Home & Lifestyle November 17 2023

AWAKENING IN PENRITH RODLEY PLACE SET TO TURN HEADS | SEE PAGE 56

Mark STEVENSON SEE PAGE 64

Your HOROSCOPES SEE PAGE 71

Crosswords & PUZZLES

SEE PAGES 72-74

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9623 4033 | 200 QUEEN STREET, ST MARYS 9834 1044 | SHOP 1/46-52 MELVILLE ROAD, ST CLAIR

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FEATURE STORY Western Property

PENRITH GOES FROM UGLY SISTER TO CINDERELLA P

enrith is the centrepiece of a “renaissance” in western Sydney, according to the developers of a stunning new apartment complex in the centre of the city.

Rodley Place is being built in the heart of Penrith, with construction set to commence next year and completion expected at the end of 2025.

“Penrith is no longer the ugly sister; it is having an awakening

and is now Cinderella on her way to the Ball,” said Cody Masterfield, Development Director at Estate Property Group.

“The huge amounts of Government spending have been followed by private businesses.

The quality of new restaurants, cafés and bars is unmatched anywhere else in western Sydney.

We are witnessing the younger generation and young business leaders come forward and help

to put Penrith on the map where it belongs.”

Rodley Place is the third apartment project in Penrith for Estate Property Group.

“We have built a great understanding of the demographic that is here in Penrith,” Masterfield said.

“The location of this project is key. It is located less than a five-minute walk to Westfield, Penrith Train Station, Panthers

Leagues Club and Panthers Stadium.”

And for this developer, bigger isn’t better.

“Our projects are purposefully small, this project in particular is only 30 apartments,” Masterfield said.

“We aim for owner occupiers – downsizers, young professionals and first home buyers who live and work in the area.”

Masterfield admits the timing hasn’t been perfect, but he’s still expecting strong sales results as construction gets closer to beginning.

“WE HAVE BUILT A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT IS HERE IN PENRITH” “It is a very difficult time to develop property at the moment.

High interest rates, escalating building costs, infrastructure contributions, BASIX changes etc… the list goes on,” Masterfield said.

“Western Sydney is complex, and you cannot have a cookie cutter approach to developing property.

“You need to pick your target market and go all in.

“Buyers are now very astute.

New projects need to look good, be in the right locations, have the right floor plans, your builder needs to have a good reputation.

If you miss one of these key ingredients, you won’t get any sales and your project won’t get out of the ground.”

For more information, search Rodley Place on Google or visit the display suite at 556 High Street, Penrith, which has recently opened.

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8 EDWARD STREET, CRANEBROOK

BUY OF THE WEEK Western Property

FIVE BEDROOM STUNNER! What is so great about this property?

The main property is a customer built home with stunning 16 foot vaulted ceilings and a sunken lounge room, with ample parking overlooking a Council reserve.

Such a unique opportunity for the extended family comprising

of a separate self-contained living space consisting of its very own entry, split air conditioner, kitchen, lounge, bedroom, walkin-robe, and ensuite.

Perfect for the extended family, teenager’s retreat, in-laws accommodation, visitors, or home business.

Who does this property suit?

Perfect for extended families, investors, home business.

Tell us about the suburb the property is in?

Cranebrook is a suburb of greater western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and

is located 50km radially of the Sydney central business district, in the Local Government Area of Penrith.

Approximately 5km from the Penrith CBD and 20km to the new Western Sydney International Airport in Badgerys Creek, which opens in 2026.

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-867 /,67(' • 4 good-sized bedrooms • Natural light-filled living room • Main bathroom with separate toilet • Internal Laundry with shower • Outdoor toilet • Double lock-up garage • Under cover alfresco • Spacious backyard • Situated on 790sqm • Zoned R2, dual dwelling permitted (STCA)

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(SMSF available) $172,000 gross per annum rent Potential gross rental yield 19.5%

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• 3 generous sized bedrooms • 2 br fitted with built in robes • Natural light filled living room with split system air conditioning • Contemporary kitchen • Internal laundry with second toilet • Well maintained large above ground pool • Spacious front and backyard • Covered Alfresco area • Concreted driveway for extra car spaces • Positioned on a 758.5m2 block of land • Shops, schools, cafes and eateries as well as a variety of nearby transport options • Zoned R2, Granny flat potential (S.T.C.A.)

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2-STOREY HOME WITH A RANGE OF AMENITIES • 6 generous-sized BRs, all fitted with BIRs • 3 BRs down & 3 up • Study or sitting area upstairs • Multiple living & entertaining areas all filled with natural light • Contemporary kitchen with breakfast bar • Separate dining area • Main bathroom with separate toilet • Separate laundry • Fireplace • Sauna/steam room • Pool • Oversized under cover carport • Spacious backyard • Concreted driveway • Located in a quiet cul-de-sac • Nestled on a 705.5sqm block

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Excellent Agent

Great and smooth experience working with Litsa

trustworthy, hardworking and an excellent communicator. She was with us every step of the way and she had a great rapport with us. Thank you Gizzelle! ”

Litsa is a very professional and experienced Real Estate agent.

She arranged our inspections and answered all our queries timely.

Provided us with options and valuable advice.

Recommended agent to work with and will engage her again in future.

“ I highly recommend Gizzelle. She was

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Thinking of Selling or Investing?

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If you are considering selling your property please Contact Gizzelle today on 0428934618 for a confidential discussion and market appraisal

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(5.5m x 8.1m garage) Land area: 606m2

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Land area: 633m2 Potential rent $1,200 per wee

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BROKING BREAKDOWN The Experts

WILL THE RBA BREAK THE AUSSIE ECONOMY? O

MARK STEVENSON Bell Partners Finance bellpartnersfinance.com.au

f all the interest rate rises imposed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) since May last year, the latest one – the 13th in that time – has raised the most concern about its potentially adverse impact on the economy as we head towards Christmas.

With the official cash rate now at 4.35 per cent, there is a possibility of another increase in December with the recently installed RBA Governor, Michele Bullock, saying inflation “is proving more persistent than expected a few months ago”.

At Bell Partners, we are advising clients that more interest rate rises by the RBA could break the economy before they get inflation back under control within their target range of 2-3 per cent, and it’s currently at 5.4 per cent.

Unfortunately, the items that are driving up inflation are largely outside of the control of people

impacted by the RBA increasing rates, which is mainly mortgage holders and small businesses.

The RBA is making a big deal about the prices of services increasing, however, those service providers are facing the

same increase in expenses of goods and services, so have little choice than to increase prices to remain viable.

Despite interest rates going up, the property market remains buoyant with sky high immi-

gration levels and lack of supply expected to keep prices rising.

We may find credit will start to tighten if interest rate increases aren’t working.

Hayden Groves, president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), said the latest RBA decision was bad news for Australians from all walks of life.

“This is particularly bad news for rental affordability, as investors will once again reassess their capacity to hang on to a rented property,” he said.

Tim Lawless, CoreLogic research director, believes a combination of the RBA’s latest cash rate increase mixed with persistent cost-of-living pressures and a turbulent geopolitical environment, underpinned by the Israel-Gaza war, is “likely to weigh on consumer sentiment, which is already in deeply pessimistic territory”.

See you next week.

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SWIM SAFETY The Experts

STAY COOL AND SAFE AS HOT WEATHER LOOMS L

JULIE SHELDRAKE Nepean Aquatic Centre & Eva Bory’s Swim School 4730 8900

ast weekend was hot, hot, hot! (I blame myself as I had a weekend of garden and pool maintenance planned, which always seems to guarantee 35 degree plus weather!)

You might remember January 4 2020, when Penrith was for a brief period of time the hottest place on the planet, hitting 48.9 degrees and breaking a temperature record that had been standing since 1939. I remember it well because, coincidentally, that also happened to be my 48th birthday! In addition, heat research commissioned by Penrith City Council found that on that day the mercury rose to 52 degrees in the suburb of Berkshire Park, 51.5 in Agnes Banks, and 50.1 in Badgerys Creek.

My point is, we are all going to need to cool off this summer, and the best way to do so (unless you enjoy sitting indoors in the air conditioning all summer), is in the water. The only way to be cool AND safe is to keep all of the water safety message at top of mind.

The swim safety messages are presented slightly differently from one organisation to the other when looking at Royal Lifesaving Australia, Laurie Lawrence’s “Kids Alive, Do The 5”, ASSA and Swim Australia, but they remain c on s i s t e nt

from six months of age). Ensure full supervision of children at all times, and keep under five’s at arm’s reach, both in the pool and at the beach. Learn CPR in the case of emergency, and have a phone available at all times near water (without succumbing to the t empt at ion

regarding the layers of protection needed. Fence the pool, keep all gates closed and make sure they are self-latching, and teach your children to swim as a priority from a young age (Swim Australia recommends starting all children

of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram).

It is very important that water safety at home is a priority at all times. Home pools and spas are obvious drowning hazards, but there are many other items and

areas which present a significant drowning threat to young children in and around the home, such as buckets, bathtubs, eskies, fountains, fishponds, lakes, drains, inflatable pools, and even pet bowls. It is crucial that these are emptied, covered, put away and not left where they can fill up with water. Most toddler drowning deaths occur when parents are distracted, by other siblings, preparing meals, phone calls or any other number of parental duties. We all have moments when we are distracted, but unfortunately moments are all it takes for a child to drown, which is why the layers of protection are so important.

Royal Life Saving has developed a home pool safety checklist home owners can use to minimise the risks. You can find the checklist at: www.royallifesaving.com.au/ programs/home-pool-safet y/ home-pool-safety-checklist.

Stay safe and cool – see you next week with some new water safety statistics!

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TALKING TECH The Experts

AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION THAT REALLY DOES WORK! I

DAVID NORRIS Nortec IT 9894 9514

am often invited to various webinars, and whilst interested, I usually do not have the time to attend.

In most cases, I am then sent a copy of the webinar to view offline. Likewise, all of the course content was recorded when I was studying. Rather than watch hours of recorded content, I convert it to a Word document, enabling me to skim-read it and concentrate on the areas of interest.

Microsoft Word audio transcription is a feature that allows you to convert speech to text in a Word document. The program, by using your microphone, also enables you to dictate by voice and will convert it to text. So, no more typing.

You can use this feature to transcribe your voice, a recorded audio file, or

a video file. It works by sending your audio files to Microsoft and using cloud-based artificial intelligence to generate a transcript with each speaker individually separated. You can then edit the transcript, play back the audio, and insert the transcript into your document.

To use Microsoft Word audio transcription, you

MAKE THE RIGHT FOOD CHOICES

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the western weekender » Friday, November 17, 2023

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• Choose to transcribe your voice, a recorded audio, or a video file.

• If you transcribe your voice, click the microphone icon and start speaking. You can use keyboard shortcuts to pause and resume the transcription. When you are done, click Save and transcribe now.

• If you transcribe a

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need to follow these steps: • Ensure you have a premium subscription to Microsoft 365 and an Internet connection.

• Open a Word document in Word Online or Word for Windows.

• Click the Home tab and then click the arrow next to Dictate.

• Select Transcribe from the drop-down menu.

recorded audio or video file, click Browse and select the file from your computer or OneDrive. The file size limit is 200MB, and the supported formats are .mp3, .wav, .m4a, and .mp4. Click Upload and transcribe now.

• Wait for the transcription to complete. You can see the progress and the estimated time on the right pane.

• Once the transcription is done, you can edit the transcript, play back the audio, and insert the transcript into your document.

You can also download the transcript as a .docx file.

Give it a try. I found that it is pretty accurate. If you plan to use it to dictate, you can train it to recognise your voice for better accuracy.

hen consuming food, the goal is to consume the best and most nutritious forms to promote overall better health and greater quality of life. The key to getting the most from your food choices is looking for the highest quality food choices available. Below I will take you through key points to be aware of when making these decisions.

1. Consuming Australian products made with Australian ingredients. This will ensure better quality because Australian regulations for food are much higher compared to other countries.

2.

When consuming and shopping for fruits and vegetables, shop seasonally to make sure you are consuming Australian products and products with the highest nutrient value.

3. Avoid consuming packaged and heavily processed foods, and start choosing fresh food

options the majority of the time. It’s key that we try to stick to consuming food types that are the least processed and have shorter ingredient lists.

When looking at ingredient lists, make sure you know the ingredients and if sugar or preservatives are on it, look to choose a different option.

Food products with longer ingredient lists usually come with many unknown ingredients so be aware of these choices and if choosing a packaged food, make sure the ingredient list is made up of real food items.

4.

Following from the last point, be aware and cautious of the foods you’re consuming. Take notice of the amount of packaged and processed food you consume, and look at the ingredients in these foods.

5.

Stress is something many people encounter on a daily basis and can come in many different forms, from emotional

The Experts

CANDACE SCIBERRAS One Point Health 4732 5188 to situational. No matter the type of stress it dramatically influences our body function and certain hormones. High stress leads to elevated levels of cortisol which can have a detrimental effect on our gastrointestinal and digestive health. The function of our gastrointestinal and digestive system nearly effects every other organ in the body, so it is key it is looked after.

6. A nother way cortisol can become elevated is from poor and low quality sleep with less than 5-6 hours of sleep per night. Also, sleep is the time the body takes to recover and repair.

See you next week!

IN THE MIRRORwith Cassidy Pearce Your dance concert makeup guide

D

ance mums, dads and grandparents – recital season is officially approaching!

One of my fondest memories of growing up in dance and cheer is sitting with my mum as she put on my makeup the morning of a concert or competition. Though it may not be one of her fondest memories – as in hindsight I probably wasn’t the easiest canvas to work with – it made me love makeup, and taught me a lot of what I know today. If you don’t consider yourself a pro at makeup yourself, the thought of putting it on your little dancer on the biggest day of their year can be a daunting one.

If you’re in need of a few pointers on products and application, just keep reading.

Base As far as foundation and concealer go, full coverage and matte are the words to look for. This ensures that everything will look flawless under stage lights, and won’t get as shiny throughout the day. For oilier skin types, you can also go in with a setting powder. Older dancers can have this on-hand through the day for touch ups if necessary.

When it comes to contour, bronzer and blush, more is more. You might think your dancer looks like a clown in the bathroom at home, but on stage is where it will really shine! However, I don’t mean ‘shine’ literally – keeping highlighter to a minimum on the face will prevent them from looking sweatier than they probably already are after 10 routines.

Eyes Eye makeup is where

it starts to get a little bit trickier, as many of the specifics will be dictated by your studio.

If you’re planning to splurge on one product, I believe that your eyeshadow palette should be it – they’re often more pigmented, and easier to blend!

However, most looks can be done with just a few shades, meaning a smaller palette like the Tarte Maneater Eye Shadow Palette Mini will do the trick.

Eyeliner can be a sore point for even the most experienced makeup artists, so if it’s mandatory for your studio do it, it’s all about figuring out what you’re most comfortable with. If you’re going with a liquid liner, I find that a felt tip applicator is the easiest way to go. However, you can also use something like the Quick Flick which stamps the wing on for you, or use an angled brush to apply eyeshadow in the shape of a wing for more control and less mess.

To pull the look together, opt for bold lashes. There are plenty of great mascaras that you can buy from the supermarket – Maybelline makes some of my favourites! For older dancers, strip lashes are always an option to

add oomph. Just make sure you’re using a good quality glue like the Duo one, so they don’t pop off on stage!

Lips Lips are a vital part of

stage makeup, no matter how old your dancer is.

Wearing a bold lipstick – even for tiny tots who might not have anything else on their face – will ensure that you can see their smiles all the way from the back of the auditorium.

Starting out with a lip liner enables you to create the exact shape that you’re working with when your dancer’s lips

are taut, so then you can simply fill in the lines. If you don’t have a lip liner, try wiping the foundation off their lips with a damp q-tip.

Next up, I would highly recommend going in with a matte liquid lipstick.

Though a traditional lipstick or gloss might feel more comfortable, and may even look nicer, they lend themselves to constant reapplication – which will often fall in the hands of busy teachers – and smudging.

There’s nothing worse than red lipstick getting all over your dancer’s hands, face, or costume!

For a lip that will last, look into the Colourpop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks, or the Maybelline Superstay 24H Liquid Lipstick.

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Friday, November 17, 2023 « the western weekender

67

PET HEALTH

GLENMORE PARK

PEDICURE FOR YOUR POOCH

we’ve got you covered

A

re your dog’s nails constantly tapping across your porcelain tiles or wooden floor boards? Clipping your dog’s nails may seem stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.

With a better understanding of how often you should trim your dog’s nails, as well as the right tools and treats on hand, you can make it a positive experience for both you and your dog.

Why is nail clipping so important?

Trimming your dog’s nails is important for their health and wellbeing. If their nails get too long, they can lead to lameness, ingrown toe nails, and even damaged joints.

Left untrimmed, your dog’s nails grow into a curved shape. Eventually, they may penetrate the skin, making it uncomfortable and even painful for them to walk.

Long nails also put your dog at risk of injury if they get caught in the fabric of furniture or carpets.

How often should your clip your dog’s nails?

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This will depend on how quickly their nails grow. The nails should be clipped as often as they need to be to prevent them from touching the ground when they stand.

This can be clipping them every four to six weeks.

How do I do it?

Gently hold the toe between your fingers and work slowly and carefully.

Clip the tip of the nail only and don’t forget the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw. Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you will risk hitting the quick of the nail that contains the blood vessels. A nick there is painful and will bleed. For dogs with dark nails, watch for a chalky white ring and do not clip beyond this point.

Start your dog early The younger that you start clipping your dog’s nails, the better. As a puppy, your dog will be more open to new experiences, and you have an opportunity to build positive associations that will carry them through

The Experts

KELLIE TICKNER Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital 4736 2027 to adulthood. Touch your puppy’s paws often and reward them with a treat afterward, even if you’re not clipping their nails.

Make nail clipping fun For most dogs, nail clipping is a stressful experience – or at least something they would rather avoid. Reward your dog frequently for calm behaviour, and give them plenty of praise and treats.

Seek professional help If trimming your dog’s nails is too stressful for both you and your dog, seek help from your veterinary team or a professional groomer.

If the experience is all too stressful, your vet can discuss sedation and/or a brief twilight anaesthetic.

Get the care your pet deserves at Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital!

At Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital, we understand that your pet is a cherished family member. That’s why we offer comprehensive and affordable pet care services to animals across the Penrith district.

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AQUARIUS

PISCES

ARIES

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

As the Sun and Mars move into the restless sign of Sagittarius, you’re in the mood for avant-garde adventures and bohemian friendships. But remember there’s a fine line between being spontaneously successful and being hastily foolhardy. Also, a cherished goal or dream may require much more planning than you originally thought. Relax, take your time, and concentrate on enjoying the long and winding journey, rather than just focusing on the destination.

A work issue, volunteer project or education matter is taking up a lot of your time and attention. If you hang in there, it will pay off handsomely in the long run. There are no quick fixes to finding the perfect employment for you.

The Sun, Mercury and Mars encourage you to maintain enthusiasm, curiosity and momentum. Motto for the week is from Piscean wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, “Be passionate and enthusiastic in the direction that you choose in life.”

Tuesday and Wednesday are terrific for being proactive at work. Joint ventures and trust issues are also on the table but don’t spoil a potentially productive week by being rash and reckless. Slow down, think before you speak and consult with loved ones and colleagues before you make any important moves. Two Saturn squares highlight hiccups in your financial management. So strive to be less impulsive and extravagant, and more cautious with cash and credit.

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

The Sun, Mars and Pluto activate your relationship and aspirations zones. So it’s a good time to snuggle up close with your sweetheart, throw yourself into a special creative project or dream up some ambitious goals for the future. Passion and purpose will take you far. But Saturn could stir up trust and intimacy issues, and you may feel temporarily stuck in the past. Keep moving forward Bulls – inch by inch and step by step – towards a brand-new day.

This week the planetary focus is on your daily routine and work zones but expect some challenging developments and stressful moments. Resist the urge to be argumentative, superficial and self-indulgent. Try to ground your airy energy and calm your restless mind. Your motto for the moment is from actress Goldie Hawn (who turns 78 on Tuesday), “The ability to remain calm and focused in stressful situations is central to making positive decisions.”

Have you been wasting time worrying and procrastinating? The Sun and Mars join Mercury in your job zone, so you need to reboot your daily routine and be fast and flexible as you plan your future career path. If you have the confidence to listen to your wise inner voice, then you’ll be one step ahead of the professional pack! Your creativity can also take you places at work. So use positive affirmations and active imagination to transition to the next level.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

S EPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

The Sun, Mercury and Mars highlight romance, friendship, socialising, entertaining and networking as you mix and mingle with a wide range of people in a variety of ways. But be careful how you communicate with others on the weekend. Otherwise, your boldness could be misinterpreted as bossiness and your confident approach mistaken for cockiness. Are you looking for love? You could find yourself attracted to an amorous Aquarian or a sexy Sagittarian.

This week you don’t have the patience to put up with tedious people or long explanations, so strive to extricate yourself from such situations in a tactful way. From Monday until Wednesday, communication and conversation are the buzz words as you share opinions, learn a new skill, or pass on some exciting information. It’s definitely a good time to give your brain cells a thorough workout! From Thursday onwards, the focus is firmly on home and family.

Stylishly elegant Librans appreciate quality and luxury, but don’t overdo it or you’ll end up being the most beautiful bankrupt on the block! This week the planets stir up your money/self-esteem zone, so it’s time to get your finances in order and be true to the authentic you.

Draw inspiration from actress Goldie Hawn (who celebrates her 78th birthday on Tuesday), “I want to dig deep and ask – Who am I? What do I have to offer? What do I have to learn?”

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

From Monday until Wednesday, your power planet Pluto makes positive links with the Sun and Mars. Which is fabulous for boosting personal charisma and generating creative ideas. Don’t be stubborn and unimaginative about your current options and choices though. (As birthday great, singer-songwriter Bjork observes, “I sometimes fall into the trap of doing what I think I should be doing, rather than what I want to be doing”).

Keep your mind flexible.

You’re full of fantastic ideas this week as the Sun and Mars charge into your sign, and your sparky energy goes into overdrive. But, if you are too gung-ho and disorganised, then taskmaster Saturn will bring you back down to earth with a thud. A domestic project needs to pass the Practicality Test, so try to balance being enthusiastic with being realistic.

And don’t make serious commitments unless you are 100 per cent certain you’ll be able to keep them.

There are two main astro-patterns operating this week. The Sun and Mars make positive aspects to Pluto which is great for determination and persistence.

Which you’ll need in spades because Saturn (your patron planet) then squares the Sun and Mars on Thursday and Saturday. So it will be a stop/start; one step forwards/two steps back kind of week. If you’re a clever Capricorn then you’ll calibrate your plans, expectations, and energy levels accordingly.

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Crossword ACROSS 8. Most intimate (6) 9. Former St. George Dragons pro rugby hooker and national captain (3,5) 10. “Iron Gloves”, Test wicketkeeper (3,5) 11. Sort of (2,1,3) 12. Gun butts (6) 13. What you usually see in a mirror (8) 14. Rare Queensland spider-eating flying mammal (6-6,3) 18. Patriotic (4,4) 21. Refuse to accept (6) 23. Deadeye Annie (6) 24. For the few (8) 25. Ghastly (8) 26. SA leader --Marshall (6)

1

DOWN 1. Not too many (3,2,3) 2. Vast (6) 3. Gets cracking (6,2) 4. Long NW Australian coastal strip (6,4,5) 5. Instead (2,4) 6. Worried (8) 7. East Mediterranean democracy (6) 15. Inhabitants (8) 16. Playful dolphin relative (8) 17. Place for old documents (8) 19. Grounds (6) 20. Give the pink slip (3,3) 22. Bullying seabird (6)

2

4

8

5

10

13

15

16

19

20

21

23

No. 672

Easy

8

Previous solution - Very Hard

5 9 4 3 6 2 1 7 8

5 7 3 6 9

1 3 7 3 8 4

1 6 8 5 4 3

8 9 5

The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

72

22

26

SUDOKU 8 5 4 6 7

17

24

25

3 2 7

7

11

12

18

6

9

14

Last week’s solution

3

the western weekender » Friday, November 17, 2023

© 2023 Syndicated Puzzles

an .. black ese that s a set be in lack option not part ution to

Crossword brought to you by Emerson’s Envirocare emersonsenvirocaresydney.com | 1800 600 760

8 2 3 1 5 7 6 9 4

7 6 1 4 8 9 5 2 3

1 3 6 9 2 8 4 5 7

4 5 2 7 3 1 8 6 9

9 7 8 6 4 5 3 1 2

3 4 9 5 7 6 2 8 1

2 1 5 8 9 3 7 4 6

6 8 7 2 1 4 9 3 5

Sudoku brought to you by Nepean Aquatic Centre

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

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S P A• S E R V I C E S

Word Search brought to you by Platinum Spa Services platinumspaservices.com.au | 0407 700 981 platinumspaservice@gmail.com

Word Search Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally.

THEME: BONNIE & CLYDE BANKS BLANCHE BURGLARY CIGARS CRIME CRIMINALS CROSSFIRE DEPRESSION DESPERATE FRANK HAMER FUSILLADE GANG GAS STATIONS GUN-TOTING LOUISIANA NEW MEXICO NOTORIETY PARKER POLICE PROHIBITION PUBLIC ENEMIES SEX APPEAL SMALL STORES Last week’s solution

Test your knowledge about telecommunications provider Optus in our special trivia quiz this week...

1. Who is the current CEO of Optus?

2. In what year did Optus gain the second general carrier licence in Australia?

3. What number did Optus customers have to ring before the area code to access Optus services, back in the 1990s?

4. In what year did Optus Vision,

a cable television provider under the Optus banner, launch in Australia?

5. In what year did Optus Vision stop bringing on new customers?

6. Optus was technically founded in 1981, but what company name was it known as in the early days?

ANSWERS 1. Kelly Bayer Rosmarin 2. 1991 3. 1 4. 1995 5. 2009 6. AUSSAT

Trivia Quiz

Stay Informed Visit our website direct to stay update to date with all recent local news Your home of local news in Penrith

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w w w.w e s t e r n w e e k e n d e r .c o m . a u Friday, November 17, 2023 « the western weekender

73

Test Your Brain brought to you by Choices Flooring Penrith choicesflooring.com | 4731 4242

TEST YOUR BRAIN STR8TS SUDOK Tough

Previous solution - Medium

8 9 7 9 7 4 8 6 2 6 5 5 3 4 5 3 2 3 1 4 2

2

Str8ts, Hexwords & Name the Movie brought to you by Choices Flooring Penrith

7 2

9 8 2

4

5 6 2 4 6 8 3 5 3 7 9 7 8 4 7 8 3 2 1 9 8 4 6 7 2 5 4 6 1 3 5

3 2 1 4 9 8 5 7 6

2 3 1 6 8 7

No. 672

3 2 7 8

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will see how ‘straights’ are formed.

3

7 7 9

1

3

© 2023 Syndicated Puzzles

Str8ts

No. 672

6

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

Hexwords

7 3 8 4

Name the Movie

If you can’t tell from the photo, drop the letters from the list below into the circles.

We’ve given you a head start.

PREDSNEOCPW O Previous solution:

Previous solution: SHUTTER ISLAND

Who Am I?

30 Second Challenge

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51

5/8 of ThIs

331/3 % of ThIs

of IT

www.30secondchallenge.com

of IT

3. Charlie Chaplin was my idol.

4. I play the banjo.

ansWeR

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of ThIs

5.

I’m in a popular Disney+ show.

ansWeR

of ThIs

Last week’s answer: LEBRON JAMES

30-second challenge ansWeRs To 162- BEGINNER - 7, INTERMEDIATE - 37.5, ADVANCED - 84.

Last week’s answer: 30-second challenge ansWeRs To 163- BEGINNER - 36, INTERMEDIATE - 150, ADVANCED - 9.8.

37½ % of ThIs -39 of ThIs x21/3 x4½ 5/6 of IT x1¼ douBle IT 90%

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the western weekender » Friday, November 17, 2023

www.30secondchallenge.com

74

-9

4731 4242

24

ansWeR

57

InTeRMedIaTe

TIMes By ITself

half of IT

5%

131 Coreen Ave, Penrith

+9 +7 ÷8 x5 -3 ÷7 x10 50% -19 5/7 x100 5% -20 5/6 x20 +3 ÷7 +51 x70 4% x1¾ 2%

2. I started in stand-up.

InTeRMedIaTe

11

TIMes By ITself

1. My white hair is famous.

600

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intermediates have to complete their own challenge AND the beginners’ challenge, and advanced players have to complete their own AND the intermediate. You can try to improve on your times each day.

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