A Cup Of English

A Human Sandwich.

26 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

It's not often that(1) I find myself trapped, stuck in the middle of two things. However, I put myself in the middle of two things the other day delib...

Basic pronunciation practice.

25 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Can I help you? Yes please. Which way is it to the college? You are on the right road. Keep going straight, and then take a right. Is it far? No, you'...

A Rubbish Poem.

21 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Throw it, chuck it(1), give it away! All of this furniture can't possibly stay! Every room, cupboard, and closet is filled to the brim(2), But most of...

Memories on the wall.

19 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have photos around your house? Perhaps photos of family and friends? I have been in some people's houses where there are photos in every room. ...

Great Value.

19 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

These days(1) everybody seems to be trying to(2) save money. On the television, we hear about sales, discounts, and 'cash back'(3) on things that we b...

Which language to choose?

14 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Over the years I have collected books and cassettes to learn different languages. I have them lined up(1) on my desk, all in a row: Spanish, French, C...

If You Have The Flu.

12 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The subject of many people's conversations is the flu. Everybody is talking about it. The clinics and hospitals are full of people who have flu sympto...

Teddy For You, Teddy For Me

07 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a rough couple of weeks(1). My three boys have had the flu, and one of them has had two different kinds. As a mother, I try to do all that I...

Analysis Time - A Chemical Ban.

06 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Some state lawmakers are pushing to ban(1) potentially(2) cancer-causing(3) chemicals from children's products and sofas. The two flame retardant(4) c...

Analysis Time - Wolf Debate.

31 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Farmers, ranchers(1) and county officials(2) from Eastern Washington said a plan to manage(3) wolves as they are re-established in the state has good ...

An Elizabethan Collar.

29 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever check your bills? It's a good practice(1), but sometimes seems unnecessary. If you do, however, you might find the occasional odd charge, ...

The Price Of Copper Theft.

25 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Nationwide(1), metal theft has become a serious problem since about 2005, according to(2) a 2010 report on metal theft by the U.S. Department of Justi...

Playing with whales.

22 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

"Mum, can you put in your password?" is a question that I hear almost on a daily basis. My kids are into apps in a big way(1). We are slowly getting s...

Analysis Time - New Gun Laws.

17 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Facing powerful opposition to new gun laws, President Barack Obama is considering(1) 19 steps that he could take through executive action(2). The step...

Lilly.

15 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We have a new addition to our house. It's a furry, playful little thing that, at the moment, is fast asleep(1). Lilly is her name, but I'm not sure if...

Analysis time, - Quiet Books.

10 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

This following paragraph was taken from a home magazine that focuses on storage and using spaces well in the home. It might seem, in this age of elect...

Start the year with light.

07 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

One of the great consolations(1) of the end of the year is a New Year's Eve party. We don't always go to a party on New Year's Eve. Sometimes we prefe...

Spin the wheel.

14 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Now that the Christmas vacation is coming up, we will probably play some board(1) games in the evenings. We have so many of them! There is a big colle...

Hunger in the U.S.

03 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In a recent interview with Howard G. Buffet, farmer, philanthropist, and son of billionaire Warren Buffet, he commented on the relatively unknown prob...

A No-Joke Fruit Cake.

29 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, when I went back to England, I indulged in(1) something that I don't often get to indulge in; fruit cake. It might not seem very important, ...

Storm trooper, hands up!

21 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

When I travel I feel really alive. There is something about getting away from my daily routine that helps me see things from a different perspective. ...

A House Of Fright.

06 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Halloween is a time of screams and fright, horrible faces and hideous (1)costumes. It's a time when people who love to be scared can fill up on that e...

Forest Chocolate.

22 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

My sons love anything to do with survival. I have often seen them playing in the garden, pretending(1) to be lost in a forest. They act out a story(2)...

A good buy.

17 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

I have been trying to think of ways to save time recently. I even read a book once on how to save time, but that took too long. I really admire people...

Kendama fever.

11 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

"Practice makes perfect" is a saying that I've heard ever since (1)I was a little girl. To become good at something, you must practice. We all know th...

How it all started.

05 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

It's time you had an update(1) on the fire situation here in Wenatchee, and the rest of Washington State. Most of the month, we have had smoke in the ...

Fashion dictates.

19 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

"Mum, please don't buy me any clothes. I just want to go shopping for clothes with Dad." This request was made by my almost thirteen year old, and ech...

Fire to the West.

11 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Do you remember a few episodes ago, a podcast called Smoke to the North? We learned how to say that something is going on in a particular direction. W...

Back in business.

06 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

We're back in business! In fact, I'm back in business. This is an English expression, an idiom(1). And what does it mean? It means that things are wor...

NBC Olympic frustration.

10 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, I'm frustrated. I haven't seen the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. I've been searching on the internet, but all I can find are a few...

Smoke to the north.

24 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The view from the back of our house faces north, looking at the hills on either side of the Columbia river. They are brown this time of year, after a ...

King Tut - where's the mask?

02 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Once in a while a fabulous opportunity comes along, an opportunity to experience something excellent and unusual, a wonder of the world, perhaps. I ha...

Geocaching.

05 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Field trips are always fun for school children. The typical trips are to museums, parks, and science centers. Of course, it depends on where you live....

Money For Blondes.

25 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

I came across some interesting information the other day, bizarre information, crazy information, that has led me on a journey of discovery. I was wat...

A hanging head.

21 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Recently I've had the strangest feeling when I've been alone at home. My husband is at work, and my children are at school, so I should be alone. I do...

A Time For Parades.

14 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

There is a festival in this town that brings in thousands of visitors, and livens(1) the valley for over a week. It's called Apple Blossom. By the nam...

Learning in the past.

03 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

I was fortunate enough (1)the other day to go on a field trip with the school that my son attends. As his school doesn't have a bus, parent volunteers...

Water for Africa - analysis time.

30 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists say the notoriously dry continent of Africa is sitting on(1) a vast reservoir of groundwater. They say that the total volume of water in aq...

Ethanol anybody?

25 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast is going to test your knowledge of ethanol. What is it? How is it made? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of using it? I a...

When will she arrive?

17 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Waiting, waiting, waiting. It's difficult to do sometimes. I found myself waiting a couple of weeks ago at Seattle International Airport. My sister an...

Exciting science.

05 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Science can be so exciting. I was listening to the BBC World Service the other day while I was driving in my car. Their series called Science in Actio...

Umtanum.

26 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Yakima is a small city located an hour and a half's drive(1) from Wenatchee. It is a wide valley, famous for its grapes and apples. We were there last...

Analysis time, reviving ancient flowers.

20 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Because many of you have responded positively to my new series 'Analysis time', we will continue with a particularly interesting one today taken from ...

Analysis time, a Chinese revolt.

07 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Today we will analyze part of a newspaper article in depth. Wukan, China - The Chinese fishing village that went into open revolt(1) against governmen...

An intimidating meeting.

05 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, as some of you know, I met with the Superintendent of Wenatchee Schools. I was very nervous, for some reason. I had never met him before, t...

Analysis time - community colleges.

27 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Community colleges still don't get the dollars of their four-year counterparts(1), but they're standing very much in the spotlight(2) these days. Pres...

Xephos and Honeydew, in Minecraft.

23 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

This title is the kind that gets attention, isn't it? I first heard about these two characters a few days ago. My three boys play an on-line game call...

A swimming lesson.

21 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Every Tuesday, I volunteer to drive several kids from school to the local swimming pool. They go once a week* for six weeks for a full hour*. It's act...

No words please.

16 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

What's one of the best ways to get refreshed? Exercise. I find, that I am a different person after I've exercised. What I mean by this is that I feel ...

Analysis time.

10 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Some of my listeners have asked me to examine and explain English phrases and vocabulary in depth. I think that that is a great idea. In order to do t...

Ivar's of Seattle.

08 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

During Christmas vacation, we took a trip to Seattle to see the Nutcracker ballet, and to enjoy some time in the city. You might not know a lot about ...

Loaded nachos.

02 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Studies show that the favorite food in the U.S is Mexican. The traditional hot dog and hamburger have to take second and third places, because the tas...

The wrong shoes.

31 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

I haven't ever had a reason to visit a podiatrist (which is what we call a foot doctor), until recently. I don't have any problem with my feet, thankf...

Dirt bike night.

28 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

It was Friday night, and we had tickets for a special event. Our local Town Toyota Center was going to host a dirtbike show. We had six tickets, so th...

Here at last.

25 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

There has been a scraping sound in Wenatchee for about a week. It's the sound of snow shovels. Finally, the snow is here. And there isn't just a littl...

Amaryllis.

12 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Something has grown in my mother's kitchen this Winter. It is tall, beautiful, and bright red. If you're in the room, you can't help but * look at it....

Cave spotting.

11 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

It's been such a mild Winter. There has been no sign of snow for weeks and weeks, which is very odd. Christmas didn't feel very Christmasy because of ...

Graduation day.

01 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

There was a special day to celebrate, back in November. A friend of mine was graduating from a nursing program(me) which she had been in for two years...

Waiting to go South.

17 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year when a lot of people are waiting to go South. Normally, by now, we would have snow, lots of it, and icy roads. This year, howev...

A surprise package.

12 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

My morning routine has ups and downs*. First thing in the morning, I find myself rushing around like a frantic woman, trying to get my children up out...

An unusual way to advertise.

06 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever watch the programs (programmes) on television that show the funniest international advertisements? They generally come out about Christmas...

Student of the month.

05 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What kind of characteristics or behavior can get you the title of Student of the Month? What would you imagine them to be? Intelligent? Avid* reader? ...

Oh my Cannon!

30 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Those of you who have been listening to my podcast for the past three years, will know that I have complained about my camera on quite a few occasions...

Do you Skyrim?

18 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The tenth of November was a day of great excitement for my son, Hudson. He had been waiting for months for a new video game to be released. Skyrim is ...

Please don't shoot!

17 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Those of you have been following my podcasts over the past few months, will know that my husband has recently 'got into'*hunting. He is now fully lice...

A Round Robin Tea Party.

08 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I had never heard of a Round Robin, until this past Sunday. My friend, Jody, invited me to a ladies' round robin in the town of Issaquah which is on t...

Suspicious bills.

04 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Paying bills can be such a pain. It's a necessary evil. It's also something that keeps us honest: when we have to look at our true expenses in the fac...

Potato Power.

02 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Skagit Valley is a beautifully dreamy green valley located between the Cascade Mountains and the Puget Sound. It is very close to the border with ...

Rats in the house.

26 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Halloween has become a bigger and more celebrated holiday over the past few years. I suspected that it would. There is something innately fun about be...

Old Man Rattlesnake and the salmon.

21 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

During my visit to the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery, there were several Native American displays. One was a story telling session, inside a large, colorf...

Delivering the Bobcat.

12 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, I had the most unusual thing to do. If you had asked me a couple of years ago if I could see myself doing what I did yesterday, I would hav...

Voices of the Colville Indians.

04 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

On my recent trip to Leavenworth, I had an unexpected opportunity to see a song and dance performance by the Colville Native American Indian tribe. As...

Raptors at the Salmon Festival.

03 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It was field trip day last week for Robert who is in third grade. He was particularly excited because it wasn't going to be the ordinary kind of field...

Figpickels Toy Emporium.

21 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It was during this Summer vacation that my family and I came across the best toy shop that I have ever been to. It was in the town of Coeur d'Alene, i...

Friends From Estonia.

12 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This past weekend was very special. We had friends to stay. What made the weekend special was that, at the beginning of their stay, we actually didn't...

Goodbye Summer!

08 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Summer has been and gone, can you believe it? For me, it has flown*. I suppose you have been wondering, "Where on earth is Anna? Has she fallen off th...

Chore time.

17 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

There is a simple principle that can be applied to all homes: if you don't do the chores, the place becomes like a pig pen. But, if you're wise, you c...

All the tents in the backyard.

01 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

"We've got a bunch of poles missing," said my husband *in a huff, as he got in his car to go to a meeting. He had been looking in the storage area abo...

4000,000 boxes of cherries.

26 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I learned a few things this past weekend about the fruit industry. My husband has been involved in national and international export of fruit for over...

Tyler Farrar from Wenatchee.

22 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

For those of you who are following the Tour de France, you will recognize the name Tyler Farrar. He is from the town where I live, Wenatchee. The fact...

Airsoft beebees.

18 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

*It's no secret that boys of a certain age like guns, even if they are *make-believe. I remember that before my boys ever had any plastic weapons, the...

Chirping Chicks.

07 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, I haven't been getting much sleep recently. It seems as though* the whole world is noisy. It's summer, and every living thing is feeling fully ali...

Preparation for a barbecue.

06 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things I like most about Summer is barbecuing. As a person who cooks all the time, it's so nice to have a break from the kitchen, and to do...

A Morning Routine.

29 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A routine is a habit, often one that gives us comfort, or some sort of benefit. We say in English that we are 'creatures of habit'. Humans like to hav...

Watermelon eating competition.

27 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Are you enjoying your Summer? It is in full swing now. The clothes shops are full of swimming suits, bikinis, and barbecue equipment. Flowers are out,...

Summer Camps Are Here.

22 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first week of Summer vacation. The first couple of days seemed a bit unreal; my two youngest kept on asking if they had school the next da...

A Project of Renovation.

14 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I have an excuse for not updating my podcast for a few days, honestly....I dove into a renovation project in my house. It's something that I have want...

Eloy Flying at Kiwanis.

12 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I bet if you have downloaded this podcast, you are wondering what on earth it is about. I know, the title is curious. Well, let me tell you. I'm in th...

Stetson Hats.

07 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I know a few people who have Stetsons. Infact, when my brother was visiting a few months ago, he bought himself a couple. They are good quality, and l...

The First Transpacific Flight.

07 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Clyde Edward Pangborn, a stunt pilot, and flight instructor during the First World War, arrived in Wenatchee on October 5th, 1931, after 41 hours and ...

Squirt Guns.

01 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I have noticed recently in the shops, a new season of toys on the shelves. When I say a season of toys, what I mean is a new set of toys for this warm...

A Yard of Bubblegum.

31 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We had an interesting weekend this past Memorial Day weekend. We went to the town of Monroe which is on the outskirts of Seattle. My son had a basebal...

Thanks for the million downloads.

27 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This is a very special podcast because I have some thanking to do. Every now and then, I check on the statistics of my podcast, and yesterday I saw th...

Security on wheels.

24 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You can really feel that Summer is on its way. Everyone is coming out of the woodwork. People are actually walking on the streets. You don't often see...

The Instrument Zoo.

23 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's not very often that you get the opportunity to try out many kinds of instruments. Have you ever blown a bassoon? Have you ever strummed an electr...

Who invented the Garp?

19 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Like many good things, the Garp started out as an idea. A boy had been told by his Science teacher to make an instrument involving specific measuremen...

A Food Drive?

18 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What does a food drive mean? It's nothing to do with driving a car, that's for sure. You could also have a clothes drive, or a drive of something else...

No podcast today.

17 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Hello everyone, no podcast today, I'm afraid. For a few days I have a lot of appointments lined up. So, I will podcast again on Wednesday. I'll let yo...

An up-to-date Morris Park.

16 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Morris Park is loved by many people in Wenatchee. It is a little league baseball park that has been around for more than forty years. Up until recentl...

Native American Sculptures.

13 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Art seems to be a very personal thing, as far as what a person does and doesn't like. You must have found that, at some point in time, you have been i...