Episode 4: everything's blurred

In this 4 part series, we drop in on two characters called Flo and Elsie. In episode 4, we hear Elsie talking about her new glasses.

(Flo and Elsie bump into each other on the way to the shops)

Flo: Elsie! Are you okay? You look a bit flustered!

Elsie: Oh it’s you Flo! I didn’t see you there! Not really, love, not really.

Flo: What’s up, love?

Elsie: It’s these new glasses I got fitted with yesterday.

Flo: I thought you were looking different!

Elsie: Yes, the opticians said I needed glasses so he gave me these. I can’t see a thing!

Flo: Oh no … did you say anything at the time?

Elsie: I didn’t like to be rude, he was such a pleasant fellow. I thought things seemed a bit blurred. I realised there was a problem when I started talking to a lamp post in the street. I thought it were a person!

Flo: Oh love. That’s no good.

Elsie: I know. And my favourite programme is on tonight. Antiques Roadshow. I’m worried I won’t be able to see the screen!

Flo: Well, that’s no good, love. Go back to the opticians and say you need new glasses.

Elsie: Do you think so?

Flo: Definitely. I’m free this afternoon. Do you want me to come with you?

Elsie: Would you? Oh, you are a love. Thank you! We could have a cup of tea in the café on the way home.

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Written by Jennifer Wright

Flo: Jennie Cole

Elsie: Hilary Gibson

With thanks to:

Jo Haver: for playing Elsie in the photographs

Trish Stennett: for taking the photographs

Chris Spencer: for recording the jingle

Episode 3: that new shopping centre

In this 4 part series, we drop in on two characters called Flo and Elsie. In episode 3, we hear Flo & Elsie talking about the new shopping centre.

Flo and Elsie talk on the phone:

(phone ringing, Elsie picks up)

Elsie: Hello?

Flo: Morning, Elsie, it’s Flo here.

Elsie: Oh, hello Flo, nice to hear from you.

Flo: I was ringing to ask what you were doing today. Do you want to meet in the café on the high street for a cup of tea later?

Elsie: Well, I’ve just got in, Flo. I went into town today to see that new shopping centre.

Flo: Ah yes, which one’s that then?

Elsie: You know, the one at the bottom of Albert Street, near the train station.

Flo: Oh, I haven’t been there yet. I heard it had opened last week. What’s it like, Elsie?

Elsie: It’s very cold, Flo. Very, very cold.

Flo: Oh dear. That’s not good.

Elsie: I can’t afford to shop in there, it’s for the rich folk, attract them in, not for the likes of us, Flo.

Flo: Oh dear.

Elsie: Very cold, it’s not for us poor folk who live here, more to get people to come and visit. And it’s very big. Hundreds of shops in there. How can I get round all of THEM?

Flo: I couldn’t with my bad leg. Oh dear. Maybe I won’t bother going then.

Elsie: The toilets are nice though. They’ve got those new hand driers in. Blue lights and everything. Very modern.

Flo: That sounds nice. Maybe I will go in if the toilets are nice. Can’t hurt to look.

Elsie: Well, if you do, remember it’s very cold, wrap up warm, Flo. Now what’s that you were saying about a cup of tea this afternoon…?

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Written by Jennie Cole  (with thanks to the 2  ladies on the local bus, who inspired this script)

Flo: Jennie Cole

Elsie: Hilary Gibson

With thanks to:

Jo Haver: for playing Elsie in the photographs

Trish Stennett: for taking the photographs

Chris Spencer: for recording the jingle

Episode 2: the price of things today

In this 4 part series, we drop in on two characters called Flo and Elsie. In this second episode, we hear Flo & Elsie talking about food prices in supermarkets.

Flo: What’s that you’ve got there, Elsie?

Elsie: It’s a digestive biscuit Flo.

Flo: Oh I LOVE digestives. Especially the chocolate ones.

Elsie: I do too. But I tell you something …

Flo: What’s that?

Elsie: They haven’t half gone up in price recently!

Flo: Well you know why that is, don’t you!

Elsie: No?

Flo: Price of wheat. It’s skyrocketed. Just you look around your local supermarket you’ll notice!

Elsie: Really?

Flo: YES! Rice, bread, tea, chocolate …. Everything is more expensive now than it was this time last year. I wouldn’t mind but I’m on a pension! These supermarkets, they don’t think about that, do they!

Elsie: Oh I know what you mean … I can barely afford to feed my cat never mind myself.

Flo: It gets you down doesn’t it, Elsie.

Elsie: It really does, yes.

Flo: Here have another biscuit. While we can still afford it.

Elsie: I think I will.

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Written by Jennifer Wright

Flo: Jennie Cole

Elsie: Hilary Gibson

With thanks to:

Jo Haver: for playing Elsie in the photographs

Trish Stennett: for taking the photographs

Chris Spencer: for recording the jingle

Episode 1: why don't you...? 

In this 4 part series, we drop in on two characters called Flo and Elsie. In this first episode, Flo doesn't know what to do at the weekend and we hear Elsie offering lots of suggestions. 

Flo: I don't know what to do this weekend…

Elsie: Ahh, okay, erm, why don't you go to the cinema?

Flo: It's too expensive, I haven't got any money.

Elsie: Hmm, okay. Maybe you could go to the park?

Flo: Oh, it's too cold!

Elsie: Right, right okay, well, the city museum - that’s free.

Flo: Oh, it's a bit far from my house.

Elsie: Mmm, well, I don't know, maybe you could go for a run, do you like running?

Flo: Oh, I've got a bad leg!

Elsie: What about going to see a friend or going to see someone in your family?

Flo: Oh, that's a good idea!

Elsie: Yeah, yeah

Flo: Oh, thanks for that!

Elsie: It's okay.

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Written by Jennifer Wright & Jennie Cole

Flo: Jennie Cole

Elsie: Hilary Gibson

With thanks to:

Jo Haver: for playing Elsie in the photographs

Trish Stennett: for taking the photographs

Chris Spencer: for recording the jingle

Listen to Roya from Iran, introducing herself and talking about where she lived before coming to Leeds. She also talks about her hobbies and what she enjoys doing.

Listen to Gheorghina talking about how she coped when she was ill with coronavirus. She talks about spending time with her family and shares her new lockdown hobby, playing chess with her son. She also tells us what this experience has taught her.  

Listen to Hamida reading her story called Nora and The War. Hamida won a college creative writing competition for this story. Before Hamida reads her story, she talks about how winning the competition made her feel. 

NORA AND THE WAR

Nora was born in a nice country with a beautiful big house and a beautiful garden. She loved the garden because there were beautiful red flowers. She liked to stay in the garden and draw.

The area where she was living was so beautiful and there were a lot of gardens and the people were kind and friendly. They were like a family: working together and helping each other, but not all the people had money, just Nora’s family were rich. Nora didn’t like to leave this area because all her life had always been this area since she was born and their life was simple. All her cousins were living there and they were in school and happy. They were playing together and going out together. Nora also had a lot of friends. She was so happy and she wasn't worried about anything. She was a sensitive child and she loved to study and to draw and paint: she was always creating amazing pictures.

On one day, everything changed. When She woke up. She opened her eyes and heard the bombs. She ran to her window and saw the people were running. She ran downstairs to see her family. She didn’t believe what she saw when her cousin died. She was shocked! Her family took her and left the area. Nora thought of her cousin and cried. Her dad said to her, “We have to go or we will die, Nora.” Mum said, “Get into this car come on!” When Nora was in the car she watched the people in the streets: how they were running and crying. They left the area and the beautiful house and happiness.

They went to the countryside. When they arrived in the countryside the people said to them “Don’t worry: that will not take a long time before you are back home again.” All people thought that but it took months and they lived with their cousin in the same house. It wasn't easy for them because their life had changed so much. They didn’t live in their house and couldn't do what they wanted because in the countryside they had to get up early and wake up early at 5am and they should use their washing machine to clean their own clothes and buy food for all the people There were a lot of families and they spent all their money on this Nora was only young (12 years old) she wasn’t happy anymore because she didn’t have friends or a beautiful house and she couldn’t draw or see her red flowers in her garden. Nora asked her father, “When will they go back, Dad?” and she was sad. He hugged her and said, “Don’t be sad: we will go back tomorrow.”

After that, they went to sleep. On this night Nora couldn’t sleep because she was so happy: she was thinking about tomorrow how she wanted to go back to her beautiful house.

In the morning, they went to their area by car. Nora was smiling and thinking about how she would see her friends and her beautiful garden and her father bought some food for them because the journey would take two hours.

When they arrived they didn’t see the beautiful area because most of the houses were destroyed and Nora's friends weren’t there. She didn’t see her beautiful red flowers. Her mother held her hand and took her to the house as Nora started to cry.

The war stole everything beautiful in her life.

Listen to Ebrahim talking how he used his time in lockdown to learn how to cook. Ebrahim also talks about his plans to travel when lockdown ends. 

Where does Ebrahim want to travel to?

Does Ebrahim want to travel to a hot or a cold country?

Can you make a list of 3 hot countries and 3 cold countries?

Where would you like to travel to?

Would you prefer to travel to a hot or a cold country? Why?

Listen to Maria talking about lockdown and how she's learned to be patient during this time. She talks about enjoying having more family time and what her lockdown daily routine is like. She also talks about what she misses and how she enjoys having more time to read novels and write short stories.  

Listen to Nelson talking about the 'new normal' and how he's spending time with his family. He talks about how he's used technology to bring his family together and how he's had to learn how to cut hair and be the family barber.