by Thabo, age 10, asks if cactus harms dogs, about Table Mountain, and Ubuntu
Dear Santa,
Hello from Cape Town. My name is Thabo and I am 10 years old. Christmas here is in the summer, so we often have a braai, which is a barbecue, and go to the beach. We have a big soppy dog named Biscuit who eats absolutely everything he finds, which brings me to my worry.
My first question is: are Christmas cactus plants poisonous to dogs?
My second question is geography: what is the flat-topped mountain in Cape Town called?
My third question is from school: what does the word Ubuntu mean?
I left you a slice of malva pudding and some milk. Please guard it from Biscuit.
Love, Thabo, age 10, Cape Town, South Africa
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Thabo, malva pudding is a triumph, and I am pleased to report I ate it before Biscuit could stage a raid. Now let me ease your worries.
Are Christmas cactus plants poisonous to dogs?
Good news for Biscuit. The Christmas cactus is not poisonous to dogs. It is considered non-toxic, so a nibble will not seriously harm him. That said, if a hungry dog eats a large amount of any plant, he may get an upset tummy for a little while, so it is still sensible to keep the pot out of reach of a champion eater like Biscuit. Your household plants are safe, but perhaps the pudding is not.
What is the flat-topped mountain in Cape Town called?
That magnificent mountain is called Table Mountain, and it gets its name from its remarkably flat top, as though someone had sliced it clean with a knife. When the clouds roll over the edge, people say the table has been laid with a tablecloth. It stands guard over your city and is one of the most recognised sights in all of Africa.
What does the word Ubuntu mean?
Ubuntu is a beautiful idea that comes from southern Africa. It is often explained with the phrase, I am because we are. It means that we become our best selves through kindness to others, and that we are all connected as one human family. A person with Ubuntu is generous, welcoming, and caring. I think it may be one of the wisest ideas in the whole world, and it is one I try to carry in my sack alongside the presents.
Give Biscuit a pat from me, and I shall see you on the warm Christmas Eve.
Ho ho ho, Santa
