sandcastle competition.

The competition which is called "Castles in the Sand'' will be held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Horseshoe Bay on Saturday, September 13.

Categories consist of children 12 and under, 13 to 19 years-old, adult, family, organisation/company, and visitors.

The rules are easy, everyone works in an eight-foot by eight-foot lot starting at noon and finishing at 4 p.m.

There can be a maximum if five people per team and one category per team.

Members of the IBA Council will be judging and prizes will be awarded.

There will also be a free drinks and giveaways courtesy of John Barritt and Son.

Entry forms can be picked up from IBA and dropped off to Nicky Gurret at the Planning Department. All proceeds go to the IBA scholarship fund.

*** The Bermuda Ostomey Association will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Sunday, September 14 at 1 p.m. at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.

And because of this they would like to educate the public about what ostomy surgery is all about.

More and more people are having ostomy surgery and the association members feel it is important the public understand what it is about.

Ostomy is a type of surgery that diverts body waste to an opening in the abdominal area and into a bag.

Not all ostomies wear a bag, some are able to irrigate each day, needing only a small cover.

People who have had the surgery used specially designed devices which allow them to swim, play tennis and carry on a normal life without anyone being aware of their operation.

The association meets every second month, it advises people who have recently undergone the surgery and provides on-going support.

For more information 292-3470 or 236-4162.

*** In an effort to ensure that students can be welcomed properly at the new Bermuda Conservatory of Music, instruction for the Christmas term which was originally scheduled to begin yesterday will not start until Monday, September 15.

General manager of the newly formed Conservatory, Joe Gibbons said: "We have had new teachers arrive, and some renovations carried out to ensure that we can properly meet the demands of a growing student body.

"It was felt that the extra week will give us the time to ensure that our welcoming of new and previous students is at the proper professional level.''