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Radio host dies weeks after cancer diagnosis

<p>Beloved radio host Rob Dempsey has passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. </p> <p>Rob Dempsey, host of American Christian radio show <em>HisAir</em>, revealed his diagnosed with bladder cancer in a Facebook post just eight days before his death. </p> <p>After being hospitalised for emergency surgery related to his cancer, Dempsey went in to cardiac arrest and could not be revived. </p> <p>News of Dempsey's death was also shared on <em>His Radio's Rob and Lizz in the Morning</em> show, with the hosts saying, "He always had us laughing."</p> <p>"His finger prints are all over this place. He was not just a boss, he was a leader, an encourager. He made such an impact to the in the community and to Greenville."</p> <p>They added, "We lost him but heaven gained such an incredible person."</p> <p>Just days before his death, Dempsey shared on his Instagram page that he was in hospital for surgery on his left kidney.</p> <p>"It's so overcrowded at this hospital that will be in hallway. Nothing you can do, but the care from these nurses and doctors are wonderful." he wrote.</p> <p>When he shared news of his cancer diagnosis on Facebook, he said doctors told him it was ''aggressive" but he was "at peace today knowing God is in control".</p> <p>"A big thank you to all who have been praying for me. I saw the report today. I have bladder cancer and it looks aggressive," he said.</p> <p>"Thankfully I'm at peace today knowing God is in control. The days ahead will be tough and that's ok. I am determined to be a dad there for his kids."</p> <p>"I'm determined to be that grandpa who will watch them grow up, graduate and get married. I want to grow old with my wife who has been a rock through all of this junk."</p> <p>He added, "I've watched a few videos of people who have survived this and even have new bladders! Things look hopeful."</p> <p>The radio star is survived by his wife, kids and grandchildren.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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"While I was home": Goldie Hawn robbed twice in four months

<p>Hollywood star Goldie Hawn recently opened up about a harrowing experience she and longtime partner Kurt Russell endured: two home invasions within the span of just a few months.</p> <p>Hawn shared the details of these incidents during a candid conversation on Kelly Ripa's podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera".</p> <p>The first robbery occurred while Hawn and Russell were out for dinner. "I went up the stairs, I walked into my closet, and I just lost it," Hawn recalled, describing the moment they returned home to find their house had been burglarised. The intruders had broken in from the balcony, targeting their bedroom and closets. "They completely knocked down my door, which is a safe door, so they're very, very sophisticated, and they got a lot of my goodies," she added.</p> <p>Following the initial invasion, Hawn believed the chances of a repeat incident were slim. However, just four months later, she faced another terrifying experience – this time while she was alone at home. "I hear this big thump upstairs, and I was alone," she reflected. Initially dismissing it as a sonic boom or some other unusual noise, she later discovered that intruders "were trying to get in my bedroom while I was in the house". </p> <p>The dual invasions profoundly impacted Hawn, prompting her to enhance her home security measures significantly. Despite the increased safety precautions, the traumatic events have left a lasting impression.</p> <p>In light of these experiences, Hawn expressed a desire to relocate to Atlanta, where her family resides. "It's so lovely there, I said, 'Hey, guys, why don't we all move there?'" she shared. The idea of a family compound has always been a dream for Hawn and her loved ones. "We've always said if one moves, we all have to move together. That's what we've always said." </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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"I'm a prisoner in my own body": Rob Burrow's heartbreaking last message

<p>An emotional final message from rugby legend Rob Burrow has been released in the days after his death. </p> <p>The former footballer <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/rugby-league-hero-dies-at-just-41" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> at the age of 41 on Sunday after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease, with his former club, the Leeds Rhinos, sharing the news of his passing. </p> <p>Before he died, Burrow was involved in the making of a documentary about his life by the BBC, titled <em>There's Only One Burrow</em>, only agreeing to appear in the program on the condition it only be used after his death.</p> <p>In the documentary, Burrow spoke of how the cruel disease impacted his life and how he hoped to raise awareness for MND research.</p> <p>"I want to live in a world free of MND. By the time you watch this I will no longer be here," he said in the video.</p> <p>"In a world full of adversity, we must still dare to dream. I'm just a lad from Yorkshire who got to live out his dream of playing rugby league."</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/reel/C7xPgSxM6lY/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/reel/C7xPgSxM6lY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by BBC SPORT (@bbcsport)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>His pre-recorded final words were shown to his friends and family on screen, reacting to his words.</p> <p>"I'm a fighter, to be honest. I might not be able to tackle MND but I'll certainly be swinging, I'm not going to give in, not until my last breath," he said.</p> <p>"I'm a prisoner in my own body, that's the way MND gets you. The lights are on but no one is home."</p> <p>Recalling his diagnosis, he said, "My family told me I was slurring my speech a bit but I didn't take notice or believe them."</p> <p>In an emotional segment of the widow, Burrow's wife Lindsey spoke of how she learnt of her husband's devastating disease.</p> <p>"I remember that moment being told it's not good news. Asking how long and them saying two years. Rob said 'thank god it's me and not the kids'. That's all he was bothered about," she recalled.</p> <p>When asked about his children, Burrow became emotional, saying, "I had no idea how my family would cope. They've become a beacon of hope for families in the same situation as ours." </p> <p>"I have had such a great life. I have been gifted with the most incredible wife and three children. I hope they know how much I love them."</p> <p>Burrows finishes the piece, saying. "As a father of three young children, I would never want someone to go through this."</p> <p>"I hope I have left a mark on this disease. I hope you choose to live in the moment. I hope you find inspiration."</p> <p>"My final message to you is whatever your personal battle to be brave and face it."</p> <p>"Every single day is precious. Don't waste a moment. In a world full of adversity we must still dare to dream. Rob Burrow over and out."</p> <p><em>Image credits: BBC</em></p>

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Rugby League hero dies at just 41

<p>Rugby League legend Rob Burrow has passed away at the age of 41 after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease. </p> <p>The British footballer spent his career with the Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles, and while he never played in Australia, he won the World Club Challenge over NRL opponents three times. </p> <p>Just two years after his retirement in 2017, Burrows was diagnosed with MND. </p> <p>Despite his rapidly progressing condition, Burrows stayed in the public eye to raise money and awareness for MND, and soon became the face of the fight against the disease in the UK. </p> <p>He worked with former teammate Kevin Sinfield to raise millions for a new care centre for MND patients, as the pair competed in <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/terminally-ill-rugby-player-carried-across-marathon-finish-line-by-his-best-mate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marathons</a> today, with Sinfield often pushing Burrow the entire way. </p> <p>His former football club announced Burrow’s death on Sunday, just one day before the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital, which will go ahead at his request.</p> <p>“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend,” the club said. </p> <p>“Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND. He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more."</p> <p>“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four and a half years meant so much to Rob."</p> <p>“For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four and a half years came as no surprise. Rob never accepted that he couldn’t do something. He just found his way of doing it better than anyone else."</p> <p>“He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream.”</p> <p>Prince William, who awarded Burrow with a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honour in January 2024, was among those to mourn his death on social media.</p> <p>“A legend of rugby league, Rob Burrow had a huge heart,” he wrote.</p> <p>“He taught us ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’. Catherine and I send our love."</p> <p>Burrow is survived by wife Lindsey and their three children Macy, Maya and Jackson.</p> <p><em>Image credits: SplashNews.com/Matt West/BPI/Phil Noble-Reuters/POOL supplied by Splash News/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

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"Finally!": 2023’s Sexiest Man Alive crowned

<p>Patrick Dempsey has been named <em>People’s Sexiest Man Alive</em> for 2023! </p> <p>The 57-year-old actor known for his role as Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on <em>Grey's Anatomy </em>snagged the title from last year's winner, Marvel heart-throb Chris Evans. </p> <p>In his interview with the publication, the actor said that he will use his new-found status to promote “something positive”. </p> <p>“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,”  he said. </p> <p>“It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”</p> <p>When asked about his reaction to finding out he was <em>2023's Sexiest Man Alive </em>the actor joked that it was a long-time coming. </p> <p>“I was completely shocked, and then I started laughing, like, this is a joke, right? I’ve always been the bridesmaid!”  he joked. </p> <p>“I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Introducing PEOPLE’s 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SexiestManAlive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SexiestManAlive</a>, Patrick Dempsey. 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/4eYnCAG1Zr">https://t.co/4eYnCAG1Zr</a> <a href="https://t.co/5V0xVblnaE">pic.twitter.com/5V0xVblnaE</a></p> <p>— People (@people) <a href="https://twitter.com/people/status/1722114648638394482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>The father-of-three also joked about how his children, Talula, 21, and 16-year-old twins Sullivan and Darby, will react to this news. </p> <p>“They’re just going to make fun of me and pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be,” he said.</p> <p>“Which is good, they keep me young.”</p> <p>Funnily enough, his newfound status was also met with confusion, mostly from the younger generation who have no idea who he is. </p> <p>“Who the hell is Patrick Dempsey?” one confused Gen Zer wrote. </p> <p>“You all are making up new people every day; who is Patrick Dempsey?” another commented.</p> <p>This left many Millennials feeling old. </p> <p>“People ... not knowing who Patrick Dempsey is making me feel like a grandma. What do you mean you didn’t grow up watching Grey’s Anatomy, and you weren’t obsessed with Derek Sheppard since you were 10,” one commented. </p> <p>“There is an is actual difference in being 26 vs. being 23! Because I am seeing 23 yr olds not know who Patrick Dempsey is,” another added. </p> <p>And not everyone who is a Millennial agreed with <em>People's</em> choice. </p> <p>"I mean… yes back in the day. But seriously? How is it not someone who is hot right now? I haven’t even seen/heard him mentioned in years," commented one person. </p> <p>Is it 2005?” another wrote.</p> <p>“Um, he is so 2007,” a third commented. </p> <p>Regardless, Dempsey has aged like fine wine and many have said it's about time. </p> <p>“Finally! Ain’t nobody under this post showed me a white man finer!" </p> <p><em>Image: People Magazine/ X</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Rob Lowe's West Wing confession

<p>Rob Lowe has spoken candidly about leaving one of his most acclaimed TV shows. </p> <p>The 59-year-old actor has opened up about leaving <em>The West Wing</em>, which first aired in 1999 with Lowe playing  the character of Sam Seaborn, the Bartlet administration's deputy communications director, on the very first episode of the show. </p> <p>The show ran for seven seasons and went off the air in 2006, although Lowe left the show during season four. </p> <p>Despite the show's popularity, Lowe said that leaving the show when he did was the best decision to make for him and his future career. </p> <p>Speaking candidly on the Stitcher Studios' podcast <em>Podcrushed</em>, Lowe was asked about why he left the show, and he summed up his departure with an analogy.</p> <p>He said, "I walked away from the most popular girl at school, but I also knew that it was a super unhealthy relationship, and it was the best thing I ever did."</p> <p>The unofficial story when Lowe left the show, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/24/west.wing.lowe/index.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:Daily Variety;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid_p="33" data-v9y="1">Daily Variety</a></em>, was that he was doing so because he couldn't get the salary that he wanted. </p> <p>As Lowe explained to <em>Podcrushed</em> hosts Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari, his decision had boiled down to one thing.</p> <p>"I felt very undervalued," said Lowe, the author of 2012's <em>Stories I Only Tell My Friends</em>. "Whenever I talk to actors who complain about, you know, their relationships on their shows, it happens. It happens in any workplace. You could be in an environment where people sandbag you, want to see you fail, don't appreciate you, whatever it is and whenever I share my stories, people are like, 'I will never share my own stories again.'"</p> <p>"They would make your hair stand up and there's some of them I wrote. I shared some of them in my book, but I purposely didn't share half of the other ones because it would make the people involved look so bad that I didn't want to do it to them."</p> <p>"So, I did not have a good experience. Tried to make it work and tried to make it work and tried to make it work and then what happened was my kids were getting to a certain age where I could see them having first girlfriends or friends and being in a relationship that was abusive and taking it," said Lowe, the father of sons John Owen, a 27-year-old actor, and venture capitalist Matthew, 29. </p> <p>"She's the popular girl, everybody likes her, she's beautiful, it must be great. All the things that people would say about making <em>The West Wing</em> to me. It's so popular, it's so amazing, it must be amazing, but I know what it's like and if I couldn't walk away from it, then how could I empower my kids to walk away from it?"</p> <p>When Lowe did leave the show, he issued a statement on why his character would be written out.</p> <p>"As much as it hurts to admit it, it has been increasingly clear, for quite a while, that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on<em> The West Wing</em>," he said, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/24/west.wing.lowe/index.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:per CNN;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid_p="36" data-v9y="1">per CNN</a>. "However, Warner Bros. has allowed me an opportunity to leave the show as I arrived ... grateful for it, happy to have been on it and proud of it. We were a part of television history and I will never forget it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Thief asks woman out on date after robbing her at gunpoint

<p>A US woman has gone through the harrowing experience of being robbed at gunpoint, but it was what happened after the fact that was almost as eerie.</p> <p>Amber Beraun was checking the mail one night at her Indianapolis home in May when she was approached by a man with a gun.</p> <p>The gunman was later identified as Damien Boyce.</p> <p>Speaking to WRTV, Beraun said she was confronted by Boyce, who attempted to enter her home. She refused and gave him all the cash she had handy, which came to $100.</p> <p>Before he made his escape, Boyce asked Beraun a very unexpected, and quite frankly bizarre question - to add him on Facebook.</p> <p>The thief also noted he was planning to pay her back.</p> <p>Beraun responded, telling him she “believed” him and that “times just get rough”.</p> <p>Boyce proceeded to ask the woman to “come chill”.</p> <p>He was later arrested by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and charged over a separate armed robbery on June 12, where two people got shot and one was hit in the head with a brick.</p> <p>He was also charged with his robbery of Beraun.</p> <p>Beraun said her local neighbourhood has been affected by the terrifying incident.</p> <p>"It makes me a little on edge knowing that people walk up and down the street, looking for places to commit crimes," she said.</p> <p>"It makes it a little different when you hear noises at night."</p> <p>Beraun insisted she "never" thought something like this would happen to her.</p> <p>"He took away my sense of safety from my home."</p> <p><em>Image credit: ABC America</em></p>

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22 signs your house is vulnerable to being robbed

<p><strong>How secure is your home?</strong></p> <p>Here’s how to make sure your home doesn’t become the latest crime statistic. It takes burglars on average five minutes to enter your home, so learn which aspects of your property put you at risk.</p> <p><strong>Your front door</strong></p> <p>This may seem too obvious to be true, but the majority of intruders come in through a door – and many of them are already open. Why? It’s easy access and burglars are all about doing whatever is easiest, says Jacob Paulsen, security expert. One in four homeowners confesses to frequently leaving the front door unlocked and half do it occasionally, according to a Nationwide Insurance survey. </p> <p>And considering that the majority of home burglaries happen in the daytime, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., knocking on your front door allows thieves to pose as salesmen or delivery people while covertly checking your doorknob. So, yes, it’s obvious, but we’ll say it again: Lock your door! In addition, replace any hollow-core or sectioned doors with ones made from a solid piece or wood or metal, Paulsen suggests.</p> <p><strong>Your porch</strong></p> <p>People stealing packages off your front porch – aka porch pirates – is one of the fastest rising crime trends. Nearly ⅓ of people have had packages stolen and over half of people say they know someone who has, according to a survey done by Comcast. Thieves have even been known to follow delivery trucks around neighbourhoods, stealing packages almost as soon as they’re dropped off. </p> <p>Having a doorbell camera may deter some would-be pirates but your best defence is not having your packages delivered to your porch, Paulsen says. “Have packages delivered to your office or to a neighbour who is home most of the time,” he advises. “If those aren’t options, consider putting delivery instructions on the order form to leave the package at a side door or in a special box.”</p> <p><strong>Your garbage</strong></p> <p>The good news: Property crimes have been decreasing steadily for the past decade, according to recent data. But that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Setting out the box from your new 60-inch HDTV or high-end gaming console on the kerb is basically advertising the fact that those items are in your home. </p> <p>As electronics are the second thing burglars go for (cash is number one), this makes your home a very attractive target, according to the study. So buy a cheap box cutter and invest the 30 seconds it takes to break down large boxes and bundle them together so their labels can’t be seen. Plus, your garbage collector will thank you!</p> <p><strong>Your street</strong></p> <p>Thanks to better lighting and increased traffic, homes in high-visibility places, like on corner lots, are far less likely to be broken into, Paulsen says. There are simply too many potential ways to be seen. But townhomes, houses in the middle of the block, or houses in a cul-de-sac are much better targets. This is especially true if your property backs up to a forest, open lot, or another unguarded area. </p> <p>The trick, he says, is to make your house as difficult as possible to access from all sides. How much? “You don’t have to be Fort Knox, you just have to be less appealing to a thief than your neighbour is,” he adds.</p> <p><strong>Your health</strong></p> <p>As the opioid epidemic rages, thefts of drugs, particularly prescription painkillers, are on the rise. And as heartbreaking as it is to say, both professional thieves and junkies know that people who are elderly or chronically ill often have lots of medication lying around. </p> <p>So if you are in these circumstances, it might be worth taking extra precautions (such as installing a good home security system) to make your house a less attractive target, Paulsen says.</p> <p><strong>Your car</strong></p> <p>Breaking into your car is often the first step to breaking into your home, Paulsen says. Things like car registrations, insurance cards, mail, packages, and even pharmacy receipts not only show your home address but can offer big clues to what kind of valuables you may own. </p> <p>Always lock your car doors, even if it’s just parked in your driveway. “Don’t keep anything with your address on it in a visible place in your car or in your glove box,” he says. “If you do use the glovebox, make sure it stays locked.”</p> <p><strong>Your garage door opener</strong></p> <p>You’d never leave your house keys just lying around in the open yet many people leave their garage door openers visible in their cars – and your garage door opener is almost as good as the key to your front door, Paulsen says. Another garage issue is keypads with obvious signs of wear or using simplistic or repetitive passcodes, making it easy for criminals to guess your code and get into your garage and your house. </p> <p>In fact, nearly 40 percent of homeowners said they never change their garage codes, according to the Nationwide survey. Keep your openers out of view, pick difficult passcodes, and change them regularly. Some newer versions of garage door openers pair with your smartphone, eliminating the need for a separate opener all together. </p> <p><strong>Your windows</strong></p> <p>First-level entry windows are the second-most common entry point for burglars because it’s relatively easy to jimmy a window open, Paulsen says. And even people who are diligent about locking their doors will often leave a window cracked open, especially in warm weather. </p> <p>“A locked window is often enough to deter thieves but if you need some fresh air, install a window jam that will only allow the pane to be pushed open a few centimetres,” he says. You can also install alarms that let you know if your window is opened or broken while you’re away, he adds.</p> <p><strong>Your doorbell</strong></p> <p>Doorbell cameras are popping up everywhere and at first glance, it may seem like a great way to reduce all kinds of crimes in your neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the reality doesn’t seem to support that, with independent research showing no decrease in break-ins or overall crime in neighbourhoods that have the cameras, according to research published in MIT Technology Review. </p> <p>Researchers aren’t sure exactly why this is but Paulsen points out that the cameras can still be useful for many things, including helping you see who is at your door before answering it, so they are still worth having if your budget allows.</p> <p><strong>Your neighbours</strong></p> <p>Make friends with those who live around you, or at least a passing acquaintance, as watchful neighbours can be your best allies in home defence, Paulsen says. </p> <p>You don’t want to tell everyone when you’re headed out of town (especially not on the internet) but you do want to tell your plans to your neighbours and your neighbourhood watch program, if you have one, so they can keep an eye out for strange behaviour or people they don’t recognise.</p> <p><strong>Your front yard</strong></p> <p>Having an unkempt front yard, littered with door ads, old newspapers and weeds, is a blaring sign that no one is home and one that criminals look for, Paulsen says. If you’re out of town, ask a neighbour to pick up any papers, turn lights on and off, and basically make your house look lived in, he advises. Or, even better, hire a house sitter.</p> <p><strong>Your holiday pics</strong></p> <p>One in four people admits posting pics and check-ins on social media while out of town, according to the Nationwide survey. And while putting your holiday pictures online might get you a lot of likes, it also notifies your friends and acquaintances that you’re now far from home, making your house a prime target for anyone with ill intentions or just an opportunistic streak.</p> <p>Instead, make sure your social media profiles aren’t public, set your privacy settings to max, and wait to post your beautiful beach selfies until you get home, Paulsen says.</p> <p><strong>Your tool shed</strong></p> <p>Outdoor structures like sheds, detached garages and patios make great targets for thieves as they’re less likely to be secured and usually contain expensive items like tools, bicycles, electronics and machinery, Paulsen says. Make sure all outdoor structures are secured with a good padlock, he says, adding that it’s worth it to pay the extra money to get a lock that comes with a warranty. </p> <p>Some manufacturers offer a warranty both for the lock itself and for belongings that are stolen when the lock is broken by thieves. Make sure to read the fine print on lock warranties and in your home owner’s insurance policy.</p> <p><strong>Your neighbourhood's age</strong></p> <p>Criminals tend to target newer neighbourhoods and developments, hoping to take advantage of residents who are new to the area and might not be very familiar with it yet. This is especially true if the area is on the wealthier side. In addition, they target lower-income neighbourhoods as security may not be as tight. </p> <p>Close-knit neighbourhoods with long-standing residents, where everyone knows one another, are less likely targets. “This is even more reason to get to know your neighbours right away,” Paulsen says. “Give them your number and make sure you have theirs.”</p> <p><strong>Your neighbourhood's crime history</strong></p> <p>Certain neighbourhoods are more vulnerable to certain types of crimes, and that is especially true for burglaries. A quick glance at the weekly police blotter (or a quick call to your local precinct) can give you a heads-up to whether cars or computers are the hot commodities in your place, and then you can take specific steps to protect yours. </p> <p>For example, one neighbourhood experienced a rash of car break-ins and people used social media to point out the pattern, warn their neighbours and share tips.</p> <p><strong>Your alarm system</strong></p> <p>Simply having an alarm system won’t help you if you don’t use it, and 30 percent of alarm owners say they don’t bother activating it when they leave home, according to the Nationwide survey. In addition, nearly half reported almost never changing their code. </p> <p>Forget the old trick of having a security sign in your front yard – thieves are wise to that game and will still try the doors and windows, banking that you’re bluffing or forget to turn it on. You have to arm your alarm every time you leave your home.</p> <p><strong>Your landscaping</strong></p> <p>Tall, lush greenery is great at protecting your privacy from prying neighbours, but it’s also great at hiding burglars, Paulsen says. Thieves specifically target homes with shrubs or trees that grow thickly around the front or sides of the house, so keep yours trimmed away from walls and below window height – even if that means having to wave to Ned and Nancy over your morning coffee. </p> <p>Also, having a well-maintained yard indicates that you’re vigilant about your home and likely paying close attention to it.</p> <p><strong>Your door locks</strong></p> <p>Time is the most important factor in a successful burglary – the average thief is in and out in less than ten minutes. Picking a regular door lock is a piece of cake for most experienced burglars, but most won’t want to waste precious minutes messing with a deadbolt or more secure lock, Paulsen says. </p> <p>If it takes them more than a minute to get in, chances are the next house will be easier and they’ll just move on, he says. For maximum effectiveness, make sure you have the extra locks installed on all exterior doors – not just the front.</p> <p><strong>Your door plate</strong></p> <p>The strike plate is the piece of metal that holds the bolt when your lock is in the locking position – and unfortunately standard ones are very small and flimsy, making your door easy to kick in, Paulsen says. “This is an easy fix, just go to any home improvement store and get a bigger strike plate,” he says. </p> <p>For additional protection, you can purchase a door reinforcement kit for under $100 that will shore up the weak spots that thieves commonly exploit.</p> <p><strong>Your outdoor lights</strong></p> <p>At night, a burglar’s best friend is a dark home, according to Nationwide’s research. Fortunately, deterring criminals banking on the cover of darkness may be as simple as turning on your outdoor lights at night. </p> <p>Not a fan of wasting all that electricity? Go with motion-activated floodlights, especially in your backyard or dark corners of your home, Paulsen says.</p> <p><strong>Your mailbox</strong></p> <p>It takes two minutes online or on the phone to put a hold on your mail while you’re gone and subvert the number one signal burglars look for: an overflowing porch or mailbox.</p> <p><strong>Your dog</strong></p> <p>Dog owners, you’re in luck: A survey of 86 convicted thieves found that a “large sounding” dog is the single greatest deterrent to robbing your house, Paulsen says. And that goes for small, noisy dogs as well as larger, threatening-looking ones. </p> <p>If you can’t or don’t want to have a dog, you can buy a dog barking machine and set it to respond the doorbell or knocks or put it on a motion sensor, he advises. “Even a ‘beware of Rottweiler’ sign in your front window can help,” he adds.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/22-signs-your-house-is-vulnerable-to-being-robbed?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Home & Garden

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Hero dad coward-punched while trying to rescue car crash victim

<p dir="ltr">A 63-year-old father is fighting for his life after being coward-punched in the head while helping a teen in a car accident. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rob Seddon rushed to help a 17-year-old who crashed his Toyota Corolla into a caravan outside his home on Skyhawk Ave in Hamlyn Terrace on the Central Coast around 10pm on Saturday. </p> <p dir="ltr">Along with other neighbours, Mr Seddon assisted the teen before they were ambushed by a group of males who attacked them. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Seddon was allegedly hit from the back on the head which caused him to fall backwards, hit his head and lose consciousness. </p> <p dir="ltr">He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition where he underwent brain surgery and remains in intensive care in a coma.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Seddon’s 21-year-old son was also allegedly attacked and suffered a broken nose.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could hear the sheer horrible noises from this guy that was being hurt, I had tears in my eyes, I knew it was bad,” neighbour Diane Gardner told Nine News.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was absolutely horrible. You could hear his pain and he wanted help.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Police are asking anyone with information about the alleged attackers to come forward. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 17-year-old driver who crashed into Mr Seddon’s caravan was breathalysed at the scene and returned a positive blood-alcohol reading.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was then charged with negligent driving and drink-driving on P-plates.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

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Shakira claims she was attacked and robbed by wild boars in Barcelona

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Latin pop sensation Shakira took to Instagram on Wednesday to talk about an unexpected attack she and her 8-year-old son Milan experienced in a Barcelona park. In a series of now-expired stories, the singer talked about being attacked by several wild boars while walking through the park with her son.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The boars stole her purse, but fortunately she managed to wrangle it back, albeit with somewhat damaged contents. "Look how two wild boars that have attacked me in the park have left my bag," she said, while displaying her muddied backpack.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Shakira fue atacada por unos jabalíes en un parque y casi pierde su bolso. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/C%C3%B3moAmaneci%C3%B3Bogot%C3%A1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CómoAmanecióBogotá</a> <a href="https://t.co/gczjHnvQOT">pic.twitter.com/gczjHnvQOT</a></p> — Tropicana Colombia (@TropiBogota) <a href="https://twitter.com/TropiBogota/status/1443224942024200196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"They have attacked me, they have shattered everything... and they were taking my bag to the forest with my phone. And in the end, they left me the bag/purse because I confronted them," Shakira added. She also shared two photos she took of the boars, which do look quite large and menacing. Fortunately, neither she nor her son were injured.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 300.7692307692307px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844532/screen-shot-2021-09-30-at-42924-pm.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9680355a6bd043c68e622d44c7a61ea5" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While it may sound preposterous for wild boars to even be inhabiting a park in a city like Barcelona, it is apparently a very real problem. According to a </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/30/boar-wars-how-wild-hogs-are-trashing-european-cities"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2019 </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guardian </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">article</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the boars have been a problem for quite some time, with police logging over 1000 calls about nuisance boars in 2016. The animals cause thousands of road accidents each year, destroy property, hunt ground-nesting animals and their young, including endangered turtles’ eggs, and destroy crops, like fragile vine roots and shoots.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boars can carry African swine fever, also known as ‘pig ebola’, which kills wild and domestic pigs. In 2014, this risk of disease threatened the global pork industry, and countries responded by erecting physical borders with neighbours, threatening embargos, destroying millions of farmyard pigs, and offering bounties for the culling of wild boars.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Shakira/Instagram</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Melissa Leong debuts new beau after split from husband

<p><em>Image: Melissa Leong / Instagram </em></p> <p>The 39-year-old food writer turned TV personality took to Instagram to gush over new boyfriend, Melbourne hair-care entrepreneur Rob Mason.</p> <p>Leong said Mason was the “best part of her day”, posting a photo of the father-of-three, who founded the hair-care brand Morries Motley.</p> <p>“Gratuitous hot dad post, a day late” Melissa wrote, in reference to Father’s Day on Sunday.</p> <p>“Creator of world class cosmetics and the brains behind @morriesmotley, brilliant father to a legendary babe squad and the best part of my day, nothing but love”.</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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTdVezvv3Cz/?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/CTdVezvv3Cz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Melissa Leong | FOODERATI (@fooderati)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The couple appeared in a photo together posted on Leong’s Instagram story on the weekend, as they FaceTime chatted with friends for a lockdown double date.</p> <p>Last weekend Mason shared a photo of Leong for the first time showing her cooking in the kitchen, shared with the caption: “Twas Phenomenal”.</p> <p>The two have not previously commented on their relationship. This comes after Leong’s shock split from her bar owner husband, Joe Jones, in December last year.</p> <p>“It has brought us such happiness to walk together, but the time has come for Joe and I to part ways and walk on, apart” she said at the time. They were married in February 2017 after five months of dating.</p> <p>It would appear Leong met Mason recently, telling the<span> </span><em>Sydney Morning Herald</em><span> </span>in June she was “single and ready to mingle".</p> <p>Melissa fronted Channel 10’s MasterChef for the first time in 2020, alongside new judges Jock Zonfrillio and Andy Allen. The trio replaced original judges George Calombaris, Matt Preseton and Gary Mehigan who departed the show in 2019 after contraction negotiations broke down.</p>

Relationships

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Signs your house is vulnerable to being robbed

<p><strong>How secure is your home?</strong></p> <p>Here’s how to make sure your home doesn’t become the latest crime statistic. It takes burglars on average five minutes to enter your home, so learn which aspects of your property put you at risk.</p> <p><strong>Your front door</strong></p> <p>This may seem too obvious to be true, but the majority of intruders come in through a door – and many of them are already open. Why? It’s easy access and burglars are all about doing whatever is easiest, says Jacob Paulsen, security expert. One in four homeowners confesses to frequently leaving the front door unlocked and half do it occasionally, according to a Nationwide Insurance survey. And considering that the majority of home burglaries happen in the daytime, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., knocking on your front door allows thieves to pose as salesmen or delivery people while covertly checking your doorknob. So, yes, it’s obvious, but we’ll say it again: Lock your door! In addition, replace any hollow-core or sectioned doors with ones made from a solid piece or wood or metal, Paulsen suggests.</p> <p><strong>Your porch</strong></p> <p>People stealing packages off your front porch – aka porch pirates – is one of the fastest rising crime trends. Nearly ⅓ of people have had packages stolen and over half of people say they know someone who has, according to a survey done by Comcast. Thieves have even been known to follow delivery trucks around neighbourhoods, stealing packages almost as soon as they’re dropped off. Having a doorbell camera may deter some would-be pirates but your best defence is not having your packages delivered to your porch, Paulsen says. “Have packages delivered to your office or to a neighbour who is home most of the time,” he advises. “If those aren’t options, consider putting delivery instructions on the order form to leave the package at a side door or in a special box.”</p> <p><strong>Your garbage</strong></p> <p>The good news: Property crimes have been decreasing steadily for the past decade, according to recent data. But that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Setting out the box from your new 60-inch HDTV or high-end gaming console on the kerb is basically advertising the fact that those items are in your home. As electronics are the second thing burglars go for (cash is number one), this makes your home a very attractive target, according to the study. So buy a cheap box cutter and invest the 30 seconds it takes to break down large boxes and bundle them together so their labels can’t be seen. Plus, your garbage collector will thank you!</p> <p><strong>Your street</strong></p> <p>Thanks to better lighting and increased traffic, homes in high-visibility places, like on corner lots, are far less likely to be broken into, Paulsen says. There are simply too many potential ways to be seen. But townhomes, houses in the middle of the block, or houses in a cul-de-sac are much better targets. This is especially true if your property backs up to a forest, open lot, or another unguarded area. The trick, he says, is to make your house as difficult as possible to access from all sides. How much? “You don’t have to be Fort Knox, you just have to be less appealing to a thief than your neighbour is,” he adds.</p> <p><strong>Your health</strong></p> <p>As the opioid epidemic rages, thefts of drugs, particularly prescription painkillers, are on the rise. And as heartbreaking as it is to say, both professional thieves and junkies know that people who are elderly or chronically ill often have lots of medication lying around. So if you are in these circumstances, it might be worth taking extra precautions (such as installing a good home security system) to make your house a less attractive target, Paulsen says.</p> <p><em>Written by <span>Charlotte Hilton Andersen</span>. This article first appeared in </em><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/think-your-sex-life-over-after-40-hardly"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine,</em> <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p> <p> </p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Retirement Life

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Man robs banks with avocado – flees with $12,000

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A man will sit trial after being accused of robbing two banks with an avocado. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 47-year-old has been arrested after allegedly robbing two banks in Beershaba, Israel using a whole avocado, according to the </span><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-holds-up-two-banks-armed-only-with-an-avocado/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Times of Israel.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The man entered a Postal Bank branch at a shopping mall in May and handed over a note demanding she hand over cash. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Hand over the money in the drawer,” the note read according to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">112 News</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the cashier hesitated, the robber spoke, saying: “Put the money in the bag quickly or I’ll throw this grenade.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “grenade” however turned out to be a piece of fruit he painted black. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The performance happened once more at another bank a few days later. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The accused will stand trial for stealing more than AUD$12,000 in total. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Police were able to track the robber down using his mobile device. </span></p>

Legal

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Meet the 59-year-old man who has the most piercings in the world

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rolf Buchholz, 59, has taken piercing to an extreme level – with a total of 453 metal piercings on his body, the German man is the Guinness World Record holder. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the world’s most pierced man, it may seem incomprehensible to many how he could carry out his day to day functions like any other normal person. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Buchholz has 278 metal piercings in his genitalia alone. It doesn’t stop there though as the German man also wears a number of tattoos with pride and even has horn implants on his head.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the 59-year-old insists his life is as normal as anyone else, including his sex life. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s not a problem at all. I have had the piercings already so long, if there was a problem, I would have got rid of them already long ago,” he told </span><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/3799724/worlds-most-pierced-man-boasts-of-great-sex-life-despite-having-278-piercings-in-his-penis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sun.</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As well as his downstairs area carrying an enormous number of piercings, Mr Buchholz also has 94 in and around his mouth. </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/Bs5a2UKH4x2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=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/Bs5a2UKH4x2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Rolf Buchholz (@robuchholz)</a> on Jan 21, 2019 at 4:48am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the 59-year-old confirms he has no complaints in the bedroom, he says it’s a different matter entirely with airport security. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When travelling to the United Arab Emirates for an appearance at a nightclub in Dubai, he claims authorities turned the man away as they were terrified he practiced “black magic.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Those who escorted me back to the aeroplane said that it was because of the way I looked and that it was because I am black magic.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do you think of Rolf Buchholz 453 metal piercings? Let us know in the comments below. </span></p>

Retirement Life

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Richard Hammond and family “gassed” and robbed on Saint Tropez holiday

<p><em>The Grand Tour</em>’s host Richard Hammond and his wife were gassed and robbed in their holiday villa in the South of France.</p> <p>The former <em>Top Gear</em> host and his wife Mindy, along with 15 guests who were staying together in a San Tropez villa, were stunned with anaesthetic gas before a team of thieves stole from them.</p> <p>Mindy, 53, described how she woke up as a group of burglars pilfered cash and jewellery.</p> <p>“I went downstairs and into the hallway. The door into the living room was shut but I heard a male voice behind the door,” the columnist said.</p> <p>“I thought it was another couple staying up and went back to bed.</p> <p>“Actually, it was the burglars.”</p> <p>She said the burglars searched the rooms of all of their 15 guests.</p> <p>“That just makes my blood run cold,” she said. “I could have easily walked in and it could have been unpleasant.”</p> <p>Guests at the villa had been enjoying a 1920s themed cocktail party the night before.</p> <p>Gas raids have been on the rise in the region where the rich and famous holiday.</p> <p>“You have got to have some kind of confidence to do that and to be quite satisfied that people aren’t going to wake up,” Mindy added.</p> <p>“That morning I slept in until eight. I didn’t even wake to Richard’s snoring! Nobody woke up.</p> <p>“It turned out they had burgled the neighbouring property as well in the same night.”</p> <p>The robbers also targeted neighbouring villas on the same night.</p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Rob Roy Glacier: Exploring a truly enchanted land

<p><em><strong>Travel writer Justine Tyerman is in love with a rugged Scot called Rob Roy…</strong></em></p> <p>Rob Roy Glacier is like a magnet to me. We’ve hiked the track in high summer under a sun-bleached sky, wearing only shorts and T-shirts - grateful for the dappled shade of the beech forest canopy; and in full winter tramping gear as fat snowflakes drift down from a low, slate-grey ceiling… hungry for glimpses of the glacier through wisps of mist and snow flurries. We have even trudged up the track in the rain, when tendril waterfalls join forces to become angry, swollen cataracts… such is the allure of the glacier.</p> <p>But our favourite time is when the valley is dressed in silver crystals after a June hoar frost and our boots crunch through stiff white tussock and over concrete moss. The river is ice-green foam and the spray freezes on our eyelashes and brows and transforms bearded men into Santa Clauses. Where the meagre early winter sunshine penetrates the steep-sided gorge, the air sparkles with dazzling diamond filaments and your breath becomes a visible thing, hanging in little puffy clouds like cartoon speech bubbles.</p> <p> When our girls and their holiday cousins were little, they believed they were in an enchanted land, and it was easy to keep them skipping and dancing up the steep track, eager to discover what magic lay around the next corner. They half expected to see Aslan and the White Witch.</p> <p>Icicle swords droop from overhanging rocks as if guarding fairy grottos below and small waterfalls and ponds are frozen in time. Common-place spider webs and ferns become works of art in silver filigree, demanding that we stop and stare in wonder. But we dare not linger for more than a few minutes for fear of freezing solid like the landscape… or victims of the White Witch.</p> <p>By early afternoon, the sun is brilliant against a sharp blue sky but there is no warmth where it touches and nothing thaws.</p> <p>You hear the rushing waters of the Rob Roy stream far below in a deep ravine long before you see the glacier-fed cascade. I listen intently, trying to put the sound into words. It’s the noisy hiss of static as you tune your radio, but with an underlying conversational gurgle, burble or chortle . . . and then a deafening booming roar as the gorge narrows and the water fights to be first through the gap in the rocks.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="353" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266668/1_500x353.jpg" alt="1 (72)"/></p> <p align="center"><em>Justine heading up the track in mid-summer. Image credit: Justine Tyerman</em></p> <p>As we climb higher, the glacier is visible in snatches through the forest canopy and flimsy waterfalls tumble in tiers from the mountain ridges. It becomes a game to trace and time a mass of spray from where it topples over the frozen ledge to the rocks far below. It is impossible to take in the full height of the mountains towering above unless you lie on your back on the ground.</p> <p>The last part of the track takes us over and around truck-sized boulders carelessly discarded by the glacier as it retreated up the mountain side to its present-day precarious home, clinging to a rock face below Rob Roy Peak. We are spellbound again as if it were our first not seventh or eighth trek to the lookout. Under a heavy mantle of snow, the cold blue gleam of the glacier face is blindingly bright… and mesmerisingly beautiful.</p> <p>In the spring or summer thaw, huge slabs of ice on the terminal face lose the fight against gravity and warming temperatures and thunder down the valley in a white cloud. ... an awesome sight, even from a safe vantage point.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266667/in-text-two_500x375.jpg" alt="In Text Two."/></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><em>A kea or alpine parrot against the stunning backdrop of the Rob Roy Glacier. Image credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ecowanaka.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.ecowanaka.co.nz</a></strong></span></em></p> <p>With our Leki hiking sticks, sturdy tramping boots, all-weather Goretex jackets and layers of fine merino and possum, high energy snacks, emergency survival gear and 4WD vehicle waiting at the carpark, we modern hikers are as safe and warm and well-prepared as we can be. I reflect back on an expedition made over 100 years ago by English explorer Maud Moreland who ventured up the Matukituki Valley in a horse-drawn dray and climbed up to the glacier in a long skirt and leather boots…long before DoC built a swing bridge over the river and cut a well-formed track around the cliff faces, slips and boulders.</p> <p>In 1908, she wrote:</p> <p><em>We were now at the entrance of a gorge that looked as if the mountains had been cleft by some terrific force: on one side they rose black and precipitous with trees clinging wherever they could find a little soil but generally they were sheer walls of rock. On our side the mountains were clothed to within a few hundred feet of the top with dense bush.</em></p> <p><em>Leaving the horses tied below we began a toilsome ascent through a belt of tutu – a stout herb growing as high as our shoulders. This bit was very steep, followed by a belt of fern, then across screeds of slate, shale and faces of bare rock with only cracks for footholds when we clung by our fingertips.</em></p> <p><em>The heat grew greater every moment and the glare from the rocks scorched us and made us terribly thirsty as we worked our way from gully to gully.</em></p> <p><em>After a tedious climb we at last saw the head of the gorge – a wonderful sight on which not many eyes have gazed. It is closed by a semi circle of cliffs, precipitous and black. And wedged as it were between three mountain peaks lies an enormous glacier. Not a long river of ice, but a mighty mass of ice, breaking off sharp at the top of the stupendous peaks.</em></p> <p>Maud gazed at the glacier one summer day over a century ago, as transfixed by the sight as we are today, searching for words to express the exquisite beauty and power of the vision before her. Our efforts seem trivial next to hers.</p> <p>Knees turn to jelly on the long trek back down to the car, the steep descent made even more treacherous as we walk forwards but look backwards for fear of missing a view we have not seen on the way up. The swing bridge over the Matukituki River seems higher and longer than earlier in the day as I contrive without success to cross it without the added excitement of friends (male) making it even swingier.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266666/in-text-three_499x665.jpg" alt="In Text Three (2)"/></p> <p align="center"><em>Waterfalls cascade from the cliffs with Rob Roy Glacier in the background. Image credit: www.ecowanaka.co.nz</em></p> <p>Back at the carpark, the temperature is minus 3 and as we drive back to Wanaka in our cosy JUCY 4WD, the fast retreating sun stains the snowy mountain tops pink. We stop at a tiny pebbled beach near Glendu Bay and watch the shimmering pathway shrink to a sliver and disappear as the winter sun puts on a final dazzling display of crimson fire before sliding behind Mt Aspiring/Tititea.</p> <p>There is silence as we store the memories in a safe place . . .  until next time.</p> <p><em>The 10km track from the Raspberry Creek carpark to the Rob Roy Glacier lookout takes about 3-4 hours return. The glacier sits below the 2606m Rob Roy Peak named in early times after Scottish hero Rob Roy McGregor. It is said the figure of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Roy_MacGregor" target="_blank">McGregor</a></strong></span> showed on the rock and ice face of the mountain when seen from the Rob Roy Downs opposite the mouth of the Stream. The 50 - 60 minute, 54km drive to the start of the Rob Roy track is a highlight in its own right. The road skirts Lake Wanaka, passing by iconic Glendu Bay with postcard views of Mt Aspiring and the wispy waterfalls of Treble Cone. It follows the gin-clear Matukituki River up the valley, deep into the Mt Aspiring National Park, part of Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage site, known to the original Māori inhabitants as Te Wāi Pounamu - the greenstone waters.</em></p> <p><em>You can drive to the Raspberry Creek car park and hike to Rob Roy glacier independently or contact <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/" target="_blank">Eco Wanaka Adventures</a></strong></span> for a great guided trek, including lunch and transport from Wanaka.</em></p> <p><em>Transport: JUCY Rentals: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.jucy.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.jucy.co.nz</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em>Accommodation: Love Home Swap: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.lovehomeswap.com/" target="_blank">www.lovehomeswap.com</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em>Hero image credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ecowanaka.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.ecowanaka.co.nz</a></strong></span><strong> </strong></em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Why Patrick Dempsey really left “Grey's Anatomy”

<p>It’s been over a year since Dr Derek Shepherd tragically died on the hit television series <em>Grey's Anatomy,</em> but fans are still mourning his death. How could the irresistibly handsome McDreamy be killed in a car crash?</p> <p>Finally, Patrick Dempsey has opened up about why he left the long-running medical drama.</p> <p>The 50-year-old told People, “It had been long enough.”</p> <p>“It was time for me to move on with other things and other interests. I probably should have moved on a couple of years earlier," he admitted.</p> <p>"I stayed a bit longer than I should have. I’m very grateful for <em>Grey’s Anatomy.</em>"</p> <p>The actor, who stars in the latest Bridget Jones movie, confessed even his high pay couldn’t keep him in the show.</p> <p>“It’s given me the opportunity to do everything. But at the same time, there was a cost.</p> <p>"I think after a certain period of time, no matter how much money you make, you want control out of your own schedule.”</p> <p>The actors said the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, didn't discuss the death with the other cast members, so it was a surprise for everyone.</p> <p>“I knew he was going to be gone, but I didn’t know how she was going to handle it. Shonda just said, I'm going to do it in a really good way and she did her thing."</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/07/2016-year-of-tv-reboots-and-remakes/"><em>2016 is the year of TV reboots and remakes</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/best-tv-shows-from-the-60s/"><em>10 best TV shows from the 60s</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/shocking-facts-about-tv-shows/"><em>10 shocking facts you didn’t know about your favourite TV shows</em></a></strong></span></p>

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US swimmer Ryan Lochte robbed at gunpoint in Rio

<p>Gold medallist Ryan Lochte and his US swimming teammates have been robbed at gunpoint just hours after collecting gold in the 4 x 100m medley relay.</p> <p>Lochte and his fellow swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigan were celebrating their win at Club France, a nightclub in the city, when they were set upon by men dressed as police officers while making their way back to the Olympic Village.</p> <p>“They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground,” Lochte told reporters. “I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground.</p> <p>“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down, ‘and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever,’” he added. “He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials.”</p> <p>After the attack, Bentz tweeted, “We are all safe. Thank you for your love and support. P.S. the gold medal is safe.”</p> <p>The armed holdup is not the first incident to occur in Rio, with two Australian rowing coaches, a Portuguese spectator and a Russian swimmer all robbed in separate attacks.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, what do you think needs to be done to improve security in the final week of the Rio Games?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/rio-olympic-pools-turn-deep-shade-of-green/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>What on earth is going on with the pools at Rio?</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/british-grandma-who-is-tweeting-the-olympics/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The adorable British grandma who’s tweeting the Olympics</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/royals-special-message-for-britains-olympians/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The young royals have a special message for Britain’s Olympians</strong></em></span></a></p>

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