Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

From being signed by the prestigious Ford Models in New York and starring on the cover of Sports Illustrated, to being one of the elite 1980s supermodels and becoming a mother of two by the age of 25 – there have been quite a few life-defining moments for Rachel Hunter. I grew up being fascinated by Rachel – the Auckland teenager who became the Trumpet ice-cream girl, who then made it big internationally, and who married rock royalty Rod Stewart. Her life, to a young girl growing up in west Auckland, seemed impossibly cool. But it is the older, wiser Rachel I have come to admire so much more. Since her TV show Tour of Beauty, where she travelled the world to meet people from all walks of life to…

BANISH THE BIG C Australia is likely to become the first country in the world to eradicate cervical cancer thanks to the success of their national school-based vaccinations. A NEW HOME These shy albatross chicks feel right at home in their new mudbrick nests on Albatross Island in Bass Strait. Scientists hope their new homes will improve breeding success and survival rates for this vulnerable species. QUEEN GOES GREEN The Queen is keen to turn the palace green. She has banned plastic straws and bottles on all royal estates. Internal caterers will now only be able to use china, and paper goods must be recyclable.…

The birth of a baby in the royal family has long been a cause for celebration, the child welcomed with great excitement by a waiting world. For many of us, the tiny infant signifies hope for the future, not just for the royal family but also for the nation; a symbol of continuity and a regal bulwark against changing social mores. Every detail of their development is pored over. The first tooth, the first step, the first word. The colour of the royal offspring’s hair and eyes is discussed, clothes studied and copied. Even the names of the nannies make the news. “If you are going to have a monarchy, you have got to have a family – and the family has got to be in the public eye,” is…

Just imagine the scene. You’re cruising on the glorious Queen Mary 2. You decide to throw caution to the wind and join the fencing class and after a frenetic clash of swords you lift your mask to discover that the rather balletic, energetic lady you have been lunging at is none other than Celia Imrie, the plummy-voiced star of the Marigold Hotel films, Calendar Girls, Bridget Jones’s Diary and best-selling novelist to boot. It could happen, really. Celia regularly hops from Southampton to New York on the liner and always throws herself into the onboard activities. “I’ve probably done the journey about seven times now. I’m mad about the sea,” she explains excitedly. “I go line dancing. I do the quiz. And, you know, in the middle of the ocean…

When Tammy Robinson was young, she knew she was going to be a writer. It took a series of unfortunate events to get her there. Long before the Waikato mum of three was a successful writer with an international book deal, she was a voracious reader, writing in an exercise book during her lunch break while working at a Rotorua shoe shop. But it was a turbulent time in her 20s and 30s that gave her the impetus and the life experience to set out on the right path. Sitting in an upmarket Auckland hotel, the 41-year-old Differently Normal author is the first to admit she feels out of place. Tammy and her husband Karl have recently relocated from Rotorua to a farm in Otorohanga, in the King Country, and…

“Perhaps the biggest bonus of keeping a diary is your ability to win an argument.” I’ve been a blogger for 54 years... Okay, that isn’t exactly correct, but it sounds so modern and impressive. What I’ve really been doing is keeping a diary or journal since I was eight. My first entry is dated December 25th 1964. The little red-leather-covered diary was a Christmas present and wasn’t supposed to be started until the beginning of 1965, but I was so taken with the idea I began my entries on the very day I received it. I’m now in possession of a carton of notebooks that would make a pile much taller than me if they were stacked up. So I can attest to the amazing joys and occasional perks of…

Lay the foundation • Applying make-up to dry, dehydrated skin is the quickest way to accentuate creases and lines you might prefer not to spotlight. Apply a light moisturiser a few minutes before you start your make-up to ensure it’s well absorbed. • Far from being another unnecessary step, a good primer can smooth and brighten the surface of the skin, creating an even canvas whether you apply make-up on top or not. The options are varied but look for one that says “blurring”, “perfecting” or “illuminating”. • The best approach with foundation is to go lightly, allowing some of your natural skin tone to remain visible. But instead of choosing a very sheer formulation in a bid to stay “natural”and subsequently adding extra concealer, try taking a less-is-more approach…

1. Wet n Wild Loose Pigment in 10 Mythical Dreams, $8. Press a touch of this majestic shade onto eyelids with fingers for a subtle effect or wet a fine brush before using for a more vivid pop along lash lines. 2. Linden Leaves Crystal Crush Amethyst Cleansing Bar, $10. Right on time for the revival of luxe bar soaps, this gem is full of shea butter to cleanse and hydrate your hands and body. 3. Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Fig EDT 100ml, $69. Fresh, green tea notes mingle with juicy fig in a unique new blend for everyday wear. 4. Darphin Prédermine Sculpting Night Cream, $180. A rich, nourishing skin treat spiked with the scent of tuberose and designed to firm and tighten your complexion as you slumber. 5.…

The CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) first released their Low-Carb diet as a result of a rigorous 2012 clinical trial of overweight and obese adults. That study found that there were superior benefits from following a low-carb, high-fat diet, when followed as part of a complete lifestyle plan. Participants experienced substantial reductions in body weight, fat mass and blood pressure as well as improved mood and quality of life. In the years since its first publication, doctors and other health practitioners have used this plan in the treatment and management of their patients, with great success. On the back of that comes this new updated release, the CSIRO Low-Carb Every Day. This version offers new food ideas and menu options to enable you to make smart food choices,…

Russian pashka SERVES 6-8 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES (PLUS REFRIGERATION TIME) 250g cream cheese, softened 250g fresh ricotta 1 cup (220g) caster sugar 250g sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract finely grated rind of 1 lemon finely grated rind of 1 orange ½ cup (80g) sultanas ½ cup (40g) flaked almonds, toasted 1 Beat the cream cheese, ricotta and sugar until smooth. Add the sour cream, vanilla and citrus rind. Stir in sultanas. 2 Line a wire conical sieve (20cm across, 14cm deep) or small colander with muslin. Spoon cream cheese mixture into sieve. Cover and place over a bowl; refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. 3 Invert the Pashka onto a serving plate, remove muslin and decorate with almonds. You can also use dried fruit and flowers…

Snapper pie SERVES 6 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES 60g butter 1 medium (300g) leek, well washed, trimmed, sliced finely 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped finely ½ cup (125ml) dry white wine 1.2kg firm boneless white flesh fish (snapper, terakihi), cut into chunks 1/3 cup (50g) plain flour 1/3 cup (80g) milk 2 cups (500ml) fish stock 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 bunch chives, chopped finely 1 tablespoon finely chopped curly parsley 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind 600g general purpose potatoes, peeled 40g butter, extra, melted 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). 2 Melt 20g of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat; add the leek and garlic, cook, stirring about 5 minutes or until leek…

This time of year, vineyards are a hive of activity, overrun with hand-pickers and machine harvesters, viticulturists anxiously scanning weather patterns (these days via laptops, not the clouds!) and winemakers bracing themselves for the coming weeks of round-the-clock work. All are focused on the precise window of opportunity for gathering up the sun-ripened grapes that represent another year’s work by the vines, bringing them into the winery to start the alchemy-like transformation from simple grape juice to golden and ruby-hued wines. This year’s harvest is an early one, with grapes ripening around a fortnight earlier than usual, courtesy of the hot November to January period. Grapes are typically harvested from February through to May, depending on region, variety and style, so the final assessment of 2018’s overall quality and character…

Perfect for Easter parades, Bunny masks the masks are easy to make and will make the egg hunt super-enjoyable. MATERIALS • Mask template from nowtolove.co.nz/awwbunny and printed onto A4 paper • Scissors • White cardboard poster-sized sheet, medium thickness (450gsm) • Pink felt • Glue • Paintbrush • Cotton wool balls • Striped paper straws • Double-sided tape • Also required: pencil 1 Cut out the mask template, including the eye holes, nose and ear inners. 2 With the cardboard sheet in landscape position, place mask in the centre and trace around. Extend the strap markings on the template to the edges of the cardboard with your pencil so your mask will be long enough to wrap around your child’s head. 3 Cut out the mask and eye holes (gently pierce…

My mother Marjorie is a dark horse. The introverted chalk to Dad’s chatty cheese, Mum has always assumed an agreeably acquiescent position in our family. As a mother, grandmother and expert conflict resolution negotiator – I’ve never known her to take sides, not even mine – she simply goes with the flow. But back in her day, she had spunk, style and legs like a supermodel. Before she married Dad and had children, she wore the shortest shorts I’ve seen since my teenage niece, Jaime, turned up to a recent family celebration wearing frayed-at-the-crutch denim cut-offs. When my sister gently suggested her daughter’s attire wasn’t appropriate for her grandparents’ 49th wedding anniversary dinner, Jaime replied with a withering eye roll: “It’s not Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mum. It’s Bazza’s Steakhouse in…

I went to Brazil and fell in love with Barbara. Her allure was magnetic, the attraction instantaneous. My friends Diana and Zora felt it too. We all agreed that Barbara was one of the best things that happened to us on our Brazilian holiday. Barbara is a pousada (guest house) at Praia da Pipa, one of the most revered beaches on Brazil’s north-east coast. We’d hired a driver in the city of João Pessoa to take us there – a 146km journey – and he dropped us off in a little square down by the beachfront. We looked around, nervous strangers in a new place, wondering where we should stay, and there she was, nestling under a thick canopy of trees, beckoning us. She was colourful and pretty. Her 14…

I know what you’re thinking. Grumpy ole heart-of-stone reviewer Kate Rodger would NEVER give 4 stars for a teen rom-com, she HATES teen rom-coms. Well, isn’t life just full of happy little surprises? Love, Simon uses all the common storytelling tropes of Hollywood romcoms, but in this instance the template adds, instead of detracts, from the delivery. Because this isn’t boy-meets-girl – this is boy-wants-to-meet-boy. And telling that story just like any other teen romance is what makes it just a little bit special. The film comes from the 2015 coming-of -age novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and is helmed by Emmy-nominated director Greg Berlanti. He has cast his main roles well, very well when it comes to his lead. Up and comer Nick Robinson (Jurassic World/Boardwalk Empire)…

Paris-born, New York fashion legend Estella Bissette – “Mamie” to her Australian granddaughter – is 97, and the keeper of a bolt of shocking family secrets. A mistress of “duplication” in wartime Paris – a brilliant sketcher, ripping off Chanel and Schiaparelli garments for the American market – her own background is duplicitous to say the least. When Estella’s mother Jeanne shoves papers revealing American paternity into her daughter’s hands, she flees to New York to escape the approaching Nazi troops. Estella launches Stella Designs in New York, a trailblazer of the prêt-àporter collections. In 2015 granddaughter Fabienne is at the Met Gala to attend ailing Estella’s retrospective exhibition. She wants to wheedle some family facts out of shrewd Mamie, but finding the right moment is proving difficult. Fabienne has…

HIGH COUNTRY HERO by Holly Ford , Allen & Unwin If you’re a fan of rural romance, then Banks Peninsula writer Tanya Moir, who writes in this genre as Holly Ford, has just the escapist ticket. South Island-raised, Sydney-based veterinary specialist Magdalena “Lennie” O’Donnell heads back to her hometown when Jim, her grandfather, asks her for help. But her return isn’t without incident when her car breaks down about 100km from home. Roadside assistance eventually arrives in the form of tall, dark, handsome former Afghan War pilot Mitch Stuart, a man haunted by ghosts from his past. He’s not in the market to have his head turned, but this damsel in distress stirs his dormant heart. For Lennie’s part, life is complicated. Her grandparents’ marriage…

Fresh facial Reveal a brighter, more vibrant complexion by having one of Caci’s most popular skin treatments: a Microdermabrasion facial. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive skin resurfacing treatment that exfoliates, reduces congestion and improves texture, while also encouraging circulation and cell renewal. It will leave your skin looking and feeling soft, clean and refreshed. A 30-minute Microdermabrasion facial at Caci costs $100. See caci.co.nz. Like clockwork Lots of people suffer from constipation, for lots of reasons. Changes in diet, routine, medication and hormones can all make you feel less “regular” and rather uncomfortable. Coloxyl® is a gentle stool softener that provides trusted, effective relief from constipation. Ask your pharmacist which Coloxyl® product is right for you. Coloxyl® with senna tablets contain docusate sodium 50mg and total Sennosides 8mg. Coloxyl® 50 contains…

Aries MAR 21-APR 21 Happy birthday, and welcome to the real beginning of your year, pioneering, enterprising Aries. Energetic Sun and quick-change Uranus in your sign are raring to ramp up the action, but for the first half of April Mercury’s spinning its wheels. Arians are advised to plan, strategise and practise the mantra of Mars in Capricorn: give it time. Then, when mid-month Mercury spurts forward in tandem with the Aries fresh-start new moon, it’s all mojo motivation and game on. In a nutshell – which is how Arian’s like their information – the first two weeks of April are a time to wait, the last two to accelerate. TAURUS APR 22-MAY 21 April is pretty much a garden of earthly delights with Venus in one of her favourite…

Letter of the month Lynda Hallinan’s article, Child’s Play , was enjoyable on many levels… I really liked the way she involved her sons in styling their room. But most poignant to me was the story of the vintage brass bugle. My beloved Poppa had one such bugle in the First World War. He fought with the 1st Wellington Infantry Battalion and was on the Western Front for three and a half years. Being the bugle player, he played the Last Post at the graveside of every fallen soldier from his battalion. Engraved on his bugle are the names of the villages he fought in. He was fortunate enough to return home after the war but would never speak of those years… his stories, pain and anguish…

Nicole Kidman may well be Hollywood’s quintessential Renaissance woman. At the age of 50, a time when most Hollywood actresses bemoan the lack of substantial roles and the fading lustre of their careers, Nicole is riding the crest of a professional wave that has reinvigorated her presence and longevity in a notoriously capricious industry, which often abandons genuine talent if it’s not wrapped in a vivacious 30-something package. Yet here stands Nicole, who strode onto the Hollywood stage almost 30 years ago as Tom Cruise’s love interest in Days of Thunder, defiantly winning accolades and honours not only for her moving, complex roles on screen but also for her skill and acumen as a producer. Last year, Big Little Lies, the HBO TV series that Nicole starred in and co-produced…

“In your 60s there’s a sense that you don’t have as much time on earth as you once did.” Once upon a time, it would seem truly mad that a TV star, with a billion-dollar company named after themselves, who had never spent a day in public office, might decide to run for president. Well… here we are. So it’s not a huge wonder that the rally cry of “Oprah 2020” gained such force so quickly following Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech in January and doesn’t seem to be going away. We’re just over three months into 2018 and already it’s looking like a standout year for Oprah, with a grassroots presidential campaign, numerous magazine covers and her very own action figure, courtesy of her role in Disney’s A Wrinkle…

During his 51-year marriage to Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik, a free-spirited French aristocrat, managed to baffle, amuse, intrigue and infuriate his adopted country. It was only with his death in mid-February, aged 83, that the Danes finally acknowledged their fondness for him. Tens of thousands took to the streets, and the simple funeral he insisted upon brought the country to a standstill. Apparently taken aback by the scale of the mourning, TV pundits took to asking if they perhaps had Henrik all wrong. Not that he was an easy man to make sense of. Born in south-western France as Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, he spent much of his early life in Vietnam, where his father, André, an autocratic and slightly cranky count, owned rice and tea plantations. The…

“I’m a walker, Josh. I walk to the French pastry shop every morning for coffee and an almond croissant.” My granddaughter Audrey and I were curled up together on the sofa watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s – she for the first time, me for the 17th. “She’s beautiful,” Audrey sighed. “And her name is Audrey!” I said. “She’s so cool. I’m going to wear diamonds and wave a long stick with smoke coming out, too. But not until Year 7 or 8.” We discussed the merits of diamonds (many) and cigarette holders (none) and how Audrey Hepburn was not only beautiful, she was also tall with big feet. “She wore flat shoes so she wouldn’t be taller than the boy actors,” I explained. “That’s silly,” my Audrey replied. “When I’m old…

Years of grins, giggles and guffaws cause tiny creases to form at the outer corner of the eyes. We’re all for embracing these smile lines, but that doesn’t mean neglecting the delicate eye area all together. A two-pronged approach is the best way to address unwanted fine lines. And that’s something to smile about. QUENCH Smile lines emerge over time as a result of repeated facial muscle contractions. They’re a souvenir of a life well lived – and we love them for that. Advancing fine lines around the eyes are the ones worth taking a stand against. They emerge due to a combination of skin dehydration and a decline in collagen and elastin. “The skin around the eyes is much thinner, so wrinkles develop more rapidly in this area,” explains…

Probiotics are powerful therapeutic micro-organisms that are essential to human wellbeing. They are also useful in preventing and managing some diseases, from allergy and asthma to dental decay or diarrhoea. Low levels or an imbalance of these “good bugs” allow an overgrowth of pathogens (disease-causing bugs like dientamoeba, candida or campylobacter), which might result in gut infections and other gut diseases. Not all organisms in the gut mean you well. Probiotics change the way the immune system reacts to disease-causing micro-organisms. Probiotics compete with harmful bacteria and enhance the activity of your immune system. They can also help calm your immune system if it is overactive, and they may help restore or maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut, which can be upset by antibiotics and other medications.…

Simple chocolate cake SERVES 16 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES 375g butter, chopped 300g dark chocolate, chopped 2 cups (500ml) water 21/3 cups (350g) cups self-raising flour ½ cup (50g) cocoa powder 1¾ cups (385g) caster sugar 4 eggs, beaten lightly 2 teaspoons vanilla extract shaved chocolate, chocolate buttons and crystallised violets, for decoration (see tip) CHOCOLATE GANACHE 11/3 cups (330g) thickened cream 400g dark chocolate, chopped finely 1 Grease and line the base and sides of a 26cm cake pan. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). 2 Combine the butter, chocolate and water in a medium saucepan, stir over medium heat until just melted – do not boil. Remove from heat, transfer to a large bowl. Cool for 10 minutes. 3 Sift the flour and…

They say fine wine is made in the vineyard – after all, you can make bad wine from good grapes, but you can’t make good wine from bad grapes... WINTER Dormant vines gather strength for spring. They are pruned hard, fed compost and their trellises checked and repaired. SPRING Budburst turns vineyards green. Vines are pruned to ensure sensible crop loads and trained onto trellis wires. Weeding keeps everyone busy, as does watching for potentially devastating frosts. SUMMER Growth! Wavy tendrils need trimming and tying, fruit begins to swell and form fat bunches. Birds need to be kept at bay. AUTUMN Viticulturists and winemakers walk the vineyards daily, checking on sugar, acid and flavour changes, watching for pests and diseases, culminating in that final decision to PICK!…

FRESH LINEN Kip & Co’s gorgeous linens and homewares are now among LeeAnn Yare’s collection of favourite finds. Add some vibrance and texture with throws, pillows and much more. collected.co.nz Set your table with a colourful, eclectic collection of botanical plates. 1. Bamboo Plate, Flax Flower, $17.50. texanartschools.co.nz  2. Atomic Soda Ile Aux Cerfs plate, small in Pink Floral, $19. ikoiko.co.nz 3. Botanical melamine plate (set of 4 designs), $69. perchhomewares.co.nz Feel the love From pompoms to textured tassels, we’re seeing a surge of fun, tactile homewares and we’re loving it! 1. Seed throw in white/oak,$159. superette.co.nz  2. Shelby tassel cushion, $100.shutthefrontdoor.co.nz 3. Home Republic Aries Cushion in pink, from $27. www.adairs.co.nz TAKE THE FLOOR! Add some playfulness and give your room an interesting focal point…

Living in the country is something I adore, as you know. The land speaks to me, the beach soothes me, and then there’s the fishing. It’s a primitive thing, which some people just don’t understand, but I can find nothing to match it in terms of relaxation and rewards. I’m not an enthusiast who has all the gear and goes out twice a week, but I do enjoy it when the tide and the weather combine to create perfect fishing conditions. And until recently it has always been a solo pursuit. My husband Paul is an urban soul at heart, which means he was once taken fishing as a lad and that was quite enough for him. He managed to reach the age of 60 without ever holding a fishing…

Starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. Created by Michael Schur. There is the odd show that you REALLY need talking into… In my case a good friend set up camp in my lounge, forcing me to watch The Good Place because she loved it so much. The first episode did nothing for me but by the end of the second, I was in. And with short, sweet run-times, it is very easy to binge a handful at a time! A simple enough premise, Kristen Bell’s character Eleanor finds herself opposite Ted Danson’s Michael in what appears to be the afterlife. It’s oddly suburban, very, very nice, and not at all what Eleanor thinks she deserves. As each chapter unfolds, this idea of not fitting in…

THREE GOLD COINS  by Josephine Moon, Allen & Unwin To escape a difficult situation at home, young Australian woman Lara Foxleigh heads to Rome. But barely has she arrived when she encounters an elderly man, Samuel, at the Trevi Fountain and finds herself taking on the role of his badante, caring for him in his villa in Tuscany. Despite her employer’s surly character and mysterious lack of family connection, Lara finds a peaceful escape from her past in his rural existence, where she learns to milk goats and make ricotta… and meets the handsome goat shepherd and cheesemaker, Matteo. But for all the delights Tuscany offers, Lara still misses her mother, sister Sunny and twin niece and nephew back in Brisbane, and through alternate chapters we discover what drove her…

Update Earhart mystery solved SHE SHOWED WOMEN the sky is the limit when she became the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic solo in 1932, but Amelia Earhart’s legacy has been eclipsed by her mysterious disappearance in 1937. Now a new study claims to have finally settled the matter. An American professor says he has established with 99 per cent certainty that bones found on the Pacific Island of Nikumaroro in 1940 were Amelia’s. The bones and a bottle of the herbal liqueur Benedictine had been sent to Fiji for analysis, but the researcher declared the bones belonged to a male and they were subsequently lost. Now, academics using a computer program which estimates sex and ancestry from skeletal measurements, say the bones are indeed Amelia’s. ARE YOU NOT…

Jess Quinn never planned to be a big thing on Instagram – it “just happened”, as have so many things in her life. Beautiful, tall and with a mane of dark wavy hair, the camera loves her. She moves with a slow, easy grace. She is so graceful, in fact, that you’d be hard pressed to tell she walks with the aid of a prosthetic leg. Jess lost her right leg to bone cancer when she was just nine years old. “I was fooling around with my sister, trying to stand on a ball when I fell off and fractured my femur.” The femur is the largest, strongest bone in the body. It doesn’t fracture easily. In excruciating pain, she was taken to hospital, little realising this would be the…

During her long, hard 15 years under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi lived alone in a decaying lakeside villa, denied news, medicine, even contact with her children, but sustained by an outside world that revered her as a heroine. Worthy Western institutions showered her with awards and honours, and right-thinking celebrities from George Clooney to Yoko Ono joined the rolling campaign for her release. Suu Kyi’s remarkable one-woman battle to bring democracy to her native Myanmar (formerly Burma), became a global cause célèbre, and when, barely two years ago, she became the country’s first civilian leader in decades, millions rejoiced. But today, 72-year-old Suu Kyi is an international pariah, her saintly reputation shattered. The same organisations that handed her prizes are scrambling to disassociate themselves from her, and her…

1 Acceptance is guaranteed. AA Life Funeral Cover gives you peace of mind knowing your loved ones won’t be left to cope with debt or the costs associated with your funeral. 2 Your policy pays out within 48 hours. Losing a loved one is already a stressful and emotional time for families. That’s why the majority of AA Life Funeral Cover pays out within 48 hours. 3 Money is paid tax-free. With AA Life Funeral Cover, accepted claims are paid out tax-free, giving you the comfort of knowing your family will receive the full amount you’re covered for. 4 Health changes won’t affect your cover. With AA Life Funeral Cover, your cover level and premiums will remain the same if your health changes. On your 90th birthday, your cover will…

Trench coats When the weather cools down, our thoughts turn to outer layers. A trench coat is both timeless and stylish, and it will last you for years to come. Splurge on the Moochi Bond Trench, $540 (left), or save with a short version from Zara, $99. Belle berets Say “oui, oui” to berets! The French hat has been out in force at all the big fashion weeks and you can steal the style for a fraction of the designer price. EziBuy felt beret, $30. ezibuy.co.nz Channel your inner boho with the new collection from Loobie’s Story. Enjoy modern shapes, colours and fabrics, all in the brand’s distinctive style. For stockists, see loobiesstory.co.nz. AUTUMN ARM CANDY Treat yourself to some beautiful arm candy from Deadly Ponies’ Depths of Desire collection.…

Caring colour The newest no-nasties notable is HAN, a collection of cosmetics made from pure minerals, plant, fruit and vegetable extracts and pigments. The San Francisco-based brand delivers beautiful quality and easy-to-wear shades designed to care for your skin as well as look good. 1. HAN Cheek & Lip Tint, $26. 2. HAN Bronzer $32. 3. Blush, $30. 4. HAN Lip Gloss, $26. Smoothing succulent Move over argan, marula and coconut oils – agave is the plant oil to turn to for smooth, silky locks. It’s all in the amino sugars that help retain moisture and elasticity, and it won’t weigh down fine hair like other options do. The range includes Agave Healing Oil Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner, $45 each; Agave Healing Oil Treatment, $45; and a Bamboo Paddle Brush,…

Our gut is teeming with tiny micro-organisms, in fact there are 10 times more bacteria cells in the gut than there are human cells. This environment of micro-organisms known as the “microbiota” is kept in harmony with the help of a wholesome diet rich in prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics are the fibrous material in foods such as onions and apples that are like food for the bacteria in the gut. Probiotics, on the other hand, are usually bacteria found in fermented foods. These fermented foods contain a range of bacteria, but for them to be considered a “probiotic” they must have clinical evidence of their health benefits. Then, of course, they need to survive processing and the treacherous journey through our gut. To be sure your foods contain probiotics, look…

QI’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Is this a lifelong condition and can it be cured? Do diet and exercise help control it? I’m 40 years old. K.W. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with weight loss, exercise and diet. It’s not a cure but a remission that lasts as long as your improved lifestyle. Intermittent fasting may work under a dietician’s guidance. Medication may help manage blood sugar levels in the interim. Q Since being menopausal, I’m finding sex very painful. Is there any way to reduce this pain? J.D. Dry, thin vulval and vaginal tissues can make intercourse painful after menopause. This is due to a lack of oestrogen in the tissues causing them to become fragile. It’s usually relieved by applying oestrogen cream or inserting a…

FROM MAGGIE Easter is always a celebration of food and family. My daughter Saskia’s baked ham comes from her Black Pig range, created from free-range Berkshire pork, and it’s an occasion in itself. The quince glaze gives a wonderful caramelised counterpoint to the sweet fat of the ham which we find impossible to resist. And there’s so much more to share. We love having the starters around the kitchen bench so both the prunes and bacon and liver crostini can be eaten hot from the oven without me missing out. At the same time everyone is given a last-minute job to do before we take all the food out to the table, which is set in the garden to take advantage of my favourite season of all, autumn. Once the…

1 2014 CHURCH ROAD MCDONALD SERIES HAWKE’S BAY MERLOT, $25 A smart buy, this is a smooth, ripe and richly fruited, medium-bodied red from a crew who know their vineyards and winery inside out. Match with rare lamb to warm up an autumn evening. 2 2016 LOOP ROAD CENTRAL OTAGO ‘NOBLE RIESLING’, $39 (500ml) 11.5% Made from grapes left to ripen as long as possible and affected by “noble rot”, this is intensely sweet with succulent ripe nectarine, apricot and marmalade notes plus a freshening burst of crisp acidity. 3 SEIFRIED ‘AOTEA’ NELSON MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, $40 Seifried’s Aotea wines represent their “very best of the best” selections. This trophy-winning sparkler is indeed very smart – elegant with delicate citrus and brioche notes, finesse, intensity and length. 4 2017 MOUNT RILEY…

Camellias are possibly the most perfect flowers – opulent, blooming for months through the gloomiest time of year, hardy yet delicate looking. They lose out to roses in only two ways: lack of scent and a tendency to drop from the stem an hour after you put them in a vase. But if you choose wisely, you can have them on the bush and in a vase with a soft, sensuous scent as well. FRAGRANT PICKS While there are camellias that tolerate full sun, these scented varieties need dappled shade, or even deep shade in warmer climates. High Fragrance: Pale pink, double, frilly and divine. “Scentuous”: White petals with a pale pink centre, loosely ruffled, semi-double and long blooming. Koto No Kaori: Single blooms in deep pink. Spring Mist: Semi-double…

THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART by Holly Ringland , Harper-Collins. Interview and review by Juliet Rieden There’s an aching heart beating through author Holly Ringland’s narrative that although at times seems almost broken, is stitched back together with shards of optimism that offer constant hope. These are characters we love, care about and want to nurture. I wouldn’t mind meeting a few of them and definitely would love to go to the flower farm, where the first half of the story is set, and join in the long lunch. The book opens with Alice Hart, a deep thinking, book-loving, traumatised nine-year-old who is devoted to her mother and terrified of her father, sitting at her eucalyptus desk reading. Soon a shocking fire in their seaside home…

ODYSSEY OF THE UNKNOWN ANZAC by David Hastings, Auckland University Press Ten years after the end of World War I, an unknown Anzac soldier was living in a psychiatric hospital in Sydney. When this was made publicly known, many people in Australia and New Zealand hoped he might be their lost loved one. David Hastings tells the true story of George McQuay, an ordinary man from Stratford, New Zealand, who found himself swept up and consumed by the terror of war. THE TOYMAKERS by Robert Dinsdale , Penguin Random House It’s 1917 and war has its hold on Europe. Young Cathy is looking for an escape from her shameful situation and responds to a London toymaker’s ad for sales…