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Articles by Meg Watson
The crisis that inspired Nazeem Hussain’s new comedy
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This episode was the best romcom of the year. I wish TV had more like it
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Richard E Grant has given us the most chaotic TV moment of the year
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Where to watch all the Emmy Award-winning shows (and what we thought of them)
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After 30 years with Larry David, this was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had
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It’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen, but I’m genuinely emotional about Jackass
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The final season of The Bear is here. Is it actually worth watching?
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From Ted Lasso to SBS? Nick Mohammed on life after Nate
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Why Melissa Leong’s new show was pulled from SBS
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Stephen King meets Schitt’s Creek? This wild dramedy is the most original TV show this year
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This joyful doco will teach you the real meaning of the word bogan
Elvis' Favorite Cake Was A Southern Twist On A Rich And Sweet Classic It's no secret that during his lifetime, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" found comfort in food. Elvis Presley had many favorite foods and drinks that …
The Eiffel Tower Is Not Compulsory
Before we begin on the Eiffel Tower, it should be said from the outset — I’m not a seasoned traveller. Before this year, my passport was more of a novelty than utility. If you were to look at the ID you would see an eight-year-old girl with an ill-advised pixie cut and an awkward gap in her teeth. If you were to flip through, you would find two stamps: one from immigration upon departing my native New Zealand and the other, a faded 15-year-old piece of memorabilia from a family vacation to Fiji.
Step Back From The Baggage Carousel
It’s the 2020s, the planet is burning, and human suffering has become the background noise of a distorted suspended reality. And honestly, change is not coming. Not until we have a society where people correctly use a baggage carousel. Yes, it’s bold — possibly completely stupid — to talk about climate change in the first sentence of a whinging piece about airport etiquette. But I stand by the logic! The world needs immediate collectivist change on the most monumental scale imaginable.
The Standard Hotel
Even Fitzroy locals would be forgiven for not knowing this place exists. Strategically tucked away on a one-way road off Brunswick Street, The Standard Hotel seems to punch well above its weight. Outside, an outdated Carlton Draught sign hangs from the awnings coated in flecking old paint, but inside lies a labyrinthine and tree-shrouded beer garden that's up there with the best of them in Melbourne.
The Paperback Bookshop
Perched at the top of Bourke Street hill since the 1960s, The Paperback Bookshop in Melbourne seems untouched by time. Small, dark and cosy, this store makes any book buying experience intimate and memorable. Though, we wouldn't suggest sticking around to cheekily read the first chapter of your purchase — there simply isn't the room. Fitted out with old wooden shelves, The Paperback is stacked full of classic and contemporary titles in fiction and non-fiction.
Would you do sex therapy on a podcast? One session in, I get the appeal
By Meg Watson Chantelle Otten’s new podcast, Sex Therapy, features real patients talking about everything from opening up their relationship to premature ejaculation. Credit:Cybele Malinowski Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. What are your “thoughts and beliefs about masturbation”? It’s a question I hadn’t ever really considered until a few hours before my first sex therapy session, while filling out a long intake form for new patients.
How Survivor outwitted, outplayed and outlasted other reality TV shows
By Meg Watson George Mladenov holding his team’s challenge trophy with Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia. Credit:Nigel Wright/Network Ten The first season of Survivor hit our screens a year before the release of the iPod and half a decade before the existence of YouTube. The world hadn’t heard of American Idol or The Amazing Race, and celebrities were yet to welcome MTV into their cribs.
Our 10 most anticipated movies of 2023
Home » Lifestyle » Our 10 most anticipated movies of 2023 By Meg Watson and Garry Maddox Barbie, The New Boy, John Wick: Chapter 4 and Killers of the Flower Moon are some of the films we’re most excited about in 2023. From likely Oscar contenders, to intriguing Australian releases, and Hollywood blockbusters, the new year is full of promising films. True, there are plenty of sequels. But as Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way Of Water have shown, we’ll happily head to the cinema if they’re good.
Why Darwin Festival could emerge as the country’s best winter festival
By Meg Watson Rapper Birdz and Butchulla songman Fred Leone perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2022.Credit:Mitch Fresta The music line-up includes Arlo Parks, Jaguar Jonze and Tropical F— Storm. There’s theatre, comedy, dance and visual art on show. It’s a sunny 31 degrees each day and there are no muddy mosh pits in sight.
Is there a minimum time you should stay in a job? - ABC Everyday
Have you ever started a job and almost immediately realised it's not for you? The boss is a nightmare. The work is stressful. You can't stop reading stories about people quitting their corporate jobs, changing careers and switching things up due to burnout. It can be hard to know when to cut and run, and when to stay — even if just 'for your resume's sake'.
The red flags to watch out for when getting money advice online - ABC Everyday
Money advice is a pretty standard part of our feeds these days. Reddit is full of stock tips. Instagram is stacked with slides about saving and budgeting. And TikTok's #moneytok has 11.8 billion views. According to a 2021 survey, 28 per cent of young Australians say they follow at least one "finfluencer" on social media — with most also changing their financial behaviour as a result. But how much do you actually know about the people making this content and how to spot bad advice?
What to watch: Four new shows to try this weekend - ABC Everyday
Need a new show to binge this weekend? We've got you covered. And, against all odds, none of them are about scammers! Severance (Apple TV+) Loading What if you could flip a switch in your brain and delete your memory of the entire work day? This strangely appealing but totally dystopian idea is the premise of Severance, Apple TV's new drama-comedy set in the office of the mysterious — and controversial — Lumon Industries.
'It was really demoralising': The realities of putting an offer on your first home - ABC Everyday
You've saved a deposit for your first home! Congrats. You've done the impossible. But, unfortunately, the hard work doesn't stop there. With house prices skyrocketing, it's a seller's market. And, when you're navigating this world for the first time, the process can be pretty disorienting (not to mention time-consuming). Who should you trust? How much power do you really have? And what are the steps you need to take when actually making an offer?
The small, practical way Cassie is helping with flood relief - ABC Everyday
When the 2019-20 bushfires hit, Cassie Dunchue says the crisis felt close to home. Though her family home outside Albury-Wodonga was thankfully spared, she saw the importance of hands-on support in her wider community. But as Cassie watched the devastating floods hit northern NSW and south-east Queensland earlier this month, she says she felt "helpless".
One big reason you might have a low libido right now - ABC Everyday
Has it been a while since you last had sex? Has it been a while since you last thought about having sex? "It's not just you," says Brad McKay, a GP from Sydney. "A lot of people haven't been having much sex lately." Researchers from around the world have observed a general decline in sexual desire since the start of the pandemic, and many have explicitly put the blame on stress. But how does stress — pandemic-related or otherwise — actually mess with your sex drive?
'You don't have to be an expert': Ways to support teens and young adults with anxiety - ABC Everyday
Sharene Dearlove didn't realise her daughter had any issues with anxiety until "it all came crashing down" on her doorstep. Morgan had come home to Port Augusta after her first few months at uni in Adelaide. The visit went well. She was quiet and reserved, but that wasn't unusual. Then, as it came time to go, Morgan simply couldn't walk out the door. "She was so stressed about uni and leaving home," Sharene says. "And she'd been [coping with anxiety] for years. She was shoving it down and hiding it.
What to consider before buying a mattress in a box - ABC Everyday
So, you're thinking of buying a mattress in a box. Those targeted ads on social media make them look like magic, right? But how do they compare to the mattresses you buy in a store? And how do you decide which one is right for you? We went to the experts in search of answers. Which type of mattress is best? Unfortunately it's not that easy! Peter Zaluzny, a mattress expert at consumer advocacy group CHOICE, says that it's very tricky to even talk about these products in black and white terms.
Why Drive to Survive will have you hooked (even if you don't care about Formula 1) - ABC Everyday
The new season of Formula 1: Drive to Survive just dropped and your feed is about to be filled with a surprising amount of fast car chat. But why? Just, why? What is it? Drive to Survive is *technically* a docu-series (more on that later) that follows the 10 Formula 1 teams as they compete to win the 2018, 2019, 2020 and now 2021 world championships. It's part-race recaps, part behind-the-scenes looks at drivers and the teams behind them, and part-F1 explainer.
Four ways to safeguard your super before starting a family - ABC Everyday
Did you know that you don't get any superannuation while on parental leave? It's not offered through the government's Parental Leave Pay scheme, and it almost definitely won't be offered if you're eligible for paid parental leave through your work either. "Parental leave is the only paid leave that employers don't have to pay super on," says Julie Lander, CEO of Care Super, a fund with primarily women members.
Want to claim your fuel on tax? There are three 'golden rules' to follow - ABC Everyday
With petrol prices rocketing towards $2 a litre, everyone's looking for ways to cut back on costs. But there's one thing you may not have considered: claiming your fuel on tax. Michael Croker, a tax expert at Chartered Accountants ANZ, says this is something everyone should consider this financial year. "You might have been entitled to deductions in the past, but thought the cost was too small to claim," he says.
'You're looking for a win-win': The trick to asking for flexibility at work - ABC Everyday
What would your ideal working week look like? Are you at home? Do you start later to give you time to drop off your kids? Do you have every Friday off? Carys Chan, a research fellow at Griffith University's Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, says these are important questions we should all be thinking about. During the pandemic, she says, flexible working arrangements have become a lot more common and many employers have adapted to changes such as working from home.
Ants in your plants? There's a simple fix for that - ABC Everyday
Do your plants look a bit more … creepy-crawly than usual? Ants have a way of turning up in the most unexpected and inconvenient spots — and your indoor plants are no exception. How did they get there? What do they want? And how can you get them out? We went to a couple of gardening experts for answers. What are ants doing in my plants?
'Pre-approval doesn't guarantee anything': Four wild things I've learned about home loans - ABC Everyday
My partner and I just got pre-approved for our first home loan, and I feel like I could spew any second. That's partly due to my excitement: it's a privilege to be in this position and the thought of hanging a picture on a wall without asking for permission brings me a truly profound (and kind of depressing) amount of joy. But, mostly, I feel sick from stress. I don't come from a wealthy family, and both my parents rent.
'We need to get away from this idea that a password is something you need to remember' - ABC Everyday
Does your mind go blank when you have to create a new password? You're told it needs to be more than eight characters. It should have capital letters. And numbers. And special characters. In fact, the closer it looks to the wi-fi password taped to your parent's fridge the better. But how are you supposed to remember all that? And what happens when you just … run out of new ideas?
Lunch box ideas to make back-to-school life easier - ABC Everyday
It's the start of a new term and you have a whole lot of little lunch boxes to fill! After a very stressful summer, it's totally understandable if you're feeling unprepared and/or out of practice. There's a lot going on! But the last thing you need is a bunch of soggy sandwiches returning uneaten at the bottom of your kid's bag. Here are a few all-star recipes and lunch box ideas to get you through the year ahead.
'If you can't enforce it, don't ask it': How to train your dog, according to a veteran dog trainer - ABC Everyday
A warning for all dog owners: the new ABC series Muster Dogs might make you (and your dog) feel awfully inadequate. The documentary series follows a litter of adorable kelpie pups as they're trained as working dogs. After being sent out to stock handlers all around the country, the dogs are given a crash course in life on the land and put to work mustering livestock.
Chilli, congee and crinkle-cut chips: The foods we craved when we had COVID - ABC Everyday
With the Omicron variant now surging across Australia, some of us have been gathering supplies to prep for a case at home. But should we also prep our fridge and pantry? And what is a useful (and palatable) meal for family and friends who are sick and stuck in iso? We asked two young Australians who've recently recovered from COVID what foods they enjoyed the most.
New year, same you! Some realistic resolutions for 2022
It's that time of year again! You know, when we pretend that the start of January means something profound and isn't just an invisible page in an old-timey spreadsheet rolled out by a Pope named Greg. All the "new year, new you" affirmations and Instagram ads are unrealistic at the best of times. But they seem extra absurd after the past few years. I mean, the novel coronavirus has truly not respected the transformative promise of January 1st so why should we?
Why a lo-fi word puzzle called Wordle became an internet sensation - ABC Everyday
Everyone on the internet is obsessed with Wordle. Your friends are posting yellow and green and grey squares and you have no idea what any of it's about. What's a "Wordle"? What do the squares mean? Why do people care? Should you? Loading What is Wordle? Wordle is a lo-fi online word puzzle that became super popular around the end of December 2021. In theory, it's very simple: you have six attempts to guess a five letter word that changes each day, and you can easily share your results.
'It's all about trial and error': What Lina Jebeile learned growing her own fruit and veg
There's a good chance you've seen the spoils of Lina Jebeile's garden without even knowing it. On her website, The Lebanese Plate, her homemade kibbeh nayeh is adorned with giant mint leaves. And her Instagram is bustling with bright Middle Eastern dishes featuring fresh lemons, tomatoes and grapevine leaves. Lina is well-established as a talented cook, food writer and photographer (her chicken shawarma wraps will really get you through the summer).
'When we walk in nature, the world gets bigger': Explore these walks in and around Melbourne - ABC Everyday
How good is life beyond your 5-kilometre radius? Ben Rossiter, executive officer of Victoria Walks, says Melburnians are raring to get out and about this summer. After our latest lockdown lifted, he says the charity's collection of online walking maps saw a "massive spike [in traffic]" — and he doesn't find it surprising at all. A guide to lockdown exercise After more than 200 days in lockdown, here's every type of exercise I've taken up (ranked from best to worst).
Got a bit of free time over summer? Try these simple gardening projects - ABC Everyday
Are your plants looking a bit sad? Is that unopened bag of potting mix silently judging you? Get your year started on a good note by giving your garden a summer glow-up! Whether you have a few weeks or just a few hours, there are heaps of little things you can do that will make a big difference. Here are some ideas for your next project. Be a part of the ABC Everyday community by joining our Facebook group.
Do you get the 'meat sweats'? We asked experts to explain this weird phenomenon - ABC Everyday
Have you had the "meat sweats"? If the answer is yes, you really won't need an explanation. It's that hot and flustered feeling you get after tucking into too much Christmas ham. It's the mix of sweat and regret brought on by that final sausage at the family barbecue. People anecdotally talk about getting the meat sweats, and it's often referenced in pop culture. But … is it a real thing? And if so, what exactly can you do about it? We went to the experts for answers. What are the 'meat sweats'?
For and against: Are mince pies actually any good? - ABC Everyday
Do you love to tuck into a few mince pies over the Christmas holidays? Or do you shudder when some distant relative starts bragging about their fruit "mincemeat"? Anecdotally, the mince pie is one of the most divisive foods of the festive season — despite there being nothing exceptionally offensive about its ingredients. No, it's not made with meat. Its buttery crust is usually filled with spiced raisins, sultanas and currants — often soaked in a good glug of brandy.
Liz and Jon had 11 people at their wedding. Is this the new normal? - ABC Everyday
Liz Davidson has had the entirety of the pandemic to think about what makes a great wedding. Now, she has three words of advice: "keep it small". "I think the ideal number of guests is 30," she says. "Just go with who you really want there at the end of the day." In 2019, Liz and her fiance Jon started planning to tie the knot in Fiji — surrounded by family and friends. "It was all the aunties and all the uncles. We were making sure no one missed out," she says.
Is it true you should only flip a steak once? Your big barbecue questions answered - ABC Everyday
Arguing about steak is practically an Australian tradition. Walk into any barbecue this summer, and you'll probably find at least three people crowding around an open flame, yelling about a steak's cut, and its seasoning and resting time. But is there really a "right" way to cook a steak? To help you settle these arguments, we went to two top chefs who know their steak: Sydney-based ches Dany Karam and Elvis Abrahanowicz. Read on if you need some ammo to use against your loud-mouthed uncle.
'Are they struggling?': How you can help if you're worried about someone's drinking - ABC Everyday
We've all seen a friend or family member hit the beers too hard from time to time, but at what point should you actually step in? It's hard to know what to say when you're worried about someone's drinking — or if it's your place to say anything at all — but staying quiet can often be just as uncomfortable. To help you out this holiday season, we have some advice from the experts. 1. Figure out if there's a problem What exactly is "too much" when it comes to alcohol?
Want the perfect watermelon? Here's why giving it a whack could help - ABC Everyday
There's nothing better than sitting on the beach and tucking into some cold watermelon. But if you always save this majestic fruit for the warmer months, you're missing out. "For some reason watermelon is seen as a summer fruit, but we've got a consistent supply all year," says Johnathon Davey from Melons Australia. Are you making the most of this incredible situation? If not, we've got you sorted. Here's some expert advice on how to pick the perfect watermelon and some fresh ideas on how to use it.
Let's debunk some common myths about the morning after pill - ABC Everyday
How much do you know about the morning after pill? Or… how much do you think you know about it? Clare Boerma, associate medical director at Family Planning New South Wales, says there are still many misconceptions about what it is and how it works. And this can be pretty worrying when you need accurate information in a hurry. "Condoms can break. We can forget to take pills. Sex can happen when we're not prepared for it," Dr Boerma says.
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