This episode’s vocabulary
To make a point of doing something
idiom — to always do something or to take particular care to do something.
To check in
phrasal verb — to contact someone by making a phone call, short visit, etc., usually in order to make sure there are no problems or to tell them that there are no problems.
Cottage
noun — a small house, usually in the countryside.
Layout
noun — the way something is designed or arranged.
Moderately
adverb — in a way that is neither small nor large in size, amount, degree, or strength.
Barren
adj. — if you describe a room or a place as barren, you do not like it because it has almost no furniture or other objects in it.
Stark
adj. — empty, simple, or obvious, especially without decoration or anything that is not necessary.
Interior
noun — the inside part of something.
Cosy
adj. — comfortable and pleasant, especially (of a building) because of being small and warm.
Fixture
noun — a permanently fixed piece of furniture in a house, such as a bath, that would not be taken by someone when moving to a new home.
Mod cons
plural noun — the machines and devices, such as washing machines and fridges, that make the ordinary jobs in a home easier.
Chagrin
noun — disappointment or anger, especially when caused by a failure or mistake.
Externally
adverb — in a way that relates to the outside of something, or that is on or comes from the outside.
Sturdier
adj. — physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt.
Classy
adj. — if you describe someone or something as classy, you mean they are stylish and sophisticated.
Formidable
adj. — causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone because that thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult.
Questions and answers
Rory, are you ready?
Yes.
Come on.
I suppose now I've moved home, the one that I visit the most often is my childhood home, which is also the place my parents live at the moment. In fact, I think they've lived there for the last 40 years or something like that. I make a point of visiting during the holidays, regardless of where I am in the world. It's always been far away for the last 10 years or so, which makes it all the more important to come home regularly and check in on them and see how they're getting on, along with everyone else in my hometown, of course. The house is, well, actually, initially, I thought it was a Victorian fisherman's cottage, but my dad has since explained and corrected me and told me that it's still Victorian, but it was actually originally for farmers. Regardless of who the original owners were, it's still an old building. And it shows in the layout of the house with lots of space for the kitchen, the living room and the dining area and the bedrooms. We even have a hall. The ceilings are also moderately high, I would say, compared to, well, modern buildings that I've been in. The walls in the living room are bare stone, which you would think makes it sound quite barren and stark, but actually, in the right lighting and with the right interior design, it looks very cosy. The kitchen hasn't changed much. But the equipment and fixtures have all been updated with the usual mod cons. Even the ones my parents never use, like the dishwasher, for example. The bedrooms are roughly similar, but the master has a massive set of wardrobes along one wall. And that's principally to hold mom's shoe collection, which has expanded to take over parts of my old room much to my chagrin. Externally the house is made of old bricks, which are, well, I would say they're a lot better looking than usual red bricks you see today. It also means they have to be pointed and maintained less often, since they're much sturdier. Sort of like the people in it, classy and formidable. Overall, I'd love the place and I always look forward to going back and getting a warm welcome in the pleasant surroundings.
Do you think you'll go back there anytime soon?
Yeah, I'm going back there for the Christmas holidays! <figure> </figure>