Thursday Edition

Good morning

Good morning members, and welcome to December! Oh, how the year has flown by! It seems like only yesterday we were ringing in the new year, and now, we are nearly at the end of another year. I (Vella) don’t know about you all, but I’m feeling a bit emotional and nostalgic today. I'm thinking about all the things that have happened this year, both good and bad. The people we've lost, the friends we've made, and the new experiences we've had. It really has been quite a year, hasn't it? And through it all, you've been here with us. So, from all of us here at the SDC, we just want to say thank you. Thank you for being a part of our little (or should I say growing) community. We really couldn't do it without you.

Now, enough with the sappy stuff! There’s no better way to start off the month than with a smile on our face and a spring in our step. So, let’s get straight to today’s newsletter. First things first, it’s time to give you all the answer to yesterday’s tricky riddle. For those of you who don't remember, the riddle goes:

What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?

Did you get it? The answer is a towel! Oooh, that was a good one, wasn't it? As expected, a ton of you got the answer correct, and you know what that means, right, folks? You get a shout-out! So stick around, and you’ll find a shout-out waiting for you at the end of the newsletter.

Next on the agenda for today, it’s time to share with you a Fascinating Fact!

Did you know that Santa's sleigh has to travel six million miles per hour to deliver presents to all the children around the world? The mystery of how Father Christmas can deliver presents to 700 million children in one night, fit down the chimney and arrive without being seen or heard has been ‘solved’ by Dr Katy Sheen, a physicist from Exeter University. Factoring in the number of children who celebrate Christmas and the total time Santa would have due to time zone differences (31 hours), it was determined that Santa would travel so fast that his reindeer would break the speed of sound. My, my, quite a fact, eh?

Now, what’s happening in Australia and around the world today?

• GOOD NEWS! Starting TODAY, millions of pensioners will receive a $4000 cash boost. Are you eligible?
• This is not a drill! McDonald’s is bringing back highly-requested menu items leaving fans in a frenzy. But you’ll have to be quick to get your hands on them!
• Shoppers are rushing to get their hands on this ALDI Special Buy for an X-rated reason. What is it, and why is it making shoppers go wild?
• WATCH: Sunrise’s David ‘Kochie’ Koch made an embarrassing gaffe live on-air, leaving viewers in stitches.
• A Woolworths worker has revealed the secret schedule for when meat and fresh produce are discounted.
• Aussies are raving about these three simple Kmart hacks, including clever belt storage ideas.
• Did you know that this pantry staple, long considered a guilty pleasure, may actually help you ‘lose weight with little effort’?
• Looking for a way to enjoy the festive season without alcohol? Look no further! Here are 23 of the best non-alcoholic drinks to help reduce your alcohol intake during the holiday season. Cheers!
• Get ready to pay more for your festive favourites, as some of the most popular Christmas staples are set to become more expensive this year. Plus, we have some affordable alternatives.
• Oh no! Australian rock royalty Jimmy Barnes has cancelled his tour following a major health announcement.
• Karl Stefanovic has been chided as a ‘boofhead’ by his Channel Nine colleagues, but now he’s celebrating a major victory in a different industry.
• Are you tired of the same old dishes for dinner? Spice up your evening with a delicious and healthy Beef Stroganoff recipe.
• And finally, we have another hilarious joke courtesy of member @Skipton that will leave you in stitches.

And that’s a wrap of today’s news, ladies and gentlemen! But don’t go anywhere yet, as we have plenty more in store for you, including a hilarious joke from @Luckyus, a spooky but fascinating photo courtesy of @BarryR, and a lovely Christmas memory from @Jewelofthesea. Oh, and have you entered our Christmas Giveaway yet? If not, be sure to do so for your chance to win one of our five $100 vouchers. All you have to do to go in the running is sign up to our forum. If you already have a profile on our forum, then you’re already in the running!

How about a game or two to keep your brain ticking over? Check out our Word Pairs and Abbreviation Game. Of course, we also have our classic games, including Word Association Game, Rearrange, Add or Subtract Word Game! Keep a Word, Drop a Word Game, and Can you name 5? As well as our Sudoku puzzles, OzGrid and OzWord. And our card games, including Solitaire and Blackjack.

And don’t forget to enter our Christmas Competition! Simply tell us your favourite Christmas memories for your chance to win a $100 voucher to the supermarket of your choice (Coles, Woolies, ALDI or IGA!).

As always, members, stay safe and happy reading!

- Jonathan, Vella, Sean, James, Sethia, April, Jarred, Ally & Maddie.