CONTENTS

ARTICLES

Budgies

Gemstones

STORIES

The Mystery Castle

Simple Magic

The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel - Part 1

The Island

Simple Dangle Earrings

Silverbeet Pie

Book Reviews

Movies

Poems     Quotes

Photos

Riddles    Puzzles

Facts

Budgies

A Bud Gie & Kook KaBurra

Budgies are a species of parrot native to Australia and their scientific name is Melopsittacus undulatus. Melopsittacus means ‘’song parrot’’ in Greek and undulatus is Latin for ‘wavy lined’ which refers to the wavy pattern on the back of the wings.    Another interesting fact is that budgies were first seen in 1840 by a British ornithologist called John Gould. He transported some live specimens to England where they became immensely popular as pets! 

In the wild, budgies live in large groups and feed on grass seed. They use hollows in trees to nest in and breed between August to December.

Budgies are some of the most popular pet birds in Australia today, because they are very hardy and intelligent birds.   While all budgies are also extremely good at talking, males (cocks) tend to have better pronunciation of the words than females (hens).  Cocks are also slightly more intelligent than hens, so if you want your bird to talk, it is probably better to purchase a cock. If you would like to own a budgie, you must be prepared to clean out its cage when it becomes dirty. You also must have time to play with the bird each day. 

A budgie will become bored and sometimes angry if their owner does not pay any attention to them, so if you are out all day but are prepared to feed them and clean a dirty cage then you should buy two, because budgies really need a companion if you cannot give them attention. Lonely budgies will become very irritable and many start biting their owners!  That said, if you look after them and pay attention to them (or find them a companion at least), budgies are usually peaceful birds and they will make very playful pets. You also should consider if you have the time and money to visit a vet if your budgie gets sick. 

 To keep ONE budgie, the cage should be at LEAST 30cm long and should also be longer than it is tall, because budgies are active birds and like to fly around the perimeter of their cage. Budgies should also be allowed to fly around the house for about half an hour per day when they have been taught to come back to their cage. However, you should make sure that all doors and windows have been closed before letting them out! To tame a budgie to come back to its cage, first find out what your budgie’s favourite food is and only offer it to the budgie when you want it to fly back to the cage. Eventually your bird will learn that he (or she) will be given something very special when returning to the cage.

When properly cared for, budgies are very undemanding pets and are a joy to play with and teach.

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Gemstones & Minerals

Tara Rose

AMETHYST

Where is it found?

Amethyst is found, and mined, in South Korea . It is also found, in copious amounts, from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil . But, the largest open-cast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau, Lower Austria . Amethyst is also found in the following countries: Uruguay , Russia , India , the USA , and Zambia , one of the largest global Amethyst producers in the world, with an annual production of about 1,000 t.

Value

Traditionally included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald), Amethyst has lost much of its value due to the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil . The highest grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and therefore its value is dependent on the demand of collectors when one is found.

A Short History

Amethyst was used by many ancient civilizations, including the ancient Egyptians. The Greeks, believed that the stone could prevent intoxication. While other civilizations, such as Mediaeval European soldiers wore Amethyst amulets for protection whilst in battle. 

Mythology

The Greek word "amethystos" may be translated as "not drunken". Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it. In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of intoxication, was pursuing a maiden named Amethystos, who refused his affections. Amethystos prayed to the gods to remain chaste, which the goddess Artemis granted and transformed her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethystos's desire to remain chaste, Dionysus poured wine over the stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple.

Info from http://www.wikipedia.com/: 

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Crafts

Eva Marlie

It is incredibly easy to make a pair of simple dangle earrings if you have the right equipment. If you have not got a pair of round nose pliers or cutting pliers you can use the top of the nose on another pair (they are usually rounded) and the middle of the standard pliers (it has a little bit to cut with).

SIMPLE DANGLE EARRINGS

You will need:

2 earring hooks

2 head pins

2 big feature beads

Extra beads for the finishing touches

Standard beading pliers

Round nose beading pliers

Cutting pliers

Picture taken by Xocibiki - Edited by Eva Marlie

Method:

1. Get a head pin and arrange the beads on it, usually with the biggest bead at the bottom and the tinier ones on top of it. Make sure you leave about a centimetre of wire so you can attach the earring hook later.

2. Bend the end of the head pin at a 90 degree angle.

3. Cut the end of the head pin so there is about a centimetre of wire left.

4. Use the round nosed pliers (or the end of your standard pliers) to make a circle with the end wire.

5. Next attach the earring hook by opening the circle sideways with the standard pliers. Remember, you have to open the circle sideways so you don't break it.

6. Place the ring on the end of the earring hook in the opened circle and close the circle the same way you opened it.

7. Now just do the same with the other head pin and beads and you’ll have a lovely pair of earrings!

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The Mystery Castle

Dillie Jentz (11)

Julie sped down the hill at top speed and skidded to a stop to wait for her friends.

“Come on!” Julie shouted. “Hurry up!”

She could just make out Sarah and Charlotte cycling over the top of the hill. When all three friends were together again Julie said “Where should we go now?”

Sarah shrugged her shoulders and replied flatly, “I don’t mind.”

She looked at Charlotte to see if she had any ideas.

“Why don’t we cycle over to the old ruins?” Charlotte asked excitedly.

“Yes”, said Julie enthusiastically. “That place is so cool!”

Sarah glanced at her friends. “Oh, not there”, she said nervously. “It makes me feel creepy!”

She looked at them pleadingly, hoping that someone would make another suggestion.

“Scaredy Cat!” Julie taunted looking at Sarah. “You just said that you didn’t mind where you go.”

Sarah began to feel embarrassed but it didn’t change how she felt inside. “I just don’t like it there”, she replied glaring at Julie, her words trembling slightly.

“Well, since Julie and I really want to go, you could go home if you want to, and we could catch up tomorrow. How about that?” Charlotte urged, smiling kindly.

“Fine”, Sarah said, plucking up more courage. “I’ll come, as long as we won’t be there too long.” “Don’t worry", said Charlotte, who was the peacemaker. “We’re just going for a visit. We won’t be long.”

The three girls cycled towards a big forest and then stopped.

“How much further is it?” Sarah panted.

“Oh, it’s only another five minutes", Julie said scowling at Sarah.

“But it’s getting dark now, shouldn’t we cycle back to our homes?” Sarah looked at her friends with pleading eyes. Why wouldn’t anybody be on her side?

“I said that we would only look at the ruins", Charlotte said. “Come on, Sarah, we are nearly there, it’s just another five minutes, really.”

“Okay, let’s go", Sarah said, as she started to cycle into the forest.  

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Simple Magic

Eva Marlie

I was walking through my uncle’s fabulous back garden, filled with the sweet tinkly noises of the birds singing and the light scent of lavender. As I examined the insects scuttling up the trees I heard an unusual noise. Right underneath my boots a faint thumping sound was occurring. I moved out of the way and squatted low to hear better, but I hadn’t missed anything from my full height. The thumping was much the same.

It was obvious I had to start digging. I just needed a shovel. I glanced around at the nearest tree and leaning against the trunk, just waiting to be held, was a spade. It was like it was all supposed to be. But how could it be?

I turned 270 degrees clockwise, but, hey, wait a second! I turned back 180 degrees and stared at the little garden gnome sitting against a nearby tree. It was dead still. I swore I saw that gnome blink! When I turned back around there was a strange little creature, about 50cm tall standing next to a pile of earth. My eyes just stayed open wide. I tried to speak but no words came out.

“Hello. I come in peace”, said the little dwarf/alien, much to my surprise.

“Oh, is that so? I really would’ve expected that after what I just witnessed.”

“No, actually that was my son.”

Before I could say “pardon?” a little dwarf, almost identical to him but half his size, was standing shyly next to his father.

“Hello…”

“Um, if I’m not mistaken, you are dwarves?”

“Yes”, said the older one. “My family and I are actually part elf so we can do simple magic too. Why do you ask such a question, young homo sapiens?”

“Well, it’s not every day we see creatures such as you.”

“Yes, indeed, and you won’t be for much longer. We have some important business to attend to.” And with that the father took hold of his son’s hand and they both vanished in a puff of smoke.

So, they called that “simple magic”?  

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The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel

Part 1

Star & Nova (12)

I shivered as I flew through the cold still air. I was searching for some straight bits of wood from which to make a platform. My excellent eyesight spotted a nice bunch of sticks near the lake’s edge. I flew down and lifted it with all my strength. My arms ached but I eventually got it into my chosen tree. I arranged the bundle into half a messy nest in which I would sleep that night. Then I looked around and saw there was still plenty of day left for me to find more branches. So I made my arching wings beat and flew to find more branches.

By the time I had collected enough for my bed and a soft leaf for my blanket, the sun had just reached the horizon and a cool, evening breeze blew gently across my face. The breeze was a bit too cool for comfort so I curled up on my bed, pulled some leaves over myself and went to sleep. It was a long cold night and I woke up several times during the night to pull fallen bird feathers over myself. At last, sleep swept over me. 

The next morning I woke up and continued building the treetop house. If I didn't get this house finished by the next full moon my wife would not be happy. She would be exhausted from the long flight back from Synotara and she would be hoping for a nice warm cup of cocoa. What was I to do? I had to work faster! That was what I had to do...

I finished my small honey blob and prepared for the long day ahead. All day long I thought of what I could do to build the treetop house faster. I could work all night, but I needed a light. A light? Suddenly I knew what to do. I could call up an eventide fairy! But I had to wait till night (eventides only come out at night). Kanoko was my friend, he was an eventide fairy! Yes that was the solution! But I had to wait till night, so all through the day I worked hard forcing my aching limbs to work. It was not yet afternoon and the sun shone fiercely on the earth when I noticed a glow in the bushes near to the other side of the lake. What was it?

To be continued…

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The Island

Rose Casella (13)

“Watch out!” shouted a desperate sailor above the storm, as another wave crashed over the deck. The exhausted sailors clung to the old galleon, as the raging sea tossed the small ship about on the wild ocean.

A young girl of thirteen huddled near her mother with the other women in the cabin below and could hear the men on the deck fighting to control the ship.

“Mother” asked the girl tucking her long fringe behind her ear. "Shall we ask Jesus to keep us safe?”

Her mother smiled. “That’s a good idea, Alice. Will you lead?” Alice nodded and closed her eyes allowing herself to speak freely as the ship tossed about.

“Jump for your lives!” shouted the sailors on deck. The women left the cabin and crowded up on the deck. The rain pelted down and made it almost impossible to see. Alice clutched her mother’s hand as they made their way to the side of the galleon. A huge wave crashed down on to the ship. Every one began jumping into the water. Alice leapt over the rails and splashed into the icy water below.

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Recipes

Compiled/edited by Tara Rose

Silverbeet Pie

Ingredients:

8 Medium Trimmed Silverbeet Leaves (640g)

30g Butter

6 Spring Onions, chopped.

½ Cup (100g) Cottage Cheese

150g Crumbled Feta Cheese

1/3 cup (25g) Grated Parmesan

¼ teaspoon ground Nutmeg

4 Eggs, lightly beaten

8 Sheets of Fillo Pastry

60g butter melted, extra

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease an ovenproof dish (13cm x 23cm).

2) Steam the silver beet leaves until just wilted; drain, and cool to room temperature. Squeeze as much of the excess liquid from the leaves as possible. Leave to drain on paper towel. Then, chop finely and place in a medium sized bowl.

3) Heat butter in a small pan; cook the Spring Onion for (approx.) 3 minutes, or until soft. Add to silver beet with cheeses, nutmeg and egg. Stir well, so that all the ingredients are combined. The mixture should move easily over the spoon, but should not be watery.

4) Lay 4 of the Fillo Pastry sheets onto the bottom of the greased pan, brushing each with melted butter as you lay it down. Trim the edges, or they will burn in the oven. Spoon the mixture into the pan, and spread evenly.

5) Lay another 4/5 sheets on top of the mixture, brushing each individual piece with melted butter. Trim the edges, or fold them in. So there is no excess hanging off the sides of the pan. Paint the top with butter, and put in the oven. Bake on a moderate oven for about 30 minutes, check that it doesn’t overcook, and if still watery, bake for another 10 minutes.

Hope you enjoy this delicious meal!

Thanks to the Australian Women's Weekly

Click here for a print out.

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Movies

Eva Marlie

Shrek, an upside down fairy tale

Shrek is a movie about an ogre whose swamp has been taken over by fairy tale creatures sent by an evil prince called Lord Farquaad. In order for Shrek to get his swamp back, he has to save a princess and bring her back for Farquaad to marry. Shrek is very different from other fairy tales because the big giant (in this case it is an ogre), which in many fairy tales is actually the bad and scary one, is the good guy. The prince, who is usually the good one in fairy tales, is the baddy.

www.iwatchstuff.com

In Shrek there are a few things that might happen in real fairy tales, but most of it is very unusual for a fairy tale. The beginning of the film suggests that the movie is not a real fairy tale. Shrek seems like a traditional ogre because he looks scary. From my point of view he scares ordinary people (like those who tried to hunt him). If there is someone who actually knows his personality, like Donkey, Shrek would not seem very scary. The people (or rather, creatures) who look at things from a different point of view don’t think that Shrek is scary at all and that suggests to viewers that he isn’t a normal ogre.

As the film progresses, we learn that Shrek is too soft to scare creatures away and defend his swamp. He does not want any friends and wants to be left alone in the peace and quiet of his swamp. Other characters see Shrek as impatient, un-careful, and not respectful to anyone around him. For example when he is in the room where the princess is supposed to be saved he shakes her around and says “Wake up now. Let’s go”. He has to continually remind the main characters that they should be scared because he doesn’t want them to be around him (he likes to be alone in his own swamp) and they don’t want to think he is scary, as he didn’t do anything to them to frighten them.  

Shrek is very different from other fairy tales as the ogre (or baddy) is shown to be the good guy and the prince is shown as bad and scary.

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Poems

Television
Roald Dahl

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set --
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink --
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY ... USED ... TO ... READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and-
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rate and Mr. Mole-
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something to read.
And once they start -- oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.

 The Winter Mare

Star Light (12)

Shadows here, shadows there, 
In the winter a snowy mare.
She tosses her mane,
She looks so tame,
But those who are sane

Will not go near her.

She has a foal. Hear,

Hear its tottering untrained walk.
See it wobbling as it walks,
But now they take their leave…
The mare walking proudly through the trees,
While the tottering foal makes its wobbly prance through the leaves.

http://media.photobucket.com/ 

3 Brain Busting Riddles

Compiled by Xocibiki

1. I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird,

flying even to the clouds of heaven.

I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me,

even though there is no cause for grief,

and at once on my birth I am dissolved into air.

What am I?

2. From the beginning of eternity

To the end of time and space

To the beginning of every end

And the end of every place.

What am I?  

3. When I am filled I can point the way

When I am empty nothing moves me

I have two skins, one without and one within

What am I?

Quotes

Compiled by Tara Rose

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.

- William Wallace  

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.

  - Friedrich Nietzsche

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Book Reviews

Leatherwood Books

www.leatherwoodbooks.com.au 

The Mostly True Story of Matthew and Trim

Cassandra Golds

9780143302179

$16.95

Matthew Flinders and his beloved cat, Trim, circumnavigate and map Australia, travel the oceans, end up shipwrecked, saved, then captured and imprisoned on the Ile de France where Trim is separated from his beloved master. Will they ever meet again? A graphic novel of adventure and intrigue.
Cassandra Golds has written this story very beautifully, with lots of quirky, and heart-touching moments. Along with Stephen Axelsen's fantastic illustrations, this comic book is definitely a recommendation to children aged between 9-12, even though I think most will enjoy this lovely story.

Age 9+ (Review LR)

Step Into Narnia

E J Kirk

9780007206117

$22.95

This beautiful book explores the magical world of Narnia, the setting of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, created by C S Lewis. It has sixty-four full-colour pages filled with facts, original artwork, movie images and information about the adventures that Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy had in the world beyond the wardrobe.
Join in the battles, explore magical places, meet Aslan and visit the homes of Mr and Mrs Beaver and the evil White Witch in this fun, interactive guide.

Age 7+ (Review LR)

Ways to Live Forever

Sally Nicholls

9781407104997

$18.99

My name is Sam. I am eleven years old. I collect stories and fantastic facts. By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.

Sam loves facts. He wants to know about UFOs and horror movies and airships and ghosts and scientists, and how it feels to kiss a girl. And because he has leukaemia he wants to know the facts about dying. Sam needs answers to the questions nobody will answer.

Ways to Live Forever is the first novel from an extraordinarily talented young writer.

This book had me in tears a few times, but despite it's heart-wrenching theme it remains a story of hope.

Funny and honest, it is one of the most powerful and uplifting books you will ever read. Highly recommended.

Age 11+

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Photos

Panda Therapy - Just the thing for the end of the week!

I am Kong! Be afraid ... or I will have to nibble you ...

I'm not coming out. You'll have to come in and get me ...

Kung Fu Panda! Bring it on!

On the count of three ... lift!

Oops! Slight miscalculation ...

You go. I'll stay here and rest my head a little bit ...

It wasn't me! I didn't steal this bamboo shoot! I was just sitting here, I swear!

Pandas looking for lost earrings ...

I'm sure there's a way out somewhere. I saw an ant go this way yesterday.

Pardon me, but do you have a napkin?

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Puzzles

Click here for answers. 

Sudoku

The aim is for there to be all the numbers from 1 - 9 in every 9 box square, every column, and every row.

Click here for a print out.

Word Search

Tara Rose

The aim is to find all the words listed, hidden in the box.

Click here for a print out.

Nine Letter Word

Sandy Groper

 The aim is to construct a word with nine letters from each of the boxes below. 

Good Luck!

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5 Facts 4 Fun

Compiled by Tara Rose

1. The word "queue" is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.

2.  "Rhythm" is the longest English word without a vowel.

3.  Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian.

4. The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.  

5. Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.

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