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Why does grass grow more slowly in winter?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p>A reader of The Conversation recently wrote in to ask:</p> <blockquote> <p>Why does grass grow slower in winter?</p> </blockquote> <p>It is a great question and at first the answer might seem obvious. There is less sunlight and it is colder in the winter months. This affects grass and plant growth in general.</p> <p>However, there is more to it than meets the eye. Different grasses respond to and cope with winter in different ways.</p> <h2>Grass: a recent arrival</h2> <p>Grasses are relatively recent arrivals in plant evolution, first appearing in fossil records about <a href="https://academic.oup.com/plphys/article/125/3/1198/6109905">65 million years ago</a> and becoming widespread in parts of Asia by about <a href="https://academic.oup.com/plphys/article/125/3/1198/6109905">30 million years ago</a>.</p> <p>Geologically, and in plant evolutionary time scales, this is quite recent. It means much of grass evolution has occurred under modern geological, environmental and climatic conditions. So, more than most plants, grasses have adapted to a modern, if pre-human, world. This affects their climatic responses.</p> <p>Some of our best-known grasses evolved from ancestors that first appeared on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.</p> <p>Their physiology developed to cope with an Earth that had a very different atmosphere from that of today.</p> <p>These plants have a type of photosynthesis called <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/native-pastures/what-are-c3-and-c4-native-grass">C3 metabolism</a>.</p> <h2>What is C3 metabolism?</h2> <p>C3 metabolism is about how the plant does the job of turning light, water and air into food (photosynthesis).</p> <p>About <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095545945;jsessionid=F1D6CE7E04A3DF20C48A6949F4A2F683#:%7E:text=C3%20plants%20make%20up%20over,let%20in%20more%20carbon%20dioxide">95%</a> of all plants you can think of – trees, shrubs, annuals, fruits, vegetables and many traditional (often called cool season) grasses – have C3 metabolism.</p> <p>Plants with this form of photosynthesis tend to grow well in a wide range of environmental conditions, even if the temperature is cooler and there are higher than usual levels of carbon dioxide in the air.</p> <p>They tend to remain green all year round if water is available, and may continue to grow well through late autumn. Many are frost-tolerant, but they may become dormant in hot dry weather.</p> <p>C3 grasses, such as ryegrass, do slow their growth for the winter months as sunlight becomes less intense. Their metabolic processes (in this case, photosynthesis) slow down when the temperature <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/native-pastures/what-are-c3-and-c4-native-grass">drops</a>.</p> <p>Biological reactions are chemical reactions, after all. The rate of a reaction is temperature-dependent – speeding up when it’s warmer and slowing down or even stopping when it gets colder.</p> <p>But they tend to do better in winter than their cousins, the C4 grasses.</p> <h2>I’ve heard many lawn grasses are C4 grasses. What does that mean?</h2> <p>As the level of CO₂ in the atmosphere declined and geological events led to the development of tropical regions around the equator, a different group of plants evolved. These plants used a form of photosynthesis called C4 metabolism.</p> <p><a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.13033">C4</a> plants grow very well under lower CO₂ levels in the atmosphere, use water more efficiently, and can cope with poor soils better than C3 grasses.</p> <p>But they struggle in the cold. They grow best in warmer, wetter conditions.</p> <p>While only about <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095545945;jsessionid=F1D6CE7E04A3DF20C48A6949F4A2F683#:%7E:text=C3%20plants%20make%20up%20over,let%20in%20more%20carbon%20dioxide">5%</a> of all plants have C4 photosynthesis, some of them are important grass species, such as:</p> <ul> <li> <p>bermuda grass</p> </li> <li> <p>buffalo grass</p> </li> <li> <p>paspalum</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2004/themeda-triandra.html">kangaroo grass</a></p> </li> <li> <p>couch grass, and</p> </li> <li> <p>zoysia grass.</p> </li> </ul> <p>So if your lawn is sown with one of these grasses, you will definitely see a slowdown in winter, when they become <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC167095/">dormant</a>.</p> <p>Their leaves tend to turn from bright green to a dull pale green or even yellow. Their growth slows quickly and dramatically in early autumn as the light levels fall, temperatures cool and chlorophyll production starts to decline.</p> <p>The upside, of course, is they usually grow very well when the weather warms up again.<!-- 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/206616/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/gregory-moore-1779">Greg<em>ory Moore</em></a><em>, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</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/why-does-grass-grow-more-slowly-in-winter-206616">original article</a>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

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When babysitting your grandkids is not the retirement plan

<p><em><strong>Megan Giles is a retirement designer for women. She supports and coaches women approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a lifestyle that is fulfilling, meaningful to them and lights them up each day.</strong></em></p> <p>You’re retiring, or maybe you’re about to cut down to part-time hours and you can smell freedom in the air. You have the schedule for a pilates studio on your fridge, a list of restaurants to try, and a couple ideas for that abandoned corner of your garden. At last you have time to do all of those things you’ve always wanted to do.</p> <p>And then the phone rings. “Mum, now that you’re not working, it would be great if you could look after [grandchild] on a Friday…” And your heart sinks. You love your grandchild to bits, but a regular baby-sitting gig is not part of your plan.</p> <p>While this is the perfect scenario for many people approaching retirement, it’s important to recognise that it’s not for everyone.</p> <p>What happens if your family has other ideas for your life after work, e.g. caring for grandchildren, or they have assumptions about what you can and can't (or shouldn't!) do in retirement. Do you acquiesce and abandon your dreams or do you recognise the value of your time and dreams and decide to ‘just go for it’?</p> <p>The trouble with choosing to pursue your own path is the huge amount of guilt this can bring up, particularly for women. You feel that you should be there for your children and grandchildren. You know that your support will make their life easier as they have demanding jobs and because the cost of living and day care is expensive. Or perhaps you convince yourself that you do have the time and energy because, well, you’re not working anymore. But the risk that goes with this is that you start to feel resentful because you’re not being true to your dreams.</p> <p>Broaching this with adult children, however, can be a tricky thing to do. It brings up conflicting emotions including love, guilt, joy, fear and obligation and the last thing you want to do is make a loved one feel bad.</p> <p>In recognition of this, the following provides tips for sharing your retirement ideals with your family in a positive way:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Make an uninterrupted time to talk.</strong> While it might be an easy time to catch your children, try to avoid the early evening ‘witching hour’ when feeding and bathing can create mayhem</li> <li><strong>Share your goals.</strong> Rather than assuming your family know what will be important to you, let them know what you would like to get out of retirement, particularly while you are active and have good health</li> <li><strong>Articulate your concerns or fears.</strong> Let them know, for example, that you worry about being able to keep up with your energetic grandchild, or that you risk letting them down in the longer term when you decide to go travelling and can’t do that regular Tuesday ‘gig’</li> <li><strong>Listen to what it is that your adult children are seeking</strong> and see if you can come up with alternate options together (it doesn’t always have to be one thing or the other)</li> <li><strong>Let your family know that you love and care for them unconditionally.</strong> Not being able to provide regular baby-sitting duties does not mean that you love them any less</li> </ul> <p>As the saying goes, you first have to look after yourself before you can look after others and this applies especially in retirement. However uncomfortable it may seem initially, have the conversation in order to understand and align both your and your family’s expectations, and then give yourself permission to follow your dreams in retirement!</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Why does my dog eat grass? And when is it not safe for them?

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-hazel-402495">Susan Hazel</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-zoanetti-1439474">Joshua Zoanetti</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em></p> <p>Have you ever wondered why your dog is eating your beautifully cropped lawn or nibbling at the grass at the dog park?</p> <p>Eating grass is a common behaviour in pet dogs. Some surveys show <a href="http://raw-feeding-prey-model.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WhydogogsandcatseatgrassGrassVetMed2008-2.pdf">up to 80%</a> of guardians notice their dog regularly snacking on the grass.</p> <p>Grass eating isn’t a new behaviour either, or only done by our new designer dog breeds. Studies in Yellowstone National Park show plant matter (mostly grass) is found in up to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/136/7/1923S/4664711">74% of wolf scats</a>, suggesting the behaviour is possibly inherited from the beginning of doggy time.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2>So why does my dog eat the grass?</h2> <p>A lot of people think dogs eat grass when they have a sore stomach, believing grass causes dogs to vomit. This is probably not the case; a study with <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf">12 dogs that ate grass daily</a> found there were few vomiting episodes and the ones that did occur came after the dog had eaten a meal.</p> <p>And if a dog has a mild gastrointestinal disturbance because of something they’ve been fed, they are in fact <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159109003311">less likely</a> to eat grass than if they are fed a normal diet.</p> <p>Other theories include that dogs eat grass because they want a laxative or that it provides roughage in their diet (get that fibre!).</p> <p>Like the vomiting discussed above, there is little to no scientific proof for most of these theories. For example, in the study of <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf">12 dogs mentioned above</a>, all of them were wormed and had no previous digestive problems. Yet all 12 still happily ate grass (709 times).</p> <p>Their main finding was that when the dog had not yet had their daily meal, they were more likely to eat grass. In short, the hungrier the dog, the more likely they were to eat some grass.</p> <p>The answer to why your dog eats grass may simply be: because they like to. Your dog may be bored, and chewing on grass is something to do.</p> <p>Maybe your dog just enjoys eating grass. Ripping grass from the ground can be satisfying. The texture and taste of grass offers something different to what they usually eat. You may even notice they prefer grass in certain seasons; perhaps fresh spring grass a favourite delicacy.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2>Is there any reason why you shouldn’t let your dog eat grass?</h2> <p>Well, yes, there are several. Firstly, you may not want your dog eating your neighbour’s immaculately presented fancy Kikuyu lawn.</p> <p>More importantly, though, grass is sometimes treated with herbicides. Grass at the local oval or parkland may have been treated or sprayed. Some local councils use a non-hazardous dye to show where grass has been sprayed with <a href="https://www.yassvalleytimes.com.au/general-news/council-to-use-marker-dye-when-spraying-weeds/">herbicide</a>, which is very helpful.</p> <p>Lawn chemicals are frequently detected in lawn for up to 48 hours after they’re applied, and have also been detected in the urine of dogs with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969713003100?via%3Dihub">access to grass</a> treated this way.</p> <p>Research has suggested there may be a <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/224/8/javma.2004.224.1290.xml">link</a> between bladder cancer in dogs and exposure to herbicides.</p> <p>In fact, dogs may even act as sentinels; the same chemical exposures appear in the urine of dogs and people <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-clinical-and-translational-science/article/environmental-chemical-exposures-in-the-urine-of-dogs-and-people-sharing-the-same-households/C3F9330A4AA7723FE78CE5D492071F55">sharing the same environment</a>.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>If you are using herbicides on your own grass, remove your dog, their toys, food and water bowls from the area prior to any application.</p> <p>Make sure the pesticide has completely dried out before you allow the dog back in the area, and be certain to check the packaging for the appropriate drying time period.</p> <p>This is particularly the case for granular pesticides or fertilisers that soak into the soil, as these can require up to 24 hours or longer.</p> <p>If you want to reduce the risk even further, hand weeding may be a <a href="https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/is-weed-killer-safe-for-pets-what-to-know/">better option</a>.</p> <p>Apart from grass, many leaves, flowers and berries from common plants can be toxic to your dog. <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/o?&">This includes</a> plants such as oleander and arum lily; even oregano and bay leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs.</p> <p>One of the best things you can do for your dog is take them for a walk. And if they eat some grass along the way, provided it has not been sprayed with herbicide, you have nothing to worry about.</p> <p>Don’t worry if they occasionally vomit. If there is more serious vomiting or diarrhoea, however, please consult your vet.<!-- 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/205658/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><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-hazel-402495">Susan Hazel</a>, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-zoanetti-1439474">Joshua Zoanetti</a>, PhD candidate in Veterinary Bioscience, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em></p> <p>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/why-does-my-dog-eat-grass-and-when-is-it-not-safe-for-them-205658">original article</a>.</p>

Family & Pets

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The power of friendship in retirement

<p><em><strong>Megan Giles, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live!</strong></em></p> <p>When we think about staying healthy in retirement, we often think about becoming more active, eating better and ensuring a good night’s sleep. But there’s another powerful antidote and it doesn’t require active wear, perspiration or watching calorie intake. Did you know that maintaining strong friendships in retirement can have a significant and positive impact on your wellbeing?</p> <p>As we age we are going to become more dependent on others. Not only may we become less mobile, but amongst your group of friends it is almost invariable that there will be debilitating illness, divorce, death, job loss and other major life challenges. It is times like this that it is so critical to have a strong friendship circle to surround us - people who can help us to weather the tough times. These friends will rally around you in times of need, intuitively knowing what needs doing and making things more bearable. Good friends will do exactly what you know you would do for them if the roles were reversed. Not only that, but these friends will celebrate your successes too!</p> <p><strong>What are the health impacts of loneliness?</strong></p> <p>The workplace is a hot-bed of human interaction – there is always a morning tea, someone to do the coffee run with and meetings to be held, and so as we step away from the workforce, our social networks tend to decrease. The research shows that loneliness is linked to a number of health issues including poor sleep patterns, increased prevalence of stress hormones, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, and accelerated cognitive decline. In turn, these can contribute to a lowered life expectancy and depression. The lower quality of life associated with these health issues is not what people envisage when they think about a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement.</p> <p><em>Loneliness is not a symptom of failure - that you are no longer relevant. The feeling is simply a reminder to reach other to others.</em></p> <p>The challenge is that life has never been as busy as it is now in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. But stop for a moment. Don't be so busy working hard and saving for retirement that you let the fun things fall by the wayside, such as weekend fishing trips, ladies nights at the theatre, or barefoot bowls. How 'golden' will those years be if you no longer have people to share them with?</p> <p><strong>Do you need to re-connect with friends?</strong></p> <p>Fortunately there are simple things you can do right now to reinvigorate the important friendships in your life.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Make that call!</span></p> <p>Who is that one person that you have been meaning to catch-up with for ages, and what can you do to connect with them today? Go on, nothing beats memory sharing and a deep belly laugh!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Take the lead!</span></p> <p>Rather than wait for catch-ups to be organised, step in and connect with the people you hold near and dear. Just be mindful to set yourself up for success. For example, rather than trying to go out for dinner as a group once a week, make it once a month (or even once a quarter) so that it doesn’t seem like a burden and something that everyone will look forward to.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Let them know</span></p> <p>Don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you care. Let them know how much you appreciate them and why. And do it often!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Choose your friends wisely</span></p> <p>One of the great things that comes with age is caring less what other people think. As such, choose which friendships you cultivate mindfully. Spend time with the people who light you up, not drain your energy or take advantage of you.</p> <p>As the saying goes, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. The power of friendship is real. Is your inner circle full of people that you know will be there for you when you need them (and vice versa)?</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Man lists patch of grass for $130 per week

<p>A patch of grass is up for rent by a man accused of taking advantage of those suffering to find a home amid the housing crisis.</p> <p>The unimaginable living space in the man’s backyard in Eagle Valley, southwest Sydney has been advertised on Facebook Marketplace for $130 per week, with the successful applicant required to pay a $520 bond as well as two weeks of rent in advance.</p> <p>They would need to supply their own tent or “small shed”, the man wrote in the ad, adding it is only available for rent on a short-term basis.</p> <p>The man, in an attempt to entice renters, said the yard was in a “residential area, close to public transport and shops” and said he would be “open to discuss power, water, Wi-Fi, toilets and showers” for the right person.</p> <p>The ad has attracted a lot of criticism from Facebook users, even outside of the listing itself, with the man being dubbed “scummy”.</p> <p>“If you’re happy to loan your backyard to someone in that situation then you shouldn’t be charging a cent. If life has become that hard for someone they have to set up a tent in someone’s backyard then wouldn’t you think they are doing it hard enough?” wrote a person who shared the ad in a separate Facebook group.</p> <p>“$130 to pitch a tent in someone’s backyard and it doesn’t include access to facilities like a toilet. Exactly where are they expecting the tenants to urinate and defecate? Outside the tent like dogs?” one user wrote.</p> <p>“Unbelievable, way to take advantage of the housing crisis,” another responded.</p> <p>Several others questioned why a bond is required, especially such a costly one.</p> <p>The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation’s latest State of the Nation’s Housing report for 2022-2023 found there were more than 330,000 households experiencing rental and financial hardship.</p> <p>In a report by Anglicare Australia’s Everybody’s Home campaign, findings saw <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/those-copping-the-brunt-of-australia-s-rental-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some workers are paying more than 80% of their earnings on rent.</a></p> <p>International students are also feeling the heat of the rental crisis, with one having to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/international-student-forced-to-live-in-tent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sacrifice privacy to find affordable living</a>.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Real Estate

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How forgiveness benefits your health

<p><em><strong>Megan Giles, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live!</strong></em></p> <p>Holding onto anger can never be a good thing. By the time we reach the retirement age it is inevitable that at some stage we have been hurt by actions or words of another. Perhaps they criticised your parenting skills, spoke ill of you to others, or took your kindness for granted.</p> <p>Some people appear to forgive more easily whilst for others tend to hang on to that resentment and anger because they want the other person to bear the weight of what they have done to them. The think “how dare they treat me like that and think they can get away with it!”</p> <p>Holding onto that grudge, however, requires much energy and over time this can pose problems for our physical health. Negative emotions such as anger, resentment and the desire for revenge over a prolonged period of time can lead to depression and anxiety, disrupted digestion, increased blood pressure and a weakened immune system.</p> <p>Not only that, but by not forgiving the other person, we reduce our own capacity to enjoy the present moment, get the most out of the retirement that we have worked so hard for, and be our best self for the people we care about most.</p> <p><strong>Forgiving others</strong></p> <p>Whilst we may not want to forgive the other person, it is important to do so for your own well-being. Forgiveness does not mean that you condone their behaviour, nor does it mean that the wrong is justified, it simply means that you acknowledge what has occurred and then get on with your life in a positive way. I’m sure that you’ve seen it – people who have wasted years of their lives in bitterness and resentment, playing the victim and complaining about everyone and everything that has wronged them. What else do you notice about that person? The chances are that they look older than their years. Anger and resentment hasn’t been kind to them.</p> <p>As Ghandi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”</p> <p>By recognising that we are all human and make mistakes, it allows you to move on in a positive way. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, more positive parts of your life.</p> <p>It may be hard to forgive others when your pride or self-esteem is injured, however, the reality is that the anger or resentment you feel towards a person does them no harm whatsoever in the way that you would like. You are the one dealing with grief, anger, resentment on a daily basis, taking up your valuable energy.</p> <p>Conversely, leading a happy and fulfilling life (free of anger) is the best response to those who have hurt you most.</p> <p><strong>Forgiving ourselves</strong></p> <p>Interestingly, when we talk about forgiveness, one of the most difficult people to forgive is ourselves. We are often our own harshest critic and we can berate ourselves for a myriad of things that we have done wrong such as not speaking up when we should have, hurting a loved ones, or blowing the family budget yet again…</p> <p>By the time you reach retirement age you will have had your share of regrets, but the important thing is to forgive yourself. As Joan Collins once said, “Show me a person how has never made a mistake and I'll show you someone who has never achieved much” – mistakes are part of what makes us who we are and adds to our richness.</p> <p>In forgiving yourself it is helpful to remember that we are all human and are simply trying to do the best we can in any moment. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and chances are that had you known that your action would cause pain or grief for yourself or another, it is unlikely that you would have done it. As such you have permission to forgive yourself and move on.</p> <p><strong>Key ways to forgive that will leave you feeling empowered.</strong></p> <p>If there is someone that you need to forgive in order to live a life in retirement that is full of joy, positivity and strong connection to the people around you, you may like to start your forgiveness journey with the three steps below.</p> <ul> <li>Step into the other person’s shoes and consider the alternate point of view. What were they experiencing, feeling or thinking at the time that they wronged you. Could there have been a particular event or circumstance driving their behaviour at the time, such as a relationship in crisis, financial hardship or a traumatic event? Whilst you do not need to excuse their behaviour or words, the impact may be lessened if you are able to feel some empathy for the other person.</li> <li>Write your forgiveness down on paper. You might like to do this in a journal or a letter to yourself or the other person (though not necessarily to send) and articulate the actions that hurt and the impact it had. It is not critical that you forgive the person face-to-face, the important thing is that you release the negative emotions and memories that currently have a hold on you.</li> <li>Find the positivity in the negative experience. Life doesn’t always go as planned. Consider what you have learned, how you have grown from the experience and even how you might be able to share those learnings to benefit others.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Retirement Life

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12 things you should never do to your lawn

<p>Whether you have a green thumb or not, it’s easy to maintain a blissful, barefoot-worthy backyard. For starters, avoid these no-nos.</p> <p><strong>Don't remove grass clippings</strong></p> <p>Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after you mow can cause thatch problems, right? Nope! That’s a myth. Turns out, grass clippings can actually help with the overall health of your lawn. And (bonus!) that means less work for you when you mow.</p> <p><strong>Don't skip aerating</strong></p> <p>Most lawns, whether seeded or sodded, are planted over a fairly skimpy layer of topsoil. Over time, lawn mowers, pets and football games compact the soil, making it difficult for air, water and vital nutrients to penetrate to the grassroots.</p> <p>Your challenge: to restore healthy soil conditions that nurture your lawn. To loosen and aerate the soil, rent a power core aerator. They’re available at rental centres, plus some hardware stores and garden centres.</p> <p><strong>Don't use a dull mower blade</strong></p> <p>Dull mower blades rip through the grass blades instead of slicing them cleanly, and that stresses the plant. You can always tell a lawn that’s been mowed with a dull blade because it looks brown on the top.</p> <p>Get on your hands and knees and you can actually see the damage. Be sure to sharpen your mower blade each season to keep your lawn in good shape.</p> <p><strong>Don't water every day</strong></p> <p>Did you know your lawn can actually get dependent and needy if it has too much water? Instead of watering every day for 15 minutes, choose one day a week to water the lawn for an entire hour. Your lawn will be watered deeply, and it will be healthier and more drought-tolerant.</p> <p><strong>Don't forget to dethatch</strong></p> <p>Thatch is a layer of slowly decomposing grass stems, roots, clippings, and debris that accumulate at the soil surface over time. It can build up in your lawn and virtually choke it to death. Excessive thatch build-up is commonly found in lawns that have been overfertilized or overwatered and have never been aerated.</p> <p>Thatch build-up of 2cm or more will restrict water and nutrient penetration into the soil (think thatched roof) and can harbour disease organisms that can increase the need for pesticides. Slice open a section of turf. If the thatch is more than 2cm thick, take action.</p> <p><strong>Don't give up on shady areas</strong></p> <p>Growing grass under shade trees isn’t easy, but one key to success is choosing the right shade grass species and planting method for your region. In cool-season areas, you’ll get a better result using seed rather than sod. Sod is grown in wide-open fields under conditions that favour sun-loving grasses.</p> <p>Garden centres will have grass seed mixes formulated for shade. Late summer and mid-spring are the best times to establish cool-season grasses in shady areas.</p> <p><strong>Don't wait too long between mowing</strong></p> <p>If you came back from a holiday and didn’t arrange to have the grass mowed while you were away, don’t try and mow it down in one day. Cut off some of the length and then wait a couple of days and mow again. This will cause less stress on the grass. You may need three passes depending on how long the grass grew.</p> <p><strong>Don't cut grass too short</strong></p> <p>Every grass type has an optimal cutting height, and you’re better off on the high side of that height. Here are a few reasons: The grass blade is the food factory of the plant. Short blades just can’t generate as much food as long blades. Long blades also shade and cool the soil.</p> <p>That means weed seeds are less likely to sprout, and you won’t have to water as often because water won’t evaporate as fast. Not sure what type of grass you have? Take a sample to a garden centre for identification.</p> <p><strong>Don't mow in the same direction every time</strong></p> <p>Instead, mow in a different direction every time: front to back, back to front, diagonal, etc. Repeatedly mowing the exact same way will cause the grass blades to grow at an angle, and you may develop permanent tracks from the mower wheels.</p> <p><strong>Don't cut wet grass</strong></p> <p>Mowing wet grass can cause the mower wheels to leave ruts in your yard, and you could leave behind giant clumps of clippings that could smother the grass beneath. And the wet grass will carpet the underside of your mower deck with a thick mat that’s a pain to clean. Yikes!</p> <p><strong>Don't overfeed</strong></p> <p>If you apply too much grass fertiliser, especially in sandy soils, a good share of it will leach through the soil and make its way into our precious groundwater, rivers, streams and wetlands. Lawn grasses only need a certain amount of food. More isn’t always better.</p> <p><strong>Don't ignore pet areas</strong></p> <p>Dog spots are round patches about 10 to 20cm in diameter with dead grass in the middle, encircled by dark green grass. They’re most apparent in the early spring when dormant grass first begins to turn green again. You have to replant your grass; it won’t come back on its own.</p> <p>But first, you have to dilute or remove the caustic urine from the soil. Thoroughly soak the area with lots of water.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/12-things-you-should-never-do-to-your-lawn?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Robert Irwin’s awkward fan interaction

<p dir="ltr">Robert Irwin has accidentally rejected an American tourist who may be in love with him after “missing” her message. </p> <p dir="ltr">The son of the great Steve Irwin was called cute by Megan Grass after he completed a show at Australia Zoo. </p> <p dir="ltr">She shared the footage to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@megangrass12/video/7109012062063562030?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> of her complimenting him before asking for his number to a round of laughter. </p> <p dir="ltr">Robert said he was “flattered” and proceeded to ask where she was from to which she responded Utah, America. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Utah is great. I’ll tell you what, the easiest way is literally on Instagram so my people can monitor and see where it comes from because my number is hit and miss,” he said to her.</p> <p dir="ltr">Megan then to his surprise revealed that she had in fact messaged the night before to let him know she was going to Australia Zoo. </p> <p dir="ltr">He asked for her name and said “I’ll look it up” before waving and putting his thumb up. </p> <p dir="ltr">It however appears that Robert did not “look up” Megan as she is yet to receive any form of communication from him. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I think it definitely paid off because I got the opportunity to meet Robert, which is really cool," she said on <em>The Today Show</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I definitely was not expecting it to blow up the way it did but it was a really cool experience all together and Robert was so sweet about it."</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked about what she liked about Robert, Megan said it was the fact that “he’s a great guy all together”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I just think he's literally the sweetest person ever, like I was a stranger who asked for his number and he didn't have to be polite about it but he definitely was," she continued. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Robert's also like really busy and if he sees it [her message], he sees it, and if he doesn't, it's totally okay."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok/Today</em></p>

Relationships

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Megan Gale's Daylesford retreat up for rent

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After purchasing their dream weekender a year ago, model Megan Gale and her husband, former Carlton player Shaun Hampson, have </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/28790133?source_impression_id=p3_1618269099_qcQ704JcVbotUTyk&amp;guests=6&amp;adults=6" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">listed it on Airbnb</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple bought Dollywood, a 1940s bungalow in the pretty Victorian town of Daylesford, from their friends, former footballer Marcus Baldwin and his wife Eloise Fox. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After giving it some subtle updates, the couple listed it on Airbnb in April for up to six guests per stay.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The weatherboard home is known for its neon ink sign at the front, and features vintage Hollywood and Palm Springs stylings throughout.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As regular visitors to Daylesford, Gale and Hampton visited the area before and after they had their children, River, 7, and Rosie, 4.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Daylesford, for Shaun and myself, has always been a really special place,” Gale told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.domain.com.au/living/stay-at-dollywood-the-daylesford-airbnb-owned-by-megan-gale-and-shaun-hampson-1103561/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Domain</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2018, they discovered Dollywood, and snapped it up when it hit the market in September last year.</span></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/p/CQN5G11DAVC/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQN5G11DAVC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We thought it was so sweet; it had great charm and the kids loved it,” Gale said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bungalow now features an indoor wood heater, backed by a curved timber wall separating the living area from the bedrooms, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to the verandah.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout the house, artwork including a cactus print, a neon sign (a nod to Dolly Parton), and various wall hangings, have been chosen by Gale.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I wanted some warm mustard, navy and pink tones coming through the house, so I injected that here and there,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guests can stay at the home for between $400 and $800 a night and can enjoy a hamper filled with local goodies and curated soundtrack of Hollywood classics during their stay.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: @dollywood_daylesford (Instagram)</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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Naomi Osaka's feud with Piers Morgan heats up

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Twitter feud has started between Naomi Osaka, conservative commentator Megan Kelly, and Piers Morgan, after Kelly and Morgan hit out at the tennis star over her recent magazine feature.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Osaka recently appeared on the front cover of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sports Illustrated </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">in a swimsuit photoshoot, making history as the first Japanese and Haitian woman to do so.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After sharing the cover on her social media pages, Osaka attracted criticism for appearing in the media after her recent break from the spotlight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since taking time away from the tennis court on mental health grounds, Osaka has announced a collaboration with Barbie for her ‘Role Model’ doll, a Netflix mini-series about her, and made appearances in </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vogue</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Time Magazine</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sports Illustrated</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of these media engagements would have been in the works for months, but sports pundit Clay Travis called Osaka out for her latest media appearances during her break.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kelly and Morgan echoed their support for his criticisms.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Since saying she’s too introverted to talk to the media after tennis matches, Naomi Osaka has launched a reality show, a Barbie, and now is on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue,” Travis said on Twitter.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Let’s not forget the cover of (&amp; interview in) Vogue Japan and Time Mag! <a href="https://t.co/PAAUEwAVi0">https://t.co/PAAUEwAVi0</a></p> — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1417154841898622977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">ANOTHER magazine cover for brave inspiring Naomi! <br />No wonder she had no time for beastly media press conferences! 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/ckrKodKBc5">https://t.co/ckrKodKBc5</a></p> — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1417186968472072194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a now-deleted tweet, Osaka hit back at Kelly and criticised her for not doing her ‘research’ and for ‘spewing negativity’.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Seeing as you’re a journalist I would’ve assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines, if you did that you would’ve found out I shot all of my covers last year,” Osaka wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, after appearing to block Kelly, the commentator continued the attack on the tennis star. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Poor <a href="https://twitter.com/naomiosaka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@naomiosaka</a> blocked me while taking a shot at me (guess she’s only tough on the courts). She is apparently arguing that she shot her many covers b/4 publicly claiming she was too socially anxious to deal w/press. Truth is she just doesn’t like Qs she can’t control. Admit it. <a href="https://t.co/izyRzOrUVm">pic.twitter.com/izyRzOrUVm</a></p> — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1417193630671032320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morgan also weighed-in, saying he has been blocked by Osaka as well.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Yep, and she just blocked me too. The only media Ms Osaka wants to tolerate are sycophantic magazine editors telling her how perfect she is. <a href="https://t.co/oLcyJviR4v">https://t.co/oLcyJviR4v</a></p> — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1417194272886038534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, others were quick to jump to Osaka’s defence, including tennis great Martina Navratilova.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A**hole much, Megyn?!? You have no idea what you are talking about. But go ahead and take your shot. It missed badly!!!” Navratilova tweeted.</span></p>

News

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Volunteer firefighter behind bars after deliberately lighting fires

<p>A volunteer firefighter has been arrested over allegedly lighting more than 30 grass fires this summer, in NSW's south-west.</p> <p>The 30-year-old man was arrested at a property in Whitton, 40km south of Griffith, on Friday.</p> <p>The arrest comes after detectives gathered a specialised strike force team to investigate the suspicious fires that have been occurring in the Whittington area since November, 2020z</p> <p>Police officers raided the man's home and seized a number of items of interest for more information.</p> <p>The man is currently serving as a volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service.</p> <p>He has since been charged with five counts of intentionally causing a fire, along with being reckless as to its spread.</p> <p>He appeared at Wagga Wagga Bail Court on Saturday, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on January 27.</p>

Legal

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Megan Gale breaks silence on brother Jason’s death

<p>Megan Gale has broken her silence on the death of her brother Jason, taking to Instagram to reveal the past months have been “the hardest” of her life.</p> <p>Jason Gale, 49, was reported missing on Friday July 17.</p> <p>On July 21 his body was found in bushland south-east of Perth.</p> <p>Mr Gale is said to have been traumatised after witnessing the death of his colleague Robert Cunico in 2018.</p> <p>On Monday evening, Megan Gale posted a 12-minute video to her Instagram followers, describing the “shock” loss.</p> <p>“Well it’s been a while,” Gale wrote in the post.</p> <p>“I thought I’d jump on and have a bit of a chat. It’s been probably the hardest couple of months of my life and I honestly have had no desire to post anything.</p> <p>“Even this felt foreign to me.</p> <p>“What I’ve been through in recent times certainly wasn’t the most positive of experiences to document and I most certainly couldn’t fathom the thought of turning my circumstances into content.</p> <p>“That just seemed so very wrong.</p> <p>“To everyone who has messaged me in regards to my brother and asked if I’m ok, thank you from the bottom of my heart.</p> <p>“I am fine. Not amazing but doing ok. And so thankful for so much.”</p> <p>She went on to describe the difficult decision to leave her partner, Shaun Hampson, and their two children in Melbourne to attend her brother’s funeral in Perth.</p> <p>During her hotel quarantine in Perth, she says she broke down.</p> <p>“The only way I could get through it was to not think about what happened with my brother to block it out, pretend it hadn’t happened,” Gale said.</p> <p>“Twice I broke about two minutes each time, but I just shifted focus ... I couldn’t allow myself to grieve and sink into that deep sadness in there.”</p> <p>She said that she is still “working through” Jason’s death and is finding it difficult to be in public during this time.</p> <p>“I guess being a public person, meant it was everywhere which comes with the territory, unfortunately,” she says.</p> <p>“I had a very short period of time to make the decision (about the funeral).</p> <p>“But I also wanted to be in Perth to support my mum and my brother and the rest of my family and play a part in sending my brother off and putting him to rest.”</p> <p>Gale also thanked Hampson for looking after their children River and Rosie.</p> <p>“I couldn’t ask for a better or more supportive partner — or human to get me through this,” she said.</p>

Caring

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Crazy debate sparked over un-mown patch of lawn

<p>A photograph of a freshly trimmed patch of lawn has caused furious debate over whether Australians should be forced to mow their own nature strips and the ones they own with neighbours, or just their own.</p> <p>The photo sparked a heated argument after it was posted to a Facebook community group based in northern Sydney.</p> <p>The image showed grass beside a footpath that stretched across the front of two properties.</p> <p>While the lawn was well maintained on one side, the lawnmower finished his work at the final metre of grass that was on the neighbour's property. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837235/lawn-frass.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/07d59535b25c40228f869a94ec6d70f0" /></p> <p>“Seems these two neighbours in Chatswood clearly don't get on,” the caption on the post read.</p> <p>Some locals branded the neighbour “petty” and the alleged dispute between the homeowners as simply “ridiculous”.</p> <p>“Why wouldn't the person just go to the end? Visually it would actually look better,” one person furiously said.</p> <p>However, not everyone agreed that the neighbour should have finished the whole lawn strip and said the other party could be to blame. </p> <p>“We used to have to do this as our old neighbours didn't like us touching "his lawn" even though it was less than 30cm,” a local wrote.</p> <p>Another said: “They would be employing a gardener, doubt the homeowner would be doing that.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837225/lawn-frass-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9116e00d1fc54e3684d85eaae14ac6e3" /></p> <p>According to the Willoughby Council's website the “petty" neighbour may be in the right. </p> <p>“All residents are responsible for caring for the nature strip that fronts or adjoins onto the property in which they reside,” it said.  </p> <p>The owner of the well-mowed lawn eventually took to social media to reveal there was no bad blood between his family and their neighbour. </p> <p>“Relax people, we like our neighbours and promise in future we will get our gardeners to co-ordinate better,” they said.   </p>

Home & Garden

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Body believed to be Megan Gale’s brother found in bushland

<p>The body of Jason Gale has been found in a Perth bushland, about a week after the 49-year-old was reported missing.</p> <p>A body believed to be the brother of Australian supermodel Megan Gale was discovered near his discarded car in Karragullen on Tuesday, police said.</p> <p>Police are not treating his death as suspicious.</p> <p>Jason was reported missing from his home in the Perth suburb of Bibra Lake and was spotted last Tuesday buying petrol and water from a service station in Pingelly, almost 160 kms south-east of Perth.</p> <p>Family and friends told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/missing-person/jason-gale-brother-of-supermodel-megan-gale-found-dead-in-dense-bushland-c-1182451">7News</a> </em>Jason regularly took solo trips but had been gone for longer than usual this time.</p> <p>Megan’s manager Lara Messenger released a statement on behalf of the family following the news, saying: “The Gale family thank everyone for their support especially Jason’s neighbours, close friends and work colleagues who have been assisting.”</p>

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“Very demeaning”: Megan Gale shares how the public’s reaction impacted her after breakup with Andy Lee

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>A decade after Andy Lee and Megan Gale had parted ways, Gale has opened up about the fallout from the end of her relationship with the radio star.</p> <p>Gale has said that it was “demeaning” and felt like she had done something wrong.</p> <p>She was candid on<span> </span>Mamamia’s<span> </span>No Filter podcast and explained that she felt the public perception of her shift after the breakup.</p> <p>“It was very demeaning … It was really challenging to navigate for a while,” the former model told host Mia Freedman.</p> <p>“It wasn’t a good time. It almost felt like I had done something wrong and I had been tarnished like I’d done something wrong. When I was with (Andy), everyone loved us together,” she said.</p> <p>As Gale appeared to move on quickly with her new partner Shaun Hampson after parting ways with Lee, the breakup between the pair was confirmed long before it became public knowledge.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2tekO8HqbX/?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="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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2tekO8HqbX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a> on Sep 22, 2019 at 3:44am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“We were going through what we were going through very privately for quite a while, so when people found out we were broken up, I think it came as a bit of a shock and I did appear to have moved on relatively quickly.</p> <p>“It was new for other people, but it was old for us.”</p> <p>As Gale, 44, and Hampson, 32, began dating in January 2011, she felt that their age gap was given unnecessary focus after her breakup with Lee.</p> <p>“If he was 12 years older than me, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But because I was the woman and I was older, and it made it a bit salacious,” she said, revealing she was “aggravated” by the harsh double-standard.</p> <p>She also spoke to Anh Do on<span> </span>Anh’s Brush With Fame<span> </span>in 2017 about the age difference.</p> <p>“I was very aware of the fact that a lot would be made of not just how quickly I happened to move on, but the age difference,” she said.</p> <p>“I knew, I knew people would eat that up and make that a negative.”</p> <p>Gale and Hampson have been together since 2011 and have two children, River, 5 and Rosie, 2.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"><span class="like-bar-component"></span> <div class="watched-bookmark-container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Relationships

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Mystery solved: Why do cats eat grass even when it makes them sick?

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While our feline friends are full of mysteries - there are some questions that should be answered for the sake of health. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cats have a strange habit of eating grass despite it making them ill. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researchers from the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine believe they have found the reason behind the odd practice. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experts suggest feline’s ancestors would chew on roughage (comparable to grass)  to get rid of intestinal parasites. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cats would pick up parasites from eating rodents then eat the grass to flush out the worms. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chewing on grass would provoke muscle activity in their digestive tracts. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While it is unnecessary for our furry friends to keep the habit in modern times, researchers believe it is what cats choose to do when they have an irritation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Given that virtually all wild carnivores carry an intestinal parasite load, instinctive plant-eating would have an adaptive role in maintaining a tolerable intestinal parasite load, whether or not the animal senses the parasites,” the statement read.</span></p>

Caring

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How to treat dog spots on grass

<p>Round patches on the lawn about 100mm wide with dead grass in the middle and dark green at the edges are called dog spots.</p> <p>The patches occur when a dog wees in the same area a number of times and the high concentration of acids, salts and nitrogen in the urine burns the grass roots.</p> <p>Dig out the dead spots and replant the affected area by adding topsoil and grass seed to match the surrounding area. </p> <p>Prevent spots by giving the dog plenty of water to make its urine less concentrated and soak its favourite areas of lawn to flush salts out of the root zone before they kill the grass. </p> <p>Train the pet to urinate in a special spot and cover the area with mulch. </p> <p><strong>Step 1: Hose the spot</strong></p> <p>Hose the spot until the grass is soaking to dilute the urine acids and salts and wash them deeper into the soil, away from the grass roots.</p> <p><strong>Step 2: Scrape dead grass</strong></p> <p>Scrape up the dead grass with a hand rake to remove it then rough up the area to loosen the soil to 20mm deep as seeds germinate better in soft soil.</p> <p><strong>Step 3: Sprinkle topsoil</strong></p> <p>Sprinkle topsoil in a thin layer then add an even amount of grass seed, covering with another thin layer of soil. Keep the area moist until the new grass is about 50mm high</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of </em><a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/treat-dog-spots-grass"><em>Handyman Australia</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Megan Gale shares rare photo of beautiful lookalike daughter

<p>Model and actor Megan Gale has shared a rare picture of her daughter Rosie May Dee in a recent Instagram post.</p> <p>The young daughter bears a striking resemblance to Gale, sharing her brown locks and big bright eyes.</p> <p>“When she turns 18 months old and is rocking your own headscarf better than you well...” the mother-of-two wrote. “Love you baby girl.”</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/p/BvgaDL2jsmR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=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/p/BvgaDL2jsmR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">When she turns 18 months old and is rocking your own headscarf better than you well...that deserves a post ❤️🌹 Love you baby girl 😘</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/megankgale/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> MEGAN GALE</a> (@megankgale) on Mar 27, 2019 at 2:15am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Gale and her fiancé, former AFL player Shaun Hampson, are also parents to four-year-old son River.</p> <p>In June, Gale revealed that she and Hampson are not planning to have any more children. “Shaun and I have (un)officially said we’ve closed up the baby making shop,” Gale wrote on an Instagram post.</p> <p>“But as a woman ... being pregnant and giving birth is such an incredible experience and an absolute gift that I’ll admit... I’m finding it a little challenging to get my head (and heart) around the fact that this is it.”</p> <p>The 43-year-old model added, “Not to mention watching Rosie go through all her beautiful little baby phases and as she goes through each one I can’t help but have those “that’s the last time” moments. I can certainly see why people go back for more. Babies are addictive!!”</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/p/BkAFnnKnIMZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=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/p/BkAFnnKnIMZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Following on from last nights post, I can’t believe that this photo was taken a year ago as well 🤦🏽‍♀️ almost 6 months pregnant with my Rosie girl 🌹Shaun and I have (un)officially said we’ve closed up the baby making shop. (Meaning he’s happy as is - done and dusted) I guess, for the most part, I am too... But as a woman.. my god being pregnant and giving birth is such an incredible experience and an absolute gift that I’ll admit.. I’m finding it a little challenging to get my head (&amp; heart) around the fact that this is it. Not to mention watching Rosie go through all her beautiful little baby phases and as she goes through each one I can’t help but have those “that’s the last time” moments. I can certainly see why people go back for more. Babies are addictive!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍</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/megankgale/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> MEGAN GALE</a> (@megankgale) on Jun 14, 2018 at 3:15am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>After six years of being in a relationship, Gale and Hampson announced their engagement in 2017.</p> <p>In September, the couple spent $3.12 million to purchase a four-bedroom house in Glen Iris, Melbourne for their family of four.</p>

Art

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The hidden messages behind Duchess Megan’s royal tour jewellery

<div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>While all eyes have been on how Duchess Meghan has been faring with her pregnancy on the royal tour, the jewellery that has adorned her is sparking plenty of interest as well.</p> <p>After the meaning of Prince Harry’s <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-sentimental-meaning-behind-prince-harry-s-bracelet" title="sentimental bracelet">sentimental bracelet</a> was revealed last week, jewellery designers have given their take on the hidden meaning behind the expectant mum’s jewellery.</p> <p>According to<em> <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-royal-tour-jewelry/" target="_blank">People</a> </em>magazine, the 37-year-old is making some “bold” statements with the pieces, particularly showcasing jewellery that is made from sustainable material and ethically made.</p> <p>At the opening of the Invictus Games on the weekend, Duchess Meghan chose to wear a number of pieces by Ecksand, including stackable rings, a favourite of hers. Ecksand uses recycled hold and ethical gems in its jewellery. The jewels on the rings, sapphire, emerald and marquise diamond, are set in 18k sustainable gold.</p> <p><img style="width: 341.695px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821501/markle-jewll.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d5da06097369459f878e1972e7b0c374" /></p> <p>“Just seeing her wear our pieces really reiterates to us that she must already be aligned with our values,” co-founder and designer Erica Bianchini of Ecksand said in an interview with <em>People</em>. “And the way she brought them all together is so fun, she always put things together so naturally.”</p> <p>And Bianchini said that the Duchess’ choice of the brand’s jewellery also has a double meaning to go along with her message of sustainability: “everlasting love". </p> <p>The expectant mum was also seen wearing Ecksand’s Emerald Secret Heart Stackable ring which features a “moveable emerald heart".</p> <p>“I was really happy to see she chose that because I love emeralds and also they mean everlasting love,” said Bianchini, although the designer says, Duchess Meghan doesn’t need a reminder, such is the affection shown between her and husband Prince Harry.</p> <p>“I don’t think the duchess needs any gems to reinforce that!”</p> <p>And the Duchess isn’t afraid to re-wear her jewellery with some favourite pieces making repeated showings, again by another ethical jeweller British designer Pippa Small. After wearing it at Princess Eugenie’s wedding, Duchess Meghan has donned Small’s Herkimer Diamond quartz pieces during the royal tour.</p> <p>“I think they suit her just perfectly,” said Small. “They are quite organic, simple and pure, which somehow works really beautifully with her style.”</p> <p>She has again continued the re-wearable, sustainably designed trend with another jeweller aligned with her values, Los Angeles based Adina Reyter. The Duchess wore her 3 Diamond Amigos Curve Post earrings a number of times on tour.</p> <p>“Everything she has worn so far is very wearable, it’s not fussy and that’s her entire appeal,” said Reyter.</p> <p>“Customers want the personal message of the meaning behind the design and the brand – having someone like Meghan Markle wear our pieces really communicates who we are and we couldn’t be happier.”</p> <p>Duchess Meghan also paid tribute to Princess Diana during the trip wearing some of her most treasured pieces, her butterfly earrings and gold bracelet.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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The sentimental meaning behind Prince Harry’s bracelet

<p>You may have noticed a recurring feature in Prince Harry’s attire as he tours Australia with wife Duchess Meghan. It’s popped up in images of the Duke of Sussex for years, and it has a very poignant backstory attached to it.</p> <p>Prince Harry wears the silver bracelet in memory of his late mother Princess Diana, and, movingly, it can be seen on his wrist in his wedding photos with Meghan. The 34-year-old has worn it for some 20 years.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821449/harry-wedding-bracelett.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c321e2da2f49436685868139135d5635" /></p> <p>It’s thought that Prince Harry got the bracelet in Africa on a trip with his father Prince Charles, and brother Prince William, after the tragic death in August 1997 of his mother Princess Diana, reports <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/why-harrys-worn-the-same-sentimental-bracelet-for-20-years/news-story/7faa443393f0cba77cde39fdfdf9d1e8" target="_blank">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p>"I first came in 1997, straight after my mum died,” he told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a8954/prince-harry-african-parks/" target="_blank">Town &amp; Country</a></em> last year on an animal conservation effort in the country.</p> <p>“My dad told my brother and me to pack our bags – we were going to Africa to get away from it all.”</p> <p>The Prince developed an affinity for Africa finding solace there, describing his visits as "like being plugged into the earth. You leave this place with a real appreciation of what it means to be alive".</p> <p>"This is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world. I wish I could spend more time in Africa. I have this intense sense of complete relaxation and normality here. To not get recognised, to lose myself in the bush with what I would call the most down-to-earth people on the planet.”</p> <p>Of course, Africa also holds a special place in Prince Harry’s heart as <span>it was in Botswana that he and Duchess Meghan enjoyed a romantic holiday together, just four weeks after their first date.</span></p> <p>The Duchess of Sussex has also paid tribute to Princess Diana with jewellery on the couple’s Australian tour, according to <em>news.com.au</em>. She wore some of the late royal’s most prized pieces at Admiralty House in Sydney on their first official engagement, wearing Princess Diana’s butterfly earrings and matching bracelet.</p>

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