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"Yet another disgrace": Rolf Harris’ net worth revealed

Disgraced TV star Rolf Harris died penniless after wiping out his estimated $31 million fortune, making it difficult for his victims to claim compensation. The convicted pedophile died of neck cancer and old age last year after spending his final years as a recluse with his wife at their luxury $10 million riverside mansion in Bray, Berkshire. Harris – a staple of children’s TV in the 1980s - was convicted of 12 indecent assaults, and managed to overturn only one of his convictions. The vile pedophile was released from prison in 2017. After his death, it was said that he left a $31 million fortune that he amassed during his career to his wife Alwen Hughes and daughter Bindi, 60. However, probate documents seen by The Sun show that his assets were said to be worth just $853,436.98 when he died. When expenses were taken out the net value of his estate was $0. It is believed that most of his fortune was spent to make it difficult for his victims, who were seeking compensation, to access his wealth following his death. A large part of his fortune is believed to have been used on around-the-clock carers for him and his wife Alwen, who died in September this year after suffering from dementia. His legal documents show that his will was last signed in March 2022, a year before his death, and was witnesses by two of his carers. Investigator and ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who helped to convict Harris, said: “This is yet another disgrace. “He has obviously planned to get rid of money and assets and there is no way he’d have actually been penniless. “He had amassed a huge amount of wealth and I would assume he has squirrelled it away to avoid victims making claims on it, even after his death. The man had no shame.” Harris was known for a string of children's TV hits and was the face of British Paints for more than three decades before he was dumped by the brand when he was arrested in 2013. The following year, he was convicted a found guilty on 12 counts of indecent assault, and was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail. The assaults include one on an eight-year-old fan who asked for his autograph, two on girls in their early teens, and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend of over 16 years. He was released on parole in May 2017 after serving three years behind bars. Image: Alan Davidson/ Shutterstock Editorial

Money & Banking

Beloved Aussie musician dies days after revealing cancer diagnosis

Australian musician Richard Andrew has tragically died at the age of 58, just seven days after announcing he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Andrew, who has long been a fixture of the Melbourne music scene, passed away on October 30th, with his grieving wife confirming his death on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-nikki-through-tragedy-honouring-richards-legacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page. Andrew's wife, Nicolette Powell, is now faced with mourning the sudden loss of her husband while caring for her mother, who is grappling with a terminal brain tumour. "Nicolette's beloved husband, Richard, a well-known and iconic figure in Melbourne's music scene, recently passed away suddenly from cancer," the GoFundMe page's tribute to Andrew began. "Richard was a talented musician who left his mark in bands like Underground Lovers, Crow and Black Cab as well as his own band Registered Nurse and more recently his solo project RJ Andrew." "He was also the founder of Pharmacy Records. He poured his heart and soul into his music, and his legacy will be felt across Melbourne's music community for years to come." Just one week before his untimely death, Andrew revealed to his fans he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in a social media message shared alongside a photo from his wedding to Powell. "After my last unsuccessful attempt to jump 17 double decker buses – A) this may go someway towards explaining being in a wheelchair and, B) the fact I'm getting married to the beautiful Nicolette Powell, in this photo," he wrote on Facebook. "Alas, although the marriage is definitely true and based on love, the double decker bus is, sadly, not quite the truth. Instead, a few month ago, I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer, which has been a billy cart ride down s**t street, for the last little while." Andrew then went on to issue a public farewell to his fans and loved ones. "I am completely reconciled to whatever the future is, however, that future is probably quite limited and I'm in the process of preparing to pop this mortal coil and return to the trees, as it were," he wrote. "I cannot overstate enough what an honour and a privilege it has been to know you all over the last 58 years, and to have lived the most incredible, incredible life." Image credits: Instagram / GoFundMe

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Prince Philip's final phone call to King Charles revealed

Prince Philip was known for his quick wit and sense of humour, and now his family have shared their favourite moments with him in the BBC documentary Prince Philip: The Family Remembers. In the documentary, King Charles revealed the cheeky remarks the Duke made in their final phone call just hours before his passing on April 9, 2021 at the age of 99. Charles recalled discussing the Duke's upcoming 100th birthday celebrations and having to raise his voice so his father could hear him better, saying: “We’re talking about your birthday! And whether there’s going to be a reception!” The Duke quipped: “Well, I’ve got to be alive for it, haven’t I?” King Charles fondly shared what he said to his father's cheeky remark, “I told him ‘I knew you’d say that!'”. In another part of the documentary, the monarch recalled the benefits of having young parents. “He was marvellous at arranging silly games. I mean, the fun of having obviously young parents was… there were lots of chasing around and mad things," he said. Prince William also shared some of his fond memories with his late grandfather, recalling the pranks they used to pull together, and one of them being squirting mustard all over the ceiling - much to the Queen’s annoyance. “He used to take the lid off [the tube] and put it in your hands … and then he’d squish your hands together to fire the mustard onto the ceiling," William said. “He used to get in a lot of trouble from my grandmother,” he added. William’s cousins, Princess Anne’s children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, also remembered the same prank. “He gets you to hold it in your hands and I can’t remember exactly what he says — but he ends up slamming your hands together… it goes all over the ceiling,” Zara said. Her brother Peter added: “I actually think the marks are still there.” Image: Canadian Press/ Shutterstock Editorial

Family & Pets

Hospice nurse reveals people's last words before they die

A hospice nurse has revealed the number one thing people say in their final moments before they die. Healthcare expert Julie McFadden, who makes online videos discussing death to help break the taboo around dying, has shared the three most common regrets patients share on their death beds. Speaking to NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan on his podcast, Julie said these final discussions tend to centre around what they've taken for granted. "The first one I hear all the time is that they regret not appreciating their health while they had it," Ms McFadden said, reflecting on her 15 years of working in the health sector. "That's the number one thing people say to me, I wish I would have understood how amazing it is to have a working body." The second regret she often hears is people admitting they "worked too much" and wish they hadn't worked their life away, and rather spent time doing things that brought them joy. Finally, she revealed in the clip shared to Instagram, that many dying patients have regrets about relationships. The nurse explained people either wish they had maintained certain relationships and friendships, or regret holding grudges. Dr Rajan responded to Ms McFadden's insight with a story of a young patient that made him realise we are not 'immortal' and we should not take our life "for granted". In the clip shared with his 1.5million followers he said, "A few years ago when I saw a young woman come in with pancreatitis in her 20s, within three hours this young woman is in the intensive care unit, she's intubated, ventilated, and the next day, she had passed away." "That just made me think wow, I'm in my 30s now, I'm 34, life can just go in a flash. So yes, truly don't take it for granted, we sometimes have this tendency to walk around like we're immortal." Image credits: YouTube

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Research reveals how long it takes Aussies to save for a holiday

Saving up for a holiday can seem like an overwhelming task, but some destinations are easier to save for than others. According to new research by <a href="http://money.com.au/">money.com.au</a>, nearly a third of travellers - or 31 percent - need on average a year to save for a trip, while 29 percent of Aussies save for up to six months before jetting off. For 18 percent of travellers, it takes more than a year to save for a trip, while just 13 percent of Aussies manage to save for a holiday in less than three months. On the flip side, 7 percent of eager travellers decide to skip saving altogether and cover their holiday expenses fully on a credit card, while just 2 percent opt for a personal loan to fund their trips. Money.com.au's Finance Expert, Sean Callery said of the survey, "Our research also shows that travel is the one expense Australians aren't willing to forgo, no matter their financial goals or income level." "Going into debt for a holiday brings additional costs and risks. It's important to have a plan for clearing the debt as quickly as possible." With these saving trends in mind, the experts have crunched the numbers to estimate how long it would take the average Aussie to save for a trip to the most popular overseas holiday destinations. The saving time for each location was calculated based on a 10 per cent savings rate of the average weekly earnings of $1,923.40 (from ABS data). Two of the quickest destinations to save for are China and Thailand, while other destinations the experts say you can save for in around half a year include New Zealand, Vietnam and Singapore. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

110-year-old woman reveals the secret to a long life

Perth woman Bridget Grocke, who has just celebrated her 110th birthday, has revealed the very Aussie secret to her longevity. Ms Grocke, who has lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Space Race, and the Information Age, is officially one of Australia's oldest residents. For sixty years, she has credited her old age to one glass of Emu Export beer everyday, as she chose a glass of the Aussie tipple over a slice of cake at her birthday party on Wednesday. “If there was a whole heap of beer and I was asked which one is your favourite I’d have to say this,” she told 9News as she held a glass of bush chook in her hand. “I’ve always known it. It tastes good. Cheers to Emu Export.” Born in Western Australia on November 18th 1914, Bridget spent her early years in Kalgoorlie and moved all across WA as the family followed her father’s work as an engine driver. Then at the age of 18, she took the leap and moved to Perth on her own. Ms Grocke spent her years working in fashion and customer service, also building her own family of four children with her husband, Jim, who she married at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Subiaco in 1942. Despite losing her husband in 1985 and two of her children, Ms Grocke is surrounded by the love of her remaining son and daughter, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Other than one of her beloved beers a day, Ms Grocke attributed her long life to her loving family, and her word of advice to younger generations was “if you’re nice to people they will be nice to you”. Ms Grocke’s daughter Jan Robertson said her mother’s adventurous spirit and loving family had kept her young at heart. “Mum was very easy going and she was strict, of course, but she always gave you the right path,” she said. “She has always been well. The only thing she got done was her cataracts at 100, before that she hadn’t been in hospital since childbirth.” Image credits: Nine News <div class="more-coverage-v2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #e0e1e2; float: right; margin-left: 16px; max-width: 40%; padding: 16px 0px;"> </div>

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Dr Chris Brown's new show revealed

Beloved TV personality Dr Chris Brown is returning to Aussie screens with a brand new show. Following his departure from Network Ten last year, the TV vet has joined Seven and now his latest project with the broadcaster has been revealed. Brown is set to join some other well-known Aussies including Mick Molloy, Amanda Keller, Kate Ritchie and Matt Preston, who will be his untrained and unqualified veterinary assistants on the show Once In A Lifetime. In the upcoming show the beloved vet will embark on global wildlife journeys with the other entertainers, as they help iconic animals while navigating unpredictable situations. From saving endangered species to facing wild dangers, the stars will be at the forefront to experience the best of what nature has to offer. Brown is already a big hit for Seven, after the success of his show Dream Home last year. He left Network Ten in February 2023, after a 15-year career at the network. His departure was a blow for Ten, as the popular TV presenter hosted multiple programs over the years. It is understood that he is on a two-year contract with Seven, which is believed to be worth more than $1 million a year. Some of the other upcoming series that will be making a return to air on Seven next year include: Farmer Wants A Wife, Australian Idol, My Kitchen Rules, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars and The 1% Club. Images: news.com.au

Queen Elizabeth's final diary entry revealed

The final dairy entry of Queen Elizabeth, written in the days before her death, has been revealed for the first time. Featuring in Robert Hardman’s biography on King Charles, Charles III: New King, New Court, the final entry in Her Majesty's personal diary delves into the last days of her life. During her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth kept a private diary to record key events: a tradition she upheld until her final days. The passage, which was penned on September 6th, was made at Balmoral just two days before she died at age 96. She wrote that her private secretary, Edward Young, had visited her, and shared some highlights about swearing in new Privy Council members. “It transpires that she was still writing it at Balmoral two days before her death,” Hardman wrote. “Her last entry was as factual and practical as ever. It could have been describing another normal working day starting in the usual way — ‘Edward came to see me’ — as she noted the arrangements which her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, had made for the swearing-in of the new ministers of the Truss administration.” The Queen’s final engagement was asking Liz Truss to form a government after the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. According to The Telegraph UK, Queen Elizabeth's diary-writing habit is one she passed on to King Charles, with a senior courtier revealing that Charles “doesn’t write great narrative diaries like she used to,” but he does “scribble down his recollections and reflections”. Image credits: Shutterstock

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Hollywood icon reveals plans for retirement

Denzel Washington has revealed that he is going to retire after his next batch of films. The Hollywood icon appeared via videolink on Tuesday’s episode of the Today Show, alongside his co-stars to promote his new film Gladiator II. “I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. Probably not that many,” the actor, who turns 70 next month, told Today host Richard Wilkins. “I want to do things I haven’t done. I’ve played Othello at 22, I’m about to play Othello at 70,” he said. Denzel will play the role in the Shakespeare play on Broadway alongside Jake Gyllenhaal from February next year. “After that I’m playing Hannibal. After that I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that Ryan Coogler’s writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.” He added, “After that I’m going to do the film Othello. After that I’m going to do King Lear. After that I’m going to retire.” Based on the interview, the actor has six upcoming projects across stage and film, so fans will still get to enjoy a few more of his roles before he retires, following a career that has spanned almost 50 years. Speaking to news.com.au, the actor offered some insight into why he is planning to retire, saying that there are “less and less challenges”, after previously revealing that at this point in his career, there are very few roles he is willing to take. Image: Masatoshi Okauchi/ Shutterstock Editorial

Aldi boss reveals why their supermarkets are always cheaper

Aldi bosses have revealed why their supermarkets are always cheaper than Coles and Woolworths after being quizzed by the ACCC. As part of the government crackdown on the supermarket duopoly in Australia, Aldi Australia national buying managing director Jordan Lack revealed the key reason why Aldi's prices are always lower. According to Lack, by keeping stores smaller, having fewer staff, and selling fewer items, prices are able to be kept lower than at other major supermarkets. "All of those little things ensure that we can keep our costs down and pass that onto the consumer," Lack said. Aldi says its supermarket shelves carry a range of only 1,800 items while Coles and Woolworths have more like 20,000 or 25,000. For example, a shopper looking for raspberry jam at Coles would have seven brands to choose from, while a Woolies shopper would see eight different brands, as Aldi only offers one brand. The ACCC Inquiry was told that is a big part of how Aldi can be anywhere between 10 per cent and a third less expensive than Coles and Woolworths. "We believe that incremental range adds costs and complexity through our supply chain," Lack said. Retail expert Gary Mortimer agreed, saying "When you're dealing with less choice and fewer items you're dealing with fewer suppliers, fewer wholesalers and you get the economies of scale." Image credits: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Bondi Junction attack victim's family reveals final phone call

Heartbreaking details have emerged of the final video call hero security guard Faraz Tahir made hours before the tragedy. Tahir, was one of six victims killed during the Bondi Junction stabbing attack on April 13, and the only male victim to die in the attacks as he confronted knifeman Joel Cauchi. His loved ones have shared details of the final video call he made before going to work on that tragic day, ahead of a coronial inquest into the massacre beginning on Tuesday. Tahir's family said he was very excited to be starting his new life in a country he described as safe and "very peaceful". "That day ... he was talking to the whole family on a video call in Pakistan, and he was dressed up, and he told us that he was preparing to go to a job," the family told Seven News. "He said it's my first shift in Bondi Junction ... and he was really excited. "He finally felt safe in Australia … he said 'Australia is very beautiful, Australia is very exciting and very peaceful.'" Tahir and colleague Muhammad Taha ran to help when they heard people screaming and shouting. His family said they were proud of the courage Tahir showed during the horrific event. "He was serving as a security guard, and he went above and beyond ... we definitely consider him a hero," they told Seven News. “He did what he was meant to do to protect humanity." “And his sacrifice will make things better in future... to prevent these sorts of incidents happening again.” The inquest is set to go over evidence and hear from a handful of witnesses, which the family said will bring back painful memories. “It is an emotional time... to be going through it again,” they said. "The memories will come back." Images: 7News

Family & Pets

The Block winners revealed after nail-biting auction

The winners of the 2024 season of The Block have been crowned, after the nail-biting auction came to a dramatic end on Sunday night. In a break from tradition, it was the last house sold that made the most money, with sisters Maddy and Charlotte making a huge $1,550,00 profit from their house, as well as the $100,000 prize money. The sisters, aged just 25 and 22, were in disbelief at how quickly it was all over. <div id="paragraph-9"> <div> “It took us a second to be like, ‘No, no. Like, you just won The Block.’ And I think I was a bit of a stunned mullet,” Maddy said. </div> </div> <div id="paragraph-10"> <div> “I was expecting anticipation and to be, like, ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen next?’ It was like, ‘Well, you’ve won.’ It’s like … time to go. It was the quickest auction of the day; it was over so quickly.” </div> </div> Coming in second were Courtney and Grant with $1,300,050 profit, followed by Kristian and Mimi in third place with $1,030,000. Fourth were Haydn and Ricky who made $750,000 and coming in last, but still smiling, were Kylie and Brad who made $650,000. Kylie, who was embroiled in much on-screen drama this season, said all the hardships of the show were worth it, and they were happy with their result. "It was worth it," she said. "Unfortunately. Because I was a different person here. But… we made it. We're very grateful." Millionaire "Lambo guy" Adrian Portelli made a splash at what he said would be his final Block auction, as he ended up spending $15,030,000 in one day and breaking a Block record by purchasing every single house. Image credits: Nine

Most popular wedding song revealed

A classic 1980s hit has been crowned the most popular wedding song according to a recent study. According to the new research by Breezit, an online wedding vendor search tool that collates data, Whitney Houston’s pop ballad I Wanna Dance With Somebody is the most popular song for couples tying the knot. The 1987 hit, which was on Houston’s second studio album, ‘Whitney’, appeared 484 times across the 2,000 wedding-themed Spotify playlists the company poured through, which contained a total of 49,091 songs. Among thousands of playlists, I Wanna Dance With Somebody featured on more than 24 per cent of those nuptial-centric compilations. Coming in second on the list of most popular wedding songs was ABBA’s 1976 worldwide hit Dancing Queen. “Music plays an incredibly important role in wedding celebrations, and it’s fascinating to see which songs are still hailed as wedding classics, even years after their initial release,” Arturas Asakavicius, co-founder and CEO of Breezit, told <a href="https://www.brides.com/all-time-most-popular-wedding-song-new-study-8733497">Brides</a>. “Wedding playlists can help create lasting memories” he added, “capturing both the joy of the dance floor and the romance of walking down the aisle. Certain songs have become intertwined with the celebration of a wedding, which is why some have become timeless classics for many couples’ big day.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Music

Dawson's Creek star reveals cancer diagnosis

American actor James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, assuring his fans he is "feeling good" since coming to terms with the news. The Dawson’s Creek star, who played the titular character Dawson Leery, announced the news to <a href="https://people.com/james-van-der-beek-diagnosed-with-colorectal-cancer-exclusive-8738844" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> magazine, saying he had been dealing with the diagnosis "privately". “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” the 47-year-old told the publication. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.” No further details regarding his diagnosis or treatment were shared. Van Der Beek has six children with his wife Kimberly, with his most recent Instagram post sharing photos of the family dressed up and going trick or treating. While the post did not mention is diagnosis, many flocked to the comments to share their well wishes. One fan wrote, "Just saw the people article. Best wishes for good health James. Takes a lot of courage strength to share something that personal." Another person added, "Positive thoughts, prayers and love to and your whole family at this time! ❤️huge fan of yours all around!" Image credits: Shutterstock

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New details about Queen Elizabeth's final hours revealed

The final hours of Queen Elizabeth's life have been shared in a tell-all new book about the royals, detailing how Her Majesty was forced to pull out of an important meeting before she died. In his book, Charles III: New King, New Court, author Robert Hardman shared that the day before her death, Queen Elizabeth had met the departing British prime minister, Boris Johnson, and his replacement, Liz Truss, at Balmoral and attended a drinks party that same evening. Hardman wrote that the Queen felt "buzzy" at the event, but her health quickly took a turn for the worst. “She was quite buzzy over pre-dinner drinks,” one guest at the party told Hardman. “But then she said she was going upstairs to have dinner alone.” The monarch then spent the next day in bed, but reportedly arranged with the Privy Council to dial in via video link for an important meeting. As her health deteriorated throughout the day, that was changed to allow for her to call from her bedroom in an audio-only capacity, according to Hardman. But just moments before the meeting was set to get underway, the Queen reportedly made the difficult decision to cancel entirely on “medical advice”. It was that evening that then-Prince Charles was advised by Princess Anne and his private secretary to make his way urgently to his mother’s bedside, with fears that the end was near. Hardman writes that the following day, Charles was told his mother had died over the phone, having briefly left her bedside to have a moment to himself outside. Sadly, most of the royal family didn't make it to Balmoral in time to see the Queen before she passed, with Prince William, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie all landing 40 minutes later. Prince Harry shared in his own memoir Spare that he learned of his grandmother’s death by reading it in a BBC breaking news alert, moments after his own flight landed. The Queen died at 3:10pm on September 8th 2022, after more than 70 years on the throne. Image credits: Shutterstock

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Hugh Grant finally reveals his children's names

Hugh Grant has revealed the names of his two youngest daughters for the first time in a candid interview moment. The English actor and father-of-five has never announced the names of two of his children or the gender of his youngest offspring. Now, during an interview with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, the 64-year-old finally shared that his youngest child was a girl and shared her name with viewers. During a conversation about his own unusual middle name, Mungo, he said, "I was in a bit of a panic with my wife on the day we named [our daughter]." Sharing the hilarious inspiration behind the name, he said, "We thought it might be nice for her when she was older if she could say in bars that her middle name is Danger. So, her name is Lulu Danger Grant. Austin Powers, you know?" Hugh, who also has a son named John Mungo, went on to reveal that his youngest isn't the only child in the family with a fun name. He went on to say that he and his wife Anna were stressed when naming their first daughter, and decided to ask their son for advice. "We asked her elder brother when she was on the way, 'there's a new baby coming along, what shall we call her?'", Hugh explained. "And he said 'Kevin', because that was his favourite Minion." "And we did think about calling her Kevin, but then we said, 'you'd better think of something else', and he said 'Blue', because that was his favourite colour." The announcement was out of character for Hugh, who despite being a huge Hollywood name, tends to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. Image credits: YouTube

Family & Pets

"Psycho": Biographer reveals truth about Queen Elizabeth's corgis

The late Queen Elizabeth's love for her corgis was well known throughout her reign, but a new book suggests the pups weren't as sweet as they seemed. The late monarch was a fan of corgis and dorgis – a mix breed between a corgi and dachshund, and she bred them from a young age, owning a total of 83 over 14 generations. In his new biography, A Voyage Around the Queen, Journalist Craig Brown has revealed that the Queen's dogs were actually "psycho" and known for their unpredictable temperament. While it was a common trait for their breed, Brown claims that the lineage bred by the Queen was particularly nightmarish, especially her first Corgi, Dookie. "Dookie did not restrict his aggression to humans: he would happily attack the dining room chairs at Royal Lodge, the family home in Windsor Great Park," he shared. He claimed that Dookie even once bit a politician who came to visit. According to Brown, the corgi's disposition for violence was passed down from generation to generation, even recalling what the Queen's first dorgi, Honey, was like. "In 1984, Piper, the great-great-great-grand dorgi of Honey sank his teeth in several victims, including the Queen Mother and Prince Edward," explained Brown. The journalist added that Piper was then handed over to Princess Anne, who allegedly has a "soft spot for nippers and biters." The late Queen did eventually figure out how to keep the violence at bay, although the method itself is a little strange. "Coincidentally, the way to scare off a belligerent corgi is the same as for a belligerent human being: a blast from the bagpipes," Brown wrote. "Happily, the Queen always kept a set of bagpipes at hand." Images: Instagram/ thequeenscorgis

Family & Pets

Baggage handler reveals the best kind of luggage to travel with

A baggage handler has revealed the best kind of suitcase you should travel with when travelling by plane. With years of experience loading planes with thousands of kinds of suitcases, a ramp agent for American Airlines has spilled the secrets on why some kinds of luggage are better than others. The worker said that while many people may gravitate towards hard-shell suitcases for extra protection, they are not the best for air travel. "Avoid plastic hard shell suitcases," the airline worker revealed on Reddit. "These are incredibly slick and prone to sliding off the bag cart while turning - taking everything on top of it with it." Instead, cloth suitcases have more friction and are "more likely to stay where we put them." He also said these days, four wheels on a suitcase is an absolute must as opposed to ones that glide on just two wheels. "If your bag has four wheels, it can simply be rolled along the floor. If it does not, it will be thrown. We don't try to slam it into anything, but it's still going to drop about 2ft (6m) over the course of its 'flight'," the crew member shared. Another thing to consider when buying your next suitcase is finding one that has handles on the side as it gives baggage handlers "far more control" over the luggage. "It's easier to get a grip with an actual handle than by grabbing a wheel," he added. The worker also said using a big bag for no reason is only going to cause the bag to collapse once it is stacked and cause a "baggage avalanche", with the same going for bags that are not "normally shaped" suitcases. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

"You are incredible": The Voice 2024 winner revealed

In a thrilling conclusion to The Voice's 13th season, Reuben de Melo from Team LeAnn emerged as the winner after the public votes wrapped up on Sunday night. The finale saw Annie Jones, Skÿe, Reuben and Jaedyn Randell each perform a duet with their coach and then a solo number. Reuben sang a stirring rendition of the Coldplay ballad Fix You with his coach. He then performed House of the Rising Sun by The Animals, a rendition which his coach described as "insane". The FIFO worker and father of three has previously said that winning The Voice and taking home the 100k grand prize would allow him to get out of the minds and spend more time with his family. “I never thought I’d get this far, this is crazy," Reuben said of his win, which also comes with a music masterclass and industry recording development package. “I’m so proud," LeAnn said. "You deserve every bit of this moment and I’m so honoured that I could be on this journey with you. You are incredible." LeAnne also explained why she'd taken to Reuben since his first blind audition, even using her "Ultimate Block" tool to stop the other coaches from snagging him for their teams. “I knew as soon as he opened his mouth, and I heard him sing. There was just so much feeling there. There was no way I was letting any of the other coaches get to him before I did,” she said. Earlier in the night, Skÿe from Team Guy, who was another strong contender, hit the stage with the Goo Goo Dolls' iconic song Iris and then sang Against All Odds by Phil Collins as his duet with Guy Sebastian. Annie Jones sang Youngblood by 5SOS as her solo and Barracuda by Heart for her duet with Adam Lambert, while Jaedyn performed Empire of the Sun's Walking on a Dream as a duet with Kate-Miller Heidke and then Snow Angel by Renee Rapp. Image: Seven

Music

Tearful Jackie O reveals past drug addiction

Jackie O Henderson has revealed her private battle with drug addiction that resulted in a stint in rehab. On her KIIS FM radio show with Kyle Sandilands, Jackie O read an excerpt from her autobiography The Whole Truth, that is set to his shelves on October 29th, detailing her struggles with addiction two years ago. Henderson said she was “badly addicted” to painkillers, sleeping pills and consuming alcohol for three years, before checking herself in for a month-long stay at the Betty Ford Centre in Palm Springs, California, in November 2022. The radio host said she was feeling “so nervous” to read out the excerpt, as it was “something I haven’t been very forthcoming about or very truthful about”, recalling how she was feeling “diminished, untethered and alone”. “By that point, I had no self-esteem, so I was insecure, vulnerable, and heartbroken,” she read. “It was a recipe for disaster, and I took the coward’s way out to escape those feelings.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBfJRIoSaRz/?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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBfJRIoSaRz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo)</a> </div> </blockquote> Jackie admitted that it was only a small circle of friends who knew about her addiction, with Sandilands saying he was oblivious to his co-host's struggles. “I just didn’t want anyone to know until I had at least gotten a year or more of sobriety under my belt,” Henderson said. “I can only speak to my experience because my addiction is so different to anyone else’s." “But people can ask me anything they want, and I’m OK with that. I brought this up, I put it out there myself, so I’m well and truly OK talking about it. I’m excited that I can be more authentic than I’ve ever been.” She went on to recall how before she flew to America for rehab, she told her audience that she was taking time off for the end of the year. “But I know I won’t make it that far, I’m hanging on by a thread,” she read from her book. “There’s only one thing to do today, get on a plane for Los Angeles. My best friend and manager Gemma O’Neill is with me … she tells me I won’t need any fancy dresses where I’m going.” Henderson recalled grabbing lunch with O’Neill the day of their flight and being “teary”, adding, "Not because I don’t want to go on this journey but because I don’t have the faintest idea what it will be like and that scares me.” At the Betty Ford Centre, she was enrolled in a 28-day, 12-step program to “treat the substance dependence and drug addiction I’ve been able to keep secret for three long and painful years”. The 49-year-old said there were “lots of different reasons” for her addiction, but did not go into any on-air. Henderson said she went back and forth about whether to share her story but decided to make it public, “to use my story to help people”. She ended the emotional segment by sharing her gratitude that the story had never previously emerged and she was soon to celebrate her two-year sobriety milestone. “My life has changed for the better and I’m really, really thankful that I did it,” she said. Image credits: Instagram

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