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Beloved teddy bear left in airport lounge rescued by airline

<p dir="ltr">Staff at British Airways have rescued a child’s stuffed teddy bear that was left behind in an airport lounge, documenting the toy’s safe journey home. </p> <p dir="ltr">The treasured teddy was found in the British Airways lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport by nine-year-old Alex, who accidentally left the toy behind before boarding a flight home to Dubai. </p> <p dir="ltr">After staff found the stranded toy, a new flight and boarding pass was created for Postman Bear, while members of the BA team gave the teddy the”'VIP treatment”  with a journey on an airport buggy to “catch up” with the Cabin Crew Operations team in the Crew Report Centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Postman Bear was then taken to meet the cabin crew on his new flight to Dubai and was pictured “patiently” waiting for his flight at the gate, drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying “some great views of the aircraft” while waiting to board. </p> <p dir="ltr">The teddy’s journey home was lovingly captured by British Airways customer manager, Ed Tumath, who sent the snaps back to young Alex to assure him his beloved bear was being looked after. </p> <p dir="ltr">After touching down in Dubai, the cabin crew took Postman Bear to reunite with Alex and the rest of his family for a “bear-y happy reunion”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stuart, Alex's parent, recalled the moment they knew the teddy was missing, while praising British Airways for their tireless journey to reunite Alex with his bear. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stuart said, “My son had left his teddy bear - huge sentimental value as he has had the teddy since birth - in the British Airways lounge ahead of the flight. We noticed as the aircraft doors were closing so nothing could be done at that point.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“This was very distressing to my son who uses the teddy as a calming item, especially when flying. This was incredibly stressful and we feared that his beloved teddy may be lost forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Whilst onboard the flight, I took to a series of Facebook groups to seek help in finding the teddy. A member of the group contacted Ed who came to the rescue. I managed to communicate with Ed on the flight and received a picture showing that the teddy had been found, which calmed my son.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only did Ed go out of his way to find the teddy but he communicated so well throughout. He genuinely cared about the situation and worked so hard to get the teddy back to us.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He arranged for the teddy to board a flight to Dubai a couple of days later and a crew member handed the teddy back to us. Not only did Ed excel in his caring manner and communication, he even provided a few pictures of the teddy's journey, which my son will treasure forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“My son was so relieved - words could not express how grateful we are to Ed for his kind act and dedication to getting the teddy back to us. I have been flying with BA for many years - this is the best experience I have had by far and I am overwhelmed by Ed's efforts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sometimes amazing people do incredible things and show such kindness along the way... these things matter. This meant a huge amount to my family and I, and we will be forever grateful.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: British Airways</em></p>

International Travel

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"I miss her hugs": British acting legend shares heartbreaking loss

<p>Actor Warwick Davis has shared the heartbreaking news of his wife's death. </p> <p>The actor, known for his roles in <em>Harry Potter</em> and <em>Star Wars</em>, took to social media to share the news of his wife Samantha's death, who passed away at the age of 53. </p> <p>“Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family. I miss her hugs”, Warwick, 54, said.</p> <p>He added, “She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life she had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes.</p> <p>“Without Sammy, there would have been no Tenable quiz show, no Willow series. No Idiot Abroad Series 3.”</p> <p>Warwick said Samantha was his “most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career”.</p> <p>The couple’s children, Harrison and Annabelle, added, “Mum is our best friend and we’re honoured to have received a love like hers</p> <p>“Her love and happiness carried us through our whole lives”.</p> <p>Warwick and Samantha met on the set of the movie Willow in 1988 and got married three years later. </p> <p>Samantha had achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism.</p> <p>Warwick has previously opened up about his wife’s health after she was rushed to hospital with sepsis in 2018, and had to undergo several different surgeries to stabilise her condition. </p> <p>Warwick, co-founder of charity Little People UK, has often spoken out about the health battles related to his condition, as well his wife’s.</p> <p>He was born with Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), an extremely rare genetic form of dwarfism, which has been inherited by both their daughter Annabelle and son Harrison.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Caring

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Does British tourism really need the royal family?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ross-bennett-cook-1301368">Ross Bennett-Cook</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916">University of Westminster</a></em></p> <p>Love them or loathe them, the royal family are up there with red telephone boxes and scones when it comes to images of Britishness. Souvenir shops are full of their faces, newspapers across the world discuss them, and <a href="https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/09/13/netflixs-the-crown-skyrockets-in-popularity-following-the-queens-death">television dramas</a> based on their lives have never been more popular.</p> <p>Whenever people are critical of the royal family, the oft-repeated retort is “but think of the tourism!”. This has been particularly common rhetoric recently, as <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/who-paid-for-coronation-b2334669.html">many people question</a> how a country facing mass strikes and a crippling cost of living crisis can afford the estimated <a href="https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/explained/how-much-king-charles-iii-coronation-cost-who-pays-for-it/">£100 million</a> cost of King Charles III’s coronation.</p> <p>In a recent <a href="https://yougov.co.uk/topics/arts/survey-results/daily/2023/04/18/25178/3">YouGov poll</a>, 51% did not believe the coronation should be paid for by taxpayers. For young people, this figure was even higher, at 62%. But supporters will often use <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/charles-iii-ap-coronation-buckingham-palace-elizabeth-ii-b2326220.html">tourism</a> as justification for lavish expenses.</p> <p>The royal family does bring tourism to the UK. The economic consultancy Centre for Economics and Business Research <a href="https://cebr.com/reports/uk-economy-raises-a-glass-to-337-million-coronation-boost-from-tourism-and-pub-activity/">estimated</a> that the coronation weekend would lead to a £337 million boost from tourism and pub spending.</p> <p>But if the royal family were to disappear, would the UK’s tourism industry suddenly implode?</p> <p>2011 research by <a href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20140722183820/http://www.visitbritain.org/mediaroom/archive/2011/vbrwwedding.aspx">Visit Britain</a> found that around 60% of tourists to the UK are likely to visit places associated with the royal family. While there is no more recent specifically royal data, in 2022 Visit Britain found that history and heritage was the biggest <a href="https://www.visitbritain.org/MIDAS-research-project">pull factor to tourists</a>.</p> <p>And while the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1468797606071477">international perception</a> of Britain is certainly intertwined with the royal family, this does not tell us whether a reigning royal family is necessary for tourism. After all, the history surrounding the monarchy and places associated with them would still be here even if the royal family was not. Ottoman palaces of Istanbul remain <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/most-visited-castles-palaces/index.html">wildly popular</a> attractions 100 years since the collapse of the caliphate, as are the royal châteaus of France or imperial palaces of China.</p> <p>Lack of royalty does not seem to have affected these countries’ appeal, each of which attract <a href="https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/epdf/10.18111/wtobarometereng.2020.18.1.7">more tourists</a> annually than the UK.</p> <h2>A special relationship</h2> <p>The USA is the UK’s <a href="https://www.visitbritain.org/inbound-tourism-trends-old">largest tourist market</a>, and <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/05/05/coronation-american-tourists-britain-boom-royal-family-usa/">American tourists</a> do seem to be very fond of things associated with British royalty.</p> <p>But this may change with the new monarch. In a <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/entertainment/articles-reports/2021/02/17/british-royals-popular-america-poll">poll taken in February 2021</a>, before the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a whopping 68% of Americans viewed her favourably. The same poll found only 34% had a favourable opinion of Charles – but this has changed in his favour following his accession to the throne, according to a <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/articles-reports/2023/05/05/americans-think-british-royal-family-charles">poll taken before the coronation</a> which gave him a 50% approval rating in the US. That said, 62% of people in the US said they did not care about the coronation very much or at all.</p> <p>Outside America, the UK’s next largest tourist groups have significantly less interest in the royal family. The holiday firm <a href="https://www.traveldailymedia.com/study-reveals-importance-of-royal-family-to-uk-tourism-industry/">Travelzoo</a> found in 2016 that just 19% of German, 15% of French and only 10% of Spanish travellers want to come to the UK because of the British monarchy.</p> <h2>Where do tourists go?</h2> <p>Typically, when commentators discuss the royal contributions to tourism, they talk about significant events such as weddings, jubilees, coronations and funerals. Even though these events attract huge crowds, they happen rarely and are unrepresentative of the tourism industry as a whole. Research <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13548166211004361">has found</a> that royal weddings massively improve a country’s image and brand awareness, but are not comparable to major mega events such as the Fifa World Cup, the Super Bowl or the Olympics.</p> <p>Even though royal places are popular, they are far from our most popular attractions. Of Britain’s <a href="https://www.visitbritain.org/annual-survey-visits-visitor-attractions-latest-results">ten most visited</a> free and paid-for attractions in 2021, none were royal attractions. The <a href="https://www.visitbritain.org/sites/default/files/vb-corporate/top_20_listings.pdf">highest ranking</a> royal attraction was the Tower of London, making only 17th on the list.</p> <p>Typically, Chester Zoo attracts more visitors than Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace, although these statistics do not differentiate between domestic and international tourists. In the most recent <a href="https://www.windsor.gov.uk/dbimgs/Windsor%202017%20Visitor%20Survey%20final%20report%2028_11_17.pdf">Windsor visitor survey</a>, the majority of its tourists came from overseas.</p> <p>Anti-monarchy group <a href="https://www.republic.org.uk/tourism">Republic</a> has disputed the widely cited figure that the monarchy generates £500 million in tourism income for the UK annually – which itself would be only a small fraction of Britain’s £127 billion tourism economy.</p> <p>The group also questions why royalty <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hL9yDOK48A">barely feature</a> on British tourism campaigns or advertisements, if they are so vital to the tourism economy.</p> <p>It is impossible to deny that royalty adds to the UK’s appeal as a tourist destination – the history and associated heritage is famous worldwide. However, what is questionable is whether a reigning monarchy is necessary for this attractiveness to continue.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205158/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ross-bennett-cook-1301368"><em>Ross Bennett-Cook</em></a><em>, Visiting Lecturer, School of Architecture + Cities, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916">University of Westminster</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-british-tourism-really-need-the-royal-family-205158">original article</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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World's most powerful women come together to mark the end of an era

<p>A group of the most powerful and influential women in the worlds of fashion and entertainment have joined forces to appear on a legendary cover of <em>British Vogue</em>. </p> <p>The iconic cover shoot occurred to celebrate the magazine's editor Edward Enninful, who is stepping back from the role after six years at the helm. </p> <p>Enninful gathered his muses for the history-making "Legendary" edition, featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Selma Blair, Salma Hayek, Victoria Beckham, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, and many more. </p> <p>"To get one of these women on a cover takes months. To get 40? Unheard of," Cyrus remarked in an on-set video.</p> <p>In a post to social media, Selma Blair remarked that she "didn't want the day to end". </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3FtXApL8_O/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3FtXApL8_O/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by British Vogue (@britishvogue)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The shoot also included models Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss, alongside the original '90s supermodels – Naomi Campbell, Iman, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford.</p> <p>Evangelista said of the iconic shoot, "I've met so many people today on my bucket list".</p> <p>Hayek also posted about the experience on Instagram, saying, "So honoured to be part of this legendary cover of British Vogue and Edward Enninful's muses, especially because they are my muses too!" </p> <p>Jane Fonda summed up the energy of the day on set, saying, "Women understand the importance and power of the collective."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p> </p>

Beauty & Style

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British expat cops backlash for calling Australia the "worst country in the world"

<p>British expat and former school teacher Sabrina "Bree" Collins, has faced backlash online after labelling Australia as the "worst country in the world". </p> <p>The former teacher, who is also a writer, went on an extensive rant on social media about her experience living in Queensland and why she hates it, and the video has since gone viral.</p> <p>"Australia has destroyed everything that I was before I came here and there's so much that's happened while I've here but it's not safe to go public with everything that's happened to me," she began her rant. </p> <p>Collins who moved to Australia from the UK, then shared her unsolicited advice for those hoping to migrate Down Under. </p> <p>"When you're a British woman on the other side of the world, you've really got to sit down and think was it worth it? </p> <p>"If you're a British person sat home in the UK and you're wondering about this fantastic life you could have in Australia, you need to know a few things first." </p> <p>She then went on to label Australia as "very sexist", "abusive", "isolated" and "behind".</p> <p>"The internet is like really behind, technology is behind.</p> <p>"When you are in Australia you feel really, really isolated. You feel like you're stuck in the 1980s, and if you're a woman it's even worse," she said.</p> <p>"And I know loads of people are going to contradict what I'm saying and say, 'I'm living a fantastic life in Australia, 'well look at me, look at my CV, look at all my accomplishments before I moved out to Australia, and look at the way I've been treated."</p> <p>The expat who has a masters degree in education, and more than five years experience as a teacher, has claimed that her career as a teacher was ruined due to the abuse she received.</p> <p>She claimed that as a result of the abuse, she now feels too frightened to set foot in a school in Australia. </p> <p>"And that's why I cannot see a purpose or reason to stay in Australia." </p> <p>She then went on to say that she hopes to move to a "more progressive country" like the US, and write a book about her experiences in Australia. </p> <p>Her video has not been well-received, with many telling her to leave clowning her for calling the US more progressive. </p> <p>"Please leave.. and don't trash my country. I've seen yours and you all come over for many reasons," one Aussie commented. </p> <p>"Don’t let the door hit you on your way out missy!! Bye Felicia," another wrote. </p> <p>"UK is far more worse than Australia mate. Have lived in both countries here is lot lot better," a third wrote.</p> <p>"Oh, boo hoo. Please move. As an American, it’s way more backwards than Australia," an American commented on her desire to move to the US. </p> <p>"You're going to exactly the right place for you. You’ll find the schools are really safe and the police...very safe country for women," another added sarcastically. </p> <p>Other's pointed out that she was living up to the British stereotype of a "whinging pom".</p> <p>Collins is not the only British expat to find issue with the way of life in Australia.</p> <p>A few months ago, another expat <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/please-don-t-be-mad-british-expat-s-bone-to-pick-with-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went viral</a> for listing things she finds frustrating after living in Australia, although she pleaded for everyone's understanding.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Rod Stewart lists $105 million LA mansion

<p>Legendary rocker Rod Stewart has put his mega mansion on the market.</p> <p>The listing comes just days after the star’s former Malibu home was listed for an asking price of $49.5m (AU$74.2m), with the Wall Street Journal first reporting his current Los Angeles compound is asking for $70m (AU$105m).</p> <p>With a European style, situated in the gated enclave of North Beverly Park, the property spans 3,065 sqm with a pool and a soccer field.</p> <p>Although a soccer field is a rarity in LA, it’s no surprise Stewart, 78, is an avid soccer fan.</p> <p>The 78-year-old was even spotted in Malibu playing football with the Scottish national team on the beach after inviting them to play there.</p> <p>The Journal noted that according to sales records, Stewart purchased the property in 1991 for $12,08m. He also owns a home in Palm Beach, Florida.</p> <p>Images of the home showcase Old World-style finishes such as ceiling mouldings and medallions, Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and stunning marble floors in various patterns.</p> <p>The main house boasts nine bedrooms, one being the primary suite with a sitting room and a terrace that looks over the pool.</p> <p>The main wardrobe is also found in the primary suite — one large enough to store the rocker’s massive show collection.</p> <p>Elsewhere offers entertaining areas, including a flashy speak-easy with eye-catching jade green-painted walls.</p> <p>A main-floor great room showcases a bar and a loggia to spend time with guests outdoors.</p> <p>The listing also includes a three-stories-tall guest house with two gyms.</p> <p>Michelle Oliver of Douglas Elliman has the listing and declined to reveal why the British icon has decided to sell.</p> <p>She noted it is suitable for owners who are seeking “a return to maximalism” and for “something that looks different and stands out.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty / Realtor.com</em></p>

Real Estate

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Tourist faces $10k fine for jumping into iconic harbour

<p>Footage surfaced online of the man leaping from Opera Bar, just a few metres away from the Opera House.</p> <p>While his jump was certainly surprising, what shocked viewers was the hefty fine the tourist could be slapped with following his return from the water.</p> <p>Security helped the man back over the harbour ledge before telling him the risky stunt could see him $10,000 poorer.</p> <p><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7235491102143401234&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40futuretravellers23%2Fvideo%2F7235491102143401234%3Flang%3Den&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fo03m1enFIeAeQNC0aCDgjQIXDXzvbjDTIIabA4%3Fx-expires%3D1686200400%26x-signature%3DoWRm%252BIslhOfB81xvrV77sRxfWog%253D&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>“Well there's a very good reason why you've never seen anyone jump into the sea from the Opera House... I'll show you why,' Future Travellers said in a TikTok clip.</p> <p>In a second TikTok, the young man is seen talking to a group of police officers.<iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7239141948261534984&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40futuretravellers23%2Fvideo%2F7239141948261534984%3Flang%3Den&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fbc76967996de4cefb23cfe5e6930fddc_1685494092%3Fx-expires%3D1686200400%26x-signature%3DSY8QPztxLxbP%252FPfYm4itGUmYloE%253D&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>However, a number of viewers commenting about the eye-watering fine also noted it was the least of the swimmer’s worries.</p> <p>"I'm a Sydney gal and it's not the $10,000 that scares me, it's the huge bull sharks that lurk in those waters,' one person wrote.</p> <p>“It’s a busy shipping lane and if it was full of floating tourists the ferries couldn't run,” another said.</p> <p>“I'm sure if he got run over by ferry his family would be suing NSW government for compensation,” a third added.</p> <p>Others were skeptical of the large fine.</p> <p>The official fine for swimming around the Opera House is a maximum of $1,100 with the law stating a person must not “swim to and enter on any part of the Opera House premises or swim from any part of those premises”.</p> <p>Several others were impressed by the young man’s jump and slammed NSW for being a “nanny state”.</p> <p>“Welcome to Sydney, please do not do anything,” one person remarked.</p> <p>“This guy is an absolute legend,” another wrote.</p> <p>'Only $10,000 per dip? It's probably cheaper to live in the harbour than some apartments. Sign me up,' a third joked.</p> <p>“Australia has a fine for everything,” another claimed.</p> <p>Earlier footage of the risky trick was shared alongside a montage of the tourist showing his British mum around Australia.</p> <p>The first video left viewers astounded with one writing, “In all my life living in Sydney I've never seen anyone jump in at the opera house!”</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Oh buoy! British tourist learns a tough lesson in taking a drunken dip

<p>When this British tourist decided it would be a good idea to take a morning dip, he could not possibly have anticipated the way his day was going to go. </p> <p>In a clip that has taken the internet by storm, the holidaymaker was found clinging to a buoy at about 7 am in the morning, roughly 3.2 kilometres off the coast of Thailand near Pattaya. </p> <p>As to why he’d been out there so early in the first place? It had seemed like a “good idea”. </p> <p>The young man was reportedly intoxicated at the time of his discovery, when a boat passed by and he waved them down in his swimming shorts, seemingly hoping to catch a ride back to shore. </p> <p>After getting himself onboard, he took a moment to try and catch his breath, before informing the captain that his situation had arisen from him waking up and thinking a swim would be a good idea first thing. And before launching into some small talk with his saviour, he elaborated on his peculiar situation by adding, “I swim swim swim and then…”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNewsflare%2Fvideos%2F584202360137745%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=380&amp;t=0" width="380" height="476" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The boat’s captain, Charawat Rasrikrit, later reported that the young man appeared to be unhurt, and that he had been returned to his hotel. </p> <p>“I went to the temple early in the morning because it was a Buddhist holy day. I drove my boat and did not expect to see [a] tourist,” he admitted. “He was waving at me and said he could not swim back.</p> <p>“Maybe the Buddha took me to that area of the sea to help him. It was a holiday, not many boats would pass by him if I didn't come.</p> <p>“I see a lot of tourists get into trouble here. I thought that maybe he had been out partying the night before and was still in a good mood in the morning. He was probably still a little bit drunk. </p> <p>“A lot of tourists behave strangely when they come here.”</p> <p><em>Images: News Flare / Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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The most memorable coronations in British history

<p><strong>A Thousand Years of Coronations</strong></p> <p>On May 6, King Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey with his consort, Queen Camilla. While Charles became King at the moment of the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022, the coronation ceremony serves to symbolize the monarch’s lifelong commitment to the roles of sovereign and supreme Governor of the Church of England. At the event, King Charles III will be crowned King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. He’ll be anointed with holy oil, and will swear to govern as a constitutional monarch according to the laws decided in parliament.</p> <p>While key traditions associated with modern royal weddings, christenings and jubilees date from Queen Victoria’s reign in the 19th century, the coronation service is much older. It was written by St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury in AD 973, and Westminster Abbey has been the setting for coronations since 1066. Charles III will be the 40th monarch to be crowned there.</p> <p>Despite centuries of past precedents, each monarch brings their own personal touch to their coronation, whether it’s spending lavishly or sticking to a budget, commissioning new music or new Crown Jewels, or, more recently, inviting television cameras into Westminster Abbey. Here are 12 memorable British royal coronations that shaped the history of the monarchy from medieval to modern times – including a few that did not go according to plan.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (1953) Coronation on television</strong></p> <p>The accession of the 25-year-old Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6, 1952, symbolised the beginning of “a new Elizabethan age” after the austerity of the Second World War. The decision to invite television cameras into Westminster Abbey to film the whole ceremony (except for the sacred anointing of the monarch) on June 2, 1953, seemed to bring the monarchy into the modern age, allowing audiences around the world to feel as though they were part of this landmark event. More than 250-million people watched on television as Queen Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms, many purchasing television sets for the first time for the occasion and hosting coronation parties. In Westminster Abbey, the four-year-old future King Charles III attended the ceremony, seated between his aunt, Princess Margaret, and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King George VI (1937) A Change in King </strong></p> <p>While 16 months passed between Elizabeth II’s accession and coronation, her father, King George VI, didn’t have nearly so long to wait. When Edward VIII abdicated to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, George VI succeeded his brother as King, and was crowned just five months later on Dec. 11, 1936 – the day originally scheduled for Edward’s coronation. Under the circumstances, the coronation followed past traditions to emphasise continuity, but there were a few significant departures. For the first time, the coronation was broadcast on the radio and film footage was shown in cinema newsreels. The coronation oath also changed to reflect the equal status of the United Kingdom and Dominions following the 1926 Balfour Declaration and 1931 Statute of Westminster. George VI swore “to govern the peoples of Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa, of your Possessions and the other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, and of your Empire of India, according to their respective laws and customs” – setting the tone for the development of the modern Commonwealth.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King George V (1911) A New Crown</strong></p> <p>St. Edward’s Crown has been used at coronations since 1661, but it wasn’t permanently set with precious stones until much more recently. (Instead, gems were loaned by jewellers to decorate the crown for individual coronations, then returned after the ceremony.) For his 1911 coronation, King George V and his consort, Queen Mary, arranged for the crown to be permanently set with 444 precious stones. Queen Mary purchased an Art Deco-inspired crown for her own crowning as Queen consort, and this will be used to crown Queen Camilla at Charles III’s coronation.</p> <p>George V’s coronation was also notable for the additional events planned around the coronation to showcase the British Empire and the Royal Navy. There was a Coronation Naval Review of the Fleet, which attracted a quarter-million spectators, and a Festival of Empire, which included “Inter-Empire Championships,” the forerunner of the modern Commonwealth Games.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King Edward VII (1902) A Medical Emergency</strong></p> <p>When Queen Victoria’s eldest son succeeded to throne in 1901 as King Edward VII at the age of 59, planning his coronation was a challenge. So much time had passed since Victoria’s coronation in 1838 that few people remembered how the ceremony should unfold. Luckily, Victoria’s elderly cousin, Princess Augusta of Cambridge was on hand to provide valuable insights for the planning committee.</p> <p>Once the plans were in place, they were derailed by a medical emergency. Just two days before the planned coronation on June 26, 1902, Edward VII underwent an emergency operation for appendicitis on a table in the music room of Buckingham Palace. The coronation was rescheduled to Aug. 9. Despite his uncertain health, Edward VII refused suggestions that the ceremony, including the anointing, be condensed, stating, “If I am going to be done, I am going to be done properly.”</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of Queen Victoria (1838) Leftovers in Westminster Abbey</strong></p> <p>The coronation of the 19-year-old Queen Victoria on June 28, 1838, took place without a rehearsal, resulting in numerous mishaps. When the Queen entered St. Edward’s chapel in Westminster Abbey, she found half-eaten sandwiches and empty bottles of wine on the altar, which had been enjoyed by guests involved in the ceremony including Prime Minister Lord Melbourne. An 82-year-old peer named Lord Rolle stumbled on the steps before the throne while paying homage to the Queen and rolled backward, regaining his footing with the Queen’s assistance. Queen Victoria noted another uncomfortable moment in her journal: “The Archbishop had (most awkwardly) put the [coronation] ring on the wrong finger, and the consequence was that I had the greatest difficulty to take it off again, which I at last did with great pain.”</p> <p>The young Queen’s calm demeanour and good humour during all these unfortunate moments endeared her to the public. Throughout her long reign, Victoria would ensure royal ceremonies were better organized, introducing innovations that continue to the present day.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King William IV (1831) The Half-Crown Nation</strong></p> <p>Queen Victoria’s uncle, William IV, was a retired naval officer who had no interest in royal ceremony. Over the course of his seven-year reign, he repeatedly tried to give away Buckingham Palace. (Neither the navy nor parliament was interested.) After first questioning whether a coronation was necessary at all, William ultimately conceded to a simplified ceremony. He agreed to travel to Westminster Abbey in the gold state coach (above) commissioned for the coronation of his father, King George III, but he refused to allow a coronation banquet and wore his admiral’s uniform rather than ceremonial dress. Tory members of parliament who objected to the comparative absence of pomp and circumstance nicknamed the ceremony, “The Half-Crown Nation.”</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King George IV (1821) No Invitation for the Queen Consort</strong></p> <p>William IV’s determination to hold a coronation on a budget may have been an effort to distance himself from his unpopular older brother (and predecessor), George IV. Known for his lavish spending, George IV had the most expensive coronation in British history, complete with a new crown decorated with 12,000 diamonds. An enthusiastic collector of French art and furnishings, he also commissioned an exact replica of Napoleon Bonaparte’s lavish coronation robes from a workshop in Paris – a controversial decision in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars.</p> <p>His coronation would not be remembered for its pageantry, however, but for the King’s refusal to invite the Queen consort to the ceremony. When George IV’s estranged wife, Caroline of Brunswick, arrived at Westminster Hall, she was told by the doorman that she could not enter without a ticket. Her efforts to find another entrance were blocked by a line of soldiers. After arguing with numerous officials, the uncrowned consort departed in her carriage as the crowds chanted, “Shame! Shame!” She died two weeks later.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King George II (1727) Coronation Anthems</strong></p> <p>The coronation of George IV’s great-grandfather, George II, also included extravagant fashions. George II’s Queen consort, Caroline of Ansbach, wore a dress so heavily encrusted with jewels that she required a pulley to lift the skirt so that she could kneel to take communion during the ceremony. The enduring legacy of George II’s coronation, however, was the composition of four choral coronation anthems by George Frederic Handel. The most famous of these anthems, Zadok the Priest, has been sung before the anointing at every subsequent monarch’s coronation.</p> <p>In 2023, Charles III followed in George II’s footsteps by commissioning new coronation anthems. There will 12 original compositions performed at Charles III’s coronation, including an anthem by Andrew Lloyd Weber.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of Charles II (1661) New Crown Jewels</strong></p> <p>The English Civil Wars left the country without a king for 11 years. When Charles II returned to England to reclaim the throne in 1660, a coronation was essential to symbolise the restoration of the monarchy. Unfortunately, only one piece of coronation regalia had survived: the silver anointing spoon acquired by Henry II or his son Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century. Recognising the urgent need for new Crown Jewels, Charles II commissioned a new St. Edward’s Crown, orb and sceptre from his goldsmith, Sir Edward Vyner – then defaulted on the payments for the regalia following the Stop of the Exchequer in 1672, when the state defaulted on its debts.</p> <p>After the ceremony, the new Crown Jewels were stored in the Tower of London, where they made a tempting target for thieves. In 1671, an Anglo-Irish officer by the name of Colonel Thomas Blood gained access to the Tower of London disguised as clergyman, overpowered the Master of the Jewel House and stole St. Edward’s Crown. Blood was apprehended on Tower Wharf, shouting, “It was a gallant attempt, however unsuccessful! It was for a crown!” Security at the Tower of London would improve, but attempts to steal the Crown Jewels continue to this day.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of Henry III (1216 and 1220) Two Coronations</strong></p> <p>Charles II wasn’t the only king who scrambled to find a crown in time for his coronation. When Henry III succeeded his father, the villainous King John, at the age of nine, he was left without royal regalia. (John had lost the Crown Jewels when his baggage train overturned in a marsh in 1215, as he hurried to flee rebel barons and a French invasion after repudiating Magna Carta earlier that year.)</p> <p>The First Barons’ War was still raging when John died suddenly in 1216. With rebel barons and a French army occupying London, Westminster Abbey was not available as a coronation venue. Henry’s supporters hastily organized a ceremony at Gloucester Cathedral where the boy king was crowned with one of his mother’s circlets just 10 days after his father’s death. Neither the young king nor his regents thought this coronation was sufficient to guarantee a monarch’s authority in tumultuous times, so after the First Barons’ War ended and the French were defeated, the teenaged Henry petitioned the Pope for permission to be crowned again. In 1220, Henry III received a traditional coronation at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of King William I (1066) Riot on Coronation Day</strong></p> <p>After William, Duke of Normandy defeated the last Anglo-Saxon English King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he was crowned King William I at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. When the bishops performing the ceremony asked the English people if they accepted their new King, the crowds shouted their approval – in English. Unfortunately, William’s guards spoke only Norman French and thought they were hearing an assassination attempt. The guards began attacking the crowds and set fire to nearby buildings. Inside Westminster Abbey, the coronation guests panicked and stampeded out of the Abbey before the ceremony was over. The riot at the coronation left the new king so concerned about his personal security that he ordered the construction of the Tower of London as a royal residence, fortress and prison; a historic site which still stands today.</p> <p><strong>The Coronation of Edgar the Peaceable (973) 1000 Years of Monarchy</strong></p> <p>In 973, St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote the coronation service for the crowning of the Anglo-Saxon King of England, Edgar the Peaceable, and his consort, Aelfthryth, at Bath Abbey. The ceremony marked the zenith of Edgar’s reign rather than its beginning. By 973, Edgar had been king for 14 years, taking advantage of a lull in Viking attacks to acquire more ships and reform the monasteries.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 26px; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial !important;">In 1973, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and their children attended a service at Bath Abbey to mark the 1000th anniversary of Edgar the Peaceable’s coronation. When King Charles III is crowned, he will be following in the footsteps of a thousand years of kings and queens who pledged their lifelong commitment to their people in a coronation ceremony.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 26px; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial !important;"><em>Image credits: Getty/Shutterstock</em></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 26px; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial !important;"><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/the-most-memorable-coronations-in-british-history?pages=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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"You're all wrong": Expat slams Aussie snacks

<p>A Canadian expat has given a controversial opinion on several popular Aussie snacks.</p> <p>Her opinion, which no one asked for, claimed that some of Australia’s most cherished snacks were simply not worth the hype.</p> <p>Iona claimed that since she’s lived in the country for nearly seven years, she was entitled to a candid opinion, free of nostalgic basis.</p> <p>The expat clearly knew her video would cause a stir as she pleaded for people “not to get mad”.</p> <p>She began her TikTok, "These are Aussie snacks I would not touch with a 10-foot pole,”</p> <p>The first snack she blasted was the infamous Smith’s Burger Rings, a BBQ flavoured corn-based chip that is no doubt an Aussie staple.</p> <p>"Burger rings are a crime to tastebuds everywhere," she said. "They don't even taste like burgers, they taste like sadness.”</p> <p>From there she was quick to attack the next product, Arnott’s beloved TeeVee snacks.</p> <p>"I would rather go to Bunnings and suck on sandpaper than eat these again," she said, pointing to a TeeVee snack box. "You're all wrong.”</p> <p>The beloved Arnott’s Chicken Crimpy shapes also came under the line of fire, with Iona sharing they “taste like nothing”.</p> <p>Even Cadbury made the list with their strawberry flavoured Freddos and the Caramilk bar, both labelled a solid “no” for the Canadian. “Jail. Immediate jail!” she remarked.</p> <p>Aussies were quick to shut her down, sharing their opinions in the comment section.</p> <p>"You don't have Aussie tastebuds. They all rock,” one wrote.</p> <p>“Nah, you've too far gone!” another responded, with the official TikTok account for Shapes replying, ”Agreed."</p> <p>Another TikToker remarked, “I really tried to be tolerant and accepting but I punched a hole in my wall when burger rings came up, and things only got worse from there.”</p> <p>Some jumped to Iona’s defence, with one “Australian” commenting, "I'm Australian and I agree with everything,” but the majority of comments declared she had no business slandering Aussie icons.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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"Stay away!": City forced into bizarre anti-travel campaign

<p>Amsterdam has taken desperate measures in the fight to keep the city safe from “messy” tourists determined to cause chaos and call it a night out. </p> <p>The Dutch capital’s new online campaign sets out to primarily tackle the problem of young British men, warning them against their plans to “let loose” while they’re visiting. </p> <p>Hopeful British tourists - between the ages of 18 and 35 - who google things like “stag party Amsterdam”, “pub crawl Amsterdam”, and “cheap hotel Amsterdam” will be made to view short videos that stress the consequences that come with “[causing] nuisance and excessive alcohol and drug use”, according to a statement from the city’s local authorities. </p> <p>One of said videos shows an intoxicated young man being arrested after insulting police officers, with text reading: “Coming to Amsterdam for a messy night + getting trashed = €140 fine + criminal record = fewer prospects.” </p> <p>From there comes the firm and to-the-point statement: “So coming to Amsterdam for a messy night? Stay away.”</p> <p>In another of the campaign’s videos, an unconscious individual can be seen in an ambulance as it rushes to hospital, this time with text that reads: “Coming to Amsterdam to take drugs + lose control = hospital trip + permanent health damage = worried family.” </p> <p>It concludes with the same message as the other. </p> <p>Amsterdam welcomes approximately 20 million tourists each year, and is well known for its red light district. It’s this same hotspot that has played a major role in establishing the city as the place to party in Europe. </p> <p>However, local residents have voiced their displeasure for years, fed up with the chaos that drunken tourists bring their way, and prevent them from enjoying their own city as they want to. </p> <p>“Visitors will remain welcome, but not if they misbehave and cause nuisance. In that case we as a city will say: rather not, stay away,” Amsterdam’s deputy mayor Sofyan Mbarki said.</p> <p>“Amsterdam is already taking lots of measures against excessive tourism and nuisance, and we are taking more measures than other large cities in Europe. But we have to do even more [in] the coming years if we want to give tourism a sustainable place in our city.”</p> <p>From there, he went on to note that in order to keep their city a liveable place, they had to turn their attention to “restriction instead of irresponsible growth.” </p> <p>This isn’t the only - or even first - step city officials have taken towards achieving their goal, having just passed new regulations that make it illegal for anyone to smoke cannabis while in the red light district. </p> <p>The video campaign may yet expand to include visitors from beyond the UK, authorities have suggested. They also plan to launch another campaign called “How to Amsterdam”, which aims to reign in tourists already visiting. This campaign will utilise social media and street signs, with warnings about everything from drunkenness to noise, drugs, and urinating in public. </p> <p>Providers who offer bachelor party experiences have reportedly been contacted by the council as well, in the hope that they can reduce - and prevent - trouble in the city’s centre, while they also await the results of research into a potential tourist tax. </p> <p><em>Images: YouTube</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“Please don’t be mad”: British expat’s bone to pick with Australia

<p>British expat Jordana Grace has taken to TikTok to share her three biggest gripes with Australia, with the claim that most Australians don’t bat an eyelid at them.</p> <p>Jordana lives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast after leaving the United Kingdom behind, and boasts a following of almost 300k on her TikTok where she regularly shares insight into her Australian adventure.</p> <p>“Sorry in advance,” the budding MixFM radio host began, “I’m gonna make Australia mad.”</p> <p>“Three things I don’t like about Australia,” she went on, “that Aussies don’t even realise is a thing.”</p> <p>From there, Jordana went on to list the aspects of life in Australia that were causing her the most trouble, though her claim about Aussies may have missed the mark, with Jordana’s gripes known frustrations across the country.</p> <p>“First up is the slow internet speed - like, what the fudge?” She said, “sorry for the salty language, but it’s like nails on a chalkboard how in some areas in Australia the internet and WiFi is just so slow.”</p> <p>In 2023, the UK ranked 45th in the world for average broadband speed with 145.33 Mbps, while Australia came in at 73rd with an average speed of 88.77 Mbps.</p> <p>“Please don’t be mad,” Jordana continued, “but next is the terrible phone service. There’s like three major providers in Australia, and they all have nicknames like Vodafone is Vodafail, Optus is Optus Droptus, and Telstra … no-one can come up with a clever nickname for but it’s just very inconsistent phone service over here."</p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7197724229943446789&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thejordanagrace%2Fvideo%2F7197724229943446789&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-va.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-maliva-p-0068%2Fo0hBIk9tbBrEQhCIsd8xABfiuj1zkbogAuDFjA%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast2a-v-0068%2F0f22bd61bc15443ea1f3e5214fcdd9f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1676361600%26x-signature%3D1ck2cF1fvQNZsDbJz4kKysELBSg%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>“And finally, the postage cost and speed," she said. "In the UK I didn’t realise that next day delivery was such a luxury, because over here postage not only can take weeks but the postage cost can cost as much as the item sometimes.”</p> <p>In the United Kingdom, prices to post a parcel begin at £3.95 for 1st class ($6.90). In Australia, 1st class parcel postage begins at $9.70. And as any Australian knows, postage times can span from a couple of days to a couple of weeks in busy periods.</p> <p>“Okay, but that’s it!” Jordana concluded, before pleading for everyone’s understanding, “I love you Australia, please don’t hate me.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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British expat shares strange Aussie slang words she doesn't understand

<p>When Charlee moved from the UK to Australia, she never expected for there to be such a language barrier. </p> <p>The 25-year-old expat shared a list of unique Aussie slang words that she had "never heard in her life" until moving Down Under, with the list of Australianisms quickly going viral. </p> <p>“If you’re thinking about moving to Australia. Listen up. But first – Australian’s don’t all come at me,” she said in the video.</p> <p>“I am very aware I am an uncultured British person which is why I have moved to the other side of the world. I am ready to see the sights.”</p> <p>Charlee said despite having lived in Australia for a few months now, there are still quite a few words she hears daily that have her wondering what they mean. </p> <p>“First thing – an eskie. An eskie is a cool box (what they call it in the UK),” she said.</p> <p>“I do actually quite like the word. It sounds better than ‘cool box’ but still, [I’ve] never heard of it in my life.”</p> <p>The word "esky" became common in Australia after a brand by the same name released the first portable coolers in 1952. </p> <p>Another word Charlee struggled to understand was “doona". </p> <p>“A doona is a duvet. I don’t understand why you would just change the last three letters of the word. It’s quite a nice word, ‘doona’, it sounds very Australian … but it’s just a bit of a strange word.”</p> <p>Like most expats, the term “thongs” threw Charlee off when she first heard it. </p> <p>“I know we should all know what thongs are by now – they’re flip-flop. However, on the odd occasion someone will say thong to me and I genuinely think they're asking me about the piece of material wedged between my butt cheeks.”</p> <p>The other words Charlee listed were footy, ‘too easy’, ‘scull’ (ie scull a drink) and pants, which they refer to as trousers in the UK.</p> <p>Charlee's videos about life in Australia have garnered her an impressive following, with comments rolling in from natives saying "Yep, welcome to Australia!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p> <div class="media image venti" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 493.639679px; margin: 24px auto;"> </div>

Travel Trouble

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British expat shares things tourists must never do in Australia

<p>Jordana Grace, a British expat based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, has shared three things tourists should never do in Australia if they don't want to be "judged" or "yelled at".</p> <p>The expat, known as That British Gal on social media, shared the cultural shock she's experienced since moving to Queensland from the UK.</p> <p>"Here are three things you shouldn't do when you come to Australia," Jordana said in a video posted on Instagram.</p> <p>"We all know Australia's hot. But if you're a tourist and all you've done is come here and complain about the heat it's not going to go down well," she said.</p> <p>"Just ignore the boob sweat, smile and carry on," she added.</p> <p>Her second tip is never to ask where you can find the nearest Starbucks, considering Australia's coffee culture.</p> <p>"Australia invented the beloved flat white, don't disrespect the great coffee culture here by basically asking for sugar dirt water," she noted.</p> <p>She added that the best course of action is to ask locals where they get their favourite coffee as you're bound to find a good one.</p> <p>Her last piece of advice is one that all Aussies know: never swim outside the flags.</p> <p>"The lifeguards aren't just there to be pretty, they are there to help you swim safely," she said.</p> <p>"So swim between the flags, you don't want them yelling at you through that big tannoy".</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CntboZpjbrR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CntboZpjbrR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by That British Girl (@thejordanagrace)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Many others have agreed or shared their tips in the comments.</p> <p>"Don’t forget to slip slop slap, " one commented.</p> <p>"Only the local are allowed to say 'It’s too bloody hot,'" another added.</p> <p>"I believe the flat white was actually invented in New Zealand," one corrected.</p> <p>"Haha, trip over in Australia and you'll find a cafe. Swim between the flags is so important!!" wrote another commenter.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Expat shares her five biggest culture shocks since moving to Australia

<p>A British expat has listed the five biggest culture shocks she experienced since moving to Australia.</p> <p>Robyn Turner, who now lives in Melbourne, has been adjusting to her new life in Australia over the last five years.</p> <p>In a funny TikTok video, the personal trainer said there are five things she never knew existed until she relocated to Australia - including people walking bare feet in public, lemon lime bitters and 42°C days.</p> <p>“This is Australian things that sent me into a coma when I first moved here from the UK,” she said.</p> <p>The first thing of her list that caught her by surprise was people walking around bare feet at indoor public places.</p> <p>“People walking around the supermarket or any other store in bare feet, shocked me,” she said.</p> <p>“You would never catch anyone that wasn’t on a beach with bare feet in the UK.</p> <p>“It doesn’t appeal to me but I mean, you do you, I just won’t look at the floor.”</p> <p>Robyn said she was confused when she couldn’t find an aisle dedicated to alcohol inside supermarkets.</p> <p>“I had no idea this wasn’t a thing,” she said.</p> <p>“I was first like, ‘Where do I go and buy some wine from?’ and someone was like, ‘the bottle-O’ and I was like, ‘What’s a bottle-O?’</p> <p>“I had no idea, shocked me to the bones.”</p> <p>The third overwhelming thing she couldn’t handle was the scorching weather, especially summer days that reach high temperatures of 42°C.</p> <p>“When I first lived here, I lived in Sydney and it wiped me out,” she said.</p> <p>“Absolutely killed me.”</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@r0bynturner/video/7176424965128899842" data-video-id="7176424965128899842"> <section><a title="@r0bynturner" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@r0bynturner?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@r0bynturner</a> Australian things that sent me (a brit) into a coma <a title="australiatravel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/australiatravel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#australiatravel</a> <a title="sydneytravel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sydneytravel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#sydneytravel</a> <a title="uktoaustralia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uktoaustralia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#uktoaustralia</a> <a title="britinaustralia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/britinaustralia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#britinaustralia</a> <a title="melbournetravel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/melbournetravel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#melbournetravel</a> <a title="backpackingaustralia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/backpackingaustralia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#backpackingaustralia</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Robyn" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7176425241798068993?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Robyn</a></section> </blockquote> <p>Despite the culture shocks, she expressed her approval for lemon lime bitters, a popular cocktail in Australia that consists of lemonade, lime cordial, and Angostura bitters.</p> <p>“This surprise was in the best way possible,” she said.</p> <p>“Thank you for introducing me to lemon lime bitters. That is amazing stuff, it’s like liquid gold.</p> <p>“You (Aussies) are the ultimate gatekeepers not letting the rest of the world know about it.”</p> <p>Robyn said she also couldn’t get enough of espresso martinis after her friend introduced the cocktail to her.</p> <p>“It’s so good,” she said.</p> <p>Her video has been viewed over 600,000 times - with many agreeing with her culture shocks.</p> <p>Images: TikTok</p>

Travel Trouble

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British lawmakers demand Jeremy Clarkson apologise to Meghan Markle

<p dir="ltr">British lawmakers have come out swinging against Jeremy Clarkson following his “violent misogynist” opinion piece about Meghan Markle.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Top Gear host wrote a scathing piece in The Sun saying how much he "hates" the Duchess of Sussex, in the wake of the release of the Prince Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary series.</p> <p dir="ltr">The piece, which received 17,500 complaints, was retracted with 65 British lawmakers from various political parties condemning the article and demanding an apology to Ms Markle.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We welcome The Sun's retraction of the article, we now demand action is taken against Mr Clarkson and an unreserved apology is issued to Ms Markle immediately," the letter read, which was led by Caroline Nokes, a Member of Parliament from the ruling Conservative party, and chair of Parliament's Women and Equalities Committee.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We further demand definitive action is taken to ensure no article like this is ever published again.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This sort of language has no place in our country, and it is unacceptable that it was allowed to be published in a mainstream newspaper.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Ms Markle has faced multiple credible threats to her life, requiring the intervention of the Metropolitan Police.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hateful articles like the one written by Mr Clarkson do not exist in a vacuum and directly contribute to this unacceptable climate of hatred and violence."</p> <p dir="ltr">It follows 17,500 complaints sent to the UK's press regulator the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) for the article published in Rupert Murdoch’s rag.</p> <p dir="ltr">Clarkson was met with significant backlash and tweeted his “regret” over the column, which also saw his <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/jeremy-clarkson-s-daughter-takes-a-stand-against-her-famous-dad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">daughter Emily call him out</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Oh dear. I've rather put my foot in it. In a column I wrote about Meghan, I made a clumsy reference to a scene in Game of Thrones and this has gone down badly with a great many people," he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm horrified to have caused so much hurt and I shall be more careful in future."</p> <p dir="ltr">The Sun also just mentioned they have removed the article but refused to make any further comment.</p> <p dir="ltr">"In light of Jeremy Clarkson's tweet he has asked us to take last week's column down,” their statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Noble pups! Meet the royal dogs of the British monarchy

<p>These furry friends certainly get the royal treatment! Here's everything to know about the four-legged members of the royal family.</p> <p><strong>Royal dogs</strong></p> <p>For many of us, our dogs play a major – if not the most important – role in our families. Royal dogs are no different, minus all the public engagements they get to attend – like charity events and council meetings. For generations, royal dogs have played an iconic role in public and private life for many members across the royal family tree. Whether it be King Charles II who was rumoured to not go anywhere without a minimum of three spaniels or Queen Victoria who owned a whopping 88 smooth-haired Collies in her lifetime, royals certainly have a history of loving their dogs.</p> <p>Today, the British royal family is known for having a plethora of furry four-legged friend – Queen Elizabeth’s corgis and King Charles III’s dogs are a few of our famous favourites. Here are a few of today’s royal dogs that are beloved by many.</p> <p><strong>Muick and Sandy</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/02-prince-andrew-corgi-GettyImages-1243368841-scaled-e1666119038497-770.jpg" alt="" width="1536" height="998" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>originally Queen Elizabeth II, now Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth was known for her devotion to her country, service and, of course, her love of corgis. The Queen received her first corgi from her father on her 18th birthday, and while the exact number of corgis during her 70-year-rule is only known by a select few, experts estimate England’s longest monarch had over 30 in her lifetime. Muick and Sandy also played a special role for the Queen. Prince Andrew gifted the two adorable corgis to Queen Elizabeth to provide her with comfort while Prince Philip was in the hospital in early 2021. Now, due to the Queen’s passing, her pups will fondly be taken care of by Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.</p> <p><strong>Bluebell and Beth</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/03-charles-dog-GettyImages-843781242-king-charles-and-dogs-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="500" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla</p> <p>Meet the new pups of Buckingham Palace!  Like his mother, King Charles III has a favourite dog breed and has owned many Jack Russell Terriers. Queen Consort Camilla adopted Beth and Bluebell in 2017 from a rescue centre, and these pups even made history as the first rescue pets to ever live in Buckingham Palace! We can’t wait to see how these two will make history next.</p> <p><strong>Orla</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/05-William-Kate-pet-dog-GettyImages-1407226469-770-1.jpg" alt="" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Prince William and Princess Kate</p> <p>The Prince and Princess of Wales are the proud owners of a black cocker spaniel named Orla, who the couple’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – absolutely adore. Black cocker spaniels have a reputation for getting along well with children due to their calm and kind nature. The newest member of the family was actually gifted from Kate’s brother, James, whose dog gave birth to six puppies. Orla also has a sentimental role in the family, as she was bought to help bring joy and energy to the couple’s elderly dog, Lupo, in his old age before his passing in November of 2020.</p> <p><strong>Guy, Mamma Mia and Pula</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/05-beagle-GettyImages-566943335-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="500" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</p> <p>King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla aren’t the only members of the royal family with a love for rescue dogs. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest pup, a 7-year-old beagle named Mamma Mia is the couple’s second beagle in addition to Guy, as well as their black Labrador Pula. Prince Harry recently discussed how the couple’s dogs are all emotional support dogs “when they’re behaving,” he joked.</p> <p><strong>Dotty</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/06-princess-Anne-pet-GettyImages-1033476776-e1666118755545.jpg" alt="" width="893" height="893" /></p> <p><strong>Royal owner: </strong>Princess Anne</p> <p>Similar to her brother and mother, Princess Anne is another royal with an affinity for a specific dog breed: bull terriers. During her time as a royal, Princess Anne owned several bull terriers – one of her bull terriers even made history, causing Princess Anne to be the first royal member charged with a criminal offence after her dog, Dotty, attacked two children in Windsor Great Park.</p> <p><strong>Jack, Cici, Teddy and Ginger</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/04-terrier-eugenie-beatrice-GettyImages-844394888-770-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1662" /></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie</p> <p>The two daughters of Prince Andrew aren’t shy about their affection for Norfolk Terriers – an adorable, tiny and energetic breed. In fact, Princess Beatrice loves Norfolk terriers so much that she offered to gift two to her grandmother, birthed by her very own Norfolk Terrier named Ginger. Unfortunately, the Queen was worried about tripping over the pups and getting hurt, so she declined. The granddaughters of the Queen seem to get their love of dogs from her. A recent Instagram photo Princess Eugenie posted after the Queen’s passing shows Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice sitting with the Queen and petting a dog. The caption fondly wrote: “For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you.”</p> <p><strong>Dog name: Unknown</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/07-Sophie-pet-GettyImages-1238871398-770-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Prince Edward and Sophie</p> <p>The Queen’s youngest child, the Earl of Wessex, and his wife own two pups; a black Labrador and a Cocker Spaniel. The Countess of Wessex is known for her love of dogs – she has been seen walking the dogs on the grounds of Windsor Castle and attended the Guide Dogs National Centre in Britain. Fun fact: dogs aren’t the only pets the Earl’s family owns! In a recent video interview, Prince Edward revealed that the family has “two dogs and we’ve also got a tortoise, who basically runs the house.”</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-f9ae96f4-7fff-7bc7-c8f6-fcba86f27a92">Written by Jessica Kaplan. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/noble-pups-meet-the-royal-dogs-of-the-british-monarchy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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British couple sell raffle tickets to offload home

<p dir="ltr">A family forced to sell their home have had to get creative to do it after they were knocked back for a loan for a new house - and it could see a new owner claim the property for a £3 raffle ticket.</p> <p dir="ltr">Declan Garrett and wife Leoni Webb have been forced to sell their property in Weston-super-Mare, a town in North Somerset, due to the soaring cost of their mortgage.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, they can’t get a loan for a new home as banks knocked them back due to the size of their blended family, with a total of seven kids.</p> <p dir="ltr">With pressure coming from inflation and a rising cost of living, the couple turned to raffle tickets to raise the money they need for a new home that is big enough for their soon-to-be teenage kids.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d6a1a0b4-7fff-e20c-f274-7fbc6355c960"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">All interested buyers need to do is grab a raffle ticket and they could be in the running to win the keys to the coastal home, with the winner to be drawn on October 26.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeyIP3klfj4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeyIP3klfj4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Weston-super-Mare House Raffle (@wsmhouseraffle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">But, there are some caveats.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple launched the raffle through an online platform in June, telling <em>The Sun</em> that they need to sell about 100,000 tickets to raise the £300,000 they need.</p> <p dir="ltr">If they don’t reach their target, the main prize will instead become 75 percent of the amount raised through raffle ticket sales.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an emotional clip shared to an Instagram page dedicated to the house and raffle, Ms Webb explained that she and her husband would sell their home the usual way if they would.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2e5f4934-7fff-035c-39a1-f6e268360a40"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Why on earth would we choose to open ourselves up to the criticism and absolute tolling that we have?” she said.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAIYuNIPfL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAIYuNIPfL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Weston-super-Mare House Raffle (@wsmhouseraffle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“The cost of living is absolutely ridiculous right now – we understand more than most. We have seven children who need feeding and clothing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My husband is a school teacher and I worked in behavioural education, so I also work within schools. Ordinarily we wouldn’t be able to afford a house. We were very, very lucky to buy a house when we did.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As we are looking to move…so we decided to raffle off our house to give somebody the gift of owning a house.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I really hope we can pull this off.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The sale of raffle tickets for four-bedroom home closes on October 21 local time, with tickets available to be purchased <a href="https://raffique.co.uk/product/win-a-house-in-weston-super-mare/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f02766e3-7fff-1d67-b62f-66b6e0a78285"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @wsmhouseraffle (Instagram)</em></p>

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Archaeologists demand the British Museum return Rosetta Stone to Egypt

<p dir="ltr">More than 2,500 archaeologists have signed a petition for the British Museum to return the Rosetta Stone to Egypt. </p> <p dir="ltr">This effort, which was launched last month, has urged the Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to officially request the object’s return, along with 16 other artefacts that were illegally and unethically removed from the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, renowned Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass called for the return of the Rosetta Stone, and announced his plans to form the petition. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Previously it was the government alone asking for Egyptian artefacts,” Monica Hanna, an archaeologist who co-founded the current restitution campaign, told CBS News. “But today this is the people demanding their own culture back.” </p> <p dir="ltr">The Rosetta Stone, a 2,200-year-old granodiorite stele inscribed with hieroglyphs, Ancient Egyptian Demotic script, and Ancient Greek, was discovered in 1799 during a Napoleonic campaign in Egypt, in which Napoleon’s troops apparently stumbled upon the stone while building a fort near the town of Rashid, or Rosetta. </p> <p dir="ltr">It was then acquired by the British Museum in 1802 from France under a treaty signed during the Napoleonic Wars.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The confiscation of the Rosetta stone, among other artefacts, is an act of encroachment on Egyptian cultural property and identity, and is a direct result of cultural colonial violence against Egyptian cultural heritage,” states the petition. “The presence of these artefacts in the British Museum to this day supports past colonial endeavours of cultural violence.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“History cannot be changed,” the document continues, “but it can be corrected, and although the political, military, and governmental rule of the British Empire withdrew from Egypt years ago, cultural colonisation is not yet over.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The British Museum, however, maintains that there has never been a formal request by the Egyptian government for the stone’s return.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Why the nose-diving British pound matters for Australia

<p dir="ltr">As the British pound hit its lowest value since 1971, experts are warning it could serve as a dire warning for those of us beyond UK shores.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Monday, it was reported that the pound was worth as little as $US 1.037 ($AU 1.60 or $NZ 1.82), its lowest since the currency was decimalised in 1971.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes amid concerns about the state of the global economy, with central banks working to slow the rate of inflation, and economic changes the UK government has introduced.</p> <p dir="ltr">After Liz Truss became the UK’s new Prime Minister on September 6, Treasury chief Kwasi Krawteng released a controversial mini-budget including hefty tax cuts for the wealthy and an increase in borrowing to spur economic growth.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, many economists warn it’s more likely to increase inflation even further, with the British central bank expected to increase official interest rates in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the announcement of the tax cuts on Friday, which come as the biggest cuts in 50 years, the pound lost more than five percent of its value against the US dollar.</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with the cuts that are set to total £45 billion ($AU 75 billion or $NZ 85 billion), the government also plans to cap prices for electricity and natural gas for homes and businesses to cushion the impact of price rises caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the caps to the tune of £60 billion ($AU 100 billion or $NZ 114 billion), Kwarteng said the government would be borrowing the funds needed to finance it.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>How does it affect us?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Though that could mean your next UK holiday is cheaper, economist Jason Murphy points to it as a warning for what could be in store for the Australian economy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Australia’s new Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is expected to release his first budget in October, which is expected to include his proposed tax cuts that will mostly benefit high-income earners, known as “stage three tax cuts”.</p> <p dir="ltr">These cuts are a hand-me-down from the Turnbull government’s 2018-19 budget, coming from then-Treasurer Scott Morrison, but they could pose some issues as Aussies face inflation everywhere from the supermarket to keeping the lights on.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tax cuts encourage spending and that spending encourages businesses to increase prices, resulting in inflation.</p> <p dir="ltr">With debts from the payouts delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/markets/world-markets/british-pound-hits-a-record-low-in-big-warning-for-australia/news-story/36c1a1c7b5c3431147948a9dcea5395a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Murphy argues</a> that steering clear of tax cuts will also help reduce the country’s debt, which is significantly higher than when Morrison’s budget was first announced.</p> <p dir="ltr">As we continue to watch what happens in the UK, senior investment and markets analyst Susannah Streeter said it’s difficult to know just how far it will fall.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It depends, I think, now on what the Bank of England does in response to sterling's most recent fall," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There's been this dramatic loss of confidence in the government's economic management. But now the ball is in the Bank of England's court."</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-19b322b4-7fff-8924-d47a-aa1b491be78d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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