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Mum left devastated after no guests attend her daughter’s party

A US woman has been left devastated after none of the 27 invited guests showed at her daughter’s third birthday party. Mum-of-three Breanna Strong had planned a massive celebration for her daughter, Avery, at KidsTopia Playground, a “jungle-themed indoor playground”, and had catered with pizzas, a Frozen-themed cake, and plenty of goodies for the kids. But, she was left devastated for her daughter when none of the kids turned up. Taking to TikTok, the 27-year-old shared her heartbreak in a clip that quickly went viral and prompted a flood of love to be sent Avery’s way. “We invited 27 kids to Avery's third birthday party. Not a single one of her friends showed up,” she wrote in the video, which showed the empty party room. “Money and time wasted. Breaks my momma heart so bad. Literally going to go home and snuggle my babies.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/mum-bday-party1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Images: TikTok The video also included footage of Avery sitting alone eating pizza, before Strong took the rest and threw it in the bin, as well as a clip of Breanna holding back tears while driving home. “I wish I was making this up,” she added in the caption. She later explained in the comments that she had sent out virtual party invitations through Facebook, and while seven families had initially said they would come, some messaged her at the last minute to let her know they couldn’t make it - and the rest stood her up without explanation. But Strong said she was more upset than her daughter was, who was too young to fully understand what happened and had fun at the indoor playground. “She got everything she wanted. Pizza, Frozen cake, and jungle gym. She didn’t know any different rather than having fun. Just shattered my heart,” Strong explained. Commenters were quick to share their support for the young girl, with some sharing that they had similar experiences with their children. “Let’s have a redo. I’ll travel and got a bunch of kids who loves to make friends,” one suggested. “This is a rule at my house. If we are invited, we’re GOING!” another wrote. “We have been the only one that shows up. So sad this happens, I’m so sorry,” a third said. “This happened to one of my daughters. Now I make sure we show up to everyone’s party we are invited to. I never want to see that pain for any child,” one parent shared. Image: TikTok

Family & Pets

Bargain rental is “spacious” but missing key features

A studio apartment up for rent in Birmingham, England, for less than $850 a month isn’t unusual just for its cheap price - it’s missing some crucial amenities. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126124685#/?channel=RES_LET" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listed on Rightmove</a> for £425 ($NZ 810) a month, the studio’s shower is located in an unlikely spot, directly opposite the bed. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/cheap-uk-flat1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The prime location of the shower in relation to the bed could be a perk for some, but it's clear screen makes for a lack of privacy. Image: RightMove To make matters worse, the shower is encased in a clear cubicle, with no toilet in sight. The kitchen, located on the other side of the room, seems to consist of sink and cabinet underneath, a fridge, an oven, and another cabinet above a tile splashback. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/cheap-uk-flat2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The rental's kitchen boasts an oven, two cabinets, a fridge, a sink and a bench (plus an overflowing bin). Image: RightMove The apartment, described as “spacious” and “part-furnished”, also includes a single mattress crammed in one corner, with a lounge chair stationed right next to the oven. Though it is just a single room, the listing agent described it as a “great home for single working professionals”. It comes just months after a similar apartment in Australia sparked outrage, with many slamming the renovated rental as “real-life satire”. Like its British counterpart, the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/greedy-and-despicable-rental-renovation-causes-outrage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Adelaide studio apartment</a> featured a bathroom with a clear casing - though it does come with a toilet and a shred of privacy in the form of selective frosted glass - but differed in its hefty price amid the city’s worsening rental crisis. Image: RightMove

Real Estate

Royals hit the red carpet at Bond world premiere

Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond has received a royal debut, after Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Kate appeared at the film’s world premiere in London. No Time To Die, the 25th in the series of movies depicting the British spy’s heroics, was initially due for release in April 2020. But, after multiple delays due to the pandemic the long-awaited moment has been met with relief by Craig. “A year ago, this was just a dream,” he told reporters on the red carpet at the Royal Albert Hall. “It didn’t look like we would get here. But we have and I’m just happy that we’re here and we can celebrate with everybody,” he said. Lea Seydoux, who reprises her role as Dr Madeleine Swann, echoed the same relief. “It’s been such a crazy time for all of us,” she <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/human-interest/royals-join-cast-of-bond-film-for-premiere-c-4096628" target="_blank">said</a>. “And now to celebrate, you know, with this film, to reunite. And it’s great. I’m really happy.” Appearing onstage before the screening, the 53-year-old dedicated the film to its cast, crew, producers, and frontline workers. “Just look at us and where we are,” Craig said. “To amazing cast and crew, MGM, Universal, [producers] Barbara [Broccoli], Michael [G. Wilson]. A lot of front-line workers here. [It’s] an honour for us - we’d like to dedicate this film to you this evening.” To thank them for their work during the pandemic, healthcare workers and members of the UK armed forces were also invited to Tuesday’s premiere. No Time To Die features Craig’s last appearance as 007, and when asked how he felt about leaving the role, he said: “I’m good. I’m really good about it.” As for his potential successor, Craig abruptly said: “Not my problem.” Also appearing at the star-studded event were official songwriters Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, composer Hans Zimmer, screenwriters Neal Purvis, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Robert Wade. The stars stunned with bold outfit choices, including Lashana Lynch in a bold yellow off-the-shoulder gown with a wide skirt, Craig in a pink velvet dinner jacket, and Rory Kinnear in a blood orange suit jacket with a black shirt and tie. Prince William arrived in an appropriate tuxedo and matching black tie, with Kate dressed in a sheer-panelled gown with gold sequin detailing. Other A-list guests included Ronan and Storm Keating, Jason Momoa, Paralympian Hannah Cockroft, and Olympian Mo Farah. Rami Malek, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw, Ana de Armas, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah, and Jeffrey Wright were also among the cast members who walked London’s red carpet. Images: Getty Images

Movies

No Time to Die will FINALLY be released here in November

The latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, was ready to be released in May of 2020 but with COVID lockdowns in place in many parts of the world, its release was delayed again and again but now finally, it will be released in Australia and New Zealand on the 11th November. The date for many other parts of the rest of the world is early October but unfortunately the movie is further delayed for Australia and New Zealand because of the continuing lockdowns we've been experiencing. While other movies ended up being released on streaming platforms such as Disney+ and Netflix, this wasn’t possible for the latest James Bond film because the movie cost over $400 million Australian dollars to make and it’s reported it needs to take in US $900 million just to break even – making it the most expensive Bond movie ever made. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BIhNsAtPbPI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Daniel Craig stars again – many say this will be his last Bond movie No Time to Die is the 25th film in the James Bond franchise, making it the largest and most well-known film series ever. Daniel Craig stars again in this latest Bond movie but it’s been said this will be his last stint as the infamous 007 agent so it will be interesting to see how the film plays out. In a nod to the changing times, No Time to Die features two tough, kick ass female agents and who knows where this is going to lead for the future of James Bond. Some have even touted the next James Bond will be female. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pcYuPU8MP1w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Blade Runner 2049 star, Ana De Armas appears alongside Daniel Craig as a ‘Bond Girl’ while Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch joins the cast. In interesting news, Rami Malek of Bohemian Rhapsody fame is playing the main Bond villain. Director, Cary Joji Fukunaga, has said: “We aimed to do something extraordinary with this one.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c2b5075361e44ebe8973c61ec4ff443c" />Movie starts with Bond having left active service The story line for the film starts with Bond having left active service and he’s enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Theme song by Billie Eilish <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BboMpayJomw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> You may have heard the theme song for No Time to Die is performed by Billie Eilish. The 18-year-old wrote the title song with her elder brother, FINNEAS. This makes the duo the youngest artists in history to write and record a James Bond theme song. Billie Eilish has been quoted as saying: “It feels crazy to be a part of this in every way. To be able to score the theme song to a film that is part of such a legendary series is a huge honour. James Bond is the coolest film franchise ever to exist. I’m still in shock”. Her brother FINNEAS adds: “Writing the theme song for a Bond film is something we’ve been dreaming about doing our entire lives. There is no more iconic pairing of music and cinema than the likes of Goldfinger and Live And Let Die. We feel so so lucky to play a small role in such a legendary franchise, long live 007.” In reference to the film’s theme song, director Cary Joji Fukunaga said: “There are a chosen few who record a Bond theme. I am a huge fan of Billie and FINNEAS. Their creative integrity and talent are second to none and I cannot wait for audiences to hear what they’ve brought – a fresh new perspective whose vocals will echo for generations to come.” Release date The 25th 007 film will be released in Australia and New Zealand on 11th November. Where cinemas are open, No Time to Die will be playing. Images and Video: YouTube and No Time to Die

Movies

Barty fumes as match suspended

Barty was well on her way to victory against Vera Zvonareva with some sizzling tennis in the first set which she won 6-1. But in the second set, the match was briefly suspended after the controversial electronic line-calling system crashed on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centre court at the Flushing Meadows venue in New York. The 25-year-old spoke to the umpire after the annoying delay was announced and was heard on court microphones asking if human line judges could be brought onto court to replace the electronic system. Her request was denied as a result of the tournament not using any line judges this year. Barty was left shaking her head as she sat down waiting for a resumption of play. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Play has been suspended on Arthur Ashe due to an issue with the electronic line-calling system. Ash Barty is shaking her head & asking if they can bring out, you know, the humans that used to do it? The answer, unsurprisingly, is no. <a href="https://t.co/RvCBxMMlXA">pic.twitter.com/RvCBxMMlXA</a> — The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast/status/1432782740886331397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2021</a></blockquote> In the end she was only forced to wait a few minutes and quickly broke her opponent’s serve minutes later. However, the match took several more dramatic turns from there with Barty failing to serve the match out before it headed to a tiebreak. Barty prevailed 9-7 in the breaker, but had to defend set points in a very nervous few minutes at the end. More relaxed after the match Later, when Barty was interviewed on the court after her match, she seemed much more relaxed and talked about her recent winning streak. “It has certainly been really enjoyable right from the start,” she said. Barty will now play 18-year-old Clara Tauson in the second round. The world No. 1 is chasing back-to-back grand slam titles after her historic win at Wimbledon. She is in fine form after also winning a WTA title two weeks ago at Cincinnati. Image: Getty Images

News

Mum “humiliated” and allegedly put on no-fly list over nappy change

A woman in the US has shared how she was “humiliated” by a flight attendant mid-flight while trying to discard her baby’s nappy in the rubbish. Farah Naz Khan, an endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism doctor from Seattle, shared the ordeal on social media, including how she was yelled at by a flight attendant who was then “harassing” her in a call to her personal mobile number after the flight. “Anybody with connections at United Airlines? Had a horrific experience today with a flight attendant and then got a harassing phone call from the very same flight attendant,” Ms Khan wrote in a Facebook post, which she later edited to include the full story. “When I walked back to the front holding my diaper wipes container and ... the pad that we used to change my daughter’s diaper on, the flight attendant accosted me and said: ‘Did you just dispose of a diaper back there? That’s a biohazard’,” Ms Khan told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/seattle-woman-humiliated-flight-attendant-over-dirty-diaper-says-she-n1273777" target="_blank">NBC News</a>. Ms Khan said that she then asked whether he wanted her to retrieve the nappy and that the flight attendant said yes. Ms Khan continued to say the experience made her feel “humiliated” and “belittled”. After asking another flight attendant for a garbage bag to put the nappy in, she became angry when the attendant told her she hadn’t done anything wrong. After filing a customer service incident report once the plane landed, things took a bizarre turn. Later in the day, Ms Khan received a phone call from the flight attendant. “I recognised the voice,” she told NBC News. “He said, ‘Due to a biohazard incident on the plane today, we’ve placed you on the no-fly list’. “This made me very angry, because I suffered the humiliating experience … They are placing me on a no-fly list? “I also didn’t dispose of the diaper on the plane, even if it was considered a biohazard. I walked it off the plane and threw it away myself outside the flight.” She also accused the flight attendant of using “profanities” during the call. “[He said] ‘You people bring your children everywhere. Don’t you know that some people just want a peaceful flight and don’t want to listen to your effing children?’,” Ms Khan said. He also allegedly said to her: “I hear your obnoxious daughter in the background.” Ms Khan also shared her experience on Twitter, including the hashtag #racism. She said she didn’t believe she had been placed on the no-fly list, after she was able to fly back to Houston a few days later. Ms Khan confirmed she had heard from United Airlines, which uses Mesa Airlines to run regional services, but the conversation was “unsatisfying” as the airline could not say how the flight attendant obtained her phone number or whether he had been disciplined. In a statement, a Mesa spokesperson said: “The details as described by our customer do not meet the high standards that Mesa sets for our flight attendants and we are reviewing the matter.” Image: Facebook

Travel Trouble

“Despair and devastation”: John Edward's gut feeling about 9/11 weeks before it happened

John Edward, well known psychic medium, had a gut feeling he just couldn’t shake as he was in a ballroom back in 2001. He shared with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/john-edward-medium/?utm_source=Mamamia.com.au%20-%20All%20Newsletters&utm_campaign=b6079f2877-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_22_05_54&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9dc62997a2-b6079f2877-211561537&mc_cid=b6079f2877&mc_eid=c10f87c072" target="_blank">Mamamia’s No Filter Podcast</a> about the weird sensation he felt as he ducked into a nearby lobby to take a phone call from a friend. “It was the most eerie, ominous, evil feeling. I can’t even tell you,” he said. “I get goose bumps as I tell you this. I looked around and I looked at the security guard, and then I remember looking everywhere around, and I just was like, ‘Oh’. “I walked out of the building, and I went to my wife. I go, ‘I need to talk to you… You have to find a new place [for the competition]; you can’t do it here next year.’ And she’s like, ‘What?’ I go, ‘I don’t want you to come down here. Go talk to your boss. You’ve got to get it moved’.” His wife was surprised at his sudden panic and kept pressing for an answer. “I go, ‘Death, despair and devastation’.” The nearby lobby he was standing in happened to be the World Trade Center. The feelings Edward felt that day in mid-August, 2001 – just weeks before tragedy struck on September 11 – sat with him for a long time. They reappeared when he was dining with friends and his wife, Sandra, suggested brunch at the World Trade Center restaurant, View of the World. It was here that Edward erupted. “I turned to her and snapped. I bit her head off, like a lunatic. She like looked at me, like, ‘I’m gonna be polite because we’re in front of other people right now, but I want to push your arse in front of an oncoming bus for the way you just spoke to me.’ “But I just really erupted. [I said] ‘There’s no way you’re getting me in that building! There’s no way I’m going up there.’ I can’t even convey to you how it came out. It was like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde moment. It was really weird.” Edward then spend the next days in a deep depression. It was so noticeable that even strangers, who recognised him from his show Crossing Over, asked him if he was OK. “I was really struggling. It was a debilitating doom-and-gloom feeling, like I didn’t want to get out of bed if I didn’t have to,” he said. It was only when Edward recorded an episode of CNN interview program Larry King Live that the fog within him lifted. The pair had spoken about loss, grief and how to cope. However, the following day was one that plunged the world into a state of shock and unease as two planes that were hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists flew into the World Trade Center twin towers on September 11. The attack killed 2,977 people and reduced the buildings to toxic dust that still claims victims to this day. After the attack, Edward was contacted by several New Yorkers as well as people from the surrounding areas. “They literally said to me, ‘You were the last thing we watched, my husband and I. You were the last thing that we watched, us together. We had a conversation about grief. We had a conversation about the afterlife because of you. It was the last thing that we did.’"

Mind

Are you at risk? Data sharing amongst health apps is more common than you think

Some of the sensitive information you might share with a doctor, including your age, sex, medical conditions and current symptoms, are being shared with popular health apps. Although it’s easy to feel like these applications are helping you, a new study has found that the data that users input into these apps are being shared with third party entities. The study, published in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l920">British Medical Journal</a>, has found that user data from health-related mobile apps on the Android platform is routine and not transparent at all. The information that is put into these health apps can be shared with app developers, their parent companies and potentially dozens of third-party entities. Therefore, the information that you think is private ends up being distributed on a wide scale. Lead author of the report, Dr Quinn Grundy, said that health apps are a “booming market”, but is one with many privacy failings. She told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-03-21/health-apps-sharing-data-common-practice-study-finds/10923484">The ABC</a>: "I think many of us would expect that this kind of data should be treated differently," said Dr Grundy, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. "Unfortunately, our study shows that that's not the case. These apps behave in much the same way as your fitness app, weather app or music app." Dr Grundy and colleagues at the University of Sydney examined 24 medicine related Android applications that are popular in Australia, North America and the United Kingdom. Some of these apps included ones that might remind you when to take a prescription. The researchers found that 19 out of 24 apps shared data outside of the application to a total of 55 different entities, owned by 46 parent companies. The information that was shared included users emails and device ID to medical conditions and drug lists. The researchers discovered that Amazon and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, received the highest volume of user data. This was closely followed by Microsoft. Dr Grundy explained that whilst most apps have a privacy policy and said that the data was stripped of identifying information, they described what was collected and shared in very general terms. "They wouldn't name specific third parties or why data was shared with them. But would say, 'we never sell your data, but we may shared anonymised, aggregated reports with third parties for legitimate business purposes'," she explained. Peter Hannay, an adjunct lecturer and security researcher at Edith Cowan University has offered a solution. "It's not a matter of 'swap to a different app'," he said. "It would be a matter of just not using those sorts of services at all." However, if you do want to use these services, he has some advice for that as well. "If the application is reminding you to take medication, I would try to find one that doesn't require permission to connect to the internet," he said. "If it's able to work offline, that's something I would consider to be desirable." Do you use any apps that require health data? Let us know in the comments.

Technology

No-bake mini blueberry cheesecakes

Love dessert but hate baking? These no-bake mini blueberry cheesecakes are the dessert you’ve been waiting for. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup of digestive biscuit crumbs</li> <li>4 ½ tablespoons of butter</li> <li>2 tablespoons of cold water</li> <li>1 ½ teaspoons of powdered gelatin, unflavoured</li> <li>2/3 cup of heavy cream</li> <li>225g of cream cheese</li> <li>¾ cup of powdered sugar</li> <li>¼ cup of sour cream</li> <li>1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract</li> <li>Extra blueberries for garnish</li> </ul> Sauce <ul> <li>1/3 cups of sugar</li> <li>2 ½ teaspoons of cornflour</li> <li>¼ cup of water</li> <li>1 tablespoon of lemon juice</li> <li>2 cups of blueberries</li> <li>1 tablespoon of butter</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>With aluminium foil, line a 20cm by 20cm baking dish (or for round cakes, as shown, use individual round baking dishes) leaving five-cm of foil overhanging and spray with cooking spray.</li> <li>In a bowl, mix together digestive biscuits and butter until thoroughly combined.</li> <li>Pour into dish and press to bottom, creating a base layer. Let chill.</li> <li>In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water and let rest.</li> <li>In a separate bowl, whisk or electric mix heavy cream until heavy peaks form.</li> <li>In another bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar, whipping until smooth. </li> <li>Add sour cream and vanilla.</li> <li>Take gelatin mixture and microwave for 25 seconds. Whisk until dissolved and let cool for less than three minutes.</li> <li>While mixing, pour gelatin into cream cheese mix. Add whipped cream and combine.</li> <li>Take cream cheese mix and spread it over the biscuit layer.</li> <li>Cover and chill for three hours. Cut into squares or remove from individual baking dishes.</li> <li>To make the sauce, in a saucepan mix together sugar and cornflour. Add water, lemon juice and blueberries.</li> <li>Cook over medium-high heat, bringing the mixture to a boil, stirring often.</li> <li>Once thickened, add butter and stir.</li> <li>Let cool and pour atop cheesecake. Garnish with fresh blueberries.</li> </ol> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/08/new-york-cheesecake/">New York cheesecake</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/08/red-velvet-cheesecake-bars/">Red velvet cheesecake bars</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/berry-cheesecake-slice/">Blackcurrant and raspberry cheesecake slice</a>

Food & Wine

Nicole Kidman reveals old-fashioned secret to 12 years of happy marriage with Keith Urban

This week, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban shared loving tributes to each other in celebration of their 12th wedding anniversary. While Keith shared a photo of Nicole standing behind him doing some “celestial synergised soul dancing”, the actress posted rare footage of their Australian wedding. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 36.640625% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/BkeOI0ZgPMW/" target="_blank">A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)</a> on Jun 25, 2018 at 8:07pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “Remembering 12 years ago today at a church in Manly, Australia. Still feels like it was yesterday. I’m a lucky woman. Happy Anniversary Baby,” she wrote. Since their 2006 wedding, the famous couple regularly have melted the hearts of fans all over the world, as they proudly showcase their love for each other despite their intense work schedules. So, what is the secret to their years of happiness together? In a new interview, the Big Little Lies actress pinned their success on keeping their romance old-fashioned and not texting each other. When they are away from one another, Nicole revealed that the pair will choose to ring each other or do a video call. "That is so not our relationship," Nicole said about texting at Create & Cultivate and Neutrogena Everyday Is A Sunday panel. She said the couple prefer “voice to voice and skin to skin” interactions when keeping in touch, and revealed that they will hop on a last-minute flight if they miss each other while they are away. "The reason it started at the beginning was because I didn't know how to text [laughs] and it just kind of worked for us," she said. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 49.02777777777778% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/BkdsZFbl406/" target="_blank">A post shared by Keith Urban (@keithurban)</a> on Jun 25, 2018 at 3:12pm PDT </div> </blockquote> "We talk all the time and we FaceTime but we just don't text because I feel like texting can be misrepresentative at times. And I've had the thing where I reread texts and I'm like, 'What does that mean?' and then read it to somebody and go 'Can you interpret that?' I don't want that between my lover and I." Nicole also said it was important for her and Keith to have “fun together” in each other’s company. "If there is one person I can hang out with, it's him and the girls and that's it. That's so much enough for me," she continued. "We'll get on planes and fly overnight rather than have a night apart. We will do anything to make it work. Jetlag is always a challenge though!" Congratulations on the sweet milestone Nicole and Keith!

Music

The genius hotel room hack that no-one ever thought of

Hotel room key card holders are just as irritating for travellers as they are helpful because the moment you remove your card from the slot in your room, the electricity immediately cuts out. This makes it difficult to have your devices on charge when you pop outside or when you leave your partner to sleep in. However, there is an easy fix for this travel dilemma that went over everyone’s heads. Twitter user Katyagar Moonagon has revealed that you can place any card in the slot to turn the electricity on. “[I] wanted to charge my battery pack whilst I was I eating dinner, but needed my keycard,” she said. She then put her supermarket loyalty card into the slot instead and it solved the problem. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Wanted to charge my battery pack whilst I was I eating dinner, but needed my keycard <a href="https://t.co/TsHqihGxTu">pic.twitter.com/TsHqihGxTu</a> — katyagar moonagon (@Oog) <a href="https://twitter.com/Oog/status/974058559074906112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a> </blockquote> “I turned off all the lights manually, as not to be too wasteful, just needed to bump up the old battery pack for an hour or two,” she said. The picture has been re-tweeted hundreds of times and some have even called the solution life-changing. Suzanne Azzopardi said, “I’m 42 and didn’t know you could put any card in the bloody hotel light thingy.” Hotel workers were also amazed by the travel hack. “I’m dumbfounded. I worked in 5 Star Hotels and never came across that,” Twitter user Ronan Alex Dunne said. What is your best travel hack? Let us know in the comments below.

Travel Tips

5 TV shows you had no idea were based on movies

Some of the most classic TV shows were actually inspired from films. If you consider yourself a fan of any of these shows, make sure you check out the movie that it was based on. Here are five TV shows that many don’t know were inspired by movies. 1. Bewitched The popular TV show was inspired by the 1942 film I Married A Witch. 2. M*A*S*H The movie was released in 1970 and the show didn’t come out until 1973. The iconic theme song was written by the director’s son, originally for the film. 3. Margie The program created in 1961 was based on the 1946 film of the same name. 4. Mr Lucky This 1959 TV show was based off a 1943 film of the same name, which starred Cary Grant and Laraine Day. 5. Passport to Danger The iconic film Casablanca inspired the show Passport to Danger, which starred Caesar Romero and ran from 1954-58.

The hidden UNO rule that no one knew about

UNO is a classic card game that many enjoy playing and is usually introduced to people at a young age by either family or friends. However, a lover of the game has taken the time to read the UNO rule book and has discovered one hidden rule that no one has mentioned before. “So it’s taken me 35 years on this earth to realise that I’ve been playing Uno wrong since I was a kid,” wrote LaToya in a Facebook post, alongside a picture of the rules. “Did y’all know that you can only play the Draw 4 Wild card IF you have NO other cards that can be played? AND if you suspect that someone has illegally played this card, they have to show you their hand. AND if they in fact played the card illegally they must draw 4, but If not, the person who challenged the play must DRAW 6?” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flatoya.stallings%2Fposts%2F2077807725579019&width=500" width="500" height="778" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> The post has gone viral as people are shocked about the secret twist. “OMG I had noooooo idea!” replied one woman on Facebook, “Mind officially blown!” “What? I’ve been playing this wrong my whole life,” wrote another. “Well damn I been playing wrong,” commented another player, “but I’m not switching it up.” Will you start playing with the new rule? Let us know in the comments below.

Mind

4 tips to help you learn the art of saying no

Saying no to an invitation or declining a request for a favour can be a difficult task for many people – especially those who like to please others – but it’s a good skill to have, because it could save you from getting roped into situations you’d rather avoid, or just plain don’t have time for. So here are some handy hints to help you learn the art of letting people down gently. 1. It’s not the end of the world Don’t think that you saying no to helping someone move house or politely declining a coffee catch up is going to devastate the other person. They likely have a backup (or several) they plan to ask, so try not to let guilt wash over you and ruin your day when you say no. 2. Little white lies help soften the blow This is especially helpful when declining romantic advances or breaking off a relationship. Fudging the truth can help ease the blow so that you don’t leave the other person a crumpled-up piece of paper lying on the floor because you value honesty over everything. Even if the decision was an easy one, tell them you struggled with it. If you don’t like their personality, tell them that the chemistry is off. But remember to be firm and direct so you don’t confuse the situation with mixed signals. 3. Use humour to lighten the moment When a friend or colleague asks you to do something you’d rather not do, a funny delivery can help soften the blow of a simple no. Even if you don’t have a “good reason” for turning them down, being funny will hopefully leave them with a smile on their face. This one depends upon a quick wit, so if landing a joke or coming up with something funny on the spot isn’t your thing, then this might not be your best option. <img src="http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Phoebe-Wishes-She-Could-But-Doesnt-Want-To-On-Friends-Gif.gif" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 20px 20px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, #eee 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, #eee 75%, #eee 100%),linear-gradient(45deg, #eee 25%, white 25%, white 75%, #eee 75%, #eee 100%);"/> 4. Don’t put it off If you know you’re going to say no to someone, then putting off that moment is just rude to the other person. If you need a little time to put together your response in a way that isn’t hurtful, then take that time, but don’t leave them dangling. Not only are you being impolite, you’re also denying them the opportunity to move along and ask someone else. What’s your best tip for letting someone down gently?

Relationships

10 classic kids’ books no one reads these days

Kids these days may have iPads and laptops and smartphones, but despite what you may have heard, they do indeed <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/2017/05/kids-prefer-to-read-books-on-paper-not-screens/" target="_blank">still love a good book</a>. What has changed, however, are the types of books they’re reading – after all, there are so many amazing picture books out there these days. While classics like Winnie-the-Pooh and The Very Hungry Caterpillar remain as popular as ever, some of our favourite reads from when we were little seem to have fallen out of favour with today’s young ones. So, we think it’s time to bring them back! This Christmas, introduce your grandkids to some of your childhood favourites. Scroll through the gallery above to see them and tell us in the comments, have the littlies in your life read any of these?

Books

10 travel tips that are no longer true

Just because a bit of travel advice was essential 10 years ago, doesn’t mean it applies today. As the world of travel continues to evolve, so too does the advice for what constitutes a good trip. 1. Print out extra copies of all your important documents The whole world has gone paperless – and that means travel too. Instead of carrying paper copies of your passport, visas or tickets, create digital copies and store them on a USB, on your laptop or email them to yourself. 2. Women shouldn’t travel alone In the age of equality, solo female travellers are having the time of their lives. As long as you follow some simple safety precautions, there’s no reason that international destinations are any more dangerous than your hometown. Get out there and explore, ladies! 3. Never eat street food Food is one of the great joys of travelling, so it’s a shame to miss out on anything. Street food gives you a real insight into a nation’s food culture and how the locals eat – plus it's super cheap. Choose somewhere that is busy (for quick food turnover), has lots of local customers and looks clean, then dig in. 4. Avoid touristy places We love the idea of discovering a hidden gem, but remember that touristy places are popular for good reason. Don’t write off Times Square or the Colosseum because it will be full of tourists – just plan ahead, leave lots of time and embrace the hectic atmosphere. 5. Stock up on traveller’s cheques Buying traveller’s cheques at the bank used to be an essential pre-trip errand. Now, you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere that takes them. Instead, look into pre-loaded travel money cards or use your own bank cards in international ATMs. 6. Carry your cash in a money belt Money belts used to be a traveller’s little secret. The problem is, any thief worth their salt now knows about them too. Pickpockets will go straight for them or more brazen thieves will demand you empty them. You are better off carrying minimal cash, using an inside pocket or taking a small zipped-up crossbody bag. 7. Everything is cheaper in duty free Those sprawling, brightly-lit stores in the airport are designed to make you part with your cash. It seems like everything is a good deal, but in reality the prices may not be that different to what you can find outside or online. If you want to buy, do your research first so you can make an accurate comparison. 8. Book your flight at a specified time Everyone used to have their ‘secret’ hack for getting the best flight price. But now that you can choose between airline sites, third party providers, travel agents and more – and you can access them all 24 hours a day, seven days a week – there’s really no best time anymore. Keep an eye out, set an alert and grab a good deal when you see it. 9. Tours are a waste of money Forget sitting on a big bus listening to a bored guide (or worse, a tape recorder) droning on about the city. Tours now are authentic, immersive and exciting – go behind the scenes of a legendary theatre, get an after hours tour of a museum, eat dinner in the home of a local chef or cycle through town with a history professor. The choices are endless. 10. Always take a registered taxi We’re not suggesting you jump in any random car, but Uber (or other apps like it) can be a lifesaver for travellers. If you don't speak the language or can’t make yourself understood, Uber let you type your destination straight into the map guaranteeing the driver will know where to go. Do you have any travel tips to share?

Travel Tips

Roger Federer’s shock decision will crown new men’s No. 1

Roger Federer has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open due to a back injury which means Rafael Nadal will be crowned as the new world No. 1 in next week’s rankings. Federer said he suffered the serious injury in Montreal, where he lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final. "I am very sorry to pull out of the Western and Southern Open as I always enjoy playing here," Federer said in a statement issued by the tournament. "Cincinnati has some of the best fans in the world and I am sorry I will miss them. Unfortunately, I tweaked my back in Montreal and I need to rest this week." This withdrawal guarantees Nadal will take the top of the rankings that will be issued on August 21. Nadal last held the position as No. 1 on July 6, 2014. The Spanish athlete first ascended to the top of the ranks in 2008 after reaching the Western and Southern semi-finals, a rank he held for 141 weeks. "It's been tough to get back to No.1," Nadal said. "I'm happy to have the chance to be in that position." Nadal will play Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. On Monday, Gasquet won against Australia’s John-Patrick Smith 6-4 6-4 in the tournament opener. Other players also advancing to the next round include Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic, Fabio Fognini, Mitchell Krueger and Spain’s Feliciano Lopez.

News

Dairy-free cashew nut and coconut cheesecake

Although this is not a true cheesecake, the texture and flavour of this cashew nut and coconut cheesecake are reminiscent of conventional “lemony” dairy cheesecakes. It is delicious and disappears quickly when it is made. Serves: 10–12 Ingredients: For the raspberry topping <ul> <li>2½ cups frozen raspberries, thawed</li> <li>2 tablespoons maple syrup or coconut nectar</li> </ul> For the crust <ul> <li>2 cups coconut flakes</li> <li>3–4 medjool dates, pitted</li> <li>Pinch of salt</li> <li>½ teaspoon pure vanilla essence (vanilla extract)</li> </ul> For the cheesecake filling <ul> <li>2 cups cashew nuts, soaked overnight and rinsed well</li> <li>1 cup lemon juice</li> <li>1 cup coconut cream</li> <li>Zest of 1 large lemon</li> <li>½ cup pure maple syrup or coconut nectar</li> <li>1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence (vanilla extract)</li> <li>¼ teaspoon salt</li> <li>2 dessertspoons psyllium husks</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>First, make the raspberry topping. Place the raspberries and maple syrup in a bowl and, using a fork, mash them together until well combined. Set aside.</li> <li>To make the crust, grind the coconut, dates, salt and vanilla in a food processor until the mixture becomes soft and sticks together.</li> <li>The coconut will start releasing its oil and this allows the mixture to stick together when the cheesecake is put in the fridge to set.</li> <li>Using a 30-cm (12-inch) pie dish, spoon the crust mixture into the dish and press it flat with your fingers to make the base. Place the crust in the freezer or fridge to set while you make the filling.</li> <li>To make the filling, combine all filling ingredients in a high-powered blender until silky and smooth.</li> <li>Remove the crust from the fridge and pour the filling evenly over it.</li> <li>Place the cheesecake in the fridge to set overnight or for a few hours at least.</li> </ol> Variations: <ul> <li>You can use blueberries instead of raspberries in the topping.</li> <li>For the crust, you can halve the amount of coconut and substitute this with ground almonds or ground macadamias instead.</li> <li>Instead of the lemon zest you can use 10 drops of organic lemon essential oil in the filling.</li> </ul> <img width="175" height="215" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34540/feed-your-brain-cover_175x215.jpg" alt="Feed Your Brain Cover (4)" style="float: right;"/> Extracted from Feed Your Brain by Delia McCabe <a href="http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/Feed-Your-Brain.html">(Exisle 2016).</a> Photography by Vanessa Russell. Available from <a href="http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/">www.exislepublishing.com.au</a> and wherever great books are sold. Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 175 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</a>.

Food & Wine

Simple no-bake Banoffee pie

Banoffee pie is a household favourite and this no bake recipe makes it a quick and easy treat. Serves: 8 Ingredients: <ul> <li>23cm diameter spring form cake tin</li> <li>250gm packet of Granita or Marie Biscuits</li> <li>125gm butter, melted</li> <li>495gm tin sweetened condensed milk</li> <li>50 gm or 2 ½ tablespoons of butter, cubed</li> <li>3 tablespoons or 60gm golden syrup</li> <li>4-5 firm bananas</li> <li>400ml cream, whipped</li> <li>50gm dark chocolate, grated</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Crush the biscuits in a food processor until you have fine crumbs then and add the melted butter. Process again to combine. The crumbs should stick together when squeezed.</li> <li>Press into the spring form cake tin halfway up the sides.</li> <li>Refrigerate while you make the filling.</li> <li>Place the cubed butter and the golden syrup into a saucepan and heat, stirring until melted.</li> <li>Add the tin of condensed milk and stir on medium heat for approximately 5-8 minutes until the mixture bubbles, thickens and starts to change colour.</li> <li>Remove from the heat and cool for a couple of minutes before pouring into the chilled crumb crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm.</li> <li>The pie can be made up to this point and finished when you are ready.</li> <li>Slice three bananas and mix them with the whipped cream.</li> <li>Pour into the tart shell on top of the chilled caramel and smooth down to a nice flat surface.</li> <li>Sprinkle chocolate shavings onto the top of the tart and then decorate with sliced banana.</li> </ol> Recipe courtesy of <a href="https://australianbananas.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Bananas</a>. You can find them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AustralianBananas/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/australianbananas/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 178 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/05/classic-sour-cherry-pie/">Classic sour cherry pie</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/limoncello-meringue-pie/">Limoncello meringue pie</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/02/blueberry-pie/">Blueberry pie</a>

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