📙 Part 2: Describe an occasion when you waited for a nice thing

This episode's vocabulary

To delay (verb) - to cause someone or something to be slow or late

Gratification (noun) - pleasure or satisfaction, or something which provides this.

Ergonomically (adverb) - in a way that makes furniture or equipment comfortable and effective for people who use it.

To put off (phrasal verb) - to decide or arrange to delay an event or activity until a later time or date.

Unsightly (adj.) - not pleasing to see; unattractive.

Get hold of (idiom) - to find someone or obtain something.

Questions and Answers

R: Well, this happens all the time. I'm pretty good at delaying gratification with a lot of things until I have enough money or the conditions are right. But one particular example that sticks out in my mind is when I bought my new office set-up. This was just recently as I bought a house and finally had the space to create my dream office. I'd been waiting for ages to buy this desk and chair set for it. The desk is a standing desk, so you can raise it to waist height if you want and ditch sitting in a chair all the time. It's supposed to be good for your back and other aspects of your physical health. I mean, if I'm going to be working from home for the rest of my life, I suppose I should make an effort to do that. Otherwise, I'll end up with all kinds of conditions. The chair that comes with it is quite fancy. It's ergonomically designed. So even if I decide to sit in it for a while, I won't do my back in. I suppose I put off getting it for so long just because I wanted to make sure the conditions were right. I had the money for it. But I didn't have the space and no one wants unsightly boxes just sitting around the house gathering dust while you're waiting for, well, the right time to come around. In terms of my feelings, I guess I was glad to finally be able to get hold of the set since they're quite popular. Not to mention expensive. And I was worried I'd miss out on them or that the price would go up which would be even worse. However, that wasn't the case. And now I have them, so I can get to work setting up my office. If I'm honest, even if I hadn't got them, it wouldn't have been a disaster. My friends rightly pointed out that cheaper options are available. And I exercise a lot so my posture would be okay. Still, I'm happy with my choice and I can't wait to put them to good use.

M: And do you often have to wait for things?

R: Ah, yes, but not because things aren't available. It's just I don't have the space or I'm not ready for them.