Happy New Year 2015 to all my visitors and followers!

Jockeys of future in the Shetland Pony Grand National?

The London International Horse Show brings together some of the finest jockeys and horses in the world.

But for kids wanting to be a superstar jockey of the future, and take part in a race as big as the Grand National - where do they learn the skills needed?

Simple - The Shetland Pony Grand National.

Racing on small ponies called Shetlands, competitors aged between 9-14 speed around the arena on a miniature course with jumps like those seen at an Aintree Grand National.

From CBBC newsround

Doctors warn of loom band danger

Doctors have warned that loom bands could be dangerous, after a number of children got them stuck up their noses.

The colourful rubber bands have been one of this year's most popular toys, but they're small enough to be accidentally inhaled.

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology said doctors at one hospital saw it happen four times in one week.

Remember: Never put loom bands up your nose.

Dr Iain Bohler, a surgical registrar, said loom bands could be a lot of creative fun for children.

But he said parents should "supervise young children playing with loom bands, or any other toy or item with small parts".

From CBBC newsround

'Ice pancakes' form on River Dee in Aberdeenshire

The River Dee in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has provided a spectacular winter scene with the formation of hundreds of "ice pancakes".

These strange formations are known as 'ice pancakes' but look like a fleet of flying saucers.

The River Dee in Aberdeenshire provided a spectacular winter scene, with freezing weather causing the pancakes to form overnight.

The discovery was made by members of The River Dee Trust at Lummels Pool at Birse in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The phenomenon is thought to happen when foam floating on the water's surface starts to freeze and bump together.

The pancakes - more commonly seen in the Antarctic - then grow bigger as more and more foam appears.

Joanna Dick, from The River Dee Trust, said: "What we think happened is foam floating about on the water started to freeze, probably at night.

These strange formations are known as 'ice pancakes' but look like a fleet of flying saucers.

The River Dee in Aberdeenshire provided a spectacular winter scene, with freezing weather causing the pancakes to form overnight.

The discovery was made by members of The River Dee Trust at Lummels Pool at Birse in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The phenomenon is thought to happen when foam floating on the water's surface starts to freeze and bump together.

The pancakes - more commonly seen in the Antarctic - then grow bigger as more and more foam appears.

Joanna Dick, from The River Dee Trust, said: "What we think happened is foam floating about on the water started to freeze, probably at night.

"Bits of frozen foam got swirled around in an eddy, and became roughly circular.

"Perhaps each disc grew when smaller pieces of unfrozen foam struck the disc, adhered and then froze in place."

It is believed that when temperatures were colder during the night they grew in size and after daybreak they softened.

When the 'pancakes' collided with each other their sides were pushed up to create a bowl like rim"

The circular formations are often seen in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea.

Joanna added: "This is the first time we have seen them on the River Dee.

"They are a rare occurrence and conditions have to be right for them to form."

From CBBC newsround 

and

Mirror-http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/weather-bomb-causes-spectacular-ice-4832197

Merry Christmas,kids!

Thank you all for visiting this blog and leaving your kind comments!

Thank you and MERRY XTMAS!

Christmas traditions Around the World

Christmas around the world from Nines Picado

A hologram of Father Christmas is entertaining crowds outside a house in Derby.

He can be seen moving around, looking out of the window and waving as he prepares for his busiest time of the year.

A jolly Mrs Claus can be seen waving from an upstairs window.

The holographic video footage was set up by the person who lives at the house, electrician Carl Holdsworth.

From CBBC newsround

Surfer Garrett MacNamara rides 'weather bomb' wave

Surfers have flocked to Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, to try and catch massive waves generated by an Atlantic storm that hit the UK.

Garret Macnamara

Surfer Garrett MacNamara tried to repeat his performance of 2011 when he surfed the world's biggest wave at 30 metres high.

Unfortunately the 'weather bomb' waves off the coast of Nazaré only reached 20 metres - but he still managed to impress.

From CBBC newsround

Nazaré (Portuguese pronunciation: [nɐzɐˈɾɛ]) is a town and a municipality in subregion Oeste and Leiria District, in Portugal. It is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the Silver Coast/Costa de Prata, Portugal.The municipal holiday is September 8 with the Festas da Nazaré a religious and profane festival with processions, bullfights, fireworks, folk dancing and a fair.

The town consists of three neighbourhoods: Praia (along the beach), Sítio (an old village, on top of a cliff) and Pederneira (another old village, on a hilltop). Praia and Sítio are linked by the Nazaré Funicular, a funicular railway. (in Wikipedia)

Little piglet rescued from sea by RSPCA off Suffolk coast

A piglet has been rescued after tumbling down a cliff and swimming out to sea off the Suffolk coast in England.

The little pig had been stuck on a cliff, but when RSPCA staff arrived it had run down to the beach and was heading into the sea.

Inspector Jason Finch said it seemed "unfazed" as it splashed in the waves.

"I thought he was heading to France," he said.

                            Can you spot the piglet?

"I have never seen anything like it. I couldn't believe it when he darted straight into the sea like that," he added.

"He was completely unfazed by the bubbling surf and was in the water upwards of 10 minutes."

"He became a tiny black dot in the distance... I was just wondering whether I would have to dive in myself when he started swimming in the more shallow end of the surf, so I just ran in and grabbed him."

"He was safe and sound and in good health, in fact he did not even seem puffed out. Far fitter than many I know," said Mr Finch.

RSPCA inspector Jason Finch went into the sea to get the piglet

The adventurous little pig was later returned to its owner.

From CBBC newsround

Stray snake mistaken for loom band bracelet in Aberdeen

A wildlife charity wants to find the owner of a tiny stray snake which was mistaken for a loom band bracelet in Aberdeen.

The Scottish SPCA was called in when rubbish collectors found the baby corn snake outside a house.

The little snake, nicknamed Mac, is now in the care of the charity's Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

Animal rescue officer Kim Butrym says snakes are great escape artists.

'Thought he was a loom band'

She said: "Mac was discovered by two waste removal men who were loading an old sofa onto their van.

"He had slithered his way between the cushions and the men actually thought he was a loom band before he started moving.

"Mac is good to handle and it's possible someone is missing him."

If no-one comes forward to collect the snake, rescue officers will try to find a new home for Mac.

From CBBC newsround