C Ch@ December 2017

U Ch@

m m o C

FEATZ

Nity

Magazine

December 2017

The Positive Alternative

Recapture The Magic of Christmas

Easy

Christmas Tables

www.featzpublishing.com

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Editor’s Message

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he last month of the year is upon us and with it our last issue of the magazine for 2017. November has been a very sad month for the Featz team with the loss of Felix, but we did our best to soldier on and bring you a fun filled December issue which we hope you will enjoy.

2017 has been an amazing year for us and we would like to thank each and every one who took the time to read the magazine, to interact with us and support us along the way. Community Ch@ magazine has always been about our readers and we are truly thankful for the wonderful support you have given us.

The Featz team wishes all our readers, advertisers and contributors a blessed festive season. May your holidays be merry and the new year filled with friends, family and good times. We wish you a joyous holiday filled with peace, love and prosperity. Best wishes for a healthy new year. We look forward to having you join us on our journey through 2018.

Until next year Happy Reading!

s Seasonn’gs Greeti To advertise in the next issue Contact Zelda Tel: 012 348 3486 Cell: 084 041 3058 Email: featzads@gmail.com Upcoming Submission Deadlines for Contributors & Advertisers January Isssue: 11 December 2017 February Issue: 22 January 2018

Published by Featz Publishing (Pty) Ltd and distributed via email. No responsibility is accepted by Featz Publishing (Pty) Ltd for claims, errors or omissions made in advertisements appearing in this issue. All our advertisers are accepted in good faith and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. Reproduction of the content of this magazine is not permitted without the prior consent of the publisher.

What’s inside...

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Featured Dog - Poodle

December Tree - Sneezewood Tribute to a Lost Friend Easy Christmas Table Ideas Local Bird - Brown Hooded Kingfisher Recapture the Magic of Christmas Grace - Part 22 Eric’s Corner - In The Air Tonight Cat of the Month - Persian Beauty Resolutions for 2018 December Days of Interest December 20th You make every day of every week so deliciously sweet, as only you can!

We wish Alicia, a very special 13th Birthday – may your day be as special as you are to us.

It might have felt like a long wait, but the teenage years have finally arrived – remember not to rush through them, enjoy every moment of these carefree days. Savouring all the little things along the way, will help you stay as precious as you are today.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

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December Facts Here are some facts about the last month of the year you might not have known.

• There are fewer daylight hours in December in the northern hemisphere than in any other month.

• A survey done during 2011 revealed that more dentists are born in December than in any other month.

• More drivers are breathalysed during December than in any other month. It is also the worst month for road accidents – so be careful on the roads this month.

• More money is withdrawn from ATM’s during December than any other month.

• December is the month during which couples argue the most.

• The stock market tends to do better in December than any other month. This has been put down to something called the “Santa rally”.

• In the UK, more people suffer fatal falls during December than any other month.

• “Men are April when they woo, December when they wed,” – Shakespeare – As You Like It • December’s star sign is Sagittarius • December birthdays have claim to three gemstones: Zircon, Tanzanite and Turquoise, each of these carry a unique blue tone.

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POODLE

Elegant. Proud. Clever. Poodles are impressive dogs, as the many best-in-show winners from this dog breed can attest. Behind the blue ribbons, impressive hairdos, and regal attitude, you’ll find an affectionate family dog with an ancient history and many talents.

Although today’s Poodles seem to epitomize a life of leisure and luxury, make no mistake: These are real dogs bred to do real jobs. Although it hardly seems possible when you look at a primpedup Poodle in the show ring, the breed was originally a water retriever, a job that requires jumping in the water to fetch waterfowl for hunters.

In fact, the English name poodle is derived from the German word pudel, or pudelin, which means to splash in the water. And in France, Poodles are called Caniche, a name derived from chien canard, meaning duck dog.

Even the elaborate coat styling that the breed’s known for once had a practical purpose: trimmed areas lightened the

weight of the dog’s coat and wouldn’t snag on underwater debris, while long hair around the joints and vital organs protected the dog from the cold water.

There are three sizes of Poodle, all considered part of the same breed: going from smallest to largest, these are the Toy, the Miniature, and the Standard. The Standard is probably the oldest of the three varieties, and some still carry on the Poodle tradition of working as a water retriever. The Toy Poodle stands up to 25.4cm tall, and weighs about 2.7 to 4kg.

The Miniature Poodle stands 28 to 38 cm tall and weighs 6.8 to 8kg. The Standard Poodle stands 38 cm and taller (usually 58cm); males weigh 20 to 32 kg and females weigh 20 to 27 kg.

No matter the size, Poodles are renowned for a playful but dignified personality and keen intelligence. When it comes to training, this is an “A” student, and the Poodle excels at performance sports such as obedience, agility, and hunt tests.

warm up to new people.

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An outstanding trait of the Poodle is his intelligence. He is often said to have human-like intelligence, an amazing cleverness that astounds his owners. Of course, smart dogs can be difficult to live Despite his regal air, the Poodle is no snob. with. They learn fast — good habits and These are people-friendly dogs who want bad — and they remember everything. to stay close to their families — they get lonely when left by themselves for long Vital Stats: periods — and are always up for a good game.

Height: Approximately 55cm tall Intelligent, loving, loyal, and mischievous are four words Poodle enthusiasts commonly use to describe the breed’s personality. The Poodle is also known for what his fans call “an air of distinction”: a dignified attitude that’s hard to describe, but easy to spot in the dog.

Despite his regal appearance, the Poodle has a goofy streak and loves to play — he’s always up for a game of any kind.

He’s also very fond of people and eager to please. Combine that with his legendary intelligence, and you’ve got a dog that’s highly trainable.

A good Poodle who’s been taught canine manners has a calm disposition, especially if he gets regular exercise to burn off his natural energy. Some owners and breeders think the smaller Toy and Miniature Poodles are a bit more highstrung than the Standard; however, other breeders and owners disagree with this theory.

The Poodle is protective of his home and family, and if strangers approach your house, he’ll sound a warning bark to let you know. And although he’s affectionate with his family, he may take a while to

at the shoulder Weight: 20 to 32 kilograms Life Span:12 to 15 years

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Ptaeroxylon obliquum

Common names: Sneezewood, Nieshout

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taeroxylon (pronounced ‘teroxillon’) is a direct Greek translation meaning sneeze and wood; obliquum refers to the oblique leaflets.

Umtata in the Eastern Cape takes its name indirectly from the Xhosa name for this tree. This is a protected tree in South Africa.

Sneezewood is extremely hard and durable and highly valued as a timber for fence posts and buildings. In the past, it was also used extensively for railway sleepers. Little furniture was ever made of it, but with some effort and preparation beautiful pieces can be made and these

are prized today. Highly irritant, aromatic peppery oils, containing Nieshoutol are produced by the wood, causing violent sneezing by woodworkers after sawing or sanding. When used as machine bearings Sneezewood often wears longer than brass or iron. In Mozambique it is

the preferred wood for the manufacture of xylophone keys.

The tree is used traditionally both for medicine and ritual purposes. Bark is used as a snuff to relieve headaches. Pieces of wood can be placed in cupboards to repel moths. The resin from the heated wood has been applied to warts and powdered bark added to a wash to kill cattle ticks.

The wood is reported to “burn like paraffin”giving a bright, hot fire. It was also used as tinder to make fire by friction.

Great quantities were felled for fuel and other uses in the past, making it scarce today. Palmer & Pitman (1973) in Trees of Southern Africa report that Sneezewood was used to fuel five lime kilns at Bathurst and for the steam tugs at the Kowie (Port Alfred).

The distribution of this species extends from the Eastern Cape, where it was once common, to Tanzania in tropical Africa.

It occurs in woodland, scrub forest and evergreen montane forest.

This is a small genus with only one species. Until recently this and the Madagascan Cedrelopsis were placed in a family of their own, Ptaeroxylaceae, but DNA sequences and chemical evidence leave little doubt that they belong to the

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large citrus family Rutaceae.

Noteworthy, the Common Citrus Swallowtail butterfly Papilio demodocus is known to visit and breed on this tree. Other indigenous trees in the family recommended for the garden are the Cape chestnut (Calodendron capense), white ironwood (Vepris undulata)and the small knobwood (Zanthoxylum capense).

Sneezewood plants are easily identified by opposite leaves, with three to eight pairs of dark green leaflets, including a terminal pair at the tip. Leaflets are distinctly asymmetrical in shape. Foliage sometimes colours in autumn and winter, but the tree is not always deciduous. The young foliage is browsed and enjoyed by game including various antelope and giraffe.

Flowers are small, sweetly scented, with four petals, opening white with an orange centre from creamy yellow buds, and are produced from August to December. Male and female flowers occur on different trees. The fruit is an oblong capsule, notched at the tip and splits open to produce winged seeds.

Young stems are smooth with pale, blotched bark which becomes fissured with age.

Estimates of maximum height vary from 20 m to 35 m, but trees in montane forests usually attain 10 m and those in bushveld and drier regions remain as small trees or shrubs growing to around 3 metres.

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The F in Featz is for FELIX

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hose who follow our Facebook page will know that during November we lost a very important member of the Featz Family.

Felix, the terrorist - sorry terrier – has been a daily part of the business since the very beginning. No email was sent, Facebook post made or article proofed without his stamp of approval. Our office is filled with his absence and the December issue of Community Ch@ Magazine has not been easy without him.

However, this page is not meant to bring a tear to the eye. Instead we would like to share some of our happy memories of Felix.

Felix was a fearless, dominant pup from the very beginning. He shared every part of our lives and ensured that no family member was ever left out. He had love

and companionship for all of us, and managed to spend every moment with every family member, even when everyone was busy with their own thing.

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Felix was without a doubt the best companion anyone could every ask for.

His unique sense of humour will keep us entertained, long after he has left us.

Felix you truly were one of a kind and our hearts will always wear the paw-prints left by you.

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Christmas Table Ideas

Top your Christmas table with a quick, easy and festive holiday centrepiece.

Cranberry candles For a simple yet stunning centrepiece, place five votive candles (in a variety of Christmas colours) in a line down a red rectangular serving dish. Fill the rest of the dish with cranberries, garnish with a few pine twigs and dust with artificial snow.

Balls of fun Create a colourful centrepiece by filling a silver bowl with an assortment of brightly coloured ornaments. Place the bowl on a cake stand and cover the extra space on the cake stand with holly and evergreens.

Focus on family Make family photos the focus of your centrepiece.

Choose pics from Christmases past for a trip down memory lane. Place two photos back-to-back on memo clips, so you’ll be able to see a picture no matter where you sit. Set photos on a cake stand or plate using frosted gel memo cubes or clay.

Holiday tiers

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Display favourite Christmas cards on a tiered stand along with artificial greens, small presents and ornaments.

Sparkling accents Curiosities such as milk starbursts grab attention in a centrepiece of pinecones and greens. Repurpose serving pieces as candleholders and tiny planters to add charming interest.

Clear glass sparkle Create a lovely centrepiece with an assortment of clear or lightly tinted glass bottles. Fill some with small glass balls, and add a sprig of boxwood or other greenery.

Everyday white dishes look fresh and elegant with a coloured linen napkin on top.

Pretty platter For an easy DIY table-scape, decorate a serving tray with silver ornaments. Tuck in boughs of evergreen for a simple yet elegant centrepiece

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Tower of apples Green apples are the perfect hue for an easy Christmas display. Fill a glass jar with apples; mix in loose greens for a wintry feel. Place container on a bevelled edge mirror (that serves as a table runner). Fill in with additional greens, ball ornaments and candles of different sizes.

Lantern light Surround lanterns with fresh greenery and pinecones for a classic, elegant centrepiece.Â

Fragrant light

Take advantage of holiday scents by making a fragrant red candle the centre of your next Christmas centrepiece. Cut and weave together a bed of artificial evergreen branches. Place the candle in the centre of the branches and scatter a collection of colourful ornaments, bells and pinecones around the branches. Garnish with ribbon if desired. Be sure never to leave a burning candle unattended.

Easy and elegant Create this pretty centrepiece in just a couple of minutes.

Float roses and a few evergreen twigs inside a clear container, and surround with holly. Build on a clear tray or platter, and you’ve got an easily portable decoration!

Natural touches

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Wintry white tulips lend a soft touch to this natural holiday centrepiece. Fill varying sizes of glassware with fresh flowers and arrange around metallicsprayed pinecones and silvery ornaments.

Pyramid of ornaments Create a pyramid of solid-colour ball ornaments on top of a compote. Use a hotglue gun or scrapbooking glue dots to adhere ball ornaments to each other. Fill in with loose evergreens. To complete the look, top candlesticks and votive holders with matching ball ornaments.

Row of paper trees Turn holiday-themed scrapbooking papers into an inexpensive table top display. Cut and fold papers to create simple cone “trees” of different sizes. Secure seams with double-sided tape.

Serve up a centrepiece To make a showy centrepiece, place solid-colour ball ornaments inside a clear-glass vase and “serve” on a silver tray. Sprinkle faux snow over the display, and wrap it up with matching ribbon.

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Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris

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surprise sighting recently of a new visitor to our garden in Lynnwood Glen sent me running to find the bird book to identify this new feathered friend that chose to visit. The only thing I was certain of was that this was some kind of Kingfisher.

Referred to as a ‘dry-land Kingfisher’ this bird forages and nests away from water, often appearing in suburban gardens.

Usually seen singly, perched low down at the edge of a clearing or lawn dropping occasionally to capture insects and other prey. In hot weather, this Kingfisher frequently splash-bathes in swimming pools or ponds.

instead of the brown back of the female.

This bird feeds on large insects such as grasshoppers, mantis and beetles, as well as spiders, scorpions, frogs, geckos, skinks and small snakes. Very occasionally they will take tadpoles and fish.

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. Both sexes help to excavate a nesting tunnel of about 1 meter into an earthen bank, road cutting or retaining wall. A clutch of four, white eggs are laid in a chamber at the end of the tunnel, and incubated by the female. Both The Brown-hooded Kingfisher has a parents will feed the nestlings until they height of 24cms and weighs around fledge at about 20 days. The nestlings 60grams. They have a brown head and a defecate inside the nest, so it smells foul, bright red bill. They have a white coloured which may help to deter predators. throat, orange legs and a black back. You Watching this bird perched on our fence cannot miss the striking teal coloured wall was a rare and beautiful sight. Keep feathers on the wing tips and tail. The an eye open, perhaps you will notice him only difference between the male and visiting your garden too. female is that the male has a black back

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Bring ba child and your age ways to 1

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Want to recapture the

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agic of Christmas?

ack that excitement you experienced as a d have a truly magical Christmas, whatever e. To start feeling festive, check out these 5 recapture the childhood magic of Christmas.

’t give up on ition

n we’re young, all about ch as writing ta Claus, mas treats and ations for the r, as we get rhaps spend ay from our tions can start to pture the magic try to hold on e childhood used to love. etter to Santa, mince pie and stmas Eve, or some time

with your family watching Christmas movies. Although you may feel too old for these rituals now, by reliving your childhood traditions the Christmas magic will soon come flooding back.

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Do something selfless

As we get older and become more aware of the financial side of Christmas, it is easy to get consumed by the commercial side of the season, which can take away some of the joy and magic.

This year, take some time out from the hustle and bustle and stress of

the season and spread some love and joy instead! Take part in some seasonal voluntary work, such as helping out a homeless shelter, helping with charity Christmas collections or getting involved with a sponsored Santa Run. Not only will this make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside this festive season, but you can also help somebody else to recapture the magic of Christmas

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Be frivolous

To truly immerse yourself in the Christmas magic, filling As children we generally ask your playlist with Christmas for what we want, rather than what songs and watching as many festive we need. However, as we get older movies as you can is also a must presents become a lot more practical – and if you want to do it all while and our wish lists are full of useful dressed in a Christmas jumper and – but entirely unexciting – items reindeer socks then we fully support such as socks, kitchen gadgets and that. stationery. This year, try to put the excitement back into Christmas by

asking – and giving – some fun and Do something different frivolous gifts that you can really As children, part of the look forward to. This doesn’t mean necessarily requesting novelty items reason why Christmas is so magical is because everything is new and you will never use, but maybe try exciting. We get swept up in the swapping that fancy new frying mystery of Christmas – the sights, pan for a pair of high heels or your the sounds, the smells and the favourite DVD boxset. Alternatively, atmosphere. Recapture that sense ditch the list and hint-dropping and of wonder this year by visiting see what fun surprises you end up somewhere you have never been with! before or doing something you have Immerse yourself in never done. Depending on your the magic budget you could head off to Lapland for the ultimate festive experience, If you want to fully experience the Christmas magic, it’s visit a Christmas market in a location important to immerse yourself in the you have never visited before, try a festive activity such as ice skating festivities and get involved with as or carol singing, or simply bake much as you can. Try to something new. Trying something take in a pantomime, new and exciting this Christmas will attend a carol service guarantee it is one to remember. and visit as many Christmas markets as you can, for example.

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Brownies

The 8th of December is Brownie Day, and since we cannot resist this mouth-watering treat, we had to share our favourite brownie recipe with you this month.

Temperature: 1600C Baking Time: 40 – 50 minutes Serves: 12

Ingredients •

135g Stork Bake

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140g plain chocolate, broken into small pieces

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3 medium eggs

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225g sugar

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1 tsp vanilla extract

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40g plain / all-purpose flour

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1 tsp baking powder

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25g cocoa powder

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Pinch of salt

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55g finely chopped walnuts

Method • •

•

•

•

Preheat the oven to 160°C. Place the Stork Bake and the chocolate into a heatproof bowl over a saucepan with hot water on a low heat and leave until melted (alternatively, microwave on medium power / heat, stirring occasionally, until just melted). Stir until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar and vanilla until slightly thickened. Whisk in the chocolate mixture.

Sieve the flour, baking powder, cocoa and a pinch of salt over the bowl and fold into the batter. Finally, fold in the chopped walnuts.

Spoon the batter into the prepared cake tin. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 50 minutes until cooked. Cool in the tin before cutting into squares.

Advise: Don’t like nuts? You can swap the nuts for 55g chocolate chunks or your favourite candies, like marshmallows.

TO PRINT A COPY CLICK HERE

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Grace

Rest Assured

Part 22

By Johan Jordaan

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ome of the best news from the gospel can be found in this section.

It spells the end of striving and performance – if you are able to make this your own.

to pump water from a river as in Egypt but they simply had to trust God and He would send rain from above without them having to lift a finger. Deut 11:10 For the land where you are headed is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, a land Jesus promised us rest: Matt 11:28 Come to where you planted seed and which you me, all you who are weary and burdened, irrigated by hand like a vegetable garden. and I will give you rest. (NET) Jesus is 11 Instead, the land you are crossing about rest. the Jordan to occupy is one of hills and When God took Israel by the hand to lead valleys, a land that drinks in water from the rains, 12 a land the LORD your God looks them out of Egypt He promised them after. He is constantly attentive to it from that He would ‘give them the land’. In the the beginning to the end of the year. (NET) first books of the Bible (Pentateuch) God The poor fellows must have thought that promises Israel on 28 occasions that He God had gone bonkers; what was this rain? would ‘give them the land’ of Canaan.

They had never seen it before and they He even states that He would drive the inhabitants out using hornets (Exod 23:28 only knew how to pump water from the Nile. Pump, pump, pump. But now, God will & Deut 7:20). But they never understood let the water fall from heaven! That must what that meant, even after they took have sounded like heaven to them.

Jericho without ‘firing a shot’ so to speak. God literally gave it to them as He Paul picks up on this theme in Hebrews promised. But then they decided to ‘take (assuming he was the author of Hebrews) the land’, a task they never completed. and shows that Israel never took up this Please read Exo 6:4 where God reiterates rest that was promised them (they decided the fact that He, by covenant, undertakes to take the land remember): to give them the land. All they had to do Heb 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ​​​​​​ was trust Him and enter His rest.

“Oh, that today you would listen as he And it was a land of rest; they did not have

speaks! 8 ​​​​​​​“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness. 9 ​​​​​​​“There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years. 10 ​​​​​​​“Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, “Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.” 11 ​​​​​​​“As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’” (NET) God withdrew His rest from them because they were in constant rebellion. Now Paul’s point is this: God’s rest is still available; we can enter into it: Heb 4:9 Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. 10 For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. 11 Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. (NET) This is the only time I am aware of that Paul urges us to ‘labour’ for something (KJV). We must ‘labour’ to enter God’s rest! I can live with that, but note that it is not so easy; we must make every effort to enter into this rest. How can it be difficult? Because our default setting is to do something, i.e. to work. Now of course we can do these works and still be in God’s rest. In fact we must do our good works FROM a position of rest; otherwise they will be dead works.

As I explained in a previous section, we bear fruit when we abide in the vine (John 15). Now how much effort is it to abide?

That should be our default state - rest.

Our key to enter into God’s rest is PEACE or ‘shalom’. Jesus has the following to say about peace: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does.

Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. (NET) Jesus promises us that He will leave (bequeath) His peace with us. Literally, we inherit His peace. But when He said ‘peace’ in Hebrew, He would have used the word ‘shalom’. Now shalom is a much richer word than peace. According to Strong’s Concordance 7965, Shalom means

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completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

But Jesus urges us to do something to inherit this peace; we must not fear. Easier said than done I hear you say. True, but if He says we must do it, it must be possible.

So why is it so hard for us ‘not to fear’? It is a simple lack of faith. We simply do not believe that He will look after us in every way, so we fear the future. If we have a spirit of slavery, we also fear. (Rom 8:15) As sons we have the kind of relationship with our Daddy that is rooted in love and trust (faith). From this relationship we have peace and expectancy about the future.

There is no place for fear in our lives as we enter into His rest.

Is this not much better than the current theology that encourages us to do more for God and our fellow man? In rest we only do what we see the Father doing, no more and no less. He leads the way. That is so stress free. Gone is worry and fear.

Labour for this – to enter into His rest.

Write to me, engage me and I will try to answer any questions that you might have. email: featzmags@gmail.com Subject: Grace

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In The Air Tonight Love can make you do things that you never thought possible.

- Phil Collins -

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hilip David Charles Collins was born on the 30th January 1951. He is an English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and is also a solo artist. Between 1983 and 1990, Collins scored three UK and seven US number-one singles in his solo career. When his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is added together, Collins has had more US Top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s. His most successful singles from the period include “In the Air Tonight”, “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”, “One More Night”, “Sussudio” and “Another Day in Paradise”.

Born and raised in West London, Collins played drums from the age of five and completed drama school training, which secured him various roles as a child actor.

He then pursued a music career, joining Genesis in 1970 as their drummer and becoming lead singer in 1975 following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Collins began a solo career in the 1980s, initially inspired by his marital breakdown and love of soul music, releasing a series of successful albums, including Face Value (1981), No Jacket Required (1985), and ...But Seriously (1989). Collins became “one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the ‘80s and beyond”. In 1996, Collins left Genesis to focus on solo work,

but returned for their Turn It On Again Tour in 2007. Following a five-year retirement to focus on his family life, Collins released an autobiography and began his Not Dead Yet Tour which runs from June to December 2017.

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band. He has won seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, one Academy Award, and a Disney Legend Award. In 1999, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as Collins’s discography includes eight studio a member of Genesis in 2010, the Modern albums that have sold 33.5 million certified Drummer Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013 units in the US and an estimated 150 million worldwide, making him one of the Due to various health issues, Collins can world’s best-selling artists. He is one of no longer play the drums. His 15 year old only two recording artists, along with Paul son Nic has stepped into his dad’s shoes McCartney, who have sold over 100 million and is now Phil’s official drummer on his records worldwide both as solo artists latest tour. and separately as principal members of a

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PERSIAN T

he dignified and docile Persian is known for being quiet and sweet.

She is an ornament to any home where she can enjoy sitting on a lap—surely her rightful place—being petted by those who are discerning enough to recognize her superior qualities, and playing house with kind children who will gently comb her hair, wheel her around in a baby buggy, then serve her tea at their parties. Persians are affectionate but discriminating. They reserve their attention for family members and those few guests whom they feel they can trust.

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oud environments aren’t a Persian’s style; they are sedate cats who prefer a serene home where little changes from day to day.

With large, expressive eyes and a voice that has been described as soft, pleasant and musical, Persians let their simple needs be known: regular meals, a little playtime with a catnip mouse or

feather teaser, and lots of love, which they return tenfold. This is one cat who is unlikely to climb up your curtains, jump on your kitchen counters, or perch on top of your refrigerator. She is perfectly happy to rule her domain from the floor or more accessible pieces of furniture. When you are at work or are busy around the house, the Persian is content to adorn a chair, sofa or bed until you are free to admire her and give her the attention she willingly receives but never demands.

Both pedigreed cats and mixed-breed cats have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature.

Although they are beautiful and sweet,

Persians are prone to a number of the front legs, long ear and toe potential health problems, most commonly tufts, and a full “brush,” or tail. related to their facial structure: o

Breathing difficulty or noisy breathing caused by constricted nostrils

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Dental malocclusions, meaning the teeth don’t mesh well together

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Excessive tearing

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Eye conditions such as cherry eye and entropion

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Heat sensitivity

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Polycystic kidney disease, for which a genetic test is available

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Predisposition to ringworm, a fungal infection

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Seborrhea oleosa, a skin condition that causes itchiness, redness and hair loss

The Persian has a distinctive appearance: a large, round head; large, round eyes; a short nose; full cheeks; and small ears with rounded tips. The head is supported by a short, thick neck and a deceptively sturdy, muscular body—a type known as “cobby.”

A Persian’s legs are short, thick and strong with large, round, firm paws. The tail is short but proportional to the length of the cat’s body.

A long, thick, shiny coat with a fine texture completes the Persian’s look. It’s long all over the body and includes an immense ruff around the neck, a deep frill between

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Persians can come in different “looks.”

Some, known as Peke-face Persians, have an extremely flat face. Think twice about the breathing problems such a cat might have before deciding to get one. “Dollface” Persians are said to have a more old-fashioned appearance, with a face that is not as flat as the show Persian or the Peke-face Persian.

Persians of all stripes stand out for their infinite variety of coat colours and patterns. Imagine, if you will, seven solid colour divisions—white, blue, black, red, cream, chocolate and lilac—plus silver and golden division colours of chinchilla and shaded silver or golden and blue chinchilla and blue shaded silver or golden; and then there are the shaded, smoke, tabby, calico, particolored and bicolour divisions. That’s not counting the various pointed patterns of the Himalayan.

Eye colour is related to coat colour. For instance, white Persians have deep blue or brilliant copper eyes; other solidcoloured Persians have brilliant copper eyes; silver and golden Persians have green or blue-green eyes; and so on.

“I don’t know what acting is, but I enjoy it.”

—Anthony Hopkins

Fascinating People

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Sir Anthony Hopkins

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nthony Hopkins is an Oscar-winning actor known for roles in many films, including The Lion in Winter, Silence of the Lambs and The Remains of the Day. Philip Anthony Hopkins was born on December 31, 1937, in Margam, Port Talbot, Wales. Hopkins is the son of Muriel Yeats -- a distant relative of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats -- and Richard Hopkins. His early years in Wales and schooling at Cowbridge Grammar School were relatively unremarkable, but when the soon-to-be actor met Richard Burton, the course of his life would dramatically change.

Encouraged and inspired

by Burton, Hopkins enrolled at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama when he was only 15 years old.

After graduation in 1957, Anthony Hopkins spent two years in the British

Army before moving to London to begin training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After training and working for several years, he became a kind of protégé of the legendary actor Sir Laurence Olivier. In 1965, Olivier invited Hopkins to join the Royal National Theatre and become his understudy. The famed actor wrote in his memoir, “A new young actor in the company of exceptional promise named Anthony Hopkins was understudying me and walked away with the part of Edgar like a cat with a mouse between its teeth.” When Olivier came down with appendicitis during a production called Dance of Death, the young Hopkins stepped in, making waves with his performance.

Billed as Olivier’s heir to the British acting throne, Hopkins had the momentum to make the

leap from stage to film, which was his primary ambition. He started on the small-screen in 1967 with a BBC production of A Flea in Her Ear. Soon after he was cast in The Lion in Winter (1968) as Richard I, sharing the screen with established stars Peter OToole and Katherine Hepburn.

Throughout the 1970s, Hopkins continued to work in film and on stage, garnering critical attention for this double duty. He starred in a Broadway production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus (1974) even as he devoted more and more attention to developing his talents for television and film. His method of preparation for roles has always been a source of fascination to critics and young actors alike. Hopkins prefers to memorize his lines in extremis, sometimes repeating them more than 200 times.

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The finished product typically reveals a naturalness that skillfully hides the massive amount of rehearsal the actor has done. Because of this style, Hopkins prefers fewer, more spontaneous takes, and has occasionally butted heads with directors who he perceives as deviating from the script too much or demanding too many takes. He has noted in the past that once he says a line and is done with a take, he forgets that line forever.

Hopkins was married to his first wife, Petronella Barker, from 1967 to 1972.

The couple had one daughter, Abigail Hopkins, who was born in 1968.

Hopkins then married again, to Jennifer Lynton, from 1973 to 2002.

Despite a promising career, the actor long battled alcoholism, once saying, “I led a pretty self-destructive life for a few decades. It was only after I put

my demons behind me that I was able to fully enjoy acting.” In 1975, Hopkins began attending Alcoholics Anonymous and working to put those demons behind him.

The following year, Hopkins won an Emmy for his role as Bruno Richard Hauptmann in The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (1976). Throughout the 1980s, Hopkins continued to impress the critics with his work in film and TV, winning multiple Emmy Awards and a BAFTA Award.

In 1989, Hopkins returned to the stage for a production of the musical drama M. Butterfly. But it was in 1991 that Hopkins, now well into his fifties, finally found himself shot to superstardom. His unforgettable, 17-minute performance as the infamous psychopath Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs frightened and wowed fans and

critics alike. At the time he took the role, Hopkins had been considering giving up on movies and retiring to London for a career on the stage. The fortuitous role resulted in not only an Oscar but a distinguished place in the popular consciousness as perhaps the number one on-screen villain of all time.

Hopkins has since played the role again in the films’ sequels. Following up his first real Hollywood blockbuster, Hopkins wisely chose to follow up with his film The Remains of the Day (1993), for which he was nominated for another Academy Award. He would be nominated again for Nixon (1995) and Amistad (1997).

In 1993, Hopkins was knighted by the British Empire. In April 2000, he became a naturalized citizen of

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the United States and, in 2002, he married his third wife, Colombian-born Stella Arroyave. In 2006, he was awarded the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

The acclaimed actor has continued to work in major motion pictures in recent years, appearing in such films as Proof (2005), Beowulf (2007) and Thor (2011). More recently, he was cast as famed horror movie director Alfred Hitchcock in the 2012 biopic Hitchcock. Hopkins earned raves for his starring role in the film, which includes Helen Mirren as Hitchcock’s wife, Alma Reville. The movie explores the making of Hitchock’s horror classic Psycho.

Pretoria High School for Girls

Grade 10 and 11 Blues Improvisation Workshop

Blues Improvisation Workshop.

By Katy Racionzer (Grade 11) The Grade 10 and 11 music classes were delighted to have the opportunity to attend a Blues Improvisation Workshop. Riaan BenadÊ, a Jazz guitarist, presented the workshop. Mr BenadÊ showed the girls many useful tricks of the trade and demonstrated improvisation on his guitar, even delighting the class with some scat jazz. All the girls were given a chance to try out some improvisation on their own instruments which they did eagerly, and were thrilled to hear each other’s improvisations. As music subject students, girls are required to improvise on their instruments.

Environment Sustainability Project

PHSG entered two teams in the 2017 Environment Sustainability Project, hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs. The team of Chipo Hansungule, Tshegofatso Matlou and Kgaugelo Mkumbeni submitted a research paper of 12 pages on the topic of Redefining Rural Areas. Their paper is one of only ten papers selected to go through to the national finals, which will take place in early December in the form of a week-long conference. We are extremely proud of these girls and wish them the best of luck for the finals.

UNICEF Generation 2030 Workshop

Due to past achievements in various Model United Nations debates, Chipo Hansungule (Grade 11) was personally invited by the South African Institute of International Affairs as one of only ten learners internationally to attend the UNICEF Generation 2030 Workshop and Media Event as a delegate to represent the African youth . This took place on 25 and 26 October 2017.

Chipo describes it as an invaluable experience that introduced them to the true struggles of the African youth and the many different roles that the youth can play in solving these problems.

B eauty R esolutions to Ring in the N ew Y ear If you’re like most of us, you probably have a to-do list that’s a mile long, but a wish list that can fit in your palm. But what if, starting now, you made self-care a priority item? Pampering yourself from head to toe is actually not as hard as you may think with our easyto-keep beauty resolutions.

This year, I will take the time to...

1. Apply a generous dose of body from your skin allows it to breathe moisturizer daily, especially to and leaves it looking younger. drier areas, like the elbows, knees, Proper facial cleansing also hands and feet. helps to significantly reduce the likelihood of blemishes.

Choose a luscious, good quality moisturizer rich in vitamins A and 3. Exfoliate my face and body once E. a week to remove dead skin cells from the surface of my epidermis.

2. Wash my face every day – morning and night – to remove By eliminating dead skin impurities that can leave my cells, exfoliation leaves skin complexion looking dull. smoother and softer. It is also a great way to get a more radiant Makeup removal is the basic step complexion in a flash! For your of any beauty routine. Eliminating

face, use only a gentle exfoliating product with tiny beads; they must be small enough to penetrate pores for a deep-down cleansing.

For your body, be sure to choose an exfoliant specific to your skin type and to the season.

6. Play up the charm by applying trendy nail polish to both my hands and feet.

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Nail polish has never been so popular! Again this year, there is a wide variety of shades to choose from. You’ll even find the convenient self-adhesive nail art 4. Apply sunscreen every time I go and finishing coats with different outside – and this goes for all four textures and effects. Have fun with seasons! it and try new styles for a special occasion or to match your outfit!

Not only are UV rays associated with skin cancer, they also accelerate the aging of the skin.

7. Pamper myself a little No one in their right mind wants to have wrinkles before their time! Go through your makeup bag Remember too that UV rays do and replace all expired products not take a break when it’s cloudy, with something bolder! Maybe a cold or even freezing outside. No new shade of lipstick, a trendy matter the weather, you should nail polish or a skin care product either use a moisturizer with an you’ve always wanted to try. Just SPF or apply sunscreen after your go for it: you deserve it! moisturizer – every day.

5. Take meticulous care of my eyebrows (for a gorgeous look!)

Well-groomed eyebrows frame and highlight the eyes and face. Proper grooming involves removing stray hairs on a weekly basis (you need a good pair of tweezers for this) and the occasional appointment with an eyebrow pro for expert tips, seasonal maintenance or to correct any tiny mistakes you may have made! Keep in mind that over-tweezed brows tend to make us look older, so be sure to leave them a bit denser.

MOVIE TRAILER

Pitch Perfect 3 After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

Expelled

MUST READ

James Patterson A secret Twitter account. An anonymous photo. Everyone is a suspect. Will Foster’s Twitter account used to be anonymous - until someone posted The Photo that got him and three other students expelled, their futures ruined forever.

But who took the picture, and why are they being targeted? To uncover the truth, Will gets close to the suspects: the hacker, the quarterback, the bad girl, the class clown, the vice principal, and... his own best friend. What secrets are they hiding, and even worse - what do they know about each other? The terrible truth will haunt them forever.

Publisher: Penguin Random House - ISBN 9781784759605

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MOVIE TRAILER

PADDINGTON 2

The sequel to the big-hearted film debut of the small bear from darkest Peru is a full-on charm offensive of a movie. And Paddington, with his ingrained decency, generosity of spirit and unshakable faith in the value of good manners, cements himself as a slightly sticky beacon of hope for these dark and unsettled times. If the first film was a pro-immigration rallying call for multiculturalism, the second explores themes only a bear’s-hair-breadth less political. Paddington wants to buy a handmade pop-up book for his Aunt Lucy’s birthday and sets out to graft honestly, if chaotically, to earn the money, only to have the book snatched away by the chicanery of a showboating actor who believes himself immune from suspicion by virtue of the nonstick coating provided by his celebrity.

Errant luvvie Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant on deliriously hammy form) is just one of the moreish treats in this gelato-hued comedic feast. The film retains the Keatonesque physical comedy – like all the finest silent clowns, Paddington is endearingly earnest, even as he dangles from the ceiling fan of a barber shop. But visually, it’s more arresting than the first film – there’s a precision to the framing and to the meticulous palette, which evokes the work of Wes Anderson. Meanwhile, an appealing animated sequence nods towards the homespun naivety of Michel Gondry’s Be Kind, Rewind.

And although the bear himself may be sugar-coated, or at least marmalade-coated, the peril here is every bit as acute as in the first film. Rather than a renegade taxidermist with a scalpel and a penchant for fetish wear, the climax this time is a breathlessly tense underwater escape sequence.And it’s this – the fact that writer/director Paul King is willing to take children out of their comfort zone, to tap into fears of disappointment, desertion and possible death – which makes Paddington 2 something to treasure rather than just to entertain.

Ferdinand

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After Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home.

Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Parents need to know that Ferdinand is an animated, modernized take on the classic picture book The Story of Ferdinand. Ferdinand (voiced by John Cena) is a gentle bull who prefers sniffing flowers than fighting in an arena. But when villains see how big and scary looking he is, they kidnap him to make him fight. He must rely on new friends (voiced by Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, David Tennant, and more) to escape and stay true to himself. The bright, colorful animation goes far beyond the MOVIE book’s ink illustrations, and it’s safe to expect lots more slapstick and some rude humor. But TRAILER overall this looks like a sweet, funny movie that kids and families will enjoy.

Barbie: Dolphin Magic MOVIE TRAILER

“In this fun, underwater adventure, Barbie and her sisters visit Ken at his summer internship where he works at a coral reef researching dolphins. While diving and exploring the reef, the sisters discover rare, rainbowcolored dolphins who only visit once a year. This amazing find encourages them to learn more about preserving the coral and all the sea life that lives there. That’s when they meet Isla, a mysterious new friend who’s also on a mission to save the coral. What seems like a simple task turns out to be quite the adventure when it’s revealed Isla is really a mermaid. But there’s no time to celebrate having a mermaid for a friend, because Isla needs the help of Barbie and her sisters, and the gemstone dolphins to save the day.”

Jumanji In a brand new Jumanji adventure, four high school kids discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game’s jungle setting, literally becoming the adult avatars they chose. What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji - you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves - or they’ll be stuck in the game forever, to be played by others without MOVIE break.Written by Sony Pictures TRAILER

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Days of Interest in December

December 1st Eat a Red Apple Day We hope you eat an apple today, and every day.

Apples are delicious.

Apples are nutritious.

That’s a great combination.

Apples date back to the garden of Eden. In that garden, the Bible tells us it was the “Forbidden fruit”.

It is really easy to participate in this special day. There are thousands of varieties of apples grown all over the planet. Your mission today, is to pick an apple among all of these varieties, and eat it.

A little apple trivia: The science of growing apples is called pomology.

Celebrate this special day. Select a juicy piece of the “Forbidden fruit” and have a happy Eat a Red Apple Day

December 4th Santa’s List Day. Have you been good all year? Have you been Naughty? Or, have you been nice?

Santa knows.

Santa’s Elves have been everywhere, checking up on children all over the world, to see who has been naughty, and who has been nice. Thanks to the hard work of his elves, Santa Claus has two

lists. The short list contains the names of a few children who have been naughty. A much longer list is filled with the names of children who have been good all year long.

Which list are you on?

Kids,make sure to be especially good around the holidays. That’s when parents need children to be on their best behaviour, as they are busy preparing for the holidays.

Happy Santa’s List Day!!!!

December 6th St. Nicholas Day . Yes, there really was a Christian Saint Nicholas.

He lived in the country of Greece, just a couple hundred years after the birth of Christ. This day is in honour of Saint Nicholas and his life.

Saint Nicholas became a priest, and later, a Bishop of the early Catholic Church.

True to the Christian concept of giving up belongings and following Christ, St. Nicholas gave up all of his belongings.

He was well known for giving to needy people, especially children. There are many stories and tales of him helping out

children in need.

Have a happy St. Nicholas Day.

December 7

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parks, circuses, fairs, and sports venues.

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Cotton Candy was originally called fairy floss. It is made from Floss (or Flossine) sugar.

We suggest you create a carnival atmosphere today, as you celebrate Cotton Candy Day!

December 8th International Civil Aviation Day promotes awareness of the importance of international civil aviation.

This special day was created to promote and bring awareness to the importance of civil aviation for social and economic development around the world. It is also intended to promote the safety and efficiency of air transportation.

Civil air transportation is an important part of a country’s infrastructure and transportation system. Take today to appreciate the civil air system in your country.

December 7

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Cotton Candy Day. The Cotton Candy machine was patented in 1899

by William Morrison and John C. Wharton. They brought it to the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, where it was quite popular. Cotton Candy is a favourite at amusement

Brownie Day celebrates chocolatey, chewy brownies.

Brownie lovers, love chocolate.

Conversely, chocolate lovers, love brownies. Therefore, it’s only natural, that we have a special day to celebrate brownies.

It’s fun and easy to enjoy this special day. First, select your favourite brownie recipe, and bake a batch of brownies.

You can add nuts, if you prefer. Topping the brownies with chocolate frosting is a good thing, too. Finally, eat them! You can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack.

Happy Brownie Day.

December 9th Christmas Card Day, honours Sir Henry Cole (1818 - 1874) of England. Cole created the first commercial Christmas Card in 1843.

Just a few decades ago, sending Christmas cards through the mail was a holiday “must”. Sending cards through the mail continues to be very popular.

The cost and time for writing and sending cards has caused many people to stop sending them. Free Ecards have surged in popularity. Animated Christmas and

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seasonal Ecards have made sending and receiving them a lot of fun.

Today is a good day to send out your Christmas cards and holiday greetings. If you have yet to do so, use today to get a start.

December 9

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Pastry Day is a fun day, created to encourage you to make, and of course eat, your favourite pastries. On Pastry Day, well known pastry chefs put on a show, making and displaying their finest creations.

December 12th

story of a little poor girl who had nothing to bring to church for Christmas. On her way to church, she picked some plants by the side of the road. As she entered the church, the leaves at the tips of the branches turned into bright, brilliant red flowers. You guessed it... Poinsettias.

December 13th Ice Cream Day When you get the urge for a snack on a hot, humid summer night, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? That’s right....Ice Cream! Therefore, it’s only fitting that ice cream be given it’s own special day. On this day, we hope you enjoy an ice cream cone, a sundae, or a milk shake. Set the diet aside and splurge a little...have one of each!

December 14th

Pointsettia Day These beautiful flowers are a wellrecognized symbol of Christmas. It is in honour of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who died on December 12, 1851. Poinsett was the first Ambassador to Mexico . Poinsett brought this colorful plant back to his plantation in the U.S. He grew the plants in his Greenville, S.C plantation and gave them out as gifts to friends.

According to Mexican folklore, there is a

Monkey Day On this day, back in the year 2000, artist Casey Sorrow was in art school. Casey jokingly sketched a monkey on a friend’s calendar... and a new special day was born.

Monkey Day is not a day to monkey around. It is a day to celebrate and enjoy monkeys of all kinds. We encourage you to do as Casey did... draw pictures of

monkeys today.

December 17th Maple Syrup Day provides us with the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this delicious treat. This sweet and unique flavour originated in America. Native American Indians were the first to harvest and boil the sap of the maple tree into a thick syrup.

Wynne is credited with creating the modern crossword puzzle.

These puzzles became so popular, that competitions were held, to see who was the fastest to complete them correctly.

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We sure hope you find some time this busy holiday season, to complete a crossword puzzle today.

December 24th Chocolate Day We hope that you haven’t quite had your fill of chocolate during the holidays, today is Chocolate Day.

Did you know? Sap of the maple tree, Chocoholics! If you count yourself in this the same sap used to make maple syrup, group, and we hope you do, then every makes a refreshing drink. Just put it in the day should be Chocolate Day! refrigerator and pour a drink whenever you want.

December 26th .

December 19th Oatmeal Muffin Day . Enjoy the cholesterol lowering benefit of oatmeal in your muffins today. That’s great news... eating something that tastes good, and is also healthy to you.

Have a couple of oatmeal muffins, and have a Happy Oatmeal Muffin Day!!!

December 21st Crossword Puzzle Day. It is very puzzling to me, why this special day would be so close to Christmas. While we love crosswords, who has time to do them right now!?

Well, it just so happens that crossword puzzles were created and published on this day in1913. It was published in the New York World newspaper. Arthur

Boxing Day Boxing Day is celebrated in England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other former British commonwealth countries. It is a legal holiday in these countries. This is also St. Stephans Day, where Boxing Day gets some of its roots.

On St. Stephans’ Day, churches opened their collection boxes to the poor.

Boxing Day was an expression of appreciation and thanks, much like Christmas tips are today.

The roots of the holiday go back to the Middle Ages. On this day, members of the merchant class would take boxes, fill them with food and fruits, and give

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them to servants, tradespeople and the less fortunate. In the case of servants, they would work on Christmas Day, so it was only fitting that immediately after Christmas, they would be given a day off to celebrate.

Today, the giving of boxes includes filling boxes with food and clothing for the needy and performing volunteer work. Monetary gifts to charity are also common.

December 28th Card Playing Day is the perfect time to spend an hour or so playing cards with family and friends. And, it arrives at just the perfect time of year........ a few days after Christmas. The holiday hustle and bustle is over.

The kids are getting bored of their new toys. It is time to turn to card games for a calmer, relaxing, and more slow-paced form of fun and entertainment.

Happy Card Playing Day. Now “go fish”, “hit me”, “double”, and “I’ll raise you two!”.

December 31 Make Up Your Mind Day is a very decisive day. All during the year, you have put on hold, many issues and decisions.

Eventually, they need to be resolved and decided upon. Well, today is the day. It is not a day to procrastinate. It is not a day to put off making a decision. If you are going to make up your mind this year, you better do it real soon. And, when you think about it, it is a great idea to clean the slate in advance of the new year!

Have a Happy Make up Your Mind Day!!

MUST READ

Munich by Robert Harris From the bestselling author of Fatherland, Conclave and An Officer and a Spy. September 1938 Hitler is determined to start a war. Chamberlain is desperate to preserve the peace. The issue is to be decided in a city that will forever afterwards be notorious for what takes place there. Munich.

As Chamberlain’s plane judders over the Channel and the Fürher’s train steams relentlessly south from Berlin, two young men travel with secrets of their own. Hugh Legat is one of Chamberlain’s private secretaries; Paul Hartmann a German diplomat and member of the anti-Hitler resistance. Great friends at Oxford before Hitler came to power, they haven’t seen one another since they were last in Munich six years earlier. Now as the future of Europe hangs in the balance, their paths are destined to cross again.

When the stakes are this high, who are you willing to betray? Your friends, your family, your country or your conscience?

Publisher: Penguin Random House - ISBN 9781786140142

Line of Fire (Nick Stone Thriller 19) ANDY MCNAB ‘Like the best action films in book form’ FHM Nick Stone is back in London but if he thought he was home for a break, he’s very, very wrong. Backed into a corner by a man he knows he cannot trust, ex-deniable operator Nick Stone strikes a devil’s bargain. In exchange for his own safety - a life for a life - Stone is charged with locating someone who doesn’t want to be found, currently hiding out in the one of the remotest corners of the UK. And for the first time in a long time, he’s not operating alone. But Stone and his team don’t find just anyone.

They find a world-class hacker, so good that her work might threaten the stability of the western world as we know it. These are dangerous waters and Stone is quickly in over his head. Before he finally knows which way to turn, the choice is ripped out of his hands. Most people might think of home as safety but Nick Stone isn’t most people. For him and his team, it’s just another place to get caught in the line of fire...

Publisher: Penguin Random House - ISBN 9780593078952

The Midnight Line (Jack Reacher 22) Lee Child Jack Reacher takes an aimless stroll past a pawn shop in a small Midwestern town. In the window he sees a West Point class ring from 2005. It’s tiny. It’s a woman cadet’s graduation present to herself. Why would she give it up? Reacher’s a West Pointer too, and he knows what she went through to get it.

Reacher tracks the ring back to its owner, step by step, down a criminal trail leading west. Like Big Foot come out of the forest, he arrives in the deserted wilds of Wyoming. All he wants is to find the woman. If she’s ok, he’ll walk away. If she’s not... he’ll stop at nothing. He’s still shaken by the recent horrors of Make Me, and now The Midnight Line sees him set on a raw and elemental quest for simple justice. Best advice: don’t get in his way.

Publisher: Penguin Random House - ISBN 9780593078174

Expelled

James Patterson A secret Twitter account. An anonymous photo. Everyone is a suspect. Will Foster’s Twitter account used to be anonymous - until someone posted The Photo that got him and three other students expelled, their futures ruined forever.

But who took the picture, and why are they being targeted? To uncover the truth, Will gets close to the suspects: the hacker, the quarterback, the bad girl, the class clown, the vice principal, and... his own best friend. What secrets are they hiding, and even worse - what do they know about each other? The terrible truth will haunt them forever.

Publisher: Penguin Random House - ISBN 9781784759605

Book Reviews

Famous Birthdays December 2nd nelly furtado

December 3rd Amanda Seyfried

December 3rd Ozzy osborne

December 4th marisa tomei

December 8th ian somerhalder

December 18TH BRAD PITT

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