Royal memorabilia
— I work for a children’s charity. That’s a full time job. But I also have guests, paying guests, coming to stay with me at weekends. This house, which is called Heritage House, is a bed and breakfast place too.
— What I can see around me, Margaret, is amazing. How long have you been collecting this royal memorabilia?
— Well, I first got interested in Royal family when I saw the wedding of Princess Margaret on TV in 1960. My father wouldn’t let us having television. So on the day of the wedding I went round to a friend’s house and I just sat in front of the screen mesmerised. But it wasn’t until later that I started collecting. I’ve been collecting for 18 years. The first things I bought were a dish with the Queen’s head in the centre, and a few coronation mugs to go with it.
— What sort of things have you got?
— Oh, everything! Pictures, paintings, ashtrays, hundreds of mugs, teapots, tea-cloths, biscuit tins, posters, books, flags, toast rags, cups, candle-sticks, a lot! I’ve got over 4000 Royal souvenirs.
— Oh! All in this house?
— All in this house. Yes. The house has been extended three times to fit it all in. It filled in all the rooms downstairs, and in four bedrooms upstairs, and in the attic, too. It takes all my spare time to keep everything clean and dusted. And I’m always playing around making a special area for one of the royals or another. It keeps me amused for hours.
— Have you had to spend a lot of money on your collection?
— I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. No, I don’t think so.
— And where do you get it all from?
Oh, all over the place! There are lots of people who collect this stuff. I go up and down the country, we have conventions, where we swap things, and there is specialist’s magazines and shops and jumble sales.
Charity Memorabilia Mesmerise coronation rag |
Милосердие Памятные вещи Гипнотизировать Коронация Коврик |
candle-stick convention swap jumble sale |
Подсвечник Съезд Обмен Дешёвая распродажа |
Ex. 7. Answer the questions:
How did Margaret take up her hobby?
How does she get her souvenirs?
Do you think her hobby influences her life?
How does she earn her living?
Ex. 8. What kind of person is Margaret? Retell the text Ex. 6 from the part of Margaret.
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Ex. 9. Read the text: miniature coaches
— Ted, we are sitting in your dining room surrounded by a wonderful collection of miniature coaches. When did you start collecting them?
— Well, some of them date back to when I was a child and I was given them as toys so at the age of five or six. But the bulk of them I’ve got in the last 10 - 15 years.
— Why did you carry on and make this collection?
— It’s because of my family background. I’m third generation in the family coach business.
— So you’ve got real things and the miniatures as well. How many miniatures do you think you’ve got?
— I haven’t counted them for a long time, but there must be at least 500, I should think.
— Which is your favourite?
— My favourite is probably what is also the oldest. Let’s say a little tin-plate double-deck bus.
— And how old is that?
— That would have been manufactured in late 30s - early 40s. It winds up, it’s a clock-work.
— Do many people collect miniature coaches? Where do you get your coaches from? Where do you find them?
— There is a surprisingly huge number of people collecting buses and coaches. There are specialists’ shops which sell them, and there is a network of what is called swap-meets, where people go and trade in. So there is no difficulty in finding models.
— Are they expensive? If I decided I wanted to collect?
— No, not necessarily. You can buy contemporary models anything from 2.99 upwards and the skies are limit.
— Would you give me a figure?
— Some people pay thousands and thousands for a specific model.
— Have you got any very rare ones that people would fight for?
— I’ve got some that have become rare, they were not particular rare when I bought them. There is no rhyme or reason, but there is one I bought probably for seven or eight pounds which is now worth about hundred and ninety.
— Would you ever sell it?
— No, I don’t think so, unless I have to. I’m to attached to them to sell.
— Are there any you would like to have?
There are a lot I’m tempted by. Financial constrain is the problem, I’m afraid.
bulk background tin-plate manufacture wind up clock-work |
Большая часть Происхождение Жесть Изготовлять Заводить Часовой механизм |
network contemporary to be attach tempt constrain |
Сеть Современный Быть привязанным Соблазнить Стеснённость |
Ex. 10. Speak about Ted's hobby from the part of Ted's wife or friend.
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