Why I prefer 30 or 45, instead of 60 minutes sessions I've had more than 100 English online sessions so far, and after all that I've come to the conclusion that, at least for me, shorter than 60 minutes sessions are better. I'm not sure about other students, but I feel a bit tired at the end of one hour sessions, and I think that, perhaps, that also happens to other people, because, as far as I know, in most places, and different types of schools and courses, classes usually last 50 min, and then there is a break of 10 min utill the next class. I've read some articles about that on the internet, too, and it seems that a large number of students can't keep attentive enough for more than 45/50 minutes. Maybe this is the reason for 50 min classes being commonplace. I'd like to hear Italki teachers about that, please. Thank you.

What does the expression "grind out" mean? In the book "Life", of Keith Richards (R. Stones) that expression is used in the following phrase: "And before those lifetimes there was my childhood, wich I ground out east of London in Dartford, along the Thames, where I was born."

Cats in the boat!!! You wrote 18 day(s) ago I have a small (10', = 3,00m) sailing boat, which I keep in a sailing club. This Sunday afternoon I went there to inspect her and, if the weather were right, to go out for a short sailing. I always place over the boat a plastic canvas for protection and, when I removed it, a cat jumped out of a watertight compartment, through a hatch I always left open for ventilation, and fled out of sight among the other boats nearby. Of course I got startled by that but, after a few seconds to recover my breath, I watched inside the compartment to check if the cat hadn't made a mess in there and... Another surprise!! There were six tiny, young cats, perhaps 1 or two days old, profoundly asleep!

Going to a nice restaurant. There will be a host or hostess behind a counter, who will ask the just arrived clients how many they are; then he/she will lead, or guide (not sure what's the best word) the clients to the table (in some places there are booths - the host(ess) will ask if you prefer one), and say that soon a waiter(ress) will come to take the orders. The best option to call a hostess is using the word "miss", no matter her apparent age.

Why in England the name of a river comes after the word "river", and in USA is the opposite? Examples: River Thames, River Blackwater, River Avon (GB); Mississipi River, Hudson River (USA).

What does the following expression mean: "I am as ......... as it gets."