Monday Edition

Good morning

Hello and happy Monday, dearest members! I (Jarred) hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are starting this week with optimism for what lies ahead. I don’t know about you, but this chilly weather has awakened the book-lover in me, which is why I feel like reading again after a months-long slump. I mean, imagine being snuggled up in a cosy blanket and having a steaming cuppa to go with a great read… sigh. It’s been some time since I lost myself in a good book — the last one I read was before I joined the team last October! Thankfully, there are a number of book recommendation threads already up on the forum, and one started by dear member @Parrot in particular has very interesting suggestions. With that, I want to ask: do you have any books you’d recommend for reading? (I can already hear some cheeky responses: ‘What else would you use a book for?’) I’m not too picky with my books, but I do enjoy ones like The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner, which have very clever main characters making readers guess what they’re about to do next. So, if you have any you’d love others to read, please feel free to share!

And on that note, I’d also like to share this week’s first riddle:

What can be seen in the middle of March and April that cannot be seen at the beginning or end of either month?

I was so adamant that the answer would be either the 15th or 16th day, but alas, both options were wrong. Oops! I guess that’s a clue for you all then, haha! But knowing you all, you’ll figure this out in no time. Post your answers here! As always, if you get the answer correct, you’ll earn yourself a shout-out in tomorrow’s newsletter!

Members, you know we’re always looking for ways to make navigating the often complex world of concessions and discounts easier. The good news is we have a brand new guide explaining Pensioner Concession Cards and the associated benefits and discounts for utilities, rates, vehicle registration, public transport and more! The best part? It’s broken down into each state and territory so you can find the exact information relevant to you! What are you waiting for? Discounts await! Click here to see what you are eligible for and simply navigate to the relevant state/territory.

Now, let’s find out what’s happening across the world and around Australia today, shall we?

• Heads-up! Weet-Bix is launching a limited-edition product featuring a delicious tropical fruit and creamy vanilla flavouring. Who says you can’t have a piece of summer in the middle of autumn?
• It’s absolutely infuriating when phone companies suddenly hike prices mid-contract. Is this even allowed? Here are some tips on how YOU can spot this change immediately and take action.
• Rugs are notoriously difficult to clean, but one Aussie mum found a way around this challenge by using a ‘strange’ cleaning trick. What’s more, she has pictures to prove it: ‘Really made a big difference!’
• This bloke appealed a hefty $362 fine after violating a road rule he had no idea existed — and got an outcome nobody saw coming: ‘This seemed ludicrously over the top for a quiet area.’
• Does watching television put you at risk of dementia? Researchers set out to answer this emerging concern and came across rather interesting results. Don’t miss this, members.
• Some restaurants are notorious for adding surcharges their customers are unaware of. A couple out on a romantic dinner fell victim to this tactic, and they were livid at what they were being charged over. How would YOU feel about this ‘obscene’ fee?
• A crafty mum shared how she transformed a $12 Kmart tray into a luxe side table: ‘This is so cool! Who would have thought?’
• Thirty years ago, Australia was shocked over the grisly murders of three young women by a man called the Frankston Serial Killer. Now, he is on the brink of being released, and Today’s Karl Stefanovic did not mince words about it: ‘Eligible for parole. Can you believe it?’
• FREE BURGER! Did that get your attention? Lucky for you, it’s more than just words — you can actually score a free burger from Hungry Jack’s. This is how you can get yours!
• This veg is chock full of fibre and nutrients and only requires minimal effort to make. It’s also the subject of today’s recipe, which pairs it with an oh-so-creamy sauce. Yum! Click here to find out what it is!
• Fergus loves exercise so much that he spends hours on it daily. You don’t believe me? See what he told his GP in this joke from member @Skipton!

We hope you enjoyed our opening stories for this week! Now, we still have a lot more in store for you! Be sure to check out a trivia question about an iconic World War II figure, a ‘Yesterday’s Australia’ segment just bursting with cuteness (I promise you it is worth the scroll down!), great deals, and a Grand(dad) joke about a quick-witted farmer and a highway patrol officer, from member @Skipton!

One last thing before we head into today's games. Did you know you could get dental, optical, and physio cover from under $9 per week?* You could be eligible for latest government rebates which assist in getting cover from just $1.15* per day. Talk to an advisor now and find out if you're eligible and discover how much you could be saving.*

Check out our games, including our Alphabetical Bands/Groups Game, Alphabetical Australian Places Game, Change A Letter Game, and 3x3 Word Thread. We still have our beloved classic games, including Word Pairs, Abbreviation Game, Word Association Game, Rearrange, Add or Subtract Word Game! Keep a Word, Drop a Word Game, and Can you name 5? As well as our Sudoku puzzles, OzGrid, classic OzWord, and Ozword (expert edition). And our card games, including Solitaire and Blackjack.

As always, members, stay safe and happy reading!

- Jonathan, Vella, Sean, James, Sethia, April, Jarred, Ally & Maddie.