My weekend

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 any time 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. Most people in our country work five days a week but some people work six days. They have only one day off. It is Sunday. As I am a student, my days off are Saturday and Sunday. I always look forward to my weekend. You needn't hurry anywhere and you may go wherever you like after your week's work. I can’t 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. So, on this day I wake up later than usual. I usually get up at about ten o'clock. As soon as I get up I air the room, make my bed and do my morning exercises. Then I 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 clears away the dishes, 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 the 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 10th 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.

Sometimes I meet my friends and we discuss our plans together. We may go to the cinema. Last Sunday we went to the Botanical Garden. There were many beds of spring flowers there: red, yellow and blue. People in light clothes were walking along the paths. The air was fresh and clean. It was very pleasant to spend time there.

In fine weather we also like to be out of town. We find a nice place somewhere in the forest or on the bank of the river. We lie in the sun, play different games and swim. In winter my friends and I often go to the skating-rink. Skating is my favourite kind of sport, but I like to ski too. When the weather is bad my friends come to my place. We listen to music or go to the cinema. We like films about the life of the youth abroad. On the way home we usually discuss the films we've seen.

Sunday is the only day when we have dinner together: That is one of the reasons why I like Sundays. Sometimes we receive guests at our place or go for a walk. 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. In the evening all the members of our family get together.

At eight o'clock we have light supper, usually some vegetables. My mother is very good at making different salads. After supper we make plans for tomorrow, 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 University 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.