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World Cup star files official complaint over "unsolicited kiss" with Spanish football boss

<p>Jenni Hermoso has filed an official complaint against Luis Rubiales over an "unsolicited kiss" at the Women's World Cup final. </p> <p>Following Spain's victory of England in the final, Rubiales, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief, kissed Hermoso on the lips while congratulating the team.</p> <p>The Spanish footballer is accusing Rubiales of sexual assault, as she said the kiss was not consensual. </p> <p>Despite this, Rubiales has defended his actions and is refusing to step down. </p> <p>The official complaint, which was filed on Tuesday, is key for a preliminary investigation into the incident, which prosecutors at Spain’s top criminal court have opened for the alleged crime of “sexual assault”, to move forward.</p> <p>In the days after the incident, Hermoso said the unwanted kiss had left her feeling “vulnerable and like the victim of an assault”, with a statement on social media describing it as “an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part”.</p> <p>Rubiales has apologised for his conduct but insists the kiss was consensual, as he has refused to quit his role despite both the RFEF and FIFA calling on him to do so.</p> <p>In a display of solidarity, <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">56 national team members have </span><span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">condemned the government for what they deemed to be "<a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/impunity-for-macho-actions-is-over-why-the-entire-spanish-world-cup-team-has-quit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">macho actions</a>".</span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">A collective statement, issued through their union, was signed by all 23 members of the winning squad, including Hermoso, as well as 32 other team members.</p> <p>In the statement, they declared their refusal to participate in international matches as long as Rubiales remains at the helm of the RFEF.</p> <p>After the official complaint was lodged, the RFEF sacked the head coach of the Spanish women’s team, Jorge Vilda, after he was the only member of the women’s national team coaching staff not to resign in protest at Rubiales’s behaviour.</p> <p>Vilda’s dismissal was confirmed amid accusations he had repeatedly backed Rubiales and saw no issue with his behaviour. </p> <p>In addition to the complaint from Hermoso, Spain’s Sport Administrative Tribunal (TAD) opened a case against Rubiales for “serious misconduct”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;"> </p> <figure class="sc-11i7hbm-0 eUyOEq" style="margin: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></figure>

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Devastating leaked email places Jenny Craig on brink of collapse

<p dir="ltr">Weight loss firm Jenny Craig is reportedly closing its doors after four decades leading the industry. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to leaked staff communications, <em>NBC News</em> have shared that the company’s corporate and salaried field employees will face their final day of work on May 5, while their hourly staff will experience theirs on May 9. In the email, Jenny Craig explained that this was occurring “due to its inability to secure additional financing”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Employees were informed, however, that they would be receiving a “final pay cheque, including your full compensation earned through your last day of work and all accrued, unused paid time off”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rumours have circled the company for some time, with <em>Bloomberg</em> reporting in just April 2023 that they were on the hunt for a buyer. The publication claimed that a source told them the company was “considering a bankruptcy filing” if their efforts to secure a buyer failed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Bloomberg </em>also shared the news that the company was in around $250,000 USD in debt (~$376,000 AUD/NZD).</p> <p dir="ltr">Around the same time, corporate staff at the company’s California office received notice that they would be closing June 24, but that that day may actually be as soon as the next Friday. An FAQ was also released to them, alongside an explanation that they would be decreasing their physical operations to make way for their more e-commerce focussed business model. </p> <p dir="ltr">As a spokesperson told <em>NBC News</em> in the wake of the reports of potential layoffs, the company was “embarking on the next phase of our business to evolve with the changing landscape of today’s consumers. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Like many other companies, we’re currently transitioning from a brick-and-mortar retail business to a customer-friendly, e-commerce driven model. We will have more details to share in the coming weeks as our plans are solidified.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite this assurance, even coupled with the latest communications, it remains unclear whether or not that transition will still be taking place, with employees left in a state of limbo. </p> <p dir="ltr">The industry supergiant currently employs over 1,000 members of staff, with approximately 500 stores - both company-owned and franchised - across just the United States and Canada, with a further 600 around the rest of the world, including Australia. </p> <p dir="ltr">The company was actually founded in Melbourne in 1983, by husband and wife Jenny and Sidney Craig. The American couple went on to take their venture back to the states, but not until two years later in 1985. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while the situation looks dire overseas, an employee did tell Bloomberg that franchise-owned locations “may remain open”, though this is yet to be confirmed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Jenny Morrison gives her take on Grace Tame meeting

<p><em>Image: 9News</em></p><p>In a rare interview with 60 Minutes, Jenny Morrison says she was left "disappointed" after a tense greeting with Grace Tame at a morning tea at The Lodge in Canberra.</p><p>"I just found a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home," she told 60 Minutes guest reporter, Karl Stefanovic.</p><p>"I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in.”</p><p>Grace Tame, a sexual assault survivor took to Twitter just days after the January 25th event to explain her thoughts on the viral encounter.</p><p>"The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders," she posted.</p><p>"It is dependent on hypocrisy. My past is only relevant to the extent that I have seen — in fact I have worn — the consequences of civility for the sake of civility."</p><p>The Prime Minister's wife, Jenny Morrison, is now offering her take on the meeting.</p><p>"I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect," she said.</p><p>When asked by reporter Karl Stefanovic whether she wants her daughters, Abbey and Lily to look up to advocates like Grace Tame, Mrs Morrison has this to say:</p><p>"I want my daughters to grow up to be fierce, strong, independent, amazing people. And I think they can still do that and show kindness to other people and be polite and have manners."</p><p>However, Jenny Morrison has copped some serious backlash overnight after these comments surrounding Grace Tame and manners.</p><p>People further took to Twitter to slam Jenny’s response, including award-winning investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Marr.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">So Jenny Morrison says she’s disappointed by Grace Tame’s lack of manners. Australia is disappointed in Jenny Morrison being utterly self absorbed and hugely, woefully devoid of intelligence or sensitivity. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://t.co/VpkjOCMKcr">https://t.co/VpkjOCMKcr</a></p>— Lucie Morris-Marr (@luciemorrismarr) <a href="https://twitter.com/luciemorrismarr/status/1492846529219944449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Here’s what others had to say about the interview.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">It’s so subtle isn’t it, having Jenny tell us it’s about manners, so that we think Grace Tame is the problem, the uncivilised one. Yet Grace is the hero of this story &amp; Morrison it’s villain. No amount of spin changes this. One stands for truth, the other bereft of it <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/60minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#60minutes</a></p>— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kon__K/status/1492801883916091394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am actually pretty surprised how much this interview is Jenny answering for all criticisms of the Prime Minister</p>— Bridie Jabour (@bkjabour) <a href="https://twitter.com/bkjabour/status/1492799060914610178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Scott Morrison takes a stand at Jenny's urging

<p>Scott Morrison has issued a personal apology to Brittany Higgins over her alleged rape at Parliament House, revealing his wife urged him to take stronger action.</p> <p>The Prime Minister has announced he will be launching an investigation into the workplace culture at Parliament House.</p> <p>He also said his wife Jenny Morrison urged him to think about the issue as a father of two daughters.</p> <p>“Jenny and I spoke last night, and she said to me, ‘You have to think about this as a father first. What would you want to happen if it were our girls?’</p> <p>“Jenny has a way of clarifying things. Always has. And so as I’ve reflected on that overnight and listened to Brittany and what she had to say, there are a couple of things here we need to address.</p> <p>“The first of those is it shatters me that still, in this day and age, that a young woman can find herself in the vulnerable situation that she was in. Not her doing. And we have to do more, whether it’s in this workplace or any other workplace in the country, to ensure that people can work safely in their workplace and be at their best and do what they went into that job to do.</p> <p>"Brittany talked about it being her dream job. We are all privileged — whether it’s members of Parliament, the people who work in our offices, indeed, those who work in the Gallery and get to do what we do in this place — it is a privilege.</p> <p>“And we should be able to go about that important work safely. There should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation. That is not OK.”</p> <p>News broke of the alleged rape at Parliament House on Monday.</p> <p>The incident took place just weeks before Scott Morrison called the election on April 10, 2019.</p> <p>Ms Higgins was just 24 at the time of the incident and only months into her “dream job” of working at parliament.</p>

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Jenny Morrison's impassioned plea during Women's Health Week

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison's wife Jenny has begged Australian women to look after their health and get checked for cancer.</p> <p>"Women are putting off their health checks, pap tests, mole checks, mammograms and so much more,” the former nurse said sitting in Kirribilli House alongside family dog, Buddy.</p> <p>"This week is Women’s Health Week, and it’s a chance for women across Australia to remind themselves about getting up-to-date with all of those tests and their health.”</p> <p>"So call the doctor. Book that appointment. Don’t let it be the year where we say 'I’ll put that off'.</p> <p>"Because your health is so important to you and those around you.’</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CE7jXsghGQI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CE7jXsghGQI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">An important message from Jen for Women's Health Week this week. As Jen says, this has been a crazy year but it’s really important we don’t put off our regular health check-ups and tests. #WomensHealthWeek</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/scottmorrisonmp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Scott Morrison</a> (@scottmorrisonmp) on Sep 9, 2020 at 2:15pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She explained that doctor rates and test rates have dramatically fallen due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>"During this time we’ve all been trying to do the right thing," she said.</p> <p>"We’re wearing our masks, we’re washing our hands and maintaining our distance to keep ourselves and others healthy.</p> <p>"But there’s some things that we might have put off that are really important as women. And that’s something we all need to pay attention to."</p> <p>Experts are worried that there will be an increase in advanced cancer diagnosis due to people not getting tested during the pandemic.</p> <p>"In Australia we are lucky to have such great screening processes - but there is a concern there will be many undiagnosed cancer cases due to the pandemic," Morrison said.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Jenny Morrison opens up about “devastating” 14 years of struggle

<p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s wife, Jenny Morrison, has opened about their personal 14-year plight that took a toll on their marriage. </p> <p>The Australian politician and his wife share two children together, Abbey and Lily, but for a long time were unable to have children of their own. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832145/scott-jenny-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b90010149ad940f093c9e75655634234" /></p> <p>While at a panel with <em>Nine News</em> presenter Peter Overton and actor Mary Coustas, Australia’s first lady candidly spoke about the toll years of IVF had on herself and her husband’s relationship. </p> <p>Jenny and Scott were married in 1990 after meeting a few years earlier through church when they were both 12-years-old. </p> <p>Two years into marriage, they decided to have a family but soon found out this might be a challenging task, she said at the Australian Jewish Fertility Network event on Wednesday morning. </p> <p>“Just before that I had stopped contraception and I thought I was being really clever and not falling pregnant but when we actually started [trying for a baby] it wasn't happening,” Mrs Morrison said.</p> <p>“I saw a doctor and they found I had extensive endometriosis. That was devastating.”</p> <p>One in three women who have endometriosis struggle with fertility and find it hard to get pregnant, so like many couples who face these issues, they decided to get IVF. </p> <p>The process was gruelling and after ten years, there were still no results. Mrs Morrison admitted the memories from that period in her life were “awful”.</p> <p>“It is difficult because so many of our friends and family are having babies. There are babies everywhere,” she said.</p> <p>“It was really really hard every single time you did an IVF and it didn't work.”</p> <p>Mrs Morrison admitted her husband handled the situation better than others, but threw himself into his work as a distraction and said she could see how he was “still sad inside”. </p> <p>“It framed an awful lot of my life. I found the hormones really affected me and made me feel very sick,” Mrs Morrison revealed.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832144/scott-jenny-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2d558ec3de1746199850c3f0217527e4" /></p> <p>“Sometimes you can get quite depressed and people around you are well meaning but they don’t know what to say. Unless you have been in it yourself you just cannot understand what they are going through.”</p> <p>Even though their marriage took a hit, Mrs Morrison says her husband was “gorgeous” and told her she was more than enough for him, despite both wanting children. </p> <p>“Scott and I are a very close couple. We grew up together and we rely on each other,” she said.</p> <p>“There were some times that were really hard and you lash out and get angry. But we got by and we made it to the other side.”</p> <p>After ten years, she was advised to get a second opinion, where she learnt she had severe endometriosis. </p> <p>“I went back to that doctor and was told to give up. He said you are not going to have children and you should start thinking about adopting or whatever you want to do,” she said.</p> <p>Another two years passed until Mrs Morrison underwent microsurgery to treat her endometriosis. </p> <p>About three weeks after the five-hour surgery, the Australian first lady fell pregnant with her first child, Abbey. </p> <p>She checked a pregnancy test after feeling “agitated”, she was shocked. </p> <p>“I could not believe it when I saw those double lines. I was in absolute shock. I walked out to Scott and said ‘I don’t think we are going to Rwanda in January’,” Ms Morrison said.</p> <p>She showed him the test and Mr Morrison asked: “What does it mean?”</p> <p>“I said I think I’m pregnant,” Mrs Morrison said.</p> <p>The couple went on to have two healthy girls - a journey Mrs Morrison says was worth it in the end. </p> <p>Scott and Jenny have been open about their fertility struggles in the past, </p> <p>It is the first time Jenny has candidly spoken about their “devastating” struggle in depth. </p>

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Everything you need to know about Scott Morrison’s wife Jenny

<p>Jenny Morrison, a former registered nurse and the wife of Scott Morrison, has continued to lead a quiet life with her two daughters while her husband leads the country as Prime Minister.</p> <p>The 51-year-old even admitted to living as normal a life as possible, not just for her daughters but her mental health as well.</p> <p>When Scott Morrison was nominated by his Liberal Party colleagues as the new party’s leader last year, Jenny said she was blindsided.</p> <p>“I was in shock,” she told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/2019/02/17/07/54/jenny-morrison-interview-scott-morrison" target="_blank">9Honey</a> about when she learned of her husband’s new position back in August last year.</p> <p>"I did not see it coming," she said.</p> <p>Just a month later, the family packed their life into boxes and moved into Kirribilli House, the official PM residence located in Sydney’s lower north shore.</p> <p>In spite of being thrown into public life, Jenny maintains the family has been able to keep a normal routine.</p> <p>Here is everything you need to know about the woman behind the man with the most powerful job in Australia.</p> <p><strong>The first lady still gets her kids to school everyday</strong></p> <p>Although she lives over an hour away from her daughters’ school, that hasn’t stopped Jenny from travelling the distance each morning and afternoon for drop-offs and pick-ups.</p> <p>As well as driving her kids to school every morning, the 51-year-old chooses not to travel with any entourage and stops by the same café she used to.</p> <p>“They all can't believe it,” she said.</p> <p>“They're like, 'Oh my gosh, you're here! Where are your people?' And I went, 'No, it's just me'.”</p> <p>Their new life doesn’t stop Scott and Jenny’s girls from attending the same school they have always attended, located in the Sutherland Shire in NSW.</p> <p>“I might be the Prime Minister's wife, but I'm still a mum with two young girls and trying to keep things as normal as possible,” she explained.</p> <p>“I think maybe people picture that your life as the wife of the Prime Minister is glamorous and amazing and exciting. But no… I'm doing the same things everyone else does. It's hard work being a parent.”</p> <p><strong>The Morrison daughters are banned from social media</strong></p> <p>“They're not allowed to have Instagram accounts. Anything, actually – Snapchat, nothing,” Jenny said while explaining her strict parenting on technology use.</p> <p>“They're constantly telling me, 'It's not the 1980s, Mum' and I'm saying, 'I know, it's worse, so you do what we say.'”</p> <p><strong>Jenny and Scott met at 12 years of age</strong></p> <p>The pair both grew up in the heart of Sydney’s Sutherland Shire and met at the tender age of 12, at the Luna Park amusement park.</p> <p>Jenny liked Scott straight away and felt the same when they met again a year later at a Christian youth camp. Although Scott got Jenny’s number, she didn’t receive a phone call.</p> <p>The couple “finally” began dating at 16, after reconnecting with one another again. </p> <p>The happy couple have been together (despite a two-week break) and married since they were both 21.</p> <p><strong>The couple had children later in life</strong></p> <p>The Morrisons were not always a big family and didn’t have their first child until Jenny was 39 years old.</p> <p>Although the couple wanted children, Jenny admitted they were unable to conceive for almost 20 years.</p> <p>“Yes, I was very sad that I couldn't have children. That framed a lot of my life,” she said, opening up to <em>Australian Women’s Weekl</em>y in 2015.</p> <p>Jenny gave birth to the couple’s first daughter Abigail in 2007, and later her younger sister Lily was welcomed.</p> <p>“She is our miracle child, the answer to a lifetime of prayer and 14 years of painful, invasive, heartbreaking treatment,” Scott wrote at the time of his eldest daughter’s birth.</p> <p><strong>Jenny and Scott do not always see eye to eye when discussing politics</strong></p> <p>The Prime Minister has had controversial policies in the past, including his “Turn back the boats” strategy that occurred while he was Immigration Minister.</p> <p>While the ‘first lady’ won’t mention which policies she and her husband refuse to see eye to eye on, she has admitted that like every couple, they “disagree a lot.”</p> <p>“He doesn't make policies for me, I assure you … He'll ask me what I think because I come from a totally different mindset,” she shared.</p> <p>“So he gets a different viewpoint from me, which might be just a layperson's viewpoint. And sometimes we're not always on the same page.”</p> <p>Although her husband has flung himself into a political battlefield, which can admittedly be messy at times, Jenny has completely different aspirations in life.</p> <p>“My purpose in life is very simple – it's basically to be kind to absolutely everyone you can,” she said.</p> <p>“Because life is really about a series of connections with people.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny throughout the years.</p>

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Jenny Craig fined $37,800 for misleading ads

<p>Jenny Craig has been fined AU$37,800 in Australia for misleading consumers in television advertisements featuring Mel B.</p> <p>The former Spice Girl singer featured in a series of ads for Jenny Craig as an ambassador to the program.</p> <p>The adverts, which ran from December 2017 to February 2018, promoted the line that people could lose up to 10kg of weight for a $10 program fee.  </p> <p>But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued three infringement notices, noting that the weight loss firm failed to disclose customers also had to purchase food at an additional cost.</p> <p>ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said they were “concerned” the ads may have misled consumers into thinking they could lose 10kg for just $10. </p> <p>“In reality customers would have had to spend far more than that,” she said.</p> <p>The ad also featured someone employed by the business, not an independent reviewer.</p> <p>“Businesses need to be transparent about any relationships with people providing a testimonial,” Ms Court said. </p> <p>“Consumers must be informed when a testimonial is given by someone who is employed by the business, and is not an independent reviewer.”</p> <p>Mel B is promoted as a success story on Jenny Craig, after she lost 16kg in five months. </p> <p>“After various attempts at different fad diets Mel B joined Jenny Craig,” the ad promotes.</p> <p>“In the five months that she was on the Jenny Craig Program she successfully lost 16kgs and reached her goal weight.”  </p>

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Why there needs to be more women’s fiction

<p><strong><em>Jenni Ogden, 68, is the author of Fractured Minds and Trouble In Mind and her first novel, </em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27037952-a-drop-in-the-ocean" target="_blank">A Drop In The Ocean</a></span><em>, was published this May. She lives on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand.</em></strong></p> <p>It is a mystery why publishers prefer to publish books about young women when women over 45 (or 60, or 70) read more books than any other group! In the US, for example, there are 39 million baby boomer women aged between 45 and 65 years old, their estimated spending power equals $1 trillion, and many are avid readers who have the time and money to indulge their passions.  Australia and New Zealand, relatively speaking, will have even more passionate readers in this wiser and freer age group, given the fact that in both countries we pitch well above our weight when it comes to reading (and writing) books.</p> <p>At the rich age of 68, I am an eclectic reader of non-fiction as well as fiction, but if I had to choose my favourite fiction ‘genre’ it would be women’s ‘bookclub’ fiction – stories that touch on thought-provoking topics – and especially stories featuring a strong older woman protagonist who dismantles age stereotypes. By this I mean that she is fully engaged in life (or becomes so in the story!), and follows her passions, including developing old relationships in new ways or perhaps discovering that romantic love is always a possibility. Books about older people finding love tend not to find favour with the same publishers who have failed to catch on to the massive numbers of passionate readers out there, women and men, who are over 50, over 60, over 70, and yes, of course, over 80! For many people in their later years whose minds are active but whose bodies are not as able as they once were, reading is their main window to the changing world. And most readers love reading novels that include, as major characters, some people in their own broad age group. So for me it feels right to imagine stories about people who continue to expand their horizons as they age.</p> <p>In my novel <em>A Drop in the Ocean</em> my central character, London-born Anna Fergusson, is 49. We know this is young, but Anna doesn’t, and when the funding for her Huntington’s disease research lab at a prestigious Boston university is pulled unexpectedly, she finally faces her truth: she’s almost reached the half-century mark, she’s single, virtually friendless, and worse, her research has been sub-par for years. With no jobs readily available, Anna takes a leap and agrees to spend a year monitoring a remote campsite on Turtle Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. What could be better for an introvert with shattered self-esteem than a quiet year in paradise? As she settles in, Anna opens her heart for the first time in decades—to new challenges, to new friendships, even to a new love with Tom, the charming, younger turtle tagger she sometimes assists. But opening one’s heart leaves one vulnerable, and Anna comes to realise that love is as fragile as happiness, and that both are a choice.</p> <p align="center">***</p> <p>In this extract from Chapter 14, Anna and Tom, the laid-back turtle researcher (ten years her junior), have gone to another remote coral cay to count turtle hatchlings. Collette, the snotty university professor who arrived unexpectedly to check up on Tom’s research has joined them, much to Anna’s annoyance (especially as Collette looks like a young Elizabeth Taylor). Anna has been learning to snorkel but her confidence in the water is still shaky, so she stays put on the beach when Tom and Collette head off for a dive. Read on to discover what happened next!</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">The dinghy was speeding back over the lagoon when I got back to our camp. They’d been gone only forty-five minutes. Tom leapt out of the boat and dragged it into the shallows, shouting to me as he did so.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“Anna, get your wetsuit on, quickly. There’s a Queensland grouper out there. You’ve got to see it. It might be gone tomorrow and you won’t get another chance; they’re bloody rare around here. We’ll just make it before the tide’s too low.”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I stood still, just for a moment, poised on the verge of crying off. Then I saw Collette smirking in the boat. Within minutes I was back with my wetsuit half on, clutching my flippers in one hand and my mask and snorkel in the other. Tom stuck out his hand and steadied me as I clambered into the boat, then he pushed it into the deeper water, vaulted in, and we were off. I looked down as we crossed the reef edge, my heart in my mouth. It was only minutes before Tom cut the motor and heaved an anchor overboard. In the sudden silence I looked at him as the dinghy bobbed gently on the small swell.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“You’ll need a weight belt,” Tom said, maneuvering the thing around my waist. “Get your flippers on and you can lower yourself over the side, feet first.”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle"> He was all efficiency and I was all a liquid mess.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“You stay here, Collette, in case we drift and you have to come and get us.” His tone made it clear that Collette had no option.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“Are you certified, Anna?” said Collette.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“Not that I know of,” said I.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Tom snorted. “We’re not using a tank. She doesn’t need to be certified, for Christ’s sake.”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“I don’t think it’s a good idea. This is university equipment.”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Tom ignored her and pulled the weight belt tight. “Okay?”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“Won’t I sink?”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“That’s the idea. It will make it easier to dive down. I’ll be beside you; I promise you will be fine. Wait ’til you see this beauty.” He was as excited as a small boy.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“What is it we’re looking for again?”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“You’ll see it. Now over you go.”</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I held my breath, slipped off the side and sank below the surface. I could feel the panic in my chest, but then I was up again and Tom was beside me, helping me with my mask and snorkel. He winked at me, and then pulled his on and flippered off. I stuck my head under and the underwater world opened up in all its glory.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">We swam away from the boat, side by side, and I concentrated on breathing normally and looking at the fish swimming in their myriads below us. The sea bottom seemed a long way down but the water was crystal clear and I could see a large blue starfish on a patch of white sand between the coral outcrops. I felt Tom take my hand. We must have swum out of the reach of Collette’s beady little eyes.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Something strange was happening—a stillness in the water. Then I realized that the fish had disappeared. We were swimming alone. Spooked, I pulled back and Tom stopped and stuck his head out of the water. I followed suit, flapping rapidly in my effort to stay vertical and in one place. I hadn’t quite mastered treading water with flippers on. I looked around and saw our boat far, far away. How could we have come such a distance? I tried to cover my panic. Tom had removed his snorkel and was saying something.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I took my snorkel mouthpiece out and instantly got a mouthful of water, which made me flap even harder. I was about to sink. Then I felt Tom’s arm around me, holding me steady.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“Take it easy. Tip the water out of your snorkel and put it back in,” he said.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I managed that and breathed again.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">“I’m going to take you over to a big bommie and on top of it is a massive fish. We won’t go too close, but it won’t take any notice of us so don’t freak out. The other fish don’t like it. That’s why the sea around it is empty.” Tom had sunk back into the water and I had no option but to follow him. What I wanted to do was to flipper as fast as possible the other way, back to the boat.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Tom was pointing ahead and I peered through the fish-free, shimmering water to a large dark coral outcrop rearing up from the deep: the bommie. It must have been twenty meters or more high. Unlike every other bommie I had seen it had no fish darting in and out around it. Tom was hanging in the water and I could feel him fizzing. He jabbed his finger towards the bommie again and I nodded. What was I meant to be seeing? He was pulling me along again, and as we got closer, the top of the bommie became a giant fish. A great brown ugly fish just sitting there, his enormous mouth open. My heart was thundering, and I started to turn away, flee as far away as I could get. But Tom held firmly to my hand and pulled me back. He turned his head and made the okay sign with his free hand. My heart slowed down a little and I forced myself to give him the okay sign back. Together we floated just below the surface, and I gradually calmed down. The monster hovered there above the bommie, glaring at the world. It looked at least three meters long, and it would take two long-limbed men to embrace it around its middle. Not that that would ever happen. Even a couple of Aussie blokes wouldn’t be that crazy. Its repulsive, drooping, wide mouth opened wider, and my heart rate accelerated again. If it sucked inwards, I could disappear right down its slimy throat.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Tom looked at me and I could see him grinning around his snorkel. He made a diving motion with his hand and raised his eyebrows above his mask.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I shook my head desperately.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">He shook his head back and jabbed himself in the chest and made the diving motion again, and then the okay sign.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I breathed through my snorkel and returned the okay sign. Tom released my hand and swift as an arrow dove down and swam towards the bommie. My heart was still thumping but it was definitely in my mouth now. I tried to stay in one place, concentrating on keeping my snorkel end free of the waves, which had become choppier, and conscious of my weight belt holding my body below the surface. I knew if the monster went for Tom I’d never get back to the boat by myself.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Tom had surfaced again, far too close to the side of the fish. Now I could see him diving and swimming just above it. Men are so mindlessly stupid.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">Then it moved. A giant wriggle. Its great mouth shut and opened again. I could feel the force of the water pushing out to where I floated, twenty meters away. It could have me in a heartbeat. I held myself there with phenomenal courage and looked for Tom. He had scuttled away bloody fast and was back at the surface. He made one last dive down to the monster and skimmed alongside it, then continued towards me. I waited for the monster to lunge after him.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle">I felt like a pro as we flippered away from the fish-free zone and back into the friendly bustle of the healthy reef. Even the sleek shape of a small white-tipped reef shark minding its own business a few meters below us caused only a brief palpitation. Within minutes we were back at the boat and Tom was shoving my butt from below as I heaved myself over the side. Even Collette seemed nicer, leaning over and grabbing my shoulders to haul me in. As we sped back to Lost Cay, weaving in and out of bits of coral piercing the rapidly receding waters over the reef flats, I sat in the middle of the boat and grinned at Tom. Wow was all that I could think. Wow.</p> <p class="NormalTurtle" align="center">*****</p> <p><em>To find out more about Jenni Ogden and her work, please visit her <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.jenniogden.com/" target="_blank">website here.</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/06/the-10-most-beautiful-libraries-around-the-world/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The 10 most beautiful libraries around the world</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/05/10-unique-things-to-do-with-old-books/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 unique things to do with old books</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/05/best-coffee-table-books-of-all-time/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">6 coffee table books you’ll never want to put away</span></em></strong></a></p>

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10 beautiful hand-drawn maps of major cities

<p>In these days of smartphones, computers and GPS navigation devices it can be easy to forget the simply, quaint charm that came with exploring a city by map.</p> <p>Illustrator Jenni Sparks has released a series of hand drawn maps covering a series of the world’s major cities, recreating each location with meticulous detail.</p> <p>Jenni told Intrepid Travel, “I always pick up on interesting stuff when I research the cities, but I think my favourite part is actually being there. I love feeling the city vibes and understanding the different personalities of each part of town. I love architecture too and I think this really informs my work.”</p> <p>Jenni’s map-making process generally takes quite a while, but we’re sure you’ll agree the results are well worth the effort!</p> <p>To see Jenni’s illustrations, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p><em>To learn more about Jenni, <a href="http://www.jennisparks.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><em><strong>No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card­. <a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To apply for a card today, click here.</span></a></strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/04/tips-for-google-maps/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 tips and tricks for using Google Maps mobile app</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/03/best-apps-for-travellers-in-2016/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 of the best apps for travellers in 2016</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/03/lonely-planet-app-helps-you-explore-cities/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>Lonely Planet app helps you explore cities like a local</em></strong></span></a></p>

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