About my weekend in English

I have always been wondering what it means, “the day off.” If we can do what we really want to do only once a week and fail to find anytime for our hobbies during the other six days of the week, it means there is something wrong with time planning. We often repeat proverbs like “The busiest men find the most time” but it is still difficult to find a minute to spare on week days. It seems to me that if we really value our time, we can always find at least half an hour a day for our favourite occupations. Unfortunately, I am unable to do this myself, and Saturdays and Sundays are my favourite days of the week because these are the days of relaxation when I can do all pleasant things I have dreamt about during the week.

During the weekend I can enjoy myself and do whatever I like, but from Monday till Saturday I have almost no spare time. As I am a school-leaver, my days off are Saturday and Sunday. I always look forward to my weekend. I cannot say that I am a heavy sleeper but as I get very tired during the week I let myself sleep a little longer on my weekend. I usually get up at about ten o’clock and go to the bathroom where I have a shower, clean my teeth and brush my hair.

Then I go to the kitchen and help my mother lay the table. On Sundays my parents sleep a bit longer too, that is why we have neither breakfast nor lunch but brunch. All of us like porridge and fried eggs for breakfast, but I prefer apple juice and my parents — coffee with milk.

After brunch my father washes up and my mother and I do the flat. As a rule it takes us about an hour and a half as we have only two rooms. We do not need to go shopping on Sunday as my mother does it on Saturday. So after twelve o’clock I am free to do whatever I like.

People spend their days off in different ways. Some of them prefer to stay at home and read a book or visit an art exhibition, a museum or a sport event. In the evening, as a rule, they go to a theatre or to see their friends. Other people prefer to spend their days off out of town.

As for me I also like to spend my days off in the country. I go in for sports, that is why on Sunday I go to the tennis court and play tennis for about two hours. I have been playing tennis since my 8th form and I can say that it helps me relax and feel well during the whole week. On my way home I usually drop in at the confectionery and buy a cherry cake because we are used to having something tasty for dinner.

Sunday is the only day when we have dinner together. That is one of the reasons why I like Sundays.

All of us like nature and are fond of walking. After dinner we are used to going to the park which is near our house. It is very pleasant to walk there. We enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful scenery around us. While walking we usually discuss the books we have read, the films we have watched recently and ask each other a lot of questions about our life, work and studies.

After coming home we either watch TV or play different games, chess for example. At eight o’clock we have light supper, usually some vegetables. My mother is very good at making different salads. After supper we read books. We have a good library at home. My father is fond of reading historical novels because he is interested in history. My mother is indifferent to such kind of books. She prefers detective stories. As for me I like science fiction very much.

At ten o’clock on Sunday I start preparing for school as I am always short of time on Monday morning. At eleven o’clock I go to bed because I have to get up early next morning.

Questions:

1. In what do weekends differ from week days?
2. Your parents always do something about the house on their days off, don’t they? Why do they do so?
3. What is your favourite occupation at the weekend?
4. How did you spend last Sunday?
5. How do people usually spend their days off?

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Суббота и воскресенье — это самые замечательные дни недели, потому что в выходные дни вся наша семья собирается вместе. Родителям не надо идти на работу, а нам с сестрой — в школу.

2. Выходные дни нужны человеку, чтобы отдохнуть после напряженной рабочей недели. Самое главное, что в субботу и воскресенье люди могут позволить себе все, что им хочется. Можно встать попозже и попозже лечь спать, можно заняться домашними делами, отправиться на прогулку, в гости, в кино или театр, поехать на дачу или уделить время любимому занятию.

3. Летом мы проводим все выходные дни на даче. Конечно, это полезно для здоровья, потому что мы все время находимся на свежем воздухе, даже обедаем в саду. Только к концу воскресенья я чувствую себя очень усталым, потому что перед возвращением в город нужно полить весь огород, а это моя обязанность.

4. В нашей семье самый любимый день — суббота, потому что вечером мы собираемся вместе в гостиной и болтаем о том, что с нами произошло на минувшей неделе. Никто никуда не спешит, всем уютно и весело в нашей маленькой компании. А мама всегда старается побаловать нас вкусным пирогом к вечернему чаю.

5. Если человек не умеет отдыхать, выходной день не принесет ему радости. Нужно уметь почувствовать себя свободным и счастливым, тогда и будние дни будут лететь незаметно.

6. Иногда в нашей стране традиционные выходные дни присовокупляются к праздничным. Например, если 8 марта — четверг, то воскресенье могут перенести на пятницу. Таким образом, у людей получается три выходных дня подряд. Это, конечно, замечательно, особенно если люди хотят поехать за город. Однако следующая за праздниками неделя получается дольше обычном, и большинство людей к следующим выходным чувствуют себя совершенно измотанными (worn out).