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Terminally ill 23-year-old's final request

<p>Liam Bulman was working a shift at The Illawarra Hotel in Wollongong last month when he asked to leave early, as he felt unwell. </p> <p>The following week he found himself in "crippling pain" and was rushed to hospital by his friend. After days of intensive testing, the 23-year-old was diagnosed with stage-four High Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma — a "rare" cancer that had spread. </p> <p>Now, his family and friends are doing everything they can to raise funds so he can have a "chance to make memories" through ticking off items on his bucket list in this  "scary, sad and unknown" time. </p> <p>"He's smart and kind. He's been raised to work hard and contribute to people's lives, and our community. He's incredible," Liam's colleagues from The Illawarra Hotel wrote on the<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/youre-friendly-local-bartender-bulmans-bucket-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> GoFundMe</a> page.</p> <p>So far they have raised over $28,000 of their $50,000 goal, with most of the money raised going towards his medical costs, medical trial attendance and palliative care, and any remaining money will help fund his bucket list. </p> <p>His bucket list includes activities like attending the F1 in Melbourne, going for a joyride in a helicopter, learning to surf and taking a family photo session. </p> <p>Liam's mum, Emily Bulman, revealed his cancer is "incurable" and he has since started a bout of chemotherapy in hope it will "buy him more time" as the cancer has spread to his  lymph nodes and lower digestive tract.</p> <p>"This will assist us to aim for longevity, quality of life, a chance to make memories, and receive the care and comfort that suits Liam best," she said on the fundraising page.</p> <p>"Anything we can raise to help take the burden off Liam, we would be incredibly grateful for."</p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe/Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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"SHEER INSANITY": Dog owner slammed over bizarre request

<p>A cat owner was left purr-plexed after receiving a bizarre note from her neighbour about her cats. </p> <p>She took to Facebook to share the "unhinged" letter, racking up over 15,000 comments from other people who were furious on her behalf. </p> <p>"Hey neighbour! Can you please keep your cats out of the window?" the letter read. </p> <p>"They are causing my dog to sit in the window and bark all day long."</p> <p>The anonymous letter ended abruptly with: "I work from home so this is very difficult, thanks, K."</p> <p>The cat owner said  that she has three cats and two new kittens in her house, and although they occasionally sit on the window when it's a nice outside, they "do nothing but sleep." </p> <p>"We keep the windows open because we don’t have aircon yet," she added.</p> <p>The dog owner had barked up the wrong tree, as many commenters slammed them for their "entitled" behaviour. </p> <p>"Tell them to train the dog," one said, echoing the thoughts of many. </p> <p>"LMAO, you cannot stop a cat from sitting in a window. Cats will find a way, but you can absolutely do a number of things to stop a dog from barking at a window," another added. </p> <p>"This can’t be real. What a crazy neighbour," a third wrote. </p> <p> "I’m totally a dog person, but trying to make your neighbour discipline their cat for sitting in a window because you won’t discipline your dog for nuisance barking is SHEER INSANITY. I mean, what the hell?" a fellow dog owner added. </p> <p>"Train your cat not to chill in a window because training a dog not to disturb the s*** out of everyone is too hard? I can’t believe this neighbour had the nerve."</p> <p>"Imagine being so entitled that you think it’s someone else’s responsibility to control your pet’s behaviour," another wrote. </p> <p>Another person pointed out: "If ‘your dog’ is barking when they look out the window, then cover 'your window'." </p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Qantas apologises after rejecting cancer patient's refund request

<p>Qantas has issued an apology for rejecting a cancer patient's refund request after his case allegedly did not qualify based on “compassionate reasons”. </p> <p>Neil Ross, 62, decided to book a holiday to Cairns with his wife for a couple of weeks, but two weeks later he was diagnosed with face cancer. </p> <p>“It hit me like a rock,” Mr Ross told <em>news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>“I wasn’t in the life of me, expecting that news.”</p> <p>The Brisbane local was initially told he had Bells Palsy, but was later diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo a 13-hour operation to remove the tumour, causing the right side of his face to be significantly disfigured. </p> <p>He underwent radiation almost every day for six weeks saying it “knocked him to no end”.</p> <p>“I was very thankful that my wife had helped me and still is helping me to get through this.”</p> <p>Ross is yet to be given the all-clear and is still undergoing treatments, including rehab following the loss of muscle mass. </p> <p>He will also undergo plastic surgery to reconstruct the right side of his face.</p> <p>“I had notified Flight Centre that I needed to cancel my flight due to finding out that I had cancer and that l needed treatment urgently,” he said. </p> <p>“As I said to the girl at Flight Centre – ‘look at my face, do you think I want to get a refund for the hell of it? I rather be healthy and go on holiday.”</p> <p>Ross said that the airline issued him a credit note until April 22 of this year, but with his current circumstances, he was unable to travel before that date and applied for a full refund. </p> <p>He also claims that despite sending two medical certificates - the first which stated that Ross was unfit to fly for 12 months, and the second which included detailed information about his condition -  it “did not meet requirements on compassion”.</p> <p>“I thought ‘what the hell, what more can I do?’ This has done nothing but cause me a great deal of stress that I don’t need,"  he said. </p> <p>Ross submitted two different refund requests, one on March 20, which was rejected on the fourth of April, and another on April 9 which was rejected two weeks later. </p> <p>The email from a Flight Centre representative reportedly said: "They have advised that ‘the attached medical certificate does not fit into the GF guidelines for a refund due to compassionate reasons’." </p> <p>According to <em>news.com.au</em>,  Qantas has since contacted Ross and issued a refund, after an error was made in processing the supplementary material, by not connecting it to the earlier application.</p> <p>“We apologise to Mr Ross for this experience and have let him know we’re processing a refund for him.”</p> <p>They have also reportedly apologised for any distress they may have caused and are investigating how the error occurred so that it doesn't happen again. </p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au/ Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Grandma banned from babysitting after ignoring daughter's simple request

<p>A new mum has banned her own mother from babysitting duties, after she blatantly refused to follow a few basic safety instructions. </p> <p>The young mum took to Reddit to share her plight, after moving back home so she could save up to buy a house, which at the time her mum "very enthusiastically agreed to".</p> <p>But, after a few months of living together again, the 23-year-old mum has had more things added onto her plate, as she's constantly worried about her own mum not following her instructions when it comes to her son, who was born in September. </p> <p>She said that her mum has been "constantly checking to see if he has teeth" or pushing them to "stop feeding him milk", or even trying to "give him really complicated food" like candy yams.</p> <p>And whenever she expresses her concerns, her mum nonchalantly responds with: "I did with you and you survived". </p> <p>It reached a peak when her mother gave her baby boy some water, which according to The World Health Organisation, children under six months should not be drinking anything else other than breast milk or formula. </p> <p>This is because babies stomachs are very small and their kidneys are still developing, so they are unable to process water in the same way adults do, plus it puts them at risk of water intoxication and nutrition loss.</p> <p>The grandmother blatantly ignored her daughter's request and gave her grandson water anyways responding with, "See, he's fine. He isn't dead."</p> <p>That was the young mum's breaking point and she immediately took her baby away. </p> <p>"She will no longer be watching the baby alone since she is constantly overstepping my boundaries and doing everything I ask her to not do," she wrote. </p> <p>But she said that things are complicated since they're living together and now her mother isn't speaking to her because she made her "feel like a bad parent and grandparent."</p> <p>The young mum questioned whether she was the bad guy in this scenario, but other Reddit users were quick to defend her for setting her boundaries. </p> <p>"One would hope for a *little* bit more for their kid than "not dead"," one wrote. </p> <p>"This is an incredibly low standard for her to be proud of maintaining",  another added. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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“Absolutely disgusted”: Why shoppers are outraged over Woolies Christmas charity request

<p dir="ltr">An outraged shopper has called out Woolworths for asking struggling Aussies to donate to a Christmas charity appeal, despite raking in record-breaking profits. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Woolies shopper snapped a photo of a donation trolley in one of the supermarkets, asking shoppers to donate food to OzHarvest ahead of the festive season. </p> <p dir="ltr">The supermarket, who recorded profits of $1.62 billion in the last financial year, have long been accused of price gouging in the face of the ongoing cost of living crisis. </p> <p dir="ltr">As a result, the angry shopper said the supermarket giant "needs a stern talking to", saying the company should "be forced to donate themselves" as many shoppers are "struggling to put food on the table".</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are in one of the worst cost-of-living crises in Australian history, and Woolworths, a multi-billion dollar company, is currently being accused of price hiking during the crisis", the shopper recently fumed on social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">"But they have the audacity to ask us to donate to those suffering from the cost-of-living crisis, instead of lowering their prices to be affordable or donating themselves."</p> <p dir="ltr">The shopper admitted to wanting to help those in need, but shared they were one of millions of Aussies who had to rethink the way they approached their Christmas shopping as soaring grocery prices continue hurting household budgets.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm absolutely disgusted that they are asking us to buy stuff from their store and donate it instead when they have the audacity to charge $7 for 2kg of potatoes or $7.50 for 4kg of potatoes," the shopper continued in the post on Reddit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite many people sympathising with the shopper’s post, one commenter pointed out that Woolworths has vowed to match all donations from the public to OzHarvest. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Until the 26th December, Woolworths will match your donations to OzHarvest to help provide even more meals to people who need it most this Christmas," it says. "Every 50 cents donated supports OzHarvest to deliver the equivalent of one nutritious meal from our surplus fresh food.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"These funds support the cost of drivers, vans, warehouses, fridges, freezers and more. All helping to ensure that as much fresh, healthy surplus food can get to as many Australians in need of food relief as possible".</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Reddit</em></p>

Money & Banking

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“Now THIS is a gift I can get behind”: Couple praised for unusual wedding request

<p dir="ltr">A young couple have come up with an inventive way to pay off a speeding fine, while asking their friends and family to contribute to the cost. </p> <p dir="ltr">Annabelle and James, from Texas in the US, were less than three weeks away from their wedding when James unfortunately received a speeding fine in the mail. </p> <p dir="ltr">With their wedding budget already at capacity, the young couple weren’t sure how they were going to be able to fork out for the $231 fine. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, they came up with a genius way to deal with the fine: by adding it to their wedding gift registry. </p> <p dir="ltr">Annabelle shared their great idea to TikTok, writing, “Wedding in 26 days, timing couldn't be better.”</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7288095171068103982&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40imthatgurlneb%2Fvideo%2F7288095171068103982&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2FokrbI8IiAf2R6neDQgBDaXXCZ2DEJl8SgCBJIz%3Fx-expires%3D1697760000%26x-signature%3DdT%252FKt%252BrdEhkr8paiK0OSLVuZj0g%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p dir="ltr">In the video, Annabelle showed her fiancé James sitting in front of a computer holding an envelope containing the $231 penalty for driving over the speed limit. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Feel free to support James in his down-bad era on The Knot at Annabelle and James's Wedding Registry,” she wrote in the caption of the clip. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the 15-second-clip, Annabelle showed their registry list on the computer screen, focusing on a section for 'cash fund' on their digital gift wish list and a picture of a police officer issuing the fine.</p> <p dir="ltr">She then zoomed in on James updating their registry, writing 'PLEASE HELP,' as he added the speeding fine to the cash fund.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video has racked up hundreds of thousands of views, with many people praising their inventive way of repaying the fine. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Now this is a wedding gift I can get behind,” one viewer declared.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others also flocked to the comments to share similar stories that happened around their own wedding days. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I got a speeding ticket the night before our wedding... guess it happens to the best of us,” added one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My husband got a speeding ticket the day of our rehearsal dinner, so very relatable,” agreed another. </p> <p dir="ltr">Image credits: TikTok</p>

Relationships

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Michael Bublé reveals disheartening name change request

<p>Canadian icon Michael Bublé has shared that his birth name was unappealing, according to industry bosses.</p> <p>The Sway singer, 47, told <em>9Honey Celebrity</em> that music executives once tried to convince him to change his surname when he was launching his career.</p> <p>"They wanted to change it years ago, the record company… and my dad got really hurt by it," Bublé shared.</p> <p>"So I was really glad we didn't change it, I figured if I was good enough that maybe people would just learn it, but they massacre it everywhere.”</p> <p>However, Bublé, who is of both Canadian and Italian descent, seemingly doesn’t mind some of the nicknames he’s earned over the years.</p> <p>From Australia alone, the superstar has gained the nicknames “Mickey Boobs” and “The Boob”. In Spain, he’s sometimes referred to as Miguel Burbujas which literally translates to "Michael Bubbles”.</p> <p>The star went on to say that thanks to his many visits Down Under, he has learnt the self-deprecating sense of humour Aussies have mastered.</p> <p>"I think you [Australians] are secure enough in yourself that you don't mind taking the piss. I love that you're sweet but I also love that you're tough, not to be messed with," Bublé said of his Aussie fans.</p> <p>"I just love it here. It's cold where I'm from… so to come here like this, people told me, 'You need to dress warm'. But it is so beautiful.”</p> <p>Bublé is keeping currently touring Australia as well as helping kick off the launch of PepsiCo’s latest Aussie product, the line of sparkling water aptly named Bubly</p> <p>The 47-year-old has been in the music industry for over two decades but still marvels at how lucky he feels when he gets on stage.</p> <p>"I love what I do, I love who I do it for… it never gets old," Bublé confessed.</p> <p>"Every single time I'm backstage and I hear that crowd bubbling and there's thousands of people out there who have taken their valuable time and spent their hard-earned money… I remind myself how lucky I am.”</p> <p>Bublé noted he is hyper-vigilant about not taking it all for granted, saying it takes work to “be in the moment”.</p> <p>"Like anybody else, I'll get in a fight with my wife or I'll get worried about what's happening with the kids, it's easy to have a bad day or be grumpy," he said.</p> <p>"It's easy to not be in the moment so I have to remind myself every single night before I go out there of how lucky I am.”</p> <p>Bublé also recalled his earliest memories of touring Australia.</p> <p>He revealed he was booked in for a gig at a small club in Sydney with “about 60 people”.</p> <p>"It was this little basement club in Sydney and I felt like it was huge," Bublé recalled.</p> <p>Although show business comes with a demanding schedule, he manages to keep a positive spirit.</p> <p>"I'm worth 300, 400 million dollars. I'm very wealthy and I'm very sexy," he teased.</p> <p>"I used to have nothing and I was so happy, but I love what I do and I'm so settled. I've got strong faith, beautiful kids and an incredible wife who's so much better than me. And that's my real life, everything else is just a bonus."</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p> <p><em><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/06/PMX0189_static_img1_16x9.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></em></p>

Music

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World-renowned chef shares strangest celeb requests

<p>World-renowned and chef-to-the-stars Jeff Schroeter has had the privilege of catering for some of the world’s biggest names and deepest pockets, and it hasn’t come without its share of surprises. </p> <p>While chatting on <em>I’ve Got News For You</em>, a <em>news.com.au</em> podcast, Schroeter has named some of the strangest requests to come through his kitchen, as well as the familiar faces behind them. </p> <p>First up came Anna Wintour, who has served as Vogue’s editor-in-Chief since 1988 and harbours a not-so-secret craving for tuna in a tin. </p> <p>“She used to dine at least once or twice a week and had a special table … but she’ll go through different phases [of eating],” Schroeter explained. </p> <p>“And during one phase, we had a beautiful tuna niçoise - everyone ate it,” he continued, before noting that “she didn’t like fresh tuna, so she used to bring her own canned tuna and hand it to the waiter, who handed it to the busboy, and [he’d] bring it down to the kitchen.</p> <p>“So I’d make this beautiful niçoise salad, and then open a tin of tuna, and just put it on top. And she loved it.”</p> <p>In another bizarre move by the fashion elite, German designer Karl Lagerfeld once arrived at one of Schroeter’s restaurants with a group of “about 10 to 12” and a request that sent the kitchen scrambling. </p> <p>According to Schroeter, Lagerfeld and his party had been in the mood for “an American hotdog with fries”. But there was just one problem - they didn’t “have any of that!” </p> <p>All was not lost, of course, with the staff managing to come up with a solution. Before the clock struck midnight, a local street vendor saved them with a quick hot dog sale. And in a tale as old as time, McDonalds came to the rescue with the chips. </p> <p>“We sent the other busboy to McDonald’s to buy the fries and come back,” Schroeter said, “we put it on plates, sent it out, and [Lagerfeld] said it was the best meal [he’d had] for a long time.”</p> <p>In what is arguably Schroeter’s most notable diner, Queen Elizabeth often stopped by for her favourite dish. While not particularly unusual on its own, the order served as a clear sign to the kitchen that they had a very royal request on their hands. </p> <p>Apparently, the “50 to 80” chefs who worked at London’s Savoy hotel alongside Schroeter could tell when they had a royal visitor, as “they’ve got heavily armed security guards coming through the kitchens with Alsatians.”</p> <p>“[The royals] always dine in one of the seven private banquet rooms, but we’d know it was the Queen because she always loved the peach Melba,” he went on to explain. “So we knew when there were seven to 10 peach Melbas going to a private room, the Queen must be in the house.”</p> <p>Schroeter also shared his experiences with pop royalty, opening up about the time he was hired - along with four other talented chefs - to cater for Madonna’s 37th birthday celebration. </p> <p>“She booked out the place [the Delano Hotel in Miami] for her birthday, security all around, and she flew in four chefs from around the country,” Schroeter said, “and she picked each one for a particular dish that she loves to eat.</p> <p>“And I was flown down for the one that I call ‘Madonna salmon’. It’s a particular type of salmon and we cut it as a butterfly, and we put it with crushed cucumber, dates, walnuts, shaved fennel, lemon juice, olive oil and sweet basil – then the whole dish just lightens the salmon.</p> <p>“It’s healthy, it’s good for you … It was brilliant, three days down there and all I had to do was one dish. It was the best function I’ve had.”</p> <p>Although he didn’t have the opportunity to properly chat to the music superstar, he came away with a good impression, telling <em>I’ve Got News For You </em>host Andrew Bucklow that she was a “lovely, lovely woman … especially when she knows you’re cooking her favourite dish.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty, @sallyb_sbco / Instagram </em></p>

Food & Wine

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Passenger’s “self-entitled” request sparks unusual confrontation

<p dir="ltr">A passenger’s ridiculous request to another passenger has been subject to a flood of outrage online, after she asked the passenger to turn off their in-flight movie. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sharing the flight experience on Reddit, a 22-year-old woman shared the moment she was approached by a fellow traveller on a Delta flight which led to a series of confrontations. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Today was the first time I've ever had a negative encounter during a flight," she wrote in a lengthy post. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman explained that she was sitting in an aisle seat on a plane when she began watching the newly released action movie <em>Uncharted</em>, which was available on her in-flight entertainment screen. </p> <p dir="ltr">"The flight took off and maybe 10 minutes into it, I got tapped on my shoulder by a woman who is in the aisle behind me and in the aisle seat across from me," she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I ask her if everything is okay and she tells me to turn my movie off. Confused, I asked her why. She said it was because she had not seen the movie and didn't want to see my screen and see any spoilers."</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman kept her composure at the ridiculous request, telling the passenger she was welcome to watch the film on her own screen. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I responded that I was going to keep watching my movie. She huffed and she started to complain, but I just ignored her."</p> <p dir="ltr">While the woman ignored the rest of the complainer’s issues, the confrontation continued when the plane landed. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Once we landed, she immediately jumped from her seat and grabbed her bags and blocked the aisle for all those behind her," she wrote, adding that they were “seated towards the back of the plane and it took some time before people started moving."</p> <p dir="ltr">"By the time it got to our aisle, I stood up and then began to grab my bag from the overhead bin. At the same time I did this, the lady from earlier tried to start walking and then started yelling at me for cutting her off and I should let her go.</p> <p dir="ltr">"By this time I was tired and ready to get off the plane and said, 'ma'am if you were in such a rush to get off, then you should have picked a seat closer to the front or got an upgraded seat'.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"She rolled her eyes and called me a 'stuck up b****' and kept going on and on about how people are so disrespectful these days."</p> <p dir="ltr">In the comments of the Reddit post, the complaining passenger was widely roasted, with the poster being praised for keeping her composure. </p> <p dir="ltr">One comment read, "The self-entitled lady was the a--hole, not you. But take pleasure in this: you lived rent-free in her head for the entire flight, and probably the rest of that whole day."</p> <p dir="ltr">"You were very polite and classy with your response. Good job at keeping a level head and not escalating," was another response, while someone else wrote, "You should have told her the spoilers of the movie, you know in case she missed them." </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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The world’s loneliest home sells after owner’s unusual request met

<p dir="ltr">After sitting on the market for a year, the former owner of the world’s loneliest home has revealed what it took for him to hand over the keys.</p> <p dir="ltr">After landing on the market in June last year, a 50-square-metre home on an island in Maine, US, has been sold for $US 340,000 ($AU 513,000).</p> <p dir="ltr">Billy Milliken, who also works as a real estate agent, told the <em><a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/05/to-buy-the-loneliest-home-in-the-world-youll-need-to-try-it-first/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a></em> that he would sell the tiny property to a buyer willing to stay the night.</p> <p dir="ltr">Duck Ledges Island is home to a single two-bedroom cottage that lacks heating or running water, meaning you’d have to rely on your ability to fish and trips to the windy outhouse to get by.</p> <p dir="ltr">The wooden home, built in 2009, has unparalleled views of the Atlantic Ocean and sits just a few metres from the water’s edge.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Milliken admitted that the home was inappropriate to visit during rough weather, saying it was no “place for man or beast”.</p> <p dir="ltr">His family and friends have also opted to make day trips to the island, rather than endure staying the night.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In our lives, we’re busy, and there’s so many distractions, but when you’re out on that island, you really feel small,” Mr Milliken told the <em>Post.</em> </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s very healthy to be there alone where you can really listen to yourself. You’re a guest of nature when you’re there.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The longer I own the island. I understand even more that it is a special place.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/me/addison/0-wohoa-bay-island/pid_42070630/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The listing</a> highlights the natural views, thanks to a lack of neighbours and trees, as well as the “constant entertainment” provided by seals on the ledges surrounding the island.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is no better place to spend the weekend in the world!” it says.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c8e61c3d-7fff-32df-288c-87537f9250f8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Dean Tyler Photography (Zillow)</em></p>

Real Estate

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Grieving stepdad slams new bride after "delusional" request

<p>A new bride has been slammed online by her stepfather, after demanding compensation from guests who missed her wedding ceremony to attend a funeral. </p> <p>The grieving man shared the story of his wife's daughter on Reddit, explaining the "delusional" decisions of his 27-year-old stepdaughter. </p> <p>Posting on Reddit's "Am I the A**hole?" thread, he wrote, "My stepdaughter Tara, 27, recently got married."</p> <p>"Six days before her wedding my father died unexpectedly. The people invited to her wedding from my family was myself, my two kids, my brother, and one of my sisters."</p> <p>The man explained that he had flown to another state to see his mother after hearing of his father's passing, while his wife stayed at home to help prepare for the upcoming wedding. </p> <p>"[My family] were aware of Tara's wedding and tried to be mindful of it and also give our family time to get in town for the funeral," he explained.</p> <p>"The funeral home serves the area my parents live in and the dates available for service were 3 before the wedding, day of the wedding, day after the wedding. They went with the day after."</p> <p>He went on to explain how his siblings understandably skipped the wedding due to the logistics of being able to attend both the wedding and the funeral that were happening several hours away. </p> <p>"My kids and I stayed for Tara's wedding, took photos, and left right after the ceremony since it was a 6-hour drive, and airline prices were insanely high and I'd already dropped a good bit of money on the first flight after dad died," he said.</p> <p>"Day after the funeral, those of us who missed the wedding were sent requests for $125 by Tara as a refund for meal and favor bags," he shared.</p> <p>"My kids and siblings asked if she was serious and I told them I'd call her to find out. When I called, she said she was serious and we had cost her money and owed her for missing her wedding."</p> <p>The man said that both his wife and his stepdaughter said the group should have left after the ceremony, despite the man already giving countless reasons why that was not possible. </p> <p>"My brother and sister couldn't afford two plane tickets or get that many days off, and they had sent their apologies and wedding gifts to her. I also pointed out we couldn't all fit in one car to drive there," he continued.</p> <p>"My wife insists I should pay all the refunds and my mother shouldn't have scheduled a funeral the day after the wedding and worse for me to leave on Tara's wedding day."</p> <p>When he asked Reddit users for their opinion on if he and his family were in the wrong, they did not hold back.</p> <p>"I am really shocked by how calm you seem about this. This was unthinkably callous on her part," one wrote.</p> <p>One person put it bluntly, commenting: "There are a few reasons why missing a wedding after rsvp'ing yes is acceptable and that includes a death in the family/funeral. There is something seriously wrong with your wife and step daughter."</p> <p>"That was your dad's funeral. She's delusional and so is your wife," added another.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Look after her, Bert": Patti Newton's sweet request

<p>Patti Newton has shared a loving tribute to Olivia Newton-John following her death at 73.</p> <p>Patti took to Instagram to post the heart-warming message, which featured her late husband Bert alongside the famed actress at the Logie Awards in 1982.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChCXTTmp70k/?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/ChCXTTmp70k/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Patti Newton (@pattinewtonofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“This beautiful lady has been an inspiration to us all. Always in our hearts. Look after her Bert. Love you both.” She captioned the post.</p> <p>The photo was quickly inundated with sweet messages and tributes from fans.</p> <p>"What a beautiful photo of two legends and icons and well said Patti," one fan commented.</p> <p>"Beautiful memory of two of Australia's wonderful entertainers. I will miss them both," wrote another.</p> <p>"Heaven has gained another beautiful person. Rest In Peace beautiful Olivia," added a third.</p> <p>Bert Newton unfortunately died last year following a health battle, at age 83. Patti laid her husband to rest in November 2021.</p> <p>Olivia <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died peacefully at the age of 73 </a>in her home in Southern California on Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Melissa Caddick’s husband’s surprise request

<p dir="ltr">The husband of fraudster Melissa Caddick has asked for the Federal Court action against him to be dropped. </p> <p dir="ltr">The conwoman, 49, was last seen leaving her $15 million property in Dover Heights in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on November 11, 2020. </p> <p dir="ltr">Caddick was being investigated by Australian Investment and Securities Commission (ASIC) before her disappearance and was accused of stealing millions of dollars from her victims - mostly friends and family - to fund her lifestyle.</p> <p dir="ltr">She disappeared a day after the raid and her hairdresser husband Anthony Koletti, 39, has been dismissed of any wrongdoing. </p> <p dir="ltr">ASIC estimated that Caddick owed $23 million and seized various assets which also saw her husband caught in the mix. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Koletti was ordered in May to move out of the mega-million mansion which cost only $6.2 million in 2014 which Caddick bought from unsuspected investors. </p> <p dir="ltr">He agreed to move out but also argued that he was entitled to the $4 million Edgecliff apartment, $7 million in shares and $2 million in jewellery and clothes, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/melissa-caddicks-husband-anthony-koletti-wants-federal-court-proceedings-against-him-stopped/news-story/49d48995c5787466f7062f51a6bd927a?utm_campaign=EditorialSB&amp;utm_source=news.com.au&amp;utm_medium=Facebook&amp;utm_content=SocialBakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court documents also showed that Mr Koletti asked for almost $100,000 worth of “personal property” to be returned to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Edgecliff property includes five paintings, jewellery, Mr Koletti’s $26,500 wedding band as well as a Gucci wedding dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday, the court heard that Mr Koletti wanted the legal proceedings against him dropped, the publication reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">His lawyer Judy Swan said that the property was not as valuable as he thought and of no concern, particularly after how the media portrayed him. </p> <p dir="ltr">The request is being considered and Ms Swan is hoping for the proceedings to be dropped by the time the case returns to court on July 25.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

News

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New details of Chris Dawson trial after suppression request rejected

<p>In the first day of trial, detailed allegations have emerged surrounding Chris Dawson, the footballer-turned-high-school teacher, and that he allegedly wanted to hire a hitman to murder his wife Lynnette.</p> <p>73-year-old Dawson arrived in Sydney from the Sunshine Coast on Sunday night ahead of his trial in the NSW Supreme Court, where it was determined that details from the trial are not private, and can be revealed. Judge Ian Harrison rejected an application from lawyers for both the defence and crown to have the case suppressed under blanket non-publication orders.</p> <p>Lawyers applied to have the entire trial, including the verdict, suppressed and argued the reporting could prejudice further court proceedings in the coming months.</p> <p>The judge-alone trial is expected to go for six to eight weeks where Crown prosecutor Craig Everson will allege Dawson killed Lynette, who vanished in January 1982.</p> <p>The 33-year-old disappeared from the family’s home at Bayview, on Sydney’s northern beaches, leaving behind her two children.</p> <p>In his opening address, Mr Everson told the court the couple were both just 21 when they got married in 1970 but were not able to have children around the same time as Mr Dawson’s twin brother, Paul. This caused a “level of animosity” from Mr Dawson to his wife, Mr Everson said.</p> <p>On the way home from a trip to the Gold Coast with his teammates from the Newtown Jets in October 1975, Mr Dawson allegedly asked Robert Silkman if he “knew someone who could get rid of his wife”.</p> <p>Five years later, the court heard Mr Dawson developed a sexual relationship with a student at the high school where he was a teacher and he became “infatuated with her”.</p> <p>“He repeatedly asked her to marry him,” Mr Everson said.</p> <p>In December 1981, the court heard Mr Dawson valued the house he shared with Lynnette at Bayview before the next day leaving his family and moving to Queensland with the student to “start a new life”.</p> <p>The pair returned to Sydney four days later and the court heard the student ended the relationship in December 1981. Mr Dawson begged her to call him as she went on holiday with friends the following month.</p> <p>“The crown alleges that on or about the 8th of January 1982 the accused alone or with the involvement of another person murdered Lynnette Dawson,” Mr Everson told the court.</p> <p>“Then later he disposed of her body at an unknown location.”</p> <p>It is the crown case that Mr Dawson was “motivated to kill Lynnette” by his desire to have a relationship with the student. A week later he brought the student back to his house and told her “Lynette was gone and wouldn’t be coming back”, the court heard.</p> <p>However, Mr Dawson allegedly told friends and family his wife had left him with the children and had called him a few times, before reporting her missing six weeks later.</p> <p>Mr Everson told the court the student is expected to give evidence that Mr Dawson told her he contemplated getting a hitman against his wife, but “decided against it because innocent people would be hurt”.</p> <p>The trial continues.</p> <p><em>Image: Channel 9</em></p>

News

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Warnie's family make special request for stadium name change

<p>The family of Shane Warne have reportedly requested that The Great Southern Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground be renamed the Shane Warne stand.</p> <p>This request comes just days after it was earlier announced the seating block would be called the S.K. Warne Stand in honour of the late sporting legend. </p> <p>According to 7News sports reporter Tom Browne, Warnie's family told the MCG that they believe Shane would be in favour of their preferred memorial option. </p> <p>“My understanding is that it will be called the Shane Warne stand,” Browne said.</p> <p>“I spoke to a senior government source who emphasised the final decision will be down to the Warne family.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shane Warne's family is asking the MCC to rethink the plan to rename the Great Southern Stand in his honour. <a href="https://twitter.com/TomBrowne7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomBrowne7</a> with exclusive details. <a href="https://t.co/5zYfOfohG3">https://t.co/5zYfOfohG3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7NEWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7NEWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/hRPJbyDLa1">pic.twitter.com/hRPJbyDLa1</a></p> <p>— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1503631021174001666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announced the initial name change after the news of Warnie’s shocking death of a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Thailand.</p> <p>Mr Andrews said at the time it would be “a permanent tribute to an amazing Victorian”.</p> <p>He said, “I’ve just informed the Warne family that the Government will rename the Great Southern Stand at the MCG - the place he took his hat trick and 700th wicket - to honour Shane and his contribution to the game.”</p> <p>Shane Warne's memorial service is due to be held at the MCG on March 30th, with 50,000 public ballot tickets up for grabs. </p> <p>Information on how to go in the running for a coveted ticket will be shared by the MCG closer to the date of the event.</p> <p>Memorial services will also be held at the SCG and other sporting stadiums around Australia, which will be live-streamed to sports fans around the globe. </p> <p>The Sydney event will be unticketed with free entry, and will include live tributes to the cricketer and footage of his achievements at SCG.  </p> <p>NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the final details of the SCG event were still being finalised but the event would be run alongside the Melbourne Cricket Ground service. </p> <p>"We are working through that at the moment with (Venues NSW chairman) Tony Shepherd and the team at Cricket Australia," he said.</p> <p>"We want to run those events alongside each other. Obviously, we will live stream the memorial service in the MCG – that's incredibly important."</p> <p>Mr Perrottet said he believed it was important NSW residents had the opportunity to say goodbye to the sporting legend. </p> <p>"Shane Warne is the greatest cricketer I've seen of that generation and well loved by the people of NSW even though he was a Victorian," he said.</p> <p>"I think it's important that we provide the opportunity for people to come to the cricket ground and pay their respects to Shane and to his family and his friends." </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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“I have standards”: Woman’s dating request rejected for bizarre reason

<p dir="ltr">A woman was left shocked after her date cancelled their first meeting – all because she asked to meet at Starbucks. </p> <p dir="ltr">Taking to Twitter, the woman named Colleen shared the odd exchange she’d had with the man whom she’d matched with on a dating app.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the screenshots of their text conversation, Colleen begins by asking the man named Matt if he is free to grab a coffee at the chain on Thursday, The Sun reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">Well, the invite was enough to put Matt off entirely.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/Screenshots.jpg" alt="" width="648" height="433" /></p> <p dir="ltr">He replies saying: “Starbucks? …</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah I’m not sure this is going to work. You seem nice and all, but I have standards – obviously you don’t.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m trying to build a vision and work towards the finer things in life, and that starts with people on my own wavelength. Starbucks just f**ks up the vibe.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Dumbfounded, Colleen captioned her tweet: “I literally cannot take online dating anymore how is a guy going to be insane about a Starbucks date ?????”</p> <p dir="ltr">It has since gone viral, amassing over 71,000 likes on Twitter, but there was one person who didn’t see the funny side.</p> <p dir="ltr">Matt then screenshotted Colleen’s tweet and sent it back to her, writing “Is this you? How embarrassing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Colleen reports she has now blocked the man’s number and hopefully his dating profile too. </p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-9f531bfe-7fff-214f-c5b0-d8d1d9fb9e90">Images: Getty / Twitter</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Charlise Mutten's accused killer fronts court with two requests

<p dir="ltr">The man accused of murdering his stepdaughter Charlise Mutten has made two requests via his lawyers, including that he be kept separate from other prisoners while in custody.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nine-year-old Charlise’s body was found on Tuesday night in a barrel near the Colo River - about an hour from where she disappeared on a private property in Mount Wilson, in NSW's Blue Mountains, last week.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justin Stein<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/man-charged-with-murder-of-missing-9-year-old" target="_blank">was arrested</a><span> </span>by police that night, before appearing in Central Local Court on Wednesday morning.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Stein did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.</p> <p dir="ltr">His barrister told Magistrate Robert Williams that the 31-year-old needed his medication for mental health issues while in custody, and that Stein was concerned for his own safety.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The other matter I’m instructed to raise relates to his concerns for personal safety in custody,” the barrister<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10419847/Charlise-Mutten-Stepdad-Justin-Stein-fears-safety-prison-charged-murder.html" target="_blank">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He has asked the court to recommend a no association classification.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Magistrate Williams said Corrective Services could only separate the accused from other prisoners.</p> <p dir="ltr">The barrister also requested a 12-week adjournment from the court to seek a mental health assessment for Mr Stein, noting his “long-term medication”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The hearing comes after police alleged Mr Stein drove around Sydney with Charlise’s body in the back of a boat for hours while he tried to find a place to dump her, the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/charlise-muttens-accused-killer-justin-stein-drove-around-sydney-with-her-body/news-story/79a4494a4ac0a842b010f7df7c3716a4" target="_blank"><em>Daily Telegraph</em></a><span> </span>reports.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is understood that detectives believe her mother Kallista Mutten had left Charlise in her fiance Mr Stein’s care on Tuesday night - the last time she was confirmed to be alive.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police will allege that Charlise was killed within 15 hours, sometime between 7 pm on Tuesday, January 11 and 10 am Wednesday, January 12.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846933/charlise1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fc6373651a4841a2b9c62fa63db7d754" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Dozens of volunteers from the NSW Rural Fire Service and SES joined police to search for Charlise Mutten before her body was found on Tuesday. Image: NSW Rural Fire Service (Facebook)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The young girl was then reported missing from the Blue Mountains property where she was holidaying with her mother and stepfather on Friday morning.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her grandparents, who live in Coolangatta on Queensland’s Gold Coast, had full time custody of Charlise and have been notified.</p> <p dir="ltr">Detectives have said they are still waiting to speak to Ms Mutten because she is under “medical supervision” in hospital and is “difficult to approach”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The mother is currently under healthcare and is difficult to approach,” Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She’s under medical supervision, but when doctors allow, we will be talking to her.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Hudson also said it was too early to determine whether Mr Stein had an accomplice or acted alone, though police were able to trace Mr Stein’s movements using CCTV.</p> <p dir="ltr">The deputy commissioner said police were able to establish certain facts about Mr Stein’s movements after tracking a car they seized via CCTV.</p> <p dir="ltr">He allegedly bought five 20kg sandbags from Bunnings, fuelled up a boat, and attempted to launch it from a dock in inner Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police then allege that Mr Stein attempted to dump the barrel containing Charlise’s body in the Colo River after finding the boat was inoperable. However, they allege he was unable to roll it in due to the heavy sandbags, instead dumping Charlise in the scrub where she was later found.</p> <p dir="ltr">At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mr Hudson said authorities will allege that Mr Stein discussed buying sandbags and boat fuel in “a number of telephone conversations” before he travelled to the riverbed where his stepdaughter was found.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(There were) a number of telephone conversations, to purchase a number of sandbags,” Mr Hudson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police were initially investigating a number of “anomalies” they claimed to find in Mr Stein’s initial testimony, including allegedly giving two separate versions of events leading up to Charlise’s disappearance.</p> <p dir="ltr">More details about the young girl’s death and final moments are expected to emerge in the coming days, after her post-mortem results are shared with detectives.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: NSW Police / Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Allison Langdon shuts down Karl's festive request

<p>After hosting <em>Today</em> together for two years, Allison Langdon is putting her foot down after a request from Karl Stefanovic. </p> <p>Karl approached Allison and asked if he could host the annual <em>Carols by Candlelight</em> event with her, to which she said no.</p> <p>Speaking with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/allison-langdon-christmas-carols-by-candlelight-70373" target="_blank">Woman's Day</a>, Allison explained why he won't be making an appearance. </p> <p>“I just told him no,” she admitted.</p> <p>“He was desperate to co-host but David Campbell and I have such amazing singing voices - a real talent that unfortunately Karl lacks!”</p> <p>Despite Karl's forced absence, Allison said she is very excited to have a live audience at <em>Carols</em> this year, after last year's crowd was unable to be present due to the pandemic. </p> <p>“I can't wait to be surrounded by people, particularly the little kids, singing together at the top of our lungs farewelling a year that has been pretty [tough] on a lot of people,” she added.</p> <p>“I can't wait to celebrate with our families and loved ones, all the things we are grateful for.”</p> <p>The 84th annual event will see a host of Australian musicians take to the stage to celebrate the festive season with fan-favourite Christmas carols. </p> <p>Performers including Dami Im, Casey Donovan, Lucy Durack and Isaiah Firebrace will belt out their favourite festive tunes, before <span>the cast of the musicals </span><em>Hamilton, Moulin Rouge </em><span>and </span>Frozen will also take to the stage.</p> <p><em>Carols by Candlelight</em> will air on Nine at 8:00pm on December 24th. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s controversial request to Queen

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have an offer to the Queen that has left courtiers surprised.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple have offered to fly in to see the Queen and introduce her to great-granddaughter Lillibet, if the monarch agrees to meet them in the coming weeks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Harry has also extended an “olive branch” to his family as he and Meghan plan Lillibet’s christening, with hopes to hold it at Windsor Castle.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, senior staff are said to be stunned by the request, which has come months after the couple criticised the Royal Family in their controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Harry and Meghan have made this offer but a lot of people are shocked by the sheer nerve of it,” a source said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They may genuinely want to see the Queen but it’s breathtaking given what they’ve put her through this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Her Majesty’s staff have not responded so far. In fact there has also been discussion about Christmas - and whether an invitation should be sent to Harry and Meghan, after they spurned one last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The source continued to say that the Queen still holds affection for Harry, and “would love to see Lillibet and her brother Archie”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But courtiers are surprised by the move, especially from Meghan, after what has happened.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following Harry’s solo return to the UK to unveil the statue of Princess Diana, insiders say he is not likely to return until his 37th birthday on September 15.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Queen Elizabeth is also bracing for Harry’s memoir, due to be released next year, and has reportedly ordered staff to be ready to refute any claims in the book, according to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sun</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The family are concerned he will go into his feelings about Diana’s death, her treatment by the royals and how he initially felt about his father’s relationship with Camillia,” one source said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s why it’s all the more surprising that this offer for a meeting has been made now.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Buckingham Palace declined to comment.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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No grandma: Bride slammed over wedding request

<p>A bride has received a flood of backlash on social media for making an unusual request of her soon-to-be husband. </p> <p>The woman is being dubbed a bridezilla for asking her <span>fiancé not to invite his 98-year-old grandmother to their wedding, saying she would be "out of place".</span></p> <p><span>"We've been having a serious argument about having his grandmother at our wedding," the 28-year-old bride wrote online. </span></p> <p><span>The bride said the couple had made the decision to not allow children at the wedding, as they want </span>their reception to be "a huge party", with an open bar, loud music and dancing for all of their adult guests. </p> <p>The bride went on to explain that she doesn't want the groom's grandmother to attend because of the nature of the party at the reception. </p> <p><span>"I said she can come to the ceremony but not the reception," the bride wrote.</span></p> <p><span>"It will be extremely loud and I want it to be a party atmosphere, and she will be extremely out of place."</span></p> <p><span>The bride's proposal caused a "huge fight" between the couple, as well as with the groom's family, as the </span>grandmother had always dreamed of attending her grandson's wedding. </p> <p><span>"He is her oldest grandchild and she probably won't make it to the next family wedding," the bride explains.</span></p> <p><span>The grandmother is the </span>last living grandparent of the soon-to-be married couple, and the groom wants her to attend. </p> <p>He has insisted that his grandmother will be find and "wants to go to the party".</p> <p><span>"I just know it will inevitably lead to us dealing with her and taking care of her, and I just want to get drunk and let loose with my friends," the bride said.</span></p> <p><span>According to the bride, the groom's grandmother is "really upset" and refuses to speak to her, and her fiancé is angry with her as well.</span></p> <p><span>The bride, however, feels like she is allowed to make this request, saying, "I am the bride after all."</span></p> <p><span>Online commenters did not agree with her, saying "If I was your partner I'd be noticing the red flags."</span></p>

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