listen
Jackie: For this week's podcastsinenglish.com we're talking about a subject that affects everyone: growing older. With me is Robert. Hi, Robert.
Robert: Hello.
Jackie: Robert, how old are you?
Robert: I'm 80 years old.
Jackie: So, at eighty you're... you're an old man, right? How... how does that label sound to you?
Robert: Um... I just feel it's totally inappropriate. I think um... aging is an attitude of mind. Okay, physically sometimes you go to do something that you haven't done for some time and it's much harder, and then you realise that things aren't quite as they used to be, you're not quite as young as you used to be. But in the main you mustn't worry about it, do all the things you can.
Jackie: So for you has growing old been a slow almost unnoticeable process, or did you kind of wake up one morning and think, argghh, I'm old?
Robert: No. I've never thought of myself as being old um... so yes it's a slow process, that... and it's only when you come to do something physically that you haven't done for a while that you think, mmm, I used to be able to do this a lot quicker.
Jackie: Right, so your... your mobility is a bit more restricted then.
Robert: Yes it is, yes.
Jackie: Right, okay.
Robert: It becomes a little harder to do things.
Jackie: A little harder and perhaps it takes a little longer.
Robert: And it takes a little longer. If you can remember what you were doing in the first place. [laughs]
Jackie: So people... people joke about getting old but I mean this thing about memory loss... that happens to you, does it?
Robert: Yes. Something... you're talking about something, and all of a sudden there's a blank, you've...yes, I want to... and I can't remember what it was. It doesn't necessarily mean you you've forgotten entirely, it just takes a little time for the memory cells to bring it to the front.
Jackie: What about um... other things like your sight. That's got worse, has it?
Robert: Not to any great extent, no.
Jackie: Oh. So your eyes... haven't deteriorated?
Robert: They haven't, no. In fact, last time I went for an eye test, they said, “Good heavens, your eyes are a little better than they were a year ago when we tested them so you don't need any new glasses”.
Jackie: Oh, that's good news. What about your hearing?
Robert: Oh, I only hear what I want to hear. [both laugh]
Jackie: But you have the telly turned up a little bit louder now.
Robert: Yes. Yes, you're not as sensitive to the low sounds...
Jackie: Right
Robert: ...we do need telly up, the sound up a little bit.
Jackie: Is there, is there any one thing that you regret not being able to do now that you could do when you were younger?
Robert: Oh, I suppose, for instance scuba diving.
Jackie: Oh, wow!
Robert: I've still got all the gear but there are more restrictions because you've got to have a doctor's certificate, you know, you've got to be tested and this sort of thing and, and of course physically, when you're underwater and you're moving, it takes more effort than you're used to. But it's still great fun.
Jackie: It's still great fun. And um... and I think, yes, er, you said you... you don't see yourself as old and I personally don't think that you look um... very old and you... you seem to have a wonderful life still.
Robert: Oh carry on.. [both laugh]
Jackie: Robert, thank you very much.
Robert: That's all right, a pleasure.
Tra từ điển