Nik's Musings

  Joanne Rowling was born on July 31, 1965. Rowling was what you would call a bookworm. As a kid, Rowling always dreamed of becoming an author. She wrote her first book titled “Rabbit” at the age of 6. When she turned 11, she wrote her first novel about seven cursed diamonds. It was a strange coincidence that J.K. Rowling studied French at the University of Exeter, as Paris is one of her favourite places to pass time.  One day, on a delayed train from Manchester to London’s Kings Cross, she imagined a huge, rambling, quite scary-looking castle, with a jumble of towers and battlements that taught young students the wonder of magic. She decided to name the series “Harry Potter”. Over the course of 5 years, she mapped out and planned the 7 books of the series. Before she could publish the first book her publisher told her to change her name to J.K Rowling as he thought that young boys would not read a book written by a girl. “Harry Potter” is now a bestselling book series with ov...

  In ancient Rome, gladiators were warriors who fought in huge arenas to entertain the crowds. Most gladiators were slaves, prisoners, or criminals who had no choice but to fight. But some gladiators volunteered because they hoped to win fame and money. The fights took place in massive stadiums like the Colosseum, where thousands of spectators gathered to watch. Gladiators fought using different weapons and techniques. Some carried swords and shields, while others fought with nets, tridents, or even a special type of spear. The training to become a gladiator was intense. They spent hours every day practicing and learning how to fight. They also had to eat carefully and work out to stay strong. Though gladiators were often injured, some became very famous for their skills in the arena. The Roman crowds played an important role in deciding the fate of a defeated gladiator. After a fight, if a gladiator was knocked down, the audience would shout and make a "thumbs up" or "t...

Lunar New Year Lunar New Year is a big holiday celebrated by millions of people around the world, especially in countries like China, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. It marks the beginning of a new year based on the moon’s cycle, not the regular calendar we use. This means the date of Lunar New Year changes every year, but it usually falls between January 21 and February 20. In China, it’s called Chinese New Year, and in Vietnam, it’s called Tết. People celebrate by spending time with their families, eating yummy food, and doing fun traditions. One popular custom is the Lion Dance, where performers dress up like lions and dance in the streets to bring good luck. On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a big dinner with special foods. For example, in China, they eat dumplings, fish (which represents good luck), and rice cakes. It’s also common to clean the house before the holiday to sweep away bad luck and make space for good fortune. Another fun tradition is red envelopes. Kid...