I suppose everyone has realised by now that school holidays are here again as the number of youngsters out shopping with mum has increased greatly.

This means it is a time to be vigilant when driving as when children are playing, going to visit friends or, perhaps, practicing bike riding skills they don't always bother to watch for traffic if they happen to be on or near a road.

It's up to the drivers to keep an eye out for the sudden appearance of a child, seemingly from nowhere and act accordingly.

Parents please try to know exactly where and with whom your children are playing so that if an accident happens when they are out playing you have a general idea of where to look for them if they don't come home at the time you have specified.

You lucky youngsters on school holidays do take care and play safely.

Be sure bikes are in good condition and trees are not too hard for you to attempt to climb.

Try to remember the road rules, too, but most of all have a great school break as the teachers are resting and restoring their brain cells also and will want you back bright eyed and bushy tailed after the holidays ready to absorb everything they teach you like the proverbial sponge.

JUNAH Farleigh, Mervin Turner, Lochie Kleindeinst, Jamie Evans and Gordon Dufty are all celebrating birthdays this week.

We wish each of them a very happy birthday and hope they have wonderful celebrations for their special days.

Once again all those celebrating are males with a rather large age spread.

The ratio of males to females having birthdays this month was 15 to two.

September must be a masculine month, there's no doubt about it!

Another celebration this week is the anniversary of Lizzie and George Tisdell's wedding.

Have a wonderful celebration, Lizzie and George and may the future hold many more happy years for you.

Your children are certainly growing up.

I hardly recognised the polite young woman, Erica, who served me in Big W the other day.

She tells me you are all well and aging gracefully.

It was good to talk with her as I seldom see you guys nowadays although we only live down the road from one another.

IT did my heart good to see the oval being slashed and mowed last week.

This must mean the cricket season is fast approaching.

Keep your eyes peeled for registration dates in the near future if you intend playing for Mount George this year.

The thing I was happiest about, though, was that if someone drops a match or cigarette now in the grass around the oval there is not so much chance of a fire taking off towards the houses in the vicinity as has happened in the past.

Thanks to the two men who did the tidying up.

October 2: MGVHC meeting at the hall followed by a public meeting of everyone interested in reforming the tennis club to its former place in the community.

October 3 - 6: Music weekend at Longview, Knorrit Flat.

October 14: Red Cross luncheon, 10c auction and meeting at the School of Arts.

October 31 : Pizza and Trivia night organised by the local school.

December 25: Christmas Day (it's coming up fast, isn't it?).