Hmpton isn't a big industrial town but there are some factories here and the oldest is Larkin's leather. It was founded by Alfred Larkin in 1859.
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Today we're talking to Sally Cooper, who works at the factory. Sally, do you like working at Larkin's Leather?
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Yes. I do. It's a very friendly company.
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What does the factory make exactly?
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We make all kinds of high-quality leather goods: boots, shoes and sandals, suitcases, briefcases, handbags...
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What are you making at the moment?
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I'm helping to make some belts. I need to be very careful because the belts are for a top designer.
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How many people work here?
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There are fifty of us in the machine room. It's very noisy!
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Do you work long hours?
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Yes, we do but I don't mind working hard.
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Are you planning to stay at the factory, Sally?
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Well, I enjoy working here but I've desided to go to college. I want to study design and I've managed to get on a course which starts next September.
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Well done! Good luck with that!
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Thanks a lot! I'm looking forward to trying somthing new.
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Listen 5 times
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Lesson 2: Conversation
Ross, what do you want to do when you leave school?
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You mean what job do I want?
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Yes.
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Well, I love animals, so I was thinking about becoming a vet.
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I think he'd be very good at looking after animals. How about you Laura? What are your plans?
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Well, I enjoy taking photos so I might become a photographer. If I don't do that, I'll like to work with computers, maybe design computer games or something like that.
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I decided to be a teacher.
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Really?
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Yes, a sports teacher. I'd like to teach adventure sports like climbing and abseiling.
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That's sounds exciting. I hope you don't mind being outside in the cold and the wind and rain.
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No, I don't mind that at all. I'm used to being outside. What about you Holly? What do you want to do?
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Well, I was planning to be a fashion designer.
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Wait a minute Holly, you need to be good at art to do that.
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Are you saying I'm not good at art?
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Well…
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Anyway, then I decided I'd like to be a tourist guide, because I really love history and old buildings.
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But you have to walk around a lot if you're a tourist guide and you hate walking.
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You're so lazy Holly.
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I know. You're right. So now I don't know what job I want to do.
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Listen 5 times
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Lesson Heading
Mr Duffy's workshop
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Grandfather wanted George to go to Mr Duffy's house to collect a present.
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The present was for George's little cousin, Sally.
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"Mr Duffy phoned this morning," Grandfather told George. "He's finished. Would you mind going now?"
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George didn't mind going at all.
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He loved to go to Mr Duffy's house at any time.
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He loved talking to Mr Duffy about his work.
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Most of all, he was fascinated by Mr Duffy's tools.
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A few minutes' walk brought George to a tall house.
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He knocked on the old wooden door.
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After a few moments, Mrs Duffy opened it.
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"Come along in, George," she said. "Mr Duffy is in the workshop."
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She walked ahead of George along a short passageway and stopped at the open kitchen door.
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George caught a glimpse of bowls of plums and peaches on the kitchen table.
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A delicious smell of simmering fruit wafted past his nose.
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Mrs Duffy pointed to an open doorway, where bright sunlight fell across the single step.
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"You know your way, don't you, George?"
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George nodded. "Thank you, Mrs Duffy," he said.
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George stepped into the small courtyard, brilliant with flowers cascading in streams of white, pink and crimson from pots on the window sills.
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In one corner a peach tree drooped its branches, laden with golden fruit.
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Near the tree, a door stood open.
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George crossed the courtyard and stepped inside Mr Duffy's workshop.
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This was one of George's favourite places in all the world and Mr Duffy was one of his favourite people.
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Mr Duffy was leaning over his workbench.
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On the wall beside him, clean but well-used screwdrivers, chisels and pliers of varying sizes were ranged in neat racks alongside hammers and saws.
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Rows of tiny paint pots and varnish stood on narrow shelves with fine, delicate brushes in long plastic boxes and pots of screws and nails.
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Mr Duffy's glasses were perched on the end of his nose and he was looking carefully at a thick piece of wood.
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He ran his long fingers gently over the surface.
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He was frowning a little with an air of concentration.
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He scrutinised the wood for a few seconds then he stood up straight with an expression of satisfaction.
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At that moment, he noticed George and turned towards him with a welcoming smile.
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The most striking thing about Mr Duffy was that he was extremely tall.
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The second most striking thing was that he was extremely thin.
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This always surprised George as he never came to the house without smelling something delicious cooking on the stove.
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He wondered how Mr Duffy stayed so thin when so much tasty food was produced from Mrs Duffy's kitchen.
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Mr Duffy peered at George over the rims of his glasses.
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He had a large nose above a pointed chin and a broad forehead with thick dark eyebrows.
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His short, greying hair stood straight up from his head.
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He seemed to George like a wise old bird, sharp-eyed and thoughtful.
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He always wore a long blue apron which made him look even taller and thinner.
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In the pocket was a short pencil, which he sharpened from time to time with a tiny penknife.
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"Hello, George," said Mr Duffy.
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"Hello, Mr Duffy," replied George.
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Mr Duffy beckoned George to a table against one wall.
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This was the table where Mr Duffy put finished pieces of work.
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There was a large, polished box made of gold-coloured wood and a small round table with intricately carved legs.
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Beside the table was Sally's present.
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It was a small wooden boat.
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Across the middle of the boat were three little benches and each bench had three holes in.
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In each hole was a small round wooden sailor with a blue body, a round head and tiny sailor hat.
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They looked as though they were sitting on the benches.
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Mr Duffy lifted out one of the sailors and showed it to George.
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The sailor had dark hair, rosy cheeks and a curly moustache.
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He was winking in a very cheeky fashion. George laughed.
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He looked at the other sailors.
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All their faces were different.
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Some were old and some were young, but they all looked friendly and cheerful.
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George grinned at Mr Duffy."Sally's really going to love this," he said.
