(B) - Traudi Potter - A Woman of Steel and Drive - She went to Oxford in England and everything worked!

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Traudi Potter – A Woman of Steel and Drive!

When Traudi Potter arrived in Oxford from Vienna in 1957 she had very little chance of getting a job that was good. Her English was still in need of improvement, and the only jobs going were nothing other than monotonous and dull. Assembly line work wasn't for Traudi. But, all this wasn't a problem. Traudi had come with a plan. And, Captain Philip Potter of the British Army, Traudi's husband, was there with his help and support.

And, all Traudi needed was a bike and a bag for her scissors and combs. And so, with a second-hand bike and almost no money, Traudi started her own little business – a mobile hairdressing service - her customers were all within pedalling distance. And, Traudi's little business took off. She was not only the only person doing this in Oxford at the time, but very good, too. And, the best thing of all, the cash started flowing right from the start. But, of course, things were not always easy.

The Great British winters can sometimes be incredibly hard, and there were days when Traudi was unable to get to her clients. The snow was simply too deep and the roads very icy. But, when ever she could, Traudi went out. There was little that could stop her. Traudi was a woman of steel.

And, Traudi's bike eventually gave way to a car, and Traudi's little business became a more comfortable way of making a living. Going out in the rain was no longer a nuisance. But, Traudi always thought big in a very small way. She knew how to work and did very well. And, when Traudi officially retired she was able to look back on a life of success. Her little business had given her 5 trips round the world, and trips to Vienna and Malta each year.

Traudi proved that nothing is impossible. She started a business with no money at all and a second-hand bike. Things could have stopped her. There was rain, snow and ice and a language she wasn't at home with. Traudi Potter - she pedalled her way to the top and never once got off of her bike.

Traudi Potter – A Woman of Steel and Drive.

Vocabulary and Questions follow automatically - (ca 20 seconds)

Vocabulary

assembly line – Fließband

comb - Kamm

comfortable – bequem

dull - öd

incredibly - erstaunlich

jobs going - Freien Arbeitsplätze

language - Sprache

little – wenig

nuisance – Ärgernis

not at home with – nicht Handfest

pedalled – pedal(s)/pedalled/pedalled – die Pedalen Treten

scissors – Schere

steel - Stahl

Questions -

Where did Traudi meet her husband?

Why was it difficult for Traudi to get a job in Oxford?

What did Traudi need for her business?

What was Traudi's business?

Was Traudi's business big or small?

How much money did Traudi need to start her business?

Who helped and supported Traudi in the beginning?