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"Flower grannies" at their grandkids' wedding go viral

<p>Two grandmothers have stolen the show at their grandkids' wedding as they walked down the aisle as flower girls. </p> <p>The heartwarming moment was captured by wedding photographer Joshua Hugget, who was taking photos at the picturesque wedding in South Australia. </p> <p>The video shows the two grandmothers arm-in-arm, dropping flower petals down the aisle in lieu of the standard young flower girls. </p> <p>The bride, Michaela Treloar, shared with the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-03/grandmothers-who-were-flower-girls-become-viral-sensation/103519006?sf271999625=1&fbclid=IwAR21H0d9_RfQkyBfP6SuyI1L_3KN8a4CdTXqqmx8tEfN8SyIp3FXY_ryqbg_aem_AZyZ59VDrmi0hZ-kcRd9Yncw5hZywZzo313-pUSnNYZJ-K_2Z4fXcOVlFcvX0Gn-E40">ABC</a></em> how she and her partner both “wanted to include our grandmothers into our wedding somehow”, which resulted in the adorable moment.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3hCIP9PgsG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3hCIP9PgsG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joshua Huggett Media (@joshuahuggettmedia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“They took it on with pride, smashed it, and now they’ve gone viral,” exclaimed Treloar.</p> <p>“It was really cute … each nonna was helping each other get to the end of the aisle, chatting all the way.”</p> <p>The photographer who captured the moment shared that he believes something about the video is relatable to everyone in some way, and that is the secret to its success.</p> <p>“It hits that heart string straight away … it’s the perfect concoction of people saying they want to do that with their grandma, teamed with people saying they wish they could do that with their grandma now that they’d passed,” Joshua shared.</p> <p>The flower grannies shining moment has been viewed millions of times, with many leaving comments praising the married couple for including their grandmothers in their big day. </p> <p>“I have goosebumps head to toe! The smiles on the grannies’ faces …. Priceless!!!!!!!” One user commented. </p> <p>“Hope this trend catches on, it’s truly beautiful!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram - Joshua Hugget Media</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Back to the kitchen": Granny Guns flexes down at online trolls

<p>A body-builder granny has hit back at trolls after showcasing her killer biceps online.</p> <p>The TikTok star, 62, shows herself pumping iron, and doing various workouts on her account, with nasty individuals leaving comments saying she belongs in the kitchen.</p> <p>The 62-year-old enjoys making TikTok fitness videos, and she’s proved to be extremely successful online, having just shy of 800,000 followers.</p> <p>In one video, the granny is pumping iron at the gym.</p> <p>The video then cuts to her dancing around with a tray of homemade cookies, which she says is how she acts “any other time”.</p> <p>However, trolls online labelled her as just a woman made for the kitchen, and that’s when the biceps came out.</p> <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7208386374041423146&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%4065_strong%2Fvideo%2F7208386374041423146%3Flang%3Den&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F632c57901f47459e97728aea3dbe7729_1678333249%3Fx-expires%3D1678683600%26x-signature%3DQUziUnUI1Gk%252FIjO45MfLA8OhWNk%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>The granny made a video where she threw shade at a few hate comments such as “women are weak” or “back to the kitchen”.</p> <p>The video then cuts to her friends lifting weights in a show of strength.</p> <p>The gym granny was showing off a tough move at the bicep curl machine.</p> <p>As she pulled the bar to her chest, her biceps flexed to reveal some serious muscle.</p> <p>She captioned her TikTok, “For all my fellow female fitness lovers”.</p> <p>Fellow users flocked to the comments to show their support.</p> <p>“I have a crush on everyone,” one user said.</p> <p>Another exclaimed: “I love this! And all the amazing women in this video!”</p> <p>“I love you grandma”, a third gushed.</p> <p>To which the granny replied, “Love you back”.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Body

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Little Louis' heartbreaking comment about "Grannie"

<p>As mourners gathered outside Windsor Castle to pay their tributes to Queen Elizabeth, Kate, William, Harry and Meghan reunited in a show of solidarity. </p> <p>As they spoke to heart-broken Britons about the Queen, Kate revealed the devastating comment her son Prince Louis made after hearing about the Queen's death. </p> <p>Kate spoke of the touching anecdote while meeting people on the Long Walk, with 28-year-old Banita Ranow hearing the new Princess of Wales tell the children next to her what her 4-year-old son said.</p> <p>She said Kate told the children, “Louis said ‘at least Grannie is with great grandpa now’.”</p> <p>Ms Ranow said the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge was “welling up” as she spoke to the children.</p> <p>Ms Ranow, along with several others who attended the makeshift memorial, said it "so beautiful to see" the reunion of the Cambridges and the Sussexes in the wake of the Queen's death. </p> <p>She said, “I felt so emotional and I felt the Queen would have loved it. I just hope in the future they remain like that and that the brothers come together, and the families.”</p> <p>It was William and Kate’s first engagement under their new titles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the first time they have appeared in public with Harry and Meghan since the National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s Jubilee in June.</p> <p>A royal source said the Prince of Wales asked his brother and his wife to join them in viewing the tributes, as they all inspected tributes to Queen Elizabeth and met with well-wishers at the gates of Windsor Castle. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Babysitting boundaries for ‘Granny Nannies’

<p>You are the kind of parent who, in order to help your adult children, get ahead in life and pay off a large mortgage, are chipping in to babysit grandchildren to ease the burden of childcare costs.</p> <p>The amount of caring you are doing may vary from a few hours a week to multiple days per week.<br />In doing so you are also contributing significantly to the nation’s coffers. Research shows that $5.54 billion is added to the Australian economy by unpaid carers and $1.26 billion from unpaid childcare provided by the over 50s.</p> <p>It is a very natural, altruistic and noble intention to want to help your children in this way and research published in May this year by the University of Melbourne revealed that it can be good for you. The study found postmenopausal women who took care of their grandchildren one day a week had better memory and faster cognitive speed than those who didn’t.</p> <p><strong>Balancing yours and your children’s needs</strong><br />The researchers however carry a warning about over-using the generous nature of grandparents noting that women who cared for grandchildren five or more days a week had significantly slower processing speed and planning scores, possibly because they felt exhausted and stressed.</p> <p>National Seniors CEO, Michael O’Neill says it’s important for grandparents to aim for a balance in enjoying their retirement years and providing support to their children.</p> <p>“It’s about balance and not giving up on your dreams, expectations and goals to achieve. Those goals shouldn’t be subsumed by the demands of a younger generation".</p> <p>However, the economic reality is that there is an increasing reliance on grandparents for childcare assistance in dual income families and so here are some good ideas for negotiating the babysitting/caring parameters successfully:</p> <p><br /><strong>Tips for setting babysitting boundaries</strong><br />Set limits early on – you might even like to start the conversation with your adult child before your grandchild is born</p> <ul> <li>Consider how far in advance of sitting time you'd like to be approached. If you prefer a week’s notice and not same-day requests </li> <li>Let your children know in advance if you are okay with taking grandchildren to doctor’s appointments or something similar.</li> <li>Let your children know if you are comfortable with supervising homework/study.</li> <li>Set time parameters around drop-off and pick-up </li> <li>School holiday arrangements need to be set early and be clear about school holiday activities i.e. signing grandkids up to camps/classes etc.</li> <li>Will you have grandchildren for sleepovers or not?</li> <li>Will playdates need to be arranged?</li> </ul> <p><strong>More ideas for stress-free babysitting</strong></p> <ul> <li>If you have a skill or hobby that you are talented at share this with your grandkids where appropriate</li> <li>Decide if and/or how you will deliver discipline. You are not obligated to share this role, but it will help your child and grandchild if you have a plan in place</li> <li>Let your household standards slip a bit and put away the precious ornaments while grandkids are around, as this can save heartache for them and you</li> <li>Discuss food and nutrition issues with your child as they may have strong views on this</li> <li>Discuss sleep pattern and arrangements i.e. will the grandchild be required to nap during the day or not</li> <li>Discuss appropriateness of certain movies, books and video games with your child ahead of the sitting/caring time</li> <li>The key thing to remember is to have open, honest communication about babysitting with your children early to avoid unrealistic expectations. You shouldn’t have to do anything you are uncomfortable with so you should try not to be a ‘yes’ man or woman to your children all the time, or your generosity could be taken for granted and lead to stress for both you and your children.</li> </ul> <p>What are some of your tips? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Danielle Cesta. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/the-granny-nanny-trend.aspx">Wyza.com.au. </a></em></p>

Caring

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5 questions to ask before moving into a granny flat

<p>If managed correctly, a granny flat arrangement can turn into a win-win scenario for all parties. It can also turn sour fast. If you’ve toyed with the idea of entering into this sort of arrangement, it’s important to make sure you’re aware of the implications.</p> <p>Here are five questions to ask before moving into a granny flat.</p> <p><strong>1. Am I really ready to live in a granny flat?</strong></p> <p>While often in these situations you still have plenty of your own personal space, there is going to be a loss of independence to a degree. It’s important to ask yourself if you are really willing to give up this space when moving in with your family.</p> <p><strong>2. Is my family really ready to live with me?</strong></p> <p>It’s not pleasant thing to think about, but the harsh reality is there may be some parties who are not altogether pleased with the situation (even if it seems like they are on the surface). It’s always worth having a frank discussion with all the parties that are affected, and asking them if this is arrangement is indeed willing to go into. </p> <p><strong>3. Is my pension going to be affected?</strong></p> <p>Depending on the arrangement you enter into, moving into a granny flat can affect your pension entitlements. It’s important to check with the Department of Human Services<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.humanservices.gov.au/" target="_blank"></a> and a financial professional about the ramifications of making this move, and ultimately whether or not you’re willing to live with them.</p> <p><strong>4. Have I formalised the agreement?</strong></p> <p>This may seem like adding unnecessary red tape to the arrangement (especially when you’re dealing with family), but formalising the agreement can go some way to avoiding conflicting. Getting the rights and responsibilities of each party down on paper is the best way to manage expectations and ensure no one is given the short end of the stick.</p> <p><strong>5. Do I have a backup plan?</strong></p> <p>If things do go awry you don’t want to be left high and dry. It’s important to have a backup plan up your sleeve just in case the worst does happen, and you can be sure you’re in the best position possible to recoup and ultimately recover.  </p> <p>Have you moved into a granny flat? Or perhaps you know someone who has? What do you think about the arrangement? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Retirement Income

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What Prince William tells George and Charlotte about Granny Diana

<p>His young children may never have the opportunity to meet their paternal grandmother, but in a candid new documentary special, Prince William has revealed how he’s keeping Princess Diana’s memory alive for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.</p> <p>In the TV special <em>Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy</em>, William opened up about how he and Kate are ensuring their young ones know “Granny Diana”. “We’ve got more photos up around the house now of her and we talk about her at bedtime,” he revealed.</p> <p>“It’s hard because, obviously, Catherine didn’t know her, so she cannot really provide that level of detail. I do, regularly, putting George and Charlotte to bed and talk about her and just try to remind them there are two grandmothers, there were two grandmothers in their lives. It’s important they know who she was and that she existed.”</p> <p>Prince Harry also spoke about his passion to ensure his mother’s legacy continues, chatting with Diana’s close friend, Sir Elton John, about a matter close to them all – HIV/AIDS.</p> <p>“It was considered to be a gay disease and for someone who was in the royal family and who was a woman and who was straight, just to have someone care from the other side was an incredible gift,” Sir Elton reflected.</p> <p>Harry, who brought out photos of Diana with AIDS patients, spoke of the positivity with which his mother radiated at a time when the reality was “all doom and gloom”.</p> <p>“Look at her face in every photograph. There’s a positive, wonderful glow,” Sir Elton agreed. “Also, she had this incredible ability – which he [Prince Harry] kind of inherited, and I told him that, and he said, ‘Thanks very much’ – to make people feel at ease and to make them feel that everything will be alright."</p> <p>“I haven’t experienced many people that have that ability, but she could walk into a room of people and make them feel as if everything was great.”</p>

News

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5 ways to customise your granny flat

<p>A backyard studio can be a tranquil escape from your house to immerse yourself in your favourite hobbies. It is better than converting an old bedroom and gives you greater space and privacy to do whatever activity you love most. Here are five ideas what you could use your granny flat for.</p> <p><strong>1. A gardener’s studio</strong></p> <p>If you have a green thumb it makes sense to create a gardening shed in your backyard granny flat. Build a workbench and add hooks to hold your small tools on the wall. You can be creative in the design of your gardening studio and even get a window box and create a mini-greenhouse.</p> <p><strong>2. A yoga retreat</strong></p> <p>Don’t spend money going to yoga classes if you have the space (and expertise) to do it in your own house. Leave the floor clear for your yoga mat and if you have spare space, invite a friend to come and exercise with you as well. To make your yoga retreat comfortable all year long, add bits and pieces that make you feel relaxed and peaceful.</p> <p><strong>3. An office</strong></p> <p>If you are working from home, then your granny flat is the perfect location for your office. Not only will it give you peace and quiet, your mind will associate the granny flat with work instead of your house. This will allow you to walk into your house and immediately be able to unwind.</p> <p><strong>4. A workshop</strong></p> <p>Trade your garage for a granny flat workshop if you’re a builder and fixer of things. Unlike working in your garage, the granny flat won’t be as cluttered and allow you to use up all the space you need. A cement slab would be your best floor option.</p> <p><strong>5. An art studio</strong></p> <p>If your granny flat has great natural light, then it will be the perfect space to let your creative mind roam free. Paint the walls with your preferred colour and then decorate the space with items that can inspire your art. This space will not only be like a little getaway but you can stop worrying about getting your art supplies on any furniture. You also won’t have to pack up after yourself.  </p>

Home & Garden

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4 sweet grannies discuss their first kiss

<p>There aren’t all that many things that we can recount with a smile years and years after the event. It seems our first kiss however is one of them. This adorable video asks four women from the University Settlement Senior Center in New York City about the memories of their first kiss. “I was about 13.” “I must have been 13. He was good looking. All the girls wanted him. I got him.” “It was exciting. All the girls were watching.” “They drafted him to the army. He came back after I was married.” Their responses give such an insight into an event that occurred decades ago, but seems almost like the recent past.</p> <p>Watch the video above and just try and not smile along with Gladys, Nellie, Rosa and Marta.</p> <p><em>Video: Mashable</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/06/simple-secrets-to-a-great-relationship/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 simple secrets to a great relationship</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/05/historic-photos-of-love-during-wartime/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>15 historic photos of love during wartime</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/05/marriage-secrets-from-relationship-experts/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>6 marriage secrets relationship experts want you to know</strong></em></span></a></p>

Relationships

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“Granny pods” act as backyard nursing homes

<p>When it comes to finding a place for an elderly loved ones to enjoy their golden years, most families want to keep their loved ones close by.</p> <p>While some adult children are able to welcome their parents into their homes, others might not have the space or proper facilities for this not be a viable option.</p> <p>The <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/05/05/GR2010050505248.html" target="_blank">MEDCottage</a></strong></span> or “granny pod” is a tiny home that is essentially a portable hospital room designed by a Blacksburg, VA company, with help from Virginia Tech. It acts as more than a guest house, with medical extras that fit nicely into a pre-fabricated design to be installed in the backyard behind the main home.</p> <p>The small dwelling is hooked up to the main home's existing sewer, water and power lines. Standard safety features include hand railings, defibrillators, first aid supplies, lighted floorboards and a soft floor to minimize damage from falls.</p> <p>The cost is around $100,000 to $170,000, with the average price for year in a nursing home sitting at about $40,000.</p> <p>The cottage is about 12 by 24 feet — essentially the size of a spacious master bedroom. Double French doors add an attractive touch, and also accommodate a wheelchair and hospital equipment, if needed.</p> <p>What do you think of these “granny pods”? Do you think they are a better option than a nursing home? Let us know what you think in the comments below.</p> <p>When it comes to finding a place for an elderly loved ones to enjoy their golden years, most families want to keep their loved ones close by.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/i-found-retirement-overrated/"><em>Retirement is overrated. Here’s what I did instead.</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/why-you-should-still-set-an-alarm-when-you-retire/"><em>Why you should still set an alarm when you retire</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/5-new-hobbies-to-try-now/"><em>5 new hobbies to try now</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Very proud granny covers cushions, tablecloths, walls, curtains and more in pictures of grandkids

<p>Could this be the world’s proudest grandmother? 66-year-old Carmen Baugh has taken her love of her grandchildren to the next level, wallpapering and decorating her house in their photos and even wearing their pictures.</p> <p>That’s right, this US grandma has her grandchildren’s photos covering her walls, curtains, cushions and tablecloths. While it may seem a bit overboard to us, her family love it. Baugh told <a href="http://press.spoonflower.com/worlds-proudest-grandma/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Spoonflower</span></strong></a> that her husband Bob “thinks it’s great” but that her grandkids, aged 6 and 3, took a bit longer to come around.</p> <p>“My granddaughter exclaimed ‘Oh my!’ But she and her brother then rushed straight to the wallpaper and started picking out their own photos,” she says. “They loved it all, including the pillows.”</p> <p>See her family-filled world in the pictures above and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/05/grandma-photobombs-real-estate-pictures/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Grandma hilariously photobombs her real estate pictures</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/05/90-year-old-nana-love-to-keep-tabs-on-family-through-facebook/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>90-year-old Nana loves to keep tabs on family through Facebook</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/04/girls-gets-spelling-of-grandma-wrong/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Little girl gets spelling of grandma adorably wrong</strong></em></span></a></p>

News

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Granny scares off burglar with martial arts sword

<p>A 67-year-old granny from Perth in Australia has chased a burglar out of her home with a Japanese sword.</p> <p>The “white-haired granny”, who is trained in Chinese marital arts and practised tai chi for the last 15 years, told Perth Now how she had fallen asleep on her coach when a broke into her home at around 11pm on Tuesday.</p> <p>When the she woke to the sound of the burglar rifling through her drawers, she unsheathed her sword and chased him out of her home.</p> <p>The grandmother-of-11, who did not want to be identified, told the paper, “I’ve never seen someone so scared by an old, white-haired granny.”</p> <p>She added, “The Japanese sword was the first sword I got so I grabbed that — I wasn’t into semantics at that point.”</p> <p>The tiny grandma, who stands at just 153 centimetre tall, even chased after the intruder when she discovered her mobile phone, laptop, tablet and car keys were missing. With her sword in tow, she confronted the burglar who was trying to escape in her car.</p> <p>“He couldn’t go anywhere because he was trying to get his feet on the car pedals. I had the seat pulled right forward because I’m so short,” she said.</p> <p>“I told him with some colourful language to get out of my car, but he ended up getting out of that car quick because I pulled him.</p> <p>“He came back twice saying he was going to kill me. I chased him up the driveway and asked him, ‘Who do you think has the sword in their hand?’”</p> <p>Police soon arrived at the scene after neighbours reported yelling, and the gutsy granny was able to retrieve all her belongings. The police investigation is still ongoing.</p> <p><em>Photo source: Ross Swanborough/<a href="http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/perth-grandmother-chased-burglar-with-japanese-sword/news-story/775fb1ff4c553cf9a2e30a3215461022#load-story-comments" target="_blank">Perth Now</a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/98-year-old-great-grandmother-plays-piano-nashville/"><em>98-year-old granny blows audience away with piano performance</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/03/95-year-old-grandma-beautiful-flower-girl/"><em>95-year-old grandmother makes beautiful flower girl</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/03/grandmother-lifts-100kg/"><em>78-year-old grandmother lifts weights like a pro athlete</em></a></strong></span></p>

Retirement Life

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98-year-old granny blows audience away with piano performance

<p>During a recent appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashiville, country music artist Josh Turner took a moment to give the stage to someone else.</p> <p>His wife’s 98-year-old grandmother, Lois Cunningham, was ready to take the spotlight. As she is helped into the chair of the piano, her grandson in law tells the audience “she’ll play when she is read”. Without a beat, she is.</p> <p>The nonagenarian performs “How Great Thou Art" on the piano and it's safe to say her talent blows the crowd away. Performing at the Nashville venue is a major accomplishment for any country star, and Turner's kind gift to his loved one shows that you're never too old to achieve your dreams. </p> <p>Be sure to watch till the end, Lois gets a standing ovation and she loves the crowd as much as they love her.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2015/12/how-to-mentally-prepare-yourself-for-retirement/">8 steps to mentally prepare yourself for retirement</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2015/12/reasons-to-volunteer-in-retirement/">5 reasons to volunteer in retirement</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/01/what-you-must-do-before-retirement/">The one thing you must do before retirement</a></em></strong></span></p>

Retirement Life

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30 things to thank your grandmother for

<p>It doesn’t matter if you’re a grandmother or if you just have a grandmother, these 30 things are why they are so special to us and we need to give our gratitude to our grannies.</p> <ol> <li>She gives the best hugs.</li> <li>A grandma always knows what to say to make things better.</li> <li>Let’s be honest, you’ve never left your grandma’s house hungry or empty handed.</li> <li>She gives you a unique perspective on life.</li> <li>She’s one of your biggest fans.</li> <li>And she’s the greatest listener.</li> <li>The cookie jar is never empty at grandma’s house.</li> <li>She is the classiest woman.</li> <li>Her stories are one of a kind.</li> <li>She told you were beautiful even when you didn’t feel like it.</li> <li>A grandma never forgets your birthday.</li> <li>She always makes you feel special and good about yourself.</li> <li>If you’re ever feeling sick or in danger, she will take care of you.</li> <li>She taught you how to speak your mind when necessary and to stand up for what’s right.</li> <li>A handwritten letter from your grandma never fails to make your day.</li> <li>She knows how to rock a pair of glasses, so if you need some in the future, it’s totally fine. Like grandmother, like granddaughter.</li> <li>Her advice is genuine and wise.</li> <li>You can always count on her to be there for you, even in the worst of times.</li> <li>She taught you how to have self-respect.</li> <li>Her cooking is absolutely delicious.</li> <li>A grandma teaches you to be brave even when you’re scared.</li> <li>She’s one of the strongest women you know.</li> <li>Her voice and contagious laughter will always lift your spirits.</li> <li>She encourages you to push beyond your limits.</li> <li>She accepts you for who you truly are.</li> <li>What would you do without her words of wisdom and comfort?</li> <li>She helps you prepare for the best and the worst.</li> <li>A grandma is continuously there for you with a selfless heart.</li> <li>She’s the anchor that keeps you grounded.</li> <li>She always delivers on her promises and teaches you to do the same.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2015/12/octogenarian-couple-get-married/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/best-advice-ever-received-video/">People aged 5 to 105 reveal the best advice they’ve ever received</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2015/12/octogenarian-couple-get-married/"></a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2015/12/octogenarian-couple-get-married/"></a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/cheap-school-holiday-activities/">30 cheap – or free – holiday activities to do with grandkids</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2015/12/octogenarian-couple-get-married/"> </a></strong></em></span></p>

News

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Hidden benefits of living in a granny flat

<p>In recent times Granny flats have grown in popularity considerably, and it’s easy to see why.</p> <p>Not only is it a way of cutting down on overheads at home, granny flats allows parents and adult children to share financial, emotional and practical support in all aspects of life.</p> <p>In NSW, Australia for example, over the past year there was a 75 per cent increase in people building on their blocks of land compared to five years ago, as people respond to a tight housing market.</p> <p>Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that despite a declining birth rate, the average number of people per household has actually grown steadily, and the increasing popularity of granny flats doesn’t necessarily have to represent young adults moving to take care of their parents. Many of the inhabitants of granny flats are taking care of the younger children who are in their house.</p> <p>Social researcher Mark McCrindle told News.com, “Most young people with children are very busy and one of the biggest financial costs is paid child care. If they can get the parents to move in they can help share the costs, and they have childcare at the same time. It has good social and economic benefits. I think it is a positive thing in a lot of ways and we will see more of it into the future.”</p> <p>That being said, if you are thinking of getting into a granny flat with your children, it’s important to document the changes to your living conditions. Centrelink general manager Hank Jongen says, “Although we may accept you have a granny flat interest, even if it is not in writing, we recommend that you have a legal document drawn up by a solicitor to give evidence of the arrangement.”</p> <p>The reason for this is that living in a granny flat may affect age pension payments. Mr Jorgen adds, “We do not use market value to assess the worth of a granny flat interest. Instead, we need to know what you transferred to the property owner in exchange for the granny flat right or interest.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2016/01/10-important-quotes-about-money/"><strong>10 quotes that show money isn’t everything</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2016/01/facing-up-to-why-we-fail-with-money/"><strong>Facing up to why we fail with money</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2016/01/new-zealanders-lose-millions-to-online-scams/"><strong>New Zealanders lose $12m to online scams</strong></a></em></span></p>

Money & Banking

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