Hot!

It's been so stinking hot here lately, I'm surprised I don't jump in the pool with my clothes on or run through the sprinklers (I only hold back on account of my straightened hair).
I decided (rather stupidly) to go for a walk. Not the smartest thing to do when it's 33.3 C outside. (And that isn't that bad considering the low 40's we've been having)
Anyway, I was sweating and frying myself to a crisp out there when I see Dad and Emily driving back from their visit to the shops. They slowed down and started driving at a snail's pace to keep up with me. So I started running, almost as fast as my energy tank would allow. And I beat them home. Now I am sweating, worse than before. Quite Frazzled.
Sigh, it's all I can do to stop myself jumping into the pool fully clothed.

Wombats

There are only three species of wombat, and that is the coarse-haired wombat, the southern-hairy-nosed wombat, and the northern-hairy-nosed wombat.
Wombats spend most of their time in a tunnel excavating. Sometimes its tunnel can be more that 60 feet long.
Although wombats are generally slow, they can run very fast if frightened, especially if they’re running from their apex predator, the dingo.
Dingoes will even chase wombats into their tunnels, but they do not win all the time. This is mostly because wombat’s backsides are broad and solid and can not be bitten easily. Wombats have been known to press dingoes against the walls of their tunnels to suffocate them. You wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of a fat wombat.


Jordan

The Devil's Own

Book Review
The Devil's Own
Deborah Lisson

‘She adjusted the focus on the binoculars and squinted through them in astonishment, and disbelief. There was something there- or, more exactly, someone. Peering out of the bushes of that supposedly uninhabited island was, quite unmistakably, a human face.’
Fifteen-year-old Julianna Dykstra is fed up and defiant while spending time with her family on her father’s yacht visiting the Abrolhos Islands. But after an old fisherman tells her the story of the Batavia, and she sees a mysterious, ghostly face on a nearby island, Julie decides to investigate, and it is her own investigating that plunges her into a three hundred-year-old nightmare of massacre and rebellion.
The Devil’s Own is a fantastic read, full of action, drama, and tragedy. What makes it even better, is the fact that it is all based on a true story, the story of the Batavia, a ship wrecked on an island in 1629.
The Devil’s Own is a story of mutiny, murder, and excitement and will be enjoyed by ages 11 to adult.
Some other books by Deborah Lisson are:

• A Place of Safety
• Truth Seeker
• The Yankee Whaler
  
  'The story is cleverly conceived and well written; the past is alive and clear, as is the beauty of the setting.Thoroughly recommended to all who enjoy a good story.' Dept. of Education, W.A.

Monday - Friday

Monday- Babysat two gorgeous girls and taught them how to use floaties. Sweated. Swam. Did school.

Tuesday- Nutrition class. Learnt to make savoury cheese muffins. Sweated. Swam. Did school.


Wenedsday- Made demented-looking chocolate chip cookies. Tasted all right though. Sweated. Swam. Did school.


Thursday- Went to Maccas to celebrate Kat's finishing of exams (Woohoo!) It was sooo good. Sweated. Swam. Did school.


Friday- Danced while listening to Single Ladies and was unable to sleep that night owing to it playing and replaying around and around in head. Sweated. Swam. Did School.

Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library

Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library
By Eth Clifford

“How do you spell library?” Jo-Beth was busy with her sign.
“I can’t talk to you and talk on the phone at the same time. Just spell it! And leave me alone! Hello, operator? I want the fire department.”
Jo-Beth, meanwhile, was finishing her sign. It looked fine to her. In big letters, she had printed: HELP! I’M A PRISONER IN THE LIBERRY.
Mary Rose blamed her father for forgetting to get petrol when he needed it. She also blamed Jo-Beth for suddenly needing the toilet just when he had left to go get some from the nearest garage. The library was the closest building nearby so they went inside just as the librarian was closing up for the night. Trapped inside, the two girls are left to themselves doing anything they can to escape, but calling the police doesn’t work, and Jo-Beth’s sign isn’t likely to work either.
This humorous story is for ages 7-9.

The Embarrassing Episode of Little Miss Muffet

The Embarrassing Episode of Little Miss Muffet
by Guy Wetmore Carryl

Little Miss Muffet discovered a tuffet,
(Which never occurred to the rest of us)
And, as ’twas a June day, and just about noonday,
She wanted to eat -- like the best of us:
Her diet was whey, and I hasten to say
It is wholesome and people grow fat on it.
The spot being lonely, the lady not only
Discovered the tuffet, but sat on it.

A rivulet gabbled beside her and babbled,
As rivulets always are thought to do,
And dragon flies sported around and cavorted,
As poets say dragon flies ought to do;
When, glancing aside for a moment, she spied
A horrible sight that brought fear to her,
A hideous spider was sitting beside her,
And most unavoidably near to her!

Albeit unsightly, this creature politely
Said, "Madam, I earnestly vow to you,
I’m penitent that I did not bring my hat. I
Should otherwise certainly bow to you."
Though anxious to please, he was so ill at ease
That he lost all sense of propriety,
And grew so inept that he clumsily stept
In her plate -- which is barred in Society.

This curious error completed her terror;
She shuddered, and growing much paler, not
Only left tuffet, but dealt him a buffet
Which doubled him up in a sailor knot.
It should be explained that at this he was pained;
He cried, "I have vexed you, no doubt of it!
Your fist’s like a truncheon." "You’re still in my luncheon,"
Was all that she answered. "Get out of it!"

And THE MORAL is this: Be it madam or miss
To whom you have something to say,
You are only absurd when you get in the curd
But you’re rude when you get in the whey!

10 Things

1. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries because Colgate translates into the command "go hang yourself."
2. Bubblegum is banned in Singapore.
3. Alexander Graham Bell never called his mother.
4. Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.
5. The first owner of the Marlboro cigarette Company died of lung cancer.
6. Scientists in Australia's Parkes Observatory thought they had positive proof of alien life, when they began picking up radio-waves from space. However, after investigation, the radio emissions weretraced to a microwave in the building.
7. Taumatawhakatangihangaoauauotameteaturi pukakpikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu is the name of a New Zealand hill.
8. An average four year-old child asks over four hundred questions a day.
9. If the population of China walked past you in single line, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
10. According to Genesis 1:20-22, the chicken came before the egg.

Wellington

Today we made a day trip of going to the Wellington Caves. It's only a 40 minute trip down to Wellington, but it was a little longer that with Jenna driving. Somehow I cannot feel very comfortable with her driving. I think the police felt the same way when they followed us suspiciously for about 5 minutes.

We had some time before going to the caves so we happily munched chip sandwiches while waiting. That's when we met Frankfurt. I actually dubbed him Franklin but Emily and Jenna refused to call him that and renamed him.

Frankfurt

There was also a very, large bird avery to look at while we were waiting. The white cockatoos inside seemed enormous. We called one George and one Alfred. George seemed to have the nicest personality out of the two. Chirping joyfully, saying 'hello cocky!', 'bye bye!' and even giving Jenna a happy hi-five.

George's hi-five

Alfred seemed to have a meaner spirit. He took some of the bread I was offering to George, and called out 'cracker!' when he saw me.

Alfred

The caves were really nice inside. They were filled with stalactites and stalagmites and it was good to have a wander around.

Inside the caves

The only 'down' of the caves was the bat poop on the ceiling. I did feel a few wet sploches on my arm while in there. For now I can only hope it was an in-cave plumbing problem...

Beast Quest

Book Review
Beast Quest
Adam Blade

A mysterious sorcerer has enchanted the magical beasts that protect the land of Avantia. They are now destroying the land and the king is desperate for a hero who can stop them.
Tom only lives on a farm, but with his horse, Storm, his partner, Elenna, and her wolf, Silver, he may just be able to defeat the dark wizard, Malvel and free the beasts of Avantia from the evil curse that has haunted them for so long.
An exciting story to be enjoyed by children aged 8-11.
The Beast Quest series includes:

• Ferno the Fire Dragon
• Sepron the Sea Serpent
• Arcta the Mountain Giant
• Nanook the Snow Monster
• Epos the Flame Bird

Jordan