The sun is shining as I write this but my thoughts are with all of you who have been made homeless by the cyclone, have had your homes damaged or have been affected in any other way.

Shrove Tuesday was 22 February and 23 February was Ash Wednesday, a time that begins the season of Lent.

Have you ever wondered why we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? It is the last day before the beginning of Lent and during Lent there is a time when many people fast. It became a tradition to make eggs, milk and fat into pancakes and have a feast. When I was small we always had a pancake breakfast and then we were asked what we were going to ‘give up’ during Lent. It was usually lollies and as we grew older, going to the pictures.

Book Review

Title: Colour, Make & Doodle

Feasts and Festivals

Author: Sarah Kidd

Publisher: K.M Education

This is an exceptional activity book with colouring pages for very young children and craft activities varying in difficulty for the older ones.

Each story has the relevant bible passage so the story can be read before starting the activities. It begins with Advent and ends with Pentecost. There are two sections on Easter. Each section is well illustrated and the instructions for making the various items are very clearly explained. They include a stained glass cross and my favourite; a pull-along picture of Jesus ring into Jerusalem

There is a template index and the book also comes with a CD-ROM.