Possum party: Residents of the vacation town of Mallacoota in Victoria, Australia, were relieved when a resident brush-tail possum that locals call Russell Rustle came sauntering back to the area, along with his partner Rosie and baby Rascal. The area had recently endured bushfires, which had claimed a lot of forest and property, and residents were very concerned about the wildlife. While possums are often thought of as pests, Russell Rustle is loved by the whole community. His safe return was cause for celebration among the locals.

Monkey culprit: If a cellphone is stolen, the owner might suspect a human thief. When Zackrydz Rodzi's phone disappeared from his home in Batu Pahat, Malaysia, the thief turned out to be a monkey. As there was no sign of a break-in, Rodzi's family used his brother's phone to call the stolen one, and heard it ringing in the bush near their home. After retrieving it from the mud and cleaning it up, Rodzi found a bunch of selfies of a monkey. There were even videos showing the antics of the little mammal trying to eat the phone.

Black cat haven: Japan is home to many cafs that feature real felines, but only one is filled with black cats. Nekobiyaka is in the city of Himeji. Because black cats are less likely to find owners than cats of other colours, the caf's owner wanted to provide a place for people to interact with them and hopefully take one home as a pet. She keeps about 10 black cats at any one time, differentiating them by the colours of their collars. When a family takes one home, she brings another from a shelter. Visitors pay a small fee to enter, and they can buy refreshments while interacting with the cats.

Canal digger: A man from Kothilawa, a remote village in Bihar, India, has completed an amazing feat. It took Laungi Bhuiyan about three decades to divert run-off rainwater into a pond near the village. He did it by digging a three-kilometre-long canal by himself, using hand tools. Before the canal existed, rainwater ran into a river and never reached the village. Now, people in the village have access to water in the pond, which they can use for crop irrigation and for farm animals to drink. As news of his feat spread on social media, Bhuiyan became known as Canal Man.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Keep your fears to yourself; share your courage with others. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Line Dance Classes for absolute beginners commencing early February, Bromley, Woolston Linwood & Templeton areas. For further details call Mary 3898809 or 0212163382

Linwood Village Market Saturday 1st February, 9 am to 1pm corner of Worcester Street & Stanmore Road Antiques, art, books, This & That, vintage & retro, recycled & upcycled, sometimes music and dance, sometimes singing, sometimes even fresh bread! First Saturday of the month from October till May (but cancelled if wet)

Herb Hacks at Home at Shirley Primary on Monday evenings next term is all about sustainability. Create your own products straight from herbs in your garden! Txt Vera: 0277821329

Widowed men and women - from around 50-mid 70s. We offer monthly meetings with support and friendship with regular activities such as dinners, movies, walks etc. New members welcome. Ph Claire 3543976 or Carol 9814125

Do you enjoy singing? A small group invite you to join them in singing entertainment for senior groups. Popular songs from all decades. Ring City People on 9814363 for more information

Gamblers Anonymous. Monday nights @ 7.30 Oasis centre 126 Bealey Ave

Neighbours helping Neighbours. Want to get a Neighbourhood Support Group going? Contact Dave Wilkinson on 03 420 9944 or www.christchurch.getsready.net

Free notices for not for profits lucas@coffeenews.co.nz

1. What system/scale is used to determine the heat in chilli peppers?

2. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in England, Ireland, or Scotland?

3. What colour is associated with the emotion of envy?

4. Daddy Warbucks was the rich and philanthropic benefactor in what comic strip?

5. What organ uses 20% of the human body's oxygen and blood?

Dancer first: Madonna, the well-known singer of Material Girl fame, at first wanted to be a dancer, but switched to music after being influenced by then-boyfriend Dan Gilroy, with whom she was in a band called Breakfast Club.

Brilliant mind: Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) had a brilliant mind for mathematics. She worked for NASA and helped to put men on the moon. She was one of the subjects of the 2016 Hollywood movie, Hidden Figures.

Unusual lime: Finger limes may be shaped like jalapeo peppers, but the resemblance ends there. These limes grow on shrubs in subtropical coastal areas of eastern Australia. They hold tiny, caviar-like beads that have an acidic flavor.

Fern fronds: The Georgia State University in Decatur, Georgia USA, is home to Ferns of the World, an unusual garden started by the late botany professor, George Sanko. Today, the garden is lush with many fern varieties from all over the world.

Stony love: The Holestone, which has a small hole through it, sits in a field near the village of Doagh, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. From the Bronze Age, the stone has become known as the lovestone. Engaged couples come to the stone to pledge their love for each other.

The judge said to her dentist, "Pull my tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth".

What did one arithmetic book say to another? "I've got problems".

Doctor: "What happened? You look awful". Patient: "You said to take this medicine for three days, then skip a day. All that skipping wore me out."

Actors: people who work really hard at never being themselves.

What word is always pronounced wrong? Wrong.

1. Scoville scale 2. England 3. Green 4. Little Orphan Annie 5. The brain