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From lettuce fields to opera stages – the brilliant journey of Helen Sherman

How does a young girl growing up on a lettuce farm in rural New South Wales, surrounded by the quiet rustle of leaves and the hum of daily farm life, go on to become such a powerful voice on the operatic scene? This is the unlikely beginning of Helen Sherman, the Australian-British mezzo-soprano who has taken the world of opera by storm. Sherman’s musical journey began at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where her extraordinary voice started to attract attention. It wasn't long before her ambition led her to the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in the UK. There, she honed her craft, setting the stage for a remarkable career that would see her representing Australia at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition and the Francisco Viñas International Singing Competition. Sherman's rise to operatic fame has been nothing short of meteoric. Her versatility and talent have seen her perform a wide range of roles across the globe. Recent highlights include Flora in La traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera North. Her portrayal of Tamiri in Farnace with Pinchgut Opera and Dorabella in Così fan tutte at Teatru Manoel in Malta further cemented her reputation as a mezzo-soprano of extraordinary range and depth. One of Sherman’s standout performances was her interpretation of the title role in Carmen with the State Opera South Australia. Her embodiment of Carmen’s fiery spirit and complex emotions captivated audiences and critics alike. Equally compelling was her portrayal of Giulio Cesare with Bury Court Opera, a role that showcased her ability to navigate the demanding vocal and dramatic challenges of baroque opera. In 2024, Sherman’s calendar is as busy as ever, as she will be singing Dorabella in Così fan tutte and Mistress of the Novices in Suor Angelica for Opera Australia, roles that promise to highlight her versatility and emotional depth. <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Over60 was lucky enough to be able to interview Sherman in the lead-up to her Sydney performances of <a href="https://opera.org.au/productions/il-trittico-sydney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Il Trittico</a> and <a href="https://opera.org.au/productions/cosi-fan-tutte-sydney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Così fan tutte</a>: O60: How did you become an opera singer after growing up on a lettuce farm in rural NSW? “It was quite a journey. My father was an incredible piano accordionist (think Flight of the Bumblebee, Malagueña etc). In the 1970s his teaching studio in Bathurst peaked at about 40 accordion students, which I think is quite remarkable. After his father died, Dad stepped back from his teaching to take over the family farm, though he still plays to this day. “My mother is a music lover, and wanted her children to have the opportunity to explore creative outlets that she wasn't fortunate enough to explore in her youth, so my brother, sister and I all had lessons in piano accordion, piano, dancing, drama and singing. We were fortunate to live in a town that had many thriving arts organisations, such as the Dolly McKinnon School of Dance, Bathurst Eisteddfod Society and Mitchell Conservatorium of Music. “Bathurst's Carillon Theatrical Society (for which my dad's cousin, the late, great, Carole Eastment, was choreographer) afforded us the opportunity to be part of full-scale classic musical productions. I was also fortunate to attend MacKillop College, a local Catholic high school of humble proportions, that had a very passionate and resourceful music teacher, Mr David Eyles. Thanks to him, students like me were able to star in wittily re-written and orchestrated G&S productions. With such a plethora of opportunities at my feet, my love of the stage was pretty much pre-determined. “Upon graduating high school, aged seventeen, I moved to Sydney to take up a place at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where I completed a Bachelor of Music and a post graduate diploma in opera. At this stage, I wasn't really in love with opera, that came later, when I found myself covering third novice in OA's 2007 production of Suor Angelica. “During the last studio run of the show, mere metres away from me, star soprano Cheryl Barker was singing the final solo notes of the title role: ‘Madonna! Madonna! Salva me! Salva me!’, tears streaming down her face, and the most incredible voice soaring out; I had chills all over my body and in my soul, and I have loved opera ever since.” O60: You were based in London for years; how did you find the opera world overseas versus in Australia – in both your studies and performing? “I guess the main differences are that the UK scene is a bigger one with more companies and more music schools; a more international one, that students and professionals from around the world flock to, and one with – historically – more financial backing and patronage. However, the scene in the UK has suffered dramatically in the last few years, particularly with the effects of Brexit compounded by COVID, cost-of-living crisis and embarrassingly ignorant cuts made by the Arts Council. “Generally, abroad, there are many more opportunities for musicians, but many, many more musicians competing for them. It is an awe-inspiring thing to meet and work with musical idols like Roger Vignols, Julius Drake, Yvonne Kenny etcetera, to sing a piece of music in the venue in which it premiered or was composed for; to tread the same cobblestones that the likes of Mozart and Handel trod and to delight in the discovery that the shoes or trousers you're wearing in a production bear the name of the likes of Dame Sarah Connolly.” “However, I would say that there is plenty of exciting stuff going on in Australia and an optimism and openness in the Australian people, which is impactful on our industry and its creative output. “More needs to be done in our country to insure all children are given creative learning outlets for the benefit of their development, their communities and for the future of our industry.” O60: Why did you return to Sydney and how are you enjoying it? Any future plans to head back overseas? “After a health scare in 2022 that forced me to cancel all my work, my husband received a job offer to relocate to Sydney. It felt like the universe was opening a door for us, so we gladly walked through it, and onto a flight to Sydney in mid 2023. I have felt welcomed (back!) with open arms both personally and professionally and I have no imminent plans to return abroad, at this stage.” O60: You’ve appeared in many staged productions as well as concerts. What do you like about these two types of performances? “Concert performances are a chance to home in on the music and the words without worrying about physical action. Staged productions afford the performer the luxury of inhabiting and exploring a character, physically, right down to their shoes and petticoats. Both are wonderful ways of working and some works naturally lend themselves to one or the other – though, I think for opera, context is key, and can be a challenge to properly manufacture on the concert platform.” O60: Tell us about your two characters and how do you prepare for performing two roles in different operas in the same season? “I've been playing the role of Mistress of Novices in Suor Angelica and am currently preparing the role of Dorabella in Così fan Tutte. One is a senior nun and the other an excitable teenage girl, so they are rather disparate. “The big challenge is in the early days of learning and memorising the role. Once you have a grasp of the music, the libretto and who you are, it's about showing up and reacting to your world. Preparing disparate roles concurrently can be a vocal challenge, since tessitura and vocal gesture have a big impact on how one might approach a score. I like to keep in touch, daily, with technical exercises that encourage economy and flexibility in my voice, especially when I'm working on contrasting roles. Thankfully, the human voice is a very sensitive instrument and responds intuitively to intention and emotion, so developing the character arc and subtext helps a lot with that. O60: What should audiences be watching and/or listening out for Il Trittico versus in Così fan tutte? “There's so much to enjoy so let it wash over you in broad, beautiful, very human brushstrokes!! Or, if you love little details, in Il Trittico see if you can spot which singers appear in all three operas and watch out for Frugola's bag of strange objects in Il Tabarro. You'll learn a lot from the body language and small glances between characters in the world of Suor Angelica, and in Gianni Schicchi, well, I am told there is a very interesting door stop! “In Così fan Tutte, listen out for the way Mozart creates subtext for his characters; tiny details, like Dorabella needing to sing a third higher than Fiordiligi (because she is the competitive younger sister!) when emotionally fraught in some of their act one recitatives! Mozart is a genius of musical detail!” O60: Do you have any dream roles you’re yet to perform? “There are too many to list, but I adore the role of Octavian in der Rosenkavalier by Strauss (a role I have sung, but would love to revisit) and I would love to sing Ariodante by Händel.” --- <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">Click here for more information on <a href="https://opera.org.au/productions/il-trittico-sydney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Il Trittico</a> and <a href="https://opera.org.au/productions/cosi-fan-tutte-sydney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Così fan tutte</a>.

Music

Bridezilla or brilliant? List of wedding rules hits the spot

Kennedy Marks is neither engaged nor expecting to be any time soon. However, that has not stopped her from devising a super comprehensive list of exactly what will and will not happen on her wedding day. The 22-year-old from Devon in the UK has posted a now-viral video to TikTok explaining the rules she will expect guests to observe. The list is reasonably lengthy, with 13 rules to be precise. The list includes rules such as “no phones,” “don’t stress me out, ask my mum,” and no children “unless pre-approved.” “I don’t want children screaming during the ceremony, I don’t want children running on the dance floor when I’m trying to do my first dance because you’re at the bar,” she says. No “boring” people will be allowed, and anyone who has the gall to step on the dance floor during the first dance will be “dragged off and never seen again.” Other rules on the list include: No-one else wearing white (otherwise “a bottle of red wine will be poured on you”); not to automatically expect you can bring a plus-one; and no-one to make any “big announcements.” “Please, for the love of God, do not take the attention away from me. In a follow up video, Kennedy explained some more of her rules. “No rudeness to staff or you’re out, I want them to dance, I want them to have fun, I want them to have a good shift,” she says. “No phones at the ceremony, I don’t want all of my photos to be on phones, I want to enjoy the moment, let’s all embrace it.” The clip has surpassed almost 700,000 views and the reactions have been diverse. Some have applauded Kennedy for knowing just what she wants, while others have of course branded her a “Bridezilla.” “This is the list I needed,” one follower wrote. The full rule list: 1. No-one else wearing white. 2. No children (unless approved). 3. Don’t assume an invitation for a plus-one. 4. No big announcements. 5. No-one to use the microphone unless approved. 6. Don’t stress me out, ask my mum. 7. No boring people. 8. If me or (boyfriend) Rhys have never met you, you aren’t coming. 9. No rudeness to staff or you’re out. 10. No phones in the ceremony. 11. Anyone on the dancefloor on my first dance will be dragged off. 12. Guests wear whatever you’re comfortable in. 13. Full use of my photographer after my photos. Images: TikTok

Relationships

"Brilliant gesture": Secret Santa pays off local toy store lay-bys

A kind gesture has eased the financial burden of Christmas for shoppers at a Townsville toy shop, in north-eastern Queensland, after a generous stranger paid their lay-by balances. Natasha Vidler said she was “in disbelief and shock” when she was told over the phone that $170 had been paid off her toy bill at Townsville Toyworld. “I rang my husband and I was pretty much in tears, tears of happiness,” Ms Vidler <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-15/anonymous-secret-santa-pays-toy-store-layby-townsville/100698928" target="_blank">said</a>. “We’re forever grateful. This time of year is a bit of a struggle for everybody, not only financially but mentally, emotionally.” Though the toy store wouldn’t say what the gifts totalled, Ms Vidler said she was one of 20 customers who benefitted from the unknown woman’s kindness. The mother-of-two has spent the last two weeks in hospital, and said the contribution would make this year’s Christmas that much more special for her family. “Now the kids are going to have an extra-special Christmas thanks to some total lovely stranger,” she said. Another recipient, Mark Jones, had been paying off presents for his children and granddaughter and said he was “blown away” by the gesture. “I thought it was an absolutely brilliant gesture,” Mr Jones said. The Townsville truck driver said he was being evicted from his rental crisis amid the city’s housing crisis, so every extra dollar made a difference. “It’s been a bit of a tough year, not just for me but for everybody,” he said. According to forecasting from the National Retail Association (NRA), Australians are set to spend a record $20.5 billion in the 10 days leading up to Christmas. But the spending comes at a particularly challenging time for many families, with chief executive of the Queensland Council of Social Services Aimee McVeigh saying that 250,000 children had one or both parents relying on income support. “These parents are having to choose between paying rent, food, electricity and medical bills, never mind Christmas presents,” Ms McVeigh said. “While the unemployment rate might be lower than it was last year, there are more people than ever in Queensland who are relying on income support payments of just $45 a day.” In Queensland alone, NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said people are expected to spend $3.9 billion over the next 10 days. “We’ve had our international borders closed, our domestic borders closed, people have been staying home and certainly saving their money,” she said. “There seems to be a push for joy after what’s been a really long 18 months.” Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Woolworths takes a stand against “brilliant” trolley hack

Woolworths is warning customers against attempting a trolley hack involving using a key when you don’t have a gold coin went viral on TikTok. The video started circulating on the platform as a”life hack” that told viewers to insert a key into coin-operated trolleys when they don’t have coins on hand. Quickly labelled as “brilliant” and a “clever solution” to a familiar problem, but Woolworths has said it could cause serious problems. “While trolley locks are not commonly used in Woolworths stores, we strongly encourage customers to only use coins in the trolley lock mechanism,” a spokesperson told news.com.au. “There have been previous instances where customers’ goods or keys have become stuck in the lock, and they may also damage the lock.” The Ballarat man who made the video found the advice was well received, with the video watched more than 25,000 times. “Insert your key, pull it out, pull your key out, and you have a trolley,” he said in the video. While some appreciated the tip, one commenter said they had tried it recently and it didn’t work. Others were confused as to why the Woolies trolleys were coin-operated, as most Australian supermarkets provide them free of charge. But, differing local government by-laws mean that some stores have trolley locks. The exception to this is Aldi, with trolleys needing a gold coin to use across the country as a way of keeping prices down on their products. Last year, the same key trick shared by an Aldi shopper prompted the German retailer to issue a warning. A spokesperson said in June, “We recommend that our shoppers continue using gold coins or an Aldi trolley token to unlock their trolleys. Other objects may become stuck or damaged.”

Legal

"Absolutely awesome": Woolies ushers in brilliant new store policy

Next time you’re in a Woolworths on a Tuesday, you might notice things are a little quieter than usual, and there’s a good explanation. The supermarket giant has introduced Quiet Hour, which is being introduced across the country after successful initial trials. The “low sensory” shopping hour was designed for people who are sensitive to the usual supermarket environment, aiming to offer customers a calmer in-store experience. “Our customers have told us there’s a need in the community for a low-sensory shopping experience,” a Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia. “Our team takes great pride in ensuring the store is quieter and less stressful for customers who want to shop during Quiet Hour and we look forward to welcoming them in store.” The Quiet Hour will bring temporary changes to the store to reduce the anxiety and sensory stress for people with autism, chronic fatigue syndrome and other specific needs. Running every Tuesday from 10.30am to 11.30am, stores will turn down music, reduce lighting, lower the volume on store phones and registers, turn off bakery oven and chicken cooker buzzers, clear store entryways and stop all PA announcements except in cases of emergencies. The initiative is already in place in 264 stores and was first developed with disability service providers at Life Without Barriers. “Quiet Hour is a great example of large commercial brands recognising the diversity of our community and changing their practices to embrace their community more,” Life Without Barriers Chief Executive Claire Robbs said. It comes after Coles introduced a Quiet Hour to some of its stores in partnership with Autism Spectrum Australia.

News

Guide to the classics: My Brilliant Career and its uncompromising message for girls today

Growing up in Australia in the 1970s, I much preferred the hijinks of Han Solo and Chewie to Princess Leia’s sexualised damsel in distress. My sister and I spent an entire summer pigging out on Choc Wedges and Barney Bananas so we could collect the men’s cricket team on specially marked sticks. Feminism seemed a world “far, far away”. Yet what Australian girls could and couldn’t do was being explored through a glut of screen adaptations of classic novels. These included Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), The Getting of Wisdom (1977), Seven Little Australians (1973) and My Brilliant Career (1979). Many revealed a depressing picture of what happened if you were different, clever or outspoken. You could be: left behind while other girls are led through a mysterious rock portal, the subject of school bullying, or crushed more literally by a falling tree in an act of sacrificial redemption. My Brilliant Career offered an alternative. Sybylla Melvyn, its “little bush commoner,” remains untamed and unapologetic. She would be modelled on author Miles Franklin herself, who mailed the manuscript to her literary idol, Henry Lawson. He subsequently provided a rousing endorsement and saw through its publication. My Brilliant Career emerged in 1901, the same year as Federation, and aligned women’s independence with national independence through a symbolic coming-of-age narrative. While Australian women received the right to vote the following year, My Brilliant Career voiced an irrepressible desire to be heard. Addressed to “My dear fellow Australians,” Melvyn (or Franklin) argues the story seeks to improve on other autobiographies by telling a collective truth: “This is not a romance … neither is it a novel, but simply a yarn — a real yarn”. As such, My Brilliant Career blends the intimacy of life writing with the broader scope of a story being retold. My Brilliant Career is everywoman’s career as much as it is the career of Australia. A hoydenish tomboy Sybylla is a highly likeable but flawed heroine, kicking around a crowded home and lamenting the “agonizing monotony, narrowness, and absolute uncongeniality” of teenage life. The family has fallen on hard times, shifting from three stations and 200,000 acres to the small and “stagnant” Possum Gully. Dick Melvyn, once his daughter’s “hero, confidant, encyclopedia, mate, and even religion”, reneges all paternal responsibility by turning to drink after a series of failed speculations. Franklin captures the resulting strain between Sybylla’s hardworking mother and her eldest daughter. As Sybylla knocks about as a hoydenish tomboy and dreams of joining the ranks of poets like Gordon, Lawson and Paterson, her mother sees only domestic uselessness and self-centredness. Sent with her siblings to the local school, mingling with the Italian migrants at nearby diggings, and absorbing pub slang when retrieving her father, Sybylla has a democratic outlook: To me the Prince of Wales will be no more than a shearer, unless when I meet him he displays some personality apart from his princeship — otherwise he can go hang. Such colourful vernacular underscores how Franklin mobilises a living language, as much as a bush landscape, to generate national distinctiveness. Packed off to her grandmother’s to be transformed into more marriageable material, Sybylla soon navigates a class-bound squattocracy with limited options. Besides her mother’s descent into drudgery, her Aunt Helen has been forced to return to the family home after her husband’s desertion. Sybylla realises with a great blow that it was only men who could take the world by its ears and conquer their fate, while women, metaphorically speaking, were forced to sit with tied hands and patiently suffer as the waves of fate tossed them hither and thither. She is critical of women’s value being reduced to an index of their beauty but also internalises it to think herself plain and unappealing. In this, she is proved wrong, for her unpretentious liveliness attracts a number of possible suitors, including neighbouring hunk, Harry Beecham. For the 1979 film, Gillian Armstrong perfectly cast then little-known Judy Davis as the pimply, unkempt Sybylla, a far cry from the Chiko Roll or Big M girls then gracing Australian billboards and TV. My mother, now in her 80s, still raves about Sam Neill’s blue eyes as the dashing Beecham. Both Franklin and Armstrong build the chemistry in Sybylla and Harry’s courtship, emphasising an equality of energy and wit. A higher love Distinguishing between sexual passion and friendship love, Aunt Helen advises Sybylla she might receive and find real love in the latter. Yet Sybylla seeks a higher love. Having “learnt them by heart”, the “men I loved” are the poets and she continues her “hope that one day I would clasp hands with them, and feel and know the unspeakable comfort and heart rest of congenial companionship”. Sybylla holds to a Romantic view of the poet as both bard of the people and transcendent. The poet must be “Alone because his soul is as far above common mortals as common mortals are above monkeys.” This drives her sense there is something more than her appointed lot in life. While Harry is prepared to “give” Sybylla “a study” and “truckload of writing gear” so she can pursue her career, Sybylla refuses his marriage proposal. She reflects, “He offered me everything — but control.” Realising she needs an unfettered life, she knows she would ultimately destroy Harry’s “honest heart”. At the same time, there is little possibility of finding an ideal mate, who would be someone who has similarly “suffered” for their dreams. My Brilliant Career not only captured the frustration of women at the turn of the century; it refused to end happily. Whereas the novel ends with Sybylla stuck and wearisome at Possum Gully, the film has her hopeful at the fence-line sending off her finished manuscript. Even in the 1970s, a choice between career and love seemed harsh. Whereas Franklin suggests that women’s path to success requires lonely self-determination, second-wave feminism emphasised collective consciousness-raising, even if that forum of voices remained faultily selective in its whiteness. A social divide While representing the “rope of class distinction” drawing “tighter” around Australian working men and women, My Brilliant Career revealed a social divide marked as much by race as class and gender. The Irish M’Swats, for whom Sybylla is forced to become a governess to repay her father’s debt, are depicted as uncivilised in their dirtiness. The Aborigines exist as unnamed servants, their culture similarly dismissed. Servant girl Jane Haizelip tells Sybylla of her disdain for the men at Possum Gully: “They let the women work too hard. It puts me in mind er the time wen the black fellows made the gins do all the work.” While Franklin occasionally employs a slave rhetoric to emphasise female oppression, one is struck by the novel’s racial inequities. Many of the problems in My Brilliant Career remain prescient: drought, bushfire, economic depression and social precarity. Whereas second-wave feminists advocated having it all, too often the message today is that women can’t expect to have love, family and career simultaneously. Franklin achieved fame and showed women as central to Australian literature. I hope my daughter’s generation keep her spirit but that the yarn becomes one of shared, all-round fulfilment. An adaptation of My Brilliant Career is at Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre until January 31. Written by Ann Vickery. This article first appeared on The Conversation.

Movies

QLD Origin captain's brilliant response to "worst ever" Maroons claim

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans issued the perfect response to being called the "worst ever" Maroons team by NSW Blues legend Paul Gallen. Cherry-Evans became the first Queensland skipper to hold the Origin shield since Cameron Smith in 2017, and made a jab at Gallen who had previously remarked that they were the "worst ever" Maroons team. "On behalf of the worst ever Queensland team, thank you very much," a delighted Cherry-Evans said. "I'd like to thank not just this team here, but everyone who supported us at home. We made a lot of sacrifices and there's a lot of people at home that can't be here tonight so thank you. "Thank you to everyone in the stadium, this is the best stadium in the world." Naturally, Gallen didn't back down from his original comments despite the Maroons winning. "I'm not shying away from my comments, it is the worst Queensland team I've seen in the past 15-20 years. I don't think the Queenslanders would disagree," he said on Nine, post-game. "If you had said to Johnathan Thurston or Fatty Vautin, who are staunch Queenslanders, that Corey Allan, Edrick Lee and Brenko Lee are going to be playing for Queensland at the end of the year and they're going to win the series, I think they might have even scratched their heads. "To their credit, they still beat the Blues and what that says about New South Wales, I'm not sure." Jonathan Thurston was thrilled with the outcome. "You can't underestimate the power of the Maroon jersey," Thurston said. "It has been said before, and it was highlighted in Game One. That was the perfect example of the power of the jersey and the belief that it instills in the players. "Along with Fatty's team in 1995, this is one of Queensland's greatest ever Origin wins. "There was a lot of noise down south about this being the worst ever team assembled in the 40 years of Origin history, but the power of the jersey does something to you."

News

ALDI shopper shares brilliant checkout trick

A shopper has shared her favourite <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/mums-genius-aldi-checkout-hack/news-story/706aa80430140bdc120835380a778441">checkout trick for speedy grocery packing</a> in store. Posting on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034012533313136/">the Aldi Mums Facebook group</a>, the woman showed how she made her shop easier at the supermarket by using two large plastic tubs. According to the mum, the tubs “fit perfectly into the trolley and so easy to get in and out of the car”. The shopper also revealed her strategy to fit all the groceries in the tubs and get them checked out quickly at the conveyor belt. “I put the heaviest items in the front tub so that they come out first onto the belt and then I distribute the heavy things evenly into the two tubs after they’ve been swiped through the register,” she explained. “You’ll be surprised how much you can fit into them.” The hack has been praised by fellow shoppers in the group, with one calling it “a brilliant idea”. Other shoppers pointed out that the trick could also be carried out using laundry baskets or Ikea blue bags. ALDI has previously caught flak over its “<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/the-real-reason-why-aldi-checkouts-are-so-stressful">stressful</a>” checkout experience, with customers calling for <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/aldi-slammed-for-not-having-express-checkouts">express lanes</a> to be installed in stores. “... the dirty looks I got when I filled up the conveyor belt at Aldi by other impatient customers, who thought it was the end of the world that someone was doing a big shop, was phenomenal,” a shopper wrote on the Facebook group. A spokeswoman for the retailer said in a statement then: “We constantly review our processes and are open to receiving customer feedback to ensure we continue to deliver exceptional value and great service to our customers.”

Food & Wine

10 absolutely brilliant uses for old socks

Here are ten absolutely brilliant uses for old socks. 1. Prevent floor scratches When moving furniture at home, put socks on the feet of your chair or table legs to prevent scratching the floors. 2. Dust high places To dust extra-tall (e.g., on ceilings) or extra-narrow (under appliances or radiators) spots, fasten a sock to the end of a yardstick or a broom, dampen, and clean (chenille socks are especially good at picking up dust). 3. Clean houseplants Put your hand in a sock, dampen it, and use it as a mitt to clean houseplants of dust and other debris. 4. Soften laundry To soften laundry without using fabric softener or dryer balls, take a couple of socks, put a tennis ball inside each, knot them, and throw into the dryer before running your next load of laundry. 5. Sleep mask Fashion a sleep mask with an old sock, some flat backing fabric, and an elastic band. 6. Sticky jar cover Keep your cupboard and refrigerator clean by deploying single socks to cover the bottoms of bottles or jars containing messy, sticky, drippy stuff like syrup, honey, molasses, and barbecue sauce. 7. Pan handle cover Stash socks in the kitchen where they’re surprisingly useful. For starters, when cooking on the stove, slip one over the handle of your saucepan or frying pan; this will not only shield your hand from the heat but also prevent the handle from getting sticky. 8. Wrist rest For an ergonomic wrist rest for your computer, take a sock, stuff it with filling, and sew it closed. Whether it resembles a ferret, cat, another mammal, or no animal at all is up to you and your preferences and skill. 9. Get rid of cramps Combat aches and cramps with a DIY heating pad. Just fill a clean, dry sock (use one that’s all or mostly cotton or wool, with no embellishments) with white or brown rice (not the instant or quick-cooking kind), dried beans, flaxseed or barley. Either knot the sock or sew it shut with cotton thread, and microwave it for one minute. If it’s not hot enough, up the time in 15-second increments. 10. Stop the fog Fill socks with silica kitty litter (which is extremely absorbent), and keep them on rear and/or front window ledge to stop windshields from fogging up. Source: <a href="https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/uses-for-old-socks/">RD.com</a> Written by Daryl Chen. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/65-absolutely-brilliant-uses-for-old-socks">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Home & Garden

Homeless soprano: Overnight fame for street singer after brilliant opera performance captures the world

A homeless Los Angeles woman has achieved instant viral fame, and a potential chance at a professional career after her brilliant opera singing caught the attention of an LAPD officer. Underground the Californian metropolis’ Koreatown district, the unknown woman who had shopping bags and a trolley in tow could be heard belting out a Puccini classic, O mio babbino caro. Once she noticed she was being recorded, she continued the performance, as her vocals were heard throughout the Metro station. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> 4 million people call LA home. 4 million stories. 4 million voices...sometimes you just have to stop and listen to one, to hear something beautiful. <a href="https://t.co/VzlmA0c6jX">pic.twitter.com/VzlmA0c6jX</a> — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAPDHQ/status/1177423181679755264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">27 September 2019</a></blockquote> The woman was later identified as 52-year-old Emily Zamourka, who grew up in Russia and immigrated to America as a 24-year-old classically trained violinist and pianist. But to everyone’s surprise, she’s never had any formal voice coaching. Zamourka says she found it hard to work after dealing with a number of debilitating health problems. She would then busk on LA’s busy streets, until her $10,000 violin was stolen three years ago. “[The violin] was my income. It was my everything to me – I could not actually pay any of my bills and could not pay any more of my rent,” Zamourka told local television networks. “I am sleeping, actually, on the cardboard in the parking lot. I’m sleeping where I can sleep.” The original video has been viewed over 560,000 times with many people trying to get Ellen DeGeneres and America’s Got Talent’s attention. For Zamourka, she just wants to leave her current circumstances behind. “I will be so grateful to anyone who is trying to help me get off the streets,” she said.

Home & Garden

“Brilliant news!” The sell-out $6 ALDI item that’s back in stores for good

Shoppers are going wild over ALDI’s latest re-launch of their popular Le Pave, with many comparing the $5.99 creamy cheese to D’Affinois that retails for three times the price. Cheese fans can now grab the sought-after item in the refrigerated aisle after they’ve sold out two times prior. But now, the German retailer has announced that there’s no rush to grab the cheese before it runs out, as the popular item is here to stay. Taking to Facebook to announce the happy news, ALDI shared a photo of a platter, sending cheese connoisseurs into a frenzy. “STOP THE PRESS: Le Pave French cheese is back at ALDI,” wrote the supermarket. “You’ll be happy to hear it’s now part of our everyday range.” It didn’t take long for the post to gain traction, with hundreds of people describing the cheese as “delicious”, and “amazing”. “That’s brilliant news – it is absolutely delicious, oozy French cheese,” said one user. “This cheese alone is worth the trip to ALDI,” said another. “Hooray! This cheese is absolutely delicious!” wrote a user. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FALDI.Australia%2Fposts%2F2727998093924341%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="595" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Many compared the budget food product to its more expensive counterpart, saying it tastes better than D’Affinois. “I never thought I would say this, but it’s actually better than D’Affinois,” wrote one shopper. “It’s soft and creamy with a decent bite,” said another. D’Affinois is priced at $18 in supermarkets around the country, costing three times more than ALDI’s $5.99 Le Pave. “We are proud of the award-winning cheese range on offer at ALDI, including our popular Le Pave cheese,” said a spokesperson for ALDI. “Crafted from the heart of France, we have been stocking Le Pace cheese ($5.99/200g) at ALDI since April 2017. “Le Pave is produced within the Pays de la Loire region of France at one of the largest remaining dairy cooperatives in the country. To ensure its quality, the product is airfreighted to Australia on a weekly basis.”

Food & Wine

Parallel worlds: Brilliant photo gallery hailed as "the best we've ever seen"

Turkish graphic designer Uğur Gallenkuş is known for his famously confronting photographs, where he shows the juxtaposition of the East and the West. Using his art to raise awareness about the injustices happening in the present, he creates dramatic collages by combining two photographs from different parts of the world to reveal the stark contrast between those living a life of privilege, and those who are facing extreme poverty. The artist believes that images can speak a thousand words, saying: “The solution to a crisis can be described by many complicated words, but you don’t need to know a language to read and understand a work of art. Art is the master of all languages.” The activist was inspired by the idea of two different worlds, as his home country Turkey is located next door to one of the most dangerous regions in the modern world. The difference between the two, whilst next to each other, was dramatic, with many taking to social media to comment on the profound effect the images had on them. “Poignant and moving. I hope those of us who have the ability and privilege to make a change keep these images in their thoughts every day,” said one user. “I’ve been using Facebook for 10 years and these are the most brilliant, eye opening photos I’ve ever seen. Kudos to the creator,” said another. “Brilliant! These photos speak volumes. Such a unique way of portraying the massive contrasts that exist in our world,” wrote a third. “Wow, this creator has the power to make a bold statement of today’s society. I’m so moved,” said another. Warning: Some of these images may be confronting, but eye-opening nonetheless. Scroll through the gallery above to see Uğur Gallenkuş’ brilliant work of art. Photos courtesy of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ugurgallen/?hl=en">Uğur Gallenkuş</a>.

Caring

The brilliant $9 Reject Shop item people are going crazy for

Claim to be a savvy bargain traveller? Then answer this simple question: Do you know how much your luggage weighs? If you answered “no”, then there’s still room for improvement. With budget airlines finding every way to milk you out of your money, an overweight carrier bag can leave you out of pocket. Which is why it’s important to know how much your luggage weighs before you head to the airport, especially if you plan on travelling with nothing but hand luggage. Jetstar and Tigerair will charge you extra fees if you’ve exceeded the maximum 7kg limit, with their rates ranging from $36 to $60. <img style="width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829069/1.jpeg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/315487db65dd481cb721d3d8742b7632" /> Qantas and Virgin on the other hand are slightly more lenient, with Qantas having higher limits. But regardless, both airlines may potentially send your excess hand baggage to the hold and you’ll lose time advantage at the other end. So to avoid the headache, it’s important to carry around a luggage scale so you can weigh your bags before departure and on return when you’re bringing home a suitcase full of shopping. But which one do avid travellers swear by? The $9 no-brand scale from The Reject Shop. Weighing only 51g, it won’t take up excess weight and it’s so small that you can pop it in the pocket of your jeans if you’re still concerned about exceeding the limit. And here’s a final tip: Make sure you weigh your bag more than once before heading to the airport. Digital scales aren’t always accurate, so take into account the higher figure to stay on the safe side.

Travel Tips

Jimmy Barnes’ brilliant take down on Q&A

Appearing on Monday night’s Q&A, Jimmy Barnes has held politicians accountable for their questionable claims, all while entertaining audience members. Barnes was sat next to Nicolle Flint, the member for Boothby with the pair both battling it out in front of the remaining panel members. The conversation first started when the South Australian MP and Adelaide-local Barnes discussed renewable energy. South Australia is considered to be a world leader in Australian integration of renewables. Flint also touched on the Paris Agreement which looks at lowering carbon emissions and discussed how the government is taking part in the program. “As the prime minister and the (Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor) often say as well, we’re technology agnostic,” she said. “When people come to us with proposals, we’re going to have a look at them. The critical thing is that we have reliability and affordability. So, reliability in the system, so we do not ever have the situation that we had in South Australia.” Flint was referring to the 2016 blackout when almost all of South Australia had lost its electricity supply. “(It was) one of the scariest experiences of my life, getting home and making sure my staff got home and family got home safely that day … it was a miracle nobody was killed … this is the impact of losing the reliability of your power supply. There are real human risks and human costs,” she said. But that’s when Barnes interjected, telling the MP that climate change was responsible for those incidents, leaving the Member for Boothby looking defeated. “Wasn’t there also, like, the fact that this was caused by extreme weather?” “Exactly,” said Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon as he laughed in amusement. It didn’t take long for the entire audience to cheer in agreement as Barnes continued his argument. “Has that come into consideration here? What are you talking about? I don’t understand this argument at all,” he said. “Jimmy to be fair, we have extreme weather around Australia. We have cyclones, all sorts of …” Flint retaliated back. “Yeah and it’s getting worse,” said Barnes. “You’ve gotta work it out mate, when it isn’t the weather’s fault, it’s the Labor Party’s fault – always,” Fitzgibbon said to Barnes. The audience erupted into applause, with Q&A host Tony Jones having to interrupt to help pull the reigns on the show. “Jimmy, you’re turning this into like a great sort of dinner party,” said Jones. “It’s like me saying, ‘I am just going to make one or two singles because I will do what I have to do to meet my requirements’. You do the best job you can. That’s what you’ve gotta do,” responded Barnes. “Alright I have to impose a certain amount of order because we’ve gotta hear some more questions,” said Jones before moving on with the show.

The brilliant way Disney celebrated the birth of baby Archie

Plenty of babies and young children have Disney products in their possession, but not many can say they have a special gift directly from the animation company itself. Following the arrival of baby Archie Mountbatten-Windsor on May 6, Disney created a Winnie-The-Pooh animation video to celebrate his birth. The brilliant clip details the honey-loving bear travelling all the way to Windsor Palace to bring a special book to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the newborn son in a cradle. In the animation, Winnie-the-Pooh travels all the way from the Hundred Acre Wood to the new royal parents, with a book with a crown on the cover under his arm. The bear then is seen sitting beside the Duke and Duchess as they flip through the book with a smile on their faces. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> To celebrate the birth of Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, <a href="https://twitter.com/Disney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Disney</a> have created a special Winnie-the-Pooh animation as a gift for Harry and Meghan. The short was hand-painted in watercolour by Disney’s senior principal artist Kim Raymond. Really special🎨 <a href="https://t.co/PrY5wlMeBQ">pic.twitter.com/PrY5wlMeBQ</a> — Omid Scobie (@scobie) <a href="https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1126580022150598657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2019</a></blockquote> The video was shared to social media, garnering in over 7,000 likes and retweets with the caption: “The short was hand-painted in watercolour by Disney’s senior principal artist Kim Raymond.” Royal commentator Omid Scobie shared the sweet animation, one that might have had quite a profound impact on Prince Harry in particular. When his nephew Prince Louis was born in April last year, the Prince reportedly bought a very special gift for the latest royal arrival, which was a rare first-edition of the AA Milne classic. The book, Winnie-The-Pooh was published originally in 1926 and is reported to cost upwards of $15,000. Royal insiders claimed the first-of-its-kind novel was just a small part of a number of first editions Prince Harry planned to obtain for his young nephews and niece. “He originally wanted to get Lewis Carroll’s Through The Looking Glass, which was on sale for £24,000 ($AU45,000), but decided Winnie-The-Pooh would be more suitable reading material,” they told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6727671/prince-harry-louis-winnie-the-pooh-christening/" target="_blank" title="The Sun">The Sun</a> last year. Scroll through the gallery above to see the special animation for baby Archie through images.

Books

5 brilliant conversation hacks that you wish you knew sooner

Believe it or not, conversing is hard work. You never want to say the wrong thing, and you need to come across as confident without seeming too confident. For many, the idea of engaging in small talk is terrifying, but thanks to a thread on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aiv6l6/what_is_the_most_effective_psychological_trick/eeray4a/">Reddit</a>, users shared their best psychological tricks they use when having to engage in a conversation. Here are five useful hacks: 1. If you want to accept an apology “Don’t say, 'It's OK,' when someone apologises. Say something like, 'Thank you for apologising.' “If someone needs to apologise to you, then it was for something that wasn't OK. My mom teaches this to her kindergarteners, and it really does make a difference. It opens the door for growth and conversation, too. 'Thank you for apologising, I don’t like it when you hit me.'" – <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aiv6l6/what_is_the_most_effective_psychological_trick/eeray4a">katiebugdisney</a> 2. How to win any argument "In an argument, find something to agree on then push your main point." – <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aiv6l6/what_is_the_most_effective_psychological_trick/eeray4a/">bobvella</a> 3. If you want to get the truth out "Listening to someone without giving advice or pushing for more information typically gets me more information than being pushy for it." – <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aiv6l6/what_is_the_most_effective_psychological_trick/eeray4a/">Drewby5</a> 4. The secret behind a successful marriage "When I do something annoying or bothersome to my husband and he goes quiet, I wait a few minutes and then I ask him a seemingly innocent question, usually on the subject of how certain parts of a car works, or something mechanical. This gets him talking about the car thing and he rambles for like 5 minutes and then bam! He’s happy again and not quietly brooding." – <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aiv6l6/what_is_the_most_effective_psychological_trick/eer5pzn">alskdjfhgtk</a> 5. How to deal with a distressing situation "If you need to deescalate someone and get them to communicate, try asking questions about numbers/personal information (I work in emergency services). If someone is totally distraught and shut down, asking their phone number/address/birthdate can pull them out of the emotional place and bring them back to a headspace where they can talk about what happened more easily. I often ask these questions even after I have the information, just to deescalate." – <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aiv6l6/what_is_the_most_effective_psychological_trick/eeqvaeh">Orpheus91</a> Will you be using any of these conversation hacks? Or maybe you have some of your own? Let us know in the comments below.

Body

The brilliant one-liner Kochie delivered during Sunrise interview

Sunrise host David Koch has hit Anthony Mundine with the cold hard truth after the “retired” boxer announced his comeback. Appearing on the breakfast show on Thursday morning, Mundine spoke about his boxing career and the infamous moment Jeff Horn obliterated the athlete in 96 seconds in November last year. The former rugby league star followed the embarrassing moment with a plea for a rematch, but Horn refused, saying Mundine was “past his best”. Now, in the hopes to come face-to-face with Horn again, Mundine told Koch and the Sunrise team that he’s coming out of retirement, with his first match against Aussie Michael Zerafa. “Mate, you are the John Farnham of boxing,” Koch wittingly said in response to Mundine’s announcement. The 43-year-old refused to bow down to the comments, as he still believes he has the potential to fight the country’s best boxers. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> "The man can't go out like that"<a href="https://twitter.com/Anthony_Mundine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Anthony_Mundine</a> is officially coming OUT of retirement! 👊🏻 <a href="https://t.co/0VwrJFylDq">pic.twitter.com/0VwrJFylDq</a> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1093261870478196736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">6 February 2019</a></blockquote> “I don’t know about that man. I might be the new Michael Jackson,” said Mundine. “I’m going to come back from the dead. You’re all going to see it. “I just want to get back with Jeff Horn and we will see what happens. Obviously, if I lose again, I’m done. It’s finished. It’s over. But I really feel like I’m feeling too good and too fresh. I’m still feeling great.” Mundine went on to say that after speaking with Horn’s team, the only way to get a rematch is to play against other fighters. “After reflecting on the last fight, I wanted to sail into the sunset. “I wanted to win that fight and sail off into the sunset and live happily ever after, but you know, the way things turned out through God’s will, I really feel that The Man can’t go out like that. “I can’t go out in that fashion. I need to make sure I go out with a victory. “I need to get back and try and match Jeff Horn, but they want me to have a win or two first.”

Qantas announces brilliant points hack: Earn frequent flyer points for free!

Qantas is letting people earn reward points in the easiest way possible. It’s something that everyone enjoys doing, and it’s simple enough to follow. Sleeping. That’s right. The airline has developed its Qantas Wellbeing app to encourage healthy sleeping patterns. The app also encourages Qantas Frequent Flyer members to be more active in their everyday lives, offering points for exercising. If you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, things just got interesting for you. You’re able to be rewarded with points for developing good sleeping patterns, with 5 points a month being rewarded to your account. Just don’t touch your phone half an hour before your chosen bedtime and the points will be in your account. How good is that? It’s been dubbed the ‘Sleep Health’ challenge. Frequent Flyer members who already use the app will be pleased they can earn more points for sleeping instead of having to be active through walking, swimming or cycling. For those of you who have already developed good sleeping patterns that are phone-free, this is an easy way for you to generate points. However, if you’re having trouble putting down the device to get some much-needed shut eye, talk about an incentive to leave your phone alone before bed. Are you going to take up this challenge and earn frequent flyer points literally while you sleep? Let us know in the comments.

Travel Tips

Duchess Kate’s brilliant $27 shoe hack

As well as raising three gorgeous children, the Duchess of Cambridge also balances a jam-packed schedule of royal engagements. When Duchess Kate is mingling with royal fans or conversing with various international dignitaries, we very rarely ever see her without her heels on. After wearing heels for a few hours, they can be very uncomfortable and pain-inducing, but Kate manages to wear them throughout long royal engagements with a smile fixed on her face all because of a little-known hack. It turns out the 36-year-old utilises Alice Bow insoles to comfort her feet while wearing high heels. <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/BlBVerTHeCT/?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/BlBVerTHeCT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Jul 9, 2018 at 11:24am PDT </div> </blockquote> According to a <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/">Vanity Fair</a> article that has recently resurfaced, Kate slips the insoles into her heels, which are “designed to cushion the ball of your foot and heels, while being thin enough to fit unnoticed into any shoes”. The insoles are shaped in such a way that they can even be worn with open-toe shoes without being spotted. A royal insider told the publication: “Kate has ordered a couple of packets, she thinks they are great. “The insoles are all handmade in Britain from fine Italian leather and promise ‘long-lasting comfort and confidence’.” A spokesman for Alice Bow said: “There has been talk of the Duchess wearing the insoles, but we cannot comment either way.” “We have seen a massive surge in site visits, however.” There are a number of different insoles available on the Alice Bow website, including coloured and personalised options. The insoles start at $27, making the product a clever hack that even non-royals can enjoy. What are your tricks for making heels more comfortable? Let us know in the comments below.

Beauty & Style

The brilliant $8 Kmart hack for kids scared of going to the toilet at night

What was supposed to be a hilarious Kris Kringle gift actually turned out to be a genius hack for those who are trying to help children overcome their biggest fears. Savvy mum, Mel Thitchener, was perusing through the Christmas aisle at her local Kmart and came across the genius Toilet Seat Night Light, and in true Kmart fashion, it’s as cheap as chips with a price tag of $8. Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/kmart-hacks-toilet-training-tips/" target="_blank">Mamamia</a>, she said: “It is just a jokey gift from the Kmart Kris Kringle section, but I thought it could be used in a more practical fashion all year round.” The light – which turns on once it senses movement – is installed onto the toilet and according to Mel, has made her children more confident when going to the bathroom during the middle of the night. <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/Bn82MKghNBn/?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/Bn82MKghNBn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">The stuff you buy to keep your "kids" happy 😂 #forthekid #honestly #lightuploo #lightuptoilet #toiletlight</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/webbedys/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Natalie Kennedy</a> (@webbedys) on Sep 20, 2018 at 7:08am PDT </div> </blockquote> “We’ve had the light for the last two nights and my kids – five years old and nine years old – are really happy with it. “It saves blinding yourself by turning on the full light and the motion sensor and automatic turn off means you aren’t wasting batteries all night.” The mother-of-two was so impressed, she took to Facebook to share her hack with other mothers currently in the same situation. After posting on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1638160709797701/" target="_blank">Kmart Mums Australia Facebook</a> group, Mel discovered that the hack has already proven to be a huge success with mums commenting on what a help it has been for toilet training. “We have one and it’s great. No more sitting on pee on the seat or stepping in pee after my little man goes to the loo in the middle of the night," one mum said. “Perfect for little ones going to the toilet at night!!!” wrote another. “This would be great for toilet training!” said one user. Since Mel posted the affordable hack, it has garnered over 350 comments and has been liked 1700 times with mums flocking to Kmart to pick one up for themselves. The toilet light hooks onto the toilet bowl under the seat and has various different colour settings so you can go from blue to pink in the matter of seconds. The light is currently not available online, but customers are advised to contact their local Kmart to enquire about stock levels. What do you think about this nifty toilet hack? Let us know in the comments below.

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