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Beloved presenter dies aged 48

<p>Former ABC presenter Seini Fale’aka Taumoepeau has passed away aged 48. </p> <p>The Tongan-Australian, known for hosting Pacific Mornings on <em>ABC Radio Australia</em>, died last week, her family confirmed. </p> <p>ABC Pacific led tributes to the beloved presenter, who paved the way  for the representation of Pacific people in Australian media.</p> <p>“Seini will remembered and celebrated as a dedicated artist, orator, song woman and storyteller, who spent over 30 years advocating for Pasifika communities and their representation in the Australian media landscape,” they said on Instagram. </p> <p>“Seini’s first appearance on ABC Radio Australia was as a 13-year-old on programs produced by her mother, going on to become the inaugural host of Pacific Mornings in 2018.</p> <p>“Colleagues recall her last sign off, ‘I hope that ABC Radio Australia will consider replacing me with 2-5-10 more people of Pacific heritage and understanding, and in doing so evolve the Australian lens of the Pacific with the great and valuable resource that is our region, inclusive of its people’.”</p> <p>Taumoepeau also performed under the stage name, SistaNative and was heavily involved in the Pacific Wave Festival - which showcases arts from the Pacific. </p> <p>A GoFundMe page has been set up by her family to help cover the costs for her funeral, with over $14,000 raised so far. </p> <p>On the page her family said that she “moved on from this earthly life very suddenly."</p> <p>“Seini was for many a loving, caring, compassionate, and sincere human. Through her art, culture and her resounding voice Seini helped create the musical soundtrack of our lives.”</p> <p>Friends and followers have also paid tribute to the presenter on social media. </p> <p>“Going to miss you, sis. Still can’t believe it. Sending so much love to your family,” one wrote. </p> <p>“Love you, sis. Give thanks (for) your love, light and eternal energy.”</p> <p>“Going to miss you…Days pass and I still hope that it isn’t true. Keep looking out for all of us Seini. Love you,” another added. </p> <p><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

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"Gone way too soon”: Neighbours star dead at 48

<p><em>Neighbours </em>star Troy Beckwith, who immortalised the infamous villain Michael Martin, has passed away at the age of 48.</p> <p>The news was confirmed by his former co-star, Kym Valentine, leaving the <em>Neighbours</em> community and fans around the world mourning the loss of a talented actor and cherished friend.</p> <p>Valentine took to social media to share the heartbreaking news, saying, “It pains me so much to have to say this. Our dear old friend Troy Beckwith has passed away.” The void left by his departure is felt deeply by those who knew him, with Valentine expressing sorrow over the untimely loss of another member of their TV family.</p> <p>“Another member of our TV family gone way too soon. There will be no funeral as per Troy’s request. Thanks for all the memories my cheeky mate and all my love to your friends and family.”</p> <p>Troy's character, "Sicko Micko", became an iconic figure in the world of <em>Neighbours</em> during his run from 1992 to 1998. Ausculture even likened him to "the Charles Manson of Ramsay Street" because of the profound impact he had on fans and the show's legacy. His portrayal of Michael Martin earned him a special place in the hearts of viewers, and he remains a fixture in lists ranking the best <em>Neighbours </em>characters of the 1990s.</p> <p>As the news spread, tributes poured in from fellow cast members and friends. Brett Stark actor Brett Blewitt, currently part of the <em>Neighbours</em> revival, shared his thoughts, describing Troy as a "lovely person" who was "deeply thoughtful and empathetic". The pain of the loss is palpable in Blewitt's words, echoing the sentiments of many who had the privilege of knowing Troy.</p> <p>Even as the <em>Neighbours</em> family grapples with the shock, Lucinda Cowden, who plays Melanie Pearson, expressed her sorrow through a series of broken heart emojis. The collective grief is evident, as the cast and crew mourn the departure of a talent gone too soon.</p> <p>Troy's friend Selina Laine Bonica reflected on the complexity of their relationship, saying, “Troy, you were a pain in my a**, but I loved you dearly. I’m just glad you’re free from pain.”</p> <p>Beckwith's impact extended beyond <em>Neighbours</em>, as evidenced by his role in the series <em>Pugwall</em>. Ricky Fleming, his co-star, paid tribute by remembering the mischievous adventures they shared, saying, “May you be in peace and still be the infectious joy of those who are in your presence now.”</p> <p>The absence of a cause of death only deepens the sense of loss, leaving fans to remember a talent that graced their screens and a person who touched the hearts of many. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

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Tributes for Melbourne millionaire who passed away at just 48

<p>Melbourne rich-lister and property tycoon Jonathan Hallinan has passed away, aged 48, after a lengthy battle with cancer.</p> <p>Tributes are pouring in for the entrepreneur who left a lasting mark on the industry as well as on the hearts of Melbourne’s elite.</p> <p>The founder and managing director of BPM Corporation had hoped to be part of a cancer drug trial, but was given the bad news just days before he passed at Royal Melbourne Hospital on March 23, his wife Mikka said.</p> <p>Hallinan had been battling with bone marrow cancer for two years after a bone marrow transplant in 2021.</p> <p>Mikka shared the news of his death, confirming he died as a “crazy thunderstorm” passed over Melbourne.</p> <p>“Three days ago, his doctor broke it to him that with a bacterial bug, chest infection, fevers of 39C+ and overall unwellness from the level of his disease in his body, he wouldn’t be making the drug trial he was aiming for,” she said.</p> <p>“There was such a crazy thunderstorm yesterday morning in Melbourne. The darkest thunder and lightning, out of nowhere and as fast as it arrived, it left a clear sky behind.</p> <p>“If you saw it, know it was the sky announcing to the heavens that Jonathan Hallinan was coming. Jonnie passed in the storm yesterday morning. In his own words, Jonnie said he was going home.”</p> <p>In December 2022, Hallinan wrote of his “latest setback”.</p> <p>“Recovery is taking absolutely all the strength I’ve got left, and I have nothing to give anyone else,” he wrote.</p> <p>“It is important for me to preserve all remaining energy for myself and my family.”</p> <p>Hallinan, who came in at 199 in Australia’s Richest 250 in 2019, with a reported net worth of $650 million, had only two days to share “beautiful goodbyes with his close family, kids and I,” Mikka said.</p> <p>Hallinan had two sons and a daughter, Estelle, who emphasised his lengthy hard-fought battle with cancer, taking to Instagram to share an emotional tribute “I already miss you so much, Dad. I know how hard you fought these past few years, and I’m so proud of you. I will always love you so much.</p> <p>Tributes flowed from fellow industry players and Melbourne’s elite.</p> <p>“Deeply saddened by this news,” <em>Wog Boys</em> actor and comedian Nick Giannopoulos wrote.</p> <p>“Jonathon was a fighter and incredibly brave — he fought it until he could not fight it anymore. A real gentleman. A good bloke. A very generous man who loved and adored his family and close friends. Rest in peace, Jonathon,” he said.</p> <p>Fellow property developer Diana Cassar wrote, “With you gone, our industry, and the world as a whole, have lost one of the most remarkable minds, an unstoppable achiever and one of the most creative leaders I’ve happened to meet on my way here in Melbourne.”</p> <p>“I will never forget that beautiful smile and charisma that would light up a room. The most kind and generous soul,” Vogue writer Emmaleine Savio said.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqKZvb4vWAI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqKZvb4vWAI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mikka Hallinan (@mikkahendra)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p> Actress Natassia Halabi shared an emotional tribute, writing, “We’re going to miss him beyond words. So beautiful being witness to his relationship with you and his kids. His legacy will forever live on with you guys.”</p> <p>“So privileged to have been your friend. Thanks for the wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. I will never forget you and how much you meant to me, my good mate.” Hallinan’s friend Carl Charambous wrote.</p> <p>Reality TV personality from season three of <em>The Bachelor</em>, Sam Wood wrote in reference to Hallinan’s passing during the intense thunderstorm.</p> <p>“Oh I felt it. Both the storm and the impact. What an incredible man,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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Aussie Olympic legend dies at just 48

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Australian Winter Olympic bobsledder Duncan Pugh is being remembered fondly as “a legend – a fantastic father to his boys, a beloved husband, son, brother and uncle to his family” after his sudden passing at the age of 48 from a brain aneurysm in his hometown of Perth.</span></p> <p>Competing for Australia at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, Pugh leaves behind his wife McKenzie and their two sons and seven and six. </p> <p>McKenzie Pugh revealed her deep shock and sadness in an obituary published by <em>The West Australian</em>.</p> <p>"We are heartbroken and simply lost for words. Taken far too soon," she wrote.</p> <p>"You were the rock of our family and wore your heart on your sleeve. You were so very proud of our two boys, the best dad anyone could have hoped for. Your passion and determination will forever live on in our boys.</p> <p>"You made me feel the centre of your world. We hope you're hanging out up there with Dougie. Love you always, your loving wife Kenz, boys Charlie and George and furbaby Lola."</p> <p>Bobsleigh and Skeleton Australia also paid tribute to the former Olympian, saying he was "gone far too young".</p> <p>"Our small bobsleigh family has taken a big hit this week with the passing of Pughie – Duncan Pugh Vancouver 2010 Olympian, was and will always be remembered as a legend," it posted on Facebook.</p> <p>"A fantastic father to his boys, a beloved husband, son, brother and uncle to his family.</p> <p>"An Olympian with a continued passion for sport. He was adored and highly respected as a teacher and loved by all his friends. Anyone that had a one-on-one conversation with Dunc will know exactly how easy it was to feel comfortable in his presence and grateful for his friendship."</p> <p>Family friend Levi Bristow has set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/8m466-mckenzie-and-the-boys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page</a> for the Pugh family, and has raised $43,640 to cover medical bills and funeral expenses.</p> <p><em>Image: GoFundMe</em></p>

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Two months of rain in 48 hours

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Sydney has been thrown into chaos after a devastating storm saw two months worth of rain dumped onto the city. The rain forced mass evacuations, leaving 150,000 homes without power and prompted warnings not to drive to work.</p> <p>Residents in flood-affected areas from the city’s west to the Northern Beaches have been warned not to drive to work as rivers overflowed.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">After a ludicrously dry and hot summer where we desperately dreamed of rain - Sydney has decided to flood over the last 36 hours. Here is my street an hour ago: <a href="https://t.co/Jg9vXn1O2O">pic.twitter.com/Jg9vXn1O2O</a></p> — Mark Tanner (@marketanner) <a href="https://twitter.com/marketanner/status/1226434743543009281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>“We are trying to ask people to reconsider their travel, a number of roads are closed,” a State Emergency Service said on Monday morning, according to<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7983603/Sydney-cops-TWO-MONTHS-rain-48-hours-deluge-thats-turned-streets-rivers.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a>.</p> <p>“And we are still seeing people driving into flood water.”</p> <p>NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliot urged motorists to stay off the roads if possible.</p> <p>“We have 400 SES volunteers trying to complete the backlog this morning and unfortunately this has included 150 flood rescues,” he said.</p> <p>“The message to the motorists of Sydney and indeed the wider metropolitan area is if you can avoid being on the roads do so.”</p> <p>Wild winds grew to speeds of 107km/h off the coast of Sydney damaged power lines and uprooted trees that left more than 150,000 homes without power on Sunday night and Monday morning.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8XLcE6gzPF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8XLcE6gzPF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Andrew Elia (@acemusings)</a> on Feb 9, 2020 at 2:02pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Commuters have also been warned to expect major delays on Monday morning as public transport struggles to cope with the influx of extra passengers.</p> <p>The downpour in Sydney has marked the biggest the area has seen since 1998.</p> <p>The popular Blue Mountains destination of Katoomba was estimated to receive a quarter of the rainfall over the weekend that it normally receives in one year.</p> <p>Bureau of Meteorology state manager Jane Golding said that a king tide and 8m high waves are threatening to cause more damage this week.</p> <p>“Monday and Tuesday will be the main danger period because it is really the height of the waves, the power of the waves coming in from the East which erodes the land,” she said.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Michelle Bridges shows off stunning bikini body at 48

<p>Michelle Bridges has not been shy to share her European trip with her adorable three-year-old son, Axel, and her partner – former<span> </span><em>Biggest Loser</em> star Steve Commando Willis – over the last month. </p> <p>While lapping it up in the sun, the 48-year-old has also shared a few stunning snaps of her loving life in the serene and mesmerising Dubrovnik, Croatia. </p> <p><span>Bridges uploaded a photograph of her bikini body for her 286,000 Instagram followers on Sunday showing her standing in a gloriously blue water. </span></p> <p>The fitness star has been travelling around Europe since the beginning of July with her family, starting off in Germany. Steve competed in the Roth Challenge, a triathlon held once a year which consists of a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzvTVcXHFrX/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzvTVcXHFrX/" target="_blank">Wow! That was a week! What an incredible experience with equally incredible inspirational people. Im so proud of you babe @commandosteve to have completed such a monumental challenge having only trained for 4 months. All those early mornings and late nights of trying to fit it all in and still have enough for everyone else. Massive thanks and congratulations to @mat_rogers6 and @chloemaxwell31 and the entire @maxingoutchallenge crew for all the support, the encouragement, the leadership, the camaraderie and the laughs 🙏🏼 you guys are really an amazing team. The upcoming @maxingoutchallenge TV show will be so inspiring. There’s no words to describe the Roth Challenge. Besides the 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42km run, this event is like nothing else. 6000 competitors, 250,000 spectators. Mind blown 🤪🤩 very special. Thanks again 💋 and well done to our little man Axel. We woke him up at 330am and we got on the bus at 1130pm home by 1230am....he had a sleep during the day, but what a champ, he even did a glow stick dance that night 🙌🏼🙏🏼...time to holiday now...🥰❤️</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/mishbridges/" target="_blank"> Michelle Bridges</a> (@mishbridges) on Jul 10, 2019 at 7:22am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While he completed the monumental challenge, Michelle and Axel were sure to be on the sidelines cheering Steve on. </p> <p>“I’m so proud of you babe @commandosteve to have completed such a monumental challenge having only trained for 4 months,” Michelle wrote online.</p> <p>“All those early mornings and late nights of trying to fit it all in and still have enough for everyone else.”</p> <p>After the daunting triathlon, Steve has gotten to have some down time with his beautiful partner and son. </p> <p>Since visiting Dubrovnik, Croatia, the trio had the opportunity to visit the <em>Game of Thrones Kings Landing</em> set before moving on to Montenegro. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Michelle Bridge's enjoying her European holiday</p>

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This elegant contemporary home was built in 48 hours

<p>Good, fast and cheap: you can have two, but not all three.</p> <p>That has long been the catch-phrase of building and manufacturing - the idea that if you want something that's inexpensive, and you want it quickly, what you're going to get is not going to be of great quality.</p> <p>This stunning contemporary house, by Desai Chia Architecture, might prove the old adage wrong.</p> <p>Located in rural New York was it was designed for maximum efficiency and then built using prefabricated elements in just a couple of days.</p> <p>It's situated on a rocky outcrop that overlooks a trout pond and open farmland. The house integrates a number of sustainable design elements, including geothermal heating and cooling, radiant floors, natural ventilation, motorised solar shades and photovoltaic panels.</p> <p>The middle of the structure houses the bedrooms, bathroom, and storage rooms within a perforated timber core. The timber slats are part of a larger wall system that allows for natural daylight to permeate the space during the day. The system also contributes to home's overall ventilation.</p> <p>The foundation of the home is provided by four steel columns that are embedded into that timber core. This structural solution creates expansive, open living areas at both ends of the house</p> <p>The surrounding structure is constructed using as few materials as possible. The facade of the house is made up of triple-paned glass units. All the elements of the house were prefabricated off-site, shipped to the site in one container, and erected by crane in just two days.</p> <p><em>Written by Kathleen Kinney. First appeared on <strong><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></a> </strong>Image credit: Desai Chia Architecture/ Stuff.co.nz.</em></p>

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1000 days, 48 countries and 100 Airbnbs: Reflecting on our incredible travel journey

<p><strong><em>Debbie and Michael Campbell are the authors behind the popular travel blog <a href="http://seniornomads.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Senior Nomads</span></a>, where they document their indefinite travels around the world. Here Michael shares the anniversary of 1000 days and 100 Airbnbs travelling around the road.</em></strong></p> <p>We left Seattle in July 2013 with the idea that we would be gone for a year. We downsized our belongings, severely cut our monthly expenses, and rented our house. We were free to travel to our hearts content for at least 12 months.</p> <p>But, in fact we hedged our bets not knowing if we'd really like living a nomadic lifestyle and bought round trip tickets from Seattle to Paris and back returning home for Christmas that year.</p> <p>Well, you can tell from the title of this blog that after putting our toe in the water for that first 6 months we took to this new lifestyle like a "fish to water"! Since then, we’ve only returned to Seattle twice.</p> <p>Sometimes it is hard to believe that we are still living out of two suitcases almost three years later. In fact last week we celebrated 1,000 days as Senior Nomads – and now we are truly homeless because last summer we sold our house! Now home is the Airbnb we live in wherever we are at the moment.</p> <p>In addition to celebrating 1,000 days on the road, we are also living in our <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/6229018/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_Narcis" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">100th Airbnb</span></strong></a>! We are in the charming Spanish city of Girona about 60 miles north of Barcelona near the French border. Along the way we've explored 47 countries – tomorrow, we head to the tiny country of Andorra and that will bring us to number 48. We’ve been to139 cities, taken 46 free walking tours, we've had 40 different phone numbers, and have made more friends than we can count.</p> <p>To get to all these places we have ridden on almost every form of public transportation you can imagine: trains, planes, buses, minivans, ferry boats, Coco taxis (in Havana) and a horse a horse drawn cart. We have also walked our fair share of miles, which we now track in kilometres. We did the math and we’ve walked the equivalent of hiking from Seattle to Washington DC. Whew!</p> <p><img width="500" height="364" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21581/sn2_500x364.jpg" alt="Sn2"/></p> <p>We continue, on average to read a book a week and our Kindles still perform flawlessly as we download books from Amazon as well as borrowing e-books from the Seattle Public Library. Who knew at you could log into your library account from anywhere on earth and download a new book in a matter of seconds? We can also stream KUOW and KING FM anywhere we happen to be. And of course, we use FaceTime, Skype and Google Hangout to stay connected with friends and family.</p> <p>On evenings when we are not at a free event, reading, or Debbie’s not cooking, you’ll often find us playing one of our three favourite games: Scrabble, dominoes and backgammon. Our best guess is that we’ve probably racked-up over 400 combined games. Although we have not kept track of who won every game in our daily journal, we’ve both known victory and defeat while laughing and learning along the way. Note: 2 letter words in Scrabble are the keys to success (especially ZA, QI, XU and XI).</p> <p>Along the way we have celebrated holidays, birthdays and even a few wedding anniversaries. Last fall, we tallied 37 years since we were married in Epiphany church in the Madrona neighbourhood of Seattle in 1978. I just checked and we should have received alabaster gifts for that one but I don’t recall receiving any, but that’s okay, I am sure they would be too heavy to take with us.</p> <p>Back on day 500 we shared our credo in the Senior Nomads blog.</p> <p>"We will keep doing this as long as we haven't run out of money, stopped having fun, stopped learning, fallen out of love, or fallen over and can't get up".</p> <p>Looking back, we concluded that post with this comment: “So far so good!” We are happy to say that now, almost three years into our adventure, we feel incredibly blessed to once again say, “So far so good!”</p> <p>The only advice we would give to anyone thinking of striking out as Senior Nomads would be sure you are traveling with your best friend. And bring your own pillows.</p> <p><em><a href="http://seniornomads.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Click here</span></strong></a> to read more of Debbie and Michael’s popular blog.</em></p> <p><em>To book accommodation on Airbnb, please visit their <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_guest" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">website here.</span></strong></a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/05/why-airbnb-was-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-my-health/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Why Airbnb was the best thing to happen to my health</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/04/airbnb-breathes-new-life-into-cuban-tourism/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Airbnb breathes new life into Cuban tourism</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/04/tips-for-airbnb-hosting-success/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">8 tips for Airbnb hosting success</span></strong></em></a></p>

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