Hi, Rachel. Thanks for phoning back. Listen, you're going to see the New York City Ballet, aren't you? ... Have you still got the brochure there? ... Great. So do they give the exact dates? ... Oh, really? I didn't realise it was so soon. Thank goodness I phoned you because I'd hate to miss it. I'd better give them a ring ... You're going next Friday, you say? Shall I see if they've got any for then because that would be nice, wouldn't it?

To start with, I must admit that I had my doubts. I didn't think Alex Casey would be able to leave the film-script style behind. But even though the characters are a bit predictable, they are so colourful that you can't help but engage with them. And
they're portrayed with a good deal of sensitivity, so you really care what happens to them. Then there's the very unusual plot, which keeps you gripped until the very last page. In fact, it would probably transfer very well to either stage or screen and because it's Casey, you immediately think of that. But actually, it works well enough as it is.

A: Can I help?
B: Yes, I'd like to move to the back, so I'm not disturbed so much by the noise of the traffic.
A: Well, it is the holiday period, Madam, so we're fully booked and ...
B: I appreciate that. But if I'd known how much noise there'd be, I would've gone elsewhere. I might as well put my bed on the motorway.
A: I'll see what can be done. Would you like to take a seat in the bar over there while I have a word with the manager?
B: I'm just on my way to the dining room, actually.
A: Very well, Madam.

A: So what did you think of it?
B: It was all right but, you know, it ... it didn't really live up to the hype, did it?
A: Oh I thought visually it was really good.
B: Well, the special effects were OK, I suppose, but I hadn't really expected all that in this sort of film. If you ask me, though, they'd have done a lot better to stick to the plot of the original a bit more closely. Much as I liked Julia Roberts, it just didn't hold my attention, I'm afraid.
A: Well, I haven't read the book so I don't know but I think she was just brilliant.

A: I lent him that CD ages ago. I keep dropping hints whenever I see him in the canteen but either he's forgotten or just doesn't want to give it back to me.
B: Some people are very thoughtless, aren't they?
A: Well, I wouldn't mind, except it was a birthday present and I haven't really listened to it myself yet. My son bought it for me. If I knew him better, I'd ask for it straight out but I don't want to fall out with someone new like that.
B: It's difficult to know what to do, isn't it?

Don't get me wrong. It's mostly worthwhile stuff they've got there. It's just the way it's been put together that I don't like. I mean, it would be much better if all the works were grouped in some kind of logical way - you know, according to period,
theme or whatever. You can't argue with the amount of background information available, which is very thorough, but if all you want to do is see a particularly brilliant painting or watercolour or whatever, you've got to go past all this other
stuff to get to it. Some people will be exhausted by the time they're halfway round, if you ask me.

A: I was a bit surprised, really. I was expecting something more - I don't know - progressive, I suppose, this time.
B: What, you mean like their last album? That went in a very different direction to the first one.
A: Yes, it was more a mix of genres, wasn't it? It was brilliant and groundbreaking in many ways but this has a completely different feel. The lyrics are really interesting -it has more in common with their original one around ten
years ago.
B: That's what I thought- kind of more confident and relaxed. It's no bad thing, though.
A: Absolutely. It could be their best one yet.

A: I love going to the cinema but the popular films get booked up so fast - it's totally ridiculous! I mean, if you phone, it's just engaged all the time and by the time you get through, there are no decent seats. You have more chance for afternoon performances and they're cheaper but not everyone can go then, can they?
B: Wouldn't it be quicker to book online?
A: I suppose so but not everyone of our age is that good with computers. And that's if they've got one in the first place.
B: That's true. They should really make sure they have more people manning the phones.
A: Or hold back a certain amount of seats for retired people who can then just turn up on the night.