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Surprise choice for "Word of the Year"

<p>The Oxford University Press has named its word of the year, and the results are not what you expect. </p> <p>From "Swiftie" (an evid Taylor Swift fan), "situationship" (an informal romantic or sexual relationship)  and "prompt" (an instruction given to an AI program), it's clear that this year's line up was heavily influenced by Gen Z. </p> <p>This year's winner truly speaks volumes about the impact of the younger generation, after results from a public vote reveal that "Rizz" is the word of the year. </p> <p>Rizz is believed to come from the middle of the word charisma, and it is often used to describe someone's ability to attract or seduce someone else. </p> <p>The publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary also said that it can be used as a verb as in to "rizz up"  which means to attract or chat someone up. </p> <p>"It speaks to how younger generations create spaces — online or in person — where they own and define the language they use," the publisher said.</p> <p>"From activism to dating and wider culture, as Gen Z comes to have more impact on society, differences in perspectives and lifestyle play out in language, too."</p> <p>In a news release,  Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said: "Rizz is a term that has boomed on social media, and speaks to how language that enjoys intense popularity and currency within particular social communities — and even in some cases lose their popularity and become passé — can bleed into the mainstream."</p> <p>One of the first instances of a celebrity using it, was when earlier this year <em>Spiderman</em> star Tom Holland said that he had "no rizz whatsoever", during an interview with <em>BuzzFeed</em>. </p> <p>"I have limited rizz," he said at the time, joking about his relationship with co-star Zendaya. </p> <p>Rizz was one of eight words that made it to the shortlist, which included a few other words like: “beige flag”, “parasocial”, “heat dome” and “de-influencing”. </p> <p>Rizz is heavily used online with the hashtag racking up billions of views on TikTok.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Books

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"Is it even legal?": Outrage over pub's "sneaky" surcharge

<p>A Sydney hotel has come under fire online after one customer exposed the popular venue for an unexpected - and apparently undeclared - “late night surcharge”. </p> <p>And after taking to Reddit, that same customer found a wave of support from users who agreed the additional fee was ridiculous, with some even questioning the legalities of it. </p> <p>And while they hadn’t initially revealed the name of the sneaky establishment, after a number of requests from fellow Redditors for a “name and shame”, they eventually disclosed that it had been Sydney’s iconic Oxford Hotel.</p> <p>They began their tale by sharing that they’d just been out with a friend, and had been buying “jugs of beer as rounds”. </p> <p>The first was “purchased at 9:18pm for $24.36”, and wasn’t an issue for the two friends. </p> <p>However, trouble arose at 10:37pm when the poster’s next round came about, and the total came in at $33.50. </p> <p>“I paid for it not looking at the price but Apple Pay has notifications when you pay for things,” they explained, “and I noticed the price difference in the notifications. </p> <p>“When I asked the same staff member who served me he said there was a ‘late night surcharge after 10pm’.” </p> <p>They went on to note that they’d never even heard of a late night surcharge before, and were dismayed by the “30% increase! Not exactly a small increase.” </p> <p>“There’s no signage to notify anyone of the fee after 10pm. I’ve never even heard of this practice in Australia,” they said, before asking whether anyone else had had a similar experience before, and “is it even legal?” </p> <p>When someone noted that “surcharges and semi-forced gratuities are becoming commonplace now unfortunately”, they suggested checking out menus beforehand to determine whether or not a particular establishment would be issuing additional fees. </p> <p>But as one user pointed out, the hotel in question didn’t list the late night charges anywhere on their website. </p> <p>Someone else said that while “late charge surcharging is nothing new”, what the customer had paid “seems somewhat excessive”. </p> <p>“Every time I go out in Sydney these days the whole experience just leaves a bad feeling because I feel like I've just been had by someone,” another said. </p> <p>“Ahh, the reverse happy hour. A sad hour, if you will,” one offered. </p> <p>“So sick of this. It needs to stop. Australian Culture is being killed before our eyes by these greedy establishments not willing to pay their staff living wages,” someone else lamented. </p> <p>And as one bartender added, “so many bars will bump their booze prices up at 10pm and midnight to ‘help pay for staff loading’, but won't actually pay their staff penalty rates. just a little bit of extra money for the big wigs”.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“Overbearing idiots” fined for surfing through Venice’s Grand Canal

<p dir="ltr">Two “overbearing idiots” who were caught surfing through Venice's Grand Canal have been identified and had their boards confiscated.</p> <p dir="ltr">A furious Mayor Luigi Brugnaro shared footage of the pair calling for them to be found and punished for “making a mockery of the city”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Here are two overbearing idiots who make a mockery of the City,” his translated tweet read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I ask everyone to help us identify them to punish them even if our weapons are really blunt... we urgently need more powers for the Mayors in terms of public safety!</p> <p dir="ltr">“To those who spot them, I offer a dinner!”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="it">Ecco due imbecilli prepotenti che si fanno beffa della Città… chiedo a tutti di aiutarci a individuarli per punirli anche se le nostre armi sono davvero spuntate… servono urgentemente più poteri ai Sindaci in tema di sicurezza pubblica!<br />A chi li individua offro una cena! <a href="https://t.co/DV2ONO3hUs">pic.twitter.com/DV2ONO3hUs</a></p> <p>— Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/LuigiBrugnaro/status/1559808148843765760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In a later post, the Mayor Brugnaro announced that the pair were caught and fined. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Speaking of the two “heroes” of this morning, we have identified them!” he updated his followers.</p> <p dir="ltr">He did not disclose how much their fine was but thanked everyone for their cooperation on catching the two. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Students’ removal of Queen’s photo causes ire

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students in the UK have caused a stir after voting to remove a photograph of the Queen from their university common room.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Postgraduate students at Magdalen College, Oxford, voted to take down the print, with minutes from the meeting noting that “for some students depictions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The move drew criticism from UK Education secretary Gavin Williamson, who tweeted: “Oxford university students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd. She is the head of state and a symbol of what is best about the UK. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a swift response, Dinah Rose, the president of Magdalen College, defended the decision and wrote: “Here are some facts about Magdalen College and HM the Queen. The Middle Common Room is an organisation of graduate students. They don’t represent the College. A few years ago, in 2013 they bought a print of the Queen to decorate their common room.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They recently voted to take it down. Both of these decisions are their own to take, not the College’s. Magdalen strongly supports free speech and political debate and the MCR’s right to autonomy.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She added: “Being a student is about more than studying. It’s about exploring and debating ideas. It’s sometimes about provoking the older generation. Looks like that isn’t so hard to do these days.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rose also said the print would be safely stored in the event the students vote to put the print up once more.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Matthew Katzman, Magdalen’s MCR president, told the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daily Telegraph</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">: “It has been taken down. It was decided to leave the common room neutral. That was what this was about. The college will have plenty of depictions of various things but the common room is meant to be a space for all to feel welcome.” </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Magdalen College, Theroyalfamily / Instagram</span></em></p>

Art

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Huge cruise ship squeezes through Greek canal with just centimetres to spare

<p><span>A 24,344-tonnes, 22.5-metre-wide cruise liner has made history to become the largest ship ever to travel through the narrow Corinth Canal.</span></p> <p><span>On Wednesday, 929 passengers on board held their breath as the Braemar cruise liner squeezed through the canal, which was 24 metres wide at its narrowest point.</span></p> <p><span>The ship was so close to the rocky walls of the canal that passengers could reach out their hands and almost touch the surface, UK-based Fred. Olsen Cruises said.</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/B3Y6vKyn3y6/?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/p/B3Y6vKyn3y6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Transiting the #CorinthCanal this morning on #Braemar... fabulous views! #🚢 #fredolsen #cruise</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/andyeastwooduk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Andy Eastwood</a> (@andyeastwooduk) on Oct 9, 2019 at 12:37am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>The 6.4-kilometre-long canal is a waterway that separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>The trip was part of the 25-night Corinth Canal &amp; Greek Islands cruise, which took off from Southampton, UK.</span></p> <p><span>“This is such an exciting sailing and tremendous milestone in Fred Olsen’s 171-year history, and we are thrilled to have been able to share it with our guests,” said Clare Ward, director of product and customer service.</span></p>

Cruising

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World's greatest canals you can take a ship through

<p>These canals are impressive in real life as they appear in photos.</p> <p><strong>1. Panama Canal, Republic of Panama</strong></p> <p>The granddaddy of them all, the Panama Canal is the most famous man made waterway in the world. Construction began in 1881 but was not completed until 1914. The canal underwent a major expansion in 2016 and can now accommodate some of the largest ships in the world. It joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a series of locks that are an engineering marvel. There’s nothing else like it on earth.</p> <p><strong>2. Suez Canal, Egypt</strong></p> <p>Less famous than its Central American cousin, the Suez is no less impressive. Dating back to the 1860s, the canal links the Mediterranean and Red seas, stretching for around 160 kilometres through the desert. There are no locks here, as the two bodies of water are at roughly the same level, and ships pass through slowly for a transit time of around 11-16 hours.</p> <p><strong>3. Gota Canal, Sweden</strong></p> <p>Dating back to the early 19<sup>th</sup> century, the Gota Canal winds its way between two lakes in the west of Sweden. Though it runs for less than 200 kilometres, in that time it covers 66 locks and can take up to six days. The canal can only be accessed by very small ships and many have been operating on the route for decades. Because the pace is so slow, passengers can hop off and cycle alongside the canal for a while before reboarding the ship.</p> <p><strong>4. Kiel Canal, Germany</strong></p> <p>The Kiel Canal is the world’s busiest artificial waterway, though you’ve probably never heard of it. It links the North Sea with the Baltic Sea and cuts around 400 kilometres off the journey around the Jutland Peninsula. It’s slow and sedate, essentially passing through small farms and the backyards of villages along the route. The cruise gives a glimpse into the daily life of this part of the world.</p> <p><strong>5. Cana du Midi, France</strong></p> <p>This iconic French canal was built in 1680, meaning it was carrying passengers some 100 years before the First Fleet arrived in Australia. It runs for just under 250 kilometres through the south of France past medieval villages, ancient chateaux and rolling vineyards. It’s open to small barges carrying just a handful of people, meaning you can create your own slow-moving itinerary.</p> <p>Have you visited any of these canals? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Cruising

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Oxford University creates map of “touch” acceptability

<p>Touch is incredibly personal and it can be hard to know what others’ boundaries are. A recent study from the University of Oxford reveals some interesting truths about acceptability.</p> <p>The study used more than 1,300 men and women from five countries: the UK, Finland, France, Italy and Russia. It asked them to colour in areas on a diagram of the human body where they would feel comfortable being touched by different people, like a romantic partner, friend or stranger. Their answers were used to create a colour coded ‘map’ of the body, which ranked acceptability by relationship and area.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="800" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34266/touch-acceptability_499x800.jpg" alt="Touch Acceptability"/> </p> <p>Some of the results were unsurprising. Both sexes felt largely uncomfortable being touched by strangers, except on very neutral parts of their bodies like arms and shoulders. Women were more uncomfortable to be touched by male strangers or acquaintances than men were. And everyone agreed that few people outside of partners or close family members should touch them anywhere near their private parts.</p> <p>Researchers found that touch is an important means of maintaining social relationships, even at a time when we are increasingly communicating through the internet or mobile devices. The acceptability of touch is closely associated with the pleasure caused by touching. The greater the pleasure caused by touching an area, the more selective we are in allowing others to touch it.</p> <p>The study also showed that while touch is universal, the context of the relationship between two parties is the key factor in the interpretation of it. For example, we may perceive a certain kind of touch from a close friend as comforting, while the same action from a stranger would be unwelcome. These relationships are not always dictated by time either. A friend we have not seen for a long time would be able to touch us differently to a workmate who we see every day.</p> <p>And it revealed some interesting national traits around touch. The British were the least comfortable with physical touch while the Finns were the most. Italians, usually considered to be a very emotive, physical people in general, were only slightly more comfortable with it than the Brits.</p> <p>What do you think of the research? Share your thoughts in the comments below. </p>

Relationships

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The logic you need to get into Oxford University

<p>Find out if you have the sort of logic needed to get into Oxford University.</p> <p>For his <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/07/can-you-solve-it-would-you-get-into-oxbridge">latest fortnightly puzzle in The Guardian</a></strong></span>, British writer Alex Bellos has posed a question from the 2012 Oxford mathematics admissions test.</p> <p>It's all about the colour of hats being worn by three expert logicians sitting in a row.</p> <p>In each of five scenarios, their father puts either red or blue hats on their heads. Alice can see Bob's and Charlie's hats, but not her own. Bob can see only Charlie's hat. Charlie can see none of the hats. </p> <p>1. Their father puts a hat on each of their heads and says: "Each of your hats is either red or blue. At least one of you has a red hat." Alice then says "I know the colour of my hat." What colour is each person's hat?</p> <p>2. Their father puts a new hat on each of their heads and again says: "Each of your hats is either red or blue. At least one of you has a red hat." Alice then says "I don't know the colour of my hat." Bob then says "I don't know the colour of my hat." What colour is Charlie's hat?</p> <p>3. Their father puts a new hat on each of their heads and says: "Each of your hats is either red or blue. At least one of you has a red hat, and at least one of you has a blue hat." Alice says "I know the colour of my hat." Bob then says "Mine is red." What colour is each person's hat?</p> <p>4. Their father puts a new hat on each of their heads and says: "Each of your hats is either red or blue. At least one of you has a red hat, and at least one of you has a blue hat." Alice then says "I don't know the colour of my hat." Bob then says "My hat is red". What colour is Charlie's hat?</p> <p>5. Their father puts a new hat on each of their heads and says: "Each of your hats is either red or blue. Two of you who are seated adjacently both have red hats." Alice then says "I don't know the colour of my hat." What colour is Charlie's hat?</p> <p>Bellos asked readers to submit only the colour of Charlie's hat.</p> <p>He said the test was set by Oxford for applicants to computer science, mathematics &amp; computer science, and computer science &amp; philosophy.</p> <p>Successful applicants scored 4.73 on average out of five, so it was a good idea to get all the answers right.</p> <p>Of those who tried to answer the puzzle in The Guardian, about 80 per cent got each question right, Bellos said.</p> <p>Logic puzzles about people who are wearing hats but can only see other people's hats date to the 1930s.</p> <p><strong>SPOILER ALERT:</strong><br /> The answers follow, so don't read any further unless you're sure you're ready.</p> <p>1. Alice's hat is red, and the others are blue. It must be that Alice can see that neither of the others has a red hat, so can deduce the colour of her own. Charlie's hat is blue. 83.2 per cent of those who responded to The Guardian column got the colour of Charlie's hat correct.</p> <p>2. Alice must be able to see a red hat, or would be able to deduce the colour of her own hat. Likewise, Bob must be able to see a red hat, or would be able to deduce the colour of his own hat (given Alice's answer). Hence Charlie's hat is red - 74.1 per cent got it right.</p> <p>3. Alice must be able to see two hats of the same colour in order to deduce the colour of her hat. Bob knows this, and so deduces his hat is the same colour as Charlie's. Hence Alice's hat is blue, and Bob's and Charlie's are red - 78.8 per cent were correct.</p> <p>4. Alice must be able to see two hats of opposite colours, or else she would be able to deduce her own hat colour. Bob knows this, so deduces his hat is a different colour from Charlie's. Hence Charlie's hat is blue - 89.2 per cent were right.</p> <p>5. If Bob and Charlie had different colour hats, Alice would know that she and Bob both had red hats. Therefore Bob and Charlie both have red hats - 82.7 per cent right.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/childrens-logic-puzzle-stumps-adults/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The children’s logic puzzle stumping adults</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/can-you-solve-these-5-tricky-riddles/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Can you solve these 5 tricky riddles?</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/07/are-you-ever-too-old-to-train-your-brain/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Are you ever too old to train your brain?</strong></em></span></a></p>

Mind

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Man uses toy tug boat to cruise down river

<p>Everyone has their preferred method of getting from point A to point B, and as we can see from this story some forms of transportation are more eccentric than others.</p> <p>Mick Carroll was strolling through the UK town of Market Drayton when he spotted a local man on the river, making perhaps the most unusual commute of all time.</p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26392/cruise-tugboat-in-text-one_500x375.jpg" alt="Cruise -Tugboat -In -Text -One" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The man cruised in a kayak like vessel that was towed by a remote-control tugboat.</p> <p>Carroll couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a couple of photographs, and posted them to Facebook with the caption, “Dont ya just love eccentric’s. Seen this fella as we were passin thru Market Drayton gettin pulled along by a remote control tug. Brilliant.”</p> <p>The man himself sounds like he had a sense of humour, and reportedly shouted out to Carrol as he cruised past, “Just when you thought you’d seen everything!”</p> <p><img width="480" height="360" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26393/cruise-tugboat-in-text-two.jpg" alt="Cruise -Tugboat -In -Text -Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>How funny! Now we have seen everything. Do you have a friend or family member who’s also as lovingly eccentric? Let us know in the comments. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook / Mick Cee </em></p> <p><em>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>To arrange a quote, click here.</strong></span></a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/us-basketball-team-charters-luxury-cruise-ship-for-rio/">US basketball team charters luxury cruise ship for Rio</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/cruise-passenger-spends-night-in-forest/">79-year-old cruise passenger spends night in Alaskan forest after being left behind</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/8-reasons-to-bring-duct-tape-on-your-next-cruise/">8 reasons to bring duct tape on your next cruise</a></em></strong></span></p>

Cruising

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Timelapse footage of a cruise on the Panama Canal

<p>In this timelapse we watch the Queen Victoria cruise ship navigate the Panama Canal, an 80km manmade waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.</p> <p>Taken from the balcony of a cabin, this video shows the full eight hour trip condensed into a timelapse video spanning a few short minutes for your convenience.  </p> <p>Watch as the ship pass through the locks and lakes as it makes the transition from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific. The stark difference in the shade of the water is part of what makes the Panama Canal passage such an iconic journey in the world of cruising.  </p> <p>Have you ever cruised through this part of the world? Do you have a holiday on the cards?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Tips For Travellers</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/queen-mary-2-cruise-ship-gets-pet-friendly-makeover/"><em><strong>Queen Mary 2 cruise ship gets pet-friendly makeover</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/best-cruise-lines-in-the-world-revealed/"><em><strong>The world’s best cruise lines revealed</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/cunard-queen-mary-marilyn-monroe-showcase/"><em><strong>Cunard to showcase world’s largest Marilyn Monroe collection</strong></em></a></span></p>

Cruising

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Cruising Sweden’s most scenic canal

<p>Take a cruise on the most charming canal in Scandinavia. Running 190 kilometres from the east to west coast of southern Sweden, the Gota Canal is a meandering strip of water surrounded by pretty woods and charming fishing villages. The canal was opened in 1832 and, even today, the pace of life on the water remains much the same as it was then. This is the place to really switch off, forget about the internet or telephones, and immerse yourself in the world that’s drifting slowly past your window.</p> <p>The world’s oldest registered passenger ship, M/S Juno, regularly plies the waters of the Gota Canal. Built in 1874, the ship is tiny, custom built for the canal’s seven-metre width and carrying just 44 passengers. She brings to mind a train more than a ship, with guests sleeping in cosy, compact cabins and spending their days reading in the library, playing cards or sitting on the deck with a drink in hand. There are five similar ships making the journey, each offering a sedate, intimate and one-of-a-kind voyage.</p> <p>It took almost 60,000 workers more than 20 years to construct the canal, blasting their way through rock to create one of the great wonders of Swedish engineering. It was originally an important trade route but in the 1980s was refitted for leisure boats. There are 58 locks along the canal’s length, slowing the ships down to almost walking pace. Passengers can even disembark as the ship is crossing through them to walk or cycle along the canalside path or take a dip in a crystal clear lake.</p> <p>During the three-day journey from Stockholm to Gothenburg (or vice versa) passengers can head out each day for excursions, visiting a medieval convent or the impressive Karlsborg Fortress that dates back to the Napoleonic Wars. There are plenty of museums along the way, dedicated to everything from vintage toys to cars, cameras and the history of the canal itself. Or you can just wander the pretty cobblestone streets of small towns like Motala, Hajstorp and Vadstena.</p> <p>Cruising the Gota Canal is one of Europe’s most unique journeys. It’s on the travel bucket list of most Swedes who see the canal as one of their country’s great icons. The small size of the ship means passengers and crew quickly become friends, making this voyage the opposite of the anonymity of a vast megaliner. The beauty of the scenery and the company of your fellow passengers make this cruise something very special.</p> <p>Have you ever taken a cruise in Europe? If so, how did you find the experience? Do you think you’d like to go again?</p> <p>Share your thoughts in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/how-i-discovered-the-10-rules-of-cruising/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How I discovered the 10 rules of cruising</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/just-how-much-does-each-day-on-a-cruise-cost/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Just how much does each day on a cruise cost</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><strong><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/things-not-to-pack-on-a-cruise/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 things NOT to pack on a cruise</span></em></a></strong></p>

Cruising

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The word that was invented the year of your birth

<p>The Oxford English Dictionary has created an online “birthday word” generation where you can find out which word came into use in the year you were born.</p> <p>Any year from 1900 to 2004 can be searched to find out which word had the first known usages in that year. For example, if you were born in 1953 your “birthday word” is frenemy (A person with whom one is friendly, despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry; a person who combines the characteristics of a friend and an enemy), whereas if you were born in 1948, the word was TV.</p> <p>We’ve compiled the birthday words from the year from 1936 to 1956 below. To find out more years visit the <a href="http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/12/oed-birthday-words/" target="_blank"><strong>Oxford English Dictionary site here.</strong></a></p> <p><strong><img width="659" height="591" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/15635/birthday-words_659x591.jpg" alt="Birthday Words"/></strong></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/01/age-proof-your-brain/">8 ways to age-proof your brain</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/01/clever-ways-to-remember-almost-anything/">Clever ways to remember almost anything</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/01/how-to-get-out-of-a-mental-rut/">7 mental shifts to get yourself out of a rut</a></em></strong></span></p>

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