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Extraordinary snaps from around the world for the Nature Photographer of the Year awards

Every year, the <a href="https://naturephotographeroftheyear.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Photographer of the Year</a> awards showcase the best that Mother Nature has to offer. For the 2023 competition, photographers from all around the world have captured beautiful snaps of wildlife in their natural habitat, picturesque landscapes and much more. The annual competition is an initiative of Nature Talks, the organisation responsible for the Nature Talks Photo Festival that takes place in the Netherlands. This year, the competition saw entrant from South Africa, Germany, the USA, England, Finland, France, Luxembourg and many more corners of the globe. This year's winner is a photographer hailing from Canada, Jacquie Matechuk, who stole the show with her photo of the Spectacled Bear. Chairman Marco Gaiotti explained why her photo was chosen as the winner, "The Spanish moss hanging from this centuries-old fig tree gives an incredible sense of three-dimensionality while the soft light filtering through the colours highlights the profound connection between species and habitat in this image." "Finally, the pose of this spectacled bear fits perfectly into the texture of the photograph. Congratulations to Jacquie Matechuk for this outstanding photograph of the spectacled bear." All image credits: Nature Photographer of the Year

International Travel

"Our extraordinary Queen": William's first statement as new Prince of Wales

Prince William has shared a statement following the death of Queen Elizabeth, reflecting on her special relationship with her great-grandchildren. The heir apparent released the emotional statement two days after the death of the monarch, honouring the Queen's life both professionally and personally. The king-to-be began the acknowledgement by saying "the world lost an extraordinary leader" with an "absolute" to commitment to the people she governed. The new Prince of Wales focused on his familial loss, and how the royal family are dealing with their grief. "On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute. So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign," the royal wrote. "I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade." The Duke of Cornwall went on to honour the role Her Majesty played in his wife Catherine's life, and the lives of his three children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. "My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives." The emotional tribute recalled how the Queen, or "Grannie" to William, remained a pillar for the duke throughout his key life experiences. "She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real." The 40-year-old prince ended his statement with a final emotional display of gratitude for the longest-serving monarch. "I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all. "My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love. All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen. "I will honour her memory by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can." Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

New Frida Kahlo TV series explores her extraordinary life

The extraordinary life and career of Frida Kahlo is set to be immortalised in a new scripted television series, according to reports from <a href="https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/frida-kahlo-btf-media-tv-series-1235265022/">Variety</a>. The artist’s estate is teaming up with Miami-based BTF Media to produce a drama series about the life and influential work of the Mexican artist. The goal is “to present a unique perspective based on what her family knows about her and show how she really lived her life,” the painter’s grandniece, Mara Romeo Kahlo, said. The self-taught painter was plagued by physical and psychological pain throughout her life, which she channelled into her self-searing portraits. “Frida was known for her colourful self-portraits. Her self-portraits had different themes, such as her identity, her human body, and death. She was considered a hero to many because she did not allow society to get to her,” BTF Media cofounder Ricardo Coeto said in a statement. “Instead, she used her struggles as her strength.” The artist’s life has been the inspiration for many multiple creative depictions in the past, ncluding the films Frida, naturaleza viva (1983), Frida Kahlo: A Ribbon Around a Bomb (1992), a slew of documentaries, and the Oscar-winning biopic Frida (2002), starring Salma Hayek, which was based on the 1983 biography by Hayden Herrera. No further details have been made available on the upcoming series from BTF, with no word about when filming will commence or if the production has been cast. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

Ben Roberts-Smith's former "fixer" delivers extraordinary testimony

Amid a series of extraordinary claims, Ben Roberts-Smith’s former private investigator has told a court he triggered a police investigation into an “unhinged” SAS soldier, along with many other indiscretions. They includes watching woman as she allegedly faked an abortion and dressing as a bartender to spy on network Seven employees, all on behalf of Mr Roberts-Smith. When the relationship came to an end, the private investigator told the court he called Mr Roberts-Smith a “weak dog” for compromising him in an alleged plot to threaten former SAS soldiers. Private eye and former policeman, John McLeod has denied leaking information to the media. This was after the court heard he was closely communicating with Mr Roberts-Smith’s detractors who are accused of feeding private information to journalists. Mr Roberts-Smith is now suing Nine and its journalists over a series of articles claiming he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, bullied his squadmates and abused his “mistress”. Mr Roberts-Smith has denied all the allegations. Insisting he only killed enemy combatants within the rules of war, did not cheat on his wife and he abhors domestic violence. High profile private investigator John McLeod, a former fixer for Mr Roberts-Smith, was called to give evidence in the defamation trial on Wednesday. Mr McLeod told the court he met Mr Roberts-Smith and his wife, Emma Roberts, while working security for a five-star hotel in Brisbane. Mr McLeod became a fixer for Mr Roberts-Smith, running errands and organising mundane elements of their lives like concert tickets and repairs to their new home in Queensland. In recent years, Mr McLeod had turned against Mr Roberts-Smith and was in recent contact with the SAS veteran’s ex wife, as well as being accused of leaking to Nine. By the start of 2018, Mr Roberts-Smith has told the court, his marriage was on the rocks and he was dating a woman known as Person 17. Nine claims Mr Roberts-Smith was still with his wife at the time and punched Person 17 after they had gone to a ritzy VIP party in Canberra. The court has heard Person 17 had travelled to Brisbane for an abortion after telling Mr Roberts-Smith she was carrying his child. Mr McLeod told the court Mr Roberts-Smith sent him to surveille the woman as she went to Greenslopes clinic for the termination. Person 17 did not show up at the airport or the clinic but Mr McLeod said he eventually found her at the nearby Greenslopes hospital which he said does not perform abortions. Mr McLeod told the court he filmed Person 17, who looked like “a normal woman”, coming out of the hospital and sent the video to Mr Roberts-Smith. Mr Roberts-Smith in his evidence last year, told the court Person 17 met him in a hotel room minutes later and confessed she did not have an abortion. She had the abortion earlier, she allegedly told Mr Roberts-Smith, and he ended the volatile relationship. “(It) gave me great concern that I was being manipulated so I’d stay in the relationship.” Mr Roberts-Smith’s legal team have claimed his ex-wife and her best friend, Danielle Scott, leaked private information to Nine ahead of a damaging 60 Minutes program. In court on Wednesday, they began probing Mr McLeod’s relationship with Ms Scott in recent months. “Letting you know I’m thinking of you, we’ll have a drink in Bali over this,” Ms Scott said on March 31. A few days later, following the program, Ms Scott again checked in on Mr McLeod who responded, “They will come for me!!”. “Do you think it was enough to wake Kerry?” Mr McLeod added. Mr McLeod told the court it was likely he was speaking about Kerry Stokes, head of Seven and Mr Roberts-Smith’s financial backer, friend and supporter. Mr Roberts-Smith’s lawyers are claiming he worked with Ms Scott to jeopardise the SAS veteran’s relationship with Mr Stokes. The 60 Minutes episode included secret yet legal recordings of a conversation with Mr Roberts-Smith and others. Mr McLeod is believed to be present at the meeting, the court has heard. Mr McLeod told the court he “despises the media” and denied he was a source. Image: Nine News

News

Woman shares the extraordinary cost of living with OCD

Kalista Dwyer’s life has been ravaged by her obsessive compulsive disorder - both emotionally and financially. The 22-year-old has shared an insight to her OCD by telling her followers on TikTok how much she spends to cater to the demands of her illness. While walking through a Target in the US, Kalista says she has experienced the disorder to such an extreme degree that it has left her with crushing debt, while treatment has set her back almost $60,000 in one year alone. “OCD has devastated me financially. It’s what I spend most of my paychecks on, it’s left me without savings and, in the past, a job,” she revealed. A particularly pricey element of her condition comes with the unavoidable compulsion to buy clothes in accordance with her frequently changing “safe” colours. “I’m constantly changing my safe colour, therefore I have to replace any clothes that are not that colour,” she explained. She is also forced to replace any clothing that she has had a bad experience or “intrusive thought” while wearing them. Kalista’s OCD has also given her the false belief that if she sees something on sale in a shop that there is “something wrong with it”, making her always buy products at full price. Her household purchases often outnumber that of a typical home, given her compulsion to maintain certain quantities of things at any given time. Another huge expense she faces is with food, as she is constantly under the belief that her food has expired and gone rotten, causing her to “spend upwards of $700 a month on groceries.” Kalista’s extensive list of expenses has drained her bank account, as she admits “I should have more money than I do.” She says her spending to appease her compulsions is an additional stress on top of the already complicated medical system in the US. “So yeah, being mentall ill is really f***ing expensive and it furthers the conversation on why mental health care is a privilege in America.” Image credits: TikTok @kalistadwyer

Mind

IOC makes extraordinary Peng Shaui confession

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made the extraordinary admission that it can't provide certainties about the welfare of Chinese tennis star, Peng Shuai. Peng's plight has sparked global concern after after she posted a message on social media alleging that China's former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her. The former Wimbledon and French Open champion subsequently dropped out of public view for around three weeks before reappearing in Beijing. She has only had a few direct contacts with officials outside China since and told Olympic officials in a video call from Beijing that she was safe and well. The IOC's dialogue with Peng has done little to dispel the global concern for the 35-year-old, with concerns the tennis star's interactions and public appearances are being carefully staged by China. Critics have claimed the IOC is enabling a cover-up by China ahead of the state-backed project to host the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February. The IOC faced more questions about Peng on Tuesday at its first news conference since the Women’s Tennis Association, which has been unable to speak to her, suspended all of its tournaments in China. “We can’t provide you with absolute certainty on anything,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. “All we can do is do the best we can in the process that we believe is in the best interests of the well-being of the athlete.” The Olympic body has repeatedly cited its policy of “quiet diplomacy” as the most likely to succeed with China, whose leader has met and spoken directly with IOC president Thomas Bach since Beijing was picked as host in 2015. Bach took part in the first video call with three-time Olympian Peng on November 21, in a chat that lasted 30 minutes and also involved IOC members from China and an athlete representative. However, the IOC provided no video footage or transcripts of the conversations, fuelling doubts that Peng was able to speak or travel freely. “We can’t give assurances and we don’t know the full facts,” Adams said, pointing to a promise on both sides that Peng and Bach will meet for dinner in Beijing in January. “It’s a full road map to at least attempt to keep in touch and to see where she is.” The WTA’s suspension of tournaments in China was taken after talking with current and former players. On social media, the hashtag WhereIsPengShuai has trended and won support from tennis greats such as Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer. Asked why Peng has not spoken with tennis players or WTA leaders, Adams said: “That I obviously cannot answer because I really don’t know.” The senior IOC member overseeing Beijing’s Olympic preparations, Juan Antonio Samaranch said there was a “need to be discreet" and reiterated the organisation's approach of "quiet diplomacy" “We have to respect her desire for discretion also in this very difficult moment of her life. And we will do that,” Samaranch said at the news conference. The IOC has repeatedly avoided using words referring directly to Peng’s allegations, or the possibility she has restricted freedom. Instead, statements after the video calls cited only “her situation.” Image: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Royals release extraordinary joint statement

Buckingham palace has released a rare statement to condemn the BBC's new documentary about the royal family, saying the claims the show made are "overblown and unfounded". The extraordinary joint statement from Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House was aired during the two-part series titled Princes and the Press, which details how Prince Harry and Prince William have been treated by the media. The royal family was reportedly furious when they were not given the chance to vet the documentary before it aired, and issued a blistering statement to the BBC ahead of the broadcast. "A free, responsible and open Press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy," the joint statement read. "However, too often overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility." The first episode of the series aired on Monday night and featured Omid Scobie, a journalist who co-authored Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's unofficial autobiography Finding Freedom. Scobie claimed that unfavourable stories about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been vetted by members of the royal household, while journalist Dan Wootton said officials "behind the scenes" has reached out to press amid growing frustrations with Harry and Meghan's behaviour. "There were some people who felt [Meghan] needed to be put in her place," Scobie said during the documentary. "I think by leaking a negative story, that's punishment." The documentary also discussed rumours of "competitiveness" between members of the royal family, and aired reports of Meghan's alleged "bullying" while in the palace. Jenny Afia, a lawyer who had previously worked with Meghan, denied reports that the Duchess was "difficult" to work with. "Those stories were false. This narrative that no one can work with the Duchess of Sussex that she was too difficult, demanding a boss, and that everyone had to leave is just not true," she said. It has been reported that officials at the BBC refused to allow Buckingham Palace advance footage of the first episode of the documentary, in order to eliminate any chance of censorship. Image credits: Getty Images

Prince Harry blasted for extraordinary new interview

Prince Harry has been slammed for his extraordinary new interview. The royal sat down with the <a rel="noopener" href="https://armchairexpertpod.com/" target="_blank">Armchair Expert</a> podcast for a chat where he candidly spoke about Prince Charles’ parenting. During the 90-minute interview, the Duke of Sussex admitted he moved to the United States with his family to “break the cycle” of “pain” he suffered as a member of the royal family. He also a said it was necessary that he “change that for my own kids”. The Duke went on to suggest that Prince Charles had “suffered” because of his upbringing by the Queen and Prince Philip, and that his father “treated me the way he was treated”. He called it “genetic pain”. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841213/harry-charles-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/87598af4921b4c81850331195daf63e3" /> He also admitted he wanted to quit royal duties in his “early 20s” because of “what it did” to his mother, Princess Diana. “I don’t think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting, if I’ve experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I’m going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don’t pass it on, basically,” Harry said. “It’s a lot of genetic pain and suffering that gets passed on anyway so we as parents should be doing the most we can to try and say ‘you know what, that happened to me, I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen to you’”. He went on to say: “I never saw it, I never knew about it, and then suddenly I started to piece it together and go ‘OK, so this is where he went to school, this is what happened, I know this about his life, I also know that is connected to his parents so that means he’s treated me the way he was treated, so how can I change that for my own kids”. “And here I am, I moved my whole family to the US, that wasn’t the plan but sometimes you’ve got make decisions and put your family first and put your mental health first.” The 36-year-old compared his former royal life to “a mixture between The Truman Show and being in a zoo”, admitting he stepped down last year to put his family and mental health ‘”first.” Harry also revealed that he had started counselling after his wife Meghan Markle had saw how “angry” he had become. When asked if he felt “in a cage” while in royal duties, the royal said: “It’s the job right? Grin and bear it. Get on with it.” “I was in my early twenties and I was thinking I don’t want this job, I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be doing this.” “Look what it did to my mum, how am I ever going to settle down and have a wife and family when I know it’s going to happen again?” he asked. ‘I’ve seen behind the curtain, I’ve seen the business model and seen how this whole thing works and I don’t want to be part of this.” Prince Harry seems to have picked up the American accent as well fans noticed, after he admitting the U.S. had taken a weight off of his shoulders. “Living here now I can actually lift my head and I feel different, my shoulders have dropped, so have hers, you can walk around feeling a little bit freer, I can take Archie on the back of my bicycle, I would never have had the chance to do that,” he said. Royal commentator Robert Jobson accused the royal of throwing his family “under the bus.” “Forgive me, but he’s been a dad for how long? Perhaps he should pen a book on how to parent properly drawing on his wealth of experience? For “charity” of course,” he wrote. Jobson would later go on to Sunrise, where he accused Harry of shameless behaviour”. “You’ve got to take some of it seriously because he believes it in himself, you know, mental health is a big big issue out there.” “But to keep harping on about this, it’s getting embarrassing,” he said. “To not only criticise his father’s parenting skills, but also the Queen and Prince Philip who has only just had his funeral, I think it smacks of pretty shameful behaviour.” Images: Getty

Family & Pets

Roger Federer cops extraordinary snub from hometown fans

A push to rename Basel’s main sports arena after tennis superstar Roger Federer has fallen through after it failed to garner enough signatures. But there are still those who are hopeful that the St. Jakobshalle will be renamed The Roger Federer Arena despite the setback. In Switzerland, renaming streets, squares and the like after public figures is typically a posthumous honour. The idea to change the arena’s name has been floating around since 2012 but all attempts have so far flopped. Those who are behind the petition believe the move would have a positive impact on the city, tourism and tennis. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, Federer fans weren’t able to meat the 3000 signatures required to trigger the proposal. They submitted their petition to the Basel City cantonal authorities nonetheless in the hope that the request will be met. Federer was born in Basel and used to live in the suburb where the arena is located. As a youngster, he spent two years as a ball boy at the Swiss Indoors and nowadays holds a post-tournament pizza party for the ball boys and girls in homage to his formative years crouching at the net.

Travel Trouble

5 extraordinary uses for paper bags

Paper bags are very to handy to have around the home. While they are standardly use to carry food, they have other incredible uses. Here are five extraordinary ways you can use paper bags. 1. Dry herbs <ul> <li>Wash and thoroughly dry several bunches of herbs and place them upside down in a paper bag.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Tie the bag at the stems, punch in a few holes and put it in a warm, dry place for two weeks.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Grind the herbs, then store. </li> </ul> 2. Boost compost <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">A great addition to any compost heap, brown paper bags contain less ink and pigment than newspaper, and attract more worms.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">First shred and wet the bags, then mix into the compost well so they don’t dry out and blow away.</li> </ul> 3. Prepare vegetables <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Rip open one or two paper bags and spread them over your benchtop when peeling vegetables, shelling peas, or doing any other messy job.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">When you’re done, simply fold the paper and throw it all into the compost.</li> </ul> 4. Catch dust <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Remove dust from a mop by placing a paper bag over the head, then use string or a rubber band to stop it slipping.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Shake and gently bump the mop so the dust falls into the bag, let the dust settle, then take off the bag.</li> </ul> 5. Spray stuff <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">You don’t have to make a mess when spray-painting small items.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Just place what you’re painting inside a large paper bag and it will contain the excess spray.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Once the item has dried, remove it and throw the bag away.</li> </ul> Republished with permission of<a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-extraordinary-uses-paper-bags?slide=all"> Handyman.net.au.</a>

Caring

5 extraordinary uses for paper bags

Paper bags are very to handy to have around the home. While they are standardly use to carry food, they have other incredible uses. Here are five extraordinary ways you can use paper bags. 1. Dry herbs <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Wash and thoroughly dry several bunches of herbs and place them upside down in a paper bag.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Tie the bag at the stems, punch in a few holes and put it in a warm, dry place for two weeks.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Grind the herbs, then store.</li> </ul> 2. Boost compost <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">A great addition to any compost heap, brown paper bags contain less ink and pigment than newspaper, and attract more worms.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">First shred and wet the bags, then mix into the compost well so they don’t dry out and blow away.</li> </ul> 3. Prepare vegetables <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Rip open one or two paper bags and spread them over your benchtop when peeling vegetables, shelling peas, or doing any other messy job.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">When you’re done, simply fold the paper and throw it all into the compost.</li> </ul> 4. Catch dust <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Remove dust from a mop by placing a paper bag over the head, then use string or a rubber band to stop it slipping.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Shake and gently bump the mop so the dust falls into the bag, let the dust settle, then take off the bag.</li> </ul> 5. Spray stuff <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">You don’t have to make a mess when spray-painting small items.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Just place what you’re painting inside a large paper bag and it will contain the excess spray.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Once the item has dried, remove it and throw the bag away.</li> </ul> Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-extraordinary-uses-paper-bags?slide=all">handyman.net.au.</a>

Travel Tips

“Extraordinary permission”: Queen Elizabeth allows close friend to write tell-all book

The Queen’s personal dresser and confidant Angela Kelly has been given “extraordinary permission” from the Queen herself to write a tell-all book that details their working relationship. Kelly has been employed by Her Majesty since 1994 and is the first member of the royal household to be given permission to write about their experiences on the job, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-dresser-angela-kelly-given-permission-to-write-book/72ecda56-bfa1-42e1-9e7d-44737ca321e8" target="_blank">Nine Honey</a>. The monarch has "personally given Angela her blessing to share their unparalleled bond with the world", says a spokesperson for the publisher, HarperCollins. Kelly, 51, started at the palace as the Queen’s senior dresser before rising to Her Majesty’s Personal Advisor and Curator, which includes jewellery, insignias and wardrobe as well as in-house designer. She is the first person in history to hold such a job title and shares a uniquely close working relationship with the Queen. The Other Side of the Coin will include never-before-seen photographs from Kelly's private collection as well as anecdotes of their time spent together. "Angela Kelly is the first serving member of the Royal Household to have been given this extraordinary permission," the publisher says. Kelly likened her relationship with the Queen as “two typical women” who “discuss clothes, make-up and jewellery” in a 2007 interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571986/The-Queen-and-I-by-Her-Majestys-PA.html" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>. "I don't know why the Queen seems fond of me - because I don't give her an easy time," Kelly said. "I do think she values my opinion, but she is the one who is in control. I do worry about her and care about her. But we also have a lot of fun together." Australian palace aid Samantha Cohen, assistant Private Secretary to the Queen between 2011-2018, says the book "gives a rare glimpse into the demands of the job of supporting the Monarch, and we gain privileged insight into a successful working relationship, characterised by humour, creativity, hard work, and a mutual commitment to service and duty". "Angela is a talented and inspiring woman, who has captured the highlights of her long career with The Queen for us all to share."

Books

5 extraordinary uses for bananas

We all know bananas are delicious, but did you know they can very useful around the garden? Here are five extraordinary uses for bananas you probably didn't know about. Attract birds Put an overripe banana on a raised platform in the garden, punching a few holes in it to make it accessible to butterflies as well as birds. Remove it at night so you don’t attract possums. Polish leaves Are the leaves on your indoor plants looking dull or dusty? Wipe down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel to remove the surface dust and replace it with a clean, lustrous shine. Deter aphids If aphids attack your roses, bury dried or cut-up banana peels a few centimetres deep around the base of the plant and they’ll soon leave. Don’t use whole peels as possums will dig them up. Feed plants Bananas are rich in potassium, an important garden nutrient. Dry the peels on screens in winter, grind them up in early spring and use as mulch for new plants, or cut into pieces and use as food. Add to compost With their high content of potassium and phosphorus, whole bananas and peels are welcome additions to a compost pile. The fruit breaks down especially fast in hot weather. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/5-extraordinary-uses-bananas">Handyman Australia</a>.

Home & Garden

The extraordinary story of the British sailor who could have saved the Titanic

In 1912, sailor David Blair avoided death when he was taken off the crew for Titanic’s maiden voyage. It turns out, the sailor could’ve played an unknowing role in the historic tragedy by walking away with the key to a locker containing the vessels crow’s nest binoculars. Historians believe if the binoculars had been accessible on the journey, the iceberg which caused the fatal sinking, may have been spotted earlier. According to the Britain’s Burton Mail, Titanic survivor Fred Fleet told an official inquiry that if they had access to binoculars, they would’ve spotted the iceberg earlier. “David Blair was standing by for three months in Belfast when the Titanic was being built and was signed on for the whole of the New York voyage,” retired Derby headteacher Murray Shaw told the Burton Mail. "He would have been responsible for all the navigation equipment but was taken off the ship in Southampton, surplus to requirements. As a former Navy man myself, I can understand why he would have been upset." Mr Blair was involved in sea trials to assess the Titanic prior to its maiden voyage to New York. He was supposed to be the second officer on the trip when the ship’s owner drafted in senior officer Henry Wilde from sister ship the Olympic. In a postcard to his sister, Mr Blair his expressed his disappointment that he was replaced. "Am afraid I shall have to step out to make room for chief officer of the Olympic. This is a magnificent ship, I feel very disappointed I am not to make her first voyage,” he wrote. On April 14, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:45 and by 2:20am the next morning, it had sunk. More than 1,500 passengers and crew, including Mr Blair’s replacement died.

Cruising

3 extraordinary seniors who achieved success later in life

Leigh Marcos is a mother of two who is passionate about the environment. When most people think of senior citizens, they probably envisage people who are content to sit back and relax during their golden years. Unfortunately, by the time people are middle-aged, many of them are on cruise control. For one reason or another, people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone, take a chance, and chase after success during the latter part of their life. But it doesn’t have to be like that. There are countless examples of people who found <a href="http://www.fixmymind.co.uk/youre-never-old-succeed/" target="_blank">great success later in life</a>. No matter your passion in life, it’s never too late to do something that will make you feel happy and fulfilled. Here are just a few of the ways you can discover success during the latter half of your life. 1. Business Have you ever eaten at a Kentucky Fried Chicken? Well, believe it or not, that restaurant chain wouldn’t exist if a man in his 60s hadn’t shown great courage and perseverance throughout his life. KFC founder Harland David Sanders (aka the Colonel) had countless jobs in his life, and none of them seemed to stick. During his golden years, he was struggling financially and working at a service station that ended up burning down. From the ashes of that service station, he built a hotel and restaurant with help from a rather tasty chicken recipe. <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241346" target="_blank">He found success with it</a> and franchised KFC when he was 62 years old, proving that you don’t have to be young to come up with the next big thing, just determined. 2. Entertainment Perhaps you had a talent for acting, singing, or writing in your younger days but never had the chance to pursue it. Well, it’s not too late to <a href="https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/14-inspiring-people-who-found-crazy-success-later-in-life.html" target="_blank">chase your Hollywood dream.</a> There are so many celebrities that we all know and love who never got their break until the middle of their life, if not later, and so it’s not impossible to think you can do the same. Samuel L. Jackson, for example, didn’t get his breakout role in Pulp Fiction until age 46. That’s the same age the legendary Rodney Dangerfield got his break on the Ed Sullivan Show. The iconic Julia Child didn’t make her first television appearance until age 51. Finally, Christoph Waltz was 53 before American movie audiences knew his name, and now he has two Oscars. 3. Education Even if your idea of success is as simple as getting a college degree, it’s never too late to do it. Take it from Amy Craton, who got her college degree with a 4.0 GPA at the <a href="http://www.today.com/news/50-years-later-94-year-old-woman-graduates-college-4-t107141" target="_blank">age of 94</a>. Of course, she’s just one of many seniors who has pursued higher education. With online courses, it’s easier than ever to strive for academic success in your golden years. You don’t have to be the next Einstein, you just have to be willing.

Retirement Income

5 ways to make your next cruise extraordinary

Are you starting to suffer from cruise déjà vu? Make some changes to your cruise routine and enjoy a whole new experience. 1. Choose an unusual destination The Caribbean, the South Pacific, the Mediterranean – they are all fantastic cruise destinations, but most seasoned cruisers have seen them multiple times. For your next cruise, choose somewhere you never thought you would go. Whether its Patagonia, Alaska, Myanmar or Japan, incredible new cruise destinations are opening up every day. Cruising is a great way to see somewhere new because you can be confident in the quality of the ship while testing yourself for an unusual destination. 2. Pick a different cruise line People are surprisingly loyal to their favourite cruise line. Even if you change between ships in a line, all will have similar features with the same restaurants, bars, room styles and excursions. It can all start to feel very repetitive and, because crew move around between ships in a line, you might even be served by the same staff. There are dozens of cruise lines sailing around the world, each offering their own style of travel. 3. Change your style of cruising Do you always sail on large ships carrying thousands of people? Then try a smaller ship with just a few hundred passengers and a completely different range of facilities. Always an ocean cruiser? Head for the rivers and see just how different it can be. It’s easy to stick with the style of cruising that you’ve enjoyed in the past, but there are so many different options out there just waiting for you to try. You could easily find a new favourite. 4. Try new shore excursions Even if you’ve visited a destination before, it’s unlikely that you’ve seen everything there is to see. To get a different view of a place choose a shore excursion that takes you further afield. You can visit local villages or schools, sample local restaurants or learn about the history of a destination. Push yourself with something adventurous, like whitewater rafting, kayaking or scuba diving. You’ll create new memories that will last a lifetime. 5. Book at the last minute Want to really spice things up? Then go online or walk into your travel agent, ask them what great deals they have and book. Many people plan their next cruise up to a year out, so by the time departure day comes around the excitement has already worn off. With so many cruises departing from New Zealand you can take advantage of great last minute deals that let you step aboard in just a couple of weeks (or less!). Are you a frequent cruiser? How do you make each cruise unique? Let us know in the comments. Related links: <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/5-items-to-never-bring-on-a-cruise/">5 items to never bring on a cruise (and what to pack instead)</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/8-reasons-to-bring-duct-tape-on-your-next-cruise/">8 reasons to bring duct tape on your next cruise</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/7-secrets-to-enjoying-food-on-a-cruise/">7 secrets to enjoying food on a cruise</a>

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3 extraordinary seniors who achieved success later in life

5 ways to make your next cruise extraordinary