My 5 year old daughter started school in September. A couple of months after she started, the teacher confronted me and told me that she is tired and weepy in class - very listless.

We made every effort to get her homework done early and get her into bed earlier...... she is in bed between 7pm and 8pm every night - on most nights she is getting a good 12 hours sleep!

She has been a little clingy and weepy in the mornings of late and she wakes up with puffy eyes and a really pale face and makes excuses about not going to school for the day. Well this morning, after running quite happliy like a madman all the way to school with her friend..... the teacher asked me again if I have done anything about her tiredness, because there has been no improvement. Some days I give her 5mls of Calpol hoping that it will get her through the day because she looks so dreadful.

I don't have much faith in the doctors here. I took her a couple of times to 2 different doctors at the surgery regarding a sore stomach that she constantly complained about. All tests on urine etc have come out negative. The second doctor said that kids experience migraines in their stomachs instead of their heads like adults and put it down to that (.......?). Not once have they done a blood test to look into things further......

At the moment I have her on multi-vitimins and recently added a spoonful of Cod Liver Oil - should I take her back to the doctor or continue with the vitimin route?

Any advice would be appreciated...... thank you!

My family always believed that giving Rooibos to babies and children is good for them. So naturally with my children I have carried the same practice. Obilivious as to the sceintific rationale. It was always a case of the kids like it so why not. It has come to the surface in the the scientific world as to the remarkable benefits of rooibos. Medical researchers state that they only have touch the 'iceburg' with regards to its benefits. The existing benefits seems quite impressive already see link below.

http://www.newlands.ca/Rooibos%20Information.htm

So the moral of the story me thinks is we should not be to quick to shun old parenting practices or old wives tales The other moral of the Story is South African's are really brilliant!!!!!

If you find that the recipes are for too many or too little people, give these a try.

http://www.fruitfromwashington.com/Recip...rsions.asp

http://www.geocities.com/ritashanty/acon...roll1.html

Someone has given me a sausage maker and i want to make my own wors. I have a recipe, but the last time i made wors is was not too nice, so i would appreciate a tried and tested recipe.

dankie baaie

Going to try these two recipes - YUM!!

I am sure some of the folks registered on here are from Oz.....what has happened to nandi and timepilot????

This recipe sounds really, really nice Cubbie. Will have to hunt around for the ingredients and give it a go.

Could I ask you to share your recipe for calamari stew as well?

I love squid or calamari, although I must confess that it can be a little boring if it is just the plain old crumbed and deep fried variety. I really enjoy a calamari stew, the way the Portuguese and Greeks make it, particularly if it is made with lots of garlic and fresh chili. But the best of all is stuffed calamari.

The nice thing about stuffed calamari is that oneÂ’s options for the stuffing are virtually endless. Anything from cooked rice, fresh fish, prawns, shrimps, mushrooms and cheese, to peppers, parsley, chili and garlic can be used.

And you can use a variety of sauces to bake the stuffed calamari in, from simple olive oil, butter and a dash of wine, to rich creamy sauces.

This recipe is delightful and very easy. If youÂ’ve never done it before, this is a good one to start off with:

For the mushroom and shrimp stuffed calamari you will need:
• 500g calamari tubes, cleaned and dried
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 100g mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1 small tin of shrimps, drained
• 180g chunky cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
• a pinch of thyme
• 200 ml dry white wine
• ¾ cup sour cream
• 1 egg yolk, beaten, salt and pepper
• Butter to cook with

Melt a little butter in a saucepan and over low heat soften the onion, garlic and mushroom.
Add salt and black pepper.
Pour off liquid and add the shrimps to this mixture.
Separately, mix the parsley, thyme and cheese.
Now put the two mixtures together and set aside.
Using your fingers and a small fork or spoon, fill the calamari tubes with this stuffing.
Place the stuffed calamari tubes in an oven-proof dish.
In a saucepan warm the wine and the sour cream, but do not boil.
Pour the warm wine and cream over the egg yolk and stir well.
Pour back into saucepan and warm through, stirring until it starts to thicken.
Pour the sauce over the calamari.
Sprinkle lightly with breadcrumbs.
In an oven pre-heated to 160 Deg C bake the calamari for about 20 minutes, or until tender.
Optional: If you like garlic as much as I do, add a clove or two of crushed garlic to the calamari when you place it in the oven to bake.
Serve with rice and fresh bread to soak up the lovely juices

just fetched my son from school...complaining of tummy pains and he has a runny tummy.....so i have just given him immodium (kiddies one from SA)...and will see if it is a one off or else he has then got one of those nasty tummy bugs going around.....

as I said b4 that looks really yummy