“Do you mind if I pat your dog?” is a question Lorene Mathis gets asked all the time.
“It’s my pet hate and it puts me in a really tough situation.”
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Lorene was declared legally blind at birth, however she spent a significant part of her life relying on others to get her around safely.
It was only when her third child began preschool that she contacted Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and she was introduced to her first dog, Claire, who she “worked” with for close to eight years.
After Claire retired last year, she then got Deebee who “is the most playful dog I’ve ever met!”
Today marks International Guide Dog Day and Lorene hopes to raise awareness about the importance guide dogs play in helping people who are blind live normal – and safe – lives.
Lorene and DeeBee
“Before I got a guide dog, I’d fall over all the time. I was also highly anxious and would get stressed by normal everyday situations. One time, I was crossing the road and I stepped out at the wrong time and I was sworn and beeped at.”
However, having her guide dog with her has given her a new sense of independence.
“People can automatically see that I’m not stupid or clumsy – I just can’t see what I’m doing!”
So when people try to interact with her dog – which are essentially her eyes – things become very difficult.
And she’s not alone.
Almost 90 per cent of guide dog owners say their dog has been distracted by a stranger during the past 12 months, according to a 2015 survey from Guide Dogs NSW.
“When they’re working, the dogs get into a zone. I’ve always raised my kids to know that when she has her harness on, ignore her. She’s working.”
Lorene recalls another incident when a stranger nearly knocked her off her feet – all in the name of a pat.
“I was on a bus going down some stairs when a man grabbed Claire to give her a pat and I nearly fell down the stairs. It really shook me up.”
While Lorene understands the temptation to pat a guide dog, she would like the public to be aware of how it makes the guide dog handler feel.
“I’ve seen working dogs over the years that I’ve wanted to pat because they’re so cute but I know I can’t.”
If a guide dog is in a harness, it means they’re on duty, whether they are physically guiding a person or sitting at their feet.
And a well-intentioned pat can undo months of training.
“You wouldn’t play with the buttons on someone’s wheelchair so there’s no need to go up and pat the dog. They’re acting as our eyes.”
British singer Rita Ora has become the latest star to fall in the firing line of infidelity speculation in the aftermath of Beyonce’s explosive new album, Lemonade.
In case you missed it, Beyonce released a surprise visual album over the weekend entitled Lemonade.
Along with the gift of our next incredible playlist, the mother-of-one also dropped some very suggestive lyrics in her songs which addressed themes of infidelity regarding her husband of eight years, rapper Jay Z.
“Looking at my watch, he shoulda been home. Today I regret the night I put that ring on. He always got them f—ing excuses. He only want me when I’m not on there. He better call Becky with the good hair,” she says in the telling tune, Sorry.
It was the latter lyric that stood out most to fans, with her devoted fans proceeding to go on a witch-hunt to discover Becky’s identity.
Stylist Rachel Roy became the first woman speculated as “Becky”.
It wasn’t long after the track dropped that Rachel Roy became the centre of speculation.
The fashion stylist was linked to the 99 Problems hitmaker in 2014 after Beyonce’s sister, Solange, was famously caught punching the rapper in a fit of rage in the lift of the Standard Hotel in New York.
Adding fuel to the already-fierce fire, Rachel took to Instagram to share a now-deleted photo along with a suggestive caption.
“Good hair don’t care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies, or self truths, always. Live in the light #nodramaqueens,” Rachel penned alongside a selfie on her account, which has now been changed to private.
Despite changing her account preferences to private, her post didn’t go unnoticed as she later took to Twitter to defend herself against the social media storm that resulted from the pic.
“I respect love, marriages, families and strength. What shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone, no matter what, is bullying, of any kind,” Rachel, who was previously married to Jay Z’s business partner Damon Dash, penned.
But Beyonce fans have now shifted their focus to another A-lister, the talented British singer, Rita Ora.
UK singer Rita Ora was the Beyhive’s next guess.
Following the release of Lemonade, Rita, 25, took to Snapchat to share a selfie in which she dons a sheer bra adorned with lemons.
Eagle-eyed fans were also quick to spot her necklace which looks to be a small “J”. However, others pointed out that it could be an “R” for Rita and simply looks like a “J” when it’s snapped.
But Rita, who was not about to let the rumours grow, took to Twitter with a statement.
“I never usually address tabloid gossip but let me be clear, these rumors are false,” she penned . “I have nothing but the utmost respect for Beyonce.”
This is not the first time Rita has been connected to Jay Z.
In 2014, after reports suggested a link between the two, Rita simultaneously addressed, and shut it down.
“Don’t you dare disrespect Beyoncé like that ever again in your entire life. You should know better than that. That is just straight up disrespect. You can’t go there. That is not even a question,” she fired back in an interview with Power 105.1 when directly asked if she had slept with the music mogul.
But as the Beyhive remains buzzing from all the “Becky with the good hair” rumours, a source has spoken out claiming that despite rumours of marital infidelity, Beyonce and her husband Jay Z are stronger than ever.
“They definitely went through a rough patch a couple years ago, but they came out stronger in the end,” a source close to the couple told People Magazine.
Take a sneak peek at Lemonade in the video player below!
These guys may require an unlimited bar tab at their wedding receptions, ’cos they’re going to need more than a sip of champers to get through this experiment.
Married At First Sight is back, with experts matching desperate daters with their scientifically suited soul mates.
But, as we know, the experts can be wrong (hi, Clare Verrall and Jono Pitman!).
This year the show will get its first gay wedding, too. We can’t tell you who’s marrying who just yet, but let’s meet the brides and grooms…
NICOLE, 28, QLD
Traditional Nicole is looking for her Prince Charming and says she’s tired of kissing frogs.
After watching all her friends get married and have kids, the primary school teacher has put her future in the experts’ hands to help her achieve her goal – being hitched by 30.
Let’s hope her man says “I do!”
MICHAEL, 31, QLD
A tradie turned fashion entrepreneur who opens doors for ladies, Michael says personality is paramount.
He has a six-year-old son in New Zealand – anyone out there up for becoming a stepmum and a wife in one day?
JESS, 31, NSW
This girl has confidence in spades and has a good bulls**t filter. But it’s not her with the issue – it’s all the timid tadpoles in the sea.
The banking officer says she comes off as intimidating and hasn’t met someone man enough to challenge her. Good luck, boys!
KELLER, 26, QLD
He’s covered in tatts from neck to toe, but Keller is a former Navy boy with a gentle soul. He struggled to find The One as his job took him away for long periods of time, but now he’s ready to plant roots.
He was raised in a family of seven foster kids and says when he gets married he wants to be with his partner forevs. We hope his match is partial to some ink!
DAVE, 28, VIC
Whoever ends up with Dave is gonna feel the heat. The sales manager dumped his ex because they “didn’t have enough in common”.
And he doesn’t want anyone who has kids. Any other requests, mate?
MARK, 30, NSW
Mark is a fireman – and everyone loves a fireman! The hunk has only one request for the love experts – no superficial chicks who only care about hair and make-up.
Fair call!
MONICA, 28, NSW
We feel for the man who’s matched with Monica, ’cos she ain’t about that PDA early on in a relationship.
The accounts manager has seven siblings and is the only one riding solo, so she’s on a mission to stop playing 15th wheel.
Monica says she’s blunt and is usually the dumper, not the dumpee.
CRAIG, 41, NSW
Sydneysider Craig blames his city’s fickle dating scene for his lack of lovers and has hit peak Tinder turmoil.
The hairdresser is looking for love after his decade-long relationship ended eight years ago, and he’s hoping for a faithful partner who wants kids.
BELLA, 30, QLD
It’s a case of career first for radio presenter Bella. She put in the hard yards working as her 20s slipped away from her, now she’s ready to make up for lost time.
Problem is, as her career is thriving on the Gold Coast, Bella could struggle if her suitor is interstate.
Anyone remember the little tale of country lad Mark Hughes and city chick Christie Jordee?
ANDY, 40, NSW
Party boy Andy says he’s struggled to maintain a relationship since his last one ended 10 years ago, but does he have one hell of a story – he used to be in the British Army, was in a wheelchair for a while after a hit-and-run incident three years ago and he suffers from facial blindness.
Cripes, let’s hope he’s able to recognise his partner!
As Australia counts down to tonight’s finale of Married At First Sight, contestant Christie Jordee, who has been matched with farmer Mark, is doing a stellar job of keeping everyone guessing.
The DJ-turned-business-owner looked to be in great spirits as she enjoyed lunch with a mystery man in Sydney on ANZAC Day.
Christie and the mystery man were quite chummy.
The Sydney local was in great spirits during their catch-up.
It’s not known if the companion was just a pal but the reality star was at ease in his company.
As the exclusive photos show, Christie and the man grabbed a bite to eat before enjoying a stroll together.
Watch Mark and Christie’s bedroom politics in the player. Post continues after the video!
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The outing comes as the 39-year-old posted a cryptic Instagram post hinting she may in fact still be with Mark – and expecting!
On Sunday, the bubbly beauty uploaded an Instagram shot of her cooking and mused: “Love my protein buns! Just baked a new batch! Mmmm maybe I baked them for a special someone in my life too #9Married #paleo #proteinbuns #baking #wifematerial?”
It didn’t take long for fans to speculate she may be with child.
After their meal, the duo went for a brisk walk.
Christie worked a casual look in a denim dress.
“Buns… Mmm… Is there something you’re not telling us @christiejordee? A bit of innuendo me thinks,” one person asked.
“Is there a “bun in the oven” Christie??” Another added.
Speaking recently to TV Week, the DJ admitted she’s love to start a family sooner rather than later.
“Unfortunately, we do have the clock. I do want kids and I’m also happy to adopt. I would love to adopt, because my parents fostered kids,” she told the publication.
The reality star has been matched with a Melbourne-based farmer on the controversial dating show.
Tonight, all will finally be revealed in the last episode of the controversial dating show.
Throughout the series, Christie and Mark have struggled to overcome the challenges of long distance, with Mark based on a farm in remote Melbourne while Christie runs her cleaning business in Sydney.
To find out which couples will stay together, be sure to tune into the Married At First Sight finale Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine!
Tonight, we’ll finally find out if Mark and Christie decide to stay together!
There have been strong calls for chiropractors to be banned from treating children under the age of 17.
The statement comes from a leading paediatrician, along with the news that GP paediatric referrals to chiropractors have grown by 83% in the past five years.
Dr Paul Bauert, head of paediatrics at Royal Darwin Hospital, told the ABC that chiropractors shouldn’t be treating children at all until the safety and effectiveness of their practices be proved, and that they should only be treating back problems.
However, some chiropractors seem to be pushing the envelope into new fields of health issues that they claim they can treat.
This has led to doctors and academics making calls that the regulating body – the Chiropractic Board – should be sacked, as they seem to be unable to rein in the chiropractors that are breaching regulations.
The body has also been accused of breaking advertising laws by making false claims about the benefits of treatments with no evidence to support it.
Despite an edict that refrains them from making these claims, they are still continuing to run chiropractic courses to treat conditions such as colic, reflux, persistent crying and tongue tie.
It's been more than a year since Nick Gordon appeared on Dr. Phil and now the bereaved partner of Bobbi Kristina is seeking a fresh start in a new televised interview.
Nick sat down with Dr Phil and spoke candidly about the circumstances surrounding the 22-year-old’s death and the pending wrongful death lawsuit filed against by her family.
“Regardless of what everybody thinks, I made Krissy and Whitney’s last few years on earth as happy as they would be,” he explained in a preview for the two-part episode.
“I gave them somebody to trust to, to talk to, to be there, someone genuine.”
Watch a teaser for the interview in the player below. Post continues after the video…
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Nick currently faces a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by Bobbi Kristina’s father, Bobby Brown.
He alleges that his daughter’s boyfriend was physically abusive to her and claims he gave her a “toxic cocktail” and placed her face-down in the bathtub.
Nick has vehemently denied these allegations.
Insisting he never abused Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s only child, Nick goes on to claim that her father may have more to answer for.
“[Bobby] hurt his own daughter, not me,” the 20-year-old wildly alleged in a clip for the chat.
“I was the one there for her while she was dealing with him not being there. He’s not a reasonable person so I’m not planning on talking to him and I really don’t want to.”
A young Bobbi Kristina cuddles up to her proud parents at an event for the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children.
“I made Krissy and Whitney’s last few years on earth as happy as they would be,” Nick quipped.
When Nick first appeared on Dr Phil’s show last year, the psychologist helped stage an intervention to get him into rehab.
One year on, the American TV personality broached the subject of the young man and his late partner’s drug intake.
“It got really bad after [Whitney] passed away. It was unfortunate, but at the time that’s kind of the only way we knew how to deal with what had happened,” he claimed about Bobbi Kristina.
Watch Nick’s now infamous interview from one year ago. Post continues below
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Following his time at rehab, Nick admitted he was taking Xanax and abusing alcohol, in a bid to deal with his girlfriend’s death.
“Rehab was something I needed, and I’m thankful that I got that opportunity,” he mused.
“I was drinking so much at the time because I could not deal with what was happening to Krissy. It mentally broke me. That’s the lowest point in my life right there.”
Nick Gordon’s full interview with air on Dr. Phil April 28 and 29
My husband and I had always been avid travellers before we had kids, and the travelling life is something that really sets our souls on fire.
When our kids were six and four we realised that normal life wasn’t holding much meaning for us so we decide to head off on a driving adventure around Australia. I was a qualified primary school teacher, but I had been working on our travel blog, YTravel, while I stayed home with small kids, and my husband, Craig, worked in construction and part-time on the blog.
We started the blog in 2010 writing stories from our adventures that we’d began in 1997. We wrote a lot of How To style blog to help travellers and wrote from memory so it was time to refresh the cache!
We had a suburban all-wheel drive car and a tent at the beginning but it didn’t take long to realise that was not going to work. It was horrible! Setting up and taking down all the time. We bought a Jayco pop-up trailer which was so much easier.
We had no plan so we headed south from Sydney without realising that we were heading into winter. We got into Victoria the temperature was dropping so we decided to turn around, backtrack and head up into the warmth.
It was such a great decision. I loved spending so much quality time as a family on these amazing adventures. The blog exploded and we were given as income so we could just continue indefinitely and all we needed was to find the occasional wifi or internet café.
Most of our travelling prior had been overseas. I’ve always loved Australia but now I can say I have experienced Australia and come to know it, and understand it in a way many people never get a chance to.
Australia is so diverse, and I love the beaches but the outback is one of my favourite places in the world.
I was confident and comfortable doing distance education with my eldest child and we know that this experience is the greatest learning experience that anyone can have.
We got over each other after 18 glorious months. We were ready for creature comforts and space from each other so we settled back into a home on the North East Coast on NSW, but travel is never far from our minds.
Now we’re planning a trip across the United States and it’s such a big country we know it’s going to be at least another 18 month adventure.
My husband and I have been together for 14 years. When we first met when I was 18 and he was 19. We knew we wanted to travel together. We decided if we didn’t get into our first choice of uni we would go, then if we didn’t get great jobs, we would go, then we moved to Australia from Sweden and life just got better for us and we became settled in our great home with great jobs.
We married and decided before we started a family we should do the trip we had always dreamed of; the AAA – Africa, Asia and South America.
We saved our money, packed up our home and bought a round the world ticket. We decided we would go for 12 months so we could truly experience all of the places we went to and not rush it.
Our families thought we were crazy. They were happy for us, but they wanted us to just have a holiday. They were ready for grandchildren and worried about the practical stuff like careers but what we gained from the trip was priceless.
We volunteered in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Brazil in a mix of orphanages and preschools. In Kenya, my husband, Mehrab, was the first man to sign up to a program called Power Women that helps HIV positive women who have been shunned by their community.
He set up a website for them with an online store for their beautiful handmade jewelry so they had an ongoing source of income. He advocated for them with a local bank to set up Paypal and created a business. Before they made about $50 a month but now they make between $600 and $1000. I’m so proud that he did that and we left a mark that really helps the women.
We made no plans, and had no expectations and really immersed ourselves into the journey and stayed off the beaten track. Since then we have come home and had a child, but this adventure is something that we will never forget.
It was the best investment we have ever made and this enriching experience has left us with a great sense of gratitude for where we live.
Neither my husband nor I can remember which one of us suggested taking a family gap year. We were on the verge of selling our house but couldn’t decide where we wanted to live and when whoever it was mentioned going travelling the other jumped at the idea. Our children were two and four years old, they hadn’t started school so the timing was perfect.
Nick managed to get a sabbatical from work, we rented our house, sold or stored most of our possessions and slung the few that remained in our back packs.
We flew to Delhi on a one-way ticket with very little in the way of a plan. Our vague idea was to make our way through Asia towards Australia where my sister lives. We were on a backpacker budget and knew our money would not go far in expensive countries so we spent most of our year away travelling around India and South East Asia.
We packed a lot into our time; visiting India, Nepal, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sydney, New Zealand and New York. We moved every three days with longer stops to recharge when we got tired. We were often asked whether it was hard to travel with young children but it didn’t feel hard.
We had the same issues on the road as we have at home; sibling squabbles and meltdowns from being tired or hungry. Situation normal.
Mealtimes were one of the more challenging aspects of the trip. Not because my children are fussy eaters (they happily tucked into scorpion and tarantula) but because it was never straight forward. There were tears and tantrums and eating out three times a day every day became a pain towards the end of our time in Asia.
We had so many wonderful experiences its hard to narrow down the highlights. We loved trekking to Anapurna Base Camp in Nepal, volunteering at a school in Cambodia and touring New Zealand in a camper van. The boys love wildlife and it was such a privilege to be able to show them animals in their natural habitats.
To anyone thinking of taking a family gap year I’d say don’t think about it too much! We have been back six months now and we talk about the trip every day. It was an amazing experience to share with our children and one I hope they will always remember. I wrote a travel blog called The Intrepid Johnsons so we will always have that as a precious momento.
A doctor has been accused of indecently assaulting a patient while she was in the emergency department.
Dr Wilson Pakalu, who made history by becoming the first person from Papua New Guinea to qualify at an Australian media school, was working at Parkes Hospital in NSW when the woman presented to the emergency department with abdominal pains and unusual menstrual bleeding, 6 Minutes reports.
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The patient, who was 27 at the time, was then inappropriately touched by Dr Pakalu, 37.
Following the incident, he lost his job and his name was placed on the NSW service check register.
He has since been charged with aggravated indecent assault and pleaded guilty.
He was sentenced to 12 months jail but the sentence was suspended on a good behaviour bond.
Dr Pakalu is now working as a surgical registrar at Nonga Hospital in PNG but wished to return to Australia in 2018 to engage in specialist studies in orthopaedics.
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It was the dress that stopped the world, but now – five years on from the royal’s fairytale wedding – a British dress designer is claiming that her sketches were copied by Alexander McQueen.
A designer who submitted sketches to the Duchess of Cambridge has begun a legal pursuit against fashion house, Alexander McQueen, claiming that her drafts were used to help produce the stunning dress worn by Kate Middleton at her 2011 wedding to Prince William.
Christine Kendall, a London-based designer, is suing the high-fashion brand for alleged breach of copyright, due to what she deems to be similarities between her design, and the final gown worn by the Duchess on her big day.
In a video Christine uploaded to YouTube in December 2013, she says: “I believe without my sketches the royal wedding dress would not have looked as it did.”
The British designer claims Kate’s wedding gown would not have looked the same without her sketches.
Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, has vehemently denied the claim, with a representative for the brand even calling it “ridiculous”.
“We are utterly baffled by this legal claim,” the spokesperson said.
“Christine Kendall first approached us at Alexander McQueen almost four years ago, when we were clear with her that any suggestion Sarah Burton’s design of the royal wedding dress was copied from her designs was nonsense.”
The stunning, lace detailing had fashionistas around the world talking.
“Sarah Burton never saw any of Ms Kendall’s designs or sketches and did not know of Ms Kendall before Ms Kendall got in touch with us – some 13 months after the wedding,” the rep went on.
“We do not know why Ms Kendall has raised this again, but there are no ifs, buts or maybes here: this claim is ridiculous.”
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Catherine’s incredible gown, which at the time was estimated to have cost around £40,000 or $AUD75,000 , was hand-crafted using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique.
A team of embroiders reportedly wore gloves to touch the dress, and were required to wash their hands every 30 minutes in order to keep the lace and thread in pristine condition.
The team of seamstresses were allegedly unaware of the identity of the dresses designer, until the announcement was made on the day of the royal wedding.
The bridal gown which featured an ivory satin bodice decorated with floral patterning onto fine silk and lace, was first viewed the moment the Duchess stepped out of the car on April 29, 2011.
It was a fairytale wedding with a dress fit for a princess!
