Chapter 30

 

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?

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 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.Duncan 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

Words of High Wisdom from Norway.

Written and read by Nigel A.  JAMES

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 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.  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 a 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?

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