Music a true story?  Was Dave happy with his mother's suggestion?  What was Dave' suggestion? Where was the bowling alley?  Was Farmer Ken happy with Dave's idea? What did Farmer Ken want to do?  Was Jean curious?   What  compromise did Dave suggest?  Have  you seen the Sound of Music?  

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Words of High Wisdom - by Nigel A. JAMES

This week's words of high wisdom come from Oslo in Norway-

Thursday the 9th of January, 2024

Skating Home for Lunch

Simply translate into English and scroll down for suggested solutions.  Goos Luck!

Gregor isst gerade zu Mittag. 

Seine Frau hat gerade ein sehr gutes Essen gekocht. 

Gregor hat 3 Lieblingsgerichte.  

Brathendel  mit Pommes.  

Gulasch.   

Schafshirn.  

Das Lieblingsgericht von Gregors Frau ist Huhn.  

Brathendel mit Kartoffelsalat.  

Salat zu essen ist sehr wichtig. 

Die Franzosen essen sehr viel Salat.   

Die Franzosen trinken auch sehr viel Wein. 

Österreichischer Wein ist der beste Wein der Welt.  

Vor allem Rotwein aus dem Burgenland und Weißwein von der Brunnerstraße.  

Gregor sagt, wir sind, was wir essen.  

Seine Frau ist ein sehr gutes Beispiel dafür.  

Gregors Frau isst oft Huhn zum Mittagessen. 

Und zum Frühstück ein schönes weich gekochtes Ei.  

Was ist Ihr Lieblingsgericht?

Gregor's having lunch. His wife has just cooked a very nice meal. Gregor has 3 favourite dishes.  Fried chicken and chips, goulasch, and sheeps' brains.  Gregor's wife's favourite meal is chicken.  Roast chicken with potatoe salad.  Eating salad is very important. The French eat very much salad.   The French, too, drink very much wine. Austrian wine is the best wine in the worl.  Especially  red wine from Burgenland and white wine from the Brunnerstrasse.  Gregor says we are what we eat.  His wife is a very good example.  Gregor's wife has often chicken for lunch. And, for breakfast a nice soft  boiled egg.  What's your favourite dish?

 

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The Farm at Lane's End - Chapter 28

The Farm at Lane's End is the story of English country life.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.    For the characters in this story, please click here 

Vocabulary

To come by - to come by something means to obtain or get something.

To inherit - to inherit means to get something from someone after their death.

And now to our story.  The Farm at Lane's End.  Chapter 28

Claire, Dave's girlfriend, has invited the Bartons for Sunday lunch.  Everyone's having a wonderful time.

Jean Barton likes Claire's crockery very much.  "I say, Claire, how did you come by this beautiful crockery?"    "I inherited it from my gran.  The design on the plates is wonderful. I really love yellow spots on blue backgrounds. This dinner service reminds me of sunny days and happiness".  

Farmer Ken is more interested in Claire's cooking.  "A very delicious lemon cake, Clair. Where did you get the recipe?"    "It was my gran's.  She got from a French farmer's wife in France.  And, this lemon cake was also my granfather's favourite cake.  My gran always made him one for his birthday.  Lucky grandfather".

Dave has become interested in Claire's grandfather.    "Claire, how old was your grandfather when he died?"   "Grandfather  was 93 when he passed.  He had a wonderful life."  "What did your grandfather do, Claire?"   "Grandfather was a clocksmith.  He made grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks.  And, all he had was a very small workshop,  And, from his very small workshop, he made very much money."

Farmer Ken is impressed.  "Claire, you come from a very intersting background.  And, you, too, are an interesting person.  Thank you for the wonderful lunch."

Questions

Does Jean like Claire's crockery?

How did Claire come by her dinner service?

Please describe the design on Claire's crockery?

What does Claire's dinner service remind her of?

What was Farmer Ken interested in?

Was Claire's cake an orange cake or a lemon cake?

From whom did Claire's grandmother get the lemon cake recipe?

Was Claire's grandmother's cake Claire's grandfather's favourite cake?

How old was Claire's grandfather when he passed?

What did Claire's grandfather do for a living?

Was Clair's grandfather successful?

Where did Claire's grandfather make his clocks?

Did Claire's grandfather make very much money?

Saturday the 4th of January, 2025

 Sailing in the Stadtpark in Vienna

Simply translate into English then scroll down for suggested solutions.  Good luck!

Es ist an der Zeit, nicht mehr an den Winter zu denken.  

Lasst uns stattdessen an den Sommer denken.  

Wohin sollen wir gehen?  

Lass uns in den Süden gehen, wo es heiß ist.  

Im Süden ist es viel zu heiß.  

Ich würde lieber in den Norden gehen, wo es kühl ist. 

Skandinavien ist genau das Richtige für mich.  

Ich stimme zu, lass uns in den Norden fahren.  

Gregor plant auch ihren Sommer. 

Ein Fünf-Sterne-Hotel und ein schöner Strand.  

Ob das seiner Frau gefällt?  

Alles ist besser als letztes Jahr. 

Wo sind sie hingefahren?  

Sie sind nach Polen gefahren, um auf einem Bauernhof zu arbeiten.  

Sie haben die Kühe gemolken und die Ställe geputzt.  

Sehr schlechtes Essen und überhaupt kein Lohn.  

Warum sind sie gegangen?  

Weil es billig war.  

Nie wieder.

It's time to stop thinking of winter.  Let's think of the summer instead.  Where shall we go?  Let's go to the south where it's hot.  It's far too hot in the south.  I'd prefer going north where it's cool. Scandinavia's right up my street.  I agree, let's go to the north.  Gregor is also planning their summer. A five star hotel and a beautiful beach.  Will his wife like it?  Anything's better than last year. Where did they go?  They went to Poland to work on a farm.  Milking the cows and cleaning the stables.  Very bad food and no pay at all.  Why did they go?  Because it was cheap.  Never again.

 

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A New Year Surprise - Just have fun and enjoy it!

The Little Dustbin Girl from London

Little Hilary Benson lives in a dustbin in London.  And, there are three beautiful trees in her garden. A nut tree, an apple tree and a money tree. And, Hilary Benson's little garden shed is full of apples and nuts. But, sadly no money.

A cheeky little sparrow comes every day and steals all the money. He then takes it to Dublin and buys apples and nuts. And, what does he do with the apples and nuts? He wraps them up in nice paper and sends them to Hilary for Christmas.

What a nice little Sparrow!

Hilary Benson - The Little Dustbin Girl from London

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The Farm at Lane's End wii be back next week