Chapter 14 - The Golden Swan

Idioms -  TOP NOTCH - The best.     TAKE SOMETHING WITH A PINCH OF SALT - to be sceptical about what is said.  AS FAR AS YOU CAN THROW SOMEONE -  You can't trust them at all.  THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK - if someone says this they are a hypocrite. They do the same as the person they are complaining about.  FROGS - This is what the English call French people.

The Bartons - Chapter 14 - The Golden Spoon

I bumped into my brother Andy in the village yesterday.

That's interesting, Ken.  How was he?

Fine, thanks, Jean.  

Did he have anything interesting to say?

He told me, they'd been to the Golden Spoon for dinner.

That's the new restaurant that opened about three weeks ago isn't it?

That's right, Jean.

Did he say it was good, dad?

A good question,  Dave.  In fact, Andy said it was top notch. We really should try it.

I don't know, Ken.  Normally,  every thing Andy says must be taken with a pinch of salt.  I'll ask Sarah and see what she says.  You can only trust Andy as far as you can throw him.  

You've got a point, mum.  Do you remember what Andy said about The Silver Kettle restaurant in Bawtry?  It was also top notch. Three weeks later,  it was closed down after 9 guests nearly died from serious food poisoning. And, do you recall what Andy said about the art exhibition he saw in Scunthorp?  That was also top notch. Everyone else said it was rubbish.

Come come, Dave. You sound like the kettle calling the pot black. I remeber what you said about Claire's ehibition in London. You said it was fantastic.  Everyone else said it was rubbish.

Well, I had to say that dad. Claire was my girl friend at the time. I was scared she'd have kicked me out if I'd have said something bad about her work.

Well, that's what she did do, Dave. Now Claire's enjoying snail and frog leg sanwiches for supper every evening with her onion eating red wine drinking frog boyfriend, Pierre.

Talking about food has made me hungry, boys.  How about a nice cup of tea and a nice slice of cherry cake,

A great idea, mum. I'll put on the kettle.

And, I'll get the cups and saucers.

QUESTION -  What did Andy say about the Golden Spoon?  When did the Golden Spoon open?  Can Andy be trusted?  Who is Jean going to ask for the truth about the Golden Spoon?  What was the Silver Kettle?   Where was the Silver Kettle?  What did Andy say about the Siver Kettle?  How many people nearly died after eating dinner at the Silver Kettle?  What did Dave say about Claire's exhibition in London?    And, what happened?  What does Claire have for supper every evening?

My name is Nigel A. JAMES. 

 Clemelee Club is my YouTube channel. 

German and English. 

Articles of general interest, 

short stories, interviews, English learning aids, 

and much more as well.

>Click hier for Clemelee Club<

Mein Name ist Nigel A. JAMES.  

Clemelee Club ist mein YouTube Channel. 

Deutsch und Englisch.  

Artikel von allgemeinem Interesse, 

Kurzgeschichten, Interviews, 

Englisch-Lernhilfen und vieles mehr.

Chapter 13 - A Concert

 

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.

Redewendungen - Idioms  - To pull out all the stops - Alle Register ziehen –  To gie all you have - Sich sehr anstrengen, um ein großartiges Ergebnis zu erzielen.     To give your all -   Alles geben bedeutet, etwas mit seiner ganzen Energie und seinem ganzen Talent zu tun.  Second to none - Unübertroffen bedeutet das Beste. Second to none - Um alles in der Welt bedeutet, wie sehr ich mich auch anstrenge. To grin and bear it -  Zähne zusammenbeißen und durchhalten bedeutet, eine schwierige Situation zu überstehen, weil man nichts dagegen tun kann.

 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?