Band 8+: Your friend is celebrating her birthday soon and has invited you to a party. But you are unable to come because you are going to attend an important meeting that day. Write a letter to your friend and Thank her for the invitation. Explain why you cannot come. Propose to meet on another day.

Dear Mary,

I´m writing to thank you for your invitation to your birthday party. It´s hard for me to write this, but I cannot be with you on that special date because I will have an important meeting on the same day and time.

Let me explain my situation in more detail. As you know, I will move to Canada next year, and the company that will hire me scheduled an in-person meeting with another coworker who will move to Canada as well. Our future boss wants to see us and have a personal conversation with each of us. If I don´t attend that meeting, my plan to move abroad is over.

Could you tell me when your next day off will be? I definitely want to invite you for dinner and some drinks. For sure, the bill will be on me.

Please let me know if you are interested in my invitation.

Sending hugs,

Ignacio.