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No more brown leaves: sage advice from a gardening expert

<p>We’ve all been there before. We’re watering our seemingly healthy houseplant when suddenly there it is: a tinge of brown on the plant’s leaf. Yikes. But what do brown tips on leaves mean for your plant, and what can you do to make them go away? Read on to find out.</p> <p><strong>Lack of water or humidity</strong></p> <p>If your plant is sporting crispy, dark, or brown tips on its leaves, it may mean you need to water more often. Check the soil moisture and slowly reduce the number of days in between watering. Watch your plants for signs of improvement.</p> <p>Lack of humidity could also be the cause. Tropical plants prefer higher humidity levels than we have in our homes. When we turn on the heat in winter, there’s even less moisture in the air. Group plants together so that as one loses moisture through its leaves, the neighbours benefit. Or place plants on saucers or trays filled with pebbles and water. Set a pot on the pebbles above the water. As the water evaporates, it will increase the humidity around the plant, where it is needed.</p> <p><strong>Lack of nutrients</strong></p> <p>A lack of key nutrients may be behind the brown tips on leaves of your plant. Burned-looking leaf tips, or old leaves with dark green or reddish-purplish colouring, may indicate a phosphorus deficiency. With a potassium deficiency, you may see yellow or brown along older leaf tips and edges, yellowing between veins, curling leaves, or spotting.</p> <p>For potted plants, add a slow-release type of fertiliser to the soil mix before planting. Every time you water, a little fertiliser is released, providing a steady flow of nutrients. But depending on the growing conditions and number of plants in the container, a midseason boost may be needed. Stay on top of your fertiliser applications by making notes on a calendar.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/why-does-my-plant-have-brown-tips-on-the-leaves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Home & Garden

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“I love you! My King”: Christine Brown praises new boyfriend

<p dir="ltr">Christine Brown has taken to the internet to express just how much she loves her new boyfriend, David Woolley. </p> <p dir="ltr">Woolley shared on Instagram a snap of a mirror where the Sister Wives star, 50, had written, “I love you! My King.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"I love how thoughtful Christine is and all the little things she does for me ❤️#christinebrown #soulmate #myqueen #mylove," he captioned the image.</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvTG5pOqpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/p/CpvTG5pOqpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by David Woolley (@david__woolley)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">That same day Brown shared a sweet photo of the couple holding each other in a booth. </p> <p dir="ltr">Alongside the picture, Brown praised Woolley, captioning the post, "I can't express how amazing it's been to have David in my life," she wrote. "He's an incredible man and he treats me like his Queen.”</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CptKn9hvIsd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/p/CptKn9hvIsd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Christine Brown (@christine_brownsw)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr"> Brown went public with Woolley on Valentine’s Day 2023 and has shared several photos of the pair.</p> <p dir="ltr">I finally found the love of my life, David," she shared on Instagram. "The first time he held me close, it felt like my soul took its first breath."</p> <p dir="ltr">Brown, "He's wonderful and kind, incredible with my children and an adorable grandpa. I never dreamed I could find a love like this.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Brown’s relationship with Woolley is her first since her divorce from her husband of 25 years, Kody Brown. Christine said it had been “awkward” dating again more than a year after the split. </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b0444289-7fff-5055-3ec7-8ff94c90bef0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Brown has certainly gotten past the awkwardness as she proudly praises her boyfriend online. It’s safe to say the pair are seriously smitten.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Why does my plant have brown tips on the leaves?

<p><strong>A healthy philodendron plant with green leaves</strong></p> <p>We’ve all been there before. We’re watering our seemingly healthy houseplant when suddenly there it is: a tinge of brown on the plant’s leaf. Yikes. But what do brown tips on leaves mean for your plant, and what can you do to make them go away? Read on to find out.</p> <p><strong>Lack of water or humidity</strong></p> <p>If your plant is sporting crispy, dark, or brown tips on its leaves, it may mean you need to water more often. Check the soil moisture and slowly reduce the number of days in between watering. Watch your plants for signs of improvement.</p> <p>Lack of humidity could also be the cause. Tropical plants prefer higher humidity levels than we have in our homes. When we turn on the heat in winter, there’s even less moisture in the air. Group plants together so that as one loses moisture through its leaves, the neighbours benefit. Or place plants on saucers or trays filled with pebbles and water. Set a pot on the pebbles above the water. As the water evaporates, it will increase the humidity around the plant, where it is needed.</p> <p><strong>Lack of nutrients</strong></p> <p>A lack of key nutrients may be behind the brown tips on leaves of your plant. Burned-looking leaf tips, or old leaves with dark green or reddish-purplish colouring, may indicate a phosphorus deficiency. With a potassium deficiency, you may see yellow or brown along older leaf tips and edges, yellowing between veins, curling leaves, or spotting.</p> <p>For potted plants, add a slow-release type of fertiliser to the soil mix before planting. Every time you water, a little fertiliser is released, providing a steady flow of nutrients. But depending on the growing conditions and number of plants in the container, a midseason boost may be needed. Stay on top of your fertiliser applications by making notes on a calendar.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/why-does-my-plant-have-brown-tips-on-the-leaves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Home & Garden

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Tributes for beloved EastEnders actress

<p dir="ltr">The beloved <em>EastEnders</em> actress June Brown has passed away at the age of 95.</p> <p dir="ltr">June’s devastated family announced the heartbreaking news of her passing on April 3, saying she “died peacefully” at home. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night,’ the official <em>EastEnders</em> Twitter account wrote on Sunday. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would watch, listen and be totally captivated by her. She was an inspiration and I am truly blessed to have worked with and laughed with this unbelievably talented lady, icon, legend. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The irreplaceable June Brown.”</p> <p dir="ltr">June was best known for her role as Dot Cotton in <em>EastEnders</em>, a role she played for more than 30 years. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">1/3“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE sadly passed away last night. There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten... <a href="https://t.co/7OYtHJiIUb">pic.twitter.com/7OYtHJiIUb</a></p> <p>— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbceastenders/status/1510955197106958339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">RIP June Brown, 95.<br />A wonderfully talented actress whose long-time portrayal of irascible fag-puffing Dot Cotton in EastEnders was one of the all-time great performances in British Television.<br />June was such a funny, feisty, fabulous lady off screen too. Very sad news. <a href="https://t.co/qhg2qqUdcd">pic.twitter.com/qhg2qqUdcd</a></p> <p>— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1510967032006602758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I took this shot of June Brown in, what I understand to have been her final scene on ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/bbceastenders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bbceastenders</a>⁩. Love to all the cast and crew missing her. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/junebrown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#junebrown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eastenders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eastenders</a> <a href="https://t.co/vZ57FNR8ur">pic.twitter.com/vZ57FNR8ur</a></p> <p>— Christopher McGill (@McGillTweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/McGillTweet/status/1510998252933496836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">As funny as she was wise, as wise as she was kind. When I joined Eastenders, June was the first of the older cast to embrace me. I love you June. We all do. ❤️🕊 <a href="https://t.co/MKVi0iNfGu">pic.twitter.com/MKVi0iNfGu</a></p> <p>— michelle gayle (@michellegayle1) <a href="https://twitter.com/michellegayle1/status/1510958271926001668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A very sad day. I never had the pleasure of meeting/working with the mighty June Brown - but we adored watching her on the telly box. What a legacy June leaves behind. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastenders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eastenders</a> would not have been the same without her. Love &amp; strenght to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastenders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eastenders</a> &amp; June's loved ones. RIP💔 <a href="https://t.co/oGv0EvelF6">https://t.co/oGv0EvelF6</a></p> <p>— Balvinder Sopal (@BalvinderSopal) <a href="https://twitter.com/BalvinderSopal/status/1510964816256671745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

News

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Rolling Stones forced to retire classic song

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">British rock band The Rolling Stones have decided to retire one of their most popular songs due to its unsavoury lyrics. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 1971 hit </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown Sugar</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> had been cut from their current tour’s setlist, which had previously been the second-most-performed song in their catalogue. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After succumbing to social pressure, the track was pulled from their live shows, as the lyrics allude to the horrors of slavery in the US, which has caused a stir during the current climate of heightened cultural sensitivity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keith Richards, 77, was quizzed by the </span><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-10-07/rolling-stones-charlie-watts-no-filter-tour"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LA Times</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> about the changes to the setlist, saying, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You picked up on that, huh?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, “I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn’t they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But they’re trying to bury it.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first verse of the hit song depicts slaves being sold and beaten in Louisiana, with references to a “slaver” who whips “women just around midnight.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The famous chorus describes a non-consensual sexual encounter between a young female slave and the violent master, while also alluding to the use of heroin. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the next verse, the song describes the abuse suffered by slaves on a plantation. Lead singer Mick Jagger ends the tune by singing, “How come you taste so good … just like a black girl should.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’ve played </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown Sugar</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> every night since 1970,” Richards told the newspaper.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So sometimes you think, ‘We’ll take that one out for now and see how it goes.’ We might put it back in.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">setlist.fm</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the controversial track has been played live 1136 times, second only to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jumpin’ Jack Flash</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“At the moment I don’t want to get into conflicts with all of this s***,” Richards said of criticism of the song. “But I’m hoping that we’ll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mick Jagger has also previously shared his own criticisms of the song, as critics have called it “gross, sexist, and stunningly offensive.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I never would write that song now,” Jagger told </span><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rolling Stone</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in 1995. “I would probably censor myself. I’d think, ‘Oh God, I can’t. I’ve got to stop. I can’t just write raw like that.’”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Music

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The rise of the brown nomads and tips on how to do it

<p>Grey Nomads are a stalwart of the outback campsite, but COVID has seen a surge in younger families hitting the road: the Brown Nomads. These are people whose interstate or overseas jaunts have been thwarted by closed borders, or who have been freed from the 9-to-5 grind and want to take the “work from anywhere” concept literally. However, while adventuring sounds fun, it doesn't always generate a secure income. Consider some good financial planning so you can enjoy the nomadic life <em>and</em> still maintain financial security.</p> <p><strong>Before the trip</strong></p> <p>The options for how to stretch finances depends on your specific circumstances. It's important to see a financial planner early on in this process, but there are a few general tips I can offer.</p> <p><u>Reduce debt.</u> Pay it down as much as you can and see if consolidation makes sense. Do not carry credit card debt into this adventure.</p> <p><u>Plan your income and expenses.</u> Income sources include savings, investment dividends, long service leave, redundancies, ongoing business, or profits from asset sales. Plan expenses, including buying your start-up gear. Many nomads budget for $1000 per week, but it varies. Once you know how much you'll need you can start planning where to take the funds from.</p> <p><u>Interrogate your tax and maximising options</u>. If you’ve received a lump sum and want to use it to kick start your nomadic life, there may be some tax-efficient ways to stretch this amount. Consider various strategies, including a variety of superannuation strategies, consider paying down debt and investing in the name of the partner who didn’t earn an income, or earned less.</p> <p><u>Time your trip to suit your finances</u>. Are there are any benefits to going this or next financial year based on your circumstances?</p> <p><u>Get your financial foundations in place</u>. There are a few things you’ll need to get right as a basis for any secure financial future. These include having an emergency fund, creating a spending plan, getting the right insurances, optimising all aspects of superannuation including fees and investments inside, and having an up to date estate plan.</p> <p><strong>On the trip</strong></p> <p>Now you’ve hit the road and money is flying out the door and not so much is flying back in.</p> <p><u>Review your tax</u>. With the income changes there may be tax incentives you are now eligible for. You could make a spousal superannuation contribution, which will reduce your tax bill. You may also be eligible for the Family Tax Benefit.</p> <p><u>Manage your income streams.</u> Are you relying on income from dividends, term deposits that pay interest or rental income? Should you be? Any income linked to investments can change. Make sure you have enough money parked somewhere to see you through.</p> <p><u>Spend less money. </u>It sounds obvious, but in my experience, people spend what they have. I’ve had clients go from spending $200,000 per year to $40,000 after switching to a nomadic life for a year. When you aren’t in the ‘rat race’ you’ll be surprised how much joy life gives you for free and all the expenses you no longer have.</p> <p><u>Use the nomad community</u>. Experienced nomads will tell you their biggest expense is usually fuel. Find the cheapest with apps like Fuel Map Australia. Second to fuel is accommodation. WikiCamps Australia is one of many apps that has information about sites, including where the free ones are.</p> <p>Packing up and hitting the road does not have to cripple you financially. If you set yourself up right and plan well, you could have the adventure of a lifetime while you’re young, fit and healthy and return to a solid financial foundation.</p> <p>Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of two books:  <em style="font-weight: bold;">On Your Own Two Feet – Steady Steps to Women’s Financial Independence</em> and On<em style="font-weight: bold;"> Your Own Two Feet Divorce – Your Survive and Thrive Financial Guide</em>.  <em style="font-weight: bold;">Proceeds from the books’ sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women.  </em>Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who holds a master’s degree in the field. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au"><strong>www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</strong></a></p> <p><strong><em>Note this is general advice only and you should seek advice specific to your circumstances.</em></strong></p>

International Travel

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Fashion conspiracy: Does Prince Harry only own one pair of shoes?

<p>The Duke of Sussex has had a busy few months in the spotlight since the birth of his first son, Archie.</p> <p>However, it seems not even a swarm of cameras could pick up this odd fashion choice by Prince Harry that has seemed to be a constant for the royal for the last few months.</p> <p>Royal fans noticed something strange about the Duke of Sussex when a beautiful photograph of him and his family at the christening of first son Archie’s baptism was shared.</p> <p>It wasn’t just the adorable photo of Archie that kept fans on their toes, or the beautiful smile that graced Harry's wife Duchess Meghan that got people talking – it was a pair of suede brown brogues that was spotted on the Duke’s feet.</p> <p>On Twitter, fans pointed out Prince Harry had been wearing the same particular pair of shoes for the past few months.</p> <p>“Prince Harry’s offhand manner of dressing for his son and heir’s first official outing. Is this the exact same suit and suede shoes he wore when he showed the world his son?” one eagle-eyed fan wrote.</p> <p>Another tweet read: “Prince Harry is wearing exactly the same suit, brown desert boots, white shirt as he wore to present Archie.”</p> <p>“On an unrelated note, could the Duchess of Sussex do something about how sloppy her husband Prince Harry looks?” a snarky comment read.</p> <p>“Start with burning those ugly a** worn out brown shoes.”</p> <p>It appears Prince Harry has been wearing the same brown pair of shoes for a while now – dating back to October 2018 when he visited Sussex with his wife.</p> <p>The Duke was also spotted in the shoes when he and Duchess Meghan touched down in Casablanca airport in February.</p> <p>A few days later, the royal member was sporting the brogues again while the couple visited Rabat in Morocco.</p> <p>The royal has proven a pair of shoes can take you a long way.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the number of times Prince Harry has been spotted sporting his favourite brown pair of shoes.</p>

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White, brown, raw, honey: which type of sugar is best?

<p><em><strong>Sze-Yen Tan, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition Science, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, asks which type of sugar is the least healthy.</strong></em></p> <p>In nutrition, sugar refers to simple carbohydrates consisting of one or two basic carbohydrate units such as glucose, fructose and galactose. Consumers often use “sugar” to describe simple carbohydrates that taste sweet, but not all sugars are sweet.</p> <p>There are many different types of sugars we add to our baking or hot drinks such as white sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar and honey. But when we’re looking at a packaged product the ingredients list will have many more options still. Corn syrup, palm sugar, molasses, maple syrup and agave nectar are but a few.</p> <p>Despite the large variety of sugars, they are very similar nutritionally. They are comprised predominantly of glucose, fructose and sucrose, which are the basic forms of sugar. Glucose and fructose are slightly different in chemical structure, while sucrose is a sugar composed of one glucose and one fructose.</p> <p>The factors that distinguish sugars are their sources (from sugarcane, beet, fruit, nectar, palm or coconut saps), flavour profiles, and the levels of processing.</p> <p><strong>Types of sugar</strong></p> <p><strong>White sugar:</strong> also called table sugar, is the final product of the processing and refining of sugarcane or beet. During the refining process, moisture, minerals and compounds that give sugars their colour are removed, and white refined sugar is formed. The byproduct containing the removed compounds during sugar refining is known as molasses.</p> <p><strong>Raw sugar:</strong> is formed if the final refining process is bypassed.</p> <p><strong>Brown sugar:</strong> is refined white sugar with varying amounts of molasses added. Raw sugar, brown sugar and molasses are higher in compounds that provide colour, from natural sources or byproducts of the breakdown of sugar (caramel) during sugar processing.</p> <p><strong>Honey:</strong> is sugar-rich nectar collected by bees from a wide variety of flowers. Fructose is the main sugar found in honey, followed by glucose and sucrose. The sweet taste of honey is attributed to its higher fructose content, and fructose is known to be sweeter than glucose or sucrose. Honey is about 17% water.</p> <p><strong>Syrups:</strong> can be produced from a wide range of plant sources in the forms of sap and fruits. Some examples include agave (a desert succulent), corn, date, grape, maple and pomegranate syrup.</p> <p>Because agave and corn are more complex carbohydrates, they’re first broken down into sugar during food processing before being concentrated into syrup. Corn syrup is often further processed into the sweeter version, high fructose corn syrup.</p> <p><strong>Fruit sugar:</strong> can be made from the drying and grinding of fruits such as dates. Sugar produced through this process shares similar nutrient composition with the fruit (such as fibre and minerals) but it is lower in water content.</p> <p><strong>Which type is best?</strong></p> <p>Several <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/33/11/2477.short" target="_blank">studies</a></strong></span> have reported adverse effects of white sugar and high fructose corn syrup on our health. So should we substitute these types of sugars with another?</p> <p><strong>Sweetness and sugar content</strong></p> <p>Some sugars such as honey and agave syrup are higher in fructose. Fructose is sweeter than glucose and sucrose, hence a smaller amount may be needed to achieve similar level of sweetness from white sugar. Honey and syrups also have a higher water content. So the sugar content is less than the equivalent weight of white sugar.</p> <p><strong>Antioxidant capacity</strong></p> <p>Due to the different levels of processing and refining, sugars that are less processed and refined tend to have higher contents of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0308814694901546" target="_blank">minerals</a></strong></span> and compounds that give plants their colour. These compounds have been found to increase antioxidant capacity, which reduces the cell damage in the body that causes several chronic diseases.</p> <p>Although the antioxidant capacity of date sugar and molasses is many-fold higher than white sugar and corn syrup, it’s still relatively low compared to antioxidant-rich foods. For example, more than 500g of date sugar or molasses need to be consumed to get the same amount of antioxidant contained in a cup (145g) of blueberries.</p> <p><strong>Glycemic index</strong></p> <p>Different types of sugar raise the amount of sugar in our blood at different rates after being consumed. The glycemic index (GI) concept is used to compare the ability of different carbohydrate-containing foods in raising blood sugar levels over two hours.</p> <p>Pure glucose is used as the reference carbohydrate and it’s given a value of 100. Higher GI indicates greater ability of a food in raising blood sugar levels, and having high levels of sugar in the blood can lead to disease. High GI foods tend to be <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2000.tb01855.x/full" target="_blank">less filling</a></strong></span> too.</p> <p>The GI values in the table below are compiled from the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.glycemicindex.com/foodSearch.php" target="_blank">GI database</a></strong></span>. Corn syrup has the highest GI as it is composed mainly of glucose. White sugar, composed of 50% glucose and 50% fructose, has slightly lower GI. Based on available values in the GI database, agave syrup has the lowest GI value. Therefore, it’s a better option than other sugars in term of blood sugar management.</p> <p><strong>Antimicrobial activity</strong></p> <p>Honey has been reported to possess several <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Honey%3A+a+sweet+solution+to+the+growing+problem+of+antimicrobial+resistance%3F" target="_blank">germ-killing capabilities</a></strong></span> due to the presence of several naturally-occurring compounds. But it’s still unclear how the antimicrobial property of honey may be obtained.</p> <p>In the end, sugar in our body is still sugar. So while honey, raw sugar, date sugar and molasses are “better” than white and other types of sugar, everyone should try to cut down their sugar intake.</p> <p><em>Written by Sze-Yen Tan. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Conversation</span></strong></a>.</em><img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91074/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/></p>

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Brave chihuahua sacrifices own life to save owner

<p>If ever you needed a reason to convince your partner to let you adopt a dog, let this be it. A brave 10-year-old chihuahua named Cooper has sacrificed his own life to save his family after discovering a deadly eastern brown snake in the backyard.</p> <p>Evangeline Lim from the Gold Coast was about to hang her washing out on the line last week when she heard her loyal pooch barking at something in the backyard – one of Australia’s most venomous snakes.</p> <p>“The snake was upside down and Cooper was on top of it and wrestling,” the Hope Island woman told the <em>Gold Coast Bulletin</em>. “He was obviously saving me from the snake.”</p> <p>With Cooper’s help, Evangeline and her family managed to trap the snake under a pot plant. Unfortunately, the courageous canine had been bitten in the process, and he sadly died 10 minutes later after suffering cardiac arrest while in the car en route to the vet.</p> <p>According to Tony Harrison from Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catchers, eastern browns are more common in the Gold Coast area than you might think. “I catch a couple a day so people need to be more aware,” he told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/cooper-the-chihuahua-praised-for-brave-final-act-to-protect-family/news-story/3bcd1ce3af1503feee4f7f6f0e978c74" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">news.com.au</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>He explained that the deadly species are quick to defend themselves as soon as they feel threatened, which is likely the reason why it began wrestling with Cooper.</p> <p>“As soon as a dog interacts with a snake you should be hightailing it to the vet. I’ve seen plenty of dogs and cats attacked by brown snakes over the years and many of them don’t last 10 minutes,” he said.</p> <p>Harrison says the venom from an eastern brown snake can quickly cause blood clots and muscle seizures in both animals and humans. “It’s not a nice thing at all. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, let alone a little chihuahua.”</p> <p>Have any of your pets ever been in danger of a snake at your home? Share your story with us in the comments below. </p>

Family & Pets

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Can you spot the brown snake hidden in the bush?

<p>Our slithery friends seem to wind up in the strangest places. From a <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/09/can-you-spot-the-snake-hiding-in-this-garage/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">suburban garage</span></strong></a> to even inside a <a href="/finance/insurance/2017/09/spot-snake-in-car-bonnet/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">car bonnet</span></strong></a>, it appears snake season is in full swing. And with so many out and about – even in residential areas – there’s never been a better time to sharpen those snake-spotting skills.</p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SnakeOutBrisbane/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Snake Out Brisbane Snake Catchers</span></strong></a> shared this photo of a very well-hidden eastern brown snake (the second deadliest species on the planet) to Facebook, and it serves as a reminder for all of us to keep an extra keen look out this spring and summer. Can you spot it?</p> <p><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43741/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (26)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Here’s a hint – look for its body, not its head. Still stuck? <strong>Scroll through the gallery above for the answer</strong>, and tell us in the comments below, have you ever found a snake on your property?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Snake Out Brisbane Snake Catchers/Facebook.</em></p>

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Dr Chris Brown’s Bondi Vet replacement revealed

<p>It’s hard to imagine <em>Bondi Vet </em>without Dr Chris Brown, but the beloved series is about to get a big shake-up with not one, not two, but four new hosts.</p> <p>Dr Chris announced he was leaving the show earlier this year to focus on other TV commitments (<em>The Living Room</em>, <em>The Project</em> and <em>I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!</em>), sparking an extensive, nationwide search – but it was never going to be easy to find someone to fill the Logie winner’s shoes.</p> <p>After thousands of applications and nominations, producers were so overwhelmed with the talent on offer, they couldn’t reach a decision. So, they settled on four new faces – Drs Alex Hynes, Danni Dusek, Lewis Hunt and Peter Ricci – <strong>who you can see in the gallery above</strong>.</p> <p>“Each of the four new Bondi Vets has a unique skill set and story to tell,” said WTFN director of content Steve Oemcke. “Their love of pets and animals shines through and there is a great chemistry between them.</p> <p>“Their work in front of the camera has been outstanding, and we know that fans will really get behind them as they take the show in an exciting new direction.”</p> <p>Despite its name and that iconic location, the new-look series (which will air next year) won’t actually be based in Bondi. Dr Alex works in Brisbane, Dr Danni works in Mentone, Victoria, Dr Lewis works in Sydney’s northern beaches and Dr Peter works at Perth Zoo.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, what do you think of the new recruits? Will you be tuning in?</p>

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Do pets know what they look like?

<p><em><strong>Bondi Vet’s much loved veterinarian, Dr Chris Brown, answers the question every pet owner has wondered – do our furry friends know what they look like?</strong></em></p> <p>Ever wondered whether your pet knows what they look like? There's a simple test you can try at home. And the result might say more than you think...</p> <p>For years, scientists have argued over whether our pets have 'self-awareness' and a simple mirror is considered the best possible way of working it out. Here's how you do it. First of all, position your furry family member in front of a mirror so they're looking at their reflection. Then, very quietly produce a clean toy (like a ball) from your pocket and hold it just above their left ear. If they know they're looking at themselves, they should turn their head that way to get the toy. If they don't recognise themselves, they shouldn't react. </p> <p>Seeing yourself in a mirror seems like such a simple skill but not even humans are born knowing how to do it. We only acquire an awareness of our own appearance at between 18-24 months of age. In fact, the only animals that are proven to recognise themselves in a mirror are dolphins, elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. So while science says your pets won't see themselves and will only see another dog or cat, failing the mirror test isn't all bad. After all, our pets already get embarrassed enough after a trip to the groomers as it is...</p> <p><em>For more tips on your pets, follow Dr Chris Brown on <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dcbpets/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook here.</a></strong></span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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Brown sugar pavlova with poached pears and caramel sauce

<p>Pavlova is a classic celebration dessert and this recipe gives it a wintry twist. The combination of pears, ginger cream, and rich caramel, alongside the crisp and chewy pavlova, makes for a wonderful dessert. It's a bit messy, which keeps things a casual and approachable – perfect for a family feast. The recipe is adapted from a New Zealand food blog called Toast. </p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 6-8  </p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients: </span></strong></p> <p><em>For the pavlova</em></p> <ul> <li>6 egg whites, at room temperature</li> <li>380g brown sugar</li> <li>4 teaspoons cornflour</li> <li>2 teaspoons cider vinegar</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> </ul> <p><em>For the poached pears</em></p> <ul> <li>4-5 cups water</li> <li>1½ cups white sugar</li> <li>4 pears, cut into eighths and cores removed</li> <li>3-4 slices fresh ginger </li> <li>1 cinnamon stick </li> <li>Ginger cream: </li> <li>500ml cream</li> <li>1 teaspoon ground ginger </li> <li>Caramel sauce: </li> <li>1 cup brown sugar </li> <li>½ cup cream </li> <li>60g butter</li> <li>Pinch of salt</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract </li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <p><em>For the pavlova:</em></p> <p>1. Heat oven to 140°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. </p> <p>Beat egg whites until stiff then gradually add brown sugar until firm and glossy. Be patient, this can take a good 10 minutes. Add cornflour, vinegar and vanilla then beat on low until combined. </p> <p>2. Tip mixture onto baking tray and, using a rubber spatula, shape it into a large rectangle about 5-6cm high. Smooth the edges with the spatula then bake 1 hour, until firm and lightly coloured.</p> <p>3. Take from oven and cool completely before serving. Pavlova can be made a couple of days in advance and kept in an airtight container. </p> <p><em>For the poached pears:</em></p> <p>4. Heat water and sugar in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Add pear pieces (skin on), ginger and cinnamon. Simmer for about 20-25 minutes. Allow pears to cool in the liquid and keep them there until ready to use; they can be made 1-2 days ahead. (The poaching liquid will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days and works well as a substitute for sugar syrup in cocktails; try adding it to a Tom Collins.) </p> <p><em>For the ginger cream:</em></p> <p>5. Whip cream and ginger together until soft peaks form. </p> <p><em>For the caramel sauce:</em></p> <p>6.  Mix sugar, cream, butter and salt in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook about 6-7 minutes, whisking gently. Add vanilla then cook for another minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly – the sauce will thicken as it cools. It will keep in the fridge for about a week; just reheat gently or use cold.</p> <p><em>To assemble:</em></p> <p>7. Carefully transfer pavlova to a serving board. Spread the ginger cream over, leaving a good 2cm clear around the edge. Spoon the pears on top then drizzle over the caramel sauce.  </p> <p><em>Written by Delaney Mes. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></a>.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, </strong></em><strong>The Way Mum Made It</strong><em><strong>, yet? Featuring 175 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk%20%20%20" target="_blank">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</a>.</span></strong></em></p>

Food & Wine

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What’s the healthiest rice option?

<p>A staple for more than half the world's population, rice is also an everyday food for many New Zealanders.  </p> <p>But with many varieties available, are some better than others for health? We decided to help by comparing three commonly purchased varieties – white long grain, basmati and brown.</p> <p><strong>Nutrition comment:</strong> Rice is a grain – the seed of a rice plant.  Each unpolished grain has a protective husk called the bran, and a germ, from which a young seedling grows.  </p> <p>Rice can be classified in several ways:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Wholegrain or polished: </strong>black or brown rice are whole grains with bran and germ intact, while white (polished) versions have these removed. Because the bran and the germ are rich in nutrients (B vitamins, magnesium and fibre in particular), black, brown or wild rice are superior nutritionally to white rice, which is little more than pure starch. </li> <li><strong>By grain shape:</strong> long, medium or short grain. </li> <li><strong>By variety: </strong>basmati, jasmine and Arborio are common examples, each with unique characteristics. Brown versions of these are best nutritionally but white basmati deserves a mention because it is much slower to digest than the other white rice varieties. Being less likely to cause spikes in blood sugar, it's the best white rice for people with diabetes or those watching their weight.</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Brown rice</span></strong></p> <p>A whole grain with bran and germ intact, it is richer nutritionally than white rice. Its fibre content – 3.9g/100g (compared to less than 0.1g for white rice) means it is slow to digest, fills us for longer and maintains even blood sugar levels.</p> <p>The nutty flavour and chewy texture make it popular with many, the only downside being the longer cooking time. It is slightly more expensive than white long grain, but the significantly better nutrition is worth the additional cost.</p> <p><strong>Overall rating: </strong>Best – least processed, richest in nutrients and promotes even blood sugar.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Basmati rice</span></strong></p> <p>Basmati has a distinct advantage when compared to other white rice varieties; it is slow to digest, similar to brown/black varieties. This is because it has proportionately more of a type of starch that is difficult to digest.</p> <p>While lacking the B vitamins, minerals and fibre for brown/black rice, the better effect on blood sugar means it is the only white rice that people with diabetes or above a healthy weight should consider.</p> <p><strong>Overall rating: </strong>Second – not as rich in vitamins and minerals as brown, but slower digestion than other white varieties.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Long grain white rice</span></strong></p> <p>Little more than pure starch, this rice is quickly digested and absorbed. While it can be useful as a "filler" or sports recovery food for active people, it is not a good choice for people with diabetes or those above a healthy weight. This is because its speedy digestion and absorption can play havoc with blood sugar levels.</p> <p><strong>Overall rating:</strong> Third – little nutrient value, can promote blood sugar swings.</p> <p><strong>Bottom line:</strong> Choose brown or black rice most of the time. If using white rice, basmati is the best choice.</p> <p><em>Written by Bronwen King. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

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