LET'S HAVE A PICNIC
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 464.
Picnics are popular with women and children and some men who know how to make afire.
Children are fond of picnics chiefly because, as a rule, there are no tables at picnics and consequently no table manners and because they have an excellent opportunity to eat things that do not agree with them. Since picnic lunches are always just about the same and therefore require little imagination, women do not have to trouble thinking up a meal.
Picnic grounds are usually situated on a body of water at some high altitude. One of these features is essential, for no picnic can be a success unless the children have something to fall into, or fall off. Also, a body of water naturally suggests taking fishing tackle along. No fish was ever known to have been caught on a picnic, but fishing serves as an excellent excuse for getting out of the way while the heavy work is being done.
Quite the most important feature of the picnic is the lunch. Fried chicken is always popular ...
Then there should be hard-boiled eggs. Almost everything else that comes in a can or a paper bag is good for a picnic lunch. These containers are very important as, after the contents have been eaten, they are strewn about and identify the picnic ground. After the lunch has been eaten a picnic is mostly anticlimax. But there is always the possibility of someone nearly getting drowned or running irito a hornets' nest or twisting an ankle. However, you must remain until well into afternoon, or you may not appear to have had a good time. To make matters worse, someone will suggest singing.
Picnics, whatever may be said against them, have their advantages. At least they reawaken
in the hearts of many the truth of the old saying that there is no place like home.
Unit 9
MR SMITH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
This year John turned fifty. Because this is a special birthday in England, Helen decided to throw a surprise party for him. A month before the event she booked a room in a restaurant in Stratford. She chose Stratford because it is a pretty town. It is also one of John's favourite places. Helen then set about secretely contacting all their family and friends. It was sometimes difficult to keep Johnfrom suspecting anything. It was also difficult to make some people understand that it was to be a surprise. For example, the only time she could ring John's father was when John happened to be in the house. Helen sent him out to work in the garden, then picked up the phone. John's dad is hard of hearing, and just as Helen was shouting the invitation to him, John came back in. Of course, he wanted to talk to his dad and Helen was in terrible suspense lest old Mr Smith should mention the party. She knew he had not really understood her. However, he said not a word and everything was alright. .
A month of such secret planning was more than Helen could stand. She was glad when the day actually arrived, but nervous in case something went wrong. She had told John that for this birthday they would just go to Stratford and potter round. He agreed as he did not often make a big fuss of his birthday. Helen had bought him a new watch and he wore it when they went out. Arriving in Stratford it was difficult to find a place to park the car, but eventually they found a very convenient spot. They wandered along the river and then around the shops. It was a lovely day and many people were out. It therefore was not at all surprising that they should bump into some old friends outside Shakespeare's house. Nor that they should meet a couple of John's colleagues near the theatre. John was certain that he saw his father somewhere in the distance. Helen, however, argued that his father could not possibly be in Stratford. Why would he come all the way from London just to visit Stratford for the day. when Birmingam and his son were so near? Helen was by now very nervous. Surely John would guess and her surprise would be ruined! Eventually it was time for her to suggest having a meal at their favourite restaurant. It would be her treat as a kind of birthday present. John readily agreed, little guessing that not just a quiet luncheon with his wife was awaiting him. Great was his surprise when he saw his brother-in-Iaw's car parked outside the restaurant, and greater still when in the foyer he saw his son and daughter! They were supposed to be in their respective University towns! What a crowd of people he found inside ready to wish him a happy birthday. Needless to say, it was a happy one indeed.
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