Thursday, 14 May 2026

Thursday the 14th of May, 2026


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

Es ist ein kalter, nasser, regnerischer Samstag im Mai. 

Wir sind gerade vom Markt zurückgekommen. 

Dort waren viele Leute. 

Ich wollte Joghurt kaufen. 

Schafsmilchjoghurt. 

Ich habe mich in die Schlange gestellt.

Dann war ich an der Reihe. 

Pech gehabt. 

Der Standbesitzer hatte gerade die letzten beiden Gläser verkauft. 

An den Mann vor uns. 

Nächste Woche wird es anders sein. 

Ich werde früh aufstehen.  

Ich werde vor dem Frühstück hingehen. 

It's a cold wet rainy May Saturday.  We have just come back from the market.   There were many people there.  I wanted to buy some yoghurt.  Sheeps' milk yoghurt.  I queued up.  Then it was my turn.  Bad luck.  The stall holder had just sold the last two jars.  To the man in front of us.  Next week will be different. I will get up early.  I will go before breakfast.  



The Bartons - Chapter 20

Idioms - Look on the bright side - Always see the positive sides of things.  No point in crying over spilled milk - do not worry or be sad about mistakes that have been made.  To be getting in each other's hair - to be in each other's private space.  To broach a subject means to talk about a sensitive subject.

And now, The Bartons, chapter 20: Ken and Jean are having elevenses.  Dave is working in the big field.  He is repairing the fence,

I can't wait for this wedding to be over. All the fuss.  Who's going to pay for this? Who's going to pay for that?  And, always, what will Jane's mother say?  

You're right, Ken.  But, look on the bright side.  Everything passes sooner or later.  Soon, this wedding will be a thing of the past.  Life will be normal again.

What is normal, Jean?  No, no.  Things will never be the same again.

Why not, Ken?   Life will go on as if nothing had happened.  You’ll see.  No point in worrying over things that may never be.

Well, I wonder how well Dave really knows Jane.  And, what does Jane see in Dave?  Do you remember the singing lessons, Jean?   And, do you remember how Jane ditched Dave for a farmer who had more money!  

How could I forget, Ken?  Still, there's no point in crying over spilled milk. Dave and Jane know what they want.

And, I've been giving some thought to where they're going to live. We don't want to be getting in each other's hair, do we?

I haven't thought of that, Ken.

Well, I've been giving it some thought, Jean.  Our old barn.  With a bit of thought and good planning, we could easily convert it into a perfect home. And, thinking ahead, Jean, maybe it would be the perfect solution for our old age, too.

Good thinking, Ken.  I must ask Jane's mother what she thinks.

You will do nothing of the sort, Jean.  We're going to ask Jane and Dave what they think.  They will be living there, not Jane's mother. And, as a matter of fact, Jane and Dave will be joining us for tea this afternoon.  We can broach the subject then.

Well, you seemed to have decided everything yourself, Ken. So, what can I do?

How about a nice cup of tea and a nice slice of cherry cake?

It's on its way.

Questions  - Will life be the same after the wedding?   What is going to change after the wedding?   Do Jane and Dave really know what they're doing?  How can we be sure?   Where can Dave and Jane live?  Will converting the barn be an advantage for Ken and Jean?  How?  Why doesn't Ken want to discuss this plan with Jane's mother?  Is Ken happy with Jane's mother?  What do you think of Jane's mother?





Talk Fritzi number 49.  Please listen, repeat, and have fun.

Es ist ein regnerischer Tag.     It's a wet day.

Es ist kalt.    It's cold.

Es regnet stark.     Much rain.

Ich bin rausgegangen.  I went out.

Zum Markt.   To the market.

Um Joghurt zu kaufen.    For yoghurt.

Schafsmilchjoghurt.    Sheeps' milk yoghurt.

Pech.  Bad luck.

Alles ausverkauft.   All sold out.

Ich werde es noch einmal versuchen.   I will try again.

Nächste Woche.   Next week.

Vor dem Frühstück.  Before breakfast.

It's a wet day.  It's cold.  Much rain.  I went out.  To the market. For yogurt. Sheeps' milk yogurt. Bad luck.  All sold out. I will try again.  Next week.  Before breakfast.




Saturday, 9 May 2026

Saturday the 9th of May, 2026


Welcome back to English Warmups.  Simply translate , then, scroll down for suggested solutions.  Have fun.

Heute ist Samstag. 

Es ist Wochenende. 

Zeit für Spaß und Entspannung. 

Viele Menschen treiben gerne Sport. 

Fritzi spielt gerne Fußball. 

Auch Reiten ist beliebt. 

Golf ist etwas für Leute mit Geld. 

Angeln ist etwas für sehr arme Leute. 

Wandern ist anstrengend. 

Viele Menschen müssen am Wochenende arbeiten. 

Gregors Frau arbeitet jedes Wochenende. 

In einem indischen Restaurant. 

Sie ist Tellerwäscherin. 

Armer Gregor. 

Jedes Wochenende allein zu Hause.

It's Saturday, today.  It's weekend.  Time for fun and relaxing.  Many people enjoy sports.  Fritzi likes playing football.  Horse riding is popular, too.  Golf is for people with money.  Fishing is for very poor people.  Hiking's hard work.  Many people must work at weekends.  Gregor's wife works every weekend.  At an Indian restaurant.  Washing dishes. Poor Gregor. Alone at home every weekend.

The Bartons will be back on Wednesday the 13th of Mai, 2026.



A Church with an Underground Secret!

Saturday, 2 May 2026

Saturday the 2nd of May, 2026

Welcome to English Warmups.  Simply translate into English. Scroll down for suggested solutions.

Wir haben heute Abend Gäste.

Unsere Freunde aus Oberösterreich.

Sie sind in Wien.

Sie sind im Hilton untergebracht.

Meine Frau hat ein wunderbares Essen vorbereitet.

Etwas ganz Einfaches.

Hühnercremesuppe.

Krabbencocktail.

Ungarische Lammbraten.

Und zum Abschluss einen Obstsalat.

Ich habe den Wein gekauft.

Zweigelt.

Der beste Rotwein der Welt.

Die Engländer glauben,  französischer Wein der beste ist.

Das ist falsch.

Österreichischer Wein ist der beste.We have guests over tonight.

We're having guests over for dinner this evening.   Our friends from Upper Austria.  They’re in Vienna.  They’re staying at the Hilton.    My wife has prepared a wonderful meal.   Something very simple.  Cream of chicken soup.   Crab cocktail.   Hungarian roast lamb.   And to finish, a fruit salad.I bought the wine.   Zweigelt.    The best red wine in the world.    The English believe  French wine is the best.  That’s wrong.    Austrian wine is the best.

 


The Bartons - Chapter 19

The Cold Light of Day.

Vocabulary - Idioms - To bend someone's ear - To ask them to listen to you.  It's going to set me back a lot of money means it's going to cost me a lot of money.  To foot the bill means to pay the bill.  If something takes the bisquit means it's something totally bad (coming 50 minutes late really took the bisquit).

Ken has just come into the kitchen to get a quick cup of coffee.  Jean is baking a cake. 

Ken, can I bend your ear for a minute, please?  We really should talk about how much Dave's wedding's going to set us back.  

I'm sorry, Jean.  Right now, I've really got some important things on my mind.

Somethings more important than your son's wedding!

For example, Jean.  The tractor needs servicing, the milking equipment needs renewing, and, the milking herd isn't getting any younger.  Let's discuss money and Dave's wedding after dinner this evening.  OK?

Well, it's only this, Ken.  I got a letter from Jane's mother this morning.  She said some interesting things.

Go on, Jean. You've made me curious..

In a nutshell, Ken,   because we're very  rich farmers and they're as poor as church mice, we should foot the bill for the entire wedding. 

Well, I can uderstand they are poor.  Vicars hardly earn anything at all. Which is OK.  All they do is pray and bless people and work a couple of hours a week on Sundays. They should be happy to get what they get.

And, that's not all.  Jane's mother wants to do all the planning. Date, time, reception and everything else as well.  And, there's more.  Jane's mother has already decided where the honeymoon's to be.

Oh really!

Jane's father's brother owns a caravan. It's parked on a lonely farm in the far north of Scotland. He's offered it to Dave and Jane for half price.  Of course, Jane will have to do all the cooking and cleaning and everything else. A self catering honeymoon!

Well, that really does take the bisquit, Jean.  You'd better leave it up to me.   I'll soon put the holy duo in their place.

I think you should phone them, Ken.

No.  I have  a better  idea.  We'll invite them round for lunch on Sunday.  It'll give us time to think. Remember, Jean. Always keep a clear head if you can.  I know you don't always find that so easy, Jean.

You're right, Ken.  Let's have a nice cup of tea and a nice slice of cherry cake.

That's what I call keeping a clear head, Jean.

Questions - Why does Jean want to bend Ken's ear?  Has Ken got time to talk to Jean?  What's on Ken's mind?  What did Jane's mother demand in her letter?  Are vicar's really so poor?  Tell us about the plan's Jane's mother has made for the honeymoon?  Why would it be a good idea to involve Jane and Dave in the planning?  

 


Budapest Blues - Written and read by Nigel A. JAMES






Thursday the 14th of May, 2026

  English Warmups.  Simply translate into English, then scroll down for suggested solutions.  Good Luck! Es ist ein kalter, nasser, regneris...