B. Casual Business

Mr. Hopkinson: Hello. Mr. Hopkinson speaking.

Mr. Stock: Hello, Torn. Stock here.

Mr. Hopkinson: You are just the man I wanted to speak to.

Mr. Stock: Well, here I am. What's it all about, then?

Mr. Hopkinson: Well, you know that emergency delivery to Stockholm we were talking about the other day?

Mr. Stock: Yes – you mean the one they wanted delivered by the 25th?

Mr. Hopkinson: Yes, that's the one. They've been on the telex about it to us only this morning, and now they say they must have it by the beginning of next week. I don't know. What with that and this ' big French order we've got coming up, I've been up to my ears in it².

Mr. Stock: I see. Then we'd better get it off pretty soon, hadn't we?

Mr. Hopkinson: Yes, they're counting on us.

Mr. Stock: That's right. I know old Gustafson pretty well, ac­tually, and I shouldn't like to let him down either.

Mr. Hopkinson: We'll have to think of something, then, shan't we? What's old Gustafson like, by the way?

Mr. Stock: Bit difficult to describe, actually. Round fortyish³ and a little bit heavy-going⁴ perhaps. Got his head screwed on the right way ⁵, though.

Mr. Hopkinson: That was my impression too, actually.

Mr. Stock: Anyway, to get back to this delivery job, is there anything in particular that's holding us up? Haven't we got all the things we want on hand ⁶?

Mr. Hopkinson: No, it isn't that so much. We're a bit short-handed ⁷ on the packing side⁸, you see. They've all been working like the clappers⁹ on this French job, and haven't got round to ¹⁰ this other lot yet.

Mr. Stock: Let's see. It's Friday tomorrow, isn't it? That makes И a bit tricky ¹¹.

Mr. Hopkinson: Look, I've been thinking What about offering the boys in dispatch a spot of¹² overtime over the week end? We can bung ¹³ the whole lot into one lorry and get it straight off to Hull. Should be on the quayside by Monday

morning.

Mr. Stock: Yes, of course that's the answer. Should've' thought of that before. Well, that's that one solved then. Better be getting back, I suppose. Will you tell Fred, or shall I?

Mr. Hopkinson: Well, I'm seeing him this afternoon in any case so I'll see .to it, if you like, Peter.

Mr. Stock: Would you? That's splendid. Look, I must push off now. I'm seeing that chap from Benson's at two-thirty.

Mr. Hopkinson: Yes, don't you worry. I'll see that's all laid on... ¹⁴ Bye.

Mr. Stock: Bye.

NOTES

1. what with that and this: because of that and this

2. up to my ears in it: overloaded with work

3. round fortyish: about forty years old

4. a little bit heavy-going: rather too serious or pompous

5. got his head screwed on the right way: clever, intelligent

6. on hand: available

7. a bit short-handed: short of staff/workers

8. on the packing side: in the packing department

9. like the clappers: very quickly

10. haven't got round to: haven't managed to do/begin

11. a bit tricky: rather difficult

12. a spot of: a little

13. bung: put, throw

14. all laid on: all arranged