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Explore. Dream. Discover: An Over60 Reader's epic journey

Many people travel to all corners of the earth, seeking new and exciting experiences, especially when we retire and are able to do so. Sometimes we can be pushed beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone but usually the experience is positive and often transformational. One popular destination for travellers who enjoy adventure is Sedona in Arizona, a town that nestles in a desert on the edge of red rock canyons. Nearby is Hopiland, home to the Hopi Indians. One of my most treasured memories occurred in this part of the world in 1990, on top of a desert mountain known as a mesa. The mesa rose thousands of feet above ground level and I climbed up there with a group of friends from Australia. As we reached the top, we began to hear the sound of drums and chanting coming from an underground cave. Our travel guide informed us that inside the cave, Hopi women and children huddled together on the dirt floor to watch their menfolk perform legendary rituals honouring their ancient ancestors. Since the ceremony was forbidden to tourists, we were given an hour to explore the top of the mesa. Moving a short distance away from the rest of the group, I sat down on a rock to fully absorb the nearby pulse of drums and chanting. A few minutes later, three young Hopi boys appeared and attempted to converse with me. Initially, I found it difficult to understand what they were saying until I realised they were actually inviting me to accompany them underground to join their tribal family. Throwing caution to the wind, I followed them down a rickety wooden ladder poking out of a hole in the ground. The atmosphere inside the cave was thick with burning sage combined with swirling dust from the pounding feet of men dancing, their heads hidden inside huge masks. Barefooted women and children squatted on the dirt floor and I felt very much an intruder as I squeezed myself amongst them. But, reassured by friendly smiles and head-nodding, I began to relax, absorbing the magical rituals of times past. Eventually the ancient ceremony ended, and I climbed the ladder back into the twentieth century, overcome by a newfound sense of humility and realisation of just how unimportant the wealth and material greed of Western society is. One can often rely on the unexpected to occur when travelling. During a visit to Egypt one year, our group emerged from the Temple of Isis to settle down and meditate on the bank of a nearby river when a military policeman appeared out of the bushes, clutching a large submachine gun. His other hand appeared to conceal something behind his back and as he drew closer, we noticed he had a second gun tucked into his belt. Terrified, we leapt to our feet. Then, his face breaking into a smile, he held out the hand from behind his back. Lying in its brown sinewy palm were eleven pink oleander blossoms, one for each of us. A moment of sheer terror switched instantly to one of absolute delight. Another example of ‘the unexpected’ occurred a few days later for a member of our group who had just turned eighty. All her life she had suffered with claustrophobia and its related anxiety and panic attacks. Consequently, when we visited the Great Pyramid to ascend the steep tunnel inside which would take us up to the King’s Chamber, we arranged for her to remain outside with our tour guide. But at the last minute she changed her mind, not wanting to miss out on such a special experience. By slowly crawling through the tunnel all the way up inside the Great Pyramid, she managed to achieve something she had never in her life believed possible. We celebrated her victory that night with champagne, lots of laughs and some hilarious attempts at belly dancing. A travel memory that always makes my grandchildren laugh is when I was visiting my friend Palden Jenkins, an historian who lives in Glastonbury. One day we set off for Snowdonia, North Wales, for a holiday. As we pulled up outside the 500-year-old stone cottage a farmer approached, urging us to be sure to leave a pot of tea outside every night for the Booka, the name given to Welsh brownies or elves. If we did this, he said, we would be assured of a hassle-free holiday. The Booka would not trouble us if we kept the cottage clean, left out the tea and didn’t have long noses. Words cannot describe the fun we two ‘grown-ups’ had in brewing tea every evening over an open fire to cater to the whims of Snowdonia’s faerie folk. Travelling the world can create change in our lives that we will never regret, opening our hearts, broadening our minds, and sometimes transforming our lives forever. To quote Mark Twain, ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did. So, sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream. Discover.’ This wonderful story, including the images, was sent in by Over60 Reader Jo Buchanan. Thank you, Jo, for sharing your adventure with us! If you have a Reader Story you would like to contribute to Over60, please send it to the editor via <a href="mailto:greg@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greg@oversixty.com.au</a>.

International Travel

The science of dreams and nightmares – what is going on in our brains while we’re sleeping?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/drew-dawson-13517">Drew Dawson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/madeline-sprajcer-1315489">Madeline Sprajcer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Last night you probably slept for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721816301292">seven to eight hours</a>. About one or two of these was likely in deep sleep, especially if you’re young or physically active. That’s because <a href="http://apsychoserver.psych.arizona.edu/jjbareprints/psyc501a/readings/Carskadon%20Dement%202011.pdf">sleep changes with age</a> and <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/apm/2017/1364387/">exercise</a> affects brain activity. About three or four hours will have been spent in light sleep. For the remaining time, you were likely in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. While this is not the only time your brain is potentially dreaming – we also dream during other sleep stages – it is the time your brain activity is most likely to be recalled and reported when you’re awake. That’s usually because either really weird thoughts or feelings wake you up or because the last hour of sleep is nearly all <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizaveta-Solomonova/publication/320356182_Dream_Recall_and_Content_in_Different_Stages_of_Sleep_and_Time-of-Night_Effect/links/5a707bdb0f7e9ba2e1cade56/Dream-Recall-and-Content-in-Different-Stages-of-Sleep-and-Time-of-Night-Effect.pdf">REM sleep</a>. When dreams or your alarm wake you, you’re likely coming out of dream sleep and your dream often lingers into the first few minutes of being awake. In this case you remember it. If they’re strange or interesting dreams, you might tell someone else about them, which may further <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-022-01722-7">encode</a> the dream memory. Dreams and nightmares are mysterious and we’re still learning about them. They keep our brains ticking over. They wash the thoughts from the day’s events at a molecular level. They might even help us imagine what’s possible during our waking hours. <h2>What do scientists know about REM sleep and dreaming?</h2> It’s really hard to study dreaming because people are asleep and we can’t observe what’s going on. Brain imaging has indicated certain <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079216300673#sec3">patterns of brain activity</a> are associated with dreaming (and with certain sleep stages where dreams are more likely to occur). But such studies ultimately rely on self-reports of the dream experience. Anything we spend so much time doing probably serves multiple ends. At the basic physiological level (indicated by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810021001409">brain activity, sleep behaviour and studies of conciousness</a>), all mammals dream – even the platypus and echidna probably experience something similar to dreaming (provided they are at the <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/07/the-creature-feature-10-fun-facts-about-the-echidna/#:%7E:text=It%20was%20long%20thought%20that,re%20at%20the%20right%20temperature.">right temperature</a>). Their brain activity and sleep stages align to some degree with human <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810021001409#b0630">REM sleep</a>. Less evolved species do not. Some <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468867319301993#sec0030">jellyfish</a> – who do not have a brain – do experience what could physiologically be characterised as sleep (shown by their posture, quietness, lack of responsiveness and rapid “waking” when prompted). But they do not experience the same physiological and behavioural elements that resemble REM dream sleep. In humans, REM sleep is thought to occur cyclically every 90 to 120 minutes across the night. It prevents us from sleeping too deeply and being <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4972941/">vulnerable to attack</a>. Some scientists think we dream in order to stop our brains and bodies from getting too cold. Our core body temperature is typically <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(22)00210-1/fulltext">higher while dreaming</a>. It is typically easier to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2147/NSS.S188911">wake from dreaming</a> if we need to respond to external cues or dangers. The brain activity in REM sleep kicks our brain into gear for a bit. It’s like a periscope into a more conscious state, observing what’s going on at the surface, then going back down if all is well. Some evidence suggests “fever dreams” are far less common than we might expect. We actually experience <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00053/full">far less REM sleep</a> when we have a fever – though the dreams we do have tend to be <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3830719/">darker in tone and more unusual</a>. Spending less time in REM sleep when we’re feverish might happen because we are far less capable of regulating our body temperature in this stage of sleep. To protect us, our brain tries to regulate our temperature by “skipping” this sleep stage. We tend to have fewer dreams when the weather is hot <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23744731.2020.1756664">for the same reason</a>. <h2>A deep-cleaning system for the brain</h2> REM sleep is important for ensuring our brain is working as it should, as indicated by studies using <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(17)31329-5.pdf">electoencephalography</a>, which measures brain activity. In the same way deep sleep helps the body restore its physical capacity, dream sleep “<a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(17)31329-5.pdf">back-flushes</a>” our neural circuits. At the molecular level, the chemicals that underpin our thinking are bent out of shape by the day’s cognitive activity. Deep sleep is when those chemicals are returned to their unused shape. The brain is “<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1241224">washed</a>” with cerebrospinal fluid, controlled by the <a href="https://theconversation.com/on-your-back-side-face-down-mice-show-how-we-sleep-may-trigger-or-protect-our-brain-from-diseases-like-als-181954">glymphatic system</a>. At the next level, dream sleep “tidies up” our recent memories and feelings. During <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC534695/">REM sleep</a>, our brains consolidate procedural memories (of how to do tasks) and emotions. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC534695/">Non-REM sleep</a>, where we typically expect fewer dreams, is important for the consolidation of episodic memories (events from your life). As our night’s sleep progresses, we produce more cortisol - the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2005-01907-021">stress hormone</a>. It is thought the amount of cortisol present can impact the type of memories we are consolidating and potentially the types of dreams we have. This means the dreams we have later in the night may be <a href="https://learnmem.cshlp.org/content/11/6/671.full.pdf">more fragmented or bizarre</a>. Both kinds of sleep help <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jb-Eichenlaub/publication/313545620_Daily_Life_Experiences_in_Dreams_and_Sleep-Dependent_Memory_Consolidation/links/5c532b0ba6fdccd6b5d76270/Daily-Life-Experiences-in-Dreams-and-Sleep-Dependent-Memory-Consolidation.pdf?ref=nepopularna.org">consolidate</a> the useful brain activity of the day. The brain also discards less important information. <h2>Random thoughts, rearranged feelings</h2> This filing and discarding of the day’s activities is going on while we are sleeping. That’s why we often dream about things that happen <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264574">during the day</a>. Sometimes when we’re rearranging the thoughts and feelings to go in the “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921176/">bin</a>” during sleep, our level of consciousness allows us to experience awareness. Random thoughts and feelings end up all jumbled together in weird and wonderful ways. Our awareness of this process may explain the bizarre nature of some of our dreams. Our daytime experiences can also fuel nightmares or anxiety-filled dreams after a <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams/how-trauma-can-affect-dreams">traumatic event</a>. Some dreams appear to <a href="https://rai.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2010.01668.x">foretell the future or carry potent symbolism</a>. In many societies dreams are believed to be a window into an <a href="https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1050&context=ijts-transpersonalstudies">alternate reality</a> where we can envisage what is possible. <h2>What does it all mean?</h2> Our scientific understanding of the thermoregulatory, molecular and basic neural aspects of dreaming sleep is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2716">good</a>. But the psychological and spiritual aspects of dreaming remain largely hidden. Perhaps our brains are wired to try and make sense of things. Human societies have always interpreted the random – birds wheeling, tea leaves and the planets – and looked for <a href="https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789047407966/B9789047407966-s003.xml">meaning</a>. Nearly every human society has regarded dreams as more than just random neural firing. And the history of science tells us some things once thought to be magic can later be understood and harnessed – for better or worse.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210901/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/drew-dawson-13517">Drew Dawson</a>, Director, Appleton Institute, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/madeline-sprajcer-1315489">Madeline Sprajcer</a>, Lecturer in Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-dreams-and-nightmares-what-is-going-on-in-our-brains-while-were-sleeping-210901">original article</a>.

Mind

"Am I dreaming?": Prince William serves up burgers from food van

The Prince of Wales has stunned a few unsuspecting customers of a London food truck by serving them burgers. In collaboration with popular YouTube channel Sorted Food, Prince William took part in the stunt to promote The Earthshot Prize, a mission he founded in hopes to repair the planet. They worked together to create a plant-based 'Earthshot burger', which they served to customers, in the clip shared on YouTube. As part of the stunt, Prince William first hid his identity by facing away from the customers, when it was time to serve the food, he turned around with burgers in hand to the shock of the diners. "My brain took three seconds to buffer - am I dreaming?" one said after seeing Prince William serving burgers. "I was lost for words," said another. "I was shell-shocked" said a third. The Prince of Wales also praised last year's Earthshot Prize winners, and explained that the dishes served used three of their innovations, which all represented a solution to help repair the planet. "For those of you who don't know, the Earthshot Prize is there to repair and regenerate the planet. Everything you see here comes from the winners from last year," he said. The ingredients for the burgers were sourced by Indian start-up Kheyti, who support local farmers and help shelter their crops from unpredictable weather events and pests. The burgers were cooked in a cleaner-burning portable stove from Mukuru Clean Stoves, which aims to reduce air pollution, and the food was served on Notpla takeaway containers made from natural and biodegradable materials. This is the verdict from the diners: "the best burger we've ever had." The Prince also joked with diners saying that the global Earthshot Prize started back when he "had hair." "It's designed as an environmental prize tackling the world's greatest environmental problems," he said. "We liked the idea that this is a big deal, this is like something we really need to aim for, but it's about saving the planet, not taking us to the moon." He added: "And there's many people out there who want us to move to the next planet already and I'm like, hang on, let's not give up on this planet yet." Images: Kensington Palace/ Sorted Food YouTube

Food & Wine

"I did it”: 59-year-old grandma finally scores dream Qantas job

A 59-year-old grandmother has gotten her big gig with Qantas after dreaming of being a flight attendant for about 40 years. Jackie Cookson is one of the airline’s latest recruits, having graduated on May 29, with her first flight scheduled for June 3. Cookson can now add flight attendant to her versatile resume, with her previously working as a travel agent, a receptionist on an oncology ward and a newspaper sales rep. The 59-year-old, who calls herself “crazy nana” has shared her journey on TikTok since her first interview with Qantas, through all the assessments and training and to her upcoming graduation. In January 2023, she posted her first video ahead of her first in-person interview with Qantas, which attracted more than half a million views, saying people might think she was crazy to apply given her age, but she was finally following her dreams. The grandmother-of-two revealed she had an interview at another airline when she was 20 years old but never went as she ended up getting married. “In my eyes then if you were married you couldn’t be cabin crew. How bloody stupid was that,” she said. She got the job and relocated from Perth to Sydney for her training. “Crazy nana is going to be a cabin crew, watch out!” she told her followers. Four months on saw Cookson standing proudly in her Qantas uniform, with her certificate in hand. “Can you believe it? Crazy nana’s gone and bloody done it, hasn’t she? I’ve passed, today I’ve graduated. I did it,” an elated Cookson said. “If I can do it, anyone else can do it. Follow your dreams. Don’t give up. Don’t be thinking ‘I’m too old’ or this or that. Look at me, I’ve got my wings.” Cookson, who is originally from England but has been living in Australia for about 30 years, told news.com.au that the older she got, the more she thought she may have missed her chance. “After Covid I took a year off and travelled the world, went back to see my 91-year-old dad in Yorkshire, and I applied while I was on holiday,” she said. “I haven’t studied for a long time, so it’s definitely been a challenge, but I put everything I’ve got into it and I’m thrilled to have gotten my wings. “I fly on my first flight to LA on Saturday. I’m nervous, like any first day on the job, but I know I’ll settle into it, but I’m mostly just really excited. I love people and I’m looking forward to working with our customers.” Image credit: TikTok

International Travel

What it means when your teeth fall out in a dream

Dreaming of your teeth falling out is never pleasant, but surprisingly and unfortunately they’re one of the most common types of dreams people experience and there are a few reasons why. 1. Insecurity or shame Dreams often represent feelings more than literal symbolism, and teeth falling out can represent issues with confidence and self-esteem. To interpret this dream, think about any areas of your life where you are experiencing shame or self-doubt. 2. Rebirth or transformation A theory popularised by renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung suggests that teeth falling out in a dream could represent a type of rebirth or transformation. Losing teeth is not necessarily a bad omen, but rather could be a sign of growth or positive changes, as adult teeth come in afterwards. 3. Loss or grief Losing teeth in a dream could represent a real-life loss or grief, and if the subconscious is trying to assimilate a real-life loss, it could lead to ‘losing’ things or parts of you in your sleep. 4. Lack of control Another popular idea is that losing your teeth in a dream is about control, more so a lack thereof. It’s important to consider if there is something in your life that makes you feel powerless, such as an issue out of your control or a sudden change. 5. Literal dental issues There is a possibility that dreaming of your teeth falling out could represent literal dental issues. Researchers in the Frontiers in Psychology study found that teeth dreams often correlated with dental irritation. Image credit: Shutterstock

Mind

What these 8 common dreams mean

If you dream of being a rock star who forgets their words, or you're seeing tigers – it could mean you have some bottled up stress to deal with. Dreams are open to interpretation, but New Zealand experts suggest these eight could give you some insight in to simmering stress levels. 1. Falling This is the most common recurring stress dream, according to Margaret Bowater, president of the Dream Network Aotearoa New Zealand. She says it's a metaphor about falling short, possibly falling out of favour, or maybe not living up to the expectations of yourself or others. 2. Being unprepared for a test Finding yourself unexpectedly sitting an exam with no idea of what you're doing comes from feeling you're not coping or unable to take control of the situation. Dreams like taking a test, or having to perform on stage and forgetting the words, indicate you're under pressure, Bowater says. "I used to be a teacher, so my typical stress dream was about the whole classroom getting out of control. I would be feeling powerless or helpless to manage a situation." 3. House falling down A house can signify the family unit, and how it is being affected. Dr Rosie Gibson, Research Officer at Massey University Sleep/Wake Research Centre, conducts research related to sleep and people with dementia. "Depending on what their background is, we've had reports of having dreams of a house falling down around them and relate that to not being able to look after their family, and possibly relate that to financial changes, or changes in family roles... I think that is reflective of their awareness of their condition and how it's impacting on their waking life." 4. Teeth falling out "It's about words that have fallen out of your mouth that you wish you hadn't said," explains Bowater, who has been running dream workshops for 30 years. "Three people who have asked me about that dream have been radio or tv presenters... Some dreams, you might even be stuffing them back in your mouth again." It could also indicate not being able to find the right words to express yourself. 5. Missing the plane Is the dream version of you not going to make a flight or bus journey? You could be fearful of missing deadlines – especially if you have a job that revolves around them, Bowater says. Gibson adds you're more likely to be the type of person who catches planes reasonably regularly. 6. Tigers Gibson says children are more likely see animals in dreams, with a "token stress creature" represented as a tiger or other scary animal, possibly chasing them. "My own repetitive stress dream as a child would be of a wolf jumping down my next-door neighbour's stairs and I'd wake up with that rush of stress and anxiety," she says. 7. Driving Not being able to steer a car is a conceptional dream that means you don't feel in control, and one you are more likely to have as an adult, according to Gibson. Bowater says on one occasion a man on a very strict diet indulged in a "cheat day" at a restaurant with friends, and paid the price later that night. "He had a dream about trying to wrestle control of a car which was going too fast downhill... it was clear he'd let his appetite get away with him." Other common stress dreams with cars involve it rolling backwards, sometimes towards a cliff edge. 8. Feeling trapped or lost Again, this is a conceptual dream where the dreamer considers themselves trapped in real life. Bowater recalls a young woman she worked with who was considering separating from her husband. She would dream of being stuck crossing the road halfway by the traffic. "A dream is trying to show, or repeat, something back to you," she says. "It's usually using concrete imagery for something that is not necessarily a concrete thing to say. Like anxiety - how do you show anxiety? You have to show a situation that portrays it." For example, being alone the woods or on unfamiliar roads translates into feeling lost and don't know where to go next. Written by Janan Jay. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Mind

“Just heartbreaking”: Woman’s dream win turned nightmare

Amelia Conway has opened up about her heartbreak after her dream car was snatched away from her in the middle of the night. The 22-year-old from Victoria received the $100,000 4WD when she was named the winner of a Hello Lifestyle Australia online charity raffle. Amelia had purchased $120 worth of tickets in the draw, and was delighted when she was announced as the proud new owner of the modified Widebody Y62 Nissan Patrol. Supposedly, all associated on-road costs were also included in her prize. Amelia lives in Colac, Victoria, and had to be flown to Queensland by Hello Lifestyle Australia to claim her vehicle. Flights weren’t in order for the return trip, with the excited pair driving Amelia’s new car all the way back home to Victoria. However, Amelia’s good time was destined to come to an abrupt end. Upon trying to transfer the car into her name, and to register it in her home state as necessary, she discovered that the vehicle was still under finance. It had been one of Amelia’s friends who suggested that she look into the “too good to be true” win, and do a Personal Property Securities Register check. “I thought maybe they had paid it out,” Amelia said of learning the vehicle had money owing, “and it's taken a little while to clear, but that wasn't the case.” February 1 marked the beginning of Amelia’s nightmare, with someone showing up at her home to repossess the car. “Randomly, without me knowing anything, at 8pm last night a guy showed up to repossess the car,” Amelia said of the incident in a Facebook post. In the time to follow, Amelia attempted to get in touch with Hello Lifestyle Australia to find out more about what was going on with the vehicle’s transfer, and to get clarification on the payment of all on-road costs. But those attempts were met with silence for the unfortunate 22 year old. Victoria Police also confirmed that they are investigating Amelia’s case, but faced a difficult time ahead, with Hello Lifestyle Australia’s website and social media accounts having been shut down. “The patrol is gone and I am trying to gather information through other people that have won anything through Hello Lifestyle Australia to take it a lot further,” she said of her ordeal, adding, “it’s not fair on myself or anyone else that has won anything through this company. It’s just heartbreaking.” However, in a delightful twist to Amelia’s tale, Car Hub Australia took it upon themselves to get involved and to “right others’ wrong”. After searching the country high and low for a new Nissan Patrol - a vehicle in high demand with waiting lists measuring in months - before finally locating one on the New South Wales south coast. The team then made their way from Western Australia to Wollongong, before driving the car all the way to Amelia at home in Victoria. And all the company had to say of their good deed was that they “know there’s a lot of companies out there that don’t do the right thing. “We hold ourselves to a higher standard.” Despite the eventual happy ending to Amelia’s woes, it appears that she was not the first victim of Hello Lifestyle Australia’s “raffles”. Aaron Edmundson, a father from Perth, claims that he had to spend over $7,000 on a car that he also “won” from them. While the company apparently claimed that they would cover all related costs, this wasn’t the case, with Aaron eventually selling the car. Images: Seven News / Facebook

Legal

One person’s cringe is another’s dream Spongebob proposal

Sometimes it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself, especially when it comes to the one of the most important days of your friend’s life, as one woman has learned the hard way. After witnessing her best friend’s “super cringey and uncomfortable” proposal, she was left with some feedback. Some feedback she felt compelled to share, though her friend - unsurprisingly - was not too thrilled with what she heard. Taking to Reddit’s ‘Am I the A***ole’ (commonly known as AITA), the woman asked other users for their take, wanting to find out if she really was in the wrong, as she just didn’t [get why she’s [her friend] so upset.” “My friend invited a group of us over for her birthday last night. During dinner, her bf leaves the room and comes back playing the harmonica,” she began, before explaining how it had seemed a little odd to her, but that she’d just assumed he was “showing off or something.” That was when things took a turn for the bizarre, with the groom-to-be switching out the harmonica to instead serenade his would-be fiancée with Spongebob’s ‘<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzGH_AtmfRw">Gary Come Home</a>’. She noted that he wasn’t a particularly good singer, and that everyone in the room appeared to have the same idea about how cringe-inducing the whole thing was. “After he finishes singing,” the woman continued, “he goes over to my friend [and] gets down on one knee and proposes. She said yes and we all congratulated her but the rest of dinner I was having severe second hand embarrassment.” These thoughts got the better of her in the end, and she went on to explain how she’d approached her friend while the two were cleaning up, and asked what she’d thought of the proposal, adding “I told her it was weird especially since she’s never watched/liked Spongebob. They haven’t really talked about marriage before so she was completely surprised and I told her that makes it even weirder.” Her friend was offended, and made the accusation that the original poster just wasn’t “happy for her”. “I pointed out [that] she seemed embarrassed too during his charade,” she said. It was then revealed that the two hadn’t spoken for the remainder of their evening, and that she still couldn’t understand why her friend had gotten upset, as “a proposal should be romantic, not whatever the f*** that was.” And of her question as to whether or not she was the bad guy in the situation, her fellow Redditors had plenty to say. “Are you the proposal police?” one asked. “It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of the proposal but your friend! When she asked you for your opinion all you had to do was say, ‘as long as you are happy I’m happy for you’ instead you went on a long tirade about how weird it was.” “What you feel is romantic could well be someone else’s version of horrific. It wasn’t your place to feel second hand embarrassment. It wasn’t your place to tell your friend it was weird,” another chastised. “If she was happy, you should have been happy for her, but instead you’ve made her upset. There was no need for you to do that.” One was of the mind that while yes, she had been out of line with her sharing her opinion, “that proposal was weird and the fiancé forced people to be a part of it with no heads up? It’s cool if they’re both into bad harmonica music and SpongeBob but keep the proposal private. Or let people know what they’re in for. “OP [original poster] deserves a trophy for not laughing during. The friend clearly knew it was weird, but asked anyway. OP should have bit her tongue and had this conversation later, but proposing before ever talking about marriage is also strange. Real friends can be honest with each other, but some more tact was needed.” Images: Getty

Relationships

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck splurge on their new dream home

The gruelling search for a new home has come to an end for celebrity couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, with a multi-million dollar Los Angeles mansion reportedly stealing their hearts - and their wallets. Jennifer and Ben were spotted viewing the property this past weekend, and brought their kids along to get a second, third, and fourth opinion from their children - Jennifer’s twins, Emma and Maximillan, and Ben’s daughter, Seraphina. The home, set on an entire acre of land surrounded by Sycamore trees, boasts seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a six-car garage, a home theatre, an entire detached guesthouse, and a price tag of almost $50 million ($34.5m USD and $49.4m AUD). “The estate showcases the highest level of immaculate detail, timeless craftsmanship and design,” the home’s listing read. “Immerse yourself in a world of tranquillity with the feel of a meadow-like retreat surrounded by towering Sycamore trees." The luxuries don’t stop there, with the 2022 Palisades build also featuring a temperature-controlled wine cellar, a gym, a health spa, a pool, hot tub, and entire outdoor kitchen. Prior to finding their dream home, Jen and Ben had been looking at properties of an even higher price range - some reportedly as much as $85m USD (~$123m AUD). Although the price is enough to see many run the other way, it wouldn’t have come as a shock to Jennifer, who listed her nine-bedroom property in Bel-Air for $42.5m USD ($61m AUD) earlier this month. Jennifer had been in the French-style home for six years, and originally purchased it for $28m USD ($40m AUD). Meanwhile, Ben sold his seven-bedroom Pacific Palisades mansion last year, fetching just shy of $30m USD ($43m AUD). “They are looking forward to making the home their own and having a place together,” a source revealed to Entertainment Tonight when the couple began their search in 2022. “They are also planning to decorate it together and any renovations that they choose to do will be theirs together.” "Jen and Ben are excited to further solidify their relationship and take this next step,” they added. “At this point, they know they are meant to be together and they are prepared to elevate their relationship in this way and include their families in the process and bring everyone together as a healthy unit. It will be great for the kids and everyone is excited and can't wait to get even closer.” Images: Realtor.com, Getty

Real Estate

“My home away from home”: Pink’s dream Down Under

Pop superstar Pink has revealed that she’s open to the idea of trading in the United States for a life in Australia. While appearing on 60 Minutes, the 43-year-old singer shared that she has had serious thought about becoming an Australian citizen. “Last year I was thinking about applying for citizenship,” she confessed, “I am not even joking.” “You should! You’re practically an Aussie,” 60 Minutes reporter Amelia Adams encouraged. “I was like ‘if we’re going somewhere, Carey, we’re going–’ and he’s like ‘yep, that’s where we’re going, if we’re going somewhere’, so, I was kinda looking into it,” Pink explained. The star, who lives in Santa Barbara with her husband, Carey Hart, and their children - Willow, 11, and Jameson, 6 - is no stranger to Australia, boasting thousands of fans and a history of successful touring in the country. Most recently, Pink has announced that her Summer Carnival Tour will hit Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2024, set to span seven cities and their stadiums. She has previously only taken to the stage in arena-sized venues, so 2024 will mark her first Australian stadium tour, an exciting prospect for any musician and their supporters. “Bringing it back to where it all started for me… Australia and New Zealand!” Pink captioned her tour announcement Tweet, “Summer 2024 can’t come soon enough!” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Bringing it back to where it all started for me… Australia and New Zealand! Summer 2024 can’t come soon enough! 😎 <a href="https://t.co/1dun5H8oYd">https://t.co/1dun5H8oYd</a> <a href="https://t.co/JREWE9GM30">pic.twitter.com/JREWE9GM30</a> — P!nk (@Pink) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1623398740596760581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> Pink has not performed in Australia since 2018, when she was in the country for her Beautiful Trauma tour. It seems that distance really has made the heart grow fonder for the singer. The announcement isn’t the only time in recent years that Pink has demonstrated her love for Australia. In 2020, the singer pledged a donation of $500,000 to fire services on the frontline of the year’s devastating summer bushfires. This was after she had already declared them to be heroes, and thanked them for their service, as well as others all across the globe. In that same year, Pink described Australia to be her “second home”. “I can’t wait to bring the Summer Carnival Tour to my home away from home,” the singer announced last week of her delight at getting to visit once again, “and smile and sing together until our cheeks hurt.” Whether or not Pink and her family decide to make the move, it seems safe to say that Australia will always hold a special place in their hearts. Image: Getty

Music

Lucid dying - what some patients experience as they’re going through CPR

A study of people who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in hospital has found that some of them had what’s being dubbed “lucid experiences of death,” accompanied by spikes in brain activity. The research found that roughly one in five CPR survivors described unique experiences, including feeling separated from their bodies, observing the events without pain or distress, and a meaningful evaluation of life. These experiences were different to hallucinations, dreams, or CPR-induced consciousness, according to the researchers, who presented their findings at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2022 conference. The international team of researchers collected data on 567 patients whose hearts stopped beating, in UK and US hospitals, between May 2017 and March 2020. While they were all treated immediately, fewer than 10% of these people were ultimately discharged from hospital. In addition to hearing the patients’ experiences, the researchers observed spikes in brain activity – specifically, in so-called gamma, delta, theta, alpha and beta waves. In some cases, these activity spikes were observed when CPR had been going on for up to an hour. “These recalled experiences and brain wave changes may be the first signs of the so-called near-death experience, and we have captured them for the first time in a large study,” says lead investigator Dr Sam Parnia, an intensive care physician and associate professor in the Department of Medicine at New York University Langone Health, US. “Our results offer evidence that while on the brink of death and in a coma, people undergo a unique inner conscious experience, including awareness without distress.” While plenty of people have personal accounts of near-death experiences before, they’re difficult to judge empirically. “These lucid experiences cannot be considered a trick of a disordered or dying brain, but rather a unique human experience that emerges on the brink of death,” says Parnia. It may be linked to disinhibition – the release of barriers in the brain as it shuts down. The researchers are keen to investigate the lucid dying experiences further. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/lucid-dying-cpr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

Mind

King Charles and Camilla make young boy’s dream of meeting them come true

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have made a young boy’s dreams come true after he reached out with a letter. Jason Tweedie-Long, 5, from York, wrote a letter to the royals letting them know that he’s worried he won’t be able to see them due to his vision impairment. The letter was sent to York Council and forwarded to Buckingham Palace before the King and the Queen Consort decided on making young Jason’s day. The pair were in the English city to unveil the first statue of the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II since her death in September. Soon after, it was arranged for Jason to meet the Royals who held his hand and posed for a photo the extremely happy fan. “Thank you to @RoyalFamily for their special meeting with young resident Jason who is visually impaired. He was thrilled to meet the King and Queen Consort today whilst they visited York,” the council tweeted. During his speech when unveiling the late monarch’s statue, the King explained that it was intended for the celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, but will remain in her memory. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thank you to <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyalFamily</a> for their special meeting with young resident Jason who is visually impaired. He was thrilled to meet the King and Queen Consort today whilst they visited York. <a href="https://t.co/Vx8nol1mrH">pic.twitter.com/Vx8nol1mrH</a> — City of York Council (@CityofYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofYork/status/1590323338756300800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></blockquote> “When this statue was first planned five years ago, during a reign of unprecedented duration and achievement, it was intended as a celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee,” the King said. “Now, as we have witnessed, with great sadness, the passing of that reign, it is unveiled in her memory, as a tribute to a life of extraordinary service and devotion. “The creation of this statue is also, if I may say so, a tribute to the support, affection and prayers that the community of this cathedral, and of this great city, always gave the late Queen, and all for which she stood in the life of the nation and the Commonwealth. “The late Queen was always vigilant for the welfare of her people during her life. Now, her image will watch over what will become Queen Elizabeth Square, for centuries to come - a constant example of the duty and care for others, and for our community, which is the calling and the duty we all share.” Image: Twitter

Caring

Sounds great: Scientists are manipulating dreams to prevent nightmares

It’s estimated that at any given time, around 4% of adults suffer <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/one-side-of-your-brain-might-be-giving-you-nightmares/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic nightmares</a> but researchers in Switzerland have a new approach which will be music to the ears of night-terror-sufferers. Basing their study on the relationship between the types of <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-kids-when-do-they-stop-being-normal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotions experienced in dreams</a> and our emotional well-being, researchers have investigated how to help people by manipulating emotions in their dreams. Traditional methods to help chronic nightmare patients involves ‘imagery rehearsal therapy’, during which they are coached to rehearse the dream scenario during the day and redirect it towards a more positive ending. A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11818-021-00320-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2021 study</a> of 28 participants showed 3 in 5 patients benefitted from this approach, however, it doesn’t work for everyone. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p220659-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> In a <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(22)01477-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study from Geneva University</a>, over a two-week period, researchers asked a group of 18 patients to create an association between the positively redirected version of their dream and a sound during an imagination exercise. The patients then wore wireless headbands during night which would play the specific sound during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep – when <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nightmare-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353515" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nightmares typically occur</a>. When compared to 18 patients who undertook only the image rehearsal therapy, those who received the combined rehearsal and sound therapy had fewer nightmares. This trend continued even after three months post-intervention, with those receiving combination therapy also reporting experiencing more positive emotions such as ‘joy’ in their dreams. “We were positively surprised by how well the participants respected and tolerated the study procedures, for example performing imagery rehearsal therapy every day and wearing the sleep headband during the night,” says Lampros Perogamvros, senior author of the study and a psychiatrist at the Sleep Laboratory of the Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva. “We observed a fast decrease of nightmares, together with dreams becoming emotionally more positive. For us, researchers and clinicians, these findings are very promising both for the study of emotional processing during sleep and for the development of new therapies.” <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=220659&title=Sounds+great%3A+Scientists+are+manipulating+dreams+to+prevent+nightmares" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/sounds-great-preventing-nightmares/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Clare Kenyon. Image: Getty Images </div>

Mind

Like father, like son: Man’s sky-high dreams come true

Having dreamt of being a pilot just like his dad since he was a boy, Luke Schembri’s dream has come true in the sweetest way possible. After becoming a fully-fledged commercial airline pilot, the 23-year-old found out that his first flight from Melbourne to Sydney came with a surprise: his dad, Jetstar captain John, would be joining him on the flight deck for his debut trip. "I freaked out and gave him a quick call and asked him 'how did this happen?'" Luke told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/son-to-fly-first-commercial-flight-alongside-dad-copilot/9f89ad30-e337-4686-beaa-bfaadbb85453" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. "He told me the story, that he's been planning it for three months." Luke’s dream of flying with his dad and following in his footsteps has been a long time coming, with the signs appearing from the start according to John. "When kids like something, you can tell, because their eyes light up when we'd be in the backyard and the aeroplane would fly over," John said. "I knew then that Luke had the bug, because I still do that." At the age of 14, Luke joined the Air Force Cadets, which led him to receiving a cadetship with Jetstar. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/luke-schembri1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Luke Schembri’s dream of flying a plane with his pilot father has come true, and it’s been a long time coming. Images: Facebook With his dream in reach, Luke hit a major snag: the COVID-19 pandemic. Luke was stood-down during the pandemic and worked at Coles as a shelf stacker. Luckily, the aviation enthusiast was able to return to work at Jetstar, where he continued training and became a pilot. His first flight was a success, with John giving his son five stars and saying that he was “100 percent” proud. "[He] picked me up on a few things I missed. He did a really good job," John said. “[I] don't need to add any more that, very proud, how could you not be?" Image: Nine

Domestic Travel

Train driving dream comes true for brain tumour survivor

Three years after doctors found a large tumour growing in his brain, seven-year-old Broly Blackmore has seen his dream of becoming a train driver come true. The young boy from Hallett, South Australia, had the tumour removed when he was just four years old after he collapsed and was rushed to hospital by helicopter. If it wasn’t removed that night, doctors told his mother, Corrine Maidment, that he wouldn’t make it. In the years since, Broly’s life has become relatively normal, albeit with regular brain scans and physio trips - and he has had his wish of driving a train granted by the Starlight Foundation. The seven-year-old went on a trip on the Pichi Richi steam train, travelling from Quorn to Port Augusta as a “trainee train driver”. "Ever since he was only a couple of months old everything has always been about trains … diesels aren't as good as steam trains apparently," Ms Maidment said, adding that he barely slept the night before the big day. "According to everyone in the train, they weren't allowed to do anything without his say so … at one point, he told the fireman, the guy who does the coal, 'That's my seat. I need to sit there'. "He was boss for the day." The Pichi Richi railway, an outback steam train experience that has been operating since 1973, later shared a sweet photo of Broly on the train. “Last Sunday, Pichi Richi Railway was able to grant a wish for a very special visitor, 7 year old Broly who was having his wish granted with help from Starlight Children's Foundation Australia’s ‘Wishgranting Program’,” the railway <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PichiRichiRailway/posts/pfbid032C45MeP339xWYPL321ZTFjXXsehYJh7pWe2xkX812DkCLCBZgZyp8UVNGVzF7ztvl">wrote</a>. “Broly loves trains so Starlight contacted Pichi Richi Railway and Broly was lucky enough to ride in the cab of engine W934 for the day with our crew on the Pichi Richi Explorer service. “A very special day for our crew, Broly and his family.” Although Broly’s wish was given to him while he was in hospital, Ms Maidment said they had waited until he was old enough to decide how he wanted to spend it. "He's had the wish sitting there since he was in the hospital ... but we wanted to wait until he was old enough to make a decision himself so he'd know what the wish was and he'd remember it," she said. Images: Blackmore family, Starlight Foundation, Pichi Richi Railway (Facebook)

Caring

These 13 bizarre facts about dreams might keep you up at night

We all do it Dreaming is a natural brain function, and all human beings do it. But some people never remember their dreams, according to experts. Your dreams have meanings as well. You become sexually aroused Psychologists say that both men and women become sexually aroused while dreaming (even if the dream has no sexual content). Smoking can affect your dreams People who have quit a longtime smoking habit report having very vivid dreams for several weeks after stopping. Time spent dreaming Average amount of time spent dreaming per night: 1.5 to 2 hours. Some people dream during the day as well. Schizophrenics experience ‘waking dreams’ Scientists believe schizophrenics suffer from irregular REM sleep, and that the hallucinations and delusions they experience may actually be ‘waking dreams.’ Nightmares during pregnancy are good Studies show that women who experience nightmares during pregnancy have easier births than women who don’t. Dreams tend to be negative Negative emotions, such as anxiety, are more commonly felt during dreams than positive ones. Joy, mirth, music The Old English word dream, which etymologists believe is the origin of our word dream, meant ‘joy,’ ‘mirth,’ or ‘music.’ The soul is awake The Raramuri people of northern Mexico believe that dreams are the result of one’s soul ‘waking’ or ‘sobering,’ and seeing the world more clearly than usual. (Raramuri families often wake up and discuss their dreams during the night.) The longest dreams happen in the am The longest dreams – up to 45 minutes long – usually occur in the morning. Birds also dream Birds, like humans, experience rapid eye movement (REM) during sleep and show brain wave activity similar to that of humans. This suggests that birds dream. Reptiles also dream Reptiles also experience brain activity during sleep that suggests they too may dream. (Fish do not.) One US president dreamed that he was paralysed For most of his life, US President Lyndon Johnson had nightmares that he was paralysed. Maybe it was hinting at something? Written by Bathroom Readers Institute. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/sleep/these-13-bizarre-facts-about-dreams-might-keep-you-up-at-night" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Shutterstock

Mind

Michael Bublé's dream to become a full-time dad

Iconic singer Michael Buble has started to hint to fans that he may be quitting music soon to pursue being a full-time father. The singer, 46, has sold over 75 million records worldwide and says he is “not loving” his career as much as he should and wants to spend more time with his wife Luisana Lopilato, 35, and children Noah, Elias, Vida and Cielo, his youngest who was born last month. Speaking on That Gaby Roslin Podcast, he said: “I think i'm not loving it as much, I think i’m getting close to thinking maybe I can just go and bed a dad. "I have this picture in my head, of just me in a field with my kids and Ed Sheeran's kids and we're just hugging each other and picnicking and getting drunk." Bublé is currently preparing to head on another world tour late September. He said he often has to remind himself how lucky he is if he is not "feeling" his work. He added that the idea of becoming a full-time dad was a "fantasy", with few people "brave" enough to make the choice. Bublé said: "I don't know a friend who doesn't have the same thought, I mean we never do it. We never seem to really do it, very few of us are brave enough to say, 'No, I just want to do this’, but I think it's a fantasy." He has previously taken two years off when his eldest son Noah was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016, before the boy made a full recovery. In the past he has claimed he would have been more successful if he had not started a family, and thinks about what could have been "all the time”. Image: Getty

Family & Pets

Dream home turns into nightmare for scam victims

A Queensland couple who thought they had snapped up the home of their dreams have been left devastated after they lost almost $40,000 to a “cunning” email scammer instead. When Mitch Wilson and Penny Davies received an email from what appeared to be their real estate agent’s email address, they believed they were following their agent’s advice to then transfer the deposit for their house into a bank account. “It plays over and over in my head all of the time,” Ms Davies said. “We got an email from the real estate agent we had been dealing with, from their email account, saying in light of the contract please pay money to this account,” Mr Wilson told 9News. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/receipts.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The couple lost nearly $40,000 after receiving the fraudulent email (left), realising their costly mistake while messaging the actual real estate agent (right). Images: 9News After transferring the $39,000 sum, they thought nothing of it until the agent contacted them several days later asking where the funds were. “We went back and forth, we exchanged screenshots and emails from their side and ours, and what was obvious is the money didn’t go where it was supposed to go which was their account,” Mr Wilson said. “(It) ended up in some fraudster‘s account and then offshore to a crypto account.” But, the couple aren’t the only victims of this kind of scam, which police refer to as an email compromise scam. The scammers infiltrate an email account and use it to send emails to victims - making it difficult to identify that they are being scammed. Constance Hall, a mummy blogger, told news.com.au she felt “stupid” after losing thousands of dollars to the scam after she transferred money via a link sent from the real estate agency that managed the rental property she believed she was paying a deposit for. When she contacted the bank, she was told that the chance of recovering the funds was minimal as she had authorised the transaction, and that she should report it to the police. In the end, only $7.57 was recovered. “To have it all stolen in an instant … felt unbelievably unfair,” she said. Ian Wells, of Queensland Police’s Cyber Crime Group, told 9News: “These people with these skills, they‘re very cunning, they’re very calculated.” Police are advising home buyers to contact the business before paying invoices online to confirm bank account numbers, as the hackers change the bank accounts in invoices sent by business owners before forwarding the altered invoices to unsuspecting customers. Victims are also urged to contact their bank as soon as possible to report the fraudulent transaction. As for businesses impacted by the scams, the Australian Cyber Security Centre advises that they report the incident at <a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report</a>, alert other employees and clients, and report the breach to their email service provider. Image: 9News

Real Estate

Ukrainian refugees living “better than they dreamed” on Scottish cruise ship

More than 100 Ukrainian refugees arriving in Scotland are calling a cruise ship in Edinburgh their new home, with those aboard praising the extensive amenities and nods to their home country. Families began moving onto the MS Victoria at the end of July, which can host up to 1,700 people and includes restaurants, children’s play areas, shops, a laundry, support services and free Wi-Fi among its onboard amenities. Though that might be standard fare for cruise passengers, there have been some extra touches made to help those onboard feel more at home. Nikol Bilous told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-62346573" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC Scotland</a> the ship came with access to Ukrainian TV channels, which came as a surprise since “you never find that when you go on holiday”. "All the signs are in Ukrainian on the ship and most of the staff are Ukrainian,” the 19-year-old said. "And last night we had Borscht beetroot soup, our national dish, we couldn't believe it. "The conditions on the ship are better than we could have dreamed of and we are very grateful to the Scottish people for this accommodation.” Bilous added that there were also cinemas and theatres on board, but there were issues with the lights which haven’t worked after the Covid lockdowns. “But we don't need entertainment and were very surprised they were trying to do all this for us," she said. "Edinburgh Council has been on board all the time answering any questions we have, so we have felt 100% supported. "The rooms are quite small but they are perfect and we are very happy and grateful." Since the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-imminent-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian invasion of Ukraine began</a> earlier this year, more than 10,500 people have travelled from Ukraine to Scotland. The Scottish government says that new arrivals are met with a network of “welcome hubs”, moving into temporary accommodation such as the MS Victoria or a hotel until alternative housing is arranged. The MS Victoria is docked at all times and guarded, with residents able to arrive and leave whenever they like. Other families, including Tanya Munawar, her husband Khashif, and their five-year-old daughter Marcia, told the BBC they were given “a very warm welcome” when they arrived in Scotland and hoped to settle in the local area. "I'm an immigration consultant and since we arrived here on 26 July I have been trying to find us accommodation to rent and a job,” Khashif said. "I've been applying to hotels to be a housekeeping supervisor. We plan to stay here and work. It really helps that we can speak English. "My daughter is small and is feeling good, as long as she is with her parents she won't be affected by this." Image: Marko Stampehl (AS Tallink Group)

Cruising

UK woman takes home from dump to dream starting with just £1

A UK woman has shown how she took a derelict property from a dump to a dream address, having paid just £1 ($NZ 1.93). Maxine Sharples was still a university student when she successfully bid for a ramshackle Victorian terrace in Liverpool under the council-run Homes for Pound Scheme. The scheme allowed residents to pay just £1 for a derelict home on the condition that they would renovate it, per <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-transforms-1-house-dream-27496752" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mirror</a>, and was so popular that 2500 people applied for just 106 houses. But, when Ms Sharples was handed the keys to her new home four years later, she admitted she was worried about how she would fund the work, particularly given that new owners had just 12 months to renovate according to <a href="https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/homeless-woman-turned-1-house-24498719?_ga=2.75979477.1998441293.1658101018-39617459.1654734058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Liverpool Echo</a>. Ms Sharples was able to take longer due to Covid restrictions, telling local news she spent £60,000 ($NZ 115,000) to bring the home up to a livable standard and transform it into a sweet first home. She now has about £10,000 ($NZ 19,270) left to spend to enhance the property further. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/uk-woman-house1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Maxine Sharple, a 35-year-old yoga teacher, bought her first home for just £1, but had to put in plenty of work to get it up to scratch. “Although initially I didn’t have the funds, I applied anyway and thought, ‘I’ll cross that bridge’ if I was shortlisted. In 2019, four years later, I got a phone call to ask if I was still interested in a home for a pound,” Ms Sharples told the Echo. Though she has walked away with the deal of a lifetime, it was a difficult journey to get her home to where it is now. Ms Sharples lived in a caravan during the renovations and had to do plenty of work herself. “It has taken me 27 arduous months to get it signed off. It was gruelling, I couldn't have been more naive about the process,” she said. “As a yoga teacher I couldn’t have been less experienced in construction management. “With tradespeople in short supply, I took to a lot of labouring myself.” Going beyond just updating the interior and façade, Ms Sharples changed the layout to make the home lighter and more airy. “I began the rip out by myself. It took me nine months to get the house back to brick with a rotary hammer and borrowed electricity from my neighbours,” she said. “A hole in the roof meant a tree had taken root, water ingress, asbestos, rat infestations, you name it, it had it all.” Images: The Liverpool Echo

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