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‘Just Plain Wrong’: Australian Baristas Reveal The Orders That Make Them Lose All Respect For You
‘Just Plain Wrong’: Australian Baristas Reveal The Orders That Make Them Lose All Respect For You

Everyone’s got their favourite coffee order – and similarly, everyone’s got an opinion on what the ‘correct’ coffee order is.Some snobs look down on anyone who dares to order a cappuccino. Others love nothing more than an iced caffè mocha from Starbucks or Gloria Jeans. Alternatively, you have the desk jockeys who don’t ever branch out from anything more complicated than a flat white… Or the weekend warriors who think liking espresso martinis is a valid substitute for a personality. (Not that that’s really a coffee, but we digress.)But opinions are like arseholes – everyone’s got one. Here at DMARGE, we thought we’d ask some baristas – those weary, battle-hardened purveyors of caffeine that virtually power the Australian economy – what their least favourite coffees are, as they’re the real authorities on all things hot and brown.The answers we got were rather surprising.Matthew Levin, former Australian Barista Champion and bean slinger at ONA Coffee in Canberra, says that his least favourite coffee orders to make are long blacks – which might surprise coffee fanatics who consider this a ‘pure’ option.

“For [all] the effort I put into preparing a single origin espresso extraction, I feel the long black is a let down of everything that’s good about an espresso.”

“I also make a blanket judgement on all long black drinkers as people who don’t appreciate a good espresso (and subsequently feel guilty about judging them),” he sheepishly adds.“Further, I don’t particularly like making macchiatos. 2 reasons: first is that it is impossible to make it balanced, whereas other drinks e.g. piccolos [or] lattes can be made balanced. Secondly, I think it is the hardest to do consistently.”

Paul Asquith from Josie Coffee in Newcastle has a different order that grinds his gears:

“My least favourite would have to be a dirty chai. It’s the weirdest combo and just plain wrong. It ruins the flavour of both completely. Other additives complement the coffee, chai powder does not.”

For many baristas, it’s not one particular order that bothers them, but a common ingredient, namely non-dairy milks – not because of any prejudice against vegans or anything (necessarily), but purely on a functional level.“I think I speak for many baristas… when I say our least favourite coffees to make are those containing non-dairy milk,” says Mike Cracknell, owner of Vertue Coffee Roasters in Melbourne tells Broadsheet.

“A strong soy or hot almond latte is challenging. [Cow’s milk alternatives] don’t always act the way you’d like. If it gets too hot they can curdle.”

RELATED: ‘Most Bondi Photo Ever’ Sums Up Australian Café Culture In 2021DMARGE also spoke with Zae Greenwood, creative director at One Hundred Hospitality Group and manager of Sydney’s Three Williams Cafè, who relates that his baristas’ least favourite orders to prepare are those with oat milk specifically.

“It’s got quite a high water content, which makes it really bubbly. This makes it harder to spin… It doesn’t have the same sort of creaminess.”

But are we getting a bit too precious about coffees here? That’s what Asquith reckons, who despite sharing his least favourite coffee order, also related that his fellow baristas can’t afford to be too precious about what they’re serving.“Baristas need to remember they are in the service industry. This doesn’t mean they have to put up with a [customer] being rude, offensive or presumptuous but they do need to remember where the money is coming from.”

“If we just served what we wanted then we wouldn’t serve much of anything or another cafè will. Cut the righteous attitude.”

RELATED: ‘Humble’ Photo Proves Why Our Coffee Drinkers Are The Best In The WorldIndeed, Greenwood relates that he and his baristas don’t really mind using oat milk, as its environmental bona fides far outweigh any minor inconvenience brewing with it.“Oat milk is far better for the environment than other non-dairy milks like almond… And much better than cow’s milk.”

The reality is that most baristas don’t really care what order you like – which is sure to come as a relief to people who feel insecure about their order.We spoke with Max Groh from Katering in Sydney’s Inner West, who suggests that baristas are likely less judgy than you’d think, saying “people can drink their coffee however they want.”What actually grinds his teeth is when people “don’t know their orders” and try to make modifications once the extractors and steam pump have already been set into action:

“I had one guy… ask for a skinny latte, then at the last minute, after I’d already charged him, he asked if he could change his order to an extra shot. All with a queue of people waiting.”

RELATED: ‘I’ve Become Everything I Hated’: Confessions Of A Coffee SnobReally, we should be less hung up about what baristas (or other people more generally) think about our coffee order and instead confidently back it. Because what really annoys people isn’t other people’s orders – it’s people getting in the way of theirs.It’s all something to mull over your next orange mocha frappuccino.

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The post ‘Just Plain Wrong’: Australian Baristas Reveal The Orders That Make Them Lose All Respect For You appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Australia’s Stunning ‘Italy Alternative’ Few People Know About
Australia’s Stunning ‘Italy Alternative’ Few People Know About

Everyone knows The Great Ocean Road… but “Loch Ard Gorge?” It’s not a place many instantly recognise.Speaking of drawing blanks… Australians have had a blindfold slapped over our eyes these last twelve months. But while we’ve become numb to the Mykonos and Bali FOMO accosting our social media feeds… we’ve become more sensitive to our surroundings (and started exploring them, if not by brail, by van).As a consequence, NSW coves that wouldn’t look out of place in Greece, stunning South Australian ‘Maldives Alternatives‘ and wild Melbourne sunrise spots have seen the limelight.Along this theme of exploration… today we thought we’d bring you an Australian alternative to Italy’s Polignano a Mare (and its lama monachile cala porto beach, which you can see below in a photo by @vincenzomelino), which melted our minds this week.

 
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Before we do: a little background.Polignano a Mare is a town on Italy’s southern Adriatic coast which The Thinking Traveller reports, is “perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic.”

“The origins of this enchanting place date back to the 4th century BC when Greek settlers founded the city of Neapolis. It flourished under the Romans and was important enough for Emperor Trajan to direct his Via Traiana, built between 108-110 AD, through the town. Remains of this road include a bridge at Lama Monachile, just north of the historic centre.”

According to The Lonely Planet, “The town is thought to be one of the most important ancient settlements in Puglia and was later inhabited by successive invaders ranging from the Huns to the Normans.”

“On Sunday the logge (balconies) are crowded with day trippers from Bari who come here to view the crashing waves, visit the caves and crowd out the cornetterias (shops specialising in Italian croissants) in the atmospheric centro storico.”

Here’s what it looks like.

Lama monachile cala porto beach, Polignano a Mare. Photo credit: Getty Images.
What few people realise is that, spin the globe upside down, and there is a remarkably similar – and much more remote – alternative on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.Loch Ard Gorge. Or as we’re calling it: Australia’s Adriatic…

 
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Loch Ard Gorge is about 3 hours from Melbourne, located just outside the small coastal town of Port Campbell.One half of @microadventurist travel couple Lauren Doolan, who works as a content creator for Great Ocean Road tourism told DMARGE, “Loch Ard Gorge is an amazing time to visit such a special spot of the Great Ocean Road… usually it’s wall to wall with tourists but at the moment you can nearly have it to yourself, even at sunset.”

“Located only a few minute drive from the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge is a must-see when on the Great Ocean Road. This picturesque natural cove puts on a show from any angle – the view from the carpark lookout shows the smooth, inlet of clear, blue water and surrounding yellow-washed cliff faces and tufts of vibrant greenery.”

“As you venture down the wooden steps you will see a huge cave cavern with hanging  stalactites to the right and to the left the golden sand of the Gorge. Feeling the water hit your feet is always invigorating. It’s never warm!”

“You can take the short walks from the carpark along the cliffs that flank Loch Ard Gorge to see it from more unusual angles and take in the depth of the cove.”

 
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There are some differences between Victoria’s Loch Ard Gorge and Italy’s Polignano a Mare though, with the area being more remote, the beach comprising of sand not pebbles and there being the potential for much more serious wave action.It’s also (literally) cooler.“Loch Ard gorge is totally different each time you visit,” Lauren told DMARGE. “In calm weather is a perfectly protected cove… one you could liken to an Italian beach. In wilder weather it can become a washing machine, giant waves entering in the month and then swirling away. Both beautiful but vastly different.”

 
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It also, as Lauren mentioned, gets crowded in summer.

Oh and the weather is not always as perfect as the pristine photos you have probably seen of Italy’s Polignano a Mare (though to be fair the weather is probably not always perfect over in Italy either).

What it does have in common, according to Carly from road tripping blog @our.curated.chaos, is a sense of majesty, “Stepping into Loch Ard Gorge feels a little like entering a scene from a movie. Steep cliffs frame an inlet of crystal clear blue water and you can’t help but feel tiny as you stare up and out at this dramatic landscape.”

Athlete and fishing enthusiast Darcy Roper, who got engaged at Loch Ard Gorge, told DMARGE, “it sure is colder than Italy, but it’s well worth the drive from Melbourne. I’ve been there twice now, after the first visit I knew it was the perfect scene for a proposal so the second time I went there I popped a ring on her finger.”

“Its size and power is amazing and you can’t help but watch in awe at the waves rolling in and crashing up on the beach.”

“It was very easy to get to, in fact, I was less than two weeks post hamstring surgery and only off crutches for a couple of days and still managed the stairs down the cliff face and on to the beach.”

 
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One to add to the bucket list.

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The post Australia's Stunning 'Italy Alternative' Few People Know About appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Chronoswiss Gets Creative & Colourful With Bold 2021 Watch Releases
Chronoswiss Gets Creative & Colourful With Bold 2021 Watch Releases

After what’s been a whirlwind few weeks, Watches & Wonders – the industry’s pre-eminent trade show – has finally wrapped up.W&W 2021 was a hybrid conference, with an initial mostly virtual Geneva show followed by a traditional expo in Shanghai. The unique model allowed for a whopping 40 brands to exhibit literally hundreds of watches in some of the most lavishly produced unveilings we’ve seen in a while.With so many watches, you’d think it would be hard to pick a unifying theme, but there’s one standout trend that’s emerged: colour. Lots of colour.Cartier’s eclectic Tank Must collection, Hublot’s eye-catching yellow ceramic Big Bang, Zenith’s luxurious takes on their Defy high-frequency chronograph… Brands didn’t hold back when it came to colourful releases, that’s for sure.Chronoswiss, too, came to the party with hues aplenty, but in a very different fashion. The independent, collector-focused brand, in its characteristically refined and considered way, offered up a different variation on 2021’s colourful theme, showing off five exquisitely crafted new models that beautifully meld playful colours with haute horlogerie in a truly modern way.First up are three models with impeccable guilloched dials: a testament to Chronoswiss’ Lucerne artisans’ skills with a lathe. Hand-turned and iridescent, these are serious pieces of art – and that’s even before we start to look at their mechanical bona fides.

L-R: the Flying Regulator Open Gear ‘Pink Panther’ (ref. CH-8755-PIBK), the Open Gear ReSec ‘Paraíba’ (ref. CH-6923-TUBK) and the Open Gear Tourbillon ‘Reloaded’ (ref. CH-3126-BLBL).
The Flying Regulator Open Gear ‘Pink Panther’ (ref. CH-8755-PIBK), as the name implies, boasts a brilliantly pink dial. Pink remains a rather uncommon hue among high-end watches, particularly one as bold as this. But the real attraction of this model is its regulator movement.Chronoswiss is one of but a handful of watch companies who produce this highly traditional, complex watch movement: essentially, regulators are weight-driven movements regulated by a swinging pendulum, as opposed to a typical spring-wound movement. It’s a technically impressive feature and really make this watch stand out amongst the pack.The Open Gear ReSec ‘Paraíba’ (ref. CH-6923-TUBK) pays homage to the semi-precious tourmaline stone unique to the Brazilian region of Paraíba. It also boasts a regulator movement – this time with a 120-degree retrograde seconds indicator – yet its colour might be the most impressive element of the watch, counter-intuitively.The shimmering dial, which changes colour from soft turquoise and petrol blue to jungle green and deep purple as it catches the light, is thanks to a secret and unique nano-decorative chemical vapour deposition. It’s more lively than the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.The Open Gear Tourbillon ‘Reloaded’ (ref. CH-3126-BLBL), in comparison, goes all-in on one colour: electric blue. This watch truly redefines the ‘blue hour’: a regulator movement appears again but this time with a half-skeletonised flying tourbillon taking centre stage at 6 o’clock. Talk about visual flair.RELATED: Raymond Weil’s New Skeleton Watch Looks A Million Bucks For A Lot Less
L-R: Open Gear ReSec ‘Black Ice’ (ref. CH-6925-BKBK), the SkelTec ‘Azur’ (ref. CH-3718-BKBLB) and the SkelTec ‘Pitch Black’ (ref. CH-3715-BKBK).
The blue theme continues with the SkelTec Azur (ref. CH-3718-BKBLB). While this watch might feature a more typical movement instead of a regulator, it’s by no means the lesser watch – far from it.“The architecture of it really pushes the limits of what is possible with a five-axis CNC machine, while also celebrating old-school horology,” Chronoswiss Head of Design Maik Panziera relates. The royal blue further highlights the gravity-defying wizardry of the watch.The SkelTec ‘Pitch Black’ (ref. CH-3715-BKBK) instead murders out the dramatic, ultra-modern watch and lets the minimalistic hand-wound C.304 manufacture calibre speak for itself. It’s real sci-fi stuff.Another all-black watch and the final 2021 Chronoswiss novelty is the Open Gear ReSec ‘Black Ice’ (ref. CH-6925-BKBK) which swaps out the guilloched dials of its other Open Gear siblings for a galvanic black design that evokes shimmering ice crystals or black sand. The chunky pillars of lume that adorn the watch stand in stark relief to the enigmatic darkness of its design.Look, we’re running out of superlatives, but know this: Chronoswiss has always stood out as a disruptor and innovator, and these 6 novelties serve to further underscore that reputation. Discover more about these captivating models here.

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The post Chronoswiss Gets Creative & Colourful With Bold 2021 Watch Releases appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Farm Boy Constructs Incredible ‘Free Range’ Gym Almost Entirely Out Of Wood
Farm Boy Constructs Incredible ‘Free Range’ Gym Almost Entirely Out Of Wood

Tiktok has made it possible to become famous for anything.

Taking that maxim and shooting a three with it, Panola Country native Will Hartzell, who has been dubbed “LeBarn James,” appears to be building an empire out of Tiktok videos showing off his “farmtastic” basketball contraptions.

As Huffpost reported in March, “Will Hartzell has harvested TikTok fame from his down-home hoops videos.”

 

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He hasn’t stopped there though. Now Hartzell is putting the home gyms (and, for that matter, the real gyms) of the world to shame, constructing everything from his own leg press machine to a bench press out of wood and cinder blocks.

 

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The ultimate home gym? You be the judge…

As various commenters have pointed out: if farming doesn’t work out he can always become an engineer.

 

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The post Farm Boy Constructs Incredible 'Free Range' Gym Almost Entirely Out Of Wood appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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‘Bali’s Lung’: Hidden 6 Star Hotel In Ubud Has A Secret That Will Blow Your Mind
‘Bali’s Lung’: Hidden 6 Star Hotel In Ubud Has A Secret That Will Blow Your Mind

From the rice paddies of Tegallalang to the breezily ironed waters of Uluwatu, Bali – in intrepid travellers’ eyes – is as pristine as it is a fearful hive of drink spiking and moped crashing (in the eyes of Australian parents who watch crude ‘exposes’ on Channel 7).The truth, of course, lies somewhere in between. Even then, when you think about it, that’s a very 2006 assessment. Without even going into how it focuses on tourists, there is a whole contingent of travel bloggers and digital nomads who now call Bali home.Speaking of which… if you’re willing to cast your jealousy aside and watch their videos, there are insights to be had. Enter: Christian LeBlanc. A filmmaker who quit his job in accounting to travel the world, LeBlanc recently shared a video of what it’s like to stay at arguably Bali’s best hotel, The Ritz Carlton Mandapa, in Ubud.

 
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Entitled, “staying at Bali’s best resort changed my life,” the video shows LeBlanc’s experience at what he describes as a “hidden 6 star” hotel in Ubud. He visits with @rubystravels who remarks when they arrive in their accommodation above the trees: “You are suspended over the jungle.”

“This is crazy.”

The whole hotel is surrounded by the Ayung river – the longest river in Bali. As they arrive in reception, LeBlanc describes it as “like an amphitheatre” – with mountains surrounding the resort. The couple then travel in a golf cart, through a windy “Indiana Jones” esque maze and beautiful gardens, before arriving in their room.Well… room. As LeBlanc points out: “this is not a hotel room… this is insane.” They enter into a private villa, right on the river, with a pool, beautiful paintings etc.LeBlanc explains that this is one of five Ritz Carlton reserves in the world, and that, “Reserve basically means that it’s hidden.”“The cool thing is that when we were out on the road in Ubud there were no signs, nothing saying, ‘come down this way to Mandapa.'”

“[There was] just a dead little quiet alleyway.”

The Mandapa has been open for 5 years, but the area they visit next – The Sky Bar – for drinks only opened this year (2021).The experience, according to LeBlanc typically costs US $1,200 dollars a night, “but with the current situation, they are offering free upgrades.”RELATED: The Truth About Working Remotely From Bali During A PandemicThe two then take followers into a virtual journey into a little known (by those outside the area) waterfall – Tukad Cepung – which you can drive to from the resort.After completing a spot of canyoning they come across a natural shower and enjoy a breeze which prompts LeBlanc to say: “This is like a breath of mother nature. This is Bali’s lung.”They also provide a top tip for those looking to snap the spot: if you get there between 9 and 11am (on a sunny day) there will be light rays that stream through, making for a more majestic photo opportunity.

They then head back to the resort for acro yoga and afternoon tea.Finally, according to LeBlanc, what really makes the resort arguably the best in all of Bali is the fact that “you come here and you still get to see the ‘real Bali.'”“Still get the landscape, still get to try the cuisine, still get everything that makes this island so beautiful in one place and all within walking distance.”

 
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The resort similarly spruiks its natural charm.

“The essense of Bali, its natural beauty, warm hospitality and rich artistic and cultural heritage, is celebrated in the villas and suites at this Ubud resort. With uninterrupted rainforest, rice paddy or river views, these luxury accommodations are attended by 24-hour butlers and feature outdoor spaces with private terraces and plunge pools.”

Though the cynics might say that if it weren’t for these lavish resorts there would be more ‘real Bali’ to look at, as LeBlanc (and expats DMARGE has spoken to) point out, right now many Balinese people are actually super keen for visitors to return, to boost the economy. There is also an argument to be made that tourism, done right, can also be what saves natural areas from being plastered in concrete.Whether you see The Ritz Carlton Mandapa as a monument to excess or as a ~life goal~ (or both), we recommend watching the video…

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The post 'Bali's Lung': This Ubud Secret Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Kevin Hart’s Latest Suiting Look Is The Definition Of Bleeding Edge Style
Kevin Hart’s Latest Suiting Look Is The Definition Of Bleeding Edge Style

Suits might be the cornerstone of male Western business attire, but it can be surprisingly difficult to make a suit look good.If your jacket’s too long, it can make you look short. Loud prints or a double-breasted suit jacket can make you look ‘large’. And if you don’t shop judiciously or employ the services of a tailor, you can end up looking like an absolute mook.But suits can also be transformative – as Kevin Hart has shown off time and time again.One of the 41-year-old comedian and actor’s latest suiting looks is particularly brilliant. Doing a blitz of Instagram self-promotion for a few of his upcoming projects, the funnyman showed off an incredibly dapper ensemble, with a salmon-pink suit over a cream shirt, popping a few buttons to show off some chains (and a surprisingly buff physique).But it’s the suit that’s really interesting. Not only is a light pink like that a hard colour to pull off, but the suit’s been overdyed below the waist in a blood-red; the dye extending to the ends of the suit blazer and continued down through his trousers.

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It’s a startling look, one that’s really on the bleeding edge of men’s style. We can’t imagine every bloke being able to pull this off, but when you’ve got the poise, confidence (and bank account) of Kevin Hart, anything’s possible.RELATED: Dan Levy Rips Up The Men’s Fashion Book At The SAG AwardsIf the suit wasn’t eye-catching enough, Hart’s also wearing one of his many Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches: in this instance, he’s rocking his Tourbillon Extra-Thin (ref. 26522ST.OO.1220ST.01) worth around 200,000 USD.Kevin’s got a number of projects in the works: the upcoming drama Fatherhood; two comedies titled Me Time and The Man From Toronto; and two TV shows: True Story and Kevin Hart’s Muscle Car Crew.Ain’t no rest for the wicked…

Watch how to get ripped like Kevin Hart below

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The post Kevin Hart Shows Off Bloody Good New Suit, $200,000 Audemars Piguet Watch appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Trans Tasman Travel Bubble Could See Australians Plotting ‘Rolex Runs’ To New Zealand
Trans Tasman Travel Bubble Could See Australians Plotting ‘Rolex Runs’ To New Zealand

A plank has finally been placed between Australia and New Zealand. Now the question on everyone’s lips is… where’s next?This is a perfectly valid question (the answer to which is probably: Singapore). But that’s been covered everywhere. What hasn’t is how today’s monumental news will affect Australia’s luxury goods sector.To better understand how the Trans Tasman bubble opening will impact Australia’s luxury industry, DMARGE spoke to Sam van der Griend, Managing Director of Watches of Switzerland.

Watches of Switzerland opened its specialist Swiss watch store at Melbourne International Airport’s Luxury Precinct in November 2017. The store offers the same client experience as any Watches of Switzerland downtown boutique, “however all pricing is GST free,” Mr van der Griend told DMARGE.

“We have an impressive portfolio of our partner brands including a Rolex boutique and Cartier’s only airport location in Australia.”

“Whilst the travel bubble with New Zealand only started today,” Mr van der Griend told us, “we are anticipating a great boost in tax-free sales at the airport. Air New Zealand and Qantas are forecasting trans Tasman travel be back at close to 100% of Pre-Covid levels by September this year.”So though there’s no evidence yet of Australians booking flights just so they can browse through Duty-Free, what we are likely to see is Australians who are going on holiday to New Zealand anyway start to Duty-Free shop on their way through.Who knows? There could even be pent up demand.Though the recovery will not be instant (as News.com.au reported this morning, almost every store in Sydney’s international airport was still closed when the first batch of passengers arrived), Mr van der Griend told DMARGE the luxury industry doesn’t necessarily need it to be.

“We have been enjoying our loyal Australian customers shopping in our boutiques nationwide since international borders have been closed. I anticipate this will continue for the long term, however the luxury travel market to New Zealand and beyond is very strong, and inevitably we will have clients wanting to purchase tax-free.”

“It has been very impressive to see the true depth of the luxury local Australian consumer with the current border closures. Landlocked consumers have been buying locally and in addition to our existing client base we have really enjoyed meeting new clientele that would usually shop whilst they travel to overseas, especially to Europe,” Mr van der Griend added.

“I also know that these clients have enjoyed being able to start a relationship with us. Of course, international shopping always plays a part in the luxury travel experience, but for an investment like a Swiss watch we see more clients buying at our boutiques or at our tax-free airport store before they travel.”“For many years we have been investing heavily to make sure our boutiques are just as exciting and beautiful as any offering overseas as have the major international luxury brands, and Australia has a great luxury offering for the local market.”Mr van der Griend also pointed out that even though the return of Duty-Free shopping is positive, the luxury goods market is actually in a better place already than you might think: “We will see a slight economic boost with the bubble, but this won’t overshadow what we are already experiencing right now.”

“In summary, we are very excited that the bubble will see renewed life at the airport and at our tax-free store. New Zealand will hopefully be followed by Singapore and as these key markets open up we will see tourists coming as well as Australians travelling and buying tax-free.”

“However as we have seen the borders closed and Australians buying local rather than overseas, I am also very confident that a lot of Australians will continue to buy locally.”

The problem for Australians is that if you buy a watch in New Zealand’s Duty-Free, you have to declare it on re-entry to Australia and pay an ‘import’ tax. So depending on a number of factors (such as exactly how expensive the luxury item you buy is, and the exchange rate at the time of your trip) your best bet is still – probably – to stick to buying your grail watch in Australia’s Duty-Free (if you are starting and ending your trip in Australia).Your next challenge? Actually finding the watch of your dreams in Australian Duty-Free.

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The post Australian Luxury Consumers Enjoy Spoils Of Trans-Tasman Duty Free Shopping appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Prince Phillip Land Rover Conversion Kit On Sale For Just $3,300
Prince Phillip Land Rover Conversion Kit On Sale For Just $3,300

One of the biggest news items in the Commonwealth of Nations this month has been the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-lived male member of the British royal family, his death at the age of 99 has dominated news headlines for weeks.His ceremonial funeral over the weekend was a touching sendoff for a highly individual man. The Duke reportedly planned much of his own ceremony, wishing for minimal “fuss” and a focus on his military service. Notably, his body was taken from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel on a custom-built Land Rover Defender hearse in military green that he himself helped design, having been a life-long fan of the British marque’s 4x4s.The ute-like car was a clever and personable touch for Philip’s funeral, but the novel design had many Australian car fans (some rather guiltily) thinking to themselves: how do I go about getting my own Defender ute?Never fear: there’s a simple solution for all those looking to get in on the royal runabout action – that won’t require a princely sum.Team Perentie, a Land Rover restoration and equipment purveyor based in Sydney’s beautiful Manly, sells a hardtop ute cab conversion kit for the Land Rover Perentie, the Defender variant used by the Australian Defence Force from the 80s all the way up to the 2010s.For only $3,300, you can turn a Perentie troop carrier into a bona fide Land Rover ute, the likes of which Prince Philip would certainly approve of.

Perenties differ from civilian Defenders in a few key areas: not only were they almost exclusively two-door soft-tops, but they had a beefier chassis, incredibly no-frills fit-outs and were powered by a series of Isuzu engines. Technically, they’re all utes of a fashion, but the option of a hardtop cab conversion significantly raises the practicality of a Perentie as a daily driver (as well as making it more resemble Philip’s hearse, but that’s neither here nor there).Land Rover did officially sell tray-bodied Defender 90 / 110 models, and you can still find plenty of examples on Carsales, Gumtree and the like – but they remain rather expensive, and many have seen serious service as farm vehicles or bush bashers.RELATED: ‘Affordable’ Toyota SUVs Fast Becoming Perfect Alternative To Skyrocketing Defender PricesIronically, most Perenties have had a gentler life: most Perenties on the market have less than 50,000kms on the clock (as most just saw light base duties and not much else). Because they were army vehicles, too, they were treated to regular service intervals and were usually garaged.Of course, being mil-spec, they lack many of the creature comforts and refinement of civilian Defenders… But the regular Defender was hardly a luxury vehicle, unlike many civilian variants of the G-Wagen, for example. Besides, if you’re getting one of these cars, you’re not getting it because it’s comfy. You’re getting it because it’s cool.In essence, Perenties are tougher, cheaper, more reliable versions of the classic Defender, that you can now easily turn into a ute. What’s not to love?

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‘Unstoppable’ Sergio Ramos Completes Beast Mode Workout Even After Testing Positive For Coronavirus
‘Unstoppable’ Sergio Ramos Completes Beast Mode Workout Even After Testing Positive For Coronavirus

Forget Bruce Lee and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Real Madrid centre-back legend Sergio Ramos deserves a trope of fawning literature all of his own. Not only is he a clutch player who can dismantle the confidence of the world’s best strikers with ease (as well as score penalties and headers with seeming impunity), but he is a constant source of fitness inspiration for the world’s languishing weightlifters.If you, like us, need a little creative spark to get you roaring into your gym, then look no further than the 35-year-old Los Blancos captain. Over the past few months he has suffered all sorts of setbacks, but proven time and time again he has the right attitude to overcome them.In November he showed us a gruelling rehabilitation workout that will have your legs shaking, as part of his recovery from a minor hamstring injury. In February he showed us how he is recovering from a knee injury with a majestic lesson in core and leg strength.In March he flaunted a champion spec workout that could level up your legs. Now it’s April and the beleaguered star has tested positive for COVID. Though he had already been ruled out of last week’s crucial Champions League clash with Liverpool (which was played on Wednesday) due to a calf injury sustained on international duty, “Ramos has tested positive for coronavirus, the club said on Tuesday,” Sky Sports reports.Ramos over the weekend took to Instagram to show fans he was not keeping idle, smashing out some ferocious deadlifts in what appears to be his back garden. “Corona who?” he captioned the post.

“We’ll be back. Don’t let anybody doubt that.”

In the video Ramos can be seen doing eight Romanian deadlifts before dropping the (what appears to be) 40kg-loaded bar to the floor in a mic drop type moment.

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A post shared by Sergio Ramos (@sergioramos)

Instagram account @433 wrote: “Beast mode,” in the comments while music artist @samiduqueoficial wrote “Jajajaja imparableeeeeee” (hahahaha unstoppable).Fellow injured teammate Lucas Vasquez showed support too, in the form of a strong arm emoji.Many other commenters took the opportunity to urge the Madrid captain to resign his contract (Ramos has been rumoured to be on the radar of Manchester United, PSG, Liverpool and Juventus, with his Madrid contract close to ending).RELATED: Australian Doctor Reveals The Dangers Of Working Out While Sick“Stop working out and sign the contract,” one user wrote, to the tune of 115 likes.Wherever Ramos plays next year, we’ll continue to look to him for fitness inspiration.

Watch Sergio Ramos destroy his biggest workouts below.

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