When was the last time someone unexpectedly did something nice for you? Not someone you knew, but a total stranger? It's happened to me a few times, but two instances really stand out.

    A few years ago, I was dining in a restaurant with a friend who kept talking about himself completely not aware of the fact that I was sitting there in misery. It wasn't my friend's talks that made me suffer. I was recovering from a broken heart, and just sitting down to dinner reminded me of my last relationship. I could have burst into tears right there at the table.

    When we picked up the check, the waitress said “ Your meal was already paid for .” My friend and I didn't have a clue how it happened. Then I remembered a man I saw out of the corner of my eye. He was dressed in mostly white, sat down at the bar, had a beer, and stayed for maybe ten minutes . The waitress said ,”Yes , the gentleman in white paid for you .” It felt like an angel was saying “I see you , honey. It's going to be okay.”

    Just last year, I was running a half-marathon. With just 1 mile to go, I was out of gas. Runners call it “hitting the wall”. I thought I couldn't move another inch. Out of nowhere, a stranger came up to me and said, “What's your name, sweetie? Jennifer? Okay, Jennifer, let's go! Come on! It's just around the corner! You can do it!” And he ran with me until I picked up my pace. I found him at the finish line to thank him for the encouragement only to learn he wasn't even supposed to be in the race that day.

    I still shake my head when I think of these momentary angels that came to me at my point of need. Do you have any experiences like these?

    British Airways booking secrets-and the best late deals this week: Short holidays and European city breaks.

    Dublin from $ 109 pp: Enjoy the Emerald Isle without the St Patrick's Day crowds. Departing 20th March, this package includes a two night stay at the four-star Kings Wood Hotel Citywest and return flights from London Stansted. Click here.

    Bruges from $ 159 pp: Treat mum to a mother's day city break in the medieval, fairly-tale town of Bruges and enjoy canal-side strolls and a nice helping of culture. Price includes two nights at the four-star NH Brugge with travel from London St Pancras, departing 20^th March. Click here.

    Madrid from $ 166 pp: Fly from Liverpool on March 27 for three nights' B& B at the three-star Espahotel Plaza de Espana. Real Madrid don't have a football game then, so sec if Ronaldo fancies a cerveza. Click here.

    French Alps from $ 499 pp: Save over $ 320 each on a week's skinning at Les Arcs 2000, staying catered at the Chalet Vanoise. Based on two sharing and includes flights from Manchester on March 18 and transfers. Six-day lift passes from $ 219, equipment hire from $ 65. Click here.

    Tenerife from $ 289 pp: Get your tan on early with a trip to the European home of beaches: Tenerife, with its postcard perfect golden sand. Spend seven nights at the four-star Hotel Spa La Quinta Park Suites, departing 6^th May and including return flights. Click here.

    Welcome to Reading Museum's Hands – on Learning service

    Reading Museum has been offering learning opportunities to schools for over 100 years, and with your support we hope to continue this tradition for the next 100 years.

    SESSIONS AT READING MUSEUM

    Victorian Schoolroom

    The session takes place in a superb reconstruction of a schoolroom in a late nineteenth century Board School. The children will experience a range of Victorian style lessons and use slate boards and dip pens. The session leader plays the role of a Victorian teacher but will come out of the role during the session the reassure the children. We supply costume for all children.

    Victorian Toys

    Our Victorian nanny delivers this interesting session. The nanny will help children to explore the differences between rich and poor children's toys from the past. During the session the children have the opportunity to make a toy to take home.

    Victorian Christmas

    In a specially decorated room the children will find out how the Victorians introduced many of our Christmas customs. They will make a simple card or present to take home and take part in a mini pantomime.

    HOW TO BOOK AN EDUCATIONAL VISIT

    For up to date prices and session details, please visit our website www.readingmuseum.org.uk/schools/sessions/

    For all session bookings please phone us on 01189373400. We ask that you book at least 4 weeks in advance. Please be ready to tell us when you wish to come, the session(s) you wish to book and the year group of pupils.

Our sessions take place between 10:00 and 12:00 or 12:30 and 14:30.

    The maximum group size is 35 pupils. We recommend that you bring 5 adults for each group.

    Oil Painting Workshop

    Jan. 7, 2019

    For Ages 15 and Up

    Beginners Welcome! Experience Not Required!

    Registration (登记) Deadline —— Dec. 31, 2018

    Class Schedule

    9:30—10:00 am            Welcome and Registration

    10:00—12:00 am          Painting Session

    12:00 am—1:00 pm        Lunch

    1:00—3:00 pm            Painting Session

    3:00pm                    Evaluation and Departure

    Instructor

    Judy Moore Gist, Alexander Certified Instructor and Ross Certified Instructor, is making great efforts to give people of all ages the opportunity to experience Alexander's The Magic of Oil Painting and Bob Ross's The Joy of Painting. Both, William Alexander and Bob Ross, PBS TV hosts, have inspired thousands of first-time painters. The “wet-on-wet” technique have encouraged people of all ages to pick up a brush and put their dreams on canvas (油画布). Judy will do the same, and you are welcome to take a class and see for yourself. At the end of just one session you will be amazed at the beautiful painting that you create in just a few hours. You will become more aware of beautiful cloud shapes and colours you ignored before. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the beautiful scenery that you paint and others will treasure forever.

    For more information about Judy Moore Gist, click here.

    Cost

    $75.00/a person. Prices include all instructor fees, materials, and lunch.

    If you wish to pay by check, please print the OilPaintJan.pdf printable registration form and mail it in with payment to: Holiday Lake 4H Educational Center, 12674-H Camp Road, Appomattox, VA 24522.

    Refund(退款) Policy

    Full Refund: Dec. 31, 2018

    Nonrefundable: after Dec. 31, 2018

    For more information, contact Heathern Benninghove at 232-268-6777 or heathern@vt.edu.

    John Blanchard was studying the crowd making their way through the station. He was looking for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose.

    When reading a book in a Florida library a year before, John became interested not in the contents of the book, but in the notes penciled in the margin (空白处). The handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and beautiful mind. He discovered the former owner's name in the front of the book: Miss Hollis Maynell.

    He located her address and wrote a letter introducing himself. The next day he was shipped overseas to serve in the army. During the next year, they grew to know each other through the mail and their friendship developed. John requested a photograph, but she refused, saying if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return home, their first meeting was suggested-7:00 pm at the Grand Central Station in New York.

    She wrote, "You'll recognize me by the red rose I wear on my coat." So now John was in the station to meet the girl with a rose.

    As a pretty and slim girl in green came over, John noticed her blue eyes like flowers in spring. He walked directly towards her, entirely forgetting she was not wearing a rose. As John came closer to her, he saw another woman with a red rose stood nearby. Well past 40, this woman had graying hair done under a worn hat. Seeing the girl in green walk quickly away, John felt as if he were split (劈开) in two. He desired to follow that girl, but longed for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and supported him.

    The woman looked gentle and sensible. John went to her, saying, "I'm Captain John Blanchard. You must be Miss Maynell. I am glad to meet you here. May I take you to dinner?"

    She replied with a smile, "I don't know what this is about. But the lady in green who just went by, begged me to wear this rose on my coat. She said if you asked me out to dinner, I'd tell you she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

    Ask any new college graduate about his immediate goals, and it is likely that he will tell you he wants a job. But it turns out that today's students are not going to be satisfied with any job. According to the latest survey, making a difference through their work is essential (必要的) to young people's happiness.

    The survey found that 72 percent of graduating college seniors believe being able to have a positive social influence through their work is essential to their happiness. Making a difference is so important to them that 45 percent say they would take a 15-percent pay cut to work at an organization that has a social or environmental influence, and 58 percent say they would take a pay cut to work for an organization whose values are the same as their own.

    Besides this, the survey found that female students are far more likely to put social influence in first place than their male classmates, echoing the results of a former study showing that female maths and science majors are more likely to say they go into those fields to make a difference.

    One reason for the emphasis (强调) on improving the world probably has to do with the culture of colleges, which encourages students to connect their studies back to real-world problems. Students are used to discussing important social issues (问题) with their friends and professors, and doing something about them in class or through volunteer activities. Once students develop those habits, they don't shut them off when graduation rolls around.