Wayfinding art: Colourful murals painted on apartment blocks are doing more than decorating walls in Singapore. They're helping people with dementia navigate home. Each building features a bold image, like a teacup or a candy wrapper, chosen to match familiar items from local culture. The idea came from the challenge residents faced when all the buildings looked too similar, especially for those with memory issues. Across the world, more cities are exploring similar ideas adding simple visuals, improving public seating, and making spaces easier to understand without relying only on text. These visual cues can ease confusion and boost independence. A mural might seem small, but to someone feeling lost, it can be a powerful anchor.

Surprise tip: A bartender closing up for the night got a life-changing surprise when pop-rap star Post Malone left a US$20,000 tip on a nearly empty bill. The musician had been out celebrating with friends when he stopped by a local bar in Houston, Texas USA. After learning that someone else had already covered his tab, he asked to be charged a token amount anyway, just so he could leave something behind. The bill was rung up for a single dollar, and the tip that followed left the server in tears. Known for his chart-topping hits and face tattoos, Malone has also built a quiet reputation for generosity, and this act turned an ordinary shift into something unforgettable.

Family found: In Buckinghamshire, England, a woman who was adopted as a baby finally met her birth sisters after decades of wondering about her past. With her own search going nowhere, she hired a private investigator who, just months later, handed her the names and locations of her birth family. A reunion was soon arranged, and she connected instantly with two half-sisters, sharing interests, conversation styles, and even a physical resemblance. They now regularly stay in touch and meet when they can, and she has embraced a new chapter filled with shared memories and a sense of belonging. What once felt like a missing piece has quietly settled into her life in a new, grounded way.

Sniff test: Giant rats are being used in parts of Africa to spot tuberculosis in a way that's fast, cheap, and surprisingly accurate. Trained to detect the smell of bacteria in mucus samples, these animals can quickly identify signs of infection that standard tests sometimes miss. After conventional screening, samples are sent to a lab where rats inspect them one by one, pausing briefly when they sense a positive. The program is run by a nonprofit that began by training rats to detect landmines. Now these rodents are helping uncover hidden tuberculosis cases, especially in places where testing resources are limited. Their tiny noses may be saving lives in places where speed and cost make all the difference.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. ~ Albert Einstein

Since I've learned to be silent, everything has come so much closer to me. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Free notices for not for profits declan@coffeenews.co.nz

1. A saguaro is one of this type of plant.

2. Who wrote and first sang Lime in the Coconut?

3. This is the highest peak in the Alps.

4. The author of The Plague was _____.

5. In what kind of building would you find a nave, an apse, and a transept?

Toothy talent: Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the British rock band Queen, had extra teeth that stuck out. Though teased for his smile, he never changed it as he believed they gave his voice more space and power. He chose music over appearance, and it paid off.

Clipped together: Before paperclips, people used ribbons, string, or sewing pins to hold pages together. The familiar double-loop design came later. A Norwegian inventor named Johan Vaaler was the first to patent a bent-wire version in the early 1900s.

Calm switch: Mindfulness generally refers to paying attention to the present moment with less judgment. It's been linked to lower stress, better focus, and steadier emotions. While ancient in origin, the practice is now widely used in therapy settings.

Lake leader: Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world. Its water-rich landscape includes hundreds of thousands of lakes, many large enough to rival small seas. From vast shores to quiet bays, it's a paddler's paradise.

Pocket powerhouse: The best-selling musical instrument in the world isn't the guitar or piano. It's the harmonica. Its small size, low cost, and easy upkeep have helped the harmonica outsell every other instrument, making the small item a big hit.

After waiting hours for the bowling alley to open, we finally got the ball rolling.

Beach: How ya dune?' Ocean: Just swell.

Why did Miss Muffet need a map? Because she lost her whey.

A good computer programmer comes through when the chips are down.

An accountant for a restaurant has to be sure the books are not cooked.

1. Cactus 2. Harry Nilsson 3. Mont Blanc 4. Albert Camus 5. Church