NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 1
NEW CITY
NEW
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feb 2011
NEW CITY
Profile
Contents 03
MIray hindi
?
08
lifestyle
10
REFLECTIONS
18
beauty
14
travel
20
home
28
food review
22
motoring
30
movie review
24
new year’s resolutions
smokey eye it
Too Sexy
lifestyle
too sexy?
THERE is NO PLACE LIKE HOME
BMW 1 series M Coupe
- How Would You Appreciate Someone You Love? - Random Acts of Kindness Top 3 Experiences of London
The Commons Happy Chef
There is NO Place
Like Home
Letter from the Editor
Understanding and Coping with
Trauma
NEW CITY Magazine february 2011 edition Editor: Ben Irawan Account Executive: Joshua Yanto Art Director: Herlina Widjaja Local Writer: Miguel Ribeiro Office Manager: Yvonne Widjaja Contributors: Clare Heath Cisca Irawan Warwick Marsh Samuel Yanto Paul Rattray Dea Gunning Gail R. Schra Sonny Susilo Naomi Fields Carmelle Coleman Heidi McIvor Contact Details: NEW CITY MEDIA PTY LTD ABN: 47 145 474 362 PO Box 1, Arncliffe NSW 2205 Australia Email: contact@newcitymagazine.com Website: www.newcitymagazine.com For advertising: Call Josh on 041 339 1100 or contact@newcitymagazine.com For editorials: editor@newcitymagazine.com DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in NEW CITY Magazine and its website, do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or their agents. All images and photos are copyright of NEW CITY unless specified in credits. Unauthorised use of any images and photos published in this magazine and its website is strictly prohibited.
Printed by: mpd – printing the news everyday Unit E1, 46-62 Maddox Street Alexandria NSW 2015 2011
Hi everyone, As I am writing this, I am both happy and sad. Firstly, I’m happy that 2011 has been great so far for NEW CITY Magazine and I am so excited with the growth of our magazine and as a company. But, I’m also sad remembering what the Queenslanders and Victorians had to go through the floods and cyclones that ripped a huge chunk of their lives. These things really put us to the test and we have the chance to see what we and other Australians are made of. Honestly, seeing the way other Aussies help each other in these times of trials... makes me proud to be an Australian. In this edition, we have included an article about “understanding and coping with trauma”..., I hope you can find it useful either for yourself or you can also pass it on to those who really need to read it. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are suffering right now. Plus, we have lots of other interesting articles such as “healthy snacking” and visiting your “new year’s resolution”... we hope these articles will help you achieve the goals you have set and help you to be the healthier you! I hope you enjoy this month’s edition of NEW CITY Magazine. Remember, don’t be a stranger and drop me an email when you have the chance. Cheers, Ben Irawan Editor of NEW CITY Magazine editor@newcitymagazine.com
EMAILS TO EDITOR OF NEW CITY MAGAZINE
editor@newcitymagazine.com
Hi Ben, What can i say.... I like them all.....!! All of the articles in Jan 2011... I think you have covered lots of interesting stuff in there... Firstly, I regret to have missed out on the Sculpture by the Sea, but you have it covered so well! Then, I read your Ugly heart Vs Handsome Heart article... I loved it!!! Also your useless facts, made me so curious, I had to read them all! Hahaha... LOL So, again what can I say? I think your magazine is COOL and I will be sharing it to others! Keep up the good work... Cheers: Tanni Hi Tanni, Thanks for the kind and encouraging words. I am glad to hear that you like reading our article. Yes, the Useless Facts section has become many people’s favourites. We have fun researching them as well. You can share NEW CITY Magazine through many ways: giving the printed hard copies to your friends or forward the email that you get every time a new edition is out. Also, you can join our Facebook page www.facebook.com/newcitymagazine and re post the link of the magazine on your profile. Thanks again Tanni. ☺
PROFILE: MIRAY HINDI
Contesting a state election is a daunting task, but the Liberal’s candidate for Kogarah believes that being a working mum of four and local councillor has given her the preparation she needs to take on the safe Labor seat.
M
for the community,” she says. iray Hindi is a mum, local real estate agent, councillor for Kogarah and “Then to have a say in what goes on in your community – that’s what drives you to do everything you can to contribute and help make it a better place. community volunteer. “I believe motherhood and my role in the community has given me a lot of quali- “Why not be a part of that decision making process?” ties I need to become a good local member,” Miray says. “Any mother would know that you have to develop organisational, time manage- Being part of the decision making process at State Parliament level will force ment and multi-tasking skills, the ability to handle whatever issue comes along Miray to face a world dominated by middle-aged males. Yet she believes her role as a working mum is going to give her a relevance and edge her male counterand you have to be strategic about everything you do and say. parts don’t have. She says the majority of male politicians wouldn’t understand “That has been my best preparation for politics too.” what it is like to run a strict family budget, to do the grocery shopping under $200 a week and to deal with the pressures of raising a family. “I’m really passionate about helping working families meet the rising costs of living,” she says.“In general I feel we are lucky to be in such a nice, beautiful community and I want to preserve and protect that sense of community and make sure it remains a stable place for our children to grow up in.” The Hindi family likes to work together and their latest project, the New South Wales’ state election, is no different. So far Miray’s campaign has been a family affair, with her husband and children proving to be a valuable team. “My kids, particularly the older ones, are very supportive and proud of me and they’re a great help, which makes my job easier,” Miray says. “They have been involved in nearly every aspect of the campaign, including letterbox dropping and door-knocking.” Since being pre-selected by the Liberals last November Miray has blitzed the electorate, door-knocking more than 2000 homes to speak face-to-face with the residents she hopes to represent. “People really appreciate the fact that you are taking the time to meet them one on one,” Miray says. “It’s time consuming and tiring sometimes, but it’s very important to connect with people.”
Miray resides in Carss Park with her husband Con and their four children Malcolm, 17, Rachel, 15, Vanessa, 9 and Rebecca 8. Miray says she and her husband feel a gratitude to their community, which has motivated them to get involved. Both are local councillors – Miray elected to Kogarah Council in 2008 and Con currently serving as Deputy Mayor of Hurstville City Council. She is also a volunteer, fundraising for the Salvation Army and Red Cross, and is involved with local Catholic churches. Miray says her entry into state politics was a natural progression. “When you live in the area and have young children, you do develop a passion
Miray will have to work hard if she is to produce a significant swing in the safe Labor seat of Kogarah. The incumbent, Cherie Burton, holds a 17 per cent margin in what has been a Labor stronghold since 1953. Miray admits she feels like the underdog, but believes she has an advantage over her political opponent. “The difference between Ms Burton and I is that Ms Burton doesn’t live in the electorate,” Miray says. “If you are a local, you have that connection with the people and the issues. “It might not be law, but I believe it is important to live alongside the people you represent. “There is a big margin between the Liberal and Labor parties in Kogarah, but I feel that after 16 years of Labor people want a change and a fresh approach.” (HM)
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Understanding and Coping with
Trauma
By Gail R. Schra, MSW, LCS
Australia is a beautiful country but certainly one of extremes. In recent times we have been rocked by devastating floods and bushfires. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who are suffering and have lost so much. After any tragedy or trauma, the road back to healing and hope can be very long and difficult. We hope this article will serve as a road map to support you and your family on that journey. How Traumas Can Be Experienced
chaotic feelings. Our ability to sort out the situation (using our higher, cortical, brain functioning) is so overwhelmed by the traumatic event that what is left is fight, flight, freeze or even faint (involving our lower, or sub cortical, brain functioning). In normal circumstances, these two areas of our brain function in parallel and complementary fashion, each doing its respective work, but in an acute trauma, the balance is tipped into survival mode only.
Symptoms of Trauma
For anyone who pays attention to current events, it is clear that large numbers of people around the world are affected by events which result in trauma. Every day there are accidents on our roadways, in our homes, in the workplace, in the air and on water. There are weather related events which can seriously and suddenly affect any number of lives. We hear and see images of bushfires, floods, cyclones, tsunamis and earthquakes. Besides the possibility of trauma from the natural elements and the hazards of living in a mobile society, there are daily assaults, robberies, shootings, suicides, homicides and rapes. There is even the risk of trauma resulting from family violence. Any of these events can result in sudden and unexpected trauma. Perhaps even more disturbing are the all too familiar threats and actual events of man’s inhumanity to man. Wars, acts of genocide and terrorist attacks, regardless of the scale, are even more shocking and overwhelming in their intended effects. None of us expect any of the above to happen to us, and when it does, none of us are prepared. It changes our world forever! It is impossible to grasp the range and numbers of individuals affected by and suffering from such events on any given day. It is important to understand and remember that each person affected by trauma experiences his or her own unique reactions and symptoms.
Trauma often results in physical injury such as broken bones or other injuries, causing sudden incapacitation and loss of the ability to respond or function effectively. But for now, we will focus on the emotional consequences of trauma that can affect any one of us as an individual. Such trauma results in emotional pain, distress, a sense of shock and threat that overwhelms one’s usual abilities to cope. Emotional trauma is essentially a normal or predictable response to an abnormal or extremely unusual event. While normal, these responses to trauma are far from comfortable and can have long-lasting emotional effects. Overwhelming stress and the inability to function effectively are at least temporarily locked in and fixed by the trauma, making them difficult to shake.
What Is Stress?
Stress is a very normal part of all our lives. To be involved in life’s activities and relationships is to have times of added stress. Usually this happens in manageable doses, and we are able to accommodate and respond to the occasional unexpected change of priority, sudden change in required work deadline, or the unanticipated weather or traffic delay. Such events often actually energize us into figuring out different and creative ways to accomplish our original goals. Good stress is called “eustress.” Distress, on the other hand, is a negative and dysfunctional force that can lead to disease and the erosion of health. Distress is stress to the degree that normal coping mechanisms are no longer effective. The ability to think and problem solve is seriously impaired, leading to unpredictable and often
This trauma state is not pleasant and can manifest itself in many different ways. We can experience physical symptoms. These can include rapid heart rate, chills, tremors, hyperventilation, dizziness, stomach upset with nausea and vomiting, increased blood pressure, a sense of overwhelming fatigue or exhaustion, headaches, disturbance of normal sleep patterns and chest pains. Acute trauma affects our ability to think. We may be easily distracted; there can be a sense of confusion, inability to problem solve, inability to focus and maintain one’s attention, difficulty with simple arithmetic, hyper vigilance (anything and everything can seem dangerous or a threat); we may even be disoriented about who and where we are, we may have marked increase or decrease in alertness and recurring and intrusive thoughts of the traumatic event. Our behaviour can be altered by trauma. We can experience nightmares or disturbance of appetite or have an exaggerated startle response. We may avoid crowds and social gatherings, preferring to isolate and withdraw. There may be poor attention to personal hygiene. There can be substance abuse, impulsiveness and out of character risk taking behaviour. Trauma can affect our emotions. We can feel guilt, anger, fear, grief, anxiety, shock, disbelief, sadness, hopelessness, helplessness or irritability. We may experience what is called emotional “numbing” and even develop phobic reactions. Being a victim of trauma can bring on questions of how we view life. The world may no longer make sense. We may feel it can no longer be trusted. Life may be seen as unjust and unfair. We may question whether we can ever again predict and plan. Our sense of order and predictability may be shattered. Trauma can result in serious spiritual distress. We may feel angry with God or question why God would permit this to happen. We may start to ponder questions about life and death we’ve never thought about before.
It is helpful to acknowledge such feelings and thoughts. Rather than keeping such feelings hidden and feeling added shame and guilt for having them, look for a trusted friend, a pastor, priest, rabbi, chaplain or a counsellor with whom you can begin to share and put into words what you have been feeling and thinking. Though this is a difficult thing to initiate, it is one of the most helpful steps to take.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
As noted earlier, if we are paying attention to the issues and events of our time, we know all too well that traumatic events of all sorts are occurring all over our world. We also hear more and more about what is called PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). PTSD is the current way of describing a cluster of reactions which can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Assuming the presence of mass communication, it has been estimated that all of us have a 60 to 90 percent chance of being exposed to a traumatic event during our lifetimes. Of those the number of individuals who actually will develop PTSD is only about 8 to 9 percent.
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NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 5
NEW
city 6 Our exposure may also vary in terms of how directly or indirectly we may be involved. Some of us may be directly involved in a traumatic event, we may know someone who was, or we may have only watched and heard the news
cal as are these pre-existing factors which contribute to a positive, rather than a negative, response to trauma.
What Helps?
If you are suffering from the effects of trauma, you may want to consider a range of steps to better care for yourself. For some, the simple process of journaling helps to give expression to the pain and feelings that are troublesome. It helps to look back later and see where progress is indeed being achieved. Becoming involved in meaningful and trusted social relationships is a supportive and important step for many. Finding connections with friends in and/or outside of your community, where you can develop trust, begin to share our hearts and experiences and to support each other is especially important. This often also involves being supportive and helpful to others. Often our burden can become the beginning of effective support and interaction with others. For some, finding professional help is the best step to take. A professional counsellor can provide understanding and insight into difficult circumstances and make the proper recommendations for care and treatment. There are professional counsellors specially trained to understand and address the issues that trauma victims experience.
accounts of what happened. The events of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, and the Twin Towers attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are examples of events that may affect a wide range of people. We must especially acknowledge the immediate and intense exposure to trauma by those in our society who are what we call “first responders.” Our police, fire-fighters, paramedics and members of the military along with medical and behavioural health professionals and other government and volunteer organisations involved in the immediate aftermath of disasters are at high risk for trauma as they perform their responsibilities. It would seem logical that the more direct and prolonged the exposure and involvement in the disaster scene, the greater the potential for PTSD to develop. This is happily not always the case. This is an area of continued study and research along with how PTSD can best be treated. PTSD is a medical diagnosis and only medical and behavioural health professionals can determine if it indeed is present in any given trauma sufferer. In summary, PTSD involves a range of reactions: a pattern of avoidance of anything associated with the trauma, intrusive and unwelcome memories of the trauma, an increase in signs of stress, social withdrawal and numbing of emotions, which all combine to interfere with one’s normal life activities and responsibilities. (Current DSM-IV- TR)
Resiliency
Most people who are exposed to and survive a traumatic event can experience a range of reactions during the following few weeks. Most adapt quite effectively over a period of about three months. This ability to recover and move on in life is called resiliency. Resiliency is the ability to uniquely respond to a situation, to pull together resources, to adapt and make do, to organize for oneself and the good of others, to reach out and also respond to help from others. In all disasters, there are accounts and images of courage, compassion and support by those able to respond to sudden and catastrophic situations.
Trauma Can Be Revived
Following a trauma, certain things can retrigger the painful memories, even years later. One example would be the anniversary date of the trauma. If another trauma occurs, feelings from the former event can resurface. News accounts or legal proceedings can cause painful feelings and memories to resurface.
Protective Factors
The factors that protect us during and following a traumatic exposure include how well we have coped all along in our lives. Having and nurturing good social relationships protects us. Having good family relationships, friends in general and at work, can serve this protective function. Having meaningful and regular participation in a faith community/church or synagogue, both in regular worship services and especially involvement in smaller support and study groups is very powerful. Our basic personality style may help or hinder our recovery from trauma. Are we basically outgoing, optimistic and looking forward to participating in life, or do we tend to withdraw, avoid social interaction and see threat where others see challenge and opportunity? Reflecting on these things may help one begin to make the kinds of changes that promote resiliency. For some, there may even be family or cultural accounts (often passed on orally) of trials and trauma that ancestors faced and survived and which help to blunt the shock of sudden trauma in our lives. The important point here is that the severity of a traumatic experience is not as criti-
Focus on the Family Australia® has useful written and downloadable materials available and can help you make an informed decision about what may be the best course of action for your situation. Contact our counselling department for confidential assistance on 1300 300 361 or via our website www.families.org.au.
GATHERING OF
THE NATIONS Australia Day was not the same this year for those who attended the Australia Day prayer gathering at Life Centre. The passion and excitement inspired those present who prayed their hearts out for those who had been affected by the recent floods in different parts of Australia and also for the outpouring of God’s love, power and protection over our nation. It was a special night of prayer for Australia on the eve of Australia Day. With minimal publicity, only emails and word of mouth, the church in the inner suburbs of Sydney was packed out with close to 300 people attending. It was entitled the “Gathering of the Nations” and indeed it was just that, as more than 20 different nations were represented by those present. A feature which highlights the passion and commitment of the people involved was that the meeting was webcast worldwide. The church has some 20,000 people who are registered with them to receive their webcasts on a regular basis. Whilst the meeting was in progress they were getting phone calls from America and Asia as people were watching. People were still lingering around talking together about the night at 11.30PM, an hour after the 3.5 hour meeting concluded. The time went so quickly many could not believe it was so late. It was a wonderful night full of passion and excitement. Some drove from different parts of the state (Newcastle, Central West, Wollongong, the South Coast and the Southern Highlands) to attend. www.lifecentre.org.au
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Too Sexy
?
Warning:
Carrie Bradshaw (of Sex and the City fame) and Erin Brockovich could be bad for your career. Yes, I am talking about two sassy, fashion-forward heroines who graced our TV screens in years gone by. They caused many a burgeoning fashionista to cast an adventurous eye over her wardrobe and dare to bring a bit more glamour to work. I must confess to feeling a little bit more courageous, though I have never been quite brave enough to try rocking a tutu at work ala Carrie Bradshaw!
“But how is this a bad career move?” I hear you ask. The majority of us want to look sharp for work. It reflects our attitude, gives a competitive edge and can pave the road to promotion and pay rise. Of course, the average performance review has more to do with quality of work but research shows that employers pay attention to the way you look as well. The problem with the glamorous heroines mentioned above is not that their outfits featured too much personality but that they featured too much *ahem* cleavage. There I said it. So much for the old idea that womanly wiles can be an advantage in the workplace! A UK study recently showed that more than half of bosses had passed over a female candidate for a promotion or pay rise because of their clothing. Specifically, the cleavage objection was a big one for bosses. It was news to me to discover that some women even faced losing their jobs because of appearance. You may recall the story of Deborahlee Lorenzana who claimed she was dismissed from her job in a bank because she was ‘too sexy.’ Ms. Lorenzana claimed to have received confusing messages about her appearance from her managers during the course of her employment. She stopped wearing make-up because she had been told her appearance grabbed too much attention. Then she was told to wear make-up because she looked sick without it. But she should leave the fitted suit alone and wear something looser. Apparently her figure was distracting. It might have been an extreme case. I doubt most bosses would tell a female employee “You didn’t get the promotion because you’re too sexy to be taken seriously.” So maybe it’s time to pay a little attention to this question: how do you strike the right balance when it comes to getting dressed for work? It so happens that there is quite a number of career image consultants around. Here are some tips I picked up from some of them.
1.
Ignore the “if you have got it flaunt it” adage. You are in a professional environment so it is a good idea to err on the side of conservatism. Think elegance and class. A little bit of mystery about a woman isn’t a bad thing. Think conservative on hair and makeup as well. The beehive hair-do is more reminiscent of Amy Winehouse and The Nanny than the current female power players of the business world. It is fine to keep fashionable but try not to be too outrageous.
2.
Pants are good. Skirts are better. It seems a bit antiquated and stereotypical but it is a sentiment echoed by a number of professional attire advisors. Some financial institutions even forbid their ladies to wear pants! A good quality skirt suit is a great asset to any professional wardrobe. If you are going for pants, make sure they are well tailored and not too baggy or long. For both pants and skirts, ensure they aren’t too tight or too lose. If you are suffering from the old ‘Visible Panty Line” then something isn’t fitting right. When buying skirts and pants, make sure you can fit two fingers underneath the waistband. That way you aren’t wearing anything too tight.
3.
A great rule of thumb for shirts and blouses is this: “At least an inch above the cleavage, no longer than the hip bone.” Sleeveless shirts are fine for under jackets, but check your organisations policy if you choose to wear a sleeveless shirt without the jacket. Some organisations object. When buying tops and jackets, also make sure they don’t pull or strain across the back and shoulders when you move around.
4.
Beware of the things that send the wrong message. Visible tattoos, body piercings, excessive body hair and overly tight clothing can be frowned upon in certain professions so think carefully about what you choose to show.
5.
Grooming matters. An impeccable professional image can gain you respect and give you a competitive edge so make sure you aren’t letting yourself down by appearing ungroomed and messy. It is amazing what a difference good make-up makes. If you are in any doubt as to what suits you, head into your local chemist or department store and ask the staff at the cosmetics counter to help you out with a consultation. Most of them will do it for free so you really can’t go wrong.
6.
Quality matters. A lot of professionals can spot a cheap suit twenty meters away. So while the blouse you wear underneath it can come from the bargain rack of that little outlet you would never admit to shopping in, go for quality on basics like skirts, pants, jackets and shoes. Good quality basics will last you years and can be kept up to date with a bit of tasteful accessorizing. Therefore it is worth shelling out the extra pennies and investing in good wardrobe staples.
7.
Invest in a full length mirror. It really is a girl’s best friend. Before you leave the house in the morning, do the pivot check. Ask yourself “Are there any snags in my hosiery? Is my shirt pulling across the bust or showing more flesh than appropriate? Have I banished the visible panty line? Are there any visible bra straps? Are all clothing items in good repair and tastefully put together?” And my favourite one “Have I blended my makeup in along the jaw line?”
8.
Lastly, don’t forget the one thing that you wear with every outfit: your posture. Stand up tall, walk straight and be confident. Don’t try to dress like anyone else. Your personality and confidence needs to show through.
Creating a competitive advantage in your career has a lot to do with the image you create. Image consultants can charge big dollars to tell you how to dress to impress. Some of them will even deal with how you walk and speak. But a good rule to live by is “Just be the best you that you can be.” Think class, elegance and a conservative neck-line. Go get ‘em girls! (CH)
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Why 94% of
New Year’s Resolutions
them fail by January….
New Year’s resolutions are a much thought of
topic at the start of January and it would seem no one can stop your determination once the clock hits midnight. “Come tomorrow morning, I am getting into the shape of my life. I’m going to lose 10kg and have the best 2011 ever. This is my year”.
Unfortunately, a study from The Johns Hopkins University shows that 93.8% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the end of January and are completely forgotten. Considering that the number one New Year’s resolution revolves around weight loss, that’s a lot of people struggling with their health and fitness which is worrying as health should be our number one priority.
It is something that shouldn’t been taken lightly. To put into perspective how much it affects our life and productivity, when Sir Richard Branson, The Chairman of Virgin Group was asked what is the secret to his success, he paused and then without hesitation said, “Working out”. So if it’s good enough for Sir Richard….. But back to the original point then, what is going wrong? Well, I’m going to tell you the answer and what you can do about it…..The answer is ACCOUNTABILITY. Might not sound like much but let me give you an example. You come home from work after a long hard day, where your boss is pushing you too the edge, there was no air con on the train (or you were stuck in traffic in the car), you were standing all the way and then it starts raining when you start the walk home from the station. How easy is it to just simply say, “Oh I’ll train really hard tomorrow. One day won’t hurt the waist line. Now I’ll go get a pizza and a bottle of Coca-Cola”. You know how it goes. Now imagine you had someone holding you accountable. Well for starters your spouse won’t do as it’s easy to convince them to agree with you (otherwise as far as your concerned they are horrible and you want to scream at them to go and experience running on the treadmill for an hour). So who can you turn too? You need a stranger, someone who you wouldn’t lie too as its not easy and therefore will keep you working. A personal trainer is an ideal solution and if budget allows an excellent choice. Not to mention they can plan your training for you and your nutrition plan.
But there is still another great way. A training and nutrition diary. Training and nutrition diaries are simply a log of your eating habits and training schedule from each day. By filling it in, many studies have shown (and from personal experience with clients) that you are much more likely to continue what you started. It will show all your progress to date and keep you motivated. Unfortunately it won’t work as well as a personal trainer in that it WILL take no for an answer if your conscious allows, but it is still very effective. This is without doubt the number one tip for keeping yourself accountable and helping you to reach your new year’s goals. But a couple of other things that will help though are these.
Firstly, you need a goal. How can you know what your destination is if you don’t have a target. And to go with that you need a starting point, so do some basic before measurements. Just a weight and waist measurement will do wonders. But make sure you weight yourself at the same time of the day compared to the last one to limit weight fluctuations in the day. Oh and don’t bother going out and spending a few hundred dollars on some scales that claim they can tell you your body fat percentage. They are about as useful as a cat flap in an elephant’s house.
Ben Fox
Next you need a good support system at home. It is no good if there is chocolate all over the kitchen cupboards. You need to devise a system at home that is not Gung Ho, but is at least supporting of you. I.e. your family enjoying some healthy options with you a few times a week or even someone going to the gym with you once a week. If others are aware of your goals, you will have more support and be held more accountable. Next is another big one. Plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Plan the week ahead as to when you’re going to the gym, or to a class or for a walk, and plan a few meals ahead if you can. You don’t want to be caught out and have no choice but to eat Pizza from the take away. The last one is perhaps the most important and that is simply implementation. Implement these steps to take action and succeed. 2011 really can be your year even if you have fallen off the band wagon already. And remember…. you have the power to determine where you are in life tomorrow by the decisions you make today…..so make good ones. To your health and fitness, Ben Fox (B. Ex Sc)
Ben Fox is the owner of Fox Fitness and Performance in Alexandria Sydney, which offers personal training as well as Boot Camps in Wolli Creek and Erskineville. He is also an Exercise Physiologist and has helped over 230 Sydney Residents get into the best shape of their life’s. For more information head to www.foxfitness.com.au
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Once upon a time, not too
long ago, I was in the gym four times a week slogging it out on the machines to move the unwanted pounds. I was healthy, brimming with energy and completely, delightfully devoid of the dreaded ‘muffin top.” Then I took a week off for Christmas. “Just one week off the diet and exercise wagon won’t hurt,” I told myself. Of course that was back in 2009 and I didn’t manage to get back at all in 2010. So much for just one week off! But that happens in the busy life of the modern adult, doesn’t it? Time is gold, life is demanding, personal health and fitness is a nice ideal at best. Perhaps the busy nature of life and the easy availability of junk food is why Australia wore the “fattest nation on earth” tag for the last few years. We may have now handed that one back to America, but we still rate at number 6 in the world according to recent data. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have work to do. Health authorities recommend half an hour of exercise every day in order to maintain health. Exercise is wonderful! Your body loves it even if your brain hates the idea of sweating off the pounds. But don’t
A Dummies Guide To Healthy Snacking: shoot yourself in the foot. “Weight loss is 20% exercise and 80% food,” says personal trainer and café owner, Joanne Verrill. So here are her tips on how to nail the snack food situation!
Keep your metabolism pumping! Six small meals a day keeps it revved up. Start big then finish up small. But don’t go and hit the vending machines in between times! High sugar and high saturated fat foods will cause your blood sugar to spike then drop making you feel drowsy and foggy. Go for a healthy, pre-planned snack instead. Despite what you think though, it is best to not eliminate all fat from your diet. Fat is actually needed for digestion. But go for the good fats. Avocado, almonds, nuts and legumes are a good place to start.
Junk food is addictive! Avoid it! It is
packed with additives including sugar, artificial colours and flavours. It is also a known hiding place for the dietary boogie man called MSG which is an addictive agent. So if you have fallen into the trap of habitually choosing cheap junk-food as an easy hunger buster, it might be time to retrain the pallet. Food is best eaten closest to its source. For example, don’t get your tomatoes from a can (or sliced up in a burger). Buy them fresh. Processed food is the enemy of the healthy digestive system.
Plan your menu! Do not even think about going shopping when you are hungry. It’s a recipe for disaster. Think ahead. Bring a snack box to work. Geeky -- maybe a little bit. Responsible and healthy -- Most certainly! And it will help you avoid the vending machine trap at the train station on the way home. If you are struggling for inspiration on healthy hunger busters, here
are my tips:
First some good news - You don’t have to quit
the coffee. Just quit the sugar you add to it. Before you go replacing sugar with sweetener, educate yourself! Some sweeteners out there have the nu-
tritional value of rat poison. However, good health food shops stock natural alternatives that don’t have the questionable long-term effects. Another fun fact for you is this: Black coffee is better for you than white. It allows you to absorb all the nutrients and antioxidants that coffee has to offer.
Make sure you drink plenty of water as well - Two litres a day is a good goal. You might be
interested to know that hunger pangs can often be ‘thirsty’ pangs that we got all confused. One benefit of cold water drinkers is that they actually burn more calories as well! Heading to the water fountain yet? Good! But before we move off the water topic I must mention that coffee dehydrates. So for every cup of the beautiful brew that you consume, replenish yourself with two glasses of H2O!
Dried fruit and nuts - It’s simple enough for the
busy person to grab a mixed bag from the supermarket or health shop. This one is high on my list of favourites because nuts have the kind of fats that help with digestion. Dried fruit is packed with flavour and though high in sugar, it’s the right kind of sugar. Keep in mind that of the nuts, Almonds are the lowest in fat. Chow down on them before you hit the Macadamias which rate a lot higher in fat content.
Yoghurt - It’s packed with good bacteria such as acidophilus and it’s easy to grab single serves from your supermarket. If in doubt, 100 grams is a great serving size. You can also choose from low fat varieties to keep the waistline under control. If you want to change it up a bit, throw some dried fruit or low fat muesli in with the yoghurt. It is an easy snack that doesn’t take long to prepare. Salads - They don’t have to just be for lunch. Why don’t you make yourself a colourful salad to nibble
on during the day? Throw in 100 grams of chicken or tuna and a handful of pine-nuts for a delicious snack that keeps you full but doesn’t load you up with carbs or sugars. If you are after a low fat dressing, a little bit of lemon juice and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil adds a little bit of pizzazz. You could also try balsamic vinegar which has given many a boring salad a burst of life over the years.
much as you can fit in the palm of your hand. There you go, that’s not so hard to achieve now is it?
Juices and smoothies - While it is best to avoid
any with added sugars, juices and smoothies actually make a good snack. They still have the nutrients of fruit but they don’t have the hassle and mess of peeling an orange at your desk or chopping up a watermelon in a hurry.
A final point to keep in mind: Don’t hit the breads and carbs too hard. Most people involve carbohydrates in their main meals so there is no need to go into overkill by snacking on breads and biscuits. Your body can do without that. If you stay away from high sugar snacks, you might even find that you will have more energy during the day instead of that sluggish feeling of the high/low sugar crash cycle we can so easily get stuck in. Happy snacking! And good luck towards attaining a healthier, slimmer you. (CH)
Revamp a dieter’s favourite - Try celery with low fat cheese spread and cherry tomatoes. Celery is an old dieter’s favourite because your body uses more energy to digest it that the celery actually contains. But on its own it can be rather boring. Solution: Put a bit of low fat cheese spread or sour cream on it and slice a few cherry tomatoes for a new twist on an old favourite. Fresh fruit and vegetables - Because the simple things in life are often the best. How many times have we heard the recommendation to eat five serves of vegetables and three serves of fruit every day? How much is a serve? It’s about as
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Smokey Eye It.
HOW TO DO IT:
Choose colours that work with your style, and draw out on an angle for a cat like effect, - meow, meow!
1 Apply a concealer or primer all over lids into lashes and along bottom lash linefor shadow staying power.
2 Paint dark brown crème eye shadow on the eyelid that suits your eyeshape.
7 Highlight brow bone using a nude shimmer or for a party fun look, add a bit of sparkle. Press into inner eye too, where the light sparkles as you bat those lashes!
8 When you finish eye make-up, clean up any fallout on cheek. Sellotape
works well for this – lightly press Sellotape on your cheeks to pick up the excess glitter.
3 Apply under your lashes too - work it right into lash line for a smokey effect. 9 Then apply foundation for a clean flawless finish, buff on blush, roll on mascara and glide on lipgloss. 4 Apply medium to dark shadow all over the creme, for added depth and drama, this sets the creme shadow as well as staying power and glide when layering darker shadows.
5 For a night time look or to strengthen the depth of colour, press strong
black shadow into lashline, over your eyelid, stopping just below the edge of your brown shadow.
6 Blend, blend, blend fading out the black eye shadow 1-2 mm before brown eyeshadow finishes.
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Relax, It’s a Facial!
year (I hear all the ladies cheering and feel the blokes shaking their heads) and I want to look great for me, and my bride to be. She deserves it and so do I. What did I do about it?
It’s a trend that after people talk about their new years resolutions, they drop the ball early in February and never pick up what they set out to do. The beginning of the year was quite busy for me, running around and catching up with what I left behind in work, the house, the car etc. I realised I needed a holiday after my holiday. I totally understand why people forget their passionate declaration to their friends to stop eating junk and looking after themselves. I was one of them! I’m getting married to my beautiful fiancé at the end of this
I went to ‘EB Medi Spa’ in Brighton. I’ve never been pampered before today, the lovely professional therapist was Paris, but she’s Polish… keep up people. She seriously answered all my questions about my skin problem, advised me like a doctor, took the stress out of my shoulders and made my skin feel a million bucks. She was congenial professional, told me exactly what she was going to do and explained the benefits. They used professional products from Vita-man, I have never heard of them, but I did buy their products after I was through--it impressed me that much. It was over in what felt like minutes, but I was in there for just over an hour. I highly recommend you try this place before you let go of your new years resolution. Give it a go… you and your partner and see how you feel after. I’m sure you’ll be thinking why you didn’t do this earlier. (JY)
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NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 17
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How Would You Appreciate Someone You Love? I overheard a conversation between a grown man and a very elderly woman at a supermarket the other day. The elderly woman was walking very slowly while holding onto the shopping trolley with her walking stick by her side. She was quiet, but I could see from her facial expression that she was trying very hard to walk as fast as she could. Then I heard her son said to her: “Hurry up, Mum...!” I couldn’t help thinking to myself, imagining what it was like 30-40 years ago when the son was totally dependent on her for food, clothing, education, etc. How hard she must have worked to look after her son for so many years, cuddling him when he got hurt, hugging him when he was sad, being there for her son through all the different seasons of his life. Now... many years later, she needs him just to help support her to walk, yet he doesn’t have
enough patience to wait for her. When we are young and have no problems with our mobility, many of us will never realise how hard it is to cope with aging, especially when even walking becomes very difficult. But we should always remember the times when our parents took care of us, provided for us and gave us the best that they could give. Now that I am a parent of 5 children, I become very aware of all the sacrifices that parents do. I am learning to appreciate my parents more and more as time goes by, reminding myself that they once gave their all for my well being and that they may not necessarily be around for another 1020 years. What can you do to appreciate your parents today? (CI)
Random Acts of Kindness Our lives are so busy that there are times when we don’t have an opportunity to wash our car for a long time. One day, we were very surprised because one of our nephews out of the blue just took our car key and returned the car washed, inside and out. So the next time we came into our car, the car was all clean and tidy. Our nephew just did that randomly, knowing that we are too busy to do it ourselves and he just did it without a word. Who would have thought of doing that these days? How often do we help people without being asked? It is a rare thing to do, but I dare you to test out some of these random acts of kindness:
- mow someone’s lawn - pay for the person behind you at a drive thru - babysit for sleep deprived parents - cook & wash for someone who is sick - visit an elderly widow - give your mum a massage or a massage voucher - clean someone’s house
If you have experienced some random acts of kindness, write to the New City Editor (editor@newcitymagazine.com). Your story may be published in the next edition! (CI)
BABY TO BOY
I know that children go through ages and stages as they develop from babies into children, but it’s much more fascinating and real when you see it happen with your own eyes. My little boy, Joshua, just started kindergarten this year and over not more than a month or so has grown from a baby into a little boy. My wife’s concern about him not being able to cope with other kids and without his mummy seems like a distant memory now. It started with his first familiarisation trip to kindergarten, where he cried because he had to leave and continued with his first day at ‘kindy’, where his mummy cried because she had to leave him. He just waved a nonchalant goodbye and asked, “When am I going back to school?”
What a far cry this little boy is from his short stint at baby day care where he sobbed broken heartedly upon saying goodbye and cried again at pick-up! He would stand at the fence crying quietly, holding on to the bars, with that ‘how could you leave me look’ that mums especially know so well. So when and how did this change from baby to boy occur? Anyone who knows anything about child psychology understands that from baby to about two or three, baby boys in particular cling to their mummies and from four or five onwards they start gravitate towards dads and other male role models. I can remember how frustrating it was as a dad to have my two daughters dote on me as babies and
little girls only to find that my baby boy consistently rejected me for his mother. Like the first light of dawn to the waning full moonlight, I have noticed the subtle changes from baby to boy. Now he wants to come outside to the garage with me, when I take off my shirt he takes off his, saying “look at my tummy,” which reminds me of my tummy, which could do with a trim. When I am pulling something apart or fixing it he wants to help, rather than follow mummy around. How the tables have turned in just a few short months from mummy’s baby to daddy’s boy. Because I know a little bit about the importance of not exasperating him but instead bringing him up by training and instructing him, I now have to put it into practice. To be honest, the last thing I want to do when I get home after work is to let him into my thoughts and activities--my time.
But I know he is watching me. The way he treats my wife, his sisters and eventually others, especially other women will mirror my actions and reactions towards my wife. An older mentor of mine reminds me of this often. Especially your boys will model their behaviour towards women by your behaviour towards women. Great! So from wanting him to pay me more attention than his mum I now have a shadow wanting to do everything I do--a mini me in the making. Actually it is great. A great responsibility that I am going to do my best fulfil and enjoy as my baby has now become a boy. (PR)
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Top 3 Experiences of
London
Head into your local book-
shop, and I guarantee there will be no shortage of guides that claim to tell you the things you simply must see or do in London. However, most of them advise visiting the things that every man and his Oyster card will also be aiming for. I just took a chance and saw what I wanted to see, so here – my top three experiences of London!
TO EAT - Gran Caffe (32-34 Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge)
Any attempt to conquer a city must start with a decent breakfast. Having emerged from the subway station, amidst the many smells of commuters’ morning feasts, I was ready to pounce on the first food establishment I saw. Just opposite the world famous Harrods store, the Gran Caffe lures you in with an
air of grandeur, but prices so unexpectedly reasonable you could sit there for hours slowly munching your way through all of the delights that they offer. With its main attraction being the exquisitely crafted pastries and cakes displayed in the window, I resisted temptation and ordered the granola. An art deco bowl landed on my table – fresh plump raspberries, icy milk and Greek yoghurt was arranged atop the golden mix. Accompanied by a thick Italian hot chocolate, it was the perfect way to kick off the exploration of the city, and at under £6, it was well worth it. The rest of the menu features big breakfasts with a twist, a diverse variety of vegetarian, health-conscious options and a large array of coffees and teas.
Hypocrites “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
These were the words of St Paul and I must say, I really identify with them. You see, I can sometimes be a real hypocrite as a father. Many of the things I encourage you to do, sometime I don’t do myself. I get obsessed with my work to the extent that my marriage suffers. I work too many hours and my relationships with my children suffer... and on it goes. I should obey the laws of the land, but about four years ago, I almost lost my license and had to go on a 12 month probation (one more strike and you’re out!) I could have said my speedo didn’t work, but that would not be the truth.
The questions the above poses are:
Should I stop trying to be a good father and better husband? Should I give in to my urge to speed and push my foot flat to the floor? The simple answer is ‘no’ because we all need to be reminded and encouraged to pursue a higher vision, and in my case, stick to the speed limit. The reality is, we can be imperfect in some way or other and our job as fathers is to keep working on our weaknesses. However at the same time, we have to be honest about our faults with our children, because our children become what we are, not what we say. That thought scares me, but it is the truth. Already my boys have been booked for speeding and ‘I must share part of the
TO SEE
– The Original Bus Company Tour (5 of the tourist hotspots in the city centre) If you want to see the famous landmarks of London, without being locked in to an endless tour, bypassing interesting places, and listening to a monotone commentary, then The Original Bus Company Tour is definitely something you should consider. With five main alighting points around the city, your ticket is valid for 48 hours, and you can hop on and off at any time you please. There are also three different routes the buses take, so it caters to everyone’s interests. Never fear being lulled to sleep by droning guides - my tour guide spoke like a Cambridge boy, yet resembled a more polished version of Rus-
sell Brand. Risqué jokes were plentiful and the informative commentary was actually interesting and relevant. If hearing insider knowledge of London appeals to you but you don’t want to miss the main attractions either, this is for you.
TO DO – Oxford Street (Oxford Street, West End)
at any budget, the hustle and bustle of this shopping epicentre is also a key place to witness London in all its vibrancy. With stores that cater for even the most picky purchaser, it is definitely a place to spend your travellers pounds and with the currency the way it is, you will certainly nab a bargain. There are plenty of buses to take you to and from Oxford Street from anywhere around the city, as well as the Oxford Circus subway station that brings you right to the heart of the mayhem. (NF)
You can’t go to London without the compulsory pavement-pounding of Oxford Street. It’s definitely one of those “love it or hate it” places – the crowds can be too much for some, but for others, it’s an important place to tick off their list of must-see London destinations. The perfect place to purchase clothing
blame’ to quote a line from a song I wrote many years ago. I guess as a father I am just trying to be an honest bull artist, not a dishonest one. Having said all of the above, I DO have a real problem with dishonest bull artists. As you may also be aware, Dads4Kids is a passionate supporter of marriage and the natural family. Marriage has been attacked and degraded for many years. The no-fault divorce laws and the Family Law Act, introduced in 1975, signalled a massive shift in how Australian society looked at marriage. Men became the new source of fault in any and all relationships and fathers were demonised by both the legal system and the complicit media. Our parliamentarians have, in many cases, been willing participants by passing laws that promote a fatherless society. The passing of homosexual marriage in Australia will be similar in effect to the 1975 Family Law Act. It will signal another massive shift in how Australia looks at marriage. Our 40% divorce rate tells us that marriage is in a weakened state. Such a massive redefinition of marriage will lead to its ultimate destruction. Marriage redefined is marriage destroyed. The social sciences show that, in a general sense, children thrive when they are brought up by their biological mother and father. Destroy marriage and the family is destroyed. Destroy the family and the nation is destroyed.
Early in October, I visited my local Federal Parliamentarian’s office to organise an appointment to see him. I left my details with his staff. He did not respond. I saw him at a function in late October and asked again when I could see him. He has not responded. My wife went last week to organise an appointment with him and was fobbed off by the office staff. She rang his office later the same week to enquire when his ‘Meet the Constituents’ meetings would be held, as his staff had told her that these would begin in a southern part of the electorate, where her parents live. She was told that such meetings have not been organised ‘as yet’. Each time details are taken (on a blank piece of paper) and calls never returned. This is the same parliamentarian who moved the motion that all parliamentarians should seek their constituents’ views on homosexual marriage. (Hansard House of Reps: Thursday, 18 November 2010, p.32) Of course, this is the sort of hypocrisy that one shudders at. Hopefully our parliamentarians will consider hearing the views of the Australian people on this important matter as parliament resumes in February. Let’s hope they won’t be hypocrites. (WM) www.fatherhood.org.au
NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 21
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FOOD REVIEW
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The Commons This little gem of a restaurant is situated on 32 Burton Street in Darlinghurst and its magnificent sandstone structure dates back around 160 years. The Commons style of Italian, French and English home style cooking goes hand in hand with the buildings heritage and with the trendiness that exudes from Darlinghurst. With antipasti’s and snacks ranging from $8-18 and main meals from $1225, dining at The Commons makes it affordable to eat in the city again. They also have a 1940’s inspired cocktail bar which won the title of Sydney’s ‘best small bar’ in 2010. (SY)
http://thecommons.com.au
food review
Happy Chef Do you remember those days when you were a kid and when you got sick all that could fix it was a nice hot soup? Well, Happy Chef are the experts in noodle soups!
This restaurant has been a childhood favourite of mine and even to this present day I love the food it offers. Specializing in their famous laksa’s, they also do clear soups - my favourite is the seafood combination with rice noodle. With five stores in and around Sydney (Campsie, Maroubra Junction, Newtown, Market City food court and Sussex centre in Chinatown) Happy Chef is a great little joint to go to throughout the year. So whether you’re sick, or just want to try something different, pop down to your nearest outlet and give it a go! (SY)
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MOVIE r e v i ew
Unknown I have always enjoyed movies that star Liam Neeson. He is a great actor and very versatile in the roles that he plays. I first saw him in Schindler’s List and was so touched by his portrayal of Oskar Schindler (A German Businessman who became a hero to 1100 Jews during the Nazi reign) who saves many Jews by hiding them away in his factory! He has appeared in many movies over the years and some of the more memorable ones are, (Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the voice of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia series, Kingdom of Heaven and Batman Begins) In Unknown, the story revolves around Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) as he awakens after a car crash in Berlin. He is then told that he’s been in a coma for three days and no one knows who he is as all his ID has simply vanished! He finally meets up with his wife who doesn’t seem to know him and the worst part is there is another man named Dr. Martin Harris that is apparently married to his wife! Talk about identity theft or is there something more sinister at work here? The question that begs to be asked is, does Dr. Martin Harris even exist? Is this some cover up of a real identity that has been buried deep in (Neeson’s) past? And why would someone want to assume his identity in the first place? This is a thrilling movie from start to finish. It will have you guessing throughout because of all the twists and turns that it takes you on. You will be on the edge of your seat as you seek to make the unknown known and will be pleasantly surprised to find out (Neeson’s) true identity! (MR)
The Eagle For one I love eagles and for two I really enjoy sweeping epics that are in the same vein as movies like Gladiator, Braveheart, Kingdom of Heaven and Troy. The Eagle takes a slightly different turn and centers on a Roman officer and his slave. Channing Tatum (She’s the Man, Step Up and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) stars as Marcus Aquila, a Roman Centurion in AD 140 as he seeks to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of his father and the 9th Legion that he commanded 20 years earlier. Marcus travels with his British slave Esca, played by Jamie Bell who is well known for his role as Billy Elliot that won him the 2001 BAFTA Award for best actor. Marcus is mocked by his peers and lives in the shadow of his Father’s disgrace. After enlisting the help of Esca (Bell), they embark on an amazing quest that many believe to be impossible! This only fuels Marcus’ desire to rise up and be the hero he was destined to be and for a time he becomes Esca’s slave thanks to one of the tribes. You’ll have to watch and see how it all turns out. They travel together beyond Hadrian’s Wall into Caledonia (Scotland) where they must confront many different tribes in order to recover the eagle standard that was previously lost. In doing so Marcus (Tatum) seeks to restore his father’s honour! A well made film with adequate action, a solid storyline and good acting. (MR)
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
Gnomeo and Juliet First of all, this is one of the most unique adaptations of the well known Romeo and Juliet story. As you all know Romeo and Juliet has been done to death in the past and I thought to myself initially... here we go again. But hey, I was pleasantly surprised to find a well thought out, beautifully rendered and surprisingly funny movie. Who would have thought Garden Gnomes could be that funny! Kudos to the creators for coming up with something original and fun! ☺ Gnomeo is voiced by James McAvoy (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Wanted and Atonement) and Juliet is voiced by Golden Globe Award winner Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Charlie Wilson’s War and Gideon’s Daughter) They are garden gnomes from two rival clans that have fallen in love. A love that is forbidden between clans! They are caught in the crossfire of an ongoing feud between the clans and seek to find lasting happiness in the midst of tragedy. Gnomeo and Juliet features music by Elton John who has some classic and original songs in the movie’s score, this is also Touchstone Pictures’ first GRated film. If you’re after some great one-liners, rich visuals and an engaging and funny storyline, this is the movie for you. (MR)
I know many of you are saying it’s about time that we saw Big Momma on the big screen again! ☺ Well I have great news for you; Big Momma 3 is coming to a cinema near you this February. Martin Lawrence (Big Momma 1 and 2) reprises his role as Big Momma for this hilarious third instalment in the highly popular Big Momma Series.
This time round there’s a wonderful twist, where FBI agent Malcolm Turner’s (Lawrence) step son Trent Pierce (Brandon T. Jackson) (Tropic Thunder & Lottery Ticket) visits him while his dad is undercover investigating a case and Trent accidentally witnesses a murder! So now to keep Trent safe, Malcolm goes undercover as “Big Momma” and Trent also goes undercover as “Charmaine” at a performing arts school for girls... LOL ☺ The hilarity then escalates as we see Charmaine and Big Momma attempt to stay deep undercover while nearly giving away their true identities. I really enjoyed the scene where Charmaine was attempting to do ballet only to fly off the stage onto Big Momma! Well, at least there was a lot of padding that protected both of them... hehehe. If you want a LOL (Laughing Out Loud) movie that’s fun this summer, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son is the movie to watch. (MR)
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every thursday night from 7-8:30pm for kids in kindergarten to Year 6 @ corner of kembla and hirst sts, arncliffe entry fee : gold coin donation appreciated for all enquiries: please contact miguel on 9567 8133 or 0421 883 463 NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 25
CD review
NEW
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Ronan Keating: DUET
music
Ronan is a superstar in his own right and began his musical career as front man for the hugely successful Irish boy band Boyzone. He became an international sensation with the song, “When You Say Nothing at All” which featured in the movie Notting Hill, peaking at number one on several charts! He has sold over 22 Million albums worldwide as a solo artist and DUET is his seventh album to date. Ronan is currently a judge on the popular TV show X-Factor here in Australia. He also loves collaborating with quality artists and features, Elton John, Lulu, The Bee Gees and Lee Ann Rimes in his previous albums. Keating was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in October 2007, for being the only artist ever to have 30 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK chart, beating the likes of Elvis Presley! In saying all this you can see that Ronan Keating is now synonymous with great quality and wonderful collaborations. He isn’t just a phenomenally talented artist but also an artist with a heart for people. He is involved with many charitable organisations and loves to see people live with hope and succeed. This album is something truly special and not unlike Altiyan’s album, there are many great covers and some of Ronan’s classics too. He collaborates with many artists such as, Guy Sebastian (All for One), Paulini (Believe Again), Elton John (Your Song), Brian McFadden (To Love Somebody), Cat Stevens (Father & Son), Lee Ann Rimes (Last Thing On my Mind) and many more. (MR)
Altiyan Childs: Altiyan Childs I followed Altiyan closely on X-Factor Australia a few months ago and really took notice of his unique talent after he was shortlisted by Ronan Keating to go through to the next round! Ronan himself said that Altiyan had what it took to win X-Factor even at this very early stage of the competition. What I saw week in week out was solid covers of many well known songs. Just when the judges thought he had topped himself the previous week, he came out on stage and blew them away again raising the bar even higher! Not to say there weren’t some weird moments with Altiyan, there were many... like his over dramatisation during songs that was somewhat reminiscent of front man Peter Garret’s (Midnight Oil) electric jolts and spasms. LOL ☺ There was even one week where Altiyan disappeared during the competition and ended up at a cave by the sea meditating because of a traumatic situation with his dad! All in all though he powered on through all the highs and lows and came out on top. Altiyan is a real fighter and his cover of “Eye of the Tiger” (one of my personal favourites) really captures the essence of who Altiyan is. It features on this Album along with other great classics such as, Livin’ on a prayer, Hey, Soul Sister, Beautiful Day and many more.This album features his most memorable songs from the X-Factor competition and has ten wonderful hits for you to enjoy. (MR)
LOOK OUT FOR
NEW CITY MAGAZINE STANDS
AT SELECTED SHOPS AROUND THE ST GEORGE AREA.
Justin Bieber: MY WORLDS - The collection
Talk about “Bieber Fever”, he was discovered at the age of 14 by Scooter Braun who viewed his You Tube videos and later became his manager. Braun organised a once in a lifetime meeting with Usher in Atlanta, Georgia and It didn’t take long for Bieber to be signed to Usher and Braun’s group, Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG). Soon after this Bieber was signed to Island Records by the music industry great L.A. Reid.
Bieber then skyrocketed with his hugely popular debut single, One Time back in 2009 which was charted in the top 30 in over 10 countries! My World, which was his debut release album sold like hotcakes and was certified Platinum not long after. Justin then made history by having 7 of his debut album songs featured on the Billboard Hot 100 in America! His song Baby is the most viewed video on You Tube to date with a whopping 438 million views! Bieber came from very humbling beginnings, raised by a single mum who worked hard to provide for him, he learnt the value of appreciating what he has from a very early age. I believe his mum must be the inspiration behind the hugely successful teen that he is today. He also taught himself to play the drums, guitar, piano and trumpet. This is a very generous album with 30 songs featured; the new additions are the acoustic versions of some of his greatest hits such as, One Time, Baby, One Less lonely girl, U Smile, Never Say Never, Pray and many more! ☺ If you like to listen to quality R&B and Pop from a truly gifted artist, this album is sure to delight. (MR)
Birthdays
Seminars
SWV: Platinum and Gold Collection
Now there’s nothing I believe that can beat the “oldskool” R&B of the late 90’s onwards to 2000 plus. There was so much quality and substance to the music of those times, where it wasn’t all about electronic synth sounds and studio maxed sound. But there was a rawness to it and a real cool, funky and groovy sound that really made you wanna bust a groove on the dance floor whether you had the moves or not... hehehe LOL ☺ SWV (Sisters With Voices) are no exception, I fell in love with their sounds back then and did you know that they actually had a series of new jack swing hits during the 1990’s that earned them a Grammy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That shows the calibre and quality that they have. With sublime harmonies, hooks and choruses, you’ll be grooving to their music whether it be in the car with friends, having an intimate dinner with your partner or out with mates. Their music is so accessible and has stood the test of time. I can see many future fans appreciating their style and sound for years to come. Another great surprise is this album not only contains some of their best songs such as, Weak, Right Here (Featuring Michael Jackson) and I’m so into you but also includes 3 previously unreleased tracks (Surprise Me, Mystery, and Where is the Love (full version). A great album that is polished and fun, if you want great vocals and soothing sounds look no further, these sisters (Z Snap) LOL definitely have voices! (MR)
Conferences
Weddings
looking for
a venue? VENUE FOR HIRE
IN ST GEORGE AREA Our newly refurbished Main Auditorium can be hired for weddings, birthdays, seminars and conferences. It is fully carpeted, fully air conditioned, dimmable lights, equipped with state of the art projection system and sound system. The Auditorium can seat up to 500 people in theatre style seating or approximately 350 people with table seating. Car parking is available for over 50 cars and a commercial kitchen is available for your use complete with gas burners and dishwasher.
For enquiries and more information including the terms and conditions of hire, please contact (02) 9567 8133 NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 27
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There is NO Place
Like Home
If only I had a dollar for every time I have said this phrase! I think I would be very wealthy indeed. Yet, just think how true this statement really needs to be. Everyone needs somewhere where they feel they belong, a safe refuge where they can go just to be themselves – however ‘unusual’ that may appear to some. With stress being one of the major factors causing all kinds of illnesses and difficulties in our world today, I believe we need to make the time to create a home environment for all our family members – from the youngest to the oldest – where each feels like ‘Ahhhhh!’ when they come through the door.
A
s busy people in a busy world, it can be hard to remember that we need to de-stress at the end of the day. I’m not referring to sitting down in front a television set, but rather something more. Our kids maybe at school and the pressures on these young people are enormous. We need to make the time to chat with them each evening and to see how their day went and what they had achieved or learned during the course of the day.
As parents, whether we are single parents or married, we are largely the ones responsible for setting the mood in the home. If we are cranky and short tempered, then chances are the children will be also or if we have teenagers still at home they will shut themselves away in their rooms and become non-communicative. This does not help them to destress and the signs of this will soon show as they become more distant and less communicative.
of hurts, tiredness, busyness and loneliness. I know because I’ve been there too. I put in big days - with my day often starting as early as 4 or 5am. Yet, rather than complain and grumble I have learnt to make the most of these early morning hours. They are now my favourite time of day because between the hours of 4 -7am are when I get the most and my best, work done. So they have become my ‘friends’ rather than my ‘foe.’
In our family, we have always tried to work together as a team. So we all have chores to do, so on occasion I would do their chores for them when I know that they have had a stressful day and we have encouraged our children to do the same for one another. Sometimes a little note of encouragement, small gift or a chocolate or two on the pillow, a favourite cake, dinner or cookies made can all say how much we love and care for one another.
I know that in this day and age of divorce, separation and single parenthood, that it is not easy because
Not dwelling on painful negative experiences or memories and choosing not to allow them to embit-
Some of my fondest memories of home as a child involve weekends spent on the farm with hay rides, lots of animals and building ‘castles’ in the hay shed with my two older brothers. I can remember making ‘pirate ships’ out of empty 44 gallon drums and playing pirate wars on the dam. Horses, collecting eggs and chasing chickens and cuddling new born lambs was all part of the fun, yet amazingly even more than that were some of the little things that mum used to do to help us de-stress after school each day. When it was freezing cold and on occasion snowing, mum would always have a pot of homemade pea and ham soup cooking on the stove for us when we walked in half frozen. Books have always been my passion and I can remember my poor mum listening to me read to her for an hour or more sometimes as she prepared dinner of an evening. I would read her the story as it was written first, then I would go back through and make up my own story from the pictures or how I thought it should go.
One of my favourite things to do is to makeover a room. I’ve been working on the lounge and dining room making new curtains and recovering chairs and changing furniture around and de-cluttering a bit. We’ve almost finished and I already have my ideas thought out for the master bedroom. Instead of piling up lots of old magazines I have cut out ideas and pictures of things and ideas I like and stuck them all in a large hardcover scrapbook. I have one for home ideas and one for the garden as well. Then I throw out the rest of the magazine that I don’t want. I never buy them new but get them from the op shops for about 20 cents, so I certainly get my money’s worth out of them. My daughter has also taken on this idea and used many of them in her new home and has now even made another scrapbook for fashion – which is a good idea. She puts in all the clips and pictures of clothes, shoes, hairstyles, makeup etc that she likes and has a go at trying them herself. She always looks stylish and fresh. Perhaps you could try this idea for your home, garden or fashion too and you may soon find there is a certain style that you may like that you can begin to apply in your home and garden. I make whatever I can – including swag and tail curtains – because it saves many dollars. If I don’t know how to make or do something, I borrow the books from the library to find out or jump on line and check it out then get to it.
ter us are powerful keys to help us keep moving forward. It allows us to break negative patterns and mindsets that can lock us down and hold us back from building positively into the lives of the future generations – our children and our children’s children. Are you and I creating lasting memories for our children and helping them to de-stress and remain positive in a negative world?
uselessfacts
Whether we realise it or not, every one of us needs and longs for that safe place, a refuge and a haven away from the constant bombardment of the world and the society within which we live. All of us have different ideas and tastes of how our homes and each room should look or feel, but I have found again and again that never does the deep seated need for love and acceptance change.
So this is HOME for us, not just a house of brick and tile. This is where each one lives and laughs and knows that regardless of what kind of day we’ve had out there in the world, home awaits and it’s peaceful and quiet. Each one is loved and accepted here and when problems arise we can work them out and talk them through together. There truly is no place like home. (DG)
The inside of a man’s wallet is a great breeding ground for germs. It functions as an incubator. While you sit on it, the contents (germy money and other degradable stuff) are kept warm and moist.
Product pack aging accounts for 1 /3 of our trash.
70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.
Once an alum inium can is rec ycled it can be part of new can w ithin six weeks.
The best time for a person to buy shoes is in the afternoon. This is because the foot tends to swell a bit around this time.
93% of all greeting cards are purchased by women.
The first jigsaw puzzle was created by map maker John Splisbury who mounted one of his maps on a sheet of hardwood. He proceeded to cut around the borders of each country using a fine saw. It was during World War II that clo thes with elastic w aists were introduc ed. This is becau se the metal use d in zippers was b adly needed for th e war
NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 29
motoring
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Engine: 3.0 litre Twin turbo charge inline six
Power: 250kw with 450Nm of
vtorque, with over boost extra 50Nm. 0-100km/h in 4.9sec 6 speed manual transmission
BMW 1 series M Coupe
With technology advancing, the trend is that everything is getting smaller, more portable, and multifunctional and sometimes more complicated. Take the mobile phone for example… in 1988 we use to make calls with it. Dial a number, and start chatting, that’s all!
gate with my inbuilt GPS to the restaurant that I just booked, take photos of the food from the restaurant I just booked, look at the weather and of course make my brain as lazy as possible. How? By ‘Google-ing’ what in the world a ‘foie gras’ is, that’s also from the restaurant that I just booked, all on my phone… all of it. Its efficient and I do appreciate the time saving qualities of it all, but I do sometimes wish products were a little less complicated. Having said that, I feel that BMW are going back to their roots. Not in a Mini or Fiat 500 retro sort of way… but the way their cars used to make you feel. The BMW 1 series M coupe is the same size today as the 1988 M3 was back in the day. The M3 represented the ‘no nonsense’ drivability, the sort of car that had no electronic nanny to help you drive, no sequential gear box, no suspension trickery, just you, the perfectly engineered car and the road.
In 2011 it’s now a whole different story. I book flights with it, listen to music, text the wrong people the wrong messages, email, book my restaurants, navi-
BMW are going the opposite way for once, making sure people have the true driving experience. They are pricing this car in the low 100k which will allow more people to experience the premium M badge
that only accountants and real estate agents had the privilege to own. With a massive front apron and flared wheel arches, the BMW makes you feel like a kid again… but it’s all-purpose and very cool to look at, aggressive with a bit of crazy thrown in. The car sits on 19-inch wheels, which look massive for the overall size of the car. It’s a car for people who want to remember what real driving is like. (JY)
Nissan GTR 2011 So how do you make a Nissan GTR, a car that is regarded as the best Japanese sports car better? That would be like saying, how do you improve sliced bread? Slice it twice perhaps, then individually wrapped the pieces? Okay not the best idea, but that’s the kind of difficulty I believe the engineers at Nissan would be thinking. If you don’t believe how amazingly difficult this task is? Well, let me give you one point. The GTR is heavier, has less power and is sitting on skinnier tyres than a Porsche GT3. Guess who is faster around the Nurburgring? It was the impossibly quick GTR. That is an amazing feat for a car than is also cheaper and easier to drive round town. So how then do you improve an already amazing car? Well, like slice bread of course. Buying bread was a choice of two when I was a kid, brown or white, simple and easy. Today it’s evolved into a plethora of high fibre, omega acids and added vitamins. It is seriously hard work to find plain old white bread… not that you really want that anymore. Nissan has not created a new car, but has surprisingly and extensive tweaked it. Nissan has upped the power of the 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 to now produce 395kw (versus the previous 361kw) and 448 of torque (versus the previous 434 torque). Extra boosting, larger intake and exhaust, new suspension tweaks, higher aerodynamic down-force yet reduced drag to 0.26, new wheels, which throws out 13kg out the window. This is a more focused GTR, a better handling, and more powerful car that is an improvement… now only if they give me the keys to drive this thing! (JY)
NEW CITY MAGAZINE . 31
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