WEEKEND 27-09-14 // APN ARM

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: 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 CLOSET: Update your spring/summer wardrobe with lashings of colour, tropical prints and florals

Weekend

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HAPPY AS LORNA Au s tral ia’s ac tive go d des s te lls h ow ge tt i ng h appy s tarts w ith YO U

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TR AVEL W hy A l a s k a n e e d s t o b e o n yo u r ( i c e ) b u c ke t l i st , p l u s w h at m a ke s t h e I s l e o f C ap r i s o s e x y

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MAKE H ow t o u p c yc l e a t i r e d c a b l e r e e l i n t o a st y l i s h c o f f e e t a b l e t h i s we e ke n d

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E A SY E AT I N G S e ve n s c r u m p t i o u s s p r i n g t i m e salads to put the crunch back in yo u r l u n c h

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Weekend

we lc om e // i nsi de today YOU: Super soup that makes the blood slightly alkaline and promotes mental balance

Discover a happier you without the trappings W E EK END E DI TO R K iri te n D ol l e

S

PRING has graced us, and with it comes longer days, pretty blooms, wafts of freshly mowed cut grass, footy finals, polar sock tans, kensington prides and, now, a fresh, uplifting read in your hands each Saturday.

It’s with overwhelming excitement we present to you the first edition of the new-look Weekend. It is only fitting to devote an entire issue to happiness.

It’s not a term that is easily defined but a state of mind we pursue so doggedly.

Happiness is not packaged or found on a coat hanger, in self-help books, gluttonous splurges or a new sofa that society has manifested.

It may be the emotional Holy Grail we all seek, but for as long as we chase that happy fix we may never find it.

Society has programmed us to believe that happiness is ego-validation; that once we find love, own the home with the white picket fence, have an ‘attractive’ figure, social status and a career that brings wealth and satisfaction and tick off this ‘checklist’, we will attain everlasting happiness.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, nor a magic equation. As elusive as the concept is, there may not be an answer to the humankind conundrum.

Rather, our happiness is less dependent on outside circumstances, as Tracey Hordern examines, and is instead a by-product of a life well-lived.

One woman who has built a prosperous career on happiness and is inspiring others to do the same is fitness fashion icon Lorna Jane Clarkson. When I asked Lorna how she defined happiness, her answer rang true to me. Her answer was simply: doing what you love every single day.

So perhaps, it is only when you know who you are and what you are (and stop looking), that you will stumble upon raw happiness – the ever-enduring kind – when you least expect it.

Enjoy your weekend.

YOU

REL AX

+ inside today Read // Happiness: do we really understand what it is we are so fervently chasing?

EDITOR’S PICK: THE LION KING AT QPAC. SEE INSIDE

readers, plus cool gadgets on the go

You // Yogic foods: What are they and why they

Garden // Exposing the super powers of fruit

of the Opera to become the biggest stage show of all time. We chat with Nick Afoa, who plays Simba

and vegetables and why getting your hands dirty in the garden is not only deeply satisfying but healing

see on the Isle of Capri

Home // Bringing the outdoors in

: We’ve colour coded your magazine for easy reference.

Each section listed on the index page is coloured accordingly throughout. So, if you’d like to skip to Easy Eating look for a yellow : symbol or a magenta : symbol to skip to Home and Make.

Stuff // Greg Bray shakes hands with our new

Easy Eating // The Weekend Cook serves up a rustic French classic, plus seven scrumptious salad ideas to try

Travel // Cruising Alaska and so much to

How to navigate your Weekend:

TRAVEL

Make // How to turn an old cable reel into a trendy industrialised addition to your lounge room. Plus detach the children from the TV or computer and get them outdoors with our story stone craft project Closet // We’ve found your Prints Charming!

Spring/summer 2014’s hottest colours and prints

should be on your weekly shopping list

Read // The Lion King surpassed The Phantom

Screen life // Vlad is back in the new film Dracula Untold. We talk to actor Luke Evans, who plays the bloodthirsty character about the classic tale portrayed in a new light

Relax // The verdict is out on the latest new-release page turners, CDs and DVDs

Mind // Are we mindful or are our minds just full? We show you a little exercise to live in the moment. Then, some fun – test your grey matter in our weekly quiz

: ON THE COVER: Lorna Jane Clarkson. : CREATIVE: Yohanna Dent. : CONTRIBUTORS: Seanna Cronin, Alexia Purcell, Megan Kinninment, Tracey Hordern, Maggie Cooper, Matt Sawtell, Regan Drew, Judy Horton, Maree Curran, Peter Chapman, Ann Rickard, Bethany Fairfull, Greig Morgan, Meredith Papavasiliou, Greg Bray, Karin von Behrens, Pushpa Bakshi, John Grey, Lillian Broderick, Chris Ison, Roy O’Reilly, Rowena Hardy and Nick Bennett. : CONTACT US: weekend@apn.com.au : CONTRIBUTE: contributors@apn.com.au : ADVERTISING: Contact your local sales consultant.

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I N S I D E R w i th S e a n n a C ro n i n

P H OTO O F THE WEEK

Size matters on The Block

We asked you to share a photo on our Facebook pages of something which makes you happy. Raina O'Brien posted “sunsets with the family and the Kingswood”.

I SO badly want cheeky brothers Shannon and Simon Vos to win The Block Glasshouse. But after walking through the finished luxury apartments in Melbourne last week, I think Max and Karstan will pip them at the post.

The Coffs Harbour-raised siblings brought some much needed fun, and more than a few pranks to the current series. They’re also just all-round good blokes, who made time for every member of the public and media who walked through their apartment.

While Shannon and Simon’s apartment is the second largest out of the five and has good bones thanks to their choices in flooring and other materials, its positioning will hurt them at sale.

I think Max and Karstan will garner the most buyer interest because of the size of their apartment and its northerly aspect providing some of the best light and those coveted city views.

: To see your photo published here, join our conversation on your newspaper’s Facebook page each Wednesday.

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I t h ink Ma x and K arst an will gar ner the m ost bu yer interest b ecau s e of th e s iz e o f th eir ap ar tm ent Gold Coast parents Michael and Carlene are the other major contenders, but I fear they will suffer the same fate as Kyal and Kara Demmrich in the recent Fans vs Faves series.

And unfortunately for hot-headed Deanne and Darren and likeable Chris and Jenna, no one expects either of them to win. But as the Fans vs Faves series proved, the order of the auctions could turn everything on its head.

BUT AS FANS VS FAVES PROVED, AUCTIONS COULD TURN EVERYTHING ON ITS HEAD

: The Block Glasshouse contestants Shannon and Simon Vos pictured in their ensuite.

PHOTO: MARTIN PHILBEY

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WH Y NOT TRY wi th Me g a n Ki n ni n m e n t

Social media, so yesterday O NCE the province of historical societies, museums and library archives, a new wave of nostalgia is gripping social media.

From Lost Brisbane to Lost Darwin and Lost Hobart – and a heap of “lost” geographical regions in between – Facebook nostalgia pages are hugely popular.

My favourite is Have you seen the old Gold Coast with its unashamedly kitsch and retro photos from the holiday destination’s glory days. There are photos of Vita-Tan sprayed on sunbathing bodies in the 1960s (in the days before melanomas) and photos of Sammy the Seal at the Porpoise Pool.

The page has 22,500 followers and was started by 59-yearold Southport local Karen Wright, whose family are sixthgeneration “Goldies”.

“We were one of the pioneering families. There were photographers in my family, so I had all of these photos locked away in the cupboard and in boxes… I thought, why not share them?” Karen said.

The page has amassed 15,000 photos shared by fans. Historians now seek Karen’s help with research.

“Sometimes a library or museum will send me photos they are researching and within minutes of putting them up on the page, someone will have identified the place or people in the photos.”

While Karen’s page is reuniting Gold Coasters online, one Sydney nostalgia page, You grew up around Hornsby if you

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The Whole Pantry

A l ex i a P u rce l l

A P P O F TH E W E E K

WHEN Belle Gibson discovered she had terminal brain cancer five years ago, she turned to whole foods – a move that prolonged her life and inspired the app The Whole Food Pantry. The tool takes back-to-basics approach to nutrition and lifestyle with more than 52 nourishing recipes adorned by beautiful photography. All recipes are free of gluten and sugar and contain little to no dairy or allergens. The app also contains resources and utensils to live a happy and healthy life.

gone-by.

remember . . . had 9000 likes within two weeks and led to a reunion at the local RSL club so members could relive their youth, with at least one teenage romance rekindled.

Search Facebook and you never know what (or who) you may come across.

Megan Kinninment blogs the offbeat at www.seekerofthelostarts.com

Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever

: The Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever page has been floating around the top of Facebook’s trend list for a couple of weeks now. But this is hardly surprising given the enormity of this outbreak.

AT T H E WAT E R C O O L E R w i th

Tessa James diagnosed with cancer

What’s trending on social media this week : Tessa James.

Search The Whole Pantry in the App Store/Play Store, $3.79

: A nostalgic postcard of the Gold Coast from decades

: Closer to home, Tessa James, former Home and Away star and wife of Gold Coast Titans co-captain, Nate Myles was diagnosed with cancer.

This news led to an outpouring of support on social media. Celebrities, fans and well-wishers took to Twitter using the hashtag #TessaJames to leave the 23-year-old actress messages. On Facebook, news of Ms James’s cancer diagnosis hit the top of Facebook’s trend list.

On APN ARM’s Facebook pages, our likers shared their own cancer stories while leaving well wishes for Ms James.

Denise Greenwood said: “Positive power thoughts to you, my hubby had this with chemo and radiation and 4 years free. Xxx” Saturday, September 27, 2014

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+ Creating meaningful happiness H ap p i n e s s i s t h e by- p r o d u c t o f a rich, full life, not the endgame

By Tra cey Ho rd e r n

E

NSHRINED in the United States as a fundamental right, most Western countries have adopted to some extent the right to pursue happiness. But do we really understand what it is that we are so fervently chasing? And is it ultimately what we want – or have we been fed a lemon?

Researchers are learning more about happiness than ever before and it’s not what most of us think it is. Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert suggests our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong. This is a premise he explores in his book Stumbling on Happiness and explains with examples in his accessible and unexpectedly humorous TEDx talks.

Gilbert challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want and asserts our “psychological immune system” will allow us to feel genuinely happy even when things don’t go as we planned. This is known as synthetic happiness, something that we, the authors of our life are capable of creating.

For instance, if you’ve been dumped by a lover or sacked from a job, chances are you will eventually justify the experience as ‘a close call’, or a ‘dodged bullet’. According to Gilbert, that’s your healthy, built-in psychological immune system at work, reframing the experience to make you feel better.

It’s an alien concept, but a huge relief to learn that our happiness is less dependent on outside circumstances than we thought. It is also important to remember that ‘getting happiness’ is the backbone of a capitalist society, with most of us sold the belief that when we acquire that special something, we will be happy.

The star of the ABC documentary series Making Australia Happy, Associate Professor Tony Grant from Sydney University is the author of Eight Steps to Happiness. Speaking with Weekend, Dr Grant said he believes that happiness is essentially a by-product of a life well lived.

“Genetics are not destiny,” states Dr Grant. “While some of us may have been born happier than others, all of us can increase our happiness with the choices we make in our daily lives. The pursuit of happiness as a goal in itself is fruitless;

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Researchers are learning more about happiness than ever before and it’s not what most of us think it is

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Wh il e s o me o f u s may h ave be e n bor n h appie r th a n ot h ers, a ll o f u s ca n in cre a se ou r h app i n es s w it h t he ch o ice s we m ake in o ur da ily live s too often self-help books promote happiness as the endpoint when a more useful tactic would be to pursue personal and meaningful goals.”

So how do you know if a goal is meaningful for you? This question, Dr Grant believes, is a great start. “Begin by paying

attention to how you talk about your goals. If you speak of a goal as something you ought to do; or there is guilt, shame and anxiety associated with it, it is likely that the goal is driven from outside pressure and not necessarily what you really want.”

Dr Grant suggests focusing on a goal that makes you feel more alive, one that resonates and motivates you. “Whether it is being a writer, building a house, or having a child, whatever it is for you – but be guided by how you feel when you think about that goal.”

So ultimately, what does genuine happiness look like?

According to Dr Grant, “It is not about being blissfully happy all the time. The ups and downs we experience are part of normal life. Happiness is about living a full, rich and meaningful life, being truly human – and true to ourselves.”

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+ Success fits well T h e f a s h i o n ap p a r e l e m p r e s s o n w hy s h e w i l l n e ve r, n e ve r g i ve u p o n i n s p i r i n g wo m e n t o a c h i e ve t h e i r b e st

By K i r i te n D o l l e

IT WA S CERTAINLY A BIG LEAP

N

OF FAITH TO QUIT THE SECURIT Y

EVER, never give up – it’s a saying not only gilded on Lorna Jane racerbacks but an affirmation that has spearheaded Lorna Jane Clarkson to success.

The activewear empress sells a garment every 19 seconds.

Walk inside the Brisbane headquarters and you’ll find inspirational quotes scrawled across walls, in corridors and even the staircase.

“The body achieves what the mind believes,” Clarkson says.

The 49-year-old has built a venture doing what she loves, while encouraging women around the world to be the CEO of their own happiness. She’s created an international sisterhood by motivating women not only through fitness apparel, but her Move Nourish Believe blog and an impressive social media reach of more than 1.5 million. Since 2012, the Facebook page has accelerated by 5000 likes per week.

Tomorrow, the brand will take one of its biggest lunges since Clarkson’s fitness fashion coup overseas when Active Nation Day makes a global debut. But before Lorna Jane was the brand name adorned on women’s hips in gyms, she was a 24-year-old aerobics teacher and dental therapist in pursuit of her own self-discovery. Bored by the baggy sweats and lycra all-in-ones of the late 1980s, Clarkson cut up her favourite swimsuits and wore her leotard designs to the aerobics classes she taught in Brisbane of an evening.

The kitchen table start-up that had women in her classes queuing for her creations has burgeoned into a global fashion empire with 144 Australian stores, 27 in the United States and 40 other international stockists – with a price of $500 million when the business was put up for sale earlier this year.

While Clarkson ranked number 26 in BRW’s 2014 Rich Women list with a fortune of $50 million, she remains as humble as the busy 24-year-old working two jobs and baking healthy treats for a health food store when she first took the leap of faith into fitness apparel.

“I didn't really have a plan to launch Lorna Jane as a fashion business or open concept stores, I just wanted to do what made me happy and for me that was designing activewear and inspiring women to be healthy and active,” she said.

Like any entrepreneurial venture, her success did not come without sacrifice. The decision not to have children with husband and Lorna Jane CEO Bill Clarkson among them.

“It was considered, but we decided to focus on growing the Lorna Jane business,” she said.

Yet she didn’t consider sacrifice as loss when she was reaching closer to her goals.

“One of the biggest was selling our dream home that we had renovated for seven years every weekend, to buy our first factory,” she said.

“We needed a bigger factory to expand the business, but the only way we could afford this was by selling our home.

OF MY FULL-TIME JOB

: Lorna Jane Clarkson, entrepreneur and inspirational woman

This house was where we’d planned on living the rest of our lives and you could even see the church where we were married from the back deck.”

The couple moved into a run-down old factory in Fortitude Valley that had been abandoned for several years and lived upstairs in an apartment.

Clarkson’s five tips for a happy life : Do what you love : Dream big : Never, never give up : Believe in yourself : Surround yourself with people and things that you love “It was dirty, full of termites and as far from luxury as you could possibly imagine,” Clarkson recalls. “But we got in and made it amazing, whilst creating some funny stories and unforgettable memories along the way. I look back now and know that it was the difficult decisions along our journey with Lorna Jane that absolutely makes the successes worth celebrating.”

The first Lorna Jane store opened in Brisbane in 1990 in an old building above a gym.

“It was certainly a big leap of faith to quit the security of my full-time job, but I’ve always believed in the importance of following your dreams and in the back of my mind I knew my old life was always there if things didn't work out,” she said.

“I remember working out what I had to make in a week to cover the rent – and we made it in the very first day.

“Within a week the orders were flooding in, and it was at that point I started to realise that I really might be onto something. Little did I know the incredible journey my new hobby would take me on and that Lorna Jane would become the successful brand that it is today.”

Along the way, she has stayed true to the philosophy that has got her this far – the Move Nourish Believe ethos.

“The Lorna Jane active living philosophy is how I live my life and the driving force behind everything that I do, say and believe,” Clarkson said.

While Clarkson remains tight-lipped about the sale of her empire, there’s no slowing down. She has just released a luxury line – Uniquely Lorna Jane – for David Jones and selected Lorna Jane stores, launched Active Living magazine, is finalising a new rewards program to be rolled out this year and is writing another book.

“The legacy I want to leave behind doesn’t belong on a Fortune 100 list,” she said.

“Personally, I want to pioneer the Active Living movement across the world and ignite women to live their best active lives. This is what I feel I was put on the planet to do and I will do it for the rest of my life.”

Active Nation Day will take place across Australia tomorrow.

For more information or to download the app, go to www.activenationday.com.au.

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e asy eati ng

+ B A KE

FACT: Coq au vin was elevated to fame when Julia Child featured it in a cookbook in 1961, but has traces back to Julius Caesar

Lemon and coconut polenta cake

INGREDIENTS: : 270g caster sugar : 270g unsalted butter at room temperature : 4 eggs : juice of 2 lemons : 1 tspn vanilla essence : 130g polenta : 130g shredded coconut : 130g ground almonds : grated rind of 3 lemons : 1 tspn baking powder Icing: : 230g pure icing sugar : juice of ½ lemon : 2 tspn unsalted butter at room temperature METHOD: Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Grease a 24cm cake tin and line the base with baking paper. In a large bowl beat sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly until incorporated.

Add vanilla essence. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, then stir in lemon rind. Fold combined dry ingredients and lemon juice into butter mixture until just mixed. Pour batter into the prepared tin and bake on the middle shelf for 1 hour. Cool cake in tin, then run a knife around the edge and turn out onto a plate, base side up.

For the icing, sift icing sugar into a bowl, then add enough lemon juice to form a thick glaze. Beat in the softened butter until incorporated. Ice the cake with a palette knife or the back of a wooden spoon. Allow to set.

NOW THANKFULLY WE HAVE ACCESS TO EXOTIC FOODS FROM ALL NATIONS

+ Taste the world

Serves eight

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T h i s d i s h c o u l d c l a i m t o h ave k i c k st a r te d o u r i n te r e st i n e x o t i c f o o d .

TH E W EEK END C OOK

F R EEZE

Cream of cauliflower soup INGREDIENTS: : 1 brown onion, peeled and sliced thickly : 2 tblsp olive oil : 1 large cauliflower, broken up into florets : 6 cups vegetable or chicken stock : salt and pepper to taste : 1 cup cream : 1⁄2 bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped finely METHOD: Gently saute the onion in the oil until soft, but not coloured. Remove from heat. Add the cauliflower and the stock. If you have a pressure cooker, cook for 10 minutes. If you don’t, cover and bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Blend the soup in a blender or food processor until velvety smooth. Return to the heat, and bring to boiling point. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from heat and stir in the cream. Serve immediately with a tablespoon of chopped parsley in the centre. This recipe is suitable for freezing. Freeze before adding the cream, then reheat gently and stir in the cream and top with parsley just before serving.

Serves four

Saturday, September 27, 2014

w i th M a g g i e C o op e r

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HE MOST exciting food we had when I was a child was Cantonese, greatly adulterated by the boring Aussie palate. Chop suey and chow mein was collected from the local Chinese eatery in our own saucepans, take-away containers being unheard of back then. Rumours abounded that the chicken was, in fact, bolstered occasionally by neighbourhood pussycats; I imagine this was scaremongering by local competitors. Now thankfully we have access to exotic foods from all nations, like this French classic.

Coq au vin INGREDIENTS: : 2 cups red wine : 1 cup chicken stock : 250g small button mushrooms : 2 bouquets garni (celery, bay leaf, thyme, parsley) : 2 tblspn olive oil : 1 large organic free-range chicken, jointed or 6 chicken pieces : 12 pearl or pickling onions, peeled : 125g bacon or pancetta, cut into batons : 1½ tblspn butter at room temperature : 2 tspn plain flour : salt and pepper, to taste : extra fresh thyme or parsley, to garnish

METHOD: Place red wine, stock, mushrooms and one of the bouquets garni in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Cook until reduced by half. Remove mushrooms and bouquet garni; set mushrooms and liquid aside.

Heat oil in a large saucepan or cast-iron casserole over a medium heat and brown the chicken pieces. Remove chicken and put aside.

Reduce heat and cook onions and bacon or pancetta, stirring constantly, for 4-5 minutes. Place chicken back in pot and pour wine/stock mixture over the top. Add second bouquet garni, cover and simmer over a very low heat for 40 minutes. Add the mushrooms for the last 10 minutes.

Remove bouquet garni and discard. Remove chicken and keep warm. Work the flour into the butter to make a paste; this is called a beurre manie. Stir pea-sized pieces through wine mixture to thicken sauce, cooking for a few moments over a low heat. Return meat to pot and season to taste; sprinkle with fresh thyme or parsley. Serve with cooked pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.

This dish is suitable for freezing. You can make a double quantity and freeze half. Thaw in refrigerator overnight and simmer over a low heat until heated through.

Serves six

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

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easy eati n g

+ Befriend the salad

+ WI NE WO RD S wi th Re g a n D re w

B e c r e at i ve a n d yo u ’ l l b e b e st m ate s w i t h yo u r g r e e n s i n n o t i m e honey and salt and pepper in a bowl, then toss through beans beetroot and walnuts.

Roast pumpkin and cherry tomato INGREDIENTS: 400g diced pumpkin + 1 punnet mixed cherry tomatoes + shaved parmesan +100g rocket + 100g baby spinach + balsamic vinegar +olive oil. METHOD: Roast pumpkin at 180 degrees for 20 minutes. With 5 minutes to go place tomatoes in oven with pumpkin. Toss the greens, splash of balsamic and olive oil through the tomato and pumpkin.

Baby cos caesar with yoghurt dressing : No-fuss chili prawn and mango salad.

PHOTO: MATT SAWTELL

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S CRU M P T I O US S EV E N w ith Matt S aw tel l

S

O HERE we are in spring and with summer just around the corner we find ourselves surrounded by an abundance of fresh produce and flavours at farmers markets. As a chef for the past 15 years and travelling around the world with my cooking, I have learnt that a salad is not just iceberg lettuce and store-bought French dressing. “You can’t make friends with salad,” they tell me. Well, guess what? I did.

If you can manage to forget some of those old salad items or be creative and add a few different ingredients to your recipe, I guarantee you’ll be best mates with your greens in no time. Try these lunchtime beauties. Each recipe serves two to four.

Chili prawn and mango salad INGREDIENTS: : 400g green prawns : 1 large red chili : 2 clove garlic : 2 tbsp olive oil : 1 lime : 1 mango : 100g feta : 1⁄2 bunch coriander : 20g pepitas : 200g rocket.

METHOD: In a food processor place chili, garlic, oil and half the lime juice and blend until smooth. Pour mixture over prawns and refrigerate for a half-hour. Slice mango into bite-size pieces, dice feta, wash and tear the leaves off the coriander. Mix the ingredients through the rocket and place in a 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 lime.

Green bean, beetroot and walnut INGREDIENTS: : 500g green beans + 2 tins baby beetroot + 50g walnuts + 1 tsp Dijon mustard + juice of half lemon + salt and pepper + 1 tsp honey. METHOD: Blanch beans and cool.

Drain and cut beetroot into quarters. Mix Dijon, lemon juice

INGREDIENTS: 2 baby cos lettuce + 70g prosciutto + 50g shaved parmesan + 80ml yogurt + 10ml Worcestershire sauce + 1 tbsp olive oil + juice of half a lemon + pinch of salt and pepper +2 poached eggs. METHOD: Lightly cook the prosciutto in hot pan and set aside to cool. Peel off the cos leaves, add the remaining ingredients into a clean bowl and mix well. Add little or as much dressing as you like. Finish with more parmesan and a poached egg.

Avocado salad with goat cheese and panchetta

S

ERAFINO “Steve” Maglieri came to Australia from Sepino, Italy as a 17 year old, landing in McLaren Vale, 40 minutes south-east of Adelaide.

Like so many of the Europeans who came to our shores seeking a bright future, he planted some vines with his father while working the land for others in their orchards and vineyards.

It wasn’t long before he established his own business, Maglieri Wines. Ultimately success brings change and the Maglieri brand was sold to then Beringer Blass (now Treasury Wine Estates) in the late 1990s.

Out of the ashes, the phoenix of Serafino Wines rose after Steve acquired the McLaren’s On The Lake complex. Steve’s daughter Maria now has the reins.

INGREDIENTS: 4 avocados sliced + 8 slices of panchetta +100g goat cheese + 30g pine nuts +150g baby spinach +balsamic vinegar + olive oil + salt and pepper. METHOD: Crisp up the panchetta in the oven at 180 degrees. Toast off the pine nuts until golden. Mix together the avo, baby spinach and crumble with goat cheese and panchetta. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Serafino Sorrento

Artichoke pasta salad

Serafino Cabernet

INGREDIENTS: 2 jars quartered artichoke hearts, drained + 250g penne pasta, cooked and drained + 1 small jar sun-dried tomatoes, sliced + 200g rocket + 1 small red onion, chopped + 1 garlic clove, minced + 1 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tbsp red wine vinegar + 2 tbsp olive oil + 1⁄4 cup freshly chopped parsley leaves + salt and ground black pepper. METHOD: Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Summer orange and coconut salad

Shiraz, 2013: Bright red and black fruits, almost jube-like but not confected. A coffee essence-like savoury balance is framed by burnt woody notes. Generous, lovely, drink-now style displaying balance of red cherries and darker plums.

Perfect for sharing and good value for $20. : Rating: 7.5/10 : RRP: $20 Alc: 14.5% : Available at Dan Murphy’s

Sauvignon, 2012: The polish of oak throws a cosy blanket across the lot. Juicy mulberry, blackberry and poised blackcurrant flavours, followed by a big hit of McLaren Vale campfire ash/smoke along with black olive seriousness. Some lip-smacking acidity giving cut and thrust if paired with roast beast. : Rating 8/10 : RRP: $26 Alc: 14% : Available at Dan Murphy’s

Serafino Reserve

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 tbsp Malibu liqueur + zest of half a lemon + 20 ml orange juice. METHOD: Combine coconut cream, Malibu, lemon zest and orange juice in a bowl and set aside. Mix the remainder of the ingredients and drizzle with the dressing just before serving.

Grenache, 2012: Gold medal and trophy winner at the 2014 RASQ Wine Show and Mediterranean Challenge. Plentiful heady perfume of juicy red fruit with florals: lavender and cabbage rose. The oak treatment is soft and does not dominate. Long raspberry, deep warmed strawberries with a touch of savoury black fruit complexity. Highlights of nougat and rosewater. Only 160 cases made. : Rating 9/10 : RRP: $40 Alc: 14.5% : Cellar door only or online at http://serafinowines.com.au.

Scrumptious.seven@gmail.com

vinonotebook.com

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Weekend FACT: A recent study found broccoli sprouts can help clear environmental toxins from the body

f arm ers m arket

+ Seasonal sensations LO CA L P RO D U C E w i th Ka te O ’ Ne i l l

F r e s h p r o d u c e ke y i n g r e d i e n t t o m o u t h - wate r i n g c r e at i o n s

+

W HAT' S FR E SH Ne w s from th e Fa r mers M a rke ts

IN SEASON

Zucchinis are one of the most versatile vegies around. Roast, add to stir fries, stuff, grate into salads, use in baking, or simply saute in a little garlic and olive oil, add salt and pepper and sprinkle with parmesan cheese for a delicious side or snack.

IN THE GARDEN

A good layer of mulch is essential in the vegie patch as it has a whole host of benefits: it keeps the soil moist, essential for the health of the micro organisms that help your plants grow; it helps keep the soil cool; and it keeps the weeds at bay. Good mulches to use include pea straw, barley straw or sugar cane mulch.

FARMER’S TIP

Sprouter and naturopath Ruth Hanrahan, from the Sprout Lovers stall at Mullumbimby Farmers Market, says there is an explosion of nutrition that happens within a seed at the time of sprouting, giving sprouts highly concentrated levels of vitamins, enzymes, proteins and minerals.

Sprouts are easy to grow at home. Here are Ruth’s tips for sprouting lentils: : You will need whole lentils (available at health food stores), a glass jar and a lid with holes pricked in it (or a piece of nylon curtain netting and a rubber band). : Fill one-fifth of the jar with the lentils. : Fill the jar with water and let the lentils soak for six to eight hours. : Pour off the water, then rinse the lentils. Put on the lid or netting and rubber band, then turn the jar upside down on the dish rack to drain excess water. : Rinse the lentils each day, leaving the jar upside down afterwards so they can drain. In three to four days you should have sprouts.

FEW FOODS PACK AS BIG A NUTRITIONAL PUNCH AS SPROUTS

R

OB Costanzo was backpacking around Europe in his early 20s when he landed a job most chefs only dream about.

While in London, he asked for a day’s work experience at the River Cafe (renowned for its Italian food, cookbooks and producing chefs such as Jamie Oliver).

“I always wanted to eat there,” explained Rob, “so I went in for lunch and asked if I could work a day for free. At the end of the day they said ‘you can have a job’.”

After 21⁄2 years working with some of the world’s best Italian chefs, Rob returned to Australia and teamed up with sister Michelle to start The Nomadic Kitchen, a breakfast stall serving rustic Sicilian-style food at the New Brighton, Mullumbimby and Byron Farmers Markets.

The stall has gone on to become one of the markets’ bestknown and loved.

Rob’s and Michelle’s approach to food – heavily influenced by their Sicilian heritage – is to keep it simple, fresh and seasonal. Rob designs his menu around the best produce available at the market that day, using mainly fresh vegetables, the staple of Sicilian cooking.

Cakes, tarts and desserts are made by Michelle, who uses fruit from the Costanzo family farm in Stanthorpe. The pair run their market kitchen on a simple two-burner camp stove.

Materially, it’s a world away from the River Cafe, but Rob says the best food often comes from the simplest set up.

“You don’t need much. You can have a $2 million kitchen, but if you don’t have good produce to work with, it’s worthless,” Rob said.

“You have to have good produce and that’s about it.”

Crabbes Creek.

PHOTO: KATE O’NEILL

Find the Nomadic Kitchen at the New Brighton and Mullumbimby Farmers Markets.

Markets

Saturday: Alstonville Farmers Market, Bugden Ln car park : Lismore Farmers Market, Lismore Showground : Kyogle Farmers Market, Stratheden St : Blue Knob Farmers Market, 719 Blue Knob Rd, Lillian Rock : Bangalow Farmers Market, 1 Byron St : Evans Head Riverside Market, Stan Payne Memorial Reserve, Booyong St : Kingscliff Beachside Market, Marine Pde : Drake Hall Markets, Community Hall, Bruxner Hwy : Yowie Country Markets, Community Public Hall, Woodenbong.

Sunday: Bangalow Village Market, Showgrounds : Nimbin Market, Cullen St : Missingham Bridge Markets, Missingham Bridge, Kingsford Dr, Ballina

Five million children are in need.

Please help UNICEF provide urgent food, water and shelter.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

: Rob Costanzo and sister Michelle in their open-air kitchen at

Michelle Costanzo's Pear and Saffron Cake Ingredients: : 3 eggs : 11 ⁄2 cups sugar : 250 ml olive oil : 250g unsalted butter, melted : 250g plain yogurt : 1 cup polenta : zest and juice of lime : 1 1 ⁄2 cups SR flour : 1 tsp baking powder : 3 pears poached with saffron and cardamom. Method: Preheat the oven to 160 degrees and line a 27cm cake pan. In an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar until pale, then beat in oil and melted butter. Add yoghurt, polenta, lime zest and juice and mix well. Fold in the flour and baking powder. Pour half the batter into tin. Place cooled pears on top then pour over remaining batter. Bake for 50 minutes.

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Weekend

g ard en

TRY: There are many vegetables in the Yates seed range that can help the body to fight against disease

+

I N MY GA RD E N wi th Ju dy Ho r to n

A healthy colour

GARDENING IS A DEEPLY S ATISFYING EXPERIENCE THAT NEVER ENDS

+ Seeds of happiness G a rd e n i n g h a s u n t o l d b e n e f i t s .

G R E E N T H UM B wi th Maree Cu rran

M

UCH has been written and said about gardening and happiness.

There is a Chinese proverb that goes something like this – “If you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk; If you want to be happy for three days, get married; If you want to be happy forever, make a garden.”

If you talk to gardeners about why they enjoy gardening, you will often find that the activity itself is as important as the outcome. Sure, we love the flowers and the produce and the lovely green lawn, but we also enjoy the digging and the pruning and the weeding. Some even enjoy the mowing.

There’s lots of research that has proven just how good for health and well-being gardening, and being in a garden, can be.

Access to gardens helps people heal more quickly after illness or surgery and reduces stress and anxiety.

In office spaces, the presence of plants leads to a more satisfied workforce and increases in productivity. Participating

in gardening activities brings even more benefits – a sense of achievement, the positive effects of physical activity, and, when the gardening involved edible plants, an improvement in diet as the gardeners tend to eat more fresh produce.

So what is it about gardens and gardening that is so appealing? Of course there is the physical beauty of the plants themselves, as well as the fragrance and the birds, butterflies and other wildlife that will take up residence.

Then there is the opportunity to be creative, as we design and re-design, plant and re-plant. Not to mention the joy and wonder that comes from planting a seed or bulb in the earth and watching the plant emerge and develop.

That still amazes and delights me. The connection with the natural world is strengthened, too, as we pay more attention to the earth, the rain, the heat, the wind, the insects and the seasons. There is a battle between our desire to control and get the result that we want, and our need to deal with whatever nature throws at us.

It all adds up to a deeply satisfying experience that never ends.

There’s another Chinese proverb I like – “One who plants a garden, plants happiness.” maree@edenatbyron.com.au.

: Orange vegetables: Orange-coloured vegetables are rich in beta-carotene which converts into Vitamin A. The most obvious orange vegetable, the humble carrot, grows easily from seed. Even if space is limited, Yates Baby Carrots can be grown in pots or poly boxes. Pumpkin is another good source of beta-carotene. Yates Golden Nugget is a small variety. Larger pumpkins in the Yates range – Qld Blue, Grey Crown and Butternut – are best planted in spring so they’ll have maximum growing time. : Red vegetables: Red vegetables are sources of lycopene, which is renowned for reducing the risk of cancer.

The most recognised is the tomato, with Lycopersicon in its botanical name emphasising the connection. The deeper the red colour, the greater the percentage of lycopene so, for maximum benefit, eat your tomatoes when as ripe as possible. Yates’s range of tomatoes includes Grosse Lisse, Summerstar, Improved Apollo, Roma, Tiny Tim and Small Fry, as well as the Heirloom Favourites mix that was introduced in recent years. : Green vegetables: Leafy vegetable such as spinach, cabbages and lettuce are good sources of vitamins, fibre and minerals. The darker the leaves, the richer they are in nutrients. But the real champions in the leafy group are the crucifers, the cabbage relatives. Their sulphur-based content converts into an antioxidant that helps destroy pre-cancerous cells. The sulphur smell that makes so many people dislike brussels sprouts is a sign of these cancer-fighting properties. These vegies are also rich in folic acid. Cabbages: Sugarloaf is a traditional favourite with a slightly conical shape. Sweet Eureka is a vigorous hybrid with good disease resistance. Buk Choy is a Chinese cabbage with a strong white stem. Wong Bok produces a cylindrical head massed with tender foliage.

Broccoli: Shogun grows well during the cooler months while Summergreen has been bred to handle higher temperatures. Chinese Broccoli Kailaan is ready for use when a few of its flowers have opened.

+

P RO D U C TS

Springtime tools for the garden

All products available from Bunnings

: Watering made easy: Aqua Systems 1.7L Plastic Watering Can is compact and lightweight with a removable rose and long handle, perfect for hanging baskets and getting into tricky spaces.

RRP $4.59.

: Vertical garden: The Holman GreenWall is designed to make more room of small spaces. Grow herbs and vegetables at reach from the kitchen or transform a wall with eye-popping ornamental arrangements. RRP $69.00.

: Seedlings: Jiffy Peat Pots make seed raising easy – just add soil, seeds and water. The pot is 100% organic and 100% biodegradable, so plant the pot and all when seedlings are large enough to handle.

RRP $6.44.

: Fertiliser: Seasol encourages healthy plant growth with enhanced flowering and root system development, as well as improved natural plant resistance to various environmental stresses and some pests and diseases. RRP $13.28.

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Weekend

travel

+ The Magic of Alaska

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS : Getting up close to a black bear : Hooking an Alaskan king salmon

C r u i s e o f l i f e t i m e s u m m e d u p i n o n e wo rd – ‘ awe s o m e n e s s ’

Holland America Seven-day Alaskan Explorer Voyages : Roundtrip from Seattle : Starting May 2, 2015 through to Sept 2015 : The itinerary features calls at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; and a scenic cruising experience at Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer Glaciers or Glacier Bay National Park. : COSTS: From $1250pp

: Holland America’s MS Westerdam cruises in Glacier Bay, Alaska while guests on board enjoy a glass of champagne.

.

T RAV E L w ith Pe te r Ch apm a n

I

HAVE been fortunate enough to have been on a few cruises in my life and I have enjoyed each and every one of them.

That said, over the past few years going on a cruise hasn’t been my number one choice for a vacation.

While I realise that there are many who regularly line up for their cruise fix, I have got to the point where the cruise now has to offer something spectacular for me to book.

My latest journey aboard Holland America’s MS Westerdam provided just that.

It was an inspiring seven-day cruise from Seattle up the Inside Passage to Alaska with four ports of call.

I really didn’t know what to expect and that was probably good because I went with a completely open mind.

Having sailed with Holland America before I knew the food and service on board would be first class and, quite frankly,

JUNEAU ICEFIELD

Juneau Taku Lodge tour JOURNEY of a lifetime with glacier flightseeing, a remote log lodge, wilderness trails and wildlife. Fly in a classic floatplane over five breathtaking glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. The Taku River will be your “runway” as you land at the Historic Taku Lodge and enjoy a feast of wild Alaskan king salmon. : COSTS: $299 Saturday, September 27, 2014

they went up another notch on this cruise.

I wasn’t expecting, however, to be overawed by the magic of Alaska. One guest came up with his special word and called it “awesomeness”, and he was right. It is the best description for the Alaskan wonderland.

While you can go on some cruises and give shore excursions a wide berth, on the Alaskan trip the excursions are a must. The three I did will stay with me forever.

The first was out of Juneau, the capital of Alaska and home to just 31,000.

With nine other cruise guests we boarded a seaplane in the harbour and flew for 20 minutes, scooting over glaciers before landing at the remote Taku Lodge.

We all knew barbecue king salmon and home-cooked corn bread was on the menu, what we didn’t know was that we were about to get up close and personal with a black bear.

Showing no concerns for anyone except the lodge attendant with the large bamboo pole, the bear patiently waited until the barbecue was done before devouring half a bucket of sand into which the fish oil had soaked.

He was just metres from us.

AL ASKA

Sitka Sportfishing tour SITKA sportfishing is one of south-east Alaska’s best-kept secrets. Sitka Sound offers an abundant supply of king, silver, chum and pink salmon. Your captain is licensed and is an experienced fisherman. All equipment, tackle, bait and rain gear are provided. The half-day trip takes you 15km off the mainland in reasonably calm waters. : COSTS: $253

As we flew back to the ship I wondered if anything could top that experience.

Just 24 hours later I had my answer. Marceau was our fishing expert for a half-day Alaskan King Salmon sports fishing trip, and what a trip it was.

These prize fish sell at the Sitka fishing co-op for upwards of $500 and before our four-hour trip was over we had four in the boat. Next to a blue fin tuna they are pound for pound one of the best fighting fish I have ever hooked.

Unlike the tuna they are also brilliant to eat.

My final excursion out of Ketchikan involved a trip on one of the Bering Sea trawlers that featured in the Most Dangerous Catch series. The half-day cruise saw demonstrations on how the crabs were caught and the three deckhands talked about their experiences in the wilds of the Bering Sea. All three had appeared in the popular TV series.

The cruise, the excursions, the service on board and the food all combined for me to rate the cruise as my holiday of a lifetime.

The writer was a guest of Holland America.

ALEUTIAN BALL AD

Bering Sea Crab tour COME aboard the Aleutian Ballad for the adventure of a lifetime. Itwas made famous in season two of Discovery Channel’s award-winning TV series Deadliest Catch, but there are no rough seas here. Watch as the skilled crew haul and set long lines, barrel pots and huge 320kg king crab pots to reveal the catch of the day. : COSTS: $99

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travel

HEDONISTIC PARADISE Isle of Capri was the private playground of Emperor Augustus.

+ Sexy Capri G l a m o u r, a n d f l a s h e s o f b i g k n i c ke r s, p a r t o f i s l e ’ s c h a r m .

TR AV E L wi th A nn R i ck ard

I

F EVER there is a place so beguiling it could sweep the heart away, it has to be the Isle of Capri.

For long I had yearned to visit this tiny but glamorous island, so when I finally sailed out of Sorrento’s harbour towards Capri, my travel fantasy was well and truly packed in my bag.

I’d convinced the husband that 10 days on the beautiful Italian island would be worth the outrageous cost – nothing on Capri is cheap – and when we settled in to the Villa Krupp perched prettily on a cliff top overlooking the vast sweep of yacht-dotted sapphire sea below, I knew nothing would ever again come close to this dream.

Each day the sun shone, the sea glinted, the bougainvillea bloomed.

All of Capri is sexy, it can’t help itself, and if we sullied our flowered balcony by hanging out our little bits of laundry each day, the lemon-scented air quickly blew away any shame.

A LUXURIOUS PROPERT Y WITH A ‘PAY ONLY FOR WHAT YOU USE’ POLICY

We sat on the breakfast terrace directly below our balcony each morning eating sugar-coated croissants and sipping creamy coffee, watching the impossibly glamorous scene as the Italian guests – raven-haired women, designer-clad men with that bella figura only Italians can pull off – glided into the sexy scene. Good looks are as important to Italians as their afternoon gelati.

So when our waiter kept hovering one morning after delivering the croissants and coffee we barely took notice of him.

He approached several times but turned back at the last minute.

Finally, he tapped me on the shoulder.

With a ghastly grimace on his face he said “are they yours?” and pointed to a pot of pink geraniums upon which happily flapped a pair of my big knickers.

They’d fallen from our balcony the night before, and looking at the surrounding glamour on the breakfast terrace, it was obvious I was the only one lacking in bella figura who could possibly claim such an item.

I scooped them up, put them up my T-shirt and slunk off. ann.rickard@scnews.com.au

The Isle of Capri dazzles with hedonism but it is nature’s charms that draw thousands of visitors every day during summer From rocky caves and limestone cliffs to small beaches and dizzying vantage points, to staggering views and historic piazzas, the island abounds with natural beauty.

GETTING THERE: : Most major airlines fly to Rome. : Trains run from Rome to Naples where a hydrofoil or ferry will take you to Sorrento and on to Capri or directly to Capri. : In the summer months, sea crossings are also available from Positano, Amalfi, Salerno and the island of Ischia. : Rail Europe offers a wide range of point-to-point rail tickets and Italian rail passes to suit any travel itinerary. Trains include high-speed and regional services. Visit www.raileurope.com.au for more information and bookings.

Pay as you use hotel TUNE Hotel Melbourne keeps room costs low while providing a luxurious property with a ‘pay only for what you use’ policy.

The 225-room hotel at 609 Swanston St, Carlton is close to Lygon St and minutes to Melbourne’s CBD. An indoor courtyard, lounge, restaurant, cafe, luggage storage, self-service laund-rette and computer kiosks are available but you pay only room rates with the option of adding on amenities such as towels, toiletries, air-con, in-room WiFi and satellite television.

Accommodation is international-class high-quality focusing on essentials without the generally underused facilities such as swimming pools, business centres and gymnasiums.

“Tune Hotels is all about offering a great night’s sleep at a great price,” Tune Hotels Group CEO Mark Lankester said.

Tune Hotels has 45 hotels across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, England, Scotland, Australia, India and Japan. Room rates at the Melbourne property range from $75 to $120.

More on tunehotels.com.

French Riviera on sale SEA Cloud Cruises has a series of four-night ‘taster’ cruises to give you the chance to sample its luxurious 64-passenger windjammer Sea Cloud while discovering some of France’s most beautiful harbours. Depart Nice on April 30, 2015 for a five-day round trip visiting romantic locations including Cote d’Azur, Hyeres, Sanary sur Mer and St Tropez. Fares start at EUR 2245 ($3246) per person double occupancy for bookings before November 30.

More on 1300 583 572 or info@salesactive.com.au.

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Weekend

h ome TIP: Use bold hues to make a statement and don’t be afraid to pair clashing colours

+

T HE CY NI CAL H O USE WI FE wi th B eth any Fa i r full

When good DIY goes bad

W

E HAVE all been there. Watched the home makeover shows, been inspired and embarked upon a journey of self-empowering DIY. I am a serial offender. I ooooh and aaaahhhhh over it on Pinterest and pin my little heart away. In fact since doing this I have embarked on far fewer ill-fated journeys, reached a greater level of fulfilment and noticed that my long-suffering husband no longer requires Botox to the forehead. I say this as I look out the kitchen window into the backyard at my latest accomplishment.

It makes me smile every time I look at it. Occasionally I even laugh out loud as I remember the fun I had with my two boys and the dog that crafty afternoon. It entailed bean bag beans, a whole large bag of beans.

You know it ends in tragedy, right?

I was set up on the patio for my little craft activity, only to be side-tracked by life that day. At some point I did ask my somewhat happier hubby to put said bag of beans into the shed. A couple of days passed and I looked at those beans still on the patio.

‘‘

It ma kes m e sm i le eve ry time I lo ok at it While at work Alfie had stepped up and gotten crafty with those beans, and boy had he done a great job. I could see how happy he was with himself too.

Prancing around the backyard jumping and tossing the bag high over his head frolicking in the beans as they fell like happy little snow drifts upon him.

Alfie is my greyhound.

I stood there, stunned and silent. The children waited, knowing this could go either way. “Mr Brown what have you done?” I asked. Alfie Brown spotted us and ran over so fulfilled by his craft session and best toy ever.

So don’t feel bad as you think of the cupboard filled with half-finished projects or enough seashells, sequins, fabric dye and craft glue to pay off the mortgage. We all have little DIY reminders floating about the place, some more annoying than others.

WE ALL HAVE DIY REMINDERS FLOATING ABOUT THE PL ACE

+ We Love I N T E R I O RS w i th Tra cey Ho rd e r n

B ri g ht c ol ours a nd b rin gin g the ou t side in doors A DISTINCT interior theme that is designed to uplift our space and our spirit is bringing the outside indoors. As city living becomes denser, interior designs inspired by nature will continue to grow in popularity. You can bring a little of the garden into your own home in the form of a few small plants or one beautiful, big statement plant. As well as looking attractive, plants purify the air, but not every home is suitable, so in these spaces you can add a few easy-to-maintain, artificial plants. Soft furnishings can also make a big impact, so look for lush, nature-inspired prints to set an earthy tone.

FIRST ROW: : Donkey Tail Faux Plant, $23.20 from Pottery Barn nationally and potterybarn.com.au : Faux tulip in Pot, $12.50 from Target nationally and target.com.au : Jonathan Adler Planter, POA from Coco Republic nationally and cocorepublic.com.au SECOND ROW: : Green Leaf Cushion $24.95 from Temple & Webster nationally and templeandwebster.com.au : Hula Girl Cushion, $34.95 from Freedom nationally and freedom.com.au : Sea Urchin Lanterns, $84 each from Pottery Barn nationally and potterybarn.com.au.

+

H AP P IN E SS AT H O M E w i th He l e n H aw ke s

Seven tips to make a happy space 1. THINK about the things that make you happy … tiger lilies, a beautiful vase, a framed photo of a friend… and make sure you feature them in your room.

2. Create a “sacred space” where you go to centre yourself or simply relax. It may contain a favourite chair, book or even mementos. Make it off-limits to others.

3. Use scent to lift your spirits. Aromatic candles are a beautiful addition to any room. Or try an oil burner with ylang ylang which is especially good for feminine energy.

4. Avoid clutter that can make you feel edgy or out of sorts. A regular clear out – including giving things you don't use to charity – can boost your happiness levels.

5. Don't forget about the use of colour. If you want to keep the Saturday, September 27, 2014

walls white, inject splashes of your favourite colour with accessories. Red, oranges and yellows are all happy colours.

6. Don't short-change yourself on cheap sheets or towels. Buy fewer items but go for quality. A gorgeous pair of pure cotton sheets will make you feel like a million dollars every time you slip into them, as will a large, fluffy towel when you step out of the shower.

7. Don't forget to add a pet – dog, cat, or goldfish. People who own pets have been shown to have less stress and, therefore, are happier.

Helen Hawkes, Happiness Coach, www.thecalmzone.com.au.

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make

+ Reely great idea to upcycle D I Y w i th G re i g Mo r g a n

+

C R A F T w i th M a d i s o n S m i th

B r e at h e n e w l i f e i n t o a c a b l e s p o o l w i t h t h i s s i m p l e p r o j e c t

F

OLLOWING the adage that one man’s waste is another man’s treasure, we put this unwanted wire cable reel to good use.

Using a bit of imagination, some sanding and painting, we were able to create this great-looking side table that could easily find a home in the man cave, living room or in the bedroom as a bedside table. It’s amazing how much fun you can have breathing new life into things.

IT’S AMA ZING HOW MUCH FUN YOU CAN HAVE BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THINGS

Materials : Stones : Acrylic paint : Thin paint brushes : Permanent marker : Clear enamel spray

Materials

Story stones

: Old cable reel : Stain : Paint : Sandpaper, 80- & 120-grit : Sander : Easy-peel masking tape : Castor wheels with brake : Screws : Screwdriver: Pencil : Paint brush

THIS story stone project is the perfect DIY activity to steer the kids away from technology and out into nature these holidays. Then, once you’re done decorating, the stones can be pulled out to defuse your little darlings while waiting for brunch at the cafe or when waiting at the seventh set of traffic lights in a row.

: STEP 1 Sand the cable reel to remove the rough look using 80-grit sandpaper — make sure you round off all the sharp edges before sanding it even smoother using a finer-grade 120-grit sandpaper.

: STEP 1: First off is the fun part, collecting stones. Head off for a walk and breathe in the fresh air, checking local parks, bush tracks or creeks for stones. Ideally they should be big enough to paint on, but no bigger than the palm of your child’s hand. The beauty of this project is that you can begin with a few stones and add to the collection as you go. We started off with five so that my kids wouldn’t get bored.

: STEP 2 With your work piece sanded back nice and smooth, remove the wood dust with a damp cloth. Now apply a wood stain with either a cloth or brush.

: STEP 3 With three coats of stain now applied, paint on a design to brighten the project up. Simply use easy-peel masking tape to help with straight paint lines, which helps give a nice paint finish between paint colours.

: STEP 4 On the underside of the reel, mark a pencil line for the positioning of the castor wheels in a triangle formation and fix the castors to the pencil lines. And make sure one of the castor wheels has a brake to stop any unnecessary movement.

SK IT E B OARD

AGE-OLD WISDOM They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure

: STEP 2: Once you have the stones, give them a scrub and decide on a theme. A few ideas to get you started – family, camping, animals, the possibilities really are endless. We decided on camping.

: STEP 3: : The finished table, varnished, painted.

PHOTO: JASON DORDAY

Do you like to get crafty on the weekend or do you have a finished DIY project you’d like to show off ? To share a photo of your latest creation with Weekend, email weekend@apn.com.au.

Now it’s time to get messy. Using the acrylic paint and paint brushes, start the design in white. Once it is dry you may paint the second coat in your chosen colours. This helps your design to stand out if the stones are naturally dark.

: STEP 4: When your story stones have been painted and are dry, spray with a clear enamel spray for longevity.

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Weekend

c l oset FLOWER POWER Classic floral ladylike prints have been given a modern twist.

+

L IF E MOST FA BU LOUS w ith M ered i th Pap ava s i li ou

+

Inwards is the path to being truly happy

FA SH IO N wi th Tra cey Ho rd e r n

H

APPINESS. It's something we all want, yet it can be as fickle in its presence (or otherwise) as it is difficult to define. It can be fleeting – a momentary state of being that brings a smile or a feeling of lightness – and ever-so-briefly envelops us in contentment.

We are swamped with sermons, memes and wellintentioned rhetoric, all directing us toward that which should make us happy. We crave endorsement, acknowledgment, recognition, vindication. We adorn, justify and convince ourselves. We seek. But do we find?

What if happiness was actually intrinsic? What if seeking it from outside sources – the material, the praise and the experiential – was actually counterproductive? Have we been going about this everenduring quest for happiness all wrong?

Think about it. When was the last time you were truly happy?

Not a rush of endorphins or an adrenaline hit (although both those are utterly fabulous and addictive in equal measure); but really, truly happy. When?

And by what definition? It's a tricky little state of being.

And while it is all in the mind, the physiology of it cannot be discounted. Activity, movement, creativity.

Challenge, accomplishment. We all have it in us to be happy. Some choose – consciously or otherwise – that it's not for them. More's the pity.

Happiness is something we need to nurture within ourselves. It's contentment without resignation. It is peace within ourselves and without the need for constant external endorsement.

Happiness cannot be sought, bought or fought for.

It cannot be manufactured, feigned or duplicated. It is the most personal truth. It is delivered – and all too often goes in unacknowledged and unappreciated except in retrospect. And that is the saddest part.

Own where you're at. Nurture that which brings joy.

Dispel that which does not. Engender contentment and enlist it as your default state of being.

But above all, be you.

You can only be your own brand of happy. No one else's will ever fit. Nor can it be sustained or honestly defined as real fabulous happiness.

WHEN WAS THE L AST TIME YOU WERE TRULY HAPPY?

+

Prints Charming P ai n t yo ur wa rd robe h ap p y w i th b right, fresh f l ora ls a nd t rop i cal pr in t s SPRING/Summer 2014 fashion is all about prints and colours. Prints are blooming florals and all things fresh, tropical and evocative of happy days. While the neon colours of last summer have subdued, the fashion rainbow is still stunningly bright: this is not the season for shrinking violets! Think lashings of clashing colours – pinks and oranges, purples and blues, reds and greens. This season is giving the classic floral ladylike prints a distinctly modern twist. Expect to find in the stores this spring fresh florals and tropical prints that scream sunshine, holidays and happiness.

FIRST ROW: : Tropical Print Shell Dress, $99.95 and Linear Print Dress, $79 from Country Road nationally and countryroad.com.au : Sleeveless Print Tunic, $49.99, and Fiesta Pants, $29.99 from Rockmans nationally and rockmans.com.au SECOND ROW: : Tropical Print Skirt, $129 from Country Road nationally and www.countryroad.com.au : Seafolly Tropical O’Nite Bag, $69.95 from Myer nationally and www.myer.com.au.

S T Y LE wi th Tracey Ho rd ern

Your colours ...

IF YOU'RE a certain age, you probably knew someone who had their “colours done”. It was all the rage in the ‘90s, usually performed as a consultation in a shopping mall that unlocked the great mystery of what colours suit you. To give you an idea, the analysis usually has individuals falling into one of four colour families (spring, summer, autumn and winter).

Spring Spring colours suit blondes or ‘brondes’ (light brown hair) with a warm but fair skin tone. Spring types can wear warm colours like camel, peach, golden yellow and golden brown. Avoid dark, dull colours and avoid black and white.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Summer Summer is often for redheads with a cool, fair skin tone; and look best in lavender, taupe, powder pink and powder blue while avoiding black and orange.

Autumn Autumn is for blondes and brunettes. Their skin tone is not as fair as spring and autumn types and they should select colours with golden undertones like camel, beige, orange, gold and dark brown. Avoid colours with blue tones, like navy.

Winter This type usually has dark hair and olive skin. They look best in white, black, navy blue, red and shocking pink as they all go well with winter complexions.

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st uf f

+ It’s a strange thing you’re doing now

+

GAD GETS

Wr i t i n g . It ’ s e n j oya b l e a n d c h e ap e r t h a n t h e rap y o r d i vo r c e .

O N A LI G H T E R N OT E wi th G re g Bray

D

EAR reader. Right now you are doing something that your children might think is very strange indeed. No, no, not that!

I’m referring to the fact that you are reading this article in an actual newspaper. Unless you’re reading it online, which is also good, but still a little strange.

Sadly, I haven’t got around to meeting most of you (yet), but it’s a fairly safe bet that you are middle-aged or older, educated, well informed, and organised enough to make time to read opinion pieces. I really hope you enjoy this one (and, by the way, so does my bank manager).

Or, perhaps you are a fellow writer looking to get into the column scribbling game? If that is you, then get yourself a decent dictionary, open it, and find the word ‘plagiarism’. In other words, write your own stuff pal, I’m working this side of the street!

Now, this column is approximately 300 words long, which is about 299 more than today's Facebook addicts can cope with.

If you’ve managed to read this far, then well done! You’ve made it further than most, and that includes my Long-suffering Wife; fortunately for me.

+

R EV I E W : G A D G ET

The ElliptiGo’s going places THE ElliptiGo puts the tread back into the humble treadlie.

Designed out of necessity when hip and knee injuries forced co-owner Bryan Pate to engage in low-impact exercise after a lifetime of contact sports, Mr Pate had always found the regular saddle and cycling position to be uncomfortable. He started using an indoor elliptical trainer but hated being stuck in a gym. The eight-gear 8C ElliptiGo will set you back $3199 and the 11R is $4199 plus delivery to anywhere in Australia.

See www.elliptigo.com.au or phone 1800 355 478.

: GOOGLE Chromecast HDMI Media Streaming Device

‘‘

It ’ s t h e b a n e o f h e r l i f e t h at I d o n ’ t d e vo te my we e ke n d s t o b a c kya rd m a ke ove r s o r e n j oy t h e s o r t o f h o b b i e s t h at wo u l d ... get me out of the house for e x te n d e d p e r i o d s

is a thumb drive which allows you to stream your favourite films, photos and music from your smartphone, tablet or laptop wirelessly to your TV.

It’s the bane of her life that I don’t devote my weekends to backyard makeovers or enjoy the sort of hobbies that would not only get me out of the house for extended periods, but may also be extremely hazardous to my health – base jumping, cage fighting, or being unfaithful.

She thinks it’s strange that I’d rather spend my spare time indoors writing columns. I don’t think it’s strange, it’s quite enjoyable and much cheaper than therapy or divorce.

And dear reader, I don’t think you’re strange either; endangered perhaps, a dying breed possibly, but definitely not strange.

Greg Bray blogs at gregbraywriter.wordpress.com. Find him on Facebook – Greg Bray – Writer.

: THIS natty machine presses your junk mail into useful paper plates, bowls and coasters. Junk mail is first pulped in a blender with some water before being poured into the mould. Visit www.vertdesign.com.au.

INTERESTED? Contact the distributor to line up a test ride

: THE Pix Pen and the e-Starwalker pen are optimised for use with the Samsung Galaxy Note and feature an e-refill concept so they can be used in both worlds.

Available next month from selected retailers.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Weekend

yo u

+ Eat to better health

A GOOD MIX The benefits of yogic foods are amplified when cooked together

Turmeric

.

PU T A LI T TLE ‘OM ’ IN YO UR L I FE wi th Pu sh pa B ak s hi

F

OOD has a huge impact on our health and bodies. In yoga there are a number of ‘yogic foods’ that are great for health and healing.

Garlic, ginger and onion – these three potent roots, known as the Trinity Roots, are essential for cleansing, sustaining, and producing energy in the body. The beneficial effect of each of them separately is amplified when they are cooked together.

Garlic : Fights viruses and bacteria. : Increases sexual energy that, with the practice of Kundalini yoga, can be channelled upward for greater spiritual awareness. : Eat raw, baked, steamed or n capsule form.

Onion : Universal healing food. : Purifies and builds new blood. : Recommended for colds, fever, laryngitis and diarrhea. : Increases mental clarity. : Eat raw (preferred), juiced or cooked.

Ginger Root : Soothes and strengthens nerves by nourishing spinal fluid. : Increases energy and vitality. : Useful for menstruating women. : Drink as a tea, juice or use it as a spice in main dishes.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

: Good for the skin and mucous membranes. : Good for female reproductive organs. : Increases bone and joint flexibility, anti-inflammatory. : Saute for curries, casseroles, soups, gravies and sauces. : Turmeric needs to be cooked before eating; you can cook it with a little water to make a paste that will keep in the fridge.

Yogi Tea : Black pepper purifies the blood. : Cinnamon strengthens the bones. : Cardamom supports the colon. : Cloves build the nervous system. : Ginger, with all its benefits, is an optional addition. : Black tea (tiny amount) holds it all together. : Milk protects the colon.

THIS S OUP MAKES THE BLOOD SLIGHTLY ALKALINE, WHICH PROMOTES MENTAL BAL ANCE

Soup to balance your acid and alkaline levels INGREDIENTS: : 1kg potatoes, sliced : 1kg celery : 1kg onions, sliced : 1⁄8 cup raw minced garlic : 1⁄8 cup cooking oil : 2 tblsp chili powder : 1 tblsp turmeric : 1 tblsp cumin : 1 tblsp coriander : pinch of cayenne pepper and salt.

METHOD: Layer the vegetables in a large pot with the potatoes on the bottom. Fill with water and add salt. Bring to a boil and cook until vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, saute the chili powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander and cayenne in the cooking oil and then add to the soup. Add garlic at the end before serving. Best served with croutons or healthy cheesy bread baked crisp in the oven.

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Weekend

re ad

+ Ready to pounce

The Lion King

N i c k A f o a l e ap s i n t o e n e r g e t i c st a g e r o l e a f te r a 1 0 - ye a r wa i t i n t h e w i n g s

By S e a n n a C ro n i n

N

ICK Afoa already feels right at home in sunny Queensland.

The actor plays adult Simba in The Lion King, which officially opened at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane last night.

“We’re all really excited to come to a city that’s a bit more laid-back, the people are a bit friendlier and the weather’s nicer,” Afoa told Weekend.

“It already feels like my home away from home. I’m half Samoan, so I have a lot of Samoan cousins and aunties and uncles all over Brisbane.

“I’m a Brisbane Broncos supporter and a Queensland supporter in State of Origin.”

But when it comes to union, Afoa’s loyalty still lies with the All Blacks and his native New Zealand, where he was a promising rugby talent until a knee injury put an end to his sporting career.

The 28-year-old beat 400 other performers for the coveted role, which he originally auditioned for 10 years ago when he was still representing New Zealand on the rugby pitch.

“It’s crazy; 10 years has gone so quickly,” he said.

“Sometimes things happen not in the time that you want, but they happen eventually. I’m glad I had the patience to stick around and listen to my parents to keep at it and follow my

dream.”

In contrast, his fellow cast member Buyi Zama has been playing Rafiki since the show debuted in Australia a decade ago.

“I’m really learning a lot, which is the main thing for me being a youngster in this industry,” Afoa said.

Thanks to his rugby background, the Auckland native brings a strong physicality to Simba and makes a dramatic entrance when he swings on to the stage at the end of the first act.

This week The Lion King surpassed The Phantom of the Opera to become the biggest stage show of all time, grossing $6.9 billion since debuting on Broadway in 1997.

The current Australian production, which is playing in Queensland for the first time, is one of 10 shows running around the world.

“Being able to see it first-hand and see the reaction of the crowds, even (the energy) after the shows backstage, I’ve come to realise how much of an impact this show has,” Afoa said.

“I’m not surprised at those results.

“One of the main things I love in the show is the father-son relationship. Being close to my dad, it’s a big thing I connect with when I’m on stage.”

The Lion King plays QPAC’s Lyric Theatre Wednesdays through Sundays until January 25.

: Since debuting on Broadway in 1997, the award-winning musical has been seen by an estimated 70 million theatre-goers. : The musical has been translated into eight languages including Japanese, German and Mandarin. : The Lion King has played in 18 countries on every continent except Antarctica. : It took 25 semi-trailers to transport the show’s array of costumes and set pieces from Sydney to Brisbane. : The musical is based on Disney’s 1994 animated film, which won the Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

: Nick Afoa as Simba in a scene from the musical The Lion King.

TAKE AWAY A CHILD’S MONY.STER WITH JUST A DOLLAR A DA

help Your regular gift could sed and Act for Kids treat abu ugh intensive neglected children thro such as art and treatment programs, play-based therapy.

00* kids, but this Last year we helped 3,5 even more, so please year we want to help saders today. join our other Kids’ Cru

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*Act for Kids 2012-13 financial year.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

PAGE 40

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.

Weekend

scr een l i fe LUKE EVANS: “I think most people will find it very refreshing and surprising”

Dracula Untold

: Luke Evans, left, and Art Parkinson in a scene from the movie Dracula Untold, a new take on Bram Stoker’s literary classic PHOTO: UNIVERSAL PICTURES

+ Film with bite F o r g e t t h e te e n va m p s a g a s, D ra c u l a i s b a c k i n a d a r k t a l e o f l ove , r e ve n g e , s a c r i f i c e a n d p owe r .

SC R EE N L I FE

with S eanna Croni n

L

ITERATURE’S original vampire is reborn in Dracula Untold. The fantasy drama portrays the origins of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula, whose fangs have been drawing blood for more than a century before the recent run of syrupy teen vampire sagas.

Luke Evans plays Vlad Tepe, or Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure on which Stoker based his immortal, cape-wearing Dracula.

“I didn’t really want to make another Dracula film,” Evans told Weekend. “There are enough of those and some fantastic ones have been made.

“But when I read the script it was very, very different and it was a story I didn’t know of. I think most people will find it very refreshing and surprising. As an actor it gave me a freedom and licence to tell a different story and to tread fresh ground.”

In Dracula Untold, Vlad is portrayed as a family man who is trying to protect his family and his Transylvanian subjects from the horrors he suffered as a child hostage of the Turks.

They groomed him to become a ruthless warrior, hence his not-so-subtle nickname of The Impaler.

After years of peace, the Turks are once again on Vlad’s doorstep and demanding fresh recruits to fill the ranks for the ever-growing Ottoman Empire.

With an invasion looming, a desperate Vlad seeks out the vampire Caligula, played by Game of Thrones’s Charles Dance, who is rumoured to live in the mountains of his kingdom.

“He did such a great job,” Evans said of Dance.

“He had such pressure with his prosthetic face and hands and teeth, but he just delivered. It was such a sinister, dark, threatening, thirsty, desperate performance but it totally worked. For me, I just had to react.”

Vlad learns he can temporarily gain Caligula’s powers, but the deal comes at a high price.

“Whether you agree with what he does or you don’t understand why he makes the decision he does, it doesn’t matter. You can empathise with his journey,” Evans said.

: Stars: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Charles Dance, Art Parkinson. : Director: Gary Shore : Rating: M : Reviewer’s last word: While there’s plenty of action and blood-letting in Dracula Untold, family and duty are at the heart of this medieval fantasy drama.

Star Profile: Luke Evans : Quirky fact: Has played two Greek gods on the big screen – Apollo in Clash of the Titans and Zeus in Immortals. : Best known for: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Fast & Furious 6, Clash of the Titans. : If you like this movie you’ll like these: I, Frankenstein, Daybreakers, 300: Rise of an Empire. : Quote: “Most men have an insecurity of some sort. But we're brought up to believe that we can't show them.”

“You can see the love he has for his wife and his child and the responsibility he has to his people. All these base human emotions make the story incredibly relatable.”

Sarah Gadon, best known for her roles in David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method and Cosmopolis as well as period drama Belle, plays Vlad’s loyal wife Mirena.

“Even when she discovers her husband is under the power of this dark force which is urging him to drink blood and she realises he’s done it for them, she stands by her man,” Evans said.

“It’s this incredibly powerful moment when you realise she’s not going to turn her back on him. No matter how much she’s repulsed by what he’s becoming she knows deep down that the reasons why he chose to do it were good and honourable.”

Despite his powers as a virtual one-man army, the bloodthirsty Vlad cannot save everyone he loves.

“It’s a sweeping story about love and heartbreak and revenge and sacrifice,” Evans said. “It’s the origin story of the most famous vampire, but it’s also a human story.”

Dracula Untold opens on Thursday.

+

R EVIE W wh at ’ s new on th e b ig s cre e n

Gone Girl

GILLIAN Flynn’s hit thriller Gone Girl is in good hands with The Social Network director David Fincher. Ben Affleck stars in this highly-anticipated adaptation of the missing-person drama as the husband who becomes a prime suspect. : Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle, Patrick Fugit. : Rating: M : In cinemas: Thursday.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Skeleton Twins

FAMILY dysfunction will inspire plenty of laughs and tears in this smart and sweet drama, which stars Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader as estranged twins whose reunion brings a lot of issues to the surface. Wiig and Hader, both alumni of Saturday Night Live, show off their versatility with powerful performances. : Stars: Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook. : Rating: M : In cinemas: now.

Annabelle

THIS spin-off of The Conjuring is sure to scare many theatre-goers with its creepy vintage doll but there’s nothing new or innovative about this film to set it apart from its peers in the horror genre. : Stars: Annabelle Wallis, Eric Ladin, Tony Amendola, Michelle Romano, Shiloh Nelson. : Rating: MA 15+ : In cinemas: Thursday

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re la x

+ Just a spoonful more +

EDITOR’S PICK: Try Mean Streak for a slow-burn adventure, or The Taxidermist’s Daughter for some darker meat

R EVIE WS: B O O KS AN D M USIC

D e l i c i o u s r e c i p e s f o r g l u te n - f r e e , ve g e t a r i a n a n d ve g a n c o o k s

Guilt-free Bottle-Feeding

By L i l l i an B ro d eri ck

By Madeleine Morris: INVESTIGATIVE journalist Morris draws on her own experience and the knowledge of pediatrician Dr Sasha Howard to advise new mums on how to have healthy, happy bubs if you can’t breastfeed them, without feeling like a failure.

O

KAY, I will admit that when it comes to food I could be considered high-maintenance.

Thanks to celiac disease I need a strictly glutenfree diet, and thanks to personal beliefs I choose vegetarian.

So dining out is rare but thankfully I love to cook – and this is a cook book that is chockers with recipes clearly marked as vegetarian, gluten-free and/or vegan as appropriate.

The photos inspire. I hate cookbooks without great images, and the recipes are clear, with simple ingredients.

As an experienced, medium-level cook, I know how to

Mean Streak

‘‘

. .. I am ke en as mu st ard to make the Kanang a's 'n ot chicken' cu rry, altho ug h n ot marked gl uten-free , c o uld eas ily be adapted change out ingredients to make recipes gluten-free, so I am keen as mustard to make the Kananga's 'not chicken' curry which, although not marked gluten-free, could easily be adapted.

For the non-celiac, the choices are many. Try the barbecue skewers, burgers, shepherds pie and lasagnes – all meat-free.

And sweet treats abound with many puddings and cakes – try the chocolate self-saucing pudding or the strawberry parfait with pomegranate and pistachio.

I have marked so many pages in this book with delicioussounding recipes and with names like Christmas Snog, I think this book is going to my favourite for a while.

The resume of first-time author Suzy Spoon (great name for a cook) includes cooking for vegan actor Toby Maguire when he was in Australia filming The Great Gatsby.

+

BOOK OF THE WEEK w i th Jo h n G rey

The Taxidermist’s Daughter

By Sandra Brown: A WELL written, sexy, modern thriller that draws you along. Is the tall dark and, yes, gorgeous mystery man the abductor or rescuer of Dr Emory? Will the tired FBI agent catch up with him? Who really cracked our sexy doctor’s head with a rock? What is tall-dark-andnameless’s connection to the nasty hillbilly brothers?

Partners

: Welcome to Suzy Spoon’s Vegetarian Kitchen cook book, top, and author Suzy Spoon.

By Kate Mosse: A DARK, gothic thriller full of tension, psychological damage and stuffed birds. Connie, the clever and capable amnesiac daughter of a depressed alcoholic, is in fact now the taxidermist – not a suitable job for a young lady and a bit creepy, even in 1912 England. A murdered woman’s body is found floating in a stream, sparking a flurry of guilt from a group of gentlemen who discover that “old sins have long shadows”. But who is, or was, Cassie, recently resurfaced in Connie’s fractured memories? And who is watching and protecting Connie, and wreaking horrific revenge? Warning: The book contains gruesome details of taxidermy and worse, plus enough birds to give Alfred Hitchcock nightmares.

Sony Music: BARBRA Streisand returns with Partners, a series of duets with men from Stevie Wonder through to Michael Buble. Streisand’s voice is untouched as she revisits classics.

+

R EV I E W : N E W O N DV D

Sleepy Hollow

A SEXY Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) turns up in modernday Sleepy Hollow where the Headless Horseman turns out to be the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Worth it for the scene where Crane tries on skinny jeans.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Weekend

p h oto e ssay AUSSIE ICON Our most recognised symbol of national pride can be found in many curious places

+

P H OTO GR A P H Y by C h r i s I so n

Advanced Australian flag THE Australian flag first flew in 1901 and has been seen as an expression of national pride ever since. It flies over countless public buildings and quiet suburban front yards. It is paraded by our troops and national sporting teams but I have never thought of Australians as being overly nationalistic, flag-waving patriots in the manner of our American friends.

Our celebration of Australianness seems more restrained, sometimes irreverent and even a little quirky at times. In recent years I have snapped Australian flags in seemingly the most unusual of places. Our premier national symbol adorns all manner of clothing, from footwear to hats. It can be found fading away on old buildings and even indelibly tattooed onto people’s skin. It always makes my day when I unexpectedly come across an Australian flag – as long as it is not fluttering from a flagpole.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Daily

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Weekend

mi n d TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE with Roy O’Reilly

+ Mind full or mindful?

M I N D YO U w i th Rowe n a H a rdy a n d N i c k B e n n e tt

+ QUIZ

1. Is a bain-marie used to keep food warm or frozen?

B e i n g p r e s e n t i n t h e m o m e n t i s a g i f t t o yo u r s e l f

2. Which medal is awarded to the best player in the AFL grand final?

3. Truman Streckfuss Persons was better known as which US author?

4. “So many nights I’d sit by my window, waiting for someone to sing me his song,” are lyrics from which song?

5. Which Australian swimmer was known as Madame Butterfly?

6. Which diet has been described as the “eat like a caveman” diet?

7. Which 1960s-70s TV police series was originally sponsored by the Victoria Police as a PR exercise?

8. Which “first” was recently achieved by Penrith Panthers hardman Nigel Plum in a match against the Newcastle Knights?

9. Fox 2000 is planning a sequel to which 1993 movie in which Robin Williams starred as a Scottish nanny?

10. Which Dutch artist painted the 1642 painting The Night Watch?

11. Does the Northern Territory or Queensland have the larger area?

12. Beginning with “s”, what is the North American term for a tram?

: Create a calmer and more present self

13. Does Moh’s scale measure hardness or ocean wave speed?

14. Carlotta is in which Australian state/territory?

15. Which Victorian has been nicknamed “the roo poo senator”?

16. Which former foreign minister recently said that flying business class was like “travelling in the trans-Atlantic slave trade”?

17. Which Carlton player was at the centre of the controversial “tap-in” incident in the 1979 VFL grand final?

18. On which planet have wind speeds of more than 2000km per hour been recorded?

19. Which Australian mainland territory has an area of 73sq km?

20. Name the creator of the comic strips Mandrake the Magician and The Phantom.

21. The Birdsville Track runs through Queensland and which other state?

22. Australia plays which country in a rugby test this weekend?

W

HILE it has become a bit of a buzzword, “mindfulness” or being “mindful” has a direct implication for all of us who live in an environment that is constantly bombarding us with information, time demands, decisions and over stimulating our senses with sound, colours, sights, tastes and smells.

Our minds work overtime to deal with the multi-sensory impact that our modern world provides and we can become mindless in our approach to ourselves and others in that environment.

The result can be anxiety, stress, intolerance and a range of other emotional and physical reactions leading to the apparent panacea offered by overindulgence in eating, alcohol, drugs and/or other unintentional self-destructive behaviours.

Much of the time we are busy living in the future. Worrying about things that we have to do, places we have to be, situations that may arise, events that may occur, but really all we have is the moment we live in now. Think about it: “You can only live in the future when it arrives in the present”.

So here is an easy and effective two-minute technique to help which over time, if practised just three times a day, will

23. A crown is depicted on the flags of which two Australian states?

create a calmer and more present ‘self’. This will allow you to be much more effective in dealing with the daily demands that you create for yourself.

Be more mindful : Being mindful of every movement, gently sit up straight in a chair, shoulders down and relaxed, palms gently resting on your thighs, both feet on the ground. : Close your eyes, gently focusing on the bridge of your nose. : Observing your breath, breathe in deeply through your mouth and exhale gently and slowly through your nose, focusing on the exhale. : Then inhale gently and slowly through the nose, focusing on the inhale. Feel the air entering your nose and filling your lungs fully. Next, focus on making the exhale longer and slower than your inhale. : Repeat this three times then gently open your eyes and notice how calm and relaxed you are. This feeling is called being present and it is just that; a gift to yourself. : Plan to do this process three times a day for the next seven days and you will feel the benefit.

NEXT WEEK IN WEEKEND

24. US rock star Meat Loaf celebrates which birthday today (a) 57th (b) 67th (c) 77th?

25. In which state does the Gulflander train operate?

ANSW E R S 1. Warm. 2. Norm Smith Medal. 3. Truman Capote. 4. You Light Up My Life. 5. Susie O’Neill. 6. Paleo diet. 7. Homicide. 8. First to be placed on report after knocking himself out. 9. Mrs Doubtfire. 10. Rembrandt.

11. Queensland. 12. Streetcar. 13. Hardness. 14. Western Australia. 15.

Senator Ricky Muir. 16. Bob Carr. 17. Wayne Harmes. 18. Neptune. 19.

Jervis Bay Territory. 20. Lee Falk. 21. South Australia. 22. South Africa.

23. Queensland, Victoria. 24. (b) 67th. 25. Queensland.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

+

R E AD // B r e a k i n g t h e g e n e t i c l i n k : I n s p i r i n g wo m e n s h a r e t h e i r c a n c e r st o r i e s

+

M A K E // S te p - by- ste p i n st r u c t i o n s o n h ow t o b u i l d a b a c kya rd sw i n g f o r t h e k i d s