100 word challenge

The bike I dreaded

It was a rainy 3:05, and the bell rang. I knew I had to bike home, because my parents are as hard as rock; they wouldn't just come and pick me up with the bike rack. I pulled on my waterproof jacket and my hi viz, grabbed my bike from the bike shed, and set off into the wet, miserable weather with a positive mindset (sorta). After what felt like years, I reached read street, which fortunately for me, is downhill. But unfortunately, is heading straight into the wind and rain. I was biking down at the speed of light, then I saw it. A dead hedgehog, lying there. I grimaced and swerved around it, water welling up in my eyes. Either from the rainwater or my sympathy for the hedgehog. I imagined being at home by the nice warm fire with my pjś on, and smiled.

Why do we need water? By Kezia

Why do we need water?

                        

We need water for many different reasons. Your body is made up of approximately %60 water, and needs to be topped up constantly. It hydrates us and helps almost every living thing survive, everyone needs different amounts of water and there are many health benefits of drinking water. 

My first point is that we need water to stay alive. It's as simple as that. We lose water by sweating, going to the toilet, digestion, when we sleep and even just by breathing. That is why you need to be topping up constantly. Water hydrates us and stops our throat and lips going dry, helps control our temperature and greases joints, so we can keep them moving when we are active. If you simply decided to stop drinking water altogether, you could die within 3-4 days. As well as getting not enough water, you can also have too much of it, that is a condition called Hyponatremia. When you think too much about drinking water and drink it all the time, you will get over hydrated and that causes your body to get Hyponatremia. 

Secondly, the amount of water people need to survive varies. The average human needs 2-3 litres of water a day, but new research shows that the amount of water we drink depends largely on our weight and environment. You can find water in many foods as well, which makes up about ⅕ of our daily intake of H20. Fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, spinach, cucumber and even brussel sprouts include just over 80% of water.  A new study also found that men need 2.5-3.7 litres of water and women need 2-2.7 litres of water a day. 

My last point is that water can also have many health benefits for humans, like functioning better at school, or work, and improving your energy, effort and mood. A dehydrated brain works harder to accomplish the same amount of work as a hydrated brain, meaning that if you drink water you are more likely to get through a decent amount of work. Another benefit is that water helps strengthen cells in your body, meaning you have a good, strong healthy body!

In conclusion, your body needs water to survive, stay hydrated, and function properly. I hope you have learnt more about why it is so important to drink water all the time. 

Tangiwai Disaster in New Zealand

Hi guys! Here is My informative report on the Tangiwai disaster in NZ! Comment down bellow questions, opinions and other statements. I'd love to hear from you!!

Tangiwai disaster- Tangiwai meaning “ weeping waters” in Maori. 

24th December 1953 10:21pm

It was Christmas Eve, and most of the 285 passengers were heading home for Christmas with presents, toys and gifts for friends and family. Then, at 10:21pm, the train to Auckland plunged into the flooded river. The Whangaehu river bridge that the train was crossing had been fatally weakened by a volcanic lahar from Mt Ruapehu's crater lake so the locomotive and first 6 carriages derailed into the river. 151 people on board died.The people waiting to meet their loved ones at the different stations up the line had no idea what had just happened.

 In the next few days, searchers found many mud-soaked presents, toys and teddy bears on the banks of Whangaehu. Among the few from the second-class carriages ( the front of the train) to survive was Richard Edward Brett who was 18 years old, who somehow avoided being swept to his death down the flooded river. Charles Parker- the driver, had applied the emergency brakes around 200 metres from the bridge, an action which stopped the last three carriages from ending up in the river and saved many lives. 

That event made headlines around the globe the next morning and our nation was stunned. The Tangiwai disaster is known to be the world's eighth deadliest rail disaster. Charles Parker- the driver, had applied the emergency brakes around 200 m from the bridge, an action which prevented the last three carriages from ending up in the river and saved many lives. 

Some survivors have trouble celebrating Christmas because it brings back memories of that night, many of the passengers were travelling with family or friends and many lost those people and so Christmas makes them think of the death of their loved ones. For other people, survivors try their best to make Christmas the best it can possibly be for their children and grandchildren. In the queen's annual christmas speech- broadcasted from Auckland- she mentioned the Tangiwai disaster and gave a message of sympathy to the people of New Zealand. 

By Kezia Pestell