Placeholder Content Image

Bluey blasted over extravagantly “wealthy” home

<p dir="ltr">A concerned parent has blasted the canine family in <em>Bluey</em> for living in a house that they deemed too wealthy. </p> <p dir="ltr">The viewer said it is “discouraging” to see the animated family of dogs living in a home worth several millions of dollars, but also believes the dog parents’ humility in their riches has given them the freedom to be “such amazing parents”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The show depicts the Heeler family of Bandit and Chilli and their two children Bluey and Bingo, with one passionate viewer pondering whether their parenting skills are due to the dogs being “millionaires”, sparking a debate online.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Confession: it bothers me that the Heelers are wealthy,” the concerned parent began on Reddit.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s been estimated that the Heeler home is worth at least $1-$2 million, if not more. It’s hard to say exactly because the floor plan changes to fit the needs of the story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“A few real estate articles say $4 million, but $1-2 million seems to be the most realistic answer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Every once in a while, the thought creeps into my mind that the reason they are such amazing parents is because they are millionaires.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The parent did clarify that they do believe the animated Heelers to be “fantastic people who live frugally and they don’t flaunt their money”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They live in a great neighbourhood, send their kids to fantastic schools, and their jobs seem to be very flexible so they spend a lot of time home with their kids.”</p> <p dir="ltr">They concluded saying that “as a parent who isn’t wealthy, it’s a little discouraging”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans were divided with the Reddit post, with some entertaining the parent’s theory, while others thought the children’s show was being “overanalysed”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’re also talking dogs which I’ll never be,” one user pointed out.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Please don’t compare yourself to a cartoon dog, especially one you only see for six-minute segments. Anyone can be an involved parent for seven minutes,” a second wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dear god, it’s a cartoon. Are you also upset that SpongeBob lives in a two-story home by himself off a fry cook salary?” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another joked, “I’m getting really sick of explaining this over and over again. Their house is worth a lot of money NOW, but that’s only because the housing market in Brisbane has exploded over the last 10 years.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: ABC iView</em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

Deck the halls! The extravagant Christmas trees and decorations inside Buckingham Palace

<p>Christmas is well and truly on its way if Buckingham Palace is anything to go by, as the royal residence has been decked out with extravagant Christmas trees complete with bespoke crown and carriage decorations.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 491px; height: 444px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822298/capture.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6179a414ff6a4e818bf26d7ddf3d6d5a" /></p> <p>The Marble Hall at Buckingham Palace has been transformed into a festive wonderland as three fir trees have been erected and adorned with ornaments inspired by the Queen herself.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 492px; height: 442px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822299/palace1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/81f14ced060d4d51bc413c50ef62c5f5" /></p> <p>The decorations include miniature versions of the coronation crown worn by the Queen in 1953 alongside other hanging ornaments with the word “Palace” embroidered on them.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 491px; height: 447px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822300/palace2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0d6813ff465d47a9a73f752d90e21888" /></p> <p>And it doesn’t just stop there, the grand staircase has also been covered in garland complete with colourful baubles to bring about the holiday cheer.</p> <p>The decoration process was filmed and posted to the official Royal Family Twitter account, where they captioned it: “It’s officially Christmas at Buckingham Palace!”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 496px; height: 440px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822301/palace3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b50220d495e742d58fb2976efece262d" /></p> <p>Glittering white lights have been wrapped around the three trees, and as mentioned in the video, many of the decorations are available to the public through the Royal Collection Trust’s online store.</p> <p>The “Palace” ornament can be purchased online through the Royal Collection Trust and costs NZ$27.40. Also available is a decoration with the word “Buckingham” across it.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">The Christmas Trees have arrived at Buckingham Palace!<br />🎥 Watch as the Marble Hall transforms for the festive season. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Christmas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Christmas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuckinghamPalace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BuckinghamPalace</a> <a href="https://t.co/bsdFvWbacN">pic.twitter.com/bsdFvWbacN</a></p> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1069895913164939265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>The central Christmas tree stands 15ft tall and all three were grown in Windsor and brought to the palace at the start of December.</p> <p>The Queen will be hosting her annual pre-Christmas lunch just before the royal family make their way to Sandringham for Christmas Day.</p> <p>The lunch, which happens every year, is held for extended royal family members and senior royals who are generally not invited at her Norfolk estate on December 25th.</p> <p>The Norfolk estate is usually decorated in holiday décor the day before Christmas, where the royal family light up their tree at Sandringham House. The tree is said to be 20ft tall and is cut from the estate.</p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

The Queen’s extravagant wedding gift to Harry and Meghan revealed

<p>The Queen has gifted one of her many estates to Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan Markle, following their May 19 nuptials.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been given a country home in Norfolk, the <em>Metro</em> has reported. </p> <p>The extravagant royal property called York Cottage is located at Sandringham Estate, a 20,000-acre estate, approximately 180 kilometres northeast of Kensington Palace.</p> <p>The residence is said to resemble "three Merrie England pubs joined together, oozing charm and character", the <em>Metro</em> stated. </p> <p>The estate has been in the royal family for hundreds of years, dating back four British monarchs to 1862, the estate's official website declares. </p> <p>Queen Elizabeth II inherited the large parcel of land when her father King George VI passed away in 1952. </p> <p>Formerly known as Bachelor's Cottage, York Cottage was once home to many of the Queen's relatives, including her grandparents King George V and Queen Mary. </p> <p>When Prince William and Kate Middleton wed in 2013, the Queen gave the newlywed couple Anmer Hall on the Norfolk estate. However it took two years before the couple moved in, just before Prince George was born.</p> <p>"Her Majesty gifted William and Kate Anmer Hall," royal expert and <em>DailyBreak</em> managing editor <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/926519/prince-harry-meghan-markle-wedding-news-latest" target="_blank">Kelly Lynch said</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>In the leadup to the royal wedding on May 19, Lynch predicted: "I'm not certain how many other homes are on the Sandringham Estate but I wouldn't be surprised if one was gifted to Harry and Meghan. Especially given the fact that the royals spend Christmas at Sandringham."</p> <p>As Prince Harry and Prince William are very close, Lynch believes the two Dukes may opt to live next to each other and have their children grow up together.</p> <p>Lynch also said it's possible that the Queen would give the couple a home in Windsor as it's where Prince Harry and Meghan tied the knot.</p> <p>"I wouldn't rule out any available homes in Windsor, as that will be where Harry and Meghan will wed," she said at the time. </p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Prince Charles’ extravagant travel demands revealed

<p>There are certain perks that come from being a member of the royal family, but we had no idea just how extravagant these perks are.</p> <p>In a new biography titled<em> Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles</em>, investigative journalist and biographer Tom Bower revealed the future King’s demands for whenever he travels, and some of them are quite excessive.</p> <p>According to the book, the Prince pretty much takes his entire bedroom whenever he leaves home. This means a truck full of creature comforts like his orthopaedic bed, his own linen, paintings of the Scottish Highlands and even his own toilet seat and toilet paper.</p> <p>Charles reportedly also likes to travel with a full entourage consisting of a butler, two valets, a chef, private secretary, typist and his bodyguards.</p> <p>It’s also alleged the 69-year-old makes five outfit changes a day and that when he attends events, he is accompanied by his personal policeman who brings him pre-prepared flasks of a martini mix.</p> <p>But it’s not just Charles who has some very specific requests – Camilla has her fair share of “diva” demands, too.</p> <p>She, along with Charles, likes to send a list of foods she likes and dislikes before attending an upcoming event and only travels via a chauffeur-driven car or private jet.</p> <p>It’s not the first explosive claim the biography has made, however. Just last week we reported on the moment the Queen <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2018/03/how-queen-left-camilla-livid-on-wedding-day/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">reportedly left Camilla “livid”</span></strong></a> on her wedding day.</p> <p>It should be noted that Charles’ lawyers were quick to rubbish the claims made by the unauthorised biography.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Serena Williams’ extravagant surprise gift from husband

<p>We’ve heard of people screaming their love from the rooftops, but Serena Williams’ husband took it to the next level.</p> <p>Alexis Ohanian surprised his tennis champ wife with a sweet (and extravagant) gift to show his support for Serena ahead of her first game since giving birth to their daughter, Alexis Olympia.</p> <p>The Reddit co-founder and entrepreneur decided to surprise his wife with a series of billboards along the I-10 freeway into Palm Springs, ensuring she would see them on her way to the Women’s Tennis Association event.</p> <p>The first billboard read, “Serena Williams, G.M.O.A.T. – Alexis Jr + Sr”. The next read “Greatest”, with an adorable picture of the couple’s four-month-old daughter. It was followed by another cute photo reading, “Momma”, then a final billboard reading, “Of all time”, alongside yet another snap of Alexis Olympia.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">These just went up on alongside I-10 into Palm Springs. <a href="https://twitter.com/OlympiaOhanian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlympiaOhanian</a> &amp; I wanted to welcome her back to tennis. Designed them myself, with some help from Jr.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GMOAT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GMOAT</a> <a href="https://t.co/zRcMmxhgB5">pic.twitter.com/zRcMmxhgB5</a></p> — Alexis Ohanian Sr. (@alexisohanian) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexisohanian/status/968508476770041856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>“Literally am crying,” Serena wrote in reply to Ohanian on Instagram. “This is so sweet. I love you.”</p> <p>How sweet! That’s one way to show your appreciation!</p> <p><em>Image credit: Bob Metelus and Erica Rodriguez/Vogue Magazine.</em></p>

Art

Placeholder Content Image

Revealed: Princess Margaret's extravagant morning routine

<p>The Queen’s younger sister Princess Margaret’s lavish morning routine has been unearthed in a new book <em>Ma'am Darling: 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret.</em></p> <p>Craig Brown’s new biography of the royal reveals that in her mid-20s, Princess Margaret enjoyed breakfast in bed, an hour-long bath and a vodka 'pick me up' - all before 1pm.</p> <p><img width="350" height="294" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/22/16/004B868700000258-5005957-image-a-6_1508687505111.jpg" alt="Taste for the finer things: Princess Margaret, right, with her sister the Queen in 1993" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-b271b492fe09844a"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Queen with younger sister Princess Margaret in 1993. </em></p> <p>The book explains how aged around 25, Princess Margaret settled into a luxurious routine that reflected her taste for the finer things in life.</p> <p>The day started with breakfast brought to her bed. After her meal, she spent two hours listening to the radio and reading the newspapers while chain smoking, often leaving the papers scattered across the floor. </p> <p>At 11am Princess Margaret would have an hour-long bath for her drawn before having her hair and make-up done at her dresser.  </p> <p>The book continues: “As one would imagine of a Princess, she never wore any of her clothes more than once before having them cleaned. “</p> <p>Come lunch time, Margaret would have a 'vodka pick-me-up' ahead of a four-course lunch with the Queen Mother. </p> <p><img width="401" height="546" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/22/16/45930D5700000578-5005957-image-a-5_1508687497079.jpg" alt="Ultimate relaxation: Gareth Roberts shared this excerpt from Ma'am Darling: 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown. The tweet sparked dozens of delighted responses" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-f8de46f1000181e1"/></p> <p>The excerpt about Princess Margaret's morning routine was posted on Twitter over the weekend.</p> <p> </p>

Food & Wine