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Traveller's $3,000 mistake at airport security

<p>A grandmother from New Zealand has copped a whopping $3,000 fine after failing to declare an airport sandwich to border control officers. </p> <p>June Armstrong, 77, was travelling from her native Christchurch to Brisbane to housesit for a friend, and treated herself to a muffin and a sandwich ahead of her 4am flight. </p> <p>Ms Armstrong ate her muffin before boarding the plane, and stashed the sandwich in her carry-on luggage to eat later on the flight. </p> <p>However, the grandmother fell asleep on the plane and the sandwich was left uneaten. </p> <p>When she woke up from her nap, she filled out the declaration form to enter Australia, as she had prescription medication, but completely forgot about the sandwich.</p> <p>When she arrived at the security gates at Brisbane Airport and her bags were checked, she was met with an unfortunate welcome to Australia as she was slapped with the fine. </p> <p>“I was just sobbing and said “$NZ3300 for a little sandwich?” Ms Armstrong told the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/canterbury-grandmother-fined-3300-for-chicken-sandwich-by-australian-border-officials/3KJUEZBB2JHVLHBNSXFY3XPKLE/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>NZ Herald</em>.</a></p> <p>She said asked the official who found the sandwich if they could throw it away for her, but after they walked away and came back, they allegedly just said, “Twelve points, $3300”.</p> <p>Ms Armstrong first thought they were joking, but when she realised they were serious, she broke down in tears as staffers "strongly advised" her to appeal the fine within 28 days. </p> <p>She went through with the appeal to avoid forking out the four-figure sum, but to no avail and eventually ended up coughing up the hefty fine. </p> <p>“My husband kept saying, 'Just pay it'. I said, 'It’s our pension, we can’t afford this’,” Ms Armstrong said, adding that they had about $30,000 in savings as well as their pensions.</p> <p>Ms Armstrong sent an email asking why she was fined, considering it was her first infringement, and why the cost was so high, especially considering the sandwich was untouched and sealed. </p> <p>She also outlined the impact the fine was having on her mental health, but she allegedly never received a response.</p> <p>Six months on from sandwich-gate, she has accepted she won’t be getting her money back and has since spoken out to warn fellow passengers not to make the same mistake. </p> <p>“Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded, they just can’t believe it,” Ms Armstrong told the <em>NZ Herald</em>.</p> <p>Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said Ms Armstrong needed an import permit to bring the chicken sandwich into the county, adding it could have been a much higher penalty, as fines can be as much as $6260. </p> <p>“Meat has strict import conditions which can change quickly based on disease outbreaks,” a departmental spokesperson told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/warnings/grandmother-who-forgot-to-declare-chicken-sandwich-cops-3000-fine-at-brisbane-airport/news-story/2bc94ac2e7e4f59cd16e5798fc7f9f7b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a>. </p> <p>“Uncanned meats, including vacuum-sealed items, are not allowed into Australia unless accompanied by an import permit."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Unbelievable but true": Tourist outraged over shocking restaurant fee

<p>A tourist in Italy has been hit with a shocking fee from an upscale eatery after he asked for his sandwich to be cut in half. </p> <p>The anonymous man was travelling in Italy's picturesque Lake Como region, and stopped in at Bar Pace in Gera Lario, at the lake’s northern end, for a vegetarian sandwich and fries for lunch. </p> <p>Travelling with a friend, the man asked for the meal to be cut in half so they could share.</p> <p>After polishing off their lunch, the traveller was shocked when he was given the bill, noticing a charge he had never seen before. </p> <p>The man paid without arguing, but later took to TripAdvisor to leave a negative review. </p> <p>“Unbelievable but true,” the man captioned a photo of the receipt on TripAdvisor.</p> <p>The receipt lists the sandwich for €7.50 ($12.60), Coca Cola for €3.50 ($5.90), water for €1.50 ($2.50) and espresso for €1.20 ($2), along with the debated “diviso da meta”, or “cutting in half” fee, amounting to 2 euros, or $3.40.</p> <p>The confused customer gave the restaurant one star on TripAdvisor, far below the average of four and a half stars, based on over 100 reviews.</p> <p>After the review garnered a lot of unexpected attention, the restaurant's owner defended the fee to a local news outlet. </p> <p>“Additional requests have a cost,” owner Cristina Biacchi told <em>La Repubblica</em>.</p> <p>“We had to use two plates instead of one and the time to wash them is doubled, and then two placemats. It wasn’t a simple toasted sandwich, there were also French fries inside. It took us time to cut it in two.”</p> <p>She also noted that the customer did not complain or question the charge and clarified that she would have removed the charge from the bill, if someone had raised an issue. </p> <p>The extra charge is not unheard of in expensive cities and popular tourist destinations, with some cities in the United States are sometimes hitting diners with a share charge, or a split plate charge, to make up for the lower check average at a table, while some New York City eateries even ban the practice of sharing all together.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TripAdvisor</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Do better": Subway under fire over "distasteful" sign

<p>A Subway store in the US has come under fire for poking fun at the Titan submersible implosion on a promotional sign. </p> <p>The fast food store, located in the Atlanta capital of Georgia, referenced the recent disaster in which five people were killed on an excursion to the Titanic wreckage, as their vessel imploded after it lost contact with its mothership. </p> <p>Their sign read, "Our subs don't implode". </p> <p>Following immense backlash, the store manager told a local radio station that the sign had been taken down. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/SUBWAY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SUBWAY</a> this is at your store in Rincon, GA. Not only is it distasteful, it’s just sad. Do better. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/subway?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#subway</a> <a href="https://t.co/PfgABPU8ML">pic.twitter.com/PfgABPU8ML</a></p> <p>— Amanda Butler (@Amanda72118560) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amanda72118560/status/1675599325613654018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“We have been in contact with the franchise about this matter and made it clear that this kind of comment has no place in our business,” a statement from Subway to Fox News said.</p> <p>Social media users were quick to condemn the "distasteful" sign, after it went viral on Twitter. </p> <p>One person shared a photo of the sign and wrote, "Not only is it distasteful, it’s just sad. Do better."</p> <p>Another commenter took a stance against the fast food chain, saying, "I’ll never eat at Subway ever again. It is distasteful and disrespectful to families who lost loved ones."</p> <p>Despite the online backlash, some people believed the sign was not the worst thing Subway has done in terms of controversies, with many pointing out the sign is "far less worse than Jared [Fogle]", in reference to the spokesperson for the restaurant in the early 2000s who was arrested for possession of child pornography.</p> <p>Others chose to see the lighter side of the joke on the promotional sign, with one person adding, "No, but Subway subs make your insides explode."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

Legal

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Subway puts its best footlong forward with a cheeky new ad

<p> It’s no secret that sandwich giant Subway has copped its fair share of criticism over the size and value of its famous subs. </p> <p>And while it has addressed issues with <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/subway-falls-a-foot-short-for-one-customer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">its faux-footlongs</a> in the past, the company has opted for a bolder approach with its latest marketing strategy. </p> <p>In a series of billboards being rolled out across Australia, Subway has taken a stand against its naysayers and competitors, releasing an image of its iconic footlongs alongside three familiar burgers with the caption “Yep, our footlongs are really that big.” </p> <p>The burgers haven’t been formally identified, but anyone who’s so much as stepped into a Maccas would have no trouble recognising the chain’s signature burger, the Big Mac. Additionally, the campaign seems to have included the most popular burgers from the likes of KFC and Hungry Jacks as well. </p> <p>As to why Subway have taken this new approach, Australia and New Zealand’s head of marketing, Rodica Titeica, referenced the cost of living crisis striking people across both regions, noting that “with cost-of-living pressures increasing, we know just how important ‘value for money’ is to Aussies.</p> <p>“That’s why the iconic Subway footlong continues to represent indisputable value that is not only convenient but also a guilt-free, better-for-you food option.”</p> <p>Typically, Subway’s ‘meatball melt’ sandwich comes in at just under $15. Meanwhile, a single Big Mac sits at around the $7.50 price mark. </p> <p>This isn’t the first daring campaign that the company has tried, having recently joined forces with Smith’s chips for three new flavours inspired by Subway’s sandwiches. </p> <p>Fan favourites won out, seeing the likes of ‘Crinkle Chicken Teriyaki Sub’, ‘Crinkle Meatball Sub’, and ‘Crinkle Pizza Sub’ hit supermarket shelves across Australia. </p> <p>And in 2022, Subway dipped into the bustling billboard realm with an interactive 3D sign in London, England. This one left its competitors alone, instead allowing audiences to create their very own sandwich on the screen. </p> <p>Scattered throughout the crowd at the 2022 display were Subway ambassadors, who were hard at work delivering people their deliciously unique creations. </p> <p>“Embracing new technologies and pioneering ways to interact with audiences is always exciting,” said Dom Goldman, Chief Creative Officer of the company who created the campaign, Above+Beyond. “We’ve seen many great 3D billboards, but creating a fully interactive screen with fulfilment baked in is a first.”</p> <p>“This is a first in marketing, trying to find new ways to reach Subway fans and give them a chance to enjoy their Sub just the way they want,” Head of Marketing for Subway UK &amp; Ireland Angie Gosal explained, “Subway always puts customers first and this campaign is another example of this.”</p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Subway falls a foot short for one customer

<p>A woman has run into some trouble with her Subway sandwich after taking to it with a measuring tape. </p> <p>The irate customer had been suspicious about the supposed dimensions of her “6-inch sub”, and decided the only thing to do was to find out for herself if she was on to something or not. </p> <p>However, the woman didn’t succeed in putting her fears at rest, instead proving them to be right. </p> <p>The sandwich, advertised as being six inches long, measured up to be just over five. </p> <p>In her annoyance, she told the company that they should be doing better - in her words, “to up your game” - if they expected to be charging extra for what customers weren’t actually receiving. </p> <p>“Usually I wouldn't really care,” she noted, and then explained in some of the world’s most relatable terms, “but I was super hungry today.”</p> <p>To add insult to injury, she also revealed how she’d gotten "one less piece of salami and pepperoni” than usual, and noted that this was simply not up to standard, and that she had inside intel to prove it - her sister had been a Subway manager for years. </p> <p>This wasn’t the first time Subway had run into trouble over the size of their sandwiches - a customer in Australia once took their anger straight to court, going so far as to sue the company in 2013. His photo, posted to Facebook, showed that his footlong sandwich was not the promised 12 inches, but instead 11. </p> <p>That case was settled for a staggering $525,000 (approximately $798,042.00 AUD), and in 2015, Subway introduced new in-store regulations towards ensuring their products measured up, as well as additional disclosures for their consumers.</p> <p>At the time, Subway acknowledged that the media buzz surrounding the case had motivated its decision to settle the case, while the judge was firm in his belief that the smaller sandwiches actually contained no less food in terms of weight.</p> <p>“The settlement acknowledges as much when it says that uniformity in bread length is impossible,” he said, “due to the natural variability of the bread-baking process.”</p> <p>To many, however, this was not - and seemingly never will be - good enough. And to others, it’s a tale as old as time that they’d tired of hearing. </p> <p>“It's clearly a ‘SUBWAY 6 INCH’ and meant as a description rather than a measurement of length,” wrote one fed up individual on yet another related story, this time posted to Reddit. </p> <p>“In that case,” mused another, “there should be a new policy wherein every Subway employee should be required to do air quotes when using the term ‘Footlong’.”</p> <p><em>Images: Reddit</em></p>

Food & Wine

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10+ sandwiches that are perfect for a picnic

<h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BBQ Chicken Salad Sandwich </span></h3> <p>“An impromptu picnic inspired this BBQ chicken salad sandwich. An instant summertime favourite, these dressed-up sandwiches have become a mainstay at our house.” —Linda Orme</p> <h3>Servings: 8</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>450g boneless skinless chicken breast</p> <p>120ml barbecue sauce</p> <p>250ml mayonnaise</p> <p>120g finely chopped onion</p> <p>120g chopped celery</p> <p>1/4 tsp salt</p> <p>1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes</p> <p>8 kaiser rolls split</p> <p>8 tomato slices</p> <p>8 lettuce leaves</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish; add barbecue sauce. Turn to coat; cover. Refrigerate overnight.</p> <p>Grill chicken, covered, over medium-high heat, 6-8 minutes on each side. Cool; cover and refrigerate chicken until chilled.</p> <p>Chop chicken; place in a large bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise, onion, celery, salt and pepper flakes. Serve on rolls with tomato and lettuce.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 each: 481 calories, 27g fat (4g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 712mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fibre), 24g protein.</p> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Turkey, gouda and apple tea sandwiches</span></h3> <p>Cut into triangles or quarters, these fun mini sandwiches are a tasty addition to an afternoon tea gathering. The cranberry mayo lends an original flavour twist, and the apples give them a sweet-tart crunch.</p> <h3>Servings: 48</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>2/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise</p> <p>2 tbsp whole berry cranberry sauce</p> <p>24 slices very thin wholemeal or white bread crusts removed</p> <p>12 slices deli turkey</p> <p>2 medium apples thinly sliced</p> <p>12 slices thin smoked Gouda cheese</p> <p>4 cups fresh baby spinach</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Place mayonnaise and cranberry sauce in a small food processor. Cover and process until blended. Spread over each bread slice.</p> <p>Layer the turkey, apples, cheese and spinach over each of 12 bread slices; top with remaining bread. Cut each sandwich into quarters.</p> <p>To Make Ahead: Cranberry spread can be prepared a day in advance; cover and store in the refrigerator.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 tea sandwich (4 pieces): 258 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 456mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fibre), 16g protein.</p> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Focaccia sandwiches</span></h3> <p>“Slices of this pretty sandwich make any casual get-together more special. Add or change ingredients to your taste.” —Peggy Woodward</p> <h3>Servings: 2 dozen</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>80ml mayonnaise</p> <p>1 small jar chopped ripe olives drained</p> <p>1 focaccia bread split, about 340g</p> <p>4 romaine leaves</p> <p>115g shaved deli ham</p> <p>1 medium sweet red capsicum thinly sliced into rings</p> <p>115g shaved deli turkey</p> <p>1 large tomato thinly sliced</p> <p>115g thinly sliced hard salami</p> <p>1 jar roasted sweet red peppers drained</p> <p>4 to 6 slices provolone cheese</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and olives; spread over the bottom half of bread. Layer with remaining ingredients; replace bread top. Cut into 24 wedges; secure with toothpicks.</p> <p>Tip: A rectangular-shaped focaccia bread, measuring about 12×8 in., works best for this sandwich.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p> </p> <p>1 piece: 113 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 405mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fibre), 5g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PBJ on a stick</span></h3> <p>“Take the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the go with these skewers. They also make easy snacks.” —Sara Martin</p> <h3>Servings 4</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>2 peanut butter and jam sandwiches</p> <p>1 cup seedless red or green grapes</p> <p>1 small banana sliced</p> <p>4 wooden skewers</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Cut sandwiches into 2cm squares. Alternately thread grapes, sandwich squares and banana slices onto each skewer. Serve immediately.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p> </p> <p>2 skewers: 1736kJ (415 calories), 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 368mg sodium, 63g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 7g fibre), 13g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chicken Caesar Pitas</span></h3> <p>Hand-held and picnic friendly, these chicken-stuffed pockets pack a double dose of whole grains from brown rice and whole wheat pitas. The chicken can be made up to 2 days in advance for a fast-fix lunch.</p> <h3>Servings 4</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>3/4 tsp dried oregano</p> <p>1/2 tsp dried basil</p> <p>1/4 tsp onion powder</p> <p>1/4 tsp paprika</p> <p>1/8 tsp dried mint</p> <p>500g boneless skinless chicken breasts</p> <p>2 cups torn lettuce</p> <p>1 cup ready-to-serve brown rice</p> <p>1/2 cup reduced-fat Caesar vinaigrette</p> <p>8 wholemeal pita pocket halves</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>In a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, combine the first five ingredients; grind until mixture becomes fine. Rub over chicken.</p> <p>On a greased grill, cook chicken, covered, for 4-5 minutes on each side. When cool enough to handle, cut into 1cm strips. Refrigerate until chilled.</p> <p>In a large bowl, combine the chicken, lettuce and rice. Drizzle with vinaigrette; toss to coat. Serve in pitas.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>2 filled pita halves: 1665kJ (398 calories), 10g fat (2 g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 919mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 5g fibre), 31g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tuna Artichoke Melt</span></h3> <p>After sampling a similar open-faced sandwich at a restaurant, we created our own version of lemon-seasoned tuna salad with artichoke hearts. It makes an ideal lunch served on the patio.</p> <h3>Servings 2</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>1 can tuna in springwater drained and flaked, 185g</p> <p>1/3 cup coarsely chopped water-packed artichoke hearts rinsed and drained</p> <p>2 tbsp mayonnaise</p> <p>1/2 cup Mexican cheese blend divided</p> <p>1/4 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning</p> <p>1/8 tsp dried oregano</p> <p>2 English muffins split and toasted</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Preheat grill. In a small bowl, combine the tuna, artichokes, mayonnaise, 1/4 cup cheese, lemon pepper and oregano. Spread over English muffin halves.</p> <p>Place on a baking tray. Grill 4-6 until heated through, 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; grill until cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes longer.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>2 each: 1485kJ (335 calories), 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 989mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fibre), 34g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dilly Chicken Sandwichs </span></h3> <p>“A creamy lemon-dill spread adds summery flavour to tender chicken served between slices of grilled French bread with slices of lettuce and tomato. Serve it for lunch, or for a light and breezy dinner on the patio.” —Orien Major</p> <h3>Servings 4</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves</p> <p>6 tbsp butter divided</p> <p>1 garlic clove minced</p> <p>3/4 tsp dill divided</p> <p>8 slices French bread 1cm thick</p> <p>1/4 cup cream cheese softened</p> <p>2 tsp lemon juice</p> <p>4 lettuce leaves</p> <p>8 slices tomato</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Flatten chicken to 1/2cm thickness; set aside. In a large frying pan, saute garlic and 1/4 teaspoon dill in 3 tablespoons butter for 1 minute. Add chicken; cook over medium heat until juices run clear, 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove and keep warm.</p> <p>Spread both sides of bread with remaining butter. In a large frying pan, grill bread on both sides until golden brown.</p> <p>Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, lemon juice and remaining 1/2 teaspoon dill; spread on one side of grilled bread. Place lettuce, chicken and tomato on 4 slices of bread; top with remaining bread.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 sandwich: 2050kJ (490 calories), 27g fat (15g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 591mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fibre), 30g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Italian Submarine</span></h3> <p>“My Italian husband grew up eating this flavourful sandwich, which his mother used to make it after Saturday chores were finished. Put the sub together a few hours ahead and refrigerate, then serve with chips, veggies and dip for a delicious meal.” —Christine Lupella</p> <h3>Servings 8</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>1 loaf unsliced Italian bread</p> <p>2 to 3 tbsp olive oil</p> <p>2 to 4 tbsp Shredded Parmesan cheese</p> <p>1 to 1-1/2 tsp dried oregano</p> <p>1 medium tomato thinly sliced</p> <p>250g thinly sliced deli ham</p> <p>250g sliced provolone cheese</p> <p>250g thinly sliced hard salami</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Cut bread horizontally in half. Hollow out bottom half, leaving a 1/2cm shell (save removed bread for another use or discard). Brush cut surfaces of bread with oil; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano.</p> <p>Layer bottom half with remaining ingredients. Replace bread top. Cut into 8 slices.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 slice: 1422kJ (340 calories), 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 1130mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fibre), 18g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Smoked Salmon Egg Salad</span></h3> <p>“Served on croissants, these grown-up sandwiches offer a great way to use leftover eggs. Salmon adds smoky flavour.” —Cathy Tang</p> <h3>Servings 6</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>3/4 cup mayonnaise</p> <p>1 tsp dill</p> <p>1/2 tsp lemon juice</p> <p>1/4 tsp salt</p> <p>1/8 tsp pepper</p> <p>6 hard-boiled large eggs chopped</p> <p>120g smoked salmon chopped</p> <p>6 croissants split</p> <p>1-1/2 cups fresh baby spinach</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Stir in the eggs and salmon.</p> <p>Place 1/3 cup on the bottom of each croissant; top with spinach leaves and replace croissant tops.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 sandwich: 2230 kJ (533 calories), 40g fat (11g saturated fat), 265mg cholesterol, 889mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fibre), 15g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Club Roll-Ups</span></h3> <p>Packed with meat, cheese and olives, these roll-ups are always a hit at parties.</p> <h3>Servings 8</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>85g cream cheese softened</p> <p>1/2 cup ranch salad dressing</p> <p>2 tbsp ranch salad dressing mix</p> <p>8 bacon strips cooked and crumbled</p> <p>1/2 cup finely chopped onion</p> <p>1 can sliced ripe olives drained, 65g</p> <p>1 jar diced pimientos drained, 60g</p> <p>1/4 cup diced canned jalapeno peppers</p> <p>8 flour tortillas room temperature</p> <p>8 slices thin deli ham</p> <p>8 slices thin deli turkey</p> <p>8 slices thin deli roast beef</p> <p>2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, ranch dressing and dressing mix until well blended. In another bowl, combine the bacon, onion, olives, pimientos and jalapenos.</p> <p>Spread cream cheese mixture over tortillas; layer with ham, turkey and roast beef. Sprinkle with bacon mixture and cheddar cheese; roll up.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 roll-up: 2317kJ (554 calories), 29g fat (12g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 1802mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 7g fibre), 27g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fruity Peanut Butter Fritas</span></h3> <p>“My kids ask for these pita sandwiches all the time. They haven’t noticed that as good as they taste, they’re also good for them.” —Kim Holmes</p> <h3>Servings 2</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>1/4 cup peanut butter</p> <p>1/8 tsp each ground allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg</p> <p>2 wholemeal pita pocket halves</p> <p>1/2 medium apple thinly sliced</p> <p>1/2 medium firm banana sliced</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>In a small bowl, blend the peanut butter, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread inside pita bread halves; fill with apple and banana slices.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 pita half: 1355kJ (324 calories), 17g fat (4g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 320mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 6g fibre), 12g protein.</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Turkey-Jalapeno Sandwich</span></h3> <p>“When turkey sandwich meets modern Thai, it’s a fun mix of classic and trendy food. I love it when my mixing and matching turns out so tasty.” —Stacy Mullens</p> <h3>Servings 6</h3> <h3>Ingredients</h3> <p>6 tbsp mayonnaise</p> <p>6 long bread rolls, split</p> <p>6 tbsp jalapeno pepper jelly</p> <p>12 lettuce leaves</p> <p>750g thinly sliced deli turkey</p> <p>Fresh coriander leaves</p> <h3>Method</h3> <p>Spread mayonnaise on roll bottoms; spread pepper jelly over mayonnaise. Layer with lettuce and turkey; top with coriander and, if desired, jalapeno. Replace tops.</p> <h3>Nutrition Facts</h3> <p>1 sandwich: 2020kJ (483 calories), 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 1500mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 2g fibre), 31g protein.</p>

Food & Wine

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Surprise twist in traveller who failed to declare sandwich ingredients

<p dir="ltr">The Aussie<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/traveller-slapped-2-664-fine-for-sandwich" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> traveller who was fined $2,664</a> for bringing in a Subway sandwich and not declaring two ingredients has been given an amazing surprise. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jessica Lee was heading back from Singapore to Perth and purchased a footlong sandwich but only ate half and decided to keep the other for the flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">While on the way back to Australia, Jessica did not eat the sandwich and failed to declare chicken and lettuce when she arrived back in Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 19-year-old was slapped with a hefty $2,664 fine and shared the news on TikTok urging others not to make the same mistake she did. </p> <p dir="ltr">In an update, Jessica announced that she was gifted a $2,664 Subway gift card from the restaurant as well as a box of merchandise. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Subway makes my fine worth every single cent,” Jessica said in the new TikTok video.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Looking at positives over negatives always pays off.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She then proceeded to read the letter the restaurant sent her, thanking her for eating from them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To say thank you for eating fresh, we’ve uploaded a sub card with $2,664 just for you,” the letter read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We hope this covers all your chicken and lettuce needs.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Love your Subway fans.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Subway Monkeypox case "really concerning"

<p dir="ltr">A photo of a man who very clearly had Monkeypox and is standing in close proximity to others has gone viral. </p> <p dir="ltr">The image was shared to <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/arturohenriques/status/1553322937402507264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> by a Spanish doctor Arturo Henriques who “cautiously” approached the man and questioned why he was not isolating if he had Monkeypox.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the man was only told to wear a mask by his doctor and nothing else to which Dr Henriques tried to explain that lesions on the body were most contagious. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Henriques then asked a nearby passenger if she was worried about catching Monkeypox which she laughed off saying she wasn’t gay and straight people don’t need to be concerned. </p> <p dir="ltr">This prompted a response from Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland.</p> <p dir="ltr">Professor Griffin said it was “really concerning” to see people not taking the disease seriously and need to isolate if they have it. </p> <p dir="ltr">"It's really disappointing, isn't it? I mean, it's actually really concerning," he told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/disturbing-monkeypox-photo-train-warning-virus-myth-005219552.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"But if people don't take that seriously and don't isolate themselves, well, that can certainly facilitate the spread and make something that we should be able to control much more challenging.</p> <p dir="ltr">"While it's really important, we identify who is at greatest risk and we try and modify that risk by approaching those groups and giving them the right advice, we need to be really careful that we don't be discriminatory or stigmatising.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Monkeypox spreads through close skin-to-skin physical contact with someone who has symptoms, such as when you are having sex, or by direct contact with contaminated objects, such as bedding, towels or clothes.</p> <p dir="ltr">​​Many of the cases are in men who have sex with men and have been acquired overseas.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some of the symptoms include: rashes, lesions or sores, particularly in areas that are hard to see such as the genitals, anus or anal area or on the face, arms and legs, ulcers, lesions or sores in the mouth, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and/or exhaustion.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Body

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A man’s unusual reaction to a ham roll five years on

<p dir="ltr">A UK-based father who claims he “cannot stop farting” after eating a ham roll in 2017, has launched a legal bid for $350,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyrone Prades, 46, says the snack sparked life-changing flatulence which wakes him at night and embarrasses him in public.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ham sandwich’s victim reports he had a severe tummy ache within hours of consuming it at a Christmas market, and was then bed-bound for five weeks, his lawyers have allegedly told the High Court.</p> <p dir="ltr">He and others who ate at the same stall were said to have been infected with salmonella. Within hours of eating the ham roll, he had stomach cramps, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, the court heard. His lawyer, Robert Parkin, said he was sick for months and was still flatulent five years on with churning noises in his gut. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The claimant continues to suffer from excessive flatulence, which causes him a great deal of embarrassment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The symptoms are, primarily, fatigue and altered bowel function associated with ‘churning’ within his abdomen and flatulence. The claimant’s stomach continues to make frequent churning noises to the extent his sleep can become disrupted.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Parkin claimed the ham had been contaminated with salmonella bacteria and other customers also fell ill.</p> <p dir="ltr">The barrister added: “The extent of the symptoms has been life-changing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the stall was closed and deep-cleaned following Public Health England investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Prades, of Chippenham, Wilts, is suing the operator, Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd, for at least £200,000 (AU$347,014), although the company denies any blame.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-56df7068-7fff-2f29-58d6-273718966b4c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The company’s barrister, Philip Davy, admitted council environmental health officers found e.coli on a knife but no salmonella. The case will now go on trial at a later date.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Traveller slapped $2,664 fine for sandwich

<p dir="ltr">An Aussie traveller has been slapped a hefty $2,664 fine for failing to declare ingredients in her sandwich. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jessica Lee purchased a footlong Subway sandwich while waiting at Singapore Airport and had half, saving the other half for the flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 19-year-old boarded her flight but did not eat the rest of her sandwich. </p> <p dir="ltr">As they neared landing in Perth, passengers were asked to declare items and Jessica did not think to mention her sandwich. </p> <p dir="ltr">Walking through customs, Jessica was then given a $2,664 fine because she failed to declare two ingredients - chicken and lettuce. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Probably will cry. Basically just paid $2,664 for my Subway just from Singapore,” Jessica said in a TikTok video.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is my mistake but basically I bought a foot long Subway at Singapore airport because I was a hungry girl after my 11-hour flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I ate six inches before my second flight and then saved the other six inches for my flight, which they [cabin crew] were more than happy with, they were fine with that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She said it was an “expensive rookie mistake” and was hit with a double whammy because she quit her job before heading off to Europe. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am very aware this is my mistake and I do take ownership, I am paying the fine,” she said, urging everyone to not make the same mistake she did. </p> <p dir="ltr">Under the Biosecurity Act, any travellers arriving in Australia are required to declare certain foods, plant material and animal products. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“Worst food ever”: Man slams inflight sandwich with sky-high price

<p dir="ltr">A man who paid for a sandwich on a plane has called out the airline for the “worst food ever”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Alex was on an easyJet flight from Paris to London Gatwick when he ordered the $9.80 Roasted Vegetable and Hummus Baguette for his trip. </p> <p dir="ltr">The image on the flight’s menu showed a delicious looking seeded baguette, filled with dozens of pieces of zucchini and red capsicums on a thick layer of hummus. </p> <p dir="ltr">He was however shocked when the stewardess served him the sandwich which had only a handful of vegetables in the middle of the bread. </p> <p dir="ltr">Alex shared a video of the sandwich with the caption: “Is this the worst airline food and advertising you’ve ever seen? I then sent the sandwich back, and got me a new one. Is this any better?</p> <p dir="ltr">“A crew member then told me, ‘You know, the food and the picture are not the same. We were given three minutes to eat before landing, and never got our water.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for the airline said they were aware of the footage and were investigating the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re aware of this footage and will be looking into this with our in-flight retail supplier as it appears that the item served falls short of the high standards we expect from our in-flight food and drink range for our customers,” they said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We will be in touch with the customer to apologise for their experience and provide a gesture of goodwill.”</p>

Travel Trouble

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Gunman on the loose after NYC subway shooting

<p dir="ltr">A manhunt is underway after a gunman opened fire at innocent people on the subway in New York on Tuesday morning.</p> <p dir="ltr">The gunman wore a gas mask and a construction vest before setting off a smoke canister during peak hour and injuring at least 29 people at 8.30am.</p> <p dir="ltr">Witnesses said smoke filled the train in between stations before trails of blood were seen on the floor. </p> <p dir="ltr">The man then began shooting and injured 29 people who were all treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation and other conditions.</p> <p dir="ltr">It’s believed the shooter escaped the scene on foot and is described as a 165cm man with a heavy build wearing a green construction vest and a grey hooded sweatshirt.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This individual is still on the loose,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This person is dangerous.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Very dramatic video from the incident as the subway arrived at 36th St Sunset Park in Brooklyn. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/brooklyn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#brooklyn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#shooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nyc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nyc</a> <a href="https://t.co/5cOdeYPIb1">pic.twitter.com/5cOdeYPIb1</a></p> <p>— Kristoffer Kumm (@Kristofferkumm) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kristofferkumm/status/1513883003453333513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">NOW - Multiple people shot at New York City subway station. Several "undetonated devices" found. Trains halted. </p> <p>Suspect is wearing a gas mask and is on the run.<a href="https://t.co/2hWjvjUXI4">pic.twitter.com/2hWjvjUXI4</a></p> <p>— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1513878331225219075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/AHqAhTAAA4">pic.twitter.com/AHqAhTAAA4</a></p> <p>— Will B. Wylde (@IXIXI_45) <a href="https://twitter.com/IXIXI_45/status/1513881708935974915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Its not just smoke, there were blood everywhere at 36st station and people hurt. What happened!? <a href="https://t.co/rNeS119l2i">pic.twitter.com/rNeS119l2i</a></p> <p>— Ary (@CarbMeCrazy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarbMeCrazy/status/1513860831322284033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I was on the cart of the train with said smoke and explosions. A lot of blood on the floor, this was the only video I can get of the chaos. Sounded like fireworks, I couldn’t tell if it was gunshots, but the smoke made it hard to see anything. <a href="https://t.co/duJjI8RHuY">pic.twitter.com/duJjI8RHuY</a></p> <p>— Yav (@whoisyav) <a href="https://twitter.com/whoisyav/status/1513865431928475648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/tje7V0OVHf">pic.twitter.com/tje7V0OVHf</a></p> <p>— Will B. Wylde (@IXIXI_45) <a href="https://twitter.com/IXIXI_45/status/1513882170405830666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">My neighborhood in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brooklyn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brooklyn</a> being turned inside out looking for a perp. Poor Pinkman (our doggo) is freaking out. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SunsetPark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SunsetPark</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#shooting</a> <a href="https://t.co/q0jINMULuZ">pic.twitter.com/q0jINMULuZ</a></p> <p>— Eamon Loingsigh (@eamonLoi) <a href="https://twitter.com/eamonLoi/status/1513882019494834183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The FBI is working with the New York Police Department (NYPD) as they follow “every viable lead”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The suspect was in the train car, the shooting began in the train car,” NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As the train was pulling into the station, the subject put on a gas mask.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He then opened a canister that was in his bag and then the car began to fill with smoke.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After that he began shooting.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency services rushed to the scene and assisted people, with a gun being uncovered on site. It remains unclear if it’s the same weapon used by the shooter.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sewell said the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism as authorities are not ruling anything out.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

News

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How to care for ageing parents: Strategies for the sandwich generation

<p><strong>The burden of the sandwich generation</strong></p><p>Mum hurt her foot. That’s the only detail you can lure out of her over the phone, which right now makes the distance between the two of you feel that much farther. She’s limping and doesn’t want to go to a doctor.</p><p>Instead, she wants you to look at it, ignoring the fact that you have a full-time job, two kids and, oh yeah, you live three hours away. Sound familiar? Managing the seniors in your life, whether it’s helping them through their health problems or clearing up insurance issues, is the burden of the sandwich generation.</p><p>So how can you care for ageing parents when you’re far from home and juggling the responsibility of raising your own family? Here are some strategies from professional caregivers that can help you to help them – even if you live on opposite sides of the country.</p><p><strong>Make a plan for senior care before it becomes an issue</strong></p><p>“The older generation can be secretive, but the sandwich generation is more open and aware that communication is important,” says Karen Seebach, a nurse advisor with a caregiver support service.</p><p>“You need to have a conversation in advance about what they would like to do as they age. Do they want to stay in their home? Does someone have power of attorney? These conversations are very important to start early on.”</p><p><strong>Read between the lines</strong></p><p>Dad says he’s fine on the phone, but you suspect he’s not taking his medications. The litmus test? Look for a change in the way he communicates.</p><p>“If a parent is usually chatty and has become quieter, that’s something you need to pay attention to,” says Luanne Whitmarsh, chief executive officer at an organisation assisting seniors. Inconsistent communication from your ageing parent is a red flag that warrants deeper investigation.</p><p><strong>Create a support network</strong></p><p>You might be tempted to take the day off work to check out that sore foot your mum was complaining about – and you’re not alone. Many caregivers who live more than a half day’s travel away from their ill parent are missing full days of work to help provide care.</p><p>Instead, get to know the people who interact with your ageing parents day to day. “Become familiar with the neighbours or a house cleaner or something like that,” suggests Whitmarsh. “This way, they can give you the real information you may not be getting.”</p><p><strong>Research senior outreach services</strong></p><p>“The more isolated a senior becomes, the more risk there is,” says Joanne Toller, senior fund developer with a seniors resource group.</p><p>She suggests doing homework on behalf of your ageing parents to find outreach services in their area or organisations that can provide referrals to services that can help seniors with day-to-day tasks. These might include driving services, foot care clinics (look for brochures at doctor’s offices and walk-in clinics) and meal delivery services.</p><p>More support can be found by making inquiries with the local municipal government, service clubs and churches.</p><p><strong>Speak with your own doctor</strong></p><p>Mum’s sounding much more confused lately and you’re worried about dementia. You could call your mum’s physician to discuss the issue, or, as Whitmarsh suggests, you could express your concerns to your own doctor, with whom you already have a relationship.</p><p>Explain what you’ve observed and share the contact information for your mother’s doctor. “Doctor to doctor, they have a way better way of communicating and have a given level of trust,” Whitmarsh says.</p><p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p><p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/how-to-care-for-ageing-parents-strategies-for-the-sandwich-generation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Family & Pets

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How to cope when you’re caring for your parents – and your kids

<p>Changing demographics and social norms in Australia have given rise to a new phenomenon known as the ‘sandwich generation.’ This term refers to those caught between caring for their own children and their ageing parents.</p> <p>This all began when people chose to start their families later. The fertility rate for women aged 35-39 has more than doubled over the last 30 years, while the rate for women aged 40-44 has tripled.</p> <p>At the same time, rising property prices and higher costs of living are enticing adult children to remain living at home for longer.</p> <p>At the other end of the spectrum, Australians are also living longer. The life expectancy of Australians currently stands at 82.5 years, up more than 10 years from the 1960 rate of 71 years.</p> <p>Those sandwiched between care of their own children and the care of their parents have been coined ‘the sandwich generation’.</p> <p>Compounding the pressure on many ‘sandwich’ families is the rising proportion of women in the workforce. Where women may previously have been at home and more available to fulfil caring roles, they are now, more often than not, occupied with their own busy jobs.</p> <p><strong>Getting help</strong></p> <p>Being caught in the sandwich generation can be emotionally and physically exhausting. What is the best way for carers to manage their competing priorities? After all, caregivers can only continue to provide good support it they look after themselves.</p> <p>Recruiting the right help is one of the best ways carers can relieve the pressures they are feeling.</p> <p>Kate Spurway founded her company - NurseWatch - with the ‘sandwich generation’ in mind, aiming to provide care for those with busy lives and heavily competing demands on their time.</p> <p>As a home care provider, NurseWatch is a little different from others companies in this area because Spurway has given the company a strong focus on wellness and prevention, as well as treatment.</p> <p>NurseWatch provides support not only for ageing parents, but also for the ‘sandwich’ carers themselves who are generally in their 50s or 60s and may have health concerns of their own.</p> <p>The staff at NurseWatch offer yoga, massage, health coaching and mindfulness, as well as wound care, post-hospital care, assistance with medical appointments, and medication assistance.</p> <p>Highly qualified and experienced carers work with clients to establish personalised environments and routines which are designed to preserve vitality and wellbeing, as well as restore good health.</p> <p>Spurway says it’s important for older people to remain active in their communities – by continuing to take part in activities they love, whether it be furniture making, ballet, or going on a holiday. She says the staff at NurseWatch can help facilitate these activities if the designated carer is running short of time.</p> <p>NurseWatch follows a ‘wellness, care, social’ model: creating wellness in a caring environment, while providing nurturing, social engagement.</p> <p><strong>Being present…</strong></p> <p>Caring isn’t easy, and for those with competing demands on their time, it’s almost impossible. Acknowledging this fact, accepting help is needed, and then putting the right systems and routines in place, will not only take care of the caring, it will help the ‘sandwiched’ carers regain balance – and ultimately help them to be more present for their loved ones who need them.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><span><em> </em></span></p>

Family & Pets

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Mum's time-saving school lunch hack branded as "lazy"

<p>A mum has left parents divided after revealing her lunchbox hack to save time making her children’s school sandwiches.</p> <p>Taking to Facebook, she shared that she makes 40 sandwiches at once and freezes them before taking them out when needed.</p> <p>She asked for advice on the best way to freeze them, saying preparing two weeks worth of sandwiches at once saved her time in the long run.</p> <p>She wrote: "The kids take them out in the morning and put them in their sandwich boxes and the sandwich bag goes back into the freezer ready to be used again (to stay environmentally friendly and cost-effective)."</p> <p>The lunch is made up of ham, cream cheese, plum jam and Vegemite to “keep it simple”.</p> <p>Although many parents praised her for the hack and said they’re planning to try it out themselves, others branded it “lazy” and said the sandwiches would be “tasteless” by the time they came out of the freezer.</p> <p>One commented: "I wouldn't want to eat a frozen sandwich so wouldn't make one for my kids. It takes a minute to make a sandwich."</p> <p>Another wrote: "My mum used to make frozen peanut butter sandwiches when I was a kid so I will admit now those sandwiches were binned every day at school."</p> <p>But others defended her method, arguing that as long as the sandwiches were thawed out for a few hours before they were eaten, they wouldn't taste any different.</p> <p>They also added that the tactic clearly works for the mum and the negative remarks were “uncalled for”.</p>

Food & Wine

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Cherry choc chip ice-cream sandwiches

<p>These are the heavenly ice-cream sandwiches of your childhood. Even better – the ice-cream recipe doesn’t begin with a custard, and so avoids the ‘will it or won’t it?’ curdling fear.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <ul> <li>2 cups (500 ml) thickened cream</li> <li>1 cup (250 ml) full-cream milk</li> <li>¾ cup (165 g) caster sugar, plus 1 teaspoon extra</li> <li>1½ cups (225 g) frozen cherries, partially thawed</li> <li>85 g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa), roughly chopped</li> <li>36 plain chocolate biscuits (Choc Ripple biscuits or similar)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions:</strong></p> <p>1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk and sugar, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Churn in an ice-cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.</p> <p>2. Toss the cherries with the extra teaspoon of sugar. Add the cherries, along with any juice, and the chocolate to the ice-cream mixture. Transfer to a container with a lid and freeze until firm enough to scoop.</p> <p>3. To assemble the sandwiches, spread 1/3 cup (80g) of ice-cream over a biscuit and top with another biscuit. Repeat with the remaining biscuits and ice-cream. Wrap tightly in baking paper and freeze until ready to serve.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong></p> <p>The sandwiches will keep for 24 hours in the freezer.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-edible-city-indira-naidoo%2Fprod9781921383816.html" target="_blank"><em>Recipe from<span> </span><span>The Edible City by Indira Naidoo</span>, published by Penguin Books, RRP $45.00.</em></a></p> <p><em>Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/cherry-choc-chip-ice-cream-sandwiches.aspx" target="_blank"><em>Wyza.com.au</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Food & Wine

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Left on the tracks: Brisbane girl hit by New York subway now suing after astonishing claim

<p>A Brisbane woman who had to have both legs amputated after a freak accident in the New York City subway plans on suing the city for negligence – claiming she was hit by two consecutive trains.</p> <p>Visaya Hoffie has filed a petition at Manhattan Supreme Court as she hopes to obtain video footage, photos and witness accounts from the night she fell onto the tracks of the 14 St PATH station last month.</p> <p>The 23-year-old dealt with a broken back, multiple head wounds and severe cuts and bruises. She also lost both her legs after being run over by seven carriages.</p> <p>In an affidavit obtained by the<span> </span><em>New York Post</em>, Miss Hoffie says she was hit twice after being left on the tracks for a long period of time.</p> <p>“After the first train left the station after running me over, I was left on the tracks for another considerable period of time … until a second P.A.T.H. train came along and hit me again,” reads the document.</p> <p>She also finds it hard to believe that the train operator didn’t see her, as she was wearing brightly coloured clothing and fell in a well-lit area.</p> <p>Miss Hoffie then said that she will be bed-ridden in hospital for the “foreseeable future” due to the tragic accident.</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/B8FNQXJlaX9/?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/B8FNQXJlaX9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Wearing the top that saved my life. Terribly missing my sister @wayanpreston</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/vissyhoffe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Vissy</a> (@vissyhoffe) on Feb 2, 2020 at 2:31pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Earlier reports stated that the Australian did not get hit by a second train due to her bright pink top that caught the conductor’s eye.</p> <p>Her mother Pat Hoffie took to social media to share a photo of her daughter, taken shortly before the incident occurred, wearing the shirt that she said spared her from being hit a second time.</p> <p>“This image of her [Visaya] was taken hours before the accident,” she wrote in a Facebook post.</p> <p>“The bright pink colour of her top is what alerted the engine driver of the second train to the fact that someone was lying across the track.</p> <p>“When the first train had rolled across her unconscious body twenty minutes earlier, her black puffy jacket and black jeans had made her invisible to the driver.</p> <p>“In the words of the investigating police, ‘it’s a miracle she survived.’ Please pray that she continues to survive and to heal and to come home.”</p>

Legal

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The restaurant that sells $270 sandwich

<p><span>It’s a restaurant chain that boasts famous names such as David Beckham and Ed Sheeran as its patrons. </span></p> <p><span>And now Wagyumafia is ready to expand beyond Asia.</span></p> <p><span>The company, which currently has five restaurants spread across Japan and Hong Kong, has made waves around the world with its selection of Kobe beef cuts.</span></p> <p><span>The most famous dish is the 20,000 yen (AU$270) “sando” Chateaubriand sandwich, which consists of Chateaubriand from Tajima cattle coated in panko breadcrumb mix, complemented with lightly toasted milk bread and special tangy steak sauce made with 20-year aged Kamebishi soy sauce from Kagawa and Fuji vinegar from Kyoto. </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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ud5p1BqFQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ud5p1BqFQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by HISATO HAMADA (@wagyumafia)</a> on Nov 1, 2019 at 3:40am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>There is a reason behind the high price. Today, only pure-blood Tajima cattle bred, raised and slaughtered in Japan’s Hyogo prefecture can be called Kobe beef. Just about 4,500 cattle are certified each year.</span></p> <p><span>Wagyumafia co-founder Hisato Hamada said he buys around 100 full Kobe cattle each year for his business.</span></p> <p><span>Those looking for more affordable options may opt for other cuts at different price points.</span></p> <p><span>Meat enthusiasts in other countries could anticipate more stores opening, as more Wagyumafia outposts are coming. Hamada told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/wagyumafia-restaurants-japan/index.html"><em>CNN</em></a> that he is looking to open a Manila branch soon and set up four more restaurants around the world, including in the United States.</span></p>

International Travel

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Outrage after tourists charged nearly $200 for three hot dogs and a sandwich

<p>A group of tourists have slammed a Rome bar over an unusually hefty bill for their meal.</p> <p>Leo Recchia told Italian newspaper <em>Il Messaggero </em>that he took his family to the bar on Via dell Conciliazione near St Peter’s Square.</p> <p>They were charged €119 (AU$190) for three hot dogs, a ham and cheese sandwich, four cans of Coca Cola and a bottle of mineral water.</p> <p>Included in the bill was a €17 ($27.4) service fee.</p> <p>“€22 for each hot dog.... Almost €20 for service,” said Recchia. “To think that the night before we had gone to a restaurant behind the Pantheon – we spent the same, but for a complete dinner.”</p> <p>The bar owner told the publication, “We had other cases like this, other complaints, but the prices are on the menu, you can check. Also, we are near the Vatican, it costs.”</p> <p>The complaint is the latest claim of rip-off meals in Europe.</p> <p>In May, Rome restaurant Caffe Vaticano was criticised after giving diners <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/travellers-stories/rome-restaurant-slammed-for-outrageous-bill/news-story/5a8c5a7762a6f8d5230e4134f4e11abd">a bill of €81.4</a> ($132) for two burgers and three coffees.</p> <p>In January, <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1070491/florence-italy-ice-cream-tourist-police-fine-italian-holidays">an ice cream shop in Florence was fined €2,000</a> ($3,204) for charging a Taiwanese tourist €25 ($40) for a gelato served in a cone.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Passenger’s “disgusting” find in airport bread roll

<p>A traveller was left disgusted after finding two “weird looking” flies squished into his breakfast roll.</p> <p>The bagel was bought at Terminal 1 inside Dublin Airport by Martin Warde, an Irish comedian.</p> <p>Mr Warde was rushing to catch a bus, and when he opened his meal he was met with a startling discovery.</p> <p>“Just bought this breakfast roll in the shop at terminal 1 at @DublinAirport,” the comedian wrote in a post to social media.</p> <p>“Why are there two weird looking insects stuck to it? F***ing disgusting.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Just bought this breakfast roll in the shop at terminal 1 at <a href="https://twitter.com/DublinAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DublinAirport</a> <br />Why are there two weird looking insects stuck to it? F**king disgusting. <a href="https://t.co/sIipugNtKL">pic.twitter.com/sIipugNtKL</a></p> — Martin Beanz Warde (@martinbeanz) <a href="https://twitter.com/martinbeanz/status/1130026970413240320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>When asked if he took the roll back to be replaced or refunded, he explained: “I was rushing to get the 9.15 am citylink (bus) to Galway and I was buying it at 9.13am.</p> <p>“I rushed to the bus before opening the packet.”</p> <p>While social media users were disgusted by the discovery, many reacted with humour.</p> <p>“Free extra protein,” one person wrote.</p> <p>Another comment read: “It’s one of your five a day.”</p> <p>A user guessed the bugs ended up on the bagel because “someone used the bread roll to whack the flies dead as they walked along the countertop.”</p> <p>Mr Warde later kidded, saying that he “ate them” as he was on a “protein rich diet.”</p> <p>A spokesperson for the Dublin Airport told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/9127773/tourist-bugs-breakfast-roll-dublin-airport/" target="_blank">The Sun</a> they had apologised for the “unacceptable experience that he had at one of the food outlets here.”</p> <p>“We have raised the issue with the company that operates the outlet in question, and it has also apologised to Mr Warde directly.</p> <p>“The company has confirmed that the issue did not arise within its Dublin Airport outlet, as its bread rolls are sourced externally.</p> <p>“The company is investigating this incident with its supplier and will report back to Mr Warde and to Dublin Airport officials in due course.”</p>

Travel Trouble

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