The script of this programme 本節目臺詞

Christmas music

Rob: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Hello I am Rob, welcome to the Christmas special from BBC Learning English.

Helen: Hold on Rob. It's only November. Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? 這才幾月份兒？ 圣誕節還沒到呢？

Rob: Well, maybe you are not feeling festive yet, but look around the streets of London. It's looking Christmassy already.

Helen: 這倒也是。現在倫敦已經充滿了圣誕節的氣氛，商店里的櫥窗都掛上了閃爍的小燈串，還有雪花裝飾。

Rob: It seems that Christmas is starting earlier and earlier every year.

Helen: 商場可是早早的就把圣誕裝飾擺出來了，可是對人們來說什么時候比較適合準備圣誕呢？

Not until, preferably first of December, but not till after bonfire night.

Probably around Halloween I'd say.

I think beginning of December.

Usually about the 2nd or 3rd of December.

I was thinking about Christmas in June, that early? Yeah, I love Christmas.

Rob: Do you know when Bonfire night and Halloween is?

Helen: Bonfire night, 這是英國的煙花節，在11月5號.

Rob: And Halloween that's on the 31st of October. That's two months before Christmas.

Helen: 很多人是在12月初開始準備過圣誕節的。

Rob: We did have one young man who loved Christmas SO much, he started thinking about Christmas back in June.

Helen: June 六月份，提前6個月準備，真的是很早。不過真的有商店在6月份就開設了圣誕專柜。

Rob: I have to say that's WAY too early for me. What about you? When do you start Christmas plan?

Helen: Not till the last minute to be honest. 我是屬于那種臨時抱佛腳的人，肯定等到最后一刻再準備。And you?

Rob: Usually about the start of December, then I start to feel a bit festive. We also asked people what's their best Christmas.

Helen: 人們記憶中最美好的圣誕節是怎樣的呢？你知道說一個人 alive and kicking 是什么意思嗎？

My best Christmas was probably when I was a child, when I really believed in father Christmas, because he's still alive and still kicking.

Helen: 這位女士說她記憶中最美好的圣誕節是她小的時候，那時她還相信圣誕老人的存在。Alive 活著， kicking 踢腿，這兩個詞加在一起就是一個固定短語，形容誰還活著，而且精神飽滿。

I have been very lucky, I have never had a bad Christmas, they were all with family.

I just love every Christmas where I am with my family and friends really. So every Christmas is different and just as good.

Rob: A good Christmas is really about being with your family and friends.

Helen: 是的，圣誕節是家庭團聚的時刻。幾乎所有人都說最美好的圣誕時光是和家人一起度過的。

My best Christmas I would say was, when I was a child I suppose. When you believe in the Christmas spirit. It's much more fun, and the family makes an effort.

Rob: Well, I believed in Santa when I was little too, and I hope my children will appreciate all the presents from Santa this year.

Helen: 那么人們記憶中有沒有最差的圣誕節呢？

My worst Christmas was probably when my house was flooded. So we had to make do with that Christmas, but we still made it fun.

And my worst Christmas is when I had pneumonia, I was very ill, so that was my worst Christmas.

When you lose a member of the family, it's very hard to celebrate, however we tried to keep the spirit up in their memory.

The worst Christmas was probably when I had to go to work, and I was in Johannesburg for Christmas.

Rob: It seems that even when things go wrong during the festival period, people will try to keep up with the holiday spirit.

Helen: 我們聽到了有人在圣誕節期間家被水淹了, her house was flooded. 還有人生病臥床不起，得了肺炎 pneumonia. Poor thing!

Rob: Another man lost a member of his family and that made it very hard for them to celebrate Christmas.

Helen: 如果你家人去世了，這是最令人傷感的事情。不過這位先生雖然經歷了這樣的打擊，他們全家也盡力慶祝圣誕節，懷念他們的親人。

Rob: So Helen, what's your most memorable Christmas then?

Helen: 我記憶中最突出的一個圣誕節是16歲那年，我一個人在家。早中晚餐都是水果蛋糕，然后看了3天3夜的電視，也沒有人來管我。I had complete freedom.

Rob: Sounds good. Would you repeat it again?

Helen: Probably never again. This year I shall spend it with my family.

Rob: Well, that sounds good, but there's plenty to organise, so don't leave it too late this year.

Helen: I'll try to be organised. 謝謝收聽，我們下次節目再見。

Rob: Bye.

Helen: Bye.