Plant lover: Joe Bagley lives in his own personalised jungle. His home is a one-bedroom coach house in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, and it is filled to the rafters with all kinds of potted plants from cacti to ivy and from tropicals to succulents. All told, he estimates that 1,400 plants live in his abode. His love of plants started as a boy of 13 when his grandmother gave him a spider plant cutting. Since then, collecting and caring for plants has become his passion. Even his work involves plants he works in a garden centre.

Close proximity: Those who live near busy highways may not be thrilled with traffic noise, but that's nothing compared to a situation in Cairo, Egypt. Designed to carry fast-moving vehicles, Teraet Al-Zomor Bridge is under construction just 50cm from four high-rise apartment buildings. Apparently the bridge is an important addition to the infrastructure and the construction has a permit. The apartment dwellers will have to relocate as the buildings will be torn down. For now, though, the view from some of the suites is definitely blocked, but hopefully the compensation to the renters will be worth it!

Big loaves: The country of Vietnam holds many tourist attractions, but one unlikely item has people talking - giant loaves of bread. Baker Pham Thi Bac of An Giang province in the Mekong Delta, started making the big loaves in 2018, just for fun. At about one metre long and weighing approximately three kilograms, the loaves taste great and are glazed with butter and seeds. Local people heard about the bread first and started asking for it. Then tourists joined in, wanting to take home a loaf or two as souvenirs - if they could figure out a way to carry them!

House for raffle: Katherine Jablonowska and Ryan Mclean wanted to do something different, so they took on a unique project. They bought a 19th-century cottage on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales and renovated it. But their goal was not to live there. Instead, they plan to raffle it off for 5 per ticket, with the lucky winner becoming the new owner. Originally a working barn, the home is now a beautiful, peaceful abode, with all the bells and whistles of modern life. When selling tickets, the pair is requesting a 1 donation, which they will match and donate to The Children's Society.

Dance to the tune that is played. ~ Spanish proverb

A little alarm now and then keeps life from stagnation. ~ Fanny Burney

Support Creative Northland: Creative Northland has opened a fund to bring new creative projects into our local creative communities. To donate, get in touch with the team on 09 430 0710 or visit www.creativenorthland.com for more details

Holiday Happenings at Kiwi North: open 7 days 10am - 4pm Kiwi North Scavenger Hunt - Fun for the whole family! Kiwi Feeding 11am, 1pm & 3pm daily

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

1. What does the term ipso facto mean?

2. Mexican American performer Carlos Santana is known for playing what instrument?

3. What does a bibliophile collect or have a love for?

4. Author Agatha Christie is best known for writing what type of novels?

5. A brouhaha is a German joke or a ruckus?

It's snowing! Accurately measuring the amount of rainfall is easier than measuring the amount of snowfall. One reason is that snow can stick to the side of the gauge, blocking falling snow from getting into the measuring container.

No arch: In people with flat feet, the whole soles of their feet touch the floor when they are standing because their feet don't have arches. In some people, this condition causes problems, such as foot pain, but others don't have any symptoms.

Zucchini facts: People think of zucchini as a vegetable, but it is actually a fruit. Zucchini have beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, and the skin may be eaten along with the flesh because it is rich in antioxidants.

Funny lady: Maya Rudolph is an alumnus of the famous American skit comedy show, Saturday Night Live. She performed on the show from 2000 to 2007 and became known for her impersonations.

Old tree: A living natural wonder of the world grows in the Abarkuh in Yazd Provice, Iran. This Mediterranean cypress tree, known as Sarv-e Abarkuh, is thought to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.

How are a green apple and a red apple alike? They're both red, except for the green one.

Why are movie stars so cool? They have a lot of fans.

She: I have a doctor's appointment today, but I really don't want to go. He: Just call in sick then.

How do you get down from an elephant? You don't. You get down from a goose.

What disappears the second you start talking about it? Silence.

1. By the fact itself 2. Guitar 3. Books 4. Mystery 5. A ruckus