Никоненко Тамара Петрівна

   Valentine’s Day comes on February. It is not a legal or a national holiday. Banks and offices do not close, but it is a happy little festival for young people. It is widely celebrated among persons of all ages by exchange of “valentines”. A “valentine” may mean a special greeting-card or a little present. It may be for the person who receives the gift.
   St. Valentine is the patron of sweethearts. February 14 is the anniversary of his death.
   The day is the time to send little gifts to those you love. Flowers and candy are favourite presents which sweethearts send to each other. Valentine candy is packed in red heart-shaped boxes and sold for this one day. Valentines are special greeting-cards. They are often coloured red have red trimmings and pictures of hearts. Some “valentines” are very fancy, they are trimmed with paper lace and little bows of paper ribbon. They have verses of love poetry printed on them. It is a good day for parties, especially by young people. The hosts trim the hall with red and white paper hearts. Refreshments are often coloured red, like red candy and punch, sandwiches and cakes are often cut in the shape of hearts. Sometimes, a King and Queen of Hearts are chosen for the evening of dance.

   If you are on holiday and spend it by a sea, it’s a pleasure for you to go on a voyage. All you have to do is to book the tickets in advance. Of course, you want a separate cabin for your family, and you ask for a firstclass cabin with three berths to be reserved for your family. On the day of your departure all your family comes to the quay because the ship you want to take is moored there. The passengers go up the gangway onto the deck; they try to find their cabins. Some cabins are aft, some are forward or amidship. After finding your cabin you are happy to settle down in it But if you want to breath the sea air and look at the busy traffic of the harbour, you may come out on deck/ Soon the steamer leaves the port and goes out towards the open sea- It sails at a high speed, land if the sea is rough, the ship pitches and rolls. There is one thing you’ve got to bear in mind-when you are on board the ship. Some people can’t stand travel­ling by sea because they get sea-sick. And if you have no problems with your health, you will enjoy travelling. You feel the deck of your steamer under your feet; you see the waves rising and falling; you feel fresh sea water drops flying and splashing in your face; you hear sea gulls crying out their song of joy and freedom. Thus if you are a roman­tic soul by nature you are sure to like it.Very soon the shore fades from view. In some time the passengers are invited to dine in the restaurant. You enjoy your meals and a splendid view of the open sea.
   By the evening the sea grows calmer and you enjoy looking at the beautiful sunset at sea. It is really worth seeing.
   But in some time your ship reaches the place of destina­tion and you are sorry to go ashore. You feel healthy and refreshed; the voyage was very useful and pleasant.
   Finally, in a few weeks’ time you get tired of relaxation and become home-sick. It’s not for nothing that they say “East or West — home is best”.

   The first railway in our country was opened in 1837 and since that time people have covered millions of kilometers travelling from one part of the country to another by train.
   Trains carry people in passenger trains, goods are car­ried in goods trains and mail trains carry passengers and mail. In Britain and America there are also special coaches attached to some trains, called Travelling Post Offices.
   Long-distance trains are fast trains. Local trains make the stops, and you can get on or off a train at a very small station, even if it is only a platform. If you are going to a distant place, a sleeping compartment is very comfortable, but local trains have carriages with wooden seats as passen­gers make only short trips.
   It is obvious that from time to time one should leave the place he likes or works in for a while to change the scenery because one does get tired of the same surroundings and daily routine. Hence some relaxation is essential to restore your mental and physical resources. And the best way of relaxation is to go to a place where you have never been before. And it is by means of travelling that you get to that place.
   There is no doubt that modern life is impossible without travelling. To understand how true it is, you’ve got to a railway station, a sea or a river port or an airport. There you are most likely to see hundreds of people hurrying to board a train, a ship or a plane.
   To be on the safe side and to spare yourself the trouble of standing long hours in a queue, you’d better book tickets in advance. Before getting off you make your preparations; you visit your relatives and friends and settle your business. On the eve of your departure you pack your luggage, and when the day of your departure comes you call a taxi and go to the railway station.
   When the loudspeaker announces that your train is in, the passengers are asked to take their seats. The carriage and compartment are appointed in your ticket, and you find them easily. And now it is time for you to find your berth. It may be a lower berth, which is more convenient, or an upper one, a corner seat or a seat facing the engine or back to engine one. After finding your seat you put your luggage into a special box under the lower berth. Soon the train starts off. You sit in a cozy compartment and marvel at the country you are travelling through. It’s much more convenient to travel by express trains for it takes you less time to get to your destination.
   There is no denying the fact that travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. Modern trains have very comfortable seats in all passenger carriages and there are sleeping-cars and dining-cars that makes even the longest journey enjoyable.

   Man’s desire to fly first found expression in fantasy and legend. Then he began to understand the air and true flight became possible. Today travelling by air is a common thing. Many people prefer this kind of travelling because it is more convenient, more comfortable, and, of course, much quicker than any other means of transport.
   If you are in a hurry and want to save up your time, you’d better travel by air because it is the fastest way of travelling. But there is one unpleasant thing about travelling by air — the price of the tickets is too high, the seats are rather expensive. But when you travel on business it makes no difference for you.
   On a flight day after packing your things you get to the airport. There is a bus service from the air-fleet Agency, and the best way to get to the airport is by bus. If you are short of time, you may take a taxi. You must check in your luggage and after the procedure of registration you board the plane. Now you can hear the engines start their work. The plane is taking off. It gains speed very quickly and in a few minutes you are already above the clouds. The land below looks like a small geographical map. After the plane has gained its regular height, the stewardess brings passen­gers some mineral water, sometimes tea and sandwiches. The seats on board the plane are comfortable, and you can sit in a cozy armchair and read a book, magazine or a newspaper, look through the window to see the passing clouds change their colour from white to black. You may just as well have a sleep until you arrive at your airport. While you are sitting in the armchair you must fasten the seat belts. You may also lower the back of the seat and feel yourself comfortable, “as snug as a bug in” a rug”, as the saying goes. In front of you there is a cockpit where a pilot and a mechanic sit. They both and a stewardess are the crew of the plane.
   If you are travelling by plane, there is one thing you’ve got to bear in mind. Some people can’t stand flying and they get airsick, in this case they have to take a pill for airsickness, and in some time they will feel much better. The stewardess will help them with their problems.
   Soon the plane will land and arrive at its destination exactly on time.

   Millions of people — from school children to middle-aged and even old people go in for some kind of sport.There are numerous children’s sports centres in our coun­try. They play an important part in the training of future champions. Extensive facilities are placed at the disposal of our sportsmen: sports grounds, football fields, volley-ball and basket-ball courts, yachting and boating stations, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and skiing bases.
   As for me, football is the most popular game. You can see it if you go to one of the important matches. Young people and old people shout and cheer for one side or the other. Nearly every school in our country has its football team and every boy knows much about the game. Football is a good team game. Boys learn to work together with others to help the team. Besides, football is a good exercise for the body; it makes the players quick and strong.
   Tennis is very popular too. There are tennis courts in many schools where pupils can play the game. My brother is fond of basket-ball. It is an indoor game that people can play in winter and in summer. Basket-ball is played all over the World. Boxing is a very popular sport. But I don’t like it. Of course, sport in some form or another is an essential part of our life. It makes us healthy and strong.