For your diary

• Projectnews kids are holding a blood donation day today from 9 a.m. till noon at Nazareth Hall, Triq it-Tamal, near Tarxien parish church. Everyone is encouraged to attend and to give blood.

• The final day of the Bird Breeders' Association 26th annual show of cage and aviary birds will run today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Power House, Valletta Waterfront.

• Fr Tonio Mifsud, OFM Conv. is leading an Adoration and Mass today between 8 and 10 p.m. at St Francis church, Msida Road, Birkirkara. Everyone is invited.

• The next MIR prayer meeting led by Fr Hayden will take place on Tuesday between 7 and 10 p.m. at St Anne's parish church, Wied il-Ghajn. The session will include the Rosary, Mass and Adoration, while priests will be available for confession. Participants are asked to bring food for Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem, the Franciscan Capuchin foundation caring for the homeless. For further information, call 9905 7498, e-mail info@mir4malta.org or visit www.mir4malta.org.

• The fundraising card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Preluna Hotel in Sliema is confirmed. For bookings call 2133 0387.

• A five-session parenting skills course organised by Sedqa for parents of adolescents aged between 11 and 16 is starting on Thursday. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Paul Pace hall, Sedqa Prevention Services, 5, Braille Street, St Venera. The fee is €10 per person. Child care facilities for one to 10-year-olds will also be available. For details call Albert Buttigieg or Elizabeth Scerri on 2388 5110 or visit www.sedqa.gov.mt.

• A free public lecture on cryptography entitled 'From Fish to Phishing' by Prof. Kenny Paterson from the Information Security Group, Royal Holloway, University of London, is being held on Friday at 6 p.m. in Room 022, East Building, St Martin's Institute of IT, Hamrun. Cryptography provides security in many facets of everyday life, such as mobile phone calls, credit card payments, and electronic health records. For bookings e-mail infodesk@stmartins.edu or call 2123 5451 by Wednesday.

• The Young Cavaliers club will re-start on Saturday at St James Cavalier, Valletta, with creative crafts, storytelling, and drawing workshops for children. As from this year participants will also be creating their own musical. For details call 2122 3200 or visit www.sjcav.org.

• The Centre of Ignatian Spirituality is organising a half-day reflection on how to pray with the scriptures using Ignatian contemplation on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., lunch included, at Mount St Joseph Retreat House, Mosta. For details call Mary Clare Camilleri on 2141 6916 between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. or e-mail info@ mtsjoseph.org.

• Pinto Band Club is organising a karaoke gathering to celebrate the feast of St Sebastian on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the band club premises in Qormi. Entrance is free. For further information e-mail qalbisti@gmail.com.

• A 1960s night special featuring Freddie Portelli will be held on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Carmelite Family centre hall, Fleur-De-Lys.

• The next monthly cultural tour organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts will be held on Sunday. Transport will leave from Floriana (next to the Independence monument) and Sliema (opposite Nazarene church) at 8.45 a.m. The tour includes visits to the Roman Domus, St Paul's Catacombs in Rabat, the Mdina Dungeons. Tickets are €11 for adults and €8.50 for senior citizens and children. Bookings and payments should be made by Wednesday at the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, 230 Republic Street, Valletta. For more details call Noel D'Amato or Anton Miceli on 2123 2515 or e-mail noeldamato@maltaculture.com.