The Farm at Lane's End

The Farm at Lane's End is the ongoing story of a typical English farming family. The Bartons. Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave. In chapter 33, Dave is down in the dumbs. Vocabulary Down in the dumps - If you are down in the dumps, you are a little unhappy or even a little depressed. I've got too much on my plate means I have very much to do. Crossed one's mind . If something has already crossed one's mind - means that one has already thought about it. She would rather do this than that - means she would prefer this and not that. Prefer = rather. To cope means to manage. I can cope without you! On the subject of something means something related or connected to that we are presently talking about. And now Chapter 33 I say, Dave, you're very quiet this evening. Is everything all right. Oh, I'm Ok, mum. Just a little down in the dumps, that's all. Oh, what's wrong, Dave? Claire's decided it's not such a good idea to...

The Farm at Lane's End -  Chapter 32 The Farm at Lane's End is the ongoing story of a typical English farming family. The Bartons.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In chapter 32, Ken and Jean are talking about uncle Ron.  Vocabulary  A penny for your thoughts - A penny for your thoughts means please tell me what you are thinking. Warm hearted means kind and loving.  He was such a warm hearted man. For the life of me - For the life of me is a phrase that means however hard I try.  However hard I try, I can't remember his name. For the life of me, I can't remember his name. A chip off the old block means being the same - usually in character - as one's father. This phrase  normally speaks about boys.  Girls are "just like their mothers".  Words you might like to check - loft - keen - + + + + + + And now to our story - The Farm at Lane's End, chapter 32 A penny for your thoughts, Ken! Oh, hello Jean, I didn't hear you co...

  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. + + + + ++  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...

  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 bee...

  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 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...

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 comeby - to come by something means to obtain or get something. To inherit - to inherit means to get something from someone after their death. 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....

The Bartons are spending Christmas and new year in America, They will be back with more stories in the middle of January.  So, until then, a very happy Christmas to you.

The Farm at Lane's End  is the story of English country life.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.   In this chapter, the Bartons are going away for Christmas.     For the characters in this story, please click here   Vocabulary and phrases after all - most importantly to cope - to cope means to manage.  I can cope with very much hard work. cut out - I have my work cut out  - I have something difficult to do. cut out - I'm cut out for the job - I'm clever, talented,  Questions Why are Dave and Farmer Ken happy? Why is Dave extra happy? Which song is Jean singing in the kitchen? How many eggs does Dave want for breakfast? Where are the Bartons going for Christmas? Are the Bartons flying third class with Aeroflot? What is Andy cut out for? What is Jean cut out for? what is Dave cut out for? How long are the Bartons staying in New Hampshire? What does Sarah think about farm life? How are the Bartons getting to the airport? W...

The Farm at Lane's End is the story of English country life.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.   In this chapter, Jean has had a surprise.     For the characters in this story, please click here   Vocabulary and Phrases To carp - If you carp a lot, you never stop complaning. To ring a bell, if something rings a bell with you, it vaguely reminds you of something. Well I never is a phrase that expresses surprise. For the life of me is another way of saying "Oh, my god" Perish the thought means this is a terrible idea. Plain jane - A plain jane is a boring unexciting girl.  + + + + It's 7 o'clock in the morning.  Outside it is still very cold and dark.  A typical December morning. Farmer Ken and Dave have just come in from milking the cows. The delicious smell of sizzling bacon is coming from the kitchen.  Jean, too, has been busy. Over breakfast Jean is telling Farmer Ken and Dave about the surprise meeting she had in th...

Chapter 29 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 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 M...

  The Farm at Lane's End is the story of English country life.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In this chapter, Farmer Ken gets his comeuppance. For the characters in this story, please click here Vocabulary and phrases Comeuppance - A Punishment or fate that someone deserves. He got his comeuppance in the end. To cut a long story short - When you cut a long story short, you come quickly to the point of the story. Apparantly -  Apparantly means as far as one knows.  To get the better of someone means to be better or smarter than them. Mobile Junk means rubbish on wheels. Chapter 24 - Farmer Ken, Jean and Dave are having dinner.  They've all had a very hard day.  Farmer Ken has something to say.  °  I bumped into  Andy in the village today, and he was very pleased to see me! °  That's interesting dad.  I'd have thought he'd have been very angry with you.  That old blue tractor you sold him was nothing ...