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Readers response: Have you picked up any new skills or learned something unexpected since retiring?

When many of us retire and our time is now fully our own, some people use this time to pick up a new skill or hobby they've always wanted to try. We asked our readers if they have picked up any new skills since retiring, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Marion Thompson - Cycling, travelling and watercolour art. Dee Douglas - How to take a walk and look at everything with new eyes rather than a head filled with work issues. Margaret Mason - Line dancing and croquet since moving in the last 18 months. I have actually been retired for 18 years and in that time also learnt some New Testament Greek. Yvonne Cooper - Spoon carving and wood work. Loving it! Glenn Azlin - Competed Certificate III Applied Languages (Mandarin). Anne O'Donohue - How to take all week to do the chores I could do in a day. Helen Morgan - It turns out I am very good at doing nothing, a real expert! Sheila Ball - Taking time to read a book. Image credits: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Catriona Rowntree shares tips for picking the perfect souvenir

After travelling the world as the host of Getaway for almost 30 years, Catriona Rowntree has collected a stash of souvenirs to remind her of her travels. 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. According to the well-travelled TV host, there is one go-to souvenir that is far superior to others: magnets. 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. She told <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/scenic-catriona-tip-for-finding-the-right-travel-souvenirs/8b9874ed-41b3-4c09-b92a-86e34be0c100">9Travel</a> that they are the ideal souvenir for anyone to pick up on their travels. "If you're going to collect something, stick to something that's easy to just grab and go." "You can get one at any airport, just before you leave to come home," she says. 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. 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. "I, of course, could stand here and tell you a story for every single magnet there," she remarks, looking at the wall with fondness. "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. 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. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

I watched some 40 films at this year’s Sydney Film Festival. Here are my top five picks – and one hilarious flop

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ari-mattes-97857">Ari Mattes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-notre-dame-australia-852">University of Notre Dame Australia</a> This year’s <a href="https://www.sff.org.au/">Sydney Film Festival’s</a> rich offerings of films more than compensated for the minor technical issues that led to some screenings being interrupted. Out of the 40-odd films I saw, here are my top five, along with some notable mentions and three disappointments (including a genuine dud). <h2>1. The Girl with the Needle</h2> Cowritten and directed by Swedish filmmaker Magnus von Horn, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Needle">The Girl with the Needle</a> is loosely based on the story of notorious early-20th century serial killer Dagmar Overbye. But this is no procedural true crime film, painstakingly attempting to recreate crimes with historical accuracy. It’s a stylish Danish nightmare dazzling with cinematic acrobatics right from the opening sequence, in which black and white faces hideously morph, looking at the viewer like deranged figures from a hellish circus. It is, indeed, one of the most terrifying films I’ve seen. The narrative follows the struggles of new mother Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne) as she gives her baby to Dagmar’s informal adoption agency and begins working with her as a wet nurse, unaware of what’s really going on. Sonne is as self-assured as ever – and none of the actors put a foot wrong here. Seasoned Danish film star Trine Dyrholm is exceptional in bringing nuance to what could have become a caricaturishly evil role as Dagmar. And Besir Zeciri endows Peter, a war-wounded veteran who can only find employment in a circus freakshow, with an unexpected warmth and tenderness. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VlyW-z1xbO4?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The Girl with the Needle features some of the most distressing sequences one could find in a commercial film. Its meticulously rendered shades of German expressionism never distract from its smorgasbord of horrors, offering an almost unbearably bleak vision of the world in the aftermath of the Great War. If only all films were this good! <h2>2. Dying</h2> I’d normally suppress a yawn if you told me I had to sit through a three-hour social realist drama about the everyday difficulties of a bourgeois German conductor and his family. Yet writer-director Matthias Glasner’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_(2024_film)">Dying</a> is a near perfect film (no surprise it won <a href="https://www.screendaily.com/news/matthias-glasners-dying-wins-german-lola-for-best-film/5193046.article">four prizes</a> at the German Film Awards). The film is complex and engrossing – deeply sad in places and hysterical in others – formally controlled, but underpinned by an anarchic sensibility. It is life-affirming without any skerrick of sentimentality. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kagVqEfPxFw?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Lars Eidinger is astonishingly good as maestro Tom, who is trying to keep his career on track as his family life crumbles around him. He is matched by Lilith Stangenberg, mesmerising as his unhinged sister Ellen. Robert Gwisdek is equally exceptional as the highly strung composer and friend Bernard, while Corinna Harfouch anchors the film’s first section as Tom’s far from maternal mother, Lissy. At one point, Ingmar Bergman’s 1982 period film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_and_Alexander">Fanny and Alexander</a> is playing on the TV (Tom watches it every Christmas). Even though Dying feels like a contemporary film committed to interrogating the difficulties of being in the modern world, there’s something of late Bergman here as it unfolds across its epic length. It is a three-hour film about middle-class life, but like a great 19th-century novel, it never feels long. The fact that nothing particularly extraordinary happens is testament to how well-made the film is. <h2>3. Kill</h2> Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s Indian action film <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kill_2023_2">Kill</a> is cheesy, sentimental and at first seems remarkably silly. Commando Amrit, played by beefy TV star Lakshya, is travelling to New Delhi by train with his buddy, fellow commando Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan). His true love Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) is also on board and has recently become engaged to another man through an arrangement by her wealthy father, Baldev Singh Thakur (Harsh Chhaya), who happens to own the train company. When a group of 30-plus bandits led by the charming but ice-cold Fani (Raghav Juyal) move to rob the train, Amrit must defend Tulika, her family and the rest of the passengers. When the title card appears 40 minutes into the film, suddenly emblazoned on the screen, it seems like a distracting quirk at first. But it begins to make sense as the train rolls on. All of the violence and bone-crushing action of the first section is mere preamble, leading to a point of transition from an extremely violent but fun action film, to a much darker – and bloodier – revenge film. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/da7lKeeS67c?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Kill is an exceptionally well-wrought genre film. The kinetic and balletic action recalls the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema, but with hammers, daggers and sickles instead of guns and the frenetic staging of hand-to-hand combat instead of poetic slow-motion footage. It is also a great example of a film being more than the sum of its parts. No element is perfect, yet they come together to transcend these limitations, its flow reaching sublime levels by the end. There’s also an undercurrent of sadness throughout. We see an India of haves and have-nots, of families of bandits struggling to survive and of the supreme violence sustaining the social and political order. As Fani says to Amrit near the end: “Who kills like this? I killed four of your people. You finished off 40 of my family. You’re not a protector. You’re a monster. A fucking monster.” The title says it all. <h2>4. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story</h2> Biographical films about celebrities inevitably feel gossipy. Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super/Man:_The_Christopher_Reeve_Story">Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story</a> is no exception. But it is so well made (and well-resourced, one would imagine, as it’s produced by DC) that it moves beyond its tabloid-like qualities. Interviews with Reeve’s friends and colleagues, including Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Jeff Daniels, are interspersed with home footage shot by Reeve and his family throughout his career and during his recovery from the near-fatal riding accident that left him paralysed and breathing through a respirator for the rest of his life. Reeve’s close friendship with “brother” Robin Williams assumes central importance, with the film implying the two men were so emotionally dependent on each other that Williams would probably still be alive if Reeve hadn’t died in 2004. But the most interesting parts of the film involve carefully assembled archival footage looking at how Reeve’s decision to play Superman negatively impacted his career and personal life. He never starred in another profitable film, and his father and colleagues such as William Hurt loathed his decision to play a comic book character. This is counterpointed with his post-accident career as a director and disability advocate. Interviews with Reeve’s children add a genuinely tragic sense of pathos to this slick, well-made and emotionally exhausting “true Hollywood” story. It’s everything one could want from such a documentary. <h2>5. Kneecap</h2> Cowriter-director Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap is a riotous, irreverent biopic following the career of Belfast drug-dealers Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara as they team up with high school music teacher DJ Próvai to become the first Irish-language rap group, Kneecap. The real <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66408560">Kneecappers</a> cowrote the film and play themselves and, given none of them are actors, do so remarkably well. They’re joined by Irish heavyweights Josie Walker, playing the detective who has it in for them, and Michael Fassbender, playing Móglaí’s father, an old-school Irish radical who has been on the run for the past few decades. The film depicts their hedonistic drug use and anarchic disregard for the law in the context of their radical political motivation to speak Irish against the colonial English. And while it may be a bit cartoonish in its presentation of Belfast’s history and the struggle to keep Gaelic alive, it is a music biopic after all. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFYfp-hKxZQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Kneecap is violent, coarse and laced with infectiously good humour – a genuinely fun film, buoyed by its charismatic stars and lively style. Only the most stringent moralist wouldn’t enjoy this one! <h2>Notable mentions</h2> It’s extremely difficult to pick a top five when 15 or so of the films I saw were standouts. And this is testament to the quality of the festival’s selection. It was a pleasure watching heavyweight Sean Penn go head-to-head with Dakota Johnson in writer-director Christy Hall’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddio_(film)">Daddio</a>, even if the story takes an uninteresting turn in the final third. Despite the banality of the premise – a New York cabbie chats with a passenger – and the inanity of some of the dialogue, this romantic ode to urban life in all its alienated, fluoro-lit techno glory is so well crafted that we happily go along for the ride. Equally affective is the melancholic and beautifully performed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puan_(film)">Puan</a>, a restrained comedy set in a University faculty in Buenos Aires. Puan could easily make my top five, as could André Téchiné’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_New_Friends_(film)">My New Friends</a>), an offbeat French melodrama starring Isabelle Huppert as a disillusioned police officer who becomes friends with an anti-cop activist in the suburbs. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cnz-6h60tkk?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Poor performers</h2> Of the lot, I only found three films disappointing. The first, Among the Wolves, is a Belgian-French documentary in which a photographer and illustrator lie waiting in a tiny, makeshift building to encounter wild wolves. While some of the footage is striking, the film is let down by its scientific inaccuracy, such as references to the “alpha male” wolf – a term and concept that has <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/science/elements/the-myth-of-the-alpha-wolf">long been discredited</a>. Such innacuracy is a cardinal sin for a documentary, which is supposed to inform the viewer. Though critically acclaimed, Hollywood horror film The Substance – a story of an ageing entertainer who turns to a mysterious substance to stay young (with unsurprisingly horrific ramifications) – feels neither new nor particularly interesting. And while it’s great to see Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid back on the big screen, their caricaturish characters make the whole thing seem like a boring joke: an inflated short film that is both irritatingly silly and painfully didactic. But rarely does a film so resolutely reaffirm a sense of the absurd hubris of humans as Francis Ford Coppola’s self-financed mega-flop, Megalopolis. This cartoonish, incoherent mess set in a dystopian version of the United States, “New Rome”, is howlingly bad in places. Imagine the worst parts of The Hunger Games and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064940/">Fellini Satyricon</a> (1969) crossed with Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead and you begin to get a sense of the kind of self-indulgent, heavy-handed nonsense that is Megalopolis. Side-splittingly funny moments come courtesy of bad dialogue (“Utopias become dystopias,” actor Giancarlo Esposito says at one point with a straight face). And stilted acting by Adam Driver and Aubrey Plaza had the (remaining) audience in stitches. Megalopolis is like one of the great fiascos from days gone by – the 21st century’s Heaven’s Gate – and there is definitely something delightful about the existence of this <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/news/francis-ford-coppola-funding-120-million-dollars-megalopolis-1235184765/">US$120 million</a> (roughly A$180 million) flop. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1FQzWD5xVKQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> But as a dud, Megalopolis is the outlier. And in a year following Barbie, Oppenheimer, Napoleon and Poor Things (talk about heavy-handed cinema), much of the menu of this year’s Sydney Film Festival once again proves there are still good filmmakers out there making good films.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/232706/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ari-mattes-97857">Ari Mattes</a>, Lecturer in Communications and Media, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-notre-dame-australia-852">University of Notre Dame Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-watched-some-40-films-at-this-years-sydney-film-festival-here-are-my-top-five-picks-and-one-hilarious-flop-232706">original article</a>. Image: IMDB </div>

Movies

Catriona Rowntree shares her Europe travel hacks she picked up from locals

After decades of hosting Getaway, Catriona Rowntree has learned a thing or two about travelling. Along the way, the 52-year-old has picked up some must-know secrets from locals that every traveller should know before heading to Europe. While in Mallorca in Spain, Rowntree quizzed locals on how to make the most out of her experience, and what faux pas to avoid. She was given advice on the best way to start a day at the markets, told why you should never rent an Airbnb or buy seafood on a Monday, why takeaway coffee is a bad idea and the secret to a longer, healthy life. The TV host shared a little known secret when it comes to buying fresh fish, and said travellers should not buy fish on Monday, because fishermen don’t fish on Sundays, meaning fish purchases on Mondays won’t be fresh. “The life expectancy of a Spaniard is 84, they're a healthy lot, loving a Mediterranean diet, a dollop of sun and a good climate,” she added. The presenter also discovered that all the locals she has spoken to don't like Airbnb accommodation and prefer for tourists to stay in hotels. “All the locals I've spoken to say that's what's pushing them out of their apartments as the town centres are slowly gentrified,” she said. “The average wage is low, most locals rent, sadly landlords prefer the higher fee of an Airbnb. Not cool!” Catriona's final tip is not to get your coffee takeaway, but rather sit down in a cafe, enjoy your coffee and take it slow. “People sit down to enjoy their coffee, they don't get a takeaway: 'If you can't sit for five minutes and talk to a person what's wrong with you!',” she said. Catriona said she was told by a local that the best way to start your day is to explore the markets by getting a hot chocolate and some churros. “Not every day as you'll be round, but market day for sure," she said. Image credits: Instagram

Travel Tips

"Who does that?!" Outrage over horrific kerbside pick-up

Fury has erupted in Sydney's inner west after one callous resident left an unusual item in their pile of junk for council's kerbside pick-up. One a hot summer day, one local was walking past the pile of household items that held a giant "FREE" sign, inviting passersby to sift through the loot to take what they please. However, the concerned local was shocked to find a fish tank at the bottom of the stack, that still had pet fish living inside. The fish were swimming around in only a few inches of water in the tank, which had been left in the blazing sun. Taking to a local Facebook group, the woman posted a photo of the fish pleading for "anybody able to rescue them" from nearby, to which dozens of people responded offering their help. The post racked up an influx of comments from people condemning the original owner's actions, with one outraged neighbour saying, "Who does that!! They would boil in this heat." "Thanks for saving! What is wrong with people!!" replied another. By the end of the day, and after many offers from people willing to take in the two tiny pets, they found a new, loving home with an "experienced" fish owner. According to the <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NSW Department of Primary Industries</a>, the welfare of all animals, including fish, is protected by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and dumping an unwanted pet fish is illegal under Section 11 of the Act. "Most people accept that dumping a pet cat or dog into the wild is an act of animal cruelty, but did you know that fish are considered under the same animal welfare legislation in NSW?" they state on their website. Image credits: Facebook

Family & Pets

New Maddie McCann theory has "electrified" investigators

An important witness in the Madeleine McCann case has shared a valuable piece of information which has has "electrified" investigators, as the search for the missing child continues. The witness claims that Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in Maddie's disappearance, had a burglary tool kit that could unlock any security door, and boasted to friends about his lock picking skills. This new theory has raised fresh doubts over the official theory that Maddie’s kidnapper clambered in through a window of holiday apartment 5a in Praia da Luz when she was abducted. German police are said to be “electrified” by discovery, and are also probing the possibility that Christian B used car paint solvent to sedate Maddie. In an exclusive interview from a secret location, Helge B – now in German police witness protection – told filmmaker Jutta Rabe for <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/22893975/madeleine-mccann-suspect-christian-b-lock-pick-kit/">The Sun on Sunday,</a> “He came through the door”. Helge B, 52, who met his fellow German a year before Maddie vanished aged three, said he found the kit at Christian B’s Algarve home. The petty criminal had decided to ransack it with another friend after learning Christian B was serving time for theft. He said, “I knew from Christian that he uses tools to break into holiday resorts, hotels and holiday homes to steal from tourists." “There were passports on the table. There was all sorts of stuff lying around – cameras, suitcases, everything that tourists have with them. I also found a lock pick set.” Helge B, who kept the kit and told German police about it, added, “You can use it to pick any lock, including security locks.” Despite police long believing Maddie's abductor had snuck in through the window, when asked how Christian B might've entered the hotel room, Helge simply said, “Through the door. Easily. He can open any door”. Upon the discovery of the new evidence, a police source said, “The German detectives were electrified by the discovery of the tool kit with the lock picks in it. This evidence is now very important to them." “It confirmed a suspicion that they’d had for a long time – that Christian B entered the apartment through the door.” German prosecutors hope to use the lock picks evidence to nail Christian B, who is in jail for drugs crimes and appealing a seven-year sentence for raping a woman of 72. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

How to pick the right course for you

The benefits of keeping your mind busy are endless but deciding to undertake study requires some commitment. Follow these steps to ensure you are picking the right course for you. Pick something you love A good way to narrow this down is by making a list of things you like doing, subjects you enjoy reading about and your hobbies. Next, jot down the courses you think you’re interested in and that align with your list of interests. If you find any crossover, look more into those courses. Do some research Always make sure you look into something before you commit yourself. The best resources are the internet and the people around you. More often than not you will find information on the institution’s website. For instance, the Open Training Institute has in-depth information about what is required from you for each course, what the courses will cover as well as video clips about each course. Speak to people Speak to your friends and family who have studied and find out what they have and haven’t liked about the courses and places they have studied. You will gain the best insight from someone who has studied a course himself/herself. Trust your instincts When you start looking into subject options, you should trust your feelings when picking a course or place to study. If there’s something you’re not comfortable with ask about it, if you’re not satisfied with the answer then perhaps it’s not the right course for you. Review course content Ensure you have a close look at the subjects or modules you will cover in a course you want to study. If you know the types of things required of you before you enrol and you’re comfortable with what’s ahead, it’s a great sign. Consider course durations Courses vary in time commitments and duration, and some courses even offer you the flexibility to choose. For instance you can do all the courses through Open Training Institute self-paced, meaning you can take as little as a month or more slowly over two years to complete. To be sure you’ll be committed to your studies, work out if your current priorities are manageable if you were to enrol in a certain course. <a href="../education/education/2014/08/why-you-need-to-keep-your-mind-active.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Related link: Discover the many benefits of keeping your mind busy now! </a> Image credit: Shutterstock

Mind

"Who picks a fight with a rock star?" Jimmy Barnes confronts on-road "bully"

Jimmy Barnes' wife Jane has ripped into a truck driver who "bullied" the couple on the road, with the driver attempting to "fight Jimmy on the roadside". Jane Barnes said the incident occurred on Wednesday night in the south Sydney suburb of Botany Bay, when the couple had been driving home from a charity event. In a furious thread on Twitter, Jane detailed the terrifying incident which resulted in the police being called. Jane wrote, "(He) cut us off across our lane and swiped our mirror, wanted to fight Jimmy on the roadside." "Trucks are like weapons, bullies behind the wheel a danger to us all," she wrote, alongside the hashtags #TOLL and #NOtobullies. Jane then shared a photo of the truck drivers' side profile as he almost came to blows with the rockstar, as well as photos of the truck's license plate and the Barnes' car which shows the drivers' side wing mirror bent out of place. Jane went on to say the truckie had shared his details with the couple and that NSW Police had been called over the altercation. However, she said, officers "couldn't do much" if there were no injuries or damages. Jane's post drew in a wave of attention, with one fan asking, "Who picks a fight with a rock star?" Ms Barnes replied, "Shouldn't matter who it is. This guy was just a pig. Swearing, smug, ignorant, misogynist bully." The musician continued her rant on Instagram, writing, "When you drive a truck you're in charge of a weapon. A bully at the wheel can kill people." Many sent their sympathies to the couple, with some saying the tweet was "poignant" given the increase in accidents on Aussie roads. Image credits: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Picking up a King Charles III coronation commemorative plate? You’re buying into a centuries-old tradition

Mugs and plates celebrating the coronations, marriages and deaths of British royalty are not unusual sights in the Australian home. With the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III on May 6, such memorabilia cluttering our cupboards are only likely to increase. Guides to “<a href="https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/king-charles-coronation-memorabilia-2023">the best King Charles III memorabilia</a>” are already advising what souvenirs to buy, including commemorative coins, biscuit tins, tea towels, plates and, of course, mugs. Yet the royal souvenir is not a recent invention. <h2>History of the royal mug</h2> The tradition of celebrating royal events with a mug or drinking vessel dates to at least the 17th century when the current king’s ancestor and namesake, Charles II, was restored to the English throne in 1660-1. Several mugs and cups produced at the time have survived and depict the “<a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/charles-ii-guide-restoration-why-merry-monarch-how-many-children-rule/">merry monarch</a>”. The restoration of Charles II (after his father Charles I had been executed by order of parliament in 1649) was greeted with rejoicing throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The famous social climber and diarist Samuel Pepys embodied the general feeling of this time when he wrote that on the day of Charles II’s coronation he watched the royal procession with wine and cake and all were “<a href="https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1661/04/22/">very merry</a>” and pleased at what they saw. Drinking and eating in celebration may account for why mugs and plates were, and remain, such popular forms of royal memorabilia; they were used to <a href="https://stuarts.exeter.ac.uk/education/objects/delftware-cup-c-1661/">drink loyal toasts</a> of good health to the monarch on special days of celebration. While a strong ale was the preferred liquid for 17th-century toasts, as the British Empire expanded tea drinking became a common pastime. Teacups became popular royal souvenirs during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century. <h2>Fostering support</h2> The earthenware mugs made for Charles II’s coronation were relatively inexpensive, but not produced on a mass scale. With the industrial revolution of the 19th century and the rise of souvenir culture, royal memorabilia in all forms became more <a href="https://theconversation.com/royal-family-why-even-a-charles-and-diana-divorce-mug-is-important-for-the-monarchy-176588">popular and widespread</a>. Since 1900, royal births, deaths, marriages and coronations have been big money for manufacturers of royal memorabilia. The pitfalls of mass production were realised in 1936 when Edward VIII abdicated from the throne just months before his planned coronation in May 1937. Manufacturers were stuck with <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/178313173?searchTerm=%22coronation%20mug%22">thousands of mugs</a>, plates and other items celebrating the coronation of a king that would not happen. Many of these mugs still made their way out to the market, while other manufacturers such as Royal Doulton <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_2012-8022-5-a-c">adapted existing designs</a> and used them for the coronation of his brother, George VI. English monarchs were not the only royals to encourage the use of their image on objects collected, worn or used by their subjects. Renaissance Italian princes popularised the <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/renaissance-portrait-medals/exhibition-themes">portrait medal</a> and the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, Charles V, fostered support in his vast territories using mass-produced medallions <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/197126">bearing his image</a>. Objects with images of royalty served similar functions in the 20th century. Australian school children were often <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141777602?searchTerm=%22coronation%20mug%22">given medals</a>to commemorate coronations, while children in England were gifted pottery mugs to drink to the sovereign’s health. When Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, <a href="https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/coronation-of-hm-queen-elizabeth-ii">English children</a>received mugs, tins of chocolate and a spoon or coin. <h2>Measuring popularity</h2> Royal memorabilia don’t just foster support but act as a barometer of the popularity of the royal family around the globe. Coronation mugs became popular in the reign of Charles II in 1661 because these objects captured the joyous feeling of a nation that had endured 20 years of warfare and political chaos. Support for the royal family has often been shown through royal weddings and marriages: plates depicting Charles II and his Portuguese bride, Catherine of Braganza, were made to celebrate their union in 1662. Recently a <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metal-detectorist-discovers-rare-gold-pendant-celebrating-henry-viiis-first-marriage-180981557/">gold pendant</a> inscribed with the initials of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, likely worn by a supporter, was also discovered. For Prince William and Kate Middleton’s highly anticipated wedding in 2011, thousands of types of mundane and wacky <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-royal-wedding-souvenirs-pictures-photogallery.html">souvenirs</a> were produced, such as plates, mugs, magnets, graphic novels, toilet seat covers and PEZ dispensers. Over 1,600 lines of official merchandise were produced for the marriage of Princes Charles to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. <a href="https://issuu.com/accpublishinggroup/docs/june_july_2022_mag/s/15960301">Less than 25 lines</a> were produced for Charles’ unpopular second marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. While Charles may not be <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2023/03/01/celebrities-dont-care-to-perform-for-king-charles-iii/?sh=56487b7a20f8">as popular</a> as his mother, coronation fever has most definitely taken hold in the United Kingdom. Royal fans are set to spend £1.4 billion (A$2.6 billion) on <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21911733/shoppers-spend-billion-king-coronation-may/">coronation parties and souvenirs</a>. The availability of coronation souvenirs and party supplies in Australia is somewhat more limited – perhaps an indicator of Australia’s diminishing appetite for the royal family amid increased calls for another <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-24/king-charles-australias-head-of-state-alternative-republic/101470156">vote on a republic</a>. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/picking-up-a-king-charles-iii-coronation-commemorative-plate-youre-buying-into-a-centuries-old-tradition-200646" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home & Garden

10 failsafe picks for the mum who “doesn’t want anything”

For some people, Mother’s Day is easy, with mums dropping gift hints all throughout the year, plus a few timely reminders sprinkled in right before the big day for good measure. For others, it’s a wild guessing game, usually off the back of the annual “oh, you don’t have to get me anything”. And as anyone who’s steered headfirst into that one before knows, it isn’t a risk worth taking. Luckily, the good people over at <a href="https://www.innovations.com.au/p/gifts/mothers-day-gifts?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Innovations</a> - Australia’s most trusted home shopping brand for more than 35 years - have it covered, no matter what your mum’s tastes may be. With an impressive range boasting everything from homewares to garden essentials, beauty, fashion, entertainment, and crafts galore, you’re sure to find something that delights, while giving her the pamper treatment she deserves. And with these ten top picks, you may even snag yourself the title of ‘favourite child’ for 2023. <h3>1. Say goodbye to a chilly reception this winter </h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/HERHR?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Herbie-Heat-Pack_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> There are few things worse in the winter than wanting your hot water bottle, but lacking any motivation to wait around for the water to boil - and then just to cool enough to safely put in there - and often just opting to go without. But that’s where Cuddly Herbie comes in! With its microwave heating capabilities, this cotton friend is the perfect size for a warm hug, is filled with silicone beans, and even comes with a removable polyester cover for mums all across Australia to beat the winter chill. And better yet, it’s good for the whole year - just pop your Herbie Heat Pack in the freezer and in no time you’ll have yourself a cool compress for all those pesky aches and pains. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/HERHR?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herbie Heat Pack, $36.95 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>2. No laundry room? No problem</h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/MWSHM?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Mini-Washing-Machine_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> Anyone who does laundry has - at one point or another - stood in front of their machine debating whether or not they have enough to warrant a full load. And whether the solution was to search the house top to bottom for a few more all-important smelly socks, or to save the chore for another full-basket day, an easier one was within reach all along. With a mini washing machine, a small load is no hassle! No-one needs to feel guilty about it either, with the small appliance using an even smaller share of power and water to get the job done. Standing proud at 28cm tall, and complete with a draining basket and draining pipe, this portable machine isn’t greedy, and only asks for some laundry soap, a wall outlet, and some water to get started. It’s even portable, so if your mum’s been after something to lighten the packing load on her next caravanning trip, this may just be the perfect pick for her. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/MWSHM?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mini Washing Machine, $89.00 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>3. Sudoku? Don’t mind if you do </h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/DSUDK?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Deluxe-Sudoku-Game_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> Some mums enjoy a crossword, and some mums are a little more into numbers, opting to test their brain with a good old sudoku puzzle instead. But no matter which takes your mum’s fancy, you have the power to save her from the frustration of crossing out poor guesses, smudges that refuse to budge, and scribbles that made sense - and only made sense - at the time. With this natural wooden board, measuring in at 24 x 24cm, those issues are a thing of the past! With over 100 printed puzzles to slide in and play, and 81 double-sided number tiles, there’s hours of enjoyment to be found. And best of all, for those who want the fun without the headache, the board comes complete with its very own solution booklet. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/DSUDK?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deluxe Sudoku Game, $39.95 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>4. Can’t lose that, won’t lose that </h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/COSMO?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Cosmetic-Organiser_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> How many times have we heard our mums ask themselves where they’ve put something? Be it their phone, their keys, or even the shoes they last had on, we’ve all joined that search and rescue mission - sometimes even being the ones to ask ourselves. Luckily, your mum need never lose her favourite lipstick again, and reaching for her best moisturiser has never been easier, with this durable cosmetic organiser. Made of an adorable pastel pink plastic, this space-saving wonder features three spacious drawers, a clear acrylic lid for easy viewing - tall enough to hold even those pesky tall bottles - and a handy carry handle, so your mum can keep it out on display, or carry it right along with her on her next big trip. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/COSMO?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmetic Organiser, $49.00 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>5. Make cold hands a thing of the past </h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/HWPB?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Comforting-Hand-Warmer-with-Power-Bank_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> Whatever the reason - of which there are dozens - many people are in constant battle with their own cold fingers and toes. And most aren’t particularly keen on the idea of wearing gloves around the house until they warm up, especially if they’re particularly bulky and doomed to get in the way of a task. But with this little hand warmer, knocking out that chill can be done in record time, and all without taking up an unnecessary amount of space in your mum’s cupboard or her bag. This pocket-sized device comes with its very own carry pouch, and warms to 30, 37, or 50°C - it even stays that way for up to an impressive seven hours. It’s easy to charge with the provided USB cable, and even doubles as a powerful rechargeable battery that can charge your smartphone, tablet or any other USB-compatible device on the go. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/HWPB?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comforting Hand Warmer with Power Bank, $19.95 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>6. Don’t keep ‘pilling’ on </h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/FABSH?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Rechargeable-Fabric-Shaver_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> Some clothing lasts an entire lifetime without a loose thread or a lint ball in sight, while other items subscribe more to the ‘blink and you’ve got pilling’ way of life. No mum wants to send herself or her kids - or even her grandkids - out in the world covered like that, and this shaver may be just the thing to give her some peace of mind in the face of another pilling crisis. Perfect for everything from coats to jumpers and plush toys, this fabric shaver makes the most of its stainless steel blades and three-speed motor to get the job done well, and to get it done quickly. It even comes with a lint box that’s no hassle to empty, and can be used just about anywhere - not only is it cordless, but it’s rechargeable, and comes with a USB cord - as well as a cleaning brush to get rid of the most stubborn of lint. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/FABSH?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rechargeable Fabric Shaver, $34.95 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>7. See the light, smell the light</h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/ADIFF?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Aroma-Diffuser-with-Coloured-Light_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> With a sleek wood-grain finish and colour-changing light brand, this show-stopping piece doesn’t just look good - it smells good, too. And if there’s one thing a mum deserves, it’s the opportunity to relax in luxury, even if she’s doing it from the comfort of her own home. All it takes is a few drops of water and some essential oil, and this diffuser does the work from there. And with options that range from a soft and steady light to an entire rainbow cycle of colour, whatever your mum’s mood, she can customise her surroundings to her heart’s content. At just 16 cm tall, it won’t even take up too much space, and comes with a USB cord, with the potential to be powered by a simple phone charger. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/ADIFF?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aroma Diffuser with Coloured Light, $39.95 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>8. Slip into comfort</h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/23W23?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Cosy-Wool-Lined-Slipper_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> One of the hardest things in the colder months is getting out of bed, so if the option was there to slide your feet out of there and straight into some cosy slippers, wouldn’t you take it? Wouldn’t you want your mum to take it? With a fluffy collar, these slippers are a warm and comfy at-home essential, made from a soft suede with a gorgeous wool lining. And with a moulded rubber sole, there’s that little bit of extra support that doesn’t come with your standard slipper socks. Plus, if blue isn’t quite your mum’s colour, these also come in a beautiful dusty pink. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/23W23?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosy Wool Lined Slipper, $74.00 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>9. Don’t look so puzzled </h3> <a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/61921?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Gridded-Puzzle-Mat_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> Jigsaw puzzles not only provide hours - sometimes entire days - of entertainment, but they can also leave you with a fun statement art piece at the end. Granted, of course, that you didn’t lose any pieces along the way. One way to prevent that unfortunate end? A puzzle mat. Able to roll up, these keep puzzles held securely in place for those times you need your table back but don’t quite have the time to finish, or simply need to move to another, comfier location. Sometimes you might start your puzzle alone and later decide to call in reinforcements, and sometimes it goes the other way, after all - too many cooks spoil the broth, too many puzzlers complicate the jigsaw. This mat has guides for jigsaws ranging between 500 and 2000 pieces - with grids at 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 intervals. So no matter the size of your mum’s project, she doesn’t need to worry about losing track - instead, she can focus her full attention on securing those crucial corner pieces. <h3><a href="http://www.innovations.com.au/product/61921?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gridded Puzzle Mat, $23.95 – Buy now at Innovations</a></h3> <h3>10. That’s ‘sew’ perfect</h3> <a href="https://www.innovations.com.au/p/craft/accessories/folding-sewing-table?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Folding-Sewing-Table_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></a> While a sewing project can start so, so small, it never takes long for things to expand, and for you to suddenly need far more than you ever thought you might. It can quickly become a pain, getting up and down, to grab whatever it is you’re missing, and can just as quickly drain any enthusiasm in the process. But with this versatile wooden workstation, your mum can have everything with her from the very beginning, and she can do it in style - and from wherever she wants, with its convenient wheels. While folded down, the table measures 59 x 40 x 79 cm high, and while folded out, its entire workspace measures 117 x 40 cm. Additionally, the inside of the station boasts three shelves to store essential tools and supplies, as well as an entire internal shelf dedicated to storing machines while they’re not in use, keeping things neat, tidy, and practical for any avid sewer. <h3><a href="https://www.innovations.com.au/p/craft/accessories/folding-sewing-table?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=nativearticle&utm_campaign=PLD03MdayGifts&affiliate=O60INA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Folding Sewing Table, $199 – Buy now at Innovations</a> </h3> <h3>To check out all of the incredible Mother’s Day gifts and inspiration for yourself, head on over to the online version of the <a href="https://www.innovations.com.au/catalogues.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Innovations 2023 Mother’s Day Catalogue</a>. </h3>

Home & Garden

“Please don’t be mad”: British expat’s bone to pick with Australia

British expat Jordana Grace has taken to TikTok to share her three biggest gripes with Australia, with the claim that most Australians don’t bat an eyelid at them. Jordana lives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast after leaving the United Kingdom behind, and boasts a following of almost 300k on her TikTok where she regularly shares insight into her Australian adventure. “Sorry in advance,” the budding MixFM radio host began, “I’m gonna make Australia mad.” “Three things I don’t like about Australia,” she went on, “that Aussies don’t even realise is a thing.” From there, Jordana went on to list the aspects of life in Australia that were causing her the most trouble, though her claim about Aussies may have missed the mark, with Jordana’s gripes known frustrations across the country. “First up is the slow internet speed - like, what the fudge?” She said, “sorry for the salty language, but it’s like nails on a chalkboard how in some areas in Australia the internet and WiFi is just so slow.” In 2023, the UK ranked 45th in the world for average broadband speed with 145.33 Mbps, while Australia came in at 73rd with an average speed of 88.77 Mbps. “Please don’t be mad,” Jordana continued, “but next is the terrible phone service. There’s like three major providers in Australia, and they all have nicknames like Vodafone is Vodafail, Optus is Optus Droptus, and Telstra … no-one can come up with a clever nickname for but it’s just very inconsistent phone service over here." <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7197724229943446789&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thejordanagrace%2Fvideo%2F7197724229943446789&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-va.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-maliva-p-0068%2Fo0hBIk9tbBrEQhCIsd8xABfiuj1zkbogAuDFjA%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast2a-v-0068%2F0f22bd61bc15443ea1f3e5214fcdd9f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1676361600%26x-signature%3D1ck2cF1fvQNZsDbJz4kKysELBSg%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> “And finally, the postage cost and speed," she said. "In the UK I didn’t realise that next day delivery was such a luxury, because over here postage not only can take weeks but the postage cost can cost as much as the item sometimes.” In the United Kingdom, prices to post a parcel begin at £3.95 for 1st class ($6.90). In Australia, 1st class parcel postage begins at $9.70. And as any Australian knows, postage times can span from a couple of days to a couple of weeks in busy periods. “Okay, but that’s it!” Jordana concluded, before pleading for everyone’s understanding, “I love you Australia, please don’t hate me.” Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Does picking your nose really increase your risk of dementia?

No matter your age, we all pick our nose. However, if gripping headlines around the world are a sign, this habit could increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. One international news report <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/health/6565520/common-habit-increase-risk-alzheimers-dementia/">said</a>: <blockquote> ‘SCARY EVIDENCE’ How a common habit could increase your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia </blockquote> Another <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/alzheimers-disease-risk-increased-picking-28378042">ran with</a>: <blockquote> Alzheimer’s disease risk increased by picking your nose and plucking hair, warns study </blockquote> An Australian news article <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/could-picking-your-nose-lead-to-dementia-australian-researchers-are-digging-into-it/rn7xqef2w">couldn’t resist a pun</a>: <blockquote> Could picking your nose lead to dementia? Australian researchers are digging into it. </blockquote> Yet if we look at the research study behind these news reports, we may not need to be so concerned. The evidence connecting nose picking with the risk of dementia is still rather inconclusive. What prompted these headlines? Queensland researchers published <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06749-9">their study</a> back in February 2022 in the journal Scientific Reports. However, the results were not widely reported in the media until about eight months later, following a <a href="https://news.griffith.edu.au/2022/10/28/new-research-suggests-nose-picking-could-increase-risk-for-alzheimers-and-dementia/">media release</a> from Griffith University in late October. The media release had a similar headline to the multiple news articles that followed: <blockquote> New research suggests nose picking could increase risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia </blockquote> The media release clearly stated the research was conducted in mice, not humans. But it did quote a researcher who described the evidence as “potentially scary” for humans too. What the study did The researchers wanted to learn more about the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease. These bacteria have been found in brains of people with Alzheimer’s, although <a href="https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/48/3/355/506227?login=true">the studies</a> were completed more than <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s004300050071">15 years ago</a>. This bacteria species can cause respiratory infections such as pneumonia. It’s not to be confused with the chlamydia species that causes sexually transmitted infections (that’s C. trachomatis). The researchers were interested in where C. pneumoniae went, how quickly it travelled from the nose to the brain, and whether the bacteria would create a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease found in brain tissue, the amyloid β protein. So they conducted a small study in mice. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=432&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=432&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=432&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=543&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=543&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493175/original/file-20221103-22-znvia5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=543&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="White mouse in open cage with raised nose" /></a><figcaption>The study, which was conducted in mice, didn’t mention nose picking. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/funny-curious-white-rat-looking-out-402796495">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> The researchers injected C. pneumoniae into the noses of some mice and compared their results to other mice that received a dose of salty water instead. They then waited one, three, seven or 28 days before euthanising the animals and examined what was going on in their brains. What the study found Not surprisingly, the researchers detected more bacteria in the part of the brain closest to the nose in mice that received the infectious dose. This was the olfactory brain region (involved in the sense of smell). Mice that had the bacteria injected into their noses also had clusters of the amyloid β protein around the bacteria. Mice that didn’t receive the dose also had the protein present in their brains, but it was more spread out. The researchers didn’t compare which mice had more or less of the protein. Finally, the researchers found that gene profiles related to Alzheimer’s disease were more abundant in mice 28 days after infection compared with seven days after infection. How should we interpret the results? The study doesn’t actually mention nose-picking or plucking nose hairs. But the media release quoted one of the researchers <a href="https://news.griffith.edu.au/2022/10/28/new-research-suggests-nose-picking-could-increase-risk-for-alzheimers-and-dementia/">saying</a> this was not a good idea as this could damage the nose: <blockquote> If you damage the lining of the nose, you can increase how many bacteria can go up into your brain. </blockquote> The media release suggested you could protect your nose (by not picking) and so lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Again, this was not mentioned in the study itself. At best the study results suggest infection with C. pneuomoniae can spread rapidly to the brain – in mice. Until we have more definitive, robust studies in humans, I’d say the link between nose picking and dementia risk remains low. – Joyce Siette <hr /> Blind peer review Nose picking is a life-long common human practice. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7852253/">Nine in ten people</a> admit doing it. By the age of 20, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6345537/">some 50% of people</a> have evidence of C. pneumoniae in their blood. That rises to 80% in people aged 60-70. But are these factors connected? Does one cause the other? The study behind these media reports raises some interesting points about C. pneumoniae in the nasal cavity and its association with deposits of amyloid β protein (plaques) in the brain of mice – not humans. We cannot assume what happens in mice also applies to humans, for a number of reasons. While C. pneumoniae bacteria may be <a href="https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/48/3/355/506227?login=true">more common</a> in people with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, association with the hallmark amyloid plaques in the mouse study does not necessarily mean one causes the other. The mice were also euthanised at a maximum of 28 days after exposure, long before they had time to develop any resultant disease. This is not likely anyway, because mice do not naturally get Alzheimer’s. Even though mice can accumulate the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s, they <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07484-w#:%7E:text=Alzheimer's%20is%20marked%20by%20cognitive,not%20occur%20naturally%20in%20mice">do not display</a> the memory problems seen in people. Some researchers have also argued that amyloid β protein deposits in animals are different to humans, and therefore <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2813509/">might not be suitable</a> for comparison. So what’s the verdict? Looking into risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s is worthwhile. But to suggest picking your nose, which introduces C. pneumoniae into the body, may raise the risk of Alzheimer’s in humans – based on this study – is overreach. – Mark Patrick Taylor<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193463/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by Joyce Siette. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-picking-your-nose-really-increase-your-risk-of-dementia-193463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-blue-denim-button-up-shirt-picking-nose-4584166/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ketut Subiyanto (Pexels)</a>, CC BY-SA

Mind

Whether in war-torn Ukraine, Laos or Spain, kids have felt compelled to pick up crayons and put their experiences to paper

“They still draw pictures!” So wrote the editors of an influential collection of children’s art that was <a href="https://www.afsc.org/document/they-still-draw-pictures-1938">compiled in 1938</a> during <a href="https://theconversation.com/ukraines-foreign-fighters-have-little-in-common-with-those-who-signed-up-to-fight-in-the-spanish-civil-war-178976">the Spanish Civil War</a>. Eighty years later, war continues to upend children’s lives in Ukraine, Yemen and elsewhere. In January, UNICEF <a href="https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/reports/prospects-children-2022-global-outlook">projected</a> that 177 million children worldwide would require assistance due to war and political instability in 2022. This included <a href="https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis">12 million children in Yemen</a>, <a href="https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/syrian-crisis">6.5 million in Syria</a> and <a href="https://www.unicef.org/appeals/myanmar">5 million in Myanmar</a>. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 added 7 million more children to this number. To date, more than half of Ukraine’s children <a href="https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/war-ukraine-pose-immediate-threat-children">have been internally or externally displaced</a>. Many more have faced disruptions to education, health care and home life. And yet they, too, still draw pictures. In March, a charity called <a href="https://www.uakids.today/en">UA Kids Today</a>launched, offering a digital platform for kids to respond with art to Russia’s invasion and raise money for aid to Ukrainian families with children. <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7bfZyk8AAAAJ&hl=en">As a scholar who studies</a> the ways wars affect societies’ most vulnerable members, I see much that can be learned from the art created by kids living in war-torn regions across place and time. <h2>A century of children’s art</h2> During <a href="https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/boer-war">the Boer War</a> – a conflict waged from 1899 to 1902 between British troops and South African guerrilla forces – relief workers sought to teach orphaned girls the art of <a href="https://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/archivesandmanuscripts/2017/08/24/the-archive-of-emily-hobhouse-now-available/">lace-making</a>. During World War I, displaced children in Greece and Turkey learned to weave textiles and decorate pottery <a href="https://neareastmuseum.com/2015/08/13/every-stitch-a-story-near-east-industries/">as a means of making a living</a>. Over time, expression has replaced subsistence as the driver of children’s wartime artwork. No longer pressed to sell their productions, children are instead urged to put their emotions and experiences on display for the world to see. Novelist <a href="https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2015/novemberdecember/feature/the-talented-mr-huxley">Aldous Huxley</a> hinted at this goal in his introduction to the 1938 collection of Spanish Civil War art. Whether showing “explosions, the panic rush to shelter, [or] the bodies of victims,” <a href="https://library.ucsd.edu/speccoll/tsdp/frame.html">Huxley wrote</a>, these drawings revealed “a power of expression that evokes our admiration for the childish artists and our horror at the elaborate bestiality of modern war.” <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/herbert-read">Herbert Read</a>, a World War I veteran and educational theorist, organized another show of children’s art during World War II. Unlike Huxley, Read found that scenes of war did not dominate the drawings he collected from British schoolchildren, even those exposed to the London Blitz. In a pamphlet for the exhibition, he highlighted “the sense of beauty and the enjoyment of life which they have expressed.” While the shows discussed by Read and Huxley differed in many ways, both men emphasized the form and composition of children’s artwork as much as their pictorial contents. Both also expressed the view that the creators of these drawings would play a critical role in the rebuilding of their war-torn communities. <h2>A political tool</h2> As with the children’s war art made during Huxley and Read’s time, the images coming out of Ukraine express a mix of horror, fear, hope and beauty. While planes, rockets and explosions appear in many of the pictures uploaded by <a href="https://www.uakids.today/en">UA Kids Today</a>, so do flowers, angels, Easter bunnies and peace signs. The managers of this platform – who are refugees themselves – have not been able to mount a physical exhibition of these works. But artists and curators elsewhere are beginning to do so. In Sarasota, Florida, artist Wojtek Sawa <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/news/new-sarasota-exhibit-features-artwork-of-ukrainian-children-coping-with-war">has opened a show</a> of Ukrainian children’s art that will be used to collect donations and messages from visitors. These will later be distributed to displaced children in Poland. <a href="https://warchildhood.org/">The War Childhood Museum</a>, based in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, had recently concluded traveling exhibitions in Kyiv and Kherson when the Russian invasion started. The museum’s managing director, who has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crimes-schools-d1e52368aced8b3359f4436ca7180811">spoken</a> out strongly about the need for cultural heritage protection in war, was able to retrieve several dozen artifacts from these shows a few days before the fighting commenced. Those toys and drawings, which tell the story of children’s experience during Russia’s previous effort to gain control of the Donbas region in 2014, <a href="https://warchildhood.org/2022/02/24/updates-from-ukraine/">will be featured</a> in shows opening elsewhere in Europe in 2022. By capturing the attention of journalists and the public, these exhibitions have been used to raise awareness, solicit funds and inspire commentary. However, children’s art from Ukraine has not yet played a role in political deliberations, as it did when peace activist Fred Branfman shared his collection of drawings by Laotian children and adults <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/us/fred-branfman-laos-activist-dies-at-72.html">during his 1971 testimony</a> before Congress on the “<a href="https://legaciesofwar.org/about-laos/secret-war-laos/">Secret War</a>” the U.S. had been conducting in Laos since 1964. Nor is it yet clear whether this art will play a part in future war crimes trials, as the art of Auschwitz-Birkenau internee Yahuda Bacon <a href="https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2020/01/25/for-child-survivors-drawing-is-therapy-and-a-tool-of-justice">did during</a> the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann. <h2>Windows into different worlds</h2> Art historians <a href="https://www.massey.ac.nz/%7Ealock/hbook/bremner.htm">once thought</a> children’s drawings, no matter where they lived, revealed the world in a way that was unshaped by cultural conventions. But I don’t believe that children in all countries and conflicts represent their experiences in the same way. The drawings of children imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps during World War II are not formally or symbolically interchangeable with drawings made by children exposed to America’s bombing campaign in Laos. Nor can these be interpreted in the same way as images produced by Ukrainian, Yemeni, Syrian or Sudanese children today. To me, one of the most valuable features of children’s art is its power to highlight unique aspects of everyday life in distant places, while conveying a sense of what can be upended, lost or destroyed. A Laotian child’s <a href="https://legaciesofwar.org/programs/national-traveling-exhibition/illustrations-narratives/">drawing</a> of a horse that “ran back to the village” from the rice field after its owner was killed by a bomb offers a small window into the lives of subsistence rice farmers. The desert landscapes and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-30/yemen-s-historic-tower-houses-are-under-threat">urban architecture</a> of Yemen are equally distinctive, and Yemeni children’s drawings highlight those differences even as they express aspirations that viewers around the world may share. <h2>The challenges of preservation</h2> As an academic who has also worked in museums, I am always thinking about how artifacts from today’s conflicts will be preserved for exhibition in the future. There are significant challenges to preserving the drawings and paintings young people produce. First, children’s art is materially unstable. It is often made on paper, with crayons, markers and other ephemeral media. This makes it dangerous to display originals and demands care in the production of facsimiles. Second, children’s art is often hard to contextualize. The first-person commentaries that accompanied some of the Spanish Civil War drawings and most of the Laotian images <a href="https://library.ucsd.edu/speccoll/tsdp/frame.html">often provide</a> details about children’s localized experience but rarely about the timing of events, geographic locations or other crucial facts. Finally, much children’s war art suffers from uncertain authorship. With few full names recorded, it is hard to trace the fates of most child artists, nor is it generally possible to gather their adult reflections on their childhood creations. By noting these complications, I don’t want to detract from the remarkable fact that children still draw pictures during war. Their expressions are invaluable for documenting war and its impact, and it’s important to study them. Nevertheless, in researching children’s art, it is necessary to reflect that scholars and curators are – like the child artists themselves – often working at the limits of their knowledge. Image credits: Instagram This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whether-in-war-torn-ukraine-laos-or-spain-kids-have-felt-compelled-to-pick-up-crayons-and-put-their-experiences-to-paper-181458" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

How to pick the best sheets

If you are having trouble sleeping or don’t look forward to climbing into your bed, then there could be something wrong with the bed sheets you currently have. Just like mattresses or pillows, bed sheets are important facilitators of falling asleep because they come in direct contact with our skin. Here are four features of bed <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/sheets?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-sheets&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=sheets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sheets</a> that you need to look out for the next time you invest in bed sheets. 1. Material The most popular material for bed sheets is <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/sheets/products/linen-house-makalya-flannelette-sheet-set?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-sheets-makalya-flannelette-sheet-set&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=makalya-flannelette-sheet-set" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cotton</a>. Cotton has remained as the most popular material for sheets due its durability, comfort and breathability. There are variations of cotton such as Egyptian, pima and Sea Island cottons. Make sure you always check that the fabric is 100 per cent of the material as some sellers loosely use the terms to attract buyers. Be sure you are always buying from a quality manufacturer. 2. Thread count It is popular opinion that the higher the thread count, the more comfortable the sheets will be. However, this isn’t always the case as manufacturers can alter sheet softness by enhancing them will silicone softeners that vanish after the first wash. A lower-thread-count sheet made from naturally softer fibres such as Egyptian cotton will feel more comfortable than a lower-quality cotton blend with a higher thread count. To be sure you are purchasing comfortable sheets make sure they are 100 per cent cotton rather than the 1000 thread count. If you want a more affordable option than Egyptian or Pima cottons than polyester/percale blend is best. 3. Weave It is a good habit to get into that when you go on holidays, you take note of the bedding that you find most comfortable to sleep in. Do you prefer crisp or soft? If you prefer a little snap in your sheets than choose percale which is plainer weave. If you want your sheets to be completely soft than choose sateen. If the cold irritates you while you are sleeping, choose <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/sheets/product-type_flannelette-sheet-sets?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-sheets-flannelette-sheet-sets&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=flannelette-sheet-sets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flannel sheets</a> to help regulate your body temperature. 4. Fit It is important that you get the right size and fit for your bed sheets so you don’t have to wrestle with your mattress every time you need to put your sheets on. If you have a standard-size bed including twin, queen or king, it can be helpful to purchase <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/bedroom/products/linen-house-sheet-sets-elka-fitted?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-sheets-sheet-sets-elka-fitted&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=sheet-sets-elka-fitted?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-sheets-sheet-sets-elka-fitted&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=sheet-sets-elka-fitted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sheets</a> that have features such as elastic edging to ensure a snug fit. Before you buy sets that include pillowcases, make sure your pillows are not under or over scale to avoid wasting money. Image: Getty

Home & Garden

First look inside bizarre new Woolworths megastore

Woolworths has opened its first customer-free grocery store to help meet the increase demand for online shoppers. The first new multi-million dollar online Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) at Goodman’s Rochedale Motorway Estate, Brisbane is approximately 10,000sqm. The massive CFC will see a huge 800 jobs created as well as supporting a further 30,000 home deliveries and Direct to boot Pick up windows each week. Personal shoppers will become accustomed to wider aisles and bigger shelves to help with hand picking orders from a vast range of more than 25,000 products quickly, accurately and efficiently. Woolworths Managing Director eComX, Sally Copland said the new store will help people who are short on time and can’t do their own shopping. “Online grocery shopping has been well and truly embraced by our Brisbane customers, many of whom are looking to reclaim time in their busy lives,” she said. “Over the past three years, we’ve seen the demand for online groceries in Metro Brisbane more than triple, a trend we are actually seeing across the entire state of Queensland. “To keep pace with this demand we’re investing in new online infrastructure to offer our customers more delivery windows and an even more reliable service. “As well as strengthening our network capability, this new state-of-the-art facility is an important part of our ongoing commitment to investment and jobs in Queensland. “We’re delighted to be welcoming hundreds of new team members to our new facility.” The new facility also contains more than 850 solar panels, which will provide 20 per cent of the store’s required energy. This will also be monitored by smart metering to help monitor and reduce energy consumption. Images: Woolworths

Food & Wine

Celebrity chef Kylie Kwong shares her top Aussie travel picks

Kylie Kwong has shared her fondest memories of holidaying in Byron Bay, some top choices from her travel bucket list, and tips for travelling and dining sustainably that you can use on your next Aussie holiday. The celebrity chef, TV presenter and author spoke to <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/chef-kylie-kwongs-top-recommendations-for-australia-holidays/XR346QGAU6KQXLTBITXKJPKC4Q/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZHerald</a> about her unmissable destinations, including returning to the Northern Territory. “I want to visit the spirited outback centre of Mbantua (Alice Springs) in the Northern Territory,” she told the publication. “Many years ago I stayed in Arnhem Land yet since then I have made so many Aboriginal friends and learnt so much more about their traditions and culture. “I would welcome this visit to explore the Red Centre, its contemporary and traditional art, natural wonders including the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata-Tjuta (Olgas) and Watarrka (Kings Canyon) and to gain more of an understanding and appreciation of the ancient wisdom of First Nations people of Australia.” Other experiences and destinations Kwong hopes to tick off her list include lunching at Pipit, in the Northern Rivers region, doing a masterclass with Rodney Dunne at The Agrarian Kitchen, Tasmania, and staying at Brigitte Hafner’s Tedesca Osteria in the Mornington Peninsula. Kwong also shared her fondest memory of weeks-long holidays in Byron Bay with her extended family, where they spent “every waking hour” at Clarkes’ Beach and devoured plenty of seafood. “We spent every waking hour on the beach and when it was time for lunch, my mum’s sister, Aunty Jane, would hang a beach towel on the apartment balcony and we would all race up the beach like little soldier crabs to enjoy freshly peeled, super sweet school prawns jam-packed between pillowy-soft white sliced bread, tomato sauce and iceberg lettuce,” Kwong recalled. “My Uncle Johnny and his family lived in Yamba so they would join us - he is a keen fisherman and would arrive with an esky overflowing with live mud crabs and one of the family highlights was cooking and feasting upon Black Bean and Chilli Mud Crab together!” Walking the tracks of Tasmania’s Bay of Fires and Cradle Mountain, exploring Barossa Valley, and spending a week swimming and fishing for barramundi in The Kimberley Ranges were also among Kwong’s great holiday experiences. As for those wanting to travel and support sustainable eateries, Kwong shared a few choice options from around the country. “NSW’s south coast beaches and seafood are pristine,” Kwong said. “The Bay of Fires, Cradle Mountain and walking tracks in Tasmania; also the pristine wild islands of King Island and Flinder’s Island and their incredible seafood. “In South Australia, head to the Summertown Aristologist in Adelaide Hills for locally sourced produce and locally crafted natural wine.” Image: @kylie_kwong (Instagram)

Domestic Travel

Picking the perfect pug

If you’re after a stocky little lifelong friend who loves to cuddle, sleep and play – then you’ve found your match with a pug! But if you need more convincing, consider these three all-important factors: 1. Their unique look The cuteness factor when searching for your family pet is probably the first thing you’re looking for, among health status and overall affordability. These quirky little angels are often quite small and compact, making them perfect for an apartment or smaller home. The pug is quite an expressive dog, complete with their signature face wrinkles and an inquisitive nature. If you want to stand out at the dog park, a pug is the dog for you! 2. Their friendly and easy-going nature Pugs are extremely clingy and love to cuddle all day long. They are affectionate and have the excellent ability of being emotionally intuitive. They are the type of dogs who are fiercely loyal and love nothing more than to just to be with you. If you fancy a pet for company, then look no further. Pugs are overall friendly, they love to socialise (with humans and other dogs alike!) and due to the natural shape of their mouths, are less likely to aggressively bite. For this reason, they are great with children. They are also quite intelligent, making house training and setting a good routine all that bit easier for the family. 3. They are relatively low maintenance Being short-haired dogs, pugs are easy to keep clean and are a pleasure when it comes to a bath. While they do shed more than your average pet, it’s nothing a good quality vacuum cleaner can’t handle! While your pug is a puppy, you will find they are the perfect companion for those longer walks, and as they age and get into a good routine, they will require less exercise. However, due to their ferocious appetites, it is in their best interest to keep those steps up and keep that cardio health in check. These loveable little guys can be prone to breathing problems, so it is recommended to do your research and purchase through a breeder who specialises in brachycephalic dogs’ health. Good luck, happy pugging and enjoy these photos of a very cute pug!

Family & Pets

Pick up your $2.50 potato hearts from Aldi

<div class="description g_font-long-format" style="font-size: 18px;line-height: 1.5;margin-bottom: 24px">When it comes to frozen potato treats, it’s safe to say us Aussies are fans.</div>Who could forget the uproar when Potato Smiles were discontinued from supermarkets – as well as the excitement when they were reintroduced (as the made-over Potato Emojis) in 2020.So it is no surprise that Aldi shoppers have been excited by the addition of a new potato treat, with some even saying they would make the perfect Valentine’s Day meal.The German supermarket is selling Potato Hearts for $2.49, with the “super cute” freezer item easily cooked in an air fryer or oven.These tasty treats have sent members of the Aldi mums facebook group into a freenzy. It’s not known whether the Potato Hearts are a permanent addition to shelves or here for a limited time only. Pick up yours today from Aldi and enjoy!Image: Instagram

Food & Wine

Hitting the beach this summer? Here are some of our top animal picks to look out for

Australia has one of the longest coastlines in the world. And it’s packed with life of all shapes and sizes – from lively dolphins leaping offshore, to tiny crabs scurrying into their holes. Here is just some of the diverse coastal life you might expect to see this summer, if you <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320720307722">spend some</a> time at the water’s edge. <h2>Dolphins and turtles</h2> We’re fortunate to have 15 species of dolphin (and one porpoise!) living in Australian waters. The large <a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/bottlenose-dolphin/">bottlenose dolphins</a> (Tursiops spp.) are relatively common and can be spotted all the way around our coast. You might see them playing in the waves, jumping out of the water, or even surfing among humans. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436606/original/file-20211209-133881-1px5omu.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436606/original/file-20211209-133881-1px5omu.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Bottlenose dolphin mother and cals" /></a> Bottlenose dolphins are generally grey with a lighter underside and have a pronounced, curved dorsal (upper) fin. Shutterstock Turtles are less obvious, but can be spotted as they bob their heads out of the water to breathe. Australia’s coasts are home to six of the world’s seven sea turtles (all <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna">listed as either vulnerable or endangered</a>). The more common green turtle (Chelonia mydas) can be found everywhere except in the coldest southern waters. In summer, the turtles travel north to the tropical waters of QLD, NT and WA to reproduce – laying their eggs in the warm sand. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436586/original/file-20211209-19-1u2t59m.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436586/original/file-20211209-19-1u2t59m.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Green turtles often get tangled in discarded fishing gear and nets and can die from ingesting plastics, so don’t litter! John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided Another reptile you might encounter in the eastern coastal areas is the water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii). You’ll find them hovering around beach-side picnic areas, looking for tasty treats such as flies, ants, bugs, native fruits and flowers. As with all native animals, it’s important not to feed them. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436590/original/file-20211209-25-1e71enk.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436590/original/file-20211209-25-1e71enk.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Water dragons are good swimmers and stay near the water. John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided <h2>Heads in the clouds</h2> If you cast your eyes up, you’ll see many coastal bird species soaring above. Two of our favourites are the protected white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and the sooty oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus). Both rely on marine animals for food, and nest in coastal areas right around Australia. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436592/original/file-20211209-140109-1c0pnm4.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436592/original/file-20211209-140109-1c0pnm4.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> With a wingspan of up to 2m, you can find white-bellied sea eagles soaring above headlands. WikiCommons The sea eagle mostly feeds on fish, turtles and sea snakes. It was recently <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=943">listed as either threatened, endangered, or vulnerable in four states</a>, largely as a result of coastal developments. Meanwhile the sooty oystercatcher is, well, all black. It has distinctive bright-orange eyes and a long beak. Sooties can be found strutting among the seaweed and sea squirts on rocky shores. As the name suggests, these birds enjoy eating molluscs and other invertebrates. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436593/original/file-20211209-21-1h1czbf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436593/original/file-20211209-21-1h1czbf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The sooty gives a loud whistling call before taking flight. John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided <h2>Crawling coastal critters</h2> Many a critter will run for cover as sooties (and humans) approach, including the swift-footed crab (Leptograpsus variegatus). This crab’s mostly purple body is sprinkled with flecks of olive, and sometimes orange. The species lives among the rocky shores around southern Australia, from WA to QLD, and even Tasmania. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436594/original/file-20211209-137612-4uld1f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436594/original/file-20211209-137612-4uld1f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The swift-footed crab can grow to about 5cm in shell width. John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided You’re much less likely to see another common crab, the sand bubbler. But you might see the results of its industrious activity on flat, wet and sandy areas. Sand bubblers live in underground burrows, emerging during the low tide to filter sand through their mouthparts looking for food. In this process, they end up making little pea-sized sand balls. When the tide starts to rise again, they return to their burrows and wait in a bubble of air, which they use to breathe, until the tide recedes. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436596/original/file-20211209-27-ft1len.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436596/original/file-20211209-27-ft1len.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Sand bubblers, from the family Dotillidae, are tiny and will quickly hide if they sense danger. John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided <h2>Magnificent molluscs</h2> Molluscs are another diverse group of marine animals on our shores, and one of the best known molluscs is the octopus. Along with squid and cuttlefish, this trio of cephalopods is considered to be among the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436598/original/file-20211209-142574-atsquu.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436598/original/file-20211209-142574-atsquu.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Octopus in a glass jar" /></a> Near urban areas, octopuses have been known to make homes of bottles, jars and even discarded coffee cups. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnwturnbull/19733728835/" class="source">John Turnbull</a>, Author provided In the case of the octopus, this may be due to having nine “brains”, including a donut-shaped brain in the head and a mini brain in each tentacle, which allow the tentacles to operate somewhat independently. Australia has several octopus species, from the gloomy octopus (Octopus tetricus) on the east coast, to the Maori octopus (O. maorum) in the south. The potentially deadly blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.) is found right around Australia. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436599/original/file-20211209-137612-1dryfc0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436599/original/file-20211209-137612-1dryfc0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Octopus reaches for camera" /></a> This gloomy octopus made a move for my camera as I took its photo. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnwturnbull/27746924942/" class="source">John Turnbull/Flickr</a>, Author provided Octopus forage at night, in shallow waters and to depths exceeding 500 metres. During the day they’ll return to their lair, which may be a hole, a ledge or a crack in a rock. They’ll often decorate their home with the discarded shells of their prey. <h2>(Sometimes) stingers</h2> You’ve probably seen jellyfish at the beach before, too. Species such as the moon jelly (Aurelia aurita) are harmless. But others can deliver a painful sting; bluebottles (Physalia utriculus) might come to mind here, also called the Pacific man-of-war. Bluebottles and their relatives, blue buttons (P. porpita) and by-the-wind sailors (V. velella) don’t swim. They float at the ocean’s surface and go where the winds blow, which is how they sometimes get washed onto the beach. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436600/original/file-20211209-17-rr2j1.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436600/original/file-20211209-17-rr2j1.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Jellyfish on sand" /></a> By-the-wind sailors have an angled ‘sail’ which takes advantage of the wind, moving them large distances to catch prey. John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided Rather than being one animal, they are made of many polyps or “zooids” living together in a floating colony. Each polyp has a specialised role such as flotation, stinging, catching prey, digestion or reproduction. Anemones are also related to jellyfish, and come in many shapes and colours – from the bright red waratah anemone (Actinia tenebrosa) found in all states, to the multi-coloured shellgrit anemone (Oulactis muscosa) found from SA to QLD. They use their tentacles to sting and catch prey, but have no impact on humans. Many anemones live among the rocks and rock pools in the intertidal area, although some species, such as the swimming anemone (Phlyctenactis tuberculosa), live as deep as 40m underwater. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436602/original/file-20211209-23-1h831bi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436602/original/file-20211209-23-1h831bi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grid of four anemone photos." /></a> Top left: shellgrit anemone, top right: swimming anemone, bottom left: red waratah anemone, bottom right: green snakelock anemone (Aulactinia veratra) John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided <h2>Fancy fishes</h2> Of course there are many fish to be seen along our shores – more than we could possibly mention here! In the shallows, we particularly like to find big-eyed <a href="https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/family/259">gobies</a>. Some of the most colourful fish in this zone are young damselfish. These are most diverse in tropical Australia, but still found in temperate waters. Their juvenile forms can be striped and spotted, with colours ranging from bright yellow to iridescent blue. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436605/original/file-20211209-140109-vifrk0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436605/original/file-20211209-140109-vifrk0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Juvenile immaculate damselfish." /></a> Immaculate damsels are endemic to Australian waters. John Turnbull/Flickr, Author provided It’s best to photograph any fish you want to identify. Resources such as <a href="https://reeflifesurvey.com/species/search/">Reef Life Survey</a> and <a href="https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/">Fishes of Australia</a> can help with this. If you upload your photos to the <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/">iNaturalist</a> website, other users can help you ID them too. Uploading is also a big help to scientists, who then have a record of each sighting. Finally, the diversity of marine life on our coast isn’t something we can afford to take for granted. So if you hit the beach this summer, make sure you:<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171744/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <ul> <li>do not bring any single-use plastics</li> <li>never leave anything behind (and preferably pick up any litter you see)</li> <li>and keep pets and cars away from sensitive habitats, such as dunes and bird nesting areas.</li> </ul> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-turnbull-558403">John Turnbull</a>, Postdoctoral Research Associate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emma-johnston-94055">Emma Johnston</a>, Professor and Dean of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/hitting-the-beach-this-summer-here-are-some-of-our-top-animal-picks-to-look-out-for-171744">original article</a>. Image: John Turnbull

Domestic Travel

REVEALED: The two people Queen Elizabeth II will pick up the phone for

A royal commentator has <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals" target="_blank">revealed</a> that the Queen only speaks to two people within “The Firm” on her phone - and they might not be who you would expect. “Apparently, the Queen has two people who she speaks to the most on her phones and she also apparently has a mobile phone which is said to be a Samsung packed with anti-hacker encryption by MI6 so nobody can hack into her phone,” royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti said during his appearance on US podcast <a rel="noopener" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/royally-us-harry-meghan-kate-and-william-royal-news/id1553314202" target="_blank">The Royally</a>. “But the two people she phones the most is said to be her daughter Princess Anne and her racing manager John Warren.” It has also been revealed that the Queen intends to host the Royal Family at Sandringham House for Christmas. The revelation comes at the end of a difficult year for Queen Elizabeth II, who lost her husband Prince Philip earlier this year and has experienced several health scares in recent months. “The Queen has told everyone she is feeling far better of late and is very much looking forward to welcoming them for Christmas,” a source told The Daily Mail last week. <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/CWtH84uMQCL/?utm_source=ig_embed&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> <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/CWtH84uMQCL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a> </div> </blockquote> The invites have reportedly been sent to Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and their families. However, Page Six has reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won’t be joining the festivities at Sandringham House. Image: Getty Images

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