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Woman "trapped" on a boat for a decade details amazing "escape"

<p>A woman has recalled her turbulent childhood spent "trapped" a boat with her parents, detailing how she made her "escape".</p> <p>Suzanne Heywood was just seven years old when her parents told her she, along with her younger brother Jonathan, would be pulled out of school to go on a three-year voyage around the world. </p> <p>The family of four from the UK set out on their quest to recreate Captain Cook’s infamous third and final voyage around the globe, which ended up taking a decade instead of the promised three years. </p> <p>While her parents thought it was the trip of a lifetime and often described the opportunity as a “privilege”, Suzanne has since compared it to being locked up in prison.</p> <p>Now 55 years old, Suzanne has shared her tale of survival on TikTok, and recalled her 10 years at sea in her tell-all memoir <em>Wavewalker</em>. </p> <p>“My father said we would be back in three years’ time, and that my dog would be waiting for me, and my friends and school and everything would go back to normal,” the author said in a now-viral video. </p> <p>“But in fact, it was almost 10 years before we came back, and I spent that time trapped on a boat, unable to go to school or have normal friendships.” </p> <p>Despite her father assuring her the “trip would be safe”, Suzanne claimed it was “incredibly dangerous”, sharing details of a perilous journey from South Africa to Australia where the boat hit an “enormous storm”. </p> <p>“The waves became bigger and bigger, and finally one crashed over the back of the boat, through the deck and out the side,” she recalled.</p> <p>“I was thrown, a little girl at 7, against the ceiling of the cabin and against the wall, fracturing my skull and breaking my nose. Three days later, we found a tiny little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean where I had multiple head operations without anaesthetic.”</p> <p>In order to get through her "very strange" childhood, Suzanne recalled how she was determined to get an education to live a normal life. </p> <p>“As it became clear my parents had no intentions of going back, I decided I had to educate myself as it was the only lifeline that I had,” she told the hosts of <em>The Morning Show</em>. </p> <p>“The only way to get off this boat was to get an education, it was my only hope to ensure I had a ‘normal life’ for myself one day.”</p> <p>While remote education wasn't an option in 1969, Suzanne enrolled in an Australian correspondence school when she was 13. </p> <p>she began studying in the small cabin of the boat, which she found challenging both practically, and academically as she “had missed a lot of education”.</p> <p>Then, when she was 16, and her brother 15, her parents enrolled the two teenagers into a school in New Zealand while they continued sailing.</p> <p>Despite the gaps in her education, Suzanne  landed a spot at Oxford University, and after saving up money she’d earned working on a farm, Suzanne bought a one-way plane ticket back to the UK.</p> <p>Since going public with her story, which she was inspired to do after the death of her husband in 2018, Suzanne's book instantly became a bestseller, and she continues to work through the trauma caused by her "unstable" childhood. </p> <p>Suzanne's extraordinary tale has captured the hearts of millions, with thousands of online fans hailing her bravery. </p> <p>“<em>Wavewalker</em> is one of the best books I’ve read, I’m so sorry you went through all that,” one person replied, while another said, “Thank you for the this! Your story inspires me and I can change my life no matter when and how.” </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / Suzanne Heywood</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"There's no place like home": Marcia Hines and her amazing cat share sweet message

<p>Australian music icon and <em>Australian Idol</em> judge Marcia Hines recently took to social media to express her heartfelt gratitude to those who supported her during a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/marcia-hines-rushed-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent medical incident</a>. The beloved singer and performer shared a touching message on Instagram, reflecting on the challenges she faced and the overwhelming support she received from healthcare professionals, family, friends and fans – but mostly from her amazing-looking cat, Sistah!</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5AeYisL9Pu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5AeYisL9Pu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Marcia Hines (@themarciahines)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The incident unfolded backstage at Sydney’s Coliseum Theatre just before last Sunday night’s <em>Australian Idol</em> finale. Hines, known for her vibrant presence and insightful critiques on the talent show, collapsed, prompting concerns among the show's crew and audience. As a result, she had to miss the episode, with fellow musician Guy Sebastian stepping in as a guest judge.</p> <p>Following her collapse, Hines was swiftly taken to the hospital, where she received treatment for head injuries, including stitches. Despite the setback, she was able to make a remarkable recovery <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/marcia-hines-returns-as-australian-idol-fans-cry-foul-over-upset-win" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in time to return</a> for the Grand Finale show on Monday night.</p> <p>In her Instagram post, Hines expressed profound gratitude for the exceptional care she received during her hospital stay, particularly praising Brad Ceely and the entire team at Blacktown Hospital.</p> <p>"There’s no place like home….." Hines wrote. "Especially when Sistah is here to greet me 🐾 What an action-packed week ❤️ I’ve experienced so much care and love, and none moreso than the exceptional treatment that Brad Ceely and his entire team at Blacktown Hospital gave me during my stay with them.</p> <p>"We are so fortunate to live in a country with such incredible healthcare, and the amazing facilities we have in our Western Sydney suburbs - wow! I’m so grateful to all of the hospital staff - from the tireless nurses to the wonderful administration staff. A special thanks to all of the staff at Mount Druitt Emergency Department, all of the Ambulance teams who got me safely to-and-from hospitals this weekend, and of course Dr Kit Rowe for stitching me up so nicely after my fall. Ouch lol 🤕Thank you for being you and keeping us all safe 🫶🏾</p> <p>"Thank you also to Kyle, Amy and all the team at @australianidol for your love, and also to my @greaseoztour family who I’ll be seeing soon. Thank you also to my family and friends - you’re always there when I need you most 💝"</p> <p>The response to Hines' message was overwhelmingly positive, with fans and well-wishers flooding the comments section with messages of support, encouragement and excitement for her upcoming projects. Many expressed relief at her recovery and eagerly anticipated her return to the stage, particularly in her role in <em>Grease the Musical</em>. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Amazing money-saving hack hidden in Coles and Woolies Christmas shopping bags

<p>Woolworths and Coles have released specially designed paper bags ahead of the Christmas period, with many praising their multi-purpose usage. </p> <p>The 25 cent bags feature a Christmas design, and are meant to be cut open and reused as wrapping paper for Christmas presents. </p> <p>Shoppers have been sharing their delight at the discovery on social media, with many praising the supermarket giants for encouraging recycling. </p> <p>A member of the North Shore Mums Facebook group shared the revelation, writing, "PSA: the Christmas woolies bags are designed to be cut open and used as wrapping paper."</p> <p>Both Coles and Woolworths bags include cutting lines to help those planning to use them as wrapping this festive season.</p> <p>They added an edit to the post explaining the bags could also be cut into squares around the decorations and used as gift tags.</p> <p>Other alternatives to pricey wrapping paper include tea towels, paper that has been decorated by children in the family or making the most out of reusable gift bags which can be collected and saved for the next occasion.</p> <p>With many families anxious of excess spending during the festive period in the face of the ongoing cost of living crisis, the reusable bags are set to be a welcome hack for those trying to be money conscious this Christmas. </p> <p><em>Image credits: 9Honey</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28px; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p>

Money & Banking

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The Chase star shows off amazing new look for 58th birthday

<p>The Chase Star Mark Labbett, the whiz of game shows, is dazzling everyone with his even slimmer frame – and the excitement is certainly contagious.</p> <p>Delightful new photos, shared by his new girlfriend on social media, continue to showcase his remarkable transformation as he continues his <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">incredible journey.</span></p> <p>In the latest batch of photos and videos, captured during his 58th birthday festivities this week, Mark can be seen relishing a delicious dinner, lovingly prepared by none other than his girlfriend and TV presenter, the wonderful Hayley Palmer, 31.</p> <p>“Bangers and mash for the birthday boy!!” she playfully captions a snapshot of Mark savouring the meal.</p> <p>Although Mark might have initially aimed for a low-key celebration, Palmer was determined to make his day a spectacular one.</p> <p>@markthebeastlabbett trying to keep his birthday low-key … I’m not having it!” she exclaims as he blows out his birthday cake surrounded by gleaming gold balloons.</p> <p>Recent years have witnessed a fantastic transformation in Mark's appearance. Embarking on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle and diet in 2020, he has astonishingly shed over 63kg. And the progress doesn't stop there. This year, he proudly marked his transition from a size 5XL to a 2XL, commemorating the achievement with a confident, shirtless bathroom selfie.</p> <p>In a heartwarming interview on the UK talk show <em>Loose Women</em> earlier this year, Mark divulged his heaviest weight back in 2003 – a staggering 184kg. </p> <p>Through leisurely walks with his loyal Golden Retriever Baloo and the joyful adventures of chasing after his now three-year-old son, Lawrence (whom he shares with his ex-wife, Katie), the kilos began to melt away. A significant shift in his diet also played a pivotal role.</p> <p>“I’m on a high protein diet,” he said on the show. “So eating an awful lot of lean meat, and as much as I love chips and other carbs, I’m having quite a bit less than I used to.”</p> <p>“And it’s sort of become a virtuous cycle. I’m not feeling that hungry, so you eat less, so you lose weight, so you’re not as hungry.”</p> <p>Mark's extraordinary transformation has ignited speculation about surgical interventions, but he has set the record straight with a resounding "no".</p> <p>“I was tempted by the gastric band, but a good friend of mine who’s a GP, said my problem is sugar, I have a sweet tooth,” he continued.</p> <p>“A gastric band is useless for me because sugar metabolises quite quickly, so I’ve done it the old fashioned way by eating a bit less and I’ve tried to go to the gym.”</p> <p>This year has not only seen Mark's inspiring journey but also the blossoming of a beautiful love story. Sharing an enchanting romance with Palmer, they ventured to the United States together for Mark's involvement in the US version of <em>The Chase</em>. Friends for years, their connection bloomed into a whirlwind romance.</p> <p>“It’s still early days but we are both really happy,” she told The Sun. “It’s been such a lovely whirlwind.”</p> <p>Mark Labbett's incredible transformation and joyful love story have us all celebrating his journey to health, happiness and love. Cheers to Mark, his inspiring transformation, and his radiant new romance!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

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“Shocked and amazed”: Neighbours raise over $50,000 for bullied boy

<p dir="ltr">A couple from Texas has helped raise over $55,000 for their young neighbour who was being bullied.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their story began when young Shayden Walker knocked on the door of Brennan Ray and Angell Hammersmith, looking for friends.</p> <p dir="ltr">The conversation was captured on their home’s video doorbell system, as Walker asked if they knew any children between the ages of 11 and 12 because he “needs some friends really bad”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Walker, who approached their house wearing a Jaws t-shirt, explained that some neighbourhood kids had been bullying him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could hear the innocence and vulnerability in his voice,” Ray told DailyMail.com. “All I knew is that I wanted to help the kid.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video has since been viewed on TikTok more than 66 million times, with TikTokers from across the world commenting that they hope he finds some “REAL friends soon” and saying “I have never wanted to hug a kid so bad in my life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ray and Hammersmith decided to start a GoFundMe page for Walker, asking people to “spread kindness for Shayden” and give what they can to help provide for the boy, while encouraging people to “come together and show him he's got some friends.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are raising money to help buy him a gaming system, school clothes and hopefully some amusement park tickets and anything else he may want or need,” the fundraising page reads.</p> <p dir="ltr">In just four days of the fundraising page being online, people from around the world have helped donate more than $55,000AUD to Shayden and his family, with the organisers saying they are “shocked and amazed” at people’s generosity.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many of the donations came with messages for Shayden, saying “You have a friend in me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Walker's stepfather now says Shayden's a “totally different kid” than he was just last week, while the young boy said in a video posted to his father's TikTok page that “Y'all have touched my heart so much, it's just literally to the point where I want to cry.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The family have requested that the donations be turned off on the donations page, saying they are not seeking any money.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many people commented on Shayden’s message, praising his bravery and sending messages of support.</p> <p dir="ltr">One person wrote, “Shayden, you are a strong kid. No one deserves to be bullied or made fun of.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are incredibly brave to be putting yourself out there and actively looking for friends instead of staying in the house.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know you are young, but the best advice I can give you is that you do not need anyone's validation but your own to know your worth. If you love yourself, you will never be alone.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Grant and Chezzi Denyer head up all-star cast in new show

<p> The celebrity cast for Channel 10’s 2023 <em>The Amazing Race Australia</em> season has been revealed, with 11 teams set to take off on a thrilling journey across the globe. </p> <p>Beau Ryan will return as host, overseeing the contestants as they race for victory, and a $100,000 prize to hand to their chosen charity, in a race described as “heading in a new direction”, with twists and turns at every stop along the way.</p> <p>The 11 duos set to compete are bringing a wide range of skill sets to the race, with stars from sports to entertainment, comedy, and music strapping on their running shoes. </p> <p dir="ltr">Grant Denyer and his wife, Chezzi Denyer, are one of those 11 teams, with the pair joking that the whole competition will be more like a holiday from their kids than anything else - though Chezzi added that she’s also looking forward to their daughters seeing her “kick butt” on screen. As for their charity, they’ve selected Lifeline Central West.</p> <p>Emma Watkins and her sister, Hayley Watkins, are excited to spend some time together over the course of their adventure, as well as “meeting the people that we get to see and the different countries” - especially for Hayley, who hasn’t had the opportunity to do a lot of travel. They’ll be racing to raise money for the Leonie Jackson Memorial Fund. </p> <p>Peter Rowsthorn will be racing alongside his daughter, Frankie Rowsthorn, hoping that their humour will win over allies, while promising a barrel of laughs along the way. They’ll be racing for a cause close to their hearts, All Stars for Autism, as Peter explained “my grandson has autism, so we’re doing it for him.”</p> <p>Jana Pittman will be keeping it in the family too, racing with her son Cornelis Rawlinson. The former Olympian is excited to have quality time with Cornelis - the eldest of her six children - and feels honoured to have been asked to participate. Meanwhile, he has other priorities, with his sights firmly set on “the food”. They’ll be competing on behalf of The Royal Hospital for Women.</p> <p>Darren McMullen and his nephew, Tristan Dougan, will be joining the others, and promise a foolproof plan to get them through - even if they aren’t quite able to agree on who’s the brains behind the entire operation. They’ve selected Feel the Magic as their charity, noting that the children involved are “an inspiration for all of us.”</p> <p>Dane Simpson will be joined by his dad, Bow Simpson, as Dane looks to showcase the man who pops up so often throughout his comedy routines, certain that Australians everywhere are going to fall in love with him. They’ll be racing to win the $100,000 for the Dharriwaa Elders Group Incorporated.</p> <p>Alli Simpson and her mum, Angie Simpson, are another team racing to raise funds for a cause that means a lot to their family - Dementia Australia. As Alli explained, “my grandma, my dad's mum Chrissie, has gone down really fast with dementia in the last few years. It's been really difficult for us to watch. We just want to do as much as we can to prevent other families [from] feeling the pain that we do."</p> <p dir="ltr">Bec Judd will have her sister, Kate Twigley, at her side for the journey, bringing their competitive spirit and excitement to do it “together as sisters” to the competition. They’ll be racing on behalf of Impatient Advocacy - A Nicole Cooper Foundation.</p> <p>George Mladenov is no stranger to the world of reality TV competition - though his sister, Pamela Mladenov, may be a fresh face. George is sure they’ll bring drama to the screen, as they race for the Bankstown Women's Health Centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ben Gillies and his wife, Jackie Gillies, are hoping that the race experience will bring them closer, and teach them how to “live in the moment”. Self-confessed competitive souls, they have their sights set on the grand prize, which they hope to bring home to the Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation. </p> <p>And last but not least, Harry Jowsey is bringing his best friend, Teddy Briggs, along for the ride. And while they don’t expect to be “the best at this”, they’ve guaranteed that viewers are in for a fun time with their antics, and hope to bring some money to Beyond Blue with their efforts.</p> <p><em>Images: Ten </em></p>

TV

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6 amazing things you didn’t know your phone could do

<p>Nobody ever bought a shiny brand new smartphone and then studiously read the manual! Maybe it’s just us but unfortunately it means we’ve missed out on the secret but amazing things your smartphone can do. You don't even need to download any apps to do these nifty tricks. Here are some of our favourite ones that we’re sure will impress next time you need them.</p> <p><strong>Taking a screenshot</strong></p> <p>A great trick if you want to share a hilarious text, picture or Facebook post with friends or family.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">iPhones</span> – SImultaneously press (but not hold) the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button (top right of phone). You should hear a shutter click as well as see a white flash. The screenshot will be located on your Camera Roll in photos.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Androids</span> - Hold down the Power button and Volume -down button at the same time for a couple of seconds. Or hold down power button and home icon at the same time. If this doesn’t work, you can hold down the power button until the option to take a screen shot appears.</p> <p><strong>Taking multiple photos at once</strong></p> <p>A life-saver if you are taking pictures of wriggling kids or people who blink exactly when you take the picture (there’s always someone in the group isn’t there?). This little trick lets you take multiple pictures with a single click.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">iPhones</span> – In the camera app, rather than tapping capture button to take photos, hold it down. Your camera will automatically take multiple picture (around 10 pictures a second) until you release the button.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Androids</span> - In the camera app, tap the gear icon and turn on “Burst Shot” settings. Return to your camera app and hold onto the capture button. Or go to camera, select mode, auto and click on burst shots.</p> <p><strong>Change text size</strong></p> <p>If the tiny text on the smartphone is giving you a headache, there’s an easily solution. You can change the settings so all text on your phone is large.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">iPhones</span> - Go to Settings > General > Accessibility and turn on “Larger Text.”</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Androids</span> - Go to Settings > Accessibility > Vision and tap font size and set it to Large.</p> <p><strong>Read to you</strong></p> <p>It really seems like technology can do anything, including programming your smartphone to read to you.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">iPhones</span> - Go to Settings > General > Accessibility and turn on “Speak Selection.” You can even customise the voice that speaks to you choosing from a wide range of accent including Australian. To get your phone to speak to you, highlight text (double-tapping or tapping and holding on to it) and then tap Speak button in the pop-up menu.</p> <p><strong>Turn off music automatically</strong></p> <p>If you are one to listen to music or audiobooks as you drift off to sleep, you can use a timer to turn it off so it doesn’t drain your battery life.  </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">iPhones</span> - Go to the Clock app and tap on "Timer," then "When Timer Ends." From here, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen and select "Stop Playing."</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Androids</span> - Open the music player and go to Settings. Look for "Music auto off" and set it to however long you want the music to play.</p> <p><strong>Search text messages</strong></p> <p>Searching for messages is handy if you are looking for a specific text containing details like addresses, emails or dates.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">iPhones</span> – When you open your Message app, scroll up and a search bar should pop up at the top of all your messages. Type in the phrase you are looking for.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Androids</span> – Open the Message app and then tap on the Menu. A few options will appear and click search. </p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Technology

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Most amazing animal experiences to have when travelling

<p>These are some unbelievable opportunities around the world to get up close (really close) to your favourite wild animals.</p> <p><strong>Monkey business / Viewing</strong></p> <p>The orangutan is Asia’s only great ape and Borneo is one of only two places in the world that they are found. Decades of deforestation have left the Bornean orangutan seriously endangered. At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre 60 to 80 of the great apes live on a 43 square kilometre reserve while 25 orphaned babies are rehabilitated in the nursery. Though they look perfect for cuddling, guests can’t get too close – but you can visit during the two feeding times each day and walk among the boardwalks through the forest while the orangutans swoop from the trees to eat the fruit and sugar cane left on feeding platforms around 20 metres away from you</p> <p><strong>Baby elephant walk / Hands on</strong></p> <p>The Asian elephant is an endangered species and Thailand is home to more Asian elephants than anywhere in the world. For a hands-on experience with these gentle giants, Patara Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai allows you to participate in their day to day caring. There are six residents elephants that are “adopted” by guests for the day and you are trained to approach the elephant, know its temperament, feed and check its health, bathe and brush it in the river, learn how to ride on its neck and communicate through spoken commands.</p> <p><strong>King of the jungle / Interaction</strong></p> <p>You’re generally not encouraged to get up close to really dangerous animals, but at Lion Encounter in Zambia you can walk alongside some of the eight resident lion cubs – with no fence in between. The cubs range from three to 18 months old and will happily walk through the bush with you, pounce and play with each other and, if you’re lucky, even nuzzle in for a pat. Walks are escorted by guides, scouts and lion handlers so you are never in danger. The program is part of a larger breeding program and once lions graduate from this stage they will be removed from human interaction, integrated with a pack and eventually released into the wild.</p> <p><strong>A whale of a time / Interaction</strong></p> <p>The might be called dwarf minke whales but at eight metres long and weighing several tonnes, they are still pretty substantial. Dwarf minkes pass through the Great Barrier Reef each winter and this is the only place in the world that you can snorkel and dive with them. The whales are very inquisitive and an experience will generally involve interacting with two to three whales for around 90 minutes. Very little is known about these huge mammals so guests are often asked to participate in ongoing research programs and record their observations or submit photos to the minke whale database.</p> <p><strong>One for the bucket list / Viewing</strong></p> <p>With around half of Canada’s grizzly population, British Columbia is the best place to see the bears in the wild. A number of lodges have been established inside the Great Bear Rainforest where guests can participate in guided viewing sessions from boats, getting up very close to the action. Bears can be seen fishing for salmon in rivers, feeding on berries or succulents, and (very rarely) napping in the sun. Tours run from May to October, but visit from August onwards for the best chance to see cubs. At around $1,000 per person per night these tours aren’t cheap, but they are certainly unforgettable.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../travel/travel-club/2015/02/unusual-places-you-can-stay/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 of the most unusual places your spend the night</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../travel/travel-club/2015/01/classic-rail-journeys-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">All aboard! Classic rail journeys around the world</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../travel/travel-club/2014/11/worlds-beautiful-landscapes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 of the world’s most beautiful (and surreal) landscapes</a></strong></em></span></p>

Travel Tips

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10 amazing abandoned sites around the world

<p>For every perfectly-manicured tourist attraction around the world, there are scores more that haven’t been touched in years, yet still draw thousands of curious thrill-seekers who aren’t afraid of a bit of dust (and maybe a few ghosts!). Take a look at these incredible abandoned places that are definitely worth a visit – but only if you’re game.</p> <ol start="1"> <li><strong>Chateau Miranda, Belgium</strong> – an imposing castle built in 1866 but abandoned in 1991 after becoming too expensive to maintain.</li> <li><strong>Kolmanskop, Namibia</strong> – a German settlement established in the early 20th century to mine for diamonds, but which has been a ghost town since the ‘50s.</li> <li><strong>Teufelsberg, Germany</strong> – the “Devil’s Mountain” is a manmade hill in Berlin created out of rubble from WWII and home to a former US National Security Agency (NSA) listening station.</li> <li><strong>House-Monument of the Bulgaria Communist Party, Bulgaria</strong> – it looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi film, but in its heyday, this structure was the meeting place of communist leaders.</li> <li><strong>Garnet Ghost Town, USA</strong> – this remote town in Montana was built to house those rushing to the state during the gold rush, but these days, the mines are empty and so are the houses.</li> <li><strong>Ross Island, India</strong> – this British Administrative Centre was abandoned after a serious earthquake in 1941. It now lies in overgrown yet beautiful ruins.</li> <li><strong>Wonderland Amusement Park, China</strong> – construction on Beijing’s answer to Disneyland stopped after land disputes, so all that’s left is the surreal shell to a Disney-esque castle.</li> <li><strong>SS Ayrfield, Australia</strong> – right in the middle of Homebush Bay lies this floating relic of the past, covered in beautiful greenery.</li> <li><strong>Villa Epecuén, Argentina</strong> – from the 1920s to 1985, this Buenos Aires village was a popular tourist destination, after a flood forced both residents and visitors out for good.</li> <li><strong>Gouqi Island, China</strong> – on the banks of the Yangtze River lies this beautiful forgotten fishing village, filled with ivy-covered homes reminiscent of old European towns.</li> </ol> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

International Travel

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15 facts you won’t believe are true

<p>Sometimes we become so jaded that we forget the world is an amazing place.</p> <p>In this list we’ve put together 15 facts you won’t believe are true.</p> <p><strong>To see the full list of amazing facts, scroll down.</strong></p> <p>1. Honey will <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-science-behind-honeys-eternal-shelf-life-1218690/?no-ist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>never go off</strong></span></a>, no matter how long you store it.</p> <p>2. The Turritopsis Nutricula jellyfish is <a href="http://immortal-jellyfish.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>c</strong></span></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://immortal-jellyfish.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">onsidered biologically immortal</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>3. The heart of a blue whale is so big a human could potentially swim through its arteries (of course why you’d want to do so is another matter altogether).</p> <p>4. Yet the throat of a blue whale is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_whale#Description_and_behaviour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>so small</strong></span></a> (comparatively speaking at least) it is physically incapable of swallowing anything bigger than a beach ball. </p> <p>5. For every person on Earth there are <a href="http://www.peta.org/issues/wildlife/dealing-household-guests/ants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>around 1.6 million ants</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>6. An octopus has <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/science-nature/ten-curious-facts-about-octopuses-7625828/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>three hearts</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>7. Feng shui was originally the art of choosing the <a href="http://www.awarenessmag.com/marapr07/ma07_feng_shui.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>best place for a grave</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>8. There are <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085914.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ten times more bacteria</a></strong></span> than cells in the human body.</p> <p>9. Believe it or not, this is what sand looks like under a microscope:</p> <p>10. Oxford University actually <a href="http://thetab.com/uk/oxford/2013/10/20/six-things-oxford-predates-11736" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>predates the Aztec Empire</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>11. No one has <a href="https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&amp;f=5&amp;t=1163790" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>successfully tamed</strong></span></a> an African elephant.</p> <p>12. Catfish have <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/central/2015-07-09/ten-facts-about-fish-that-might-surprise-you/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>27,000 taste buds</strong></span></a> (four times as many as humans). </p> <p>13. Santa Claus <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea#Commemorations_of_Basil" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>is called Basil</strong></span></a> in Cyprus.</p> <p>14. Scientists have suggested <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24477667" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>rain is made</strong></span></a> from diamonds on Saturn and Jupiter.</p> <p>15. The image on the left is a candle burning on Earth, and the image on the right is a candle burning in a zero gravity environment. What a difference! </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="../news/news/2016/03/couple-give-60-million-lottery-away/"><strong>Couple gives $60 million lottery win away</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="../news/news/2016/03/find-letter-t-image-puzzle/"><strong>Can you find the letter “T” in this image?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="../news/news/2016/03/stunning-images-antarctica-remote-beauty/"><strong>Stunning images of Antarctica’s remote beauty</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

News

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10 amazing home cleaning tips everyone should know

<p>Do you ever find that you can’t get certain items in your home quite as shiny-clean as you would like them? Try some of our tips below and then sit back and admire your handiwork.</p> <p>1. Clean your oven racks in the laundry tub or bath. Add a cup of NapiSan while you fill the tub with hot water. Leave the racks to soak for two hours and the grease should wipe off easily.</p> <p>2. Remove sticky labels from jars, windows or mirrors by pouring eucalyptus oil onto a cloth and wiping gently over the area.</p> <p>3. Cleaning your dishwasher is quick and easy. After unloading the dishwasher, place a mug of white vinegar upright in the top rack and another one in the bottom rack. Run on a hot wash. It should then be easy to remove any grease or grime with a clean cloth.</p> <p>4. Instead of having to clean the tops of your cupboards in the kitchen, place some newspaper on the top. Once a month, change the paper and give the top of the cupboards a quick wipe down.</p> <p>5. If you’ve got a big area to vacuum, plug it into an extension lead. It saves time plugging in and re-plugging.</p> <p>6. For a super shiny sink, boil a full kettle and then spray the entire sink with white vinegar in a spray bottle. Sprinkle over some baking soda and leave for ten minutes. Give the sink a good scrub (get an old toothbrush out if you need to get into tricky spots) and then pour over the boiled water. Spray with more vinegar and get any last bits of grime off. Dry off the sink with an old tea towel and then buff the sink with some olive oil on a rag.</p> <p>7. If you break a glass, use Blu Tack to pick up the tiny shards. Simply throw away the Blu Tack when finished.</p> <p>8. After using your blender, rinse it out and pour in a capful of washing up liquid and a cup of warm water. Place the lid back on (very important!) and turn on for around 15 seconds. Rinse well under warm water and the majority of the mess will be gone.</p> <p>9. To clean your microwave, soak a sponge in warm water and place in the microwave for one minute. The steam will make it easy to wipe the inside of the microwave clean.</p> <p>10. If your iron needs a bit of a clean, pop some toothpaste on an old toothbrush and give it a scrub before wiping clean with a damp cloth.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Home & Garden

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"She's been amazing": The friendship helping Johnny Ruffo through cancer treatment

<p dir="ltr">Johnny Ruffo said he owes everything to his girlfriend Tahnee Sims for constantly being by his side as he battles through his terminal brain cancer. </p> <p dir="ltr">But behind-the-scenes is one more person that the former <em>Home and Away</em> star has to thank for her support.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts, has also been a rock in Johnny’s life as he pushes through his chemotherapy. </p> <p dir="ltr">"She's been amazing," the former <em>X-Factor</em> star told TV Week.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She constantly checks in and asks how I'm doing. She always wants to go out for dinner.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I can't stress enough how people like her help get through tough times. She's just a wonderful person. Having people like that to say 'Oh, how are you feeling this week?' and little sweet things like that make all the difference. It's a great support network."</p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to Tahnee, Johnny admits that he wouldn’t have been able to go through his diagnosis without her. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Having Tahnee by my side every step of the way, literally and metaphorically, she's incredible. I couldn't do it without her,” he previously said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She does it just as hard as I do. She's having to deal with all the doctors and what they're saying, and then she has to deal with me once we get home as well.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The singer is going through chemotherapy once every three weeks and said he wanted to give gave as the holiday season creeps up. </p> <p dir="ltr">Ruffo partnered with Amazon Australia to help twelve superhero children from the Starlight Children’s Foundation to become official toy testers for the festive season.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It brings such joy to me. It's a privilege to be able to know that you are helping them forget about everything that they're going through," he said in the Starlight Children's Foundation campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I feel like I get as much out of it as the kids. It's quite cathartic for me to be able to bring joy to these children who are somewhat in a similar position."</p> <p dir="ltr">The 34-year-old was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017 after struggling with multiple headaches.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ruffo then announced in 2019 that he was in remission, but by November 2020 the cancer had returned, before confirming in 2022 that his illness is terminal.</p> <p dir="ltr">He has also recently released a memoir called No Finish Line, dedicated to his girlfriend, in which he details his experiences recording music, acting, his family and loved ones.</p> <p dir="ltr">The title, he explains, is that “it wasn’t the end”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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7 amazing benefits of daily reading

<p>If you haven’t picked up a book in a while, here are seven reasons why you should.</p> <p><strong>1. It reduces stress</strong> – There’s nothing like a good novel to distract yourself from whatever worries you have in your life. Reading allows you to exit your own conscious stream and enter the mind of the narrator – because doesn’t want a break from their own head once in a while?</p> <p><strong>2. It stimulates your mind</strong> – You know the old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it” and this also applies to our minds. Reading keeps the brain engaged, which in turn can help to deter the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. As you read, you also gain knowledge and indirect experience which can aid a reader in the future.</p> <p><strong>3. It increases empathy</strong> – Reading helps to increase one’s empathetic capacity for the same reason it reduces stress: it allows you to exit your mind and experience the emotions of others. This allows a frequent reader to understand the motives and thoughts of others, making them more empathetic in every day social interactions.</p> <p><strong>4. It helps your memory</strong> – When you read, the mind is made to remember new information in the form of plots, names, and characters. In remembering these facts, we strengthen the brain’s short-term memory and reinforce our existing recollections.</p> <p><strong>5. It can help you sleep</strong> – While staring at your lit phone screen can actually make it harder to go to sleep, reading can help. Nightly reading creates a routine that indicates to the body that it’s soon time to go to bed. In addition, reading’s de-stressing abilities can help to quiet the mind for an easier time dozing off. </p> <p><strong>6. It improves your vocabulary</strong> – When you read regularly, you vastly increase the words that your mind is exposed to. In this way, you improve your vocabulary, which in turn can improve eloquence, and, as such, can even help to improve your self-confidence.</p> <p><strong>7. It improves your writing skills –</strong> When you are exposed to any author’s literature for a prolonged period of time, their writing style will inevitably influence your own writing skills. Add to this the induction of new vocabulary, and it’s no stretch that frequent readers make better writers.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Books

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The secret to taking the most amazing photos you’ve ever shot

<p>If you are an aspiring photographer you may have heard of RAW. It is a common term bandied in digital photography, but what is often not explained is why it is important and what it means for your images. We sort out fact from fiction so you can see what RAW can do for your photographs.</p> <p><strong>What is RAW?</strong></p> <p>RAW is a file format comparable to a negative in the digital world. As we know from the time before we all went digital, negatives possess all the necessary information to create a photo. When you use RAW, you capture your images like a negative – meaning the image you capture in not yet processed. This is different to shooting in the common JPEG format where the camera processes and compresses the image for you. Information is lost in the JPEG process, which results in a lower-quality image that is harder to edit. For professionals, using RAW is preferable as you can decide how you want to edit a photo and thus produce what you had in mind, rather than letting the camera decide for you.</p> <p><strong>Why is it good?</strong></p> <p>As the RAW format provides you with the most information possible when capturing an image, the quality of the photograph is going to be higher and better than any other format. The greatest benefit, however, lies in the editing process. As no information has been processed or compressed, you will be able to correct problems you see in your photos – this would not be possible if shot in JPEG format. With RAW capture you also have control over the white balance, contrast, highlights, shadows, colours and saturation. You can easily correct both over- or under-exposed images without a reduction in quality, which is particularly useful if you shoot under difficult lighting circumstances like at night-time. You can also adjust the white balance of photos which helps you achieve the proper colour balance, crucial in creating great photos.</p> <p><strong>What are the downsides?</strong></p> <div> <p>RAW is the best option for photographers who want to take control over their images but as so much information is captured in the image; the file size is much larger than its JPEG relative which could mean complications with storing your images. If you are shooting a lot of images with little need to edit then RAW format is not necessarily for you. However, if you are looking to take your photography to the next level then you should learn to start shooting like the professional do: with RAW capture. As any professional will tell you, RAW is one of the best tools for a photographer. The editing capabilities in RAW far outweigh any other form and creating great photos is just as much about editing as it is about shooting the perfect picture. And if you are aspiring to take your photography further, looking into a photography course to develop your skills and techniques could be beneficial.</p> </div> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Mind

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Readers respond: What's the most amazing place in nature you've been?

<p>We asked our well-travellers readers what the most beautiful place they've seen is, and we received responses from all over the globe. </p> <p>Across every continent, here are the most amazing places in nature you have ever seen. </p> <p><strong>Barbara Timms</strong> - The edge of the world in the desert in Saudi Arabia.</p> <p><strong>Julie Condran</strong> - I haven't travelled much, particularly overseas, but these are a few of my favourite memories: Grand Canyon, Niagara falls, Driving The Rockies, Ayres Rock, Horizontal Falls and Ka'a'awa valley Hawaii.</p> <p><strong>Lachelle Stewart</strong> - The Great Barrier Reef off northern Australia, the Montgomery reef off the Kimberly coast in Western Australia, the Grand Canyon in Arizona USA and the Horizontal falls off WA.</p> <p><strong>Jen Wettern</strong> - I think Uluṟu struck me as the most amazing. There is just something very mystical Australia’s belly button. It just appears out of the desert.</p> <p><strong>Rhoda Kleinsmith</strong> - Grand Canyon, Pyramids in Egyptian desert at night, northern point of Africa in Morocco.</p> <p><strong>Keralie Stack</strong> - Karajini National park WA. All Australians and visitors need to go. Great gorges to explore with water falls, colourful gorges just amazing country. Off the main roads but worth the trip.</p> <p><strong>Les Connolly</strong> - Haven’t been to many places outside of mainland Australia but Tasmania, as a whole, is absolutely gorgeous.</p> <p><strong>Martin Hession</strong> - Did a 14 day raft trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon - so awesome!</p> <p><strong>Fay Valerius</strong> - The great wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors are fabulous.</p> <p><strong>Virginia Elkins</strong> - The Dead Sea, Clingman's Dome, Cliff Dwellings, Multnomah Falls, so many beautiful places.</p> <p><strong>Lyn Lees</strong> - Alaska! Hands down! Stunning!</p> <p><strong>Colleen Petrucci</strong> - Just recently Golden Gate in South Africa - breathtakingly beautiful.</p> <p><strong>Marilyn Cheong</strong> - Cappadocia in Turkey. Something very mystical about this place.</p> <p><strong>Kaye Findlay</strong> - The Great Australian Bight.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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Two amazing new stamps for QEII's jubilee

<p>To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's historic platinum Jubilee, two new postage stamps featuring Her Majesty have been released in Australia to honour the longevity of her extraordinary 70-year reign.</p> <p>The designs feature the colour platinum, in recognition of the Jubilee. The first of the two stamps will feature a portrait of the Queen from 1962 and costs $1.10.</p> <p>The photo was taken by Dorothy Wilding, the first woman appointed as official royal photographer. Images from the photo shoot helped to create the Queen's likeness on new coins, banknotes and stamps, including in Australia, to mark her Coronation.</p> <p>The Queen is wearing the St Edwards Crown, the most important and sacred of all crowns. It was worn at the Queen's coronation on the 2nd of June, 1953 and the next person who will wear the crown is Prince Charles, as heir to the throne.</p> <p>A photograph of the Queen from 2019 is the design for the second postage stamp, taken during an event to mark the centenary of British Airways in London. This one is $3.50 and will be used for international mail.</p> <p>The Queen wears blue and a diamond and turquoise brooch, once owned by the Queen's grandmother, Queen Mary. The brooch was a wedding gift from Queen Mary's in-laws, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.</p> <p>"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the most featured person on Australian stamps, and we were the first postal authority in the Commonwealth to produce a stamp for the Queen's Birthday each year," Australia Post Group Philatelic Manager Michael Zsolt said in a statement.</p> <p>Australia Post have previously released stamps to commemorate the Queen's golden and diamond jubilees.</p> <p><em>Images: Australia Post </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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William and Kate stun fans with "amazing" scuba dive

<p>Prince William and Kate Middleton have left their fans speechless with their latest "amazing" video from their Caribbean tour. </p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to Instagram to share a video of them scuba diving in Belize to investigate the second largest barrier reef in the world. </p> <p>Their trip, which is in honour fo the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year, has seen the royal couple travel to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas. </p> <p>In their Instagram video, Kate and William are seen signalling "OK" to each other as they dive below the water. </p> <p>“Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world,” the duo captioned their video on Instagram.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cbaf5RkFuwF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cbaf5RkFuwF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“While the effects of climate change are evident, the Government of Belize and communities across the country deserve huge recognition for their efforts to restore this incredible marine environment - with a commitment to protect 30 per cent of it by 2030.“</p> <p>"On Sunday, we were lucky enough to spend time diving at South Water Caye, directly above the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef."</p> <p>"It was a privilege to see for ourselves the world-leading ocean conservation work being done here."</p> <p>In their video, the royal couple said it was clear to see how much the people of Belize value their environment. </p> <p>Fans were gobsmacked by the candid video with many declaring it “amazing”.</p> <p>“No words!” one fan wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>“Is there nothing these two can’t do,” another added. “Seriously impressed.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @dukeandduchessofcambridge</em></p>

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"He was my lifeline": Julie Bishop's amazing Warnie rescue story

<p>Julie Bishop has fondly reflected on a tense situation she previously found herself in while serving as Australia’s Foreign Minister.</p> <p>She revealed how her loose connection to Shane Warne helped her negotiate with a gang in Zimbabwe.</p> <p>Speaking on The Project, Bishop praised Warne as a “reflection of the great Aussie character” and a “loveable larrikin” who captured the hearts of millions.</p> <p>“I remember years ago I was an electoral observer in Zimbabwe during a terrible time in their history and President Mugabe was standing for election and we were in the mountains,” she said.</p> <p>“It was the most rural, isolated part of Zimbabwe and there were some war veterans that had taken over a commercial farm and it was pretty scary but I had to interview them about the election and the leader of this gang.</p> <p>“They were kind of like bikies and no teeth and everything and chains around their neck and I was asking them how they would vote in the upcoming election and the leader, he was glaring at me and he said, you’re British and I thought, here is my moment and I said, no, I’m Australian, and he looked at me and the others and said, ‘Shane Warne!’”.</p> <p>Bishop said the connection to Shane Warne eased the waters in the otherwise tense situation, admitting she “never been so relieved to hear Shane Warne‘s name as I was then”.</p> <p>“He was my lifeline and apparently Warnie had played in Zimbabwe during the 90s and everybody there just fell in love with the great man,” he said.</p> <p>“So his impact is way beyond Australia and I found time and time again that people would raise Shane Warne as part of the great Australian character."</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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