Family Life - English Conversation

Let's make lunch together. What shall we have for lunch, son? I'm not sure. What is there? Not much, by the look of things. What do you say we make tuna salad? Tuna salad? We've never had that before. What does it taste like? Does it taste good? It tastes absolutely delicious and is very healthy and nutritious. Let me teach you. It's very easy to make. Sounds good. What are the ingredients? We'll need canned tuna, mayonnaise, celery, onion, and salt and pepper to taste. That sounds simple enough. What's the first step? The first thing you need to do is open the tuna. There you go. Okay, I've opened it. Drain the tuna and put it in a mixing bowl. Drain it over the sink. That way, you won't get it all over the work surfaces. Okay. Like this? Perfect. Now, fork it into a bowl and mix it with some mayonnaise. That makes it super tasty. Yum, yum. How much mayonnaise should we use? It depends on how creamy you want the salad. Start with two tablespoons and add more if needed. Okay, I see. Now, we chop up the celery and onion and add them to the bowl. What's the purpose of adding celery and onion? They add crunch and flavor to the salad. Plus, they're healthy too. That makes sense. Mix everything together until it's well combined. What's next? Next, we add salt and pepper to taste. We can also add a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh parsley. And voila, our tuna salad is ready. That was easy. Thanks for teaching me how to make tuna salad, Dad. You're welcome, son. Tuna salad is a quick and easy meal that you can make anytime. I will teach you a few tricks. While we're shopping today, I will teach you a few tricks so that when you come on your own, you'll shop wisely. Oh, sounds exciting. It will help us make the most of our food, choose the healthiest items, and pay less. Okay. Right. So, the first thing to remember is always check the expiry date on food. So, always check for a good few days or enough time so you can eat it on the day you've planned. Ah, okay. Oh, yes, this chicken's expiry date is tomorrow. Expired food can cause food poisoning and other health problems. It's always better to be safe than sorry. That makes sense. You can choose packs from the back of the shelf. That's often the newest stock. Great tip. Another tip is to compare prices and look for deals. It can save you a lot of money in the long run. Oh, I see. Then we can spend the extra money on a treat. Exactly. It's also a good idea to check the ingredients. Sometimes the cheaper options are fine, but often they have added salt and sweeteners to make them tastier. Oh, really? Yep. And as we know, these are fine as a treat, but not all the time. Definitely. Also, try to avoid impulse buying. Make a shopping list and stick to it. Making a list helps you stay focused and avoid buying unnecessary items. I see. Those are some great tips for shopping wisely. Thanks for teaching me, Mom. You're welcome, sweetie. Remember, shopping wisely can help you save money and make better purchasing decisions. Times have changed, Grandpa. Grandpa, I can see how hard you're finding moving around now. Have you ever thought about using the internet to shop instead of going into the store? I think you'd find it much more manageable. Bah! Not a chance. I don't want to deal with all those complicated gadgets and apps. It's too confusing. I don't trust those online shopping sites. They might steal my information. Or send me the wrong thing. I prefer going to the store and seeing things in person before I buy them. I get that, Grandpa, but I think it'll help you. If the store workers bring something that isn't right, you can ask them to change it or be refunded. No, no, no. It's too much hassle. I'll just carry on getting the bus to the store how I've always done it. But, Grandpa, there is so much the internet can help you with. If you change your mind, I can help you set up and show you how to order everything you need. I can also help you set up internet banking. Oh, no, no, no. I don't trust that either. Back in my day, we didn't need all this technology. We did things the old way. And it worked just fine. I understand that, Grandpa, but times have changed. Online shopping and technology can make your life a lot easier. Oh, no, thank you. Thank you for your concern, my dear boy. But I've been living my life perfectly well for the past 75 years. I don't plan to change it now. Okay, Grandpa, let me know if you change your mind, though. Or if there's anything I can help you with. Thank you, boy. You're turning into a couch potato. Mom, can you get me a bag of crisps, please? Oh, and a Pepsi. Thanks, Mom. Are you kidding? Chris, you spend too much time watching TV or playing games. This is crazy. I'm worried about you. Why? I'm fine. No, you're not. You're turning into a couch potato. You're unhealthy, and you're taking everything for granted. Turn the TV off. It's time to change things around here. What do you mean? I mean, it's time you started pulling your weight around the house. It'll help you appreciate everything that needs doing. It'll get you away from a screen and also get some blood flowing around your body. But I don't want to do any chores. It doesn't matter. You can't carry on this way. Chores may be uncomfortable, but they will help you feel a sense of satisfaction and pride. I doubt it will. Well, let's give it a try, hey? Can I watch any screens at all? Yes, but your chores will need to be done first. What do I need to do? This evening, I need you to hoover the upstairs and put away the mountain of washing on your bedroom floor. I'm not going to ask much right now. We have plenty of time to build your stamina, but it's a start. I don't like this. Like I said, things need to change. It's for your own good. If you say so. How did you meet Grandpa? Look at the picture of you and Grandpa. You both look so young. How old were you here? We were 19 in this picture. We met at 17 and were married at 19. Oh, wow. You were only 17 when you found your soulmate? Yes, I count myself very lucky. Times were very different back then, though. It's just what people did. Your Grandpa carried on the family business, and I didn't have the option to chase after a career. Grandma, how did you meet? Well, it's quite a funny story, really. It was during the summer, and it had rained every day. I remember falling out with my mother and stomping out of the house during a downpour. I stomped across our yard and down the track towards the town. Unfortunately, the ground was a bog, and I got stuck in the mud. The harder I tried, the less I could move. Luckily, a handsome man in a tractor happened to drive past and came to my rescue. Goodness, I was so embarrassed. But he freed me and then took me home to my parents. Oh, wow. Your own knight in shining armor. Or shining tractor, should I say. Exactly. We were inseparable after that. That's so romantic. Yes, it was wonderful. And whenever we have torrential rain, it takes me right back to that special day. It's time to start getting fit. Oh, man. Honey, I just got off the scales. I'm the heaviest I've ever been. Oh, that takeaway we just ate won't help either. I know. This is too much, though. If I carry on like this, I'll end up seriously ill. I need to change. I've been thinking this for a while about me. I miss my healthy body. My energy levels are so low, too. Well, let's do something about it. We eat an awful lot more than we should. I agree. We've got a bit carried away. Let's make a plan. Okay. Let's start by eating at home only. Restaurant food is delicious, but it's always so rich. Does that mean we can still order takeaway? No. We need to commit to this if we want to see a difference. I know. I'm only joking. I actually love cooking. I miss it. If I start cooking from scratch again, we'll know exactly what goes into our food, and I can make sure it's the good stuff. I miss your cooking. When we first got together, you'd cook every night without fail. Exactly. We'll also have to stop the snacking and the late-night cheese board. No, that's going to be the hardest. I'm keen to get moving, though. I'll sign up for the gym. Or start going on a morning jog. Nice. I'll go back to my exercise classes. I used to love them. Right then. We've got this. Yes, we have. It's time to start getting fit and healthy. Let's start a new chapter today. Have I done something wrong? You haven't done anything wrong. You just don't do anything at all. I'm so fed up. I spend my days non-stop sorting everything with the kids, the house, the daily grind. Yet you get to go to work. Then come home and sit on your phone. I am literally exhausted. I just feel I need some appreciation or some help. You could help me cook dinner. Or look after the kids while I'm doing it. Or just buy me flowers once in a while. Are you kidding me? I have tried and tried to help you with anything. Everything. But when I do, you're not interested. You don't like how I do things. It's like it's your way or the highway. To be honest, I've given up trying. You don't pay me any attention. Not even a goodbye kiss. I feel like we're just coexisting. But I don't have the energy. I'm at burnout. I know. I can see. I want to help you. But I need you to relax a little and realize there is more than one way to do something. I know. I just find it hard. It's like this is my job and I know it inside out. When somebody tries to take over, I can always see a better or more efficient way of doing it. Can we find a compromise? I hate the way we are right now. Me too. I will help more. But you have to let me. Deal? Sounds good. I love cooking. And if you let me, I can put the washing away or take the kids out while you cook. Or just have a rest. That would be amazing. Let's start a new chapter today where we're there for each other and step in when the other needs some time out. Fab. From now on, it's me and you.