It’s not a cheap time to fly to Australia right now. But in the last few days, we’ve seen an incredible price surge even beyond what we’ve grown accustomed to.One way flights from London to Sydney have been slung of late for as much as $43,000, Australian Aviation claims. Other reports (from news.com.au and the Sydney Morning Herald) suggested the priciest tickets were being advertised online for $38,000.Either way, the wallet-trembling prices follow the federal government’s new inbound passenger cap, which has been introduced in response to Australia’s current battle against the Delta variant of Covid-19.

COVID LIVE: Sydney COVID cases expected to decline, London to Australia flights hit $38,000 after cap slashed https://t.co/14HPz7Mhul

— The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) July 3, 2021

Australian Aviation yesterday claimed these are “likely the highest prices in history.”Our take? As far as we know, that $43,000 flight could well be the most expensive economy flight in history.At the time of writing, prices seem to have settled a little (or perhaps the most expensive flights, on the likes of Etihad and Air Moldova, have now been booked out), with desirable flights for this week (i.e. ones without a huge layover) starting at $10,000 and maxing out at $27,207.

Australian Aviation reported yesterday that prices from other major capitals to Sydney are pricey too, writing: “New York regularly costs $20,000, Paris $30,000 and Tokyo $15,000.”As Australia will be temporarily reducing its intake of international passengers by 50 per cent from July 14 from 6000 per week to just 3000, there are now fears carriers could price gouge – or stop passenger flights to Australia altogether.RELATED: Australian Business Class ‘Stampede’ To Continue For Foreseeable Future Executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia, Barry Abram, rejects this. Mr Abram told The Guardian airlines are just recouping flight costs – and are under a huge amount of strain.“They have continued to operate throughout the pandemic under extremely difficult commercial conditions and many large multinationals continue to bleed large cash flow losses.”

“Any notion they have been profiteering or gouging is just bizarre.”

There are around 34,000 Australians still stuck abroad. Hong Kong-based Jacinta Reddan from the Alliance of Australians Abroad has called the situation devastating, telling SBS News they feel “forgotten.”“They’re worried that they’re going to be stuck without visas without anywhere to live and with nowhere to go, so it’s really alarming news.”

NEW from @hrw re government cutting international arrivals into #Australia by 50%. Australia has heavily restricted entry of its own citizens in a way no other democratic nation has. We need to remember all Australians have a right of return to their own country #strandedaussies pic.twitter.com/gQKaKRoxoW

— Sophie McNeill (@Sophiemcneill) July 2, 2021

Many other Australians, and Australians stuck abroad, have taken to Twitter to express their frustration.

$38,000 for a flight currently from London to Sydney or Melbourne? Price gouging at its worst. https://t.co/AaqGR2BWTJ

— Colleen Murrell (@ivorytowerjourn) July 3, 2021

With 34,000 Australians still stuck overseas, the Australian gov have halved the max allowed in to 3,035 per week. https://t.co/LLwSsaNmtT

— Andrew Bickerton (@coder4hire) July 4, 2021

Yet further proof we need to vaccinate everyone and open up as soon as safely possible.

In the meantime – enjoy this video of Etihad’s pointy end experience. Just don’t think about how much it would cost right now…

Read Next

• Stranded Australians Overseas Being Forced To Buy Business Class Tickets Home
• ‘I Flew Business Class For The First Time At The Worst Moment In Aviation History’

The post ‘Most Expensive Economy Flight In History’ Has Australians Stunned appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

As such, it’s as steeped in tradition as The Queen’s tea. Many of these traditions are archaic. Players are required to bow or curtsy to senior members of the royal family seated in the Royal Box. Servicemen and women operate as stewards. And there’s this whole thing about eating strawberries and cream…

Perhaps the most famous Wimbledon tradition is the strict all-white dress code for competitors and royals in attendance. Beyond that, there’s a widely-held expectation that you dress up for Wimbledon; it’s not just any sporting event.

Pete Davidson’s clearly missed that memo, however. The 27-year-old comedian and actor was spotted in the crowds on Sunday with his new girlfriend, Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor, wearing a rather casual fit that’s turned heads for all the wrong reasons.

Wearing slacks, a grey cardigan, a bunch of chains and painted fingernails, Davidson looks ready to board a long haul flight at Heathrow. It’s a bizarre look that was totally out of place at Wimbledon – a double style sin, really.

But fans aren’t that bothered. They were more focused on the blossoming relationship between the two young screen stars. Indeed, Dynevor and Davidson look truly happy from the photos circulating online – so if you get the girl, maybe it doesn’t matter if you dress like a bum.

One fan put it this way: “Tom and Zendaya who? Pete making the news tonight!”

RELATED: Zendaya & Tom Holland Photo Provides Hope To Short Men Everywhere

In other Pete Davidson news, the Saturday Night Live cast member recently revealed that he’s in the process of removing his huge array of tattoos, a move that many have lauded as a sign he’s changing his stripes. Maybe there’s hope for him after all?

Read Next

• Lewis Hamilton Finally Steps Out Wearing An Outfit Worthy Of His Greatness
• Justin Bieber Wears The Loud Shirt We’ll All Be Rocking 6 Months From Now

The post Comedian Pete Davidson Commits Cardinal Wimbledon Style Sin appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australia’s latest COVID outbreak has demonstrated yet again why getting everyone vaccinated is crucial to getting back to normal – and avoiding the need for lockdowns.

But while we haven’t – fortunately – had as urgent of a need as other countries to get the whole population vaccinated quickly, unfortunately, thanks to our success in keeping community transmission of COVID in Australia very low, we now risk becoming victims of our own success.

Though authorities are cautiously optimistic the current lockdown measures can bring the Sydney situation back under control without the need for further extending the lockdown, if this Delta variant were, for whatever reason, to spread out of control, Australia would be in a very sticky spot, given what a small percentage of our population we have fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Even if that doesn’t happen, in the meantime, for as long as so few of us are vaccinated, every time there is a flare-up, small businesses will take an economic blow, and individuals will have to endure lockdowns, and we will have to remain separated from the world.

Suffice to say: whether it’s because you desperately want to travel again, whether it’s because you want to get the economy back on track, whether it’s because you care about vulnerable people’s health or whether it’s because you don’t want Australia to end up a hermit kingdom, there are various reasons to wish the vaccine rollout was happening more quickly.

A survey conducted by DMARGE last week, however, suggests many Australians between the ages of 20 and 50 are currently holding off on getting the jab. Of those who took part in our survey, 41% responded “too dicey” when asked if they would be getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

We asked this question after Prime Minister Scott Morrison caused a stir by telling reporters any Australian adult could go to their GP and request the AstraZeneca vaccine last week.

“If you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we would encourage you to go and have that discussion with your GP and we’ve already made announcements to support those additional consultations with GPs so you can have that conversation,” Mr Morrison said in reference to a new no-fault indemnity scheme for GPs, of which details were scant when he made the announcement.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has welcomed the announcement of the scheme. It rejected, however, the idea that all adults might go and get AstraZeneca. The AMA president, Dr Omar Khorshid, said: “Our recommendation is still really for patients to follow the Atagi advice.”

“Be patient and have the Atagi-recommended vaccine when it’s available.”

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) did not endorse Morrison’s statement. It continues to advise Pfizer as the preferred vaccine for people aged 16 to 60.

As the Australian Government Department Of Health’s website states, “The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) as the preferred vaccine for those aged 16 to under 60 years.”

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the following when asked about Morrison’s remarks: “I do not want under-40s to get AstraZeneca.”

“It is rare, but they are at an increased risk of getting the rare clotting syndrome. We’ve seen up to 49 deaths in the UK from that syndrome.”

“I don’t want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got COVID, probably wouldn’t die.”

“We have had very few deaths due to COVID-19 in Australia in people under the age of 50 and wouldn’t it be terrible that our first 18-year-old in Queensland who dies related to this pandemic, died because of the vaccine.”

As the ABC reports, “Dr Young said she ‘genuinely did not understand’ why Mr Morrison had departed from the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi).”

“We are not in a position that I need to ask young, fit, healthy people to put their health on the line getting a vaccine that could potentially, significantly harm them.”

She also said that despite the current lockdowns and outbreak fears, there are not (at the time of writing) enough cases to warrant young people charging forward to get AstraZeneca en masse.

“If I was the Chief Health Officer in Indonesia, I might be giving different advice.”

So, in light of all this, are young Australians over-reacting to AstraZeneca fears, or perfectly justified in being cautious?

Here are some statistics to compare.

The odds of getting a blood clot from the AstraZeneca vaccine are roughly 1 in 88,000 (though the younger you are the higher your risk).

Your odds of getting hit by a car (and dying from it), over the course of your lifetime, according to a US-based Statistica study, is 1 in 107.

Dying from drowning’s odds are 1 in 1,128, dying from choking on food’s odds are 1 in 2,535, dying from sunstroke’s odds are 1 in 8,248, dying from being caught in a cataclysmic storm’s odds are 1 in 58,669, dying from being stung by a wasp’s odds are 1 in 59,507 and dying from being attacked by a dog’s odds are 1 in 86,781.

It’s also important to remember getting a clot from the AstraZeneca vaccine doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll die. As the ABC reported in May, “Although early reports from Europe indicated approximately 20 per cent of cases of TTS were fatal, in Australia, to date, one out of 24 TTS cases has been fatal, so just over 4 per cent.”

Before you go spouting the graph above to your AstraZeneca-hesitant friends, however, consider the following. You might not want to read too much into those statistics (or, at least, be very careful about how you frame them).

Why? If you believe the side by side comparison we just made, you could easily come away with the conclusion young Australians are massively over-reacting to AstraZeneca fears.

But if you listen to the medical advice, especially for those under 40, the decision to wait for the Pfizer vaccine could actually be a perfectly rational move (though one that is constantly subject to changes in each individual’s context, and their society’s, and one you should ultimately decide by listening to your GP and Atagi).

On top of that, as The Guardian reported in April, Atagi’s Director of SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination in the Community) Nigel Crawford has said, comparing the AstraZeneca vaccine with car crash statistics, smoking statistics or the blood clotting risk of taking The Pill may not be helpful in boosting vaccine confidence.

“The contraceptive pill was associated with entirely different, less deadly clotting conditions, Crawford said, and it is known that smoking, being overweight and other factors increase the risk of those conditions which makes it easier for individuals to make decisions” (The Guardian).

“After assessing risk factors and benefits, many people decide they cannot go without contraception or driving a car, but in a country like Australia with no Covid circulating, people may feel it is more realistic to forgo the vaccine if they don’t get useful information about risk of severe clotting.”

“By comparison, CVST and splanchnic vein thrombosis appear to be ‘an idiosyncratic reaction’ for which there are still no clear risk factors, Crawford said.”

“We need to try to compare apples to apples.”

“And we need to go to our communication experts … to tailor the message about the risk-benefit to specific groups and outline how that might change over time. We need to have an important conversation about different strategies to try to explain what is a complex situation.”

In other words: if you don’t give people useful information, they might stop listening to your overall message, which would be a shame as the overall message here – get vaccinated – is crucial.

To help clear up some of the mixed messaging we’ve seen over the last few months we highly recommend watching the video below, where a man in his 30s asks the panel whether he should go and get the AstraZeneca vaccine, or wait for the Pfizer.

Read Next

• Overseas Travel ‘#1 Reason’ To Get COVID Vaccine For 80% Of Australians, Study Finds
• Incredible Italy Photo Shows What We Can Look Forward To Once Everyone Gets Vaccinated

The post Australians Overreacting To AstraZeneca Fears, If You Believe Statistics appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Generally speaking, American football players like wearing big, flashy, high-end watches.Tom Brady‘s a fan of the IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot’s Watch, which, as the name implies, is a rather hefty timepiece. Cam Newton likes the hefty Hublot King Power, which weighs in at a whopping 48mm. Drew Brees loves Panerais, the ultimate big man’s watch. You get the picture.But Russell Wilson is a little different. Despite his bulky build and tough appearance, it seems the Seattle Seahawks quarterback has a somewhat more restrained taste in timepieces – and isn’t afraid to rock a watch that men half his size would consider ‘too small’.Currently on holiday in Venice with his wife, the mononymous singer/songwriter Ciara, ‘Dangeruss’ has been spotted wearing a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date 36 (ref. 118238) on a number of occasions – an interesting and elegant choice for an NFL player.Set on Rolex’s famous ‘President’ bracelet and featuring a green ombré dial, it’s an exceptionally classy rendition of Rolex’s famous dress watch.

First introduced in 1956, the Day-Date was the first watch to display the date and day of the week spelled out in full, Rolex specialists Bob’s Watches relates. Aside for some rare stainless steel prototypes, the Day-Date has only ever been made out of precious metals, such as different alloys of gold or platnium.This model’s green dial makes it particularly special: as the brand’s ‘signature colour’, Rolex only use green to denote special models or to celebrate different milestones. Appropriately, this reference was first released in 2019, the 60th anniversary of the Day-Date.We applaud Wilson’s taste, as well as his willingness to wear something many of his peers might choose to avoid. Perhaps it’s further evidence that men’s watch sizes are getting smaller, after years of getting bigger… Watch this space.RELATED: Odell Beckham Jr Kickstarts ‘Controversial’ Watch Trend Men Should Pay Attention ToThe watch might be cool, but really, we’re more jealous of the fact that he can actually enjoy a European holiday. Australians are absolutely champing at the bit to get vaccinated so they can travel overseas once again – read our report on this tantalising study.

Read Next

• Roger Federer Celebrates Wimbledon Return With New Tennis-Inspired Rolex
• Ed Sheeran’s Subtle Patek Philippe Flex Sends Watch Nuts Into A Spin

The post Russell Wilson Celebrates Big Venice Holiday With Surprisingly Small Rolex appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Our experience living with The Spicy Cough has been a roller coaster. Following some strict lockdowns and restrictions in the first part of 2020, for Australia, late 2020 and early 2021 was comparably easier. We were free to move around the country, music gigs came back and relatively large crowds were been able to gather again – until recently.

But that what goes up must come down. Following a new outbreak in Bondi, Sydney, Australia has had to once again batten down the hatches and re-impose restrictions. This time around, those restrictions include having to wear masks while at the gym (for those of us in areas where gyms haven’t been forced to shut completely).

During the 2020 March lockdown in NSW, gyms and fitness clubs were kept shut for some time, before eventually welcoming members back when the situation cleared up, months later, mask-free.

This time all gyms in Sydney are closed, and gyms in other areas (like Byron Bay, where I currently live) are requiring masks. It’s also thought if and when gyms do re-open again in Sydney there will be more nuanced restrictions (like mask-wearing).

On that note: I thought I’d see what it’s like for myself, as it’s something many people may find themselves doing down the line.

As someone who finds himself quite happy and at home (and free-feeling) in the gym (but who still wants to do their bit for public health), I was nervous to see what working out in a mask would feel like.

Masks restrict your breathing, and breath is something you need when you’re putting your body through its paces. That’s what I thought anyway, despite studies saying “face masks don’t impede breathing during exercise, but your mind may think they will.”

So, what is it like wearing a mask to the gym? This is my personal account, and despite not achieving the feat myself, I can only liken it to climbing Everest (or perhaps training for it).

 

The main takeaway is that I didn’t expect it to be as hard as it was.

I’d comfortably call myself pretty fit. I work out regularly and I keep active as active as possible when I’m in the gym – I’m even trying to eat like Chris Hemsworth to bulk up and attempted a gruelling core workout in the name of six-pack abs. This, coupled with the fact I had one of Uniqlo’s rather excellent and comfortable breathable masks on, I thought I wouldn’t notice much of a difference.

I was wrong.

Within just a few front squat reps I immediately noticed how much I took breath for granted. Breath is essential when performing squats. You need to inhale on the downward movement itself to help stabilise your body and core, push up and then exhale. But, not being able to take in as full of a breath as I would normally be able to, made a noticeable difference to my stability.

RELATED: ‘Pressure Breathing’: Commonly Overlooked Squatting Technique Could Increase Your Gains

I was still able to lift the same amount as the previous week, sans mask, but it tested my cardio more.

 

As my gym program continued, I noticed myself becoming more fatigued far quicker than normal and if anything, I felt incredibly constricted. It wasn’t a nice feeling and I contemplated cutting my routine short so I could get back outside and bask in fresh air.

But, feeling like I’d let myself go a little in previous weeks (and wanting to test it out for anyone else curious who may also be working out in a mask in the coming weeks), I did something I would normally never do: cardio. Specifically, treadmill sprints.

The last time I did sprints was a good year or so ago, and I was able to go for a solid 10 minutes: 30-seconds on, 1-minute off, slight incline and speeds of around 16-18. I’ve gotten fitter since then, so it should be a walk in the park, no? No. It wasn’t.

Managing just five minutes on the treadmill and three sprint windows instead, I was on the verge of losing all feeling in my body. I increased the time of my sprint window to 1 minute, at speed 17 and an incline of 3. The first 30 seconds were ok, but after that it was quite literally an uphill struggle. Powering through it with gritted teeth (hidden by the mask, thankfully) I called it a day after my third sprint.

I wouldn’t say I was gasping for air in the same way someone who’s choking would be. I could still breathe, but the mask made it harder to regulate the breath. I haven’t been able to get to the gym as often as I normally would in recent weeks, but I’m willing to admit it could just be a case of adapting, and after a few more sessions, I’ll understand how to better use the breath on offer.

I did wonder if wearing a mask would allow for hypoxic training, otherwise known as oxygen restriction training, whereby you deliberately limit the amount of oxygen you have in the search of greater performance. And again, the benefits of this could be made apparent after a few more sessions. I’ll keep you posted.

As for the future, though it’s possible Sydney’s lockdown could still end on time this time around, there are no guarantees. This is a crucial moment for the city and the country – all more reason to do the right thing and wear a mask where you are supposed to.

There’s also the likelihood that even if the lockdown ends there will be certain restrictions in place (like, potentially, mask-wearing in gyms) in the near future. So I might have to just get used to it.

Everest, here I come.

Read Next

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The post Working Out In A Mask: The Truth About What It Feels Like appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s a tired trope that short men are at a disadvantage when it comes to dating. It’s also got some truth to it (hence why it became a trope).

But height isn’t everything.

In fact, coming in to prove to short men everywhere that your stature isn’t entirely defined by your stature, is a recent photo of Zendaya and Tom Holland.

English theatre kid turned Marvel superstar, Tom Holland is best known for his roles in The Avengers and Spiderman: Homecoming. 

Zendaya is an American actress and singer, and was a co-star with Holland in Spiderman. She also became the youngest-ever Emmy winner in the Best Drama Actress category in 2020, for playing a teen addict on Euphoria.

The pair were recently spotted together in Los Angeles, with various publications reporting (and excited Twitter users repeating) that their on-screen romance may now have become an off-screen one.

Tom Holland and Zendaya? There is really something in Spiderman Movies pic.twitter.com/75YLKDiLEn

— Febbie (@febbyangg) July 3, 2021

NEW COUPLES ALERT

Spotted Jake Gyllenhaal having a dinner by himself after press released pictures of tom Holland and zendaya sharing a kiss pic.twitter.com/jy5ezA0Sth

— jo LOKI SZN | semi ia (@PLAYB0iLOKI) July 3, 2021

The couple were spotted kissing in their car as they waited for a red light, ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.

Celebrity news aggregator Just Jared took to Instagram on Saturday to write: “Omg! Zendaya and Tom Holland were spotted sharing a passionate kiss on Thursday while in Los Angeles.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Just Jared (@justjared)

Fans of the two actors were pleased by the news, with followers of the page making comments like: “Finally” and “I prayed for it.”

“What!!!!! Omg goals!” another wrote.

Not everyone was convinced, however, with one user writing, “As much as I love it and them… Feel like they playing.”

Another user commented: “I don’t buy it yet. Their reaction after the kiss was funny and friend-like. They could’ve been practicing for Spider Man or it could be a publicity stunt for the upcoming movie.”

“It’s been rumored that they date before, always before a movie premier.”

The two have previously denied relationship rumours and made fun of suggestions they could be an item.

Who wants to let cynicism get in the way of a good piece of (potential) inspiration though?

Over and out.

Read Next

• The Secrets To Successfully Dating A Taller Woman
• How To Dress Stylishly When You’re Short

The post Zendaya & Tom Holland Photo Provides Hope To Short Men Everywhere appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Lewis Hamilton isn’t just the fastest man on the planet, but he might just be one of the best-dressed men on the planet, too.The 36-year-old Formula One wunderkind consistently breaks boundaries not only when it comes to prowess and diversity in his sport, but also in men’s fashion. If his race record and star power didn’t already make him stand out among the grid of drivers, his love of luxury couture, bold patterns and bright colours sure does.Not all of his looks are winning ones – this inadvertently horny shirt springs to mind – but his most recent outfit is one that’s truly befitting a man of his stature.Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton shared some shots of himself waltzing around the F1 paddock on Instagram fully kitted out in a summery Casablanca Paris shirt and shorts, with some Alexander McQueen high-tops on his feet. Sehr schön.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)

Founded by French-Moroccan fashion heavyweight Charaf Tajer (co-founder of cult Parisian basketball brand Pigalle and previously a consultant for Louis Vuitton creative director Virgil Abloh), Casablanca Paris is quickly becoming a high-fashion heavyweight and has even been dubbed “the Hermès of Generation Z” by WWD.RELATED: Hermès’ $7,000 ‘Mushroom Bag’ Points To The Future Of Veganism In LuxuryKnown for its luxurious materials and irreverent designs, Casablanca Paris is perhaps best known for its silk shirts, like the one Hamilton’s wearing. His co-sign is further evidence of the brand’s ascendancy and relevancy – if the fashion faithful weren’t already keeping their eyes on Casablanca Paris, maybe this will get them tuning in.Sadly Hamilton’s performance at the Austrian Grand Prix wasn’t quite as legendary as his outfit. In an uncharacteristic turn of events, the Mercedes-AMG champ failed to net a podium, with his rival at Red Bull, Max Verstappen, taking home the gold. Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas and young McLaren gun Lando Norris rounded out the top 3, with Hamilton coming in at fourth.

Read Next

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The post Lewis Hamilton Finally Steps Out Wearing An Outfit Worthy Of His Greatness appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There are a lot of stereotypes around being a male escort. But precious few of them are true.As we’ve reported previously, you shouldn’t get into it for the sex (believe it or not). You also shouldn’t think it’s a walk in the park. Oh, and, think the only skills you’ll need are bedroom ones? Think again.We’ve myth-busted all of these ideas in the past along with the help of the likes of Mitch Larsson (as well as others like ‘Lorenzo,’ the CEO of A Gentleman Caller).RELATED: Top-Tier Gigolo Reveals What His Job Is Really LikeBut what is it actually like to be a male escort in 2021? DMARGE hit up Rhys Phillips, who can be found on Samantha X After Dark, and who is an Australian male escort, to jag a peek behind the curtain.Mr Phillips promotes his services across a variety of platforms, including Instagram and OnlyFans.In light of the pandemic-inspired loneliness crisis, we asked Mr Phillips how he handled the sentimental side of being an escort – as well as how he sees his role in stemming the growing sense of “emotional horniness” which is sweeping the country.Mr Phillips told DMARGE: “I find the emotional side of things a blessing and a curse.”

“I am a massive overthinker, so finding an aspect that I enjoy and hyper-fantasising in a way that keeps me present within the moment has helped greatly.”

“I also like to address love languages with clients at the start of our time together, to identify theirs to get a firm grasp on their style of intimacy. Then utilise both of ours within the experience to make the most of it (having the same love language is a treat).”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rhys Phillips (@rhysensual)

“Emotionally, Mr Phillips added, “it’s so easy to get caught up in a moment that snowballs out of control when there are the right elements of comfort, chemistry and consent.”

“The curse being that with such a high comes a crash and it would be naive to think that you can run on that high forever.”

“So, having that proper care afterwards is so important – especially for women who haven’t had such exhilarating experience for a long time, if ever.”“I have definitely discovered an attraction to a wider range of women since becoming an escort. That has helped me get the heart pumping to the right areas, since I don’t use Viagra to help my performance.”“Every woman is unique and beautiful in their own way, it doesn’t matter whether they are tall, short, petite, curvy, have tattoos or scars… etc. I clearly communicate to them how I aim to let it happen organically and if a certain body part doesn’t work then there are always other things we can do until it does or take things as slow as necessary.”

“This isn’t a porno and I’m not Johnny Sins.”

“Since having the opportunity to explore my sexuality through my work and learning so much about women in general – it has had a secondary effect of finding things that I like about myself. Maybe that has been the role my clients have played appealing to my love language.”We then asked Mr Phillips for his most memorable booking. He gave us two: one good, one bad. Let’s begin with the bad.“Two experiences come to mind. The first was a last-minute ‘couple’ booking that was a bit of a role play for the lady, I was her partner’s mate from work that he invited back to have some fun. It was an intensely great experience for everyone involved and thoroughly expressed afterwards that they would like to see me again.”So far so good? Not so fast.“On my way home when counting what I had made, I was unfortunately short-handed by about 20%. I requested the rest to be transferred. He was adamant that it was a good amount for the time I was there and that I should appreciate that.”Awkward.“I had to reiterate that I run a business and not committing to the quote that was agreed upon was disrespectful and undervaluing me professionally as well as my self-worth. He then paid the outstanding balance and told me that I would not see them again. I would prefer to be paid than be promised work.”The next memory is much better.“The second was my experience with a well-organised couple. They booked months in advance for the entire weekend. They live such a different lifestyle to anyone I have met. This was like a glimpse into the world of the extremely wealthy in every aspect, they have such a love for each other that I can only admire and aspire to achieve.”“They would stay at a highly esteemed hotel and although they would stay in the penthouse, they would provide me with my own room for the weekend. So, I would meet them in the afternoon to enjoy some great conversations and amazing food until late into the evening when things get heated.”

“I would treat the wife to a very sensual, slow and intimate time that builds in intensity and tempo. The husband would often sit back and enjoy witnessing her state of euphoria, he’s always there and I prefer it that way.”

“So that they both know they’re safe and open to everything that transpires with support of one another. This may go for hours so when the fun slowed down, he would get us water and towels to cool down before going again.”“At the end of the evening, we would lay together talk about it all to decompress before I head back to my room to sleep. It was so memorable for so many reasons – their love for each other from teenage sweethearts to a successful family resonated such ideals that I was grateful to be a part of their space and appreciated the trust they had in me to explore their fantasies.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rhys Phillips (@rhysensual)

That’s not the only booking that has really stuck with Mr Phillips: “Another booking that really affected me was with a lovely lady in her 40s that had been through a lot in life and after everything she had been through, she hadn’t been with a man before. After sitting and talking for quite some time about life and getting a better understanding on what she is looking for from me, it was clear that my purpose in this instance was to help her meet those expectations of experiencing intimacy for the first time.”“I knew I had to take things slowly as there was no way to gauge her boundaries and expectations sexually as she didn’t have any form of reference. So, we took everything gradually and went for a psychologically comforting approach. Then afterwards we shared a shower together and held each other, in that moment of warm running water she began to cry thinking that it was all over and going to end.”“That hit hard. I felt I needed to reassure her that experiencing such a high has a cost and yes it may end for the moment just as fast as it all began, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen again. I am not going anywhere anytime soon, this high doesn’t need to go to waste and she can relive it all in the future, she should cherish the memory in the meantime and no one can take that away from her.”

“This affected me so much in showing me the power that this type of work can have and how life-enhancing it is when done right.”

As for the loneliness crisis the events of 2020 and 2021 have brought about, Mr Phillips told DMARGE the following:“Australia is in the grips of a loneliness crisis, everyone’s grasping for affection, attention and human connection in a digital age.”Why? Mr Phillips thinks loneliness is “more prevalent since the global crisis that claimed our social avenues for the past year and a half.”How does he see his role in this?“I see my independent role as minuscule to the potential high demand from women. I can only see so many clients per week – even I’m limited by time and energy. Although I feel I am tackling the taboo for women paying for such services, I hope I am opening the doors for other like-minded people to provide similarly emotionally supportive services.”

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“I see my role in helping those that may have trouble finding someone or value their time for that intimate connection,” Mr Phillips added. “About 60% of my clients are married women who come to me for comfort and connection.”“The image of a client’s wedding rings on the bedside table is something that I see often. The rings are symbolic, and clients prefer to remove them before being intimate with someone other than their husbands.”

“About 98% of the time, their husbands are aware they are seeing an escort.”

“I think the role of the escort can only help with a cultural compromise, I believe that this ‘loneliness crisis’ can prompt a response for escort type services to thrive and benefit the public, at the cost of confronting a major taboo surrounding the public’s opinion of whether they are willing to value that connectivity with an equal exchange financially.”This then prompts the question of “whether they’re prepared to be vulnerable to a stranger,” Mr Phillips said.

“Are people willing to take on their insecurities to benefit themselves?”

“No one grows inside their comfort zones so my prediction would be that some will and some won’t. People are going to do what they want to do, irrelevant of whether they should, or not, and I will be here for those that would like my services.”

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There are a lot of rude stereotypes floating around Europe about ‘unsophisticated’ Australians. But though some of our Earl’s Court expatriates proudly prove some of them right, in recent years, at home, we’ve actually swung a little too far in the other direction.No longer is it VBs and Great Northerns – it’s 4 Pines and Young Henrys. No longer is it “whatever’s on special” – it’s a Barossa Valley wine subscription. No longer is it beer… it’s craft beer. No longer is it cruisers… it’s hard seltzer.Need further proof things have turned on their head? Gold Coast surfers are now launching tinnie brands Melbourne hipsters don’t mind sipping (see: Balter Brewing Company).And that’s before we even mention gin. When it comes to gin we are reaching at a whole new level of wankery refinement. And ironically enough, our latest revolution isn’t even about Only Buying Hendrick’s (that was so 2015). No: Australia’s latest gin revolution is all about the tonic. Namely: refusing to buy the cheap stuff.That’s right, these days, in many gin and tonic enthusiasts’ houses, it’s a case of Fever-Tree Tonic or GTFO (va te faire foutre).So: what happened to Schweppes? And since when did we all become so snobbish about digestifs? DMARGE hit up some experts to discuss.

Before we dive into that cultural crevice, first let’s understand how important tonic really is to your Mother’s Ruin.Trish Brew, Fever-Tree’s Brand Ambassador, who was the Bar Manager at Gin Palace in Melbourne for eight years and the 2018 Time Out Melbourne Bartender of the Year and 2018 Australian Bartender Bar Manager of the Year told DMARGE: “The mixer is arguably the most important component of the drink.”As for Fever-Tree (this is not a sponsored piece, it’s just every gin nut I know has converted to it), “Fever-Tree was founded with the idea that if 3/4 of your drink is the mixer, wouldn’t you want it to be the best?” Ms Brew asked us.“In my experience, many people thought they didn’t like gin because it was paired with the cheap, cloying and poorly made tonic that was available. So, if not for Fever-Tree paving the way of premium mixing, who knows where the ‘premium gin’ category would be today.”

“Would you spend a lot of money on comfy socks if you were going to cover them up with ugly and uncomfortable shoes? You wouldn’t, so don’t apply that to your drink.”

Another reason to pay attention to what you mix your gin with is that “higher-quality tonics often contain less sugar” Joseph Judd, Co-Founder and Head of Marketing at Peddlers Gin co. told DMARGE.

 

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This is important because sugar masks the botanicals of gin, “which in the case of Peddlers gives our gin its distinctive flavour,” Mr Judd explained.

“A good tonic does make quite a big difference.”

“The tonics we like tend to have a bit more fizz and pop, making a Peddlers and Tonic more crisp and refreshing,” Mr Judd added.Ross Lusted, Owner and Head Chef of Crown Sydney’s Woodcut and Hickory Bar similarly emphasised the importance of tonic to DMARGE.“Tonic water has become an iconic pairing for gin due to its balance of sweet and savoury, that complements the complex botanical combinations within gin recipes,” he said.“When creating tonic pairings for Woodcut’s Bespoke Gin, we want to ensure that guests can enjoy the drink whilst still savouring the true flavours of the gin, so we look for a tonic that features complementary ingredients to that of the gin botanicals to enhance the flavour.”

 

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Mr Lusted, however, pointed out that there is more to it than simply selecting a certain brand – no matter what label you choose you have to pair the right type of tonic with the right kind of gin (something Ms Brew also pointed out, saying, for instance, gins with Aussie botanicals work best mixed with Fever-Tree’s Mediterranean tonic, rather than the other types).“The secret to a perfectly balanced gin and tonic is a mix of choosing the right tonic water and garnish that celebrates and enhances the flavour of the gin botanicals, plus ensuring the ratio of gin to tonic is balanced,” Mr Lusted told DMARGE.What do our experts attribute Australia’s tonic renaissance to? And is our theory that Australians now care more about tonic than they used to correct in the first place? How much of our tonic obsession is just due to clever branding?When asked this, Ms Brew said: “Fever-Tree is the fastest growing premium tonic brand in Australia and that’s simply because it tastes great! The reason Fever-Tree tastes so great is we are built like a gin brand, where every ingredient is well thought out.”“We work directly with farmers globally to procure the finest ingredients and will never compromise on quality. The thing that further separates Fever-Tree from other mixer brands is the carbonation, and if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, there is nothing more depressing than a flat G&T! We’ve got it all!”“I often joke that today’s casual gin imbiber knows more about drinks than your average bartender,” Ms Brew added, hinting at this idea that tonics have improved as the Australian gin palate has become more discerning.She also told us: “Australians are curious when it comes to flavour, and the hype around Aussie gin is mainly driven by bush tucker! Australia is an isolated environment containing incredible native ingredients which are unique in flavour and complexity. Many of these ingredients give classic gin botanicals a run for their money such as Lemon Myrtle and Pepper Berry, found commonly in Aussie Gins.”Mr Judd told DMARGE that – contrary to the stereotypes discussed at the start of this piece – when it comes to premium spirits, “Australians have a very sophisticated palate.”

“So with cocktails that include a tonic or other carbonated mixer, often a higher quality product can make the difference between good and great and bring out the full flavour profile of the cocktail more.”

“I think it’s more than clever branding; when you taste different tonics side by side there are noticeable differences in taste and how each brings out the flavours of the gin.”Mr Lusted, for his part, told DMARGE Australia’s tonic renaissance has been inspired by its gin renaissance: “More brands are now experimenting with their tonic, becoming inspired by the flavour profiles of gin, including Mediterranean flavours like citrus or elderflower, that when paired with the right gin, help further amplify the taste of the botanicals.”

“The right tonic pairing can completely change the way the gin and tonic tastes so it has become so important to trust your palate and find a tonic to match the profile of your gin.”

Mr Lusted also told us that the local (Australian) offerings for gin have grown immensely over the past decade, with more local distillers pushing the boundaries with fun and interesting new flavour combinations.This is something which is also happening internationally (see: the recent launch of Premium gin Tanqueray’s Blackcurrant Royale, a unique new gin, made with French blackcurrants and vanilla notes, inspired by Charles Tanqueray’s travels to France in the 1840s). However, many reckon Australia is leading the way.RELATED: Why Australia’s Gin Makers Are Leaving The Rest Of The World In Their Wake

“Gin is such a versatile spirit so this growing trend has definitely encouraged Aussies and venues to experiment with new combinations of garnishes, tonics and cocktails on their menus,” Mr Lusted said.“Our Woodcut Bespoke Gin is a great example of how you can build a variety of different styles of drinks – from a martini to a tonic to an aperitif – and still hero the integral botanic flavours within the gin.”Mr Judd likewise told DMARGE Australians are now experimenting with gin far beyond the classic dry London.“In one of the most exotic food regions in the world, Australia’s dynamic and modern F&B industry embraces cuisines from the likes of China, Japan and Vietnam, to name just a few countries. I think that carries over to craft products like gin.”

“Australians are discerning and adventurous drinkers.”

“There are a lot of typical London dry gins in the market, but just like the growing interest in different types of cuisine – from pho to ramen to Sichuan noodles – I think Australians are looking for unique gins with a more adventurous flavor profile.”

 

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Now for the important part: what are the experts’ top tips for mixing the perfect gin and tonic at home?Mr Lusted told us using filtered water for your ice is crucial (“to eliminate adding any unwanted flavours”) as well as, if you can using larger icecubes (“the smaller the cube the quicker it melts, diluting the drink and changing the flavour”).

“At Woodcut we use ice cut into 40mm2 cubes and made with pristine Tasmanian water – the perfect ice for spirits.”

RELATED: Best Australian Gins To Try In 2021Ms Brew agreed that ice is important, providing a cheeky tip on how to create big hunks of it at home.“To make big clear ice cubes at home, get a 5L eski, fill it with cold tap water and leave it in your freezer with the top off for 3 days. After 3 days take it out, leave on the counter for an hour so it slightly defrosts. Bang it out on the bench. 1/2+ will, be crystal clear and free of impurities the remainder can be cut off and discarded.”

“Cut the clear half down to appropriate size with a butcher’s cleaver and a hammer, or any powertools you have available. *Insert chuckle* Mind the fingers!”

Then there are ratios. This comes down to personal preference but as a baseline, Mr Lusted told DMARGE: “We traditionally use a ratio of 1 part gin to 2 parts tonic, but also offer guests the chance to add tonic water to taste as everyone’s palate is different!”Finally, mixing your gin, as we mentioned earlier, with the right kind of tonic, is another way to keep your tongue smiling.“The secret to a perfectly balanced G&T is to compare the flavour of the tonic to bring out the best in the gin,” Ms Brew told DMARGE.“If you like big punchy gins, the Indian tonic will stand up strongly, if you like herbaceous gins, you can’t go past Mediterranean [style tonics], for floral gins Elderflower tonic is sensational, and for a bit of spice in your life the [Fever-Tree] Aromatic tonic is a dream!”

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