Key — Listening 1 Homework

Rental Agent: Good morning! Ace accommodation, how can I help you?

Client: Good morning, I'd like to organise a short stay accommodation on the Gold Coast please.

Rental Agent: Certainly, who am I speaking to?

Client: Miss Mackinlay. Sylvia Mackinlay.

Rental Agent: Spell your family name, please.

Client: It's M-A-C-K-I-N-L-A-Y.

Rental Agent: Thank you. And your first name is Sylvia?

Client: Yes.

Rental Agent: Is that with an 'i' or a 'y'?

Client: A 'y'—the old fashioned way. That's S-Y-L-V-I-A.

Rental Agent: Thank you, Miss Mackinlay. Now, just for our records, can you tell me what country you live in?

Client: Of course—it's England actually.

Rental Agent: I thought so. Now, when are you coming?

Client: Well, at the moment we're planning on arriving on July 26th.

Rental Agent: Ooh, the 25th, that's the last day of the public holiday and it might be difficult to find something available on that date.

Client: No, we're coming on the 26th of July.

Rental Agent: Oh, well that's fine then. We'll have lots of good places vacant by then although you wouldn't be able to move in until late afternoon because our cleaning crew will need time to get everything ready for you.

Client: That suits us—our flight won't get in until early evening anyway.

Rental Agent: How many of you will there be?

Client: Just my sister and myself.

Rental Agent: And how long do you intend to stay?

Client: Oh, only a couple of weeks, we'd like to stay longer but we'll have to get back to work.

Rental Agent: So, you're not coming on business then?

Client: No, it's just a holiday. Why? What difference does that make?

Rental Agent: Oh you'd be surprised. Business people have different needs you know. Wireless internet, even fax machines and photocopiers.

Client: No, we won't need any of that stuff, we'll be coming to relax and get away from all that kind of thing.

Rental Agent: Good. Now, what exactly are you looking for? A house, a duplex or an apartment?

Client: What's a duplex?

Rental Agent: Oh, that's what you might call a townhouse or a unit—you know, two houses semi-detached on the same property.

Client: Oh, I see. I think an apartment will suit us just fine.

Rental Agent: And how many bedrooms? Two?

Client: One or two—it depends on the size. My sister and I don't mind sharing if it's a decent size bedroom with two beds.

Rental Agent: Well, that makes it easier. And car parking? Will you require a lock-up garage? They're a little harder to find with an apartment.

Client: We'll have a hire car and as far as I know there are no regulations concerning car parking. I think as long as it's not parked on the street and it's secure there shouldn't be any problems.

Rental Agent: Okay. Now, I'm assuming you want something by the beach?

Client: Yes, that's the idea. We want to enjoy the surf, sand and sunshine.

Rental Agent: Okay, but before we settle on an area and discuss your price range, I'll need to know about other necessities.

Client: What do you mean?

Rental Agent: Well, for example, do you want to be close to a shopping mall or the casino or the fun parks? Or do you want to be in a complex with or near a swimming pool?

Client: No, none of that really matters to us but we'd like to have reasonable access to the motorway so that we can drive up to Brisbane to visit friends there.

Rental Agent: Well, there are quite a few lovely small towns to choose from. There's Main Beach which is north of Surfers' Paradise or Mermaid Waters which is a bit further south or Palm Beach which is quite a bit further south.

Client: Mermaid Waters sounds delightful. Is it close to the motorway?

Rental Agent: Well, not really, the M1 is actually closest to Palm Beach and prices are likely to be more reasonable there too.

Client: That's settled then, Palm Beach it is.

Rental Agent: Now, if you'll just give me your email address, I can send you information about the town and lots of photos.

Client: Well, my email is S-M-A-C 13 at hotmail dot com.

Rental Agent: And, one final thing, how much are you looking to spend per week on accommodation? Do you want something at the luxury end of the market—you know, newly redecorated, great views, all the mod cons…

Client: Not necessarily. Could we get something clean, comfortable and reasonable for $1200 a week?

Rental Agent: Could you stretch that to 1500 a week? I've got a property in mind that you'll absolutely love but you'd have to go to 1500. 1200 wouldn't cover it.

Client: Alright, then. But that's our top limit.

Rental Agent: Good. I'll get on to this straight away and there should be something in your inbox shortly.

Agent: Ah, good morning, Mr Rich, isn't it?

Mr Rich: That's right; Raymond Rich of ICT Industries.

Agent: ICT Industries. Just a moment while I put that on the form.

Now, you're looking for new office space, is that right?

Mr Rich: Yes, our present lease is due to expire soon and as the company is expanding anyway we need to find somewhere to move to.

Agent: Do you prefer the suburbs, the city or a commercial zone on the outskirts?

Mr Rich: Well, currently we're in a very pleasant suburb but as I said we've outgrown that building. As we've got to move anyway, I think the city centre is where we want to be — right in the heart of things.

Agent: I see, anywhere in particular?

Mr Rich: Yes, somewhere in the vicinity of the main transport centre because I have a large staff and car-parking in the city is terribly expensive. I think it would be a good idea if we didn't use our cars at all.

Agent: Exactly what size premises are you looking for?

Mr Rich: Good question. Something more than the 10,000 square metres we have at present should do it.

Agent: Shall we say... 12,000 square metres?

Mr Rich: That's probably about right. Yes, I think that would meet our needs.

Agent: Just how many employees do you have to accommodate?

Mr Rich: Forty in all. But only fourteen will have their own offices. The rest will be in open-plan shared offices.

Agent: Oh, I forgot to ask — do any of your employees have extra requirements? Will we need to consider people with disabilities?

Mr Rich: Yes, actually, there is one in a wheelchair who'll need suitable access and another who can walk just a few paces — she uses a mobility scooter, so we'd need to make sure all facilities, especially toilet facilities, were suitable and accessible and we'd also need to be either on the ground floor or to find a secure place by the lifts for Mrs Jackson to park her scooter.

Agent: I'll need to keep that in mind when I come up with property for you to look at. Now, when are you thinking of moving?

Mr Rich: Well, our current lease expires in August so we'd like to have the move completed by then of course.

Agent: Well, there is a very suitable property that I have in mind here in the city but the owners want a lease signed by the end of this month, May.

Mr Rich: Ooh, too early I'm afraid. I'd be ready to sign up by the end of June though.

Agent: Shall we say signed up by the 1st of July and moved by the end of that month?

Mr Rich: Definitely.

Agent: Well, I'll keep your requirements in mind and let you know when something comes up. Wait a minute... there is vacant office space on the tenth floor of this very building. Would you care to take a look? It has only just become available but I haven't started marketing it yet because it's in need of a bit of a makeover. The floor area is about the right size...

Mr Rich: Good, let's see it then.

Agent: Well, what do you think? Elevator access is great and the lobby area is roomy enough for that disability vehicle you were telling me about.

Mr Rich: Oh, I don't know, there are too many small offices. Would we be able to take out a few of these walls and make bigger work areas?

Agent: I don't see why not — most of them are just partitions — obviously load-bearing walls can't be touched but there aren't many of those to worry about.

Mr Rich: What about kitchen and dining facilities? We like our staff to feel comfortable eating at work — if they go out for lunch, it often leads to extended lunch hours and lost time.

Agent: Come this way — this is the kitchen.

Mr Rich: Oh, it's a bit poky; we'd need to enlarge it somehow. What's behind the wall here?

Agent: That's just a storeroom. You could take out that wall and expand into that space.

Mr Rich: Then what would we do for a storeroom?

Agent: Ah, well, see that tiny office near the entrance? It has no external windows or natural light — it would make an ideal storeroom.

Mr Rich: Yes, you're right. The whole place is a bit dilapidated — obviously in need of that redecoration you were talking about — and I don't just mean a coat of new paint. I think all the light fittings would have to be modernized, those broken blinds have to be replaced and this old blue carpet definitely has to go.

Agent: I agree. That's something we can negotiate with the owner. But... overall, do you think it would fit your requirements?

Mr Rich: Well, you haven't given me any indication of what the lease would cost but before we get into that, what are the terms of the lease concerning length of tenancy?

Agent: Well, generally in the city leases are never less than three years.

Mr Rich: Oh? I mean we don't mind signing up for that period of time initially but we don't necessarily want to have to move after that — we've been in our last place for ten years, you know.

Agent: Well, the usual agreement is a three by three by two — that's a contract for three years with entitlement to extension for three years and then another two years after that. But let me speak to the owner first.

Mr Rich: Mmm... and one more thing: we have to consider the time frame — remember my current lease is due to expire in August.

Agent: Well, with reliable contractors, it shouldn't take more than a couple of months to do the necessary refit...

MARTIN: Good morning. This is Burnham tourist, Martin speaking.

SUE: Oh, hello. I saw a poster about free things to do in the area, and it said people should phone you for information. I'm coming to Burnham with my husband and two children for a few days on June the 27th, or possibly the 28th, and I'd like some ideas for things to do on the 29th.

MARTIN: Yes, of course. OK. Then let's start with a couple of events especially for children. The art gallery is holding an event called 'Family Welcome' that day, when there are activities and trails to use throughout the gallery.

SUE: That sounds interesting. What time does it start?

MARTIN: The gallery opens at 10, and the 'Family Welcome' event runs from 10.30 until 2 o'clock. The gallery stays open until 5. And several times during the day, they're going to show a short film that the gallery has produced. It demonstrates how ceramics are made, and there'll be equipment and materials for children to have a go themselves. Last time they ran the event, there was a film about painting, which went down very well with the children, and they're now working on one about sculpture.

SUE: I like the sound of that. And what other events happen in Burnham?

MARTIN: Well, do you all enjoy listening to music?

Well there are several free concerts taking place at different times - one or two in the morning, the majority at lunchtime, and a couple in the evening. And they range from pop music to Latin American.

SUE: The Latin American could be fun. What time is that?

MARTIN: It's being repeated several times, in different places. They're performing in the central library at 1 o'clock, then at 4 it's in the City Museum, and in the evening, at 7.30, there's a longer concert, in the theatre.

SUE: Right. I'll suggest that to the rest of the family.

MARTIN: Something else you might be interested in is the boat race along the river.

SUE: Oh, yes, do tell me about that.

MARTIN: The race starts at Offord Marina, to the north of Burnham, and goes as far as Summer Pool. The best place to watch it from is Charlesworth Bridge, though that does get rather crowded.

Well, local boat clubs, but the standard is very high. One of them came first in the West of England regional championship in May this year - it was the first time a team from Burnham has won. It means that next year they'll be representing the region in the national championship.

SUE: Now I've heard something about Paxton Nature Reserve. It's a good place for spotting unusual birds, isn't it?

MARTIN: That's right - throughout the year. There is a lake there, as well as a river, and they provide a very attractive habitat. So it's a good idea to bring binoculars if you have them. And just at the moment you can see various flowers that are pretty unusual - the soil at Paxton isn't very common. They're looking good right now.

SUE: Right. My husband will be particularly interested in that.

MARTIN: And there's going to be a talk and slide show about mushrooms - and you'll be able to go out and pick some afterwards and study the different varieties.

SUE: Uhuh. And is it possible for children to swim in the river?

MARTIN: Yes. Part of it has been fenced off to make it safe for children to swim in. It's very shallow, and there's a lifeguard on duty whenever it's open. The lake is too deep, so swimming isn't allowed there.

SUE: OK, we must remember to bring their swimming things, in case we go to Paxton. How long does it take to get there by car from Burnham?

MARTIN: About 20 minutes, but parking is very limited, so it's usually much easier to go by bus - and it takes about the same time.

SUE: Right. Well. I'll discuss the options with the rest of the family. Thanks very much for all your help.