Calories

 

 

Do you ever think about or worry about the number of calories you eat and drink every day. It’s not really something I thought about when I was younger. But now I have to think about my calorie intake. I’m putting on weight and so need to be more careful with what I eat. This is difficult because all of the yummiest food has the most calories. I’ve found an answer to this problem. If I do lots of exercise, I can eat what I want and not have to worry about calories. I burn off 500 calories when I jog for an hour. This means I can have a pizza and dessert and not feel guilty. I wish there was more information about calories in restaurants. It would make it easier for me to know what to eat and what to avoid.Do you ever think about or worry about the number of calories you eat and drink every day. It’s not really something I thought about when I was younger. But now I have to think about my calorie intake. I’m putting on weight and so need to be more careful with what I eat. This is difficult because all of the yummiest food has the most calories. I’ve found an answer to this problem. If I do lots of exercise, I can eat what I want and not have to worry about calories. I burn off 500 calories when I jog for an hour. This means I can have a pizza and dessert and not feel guilty. I wish there was more information about calories in restaurants. It would make it easier for me to know what to eat and what to avoid.

 

 

Carbon Footprint

 

 

We have to do something about pollution. Even though there are warnings about global warming, companies don’t do anything to reduce pollution. Our sky, air, rivers, beaches and countryside are becoming rubbish dumps. The air is so polluted it is giving children breathing problems. Polluted rivers have no fish left in them and beaches are too dangerous to walk on because of the garbage everywhere. It seems a lot of people don’t care. I think there should be big fines for polluters. I don’t mind paying more for things if they can be made with less pollution. The problem is that companies are more interested in profits than pollution. We have only just started looking at our carbon footprint.We have to do something about pollution. Even though there are warnings about global warming, companies don’t do anything to reduce pollution. Our sky, air, rivers, beaches and countryside are becoming rubbish dumps. The air is so polluted it is giving children breathing problems. Polluted rivers have no fish left in them and beaches are too dangerous to walk on because of the garbage everywhere. It seems a lot of people don’t care. I think there should be big fines for polluters. I don’t mind paying more for things if they can be made with less pollution. The problem is that companies are more interested in profits than pollution. We have only just started looking at our carbon footprint.

 

 

Careers

 

Choosing a career is one of the biggest decisions we make in life. It used to be that we chose only one career. People would start a job when they were 18, 19 or 20 and stay in that same career for life. Their career path was quite straightforward. Nowadays, it is normal for people to change careers, five, six, seven times. New technology and globalization means things change quickly. We need to study and keep up with all the changes. I’ve had four different careers now. I like moving from one job to another. It means life never gets boring. It’s much better to keep learning different things in different careers. I have no idea what career I’ll choose next. Perhaps one that doesn’t even exists today.Choosing a career is one of the biggest decisions we make in life. It used to be that we chose only one career. People would start a job when they were 18, 19 or 20 and stay in that same career for life. Their career path was quite straightforward. Nowadays, it is normal for people to change careers, five, six, seven times. New technology and globalization means things change quickly. We need to study and keep up with all the changes. I’ve had four different careers now. I like moving from one job to another. It means life never gets boring. It’s much better to keep learning different things in different careers. I have no idea what career I’ll choose next. Perhaps one that doesn’t even exists today.

 

 

Cars

 

 

Are you into cars? My brother is. He’s car crazy. He buys car magazines, watches car programmes on TV and spends hours looking at car websites. He knows the name, maker, engine size and top speed of every car on the planet. Every time we go out, he talks non-stop about the cars he sees. I like cars. They are interesting. If I had a lot of money, I’d like to buy a sports car. I’m saving up for a small car at the moment. I’ll probably buy a hybrid car that is good for the environment. My brother thinks these are boring. He says a car should be powerful and fast. I don’t agree. I think cars should get you from A to B and be big enough for me and my friends. I also prefer smaller cars because they are easier to park.

 

 

Cats

 

I love cats because they are independent. They help us relax by letting us pet them. You can play with them too. Making them chase a piece of string or a beam of light is very funny, indeed. But a drawback of having a cat is that they can be too talkative. My cat always meows when she wants to eat. And she tries to make us give her our food when we are eating, especially when we are having fish for dinner. On the order hand, owning a cat has its advantages. For example, they catch mice and other small animals. For cats, catching and giving small animals to their owners is a sign of generosity. Sometimes my cat brings animals who are not dead into the house. I really don't like it when she does that.

 

Chickens

 

 

Chickens are so important to many of us because they are a major part of our diet. Every country has so many chicken dishes, and eggs are one of the most common foods around. Chickens are also cute. Well, chickens aren’t, but chicks are - cute, fluffy chicks that make everyone go ‘aaahh’. It’s strange though that the word ‘chicken’ is used in so many English idioms. When I was at high school, you couldn’t ‘chicken out’ – to not do something because of being scared. Things are different today - I’m no spring chicken (that means I’m no longer young) so no one calls me a chicken any more. I work now - as a teacher. I get chicken feed (low wages) but I like my job. I plan to retire before I’m 50, but I’m not going to count my chickens before they’re hatched. This means I won’t quit working until I have enough money.

 

 

Children

 

 

Children are angels. Most of the time this is true. I’m very lucky because my two children really are the greatest angels. I think I won the children lottery with my kids. I could not have asked for lovelier, happier, sweeter little children. They have brought me endless amounts of joy since the second they were born. Everything they do fascinates me. Everything they say makes me smile. Watching them grow up is my greatest pleasure. In a way, it’s a little sad. I always want them to stay the age they’re at now. When they were 18 months old, I thought that was the cutest age. I thought the same when they were two, and then three and then four. I guess however old they are, they’re perfect. I wish all the children in the world were as happy as mine.

 

Chocolate

 

Anyone who does not absolutely love chocolate is mad. I don’t think I know anyone who dislikes it. Some of my friends say they hate white chocolate or dark chocolate, but then they like some other kind. I think chocolate is one of the best inventions ever. It is also one of life’s true pleasures. There’s nothing better than having your whole mouth full of chocolate and letting it melt. I love pushing the chocolate up against the roof of my mouth and then moving it all around. Yum. I eat chocolate every day. I know it’s bad for our teeth and makes us fat, but I don’t care. I prefer to think about the health benefits of chocolate. I’ve read many articles that say chocolate is good for us.

 

 

Chirstmas

 

 

I think Christmas is one of the happiest times of the year. Everyone has a smile on their face, especially children. It’s such an exciting time for kids. They can’t wait to open their presents and play with all of their new games and toys. It’s a nice time for adults too. They can catch up with their families and relax. Traditionally, the mother of the family is busiest at Christmas. She does most of the Christmas shopping and wraps the presents. Of course, she also spends hours cooking Christmas dinner. Let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas, though. It is not about shopping and Christmas trees and ‘Frosty the Snowman’. It’s all about love for each other and peace around the world. Let’s hope this message stays alive.

 

Cliamte Change

 

Climate change is one of the most worrying things for our planet. Many politicians and scientists say it is the biggest danger we face. I read almost every day that climate change is changing the Earth forever. Many species of animal, fish, insect, frog, etc. are dying. The ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctica are melting. Our weather is changing so places are getting warmer, or colder, or are having more and stronger hurricanes. We all need to do our bit so that climate change does not destroy us. It’s important to cut down on things that produce greenhouse gasses. These warm the planet and change the climate. Doing simple things like turning off lights and recycling paper all help.

 

Clothes

 

 

I have too many clothes. I have many clothes I’ve only worn once. Sometimes I even find something at the back of a drawer that I never even wore. I bought it, put it away, and then forgot about it. I’m sure I don’t need so many clothes. I don’t think anyone really needs 11 pairs of jeans and 32 sweaters. I won’t tell you how many pairs of shoes I’ve got. That’s way too embarrassing. The simple truth is I love clothes and I love shopping. Maybe I have a problem. I’m sure I’d be a lot richer if I didn’t buy so many clothes. I like brands, so the clothes I buy are quite expensive. One day I’m going to have a big clearout. I’ll take all the clothes I no longer wear and give them to charity.

 

Coffee

 

 

Scientists and doctors can’t make their minds up about coffee. One study says it’s really bad for us and the next report says it’s good for us. I’ve even read that 10 cups a day is good for our brain. I like a cup of coffee at certain times of the day. I must have a coffee first thing in the morning. I can’t survive without my morning coffee. I have another cup or two when I get to work. And that’s it. I never drink coffee after lunchtime. If I do, I can’t sleep at night. The only time I drink coffee in the evening is if I go to a nice restaurant. Coffee seems a lot more complicated these days. When I was younger it was just coffee. Now it’s latte, frappucino and all kinds of other strange words.

 

Computers

 

 

It’s hard to believe that no one had computers a few years ago. I wonder how people lived. There must have been a lot of paperwork. I can’t imagine writing everything by hand. I also wonder how everything worked without computers. We need computers today for everything. Hospitals, airports, the police… nothing can work without computers. I’m sure I’d be ten times busier than now if I didn’t have a computer. Imagine having to find a piece of paper and an envelope and then walking down the street to mail a letter! I love my computer. It makes everything in my life so convenient. Sure, it freezes and crashes sometimes. Sure I lose some data. But that’s not often. Most of the time my computer is like my best friend.

 

Cosmetic Surgery

 

Would you like to change your face and body? Would you like movie star looks? A lot of people want to do this. They pay lots of money to go to a cosmetic surgeon and change their appearance. The most common operation we call a nose job. People who are unhappy with their nose have it reshaped. Other people want their wrinkles to disappear to make themselves look younger. People also go under the knife and have things made bigger or smaller. I think this is a waste of money. I'm not the best-looking person in the world but I would never consider plastic surgery - even if it was free. Some people have so many operations they end up looking like they’re made of plastic. I'd rather stay looking human.

 

Cosmetic

 

 

I wish we didn’t need cosmetics. We spend so much time and money on them. And for what? We take them off at night, only to put them all on again in the morning. If you think about it. they’re amazingly expensive. Why does a lipstick or a small tube of cream cost so much? The really expensive cosmetics don’t actually make you look that different than really cheap ones. A lot depends too on your skill – choosing the right colours to match your face, and how you put your make-up on. I sometimes laugh at the ladies selling cosmetics in department stores. They’re meant to be experts but they look like clowns. I mean, do they really need to paint their faces? One thing I worry about is whether the chemicals damage your skin.

Credit Cards

 

 

Many years ago I read that credit cards were the thing of the future. Credit card companies were telling us that plastic would replace cash. Well, this hasn’t happened. People are still using notes and coins. The Internet has increased the use of credit cards, but many people worry about putting their card details online. Lots of personal info gets stolen by fake sites pretending to be famous banks or online stores. Personally, I love credit cards. I always prefer to pay by card than by cash. When you use your card, you get air miles and every six months you can cash them in for presents. I do worry about credit card security. I keep waiting to see a huge purchase on my statement that I didn’t make.

 

Crime

 

Why do we have crime? When will it all stop? It’s sad that there is so much crime in our society. It hurts so many people. Most people in the world just want to live happily and be good neighbours. Why do some people turn to crime? Money is a big reason. Many criminals pickpocket, steal, kidnap, or even kill people to get money. There are many terrible crimes in the world. Perhaps the worst is ethnic cleansing. This is a crime against humanity. Many people are killed because of their colour or religion. People who commit this crime rarely go to prison. Have you ever been a victim of crime? What do you think we need to do to reduce crime rates? Perhaps you should write to your government. Tell your leaders enough is enough.

 

Culture

 

I’m really interested in the culture of other countries. I don’t know why, but I always think other cultures are more interesting than my own culture. Every time I travel, I learn wonderful, strange, amazing and interesting things about other cultures. One of the biggest surprises I had was when I went to the USA as a child. I’m English so I thought Americans had the same culture as me. When I went to America I understood Americans and Brits are very different people. Understanding the culture of other people is very important. It helps us all to get along. If everyone really tried to learn about other cultures, the world would be a more peaceful place. The world is becoming smaller, so I think this is happening.

 

Current Events

 

 

I love the news and current events. I’m addicted to what’s happening in the world. It doesn’t matter what kind of news it is, I love watching it. Even if it’s from countries I’ve never heard of. I’ll even watch the same news programme three or four times and not get bored. I guess it’s so fascinating because it’s real. I get really interested in a story when it breaks, then like to follow it as it unfolds. Following current events makes you quite knowledgeable. I know most of the world’s capitals and most of the world’s leaders. Watching the news is really looking at history happening now. But you never know what’s going to happen next. Every time you turn on the news or read a news story, you’ll find something unexpected.

 

Cyber Crime

 

I don’t think people understand cyber-crime. It’s only just started. In the future, it’s going to be a huge problem. There have already been a few amazing examples. A few years ago the whole Internet in Latvia was attacked by another country. Cyberspace has become a new battleground. Countries spy on each other. If there’s a war, it’s possible one country could attack the other country’s Internet. This would mean all communication, transport, etc would stop. It would cause huge damage to hospitals and other important buildings. But cyber-crime is happening today to ordinary people. Have you ever heard of phishing? That’s with a ‘ph’ not ‘f’. You really need to be very careful about what information you put online.

 

Cyber-Bullying

 

 

The Internet can be a scary place these days, especially because of cyber-bullying. It’s difficult to open a newspaper these days and not see a story about this. It’s a really nasty and growing problem. Cyber-bullies are real cowards. They hide behind their computer and scare people, send them hate mail or threaten them. Even worse is when they publish pictures of their victims online. I have a friend who had a really bad time at the hands of a cyber-bully. He or she spread lots of gossip and lies on the Internet. My friend’s reputation was badly damaged. A really bad thing is how young cyber-bullying starts. Many schoolchildren physically bully others in class and then continue online. Their victim isn’t safe anywhere.