The Nair Newsline

What’s Up

Nairs in Oz : In the short month of February, school began, Vinod started his new job, and Renu changed work times to suit everything else.

Fantastic Food!
Cupcakes:
Makes
12
Ingredients
• 2 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup milk
• 125g butter, melted, cooled
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
• Icing
• 1 1/2 cups pure icing sugar
• food colouring, optional
• 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons water

Method
1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease a muffin pan or cupcake holders. Alternatively, line holes with paper cases.
2. Combine flour and caster sugar in a bowl. Make a well in the centre.
3. Add milk, butter, eggs and vanilla to flour mixture. Using a large metal spoon, stir gently to combine.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin pan. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
5. Make icing: Sift icing sugar into a bowl. Add food colouring and water. Stir until smooth and well combined. Spoon icing over cupcakes.
6. You could also try buying a pack of gel tubes and you can decorate your cupcakes. Other options include whipped cream, chocolate ganache, nothing- if the cupcakes are sweet enough to you.

Spumoni
Ingredients:
Chocolate ice cream
Pistachio ice cream
Strawberry ice cream
Shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
Whipped cream
Directions:
Allow chocolate ice cream to soften at room temperature for 20 minutes. Pack it into the bottom of a casserole in an even layer. Freeze until solid (about 45 minutes).
Repeat process with pistachio ice cream (layering it on top of the chocolate ice cream), then again with strawberry ice cream (layering it on top of the pistachio ice cream).
Slice and serve with whipped cream, sprinkling the chopped pistachios on top


Laugh out Loud!
You have all heard Why did the chicken cross the road? So here’s some different answers for you:

DR. SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road?
Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes!
The chicken crossed the road,
But why it crossed,
I've not been told!

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To die. In the rain.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.:
I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.

GRANDPA:
In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

ARISTOTLE:
It is in the nature of chickens to cross the road.

BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken 98, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook-and Internet Explorer is an inextricable part of eChicken.

EINSTEIN:
Did the chicken really cross the road or did the road move beneath the chicken?

THE BIBLE:
And God came down from the heavens, and He said unto the chicken, "Thou shalt cross the road." And the chicken crossed the road, and there was much rejoicing.

Art and Craft:
If you saw last month’s Art and Craft section, you’d know NN is going to aid people in drawing. This month here’s a selection of drawing resources you could be interested in looking at.

Books: It’s so EASY to find a how to draw book. It’s at your local bookstore. It’s on the internet.
Just go to http://www.amazon.com and search for How to Draw books. No, slash that. LEARN to draw books. Search for How to Draw, and you’ll find books with three steps for drawing some various creatures- rough shapes, a perfect line drawing, and a nice sketch. If you had learnt to draw, you’d be able to figure that out on your own (drawing shapes then adding detail) but if you haven’t, you probably can’t copy that perfect sketch out.

How to Draw Anything: Mark Linley
Why am I reviewing this? Because I’ve got it! This book takes you through drawing landscape, animals, still life, cartoons, people. It’s simple, clear and not detailed. It gives you a rough idea of how to draw.
The book is structured such that the author narrates to you what you need to learn and do, and says “Draw Figure 50” and you look at Figure 50, and copy it. He states somewhere that though you are just copying, it is a good skill as when you draw from life you copy. Plus he does recommend if you are drawing cats, look at a real cat or a photo and try that, not just keep copying his drawings.

http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/
This site has PDF form lessons for Beginners up to Advanced, so it’s pretty good. It’s free, and if you can read this blog you can do the lessons; on the internet as they are. Teaching you various skills, if you want you may join and post your drawings for others to critique, or critique theirs. However you do not need to join to access lessons which I say is GREAT!

http://drawingsecrets.com/lpages/ARTMISC/
This is a sign up sort of thing, so if you won’t do that don’t bother. Just enter name and email to get 2 cool drawing ebooks and weekly drawing exercises to help you improve. I’m trying it and if I find flaws/advantages I’ll let you know in Art and Craft sections monthly.
The EBooks are 7 Tips to Get Better at Drawing (or some other name) and each tip is explained thoroughly with exercises on some.
The other is a book on Leonardo Da Vinci. It’s about his history and I assume it’s for inspiration. I haven’t read it yet.

http://drawright.com/vaceface.htm
This is just one single exercise. I don’t actually know why I have put it on here but I have. Why not draw it in one of your drawing practices. If you find it so good you want to purchase the quite expensive lessons (Drawing on the Right hand side of the brain) then go ahead.

http://www.learn-to-draw.com/
A drawing website. It’s got lessons, how to draw, exercise. It’s just as good as any other. But a neat advantage is no sign up stuff!

http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/learntodraw.html
This is a great simple lesson. Check it out and then you can get to any other page on the site you like. You could get a Watercolour Ebook but I tried and when I tried to open the file it didn’t work. It may work for you though.






















The World of Imagination:
Shelby’s Story Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: Discovery

“Jenny, I think we should go to Mr Cruz.”
“Shelby, my father and him hate each other. He won’t like us.”
“What about Adam? We could just stay with him for the day or until your dad is let out.”
“I guess we have no other option, Shelby. Let’s head out.”
She tapped start and shut down. Then she tapped - let out people, which enables people to get out of the computer. We went through the whole process again and regained human shape.

“The policeman made it out much quicker than us.”
“He used emergency mode, Shelby. All he had to do was jump on it and he’d be out. The problem is if you are caught using it and you are not a policeman, you must have a reason or pay a fine.”
“Makes sense to me,” I said.
We took a taxi, except Taxis weren’t normal cars. They were solar cars, cute, round, and stylishly furnished. Jenny handed the driver a few coins bearing the dolphin-star emblem.
We had some fun together, splashing in the fountain and grabbing two burgers and fries from the shopping centre with Jenny’s money. We met Adam at the beach near where we were, lying in the sand. He didn’t mind us joining him.
He took us surfing, canoeing, and then we had a ‘sand fight’; throwing wet sand at each other.
Then, as we sat near the waves, sipping the drinks we had just bought, he looked kind of sadly at me.
“Why not tell her the truth, Jenny. How is it going to spoil your life? You’ve got nothing to lose…”
Jenny’s smile disappeared but she seemed to agree. “Your dad… The truth is…Albert knows where he is. And… that’s because… Albert has kidnapped him.”

“What?!” I said feeling scared.

“Albert is a gambler. He cheats too, and wins himself thousands. Your dad used to gamble too, with Albert. That’s why he left your mum; she didn’t want him wasting her savings. Then when he found out Albert was a cheater, he started a new life. Abandoning Albert, he founded Stars Island. Getting in builders, architects, and many other people was done by him, and slowly Stars Island formed. Over 12 years, it has blossomed and is running brilliantly, as you’ve seen. Nowhere else is as advanced as us, with our bubble cars, Digiworld, Underwater leaves, and more. Your dad hadn’t created those things, but he had picked the people that did. He was soon a millionaire as the islands business flourished and people moved here. Albert, after being caught by police for Match Fixing a test cricket game, was sent to prison and grew crazy- I lived with my mum back then. He found out about Philip, and came to Stars Island. Tracked him down, kidnapped him, but he never told me where yet. His plan is that he wants all Philip’s money- sort of a ransom except, Philip himself will be paying out his own ransom. Albert is a dirty, crazy, idiot, I am just so glad to be away from him today, even though it was only for a few hours! My mum got cancer and died- so I was forced to live with this criminal while he kidnapped your dad.”

I stared at her as she explained one of the biggest mysteries I had ever encountered. Slowly I grasped what she was saying, and pulled my sense together to reply.

“Mrs Wilson showed me the letters. I was too stupid to understand… I’m no detective. Where is the founder, you shouldn’t even be here, it all fits now. I’m so sorry Jenny. You’ve been wound into this mess that your dad made. And… you know, my mum passed away from cancer too.” I never said died, or dead. They were too strong. Instead, she passed away, and moved to live with God. In my mind I liked to soften things a bit but keep them real.
“Adam did you know all of this?” I asked.
“Some little… just basically the kidnapping, and the dirty lunatic bit. Not really the whole story. Now I do.”

I smiled at Jenny. “Now that that’s out of the way, we can have the swim we were talking about!”
As a small smile appeared on her face, I remembered a certain time that day I had thought it was ‘snobbish’.

Your Space:
Ask for your own copy of the Shelby’s Story Complete version with pictures!
Meanwhile, send us any news and what you like in here, what you don’t.
We’d love from you:
Recipes
Stories/Poems/Drawings
News of your life
Jokes
Opinions

Website of the month:
http://www.gocomics.com/: I love reading the Calvin and Hobbes. What’s your fave?

Current Subscribers: Anita Menon

Nair Newsline January 2011

What’s Up:

Vinod Nair has got a new job as a chef for a company called Sodexo. He cooks for the miners on a site called ( ). Vinod has to work for two weeks, and has a break for one week. He cooks breakfast and dessert, and is really happy with his new job! So we wish him luck and congratulate him!

Fantastic Food:

Pista Kulfi:

This yummy treat is a pistachio ice-cream, extra creamy, and an Indian Favourite.

How to make it:

Whip 400ml Evaporated Milk in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, whip 200ml Cream. When it is about the consistency of Whipped Cream, Add 1 Cup of Sugar. Grind some Pistachios with 4-5 Cardamom Seeds. Add this to the Cream and Sugar as well. Finally, mix in the Evaporated Milk and it’s almost ready! Just pour it into your chosen mould or container and freeze it for atleast 4 hours. Yum!

Art and Craft:

Is your resolution to learn to draw? If not, why not make it a fun goal to do in your spare time? If you DO make time for this, the Nair Newsline can help you on your way.

Why should I learn?

If you have to ask, then you probably shouldn’t. but the benefits are that it’s fun (though frustrating- to get better you will have to keep going for ages), once you learn you can do much more like paint, sculpt, capture things around you, even draw people! (Which would be really cool. I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if you could draw someone and capture how they look and what they are feeling realistically?) But if you can’t spare time- which is the only thing you really need to do it that you don’t already have- then don’t do it.

How much time is ideal?

About half an hour a day sounds pretty good because it’s not too much but it’s enough to get lots done. But if you’re really busy, you could try to do it every second day for 20 minutes, or maybe just 10 minutes of rough sketching a day. Create any plan according to your needs, and stick to it. You don’t have to show up every time. It’s like a class- you wouldn’t do it if you were sick or had something else on, but you’d go otherwise.

What are different ways to learn?

· Classes. You could sign up for drawing lessons, if you wanted to. This is actually easier in some ways because if you don’t then nobody is going to tell you that you have to draw, you have to do it yourself.

· Books: Plenty of How-To-Draw Books can be easily found. What to buy: A book that suits your requirements. Ie. If you want to learn drawing with pencils, you’ll need a book specifically on that. Or if you are a beginner and want to draw things realistically, you should look for something for beginners. Check out Amazon.com for reviews and get something there, or just go to your local bookshop- it’s bound to have something on it! Check out the Nair Newsline’s Drawing Resources, it’s coming in February.

· Sites: It’s easy to find online lessons, from Ehow or About lessons, to a specific site. They are [mostly] free, which is an advantage on lessons or books, but it’s hard to find the right- or a good- one. Just search How to Draw, or Online Drawing Lessons, and look at lots before you choose. The Feb issue of NN will say stuff on sites, what exactly they contain, etc.

What do I need?

All you need to start is pencil and paper! Though sites and books will often tell you to buy a range of materials, you really don’t need to. It’s your choice.

If you do buy things like technical pens, kneadable erasers, and drawing pencils, you will find it easier to shade and do things each site tells you to.

But the rational side will say that first you should be really interested, dedicated, and work with what you have before going and buying stuff!

Both are true! So do whatever you want! Drawing at it’s purest could just be drawing in dirt with a stick!

All you need to learn to draw is basically, draw.

Some guy called Sinclair Lewis was once invited to talk to come students about the writer’s craft. He stood at the head of the class and said, “How many of you are really serious about being writers?” A sea of hands went up. Lewis then asked, “Well, why aren’t you at home writing?” And with that he walked out of the room.

Drawing is pretty much like that. Though you need some knowledge to put you on the right track, if you want to do it and do it you will reach your goal.

Laugh out Loud:

New year’s jokes:

*May all your troubles last as long as your New Years Resolutions.

*Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle Age is when you’re forced to.

*Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.

*An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

*People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and New Year, when they really should be worried about what they eat between New Year and Christmas!

* He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.

. The World of Imagination

Chapter 3 of “Shelby’s Story” by Karuna Nair:

Would you like a copy of the Full Version of Shelby’s Story with art and the original layout, for free? Just Subscribe to the Nair Newsline! Once you’re subscribed, you just need to request for a copy of the book! Check out details on how to subscribe at Your Space this issue!

Chapter 3: Confusion

“Get into the bubble, Shelby, Jenny.”

“What about the airport?”

“Oh, we checked there while you were with Adam, Philip isn’t there.”

“Where are we going?” Jenny asked.

“Marshland, we’re going to Mrs Wilson. She will help you look… I have things to attend to.”

I didn’t bother asking who Mrs Wilson was. I would find out soon enough.

Suddenly the bubble was fulling hard to the ground. My mouth froze and I clung to the couch, terrified. Were we crashing the bubble?

I found out that we were instead plunging through metres of cold water. Halfway through the journey, I could see a large metal object, resembling a ship. But I wasn’t sure what it was. Tossing us two pairs of glasses and a small piece of grass each, Albert got out of the bubble and swam away.

“Eat the grass,” Jenny said.

“I did as she told. The grass was sweet and soft, and suddenly I felt lighter and I was breathing much slower.

“It helps you stay underwater- you can breathe, and if you can’t swim you can easily float with the lightness.”

“Jenny- what is THAT?” I pointed to the large metal ship I saw earlier.

"It’s a water powered ship.

She opened the bubble and surprisingly, spoke while in the water.

“Follow me.”

We swam past a few opaque domes and then suddenly fell down a step.

“Ground level,” Jenny said. “You can walk here.”

“Helloo Jennifer. Is this Shelby?”

“Yes. Shelby, this is Marie Wilson, my personal tutor. She is helping us look around Marshland for your dad.”

“Actually- make sure NOT to tell Albert, but we have a slight change of plan. I just want to show Shelby- some letters sent to your dad. You, Jennifer, can do your maths test,” said Marie. And then Marie handed me some white leaves with thin black writing on them.

The black writing on those leaves bore-

• “You, Mr Shauister, are vile and should be sent off the earth. How dare you do this to Him? How dare you!! Our town was nice enough to actually let you in here anyway, what with YOUR records.”

• “To Al, I have made sure He is not put in Marshland. The citizens know too much about you.”

• “Shauister, What have you done with Him? Soon we will be sending you away- our men are searching the island for the great founder. Mr Cruz.”

What did these mean? Obviously Mr Shauister had done something wrong… but what? And who was He, or Him?

“Can I go outside Mrs Wilson?”

“Yes Shelby. Don’t go out of Marshland, ok.”

I headed out and looked at the small white cubes and friendly people chatting or swimming around. What had the letters meant? Maybe I shouldn’t be with Mr Shauister… who else would help me though? Mrs Wilson, Mr Cruz, the innkeeper… I didn’t really need him.

But I decided not to leave him until I knew his crime and found my dad. At least I had someone to be my personal bubble-driver.

“Shelby! Albert has called and is ready to pick you up and keep looking! Remember what you learnt in today’s lesson, I’ll meet you later!” It was Mrs Wilson.

I knew I would remember the letters. They were such a mystery to me.

“Girls! We are heading to DigiWorld- not to look for Philip, just to run a quick errand. Get in the bubble!” said Albert.

“Where is Digiworld?”

“It’s in a computer lab…” Jenny replied.

I rested my fingers on the bubbles clear surface as I wondered what Digiworld was. Stars Island was clearly fascinating, no matter how strange it was!

“What exactly IS Digiworld?”

“Digiworld is a suburb… like a computer suburb- where each computer is a house.”

Jenny seemed to be talking a lot more. Then I realized so was I. I was always incredibly shy around new people, and I had just met Jenny and Albert this Day. What a huge day! I would be missing out on a lot if I hadn’t chosen to go to Stars Island.

“We’re here,” Albert said briskly.

We walked into a large room filled with many computers. The first 5 were marked “Guest Computer-Use the analyser.”

Albert pulled out a large leather chair with wires and a screen attached to it.

“Sit down Shelby.”

I sat in it and watched as Jenny strapped wires over my arms and plugged them into the screen. I felt a pulling, like someone was tugging my shirt. Then after that I experienced the feeling of flying, sort of floating on thin air with a lot of adrenalin. Now I felt normal again. But- I was inside the computer! I walked around, and tried to speak. It came out in a text bubble. This was like some crazy kids movie… and my dad had created this? Wow.

A few minutes later, Jenny was beside me, smiling.

“Have you done this before?” I asked her.

“No, we live in Sky Dome… We haven’t been there yet.”

“Ok,” I nodded.

Then I watched as Albert strapped himself into the seat, and pressed the button.

“BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!”

Two guards dressed in white with dolphins on their uniform rushed in and surrounded Albert. A police officer jumped out of a small keyhole in a computer’s hard drive, regained his body, and went to join them.

“You have the right to remain silent, Intruder. You will be questioned and your status danger will be double-checked.”

“Am I going to be let out?” Albert said.

“Yes, only after questioning.”

As they left, I wondered where me and Jenny could go.

Your Space:

How to Subscribe: Email me that you’d like to subscribe to the Nair Newsline!

Why to Subscribe: You get the news delivered straight to your email, each month. PLUS you could get bonuses like the Shelby’s Story Full Version with Pictures in Jan, Feb, and March, and other things in the later months.

Current Subscribers: Anita Menon

Site of the Month: http://thedisneyfifty.blogspot.com

My new blog especially for reviews on Disneys Animated Movies! You can catch them on My Life blog (karunanair99.blogspot.com) as well, but the specific Disney 50 site features pics and is for non-members.

Nair Newsline December

Nair Newsline December

How were your holidays?

Tell us what you did during your Christmas holiday and you’ll be featured in the Nair Newsline.

Veera Pusdekar: Veera went on a camp to Koyna Backwaters. She had a lot of fun there and did Valley Crossing, Mountain Biking, and Canoeing among others. You can ask her for the photos if you haven’t seen them. The camp was at a beautiful lake, and she apparently saw a lot of bugs!

Fantastic Food

Xmas Menu: Some of our recipes from this year along with new ones will give you a range of ideas for your Christmas meals!

Starter:

Cheesie Triangles

Filo Pastry
Butter
Filling:
Grated Fetta Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup snipped chives
black pepper


Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Grease 2 large baking trays. For the filling, crumble the fetta cheese into a bowl. Stir in the cheddar cheese, chives and nutmeg. season to taste with pepper. Place a sheet of filo pastry on a cold, dry work surface; brush with melted butter. Cut filo in half, lengthways, with kitchen scissors. Fold each half in half lengthways and brush with more butter. Cover remaining pastry with clear plastic wrap. Put 4 level teaspoons of the filling on the lower corner of each strip. Fold the filo over the filling to form a triangle. Continue folding over along the pastry strip to form a triangular package, completely encasing the filling. Put on a baking tray. Fold the other pastry strip in the same way. Repeat with the remaining filo pastry and filling. Brush the triangles all over with melted butter. Bake for 15 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown. Serve warm.

Main:

Penne with Asparagus and Smoked Salmon

Fresh asparagus spears

Unsalted butter
Garlic, peeled and minced

Black pepper
heavy cream
kosher salt
smoked salmon
Penne pasta (cooked according to instructions)

Toasted Pine Nuts
Grated Cheese

Bring a large stock pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the asparagus uncovered for about 2-3 minutes just until tender.
Drain asparagus and set aside. Over medium heat melt the butter.
Toss in the cooked asparagus, garlic, and pepper. Increase heat to high.
Stir constantly for 2 minutes. Reduce heat back to medium and add cream and salt.
Gently break up the smoked salmon into bite sized pieces and add to the asparagus, butter,etc.
Simmer for 3-4 minutes just until salmon is heated through, stirring occasionally being careful not to break up the salmon too much.
Toss in the cooked penne and stir until it’s evenly coated with the cream and asparagus mixture.
Serve garnished with toasted pine nuts and cheese.

Aloo Paratha
Potato filled parathas, delicious eaten hot with butter!
1.Boil a potato for
2.Mash the potato
3.Mix with atta and water so as to form a dough
4. You can add cheese to the dough if you wish
5.Break dough into balls
6.Roll out each ball like a normal paratha
7.Cook on the frying pan
8. Eat it while it's hot!

Drinks:

Chocolate orange milk

*Peel an orange

*Put the orange peels into boiling milk

*Mix Drinking chocolate or Cocoa powder into separate warm milk

*When the milk is boiled, mix in the chocolate milk

*Sieve the milk into a cup to get rid of the peels

*It will have a slight tinge of orange. Yummy!!

Lemonade

Lemons

Sugar

Cold Water

Juice your lemons. Mix the ingredients and serve over ice. Easy!

Iced Coffee

Same quantity of all ingredients:

Coffee, Milk, Ice, (Add sugar If you want…. I sure would!)

Blend all ingredients till frothy.

Blend all ingredients until frothy. Serve over ice.

Desserts:

Eggless chocolate Cupcakes with Butter cream

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoon white vinegar
• Cupcake pan (Alter this recipe to make a chocolate cake)

Preheat oven to 325 F (162 C). Spray your cupcake pan with oil.

Combine the dry ingredients, then the wet ingredients, in a bowl.

Mix thoroughly and fill each cupcake pan ¾ full.

Bake for 15 min to 20 mins until firm

Icing Ideas

To top or fill a cake…

Butter Cream

Butter, Icing Sugar, Milk

Beat the butter till pale with an electric mixer. Slowly add in icing sugar and milk and keep mixing.

Check out http://www.recipes4cakes.com/frostings/ for lots more icing recipes and cake ideas.

Art and Craft

Christmas Decorations:

Some ideas for Christmas:

• Spray paint and put glitter on pine cones.
• Paint and glitter some seashells.
• Candy canes/cookies.
• Use old puzzle pieces. Just paint the backs and glue into shapes! A good one is a wreath- just stick green-painted puzzle pieces in a circle, and add little red beads for a holly wreath! You can also create a snowflake, Christmas tree, candy cane, etc.
• Create Christmas baubles by wrapping layers of tissues and glue into a nice round ball, and covering with a few layers of gold tissue paper. Add Sequins or craft mirrors for the finishing touch!
• Make snowmen with pom poms.
• Create Christmas earrings by: buying a pair of dangly earring hangers. (whatever they are called- basically the hook that you put in your ear.) Then put red and green beads onto a piece of string and not the end, or put them onto a safety pin. Tie your beaded string onto the hook and it’s finished!

Laugh a Lot
Knock Knock Jokes

Knock Knock

Who’s there!

A Fred!

A Fred who?

Who’s a Fred of the Big Bad Wolf?

Knock Knock

Who’s there!

Amory!

Amory who?

Amory Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

Alison!

Alison who?

Alison to my radio in the mornings!

Knock Knock

Whos there!

Alda!

Alda who?

Alda time you knew who it was!

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

Ann!

Ann who?

Ann-onymous!

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

Cows!

Cows who?

Cows go moo not who!

The world of imagination:

Shelby's Story:

Chapter 2: New Life

Fingering my large case, I got ready to wave goodbye to my life. I had told my dearest teachers and best of friends, and I was now standing outside the school at the gate. The security guard unlocked the gate and I walked out. I thought maybe I’d shed a tear, you know, my whole life was about to change. Instead, my stomach was turning inside out and it felt like butterflies were in there. Not feeling good at all, I wanted to just ran back in and forget the whole thing. My conscience pushed those thoughts out of my mind and I walked across the road nervously. After what seemed like the world’s longest bus ride I reached the airport. I got safely on to the plane, which had uncomfortable white seats a few inches apart, and since they were white you could sea small bits of dirt. Of course no area of anywhere is going to be perfectly spotless, but aeroplane companies might at least make their planes attractive. On the plane journey I had nothing to do besides explore the contents of my hand baggage, which was just a handbag with two books, my tickets and spare cash, some eatables for the trip, and a few other close keepsakes. So to while time my brain killed me with possible worst-case scenarios, day dreams of my first moment with my Dad, or of me and my dad living together in a huge two storey mansion. After what seemed like the longest three or four journeys of my life via. Bus, Cheap and Dirty Plane, Taxi, Ferry, Ferry, I was finally on Stars Island.

“May I help you Miss?” said a tall man. I guessed he was a security guard.

“Uh yes thanks, I’m Shelby Stewart, here to look for my dad. Could you please… could you help me find somewhere to stay…?”

“Sure thing Shelby. Just take this slip and go down the road to Outside Inn. You’ll be able to stay for the night. Are you sure your dad is here? And you know what you’re doing?” he said, while giving me a bit of ripped paper.

“Yes, thanks.” But now that the Island’s guard, or entrance guy, or whoever he was, had pointed out that I didn’t know what I was doing, I felt scarily sure that I didn’t. I had kind of expected that the ride to the island would be the whole story, and then I’d live with my dad. Now it seemed like it was only just the beginning. I walked to the inn, where the innkeeper was a plump middle-aged woman, who was very nice to me. I felt glad when I could snuggle into a bed and sleep soundly- the last time I had done that, I’d been all the way up in Australia! Now I was down here, in the middle of nowhere, and I knew no one.

The next morning I woke up feeling much happier, though that wore off when realization hit me again- what was I doing? Anyhow, I liked it here, Mrs Walter, the innkeeper, was pleasant, and the whole inn was sort of happy. It was all painted very brightly with patterns on yellow and white walls. Even the bathrooms were pleasant. Each room smelt fresh and looked bright, and the people there were all nice too. Mrs Walter sat me at a table in the dining area and I was given a lovely breakfast of crumpets. I looked around at the people around me, a tall man sitting with a girl I guessed was his daughter, two bald men playing cards, a few young women who had just come in and ordered wines, and a family of four. Then suddenly the tall man and his daughter were coming over to my table like I was their long-lost friend, smiling at me cheerily.

“Why hello, what’s your name?” said the man.

“Shelby Stewart. Your name is…?”

“Albert. Albert Shauister. This here is my daughter Jenny. You are new to the island, right?”

““Um, yes. I’m here to meet my dad, Philip Stewart.”.”

“Philip?” He looked a little startled. “Actually, he is one of my best friends. We were in a partnership together. Are you sure he invited you?”

“Um, I wasn’t invited. I came here to look for him; I want to live with him.”

Albert smiled toothily. “We can help you with that, actually. We can help you find him. Is it a deal? I’ll help you.”

“That would be nice.”

I bit into a buttery crumpet, wondering if it was a good thing. The man looked nice, although his daughter had a snobby sort of air. She had her hand leaning towards the table- and on it were small, strange, little creatures. One was a tiny sort of dog, and the other was a small round piece of fur- pets, I guess, or toys?

But without help I don’t think I would get anywhere anyways, so I needed all the help I could get.
”So, where does my dad live?”

“Huh? Oh, your dad. Of course. He… I’m not sure. He hasn’t contacted me in a while. We’ll just need to search the island. I’m sure he wouldn’t have gone out. You see, your dad is the island founder. It’s all true. He arranged and founded this whole city. He did everything you will see here. True. Very true. Just, where exactly he is, I don’t know.”

“So…we’re searching a few spots?” I had no idea what he had just said.

“Yes. The spots he is most likely to be in. They are scattered all over the island, so you are getting a free tour really.”

“Thanks…”

“We’ll leave after breakfast.”

“What IS that?” I don’t normally talk much, but that was amazing. It was a huge, transparent sphere…Like a giant bubble.

“This is a bubble car. They are Stars Island invented, produced, and used.”

“Stars Island should sell them to other countries.”

“Tell that to the government,” Albert muttered, talking to himself.

“So how does it work?” I asked, pressing my finger against it. It was firm yet I couldn’t suss out what it was made of- it wasn’t plastic, glass or metal.

“A few gases are heated and shaped into a sphere. Inside is a glass floor. It is amazingly convenient.”

He slid open one of the sides, and we stepped in. Inside were two white leather couches and a small closet-table. Stuck to the sides were two curtain rails with pale blue cotton hanging off.

Jenny, who was slightly shorter that me with a whitish blonde hair style and pretty mouth, finally spoke up- “You can’t see through it from outside. It’s opaque.”

She turned away from my strong stare. Looking at her now, that strange expression didn’t really seem like a snobby air anymore. Instead, it sort of looked like misery, jealousy, or loneliness.

As we steered through the city, I could see a few white streets with small buildings and many bubbles floating by. We were too high up to get a close view.

“How old are you?” I asked her. She looked a bit younger than me.

“14,” she replied gently.

“I’m 13,” I told her. She must have been a short person.

Albert was leaning his hands against the white walls of the bubble, and steering a small wireless wheel.

“Where are we going?”

“To Jo Street. There are a few shops and things there. We can access the other roads too. He’s sure to be somewhere doing something.”

“What about his house?” I queried. That seemed the most obvious place to look.

“Philip…eh… he has been gone for a while now. Nobody has any idea why.”

Jenny opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, and then shut it again, like a goldfish.

Albert had just landed his bubble on the pavement against a long white road.

“The roads are white…weird?” I said.

“Yes of course! Oh wait… you are new to Stars Island… I looked at the buildings around us. They were short, squat cubes with snazzy signs hanging above their glass doors. There were a few different colours- yellow cubes, purple cubes, black cubes, white cubes… People were travelling the road in strange contraptions- a few were cute and colourful round cars, with solar panels stuck on. One person sat in a glossy black helicopter- except it had two legs, with wheels, that whizzed along at the same speed ad the cars and bubbles. Behind a few larger cubes stood a long silver track with a huge train steaming along it. Strangely it had only one carriage! I gazed at the wonderful things around me until Albert tapped me impatiently on the shoulder.

“The two places we shall check right now… are the library, and the airport. Philip hangs around those two places a lot. He is an avid reader and he works at the airport.”

Jenny again made the goldfish action with her tiny pink lips.

We walked to the library, which was next door to the airport. They were both cubes, the library a small pink one and the airport a larger white. A huge and spectacular fountain gushed out in the middle of both of them. It seemed to be a large stone dolphin carrying a star, from which soft blue water was splashing. It all wafted into a huge black bowl underneath

As soon as we walked into the library, a plump man with a white hat bearing the same pattern the fountain had, was sidling up to us. A tall teenage boy with messy brown hair followed him.

“Albert, I KNOW what you’re up to, you-” Looking at me, he paused and his forehead wrinkled in a confused manner.

“What are you talking about?” Albert said coolly.

“Who is the girl?” the man replied.

“Mr Cruz, Shelby Stewart. Shelby, Mr Cruz- he- he is an important part of the government.”

“You took his daughter too!”

“No, Cruz, I’m helping Shelby find her dad.” A flicker of a smile appeared on Albert’s face as he said it.

“Shelby, watch out for this man. And, whatever you do, keep looking for your dad alone as well…”

“Why don’t you and Jenny and Adam just sit down while we… talk?” Albert said.

“Hey. I’m Adam.”

I smiled and told him my name.

“Why are you with Shauister?”

“I’m… looking for my dad. Albert is helping me.”

Adam snorted. “Trust me, he ain’t helping. Shauister only wants money- if you’re staying with him, you better stay alert.”

Jenny remained silent.

“Jenny, is it true? Does your dad just want money?” I asked.

“I…I…I don’t know.”

“I’m leaving. I’ll see you two around.” Adam spoke before walking off out of the building.

Your Space:

Please send us any Christmas photos or Holiday photos!

Current Subscribers: Anita Menon

Birthdays:

Rajesh Menon- 24^th December

Thank you to Aman Nair for doing the New! Video interview. It’s about Spiderman and will be available soon, either emailed on request or put up.

Nair Newsline November

Nair Newsline:

Whats Up

The Dosa Shack:

Is the title of Nashta’s stall. Months ago, The Nair Newsline told of Nashta’s business and stalls. Here is a little refresher:

Nashta is a business run by Vinod Nair. It was the name of the stall, but now has been replaced with the catchy title ‘The Dosa Shack.’ Now, Nashta is the business and the Dosa Shack is the stall. The Dosa Shack appears at various big festivals in Perth. The newest member is Vinod’s friend Jason, who helps by helping customers while Vinod cooks.

The Dosa Shack’s featured in:

Perth City Markets [2009]

Araluen Botanical Gardens Fremantle Chilli Festival [2010]

Rockingham Mussel Festival [2010]

Fremantle Markets [2010]

East Perth Markets [2010]

Cockburn Sping Fair [2010]

Langford Multicultural Food Fair [2009, 2010]

The menu is now as follows:

Dosa- Either Masala Dosa, or Dosa with sweet and sour chicken/ pepper chicken. On some occasions also with Squid.

Appam- With Chole/ Coconut Milk.

Bhel

Dal Wada

Gulab Jamuns

Laugh a Lot

"I got an A in spelling," Tony told his father.

"You dope!" he replied. "There isn’t any A in spelling!"

"My sons real smart!" crowed the mother to an acquaintance.

"He’s only six but he can already spell his name backwards and forwards!"

"What’s his name?" asked the friend.

"Bob."

How can you spell chilly with two letters?

IC (icy) …

Little Johnny wasn’t very good at spelling. During an oral spelling exam, the teacher wrote the word "new" on the blackboard.

"Now," she asked Johnny, "what word would we have if we placed a "K" in the front?"

After a moment’s reflection, Johnny said, "Canoe?"

School Doctor: Have you ever had trouble with appendicitis?

Fred: Only when I tried to spell it.

Can you spell very happy in 3 letters?

XTC…

Daughter: I will never learn to spell.

Mother: Why?

Daughter: The teacher keeps changing the words.

How do you spell we without using the letters W or E?

U and I…

Fantastic Food

Curried Chicken Balls

Ingredients:

Cream Cheese

Mango Chutney, Curry Powder/ Any spices you want

Cooked Chicken Breast

Cashews, chopped

Sliced onions

Toasted coconut

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese till soft. Add chutney and curry powder and beat till it is well mixed. Cut chicken into small cubes, and stir in along with cashews and onions. Mix. Form mixture into balls and roll in toasted coconut to coat. Chill for at least two hours before serving.

YUM: Fried Octopus balls. Unfortunately you need equipment to make them, so you’d need to buy them to try!

Check Out: sliceofmylyfe.wordpress.com

For the restaurant reviews by Anita Menon.

Art and Craft

Christmas Decorations!

I just realised that I probably want to create some more homemade Christmas Décor for the tree, so I found some How To’s for babies, toddlers, kids, adults!

Handprint Wreath- Paper, Paint, Hands, Paintbrush, Any Stickers or Lace you have.

Description: Easy as pie!

Good for: Putting up on a bare wall.

Dip your hands in one shade of paint (Could be green, to resemble wreath, or just about any colour) and create a circle of handprints. Use the paintbrush in a different colour to create little berries. Then Decorate with your stickers and lace!!

Christmas Tray- Styrofoam Bowl/Paper bowl, Paint in various colours, Gold Glitter Glue

Description: Fun, Easy!

Good for: Putting little snacks like cookies or pedas in to give to friends with your Christmas card.

Paint the whole bowl in one colour, or striped in two colours.

[Colour combos could be: Green and Red with Gold Glitter

Gold and Silver with Red glitter

Pale colours paired with bright glitter]

When bowl is dry decorate edges with glitter glue.

[Another option is when you go to a Take out store ask for an empty carton. If it’s blank go ahead and paint, decorate, if there is a logo cover it with stiff card or crepe paper first. This will work to the same purpose; instead of a little bowl you have a pretty carton.]

Christmas Card Holder: 35 Popsicle sticks, Glue, Wax paper or plastic grocery bags, White satin ribbon.

Description: A bit harder, but fun to decorate when finished.

Good for: Holding the Christmas Cards you receive.

http://crafts.kaboose.com/3x5holder1.html : Is for recipe cards but will work for Christmas cards.

The World of Imagination

This is Chapter 1 of Shelby’s Story by Karuna Nair. A chapter will be published every month till the story is over. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Decision

“Good Morning Miss Shelby.”

“Good Morning Miss Coyle, how are you today?” Miss Coyle was a soft-spoken English maid, and sometimes she told me stories of her past employers.

“Fine thanks, are you feeling any better?”

“Not really no, I just have body pain and I’m tired- and my throat is hurting.”

“Okay Miss Shelby. Headmistress and Teachers say today you are free to do anything you like and rest up, tomorrow if you are still unwell you will see a doctor.”

“Thanks Miss Coyle,” I said as she handed me a tray with breakfast.

As she shut the door, I thought about it to myself. A day without lessons, and a day without any of her friends to talk to either. I decided I’d sort through my closet of things and then watch the TV in the lounge. I hadn’t sorted through some of my things since I had come to the Rusty Hill Boarding School. That was 5 years ago, when I was 8 and horrifically sad that my mother was gone. When I became happy at the school, it felt like I’d betrayed her. There had been a pile at the bottom of my closet that I’d been afraid to touch because it contained memories of life before my current life. Before boarding school. I could barely remember much of that life anyway. Remembering back, it probably contained a photo book and a few old clothes.

I looked at the large cardboard box covered in clothes and books and other things. As soon I opened it, a small glossy photo floated out of the box. I thought it’d be a family photo before my Dad left, like in a movie. I hoped so, but instead it was a photo of me with my friend on my 7^th birthday. Not even my mum was in it. She was behind the camera taking it, though. Inside the box were a few books covered with leather or felt cases. They were filled with pictures. I could remember

the story of each and every one of the photos. In the middle of the third book, I found what I was looking for. My Dad was holding me, with his arm around my mum. I was probably a newborn or a 1 month old. There was a photo of my mum and dad fighting, that I had taken and my Mum had printed it because she never knew it was among all the other plastic smiles we had clicked. I saw me and my Dad before he left, our last moment together. Me and Mum before she got cancer. I suddenly started crying. They had both left me. My Mum had suffered terribly before she passed away- I was only 8. Suddenly I realised just why that box hadn’t been touched in 5 years. Stuffing everything back in the cardboard box and pushing it under a heap of things, I left the room. Lying on the couch and reading, the sorrow didn’t stop at all. I couldn’t even read a page properly, I was so tired. I tried fruitlessly to distract myself, until I fell asleep, my head hurting too much what with my fever and sorrow.

“Miss Shelby, are you okay?”

I could hear the headmistress’ plain but sweet voice. Pulling myself together, I sat up.

“I’m fine.”

“Okay- you aren’t sick anymore?”

“Um… I don’t know… just a sore throat, nothing else much…”

“So what did you spend your day doing?”

My throat felt dry and I didn’t know what to say. She had been like a mother to me over more than a third of my life. But it was still an awkward thing to tell anyone.

“I was looking through my closet.”

“You mean you were looking at photos of your mother?”

“How-how-”

“A girl in your dormitory went to get something she forgot, and saw you sobbing. She told someone, like she was meant to- and I put two and two together.”

“I just felt like… looking. And I didn’t realize how sad I’d be.”

“Don’t even think about looking for your father, understand?”

“Look for my father… what a good idea! I never thought of it till now!”

“No… Shelby, I don’t want you getting hurt and disappointed...”

“Well I won’t! Thank you Mrs Wich. I’m sorry but I have to do it- it’d be awesome to live with him again!”

“Go to sleep for now. I’ll see you tomorrow, and we will discuss this matter.”

As soon as I woke up I remembered the past days discovery. Looking for my dad…Imagine if I found him… things would all be right again. It would be a happily ever after. I ran into the lounge, no one else was there. I turned on a computer and opened up a Search Engine, typing in Philip Francis Stewart. Philip Stewart on Facebook…College record of Philip Stewart… STARS Island leader-Philip Francis Stewart….. Huh? Stars Island? Clicking on the page, I saw a brightly coloured website titled STARS Island.

“Stars Island is a new Island located in the Southern Hemisphere, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It is dedicated to keeping its people happy with as simple a democracy as possible. Our main ethoses are environmental friendliness, community, and making sure government only needs to help with certain things. Our land is quite interesting including an underwater, digital, and sky, suburb. You must have certain license to get in and be a good help to society.

Current Main Government-

Leader- Philip Francis Stewart….”

Saving the website into favourites, I rushed back to my dormitory. I had exactly 10 minutes to get ready for breakfast.

After breakfast, I asked the nurse to let me have a days rest; I was just too tired for lessons. My teachers instead gave me my work- not just half, trust me- and said I could complete it at my own pace but it was to be handed in the next day. I didn’t really care. I don’t mind doing lessons- I just needed alone time to work out what I’d do to get to Stars Island. Of course I was going. It was too big an opportunity to not take. I couldn’t do it after lessons, it was too crowded. My dormitory would be full, the computers in the Lounge would be taken by the older girls- This was an easier option. I got started straight away. I found out there were flights to French Southern and Atlantic Lands, then you could travel by ferry to Stars Island. In total it’d cost $500- Which was a HUGE offer. The plane was a horrible trashy kind with no service and low rates- even worse than the kind there normally are. The ferry was alright- it was just cheap because of money conversion and lower prices down South. I decided to tell Mrs Wich. If she said no, I could just go anyway. But I’m sure she would say yes. She’s so nice. So after lessons, I went to her office, and knocked gingerly at the door.

“Come in.”

“Um...hello Mrs Wich…”

“Hello Shelby… thought about searching for your dad yet?”

“Um…Yes actually Mrs Wich. I’ve found out he is actually the Prime Minister of a new society on an island far off.”

“Wow… are you sure? Anyway, is there any chance of me stopping you?”

“No,” I said, a small grin appearing on my shy face.

“Well then I guess you’ll go whether I like it or not. Do you have the money?”

“Um… No…” I realised that I wouldn’t, sadly, be able to afford it. From saved up pocket money before the Boarding School and birthday money from friends, I had $300.

“So what are you going to do?”

“Get a job for the rest of this year to pay me $200 for next year?”

“What if… I gave you that $200. I know it seems like I’m being partial, but the thing is, I would sacrifice my money for any of you girls. Don’t go telling them that though. I won’t have my money spent on silly things that are in fashion. But I know you’ll use it wisely…”

“Um… thank you very much, but you don’t have to do that for me! You definitely don’t have to give me money, just permission!”

“Oh Shelby… don’t worry about it okay? Worry about finding your Dad and visiting me when you do! Just think of it as 5 years of birthday presents from your second mum.”

I hugged her. She was too nice. She had been like a second mum… her and all the rest of my teachers. They were all lovely.

“Thanks a lot for everything,” I said before leaving.

“Oh,” I remembered something as I opened the door. “Goodbye.”

I still felt guilty. She had given me $200, and she was my Principal, for crying out loud! That didn’t mean I wasn’t excited though… Straightaway, I booked online tickets. Printing them out, I looked at them and hugged them. Those thin strips of paper were my whole life now…

Questions:

This is a variation to the survey. We’ll put the questions in and publish, you reply to get published the next month! If you really don’t want to be published please still reply so we have a variety of opinions!

Do you celebrate Christmas and how?

What do you want the Nair Newsline to put in at December on Christmas?

If you won a prize about Christmas would it be:

a) Up to 50 Christmas Cards to give to friends and family

b) DIY Christmas Decorations/Cards

c) Readymade handmade Christmas decorations

Your Space

Happy Birthday:

Arjun Tiwari (4)

Aman Nair (5)

Rishabh Mannar (6)

Current Subscribers: Anita Menon

We are thinking of holding a Christmas competition… Please send in your response if this is a good idea… Prize suggestions are in the Questions section, but if you have something else in mind then please say so! We will only be able to do this if we have at least 5 participants, so please join in!

The contest will be sending in a pic of your Christmas tree with your family around it! Don’t have a tree? Put in pictures of your decorations, food, whatever!

Website of the Month: http://www.howtodothings.com/