Christmas at the Market

Jackie: Hello! This is London Life, I'm Jackie Dalton. Christmas is approaching and, as usual, I haven't done my Christmas shopping yet – I suppose that’s because I hate doing it: the huge crowds, the annoying Christmas songs being played in shops and most of all, a complete lack of inspiration when it comes to ideas for what to buy people. It seems the shops are just selling the same old thing every year. But there’s hope! There are some places in London where Christmas shopping can be a bit more interesting and inspiring. These include markets. Today we’re going to find out about one which is particularly popular for Christmas shopping and that's Spitalfields. Both visitors and traders love its lively atmosphere. Emily has a small shop selling unusual home decorations and clothes. What does she like about Spitalfields?

Emily

Well, there’s always something quite magical about this area anyway. I think Spitalfields Market has such a long history. It’s always been involved with creativity, there’s a lot of artists that live in the area and there’s a great energy about the place, so, particularly in festive times such as Christmas, this really comes to the fore.

Jackie: Well, Emily says ‘creativity’ has always been a part of Spitalfields. Creativity – the ability to come up with new and different ideas and make unusual things. She talks about a great energy at the market. She says these things really come to the fore in festive times. What does that mean? If something ‘comes to the fore’, it becomes more noticeable. ‘Festive times’ are times when people are celebrating some kind of event, like Christmas. So Emily reckons that at Christmas you can really see the energy and creativity at Spitalfields market. Now let’s hear about one trader who is being particularly creative for Christmas. Gary is selling hristmas decorations – ‘Christmas decorations’ – things that people put up around the house during the Christmas period to make it look nice…things like sparkly candles and tinsel. But Gary goes a bit further. What’s he offering?

Gary

We try to make each year different. We’ve got, like, Santa on a spaceship, this is, like, supersonic Santa, and we’ve got, like, a reindeer dressed up quite sassy - Twinkletoes.

Jackie: Gary likes to make each year different. This year it’s Santa – or ‘Father Christmas’ but on a spaceship – not something we usually associate with Father Christmas. Gary also sells models of reindeer, the four-legged animals supposedly pull Santa’s sleigh when he flies through the sky. But they're not ordinary models of reindeer, they're actually dressed up and they look quite 'sassy', he says – 'sassy' – quite stylish, as if they're about to go and have a party. Now let’s hear from Diana, who makes jewellery which she sells at Spitalfields. Why does she think the market is a good place to go?

Diana

Everyone knows their goanna get original stuff if they come here.

Jackie: Diane says people go to the market because they know they can find ‘original’ things. ‘Original’ – things that are unusual, a bit different. Diana thinks Spitalfields is not only a good place to visit; it’s also a good place to work. Why is that?

Diana

The people that run it are very fair. They always welcome new people. They always encourage art, they always encourage crafts, they always encourage people that make their own things to come in and do it. A lot of business started up here.

Jackie: Diana reckons Spitalfields is a good place to work because new people are welcome and art and creativity is encouraged. She says a lot of businesses started up there. Diana also likes Spitalfields because of the kinds of people there. What does she like about them? See if you can identify three

things

Diana

There's a lot of people around here – they're creative and intelligent as well. And very generous, really. Most people are very generous here, really sweet.

Jackie: Diana says people are creative, intelligent and generous – generous – kind to others and willing to help them. Spitalfields is, of course, not the only market in London. And each market has something different and special about it, whether it’s the fascinating antiques of Portobello Road or the delicious food of Borough market. But when it comes to creativity and imagination, Spitalfields is certainly one of the best places to go. And I’m pleased to say that when I went there, I managed to buy lots of Christmas presents!

London Life

Slow London

Jackie: Hello you're listening to BBC Learning English, with me Jackie Dalton, and this is London Life.

Many people love the excitement of living in a big city such as London. But for others, things happen a bit too fast – people seem busy and stressed all the time. A group called 'Slow London' wants everyone to slow down and take some time to relax. Perhaps you could walk to work one day instead of driving. Or when you buy a newspaper, take the time to have a friendly chat with the newsagent. But what do people living in London think about all this? Is life in the capital really too fast?

Clip

London Life probably is a bit fast, yeah, walking down the street, rushing to work, getting on the tube, constantly being busy…yeah, I would say it's too fast compared to other cities.

Jackie: She thinks it is a bit fast. She talked about people rushing to work. To 'rush' somewhere is to go there very quickly.

Clip

…rushing to work

Jackie: Rushing to work – something I do every morning. Maybe I should stop and have a coffee on the way in… I'm sure my boss won't mind if I'm a bit late. What does this girl think about the speed of life in London?

Clip

If you can't cut it in this city, you should leave!

Jackie: Ooh, harsh words! 'If you can't cut it, you should leave!' 'You can't cut it' means you can't handle it, you're not strong enough to cope with it.

Clip

I don't think London Life is too fast. If you can't cut it in this city, you should leave!

Jackie: So, perhaps a rather typically London message from that girl – if you can't cut it in this city, you should leave! Does this man think life in the city is too fast?

Clip

Sometimes it is, yeah, yes of course it is.

Do you ever find yourself trying to slow down?

Oh I do, absolutely. I make it a part of my daily schedule to have a moment of slowing down – I go for a swim.

Jackie: Life in London does sometimes seem too fast for him. And he makes it part of his daily schedule to slow down - every day he takes some time to go swimming.

Clip

I make it a part of my daily schedule to have a moment of slowing down – I go for a swim.

Jackie: This next person works in London, but lives in a small village in the countryside. Does she notice a big difference between the two?

Clip

Well, I find London Life quite fast because I don't actually live in London – I work in London, I live out in Kent, in the countryside so I really notice how different the pace is from out in the countryside.

Jackie: She says there's a difference in the pace – 'the pace', the speed of things. The pace in London is faster than in the countryside.

Clip

I really notice how different the pace is from out in the countryside.

Jackie: Our next person is originally from Wales and she also notices the difference in pace.

Clip

Yes, being originally from Wales, it is a lot faster than life down there, when I go back it's at a snail's pace. But I'm young, so I enjoy it here.

Jackie: She says in Wales things seem to go 'at a snail's pace' – very slowly, at about the speed of a snail. She enjoys the faster pace of London.

Clip

…when I go back it's at a snail's pace. But I'm young, so I enjoy it here.

Jackie: But does she ever feel the need to try and slow down when she's in London?

Clip

Yes, I've taken more 'me time' this year – it was one of my New Year's resolutions to have more 'me time' because you could do something every night if you wanted to and it was getting all too much for me.

Jackie: Did you get the answer? Yes. She does try to slow down. She talks about taking more 'me time'. To take 'me time' is an expression meaning to spend more time on yourself and relax or do something you enjoy – instead of putting all your energy into work or family or other things you feel you have to do. She says she decided she needed more 'me time' because it was getting all to much for her – she couldn't cope with it.

Clip

Yes, I've taken more 'me time' this year – it was one of my New Year's resolutions to have more 'me time' because you could do something every night if you wanted to and it was getting all too much for me.

Jackie: This last person has perhaps the most simple comment, but to me it rings very true.

Clip

Well, yes, but once you get used to it, you just think it's normal.

Jackie: I came from a small mountain village in Switzerland to live in London about three years ago. At first, the fast pace was all a bit much for me, with people rushing around everywhere. But now, I hardly notice it and get very annoyed if my train is more than two minutes late. I've got used to it. That must be a sign I'm turning into a real Londoner.

London Life

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 866