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"Sexy Santas" cause outrage at Seven staff meeting

<p>Channel 7 has come under fire after footage of a routine staff meeting featured scantily clad dancers dressed as Santa. </p> <p>The meeting of Seven Network parent company Seven West Media in Perth was held on Friday to introduce a series of new hires and appointments, while deputy news director Ray Kuka also discussed upcoming programming for the rest of the year. </p> <p>As part of the announcement, Kuka spoke of Perth’s annual Christmas Pageant on December 7th, when Mariah Carey’s <em>All I Want for Christmas</em> started playing and a group of female dancers wearing Santa hats and short red dresses appeared and started dancing. </p> <p>Female staff who watched on were said to have been "dumbstruck and horrified" by the bizarre scene, with <em><a href="https://www.afr.com/rear-window/stokes-woke-regime-comes-with-sexy-surprise-20240825-p5k54h" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian Financial Review</a></em> claiming many likened the dancers to "sl*tty elves". </p> <p>A photo of the event was shared online and drew heavy criticism, as one worker shared that the performance prompted a mass walk out of outraged staffers. </p> <p>“OMG – if they thought that was even slightly appropriate given everything we’ve found out about them, the cultural makeup of that organisation is badly broken,” one person wrote online. </p> <p>“That will help fix the culture issues which have been uncovered.”</p> <p>A spokesman for Seven West Media defended the dancers, explaining that they were part of the Christmas Pageant, which is a “Perth institution”.</p> <p>The footage of the meeting comes as Seven faces a series of internal challenges as they fight allegations of being a "toxic" workplace. </p> <p>Ryan Stokes, the managing director of Seven Group Holdings Ltd, recently called inappropriate behaviour in media an "industry-wide problem".</p> <p>Stokes said it was "disappointing that there is a perception [that] inappropriate behaviour" was tolerated at Seven because "we don't tolerate any inappropriate behaviour".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven West Media</em></p>

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People who are bad with numbers often find it harder to make ends meet – even if they are not poor

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wandi-bruine-de-bruin-275600">Wändi Bruine de Bruin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-slovic-359838">Paul Slovic</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-oregon-811">University of Oregon</a></em></p> <h2>The big idea</h2> <p>People who are bad with numbers are more likely to experience financial difficulties than people who are good with numbers. That’s according to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260378">our analyses</a> of the <a href="https://wrp.lrfoundation.org.uk/explore-the-poll">Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll</a>.</p> <p>In this World Risk Poll, people from 141 countries were asked if 10% was bigger than, smaller than or the same as 1 out of 10. Participants were said to be bad with numbers if they did not provide the correct answer – which is that 10% is the same as 1 out of 10. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260378">Our analyses</a> found that people who answered incorrectly are often among the poorest in their country. Prior studies in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2010.02394.x">United States</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2007.00052.x">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2016.02.011">the Netherlands</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12294">Peru</a> had also found that people who are bad with numbers are financially worse off. But <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260378">our analyses of the World Risk Poll</a> further showed that people who are bad with numbers find it harder to make ends meet, even if they are not poor.</p> <p>When we say that they found it harder to make ends meet, we mean that they reported on the poll that they found it difficult or very difficult to live on their current income, as opposed to living comfortably or getting by on their current income.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260378">Our analyses</a> also indicate that staying in school longer is related to better number ability. People with a high school degree tend to be better with numbers than people without a high school degree. And college graduates do even better. But even among college graduates there are people who are bad with numbers – and they struggle more financially.</p> <p><iframe id="yOIiX" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/yOIiX/3/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p>Of course, being good with numbers is not going to help you stretch your budget if you are very poor. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260378">We found</a> that the relationship between number ability and struggling to make ends meet holds across the world, except in low-income countries like Ethiopia, Somalia and Rwanda.</p> <p><iframe id="RejA1" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/RejA1/8/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>The ability to understand and use numbers is also called <a href="http://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190861094.001.0001">numeracy</a>. Numeracy is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1787/1f029d8f-en">central to modern adult life</a> because numbers are everywhere.</p> <p>A lot of well-paying jobs involve working with numbers. People who are bad with numbers often perform worse in these jobs, including <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.12873">banking</a>. It can therefore be hard for people who are bad with numbers to <a href="http://www.doi.org/10.1108/00400919710164125">find employment and progress in their jobs</a>.</p> <p>People who are bad with numbers are less likely <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/116/39/19386.short">to make good financial decisions</a>. Individuals who can’t compute how interest compounds over time <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2009.01518.x">save the least and borrow the most</a>. People with poor numerical skills are also more likely <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.41.3.586">to take on high-cost debt</a>. If you’re bad with numbers, it is hard to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474747215000232">recognize</a> that paying the US$30 minimum payment on a credit card with a $3,000 balance and an annual percentage rate of 12% means it will never be paid off.</p> <h2>What still isn’t known</h2> <p>It is clear that people who are bad with numbers also tend to struggle financially. But we still need to explore whether teaching people math will help them to avoid financial problems.</p> <h2>What’s next</h2> <p>In her book “<a href="http://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190861094.001.0001">Innumeracy in the Wild</a>,” Ellen Peters, director of the Center for Science Communication Research at the University of Oregon, suggests that it is important for students to take math classes. American high school students who had to <a href="https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.51.3.0113-5410R1">take more math courses</a> than were previously required had better financial outcomes later in life, such as avoiding bankruptcy and foreclosures.</p> <p>Successfully teaching numeracy also means helping students gain confidence in using numbers. People with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1903126116">low numerical confidence</a> experience bad financial outcomes, such as a foreclosure notice, independent of their numeric ability. This is because they may not even try to take on complex financial decisions.</p> <p>Numerical confidence can be boosted in different ways. Among American <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.41.3.586">elementary school children</a> who were bad with numbers, setting achievable goals led to better numerical confidence and performance. Among American <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180674">undergraduate students</a>, a writing exercise that affirmed their positive values improved their numerical confidence and performance.</p> <p>Other important next steps are to find out whether training in numeracy can also be provided to adults, and whether training in numeracy improves the financial outcomes of people who do not live in high-income countries.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172272/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wandi-bruine-de-bruin-275600"><em>Wändi Bruine de Bruin</em></a><em>, Professor of Public Policy, Psychology and Behavioral Science, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-slovic-359838">Paul Slovic</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-oregon-811">University of Oregon</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-who-are-bad-with-numbers-often-find-it-harder-to-make-ends-meet-even-if-they-are-not-poor-172272">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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Meet the 65-year-old bodybuilder committed to defying stereotypes

<div title="Page 1"> <div> <div> <div title="Page 1"> <div> <div> <div> <div title="Page 1"> <div> <div> <div title="Page 1"> <div> <div> <p>The adage that "age is just a number" could have been written for Jan Herdman, 65. </p> </div> </div> </div> <p>Jan has well and truly shattered the age stereotypes into smithereens by dominating the bodybuilding champions and winning 'Mrs Supranational Australia'. </p> <p>Jan Herdman is not your average 65-year-old. Jan is in fact: 65 years young, she's breaking barriers, shattering stereotypes, and proving that age is merely a number.</p> <p>In a remarkable display of strength, determination, and sheer grit, Jan has just received 1st place in the ICN Australia Bodybuilding Championship (awarded on May 4th 2024) in the over 60s category, along with securing 2nd place in the over 40s category and 3rd place in the ‘Novice Figures’ category.</p> <p>Jan’s triumphs don't end there; she also seized the prestigious title of ‘Mrs Supranational’ in the ‘Mrs of Australia Pageant’, held in Sydney in April 2024.</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>Jan's journey is not just about winning titles; it's about inspiring others to redefine their perceptions of aging. Embarking on her strength training journey to support others, and herself, in defeating age-related illnesses, Jan exemplifies the essence of ageing gracefully and living a fulfilling life at any age.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>"I refuse to let age define me," says Jan Herdman. "Every day is an opportunity to challenge myself, push my limits, and inspire others to realise their full potential. Age should never be a barrier to pursuing your dreams."</p> <p>Jan's story is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the power of the human spirit. Her relentless pursuit of excellence serves as a beacon of inspiration to women and men worldwide, encouraging them to embrace life's challenges with courage and tenacity.</p> <p>Jan actively leans into her credo; Having been through her own chronic health challenges and needing to restart life out on her own, Jan Herdman has become a powerhouse of inspiration and transformation to her fast-growing community.</p> <p>Jan watched her mother become frail and incapable of taking care of herself, and that set Jan off on a mission to change the trajectory of her own future and turn her health and life around. Jan’s story is one of total transformation in all aspects of her life.</p> <p>Jan is now a sought-after commentator on living a life with vitality at any age. Jan is an advocate for strength training as the starting point for a total life transformation to prevent age-related illnesses and mobility issues.</p> <p>Through popular demand Jan has created her own program coined The Ageless MethodTM which captures her proven model of transformation, for all levels at any age.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="page" title="Page 2"> <div class="layoutArea"> <div class="column"> <p>The 12 Week ‘Transformer Program’ has just kicked off on 19th June 2024, and will recommence on 11 September 2024.</p> <p>The 6 Week ‘Kickstarter Program’ starts on 2 July 2024, then 10 September 2024, then 29 October 2024.</p> <p>Jan also offers on demand 1:1 coaching, as needed. More info here across all offerings here: <a href="https://www.ageless-transformations.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ageless-transformations.com</a></p> <p><em>Image credits: Supplied</em></p> <pre> </pre> </div> </div> </div>

Body

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Battling to make ends meet? Financial planning expert offers 5 tips on how to build your budget

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bomikazi-zeka-680577">Bomikazi Zeka</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a></em></p> <p>Every day seems to bring new headlines about rising costs. <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/nigerias-big-unions-call-indefinite-strike-over-fuel-prices-and-the-cost-of-living-20230926">In Nigeria</a>, unions are threatening to strike amid soaring fuel prices; the country’s inflation rate <a href="https://www.cbn.gov.ng/rates/inflrates.asp">hit 25%</a> in August. The amount it costs to fill a food basket in South Africa <a href="https://pmbejd.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PMBEJD_Key-Data_September-2023_27092023.pdf">keeps climbing</a>. Ghanaians <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/multi-day-protests-over-economic-crisis-grip-ghanas-capital-2023-09-23/">took to the streets</a> of Accra in late September to protest about the cost of living.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/retail-distribution/consumer-behavior-trends-state-of-the-consumer-tracker.html">recent study by the audit and consulting firm Deloitte</a> found that 75% of South Africans were concerned that the prices for everyday purchases would continue to increase, while 80% of consumers across all income groups expected the prices of groceries, household utilities and fuel to rise.</p> <p>This stark reality means budgeting may be more necessary than ever.</p> <p>If you don’t know how to create a budget, then you shouldn’t feel bad – most adults aren’t taught how to create one. And most people don’t budget, because they see it as restrictive or unsustainable. But it need not be: once you appreciate that a budget can work for you, it can be a financially empowering exercise. It’s a cornerstone of financial planning because it ensures you are living within your means and helps you remain in financial control.</p> <p>As a financial planning academic, I focus in <a href="https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/persons/bomikazi-zeka/publications/">my research</a> on improving financial wellbeing and promoting savings behaviours through interventions such as budgeting. Here are five guidelines for creating a budget.</p> <h2>1. Apps vs spreadsheet</h2> <p>A good place to start is to choose the format of how you’re going to budget. There are several <a href="https://www.sanlamreality.co.za/wealth-sense/setting-up-a-family-budget-that-works/">online templates</a> and apps you can use for budgeting. For instance, <a href="https://www.22seven.com/">22Seven</a> has gained popularity in South Africa due to its compatibility with several financial institutions, including the country’s big five banks. Similarly, <a href="https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/kenya/2021-01-25-budgeting-using-mint-app/">Mint</a> is a popular budgeting tool that is used in Kenya and Nigeria.</p> <p>If you prefer to put pen to paper, some online templates come with <a href="https://www.wonga.co.za/blog/free-budget-template">free printable budgets</a>. Creating your own <a href="https://create.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/articles/how-to-make-excel-budget">Excel spreadsheet</a> is an equally good approach.</p> <p>What matters most is using a tool that you can commit to.</p> <h2>2. Itemising your income and expenses</h2> <p>A budget essentially shows how much you’re spending in relation to how much you’re earning. So once you have selected your budgeting tool, you need to fill in your income and itemise how much you’re spending on each expense in a month. A budget can be considered a cashflow statement because it allows you to track money coming in (income) and money going out (expenses).</p> <p>If you are living within your means, your budget should indicate a surplus – more cash inflows than cash outflows. So budgeting provides an accurate account of your short-term financial position.</p> <h2>3. A realistic account of expenses</h2> <p>When you look at your financial statements, fill your expenses into your budget honestly and accurately. Don’t cheat! Since everyone’s financial situation is different, your budget will also be unique.</p> <p>Even though there is no one-size-fits-all approach to budgeting, it should still consider all of your expenses (both regular and intermittent). A general rule of thumb is that if it’s deducted from your account then you should treat it as an expense. This includes payments for housing, medical insurance, fuel, dining out, credit card repayments and even bank fees.</p> <h2>4. Save first, spend later</h2> <p>Now you’ve seen how much you’re spending. Either it’s too much – and you can plan where to cut back – or you have savings at the end of the month.</p> <p>When compiling your budget it’s important to demarcate how much will be in the form of savings. What’s more important is getting into the habit of saving before you spend instead of saving after spending. If you spend first then you’ve deprived yourself of the opportunity to save for a rainy day.</p> <p>Furthermore, <a href="https://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/10231/1/Microsoft_Word_-_submitted_version_3rd_June_201.pdf">research</a> has shown that getting into the habit of saving has a transgenerational effect: it can be considered a cultural value that is passed on from one generation to another. So think of saving as paying yourself first. Once you have done so, you won’t feel guilty for treating yourself because you’ve already done the financially responsible thing by putting your savings aside.</p> <h2>5. Considering assets and liabilities</h2> <p>Once you’ve become comfortable with consistently budgeting, you can take it up a notch by including your assets (everything you own with an economic value) and liabilities (everything you owe) to determine your overall financial position.</p> <p>You can get a clearer picture of your overall financial wellbeing by compiling a list of all your assets, for example your savings and <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/home_equity.asp">home equity</a>, in relation to liabilities (such as bank loans). Knowing your long-term financial position can indicate how financially resilient or vulnerable you are. In the event of a financial emergency, you will know which resources you can draw upon to meet an unexpected expense.</p> <p>By creating a budget (and sticking to it), you can protect yourself and your household from financial shocks. Consider the alternative. Imagine you haven’t budgeted and set savings aside. If a financial emergency were to arise, your next best bet would be to borrow the funds you need. You’d have to come up with a plan to repay what you’d borrowed while also building your savings.</p> <h2>A healthy habit</h2> <p>Getting into the habit of budgeting isn’t easy, especially if you haven’t done it before or you’re intimidated by the process. But, as the expression goes, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Think of budgeting as taking a small but important step towards reclaiming control over your finances and improving your financial well-being.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/214861/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bomikazi-zeka-680577">Bomikazi Zeka</a>, Assistant Professor in Finance and Financial Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/battling-to-make-ends-meet-financial-planning-expert-offers-5-tips-on-how-to-build-your-budget-214861">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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Meet the grandmothers pushing boundaries with their New Year's resolutions

<p>Each year, millions of people around the world decide it is their year to try new things and push boundaries. </p> <p>For many, these New Year's resolutions include getting fit and eating healthy, travelling, or saving money for a big purchase. </p> <p>But for these Aussie seniors, they are pushing their resolutions even further, taking part in activities that will keep them young. </p> <p>For Gold Coast great-grandmother Hilda Wren, she knew she wanted to make a change after she had never been on a plane before. </p> <p>So, naturally, she decided to make her first trip in a plane one to remember, by jumping out of the aircraft and skydiving over the coast. </p> <p>"I've done sort of kickboxing, tennis, dancing, everything and I thought skydiving would be something different," Hilda told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/rise-of-granfluencers-and-why-more-aussies-over-60-are-living-their-best-life/741432b9-4e3d-4831-a1c0-1134d66ac949" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Today</em></a>.</p> <p>"The grandkids think I'm absolutely marvellous."</p> <p>The 90-year-old admitted her first skydive was a little nerve-wracking, but after going up in the plane and jumping out another two times, she admitted it gets easier each time. </p> <p>"If anybody wants to do something different, do it while you can," she said.</p> <p>"I mean, I'm 90 now, and I'm glad I've done it three times - if I could do it again, I would."</p> <p>Melbourne pensioners Carmen and Ginger took up interesting resolutions last year, and this year have decided to try out pole dancing. </p> <p>"Take the opportunity to embrace whatever you want to embrace, more of what you love," Carmen said. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Today </em></p>

Retirement Life

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"Till we meet again": Aussie cricketer's heartbreaking family news

<p>Australian cricketer Fawad Ahmed has shared devastating news about his four-month-old baby. </p> <p>The cricketer and his wife welcomed their second child in June, but the baby boy quickly developed a range of health issues. </p> <p>The baby stayed at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne to undergo numerous tests in an effort to diagnose why he was sick.</p> <p>On Monday, Ahmed shared the heartbreaking news that his son had tragically died. </p> <p>“Till we meet again my little angel,” he wrote on social media.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">انااللہ وانا الیہ راجعو ن<br />Till we meet again my little angel 💔,<br />Unfortunately after a long struggle my little man has lost the painful &amp; tough fight, I believe you are in a better place,we will miss you so much💔,<br />I hope no one ever goes through this pain,<br />Request for Prayers 🤲🏽 <a href="https://t.co/cpAn29Wvnf">pic.twitter.com/cpAn29Wvnf</a></p> <p>— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23) <a href="https://twitter.com/bachaji23/status/1716364730909270094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Unfortunately after a long struggle my little man has lost the painful and tough fight."</p> <p>“I believe you are in a better place, we will miss you so much. ‎I hope no one ever goes through this pain.”</p> <p>Ahmed, who joined the Australian cricket team after leaving his native Pakistan, recently opened up about his son’s heath battles.</p> <p>“It’s a tough time, to be honest,” the 41-year-old told the <a title="www.cricket.com.au" href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3682046/fawad-ahmed-family-baby-child-son-hospital-daughter-melbourne-islam-playing-future-coaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cricket</em> <em>Australia</em> <em>website</em></a> last month.</p> <p>“We don’t know what’s going to happen. Neither do the doctors. It’s pretty bad. You want to know. This is something that is aching the heart.”</p> <p>“It’s something that’s so unexpected,” Ahmed said.</p> <p>“You’re excited, you’re happy about the birth of your child, and then suddenly you go to some dark places, and you don’t know what’s going to happen."</p> <p>“Our lives have completely changed. Every morning, we just wake up and get ready to go to the hospital. Then in the evening, we come back. That’s it, nothing else.”</p> <p>Ahmed also opened up about the struggle of looking after his family, especially his three-year-old daughter, during the hardship.</p> <p>“We don’t want to lose her while looking after the little fella. But it’s winter, such less time to go out … I don’t want her to get sick,” the cricketer said.</p> <p>“So we are trying, but it’s getting harder. This afternoon she just wanted to play outside, play soccer with me, but it was cold and windy, and we had to go to the hospital. She was so upset.</p> <p>“I love her so much. She’s an absolute legend. She loves me as well, and it’s such a good feeling.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / X (Twitter)</em></p> <div class="media image portrait side-by-side" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 338.492645px; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 14.099264px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

Caring

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Queen Camilla meets . . . Princess Margaret?!

<p>In a collision of regal proportions, the world witnessed an unforgettable convergence of the fictitious and the real, as the one and only Helena Bonham Carter, famous for her portrayal of the indomitable Princess Margaret in seasons three and four of <em>The Crown</em>, found herself in the splendid company of none other than the Queen Consort herself, Camilla, at Clarence House.</p> <p>The rendezvous occurred at a glitzy reception held to celebrate 30 years of the Forward Arts Foundation. The Foundation, on a mission to spread the love of poetry throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, decided to throw this soiree just as London was gearing up for another artistic extravaganza: Frieze Week. Clearly, this was a battle for the city's cultural heart, and poetry had the honour of setting the stage.</p> <p>The highlight of the evening, however, was the majestic meeting of the minds between Bonham Carter and the Queen Consort. As they locked eyes, it was hard to tell who was more starstruck. The actress executed a curtsey so profound it nearly reached the Earth's core before engaging the Queen in delightful conversation.</p> <p>In a refreshing break from her usual attire, which would make even the most extravagant peacock jealous, Bonham Carter sported a dress adorned with bright florals and black feathers, accented by pink ribbons in her hair. Camilla, on the other hand, stole the sartorial spotlight in an arresting peacock feather print shirt dress that must've made any nearby birds quite envious.</p> <p>But Bonham Carter wasn't content with merely being a guest; she also graced the audience with her talents by reciting a poem. Her choice was William Stafford's "Yes," a poem that would have moved Shakespeare himself to stand up, clap and stomp his booted feet.</p> <p>William Sieghart, the founder of the Forward Arts Foundation, expressed his immense pride in the work of the foundation and thanked the Queen for her involvement, calling it "proof of the pudding" that they were indeed making progress.</p> <p>Among the distinguished guests at this intimate soirée were previous winners of the Forward Prizes for Poetry, including the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, the actress Karen Bryson, and Bonham Carter’s former <em>The Crown</em> co-star, Natascha McElhone. </p> <p>Speaking of royalty, Netflix's juggernaut series, <em>The Crown</em>, has once again captured our attention. The recent announcement of the November and December release dates for the final season has ignited a whirlwind of excitement and speculation. The promotional artwork for this last hurrah features a moody and atmospheric image of the Queen, played by the talented Imelda Staunton, and a reimagining of the iconic photograph of Princess Diana poised on the diving board of a yacht in Portofino, just a week before her untimely departure from this world.</p> <p>While fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming season, it hasn't been without its controversies. Critics have <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/major-twist-in-store-for-final-season-of-the-crown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised their eyebrows at reports</a> suggesting that the show will include depictions of Princess Diana's "ghost". </p> <p>Bonham Carter herself, who graciously passed her fictitious tiara to Leslie Manville for the final seasons, has spoken out about the show's duty to distinguish between fact and artistic license. During a chat on the show's official podcast back in 2020, she insisted that <em>The Crown</em> carries a "moral responsibility" to remind viewers that this is a work of fiction inspired by facts, not an educational documentary. It's a reminder to us all that even the fanciest of crowns can come with a little disclaimer.</p> <p>So, as the final season of <em>The Crown</em> approaches, we can only wonder what other regal surprises are in store for us. In the meantime, let's raise a glass to the poetic evening at Clarence House, where fact met fiction, and where, for a brief moment, we were all kings and queens of our own whimsical kingdom.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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5 ways to meet people when travelling alone

<p>The fear of being along on the road keeps a lot of people from enjoying the liberating experience of solo travel. Which is a shame, because solo travel is actually a great way to meet people! We’ve put together five tips and tricks for meeting people when you’re travelling by yourself.</p> <p><strong>Group tours</strong></p> <p>Group tours are probably your best bet. By their very nature more than anything else, you’ll meet a new group of people as you take in an experience together. See if the place you’re visiting offers a free walking tour and if you meet someone you like invite them to lunch or dinner after.</p> <p><strong>Couchsurfing</strong></p> <p>Contrary to popular belief, Couchsurfing isn’t just about free accommodation. This online community brings together members passionate about travel, and often they’re keen as mustard to meet up with a new solo traveller. Just make sure you weed out the good ones from the crazies.</p> <p><strong>Take a course or class</strong></p> <p>This one’s a really good idea, particularly if you’re planning on staying somewhere for a longer period of time. These classes are full of people looking to bond with other people and join in some interesting travel experiences. Plus you may pick up a new skill in the process.  </p> <p><strong>Talk to the locals</strong></p> <p>This one can be a little intimidating (particularly if you don’t know the local language), but if you’re feeling brave try striking up conversations with the people you interact with over your day. This can be anyone from hostel employees, bartenders to people just sitting in a café.</p> <p><strong>Find another travel mate</strong></p> <p>There is a range of websites available now where people can chart their travel plans and find people with similar ideas to join them for a section or more of their trip. But, as with Couchsurfing, make sure you spend enough time weeding out the crazies before you send them your passport details.</p> <p><strong>Embrace the solitude</strong></p> <p>Sometimes it’s nice to just be alone. This sort of thing can give you time to reflect on your trip and how it’s taking shape, the amazing sight you’re witnessing. Some of the most profound moments of solo travel are those that you experience by yourself, in your own company.</p> <p>So there you have it, five ways to meet people as a solo traveller. In the end of the day, it comes down to you. And while it might seem intimidating striking up a conversation with a stranger, remember that there are a lot of good people in this world. You owe it to yourself to meet as many of them as possible.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Meet the revolutionary beauty brand who are keeping kindness in mind

<p dir="ltr">As the beauty market continues to be flooded with new products, new trends and new ingredients that claim to change your life, it's easy to get lost in the overwhelming choices. </p> <p dir="ltr">Due to all this noise, many beauty consumers are trying to unveil the honest truth about what is going into their makeup and skincare, as priorities are shifting to include multi-use products to simplify daily beauty routines. </p> <p dir="ltr">On top of this, the majority of consumers are looking to support businesses that have a key focus on sustainability. </p> <p dir="ltr">Enter: The KIND Collective. </p> <p dir="ltr">This proudly Australian owned and female-operated business is on a mission to add conscious driven, multi-purpose cosmetic products to everyone’s beauty repertoire without breaking the bank. </p> <p dir="ltr">This is why The KIND Collective makes products that are more than just pretty to wear, but contain nourishing, native ingredients that have been mindfully selected.</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/p/CnjI1cZMCDm/?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/CnjI1cZMCDm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The KIND Collective (@thekindcollectiveaustralia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The KIND Collective are also cruelty-free, 100% vegan and are PETA accredited, helping customers indulge in guilt-free beauty. </p> <p dir="ltr">This revolutionary brand has also joined more than 500 B Corp Certified Australian and New Zealand businesses, with only 20 companies being certified in the skin, nail and hair space. </p> <p dir="ltr">This certification assessment measures a business’s ongoing impact on its workers, community and suppliers, while ensuring it is delivering its best for both customers and the environment. </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/p/CrcJ1euShUa/?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/CrcJ1euShUa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The KIND Collective (@thekindcollectiveaustralia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Brand co-founder Lynda Chapman believes it is important for businesses to do their part both locally and internationally but looking at their social and environmental impact.</p> <p dir="ltr">She said, “Today consumers are demanding more from businesses and I think that is an amazing thing! We have always believed that a business has the power to create positive change… and we are so excited to be part of this global movement of businesses that are using their power to be a force of good.” </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/p/Ci6s1HaMGc6/?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/Ci6s1HaMGc6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The KIND Collective (@thekindcollectiveaustralia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">You can pick up all your makeup and skincare needs from The KIND Collective on their <a href="https://www.thekindcollectiveaustralia.com/collections/bundles">official website</a>, or in-store at <a href="https://www.priceline.com.au/brand/kind-cosmetics">Priceline</a>, <a href="https://www.bigw.com.au/health-beauty/makeup-cosmetics/c/6220?filter%5BbrandName%5D=Kind+Collective">Big W</a>, and select <a href="https://terrywhitechemmart.com.au/">Terry White</a> chemists. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Meet the Aussies granted the royal seal of approval

<p dir="ltr">As the time approaches for the royal event of the year - King Charles III’s coronation - more details are emerging. </p> <p dir="ltr">And now, Australians everywhere can find out which of them have been selected to attend, with the nation’s finest 14 set to join Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley at the historic event. </p> <p dir="ltr">As Albanese himself put it, “I’m honoured to represent Australia at the Coronation of the King and the Queen Consort, a historic occasion. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am proud to join a group of remarkable Australians who will also attend the Coronation, showcasing our truly diverse and dynamic nation.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Among those heading to the United Kingdom with him is Matilda’s captain Sam Kerr, who also has the honour of acting as Australia’s flag bearer.</p> <p dir="ltr">The remaining 13, like Sam, are Australians who have made immense contributions across the realms of arts, sports, defence, academic research, business, and medicine. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Outstanding Australians have been chosen to show the world the best of our values,” the government’s announcement explained, “caring for others, serving [the] community and championing progress.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Comedian and disability rights advocate Adam Hills MBE was invited, as well as entertainment heavyweight Nick Cave AO. Adam was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2022 for his contributions to Paralympic sport and disability awareness, while Nick Cave was declared an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his service to the performing arts at both a national and international level. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rounding out the arts and entertainment sector are Member of the Order of Australia soprano Yvonne Kenny, Wiradjuri-British artist Jasmine Coe, and ballet’s Leanne Benjamin AM OBE. Kenny received her award in 1989, while Benjamin was awarded her Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2005, and appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015. </p> <p dir="ltr">One of not-for-profit Street Side Medics’ founders and GP Dr Daniel Nour will also be in attendance, as will Wellcome Trust Studentship and PhD student Minette Salmon, nurse Emily Regan, and Professor Merryn Voysey, who assisted in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. </p> <p dir="ltr">And last but certainly not least, the group will be completed by public speaker and youth advocate Yasmin Poole, Corporal Daniel Keighran VC - who was the third soldier to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia - and Richard Joyes CV, who became the fifth person to receive the Cross of Valour in 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

International Travel

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Meet the woman preparing to spend three years at sea

<p dir="ltr">When Sharon Lane heard about a once in a lifetime trip offered by a cruising company for a three-year voyage around the world, she began dreaming of her life on board. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 75-year-old cruising fanatic, a retired teacher from California, is no stranger to all-or-nothing travel experiences. </p> <p dir="ltr">She has frequented Europe with her students, taught foreign languages, and in the 1990s, she up and left to spend two years in South Africa. </p> <p dir="ltr">While looking for her next adventure, Sharon discovered an incredible voyage with Life at Sea Cruises. </p> <p dir="ltr">The company is selling places on board the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/cruising/world-first-three-year-cruise-revealed">MV Gemini</a>, which sets sail from Istanbul on November 1st 2023 on an epic three-year global journey that will take in most of the planet's prime cruising destinations.</p> <p dir="ltr">The MV Gemini will stop at 375 ports over its three-year voyage, with 208 of these including overnight stays. The ship will stop everywhere from India to China to the Maldives to Australia, with some multi-night stopovers.</p> <p dir="ltr">A recent convert to the world of cruising as she has gotten older, Lane said one of her favourite sensations is the calming feeling of being adrift at sea. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I actually prefer the ocean days, when we're just sailing through or powering through the oceans, it just thrills me," Lane tells <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/cruise-ship-three-years-mv-gemini-passenger-perspective/index.html">CNN Travel</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">After hearing about the voyage from a friend, Sharon immediately started her planning and budgeting. </p> <p dir="ltr">"By midnight that night, I had done enough research that I booked a room," she says.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cheapest rooms on the MV Gemini cost around $US30,000 ($45,000) per year, including a discount for solo travellers. </p> <p dir="ltr">Since booking her ticket, Lane is busy working out the details before her embankment date in November. </p> <p dir="ltr">She is selling most of her possessions, giving up her rental lease and preparing for a long stint at sea.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The logistics are crazy," says Lane. "It's a leap of faith, but I know there will be a place here when I get back. Or maybe I'll end up living in another country. I don't know, the sky's the limit."</p> <p dir="ltr">While she is getting rid of most of her belongings, she is determined to bring along a few family photos for the journey, particularly a favourite picture of her now-adult grandsons back when they were kids and she took them on a whale-watching trip.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I have that laminated and I'll take magnets and I'll stick it to my door for two reasons," says Lane. "One, I get to see their faces every time I go in, which is always fun, and the other reason is it makes it really easy to know which door is yours, because you've got your grandsons smiling back."</p> <p dir="ltr">Lane hopes her epic journey might inspire others to take a risk and push themselves out of their comfort zone, as she still regrets the years she spent in midlife putting off travelling and doesn’t want others to hold the same regrets. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I think I was always waiting for the perfect time to go when everything is right in life, when money is right, when appointments are right, when other people want to go," she says.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Don't stay home," she encourages. "Home may be where the heart is, home may be where you hang your hat – hang your hat, and then get on the boat, get on the plane, get in the car, go somewhere."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: CNN Travel </em></p>

Cruising

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Movie myths meet movie maths

<p dir="ltr">Some moments on the screen stay with us forever, but not always for the right reasons. </p> <p dir="ltr">For some avid film and TV fans, there are certain scenes that have left us scratching our heads, inspecting from every angle, and making frame-by-frame comparisons to try and come up with an answer that tells us what we want to hear. </p> <p dir="ltr">After all, we’ve all had our say over that infamous door and those two fated souls in the middle of the ocean, haven’t we?</p> <p dir="ltr">Luckily, those in the know - mathematicians - have put their brains to the task of solving it for us, sharing their findings as they debunk some of the screen world’s more memorable moments. </p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The door, <em>Titanic </em>(1997)</p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">Could Jack have fit on the door too? Could Rose have saved him?</p> <p dir="ltr">Such questions have sat with fans of the blockbuster film <em>Titanic</em> since its release, when the end of the film saw Rose and Jack trying to save themselves with a scrap of the ship’s debris - a door - in the middle of the freezing North Atlantic Sea.  </p> <p dir="ltr">As anyone who’s seen the film could tell you, Jack gave up his spot so that Rose might survive, but many have refused to accept that this was necessary. They believe, instead, that Jack could have fit there with her, ultimately saving them both from further tragedy. </p> <p dir="ltr">And a group of girls at school in Adelaide believe they know exactly how it could have been done. </p> <p dir="ltr">The solution? Sliding their life jackets beneath the door.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We looked at how buoyant the door would have been, and how that would have changed if there were people on top of that,” 15-year-old Abigail explained to<em> The Daily Telegraph</em>, adding that “there was a lot of exploring and testing, and we had to fiddle with different buoyancies and look at what materials were realistic for that time.”</p> <ol start="2"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The jump, <em>Speed </em>(1994)</p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">From start to finish, <em>Speed </em>is a wild ride. And while many questions about the logistics of the high-speed action bus ride have arisen since the film’s release, one tops the list more often than not - could Jack really have made that jump? </p> <p dir="ltr">At one point in the film, Jack and his runaway bus - which he must keep travelling at a speed of just over 80km/h to prevent the entire thing from exploding - are faced with an incomplete road, and he is forced to make the jump over the gap to give himself and his passengers any hope of survival. </p> <p dir="ltr">While the film’s characters succeed, and make it out of there alright, the people at ZME Science were not quite so eager to leave it at that. </p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, they have studied the scene, and put the likelihood of survival in such a situation to the test. With a few handy equations and crucial bits of info - the gap was 15m, their speed 108km/h - they came to the conclusion that the bus more than likely would have fallen into the gap, rather than landing safely on the other side. </p> <p dir="ltr">This, of course, means that the detonation would have occurred, and the outcome would have been drastically different to what transpired on the screen. </p> <ol start="3"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The bullet, <em>The Matrix </em>(1999)</p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">While <em>The Matrix</em> is held in high regard by many cinema enthusiasts, from its concept alone to its iconic fight scenes, there are those who’ve come out of the films with a few more questions than what its creators ever intended. </p> <p dir="ltr">Namely, questions over how exactly Neo managed to dodge that bullet. </p> <p dir="ltr">While attempting to save Morhepus from Agent Smith, Neo goes head-to-head against agents in a rooftop fight. A shot is made at Neo, and he deftly dodges the potentially fatal wound by bending all the way back, with the bullet clearing the air above him, leaving him unscathed. </p> <p dir="ltr">It’s a scene that wowed audiences worldwide with its slow motion approach, and its attention to detail, but for one mathematician, it was exactly this that drew her curiosity. Could Neo actually have pulled that off? </p> <p dir="ltr">According to Kerry Cue, the answer is no. </p> <p dir="ltr">After working out the distance between Neo and the agent (roughly 12m), the logistics of the weapon, and the speed at which it was moving, Kerry worked her way to her conclusion. </p> <p dir="ltr">The bullet itself would take 0.04 seconds to get to Neo. And as a human’s average reaction time is 0.25 seconds, it’s impossible that Neo would have been able to make that impressive save in the real world.</p> <ol start="4"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The sofa,<em> Friends </em>(1994-2004)</p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">Would pivoting really have helped Ross, Rachel, and Chandler get that unfortunate sofa up the stairwell of their New York apartment building? </p> <p dir="ltr">In the heat of the moment, Ross certainly seemed to think so, but as fans of the sitcom know, their efforts were in vain. Unable to complete their mission, the friends opted to cut it up instead. </p> <p dir="ltr">Some weren’t satisfied with this ‘easy’ way out, and one mathematician put her brain to the test trying to prove that it would have been a possible feat to accomplish.</p> <p dir="ltr">And it was - if only the trio had bothered to take measurements. </p> <p dir="ltr">Caroline Zunckel - a data science consultant - ran approximately 10,000 different simulations using various measurements for both the stairs and the couch, all to prove her point. Luckily for her, she discovered that she was right, and that the furniture only required some tilting upwards to get around that problem corner. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

Movies

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“Miraculous”: Meet the world’s oldest dog

<p>A dog from the rural village of Conqueiros, Portugal, has taken the world by surprise and claimed the title of not only the world’s oldest living dog - he’s also the oldest dog ever. </p> <p>Two weeks ago, Guinness World Records announced that Spike the chihuahua was the oldest living dog. Spike has been melting hearts for 23 years. </p> <p>Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, was confirmed as being 30 years 266 days old as of February 1 2023. With seven years on his fellow senior canine, it was safe to say that a title transfer was in order. </p> <p>While Spike was the previous oldest living dog, the former oldest dog ever was an Australian cattle dog who went by the name Bluey. Bluey, who was born in 1910, lived to be an astounding 29 years and 5 months old and held that record for almost an entire century. </p> <p>Bobi’s breed, Rafeiro do Alentejo, is a livestock guardian breed. They typically have a life expectancy of anywhere between 12-14 years, meaning Bobi has more than doubled that prediction. </p> <p>The accomplishment is impressive in itself, but Bobi’s miraculous story started many, many years ago. </p> <p>The Costa family, Bobi’s family, told Guinness World Records that Bobi was one of four male puppies born in an outbuilding where they stored their wood. </p> <p>“I was eight years old,” said Leonel Costa, “my father was a hunter, and we always had many dogs.”</p> <p>“Unfortunately,” he went on to explain, “at that time it was considered normal by older people who could not have more animals at home… to bury the animals in a hole so that they would not survive.”</p> <p>Leonel’s parents took the puppies the next day while their mother, Gira, wasn’t there. Leonel and his brothers were distraught, but soon noticed that Gira continued to visit the outbuilding where the pups were born. </p> <p>“We found the situation strange,” Leonel admitted, “because if the animals were no longer there, why would she go there?” </p> <p>After following Gira on one of her expeditions, the brothers discovered a sole surviving puppy - Bobi. Bobi had been disguised amongst the wood in the outhouse, and overlooked by the Costa parents. Leonel and his brothers opted to keep him a secret. </p> <p>Of their decision, Leonel explained, “we knew that when the dog opened its eyes, my parents would no longer bury it. It was popular knowledge that this act could not or should be done.”</p> <p>“I confess that when they found out that we already knew, they screamed a lot and punished us,” Leonel admitted, reflecting on Bobi opening his eyes and securing his place in their family, “but it was worth it, and for a good reason!”</p> <p>Leonel confessed that only Bobi knows the secrets behind his longevity, but believes his lifestyle and environment have been significant factors. </p> <p>Bobi has enjoyed 30 years of roaming freely around the forests and farmlands at home, alongside a whole host of other animals. </p> <p>His diet has consisted of human food, with Leonel mentioning that the decision may or may not have been entirely their own, “what we ate, they ate too. Between a can of animal food or a piece of meat, Bobi doesn’t hesitate and chooses our food.”</p> <p>Happy and healthy senior pets are not an unfamiliar thing for the Costa family. Bobi’s mother, Gira, lived to the age of 18, and another of their dogs, Chicote, saw 22. </p> <p>“I never thought of registering Bobi to break the record because fortunately our animals have always lasted for many years,” Leonel explained. “We see situations like this as a normal result of the life that they have, but Bobi is one of a kind.”</p> <p>Bobi has already achieved a lot this year, and is set to celebrate even more when his 31st birthday rolls around in May. </p> <p><em>Image: YouTube</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Combating loneliness: How to meet new friends 

<p>Many of us will feel lonely at some point in our lives. It’s that sadness that comes from being by yourself or feeling disconnected from the people around you. For some it’s fleeting, for others it becomes entrenched and damaging. </p> <p>Several recent studies indicate loneliness is set to reach epidemic proportions by 2030. Experts say it’s as bad for us as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. </p> <p>Britain has even appointed a minister for loneliness. A <a href="https://www.jocoxloneliness.org/pdf/a_call_to_action.pdf">report published by the Jo Cox Commission</a> showed nine million people “always or often feel lonely” and 200,000 older people in the UK have not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month. </p> <p>Here at home, we have the <a href="http://endloneliness.com.au/">Australian Coalition to End Loneliness (ACEL)</a>. Inspired by the work of the <a href="https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/">UK’s Campaign to End Loneliness</a>, the ACEL aims to address loneliness in Australia. </p> <p>The good news is that feeling lonely is nothing to be ashamed of – the research is clear that millions of people are in the same boat. </p> <p>“Being connected to others socially is widely considered a fundamental human need,” says one of the most prominent researchers in the field, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, professor of psychology at Brigham Young University in the United States. “It is crucial to both wellbeing and survival.” </p> <p><strong>“Help, I’m lonely!"</strong> </p> <p>A community member recently asked if we have any suggestions on how to overcome loneliness. </p> <p>“I'm a young 50s and love doing things but I'm lonely. I have lost close friends due to them moving away. I have lost the contact with people. I think I'm a loner – help me. What groups could I join to meet people?” </p> <p>Here are some ideas for meeting new friends: </p> <p><strong>1. Volunteering</strong><br />Volunteering is all about helping others, but it also benefits you personally – it offers the chance to make new friends, try a different career field, and explore your local area.</p> <p>Organisations that help refugees, the homeless, people with disabilities, disadvantaged youths or the elderly are numerous. Such organisations include <a href="http://mealsonwheels.org.au/">Meals on Wheels</a>, <a href="https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/">The Smith Family</a>, <a href="http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/">The Salvation Army</a>, <a href="https://youthoffthestreets.com.au/">Youth Off The Streets</a>, <a href="https://www.midnightbasketball.org.au/">Midnight Basketball Australia</a>, <a href="https://www.sacredheartmission.org/">Sacred Heart Mission</a>, <a href="https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/">Black Dog Institute</a>, <a href="http://guidedogsaustralia.com/">Guide Dogs Australia</a>, and <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline Australia</a>. </p> <p>The State Emergency Service (SES) in your state and <a href="http://stjohn.org.au/">St John Ambulance Australia</a> often put a callout for volunteers. </p> <p>Wildlife rescue groups, such as <a href="https://www.wires.org.au/">WIRES </a>in NSW, and animal welfare organisations like the <a href="https://rspca.org.au/">RSPCA</a>, always appreciate an extra pair of hands – check the parks and wildlife service in your state. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, for example, is seeking volunteers for historic and cultural heritage tours, and for their threatened species and bush regeneration programs. </p> <p>If you enjoy working in customer service, try the local <a href="https://shop.oxfam.org.au/volunteer">Oxfam Shop</a>, <a href="https://www.redcross.org.au/get-involved/connect/volunteer">Red Cross</a> or <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org.au/take-action/volunteer">Save the Children op shop</a>. Libraries need volunteers to help with stocktake to maintain the toy library and to deliver books to library customers. For music lovers, community radio stations are often run by volunteers – you might even have the chance to host your own show. </p> <p>Major events also provide exciting opportunities for volunteers, so keep an eye out for big events that are coming to your town or city. Film, music and fashion festivals are often looking for volunteers. </p> <p>For more information, contact your local council or visit <a href="http://www.volunteering.org.au/">Volunteering Australia</a>. </p> <p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Fitness classes</strong></p> <p>If you’re into group exercise, you have a potential social network right in front of you. Try golf, tennis, dragon boat racing, rowing, squash, salsa classes, ballroom dancing, badminton, ocean swimming, sailing, aqua aerobics or yoga — or find a walking group via the <a href="http://walking.heartfoundation.org.au/">Heart Foundation Walking network</a>.</p> <p><strong>3.</strong> <strong>Hobbies</strong></p> <p>Do you like gardening, films, model airplane flying, bird watching, photography, chess, creative writing, clay target shooting, knitting, bridge, quilting, cooking or reading? Look in your local area for groups, clubs or classes that you could join.</p> <p>Car fanatics could join a club, such as a classic car club. For motorcyclists, the <a href="http://www.ulyssesclub.org/">Ulysses Club</a> is a social group for people aged over 40 years. Its motto is “grow old disgracefully”. </p> <p>For the community or politically minded, you could attend local council meetings. And don’t forget your local <a href="https://mensshed.org/">Men’s Shed</a>, which provides a space to work on practical projects while enjoying some good old-fashioned mateship. </p> <p><strong>4.</strong> <strong>Faith-based groups</strong></p> <p>Churches and religious organisations tend to host a lot of social gatherings outside of their regular services, offering golden opportunities to meet people with similar beliefs. </p> <p><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Virtual spaces</strong></p> <p>Facebook, Instagram and other social networks can be used as a way to connect with old friends, make new ones, and keep up with what’s happening in your community.</p> <p>If you want to learn more about computers or social media, ask at your local library or visit a local computer club. The <a href="http://www.ascca.org.au/">Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association</a> lists over 130 clubs for older Australians – one might be in your area. </p> <p><strong>6.</strong> <strong>Meetups</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.meetup.com/">Meetup.com</a> is a nifty site that offers users the chance to join groups, known as Meetups, based on their location and interests. Examples of groups you can join include “Monopoly Players”, “More Bakeries Than Cycling Touring Club”, “Women’s Social Club”, and “French Movie Group”. If you can’t find a group that interests you, create your own!</p> <p><strong>7. Online dating</strong></p> <p>The major online dating sites are <a href="https://www.rsvp.com.au/">RSVP</a>, <a href="https://www.eharmony.com.au/">eHarmony</a>, <a href="https://au.match.com/">Match</a>, <a href="https://www.oasisactive.com/">Oasis Active</a>, <a href="https://www.pof.com/">Plenty of Fish (POF)</a>, <a href="https://www.zoosk.com/">Zoosk</a> and <a href="https://tinder.com/">Tinder</a>.</p> <p>A good place to start might be with eHarmony, as it caters for a large number of older users. Billed as “Australia’s most trusted online dating site”, it offers specific dating advice for seniors. Of course, there are scams out there, so keep your wits about you. </p> <p><strong>8. Lions and Rotary Clubs</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lionsclubs.org.au/">Lions </a>and <a href="http://rotaryaustralia.org.au/">Rotary </a>do a lot of good in their local communities and further afield. Lions’ motto is “where there’s a need, there’s a Lion”. Rotary is made up of members “who strive to make the world a better place”.</p> <p><strong>9. Returning to work</strong></p> <p>Working doesn’t have to be about the money. If you are in need of an outlet for mingling, going back to work could be the answer. Perhaps you could ask your former workplace about casual work or approach your local Bunnings Warehouse – the hardware chain encourages older workers back in to the workforce.</p> <p>Former teachers might register for substitute teaching and pet lovers could advertise pet sitting or walking services. If you love weddings, why not become a marriage celebrant? </p> <p>Adore children? Ask parents you know if they need babysitting or someone to pick their kids up after school. Crafty? How about a market stall? Too many veggies in the garden? Try selling them at a farmer’s market. A spare bungalow, caravan or room could be decorated and listed on <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/">Airbnb</a>. </p> <p>Other ideas include freelance writing, consulting or selling your photos on a microstock site such as <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/">Getty Images</a>. </p> <p><strong>10. Pets</strong></p> <p>They are known as man’s best friend but having a dog can help you socialise more with people. A study by the University of Western Australia found “pet owners were significantly more likely to get to know people in their neighbourhood whom they didn’t know previously, compared with non-pet owners”.</p> <p>Published in <em>PLOS ONE, </em><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122085"><em>The Pet Factor – Companion Animals as a Conduit for Getting to Know People, Friendship Formation and Social Support</em></a><em> </em>concluded that dog owners were more likely to get to know people in their community than owners of other pets, such as cats or birds. </p> <p><strong>11. Reconnecting with old friends</strong></p> <p>Make a list of people that you remember fondly and reach out to them by phone, email or Facebook. If they live nearby, invite them out for coffee, and if they are interstate or overseas, send a short email – who knows, one day you might take a trip and meet up with them.</p> <p>Don’t assume old friends have forgotten about you just because they haven’t been in touch – they may have been juggling work and parenting in their 30s and 40s, making it hard to stay in touch. Most likely, they will be pleased to hear from you. </p> <p>What have you done to combat feeling lonely? Share you experiences and ideas below. </p> <p><em>Written by Leah McLennan. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/combating-loneliness-how-to-meet-new-friends.aspx"><em>Wyza.com.au</em></a><em>.</em> </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Noble pups! Meet the royal dogs of the British monarchy

<p>These furry friends certainly get the royal treatment! Here's everything to know about the four-legged members of the royal family.</p> <p><strong>Royal dogs</strong></p> <p>For many of us, our dogs play a major – if not the most important – role in our families. Royal dogs are no different, minus all the public engagements they get to attend – like charity events and council meetings. For generations, royal dogs have played an iconic role in public and private life for many members across the royal family tree. Whether it be King Charles II who was rumoured to not go anywhere without a minimum of three spaniels or Queen Victoria who owned a whopping 88 smooth-haired Collies in her lifetime, royals certainly have a history of loving their dogs.</p> <p>Today, the British royal family is known for having a plethora of furry four-legged friend – Queen Elizabeth’s corgis and King Charles III’s dogs are a few of our famous favourites. Here are a few of today’s royal dogs that are beloved by many.</p> <p><strong>Muick and Sandy</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/02-prince-andrew-corgi-GettyImages-1243368841-scaled-e1666119038497-770.jpg" alt="" width="1536" height="998" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>originally Queen Elizabeth II, now Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth was known for her devotion to her country, service and, of course, her love of corgis. The Queen received her first corgi from her father on her 18th birthday, and while the exact number of corgis during her 70-year-rule is only known by a select few, experts estimate England’s longest monarch had over 30 in her lifetime. Muick and Sandy also played a special role for the Queen. Prince Andrew gifted the two adorable corgis to Queen Elizabeth to provide her with comfort while Prince Philip was in the hospital in early 2021. Now, due to the Queen’s passing, her pups will fondly be taken care of by Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.</p> <p><strong>Bluebell and Beth</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/03-charles-dog-GettyImages-843781242-king-charles-and-dogs-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="500" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla</p> <p>Meet the new pups of Buckingham Palace!  Like his mother, King Charles III has a favourite dog breed and has owned many Jack Russell Terriers. Queen Consort Camilla adopted Beth and Bluebell in 2017 from a rescue centre, and these pups even made history as the first rescue pets to ever live in Buckingham Palace! We can’t wait to see how these two will make history next.</p> <p><strong>Orla</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/05-William-Kate-pet-dog-GettyImages-1407226469-770-1.jpg" alt="" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Prince William and Princess Kate</p> <p>The Prince and Princess of Wales are the proud owners of a black cocker spaniel named Orla, who the couple’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – absolutely adore. Black cocker spaniels have a reputation for getting along well with children due to their calm and kind nature. The newest member of the family was actually gifted from Kate’s brother, James, whose dog gave birth to six puppies. Orla also has a sentimental role in the family, as she was bought to help bring joy and energy to the couple’s elderly dog, Lupo, in his old age before his passing in November of 2020.</p> <p><strong>Guy, Mamma Mia and Pula</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/05-beagle-GettyImages-566943335-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="500" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</p> <p>King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla aren’t the only members of the royal family with a love for rescue dogs. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest pup, a 7-year-old beagle named Mamma Mia is the couple’s second beagle in addition to Guy, as well as their black Labrador Pula. Prince Harry recently discussed how the couple’s dogs are all emotional support dogs “when they’re behaving,” he joked.</p> <p><strong>Dotty</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/06-princess-Anne-pet-GettyImages-1033476776-e1666118755545.jpg" alt="" width="893" height="893" /></p> <p><strong>Royal owner: </strong>Princess Anne</p> <p>Similar to her brother and mother, Princess Anne is another royal with an affinity for a specific dog breed: bull terriers. During her time as a royal, Princess Anne owned several bull terriers – one of her bull terriers even made history, causing Princess Anne to be the first royal member charged with a criminal offence after her dog, Dotty, attacked two children in Windsor Great Park.</p> <p><strong>Jack, Cici, Teddy and Ginger</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/04-terrier-eugenie-beatrice-GettyImages-844394888-770-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1662" /></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie</p> <p>The two daughters of Prince Andrew aren’t shy about their affection for Norfolk Terriers – an adorable, tiny and energetic breed. In fact, Princess Beatrice loves Norfolk terriers so much that she offered to gift two to her grandmother, birthed by her very own Norfolk Terrier named Ginger. Unfortunately, the Queen was worried about tripping over the pups and getting hurt, so she declined. The granddaughters of the Queen seem to get their love of dogs from her. A recent Instagram photo Princess Eugenie posted after the Queen’s passing shows Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice sitting with the Queen and petting a dog. The caption fondly wrote: “For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you.”</p> <p><strong>Dog name: Unknown</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/07-Sophie-pet-GettyImages-1238871398-770-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><strong>Royal owners: </strong>Prince Edward and Sophie</p> <p>The Queen’s youngest child, the Earl of Wessex, and his wife own two pups; a black Labrador and a Cocker Spaniel. The Countess of Wessex is known for her love of dogs – she has been seen walking the dogs on the grounds of Windsor Castle and attended the Guide Dogs National Centre in Britain. Fun fact: dogs aren’t the only pets the Earl’s family owns! In a recent video interview, Prince Edward revealed that the family has “two dogs and we’ve also got a tortoise, who basically runs the house.”</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-f9ae96f4-7fff-7bc7-c8f6-fcba86f27a92">Written by Jessica Kaplan. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/noble-pups-meet-the-royal-dogs-of-the-british-monarchy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Body language expert zeroes in on PM's meeting with Xi Jinping

<p>Anthony Albanese and Xi Jingping have shared in a historic handshake on the sidelines of the G20 summit, bringing an end to a six-year diplomatic freeze. </p> <p>The PM met with the Chinese President at the event in Bali on Tuesday, as a body language expert has dissected their meeting, pointing out some hard-to-spot details. </p> <p>Body language expert Katia Loisel has revealed the way the leaders shook hands held secrets about their power dynamic. </p> <p>“The way you shake hands reveals important information about your personality, levels of confidence and the power dynamic between two people and can dramatically influence how others perceive and interact with you,” Loisel explained to <a href="https://7news.com.au/politics/body-language-expert-reveals-the-subtle-sign-you-missed-when-albanese-met-chinas-president-c-8872610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>.</p> <p>“As a leader, Xi uses several tactics to assert his dominance when shaking hands during meet and greets and photo opportunities.”</p> <p>Loisel said by choosing to stand out on the left with “his hand thrust out first”, Xi is able to “upset the balance of power”.</p> <p>“By orientating his body to the left away from Anthony Albanese, Xi restricts Albanese’s movement and forces him into a submissive position,” she said.</p> <p>“In contrast, this position allows Xi to project an air of confidence, standing in an open, unrestricted pose directly facing the camera."</p> <p>“This handshake is an attempt to assert dominance, get the upper hand and upset the balance of power quite literally forcing the receiver, in this case Albanese, into a submissive position.”</p> <p>The image of the two leaders sparked further conversation online, with some pointing out where Xi “always” stands for photos with other leaders.</p> <p>“This is why (check where Xi always stands for pictures),” one Twitter user posted along with a series of images of Xi standing on the left.</p> <p>At the meeting, China’s $20 billion trade sanctions on Australia, detention of Australian citizens and relationship with Russia were discussed.</p> <p>The pair also discussed climate change and Albanese urged Xi to maintain the status quo when it comes to the status of Taiwan.</p> <p>Albanese said both leaders spoke honestly with each other about these issues.</p> <p>“We have big differences to manage, but we’re always going to be better off when we have dialogue and are able to talk constructively and respectfully, but also honestly, about what those differences are,” he said after the meeting.</p> <p>“(Australia) will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and act in the national interest.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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King Charles and Camilla make young boy’s dream of meeting them come true

<p dir="ltr">King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have made a young boy’s dreams come true after he reached out with a letter.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jason Tweedie-Long, 5, from York, wrote a letter to the royals letting them know that he’s worried he won’t be able to see them due to his vision impairment.</p> <p dir="ltr">The letter was sent to York Council and forwarded to Buckingham Palace before the King and the Queen Consort decided on making young Jason’s day.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair were in the English city to unveil the first statue of the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II since her death in September.</p> <p dir="ltr">Soon after, it was arranged for Jason to meet the Royals who held his hand and posed for a photo the extremely happy fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you to @RoyalFamily for their special meeting with young resident Jason who is visually impaired. He was thrilled to meet the King and Queen Consort today whilst they visited York,” the council tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">During his speech when unveiling the late monarch’s statue, the King explained that it was intended for the celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, but will remain in her memory.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you to <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyalFamily</a> for their special meeting with young resident Jason who is visually impaired. He was thrilled to meet the King and Queen Consort today whilst they visited York. <a href="https://t.co/Vx8nol1mrH">pic.twitter.com/Vx8nol1mrH</a></p> <p>— City of York Council (@CityofYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofYork/status/1590323338756300800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“When this statue was first planned five years ago, during a reign of unprecedented duration and achievement, it was intended as a celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee,” the King said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now, as we have witnessed, with great sadness, the passing of that reign, it is unveiled in her memory, as a tribute to a life of extraordinary service and devotion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The creation of this statue is also, if I may say so, a tribute to the support, affection and prayers that the community of this cathedral, and of this great city, always gave the late Queen, and all for which she stood in the life of the nation and the Commonwealth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The late Queen was always vigilant for the welfare of her people during her life. Now, her image will watch over what will become Queen Elizabeth Square, for centuries to come - a constant example of the duty and care for others, and for our community, which is the calling and the duty we all share.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Caring

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Why Queen Elizabeth apologised to Paul Hogan during their 1980 meeting

<p>Paul Hogan has reflected on his 1980 meeting with Queen Elizabeth, and what caused the late monarch to apologise to the actor. </p> <p>The Crocodile Dundee icon spoke with Tracy Grimshaw on <em>A Current Affair, </em>her last interview before leaving the program after 17 years, and recalled the moment he got a lot of "flack" for his choice of outfit to meet the royals. </p> <p>Grimshaw brought up a photo from the book of Hogan meeting the Queen after he performed in the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House in 1980. </p> <p>When they met, Hogan donned a cut off flannel shirt, stubby shorts and footy socks. </p> <p>"I love that shot," the actor said. "I got a lot of flack over that but the Queen didn't mind."</p> <p>Hogan has said in previous interviews that "everyone was horrified" by what he wore that night when he met the royals, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth. </p> <p>Hogan told Grimshaw that the late Queen had apologised to him during their brief meeting after she "won" a prize to have dinner at his home. </p> <p>"The show we did at the Opera House for entertaining her, part of the thing I did was to pretend to draw the lucky seat prize," he said. </p> <p>"I drew two names out, which obviously was the Queen and Philip, and said the prize that they'd won was dinner at my place, and told them how to get there, what bus to catch and all that kind of stuff - was all funny."</p> <p>"But when I met her, she then leaned over and said, 'I'm sorry dear, I don't think we'll be able to make dinner', which is great, she's got a sense of humour."</p> <p>Hogan also shared an update on his health battle, telling Grimshaw that he'd lost a lot of weight and was being "held together with string". </p> <p>"I had a problem on the aorta and the kidney and the treatment fixed it but it shrunk me," he said.</p> <p>"I'd still take out most 40-year-olds then I turned 80 and there's a saying that turning 80's not for sissies because things start to fall apart but, no, I can't complain."</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

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Puzzle-cracking Matthew McConaughey fans could win tickets to meet him

<p dir="ltr">If you consider yourself a sleuth or a puzzlemaster you could have a chance to meet Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey when he touches down in Australia for an “off-grid” concert.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans hoping to see the <em>Dallas Buyers Club</em> actor at next month’s concert will need to identify the exclusive, secret location from a series of cryptic poems that will be shared on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">Attendees of the concert, which will be headlined by Boy &amp; Bear, will be selected by the Aussie rock band.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-840c7e80-7fff-0519-3a62-0f7ca669d2c1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">McConaughey shared the news with fans in a statement, encouraging hopefuls to trust their instincts.</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/reel/CkJqaBSh4-6/?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/CkJqaBSh4-6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Wild Turkey Australia (@wildturkeyau)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Trusting yourself, your instincts and spirit are the key to discovery and will always lead you down the right path in life, or a road up north,” the 52-year-old said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For this reason, Wild Turkey and Boy &amp; Bear are challenging Aussies to let go of the monotony of the last few years and let yourselves discover again.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Discovery Series Acoustic Session fuels this spirit. However, it's more than discovery; it's for the love of the wilderness, and the enjoyment of bourbon and, most of all, music.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“So, sit back, check into the words and Trust Your Spirit – I'll be waiting patiently to congratulate those who take on the journey.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In a clip shared on social media, McConaughey described the event as a “very special evening out in nature”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Each of the clues will be posted on Wild Turkey’s official Instagram page.</p> <p dir="ltr">McConaughey has been involved with the bourbon brand since 2016, when he came on as its Creative Director and became the “chief storyteller”, according to the Wild Turkey website.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wild Turkey has the history and qualities of a brand that depicts the dedication of someone to do something their own way – even if that way isn’t always the most popular,” McConaughey says on the site.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I want to help share their unique story.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-624508ed-7fff-371f-a062-e0a09cca888f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @officialmcconaughey (Instagram)</em></p>

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