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Catriona Rowntree shares tips for picking the perfect souvenir

<p dir="ltr">After travelling the world as the host of <em>Getaway</em> for almost 30 years, Catriona Rowntree has collected a stash of souvenirs to remind her of her travels. </p> <p dir="ltr">Like many travellers and tourists, Catriona has spent much time in a souvenir shop trying to decide on the best trinket to remind her of unique corners of the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the well-travelled TV host, there is one go-to souvenir that is far superior to others: magnets. </p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona has a dedicated wall in her kitchen for the magnets that she's collected from all over the world, each of which she associates with a special memory.</p> <p dir="ltr">She told <em><a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/scenic-catriona-tip-for-finding-the-right-travel-souvenirs/8b9874ed-41b3-4c09-b92a-86e34be0c100">9Travel</a></em> that they are the ideal souvenir for anyone to pick up on their travels. </p> <p dir="ltr">"If you're going to collect something, stick to something that's easy to just grab and go."</p> <p dir="ltr">"You can get one at any airport, just before you leave to come home," she says.</p> <p dir="ltr">For her, the tradition started when a visitor in her home remarked that for a travel reporter, Catriona didn't have many trinkets around the house which showed off all the places she'd visited.</p> <p dir="ltr">And so she started her collection, even buying a magnetic sheet to affix inside her pantry, where she keeps her souvenirs for all to see. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I, of course, could stand here and tell you a story for every single magnet there," she remarks, looking at the wall with fondness.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I absolutely adore taking a look at this wall and seeing all the crazy places I've gone to. Of course, the crazier the magnet the better," she laughs, pointing out a magnet of a sailor's head which doubles as a bottle opener.</p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona added that some travellers similarly love to collect snow globes or postcards from every destination they visit around the world, but for her, you can't get better than a fridge magnet that can be displayed proudly. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Tips

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13 nifty uses for magnets around the house

<p>Magnets are a really useful tool for organising your bits and pieces around the house. Try some of our tips to see if they can help you.</p> <p>1. Install magnets in your bathroom cabinet for storing things like bobby pins, nail scissors and nail files.</p> <p>2. Glue a small magnet to the bottom of your hammer to hold onto nails.</p> <p>3. Mount a magnetic strip near the front door to hold onto your keys.</p> <p>4. Use magnetic paint to make a bulletin board for bills and reminders (rather than overloading your fridge door).</p> <p>5. Install a magnetic knife block inside a cupboard to store things like scissors or metal kitchen utensils.</p> <p>6. Keep a magnet in your desk drawer to hold onto paper clips or staples.</p> <p>7. Use magnets to keep your shower curtain closed and avoid slippery floors.</p> <p>8. Find a wall stud by sliding a strong magnet along the wall until you feel the pull.</p> <p>9. Save sore fingers and easily remove stuck batteries by placing a magnet near the battery.</p> <p>10. Screw a magnet onto your broom handle to keep it attached to the side of your fridge.</p> <p>11. Make a fridge pen by gluing a magnet to a pen so that you are always ready to make a note.</p> <p>12. Save a key or earring from a drain by dangling down a magnet tied to a piece of string.</p> <p>13. Clean an aquarium without removing the fish and water by embedding a magnet inside a sponge. You can guide the sponge around the glass from the outside with another strong opposing magnet.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Home & Garden

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Experience true waterfront luxury on Magnetic Island

<p>With temperatures plummeting around Australia, we can’t think of anything better than a gorgeous island escape. And where better to experience true waterfront luxury than on Queensland’s stunning Magnetic Island?</p> <p>From just $196 a night, you and five of your family and friends (that’s less than $50 per person!) can escape the icy winter and head north to this beautiful, spacious and modern property thanks to <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_auhomepage" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Airbnb</span></strong></a>. Just a short stroll to the beach, <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/9413259/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_terrace_magnetic_island" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">“The Terrace”</span></strong></a> is perfectly located – close to all the best restaurants, cafes, shops and bushwalking trails the island has to offer.</p> <p>Located in the serene Nelly Bay, this holiday home is perfect for a family get away, with three air-conditioned bedrooms, a swimming pool and a huge, open-plan kitchen and living space. The large outdoor terrace is perfect for a BBQ and a couple (or more) glasses of wine overlooking the Magnetic Island Marina.</p> <p>The island, situated just 20 minutes by ferry from Townsville, boasts some of Australia’s lushest greenery and incredible wildlife. If you’re lucky enough to make it up there, make sure you keep an eye out for koalas, wallabies and even whales.</p> <p>Have you ever been to Magnetic Island? What activities would you recommend to newcomers? Tell us in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/05/the-place-to-stay-in-swansea-nsw/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The place to stay in Swansea NSW</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/05/4-lighthouses-converted-into-luxury-cottages/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>4 lighthouses converted into luxury cottages</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/05/best-beach-houses-in-mollymook-on-airbnb/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">4 of the best Airbnb beach houses in Mollymook</span></strong></em></a></p>

Accommodation

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How-to mini succulent planters fridge magnets

<p>Here’s a great use for those wine corks you’ve been throwing away – make them into cute magnetic succulent planters to stick to your fridge. It’s a fun and unique way to brighten up your kitchen with a little colour, and succulents are such low-maintenance that you can pretty much stick them on and enjoy their beauty without worrying about taking care of them.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What you’ll need:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Wine corks</li> <li>Succulent clippings</li> <li>Soil</li> <li>Small magnets</li> <li>Hot glue gun (or strong craft glue is fine)</li> <li>Phillips head screwdriver</li> <li>Paring knife</li> <li>Newspaper</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Lay a sheet of newspaper down on your work surface to catch all the cork shavings.</li> <li>Use the head of your screwdriver to punch a small hole in the cork.</li> <li>Carefully use the paring knife to carve out that hole into a deeper cavity that goes about halfway down the cork. Don’t go too close to the edges, or you may split the cork.</li> <li>Glue a magnet to the back of the cork and let it dry completely.</li> <li>Add a little soil to the cavity in the cork and plant your succulent clippings in. Add a little more soil to fill up the cork.</li> <li>Arrange your magnets on the fridge and admire your handiwork, you clever person.</li> </ol> <p><em>Image credit: UpcycleThat</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/05/diy-river-pebble-trivet/">Make this beautiful river pebble trivet for your kitchen</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/05/ribbed-scarf/">Get out your knitting needles for this simple but gorgeous ribbed scarf</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/05/leaf-stepping-stones/">Make your own leaf-shaped stepping stones</a></strong></span></em></p>

Home & Garden

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Magnetic pulses reduce symptoms of tinnitus

<p>If you don’t know what tinnitus is, count yourself lucky. It’s a physical condition that causes the affected to hear ringing noises in their ears and head with no external cause, generally a result of a fault within the person’s hearing symptom.</p> <p>Fortunately, a recent study has found a solution: VA Portland Medical Center and Oregon Health &amp; Science University’s researchers have found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) vastly improves tinnitus symptom in at least half of their subjects.</p> <p>Research investigator with the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Robert L. Folmer, described the hope these findings brought for participants:</p> <p>"For some study participants, this was the first time in years that they experienced any relief in symptoms. These promising results bring us closer to developing a long-sought treatment for this condition that affects an enormous number of Americans, including many men and women who have served in our armed forces," he said.</p> <p>The study worked with 64 people, all with symptoms of tinnitus, and used a TMS system, which generates a magnetic field that penetrates the skull. Subjects received one pulse per second to their skull for ten days, receiving a total of 2,000 pulses per day. Over half of the active participants found relief as a result.</p> <p>Melanie West, Chair of the American Tinnitus Association's Board of Directors congratulated the researchers on their innovative discovery. “We applaud the work of Dr. Folmer and his colleagues. The results of the joint National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research/OHSU study are promising for tinnitus patients everywhere.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/08/adjust-to-new-hearing-device/">How to adjust to a new hearing device</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/07/how-hearing-is-tested/">What happens when your hearing is tested</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/07/osteoporosis-and-sudden-deafness-link/">The link between osteoporosis and sudden deafness</a></strong></em></span></p>

Hearing

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