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Legal battle could separate Molly the Magpie and carers again

<p>Molly the Magpie and her friends Peggy and Ruby the Staffies captured hearts around the world with their unlikely friendship. </p> <p>In March, the trio were separated from each other, following <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/tears-started-rolling-first-glimpse-of-molly-the-magpie-shared-by-carers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaints </a>that his owners, Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, didn't hold a wildlife permit. </p> <p>After 45 days apart, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) granted them a licence with <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/first-pics-of-molly-the-magpie-reunion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special conditions</a> so Molly could return home to her adoptive family. </p> <p>But now their licence to keep Molly has been called into question, threatening to separate them again, according to <em>A Current Affair</em>. </p> <p>"Four years ago yesterday, when we came across a little magpie, who would have thought we'd be standing in front of the Supreme Court here in Brisbane," Wells said.</p> <p>Mortensen and Wells don't even know who is challenging the Queensland government's decision to reunite the magpie with the family, as the wildlife support volunteer and magpie specialist chose to remain anonymous. </p> <p>"Molly's 100 per cent, and always has been, our focus, his well being... and we just want to just move on and just get over, get on with it," Mortensen said.</p> <p>The applicant will stay anonymous as they contest the government's decision to grant them the licence to care for Molly. </p> <p>"Every time we're in the public sight and things like that, it raises awareness for people to get out there and try and do something to help wildlife and become involved," Mortensen added.</p> <p>"That's what we want to try and do is get get as many people involved as we possibly can in helping wildlife."</p> <p><em>Image: A Current Affair/ Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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Separating? 5 commonly overlooked money issues you need to address

<p>Amid the heartache of a relationship ending, it’s easy to overlook money, legal and logistical matters or make poor decisions on the fly. </p> <p>However, that can bring more pain – even years down the track.</p> <p>When a relationship ends, you have the chance to embrace your new-found independence and do things for yourself. Including managing money.</p> <p>Make the most of this freedom by taking charge of your financial affairs, starting with these aspects that commonly get neglected:</p> <p><strong>1. Split finances and expenses</strong></p> <p>Separating finances is an important first step. Otherwise, your savings could be pilfered or you could be held liable for your ex’s debts and spending.</p> <p>Be thorough – smaller things are especially easy to miss. That includes store cards, utilities, subscriptions, memberships, as well as loans and credit cards. </p> <p>Some could be cancelled; others may need to be retained, in which case they should be changed into just one name. Don’t leave it up to your ex to take your name off anything.</p> <p>Redirect your payments and direct debits to your personal bank account to avoid penalties for missed payments. Update details with your employer for your salary (and superannuation, if necessary) to be paid into.</p> <p><strong>2. Update estate planning</strong></p> <p>The next step is to look at your estate planning. Failing to do this means your ex could receive an unexpected windfall should you pass away – at the expense of loved ones you actually want to support.</p> <p>Update your will to reflect your new situation as well as the beneficiaries in your superannuation – which is treated separately from your will. </p> <p>The same goes for any trusts, companies, or similar structures you have.</p> <p><strong>3. Get your best settlement</strong></p> <p>Many people – especially women – settle for less than their fair share in a separation. Why? Some don’t realise their real worth or legal entitlements. Others just want to get it done with quickly.</p> <p>While it makes financial sense not to drag things out due to spite, your future quality of life and retirement depend on how much you walk away with.</p> <p>Among the factors to consider are:</p> <ul> <li>Superannuation: you may be eligible for part of your ex’s super because it forms part of the joint asset pool. This is especially valuable if you earned considerably less or had time out of the workforce to raise children or care for relatives.</li> <li>Custody: supporting children and pets obviously impacts ongoing living costs. Child support isn’t necessarily guaranteed.</li> <li>Your home: is this really worth keeping at all cost if you won’t be able to afford it on your own? </li> <li>Sale time: if you separate on good terms, do you really need to sell assets now? Could you keep them to maximise value jointly or sell later at a better price?</li> </ul> <p>Ensure you get pre-settlement financial advice BEFORE you sign on the bottom line.</p> <p><strong>4. Live independently</strong></p> <p>You’re now on one income. Economies of scale (most things cost less per person when you’re coupled) no longer work in your favour. Taking time off work may be harder.</p> <p>So, don’t keep spending like you used to. Be proactive in adjusting to your new situation. </p> <p>Make a new spending and investment plan (a nicer and more comprehensive version of a budget). See what you can and cannot afford and make necessary cuts. Update insurances, subscriptions, and utilities to ensure you’re only paying for what you still need. </p> <p>Set up an easily accessible emergency fund, to cover you should you lose your job or face an unexpected crisis.</p> <p>Tailored advice from your financial adviser can help you make the most of what you have – for now and the future.</p> <p><strong>5. Be wise in love</strong></p> <p>It may be the last thing on your mind amidst a separation, but a new relationship could be in your future.</p> <p>Learn from your current separation and take measures to protect your future self.</p> <p>A pre-nuptial agreement (pre-nup) could be useful to protect your assets. Or a post-nuptial agreement if you already have a new partner.</p> <p>Carefully consider co-habiting arrangements – your place, their place, a new place together? Who contributes what?</p> <p>Even if you don’t ultimately need them (fingers crossed!), the peace of mind from having protections in place will make any new relationship feel that much sweeter.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em><strong>Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women (Ventura Press, $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a></strong></em></p>

Money & Banking

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Ted Lasso star ordered to pay massive child support sum

<p>Jason Sudeikis has been ordered to pay ex Olivia Wilde an enormous sum of child support, as a bitter two-year custody battle draws to a close. </p> <p>According to new court filings obtained by <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/25/jason-sudeikis-and-olivia-wilde-settle-custody-battle-actor-to-pay-27500-per-month/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em>, the<em> Ted Lasso</em> star has allegedly agreed to pay his ex $27,500 ($A42,800) per month in child support for their two kids, Otis, 9, and Daisy, 6. </p> <p>The hefty settlement has been based on Sudeikis' reported 2023 income of $10.5 million ($A16.3 million) and Wilde’s estimated income of $500,000 ($A778,000).</p> <p>“The parties agree that child support for the minor children in the amount of $27,500 per month is sufficient to maintain the needs of the minor children considering Jason’s station in life … is consistent with each child’s best interest, and application of the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate in this case,” the court papers reportedly state.</p> <p>The legal proceedings began two years ago, and took a dramatic turn in 2022 when Wilde, who was promoting her new movie <em>Don't Worry Darling</em> at the time, was served legal papers while on stage delivering a speech at CinemaCon. </p> <p>At the time, a source told <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/04/29/olivia-wilde-mortified-after-being-served-with-legal-papers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em> that Wilde was mortified over the brazen act. </p> <p>“It seemed unthinkable to her, and it took a moment to set in, but as mortifying as it was, she did not want to give a reaction,” the insider explained.</p> <p>Since then, things have improved for the couple, as they were both seen putting on a united front at Otis' soccer game in LA. </p> <p>Wilde and Sudeikis started dating in November 2011 and got engaged in January 2013. They welcomed their two kids before separating in November 2020.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Deborra-Lee Furness speaks out for the first time since separation

<p>Deborra-Lee Furness has broken her silence for the first time since announcing her and Hugh Jackman were separating after 27 years of marriage. </p> <p>Just one week after the news of their split made headlines, Deborra-Lee answered a cold call from Kyle and Jackie O, live on their radio show. </p> <p>Sandilands admitted he wasn't expecting Furness to answer the call, as they didn't realise they hit the dial button. </p> <p>“Seriously, this isn’t a stitch up,” Sandilands told Furness when she picked up on <em>The Kyle &amp; Jackie O Show</em>. </p> <p>“We didn’t mean to actually call you. But now you’re here, we won’t go into it. We love you, we hope you’re well.”</p> <p>“Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it. You’re really sweet,” Furness told Sandilands and Henderson.</p> <p>Feeling bad, Sandilands stressed that the duo weren’t after a scoop about their separation as they did not want to pry so early after the couple's split. </p> <p>“I just feel it’s too soon,” the shock jock told Furness over the phone. “I don’t want to get involved in anything. But we love you, and you ring us when you want to chat.”</p> <p>Before hanging up, Furness again said, “Thank you, guys. I really, really appreciate it.”</p> <p>Henderson praised Sandilands after the phone call, telling him “that was the right thing to do” – and he agreed.</p> <p>“I’m not here to stitch anyone up in the worse time in their life,” he explained. </p> <p>Despite Kyle's offer to Deb for her to chat about the divorce, Hugh and Deborra-Lee made in clear in their separation announcement that the statement would be the one and only time they will both speak publicly about the break-up.</p> <p>“This is the sole statement either of us will make,” they wrote. </p> <p>The Hollywood couple <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocked the world</a> on September 15th when they released a statement confirming their separation after being married for 27 years.</p> <p>“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told <em><a href="https://people.com/hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-jackman-separate-exclusive-7970286" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">People</a></em>.</p> <p>“Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

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Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello announce separation

<p>Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello have announced their separation, after being married for seven years.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair, who have previously been dubbed one of Hollywood’s most solid couples, confirmed the news of their divorce in a statement to <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/07/17/sofia-vergara-and-joe-manganiello-separate-after-7-years-of-marriage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em> on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives,” the statement read.</p> <p>Vergara is currently celebrating her 51st birthday with a group of friends in Italy, with Manganiello notably absent from the celebrations.</p> <p dir="ltr">A source also told <em>Page Six</em> that they have been “growing apart for a while now” and “are taking some distance from each other to contemplate their future”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another source added that “no one out there (in Italy) with her is even attempting to pretend that it’s not over. It’s over. It’s done.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Vergara and Manganiello’s last public sighting together was in June, when the actress visited Manganiello on the set of his new film, <em>Nonnas</em>, in New Jersey.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple first met through Vergara’s former <em>Modern Family</em> co-star, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, in 2014 at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, while she was still engaged to ex Nick Loeb.</p> <p dir="ltr">When Vergara and Loeb’s engagement was called off, Manganiello reached out and the pair started dating.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I knew pretty quickly that I could trust her, and she knew pretty quickly that she could trust me,” Manganiello told <em><a href="https://people.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People magazine</a></em> of their bond in 2020.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And we’re both the kind of people who are capable of putting the other person ahead of ourselves. I was capable of putting her wishes ahead of mine, whatever they were, and she was capable of doing the same. Once you have that, you don’t let go of it.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

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Could sleeping separately save your relationship?

<p>Admit you're sleeping in a separate room to your partner and you may as well have said your relationship is on the rocks, or you're having an affair. That's the response most couples get when they reveal they sleep apart.</p> <p>It's far from the norm, yet a recent survey of nearly 3000 Australians by medical devices company CPAP found that 20 per cent of respondents spent between three and seven nights a week in separate bedrooms because of their or their partner's sleep problems.</p> <p>Far from being something that solo sleepers need to be ashamed of, scientific research into sleep paints a convincing picture for separate beds. In her new book, <em>Sleeping Apart Not Falling Apart</em>, author Jennifer Adams (herself a solo sleeper) writes that the benefits of snoozing alone are many: "If you've suffered prolonged sleep deprivation, sleeping apart is good for your mental and physical health – and good for the health of your relationship."</p> <p>Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, memory loss, premature ageing, increased risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. It also lowers testosterone, which interferes with sexual desire.</p> <p>Adams, 47, from Brisbane, decided to go it alone after finding that her boyfriend (now husband) was a chronic snorer. It was exacerbated by his being an "early to rise, early to bed" type, while she's a night owl. After one week of sharing, they went their separate ways and haven't looked back. Of the reasons driving couples to separate beds, she explains, snoring tops the list. The partner of the typical snorer is robbed of 49 precious minutes' sleep nightly, according to a 2005 US National Sleep Foundation poll.</p> <p>Other complaints include one partner being whacked by the other during energetic dreams, noisy toilet trips (men go twice as often as females at night), tossing and turning (we all move about 20 times a night, but men more than women), heavy breathers, different bedtimes and different body-temperature needs (women frequently use partners as human hot-water bottles).</p> <p>Because of the emphasis on bed-sharing as a barometer of a happy relationship, separate sleepers will often go to great lengths to hide their sleeping arrangements from others, even presenting their nightly sanctuary as a "spare room" where the relatives crash. Yet having separate beds can be a marriage saver if both partners wake up refreshed and rested. Adams found from her interviews that far from cruelling a couple's sex life, separate beds could actually spice it up.</p> <p>"Our decision to sleep apart has solidified our relationship. If one of us wants sex, we go to the other person's room, and because we know we're not going to see each other in bed at night, we're more purposeful about intimacy," she says. "Couples I interviewed spoke about making sure sex happened, as they knew the importance of it in their relationship. Separate beds have, for many, brought back creativity and excitement to their sex lives."</p> <p>One solo sleeper Adams interviewed put it this way: "Separate rooms has made our sex lives more exciting because we visit each other's rooms and I feel less 'on tap'."</p> <p>Dr David Cunnington, a sleep physician at the Melbourne Sleep Disorders Centre, recommends separate beds to many of his patients who have sleep-related issues such as insomnia, snoring and different body clocks. "For light sleepers and couples who have different sleep behaviours and needs, separate beds are a lifesaver. It's also more considerate and compassionate to their partner if they sleep in another room."</p> <p>John, a 58-year-old builder married for 30 years, is a solo sleeper because his wife works shifts as a night-time supermarket manager. "Margaret was getting home at 2am and coming to bed at 4.30am. She complained that I thrashed around and snored. We agreed that she moved to the downstairs bedroom and we're both happy."</p> <p>Mary, 74, had to consider separate beds from day one of her marriage. "In those days, you didn't 'try before you buy' and on our first night together on honeymoon, I had one quarter of the bed and he had the rest, taking the blanket with him," she says. "He also snored loudly, while I was a light sleeper."</p> <p>Adams admits sleeping separately isn't for everyone. "But done well, with both partners agreeing to the terms, it helps the relationship flourish ... and they get great sleep to keep them functioning."</p> <p>Jennifer Adams' book <em>Sleeping Apart Not Falling Apart</em> is published by Finch.</p> <p>Tips for sweeter dreams</p> <ul> <li>If you're not ready for twin beds, consider small changes: the late reader could read in the lounge room or buy an e-reader (it's quieter than turning pages); or try sleeping on a mattress with two different firmness levels.</li> <li>Make verbal contracts with your partner: for example, after the second time their snoring wakes you, you're allowed to wake them.</li> <li>Solo sleepers need to work hard to maintain intimacy: invite your partner to your room for a date night – with benefits!</li> </ul> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

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Carrie Bickmore and Chris Walker call it quits!

<p>Carrie Bickmore and her partner Chris Walker have announced their separation after 12 years together.</p> <p>The former TV host and her director partner announced the news on their separate Instagram accounts early on January 18.</p> <p>“Hi there. It’s with immense sadness that (Carrie) and I have decided to separate,” the pair wrote.</p> <p>“While this is a tough time, our focus is to concentrate on parenting, loving and supporting our three amazing children, Ollie, Evie and Addie with everything we’ve got. They are doing great.</p> <p>“We won’t be making any further comment at this stage.”</p> <p>The pair first met on the set of <em>The Project</em>, two years after Carrie lost her first husband Greg Lange to brain cancer.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/01/bickmoresplit.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>Carrie and Chris went on to date before he became a stepfather to Carrie’s son from Greg, Ollie, and in 2015, the couple welcomed their first child together, Evie. Three years later, they announced another addition to the family, another daughter, Adelaide.</p> <p>The news comes just a few months after Carrie announced that she was taking extended leave with the family to spend time in the UK.</p> <p>“We feel like this is our last chance to do something like this together before Ollie hits the pointy end of his schooling and no longer wants to hang out with us so … we are heading to the UK for a school term,” Carrie wrote at the time.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Women who suffer domestic violence fare much worse financially after separating from their partner

<p>We recently published <a href="https://paulramsayfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TheChoice-violence-or-poverty-web.pdf">two</a> <a href="https://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/2022/5/HILDAResultsMay122022.pdf">reports</a> that highlight the devastating financial consequences borne by women who leave their partners after suffering domestic violence.</p> <p>We found women who experienced domestic violence fared much worse financially after separating from their partner compared to those who didn’t face such violence, for women both with and without children.</p> <p>Before separation, mothers who experienced domestic violence had about the same household income as mothers who didn’t. But after separation, the mothers who experienced domestic violence on average suffered a significantly higher drop in income of 34%, compared with a 20% decrease for mothers who didn’t experience domestic violence.</p> <p>It’s the first time in Australia (to the best of our knowledge) that we have specific data on what happens financially to these women.</p> <p>Our results highlight the terrible option facing those who are experiencing domestic violence: to stay in a violent relationship, or leave and face a major decline in financial wellbeing.</p> <h2>What we studied</h2> <p>The first report, <a href="https://www.violenceorpoverty.com/">The Choice: Violence or Poverty</a> by Anne Summers, presents previously unreported data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016 Personal Safety Survey.</p> <p>The data reveal that of all women who’d ever been in a partnership, 22% have experienced violence from a current or previous partner. And, of single mothers living with children under 18 years of age, a staggering 60% had experienced physical violence, and 70% emotional abuse, from a partner they had previously cohabited with.</p> <p>The data also show 50% of these now single mothers live in poverty, relying on government benefits such as JobSeeker as their main source of income.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">'I left with the kids and ended up homeless with them': the nightmare of housing wait lists for people fleeing domestic violence <a href="https://t.co/nSRbGGL6ZW">https://t.co/nSRbGGL6ZW</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/ConversationEDU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ConversationEDU</a></p> <p>— Sunanda Creagh (@sunanda_creagh) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunanda_creagh/status/1555433771951738880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>It’s important to note the ABS figures come from what’s known as a “cross-section”, which means they reflect circumstances at a given point in time (2016). They can’t tell us what happens to women over time, or the immediate effects of domestic violence on their separation and/or income. This is a critical issue for domestic violence policy.</p> <p>Understanding the dynamics of the financial situation of victim-survivors requires what’s known as “panel data”. This issue is addressed in the <a href="https://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/2022/5/HILDAResultsMay122022.pdf">second report</a> by Bruce Chapman and Matthew Taylor, where we analyse the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) survey. HILDA is Australia’s best longitudinal data set, meaning it surveys the same people over time. To date, HILDA has followed around 19,000 people from 2002 to 2021.</p> <p>We analysed HILDA data looking at the financial consequences for women likely to have experienced domestic violence. We covered both mothers and women who don’t have children.</p> <p>HILDA doesn’t ask questions about the origins of violence experienced directly. So we had to devise a method of identifying separation due to domestic violence by linking the date of separation to reporting of an incident of violence: the presumption being that the incident was domestic violence (rather than, say, a street crime).</p> <p>The report uses averages before and after separation of the three income categories, all measured in annual terms:</p> <ul> <li>the partner’s contribution to household income</li> <li>the woman’s wages and salaries</li> <li>and total government financial support received by women.</li> </ul> <h2>What we found</h2> <p>In dollar terms, the drop in household income (which measures the total of all income) for mothers who experienced domestic violence after separation was from $54,648 to $35,921 a year.</p> <p>There was also a fall in the household income for separating mothers not subject to domestic violence. But this fall is about $7,500 less compared to mothers who experienced domestic violence.</p> <p>We also looked at the changes to a particular component of household income, the wages and salaries of the mothers (again, following separation). Similarly, we found those who’d gone through domestic violence fared far worse than those who didn’t.</p> <p>It was expected the wages and salaries of women would increase on average after separation because of their need to compensate for the loss of the former partner’s income. But the extent to which this happened is quite different depending on whether or not the women experienced domestic violence.</p> <p>Specifically, the wage and salary increase for mothers who’d experienced domestic violence was just 19% (from $11,526 to $13,747). But the wage and salary increase for mothers who hadn’t experienced domestic violence was much greater at 45% (from $14,414 to $20,838).</p> <p>This means that these now single mothers who experienced domestic violence are considerably worse off financially than single mothers who didn’t face such violence.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">“It’s not just that women and children are often impoverished by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/familyviolence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#familyviolence</a>. <br />What’s also clear is that many perpetrators are enriched by it: </p> <p>75 per cent of single mothers left property and assets behind.” <a href="https://t.co/9S2HVJI7ao">https://t.co/9S2HVJI7ao</a></p> <p>— SRPassesItOn (@SallyRMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/SallyRMelb/status/1552919705593483265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>When the pre- and post-separation incomes of women without children are examined, the findings are similar to those for mothers, but with even greater losses for childless women who’d experienced domestic violence compared to childless women who hadn’t. Childless women who experienced domestic violence suffered an extraordinary 45% drop in household incomes, compared with 18% for childless women who didn’t experience domestic violence.</p> <p>The relatively large loss in household income for childless women is the result of significant differences in the post-separation income levels between childless women, depending on their experience of domestic violence.</p> <p>Childless women who hadn’t experienced domestic violence had an average increase of 68% in their wage and salary incomes (to about $38,000) after separation. But childless women who’d experienced domestic violence had an actual decrease in wage and salary incomes of around 20% on average (to about $13,000).</p> <p>A different way of illustrating the issue is the recognition that experiencing domestic violence doubles the likelihood of victim-survivors ending up in the bottom quarter of the income distribution.</p> <p>We found around 50% of the women included in the data who have faced domestic violence and separated from their partners end up in the bottom quarter of the income distribution.</p> <p>The <a href="https://paulramsayfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TheChoice-violence-or-poverty-web.pdf">ABS data</a> reports a similar outcome, with 48.1% of now single mothers with children being in the lowest fifth of the income distribution.</p> <h2>More research and better data needed</h2> <p>These two reports have dug deeply into available data and unearthed findings of tremendous significance, results that reinforce each other.</p> <p>While these findings have been rigorously tested and found to be statistically significant, the sample sizes for the longitudinal data are small.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Three Charts On: How Emotional and Economic Abuse Go Hand-in-hand <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbuseComesInManyForms?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AbuseComesInManyForms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/raiseawareness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#raiseawareness</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/emotionalabuse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#emotionalabuse</a>+economicabuse <a href="https://t.co/D2JwRM0sja">https://t.co/D2JwRM0sja</a></p> <p>— DASACC (@DASACCWCNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DASACCWCNJ/status/1028763153579089920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote> <p>This is currently the best available longitudinal data capturing incomes. But as both reports have highlighted, data collection in the field of domestic violence needs to be expanded considerably if we’re to have more comprehensive information on longer-term outcomes.</p> <p>We urgently need a national longitudinal study of social behaviour and experience that probes the consequences of domestic violence (with respect to perpetrators as well as victims) and the financial, employment and health outcomes for all concerned, including the children caught up in these violent relationships.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/women-who-suffer-domestic-violence-fare-much-worse-financially-after-separating-from-their-partner-new-data-190047" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Coles warns customers after two separate redback finds in produce

<p>Coles has issued an urgent warning for customers to double check their fresh produce after redback spiders were found in bags of grapes.</p><p>This claim comes after two customers reportedly found the deadly spider in a fruit bag. One was purchased at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast and the other from Tweed City, just south of the Queensland border.</p><p>A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au redback spiders hiding in crops is an industry-wide issue and its working closely with its suppliers and industry bodies to remove any risk.</p><p>“All Coles suppliers are required to keep their fields clean and have pest control systems in place to prevent product contamination during packaging,” the spokesperson explained.</p><p>“Coles takes the quality of all our products seriously and all grapes are visually inspected at harvest and packing for any pest presence. Retired policeman Andrew Bell told Nine News his daughter was eating grapes when she came across the “very much alive” spider.</p><p>“She was just munching away at them, and she just saw this redback,” he said.</p><p>“The last thing you’re expecting is a goddamn redback in the grapes.”</p><p>Mr Bell expressed his concerns about what would happen if a child came across such a venomous spider and the potential dangers it may impose.</p><p>Mr Marshel said while it “wasn’t huge”, it was “probably big enough to give a nip”.</p><p>He told Nine News the spider had survived a wash as well as a night in the fridge.</p><p>“This’d be more or less a hazard of the industry with fresh produce,” he said.</p><p>“I think it could happen anywhere.”</p><p>The reports serve as a warning to Australians to double check their fresh produce, with the issue of finding bugs and live creatures in groceries occurring every summer. It’s also believed Australia’s wet summer caused by La Nina has sparked an increase in insect and animal infestations across the country, experts warned.</p><p><em>Image: 9 News</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Prince Charles nods off during separation ceremony

<p>Prince Charles has been spotted appearing to doze off during an historic ceremony in Barbados.</p> <p>The 73-year-old Prince of Wales was caught on camera closing his eyes as his head slowly fell forward, before he jolted back up as cameras flashed in front of him.</p> <p>The ceremony marked Barbados becoming a republic, ending four centuries with the British monarch as the head of state.</p> <p>Prince Charles attended the historic Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Bridgetown, and was joined by former cricketer Garfield Sobers, new president Sandra Mason and singer Rihanna.</p> <p>During the ceremony, the heir to the throne acknowledged the "appalling atrocity of slavery", as he described it as something "which forever stains our history".</p> <p>Charles summed up the period when the UK was one of the leading players in the transatlantic slave trade as the "darkest days of our past", but looking to the future said the "creation of this republic offers a new beginning".</p> <p>In a message to the new president and people of Barbados, the Queen sent the new republic her "warmest good wishes for your happiness, peace and prosperity in the future" and commended the nation which has a "special place" in her heart for "its vibrant culture, its sporting prowess, and its natural beauty".</p> <p>Prince Charles watched on as the presidential flag was raised in place of the Queen's at midnight local time, on the 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.</p> <p>Despite nodding off due to the change in time zone, Prince Charles said he was honoured to be attending the ceremony, and said he will "always consider myself a friend of Barbados."</p> <p>"Tonight you write the next chapter of your nation's story, adding to the treasury of past achievement, collective enterprise and personal courage which already fill its pages."</p> <p>"Yours is a story in which every Barbadian, young and old, can take the greatest pride - inspired by what has come before them and confident about what lies ahead."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"She really is my everything": Kamahl splits from wife

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian singer Kamahl has announced his split from his wife of 55 years, Sahodra.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In his latest interview with </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.newidea.com.au/kamahl-sahodra-marriage-split" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">New Idea</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the 87-year-old revealed the news but said he is “praying it is a temporary split”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My beautiful wife, Sahodra, and I have been together for 55 years before quietly separating earlier this year,” he told the publication.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We remain close. Thankfully, things are convivial - we see one another regularly. She still cooks me her unbelievably delicious lamb shanks every fortnight.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845651/kamahl1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/10969a54842e4e0c8aaf24e83cf12973" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/kamahl-split-wife-after-55-years/39abcf6c-82c1-48ff-8713-20524150041e" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the pressure of fame had contributed to the couple’s separation, adding that it had been a long time coming.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think over time I took Sahodra’s graciousness for granted. In hindsight, I should have given her more hugs,” Kamahl said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She really is the wind beneath my wings. I now realise I probably wasn’t the most attentive husband,” the entertainer said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Fame can do that - it can distract from what really matters, and that’s family. But I’m keeping everything crossed we can work through this rough patch, as she really is my everything.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kamahl currently lives alone at a country club in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, after he and Sahodra sold their longtime home last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple were married on June 29, 1966 and share two children, musician Rajan, 52, and singer Rani 50, as well as one granddaughter, Isabelle Flynn.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The singer is also working on a book with author Keith Cameron called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Kindness of Strangers</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Why kindness through a divorce is so important

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The general public perception of divorce is hatred, animosity, resentment and bitterness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Difficult separation proceedings can often negatively impact the outcomes of the separation, as well as individuals health and wellbeing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, there are more peaceful ways to amicably end a relationship and go your separate ways as equals. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Family lawyer, mediator and divorce guide </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirsty Salvestro has had experience with divorced couples since her parents separated when she was a child. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirsty says the key to recalibrating how we think of divorce is kindness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She says, “We really need to focus on resolving the pain and hurt, to focus on good behaviour, strong morals, and kind actions. It is hard, but we can do it.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While this can often be a challenge when separating from someone, there are steps to help achieve this amicable divorce. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirsty believes that step one is redefining the cause of the separation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Divorce should be seen as the acceptance and acknowledgment of a shared problem that needs to be solved. We need not immediately declare war to resolve that problem, what we need to do is work together to create the best solution.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She says that the most important thing is treating your partner with kindness, without feeling the need to be overflowing with love and affection. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This means choosing a kind and calm response rather than a hurtful and inflammatory one. The kindest response may be to do nothing at all.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirsty also believes in the importance of not taking any drastic actions that could exacerbate an already fragile situation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, partners need to be understanding of each other’s individual needs and allow each other their space during this difficult time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is also an important need for a dedicated support system during a separation, to help both parties reach a resolution. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are studies that show how showing kindness and selflessness can enrich your life and the life of those around you, which can be a valuable tool in a separation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirsty Salvestro’s book </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Are We Fighting For? A Peaceful Pathway for Separating Couples</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is available now. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Shutterstock</span></em></p>

Money & Banking

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Prince William and Harry giving separate speeches at Diana memorial

<p>Royal fans were surprised to hear that Prince Harry and Prince William will be giving separate speeches at the unveiling of a statue as a memorial for their mother, Princess Diana.</p> <p>The pair will stand together for the unveiling of the statue in July, but they will not share a stage.</p> <p>“The brothers will be physically together for the ceremony but want to make their own personal addresses,” an insider told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14894281/harry-william-diana-statue-feud/" target="_blank">The Sun.</a></p> <p>“You might have thought they’d go for a joint statement and speech but that’s not the case. Each has insisted on preparing their own.”</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/B_1r5QKFAsj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/B_1r5QKFAsj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There was hope of a reconciliation between the brothers at their grandfather Prince Philip's funeral after months of rumours about a rift, but that is looking unlikely.</p> <p>The news comes after claims from a royal biographer that Prince Harry's time in the royal family could be over after Prince Charles' assumes the throne.</p> <p>“Prince Charles has wanted for a very long time to cut the monarchy down to save costs and to make people be worth the money that they get from the taxpayer,” Angela Levin said, who wrote<span> </span><em>Harry: A Biography of a Prince</em><span> </span>in 2018.</p> <p>“I imagine that might be when Harry and Meghan are ditched from being members of the royal family.”</p>

Relationships

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“What I wish I’d known before getting a divorce”

<p>Divorces can get really messy if you let them. But the tips below from the real-life men and women who have been through it may help make this huge life change as smooth a process as possible.</p> <ol> <li><strong> Treat it like a business deal</strong></li> </ol> <p>“Take your heart out of the process, says Karen L.</p> <p>“Remember, your lawyer is not your friend; he is your legal counsel. Period.”</p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong> Try to have a good relationship with your ex</strong></li> </ol> <p>“Keep in mind that your kids are not involved in the demise of the relationship, they are always the mother and fathers’ children no matter what,” says Stephanie M.</p> <p>“Keeping the children out of the parents’ relationship is an effort that needs to be both parents’ priority. This is something that should be addressed before the children are told about the change that’s about to happen in their lives.”</p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong> Your actions will impact your children</strong></li> </ol> <p>“I wish I had known how much my resentments and the hurts that I had not dealt with and let go of impacted my daughter’s life after the divorce,” says Phil R.</p> <p>“Life was, and sometimes is still, hard but we have all grown through the pain.”</p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong> Don’t be afraid to do it</strong></li> </ol> <p>“Staying in a marriage for 22 years was such a waste of precious years,” says Liz B.</p> <p>“I was fearful of leaving because my ex threatened that if I did I would lose my daughter.</p> <p>“Knowing now what I know about child custody, that would not have happened. My daughter deserved a better, calmer and less chaotic home.”</p> <ol start="5"> <li><strong> There will still be co-parenting differences</strong></li> </ol> <p>“Our biggest challenge with marriage has been over the differences in parenting styles,” says Randy U.</p> <p>“We fought about everything from respecting the privacy of the master bedroom to being accountable for chores.”</p> <p>And those arguments don’t stop just because you’re now divorced.</p> <ol start="6"> <li><strong> Keep financial records</strong></li> </ol> <p>“I wish I would have had in-depth knowledge of financial assets and debts including insurance policies, business worth and stock accounts,” says Lisa H.</p> <ol start="7"> <li><strong> Listen to your instincts</strong></li> </ol> <p>“I got divorced because my ex was drinking early morning through the night. Then he would pick a fight when he’d had too many,” says Gilly H. “I didn’t want my young children growing up with that.”</p> <p>But whatever the reason, listen to your instincts, she says.</p> <p>“Make plans to work and support yourself and your kids. Be self-sufficient, but get family and local support too if you can.</p> <p>“Work hard and your kids will love and respect you, even if you are a single parent.”</p> <ol start="8"> <li><strong> There’s love after divorce</strong></li> </ol> <p>“It doesn’t matter your age or number of children, there are lots of good, single people out there,” says Erin O.</p> <p>“Women especially are told that once we become a certain age, we are no longer ‘marriage material’, whatever that is.</p> <p>“Don’t buy into that. If what you want is marriage again, then you will find it!”</p> <p><em>Written by Kaitlyn Chamberlin. This article first appeared on </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/what-i-wish-id-known-before-getting-a-divorce" target="_blank"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><em>here’s our best subscription.</em></a></p> <p><strong>Image:</strong> Shutterstock</p>

Relationships

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Mum reunited with newborn baby after separation across border

<p>A NSW mum has finally been reunited with her newborn baby after the two were separated on opposite sides of the Queensland border due to COVID-19 restrictions.</p> <p>Chantelle Northfield was told she couldn’t see her newborn son Harvey who was rushed to Brisbane for lifesaving medical treatment after being born with breathing difficulties.</p> <p>Despite Ms Northfield and her husband Glen being granted permission from NSW and Queensland authorities to travel north to visit Harvey, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital told them they were too “high-risk” and would need to quarantine for 14 days.</p> <p>But today, Ms Northfield finally had her baby in her arms again after he was brought back to hospital in Lismore.</p> <p>“At 1.20 pm today Harvey was brought back to the nursery at Lismore Hospital and came straight into my arms after a long 4 days,” Ms Northfield said on Facebook.</p> <p>“We will forever be grateful to Lismore Base Hospital and how they did everything they could and tried their hardest to help get both Glen and I across the border to be by Harvey’s side. “We also hope that Qld allows more exemptions under medical circumstances to prevent all this from happening to any more people.”</p> <p>Ms Northfield said Harvey was “doing well” but will remain in hospital for the next day or two.</p> <p>Due to breathing difficulties, the newborn was sent to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for “extensive” medical treatment.</p> <p>“I obviously wanted to go with him, but unfortunately with the coronavirus pandemic, we were not able,” Ms Northfield said, 7 News reported.</p> <p>She and her partner were told they couldn’t come in the helicopter as there was no room, but were able to come by car.</p> <p>After receiving the necessary permissions from NSW Health and Queensland Police, the hospital deemed them as “too high-risk”.</p> <p>“Harvey was sent to a Brisbane Hospital via helicopter Friday night as he was having trouble breathing and needed further treatment then the amazing workers at Lismore could do,” Ms Northfield said in an earlier post on Facebook.</p> <p>“Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the closure of the Qld border, Glen and I were refused entry to the hospital until after 14 days mandatory quarantine in a hotel.</p> <p>“We would have been more than willing to do that if there was a guarantee that Harvey would be there for that long but no one is 100 per cent sure and the second he no longer needs such extensive treatment he will be flown back to Lismore.</p> <p>“Any parent can understand the stress and the heartache of being home without your baby whilst they’re in a hospital and you’re not allowed to visit.”</p> <p>Ms Northfield said she was relying on video calls to see Harvey, the little brother of the couple’s one-year-old son Lloyd.</p> <p>“FaceTime’s just not the same because I can’t even lay a finger on him,” she told 7 News through tears on Monday.</p> <p>“All I want are both my boys with me, happy and healthy. But one is going to be in Brisbane where we can’t see him.</p> <p>“I just want him to know how much I love him.”</p>

Caring

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Couple who left toddler to go on holiday are still separated seven weeks later

<p>A Dubai couple have been left stranded for more than seven weeks without their toddler while holidaying when South Africa went into strict lockdown due to the coronavirus.</p> <p>British lawyer Mark Hill, 52, and his Italian wife Chiara Maioni, 44, who live in Dubai, left their two-year-old daughter Skye in the care of their beloved nanny and extended family while they travelled to Cape Town for what was meant to be a nine-day holiday.</p> <p>The pair left for their getaway on March 11, just a day after WHO declared a global pandemic.</p> <p>Days later, South Africa issued a strict travel ban in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19, which was closely replicated by the United Arab Emirates days later.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835908/couple-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/10b5758da0b64d56b6ad649081deba56" /></p> <p>The pair eventually made it back to their home country, but have been forced to suffer a further nine days apart from their little girl while they remain under strict quarantine in Dubai.</p> <p>Mr Hill told the MailOnline that the situation is “horrendous, a complete nightmare” and “very stressful”.</p> <p>“The world changed overnight and we found ourselves in the complete unknown,” he said.</p> <p>“We didn’t have a clue how long the lockdown would last and how to get home.</p> <p>“We were stranded in a foreign country that we did not know. We watched as airports around the world closed and airlines stopped flying.”</p> <p>Mr Hill went on to say he and his wife have never been apart from their children for more than a few days.</p> <p><span>“This is the first time we have left home without Skye and I feel terribly guilty about this,” Ms Maioni said.</span></p> <p>The couple went on to explain they were staying in close contact with Skye through video calls three times a day.</p> <p>“But when your two-year-old daughter reaches up to the screen because she wants to touch you, it’s heartbreaking,” Mr Hill said.</p> <p>His wife added: “Our children are very special for us. It was really difficult to be separated from them. This is a miracle for us to be home.”</p> <p>Mr Hill and Ms Maioni, were able to board a government repatriation flight to Dubai, arriving in the early hours of April 23, after two days of travelling via Frankfurt.</p> <p>“When we finally get to see Skye there will be lots of group hugs with the kids and my wife,” he said.</p>

International Travel

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Why Colin Firth and wife Livia Giuggi have separated now

<p>Colin Firth and his estranged wife Livia Giuggioli have made the decision to separate after attempts to rebuild their marriage failed, according to a report from<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/movies/why-colin-firth-and-wife-split-2-years-after-her-affair-nothing-could-erase-her-betrayal/" target="_blank">People</a>.</em></p> <p>On December 13th, the pair revealed that they are separating after 22 years.</p> <p> “They maintain a close friendship and remain united in their love for their children,” a rep said in a statement.</p> <p>Those who were close to the couple weren’t surprised by this development when it came out that Livia, 50, had an extramarital relationship with Italian journalist Marco Brancaccia when Firth and her were separated between 2015 and 2016.</p> <p>“Things never really came around for them [after that],” a film industry source tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “No matter what was decided when they stayed together after her affair, nothing could erase that betrayal. It was time to move on, even though they had a solid family relationship and really wanted to save it.”</p> <p>The pair met on the 1996 BBC drama Nostromo, were married in 1997 and have two sons, Luca, 18 and Matteo, 16.</p> <p>“They love their sons and respect and care for each other, but it was just time,” says the source. “They want to protect their privacy and just move on.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see the couple in happier times.</p>

Relationships

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Living fabulously after separation or divorce

<p>Living fabulously after separation/divorce requires us to take time to not only grieve the ending of the relationship but also the breakdown of many of the other important life structures. For example; we may need to re-establish parenting arrangements, restructure our financial responsibilities, work obligations, move house, develop new friendships and establish new boundaries in our personal and work relationships.<span> </span><br /><br />Most people don’t get married thinking that they will one day be attending to a separation/divorce. Even if you were the one who instigated the divorce, the split still represents a loss that carries long-term life changing implications in many areas of your life. The time needed to grieve and re-establish balance again will vary for each person and it is important not to move quickly through the grieving phase or we may miss the opportunity to build a strong foundation for establishing our new identity and a new life that has both meaning and purpose.<span> </span><br /><br />The first step to living fabulously after separation/divorce requires you to form a new identity as a single person. This can be a harrowing task as it first requires us to breakdown our old partnership attachment identity and then to define new values, beliefs and thinking patterns aligned to your new goals as a single person.<span> </span><br /><br />Living fabulously after separation/divorce is not about becoming a better person but about becoming brand new; reinventing yourself from the inside out. This requires you to begin to make conscious choices about remaking yourself in a different form. It means intentionally doing things differently. This stage of life presents a wonderful opportunity to create a new future for yourself and a life that will allow you to express who you really are. Important considerations to assist you with this include pondering the following; How did I get to this place? What do I now want my life to look and feel like as a newly single person? What steps are now required of me to begin moving in my new direction?</p> <p><strong>Steps to Living Fabulously include:</strong></p> <p>1. Allow time to grieve the past. Find ways to work through the lingering emotions from the demise of your partnership. This is essential if you are to successfully wrap up the past, make peace with it and move on to create a brand new you. There is now an empty space in your life and you want to ensure you fill it with people and activities that will be aligned to your new single status. You may want to engage a suitable therapist and/or coach to assist you.</p> <p>2. Learn to LOVE YOU! It’s now ME TIME. Regardless of your other responsibilities ensure you set aside time to begin to envision the life you would like to attract for yourself. Think about what your new future self looks and feels like. Where will you be living? What will you be wearing? What changes would you like to see occur in the future? This is a great time to engage in a fitness program, engage a stylist, change your look!</p> <p>3. Change your vibe by experimenting with a new attitude. How do you want the world to see you? Make time to go through your cupboards and decide what needs to go. Make your motto; “Ta, ta to the old, and hello to the new!” </p> <p>Be authentic, find your passion and your inner calling. You now have a blank canvas in front of you and the power to choose the colours and landscape of your new fabulous life.<span> </span><br />Remember happiness is contagious; live fabulously and become someone people want to catch! </p> <p><span>To find out more about Marina’s services and products and dating and relationship tips visit: </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.modernlovesolutions.com/" target="_blank">modernlovesolutions.com</a></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Marina Bakker. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/relationships/living-fabulously-after-separation-or-divorce.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></span></em></p>

Caring

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"I never saw any evidence of marriage": New book claims Donald and Melania Trump lead separate lives

<p>A new book on Donald Trump has claimed that he and his wife Melania Trump live separate lives, with the 45th US President and First Lady only remaining together out of an arrangement.</p> <p>Following his commercially successful expose <em>Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House</em>, Michael Wolff has released another book on Trump’s presidency.</p> <p>In new book <em>Siege: Trump Under Fire</em>, Wolff claims that the speculations surrounding the First Lady – including rumours of a body double, an extended hospital stay, delayed relocation to the White House and multiple on-record slip-ups – are indications that the Trumps’ relationship is merely for publicity purposes.</p> <p>Wolff told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/inside-the-trump-marriage-michael-wolff-book-claims-donald-and-melania-lead-separate-lives/news-story/782af09528c7696217d116fd1460ff7d"><em>The Australian</em></a> that the couple’s marriage is a “deal” that is akin to the rumoured relationship contract between Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.</p> <p>The book, which cites more than 100 sources, features Trump’s former director campaign and adviser Steve Bannon. </p> <p>“I never saw any evidence of a marriage,” Bannon said as quoted in the book. </p> <p>He told Wolff that most mentions of the First Lady “drew a puzzled look from Trump, as if to say, ‘How is she relevant?’”</p> <p>Wolff also claimed that the First Lady’s delayed move from New York to the White House also spoke volumes.</p> <p>“Indeed, a distraught Melania, repeatedly assured by her husband during the campaign that there was no possibility he would win, had originally refused to move to Washington,” Wolff wrote.</p> <p>“And, in fact, the First Lady was not really in the White House. It had taken Melania almost six months to officially relocate from New York to Washington, but that was in name only.”</p> <p>However, many news outlets have expressed doubts over the claims in Wolff’s new book. </p> <p>“The book is full of stuff that is lurid and sensational, but so dubious in its attributions that even in a review setting I’m afraid to repeat them,” wrote Matt Taibbi of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/michael-wolff-siege-book-taibbi-review-844398/" target="_blank"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a>.</p> <p>According to CNN political analyst Ryan Lizza, the book also contains “factual errors that mar the author’s credibility”.</p> <p>While Trump has not commented on the new <em>Siege</em> book, he rejected Wolff’s claims in <em>Fire and Fury</em>, describing the book as “the Fake Book of a mentally deranged author, who knowingly writes false information”.</p>

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