English

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A Very Special Person
 My Granddad Frank is a very special person to me.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of him is his amazing generosity. He is the most generous person I know, especially with family. For one thing he and grandma purchased a large batch for our family to go to to see each other and to have a holiday. This is a privilege and a leisure for our family to enjoy and respect. He also took all 27 of us to thailand 2 years ago for his 80th birthday for two weeks. It was an amazing experience all round.

Granddad is not only generous to our family though, he is generous to absolutely everyone. He is often offering to rent the batch to people, even people he doesn’t know! And the cost is either very low or free!

Granddad's appearance is just as bubbly as his personality. He has a round endlessly smiling face and twinkly eyes. His face is worn, from his many years of sailing, but not quite old as his wrinkles are mainly smile lines. He has short, grey hair that is always combed back neatly. Granddad is shortish and roundish which add a great touch to his jolly self.

Granddad is a very wise man and can answer some of the most difficult questions. As he has travelled a lot he knows heaps about other countries and just general stuff.

I think Granddad is extremely brave as he has just suffered from a nasty stroke but fought through it and is now recovering well. He has always been very active up till now so it is sad not to be able to see that 80 year old man down on the floor wrestling with his grandkids. He now says to us alot “I lived for 80 years as a young man and overnight I became an old man.” These few words are very true but I know that even though he may not be the same man physically on the inside he’s still the same playful, wonderful man that he always has been and always will be.



Bush Poem
 As the cool shade invites me in, I look around at this unknown world. Like giants, the trees power above me, And like a dog to its master The leaves stay still beneath my feet.



The Titanic
**The Sinking Of The Unsinkable**

The Titanic was huge ship that is famous for its maiden and last voyage that killed hundreds of people. It is a well known story of sadness, cruelty and heroism.

At 269 meters long the titanic was recorded the largest ship of her time. She was in the charge of Captain John Edward Smith, considered one the worlds most experienced captains. The ship could hold a total of 3547 people including the crew, she was a huge achievement for the owning company, White Star Liner. Many lords and ladies were attracted to the Titanic and bought first class tickets for the maiden voyage. Many poor people were attracted as well but could only afford the steerage class that lay at the bottom of the ship.

On the 10th of April 1912, when the ship was full from steerage to million dollar sweets it set off from South Hampton, New York bound. On the fourth day of the voyage all was well. The passengers were enjoying the early evening on the decks or in rooms below. Throughout the evening many warnings were sent to the Titanic of 7 ice bergs right in the Titanic’s path. These warnings were ignored by Captain Smith as he was on the way to breaking a record.

Things continued normally until a look out spotted the ice bergs that they had been warned about. The crew tried in vain to turn the ship to port, away from the ice berg. This turn was to late for soon after the 46,328 ton ship crashed into the iceberg at 25 knots. This crash made a hole in 5 of the supposedly unsinkable ships compartments, 1 more than the ship could cope with, and determined the Titanic’s fate.

The passengers had felt the strike but were still calm. Many went up to the deck where the band was playing lively music to soften the shock. Crew members were keeping everything in order and after awhile announced that there was nothing to worry about but for safety reasons all 1st class women and children were to make to the life boats. Meanwhile the steerage passengers fought to get to the deck only to be forced back down again by the crew and eventually locked in the steerage. A number of these passengers were shot because of causing trouble and panic. The first lifeboat was launched at 12.40 am followed by many more. Most of these life boats were not full as the first class passengers insisted more space.

As the front of the ship went down people still aboard clambered towards the stern. As the downwards thrust from the front pulled harder the stern became vertical. The rear end eventually snapped off leaving the water filled half to plunge into the depths. Because of massive weight the second piece soon followed it into the depths.

Looking back on that cold dark night we remember the people who made sacrifices for others, who died horrific deaths and those who survived the terrible disaster of the unsinkable Titanic’s first and last voyage.

By Josie Major.



My Darling Daughter
 At last, some peace. I can finally sit still for a few moments and think. My week has been dynamic. Up with the rising sun and tired by early evening, ready for bed. School, homework, chores and lately, my secret trips to the library. I dread getting up for school. Last week I nearly fell asleep in Maths. My teacher whacked my desk and asked for the answer to the question I had just ignored. The class sniggered behind me. This didn’t help my fragile reputation. I don’t really fit in with the kids at my school, they are all so cool or sporty or musical, and me, well I’m just the nerdy little shy kid from ‘Up North.’ On my first day a few people, oblivious to my ‘weirdness’ tried to make friends but I knew from the moment I walked through the school gates that I wouldn’t fit in here.

Today my concentration was shocking. Only Miss Usbourne looked at me sympathetically, obviously worried about me as I’m usually wide awake in English. It is not my fault though, not really anyway. It’s all because of that journal.

I found it last week on the stairs to our apartment. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it ever since. The staircase is definitely not first class material, just concrete with lots of cracks in it. But you would be amazed what you can find in those cracks: rats, bird nests, old abandoned clothes even neighbours keys if you know where to look. But this particular day, Monday the seventh of August to be exact, I didn’t find animal droppings and dust, I just found this strange journal.

The journal is bound with dark blue leather with skillful patterns of silver painted onto it. The pages look very new; no dust seemed to have got at this beautiful book, and they almost seem to glow. The book is full of writing, but it’s curly, messy, tiny handwriting and I can’t decode it.

And so, reaching home finally, I grab the book from the crack [I had left it there for safe keeping] and retire to my room.

Just holding the book feels right, almost as if it was made just so my hands could touch it. I look the book over properly for the first time, tracing the silver, sparkling pattern with my finger and stroking the smooth leather with my hands. As I run my finger down the spine I spot something that I hadn’t seen before. One word, carved into the leather, only just legible, Zara. It must have been the name of the previous owner, a strange but somehow luminous name. Luminous, an unusual word to use to describe a name, but it seems so right. I say the name and it seems to come alive inside me and glow like the stars in the dark sky.

I sleep peacefully, with strong happy thoughts lighting the way through the thick dark worries into a place with only pleasant dreams.

Morning comes all to soon and I drag my mind away from the beautiful world of dreams and start to get ready for school. Then it hits me, Friday, 11th August. Last day of term. A silent ‘yahoo’ sounds off inside me. Most kids will be thinking, ‘Yes! Holidays! Freedom! Skating! Shopping! Parties! No more school!’, but I’m thinking, ‘Yes! Holidays! Two whole weeks to check out this awesome book! Two weeks of reading and no homework!’ Hence, having no friends. School drags, but I am soon running towards town. Recently, since I found the journal that is, the library has been my sanctuary. I have always loved going there but since Mum and Dad split up I have been forbidden to visit the harmless world of words. I don’t understand, Mum loves books, she always buys me them and reads heaps. Sometimes it feels like she’s scared of that library, almost like a mother to her child about to start school. But I’m 15 now, I’m not a baby anymore, and plus what’s there to be afraid of in a library?

Running along the pavement I check that the book is still safely in my bag. It is, waiting patiently to be let out of the darkness. Reaching the library I dumped my bag and take the book with me into the comfy reading area. The scrawl on the page makes my eyes hurt. Looking up I feel a presence over my shoulder. It’s the librarian.

“Where did you find that?” Joya seemed excited by this book.

I eyed her suspiciously. “A present from my Aunt,” I lied.

She looked at me knowingly then gestured for me to follow her into the ‘Staff Only’ room. There she gave me a worn book titled ‘Old Text Translations’ and told me to keep it. “It’ll be more use to you than anyone here.” she commented.

Of course, how could I have been so dumb. Its not just the handwriting that is weird its the whole language. The librarian explained that the language was called ‘Chosa’ and is the mystical language of fairies and elves. I had so many questions that needed answers but I needed time to get my head around what was drawing me to this book. Looking at the clock I managed a hurried thank you stuffed the book under my arm and left, collecting my bag on the way out. Mum was due home and I didn’t want her asking questions about why I was late.

Tucked in bed with my lamp shining on the writing from both books I start to decipher the mystical text...

5/12/98 My Darling Daughter, I travelled for the first time today, it was amazing. When I opened the right page last night, just by mistake, I felt a warm breeze. I subconsciously looked towards the door although I knew that it was a wintery night out there. I looked back at the book and the breeze grew stronger, the warm air blowing on my face. Then the window appeared. I could see a forest, dark but somehow friendly. At first I thought it was just a picture, one I hadn’t seen before, but when I studied it closer and put my hand on it, it fell right through. I gasped and nearly fell off my chair. After recovering I cautiously tried again. Eventually after I had gotten used to the strange sensation I decided to go all the way and dive through the book. I knew it was mad but I knew I had to do it, this book told me to. I will not tell you what became of me through the pages of the book, Sam...

Oh my gosh! Sam, thats me. This is a letter from my mother to me. And she is talking about diving through a book. taking a deep breath I pick up the book and finish reading.

I will not tell you what became of me through the pages of the book, Sam, but I do hope that your adventures in Haser are as wonderful as mine. Be sure that you write on top of my writing after your first journey and hide this journal in a place your daughter will find it when she is ready. With all my love, You loving Mother P.S. You are part fairy.

I read the letter so many times that night. It all seemed so unreal. My mother!? A fairy!? What a joke! There is only one way I can find out if this is all a huge lie or not.

I opened the book to a random page. No picture was looking back at me let alone a window! I opened it again. No picture. I opened that book to every possible page but none contained a picture. My face was turning red, I threw the book at the wall. How could believe this nonsense!? How could I be so stupid! The book fell onto the floor face up. Excitement ran through me. Staring at the ceiling from the book was the picture that Mum had described. A dark forest with moss hanging from the trees was looking out of the book and a warm breeze was brushing against my face.



I smiled and stepped through the book, into this strange new world.

The trees swallowed me up, into the darkness. All around me strange lights were rising from the ground in a perfect circle. I looked closer to see that they were in fact figures, Fairies. They were all so beautiful, could I really be related to these flawless creatures? They began walking towards me, lighting the forest with their beautiful glow. Then one fairy stepped forward. She looked at me lovingly and put her arms around me repeating the words ‘My darling, my darling...’ I let myself be smothered and mumbled, “Zara, Mum.”



A new mother sat on a concrete staircase reading a beautiful blue journal. She read...

My Darling Daughter, I travelled for the first time today, it was amazing. When I threw that book at the wall and it opened to the right page last night, I felt a warm breeze. I subconsciously looked towards the door although I knew that it was a wintery night out there. I looked back at the book and the breeze grew stronger, the warm air blowing on my face. then the window appeared. I could see a forest, dark but somehow friendly. I smiled and walked right through it. I knew it was mad but I knew I had to do it, this book told me to. I will not tell you what became of me through the pages of this book, Rachel, but I do hope that your adventures in Haser are as wonderful as mine. Be sure that you write on top of my writing after your first journey and hide this journal in a place your daughter will find it when she is ready. With all my love, You loving Mother P.S. You are part fairy.

The woman smiled to herself and slipped the book into a crack in the concrete.

Amazing Josie. Come and see me for a few tips:)

Lovely story line with a great finish. Well done.



**Perry The Odd Owl Out**
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> There once lived an owl named Perry who was different to all the other owls. Most owls are nocturnal and sleep all through the day but Perry just couldn’t. It was just so hard to sleep when all the other animals were running around in the spring sunshine. The other owls were all ashamed of Perry and couldn’t see how he could stay awake in the deep of the night when they had the whole wood to themselves. But Perry just couldn’t be like them so he left in search of a family that would accept him for he was.

The first group Perry came across were the mice. They slept when they pleased and never excluded anyone from the horde. Perry flew down and landed near the tree they had made their home.

At once the mice scattered and fled from him screaming “An owl, an owl!” Perry stopped, shocked at their reaction. He wasn’t that scary was he? “I’m sorry if I frightened you but I just want some friends. Please let me join your group.” He called into the tree. “Never! We can’t let an owl join our family, your kind hunt us in the night!” The mice yelled out to him. Perry sighed sadly and again took flight to try and find some new friends.

Next Perry came to a pack of wolves. “Maybe they will let me join their pack.” He thought hopefully. Perry landed by the leader of the pack and bowed as low as he could. “Hello, my name is Perry. I’m looking for a new family. Could I join your pack please?” For a moment the king wolf just stared at Perry, then he burst out laughing. “Is this some kind of dare kid? You, want to join my pack?! Hahaha! I never thought i’d see the day! Hahaha!” He then walked off having said nothing else. Perry was a little puzzled but decided that maybe he should search elsewhere. Perry spotted a family of snails and swooped down to see if he could join them. “Hello snails! Would I be able to join your group...pack...thing... please?” He asked happily. “Sure kid! Come on inside! We’re about to have lunch.” At this he moved slowly into a hole in the ground, following the trail of snails. Perry was so excited to finally have a family again! Then he realized he couldn’t possibly fit in the hole. He shouted out to the snails but they were obviously already deep inside the hole. Perry sighed and yet again took flight, still searching for some new friends.

Next perry came to a herd of rhinos that were lounging in a clearing. Perry approached them with caution as he knew rhinos could be violent. “Hello my name is Perry. Could i perhaps join your herd?” he asked politely. “You want to be a rhino?”said one of them seriously. “Well...yes. Well just to join your herd really... if that OK...” Perry said nervously. “Well, well, well. I’ll tell you want junior, if you can beat me in a charge, i’ll let you join the herd...” the other rhinos as if this was impossible. Perry looked around nervously and then quickly, without saying anything, he flew away as fast as he could.

It was starting to get dark and Perry still hadn’t found a new family. He sighed, “Imagine what the other owls will say when I go flying back to them.” He thought sadly. He had no other choice so he turned on his tail and headed back to the tree where he lived with the other owls.

When he got back, of course, all the other owls were asleep. He was so tired that he settled down next to them and fell asleep straight away.

When he awoke it was completely dark. All the other owls were just waking too. When they saw Perry was awake at this time of the night they cheered and shouted “Finally Perry is nocturnal! He has learnt what we all learnt as young owls! Come perry and we will show you the beautiful night-time world.

From that night on Perry was nocturnal like the rest of the owls and had a wonderful life enjoying the night-world.

The End.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">__Camp Review__
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> On the 24th of November the year eights of Greytown School took a bus to WhanaWhana valley for our camp. The trip was five or six hours long and we were all really noisy and hyped up for the week. As we lost cellphone coverage about an hour from the camp we knew it was going to be a real camping experience, and so it was.

As we arrived and burst out of the stuffy bus into the fresh air, we looked around us at miles of farm land. This is not our usual scenery. Everyone was feeling a lot less hyped now thanks to the burning heat and we were all dreading the 20 minute walk to the campsite. Never-the-less we started walking and as we walked into the shade of a big tree there was a sigh of relief. The walk didn't last long as we were all either picked by the bus or, like myself, a farm, four wheeled vehicle that held 6 people in its squared-meter trailer.

The camp was a welcoming sight. It was quite big and had two large marquees lying on the ground ready to be put up. The two teachers cabins and kitchen framed a freshly mowed lawn where we all sat down in front if the camp leaders. There was Clem, the boss of the camp; then Conrad, a redheaded guy with a goaty; Shannon, the youngest I expect and wearing dark glasses; Pip, older and with long wavy hair and Elsie, with a friendly looking face and short blond hair.

For the rest of the afternoon we played team-building games in our three groups. Dinner was hamburgers made by the camp workers. Then the boys left to make and sleep in bivouacs. We stayed at camp and played some games with Elsie and Pip before heading off to sleep in the marquee. I slept surprisingly well but we were woken at 6.30am for breakfast, it took us a while to get up.

We had a quick breakfast and then it was straight into the camp activities. My group did abseiling first. It was good fun except I lost my footing and got a nasty cut and bruise on my back. I made it down though and enjoyed it all the same. After everyone had had a turn we went back to camp for lunch.

Tube rafting was next for my group. It was defiantly the highlight of my trip. We tied two tubes together and sat on them in our chunky buoyancy jackets and raincoats. We paddled down the river on our raft and I fell off at least ten times. It was an awesome experience and I would gladly do it again.

That night was a crazy experience. The girls were supposed to be bivi-ing out so we built our bivis, the winds were getting stronger all the time but not noticeably stormy. At bed-time we went out to our bivis. We aly there for only a few minutes before the winds whipped up and our bivi started to crash down on us. After half an hour of helplessly trying to sleep we ran outside and found Pip. We told her we could //not// sleep out there and so she reluctantly said we could sleep in the marquee. Gratefully we went inside the marquee and bedded down for a second time. By this time it was 11ish and we were all exhausted. I fell asleep easily.

Then, close to midnight, i awoke again to the sound of the wind crashing against the tent. Soon enough the door had blown open and poles were falling onto people. 15 or so screaming girls ran out of the tent and we found Ms Smith coming out of her cabin. She told us we had to get our sleeping bags so we sprinted back inside the tent and grabbed them before the whole thing fell to the ground. We ended up sleeping squished into the two teachers cabins, four on each single bed and four on each of the floors. Another two hours passed before we heard even more screams and the boys came running out of their fallen marquee. They ended up sleeping on the bus and in the kitchen. No one got much sleep that night.

The next day passed slowly with everyone tired and un-energized. The activities weren't nearly as fun as the day before.

The trip home wasn't too fun everyone was really tired and there was a lot of grumbling about wanting to get home. Despite the boredom the trip passed quickly and we were soon getting off the bus looking completely exhausted.

I really enjoyed the trip, apart from the uncomfortable sleeps, and am glad to have gone.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">

__<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Ben Underwood __
__**The Boy Who Sees Without Seeing**__

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Ben Underwood was a boy living in the USA who could ‘see without seeing’. Ben used echo-location, similar to a dolphins method, to see. He taught himself to use a clicking noise and to listen for the echo to find and avoid things. Ben, apparently, has no paranormal hearing meaning that all blind people, if they set their minds to it, can develop this amazing skill.

Ben Underwood was born on the 26th January 1992 in Riversdale, California. Ben was perfectly healthy as a baby. But at the age of only two months Aquanetta, Ben’s mum, saw something in his eyes that was very wrong. There was a slight glow, similar to a cats eyes, in his pupil. This developed over the next year or so until Ben’s right pupil was completely white. After being told that Ben had cancer in his eyes Aquanetta had to make a life changing decision for her son. Ben had to get his eyes removed, a complicated operation, but it went very smoothly. Ben panicked at his resolution that he could no longer see. Aquanetta was very supportive and taught how to see with his nose, hands and ears.

By the time Ben was three he was clicking like an expert. He used his tongue and teeth to make a noise that bounced off walls, objects and buildings. This meant Ben could navigate using his ears and had no need for the normal utensils that blind people use. He also had glass eyes made to make him look completely normal. Ben could play video games, basketball and football. He could ride roller blades, bike and do pretty much anything else you can think of. He was always keen to try out new things, believing that being blind was not a restriction, just an extra feature.

Ben worked with all sorts of doctors, optometrists and other blind people. All of these people came back awed by his unique skill and complementing his mother on her amazing son.

Ben can teach us all something about judging people. Whenever he heard someone call someone else ugly he would say “That’s the problem with sighted people, you look at one another and judge what you look like rather than who you are.” This is so true, sometimes I think that the world would be a much friendlier place if we were all blind. Ben can see people only from the inside, he doesn’t know or care what they look like, he judges them from the inside, out. Ben may have been blind, but he saw a lot more than most.

The cancer that had taken Ben’s eyes was rediscovered in 2007 and medication failed to tackle it. Ben went from being a thoroughly active kid to not being able to walk or talk anymore. Ben Underwood died on the 19th January 2009 at the age of 16. He was at home surrounded by family. As he died his mother said to him “You can let go. You can go home. When you get to heaven, tell Jesus to save that spot right next to you, that’s for your mother.”

Ben has made a huge breakthrough for blind people throughout the world and will be remembered for his courage, skills and belief that blind people can have a normal and happy life.