Session 1: The Long Turn

1The person I'd like to talk about is my former neighbour.

→ is my former neighbour.→ like to talk about is my former neighbour.

2I've known her for as long as I can remember.

→ as I can remember.

3What stands out the most is how patient she is with everyone.

→ she is with everyone.→ most is how patient she is with everyone.

4She has this quiet way of making people feel comfortable.

→ making people feel comfortable.

5I remember her helping my family when we first moved in.

→ we first moved in.→ helping my family when we first moved in.

6She's the kind of person who never asks for anything in return.

→ for anything in return.→ person who never asks for anything in return.

7I admire her because she stayed kind through very hard years.

→ through very hard years.→ because she stayed kind through very hard years.

8Looking back on it now, she taught me more than she realised.

→ more than she realised.→ now, she taught me more than she realised.

9The place I want to describe is a small park near my old school.

→ near my old school.→ is a small park near my old school.

10It's tucked away behind a row of tall apartment buildings.

→ of tall apartment buildings.

11I used to go there almost every afternoon after class.

→ every afternoon after class.

12What I like about it is how quiet it stays even in summer.

→ stays even in summer.→ is how quiet it stays even in summer.

13There's an old wooden bench under a tree where I always sat.

→ where I always sat.→ bench under a tree where I always sat.

14The air smells completely different there after it rains.

→ there after it rains.

15I'd recommend it to anyone who needs an hour away from noise.

→ hour away from noise.→ anyone who needs an hour away from noise.

16It made a lasting impression on me for reasons I can't fully explain.

→ I can't fully explain.→ on me for reasons I can't fully explain.

17The object I've chosen is a watch my grandfather gave me.

→ my grandfather gave me.→ chosen is a watch my grandfather gave me.

18It's nothing out of the ordinary, just a plain steel watch.

→ a plain steel watch.→ of the ordinary, just a plain steel watch.

19He wore it every day for nearly forty years.

→ for nearly forty years.

20I keep it in a drawer rather than wearing it myself.

→ than wearing it myself.→ in a drawer rather than wearing it myself.

21The strap has worn thin in the places he used to fasten it.

→ used to fasten it.→ in the places he used to fasten it.

22It reminds me of him far more than any photograph does.

→ than any photograph does.→ of him far more than any photograph does.

23I'd never sell it, no matter what someone offered me.

→ what someone offered me.

24Off the top of my head, it's the oldest thing I own.

→ oldest thing I own.→ my head, it's the oldest thing I own.

25The event I'd like to describe is my cousin's wedding last spring.

→ cousin's wedding last spring.→ to describe is my cousin's wedding last spring.

26It took place in a garden just outside the city.

→ just outside the city.

27Almost everyone in the family travelled a long way to be there.

→ way to be there.→ family travelled a long way to be there.

28The whole thing was far simpler than people had expected.

→ than people had expected.

29What made it special was how relaxed everybody seemed.

→ how relaxed everybody seemed.

30We ended up staying until well after midnight.

→ until well after midnight.

31I took hardly any photographs, which I slightly regret now.

→ I slightly regret now.

32It's still the best day I've had in the last few years.

→ the last few years.→ day I've had in the last few years.

33I'd like to talk about the first time I travelled on my own.

→ travelled on my own.→ the first time I travelled on my own.

34I was nineteen and had never left the country before.

→ left the country before.

35Honestly, I was far more nervous than I let anyone see.

→ I let anyone see.→ far more nervous than I let anyone see.

36Everything went wrong on the first day, and then it got easier.

→ then it got easier.→ the first day, and then it got easier.

37I learned that I could handle far more than I thought.

→ more than I thought.→ I could handle far more than I thought.

38The hardest part was not having anyone to ask for advice.

→ to ask for advice.→ was not having anyone to ask for advice.

39I'd do it again tomorrow if I had the chance.

→ I had the chance.

40Looking back on it now, it changed how I make decisions.

→ how I make decisions.→ it now, it changed how I make decisions.

41The plan I'd like to describe is going back to university.

→ going back to university.→ like to describe is going back to university.

42I've been thinking about it seriously for about two years.

→ for about two years.

43The main reason is that I want work that actually interests me.

→ that actually interests me.→ that I want work that actually interests me.

44I'd need to save quite a lot before I could start.

→ before I could start.→ save quite a lot before I could start.

45My family are supportive, although they worry about the cost.

→ worry about the cost.

46If everything goes well, I'll apply within the next twelve months.

→ the next twelve months.→ well, I'll apply within the next twelve months.

47I know it won't be easy at my age, but I'd rather try.

→ but I'd rather try.→ easy at my age, but I'd rather try.

48Off the top of my head, that's the thing I most want to change.

→ most want to change.→ that's the thing I most want to change.