Transcript

EXTRACT ONE [GRACE]: Did your grocery order arrive all right? [FINN]: Mostly. They replaced the small bag of coffee with a huge one from a different brand. It cost the same because substitutions are price-matched, but I've no idea whether I'll like it. [GRACE]: Couldn't you refuse it? [FINN]: Yes, but the driver was already halfway back to the van when I noticed. Anyway, the bag is sealed, so I can return it at the shop if it tastes awful. The odd thing is they removed the lemons completely, even though the app showed another kind available. [GRACE]: What did you need them for? [FINN]: A cake for my sister. I've got one lemon in the fridge, but the recipe needs two. I'll walk to the corner shop later. They also sent six individual yoghurts instead of one large pot, which actually suits me better for work lunches. [GRACE]: Are you keeping the coffee, then? [FINN]: I'll try it tomorrow. If it's good, I've accidentally saved myself buying coffee for the next two months. If not, I'll take it back with the receipt. I've put a note on the order now saying not to substitute lemons, which feels strangely specific. EXTRACT TWO [THEO]: Have you sent off your passport application? [NADIA]: Yeah, I did it online last night. The form was straightforward, but the photo took ages. The website kept saying my face was too close to the camera, even when I moved back. [THEO]: Did you go to a photo booth? [NADIA]: No, my housemate took one against the kitchen wall. We had to move a clock and a calendar because the background must be completely plain. The fifth photo was accepted, although I think I look half asleep. [THEO]: What happens to your old passport? [NADIA]: I have to post it to them. I nearly used an ordinary envelope, but the instructions recommend tracked delivery, so I'm doing that at lunchtime. I've written the application number on the envelope as well. [THEO]: Will the new one arrive before your trip? [NADIA]: It should arrive in time. The estimate is three weeks, and we travel in two months. I'm still not booking the train to the airport until it arrives, though. The flights can't be changed, and I don't want another fixed booking to worry about. EXTRACT THREE [IRIS]: Did you work out why your fridge was making that noise? [LUKE]: Eventually. I thought the motor was failing, but a repair technician listened to a recording and said the fridge probably wasn't standing level. One front foot was slightly higher than the other. [IRIS]: Could you fix it yourself? [LUKE]: Yeah. I emptied the door shelves so it was lighter, then turned the foot with a spanner. The buzzing stopped straight away. I'd already moved all the food into cool bags because I expected the technician to tell me to switch it off. [IRIS]: So nobody needs to come out? [LUKE]: Not now. The company cancelled the visit and didn't charge me. I'm glad, because the appointment window was between eight and one, which would have meant staying home all morning. [IRIS]: What will you do with the food in the bags? [LUKE]: Put it back once I've cleaned the shelves. Since everything's out, I may as well do the job properly. I found three open jars of the same sauce at the back, so the fridge was giving me useful information as well as a terrible noise. [IRIS]: You may as well keep one jar and lose the others. [LUKE]: I know. Apparently I buy sauce whenever I can't remember what is already there.