2. Casual Business

Mr Hopkinson: Hello. Mr Hopkinson speaking.

Mr Stock: Hello, Tom. Stock here.

Mr Hopkinson: You are just the man I wanted to speak to.

Mr Stock: Well, here I am. What’s it all about, then?

Mr Hopkinson: Well, you know that emergency delivery to Stockholm we were talking about the other day?

Mr Stock: Yes — you mean the “one they wanted delivered by the 25th? Mr Hopkinson: Yes, that’s the one. They’ve been on the telex about it to us only this morning, and now they say they must have it by the beginning of next week. I don’t know. What with that and this[45] big French order we’ve got coming up, I’ve been up to my ears in it[46].

Mr Stock: I see. Then we’d better get it off pretty soon, hadn’t we?

Mr Hopkinson: Yes, they’re counting on us.

Mr Stock: That’s right. I know old Gustavsson pretty well, actually, and I shouldn’t like to let him down either.

Mr Hopkinson: We’ll have to think of something, then, shan’t we? What’s old Gustavsson like, by the way?

Mr Stock: Bit difficult to describe, actually. Round fortyish[47] and a little bit heavy-going[48] perhaps. Got his head screwed on the right way[49], though.

Mr Hopkinson: That was my impression too, actually.

Mr Stock: Anyway, to get back to this delivery job, is there anything in particular that’s holding us up? Haven’t we got all the things we want on hand[50]?

Mr Hopkinson: No, it isn’t that so much. We’re a bit short-handed[51] on the packing side[52], you see. They’ve all been working like the clappers[53] on this French job, and haven’t got round to[54] this other lot yet.

Mr Stock: Let’s see. It’s Friday tomorrow, isn’t it? That makes it a bit tricky[55].

Mr Hopkinson: Look, I’ve been thinking. What about offering the boys in despatch a spot of[56] overtime over the week-end? We can bung[57] the whole lot into one lorry and get it straight off to Hull. Should be on the quayside by Monday morning.

Mr Stock: Yes, of course that’s the answer. Should’ve thought of that before. Well, that’s that one solved then. Better be getting back, I suppose. Will you tell Fred, or shall I?

Mr Hopkinson: Well, I’m seeing him this afternoon in any case so I’ll see to it, if you like, Peter.

Mr Stock: Would you? That’s splendid. Look, I must push off now. I’m seeing that chap from Benson’s at two-thirty.

Mr Hopkinson: Yes, don’t you worry. I’ll see that’s all laid on…[58]. Bye.

Mr Stock: Bye.

EXERCISES

I. Define the meaning of these words and phrases. Make up sentences using them.

surveyor, quick work, subsidence, to hold things up, on account of smth., in writing, to go ahead with arrangements, the outstanding work, to have a free hand, to put it in hand, to be at one’s disposal, to carry on, with any degree of certainty, to stand up to the stress, to get smth. in the post, to get things moving, emergency delivery, to be on the telex, what with that and this, to be up to one’s ears in work, to get smth. off, to count on smb., to let smb. down, round fortyish, heavy-going, to get one’s head screwed on the right way, to hold smb. up, to get things on hand, to be a bit short-handed on smth., to work like the clappers, to make it tricky, to bung the whole lot into one lorry, to push off, all laid on

II. Rephrase these sentences.

1. You’ve taken a load off my mind. 2. That brings us to Thursday morning. 3. I’ll put it in hand straight away. 4. I’m not keeping you from anything? 5. I’ll call in a building expert and get him to examine the chimney. 6. I can get that in the post this evening. 7. I’ll get things moving here. 8. You mean the one they wanted delivered by the 25th. 9. They’ve been on the telex about it to us this morning. 10. What with that and this big French order we’ve got coming up, I’ve been up to my ears in it. 11. Then we’d better get it off pretty soon. 12. Haven’t we got all the things we want on hand? 13. We’re a bit short-handed on the packing-side. 14. What about offering the boys in despatch a spot of overtime over the week-end?

III. Reproduce the telephone conversations as close to the text as possible.

IV. Make up telephone conversations considering these assignments.

1. Brown amp; Co. for some reason or other have not delivered the goods in the stipulated time. Phone the Company and let them know that they are responsible for the delay and have either to make emergency delivery within a week or to pay you a penalty.

2. You are decorating your apartment. The work is progressing very slowly. Phone the manager of the Company and ask him to offer his workmen a spot of overtime over the week-end so that they could finish off all the outstanding work within two days.

3. You’ve been up to your ears in work over the past two weeks and failed to send a book on Soviet art to your colleague. Phone him, offer your apologies and say that you do remember your promise and that you will get the book in the post this afternoon.

В. INFORMAL TELEPHONE COVERSATIONS