English Warmups - Please translate into English, then scrolll down for suggsted solutions.
Weihnachten ist noch nicht vorbei.
wir haben noch unseren Weihnachtsbaum,
den behalten wir bis Februar.
Bis zum 2. Februar.
Eine Tradition in Österreich.
Ich mag diese Tradition.
Österreichische Weihnachtskuchen.
Eine weitere schöne Tradition.
Es ist wieder Winter.
Schnee und Eis.
Sehr rutschig und gefährlich.
Wir müssen vorsichtig sein.
Sehen wir es positiv:
Bald ist wieder Sommer.
Christmas is not over, We still have our Christmas tree, We keep it until February. February the second. A tradition in Austria. I like this tradition. Austrian Christmas cakes. Another nice tradition. It's winter again. Snow and ice. Very slippery and dangerous. We must be careful. Look on the bright side. It will soon be summer again.
English Warmups - Simply translate into English then scroll down for suggested solutions. Have fun.
Gregor ist drinnen.
Er hält sich warm.
Vor dem Kamin.
Er trinkt heiße Schokolade.
Gregor, wo ist deine Frau?
Sie ist draußen.
Auf der Straße.
Sie räumt den Schnee.
Gregor, warum räumst du nicht den Schnee?
Gleichberechtigung.
Was Männer können, können Frauen besser.
Gregor ist ein sehr netter Mann.
Er denkt immer an andere.
Gregor ist einer von Millionen.
Ein Vorbild für uns alle.
Gregor is inside. Keeping warm. In front of the fire. Drinking hot chocolate. Gregor, where is your wife? She's outside. In the road. Clearing the snow. Gregor, why aren't you clearing the snow? Equality. What men can do, women can do better, Gregor's a very nice man. Always thinking of others. Gregor is one in a million. An example to us all.
Next edition of The Baxters - Wednesday the 14th of January, 2026
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Valentine's Day Champagne, Flowers and Cards!
February the 14th is Valentine's Day. People send flowers, go out for candle-light meals, drink Champaign by the bucket, and are generally nice. A wonderful day. But, the best part of all is the British tradition of Valentine's cards. Great excitement and fun.
Valentine's cards are anonymous. No one knows who they're from. They simply flutter in with the post. And, the fun's in the guessing who sent them. Love should then follow. But, usually it doesn't. Mostly a story of dreams.
And, St. Valentine's cards are romantically arty. Most have pictures of red hearts and roses. And, all of them beg, “Be my Valentine.” Romantically silly. But, the two Valentine's cards I received said exactly the opposite.
On the front of the first card was a horrible picture. Rats, slugs, cockroaches, and snakes. All very revolting. And, when I opened the card, the message was simple and straight to the point. “Just thinking of you,” were the words that were written.
The second card wasn't much different. On the front of the card were the heart lifting sensational words, “If I had 100 pounds for every time I thought of you . . .” I opened the card and read on. Instead of, “I would be the richest woman on earth,” were the shattering words, “I would think of you more often.” “If I had a hundred pounds for every time I thought of you, I would think of you more often.”
This was a long time ago. The only two Valentine's cards I ever received. I sent many, but my love was never returned. So, who was St. Valentine? I did some research. St. Valentine was stoned to death for what he invented. St. Valentine invented marriage! In those days, a very good reason for stoning someone to death. But, why did they make him a saint? An unanswered question.
February the 14th is Valentine's Day. People send flowers. They go out for candle-light dinners. And, that's it for another 12 months.
The story of love is no easy road. It had a hard stony end for poor Valentine.
St. Valentine's Day. Champagne. Flowers and Cards. Secrets. High hopes and deep disappointments.
See you next year. Please, please, be my Valentine!
English Warmups - Simply translate into English, then scroll down for suggested solutions,
Es ist Samstag, der 3. Januar.
Vor Weihnachten ist nach Weihnachten.
Bald ist wieder Weihnachten.
Meine Frau ist gerade nach Hause gekommen.
Vom Markt.
Vom Meisel Markt in Wien.
Wunderbare Düfte.
Seltsame Kuchen.
Ungewöhnliche Früchte.
Ein ganz besonderes Gefühl.
Ehemänner und Ehefrauen.
Die Ehemänner tragen die Einkäufe.
Die Frauen kaufen ein.
Es herrscht leichte Panik.
Last-Minute-Weihnachtseinkäufe.
Nur noch vier Tage.
Das orthodoxe Weihnachtsfest steht vor der Tür.
It's Saturday the 3rd of January. Before Christmas is after Christmas. It will soon be Christmas again. My wife has just come home. From the market. The Meiselmarkt in Vienna. Wonderful smells. Strange cakes. Unusual fruits. A very special feeling. Husbands and wives. The husbands carrying the shopping. The women doing the shopping. There's a feeling of panic. Last minute Christmas shopping. Only 4 more days. Orthodox Christmas is just round the corner.
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The Bartons - Chapter 13
Idioms - To pull out all the stops - To make a great effort to achieve a great result. To give all that you have means to do something with all the energy and talent you have. Second to none means the best. For the life of me means however hard I try. To grin and bear it means to get through a hard situation because there's nothing you can do about it. And, now to our story. A Concert
I say, mum and dad, that was a brilliant concert.
Yes, Dave, The Wiener Philharmonic is wonderful orchestra.
And, the conductor was fantastic. He conducted brilliantly. He gave everything he had.
You're right Jean, He pulled out all the stops. This year's new year's concert was second to none. In fact, it was the best Viennese new year's concert I've ever seen.
What was the conductor's name, Dave?
For the life of me, I can't remeber, dad.
I can remeber his name, Ken. It was Yannick Nézet-Séguin. It's an easy name to remember, Ken. Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a typical Canadian name.
I never knew that, Jean. And, What did you think of the orchestra, Jean?
A great orchestra, Ken. I think the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra must be a professional orchestra. Most of the players seemed to know what they were doing. In fact, some of them were really good.
Really mum! The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the best in the world. And, what do you say to the audience, dad?
A typical Viennese audience, Dave. The Viennese are amongst the nicest people in the world. They're always friendly and never stop smiling. Never a bad word. The Viennese all have a golden smiling heart. It could be the Viennese food. Maybe, you should get yourself a Viennese Fräuline, Dave.
I don't know any Viennese Fräulines, dad.
Well, it's time you did, Dave. We're going to Vienna next year. Christmas and new year. Dave, Jean, you can do the organizing. Money's no problem. The Imperial hotel. I've heard it's very good.
It must be very good, Ken. That's where the Queen stayed.
Well, if it's good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for us.
Oh, and Ken, I'll need one or two new dresses for the trip.
We can buy you a Dirndl when we get to Vienna, Jean.
A good idea, Ken. Then I'll look just like a typical Viennese Oma. How exciting.
And, Dave, some Lederhosen for you.
Of course, dad. And, dad, while we're at it, can we go to the new year's concert, please?
Of course we can. Whilst you're booking the hotel, Dave, you can book three tickets for the New year's concert as well.
Just leave it to me, Dad.
So, Jean, what do say?
I say let's have a nice cup of tea and a nice slice of Christmas cake.
No cherry cake, mum?
Next week, Dave. First we must finish the Christmas cake.
And, what's for lunch, Jean?
Cold turkey, again. Sorry boys.
No problem, mum. We'll just have to grin and bear it. The turkey will soon be gone.
Ken, Jean, and Dave, a happy new year to you all.
Questions
Did the Bartons enjoy the New Year's concert? What does Ken say about the Viennese? Did you see the concert? Why is Jean buying a Dirndl? What did Jean say about the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra? Did Dave agree with her? What did Ken say about the conductor? How did Jean know the conductor was canadian? Is it easy to get tickets for the New Year's concert?
