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Meghan Markle reveals exciting new Netflix series

<p><span>Meghan Markle has announced her “first ever” multimillion-dollar production deal with Netflix.</span><br /><br /><span>The Duchess of Sussex, 39, revealed in a statement that her production house, Archewell Productions, is creating an animated series called <em>Pearl</em> (working title).</span><br /><br /><span>The mother-of-two explained that the story will follow Pearl, a 12-year-old girl who goes on an exciting adventure to find inspiration from influential women throughout history.</span><br /><br /><span>“Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges,” Meghan said.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m thrilled that Archewell Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix, and these incredible producers, will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history.</span><br /><br /><span>“David Furnish and I have been eager to bring this special series to light, and I am delighted we are able to announce it today.”</span><br /><br /><span>Meghan serves as an executive producer alongside David Furnish, Carolyn Soper, Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan and Amanda Rynda.</span><br /><br /><span>Meghan and Prince Harry announced together in August that their first production for Netflix would be an Invictus Games documentary, Heart of Invictus.</span><br /><br /><span>Harry founded the event for wounded and sick veterans in 2014.</span><br /><br /><span>The athletes would be followed from around the world in the lead-up to the 2022 games.</span><br /><br /><span>Meghan and Harry signed a rumoured $130 million deal with Netflix and a $30 million contract with Spotify in 2020, after stepping back from their senior royal roles and moving to California.</span></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/CPyWWHenBm3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CPyWWHenBm3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Meghan Markle 🔵 (@meghanmarkle_official)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>During the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, Harry revealed he had to sign the deals as he’d been effectively “cut off” by the royal family when he and Meghan stepped away.</span><br /><br /><span>The 36-year-old said: “We didn’t have a plan.</span><br /><br /><span>“That was suggested by somebody else by the point of where my family literally cut me off financially, and I had to afford security for us.”</span></p>

TV

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10 pearls of wisdom to pass on to your grandchildren

<p>To live a life with no regrets it the ultimate goal, and sometimes, we wish we could go back in time and tell ourselves important information or life-changing advice. While sadly, that’s not possible, we can do the next best thing – pass our wisdom on to the next generations.</p> <p>Earlier this year, we posed a question to the Over60 community – if you could give your grandchildren one piece of advice to live by, what would it be? The response blew us away! Out of the hundreds of replies, here are a few of our favourites.</p> <p><strong>1. Stay in school</strong></p> <p>“Put a big effort into your schooling. So many things in life can be great if you have a good start, other things come from that. With the choices, you are able to make instead of others making them for you, all this will put you on the path to happiness later in life.” – Pamela Wicks.</p> <p><strong>2. Follow your heart</strong></p> <p>“Listen to your heart and follow the old saying, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!’” – Cheryl Ayers.</p> <p><strong>3. R-E-S-P-E-C-T</strong></p> <p>“Show respect to yourself, others, and to other people’s property. Treat other people how you would like to be treated. Bullies only need to bully other people because they don't feel as good.” – Margaret Longstaff Pomerenke.</p> <p><strong>4. Put family first</strong></p> <p>“Family is everything. There will be a lot of times when you might not see this yourself or understand it, but in the end, family is EVERYTHING!” – Felicity Weston.</p> <p><strong>5. Be adventurous</strong></p> <p>“Don't be afraid to try new things. It's okay to fail as long as you keep trying to succeed.” – Rosemary Griffin.</p> <p><strong>6. Learn from your mistakes</strong></p> <p>“We all make bad decisions – forgive yourself and learn and grow from them.” – Julie Walker.</p> <p><strong>7. Choose your friends wisely</strong></p> <p>“Surround yourself with positive people. Better to have one good friend who’s got your back than a heap who are only out for what they can use you for.” – Mary Palmer.</p> <p><strong>8. Watch what you say</strong></p> <p>“Choice your words carefully once they are out they can’t be taken back. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” – Elaine Olive.</p> <p><strong>9. Show compassion to the less fortunate</strong></p> <p>“Life’s path has a lot of puddles to jump. Always be kind to those stuck in the puddles.” – Gregory J. Kearney.</p> <p><strong>10. Focus on the big picture</strong></p> <p>“Don't stress the small stuff. Enjoy every day on Earth, time goes fast.” – Pam Saville.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, what piece of advice would you offer to your grandchildren?</p>

Family & Pets

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4 pearls of winter wisdom for pet owners

<p>Pets are like humans in that they prefer comfort to discomfort. Which means that during the cold part of the year, they seek out warmth, which means they stay indoors more of the time.</p> <p>On the theme of winter wisdom, I had a chat the other day to Aaron Waters, country manager for the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.petstock.co.nz/" target="_blank">PETstock</a></strong></span> store chain. We talked about some of the concerns that winter throws up for any pet owner, and some myths to do with winter.</p> <p>For example, he says it's a myth that pets don't get fleas in winter. "You might not see them, but they're still there. It's important that you keep treating your pets right through winter so it doesn't become a problem."</p> <p><strong>He had some solid suggestions relating to winter for any pet owner: </strong></p> <p>1. Don't skimp on water for your pets - they still need to be hydrated even if it's not hot.</p> <p>2. Keep your pet at a healthy weight during winter - exercise your dog and keep all your pets on a high-quality diet.</p> <p>3. If your pet comes in wet from the rain, help dry it off. It's no good for its health to lie around with wet fur.</p> <p>4. Keep an eye out for behaviour changes that you might otherwise put down to it being winter. It's a myth, he says, that cats sleep more in winter; if your cat is sleeping noticeably longer, get a vet check because the cat may be unwell or struggling to keep itself warm. And if your pet is moving around slowly on cold mornings, then have a vet check it for arthritis. Aaron says treatment needn't be costly - the pet might just need softer bedding and a joint supplement.</p> <p>All of it is good pet-wisdom, because winter does bring some risks for pets and their human companions. However, winter also brings one of the all-time best pet experiences – peak snuggle time.</p> <p>How do you five your pet extra love and care in winter? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Nick Barnett, first appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/do-our-pets-dream/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Do our pets dream?</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/what-different-cat-meows-mean/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Understanding your cat’s meow</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/special-bond-between-senior-dogs-and-their-owners/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Images capture special bond between senior dogs and their owners</span></em></strong></a></p>

Family & Pets

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7 pearls of wisdom on grandparenting from celebrities

<p>From Goldie Hawn to Billy Crystal, these famous folks share their grandparenting wisdom.</p> <p><strong>Actress and grandmother of five Goldie Hawn, 69, told Parent magazine:</strong></p> <p>“[I hope to teach them] to become as resilient as they can. We all get knocked down, but the measure of the man is how fast you get up. And I think that’s what I’d really like to instil in the kids. We’re all going to fail, we’re all going to mess up, but it’s not as much about that as it is learning from your mistakes and getting up real fast.”</p> <p><strong>63-year-old actor Tony Danza reveals his number one piece of advice for new grandparents.</strong></p> <p>“There are a lot more challenges for parents now. But it all goes back to showing [kids] how to be a good person. Keep them close to you. And make dinner together.”</p> <p><strong>The lifestyle guru and grandmother of two, Martha Stewart, 73, said:  </strong></p> <p>“I adore my two grandchildren and I try to make time, good time, to spend with them as often as I can. No matter what we’re doing, being with them is rejuvenating, energizing, enjoyable. Whether we’re gathering eggs from the chicken on my farm, playing games, or simply spending time together, their youth helps keep me young.”</p> <p><strong>Grandfather of four and funny man actor Billy Crystal, 67, told the Guardian:</strong></p> <p>“You have to really respect what your kids are doing with their kids and how they're raising them. You can't push your way into areas where you shouldn't be saying anything. You have to always remember they're not your own kids. Play with them, love them, spoil them to death – then hand them back.”</p> <p><strong>Author Mary Higgins Clark told Grandparents.com what she hopes to teach her grandchildren.</strong></p> <p>“I have six grandchildren, and my husband now has 11, so between the two of us, we have 17! What I hope they’ll learn from me is to always be kind. I want them to avoid being involved in petty quarrels, and focus on the things that truly matter. No matter who someone is, what job they do, I want my grandchildren to know that they need to be equally kind.”</p> <p><strong>Talk show host Sharon Osbourne, 62, delights in being a grandmother telling Hello! Magazine:</strong></p> <p>“I am the typical grandmother that does everything that you shouldn't. I spoil her, I let her stay up all night she can do whatever she wants so I am the stereotypical grandmother and she loves it. We have a sign up at my house that says ‘What goes on at grandma's, stays at grandma's,’ so we never talk about the things we get up to.”</p> <p><strong>Actress Jane Seymour shared in an interview with Grandparents.com her thoughts on juggling grandparenting and parenting:</strong></p> <p>“As grandparents, we've been down the road before, and we can see potential issues and problems when it comes to the grandchildren. We have to know when to step in or not. I think the most important thing grandparents can do when it comes to our adult children is listen to them and hear what they are saying. We might not agree, but every person wants to be listened to. Hear what they have to say, then give it a break. Go to the bathroom or make a cup of coffee, then come back and say, ‘I was thinking about what you said and I might...’ then give your advice.”</p>

Family & Pets