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How to make the most of your hard-earned savings

When you have a lump sum of money, it can often be very confusing to know what to do with it, when putting it into a bank offers little in the way of interest or reward. Chances are you might have been neglecting your savings, leaving them languishing in accounts that pay very little, if anything at all. But there is a better option that could see you drastically increasing your savings. A term deposit taker, such as boutique investment company Blue Sky money, can offer you far greater returns on your deposit – an impressive 7 per cent, around twice that which banks offer. Better yet, with all profits staying within and benefiting the community, you can also enjoy the knowledge that you’re helping to make a difference to New Zealanders while growing your nest egg. <a href="https://blueskymoney.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/Blue-Sky-7.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1062" /></a> Set and forget Most of us are far too busy and time-poor to spend too much time tending to our finances. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to see them grow! At Blue Sky money, with a minimum deposit of $30,000 and a minimum 12-month fixed term, you don’t need to think about anything. You’ll have your own personal customer service agent, and can just sit back and watch as your interest is calculated and paid into your account monthly – no fees, no charges. Believing that looking after your finances should be a pleasure, not a chore, Blue Sky money prides itself on offering a superior service and being far more user friendly than banks, so not only will your money work harder, but you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of feeling part of a financial family that truly cares about your wellbeing. Blue Sky money can also assist with small to medium loans for land, houses or other assets, are on hand to help with reverse mortgages and are even investing in retirement villages. And in an exciting new addition, from 2023 Blue Sky is launching its own travel club for all those who place their deposits. You’ll receive special deals and tour packages, ensuring your money goes even further, while enjoying everything the world has to offer. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/money-laptop-happy-GettyImages-1307391886.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Improving New Zealanders’ lives And while getting some much-needed extra cash seems like a pretty good deal all on its own, you’ll also have the piece of mind of knowing that with Blue Sky money – a family run business owned by Blue Sky charity, which is registered in New Zealand – all profits stay within New Zealand. With a philosophy of trying to make the world a better place, Blue Sky invests in research and development to better New Zealanders lives – everything from groundbreaking cancer treatment using ultrasound, to sustainable energy, sea trailers and indestructible home builds. Blue Sky money can also assist with small to medium loans for land, houses or other assets, and are available to help with reverse mortgages. And in an exciting new addition, from 2023 Blue Sky is launching its own travel club, where you can receive special deals and tour packages. So if you’re looking to make your savings work harder for you, while aligning yourself with a humanitarian company that’s working to improve the lives of New Zealanders, be sure to get in touch with the Blue Sky team at <a href="https://blueskymoney.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blueskymoney.co.nz</a> <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/tropical-island-GettyImages-1360554439.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Images: Supplied. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://blueskymoney.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Sky money</a>.

Money & Banking

How to make your retirement money go the distance

Retirement should hopefully be a long and rewarding experience and you’re obviously going to need to fund it. Here are a few tips to assist you and your nest egg in supporting your plans. Planning Planning for an unknown timeframe is a challenge, but the bottom line is the more effort you put into preparing and regularly reviewing your options, the better. A key starter is determining your needs. It might be worth sitting down with a financial planner to review your circumstances. Try to visualize the lifestyle you want during retirement – travel, moving house, new car, new hobbies, interests. Then look at the cost implications of this lifestyle and whether you’re going to be able to afford it based on your current income and spending. Understand your retirement accounts Take the time to review all your investments, accounts and other services to ensure they are the best fit for your retirement lifestyle. Rebalance your portfolio to align your finances with the most effective investments for this stage of life. Income An obvious choice for extending your income is deferring retirement. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean continuing with full time work – it could just be part time or casual work in order to create additional income. You might be surprised at the variety of work opportunities available as our workforce becomes increasingly focused on part time, casual and consulting roles. It may also be possible to make money from your hobbies or crafts. Downsizing While you might be comfortable with the lifestyle you have enjoyed for a while, downsizing on some aspects of life can assist greatly in getting more mileage from your retirement savings. Housing is the most obvious and usually the most beneficial in terms of boosting savings. This might be in the form of a smaller home but it may also involve looking at where you live. You might consider a more cost-effective suburb, shaving those mortgage repayments or bolstering your savings even further. The same downsizing might apply to cars, boats and memberships, just to name a few. Health As you may be requiring health services more often in retirement, remember that the most cost-effective way to approach this is through prevention by ensuring your ongoing health and fitness is as good as it can be. Keeping active with a healthy diet and regular exercise is the best way to stave off illness and health issues, often without spending anything extra. Entitlements Become aware of the broad range of concessions, discounts and entitlements that are available to you in retirement. Always keep your senior status in mind with future purchases and payments – it never hurts to ask! Sell stuff Now’s the perfect time to clean out the garage, attic and storage of all that accumulated stuff. While you probably want to save your biggest treasures for the family, sites like eBay, Gumtree and Craigslist are an easy way to make a bit of money out of items you no longer want. Image credits: Getty Images

Retirement Income

Being in a couple can leave women with less savings – here’s how to make nest eggs more equal

Growing <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/employment/oecd-employment-outlook-2015_empl_outlook-2015-en">job insecurity</a>, <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/signs-of-worst-year-for-stock-market-investors-in-a-decade-after-wall-street-slips-into-bear-market-and-bitcoin-crashes-12633745">financial market volatility</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/18/uk-pensioners-cost-of-living-crisis">rising prices</a> have created an extremely uncertain environment for UK savers. The country’s welfare provisions are <a href="https://www.oecd.org/unitedkingdom/PAG2017-GBR.pdf">among the lowest</a> of all OECD countries and a growing number of pensioners are finding it difficult to gain <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/17/number-of-pensioners-in-relative-poverty-in-uk-up-200000-in-a-year">financial security</a> in later life. Even well-known <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/20/money-saving-expert-martin-lewis-runs-out-of-advice-on-cost-of-living-crisis-16309470/">money-saving experts</a> have run out of ideas to help those struggling with their finances. In such tough times, people planning for old age must be even more canny about their money to ensure there is enough for a comfortable retirement. Pension planning typically starts with a long-term savings goal to ensure an adequate income during retirement. Then savers usually make regular contributions to suitable investment products in line with this goal over the course of their working lives. Our recent research shows, however, that there are differences in the way people decide on and work towards those goals. We believe these differences may contribute to a wealth gap between men and women in the UK, with more women in danger of being left financially vulnerable than men. The commitment you make when you set a goal essentially motivates you to achieve that goal, according to certain <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022053113000033?casa_token=0_ot9tQqosQAAAAA:Br_9n9OaTKs25D1plcAHmBefoy5suGqafNYG3Ab0FZXhlLd4sLnumW6JHa80ArKHx5zfDGNT">behavioural science</a> theories. In other words, people with ambitious savings goals can be expected to end up with more money in their retirement accounts, compared with those with modest savings goals. Less ambitious savers may not strive to put away more than planned because they believe they will fail. Based on our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/kykl.12294">recent research</a> into long-term savings goals, we believe such differences in attitudes may contribute to the <a href="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/other/gender-wealth-gap-women-investing">£15 billion wealth gap</a> between men and women. <h2>Growing gender wealth gap</h2> Our study <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/kykl.12294">explores long-term savings goals</a> among 1,760 clients at a well-established UK investment firm, combined with insights from 56 interviews with another group of UK-based men and women savers. It uncovers a third possible explanation for a rising gender wealth gap in the UK, besides income differentials (based on the <a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257%2Fjel.20160995&source=post_page---------------------------">gender pay gap</a>, the <a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.20180010">child penalty</a>, <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/511799?casa_token=icrT0aW2dYUAAAAA%3A7k6cPuNg15qaB6ICZbBe7OO8tffw6404qf-kN-1e5lIVWjNyTlC2MOUD7We4CMNUOVWz8krjIQ">the motherhood penalty</a>) and investment differentials that generally show men earning higher financial returns because they tend to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2008.00201.x?casa_token=Bf3MjE7ar9UAAAAA%3A3lEvIUQjvDM4OaPUTW5tnUkbMAnn8-EZtknAR9Mx98_BNwNttlxF6i7jEYYCGHxr_3b9BLM_UxCr">take more risk</a>. This third reason, our analysis suggests, is that gender norms influence attitudes towards saving. This tends to negatively affect women in couples most of all. We found that men and women who are married or cohabiting tend to strongly diverge when it comes to their chosen savings goals, compared with those who live on their own. More specifically, married or co-habiting men are more likely to be in charge of long-term saving for the household and they typically choose more ambitious personal savings goals. Those higher savings goals were not affected by expected levels of income and so could not be attributed to a gender pay gap. Similarly, we also controlled for varying attitudes toward risk-taking in investment portfolios. <h2>The role of gender norms</h2> So why do men and women in couples save so differently? Our research shows that these differences are linked to the traditional gender roles often assigned to particular members of households. When women are in charge of caring and domestic work such as childcare, grocery shopping and short-term budgeting, there is a tendency to focus on short-term financial security. Perhaps in anticipation of adverse events affecting their daily budget management, these women tend to choose modest savings goals and accessible financial products such as <a href="https://www.gov.uk/individual-savings-accounts">individual savings accounts</a> (ISAs). On the other hand, we found that men in couples tend to choose more ambitious goals and use investment products that are designed for longer-term savings habits and have the potential for <a href="https://www.vanguardinvestor.co.uk/articles/latest-thoughts/retirement/sipp-or-isa-how-do-you-decide#:%7E:text=SIPP%20or%20ISA%3A%20how%20your%20hypothetical%20savings%20might%20grow">better returns</a>. For example, <a href="https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pensions-basics/self-invested-personal-pensions?source=mas">self-invested personal pensions</a> provide more options and control over what you can invest in and when, compared with a standard personal pension or an ISA. Men are also more often assigned to the role of managing long-term investing tasks, according to our research. This encourages a focus on long-term wealth growth and reinforces their willingness to set challenging goals. These findings are intensified within couples with a more “traditional” division of roles - that is, when the man is the breadwinner. For single people, however, men and women perform both the short- and long-term financial tasks and we found no gender differences in savings goals among this type of study participant. This absence of any gender-based effect among the people in our study who are not part of a couple shows a clear need to move beyond simply accepting that all men and women <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2009.00251.x?casa_token=DjyY7QO3AbYAAAAA%3Alqjh1kacbeO6WWPm8a778_QyzCAEYEQ4L5DISL4yRPjIMBh_Vne1e1UkFSyXeIlWpKbDBS9wMJ_V">think differently</a> about saving and investing when discussing retirement planning and financial risk-taking. Exploring the context in which people make financial decisions is much more important. Highlighting when goals are unambitious compared to people with similar wealth and incomes, for example, could reduce the effect of gender norms on financial decisions. In particular, it should be emphasised that, by leaving their male partner to accumulate money for the household, women may increase their financial dependency. In that context, late divorce or separation could have a dramatic effect on financial security for those <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/19/divorce-women-risk-poverty-children-relationship">without legal protection</a>. Given the continued uncertainty around the economic outlook, addressing the gender wealth gap in this way will help to create a more secure future for all UK savers. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-in-a-couple-can-leave-women-with-less-savings-heres-how-to-make-nest-eggs-more-equal-186269" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Retirement Income

Oscar-winning actress dead at 88

Oscar-winning actress Louise Fletcher has died from natural causes at the age of 88. The star’s representative confirmed that she died at her home in France, after surviving two bouts of breast cancer. Best known for her role as Nurse Ratched in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Louise rose to fame thanks to her incredible performance. The film was the second in Oscar award winning history to have won all five major academy awards. “Well, it looks like you all hated me so much that you’ve given me this award for it, and I’m loving every minute of it,” Louise said when she accepted the Oscar awards. “And all I can say is, I’ve loved being hated by you.” Louise also appeared in Exorcist II: The Heretic and The Cheap Detective. She was encouraged to act by her Aunty and undertook acting classes at night. However, Louise was deemed too tall to act across from Hollywood’s leading men actors. This however did not stop her from landing TV roles before she eventually met her husband and started a family in 1961. From 1973, she returned to the industry before accepting the role as Nurse Ratchet. Image: Getty

Caring

How do birds make their nests?

The first thing to know is not all birds make nests. For example, emperor penguin fathers carry their precious egg on their feet (to keep it off the frozen ground). Some birds, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckoo">cuckoos</a>, will lay their eggs in someone else’s nests. Others lay them on the ground among leaves or pebbles, or on cliffs with very little protection. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433852/original/file-20211125-25-1be6ny0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433852/original/file-20211125-25-1be6ny0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="Eggs among pebbles" /></a> Some birds will lay their eggs among pebbles on the ground, which doesn’t offer them much physical protection. Shutterstock For the birds that do build nests, there is one main goal: to keep their eggs and chicks safe. <h2>Many places to build a nest</h2> Many birds also make their nests in tree hollows, including parrots. That’s just one reason it’s important to not cut trees down! Meanwhile, kookaburras use their powerful beaks to burrow into termite nests and make a cosy nest inside. And the cute <a href="https://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/spotted-pardalote">spotted pardelote</a> will dig little burrows in the side of earth banks – with a safe and cosy spot for its eggs at the end of the tunnel. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433827/original/file-20211125-19-1en7ivf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433827/original/file-20211125-19-1en7ivf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The tiny spotted pardalote is one of the smallest Australian birds, and measures about 8 to 10 centimetres in length. Shutterstock Some birds, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_brushturkey">brush turkeys</a>, spend months building huge mounds on the ground which can heat up from the inside. The male turkey makes sure the ground is exactly the right temperature inside the mound, and then lets the female lay the eggs inside. He’ll take big mouthfuls of dirt surrounding the eggs to check it’s not too hot or cold. <h2>What materials do they use?</h2> Birds construct many different types of nests. There are floating nests, cups, domes, pendulums and basket-shaped nests. They can be made out of sticks, twigs, leaves, grasses, mosses or even mud. <a href="https://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/white-winged-chough">Magpie-larks</a> (also called “peewees”), <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/apostlebird">apostlebirds</a> and <a href="https://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/white-winged-chough">choughs</a> make mud bowl nests that look like <a href="http://www.birdway.com.au/corcoracinae/apostlebird/source/apostlebird_100486.php">terracotta plant pots</a>. To do this, they gather mud and grasses in their beaks and shake it around to mix it with their saliva. They can then attach it to a branch and build upwards until the nest is complete. In fact, bird saliva is a really strong and sticky material to build nests with. Birds will often mix saliva and mud to make a type of glue. And some swiftlets make their nests entirely out of solidified saliva. People will even eat these nests in <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-12/birds-nest-soup-bird-blown-to-australia/11953830">bird’s nest soup</a>! <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433823/original/file-20211125-23-7mufq4.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433823/original/file-20211125-23-7mufq4.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Some swiftlets will make their nest entirely out of solidified saliva. Shutterstock Willie wagtails use another type of glue - sticky spiderwebs. They “sew” grasses together using spider webs and the webs help keep the nests strong against wind and water, too. They have to perfect the technique of gathering the spiderweb though, otherwise it can get tangled in their feathers. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433824/original/file-20211125-19-3ejs71.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433824/original/file-20211125-19-3ejs71.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Willy wagtail’s nest is a neatly-woven cup of grasses, covered with spider’s web on the outside and is lined with soft grasses, hair or fur. Shutterstock Magpies and crows, both common visitors to our gardens, are also clever nest builders. Not only can they expertly layer their sticks into a bowl, but they also use many human-made materials in their nests. You might find them using fabric, string or a wire to hold a nest together. Some birds such as red kites have even been seen “decorating” their nests with human rubbish. And Australian babblers line the inside of their nests with a thick wall of kangaroo poo, followed by soft fluff, to keep their chicks warm. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433851/original/file-20211125-23-ljn8ga.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433851/original/file-20211125-23-ljn8ga.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The chestnut-crowned babbler lives in the desert and can have up to 23 birds roosting in one nest. Shutterstock <h2>The building process</h2> To actually weave the nests, birds will usually create a base by layering sticks or twigs in the place they want it. Then they use their beaks and feet to weave a chosen materials through, to hold the sticks in place. They can pull strips of material with their beaks over and under, just like weaving a rug. They can even tie knots! Nests can take a really long time to make, so they’re often reused year after year. Weaver birds are so good at weaving, they can build complex nests that <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/08/absurd-creature-of-the-week-the-bird-that-builds-nests-so-huge-they-pull-down-trees/">cover entire trees</a> and have several chambers. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVlyUNRtQmY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Check out this baya weaver bird build an incredible hanging nest using the weaving method. These birds are found across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. To summarise, birds are really intelligent animals. They use their intelligence, along with their beaks and feet, to find the most clever ways to make nests with whatever materials are available. And they get better at this by learning from others, such as their parents or peers.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172391/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kiara-lherpiniere-1276069">Kiara L'Herpiniere</a>, PhD Candidate, Wildlife Biologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</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/curious-kids-how-do-birds-make-their-nests-172391">original article</a>. Image: Shuttershock

Family & Pets

Studying wasp nests to put an age on art

<div> <div class="copy"> Scientists believe well-known pre-historic rock paintings in Western Australia are younger than previously thought after dating the remnants of mud wasp nests found over and beneath them. The study, which is described in a <a rel="noopener" href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/6/eaay3922" target="_blank">paper</a> in the journal Science Advances, is one of few in recent decades, they say, to successfully use the novel and challenging <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/how-mud-wasp-nests-help-delve-our-countrys-past" target="_blank">approach</a>. The <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.kimberleyfoundation.org.au/kimberley-rock-art/rock-art-sequence/gwionbradshaw-period/" target="_blank">Gwion</a> paintings of the Kimberley region have been notoriously hard to date, but evidence has suggested they were painted as far back as 17,000 years ago and over the span of several thousand years, pointing to a remarkably long-lived artistic tradition. Now a team led by Damien Finch from the University of Melbourne, with input from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, has presented its findings suggesting they were more likely painted during a narrow timeframe, about 12,400 years ago. To do this, they used radiocarbon dating, which can determine how long ago living material died. Working with the traditional owners of the Aboriginal sites, they analysed the nests of wasps that build mud nests on rock walls, sometimes incorporating charcoal from regular local brushfires. By dating the charcoal in the nests, they estimated when the nests were built. By dating nests that had been painted over, they determined the maximum age of the artwork. By dating nests on top of paintings, they found minimum ages. The possible age ranges of 19 of the 21 paintings studied overlap during a brief period between 12,000 and 13,000 years ago. Two samples fall outside of that range. One, which was found under a painting but dated at only 6,900 years old, is thought to be unreliable and possibly contaminated. However, the second was found over a painting and more reliably estimated to be 16,600 years old, complicating the findings. Finch and colleagues suggest more nest samples need to be identified and dated to get a clearer picture. Nevertheless, the results “confirm that rock art was being produced in the Kimberley during the terminal Pleistocene”, they write in their paper. “Notably, as the Gwion paintings are not the oldest in the relative stylistic sequence for this area, earlier styles must have an even greater antiquity.” Originally referred to as Bradshaw paintings, the Gwions are feature finely painted human figures in elaborate ceremonial dress, including long headdresses, and accompanied by material culture including boomerangs and spears. Image credits: Getty Images</div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/studying-wasp-nests-to-put-an-age-on-art/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Nick Carne. </div> </div>

Art

Woman shares terrifying snaps of wasp infestation

A <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/woman-shares-terrifying-wasp-infestation-online-neighbours-suggest-fire-and-deodorant/news-story/43d4f645a532185d12291ca0b642867e" target="_blank">NSW woman</a> has taken to social media searching for help to deal with a terrifying wasp infestation. Posting in a local Facebook group, the woman asked for advice on how to remove the colony of buzzing insects from her window sills. “How do I get rid of wasps?” she wrote. “An exterminator? “Help”. <img style="width: 382.0598006644518px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845587/capture.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bbdb0324e3ca4cb285ea8ec763360e75" /> Image: Facebook Locals were quick to provide advice, including several more unconventional ways of dealing with the situation. “Deodorant and lighter usually does the trick,” one person wrote. “Wait till dark, get a sheet of newspaper, roll it up nice and long and burn them,” another commented. “Lots of dishwasher liquid and water in a spray bottle and spray it into the hose,” a third said. Several other members also suggested various bug sprays and repellents. However, the woman revealed that those solutions wouldn’t quite work. “Thank you everyone,” she wrote. “I am cautious to spray them myself as I have a slight reaction to bees/wasps and they’re also up on the second floor window, which makes it tricky. “But I’ll see if I can get someone to help. After this revelation, another member of the group called her out and urged her to leave the wasps alone. “If they are on a second-floor window & not worrying anyone hanging about the window ledge - why would you kill them??” the person asked. “Because they’re coming into my shed, where I park and I’m allergic and have a child,” the woman countered. Though the woman has yet to share an update on the wasp removal, she has plenty of options to consider. Image: Facebook

Home & Garden

Mum’s warning after daughter stung by wasp: “Check your laundry”

A mum has taken to social media with a warning to parents after her daughter was stung by a wasp caught in her clothes. Having hung her daughter Kathleen’s clothes out to dry, Sabrina Rigby said the insect must have climbed in and subsequently stung the six-year-old. “WARNING. Check your laundry!” she wrote in a Facebook post. In the post, she said that she’d hung her daughter’s clothes on the line to dry the day before. “This queen wasp has emerged from hibernation and gotten caught up in the clothes,” she recounted. “The clothes which I then bagged and left in the girls room to be packed away.” “I didn’t know she was there until this morning, when she managed to wriggle her way out of the bag and sting Kathleen,” the mum said. “She is okay and luckily, it turns out, not allergic like I am. But you can bet I’ll be checking all my laundry from now on!” Commenters were thankful for the advice and shared their appreciation for the mum sharing her story. “Now peering inside my slippers before I put my feet in!!” one woman wrote. “I got one in my sons pjs last week when I was folding them,” another shared. Concerned about her daughter, others warned the mum to keep an eye on her in case she actually is allergic. “You don’t tend to react badly to a first exposure, it is subsequent exposures that she’ll react to if she’s allergic,” one mum advised. “Keep a close eye if she gets stung again in the future.” Image credit: Sharina Rigby / Facebook

Caring

Your retirement nest egg needs to last longer than you think

Although the number you’ve got in your current retirement nest egg is looking pretty solid, new research by the Actuaries Institute suggests that rapidly increasing lifespans means that age 100 should be the new target for retirees. Currently life expectancy tables used by many financial planners use 87 for women, but the Actuaries Institute says that people should consider “how much this will increase between now and the time someone retiring today reaches their 80s or 90s”. “A healthy, well-educated female entering retirement today, who had an affluent career and enjoys a good quality of housing, is just as likely to live beyond age 100 as she is to die before age 80,” it says. Actuary Jim Hennington, author of the research note and a member of the Actuaries Institute Retirement Incomes Working Group, says that there is an uncertainty as to how long today’s retirees would live. “Everyone wants to make sure their savings last,” he said to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/heres-how-long-your-retirement-nest-egg-needs-to-last/news-story/ac98be3e3826056ad0cafbbd5f736675">news.com.au</a>. “Fifty per cent of us live longer than our life expectancy. Some live all the way to age 105 and beyond. “A couple of average health aged 65 and 62 need a plan that lasts until the male is 100 in order that they can be 80 per cent sure their financial plan meets their potential lifespan.” Planning for Prosperity adviser Bob Budreika agreed with the note. “When you say 100 to people they laugh and say ‘nobody in my family has reached that’,” he said. Ideally, you would have enough cash reserves to last you until 100, but if you don’t have this saved up, there are options available including the pension. “It’s not all doom and gloom,” Mr Budreika said.

Money & Banking

How to protect your nest egg

Building up your super and other investment assets to fund your retirement is an essential financial goal for all of us. But what about after you retire? After you cross that line and begin relying on investment income rather than earned income, your financial decisions can have a much more profound effect on your day-to-day lifestyle and your longer term financial wellbeing. Protecting and preserving your retirement income, assets, and estate from the threats of tax, inflation and potential financial crises takes some serious thinking and careful planning. Let’s take a look at some of the big issues you should consider. Preserving capital Deciding where to invest your retirement savings is primarily driven by the dual objectives of generating enough income to live on and making sure your investment capital lasts the distance of a retirement that may be 20 or 30 years — or longer. Balancing these objectives is critical and can be quite daunting. At one extreme, you might choose to stick with high capital security and a predictable income from fixed interest investments. While this can be a “safe” option, it carries the risk of inflation eating into the value of your capital. In a low interest environment, the income returns are also not too flash. At the other end of the scale, you could seek greater income flow from share investments that pay high dividends and have the added bonus of potential capital growth, but this comes with the corresponding risk of market fluctuations. The answer for most people will be somewhere in between, and will depend on many personal and unique factors. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The important thing is not to become too preoccupied with the income side of the equation: by remaining diligent about the need to protect our capital, we can cope with the demands of funding an adequate retirement lifestyle over the long term. This is where having a financial planner you can trust is so valuable for objectively assessing your situation and needs, and balancing them with a sophisticated strategy that addresses your goals. What about tax? Tax efficiency is an important component of nest egg protection and the tax implications of any investment choice must be considered in making a balanced investment decision. This doesn’t mean that we should blindly make decisions based purely on tax minimisation, but we do need to take tax into account as part of our strategy. In relation to retirement, this may mean considering such things as income stream investments and the benefits of dividend imputation from shares or managed funds. It can even affect decisions made in relation to maintaining or downsizing your home. Again, some informed professional advice can help weigh up the tax issues as part of a holistic strategy. Disaster-proofing your plans Making contingency plans for sudden mishaps is a crucial part of the protection puzzle. While insurance needs will certainly be reduced as family leave the nest and debts decrease, there is still a very strong case for maintaining some level of coverage against death and disability: to provide a legacy to your surviving spouse and children, to cover funeral expenses, and to fund any final legal and tax expenses. Healthcare costs will rise as you age, so private health insurance is also something you should not let lapse. Protecting your estate Beyond your own retirement needs and lifestyle, you may also need to consider how your assets will be best preserved and passed on to the younger generations in your family. Estate planning is an essential component of your overall financial plan, to ensure that: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">wills are properly drawn up,</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">powers of attorney are put in place to ensure decision-making continuity,</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">trusts structures are implemented to protect from unnecessary tax liabilities and from misuse of inheritances, and</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">superannuation and insurances beneficiary arrangements are properly organised to make sure that benefit payouts are made promptly, and are directed in accordance with your wishes.</li> </ul> The professionals you consult about such issues, including your legal adviser and financial planner will play a critical role in helping you cope with what can be a highly complex set of challenges — even for relatively modest estates. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/money/financial-planning/how-to-protect-your-nest-egg.aspx">Wyza.com.au. </a>

Legal

How to handle a wasp infestation

Wasps are common in all regions across Australia. They build nests on buildings away from direct sunlight and cause a lot of damage in the process. While most homeowners might ignore wasps, it is important to appreciate the risk they pose to your home’s occupants and the structure itself. They have an extremely painful sting which contains histamine. This chemical can cause allergic reactions in some people leading to health complications such as anaphylaxis or death. Stings from bees and wasps caused 12,351 admissions and 27 fatalities in Australia. It is for these reasons that you should learn more about <a href="https://www.dawsonspest.com.au/pest-library/bees-wasps">wasp nest removal</a>. This article highlights a few safe techniques of nest removal from your home or business structure. Read on. Identify a wasp infestation It is easy to find out if your home has a wasp infestation but finding a wasp is another matter altogether. These insects try to hide their nests away from sight where they can live undisturbed. You can check under an overhang where wasps stay away from the rain. They can also build under an awning, wood deck, soffit, railing or large tree branch in your compound. If you have noted wasps buzzing around your compound, it is important to call a licensed pest removal technician who has the skills and equipment to do the job. Stay away from a wasp nest If you happen to notice a wasp nest, it is advisable to stay away from it and remove your pets from the area. Many homeowners have ended up in emergency rooms while trying to locate wasp nests and remove them. It is important to note that wasps won’t attack unless they feel threatened. If you agitate them when trying to remove the nest, you will end up badly hurt or worse. To make matters worse, wasps release chemicals that attract others nearby and this can lead to a fatal situation especially if you have kids around. Once you identify a wasp nest, call a licensed wasp nest removal technician who has the prerequisite skills and equipment to do the job safely. Professional wasp removal The best thing about professional nest removal is that the pest control company knows how to handle the situation. They have experience dealing with different wasps in the area and will know which techniques to use. Without such skills, you might end up making things worse and injuring yourself. The nest removal process begins with a thorough inspection of your property, starting with the area where you spotted the nest. The pest control technicians wear protective gear to avoid injuries, and they use eco-friendly chemicals to eliminate the infestation and remove the wasp nest. When dealing with wasps, you need to appreciate that nest removal is not enough, hence the use of pesticides to get rid of the infestation. The best pest control service carries insurance for your protection and protection of their workers and you will enjoy peace of mind when they work. Written by Handyman Authors. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/nest-no-more-how-handle-wasp-infestation">Handyman</a>.

Home & Garden

What to do when the ‘nest won’t empty’

Having adult children living at home may be a mutually beneficial situation for many of us, but for others it can present real difficulties that threaten relationships and make life unpleasant. This is can be a genuine issue for many of us who are approaching or are in retirement What exactly is a KIPPER? Kids in Parents’ Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings Of course, you never stop being a parent and it is important to be supportive when one of your children, or a member of your family genuinely needs your help. It can be difficult when financial problems or job loss may have led your adult offspring back to your doorstep, or a relationship breakdown may see them suddenly without a home to go to. In some cases they may never have left home in the first place or may be ‘boomerang’ kids who return home several times. Negotiating this situation to ensure you are all ok and your relationship survives the experience is paramount. What are Boomerang kids? Children who leave home and return several times Whatever the reason, it can be an awkward situation if the negatives start outweighing the positives and you still love them (but secretly are ready for them to move out). Of course it is natural to want to provide refuge if your own flesh and blood is in a time of crisis, but setting the boundaries and expectations for how the arrangement will work and how long it will last is often something that is left open ended and without any discussion or agreement. This can lead to tension and misunderstanding and may be ultimately detrimental to both the host and the guest. The situation may even escalate to the point where an adult child is unfairly taking advantage of the hospitality without any financial contribution or even a willingness to help around the home. In extreme cases there may be veiled hostility, lack of respect or even abuse involved. So does a parent in this situation go about administering ‘tough love’ when things go off the rails? If it costs you roughly $150 extra each week to have an adult child living at home that adds up to a whopping $7,800 per year! Realising that it’s OK to say “no” Technically speaking, once children reach adulthood then the parent no longer has an obligation to care for them. Of course in reality it would be unnatural to suddenly give up any sense of care about the relationship, but in the end it is a parent’s right to say whether their child should live with them or not. Setting the ground rules If a decision is made that an adult child is to be allowed to stay in the home then it is of course preferable if some ground rules can be set out in advance. Prevention is always better than cure. It might sound harsh at first, but a written agreement that both parties commit to is completely appropriate. It will provide the clarity that is so vital to the arrangement being workable and it eliminates assumptions, misconceptions and misunderstanding that may occur down the track. 31% of people aged 20–34 have left home and returned Such an agreement should outline the limitations and expectations, including these top 5 tips: 1. The length of stay and what they need to contribute financially during that time (e.g. contribution for rent, food and utilities). 2. The expectations on domestic duties, such as cleaning, cooking and laundry. 3. What happens if something breaks? Will they be allowed to use your car and if so, will their name be added to your car insurance policy? 4. Lifestyle issues, such as rules around friends, dates or visiting partners; cooking, smoking, drinking and music. 5. The consequences of the agreement being broken, such as how much notice is provided for them to vacate. It may seem heavy handed to have a formalised and signed agreement, but it can actually help the relationship on both sides by identifying the practical issues and dealing with them in a cool and objective way, rather than leaving them to chance. It may well be the case that the child has not even considered such issues and they may even appreciate that their contribution to the arrangement has been spelled out. Of course, you never stop being a parent and it is important to be supportive when one of your children genuinely needs your help What if you want them to leave? The bottom line is that it always remains the parent’s right to invite a family member in or ask them to leave. It is also valid for a parent to change their mind and ask someone to leave, even if they had invited them in the first place. Of course it is one thing to know your rights and another to actually take the sometimes difficult step of asking an adult child to leave if co-habitation becomes unworkable. Once a person decides that there is no alternative but to ask the child to leave, then it needs to be done very carefully. Making such a request in the heat of an argument or when one of the parties is not fully attentive will be counterproductive. The best idea is to set aside a specific time to talk when things are calm and without distraction. The request should be made directly and firmly but with calm composure and free from aggression or emotion. A specific and reasonable time frame should be stated and a commitment sought, so that there are no ambiguities or misunderstandings. Mediation is the next step If talking directly with the child does not bring a resolution, then the next step may be to seek independent dispute resolution, which can be provided through various state and territory government agencies. Such services go under different names in each state, such as “Family Dispute Unit”, “Community Justice Centre” or “Mediation Service”. These services offer a great alternative to resolve issues without going to court, if both parties voluntarily choose to attend. They do not provide legally binding rulings or orders, but are designed to help negotiate an agreement in good faith in a safe, neutral and non-biased environment. Legal action is a last resort If mediation does not produce a result then the parent may need to resort to legal action against the child. This may take various forms, depending on the severity and nature of the situation. For example, is the child a tenant, a boarder or a lodger? Have they made threats against the parent? Has any actual harm been perpetrated? The variety of possibilities means that legal advice needs to be sought to determine the best course of action. Once a matter goes to court then a ruling can be applied if your case is successful, such as an 'exclusion order' requiring the child to move out of the home and prohibit them from approaching the property. Acting early can make all the difference As with any family situation, clear and calm communication is the key to success. A little forward planning can eliminate a lot of pain in the future, so taking the time and effort to set up a written agreement is well worth it. It may be difficult or embarrassing to talk about with friends or family about how you are financially supporting an adult child over an extended period of time. However, there is help at hand. If you find the thought of confronting your adult child too traumatic then consider speaking to a psychologist to help you through the process. To find a local psychologist speak to your GP and visit <a href="http://www.psychology.org.au/FaP/">psychology.org.au</a>

Caring

No privacy: Strangers could have been watching your home security camera

If you’ve purchased one of Google’s Nest Cams second-hand, the previous owner might have been watching your movements for months. New claims have found that previous owners of the camera could still use an app to look at footage from the device even after a factory reset had been used. Nest Indoor Cameras linked with the Wink hub device were vulnerable to this issue, with the flaw first raised in Facebook groups for Wink products. The New York Times company Wirecutter did its own testing of the flaw and discovered that the decommissioned Nest Cam Indoor was still viewable via a previously linked Wink hub account. “Instead of a video stream, it was a series of still images snapped every several seconds,” the report read. Google were quick to issue a fix to the devices. “We were recently made aware of an issue affecting some Nest cameras connected to third-party partner services via Works with Nest,” the company said in a statement. “We’ve since rolled out a fix for this issue that will update automatically, so if you own a Nest camera, there’s no need to take any action.” However, it is still unclear how many people were impacted by the breach. This also raises questions as to whether or not Nest Cam streams are vulnerable to other third-party smart home hubs. There is also no data as to how long the bug has been impacting Nest Cam devices.

Technology

How to help adult kids flee the nest

Moving out of home can a big step in your kids’ lives and can often be considered a milestone in transitioning from childhood to adulthood. It is also a good time to have a casual chat with your adult child about how to live as an independent person. This could help with setting expectations about how much you’re willing to help out now and in the future and set healthy boundaries. Here are a few essential tips to help make the transition less stressful for everyone. Choosing the right place For first time movers, choosing the right place to live can be a difficult decision which is why your kids may need some help with this. There are a few different factors that should be considered before deciding, such as; location, cost, sharing a property, or getting their own place with each having their own pros and cons. <ul> <li>Location: Cars can be expensive, so being close to public transport can help with saving some extra cash. </li> <li>Share house: Division of rent and utility costs is a plus for this option however, your kids may want to ask their mates if they want to move in together, rather than starting fresh with strangers.</li> <li>Own place: This option can save your kids the stress of living with new people. However, this can sometimes get lonely and be expensive. Don’t be surprised if your kids end up returning for financial help or come home to raid your kitchen on weekends.</li> </ul> Budgeting Creating a budget is crucial for good financial management both now and in the future. No-one wants any nasty surprises with utility or credit card bills. You should consider having a chat with your kids and mapping out a budget in a spreadsheet or budget planner. It is a great opportunity to create healthy financial habits for the future. Donating unwanted furniture Does your home need a long-awaited refresh? Imagine having a custom-built lounge suited to your specific cushioning requirements! Now that you’re an empty nester, there’s no risk of pizza scraps staining the lounge by careless kids who’s showering habits are questionable. Another plus is saving your kids money by passing on any furniture you no longer need. Home cooking Teaching your kids to cook seven basic meals can give them the tools to maintain health and sustenance while they’re living out of home. This will also help with their budget as leftover food can be used for other meals throughout the week. Chores By moving out, your kids can find some independence, freedom and adventure. But with freedom, comes great responsibility. From now on keeping on top of chores such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, watering plants, and taking bins out will all be part of their daily lives. Don’t forget, it’s not your duty to help complete these things, but it is important that they are aware of these responsibilities. Don’t be surprised if you come to visit and their place isn’t up to your standards. It’s all part of the learning process of transitioning into adulthood. Insurance When moving out, insurance can often be a forgotten piece of the puzzle for young adults. This can be particularly important if your kids have some of your old furniture, television or expensive computer equipment. To save on costs, your adult child should consider shopping around online to get the best deal on contents insurance. Expensive items can be hard to come by at this early stage of adulthood, so every dollar counts. As a parent, it might be tempting to take full control of your kids moving out. However, remember that you are there to help and provide them with support; and if asked, provide more information about how to live independently. Remember, these are just starting points and living independently is usually a learning process that can take some time. So, placing expectations which are too high on your adult kids during this transition period, may add unnecessary stress to all parties involved. Take it one step at a time and let them make some (small) mistakes on their own.

Retirement Life

Meghan Markle & Prince Harry's Toronto love-nest for sale

As Meghan Markle transitions from her acting career into Kensington Palace, the 36-year-old has said goodbye to her Toronto home with it now on the market. The two-storey house was the location where Prince Harry and Meghan spent most of their early courtship. Meghan shared the home with her two rescue dogs, Bogart and Guy. The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage. Meghan rented the home while filming her TV show Suits and now the owners have listed the property for AU$1.5 million. The house boasts an alfresco area at the back which Meghan’s dogs used to enjoy. For the sale, the house was furnished with a modern look, but it is believed to have looked more homey when Meghan lived there. Scroll through the gallery above to take a look at the property.

International Travel

Brave currawong protects nest from giant goanna

Greg Tanos was riding his mountain bike in Sydney’s Royal National Park when he was startled by and breath takingly large goanna, which he described as “at least 1.5 metres long, and probably closer to two metres”. The monster lizard wasn’t at all concerned by the avid nature watcher though, as he was distracted by preparing to raid a currawong’s nest. The currawong, however, was much more vigilant. During the next half hour, Greg captured an intense stand-off between hunter and prey. "The [currawong] would not give up – it kept flying around the goanna and hassling it," he said. "The [currawong] put up a big fight and eventually won the battle”. Mr Tannos <a href="http://findmyaustralia.com/" target="_top">posted the video on his website</a> which details his encounters with nature in Australia while he's out kayaking, mountain biking and diving. Watch the fascinating footage in the video above. As the goanna gives up and retreats, Greg is able to get closer to him, and you can see just how imposing the size of the giant lizard is. Have you ever caught any interesting animal behaviour on camera? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/02/giant-goanna-spotted-heading-towards-pub/">Giant goanna spotted heading towards pub</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/five-foot-goanna-nsw-backyard/">Five-foot goanna found in Australian backyard</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/08/camping-is-the-best-way-to-experience-lizard-island/">Camping is the best way to experience Lizard Island</a>

News

I went from an empty nest to a home that was packed to the rafters

Johanna Castro is a food and wine loving baby boomer who likes to keep fit and healthy. She loves sharing conversations with women over 50 and writes <a href="http://www.lifestylefifty.com/" target="_blank">Lifestyle Fifty</a> to empower women to live the good life as they get older. It’s the day every mother grows to dread. The one where her last child ups and offs to their respective independent lives and worldly freedom.Of course it’s the day we’ve been preparing them for since they popped into the world, but the day of reckoning brings with it immense change. Not so long ago I was writing heart-wrenching posts about our nest being empty and how awful it felt; at worst, like the end of the world had come, or at best it felt as if I was missing a vital part, like a limb. I’d wander in and out of empty rooms which echoed with the ghost like sounds of ghastly music, and pathetically I’d longingly touch and smell any garments still hanging in the wardrobes. What I didn't expect was for either of them to return, nor did I think about how that would be, and at the end of this piece are my few words of (hopeful) wisdom if it happens to you too. My story We have two children, 24 and 26 years old and their various leavings have been spread over quite some years.I'm pretty sure that a wrinkle or two on my husband’s forehead magically disappeared as the second child pulled her overstuffed suitcase out of the door and into the car to head off for uni, while the first one was happily in a loving relationship and living in a house of his own. They were happy. They loved, they were loved, they worked, they travelled, and then one came back seeking sanctuary. Was it a doomed love affair? Was it bankruptcy? Refugee status? Financial crisis? Noooo. Not a serious crisis, nothing radical – thank goodness.And no reasonable parent can refuse their child shelter from the storm, can they? The not-so empty nest As one who enjoys my grown-up children as much as the feisty five year olds they once were, it was an easy decision.So of course the overstuffed rucksack found its way back up the stairs. I think back to my own childhood, when Dad made it very clear that at 18 I was meant to be out of the house and earning my own crust of bread. I took off with gay abandon heading for the shores of Belgium to work as a groom, misguidedly assuming that within a few weeks my employers would see what a truly great rider I was and I’d be whisked off to international events jockeying their Grade A show jumpers. From there on I was going to be rich and famous. I was never-ever going to return to the clutches of parental economies or sanction. Little did I know. I brushed and walked horses from daylight to sundown until my arms were lean and my legs were taut but much to my chagrin I barely got to ride the horses. I didn’t exactly beg for sanctuary but I packaged up my tearful diaries (which probably included fabricated tales of being whipped and chivvied and made to muck out for at least 10 hours a day) into brown paper envelopes which were posted back to Mum and Dad for the book I would write one day (never happened). Doing this was of course more as salve for my beating soul, to get it off my chest, and I’m a dramatist at heart let’s face it. Let no morsel of truth get in the way of a good story and all that. Within a fairly quick space of time my parents jettisoned their planned itinerary of an extended trip through France and one dark starry night knocked on the door of my digs in Belgium and urged me to pack. Into the back of the car I went, muddy jodhpur boots and all. I was taken back to Mum and Dad's newly childless flat, and child numero uno with its lingering smell of horse, and unmistakable aura of misery and failure, suddenly bolstered-up their empty nest and packed their small living space to the rafters - bringing with it lashings of young adult misunderstanding and clouds of woe. So that was it. Fame as a world renowned equine star had eluded me, and truth be known I was granted a reprieve in the game of life because this step would be the first on my journey to meet the love of my life (who didn't live in Belgium). Hold your horses! I think if you suffer from empty-nest syndrome you shouldn’t turn to filling your time with amateur dramatics, learning to ride, or learning French in preparation for a move to France, for instance. Certainly don’t be too quick to turn the spare room into a study, because those children who have flown from parental clucking - and who for the time being have their own postcode – may well, in the not too distant future, be flying back to yours. So don't be too startled if one day you hear the sound of a grown-up child’s footsteps marching towards your front door, and try not to smile with too much glee at the prodigal's return. How to cope with boomerang kids 1. Offer empathy, not pity – they are probably not feeling triumphant about returning home, so don't fuel their feelings of failure, but rather empathise and talk about their future. 2. Discuss what the ground rules for co-habitation will be – will they pay a small rent, what household tasks might they be expected to help with? 3. Don't nag and don't offer unsolicited advice. Remember they are young adults with their own tastes and outlook. 4. Do offer advice if asked – but don't lecture. 5. Enjoy the energy and new perspectives they bring back into the home. Think new music, new opinions, new fashion sense, and new friends. 6. I believe your children are only lent to you for a little while – take every advantage of having them to yourself again. This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.lifestylefifty.com/" target="_blank">Johanna Castro’s blog Lifestyle Fifty</a>. If you have a story to share please get in touch with melody@oversixty.com.au Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/are-the-lives-of-children-today-too-hectic/">Are the lives of children today too hectic?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/dont-praise-clever-kids-and-celebrating-effort/">Why we shouldn’t praise clever kids and start celebrating effort</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/03/kids-getting-meaner/">Are our kids getting meaner?</a>

Family & Pets

Experience turtle nesting season in NT

Anyone who’s seen a turtle in the wild would agree it’s a memorable experience. A large population of flatback sea turtles call the Northern Territory home in the coolers months, nesting at Bare Sand Island and providing travellers with a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with one of nature’s most special animals. Bare Sand Island sits about 50km west of Darwin, at the end of a chain of islands in northern Fog Bay. It’s not huge, approximately 1.8km in circumference, sits upon a rocky reef. Oh yes, and as the name would suggest it’s mostly sand, with little vegetation and almost no shade. But these are the perfect conditions for the flatback sea turtles to nest. The best time to see the turtles is in the two hour period before and after high tide at night. It’s advised that when going to see the turtles you do so without any lights and excessive movement will disturb them and might cause them to return to water without laying their eggs. When the turtle is laying eggs it’s advisable you leave them with plenty of room, so it can cover the new nest with sand and then return to the water. If this sounds like the sort of experience you would like, <a href="http://seadarwin.com/" target="_blank">Sea Darwin</a> offers a unique experience that allows you to get up close and personal with these animals. For more information <a href="http://seadarwin.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a> Some interesting facts about flatback sea turtles <ul> <li>Turtles take about 30 years to reach maturity and return to nest in the same region. They may even nest on the same beach at which they were hatched.</li> <li>Interestingly it’s the sand temperatures control the sex of the hatchlings. The females are produced at warmer temperatures than the males.</li> <li>Flatback sea turtles can lay up to five clutches of eggs during the nesting season.</li> </ul> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/a-look-inside-first-class-cabins/">Inside 8 first class cabins that will amaze you</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/most-photographed-locations-in-london/">London’s 8 most photographed locations</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/holiday-ideas-for-animal-lovers/">8 holiday ideas every animal lover needs to experience</a>

International Travel

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What to do when the ‘nest won’t empty’

No privacy: Strangers could have been watching your home security camera

How to help adult kids flee the nest

Meghan Markle & Prince Harry's Toronto love-nest for sale

Brave currawong protects nest from giant goanna

I went from an empty nest to a home that was packed to the rafters

Experience turtle nesting season in NT