Is this the Birth of the Tradition One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip, but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so…
Pass By On The Other Side Last weekend’s news about the mountaineer on Mount Everest being saved by a passing climber was heartwarming. However, the month before, a climber died on the face of the mountain even though an estimated forty climbers passed him by without offering to help him.…
Peter And The King’s Teapot “Thanks Lady,” said Peter, munching the apple which had just given to him by the market stallholder. “Any time, Peter,” replied the Lady with a smile on her face. “You’re always welcome.” Like everybody else in the little village of Leapington, she was fond Peter.…
Panic Alarm! My wife and I were sitting in the Cairns airport arrival lounge fixing our sight on the arrival gate, looking for our son-in-law when, suddenly, an ear-piercing alarm went off. It seemed to come from somewhere very close to my wife. The sound was so shrill that she…
It is most often referred to as Eilean a’ Cheo – the Island of Mist. But for the past 25 years, it has been my Island of Magic. I feel a gentle sadness towards those who, when touring Scotland, have missed visiting this princely island called Skye. I feel deeper…
Strange Alliance Cat plays hero to birds. Goanna attack rebuffed. The bird cries alerted me. A glance from the window confirmed that there was trouble in the tree-tops. Such a gathering of species, from noisy-miner birds, swarming like angry wasps, friendly honey eaters, equally agitated, bold magpies and butcher birds…
Swampy Muck “There’s nothing like swampy muck to make hard work out of something – especially when it sucks your shoes off!” I had occasion to be reminded of a couple of weeks ago. It seems my son and his friend wanted to take a drive through the woods out…
Take off your Sunglasses I always wear my sunglasses each time I leave the house. In this part of the world where most of the time the sun shines so bright, a pair of sunglasses is indispensable. They also have become accessories that young people wear even indoors or at…
Turkey, 1953 I strolled into the small township of Iskenderun, Turkey, having earlier that afternoon crossed the frontier from Northern Syria. Walking through one end of town and back again, I checked out the surrounding area and noticed a nice secluded little park, and thought to myself, this looks like…
The Christmas Kitten Growing up on a farm, animals are a part of every country child’s life, and mine was no exception. I have known many cows, horses, geese and even turkeys, but it’s a little bob-tailed kitten that has made the greatest impression on my heart. Cats are everywhere…
THE WILD HORSES OF ASSATEAGUE ISLAND. After reading the story Thirty Horses by Tony Hayes in the December 1999 issue of the Tintota Magazine, I decided that the article about the horses was of particular interest to me, probably because of the herd of “wild horses” that roam the barrier…
“Laugh, and the world laughs with you” “Cry, and you’ll cry alone” My parents were constantly drumming this quotation into me. I can’t remember now why. It might have been because I was a miserable little blighter. Or if might have been because they were getting over the none too…