Transcript

EXTRACT ONE [NADIA]: Are you still going to the dentist on Friday? [PAUL]: No, they've moved it to Tuesday afternoon. The dentist has to attend a course, and Friday's appointments were all changed. They first offered me Monday morning, but I've a presentation at work. [NADIA]: Tuesday's not ideal for you either, is it? [PAUL]: Not really, though the receptionist found the last appointment of the day. I can leave work half an hour early instead of taking a whole morning off. She also put me on the cancellation list for next Friday. [NADIA]: Is it just a check-up? [PAUL]: A check-up and a small repair to an old filling. It isn't painful, so waiting a few days is fine. I was annoyed when the text arrived because I'd already arranged the time off, but at least they contacted me early. Last year they rang on the morning itself. I've put Tuesday in both calendars now because I once changed an appointment and then turned up on the original date. The receptionist said she would text if Friday becomes free, so I've not completely given up on the original plan. EXTRACT TWO [MEL]: Did you book the film for Saturday? [ISHAN]: Yes, but not the seven o'clock showing. By the time I checked, the only seats together were right at the front. I booked nine fifteen instead, and there were good seats in the middle. [MEL]: That's quite late. [ISHAN]: I know. We could eat first rather than afterwards. The ticket site also tried to sell me a food package, but it cost more than buying popcorn there. I skipped it. [MEL]: Did everyone send you the money? [ISHAN]: Three people did. Luca hasn't replied, so I bought his ticket anyway because the row was filling up. If he can't come, the cinema lets me cancel one ticket until midday on Saturday. I've saved the confirmation in the group chat. Oh, and the seats are on the end of the row, which helps because Sara always decides she needs the toilet during the final ten minutes. We're meeting at a café nearby at eight, which should stop half the group arriving during the adverts. The cinema opens the screen early, so we'll not be standing outside at nine o clock. EXTRACT THREE [KIM]: Did the engineer come to look at the washing machine? [AARON]: Yeah. The machine wasn't actually broken. A small coin was stuck in the filter, so the water couldn't drain properly. He showed me how to open the little panel at the bottom and clean it. [KIM]: That sounds like an expensive coin. [AARON]: The visit was covered by the service plan, luckily. I nearly cancelled that plan last month because we'd never used it. The engineer said I should check pockets more carefully, which was fair. The coin was mine. [KIM]: Is it working normally now? [AARON]: Yes, though the first empty wash made a strange noise because I hadn't closed the filter cap tightly enough. I stopped it, fixed the cap and tried again. The engineer also levelled one foot, so the machine no longer moves forward during the spin. I put a small basket beside it for coins and receipts from pockets. Whether anyone uses the basket is another question. The engineer left the old coin on top of the machine, and I've put it in a jar rather than spending it. [KIM]: So the real target is ordinary conversation rather than a perfect prepared speech. [AARON]: Yes. I want to stay in the exchange when the words don't arrive in the order I expected.