Saturday, 26 April 2025

Chapter 41

 


Farmer Ken- Chapter 41

The Farm at Lane's End Chapter 41 - A very old friend

Vocabulary and Phrases

 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.

To read is a synonym for to study.  At Oxbridge one reads not studies. Both the same meaning.

If you hit it off with someone is another way of saying you will get on well with that person. Become good friends.

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And, now to our story -

It's 7 o'clock in the morning.  Outside it is still very cold.  A typical late April morning. Farmer Ken and Dave have just come in from milking the cows. Their is a delicious smell of sizzling bacon and eggs.   Jean, too, has been busy. The Bartons are enjoying their breakfast.

 

I say, Dave and Ken, you'll never guess who I bumped into in the village yesterday.

Who did you bump into mum?   

Well, I had just come out of the post office. and there she was.  Anne Cooper.  

Who's Anne Cooper, mum?

She was one of my best friends at school.  We really got on well together. I think I was her only friend in those days.

Why was that, mum?

Anne was not very popular.  She was always a bit of a plain jain. She never spoke much, and she never showed any interest in what was going on.

Then, why were you such good friends, mum?

Well, I knew Anne better than most people did.   My mum and Anne's mum were best friends.  And, Anne often came to play after school. In fact, Anne and I  had a lot of great fun together. At school, Anne was plain and boring. After school she was a completely different girl.

What was she like, Jean?

Anne was mainly interested in reading. We often used to talk about the books we had read. Of course, Anne read far more than I did.  And, in some ways, I think that's  why she was such a boring girl. Her world was her books.

And, what happened to Anne?

After leaving school, she went up to Oxford to read classics. And, I'm sure she did well. 

And, when was the  last time you saw her, mum?

For the life of me, Dave,  I can't remember. It must be at least 20 years.

And, when are you seeing her again, mum?   In another 20 years?

Persih the thought! That's a terrible idea. I don't want to wait that long. In fact, Anne and her husband are coming for dinner next Saturday. 

That's great, Jean. Jane actually sounds like a very intersting person. I can't wait to meet her.

And, can I invite Clair, mum?

Of course, Dave. I'm sure Clair and Anne will hit it off very well. Would anyone like another cup of tea?

Yes please, mum.  And another round of toast and marmalade, please.

And, the same for me, too, please.

You two can never stop eating.  And, guess what I'm baking this afternoon.

A chocolate cake, mum.

No, don't be silly, It's not your birthday, Dave I'm baking a cherry cake.

What a surprise.


Questions

What had Dave and Ken been doing?

What was the weather like?

What was the nice smell coming from the kitchen?

What was Jean cooking?

Who did Jean bump into in the village?

Did Jean and Anne go to school together?

Were Anne and Jean best friends?

When are Anne and her husband coming for dinner?

What did Anne read at Oxford?

Please put "perish the thought" in a sentence.

German Translation

Es ist 7 Uhr morgens.  Draußen ist es noch sehr kalt.  Ein typischer Morgen im späten April. Farmer Ken und Dave kommen gerade vom Melken der Kühe herein. Es riecht köstlich nach brutzelndem Speck und Eiern.   Auch Jean war fleißig. Die Bartons lassen sich ihr Frühstück schmecken.

Ich sage, Dave und Ken, ihr werdet nie erraten, wen ich gestern im Dorf getroffen habe.

Wen hast du getroffen, Mama?   

Nun, ich kam gerade aus dem Postamt und da war sie.  Anne Cooper.  

Wer ist Anne Cooper, Mum?

Sie war eine meiner besten Freundinnen in der Schule.  Wir haben uns wirklich gut verstanden. Ich glaube, ich war damals ihr einziger Freund.

Warum war das so, Mum?

Anne war nicht sehr beliebt.  Sie war immer ein bisschen wie ein langweilig (a plain a Sie hat nie viel geredet, und sie hat sich nie dafür interessiert, was passiert ist.

Warum wart ihr dann so gute Freunde, Mama?

Nun, ich kannte Anne besser als die meisten Leute.   Meine Mutter und Annes Mutter waren beste Freundinnen.  Und Anne kam oft nach der Schule zum Spielen. Anne und ich hatten sehr viel Spaß zusammen. In der Schule war Anne schlicht und langweilig. Nach der Schule war sie ein ganz anderes Mädchen.

Wie war sie denn so, Jean?

Anne interessierte sich vor allem für das Lesen. Wir haben uns oft über die Bücher unterhalten, die wir gelesen hatten. Natürlich hat Anne viel mehr gelesen als ich.  Und in gewisser Weise war sie deshalb ein langweiliges Mädchen. Ihre Welt waren ihre Bücher.

Und was geschah mit Anne?

Nach der Schule ging sie nach Oxford, um Literaturwissenschaft zu studieren Und ich bin sicher, sie war gut. 

Und wann hast du sie das letzte Mal gesehen, Mum?

Das weiß ich beim besten Willen nicht mehr, Dave. Es muss mindestens 20 Jahre her sein.

Und wann siehst du sie wieder, Mum?   In weiteren 20 Jahren?

Persih the thought (Gottes Willen) Das ist eine schreckliche Idee. So lange will ich nicht warten. Anne und ihr Mann kommen nächsten Samstag zum Essen. 

Das ist großartig, Jean. Anne scheint eine sehr interessante Person zu sein. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, sie kennenzulernen.

Und kann ich Clair einladen, Mama?

Natürlich, Dave. Ich bin sicher, Clair und Anne werden sich sehr gut verstehen. Möchte noch jemand eine Tasse Tee?

Ja, bitte, Mum.  Und noch eine Runde Toast mit Marmelade, bitte.

Und für mich dasselbe, bitte.

Ihr zwei könnt nie aufhören zu essen.  Und ratet mal, was ich heute Nachmittag backen werde.

Einen Schokoladenkuchen, Mutti.

Nein, sei nicht albern. Du hast nicht Geburtstag, Ken. Ich backe einen Kirschkuchen.

Was für eine Überraschung.

Fragen Was hatten Dave und Ken gemacht?   -  Wie war das Wetter?  - Was für ein schöner Geruch kam aus der Küche?  - Was hat Jean gekocht?  - Wen hat Jean im Dorf getroffen? - Gingen Jean und Anne zusammen zur Schule?  -  Waren Anne und Jean beste Freunde?   - Wann kommen Jane und ihr Mann zum Abendessen?  - Was hat Anne in Oxford studiert?    Bitte fügen Sie "perish the thought" in einen Satz ein. 

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Chapter 40

 


The Farm at Lane's End - Chapter 40


The Farm at Lane's End is the story of English country life.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In chapter 40, Dave is telling his parents all about the party he went to the night before.


Vocabulary


The bee's knees - This is an idiom.  It means an outstanding person or thing. 
Second to none is another was of saying the best.
Don't be so cocky means don't be so over confident (arrogant).
Over the moon.  If you are over the moon you are overly (very/very) happy.


And now to our story.  The Farm at Lane's End, chapter 40


How was the party you went to last night, Dave?

I have to say, mum and dad, it was one of the best parties I've ever been to.  It was magic.  Mike and Alison did a great job. They were the perfect hosts.

Tell us more, Dave.  Spill the beans.

The food was brilliant.  Alsion made Beef Wellington. Yumie, yumie. It was the best I'd ever, ever had.  The cocktails Mike served were second to none, And the discussions we had were fantastic.

What was discussed, Dave?

Really high things, dad. Mainly philosophy, art, and books. Things you wouldn't understand, dad.

Don't be so cocky, Dave. You should never underestimate people. Life is full of surprises.  Be careful what you say. 

And, what was Claire wearing, Dave?

Claire, she was fantastic.  She was the bee's knees.  She wore a dress she had made herself.  Beautiful yellows and blues, and her bag was the one I bought her in Paris.  Claire was the most beautiful woman at the party. 

And, what did you give Alison and Mike?

We gave them a book about French gardens. 

And, did they like it?

They were over the moon!  They're  into all things French.  

And, would you be in for a nice cup of tea, Dave?

Yes please, mum. And, if you have it, a nice slice of cherry cake, too.

Questions

Why was Claire the bee's knees?   Please describe Claire's dress.  Was Claire's dress homemade?  What did Alsion serve for main course?  Was Dave happy with the cocktails?  Why did Ken tell Dave off?  Why is it bad to be cocky?  Was Claire's bag Italian?  What did Claire and Dave give Alison and Mike?  Why were Alison and Mike over the moon with Claire's and Dave's present?  Why are French gardens so beautiful?  Why are English gardens the best in world?

Chapter 39

 


Farmer Ken - Chapter 39

The Farm at Lane's End is the story of English country life.  Farmer Ken, his wife Jean, and their son Dave.  In chapter 39, Ken has a bone to pick with Dave.

Vocabulary

A bone to pick . .  I have something to complain about.

to thank our lucky stars . . means to have something to be grateful about.

otherwise - in different words.

It  slipped my mind means - means I completley forgot.

All's well that ends well - everything turned out just fine.


+ + + + +

And, now to our story, The Farm at Lane's End, chapter 39. 

Dave, I've got a bone to pick with you.

Oh no, what did I forget to do?

You promised to lock the chicken shed before you went to bed last night.  When I got up this morning, the chickens were running around the yard.  They'd been out all night.  And, we can thank our lucky stars, the fox wasn't out.   Otherwise, Dave, no roast chicken on Sunday.

Oh, I'm really sorry, Dad. Locking the chicken shed completely slipped my mind. I was listening to some music.  

Well, no problem, Dave. Nothing serious happened.  All's well that ends well. The fox stayed at home, the chickens had fun being free, and, we still have a chicken for our Sunday lunch.

By the way, Dave, what music were you listening to last night?

I was listening to Mahler's 5th symphony, mum. It's my favourite Mahler symphony.

I didn't know we had any Mahler in our CD collection.

You're right, dad. we haven't any Mahler.  I always listen to Mahler on Spotify. 

Spotify?  What's that, Dave.

It's online music, mum.  

Do they only have Mahler, Dave?

No, dad.  They have everything.  Even the jazz that you like, dad.

Sounds interesting, Dave.  

Would anyone like a cup of tea?

Yes, please, mum. 

And a nice slice of cherry cake, too?

Questions

Why did Ken have a bone to pick with Dave

Where were the chickens when Ken got up?

Put "all's well that ends well" into a sentence.

Why was Ken able to say - all well's that end`s well?

Why had locking the chicken shed completly slipped Dave's mind?

What was Dave doing the night before?

Was Dave listening to Beethoven's 8th symphony?

What is Dave's favourite Mahler symphony?

What is Spotify?

What have you got to thank your lucky stars for?

 


The Bartons

  Im September kehrt „The Farm at Lane's End“ als „The Bartons“ zurück.  Die gleichen Charaktere, das gleiche englische Landleben und na...