WEEKEND | 03-10-2015

PAGE 1

www.northernstar.com.au .

: P E O P L E : E A S Y E A T I N G : B O O K S : D I Y : G A R D E N : T R AV E L : E N T E R T A I N M E N T : F A S H I O N : H O M E TRAVEL: Where the Clooneys tied the knot and the A-listers holiday in tranquillity

Weekend

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 2

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

we l come // i ns i de today

+

+

IN S IDE TODAY W ELC O M E

wi th We eke n d E di to r, K i r i te n D o l l e

It takes courage to face what Lana is facing

O

UR cover this week is confronting – because it is raw and real. Every day 42 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Today, Gladstone mum Lana Rhodes lays it all bare. Before now, Lana refused to show the scars of a bi-lateral mastectomy to the people closest to her.

The 28-year-old’s decision to be photographed for this special Pink edition of Weekend was a personal one – and a true act of bravery.

“I want people to see the truth, I want them to see the real face of breast cancer,” the single mum explains to Vani Naidoo inside.

Lana’s story is unflinchingly raw and immensely touching.

This is what breast cancer can look like.

And this young mum is not alone. More than 800 Australian women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, younger women face a disproportionate burden on their lives – the disease is usually more aggressive and treatments designed for older women are not as effective in younger women.

: Lana Rhodes with her two-year-old son Chace.

PHOTO: MIKE RICHARDS

While Australian diagnoses have doubled in the last 20 years, the survival rates have also improved from 76% to more than 89% since 1994.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can help by making a donation for vital research, hosting a fundraiser or joining a social media campaign such as NBCF’s #showyoursupport initiative.

READ // Survivors bare all for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

EASY EATING // Sensational summer salads, plus Dan and Steph’s twist on a favourite – a blue velvet cake.

TRAVEL // The lush hideaway with the trappings of Venice and where the Clooneys tied the knot. Plus, our pick of the top things to do and see in Malaysia.

MAKE // Ayden and Jess show you how to encapsulate Shaker style in your home.

HOME // 50 Christmas gift ideas under $10.

CLOSET // Nothing says spring like powder pinks and blushing neutrals – how to wear one of spring’s prettiest looks.

CHALLENGE // The extreme lengths tech-heads are going to to modify their bodies’ abilities.

YOU // How to get into a habit and stick with it, plus the breast cancer checks you can perform at home.

SCREEN LIFE // Johnny Depp in perhaps his darkest role yet.

RELAX // The new book that offers an eye-opening window into Australia’s past.

How to navigate your Weekend:

: We’ve colour-coded your magazine for easy reference. Each section listed on the index page is coloured accordingly throughout. If you’d like to skip to Easy Eating, look for a yellow : symbol, or a magenta : symbol to skip to Home and Make.

: ON THE COVER: Lana Rhodes. Photo: Mike Richards : CREATIVE: Megan Sheehan and Kiri ten Dolle. : CONTRIBUTORS: Seanna Cronin, Alexia Purcell, Chris Calcino, Tracey Hordern, Maggie Cooper, Matt Sawtell, Regan Drew, Simon Irwin, Steph Mulheron, Angie Thomas, Maree Curran, Peter Chapman, Ann Rickard, Helen Hawkes, Meredith Papavasiliou, Greg Bray, Geoff Egan, John Grey, Jody Allen, Roy O’Reilly. : CONTACT US: weekend@apn.com.au : CONTRIBUTE: contributors@apn.com.au : ADVERTISING: Visit apnarm.com.au or contact your local sales consultant.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Weekend

www.northernstar.com.au

Weekend

PAGE 3

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 4

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

re ad

+ Laying it all bare in confronting tell-all Two wom e n s h a r e t h e i r e m o t i o n a l a n d p hy s i c a l s c a r s o f e n d u r i n g b r e a st c a n c e r a n d a d o u b l e m a stec t o my, w r i te s Van i N a i d o o

H

OW do you feel when you look at this picture of Lana Rhodes? Are you curious or uncomfortable? Do your eyes linger on the concave chest and the scars that stretch from one armpit to the other, the undeniable signs of a double mastectomy, of a life forever changed, or do you look away quickly as your brain tries to comprehend the sight of a 28-year-old woman with no breasts? Do you feel empathy for this young mother of one for her pain and fear and the sadness in her eyes? Do you marvel at her courage? Are you offering up a silent prayer because it is not you?

One imagines the signal that your life is in danger would be marked by a loud clatter or a deafening roar, an unbearable screech even. It is, after all, the most significant event, one that bears notice. But for Lana Rhodes it came without warning, the only sounds the lulling patter of falling water in a steamy shower.

“I remember it so clearly,” says Lana through the tears. “It was early in March last year and I had just come back from a walk with my baby and was having a shower. I usually use body wash but on that day, for some reason, I grabbed the soap and I found this golf ball sized lump in my breast. It quite literally stopped me and because of the size of the lump I knew it wasn’t normal.”

A flurry of tests followed including an ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration and finally an MRI and core biopsy before Lana was given the news that would forever redefine her world.

“My GP was in tears when he delivered the news,” she recalls. “I had no words; the only thing I could think of was what about my son, who had just turned one. I couldn’t process it, I couldn’t think. Everything felt wrong. I went home and cuddled my baby and cried.”

This year some 15,600 women will receive that same news.

Forty-two women every day. But while breast cancer is the most common form of the disease diagnosed in women, Lana’s case managed to stand out. Just shy of her 27th birthday, she was too young to be fighting a demon that finds most of its victims in women aged between 50 and 69.

Together with her team of doctors and her fiance at the time, Lana decided on a course of chemotherapy to reduce the size of the 7cm lump and then a bilateral mastectomy.

“I have a photo from that morning,” says Lana. “I was sitting on the edge of the bed watching Todd and my son Chace in the ensuite playing around. To anyone else it is just a photo of a father and a son but to me that was the last complete moment of my life.

“It’s funny to think I was having my breasts removed to save a life that was never ever going to be the same again. I

‘‘

I c o u l d n ’t p r o c es s i t , I c o u l d n ’t t h i n k . E ver y t h i n g f el t wrong

: Lana Rhodes: Cancer can affect young people.

PHOTO: MIKE RICHARDS

never really fully understood that. I just thought I would get my boobs cut off, get reconstruction, it would be all good, it would all go back to normal. I never understood the ramifications of what it would do to my life forever.”

Lana sought support from close family and friends as well as breast cancer services and online forums. Her Journey Kit from the Breast Cancer Network Australia, she says, was a real life-saving companion.

“I mostly spoke to nurses in my oncology unit and to online groups,” says the Gladstone local. “Being regional limits the help you can access, so a lot is online but I was happy with that because I was anonymous and that made it easier for me to talk and open up about my fears.”

But despite recently celebrating the first anniversary of her last chemotherapy session, Lana is still struggling to come to terms with her new normal, to find a way past the pain.

“The first time I saw my scars was the worst day of my life,” she sobs. “I was showering in the hospital and the nurse was removing my dressings and she said, “It looks worse than what it is, are you ready?” and I looked down at my chest and it just felt alien. And for a very long time afterward I couldn’t look at them and I couldn’t let anyone else see them either – even Todd when he was doing my dressings at home. It is not a pretty thing, it is not normal and I feel like I am disfigured.

In the end it came between Todd and I – I wanted him to remember me the way I was and not be scared off by what I have become.”

Before today, Lana refused to show her scars to her mum or sister or best friend, devastated at the reality of her surgery, which makes her photographs in this publication an amazing act of bravery.

“Of course these pictures are confronting but I want people to see the truth, I want them to see the real face of breast cancer,” she says. “I want to highlight the process and warn young women that cancer is not an old person’s disease.

“I want people to know that while I am grateful to be alive, it is a hard slog. People think it will be like Angelina Jolie – you go in, get your boobs cut off, have reconstruction and leave with perky new ones but that is not the reality. I will never have nipples again, I can’t afford reconstruction. As a single 28-year-old with no boobs who is going to want me?

How do you start another relationship? How will I ever find someone who can accept that I don’t have breasts? My chest is concave; I can’t wear normal clothes. How do I meet someone who is going to look at me and not be turned off?”

It is difficult to remain unmoved by Lana’s tide of sadness and her very real fear that nothing will ever be the same again. Like her mastectomy scars, the psychological toll of her breast cancer is hard to ignore.

“Cancer doesn’t finish when treatment finishes,” she says.

“You deal with it for the rest of your life and it affects every little part of your life. People are amazing when you are going through treatment but afterwards they just want you to move on. But every single day I have to wake up and put a bra on with prosthetics and every single day I start with the reminder of what this has done to my body. I am sick of people saying it will be fine because that is one thing it will never be.”

Like Lana, Lisa Poulos has faced the ravages of breast cancer and a double mastectomy has also left her with the scars to prove it. Except this former magazine publisher and mother of two has found a way to navigate through this new reality, confining the paralysing fear of recurrence to a bit-player and taking strength from the thousands of people she has been able to help.

Lisa, a very successful Sydney business owner and public relations aficionado, was diagnosed with breast cancer in

JOIN THE JOBS REVOLUTION! At NORTEC, we aim to create opportunities and inspire futures in our region! To show we mean business about jobs growth, we’ve given ourselves a target and a deadline:

1000 JOBS IN

750

100 DAYS

500

AUGUST 1ST - NOVEMBER 8TH

100 days to find 1000 people sustainable employment for a better future!

Lodge a job vacancy now for your chance to win

$1000

towards the charity of your choice! x3 to be won.

LODGE A VACANCY NOW: 1800 NORTEC

www.nortec.org.au Staffing Solutions

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Weekend

PAGE 5

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

re ad BREAST CANCER: It can be detected early and it can be treated.

: Brooke Lowther is an ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

PHOTO: CONRAD JULIUS TAYLOR

Raise awareness, funds

PHOTO: MIKE RICHARDS

: Lana Rhodes with her two-year-old son Chace.

2007 and documented her journey with the help of photographer Ian Butterworth. The project, A Life Laid Bare, was a way for Lisa to confront her own fight but also an avenue to help other women through theirs with photographs that were less confronting and more encouraging.

“When I did Australian Story in 2013 I got thousands of emails with people asking me so many questions so I decided to put it into a forum where they could easily access information,” says Lisa. “I get emails every week from women who say how scared they were and how the exposure of my journey has allowed them to go through their battle with much more ease.

“What I realise is that people just want someone who has gone through it to let them know what it is like and what happened. It is easy for a doctor to explain the procedure but you know that doctor has not experienced a mastectomy and it’s a huge thing.”

There is no doubting Lisa’s strength and determination, but even armed with those tools and her sense of humour, the single mother, who separated from her partner just after diagnosis, had an almighty battle, with doctors giving her little chance of survival.

“The first thing they do after a mastectomy is teach you how to put prosthetics in your bra,” she says. “I thought it felt terrible and made me feel worse so instead I embraced having no breasts and wore white t-shirts and didn’t try to hide it. I got stared at all the time and in the beginning I got teary and put my head down and then a friend said to me, ‘You need to embrace who you are right now and this is who you are,’ and I did, I thought this is me, like it or lump it and held my head high.

“But I struggled because it’s a big deal – it’s not just having no breasts – your chest is all concave and deformed.

You come out and feel a different person on every level. I had

no hair or nails or eyelashes. You try not to be shallow but it is incredibly challenging every day.”

Reconstruction surgery helps with the healing but breast cancer also brings other issues. Most women report a range of changes that increases the disconnect with their bodies.

Vaginal dryness, hot flushes and a change in libido are common but so is the distressing anxiety of resuming or starting an intimate relationship.

“The hardest part is getting comfortable with yourself again,” says Lisa. “My scars are pretty awful, they are right across my chest, I don’t have a nipple anymore … there are all those sorts of issues. Your whole sex life changes – breasts are such a big part of your sexual experience. I want to be very honest here, it is really awkward when you first have sex after a mastectomy, it’s so awkward it’s awful.

“I wore a camisole over my breasts because I wasn’t ready to expose it to anyone. My current partner is the first person I have shown them to and he was very challenged by the whole experience. We talked openly about what the changes were and how to get comfortable but it takes a certain type of man and I am very lucky to have met someone so special.”

Like most people who hear the harrowing statistics, Lisa is concerned about the number of women receiving a breast cancer diagnosis every year but stresses that early detection can, and does, save lives.

“You are better off knowing early,” she says. “And if you do get cancer, be kind to yourself, it is a really unkind time in your life and you need to put your arms around yourself and accept this is what is happening. Choose your doctors wisely because it is a long road. I also had my A-team of friends with me and my family, too, was incredible.

“I really accepted this is what I had to do and did everything I could to live. Creating that love around you will give you that extra 1% you need to get over the line.”

OCTOBER is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and support organisations across the country, including National Breast Cancer Foundation, are encouraging people to hold fundraising events. One in eight women develop breast cancer and seven women die from the disease every day. Those are scary statistics and if we are to have a cancer-free society for our children and grandchildren, more has to be done to provide money for research and support.

Television presenter, businesswoman and mum Brooke Lowther is an ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the cause is close to her heart. She lost an aunt to the disease a few years ago and one of her closest friends has just been given the all-clear.

“I just see the urgency in trying to raise awareness,” says Brooke, who founded Bra Nation. “More and more people are getting diagnosed and that should be a concern for all us. I am passionate about trying to help, whether it’s raising money or getting the word out there.’’

Brooke urges the public to get involved this month and host something big or small with proceeds going to breast cancer.

“I think sometimes when people are removed from a situation they don’t think it will affect them and they are invincible but the figures show that more and more people are being affected.

“Forty-two women are diagnosed each day, 42.

If you think that you have seven or eight good girlfriends and one of them will get cancer that is what pushes me to help.

“People feel like they are already struggling to make ends meet but you know every dollar helps and if we can all offer just one dollar, as a collective we will have great success. It may mean that your daughter or granddaughter will be free of this disease.”

To donate or find out how to host a fundraising event see www.nbcf.com.au.

Trying to De-clutter? It’s Free to Sell Online!

1 WWW

Head online to www.finda.com.au

2

3

4

5

Choose your category

Post your ad details and a photo

Your ad will appear in your local newspaper and online

POST AN AD

Click on ‘Post an Ad’

Post an ad online – it’s quick and easy.

BUY & SELL Weekend

6144789aa

Free ads available for non-business advertisers. Not available for plants, animals, fire weapons or fire woods.

Please visit finda.com.au for terms and limitations.

ONE LOCAL TO ANOTHER Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 6

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

ea sy eat in g

+

+ Vivid take on cakes

BAKE

with Kim McCosker | 4 I n g re di e n t s

G e t c o l o u r f u l a n d c r e at i ve w i t h t h i s ve lve t b o n d i n g e x e r c i s e .

E AT

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Pink buttercream kisses

INGREDIENTS: : ½ cup (115g) butter : 1 tbs pure icing sugar : 1 tbs arrowroot : 1 cup (175g) organic self-raising flour.

METHOD: Preheat oven to 150oC. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Cream butter and sugar until light and creamy in colour. Add arrowroot and flour and mix until combined. Roll a heaped teaspoon of mixture into a ball and place on the baking tray. When all the mixture is rolled, press each little ball gently with a fork. Bake for 10–12 minutes, allow to cool.

Vanilla buttercream: Beat 60g butter, 1 ¼ cups pure icing sugar and 2 tbs hot water until creamy, add 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix well. Join two “kisses’’ together with buttercream when cool. For the pink hue, simply add two drops of red food colouring. Makes 24.

Natural chocolate truffles

INGREDIENTS: : 1 cup (140g) raw hazelnuts, lightly toasted : 2 tbs (15g) raw cacao powder : 5 (90g) Medjool dates, pitted : 1 tbs (20ml) milk METHOD: Grind the hazelnuts in a food processor to a fine powder. Add 1 tbs of the cacao, dates and milk and continue to process until a dough forms. Place the remaining cacao onto a flat plate. Roll teaspoons of mixture into balls then roll in the cacao. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Makes 16.

Host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast to raise funds for vital life-changing breast cancer research this month. Register now at www.pinkribbonbreakfast.org.au. Recipes from Cook 4 a Cure, by Kim McCosker, for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

+ T H E W EEKEN D COOK wi th M a g g i e C o o p e r

Popular Indonesian flavours at home with nasi goreng

I

N MALAYSIA and Indonesia, nasi goreng is a staple. It’s a popular breakfast dish, usually made from leftover steamed rice from the evening meal the night before.

Nasi goreng

INGREDIENTS: : 2 cups white long grain rice : ½ tsp salt : 200g free-range chicken tenderloins : 2 tbs nasi goreng Saturday, October 3, 2015

wi th D a n a nd Step h M ulheron

F

ORGET the red velvet; try our blue velvet cake. It’s fun and even more delicious. Get the kiddies in the kitchen this long weekend to create this beautiful cake with cream cheese frosting. You can make a green or even a purple velvet cake. Be creative and enjoy cooking with the family. We can’t wait to share this recipe with Emmy. She loves being in the kitchen and seeing everything that is happening.

Blue Velvet Cake

INGREDIENTS: Cake : 225g unsalted butter : 4 tbs water : 55g dark cocoa powder : 3 eggs : 250ml buttermilk : 280g plain flour : 55g corn flour : 1½ tsp baking powder : 280g caster sugar : 2 tsp vanilla paste : 2 tbs blue food colouring Frosting : 1 x 250g block Philadelphia cream cheese : 40g unsalted butter : 3 tbs icing sugar : 1 tsp vanilla paste.

Decoration (optional) : 1 punnet of strawberries, cut in half with greenery left on.

METHOD: Preheat oven to 190 degrees and grease two 23cm round spring form cake tins with spray oil. Line the base and sides with baking paper. In a small saucepan, add butter, water and cocoa, heat gently without boiling, swirl to allow the butter to melt. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. In a mixing bowl, add the eggs,

buttermilk, vanilla paste and blue colouring – use an electric mixer and beat until frothy. Beat in the butter mixture. Sift in flour, corn flour and baking powder, then beat quickly. Add sugar and beat again until the mixture is smooth. Divide the mixture between the two cake tins and bake for 25-30 minutes. It should be firm to touch.

Remove from oven and allow to sit in cake tin for five minutes before taking off the cake tin sides and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. For the frosting, beat all ingredients together using an electric mixer until smooth. Take one cake and place on your serving platter.

Use about half the frosting and spread over the top evenly. Place the other cake on it and spread the remaining frosting on top and smooth for a great finish.

To finish, optional, place halved strawberries around the edge of the cake.

Dan and Steph Mulheron won My Kitchen Rules in 2013.

Visit danandsteph.com.au or find them on Facebook – Dan & Steph – and Instagram – danandsteph13.

GET THE KIDS TO HELP MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING : Dan and Steph Mulheron's blue velvet cake.

PHOTO: GLEN DAVID WILSON

paste : 3 tbs peanut oil : 200g green king prawns, shelled and deveined : 1cm thick slice of leg ham, diced : 1 carrot, peeled and diced : 4 green onions, sliced : 1 ½ cups bean shoots : 2 large free-range eggs, beaten : 1 tbs soy sauce : 1 tbs kecap manis : fresh coriander METHOD: The day before you need it, place the rice and salt in a large saucepan and pour in enough cold water to cover the rice by 1cm. Cover the pan and bring water to the boil; immediately reduce heat to lowest setting and steam rice for 12 minutes without taking the lid off. Spread cooked rice on a foil-covered baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight. Meanwhile, slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and marinate in the nasi goreng paste overnight. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat. Place the chicken in the wok and cook for two minutes, stirring constantly. Add the prawns, ham and carrot; cook a further two minutes. Increase the heat and add the rice, breaking up any clumps as you go. Cook over high heat for 3–4 minutes, keeping the rice moving constantly to prevent burning. Add green onions and bean shoots, cook for one minute more. Remove from heat. Cook

: Cut up an omelette into strips for a twist on nasi goreng.

PHOTO: MAGGIE COOPER

the eggs into an omelette in a small non-stick frypan and cut into strips. Stir soy and kecap manis through the rice and garnish with the egg strips and coriander leaves. Serves 4.

Email Maggie at maggies.column@bigpond.com or check out her blog herebemonstersblog.com.

Weekend

PAGE 7

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

ea sy eat in g

+

FLEETING MOMENT: Once you swallow there is nothing left on the palate.

MY S HOU T

with Sim on I rwin

Three beers fall a little flat

: Watermelon salad.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

+ The scent of summer F i r e u p t h e b a r b i e : s a l a d d ay s a r e h e r e Summer orange and coconut salad

.

FA ST F I V E

w i th M a tt S aw te l l

S

UMMER is almost here – the smell of barbecues is in the air. The evenings are getting longer, so invite your friends around for a barbie and try one or more of these summer salads. They also make tasty work lunches.

Watermelon, bocconcini and mint salad

INGREDIENTS: : 150g mixed salad leaves : 1 bunch coriander leaves : 1 bunch flat leaf parsley leaves : 1 bunch mint leaves : 50g shredded fresh coconut : 1 orange, segmented : 1 red grapefruit, segmented : 50ml coconut cream : 1 tbs Malibu liqueur : zest of half a lemon : 20ml orange juice METHOD: Make the dressing by mixing the coconut cream, Malibu, lemon zest and orange juice in a bowl and set aside.

Combine the remainder of the ingredients and drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Serves 4.

Watercress and sesame salad

INGREDIENTS: : 1⁄2 seedless watermelon, diced : 2 tbs fresh mint leaves : 70g bocconcini : 200g mesculin : 100g radicchio : 30ml balsamic glaze : salt, pepper METHOD: Place diced watermelon, mint, lettuces, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl and toss. Lay out on a long serving platter and top with bocconcini. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serves 6.

INGREDIENTS: : 2 bunch watercress : 1⁄4 cup spring onions, chopped : 1 tbs black sesame seeds : 4 radish, thinly sliced : 1⁄4 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced : 10ml sesame oil : 15ml soy sauce : 40ml olive oil : 1 tbs honey METHOD: In a bowl mix together the watercress, spring onion, sesame seeds, radish and cabbage. Whisk together the oils, soy sauce and honey. Toss through the mix before serving. Serves 4.

Char-grilled zucchini, olive and feta salad

Chilli prawn and mango salad

INGREDIENTS: : 200g zucchini : 1⁄2 cup kalamata olives : 60g feta, crumbled : 250g baby rocket : 15ml red wine vinegar : 50ml extra virgin olive oil : salt, pepper METHOD: Top and tail zucchini and cut in half, slice each half into thin strips. Turn on the barbecue and char-grill the zucchini until there are nice char marks on both sides, transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. Toss through the feta, olives and rocket. Mix the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper together and toss through salad before serving. Serves 4-6.

INGREDIENTS: : 400g green peeled prawns : 1 large red chilli : 2 cloves garlic : 2 tbs olive oil : 1 lime : 1 mango : 1⁄2 bunch coriander : 20g pepitas : 200g rocket METHOD: In a small food processor blend the chilli, garlic, oil and half of the lime juice until smooth. Pour mixture over the prawns and refrigerate for half an hour. Slice mango into bite-size pieces and wash and tear the leaves off the coriander. Mix through the rocket and place in bowl. In a medium to hot pan cook the prawns until just pink and cooked through. Place over the salad mix and finish with the pepitas and a squeeze of the leftover lime half. Serves 4-6.

K

ONICHIWA. Hugh the Neighbour and I decided to have a crack at some Japanese beers a couple of weekends back and the most impressive thing to come out of it was the Cherry Blossoms beating the Springboks in the first round of the Rugby World Cup. Who knows if the two events were connected, but it seems to be more than a coincidence, don’t you think?

Anyway, Hugh thought it would be a good idea to try some lighter and fresher beers, so we settled on three beers from the Land of the Rising Sun. There are similarities to them all – 5% alcohol content, a cleanness on the palate.

First, the Sapporo Premium Beer. This is a pleasant enough German-style lager from the large Japanese brewers in the north of Japan.

First brewed in 1876, this is a crisp golden lager with some hints of malt coming through.

Next up, the Suntory Magnum Dry. Suntory is mainly known as a distiller and in some ways the beer did present as if it was a sideline to the main event. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with it – smooth enough with a little hops on the finish – but not particularly memorable, either.

Lastly, the Kirin First Press. Both HTN and I thought this one was the pick of the litter – a real crispness and slight bitterness made this perfectly drinkable.

In fact of the three we tried the Kirin was the one I could see myself putting into an esky and taking along to one of those occasions where there is a distinct possibility I will end up having more than two drinks.

As the regular reader would know, we have been enjoying some big and malty/hoppy brews over the past few months and that may colour one’s expectations.

While these beers were not bad in any way, they just seemed a little bland. HTN probably summed it up when he said that once you swallow there is nothing left on the palate. Maybe that is the secret of Japanese beers – they are only to be enjoyed in a brief moment. : Sapporo Premium Beer: 355ml bottles; 5% alc vol, $18.50 for six; $49.99 carton of 24 : Suntory Magnum Dry: 500ml cans; 5% alc vol, $12.99 for six; $49.95 carton of 24 : Kirin First Press: 330ml bottles; 5% alc vol, $17.50 for six; $47.95 carton of 24

Have you been left out of aWill ..... or treated unfairly?

Are you an executor having to defend a claim?

The ability to claim includes spouses, children, defacto partners, former spouses and many others. Legal costs in most cases for bringing or defending a claim may be paid out of the estate or the claim may be brought on a NO WIN NO FEE basis.

Clayton concentrates on Wills, Estates, Conveyancing and family property settlements.

6095807aa

For a FREE honest professional assessment of your rights call CLAYTON JAMES - Solicitor Conveyancer for an appointment.

Offices in: Lismore Casino Ballina 66226822 66623039 Email- crjames@bigpond.com.au Weekend

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 8

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

fa r mer s market

Try fresh asparagus and you’ll never go back to the supermarket variety.

+

LO CA L P RO D U C E

w ith Kate O’Ne il l

Tomatoes that actually taste heavenly Lentil and Cauliflower-Stuffed Tomatoes

: FRESH: Try it on the BBQ with a little olive oil, salt CONTRIBUTED and pepper.

+

W HAT ’ S FRESH

Ne ws f ro m the Fa r m e r s’ M a rke ts Asparagus It’s crisp. it’s juicy and it’s sweet, and it’s unlike any other asparagus you have ever tasted.

Once you've tried freshly picked asparagus, you’ll never be able to go back to the limp, woody stuff in the supermarket. Fox Farms at Bangalow are one of very few farms that grow asparagus in our region and their crop is just coming into season. Arrive early at the Mullumbimby or New Brighton Farmers’ Markets and you just might get your hands on some before it sells out. Delicious as is, or try it on the BBQ with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

Duck eggs Like a chicken egg, but bigger and richer, duck eggs can be used in any place you'd normally use chicken eggs. Bakers love them because of their high protein and fat content, which makes cakes rise higher and improves flavour. Myocum organic farmer Glenyce Creighton says her ducks are producing plenty of eggs at the moment (as are her geese and turkeys if you're feeling adventurous). Available at the Mullum and New Brighton Farmers’ Markets Spring onions Mild in flavour, fresh spring onions are just the thing to add to a spring salad or stir fry or to sprinkle on your baked potatoes and sour cream.

Available from Fossil Farm Organics (New Brighton), Summit Organics (New Brighton/Mullum) and Denise Latham (New Brighton/Mullum)

Saturday, October 3, 2015

: INSIDE THE HOTHOUSE: Heirloom tomato growers Stuart and Amanda Fox. CONTRIBUTED

W

ITH their incredible flavours and wonderful variety of shapes and colours, heirloom tomatoes are the antithesis to the bland, tasteless tomatoes that fill modern supermarket shelves.

They’re the tomatoes our grandparents ate, in the days before hybrid tomatoes – bred for looks and transportability rather than taste – took over.

Farmers tend to avoid heirlooms because they can be a tricky crop, but local growers Stuart and Amanda Fox believe they’re worth the effort.

“They’re really labour intensive, have less yield than hybrids and they ripen very erratically,” Stuart said.

“But they just taste so much better.”

On their Newrybar property, Fox Farm, Amanda and Stuart grow a colourful collection of heirlooms with equally colourful names; from Black Russian, Purple Calabash and Green Zebras to Big Whites, Tropics, Thai Pinks, and Yellow Pears.

“There’s just so many different flavours,” said Stuart, “that’s another reason we did it. There’s a lot more interest. We could just fill the tunnels full of hybrids and it would be easy, but it’d also be boring. You get the same tomato all the time. You see, I get excited when I see the new variety we’re growing and then you taste it and think ‘oh that’s fantastic.’”

All of Fox Farm’s tomatoes are grown organically, a rare approach among tomato growers as they are a crop highly susceptible to pests and disease, but Amanda and Stuart decided from day one that organic was the way to go.

Amanda and Stuart also grow small crops of organic garlic and asparagus – the latter of which is virtually impossible to find elsewhere and is snapped up when it hits the local farmers’ markets during its season from September to January.

Ingredients 8 medium-large ripe tomatoes 150g cooked beluga beans 1/3 cauliflower 3 spring onions, sliced 6 tbsp chopped fresh coriander or parsley (for dressing) 1 jalepeno or green chilli, diced 1 cob of corn 1 lime 1/2 clove crushed garlic 4 tbsp olive oil 1 teaspoon herb salt sea salt and black pepper Method Turn the oven on to 190 C. Cut the cauliflower into florets and place in a saucepan with water and herb salt and boil for approximately 15 minutes (or until cooked). Meanwhile, cut the tops off the tomatoes (don’t throw the tops away), scoop out the pulp and put the pulp in a separate bowl to add to the stuffing later. Flip the tomatoes over to drain.

Take the corn kernels off the cob. Chop up the spring onions and sauté in the frypan with olive oil add cumin seeds and corn kernels and stir for 2-3 minutes.

Remove spring onions, cumin seeds and corn from the stove and mix them with the beluga beans.

When the cauliflower is cooked, take it off the stove, drain and then put a food processor for 5-10 seconds to create a consistency similar to rice. Add the cauliflower to the beluga bean mix. Chop the chilli and coriander and add to the mix.

Blend the tomato pulp and whisk it together with olive oil, lime, salt, pepper and garlic.

Stir in some of the dressing to the bean and cauliflower mixture to taste.

Put oil on the oven tray and turn the tomatoes over, adding salt to taste on the inside of each tomato cavity. Then scoop the filling into the cavities, packing them gently and firmly, stacking the tomatoes against one another on the cooking tray. Spoon the rest of the dressing around the tomatoes as they are baking Place the tomatoes in the oven for approximately 40 minutes or until cooked.

• Recipe developed by the students of The Vegetarian Cooking School Veet’s Cuisine www.veetscuisine.com.au/the-vegetariancooking-school/

Weekend

PAGE 9

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

t rave l

+ Malaysia’s must-visits

THRILLS AND SPILLS: From whitewater rafting to waterfall abseiling, eco tourism is taking a foothold.

F o o d, at t ra c t i o ns a nd a c ti v iti es for a ll

Malaysia

: FLY Malaysia Airlines has two flights a day to Kuala Lumpur out of Sydney.

The flight takes around eight hours. www.malaysiaairlines.com.au : STAY Ritz Carlton in Kuala Lumpur www.ritzcarlton.com/KualaLumpur E&O Penang www.eohotels.com/ : EAT Li Yen, Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur THIRTY8, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Cast away on Pilau Tioman : Lankayan Island Resort is just one of many places you should explore when visiting Malaysia.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Penang a foodie paradise

.

T RAVEL

wi th Pete r C hap m a n

O

NE of South-East Asia’s favourite holiday destinations, Malaysia is a country where “something for everyone’’ is more of a daily itinerary than a promise.

Packed with attractions, experiences and activities to meet every traveller’s needs, it is truly the ideal holiday destination.

From its postcard white sandy beaches, UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks, eclectic cities, adventure activities and rainforests abundant with nature, it is a bubbling melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and religions.

Throw friendly and welcoming people into the mix, along with some of the best cuisine on the planet, and the Malaysian experience is hard to beat.

But where to start?

Here is a shortlist of the top things to see and do in Malaysia.

NEW ZEALAND

Penang has long been regarded as one of Malaysia’s favourite tourism spots. The island boasts an enviable range of historical and cultural attractions, not to mention an abundance of beautiful beaches and some excellent shopping for those after a little retail therapy.

And, of course, there is the cuisine. Penang’s multicultural heritage, with its strong Chinese, Indian and Portuguese influences, has produced a thriving local foodie scene characterised by myriad tantalising flavours – with the result that the city is now regarded as one of the world’s top food destinations.

Nature in Taman Negara

Taman Negara, which means national park in Malay, is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world. It features massive trees, waterfalls, jungle treks of various duration and the world’s longest canopy walkways. Taman Negara is also a haven for endangered species such as the Asian elephant, tigers, leopards and rhinos, along with some spectacular birdlife, small deer, lizards, snakes and perhaps even a tapir.

Luxury in Queenstown

SOAK up long leisurely summer days in New Zealand’s most popular destination while enjoying Queenstown’s majestic mountains and crystal-clear waters with all the creature comforts of home.

Your home away from home is sorted with a mix of five star luxury one, two and three-bedroom apartments to enjoy the Queenstown summer from.

Guests at Hotel St Moritz in the heart of Queenstown, where understated luxury and warm hospitality go hand in hand, can enjoy the wonderful views overlooking Lake Wakatipu through to The Remarkables mountain range.

To add some luxury experiences, guests can enjoy a three-bedroom apartment in the heart of Queenstown at Taimana Central Apartment and embark on a boutique wine tour or enjoy a four-bedroom holiday home at Kohara Lodge, uniquely built into the hillside with a grass-covered roof. : MORE DETAILS: 1800 044 066 or www.travel-associates.com.au/nz Weekend

This tiny island located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia is a frequent inclusion on travellers’ lists of the world’s most beautiful places.

A magnet for visitors seeking a taste of paradise, the island is surrounded by numerous white coral reefs, making it a haven for scuba divers, while the interior is densely forested.

Cuddle up to an orangutan

No visit to Malaysia is complete without a visit to Sabah’s Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Opened in 1964 for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations and illegal hunters, for over half a century the centre has successfully trained its charges to survive in the wild and releases them as soon as they are ready to do so.

Get batty in the Mulu Caves

To some people the simultaneous exodus of millions of bats from a cave might send chills down the spine – especially one big enough to accommodate 40 Boeing 747 airplanes.

Laze away the days in Langkawi

Malaysia’s best-known holiday destination, Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. Fringed with long, white beaches and with an interior of jungle-covered hills and craggy mountain peaks, it’s easy to see why this is a honeymooners’ delight.

MALDIVES

Romance is in the air

THE Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort has announced wedding, honeymoon and romance packages to match the splendour of the resort’s romantic setting in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

All weddings on the romantic island include a dedicated wedding co-ordinator, MC or priest, exclusive wedding venue, a ring and vow exchange ceremony. : MORE DETAILS: reservation.konotta@outrigger.mv.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 10

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

t rave l

Insider George Clooney goss

CHILLING OUT: Cipriani is a lure for the seriously rich, movie stars and A-listers.

: The magnificence of Hotel Cipriani where heart-throb George Clooney wed his beloved Amal.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

+ So very Clooney

A CHARMING narrow alleyway connects the granary to the rest of the Belmond Cirpriani, but it is also a public “road’’, open to locals living in apartments above.

We were told that on one of George Clooney’s visits, as he was making his way along the alleyway, an old woman with heavy shopping bags stopped him and asked him to help.

She had no idea who he was. He carried her bags up to her apartment where she offered him a glass of ginger ale for his trouble.

A chance encounter with George Clooney could come your way too if you have a Cirpriani stay or just make a dinner reservation at the hotel’s swish Oro restaurant...you never know.

Take the private boat (complimentary) over to Cipriani, have a pre-dinner mimosa (made only when fresh peaches are in season) in the garden, and then dine out on the deck overlooking the lagoon, as we did.

As you enjoy fresh seasonal food, you might be lucky to have a full moon bathing the calm water in soft blue light as the boats glide by.

You will need to calm your beating heart – even if George Clooney is not in the building.

Lu sh hi d e away Ho te l C i p r i a n i af fords a ta ste of m ovie st a r ex clus i v it y .

T RAVEL

wi th A n n R i c k a rd

W

HO could forget the gloriously sexy sight of George Clooney and his beautiful bride Amal sailing down the Grand Canal in Venice to make their wedding

vows?

The appeal of it...the allure, the charisma, the Hollywood razzle-dazzle of it all.

And all we could do was watch this fabulous fairytale in our lounge rooms, try to still our beating hearts and wonder why we mere ordinaries couldn’t have been there.

Well, I was.

Not, for the actual wedding of course, but I was there a few months later at the Belmond Cipriani Hotel, the scene of so much glamour when George broke female hearts all over the globe and married Amal before a bevy of celebrities.

Located on Giudecca Island, just a five-minute boat ride across from St Mark’s square, Cipriani is a lush hideaway, light-years away from the bustle and ceaseless throng of tourists who clog Venice every day.

An oasis of elegance, tranquillity and privacy in one of the world’s most beautiful locations, Cipriani is a lure for the seriously rich, for movie stars and A-listers, for the beautiful

ISL AND LIFE

‘‘

The papa ra z z i bo at s wer e c lo g g ing u p t he water. B ut inside h e r e it was a ll pe a c e people who want all the trappings of Venice, but also want their privacy.

George Clooney has been chilling out at the Cipriani for years. No regular Cipriani guest would be crass enough to point a camera at him while he lounges by the pool or dines in the hotel’s Oro restaurant.

It was the natural choice for his wedding.

When I stepped out of the speedboat on to the Cipriani jetty and into its manicured gardens, I might not have looked remotely like gorgeous Amal in her stunning outfits, but I sure felt as though I’d arrived.

Sitting in the colourful landscaped gardens sipping a mimosa served by gliding waiters in cream jackets, looking out to the iconic Venice vista is pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming stuff.

Cipriani’s general manager, Giampaolo Ottazzi, has seen it all – from Johnny Depp to Brad Pitt, the names don’t faze him – and he considers George Clooney a friend.

“George loves it here,” Giampaolo told us as we sat in Cirpriani’s fragrant gardens. “No one bothers him here. Most

Resort’s new addition

SINCE Lizard Island’s soft reopening in June, guests have enjoyed the unprecedented luxury the iconic resort is synonymous for. The recent completion of The Villa marks another stunning addition to this outstanding property.

The Villa features two bedrooms, both with ensuites, the master with a luxury bath, a spacious lounge with butler’s kitchen and an expansive outdoor area. The Villa hosts an expansive balcony overlooking Sunset Beach and the Coral Sea, with a private eight-metre infinity plunge pool directly below.

Interiors by Hecker Guthrie focus on natural tones and finishes, achieving the perfect combination of understated elegance and subtle indulgence.

The Villa guests also enjoy daily sunset champagne and canapes in their room. Private dining is also available.

In the first months of operations guests have enjoyed exceptional diving and snorkelling conditions.

More at: lizardisland.com.au/Stay5Pay4 or call 1300 731 456.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

of our guests could buy and sell George.”

As for keeping the paparazzi at bay for the big wedding, we can only imagine the grand scale of security.

“It was crazy out there,” Giampaolo said with an elegant wave. “The paparazzi boats were clogging up the water. But inside here it was all peace. Almost all rooms were taken for the wedding. The guests all had their phones taken and were given phones without cameras. George and Amal had given exclusive rights so the money could go to their charity.”

Giampaolo took us on a walk around the hotel’s exquisite gardens, past the flourishing herb patch to the 19th century converted granary, the Clooney wedding reception venue.

On this evening it had been transformed into a stylish market for local artisans to come in and exhibit their work.

“The hotel likes to share its facilities, to involve the local community,” Giampaolo said. “We invite local artisans to use our space and enjoy our property. We have had more than 600 people come through here today.”

After buying beautiful jewellery to forever remember my near-brush with George Clooney, it was into Oro restaurant for another peek. Over a salad and foie gras-filled pasta and then batons of pressed duck, we felt very George Clooney.

More information with Belmond Freecall 1800 217 568 or visit website: belmond.com

CRUISING

Ships get an overhaul

AQUA Expeditions has completed the first stage of a major upgrade of its fleet of Peruvian cruise ships, Aqua Amazon and Aria Amazon. The extensive upgrade is being overseen by the vessels’ original designer, renowned Peruvian architect Jordi Puig.

More on 1800 243 152 (Toll Free) or visit: aquaexpeditions.com Weekend

PAGE 11

www.northernstar.com.au

END OF EARLYBIRDS Must book by 31 October

LAST CHANCE * TO FLY FREE

Now is your last chance to secure the best offer for travel in 2016 with your return flights to Europe included on a wide range of our Europe river cruise packages.

JEWELS OF EUROPE 15 Day River Cruise from Budapest > Amsterdam

From only $6,795*pp includes return flights to Europe* INCLUDES: exclusive private Viennese concert at Palais Liechtenstein • 41 world-class meals at up to six on board venues • complimentary beverages all day, everyday • your own butler • complimentary laundry • Wi-Fi internet • return airport transfers

BREATHTAKING BORDEAUX 11 Day River Cruise from Bordeaux > Bordeaux

From only $6,695*pp includes return flights to France* INCLUDES: exclusive dining experience and classical performance at Château Giscours • 29 world-class meals at up to six on board venues • complimentary beverages all day, everyday • your own butler • complimentary laundry • Wi-Fi internet • return airport transfers

At Scenic, when we say all-inclusive, that’s exactly what we mean.

Cabins on our Scenic Space-Ships are filling fast and at a price that won’t be repeated. Enjoy handcrafted activities, once-in-alifetime experiences and 5-star opulence throughout your cruise.

With absolutely nothing more to pay, what are you waiting for?

Book today.

138 128 SCENIC.COM.AU Visit scenic.com.au/agents for your nearest Scenic Agent *Conditions apply. Prices based on per person twin share in AUD ex SYD/BNE are strictly limited and subject to availability. For new bookings only. First non-refundable $1,000pp deposit due within 7 days of booking. Included flights based on economy class on airline of Scenic’s choice. Air taxes of up to $1,000pp included. Prices based on 2016 departures in Category E Cabin (no balcony) STC 7 November BOD 3 October. Included flights offer available until 31 October 2015 or until sold out. STC $6,795 price valid until 31 October 2015 when full payment must be received. Pricing correct as of 29 September 2015. For full terms and conditions refer to relevant Scenic Brochure and Earlybird flyer or scenic.com.au/earlybirds. Scenic ABN 85 002 715 602. SNPR2512

Weekend

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 12

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

c los et

+ Blushing pastels

+

FA SHI O N with Kiri te n Dolle

L I F E M O ST FAB U LO US w i th M e re d i th Pap ava s i l i o u

Heart has a mind of its own – don’t be in two minds

T

HINGS without all remedy should be without regard: what’s done is done.

Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth makes a stellar point here, you know.

At what point is enough enough?

At which juncture – at which precise tick of the clock – is done, in fact, done?

There comes a time, when as hard as you try, you realise the simple truth: It’s not enough. It’s not right.

It’s not good for you.

And so, it (whatever it is) is done.

Making the decision is hard enough. That’s the mind’s job. Choose. Decide.

But it’s sticking to it that’s the hardest bit. That’s where the heart comes in.

You can know in your mind what needs to be done. But knowing it in your heart – that’s the tricky thing. And when finally that comes, there is peace.

It’s all well and good to have a plan and make the choice. But until your heart is along for the ride, the best intentions are pointless.

The key is in time. Time to realise, time to ponder, time to decide, time to muster the courage to back yourself, time to heal.

Time on your terms. No one else’s.

This is not a job that can be outsourced; nor a task to be delegated.

This is one thing that sits squarely with you.

Nothing ends without hurt. And, be assured, hurt it will. But no good comes from settling.

Step up. Step away. Be better for it.

When that thing, that hurt, that job, that friendship, that relationship – that whatever – in your life is done, then let it be.

And then, let it be fabulous.

WHAT’S DONE IS DONE AND WHEN IT’S DONE, THEN IT IS TIME TO LET IT BE

Po ppi ng c a ndy c olours ar e as pr et t y a s a spr in g su n set Nothing says spring like powder pinks and blushing neutrals. Opt for soft, feminine silhouettes and set off pastel pinks with sky blues for a romantic, playful look.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

FIRST ROW (from left): : Double Layer Gilet, $139.95, Witchery : Printed Playsuit, $129.95, Witchery : Olivia Maxi Dress, $149.95, Sheike : Embroidered Off Shoulder Top, $99.95, Seed Heritage with : Gossip Queen Skirt, $109.95, Sheike : Tiered Bodice Maxi, $169.95, Witchery.

SECOND ROW (from left): : Wrap Front Pant, $129.95, Seed Heritage : Piping Hot Off The Shoulder Top – Blossom, $29, Target : Java Skort in blue, $150, Kookai : Quartet tie-up shoes, $160, Mollini : Cosabella Crop Bralette, $49.95, Seed Heritage : Creda heels, $149.95, Wittner : Seed Zena Gladiator Sandal, $99.95, Myer.

+

W E LOV E

Support vital breast cancer research by shopping pink Saturday, October 3, 2015

: Silk Oil of Morocco Pure Argan Oil is enhanced with Rose Essential Oil and exudes moisture and hydration delivering great nurturing benefits to a variety of skin concerns. RRP $59.50 per product with $2.50 donated to NBCF. Visit www.silkoilofmorocco.com.au

: Dove Deodorant contains a quarter moisturising cream to nourish skin and reduce the irritation from shaving. $1 for every product sold during October will be donated to NBCF. RRP 50ml Antiperspirant Roll-on $3.89 and $5.25 for 169ml Antiperspirant Aerosol.

: GHD’s limited edition pink range includes the platinum styler, the classic air hairdryer and styling staple paddle brush in pretty pale pink.

For every styler purchase $20 will be donated to NBCF, $10 for every hairdryer and $2 for every paddle brush. Visit www.ghdhair.com.

Weekend

PAGE 13

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

make

WOOD’S GOOD IF YOU COTTON ON TO THIS RETRO FASHION FOR DECOR ATORS

: Jess and Ayden’s master bedroom from week five on Reno Rumble encapsulates true Shaker style.

SHAKE IT UP: What’s old is new and simple too and might just suit you.

PHOTO: CHANNEL NINE

+

Shake it up naturally H ow t o c r e ate a c l e a n , n atura l a nd s imple st yle at h ome .

DIY

w i th Ayd e n a n d Jes s

O

N Reno Rumble we were given so many different briefs to follow. Many of them included the words “contemporary’’ or “modern’’ but our favourite and probably best understood was the Shaker style.

When building our own home we hope to follow the

Weekend

philosophy and style of the Shakers.

Shakers are very conservative. They have a style that screams simplicity and consists of layers and layers made from natural products.

This to me makes it so inspiring. In Australia we are surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes and natural products that suit this type of style.

More and more there are artists and furniture makers getting back to basics and embracing the rawness of their materials.

Think handmade furniture, timber floors, animal skins, linen cushions and sheets, practical and simple arrangement and styling in a way that is clean and minimal.

The best way to get your interpretation on Shaker style is to research it first.

Collect images and clippings from magazines and online.

Make a mood board by placing them all on a cork board or on a digital file where they can be viewed all together.

Once you have some images that fit and that you are

drawn to, you can start thinking about how to arrange your space. Think of this change as a great opportunity to declutter and get rid of that stuff you’ve been hoarding for years.

At this point I should mention that if you’ve thought of painting the space, do it now.

Choose a fresh neutral colour and shy away from adding a feature wall unless it’s in a natural linen colour. Painting is the best way to freshen and clean up your room, you won’t believe the difference.

Strip the room if you can and add back the pieces you need to have (for example the bed, bedsides, lamps, chest of drawers etc).

If you have the natural elements mentioned earlier add them in (linen sheets, sheepskin, cowhide).

If you don’t have artwork that complements the style, you could consider changing it up with some woven wall hangings or decals (like the decals featured in Kyal and Kara’s boho-styled room).

Just keep in mind that the look you are trying to create is simple and natural.

Attaching hooks to the wall to hang a hat and some of your other personal effects on will really add to the look.

Try to find some wooden hooks if you can. I had to improvise with parts from a fully assembled wall-hung hat rack.

Complete the look by styling the room with your own books, a glass or wooden vase filled with native foliage from the garden or dried flowers from your florist.

Keep your colour palette muted and you should have a clean and practical space lending itself to the shaker style.

Check out your local hardware store for all your painting supplies and while you are there venture into the trade section to see what raw timber you can find.

Think outside the box to achieve the look you want.

Ayden and Jess Hogan won The Block Triple Threat and Reno Rumble. Follow them on Facebook as they build their dream home: www.facebook.com/AydenAndJess.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 14

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

h ome BE SAVVY: You don’t have break the bank to pay for Christmas every year.

+

+ Christmas thrift

STYL E

with Tracey Ho rde r n

Discover your own bohemian rhapsody

I

LOVE the word bohemian; it has such a lovely, lyrical roll to the sound of it. One of the highest compliments a boyfriend once gave me was to say he thought I was a true bohemian. Shortened to the less lyrical “boho’’, bohemian style is for the whimsical, eclectic artists, readers, writers and dreamers among us.

Bohemian interior design allows you to be messy and unruly, but with flair and elegance. Interestingly, the majority of my tribe – my female friends – are all genuine bohemians in how they style their spaces.

Each has taken to their rooms with lace, shells, driftwood, crystal (Victorian cut crystal preferably), lashings of jewellery, books and vintage trinkets, and almost anything from nature and their travels.

The goal of a bohemian space is to make your room reflect your spontaneity, your travels and personality. Not everything will have its place but make it look effortless.

Anything you’ve collected and loved throughout your life, display it. As my youngest goddaughter says to me: “Everything in your home has a story, Aunty Tracey.” Isn’t that sweet? It doesn’t matter if things don’t match, but it does help to pull things together with an over-reaching theme, such as a colour or a broader leitmotif such as beach, gypsy travels or nature.

Fill your space with fabrics and patterns, books, art, mirrors, vintage pieces and travel memoirs. The natural warmth of wooden furnishings is a must, as are lush indoor plants and flowers.

Most things chosen come from outside of the design box, as should your thinking and styling – that is, as a true bohemian.

M a k i n g you r ow n g i f t s s aves m o n e y a n d a d d s a s p e c i a l t o u c h .

STAY AT H O M E M U M w i th Jo dy Al l e n

I

F YOU have been down to the shops in the past couple of weeks, you’ll have noticed that Christmas trees, cakes, decorations and fruit mince pies are already out in full force. Christmas is the most expensive time of the year. Many people put their whole Christmas bill on credit cards, and spend generally the whole year paying it off – insanity. Today I thought I’d share my list of 100 items you can buy as Christmas gifts for less than $10.

Here’s 50 and you’ll find the rest on our website. Ready?

Here we go.

1. Alarm clock 2. A paperback novel and bookmark 3. New coffee cup (stuffed with chocolates) 4. A board game 5. A pair of thongs, jiffies or slippers 6. Crossword puzzle book 7. Sudoku game book

LET YOUR SPACE REFLECT YOUR LIFE – ECLECTIC AND ELEGANT

: Bohemian living space with books, travel trinkets, icons, plants and antiques.

8. Pack of playing cards 9. Set of nail polishes and nail polish remover 10. A shaving kit 11. Headband or bandana 12. Bath bombs (or make your own) 13. Set of lip balms 14. Nail care set 15. Bubble bath or bath salts 16. Goat’s milk soaps or handmade soap 17. Hand moisturiser 18. Embroidered hanky 19. Make-up bag 20. Make-up brush set 21. A pedometer 22. A yoga mat 23. Aromatherapy oils 24. Eyelash curler 25. Fancy shower cap (one of my favourites) 26. Bottle of homemade jam with the recipe attached 27. Selection of herbal teas in a teacup 28. Packet of gourmet coffee in a coffee cup 29. Homemade gourmet coffee mixes 30. Candied popcorn 31. Coffee cup full of lollies 32. Homemade chutney 33. Tin of homemade biscuits 34. Homemade cookies in a jar 35. Handful of chocolate bars with a ribbon wrapped around them 36. Loaf of freshly baked bread wrapped in a tea towel with the recipe attached 37. Homemade salsa with a bag of corn chips 38. Homemade fudge – simple and easy 39. Homemade lemon butter or passionfruit butter 40. A pretty diary 41. A fountain pen 42. Packet of postcards from the recipient’s favourite place (i.e. London or Rome) 43. Mini photo album 44. A travel mug 45. An address book 46. A wall calendar 47. Self-improvement book 48. Personalised Post it Notes (you can get them made up!)

49. Pair of gardening gloves and some seed packets 50. Help on Christmas Day so mums don’t lose their minds.

Jody Allen is the founder of Stay At Home Mum: www.stayat homemum.com.au

PHOTO: TRACEY HORDERN

+

P ROD UC TS

by Tracey Ho rde rn

Three ways with bohemian luxe for less

Saturday, October 3, 2015

: Foil spot cushions $10,

: Gold moroccan pouf, $149,

: Orissa cushion cover $23.95,

Kmart. www.kmart.com.au

Cush & Co. www.cushandco.com.au

Veeraa International. www.zizo.com.au Weekend

PAGE 15

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

g ard en

+ Taming a wild beauty

TOP TIP: Pinching the tips out of pumpkin vines helps promote more flowers and hence more fruit.

+

T h e hyb r i d i s e d B u z z c u r b s t h e b u d d l e ja ’ s te n d e n c y t o r o a m

IN MY GARDEN

.

with Angie Th oma s

Pumpkin success

GREEN THUMB w i th M a re e Cu r ra n

B

UDDLEJAS are much loved by gardeners for their elegant, fragrant blooms. They are very attractive to butterflies, hence the common name Butterfly Bush.

Bees and many other small insects also love them. The masses of tiny flowers form in clusters at the ends of softly arching branches.

As a garden plant, though, buddlejas have a bit of a reputation for being invasive. They are often classed as a weed, because many varieties are very easy to grow, and self-seed readily and prolifically. But the “Buzz” series of buddleja is almost 100% sterile, so now we can enjoy this gorgeous shrub without worrying about it getting out of hand.

Buzz buddlejas are the result of a long, intensive breeding program. The goal was to produce a form of buddleja that was compact, free-flowering with good flower colour, and sterile. More than 800 hybridisations were made and 25,000 plants grown out in fields from which the final plants were

: What pumpkin is right for you?

‘‘

T h e c o l o u r s wo r k b e au t i f u l ly together in a mass planting, as a b o rd e r o r i n a m i x e d b e d selected. In all, it took 10 years to create the first marketable clones of buddleja Buzz. After all this hard work, it’s no wonder the resulting plants are so good.

Buzz was launched in the UK in 2009, and was awarded a silver medal for best new plant at the Plantarium Show in the UK in 2010. It was released in Australia in spring 2012, and has been very successful in gardens here. The soft grey-green foliage is the perfect backdrop for the four flower colours – ivory, sky blue, velvet and purple.

These dwarf buddlejas will grow about 1m x 1m, and flower almost year-round. The colours work beautifully together in a mass planting, as a border or in a mixed bed.

The compact form makes the plants not only more garden-friendly but also perfect for pots.

They require very little maintenance, just a prune in early spring to prevent them from becoming leggy and to retain a neat shape. At this time, remove any dead, damaged, diseased or weak stems. Buddlejas flower on new growth, so pruning will encourage new stems which will produce more blooms in the same year. Removing spent flowers during the almost non-stop flowering period will keep the plant tidy and encourage still more new growth, which will produce even more flowers.

BUDDLEJA IS ALSO KNOWN A S THE BUT TERFLY BUSH : A monarch butterfly on a colourful buddleja.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Grow your buddlejas in a sunny to partly shaded position.

They are not fussy about soil type, but will appreciate the addition of organic material at planting time, a regular organic fertiliser and a layer of mulch. If you are planting them in pots, use a premium potting mix and make sure you water them regularly and keep them well fed.

Got a gardening question? Email maree@edenatbyron.com.au.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

OCTOBER is the optimum time to sow pumpkins from seed. All pumpkins are fascinating for kids to grow, and even better if they get to eat the vegies at the end of the growing season.

Pumpkins need a position in full sun and lots of space (more than one square metre) for the vigorous vines to spread.

Prepare the soil with a few handfuls of Dynamic Lifter.

Form a slightly raised mound in the prepared soil to encourage good drainage and sow three or four pumpkin seeds on top of the mound. Water in well and keep the soil moist.

As seedlings germinate, thin to the two strongest seedlings. Water well as vines grow and liquid feed every two weeks using a soluble plant food. Beware of snails and slugs on small vines. Treat where necessary.

Pinching out the tips of the vines helps control the spread and promotes more flowers and hence more fruit.

Which pumpkin is for you? : Butternut: Thin skin, sweet nutty flesh and fruits reach 1–2 kg in size. : Golden Nugget: Ideal in limited spaces, small orange fruit with excellent flavour. : Hybrid Grey Crown: Medium-sized pumpkins with thin skin and small seed count so there’s plenty of flesh. : Queensland Blue: Reliable, firm skin and flesh, when harvested fruit stores well – up to five to six months.

+

P RO D U C TS

Think pink in the garden ALL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FROM BUNNINGS

Weekend

: SMALL, bright and sturdy, this watering can’s narrow spout is good for those hard to reach places.

RRP $5.97

: HARDY cordyline Pink Champion provides a dose of year-round colour in your garden.

RRP $16.98

: LIGHT up the night with LED, solar-powered stake lights including eight different lighting modes.

RRP $25

: LET the kids get their hands dirty with this hot-pink raised garden bed with rolled safety edges.

RRP $89 Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 16

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

c hallen ge

THE MOD BOD: What tech ability do you wish you had? It seems anything is possible when it comes to body modifications.

+ The body electric W H Y N OT T RY

I m a g i n e e ye - d r o p s g i v i n g you n i g h t v i s i o n a n d i m p l a n t s t h at a l l ow you t o c o n t r o l g a d g e t s, a n d t h e y ’ r e r e a l

BY K i e ra n S a l s o n e

A

FEW months ago a friend of mine turned up to my apartment with his hand wrapped in bandages. After only a few jokes at his expense I asked how he had managed to injure himself.

As it turned out, he wasn’t injured. He’d had a minor procedure to implant a neodymium magnet in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger on his left hand.

With this handy little addition to his body, he’s now (after a brief healing period) able to feel, via slight vibrations in his hand, magnetic fields and electrical current.

He can put his hand on an extension cord and tell if it’s powered. He can run his palm over drywall and tell if there’s metal behind it.

It doesn’t hurt him, he doesn’t set off metal detectors and

Saturday, October 3, 2015

: After a minor procedure to implant a neodymium magnet in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger, a friend is now able to feel, via slight vibrations in his hand, magnetic fields and electrical current.

there’s no way to tell from just looking at him.

But he does have an extra sense that you or I don’t (yet) have, and that is unquestionably cool.

He’s not alone in this. The body-modding community grew out of the hyper-intelligent engineers over at MIT in the US and is following some of the most fascinating tech being made at the moment. There are eye-drops made from fish that give you night vision. There are implants that allow you

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

to control gadgets, appliances and household systems with gestures.

There are even implants that allow you to mimic sonar using infra-red. The first official cyborg in the US hears colour through an antenna fitted to his skull.

These things are real, they’re happening now, and I’m on a list to add to my senses with a magnet. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Weekend

PAGE 17

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

you

+ Getting into the habit G o o d i n te n t i o n s rar e ly l a st l o n g e r t h a n t h e h o n e y m o o n p e r i o d . B u t t h e r e a r e ways t o h e l p yo u m a ke t h e m st i c k WE E K E N D W ELLN ESS w ith D r Bru ce We l l s

A

T THE start of every year people make New Year’s resolutions with the best of intentions. They want to give up smoking, start a regular exercise program, lose 10kg, spend more time with their children. But research consistently shows that within six months 50% of people have already given up. The good news is that there are strategies you can use to make habits part of your life. : Reconnect with your why This is the most important ingredient in being able to stick to new habits. Why was it so important for you to adopt this new habit? This helps you stay committed during the challenging times. Also, being able to enjoy the intrinsic benefits of a habit, such as the feeling of running, has been found to provide longer-lasting motivation benefits than running for the sole purpose of losing weight. : Focus on your resources Remind yourself of your personal resources that will help you maintain the habit, such as other habits you have successfully adopted, personality strengths such as discipline and creativity, or family support. : Get into the habit of using the habit You want to set yourself up for success, not failure, so be patient and set and achieve small tasks that get you into the habit of simply using the new habit. If you’re returning to the gym after a year-long layoff, only do a workout every third day for the first few weeks. Gradually, over several weeks, increase the number of workouts, exercises and repetitions. : Link new and established habits Established habits are used to remind us that it’s time to act on our new habits. Instead of the vague “I will get fitter,” you could say, “When I come home and change my clothes (established habit) I’ll go for a 15-minute walk (new habit).” : Modify your environment When we are demotivated or stressed we default to our previous unwanted habits, so anticipate this by restructuring your environment. After removing items associated with your old habits create an environment that encourages you to use your new habits. Replace unwanted chocolate in the cupboard with wanted dried fruit. Cancel your pay TV subscription and place books on the coffee table instead. : Change it up The new habit, perhaps working out at a gym, becomes monotonous and our enthusiasm plummets. The trick is to change it up. Change the sequence of exercises, try new routines, talk to different people. : Plan for relapses Faltering is a normal part of the process when starting a new

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY: Track your progress with friends or on your iPad or social media.

Stay breast aware BREAST cancer will affect one in eight Australian women in their lifetime and touch the lives of many families. The number of diagnoses of breast cancer has doubled in the past 20 years, but survival rates have also improved. Early detection is the key.

How to do self check-ups

It’s important to get to know your body and what is normal for you. If you notice anything unusual for you, see your doctor. Be aware of the normal look and feel of your breasts and report unusual breast changes to your health professional.

Breast tissue is normally “lumpy”, and the lumpiness varies between women, so be aware of the normal feel and lumpiness of your breasts.

How often to get a mammogram or doctor check-up:

: Women aged 50-74 without breast symptoms should consider having a screening mammogram every two years. This is because more than 75% of breast cancers occur in women aged over 50.

Fortunately, Australia has a population-based program (BreastScreen) that provides free mammography to women in that age range. : Women aged between 40 and 49, or 75 and older should talk to their GP about whether they should have a screening mammogram. : Women with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or with a personal history of breast cancer, should talk to their doctor about appropriate breast screening that is suitable to their risk.

What else should you look for apart from lumps?

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

‘‘

F a l te r i n g i s a n o r m a l p a r t o f t h e p r o c e s s . B ra i n st o r m o b st a c l e s yo u m i g h t f a c e habit. Brainstorm obstacles you might face, then devise a response strategy. : Accept full responsibility When you accept full responsibility for all your results – both good and bad – you ramp up your staying power.

Dr Bruce Wells is a happiness and wellness consultant. He works with companies, community groups and individuals committed to improving performance, wellbeing and happiness. He is the author of Happiness Anywhere Anytime. For more information visit drbruce.com.au.

The symptoms of breast cancer are variable.

Breast changes that may indicate breast cancer include: : a new lump or lumpiness (that differs to the woman’s usual breast lumpiness or texture) especially if it’s only in one breast : a sudden or new change in the size or shape of the breast (as the breasts develop, it is common to have slight differences in the symmetry of their shape and size) : a change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulceration, redness or inversion : a nipple discharge without squeezing : a change in the skin of the breast such as redness or dimpling : an unusual pain that doesn’t go away, especially if it’s only in one breast Prof Nehmat Houssami is a Practitioner Fellow with National Breast Cancer Foundation.

FIND OUT HOW OUR NEWSROOM TICKS! Contribute a story, discuss local news and see how we prioritise the stories that impact our community most.

JOURNOS ON TOUR

Each month our editorial team will visit a different local café on the Northern Rivers to hold a daily news conference and you’re invited to come along and get involved.

Join the discussion at Cafe Swish, Ballina on Thursday October 22 from 9am

...one local to another

Weekend

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 18

www.northernstar.com.au

.

Weekend

s c reen life LEADING MAN: Depp’s Bulger is the dark and repulsive presence at the heart of the movie.

Black Mass

: Stars: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson. : Director: Scott Cooper : Rating: MA 15+ : Reviewer’s last word: This gripping gangster drama features Johnny Depp’s most compelling performance in years, but doesn’t always give its talented supporting cast the chance to shine.

Star profile: Joel Edgerton : Johnny Depp as James “Whitey” Bulger in the movie Black Mass.

: Quirky fact: Played a supporting role in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones while his brother Nash was Ewan McGregor’s stunt double in the film. : Best known for: Animal Kingdom, The Great Gatsby, Exodus: Gods and Kings. : If you like this movie you’ll like these: The Gift, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, Felony. : Quote: “I have always stuck to my guns about what I want from the work and what interests me.

I’ve never been seduced down the evil path. The path of taking the money.”

PHOTOS: CLAIRE FOLGER

+ Depp at his darkest Bla c k Ma s s r e ve a l s a c t o r’ s e x t ra o rdina ry powe rs b ut fa lls s h or t on th e rest SC RE EN L I F E

w ith Th e I n d e p e n d e nt ’ s G e o ff rey M a c n ab

J

OHNNY Depp gives an utterly chilling performance as the notorious James “Whitey” Bulger in Boston-set crime drama Black Mass.

He has played gangsters and petty criminals before, but never one as cold-hearted as Bulger.

This is a man who does drugs, extortion and murder without blinking or showing the barest flicker of emotion; someone who will throttle a young prostitute to death before going off to dinner and who will pummel an informer into a bloody pulp for being an informer – even though he has struck his own unholy liaison with the FBI. Depp here looks nothing like the wistful charmer we know from Tim Burton movies.

Bulger’s face is pasty and impassive. He is balding and has his hair slicked back. His teeth are bad. Occasionally, when he plays cards with his elderly mom or gives wildly

inappropriate advice to the young son he dotes on, he shows traces of charm and humour, but they are quickly stifled. His personality is on the vicious side of psychotic.

The effectiveness of Depp’s performance turns out to be part of the problem in what is an uneven film and one that is very hard to like. Depp’s Bulger is the dark and repulsive presence at the heart of the movie.

Based on the book of the same name by Boston Globe journalists, Black Mass tells the jaw-dropping story of how Bulger, a low life Irish-American hoodlum from the South Side of Boston, became the dominant figure in the city’s underworld largely thanks to the FBI’s connivance.

FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), who grew up alongside Bulger and held him in awe, persuaded him to become an informer. Bulger helped the Feds to bust the Italian mafia – and then took over from them.

In its storytelling, Black Mass opts for a linear approach. It is as predictable as any old fashioned morality tale.

There isn’t much spark to the relationship between Depp

and his vain and increasingly combustible FBI handler Connolly. True to life – and to genre conventions – Connolly begins to behave more and more like the gangsters he is ostensibly trying to bring down.

In a full-blooded and sometimes blustering performance, Edgerton shows us the mix of hero worship, tribal loyalty and career ambition that makes him so deferential to Bulger, but there is no sense the two men are friends. As a buddy movie, the film is therefore a non-starter.

It seems perverse for Cooper to cast an actor as accomplished as Benedict Cumberbatch to play Bulger’s brother, prominent Boston politician Willy Bulger, and then give him so little to do. Black Mass is a triumph of sorts for Depp. It shows him tapping malevolence and cruelty that many fans would never have guessed was in him.

As a gangster movie, though, it is a frustrating and strangely dour affair. Bulger’s success lay in the fact that he was smart, ruthless and never showed emotion.

He is simply too inscrutable and aloof a figure to make a satisfactory anti-hero. Movie villains don’t come any less loveable than this.

Black Mass opens nationally on Thursday.

+

R EV I EWS Wh at ’s n e w on th e bi g screen

Miss You Already

MISS You Already sees Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette play best friends who support each other through major life challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis. This touching film is a funny, authentic and poignant look at friendship. : Stars: Toni Collette, Drew Barrymore, Dominic Cooper. : Rating: M : In cinemas: Thursday.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

The Martian

SMART, thrilling and funny, The Martian is a return to top form for director Ridley Scott. Oscar winner Matt Damon is captivating as an astronaut who must use his smarts to survive on Mars with limited supplies until a rescue mission reaches him. : Stars: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels. : Rating: M : In cinemas: Now.

Crimson Peak

HORROR director Guillermo Del Toro turns his detailed and expert eye to a new genre in this beautifully filmed Gothic romance. Aussie Mia Wasikowska stars as a young author who discovers her charming new husband is not who he appears to be. : Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain. : Rating: MA 15+ : In cinemas: October 15 Weekend

PAGE 19

www.northernstar.com.au .

Weekend

relax

+ Window on lost past + Wri te r, p a i n te r Ju kun a tel l s o f A b o r i g i n a l l i f e b e f o r e c at a c ly s m i c c h a n g e

EDITOR’S PICK: The Girl from the Great Sandy Desert is an eye-opener.

WORDS AN D MUS IC

Guinness World Records 2016

R EV I E W by Jo h n G rey

Jam-packed with interesting, intriguing and downright gross records, Guinness never fails to delight and baffle... the longest fingernails (almost 2m) and farthest eyeball pop (12mm, don’t try that at home).

– Jennifer Stokes

T

HE frontier wars in the east and south of this continent cost Australia dearly. Language, culture and important knowledge were lost as the Australians were displaced, killed or subsumed by waves of Europeans.

In the deserts of the north and west, knowledge spanning tens of thousands of years was preserved much longer – in some places, Australians didn’t encounter the immigrants with “reddish skins” until the 1950s.

So people like writer and painter Jukuna, who died in 2011, were able to tell the stories from their childhood of a desert life that had changed little for millennia.

Command and Control

by Eric Schlosser: From bunkers housing nuclear warheads deep under rural Arkansas to the inside thoughts of presidential decision-making during the Cold War arms race, this tells of the deadly mishaps and mistakes in America’s rush to become the pre-eminent controller of nuclear arms.

– Daniel Burdon

‘‘

Yo u’l l l earn a bout how hunti ng dog s fit te d in t o a f a mi ly and about first con tact wi t h the kar tiya – the “big re d p e op l e” w i th cam e ls.

Jukuna, from the Walmajarri language group in the Great Sandy Desert, told these stories to psychologist Pat Lowe.

It is a fascinating collection of family anecdotes, with simple added explanations of words, culture, desert plants and survival techniques.

The book is aimed at upper primary and middle school children, but I could not put it down.

You’ll learn about how hunting dogs fitted into a family, how fire was made and protected, how reliable water sources were found in a desert, and about first contact with the strange kartiya – the “big red people” with camels, which no doubt were stranger still.

Family squabbles and humour sit side by side with tragedy

+

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

in this unforgiving environment.

You can even learn the finer points of hunting feral cats – a side-effect of European settlement that preceded the kartiya into the desert.

+

+ co m p i l e d by Roy O ’ Re i l ly

1. Is sushi traditionally wrapped in pastry or seaweed?

2. Maid Marion was the girlfriend of which English folk hero?

3. Which venue will host today’s AFL grand final?

4. The number of people killed by hippopotamuses in Africa each year is about (a) 90 (b) 900 (c) 2900?

5. Are intercostal muscles in the human chest or feet?

6. President Obama recently lauded which Australian laws as an example for his country?

7. Which cable TV hit show is often abbreviated as OITNB? 8. Who recently said he was “kicking himself” for lying about a secret meeting with Kevin Rudd before Labor’s leadership change in 2013?

9. Which Australian runner won Olympic silver medals for the 100m and 200m (two)?

GRAB the tissues. Take My Hand is a touching tribute to 14 Australian breast care nurses and the strong bond they form with their patients. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry, but above all you’ll be left feeling inspired and grateful for the amazing team of “angels” who provide invaluable physical, psychological and emotional support to women undergoing breast cancer treatment. The book coincides with the 10-year anniversary since the McGrath Foundation, Jane McGrath’s enduring legacy, placed McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across the country. Glenn McGrath penned the foreword. All royalties from the book go to the McGrath Foundation. Take My Hand by Jo Wiles, RRP $32.99, published by Viking/Penguin.

10. Which Russian city is known as the Venice of the North?

11. After the 2012 NRL grand final, James Graham was banned for 12 weeks for biting which Melbourne player’s ear?

12. Was Shakespeare’s Macbeth set in Denmark or Scotland?

13. At a spectacular pageant in London recently, the Brigade of Gurkhas celebrated how many years of loyalty to the British Crown (a) 100 (b) 200 (c) 300?

14. Australia plays which country in the Rugby World Cup this weekend?

15. In professional wine tasting, which two terms, one beginning with “a”, the other with “b”, refer to smell?

16. Maroon is in which Australian state/territory?

17. What was the term for the armed takeover of the New South Wales government in 1808?

18. After a recent church massacre in Charleston, which Civil War-era symbol was taken down from outside Alabama’s state legislature?

19. What is the term for the sarcastic cheer often delivered at a sports event when a struggling team performs a

Humans

ANDROIDS are the new working class. These Synths have no emotions or true willpower – except for four special ones, hunted for the secrets in their heads and the dangers they pose. This world where human rights don’t apply to all has a lot to say about humanity.

mundane task?

20. “Yes, I know I’m a lucky guy. I remember the first time I was lonely without her,” are lyrics from which song?

21. On a 1995 Time magazine cover, a picture of which technology chief was accompanied by the headline Master of the Universe?

22. In 2013, which multi-billionaire US investor claimed that he never throws anything away before it is 20 years old?

23. In 1971, which TV quiz show host, a US citizen, was presented with an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire medal by the governor of New South Wales?

24. Who was King of France for more than 72 years?

25. “Never argue with an idiot lest he drag you down to his level and beat you with experience,” said which 19th-20th century US novelist?

A N SW E R S 1. Seaweed. 2. Robin Hood. 3. Melbourne Cricket Ground. 4. (c) 2900. 5.

Chest. 6. Gun laws. 7. Orange is the New Black. 8. Bill Shorten. 9. Raelene Boyle. 10. Saint Petersburg. 11. Billy Slater. 12. Scotland. 13. (b) 200 years. 14.

England. 15. Aroma, bouquet. 16. Queensland. 17. Rum Rebellion. 18. Confederate flag. 19. Bronx cheer. 20. Every Little Thing. 21. Bill Gates. 22. Warren Buffett. 23. Bob Dyer. 24. King Louis XIV (1643-1715). 25. Mark Twain.

Take My Hand

by Jo Wiles

Weekend

by Natalie Imbruglia Imbruglia puts her own spin on covers of male performers’ songs, with occasionally surprising results.

– John Grey

Chuguna and Pat Lowe. Publisher: Magabala Books. RRP: Paperback $16.95. Also available as an e-book.

N EW ON DV D

R EV I E W by K i r i te n D o l l e

QUIZ

Male

: The Girl from the Great Sandy Desert by Jukuna Mona

Saturday, October 3, 2015

PAGE 20

Saturday, October 3, 2015

www.northernstar.com.au

Weekend