DEAR Jasminda, WHEN I was in the hairdresser last week, I overheard the woman opposite me tell the hairdresser that she wanted a new style because she was about to leave her husband after 18 years of marriage. On my way out, I took a quick glance at the person in question, and realised, to […]
The Big Screen
ANOTHER week, another long-awaited “legacy sequel” in 28 Years Later, the pseudo-zombie, post-apocalyptic, horror film from director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire). As the title implies, it has now been 28 years since the “rage virus” was initially unleashed upon the world, causing those exposed to instantaneously become uncontrollably violent. A small group of survivors living […]
Legal Hypothetical: Residence rights questioned after assault
SIBLINGS William and Ken became the registered proprietors of their late mother’s home when she passed-away 15 years ago. They have both been living in the home since. Unfortunately, whilst in their 70s, an incident occurs whereby Ken assaults William with a baseball bat, causing him bodily harm. He is charged and enters into a […]
Stargazing: Enjoy your shortest day
HAVE you ever wondered why summer days last forever (well, almost!), and winter nights feel like they never end? It all boils down to two amazing celestial events: equinoxes and solstices! These are like nature’s cosmic calendar flips, marking the shift between seasons in Australia, down under where things are a bit opposite compared to […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, I am going away with a group of school friends and we are sharing rooms. To save money, we booked a room with two queen beds, but one of our group members has become an incessant snorer. I’m a light sleeper. How do I tactfully ask that she is not my bed companion […]
The Big Screen
HOW to Train Your Dragon is at the top of the schedule for cinemas and families this week, as the beloved franchise transitions to live action. Your kids could probably fill you in on the basics: young Hiccup (Mason Thames) is an innovative but hopeless Viking in training who forms a bond with the dragon […]
Legal Hypothetical: Small estate, big costs
ANNE is superstitious about making a will. She resides in a nursing home and has a modest bank account. She considers that her assets are not of sufficient value to warrant the making of a will. When Anne passes-away, a bond is refundable from the nursing home and with her bank account, her assets total […]
Beyond the bite: How our fishing community rises above the floods
AS we transition into winter, we’ve been blessed with a couple of lovely, calm and sunny days. However, the recent floods unfortunately the mackerel season has drawn to a close. While the fishing report highlights the bounty the region offers its impossible to ignore the impact of the recent floods and the incredible resilience of […]
Letter to the Editor: Loss of XPT service
DEAR News Of The Area, THE XPT service from Grafton to Sydney has been taken off the rails and replaced with coaches for twelve months. Pensioners, seniors, students without a car and children all rely on this daylight service. The majority of these people would prefer to travel by train for the comfort it provides […]
Hooked on the Camden Haven
AS we transition into winter, we’ve been blessed with a couple of lovely, calm and sunny days. However, the recent floods unfortunately the mackerel season has drawn to a close. While the fishing report highlights the bounty the region offers, it is impossible to ignore the impact of the recent floods and the incredible resilience […]