Author: catfish

This month we’re giving away a copy of Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door and the Mermaid’s Treasure.Here’s a sneak peak…Aziza is excitedly packing her suitcase ready to go on holiday when she finds sand and seashells from the fairy door all over her room! Before long, she is stepping through the door and out onto Shimmerton’s beach, where naughty fairies, the Gigglers, are causing havoc by accidentally awakening an ancient shell-walker who has been asleep for many years under the sand. Everyone scatters as the shell-walker grows bigger and bigger. What can be done? Aziza’s new mermaid friend might just know…

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In the shadow of the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States rushed troops and military aid to a swath of West Africa to help French forces stop the spread of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.More than a decade later, and with hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance spent, that regional counterterrorism effort has largely failed.Groups that have declared allegiance to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are on the march. Military coups have toppled civilian-led governments in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger. The new leaders have ordered American and French troops out, and in some cases…

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Book Review of Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of DanuSponsored* | All opinions are our ownThe Children’s Book Review Written by Erika Lewis Ages 8-12 | 432 Pages Publisher: Macmillan/Starscape (2023) | ISBN-13: 9781250208323 What to Expect: Celtic mythology, adventure, magic, destiny, family. In this sequel to The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts, Erika Lewis returns readers to the Otherworld for another whirlwind adventure, this time venturing through the polar opposites of the Lands of Summer and Winter.  Kelcie is no longer a foster kid, desperately searching for the parents who abandoned her … but maybe it would be…

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The Sports Vouchers program provides an opportunity for school-aged children in South Australia from Reception to Year 9 to receive a discount on sports or dance membership/registration fees and learn to swim programs.  In 2025 it will also include music lessons. Peter Malinauskas has announced the school sports vouchers program will DOUBLE to two $100 vouchers per child, per year from 1 January 2025.  The voucher will also be expanded to include music lessons. A record number of 88,749 Sports Vouchers were claimed in 2023, saving South Australian families nearly $9 million.  In 2024, the program has been expanded to…

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Embracing Natural LivingAs parents, we always want the best for our children. By incorporating natural products like beeswax into our daily lives, we can create a safer, healthier environment for our little ones. Not only does beeswax offer numerous practical uses, but it also serves as a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about the importance of sustainability and eco-friendliness.A Bilingual AdventureDiscovering the magic of beeswax has been a delightful adventure for our bilingual family. We’ve enjoyed exploring its various uses together, learning new vocabulary in both English and Italian along the way. Engaging our children in the process of making beeswax…

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Nine months ago, John Steenhuisen, who leads South Africa’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance, stood before news cameras and signed an agreement not to work with the long-governing party, the African National Congress.“So help me God,” Mr. Steenhuisen said, raising his right hand and chuckling.But when the African National Congress failed to secure a governing majority in last week’s election and on Thursday invited its political opponents to join forces in a government of national unity, Mr. Steenhuisen moved to the front of the pack of political leaders looking to work with the party he had sworn off.He and…

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Are you heading to Guatemala City and looking for the best places to go? If that’s the case, you came to the right place! Let’s check out 10 of the most popular places in the city and the marvels they have to offer. Unless otherwise noted, entrance to these sites is free. ¡Vamos! Join more than 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today. Watch Our Video on Places to Visit in Guatemala City Places to Visit in Guatemala City 1. Ciudad Cayalá Cayalá means “paradise” in the Cakchiquel Maya language.…

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Wayne Holdsworth is asking everyone to be a real friend and family member and REALLY listen.​ EDITOR’S NOTE: Warning, this story may be distressing for some readers. After tragically losing his teenage son Mackenzie (Mac) to suicide in October 2023, Wayne Holdsworth founded a suicide prevention program called S(MAC)K Talk, a not-for-profit company, teaching parents and teens some of the warning signs to look out for.   Every type of organisation, small, medium or large, can benefit from an education program on really listening and in one free 40 minute session, Wayne or one of his trained facilitators can give…

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Address Dehydration and IrritationAirplane cabins have very low humidity levels which can severely dehydrate skin. The dry air saps moisture from the skin, leaving it tight, flaky, and compromised. This allows irritants to more easily penetrate and trigger inflammation. Plus, exposure to chlorine from hotel pools and salt from ocean water draws even more water out of the skin.Once you are home, opt for hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and aloe vera to rehydrate parched skin and calm any irritation. Using a hydrating facial mist throughout the day is also highly beneficial.Exfoliate Away Dead Skin CellsAll that…

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Listen on YouTube◆ ◆ ◆Mandla Mlangeni, trumpeterMalcolm Jiyane Tree-O, “Life Esidimeni”“Life Esidimeni,” from trombonist Malcolm Jiyane’s debut album, “Umdali,” weaves together a story of those forgotten and sometimes neglected by society. With its hauntingly lyrical trumpet improvisation, the piece laments an often neglected part of our recent history, the Life Esidimeni tragedy, which left 144 people dead at psychiatric facilities in the Gauteng province. Malcolm’s musical arrangement is both a reminder and an ode to the voiceless and dispossessed. Part of the pervasive beauty of South African jazz is that it recounts histories that we sometimes choose to forget or…

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