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The Advertiser
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
'Air force baby': Why this Aussie TikToker is moving into Changi Airport
TikToker Maddy MacRae (inset) and Changi Airport, where she is living for a week. By Sarah Falson Updated July 29 2025 - 1:59pm, first published 12:52pm Move over Tom Hanks, an Australian comedian and TikToker has moved into Changi Airport until August. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area Can you actually die of boredom living in an airport? Sydneysider Maddy MacRae plans to find out for a week, and live stream her way through it. The viral sensation said she was inspired to live in an airport after watching Tom Hanks in the 2004 film The Terminal recently, and just had to try it out for herself. She chose well; there are definitely more boring airports out there than Singapore's Changi, which was named World's Best Airport 2025 by Skytrax. "It's quite insane how much stuff you can do at Changi - more than you probably expect," Ms MacRae told ACM (the publisher of this masthead). "I'm looking forward to visiting Jewel, which is this huge entertainment and shopping complex connected to the four terminals. It looks like there's lots of things to do there, which should help pass the time. Ooo and the butterfly garden. Can't forget that." Changi does indeed have an actual butterfly garden, as well as a cactus garden, a park with floral canopies, the Enchanted Garden full of orchids, and another garden called Dreamscape which "merges Nature and Technology in a magical symphony", according to the Changi website. Jewel Changi Airport is a multi-dimensional entertainment and retail complex, and the airport also boasts luxury shops, a huge array of food outlets, a swimming pool and a dinosaur trail called Jurassic Mile. Changi's Butterfly Garden. Ms MacRae isn't slumming it like Mr Hanks and sleeping across the airport seats; the TikToker is staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel inside Changi Airport. "I figured that if I'm going to be living inside an airport for a week, I at least deserve a decent night's sleep," she said. Ms MacRae's TikTok includes humorous content about friends, weddings, family, relationships and dating, and she also posts a healthy amount of travel content. She revealed travel had an important place in her life, and not just because it's fun. "I'm an air force baby! My dad was in the air force and is now a Qantas pilot, so I've been so very lucky to travel throughout my life," she said. "And now my job takes me all over the world and I get to share that with my audience. Learning about new cultures and trying new experiences and foods has always been the best part about travelling." Changi's Jewel Rain Vortex Rainbow. Her travel content includes a bit about the latest airline trend in which they record their safety demonstrations "anywhere but on a plane", as well as the ultra-organised individual who organises the friend-group holiday and keeps everyone on a tight schedule. Ms MacRae called travel content "so relatable". "I loved making the safety demonstration video but I've also made a couple on airport security being the scariest experience ever and also watching someone else's movie on a plane rather than your own - why is their movie so captivating when I can't even hear it and I have a screen right in front of me??" she said. Follow Maddy MacRae @maddy_macrae_ on TikTok to see her shenanigans at Changi Airport, including live streams, until she heads home on Saturday, August 2. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The world's busiest international airport is shutting down. What's next?
When Dubai International (DXB) first opened in 1960, its runway was a strip of compacted sand. Fast forward 65 years and it's the busiest international airport on the planet, processing 92.3 million passengers last year alone (when including domestic passengers, it's pipped by Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson as the world's busiest). More of a luxury shopping mall with planes, DXB far outshines any of our airports and if, like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, you were ever stranded there, you probably wouldn't mind too much. Where else can you buy a Rolex, a Rolls-Royce and a McChicken sandwich before your 3am boarding call? It's basically The Ritz with baggage claim. Unsurprisingly, though, it's beginning to feel the strain. Hemmed in by highways and residential areas, DXB has nowhere to bulge, so last April UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that operations would slowly be phased across to Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), located 61 kilometres to the south of DXB, when its expansion is completed in 2032. Backed by the desert, this hyper-modern, AI-purring, mega-hub will be aviation's new darling with 400 aircraft gates (compared to the current 29) and poised to handle 260 million passengers per year once it's fully operational. With DXB being gently nudged aside like a beloved grandparent who's just a little too slow for today's high-speed air travel, what will become of the empty site? Dubai isn't the kind of city to let nearly 3000 hectares of prime urban real estate, just a 15-minute drive from downtown, gather sand. This is a place that built a ski slope in the desert and named islands after continents. They dream big, so something more innovative and headline-worthy is also likely. We game-planned some potential scenarios and explored how other decommissioned airports around the world have been reinvented to see where Dubai might take inspiration. Let's taxi down the runway of possibilities.
The Age
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
The world's busiest international airport is shutting down. What's next?
When Dubai International (DXB) first opened in 1960, its runway was a strip of compacted sand. Fast forward 65 years and it's the busiest international airport on the planet, processing 92.3 million passengers last year alone (when including domestic passengers, it's pipped by Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson as the world's busiest). More of a luxury shopping mall with planes, DXB far outshines any of our airports and if, like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, you were ever stranded there, you probably wouldn't mind too much. Where else can you buy a Rolex, a Rolls-Royce and a McChicken sandwich before your 3am boarding call? It's basically The Ritz with baggage claim. Unsurprisingly, though, it's beginning to feel the strain. Hemmed in by highways and residential areas, DXB has nowhere to bulge, so last April UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that operations would slowly be phased across to Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), located 61 kilometres to the south of DXB, when its expansion is completed in 2032. Backed by the desert, this hyper-modern, AI-purring, mega-hub will be aviation's new darling with 400 aircraft gates (compared to the current 29) and poised to handle 260 million passengers per year once it's fully operational. With DXB being gently nudged aside like a beloved grandparent who's just a little too slow for today's high-speed air travel, what will become of the empty site? Dubai isn't the kind of city to let nearly 3000 hectares of prime urban real estate, just a 15-minute drive from downtown, gather sand. This is a place that built a ski slope in the desert and named islands after continents. They dream big, so something more innovative and headline-worthy is also likely. We game-planned some potential scenarios and explored how other decommissioned airports around the world have been reinvented to see where Dubai might take inspiration. Let's taxi down the runway of possibilities.
Edinburgh Live
23-05-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
New parents' 'surreal' Edinburgh hospital stay after tiny baby born 14 weeks early
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The parents of a baby who was born in Edinburgh 14 weeks early have opened up on their 'surreal' stay in hospital. Jenna and Liam Wilson went into hospital around 25 weeks into Jenna's pregnancy, after she experienced swelling in her feet and high blood pressure. Six days later, baby Ellis was born - weighing just 1lb 13oz. Jenna, 29, said their seven-week stay in Simpsons Neonatal Unit at the Royal Infirmary became 'their own bubble'. As the family look forward to Ellis' first birthday on August 1, the couple say that they 'wouldn't even have their baby' if it weren't for the staff at Simpsons. Liam, 32, is now planning a 40-mile walk from Forth Valley Hospital in Stirling to the Royal Infirmary, to raise funds for Simpsons Special Care Babies. The couple want to make the 'brutal reality' a little bit easier for other families who may be in similar situations. Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Liam said: "Jenna and I were expecting our first child in November last year. "At the end of July, she had a bit of swelling in her feet and high blood pressure, but was feeling completely fine within herself. We went to the hospital to get her blood pressure checked and basically never came back out. "She went in at around 25 weeks, and Ellis was born six days later on August 1. We lived at the Royal Infirmary for seven weeks. "They've got some rooms for families in the neonatal unit inside Simpsons so we lived there." (Image: Supplied) The parents, who live in Stirling, were moved to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh after it became clear that Ellis would need to be born early. Once he was strong enough, they were moved through to Forth Valley Hospital - which has led to Liam's walk between the two hospitals. Liam continued: "We got out of hospital at the end of October, day before Halloween, when he was around three months old. "He went home on oxygen initially, to help with his breathing, because he's got chronic lung disease. He's off oxygen now and breathing fine, it's quite common with babies born early. "It might affect him for a few years, we won't really know until he grows up." With Ellis now in good health, Liam and Jenna have said the realities of what has happened are setting in. Looking back on their stay in hospital, Jenna said: "It was quite surreal. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "But it became very, very normal as well. The outside world became a bit scary, it was like we'd never seen outside before. "It was really bizarre, because you were just so focused on everything that was going on inside the hospital." Liam added: "I don't know if you've seen the film The Terminal with Tom Hanks, but it was a bit like that. "He's stuck in the airport, and we were effectively the same, but in a hospital. It would be 11pm and we'd go downstairs for a walk and the place would be completely empty. "Most people would be out in the pub or for a nice meal and we'd be walking the corridors." While the couple struggled during their time in the hospital, they praised the 'incredible' staff at Simpsons who helped them through. (Image: Supplied) Jenna continued: "Simpsons saved his life more than, more than once. "The people, the staff, the doctors, the consultants, we wouldn't have our baby at home if it wasn't for these people. Every single person we came across helped me and Liam more than they ever knew as well. "Even just telling us about their weekends was nice because we didn't have a social life, so we lived our life through them. As well as taking incredible care of our son as well.' Jenna and Liam said one of their biggest challenges came after leaving the hospital, as they attempted to readjust into life. Liam said: "You kind of go from two full months of being around people to nothing. They become like family." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Jenna continued: "We were so focused when we were in the hospital, we were in survival mode. It was 100 per cent on Ellis and him getting better. "I've struggled since I came home, because it hits you like a ton of bricks. The situation we went through wasn't a normal thing, and that's not how pregnancy is meant to go." Liam said: "We didn't have time to worry about ourselves really. "We just had to get through the day. It's strange in a way because as Ellis got better, that's probably when it was harder for us. "We had to learn how to socialise again in a way." (Image: Supplied) When we asked Liam and Jenna if they had any advice for parents who may be in similar situations, Jenna said: "I wouldn't have gotten through that situation had I not had Liam. Whether its your partner, or a family member or just someone you can be vulnerable around - you need that. "It's impossible to do it on your own. It's really difficult.' Liam added: "I think remembering it's OK to have a day where you find things tough and you feel like you can't do it. "We've seen other parents who were kind of burning themselves out or they wouldn't go for lunch. I think that's what kept us going, the fact that we would go and we would have a proper meal to kind of refuel almost." You can find Liam's fundraiser for Simpsons Special Care Babies here.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Strictly Come Dancing Janette and Aljaz on 'awful' time after major life decision
Strictly's Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec have been forced to move back down south after finding their dream home in Cheshire two-years-ago. The dancing duo spoke The Mirror about the move, after Aljaz's return to Strictly made life and commuting too hard for their family. "Awful, awful, absolutely awful," Aljaz, 35, said. READ MORE: EastEnders star Kellie Bright says 'this is it' as she announces new career move away from the show READ MORE: Inside the life of Gogglebox's Helena Worthington from job to quirky home "Moving home is one of the last things you want to do, let's be honest. And it doesn't matter how you do it, if you get someone to help you with it, if you do it yourself. The reality is you're going to be looking at cardboard for a foreseeable amount of time." With their toddler Lyra being their main priority, the couple felt the pressure of balancing everything was too much. Aljaz added: "It's very stressful and it takes so much longer with a little one, especially a toddler, because she finds it hilarious opening the boxes, and you don't want to stop her either. So yeah, you kind of find your toothbrush in the outside garage or something." The couple were devastated to leave the personal memories they made in the house as they prepare to embark on a joint 19-day tour, A Night To Remember. Janette, 41, said Aljaz's move back to Strictly made sustaining a family difficult as she commutes twice a week. "It was a mix of two things," Janette says of the reason behind the move. "Obviously, we loved being up north and we fell in love with the house because that was the first home that Lyra lived in. A lot of her first moments were all in that house. There were just so many beautiful memories in that house and the people up north are just such incredibly kind, warm, loving people. There's a real sense of community there. "We tried it this year with me commuting to London for It Takes Two and Aljaz staying down in London for the whole series of Strictly. In retrospect, we spent some very, very minimal time together as a family. Lyra and I were traveling up and down twice a week, staying in hotel rooms to try and make it work. "It's just not feasible for us to do that because the priority is family and spending time together and Lyra's well-being and that is not going to be sustainable if Aljaz is going back to Strictly, which hopefully he is. "So we thought it's better to be closer to London and at least we have slightly more guarantee that Lyra will have a bit more normalcy in her life. She'll be home, she'll be going to the same nursery, she'll be in the same kind of routine, and then we'll get to really spend more time together as a family than not. But never say never about going back up north, because we did love it up there." Aljaz added: "I stayed in a hotel for four months in a row at one point. I felt like Tom Hanks in The Terminal!" For Janette, it will be the calm lifestyle in Cheshire that she will miss most. "We loved living in the countryside so much," she said. "When we moved back down close to London, I said to Aljaz that the only way we could do this is if we could find a house that is in the countryside again, because we just love the green and the space. "Lyra wakes up in the morning to bird chirping and dew on the grass and views of just green and horses. We've got these beautiful little deer [Muntjac] that live near us as well. That is priceless more than anything else for me, the the space of green and fresh air that you get in the countryside." Although they now juggle an even busier lifestyle, they wouldn't change a thing, loving their life with Lyra. Aljaz said: "It's like flipping a pancake. It's been the most wholesome and the most loving experience from day one. It changes your life completely. Anyone who has children knows that you find a new love that you didn't know existed before. You think you love something so much, and then you realise, Oh, I can love something even more. "She's brilliant. She has completely come into our life. Of course, like we said, now you have to schedule everything, but she's such a little trooper. She's been in more hotels before she's two years old than most people do in their lifetime! She's been on tours, she's been traveling to America, to everywhere! She's so good, and I think that she just brightens up every single day." Janette added: "Aljaz and I have always been really in love and had a beautiful marriage, and we really feel like we've always been a team in life, and now we're a team as parents. She's become the new priority of us and I think that's been the biggest change. Which we want, of course, that's what we want to experience! We're obsessed and we love her.
