1.   His wife was a source of constant support during the lean years.

2.   Nothing came along immediately and ahead were a couple of lean years.

3.   She was, after all the lean years, fairly bursting with plans.

4.   The Richmond Meet is clearly thriving - but how did it manage to survive the lean years?

5.   There the religious instruction started by his father, who for all the lean years had been his schoolteacher, continued.

6.   Those were lean years, without money for trips to the cinema.

7.   In Oxford, the chamber of commerce is hopeful, the lean years as a result of the Gulf War and the recession could be over.

8.   The gamble seemed worthwhile as the lean years were few.

9.   The Richmond Meet is clearly thriving -- but how did it manage to survive the lean years?