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Man set to marry 9th wife two days after they met

Ron Shepard, 70, is Britain’s most famous monogamist and is set to marry a 32-year-old after his latest fiancé, 28-year-old Cristel Lalec, dumped him in November 2017. Ron, who has been married eight times – with his relationships spanning a variation of lengths, ranging from 11 years to just 8 months – admitted, “I have been lonely over the last 10 months and I just want to be with someone who I can love and trust.” The 70-year-old was married to his seventh wife Wan when he met a young 15-year-old Cristel for the first time – a mutual friend of Wan’s – whilst on holiday in Thailand with a group of friends. Shortly after his next marriage to wife number 8, Weng, ended, Ron proposed to Cristel. Cristel, who is planning to be wife number 9, initiated the relationship with Ron on an online adult dating site, reports The Sun. “She messaged me on Friday and we’ve spoken loads since and she said she doesn’t want to speak to anyone else,” Ron informed The Sun. Meanwhile, Ron continues to boast about his female pursuers, claiming, “It’s been incredible. I’ve got 60 pages of notifications from women of all ages, including married ones who want to have a fling.” Ron is a father to eight children from his previous marriages, and admitted, “People have said if I keep going I’ll end up with a football team. I think it’s a case of just wait and see.” Ron’s previous marriages: <ol> <li>Margaret – 1966, married for 2 years with three children before divorcing in 1968.</li> <li>Jeanette – 1973, married for one year.</li> <li>Lesley – 1976, Lesley and Ron had two sons together before he walked out in 1981.</li> <li>Kathy – 1982, married for four years with one daughter before splitting.</li> <li>Sue – 1986, Sue and Ron shared 11 years of marriage and had two sons. She eventually threw him out in 1997.</li> <li>Usha – 1999, married four years.</li> <li>Wan – 2003, moved home to Bangkok after 8 months of marriage.</li> <li>Weng – 2004, parted ways in 2015</li> </ol> What do you think of Ron marrying for a 9th time? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Relationships

The $22 mascara Duchess Meghan swears by

Women around the world fawn over the Duchess of Sussexs’ natural and glowy everyday look. Now Meghan’s former makeup artist, Lydia Sellers, has recently shared the items the duchess always has on hand, from the $22 mascara to her favourite foundation. The 37-year-old’s long-time favourite mascara is $22 Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious. Sellers said to <a href="https://us.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/makeup/2018052348879/meghan-markle-favourite-mascara/">Hello!</a>, “Meghan actually introduced me to a drugstore mascara. I keep it stocked in my kit now at all times thanks to her!” <img style="width: 500px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821715/mascara.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4c8d2fb76c264934bdee06c84f95ce46" /> For her face, the Duchess relies on high end Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation retailing at AUD$99. Sellers shares that Meghan uses the shade 6.25 with a few drops of 5.5. Meghan uses a damp original beauty blender sponge, AUD$30, to buff out the foundation for a ‘sheer and natural effect’. A YSL product, Touche Eclat Radiance Perfecting Pen, is Meghan’s ultimate concealer. “If you’ve worked a 17-hour day and have nothing else on, you will still look relatively alive,” Meghan said praising the product. With a price tag of AUD$70 this high-end product “brightens underneath the eye and in the inner corners” and has fans around the globe hooked. Sellers revealed the RMS Beauty Magic Luminiser, AUD$55, “is a favourite when working with Meghan because of its subtlety”. As well as loving a pop of colour for her cheeks with NARS blush in ‘Orgasm’, AUD$44, Meghan has explained the product gives “the perfect rosy flush tone that brightens the face”. For skincare, Meghan relies on Nivea Q10 Plus firming lotion, a bargain at just AUD$7. “I use this religiously. It’s honestly my favourite lotion on the market, it’s so affordable, and makes my skin look and feel amazing. I would buy a case of this at a time if I could find it,” Meghan told <a href="https://beautybanter.com/banter-babe-meghan-markle">Beauty Banter</a>. Out of these beauty products which ones would you buy and why? Let us know in the comments.

Beauty & Style

Christmas banned in this Australian suburb – is it yours?

Christmas is usually a time for festivities and walking quiet suburban streets with your family to see breathtaking Christmas light displays out the front of houses. While some may think Christmas isn’t complete without decorations to mark the special holiday period, Casey council in Victoria has decided to make the festive tradition a sombre one, forcing the south-east Melbourne suburb of Narre Warren to pay the council up to $23,000 or they will shut down their annual Christmas light displays. The residents of Hugo Court have taken to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/XmasatHugo/posts/1051704318344607?__xts__%5b0%5d=68.ARBA4E6LJb6ZD1as2IiS8TO95_-bjXu2OOCgUnI2roVRygUbHGSDTgmMh7i-FmtGxE5AXnZNmUTr3MLfb_Qup6IlX62Ekw8Zb2lkyl5JIxq9No3Ke3U45m-N5q5S8leBSIW3DxT2gDjLHXfX4dTNGfGySx0LsT3YBJO3BoDhCwtOeCiYfa_YPWl0WknW7-aoV_qmYfUZpc_LJtnsA_5RYUY&__tn__=-R">Facebook</a> to share the absurd news with their fans stating, “with thousands of people coming to check out our Christmas court, we now have got too big. “Due to the number of visitors we are getting we are now classed as an event and to run an event we must supply traffic management and public liability insurance which costs tens of thousands of dollars, traffic management alone is $23,000,” according to the Hugo Court Facebook post. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FXmasatHugo%2Fphotos%2Fa.851704278344613%2F851704211677953%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="380" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Sadly, “there will be no lights this year at all”, the Facebook group wrote. Without council assistance the displays are said to have become “too big to handle”, confided a display organiser. A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/XmasatHugo/posts/1052151464966559?__xts__%5b0%5d=68.ARBdl0P6aIFEPrrzcWBOpvF-T2ZqE1a1FGMKsDjwe1zy14nHRommrqzdak8eOIXIBld65_SxQ5jLn13s9mhQBWBsSGU774q6WmOdf3tCTCwktdcJK64mJg20StLZrC4C8pcJsjzTTG7hphlVp-3lgc4-T3Z-a4-VxxJ7FUCnx1TOVlnFL0Od8QQr7jHa46tuwClYcNyH4hUP1CntxWDKQqY&__tn__=-R">follow-up Facebook post</a> shared that the Christmas light show has put a lot of strain on neighbours in surrounding streets as “they have to put up with not being able to get into their properties, noise, rubbish and people parking on their lawns”. People on social media have reacted with backlash towards the council for lacking Christmas spirit, even comparing the council to the famous Dr Seuss character the Grinch. Other followers offered support by suggesting a public protest and setting up a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds to enable Hugo Court to maintain their Christmas light show tradition. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FXmasatHugo%2Fposts%2F1051704318344607&width=500" width="500" height="388" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> In a comment on the follow-up post, Geordie Nicholson spoke on behalf of the council stating, “The residents of Hugo Court alone made the decision not to conduct their much-loved annual Christmas light display this year. “Sadly it appears it has become a victim of its own success, following concerns around traffic management and anti-social behaviour over the past few years.” Nicholson also shed light on the council’s participation in previous years and revealed the “council had been working hard with the residents to find ways to conduct the event safely including offering financial assistance and training for volunteers”. She concluded “should the residents decide to conduct the event in future years, Council stands ready to assist”. Do you think Hugo Court should turn their Christmas lights off this year? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Legal

Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s adorable name for their grandfather Prince Charles

While Prince Charles has many important duties to tend to, one of his most treasured roles is being the grandfather to his grandchildren – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and soon-to-be Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's child. And just like all families, a grandparent must decide what they want their grandchildren to call them. However, unlike most families, the heir to the British throne has many more options to choose from and must also consider ‘royal protocol’. Luckily, five-year-old George and three-year-old Charlotte don’t have to refer to their grandfather as “His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales”, as it would be quite a mouthful for them. Referring to him as “Your Royal Highness” would also be quite formal for the sweet young royals. So, what do George and Charlotte call their grandfather? It turns out Prince William and Kate’s two oldest children refer to Prince Charles as ‘Grandpa Wales’, reported <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/auhome/index.html">The Daily Mail.</a> While the name is an obvious nod to Charles’ title as the Prince of Wales, the name also holds some family history. The name stems back to Queen Elizabeth II’s name for her grandfather King George V, which was “Grandpa England”. It is also believed that George and Charlotte refer to Camilla Parker Bowles as “Ga-Ga” and their great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II as “Gan-Gan”. Prince Charles and Camilla have a soft spot for their grandchildren, with the couple reportedly hosting an annual garden party for their grandchildren and their friends every June. "In 2016 there were about 90 children tucking into sandwiches, cakes and jellies, and roaring around the garden at Clarence House, having tugs of war and watching spellbound as magicians did tricks and entertainers made them laugh," reported Good Housekeeping. What do your grandchildren call you? Let us know in the comments below.

Family & Pets

How to strengthen your stomach muscles safely

It’s important to strengthen stomach muscles but often exercises like sit-ups can leave people putting an unhealthy strain on their neck or spine. In this video, Taylor Harrison – author, senior’s health expert and Director of <a href="http://www.activeseniors.net.au/">Active Seniors Health Centre</a> – shows you how you can strengthen your stomach muscles in a safe and effective way. <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/298935142" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/298935142">Untitled</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/oversixty">OverSixty.com.au</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. To see more videos and articles on improving your health and fitness from Taylor Harrison, <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/search.aspx?Keyword=taylor+harrison">click here</a>. Will you be trying out this exercise? Let us know in the comments below.

Caring

Sticky prune and ginger teabread

The texture of this irresistible teabread is a mixture of crumbly ginger-spiced cake and a sticky, sweet prune purée that is rippled through it. The teabread keeps well – in fact, it improves after being stored for a day or two – and is a good choice for an energy-giving lunch box sweet. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup (220g) pitted prunes, coarsely chopped</li> <li>100ml strong Earl Grey tea, cooled</li> <li>115g unsalted butter</li> <li>⅓ cup (80g) soft brown sugar</li> <li>¼ cup (90g) golden syrup</li> <li>2 cups (30 g) self-raising flour</li> <li>½ teaspoon baking powder</li> <li>½ teaspoon ground cinnamon</li> <li>1 egg, beaten</li> <li>90ml low-fat milk</li> <li>⅓ cup (75g) glacé ginger, chopped</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 160°C.</li> <li>Use baking paper to line a large loaf tin measuring 23 × 13 × 6cm.</li> <li>Place the prunes and tea in a small saucepan and bring to the boil.</li> <li>Reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid has been absorbed.</li> <li>Tip the prunes into a food processor or blender and process to a fairly smooth purée. Set aside. Place the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan and heat gently until just melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.</li> <li>Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the warm syrup mixture, the egg and milk, and beat well to mix thoroughly.</li> <li>Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the chopped ginger and stir the rest into the cake mixture.</li> <li>Spoon about one-third of the cake mixture into the prepared tin and spread over the bottom.</li> <li>Top with about half the prune purée, spreading it into an even layer. Add another third of the cake mixture and spread out evenly, then spread the remaining prune purée over that.</li> <li>Finally, spoon the remaining batter on top and smooth it out. Sprinkle the reserved chopped ginger over the surface of the cake.</li> <li>Bake for 1-1¼ hours, or until well risen, golden brown and firm to the touch.</li> <li>Cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.</li> <li>Wrap in foil and store for at least 24 hours before slicing. The teabread will keep for up to a week.</li> </ol> This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/sticky-prune-and-ginger-teabread">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Food & Wine

7 ways you're jinxing your own happiness

Susan Krauss Whitbourne is a professor of Psychology and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She writes the Fulfilment at Any Age blog for Psychology Today. Your next vacation is months away, and as you make your hotel and air reservations, a small and annoying thought creeps into your consciousness. What if someone in your group gets sick, and you’re not able to go? Or maybe you’re planning to visit a part of the world that’s prone to storms and/or earthquakes. What if one of those calamities strikes? You would definitely feel bad for the people whose lives are disrupted by these horrific events, but you couldn't help but feel cheated out of a good time by factors outside of your control should these occur. Thinking ahead to an event that should be enjoyable with these annoying feelings of trepidation can undoubtedly detract from the pleasure of the experience altogether. Part of the fun of such pleasant events as going on vacation, attending a wedding (or having your own), or seeing a concert or play is the thrill you get of counting down as the big day gets closer and closer. By the same token, after the event is over, you can now think back on it with pleasure, as you recall its high points, or you can focus on all the things that went wrong. Even worse, while in the midst of what should be a pleasurable occasion, you find it impossible not to think that it will soon end. These types of ruminations fall into the category of common mindset traps in your “mental time travel”. As noted by University of Exeter (in the United Kingdom) psychologist Barnaby Dunn and colleagues (2018), “much of our conscious life” is taken up by this type of thinking (p. 19). The authors note that when the mental time travel takes on a negative cast, people will not work as hard to get the rewards associated with pleasant events, nor will they learn from their experiences. Their “affect as information” perspective proposes that “the actions we take are in large part shaped by the information conveyed by our affective experience” (p. 20). To be able to regulate your <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/motivation">motivation</a>, they argue, you should be able to “anticipate, experience and remember positive affect” (p. 20). If you can’t, those events you so eagerly await and remember will lose their ability to enhance your <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/happiness">happiness</a>. The tendency to dwell on the negative in imagining the future or remembering the past, as Dunn et al. point out, is a hallmark of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/depression">depression</a>. By using a “dampening appraisal” of your experiences, you'll feel less of the hedonic pleasure that gives so much zest to life. While you’re in the middle of an enjoyable experience, if you have these thoughts, you’re bound to miss out on whatever good things are legitimately happening to you. Across two studies of undergraduate participants, the Exeter psychologists contrasted the impact of remembering a past event and anticipating one in the future with either “amplifying” or “dampening” instructions. The amplifying instructions encouraged a positive mood state by telling participants to think about their positive feelings “as the start of good things to come,” “about how you are living up to your potential”, and “how happy you feel”. In the dampening condition, participants were told to “think about why the feelings of positivity … are too good to last, why you don’t deserve these positive feelings and what things could go wrong as a result of these positive feelings” (p. 23). As the authors expected, participants experienced stronger feelings of sadness after the dampening instructions, even though the events they were either anticipating or recalling were inherently positive. The instructions to amplify their positive emotions had no impact on feelings of happiness among the participants. In other words, telling a person to “think positive” has less of an impact than telling a person not to “think negative.” In fact, as shown by a more detailed analysis of the findings, it seems that the dampening instructions actually magnify whatever dampening appraisals people ordinarily make of their life experiences. Let’s take a look, then, at what those dampening appraisals consist of. In a supplemental paper, the authors show which specific thoughts lead people to focus on the negative when thinking forward or backward about their experiences. See how much you agree with these 7 statements with regard to the way you feel about a positive event in your life: <ol> <li> You think about things that could go wrong.</li> <li> You think, “I don’t deserve this.”</li> <li> You think, “My streak of luck is going to end soon.”</li> <li> You remind yourself that these feelings won’t last.</li> <li> You think about the things that have not gone well for you.</li> <li> You think about how hard it is to concentrate.</li> <li> You think, “People will think I am bragging.”</li> </ol> If you’re agreeing more than you’re disagreeing with these statements, it means that you will have trouble finding joy in your experiences. As the Dunn et al. study showed, furthermore, these thoughts don’t just impair your <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/memory">memories</a> for the past. When you dredge up these thoughts as you plan an event such as a vacation, party or night on the town, you’re <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/priming">priming</a> yourself to let your thoughts wander in a pessimistic direction. In the words of the authors, “If an individual engages in dampening appraisals, recalling a positive memory and anticipating a positive future event turns into an active negative mood induction (rather than simply a less effective positive mood induction).” It becomes hard to escape this negative mood induction once it’s activated. The British findings have interesting implications for the treatment of people with a depressive disorder. If you’re trying to encourage these individuals to focus on the positive, your efforts to counteract the feelings of sadness would either be ineffective or perhaps even backfire. Instead, you’d have better luck by having them identify and then try to lessen those thoughts that would most likely jinx their happiness. We don’t know exactly why people who engage in negative prognostication or recall allow their dampening appraisals to take over. Perhaps you’re planning a vacation for only some, but not all, of your family, or perhaps you’re a little worried that you can’t afford the expense. <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/guilt">Guilt </a>about enjoying yourself under these circumstances could lead you to twist positive into negative anticipation. Similarly, remembering an experience in which you had fun, but not everyone else did, could prime the guilt pump. Fulfillment in your day-to-day experiences involves getting the most out of them, both before and after they occur. By learning to avoid the jinx trap, yours will be that much more enjoyable. Written by Susan Krauss Whitbourne. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com">Psychology Today</a>.

Relationships

5 lifestyle changes to enhance your mood and mental health

Jerome Sarris is a professor, NHMRC Clinical Research Fellow and NICM Health Research Institute Deputy Director at the Western Sydney University. Joe Firth is a Senior Research Fellow at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University. When someone is diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, <a href="https://theconversation.com/youve-been-diagnosed-with-depression-now-what-44976">first line treatments</a> usually include psychological therapies and medication. What’s not always discussed are the changeable lifestyle factors that influence our mental health. Even those who don’t have a mental health condition may still be looking for ways to further improve their mood, reduce stress and manage their day-to-day mental health. It can be empowering to make positive life changes. While time restrictions and financial limitations may affect some people’s ability to make such changes, we all have the ability to make small meaningful changes. Here are five lifestyle changes to get you started: 1. Improve your diet and star moving Wholefoods such as leafy green vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, lean red meat and seafood provide nutrients that are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0237-8">important for optimal brain function</a>. These foods contain magnesium, folate, zinc and essential fatty acids. Foods rich in polyphenols, such as berries, tea, dark chocolate, wine and certain herbs, also <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22334236">play an important role in brain function</a>. In terms exercise, many types of fitness activities are potentially beneficial – from <a href="https://blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/default-source/factsheets/exercise_depression.pdf">swimming to jogging to lifting weights or playing sports</a>. Even just getting the body moving by taking a brisk walk or doing active housework is a positive step. Activities which also involve social interaction and exposure to nature can potentially <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22616429">increase mental wellbeing even further</a>. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21694556">General exercise guidelines</a> recommend getting at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days during the week (about 150 minutes total over the week). But even short bouts of activity <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23795769">can provide an immediate elevation of mood</a>. 2. Reduce your vices Managing problem-drinking or substance misuse is an obvious health recommendation. People with alcohol and drug problems have a greater likelihood than average of having a mental illness and have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26277044">far poorer health outcomes</a>. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23988010">Some research has shown</a> that a little alcohol consumption (in particular wine) may have beneficial effects on preventing depression. Other recent data, however, has revealed that light alcohol consumption <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2353">does not provide any beneficial effects on brain function</a>. Stopping smoking is also an important step, as nicotine-addicted people are constantly at the mercy of a withdrawal-craving cycle, which profoundly affects mood. It may take time to address the initial symptoms of stopping nicotine, but the brain chemistry will adapt in time. Quitting smoking is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3923980/">associated with better mood and reduced anxiety</a>. 3. Prioritise rest and sleep <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25454674">Sleep hygiene techniques</a> aim to improve sleep quality and help treat insomnia. They include adjusting caffeine use, limiting exposure to the bed (regulating your sleep time and having a limited time to sleep), and making sure you get up at a similar time in the morning. Some people are genetically wired towards being more of a morning or evening person, so we need to ideally have some flexibility in this regard (especially with work schedules). It’s also important not to force sleep – if you can’t get to sleep within around 20 minutes, it may be best to get up and focus the mind on an activity (with minimal light and stimulation) until you feel tired. The other mainstay of better sleep is to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Chronotherapeutics+and+psychiatry%3A+setting+the+clock+to+relieve+the+symptoms">reduce exposure to light</a> – especially blue light from laptops and smartphones – prior to sleep. This will increase the secretion of melatonin, which helps you get to sleep. Getting enough time for relaxation and leisure activities is <a href="https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/29550608">important for regulating stress</a>. Hobbies can also enhance mental health, particularly if they involve physical activity. 4. Get a dose of nature When the sun is shining, many of us seem to feel happier. Adequate exposure to sunshine <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12480364">helps levels of the mood-maintaining chemical</a> serotonin. It also boosts vitamin D levels, which also <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26680471">has an effect on mental health</a>, and helps at the appropriate time to regulate our sleep-wake cycle. The benefits of sun exposure need to be balanced with the risk of skin cancer, so take into account the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-protect-your-skin-while-getting-enough-vitamin-d-34143">recommendations for sun exposure</a> based on the time of day/year and your skin colour. You might also consider limiting your exposure to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25242804">environmental toxins</a>, chemicals and pollutants, including “noise” pollution, and <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318230.php">cutting down</a> on your mobile phone, computer and TV use if they’re excessive. An antidote to this can be simply spending time in nature. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29093955">Studies show</a> time in the wilderness can improve self-esteem and mood. In some parts of Asia, spending time in a forest (known as forest bathing) is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28788101">considered a mental health prescription</a>. A natural extension of spending time in flora is also the positive effect that animals have on us. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27541053">Research suggests</a> having a pet has many positive effects, and animal-assisted therapy (with horses, cats, dogs and even dolphins) may also boost feelings of wellbeing. 5. Reach out when you need help Positive lifestyle changes aren’t a replacement for medication or psychological therapy but, rather, as something people can undertake themselves on top of their treatment. While many lifestyle changes can be positive, some changes (such as avoiding junk foods, alcohol or giving up smoking) may be challenging if being used as a psychological crutch. They might need to be handled delicately and with professional support. Strict advice promoting abstinence, or a demanding diet or exercise regime, may cause added suffering, potentially provoking guilt if you can’t meet these expectations. So, go easy on yourself. That said, take a moment to reflect how you feel mentally after a nutritious wholefood meal, a good night’s sleep (free of alcohol), or a walk in nature with a friend. Written by Jerome Sarris and Joe Firth. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.theconversation.com">The Conversation. </a> <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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102650/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />

Caring

News

The Queen breaks major royal protocol for Duchess Meghan's mum

The Duchess of Sussex is known to break the traditions of the upper-class royal family, and now her Mum seems to be following suit. With the concept of marriage falling under the idea of a partnership, compromise is generally a given. But when you marry into the royal family, the compromise is usually one sided, and it’s the non-royal that has to make the sacrifices. While there are plenty of perks of marrying into the royal family, there is also the fact that when it comes to holidays, you have no other choice but to spend it with the Queen. Having become the first non-royal to be invited to the Queen’s annual Christmas celebration last year, Meghan was already known to be a rule breaker. And this year, the Queen has gone against tradition once again by inviting the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland to spend the holidays with the royals. As reported by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7654935/queen-invites-meghan-markle-doria-ragland-kate-middleton/" target="_blank">The Sun,</a> a senior royal source claims that the Queen has invited Doria to join them throughout the holidays and is something that has never been done as royal in-laws generally play no part when it comes to the royal family. The most they would be invited to are royal weddings and christenings, but Christmas and Easter celebrations include an exclusive guest list that comprise of royals only. But there’s a reason the Queen has chosen to stray from the path of tradition and invite Doria. “It’s a part of the Queen’s respect for Meghan and an acknowledgement that she doesn’t have any other relations in this country – unlike Kate who has the support of a very close family,” the source told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.express.co.uk/" target="_blank">Daily Express</a>. It has also been said previously that the Queen and Doria have a close relationship with one another, which may also be the reason for the Queen’s invite.

News

Prince William's moving tribute

Prince William has paid tribute to submariners who have served their country at an event held in London. The Submariners’ Remembrance Service and Parade was held at Middle Temple in London on Sunday and was attended by the Duke of Cambridge, who is the Commodore-in-Chief of the Submarine Service. Having attended the event with the Duchess of Cambridge by his side, William chose to wear a navy suit that was adorned with military medals. The event hopes to acknowledge the submariners who have “Crossed the Bar” while representing their country and is a service that happens every year. The Prince served in the Royal Navy for two months in 2008, and in that short time, he discovered an enemy submarine and sunk it, in what was a confidential exercise. He was made Commodore-in-Chief in 2006. <img style="width: 500px; height: 333.4285714285714px;" src="/media/7821796/gettyimages-1057226908.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3b8861e5822546bc9f5956bc5f092d28" /> The Duke was responsible for laying a wreath made of red poppies during the service followed with a reception at Middle Temple Hall. Around 400 guests were in attendance, and amongst them were those who have previously served in WWII and those who are serving currently. The annual ceremony was introduced in 1923 and takes place on the Sunday before Remembrance Day.

News

Karl Stefanovic snubs Lisa Wilkinson

Although Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic spent 10 years sitting side-by-side every morning for the Today show, Wilkinson has revealed that she will not be making an appearance at her former co-worker’s wedding. Speaking to Sydney Confidential over the weekend, the 58-year-old The Project host opened up about the simple reason why she will be absent at Karl’s upcoming nuptials to fiancée Jasmine Yarbrough. “I have not been invited,” she told the publication. Next month, Stefanovic and his fashion designer fiancée will tie the knot in Mexico. Stefanovic not inviting his long-time colleague to his wedding has increased speculation that the duo’s relationship was purely professional. Despite her high-profile jump from the Nine Network breakfast show to Ten’s The Project, Wilkinson said she does miss “elements” of her former role. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYweDZYAWJ3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYweDZYAWJ3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by thetodayshow (@thetodayshow)</a> on Sep 7, 2017 at 3:55pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “There are elements of Today which I do miss, but I am so focused on my new life and the new challenges I have,” she said. Lisa announced that she was leaving the morning show in October last year. Wilkinson said she has enjoyed working with her new team and embraced the changes that have come with her new role. “I am thrilled with my decision,” she said. “I have had a great 12 months. Everything for me going forward is exciting.’’ Although The Sunday Project has been plagued with negative press about ratings, Wilkinson said she and the network were happy with the results. “There are very few programs on Australian TV who can say that their numbers are up. I do not understand why those reports are out there. I cannot worry about that. I worry about putting the best possible show together every Sunday night.” Since Wilkinson’s departure from Channel 9, Today has battled to secure ratings against Channel 7’s Sunrise. Shortly after Wilkinson’s shock network switch, Stefanovic revealed in an interview that there was no bad blood between them. Speaking to Confidential at the time, Stefanovic said: “We have nothing but love for Lisa.” “It was strange after 10 years for her not to be next to me.”

News

Prince Charles’ candid interview about becoming King: “There are so many things that need to be done”

A new feature story has given a fascinating insight into Prince Charles, the man who will be the King of England, and his wife Duchess Camilla. Journalist James Reginato has spoken to a number of royal insiders including the 69-year-old Prince’s close friends and colleagues, and the heir to the throne himself for a new Vanity Fair story. The Duke of Cornwall, who turns 70 this month, told the journalist that “there are so many things that need to be done,” reports <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/royals/british-royal-family/prince-charles-vanity-fair-interview-52190" target="_blank">now to love</a>. Interviewees lift the veil on his relationship with Duchess Camilla, who he married in 2005. One royal correspondent said, "She's made a massive difference in him,” and that they have "great affection and humour between them.” Royal photographer Alexi Lubomirski described the couple’s chemistry at a photo shoot at Clarence House saying, "As soon as they looked at each other, there was a sparkle in their eyes – that's when the magic happened." Lubomirski added, "You feel like they are a young couple in love." There are still questions about exactly what title Duchess Camilla will have when Prince Charles assumes the throne, with some reports saying it will be 'Queen Consort'. A royal insider told the magazine that the Duchess of Cornwall has the right disposition to be Queen as she "never complains", and "there's nothing lightweight about her. She's not a bullsh**ter and she doesn't take any bulls**t". "She knows that he is the boss, the star,” her nephew, Ben Elliot, said of his aunt when her husband takes the throne. “She does everything she can possibly do to support him. At the same time, he's very proud of her. She's very sharp and perceptive." The feature story also looks at the future monarch’s charitable efforts, such as The Prince’s Trust which has assisted more than 870,000 disadvantaged find employment and receive job training. The former CEO of Prince Charles’ charities, Dame Julia Cleverdon, told Vanity Fair that her former boss is "a great connector – the ultimate networker". "He creatively swipes ideas from all over the world,” she said. “Then he'll say, for example, 'Why hasn't this one been implemented in Dorset?'" The Prince’s conservation efforts are also explored in the feature, in which he told journalist Reginato that one of his duties was to “find solutions to the vast challenges we face over accelerating climate change". "If we don't engage with these issues, and many other related and critical problems that they inevitably compound, we will all be the victims,” he said. “Nothing escapes." The story also confirmed the already reported fondness the Prince has for his new daughter-in-law Duchess Meghan. "They clearly really like each other,” said a close family friend. “There is real warmth and support. Camilla has been very helpful to Meghan.”

News

Travel

What really happens on a cruise ship?

Everyone wakes up on a cruise to find themselves floating blissfully somewhere between vast seas and even vaster skies. While you slumbered, your floating hotel travelled through the night. Come morning, just outside your window is a completely new world and destination waiting for you to discover. What a way to start your day. Early risers can catch the sunrise from the deck with a steaming cup of coffee and warm French pastries before heading to breakfast, while later risers can take in the views and the fresh sea air before heading downstairs to breakfast. Cruise restaurants offer banquets fit for a king. Choose from fresh fruit, omelettes, pancakes and, of course, a traditional full English breakfast. Energise your morning with a gentle yoga class, stretching your body and relaxing your mind on the top deck, or doing a few laps of the pool. For something a little more invigorating, hit the gym. If that sounds like too much action, simply spend your morning lounging by the pool or getting lost in a book, perhaps engrossing yourself in the history, culture and legends of your next port of call. If it’s a port day, you might want to head out straight after breakfast to fit in all the sights. Maybe you have a tour lined up to see the local attractions; a boat trip to view a coral reef; or a sightseeing tour from high up above a rainforest canopy. From tropical island paradises of the South Pacific to the majestic ice-scapes of Scandinavia and Alaska and the bustling Mediterranean, where you can take a nostalgic trip back in history and visit ancient monuments and ruins, the world is your oyster as far as cruise travel is concerned. You can also choose to whittle the afternoon away in a quaint restaurant and watch the world go by. If you spent the previous day exploring on land, a day on board allows you to unwind and soak in the delights of ship life, such as a day of spa treatments and pampering, sunbathing by the pool, or simply afternoon tea on deck. For a bit more excitement, try the surfing and skydiving simulators. Or if you want to learn something, take a cookery class, or learn to dance the tango. Whatever your poison, what is not to be missed is watching the sun going down from the deck with a glass of Happy Hour bubbles in hand. An array of Broadway shows, cabaret spectaculars and concerts are on offer after dark. And if you want to party like it’s 1999, head to the nightclubs and chic lounges where everyone’s party can carry on late into the night. Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/cruise-activities/">MyDiscoveries</a>.

Cruising

Virgin Australia's controversial new boarding procedure

After announcing its controversial decision of honouring Australian war veterans on their flights, Virgin Australia has been on the receiving end of heated criticism. Having already been introduced in the United States, Australian military veterans flying with Virgin Australia will be issued with perks such as priority boarding and an in-flight public announcement acknowledging their contribution to the country. “We acknowledge the important contribution veterans have made to keeping our country safe and the role they play in our community,” said John Borghetti, Virgin Australia’s chief executive officer to Brisbane’s Sunday Mail. “Once the veterans have their cards and lapel pins, they will simply need to present them during the boarding process to be given priority boarding and be recognised on board.” The initiative will not be providing discounted airfare for veterans. The decision comes after the federal government introduced a discount card for men and women who have served in the war, alongside a program that helps veterans find jobs so they’re able to get back on their feet. Steven Ciobo, the Defence Industry Minister, said it was “tremendous” the way the airline was acknowledging war veterans. “If we can get though not just airlines, but if we can do this across the board, I think that is part of reinforcing respect in the Australian community for these men and women,” Mr Ciobo told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.skynews.com.au/" target="_blank">Sky News</a>. “I want to congratulate Virgin for, in many respects, being a trailblazer.” But while there was plenty of praise to go around, many weren’t happy with the airline’s decision. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginAustralia</a> is this true? Because if it is, it's the most appalling idea I've ever heard. Why are you doing this? <a href="https://t.co/oPQcWsJoRc">https://t.co/oPQcWsJoRc</a> — Paul Benson (@Pauleration) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pauleration/status/1058981330023632899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 November 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> While these gestures are nice and appreciated (as such) I’m not aware that veterans have asked or lobbied for: A discount card A lapel badge ‘Thank you for your service’ Priority boarding We certainly didn’t ask for for 500 Mil to be spent on the AWM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/veterans?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#veterans</a> — Ray Martin (@Raymartin55) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raymartin55/status/1058833375627104257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">3 November 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> I don't need Virgin Australia to tell me to respect our veterans. I also respect our first responders and similar who put themselves in the frontline in the service of others every single day. Words mean nothing, practical and emotional support does. — Kleinewurstsemmel (@MitGurke) <a href="https://twitter.com/MitGurke/status/1058978260606808065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 November 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en-gb"> Virgin Australia announces US-style plan to honour veterans on every flight Jeez! Do veterans really want this type of peurile Americanised faux recognition of their service? I suspect they are more than this!! Give them a 20% discount! 🤢🤢🤢<a href="https://t.co/g9tqV3HwiP">https://t.co/g9tqV3HwiP</a> — John H Esq. (@knarfnamduh) <a href="https://twitter.com/knarfnamduh/status/1058937072826769408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 November 2018</a></blockquote> “Correct me if I’m wrong, but surely there are far better, more suitable ways of honouring and thanking our war veterans? This all feels like one big ad for Virgin Australia,” wrote Twitter user, Leo James. Catherine McGregor, a standout veteran, said she “would not dream of walking on to an aircraft ahead of the other passengers as a veteran” and that the initiative was “more nationalist crap". “Can’t imagine too many people I served with doing this either. Spend more on suicide prevention and health support. Faux American bollocks,” she proceeded to write. “Honouring #ausdef veterans if they choose to fly Virgin Australia? Sounds like commercialising Australians service personnel to me. Most I’ve met + know are pretty humble, they don’t want a fuss,” wrote Andrew Heslop. “Are we also going to thank paramedics, nurses, doctors, teachers, social workers – those who also serve society? It elevates one group of people above others,” tweeted Collette Snowdon. “Where does it end? American nonsense. Will not fly @Virgin if this goes ahead.” Appearing on Channel 7, Senators Pauline Hanson and Derryn Hinch also agreed with the backlash saying the move is a marketing ploy. “I have worked with veterans and I think they would find it embarrassing,” said Hanson. “You now have veterans who are in their 20s. We look after the people who are feeble by putting them on the plane first. I think it is a marketing ploy by Virgin. I don’t think veterans want to use priority boarding.” “Pauline is right. Get that in writing,” said Hinch jokingly, referring to their opposing views. “A lot of veterans don’t want to draw that sort of attention.” What do you think of the move by Virgin Australia? Let us know in the comments below.

Domestic Travel

Guess what's the biggest germ culprit at the airport?

You’re all packed for your overseas holiday and you’re doing a last-minute check before catching a taxi to the airport. Passport? Check. Travel insurance? Check. Hand sanitiser? Wait, what? Just one more thing to remember As if packing for a holiday is not stressful enough, now you have to make sure you don’t forget the hand sanitiser when you’re heading to the airport for your overseas trip. Here’s why. According to a new study published in the <a href="https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12879-018-3150-5">BMC Infectious Diseases</a> journal by experts from the University of Nottingham in the UK and the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare, the biggest culprit for spreading germs in airports is the plastic tray where you place your personal items as you pass through security checks. Yes, you read that right. Your phone, wallet, keys, laptop, jacket and various other accoutrements have to share a snug, germ-filled receptacle. The team came to this conclusion after swabbing different surfaces at Helsinki-Vantaa airport in Helsinki, Finland, during the winter of 2016. The most common virus detected in the study was the rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold. There were also traces of the Influenza A virus. Other germ-filled culprits include shop payment terminals, staircase rails, passport checking counters, children’s play areas and even in the air. One of the study’s authors advises that “people can help minimise contagion by hygienic hand washing and coughing into a handkerchief, tissue or sleeve at all times but especially in public places.” Or you can keep a travel-size bottle of hand sanitiser handy and clean your hands every time you touch common surfaces. Just remember, if you’re bringing a bottle in your carry-on luggage, make sure you adhere to the rules on liquids and gels – the maximum size for each container is 100ml. Written by Siti Rohani. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/flu/guess-whats-biggest-germ-culprit-airport">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="https://www.isubscribe.com.au/Readers-Digest-Magazine-Subscription.cfm">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

International Travel

Women thrown off flight for what she tried to smuggle on board

Although it’s an option to transport your pets with you when you fly, most pet owners will leave their furry friends behind when they go on a trip. But one woman thought she’d try a sneaky way to smuggle her cat on board a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London Heathrow Airport. In the American’s hand luggage, her cat was stored inside a box with the passenger claiming it was necessary for “emotional support,” reported <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-thrown-off-flight-tried-smuggle-luggage-002404191.html" target="_blank">Yahoo 7</a>. The unidentified woman had somehow made it through airport security with the feline in her carry-on luggage. According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6310577/American-passenger-kicked-British-Airways-flight-trying-smuggle-CAT-onboard.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a> an airport insider claimed that the security scanner “would not have picked up the cat as being alive, dead or stuffed". Needless to say, she was removed from the October 21 flight, but not before the woman became panicked when she was asked to store the bag in an overhead locker as she was seated at an emergency exit. It comes after some even more bizarre incidents of passengers attempting to smuggle “emotional support” animals on board flights. One woman was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight in the US earlier this month when she tried to bring a squirrel with her on her voyage, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/british-airways-emotional-support-cat-passenger-kicked-off-a8600941.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a>. And earlier this year a United Airlines passenger wanted to stowaway her “emotional support peacock” named Dexter on a flight to Los Angeles, even attempting to buy the bird a ticket. Speaking of the latest incident, a British Airways spokesman told The Independent that while cats weren’t allowed in plane cabins, assistance dogs were “very welcome". “Cats cannot travel in the cabin but recognised assistance dogs are always very welcome and travel completely free of charge alongside their owners on board,” they said. “Other animals will need to travel in the hold but will be just as comfortable in a carefully controlled environment," the spokesman added. What's the strangest thing you have seen a passenger bring on board a flight? Tell us in the comments below.

Travel Trouble

Health

Urgent alert: Aussie family finds needle in orange from Woolworths

A family from Casula in Sydney’s southwest have found a needle lodged inside an orange they purchased from a Woolworths store yesterday. A distraught 4-year-old, Maddie Sheridan, found the needle after getting a piece of fruit from her mum, reported 7News. The supermarket confirmed the discovery of the needle and notified police. “We’re shocked. We feel violated,” Maddie’s mum said. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="/media/7821773/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/db9b1479c6fa455598c290c72f4ad632" /> Investigators will now work to determine when the orange may have been contaminated, as the orange may have been in storage for several weeks. It has been almost two months since the initial needle sabotage began in Queensland, which saw strawberry brands Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook all contaminated. By mid-September, all six states were investigating reports of tampering in strawberries, apples and bananas. After the disturbing trend extended beyond the original single grower in Queensland, authorities feared that copycat attacks were occurring. Exporters have since been instructed to prove their fruit is clear of tampering by putting it through a metal detector or x-ray machine. In October, a 12-year-old boy was left panicked after he almost swallowed a “piece of thick wire” hidden inside a cucumber. While speaking to 3AW, the boy’s mum Maria said: “As soon as he came out of his room he said: ‘Mum I found a needle in it’.” “I said, 'Come on stop joking’ and he goes, 'Mum, I’m not joking’ and showed it to me. “I was just beside myself. It looked as though it had been snapped with some pliers, it was curled on one end of it.” Maria said her son was “pricked” by the wire but that it “didn’t penetrate him”. “He was so upset… he said, ‘Mum if I had swallowed it could I have died?’” she said. “He was just so worried, he was panicking." WA Premier Mark McGowan said the offenders were liable to 20 years’ imprisonment. “If you undertake this sort of activity you can and will be caught,” he told reporters in September. “Those people deserve to go to jail.”

Body

What your hands reveal about your health

A weak grip predicts a higher risk of heart attack or stroke and lower chances of survival, according to a new Lancet study of more than 140,000 adults in 17 countries. Finger length: Arthritis risk Women with ring fingers that are longer than their index fingers, typically a male trait, are twice as likely to have osteoarthritis in the knees, according to an Arthritis & Rheumatism study. Low oestrogen levels may be a factor. The same feature has been linked to higher athletic ability and verbal aggression in both genders. In men, a significantly longer ring finger (indicating an in-utero testosterone surge during the second trimester) is associated with having more children and better relationships with women – but a higher risk of prostate cancer. Shaky hands: Parkinson’s disease Trembling hands could be the result of too much caffeine or a side effect of certain medications like antidepressants. But it’s a good idea to see your doctor if the issue recurs. A tremor in just one hand can be a first symptom of Parkinson’s disease, or it can indicate essential tremor, a treatable disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking. Nail colour: Kidney disease When Indian researchers studied 100 patients with chronic kidney disease, they found that 36 per cent had half-and-half nails (the bottom of a nail is white, and the top is brown). The nail condition may be caused by an increased concentration of certain hormones and chronic anaemia, both traits of chronic kidney disease. See your doctor right away if you notice half-and-half nails or a dark, vertical stripe beneath the nail bed – this can be hidden melanoma, a skin cancer. Grip strength: Heart health A weak grip predicts a higher risk of heart attack or stroke and lower chances of survival, according to a new Lancet study of more than 140,000 adults in 17 countries. Grip strength was a better predictor of death than was blood pressure. Researchers say grip strength is a marker of overall muscle strength and fitness, and they recommend whole-body strength training and aerobic exercise to reduce heart disease risk. Sweaty palms: Hyperhidrosis Overly clammy hands may be a symptom of menopause or thyroid conditions, as well as hyperhidrosis, in which overactive sweat glands cause far more perspiration than necessary. Most people with the condition sweat from only one or two parts of the body, such as the armpits, palms, or feet. A doctor may prescribe a strong antiperspirant to decrease sweat production. Fingerprints: High blood pressure When UK researchers studied 139 fingerprints, they found that people with a whorl (spiral) pattern on one or more fingers were more likely to have high blood pressure than people with arches or loops. The more fingers with whorls a participant had, the higher his or her blood pressure was. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/what-your-hands-reveal-about-your-health?items_per_page=All">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/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Body

How much physical activity is enough in older age?

Anne Tiedemann is an Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow in Physical Activity for Healthy Ageing at the University of Sydney. Cathie Sherrington is a Professor at the University of Sydney. We all know making physical activity a regular habit is important for health and wellbeing. But health promotion messages are often aimed at children and young people, with less focus on the importance of physical activity for older people. However, older age is a crucial time for being active every day. Studies show physical activity, such as just increasing your daily number of steps, may help you <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141274">live longer</a>. This is the case even if you only started in older age. It can prevent and help to manage many <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/541233/Physical_activity_infographic.PDF">health conditions</a> including diabetes, some cancers, heart disease and dementia. <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/early/2016/03/14/cmaj.150684.full.pdf">Exercise</a> is as effective as some medications in preventing or managing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, and for rehabilitation after stroke. Besides the direct benefits, being more physically active can improve sleep, social connection, and overall feelings of happiness and well-being. How much activity is enough? Australia’s physical activity <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/3244D38BBBEBD284CA257BF0001FA1A7/%24File/choosehealth-brochure.pdf">guidelines</a> recommend people aged 65 years and over be: …active every day in as many ways as possible, doing a range of physical activities that incorporate fitness, strength, balance and flexibility; and should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days. Unfortunately, <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2014-15~Main%20Features~Exercise~29">only 25% of older Australians</a> achieve this amount of activity. As few as 12% <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743512004756?via%3Dihub">regularly undertake strengthening</a> activities (such as lifting weights) and 6% do balance activities (such as lunges or single-leg standing). Doing something is better than nothing, even if achieving the amount recommended by the guidelines is too difficult. Physical activity can include a range of options from exercise classes to active transport (such as cycling or walking) to gardening and home maintenance. Starting small and building up the amount and intensity of activity, and choosing something enjoyable, are the best ways to start. There are extra benefits from doing more than 30 minutes per day of activity. For those already participating in more vigorous activities, like running or cycling, turning 65 is no reason to stop. Why be active? Falls are common in older age. Around one in three people aged 65 and over fall each year. Falls often have lasting, devastating consequences for an older person and their family. Falls are not inevitable and can be <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/51/24/1750.full.pdf">prevented with exercise</a> that challenges balance. This means exercise performed in a standing position (rather than sitting) that usually involves movement of the body. Examples include knee squats, walking on the heels or toes, and stepping over obstacles. Older people face particular <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/49/19/1268.long">barriers</a> to being more physically active – these can be financial, physical, social or practical. Some older adults find electronic gadgets that help track daily physical activity useful for reminding and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335515000996">motivating</a> them to be more active. Residents of some Australian states can also access the <a href="https://www.gethealthynsw.com.au/">Get Healthy</a> service for free information, motivation and support for making healthy lifestyle changes, including physical activity. The NSW Ministry of Health funds the <a href="https://www.activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au/">Active and Healthy</a> website that includes a database of physical activity opportunities for people aged 50 years and over. There are many options if you prefer to exercise in organised groups. Find out whether one of the <a href="http://walking.heartfoundation.org.au/">Heart Foundation</a> walking groups meets in your area – these groups are a way of keeping active in a fun and sociable way. Or for a bit more of a challenge, <a href="http://www.parkrun.com.au/">parkrun</a> is a free, weekly 5km timed running (or walking) event in more than 300 locations across Australia. What if I'm unwell? Research shows that even people with health issues can gain a lot from being more active. For example, people with <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/early/2016/03/14/cmaj.150684.full.pdf">knee and hip osteoarthritis</a> can benefit, in terms of reduced pain and improved function, from a range of physical activities. These include muscle strengthening, and aerobic and flexibility exercise, performed on land or in the water. Similarly, people with <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/early/2016/03/14/cmaj.150684.full.pdf">diabetes</a> can improve their glucose control from aerobic exercise (such as walking or swimming), muscle strengthening or a combination of both. It’s important that frailer older people or people with particular health problems seek professional help to select physical activity options that are most suited to their particular abilities and health conditions. Such people should discuss plans to get more active with their GP, and then seek guidance from a <a href="https://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/APAWCM/Controls/FindaPhysio.aspxPP">physiotherapist</a> or <a href="https://www.essa.org.au/find-aep/">exercise physiologist</a>. The new World Health Organisation <a href="http://www.who.int/ncds/prevention/physical-activity/gappa">Global Action Plan on Physical Activity</a> 2018-30 provides guidance on policy actions for governments and other organisations to make it easier for people to be more active. Safe, pleasant venues and leaders linked with health professionals and welcoming, enjoyable and affordable programs would help overcome <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/49/19/1268.long">barriers</a> reported by older people. Written by Anne Tiedemann and Cathie Sherrington. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-how-much-physical-activity-is-enough-in-older-age-103686">The Conversation</a>. <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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103686/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />

Caring

“This is what bullying does”: Mum shares heartbreaking photo of 6-year-old daughter

A distressed mother has taken to social media to share a photo of her six-year-old daughter after constant bullying led the young child to be admitted into hospital. Carrie Golledge explained how a number of bullying incidents involving other children and even their parents, have caused the young schoolgirl to vomit up to 20 times an hour, along with finding it hard to fall asleep, as she deals with extreme anxiety. Ms Golledge had to rush her daughter to hospital in Tiverton, Devon, on Monday after her health was rapidly declining. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcarrie.nicholls3%2Fposts%2F10157059725978598&width=500" width="500" height="510" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> “This is my child who has been in and out of hospital for countless trips due to being so sick with anxiety,” she wrote. “This is my child who was told off for ‘telling tales at school’. “This is my child who has been mocked on social media by the bullies’ parents for just having such a pure heart. “This is my child who when addressing the issues with her school we were told ‘it’s just 6-year old’s being 6-year old’s’. “This is my child who was told by the school she should be the one feeling ashamed and be snuck in through the side door every morning.” The mother hopes that her post will shed light on the consequences of bullying as she doesn’t want any other child or parent to face what they are currently going through. Have you, your children or grandchildren ever been bullied? Share your story with us in the comments below. If you are troubled by this article, experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">lifeline.org.au</a> or <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites">beyondblue.org.au</a>.

Caring

Lifestyle

How to recognise melanoma

Out of all the nations of the world, New Zealand holds the unenviable title of having the world’s highest rate of invasive melanoma, with around 50 cases diagnosed per 100,000 people in 2016. Back in 1999, the rate was 77 cases per 100,000 people. With increased awareness of how to identify a melanoma early, experts believe this number can be reduced even further. It’s important to realise that not all skin cancers are melanoma. There are three main types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma – the most serious. If left undetected and untreated, melanoma can lead to death. For people with early-stage melanoma, the outcome is excellent. According to Melanoma New Zealand, being able to recognise the first signs of change of an existing mole, or the appearance of a new mole, is key. If you are concerned about a mole … Being aware of how your skin normally looks will help in deciding to seek a medical opinion, should you notice a new mole, or a mole that changes appearance. When checking your skin, use the ABCDE system to help you remember what to look for: <ul> <li>Asymmetry: The two halves of the mole don’t match.</li> <li>Border irregularity: The edges of the mole appear jagged, irregular or blurred.</li> <li>Colour: The colour isn’t uniform.</li> <li>Different from other lesions: Has the lesion changed in comparison to the surrounding moles, particularly in size? Melanomas are typically bigger than 6mm in diameter.</li> <li>Evolving: An existing mole has grown, or a new mole has appeared.</li> </ul> You should also see your doctor if you spot a dark area under a nail that is getting bigger and is not caused by an injury. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.melanoma.org.nz">www.melanoma.org.nz</a>, <a href="http://www.melanoma.org.au/">www.melanoma.org.au</a> and <a href="http://www.melanoma.org">www.melanoma.org</a> This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/skin/how-recognise-melanoma">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/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Beauty & Style

Woman is slammed for publicly dissing her engagement ring: "Not a fan"

When most people first see their partner get down on one knee and present them with an engagement ring, they are too focused on the love of their relationship to think of any trivial matters. However, one woman has criticised her engagement ring and slammed it as “basic”, before her boyfriend even had the chance to ask the question. The woman stumbled across the ring at home, which was hidden in her boyfriend’s night stand. Posting the photo of the ring on social media, the woman wrote: “Ewwwww. Self shame Friday here I come. Found this in the BF's nightstand. Not a fan.” <img style="width: 460.6986899563319px; height: 500px;" src="/media/7821797/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/aee44f53d0044270bbc3e0c42d5ad8c1" /> “Please roast and then tell me how to tactfully say no you need to go get something different,” she added. A screenshot of the woman’s post was then shared on Reddit, where the woman quickly received backlash for being superficial. Some commented that it was awful that she was slamming the ring and that they couldn’t see an issue with it. “This is a gorgeous ring. I would love to be presented with this but, to be honest, my husband could propose to me with a twist-tie from a loaf of bread and I would be perfectly content," one person said. Many believed it was possible that the ring was a family heirloom, making her remarks even more insensitive. “Not going to lie this is bringing tears to my eyes. Poor sweet man. I hope he doesn't go through with it. I would have been happy with a ring pop from my husband!” Another added: “I hope he sees this, and then RUNS. To post this degrading sh** to social media to first insult it, and then ask for ways to get something better from someone she loves just defies what this ring should really be about and proves she doesn't even deserve a ring out of a dollar vending machine.” The post even prompted some to share their own engagement stories that may seem less than ideal but were perfect for them. “I was broke… when I proposed and bought an $80 ring at a flea market, she was thrilled, that's a keeper,” one person said. Another penned: “I was unemployed when we decided to get engaged. She bought the rings. Definitely not what we had planned, but 10 years later and I'm okay with it.” What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

Beauty & Style

Roger Federer reveals the one thing he refuses to do without his wife

He is widely considered to be the greatest male tennis player of all time and now, fans have gotten a glimpse into the romantic side of Roger Federer. The 37-year-old Swiss champion has confessed that he refuses to sleep in a bed without his wife of nine years by his side. Speaking to <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/">The Sunday Times</a>, Federer explained that his wife, Mirka, and their children travel everywhere with him when he is on tour. The couple’s four children – twin girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, 9, and twin boys Lenny and Leo, 4 – are home-schooled so they can travel across the world with their parents. Federer admitted that he has had to change “a ton” of nappies between matches but there is one thing that he will never compromise. “I refuse to leave the bed with my wife. We always wanted to have kids, but my dream was to be with [her] and not in another bedroom on another floor,” he said. “I'd rather sleep with kids screaming than away from my wife,” he added. Although he’s currently accompanied by his children’s nanny and teacher when he tours, the World No 3 said he will enroll his children into a mainstream school in Switzerland when he retires. However, the tennis legend refused to reveal whether he had any plans to walk away from playing competitively. Federer said that all he cared about were his “wife, children and friends”, and if he won more tournaments “fantastic” but if not “it’s all good”. Federer has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in history for a male player.

Relationships

Does a smartphone make us smart?

Barbara Binland is the pen name of a senior, Julie Grenness, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is a poet, writer, and part-time English and Maths tutor, with over 40 years of experience. Her many books are available on Amazon and Kindle. Does a smartphone make us smart? Once upon a childhood, we recall that we lived in a different world. On Saturday afternoons, our parents would drive us to a far-flung suburb, where our maternal grandparents lived. The adults loved us dearly, but believed that children should be seen and not heard. We would arrive punctually at 2pm. After a brief pit stop, our Nanna would say, “Go for a walk!” Our mother would add, “Come back at four o’clock.” So that is exactly what we did. In an unfamiliar suburb, with no street directory, or no GPS, or no watches to tell the time, not even a modern plastic bottle of water for refreshment, three young Australians would “Go for a walk!” Thus, we walked, past front yard gardens, along strange streets. We would walk for approximately one hour, then we turned around and walked back to our grandparents’ home. My elder sister must have had a good sense of geography. Upon reflection, I do wonder what the current parent police would say now, to such child-raising habits. As every reader is aware, these days, there are smart phones employed to supervise children’s adventures in society. Such smart phones had not been imagined once, let alone invented. Our oldies collectively had no idea where we were walking to, or even if we would return let alone at the correct time. Somehow, we just knew it was nearly four o’clock in the afternoon. Maybe we all lived in a safer world, where we were mostly a lot more naïve than folk and children are today. Times change. These days, in the digital world of the 21st century, if children go for a walk, the parent police phone their offspring up every five minutes on their smart phones. As passers-by, we can hear some very strange conversations, in shopping centres or railway stations. Here is one I heard, not long ago. The parent police must have asked, “Where are you now?” Teenager on phone: “I am at the shops, Mum.” Mum must have inquired, “Where are you going?” Teenager’s response: “I am going to the loo!” Mum’s next question, “What are you doing now?” Teenager, sounding slightly exasperated, “I’m in the loo, having a wee! Mum!”” Well, really. I wondered if it was really necessary to share with society, including Now there is someone calling on my smart phone! Whoops missed call. I must cease everything and return the call. It seems everyone I see is either gazing at a smart phone, or chatting on one. Are we so scared to be alone? Are we all like the teenager in the shopping centre loo, with her mother calling her incessantly on her smart phone, the modern parent police? Would parents in these modern days even say, “Go for a walk!”, to send their children off for two hours, with no time pieces, or smart phones to monitor them? These days the parents must check for the location of their children, and for potential predators. So, the world is no longer as safe as it once appeared to be. There was the famous case of the Beaumont children. “Go for a walk, go for a swim!” Those three children have, unfortunately, never been seen again. Amazingly, the three young girls we once were never disappeared, got lost, and always arrived back by four o’clock, unmolested. These days, our mother would have phoned us every five minutes on our smart phones, so we were not feeling apart. The smart phone is a great invention, but if everyone has to relate every action on a smart phone, has the smart phone really made us smart? Food for thought. “See ya!” (The great Australian smart phone farewell.). Yeah, “See ya!”

Retirement Life

Finance

Aussie mum charged after Woolworths self-serve checkout blunder

An Aussie mum-of-four is facing criminal charges and a $12,000 legal bill after one trip to Woolworths took an unexpected turn earlier this year. Belinda Howell, from South Australia, popped into her local Woolies branch on March 22 and withdrew $1100 from the self-serve checkout to pay for some home renovations and the wages of her son’s carer. However, the 42-year-old claimed that the machine didn’t dispense the full amount of cash, reported the <a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au">Adelaide Advertiser</a>. Belinda then told a staff member from the Mount Gambier store what happened, and they eventually withdrew the cash from a till to make up the difference. Belinda, who works as a nurse, said she didn’t count the money as she assumed the employee had handed her the correct amount and because she was distracted by a text informing her that her kids had been in a minor car accident. Two months later, police arrived at her door to inform her that they were looking into “an incident at Woolworths”. The following day, police showed Belinda the footage of her Woolworths trip and said she had been accused of taking “about $1000” too much. She was charged with dishonestly deceiving another to benefit herself. However, Belinda told the Advertiser that she was determined to fight the charges to prove her innocence, even if the legal battle leaves her with a $12,000 bill. “I’ve always prided myself on being honest and I’d never put my job or reputation at risk,” she told the publication. “I understand the lawyer’s advice, that it would be faster and more cost-effective to plead guilty, ask for no conviction and get it over with — but my conscience won’t let me do that. “I am exhausted, I put my trust in Woolworths to do the right thing and I feel they’ve let me down.” The mum said the drama following the incident could have been avoided if staff told her about the mix-up straight away. “I was (at Woolworths) later that night and the next day, they know me as a regular so I don’t know why they didn’t just say, ‘Our till was down and we think you might have it’,” she told the Advertiser. “I would’ve happily repaid it and I still would — but I haven’t been given a chance.” Belinda told the publication she was worried the incident could damage her career, describing it as a bad dream. A Woolworths spokeswoman told news.com.au that police were contacted following an internal investigation. “Following an internal investigation we referred this matter to the South Australia Police,” the spokeswoman said. “We assisted the police with their investigation and understand they decided to proceed with the prosecution.” The case will return to Mt Gambier Magistrates for a pre-trial conference later this month.

Legal

Shoppers in a frenzy over Target's stylish new Christmas range

Target has joined the ranks of Kmart and IKEA for affordable yet stylish looking goods that customers are going crazy for – and it’s all thanks to its new Christmas range for 2018. The discount department store gained a loyal fanbase after upgrading its homewares range and now, the word on the street is that its Christmas range is proving to be its most successful offering yet. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpoOwNcHZy4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">Shoppers in a frenzy over Target's stylish new Christmas range </div> </blockquote> And by word on the street, we mean mothers on Facebook, as they cannot stop raving about the budget-friendly range that includes golden dining sets, blush-coloured décor, and the classic red and green accessories. And despite the quality not being on par with their more expensive counterparts, they will still last you well into the festive season and you won’t need to break the bank to ensure you have a beautifully decorated home. The range offers three distinct “looks” – Crafted Nature, Glam Luxe and Heritage, with prices starting from just $2. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeKRSwnTRW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeKRSwnTRW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Target Australia (@targetaus)</a> on Oct 28, 2018 at 2:10am PDT </div> </blockquote> The Crafted Nature décor draws inspiration from modern Scandinavia and features elements of pale wooden textures to give a rustic feel to your home. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeXjYcnnEh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeXjYcnnEh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Target Australia (@targetaus)</a> on Oct 28, 2018 at 4:06am PDT </div> </blockquote> The Glam Luxe resembles the perfect homes that are plastered all over social media, with metallic accents and pops of blush, golds and blues. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpd8ht0H_aR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpd8ht0H_aR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Target Australia (@targetaus)</a> on Oct 28, 2018 at 12:10am PDT </div> </blockquote> And lastly, The Heritage is all about tradition and is perfect for those who want to get into the Christmas spirit by decorating their home in the classic reds and greens. The biggest success from the range is by far the Christmas trees with four options to choose from. The prices for the small trees start from $49 and go up to $149. But if you aren’t looking for a tree or something significant, then there are also $2 wooden decorations, $10 alphabet stockings, $8 tabletop lanterns and a $6 “mini Merry Christmas” wooden decoration. But in this day and age, nothing stays secret for long and with the help of social media, the range has skyrocketed in popularity, which means many products are already out of stock, with shoppers eagerly awaiting the discount store to replenish the most sought-after items. Will you be heading to Target to check out its new Christmas range? Let us know in the comments below.

Money & Banking

Why you should check your $1 coins

In an announcement straight out of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’s playbook yesterday, the Royal Australian Mint has unveiled a treasure hunt to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the $1 coin, and to educate children about the benefits of saving their pocket money It’s called the Dollar Discovery competition with Ross MacDiarmid, chief executive officer of the Royal Australian Mint, heralding the hunt with a rendition of (I’ve Got A) Golden Ticket from the iconic movie, reports <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/royal-australian-mint-launches-treasure-hunt-involving-1-coins/news-story/9fde98455953d22ee441d0f7e681d858" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. There’s been much talk on social media about the recently released new batch of $1 coins that were forward-dated 2019, with the theories floated that the currency was somehow a “time travelling” phenomenon, or just a major error by the Mint. But it turns out it was all a ploy by the Mint to get consumers interested in traditional currency again, at a time when many are going cashless. So you may want to check if you have one of the coins in your spare change and hang on to it, as it has some very intriguing features that you’ll want to look out for to take part in the treasure hunt. If you look at one of the three million $1 coins released in September you’ll see the letters “A” or “U” or “S” underneath the largest kangaroo on the coin. There’s also the numeral “35” on the coin to celebrate the currency’s 35th birthday in 2019. <img style="width: 500px; height: 170px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821770/treasure-hunt-demo.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f44474d201f64a83b06723af4839b367" /> How the treasure hunt works is that you have to find three coins with each letter on them, for a chance to win prizes. Once you’ve collected them all, you’ll need to go to <a rel="noopener" href="https://dollardiscovery.com.au/" target="_blank">dollardiscovery.com.au</a> to register to get 5000 free folders that you can store the coins in. And the prizes are impressive, particularly the grand prize where eight winners from each state will get a trip to Canberra for four people, and the very unique opportunity to make their own huge one kilogram silver coin worth $750. But the value could skyrocket in price as a collector’s item because it will be so unique. You’ll even be able to press the button to set the production of the special coin in motion. <img style="width: 417.517px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821771/magnifying-glass.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4f7f542bd9b74e259218566157779e9f" /> Also on offer in the prize pool is a two-night stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge at Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium, and 250 gift vouchers worth $150 to spend at the Royal Australian Mint. MacDiarmid said there was a more serious element to the treasure hunt rather than just being good fun – to educate children about saving their pocket money and financial literacy. The Mint surveyed 1000 people who said that collecting coins for the money box fostered saving and persistence in children to achieve their goals. “How are we going to get people to understand financial literacy when they just swipe their card or actually just use a tap and go?” Mr MacDiarmid said of the continuing trend away from using cash. Winners of the competition will be announced on May 14, 2019, which is the $1 coin’s 35th anniversary. To find out more and register your coins, head to <a rel="noopener" href="https://dollardiscovery.com.au/" target="_blank">dollardiscovery.com.au</a>. Do you remember when the $1 note was changed over to the $1 coin? Let us know in the comment section below.

Money & Banking

The ALDI products with a cult following

A good price is not the only factor that attracts loyal customers to ALDI. The supermarket retailer’s point of difference is also the brands and products on offer that aren’t available anywhere else. Now, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.aldiunpacked.com.au/Article/October-2018/ALDI-products-with-a-cult-following" target="_blank">ALDI Unpacked</a> has revealed the 13 products that have a cult following with fans of the chain. 1. Bakers Life 85% Lower Carb Higher Protein Bread <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/why-health-experts-are-raving-about-this-5-bread-from-aldi" target="_blank">Nutritionists</a> have praised the loaf which is high in protein and carries a five-star health rating. “It’s rare to find a really great, healthy product in a supermarket that makes even nutritionists happy,” wrote nutritionist Susie Burrell for <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/nutritionists-are-raving-about-this-aldi-bread/news-story/47660a892312d0e69e3b6b371e6eb36b" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “Not only does this bread taste great, but the nutrition information is so strong it is hard to find fault with the lower-carb product,” she said. And it comes with a competitive price at $4.99 a loaf. <img style="width: 500px; height: 486.865px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821749/bread.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bb02be29eaa6483daab7e49cd3176294" /> 2. Oh So Natural Peanut Butter ALDI says this product rates as a favourite because it contains no additives and is made from 100 per cent peanuts with “nutty nutrients". It comes in smooth and crunchy costing $2.99 a jar. The peanut butter has a five-star health rating, and one tablespoon contains four grams of natural protein, niacin, vitamin E, magnesium and phosphorus, reports the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6336437/From-popular-4-99-bread-decadent-frozen-dessert-ALDI-products-cult-following.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>. <img style="width: 500px; height: 474.4px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821753/peanut-butter.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fe23893b851d46e08ee23259a3eea0e5" /> 3. Yoconut Natural Coconut Yogurt It’s the “delicious” flavour fans have gone “coconuts” for that has proved this product a winner. It’s also a dairy-free alternative. <img style="width: 500px; height: 378.77px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821754/coconut-yoghurt.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3186f7e890d54e4f8b80a04d41892c9d" /> 4. Yoconut Coconut Frozen Dessert Still with the coconut theme is this popular dessert, which ALDI calls a “dairy free nice cream". It’s available in two flavours – salted caramel and vanilla – is vegan and gluten free, and a good alternative for those who find it difficult to find a dairy free dessert at other supermarkets. “We don’t blame you if you can’t decide which flavour to try first,” says the retailer. <img style="width: 430.813px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821755/salted-caramel-yoconut.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3935c13e66a447beb144ffbdb392a405" /> 5. Belmont Biscuit Co Almond Spekulatius This traditional European spiced biscuit is sprinkled with almonds and is a very delicious sounding alternative for vegans. According to the Daily Mail, at $2.99 a pack, the popular sweet treat often sells out. <img style="width: 500px; height: 186.856px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821756/spekulatius.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/565ec2bdf58a49d780816537b59f0ec2" /> 6. Simply Vegetarian Chickpea, Sweet Potato & Quinoa Bites This is protein-rich vegetarian snack that the brand says “our customers can’t seem to get enough of". It suggests the snack can be complimented by flat bread or added to spaghetti. <img style="width: 500px; height: 466.667px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821758/quina.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/928907d8ef5641998b5f2504fb6692fe" /> 7. Bon Appetit Chocolate Chip Brioche Loaf As if the name alone of this French-made treat didn’t sound delicious enough, ALDI recommends making some “next level” French toast with it. <img style="width: 489.045px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821759/brioche.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0dc3862747b743edb978363a1a4f4f07" /> 8. Urban Eats Turkish Style Gozleme Fans of these gozlemes have some interesting cooking hacks for the savoury snack, including adding some natural yoghurt, a squeeze of lemon juice or even popping it into a sandwich press for a great crunch. “No matter how you choose to cook or garnish, you have yourself an (as close as can possibly be) authentic tasting Turkish Gozleme,” says ALDI. <img style="width: 500px; height: 300.761px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821761/golzme.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/29019358b4ff46fa8b5d888c78ff73a8" /> 9. Dairy Dream Greek Style Fruit Yogurt The yoghurt comes in passionfruit, mango and peach, and citrus cheesecake flavours and has no added sugar, which according to the retailer has “quickly become a household staple". <img style="width: 500px; height: 471.488px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821762/greek-yoghurt.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/644b7b7228974bed8c7c85b393353751" /> 10. Urban Eats Greek Style Spanakopita The Greek pastry with spinach and feta cheese can be dipped into tzatziki, ALDI says, for a “flavour explosion”. <img style="width: 500px; height: 471.056px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821763/spana.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/87475980177f464fb0cfc1714f186013" /> 11. Monarc Obsession Ice Cream This one would be hard to resist for ice cream lovers with flavours like the unique-sounding white chocolate passionfruit (white chocolate ice cream, passionfruit sauce and white chocolate curls), and Vanilla Caramel (vanilla and caramel ice cream with caramel sauce and caramel pieces). <img style="width: 420.646px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821765/ice-cream.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0dd63d0589eb40e5837fd99811913bf1" /> 12. Bavarian Pretzel One fan has taken this ALDI favourite “ready to bake straight from the pack”, and given it a twist, adding brie and truffles. <img style="width: 500px; height: 461.806px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821766/pretzel.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/292091328a8848dfb77fc8f151d8f5e0" /> 13. Specially Selected Woodfired Pizza Rounding out the list, the pizza comes from the home of the family favourite, made in Italy in the Friuli region, and won Product of the Year in 2017. Its point of difference from most supermarket pizzas is its gourmet topping comprised of goat cheese crumbs, sweet red onion, creamy mozzarella, marinated tomatoes, fresh rocket and even “soft mild” beetroot. <img style="width: 500px; height: 466.975px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821767/pizza.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/43f8d04129504c6fb418d9d83b00ccf0" /> Have you tried any of these ALDI products? Let us know in the comments section below.

Money & Banking

Entertainment

Why you hate the sound of your own voice

You’re watching a video of your family holiday when you suddenly cringe. Is that really what your voice sounds like? If you can’t stand the sound of your own voice, you’re not alone. But don’t worry – you’re probably the only one who gets annoyed by its sound. There’s a scientific reason you hate your own voice so much. When we hear an outside sound, like someone else’s voice, the sound travels through your ear, into the canal and to the eardrum, says Aaron Johnson, PhD, a US speech-language pathologist and assistant professor in the otolaryngology department at NYU Langone’s Voice Centre. Vibrations from the eardrum travel to the inner ear, where fluid makes little hair cells move. Those movements create electric energy that gets sent up to the brain, which translates it into sound. That exact same thing happens when you hear the sounds that come out of your own mouth – but something else happens on top of it. “As we’re talking, sound waves travel not only outside our body, but there is energy bouncing around in our mouth and throat and through our head, directly to the inner portion of our ear,” says Dr Johnson. Other people can’t sense the vibrations in your mouth, so you hear your own voice differently than they do. When listening to your own voice on a recording, you aren’t getting those extra vibrations in your mouth and throat, so you’ll hear what everyone else does. Because it’s as unique as your fingerprints, your voice – or what you think it sounds like – is part of your self-image. A sudden change can be off-putting. “We think of ourselves as sounding a certain way, and then we hear ourselves on recording and it’s completely different,” says Dr Johnson. “It’s unexpected. It’s like, ‘That’s not me’.” And there’s a reason people are rarely pleasantly surprised by this new sound. The vibrations coming directly from your head are lower, so the sound is richer. “People are surprised they sound … irritating because it sounds brighter and sounds higher than what they’re used to,” says Dr Johnson. So, when you suddenly sound more Janice from Friends than Morgan Freeman, you might get freaked out. To get over your hatred of your own voice, try listening to recordings of it, recommends Dr Johnson. “The more you get used to that, the more you acknowledge, ‘That really is my sound’,” he says. If you think your voice is truly annoying (and not just to you), you aren’t stuck with that sound forever. Singing lessons, public speaking classes and vocal training can help you learn how to change your voice’s sound, says Dr Johnson. “We sometimes see people who are just not using their voice efficiently,” he says. “You can find different ways to use your voice to produce different qualities using breath and trying not to use your throat very much.” Written by Marissa Laliberte This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/mental-health/why-you-hate-sound-your-own-voice">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/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Music

How to start your own book club

Starting a book club is easy – all you need is to love reading. Here’s how to get yours off to a flying start. Finding Fellow Readers Ask around your existing personal networks, including neighbours, friends, social media, or a community noticeboard. Once you mention you want to start a club, you’ll be surprised how many people may want to come along. Ask at your local bookshop and library for ideas – many run regular reading groups and can point you in the right direction for good books. Identify what common interests you and your group have and use these to help draw like-minded people. Once you start looking, you’ll find book clubs for men or women, seniors, sci-fi lovers, teenagers or cookery buffs. The Time, the Place Once you have a group, agree on how often you want to meet – typically clubs meet monthly, though the time-poor may want to make it bi-monthly. For many clubs, meeting at home works best as you don’t have to get dressed up, and noisy public venues can make talking hard. If members bring a plate of food or a bottle, it takes the pressure off the host. But try rotating your meeting location as this will help to stimulate fresh thoughts. Idea Tailor your venue according to the book’s subject matter. The Light Between the Oceans by M.L. Stedman was discussed over fish’n’chips by one club, while The Red Tent by Anita Diamant was chewed over at a Middle Eastern restaurant. Size Matters According to Christine Callen, a book club veteran of 15 years, you need a minimum number of people per meeting to make it interesting. “Seven is the magic number – fewer and there’s not enough for healthy debate,” she says. “You can have ten people in the club – not everyone will be able to make it every time – seven provides enough opinions.” Choosing the Books If you’re the club instigator, it’s easier if you pick the first book. Seek out book reviews in good magazines and newspapers and at bookshops. The flavour of the books you choose will be largely dictated by the personalities attending – you might like to have a wide range of genres from sci-fi to romance to travel epics. Or stick to one genre, such as history books. Decide on a strategy and a time frame – say five to 12 books across the year – then review how everything appeals to the majority. Take turns to come up with a list of four or five titles, then circulate the list via email shortly after your last discussion. Members can then vote on their preferred next book and meeting time. The member scheduled to host the next meeting coordinates the responses to decide the title and date most voted for. Starting Discussion Callen recommends beginning by asking all members to briefly give their opinion on the book. “Everyone arrives and has a drink to loosen up,” she explains. “Then we take it in turns to go around the room and each give the book a mark out of ten, saying in a few sentences what we liked or disliked about it. This gives everyone a chance to speak early in the night and stops one person dominating the conversation from the start.” Tip There is no one way to interpret a book. In fact, differing opinions are good. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/home-tips/How-to-Start-Your-Own-Book-Club">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/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Books

David Campbell admits: "I still have identity issues"

With Christmas right around the corner, tis’ the season when singers release their highly anticipated Christmas music. And with Michael Bublé, Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole being known for their festive tunes, David Campbell wasn’t worried about being compared to them when he decided to release his own Christmas album. But instead, it was how he would fair to the Tin Lids – the ‘90s group that was created by his dad Jimmy Barnes’ other children and their iconic Christmas album, Hey Rudolph! “It’s a big deal doing a Christmas album in my family because I have to compete with Hey Rudolph! – which is the greatest Christmas album of all time,” said Campbell wittingly to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/stellar/david-campbell-i-still-have-identity-issues/news-story/0f6feb940e998146c51992dbcde8b7d1?utm_source=Daily%20Telegraph&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial" target="_blank">Stellar Magazine</a>. “Sorry, Michael Bublé, but it’s true. If I could come in at least third…” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuyzVEAKqr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuyzVEAKqr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">This is probably my favourite photo from the @stellarmag shoot in today’s paper. I may need to Frame this. Thanks @stevenchee @kellyahume and @sarrahlemarquand</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/davidcampbell73/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> David Campbell</a> (@davidcampbell73) on Nov 3, 2018 at 1:12pm PDT </div> </blockquote> But Campbell has no reason to be concerned, as his compilation of songs such as Baby It’s Christmas written by Rick Price is going to be a smash hit due to the infectious rhythm and catchy beat. Campbell, who claims he used to be a “Christmas Tragic” in the earlier years of his life believes this album is a turning point and reveals his new content attitude towards life. “I’ve wanted to do a Christmas album for a while and everything came together,” he says. “I spent some Christmases in New York watching ice skaters and buying warm chestnuts, so this has all the elements of a traditional Christmas but with hot overtones – like a Beach Boys song.” After battling with demons of his own throughout most of his life, the 45-year-old is now at the peak of his career as he hosts Nine Network’s Today Extra with Sonia Kruger, hosting Carols by Candlelight and being a devoted husband and father to his three children, Leo, 8, and Billy and Betty, 3. He credits his switch in lifestyle to acceptance, as he learnt to confront his trauma from a complicated childhood and having to deal with an absent father. And now, with a family of his own, Campbell is determined to not repeat the same mistakes when it comes to his own children.

Angry Anderson rushes back to Sydney after son killed

Australian rock musician Angry Anderson is grieving the loss of his son after it was revealed that Liam Anderson was allegedly killed by his best friend on Sunday morning. He was spotted arriving from Western Australia where he was performing with Rose Tattoo on their 40th anniversary tour. Angry has been heard in the past giving credit to his children for keeping him grounded and turning his life around. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHBPd4cgDJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHBPd4cgDJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">My youngest son Liam and I at the specialists. He’s now the third of my four children diagnosed with overactive Thyroid ...three out of four! Go figure!! Who else has children who suffer with similar health issues? #GaryAngryAnderson #AngryAnderson #family #children #healthyliving #stayingfit #livelifetothefullest</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/gary_angry_anderson/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Gary Angry Anderson - Official</a> (@gary_angry_anderson) on Jun 23, 2016 at 6:50pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Friends and family have chosen to remember the 26-year-old as they left tributes and messages at Sydney’s northern beaches where the attack took place. The man reportedly behind the attack was 20-year-old Matthew Flame who according to the police, was Liam’s best friend, as the pair would often comment and like each other’s posts on social media. Police are said to have arrested Flame at the scene and he is expected to be charged with murder. Adam Thompson, the frontman for Chocolate Starfish and close friend of Angry said to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/angry-anderson-wanting-answers-over-the-brutal-death-of-his-youngest-son-liam/news-story/144db49d3c73e22c9a6d0b34c78a8984?utm_source=Daily%20Telegraph&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a>: “I’m sure he’d be wanting answers – how it escalated to the level it did.” He said that Angry would be grieving as a “father way more now than Angry the performer.” Liam posted many photos and videos with Flame on his Instagram account, with the most recent being in September at Sydney’s Defqon.1 Festival. “Defqon was lit, shout to the homie (Mr Flame) for being a real one,” he captioned the post. “Love ya mate x.” A friend of the pair commented saying: “You guys are obsessed (with) each other.” “Yeah pretty much,” responded Liam. Flame then light-heartedly suggested that the commenter was “jealous” of their friendship. Witnesses at the scene of the crime recounted the events to the police and said that they heard “shouting and moaning” from the Pavillion Reserve park. Due to critical head injuries, Liam passed away almost instantly.

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