anAurora: Summer 2005 Text Version

"The Internet Magazine for the disAble Woman. The 'dis' is small, it's the Ability that Counts".

We have been delighted by your responses, keep the articles flowing. In this issue:

Arts: the section has Xmas poetry from Margaret Muirhead, a poem by Dixie L. Lippert on adapting, an article on a Liverpool based disabled women's, comic troupe called the Nasty Girls. And a web site on all mediums of creative art.

Beauty and Fashion: tips and information on a web site that deals in wearable clothing Features include a Scottish excursion to the Highlands on a Tramper Scooter, an animal orphanage in Africa, information on the Forum on Discrimination in Scotland. The BBC are looking for new adventurers for the series Beyond Boundaries 11 Africa. The Xmas story this year is from Ireland.

Garden: Violet Lutea gives more Armchair Gardening Some Xmas Traditions., Nikki Barker who has not written for us for a while emailed some Hints and Tips on a Hundred Great Gifts Ideas With That Extra Factor, Appealing To Someone With A Disability!”

Regulars: The links page increases each issue, and our Quizzes become easier!

In June 2005 last year I took part in the Extra Challenge. For those of you who have never heard of the Caledonian Challenge let me explain. The State Street Caledonian Challenge is perhaps the most challenging yet rewarding fundraising event of its kind. Teams of four, each representing companies or simply as an individual team, from throughout the UK and beyond, walk 54 miles of the West Highland Way within a 24-hour period, passing through some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery.

The Extra Challenge is open to participants with a medical condition or disability that prevents them from taking part in the longer event. The Extra Challenge participants had the opportunity to share in part of the route and camaraderie of its big brother, The State Street Caledonian Challenge.

Did you watch Beyond Boundaries? If you did what were you thinking? Were you, like me, wondering what your Boundaries would be? For those of you who didn't watch, it this was a TV series showing the efforts of a group of disabled people traversing Central America and coping with jungle, desert, water and would-you-believe a volcano. The Extra Challenge might be more to your liking AND more attainable.

Why not join in next year, for the June 2006 Extra Caledonian Challenge. For more information look up the website www.caledonianchallenge.com/extra or telephone me, Eva.McCracken tel. 059275 8149 or
Heather Macdonald tel. 0131 468 0110.

anAurora readership increases daily and has already reached Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, and India. Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, UK and the USA, which is fantastic. Please, continue to support anAurora by sending in your articles to: editor@anAurora.co.uk

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If you want to try out another edition of anAurora, click on the pull-down menu at the left of the page and make your selection. To move from one edition to another, please use this pull-down menu from now on.

We have the facility for you to read Text as many of us still use browsers which are not able to recognise pictures. The icon is at the top of each page. As yet we still have no sound but are working on this.

Please feel free to sign the guest book as well as continuing to send your emails and articles, your poetry and stories.

Last date for articles to go into the next issue is is 1st March 2006 , email them to editor@anAurora.co.uk. All articles will be available in back issues for a minimum of two years. Some issues since Spring 2000 have been withdrawn, but if you would like us to email you an electronic copy please email your request to editor@anAurora.co.uk. The file is quite large, and you should be sure that your email provider will allow you to download a file of 3Megabytes in size.

The views expressed in this magazine by readers are personal and not necessarily those of anAurora, but she will not print any offensive material regarding ability, creed, race, religion or gender.

The contents of this Internet Magazine may be reproduced without seeking permission from anAurora, but please mention your source.

This is a free magazine, in that anAurora is not supported in any way by either charity funds or advertising, and she would like to keep it that way. But the Magazine will dry up after a short time unless you contribute your articles.

anAurora does not have a "Mission Statement" but her intention is to continue to develop, with your help, a magazine that women with any disAbility can contribute to and read with enjoyment.

anAurora wishes all readers of the Arts and Crafts page the very best for the Xmas season - and isn't a handmade card better than a manufactured one!

If anyone would like to send some of their own poetry, paintings, and crafts, etc, please contact: editor@anAurora.co.uk

Greta is the name, Margaret Muirhead is the poet, and as usual she gives us more of her personal poems at this time of year.

Dear Santa I'm not greedy
So I don't want a lot
And as I'm not too fussy
I'll settle for what you've got
It really doesn't matter
Just any little thing
Like a golden locket
Or a diamond ring.

A Chauffer driven car would be nice
For I've been very good
I've just listened to all my friend's advice
Just like a lady should.

So Santa look into your sack
See what you've got for me
I'll leave a Christmas-pie for you,
Beneath my Christmas-tree

If you are an artist with some work to share, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

I Would if I Could

There's a lot of things I could do,
at least according to you.
Where there's a will, there's a way,
and I won't plan a strenuous day.

I appreciate the offer,
but I'm afraid I'm going to pass.
Like the gauge that reads empty,
the car starts, but soon runs out of gas.

I know it's hard to understand,
but some things are beyond me today.
At times I hardly make a move,
and just barely get through the day.

Sometimes walking across the room,
is a mental and physical strain.
I know I would enjoy myself,
but I wouldn't enjoy the pain.

You think I'm being difficult.
Believe me, that isn't true.
You can't begin to imagine,
all the things I'd like to do.

Nobody willingly gives up,
all the pleasures of the past.
We fight to hold on to them,
wishing forever they would last.

My life now has limitations,
far more than you can see.
If My "No" disappoints you,
Imagine, how it's affecting me!

Dixie L.Lippert
cntry1@pacbell.ne

If you are an artist with some work to share, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

Nasty Girls

Liverpool based disabled women's, comic troupe called the Nasty Girls was set in 2001. Their confrontational, controversial brand of humour centres on disability and attitudes towards it. Anne Cunningham, the writer of the show, says: "We don't set out to shock. We want to have a good time and entertain people, while making them see things in a slightly different way. The uncomfortable factor sometimes comes about because people are laughing and then thinking: 'should we be laughing at this?'"

This slightly off beat comedy is proving very popular. Their previous show Molotov Criptales played to packed houses at London and Liverpool Comedy Festivals and major national disability festivals:

"Shocking, disreputable and very funny" Disability Now
Their latest production, Time Troupers, premiered at the Kickstart Festival, Vancouver in September 2004, followed by a short British tour. The girls have built on their reputation for fast paced, satirical and downright silly comedy
Nasty Girls devise, write and perform their own material. They have appeared on Granada TV, Radio 4 Woman's Hour and been winners of Best Touring Company in the DaDa Fest (Deaf and Disability Arts) Awards in 2003 and 2004. Shows incorporate the use of digital media, spoken English and British Sign Language.

Nasty Girls are: Cerrie Burnell, Sarah Caltieri, Anne Cunningham and
Natalie Markham..
For more information, performer biogs etc see website www.nasty-girls.co.uk or email info@nasty-girls.co.uk

If you are an artist with some work to share, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

www.unearthit.com

Hello, We are currently looking for original creative talent for the web site www.unearthit.net, a site that is the worldwide home for all mediums of creative art. This includes all forms of paintings and sculpture, crafted works, music and the written word. Unearthit.net also offers you the chance to place or find services and events associated with the arts, together with the means to self publish and visit links to job opportunities in the arts sector. Everyone knows someone who has written, painted, performed, created or made us smile. This letter is for you and for them.

If you wish your work to be seen by a large audience then this site is for you. Already there are people from all over Europe, USA and further a field searching for art, hand made cards, jewellery, pantomimes, songs to use in workshops, photographs of places that they once visited, etc. etc. The site offers you the opportunity to showcase original creative work, to buy and sell work, give a link to your own web site if you have one - all commission free - and find out about arts events in your area. This service was conceived and brought about by Chris Anderson. We hope you use it both personally and for community use.

It's a great site to:
Create your own gallery for up to ten items and sell your work - no commission taken.
Browse and buy wonderful gifts, we do not take any commission.
Find a service or a job.
Offer a place to stay and link that offer to the local events automatically.
Find out about or put on local events in your area.

All events in the U.K., U.S.A., Canada, France and Spain can be placed in counties, states and provinces via maps. Other countries will have their maps included as the demand increases. Put your events on for free. You can change the caption, start a forum or send us an article. The unearthit.net team does all publicity for the site. In fact, we are starting to reach out to roughly 250,000 new people every week and this number is increasing as our PR progresses.

The site is also rather special. Why?
The site is totally interactive; we do not put your work or events up on the site! You place your own work, very easily and simply, directly onto the site, giving you the control to sell in your own gallery, add events, or offer services to the creative industry, and you then can edit and change all whenever you like. You can add pictures and photographs to enhance whatever information you are putting on to http://www.unearthit.net . We have tried to make the site very user friendly.

We are always here if you need any help. In addition to all the above, we are now seeking the linking of accommodation to events and visa versa and your help in this would be appreciated.

Incidentally should you feel a category is missing on the site please let us know and we will add it. For any queries whatsoever please contact us via the site. We hope you enjoy unearthit.net and make it your own.

We look at relevant sites and email those where contact working email addresses are given on those sites. Should you have received this in error we most humbly apologize? To remove your address, please send an e-mail message with the word Remove A - W in the subject to clearname@unearthit.net

If you do not type the word Remove A-W in the subject line, your request to be removed will not be processed.

Kindest regards,
Christopher

If you are an artist with some work to share, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Regulars

Able2Wear

Here is a site that caters for wheelchair users of all ages, and provides a range of clothing that is both fashionable and easy to wear.

Able2Wear specialises in the design and manufacture of clothes for wheelchair users, or for anyone who has problems in finding clothing that fits properly.

Able2Wear garments are designed to fit properly when you are sitting, with – among other features – higher backs and longer legs on the trousers and shaped tops that don't distort when you sit.

In addition to the cut of their garments they pay attention to the fabrics used. For trouser and skirt ranges pure cotton or fabrics with a high cotton or washable wool content are usually used. Where the garments consist of pure wool, such as in their clan tartan trousers, these are offered with a detachable, washable cotton lining.

The current range of clothing has been designed primarily with wheelchair users in mind but Able2Wear intend to expand the range with garments which offer solutions to a wider range of clothing problems, whether or not for wheelchair users.

Remember, if you have any fashion and beauty tips or ideas or know someone who has, please contact editor@anAurora.co.uk

Beauty Bits

A For a perfect glow, rub a small amount of moisturiser onto your cheeks after applying blusher

B Soak your fingernails in olive oil to keep them in tip-top condition

C If you want to enhance a natural reddish tinge in your blonde hair, wash it in cranberry juice. But to avoid having it go green in the swimming pool, leave tomato sauce in your hair for ten minutes to counteract the chlorine

D For that bright smile spend as much time brushing and flossing your teeth as you do cleansing and moisturising

E for an additional tip for keeping your pearly whites pearly white – brush them with strawberries, which are a natural teeth whitener

F Tips on exfoliating lathers your face with face wash, dip your hands in sugar for an extra sensitive scrub, take the tough approach with a nail brush to massage your skin

Remember, if you have any fashion and beauty tips or ideas or know someone who has, please contact editor@anAurora.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Regulars

A Scottish Excursion is a description of the eight-and-a-half mile section of the Caledonian Challenge which is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. One writer says that, despite the midges, the whole experience was wonderful and the scenery stunning with mountains on all sides. The ramblers were piped out by a lone piper at the Bridge of Orchy, and welcomed back by the same piper when they finally reached Tyndrum after a very enjoyable and successful day.

Daktari is next, an article about an orphanage in the African bush for animals in need of care. This place offers outdoor activities and attractions and has access for disabled people. It is a non-profit-making company which hopes to generate money from visitors to enable them to fund education and expenses for financially disadvantaged local people.

This is followed by Feature Facts, which first has a short outline of a project for disabled people introduced by Diverse Bristol TV. They are looking for disabled people to take on amazing tasks, not unlike the Beyond Boundaries series shown recently on a BBC2 documentary, where eleven disabled adventurers crossed Central America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including having to climb up a volcano!

After this a short letter appears from Inverclyde Council on Disability, regarding a petition to the Scottish Parliament with regard to the abuse of Dropped Kerbs and Disabled Parking Bays. Websites for the Manifesto support are also included.

A website listing disabled-friendly pubs and restaurants in the UK has been re-launched by Mary Dixon, who has MS and has appeared in the program Mastermind. This website enables disabled people to plan their holidays ahead and to pinpoint accessible places on the map, while also inviting all its readers to suggest any more places that they have found suitable and so should be included.

A new ethnic radio station called Ramadhan broadcast information for Muslims all over Scotland during October, and this was followed by information on the Scottish Care Services Forum, about the recent launch of online discussion for the Care Centre in Scotland. There are links and websites, a press release on the Forum on Discrimination, inviting people to comment or share ideas on the misprepresentation of disabled people. This is followed by a short story on homophobic bullying in Scottish schools, with websites and links, and a survey for youngsters on bullying.

We end as usual with our Junior Crew short quiz for young people.

Please contact the editor@anAurora.co.uk with any stories or features that you would like us to publish for you.

A Scottish Excursion

Ever fancy rambling in the Scottish Highlands? The opportunity came to Jo and myself last June when we took part in the special ‘extra challenge' event on the day of the Caledonian Challenge which is major long distance ramble undertaken along the West Highland Way between Fort William and Loch Lomond, a total distance of 54 miles. Over a thousand walkers take part in the full Challenge, completing the entire distance mainly within 24 hours!

The Extra Challenge was an 8 ½ mile section of the route, suitable for wheelchairs and electric buggies. Around a dozen disabled people, all Scottish except ourselves, met up at the end of a minor road near the Bridge of Orchy, by Rannoch Moor. The day was grey, with very little wind: ideal conditions for midges, and we were each issued with midge poof nets worn over our faces, making it very difficult to recognise each other.

We looked like villains making ready to rob a bank! We were sent away by a lone Scots piper: an amazing man with bare knees face and hands, who seemed oblivious of the midge swarms all around him. After two miles on the road, we came to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel where we left the tarmac at the nearby railway station. We were now on a reasonable traffic-free track which traversed along a mountainside in fabulous Scottish Glen scenery.

The country was now open and a breeze was sufficient to blow the midges away. We were in true ‘Monroe' territory, with 3000+ feet mountains all around us. For a while we were quite alone and able to enjoy the grandeur of the location in peace and quiet. The track descended slowly as we journeyed south. Once again we crossed the railway, which is the Highland line from Glasgow to Fort William and we even saw a train go by! In places the track surface was corrugated with slate like ridges of stone.

Apart from the railway, the countryside was bare, but we were always conscious of the mountains rearing up on all sides. After five miles on the track we came to a feeding station, where we gladly had a stop for drinks. Then we tackled the final 1 ½ miles climbing upwards. At one point the track was narrow and quite exposed, where the original route had been washed away in a flood. However, repairs had made the going safe. At the very end, near the village of Tyndrum, we were piped in, by the same piper who had seen us off. The photo, kindly taken by our friend David McCracken, shows our faces at this time: it was wonderful, awe inspiring and marked the end of a very worthwhile day!

Mike Bruton

Info: the Caledonian Challenge is an annual fund raising event taking place each June. We are waiting to see what arrangements there may be for disabled people during the 2006 event.

Please contact the editor@anAurora.co.uk with any stories or features that you would like us to publish for you.

Daktari

http://africanorphanage.com

DAKTARI – A UNIQUE INITIATIVE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABLITIES!

When we were younger, there was a TV program called Daktari. It was about a family in Africa, who looked after and raised many different types of orphaned wild animals. As kids we loved it and I remember getting deeply emotionally attached to the different animals.

Subsequently, having grown up in the bush in Africa and through my work as a ranger, I have taken care of many orphaned animals, all the way from small bush babies, giraffes, elephants and lions - even injured birds that had flown into power lines or windows.

My wife, Michèle also used to watch Daktari in France where she grew up. Already then she vowed to live in Africa one day and to look after animals herself. Her dream came true when we met on a game reserve, and she was able to assist in hand-raising a baby zebra which had been attacked by lions, an orphaned wildebeest, and two small orphaned warthogs whose mother had been killed by lions. Since then, there have been many more.

Michele Merrifield and her colleagues managed to save this baby zebra, which was attached by a lion. It was badly mauled, and only through love and dedication could it have survived. The companionship of Michele and the baby Gnu (wildebeest) were, we believe, the essential catalysts.

A very good friend is a quadriplegic. The joy he had (and us!) when we spent time together and he was able to help in raising these animals inspired an idea. We learnt, through our friend, that there is always a way to ‘make a plan' so that he could assist in much of the day-to-day work needed to look after the animals. We rose to the challenge and modified or altered tools so that he could assist the animals nevertheless! Thus ‘making a plan' is central to what Daktari is about.

Ed Bailey, our quadraplegic friend from America, with a baby lion cub, abandoned by its mother because it was the runt of the litter and much small than his siblings.

The idea took shape and eventually we decided to set up a charity where people from all walks of life, underprivileged, handicapped or simply in need of a break or an adventure could have the opportunity of caring for animals in need and learn about nature. At Daktari they will all work together as one team - we will not segregate by race, religion, ideology or physical condition.

Julie the duiker was caught by poachers. They broke both front legs so she could not run away. They did not want to kill her immediately as the meat would go rotten in the heat. They would kill her later, when they were ready to eat her.

We have set ourselves a great challenge: Our aim is to give people a chance to make themselves useful, to show them that they are needed, encourage them to take responsibility and let them be proud of their work and contribution to conservation. At the same time we want to offer animals a chance to survive in a world where nature has to retreat more and more in the face of human development. Hence, ‘doing good' , to people and animals is equally important to us. If every person on this planet has these two simple tenets, perhaps the world will be a better place to live in?

Daktari is not run by amateurs – it is run by experienced people who, if they do not know what to do, know whom to ask! It is run by people who have a common dream – and have the love and dedication to do it. For us, Daktari is a chance to share our world and some of the magical experiences that we have had in the bush over the years with others and it is thus immensely rewarding. It is a great character building experience for anyone that joins us and we hope that many more projects like this are started in the rest of the world and that our visitors share the knowledge and experiences they have gained!

Daktari is situated near the Kruger Park in South Africa, on a private reserve of 700 hectares, containing numerous plains game, but none of the “big five”. The closest town is Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province. In the area there are many attractions, game drives in big five reserves, hot air ballooning, white water rafting, tours to the Kruger Park, reptile park, rehab centres, cheetah breeding project, Blyde River Canyon and many more!

We would be more than happy to tell you more about the project, and our accommodation – just email or call. If you would like to get involved in the project – any help is greatly appreciated! Contact details are on our web page:

http://africanorphanage.com

Conservation for the disabled

An ex-Zimbabwean and his French wife are launching a new wildlife orphanage in Limpopo, South Africa, which will be marketed to disabled and otherwise disadvantaged guests who would like to take an active role in wildlife conservation. KERRY SIMPSON describes the project's beginnings and hopes for the future.

That good old Zimbabwean phrase “make a plan” is one of the mottos on which an exciting new venture, Daktari Wildlife Orphanage, is being built. Dreams are starting to come true for Ian and Michele Merrifield, proud founders of the 700-hectare Daktari project.

Daktari, unlike other wildlife projects in the area, is not a rehabilitation centre. It caters for the animals that can't be rehabilitated, either because they have serious injuries that prevent survival in the wild, or because they are too tame. It is unique in Limpopo for that reason alone, but further than that, it's also aimed at bringing wildlife conservation to those who wouldn't normally have access: the disabled and otherwise disadvantaged.

Their “make a plan” motto derives from their need to do exactly that when a friend of theirs, wheelchair-bound as a quadriplegic, wanted to help them care for wildlife. They discovered that with a little love and effort, most obstacles could be overcome, enabling their newly-disabled friend to take part in caring for the animals and their environment.

The name “Daktari” was borrowed from a TV programme that both Ian and Michele watched as children, about a family in Africa who looked after many types of orphaned wild animals. Ian, born and raised in Zimbabwe, became a game ranger as an adult, and Michele, originally from France, made a trip to Tshukudu Game Reserve, Limpopo, to fulfil her dream. She has stayed in South Africa ever since her first treasured experience: hand-raising a baby zebra which had been attacked by lions.

Their dreams grew after they met and they decided to form Daktari as a non-profit company so that people from all walks of life, who have an affinity for animals, could experience loving and caring for animals that need it. Daktari does not segregate or judge people by race, religion, creed, ideology or physical condition. Ian and Michele hope that by inviting donations, sponsorship and income from paying visitors, they will be able to generate a profit that can be used to fund education and experiences for the financially disadvantaged (of any race or ability). They have already taken a young boy called Thabo under their wing.

Thabo first took an interest in the project before it was launched, when Michele saw him looking at the animal they were caring for and invited him in to see close up. Thabo's fascination and enthusiasm for learning sparked Michele's thirst for sharing her experience, and Thabo soon became a frequent visitor. Michele's measure of success with Thabo is that he is now sad when animals are hurt, particularly by poachers – when he first came to her, he regarded animals purely as meat and had little compassion for them. She sees him as a valuable educator for the other youngsters in his community, and hopes he will have a positive impact on his environment. This fits with their other tenet: “to do good”.

Ian and Michele have been lucky enough to obtain the 700 hectares on permanent loan from friends, but the costs involved in maintaining and upgrading the facilities are tremendous. They have so far used their own money to fund improvements to two of the “rondavels” (traditional round thatched houses) which have ramp access and a wheelchair-friendly bedroom and bathroom. However, they still have a great deal to do before they will be able to invite paying guests to visit or stay. Their long list of requirements includes items as diverse as bricks, towels, desk, satellite phone, electric cable, borehole pump, pillows, gum poles and an operating table for animals. They would also like volunteers to help them market the project.

Anyone who would like to contribute money, items or time should contact Daktari on:

+27 (0)15 795 5219 or email tradingpost@mweb.co.za

They would also love to hear from anyone interested in taking advantage of their facilities when completed. See further info at:

www.africanorphanage.com

Please contact the editor@anAurora.co.uk with any stories or features that you would like us to publish for you.

Feature Facts

Beyond Boundaries 11 Africa

The BBC is looking for disabled people to take part in an expedition of a lifetime

The Beyond Boundaries series on BBC2 documented 11 disabled people crossing Central America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Diverse Bristol TV are now looking for applicants willing to go one stage further in the second series of Beyond Boundaries; an expedition through the African wilderness.

We are looking for amazing people to take on an amazing task.

If you feel you are up to the challenge, 18 or over and can make yourself available for four weeks in January/February 2006 then please contact Belinda, Gareth or Katie for more details.

You can contact us by phone 0117 9858750/ 0117 9858748,

Email africa@diversebristol.tv or write to us at: Beyond Boundaries Africa, Diverse Bristol, West Point, 78 Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1QX.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Inverclyde Council On Disability is preparing a petition to go to the Scottish Parliament regarding the abuse of Dropped Kerbs.

The petition requests parliament to:

"Undertake a review of the Traffic Regulation Orders (Procedure) Scotland Regulations 1999 to allow for speedier provision and enforcement of Dropped Kerbs and Disabled Parking Bays to prevent their abuse, thereby allowing Disabled, elderly and other users greater and easier access in their localities".

We would be grateful if you could indicate your support for this petition by emailing Chris Robertson at chris.icod@ntlbusiness.com

Project Development Manager

http://www.inclusionscotland.org

Re-launch of www.yourlevelbest.com

Disabled-friendly pubs and restaurants throughout the UK getting a raised profile from Autumn 2005, with the relaunch of the listing website, www.yourlevelbest.com

‘Now that I've got details of over 4000 establishments , things are improving for customers - like me - with impaired mobility,' says founder Mary Dixon, 51, who has MS.

'With the website you can plan ahead and pin point exactly where the place is on the map. Now there will be be somewhere near you.' Holidaymakers in unfamiliar towns in UK say they appreciate the list ‘because if your mobility is poor, you have to do a bit of planning ahead.'

To get on Mary's list, places must serve food and/or drink, have a wheelchair-accessible entrance and a disabled toilet. Finding 4000 has taken her months, but ' there still aren't enough and I want readers to suggest more. I'd especially welcome extra places in North London, East London, Norwich, Stoke and Blackpool—all underrepresented at the moment'.

Phone 0208 355 4328 or email info@yourlevelbest.com

The re-launch of the website was the idea of one of the site's newest users—after he saw Mary's appearance on BBC2's Mastermind quiz-show in July, during which she mentioned the disability access issues. 'I didn't win, but my 15 minutes of fame triggered the re-launch. I had several hundred new users of the site after Mastermind' she says, ‘and lots of positive feedback. And I've got a nice photo of me with compere John Humphries!'

Will there be any major changes to the site?

‘I've arranged a facility to increase the text-size now—important if your eyesight is poor' says Mary. ‘And I'm going to put in a joke of the week, to entertain myself as well as the users.' The site will be ‘more interactive for our community of users, who are logging on worldwide—visitors from Poland China and Namibia in the last week.'

Mary Dixon

Radio Ramadhan Scotland

Going live 5th October 2005

There are over 60,000 Muslims in Scotland.

They are the most diverse ethnic group in Scotland.

Launched in December 1996, Radio Ramadhan is the largest short-term ethnic radio station in Scotland. Aimed at a wide audience, its listener's range from the Muslim community itself, to schools, TV and media companies, government offices, local council agencies, charities and businesses.

The program content of Radio Ramadhan has made it an invaluable “first point of reference” for Scotland-wide service providers, companies, organisations and individuals.

To target your business/ organisation to the needs of Scotland's largest ethnic community, there is only one media that can do the job - Radio Ramadhan.

Programming and information relayed by Radio Ramadhan is not available elsewhere. This makes the broadcast a vital source for anyone needing information on Islam and Muslims or wishing to highlight their services.

Unique programming in a variety of languages for all the family; specific programs for youth, women and children. News, views, debates music, poetry and live shenanigans.

Need more?

Fact

The Muslim population is the 2 nd largest religious group in Scotland

Fact

The Muslim population is the most ethnically diverse group in terms of nationalities, cultures and backgrounds in Scotland

Fact

Radio Ramadhan has a listenership in excess of 40,000 (including 10,000 listeners on the World Wide Web)

Fact

90% of Muslims fast in the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadhan

Fact

Radio Ramadhan is the only broadcast supported by all Muslims organisations in Scotland

Fact

95% of Muslims said that their religion was fairly to very important in the way they live their lives

Fact

Advertisers include Strathclyde Police, Scottish Enterprise, Inland Revenue and Glasgow City Council

Fact

Radio Ramadhan raises £50,000 on average for charity every year

Fact

We will produce your advert in any style, language or format from £500 for the whole month

Fact

There are opportunities for you to promot e your service within our programming

Fact

Advertising on Radio Ramadhan leads your company/ organisation straight into this niche and affluent market.

Radio Ramadhan is the focal point of the Muslim community during the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadhan. Broadcasting from 5 th October 2005 for 30 days, every Muslim in Scotland will be tuned into Radio Ramadhan.

Are you tuned in? 0700 5 963 932

Contact Na'eem Raz a

naeem@meem.biz

Would you be kind enough to forward this email onto the correct department/s - thank you!

Scottish Care Services Forum has recently launched an online discussion forum for the Care Sector in Scotland (www.careservicesforum.com). We have attached a press release with this email to provide more information of the launch. Every council in Scotland has been notified of its existence and feedback has been extremely positive. The Scottish Executive is also publishing an article regarding the launch next month in October.

The reason we are writing is to ask if you would be kind enough to place an article on your news page regarding the launch and, if you have a newsletter or e-bulletin, would you also consider placing an article in the next issue? Can we also ask if you would place a link to the site onto your links page?

We must apologise for the number of requests made, but it is always difficult at the launch of a site letting people know of its existence. We are intending to expand the site in the next few months and will have an events page for training and conference events, We would be delighted to place any information on this section regarding training or conference events which you are organising. When the site is expanded we would also be delighted to place a link to your site on our 'links page'.
Thank you for your time in considering our request. If there is any further information you need then please don't hesitate to contact us.
www.careservicesforum.com
admin@careservicesforum.com

Please contact the editor@anAurora.co.uk with any stories or features that you would like us to publish for you.

There are two contributions to the Junior Crew in this edition. First we have an article on bullying in Scottish Schools, and then the Junior Quiz. Also, we have the answers to the Adult Quiz.

a Homophobic Bullying in Scottish Schools: Survey
b Junior Quiz

Homophobic Bullying in Scottish Schools: Survey

LGBT Youth Scotland is carrying out research for the Scottish Executive into homophobic incidents in Scottish schools. They want to find out what young people in Scotland think about homophobic bullying so they have designed a short survey for young people.

Please complete the survey if you are a young person who is currently at school or who has recently left school - be sure to pass it on to your friends too. If you are a professional working with young people please do let them know about it. We hope to encourage as many young people as possible straight as well as gay, bisexual and transgender –to return the survey.

For more information and to complete the survey: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/?id=27&sectionID=27&a=d&sr=4&surveyid=18

Kind regards,

Millicent Scott

Forum on Discrimination
Scottish Civic Forum
www.forumondiscrimination.org.uk

JUNIOR QUIZ

Here is our Junior Quiz. The answers are in the Regulars front page. Click here

1	How many weeks are there in a year?
2	Red sky at night is whose delight?
3	From which country does lasagne and spaghetti come?
4	Who ranks higher, a Marquess or an Earl?
5	What relation is Prince Charles to Prince Philip?
6	How many tens are there in a thousand?
7	What part of the coffee plant is harvested to make the drink?
8	Which buildings have blue lamps outside them in Britain?
9	Which is longer, a foot or a yard?
10	In which city would you find the shop Harrods?

ADULT QUIZ: ANSWERS

1	What is phobia? A fear, aversion or hatred
2	What is the medical conditions called myopia? Shortsightedness
3	What did Sir Walter Raleigh discover in Trinidad in 1595? The Great Pitch Lake, the world's largest deposit of asphalt
4	What is a satellite? A small body, such as the moon, which orbits a planet
5	What colour is the gem called aquamarine? A pale bluish green
6	The patella is another name for which bone? The kneecap
7	What is measured in knots? Speed (knots are often used for the speed of ships and aircraft)
8	What is a Bofors? An anti-aircraft gun
9	What instrument did Adolphe Sax invent? The saxaphone
10	What does a thermometer measure? Temperature

Please contact the editor@anAurora.co.uk with any stories or features that you would like us to publish for you.

Health & Wellbeing

Regulars

The Horoscope is followed by an Irish Christmas story about Bride, the foster mother of the Holy Child.

If you enjoy writing, and have a story, poem or narrative that you would like to share, send them to editor@anAurora.co.uk If you wish to attach a drawing or sketch, then so much the better!

Horoscope

anAurora's horoscope is here with her light-hearted view of the stars.

In the Stars

SIGN	HOROSCOPE
CAPRICORN 22nd December - 20th January	Cold, hard, dark, wet, no growth. Snow, frost, ice, hail, sleet, wind. Solstice, shortest day, Christmas, Hogmany, stars, clouds, friends.
AQUARIUS 21st January - 19th February	Waves, water, storms St Valentine's day, rain, wind, hope, dinner, friends, acquaintances, walks, dark, miserable, sorrow, freezing.
PISCES 20th February - 20th March	Sun, vernal equinox, light getting longer, gardens needing to be dug, flowers in house, trees budding, birds singing, clouds sailing, windy.

For those who want a more personal horoscope: Please contact your local newspaper!

If you enjoy writing, and have a story, poem or narrative that you would like to share, send them to editor@anAurora.co.uk If you wish to attach a drawing or sketch, then so much the better.

Irish Xmas Story

Many, many years ago, in the country of Ireland, there lived a prince called Dughall who had made his King very angry. The King banished Dughall, and his foster daughter - the baby Bride - from Ireland, and sent them forth in a tiny boat. The storms were so bad that Dughall was afraid that they would be capsized.

Then the tiny babe, whom he held in his arms, stretched out her hands and the waters grew calm. The place where he and his foster daughter Bride landed is called Iona. The druids of that land who told them that the boat must have been guided to the island met them. They said they lit a fire every morning to welcome the sun back and to keep watch for a sign that a child, who would be the King of the Elements, had been born.

Dughall and Bride lived there for many years and the druids taught Bride the secrets of their lore and showed her their holy places. One day, on her birthday, she was sitting between the rowan trees, gazing into a beautiful clear fountain that was called the Fountain of Youth. Suddenly she saw the reflection of a lovely woman standing behind her, dressed in a red gown that was redder than the rowanberries, and a blue cloak that was bluer than the sky.

Bride turned round to greet her, but there was no one there! She was alone beside the trees and the fountain. Bride desperately wanted to meet the beautiful woman she had seen but she had no idea where to start or where to go. She heard a thrush singing some way off and started to walk towards it. A little white dove appeared in front of her and Bride thought that the bird wanted to lead her to the beautiful woman, so she followed it.

Bride was led for a long time and a long way by the little bird during the day and by a star during the night. She travelled for many miles through many strange lands and across many wild seas until she came eventually to a little village in a land that was dry and parched. As she walked closer she saw an inn. What a surprise to find that the innkeeper was her foster father Dughall.

He told her he was going to seek water for the wells and the plants and asked her to look after the inn for him, but to let no one else in because there was no room, no food and no ale. Bride looked after the inn for three days till there was no water in the barrel and no rain had fallen. There was very little food left and very little ale. Her foster father had not yet returned and there was a knock on the door. Outside in the harsh dry heat were a man and a woman who asked for shelter.

Bride told them she could not let them in and as she looked at the woman a memory stirred in her mind. It was the same beautiful woman whose reflection she had seen in the Fountain of Youth, so far away and so long ago in Iona. Bride led them to a stable where they could at least rest out of the heat of the sun and be a little protected from the cold of the night and brought them some ale and bread.

When she got back to the inn she was surprised to see that the loaf looked to be the same size as before and there seemed to be the same amount of ale in the flagon. It was night when Dughall returned with his cruse full of water. Bride started to tell him of the strange travellers but he told her to be quiet and to listen. Softly, through the silence came the sound of falling rain but there were no clouds in the sky!

Dughall said, "There is an old saying that when it rains out of a cloudless sky, the King of the Elements has been born on earth. Let us visit those strange travellers." When they got to the stable they opened the door to such light it felt as though the sun had fallen from the sky. Dughall was amazed and asked who this child could be. "He is the Prince of Peace," replied Joseph. Mary looked up at Bride and said, "Bride, my sister, tonight you may be his nurse and I will rest."

Bride cradled the tiny baby in her cloak and watched him as he slept. So light and bright and calm and peaceful it was that she felt as though her heart would burst with joy. Far away, on Iona, the dying Arch Druid Cathal saw in a vision the King of the Elements sleeping tranquilly in Bride's arms and was happy. The next morning Mary took the little wee babe and thanked Bride and said, "From now on you will be known as the foster mother of the Holy Child"

Bride was very tired so she lay down to sleep and by the time she awoke there was no one in the stable but her. She wanted to find the little family again but she had no idea of where they had gone or how to find them, but as she wandered out of the stable she saw faint footprints glowing on the ground. She followed them for a long time, through days and nights, through strange countries and over unknown seas till, at last, she recognised the rowans and the Fountain of Youth. She lifted her head and the Foster Mother of the Prince of Peace said to the druids who were gathered round her, and who had waited so long to hear the words;

"Behold: the King Of the Elements has been born onto the earth"

If you enjoy writing, and have a story, poem or narrative that you would like to share, send them to editor@anAurora.co.uk If you wish to attach a drawing or sketch, then so much the better!

Health & Wellbeing

Regulars

A –Z for Happy Bellies
A Wee A –Z for Happy Bellies
By
Pade Ross

Extracts from her Receipt Book Artichoke Contains:

Recipes for sensual, caressing, warming, cooling, heartening, comforting, delicious, exciting, harmonising, smooth, rough, sophisticated, tough, tasty and easy

Food for Friends

The celebration of being alive, large, small, poor, or rich, Christian, Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, Japanese or Communist, vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, together at one table.

Wee Notes

For the “wee notes”, which you can read – or not - I am grateful to:

Earl Mindell for The Vitamin Bible and The Food Medicine Bible
Thorsons, for The Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals
Prevention for New Foods for Healing
Dr. Christina Scott-Moncrieff for The Vitamin Alphabet
Michael van Straten and Barbara Griggs for Super Foods
Phyllis and James Balch for Prescription for Nutritional Healing
Arnold and David Bender for Oxford Dictionary of Food and Nutrition
James Duke for The Green Pharmacy
Denise Mortimore for The Complete Illustrated Guide to Vitamins and Minerals
Anna Selby for Miracle Foods

This section includes three different aspects of artichoke soup and one of Pade's famous recipes for Spiced Christmas Cake.

If you have any recipies or hints on cooking, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

Artichoke Soup

Ingredients:

4 or 6 Jerusalem artichokes p.p. peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil, boiling water
Sea salt and black pepper.
1 handful sliced fresh parsley or coriander
Grate of nutmeg

Method:

Put the artichokes into the hot oil in your nice big pot. Sizzle for a bit. Pour over enough boiling water just to cover them. Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and put the lid on. Leave them for about 10 minutes then see how they're doing.

If they are soft add a pinch of sea salt, a sprinkle of black pepper, a grate of nutmeg and give them a wee ginger up with your handheld electric masher.

A Wee Note

There are two types of artichoke:

(1) globe – which has big shiny, spiky leaves. You boil it, pull off the leaves one by one and dip each leaf into a vinaigrette sauce, then scrape off the juicy bit with your teeth

(2) Jerusalem which look like knobbly wee potatoes.

Another wee note : As well as being very tasty artichokes are good for the heart and the liver. They can help lower cholesterol and can help people with gout, rheumatism or arthritis. They are a good source of folate, one of the B vitamins and potassium.

Yet another wee note : the Japanese have no word for hot flushes! This suggests that they don't have hot flushes. It is thought that the reason for this is the amount of soya products they eat, which we don't, maybe we should!

Artichoke Soup 2

The mixture as for (1) but add: peeled artichoke 1 blob olive oil. Fresh, very finely chopped basil.

Method:

Proceed as before.

Just before serving sprinkle the basil onto the soup.

Artichoke Soup 3

The mixture as for (1) but add: peeled artichoke 1 blob olive oil. Fresh, very finely chopped basil.

Method:

Half cover the vegetables with boiling water and top up with soya milk.

Cook until tender and mash the mixture very lightly. Add the wine or orange juice, a dash of sea salt, a grate of black pepper, a grate of nutmeg, a handful of very finely chopped basil and a good thick slice of warm plain bread and serve.

A wee note:

mono terpenes are very good antioxidants. They protect the body against heart disease and cancer . They are found in basil, parsley and various other fruits and vegetables

If you have any recipies or hints on cooking, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

Xmas Spice Cake

Ingredients:

Serves six

5 oz soft margarine
5 oz soft brown sugar
8 oz self-raising flour
3 oz sultanas
3 eggs
1 lb fruit mincemeat
1 oz flaked almonds

Method:

Place all ingredients except the almonds and one of the eggs in a large bowl and beat well until blended

When everything is fairly well mixed, add the last egg and give it all a good stir.

Turn the mixture into a greased baking tin. Smooth the top and sprinkle with almonds before baking

In middle of the oven at gas mark 3 (225F) for 1 3/4 hours.

Leave to cool in tin, then take out, remove paper and serve.

To keep, seal in an airtight container.

It is that easy. With all the best and compliments of the season.

If you have any recipies or hints on cooking, would you like to send some of it to us? Email editor@anAurora.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Regulars

Our usual Armchair Gardener article is followed by an article listing a few less-well-known Christmas traditions.

Please keep them coming. Send your articles on Gardening and Home to editor@anAurora.co.uk

Armchair Gardener

It is with a heavy heart and an equally heavy shopping bag that I am sad to announce that there will be no Armchair Gardener for the winter season. Due to the absence of natural disasters freak weather conditions and the complete lack of any illness imaginary or otherwise Violet has been unable to put pen to paper finger to keyboard or backside to chair.

As a result her garden has decided to work to rule and all growing has ceased as of the beginning of December. There will be no further growth until such times as Violet pulls her finger out and resumes her witty reportage.

However this should not affect the ardent followers of Violet's incisive pennings and gardening within their own area should continue as always unabated and with its usual vigour.

Contact with Violet during this difficult time has been limited to single word text messages but there have been unconfirmed sightings of her in the Co-op buying a bottle of wine and a Radio Times.

We have not been able to obtain any pictures of the garden since the breakdown in communications. However we would like to offer you an artists' impression of the garden in the Graphical version here.

Please keep them coming. Send your articles on Gardening and Home to editor@anAurora.co.uk

Xmas Traditions

F or English children, Father Christmas is the one who brings the gifts. He wears long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Letters to him aren't mailed; they are thrown into the fireplace. If they go up the chimney, the wish will be granted Stockings are hung by the chimney or at the foot of the child's bed to receive small presents, which are opened Christmas morning.

M any familiar North American traditions came from England. Some that never really crossed the Atlantic include wassailing, yule logs, masses in old cathedrals, and Boxing Day.

F estive Foods include roast turkey or beef and desserts are mincemeat pies and plum puddings

D ecorations: The Christmas tree central, however, it has never completely replaced the combination of greenery and mistletoe called the kissing bough . Bringing in the Yule log and the boar's head are not commonplace today.

T he traditional Boxing Day - not the one of returning, or even exchanging gifts - began centuries ago. December 26 was set aside for the village priest to distribute the alms deposited in the poor box. More recently it has been celebrated by giving gifts to mailmen, newsboys and other public servants.

S uperstitions: In Devonshire, a girl raps at the hen house door on Christmas Eve. If a rooster crows, she will marry within the year. In Hertfordshire, a plum cake is stuck on a cow's horn on Christmas Eve. Cider is then thrown into her face. If the cakes falls forward, it will be a good harvest.

Please keep them coming. Send your articles on Gardening and Home to editor@anAurora.co.uk

This section comprises an informative article about Crohn's Disease and what this involves for those who suffer from it, followed by our regular Jeni's Column.

If you have any similar experiences and would like to share them then email jeni@anAurora.co.uk

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory condition that affects the digestive tract - including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, and anus. It can affect any portion of the digestive tract, but is most common in the ileum - the lowest portion of the small intestine, where it connects with the large intestine.

The disease is characterized by active periods, known as flare-ups, followed by periods of remission, during which symptoms diminish or disappear altogether. Its cause is not known.

Crohn's disease may cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Loss of appetite and weight loss also may accompany the disease. An individual's symptoms may range from mild to severe, but people with Crohn's disease are generally able to lead active and productive lives.

Treatments for Crohn's disease include a variety of medications, dietary adjustments, and, when necessary, surgery. In addition, patients are often encouraged to incorporate stress-reduction techniques into their daily activities.

Crohn's disease shares some symptoms with another inflammatory condition: ulcerative colitis. The two diseases are often grouped under the heading "inflammatory bowel disease" It is important to understand, however, that the two conditions are different.

Ulcerative colitis affects only the mucosal membrane, or inner lining, of the GI wall and is limited to the colon.

Crohn's disease affects the full thickness of the GI wall and can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus.

A few individuals suffer a single bout of Crohn's disease, then go into remission and never experience another flare-up. Others suffer frequent bouts of active disease. For many people, flare-ups can be brought under control by a combination of medication and dietary changes. For some, a period of complete bowel rest (during which they are nourished with fluids delivered intravenously) is necessary.

More than half of all people who live with Crohn's disease will need to have surgery at some point to treat the disease. Surgical treatments include:

Crohn's disease is characterized by chronic inflammation in one or multiple areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation is the body's response to an abnormal physical, chemical, or biological stimulation, such as injury or infection. Complex reactions in the affected area produce heat, redness, swelling, and pain as the body works to heal an injury or destroy an infection.

In both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, evidence suggests that either the body's inflammatory response is triggered when it shouldn't be, or it is triggered appropriately but fails to turn itself off after it has completed its job.

Eat Well. You can enjoy tasty food at Christmas without having to go on a diet in the New Year!

Limit the stresses and strains of Christmas - make things easy on yourself, and don't try to be perfect...

Cut the risk of accidents and injuries in the home this Christmas, with these simple tips.

Coughs, colds, blisters and grazes don't need to slow you down this Christmas. Stock up your medicine cabinet now!

Take extra care over the winter months, and keep you and your family safe outdoors.

Try our top health tips to help you stay happy and healthy during the long winter months.

Whether you're visiting friends close to home, or heading to the other side of the world, enjoy your Christmas break.

Shorter days and dark evenings may provide an excuse to avoid exercise, but you'll feel more energised if you keep fit.

If you have any similar experiences and would like to share them then email jeni@anAurora.co.uk

1. You believe in Santa Claus
2. You don't believe in Santa Claus
3. You ARE Santa Claus
4. You look like Santa Claus

This section includes many useful links and websites for people seeking more information on their interests. It includes a short note from East Anglian Ambulance Service informing people that they can include their next of kin under "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in their mobile phones; a Glasgow TV series requesting volunteers who are thinking of having a baby; notes on a petition for provision of Dropped Kerbs (see Features)

A student writes in and describes the research she is doing for her BA Hons degree on Tourism Accessibility of Wheelchair Users, and anAurorais passing on her link to contacts in her database; Bob Peffers has written a cheerful letter about his motor conversion for the touring season; there is information about a site for people who want to use quad bikes and amphibious six-wheelers; a not for Channel 4 inviting disabled contributors; a Christmas message from Daktari Wildlife Orphanage (see Daktari in Features) inviting people to make a Wish Upon a Star; an invite to take out an advert in the 2006 Multifaith Office Wallplanner; a query from a polio victim; Stocking-Filler gift ideas by Nikki Barker; links and websites; and ending with our usual quiz!

Here are the answers to the Junior Quiz. If you want to visit the Junior Crew quiz first, then click here.

The answers to the Adult Quiz are in the Features section, after the Junior Crew quiz. Click Here

Dear Editor
East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency ( ICE ) " campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston and in association with Vodafone's annual life savers award. The idea is that you store the word " I C E " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".
In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do Please will you also forward this to everybody in your address book, it won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life

New BBC Series
Thinking about having a baby?
We are looking for couples to take part in a new BBC series
exploring the science behind getting pregnant and pregnancy. If you
are thinking about trying for a baby or have already started trying
and would like to find out more, please call us on 0141 204 6620 or
e-mail: baby@mentorn.tv

Inverclyde Council On Disability is preparing a petition to go to the Scootish Parliament regarding the abuse of Dropped Kerbs.

"Undertake a review of the Traffic Regulation Orders (Procedure) Scotland Regulations 1999 to allow for speedier provision and enforcement of Dropped Kerbs and Disabled Parking Bays to prevent their abuse, thereby allowing disabled, elderly and other users greater and easier access in their localities".

We would be grateful if you could indicate your support for this petition by emailing Chris Robertson at chris.icod@ntlbusiness.com

This message is intended only for the use of the addressee. If this message was sent to you in error, please notify the sender and delete this message. Inclusion Scotland cannot accept responsibility for viruses, so please scan attachments. Views expressed in this message do not necessarily reflect those of Inclusion Scotland, who will not necessarily be bound by its contents.

I am a local web designer interested in developing sites for voluntary sector organisations. I got your details off the SCVO website and would be grateful if you would consider me should you ever need web development work done now or in the future

Thank you for your interest in anAurora, though at present we have a very good web team.

My name is Johanna Gericke, I am a 4th year student at Glasgow Caledonian University and I am currently working on my BA (hons) dissertation.

In the course of researching the subject "Tourism Accessibility for wheelchair users" I came across your website. Since you have a profound knowledge of the subject and certainly a wide audience, it would be greatly appreciated if you could take a couple of minutes to answer the questions of this web-based anonymous survey:

This survey is part of the primary research for my dissertation and it would be of great help if you could forward the link to colleagues and members of your organisation.

Unfortunately I will have to close this survey in two weeks time, in order to do the analysis for my dissertation.

It would be of great help if you could send the link it to contacts in your database, families and friends.

Merry Christmas to all and I'm sorry if anyone has been concerned due to me going AWOL for a few months. I took to the road in the old Keltymobile with the express intention of visiting the Camping & Caravanning shows and also to visit some of the companies who do van conversions.

To cut a very long story short I eventually ordered a spanking new Auto-sleeper and arranged for it to have some extra work done to accommodate a small electric buggy and to have a wee electric hoist to load and unload the buggy.
This is when things went quite wrong. The van converters found a design fault in the Motor-home's pop-up roof system and this caused a delay which also put back the installation of the hoist and buggy. Next, when I got the electric buggy, and there was a faulty Gel-battery pack and it had to be replaced. So I only just got back home in time for Christmas, (mind you I did keep popping back home to pay bills and draw my pensions).

It is lucky that both the old van and the new are winterised and I was quite comfortable. Now I have a mountain of snail-mail and e-mail to answer and I have to say sorry to everyone expecting to get a Christmas card. I will also have the old Keltymobile, (and the even older one I kept for spares), and a caravan to sell.

I won't tell you all just how much the new van, new buggy and extra conversions cost me but arms and legs are a little thinner on the ground around Papill'on Cottage now but I'm really looking forward to the new touring season this year. All I need now is a travelling companion but I expect I will just have to settle for buying another new wee papill'on as another new wee wife is a bit harder to arrange.

Hi folks
Stumbled across this site and thought it might be of interest. The bikes look great fun and the guy's a bit of all right too !!!

The Garnet Access Project exists to promote disabled access to the countryside using quad bikes and amphibious six-wheelers

I am writing on behalf of Channel 4 Television. We are putting together a directory of disability contributors (organisations and individuals) which will be sent out to producers so they can find more disabled people to take part in their programmes. We have all of your/your organisation's relevant contact details, but before printing the directory, we wanted to check you were happy for us to include you. If we do not hear from you, we will assume you would like us to include your details. If you do have any issues or concerns, please reply to this email.

Many thanks
Nigel Cooper, Director
The Other Room
online content specialists
www.theotherroom.net

Hi Happy Christmas from Daktari Wildlife Orphanage. Perhaps you are not aware that we are linked and registered with Greater Good South Africa www.ggsa.co.za . They have this new iniative - Wish Upon a Star. Log on and make a wish or donate!

And a very merry xmas to you too. We will pass your xmas info on to our readers.
Kind Regards
editor
www.anAurora.co.uk
anAurora the Internet Magazine for the disAble Woman the 'dis' is small it's the Ability that counts.

I am writing to you to find out if your organisation wants to take out a full colour advert in our 2006 Multifaith Office Wallplanner?

It has all the dates of the major religious festivals as well as national public holidays, and helps us pay towards our direct humanitarian work, for example with homeless and destitute people from minority ethnic and refugee communities, and we have a few spaces still needing to be filled. We are printing and circulating 5,000 planners and it would mean your organisation gets all year round exposure to all minority ethnic/refugee groups and voluntary and housing organisations across Scotland.

The cost of a full colour 70mm(h) x 90 mm (w) advert is only £295 (no vat). If you would like to go ahead then please just email me at robina@paih.org with the relevant person's contact details. I look forward to hearing from you.

DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in this email and any attachments are not necessarily those of Positive Action in Housing Ltd.

My name is Farhan age 22 and I am handicap means my leg is affected by polio and i want to know that can your organisation help me and give me treatment please.
Do reply thanks
bye

Farhan
You do not say where you come from. Unfortunately we are a voluntary run group and therefore can offer you no treatment or advice.
Below are a few organizations that perhaps could help you.

The article in this month's Hints and Tips requires that the graphics accompany the text, so that the websites for each of these articles may be accessed.

Do you dread traipsing around the shops in the bitter cold, hunting for parking spaces, queuing for hours upon end and returning home tired, penniless and exhausted? Are you still hunting for that perfect gift for a groovy Grandpa, fussy Aunt Flo or hard to please teens? Worst of all, do you hate hearing someone say “it's the thought that counts” on Christmas morning knowing that you resorted to a boring, unimaginative gift idea just so that you could stop shopping?

Well if you've got access to the Internet worry no more! Stress free shopping is only a mouse click away and the perfect introduction to the festive season.

We have searched the World Wide Web to find 100 great gift ideas all for under £10!

Whether you're looking for a nifty gift for a tricky customer, that perfect party bag filler, a secret Santa surprise or a superb stocking-filler for the children we've found something for everyone!

What better way to shop than on the Internet and in the comfort and warmth of your own home? Purchasing that perfect pressie couldn't be easier and just imagine the festive fun and games you can enjoy with all that energy you've saved. No more shopping til you drop, just a stress-free, relaxing roam around cyberspace buying original gifts that don't break the bank.

(All prices were correct at the time this article was published, please check delivery times on each website to avoid disappointment.)

Here is the quiz for the Winter 2005 issue. You can get the right answers immediately by going to the Features section, after the Junior Crew quiz. Click here.

1	How many weeks are there in a year? Fifty-two
2	Red sky at night is whose delight? Shepherd's
3	From which country does lasagne and spaghetti come? Italy
4	Who ranks higher, a Marquess or an Earl? A Marquess
5	What relation is Prince Charles to Prince Philip? He is his son
6	How many tens are there in a thousand? One hundred
7	What part of the coffee plant is harvested to make the drink? The beans
8	Which buildings have blue lamps outside them in Britain? Police stations
9	Which is longer, a foot or a yard? A yard
10	In which city would you find the shop Harrods? In London

	Teddy Clown Clock Price: £10 What better way to learn to tell the time than with this delightful teddy clown clock? Every childs room needs a teddy bear and this attractively designed clock will appeal to children of all ages. Matching bookends are also available. Made in Polyresin.
	Fantasy Dragon Mushroom Clock. Price: £9.35 A perfect gift for Harry Potter or fantasy creature fans! Each dragon has been designed in a bright fantasy style and finished in vibrant metallic colours. Distinctive, unusual and so much more than a timepiece. Dragons are made from solid resin and come packaged individually.
	Jumping Tiddly Frogs Price : £2-99 Ribbit Ribbit! Traditional tiddly winks is transformed into a game of finger flipping froggy fun! Flip the colourful 9 frogs into the bowl - it's not as easy as it looks and certain to entertain young and old alike. Age 3+.
	Alphabet Teaching Frame Price: £ 5.99 From A for apple to Z for zebra - this is the fun way of learning the alphabet. It comes in an appealing frog-shaped frame and the combination of letters, memorable motifs and written word makes learning the alphabet and basic number skills a pleasurable experience. Age 4+
	Musical Instrument Set Price: £ 9.99 For the younger child with a penchant for percussion how about this magnificent ‘ Musical Instrument Set'? Consisting of a pair of wooden maracas, a shell tambourine, a handbell, a pair of castanets, a triangle and a beater with a cord. This Instrument Set is lots of foot tapping, hand clapping fun! Sadly the set doesn't include earplugs for the parents! Age 3+
	Red Hot Space Hoppers With Sound Price: £9.99 Boing Boing Boing... Not only is this Space Hopper great to use and bounce around on but it also makes a great *Boingy* noise too. It's certain to have the children hopping into 2006 with a smile on their faces! Mid size space hopper (18in)
	Mini Magnetic Letters Price: £2-50 Make learning fun and colourful with this box of mini magnetic letters and numbers. This colourful box contains 40 plastic letters and can be attached to metal surfaces such as a fridge.
	Mini Kit: You Bake em Dog Biscuits Price: £3.99 Bow Wow! A Christmas time treat for a childs canine companion! This kit provides a fun way to reward a favourite pooch by creating wholesome handmade dog biscuits. The 32 page book of recipes and pet care tips comes with three miniature cookie cutters in fire hydrant, bone, and cat shapes. Each recipe has been tested and approved by veterinarians and dogs of all breeds!
	Soldier Money Box Price: Price: £7.50 What a great way for children to save their pocket money. This brightly coloured Soldier money box is always on guard. An interesting alternative to the conventional piggy bank. Alternative money bank designs in the same range include tiger, heart, fairy castle and digger. Dimensions - (3.5" x 3.5" x 7")
	Rubik's Harry Potter Cube Price: Normal Price: £9.99 just £4.50 (plus £1.50 P&P) A magical gift idea! Everybody's favourite, Harry Potter meets the challenge of the world's most famous puzzle, the Rubik cube! A little easier than it's legendary counterpart, the Harry Potter Cube works the same as the original; a few twists and turns, billions of combinations but only one solution. The Rubik's Harry Potter Cube offers a real challenge and your kids will need to conjure all their magical powers and patience to complete it. Guaranteed to keep them quiet for hours and hours (Phew!), and available at a price that won't break the bank! (The Rubik's Harry Potter Cube comes in a fabulous presentation box and includes a handy "hints" booklet)
	Wooden Xylophone Price: £ 6.99 This appealing, colourful cat-shaped Xylophone comes with eight different-coloured metal bars and holders for the mallets when they are not used. Two wooden mallets and a book of music called "Little music school" are included. Age 3 +
	Pet Trees Price: £5.99 The latest craze from Japan, Pet Trees on a key chain are set to take the UK by storm! [Or so we've been told!] It can go on a mobile phone, handbag, rucksack or any accessory you desire. Once it out-grows the bell jar, it can be removed and planted in plant pot. What will you call your pet tree? Twiggy, Spike? But remember a Pet Tree' is for life not just Christmas!
	Design-a-T-shirt Price: £4.00 Foster your youngsters' creative talents with this kit which lets them design their own unique T-shirt. Containing coloured crayons and instructions, all they need are a few plain T- shirts and lots of ideas, the latter they will have in abundance. Kit includes 5 coloured crayons and 1 small size T-shirt
	Flower Tin Of Beads Price: £8.00 Children have always loved making things out of beads whether it be bracelets, necklaces or keyrings. This great gift set comes in an attractive flower shaped tin and includes all that's needed to make lots of colourful items of jewellery. (Recommended age 5+)
	Coin Construction Kit Price: £6.99 A really unusual construction kit for the child who loves to build interesting objects. The kit contains six hundred tiny black and red clips that can be used to neatly link two or more coins together, creating sculptures of robots, towers, trucks, Christmas trees and anything else they can imagine. Using a mixture of coin sizes can be used to add detail. Two gifts for the price of one - A construction kit and saving bank!
	Butterfly Garden Kit Price: £4.95 An ideal gift for the child who is fascinated by nature, insects and wildlife. This kit contains everything you need to grow beautiful flowers that butterflies will love. Once the seedlings have sprouted they can be transplanted to the garden to grow. Kit contains: Decorative bucket, inner pot, growing medium, cornflower, corn poppy and corn marigold seeds, coloured pencils and activity booklet.
	Paper Cutters Price: £2-99 EACH Fun, simple and safe to use paper cutters available in an assortment of pretty shapes. A perfect gift for the craft loving child who loves to design cards, pictures, stationery or friezes. Decorative border cutters also available.
	Paper Doll Dress Up Kits Price: £4.50 A toy which has withstood the test of time, given a modern day tweak appealing to girls who are potty about princesses and fanatical about fairies. Each kit has 2 double-sided card dolls with dozens of gorgeous outfits to dress them in. Best of all, there are no tabs, the clothes stay on with re-useable glue dots.
	Childrens Sweatshirt Price: £9.95 "Here comes trouble...100% pure mischief" in blue. Super Sweatshirts with a snappy slogan for children with a lot to say. Guaranteed to make everyone smile. Great presents for grandparents who know the best things come in little parcels. 100% Cotton.
	Jeans Framie - Fun Frame for your Computer Price: £4.95 Fun frames for funky teens! These cool computer frames depicting a pair of denim jeans make your monitor look funky and brightens up your workstation. They have been designed to fit 38cm (15") and 43cm (17") monitors and simply attach to the front of your computer monitor with four velcro pads (Supplied).
	Operation Pen Price: £9.99 A brilliant boredom buster! The classic game of Operation has been fitted in to the end of a pen - a real test of steadiness – you have to stay cool, calm and collected to pick out the 'body parts'. Extremely challenging! A take anywhere game that you can play everywhere - on long journeys, the school bus or at break-time at school.
	Hand painted Character Skipping Ropes Price: £4-99 Bright, colourful and fun ‘Skipping Ropes' with painted carved wooden handles depicting Ballerinas, Carnival, Mice, Hearts, Prince and Princess, Skipping has never lost its appeal and little lasses will love these gorgeous handles. Non-toxic paint.
	Fuzzy Felt Princess & Thomas the Tank Price: £4-99 Originally designed to entertain children whose mothers were working in cottage style industries and making use of felt offcuts from tank gaskets during the Second World War, Fuzzy Felt remains an an all time favourite with children everywhere! Make colourful pictures with the felt shapes on the fuzzy board. No glue, no mess just lots of fun. Perfect for your little princess and budding train driver. Ages 3 to 6.
	Pacman Keyring Game Price: £ 9.50 The play anywhere Pacman game! The legendary arcade game now returns in the shape of a mini colour display game. Born in the 80's, this retro classic returns with action packed full-colour screen and exciting sound effects. Soft touch rubberised case. 7 x 5.5 cm
	Official Charity Wristband Price : £2.99 Fashion plus compassion, a perfect combination! The must have fashion accessory for a teenager who wants to show support to charitable organisations. 2 bands per order. Help raise funds for Breast Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, Workaid and many others.
	Mini Ant Farm Price: £6-00 Fascinating to watch, ant antics will have you mesmerised! Mini version of the World famous original Ant farm! Can be connected, stacked and swivelled. Ants travel directly between farms by spiral stairs and connecting tubes. Includes colourful 3-D effect farm scene, 18 see-thru, flexible Antway Travel Tube, connecting Antports, connecting Ant Stairs, tip-proof stand attachment, clean tunnelling sand, illustrated Ant Watcher's Guide, and a coupon to send for LIVE ants! 6" wide x 4" high.
	Toy Wooden Russian Dolls Price: from £7.95 These genuine Russian nest dolls make a lovely traditional Christmas present that children will love and cherish. Prettily finished & available in two options either a five nest (11cm high) or a seven nest (19cm high).
	Cinderella Toy Theatre Price: £6.95 Parents won't be able to resist getting their hands on this gorgeous toy theatre. Typical of the "Juvenile Theatres" that were so popular during Queen Victoria's reign they are easy to assemble and the cardboard sections slot together without the need for cutting or gluing. The finished model is a approximately 38cm high and is complete with characters, scenery and plot.
	Snapping Croc Puppet Price: £6.99 A snappy gift at a snip! This felt glove puppet has a hidden extra - wooden pads inside its mouth make a scary snapping noise when the croc smacks his lips in anticipation of his next meal! Watch out! Hungry Croc's are snapping up your mince pies!
	Big 3D Wood Models Price: £3-99 Push out the pre-painted wooden pieces and slot them together to make lifelike replicas of these stunning birds of prey, a Snow Owl or Golden Eagle. Children will love making these birds and they`ll be thrilled with the finished model. Age 6+.
	Throw It Football Alarm Clock Price: £9-99 Fabulous for football fans! Toss it! Bounce it! Throw it! Bump it! This off-the-wall action alarm clock comes with a stand to have at your bedside. When the alarm sounds, throw it and the alarm turns off. Time to get your own back at your alarm clock!
	Draw Thumb People Price: £4.99 From simple thumb and fingerprints children can create monkeys, trains, skydivers and many more. These humorous kits come with a coloured inkpad and the essential black felt-tip to bring the prints to life as well as a pad showing ideas, instructions and inspiration for a plethora of thumb characters. Other Thumb themed sets available-; animals and things.
	Chocolate Machine Money Box Price: £6.99 The essential choc chompers choice of the perfect present! This is a favourite that many people will remember from their childhood and a great way to encourage children to save money. Filled with the 20 Dairy Milk miniatures provided, each one only being dispensed when a 10p piece is fitted in the slot. A gift which is certain to delight almost any child, this would make a silly (and welcome) present for a chocoholic adult.
	Snoozie Bear With Free Keychain Price : £7-99 Shhhhhhhhhh! The large soft toy gently rocks his head back and forth whilst he's sound asleep. Snoozie Bear now includes a free Snoozie keychain. This cute couple really are dozy as all it takes for them to fall asleep is a gentle squeeze of their foot or tummy to hear them yawn and then start to snore.
	Brilliant Bug Watcher Price: £9-99 This brilliant bug watcher scientifikit is packed full of fascinating stuff to help your child discover the amazing world of bugs! There's loads to do such as building a cosy bug box, find your own bug zones, incredible bug-tastic facts, catch your own bugs, examine different bugs and record your discoveries. Suitable for ages 6 onwards
	Friendship Braiding Kit Price: £9-99 Girls, show your friends how much you love them by making these stylish friendship braids as gifts for them to wear as necklaces, bracelets or to braid into their hair. Your friends will be queuing at your door!
	Jungle Carpet Croquet Price: £9-00 Brightly coloured wooden indoor croquet kit depicting favourite jungle animals, Lion, elephant, zebra and giraffe. A great introduction to the game of croquet. Children will love the fun faces and the set is certain to entertain children for hours. Age: +3yrs
	Wooden Moneyboxes Price: £5-00 These cute brightly painted wooden moneyboxes are a great way to encourage children to save their pocket money. Choose from the Bee Moneybox, Ladybird Moneybox, Cat Moneybox, Cow Moneybox, Pig Moneybox or Snail Moneybox.
	Farm Animal Memo Holder Price: £1-00 Cute and fun wooden animals there to hold memos, photos, Christmas cards or party invites! Ideal for party bags too. Pig, lamb, cow and chicken designs brighten up any room. Jungle themed memo holders also available. Age: +3yrs
	Peter Rabbit Cube Puzzle Price: £5.00 A wooden nine cube puzzle with six pictures to make up all of your favourite Beatrix Potter characters. You can't go wrong with Peter Rabbit, these classic illustrations are enchanting and certain to appeal. Age +3yrs
	Magnetic Monkeys Price: £4-99 Perfect for a cheeky little monkey! Once these cute clinging monkeys touch a metallic object they go bananas! Hang these softies on the fridge or even your wrist, they're fun together and great to cuddle on their own.
	Beano Videostars - DVD Price: £6.00 A great DVD bringing to life all the favourite characters from the Beano comic. Dennis The Menace, Gnasher, Billy Whizz, The Bash Street Kids and many more, all featured on this terrific DVD!
	Guinness World Records Price: £9-00 The Guinness World Records needs no introduction and continues to fascinate children and adults everywhere. Crammed with hundreds of exclusive new photographs and over 1500 new and fully updated records this book is a fabulous addition to everyones bookcase.
	Charades For Kids Price: £9-99 The hugely entertaining game of Charades is synonymous with Christmastime fun and games and this version has a clever set of cards designed specifically with the kids in mind. All ages can play together fairly as younger ones pick one of 50 picture cards from a monkey to a yo-yo for their mime. Older kids act one of the harder 150 objects or activities such as licking an ice cream or doing up a tie. Let the fun begin! For 3 or more players age 4+.
	Fairy Music Box Price: £8.99 Simply Charming! Most women remember their first jewellery box with great affection and this delightful example has many memorable qualities which will hit a chord with little girls everywhere! The outside of the wooden box is prettily decorated with detailed flowers, butterflies and fairies. The concealed clockwork mechanism activates the fairy figurine who pirouettes gracefully in front of the mirror to the tune of ‘Beautiful Dreamer' whenever the 15cm box is opened.
	Googly Eyes Price: £3.99 Eye Eye What's this then? A simple but fun gift idea which will have everyone giggling with delight and looking for interesting objects which can be brought alive with a pair of comical googly eyes! A gift certain not to be replicated beneath the Christmas tree but which everyone will want to try! 34 pairs of googly eyes (with adhesive backs), ranging in diameter from 15 to 4 mm, are provided along with a 42 page book of suggestions to act as inspiration for humorous and absurd places to stick them. Watch out for a Googly-Eye epidemic!
	Hover Disc Price: £9.99 Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's hover disc! A super combination of a foil balloon and a huge frisbee which spins, glides, floats and flies effortlessly through the air! Simply fill it up with air for outdoor use or with helium for indoors (helium can be obtained from Florists or Party Shops) then with the gentlest of touches send the disc zooming through the air. Play catch, Dodge Disc or even try performing tricks. The hover disc is great fun and provided it is treated sensibly can be re used over and over again. 92cm Diameter in two designs.
	Modelling Balloons Price: £2.99 Fantastic fun and a fabulous party trick to entertain their friends! Children love to watch magicians and clowns make animals and objects from balloons and now they can try it themselves! For just £2-99 the kit contains everything needed to try this great creative activity - 16 balloons of assorted colours which are over a metre long when fully inflated, an effective hand pump so you don't get out of breath, together with detailed, illustrated hints and instructions.
	Santa Dispenser Price: £1.99 Santa Clause and sweet's a winning combination! Just lift Santa's hat, pour in the delicious jelly beans provided and this fun dispenser is ready for action. Shake Santa's left-hand and with his right he scoops into the sack to give you a sweet. Great value for money and perfect for Advent calendar treats or stocking-fillers.
Fifty Perfect Pressies for Adults
	A Quarter Of...Voucher for Old Fashioned Sweets. Price: From £10 Certain to be a firm favourite with everyone, especially someone with a sweet tooth or nostalgia lovers, a terrific gift idea but why not treat yourself too? Go on it's Christmas! Remember fizzy cola bottles, Sherbert Fountains, Toffo, Curly Wurlys and Cherry Lips? Recapture those magnificent flavours from your childhood with a voucher for A Quarter Of... the old-fashioned sweetshop with all your favourites - flying saucers, floral gums, and sweet tobacco to shrimps, sherbet pips and space dust... and over 500 more!!
	Magnetic Poetry Cat Lover Kit Price: £9.95 free UK delivery A perfect pressie for the poetry lover with a pussy cat! The Magnetic Poetry Cat Lover Kit is an instant favourite. This feline friendly kit includes words like purr, tabby, hiss, mouse, Siamese, pounce, yarn, litter and kitty. Over 240 word magnets for creating catty compositions. Stick to your fridge, locker or any steel surface. Other Poetry kit subjects include Magnetic Poetry Gardener, Romance, Shakespearean, Dog Lover, Italian, French, German and Spanish poetry.
	Theatre Tokens Price: £5.00 to £20. Take the drama out of finding the perfect present with these unique gift vouchers. From the hottest tickets in the 'West End' to your favourite soap star in panto or even better pop into SJT showing The Champion of Paribanou over Christmas, a play for all the family written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn. Theatre tokens are valid at over 220 theatres nationwide, meaning there's a perfect night out there for even the most discerning recipient. What's more, there's no expiry date, so there's no pressure to use them up. Encore! Encore!
	Regimental Drum Note Pads - Choose your Regiment or Royal Navy Price: £5.95 Didn't I say we had gift ideas for everyone? These telephone note pads are a unique product based on a British, military rope tension side drum. The original artwork is hand painted by a military heraldic artist and a large assortment of Regiments are available. 800 sheets of paper & Pencil included.
	Good Food: Christmas Made Easy Price £7.99 The Good Food Team and their favourite celebrity chefs have been planning and cooking Christmas for their readers for ten very successful years. This book is the culmination of all that experience and the definitive guide to all the seasonal cooking and entertaining over this most important time of the year. Mmmmmmm Delicious!
	It's Grim Up North Price £6.99 From the hilarious TV programme comes the book ‘ It's Grim Up North' Altogether now “Oh no it isn't!” A light-hearted and humorous look at what it's really like outside the M25. It's Grim Up North will be an education of sorts, divided into sections easy for Southerners to digest: Food, Weather, Culture and Money.
	Typhoon Black Two Tone Ceramic Chocolate Fondue Set Price: £9.97 Christmas isn't Christmas without chocolate and this classic ceramic chocolate fondue set with 2 tone gloss and matt white glaze is certain to cheer chocoholics everywhere. Perfect party fare and a firm favourite with everyone! Contents include four fondue forks and tea light and some fantastically tasty recipe suggestions.
	500 of the Weirdest and Wackiest Websites Price: £5.86 So you're at work, procrastinating like mad and can't think of any good websites to check out in your downtime...well, thedoghouse.co.uk has the answer to all your prayers, a book of 500 of the Weirdest and Wackiest Websites around. This book lists the weirdest and wackiest sites that are guaranteed to amuse and amaze! Hours of laughter are just a mouse click away with this unusual gift.
	Mini Black Jack Table Price: £7-49 Enjoy an entertaining game of cards on this miniature black jack table. You'll know your lucks in when you get this great gift for Christmas. The set contains one pack of cards, gambling chips, a chip sweeper and a dealer shoe. Who needs Vegas?
	Automatic Card Shuffler Price: £11-95 The perfect partner to accompany the Mini Black Jack Table, the real deal Automatic Card Shuffler is ideal for real Vegas action and even purchased jointly it still leaves you change from £20! This helpful gadget eliminates the need to shuffle cards by hand, j ust cut the deck, lay the cards flat on the trays and push the button for an impressively fast and thorough shuffle!
	Personalised Chocolate Christmas Cards Price: £9-95 Yum Yum – more chocolate! These ‘Personalised Chocolate Christmas Cards' make for a unique and tasty way to pass on your Yuletide Greetings of goodwill. You compose a message, then they engrave it onto a delicious milk chocolate card, your friend opens it, smiles a lot, then scoffs it all down. Brilliant – a great way to recycle too!
	Cushtie Cushion (black) Price: £9-95 Cuddle a Cushtie this Christmas! A suidgeable, squashy little number available in assorted colours! A Cushtie Cushion is the ideal pillow for sleeping anywhere, whether at home, away or on the move! It is filled with tiny polystyrene beads which can be squashed and squeezed to fit around you and bounce back into shape afterwards.
	Crazy Frog Talking Mug Price : £7.99 Dee Ding Ding Ding....Lift the mug and off he goes. Have a crazy coffee or tea with the crazy annoying frog. Ceramic Mug with sound chip & Light sensitive base
	Diet Nanny Price: £4.99 Just the thing for when you've tucked into too much turkey, munched too many mince pies and chomped chocolates all over Christmas! Place the Diet Nanny wherever temptation lies: the fridge, biscuit tin, even the drinks cabinet. Then when you open the door Nanny will decide for you: 'Don't even think about it!' 'Go on, treat yourself!' 'Leave it alone!' 'Are you sure?' 'Mmm, mmm, enjoy!' 'You know you shouldn't'
	Football Keyring Watch Price: £9.99 Never miss kick off again! Great football shaped watch keyring for footie fans who want to be on the ball. Slide open the ball to reveal the watch. Perfect to clip onto a belt strap, mobile phone, key fob or sports bag! Analogue watch in football keyring with a silver finish.
	Me To You Tatty Teddy Watch Price: £9.99 A lovely ‘Me to You' watch with a flower shaped face. The face has a cute little Tatty Teddy bear in the centre and it comes with an attractive blue strap with a floral motif. This appealing analogue watch will be the perfect present for teddy bear lovers, young and old, everywhere.
	Heart Shaped Hot Water Bottle Price: £4.99 The ideal heart-warming gift for a cold winter's night. Keeps your tootsies toasty! Your wobbly bits warm and your curves cozy! If you've got cold hands, a warm heart shaped hot water bottle is just the ticket! Banish those Brrrrrr cold weather winter blues and keep warm this Christmas!
	Ice Spoon Mould Price : £5.99 Rubber mould for 2 ice spoons. Fill with water (or something stronger) and pop them in the freezer. When frozen, push them out and serve, a fun way to cool your drinks and a novel conversation piece at parties.
	Water Cooler Price: £8.50 Keep cool! Water bottles have never looked so good and stayed so cold! Convenient, fun and functional and in four fabulously funky colours! Clips onto your belt strap and leaves your hands free to strut your stuff at the office party! Fits most 500ml water bottles. Colours: royal blue, hot pink, neon orange and neon green.
	Open Fire DVD Price: £7.99 You just can't beat a log fire at wintertime can you? Now you can create a warm, cosy atmosphere in your lounge even if you haven't a conventional fireplace with this open fire DVD. Genuine fire crackle and roaring flames without the hassle of real fire chores - no logs to lug, no ash-pan to clean, no flying sparks. An atmospheric DVD which will keep the home fires burning this winter. Also has the added bonus of being able to pause particularly exciting flames. Mesmerising!
	Football heroes playing cards Price : £4.95 52 heroes of the beautiful game on quality playing cards. A nostalgic look back at the all time greats. Who's your king of the pack, Bobby Charlton, Michael Owen or the late, great George Best plus many more? Certain to be an ace gift for card players who love football.
	Snowmans Party Mug from Portmeirion Price £6-00 Fine Bone China mug depicting an attractive, seasonal illustration of snowmen. Excellent quality.
	Iris Frame Price : £6.00 This gorgeous frame crafted from pewter and enamel in the Art Nouveau style has wonderfully organic curves and its Iris design will enhance your photographs perfectly. There are just three words to describe the items sold at Past Times, Quality, Quality, Quality! Iris Clock sold separately.
	Life With Gus Showing His Batting Prowess Mug from Portmeirion Price : £6.00 Another Fine Bone China mug with a fun cricketing theme perfect for sporting fans who want to enjoy reliving memories of winning the Ashes. Other sporting themes available.
	Gear Stick Bottle Top Price : £ 7.50 A gift for the wine lover who also loves his car or his game of golf. Made in Cherry wood or Rosewood colour with a steel 'gear stick' top or golf ball. Unusual gifts with a timeless charm certain to be the toast of the town.
	Clip on Booklight Price : £ 6.95 Clip to your book or map and read under a clear, bright light. Ideal for car journeys or late night reading and perfect for book lovers who enjoy a late night rendezvous with the latest best seller.
	Electric Biscuit Gun Price : £ 7.99 For a pistol packing Momma who loves cooking cookies! Easy and safe to use, this Electric Biscuit Gun gives you equal-sized portions fast. It comes with 10 discs and 6 decorating nozzles. A foolproof way of producing fabulous biscuits which look good enought to eat! Incl. recipe suggestions and cleaning brush and 3-year guarantee
	Wren Post Top. Price : £10.00 Strong and weatherproof these life like post tops add instant interest in the garden and look terrific. Other birds available. Made from mild steel, coated in High Density Polyethylene. Size approx. 10cm x 13cm.
	Carved Gourd Planter Price : £10 This carefully crafted gourd, carved with traditional animal motifs goes well in the kitchen, lounge or dining room. Why not use it to create an attractive Christmas centrepiece for a table or hallway? An unusual, stunning planter and a surefire winner with anyone who wants their decor to have the wow factor! Hand made in Kenya. (Diameter 20cm. Size and colours may vary)
	Head massager Price : £10 Relax after the hustle and bustle of Christmas with this great massager. Gently press this over a friend's head and watch them squirm with delight. The metal fingers flex to follow the contours of the head and produce the most amazing sensation. Oooooooohhh! A must have gift this Christmas.
	Elegant Pewter bookmark Price : £9-95 Elegant and stylish. Choose designs depicting the Welsh dragon, Tara Panel, Triscele or Flame Knot, all equally stunning. The bookmarks are a pewter design on a nickel-plated brass stem approximately 14 cm long by 5mm wide, presented in a lined gift box. A practical and attractive gift idea for the book lover.

1	What is phobia?
2	What is the medical conditions called myopia?
3	What did Sir Walter Raleigh discover in Trinidad in 1595?
4	What is a satellite?
5	What colour is the gem called aquamarine?
6	The patella is another name for which bone?
7	What is measured in knots?
8	What is a Bofors?
9	What instrument did Adolphe Sax invent?
10	What does a thermometer measure?

Jumping Tiddly Frogs

Price : £2-99

Paper Cutters

Price: £2-99 EACH

Hand painted Character Skipping Ropes

Price: £4-99

Fuzzy Felt Princess & Thomas the Tank

Price: £4-99

Snapping Croc Puppet

Big 3D Wood Models

Snoozie Bear With Free Keychain

Price : £7-99

Brilliant Bug Watcher

Price: £9-99

Magnetic Poetry Cat Lover Kit

Price: £9.95 free UK delivery

Me To You Tatty Teddy Watch

Price: £9.99

Heart Shaped Hot Water Bottle

Ice Spoon Mould

Open Fire DVD

Football heroes playing cards

Price £6-00

Clip on Booklight