Features, explainers and long-form stories from across Australia.
If you’ve ever tried to get a good night’s sleep with street lights streaming through your bedroom window, you know the struggle. Block out blinds are designed to cut that light completely — and in Ireland, where daylight hours vary dramatically, they’re more than just a convenience. Light-blocking claim: IKEA’s block-out coating prevents light from … Read more
When Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé was handed the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet, it capped a season that saw him ranked ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Vitinha. This article breaks down the winner, the full top-10 rankings, ceremony details, and the talking points that followed … Read more
There’s a quiet satisfaction in looking at a calendar and seeing a string of long weekends lined up. This guide walks through confirmed holiday dates, strategic leave planning, and the Easter timing that anchors much of the year. Public holidays in Ireland 2026: 10 · US federal holidays 2026: 11 · Easter Sunday 2026: April … Read more
Few weeknight dinners deliver the satisfaction of creamy garlic prawns — that rich sauce clinging to tender seafood, ready in the time it takes to boil pasta. The magic, as any home cook discovers, lies in the details: pan heat, garlic timing, and cream-to-butter ratio; this guide walks through multiple proven approaches, from a classic … Read more
There’s a certain satisfaction in walking into a store that seems to have everything you need for a weekend project or a birthday party. Spotlight Fountain Gate offers just that kind of one-stop experience for Narre Warren locals. Address: Corner Narre Warren North Rd & Victor Cres, Narre Warren VIC 3805 · Phone: +61 3 … Read more
If you’ve ever typed your salary into an online mortgage calculator and wondered how the final number came to be, you’re not alone. The result depends on strict lending rules that vary by country — and in Ireland, those rules are clearly defined by the Central Bank. First-time buyers can borrow up to 4 times … Read more
Making chocolate ganache feels like a small miracle. Two simple ingredients—chocolate and cream—come together to create a silky, versatile glaze, filling, or truffle base. The magic lies in the ratio. For a classic dark chocolate ganache, the standard is 2 parts chocolate to 1 part cream by weight (Baker Bettie (pastry educator)). Whether you’re frosting … Read more