📙 Part 2: Describe a time when someone gave you something that you really wanted

This episode's vocabulary

To be on the move (idiom) - to be physically active.

All over the place (idiom) - in a lot of different places or in all parts of a place.

To hang on by a thread (idiom) - If a serious situation hangs by a thread, it means that even a slight change can decide what will happen and that a bad result such as death, failure, etc. is likely.

Sentimental (adj.) - related to feelings rather than reason.

Wizard (noun) - someone who is an expert at something or who has great ability in a particular subject.

Forte (noun) - a strong ability, something that a person can do well.

Mildly (adverb) - slightly.

At length (phrase) - for a long time.

At a moment's/two hours'/three weeks', etc. notice (idiom) - used to emphasize how little time someone has to do something or how little warning is given.

Largesse (noun) - willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by rich people.

Questions and Answers

M: Off you go.

R: Well, this is actually a tough one, since when I really want something I just go out and get it. One thing that comes to mind is my new laptop, which I got from my parents for my birthday. And I really needed it for work and travel. To describe it in greater detail, well, like I say, I really needed it. But in particular, I really needed something compact and light so I could take it just about anywhere with me. And that's crucial since I'm always on the move and all over the place. So when I saw that it met these requirements, I was over the moon about it. To say more about when I got it, it was for my Christmas in 2022. This was very well-timed, actually, as my old laptop had completely fallen apart the month beforehand and was pretty much hanging on by a thread. I was actually quite sad about it since it had been with me for years before it stopped working properly. And we'd been through a second thing together. Regardless of the sentimental value, though I really needed a new laptop. Like I said, in terms of who gave it to me, it was from my parents, though, my mother pretty much masterminded the whole thing. She's the techno-wizard between my two parents. I'm sure Dad wanted to help. But it's not really his forte, to put it mildly. And even then I was still asked for some input. So it wasn't a total surprise when I got it. I feel like I've already gone on at length about why I wanted it so much. But to go on about a little more this sort of thing is essential when you have a job like mine, it needs to be ready for work at a moment's notice. It does everything I need it to and more actually, but then I've got very basic requirements. The best part is, it wasn't even that expensive, to be honest. It's just an old corporate model that was sold off at a discount. So God bless corporations in their largesse. Otherwise, my folks would have had to go for something a bit more expensive and I don't like people spend a lot of money on me. Just a little something is enough. If I hadn't got this laptop, it wouldn't have been a total disaster. But I definitely wouldn't have the options that I do now.

M: And what would you do if you lost it?

R: Cry. I would really struggle to cope without my laptop.