Search

Keeping intimacy alive after menopause

When sex is no longer enjoyable due to the changes brought on by menopause, many women sadly give up, wrongly believing there is no solution. This can result in loneliness within a relationship even leading to separation or divorce. But there is help available and it comes down to addressing genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), a syndrome no one talks about despite the fact it affects all post-menopausal women and unlike hot flushes, doesn’t go away. GSM covers a range of menopausal symptoms including incontinence, burning, stinging or itching of the vagina, delayed or impaired orgasm and reduced libido. The good news is, there is help available, even for women who are unable to use hormone therapy and it’s never too late to seek help and take action. Treat the pain Pain and discomfort during intimacy is often the result of vaginal dryness. This can be addressed in many ways including the use of lubricants or vaginal moisturisers but it’s worth talking to your GP about a longer term solution. For many women, menopause hormone therapy (MHT) will help. An alternative to MHT is radiofrequency treatment with <a title="https://www.inmode.com.au/pages/empower-rf" href="https://www.inmode.com.au/pages/empower-rf" data-outlook-id="5a8b7279-e5dc-4ab9-9f3d-b788bb0310ee">EmpowerRF</a> to rejuvenate the tissue and increase collagen and elastin. Take it slowly Often women want to rekindle intimacy with their partner but are not sure how to go about it and fear often inhibits them initiating any intimacy at all. A staged return to intimacy can help. This is achieved by an agreement to limit the intimacy to non-sexual cuddles, no matter the level of desire, for an agreed period of time such as two weeks. It’s a great way to reignite that spark in a comfortable way, before taking things to the next level when both partners are ready. Try new positions Laying side by side can give the woman greater control over the rate of entry and the depth of penetration. If there is pain, stop at that point and breath and only increase penetration once the tissues have relaxed. If pain is still preventing penetration, it is important to seek professional help to find a solution. An examination will determine whether there is any other reason for the pain. A doctor can discuss options including estrogen cream, radiofrequency treatment and even Botox to help relax the muscles. Address incontinence One in two post-menopausal women experience incontinence, which can be a large barrier to sexual intimacy. I have helped many women overcome their struggles with incontinence, using electrical muscle stimulation treatment (V Tone) and radiofrequency technology (Forma V and Morpheus8V) to rejuvenate the tissues and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. It can be life changing. Dr Judy Craig is a Perth-based GP and cosmetic physician. She has practiced medicine for over 40 years. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Missing boy found alive after six long years

A 17-year-old British boy named Alex Batty, who went missing in Spain in 2017 at the age of 11, has been found after six long years. On a Wednesday morning, a concerned motorist discovered Alex walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This Good Samaritan, Fabien Accidini, picked up the young lad, offering water and kindness. Little did Fabien know, he was playing a crucial role in reuniting a family torn apart. Alex, who had been living in the remote Pyrenean valleys, was shy at first but eventually opened up to Fabien about his incredible journey. He revealed that he had been in France for two years, leading a nomadic life in an itinerant commune. His dream was to find a big city with an embassy to seek assistance. The touching part of the story was how Alex, carrying a backpack and skateboard, asked Fabien if he could borrow his phone. He then used the phone to send a message via Facebook to his grandmother back in England, Susan Caruana, telling her that he was fine and longing to see her. Susan Caruana, Alex's legal guardian, received the unexpected message, bringing tears of joy to her eyes. "I am so happy," she told The Sun newspaper. "I have spoken to him, and he is well. It is such a shock." The news of Alex's discovery spread like wildfire. As authorities worked diligently to unravel the mystery, it became apparent that Alex's mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty, who did not have parental guardianship, were still missing – and are still wanted by police in connection with his disappearance. The reunion also brought together international cooperation, with British police and consular staff rushing to France to bring Alex back home. Greater Manchester Police confirmed their collaboration with French authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Batty. "This is a complex and long-running investigation," they said in a statement, "and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place." The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued a statement, affirming their support for the British national in France and their ongoing communication with local authorities. Images: Greater Manchester Police

Family & Pets

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

Patrick Dempsey has been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2023! The 57-year-old actor known for his role as Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy snagged the title from last year's winner, Marvel heart-throb Chris Evans. In his interview with the publication, the actor said that he will use his new-found status to promote “something positive”. “I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” he said. “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.” When asked about his reaction to finding out he was 2023's Sexiest Man Alive the actor joked that it was a long-time coming. “I was completely shocked, and then I started laughing, like, this is a joke, right? I’ve always been the bridesmaid!” he joked. “I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Introducing PEOPLE’s 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SexiestManAlive?src=hash&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> — People (@people) <a href="https://twitter.com/people/status/1722114648638394482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote> 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. “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. “Which is good, they keep me young.” Funnily enough, his newfound status was also met with confusion, mostly from the younger generation who have no idea who he is. “Who the hell is Patrick Dempsey?” one confused Gen Zer wrote. “You all are making up new people every day; who is Patrick Dempsey?” another commented. This left many Millennials feeling old. “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. “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. And not everyone who is a Millennial agreed with People's choice. "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. Is it 2005?” another wrote. “Um, he is so 2007,” a third commented. Regardless, Dempsey has aged like fine wine and many have said it's about time. “Finally! Ain’t nobody under this post showed me a white man finer!" Image: People Magazine/ X

Beauty & Style

"My brother and I are safe and alive": Lil Tay speaks out

Rising to online stardom at the tender age of nine, rapper Lil Tay, the child prodigy, has defied widespread reports of her demise, as confirmed by her recent statement following a <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/death-announced-of-child-star-and-her-brother-at-just-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death announcement that appeared on her official Instagram page</a>. Speaking to TMZ, the 14-year-old social media sensation expressed her relief, saying: "I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I'm completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. "It's been a very traumatising 24 hours. All day yesterday I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones – all while trying to sort out this mess." Those past 24 hours have certainly been harrowing for Lil Tay, having to deal with a barrage of anguished and tearful phone calls from concerned relatives. Lil Tay has come forward to explain that her Instagram account, which initially held 3.3 million followers and now exceeds 3.5 million, was subjected to a hack before the now-deleted misleading announcement was posted. "My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not 'Claire Hope'." Early on the morning of Thursday August 10, a message surfaced on the official Instagram account, proclaiming the "sudden and tragic" passing of the artist – the first post to surface since 2018. In the heartfelt message, it was conveyed, "Words fail to capture the insurmountable void and inexpressible anguish. This outcome took us by complete surprise, leaving us all in a state of disbelief." "We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribably pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock." It was also claimed in the statement that Jason Tian, Lil Tay's 21-year-old brother, had also died. "Her bother's passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief," the statement continued. "During this time of immense sorrow, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding [Lil Tay] and her brother's passing are still under investigation." "[Lil Tay] will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her." Following the announcement, Variety initially reported Lil Tay's management as confirming her demise. Nonetheless, Insider revealed that Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, refrained from commenting on the Instagram post and declined to address queries regarding her current state. During her brief yet impactful three-month presence in the social media landscape, Lil Tay found herself entangled in various controversies, most notably offering an apology after employing a racial slur in one of her videos. Yet, as swiftly as her rise to virtual stardom unfolded, Lil Tay faded from view. Lil Tay's ultimate Instagram post before the now-deleted death notice emerged on June 19, 2018. This post was a tribute to the late rapper XXXTentacion, who tragically lost his life at 20 years old the preceding day. Image: Instagram

News

Artist keeps craft alive with beautifully bound books

In a world taken over by digitised forms of just about everything, book artist Liz Constable says her beautifully bound bohemian journals, handmade envelopes and painstakingly stitched self-help books still inspire the biggest shrieks of delight from total strangers. Journaling in cafés, Constable often feels eyes shrouding over her diary. "They say, oh that looks like a very old book," Constable says. "Oh yes, it's two weeks old," she laughs. Type 'book art' into online creative depository, Pinterest, and it will come up with 636 ways of turning old, clunky books into works of art. Likewise, Google images paints a pretty picture of the ways you can up-cycle unwanted novels. But unlike the art we relegate to a shelf or a picture hook, Constable's creations are usable. They're designed to be drawn on, hauled around in a tote and pulled out to illustrate ideas, and are made with any material she can get her hands on. "It's that old worldy style," she says. "Everyone wants things to look old. You see people with laptops in bags that look like they're carrying old typewriters." What started off as a hobby 16 years ago turned into a full time business called Book Art Studios in 2007, when Constable, then a careers counsellor, says she counselled herself out of her former job and into where her heart truly lay- making books. It began with dying her journal papers with tea and coffee, then a friend introduced her to coloured dye. Now the "scavenger by nature" says her books are made with paper taken from the likes of old shipping maps, cloth and other recycled materials, before being stitched and bound in her own West Auckland studio. The UK migrant makes books for the likes of happy couples who need something special to keep track of wedding guests, to soda giant Coca Cola who commissioned Constable to make books for staff training, and Fonterra, whose Constable-made creations went all the way to a conference in China. Constable believes it's the nostalgia that inspires such gushing responses from people who frequently request to hug her when they see her creations. Not so long ago she hand delivered a job application written in a handmade book, nestled in a mail art envelope. She despairs walking into bookstores and seeing the rows and rows of identical book spines, prompting ever more thoughts about how she can make her work stand out. It's a thought at the forefront of her mind as Constable prepares to undertake something she's never done- producing her first book series en masse by enlisting the help of potential publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. After years of ensuring each of her works is unique, Constable said the decision to take hand made to mass made came after reading a theory that it takes 10,000 hours to perfect a skill. Constable realised she'd clocked up more than enough over time, and enjoyed 'the simple life' long enough to begin relishing the fruits of her labour. She wants to produce a series of semi-autobiographical self-help books, whose roots can be traced back to the death of Constable's aunt many years ago. "Oh, I see a door," were her finals words on her death bed, prompting Constable to wonder just what exactly was behind that door. "I was so curious," Constable says. The words kept coming and before she knew it, nine books were conceived. The Martha series, she calls it. Stories for adults grappling with bigger issues. In March she published and began selling another self-help book, One Small Drop, in order to help fundraise for Frankfurt. Unlike the text heavy self help books of yester-year, you can hold One Small Drop in one hand. The pages are laser cut with small drops that turn into hearts with every page turn, the colours gradually turning from dark to light. More than 7,000 authors and book makers at the book fair will be vying for the attention of publishers who scout the exhibits for "innovate business models". After attending the fair some years ago Constable walked around searching for fellow book artists, disheartened to find they were "miles away from anywhere." Her exhibit, she promises, will be like walking into one of her storybooks. "I came back and I said I'm not going to stand in a queue trying to get someone to read it. I said I don't care how it happens, I'm going to get someone to pick up the Martha series." Written by Kelly Dennett. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credit: Getty

Books

Readers respond: If Princess Diana was still alive, what do you think she'd be doing today?

Almost 25 years on from the passing of Princess Diana, many have often wondered what the late Princess of Wales would be doing today if she were still alive. We asked our readers what they believed Princess Diana would be spending her days doing, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what our readers had to say. Karen McCarthy - Bring her sons back together. This would break her heart. Janice Brigg - She would have made an incredible queen who all would have accepted. Debbie Florance - Hopefully enjoying life and avoiding all the drama. Carolyn Fisher - Charity work, and being a wonderful grandmother. Hopefully guiding Harry. Helen Bartsch - Baby sitting her grandchildren, nothing would make her happier. Carolyn Parsons - At least she would understand why Harry and Meghan did what they have done for love, and not allowed the royalty to tear them apart. Shena Wood - Enjoying her beautiful grandchildren and ensuring her two sons were well and happy. She’d be so proud. Catherine Brown - Still doing charity work and being a loving grandmother. Lorraine Cross - Playing with grandchildren and giving Meghan the back door!! Richard Taylor - Creating chaos and loving it. Judi Dargan - Loving all her family members, spoiling her grandchildren, and enjoying her life of dedication to humanity. Neven Boric - She would work in Harrods as a cashier. Moyra Rocchio - Giving her son a talking to and putting the the fairy princess in line. She would quietly pull her into line, no fuss but firm hand. Bob Kairk - Probably giving Harry a clip under the ear. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Being declared dead when you’re still alive – why these very rare events occur

An 82-year-old woman who was recently pronounced dead at a New York nursing home was later <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/07/us/new-york-woman-found-alive-funeral-home/index.html">discovered to be alive</a> by funeral home staff. This follows a similar incident in Iowa where a 66-year-old woman with early-onset dementia was declared dead by a nurse, only to be found <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/05/us/iowa-presumed-dead-body-bag-alzheimers.html">gasping for air</a> when funeral home staff unzipped the body bag. Fortunately, these events are very rare. But fear of them is visceral, which might explain an <a href="https://www.usni.org/press/books/naval-ceremonies-customs-and-traditions-6th-edition">old naval custom</a>. When sewing the canvas shroud for a dead sailor, the sailmaker would take the last stitch through the nose of the deceased. Having a sailcloth needle through the nose was presumed to be a potent enough stimulus to wake any sailor who was actually still alive. Confirmation of death these days is thankfully a lot less brutal. An absence of heart and breath sounds over a period of time, the presence of fixed, dilated pupils, and a failure to respond to any stimulus should mean that the person is deceased. All doctors are taught how to do this and all are aware of their duties. Unfortunately, there have been instances where death has been confirmed by this process, yet the patient has shown signs of life afterwards. Over the years, I have seen this happen. One day in a hospital, a colleague pronounced an elderly woman dead, but a short while later, she started breathing again and her pulse was briefly restored. In another unforgettable incident, the medical emergency team was summoned with the words: “Cardiac arrest. Mortuary. This is not a joke!” A woman had taken an overdose of barbiturates prescribed for her epilepsy. She had been seen by a general practitioner who certified that she was dead. But on arrival at the mortuary, one of her legs was seen to be twitching. Excruciating embarrassment all round. And if I recall correctly, she recovered. Failure to perform the confirmation-of-death procedure properly explains some instances of people being incorrectly declared dead. A cursory examination while distracted could easily lead to a failure to hear heart sounds and spot shallow, infrequent breaths. It pays to be thorough. However, some drugs we give patients can make the task harder. <h2>Drugs, toxins and cold water</h2> Sedating drugs are thought in some way to protect the brain from damage and this is made use of in anaesthesia for major surgical procedures, particularly if it is necessary to stop the circulation for a time. Less usefully, and with the potential to cause alarm, an overdose of sedatives reduces responsiveness and depresses the breathing and circulation, leading to the impression of death while protecting the brain from hypoxia (oxygen starvation). Later on, as the drug is cleared from the body, the person may wake up. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/man-wakes-up-funeral-open-casket-mourners-family-members-watson-franklin-mandujano-doroteo-peru-tingo-maria-a8021851.html">Diazepam</a> (brand name Valium), <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-mistakenly-pronounced-dead-breathing-body-bag-funeral/story?id=96871056">alprazolam</a> (brand name Xanax) have both caused people to mistakenly be declared dead. Certain toxins may have a similar effect. Voodoo practitioners called Bokors apparently <a href="https://sites.duke.edu/ginalisgh323/zombification-process/">administered powders to victims</a> to make them seem dead. These powders reportedly contained small doses of tetrodotoxin from puffer fish to paralyse the victim, who was then presumably abducted before burial and enslaved. Could neurological damage from the “zombification” process account for the popular image of the zombie? Immersion in cold water can also lead to the illusion of death because of its effect on slowing the heart rate. Survival after <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073646791930424X?casa_token=fWpL51aDu6wAAAAA:Mr0x81LUUog0hT-HSRneimKcRlYW6DHK4nUBODKqOao_L82J8bLIMHszMNwR9qVd69GkuCh8zqsb">considerable periods of time</a> in the water is well documented. In emergency medicine, it has long been taught that a drowned patient is not proven dead until they have been warmed up. Good neurological recovery has been reported after periods of cold water immersion of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/aor.13818?casa_token=ukJcJCgH-n4AAAAA%3Annr3Tgd4LuJ8Ky-l_1UGB_IxLHuU-odWkM1DKgJEhXw3IYXP8_DrpfNxr2eIL8KJJ3PSRX_JUltjpfsLTg">up to 70 minutes</a> Fainting might also deceive the certifying doctor. Activation of the vagus nerve (the longest cranial nerve in the body) occurs during fainting, slowing the heart and reducing blood pressure. This might account for <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/dead-teen-wakes-screaming-inside-6315389">a very sad case</a> reported from Honduras. A pregnant teenager was thought to have died from shock after hearing gunfire in her neighbourhood. She was heard screaming within her tomb a day after her funeral. It is quite possible that she had woken up after a prolonged faint. Many cases seem to originate outside of Europe. Geographical variation in medical confirmation of death procedure may explain this. Perhaps errors arise when people are less likely to be able to afford the costs of a doctor. Whatever the cause, these cases appear in the media because they are sensational and attract lurid attention, but ultimately they are very rare. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-declared-dead-when-youre-still-alive-why-these-very-rare-events-occur-199524" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Caring

‘We are only passing through’: stories about memory, mortality and the effort of being alive

Chris Flynn’s <a href="https://www.uqp.com.au/books/here-be-leviathans">Here Be Leviathans</a> is a collection of short stories that seems quirky and light-hearted, propelled by its creative use of perspective. Each story is established from a surprising vantage point and so the world as Flynn imagines it becomes topsy-turvy – anything at all might be alive and sentient. Animals, chairs, boats, you name it. <hr /> Review: Here Be Leviathans – Chris Flynn (UQP) and The Tower – Carol Lefevre (Spinifex) <hr /> A bear eats a teenager, and thus inherits the boy’s memories. An airplane seat describes its last day at work. A hotel room observes its favourite couple, who return over the years. A monkey details a trip into outer space. But these stories are driven by more than quirky inspiration. The point-of-view might offer an interesting hook, and Flynn’s tone may be jaunty at times, but the stories are propelled by deeper themes of mortality, death and existential pointlessness. Flynn uses perspective to reflect and question the way we think about things. <h2>Memory and mortality</h2> Many of the characters in this collection die, have died or are about to die – but there’s also a counter-theme of connection. The bear may eat the teenager, and so the ranger is hunting him down; we enter a hide-and-seek game for survival. But it’s the connection the bear and ranger have, the mutual respect they share, that becomes the message of the first story, Inheritance. <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=896&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=896&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=896&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1126&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1126&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497560/original/file-20221128-26-5t8y8o.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1126&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> Flynn also explores ideas of memory transference, and this imbues the story with lingering, thoughtful hope: something that pervades the whole collection. In Flynn’s world, death can be a means to existence – as long as our memories keep living, our experiences and perspectives continue to exist. Flynn’s use of unexpected points of view allows him to avoid the sentimental. In 22F, he tells the story of an airplane seat abandoned in the jungle and we’re left with the superb image of moss growing up and over the upholstery, claiming the seat for the natural domain. We learn about the seat’s history, the work-politics of neighbouring seats, and observations of the passengers who have sat in them. We see glimpses of these human cargoes that simultaneously show the banality and profundity of life. The collection took Flynn ten years to write, and he includes notes at the end about his process and the stories’ origins. For instance, he describes how 22F was inspired by the Werner Herzog documentary <a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/wings-of-hope/">Wings of Hope</a>, which interviewed Juliane Koepcke, the sole survivor of a 1971 airplane crash. Together, Herzog and Koepcke journey to the site of the crash and find parts of the airplane in the jungle. Flynn says the story is about: <blockquote> Memory and place. A reminder that we are only passing through and that everything is part of something larger. </blockquote> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497575/original/file-20221128-21-v71muf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>One of Chris Flynn’s stories is told from the perspective of an airplane seat abandoned in the jungle. Leslie Cross/Unsplash, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> The importance of memory and place is further explored in the story A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn, where we follow the perspective of a hotel room that takes a special interest in its guests, Diane and Hector. We see the waxing and waning and waxing of their relationship. At the end, the room says: <blockquote> We are places of passage, of transience […] Eventually, I would be demolished, perhaps to make way for another hotel or an apartment block, or nothing […] I would become rubble, and then dust. </blockquote> This could be the larger message of the book – our lives are transient and then we become dust. The connections we experience and inspire are what give us meaning in the moment. <h2>Complications of care</h2> Carol Lefevre’s <a href="https://www.spinifexpress.com.au/shop/p/9781925950625">The Tower</a> also emphasises place. This thoughtful collection of short stories is very different from Flynn’s in tone and focus, but it too grounds storytelling in the themes of place and mortality. <figure class="align-left zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=928&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=928&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=928&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1166&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1166&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497573/original/file-20221128-14-p18sux.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1166&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> The Tower is structured around a series of interlocking narratives about Dorelia MacCraith – in the very first story, after losing her husband Geordie, she sells her house and buys a new one, with a tower. Her children, who she does not consult, are suspicious of this defiant act. Straight away, the reader is thrust into the negotiations and complications of care. People who Dorelia once cared for are now asserting (or trying to assert) forms of reverse care. And many stories in the collection reverberate with related themes – women caring for children and partners and parents, or making decisions about their positions as carers, especially in the context of trying (or deciding not) to have children. The interconnected stories about Dorelia and her tower are the centrepiece of the collection. Yet Dorelia finds this house of her own by accident, when driving her dear friend and fellow artist Elizabeth Bunting to an appointment: <blockquote> they took a wrong turn, and then another, until at the end of the a quiet cul-de-sac, set among sheltering trees, stood the most adorable house […] and above the porch rose a small tower. </blockquote> I appreciate that it is the women’s friendship – their spark of connection and humour are immediate and inviting – that enables Dorelia to find her tower oasis. I also appreciate that this critical act occurs during a moment of generosity and care: Dorelia is driving Elizabeth to an appointment. While Dorelia may find her tower by accident, we never feel Lefevre is accidental in rendering the lives of these women on the page. The prose is carefully controlled, as is the detail and world-building – and the deeper reflections of the stories kaleidoscope through one another, building in nuanced ways. <h2>Reimagining the crone</h2> Of course, symbolic permutations resonate throughout this text – a tower of one’s own harks to <a href="https://theconversation.com/skin-and-sinew-and-breath-and-longing-reimagining-the-lives-of-queer-artists-and-activists-from-sappho-to-virginia-woolf-184459">Virginia Woolf</a> and Rapunzel. Dorelia reimagines the crone from the Rapunzel <a href="https://theconversation.com/reader-beware-the-nasty-new-edition-of-the-brothers-grimm-34537">fairy tale</a> as central and heroic. This rewriting and revision of the crone – and her motives and backstory – seems key to recognising women’s narratives more generally, and prioritising a multiplicity of stories and experiences within the Australian literary canon. In this sense, it feels like Lefevre is in conversation with authors such as Drusilla Modjeska, <a href="https://theconversation.com/intellectual-fearlessness-politics-and-the-spiritual-impulse-the-remarkable-career-of-amanda-lohrey-187354">Amanda Lohrey</a> and Charlotte Wood. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=319&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=319&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=319&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496662/original/file-20221122-23-obj24f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>The main, recurring narrator of The Tower reimagines the crone from the Rapunzel fairytale as central and heroic.</figcaption></figure> In <a href="https://theconversation.com/tarot-resurgence-is-less-about-occult-than-fun-and-self-help-just-like-throughout-history-139448">tarot</a> mythology, the card of The Tower considers the collapse of old structures. We get a sense of this in the reflexivity of the text, as well as in its story-world – as Dorelia faces life without her husband Geordie. Indeed, old age itself collapses life as she’s known it. The interplay between the textual and the intertextual resonates in this collection, making this book as enjoyable to later ponder as it was to actually read. Here Be Leviathans and The Tower are two very different short-story collections to consider in tandem. They vary in voice, tone and style. Yet both engage with the precariousness and effort that is at the foundation of being alive, and making meaning from our short time on the planet.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193628/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shady-cosgrove-153726">Shady Cosgrove</a>, Associate Professor, Creative Writing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-are-only-passing-through-stories-about-memory-mortality-and-the-effort-of-being-alive-193628">original article</a>. Image: Getty

Retirement Life

Multi-coloured plants are suddenly a home decor ‘must-have’. Here’s how to keep them alive

Fads and fashion have always influenced the plants we keep. And so it is with variegated plants, which have become <a href="https://thatplantylife.com/affordable-and-gorgeous-variegated-houseplants/">very popular</a>with indoor plant enthusiasts these days. Variegated plants possess multiple colours – typically on their leaves, but in some cases on stems, flowers and fruit. Their patterns include stripes, dots, edges and patches. They’re usually green with either white or yellow, but can also feature red, pink, silver and other colours. Variegated plants can divide opinion. I recall a great aunt telling me many years ago of her great fondness for the variegated Aspidistra elatior growing her garden. But I’ve also heard gardeners and garden designers dismiss variegated foliage because it didn’t fit with their design or colour themes. Now, it seems indoor variegated plants are considered a “<a href="https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/variegated-plant-care-tips-36878935">must-have</a>” home decor accessory. But before you rush out and buy one, make sure you know how to keep it happy. <h2>Understanding variegated plants</h2> Most plant species are entirely green but occasionally a variegated individual arises. Some catch the eye of a dedicated plant collector or nursery worker and become a popular variety. Plant variegation can occur for several reasons. In some plants, such as the flowers of tulips, it’s due to a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/story/tulip-mania-how-a-plant-virus-fueled-a-speculative-frenzy">viral infection</a>. The resulting streaks of different colours may be cursed or valued depending on the aesthetic effect. Others plants, such as those in the genus <a href="https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Stories/2019/Coleus-back-in-the-name-game">coleus</a>, are naturally patterned. Groups of cells produce different colour combinations, causing leaves to grow with attractive markings. Plant variegations can also arise from genetic mutation. When growing variegated plants, it’s important to understand how the various colours affect the way it functions. The green part of plants contains chlorophyll, a pigment essential for photosynthesis. (Photosynthesis, of course, is the process by which the leaves convert sunlight into oxygen and carbohydrate that provides energy for plants to grow.) In variegated plants, white parts of leaves do not contain chlorophyll and so do not photosynthesise. Yellow parts of leaves can help send energy to the chlorophyll, but can’t perform photosynthesis on their own. The same goes for some red, orange and pink patches of tissue. But all cells in the leaf – green or not – use the plant’s energy. That means variegated plants are less efficient energy producers than their all-green counterparts, which causes them to grow more slowly. Some plants have mutated into <a href="https://www.chicagobotanic.org/blog/how_to/science_activity_albino_plants">albinos</a> containing no chlorophyll. These normally die within a few days or weeks of germination. <h2>Caring for your plant indoors</h2> It’s no coincidence many popular indoor plants – such as coleus, philodendrons, monsteras, dracaenas and calatheas – are variegated. Because they’re usually far less vigorous than all-green versions of the species, they won’t be pushing against the ceiling within weeks. The decorative colour and pattern of a variegated indoor plant is an added bonus. Variegated plants can take longer than others to reach a size considered appropriate for sale at a nursery, so may be comparatively more expensive. But there are ways to protect your variegated investment. First, watch out for “reversion”. This can occur when a variegated plant sends up an all-green shoot. The shoot will grow fast compared to the variegated parts and can eventually take over, causing the whole plant to revert to green. To avoid this, vigilantly remove any green shoots before they get big. You don’t want variegated plants quickly outgrowing their space, but remember they’re low on chlorophyll and so need good light. And like any indoor plant, ensure its leaves are kept free of fine dust and you don’t give it too much, or too little, water. <h2>Variegated plants in the garden</h2> The popularity of indoor variegated plants will almost certainly lead to greater use outdoors. Their slow-growing nature means outdoor variegated plants are usually much less likely to be “weedy” and spread where they’re not wanted. This can be an advantage if you’ve avoided planting a species because it will take over the garden. The variegated versions of <a href="https://www.plantmark.com.au/pittosporum-eugenioides-variegata">pittosporum</a>, ficus and <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/57250/nerium-oleander-variegatum-(v)/details">nerium oleander</a>, for example, are far less intent on global domination than their all-green counterparts. When planting a variegated plant outdoors, watch that it doesn’t become shaded by other quicker-growing plants. Many variegated plants already struggle to photosynthesise sufficiently. A bit of extra shade can damage or even kill them. So ensure they get enough light – and every so often give them a hand by trimming back nearby plants. <h2>Growing with flying colours</h2> Variegated plants are having their moment in the sun. But their interesting biology is always in fashion! These plants can brighten up your indoor space and provide attractive colour and pattern in the garden. By learning about how variegated plants function and considering their special requirements, you can enjoy them for years to come. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/multi-coloured-plants-are-suddenly-a-home-decor-must-have-heres-how-to-keep-them-alive-181163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home & Garden

Keanu Reeves attacked for still being alive

Matthew Perry has backtracked on his insensitive comments questioning why beloved Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves is still alive. In his memoir Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, the Friends star questioned why his friend River Phoenix died but Reeves didn’t. “Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?” he wrote. Perry was discussing his friendship with River Phoenix - who is also friends with Reeves - and about the heartache he had when he overdosed on drugs in 1993 at the age of 23. He called Phoenix his “closest friend of that era” before attacking Reeves for still being alive. Social media was in uproar at his comments with many questioning why Perry would wish death upon anyone. “In a world full of Matthew Perry’s… be a Keanu Reeves,” someone wrote. “Of all the people in Hollywood, there’s absolutely no reason to come for Keanu Reeves who even after personal tragedy has remained, by accounts, generous and kind. He just makes movies and comics, treats his cast and crew right, and minds his own business,” another wrote. “Imagine coming for Keanu Reeves like that. Might as well let the internet know you think all kittens should be drowned at birth. Good luck out there, man,” someone else commented. Perry eventually came out and apologised and explained he was “actually a big fan” of Keanu Reeves. “I'm actually a big fan of Keanu,” he said. “I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.” Images: Getty

Caring

Mother-of-two fighting to stay alive

A woman who put her exhaustion down to looking after her young children has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Chanelle Moles was first diagnosed with low iron, post-natal depression and hormone imbalance after experiencing months of fatigue. She accepted the diagnosis before sensing that there was something more to the way she was feeling. The Perth mother, 34, pushed doctors to do more tests and scans when it was revealed that she in fact had stage four colon cancer in October 2020. By then, the cancer had spread to Chanelle’s liver and lungs. At the beginning of 2022, Chanelle was told she would have just six to 18 months left to live. “Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought that within five years of becoming a mummy I would be told I don’t have long to live,” Chanelle told 7News. “Every day I wake up, I wish I could just ‘wake up’ from this nightmare and see that it was all just a dream. Unfortunately it is not, this is my reality and the reality for my beautiful children and husband. “I don’t want to leave them, not yet. I love life and I am doing everything I possibly can to fight for mine.” The 34-year-old mother wanted to do anything to see her kids grow up and underwent 13 months of chemotherapy, along with major surgeries and treatments. In July 2021, she was informed that her body wasn’t responding to chemotherapy and was offered the chance to try CyberKnife - a radiation therapy that helps get rid of the spots on the liver. Following the treatment, Chanelle received incredible news that her cancer was in remission. That was short lived until four days before Christmas 2021 when a follow up scan showed that the cancer had in fact spread to the peritoneal cavity, ovaries and the abdominal area. Chanelle was offered another sign of hope when a doctor informed her he could remove all her cancer. But following an intense 16 hour surgery, he told her that it was unsuccessful. “Since then she has been through countless surgeries and endured the most ravaging chemotherapy just to be given a chance to rid her body of this horrible disease and watch her kids grow,” her husband Graham Moles said. Trying their luck one more time, Chanelle was accepted into a life-saving cancer treatment in Houston, US. Unfortunately, the treatment will see them out of pocket a whopping $150,000. After launching a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-mummybee-chanelle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page, $233,036 was raised of the $150,000 goal (number correct at time of publishing). The family were overwhelmed with the support and said any of the leftover money will be donated to the charities of Chanelle’s choice. Image: Facebook

Body

“The bed was alive”: Woman issues warning after horror hotel stay

An Australian woman has issued a warning to fellow travellers after she was attacked by bed bugs during a mini holiday with a friend. Justine Martin and Anna McLean were heading out for a getaway to the Gold Coast following Melbourne’s tough lockdowns last year and checked into a “resort-style” hotel after their long trip. As the pair were about to fall asleep, Justine said she felt a “crawling sensation” on her neck. “I noticed the sheets were a little bit sandy down at the feet end, and it was very late by the time we got there, so I tried to drift off,” she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/bed-bugs-travel-warning-australia-summer-la-nina/b45cd682-5754-482c-9cda-14da230f6092" target="_blank">9Honey</a>. “I was lying there tossing and turning, and I could hear Anna scratching. Next thing, I felt something crawling on me.” When she brushed against her face, Justine realised something was biting her neck - a tiny bed bug. “I turned on the light and there was a wine glass sitting on the side table, so I popped it in the wine glass,” she recalled. “Then we got out the bed and pulled the sheets back… and the bed was alive.” The Victorian women were shocked to find that both of the single beds were covered in dozens of the bugs, while the “sand” Justine thought she could feel at the end of the bed turned out to be sprinklings of bed bug excrement. <img style="width: 396px; height: 223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846740/bedbugs1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/006f2ce30aa548019add5f955070bc68" /> Justine and Anna found bed bugs and their excrement in their hotel rooms while on a holiday in Queensland. Image: 9Honey After alerting the night manager, Justine and Anna were moved to a new hotel room - only to find that the queen bed within was just as infested with bed bugs. “We pulled back the sheets, and it was full of bed bugs as well,” Justine said. “The whole place was infested. “We both had showers to wash bugs off our skin, and I have long black hair so I was worried it was going to get into my scalp.” Fortunately their clothes were still packed away, protected from the tiny bugs. With two strikes against their current hotel, the pair were determined to salvage their holiday, demanding a refund and checking into an expensive hotel along the beach. “We lost a whole day, we slept for most of the Friday and had to do our washing,” Justine added. “I’m not being a snob, it shouldn’t matter what you’re paying for a motel or hotel room, the quality of the room should be 100 percent and it should be clean. “Now when I go into a hotel, the first thing I do is pull up the sheets and look for any signs of bed bugs… their excrement or stains on the mattress, because bed bugs will be hiding during the day.” According to bed and sleep expert <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/expert-issues-warning-to-summer-travellers-as-bed-bug-populations-surge/news-story/344bc7d4c6d68bde43bb57304d4ffadf" target="_blank">Darren Nelson</a>, December through February are common months to find bed bugs. With increased travel during this period, the bed bugs are able to spread from holiday homes, hotels and campsites to bedrooms at home. As for how to combat them, Mr Nelson suggests keeping bedding and sheets clean, and washing sheets separately from clothes to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. “Most people wash their sheets every week or two - but forget about their pillow and doona, going months if not years, between washes,” he explained. “These are the breeding ground not only for bed bugs, but for dust mites.” Image: 9Honey / news.com.au

Travel Trouble

How Mariah Carey’s Christmas song from 1994 keeps the festive spirit alive

As the festive season looms, it’s almost time for decorations, presents and Christmas music. But for some, the Christmas playlist has been on a high rotation for the last few months, featuring one song specifically: Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You. This 1994 track has long been a staple in any decent festive playlist, and is only continuing to gain popularity. However, according to an <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/these-charts-show-spread-mariah-carey-s-classic-christmas-song-n1283619">NBC analysis</a> of last.fm data, the yuletide song, which was once reserved for December only, has been played by eager Mariah fans and Christmas fiends as early as October. With the last.fm data spanning over 15 years, the song began encroaching in November around 2015, and has only continued to be played sooner throughout recent years. Since 2018, the track has started its annual emergence as early as November, outshining the spooky Halloween season. Some believe that the song has shifted through time to reflect when people begin their holiday shopping, and are infiltrated with the Christmas spirit of festive tunes being played in malls. Other people, including associate professor of musicology Nate Sloan, think the presence of All I Want for Christmas Is You is more about the comfort we feel from Christmastime. “Charts are dominated by the newest hit single, and the appetite for new music is the drive for climbing the charts — the only exception to that is Christmas,” Nate Sloan said. “It has very much to do with the emotional support we draw from this holiday.” Since the song’s 1994 debut, it has taken on a life of its own and become one of the most successful holiday singles ever released. The song has spawned multiple covers and featured in numerous Christmas films, making it a key associative factor to the festive season. For these reasons, Nate Sloan believes it's the song’s emotional ties to the festive season that keeps eager listeners coming back at the end of each year. He said, “It becomes a sonic marker of being around family and warmth and time off.” “Who doesn’t want to return to that feeling, that song and that season earlier and earlier?” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

"I’m going to own this" says 2021's sexiest man alive

Image: Getty Hollywood star Paul Rudd has been crowned as 2021’s Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Rudd, known for his starring roles in Marvel’s Ant Man films, This is 40 and cult classic Clueless, was revealed as this year’s winner on Tuesday night on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Rudd naturally expects that many will be surprised by him receiving the honour, and he said as much to the New York Post. “I do have an awareness, enough to know that when people hear that I’d be picked for this, they would say, ‘What?’” he said. “This is not false humility. There are so many people that should get this before me.” But of course, Rudd did not turn down the honour. In fact he jokingly hopes the new title will grant him an invitation to “those sexy dinners” with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Michael B. Jordan — all recent winners. Other past honourees include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Channing Tatum and David Beckham. “I figure I’ll be on a lot more yachts,” Rudd said. “I’m excited to expand my yachting life. And I’ll probably try to get better at brooding in really soft light. I like to ponder. I think this is going to help me become more inward and mysterious. And I’m looking forward to that. “I’m going to lean into it hard. I’m going to own this,” he said. “I’m not going to try to be like ‘Oh, I’m so modest.’ I’m getting business cards made. But all of my friends will destroy me, and I expect them to, and that’s why they’re my friends.”

Beauty & Style

"My name is Cleo": Missing Cleo Smith FOUND alive and well

After vanishing from a campsite 19 days ago, Cleo Smith has been found “alive and well” in a locked house in Western Australia. After breaking into the Carnarvan home at about 1am on Wednesday, police found the little girl in one of the rooms. “Cleo is alive and well,” Deputy Commissioner Coll Blanch <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/missing-four-year-old-girl-cleo-smith-found-alive-and-well-c-4408856">said</a> in a statement. “They found little Cleo in one of the rooms. “One of the officers picked her up in his arms and asked her, ‘What’s your name?’. “She said, ‘My name is Cleo’.” She was reunited with her family a short while later. “This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for,” Blanch said. “It’s the outcome we’ve achieved because of some incredible police work. “I want to thank Cleo’s parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers. “And of course, I want to thank my colleagues in the Western Australia Police Force.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> They found her?! Extraordinary. I’m not even her mum and I’m crying with happiness ❤️ Incredible job WA police <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cleo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cleo</a> — Rachel Smith (@rachsmithjourno) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachsmithjourno/status/1455635193767755777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote> A Carnarvon man has been taken into custody and is currently being questioned by detectives. Cleo first disappeared while her family was camping at the Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon. Since then, police have searched the family’s home, reviewed CCTV footage, scoured the dark web, and enlisted the assistance of volunteers and interstate and US authorities. A $1 million reward was previously announced by the WA government for any information leading to Cleo’s location. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845286/cleo2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/239247dccc8b447a8151348375558a5a" /> Image: 7News Criminologist Xxanthe Mallett said the news was a “miracle” as “it’s highly unusual to find an abducted child alive and well after so long”. “I’ve got to say that I have been expecting the worst, we’re up to day 19 now,” she told Sunrise on Wednesday. But, she believes the man currently being questioned is likely linked to Cleo and her family. “We always felt that this was something targeted,” she said. “I imagine that they will know Cleo, there will be some link to Cleo and that’s how they will have tracked them down.” Image: 7News

News

"Miracle I'm alive": Tragic way grandfather survived skydiving fall

After surviving a fall of 12,000 feet in a terrifying skydiving accident, a Victorian grandfather has praised the man who saved his life. Christopher Rantall was doing a tandem jump with his instructor Arron Toepfer when the pair got into difficultly when their parachutes didn't open. As they plummeted towards a paddock in Torquay, Arron turned in the last seconds of the fall to cushion the blow for Christopher and did not survive the impact. In an emotional interview, Christopher spoke to 7News about the traumatic ordeal. “It still gets to me. Arron basically sacrificed his life (so) that I can live, or have a chance at living,” the grandfather said. “I personally believe it is a miracle that I’m alive and another miracle that I’m as able-bodied as I am.” He shared the skydiving experience with his daughter Raya, as part of her birthday present and a bucket list wish for Christopher. The grandfather said he was having the time of his life until he realised something was wrong. “Arron has gone to release the first chute - It didn’t work,” the 54-year-old said. “I didn’t know and I’m just loving this free-fall and we’re just going down and down and down.” Christopher said he realised the severity of the situation once they were in a vertical position and he noticed the secondary chute was not filling with air. “At the same time I could see Raya above us, so I was like: ‘Oh, we’re in trouble here’,” he said. Raya had jumped first but her father overtook them as he fell at up to 200km/h. After not remembering the impact of the crash, Christopher spent two weeks in hospital with a dislocated hip, bleeding into his spleen and some broken bones. The 54-year-old praises his instructor for saving his life, and insists he won't skydive again. “For someone to put their life in danger to save a stranger - how brave do you have to be to do that,” he said. Image credits: 7News

Travel Trouble

Qatar airport confirm dumped baby is still alive

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Doha, capital of Qatar, airport officials have confirmed that a newborn located in one of its terminals is alive and well. Earlier in October at Hamad International Airport, staff discovered an infant, described as a premature baby, "abandoned" in the terminal bathroom. After this incident, female Australian passengers were allegedly invasively searched, and the Australian Government has since "formally registered our serious concerns" with Qatari authorities. Women at the airport, including 13 Australians, were allegedly removed from flights, detained and forced to undergo an invasive inspection in an ambulance on the tarmac. None of the women were told about the abandoned newborn before the strip searches began. An Australian Government spokesperson told 7NEWS that it is “deeply concerned” at the “unacceptable treatment of some female passengers on a recent Qatar Airways flight at Doha Airport”. “The advice that has been provided indicates that the treatment of the women concerned was offensive, grossly inappropriate, and beyond circumstances in which the women could give free and informed consent. “The Government has formally registered our serious concerns about this incident with Qatari authorities. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is engaged on this matter through diplomatic channels.” A Hamad International Airport spokesman told <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/world/doha-airport-officials-confirm-dumped-baby-is-still-alive-c-1457385" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">7News</a> that the newborn infant was found on October 2. “The newborn infant was immediately provided with medical attention and care,” he said. “Medical professionals expressed concern to officials about the health and welfare of a mother who had just given birth and requested she be located prior to departing HIA. “Individuals who had access to the specific area of the airport where the newborn infant was found were asked to assist in the query.” The newborn remains unidentified, and “is safe under the professional care of medical and social workers”. However, Shadow Resources Minister Joel Fitzgibbons said that authorities should "await confirmation about the accuracy of the report". “If true, this effectively amounts to state-sanctioned sexual assault and we should all be very, very concerned,” he said. “And the government here in Australia should be most robust in its responses.” </div> </div> </div>

Travel Trouble

"Lucky to be alive": Australian in Beirut recounts moment of devastation

Lebanese rescue workers are continuing to search for survivors in the wreckage of buildings after an explosion at a port in Beirut killed at least 135 people and injured 5000 more. Up to 250,000 have also been displaced, with no home to live in after the explosion shattered their windows and sent their buildings tumbling. Samah Hadid from Australia is among those affected. She’s been forced to evacuate her neighbourhood which sits “within the zone” - just one kilometre from the port. Her apartment has been left “completely destroyed”, but authorities have also issued a warning about the toxic fumes circulating in the air, putting Samah’s health at risk too. “I’m really lucky to be alive,” she told The Latest. “The damage was so extensive that it ripped through the entire building and the apartment so I’m really lucky to escape injury.” When the explosion occurred, Samah thought it was either a bomb or an earthquake as her building began to shake. <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/CDhu2u2lezp/?utm_source=ig_embed&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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhu2u2lezp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">My sincere condolences and prayers go out to those affected in Lebanon 🙏🙏🙏🙏 #lebanon #beirut #beirutlebanon #beirut_lebanon #lebanonexplosion</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/vetmedmemesdaily/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> THE VET HUMOR PAGE</a> (@vetmedmemesdaily) on Aug 5, 2020 at 5:06pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “The ceilings came down. Furniture just ripped apart,” she said. Hadid escaped through the building’s stairwell but found “blood all over the staircase from people who were really severely injured”. “The hospitals were so overwhelmed and overcrowded that they should not accept any more people,” she said. “And this is happening in the middle of a pandemic where the health system here is already overstretched dealing with coronavirus and, to put it in perspective, Lebanon was already facing an economic crisis. “People were already living in poverty. “We’re already facing starvation, in my street alone, buildings have been destroyed, neighbourhoods have been ruined, brought to rubble. “The country has been brought to its knees. It’s facing crisis upon crisis. “It desperately needs support and needs international aid support, if people are going to be able to rebuild their lives.” The death toll is expected to rise from the blast that officials believe is due to a large amount of highly explosive material stored for years in unsafe conditions at the port. President Michel Aoun said 2,750 tonnes of seized ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures.

Travel Trouble

If Diana were alive: Artist shows how modern royal portraits might look with the People's Princess

An artist has honoured the late Princess Diana by creating artworks with her in modern royal life with her two sons and their families. Why the late royal could not be there for her eldest son’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011, artist Autumn Ying took to social media to create painting that imagine what it would be like if she had been able to meet her daughters-in-law. The artist has shared a number of her incredible artworks with social media, including a post of Princess Diana where she wrote: “While Princess Diana won’t get to see her daughters-in-law in reality, I’m thinking of visualizing this scene as a touching tribute to the late mother of Prince William and Prince Harry.” In another, Ms Ying showcased a painting that featured Princess Diana, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle as they were on their wedding days altogether. Another stunning sketch depicted Princess Di with all four of her grandchildren, Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, Prince Louis, 1 and Archie, nine months. Ying shared the prints of the royals are available for purchase and that proceeds from the sales will go to charity. "While for every art print purchased, the amount will be donated to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.unicef.org/" target="_blank">UNICEF</a>, in hope of helping the children in need out of malnutrition in Cambodia," she wrote on Instagram. Scroll through the gallery to see Autumn Ying’s prints dedicated to Princess Diana and the royal family.

Art

Aussie teen presumed dead found alive

A Sydney teenager who was missing and presumed dead after the deadly New Zealand volcano disaster has been found alive after two days. 19-year-old Jesse Langford was among 19 Australians who were unaccounted for on Wednesday afternoon <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/20-people-injured-after-violent-volcano-eruption-off-new-zealand-coast">when a dormant volcano erupted to life</a> with 47 people on top of it on Monday afternoon. Both he, his sister and parents were on a cruise ship Ovation of the Seas when they decided to take a tour to the volcano on White Island. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7833318/health-food-new-zealand-alps-13.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/55240e8e37b0469caaed7f8a00ce792d" /> It has not been made clear as of yet where Jesse was located but it is understood the rest of his family are still currently missing. The news comes as twenty-five people lie in hospital in critical condition. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/missing-australians-named-in-white-island-volcano-eruption">Grave fears remain for at least eight Australians.</a> The gruesome task of scouring the ash-covered White Island will continue as worried family members wait for painful phone calls that their loved ones’ bodies have been found. Three Australians are assumed to be among six people that have been confirmed dead in the horrifying eruption off the coast of New Zealand on Monday just after 2pm. The other three victims include White Island tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman and a Malaysian national. The identity and origin of the sixth victim is not known. What we do know is that there were 47 people on the island when ash spewed from a dormant crater. Of those, 24 were Australians who had been visiting the island.

News

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Keeping intimacy alive after menopause

Missing boy found alive after six long years

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

"My brother and I are safe and alive": Lil Tay speaks out

Artist keeps craft alive with beautifully bound books

Readers respond: If Princess Diana was still alive, what do you think she'd be doing today?

Being declared dead when you’re still alive – why these very rare events occur

‘We are only passing through’: stories about memory, mortality and the effort of being alive

Multi-coloured plants are suddenly a home decor ‘must-have’. Here’s how to keep them alive

Keanu Reeves attacked for still being alive

Mother-of-two fighting to stay alive

“The bed was alive”: Woman issues warning after horror hotel stay

How Mariah Carey’s Christmas song from 1994 keeps the festive spirit alive

"I’m going to own this" says 2021's sexiest man alive

"My name is Cleo": Missing Cleo Smith FOUND alive and well

"Miracle I'm alive": Tragic way grandfather survived skydiving fall

Qatar airport confirm dumped baby is still alive

"Lucky to be alive": Australian in Beirut recounts moment of devastation

If Diana were alive: Artist shows how modern royal portraits might look with the People's Princess

Aussie teen presumed dead found alive