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"Holy crap that's rude": Inflight act sparks outrage

<p dir="ltr">A woman’s “selfish” act has sparked outrage online after a Reddit user shared a picture of her mid manicure on a three-hour flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Reddit user who posted the photo also claimed that the strong smell of nail polish remover filled the cabin and many other passengers had asked her to stop, but she refused.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The flight attendant asked her after four of us asked her to stop and she didn’t, because by the time the flight attendant got involved she was doing the top coat,” the Reddit user wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Initially, the Reddit user said they did “the British thing” by glaring at the back of the woman’s head and “tutting loudly” in hopes that she would put it away.</p> <p dir="ltr">But eventually the passenger had enough of the overpowering smell of acetone and asked a flight attendant to intervene.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many other travellers replied to the Reddit post condemning the woman’s actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My brain can’t comprehend this level of entitlement and selfishness,” wrote one user.</p> <p dir="ltr">I love doing my nails, but I would never do them in such an enclosed space where people can't escape the fumes. Holy crap that's rude,” commented another user.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would have been SEETHING. Imagine if people near her had asthma,” wrote a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I detest the smell of acetone and other chemicals used for the process of finger nail decoration. Headache within seconds,” commented a fourth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happened on a flight I was on; a flight attendant came over and shut that down within a minute for degrading the air quality,” commented another traveller.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another user questioned whether nail polish was even allowed in cabin luggage.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How is nail polish and nail polish remover allowed on a carry on bag??? Both are highly flammable and both give off ridiculous amounts of fumes,” they commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few other Reddit users didn’t see a problem with it and wondered why it would bother other people.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I didn’t see the issue at first ... I think nail varnish smells lovely, I’m just now learning that most people do not share my opinion,” commented one user.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I still don’t personally see the big deal, but I’m not particularly sensitive to chemical scents,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Reddit</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Pilot’s holy grail tips to overcome your fear of flying

<p dir="ltr">A US pilot has shared her five top tips to help nervous travellers ease their pre-flight anxiety. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 32-year-old captain said there are a few things passengers can do, such as picking the perfect time to fly and selecting your seat carefully, to make air travel a breeze. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Boeing 737 pilot who calls herself “Captain Morgan”, said anxious travellers should always book a seat in the front of the plane.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Try to sit more towards the front of the plane,” Morgan said in a TikTok video.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You’ll feel the effects of turbulence less if you sit over the wing or towards the front.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She also said that flying early in the morning is bound to make a flight easier. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s usually less turbulence and airports and airplanes are less crowded, which gives you more personal space,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">For solo travellers, Morgan suggested a no-brainer way to distract yourself in the air. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If you can’t fly with a family member or friend, have someone on the ground you can text. Most planes have free texting. You’ll have someone for moral support and they can distract you from flying,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can turn your phone to Airplane Mode but turn on the Wi-Fi. Then you text over the Wi-Fi with either iMessage or WhatsApp for free.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Morgan said you can mentally prepare yourself for what to expect by “learning the sounds the plane makes”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Familiarise yourself with the sounds of the airplane,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For example, when you’re getting close to landing at the airport, the thud you hear is usually just the landing gear coming down.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Morgan said her number one tip for anxious flyers is to “introduce yourself to the flight crew”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If the flight attendants know you’re nervous, they can check on you more during the flight,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you go talk to the pilots, they can tell you a bit more about the flight. For example, if we are expecting any turbulence. Just ask the flight attendant in the galley if you can meet and talk to the pilots. It might not be a long conversation but we can still chat.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She added, “More than likely we will give you a tour of the flight deck and answer all your questions.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Professional cleaner shares her holy grail products

<p dir="ltr">A professional cleaner has shared her holy grail products, revealing what she would never use to clean with and what she would use for alternatives. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 22-year-old cleaner and business owner hit the cleaning aisle of her local supermarket to suggest swapping out some popular products for “better results” and to make cleaning “simple, cost effective and less toxic”.</p> <p dir="ltr">She would never use products like Ajax Spray N' Wipe, Windex glass cleaner, Easy Off soap scum remover and White King two-in-one mould and soap scum remover.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cleaner, who owns <a href="https://www.spotoncleaningsydney.com/">Spot On Cleaning Sydney</a>, first suggested swapping Ajax Spray N' Wipe for Morning Fresh washing up liquid mixed with water. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said that mixing a small amount of dishwashing liquid with water would produce better results on commonly used surfaces. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also said the solution works better than Windex to get glass surfaces sparkling without the need to buy different products. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her next tip was to swap Easy Off soap scum spray for Bar Keepers Friend, which is a 'better alternative for built up soap scum and water stains'.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman also recommended swapping out White King two-in-one mould and soap scum spray for Selleys rapid mould killer for better, longer lasting results. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her followers were thrilled with the cleaning hacks, with one person calling her a “life saver” after following her cleaning tips. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another follower said, 'Yes! Dishwashing liquid is literally so great for cleaning so many things. Surface cleaners only leave residue when not wiped off after spraying.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the flood of praise, others were concerned that using dishwashing liquid won’t have the same germ-fighting results as sprays. </p> <p dir="ltr">“But dish liquid won't kill surface germs like surface spray?” one woman asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">However the cleaner assures her it “absolutely” will, “after all it is designed to clean dishes and kill bacteria,” she wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Catriona Rowntree shares holy grail travel tips

<p dir="ltr">After 25 years gallivanting around the world as the host of <em>Getaway</em>, Catriona Rowntree knows a thing or two about travelling. </p> <p dir="ltr">She has scoped out every corner of the globe from Canberra to Canada, and Sydney to Spain, with the 51-year-old veteran travel journalist sharing some of her holy grail tips to make travelling a breeze. </p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona sat down with <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/catriona-rowntree-travel-hacks-75162">TV Week</a> to share her hacks on flying well, packing like an expert and planning your travel itinerary with ease. </p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to curing jet-lag, she says it all comes down to where you’re heading. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said, “Use your phone to find out what the time is where you're going to and plan your sleep according to that. The day you leave, go for a walk, and try to get as much vitamin D as you can.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you land, repeat that. Don't fall asleep until after 8pm, don't nap during the day, and avoid leaving your phone by your bed (the blue light isn't your friend).”</p> <p dir="ltr">After being a seasoned luggage packer, Catriona said the answer to perfectly packed bags lies in preparation, as well as simple trial and error. </p> <p dir="ltr">She says, “I prep a week before I leave: I add, I subtract, take nothing that needs to be ironed, stuff socks into shoes, stick to three colours and add a fold-out bag (like a Longchamp) in case I do extra shopping.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to carry-on bags, Catriona has a list of essentials she will never leave behind. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Wet Ones, a Band-Aid, Lanolips, a moisture spritzer, hand sanitiser (Bondi Wash), emery board, Panadol and magnifying mirror (Change Skincare has a light-up one), she said.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“For [overseas], I do pack extra knickers, deodorant, Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm, socks and Cetaphil wipes. Anything to avoid the cabin loo.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Planning your itinerary carefully is key to any successful holiday, with Catriona saying the best way to find hidden gems is through social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Go to Instagram, hashtag where you're going, see what's popular, what they're wearing and what's respectful. Then look up the weather app to see what temperatures you're heading into. Boom, your phone is key,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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“Less is more”: Skin doctor shares her holy grail skincare routine

<p dir="ltr">A skin and cosmetic doctor has shared her holy grail skincare routine that focuses on a “less is more” approach for more mature skin. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Imaan Joshi, 49, only began her foray into the complicated world of skincare when she was 42, and now had refined her routine to work in her favour. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Joshi only cleanses once each day, uses a handful of serums in the morning and puts on hyaluronic acid and retinol before bed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chatting with <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-11300931/Skin-doctor-shares-products-uses-face-everyday.html">Femail</a>, she admitted she prefers the “wash and wear” approach to achieving healthy skin. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You don’t need 10 steps or whatever to get the job done if you use targeted personalised stuff for you and stop following fads and trends,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Most of my patients are busy with hectic lifestyles. Keeping it simple means they’re more likely to stick to their routines rather than skip it completely because it’s too hard.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She also says looking after your skin isn't about “looking younger”, but rather about looking healthier.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think my skin looks better but the goal is never to look younger. I’m not trying to pass as younger, that’s an unintended consequence if it happens, not the goal,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">As well as her five minute a day routine in the mornings and evenings, Dr Joshi also likes to do  monthly laser and chemical peels, and an 'anti-wrinkle' treatment every three or four months. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also likes to do micro needling or have a deep hydration done twice each year.</p> <p dir="ltr">While she admits these treatments, creams and clinic visits can “all add up”, she says it's important to invest in your skincare the same way you would your physical health. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Random man rescues abandoned bride

<p dir="ltr">A bride running 45 minutes late to her own wedding after having her own transport cancelled was rescued by a random passerby. </p> <p dir="ltr">Marksteen Adamson was on his way to a friend’s reunion when he spotted the bride looking confused in the middle of the streets of London. </p> <p dir="ltr">He thought it would be great to record her crossing the road in her wedding dress when he noticed her gesturing to him. </p> <p dir="ltr">It was then he realised that he could help the bride, her sister and her friend to get to the church that was only 10 minutes away.  </p> <p dir="ltr">"Was driving through London traffic to visit friends for a reunion lunch in South East London when I stopped at a pedestrian crossing and saw a bride looking confused and flustered,” Adamson said in his <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@marksteenadamson/video/7121252884393594117?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7070374670839465473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> video. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I started filming as I thought it would be a great shot seeing her cross the road in her full attire. Then she saw me and started walking towards me and gesturing. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It turns out that she and her bridesmaid and team had been trying to order Uber cabs but three cabs had canceled at the last minute and she was 45min late for church. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Everyone, most importantly her husband to be, were waiting at Holy Trinity Brompton for her to arrive.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She asked if I could give her and the group a lift, and so they jumped into my Land Rover and I drove her to church. </p> <p dir="ltr">“In our short time together we had lots of quick short conversations about everything and got to know each other a little better and new friendships were made.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Adamson eventually found out the bride’s name is Anastasia, her sister is Alexandra and their friend is Paul. </p> <p dir="ltr">He also said that she tried to get him to hurry up as she was “late for church”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“After I dropped her off I heard the sound of the organ ring out and knew everything was going to be alright. It was a beautiful sunny day.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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The holy grail tips to ensure you never miss your flight

<p dir="ltr">After years of Covid-19 lockdowns, travelling is finally back!</p> <p dir="ltr">However, if the scenes at Sydney Airport last week are anything to go by, some travellers have lulled themselves into a false sense of airport ease. </p> <p dir="ltr">The return of both international and domestic flights has come with long lines, confusion and general chaos, posing the very real risk of missing your flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sometimes arriving at the airport early just isn’t enough, so here are some holy grail tips and tricks to ensure you never arrive late at the gate again. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Try to avoid checked baggage</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to shave precious minutes off your time spent during check-in, this one is a no-brainer. </p> <p dir="ltr">Just using carry-on luggage is a sure fire way to ensure you can glide through check-in with ease. </p> <p dir="ltr">If checking in baggage is unavoidable, try to keep everything to just one bag, saving time on weighing and checking in. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Check-in online before arriving at the gate</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">By checking-in online, you are cutting out a huge chunk of time. </p> <p dir="ltr">Everything is already handled and all you need to do is print your ticket (you can save even more time by doing this at the self-service kiosk).</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Travel to the airport via public transport</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Seasoned travellers know that traffic always seems to be at its worst when you’re running late for a flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">Avoiding airport traffic by using public transport systems is a sure fire way to cut down your overall airport time. </p> <p dir="ltr">It’s always worth checking your city’s public transport system to see if there is a direct route to the airport. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Tell staff you’re running late</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Airport staff understand that running late for a flight is a stressful experience, and are always available to help if you treat them with patience and kindness. </p> <p dir="ltr">By altering the staff that you’ve been held up, they can help by directing you to a faster line or taking you through a different security checkpoint.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Weigh your luggage before you head to the airport</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">If your checked luggage is a few kilos over the weight limit, you may be held up by having to pull out items at the last minute. </p> <p dir="ltr">Weighing your bags before you make your way to the airport will ensure there’s no unpleasant surprises or excess baggage fees. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Keep all your documents in the same place</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">You’ll need to show your passport and ticket multiple times during the airport check-in and boarding process. </p> <p dir="ltr">To avoid rummaging through bags to find these valuable documents, keep them all together in a little folder or special compartment in your bag for easy access. </p> <p dir="ltr">It’s also a good idea to print off all your documents, rather than relying on your phone. </p> <p dir="ltr">We all know airport Wi-Fi can be spotty at the best of times, so having physical copies will make things easier. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Think about your outfit</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">To avoid getting held up at security, keep your jewellery in your bag until you clear through the metal detector. </p> <p dir="ltr">Having to take necklaces, earrings and rings off at the last second will only hold you (and everyone behind you in line) up longer than you want. </p> <p dir="ltr">Also, wearing slip on shoes will cut back time if you have to take them off to go through security. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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The secret to the Holy Grail of hot chips

<div class="copy"> <p><span>Perfectly golden, crunchy on the outside but fluffy pearly white in the centre, the perfect hot chip is a thing of undeniable beauty.</span></p> <p>The Belgians and Dutch know a thing or two about chips, but we do pretty well too – except for pubs that put the schnitty on top of chips.</p> <p>When that plate hits the table you know you’re in for a disappointing time.</p> <p>A soggy, mushy mess, it’s a waste of everyone’s time and money and quite frankly heads should roll.</p> <p>“Texture plays a very important role in why we accept or reject food,” says <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/gie-liem" target="_blank">Gie Liem</a> from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deakin.edu.au/exercise-nutrition-sciences/research/centre-for-advanced-sensory-science-cass" target="_blank">Deakin University’s Centre of Advanced Sensory Science</a>.</p> <p>Gie is a legend who decided to investigate the perfect hot chip. Someone had to.</p> <p>“This can be cultural, for example, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/neba-neba" target="_blank">some cultures like slimy food</a>, while in other cultures that might be a sign that the food is off."</p> <p>"But we find that crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside is one of the texture combinations that is universally liked, and this is a key characteristic of good hot chips.”</p> <h3>Crunchy is the Goldilocks of food textures</h3> <p>This preference of crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside went back to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4163920/" target="_blank">evolutionary factors</a>, ensuring humans were able to identify the right food to eat.</p> <p>“A lot of fruit and vegetables are crunchy on the outside when ready for consumption. When they’re too hard to bite into it means they’re not quite ready to eat and when they’re too soft then that means they’re overripe."</p> <p>"So in that way ‘crunchy’ can be like the Goldilocks of food textures, it tells us something is just right.”</p> <p>However, Gie says all our senses play a part in how we perceive the texture of food.</p> <p>“<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.livescience.com/60752-human-senses.html" target="_blank">Sight</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.livescience.com/60752-human-senses.html" target="_blank">taste</a> all play a big part, and so does hearing the crunch. We consume food every day without thinking much about it, but there is a whole lot of science behind what we choose and why,” he says.</p> <h3>The recipe for hot chip success</h3> <p>So, what is a scientist’s perfect chip recipe? You gotta go for fresh fries to get the perfect crunch says Gie.</p> <p>He advocates celebrity chef <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/heston-blumenthals-triple-cooked-chips" target="_blank">Heston Blumenthal’s thrice-cooked method</a>.</p> <p>“People seem to be getting more serious about their chips…use fresh potatoes and take the time to cook them properly.”</p> <p>“That means starting by cooking the cut potatoes in water and then thoroughly drying them out in the fridge. Then fry them first on a low temperature, let them dry out again, then fry them at a high temperature before serving immediately for that super-crunch.”</p> <p>For those who are contending with the crowds at oval tuckshops, Gie recommends keeping an eye out for a fresh batch before swooping in.</p> <p>“It’s best to eat chips as soon as they’re out of the fryer or the moisture on the inside will start to come out and make the chips soggy.”</p> <p>“At sporting events the food outlets will make a lot of chips and they can sit there for a while. So if it looks soggy then it is soggy, use all your senses.”</p> <h3>The fraught question of sauces?</h3> <p>Once you’ve got the crunch right, it’s now all about what you put on top, and that choice might be influenced by where you are.</p> <p>“Sauce seems to be a cultural thing. While tomato sauce is popular here and in the US, vinegar is much more popular in the UK, mayonnaise in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, while it’s curry sauce in Germany, or gravy and curds in Canada."</p> <p>“While some of these seem to align with what we know about taste science – for example vinegar provides something acidic to cut through the fatty fries – they can also be counter-intuitive. Pouring on vinegar is the fastest route to a soggy chip.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p class="p1"><em>This article was published for <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/asc-edits/the-secret-to-the-holy-grail-of-hot-chips/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a>.</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

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Stir-fried curry of beef with wild ginger, snake beans and holy basil

<p>Transport your tastebuds to Asia with this delicious and flavoursome stir-fried curry of beef with wild ginger, snake beans and holy basil.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">:</span></strong> 4</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>2 tablespoons vegetable oil</li> <li>500 g beef fillet or similar, cut into stir fry strips</li> <li>3 tablespoons Prik King Curry paste</li> <li>3 tablespoons fish sauce</li> <li>2 tablespoons dark palm sugar</li> <li>2 tablespoons water</li> <li>6 kaffir lime leaves, roughly torn</li> <li>1–2 tablespoons wild ginger (krachai), shredded</li> <li>200 g snake beans, cut into 2½ cm lengths</li> <li>1 cup holy basil (or Thai or sweet basil)</li> <li>2 large red chillies, deseeded and julienned</li> <li>Steamed jasmine rice, to serve</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Heat the oil until smoking then add up to half the beef fillet. Stir fry over high heat just until the meat starts to colour. Remove the beef to a plate and repeat for the rest of the beef making sure that the beef does not stew in its juices. Once all the beef is cooked, put back in the pan with the red curry paste.</li> <li>Add the fish sauce, palm sugar, water, lime leaves and wild ginger.</li> <li>Stir fry until the sugar and fish sauce combine.</li> <li>Add the snake beans, basil and red chilli. Stir fry briefly, about 30 seconds, until the basil wilts. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with steamed jasmine rice.</li> </ol> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tips:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li>When stir frying quality beef over 300 g, it is best to stir fry in 2 batches, rather than risk ‘stewing’ the meat in the juices that can come out of the beef if the pan is too crowded.</li> <li>In this recipe, substitute the snake beans with green beans if you wish.</li> <li>Krachai, or wild ginger, is also called ‘lesser galangal’ andsometimes called ‘kachai’. This member of the ginger familygives a subtle spicy flavour and works well with seafood. Ithas a light brown skin and yellow interior. It can be difficultto buy fresh, but you can buy it pickled in brine. The bestbrand is called ‘Cock’ imported from Thailand.</li> </ul> <p><em><img width="185" height="210" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34543/spirit-house_frontcover_hr_185x210.jpg" alt="Spirit House _frontcover _HR (5)" style="float: right;"/></em></p> <p><em>Recipe courtesy of Spirit House The Cookbook by Helen Brierty &amp; Annette Fear, published by <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/" target="_blank">New Holland Publishers</a></strong></span>, RRP $49.99, available from all good bookstores or online.</em></p> <p><em><strong>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, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><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></span>.</strong></em></p>

Food & Wine

Over 60

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