The Egg And I

Debora Weston reads from Betty MacDonald's bitingly funny memoir of early married life on a chicken ranch during the 1920s, in the wildest part of the North Western United States.

Abridged by Jennifer Howarth.

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

20080313

Betty MacDonald Had a Farm

Lynne Truss celebrates the centenary of comic genius Betty MacDonald, author of The Egg and I, an account of her life as a chicken farmer. Betty's skill was to write about ordinary life and make it funny. Published during the depression, The Egg and I became an instant best-seller and went on to become a Hollywood movie. With interviews with her relatives and neighbours, Lynne tells the story of one of the sharpest wits of her time.

20080107

Debora Weston reads from Betty MacDonald's bitingly funny memoir of early married life on a chicken ranch during the 1920s, in the wildest part of the North Western United States.

Abridged by Jennifer Howarth."

Betty learns that a lady never scratches or spits and has a duty to ensure her husband is happy in his work."

20080107

Debora Weston reads from Betty MacDonald's bitingly funny memoir of early married life on a chicken ranch during the 1920s, in the wildest part of the North Western United States.

Abridged by Jennifer Howarth."

Betty learns that a lady never scratches or spits and has a duty to ensure her husband is happy in his work.".

20080108

Bob and Betty take a trip to see the farm.

20080108

Bob and Betty take a trip to see the farm.

20080109

Betty wishes she had studied mule-skinning or carpentry instead of ballet. It would have been more useful on the farm.

20080109

Betty wishes she had studied mule-skinning or carpentry instead of ballet.

It would have been more useful on the farm.

20080110

Betty takes advice from Mrs Kettle about her disastrous breadmaking and struggles to get through all her chores.

20080110

Betty takes advice from Mrs Kettle about her disastrous breadmaking and struggles to get through all her chores.

20080111

Betty despairs of the bats, the outdoor privy, the chicken lice and the lack of a radio or telephone. On the other hand, she has plenty of eggs.

20080111

Betty despairs of the bats, the outdoor privy, the chicken lice and the lack of a radio or telephone.

On the other hand, she has plenty of eggs.

20080114

Betty gets to know Paw and Maw Kettle and their 15 children.

20080115

Life in the wilderness depends on door-to-door salesmen, who ask the most embarassing questions.

20080116

Betty and Bob receive visits from not altogether friendly wildlife.

20080117

Mrs Kettle dismisses Betty's childcare pamphlets as a sinister government conspiracy.

10 LAST

20080118

Paw Kettle fills the hay mow with wet hay, causing what he believes to be spontaneous combustion.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
		20080313	Betty MacDonald Had a Farm Lynne Truss celebrates the centenary of comic genius Betty MacDonald, author of The Egg and I, an account of her life as a chicken farmer. Betty's skill was to write about ordinary life and make it funny. Published during the depression, The Egg and I became an instant best-seller and went on to become a Hollywood movie. With interviews with her relatives and neighbours, Lynne tells the story of one of the sharpest wits of her time.
01		20080107	Debora Weston reads from Betty MacDonald's bitingly funny memoir of early married life on a chicken ranch during the 1920s, in the wildest part of the North Western United States. Abridged by Jennifer Howarth." Betty learns that a lady never scratches or spits and has a duty to ensure her husband is happy in his work."
01	*	20080107	Debora Weston reads from Betty MacDonald's bitingly funny memoir of early married life on a chicken ranch during the 1920s, in the wildest part of the North Western United States. Abridged by Jennifer Howarth." Betty learns that a lady never scratches or spits and has a duty to ensure her husband is happy in his work.".
02		20080108	Bob and Betty take a trip to see the farm.
02	*	20080108	Bob and Betty take a trip to see the farm.
03		20080109	Betty wishes she had studied mule-skinning or carpentry instead of ballet. It would have been more useful on the farm.
03	*	20080109	Betty wishes she had studied mule-skinning or carpentry instead of ballet. It would have been more useful on the farm.
04		20080110	Betty takes advice from Mrs Kettle about her disastrous breadmaking and struggles to get through all her chores.
04	*	20080110	Betty takes advice from Mrs Kettle about her disastrous breadmaking and struggles to get through all her chores.
05		20080111	Betty despairs of the bats, the outdoor privy, the chicken lice and the lack of a radio or telephone. On the other hand, she has plenty of eggs.
05	*	20080111	Betty despairs of the bats, the outdoor privy, the chicken lice and the lack of a radio or telephone. On the other hand, she has plenty of eggs.
06	*	20080114	Betty gets to know Paw and Maw Kettle and their 15 children.
07	*	20080115	Life in the wilderness depends on door-to-door salesmen, who ask the most embarassing questions.
08	*	20080116	Betty and Bob receive visits from not altogether friendly wildlife.
09	*	20080117	Mrs Kettle dismisses Betty's childcare pamphlets as a sinister government conspiracy.
10 LAST	*	20080118	Paw Kettle fills the hay mow with wet hay, causing what he believes to be spontaneous combustion.