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How often do you eat out? I don’t eat out so much. I go to restaurants maybe two or three times a month. When I was younger, I used to go almost every night. I worked in a language school. I finished work at 9:00pm, and I was often tired. It was easier to go to the Italian restaurant across the road from the language school than to go home and cook. I always went with other teachers, so it was not only convenient, but fun. We could relax and chat after work.

Of course, I could have made food in the morning before going to work, and put it in the refrigerator. I tried this for a while, but I didn’t continue. Actually, I don’t like cooking. I’m not very good at it, and I don’t look forward to it. When I cook, I make easy dishes, like vegetable soup, steamed vegetables or vegetable pasta.

When I eat out, my friends and I tend to go to the same restaurants. We have a favourite deli-type restaurant, a favourite coffee shop which serves Italian food, and a favourite shop which makes a wonderful Egyptian dish called Kushari.

Of course, eating out is expensive, so I don’t go to these restaurants regularly. Sometimes when I am really tired, I feel like eating out, but then I think about the cost. When I don’t feel like cooking, I buy something at the convenience store. I try not to do this too often because I know it is bad for my health.

I must make an effort to cook more at home. It will be good for my health and also for my wallet.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

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Do you drink coffee? How many cups do you drink a day? When I worked full-time in a language school, I used to drink five or six cups a day. I got sleepy in the afternoons, so I drank coffee to keep myself alert (alert: awake and energetic).

I soon realized this was not a good habit, because I had trouble sleeping. When I changed jobs, and went to work in an office, I changed to herb tea. My favourite was peppermint tea. It was refreshing and gave me energy. However, I still felt sleepy in the afternoons, so I would eat chocolate. (This was not a good habit either.)

Now that I work alone, I drink around two cups a day. I need coffee in the morning, because it helps me wake up. I also need coffee in the afternoons if I am writing or creating something. It helps me stay alert. I would like to drink more green tea, so I’m thinking of drinking matcha in the afternoons instead of coffee. It is healthier and I like the taste. I just need to buy a new tea whisk, because I lost my old one. (Where did it go? I have no idea. It just disappeared from my kitchen!)

When I go to coffee shops with my friends, I always order coffee. There are coffee shops in my city which serve different kinds of coffee-based drinks, such as cafe mocha or caramel macchiato. These drinks are high in calories, so I try not to drink them too often, but I love coffee with cream and chocolate syrup! Next year, I’ll try to make healthier choices.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

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I have a Kindle. I like it very much. It is very convenient when I am travelling. Years ago, when I didn’t have a Kindle, my carry-on bag was always very heavy because I read when I am waiting in airports and train stations. Of course I read on the plane and the train as well. When I was travelling a long way, I would take two or three books with me.  These days I only have my Kindle so my bag is not so heavy. E-books make life easier.

But I like to read paper books as well. We have more than 2,500 books in our house. We get more books all the time. So sometimes, we have to buy new bookshelves. This morning I ordered some book storage boxes. They will go in the office in our house.  Soon there will be no more room! I should throw some books away, but our books are like old friends. I would find it very difficult to choose which books to keep and which books to throw away or give away.

Patricia @ I Talk You Talk Press

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There is an idea that ‘some people are cat people, and some people are dog people’. Which do you like? Dogs? Or cats? Maybe you like both animals. If you have a family pet, you will know that dogs and cats are very different.

Dogs like people. Dogs need people.

Sometimes I think that people like cats. People need cats.

I think that cats are more beautiful than dogs. I also think that dogs are friendlier and more loyal than cats.

Cats are very easy pets. Dogs are more like children.  We need more energy to have a dog as a pet. What do you think?

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Our neighbour drives a truck. I don’t know how old he is, but he has a message on his truck.

It says ‘old age is not for sissies’.

Maybe this idiom is strange for you. A ‘sissie’ is someone who is weak and scared.

I think his message means – older people are strong – they can do anything. When we are old, people can think that we are weak.. But many older people feel young. They are strong. They do everything they want to do. They are not ‘sissies’.

Patricia @ I Talk You Talk Press