Facial Dreams

One day in the Australian town of Orange, Chip and Vida were babysitting Furaha while her family was out shopping. They were taking Furaha into the Orange Funfair Summer Splash to see the sights and hopefully try a few rides. "This is fun, ain't it, guys?" smiled Furaha. "You bet it is," said Chip, "I can't believe Udonna gave us a whole day off." "Well you know what they say, there may be rest for the wicked." said Vida. "Yep, and that's exactly what happening today," said Furaha.

On their way they saw what looked like a beautiful fairy in a lovely pink dress with a flower crown on her head painting butterflies on kids' faces. Furaha had never seen anything like it before. "Ooh! What's this?" asked Furaha. "It's face paint, Furaha. People use it in fairs and markets and carnivals to lighten up any kid who comes there." "May I have a turn?" asked Furaha, getting more and more excited. "Why of course," laughed Chip, "Go ahead." Furaha ran up to the fairy who was painting kids' faces. "Excuse me, mate, excuse me!" she cried. "What have you come for today?" asked the fairy. "To have my face painted. I want to have mine painted as a tiger please." The fairy inspected Furaha. She then tutted and shook her head. "I'm sorry, little one, but it looks like I can't do face paint on furry people." "Why?" asked Furaha. "You're an animal, and your face is too furry to be painted on." said the fairy.

Disappointed Furaha slumped off to a bench to watch as Chip and Vida had their faces painted. She was feeling left out. "Why do humans get their faces painted? They have no fur on their faces! I wish I could have my own face painted to look like a tiger." At that moment, Jenji appeared in a puff of smoke. "Jenji!" cried Furaha. "Yep, it's me, Jenji the genie. It looks like you made a wish." "Yeah, to have my face painted like a tiger!" laughed Furaha. Jenji clicked his fingers and in an instance, Furaha was wearing orange and black face paint to look like a tiger. Furaha thanked Jenji and ran off.

Furaha approached a stall with a man who was blowing giant bubbles. She wondered if tigers have fierce, sharp teeth, so she used them to pop those huge bubbles. Then she went over to an inflatable castle and leapt onto it, knowing tigers can bounce quite easily when they're on bouncy things. Then she went to the Super Slide. She roared out the biggest roar she ever could roar, then slid down straight onto a ramp, and was sent flying - straight into Vida's arms. Vida and Chip were glad Furaha was safe, and showed off their face paints. Chip's face was painted to look like a lion, while Vida's was painted to look like a pink butterfly. Just then, the two rangers felt confused. They wanted to know who did Furaha's face. Furaha jumped up and down, calling out that Jenji did it.

Jenji appeared and said it wasn't his problem, ruffling Furaha on the head and causing some of her face paint to smear off. Jenji froze in horror. What had he done? Furaha went to a nearby fountain and dunked her face into the water. Once she emerged, she had become Furaha again. Chip and Vida agreed they liked Furaha just the way they are, and went off to enjoy some refreshments. As for Jenji, he was wondering if he would like a turn on the super slide...

The Most Beautiful Music I've Heard

The Dump - A Drive Through Helensvale

(Alston, Bella, Resus and I are in the family car, driving across Helensvale)

ME: What a wonderful neighbourhood we live in.

BELLA: I'm glad you appreciate how Australian us British vampires are.

ME: Look at all those houses! I bet Aussies live such simple lives like us.

BELLA: You've yet to know that some houses have pools.

ME: Why?

RESUS: Because it's fun to have a pool in every Australian home. Like ours for instance. When it's hot, we choose to do nothing but lie around in the pool wearing nothing but swimming cozzies and zinc. Lovely green and yellow zinc.

ME: Can we put some on.

ALSTON: Bella has some zinc sticks in her purse. You should try some if you like.

BOTH: Thanks!

(Resus applies the green zinc, I apply the yellow one)

ME: Now we look like wildcats in the car.

RESUS: Yeah. Rarrrrrr!!

(I giggle)

RESUS: Funny right?

ME: You bet it is!

BOTH OF US: RARRRRR!

ALSTON: Not so loud! I need to concentrate on my driving.

ME: Sorry, Uncle Alston.

RESUS: Sorry, dad.

ME: Alston, can we go to the beach next time?

ALSTON: Maybe.

ME: Oh yay!

RESUS: Alright!

I Announce The Huge Bluey News To My Friends

In my cosy little Australian house...

ME: Right, everyone, I've called you all here today because I have some exciting news.

ZECORA: Is My Little Pony returning to TV?

If it is, then it'll be stardom for me.

ME: Not that. What I meant to say was, on April 9th this year, Bluey is returning to Aussie TV screens with NEW EPISODES!

(Everyone gasps and cheers in excitement)

ME: It's evident that I got that message the moment I saw that clip of Bluey and Bingo with their mum in the lift. Can you imagine the amount of stuff she's carrying at the moment?

LUKE: It's huge!

BINGO: Wait. Did you...catch our mum packing?

ME: Of course I did. Take a look!

(I hold up photos of Mum packing her bags for the holiday. Everyone gasps in shock)

ZECORA: I I hadn't been thoroughly told,

Her umbrella's coloured solid gold.

BEEP: You unbelievable little idiot, trying to look around for a simple explanation as to why Mum is packing.

BLUEY: Don't tell her she's...

ME: (laughs) She's not splitting up with your dad, don't worry.

(Bluey & Bingo sigh in relief)

MORT: Excuse me, Sybil?

ME: Yes, Mort?

MORT: I'm so glad you mentioned new episodes of Bluey are airing in Australia. Those compilations on Sky Kids are just endless. What Beep, Bluey, Bingo and I really want is...to go home.

ME: You are home.

(Thunder flashes outside. Everyone switches off the lights and scrambles under the covers as it begins to rain heavily)

ME: Come out, everyone, it's only thunder!

CLEO: Wow, what a wild night.

MORT: Can you believe I'm home in Australia where I truly belong?

ME: Yep, I sure do.

(I get into bed and snuggle with my friends, dreaming of Season 3C of Bluey)

Our Christmas Swim

Did you know?

In the southern hemisphere, Christmas comes in the Summer.

It was Christmas during Summer in Australia in December (lucky Aussies) and Luke, Resus, Cleo, my cousin Six and I were outside enjoying the Summer weather. I thought it was such a shame that Australians don't celebrate Christmas in Winter, but Six reassured me that Australia is a Southern hemisphere country, which means Christmas is celebrated in Summer. Once I realised, I ran into the pool with my new Pluto floatie I got for Christmas.

In Australia, it can be really hot sometimes, especially during the Christmas holidays, so our parents applied some suncream zinc onto our faces and arms. The zinc was coloured green and yellow, and we were painted with stripes along our faces, arms and legs. I even put little yellow spots onto my toes, so I looked like an Aboriginal person. Our unicorn and dragon floaties were all ready. I started to relax on my unicorn floatie, but I didn't notice Luke, Resus, Cleo and Six creeping up behind me. I turned over, but suddenly my monster siblings and cousin tipped me over into the water. My eyes were stinging and water was right up my nose. Luckily, Aunt F gave me my favourite green goggles so my eyes won't sting again. Luke, Resus, Cleo and Six were already wearing goggles, so I started to play a cheeky game of 'Tickle Crocodile', which involved swimming under the pool water and tickling the legs of my siblings and cousin.

"Okay, you ready to play catch?" asked Mr Watson, to which we all cheered. Six, Cleo, Luke and Resus each had a turn at catching the beach ball and landing head first into the water of the pool, to which we were greeted by cheers and applause from our family. When my turn came I tried to catch the ball, but I wasn't very quick enough and landed with a thud onto the ground, hitting my head on the hard surface of the side of the pool. "OUCH!" I wailed, and started to cry. Luckily, Aunt F took me inside and wrapped bandages around my head. "There. I think this game is far too dangerous for you. Only big kids can play that game, not you." "Then what can I play instead?" I asked. "I know what you can play." said Aunt F.

Later, I was in the pool with my friends playing Catch with our beach ball. It was great fun, and Luke, Resus and Cleo promised never to be too rough on me again. When we had Christmas dinner of meat pie, roast ham, mash and gravy, vegetables and pavlova, I felt grateful that I had such a loving family to spend the holidays with in the best country ever -  Australia. "Isn't it lovely?" I asked, "All of us gathered for a wonderful meal? I think this is my favourite part of Christmas. Don't you think?" I turned to my siblings and cousin.

"Even when your head gets bandaged up!" And we all laughed and laughed and laughed, until we were too weak to laugh anymore.

The Black Hills

Once in the Highlands of Scotland, there was a forest that was full of colour and happiness. The animals who lived there were kind and carefree, living their lives to the full. However, one terrible day, man came and chopped down all the trees. Some men killed the animals living there, and some even built houses where trees used to be. Over time, the hills surrounding the forest turned dark and lifeless. The wise bird of the forest, Elder Owl, foretold a prophecy that one deer will meet up with another deer from the neighbouring forest. Should they form a strong bond, they will be forever united, and colour and trees would be restored to the forest.

In the Black Hills lived Grey Hill, a dark-furred stag whose world was always dull. There were no trees to eat leaves from, no bushes, no flowers and no water flowing in the rivers. He always obeyed the rules and stayed close to the dull, grey creatures of the land. However, in the neighbouring forest lived a beautiful orange-furred doe called Kena. She filled her life with sunshine and smiles and loved to fill her heart with the scent of flowers and some fun games with her friends, a skunk and a squirrel. It was a lot more fun than what was in the Black Hills.

One day, Grey Hill decided to explore the forest near the Black Hills. However, as he wandered through this bright and colourful forest, everything turned black and grey behind him. The leaves disappeared from the trees and the flowers wilted. However, upon meeting Kena, Grey Hill was really nervous. He tried hard to say hello, but Kena interrupted with a promise that they can restore what has been left of her forest together, rather than crying about it. So they set off back to the Black Hills side by side, and as they did, life began to restore the forest back to its original state. As they approached the Black Hills, grass began to grow once again. Flowers appeared, water began to flow in the river and bursts of light from the sun filled the air where dark clouds once used to cover the sky. The two locked eyes on one another, and then kissed suddenly. That kiss caused a giant love heart to form outside of them, and then it burst, spraying rain all over the valley. Trees began to grow almightily all around them, and then, a miracle happened: animals returned to what was once known as the Black Hills immediately.

Grey Hill and Kena married, and sunshine and happiness returned to the Black Hills, marking the start of a new era for one of the Highlands' most dreariest places. And the two deer, as you can guess, lived happily ever after.