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Lucy Letby: it is not being ‘beige’, ‘average’ or ‘normal’ that makes her crimes so hard to understand

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lizzie-seal-183829">Lizzie Seal</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sussex-1218">University of Sussex</a></em></p> <p>In seeking to understand the crimes of Lucy Letby, the neonatal nurse who murdered seven babies in her care, a fixation about how “ordinary” she appears to be has emerged. At times like this, we seek answers, which perhaps explains the vague sense that understanding this apparent inconsistency can teach us a lesson for the future. But that is a circle that cannot be squared.</p> <p>Letby was sentenced to whole life imprisonment for the murders of seven babies carried out while she worked at Countess of Chester Hospital, in north-west England. She was found guilty of the attempted murder of six other babies and is suspected of having harmed more. She is variously described as a “serial killer” and a “serial killer nurse”. Letby meets the <a href="https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi346">generally accepted criminological definition</a> of a serial killer – that is, someone who commits three or more murders on separate occasions which are not for revenge or material gain.</p> <p>Everyday understandings of serial killing are consistent with the criminological definition and, arguably, the “serial killer” is a compelling example of the overlap – and perhaps cross-pollination – between the academic and wider understandings of crime.</p> <p>Both academic and wider understandings of serial killing are shaped by portrayals and archetypes from fiction, film, television and true crime podcasts and documentaries. The ubiquity of portrayals of serial killers mean we reach for certain stock explanations of their actions.</p> <p>Quoting police officers involved in the investigation and former colleagues of Letby, news articles describe her as <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-lucy-letby-the-average-nurse-who-became-britains-most-prolific-child-killer-12943602">“average”</a> and <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/23003681/beige-lucy-letby-killer-nurse-death-toll/">“beige”</a>. Shock and confusion abound about the crimes of an “ordinary” young woman who did not stand out in terms of character or ability.</p> <p>The puzzle these descriptions create is how a “serial killer nurse” could possibly be someone so unremarkable. Letby lived in a three-bedroom semi-detached house, with a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/18/lucy-letby-the-beige-and-average-nurse-who-turned-into-a-baby-killer">“happy Prosecco season”</a> sign adorning the wall of her kitchen and a collection of soft toys in her bedroom. Although <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/nurse-lucy-letby-motive-why-would-she-kill-babies-b2397008.html">motives were suggested</a> by the prosecution during her trial, they feel unsatisfactory.</p> <h2>Looking for answers in the wrong place</h2> <p>Our inability to parse “satisfying” explanations for Letby’s actions relates to her departure from accepted cultural scripts of serial killing. A prominent serial killer script is that of perceived deviance and transgression, whereby something pathological about the killer accounts for their personality and actions.</p> <p>Frequently, this pathology is along the lines of mental illness, as in one of the classic templates for modern cultural scripts of serial killing, Norman Bates in the film Psycho. Another recurrent portrayal is the serial killer who is motivated by sexual perversion. Lucy Letby’s apparent normality means she cannot be read through this script.</p> <p>The fact that <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-87488-9">she is a woman</a> while serial killers are overwhelmingly male adds to this (although serial killing by women, including nurses, is <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12423909/Other-cases-missed-Detective-nailed-Beverley-Allitt-says-like-Lucy-Letby-read-book-chillingly-similar-Angel-Death-case-30-years-believes-killer-nurses-have.html">not without precedent</a>).</p> <p><a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230369061_6">Popular culture has taught us</a> that a serial killer is a certain type of person. They are often even glamorised in films and TV shows. In his <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36061">1996 memoir My Dark Places</a>, the novelist James Ellroy comments on the figure of the serial killer in 1990s popular culture: “serial killers were very unprosaic. They were hip, slick and cool”.</p> <p>Ellroy’s comment gets to the heart of why Lucy Letby feels like a dissonant serial killer. She is prosaic. But this is a red herring. We may have absorbed tropes about serial killers but that does not mean we understand them or their motives in any more depth than we understand why Letby killed.</p> <p>There is nothing truly conclusive about saying someone killed for power or sexual gratification, just as there is nothing conclusive about any of the explanations offered for Letby’s actions. Our belief that we understand reasons for serial killing – and thereby deviations from those reasons such as appearing “ordinary” – is based on familiar but incomplete narratives.</p> <p>Our cultural scripts about serial killers do not offer good explanations for their crimes. In reality, it is incredibly unusual for someone like Lucy Letby to be a serial killer because it is incredibly unusual for anyone to be a serial killer.<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/211960/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lizzie-seal-183829">Lizzie Seal</a>, Professor of Criminology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sussex-1218">University of Sussex</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>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/lucy-letby-it-is-not-being-beige-average-or-normal-that-makes-her-crimes-so-hard-to-understand-211960">original article</a>.</em></p>

Legal

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Life behind bars for serial killer nurse

<p>British nurse Lucy Letby has been handed a life sentence for the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of six others in a neonatal ward located in Chester, England.</p> <p>Justice James Goss, adhering to the strictest punishment allowed by British law, issued a whole-life order, ensuring that 33-year-old Letby would spend the remainder of her life incarcerated, as capital punishment is not applicable in the UK.</p> <p>In a trial that spanned ten months, Letby was found guilty of killing five male and two female infants and causing harm to other newborns within the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. This conviction ranks her among the most prolific child serial killers in the UK's history.</p> <p>Despite her absence from the sentencing proceedings, Justice Goss emphasised the calculated nature of Letby's actions, stating, "There was premeditation, calculation and cunning." He further highlighted the malevolence and absence of remorse in her demeanour, emphasising that no mitigating factors were present.</p> <p>Prosecutors detailed Letby's disturbing actions during her tenure in the neonatal unit. As the hospital witnessed an alarming increase in unexplained infant deaths and health deteriorations, Letby was consistently on duty during these incidents.</p> <p>Prosecutors painted her as a constant, ominous presence when these infants experienced collapses or fatalities, using tactics that were difficult to detect. She even deceived colleagues into believing these incidents were normal.</p> <p>The anguish and outrage from the victims' families were palpable during the sentencing, compounded by Letby's absence from the proceedings, which is permitted under British legal protocol.</p> <p>The mother of a girl identified as Child I said in a statement read in court:</p> <p>"I don’t think we will ever get over the fact that our daughter was tortured till she had no fight left in her and everything she went through over her short life was deliberately done by someone who was supposed to protect her and help her come home where she belonged."</p> <p>Because of Letby's absence at the sentencing, calls for legal reform quickly emerged, urging that prisoners should be compelled to attend their sentencings. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his government's intention to address this matter.</p> <p>Medical professionals raised concerns about Letby's behaviour as early as 2015, but their apprehensions were not heeded by management. Some argue that had these concerns been acted upon promptly, lives could have been saved. An independent inquiry will delve into the hospital's response to the alarming rise in deaths and the actions of the staff and management.</p> <p>In conclusion, British nurse Lucy Letby's life sentence for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others has sent shockwaves through the nation. Her calculated actions, lack of remorse, and absence from the sentencing have ignited discussions about legal reforms and the responsibility of institutions to heed early warning signs.</p> <p><em>Images: Cheshire Constabulary</em></p>

Legal

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8 fictional places you can visit in real life

<p>Step into the world of your favourite book, movie or TV show with a visit to these fictional locations that represented the original.</p> <p><strong>Hogwarts, <em>Harry Potter</em></strong></p> <p>You won’t see anyone playing Quidditch on the lawns, but Alnwick Castle in Northumberland in the UK played Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films (with a little digital trickery thrown in). The castle has been the home of the Dukes of Northumberland for more than 700 years and is in high demand with film and TV crews – it also stars in the <em>Downton Abbey </em>Christmas specials.</p> <p><em><strong>Jurassic Park</strong></em></p> <p>The lush jungle foliage and towering waterfalls of the island of Kauai in Hawaii served as the backdrop for Stephen Spielberg’s rampaging dinosaurs in all three <em>Jurassic Park</em> movies. You can rent a four-wheel drive and travel through the national park where the movie was filmed though, sadly, none of the dinosaurs remained behind after shooting wrapped.</p> <p><strong>West Egg, <em>The Great Gatsby</em></strong></p> <p>F Scott Fitzgerald modelled West Egg on Great Neck in Long Island, New York. This area on the north coast of Long Island was known as the Gold Coast because of the huge mansions, polo fields, golf courses and country clubs built there by America’s super wealthy (think Vanderbilt, Astor or Guggenheim). The very grand Oheka Castle in nearby Huntington partly inspired Gatsby’s house.</p> <p><strong>Amity Island, <em>Jaws</em></strong></p> <p>Don’t go in the water! The beach on Amity Island was the setting for the first scene in the classic 1970s horror movie, <em>Jaws</em>. As well as looking the part of the perfect American seaside resort, the shallow water of the bay made it easier for the crew to operate the mechanical sharks.</p> <p><strong>Hundred Acre Wood, <em>Winnie the Pooh</em></strong></p> <p>Just over an hour from London you can walk in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin through Ashdown Forest. There’s only about 25 square kilometres of wooded area left from what was once a mighty forest, but it is still quintessentially English and one could almost expect Pooh, Tigger and Piglet to come bounding around a shady corner.</p> <p><strong>Greenbow, <em>Forrest Gump</em></strong></p> <p>Life is like a box of chocolates in Varnville, South Carolina, which served as the fictional town of Greenbow in the Oscar winning movie <em>Forrest Gump</em>. The old Southern mansion that Forrest and his mamma lived in was a fake however, built just for production (and torn down right after), and even some of the Vietnam War scenes were shot around Varnville. Thank goodness for special effects.</p> <p><strong>King’s Landing, <em>Game of Thrones</em></strong></p> <p>The historic Maltese capital of Mdina played the part of Kings Landing in the first series of <em>Game of Thrones</em>. The medieval walled city is in the centre of the island and has a population of just 300 – many of whom weren’t happy about the series. Maltese officials complained about the damage done and filming moved to Croatia for the following series.</p> <p><strong>Hobbiton, <em>The Lord of the Rings</em></strong></p> <p>The three Lord of the Rings movies were such a smash hit that the village of Hobbiton was completely rebuilt in the original film location near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand. You can step inside the tiny hobbit holes, visit the Green Dragon Inn and (of course) buy a souvenir at the gift shop.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

International Travel

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Most amazing animal experiences to have when travelling

<p>These are some unbelievable opportunities around the world to get up close (really close) to your favourite wild animals.</p> <p><strong>Monkey business / Viewing</strong></p> <p>The orangutan is Asia’s only great ape and Borneo is one of only two places in the world that they are found. Decades of deforestation have left the Bornean orangutan seriously endangered. At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre 60 to 80 of the great apes live on a 43 square kilometer reserve while 25 orphaned babies are rehabilitated in the nursery. Though they look perfect for cuddling, guests can’t get too close – but you can visit during the two feeding times each day and walk among the boardwalks through the forest while the orangutans swoop from the trees to eat the fruit and sugar cane left on feeding platforms around 20 metres away from you</p> <p><strong>Baby elephant walk / Hands on</strong></p> <p>The Asian elephant is an endangered species and Thailand is home to more Asian elephants than anywhere in the world. For a hands-on experience with these gentle giants, Patara Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai allows you to participate in their day to day caring. There are six residents elephants that are “adopted” by guests for the day and you are trained to approach the elephant, know its temperament, feed and check its health, bathe and brush it in the river, learn how to ride on its neck and communicate through spoken commands.</p> <p><strong>King of the jungle / Interaction</strong></p> <p>You’re generally not encouraged to get up close to really dangerous animals, but at Lion Encounter in Zambia you can walk alongside some of the eight resident lion cubs – with no fence in between. The cubs range from three to 18 months old and will happily walk through the bush with you, pounce and play with each other and, if you’re lucky, even nuzzle in for a pat. Walks are escorted by guides, scouts and lion handlers so you are never in danger. The program is part of a larger breeding program and once lions graduate from this stage they will be removed from human interaction, integrated with a pack and eventually released into the wild.</p> <p><strong>A whale of a time / Interaction</strong></p> <p>The might be called dwarf minke whales but at eight metres long and weighing several tonnes, they are still pretty substantial. Dwarf minkes pass through the Great Barrier Reef each winter and this is the only place in the world that you can snorkel and dive with them. The whales are very inquisitive and an experience will generally involve interacting with two to three whales for around 90 minutes. Very little is known about these huge mammals so guests are often asked to participate in ongoing research programs and record their observations or submit photos to the minke whale database.</p> <p><strong>One for the bucket list / Viewing</strong></p> <p>With around half of Canada’s grizzly population, British Columbia is the best place to see the bears in the wild. A number of lodges have been established inside the Great Bear Rainforest where guests can participate in guided viewing sessions from boats, getting up very close to the action. Bears can be seen fishing for salmon in rivers, feeding on berries or succulents, and (very rarely) napping in the sun. Tours run from May to October, but visit from August onwards for the best chance to see cubs. At around $1,070 per person per night these tours aren’t cheap, but they are certainly unforgettable.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Where to find free wifi when you’re travelling

<p>Data usage overseas can be eye-wateringly expensive so if you want to stay connected with your smartphone, tablet or laptop you’ll need to hunt down a wifi hotspot. And it’s even better when it’s free. These are the most likely places where you’ll be able to log on for no charge.</p> <p><strong>The food chain</strong></p> <p>Most travellers do their best to steer clear of chains like Starbucks and McDonalds while travelling (and with good reason), but they almost always offer free wifi with a purchase. Grab a cup of coffee or some chicken nuggets and settle in. In smaller cafes or restaurants, look out for a sign in the window offering free wifi – many establishments in popular tourist areas will offer it in the hope of attracting more customers.</p> <p><strong>In the bedroom</strong></p> <p>Plenty of hotels are stubbornly sticking to their guns and charging exorbitant fees for wifi and, strangely enough, it tends to be the more expensive hotels that will hit your hip pocket. Check out the Hotel Chatter wifi Report for a list of the wifi winners, and choose brands like Ibis, Mercure, Holiday Inn, Radisson blu or Best Western for free coverage. You also want to make sure that it extends to your room and is not just available in the foyer or restaurant.</p> <p><strong>Public property</strong></p> <p>Libraries, shopping centres, museums and even public parks often have their own free wifi hotspots and generally just require you to accept their terms or register your email address. Some cities have gone the whole way and established municipal networks that cover the whole city. So if you’re going to Seoul, Boston, Osaka, Perth or Barcelona you’ll find hundreds of hotspots blanketing the city.</p> <p><strong>Appy trails</strong></p> <p>Download the wifi Finder app before you travel and you’ll never be stuck for a connection. It has a database of over 650,000 hotspots worldwide that you can download and then access without an internet connection. Your phone’s GPS will point you in the right direction.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Tips

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8 ways to stretch your cruise budget

<p>When it comes to cruising there are plenty of ways you can make you budget stretch further without have to give up on the quality of holiday you want to have.</p> <p><strong>Be flexible</strong></p> <p>You can snag a great deal if you’re flexible with dates and open to new destinations. Fares can fluctuate on a daily basis so, if you aren’t locked in to a certain schedule, you could grab a great last minute bargain. Plus, you might discover an amazing new destination you’d never thought of.</p> <p><strong>Shop the sales</strong></p> <p>The cruise industry has sales on all year round and plenty of cruise lines, travel agents, forums and cruise websites will have deals pages or newsletters you can sign up to. If you stay abreast of all the special offers that are coming out, you can be sure to grab the best one.</p> <p><strong>Buy a package</strong></p> <p>Dining at the main restaurants will be included in your fare, but each ship will have a few specialty restaurants that come at an extra charge. If you want to try them all, buy a package that will come at a significant discount. Same goes for alcohol. If you think you’re likely to drink a few cocktails in the afternoon and wine with dinner, buy a daily drinks package to lower the cost.</p> <p><strong>Save on port days</strong></p> <p>Onboard spas are expensive, often even more expensive than you would find on shore. But most ships will have specials on offer during port days when most people are off the ship. If you don’t mind missing the destination you can get a great deal. The onboard shops will often have special sales or events on port days too. Check your daily cruise calendar.</p> <p><strong>Watch your tips</strong></p> <p>Almost all lines will add a daily gratuity to your account, usually around $12 to 15 per person per day. You’ll also find an extra 15 to 18 per cent gratuity added to bar bills or spa treatments. That means you don’t have to tip any extra – even though they leave a space for it on the bill. You don’t want to end up tipping 30 per cent on a round of beers.</p> <p><strong>Disconnect at sea</strong></p> <p>Internet and phone calls are the two most expensive things on a cruise – which makes sense when you realise you’re in the middle of the ocean. Mobile roaming charges are steep and cruise ship wifi extortionate, so the best thing to do is unplug your devices. You can always find a free wifi hotspot or payphone when you’re on shore.</p> <p><strong>Guide yourself</strong></p> <p>Shore excursions are a great way to experience a port, but they can also be really expensive. And many of them aren’t worth the money, like beach days or city bus tours. At most places you can get a taxi to take you to the beach for a fraction of the price or find a local bus that will take you on the same route. Do a little internet research before you go and reap the rewards.</p> <p><strong>Use an agent</strong></p> <p>A lot of money saving tactics come from a little DIY, but using a specialist cruise travel agent can actually save you money in the long run. They will help you find the right ship, the right cruise and the right cabin, plus they will know how to take advantage of the added value extras that cruise lines always have on offer.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Cruising

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6 ways to save money on your next cruise

<p>Cruising can be great value but don’t be fooled by the idea of “all-inclusive” – there’s still plenty of ways to spend money once you’re onboard. Here are a few tips to cut down your costs.</p> <p><strong>Drink up</strong></p> <p>Consider pre-purchasing a drinks package before you board. These don’t just cover alcoholic drinks – you can get packages for water, soft drinks or coffees. Remember that cruise lines charge restaurant prices for drinks and a gratuity charge of 10 to 15 per cent is generally added on top of each purchase, so your tab can quickly add up. Do the maths and work out how much you would need to drink each day to make the package worthwhile.</p> <p><strong>It’s a shore thing</strong></p> <p>Most onboard experiences, like the spa or a specialty restaurant, will offer deals on port days when they expect most passengers to be off the ship. If you don’t mind missing out on the destination it can be a great day to treat yourself and save as much as 50 per cent.</p> <p><strong>Disconnect</strong></p> <p>Wifi on cruise ships is notoriously expensive and you could be paying up to 75c per minute. Avoid using the onboard service and wait til you’re onshore – you will always be able to find a local wifi hotspot providing free or reasonably priced access. Or you can switch off altogether and embrace the lost art of travelling without technology.</p> <p><strong>Choose your own adventure</strong></p> <p>All cruise lines offer a huge range of activities at each port, but the prices can be exorbitant. Instead of paying $50 per person for a basic bus tour of the city, see if there is a local bus you can take. Do you need to take a “tour” to the beach, or can you just take a taxi? Check out local operators offering the same experience for a better price. Most will be familiar with cruise passengers and can offer a package that will suit your budget and timeframe. The only danger here is that if you are on a privately organised excursion and you’re late getting back, the ship won’t wait for you – so keep a close eye on your watch.</p> <p><strong>Tipping the scales</strong></p> <p>Remember that a daily per person gratuity charge is added to your room account, so don’t feel the need to tip on any extras you pay for (like bar bills or spa treatments). If you thought the service was fantastic and deserves a little extra then go ahead, but don’t feel obliged just because there’s a line for it on the bill.</p> <p><strong>Cheque please!</strong></p> <p>Ships are cash-free environments, so you will have an account and before you disembark you will need to pay any additional costs that you have incurred. Check the bill carefully – mistakes can be made and you could end up paying for things you didn’t have or that were included in a package. Keep a careful record of what you buy and match it to your bill before handing over your credit card.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Cruising

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The six stages of cruise ship eating

<p>Ah the cruise ship buffet. Faced with all that food, available all the time, many people tend to go a little… crazy. So how can you identify the early signs of waterborne gluttony and then practice some mindful restraint? Read on.</p> <p><strong>Easy does it</strong></p> <p>Do you launch yourself at the first buffet station you see, piling the plate high with whatever is within arm’s reach? Step back and take a deep breath. There’s plenty of food to go around, so you can do a lap around the buffet to decide what you feel like before you dive in.</p> <p><strong>Leave room for seconds</strong></p> <p>Some cruisers look like they are trying to balance one of everything on the buffet onto a single plate. It’s impressive both for sheer volume and for the (frankly unappetising) variety of foods all jostled together. Remember – you can make as many trips to the buffet as you’d like, so there’s no need to grab everything in one go. Eating your meal in a series of courses will give you a better idea of when you’re full and also cut down on wastage.</p> <p><strong>Take a seat</strong></p> <p>It’s not uncommon to see people walking around the ship clutching plates piled high with buffet goodies. Ask yourself – do you really need to be eating a bunch of cheeseburgers as you walk up to the pool deck? Probably not. There’s nothing wrong with grabbing an ice cream or biscuit on the go, but it’s a better idea to sit down in the dining room to eat your meals. It prevents you from mindlessly gorging on the go and it’s also a lot neater for the crew.</p> <p><strong>Plan your day</strong></p> <p>Many days onboard (especially sea days) seem to revolve entirely around eating. Get involved in some of the other activities to avoid spending the day snacking. You might even burn off a few of those extra calories you’ve been putting away.</p> <p><strong>Check out the other options</strong></p> <p>The buffet is easily the most famous onboard option, but most large ships will have up to a dozen other restaurants onboard. Venture away from the shiny lights and endless rows of desserts and try some of the other dining venues. The main dining room will serve a multi course a la carte menu that changes every night, and it’s included in your fare. For just a few dollars extra you can dine in a specialty restaurant serving Italian, Japanese, seafood or prime steak.</p> <p><strong>Get your hands dirty</strong></p> <p>Many ships now give you the option to work for your meal. Passengers can participate in a cooking class led by one of the chefs, before sitting down to enjoy a meal they’ve prepared themselves. On shore days, they can visit local markets or producers with an onboard chef to learn about the provenance of their food. There’s a lot more to the cruise dining experience than just the eating.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

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Elizabeth Strout’s Lucy By the Sea: a claustrophobic portrait of a terrible pandemic year

<p>In her latest novel, Lucy by the Sea, Elizabeth Strout captures the bewilderment of us all at the onset of the pandemic. Her character Lucy Barton admits not only did she not see it coming, but even when she did notice the virus’s existence, she did not really believe it would ever reach New York.</p> <p>It is March, 2020, and Lucy, a writer, had been scheduled to travel to Italy and Germany, a book tour which she had, with fortuitous prescience, cancelled back in December. Lucy is a woman who is given to sudden flashes of insight – much like her mother, who was known for having “visions” – which is why, looking back at those early days of the pandemic, not having sensed its threat surprises her.</p> <p>Even when her ex-husband William’s oldest friend is put on a ventilator and subsequently dies, it is still difficult for her to accept that this is happening to people she knows. With hindsight, Lucy remarks: “It’s odd how the mind does not take in anything until it can.”</p> <p>William has been quicker to spot the looming danger. He pleads with their two daughters Becka and Chrissy to leave New York city with their husbands, before hastily scooping up Lucy from her apartment and carrying her away to the town of Crosby on the coast of Maine.</p> <p>At this point in the book, devotees of Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Olive Kitteridge, will experience a shiver of recognition and anticipation, for the fictional coastal town of Crosby is “Olive territory”. With this one deft move, Strout draws together the separate threads of much of the fiction she has written since Olive Kitteridge was published in 2008.</p> <p>Before establishing herself as a successful writer in New York, Lucy Barton’s territory was the small Midwest town of Amgash, Illinois. The deprivation of her Amgash childhood has haunted Lucy through Strout’s earlier novels, My Name is Lucy Barton, and Oh William! (the latter now <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-01/booker-prize-shortlist-best-books-2022/101482730" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize</a>) and in two of the short stories in Anything is Possible. Now it continues to tug at her in the house beside the sea in Maine.</p> <p>In My Name is Lucy Barton, Lucy is told by a writer she admires:</p> <blockquote> <p>You will have only one story … You’ll write your one story many ways don’t ever worry about story. You will have only one.</p> </blockquote> <p>The story Lucy has to tell, over and over, and in many different ways, is the story of her childhood, its poverty and isolation, and her complex relationship with a mother who was unable to tell her own child that she loved her.</p> <p>Even as an adult, Lucy does not know her mother’s story. In Lucy by the Sea she has invented for herself a “nice mother” she can talk to in private as distinct from the real mother with whom the silences that fell between them were necessarily more poignant than words.</p> <h2>Emotional lockdown</h2> <p>Locked down in a house on a cliff with a view of the waves, Lucy and William endeavour to fill their days. Lucy struggles to read, and as for writing, she believes she will never write another word. This sense of being frozen and unable to concentrate was all too common at that uncertain and anxiety-inducing point in the pandemic, especially among writers. But for Lucy there is the realisation that this is a state she recognises, having spent her childhood in a kind of emotional lockdown.</p> <p>In Maine, unable to retreat into the activities that usually soothe her, Lucy is also grieving for her husband David, a cellist with the New York Philharmonic, who has died only a year earlier. William, too, is unexpectedly single since his wife, Estelle, walked out and took their daughter Bridget, along with a good bit of their furniture.</p> <p>With no escape from the monotony of their self-isolation, Lucy, who in ordinary circumstances is endearingly quick to declare her love – especially for people – finds herself continually finding things to hate: she hates being in other people’s houses, hates the smell; she hates being cold, but hates sitting inside a house with a coat on; she hates the jigsaw puzzle of Van Gogh William insists they try; she hates snow, and she hates William after dinner when she suspects he is not really listening to her. With extraordinary patience, William tells Lucy to stop hating everything.</p> <p>To make matters worse, far from being welcome in Maine, some locals are so antagonistic towards the couple that a message urging them to go back to New York is anonymously attached to their car. Then, on a visit to a grocery store, a woman shouts at Lucy: “You goddamn New Yorkers! Get the hell out of our state!”</p> <p>When Lucy reproaches William for not being nice to her after the woman yelled, William, becoming uncharacteristically emotional, answers that hers is the life he has wanted to save.</p> <blockquote> <p>‘My own life I care very little about these days. But Lucy, if you should die from this, it would –’ He shook his head with weariness. ‘I only wanted to save your life, and what if some woman yelled at you.’</p> </blockquote> <p>When their daughters experience difficulties – one still in New York, the other in Connecticut – Lucy and William must support them as best they can from Maine. Many readers will recognise the torment of handling family crises at arm’s length, and of not being able to hug loved ones even when distance is finally overcome.</p> <h2>Not Olive</h2> <p>Elizabeth Strout has captured perfectly the fear, frustration, and boredom experienced by so many of us during the first year of Covid. Even her fragmentary writing style adds authenticity to a time when few of us could concentrate, when we flicked from news broadcast to news broadcast, to tallies of the latest case numbers, and deaths, while feeling that the very air we breathed carried risk.</p> <p>Among Strout fans Lucy Barton is a much-loved character, but it is Olive Kitteridge who has most often made headlines, with the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3012698/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">television mini-series</a> based on the book, starring Frances McDormand, winning multiple awards. The polarising nature of Olive’s character stirs a strong response in readers, whereas the more reticent Lucy speaks quietly, like someone whispering in the reader’s ear.</p> <p>Strout’s extraordinary achievement as a writer has been to illuminate so many flawed, ordinary, yet far from unremarkable lives, through a series of interconnected stories and novels. Though each book is complete, they work satisfyingly together as a cohesive whole, so that reading them we come to know not just a handful of characters but entire communities in a few small towns on the coast of Maine, and in New York and Illinois.</p> <p>Olive Kitteridge and its sequel are elegantly wrought, with their third-person (and at times omniscient) point of view allowing for more nuanced storytelling. Lucy Barton’s intimate, first-person voice in the reader’s ear, with its tendency to speak in run-on sentences that often end with ‘"… is what I mean"’ or “‘… is what I’m saying"’, can become tiresome.</p> <p>In the end, one feels as if one has spent a year in lockdown inside the head of a small, loving, anxious, slightly neurotic person named Lucy Barton.</p> <p>Lucy By the Sea is a pitch-perfect portrait of a terrible year, and oh, how sweet it is to get out and about, to breathe fresh air, and to see the world from other, less claustrophobic angles, both for Lucy Barton and the reader.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/elizabeth-strouts-lucy-by-the-sea-a-claustrophobic-portrait-of-a-terrible-pandemic-year-191073" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Images: Yahoo/Penguin</em></p>

Books

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Beyond Bali: Indonesia’s other islands

<p>Bali is one of the world's most popular overseas holiday destinations. But did you know that Indonesia has more than 17,500 other islands with just as much to offer? Go off the beaten track and explore some the country’s other gems.</p> <p><strong>Sumba</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/sumba-indonesia.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /><br /></strong></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p>This rugged island in the east of Indonesia looks very different to the more touristy volcanic islands in the north. During the dry season the island can go up to seven months without a drop of rain, turning the lush jungle landscape into a parched and arid desert that more resembles Africa than southeast Asia. But once the rains come, the land springs back to life, a sparkling palette of vibrant greens, thundering waterfalls and muddy rice paddies ready for the next crop. The ancient breed of Sumba pony is a part of every day life and can be seen all over the island, used to work farms, as transport and in traditional ceremonies. Sumba is famous for its surfing, most notably for a legendary break simply called The Left that’s considered one of the best in the world. There’s only one resort on the island, the ultra luxe Nihiwatu, and guests stay in Swiss Family Robinson-style fantasy villas with private swimming pools, butler service and incredible views.</p> <p><strong>Gili Islands</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/gili-islands.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /><br /></strong></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p>The Gilis, as they are known, are made up of three small islands sitting just off the coast of Lombok, to the east of Bali. They have long been a backpacker haven, but small-scale development is opening them up to a wider audience. There’s a great mix of buzzing bars, quiet beaches and vibrant local culture. It’s one of the best places in Southeast Asia for diving with around 25 dive sites around the islands. The water is crystal clear and a consistent 28 degrees, and once under the surface you’ll see reef sharks, rays, parrot fish, eels, octopus, the occasional whale shark and plenty of turtles – Gili is known as the turtle capital of the world.</p> <p><strong>Java</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/java.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /><br /></strong></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p>Java is the geographical and economic centre of Indonesia, and home to the capital Jakarta as well as a number of other major cities. But before you dismiss it as another busy, smoggy Asian capital, there’s much more to Java. A visit to the smaller villages of the island will give you the chance to experience Indonesian life as it is lived every day and, while Java’s not known for its beaches, there are some nice strips of sand that are blissfully crowd-free. The island’s most famous landmark is the vast Borobudur complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the ninth century that’s easily one of the most stunning temples in Southeast Asia. Active travellers can climb the moon-like peaks of Mount Bromo to see volcanic craters that still bubble with smoke.</p> <p><strong>Flores Komodo</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/komodo-flores-island.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /><br /></strong></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p>These pristine islands form part of the Nusa Tengarra chain of islands that make up the southern arc of the Indonesian archipelago. The name is a giveaway for the islands’ most famous resident – the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Reaching up to three metres in length and an impressive 130 (or so) kilograms, these are pretty fearsome beasts and are known to eat wild pigs, deer and even smaller dragons. They can move at around 20 kilometres an hour, so it’s best to keep your distance. Flores is also home to a row of semi-active volcanoes that make for superb hiking and both islands are ringed with sparkling water and unspoilt beaches.</p>

International Travel

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First look at Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball

<p><em>Image: Getty </em></p> <p>Fans have got their first look at Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball in upcoming biopic<span> </span><em>Being the Ricardos<span> </span></em>with the teaser trailer dropping overnight.</p> <p>The Aaron Sorkin film follows Hollywood couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who is played by Javier Bardem, during a production week on the set of their hit sitcom<span> </span><em>I Love Lucy.</em></p> <p>Throughout a Monday table read all the way through an audience shot on Friday, both Ball and Arnaz face challenges that could end both of their careers and their marriage.</p> <p>In the trailer, quick glimpses of the couple’s whirlwind life are shown accompanied by Kidman’s voiceover, with the first clear look at Kidman coming via the re-creation of Ball’s iconic grape stomping scene.</p> <p>Production on the movie was kept tightly under wraps with a closed set throughout, as Kidman showed on social media during filming.</p> <p>In Kidman’s recent Variety Actors on Actors conversation with Chris Rock, she stated that the biopic will not be a remake of<span> </span><em>I Love Lucy</em>, but will instead tackle serious themes.</p> <p>“The strange thing about Lucille Ball is that everyone thinks we’re remaking the ‘I Love Lucy’ show, it’s so not that,” Kidman said.</p> <p>“It’s about Lucy and Desi and their relationship and their marriage. It’s very deep actually.”</p> <p><em>Being the Ricardos</em><span> </span>also navigates the racial barriers that the couple had to face, with Desi being discriminated against for being Cuban, and Lucille fighting for him to remain on the show.</p> <p>Sorkin has written the screenplay and helms the film for Amazon Studios and Escape Artists. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists are producers. Escape Artists' Jenna Block and David Bloomfield serve as executive producers, along with Stuart Besser, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lauren Lohman.</p> <p>The film will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on December 21. Check out trailer below: </p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/We-MGoNaFcQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Movies

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Beloved 98-year-old grandma turned Facebook chef dies of coronavirus

<p>Lucy Pollock is not the only person who turned to cooking and baking during the coronavirus lockdown.</p> <p>However, she is one that stuck out after her videos, originally meant for friends and family, online began to gain traction and stick in the hearts of everyone watching her.</p> <p>Over time, the beloved 98-year-old’s cooking show<span> </span><em>Baking With Lucy</em><span> </span>amassed over 40,000 followers.</p> <p>Sadly though, the woman did not make it long enough to share any of her delicious Christmas recipes, passing away on Sunday after being diagnosed with coronavirus and suffering from a fatal lung infection.</p> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/inhercozykitchen/posts/232858605036662" data-show-text="true" data-width=""> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <p>As Lucy would say, " Happy Tuesday!!" Here is a beautiful photo of my mom and me at an art show Latrobe Art Center when...</p> Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inhercozykitchen/">Baking With Lucy</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inhercozykitchen/posts/232858605036662">Tuesday, November 24, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> <p>The Pennsylvania woman’s daughter Mary Ellen Raneri was the one who announced the sad news in a video shared to Pollock’s popular baking video page.</p> <p>"The beautiful, lovely Lucy, talented woman and amazing mother, passed away last night at 3 in the morning," she explains in the video.</p> <p>"It was very unexpected. It was due to a lung infection and also, she tested positive for COVID, so it's quite an eye-opener for us and for everybody.</p> <p>"It's kind of ironic that what she struggled so hard to help people with eventually ended up hurting her."</p> <p>Raneri was able to visit her mother prior to her death and sang<span> </span><em>You Are My Sunshine</em><span> </span>in their final moment together.</p> <p>She closed her eyes, she looked really happy, and she was at peace," she said in the video.</p> <p>Pollock brought joy to thousands in her humble kitchen, cooking up almost a century's worth of family recipes, baking dishes that had been passed down through generations, donated by friends, and taken from frayed, handwritten notes.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838935/lucy-pollock.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4ef471798165452e895bde030b4f8207" /></p> <p>In mid-March, Raneri shared a photo on Facebook of her mother making cinnamon scrolls.</p> <p>The pair were then encouraged to make "live videos" of themselves cooking up more dishes.</p> <p>Raneri would often stand nearby and read out recipes while her mother baked due to her poor eyesight.</p> <p>Pollock would bake while her husband Phil filmed her and the humble, family-friendly videos took off quickly – with Pollock earning worldwide recognition, an upcoming cookbook and a national television appearance on NBC's Today show,</p> <p>"I can't believe that I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning doing this," Raneri said in the sad video.</p> <p>"Because at this point we'd all be scurrying around, yelling at each other 'Who's going to get the flour?' and 'Where are we going to put it?' But life has twists and turns.</p> <p>"I feel like my heart is breaking right now. But I wanted to tell everybody that I think right now she's in a really good place, and I'm going to go with that."</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838934/lucy-pollock-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/10634dde307746af8dd66b63045051a8" /></p> <p>Pollock's cookbook will go ahead as planned.</p> <p>"I don't think I knew how much I loved my mum until we started to do this project together," Raneri said of the cookbook.</p> <p>"I loved her, but I don't think I knew how much I admired her. She was an amazing person."</p> <p>Pollock will be buried in a private service on Friday.</p> <p>The service will be live streamed at 11 a.m. on the Baking with Lucy Facebook page.</p>

Food & Wine

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Spectacular places in Australia you can only reach on foot

<p>Put your hiking boots on. These trails take you to some of the most stunning destinations in Australia – and the only way to get there is on your own two feet.</p> <p><strong>Zoe Falls, Queensland</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="335" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9794/zoe-falls_500x335.jpg" alt="Zoe -falls" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>Just 40 hikers a day are permitted on the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, so you’re unlikely to spot anyone else. The whole island is a national park, meaning there are no resorts or cars, but you can organise a boat transfer to take you to the start of the 32-kilometre trek. Around the halfway point the stunning Zoe Falls thunders down a cliff and into a deliciously cool rock pool, perfect for a refreshing dip.</p> <p><strong>Kings Canyon, Northern Territory</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="432" height="394" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9795/kings-canyon-waterfall-3554.jpg" alt="Kings -canyon -waterfall -3554" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>With Uluru as your neighbour, it can be hard to get your own moment in the sun but Kings Canyon is not to be missed. The walk is short – just six kilometres – and fairly easy, though there is a tough 500-step climb to the plateau. The track follows the horseshoe-shaped canyon rim, passing vast cliff walls, natural rock sculptures and permanent waterholes.</p> <p><strong>Mt Kosciuszko, New South Wales</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="325" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9796/seamans-hut_500x325.jpg" alt="Seamans -hut" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>Standing at 2,228 metres, Mt Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest peak. It’s covered in snow in winter, but during summer you can walk the 14-kilometre round trip trail from the top of the Thredbo chairlift. The walk is fairly easy (and often fairly crowded) but the scenery is rewarding enough, bursting with wildflowers, rocky granite outcrops and Lake Cootapatamba, carved by glaciers. Fun fact: until 1977 you could drive to the top of the mountain.</p> <p><strong>Bay of Fires, Tasmania</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="340" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9797/bay-of-fires_500x340.jpg" alt="Bay -of -Fires" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>Ok, technically you can get a boat here, but then you’d lose that sense of achievement that you can only get with a few hours (or days) of hard work. The walk is split into four days of around 10 kilometres each, passing isolated coves and pristine beaches, before you reach the incredibly beautiful Bay of Fires. This is one walk you can do in style, with plush glamping sites and lodges dotted along the way.</p> <p><strong>Piccaninny Gorge, Western Australia</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="318" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9798/bungles-224051-5.jpg" alt="Bungles -224051-5" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>Stark, desolate and awe-inspiring, a 15-kilometre trail runs through the centre of Piccaninny Gorge, close to the famed Bungle Bungles. To get the most out of the experience, set up camp in the gorge and spend a couple of days exploring the smaller, interconnecting gorges, known as the Fingers. You can even belt out a tune in Cathedral Gorge to make the most of the incredible acoustics.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2015/09/great-aussie-train-trips/">3 great Aussie train trips</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2015/08/australias-best-mountains-to-climb/">6 of the best Australian mountains to climb</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2015/08/australia-travel-2015/">Australian travel to-do list: 2015</a></strong></span></em></p>

International Travel

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A rare glimpse into Lucille Ball’s home

<p>While we grew up admiring The Ricardos' apartments on “I Love Lucy”, we always wondered what Lucille Ball's real-life home might have looked like. Fortunately, these vintage photos, taken in the 1950s to the early 60s, let us peek behind the scenes. </p> <p><img width="536" height="670" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1600/1436546151-syn-ghk-1436471671-lucy-desi-home-exterior.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="535" height="558" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1335/1436546157-syn-ghk-1436470304-lucy-painting-archive-photos.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="532" height="715" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1718/1436546171-syn-ghk-1436470439-lucy-gardening-popperfoto.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="529" height="541" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1310/1436546175-syn-ghk-1436470542-lucy-desi-reading-archive-photos.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="527" height="531" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1291/1436546193-syn-ghk-1436470682-lucy-desi-pool-archive-photo.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="526" height="547" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1330/1436546207-syn-ghk-1436470911-lucy-desi-archive-photo.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="518" height="550" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1361/1436546219-syn-ghk-1436470822-lucy-desi-piano-archive-photo.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="518" height="530" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1310/1436546233-syn-ghk-1436471039-lucy-bedroom-archive-photos.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><img width="518" height="517" src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/15/28/1280x1277/1436546246-syn-ghk-1436470179-lucy-desi-jr-hulton-archive.jpg" class="swap-image embedded-image--image zoomable lazy-loaded" style="display: block;"/></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/woman-breaks-abseiling-record/">101-year-old woman breaks abseiling record</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/heart-disease-and-diabetes-danger/">Heart disease plus diabetes can knock more than 10 years off your life</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/peanut-turtle-litter/">Turtle lives 20 years after being cut free from a six-pack ring</a></strong></em></span></p>

News

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5 good reasons to join a hotel loyalty program

<p>There are lots of good reasons to get with the program.</p> <p><strong>1. Earn loyalty points</strong></p> <p>Just like airline frequent flyer points, hotel loyalty programs give you points every time you make a booking. These add up and can be used to book hotel nights at any property in the group or you can spend them on extras within the hotel, like the restaurant or spa. You’ll actually find that hotel loyalty points are much easier to accrue and redeem than airline points, so you can take advantage of them straight away.</p> <p><strong>2. Get extra discounts</strong></p> <p>Everyone loves saving money! Members will be offered exclusive discounts or special rates that aren’t available to the general public. These could be sent out in a members-only email or there might be a special members’ area you can access on their website when booking direct. Never pay full price again.</p> <p><strong>3. Enjoy exclusive freebies</strong></p> <p>Even if you are just paying the standard room rate, that loyalty card still has value. Most hotels will offer members things like free Wi-Fi access, welcome drinks, breakfast, lounge access and more. These are the little extras that can quickly add up during a hotel stay, so it pays to be a member and get them at no extra charge.</p> <p><strong>4. Take advantage of the perks</strong></p> <p>Hotels want you to stay loyal to them, so they will sometimes offer members special perks when they stay with them. That could be room upgrades, a bottle of champagne in the room, free breakfast or even things like spa treatments if you are one of their top frequent sleepers.</p> <p><strong>5. Get the royal treatment</strong></p> <p>Every time you book, the fact that you are a member of the loyalty program will be noted in the system. Hotels want to keep their members happy (and keep them coming back), so they will go out of their way to make sure you have a pleasant stay.</p> <p>Are you part of a hotel loyalty program? Do you think it’s worth it? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Travel Tips

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Listen to the Beatles’ first take of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”

<p>When it was first released in 1967, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” quickly became one of the Beatles’ most popular songs – as well as one of the most controversial. And while the final cut is a finely-crafted psychedelic masterpiece, it took quite a few takes to get there, it seems.</p> <p>For the first time in 50 years, we can finally listen to the first ever take of the song, and you’ll notice it’s quite different from the finished product, which took four days to finalise.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2RoA0QTZ-bM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Rarely have we been given such a close look at the band’s creative process, especially being able to listen to them chatting and workshopping ideas.</p> <p>John Lennon, who co-wrote the song with Paul McCartney, would later describe the recording session for the track as “abysmal”. “The track is just terrible,” he complained <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HL7X-YyrINUC&amp;pg=PA73&amp;lpg=PA73&amp;dq=%22I+heard+Lucy+In+The+Sky+With+Diamonds+last+night.+It%27s+abysmal,+you+know%3F+The+track+is+just+terrible.%22&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=GCZRW1-BDs&amp;sig=vGUcmaM_1NQAE_cnrX1MDTXthCU&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage&amp;q=%22I%20heard%20Lucy%20In%20The%20Sky%20With%20Diamonds%20last%20night.%20It's%20abysmal%2C%20you%20know%3F%20The%20track%20is%20just%20terrible.%22&amp;f=false" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">in a 1980 interview</span></strong></a>. “I mean, it is a great track, a great song, but it isn’t a great track because it wasn't made right.”</p> <p>Give the first take a listen and tell us in the comments below, what’s your all-time favourite Beatles song? </p>

Music

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Destination focus: Bundaberg

<p>History, turtles, the Great Barrier Reef and, of course, rum – there’s plenty to love about Bundaberg.</p> <p><strong>See</strong></p> <p>The Mon Repos Regional Park, just east of Bundaberg, is one of the most important turtle hatching sites in the country. Between November and March you can join a nightly tour to look for green, flatback and endangered loggerhead turtles nesting and hatching on a small beach. In January you can be lucky and see the tiny baby turtles making their way from the nest to the ocean.</p> <p>In the town of Bundaberg itself, the Hinkler Hall of Aviation in the Botanic Gardens brings the achievements of Australian pioneer solo aviator Bert Hinkler to life. Then visit the heritage listed Fairymead House &amp; Sugar History Museum to learn about the sugar industry that the town is built on.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36714/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (289)"/></p> <p><strong>Explore</strong></p> <p>Bundaberg is the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot islands are just a short hop away. Head out on a luxurious catamaran for a day of scenic cruising, swimming, snorkelling and diving. Or you can take a short scenic flight to the island and spend the full day relaxing in paradise. These islands are in one of the most pristine parts of the reef and you won’t find any of the crowds that you will see further north.</p> <p><strong>Drink</strong></p> <p>You can’t go to Bundaberg without sampling the local drop – Bundaberg Rum. It’s been brewed here since 1888, making use of the sugar cane crops grown in the region. You can visit the Bundaberg rum distillery for a behind the scenes tour to see how it is produced and aged, before stopping in at the tasting bar to sample the full range of top shelf spirits. You can also blend your own rum with the help of the on-site experts, using different types of rum to create one that’s perfect for you.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36715/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (290)"/></p> <p><strong>Stay</strong></p> <p>You won't find much luxury accommodation around Bundaberg, but there are plenty of stylish and comfortable options. Self contained apartments, motels, motor inns and camping grounds cover all budgets, or there are a few backpacker hostels if you like to mix with younger travellers. In the coastal town of Bargara, just east of the city, there are a number of stylish resorts with facilities like swimming pools, tennis courts and bikes for hire.</p> <p>Have you ever been to Bundaberg? </p>

International Travel

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See Africa's pink flamingos while you still can

<p>They are one of the world’s most spectacular birds. Tall, elegant and candy floss pink, flamingoes are a sight to behold – especially when they are flocked in their thousands across the shallow waters of an African lake. But these quirky creatures could be living on borrowed time as changes in the environment threaten their very specialised breeding sites.</p> <p>Two thirds of the total population of flamingoes lives in southern and eastern Africa, particularly around the lakes of Kenya’s Rift Valley. These lakes represent a remarkable ecosystem that is toxic to almost all other wildlife. They are super alkaline and host enormous blooms of blue green algea, which the birds eat by filtering water through their beak. The waters can also be hypersaline, with a salt content that would be poisonous to other animals. The water in Lake Natron, for example, would strip away human skin. Over millennia, flamingoes have developed special tough skin and scales to stand in the water, and they can drink water at near boiling temperatures from the edge of geysers.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35796/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (219)"/></p> <p>Because so few of these unique environments exist in the world, flamingoes are made especially vulnerable. Changes in water temperature, brought about by climate change, can quickly kill off the algae and leave flamingoes with nothing to eat, meaning huge numbers can literally starve to death. Pollution from mining and agriculture can upset the delicate balance of chemicals in the water, cause huge bacterial outbreaks and poison the birds with heavy metals. In desperation, flamingoes have been known to turn to other less-desirable food sources, which can weaken them considerably.</p> <p>In 2008, 30,000 birds died at Lake Bogoria in one week. The same number died at Lake Nakuru in 2006. More than 40,000 birds died within a short window at Lake Manyara in both 2004 and 1993. Scientists have been unable to fully understand what caused these mass deaths and so are unable to predict when another may occur. Efforts are being undertaken to protect the integrity of these lakes, though environmental changes and human intervention are hard to prevent.</p> <p>The sight of up to one million flamingoes blanketing the water in a riot of vibrant pinks is breath taking. If the entire population could be lost within the next century, there’s no time to waste.</p> <p>Have you ever been to Africa? Scroll through the gallery above to see more images of these incredible birds.</p>

International Travel