Reader's Digest 04 2014 Aus

5/21/2018 Reader's Digest 04 2014 Aus

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WHY DOLPHINS ARE NOT HAPPY

FUNNYREVIEWSlMARVELS&COINCIDENCESSHORTSTORYWINNERSl THEBOUNTYSINKS+

Plus20oftheBestLab-TestedAdvances

Surprisinglysimplemedicalbreakthroughsthat willchangeyourlife for the better

AUSTRALIAA p r i l2 0 1 4


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cartia.com.auAvailable in pharmacies nationally.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional.

Cartia helps prevent blood clotting and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with known cardiovascular or

cerebrovascular disease. For use under medical supervision only.The use of low dose aspirin may be only one component of yourmedical practitioners management plan to prevent you having a further heart attack or stroke.You should discuss this plan with yourmedical practitioner. Do not substitute other medicines containing aspirin, for this medicine, without first consulting your Pharmacistor medical practitioner. Cartia and Duentric are registered trade marks of Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd. Aspen PharmacarePty Ltd. 34-36 Chandos Street, St Leonards NSW 2065. CA-014 ASMI 21309-1112

Look for the Duentric coating.

Taking low dose aspirin for cardiovascular protection?

Cartia low dose aspirin has a Duentric coating which

is designed to protect your stomach from irritation

that can be caused by the aspirin.


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1

A p r i l 2 0 1 4

Ctets On the coveh

28 100-wordtoriehOuwtngcontestwnnesl

36 Miracle,marvelandcoincidenceh

Thesetue stoes wastonsh youl

58 Be anerdStarTrekensgn W Wheatonhassomeadvcefotheyoung

60 ComicalcommentThewacketheoduct,thefunnetheevew

64 Lifetheatreputtng the wods of odnayeoe on stagel

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138 ImmaculateobsessionA self-confessedcleanfreaktriestotidyup afterhermessyfamily of collectors

148 CopacabanaBarryManilowknewwhathewasonabout:Rios favouritebeach ishotandhappeningl

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bringsyoustoriesand ideasfromallover

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HUMOUR

Theworlds

best-lovedmagazine

MOvieDigestAll the beststufffromthebig screen

159

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Horse sense

Your story about

the blind person

in Michigan with the

miniature guide horse was

so enlightening and so

beautiful (Here & Now,

December). I can imagine

a horse might be more

suitable than a dog for

some people with special

needs and would be a

good companion. Well

done, Mona Ramouni, for

trying something different.

N o e l e n e P a i n t i n

Foes now friends

Ihave just read the article about

Dale Zelko being shot down in

Serbia (My Enemy, My Friend:

The Stranger Who Changed My

Life, February, Subscriber Bonus).

I found the comments about warring

groups getting together to knoweach other in a personal and

meaningful way very true and

touching. He is a credit to his family

for wanting to meet and befriend the

man who shot him down. Credit also

to the Serbian filmmaker, Zeljko

Mirkovic, for arranging and filming

their meeting to help spread the

word of peace. D e a n n e C o r b e t t

M

y Enemy, My Friend is

a heart-rending call toend all wars. This story should be

translated into every language and

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Ifyouremovedor provokedbyanyarticle,tellusateditor@

readersdigest.com.au.ThismonthSusanMalkinsonwinsa

Logitechcase+energyworth$119.95.Nextmonthsbest letterwins

aDVDprizepackfromTransmissionFilms,valuedat$169.95.

FeaturingRailwayMan,Quartet,TheKingsSpeech,TheBestOfferandDiana,theressomethingforanyfilmfan.

Write tousand WIN!

HaveyourSayL E T T E R S F R O M O U R R E A D E R S

4 R e a d e r s D i g e s t 0 4 / 1 4


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PHOTO

S:THINKSTO

CK

distributed throughout the world.

What a beautiful portrait of

humanity at its worst and best!

E l l e n K o l l m a r

Just So good stories

Recently I returned home after an

absence of six weeks, due to ill

health, during which time I was not

interested in reading at all. Among my

accumulated mail was the Readers

Digest Classic Reads 2013 edition. My

passion for reading was renewed and

I enjoyed every page.Youll Be a Man, My Son was of

particular interest, as my father had

copied the last four lines of Rudyard

Kiplings If in my autograph book

and it was very enlightening to read

the story behind the poem. >>

Dance feverWeaskedyou tothinkupafunnycaptionforthisphoto.

Congratulations toVinceKunde.

Beforewef ight,Imustwarnyoutheydontcall meBruceLee-mur for

nothing. V i n c e K u n d e , Cambooya,QldNo-oneever toldFredthat ittakestwoto tango. T e r e s a R o b e r t s , Sale,Vic

Its justa jump tothe left,andthenastep tothe right.

M e l i s s a W i l l i n g s , Stanmore,NSW

Ivegot themoves likeJagger!D e a n n e N a p i e r , Ryde,NSW

Gibbonthe chance, Ill performforpeanuts! J i l l S e y m o u r , Capalaba,Qld

Well,youcantell bythewayIusemywalk,Imawomansman,notimetotalk. J u a n P o t g i e t e r , HappyValley, SA

Stop. Hammer time!T a n y a W a l t e r s , Bellara,Qld

Iheardtheyreauditioningfor the nextseriesofGlee. S u z a n n e B r e n z i , Nilgen,WA

Ijust lovesongsbyFur EastMovement!T r a c y V u , Armidale,NSW

You putyour right foot in,you putyourright footout!HokeyPokey!

G l e n d a B o o t h ,Doolandella,Qld

Come upwiththefunniestcaption for the abovephoto and

you

cou

ldwin $100.To enter, vis

itreadersdigest.com.au/contests.

Captioncontest WIN!

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Anecdotesandjokes$50 - $100Whatsmadyou laughrcntly?A funnysgn?Acollagusbhaour?Sndnyour ral-lfgmforLfsLkThatorAll n aDaysWork.Gotajok?SndtnforLaughtr sthBstMdcn!

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Letters to the editor andreader submissions

Online FollowthContrbut lnkat radrsdgst.com.auEmail [email protected] SubmssonsDpartmnt,GPOBox 3799Sydny, NSW2001Wmaydt lttrsandusthmnallmda.For trmsandcondtons,gotoradrsdgst.com.au/trms-and-condtons

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Volume184No.1106

April2014

EDITORIAL Editor-in-ChiefSue CarneyDesignDirectorJohnYatesManagingEditorLouise WatersonChiefSubeditor&ProductionEditorDonyale HarrisonDeputyChiefSubeditorMelanie EganDesignerLuke TembyPhotoEditorJudith LoveHumour EditorGreg BartonSubeditorsTom Guise; Hanna hHempenstallEditorial CoordinatorLora StoreyEditorialAssistantSally McMullenContributingEditorsHazel Flynn;Helen Sandstrom; Helen Signy

PRODUCTION&MARKETINGProductionManagerBalajiParthsarathyMarketingDirectorJason Workm anCirculationMarketingManagerMatthew KindBusinessDevelopmentandPartnershipsManagerVincent Ho

ADVERTISING GroupAdvertisingDirector, Asia PacicSheron WhiteSenior AccountManager, NSWDarlene DelaneyAccountManager, NSWSamantha LoweSenior AccountManagerVICSteve CarberryAccountManagerQLDCristianArratiaGroupAdvertisingMarketingManager, Asia PacicElspeth BakerAdvertisingandMarketingCoordinatorKate Williamson

PUBLISHEDBYREADERSDIGEST (AUSTRALIA) PTYLTDManagingDirector/Publisher Walter BeyleveldtDirector Lance Christie

READERSDIGESTASSOCIATION, INC(USA)PresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerRobert E. GuthVicePresident,Chief OperatingOfficer, InternationalBrianKennedyEditor-in-Chief, InternationalMagazinesRaimo Moysa

ReadersDigest is publishedin17languages

ADVERTISINGINQUIRIESPhone02 9018 6273/03 8844 5542 Fax 02 9018 7290Email [email protected]

Customer inquiriesOnline Chckyour account,payabll,changyour addrssandshop atmyshoptoday.com.au.Phone 1300300030Fax0290187160Email [email protected] Dgst (Australa)PtyLtd,

GPOBox 3799,SydnyNSW2001MOviNG?Plasnotfyusofyourchangofaddrsssxwksbforyoumo.

MAiLPReFeReNCeWaluyouasacustomrandtrustthatyounjoyourproducts.Occasonally,wmak ourmalng lstaalabltocarfullyscrndcompanswhosproductswblmaybofntrsttoyou. if youprfrnotto rcthsmalngs, plaswrtto:PracyOfficr,RadrsDgst(Australa)PtyLtd,GPOBox4353,Sydny,NSW2001.

ReadersDigest, as amemberoftheMagazinePublishersAssociation,has adoptedthe PrivacyStandardsoftheAustralianPressCouncil.

PRINTED BY TImEsPRINTERsPTE lTD, 16 Tuas avEN uE 5, s IN ga PoRE 639340, FoR THE

PRoPRIEToRs , RE aDERsDI gEsT (aus TR al Ia) PT YlTD, 80 BaYs TREET,ulTImo, NsW 2007.REPRoDuCTIoN BYs INNoTT BRosmEDIa 2014 RE aDERsDI gEsT (aus TR al Ia) PT YlTD

(aBN 81000565471).al lRI gHT sRE sERvED THRoug Ho uT THE WoRlD. REPRoDuCTIoN IN

aNY m aNNER IN WHolE oR PaRT IN ENgl IsH oR oTHERla NguagEsPRoHIBITED

Reade r s D ige s t 0 4 / 1 46


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We could easily fill the

pages of this magazineeach time with stories of

amazing medical breakthroughs that

are emerging from research labs

around the world. Truly, theres

never been a more exciting era for

researchers and medics on the

frontline of health science and for

patients seeking effective treatments.So to whittle our choice of the

astounding health advances in 2014

to just 20 was a task and a half. (Turn

to page 72 to see how we did.)

Our aim was to fill the list with news

that cuts above the (all-too-easy-to-

claim) promising trials and potential

cures. To make the cut, ideas had tobe simple to grasp, backed by solid

evidence and useful to most readers

right now or very soon.

Whod have thought beating flu

bugs could be as basic as resetting

your home humidifier? Or the cure to

some very common symptoms was

sitting in your kitchen cabinet and isnow backed by some very clear

science? If youre reading this on

a digital version of our magazine,

be sure to note how backlit

screens boost vision and speed

reading. Simple. Amazing.

EditorsLetter

Su

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ph

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by

tim

bau

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>>The postscripts with the Classic

Reads were a welcome bonus. I look

forward to the next compilation of

Our Best Stories of All Time.

P a m G a r d i n e r ,W,V

DigestoniPad

Ihave now gone paperless! My

vision is failing, and I am delighted

that I can easily read the iPad

version. Thank you for providing

your wonderful magazine in

this format. S a n d r a P h i l l i p s

Dont throw it away

Your article Art of Repair

(Subscriber Bonus, January)

reverberated with me. My pet

grievance is the enormous waste in

society and the system of planned

obsolescence built into almost

every product we buy. In a worldwhere we are told to reduce our

carbon footprint and conserve

resources, how can any government

condone this wasteful practice?

It brings to mind a washing

machine we had that broke down

soon after the warranty ran out. We

were told it was obsolete and

couldnt be fixed. It was less than

three years old and no-one

could get into the case without

breaking it unless they had a

special tool.

Good on this group who

fixes things and teaches

useful skills. I hope many

more start up.S u s a n M a l k i n s o n , Kwb,Ql

8 R e ade r s D i g e s t 0 4 / 1 4


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Whether you want to change

your personal details, view your

payment history or contact

customer service, you can

access our onlineCustomer Care

Centre 24 hours a day, seven

days a week its simple, fast

and convenient.

READERS DIGEST CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE

Were only a click away

For help thats always available go to

www.readersdigest.com.auand click on the Customer Care button on the left.

SIMPLE

FASTCONVENIENT


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They needTimeon theirown, you may think,

postponing a visit or call to

someone whos ill or bereaved.

But though its hard to know what

to say, we should always make theeffort. I wouldnt hesitate to raise

the subject unless youre sure they

dont want to talk, says Toni

Bernhard, author of the award-

winning book, How to Be Sick. If

theyre angry, thats OK. If they

think its unfair, thats OK. If theyre

grief-stricken, thats OK. Just letthem know that you hear them and

care about them, says Bernhard.

And, avoid giving advice its not

what theyll want to hear.

dRAW UP A LiST of possible chores.When words are long forgotten,

friends will remember who mowed

the lawn, made a casserole, or ferriedtheir children to school.

Help

gafred

PHO

TO:

THin

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k

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halt

Actionsspeaklouderthan

wordsintimesoflossandillness

halt F Travl Pts Tc

WhAT(AndWhATnoT)ToSAyIf your intention isgood,even ifyour

words are clumsy, your compassion will

shinethrough, says Bernhard.

InsteadofYoucanbeatthis,

or Timesagreathealer.

Say Imsorry. It must be so hard for

you.

InsteadofLetmeknow ifIcando

anythingtohelp.Say Imgoingtotheshopswhat

canIbringyouback?

Insteadof You look exhausted.

Say You lookfine,buthowareyou

really?

Insteadof Ameal outonthetown

will cheeryou up.

SayI missour lunchdates.Letme

knowwhenyoufeel up to it.

etc

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AafgmalaraAneverydayroutinecouldsavecountlesslives

B y S i m o n L i e m

Aformerhigh-school chemistry

teacher in Burkina Faso is battling

one of Africas deadliest diseases

with the simplest of weapons: a bar

of soap. Grard Niyondiko and his

partner Moktar Dembl, created

Faso Soap with the goal of reducing

malaria infection, which, transmitted

through mosquito bites, kills one

African child every minute. Its rare

to go two or three successive monthsin my region without catching

malaria, says Niyondiko, who has

been hospitalised several times with

the disease.

Developed in a country that deals

with five million malaria cases a year,

the soap will sell at a cost

comparable to other soap brands.Building on the age-old method of

burning lemon grass to fend off

mosquitoes, Faso Soap uses the

plant, along with other locally

derived repellents, to offer up to

six hours of protection

following application

through bathing or

laundering.

In April 2013, Niyondiko and

Dembl became the first non-

American winners of the Global

Social Venture Competition (GSVC)

for socially minded entrepreneurs.

While malaria treatments and

prevention methods exist in Africa,

funding shortages render them too

costly to be universally implemented.

Because soap is already widely used,

Niyondiko hopes the affordabilityand availability of Faso Soap will

allow for quick integration and help

mitigate a disease that is, in his

words, decimating our people and

reinforcing the poverty of our

continent.

Halth

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COMPRESSION FOOT SLEEVERELIEVES SYMPTOMS OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS. HEEL PAIN & ARCH PAINPATENT PENDING COMPRESSION ZONES

MEDICAL GRADE SUPPORTHOW IT WORKS:

FS6 uses Patent Pending Compression

Zones to lift the Plantar Fascia and move

excess fluids and blood out of the foot

and heel to reduce swelling and pain.

FS6 keeps the Plantar Fascia ligamentsgently stretched whilst increasing blood

flow to damaged tissues in the foot and

heel, resulting in less pain and

inflammation.

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FS6 HAS 6 ZONES OF COMPRESSION BUILT INTO EACH SLEEVE THAT SUPPORTS

FOOT STRUCTURE AND INCREASE BLOOD FLOW NEEDED FOR HEALING.

IDEAL FOR:

Plantar Fasciitis: FS6 can be worn continuously day and night, promotingfaster healing, reducing the need for a bulky night splint.

Tired Aching Feet, Arch Pain or Swollen Feet: FS6 can be used as a

preventive measure when worn in shoes or under socks.

Athletes: FS6 increases blood flow to damaged foot tissue, therefore

increasing oxygen and decreasing lactic acid build up, ensuring faster recovery.

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COMPRESSIONLEVELS


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News fromtheworldofmedicineWhyWe LoveaBaByssmeLL

Feel like you could just eat up

a newborn? Scientists in Germany

recently monitored the brains of

30 women as they sniffed newborns

undershirts; half had recently given

birth, and half never had. As the

women smelled the newborn scent,

all their brains showed activity in the

pleasure centre the area that lights

up after you, say, eat chocolate but

the new mums brains lit up more

than those of the childless women.This mental hard wiring may

strengthen the mother-child bond by

rewarding mums for their caregiving.

FrontiersinPsychology, Se5,2013

endingJust inCase

antiBiotiCs

A genomic blood test developed byDuke University researchers may

help doctors more easily determine

whether a sick patient has a viral or

a bacterial infection. This has the

potential to reduce the number of

antibiotic prescriptions that are

improperly ordered for viruses. The

test detects a specific genetic

signature in the persons immunesystem that activates to fight off a

viral infection but not a bacterial one.

The test could be available in three

years. ScienceTranslationalMedicine, Se18,2013

asafershotforBaCkPain

Epidural steroids are a common way

to relieve back pain. Now Johns

Hopkins researchers have discovered

that it may not be just the steroids

that are responsible for soothing sore

backs but some other component,

like saline solution. Saline may helpflush inflammatory chemicals,

providing pain relief. After

researchers reviewed 43 studies

involving more than 3600 patients,

they found that steroids in the

epidurals were responsible for less

than half of the short-term pain-

relieving effects. This suggests that

patients may reduce pain with lowerdoses of steroids. Anesthesiology,Oober2013

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Re-discovering the joys of travel withthe lightest folding mobility scooter

How much do you value your ability to travelindependently? It is of course one of the most

treasured of freedoms. Yet mobility problems canmake getting around our beautiful countrysideand overseas difficult if not impossible.

For people such as some stroke victims, thosewith severe asthma or breathing problems, MS,Parkinsons disease, MD, arthritis even peoplewho can no longer hold a drivers license amobility scooter can be life-changing.

A compact and very light electric mobilityscooter known as theTravelScootis designed

for those who have walking difficulties but areotherwise still mobile. This battery-poweredmachine is fun, safe and easy to drive, and itdelivers precious independence.

It can be on standby wherever you go, givingyou the freedom to cope with planes, cruises, bustrips, site seeing, markets, shopping, medical

appointments, shows and more to explore theworld independently and with dignity.

TheTravelScootfolds and unfolds as quicklyand easily as an umbrella to tuck into your car

with ease, and weighs just 16 kilos. Carers andfamily love it, as they do not have to strugglewith back-breaking weighty mobility aids to helpthe person they are caring for to independentlyenjoy outings. TravelScoot is a great idea foranyone living in a small unit too.

OUT AND ABOUT, SCOOTER STYLEThe TravelScoot hums quietly along footpathsand byways in sit-down comfort at the owners

speed, with ample power. Steering is simple the scooter goes where it is pointed, withhandlebars like the scooter you may have riddenas a kid.

Enjoy your freedom. Yes you can!

See the demonstration video atwww.travelscoot.com.auFor more information call1300 282 300or email your phonenumber and location [email protected]

Walking a problem? TravelScoot could be your answer!


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Fd

SoFtand luscious,

figs are both

delicious and

beautiful. Figs need

gentle handling as

they bruise and

deterioratequickly. When

choosing figs,

look for ones that

are plump, have a

rich, deep colour and are free

from marks and bruises. Store

ripe figs in the fridge to keep them

fresh for two to three days. Unripefigs can be kept out of the fridge,

until theyre ready to eat.

Figs can be eaten raw or gently

cooked and they suit both sweet

and savoury dishes. One of my

favourite weekend brunches is to

serve slices of whole grain toast

spread with fresh ricotta and

topped with sliced fresh figs anda drizzle of honey.

Youcanalsoeat theseedsand

skinofthissweet fruit

B y k a t h r y n e l l i o t t

HEALTHYSNACKSCURBtHoSEAFtERNooN

SUGARCRAVINGS

Dontassumeyoushouldbeable to

getthroughtheafternoon,without

eating. Insteadplanaheadandhave

ahealthysnacksuchasfruit,

popcornor carrotsticks readytogo.

Fre

fg

Fullofvitamins

andcalcium,figs

are agreatsourceoffibre

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an importantnewtitlefrom

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20/156

Eatingoily fishtwice a week is a good

idea for your general health. Plus, oily fish

contains high levels of omega-3

polyunsaturated fatty acids, which help

reduce the risk of heart disease. Oily fishes

include sardines, herring, kippers, Atlantic

salmon, trout and mackerel.

Compared to white fish, oily varieties aredarker in colour and stronger in flavour.

To balance and soften the flavour of the

fish, pair it with other strong flavoured

ingredients such as garlic, chilli, chermoula,

ginger, pepper and citrus. These can be

finely chopped and stuffed into the fish or

made into a marinade and rubbed over the

outside. Oily fish can be cooked in a varietyof different ways, but it responds

particularly well to barbecuing and grilling.

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Reade r s D i g e s t 0 4 / 1 418


21/156

Hundreds of doctors are now

recommending a new medically

based program which can offer

genuine relief for tinnitus

Sound Therapy!

If you have: Ringing in the ears

Work related noise exposure

Dizziness or vertigo

Difficulty hearing clearly

Blocked ear/s

Sleeping problems

Sound Therapymay be theanswer!

To learn exactly how our program works and get a FREE DVD

info pack visit our websitewww.SoundTherapy.com.au/rdor call1300 55 77 96and discuss your needswith one of our consultants.

Sound Therapy INTERNATIONAL / ABN 53 097 38

RINGING IN

YOUR EARS?

I suddenly realised I didnt have tinnitus anymore!Kelvin Pleming, panel beater

Ear specialistDr Alfred

Tomatisdemonstrated

that we can change the

way the brain responds to

sound.Sound Therapy

re-educates our auditory

system, so that your brain

can tune into real sound

instead of creating its own

tinnitus noise. You can useSound Therapywhile

you work or sleep so it

wont take up extra time

in your day!

CALL 1300 55 77 96

ENT DOCTOR DEVELOPED


22/156

T

1. ForThebesTdealson theinternet, start by deleting your search

history. If you have your eye on a

bargain, clean your cookies before

revisiting it. Deal sites know when

theyre getting a repeat visitor and

may increase the last price you saw.

2. ForThebesTvalueonaccommodations, call the hotel

directly. A manager or booking agent

will usually match or better the best

price you found online. Hotel

sold out? Find out when

cancellations go into effect

and phone exactly on

the hour to scoop uplast-minute openings.

3. ITsworThchecking out what day

of the week is the least

expensive day to fly.

Domestically,

Wednesday is usually

the cheapest option,since most holiday

makers bookend their trips with

weekends. Tuesdays and Saturdays

are the next best days.

4. almosTeverymajor city hasits own mini off-seasons, when rates

drop and last-minute specials apply.

Visit New York following Fashion

Week, or go to Venice after the film

festival. Hotels lose a huge

percentage of their guests on the

final day of a major event, and top

restaurants have vacancies.

5. NoTallhoTel rooms arecreated equal some are larger orhave superior views. Upon check-in,

request better digs. If you have

some cash to spare, ask if an

affordable upgrade is available.

6. doyoukNowyourpassport number by heart?

You wont need to if youvemade a copy to leave with

a trusted friend or a

relative for safekeeping,

in case of loss or theft.

Better yet: if you know

youll have ready email

access, scan and send

yourself your passport

details so youll alwayshave them on hand.

13marterwaytogoB y V ick i H o g a r t H

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7.MaketheMostof your rewardpoints by calling an agent for

assistance just after midnight. Not

only will you have the help of a pro

who can think strategically with

your points, you may have more

options to choose from, since

airlines have traditionally released

new inventory at 12.01am.

8. ask your Facebook friends orTwitter followers if they have any

recommendations for the place you

plan to visit. Knowing a few show-

offs will finally come in handy! And

be sure to like the Facebook pagesof your destinations tourism board

and key attractions for deals and

specials.

9. Banksgenerally have sisterbanks abroad, which means you can

use their ATM machines to take out

local currency with no internationaltransaction fees. Check with your

bank before leaving home.

10. unless itsBronze, no-onewants to take home a $20,000 cast

as a souvenir. Check to see what

travel insurance coverage you

already have from your credit card

company and health-care plan, andthen fill in the gaps. Avoid

insurance companies that make

travellers front hospital bills.

A multi-trip insurance policy with

one annual rate is generally the best

way to go, even if you only take a

few trips a year.

11. ifyoufind yourself stuck atthe airport for any length of time,

consider buying a day pass to an

airline lounge. The cushy chairs,

Wi-Fi access, snacks and beverages

will allow you to unwind in comfort.

Or if you need Wi-Fi, try sitting just

outside a lounge to pick up its free

service.

12. youdonthave to break thebank on food while travelling. Many

restaurants particularly in holiday

resorts offer early bird specials

in the early evening. Eat early and

youll have some extra money for

ice-cream or coffee later. Or grabsome fresh vegies and fruit, local

cheese, and homemade bread and

have lunch or dinner al fresco.

13. keepadigitaltrail of yourtravels. Photos are a great way to

keep track of important things

such as where you parked your

car, what your suitcase looks likeand what hotel room youre in.

21


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Th

WanTaccessto Wi-Fi on your

computer but dont want to spend

a fortune on coffee at your local

caf? If you have a smartphone and

a decent signal, the answers in

your pocket. By tethering your

phone to your laptop or tablet, you

can use the mobile network to getonline and use a proper computer

keyboard and screen instead of

the miniature version.

HwreaeaW-Fh

Usingyourcomputeronthego?Everythingyouneedisinyourpocket

Start by clicking tethering or

personal hotspot in your phones

settings. (If its not there, your

tariff may not allow it.)

Then go to your other

device and select the

Wi-Fi code that pops

up on the connectionsmenu. Enter the password

given by your mobile, and

youre away.

Just keep an eye on the

clock, because youll be

using your monthly

allowance. The average of

500MB is enough to surf500 no-frills web pages,

but watching YouTube,

checking Facebook and

any automatic updates

may gobble it up, leaving

you with a bill bigger

than youd have in any

coffee shop.

By L inda G ray

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Call 1800 302 157Things you should know. There is no rollover of credits, they expire at the end of the billing month. Monthly call credit includes standard calls tolandlines and mobiles, voicemail SMS, MMS, 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers. Youll have to pay for any calls that exceed the $50 monthly credit. Call types not includedin your monthly call include International calls, mobile internet and data, premium text and premium numbers (eg 1900 numbers and competitions), internationalroaming, directory assistance, mobile commerce transactions (eg ringtones). Mobile data packs are available from $5 a month for 100MB. Because we give youa 20% plan fee discount we ask you agree to a 24 month contract with an early exit fee of $10 multiplied by the months left on the 24 month contract plus anyoutstanding handset repayments (if you selected that option). While stocks last. No delivery free for mobile handset. Offer expires May 31st 2014.

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and data is 50 cents per MB

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P

SerlassB y K a t h e r i n e L a i d L a w

Pain Cats are good at hiding pain,so if yours is more reclusive,

sedentary or quiet than usual, head

to the vet. Arthritis, for example, is

tough to detect but can be treated

with supplements, painkillers or diet.

ClawsAs a cat ages, helldevelop brittle claws. Check nailsregularly and clip when theyre

getting long.

Kidneys Switch to canned foodinstead of dried. Water consumption

is necessary to stave off kidney

problems, a common concern. Put

out multiple water bowls and make

sure theyre changed regularly.

Low-protein food will help make the

digestion and elimination process

more comfortable for older cats.

MusClesJust like humans,muscle wasting is an issue that

ageing felines face. Encouraging

your cat to eat by providing variety,a warm dinner and three or four

Whattolookoutforwhen

caringforanageingcat

smaller feeds through the day willhelp keep him strong.

CognitivedisordersCats especially those 14 and over can

suffer from cognitive disorders

similar to dementia. If your cat

begins to miss the litter box, hides,

sleeps more often, stops groomingor cries for no reason (often at

night), he could be ill.

eyesightIf you notice yourcat struggling to move around or

bumping into things, she might

have a vision problem. A cataract

will give a cats eye an opalescent

quality, but a tumour or a retinal

detachment can only be detected

with an examination.

teethBrush your cats teethregularly: as cats age, theyre more

prone to plaque, tartar build-up and

the like. Bad breath or difficulty

chewing can be a sign its time fordental work.

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Ec

Translation

trip-upsB y A r i k A O k r e n t

ChoColatEsforhim In the

1950s, when chocolate companies

began encouraging people in

Japan to celebrate Valentines Day,

a mistranslation from one

confectionary maker conveyed themessage that it was customary for

women to give chocolates to men on

the holiday. And thats what they do

to this day. On February 14, women

shower their men with treats, and on

March 14, the men return the favour.

YourlustsforthEfuturE

When US President Jimmy Carter

travelled to Poland in 1977, the

US State Department hired an

interpreter who knew Polish but

did not have a lot of experience

translating it. Through the

interpreter, Carter said things like

When I abandoned the US (for

when I left the US) and Yourlusts for the future (for Your

desires for the future), mistakes

that the media in both countries

very much enjoyed.

DoNothiNgHSBC Private Bank

had to launch a US$10 millionrebranding campaign in 2009 when

its iconic catchphrase, Assume

nothing was mistranslated as

Do nothing in various countries.

WEWillBurYYou At the height

of the Cold War, Soviet premier

Nikita Khrushchev gave a speech inwhich a phrase was interpreted from

Russian as We will bury you.

The statement escalated the tension

between the US and the USSR.

However, the translation was a bit too

literal. The more accurate sense of

the Russian phrase was, We will

outlast you. Still, not exactly friendly,

but not quite so threatening.FrOm Mental Floss

Eventheslightestslip-upcanturn

acomplimentintoacurse

NikitaKhrushchev

PHOTO:

GETTY

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1ooWordstoryWinners

fiction

contes

t

thrjumplqu.Whk hprzurulra-hr-rymp?

t

he standard of entries in our 100-word story

contest was extremely high. This is thesecond time weve run this contest, and thestories had the same quality of twists, turns, tearfulmoments, killer endings and laughter that weenjoyed last year. RD readers from around thecountry obviously are a talented bunch, withpowerful imaginations to match. So, here, after

much debate, are our 2014 winners.

28 R e ade r s D i g es t 0 4 / 1 4


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Mrrwisstd,mbrthislw,

m trtblivius.Hisstdi ilitrrstr,bstmiddlrdihismilrt.Thlishufflsfrwrddsm trtshifts,mrrwshiftswithhim. Imlmstrd.Shstpsilibhid,drppihrpurs.Htis,bdidwtpi

itup. I lsmrrwdithitshimtthbsfhisb.Hpussfrmmtbfr lithrf frthfirsttim.Hsmils,shsmils,dm jbisd.Thrstisup t thm.

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TheJudges

Su Cry,Editor-in-Chief,RDMagazine

Ly Lwis,Editor-in-Chief,RDGeneral Books

Bvrly Cousis,FictionPublisher,RandomHouse

Australia&New Zealand

TheJudgessaid:Surprising, endearing and very simply told. This stood out

asaclever idea smartly executed. It is charming andmade

us all smile.

Wellbe

runningmoreof

your100-Word

sTories

ThroughouTThe

yearinThe

magazine.look

ouTforThemin

upcomingissues

Winner

ReBeCCaLehman, 31

Our $1000priz gos toRbcc,profssioldydrrdvid

trvllr froadlid,Soutaustrli.

29


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RunneRupSuzanneShimmin, 49

TheJudgessaid:

Thisstory tellssomuchinsuchashortamountoftime.Itscleverlywrittenwithan

unexpectedtwist.

Lucynoticedthemanseemedmoredirectedin

hismovementthroughthebusyOpenHome.

Straightupstairs.Theotherpatronsofthetwilightviewinghadallbeenchattedto,details

taken,andpamphletsdistributed.Shefollowed.

Hewasatthestudiowindow,lookingout.

Acrossthestreet,lightedwindowsallowed

clearviewintobathroomandbedroom.Lucy

clearedherthroat,suspectingillmotives.Heturned,angry.Im

suretheneighbourswouldntappreciatevoyeurism,shesaid.

No, I dont, themanrepliedsharply.Butitseemsmywifedoes.

ItnowstruckLucy,theownerhadbeenawfully reticentabout

selling.

Whenshewasbornheenvisionedshewould

becomeaglamorousmoviestar.Henamedher

GraceafterGraceKelly.Hislittleprincess.He

couldnot foreseehislaughing,intelligentchild,

bewilderedandfrightenedbyunseendemons

whenshereachedherteens.Cruelwordsutteredinherhead.Countlesspsychiatricward

visits.Wherewashischild?Gonebutstill

present.Asmilelightsuphishopesbutitwas

onlyaflicker.Toobrief,butsomethingtoholdon

to.Onthestreet,shesitshuddledwithan

outstretchedcup toapasserbywhowalksby

without lookingtwice.

TheJudgessaid:Thisstorycarriesthereaderfrompromisetodespair,fromjoy togrief,andchallengesusallto showmore

compassionto thosearoundus.Masterful.

RunneRup

martinLindSay, 41

O p of $250 gos om,wowobkggs folvgs sofw s, s w bs P,Wsasl.

S fo moel,Vco, w bls lovg ofwopws,ws$250. PH

OTO

S:THINKSTOCKW

30 r s d g s 0 4 / 1 4


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31

ThePowerofGood

Rita Streich wants to hear youaudition in three days.

When I met Rita she was friendly.

She sang her part of The Shepherd

sotto voce very softly while

I played mine as best I could.

Once our performance ended

Rita rose from her seat smiling.

Tomorrow night we will do it as

an encore after our concert. Youwill come onto the stage on the

Der Hirt auf dem

Felsen or The

Shepherd on the

Rock was written by Franz

Schubert. One of the greatest

exponents of this beautiful piece

was the world-renowned Austrian

soprano, Rita Streich.

I started playing the clarinetwhen I was seven. That was 76

years ago. I first heard Rita sing

The Shepherd in 1958. When

I heard she would be touring

Australia with the ABC Celebrity

Recital Series in 1963, I wrote

letters to all of my musical contacts,

appealing to them to use whateverinfluence they had to persuade Rita

to sing it with me. Most of them

thought I was crazy. I eventually

received a sympathetic reply from

Joseph Post, the conductor of the

Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Although he agreed to ask Rita, he

said he could make no promises.

Some weeks later, I received acall from the ABC with the news:

SubdbBill Forrest

Rdrs sr r srs f sll cs fkndnss k b dffrnc

Ashowtoremember

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ThePowerofGood

left with your

music on a

stand. Sheshook the

music stand in

mock

nervousness,

exactly as she

wanted me to do on the

night. I was too nervous to do

anything more than thank her.

The concert was the following

night, on October 17, 1963, in the

Tamworth Town Hall. It was

packed and Rita Streich was

brilliant. I stood backstage dressed

in my dinner suit, breathing deeply.

I knew my part well, but didnt talk

to anyone for fear the spell would

be broken.Although the night was already

a dream come true, the standing

ovation we received was very

much more of a reward than I ever

could have imagined. I was told

later that it was the first time a

local had ever performed with a

visiting celebrity artist.The next day was my son Peters

fifth birthday and we all went to the

airport to farewell Rita. When she

found out it was Peters birthday,

she sat him on a counter, and sang

Happy Birthday. That was one of

the highlights of my life.

Ever since, I have lived by

this motto: nothing ventured,nothing gained.

seepage6forde

tails

FEEL-GOOD

STORIESShareyours

andwin

upto$150

Likeus onFacebook to readandshare your own kindness stories.

Facebook friends

Facebook.com/readersdigest.com.au

Whatsthenicestthingsomeonehassaidtoliftyourspiritswhenyouwere feelingdown?

ShahfeezaSelongWhile

walkinghomefromtheofficeoneday, a

strangerwho I seeeverydaygavemea

smileandsaid, You looknice today.That

simplecompliment really liftedmyspirits.

Karen Fusco Iwasnotwellwithsore

heelsandtrying towalkwaspainful.My

five-year-oldgrandson, Nicholas, said,

Nanny,yoursmile isupsidedown. If you

turnittherightwayyouwill feelhappy like

Ialwaysdo. That simpleadvicemademy

dayanditreallyworked.

MahaFaheemWhen Iwasupsetabout

myA-level results,mymotherkissedand

huggedmeandsaid, Dontworry,kiddo.

Whatevertheresult,youll remainmy

daughter and Improudofyou.

AireenGavilagaJoviaMy sistersalways

tellme, Wearehere. Youdont have to

bearitallalone.

SandraScottAnewfriendsentmeatextwhen Iwasdownthatread, Yourea

wonderful friend. Thanksforbeinga

friendtomeandallowingmeintoyour

family. I feelhonouredtosay Imyour

friend. Loveyou,honey.Thiswenta long

waytocheeringmeup.

32 R eader s D ige s t 0 4 / 1 4


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One day while

tidying my linen

cupboard, I found

myself holding a tiny white

towel. Tears welled up in my

eyes as memories came

flooding back. This tiny

towel was once a part ofa simple United Nations-

funded toiletry pack, given

to refugees who were ready

to start a new life in a new

country.

My husband, Adam, our

daughter Ania and myself

each received one of thesebags the day before we left

the refugee camp in Latina, Italy and

flew to start our new chapter in

Australia.

1981 was a turbulent year in

Poland, where we lived. Everyone

knew that something violent was

brewing. The country had

experienced wars, uprisings andstruggles almost every 20 years in its

AsmallwhitetowelholdspreciousmemoriesforaPolishrefugeewhobravedanew life

A paceofhope

PHOT

OS:COu

rTeSy

Of

a

n

n

a

m

a

lar

z

B y A n nA M A lA r z

more than 1000 years of history. So

by 1981 every Pole knew that trouble

was coming again.

Our small family of three were

among the lucky ones. We lived in

a nice apartment in Warsaw; we hadgood jobs and a fulfilling life.

Fist stop: Aa, Aia adAdami 1981

at the latiaefugee camp i Ita

33


36/156

Thepressures to

jointheCommunistpartywerebecomingmorefrequent

access to our passports. Without

them we had lost our last chance toleave the Communist regime forever.

This news instantly decided our

fate. An hour later, we slammed the

door of our apartment, and headed to

where our car and camping trailer

were parked. The trailer was to be

our home from that dramatic

moment onwards.

We fled our home, our country,

our life. I could not tell anyone in our

extended family that we had left for

fear that the knowledge would

endanger them. I didnt know if I

would ever see my family again.

At the time, it was considered

treason if somebody left the country

and did not return. We drove over1600km without stopping for fear that

the regime would catch us. Ania, who

was just four years old, sat in the

back seat playing innocently with her

toys. We didnt feel safe until we

crossed the border to Italy, the first

non-communist country on our way

to Spain.We wanted to start a new life in

Australia. The Australian Embassy

officials in Rome were very helpful

but advised we had to go through the

Up until this point we had

managed to avoid being forced tobecome members of the Polish

United Workers (Communist) Party.

However, they were becoming

increasingly impatient with us. The

pressures to join were becoming

more frequent, more threatening and

more menacing.

In June, we were delighted to learn

that we had been granted the

privilege of accessing our passports

and had organised tourist visas to

travel to Spain for a one-month

holiday. Back then, no-one owned a

Anna Malarz lives in Canberra with her husbandand their beloved dog Kluska (Little Noodlein Polish). After working 31 years for theAustralian government, she is now retired andenjoys writing, entertaining friends and endlesstravelling in a motorhome with Adam.

passport passports were issued at

the discretion of the authorities and

the secret police. Our holiday was a

decoy we intended never to returnto Poland.

Our joy was shattered when, a few

days later, Adam was invited to a

room at the Warsaw Forum Hotel,

where two Dark Suits from the

secret police told him: Whoever is

not with us, is against us. These

were chilling words. The meeting

ended with Adam being told that heand his family would no longer have

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37/156

was a rainy, gloomy day in Rome. So

was the spirit of those bidding us

farewell who had not managed to

bring their families out of Poland yet.Twenty-two hours later, we landed

in Melbourne. The sky was

unbelievably blue, the people were

kind and gentle, and the Christmas

spirit was overwhelming. I remember

thinking for the first time in my life,

I am in heaven my family is safe!

After nine years, our familyeventually joined us and after the

Communist regime collapsed, we

visited our homeland to show Poland

to our daughter. It is now a very

dynamic and beautiful country, but

there is no country like Australia.

normal assessment processes in the

refugee camp in Latina. Despite

being in Italy, the refugee camp was

a frightening place.

Rapes and murders occurredfrequently. The facilities were

unusable because of the filth and

danger. But we resolved wed find

a way to survive in order to qualify

for refugee status and the hope of

living a safe life without fear or

threat in a new country.

Many months and countlesschecks later, we received good news.

Several countries had offered to

resettle us. Our first choice was

Australia. We left Rome on

December 13, 1981, the same day

martial law was introduced into

Poland. Poles who were waiting in

Italy for family members to join

them from Poland realised that thiswould now not happen for years. It

Doyou havea tale to tell?Well pay for

anyoriginal and unpublished storyweprint. See page6 for details.

CallingAustraliahome:Melbourne,1984(left); and cuddlingwildlife inHealesville

35


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36

These incredible storiesinspiredus,madeusshakeourheads in near disbelief, andprovedonceagain thatamazing thingsreally dohappen

By Cindy

MCdona

ld

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37

WhenManuela the tortoisewentmissingduringhomerenovationsin 1982,herBrazilianowners

thought shedshuffledout oftheir livesforever. But a clean-outofastorageroomearly lastyearbroughtaspecial surprisefor theAlmeidafamily. Anoldbox containing a recordplayerwasputonthestreetforgarbagecollection andout crawledManuela.No-oneissurehowthered-footed tortoisesurvivedforover30

years, but veterinarianssuspectManuela survivedby eating termitesandother insects. Thespecies,which isnative toCentralandSouthAmerica, cansurvivefortwotothreeyearsonnofoodatall.

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38

Last year began with a lucky break for a spear fisherman who waspulled unconscious from the water near Kiama Blowhole, south

of Sydney, on January 2. The mans dive partner raised the alarm ashe dragged his friend towards shore. One passing holidaymaker,

whod had CPR training through his work, scrambled down therocks to help and was closely followed by another man anexperienced surf lifesaver who was out enjoying a morning stroll.

Next on the scene was the local councils lifeguard coordinator,followed by an off-duty paramedic who happened to be at the

beach with his children. As one of the rescuers later declared, the

man just wasnt meant to die today.

HelpatHand

Herdiamondringhadsparkledonherfingereverydayofher 38-yearmarriage.ButwhenAlairSchroeder lostitwhileswimming inan Idaho lake,anda searchwithscubagearandanunderwatermetaldetector cameupwithnothing,shethoughtitwasgone forgood. Itwasnt.

Amonth laterAmyHarriswaswadingin the lakewhenshe saw something

lostandfound

ambc

rmic rhrihrm

R r d i g 0 4 / 1 4


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39

glisten. Returninghomewith the ring,shepostedanadonCraigslist looking for itsrightfulowner.

Aftergettingnoresponseforseveralmonths, Amydecidedtosell the ring soherhusbandcalledanoldjewellerfriendtohave itvalued. Youdidnt happentofindthatatRedfishLake? thejewellerasked.Turnsoutthejewellerhadsoldthe

Schroedersa replacementdiamondringandhadheardthestoryofthe lostoriginal.

AmyHarris turneddowntheSchroedersofferofarewardfortheringsreturnfivemonthsafter itwas lost, sayingfuturegoodkarmawouldberewardenough. Its averyhumbling feeling saidAmy, tobepartofsomething that canmake somebodysohappy.

UScouple JacobandBonnieRichtertooktheir cat, Holly, fora 32okmroad trip intheirmotorhome toDaytonaBeach in

Florida inNovember2012. Onenightfireworksfrightenedthekittyandshe tookoff. Herownerssearchedfrantically fordays,handingout flyers andcontacting local animal shelters, but eventually had togiveupandreturn to theirWestPalmBeachhomewithoutHolly.

Sixty-twodays later, PalmBeachGardensresidentBarbMazzola foundanemaciated and very feeblecatinheryard.Whenshetookthecattoa veterinarian, amicrochip scanrevealeditwasHolly. Thedetermined feline had got towithin1.5kmof her homewhen shewas found. Itwasquiteajourney forthis little girl, Jacob Richter saidafter he and hiswifewerereunitedwith their devotedpet.

LONGway

HOME

JacobandBonnieRichterwithHolly,the travellingtortoiseshell

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40

FruitFul

laboursThree separate membersofa Norwegian

family have won their homelands nationallottery over a period of sixyears, takinghome a total of more than 3 million. The

latest win came in September 2012, when

the right numbers droppedfor Tord Oksnes,following his sister Hege Jeanette and fatherLeifs success.All three family members have

won when Hegewas pregnant or hadjustgiven birth and two of the wins took placewithin hoursofdelivery. Hege Jeanette told

AFP news agency that her other threebrothers who haveyettowinthe lottery are

urging her to have at least ten children.

Theres nothing too surprising about finding an old

postcard doubling as a bookmark. But for Peter Dodds,

finding one in a biography of Winston Churchill that

he bought for 50 pence in a charity shop in Derbyshire,England, turned out to be extraordinary. The card of

Washington, DC, had been sent from his brother to his

late mother in 1988.

Its just one of those stories you wouldnt

believe, says Peter, who thinks the book

once belonged to his late father.

Peters mother died in 1999 and

her sons donated some of herbooks to her nursing

homes library. Id

love to know who

donated the book

and where its been

on its travels, says

Peter.

rEturNtosENDEr

The postcardwas hiddeninanoldbiographyof

WinstonChurchill

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41

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McHappyending

Justashortwhile after reporting her SUV stolen

fromoutsideherWashington state home, aMcDonalds employeereturnedtowork

believing the only other eventful thing thatwould happenthatdaywould be someorders

for frieswith that.

But as VirginiaMaidenmannedher drive-

thruwindow later thatday shewasshockedto

noticea familiar vehicle approaching. ThepersondrivingMaidensstolen vehicle thenproceeded toorder, among other things, an

ice-cream. Thinking quickly, Maiden liedtothe

woman that the ice-creammachinewasntworking atthatmomentandsuggested shepull

up tothenext windowandwait. Maiden then

called the police. Officers quickly arrivedtoarrest the ice-cream loving suspect.

afaMiliar ring

DonBreyfogle lovesfossickingwithhismetaldetectoratweekendsbuthehadnoideaitwouldbringhimclosertoafellowWal-Martemployee, EricUschold. Byincrediblecoincidence, Donsmetaldetectorcameacrossagoldclass ringlost18yearsearlierbyEricinMarshall,

Minnesota.WhenDonfoundtheringwithEricUscholdandOronoH.S.1996engravedonit, thenamedidnt register atfirst. Weusuallygoby firstnames [atwork],Donsaid. Butwhenherealisedtheringbelongedtohisco-workerEric,Donplanneda little trick. Iworehis ring

intowork,and I showedhim.Hesaid,Where thehelldidyou findthat?


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42

Move overMaryPoppins a father fromChinasGuangdongprovincehas goneoutside the squaretosolvehischildcareissues. ChanLiu happily leaves his sonAzhe, now 14, inthecold-

blooded care of his4.5m-long, 100kg python. Chan hatched thesnake froman egg sixyearsbeforeAzhewas born and hasraised bothever since.Azheandthereptile have become inseparable, Chan says,

and he iscertain the snakewould never harm the boy.

Byahairs Breadth

DrRoseGenesisof theNirvanaLaserHair&SkinCliniccursedapoweroutagethatforcedhertosendallhercustomershome. But shortly afterwards shewasthanking thegodsofelectricity.

Awomanmotorist trying toparkoutside thepremises lostcontrolofhercarandploughedthroughthefrontwindowoftheclinic, inSaskatoon,Canada, right intothewaiting area. Thecarwasrightoverthetopofwherepeoplewouldhavebeensitting,Genesis said,expressinghergratitudeforthe timelyblackout.

Thenanny

sTaTeaz n ponofn cul upog fo np

r d g 0 4 / 1 4


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43

photo

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Whenyourehot

CaryCollingsdoesntmindpushinghis luck. Thethen61-year-old fromWashingtonwonUS$55,555ona scratch-lotteryticketthatheboughtwhenhestoppedtorefuelhiscaron June 14 lastyear. Thenextmorning,whileonhiswaytocollecthisprize,hestoppedtobuypizzafor lunch. Whilehewaswaiting forhisorder,hewentnextdoorandbought threemorescratch-lotterytickets. Hewon$200,000onthe first tickethescratched. Twobigwins in less than24hours What are the odds?

Forever FaithFul

Whenadogs 57-year-old Italianmistress

diedsuddenly inNovember2012, theGermanshepherd,nicknamedCiccio (andalsoTommy),washeartbroken. CicciojoinedmournersatherfuneralattheSantaMariaAssuntachurchinPuglia. Formonths, Ciccio,whohadroutinely attendedafternoonmasswithhisowner,continuedtoanswerthechiming bellsandwanderinfortheservice.ThepriestwouldallowCiccioto lieatthe

footofthealtarduringhissermons. Sadly, Cicciofollowedhismistressin February2013.

asbsbg g,Cccwdd cc fmss


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44

PHOT

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ShemaybeoneofBritains greatest actresses but, as Benji Wilsondiscovers, JudiDenchisa

womanwho loves comedy,onandofftheset

Im trying to rouse Dame JudiDenchtosomethingapproachinganger. Its not easy. Shes a model ofequanimity and phlegm.

Herlatest filmPhilomena, I say, made

me angry at the true story it tells ofPhilomena Lee, an Irishwoman whod

become pregnant as a teenager in 1952.

She was sent, in shame, to work in the

laundry of a convent and when her son

was three, the nuns took him from her

to sell to an American family for adop-

tion. Philomena spent the next 50 years

trying in vain to establish his wherea-

bouts, until she eventually got someanswers with the help of the journalist

Martin Sixsmith played in the film

by British actor Steve Coogan.

Philomenas tale made me angry and

it made Martin Sixsmith angry. Yet

Judi, in her wisdom, takes another

moral from the story. It made me veryangry, she says in that throaty, fragile

voice, but what struck me much more

was Philomenas level of forgive-

ness and her belief and faith.

Even now, thats completely

uns ha ken. I wa s jus t

arrested byherincredible

compassion.

I met Philomena

beforehand and then


47/156

Refuses tobepigeonholed:

DameJudiDench


48/156

46

Judi Dench.We knowshes a remarkable

person a 50-year career on stage and

screen, winning just about every award

there is, tells you that. Yet there are

other similarities with Philomena

Lee. I can identify with her pasta n d I c a n i d e n t i f y w i t h

Ireland: my Ma and her family

were from Dublin.

Judi was particularly

impressed by Philomenas

sense of humour and Im

impressed by Judis. Theres

no reason I should haveassumedshed be humourless:

some of her greatest triumphs

have been in comedies, from

Trevor Nunns 1976 produc-

tion ofThe Comedy of Errors

to the sitcomsA Fine Romance

and As Time Goes By. Yet

because she has those stern eyes,

and because shes manifestly anacting great, somehow her wry wit

comes as a surprise. She describes the

set ofPhilomena, a profoundly moving

film, as a giggle a minute.

two or three times during filming. I have

no doubt well be in touch again. They

showed us a tiny bit of the film at the

wrap party. Weweretalking and she had

her hand on my shoulder. I hardly

looked at the film because I was soaware of her sitting behind

me. Suddenly there was her

little boy on the screen and

the only remark I heard her

say was, Ah, God love him.

I hope she feels we told her

story properly.

Many actors think thatmeeting the person youre

playing can muddy the

waters. But, says Judi, I just

wanted the impression of her

so that you have something

in the front of your mind. If

you met her,youd think,Very

nice, smart Irish lady, but then you

realise what a remarkable personshe is.

Though shed never hear of it,you might say something similar about

Stevemademe

laugheveryday

I lIketobebusy JudI InactIon

A FineRomance, 1983(withhusbandMichaelWilliams)

TheComedyOfErrors,1976

MrsBrown,1997

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R e a d e r s D i g es t 0 4 / 1 4


49/156

Fora videorun through DameJudisbrilliant career, visitReadersDigestMagazineonline, seepage6

47

Steve Coogan? Hes hysterical. He

made me laugh every day and when

youre playing something that requires

quite a lot of tension, its glorious to be

able to just have a laugh suddenly. Hes

a terribly clever man. I asked him to

take off [comedian] Bruce Forsyth, he

did; and he does Sean Connery youngand old. He never stopped. He just made

me howl. How wonderful that is.

She also says there was a lot of

mickey-taking, and it sounds as if Judi

gave as good as shegot: Inever stopped

telling him he had Botox in his top lip.

I dont think he denied it!

Eventually, I admit that Id never

thought of her as a comedienne. She

takes mild offence, suggesting in

response that a little levity is a precon-

dition for a successful production.I defy anybody to do a really

smashing piece of work without people

having a sense of humour.

She says her only other criterion in

TheBest ExoticMarigoldHotel,2011

Skyfall,2012

PHOTO:iTv/rex

Manifestly anactinggreat: withSteveCoogan

inPhilomena


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48

PHOTO

:Mu

RRay

Sa

NDeRS/Da

ily

Ma

il

/ReX

choosingworkis tofollow

a zig with a zag. You

d o n t w a n t t o d o

something remotely like

something you did before.

I want something thatsfascinating to do and

w h e r e y o u l e a r n

something new and is

as different from the last

thing as possible.

Her recent work in-

cludes the comedy The

Best Exo tic MarigoldHotel, the Bond epic Skyfall, and now

the tender, intimatePhilomena. She also

starred with Ben Whishaw in a West

End run ofPeter and Alice playing the

elderly Alice Liddell, who as a girl had

inspired Lewis Carroll. It reminds you

that, at 79, not only does Judi Dench

refuse to be pigeonholed, but shes not

slowing down either.I like to be busy; I love the work.

Im in the two per cent of the population

doing the job they want to. I think thats

incredibly lucky. But I took eight weeks

off when I finished the play, because

that was 12 weeks in London and it was

quite exhausting. After that I thought,

You know, I really want a rest. And soI spent four weeks in Cornwall in the

sun, swimming and lying on the beach,

which was glorious.

You hear very little about the off-

screen life of Dame Judi Dench for the

most part, she says, because she doesnt

have much of one: I go from one thing

straight to another very, very often.

But, she adds, when she does get time

off, her priority is her family: My

daughter [the actress Finty Williams]

and grandson [Sam, 16] I just love it

when were together. We had supper in

the garden last night. It was really lovely.

Those are the good bits.

She also paintswatercolours,

though typically she downplaysher talents. I paint a lot but theyrenot for public consumption, just for

myself. I dont write a diary, so I paint.

I trained as a theatre designer before

being an actress, so thats something

Ive always liked doing. My Pa was very,

very good at it, an uncle was very good

too and both my brothers paint itsjust a great way of relaxing.

So would it be possible to buy a

genuine Dench? No! I dont think there

would be a market for them, she laughs

although I suspect there would.

Another thing you may not know

about Judi Dench is that shes a fan of

the football club, Everton. Its because

of Bill Kenwright [Evertons chairman

and a theatre and film producer]. Ive

Judi with herdaughter Finty: Ijust love it whenwere together

R e a d e r s D i g es t 0 4 / 1 4


51/156

49

worked for him so many times, I have

to support his team.

As for the day job, she says thatevenafter50yearsinthebusiness,

and with 11 Baftas, an Oscar and a Tony,its not getting any easier: Im far more

nervous now than I was. But thats

something you just have to deal

with. Its something you dont

broadcast too much because nerves

create adrenaline. You can

use all that its petrol but

its not your business to letother people sense it. All

that fear or fright is really

your own business.

In fact, the fear has

grown with her celebrity.

(Its odd to think that

Denchs global fame came

only in the mid-1990s with

GoldenEye andMrs Brown,40years into her career.)Themore

you do, the more is expected of

you. You also know more about the job.

I dont know if Ive improved; sometimes

you havent. But at least youve learned

to simplify things. Less is more I

understand that now.

Less is more works well on camera,but from her first appearance at the Old

Vic in 1957 to those film breakthroughs,

Judiwas alwaysprimarily a stage actress.

And its still where her heart lies.

The thing I like best is the theatre,

she says rmly. You could play Lady

Macbeth in the afternoon, Beatrice in

Much Ado at night and the next day youcould play Adriana in The Comedy of

Errors. Now, that for me is the most

exciting way of working. You could

play four parts in a week, four

different parts, four different

S h a k e s pe a r e p l a y s .

T h a t s m y i d e a o f

heaven.It is, of course, a world

away from Bond. After

17 years as M, she wont

be returning to the role,

but hopes that doing big

films like that will inspire

their audiences to be-

come theatre-goers.

The reaction to Bondcomes from young chaps of about

11 and they have no idea what else

Ive done, and nor should they be both-

ered. But theyliketohavemet somebody

who is in Bond and thats wonderful

because I think, Well, theres an audience

who would maybe go into a theatre. Its

to bait people for the theatre really. Inever want people to not go to the

theatre. I want it always to last. n

Imfar

morenervous

nowthan

Iwas

c h a r a c t e r d e v e l o p m e n t

I havent theslightestideaofhowtochange people, butstill, I keep a long

listofprospective candidatesjustincase I should everfigureitout.

D a v i d S e d a r i s

Changing iswhat peopledowhentheyhavenooptions left. H o l l y B l a c k


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GOTA

GOOD

JOKE?

Share itand

win cashseep

age6fordeta

ils

Hero to zeroDo youwant to hear a goodBatman impression? askedmy friendDave.Go on then, I replied.NOTTHEKRYPTONITE!

he screamed.

I said, Thats Superman.Thanks, Ive been

practising, he replied.S ttrt

Found him!NotWally,not Wally,not Wally,not Wally,not Wally,notWally,not Wally,not Wally, Wally, notWally.

WheresWallyAudiobookC om e d y w ri t e r Ja son Mu st i a n Twttr

Thats the ticketYou know, people dont

usually complimentmeonmy driving, so I was

very pleased this morning

when I saw a note onmy

car reading parking

fine. That was nice of

them!

S u bm i t t e d by Isa a c S a rg e n t

Vincent VanDalismTwoscruffyyoung boys are

looking atanabstractpaintinghanging inashopwhenone

whispersurgently to the other:Lets get outofherebefore

theysaywedidit!S ttrt

50 R e ade r s D i g e s t 0 4 / 1 4

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53/156

Sentenced todeathIs imporn ohvgoovocbury. IfI h known hiffrncbwn hwors

nio n nco,onofmygoo frinswou sib iving.

C o m e d i a n J o h n M c D o w e l l

Life cycleAlertreaderAnnetteEastwdfrNewSutWales,Australa,

sent ntswnderfullppn

frer lalpaper.Turnt

pae6 frdetalsnwuan

turnurfunnpts ntas!

NaIled ItI sw ocumnryon how shipsr kp oghr. Iws riving.

Comedian Stewart Francis

Cssic gronrabioogis, chmis n sisicin rouhuning. thbioogis shoos r nmissshrmrs o h f, h chmis ks sho nmisss hrmrs o h righ, n h sisicin

ys,Wgohim! Seenn te nternet

Not falling for itMikewent intowork anhour

late, his face scratchedandbruised, hisglassesbent.

Whathappened

to you?hisbossasked.I felldown two

flights ofstairs,Mike said.Hisbosswas

aghast. That tookyou awhole hour?

Seenn te nternet

51


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Adolphins smile isactually an illusion.Soisourbelief that these animalscanheal

b y Lo r i m a r i n o l from aeon magazine

D insa tsmiling


56/156

Jay, an eight-year-old boy with

autism whose behaviour has always

been agitated and uncooperative, is

smiling and splashing in a pool. A

pair of bottlenose dolphins oat next

to him, supporting him in the water.Jays parents stand nearby as a staff

member in the water engages Jay in

games with colourful shapes. She

asks him some questions, and the boy

begins to respond. He names the

shapes, speaking his rst words in

months. Jay appears more aware and

alert, and a quick, noninvasive scanshows that there have indeed been

changes in his brain activity.

Jays parents are elated to have

finally found a treatment that works

for their son. They sign up for more

sessions and cant wait to tell their

friends about their experience.

Theyre not surprised to find that

dolphins have succeeded where main-stream doctors have not. Everyone

believes that dolphins are special

altruistic, extra gentle with children,

good-natured. And the trainers have

assured the parents that the dolphins

are happy and accustomed to the role

theyre playing. After all, as everyone

can see, the dolphins are smiling.Jay is a composite character drawn

from the dozens of testimonials that

appear on dolphin-assisted therapy

(DAT) websites, but stories like his

about the extraordinary power of

dolphins have been told since

ancient times. Much of our attraction

to these creatures derives from their

appealing combination of intelligence

and communication skills. However,

their smile, which is not a smile at

all but an anatomical illusion arising

from the configuration of their jaws,

makes people believe wrongly that

the animals are always content.Not only are the dolphins living in

captivity unhappy, but theres also no

compelling evidence that they can

heal. What does exist is evidence that

they are being harmed.

Fuelforthemyth

The perception of dolphins as healersis connected with beliefs that they

possess magical powers that come

down to us through myth. The ancient

Celts attributed special abilities to dol-

phins, as did the Norse. The Greeks and

Romans linked dolphins with the gods.

People from Brazil to the Solomon

Islands have traded dolphin body parts

for medicinal and totemic purposes.The person most responsible for

advancing modern notions of dolphins

as healers is the late neuroscientist

John C. Lilly, who pioneered research

with captive specimens in the 1960s.

His early work on their brains and

behaviour was groundbreaking. In a

paper published in Science in 1961,Lilly reported on the range of vocal

exchanges between two dolphins in

adjacent tanks and noted how their

conversation followed polite rules.

For example, when one spoke, the

FROM Aeon mAgAzine (JUNE 18, 13), 2013BY a EON MEdia ltd., WWW.aEON.cO/ Mag aziNE

Lori Marino is a neuroscientist at EmoryUniversity. She has been studying dolphinsand whales for 25 years.

54

pREviO

USSpREad

:viNcENt

J.

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57/156

wild dolphins, the large majority of

SWD customers in the US where it

is most popular swim with captive

dolphins in tanks or pools.

Many people describe their in-water

encounter with a dolphin as exhilarat-ing, transformative encounters. Others

report a sense of euphoria and intimate

kinship with the animals. In many

ways, it was only a

matter of time before

the concept of dolphin-

a s s i s t e d t h e r a p y

e m e r g e d a s a nenhanced version of

SWD programmes.

DubiousbenefitsTherapy with dolphins

t y pi c al l y i n vo l ve s

several sessions of cus-tomers swimming or

interacting with captive dolphins,

along with performing more conven-

tional therapeutic tasks such as puzzle

solving and motor-skills exercises. In

the US, the standard price of DAT

sessions, whose practitioners are not

required by law to receive any specialtraining or certification, is steep,

reaching into the thousands of dollars.

DAT has become a highly profitable

business with facilities in countries

such as Mexico, Israel, Russia, Japan,

China and the Bahamas. DAT practi-

tioners say that the sessions are

particularly successful in treating

depression and motor disorders inaddition to childhood autism. But

other was quiet. Lilly drew up a

lexicon, showing that dolphins used a

variety of communication methods,

from blowing and whistling to click-

ing. But it was his informal studies of

t he m am ma ls i nt er ac ti ng w it hchildren with autism that led him to

make statements about the animals

powers, which became the basis for

many of the claims

m ad e b y d ol ph in -

assisted therapy (DAT)

facilities.

FlipperisntrealT he p op ul ar it y o f

d ol ph in s ho ws , i n

which trainers engage

them in daring gym-

nastics, grew dramati-

cally in the 1960s and70s. In 1964, the TV

series Flipper was first broadcast.

Flipper was a bottlenose dolphin who

lived in a cove and helped his two

young human pals save people in

trouble. But ifFlipper increased public

interest in dolphins, it also led to con-

cerns over the animals welfare. Somarine parks rebranded themselves

as centres of learning rather than as

sites of entertainment.

Regardless, millions of people visit

captive-dolphin facilities every year.

Swim with dolphins (SWD) pro-

grammes have emerged as a lucrative

component of the dolphin industry.

Although many international opera-tions offer opportunities to swim with

In dolphin therapy, childrenmaybenefit fromthe extrahumanattention rather than

theanimal interaction

55

PHOTO

:Jeffrey

L.

rOTman

/COrbis


58/156

DAT can sometimes be advertised as

a treatment for everything from

cancer to developmental delays.

While there are some published

studies claiming to demonstrate

positive results from DAT, few includea control group, which would help

measure whether general, short-term

results are due to interacting with the

dolphins or caused by other factors.

Proponents of DAT cite anecdotal

evidence and offer many reasons for

its efficacy, from brain wave changes

to the physiologicaleffects of echoloca-

tion (dolphin sonar)

on the human body.

The loved ones of

children with autism

and other people

w h o a p p e a r t o

benefit from DAT

tend to accept thesee x pl a na t io ns a s

scientifically plausi-

ble. And even those sceptical of DATs

therapeutic abilities may shrug and

ask, Whats the harm if a child who

typically experiences little enjoyment

and accomplishment finds some hap-

piness and connection with dolphins?But the question usually left out is

What about the dolphins?

OutoftheirdepthsDecades of scientific research have

confirmed that the mammals possess

large, highly elaborate brains and pro-

digious cognitive capacities and engage

in complex societies and even culturaltraditions. Dolphins also have a level

of self-awareness not unlike our own:

theyre able to recognise themselves in

a mirror, something only humans and

primates are also able to do.

Hidden behind their smiles,

however, captive dolphins spend theirlives under tremendous stress. In

their natural habitats, dolphins may

swim up to 160km a day and dive

down to 100m. They spend 80 to 90%

of their time travelling below the

surface. Contrast this with the shallow

tanks of captive dolphins.

The outcome ofthis treatment is dev-

astating. Dolphins

can live 30 to 50 years

in the wild. A 2004

Sun Sentinelanalysis

of US federal docu-

m en ts o f m ar in e

animals in captivity

found that more thanhalf of the bottlenose

dolphins that died

over the decades covered (and whose

age was known) were younger than ten.

Of dolphins born in captivity, an

estimated 60% die before their first

birthday. Scientists have observed cap-

tive dolphins ramming into the sidesof their tanks and chewing on the

concrete until theyve worn through

their teeth. Often they die from gastric

ulcers, infections, and other stress- and

immune-related diseases.

The public is largely unaware of the

consequences because aggressive or

dying animals are often quietly

replaced. The original orca Shamu, forinstance, spent just six years in

Captive dolphinsspend their lives

undertremendous

stress

56 R e ade r s D i g es t 0 4 / 1 4


59/156

captivity in SeaWorld before dying

aged about nine in the wild, killer

whales live 50 to 80 years. But the

name Shamu has been used for

different orcas , lea di ng to the

perception that the original Shamu isalive and well. In 2010, one Shamu,

known to have a history of stress from

captivity, attacked and killed a trainer.

Dolphins arent the only ones

harmed by dolphin-human contact.

Because of their smiles, we forget

dolphins are predators and can be

extremely aggressive. In the wild,theyve been known to participate in

brutal attacks on porpoises and,

sometimes, their own young. Parents

who would never place their child in

a cage with a lion or an elephant seem

to think nothing of placing them at

very real risk of injury and disease

in a tank with a dolphin.

According to a US National MarineFisheries Service study of dolphin

attractions, people have come out of

their encounters with broken bones

and lacerations. In December 2012, a

dolphin in an SWD programme in

Cancn bit three people: a couple on

their honeymoon and a middle-aged

woman. The male victim comparedit to a scene fromJaws.

Meanwhile, many parents bring

their children with autism home after

their DAT sessions and are disap-

pointed when the kids withdraw

again. At first, the fathers and mothers

dont want to consider that they couldhave wasted their time and money.

But later they may acknowledge that

not much has changed and that the

benefits were due to the excitement

of the trip and the attention their child

received. Anthropologist Betsy Smith,

who has been credited with creating

dolphin therapy in the 1970s, stoppeddoing it in the 1990s and now calls it

the exploitation of vulnerable people

and vulnerable dolphins.

So what can be done? Legislation

governing captive dolphins and wild

dolphins can be tightened, as has hap-

pened in countries including Australia,

Documents

Reader's Digest 04 2014 Aus