Analyse the everyday life patterns you have read about. Discuss them with a partner. Fill in Bs lines and complete the dialogue.
A: Lets compare the three peoples lives, shall we?
B:
A: I think Marias life is a good example of a very busy weekly routine. To begin with, she gets up very early most of the days and finds time for everything.
B. Well, Im not at all sure.
A: But they try to have a little bit of time together in the morning, dont they?
B: Thats true.
A: And Marias mother says so, too, doesnt she?
B: So she does.
A: Judy works less than Maria, of course, and has a lot more time to relax. As a matter of fact, Judys way of life seems the most attractive to me. Dont you think so?
B: I wouldnt say she has much free time. She says she stays quite late at work very often. Besides,
A: Are there any of the views on life you would share? I, personally, agree that we must give priority to things which are really important, like university studies, for example.
B. Dont forget that there are a lot more things to be done besides learning. I have to do .
A: So do I. So do we all. Anyway, routines can be very useful if you want to fit a lot of things into one day or week. Why dont we change anything about our daily programme to make it more regular?
B: A good idea! Would you like to get up at 6 oclock tomorrow morning and join me for a run in the park?
A: .
B: How about walking to University?
A:
B: Lets have an early night, shall we?
A:
B: What do you think of giving up using your mobile phone for a while?
A:
Speak about your plans for next week (10 sentences). If you already have plans, say: Im/Were going to If you are not sure, say: Perhaps I/well or I dont know. I/Well probably or If I get up early, Ill
5. Read the text about Linda McCartneys life. What do you like about the way her life is organised? Compare her working day with your mothers usual working day.
We live in a two-bedroom house, so as soon as James (2) starts calling Mummy, Mummy, around seven every morning, he wakes everyone up. Being his mother I like to be the first to greet him, so up I get.
I take him downstairs and start getting breakfast ready. Before long the other kids - Heather (almost 17), Mary (10) and Stella (8) - are also down. If Paul is recording or we are touring I try to make sure hes not disturbed. But if he isnt working he gets up at the same time and joins the kids at breakfast. Hes an excellent father, very involved and protective towards them.
It seems mad to have moved from a large house in London to a small place on the South Coast, but its so much cosier. Paul and I are in the kind of business where we can be totally detached from our kids and hardly see them grow up. If you have enough money to live in a big house, one kid could be up in the attic and another could be in the west wing and youd hardly see them.
The kids travel everywhere with us. When touring abroad we usually rent a house and make it our base so we can return to the kids each night.
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Were all vegetarian, so breakfast is eggs laid by our own hens, home-grown tomatoes fried, vegetarian sausages, cereals and wholewheat bread. During the bread strike Paul baked the most beautiful bread.
Quite often Paul comes with me when I drive the girls to school. Mary and Stella go to a local primary school and Heather attends a nearby art school. I drive a Mini because being American Im used to wide roads, so with a small car Ive no fear about scraping it.
I buy most of the kids clothes at Mothercare. I look at their catalogue or go into the shop and pick out things that are made from natural fibres. I myself feel most comfortable in jeans and T-shirt. I dont really spend that much - even though Paul pays all the bills! Because we live locally Im regarded as just another mother who takes her children to school and has a house to keep. I try to keep my life close to what it was before we married.
Because we have a big breakfast and a big dinner about six we dont have lunch. So about that time I am doing jobs around the house. Paul never helps me. He likes tidiness but is not too tidy himself! If Im working or going out I have a woman in to do the cleaning. But I always do the cooking because I enjoy it. I cook for six every day.
For dinner I make things like quiche Lorraine without bacon - aubergines, spaghetti, salads and Pauls favourites which are pea soup or cream of tomato soup made from home-grown potatoes and onions. I also make coffee milkshakes which I love. Im a real baby that way!
If Im lucky during the day I go for a ride on my stallion called Lucky Spot. Hes got a lovely temperament. Horse riding is a marvellous form of exercise, both physically and spiritually.
One interest we share closely is football. We rarely get to see matches but we always watch it on television. Paul is a great Liverpool fan, so we support Liverpool.
Because we live in the country we dont socialize that much. We think thats also partly because were too lazy. Theres so much Id like to do, especially in the photographic field, but I hate to leave the life I lead in the country unless I absolutely have to.
I get various offers to take photographs, and sometimes I may find one particularly attractive. But when it comes down to it I just cant bring myself to leave the kids and go to take pictures. So I stay at home and take pictures of them instead.
Most of our evenings are spent in front of the television. I watch Dallas, Top of the Pops, Old Grey Whistle Test and some quiz shows.
Before I turn in for the night I always go to the kids bedroom and give them each a kiss. Trouble is, James often wakes up and doesnt want to go back to sleep.
Part Two. Leisure
VOCABULARY
After the term of hard work don't these words sound like music to your ear?
leisure - , ;
to feel lazy - ;
entertainment - , ;
pastime - ,
to relax - ,
We all enjoy our free time. What opportunities does it give us?
to go on holiday - ;
to have/make a journey, trip, outing, sightseeing tour - , , , ;
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to go on/set off on a trip, a tour - , ;
to go to the seaside - ;
to go on an organised walk - ;
to go (down) to the country, to the sea - , ;
to travel light - ;
to go camping - ( );
to spend an evening out - ;
to go to a discotheque (disco) - ;
to give/throw a party - ;
to visit a park, a garden or a museum - , , ;
How about going to the theatre or opera house or do you prefer cinema or a concert? Your choice may depend on what is on.
a play ;
a drama ;
a comedy ;
a psychological drama - ;
a tragedy ;
a melodrama ;
an opera ;
a ballet ;
an operetta ;
a musical ;
a variety (show) ;
a puppet (show) ;
a circus (show) - , ;
an amateur or professional show - ;
a thriller ;
a western ;
a horror film - ;
What kind of music do you like?
classical ;
light-classical - ;
serious ;
folk ;
jazz ;
pop - -;
dance ;
instrumental ;
string ;
chamber ;
Many people could say that television is their life. It's important that you should know how to talk about TV in English
to watch TV - ;
to watch/see a film or a programme - ;
a TV channel - ;
a TV viewer ;
the news (the nine o'clock news, etc.) - ( ..);
a (animated) cartoon - ;
a serial ;
a soap opera - ();
TV commercial -
broadcasting -/;
to put the TV on/off - / ;
to turn/switch up - ;
to turn/switch down - ;
cable TV - ;
a TV announcer/newscaster ;
a quiz ;
an interview ;
news and commentary - ;
a documentary - ;
an educational programme - ;
a sports programme - ;
to miss a programme - .
