Latest news with #Mariella
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Travelling caravan couple catch glimpse of rarely seen creature in shallows: 'Fascinating'
There's no shortage of fascinating wildlife in Australia. Sometimes, you just need to know where to look. For those travelling the continent like Mariella and Dougal, who are constantly on the lookout for animals, there's plenty to fill your days with. According to figures from the Australian federal Department of Environment, there is an estimated 566,000 living species in Australia, with only about 147,000 having been previously described. "Since hitting the road, we've made it a mission to photograph every species we come across," Mariella told Yahoo News Australia. "We're enthusiastic naturalists and passionate wildlife photographers, so any opportunity to document unique wildlife encounters is a real thrill for us." And it's been a thrill they've been chasing for years now, joining the growing number of people in Australia that live a nomadic lifestyle. "During Covid, we made the decision to buy a caravan and hit the road, and we haven't looked back since," she said. While Mariella is from Italy, she's been living in Australia for the past decade and met Dougal in his hometown of Airlie Beach in Queensland. "We left Airlie Beach about four years ago and have been on the move ever since," she explained to Yahoo. "We live full-time in our off-road caravan, which has been amazing. It gives us the freedom to change our backyard often." Travelling couple reveal 'hardest thing' about life on the road Aussie traveller's plea to every nine-to-five worker in the country Aussie man 'living out of a van' reveals hidden truth behind trend The couple is currently in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, before heading to Darwin to begin some work. Mariella is a qualified teacher aide while Dougal is a carpenter but has just been hired as a nature guide. "We usually take jobs that offer a place to park the van, or we connect with people happy to share their properties in exchange for a contribution. Sometimes we stay with friends, it's a flexible, community-based lifestyle and we absolutely love it." And, of course, it offers plenty of opportunity to have some wild encounters. One of those instances was shared on their social media this week, with the couple coming across the rather "amazing" algae octopus, which given the creature's camouflaging prowess, is easier said than done. "We're both underwater photographers and love chasing critters. We're equally obsessed with the big guys like manta rays, but it's the hidden world of small creatures that really captivates us," Mariella said. The pair managed to notice the nocturnal octopus underneath a piece of driftwood while enjoying a reef walk near a remote spot called Portland Roads, about 15 minutes from Lockhart River in Queensland. "They're such fascinating and intelligent animals, and it was a treat to spot one in the middle of the day since they're typically nocturnal," Mariella said. "The algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus) is known for its ability to camouflage incredibly well, often mimicking algae or rubble on the seafloor. It's one of the few octopus species known to walk on two arms — almost like tiptoeing across the seabed. "Their behaviour and adaptability never cease to amaze us." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women's Janet Street-Porter snaps at co-star after 'disastrous' TV appearance
Janet Street-Porter spoke about her time on another popular ITV show she starred in over the weekend during Tuesday's instalment of Loos Women. Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter was left squirming in her seat during Tuesday's episode of the popular ITV chat show. He co-host Jane Moore couldn't resist bringing up Janet's recent stint on Celebrity Catchphrase, which had aired over the weekend. As a clip rolled showing Janet's attempt at the game show, it was painfully obvious that things hadn't gone quite as planned for the TV personality. Once the footage wrapped up, Janet couldn't hide her mortification about how she fared on the programme. With a cheeky grin, Jane quizzed her about whether she'd actually seen the show before participating, to which Janet humorously defended herself: "I watched one episode and I thought I understood it. "But, all I can say in my defence, m'lord, is that my brain is wired differently." She confessed to her fellow panellists that she had been over-analysing the phrases instead of sticking to the show's famous catchphrase, "say what you see." Janet went on to share: "What I will say, after my disastrous recording, they came up to me and went, 'What a laugh, Janet, you are the worst contestant.'" The studio audience responded with a collective groan of empathy upon hearing the harsh feedback Janet received. Yet, the 78-year-old quickly bounced back by reminding everyone of her past game show glories, reports Belfast Live. She proudly stated: "I've won Tipping Point, I've won the Weakest Link and I've won Pointless." This revelation was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience, clearly impressed by her track record on other quiz shows. Jane asked Mariella Frostrup about her take on games, the ITV star explained that she's not a fan, admitting: "Quizzes are a nightmare, particularly, I think if you're a woman of a certain age, the old brain fog sets in-". Janet couldn't resist interrupting, insisting she didn't get brain fog, prompting a cheeky retort from Mariella, who replied: "Well, what happened to you on Sunday then?" Janet, none too pleased with the jibe, hit back: "I'm sorry, Mariella, that is not a general knowledge quiz." To which Mariella responded, "No, but it's a quiz."
