Hi Margaret! It’s very sweet of you to plan a birthday surprise for your little sister and I would be more than happy to help you pick up gifts for her. You could get her a beautiful dress for the party and pair that up with a beautiful bag and a good pair of heels. You can also buy a few novels from her favourite author, as she loves to read. I recently came across this amazing shop that makes customized mugs, cushions and wall paintings. It would be wonderful if you get something special made for the day. Since your sister has recently started painting, maybe you could get her a new canvas, some paints and brushes too. It would really encourage her to pursue her passion. You wouldn’t need to put in a lot of effort to get all these things. The Centra Mall in Town Square has all the shops from where you can get these things. If you don’t get something that you need, you can probably order things online. But do make sure that your sister isn’t around when the delivery person shows up! Do let me know if you want me to accompany you when you go shopping.

There was a time when I worked with a charity organization in my city. The winter had just set in and there were a lot of homeless people who needed a place to retire. I volunteered to set up centres where the homeless could spend the cold nights. I also went for collection drives to accumulate warm clothes, blankets and quilts that could be used at the centres. The experience was nothing short of amazing. Not only did it teach me to be grateful for all that I have, but it also made me realize how important it is to be kind to others who are in need. What was most satisfying was the look of happiness on the faces of the homeless when they saw a warm, comfortable bed waiting for them. I strongly feel that everybody should volunteer to help the poor and the homeless.

This picture seems right out of a famous holiday destination. I can see a cruise liner in the background which means that many tourists have recently docked at the port and are now looking around. The foreground shows the scene of a busy restaurant. There’s a waiter showing the menu to a lady and probably telling her about the specials. Another waiter is serving drinks to the customers seated on another table who are digging into some sumptuous sea food. A few musicians are playing their instruments to entertain the guests. All the tables of the open café seem to be occupied and people are smiling and enjoying their food. There are tourists who can be seen with their cameras. Also, some members of the cruise liner staff can be seen at the port. Everyone seems to be having a great time!

People who have docked at the port would continue to enjoy at the tourist destination. More tourists would leave the cruise liner to look around, have a meal or pick up souvenirs. The tourists carrying cameras would probably walk around and capture beautiful pictures of the place. The town has some breathtaking views of houses, stunning trees and a volcano. The guests at the café would continue enjoying their meals. The lady who is in conversation with the waiter would place another order, maybe a drink or dessert, as her table already has some food served. The members of the crew would head back to the ship after taking a break at the port. The ship has probably halted only for a few hours and would start sailing to another destination after a little while, after the tourists are done exploring the town.

Hey Robbie! I hope you are just as excited for mum and dad’s 50th anniversary as I am. I know you want us to gift mum and dad a trip to London and it’s a very good option since it’s mom’s favourite city. However, I think we should opt for arranging a beach wedding for them where they can renew their vows. You know how dad always says he regrets not giving mom a proper wedding. I think this is the perfect opportunity for us to give them their dream wedding. Moreover, due to our busy schedules we are never able to spend quality time with them anymore so I think they would prefer spending this occasion with us over going on a trip alone. Nevertheless, your suggestion is also valid and would have been amazing if it weren’t the winter season there in London. Dad doesn’t like following other people’s orders and I don’t think he would appreciate following a guide around. Mom as well feels nauseated around too many people and since it is not a private tour she might not like it that much. Apart from this, beaches have a special importance in our family as you might remember that we used to go there with mum and dad in our childhood. The wedding planner that I spoke to has agreed to make all the arrangements as per our choices and the package being provided includes a custom-made cake, a wedding band and champagne for the guests. We can arrange a little intimate ceremony with our close relatives and friends. I feel both of them will be touched by this gesture, plus we would get to be a part of our parents’ special day by making it even more special for them. So, what do you say?

Hey uncle James! How are you? I cannot even begin to describe how honoured and happy I am that you considered me worthy of such a high post in your company. I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity and I was really looking forward to work for you. However, I am sad to say that I will have to turn down your offer. You see, before I could serve my boss with a formal notice of resignation he told me that the company was going to start up a new venture and that they wanted me to be the one in charge for it. They have given me this big responsibility because of my past performance. I do not mean to be ungrateful towards your kindness. The offer you gave me was very tempting and that is why I had decided to quit my job. Nevertheless, the job at your company is not as per my field. You know I have done masters’ in business finance and have been working in that field only. I am quite passionate about it and that is why I have decided to keep my job here. Even though it will pay less than what you offered me, I feel like I would be able to do more justice to my role as the chief financial officer rather than the vice president of your company. Once again, I am very sorry. Hope you can be happy for me.

I strongly feel that environmental studies should be an essential component of the curriculum in higher education. In this day and age, when man is confronted with a number of environmental issues such as global warming, pollution and climate change, it is imperative to educate the future citizens of the world about living responsibly and using resources judiciously. As children grow up, they tend to loose concern for the environment, focusing more on their careers and future job prospects. Therefore, it is important to make them aware of environmental concerns and what they can do to make a difference. With compulsory environmental studies education, a lot of changes can be initiated, both at the individual level and the community level. Students can start volunteering in projects and programs that are organized to control pollution, facilitate forestation and bring about positive environmental changes. Students can also help spread awareness to other members of the society by conducting workshops, performing plays and using the social media. A number of innovative ways can be employed to make people conscious of how their lifestyle affects the environment. Slowly but surely, this kind of education would help save the planet and ensure a better future for the generations to come.

Hey! I’m at this wonderful art exhibition downtown and, I must say, I have seen some exquisite paintings here. However, there is one wall painting that I am tempted to buy. It’s a picture of a bird sitting on a gold ring. It looks like a cockatoo and its plume and feathers are beautifully decorated with shades of pink, blue, yellow and green. The wing of the bird has a circular design of a flower and its edge is adorned with a pattern of leaves. The bird’s feet are coloured in gold and have tiny green embellishments. The beak is yellow on the top and red at the bottom. The bird’s face is also highlighted with vibrant patterns. I really wish to buy this unique piece of art. Do you think it would be a suitable choice for our living room?