| Hello Children,
It's another new year and its time once again to make some new year resolutions. Have any of you done something which you wish you hadn't? Maybe you disobeyed your mother, or got angry with a friend, or maybe you just didn't do well in your exams. Whatever it maybe, we all have regrets, things we wish we had never done or said. We can never change the past, but we can make our future better. So what better way than to start the year with a few resolutions. Don't be dissappointed if you are not able to stick by them, do your best and you won't have anything to lose. Until next week Aunty Sunshine |
Human rights is a term which is widely spoken locally and internationally. Human rights are rights that every living person must enjoy and exercise respecting the norms of society.
Human rights does not refer to adults alone but is applicable to children also. The UN charter on human rights cover the right to live, love and co-exist.
I know a lot of girls in our school, and I am friendly with them all. Some of them I like very much, and am always glad to see them. We play games together, and have a good time. In one way, they are all my friends.
But when I talk about "my friends" I mean something different. There is one girl who is my special friend. Although I like my other freinds I do not consider them as special friends. They are pleasant companions; but that is all. So I might say I have many companions, but I have only one special friend.
The funny thing is that we are quite different. I am rather a jolly person who is fond of company. I like all kinds of games, and practical jokes, and all sorts of fun with other girls. I do not care much for books and reading. I like to laugh and talk.
But my friend is a quiet and reserved sort of girl. She never plays games, and takes no interest in netball or basketball or badminton. she hates noise, and practical jokes and mixed company. She likes being alone a lot, and loves reading. She always seems to have a book in her hand. She likes talking , but only with a few close friends, and then they talk about books and ideas and serious subjects. She has plenty of humour and enjoys a bit of fun; but in a quiet thoughtful sort of way. And she is clever - quite a scholar, and is usually at the top of her class in school.
And yet, in spite of these differences we are the best of pals. We seem to understand each other, somehow. She laughs at me for getting so excited about a badminton match or a picnic; and I laugh at her for being such a hermit and a book - worm. But we are the best of friends.
I wonder why I like her so much? I think it is because she is kind and
sympathetic, so honest and straightforward , so loyal and true. She is
always ready to help you when you get into a scrape you can always rely
on her to do the correct thing; you know she will never let you down. She
is a fine, unselfish girl.
I wonder why she likes me ? I really do not know.
Some
times she is my mother
and she teaches us good manners
Helps me to believe in myself.
It is my life,
It is my everything.
We will be good citizens for the sake of my school. I can never forget
my school life. My school memories are eternal.
I have a Pet!
It is a cat.
Its name is Jack!
Its coat is white
With spots of Black
I take him out.
All most every day!
Such fun we have
We run and play!
He likes his food
And I love my pet!
I saw a beggar,
On the street pavement.
Shedding tears,
because of hunger.
There's a litle tin,
to beg some money.
From that he can,
buy some food.
That's only for the evening.
But what about the night?
My name is Fathima Yumna.
I am four years old.
I am studying at Tiny Tots Nursery.
I have one brother and one sister.
My brother's name is Rashaf.
My sister's name is Shifna.
I like to play.
I play with my friends.
My friends are Minaza and Fathima.
Actor Sly Stallone has no doubt that Christmas is a time for children, and here he takes some time out of his hectic schedule to read a Christmas story to his adorable daughter Sophie Rose , now 15 months old.
The two some were posing for the Stallone family Christmas card, with
Sly reading to little Sophie from an appropriate book; 
the
only one missing from the attractive photo scene was Jennifer, the actor's
young wife, who is now expecting their second child.
Handsome action hero Sylvester has no qualms about expressing his love for his new family. "She's the apple of my eye," he says of his baby daughter. "She charms me and has me wrapped around her little finger. "Christmas is about children and when I look at the wonder in Sophie's eyes when she sees decorations and Christmas trees and new things to explore, I understand the true meaning of the holiday.
"I am truly blessed. I have a wonderful wife, Jennifer, and my little girl. I have it all," says the man who once wondered if enduring happiness has passed him by. "Christmas is the one time of the year when I always count by blessings.
"Sophie is at the top of my list because we almost lost her when she was born. She's a miracle and every day she delights me more. I'm a content and happy man."
Water buffaloes live in countries where it is warm and wet. They love to wallow in mud and spend a lot of time in the water, which is how they got their name.
Water buffaloes are a type of cattle (like cows and oxen). They are
huge, heavy beasts that are among the largest of all cattle. 
A
male water buffalo may be 1.9m tall at the shoulder and weigh over one
ton.
In ancient times, water buffaloes lived wild in many countries in Asia. Today, water buffaloes are rarely found in the wild. However, they are kept on farms, in many countries of the world.
People keep buffaloes on farms to pull ploughs and carts and carry heavy loads. They are very hardy animals and can stand any sort of weather.
Water buffaloes are not only kept on farms for work, they are kept for their meat and milk. A female water buffalo can produce about the same amount of milk as a dairy cow.
The female water buffaloes can give birth to a calf every 15 months for about 17 years. The calf is born with a shaggy coat which is cleaned by its mother carefully.
I have visited many places in my country and had a lot of experience and knowledge about such places. That's because during every holiday my parents took us on a trip. But this holiday they decided to take us to Singapore.
First of September was the day we were supposed to go. On that day my
mother, two sisters and I woke up and got ready. An uncle drove us to the
airport. After checking luggage and taking boarding passes we went to the
waiting room. Our plane 
arrived
at about 11.00 am. A bus took us to the airfield. As we got into the plane,
two air hostesses welcomed us warmly. But unluckily, we couldn't sit near
the windows. So we couldn't get a very good view of the sights below. The
plane took off and after a five hour journey, it landed at the Changi Airport
in Singapore. After clearing immigration and collecting our luggage we
went to the arrival hall where we met our father. Then all of us got out
of the airport and got into a taxi to travel to our hotel. As we travelled,
we found ourselves in a different atmosphere. Roads were very tidy with
less traffic. Flower bushes were planted on either side of the roads. People
were running here and there busily.
We approached our hotel which was situated in "Serangoon Road'. It was named as 'Fortuna Hotel'. We were very tired that day, so we had a good night's sleep.
The first two days were spent shopping. But we also learnt a lot about the country by it. The bus service was different. The buses had no conductors, but there was a ticket supplying machine. When you put coins into it, a ticket comes out. And each and every person who get in doesn't go in without taking their ticket. And we were also surprised not to see a single policeman on the road. This proves how very honest and law abiding the people are. Sri Lankans certainly have a lot to learn from them. But Singapore people were not very hospitable and had a rude attitude towards foreigners.
The next day we decided to go to the 'Sentosa Island'. We caught a taxi which took us to 'Sentosa Island'. On our way we saw the Singapore Harbour. It was much larger than our Colombo harbour. We also saw heaps of buildings reaching the sky. However the taxi stopped at the Sentosa bus halt. From there, a bus took us into the Island.
First we went to a place called the 'Volcano land'. We were led through a door into a small, dismal passage-way. The passage-way ended near a small wooden door. As we approached, it opened and two guides told us to go in. As we went in we found ourselves in some kind of elevator. When it was crowded, a guide said "OK, ladies and gentlemen, get ready to go to the centre of the earth!"
As she spoke this word, a shiver ran through my spine. At last the elevator stopped and again we were led through a dark passage to a dimly lit hall. As we sat, a curtain in front of us opened and we could see a large screen. Then pictures began to appear on the screen explaining how the volcanoes were formed. It was very enjoyable and interesting, scary though.
Next we went to the 'Underwater World". It was said to be Asia's first and the largest tropical fish oceanarium. There we came face to face with more than thousands of fish like sharks, eels and others.
Then we went to the cable car station. There we got into a cable car and took off! As we went on we got a very beautiful view of the Singapore river below. It was scary to ride in a box which hangs on cables. But it was somewhat fun too. But to tell the truth, I was very anxious to get out of the car and was glad when the ride was over at last!.
Next we went to the Cinemania. The film was extremely exciting. And the Cinemania was said to be Singapore's largest interactive simulation theatre.
As the last event, we went to the 'Musical Fountain'. There we strolled through the beautiful 'Fountain Gardens'. As we approached the Musical fountain we could see the statue of the Merlion, which was also the national symbol of Singapore. The huge statue reached 37 metres into the sky and was in the middle of the Island. From minute to minute, as we watched, its colours changed. It was such a fascinating sight in the night. But I think the musical fountain is the best place in the whole island. There coloured fountains danced according to a symphony of light and music. And the Merlion also emitted laser beams from its eyes. It was the most impressive sight I've ever seen in my life and I could never forget it!.
The next day we went to the 'Jurong Bird Park'. There we saw various kinds of birds from various lands. There were even talking birds. We also took photos with birds.
The following day in the morning we went shopping. And in the night we went to the 'Night Safari'. It was a sanctuary like the 'Yala' in our country. A tram took us all over it and we came across such strange looking animals with strange names. Some of the animals were 'mouflon, markho, marsh birds, axes deer, golden jackals, striped hyena and waterbuck. Hey, and guess what? We also met a friend there. It was the Sri Lankan Walaha!
The following morning we spent shopping. And in the night we went to the airport for our return journey. We reached our destination within five and a half hours. Well, after a long, pleasant, and an eventful journey, we stepped to our little pearl of the Indian Ocean. I was very happy to go to Singapore, But I cannot describe how excited I was when I saw my motherland, because
"I was very happy to come back to Ceylon,
The country I was born, and country I belong.
Though you may go from land to land
You'll find no better place than you own mother land!"
The rugged coastline of Norway's western shores is an intricate landscape of long, deep fjords which cut inland for mile upon mile and dotted off the coast are thousands of tiny islands. Visitors cannot help but wonder at the monumental physical genesis of this startlingly beautiful scene, which was forged by glacial action millions of years ago.
As if these watery chasms were not extraordinary enough, they are set against an equally magnificent backdrop of towering mountains, awesome glaciers, bubbling waterfalls and quaint villages clinging to the steep fjord sides.
The terrain is not always bleak and aware - in spring, the aspect is
softened as flower blossom in the warmth of the Gulf Stream 
which
sweeps up Norway's coast.
In the maze of land and water that make-up this fjordland, the Hardangerfjord, Nordfjord, Geirangerfjord and Romsdalsfjord are among the most important examples of this bizarre natural creation.
The main town in the region is Bergen and just to the north lies Norway's longest fjord, Sognefjord. Stretching a remarkable 180km inland, it is ten times as deep as parts of the North Sea, with vast, sheer peaks rising out of its dark, clam waters.
However daunting the landscape, man has made his home here for many years. At nearby Urnes stands Norway's oldest stave church, parts of which date from the 12th centry. Such churches are named after the unusual method of construction, by placing the timbers vertically, and there are only a handful remaining in Norway. Inside this church are carvings which date from an even earlier building that once stood on the site.
The most exciting and dramatic view of Norway's western coast can be gained from one of the fleet of steamers of the Norwegian Coastal Voyage. Every day, one of these ships sets sail from Bergen on a 2,500-mile odyssey around the coast to Kirkeneas at the north-eastern point of Norway, next to the Russian border.
Not everyone has time for the whole 11-day journey but you can join the ship for a shorter stretch. A five-day voyage takes in the famous lighthouse at Hellisoy, the island of Runde, home to around half a million birds, the pretty town of Alesund and the town of Trondheim, site of the early Norse parliament or ting and home to cathedral which dates back to the 17th century.
As the steamer continues northward, it crosses the Arctic Circle, home of the Midnight Sun and the Polar Night. This crossing is usually marked by a celebration, and then it's on to the majestic Lofoten islands. They provide the best example of traditional Norwegian life, housing tiny fishing villages in the shadow of the mountains. In past times, fishermen only lived on these islands between December and April, at the height of the cod-fishing season. Today, the islanders still fish for cod but now the population is more permanent. The little villages are still busy ports and you can see fish drying outside many of the timber homes.
After the Lofoten islands, the ship steams on to the city of Tromso where, on a clear night, you may see the ethereal Northern Lights. A light wind and gentle swell usually allow uninterrupted viewing from the deck of the steamer. But if you are unlucky with the weather, the views may be punctuated by swirls of low cloud and ocean spray, as the ship makes its way north on a sea which the locals call the "Devil's dance floor."
Travel the outstandingly beautiful coast of Norway's mainland, and the combination of massive, dark mountains and picturesque villages will leave you with unforgettable images. Seen from the bow of the sturdy steamer, few other places can give such a feeling of being truly on the edge of the world.
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