英语访谈对话 490 The Time Change

 　　Todd: Now Steven, I'm single and, but you are married and you are a father, correct?

　　Steven: That is correct, yeah.

　　Todd: OK. I'm just curious. What is it like being a father?

　　Steven: Ah, right. OK, well, I think if I first of all talk about what it was like not being a father, being me and not being a father. I think I used to make the most of my free time, well in fact I didn't make the most of my free time. I was a very lazy person. I was an incredible¹ time waster, so I would have all of this free time to make use of and I would probably just sit in front of the TV, or I'd probably go to a pub² and drink, but anyway I took my time for granted³. I thought I have this time. It wasn't such a precious⁴ thing for me. I had so much of it.

　　Once I became a father, suddenly my time disappeared but strangely enough, now that I've become a father and I've, it's taught me to appreciate the time I have. My time is now very limited. My work has become busier but I actually make much more use of my time now than when I did so much of it. It's kind of strange.

　　Todd: And how many children do you have?

　　Steven: Ah, two. BOys,

　　Todd: Oh, two boys.

　　Steven: Yep, they're both still very young. They keep us very busy. The eldest⁵ is four and the youngest is three.

　　Todd: Wow!

　　Steven: So they need, they still need quite a lot of attention.

　　Todd: Yeah, so when you first have kids do you lose a lot of sleep? I'm always worried that I won't be able to sleep.

　　Steven: Well, something that carried over from my previous lifestyle was an ability to sleep very well, and, um, fortunately I have a very understanding wife so if the children woke up, yeah, well because I had to work my wife was, my wife tended to be responsible⁶. She would look after the children if they woke up during the evening, during the night, sorry, and I'm such a good sleeper⁷ that even if they were crying incredibly loudly I could just go back to sleep. I don't think there are many fathers like me. I've spoken to some other fathers and they don't have the same talent as I do.

　　Todd: Oh, well, thanks Steven.

1 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

2 pub   

n.[英]旅馆，小店，酒馆

参考例句：

• He is the landlord of this pub.他是这家酒店的店主。
• They saw that four large men marched into the pub.他们看到四个彪形大汉走进了酒吧。

3 granted   

conj.假定，就算v.（退一步）承认( grant的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指正式地或法律上）同意；准许；让渡

参考例句：

• The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners. 总统大赦了所有的政治犯。
• She feared she would not be granted re-entry into Britain. 她担心不会获准再次踏足英伦。

4 precious   

adj.宝贵的，珍贵的，过于精致的，珍爱的

参考例句：

• Each life is precious.生命都是宝贵的。
• Spring rain is as precious as oil.春雨贵如油。

5 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

6 responsible   

adj.有责任的，应负责的；可靠的，可信赖的；责任重大的；vi.休息，睡；静止，停止

参考例句：

• He must be responsible to me for this matter.这件事他必须对我负责。
• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。

7 sleeper   

n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺

参考例句：

• I usually go up to London on the sleeper. 我一般都乘卧车去伦敦。
• But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. 但首先他解释说自己睡觉很沉。