In a world where every high-end watchmaker has a diver’s watch in their collection, Bell & Ross’ pieces stand out thanks to their distinct ‘squared circle’ design. The Franco-Swiss brand, known for their minimalist, military instrument-inspired timepieces, is a refreshing and unique brand that deserves more attention than it’s given.

In contrast, Saint-Tropez does not want for attention in the slightest. The jewel of the Côte d’Azur and one of the world’s most iconic resort towns, Saint-Tropez is the opposite of minimalist. Loved by the rich and famous, its heyday was arguably in the 60s and 70s, when it was host to filmmakers, musicians and artists of all stripes. It was and remains a vibrant, luxurious, playful place, backdropped by the brilliant hues of the Mediterranean.

RELATED: Ultra Wealthy Making Quick Return To These Exotic Destinations, According To Luxury Insider

The spirit of these two French icons – Bell & Ross, and Saint-Tropez – come together in the new limited-edition BR-03-92 Diver Orange (ref. BR0392-D-O-ST/SRB), an exciting new watch which marries 70s Gallic flair with modern technical wizardry and military iconography in a vibrant, tidy little package.

What makes it so 70s, you ask? It’s the orange dial. Orange dial watches first debuted in the 70s, and it’s that era’s playfulness that Bell & Ross captures through this colour palette.  If you think about the 70s, it’s one of the colours that first comes to mind, from fashion to cars to the sunset-bleached aesthetic of a 70s summer. Of course, orange is also the colour of maritime safety – worn by divers during missions, and seen on life rings, boats and other naval artefacts. The ocean itself is filled with oranges, too: clownfish, coral, octopi, seashells…

From a technical perspective, the orange dial makes this BR-03-92 particularly legible, as well as visually distinct from the rest of Bell & Ross’ offerings (as well as from just about every other diver’s watch on the market right now).

Water-resistant to 300 meters, the BR-03-92 Diver Orange utilises the calibre BR-CAL.302 self-winding automatic movement, based on the Sellita SW300-1: a time-tested movement that brands like TAG Heuer, Baume & Mercier and IWC Schaffhausen also use.

Its stainless steel case is designed to withstand the rigours of underwater exploration, and also features a soft iron cage to increase the watch’s resistance to magnetic fields. The BR-03-92 Diver’s crown is screwed down to withstand the pressure at great depths and equipped with a guard that guarantees complete protection against impacts and optimal water resistance, plus a rubber insert for improved ergonomics. As a further guarantee of flawless water resistance, the Diver Orange’s sapphire crystal (which also has an anti-reflective coating) is an impressive 2.85mm thick, compared to the 1.5mm on the classic BR 03-92.

The Diver Orange is available with two straps: a woven black rubber with a steel pin buckle, or an ultra-resilient orange synthetic fabric which allows the watch to be quickly and ergonomically adjusted over a diving suit thanks to a Velcro closure system.

Technical Specifications

• Ref. BR0392-D-O-ST/SRB
• Movement: calibre BR-CAL.302 (automatic mechanical)
• Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date
• 42mm satin-finished and polished steel case
• Unidirectional rotating steel bezel with 60-minute scale and black anodised aluminium insert
• Orange dial features appliqué metal indices with Super-LumiNova inserts + metal skeletonised Super-LumiNova-filled hands
• Water-resistant to 300 metres
• ~8,000 AUD

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The post Bell & Ross BR 03-92: More Colourful Than Saint-Tropez In The 70s appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Does Qantas’ ‘spirit of Australia’ really exist? As Melbourne based author Christos Tsiolkas laid (uncomfortably) bare in his 2005 novel Dead Europe (as well as in a more recent piece in The Weekend Australian), most national ‘identities’ are founded on myriad truths, lies, mythologies and history, which we clutch (and, in the case of Europe, fetishize) like blankets.

Getting back to Qantas… Despite the conceptually flawed nature of ‘Modern Australia’, Qantas’ iconic “spirit of Australia” slogan has endured for 100 years (a milestone the airline celebrated in March).

But as Qantas, due to this year’s financial woes, considers moving its Sydney HQ to (among other places) Melbourne, could this slogan be under threat?

Various senators and outraged Twitter users have moaned about the taxpayer potentially picking up the bill for this Qantas downsize. But what no one is talking about is how such a change could affect the validity of Qantas’ “spirit of Australia” slogan.

Much like such cultural institutions as $2 Bunnings’ sausages, thongs and ocean swimming are integral to the overall ~Australian identity~, we’d argue Sydney as a home base is equally integral to the identity of The Flying Roo.

Why?

While most of us are aware of the subjective nature of the ‘spirit of Australia’ (something the Sydney Morning Herald took to task in 2017), we still use it as a touchpoint for what Qantas is.

And it’s oh so Sydney.

Don’t believe us? Think about it: if you had to associate salt and pepper squid, sweeping sunny views and business class passengers wearing activewear with one Australian city, where would it be?

Canberra is too boring, Melbourne too cool and Queensland too rural to really capture the stereotypical heart of modern Australia. If Qantas wants to remain relevant, by this rude logic, the city that has everything and nothing (Sydney) is the only place for Qantas to have its HQ.

That may soon change, however.

Qantas on Tuesday announced it would look for state government financial support to help it decide whether to move its HQ from Sydney’s Mascot and into smaller, cheaper pastures.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, “Qantas said it would consider merging the Qantas and Jetstar headquarters, where 5000 and 1000 people work, respectively, in either Mascot, Melbourne, Brisbane or at the new Western Sydney Airport.”

This has caused considerable excitement among states who could look to receive it.

BREAKING NEWS: South Australia should immediately launch a comprehensive bid to lure @Qantas and @JetstarAirways’s HQ to Adelaide, amid news the carrier is considering relocation.

This is an incredible opportunity for SA to secure hundreds, if not thousands, of long-term jobs. pic.twitter.com/jKbki8SnHG

— Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) September 15, 2020

However, as The Sydney Morning Herald reports, the news has not been received well by everyone.

“Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has blasted Qantas’ move to start a bidding war between state governments over the location of its headquarters as a blatant appeal for corporate welfare.”

Senator Birmingham said on the radio on Wednesday the move to auction off its head office jobs was a “blatant attempt to extract taxpayer dollars from the states and territories.”

“This bidding war won’t create one extra job in Australia; it just shuffles jobs around Australia and certainly our focus federally is how we save jobs across the country and try to start to grow those numbers again.”

Senator Birmingham also warned it could spark a trend of businesses looking for government handouts.

“This has the potential to represent the worst of federalism and to spark a wave of corporate welfare-seeking by big business.”

A Qantas spokesman said, “We have to look right across our business for ways to be more efficient… Under those circumstances, it’s hard to see why state governments responding positively is a bad thing.”

“Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has said his government would make a ‘very attractive’ offer to Qantas to keep Jetstar where it is,” the Sydney Morning Herald reports, “and attract Qantas’ head office and heavy maintenance work to the state, which is economically reeling from the effect of its ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns.”

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet likewise has said the NSW government would offer “every assistance” to Qantas to keep as many jobs in the state as possible. Similarly, the Queensland government has pledged to fight to keep the 750 engineering jobs it is at risk of losing in Brisbane.

This is how #Qantas rolls:

1. Claims it doesn’t need a “bailout”
2. Trousers half a billion in #JobKeeper & more in assistance
3. Outsources 2500 jobs, forcing employees to bid back their own jobs on the cheap
4. TODAY: Asks State Govts for MORE public money to host their HQ

— Senator Tony Sheldon (@senator_sheldon) September 15, 2020

Various Australian Twitter users (and senators) have expressed their displeasure at the news too.

The biggest bluff of the week?

QANTAS pretending that Sydney hasn’t been the best capital in Australia to have your head office located.
Get in the bin Joyce. @GladysB

— Sarge (@Sgt_Patterson) September 17, 2020

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The post Qantas Head Office: Problem With Qantas Moving Its Headquarters appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Even though restrictions have eased somewhat in the Harbour City, Sydneysiders are still largely reluctant to go out in the same sorts of pre-COVID numbers. Which makes sense, and is probably for the best – there’s still no vaccine and it’s not as if The Bat Kiss has got any less virulent.

So most of us are still homebodies. Which is fine, until you run out of books to read or games of Scrabble to play.

However, the owners of this property in Blakehurst in Sydney’s south probably aren’t facing the same levels of boredom as the rest of us plebeians, as their ‘no expense spared’ house has more than enough to keep even the most easily distracted satisfied.

“With a mini-golf course, 4K cinema room, a hand-built fire pit and a heated lap pool, this Sydney house will no doubt be the talk of the town,” realestate.com.au relates.

66 Townson Street doesn’t sacrifice fun and games for comfort, either: “all four bedrooms are oversized and feature walk-in wardrobes and ensuites. The main bedroom is complete with water views and a stunning ensuite with a freestanding stone bath, shower and his/her vanity, while two other bedrooms have private lofts.”

The walk-in wardrobes also have lighted display cabinets – perfect for showcasing one’s watch collection.

RELATED: Gianluca Vacchi’s Cartier Suggests Eclectic Watch Collections Are Something Every Playboy Needs

“Behind the central hub is the rear entertaining desk with a built-in barbecue, pizza oven and bar fridge. This overlooks a stylish backyard with a custom 14-seater sandstone fire pit and a heated pool. The double garage features the other highlight of the house – a cinema with a 130in screen, 4K projector, surround sound and a fully stocked bar.”

We’re not sure how we feel about the graffiti-style mural that adorns the back wall of the home cinema – it stands in stark contrast to the ‘classiness’ of the rest of the property. You can’t deny it’s a unique feature, however, and it’d be a shame to get rid of after so much effort has gone into it. We’ll leave that decision up to the buyer.

The open-plan living space is the perfect environment for a house party (don’t forget that 1.5m social distancing!): the large, high-end kitchen, replete with a butler’s pantry, is an entertainer’s dream. Designer appliances and plenty of prep space mean you’ve got all the tools at your disposal for any COVID culinary experimentation you want to try your hand at, too.

Two particularly luxe features of the living area include a built-in fireplace and a full-size aquarium. They are next to each other, however… Hope the poor fishies don’t get fried.

Blakehurst itself, billed as a “blue-ribbon locale”, is also a particularly nice patch of Sydney to locate oneself in. Only 18km from the CBD with sweeping ocean views and proximity to the Sutherland Shire’s fantastic beaches like Cronulla and Shelly, you’re well-placed for when society gets back to normal or if you need to bunker down indefinitely (here’s hoping it’s more a case of the former rather than the latter).

Read Next

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The post Blakehurst Real Estate: Sydney Pad To Send Rich Buyers ‘Putting Crazy’ appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Adelaide is a city that remains neatly tucked away on Australia’s south coast. Known for its openness to a diverse range of faiths, an extensive number of festivals devoted to the arts and, of course, the world-famous Barossa Valley wine region, Adelaide is a city you really need to be visiting more often.

Naturally, the aforementioned Barossa and its numerous wineries are one of the main draws for tourism – along with Eden Valley and McLaren Vale – Adelaide can also be an ideal weekend destination for keen golfers thanks to a generous selection of world-class golf courses and driving ranges.

Obviously, you’re going to need somewhere to stay when you visit Adelaide, and rather than stay in one of its cool hotels (although, they are definitely worth a visit) we implore you to take a look into staying in an Airbnb. Not only do you (usually) get more space than you get from a hotel room, but you can have an entire home to yourself that can quite literally be a home away from home.

There are hundreds of Adelaide Airbnbs to stay in, so we’ve filtered through the homes available to bring you the coolest ones you’ll want to book in an instant.

Mid-Century Pool House | Camden Park

We’re all going to want a big party once the global crisis subsides, and what better place to party than this, quite simply, huge 6 bedroom home in Camden Park. Decorated to resemble a mid-Century Palm Springs pad, this home can accommodate up to 16 people in eclectic madness.

With plenty of entertaining space for you and your friends, including a large outdoor pool, pool table and air hockey, as well as giving you the option to take your pets along for the ride too, this huge Adelaide pad is the party house you’ve been looking for.

Book @ Airbnb

Glenberrie Place | Kangarilla

Placing you right in the heart of nature is this stunning studio in Kangarilla. The self-contained unit is on the expansive grounds of the main house owned by the hosts, yet you’re secluded enough that you can soak up your surroundings in privacy. Expect to have local wildlife knocking on the glass doors at sunlight, including kangaroos and koalas, and revel in the fact that the majority of the studio is run off the grid.

The property is close to a number of cafes, restaurants and wineries, but you can also while away the hours exploring the park-like grounds around you.

Book @ Airbnb

Gundaroo | Barossa Valley

For a quintessential Barossa experience check yourself into Gundaroo. This two-bedroom retreat is surrounded by 50 acres of farmland – a working alpaca farm – that makes for a perfect weekend getaway when visiting the world-class wineries the Barossa Valley has to offer. Complimentary wine on arrival and the potential for playing with the alpacas only add to this charming cottage’s appeal.

Book @ Airbnb

Blakiston Creamery | Blakiston

This four-bedroom home may be on the pricier side, but when you consider what you get in return we feel it’s worth every cent. What was once the Blakiston Cheese Factory, built in 1896, is now an architect’s dream, boasting original wooden beams, exposed stone walls and high ceilings that make for a home you’ll never want to leave.

Every room has been meticulously decorated to offer guests a comfortable and relaxing stay, and with features such as a long wooden dining table, Blakiston Creamery also makes for a perfect stay for large groups.

Book @ Airbnb

Condor Estate Vineyard | Maslin Beach

For the last word in privacy book yourself into the Condor Estate Vineyard. A large four-bedroom home set at the end of an incredibly long drive awaits you and up to nine other guests, that provides easy access to everything Adelaide has to offer. Inside is a huge designer kitchen and equally large bedrooms all with en-suite, making it perfectly suited to families.

Head north towards Adelaide CBD (and further north to the Barossa), stay around the McLaren Vale area to visit the numerous wineries int he region, or take a trip south and head to Kangaroo Island.

Book @ Airbnb

Eden Retreat | Onkaparinga Hills

Continuing the theme of farmhouses set on acres of land is Eden Retreat. This three-bedroom, eight guest property is built on 12 acres of land, with plenty more nearby in the Onkaparinga National Park, which is simply ripe for exploration. Being in such a rural location, don’t be surprised to see abundant wildlife and if you ever grow tired of completing walking trails, McLaren Value and Christie’s Beach are both just a short drive away.

Book @ Airbnb

The Retreat | Unley

The Retreat found in the inner-southern suburb of Unley is an Airbnb for travellers who love clean lines and luxurious home comforts that live to make their stay as easy and efficient as possible. Designed for entertaining (although strictly no parties) the recently renovated Retreat may not have the outdoor views of some of the others on this list, but for opulence and proximity to Adelaide CBD, it’s hard to beat.

Book @ Airbnb

CBD Penthouse | Adelaide

Let’s not forget that tourists visit Adelaide not just for the rolling vineyards, but for everything the CBD has to offer as well. What better place to stay that a penthouse apartment that rises high above the hustle and bustle, and one that is tastefully decorated to create a space that is incredibly inviting. An “Outdoor Garden Pavilion” serves as an oasis for reflection while you look down to the streets below.

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The post Cool Adelaide Airbnbs You'll Want To Live In Forever appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

CBD has become known as a wonder – non-psychoactive – health drug, which is now sold all over the US to consumers hoping to relieve pain and inflammation (you can also get it in Australia if your doctor gives you a prescription).

There are some side effects too, but we’ll leave the pros and cons of CBD to the experts.

There is, however, another plant, native to the South Pacific Islands that can induce similar feelings as CBD’s less legal (depending on where you are) cousin Cannabis, that also happens to be totally legal (although, not without its caveats).

Called kava, it’s taken in various forms by communities in places such as Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and Hawai’i (and is often a drawcard tourist attraction). It is, in fact, the root of the plant that houses the good stuff, as it is used to produce a drink that exhibits sedative, anaesthetic and euphoriant properties. People of these islands will grind up the root and let it rest in water. The water is then drunk – there’s no beating around the bush, a pleasant taste it does not have – and then you play the waiting game for the effect to take hold.

As you may expect, there are good and bad variations of kava, known as noble and non-noble. Noble kava is the version that has been traditionally taken as its composition of kavalactones (the main active ingredient) produce more pleasant effects, which can include minor pain relief, thus making it a viable alternative to CBD (the non-psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, for those of who you skipped chemistry class).

If you haven’t heard of kava before (or if it has never crossed your mind to consume it in any other situation than a Fiji holiday) you wouldn’t be alone. Creator of the keto-friendly Bulletproof Coffee, Dave Asprey, was similarly in the dark about this elusive plant. To find out more, he recently spoke to Cameron George, co-founder of Tru Kava, a company specialising in selling the highest-quality kava-based products, created from thorough and extensive research and development.

Cameron explains, in layman’s terms, that kava is essentially a stress-relieving drink that has been used among the islands mentioned above (along with some others) for around 3,000 years as a “social-enhancing, anxiety-relieving alcohol alternative.”

He adds it can also be used as a means toward “enhancing mood, relaxation and mental clarity.”

“It’s like an enhanced state of sobriety, and that calm focus is kind of like an alpha state that happen to be the prime state for learning and concentration.”

It also allows people to “experience more of an empathetic connection between one another, and allows people to explore themselves and explore others, while not compromising your fine motor skills or leading to drunkenness”, he continues.

But rather than just drink it with a group of friends in somewhere akin to Byron Bay or Nimbin, the indigenous people of those island nations would – and still do – “drink it like we drink coffee, and they drink it like we drink alcohol – except they prefer it of course, over alcohol.”

Kava is such a popular drink that there are bars dedicated to serving it, with Cameron adding that there around “20 times more kava bars [than regular bars] on the islands.”

It’s said that while regular bars can be expected to become louder and louder as patrons become more intoxicated, kava bars exhibit the opposite effect, getting progressively quieter as drinks become slowly more sedate.

Kava has been introduced into the Western World already, with many countries adopting their own laws with regards to the amount you can have on your possession and whether you can distribute it or not. In Australia, for example, kava can be prescribed by a doctor to help treat anxiety.

Alternatively, you can get your hands on your own, but you’re only allowed to have up to 2kg or less in your possession, and it’s illegal to sell it in a pure form for personal use. Getting your hands on it might be tricky too, as it’s illegal to import, although a majority of supplement stores should stock it.

In the United States, however, kava is completely legal and the country is even home to its own dedicated kava bars, the first of which was opened in Florida in 2000.

Of course, as with any drug, there are potential side effects, and it has been reported that high levels of consumption can have negative effects on organs such as the liver. It’s also strongly advised that if you choose to take kava, that you only consume product from a reputable source, as poor quality kava can incur adverse reactions. But, the same can be said of practically any drug.

For the most part, kava could be a genuine – and non-addictive – alternative to substances like alcohol.

Read Next

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The post Kava Health Benefits: Pacific Island Plant Finally Making Waves appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="270868" img_size="full" add_caption="yes" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_separator][vc_column_text]This article was produced in partnership with Bvlgari

Watches and wine are very similar. In the same way there’s nothing wrong with a cheap bottle of vin ordinaire – it gets the job done – there’s nothing wrong with a basic watch. But ask anyone whether they'd prefer a bottle of vintage Merlot or a fine Swiss timepiece over the alternative and there’d be little debate.

The comparison is also apt because both watches and wine attract snobs. Some oenophiles won’t touch anything that’s not a Bordeaux, and some watch fans only care about ‘the holy trinity’, for example. People are entitled to their preferences, but to an extent, they’re cutting off their nose to spite their face: their narrow-mindedness is preventing them from experiencing a world of pleasures.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="270869" img_size="full" add_caption="yes"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_separator][vc_column_text]So in the same way, Bvlgari watches are like fine Australian wines: made with all the finesse and expertise of the bastions of their respective worlds, but with a unique flair that only fresher, more innovative origins can bestow. And just as Australian wines often combine Italian techniques with Australian terroir, Bvlgari watches combine the excellence of Swiss watchmaking with Italian flair in a particularly tasty combination.

Bvlgari, one of the world’s leading luxury brands, is best known for its fantastic jewellery, accessories and fragrances – but as this year’s Geneva Watch Days has emphatically demonstrated, they ought to also be part of the watch conversation.

Two of their most exciting 2020 releases include the new Octo Finissimo Steel and Bvlgari Bvlgari Aluminium: perhaps the most quietly brilliant versions of these great timepieces.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_separator][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="270878" img_size="full"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="270883" img_size="full"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Let’s start with the Octo Finissimo Steel. The Octo Finissimo has garnered high praise since its introduction in 2014, the ultra-thin sports watch loved for its comfort and distinctly Italian Futurist style. The highly-faceted, elegant timepiece has been experimented upon with a wide variety of complications, including flying tourbillons and perpetual calendars, but sometimes simple is best.

The new steel model lets the acclaimed design of the Octo shine through, with nothing but a small seconds indicator to distract from its timeless design. The steel’s satin polish lets the design (literally) shine, with the broad, handsome integrated steel bracelet complementing the boxy style of the watch perfectly. Its steel construction not only looks great but means it’s perfect for daily wear.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="270874" img_size="full"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_separator][vc_column_text]The BB Aluminium has also got our mouths watering. The design of the watch reminds us of the stylish aesthetic of Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 1996 film Romeo + Juliet: the mixing of Italianate heritage with 90s haute couture and beachy looks.

90s style is back in a big way in 2020, and horological legend Gérald Genta’s 1998 masterstroke that is the Bvlgari Bvlgari has never shone brighter. The unique rubber bezel with Roman ‘BVLGARI’ font flanks a minimalist dial, emphasising the clean and cool nature of the watch. Now that it’s aluminium, the already eminently-wearable watch is more wearable than ever. The hinged rubber strap is a particularly unique touch and adds to this piece’s impeccable elegance and functionality.

Like a glass of South Australian Montepulciano, these Bvlgari watches go down a treat: a salve for the weary soul of any watch collector looking for something new to spice up their collection, or for their next daily wearer. Bvlgari has invested savvily in their watchmaking in the 21st century and it’s paid off: the Italian luxury house is more than deserving of a seat at the table of haute horologerie, and you should add one of their watches to your collection.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_separator][vc_column_text]

The Octo Finissimo Steel comes in at $17,800 and the Bvlgari Aluminium at $4,340 - and both are available at Bvlgari right now.

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The post Why A Bvlgari Watch Should Be Your Next Horological Investment appeared first on DMARGE.

Self-care is hardly a new phenomenon – as the Harvard Business Review relates, “from the meditation and essential oils of the 60s to the Jane Fonda aerobics tapes of the 1980s and the fat-free-everything 1990s… [a] $11 billion self-improvement industry has grown.”

Much like how other deceptively simple phrases have become imbued with immense cultural baggage in the 21st century (think ‘the pandemic’, ‘fake news’ or ‘me too’), ‘self-care’ is not only emblematic of a new understanding about mental health and self-improvement, but also of a huge cottage industry of mindfulness coaches, boutique soaps and staycations that seems to have blossomed almost overnight.

Whether you think ‘self-care’ is hot air (or a breath of fresh air), it’s undeniable we’re paying more attention to it, especially us men. 2020 has also accelerated our interest in self-care… When you can’t go outside and the world seems to be falling apart at the seams, it’s a good opportunity to look inwards and cultivate better personal habits; to turn what’s been quite a negative year so far into a positive.

RELATED: Exactly How Much Slack You Should Be Cutting Yourself In Isolation, According To A Psychologist

One thread on Reddit’s /r/AskMen, simply titled “Men 50+, what are some self-care habits you wish you started earlier?” – has gone viral, with Gen X men coming out in droves to commiserate, share and laud the self-care habits that all men, regardless of age, should be adopting sooner rather than later.

There were the usual takeaways – watch your weight, exercise, sleep properly – but some themes emerged which are perhaps more surprising.

Dental Hygiene

One very common piece of advice these men over 50 had for their younger peers was to make sure you pay attention to your teeth: flossing, seeing a dentist regularly, and investing in your mouth.

“I didn’t go to the dentist or the doctor unless it was critical for about 5 years, and my teeth weren’t doing so hot; started going again last year and now I have a root canal scheduled that I wouldn’t have had to get if I hadn’t been a dummy,” one commenter said.

“Take good care of your eyes, teeth, and ears. You will miss these things you take for granted once they’re gone,” another warned.

Look After Your Skin

Paying attention to your skin was perhaps the most popular insight shared by men on the thread, who related that moisturising and proper skincare goes a long way in terms of making you look younger and feeling healthier.

“Many years ago when I was in my mid-30’s I knew a guy (a friend of a friend) who used to put moisturizer on his face every day. I initially thought ‘I don’t need to do that’, but soon I also started to do it daily… Now I’m in my 50’s and my face looks younger and much less leathery than some guys I know who are actually younger than me. Moisturizer with built-in sunblock is definitely the go. Doubly so if you live in a sunny part of the world.”

It’s not just something you should do for aesthetic concerns, it’s also seriously important for your health.

One commenter shared, “after just having a dermatologist excavate several holes into my back to remove a couple of melanomas, I never ever realized what a huge impact that call – ‘the labs came back and those areas were cancerous’ – can have on your life. And learning it’s not a result of recent exposure, rather possibly one big sunburn from years and years ago. Sunscreen!”

 

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A post shared by Mahamet Tounkara (@momo_tounks) on Sep 15, 2020 at 10:25pm PDT

This is particularly pertinent advice for Australian men. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, Australia has the world’s highest rate of skin cancer. Moreover, Australian men are more at risk of developing a skin cancer diagnosis than women, Cancer Council ACT reports.

“Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world,” Cancer Council ACT states.

“This is due largely to our climate, the fact that many of us have fair skin that isn’t really suited to such harsh conditions, our proximity to the equator (high UV levels) and our social attitudes and love for the outdoors.”

With skin cancer such a danger for Aussie men, we ought to pay particular attention to skincare.

Maintain Your Social Network

One of the most popular pieces of advice was “extending [your] social network and understanding that shared experiences in a social group are an important part of mental health.”

“As a kid with very social parents, I HATED that I always had to tag along with them to random social gatherings and be forced to play with random kids while being on my best manners with new people,” one Gen Xer shared.

“Now as an adult myself I really admire how social they are. They embarrassingly have more friends than I do. I see how extremely beneficial being social is for them. I notice other folks their age become very cynical and negative because they’re alone and rarely venture out of the house.”

Stretching And Yoga

“Flexibility is a great way to prevent serious injury and you lose flexibility as you age,” another Redditor advised.

One particularly interesting insight was from this 40-year-old: “I hate yoga but I do it religiously 1-2 times a week… It’s so so so so so key to being able to move and age more gracefully.”

Beeja Meditation, a self-care centre in London, shares that meditation, yoga and other ‘spiritual’ self-care exercises are often eschewed by men, usually to their detriment.

“In a world where self-care is often framed as something ‘feminine’ (and often marketed as such), to stray too far from the prescribed realms of ‘masculine’ self-care – where the emphasis is usually on gaining strength and getting washboard abs, rather than improving mental wellbeing – can feel uncomfortable for many men.”

“The way we view self-care along gendered lines can go a long way to explain why a US study from 2018 found that men were half as likely as women to have practised or tried meditation in the previous year, and only 28% of those who regularly practice yoga are men.”

Maybe that’s why Gen X men have been so slow to adopt many self-care habits: because there’s still a lingering sense that ‘self-care’ isn’t manly.

We’d say that the popularity of this Reddit thread, and the size of the modern self-care industry, is powerful evidence that self-care is something that men are definitely paying more attention to. Maybe 2020 might help push men over the line in terms of self-care: in a year where we’ve got no choice to focus on our health, perhaps it will force self-care skeptics to consider their health more holistically.

Read Next

• Joe Rogan’s ‘Inner Voice’ Advice Could Be The Secret To True Workout Zen
• Researchers Discover Encouraging Pandemic ‘Silver Linings’ For Australian Men
• Why You Should Be Wary Of 2020’s New ‘Self Care’ Culture

The post Self-Care Habits: Gen X Men Share Their Most Important Tips appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From paying 60 euros for a ten-minute taxi to inhaling an entire baguette before lunch, there are several embarrassing mistakes tourists make in Paris.

But none are quite so public as the following Instagram erreur: trying to take ‘glamorous’ photos throughout your morning java experience, rather than sitting back and enjoying the thing.

Though not quite as bad as swigging Grand Marnier from the bottle and passing out underneath the Eiffel Tower, this sin stops you enjoying the authentic Parisian ‘cafe experience.’

What do we mean by ‘authentic’? Paris based photographer Patrick Colpron sums it up nicely in the following image.

 

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Lorette & Les Garçons, Café life is when you just take the time to love a little instead of rushing from place to place. It is when you can afford to wait 15-20 minutes to have your order taken for a simple coffee and another 15-20 minutes to have it brought to you. The time it takes to fully enjoy the simple pleasure of another person’s company, a fresh newspaper or a good book. Made with a Canon EOS R and a Canon RF 15-35/2.8 #thisisparis always something new to discover, taste and experience #paris #topparisphoto #topfrancephoto #topeuropephoto #hello_france #super_france #igersfrance #visitfrance #merveillesdefrance #parisjetaime #parismonamour #parigi #igersparis #tlpicks #passionpassport #iamatraveler #mylittleparis #culturetrip #beautifuldestinations #parisobviously #canon #canoneosr #canonrf1535lism #canonfrance

A post shared by Patrick Colpron (@patrickcolpron) on Jul 22, 2020 at 10:07pm PDT

“Café life is when you just take the time to love a little instead of rushing from place to place. It is when you can afford to wait 15-20 minutes to have your order taken for a simple coffee and another 15-20 minutes to have it brought to you. The time it takes to fully enjoy the simple pleasure of another person’s company, a fresh newspaper or a good book,” Colpron captions the photo.

Gary Prebble, the owner of Sydney French restaurant Bistro St Jacques, agrees, telling DMARGE the classic cafe experience in France should be unhurried, simple; non neurotic.

 

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A post shared by Coffee Paris (@paris.coffee) on Apr 7, 2016 at 10:15am PDT

According to Gary, a big mistake tourists make when visiting Paris is obsessing over documenting the experience, taking photos, putting pressure on ourselves to enjoy it, and thus not getting the meditative ‘moment’ Colpron mentions above.

“I am 50 years old, so I grew up without social media and phones… and I am quite shocked at how much people rely on the use of these devices to legitimise their experience today. I think this can contribute to significantly increased neuroses. I always have the feeling it takes people out of the experience of being there, and that is probably antithetical to a great hospitality experience of immersion.”

Gary also gave us a friendly pointer on how to find a good cafe in France: “A good one they will not chase you in!” as well as an insight into why tourists expect things to taste more glamourous in Paris: “This city has a history of a collective passion for food, love, lifestyle and human freedom.”

“It’s a special place. We tap into that when we are there.”

Read Next

• The Truth About Why Parisians Are Rude To Tourists
• Why Parisians Will Never Understand America’s Obsession With Low Carb Dieting

The post The Awkward Social Media Mistake Every Tourist Makes In Paris appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Melbourne’s been dealt a rough hand this year. Not only has the city endured ‘the worst air quality in the world‘ during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, two devastating lockdowns and thousands of cases of COVID-19 this year, but the Victorian economy has also been ravaged to an extent not seen since the Great Depression.

It looks like The Bat Kiss will deal another hammer blow, with billions wiped from the Victorian economy as real estate market restrictions continue on, realestate.com.au reports.

They share analysis from property research firm CoreLogic which shows how on average, almost $20 billion in property sales was made during each spring selling season over the past five years. However, the extended ban on physical home inspections and street auctions will mean that 2020 will see far less sales than in previous years.

 

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A post shared by MELBOURNE HOUSE SPOTTERS (@melbournehousespotters) on Sep 15, 2020 at 10:53pm PDT

Why does that matter? Because one of the state government’s biggest sources of revenue – accounting for about 46% of the total – is stamp duty, with projections that Victoria was set to collect over $6 billion in stamp duty this year. Less government funds means cuts to public services, less infrastructure projects, and potentially a tax hike on the horizon for an already beleaguered city and state, among other things.

It’s not just the government or vendors who benefit from property sales, either. The Real Estate Industry Partners’ agency network calculates that every property transaction also pours an average of $120,000-$150,000 into related services, like photographers, signage businesses, conveyancers, stylists, cleaners and gardeners, according to the report.

If things don’t start to improve in Melbourne and the property machine isn’t able to kick back into gear, the knock-on effect to the Victorian – and Australian – economy will be enormous. As Australia’s second-largest economy after New South Wales, worth $455 billion (that’s more than the GDP of Bangladesh, a country with more than 24 times Victoria’s population), such a significant economic contraction will inevitably affect other states. New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, whose economy is most integrated with Victoria’s, is likely to be the most dragged down by Victoria’s slump.

Meanwhile, Sydney’s seen almost the opposite phenomenon than in Melbourne: the Sydney property market is stronger (and crazier) than ever. That’s largely a result of Sydney’s reduced restrictions… But also because Sydney is just a bloody insane place that defies all logic.

Read Next

• Australia’s Most Desirable Suburbs Could Be In For A Rude Awakening
• ‘Cash Is King’: Australian Economist Explains Why We Should Hold On To Our Notes

The post Melbourne Property Market: $20 Billion ‘Black Hole’ Could Wreak Havoc On Economy appeared first on DMARGE Australia.