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Terminally ill MKR fan's romantic surprise from husband on Valentine's Day

<p>Daniella Tackhi, a terminally ill new mother, was treated to a surprise on Valentine’s Day at Westmead hospital in Sydney. </p> <p>Daniella was diagnosed with breast cancer just one month after her wedding and has been receiving treatment.</p> <p>However, yesterday, her husband Anthony pulled out all the stops to make sure that she felt valued and appreciated with a romantic lunch.</p> <p>The lunch was cooked by celebrity chefs from<span> </span><em>My Kitchen Rules</em>, Ibby and Romel, who are Daniella’s favourite team from the show.</p> <p>Organising the lunch was no easy feat, as Anthony had been working for weeks with the hospital staff, as well as Ibby and Romel, to make sure the lunch went off without a hitch.</p> <p>"She deserves the world so I wanted to do that for her," Anthony explained.</p> <p>Daniella was overwhelmed when she saw the romantic set up and burst into tears.</p> <p>"When the boys came in, I was like 'oh my goodness!'," Daniella said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Valentine's Day: Terminally ill, but showered in love. Daniella Takchi is one of 560 patients at Westmead Hospital. The 29-year-old is too sick to leave. So her husband brought the celebrations to her - Ibby &amp; Romel from <a href="https://twitter.com/mykitchenrules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mykitchenrules</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ValentinesDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ValentinesDay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7News</a> <a href="https://t.co/Oce84K8Ow3">pic.twitter.com/Oce84K8Ow3</a></p> — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/1095958547815325697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 February 2019</a></blockquote> <p>However, the romantic lunch wasn’t the only surprise the couple received that day. The new parents were reunited with their newborn son, who they have been apart from for five weeks.</p> <p>The family were able to spend the day together as their son was discharged from the children’s hospital.</p> <p>Ibby and Romel shared their thoughts on the experience via Instagram:</p> <p>“We had the pleasure of surprising Daniella today. Unfortunately Daniella’s health isn’t great, so we jumped at the chance to meet her and cook her the exact same dishes we served everyone in our Instant Restaurant.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt2tHPGHakT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt2tHPGHakT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ibby &amp; Romel (@ibbyromelau)</a> on Feb 14, 2019 at 12:02am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Seeing a smile on her face was the best thing we’ve ever experienced. This has been the absolute highlight of our MKR journey. Daniella you are in our prayers and we wish you and your family lots of love."</p>

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Confronting photo of elderly woman on train sparks outrage – who is in the wrong?

<p>A picture of an elderly person standing on a train while young commuters sit has sparked a huge debate on the Internet.</p> <p>The snap, which was posted on a Facebook page on Saturday, has gained more than 2,600 comments and 30,000 shares. The picture also circulated around Sydney-based Facebook groups.</p> <p>“No respect,” the caption said above the picture showing the young commuters sitting with their devices while the elder stand holding on a pole.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fausssssssssssie%2Fphotos%2Fa.354829562013210%2F388401868655979%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="594" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>The picture has polarised the Internet, with many condemning the young passengers for not giving up their seats.</p> <p>“This disgusts me, why aren’t people asking others to give their seat up?” one asked.</p> <p>Another commented, “This picture speaks volume of the Generation we live in today. Respect and manners have lost their value.”</p> <p>While someone added, “Gone are the days where the younger generation looks after for their elders!”</p> <p>However, others said there might be more to the picture than meets the eye.</p> <p>“So quick to judge, but no one knows the story behind the picture,” a user wrote. “A whole train full of people and not one person offered a seat. Unlikely.”</p> <p>Another one chimed in, “Not defending them but ... someone may have offered, but the elderly said, ‘no it's ok I'm getting off soon or at next stop’. I offer all the time and on a few occasions this has happened to me, where they'd be polite and say ‘Thanks but no thanks’.”</p> <p>Some were more sceptical of the picture’s origin. “And who took the photo instead of saying something?” one wrote.</p> <p>What do you think of this confronting photo? Share your thoughts in the comments.</p>

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What do you do when your parents need different levels of care?

<p><span>While it is a blessing if your parents have been able to grow old together, caring for two parents can be extra challenging, especially when they require different levels of care. For example, your mother could be in her 80’ s but she’ s still keeping up with the housework. </span></p> <p><span>She needs a bit of help with cleaning the house and she might need someone to drive her to her doctor’ s appointments, but other than that, she is getting by. </span></p> <p><span>At the same time, your dad is in chronic ill health, finds it hard to walk, is often taking a fall and seems to becoming vague and depressed. He may need to be assessed for dementia and if he has it, he will require special care. </span></p> <p><strong>What do you do?</strong></p> <p>If you ask the advice of government health officials, they may suggest your mother moves to a low care assisted living facility but your dad needs to go to a nursing home. For a start, the idea of separating your parents can be heart wrenching.</p> <p>They have lived for this long together – it seems unfair to separate them now. For them to have to live apart from each other could be the worst blow of all.</p> <p>Secondly, paying for two separate places will be more expensive and often there just aren’t enough funds on hand to pay for a retirement unit and a place in an aged care facility. Luckily there are now quite a few solutions to this difficult situation.</p> <p>This scenario is a fairly common situation for many older couples and many retirement village operators have come up with some great solutions.</p> <p><strong>Hire a permanent, live-in caregiver</strong></p> <p>The first solution is to get more help for your parents in their own home. A number of studies by health research bodies have found if people are able to stay in their homes, their quality of life remains higher when compared to moving them to assisted living or a nursing home.</p> <p>So you could hire a permanent, live-in caregiver. This person can be hired privately by the family, or through a Home Care agency. The caregiver lives in the home 24/7 and this is the caregiver’ s permanent location for as long as this arrangement works.</p> <p>The caregiver can manage some light gardening work, housekeeping, grocery shopping, make meals and drive your parents to appointments. Make sure there are lots of safety measures in place for walking around the house and bathing.</p> <p><strong>Organise scheduled caregivers to visit daily</strong></p> <p><span>If you prefer, you can organise caregivers from a home care agency to visit at key times of the day. When you choose caregivers from an agency, choose one that has Registered Nurses who can visit and assess your parents on a regular basis. </span></p> <p><span>The nurse will be able to develop a care plan for a parent who has higher needs – for example, if they have symptoms of dementia they will be able to give them treatment for this.</span></p> <p><strong>Solutions from retirement village operators</strong></p> <p><span>Retirement village operators have responded to this situation and now many of them offer multiple levels of care, or even different kinds of care, to allow married couples to stay together when they wouldn’t usually have been able to do so.</span></p> <p>We spoke with three retirement village operators and asked what solutions they provide when a couple require different levels of care.</p> <p>Linda Hooper, national marketing manager for Life Choice, said they have a range of solutions: “Often one partner is fit and healthy and the other requires nursing care,” she said. “In our retirement villages, we can arrange for external care providers to come into the village and this is on a user pay basis. Sometimes they can qualify for government support – this happens in a lot of villages.</p> <p>“At Twin Waters, one of our retirement villages on the Sunshine Coast, Estia Health is building an on-site aged care facility so if one person in a couple needs to go into high care, they can opt to pay Estia the daily rate and be part of this facility,” she added.</p> <p>“This type of arrangement is going to be very useful because usually you have to sell your retirement villa or unit just to pay for a spot in an aged care facility.</p> <p>But with our arrangement, now you don’ t have to sell your retirement home. This is why it’ s so important to have these facilities on-site.”</p> <p><strong>The New Zealand model works well </strong></p> <p>Ryman Healthcare is a New Zealand retirement village operator which is currently expanding into the Australian market. In New Zealand, villages provide the full continuum of care from independent living right through to high level and dementia care.</p> <p>The company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, David King, said this means a couple can still stay on the same site but have vastly different care needs: “Each of our new facilities has high level care and dementia care right alongside independent living."</p> <p>“We currently have two facilities in Melbourne but we are planning to build five more villages by 2020. We have found the Australian market likes the way we do things – it means a couple can be on the same site and they don’ t need to be separated,” he added.</p> <p><strong>Stockland teams up with Opal</strong></p> <p>Stockland is a major retirement village operator in Australia and they have recently teamed up with Opal Aged Care so their facilities will now provide a full continuum of care.</p> <p>Anna Learmonth, general manager retirement living for Stockland, said: “We believe in offering our residents a continuum of care and, wherever possible, provide options for a smooth transition to higher care accommodation as residents’ needs change over time.”</p> <p>Recently Stockland spent $160 million redeveloping the retirement village called Cardinal Freeman in Ashfield. The site now has 220 new apartments for seniors and Opal is now building a new 133-bed, state-of-the-art aged care facility within the village.</p> <p>“This type of arrangement where our retirement homes and apartments are co-located with aged care facilities is also very convenient for couples that require different levels of care,” said Learmonth. “The peace of mind in knowing that each partner is only ever a very short distance away should not be under-estimated.”</p> <p>“Our philosophy around the ‘ continuum of care’ is to give older residents the option of moving into higher care accommodation if and when the need arises, without having to relocate away from their village, community, family and friends,” she added.</p> <p>What questions do you have about options available for different levels of care? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Pamela Connellan. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/relationships/what-do-you-do-when-your-parents-need-different-levels-of-care.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

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How to be a kinder person

<p>Perhaps you or someone you know is struggling to identify what it means to be a kinder, more ‘gentler’ person. Often the skills we learn over the years to be understanding, empathetic and in result more kind can be lost along the way of dealing with our day to day issues.</p> <p>Research shows a person can learn empathy through only a small number of ‘kinder’ interactions with strangers. The study suggests empathy is not a trait a person is just born with, but rather a positive characteristic that can be made a habit into anyone’s life.</p> <p>Beverly D. Flaxington, an author and expert in human behaviour, said in <span><em><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/understand-other-people/201612/5-steps-being-kinder-person">Psychology Today</a></em></span> there are 5 steps to take to be a better, kinder and more enjoyable person.</p> <p><strong>1. Recognising your aggravation towards others can influence your negative mindset</strong></p> <p>Flaxington suggests the way we think towards situations impacts our attitude and behaviour. In order to become ‘better’, we must first recognise the mindset that can push an individual to be a “raging negative fire”.</p> <p>“Notice your thoughts – and then choose to stop,” she said.</p> <p><strong>2. Make plans to have a positive mindset</strong></p> <p>What are things in life that make you feel happy? Who, what and where gives you joy? Have a positive mindset through searching for what makes you feel content.</p> <p><strong>3. Learn the power of objectivity and use it as a tool </strong></p> <p>When learning about the world, don’t let it fuel your anger and apathetic traits. Flaxington says “be well-read, but don’t allow what you read to fuel your negativity”.</p> <p><strong>4. Steer clear of negative people and thoughts </strong></p> <p>Being better in any situation requires you to step away from someone or <em>something </em>that is not adding value to your thoughts or lifestyle. Separating yourself to avoid conflict or toxic environments is key to being calmer in the “face of upset,” Flaxington says.</p> <p><strong>5. Do something nice for someone – anyone </strong></p> <p>Some people, in your humble opinion, may not deserve kindness from you. However, the author believes true empathy comes from being able to show kindness even when it might not be reciprocated, understood or even deserved.</p> <p>“Everyone is in pain of one sort or another, and if you can see through the hard wall to the pain underneath and respond to kindness there, you will unlock the key to being kind and authentic,” she said.</p> <p>How do you show kindness? Let us know some of your tips in the comments below.</p>

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The world’s most famous pets – where are they now

<p>If you have ever used Instagram or Facebook – or social media in general – then a few famous pet names might come to mind. It turns out, some of the biggest stars on social media are furry! From a grumpy kitty, to a smiling pug – these pets have earned millions of followers and fast become online sensations.</p> <p>Here are just a few of some of the world’s famous pets.</p> <p><strong>Grumpy cat </strong></p> <p>Grumpy cat, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, might probably be the most famous cat. Her underbite and feline dwarfism contributed to her becoming an internet sensation in September 2012 after her image was posted to Reddit. After being accused of photoshopping the image, the owner posted a series of videos to prove the naysayers wrong that went viral.</p> <p>The cat’s popularity since then has continued to increase but Tardar Sauce’s parents aren’t quite sure what her breed is. The family of Tardar Sauce says, despite her unhappy looking face – she is a perfectly happy six-year-old cat who loves to be spoilt.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnkOTaGBTa2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnkOTaGBTa2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Grumpy Cat (@realgrumpycat)</a> on Sep 10, 2018 at 5:38pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p><strong>Boo</strong></p> <p>Boo is known as the ‘world’s cutest dog’ lived in San Francisco. He has had 16 million followers obsessed with his and his dog siblings Buddy, Blue and Benny’s every move over the last few years.</p> <p>Sadly, Boo the Pomeranian passed away early in the morning of January 19 this year.</p> <p>The fluffy pup’s owners say he had shown signs of heart problems ever since his furry “best friend” – his brother called Buddy – died in 2017.</p> <p>"We think his heart literally broke when Buddy left us," they wrote on his official Facebook page.</p> <p>Boo was the official pet of Virgin Airlines and as his bio said, he was a dog, and life was good for the sweet Pomeranian.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BszKWyfn5p2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BszKWyfn5p2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Dearest friends of Boo, With deepest sadness I wanted to share that Boo passed away in his sleep early this morning and has left us to join his best friend, Buddy. Our family is heartbroken, but we find comfort knowing that he is no longer in any pain or discomfort. We know that Buddy was the first to greet him on the other side of that rainbow bridge, and this is likely the most excited either of them have been in a long time. Since starting Boo’s FB page, I’ve received so many notes over the years from people sharing stories of how Boo brightened their days and helped bring a little light to their lives during difficult times. And that was really the purpose of all this...Boo brought joy to people all over the world. Boo is the happiest dog I’ve ever met. He was so easy going that we never had to bother with training. He made the manliest of men squeal with delight over his cuteness and made everyone laugh with his quirky, tail wagging personality. Over the years Boo met some super cool people, a lot of crazy talented people, but most of all so many kind people...friends who gave him endless love, people who prioritized his comfort over getting that perfect picture, partners who understood that Buddy ALWAYS had to be included, and last but definitely not least, the amazing doctors, therapists, and staff at Adobe Animal Hospital and Sage Veterinary Centers for the countless hours of care and dedication they poured into Buddy and Boo. I brought Boo home in the spring of 2006 and so started the greatest, most heartwarming friendship of all time. Shortly after Buddy died, Boo showed signs of heart issues. We think his heart literally broke when Buddy left us. He hung on and gave us over a year. But it looks like it was his time, and I’m sure it was a most joyous moment for them when they saw each other in heaven. Boo, we love you with all our hearts and will miss you until the day we meet again. Have fun running around with Buddy and creating adorable mischief wherever you guys go. Thank you to all of you for following along on their silly adventures over the past 10 years. They sure had a LOT of fun. With love and our deepest gratitude, Boo’s humans</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/buddyboowaggytails/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Buddy Boo Blue Benny</a> (@buddyboowaggytails) on Jan 18, 2019 at 6:29pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p><strong>Venus the Two-Faced Cat</strong></p> <p>Venus the two-faced cat has amassed over 300,000 fans on Facebook, so she is no stranger to internet stardom. Interestingly enough, the gorgeous feline’s family have no idea how she inherited her distinctive coat – her official motto being: “0% Photoshopped, 100% Born This Way”.</p> <p>After being adopted in 2009 from a dairy farm in North Carolina, US, Venus has been hard at work maintaining her adorable personality and gaining notoriety for her unique hair. Since then, she has become truly one of the most famous cats in the world.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtY_JqYg_KU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtY_JqYg_KU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Where does your cat go to keep warm?</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/venustwofacecat/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Venus the Two Face Cat</a> (@venustwofacecat) on Feb 2, 2019 at 11:02am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p><strong>Doug the Pug</strong></p> <p>With over 12 million followers amassed over Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, Doug the Pug is no ordinary pup. He was even crowned with the 2017 Shorty Award for Instagrammer of the Year! The award-winning pup is a star in the eyes of many, especially his mother Leslie Mosier.</p> <p>She got Doug as a puppy in the summer of 2012, and in 2015 made the decision to dedicate her life to the sweet dog!</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Btlto0egBom/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Btlto0egBom/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">“Who wants to go to cuddle town?” -Doug • My limited edition Valentine’s Dougable is available @clairesstores in-store and online! Link in bio #dougthepugxclaires 🌹</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/itsdougthepug/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Doug The Pug</a> (@itsdougthepug) on Feb 7, 2019 at 9:39am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Do you recognise any of these famous pets? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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A retirement home for elderly sloths that will make you smile

<p>If you’re a lover of all animals, great and small, then you will absolutely melt if you visit a retirement sanctuary for aging sloths to enjoy their golden years.</p> <p>Like many of us, when we think of retirement we dream of the sun on our skin and a paradise to call our own. The funny thing is, elderly sloths want and deserve the same.</p> <p>A zoo in Begelly, Wales, is giving these slow-moving creatures a place to unwind for the rest of their days. Folly Farm says they’re committed to giving a home to older sloths from zoos looking to free up their enclosures for young, breeding pairs.</p> <p>“Instead of taking on young breeding pairs, we have made the decision to home older sloths which have ‘retired’ from other zoos,” the announcement from <em>Folly Farm</em> read.</p> <p>“[We are] giving them a comfortable home tailored to their needs as they relax into their twilight years.”</p> <p>The retreat houses two cheeky two-toed sloths, 24-year-old Tuppee, and Lightcap from Bristol Zoo who is 34 years young.</p> <p>Tuppee was the first sloth to make a home at the Folly retirement home in March 2016. In November 2018, Lightcap was also announced as a new arrival, and there are hopes for a blossoming friendship.</p> <p>Just like many people, as sloths get older their muscles begin to ache and their joints become a little creaky. These slow-paced critters become even slower and need care that young sloths don’t yet require.</p> <p>Tim Morphew, the Folly Farm’s zoo curator, says an older sloth’s diet is a little individual to their younger cousins.</p> <p>“…We might boil their root vegetables to make them softer and easier to eat and if they’re showing signs of old age, [we will] add supplements like cod liver oil into their diet,” he explained.</p> <p>“We might also look at adapting the enclosure to make the floor deeper and reduce the height of branches, so they don’t have as far to climb down.”</p> <p>Two-toed sloths have a lifespan of 20 years on average in the wild but are known to live up to 50 years in capacity, <span><a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/national/slowing-down-even-more-british-zoo-opens-sloth-retirement-home/zdpmgJmg42AVTnF4MbC6XM/">according to Folly Farm.</a></span></p> <p>So, if you ever plan to visit Wales, make sure you check out the gorgeous retirement home to meet our buddies, Tuppee and Lightcap.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Bi46ilUmKg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Did you know about this heart-warming little home for aging sloths? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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The tiny town helping Turia Pitt heal

<p>Turia Pitt was only 24 years old when her world was turned upside down in an accident.</p> <p>Pitt was participating in an ultra marathon in Western Australia in September 2011 when she was caught in a bush fire, suffering burns to 65 per cent of her body. After surviving the tragedy, she has spent the past seven years recovering from her injuries as well as sharing her story in books, social media and interviews.</p> <p>Last year, Pitt entered a new stage of her recovery for her scars. After giving birth to her first child Hakavai in December 2017 with partner Michael Hoskin, Pitt launched into a new treatment that she said has brought her the biggest physical change to date.</p> <p>In an interview with <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/europe/the-french-town-thats-helping-to-heal-turia-pitt/news-story/7e29f2644d1b5c9a9a22e3dca9d20559"><em>News.com.au</em></a>, Pitt credited the treatments in Avène village in France for bringing "a dramatic difference" to her skin.</p> <p>The village houses the Avène Hydrotherapy Center, where people across the world go to treat serious skin conditions such as burns, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and more.</p> <p>The treatments, which involved underwater massage and high-pressure showers, help in softening the skin, increasing moisture and reducing scarring.</p> <p>"The treatments went for three weeks, each and every day," Pitt revealed.</p> <p>"Most treatments aren’t painful at all, although the high-pressure shower was a bit uncomfortable."</p> <p>The <span>Avène</span> Sun Care ambassador said the secret is in the water. "Scientists have done research on the area, and there’s a bacteria that lives in the water that gives it an optimal calcium to magnesium ratio," she explained.</p> <p>According to the Center, the village’s thermal spring water is rich in skin-soothing minerals such as silicates. The water’s therapeutic properties have been validated by the French National Academy of Medicine. The government also subsidises the treatments at the spa for French residents.</p> <p>The Center is also well-known for treating children and infants with debilitating skin disorders. In 2016, a Gold Coast boy flew to the village with his mother after a lifetime of suffering from severe eczema.</p> <p>At that point, the then-eight years old Cohen had been admitted to hospital 38 times and was constantly scratching despite being on oral medications.</p> <p>However, after a three-week treatment at the spa, all his wounds healed. Today, he could go to the beach and play sports without experiencing pain or splitting skin. </p> <p>"Before we made it to <span>Avène</span> our life was a constant search of ways to try to heal his chronic eczema," Cohen’s mother Carlee told <a href="https://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/real-life/in-the-news/my-sons-eczema-was-so-unbearable-that-he-didnt-want-to-be-here-anymore/news-story/b9d1225499c3bdf9fa8b46ab5b9b13de"><em>Kidspot</em></a>.</p> <p>"Fast forward to 12 months after our first trip and it's hard to believe we ever needed to think that way."</p> <p>American mother April Moffett had a similar story with her son, Aidan, who is suffering from atopic dermatitis. "After receiving his first three-week treatment in 2013, his skin improved significantly!" Moffett wrote on her page.</p> <p>"This hasn’t cured him, as you know there really isn’t a 'cure' for eczema, but it has improved his quality of life and we are looking forward to the future."</p> <p>Have you ever dealt with skin conditions? Share your story in the comments. </p>

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Why your grandkids should never sleep with the door "cracked open"

<p>It’s an age-old trick parents and grandparents have been doing to get children to sleep at night, and that is to crack open the door slightly to let light in.</p> <p>But now, firefighters are advising against the seemingly innocent practice, saying it could be the difference between life and death during a fire.</p> <p>Taking to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/CSHFD/posts/2301360923254324?__tn__=H-R" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department posted a safety warning.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCSHFD%2Fposts%2F2301360923254324&amp;width=500" width="500" height="783" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>Sharing a photo of two doors side-by-side, the firefighters wrote:</p> <p>"As a parent it’s hard to convince little kids to sleep with the door closed, they always want it open just a little. I do a lot of fire prevention at schools, so one thing I try and stress to the kids is, how important it is to sleep with the doors closed.</p> <p>"The photos below are a great example of the importance of keeping bedroom doors closed while sleeping. The door pictured in both photos is a hollow core door to a bedroom. While the front of the door is severely damaged, the closed door protected the bedroom and its contents. If this were an occupied bedroom the closed door could have saved a life.''</p> <p>A number of parents were grateful for the advice, saying that from now on, they’ll be closing their child’s door fully during bedtime.</p> <p>Others were sceptical, saying that closing the door entirely is impractical.</p> <p>"Kids who can't sleep with the door shut are alarmed kids who need to reduce separation with their parents at night, the open door is the most they can do because they can at least hear their parents. Ooh yes, alarming them even more by the threat of a fire will surely get them to sleep better,'' said one user.</p> <p>"If I closed the door my kids would scream bloody murder,'' said another.</p> <p>Some were concerned about the likelihood of a fire starting in their child’s bedroom, saying that if the door was closed, they wouldn’t be able to hear the alarm on time.</p> <p>"See I always worry that the fire could start in their room and the smoke detector won't pick it up if the door is closed. Or that it may start outside of the rooms and that we won't hear the alarm in time if the doors are closed... Now I just don't know what to do....'' said a parent.</p> <p>The fire department issued a response which included fire safety tips for the entire family.</p> <p>"Smoke detectors should be placed in both common areas and bedrooms of the house!" the fire department commented. "Fire drills in the house are just as important as ones in school. That is also a big thing I speak about. It is always good to have a 'meeting place' outside. Maybe a mailbox or tree in the front yard!"</p> <p>What do you think? Do you agree with the firefighters, or do you think children should still crack the door open? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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Aussie TV reporter's warning after manicure lands her in hospital

<p>An Australian television reporter has called for higher hygiene standards in the beauty standard after allegedly getting a serious infection from a manicure.</p> <p><em>A Current Affair </em>reporter Alex Bernhardt said she had to be hospitalised after an ordinary nail salon manicure left her with a severe arm inflammation.</p> <p>According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/2019/02/04/17/09/manicure-infection-nail-salon-hygiene-concerns" target="_blank"><em>9News</em></a>, Bernhardt was interviewing Wentworth MP Professor Kerryn Phelps when the former president of the Australian Medical Association pointed out her arm bruising.</p> <p>Phelps diagnosed it as olecranon bursitis, an inflammation due to an infection commonly resulting from bacteria.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">After getting a routine manicure, channel 9 reporter Alex Bernhardt ended up in hospital and is now looking for answers. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9ACA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9ACA</a> | WATCH THE FULL STORY: <a href="https://t.co/wItg0G0VY3">https://t.co/wItg0G0VY3</a> <a href="https://t.co/3eJoLD1cbk">pic.twitter.com/3eJoLD1cbk</a></p> — A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9/status/1092338844647616513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“You had quite a severe, what we call a septic bursitis in your elbow,” said qualified doctor Phelps. “We don't see those very often, but when they are seen they need to be treated as a matter of urgency.”</p> <p>Bernhardt said she spent three days in hospital for the treatment. </p> <p>“At one stage, doctors warned they may need to operate,” said Bernhardt.</p> <p>“No-one is suggesting nail salons can match the same sterilisation levels of a major hospital, but there’s certainly a growing demand for higher levels of hygiene in the industry.”</p> <p>The salon in question has denied that Bernhardt’s infection had anything to do with the manicure, with the owner claiming her premises were clean and Bernhardt was “making up a story”.</p> <p>Phelps said infections could still occur even when the highest standards are applied. However, Bernhardt said there are ways to reduce the risk of contracting infections at beauty salons.</p> <p>“You can ask questions, you can see if there's autoclave, you can ask what the sterilising procedures are, you can ask about the training with the technicians,” she said.</p> <p>“In the end you're really reliant on those procedures being conducted on a routine and regular basis and not having anything slip through the cracks.”</p> <p>Cases of infections from alleged beauty treatments are common in Australia despite the requirement for beauticians to earn qualifications.</p> <p>According to Dr Natasha Cook of Darlinghurst Dermatology, nail treatments in general can be damaging.</p> <p>“Manicures over-traumatise the cuticles and also cut them off,” Cook told <a rel="noopener" href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/consumer/2018/07/10/nail-salon-skin-cancer-damage-uv/" target="_blank"><em>The New Daily</em></a>.</p> <p>“This leads to infection and inflammation of the nail fold area and skin that can last for months, resulting in redness, tenderness and your nails grow irregularly and poorly.”</p> <p>If the nails have been damaged, Cook advised to give them a break from any cosmetic procedure, including reapplications. </p> <p>“If tender or red around the cuticle and nail fold, seek medical help for treatment of potential infection. This may require oral antibiotics and specialised ointments for long periods.”</p> <p>Have you ever suffered a nail infection from a beauty salon? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

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The Young and the Restless star tragically dies at 52

<p>Kristoff St. John, mostly known for his starring role on the long-running soap opera<span> </span><em>The Young and the Restless</em>, has died aged 52 years old, according to his lawyer Mark Geragos.</p> <p>A cause of death for the beloved actor has not been released.</p> <p>Police reportedly responded to a call on Sunday from friends of St. John who found him unresponsive at his home in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. The celebrity news site, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/mystery-surrounds-soap-star-kristoff-st-johns-death-at-52/news-story/3e60195047aea81083454c1aced21240" target="_blank">TMZ who first reported</a> the news, says the actor was pronounced dead at the scene.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Few men had the unique strength, courage &amp; sensitivity that <a href="https://twitter.com/kristoffstjohn1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kristoffstjohn1</a> lived every single minute of every day. He impacted everyone he met and millions who he inspired and in turn admired him. On behalf of <a href="https://twitter.com/MiaStJohnBoxer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MiaStJohnBoxer</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStJohnFamily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheStJohnFamily</a> thank you for all of your love <a href="https://t.co/C5ladfILSD">pic.twitter.com/C5ladfILSD</a></p> — Mark Geragos (@markgeragos) <a href="https://twitter.com/markgeragos/status/1092453792686239745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The 52-year-old played Neil Winters on the highly acclaimed soap opera since 1991. Over his 25 years he worked on <em>The Young and the Restless</em>, the actor received numerous awards including nine Daytime Emmys.</p> <p>His role on the show was praised by fans for being one of the first African-American characters on the series, and regarded as a “pioneer” in daytime soaps.</p> <p>The tragedy follows just two weeks after the anniversary of the death of his son Julian. He died at 24, and was shared with ex-wife and boxer, Mia St. John. Julian tragically committed suicide while a patient at a mental health facility in 2014. The family won a lawsuit against the treatment centre for negligence, according to TMZ.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">On November 23rd Kristoff St John and I lost our beautiful son, Julian St John. Our son wa... <a href="http://t.co/mDtPTqEMTT">http://t.co/mDtPTqEMTT</a> <a href="http://t.co/nVUDtEuFBG">pic.twitter.com/nVUDtEuFBG</a></p> — Mia St. John (@MiaStJohnBoxer) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiaStJohnBoxer/status/538808180248420352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2014</a></blockquote> <p>Born July, 15 1966 in New York, the actor began making a name for himself at a young age. At just 7 years old he appeared in <em>That’s My Mama</em>. In 1979 St. John played Alex Haley in the miniseries <em>Roots: The Next Generations</em>.</p> <p>He also regularly appeared on the CBS comedy series <em>The Bad News Bears</em> airing from 1979-1980. The actor had a small role playing on <em>The Cosby Show</em> as Denise Huxtable’s boyfriend. Later on in 1985, he worked on the CBS sitcom <em>Charlie &amp; Co</em>.</p> <p>St. John also had small and large guest roles on shows including <em>Jake and the Fatman</em>,<span> </span><em>Diagnosis Murder</em>,<span> </span><em>Suddenly Susan</em>,<span> </span><em>The Jamie Foxx Show</em> and many others.</p> <p>Supporters of the highly acclaimed actor took to social media to share their thoughts and prayers with his family.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I am absolutely devastated by this news. OMG. My thoughts and prayers are with Kristoff St. John's family. 😪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YR</a> <a href="https://t.co/ITChGnR3pe">pic.twitter.com/ITChGnR3pe</a></p> — Brinard Sweeting (@brinardtalks) <a href="https://twitter.com/brinardtalks/status/1092438037961822208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">i was not ready for this news about Kristoff St. John. I am truly heart broken right now, this man was my TV Dad for over 25 years. He was clearly still hurting from the lose of his son. Sometimes the pain is too much to bare. I will miss this man soo much! <a href="https://t.co/sA4eHxDvgw">pic.twitter.com/sA4eHxDvgw</a></p> — Crystal Morrison (@CrazySpitFire89) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrazySpitFire89/status/1092428477767319552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>A family marred by heartbreak, our thoughts are with Kristoff St. John’s loved ones during this time. </p> <p>Do you watch<span> </span><em>The Young and The Restless</em>? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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The reason you shouldn't say someone "lost their battle with cancer"

<p>Showing support to a person affected by cancer is usually a well-intentioned gesture when using words to describe their situation such as “battle” or “fighting” – but thousands of cancer patients do not like hearing these euphemisms.</p> <p>Almost half (44 per cent) of people affected by cancer do not like the phrase “lost their bottle" and 37 per cent of people disapprove of the phrase “lost their fight” according to a survey <a href="https://www.macmillan.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuajT1JeJ4AIVghrTCh2lrwf3EAAYASAAEgJC_vD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">by Macmillan Cancer Support.</a></p> <p>The majority surveyed say they prefer factually accurate statements saying someone has simply “died” from cancer.</p> <p>Of the 2000 men and women surveyed, all present or past cancer patients say phrases like “battle" and “fight” insinuate someone can be “defeated” by cancer, undermining them as a person.</p> <p>The survey results showed a dislike towards calling a cancer patient a “hero” or referring to them as “cancer stricken” or a “victim". </p> <p>42 per cent of people found these phrases disempowering, 24 per cent found it isolating and 30 per cent felt phrases like “victim” or “hero” forces a patient to be positive.</p> <p>The charity’s aim to show the impact the vocabulary and phrases used towards people living with cancer was done via a video of people with cancer reacting to well-meaning but ultimately isolating comments.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i4JdCrTK3Ws" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Macmillan wants to empower those with cancer to speak about their experiences with their friends and family about the type of language they’d prefer when talking about cancer. </p> <p>For more information, <a href="https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/right-there-with-you">visit Macmillan’s site. </a> </p> <p>Do you agree with the survey's results? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. </p>

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Check your fridge: Salmonella warning issued for eggs with this stamp

<p>The NSW Food Authority has issued a warning for people to check their eggs for contamination with salmonella.</p> <p>Any eggs with the identifying stamp BEC or BEC115 need to be thrown away as they may have been contaminated.</p> <p>The stamps will be on the individual eggs and not on the carton.</p> <p>NSW Food Authority CEO Dr Lisa Szabo explained what eggs were safe to eat:</p> <p>“All other eggs are safe to eat, provided people exercise the usual caution required for a special care food like eggs such as washing your hands and avoiding raw egg products particularly if you are a vulnerable population such as the immune compromised, under two or over 70 years of age or pregnant,” Dr Szabo said.</p> <p>“It is important to know that not all eggs are impacted but if you have any stamped with BEC or BEC115 we recommend as a precaution that you discard them,” Dr Szabo explained.</p> <p>“We typically see a rise in salmonella during the warmer summer months, so this is an opportune time to remind people to practice good hygiene generally when preparing food and to always keep their hands, surfaces and utensils clean and dry before and after handling eggs.”</p> <p>A prohibition order has been placed on the business that produced the eggs earlier in January to prevent them from selling eggs whilst the salmonella claim was investigated.</p> <p>“While it is likely that most affected eggs are no longer in the supply chain, it is possible that people may have purchased them earlier and still have some at home in the fridge or pantry,” Dr Szabo said.</p> <p>“We’d just like people to check and if they do have any eggs stamped BEC or BEC115 to throw them out to avoid any risk of food poisoning.”</p> <p>With NSW Health data indicating that 412 cases of salmonella have been reported in January 2019, this number isn’t out of the ordinary, as earlier years in January have reported similar numbers.</p> <p>Please check your eggs are safe! Have you checked already? Let us know in the comments.</p>

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John Travolta shares update on Olivia Newton-John's health battle

<p>John Travolta has given an update on the health of his <em>Grease</em> co-star, Olivia Newton-John as she battles breast cancer for a third time.</p> <p>The actor confirmed how is long-time friend was doing in an interview with <em>Entertainment Tonight</em> while at the 2019 G’Day USA Los Angeles Gala to honour Australians.</p> <p>“From what I hear talking to her she’s fine,” the 64-year old actor said.</p> <p>“I think she even made a public announcement in her own video, [saying] that she was fine.”</p> <p>Earlier this month, the 70-year-old actress took to social media to slam false reports for exaggerating her cancer battle and claiming she’s on the brink of death.</p> <p>In a Facebook video she said: "Happy New Year, everyone! This is Olivia Newton-John, and I just want to say that the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated, to quote the famous quote [attributed to Mark Twain].</p> <p>"I'm doing great and I want to wish all of you the happiest, healthiest 2019 that is possible."</p> <p>"Thank you all for your wonderful love and support, for me and for my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia," she added. "Thank you so much!"</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Folivianewtonjohn%2Fvideos%2F1618203204992927%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=267" width="267" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>The actress was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, beating the disease after months of intense chemotherapy treatment and a partial mastectomy.</p> <p>She later revealed the disease had returned to her shoulder in May 2017 and told fans in September last year her current battle was the third one she’d faced.</p> <p>In spite of her ongoing condition, Newton-John says she will continue to refuse to let negativity consume her – acknowledging she is a “privileged person".</p> <p>“There are other people out there doing much, much worse than me. I’m a very privileged person, and I’m very aware of that,” she told <em>Sunday Night</em> in September of 2018</p> <p>“I live in this beautiful place. I have a wonderful husband. I have all the animals that I adore. I have an incredible career. I have nothing, really, to complain about.</p> <p>"I'm one of millions in this fight, in this journey," she said.</p> <p>"A lot of people see it as a fight and wherever you choose to see it, that’s your prerogative. ... I see it as part of my mission, maybe."</p>

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Why this “unprofessional” sign at a doctor’s office has gone viral

<p>A woman has been sent away from a medical centre for calling out an “unprofessional” note announcing that a doctor no longer worked there.</p> <p>Patient Susan Rolens was visiting a medical centre in Illinois, US for her appointment with her doctor on January 22 when she spotted a bizarre sign on the window.</p> <p>“Dr [Name] resigned from our office,” the typed note read. </p> <p>“The reason he resigned is because his wife would not allow him to work here since we hired a 'female' nurse practitioner.”</p> <p>Rolens said the clinic owner asked her to leave after she criticised the note. </p> <p>“I told the receptionist that this was the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever seen,” Rolens said. </p> <p>“The next thing I know, they are telling me I can’t see my doctor’s back-up.”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D10214207665927814%26set%3Da.1709517619990%26type%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="690" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>Rolens then went on to post a picture of the sign on Facebook, which has since gained more than 1,400 comments and 800 shares.</p> <p>“I thought it was unprofessional for a business to post something like that about a beloved doctor,” Rolens told Fox2.</p> <p>Many people voiced their agreement in the comments section. </p> <p>“Saying the Doctor is 'no longer with us', would have sufficed,” wrote one user. “No need to divulge his personal business.”</p> <p>According to Fox2, the note in question has since been removed from the clinic.</p> <p>The doctor in question refused to comment on the incident, but Rolens said he told her that the dispute was “all taken out of context and had nothing to do with the nurse practitioner being female”.</p> <p>What do you think of the way the medical centre announced the doctor's departure? Tell us in the comments below.</p>

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Health warning after man dies from eating 5-day-old pasta

<p>A man has died after eating five-day-old leftover pasta.</p> <p>20-year-old student AJ from Brussels, Belgium became sick after consuming leftover spaghetti with tomato sauce which had been left sitting for five days at room temperature.</p> <p>After experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhoea, he attempted to sleep the sickness off, only to be found dead in the morning.</p> <p>An <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3232990/" target="_blank">autopsy</a> suggested that AJ had died from food poisoning caused by bacteria called Bacillus cereus, which has been <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863360/" target="_blank">increasingly reported</a> to cause serious and potentially fatal infections.</p> <p>Dietitian and food safety expert Dorothy Richmond told SBS Food that B. cereus is commonly found in starchy food items such as pasta, noodles, rice and potatoes. The bacteria produce a toxin that cannot be removed by reheating.</p> <p>According to Food Safety Information Council, leftovers should not be left at temperature danger zone (5 to 60 degrees Celsius) for more than two hours. After four hours, they should be thrown out.</p> <p>The Council also recommends using up refrigerated perishable leftovers within two to three days, and making sure reheated food is hot all the way through to at least 75 degrees Celsius in the centre, in order to reduce the risks of listeria and food poisoning.</p>

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Parents who lost 3-month-old baby in Bourke St attack describe the haunting day

<p>The tragedy of losing a child is one that can’t be put into words, but that is exactly what the brave parents of a Bourke Street rampage victim have done, after they described the moment they lost their three-month-old baby on the harrowing day.</p> <p>Listening to his final heartbeat, the father of three-month-old Zachary Bryant said he was “trying to desperately hold onto the moment”.</p> <p>The year was 2017, the day January 20. Before leaving home, the parents of baby Zachary had no idea that he, along with his older sister Zara, would be in the path of James Gargasoulas, 29, as he drove his car manically through a crowded mall in Melbourne's CBD.</p> <p>In his drug-induced state, he killed six people and injured dozens.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnawwarhassanbryant%2Fposts%2F10156449302598888%3A0&amp;width=500" width="500" height="709" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>The two young children were thrown from their pram, which then became wedged in the smashed windscreen of the car that Gargasoulas stole before he committed the heinous crime.</p> <p>Despite suffering from critical head injuries, Zara managed to survive, but little Zachary wasn’t so lucky and died in hospital.</p> <p>Their father Matthew was unaware of how bad the situation was, as he drove to be by their side.</p> <p>“At that point all I could do was pray, pray for some kind of miracle that they would pull through, but in my heart, I already knew my son had already left us,” Mr Bryant told a plea hearing for Gargasoulas on Wednesday in the Supreme Court of Victoria.</p> <p>“I held him for the last time, trying desperately to hold onto the moment, not wanting to let go.”</p> <p>Mr Bryant and his wife Nawwar Hassan-Bryant described their son as “freezing cold” before they buried his lifeless body.</p> <p>“When Zachary left us, I felt a part of me die with him,” said Mr Bryant.</p> <p>“I feel a constant guilt and failure that I was not there to protect my son and daughter.”</p> <p>Ms Hassan-Bryant described Zachary as a “gentle and calm soul who was always easy to please,” a child that had only been in this world for a few months before his demise.</p> <p>“My Zachary was gone,” she said. “My beautiful, innocent, perfect baby was gone. I watched his little chest stop moving as he lay in my arms. He was still just perfect.”</p> <p>Their story was just one of 50 that were read out in court this week, before the sentence of Gargasoulas is announced.</p>

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“I now have a metal hip”: Andy Murray undergoes major surgery

<p>Andy Murray has undergone hip resurfacing surgery, only two weeks after his Australian Open exit.</p> <p>The three-time Grand Slam champion shared on Instagram that he had the surgery in London on Monday, a fortnight after the loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open.</p> <p>“I now have a metal hip,” Murray wrote. “Feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtNiST6FrYn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtNiST6FrYn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">I underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in London yesterday morning...feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain 😀 I now have a metal hip as you can see in the 2nd photo 👉👉 and I look like I've got a bit of a gut in photo 1😂</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/andymurray/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Andy Murray</a> (@andymurray) on Jan 29, 2019 at 12:18am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>It remains unknown whether Murray will be returning to Wimbledon in July this year. Earlier this month, the 31-year-old said the Australian Open might be the last tournament of his career.</p> <p>“Having an operation like that, there’s absolutely no guarantees I’d be able to play again,” Murray said in a press conference at the Melbourne Arena.</p> <p>“I’d like to play until Wimbledon – that’s where I’d like to stop playing – but I’m not certain I’m able to do that.”</p> <p>The former world number one also had hip surgery in Melbourne last year and has played 15 matches since.</p>

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The heartfelt reason Katherine Kelly Lang is going into the jungle

<p>Katherine Kelly Lang is known for her iconic role on <em>The Bold and The Beautiful<span> </span></em>as Brooke Logan, a role she has played for almost 32 years, after her character's debut in March 1987.<em> </em></p> <p>However, going onto<em><span> </span>I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!</em> is something that the 57-year-old has wanted to do for a number of years now.</p> <p>"We've been talking to the production [of the show] for years now," the actress explained to<span> </span><em>TV WEEK</em>.</p> <p>"And it finally worked, with<span> </span><em>The Bold And The Beautiful</em><span> </span>letting me out for some time to go and do it.</p> <p>"One of the main reasons [for doing the show] was the opportunity to win, hopefully, the grand prize for my charity."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">A very Bold, and Beautiful, welcome to the jungle <a href="https://twitter.com/KatherineKellyL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KatherineKellyL</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImACelebrityAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImACelebrityAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/qc9QGUStWX">pic.twitter.com/qc9QGUStWX</a></p> — #ImACelebrityAU (@ImACelebrityAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImACelebrityAU/status/1089469087955046400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">27 January 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Lang’s chosen charity is Breakaway from Cancer. The organisation is close to her heart as her father passed away from cancer when she was just 13 years old. The TV star also lost three of her grandparents to the devastating disease. </p> <p>"I never understood when my dad died," Lang shared.</p> <p>"It happened fast and we found out too late. There wasn't much we could do, but it seemed like nobody could do anything to help.</p> <p>"That was really frustrating."</p> <p><img style="width: 312px; height: 419px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7823068/screen-shot-2019-01-29-at-121726-pm.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/55e3348bca4744dcb817e9992b727e89" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Katherine Kelly Lang ready to head into the jungle</em></p> <p>Breakaway from Cancer was founded in 2005 and has amassed a variety of celebrity ambassadors since, including mother-of-three Lang. The initiative aims to increase awareness of important resources that are available to people affected by cancer. </p> <p>Will you be watching Katherine Kelly Lang compete in<span> </span><em>I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!</em>? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

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Woman bitten on bum after terrifying toilet snake encounter

<p>A Brisbane snake catcher has shared a story on yet another terrifying encounter with wild reptiles at home.</p> <p>Helen Richards was visiting her sister-in-law’s home in Chapel Hill, Brisbane, on a quiet Tuesday afternoon when she decided to go to the toilet. She did not turn on the light as she was not planning on staying there for long.</p> <p>But she was sitting on the toilet bowl when she felt something bite her “mid-stream”.</p> <p>Richards said she jumped up immediately.</p> <p>“I jumped up with my pants down and turned around to see what looked like a longneck turtle receding back into the bowl,” Richards told the <a href="https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/queensland-mum-bitten-snake-toilet/3630692/"><em>Gold Coast Bulletin</em></a>.</p> <p>To her horror, it turned out to be a 1.6m-long carpet python.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwww.snakecatchers.com.au%2Fposts%2F947720618749885&amp;width=500" width="500" height="721" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“Unfortunately, the snake’s preferred exit point was blocked after being spooked by the customer sitting down and it simply lashed out in fear,” the snake catcher explained in a Facebook post.</p> <p>The snake catcher said they arrived promptly with first aid to help treat “the few small puncture marks left by the snake”, which were non-venomous.</p> <p>The snake handler praised Richards for remembering not to flush the toilet, as it might cause the snake to retreat down into the pipes again.</p> <p>“[Richards] handled the situation like an absolute champ, having a sense of humour about it the entire time,” said the catcher.</p> <p>“She said her toilet habits have forever changed! Lights will be on, and she will always give the bowl a quick glance before sitting down.”</p> <p>The snake catcher said finding snakes in toilets is a “regular occurrence”. They advised anyone who found themselves in a similar situation as Richards’ to avoid poking and prodding the snake. </p> <p>“Put the lid down, secure it, and call a snake catcher.”</p> <p>Have you ever found a snake in your toilet? Share your stories below.</p>

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"One day it will be you": Woman’s touching message about how the elderly are mistreated

<p>A Melbourne woman’s post about the way the elderly are treated has gone viral, sparking discussions about compassion and kindness.</p> <p>Adele Barbaro took to Facebook after she witnessed two older Australians in need being ignored in public.</p> <p>“One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in ‘6’,” she wrote. “But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go.”</p> <p>Within the same week, she saw another elderly man walking in the heat with “a huge scrape and blood on his leg” to no one’s attention.</p> <p>“He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car,” Barbaro wrote. “Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him.”</p> <p>She said she checked on the elderly man, who turned out to have had a fall. </p> <p>“I sat with him … and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day.”</p> <p>Barbaro implored others to “take a minute” and give a hand to elderly people struggling in public places.</p> <p>“Once upon a time they were you,” she said. “They were busy, they had work, they had children, they were able.... Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to.</p> <p>“One day it will be you, it will be us.”</p> <p>She hoped more people would be moved to care for the elderly and that “someday, not that far away, someone does it for me".</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheRealMumma%2Fposts%2F761298997580037&amp;width=500" width="500" height="709" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>The post struck a chord with readers, with more than 192,000 likes and 132,000 shares at the time of writing. Other Facebook users also shared their stories of seeing older people get mistreated.</p> <p>“Don’t walk by, stop and ask if the person needs help,” a user commented. “It but takes a minute and could make someone’s day.”</p> <p>Have you ever witnessed or experienced something like this? Tell us your story in the comments below.</p>

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