The Korat is one of the oldest known domestic cat breeds in the world and in its homeland of Thailand this beautiful cat has long been treasured as a bearer of good luck. In Thailand the Korat is also known as the SiSawat and they were formerly only given as gifts to people deemed worthy […]

A year ago, I traveled to America to become an au pair, where you live in another’s home and care for their children. I was lucky to be working for a lovely family, who owned a nice house and a car that I was allowed full use of. One day, I was asked to pick […]

Question: Last December my son adopted a three-year-old Staffy-cross. Sam is a very active dog who loves walks and fetching. The problem is his paws are extremely sensitive and Sam quite often gets blisters and cuts. Most of the time we resist his compulsion to fetch, which reduces most of the cuts, but just a […]

Question: When a dog is bitten by a flea it’s very annoying for them and their owner. But I’ve discovered that if you rub a little olive oil with your finger on the affected area, the bite is eased and the dog stops scratching. Answer: Adriana, via e-mail.

By Annette Campbell Murray Corbett appreciates a good steak, perhaps more than most! The 41-year-old recruitment company director and father of three from Newcastle, north of Sydney, has spent about 18 months of his life being unable to swallow properly — a condition called dysphagia. “A few minutes after I’d eat or drink anything, I’d […]

Many of us love summer and look forward to those warm, long days. But spare a thought for your pet who might not enjoy the warmer weather as much as you do. Pet owners have to take special care in summer months that their pets are comfortable in the high temperatures. Your pet needs to […]

Question: Every time I use fake tan, my legs get unbearably itchy. I’ve tried lots of different brands, but all seem to result in the same problem. Anon, via e-mail. Answer: You must have very sensitive skin or are allergic to the chemical cocktail most fake tans contain to activate the melanin in the skin […]

I met Matt about six months after I had fled Adelaide. When we were introduced, I was still giddy with the excitement of leaving my past behind to begin a brand new life. I loved his bright, cheeky smile and blue eyes, but it was his manner that impressed me the most. He was sweet, […]

Question: My female blue heeler pup is 15 weeks old and still not toilet trained — is this too soon? We are trying very hard to teach her. Judy Pittard, via e-mail. Answer: Not at all! It may take a little while to toilet train but starting a consistent routine as soon as you get […]

When I left my job and moved in with my boyfriend, our cash flow began to be a bit of a problem. Going from two incomes to one wasn’t as easy as we planned. So when a family member offered me the opportunity to clean her house twice a week for extra money, I jumped […]