Reader’s Digest Asia (English Edition) March 2022

WITH TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE STILL LARGELY ON HOLD for many of us, the urge to explore the wonders on offer beyond our shores has never been greater. This month, we have a wide selection of reading that offers a window on today’s world with perspectives that will enlighten and entertain. Morocco’s exotic local tastes and sights have made it popular with travellers for centuries. It’s also home to one of the oldest fleet of Mercedes 240D taxis in the world. ‘Au Revoir To The Grand Taxis’ (page 42) looks at the upheaval caused by phasing out the old blue taxis that have graced local roads since the 1970s. This month’s ‘Then and Now’ traces the origins and success of vending machines (page 76). The Romans were the first to shop via a…

Making A Wish I remember as a child fighting with my sisters over the wishbone each time we had roast chicken (‘Tell Me Why’, December). All I knew was that the person left holding the larger part of the bone when it snapped got to make a wish. I had no idea that the tradition originated with the Romans. I will definitely be sharing this information (and sounding very intelligent) when I next invite my sisters over for roast chicken. HELEN SWEENEY Gems From The Past There are few things I enjoy more than catching up with my reading over the Christmas and New Year break, and the January issue added to my enjoyment. The stories you chose from your archives are brilliant – they are just as relevant, informative and entertaining today as…

It’s not every day we receive a letter from the Queen, which is why we are delighted to share with our readers the one the magazine received marking its 100th Anniversary. Over the years, Reader’s Digest has published many articles and photographs, both in print and online, offering compelling glimpses into Queen Elizabeth II’s public and private life. Features about the Queen have offered not only insights about her role as the head of a royal dynasty and a leader of the Commonwealth but a living history of our times.…

THE TIME HAD COME, the writing was on the wall – we were not going to make old bones! I had been given a terminal cancer diagnosis in October 2019 with a prognosis of five years. My husband’s atrial fibrillation episodes were happening with increasing regularity – and his father died of heart-related problems at exactly his age. We had cared for my parents in their own home for the last few years of their lives – a very bonding experience – and had bought their home when they died in their 90s. The usual clause about having to clear one’s chattels before selling had been glossed over. After all, we were family, and they were not capable of clearing anything as their health had declined. Out of respect, we did not…

A Lesson For Kittens CAROLE LAWRENCE When I was a teenager living in Ouyen in the Victorian Mallee region, we had quite a few pet cats about the place that helped to keep the ever-present mice population down. One day I watched as one of our cats, a grey tabby called Mummy-Puss, sat peacefully on the grass in our back garden under a white cedar tree. Meanwhile, her three young kittens were playing a game: climbing up the white cedar tree and tiptoeing out onto a branch. Then, one by one, those naughty little kittens jumped from the branch onto the top of Mummy-Puss’s head while she sat under the tree. This happened four times until poor Mummy-Puss got heartily sick of it. The next time a kitten landed on her head, she grabbed…

Our regular pet columnist, Dr Katrina Warren, is an established and trusted animal expert. WE LOVE OUR PETS and always try to take good care of them, but there are some simple things that can be harmful to pets – and even kill them – that many pet owners aren’t aware of. PLAYING FETCH WITH STICKS Most dogs love playing fetch with sticks and it may be tempting to throw one for your dog when you don’t have a ball or rubber toy handy, but they can be extremely dangerous. Sticks can easily splinter and pieces can cut the mouth or throat. Dogs can also be impaled on a stick or it can get lodged in their throat or soft tissues which can be life threatening. LILIES ARE TOXIC TO CATS Lily toxicity is a…