Tuesday Edition

Good morning

G’day, members! Gosh, my Aussie slang is truly kicking in at the moment. I’m down at my late Grandfather’s farm and it really brings out the ‘inner Aussie’ in me. I think whenever ‘city folk’ visit the country, they do their best to fit in. You know, say your ‘g’days’ and try to seem like a ‘true blue Aussie’ (well I do anyway). I even wear old work boots. It’s a little embarrassing, I know.

I absolutely love the country. I grew up part-time here and I just adored it. I have so many fond memories of just running around the property doing who-knows-what and no one knowing where I was. I’d just play in the paddock with my siblings or cousins and we’d be outside for hours on end. I know not everyone will be able to relate to this but there’s just something about the country that soothes my soul. It’s so much calmer than the city, it’s wonderful to be able to see the stars at night and it be pitch-black because there’s no light pollution. I know that idea might freak some people out but there’s such solitude in the peacefulness. I’m not entirely sure how to explain it, although I hope you can all find some kind of peace where you are today. Whether that be in a book, a cup of coffee, some leftovers from Christmas, or a chat with a loved one.

Enough from me though, what’s happening across Australia and around the world today?

• We love an end of year wrap up! So we've put together our top 22 stories of 2022... And what a year it's been, folks.  
• No surprises here 😉 Apparently, men think they’re smarter than they are and women drastically underestimate their IQ. We find out why.
• Need some healthy meal ideas that are budget-friendly? Here are 3 recipes that use this $1 staple.
• A hotel manager has revealed some awful encounters they’ve had with big Hollywood celebrities, including Meghan Markle.
• A bunch of bargain-hunters have ignited a debate online: Is dishwashing liquid really worth the money? Find out what they have to say.
• Who doesn’t love beer-battered food? Well, this new beer-battered food item is blowing up the internet, and I’m not too sure how I feel about it.
• This incredible $10 upcycling project looks just like a $499 designer item, proving that you don’t need to pay big bucks for luxury items.
• Using ‘Body Mass Index’ or ‘BMI’ to measure your health is a bunch of nonsense. Here’s what you need to know.
• This clever cooking tip will remove excess grease from your dishes in no time! This is great timing for those of you who are eating Christmas leftovers…
• Fantastic news members! A recent study suggests your daily cup of coffee may keep cardiovascular diseases away.
• Are you struggling with storage? This tip uses a very unlikely Kmart item as a way to keep your rooms tidy and clutter-free!
• Finally, we have a recipe that I just couldn’t wait to share with you all! Check out this strawberry pavlova recipe. It’s sure to please your friends and family!

And that, folks, is a wrap of the news for your Tuesday! I’m going to try and remind everyone what day it is between now and the New Year because I honestly just had to get the calendar out to check what day it is… My, oh, my. Not sure if it’s my memory or just this time of year. Regardless, there’s so much in store for you below, including one of my all-time favourite ‘Yesterday’s Australia’ segments. This memory was posted by the wonderful member @maryfern33 and it’s about Christmas in India! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Of course, we still have all the usual games and puzzles for you to enjoy while the team is on leave, including our 3x3 Word Thread, Word Pairs and Abbreviation Game for some fun brain training? We also have our classic games, including 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 and OzWord. 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.