Tikumu’s letter

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 10

Tikumu’s letter

Dear Readers, Twelfth Night marked the end of the Christmas season. The decorations are stored away for another year, and you have three weeks left of the summer holiday to enjoy in ways that please you the most. But the school bells are ringing for the children of the Northern Hemisphere. They will have their long vacation during the summer, which for them will be in June, July or August. While the people in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere are enjoying the sunshine, the children in the lands of a white Christmas will be wrapping up against the winter cold and getting ready to go to school. ‘'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under Heaven.”

These words are written in the Old Testament of the Bible — Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3. Their meaning is easy to understand. Holidays mean time for leisure —- to be with your

family and relatives, to enjoy the outdoors, and to follow your particular interests: time to use in your own w’ay. If you sometimes feel bored and wish you had something interesting to do, a hobby may be the answer for you. Playing games usually involves other children, and you cannot always have the company of your friends. Watching television is not satisfying unless it is a programme that interests you. Reading is not always active enough. However, the right hobby will make you want to read, to find out more about it.

There are many interesting hobbies — too many to name. Some have been suggested on this page at different times during the past year.

Hobbies may be grouped in this way — collecting, creative art and craft, knitting, sewing, cooking, pets and caring for animals, dancing, gymnastics, music, pen friends, storywriting, living things in

the world of nature (on land and in the sea), the stars, the rocks of the earth’s surface. In these groups there are hundreds of possibilities for hobbies, and there will be one., to suit you. Hobbies develop from a person’s natural interests,. and you will know what yours are. Public libraries have many books that will help you to choose a hobby, as well as showing , you hotv to get started. It is w’ise to begin in an ex-" perimental way, making use of materials you have at home.

Whatever your hobby is, you will always find others who share your interest There will be many among our young readers, Story-writing is a good hobby when you have something to write about and if you have a hobby, you have a very interesting subject. Do share your experiences W’ith other young readers. Make the most of the second half of the school holidays, and have a happy time. Tikumu