Yours Magazine Issue#20, 2015

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Issue 43

AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 FORTNIGHTLY

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Pill-free ways to beat pain

ITA’S CLEVER BEAUTY TRICKS

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‘Mum’s my inspiration’

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‘Life’s about the tough Succulent success decisions’

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PICTURES: RODNEY MACUJA/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU SEE PAGE 79 FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION

Dear Reader, H

What we’re loving!

eading home from my recent holiday, a social thing y r e v E media post grabbed my under attention. It read: “Find your tribe, love them 50! $ CARRY ON! hard.” After three weeks This cute rubber basket is perfect for surrounded by friends gardening, groceries or the beach. $30, Aero Designs and family, the sentiment really resonated. It’s so important to keep up those special bonds in our lives. And with more of us using technology to connect to our loved IN THE BUFF ones around Australia and the globe, in this issue Maximise your mani with this oh-so-easy buff-and-shine nail we bring you everything you need to know about the groomer. $9.99, Models Prefer National Broadband Network (p36). As someone who @ Priceline Pharmacy regularly turns to teenage relatives to help me navigate the minefield that is technology, I found it invaluable!

In this issue we’re also introducing our new columnist Helen Brown (p22). Many of you would have read her bestselling first book, Cleo. I’ve loved all of Helen’s books, and after catching up with her PINK LADY Ease into summer over coffee I knew she was a perfect fit for Yours brights with this – warm, wise and with a wonderful sense of style. fuchsia top. $49.99, Welcome, Helen. You can read her first column GIVE ‘EM LIP Capture @ Bright pink lips in the next issue, so tune back in then.

EziBuy will make your Finally, there’s nothing that gets me more excited eyes dazzle. $23.95, Revlon than a jaffle (simple pleasures!) and the recipe on Ultra HD Lip page 70 had me salivating with anticipation. Enjoy!

Lacquer in

Lisa Sinclair, Executive Editor

Tourmaline

You will find us here: Post

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CONTENTS

12 Story tellers Writing a memoir together was a cathartic experience for Tammy and her mum Lesley

70 Camping cuisine

54

You don’t need a whole kitchen to create these delish dishes

4

Generation Wow! 6 In the spotlight We scour the globe to see what our favourite celebs are up to – and there’s plenty to celebrate!

8 Funny girl Small-screen favourite and comedy treasure Julia Morris has the world at her feet 10 Christine’s crusade This inspiring Queenslander has bravely defied an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for 20 years 18 Leap of faith Lovable TV star Erik Thomson has a new show to keep him on his toes – and a new look to show off!

20 Overcoming adversity They’ve been through tough times but these women have broken free from the past 22 Welcome to the team She’s an accomplished author and now she’s a Yours columnist!

Introducing Helen Brown 25 Star diary Busy thespian Sigrid Thornton shares her many career and personal highs

Beauty check The products, tricks and trends you need to try right now

On the cover

COVER PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES, KRISTINA SOLJO/BAUERSYDICATION.COM.AU

This issue in

52 Shady business Aviator, cat’s eye, square and round – discover the style that best suits you

88 Garden variety Hollywood’s fashionable ladies celebrate the change of seasons with a bouquet of prints Good to know 32 Your action plan Four natural ways to free yourself from the pain of arthritis 36 Well connected How the National Broadband Network will benefit you 40 Smart saving ideas Small changes to your daily habits could literally save you a fortune!

42 The daily grind How that little bit of extra seasoning could be harmful for your health 44 In the mood It’s true – mood swings are completely normal. Here’s how you can take control Lifestyle 50 Fashion: On safari Welcome to the jungle – this spring it’s all about khaki, cargo style and animal prints

59 Beauty: All eyes on Ita Celebrity make-up artist Rae Morris creates a smoky-eye look for Ita Buttrose 60 Gardening: Floral and hardy Easy-care succulents will thrive in even the most neglected gardens 64 Gardening: Getting in the spirit Charlie Albone delights in planting in his favourite season In every issue 14 Street style Yours heads to Margaret River, WA, to see what you’re wearing 26 Books: Pester power Lucky for us, rejection didn’t stop romance novelist Barbara Hannay 47 Yours Club 74 Puzzles 78 Privacy notice 79 Stockists 80 Horoscopes 81 The Middletons 82 Subscription offer 83 Kerri-Anne Kennerley No-nonsense advice 84 What’s on 87 Wendy Harmer

34 Good gracious Being kind to yourself can boost self-esteem

66 Lap of luxury

Cruise from Singapore to Malaysia in grand style

38

Modern family How to build a relationship with your new step-grandkids

PICTURE PERFECT

TEXT: JESSICA GRUBB PICTURES: AAP, GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Taylor Swift, 25

Ellen DeGeneres, 57

MR BEAN HITS 25!

Brit funnyman Rowan knows how to party!

Getting into character to mark the 25th anniversary of his hit TV series Mr Bean, the star re-enacted one of the show’s most famous scenes outside Buckingham Palace while greeting fans with a very royal wave.

SHAKE IT OFF! Talk about a star-spangled performance! Twinkle-toed talk-show host Ellen joined singer Taylor on stage at a recent concert in LA. The dancing duo even wore matching outfits!

Sailor Brinkley Cook, 17

HIP, HIP HOORAY!

The music and sartorial choices of solo artist and former Roxy Music frontman Bryan never miss a beat. But the suave singer will be taking a day off from his current tour to blow out the candles on September 26.

Many happy returns!

Bryan Ferry,

club

6

7

to the

m co e 0+

e !Wl

70

Christie Brinkley, 61

DAZZLING DUO Sailor and her mum Christie show their closeness is no act while attending a Broadway play in New York City. Inheriting her supermodel mum’s dazzling blue eyes and cheekbones, a hug is the least Sailor can give her!

HIPPIE CHIC Free-spirited star Susan embraced her individuality at Burning Man – an annual festival of self-expression and art in the Nevada desert – donning a quirky outfit to lead a procession in honour of her late friend, psychologist Timothy Leary.

Rowan Atkinson, 60 Susan Sarandon, 68

1 LICENCE TO CUDDLE Talk about being in safe hands!

Former James Bond actor Pierce is truly smitten with his third grandchild, 3-month-old Marley May Cassandra. Pierce described the feeling of becoming her grandfather as an “utter joy’’.

Danny Moder, 46 Julia Roberts, 47

GROWING UP 4 Pierce Brosnan, 62

In a rare family photo, the fiercely private Julia and husband Danny posed with their kids Henry, Phinnaeus and Hazel at a clothing label launch in California. “I have three little kids that I hope grow up to be just as inspired to speak out in what they believe in and what their friends believe in,” Julia says.

Henry, 8

Hazel, 10 Phinnaeus, 10 7

COVER STORY

Julia Morris

‘Life gets better as you get older’

y : What a year you’ve had! How do you keep it up?

Julia: I know – it’s crazy and exhausting! But I don’t take it for granted because all this wonderful work could disappear at any time. I’m living the dream, but I’m living it every single day. There is no choice. Once you’re up and running, it’s relentless, and it’s like, “Enough of the dream, already!” But it’s fantastic. y : Is life getting better as you get older?

Julia: One hundred per cent.

I’m all about embracing the 8

Much-loved comedy genius and TV star JULIA MORRIS, 47, is enjoying every second of her purple patch, and believes ageing is a laughing matter, writes Jessica Grubb fact that I’m getting older. I loved my twenties, I loved my thirties, my forties are just rocking, and I think my fifties and sixties will be even better! And a big part of that has to do with attitude – I don’t care what people think of me anymore, because I know I’m doing alright. Besides, my kids [Ruby, 8, and Sophie, 6] will be the first to let me know if I’m doing something unacceptable! y : And have you done anything lately that’s been unacceptable in their eyes?

Julia: Every day. My girls are like, “Oh no, Mum! You can’t wear those shoes!” and I’m like, “Are you kidding me? How old are you?!” y : House Husbands is back for its fourth season.

What do you believe is the reason

HOW SWEET IT IS! Julia with House Husbands co-star Gary Sweet

behind the series’ huge success?

Julia: I think what makes it such

a hit is that it’s incredibly down-toearth without being gritty. We all have faults, we all muck up, we’re hard Aussie workers and we all make mistakes. I think people can relate to the honesty in the series.

y : Do your daughters ever watch you on television?

Julia: My girls are huge fans of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and didn’t miss an episode but the House Husbands storylines are too adult for them. They are very proud of me. y : Is it hard when your work takes you away from your family?

Julia: It really is. The hardest part is knowing everyone is picking up the slack in my absence, and missing out on kisses on the lips. There is such a fine line between wanting to be with my husband and the girls, and showing my daughters that girls can work hard and still be a big part of their family.

PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES, INF, INSTAGRAM, PICTURE MEDIA

B

right and early on a Monday morning, Julia Morris is already laughing. “When you wake up alive, you’re moving in the right direction,” she says. “It’s hard not to feel joy!”

The popular star has kept herself busier than most this year, flitting between television hosting duties on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, playing the female lead on the Nine Network’s House Husbands, and touring the country with her new stand-up comedy show I Don’t Want Your Honest Feedback.

We managed to pin down our favourite funnywoman on one of her rare days off for a chat about fame, family and fitness.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (From top) Whether she’s making new friends, hanging with the House Husbands cast or hubby Dan Thomas, Julia’s confidence is magnetic

MORRIS DANCER Wacky Julia’s always the life of any party

My mum worked around the clock as a surgeon’s secretary until she was 75, but was always there for me, and that’s the example I want to set for my girls. y : So how do you juggle the work/life balance?

Julia: I have learned that there’s no such thing – it genuinely doesn’t exist.

I work at work, I work at home: it’s all work, work, work! If I was looking for balance, I would’ve been going out of my tiny mind by now and I’d spend every day feeling ripped off. The day I realised there was no such thing is the day I was set free.

social friendship side of my life. I rarely get to see my friends, but when I do, my phone goes off and I’m absolutely with them and focused on them. I’ve just booked a sneaky holiday with my girlfriends to LA actually. We’re spending five days there, and we’ll basically stick our heads in a bucket of margaritas, shop, and then sleep – we’ll no doubt be in bed by 10pm.

‘My forties are just rocking … my fifties and sixties will be even better!’

y : Does all that work leave you with much time to enjoy a social life?

Julia: One of the big sacrifices is the

y : What do you get up to when you do manage to grab a little downtime?

Julia: I get very excited about my normal life. I actually love sewing – it’s not one of my special gifts, but it’s one of those things that I decided I can do. I make awesome outfits for the girls – and I’ve learned that you can hide a lot of errors with sequins.

Just as long as it sparkles, no-one really cares. y : You’ve had a very high-profile year, with two massive TV shows and treading the boards for the first time in two years. What can we expect from you next?

Julia: Well, I’m back into my fitness six days a week, my friend! When I go back to Africa for I’m a Celebrity…

Get Me Out of Here, because of my perimenopause and the heat, I want to be in peak physical condition. I’m almost trying to chuck a Larry Emdur!

So I’m spending the next six-to-eight months working towards that now.

I’m trying to get my heart ready to last the next 50 years!

•

Watch Julia in House Husbands, Mondays at 8.40pm on the Nine Network 9

INSPIRING READ

Againstthe-odds crusader Queensland gran CHRISTINE BRYDEN, 66, was diagnosed with younger-onset dementia 20 years ago yet is still defying the odds.

Sarah Marinos reports

C

MOTHERLY LOVE Christine knew she had to be there for her girls 10

MEMORABLE CAUSE Christine’s striving for an Alzheimer’s cure

The mum continued to blame her busy work schedule.

Christine was an accomplished biochemist with Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, before being promoted to a senior role in the public service.

“The minute I got into the office it was full-on – chairing meetings, managing staff, and the Prime Minister’s office would call and I’d send them briefings. I’d meet with vice-chancellors and people within the scientific community,” she recalls.

“I was raising my girls and trying

to be a good mum as well. There wasn’t much sleep.”

Christine was also trapped in a hostile marriage. She’d migrated from England with Jack so, when times were tough, she had no family support.

Coping with the responsibilities of raising her children and running a home made her feel so isolated. In 1993, she left her husband and moved into a new home with her girls Ianthe, Rhiannon and Micheline.

Eventually she saw a doctor who sent her for a CAT scan and on May 22, 1995, Christine received a shattering diagnosis. She’d been

PICTURES: FAIRFAX SYNDICATION, COURTESY OF CHRISTINE BRYDEN *NAME CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITY

hristine Bryden pulled her car over in Sydney’s CBD. She was driving home from work when she suddenly felt confused.

She couldn’t remember whether she should turn left or right.

Eventually Christine took the right turn and pulled into the driveway of the home she shared with then-husband Jack* and their three daughters.

“I blamed it on having too much on my mind. What woman in her latethirties would have realised it was an early sign of dementia?” Christine asks.

But over the next few years, those moments became more frequent and she began having migraines, too.

referred to a neurologist and sat mutely in his office as he told her she had probable Alzheimer’s disease.

“His back was turned to me, he had my scans on the light box, and he simply said I had Alzheimer’s,” she says. “When I said I was only 46, he told me it happened to younger people, too.

“To me that diagnosis conjured up himself, That’s an elderly person in “You have to focus on what you can OK. I can handle a wheelchair, do, be applauded when you get things that,” Christine dribbling.” right, and not be corrected when things says with a smile.

The neurologist come out wrong, because that makes SECOND CHANCE The couple then told Christine people feel like a failure.”

Meeting Paul was married in August she’d have about five Specialists are mystified by how simply life-changing 1999, and ever since years before her dementia Christine’s condition is unfolding they have faced her became so severe she’d need to – they describe the pace of its dementia head-on, while enjoying be in a nursing home. He added that deterioration as “glacially slow”. a rich life together. she’d live about three more years Nobody knows why she’s been They are passionate, consummate beyond that. affected or how she’s defied that early, travellers – recently cruising from “My youngest daughter was 9 years bleak prognosis for 20 years. old and he was giving me eight years to Rome to Fremantle and shortly off Christine refuses to dwell on what live! I was my children’s world,” she says. exploring the Panama Canal and may lie ahead and makes the most of French Polynesia.

Christine remembers trying to every minute with Paul, her daughters With the ever-calming influence explain her diagnosis to her children, and her four grandchildren. of Paul by her side, Christine has also and there being plenty of tears and At their semi-rural home 45 minutes become one of the first anxious moments as she wondered north of Brisbane, she ‘Our brains people with Alzheimer’s what lay ahead. relaxes by walking her to speak at major events aren’t what they dog and taking in She resigned from work to focus and to highlight the on her daughters, but one year passed sunset. were but after another countless challenges of without any significant decline in her “The birds and the a diagnosis living with dementia. mental health, and then two... trees give my head Together, Christine By 1997, Christine decided she was you’re still you’ some time out,” and Paul have also set up going to challenge her diagnosis.

Christine says. the ACT branch of Alzheimer’s “I thought, I’m still here – so “At the moment doctors can’t stop Australia and are helping to establish I enrolled in a degree and thought, the dementia. There’s no treatment to dementia networks overseas.

I’m going to socialise and do things with slow it down yet, either, but I hope This has taken the pair to Japan, my brain,” she says.

I last long enough for researchers to the US and New Zealand. Christine is Then something beautiful and find something that stops dementia passionate about explaining the support in its tracks. unexpected happened. Keen to get available to those with Alzheimer’s some romance into her life for “That would be wonderful.” need – and factors that are unhelpful. whatever time she had left, Christine She’s also written books about her joined an introduction agency. experience – Before I Forget is the latest.

One Saturday afternoon she waited “When I first started to speak out on the steps of the National Library Alzheimer’s was a feared disease,” in Canberra and met Paul Bryden. He Christine explains. gave her a bunch of daffodils and they Before I Forget by “We know our brains aren’t what shared a picnic. It was the beginning Christine Bryden, they were but after a diagnosis you’re of a love story that endures today. $32.99, Viking still you. You have to live in hope and “Paul says when I told him about my dementia he very clearly thought to enjoy every moment.

•

Useful read

11

FAMILY VALUES Barrister Tammy, 37, and her mum Lesley, 68, a cultural adviser, both from Brisbane, have faced their share of hardships over the years, but the experience of writing a memoir together has helped them heal

TEXT: LUCY MANLY PICTURE: DAVID HAHN/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU HAIR AND MAKE-UP: CARLA SAKRZEWSKI, GEMMA ELAINE

Lesley says:

Tammy has a loving heart and is passionate about life and her family.

My husband, Willie, passed away when Tammy was only 6 years old. It was a dark period for our family and I know at the time Tammy worried she would lose me, too.

When she was a teenager Tammy made up her mind and knew exactly what she wanted to do after high school ended. After all that hard work and study she was able to accomplish what she has always dreamed of – becoming a barrister – and I couldn’t be prouder of her achievements.

Writing our book together has been a very therapeutic experience; it’s given us an outlet to process our feelings. Because of my limited education I was initially frustrated by the process as I struggled to get my stories onto paper.

Tammy was patient and persevered in helping me navigate my thoughts. She has taught me that I can do it if I put my mind to it and believe in myself. Initially Tammy helped by being my ghost writer, but then I realised we needed to include her story in the book as well.

Recently we’ve been planning an intimate gathering for friends and family for the launch of our book. Bouncing ideas off each other has been a lot of fun!

I live with Tammy, her husband Jason, 42, and their two sons Kgiaum, 9, and Nalji, 9 months. Living with your daughter’s family is common practice in our culture. Having that family bond is something that’s important to us. Being there to watch over each other and still having our own space is a blessing.

I have many fond memories shared with Tammy. One that stands out was travelling to Los Angeles after she’d won a national writing competition in 1995. We visited Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch and stayed in this very posh hotel. We couldn’t stop pinching ourselves and each other at the realisation we were actually there – it was surreal!

12

Me

& Mum

Top read Not Just Black and White: A Conversation Between a Mother and Daughter

by Lesley and Tammy Williams (RRP $32.95, University of Queensland Press). Visit notjust blackandwhite. com.au

Tammy says:

There’s not just one thing that makes Mum special. She’s my best friend, my role model and my confidante.

We have a nickname for each other which is Tid Tid. It is an Aboriginal-English word meaning sister.

Mum is a very positive and resilient person.

She makes me feel relaxed and empowered when I am around her.

When I look back at my childhood after my dad died, Mum was only 37 years old, the same age I am now. With three children to support, limited education, limited job prospects and debt left from Dad’s business, she lacked confidence.

I don’t know how she was able to put food on the table and look after my two brothers, Dan, 42, and Rodney, 39, and me. Yet, I never felt as if I had a hard childhood. Even though we had no money, we were enriched with opportunities. Mum never said you can’t do that because we don’t have money. It would be “Don’t worry Tid Tid, we’ll find a way!”

Mum got us through the dark times by acknowledging what was happening and not being ashamed. She always wanted to better our lives and was never willing to be content with just an existence.

Mum’s taught me how to be strong in my identity and to be a proud Aboriginal woman. She’s able to stay true to herself and her beliefs. Mum shares her culture and knowledge with people and is eager to learn about other cultures, which is why she has friends from all different racial backgrounds.

Humour is a big part of Aboriginal culture; we enjoy having a laugh. Every day we’ll try and see the funny side of things.

Working on the book together was something I’ll always treasure. I feel privileged to have heard Mum’s personal stories and am able to know her better as a wonderful woman and important elder in our community. When I look back on my life this will be one of those times I will value the most.

Contact us:

If you would like to tell your story in Me & Mum, email us at yours@bauer-media.com.au 13

STREET STYLE

Michelle, 47 “My pants, top and cardigan are all from HempCo. There’s nothing like wearing a natural fibre and everything I own is either bamboo or hemp.

It keeps me warm in winter and cool in summer, and it lasts a lot longer than man-made fabrics. My drop necklace is from Marigold Designs and I got these boots from Bob’s in town. I always get compliments on them. I like the animal print on the heels.”

Janet, 61

What you are wearing in

“This jacket from Marigold Designs is really warm because it layers around the neck like a scarf. These wax-coated jeans are from Jag, my bag is from Myer and because I’m all about comfort, the shoes are Skechers. My style is the same as it was 20 years ago, which is why I never get rid of any clothes!”

Marg a Get the

Talei, 40+

2 Throw over a tee with jeans for days when it isn’t quite warm enough for bare arms.

Target, $35

2Brown is this season’s hottest shade of leather.

Boohoo, $130

Take a walk on the wild side.

Rollie @ Style Tread, $169.95 2

14

2

“Everything I’m wearing comes from a local boutique called Stellar and The Chief. I love these boots because they go with everything – they’re comfy and edgy. And I can wear this super-soft Italian leather jacket with dresses or pants.”

Be brave and make a statement in stripes.

Laura Ashley, $89.95

Kaz, 64

Karen, 56

“I’ve had this jumper for six or seven seasons.

It’s from Gordon Smith. I love this jacket, too. It’s from Howard Showers. I prefer to buy things I can wear many times over nowadays.

My necklace and skirt are from Marigold Designs, the earrings are from Glitterati Jewellery, and the boots are from Bob’s.”

“I’m looking a bit boho today. My jacket is from Witchery, the jeans are from Target and the boots are from Betts.

Normally I love jewellery and scarves, but you have caught me on a morning out shopping with my daughter and I don’t have either on.

Friends often compliment my style.”

aret River

Tilly, 86

Let’s raise a glass to the ladies of WA’s wine district!

It’s fashions on the field time again so complete your race-day look with a facinator.

Ivys @ Birdsnest, $29.95

2

2 Instead of typical black, mix it up with a monochrome blazer.

Jeanswest, $99.99

Now’s the time to swap your black winter boots for softer brown.

Spurr @ The Iconic, $79.95

2

look

2 The nights are still cool so invest in a cosy quilted jacket.

Boden, $154

“I made everything I’m wearing.

In fact, it’s been decades since I’ve bought anything. Dressing well is important to me and even if I’m staying home all day, I put make-up on and dress up like I’m going to town.

I suppose I’m a bit of a show-off!”

Turn the page

STREET STYLE

Sandy, 58

Carole, 60 “Friends say I’m Australia’s answer to Imelda Marcos because I just love shoes.

I probably have 150 pairs! I can’t remember exactly where I got these boots from, but I know it was from the same shop I bought my jeans, in Brighton, Victoria. My scarf and jacket are from the Creswick Woollen Mills.”

Eve, 65 “I love wearing black and like to have an edginess to my look. Like these Alex Perry glasses – they have animal print on them.

My bag is from Forever New, the scarf is from Rockmans and the boots are oldies, but goodies.”

TEXT: NATALEE FUHRMANN STYLING: ORLA MOLLOY PICTURES: PHILLIP CASTLETON/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU SEE PAGE 79 FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION

“Everything I’m wearing is from a second-hand boutique called 2-Timing. My taste in clothes is eclectic.

I don’t follow trends closely because I just like wearing whatever’s fun and colourful.

I only have a small wardrobe because it’s much easier to manage.”

What you are wearing in 2

Mar g Get the

Pair a long white jumper with light denim jeans.

Oasis, $40

2 Dress up any look, and stay snug, with a bright scarf.

Black Pepper, $29.95

Get in the swing of spring by adding a fresh pop of green to your wardrobe.

Millers, $28 2

Liz, 61

“I like to be comfortable now that I’m older, but I also like to look fresh.

Blues, greens and any colour except for beige tend to suit me, probably because my eyes are blue.

My boots are from Ecco and my earrings are from Margaret River Memories.

Everything else I’m wearing is from Sagika Boutique.”

2 Gold trimmings add a luxe touch to a staple black bag.

Condura, $79.95

“I dress to suit my shape. Today I’m wearing boots from Mimco. They have a low heel but there are lots of higher heels in my wardrobe because I’m the president of the Shine Foundation and have a lot of fundraisers to go to. My scarf is from David Jones, this top is Thurley and my necklace is just costume jewellery.”

Robyn, 60

“I’m loving creams, pinks and greys at the moment – all the soft colours.

Black doesn’t do a lot for me.

My jacket is from Michael Kors, my jeans are Replay and these boots are Aldo. My bag is from Elk, and this knit and scarf are from Witchery – I love the tassels.”

Kerrie, 54 “I like colour, particularly blues. This skirt is from Target, the top I picked up in an op shop, the scarf is from a second-hand shop, too, and my Dr. Martens boots were donated to me from a friend.”

Nicole, 50

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STAR CHAT At 48, ERIK THOMSON refuses to get stuck in a rut, writes Naomi Toy

‘It’s never too late to start over’ U

nlike his latest small screen incarnation, Erik Thomson is completely content. Living in a coastal town in South Australia’s McLaren Vale with his wife Caitlin McDougall and two children Eilish, 8, and Magnus, 4, not to mention the promise of a hit new show on his hands, life is pretty much as good it gets for the popular actor.

But even so, the Scottish-born star admits that deep in the back of his mind he harbours the idea make is an of one day leaving opportunity to it all behind and go somewhere returning to his roots. different,’’ he says.

“I do have a fantasy “Sometimes it of living on the west coast doesn’t work out and isles of Scotland, where other times it takes you I was originally from, LIFE OF LOVE because I think that would With wife of 18 years, places that you never would have imagined.’’ be pretty nice – until the actress Caitlin McDougall Still, Erik believes most first winter storm came of us entertain the idea through and then didn’t go of starting over and that if there’s away for 10 months,’’ Erik laughs. a reason to do it, it’s never too late.

Luckily, he doesn’t have to endure “It’s all in your mind, there’s nothing a punishing Scottish winter to enjoy physical to stop you from doing it,’’ he the thrill of a new beginning – his says. “I don’t think it’s too late for profession usually takes care of that. anyone [to start over], whether they “Because of the insecurity and uncertainty of it [acting] you come very want to go to university when they’re used to realising that every decision you 65 or whatever, it doesn’t matter. It all 18

comes down to mindset in the end.”

The concept of staying or going, changing or stagnating, was one of the things that drew Erik to the character of George Turner in the upcoming drama 800 Words.

George, who writes an 800-word column for a Sydney newspaper, is a recent widower who buys a house in New Zealand sight unseen, uprooting his two teenage children from their Australian home to move there and make a fresh start.

It’s not an easy transition for the trio to say the least, and the complications the family faces are part of what drew Erik to the series.

“I think the foundation of this show is about questionable decisions, and

PICTURES: NEWSPIX

NEW WAVE OF DRAMA (Left) With 800 Words co-stars Melina Vidler and Benson Jack Anthony; (above) showing off his physique as George Turner

some people will understand what “I was 40 years old when my George is doing and some people daughter was born so I want to make won’t,’’ he says. sure I’m in the best health I can be.”

“I identify with it. It’s not too Not only is Erik committed to far away from me in terms of having maintaining a younger, healthier that love for your children and always appearance, he’s determined to stay wanting to do the best for them but youthful on the inside, too. always doubting your decisions and “I try to keep contemporary with pop worrying and making mistakes.” culture and I’m not stuck in my ways The role of George looks set to in terms of things like music,’’ he says. complete Erik’s trifecta of playing “I try and understand what’s current adored male leads, after now rather than doing ‘I wanted his success as Dr Mitch the, ‘Well in my day we Stevens on All Saints to come back used to…’ kind of thing.’’ and Dave Rafter on if his new look fighting fit and andButattitude Packed to the Rafters. attracts the make a bit of female fans, he’s ready His loyal fans will love it and new ones a splash with a to laugh off any attention will, too, particularly as his way. whole new show’ that“I’vecomes he looks better than ever. been married Erik embraced a healthier lifestyle pretty much my entire career, or about four years ago: giving up alcohol, certainly since I became a ‘celebrity’, if introducing a fitness regime and shedding you like, from doing All Saints,’’ he says. around 6kg. In fact, his transformation “I’ve been with my wife for 18 years. has been so noticeable some have There’s nothing worse than a happily suggested he’s had plastic surgery – an married man playing up to that sort accusation he says while flattering is of stuff and I think everyone knows untrue, although he does concede to that. I just have a laugh with that, colouring his hair for the role. if people want to make a comment “I wanted to come back as a different like that, I keep it in a very platonic character [to Dave Rafter],’’ he says of area and see the joke in it and not his new look. “I wanted to come back take myself too seriously.’’

Watch Erik in 800 Words, Tuesdays fighting fit and make a bit of a splash with a whole new show and new energy. at 8.40pm on Channel 7

•

THE GOOD DOCTOR Erik was Georgie Parker’s love interest on All Saints

FAMILY GUY He played likeable hubby Dave for six seasons of Packed to the Rafters 19

GENERATION WOW!

‘I’ve made peace

Three women share their secrets to overcoming adversity

After two failed marriages and the unexpected death of an ex, Jane Ribinskas, 56, turned to yoga to help her see the light again

ZEN MASTER Yoga has helped Jane find inner peace

I married at 21 and had my daughter at 23, but I soon realised the marriage wasn’t right.

I left my husband, met somebody else and quickly remarried. Soon after I found out my first husband had died.

I harboured a lot of guilt for finding somebody else – it was a very intense time.

My second marriage also ended quite quickly and by the time I was 26 I was a single mother and emotionally wrung out. I kept thinking, Surely there must be more to life than feeling so low?

I started practising yoga and studying shiatsu, plus reading a lot of self-help books such as The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn.

It explains how to use your subconscious mind and intuition, as well as the power of affirmations.

IN TUNE Jane has learned how to handle tough times

I wanted to be able to put my daughter through private school so I moved into a job in recruitment and worked my way up into senior human resources roles in big companies.

The work environment was quite stressful, and for a long time I was able to use yoga and meditation to handle it.

But eventually the negative environment I was working in, plus the uncertainty of constant role changes, wore me down.

I had always wanted to start a yoga school and decided to take the plunge, starting my company Yoga Concepts (yogaconcepts.com.au), which is based in Melbourne, when I was 44.

I’ve learned that you actually don’t have to stress your way through the inevitable challenges that life will bring.

I just stay calm and solution-focused when times get tough. I don’t get caught up in the drama I used to, and the older I get, the more inspired I get.

‘I forgave my attackers’ When Di Riddell, 68, lost her beloved husband of 31 years, old demons resurfaced and she had to begin a long journey of healing When I was in my twenties, I was working as a nurse in Maryborough, Queensland, and young men would ring the nurses’ quarters for a date.

I would usually decline but when a man called Les rang, there was something about his voice that made me want to go.

We hit it off immediately, fell in love and had a wonderful marriage for 31 years. But when he died suddenly in 2002, my world came shattering down around me.

I worked frantically, cleaned, fussed and stopped eating until I lost 12kg and was on the brink of collapse. I saw a doctor and a psychologist and began the long journey of healing scars that were created long before I met Les. My father was a violent alcoholic who told me I was stupid, useless and worthless. The result was a lonely and unhappy childhood, and by the time I reached my teens I had no self-confidence.

When a handsome boy offered me a ride home from a dance when I was 15, I took it, thinking I might get a kiss goodnight. Instead I was pack-raped, fell pregnant and was sent to a home to have the baby, which was then adopted out.

I became a nurse but never developed resilience, and after I met Les I settled into a happy

TEXT: KIMBERLY GILLAN PICTURES: MIKE KORSOS, ESTHER BUTTERY

‘I embraced yoga and mindfulness’

and emerging stronger, and happier, than ever

with my past’ life, probably without properly dealing with the traumatic events of my childhood.

Through lots of personal development I’ve learned some powerful lessons, including the importance of forgiveness.

I started to think about what happened in my father and attackers’ lives, wondering what they had been through that led them to inflict such pain on someone else.

I realised that concentrating on what “he did” drags you down.

Letting it go has given me an incredible sense of peace. I’ve also acknowledged and accepted that I am responsible for my own life and what happens to me.

I journal daily to reprogram my mind for what I want to bring into my life – I focus on the positives.

Now I work as a confidence coach for mature women and have written a book called Beyond Abuse.

I also have a blog on my website, diriddell.com, which aims at helping other women gain the confidence to embrace change and learn to love themselves.

LIFE LESSONS Learning to forgive allowed Di to move forward and forge a new career

‘I moved to China!’

An offhand comment from a friend saw Tove Vine, 69, pack up her stressful life in Queensland and move to Asia to teach English I come from a poor family and had no formal education but after my marriage ended and my daughter started high school, I trained to become an accountant.

I worked hard and climbed the corporate ladder but after 13 years, I hated it. There were lots of corporate takeovers and redundancies happening and I had a constant knot in my stomach from the stress. I didn’t have the courage to quit because there weren’t a lot of jobs around.

On top of that, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect all the time – I didn’t like the person I was.

A friend loaned me the book Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman, an American woman who went travelling after getting divorced.

I was so inspired and said to my friend, “She’s living the life I want to live.” Earlier that day, my friend happened to speak to somebody who had been teaching English in China, so she said, “Why don’t you go there and teach English?”

I liked the sound of it, so I booked in to study for my teaching certificate and put my résumé on a website for English teachers abroad. Within two weeks I had 70 job offers from around the world.

I took the job that paid the most, which was in the city of Guangzhou.

In 2003, I sold my house, furniture and car and moved to Asia. My daughter was so worried about me going there alone at 57, but I took to the culture and teaching like a duck to water. Of course it was difficult

NEW WOMAN Migrating gave Tove the confidence she craved

at the start with the language barrier but I worked hard.

The next year I established Miss Tove’s English School, and now I have 12 schools in Guangzhou. I work 52 hours a week as the need for English classes is so great. It’s a wonderful life though; I earn a very decent salary and everybody respects me. I have become the person I always wanted to be.

I travel often and do philanthropic work around the region, including volunteer teaching. I also donate toothbrushes, soap and towels to an orphanage in Kathmandu. I’ve even written three books about my experiences.

A lot of women are fascinated by my life but are too scared to do something similar. I say, “Don’t focus on the things that could go wrong… think about the things that could go right.”

21

INSPIRING READ

‘Reinvention is exciting’ Celebrated author HELEN BROWN, 61, has an exciting new role – as a Yours columnist! She shares her inspirational story with Jackie Brygel they were taking it down the hill to the vet. Sam was so engrossed in this little bird in a shoebox that he stepped out behind a parked bus.”

Sam was just 9 years old when he died, his 6-year-old brother Rob a witness to the terrible accident.

“There just wasn’t much grief counselling in those days – it’s better now – but people need to be able to share their stories, because there’s still this feeling that you will get over it. But people don’t recover from the loss of a child,” Helen muses, adding, “You simply change.”

Yet just as tragedy can strike

BROTHERLY LOVE (L-R) Rob, pictured with Sam, was traumatised by the loss of his big brother

22

at the most unexpected of times, comfort, too, can come from an unforeseen source.

“I’d forgotten that, just a few weeks before the accident, Sam had bamboozled me into ordering this little kitten for his birthday, whom he’d named Cleo because he said she looked like an Egyptian princess,” Helen recalls.

“Some weeks after the accident, there was a knock on the door with the delivery of Cleo. At the time I thought, I can’t handle this now, but Rob immediately said, ‘It’s Sam’s kitten!

Welcome home, Cleo!’ and so she came into our lives. That’s when some kind of healing process began for Rob, who had been so traumatised, and for us.”

ANIMAL MAGIC The joy little Cleo brought the family helped them heal

PICTURES: PHILLIP CASTLETON/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU, COURTESY OF HELEN BROWN

T

here’s a chill in the air on the morning Yours arrives at the Melbourne home of bestselling writer Helen Brown.

Fortunately, the welcome we receive is nothing but warm, as Helen opens the door with a sunny smile, her “somewhat deranged” cat Jonah by her side, and a freshly brewed coffee served up with a date and walnut slice.

For the laidback host, welcoming guests into her home is no different to sharing the always relatable, laughter-filled intricacies of her life, as she’ll now do as a Yours columnist.

Certainly, Helen has experienced great joy as well as immeasurable tragedy in her 61 years. Back in the early ’80s, the New Zealand-born writer – at the time a columnist for a number of local publications – was living “a very ordinary life” in Wellington with her first husband and their young family.

But their lives changed forever on January 21, 1983. On what had begun as “just another unremarkable day”, Helen’s eldest son Sam was run over and killed on the road.

“It happens to so many families – a day that starts out perfectly and, all of a sudden, your whole world has collapsed,” she says softly. “The boys had found an injured pigeon under the clothes line and

NEXT CHAPTER “I do hope to bring some warmth and connection to others,” Helen says of her new role

Decades later, happily married to her second husband Philip, Helen wrote her first book, Cleo, about the little black cat who helped heal her family.

“We brought Cleo over from New Zealand with us when we moved to Melbourne, and she ended up living to nearly 24,” Helen says. “When we buried her under the daphne bush, Rob said, ‘There goes the last connection to Sam’. It was at that point that I thought, I should tell this story.”

Cleo went on to sell two million

copies in more than 16 languages, finding a place on bestseller lists around the globe. A major motion picture based on the book is also in development.

“It’s incredible and still a little bit surreal,” says Helen, whose second book, After Cleo Came Jonah, has also been a huge hit with readers and critics alike.

Helen’s latest novel Tumbledown Manor – about a middle-aged woman who reinvents her life after a broken marriage – has been equally well-received, described by critics as a “jolly good read”.

‘There’s still this feeling that you’ll get over it. But people don’t recover from the loss of a child. You simply change’

Meanwhile, family is clearly everything to Helen. Her home is filled with photos of Rob, now 39, his wife Chantelle and their two gorgeous girls, Annie, 5, and Stella, 3, along with pictures of Helen’s daughter Lydia, 30, from her first marriage, and Katharine, 23, her daughter with Philip. As for Philip, he’s “simply wonderful”, Helen says.

“We met at a wedding when Philip was the best man,” she reveals. “I was seeing a psychologist at the time and she said, ‘Have a one-night stand’.

When I saw Philip, I thought to myself, He’d be a good one-night stand and now we’ve been married nearly 25 years,” she laughs.

Will Helen be writing about Philip in her column?

“Well, yes,” she says, “But he’s never put in a formal complaint in the past, although he does say to others, ‘Watch what you’re saying because it might appear in print!’ ” Becoming a grandmother has also brought Helen newfound happiness.

“People always said that being a grandparent is a special relationship and I didn’t realise that, but now I see it,” she smiles. “It’s a wonderful relationship and different to being a parent – you’re allowed to be a bit foolish and I really enjoy that.”

And now Helen is pleased to be embarking on this latest chapter in her life – as our newest columnist.

“I’m not a stand-up comedian, but I do hope to bring some warmth and connection to others, as well as the sharing of what drives me nuts and what makes me smile,” she says.

“I’m also looking forward to learning more about the readers’ lives. Older people now are not living older lives – they’re living interesting, creative lives and reinventing themselves, and I find that so exciting.”

Helen’s column starts in issue 44 of Yours, on sale Thursday, October 1

•

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STAR DIARY Actress SIGRID THORNTON, 56, has enjoyed plenty of family and career highlights, and she’s always looking forward to the roles that lie just ahead...

y r a i d s ’ d i r g i S My latest role

I’m playing Judy Garland in Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door – great fun! You can’t hold back with a character like Judy; I had a ball, I had to be bold! But I have the greatest respect for her and as a lifelong fan I had a certain amount of trepidation and certainly a keenness to get it right. As much as I could immerse myself in her life, I did. I read, I listened, I watched. There’s quite a lot out there, a lot of written material. I would’ve loved more video footage. Judy had a very public life and was quite exposed in the public arena. A very well-documented life for all the obvious reasons.

TEXT: NAOMI TOY PICTURES: AAP, GETTY IMAGES

Hit the heights

I’m an eternal optimist who always likes to think I’m entering the best phase of my career. And I’m one of those people trying to live day-to-day. Having said that, I’ve had a number of highlights.

I’ve really been privileged to be more involved in stage in the last few years. I played Blanche DuBois (pictured above) in A Streetcar Named Desire last year, one of the great roles in the female canon.

It was challenging but very rewarding. And, of course, Laura in SeaChange. I’ve been a very fortunate actor and I’ve tried to make the most of [these roles].

Staying grounded

My first professional acting role was at 13. I started saying I was going to be an actor at age 7.

My parents helped instil a strong work ethic in me, and helped me understand that this is a job and that it didn’t involve taking oneself any more seriously than anyone does in any job. I think it was a very grounding influence.

I have had a very strong family life from a young age.

I had children young and met my husband (film producer Tom Burstall, pictured below) very young and, of course, they add other dimensions. Working and family life is a crazy juggle, but I wouldn’t trade it.

My family has kept me level, and has given me wholehearted support on the way.

Time to relax

The thing that gives me most pleasure is spending time with my family. I also love to read and go to the movies. Small things give me a lot of pleasure and I think that happens as you become more mature – you start to understand that little things are often the most important. I get great pleasure out of going to the park with my dog, Baz.

What’s next?

I’m shooting season two of [ABC series] The Code in Canberra, and another project’s in the pipeline – I can’t complain.

See Sigrid starring as Judy Garland in mini-series Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, September 20 at 8.30pm on Channel Seven

Next issue: We catch up with queen of crime, Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante 25

BOOK CLUB

‘I expected applause, not a rejection letter!’

She had quite a late start but teacher-turned-romance novelist BARBARA HANNAY, 65, never gave up on her dream of writing

Write for us 26

countryside setting in the Australian outback. She’s also mined the past with historical fiction, the first of which, Moonlight Plains, was nominated for the Ruby Romantic Book of the Year.

“I studied modern history at uni,” Barbara says of her new direction in writing. Her latest release, The Secret Years, is set both in the past and in

contemporary times, a modern and historical novel combined.

“There is a dual timeline and it is the story of three generations within one story,” she says.

The story moves between outback Australia, where Lucy is a soldier returning from Afghanistan, and World War II England, where we meet Lucy’s cattle farmer grandfather, Harry.

And it seems that this new direction of dual timeline rural romances is something that Barbara is keen to explore. “I’m writing a third historical novel now and I really do enjoy it but I am keeping the rural thread in the contemporary stories. I love the idea of characters who are dragged out of glamour and luxury and how their lives are suddenly transformed,” she says.

Barbara admits it wasn’t easy to turn her back on her teaching career but she was ready for a change. “I feel incredibly lucky to have enjoyed a second career that grew out of a lifelong love,” she says.

“I love pushing the boundaries and I’m now a firm believer that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.”

The Secret Years by Barbara Hannay, RRP $32.99, Penguin Books

Have you read a book you think other Yours readers would enjoy?

Write a review and you could see it in print. It can be a new release or an old favourite – just give us your verdict in 100 words and email yours@ bauer-media.com.au or by post to Yours, GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW, 2001

TEXT: BELINDA WANIS

A

lthough she aspired to be a writer from a very young age, rural romance novelist Barbara Hannay was dissuaded from pursuing it as a career.

“When my father declared journalism wasn’t a very ‘nice’ career for a woman, I abandoned that idea,” Barbara says. Fate, however, had other ideas. “I was 49 when my first book was published, and now, almost 16 years later, I sometimes still have to pinch myself,” she reveals.

It was while working as a high school teacher that she looked deeper into the romance genre and thought about returning to writing. “I confess I took one look at the easily recognised, simple little stories published by Mills & Boon and thought, This is it! I can write these,” she says.

“With my family’s enthusiastic support, I sent a manuscript to London and waited for the burst of applause. Six weeks later a polite rejection letter arrived. Over the next four-and-a-half years, while I continued to teach, three more rejections followed, but instead of being deterred, I grew more determined.

Publication was now my dream.”

Her rural romances are now devoured by fans around the world as much for their romantic twists as their alluring

Five books by my bedside

Is this your next page-turner?

Children’s Laureate Jackie French

Yours reveals the opening lines of a new book on the shelves. Does it make you want to read more?

I think I had a brother once. We sit in the road below the window of a pie shop, his face obscure in the cat-black of a London alley past midnight. We poke the mortar with sharp sticks, then scrape away till the bricks become loose. He grunts as he manoeuvres the first one from its rest. A voice cries the hour; it is the Watch in the next street and we stop, waiting to see if the old man will turn into our alley and catch us. We hurry. I watch my brother’s hands grasp the slackened bricks and pull them free, dry mortar crumbling dusty and mysterious in the dark air.

When the hole is large enough, he shoves me through and I spy two fat pies on the counter.

Song of the Sea Maid by Rebecca Mascull, RRP $29.99, Hachette

THE BEST-LOOKING WOMEN IN BONDI JUNCTION by Sharon O’Keefe Out of print for 20 years but it’s absolutely hilarious. Narky senior citizens; perfect Australian escapism.

LETTERS FROM A FAINTHEARTED FEMINIST AND MORE FROM MARTHA by Jill Tweedie I turn to this one over and over. It’s very gently political about women’s lib.

JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë The comfort book of my childhood. Jane had the temerity to say, “I care for myself” and not do what others want, but what is right.

GREAT DIALOGUES OF PLATO by Plato, W.H.D. Rouse

A profound influence. Socrates urged youth to question their elders and in ’50s Australia you did not question your elders!

THE PHILOSOPHER KINGS by Jo Walton On my bedside now. It may sound boring but given my interest in Plato and Socrates it’s fascinating to me.

The Hush Treasure Book, featuring Jackie French, RRP $29.99, A & U Children

Reviews Chilling

True crime

Life affirming

Moving

Illuminating

When a boy who always cries wolf disappears, police realise they may have to look at his tall tales for any grains of truth that could lead them to him. What they unearth is the return of a monster.

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny, RRP $29.99, Hachette Australia

Based on a true story, this crime novel tells the story of three brothers, all aged under 24, who became Sweden’s most wanted bank robbers, and the father who influenced them – written by their fourth brother!

The Father by Anton Svensson, RRP $29.99, Hachette Australia

Daphne was discovered and became a model at 21, but gave it all up to live in the British countryside after she married. Little did she know that after her husband’s death, she’d be rediscovered – at 70! The catwalk queen is now in her eighties.

The Way we Wore by Daphne Selfe, RRP $39.99, Macmillan

A memoir that shows the power books have to liberate, as a group of Iranian women secretly meet to discuss taboo Western literature.

Over tea and pastries, they share their own hopes and dreams.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, RRP $24.99, Penguin Modern Classics

If you’re a fan of the fabulously talented Dame Maggie Smith, this insight into her life and career will have you appreciating the true depth she goes into for her roles and the impact that it’s had on her family.

Maggie Smith by Michael Coveney, RRP $32.99, Hachette Australia 27

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Our team of experts are ready to answer your toughest questions. Ask us anything – we’re here to help

7 1 pages of

Good advice to Know

In this issue, our Good to Know experts share wise words on everything from easing arthritis without medication to becoming a stepgrandparent and tuning out self doubt.

You’ll also find eight money-saving tips that literally make cents! Healthwise, we look at limiting salt intake and dealing with the ups and downs of mood swings. We also explain the National Broadband Network, and get set for spring planting. Enjoy!

TheYoursteam

Dr Susanna Proudman

Leanne Hall

Rheumatologist, p32

Psychologist, p34

Nic Healey

Sonya Stanley

Technology expert, p36

Dr Nicola Gates

Neuropsychologist, p44

Write to us!

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Dietitian, p42

Rae Morris

Make-up artist, p59

Sue Yorston

Counselling adviser, p38

Dr Sonia Davison

Endocrinologist, p45

Charlie Albone

Landscape designer, p64

What question would you like to ask our experts? Write to us by post, email or via our Facebook page. Your question will be forwarded to a relevant expert, and the answer will appear in a future issue of Yours. Please note, no personal correspondence will be entered into.

31

GOOD TO KNOW Take control of stiffness and pain with our expert guide

A

Pill-free art

Prof Proudman says. rthritis pain is one Self-management for of the most common these symptoms starts ailments Australians with a well-balanced seek medical advice diet, getting enough rest, for, but experts believe keeping active and staying a proactive approach to on top of pain. “The treatment could be extremely mainstay of non-pill beneficial. “It’s about taking strategies is that they’re control of the situation rather Associate Professor Susanna self-motivated,” she says. than letting it control you,” Proudman Medical director, “Not all strategies will suit says Associate Professor Arthritis Australia everyone, but you might Susanna Proudman, find a sustainable approach that gives rheumatologist and medical director you long-term benefits.” of Arthritis Australia.

The following are some of the While there will always be a place most promising self-care strategies: for arthritis medication and surgery, non-medical or “pill-free” treatment options can be especially useful when b Apply heat or ice for instant relief it comes to managing the three types of the condition that commonly Two of the best, and cheapest, ways affect women aged 50 and over: to manage arthritis are old-fashioned rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis hot and cold topical treatments. and gout. Despite being different “Most people find heat useful because conditions with separate causes, their the warmth is comforting, plus it eases symptoms are similar with each muscles and joints, especially with causing joint stiffness and pain. “There osteoarthritis,” Prof Proudman says. may be swelling, redness and heat along A long, warm shower in the with a reduced range of movement,” morning can alleviate overnight

UNDERSTANDING ARTHRITIS

Here’s what you need to know about the three most common forms of arthritis affecting Australian women aged 50+ l Osteoarthritis (OA) usually appears in the hips, knees, spine, hands or fingers due to the breaking down of cartilage. “It’s sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease,” Prof Proudman explains.

Risk factors include past injuries, being overweight, overuse of joints and family history. l Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes joint pain and swelling. “Autoimmune responses in the body cause

32

inflammation, tissue damage and joint destruction,” she says. It can affect small joints in your hands and feet, as well as hips and knees. l Gout is a painful condition where crystals of uric acid form in a joint – usually a big toe, but also elbows, wrists, hands, knees and ankles. “Gout is more common in men, but in women it happens after menopause.” High blood pressure and cholesterol, and being overweight are some risk factors.

stiffness, while soaking your hands in body-temperature water – 37°C – can ease aching finger joints. Just apply moisturiser and pop on rubber dishwashing gloves before you soak.

Electric blankets, hot-water bottles, heat pads and microwavable wheat bags are all useful for directing heat to sore spots, too.

Ice treatments work best when you’ve overdone it and need to soothe a specific joint, such as a swollen knee after a round of golf or a big day of shopping. “Applying ice and keeping the area elevated can provide relief when the joint is inflamed and painful,” Prof Proudman says.

Keep gel-filled cold packs in the freezer or wrap ice cubes in a towel before applying to the skin for up to 10 minutes at a time. Ice is particularly useful for treating gout flare-ups.

b Treat yourself to a massage

A massage therapist can help relieve arthritic pain, particularly for back and neck issues. “While you can’t have a massage all the time, it’s a nice experience and can be very reassuring to know you can get such good relief from a non-pill approach,” Prof Proudman says.

US research shows massage eases muscle tension and improves blood flow during and after treatment.

“With arthritis, your muscles can become stiff and go into spasm so massage can gently release that and restore more range of movement,” she explains. Massage also increases production of the “happiness hormone” serotonin, which reduces pain and anxiety. People often sleep better after a massage, too.

Health

b Dive into water exercise

TEXT: ALICIA PYKE PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES/POSED BY MODEL

Whether it’s swimming freestyle, doing laps with a kickboard or splashing around at aqua aerobics, water workouts are the ideal exercises for people with arthritis. They are non-weight-bearing, making it easy and safe to move around, while increasing your heart rate and boosting overall fitness.

“In a swimming pool you’re buoyant, so the water takes your weight and you don’t have to worry about falling over,” Prof Proudman says. “You can get used to using sore joints and can strengthen muscles to improve your confidence out of the water.”

It’s all part of the “use it or lose it” approach to staying active, which is essential to pill-free arthritis care.

“Exercise doesn’t accelerate joint damage,” she adds. “It actually stops you losing muscle tone.

The key is to do a little, but often, and slowly build up to more.”

b Flex your body and mind with tai chi If you’re looking for a gentle way to improve your flexibility and movement on dry land, try the Chinese martial art of tai chi. “It’s not an aerobic exercise so it won’t get you fit, but tai chi is useful for improving your balance and posture,” Prof Proudman says.

The slow, graceful movements require intense concentration, which can take your mind off discomfort and stress.

“It’s all about being in the moment and enjoying the feeling of putting your body through its paces,” she says.

Studies show practising tai chi twice a week increases muscle strength in the lower body, while improving flexibility and movement throughout.

“Getting out there and exercising for pleasure builds your confidence and wellbeing, too.”

Case study On the go!

Jenny, 63, a blogger from Bowral, NSW, relies on diet and exercise to keep moving forward with her full life

‘

I have two kinds of arthritis – psoriatic arthritis, which I’ve had for 35 years, and osteoarthritis, which started about 10 years ago. In May, I had a double hip replacement. It was terrifying, but the difference it’s made to my life has been quite remarkable. I can now walk for an hour or two, whereas before I couldn’t walk for longer than a minute without pain. Now I’m back in the garden, cooking, driving to Sydney to see my children and doing all the things I love to do.

The more you walk, the easier it gets and it’s so good for you just to get moving outside and breathing fresh air. I also do Pilates twice a week and find it’s the most amazing exercise. It gets into every nook and cranny of the body, strengthening ligaments and muscles.

Every day I drink lots of water with lemon juice and eat plenty of vegetables, but less protein than I used to. I eat loads of broccoli, butternut pumpkin, zucchini, green and yellow beans, carrots, onions, garlic, capsicum and sweet potato.

I also grow my own salad, love quinoa and eat lots of seeds.

I’m always on the go, but I think it’s important to rest, get to bed on time and not stay up late.

Sometimes I get flare-ups and have to take medication, but I rest and drink lots of water and within 48 hours, it usually passes. I know arthritis will never leave me, but it’s about balance and I know how to get on top of it.

‘

hritis

ACTION PLAN!

33

GOOD TO KNOW A healthy dose of kindness can help you cast off the heavy burden of self doubt

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Leanne Hall Integrative psychologist

ith a seemingly never-ending list of tasks to complete and people to please each day, it’s common to feel overburdened – and it can take a toll on our feelings of self worth. “Low self-esteem is very closely linked to depression,” says integrative psychologist Leanne Hall. “We’re too hard on ourselves, and we begin to feel like we’re not being effective. If we don’t feel good about ourselves it’s hard for others to feel good about us, so it begins to affect our relationships.”

However, making small changes to your schedule and adjusting your mindset may be all it takes to help you learn to love yourself again. Here are six ways to silence your inner critic and be your own cheerleader.

6 to be kinder to yourself WAYS

34

1

SHED A WEEKLY TASK

If you feel like each day is a mad rush to complete every task on your to-do list while leaving no time for yourself, you’re overcommitted. “While women can be really good multi-taskers, we can also spread ourselves too thin,” Leanne says.

“It can be hard to say no, but saying yes to everything can make you feel like you’re not doing everything properly, and that makes you ineffective and contributes to low self-esteem. It’s a vicious cycle.”

To get your schedule under control, reduce your commitments slowly. Begin by dropping one weekly task – hire a cleaner to free up your Saturdays, or order takeaway one night a week to cut back on cooking duties. This will shorten that to-do list and give you more time to do your other tasks well, so you’ll be able to stop beating yourself up for not being able to give everything your all.

2

CHOOSE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

3

TREAT YOURSELF LIKE A FRIEND

People who treat themselves with compassion are more likely to be happy, resilient, optimistic and motivated to change their lives for the better, says psychologist Kristin Neff, author of Self Compassion (RRP $32.99, Hodder & Stoughton).

“Women are really, really hard on themselves,” Leanne says. “It’s about talking to yourself the way you’d talk to your best friend. Would you really say, ‘You’re hopeless! I knew you wouldn’t be able to do that,’ or would you say, ‘That’s OK, you made a mistake, you’ll get better – keep going.’ ” Rewarding yourself is important, too. “If your friend does really well at something or deserves a treat, you buy her a bunch of flowers. Treat yourself the same way.”

4

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES

We have a tendency to dwell on the When it comes to your social life, it’s areas of our lives where we’re failing a good idea to regularly re-examine rather than succeeding who you’re spending time with.

– and for good “Sometimes we can get stuck reason. A US associating with people who study found the don’t give us much back,” brain is more Pledge how you will be Leanne says. “Ask yourself: sensitive to kinder to yourself as part of who do you associate with that negativity, so Mind Shift’s Glass Half Full makes you feel good about our attitudes campaign. To find out how who you are? And who makes are influenced to get involved, visit you feel drained and questioning by negative mindshift.org.au your self-worth? We messages rather need to invest in our than positive ones. relationships with You can overcome this by people who check consciously changing your focus in about how we’re to what’s going right. feeling and pay “It’s OK to spend a few attention to minutes reflecting on our needs. what’s going wrong but “Sometimes it’s the key is not to over-think not about getting it,” Leanne says. “Give it rid of friends, it’s some attention, but if you just about keeping find that you’re ruminating on them at arm’syour failures, shift your attention length by not somewhere else by going for a investing as much walk or doing something completely time into them.” different, to reset your thinking.”

TEXT: TRUDIE MCCONNOCHIE PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES

Start today!

Wellbeing

TOP BILLING It’s OK to put yourself first sometimes

5

GET MOVING

Regular physical activity releases feel-good chemicals in the body which can reduce symptoms of mild depression and anxiety and boost self-confidence.

For an even bigger benefit, head outside – countless studies have found getting in touch with nature soothes the mind.

One such study by Stanford University in California found that people who walked on a tree-lined path reported not dwelling on the negative aspects of their lives as much as they had before the walk.

6

CUT BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Although Facebook is a great way to stay in touch, excessive use can be bad for your mental health. A Swedish study found frequent Facebook use resulted in lower self-esteem, because seeing photos of other people looking happy can foster a sense of inadequacy. You don’t have to delete your account, just be mindful of your use.

If you believe social media is affecting your mood, an app such as Social Network Limiter ($1.29 from the App Store) can help. Set the maximum amount of time you’ll allow yourself to spend on social media each day then, once you’ve reached your limit, the app blocks your access. Of course, this only applies to iPhone or iPad use. For desktop computers or Android devices you’ll just have to use self-discipline.

35

GOOD TO KNOW

NBN 101 Y Everything you need to know about the National Broadband Network

ou’ve probably heard of the NBN – the National Broadband Network – and could be forgiven Nic Healey for not knowing Senior editor, exactly what CNET Australia it is, or how the country-wide rollout will affect you.

The NBN is the largest national infrastructure project in Australian history. The aim of the NBN – which has gone through quite a few changes since its first trial rollout in Tasmania back in 2010 – is to provide all Australians with super-fast internet speeds, while also bridging the so-called “digital divide” that has disadvantaged regional communities.

Here’s some of the essential information you need to know.

b What is it?

The NBN is a complete overhaul of the country’s internet and telephone infrastructure. It’s a mix of new technology and improvements to what’s already in use. The goal is to ensure that all Aussies get access to fast internet speeds, no matter where they live.

For people in urban areas, this means getting the internet from new or existing cable lines, also known as hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) lines.

In some regional areas it might mean using satellite technology to deliver internet connectivity, or even leveraging the existing mobile internet networks.

b Why do we need it?

Believe it or not, Australia has very slow internet speeds compared to the rest of the world. The most recent State of the Internet report found Australia ranks just 44th in the world for internet speed. That puts

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH NBN The amazing internet speeds of the NBN open up a whole new world of possibilities for you. Here are just a few: l Video calling: Chatting face-toface with family and friends in faraway places easily over the internet. l Video gaming: According to a brand new report from the Interactive Gaming and Entertainment Association, a staggering 49 per cent of Australians aged 50 and over play video games, and the NBN will make it even easier to get started. l More movies and TV shows: Subscription streaming video services 36

such as Stan, Netflix and Presto will be able to offer better quality videos, giving you more viewing options, wherever you live. l Distance learning: Open Universities Australia could completely change the way it offers distance learning courses – imagine live real-time lectures or one-on-one chats with a teacher, making it easier than ever to continue your education, no matter your age.

us behind New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

And while our internet hasn’t been getting any faster, our usage is increasing considerably. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we downloaded enough content to fill more than 6.3 billion CDs last year, with our average broadband downloads increasing by more than 33 per cent.

And that was before the launch of the popular Netflix streaming video service in March, so we can expect to see a rapid increase in those numbers. This is why faster internet speed is essential – with our increasingly web-savvy lifestyles, it will help us keep up with the demand.

TEXT: NIC HEALEY PICTUTE: GETTY IMAGES

b When can I start using it?

According to the wholly-owned Commonwealth company building the NBN – also called nbn – the goal is to connect eight million homes and businesses by 2020. This means a progressive rollout across Australia over the next five years. At present, nbn says that one in 10 homes in Australia has the ability to connect, with new areas “coming online” daily. To find out if your home has NBN access, head to the nbn website (nbnco.com.au) and enter your street address.

If you live in an area where the NBN deployment is currently underway, it generally takes 12 months from the start of construction in an area until the NBN network is ready for service.

b Is it for everyone?

Technology

Absolutely! As mentioned, the aim of the NBN is to connect all of Australia – not just businesses or people in cities.

Even if you think you don’t spend much time online, new research from nbn shows that people aged 55-plus are increasingly using technology to stay connected to their families. In fact, 35 per cent of grandparents are using video calling apps to keep in touch with grandchildren, and the NBN will help make that even easier and quicker.

b How do I get it?

It’s important to remember that the NBN rollout isn’t optional – it’s replacing outdated technology and this means we all need to act, even if you only have a landline phone.

When the NBN is rolled out in your area, you’ll need to switch over your phone and internet services. To make the switch, contact your preferred phone or internet provider or visit the nbn website for more information.

If you have a wireless network at home, you might need to upgrade your wi-fi router. Your ISP should be able to tell you if your technology is too outdated for the NBN. The changeover will also affect things such as medical alarms and emergency call systems.

If you have these, or even a monitored home security alarm or fire alarm system (not smoke detectors), talk to those service providers to see if you need to make any changes.

b What will it cost?

According to nbn, the standard installation of NBN network equipment is free of charge. But just like your current landline telephone services and internet connectivity, you will need to pay for an NBN plan.

Chances are, your current internet service provider will have some NBN plans ready to go – ask them about what you need to do to make the switch. If you’re looking to get connected for the first time, you can compare all the NBN plans on offer at WhistleOut (whistleout.com.au).

b How will it change my life?

The NBN is going to impact the life of every Australian. It could be just in little ways, such as better quality movies from streaming video services such as Stan or Netflix. For those in regional areas, the effect could be more profound with access to never-beforeseen internet speeds. It will also open up isolated areas, making it easier for businesses to interact with other parts of Australia and boost the economy in country towns.

Medical care could also change, as so-called e-health and telehealth will get a great boost from fast broadband.

Doctors can quickly send and receive medical images and documents, no matter how large, and easily share patient records from clinic to clinic.

Video consultations could even become easier with the NBN in place, allowing patients to regularly video consult with doctors from the comfort of their homes.

37

GOOD TO KNOW

Becoming a step-g Everything you need to know about establishing a rewarding relationship with new grandkids

T

he arrival of at Sydney Stepfamily grandchildren is Counselling. But even if you one of life’s most aren’t quite ready to play the joyful experiences, role of grandma to a stepbut there’s a good chance grandchild, it doesn’t mean some of those grandkids will you can’t embrace the role of enter your life courtesy of a trusted friend or cherished your son or daughter’s new mentor to these new children partner. In fact, having in your life.

Sue Yorston step-grandchildren is more Manager, common than you may b Be cautious Relationships Australia Victoria in your approach realise – the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals You’ve met your new that 1.1 million children living in step-grandchild and while your natural Australia have a natural parent living instincts may be telling you to sweep elsewhere, with 10 per cent living them up in a warm embrace like you in step-families and 12 per cent would your biological grandchildren, in blended families. it is advisable to take it slowly.

“You need to remember these b Starting from scratch kids are on a journey of recovery It is widely acknowledged that and the focus needs to be remarriage comes with emotional on their best interests rather baggage and logistical problems than your own wishes,” says for a couple and their children, Sue Yorston, manager of but what is often overlooked is Relationships Australia Victoria. how tough it can be for grandparents “You need to act accordingly.” who face the daunting task of For your first encounter, establishing relationships with the Sue recommends meeting on neutral territory, such as offspring their child’s new partner a park, and for the parents may bring into the relationship. to give the children plenty “Unlike the early bond that of warning about the meeting develops between a grandparent in advance. “The last thing you and their biological grandchild, want is for these kids to feel step-grandparents have to start overwhelmed by meeting the whole anew with kids who might still family for the first time at a major be experiencing distress from their parents’ marriage breakdown family event,” she says. and may not be entirely ready During the meeting, let your for a new family dynamic,” says step-grandchild know you’re genuinely Susan Lancaster, psychotherapist interested in developing a meaningful

38

friendship with them but, from then on, let them take the lead. That could mean they decide they don’t want to have a relationship with you at all – research indicates the older the child, the less likely they are to become close to their step-grandparents.

Rather than force issues yourself, let your step-grandchild choose a name for you they feel comfortable with; let them control the amount of physical affection they’re comfortable with; and let them decide how involved they want you to be in their lives.

What’s important is they know you are there for them if and when they are ready.

Relationships

It goes without saying there is a multitude of differences between your biological grandchildren and your step-grandchildren.

“Obviously, there’s the absence of blood ties,” Susan says, “but also intermittent rather than continuous visitation, little or no shared history and an emphasis on respect rather than love.”

But while you may not initially feel that same gush of love for them that you feel with your biological grandchildren, it’s important to treat them exactly the same from the get-go.

“This way there’s no propriety involved, which will make family occasions, such as Christmas, easier,” Susan adds.

Invite your step-grandchildren to any event you’d invite your biological grandchildren to, but don’t be offended if they decline. And gift them as you would the others at birthdays and at Christmas, but don’t go overboard.

“Kids have an innate ability to know when people are being sincere towards them and when they’re being

bribed,” Sue says. “The key here is not to go over the top but to make them feel equal to the other kids.” This is an approach that should make everyone feel comfortable.

b Consider your position

Regardless of how much love you may develop for your step-grandchildren, it’s worth keeping in mind that rather than being a main player in the child’s life, your role as step-grandparent is very much a peripheral one, especially if his or her biological grandparents are still on the scene. Susan says the relationship between the sets of grandparents can be a minefield, with jealousy issues and a sense of competition often occurring. “For the children, there may be conflicting loyalties between biological and step-grandparents and differing values, which can be confusing for them.”

To keep the peace, respect the other grandparents’ position by waiting for personal invitations to events such as Grandparents Day or birthday parties. As a rule, stay out of family conflict by refraining from offering your opinion, unless asked, or administering discipline. “Set rules and responsibilities for your own home with a simple, ‘This is how we do it in this house,’ ” Susan adds. “But it’s best to let the biological parents decide how their children will be disciplined when problems arise.”

Relationships Australia Remember, no matter what g your title is – grandma, friend, offers courses and counsellin for people experiencing mentor or simply your name step-family difficulties.

– with the right ingredients and Visit relationships.org.au a bit of patience, your presence or call 1300 364 277 in a step-grandchild’s life can be profound and a whole lot of fun.

Family ties

Nedret, 68, of Sydney, says she has more than enough love for her grandchildren and her step-grandson

‘

I’ve always loved children, which is perhaps why I immediately accepted Regan, my son’s partner’s then nine-year-old son like he was my own grandchild.

That was five years ago, and at the time I already had three biological grandchildren, who I’m very close to. But as soon as I saw my son, David, was serious about his partner, Jo, I made the decision right away to welcome Regan into the fold.

This meant making sure I treated him exactly the same way I treat my other grandchildren by inviting him to family celebrations and ensuring the gifts I bought him were of similar value to my other grandkids.

I didn’t ever want him to feel like he was the odd one out.

We’ve never had any conflict because we’re also close to Regan’s grandmother, who often visits us. Despite our relationship with Regan – which is a little more distant these days since he moved interstate to live with his dad – we’ve always been aware he has biological grandparents and that we’re there simply to support them, our son and his wife.

But if he felt he needed me, I would be there for him in a heartbeat.

TEXT: DILVIN YASA

b Practise equality

Step by step

‘

randparent

Case study

39

GOOD TO KNOW Get your bank balance in the black with these painless penny-pinching tricks

W

hether you’re trying to get on top of debt or saving for a car or holiday, finding extra cash can seem nearly impossible. But it doesn’t have to be. With a few clever tips and tricks, you can save thousands in just one year. Read on to see how simple everyday changes can yield big savings.

1

Beware of ATM fees

According to research, Aussies spent a whopping $627 million on ATM withdrawal fees last year.

So while that $2 fee might not seem like much at the time, it can seriously add up.

To avoid fees, research your bank’s ATM network to see if it has partnerships with other banks for free withdrawals. For example, Westpac customers can make fee-free withdrawals from St. George ATMs and vice versa. If you frequently withdraw cash, switch to an account such as ING Direct’s Orange Everyday, where any local ATM fees will be credited back to you if you deposit $1000 or more a month.

Or you can completely avoid ATMs by opting to get cash out when paying

by EFTPOS at supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths.

2

4 3

Take the 52week challenge

Starting at the beginning of any week during the year, simply put $1 in your piggy bank or savings account. Each week, increase your deposit based on the corresponding number of that week. So on the second week put in $2, in the third week deposit $3 and so on. In the final weeks of the challenge you’ll be putting away $50, $51 and $52. And at the end of the savings challenge you’ll have set aside an impressive $1378.

Set up automatic transfers

Establish automatic payments so there isn’t money sitting around tempting you to spend. Work out how much you can afford to put aside each month without it affecting your lifestyle and set up a standing order with your bank to take the hassle

40

8 wa

out of having to transfer it yourself.

Even just $10 or $20 a month can make a big difference in the long run.

And, where possible, set-up automatic payments for your mobile phone bill, rent or mortgage payments so you don’t get stung with any late fees.

Change one habit

Many of us won’t think twice about buying a morning coffee from the local cafe to start the day.

But did you realise your caffeine hit could be costing you in excess of $1200 a year? That’s more than a return airfare to Thailand! By changing a daily habit that can cost between $3 and $10 a day, you can save a bundle.

If you take the bus to work, but live within walking distance, set your alarm earlier, pull on your sneakers and get to work on foot. If you buy lunch every day, make an extra portion when cooking dinner and bring the leftovers to work. And instead of that morning latte, buy a thermos and make a coffee at home to take with you.

Finance

ys to t withoiu notic ng!

Cut down your electricity bill by being aware of “phantom power”, which is energy used by appliances and electronics that are switched off but still drawing energy from an outlet. Turn off all power points or unplug appliances before heading out for the day so they’re not drawing any power.

Running the heater all night during colder months can be tempting, but usually results in a hefty power bill. Instead, wear an extra layer of clothing, only heat the rooms you’re using, and close doors and use draught stoppers to keep the warmth in.

6

If you’re tempted to spend your extra cash once you’ve finished paying off your car loan or mortgage, keep making the equivalent repayment but deposit

7

it into a savings account instead of it going to a lender. If you’re used to paying that amount, you shouldn’t miss it and in no time you’ll start to build up a nice pot of money.

Swap dining out for eating in

A report released last year on the nation’s eating habits shows Aussies make 51.5 million visits to fast food restaurants each month. Cafes are the most popular destinations for dining out, with 29.8 million visits each month. So instead of heading to that new coffee shop for a catch up, why not entertain at home? You can create a menu that doesn’t break the bank, plus your guests will likely return the gesture with an invitation to their place.

8

Embrace second-hand

Instead of buying things you’ll only use once, try borrowing.

As well as books, many local libraries have a selection of DVDs and CDs you can borrow for free, which will save you money and space in your house. If there’s a special event coming up, don’t buy a designer dress you’ll never wear again. Instead, hire an outfit at a fraction of the cost from places such as Rent My Rack (rentmyrack.com.au) and Your Closet (your-closet.com.au).

41

TEXT: MORGAN REARDON PICTURES: ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES

5

Save on your electricity bill

Keep making payments after you pay off a loan

GOOD TO KNOW

Are you eating t

salt?

D

oes your partner pass the salt before you even ask?

Maybe you keep a grinder on hand at work to pep up your lunch? Or store sachets of soy sauce in your handbag, just in case. Either way, you could be among the majority of Aussies who are exceeding the national dietary guidelines for safe salt consumption.

“Most people are unaware they’re eating too much salt,” says Sonya Stanley, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia.

“Seventy-five per cent of our salt intake comes just from foods that we eat, before we’ve even added table salt.”

Shocking isn’t it? Find out just how much salt you’re eating and whether it could be affecting your health.

42

b What is salt?

Sonya Stanley Accredited practising dietitian

“Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, but sodium is the part that’s bad for your health,” Sonya explains, as too much increases the risk of high blood pressure. “High sodium levels in the blood draw in water and that increases pressure in the blood vessels,” she says. “The heart then has to work harder to pump blood around the body.”

At the same time, excess sodium can also lead to hardening of the arteries, further compromising the cardiovascular system.

While heart disease is the biggest risk for salt lovers, it’s not the only one.

“Research links a high-salt intake with other conditions such as stomach cancer, increased risk of stroke, kidney disease and osteoporosis,” she says.

b Who’s at risk?

High-salt diets can be especially problematic as you age. “People tend to get more sensitive to the blood pressure raising effects of salt after 50,” Sonya says.

“It could be that genetic factors contribute to an increase in your blood pressure but what you eat plays a major role, especially for anyone with diabetes or kidney disease.”

The link between salt and osteoporosis also escalates after menopause. “It’s important for older women to avoid a high-salt intake because when your kidneys excrete salt, you also lose calcium.”

Eating too much salt can also be dangerous for children. “It can lead to an increased lifetime risk of high blood pressure, so avoid putting salt on the

oo much table or using it when you’re cooking for grandchildren,” Sonya advises.

“Choosing fresh foods rather than processed foods is another good way to avoid excess salt.”

TEXT: ALICIA PYKE PICTURES: ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES

b How much is too much?

“Most people can’t tell if they’re eating too much salt,” Sonya says.

“The recommendation is no more than 2300mg of sodium a day, which is the amount you’d find in one teaspoon of table salt.” It pays to remember this is the allowance for your total sodium intake, which includes sodium in foods.

If you regularly add salt to your meals at the table – from a shaker, grinder or a sprinkle of fancy flakes – chances are you’re getting too much. “From a nutritional point of view, it doesn’t matter about the texture or colour, all salt is salt; it contains sodium which we know is associated with high blood pressure,” she says. “The only exception is if someone has been recommended by their doctor to use a salt substitute that contains potassium chloride and doesn’t have that blood pressure raising effect.” If you’re interested in trying a salt substitute, talk to your doctor first because too much potassium can be dangerous if you have kidney problems.

To find out if you’re overdoing it, ask your GP for a urine test or discuss what you eat with a dietitian. “They can go through your diet meal by meal and calculate how much salt you’re eating.”

b Beware of hidden salt

While taking the shaker off the table is the first step, that still leaves the problem of salt in processed food. “Looking at the labels on packaged food is important,” Sonya says. Salt is listed as sodium in the nutritional table and everyday foods commonly containing high quantities include biscuits, spreads, sauces, stock,

Nutrition Discover how to shake the habit and reduce your sodium intake for good!

soups, ready-to-eat pasta, curry mixes and dehydrated flavourings.

“Many tinned products are high in sodium because salt is used as a preservative,” she says. “But one of the more surprising things is that everyday processed foods like breads and cereals can be very high in salt.” Processed meats such as ham, bacon and salami are high in sodium, and cheese can be too. “Soft or white cheeses are OK but processed blocks of cheese or cheese slices tend to be very salty.”

When shopping, choose low or reduced-salt versions if possible.

Foods with 120mg of sodium or less per 100g are a better choice.

Five common foods high in hidden salt Think you don’t eat a lot of salt?

You might be surprised by the levels in these everyday snacks

Bread 1 SLICE WHITE BREAD (35G) = 159MG SODIUM

b Cutting down

Usually, it only takes a few weeks to adjust to using less salt. “Your tastebuds will adapt in that time,” Sonya says.

That’s why it’s best to cut down gradually. “Start by always tasting your food before adding salt at the dinner table and only use a very small amount until you’ve stopped adding any salt at all,” she says. “Instead, think about what other flavours you can add to foods to make them taste good: pepper is fine, as are herbs, spices, garlic, lemon juice and chilli – and they don’t have an effect on blood pressure.”

Restaurant and takeaway foods can be trickier. “The most obvious culprit is hot chips but anything that has a salty sauce, like curry, or is crumbed or deep-fried.

Even a pizza will be high in salt,” Sonya says. Always ask for your meat and fish to be grilled without seasoning and order sauces or salad dressings on the side.

“Most people can relate to dining out then feeling quite thirsty afterwards, but as we get older we tend to lose a bit of sensitivity to thirst.” Yet another great reason to make an effort to drink more water with meals.

Cereal 1 CUP CORNFLAKES (30G) = 165MG SODIUM

kers Rice crac 15 FLAVOURED CRACKERS (25.5G) = 270MG SODIUM

Cheese 1 THICK PIECE CHEDDAR (30G) = 206MG SODIUM

Ham 3 THIN SLICES (30G) = 350MG SODIUM

43

GOOD TO KNOW Learn how to manage your emotional ups and downs

O

f all the changes around menopause, your moods seem to take on a life of their own. Floods of tears one minute, back to your sunny self the next. Not to mention those times when you feel utterly overwhelmed.

But mood swings are no more mysterious than hot flushes and insomnia – another perfectly normal sign that your hormones are changing. It’s time to lose the stigma around them, says clinical neuropsychologist Dr Nicola Gates.

“Menopause is something that you have no control over so there’s no point in being hard on yourself for having mood swings.”

By gaining an understanding why they happen and what triggers them, you’ll be better equipped to cope.

Dr Nicola Gates Clinical neuropsychologist

Accept it’s biology For Australian women, the average age of menopause – a stage defined as 12 consecutive months since your last period – is 51. Prior to that, your body’s production of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone slows down and your periods become irregular. Of course, that’s not the only sign.

“You may have physical, emotional and brain changes, too,” Dr Gates says.

The good news is by the time mood swings appear you’ve had plenty of practice at navigating hormonal fluctuations. “You’ve already gone through puberty and got used to hormonal changes like PMS during your reproductive years. And don’t forget, if you’ve ever been pregnant that’s another time your hormones have been erratic and unpredictable.”

Accepting emotional changes as a natural part of this transition is a great way to begin to regain control over them.

Take control of what you can Changes in mood are often unpredictable and there’s a good reason for that. “Many things influence mood swings: your hormones, what’s going on around you, and what’s going on inside your head, too,” Dr Gates says. If your life is particularly stressful anyway, chances are your ups and downs will reflect this.

“I’ve had women tell me it’s like a monster comes out and they don’t even recognise that part of themselves,” she adds. “But there’s no excuse for behaving badly, we’re still

responsible for how we interact with other people.”

Rather than exploding at a taxi driver being a few minutes late, take a few slow, deep breaths while using mindfulness techniques. Take a moment to ask yourself exactly how you feel, give that feeling a name, then distract yourself by turning your attention to the sights and sounds around you.

“Notice your emotions and let them pass,” Dr Gates says.

Remembering your dramatic shifts in mood are only temporary can also help to put things into perspective.

Understanding

mood swings

44

Health Nurture yourself Menopause can stir up various feelings, both positive and negative. After all, it signifies the end and the beginning of two very different life stages. “Some women find this change in identity quite difficult but other women completely embrace it,” Dr Gates says.

But if your erratic moods are increasingly taking over, it’s worth looking at your lifestyle. “Not getting enough sleep can impact on your mental health and if you’re having lots of hot flushes, that can negatively affect your mood, too.”

Dr Gates suggests trying a combination of meditation and exercise for relaxation while avoiding known triggers for hot flushes. “They can be brought on or amplified by alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, spicy food and too much sugar.”

TEXT: ALICIA PYKE PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES

Ask for help If wildly fluctuating moods often leave you feeling irritable or depressed, it’s worth addressing.

“The reduction of oestrogen affects other neurotransmitters such as endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin,” Dr Gates explains. This change in brain chemistry can in turn lead to depression and anxiety.

If you’re struggling with stress or a persistent low mood, see your GP. “Antidepressants and other medications may help to alleviate these symptoms,” Dr Gates says.

If you’re experiencing the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that often accompany mixed moods, talking to your doctor can make all the difference. “Don’t use the fact that you’re having mood swings as a reason to be self-critical, try self-compassion instead,” Dr Gates says.

3

ways to boost your mood naturally

1

TALK IT OVER Sharing life’s ups and downs is part of being a woman. “Women talk to each other about health, relationships, bodies and babies, so mood swings should be another one of those conversations,” Dr Gates says. “It helps normalise these changes, plus you can learn from other people’s experiences and that helps everyone to feel less isolated.”

2

EAT MOOD-BOOSTING FOODS Diet can play a huge role in how you handle mood swings. Include foods that contain tryptophan (oats, cottage cheese, turkey and legumes) to increase production of serotonin, plus omega-3 rich seafood (salmon, sardines, scallops and mussels), which the Black Dog Institute recommends for improved mood.

3

EXERCISE MORE Walking for 30 minutes a day boosts your brain’s production of feelgood chemicals, and now a Finnish study says menopausal women who combine this kind of moderate exercise with strength and balance activities (say, a weekly pump or Pilates class) report fewer mood swings as well as less anxiety.

What’s going on?

Endocrinologist Dr Sonia Davison from Jean Hailes for Women’s Health answers your questions a For the past three months I’ve been shedding more hair than usual, especially around my hairline. Any advice?

Scalp hair does undergo periods of increased shedding as part of its natural cycle. However, when it’s excessive or you’re losing hair from other areas of the body as well, you should see your GP who may run blood tests to determine the cause. Many factors can lead to increased scalp hair loss such as changes in weight, extreme stress, autoimmune conditions, iron deficiency, medications and hormonal conditions including excessive testosterone levels. a I’m in my mid-fifties and for the past six months I’ve been struggling to lose weight, despite working out regularly and being careful with my diet. Could my hormones be involved?

Firstly, it’s worth remembering that increasing exercise should result in more muscle mass as you become fitter. Because muscle is heavier than fat you may not weigh less, even though you’re actually slimmer. Taking regular waist measurements can be a better way to track weight loss as opposed to getting on the scales. But if this isn’t the case and you’re exercising enough to burn more kilojoules than you’re consuming and still not losing weight, then it’s time to see your GP. They may want to check your thyroid with a blood test.

45

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Share your stories!

MEETING PLACE

Club

Welcome to the heart of the magazine. If you have a funny story, need to let off steam or want to share a lovely photo, get in touch

Write to us! Do you want to celebrate a special

moment, or have a favourite recipe or cheeky pet to tell us about? Have you taken a life-changing journey? This is your place to share the wonderful in your life, so join the conversation and keep those letters and emails coming.

Poet’s corner A love poem for Hugh Dear one, I am writing you a hug, While sitting on that patch of sand we named our own, Hearing the waves ceaselessly call your name.

A hug.

Summer breeze warm, The curved loop of memory etched in recall, Sharpened through separation, blurred by tears.

Dear one, I am writing you a hug, Gift of love returned.

Avril, 92, Merimbula, NSW

Post

Email

Facebook

Yours Club GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW, 2001

yours@bauermedia.com.au

facebook.com/ yoursmagazineau

Concert for the ages Dear Yours,

IT’S SHOW TIME Each year, on the last Saturday (L-R) Judy, Trevor an of November, the over-50s senior Beth love to performd citizens of Barraba, NSW, stage a one-night variety concert.

The annual concert has been taking place for more than 20 years. In that time we’ve had men and women in their fifties, sixties and seventies take part.

We currently have a dancer who’s 87!

As entertainment officer for the It’s a big event in our town, the audience love it group I’m putting the call out for and we enjoy getting up there and anyone interested in participating. having a laugh.

Whether you have a flair for performing or prefer to be behind the There’s nothing to lose and plenty scenes with costumes, lighting and to gain. It’s a fantastic group of people and a great way to give the sound, there’s a role for everyone!

The local band opens the show and local community an evening of fun! the school drummers perform, too.

Beth, 84, Barraba, NSW

MY FAMILY PHOTO… Here I am enjoying a family celebration at Cronulla Yacht Club with my mum, Lillian, 96.

Michelle, 67, Sydney, NSW

Turn the page

MEETING PLACE COMMUNITY SPIRIT…

‘The town rallied together to help’ WINNING LETTER

M

y granddaughter Dakotah, 8, was recently diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma and leukaemia. She lives in a town called Busselton, two-and-half hours south-west of Perth, with her parents Hayley, 38, and Michael, 44, and her seven siblings.

Dakotah is currently a patient at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and will be there for at least six months.

My son-in-law is staying with Dakotah while Hayley continues working, running the home, caring for the other children and making the five-hour round trip to Perth every weekend.

The financial hardship to their family is colossal and the physical distance has made me feel helpless.

I have started to fundraise in my local area – I did a letterbox drop, posted photos of Dakotah in shopping centres and any community board I could find.

My efforts are generating donations to the fund and the whole community has been extremely supportive.

Recently, my neighbour Fee – who I’d never met before – knocked on my door with her two adult children, James and Allyce, who have Down syndrome, in tow. Fee had brought them over as they’d

BIRTHDAY GIRL…

(L-R) Me with my girlfriends Donna, Vicki and Padma celebrating Donna’s 51st birthday!

Leah, 59, Doncaster East, Vic 48

made a gift for Dakotah and each had $25 to donate toward her medical fund. I was so overcome with emotion!

Their kindness, their willingness to help, just the love shining from their beautiful faces made me feel very privileged to be on the receiving end of so much giving!

If you would like donate to Dakotah’s fund, visit gofundme.com/5n3kht9bw

SUCH A TROOPER Dakotah is one brave little girl

HEAR, HEAR! Thank you for the article on hearing loss (Yours, issue 18, p32). I hope it inspires people to get their hearing checked. I wear hearing aids, which my grandsons call “Nan’s earmuffs”. I sing in a choir and a couple of years ago I realised I was unable to hear our new, rather softly spoken, conductor. I went for a test and was told my hearing was pretty bad, especially in my right ear. I had survived a massive stroke when I was 20 and since then my hearing had never been good on that side. Because I’m an aged pensioner I was able to apply for free hearing aids, and batteries are quite cheap.

They’re not noticeable and unless I say something, people are unaware I even have them in.

Johanna, 69, Wyndham Vale, Vic

TEXT: LUCY MANLY PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES, FAIRFAX MEDIA

When her family fell on hard times, Jan, 61, of Doonan, Qld, was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers

My mum taught us the basics on the old Singer treadle machine. I continue to sew to this day, and even make some of my own clothes.

Alison

Mum taught all of her five daughters on a treadle sewing machine, then on her Singer sewing machine.

Ann

FACEBOOK QUESTION…

Who taught you to sew?

My mum taught me on an old Singer treadle machine.

I’ve made wedding dresses, including my own, and still love to sew.

Mediha

I was taught sewing at primary school, although my mother was also a great seamstress. She made many of my clothes when I was young.

Mary

My mum. She did everything; sewed, knitted, crochet and the old-fashioned embroidery! Deb Find us on Facebook, join the conversation and let us know what you think at facebook.com/Yoursmagazineau

MY WINTER WOOLIES… WINNING PHOTO

My gorgeous pets

I’ve been knitting booties for my three grandchildren their whole lives. Now I knit them for all their friends and new babies, too. They’re stretchy so one size fits all. I do all sorts of of colours, even football team colours upon request!

Valda 84, Coogee, NSW

Here I am with my boys, Toby, who’s 14 and the one giving me a kiss, and Butch, who’s my new boy. This was taken on an Westies Walkers group meet up at Carine Open Space in Perth. They love to go on a walk with me and they keep me happy while my hubby is working overseas.

Deb, 56, Port Kennedy, WA

You could win! Every issue there are two $50 WIN $50!

prizes to be won for original contributions which haven’t been published in any other magazine.

We do try to publish as many letters as we can. Those not printed help us to keep in touch with your feelings and concerns and we enjoy

reading them, but we can’t always reply to each one. We like to include photographs, so please send them with your letters and, if you want them returned, write your name and address on the back. Please don’t send in your only copies of precious photos as these can go astray in the post. Digital images need to be high resolution (minimum 500KB).

49

STAR STYLE

Safari chic

Explore the urban jungle in spring’s trophy finds: tailored khakis with plenty of pockets and utilitarian details. Your next fashion adventure starts here…

DRESS 4

Nothing too formal for this look – a slouchy bag all the way. $129.95, MNG @ The Iconic

4

With aviators you’re made in the shade. $49.95, Cancer Council

4

Your hunt for a simple but luxe watch ends here! $29.95, Atmos & Here @ The Iconic

4

4

Hats are back! And this boater style offers fantastic sun protection. $60, Lack of Color

Walk on the wild side by pairing lace-ups with a dress. $129.95, Hush Puppies

4

A collarless shirt dress will flatter bigger busts. $69.95, Suzanne Grae

4 Monochrome zebra is king of the classy animal prints. $19.95, Condura

PANTS

Take note, thin rim sunglasses won’t date. $14.95, Cotton On

4

Glam up neutrals with tribal-style bling. $24.95, Forever 21

4 Cargo-style pants work well with a simple tee. $49, Target

4

Protect your heels with enclosed sandals. $149.95, RMK

50

4 The safari jacket has been given a modern update. Wear loose or pull the strings for a flattering shape. $99.99, Jeanswest

STYLING: REBECCA O'HEARN PICTURES: SNAPPER MEDIA, GETTY IMAGES SEE PAGE 79 FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION

means double the styling options. $15, Best & Less

will help you keep your cool. $49.99, Jeanswest

4

4 A two-tone bag

4 A sleeveless shell top

SKIRT 4

Safari is all about belts, and this hat has its very own! $24.95, Condura An A-line style is flattering on the hips. $59.99, Jeanswest

4

4

If it’s support you’re after, go for wide-strap gladiator-style sandals. $129.95, Nine West

4 Messenger

and crossbody bags keep hands free. $179.95, Toffee @ The Iconic

4 Dabble in the exotic print trend with an accessory.

Even a tiny touch can go a long way. $14.95, Cotton On

4

4

A lightweight scarf will block the harsh sun on hotter days. $29.99, Stay cool with linen. Jeanswest $79.95, Yarra Trail

SHORTS 4

4

4

Teardrop or aviator eyewear is bang on for this intrepid look. $49.95, Cancer Council

4

For a look that’s straight out of Africa, start with key pieces in tones inspired by nature – like this jungle green dress – then add animal print and tribal details topped off with retro-style sunnies.

Every queen of the jungle needs a crown. $58, Before Dark @ Rigon Headwear

Don’t be afraid to mix exotic prints. $19.95, Condura

4 Ditch Tame the look with a loose-fit, crisp white shirt. $69.95, Suzanne Grae

4

Caroline, Princess of Hanover, 58

Sparkly details add a feminine touch to this masculine style. $69.99, The Rubz @ The Iconic

4

Balance tailored shorts with a floaty shirt. $24.95, Suzanne Grae

the thongs in favour of stylish slides. $119.95, Nine West 51

FASHION

This cheat sheet will help you find your most flattering pair of shades

2

The good Crossroads,

2

$16.95

Cat’s eye

Ensure the frames are as wide as the broadest part of your face

WHO IT SUITS: Oval faces Most styles suit this face shape but the upward curve of cat-eyes highlight the cheekbones.

2

Forever New, $29.99

2 Minkpink, $49.95 Cancer Council, $49.95

2

Nicole Kidman, 48

Pair with to ings drop earr e face h make t nger appear lo

Rectangular WHO IT SUITS: Round faces This style draws attention to centre of the face, maintaining the balance of your features.

Guess, $219.95 2

2

Collette Dinnigan @ Specsavers, $199 (for 2 pairs)

2 Somedays Lovin, $69.95 52

DKNY, $149

Jennifer Lopez, 46

2

e d i u g s e s s a l g sun Cancer Council, $49.95

2

Crossroads, $16.95

2

Superdry, $49.95

Thin rims igh h emphasise nes cheekbo 2

Forever New, $29.99

WHO IT SUITS: Heart-shaped faces Being bottom heavy, aviators make a broad forehead appear smaller and a narrow jaw wider.

Twiggy, 66

STYLING: ORLA MOLLOY PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES, SNAPPER MEDIA SEE PAGE 79 FOR STOCKIST INFORMATON

Round

Sharon Stone, 57

WHO IT SUITS: Square faces Look for curved lenses, not necessarily round frames, to counterbalance and soften a strong jaw.

2 Crossroads, $16.95

Aviators

2 Vogue, $149 2

Minkpink, $39.95

2

Avoid s thick rim n a as they csh r a h look on a n ace angular f TOMS, $89

53

BEAUTY SPECIAL It’s time to shake up your make-up! Overhaul your routine using the hottest new trends for spring

Shania Twain, 50

Get your

make-up mojo back

Top tip

Get glowing in three steps 2.

Cheat your way to a radiant glow by starting with a light-catching base

1

Prep your skin with a hydrating moisturiser, then select a highlighter that best suits your skin tone. If you have a pale to medium complexion go for a pink-toned one.

For olive or dark skin, a golden tone is best for you.

54

1.

2

Sweep the highlighter over areas that naturally catch the light, such as your cheekbones, temples, the bridge of your nose, below your brow bone, corners of your eyes and just above your Cupid’s bow.

Choose a highlighter with a slight sheen for a dewy glow as shimmery, glittery highlighters can be ageing.

3

Blend out the highlighter using either your fingers or a fan brush, so it becomes a seamless part of your complexion.

TRY: 1. Revlon Highlighting Palette in Peach Glow, $26.95; 2. Models Prefer Cream Blush Stick in Dream, $10.99

Make eyes with a fresh colour Lavender is the signature eye shadow colour this spring, so add it to your collection. For just a hint of this pretty pastel, apply it on your upper lash line or, when you want to glam it up, dust your whole lid with a sheer sweep of colour. So your eyes don’t look too washed out, add definition by coating your lashes with black mascara. TRY: Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow in Seductive, $23.95

Halle Berry, 49 PURPLE HAZE Brown-eyed ladies particularly suit this colour

Jennifer Lopez, 46

Lauren Hutton, 71 TEXT: KRISTY BRADLEY, MARKEETA WADDINGTON PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES ALL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FROM PRICELINE PHARMACY, CALL 1300 884 411 FOR YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST

Swap out your regular lip colour for a bold berry shade that’ll make your lips pop. Reds can be tricky to match to your skin tone so follow this guide to get it right!

Naomi Watts, 46

Create the perfect pout

FAIR SKIN: Blue-based cherry reds contrast lighter skin perfectly and also make your teeth appear whiter.

Cranberry shades also warm up fair skin and add drama to an evening look.

MEDIUM SKIN: Fiery orange-reds complement this skin tone but if you want something darker look for red-based purple and blackberry shades.

TRY: (L-R) Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Scarlet Ghost, $20.95; Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Sloane’s Plum, $13.95

TRY: (L-R) Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Vibrant Mandarin, $16.95; Bourjois Rouge Edition 12 HR Lipstick in Cherry Cherie, $19

DARK SKIN: Tangerine is bold but darker skin tones can pull it off. If you can’t commit to such a bright colour, opt for a maroon or raspberry shade.

TRY: (L-R) Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in On the Catwalk!, $4.70; Rimmel London Lasting Finish

by Kate Moss Matte Lipstick #107, $12.95

Turn the page

BEAUTY SPECIAL

Blush the right way Nail this season’s rosy glow by applying blusher directly to the apples of your cheeks

1.

Instead of smiling when sweeping on blush, make-up artist Rae Morris says to apply it when your face is in a neutral position.

That way the colour is exactly where you 2. want it to be.

Fill in your brows Brow contouring uses two shades to give your brows softness where they need it – at the beginning and ends – and definition where appropriate, such as the arches

1 2 3 56

Select a brow powder compact with a darker and lighter shade.

TRY: Natio Brow Kit, $19.95 Start by filling the middle sections of your eyebrows with the darker shade using an angled brow brush.

Apply the lighter shade to both ends of each brow, blending inwards to meet the darker powder.

TRY: 1. Physicians Formula Nude Wear Touch of Glow Palette in Light, $29.95; 2. Essence Silky Touch Blush in Babydoll, $5.10

Jerry Hall, 59 BLUSH HOUR Flushed cheeks add dimension to the face

Top tip “Avoid sallow-looking skin by ditching pink or y beige-based foundation – the k loo will make your skin up to three shades too pale in photos,” Rae says.

“

Look bronzed and beautiful A nod to the ’70s, the carefree boho look of Woodstock is back. Think palettes full of peach, taupe, bronze and gold shades that create an effortlessly sun-kissed, feminine look. Here’s how to re-create it:

Eyes: Taupe is a universal colour that suits all complexions. Sweep taupe eye shadow across your lids as a base colour, then dress it up by lining your upper lash line with a bronze or gold eyeliner.

TRY: Prestige Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner in Legend, $15.95

Cheeks: Using a peach lipstick, draw three stripes across each of your cheeks and blend until seamless. Apply a bronzer with a hint of shimmer across the tops of your cheekbones using a big, fluffy brush.

TRY: Max Factor Bronzing Powder, $24.95

Lips: Peachy lipsticks add a touch of colour without being too overpowering – you want this look to appear naturally pretty, not overdone.

TRY: Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Camilla, $23.95

Christie Brinkley, 61 BARELY THERE This understated look is all about playing up your natural beauty

57

Help us help women The Priceline Sisterhood Foundation is dedicated to raising funds for the charities that directly support some of the biggest health concerns facing Australian women and their families.

This September, we will be putting the spotlight on the Sisterhood with our stores hosting fund raising activities featuring special Sisterhood offers on some of your favourite products!

You can also donate $5 now by texting the word SISTERHOOD to 0497 222 444 or in any Priceline Pharmacy store.

Find out more at priceline.com.au/sisterhood

Charity partners

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BEAUTY

Glam up your eyes Make-up maestro RAE MORRIS creates a smoky look for Priceline ambassador ITA BUTTROSE

1

If you haven’t tried smoky eyes before, do them before applying foundation so you can easily tidy up any eye make-up that falls onto your cheeks. Eyelids tend to be on the oily side so avoid moisturising them; just lightly apply a primer.

2

Instead of using eye shadow for your base colour, use a pencil. It’s easier to use and allows more control – but swap black for dark matte grey as it will look softer against your skin. Draw a V-shaped line on the outer corner of your top eyelid from your lash line to your socket line, using your outer corner as the starting point and tip of the “V”. Then blend it into a filled-in triangle.

Keeping darker colours for the outer third of the eye will give your eyes much more of a lift.

Balance the look

TEXT: KRISTY BRADLEY PICTURES: KRISTINA SOLJO/BAUERSYNDICATION. COM.AU, GETTY IMAGES ALL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT PRICELINE PHARMACY, CALL 1300 884 411 FOR YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST

A soft and feminine lip colour complements smoky eyes. But e if the corners of your mouth hav r you off changed over time, taper d tea ins s ner lippie at the outer cor of applying it all the way around your lips. This will keep your smile from looking droopy.

3

Next, use a pale grey pencil to line your eye.

Starting from the middle point of your top lash line, draw a line directly across to the outer corner of your eye. Do the same for the bottom lash line, then blend to soften the overall appearance.

2.

3.

4

Clean up any eye make-up that have fallen onto the skin beneath your eyes with a cotton bud dipped in cleansing water, or even a synthetic brush, then apply your foundation. Complete the look by applying a lengthening mascara to the top lashes – it will help make your eyes look bigger – you should only ever put mascara on your bottom lashes if your eyes are very small.

1. Bourjois

Healthy Mix Foundation, $32 2. Rimmel Wonder’full Wake Me Up Mascara,

5.

$14.95 3. Maybelline

Master Smoky Pencil in Smoking Charcoal, $14.95 4. L’Oréal Paris Brow Artist Plumper, $18.95 5. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water,

4.

$12.99 6. Australis

6.

Eyeshadow Primer, $12.95

1.

59

GARDENING

Say it with

succulents

Hardy, drought-tolerant and easy on the eye, succulents are a summer garden’s best friend. Great as ground cover and in pots, a little maintenance now will help them put on an impressive show when the mercury rises

A date to propagate It’s possible to grow some sedums, kalanchoes, gasterias, echeverias and graptopetalums (pictured left) from leaf cuttings. Take care so the leaf comes away cleanly from the stem with an almost sealed end.

Lay the leaves in a shallow container for at least a week in a warm, shaded but well-lit spot. When the leaves have healed and roots start to form, plant the leaves so they just stand up in a shallow tray filled with a succulent potting mix (as shown below), and place the tray in a warm, shaded spot. New plants will quickly form from the base of the leaf and they can be transplanted.

Count the number of leaves in the tray; even if only half of them grow there will be many new plants.

HAPPY TRAILS Add a little drama with one of the creeping varieties Succulents with a trailing habit are ideal for tall urns, chimney pots or hanging baskets. The string of pearls, Senecio rowleyanus (pictured above), has stems that can trail to 80cm.

Other trailing succulents include Senecio jacobensis, which also makes a good ground cover; Sedum “Burrito” and Sedum morganianum (both called

donkey’s or burro’s tails); and greyleaved string of bananas (Senecio radicans). They all love a sunny spot.

Rhipsalis spp. are epiphytic cacti with trailing stems that prefer humidity and some shade, especially from the afternoon sun.

A striking landscape Succulents don’t have to be confined to pots as they make good subjects for water-wise garden beds. Use succulents of different heights and shapes to create interesting foliage forms. The bold looking Agave attenuata makes a superb feature, and lower-growing succulents (such as echeverias or sempervivums) can be used as borders or en masse to form ground patterns.

Grey-leaved Cotyledon orbiculata makes a superb groundcovering clump, as does Senecio serpens (pictured right). Make sure the soil has good drainage – a sloping bank is ideal. If drainage is a problem use a raised bed. Mulching around the plants with black, grey or white pebbles helps to give the bed structure and prevent weed growth.

Turn the page

GARDENING EASY AS ECHEVERIAS This popular variety is also one of the most versatile Echeverias (pictured below) are by far the most commonly grown succulents.

There are many cultivars in a variety of sizes and colours, and the leaves colour beautifully during cool weather.

While hardy, echeverias do benefit from periodic care. Old leaves naturally die and need to be removed every couple of years – a good time to

Going to pot Potted succulents make an attractive and low-fuss focal point With their low water demands, succulents are ideal for container cultivation – especially in arid areas. A good soil mix for potted succulents should be a fifty-fifty blend of coarse river sand and free-draining potting mix. It’s easy enough to make, but ready-made cacti and succulent mixes are available from garden centres if you don’t feel confident about making up a batch. Keep the mix barely moist when planting and don’t water for the first week.

In cold areas that experience considerable winter rain, place containers under the house eaves but in positions where they will still receive sun.

Whether planted in garden beds or pots, succulents like to be fed during their growing season, from spring until the end of autumn.

Applying a nine-month, slow-release fertiliser in spring is ideal, as it will have petered out by winter when the plants take a rest. Alternatively, apply a liquid succulent plant food in spring, summer and autumn.

62

do this is while repotting in spring.

Simply remove the old, dry leaves from the plant’s base and replant.

You can also divide echeverias and take leaf and stem cuttings at the same time (see “A date to propagate” on p61).

Spent flower stalks are best removed, or you can pick them in flower for indoors – they last for ages.

Removing the old, shed leaves from the bottom of each plant will help to keep it looking attractive and ward off fungus

PICTURES: BRENT WILSON/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU, GETTY IMAGES, LORNA ROSE

Multiple choice Succulents look fabulous, are water-wise and have a wonderful diversity of leaf shapes and colours, so it’s easy to see why they are so popular. There are approximately 10,000 different species of succulents and cacti – the rule with these two plants is that all cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti.

With 10,000 species to choose from, variety is not a problem!

Succulents that have adapted to arid desert conditions are known as xerophytes. They have developed storage structures in their leaves, stems or roots that store enough water to survive periods of drought.

And succulents range in size from the giant Mexican native Carnegiea gigantea, which can reach 15m high,

to low groundcovering sedums.

You can make bold compositions in garden beds or pots using mixed plantings that highlight the range of shapes and colours. Agaves and aloes provide bold form, while lower growing echeverias and sempervivums can be mass planted in low bowls.

On a budget? Plan a sw ap meet Now is the time to expand your succulent collection by taking cutti ngs. They are very easy to grow this wa y, and it’s good fun to swap cuttings of so me of unusual and pretty succule your nts with other gardening friends.

Succulents aren’t always cheap to bu y in shops, but a swap meeting with friends will expand your collection and it won’t cost a cent.

63

GARDENING

Boosters for the bed

What to do in your garden this fortnight

This fortnight Yours’ gardening guru CHARLIE ALBONE shares his how-to for preparing your garden for planting

K

nowing when to add compost, fertiliser and mulch to the garden can be tricky, but the best time is now. All three are of great benefit but it’s vital to apply them in the right order.

Compost improves soil, adds organic matter and helps to retain nutrients and water. Think of it as a supplement for your soil, which it needs for healthy growth above the ground. On a large empty bed, spread up to 100mm of compost over the top and dig it through.

For a garden bed full of plants, use compost as mulch, but only apply it after fertilising.

Fertiliser is much like a boost of vitamins. Use it at the very start of spring, in mid-summer and – for deciduous plants – in

autumn, too. Slow-release fertilisers used now will have long-lasting benefits; the water-based fertilisers give an instant pick-me-up to plants deficient in one or more nutrients.

Once you’ve applied compost and fertiliser it’s time to mulch. Mulch does various jobs: it retains moisture in the soil, slows water intake, prevents weeds and keeps the temperature constant.

Organic mulch, such as sugar cane, wood chip or compost, will break down and help to feed and maintain healthy soil and will need to be topped up on a regular basis. Inorganic mulch, such as stone or pebble, has benefits but does little for soil health, so I always like to use organic mulch spread to a depth of 75mm. Using compost as a mulch is great for an established garden bed as worms will travel up from the soil and pull the compost deep into the ground, saving you back-breaking work!

Charlie’s tips for…

Spring planting S

ummer’s long days, autumn’s colourful leaves, winter’s slow pace and crisp days – I love all the seasons but nothing beats spring! And it doesn’t get much better than starting a vegie patch in early spring for a bountiful crop.

Location is key for successful growth: herbs and vegies need direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours a day – the more, the better – so a westerly spot out in the open is ideal.

Free-draining soil is also essential.

64

If you want to grow vegies in the ground add lots of compost to boost the soil and aid drainage. In a heavy soil, such as clay, consider building up raised beds for drainage.

The soil must be nutrient-rich to give the plants a decent feed, so add organic fertiliser before planting to aid growth. Ensure you mix them well through the soil, at the rate advised on the packaging.

Turn over the soil with a shovel or fork so it’s easy to work, and then

Ask Charlie

the bed will be ready for planting.

Rows of plants not only look nice but also help to organise your patch in an orderly fashion; this will help once plants start growing and taking up more space. For novices, I suggest starting off with carrots, lettuce, radish, tomato and sweetcorn. These are some of the easiest to grow – and if problems arise there’s plenty of readily available advice out there!

Once planted, don’t forget to water in your plants well. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of daily watering; it’s very relaxing to do first thing in the morning or last thing of an evening. Finish with a 75mm-thick layer of organic mulch, such as sugar cane or pea straw mulch.

PICTURES: ANDREW FINLAYSON/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU, GETTY IMAGES

Do you have a gardening question? Charlie can’t wait to answer it! a What’s the ultimate no-fuss plant for a garden in strong afternoon sun?

Jenny, Lidcombe, NSW Direct afternoon sun can be a real killer for a lot of plants, and I’m assuming the spot gets little sun the rest of the day. You’re limited due to the drastic change in shade to sun throughout the day, but I would recommend Agave attenuata (inset) as once it’s in the ground it really is a “plant and forget”.

These plants propagate so easily that if a friend has one you can chop it off

halfway down the stem, plant it in the ground and off you go – it’s as easy as that! It’s not a shabby-looking plant either; its leaves are large, sculptural and green. This plant dies after flowering but it will have grown numerous pups and they’ll take over from the parent plant.

a A section of my garden is overrun by mint! I’d love to keep it in my garden but I wonder whether it my be doing damage to my surrounding plants as that section never really takes off. Or should I just get rid of it?

Peter, Tasmania Mint (above) can be very invasive and its root system

quite shallow.

And it’s this combination that leads to it outdoing other plants and taking a lot of the water, which in turn will stunt their growth. One option is to over-water the section that doesn’t do well, but this will make the mint even more vigorous, so it’s a catch-22!

I’d plant the mint into a large pot so it won’t compete with your other plants and you Watch Charlie as can keep it in he whips gardens the garden.

Contact us:

Do you have a gardening issue or question for Charlie? Email us at yours@bauer-media.com.au

Tune in

into shape on Selling Houses Australia on The LifeStyle Channel

TRAVEL

h t o o m S g n i l i a s

S

ailing off into the Singapore sunset, a cocktail in my hand and a delicious array of food options just metres away, I’ve never had a holiday quite like this before.

I’m incredibly relaxed, well sated and I have a day of exploring Kuala Lumpur awaiting me in the morning.

This is my idea of heaven. If, like me, your dream holiday involves superb food and plenty of activities that require minimal effort, a three-night Tour of Malaysia cruise on board the Quantum of the Seas might be just the ticket.

CITY OF LIGHTS The Singapore skyline comes alive at night 66

NOW WE’RE CRUISING The 348m-long Quantum of the Seas is less than two years old and has an air of luxury as soon as you step aboard.

Although it can accommodate 4180 guests, it never feels crowded and because you choose how to spend your time, you feel as though you’re having your own personally planned holiday.

Having flown to Singapore from Sydney the previous night, I spent the morning enjoying the energy and ease of this well-maintained city before making my way to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. The staff make me feel immediately welcome and in holiday mode as they directed me to my suite. I was worried I’d be bunkering down in a space no bigger than a cupboard, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a roomy suite with a king-sized bed, lounge area with TV,

Yours staffer Melissa Martin sets sail from Singapore to Malaysia and discovers luxury on the open water

self-contained bathroom, as well as a balcony to soak up the tranquil ocean views. This feels like a space where I can totally unwind. I’m told many of the suites have retractable walls allowing rooms to be joined together – perfect for family groups.

I spend time exploring the ship and I’m really impressed with what I find. With 18 restaurants, there’s something for everyone and it’s clear I’ll be spoilt for choice!

My dinner at Jamie’s Italian definitely lives up to my expectations. Jamie Oliver’s restaurants are dotted around the world and have been getting rave reviews so it was a lovely surprise to see one on board. I enjoy a prosciutto platter entree and a prawn linguine, and it’s even better than I’d hoped. I go to sleep feeling full and peaceful, with no sea movement to disturb me at all.

BACK ON SOLID GROUND I wake up in Port Klang, Malaysia, with an exciting day of land activities ahead of me. Instead of opting for one of the ship’s planned shore excursions, I’m setting out on my own adventures.

A word of warning: while most taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur are reputable, there are some dodgy operators giving the rest a bad name. Never get in a taxi which refuses to use the meter, and use Google Maps to make sure the driver is taking the most direct route.

I have to admit my taxi ride was not a pleasant experience, but arriving at Petronas Twin Towers more than makes up for it. At 452m tall and with 88 storeys, this double-tower skyscraper is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic buildings. It’s so tall I can barely fit it into a photo. The queue to reach the top is long and I don’t have time to wait so I settle for a spot of shopping at the Suria KLCC mall inside the towers.

I feel slightly overwhelmed at the sheer volume of shops! As much as I’m enjoying the air-conditioned comfort of the mall, I head to an attraction that’s somewhat more cultural.

Batu Caves, located about 30 minutes drive from the city, is a Hindu temple and shrine that draws large crowds – both tourists and local worshippers.

Climbing 272 concrete steps is a bit of a challenge in this heat, but it’s well worth the effort when I reach

PRIVATE VIEWING Watch the sun set, wine in hand, from the comfort of your own balcony

the huge limestone caves adorned with colourful statues.

Because this is a spiritual site, you need to be adequately covered, so you may be given a sarong to wear.

Although the caves are amazing, my attention is captured by all the monkeys scampering around.

They’re very cheeky, and I’m advised not to carry any food or drinks as they’ll snatch them away.

Keep a firm hold on all your bags, and if you’d prefer not to have a monkey jump on your head, keep to the middle of the stairway.

I’m keen to snap up souvenirs so head back to town. While Petaling Street in Chinatown is a tourist favourite for its designer knock-offs, I’m more interested in good-quality keepsakes. Jewellery, silk scarves and ornaments are all on offer at the indoor Central Market.

Back on the ship, it’s time to try another tempting restaurant. I tuck into a hearty steak at the American Icon Grill then take in a show – one of cruising’s must-do experiences.

STOP ON BUY Kuala Lumpur’s XXXXX XXXXXX Chinatown is a great place xxxxxx xxx to pickxxxx up souvenirs xxxx xxxxxxx

SACRED PLACE A 42.7m tall statue of a Hindu god sits at the foot of the Batu Caves

THE SUITE LIFE The rooms are surprisingly spacious

Turn the page

GOING UP A ride in the ship’s viewing capsule lasts 15-20 minutes

EVEN HIGHER SEAS! The next day is spent entirely cruising, but with so much to do on board there’s no such thing as cabin fever. I’m lucky to enjoy a galley tour where I meet the captain and see what goes on behind the scenes on Quantum of the Seas.

Next, I take in the North Star viewing pod. This glass capsule slowly rises to more than 91m above the ship’s deck and rotates over the sides, allowing you to take in the 360-degree views. There are no seats so you can move around freely to get a view of everything. This is an experience not to be missed, and my only regret is I didn’t get the chance to revisit it during sunset.

AT SEA FOOD With 18 restaurants on board, even the fussiest eaters won’t go hungry

Your next meal is never far away when you’re cruising, and Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine gets my vote this evening. Here, the chefs let their imaginations run wild, serving up decadent combinations you’re unlikely to have encountered anywhere else.

You don’t order, you simply let your servers know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies, then sit back and let the food arrive.

Instead of being nervous about what I’ll be served, it’s really relaxing to entrust the chefs to provide a mouthwatering feast. It’s all delicious and I’m impressed by their selections.

FINAL DESTINATION Sailing back into Singapore while I was asleep, I enjoy a hearty breakfast before disembarking. I’ll miss my floating bedroom and I wish I could have stayed longer. The ship is so massive and there are so many parts I didn’t have time to explore.

My flight back to Sydney isn’t until the evening so I make the most of my remaining hours in Singapore by visiting the zoo, where I encounter orangutans and more monkeys mixing with visitors in a large enclosure. I then visit the famed Orchard Road shopping strip. It’s the perfect place to finish my time in this city where shopping is such a popular pastime.

As I head to the airport, I realise that cruising wasn’t at all what I expected.

What surprised me most was that it 68

SEE IT YOURSELF A 14-night cruise departing January 23, 2017, from Sydney sailing to Singapore on Ovation of the Seas, Quantum’s twin, starts at $1767 per person twin share.

Currently under construction in Germany, Ovation of the Seas will be making Australia her home from December 2016. To book your spot, call 1800 754 500 or visit ovationoftheseas.com.au

SPLASH OUT Take a dip in one of the Quantum’s four pools

SHOP AROUND Feel the beating heart of Singapore at Orchard Road

can be whatever you want it to be. If you want a relaxing trip of sitting on the balcony enjoying a cocktail, you can do just that, but if you want a high-energy holiday there’s no shortage of options.

I’m already planning my next cruise!

AS TOLD TO TRUDIE MCCONNOCHIE PICTURES: ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND CORRECT AT TIME OF PUBLICATION

TRAVEL

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Travel by luxury coach, accommodation & many meals Explore the sights of Hobart & Launceston Cruise on the Gordon River with lunch Discover Cradle Mountain National Park Taste delicious cheese at Ashgrove Farm Indulge at Tamar Valley’s Velo Winery Eat fresh berries at Hillwood Berry Farm Step back in time at historic Port Arthur Departure dates:

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COOKING Jaffle toasties MAKES 4 • PREP 5 MINUTES • COOK 5 MINUTES • 8 slices sliced bread of choice • butter, for spreading • ¹/³ cup caramelised onion • 8 slices Swiss cheese • 125g can creamed corn

one side 1withSpread of each bread slice butter.

Spread unbuttered 2 side of 4 slices with onion. Top each

with one cheese slice, a spoonful creamed corn and another cheese slice. Sandwich together with remaining bread slices, butter facing out.

Cook in a greased jaffle iron or frying pan (or in a toasted sandwich maker), until golden, crisp and oozing.

3

Everyone’s a happy camper with these hearty fireside feasts

Camp fire 70

cooking

Spiced lamb chops & potatoes SERVES 4 • PREP 10 MINUTES (PLUS MARINATING) • COOK 10 MINUTES • 1kg lamb forequarter chops, trimmed, halved • 1 lemon, juice and grated zest • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika • 1 teaspoon ground coriander • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 800g can baby potatoes, drained • 2 tablespoons olive oil • lemon cheeks, salad, to serve

1 2

In a large zip-lock bag, combine all ingredients except potatoes and olive oil.

Marinate for at least 30 minutes (see tip).

In a large frying pan, heat oil on high.

Remove chops from marinade. Retain marinade. In a bowl, toss potatoes in leftover marinade.

Place meat and potatoes in one layer in pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently, until potatoes are crispy and lamb is cooked through.

Remove to serving plate and spoon any pan juices over. Serve with lemon cheeks and salad.

3

4

Top tip

Marinate meat and freeze until ready to pack for your trip – the frozen meat will help keep your esky cold.

One pan breakfast

PICTURES: BRETT STEVENS/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU

SERVES 4 • PREP 5 MINUTES • COOK 20 MINUTES • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 4 regular (8 chipolatas) lean pork sausages • 4 rashers rindless bacon • 1 Turkish bread roll • 8 vine ripened cherry tomatoes • 8 eggs • ½ cup water • fresh herbs, tomato sauce, to serve, if liked

1

Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan on medium. Cook sausages for 5-6 minutes, turning, until golden. Add bacon. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until bacon is crisp and sausages are cooked through.

Break roll into croutons, into pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring, until golden and toasted. Add tomatoes to pan.

In a medium jug, whisk eggs and water together. Pour over sausage mixture, cover.

Cook over gas stove, on a barbecue plate or on a grill over fire, for 8-10 minutes, until just set. Serve with herbs and sauce.

2 3 4

Turn the page

COOKING Smoked trout & corn chowder SERVES 4-6 • PREP 10 MINUTES • COOK 20 MINUTES • 40g butter • 1 leek, trimmed, washed, thinly sliced • 2 celery sticks, chopped, leaves reserved • 2 tablespoons plain flour • 2 cups water • 2 cups milk

• 2 teaspoons chicken stock powder • 4 cream delight potatoes, chopped • 400g can corn kernels, drained • 200g smoked trout, boned, flaked

1

3

In a large saucepan, heat butter on medium. Sauté leek and celery for 3-4 minutes, until tender.

Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Remove from heat.

Gradually add combined water, milk and stock, stirring constantly, until smooth. Return to heat.

2

Add potatoes and bring to a simmer on medium, stirring. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender. Season to taste. Add corn, cooking for 1-2 minutes, until heated through.

Stir trout through just before serving. Garnish with celery leaves.

4

Apple & oat loaf SERVES 6-8 • PREP 10 MINUTES • COOK 1 HOUR • 1½ cups self-raising flour • 1 cup brown sugar, plus 1 tablespoon extra • ²⁄³ cup rolled oats, plus 2 tablespoons extra • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Top tip

If you catch a fish on your camping trip, use it to replace trout, poaching fillets in soup until just cooked through.

72

1 2 3 4 5

• ²⁄³ cup macadamia or vegetable oil • 2 eggs • 3 green apples, grated, plus 1 extra, cored, thinly sliced • golden syrup or butter, to serve

Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Lightly grease and line a 10 x 20cm loaf pan with baking paper.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, oats and cinnamon.

In a large jug, whisk oil and eggs together.

Stir into dry ingredients with apple.

Pour into pan.

Top with extra apple slices. Sprinkle with combined extra sugar and oats.

Bake for 55-60 minutes, until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve sliced with golden syrup or butter, if liked.

Mexican rice & beans

S’mores

SERVES 4-6 • PREP 10 MINUTES • COOK 30 MINUTES • ¼ cup olive oil • 1 red onion, finely sliced • 1 green capsicum, seeded, thinly sliced • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1

In large saucepan or camp oven, heat oil on medium. Sauté onion and capsicum, for 2-3 minutes, until softened.

Add oregano and spices. Saute for a further 1 minute. Add rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring.

Stir in tomatoes. Fill empty can with water

2

3

• 1 teaspoon ground coriander • 1½ cups long-grain rice • 400g can diced tomatoes • 400g can water (see step 3) • chopped coriander, corn chips, sour cream, lime wedges, to serve

and add liquid to rice.

Season to taste. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and add kidney beans. Simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender.

Fluff rice with a fork. Top with coriander. Serve with corn chips, sour cream and lime wedges.

4

MAKES 14 • PREP 5 MINUTES • COOK 5 MINUTES • 400g packet digestive biscuits • 250g packet marshmallows • 2 x 220g blocks caramel filled chocolate, cut into squares

1 2 3

Place a pan over high heat or preheat a barbecue hotplate. Place 2 biscuits per s’more, flat side down, in pan. Heat for 1 minute.

Sandwich hot sides of 2 biscuits together with 2 marshmallows and few pieces of chocolate.

Place in pan and heat for 1 minute on each side, until melted and oozing.

If liked, use cho wheaten biscuitcolate s don’t add anyand chocolate

Top tip Make it at home and then take it with you for an easy breakfast or afternoon tea!

73

TAKE A BREAK

Brain games Give your mind a workout Quick Quiz 1. Samuel Langhorne Clemens was the real name of which famous US author?

2. Which river flows through the NSW city of Newcastle?

3. Up until March 2002, what was the currency of Greece?

4. Which planet in Earth’s solar system was named after the ancient Roman messenger of the gods?

Todd Sampson, 45 5. Redesign my Brain star Todd Sampson (above) made his name on TV on which show about the advertising industry?

6. Which mineral is the main source of aluminium: cuprite, bauxite or corundum?

7. What name is given to the series of symbols used to indicate swearing in text: (a) a stogal, (b) a tizwan, or (c) a grawlix?

8. She’s so Fine, Wedding Ring and Friday on my Mind were hits for which Australian rock band?

9. Blanche DuBois is a central character in which famous play?

10. Which mountain range forms a natural border between France and Spain?

74

Cryptic Crossword ACROSS 8. Stunned to see labyrinth in poster (6) 9. Slighted badly, but takes pleasure in it (8) 11. Alligator devoured boy, one, and ancient fighter (9) 12. Redesigned La Paz square (5) 13. I’ve followed love god … Proved wearing (7) 15. Spy the southern fumes (7) 17. Most daring combination of underwear (7) 1 18. Sheikhdom said to forbid 8 sovereignty (7) 20. Corrupt son involved in games 11 curtailed fund (7) 23. Control bands (7) 13 25. Tardy to hold drink? Coffee? (5) 27. Writer 17 Williams, perhaps, in this state? (9) 20 29. Party game is hard case to crack (8) 30. Chivalrous 25 choir playing out east (6) DOWN 1. Bracelet with black fish (6)

2. Accountant’s a star lover!

(8) 3. Get a portion of strudel in food shop (4) 4. Bits of wisdom are gems (6) 5. Thin strand in kiwi’s plumage (4) 6. Hit hard in scrap (6) 7. Criminal supplying two donkeys favoured (8) 10. The way good man takes tree out (6) 14. Plans a side scuppered (5) 16. Clear air, either I leave (5) 2

3

17. Man, 99, approaching a church (8) 18. Little bee and deer at the back (6) 19. A form of repugnance (8) 21. Bandit ban (6) 22. A serious pest, that girl?

I should say! (6) 24. Machine gun by little church leaves nasty smell (6) 26. Almost rub out the times (4) 28. It’s used to fence in sheep entering backwards (4)

4

5

6

7

9 10 12

14

15

16

18

21

22

26

19

23

24

27

29

YOURS 2015 CRYPTIC GRID

28

30

Megafind!

Turn the page

TAKE A BREAK Easy Crossword

Number Star Fill in each of the empty hexagons with numbers between 1 and 7 following these three rules: 1. No numbers in a horizontal line can be repeated.

2. No numbers in a diagonal line can be repeated.

3. No numbers in the seven coloured hexagons can be repeated.

NOTE: Each of the white hexagons is part of a line

5

6

6 4

7

1 2

1

3

6 4

7

Guess the Year

5

ACROSS 6. Knick-knack 7. For all to hear 9. Form of meditation and exercise 10. Direct the course of a ship or aeroplane 11. Casual walk 13. Tempt, entice 15. Put cargo onto a ship 16. Place where lashes grow 18. Get nearer to 21. Otherwise, or …

22. Go over again, … the story 23. Sooner or later (4,3)

DOWN 1. Bride’s partner 2. Not required 3. High-ranking university or college official

4. Dutch shoe 5. Yellow dairy dessert 8. Progress as a species 11 8 12. Single, … 9 15

1

2

3

10

8

167

8

11

22

18

12

11

12

14

8

19

22

11

1

26

4 11

1

7

3

13

11

10

7

8

11

3

7

13

14

15

16

214

U

11

18

7

19

19 11

18

11

20 17

12

18

23

11

18

11

24

18

7

6

18

14

2

11

18

19

10

17 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

21

19

8

12

1

10

11

T

The Troubles in Northern Ireland escalate dramatically on Bloody Sunday, when British troops open fire on 26 civil rights protesters in the city of Derry, killing 13.

final ballot for US conscription is drawn as 2 The the Vietnam War begins to wind down and those drafted are never called up.

Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark 3 The mafia film about the Corleone crime family, is released to widespread acclaim and goes on to Watergate scandal erupts when a burglary at the Democratic National Committee 4 The headquarters in Washington DC leads to

a cover-up by the Richard Nixon administration.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are NSW rugby 5 The league premiers for the first time, beating the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 19-14 in the grand final.

PICTURES: AAP, ALAMY

become a cinema classic.

76

18

6

2015 CODEWORD GRID YOURS 2015 CROSSWORDYOURS GRID

1

26

19

Study the photo and five clues below, then guess the year M*A*S*H begins its epic TV run and Australia’s first aircraft hijacking ends in a dramatic shootout in Alice Springs.

5 2 4 5 4 7 6 1 2 3 6 3 1 4 7 5 1 7 2 3 6 4 2 5 6 1 3 6 5 3 1 4 7 2 4 2 7

19

1

T U D

2

10

18

5

3

18

1

11

13

11

20 1

23

4 16

135 9

19

5

16

19

8

10

4

19 23

8

16

18

10

24 23

15

25

7

6

9

1

ticket (3-3) 13. Dawdled 14. Overbalanced 17. Habitual 19.

Wander 3 1 18 11 22 20.

Coat peg 6 10 3

7 7

11

0

13

19

1

12

13

4

25

26

11

7 8

19 23

16

19

16

11

11

23

23

4 11

19 19

18

4

16

16

19 18

18

19 13

10 10

19

19

11 13

11

18

18

1

18 19

26 26

18 1

8

26

9

18

18

13 11

13

1

19

20

9 19 92

11 11

11

214

10

2

110

18

18

14

14

10

10

E

R

22

11 18

F

S

22

18

1

G

T

1

788

12

11

10

377

87

10 10

533

7 1919 1212 719 11 2323 11 11 2418 18 11 11 2613 13

24 124

9

555

11

19 19 18

11 8

99

55

11 11

18 18 1111 1818

20

6

7 7 14 14 7

20 20

66

18 18

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X

L

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18

12 11 12 24 11

V

K

11

22

J W 11

7 16

4

11

19 11

23 23 23

88 7

8

M A C Z

D

11 11

3

13

2

1

3

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14

15

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4

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15

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17

18

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21 21 21

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88

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19

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13

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1111 1818 19 19 10 10 13 1319 19

6

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4

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21

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9 9 22

22

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10 23

10 10 23 23

11 24

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12

11 24 24

25

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C

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DE QR

D Q E

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FG ST F S G GTH TU H HUI UV IVJ VW JK WX J W K KXL XY I

L LY Y M A C Z

M A M ACZ C Z

13

12 D13 D 25 26 D 13 26

25

26

10

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Surfing safari YOURS 2015 CODEWORD GRID

Wordfind

YOURS 2015 CODEWORD GRID All the words and terms related toGRID boardriding. All except YOURSlisted 2015are CODEWORD one of them can be found in the grid and may read forwards, backwards, diagonally, down or up. The word or term not found in the grid is the mystery answer.

C P

I

P

E

L

I

N E D

W A V

E

S P S U R F

E R L

S R E G A N E

E

W E N

I

N O S

R S

Z

E

L

J

I

T

P

I

B O A R D T

E

E

I

T R

F

I

F H H L

B R L

B S

F

L

I

E U H R D S

G U C

E O B R K

R R F

S

O H E

A P

M T

E

F

C

T

T

S W T

T

O S S

R

I

X E

R U D

A A N A

F O N A

I

F

E

S O G O T

L

T

C M R K B

E E

I E

A

F

E

B

E

A

M H N B M

I

U L R Q Y R G Y G

E

X H A D

I

G D O M F R E

T

A

I

N E G E O F

B H

F O P M U

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M W O O O C U W Z

P O A G

N

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T G N A H Y

T O N E

YOURS 2015 WORDFINDER GRID

I

7 9 2 8 1 9 1 7 9 5 6 4 1 7 2 2 8 9 5

5 7 2 4 8 1 9 3 6

Three mums took their sons Small Logic YOURS 2015 SUDOKU to the GP. From the clues, can

GRID you work out the name of each mother and child, why they’re seeing a doctor, the time of their appointment, then answer the question at the top left of the grid?

10 10 11 11

1

Easy

BELLS BEACH BOARDIES BONDI BEACH BREAKER CALIFORNIA FIN FLOATER GOGGLES GOOFY FOOT GREMMIE GROMMET HANG TEN JUMP-OFF KNEEL DOWN LEG ROPE OCEAN OFFSHORE PIPELINE RASHIE RED FLAG RIPTIDE STRINGER SURFBOARD SWELL TEENAGERS THRUSTER TUBE WAVES WAX WETSUIT

WHY DID CHARLOTTE TAKE HER SON TO THE DOCTOR? WHY DID CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE TAKE HER SON TO THE LINDA DOCTOR?

SARAH

2.15 PM

8

26

16

2 PM

1

19 26

10

10

2.30 PM

16 11

10

1

6

22

2.15 PM

8

4

71

618

EARACHE

D Q

15

3

19

2 PM

8

13

26 7

P

H U

21 11

C

15

10

11

Fill in the blank squares with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and smaller 3 x 3 block contains all numbers from 1 to 9.

2.30 PM

11

O

43

AB NO A NC P B O B O CD PQ

EARACHE COUGH

11

10

B

9

18

20

RASH

14

1

819

1

COUGH

2

3

26 10

11 16

22

BEN

11

25

10

N

6

11

RASH

9

8

19

A

318

JACK

4

19

11

15

1

BEN

8

20

10 3

LACHLAN

8

8

25

Sudoku

JACK

8

98

11

N

LACHLAN

6

Each number in the grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. Work out which number stands for each letter, write them in the grid below and cross off the list – we’ve given you three to start you off. Fill in the letters in the box 11 8 25 3 1 18 11 22 16 1 8 20 beneath to spell the mystery word.

A

Code Cracker

CHARLOTTE

2.30 PM LINDA 2 PM SARAH 2.15 PM 2.30 PM RASH 2 PM COUGH 2.15 PM EARACHE RASH CluesCOUGH 1. Ben, who had the

EARACHE earliest appointment, MOTHER didn’t have a rash.

CHILD 2. Lachlan saw the AILMENT MOTHER TIME CHILD AILMENT TIME

doctor at 2.15pm. His mother isn’t Charlotte.

3. Sarah’s son is Jack.

4. Linda’s son was suffering earache.

Turn over for solutions

TAKE A BREAK Solutions

How did you do?

Quick Quiz, p74 1. Mark Twain 2. Hunter River 3. The drachma 4. Mercury 5. The Gruen Transfer 6. Bauxite 7. (c) A grawlix 8. The Easybeats 9. A Streetcar Named Desire 10. The Pyrenees

Code Cracker, p77

Megafind!, p75 T T H U U N D L E R E I D P A R O M E O D G C U A T R D

G R E L T I O G N N I S T L E I P E T E N A D P R I T Y U

C S H E E S T O N U A T D O R H E A L C O O L O O U T R O S E

D O B B B H I N G E D E G A T R O R N A U Y S M O R N D U

S NW I O M N E E F L L A S S K A I D R A

F A R I B A E R D B E U E G L S B N E L A L

D S U R D A S I N T E E N G O B A A B L Y E C H A R L A L P E

E S L Z I T S H E WR M E X P I S S T

Q U I R E N U G N C B A R A B A E P H E R D D E I S T T S E N U T A M F A E L F E R E R E K G U D Y V E

WH E N A R I N A G P E X T R R A

I S K A C L E V R O N R E J R E C O T E N D

E D E A

1 p742 5Cryptic Crossword, I V U B F G T S L N E M D O Z H Y R A K J W P X Q C B6 C D 1 P W 5 T A A R A M A Z E D D E L I G H T S A S M I N E Answer: JJasmine R A G E N S 7 L S A S R S G L A D I A T O R P L A Z A S E A L4 N R 6L S S V A N D 3 E R O S I V E S E E T H E S P T Y Wordfind, p77 6B R AV V DE S ET B A HT R A I NI Answer: Swell Easy Crossword, p76 A A 4 E E V ARROWWORD SOL S P O N S O R H A R N E S S YOURS G U 2015 D C C I U A7 I R T Sudoku, p77 T R I N K E T A L O U D L A T T E T E N N E S S E E I L R H D P I N C H A R A D E S H E R O I C A W S R E N H

Number YOURS 5 CRYPTIC Star, p76 2015

SOL

2 4 5 4 7 6 1 2 3 6 3 1 4 7 5 1 7 2 3 6 4 2 5 6 1 3 6 5 3 1 4 7 2 4 2 7

O W A E O Y O G A N A V I G M N O S T R O L L L T E N V O L O A D E Y E L I P W T A P P R O A C H E L O Y O R R E C A P S O M E D M K D

Guess the Year, p76

YOURS 2015 SOLUTION

1972

S A T E A U R E D D U L S E U D A Y L

YOURS 2015 CODEWORD SOL

Easy

3 1 2 8 7 6 9 5 4

4 7 8 5 9 3 6 1 2

6 9 5 1 2 4 8 7 3

7 4 1 6 5 9 3 2 8

5 2 3 7 4 8 1 6 9

8 6 9 3 1 2 7 4 5

2 3 4 9 6 7 5 8 1

1 8 7 2 3 5 4 9 6

9 5 6 4 8 1 2 3 7

Small Logic, p77 Charlotte/Ben/cough/2pm Linda/Lachlan/earache/2.15pm Sarah/Jack/rash/2.30pm.

Mystery answer: Cough

YOURS 2015 SUDOKU CROSSWORD SOL

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79

HOROSCOPE

Hedy Damari’s astrological predictions for Sept 17-30

Libra SEP 24-OCT 23

As the sign associated with partnerships it’s natural Librans feel defined by romantic connections. But this month the sun in your sign and a lunar eclipse will encourage you to nurture your needs, individuality and personal power.

Relationships are top of mind as the sun and Mercury filter into Tip: Take your time with an important decision Libra. Could yours do with more Scorpio OCT 24-NOV 22 excitement, less complacency?

If you run on empty and defer your needs, the lunar eclipse in your sector of health and routine will force you Are you a good listener? Can to stop. Prioritise exercise and nutrition, schedule you balance your needs with appointments and make time for fun and laughter. those of others? Insights await. Tip: Back up instincts with cold, hard facts The dynamics of certain relationships have changed, subtly or significantly, over the past two years. This evolution culminates on the 28th during a supermoon and total lunar eclipse in your sign, bringing freedom, autonomy and strength!

Tip: Don’t make assumptions about your loved ones

Taurus APR 21-MAY 21

Technology and gadgets are rapidly replacing human-tohuman interaction. This month focus on creating authentic face time with those you love. Surprise someone overseas with a fly-by, invite friends to lunch or arrange a family function.

Tip: Revel in rest, renewal, spirituality and solitude

Gemini MAY 22-JUN 21

The lunar eclipse in your friendship sector may stir up resentment or feelings of invalidation, especially if you are the one making the effort. Lower your expectations, don’t overcommit and save your kindness for the deserving.

Tip: An unexpected detour reveals pleasant surprises!

Cancer JUN 22-JUL 23

You may become more aware of the impact of your presence and presentation. Use your charm, intelligence and experience, particularly around the lunar eclipse on the 28th, to gain ground. Then at home, slow down and disengage autopilot.

Tip: Starting from scratch will be very liberating

Leo JUL 24-AUG 23

Your social fabric, particularly of a daily nature, fills with twists and turns. Just when you’d thought you had enough friends or decided someone wasn’t your cup of tea, you’re surprised and delighted. Last-minute changes yield opportunity.

Tip: Don’t judge a book by its cover

Virgo AUG 24-SEP 23

Streamline your finances! Retrograde Mercury is a sign to tighten your purse strings, even if you feel it’s unnecessary, to allow for unexpected expenses that could otherwise leave you short. An inventory will also reveal forgotten treasures.

Tip: It’s time to return an old favour 80

Sagittarius NOV 23-DEC 21

You may have difficulty navigating friendships while retrograde Mercury wreaks its havoc! The Sun in your social sector means there’s lots going on, so double-check times, dates and places. Some events are surprisingly... eventful!

Tip: Give someone the benefit of the doubt

Capricorn DEC 22-JAN 20

Domestic life is the focus of the lunar eclipse. If you’ve been ignoring problems, from faulty pipes to family tensions, things will surface in dramatic fashion. Pre-emptive measures ensure smooth sailing, communication and a sense of unity.

Tip: You may need to prove your worth

Aquarius JAN 21-FEB 19

You’re focused on the big picture but you’ll need to check the details. Regular regrouping over the next few weeks stops you making silly mistakes and backtracking. The journey is as vital as the destination and reveals valuable information.

Tip: Expect an illuminating, positive piece of news!

Pisces FEB 20-MAR 20

The lunar eclipse in your money sector could prompt changes. Your comfort and security is the driving force behind them so the sooner they’re handled, the better. However, retrograde Mercury means it’s not the time to lend or borrow.

Tip: A friend’s loyalty will touch your heart

Happy birthday!

Olivia Newton-John turns 67 on September 26

The hit singer and beloved actress may be British-born but she’s our best-known export, working hard in the US to put Australia on the map. Livvy not only encompasses Libran beauty and elegance, as a breast cancer survivor she’s an advocate of women’s wellbeing.

PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES

Aries MAR 21-APR 20

THE MIDDLETONS Australia’s longest running serial

Last time…

Janet and Bryan ease themselves into the pursuit of Arthur Peterson, thinking they’re managing to keep their stakeout on the tropical island low profile. But have they been rumbled after all?

PICTURE: KRISTINA SOLJO/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU ALL CHARACTERS IN THE MIDDLETONS ARE FICTITIOUS

Harm’s way

O

ne minute private eye Bryan Hardie and I were strolling in the starlight along the quiet, shrub-lined path from the Hamilton Island resort restaurant to our beachside pavilion.

The next, a noisy golf cart made us turn. It was heading straight for us at a speed way in excess of the usual meandering pace.

I stood mesmerised by the headlights when suddenly Bryan grabbed me from behind. He flexed his knees as if about to do a backward somersault.

The next moment we crashed through the bushes.

Bryan landed on his back, cushioning my fall as the golf buggy tore off.

I rolled off onto the sand. “What was that about? I didn’t know they could go so fast!”

Bryan stood, then helped me up.

“That one was specially modified.

With a little work you can get them up to 20-odd clicks an hour.”

He picked a twig out of my hair and smoothed it away from my face, kissed me passionately, then held me to get a good look at me. “Are you OK?” When I nodded, Bryan took my hand

and led me down to the beach. “That was deliberate. Let’s get out of here.”

He almost ran back to the pavilion with me following closely behind, spurred on by his obvious anxiety.

He signalled me to wait – my body pressed up against a palm tree so I blended into the surroundings – while he quick reconnoitred the building.

I almost screamed when I saw he had a gun held against his thigh but I slammed my hand over my mouth, although my heart was pounding. In minutes he stood at the door and signalled me in. He closed and locked the security screen and drew the heavy curtains before turning on the bedside lamp.

I flopped down into an armchair.

“What was that about?”

Bryan poured two brandies.

“Not for me,” I said, but he thrust a snifter towards me.

“Medicinal purposes only,” he said, pulling up a chair to sit opposite me.

“I didn’t think Arthur Peterson had recognised me but now I fear I was mistaken. That move by the golf cart

driver was deliberate, either to frighten us or do some actual harm.

He put his glass down and knelt before me, taking my hands in his.

“I can’t forgive myself for putting you in danger. I wanted to use your forensic skills – you know much more about company searches than I ever will – and I thought being a couple would be good cover.”

He paused, gripping my hands so tight I had to fight against flinching.

“Above all, I wanted to be with you, to get to know you better. I was selfish and I never thought Peterson would resort to violence. I should have. You’ve seen the company he keeps. We’ve got to go.”

I stood and Bryan followed. I reached up and clasped my hands behind his neck. My body tingled as I leaned against him and felt his welcoming response. “I’m here because I wanted to be. I wasn’t tricked. I make my own choices. We can’t do anything tonight except...” and I turned to face the bed.

“You wonderful woman.” He swept me up and carried me in three easy strides, flicking aside the doona and laying me gently on the cotton sheet.

Whether it was the stimulus of our brush with danger or the fact that we both felt free to express the attraction that flared between us, our passion that night knew no bounds, floating, falling and finally drifting off to sleep.

I awoke to the sound of waves lapping, trying to recapture a fast-fading dream.

The clock showed 3.34am so I tried to go back to sleep but my mind whirled.

Something about horses, a remark Bryan had made about Peterson’s companies. I eased myself out of bed.

“What’s happening?” a sleepy voice behind me asked.

I slipped on my silk negligee and headed over to my computer. “I think I’ve worked out how to get Peterson for money laundering.”

Next time: Has Janet cracked the case?

‘I can’t forgive myself for putting you in danger’

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Here to help!

COLUMN

Ask me anything

Got a burning question or just seeking a second opinion? Our favourite straight-shooting star KERRI-ANNE KENNERLEY offers up her advice

PICTURE: KRISTINA SOLJO

Q

to discourage me and I think it would My daughter has been dating be great for them if they did something the same guy for several months. similar. What should I tell them?

I would love to meet him but she You don’t have to tell them anything! doesn’t want to introduce me to him.

How can I subtly convince her to do so? Don’t explain and don’t complain.

If your friends are not interested There can be no subtlety here. Your in furthering their life skills, so daughter knows you want to meet him be it. And certainly never let them and for months she has decided no!

The harder you push, the less likely you discourage you. If they want to stay static, you can’t be responsible for are to meet him. Although you need them even though you know they to respect her privacy, I wonder why would benefit from it. no introduction? Is she normally shy You seem to be the forward thinker about her friends? Did you disapprove in the group so forge on and keep of the last boyfriend? Have you been forthcoming over who she should date? the grey matter pumping. If you don’t Do you hate tattoos and body piercing? move it, you lose it. You will be the source of energy and knowledge in Have there been any embarrassing the group and they will moments with ‘If your friends want what you’ve got. previous boyfriends?

I hope you are not aren’t interested In fact, you could use new computer skills a meddling mother, in furthering your to take back printed but have you asked their life information for them her friends about him?

I think it’s important skills, so be it. about the positive of learning. for you to know she Never let them benefits That may entice them. is safe. If you ask her discourage you’ Be excited about friends, leave it there learning not only computer skills, – no need for a Spanish Inquisition. but what the World Wide Web Depending how old your daughter has to offer. You may even meet is, she has a right to do what she likes. more enlightened and fun friends There must be a reason why she is not at the computer course. sharing, but by pressuring her you will push her further away. Stay patient.

Is it appropriate to make I have very limited computer death announcements over skills so have recently enrolled social media? I’ve been noticing in a computer course. However, many it a lot on Facebook lately. of my older friends are old-fashioned Whether we think it’s appropriate or and told me I didn’t need to bother not, it is the changing way of society. with the course. I don’t want them Who still reads death notices in the

Q

Q

newspaper? Probably those of a certain age who don’t use Facebook and respect an old tradition. The internet has made life easier and busier, but we have lost some charming ways. Who writes a handwritten note anymore? Very few. But isn’t it a joy to receive one!

In this day and age, people break up by text. We get news by Twitter. We find out where our friends and family have been on Facebook. We meet and fall in love over the internet. We shop, play, gamble and Skype with family and friends online. We can hardly imagine our lives without the internet and social media. While we should embrace it, I hope some traditions are not completely forgotten... yet!

Contact us:

Got a question for Kerri-Anne?

Email us at yours@bauer-media. com.au or write to Yours Ask Me Anything, GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW, 2001 83

WHAT’S ON

Celebrity chitchat JANE ALLSOP, 40

Festival

Dandenong Festival of Lights

Lights! Melbourne! Action! Get ready to thrill your senses when the Chinese Cultural Works Light Spectacular brightens up the Melbourne night.

Visitors will be enchanted by this family-friendly display of gorgeous silk lanterns, along with acrobatics shows, Chinese tea ceremonies and food trucks. September 11-October 18, Dandenong Showground, Dandenong, Vic. Visit lightfestival.com.au

What do you love most about working on House Husbands?

My real son Jagger plays my son in the show. And my husband Dave [Serafin], who is also an actor, has been with him out on set. Getting to spend the day at work alongside the two of them has been a real treat.

Which cast member would you choose to be stuck on

Movie

The Intern

Proving you’re never too old to learn, Robert De Niro plays 70-year-old widower Ben, who realises that despite his retirement he’s still got something to give. Anne Hathaway (pictured left, with De Niro) plays Jules, the CEO of a fashion company who takes him under her wing.

In cinemas from October 1

84

a desert island with, and why?

Julia [Morris], she’s hilarious – if you’re going to die from starvation you may as well go down laughing.

Which cast members have you bonded with the most?

They are all such a great group of people, and really fun to work with.

Rhys [Muldoon] and I have probably worked together the most though,

TEXT: KIETLEY ISRIN PICTURES: NICK SCOTT/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU, GETTY IMAGES

and we’ve had a lot of laughs playing out [our characters’] office antics.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on set?

Trying to talk about my dog in the show, “Margaret – a purebred Finnish Lapphund,” without laughing or getting tongue-tied.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in season four?

In truth, the biggest challenge this season has probably been dealing with my skin allergies and having to adjust what make-up products we can and can’t use.

If you weren’t acting, what would you be doing?

God knows! I’m not sure if there really ever was a plan B. What else are you passionate about in life?

I’m passionate about healthy food and healthy living – within reason, of course. [Dave and I] eat organic where possible, and educate our kids about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

What other TV shows do you love at the moment?

I’ve just watched all of [Breaking Bad prequel] Better Call Saul, which I loved. I was a massive fan of Breaking Bad – best show ever!

Watch Jane in House Husbands, Mondays at 8.40pm on the Nine Network

CD Simply

Red – Big Love

Soulful singer/songwriter Mick Hucknall (pictured left) and his legendary band are thrilled to be releasing their first album in eight years, Big Love, featuring 12 tracks including the celebratory Shine On and new single The Ghost of Love.

RRP $21.99, available now

Mark your diary!

Show Broadway to Oz:

Hugh Jackman Live in Concert If you’re a huge fan of Hugh, this is the show for you! Join the charming star as he recounts his life, from his early days in the outback to his Hollywood success.

“The story is pretty much about my life, not only biographically, but the things I love,” he says. Touring nationally from November 25. Visit ticketek.com.au

Musical

Georgy Girl: The Seekers Musical

Celebrates one of Australia’s most beloved groups. From December 15, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Visit georgygirlthemusical.com

Festival Vino

Paradiso

There’s something for all palates at Vino Paradiso, with more than 130 wine, cider, beer and food stalls to tempt your tastebuds.

Want to delve deeper?

Head to the Food & Wine Masterclasses and grape crushing sessions. November 6-8, The Rocks, Sydney.

Visit vinoparadiso.com.au 85

Wendy’s world

COLUMN

Good buys don’t click Shopping online means WENDY HARMER can’t do her fail-safe checks that eliminate fashion faux pas

PICTURE: NICK CUBBIN

W

ell, it’s happened… again.

I took a deep breath, ordered a lovely-looking sequinned waterfall jacket from an online site – and when it arrived, it was several shades of disappointing.

Nasty fabric, ill-fitting and badly made.

It wasn’t the glamorous garment I’d hoped for, and not worth a third of what I paid.

I’ll just throw it in the pile with the earrings, the necklace and the handbag, which all looked fabulous in the photos but if I’d seen them in person would’ve utterly failed my signature tests: “The Fondle”, “The Mirror” and “The Friend”.

Australians spend $30 billion a year buying stuff on the internet. Friends swear by ordering cosmetics, hard-to-get tea brands, kitchen appliances, computers and gardening tools online. They’ll buy bigger items, too, including household furniture and chook sheds, even cars!

They’re all safe bets if you know the brand you’re looking for; you’ve done your due diligence homework to compare prices and styles. Your sofa will still look good no matter who sits on it. Your fancy mixer will probably work and you can’t go wrong with tea towels. Your red sports car will still perform, even if you’re a middle-aged try-hard with a comb-over. The chooks couldn’t care less.

But with clothes and accessories, there’s always you, front and centre, and your body, which has infinite potential to bend any purchase completely out of shape.

I should’ve remembered my three

tests for buying anything you’re going to wear or carry around on your actual personage, checks you simply cannot perform over the internet.

The Fondle: How does it feel in my hand? Itchy, scratchy, prickly? Or rather luxurious, even decadent? Trying it on, I note a seam on the neckline that’s chafing horribly. This button’s going to fall off right about… now.

The Mirror: Uh-oh! The jacket makes my bust look like the parcel shelf in the car and the sleeves give me two bratwurst sausages. The hemline hits my knobbly knees in an unfortunate place. This handbag is a lot bigger than I thought, like I’m trying to smuggle wildlife. This necklace is so heavy it’s already giving me a migraine. Yikes!

The Friend: “You’ve already got one exactly the same, remember?” “You look like your Aunty Pat in that.” “Yes, I’m standing behind you and it does make your bum look big.” “Well, if I won’t tell you, who will?” “Do. Not. Buy. It!” I’ve heard people brag of their ability to buy clothes and accessories from fashion sites, but I suspect they’re not owning up to the items at the bottom of the wardrobe.

And I suspect they may be addicted to opening lovely packages that come in the mail – but that’s what birthdays and Christmas are for!

So, I’ve sworn off all online shopping, unless it’s stationery, art supplies or rare tea.

They even look good on me.

Follow Wendy Harmer on Twitter @wendy_harmer

Next issue in

on sale Thursday

October 1

Fashion For the the perfect wardrobe pick-me-up, why not treat yourself to a new bag?

Beauty Find the new season scent that’s right for you. From florals to woody notes, these are the prettiest buys right now. Plus, how to make it last longer.

Home cooking Winner, winner chicken dinner! Liven up your repetoire with these delicious new ideas from around the globe.

Gardens Look no further for inspiration on how to brighten up your backyard. Fill it with colourful containers of spring flowers, then sit back and enjoy your efforts.

87

RED CARPET

! w o W n io t a r e n e G

Garden party There’s a serious case of spring fever breezing through Hollywood, with the stars frocking up in blooming beautiful floral prints or intricate leaf designs. Bravo, ladies!

Julianne Moore, 54

Monica Bellucci, 50

Sarah Jessica Parker, 50

Helen Mirren, 70

Flower girl

The Still Alice star takes the plunge in a floral appliquéd Chanel Haute Couture gown at a Hollywood awards show, polishing her look with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels.

88

Prints charming

Who better to wear these chic Dolce & Gabbana separates than the brand’s long-time muse? The latest Bond girl mixes prints with ease at an event for the latest 007 film, Spectre.

Mono magic

The Dame sure knows a thing or two about elegance, gracing a film screening in London dressed in a ’50s-inspired silk tea-length dress by British label Suzannah.

Pretty please

The ever-stylish SJP plays up her girly side for an event in the Big Apple, wearing a vintage Pauline Trigère dress, Fred Leighton jewellery and Manolo Blahnik heels.

Julianna Margulies, 49

Vintage glamour

Sharon Osbourne, 62

The Good Wife star is in full bloom while being honoured with her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress and Giuseppe Zanotti heels.

English rose

The Osbourne family matriarch goes all out for an awards night in LA, wowing in a black-andwhite Naeem Khan gown.

Sparkling chunky jewels add Sharon’s trademark rock’n’roll edge.

Elizabeth Banks, 41

TEXT: KIETLEY IISRIN PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES

Blooming delight

The Hunger Games actress shows she’s no wallflower at the Venice Film Festival, pairing her sweet Dolce & Gabbana jacquard shift dress with embellished heels by Stuart Weitzman.

89

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