Search

Placeholder Content Image

Kevin Costner’s wife files for divorce

<p dir="ltr">Kevin Costner’s wife, Christine Baumgartner, has filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences”, according to <em>TMZ</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The designer filed for divorce on Monday, however an inside source has revealed that Costner reportedly did not want to split from his wife.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It was not anything that he wanted or sought, and if he could change the situation, he would," the insider told <em>People Magazine</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the divorce was filed, <em>The Bodyguard</em> actor’s rep shared a statement announcing the split.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action," the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We ask that his, Christine’s and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to<em> Page Six</em>, Baumgartner asked for joint custody of their three kids: Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 12, in her filing.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Dances with Wolves </em>actor filed his response on Tuesday, also asking for joint custody of their three children.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple began dating in 1999 and dated on and off in the early 2000’s before finally tying the knot in September 2004.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p dir="ltr"> </p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Fleetwood Mac star’s cause of death revealed

<p>New details have emerged regarding the cause of death of Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie.</p> <p>McVie passed away at the age of 79 in November 2022, surrounded by her loved ones, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. </p> <p><a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/there-are-no-words-fleetwood-mac-star-dies-aged-79" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As her family said at the time</a>, “it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death.</p> <p>“She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30, 2022, following a short illness. She was in the company of her family.”</p> <p>And now, <em>The Blast</em> have revealed that the singer’s death certificate confirms that the cause of her death was an ischaemic stroke, with her cancer listed as the secondary cause.</p> <p>McVie’s cancer was a “metastatic malignancy of unknown primary origin”, meaning that the disease had spread throughout her body but the primary source or tumour could not be detected.</p> <p>According to the Stroke Foundation, an ischaemic stroke “is the most common type of stroke”, caused by “the blood supply being blocked” and restricted from reaching the brain.</p> <p>The death certificate - unveiled in court with documents filed to settle McVie’s estate - also noted that McVie suffered from “atrial fibrillation” (otherwise known as AFib), and is explained by the Heart Foundation as being “is a type of arrhythmia in which your heart beats irregularly and often fast.”</p> <p>The star had been open about her health journey in the months prior to her passing, even telling <em>Rolling Stone</em> that “I’m in quite bad health. I’ve got a chronic back problem that debilitates me. I stand up to play the piano, so I don’t know if I could actually physically do it. What’s that saying? ‘The mind is willing, but the flesh is weak’.”</p> <p>However, McVie’s friend and bandmate Stevie Nicks wrote - in the wake of McVie’s death - that she “didn’t even know she was ill”, sharing a handwritten statement on social media that read “a few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away. </p> <p>“I didn't even know she was ill… until late Saturday night.</p> <p>“I wanted to be in London; I wanted to get to London - but we were told to wait. So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around in my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her and so, I’m singing it to her now. I always knew I would need these words one day … it’s all I can do now.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Christine Taylor on reigniting her romance

<p dir="ltr">After splitting from their 17-year marriage, Christine Taylor has shared how she and Ben Stiller reignited their flame.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taylor appeared on <em>The Drew Barrymore Show</em>, on Tuesday, and the actor discussed her relationship timeline with Stiller, revealing they were engaged after only six months of dating, and married within a year after that. </p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to explain how their relationship unfolded, “Family was always a priority but I think Ben and I both sort of started to grow in different directions,” Taylor said, adding that the decision to separate was not one the couple “took lightly.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That time apart for each of us to sort of get to know who we are ... I think we have these growth spurts even as adults,” Taylor continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">Stiller and Taylor got married in 2000 and share two children, Ella, 20, and Quinlin, 17, with the couple first announcing their separation in 2017.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taylor shared that the pair, who had been living separately after their divorce, decided to move in together to their family with their children after the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">She revealed that living together was a “special” time for the couple and that they were able to reconnect without distractions.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3cf97636-7fff-f307-621d-9151ea4be8d7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

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

<p dir="ltr">Christine Brown has taken to the internet to express just how much she loves her new boyfriend, David Woolley. </p> <p dir="ltr">Woolley shared on Instagram a snap of a mirror where the Sister Wives star, 50, had written, “I love you! My King.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"I love how thoughtful Christine is and all the little things she does for me ❤️#christinebrown #soulmate #myqueen #mylove," he captioned the image.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvTG5pOqpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvTG5pOqpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by David Woolley (@david__woolley)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">That same day Brown shared a sweet photo of the couple holding each other in a booth. </p> <p dir="ltr">Alongside the picture, Brown praised Woolley, captioning the post, "I can't express how amazing it's been to have David in my life," she wrote. "He's an incredible man and he treats me like his Queen.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CptKn9hvIsd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CptKn9hvIsd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Christine Brown (@christine_brownsw)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr"> Brown went public with Woolley on Valentine’s Day 2023 and has shared several photos of the pair.</p> <p dir="ltr">I finally found the love of my life, David," she shared on Instagram. "The first time he held me close, it felt like my soul took its first breath."</p> <p dir="ltr">Brown, "He's wonderful and kind, incredible with my children and an adorable grandpa. I never dreamed I could find a love like this.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Brown’s relationship with Woolley is her first since her divorce from her husband of 25 years, Kody Brown. Christine said it had been “awkward” dating again more than a year after the split. </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b0444289-7fff-5055-3ec7-8ff94c90bef0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Brown has certainly gotten past the awkwardness as she proudly praises her boyfriend online. It’s safe to say the pair are seriously smitten.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Fleetwood Mac's devastating news

<p>Mick Fleetwood has shared a sad update on the future of Fleetwood Mac.</p> <p>The founding member of the iconic group announced he thinks the band is "done" following the death of Christine McVie in late 2022. </p> <p>McVie was the songwriter, vocalist and keyboardist responsible for some of Fleetwood Mac’s most enduring hits, including <em>Little Lies</em>, <em>Everywhere</em> and <em>Don’t Stop</em>. </p> <p>She died at age 79 on November 30th 2022 after a battle with a short illness. </p> <p>Speaking on the Grammys red carpet this week, Fleetwood – who performed a musical tribute to his late bandmate alongside Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt during the ceremony – said McVie’s death had drawn “the line in the sand” for Fleetwood Mac. </p> <p>“I think right now, I truly think the line in the sand has been drawn with the loss of Chris,” he said.</p> <p>“I’d say we’re done, but then we’ve all said that before. It’s sort of unthinkable right now.”</p> <p>Christine McVie joined the band in 1970, three years after they were founded, before leaving the group in 1998. </p> <p>She rejoined the band in 2014 for what would be the final world tour of Fleetwood Mac’s most iconic line-up: Christine McVie, Fleetwood, Stevie Nick, Lindsey Buckingham and John McVie.</p> <p>Christine's death was <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/there-are-no-words-fleetwood-mac-star-dies-aged-79" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> by her family in an emotional statement, as they said she was surrounded by loved ones in her final moments. </p> <p dir="ltr">"On behalf of Christine McVie's family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine's death. She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th 2022, following a short illness," the family said in a statement, according to Variety.</p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">"She was in the company of her family. We kindly ask that you respect the family's privacy at this extremely painful time, and we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally. RIP Christine McVie."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

Placeholder Content Image

"There are no words": Fleetwood Mac star dies aged 79

<p dir="ltr">Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie has passed away aged 79 following a short bout of illness, according to the family.</p> <p dir="ltr">McVie died in hospital and surrounded by family.</p> <p dir="ltr">"On behalf of Christine McVie's family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine's death. She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th 2022, following a short illness," the family said in a statement, per <em>Variety</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She was in the company of her family. We kindly ask that you respect the family's privacy at this extremely painful time, and we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally. RIP Christine McVie."</p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of the news, Fleetwood Mac shared a heartfelt tribute and paid their respects to McVie on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure,” the <a href="https://twitter.com/fleetwoodmac/status/1598036525903941632" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweet</a> read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed."</p> <p dir="ltr">McVie joined Fleetwood Mac as a permanent member in 1971, four years after the British-American rock band was founded in London.</p> <p dir="ltr">The singer was behind some of the band’s best hits, including <em>Little Lies</em>, <em>Everywhere</em>, <em>Don’t Stop</em>, <em>Say You Love Me</em> and <em>Songbird</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The band, consisting of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, went on to sell more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful bands of all time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nicks also took to Instagram with a tribute to her bandmate, sharing a handwritten message.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f7504e75-7fff-327e-e93a-29c23448ed57"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975 had passed away,” her message began.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClmZfBjvhlx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClmZfBjvhlx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Stevie Nicks (@stevienicks)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I didn’t even know she was ill… until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London; I wanted to get to London - but we were told to wait. So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around in my head, over and over and over.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now. I always knew I would need <span style="text-decoration: underline;">these words</span> one day,” she continued, followed by lyrics of <em>It’s All I Can Do</em> by The Cars.</p> <p dir="ltr">McVie’s passing comes two years after Peter Green, the band’s co-founder and guitarist, died aged 73.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-093bb7db-7fff-5ff2-4967-3b3793bbab44"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Woman lives on cruise ship six months each year

<p dir="ltr">An incredibly lucky woman who basically lives half a year on a cruise ship for free has given insight into a week in her life. </p> <p dir="ltr">Christine Kesteloo, a former cruise and travel director for 12 years, said some of the biggest decisions she’s faced with are whether she should lay in the sun, do a wine tasting or teatime. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her husband, Piet, who is a staff chief engineer, has been sailing on and off for 30 years but she was the only one affected when the pandemic hit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Christine then joined her husband as a “wife on board” also known as WOB which is a “privilege often reserved for high-ranking officers”. </p> <p dir="ltr">She revealed that at one point Piet was her “husband on board” when she was working 12-hour days.</p> <p dir="ltr">When they’re not cruising, the pair call Vlissingen, Netherlands, their home. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>A week in Christine’s life:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Internet</p> <p dir="ltr">To share her experiences with fans on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dutchworld_americangirl?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7074268953295588651&amp;refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, Christine pays $20 a week for unlimited internet. </p> <p dir="ltr">Tipping room service</p> <p dir="ltr">Christine already keeps her room clean, but when the room steward comes in, he changes the bed sheets and pillow covers.</p> <p dir="ltr">A $10 tip is given each week or up to $20 if he’s hopping off to enjoy lunch on land. </p> <p dir="ltr">Free laundry </p> <p dir="ltr">The room steward will pop into the room about 7.30 every morning to check if there is a washing bag ready to be taken. </p> <p dir="ltr">The items are written on a piece of paper before they’re returned at the end of the day. </p> <p dir="ltr">Free meals but pay for speciality restaurants and room service</p> <p dir="ltr">Christine revealed that anything you could dream of is available on board and that she is “well fed”. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, she and her husband go a step further and will pay for food when dining at a specialty restaurant which costs up to $20 and $50 a person. They also tip between $5 and $10.</p> <p dir="ltr">Room service is free to order but Christine and her husband tip between $2 and $5 each time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Overall, Christine and her husband are spending about $87 a week for living on board a cruise ship for free. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok and Instagram</em></p>

Cruising

Placeholder Content Image

5 minutes with author Christine Sykes

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">5 minutes with author</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over60</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> asks book writers about their literary habits and preferences. Next in the series is Christine Sykes, a novelist and memoir writer based on Sydney’s south coast. After working as a Public Servant for 30 years and volunteering at Dress for Success Sydney for four, Sykes is now enjoying life’s simple pleasures and is regularly involved in tap dancing, acting, painting, and playing the flute. Her debut novel, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Changing Room</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was inspired by the experiences of the women behind the charity Dress for Success. Her latest title, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gough and Me</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, is out now.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over60</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> talked with Sykes about writing routines, Jenny Hocking, and tough reads.</span></p> <p><strong>Over60:What book do you think more people should read?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aside from my two books! There are so many wonderful Australian writers to choose from.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The book I think people should read to get an understanding of the way history can be manipulated is </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Palace Letters</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by Jenny Hocking. It is a gripping account of the ground-breaking work undertaken to reveal the truth behind the sacking of the Whitlam government and the extraordinary steps to hide that truth.</span></p> <p><strong>How did you make the transition from the Public Service to writing?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While I was in the public service in Canberra, I undertook short creative writing courses at ANU. This resulted in me writing many short stories and rediscovering my love of children’s stories.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I retired, I decided to treat it as a writing sabbatical and try writing longer works. The Year of Novel Writing course at Writing NSW, gave me a structure to my time and a great foundation for writing my first published book, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Changing Room</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. I continued to explore writing through other courses and writing groups which led to the publication of my memoir, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gough and Me</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><strong> What was the last book that made you laugh?</strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by Joanna Nell was hilarious, and a book I wish I’d written.</span> </p> <p><strong>What does your writing routine look like?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of my writing is done in the morning, which is my most creative time. I usually begin writing in longhand in exercise books, and move to typing on the computer when the story has taken shape. The afternoons are good for walking and letting the story settle in the back of my brain where new connections are made. Some people call this composting and it’s an important part of my creative process.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I edit, I tend to work into the afternoon and often find different places to read the manuscript, which gives me an alternative perspective.</span></p> <p><strong>What is your best writing tip?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invest in your writing, through whatever means are available to you, such as doing a course, having a professional mentor or editor, being part of a writing group or having a writing friend. This really helped me when I didn’t feel like writing or was questioning my ability to write. I also give myself permission to write badly – it’s better to have something on the page which I can then edit and mould, than swirling thoughts in my head.</span> </p> <p><strong>Which author, deceased or living, would you most like to have dinner with?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My first choice would be Anais Nin – a prolific writer of journals, novels and essays. I adored her descriptions of the soirees she held in Paris with interesting people from the arts, politics and life. I hope she’d bring some with her and would love for her to include Gough and Margaret Whitlam.</span></p> <p>What do you do when you can’t seem to finish reading a book?</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Usually I push through, hoping the author will grip me again, and sometimes I skip sections which are less interesting. There have only been a few books which I have abandoned.</span></p>

Books

Placeholder Content Image

Meghan Markle lookalike! Can you believe they’re not the same person?

<p>Christine Primrose Mathis has made a name for herself on social media for her incredibly unique trait – being a spitting image of American royal Meghan Markle.</p> <p>The 32-year-old, who works as an air hostess, claims she first started being compared to the Duchess of Sussex when Meghan was working as an actress in the hit show<span> </span>Suits.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8_pENipWxf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8_pENipWxf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Christine Primrose Mathis (@christineprimrose)</a> on Feb 25, 2020 at 7:10am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>However, Ms Mathis says she didn’t take much notice of the comparison until Meghan’s face was plastered on every blog, social media site and newspaper.</p> <p>The look-alike’s dark hair and tan complexion mixed with the wash of freckles the Duchess of Sussex has become known for, dazed many people as Ms Mathis roamed the streets of her hometown.</p> <p>So much so, she decided to join a look alike agency in 2019.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836297/meghan-markle-christine-6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/83256144f01b49578392f71c8a417531" /></p> <p>“Five years ago I was working in first-class as a flight attendant and passengers would say 'hey, you look like that girl from Suits' every so often,” Ms Mathis explained.</p> <p>“I could see the resemblance, but I just brushed it off but when Meghan and Harry got engaged, that's when I started hearing it a lot more often.</p> <p>“At first, I was confused but I definitely took it as a compliment because I thought she was so beautiful.”</p> <p>The lookalike went on to add: “Last year, I signed up with a lookalike agency because after they got married, it became a lot more frequent.</p> <p>“Hopefully, I can get some corporate work and TV work. I've been acting since I was very young and I'm working on getting an audition with my agent. That would be the absolute dream.</p> <p>“Social media can be cruel, I've had people comment that I'm trying to be her or that my hair and make-up is the same. I feel like I've always done my hair like that. I try to ignore the people who are being mean.”</p> <p>The royal twin admitted she even went on to post a video of her to the social media app TikTok where she dressed like Meghan Markle and claimed “people couldn’t believe the resemblance.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGvgKmJ8Az/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGvgKmJ8Az/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Christine Primrose Mathis (@christineprimrose)</a> on May 12, 2020 at 4:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I have had a lot more opportunities from looking like her; she's so famous.</p> <p>“I think most of my following comes from people thinking I am Meghan Markle but at the same time I hope they also like my personality.</p> <p>“A lot of people look up to her and because they can't get in direct contact with her, I guess I'm the next best thing.”</p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Cruising slowly up the Hooghly in pictures

<p><em><strong>Christine Osborne, 75, is a freelance travel writer and photojournalist. In 2013, she self-published <a href="http://www.travelswithmyhat.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Travels with My Hat</span></a>: a lifetime on the road, an account of working as a single woman in some of the world’s most off-beat destinations including Yemen, Iraq and Pakistan.</strong></em></p> <p>Cruise holidays are all the rage Down Under. One million Australians – a majority of them retirees – enjoyed a cruise last year. In 2017, 200 cruise liners are scheduled to visit Sydney.</p> <p>During the Golden Age of cruising (1947-60) the <em>Queen Mary</em> was literally queen of the seas, but competition for custom among shipping companies sees cruise ships getting bigger and ever more innovative.</p> <p>The current Big Daddy – <em>Harmony of the Seas</em> owned by Royal Caribbean – has capacity for more than 6000 passengers and gimmicks such as an ice-rink, climbing walls and a robotic bartender to mix your sundowners.  </p> <p>This number of passengers fills me with horror, my ideal cruise being a small ship plying a quiet inland waterway, mooring here and there to visit historic sites and observe rural life.</p> <p>Scouring the internet, I found cruises up the Irrawaddy, down the Mekong and along the River Kwai, but a seven-day cruise on the Hooghly River from Kolkata caught my eye.</p> <p>Operated by Assam Bengal Navigation, the <em>Rajmahal</em> carries only 40 passengers in 18 twin and</p> <p>4 single cabins. Built in Kolkata, the 50m long vessel was everything I was looking for.</p> <p>The bar served Schweppes for my G&amp;T, meals were a mix of English and (lightly spiced) Assam cuisine and my cabin overlooking the river, had a comfortable bed and ensuite. Laundry was cheap and a small spa centre offered various treatments.</p> <p>Each evening in the salon we learned of sightseeing arrangements for the following day. Visits to sites such as Barrackpore, centre of British administration in Bengal and Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950 and the Khushbagh, a serene Mughal-style garden.</p> <p>A highlight of stops along the Hooghly was Plassey, a rural village where in 1757 Clive’s victory over the Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history.   </p> <p>But everywhere we stopped held interest. Especially Kalna and Baranagar known for small terracotta temples carved as intricately as hand embroidered lace. Visits to weaving and brassworking centres were also on our itinerary when we were welcomed back to the Rajmahal with cool towels and fresh fruit juices.</p> <p>The cruise whichdoes not operate during mid-summer in Bengal (July-August) is unsuitable for wheelchair users, but with no single supplement charge, it is ideal for solo travellers. $8 a day is suggested as a tip for the attentive crew members.</p> <p>You can make a booking through, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.activetravel.com.au/" target="_blank">www.activetravel.com.au</a></strong></span>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36109/1_500x245.jpg" alt="1 (180)"/></p> <p align="center">50 METRES LONG, THE  RV RAJMAHAL OPERATED BY ASSAM BENGAL NAVIGATION, BEGAN SERVICE ON THE HOOGHLY IN 2014.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36108/2_500x375.jpg" alt="2 (174)"/></p> <p align="center">HERE WE ARE LEAVING KOLKATA WITH THE ICONIC HOWRAH BRIDGE SPANNING THE HOOGHLY. 100,000 VEHICLES AND 150,000 PEDESTRIANS CROSS IT DAILY</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="365" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36110/3_500x365.jpg" alt="3 (146)"/></p> <p align="center">THE HOOGHLY IS SHALLOW NEAR THE RIVER BANK, SO WE TOWED A TENDER, HERE MOORED IN THE OLD BRITISH CANTONMENT OF BARRACKPORE.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36111/4_500x334.jpg" alt="4 (125)"/></p> <p align="center">OVER COCKTAILS EACH EVENING, WE HEARD OUR SIGHTSEEING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36112/added-image_500x375.jpg" alt="ADDED IMAGE"/></p> <p align="center">SEAT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE OLD BRITISH CANTONMENT OF BARRACKPORE, FIRST STOP ON THE HOOGHLY CRUISE.</p> <p align="center"><img width="499" height="360" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36114/5_499x360.jpg" alt="5 (116)"/> </p> <p align="center">A SCENE IN CHANDERNAGORE, A FORMER FRENCH POSSESSION WITH TRADITIONAL COLONIAL STYLE ARCHITECTURE AND AN 18TH CENTURY CATHOLIC CHURCH.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="354" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36115/6_500x354.jpg" alt="6 (108)"/></p> <p align="center">IN KALNA WE VISIT A UNIQUE SHIVA TEMPLE MADE UP OF 108 SHRINES. THE OUTER CIRCLE WHERE WE ARE SITTING HAS 74 AND THE INNER ONE A FURTHER 34.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="405" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36116/7_500x405.jpg" alt="7 (97)"/></p> <p align="center">VILLAGERS IN MATIARI HAVEN’T HEARD OF COAL OR WIND POWER. COW DUNG IS COLLECTED, DRIED THEN USED FOR COOKING AND WARMTH</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36117/8_500x500.jpg" alt="8 (90)"/></p> <p align="center">A  RURAL WOMAN ROLLING BIDIS, THE CHEAP CIGARETTE SMOKED BY THE POOR MADE FROM TOBACCO FLAKES WRAPPED IN LEAVES FROM THE INDIAN EBONY</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36118/9_500x375.jpg" alt="9 (75)"/></p> <p align="center">MINIATURE TERRACOTTA TEMPLE IN BARANAGAR CARVED WITH GODS FROM HINDU MYTHOLOGY AND SCENES OF LIFE IN THE MID-EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36119/10_500x375.jpg" alt="10 (60)"/></p> <p align="center">EITHER SIDE OFTHE HOOGHLY ISCULTIVATED WITH DATE PALMS, TURMERIC AND MUSTARD. HERE FISHERMAN LAY NETS NEAR FARAKKA WHERE I DISEMBARKED AND CAUGHT A TRAIN BACK TO KOLKATA: 560 KILOMETRES.</p> <p>Find more from Christine at her blog <a href="http://travelswithmyhat.com/travel/cruising-slowly-hooghly/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Travel with My Hat. </span></strong></a></p> <p><em>Image credit: Christine Osbourne </em></p>

Cruising

Over 60

© Copyright 2024 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.